Malcolm x Raylan: Cowboy Surprise

[tinstar]

Art was suspicious right off the bat when Raylan took a week off with the express note that his phone would be Out Of Order til the next Monday, but the Chief Marshal wasn't going to look gift horses in the mouth. Not when it suggested he'd have a few days of peace, until Raylan caved to turning his phone back on again. Still, he watched the younger Marshal walk out of the office and promised himself to check into the state of Harlan within 3 days to make sure that the place wasn't on fire. The smoke would reach him before he called, he was sure.

But Art didn't have much to worry about - Raylan had no plans on staying in the state for his vacation, beyond one day spent closing up Arlo's and securing it the best way he could before getting on a plane to New York City. He wanted to surprise Malcolm - it'd been near two months since they'd last seen each other and frankly, Raylan was tired of missing him. They'd called and texted, stayed in a fairly consistent, if odd houred, touch but it wasn't the same.

Once he landed, Raylan rented a car and navigated his way towards Malcolm's apartment, stopping to grab a bouquet of flowers. It was.. Extra, but Raylan didn't want to show up empty handed, just in case. Thirty minutes later, Malcolm's door buzzer was being hit, like Raylan was here to deliver something. Well, he was, but that was half the fun.

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[tinstar]

"Hmm," he sounded in acknowledgement behind the kiss, arching his eyebrows in lazy curiosity with a curl of his lips at the following name. "You're gonna have to show me that one."

"And what are your emotions this morning?" Feeling well? Everything as Raylan left it in the night? He wasn't ready to let go and officially greet the day yet, enjoying Malcolm's weight and the heat that crept in with him. "Something we can accept?"

[abrightboy]

"I am feeling very happy," he said, brushing Raylan's nose with his nose. "I think that's acceptable, but it's hard to be sure. I don't have a lot of experience with it," he teased. "What do you think?"

When he was talked into getting off Raylan, he would show him the whole journey from standing to scorpion, if he liked.

[tinstar]

A peck on the lips was the punishment for brushing his nose, and he grinned at the question.

"I think you need more data to be sure, but be cautiously accepting til the rest of you has been convinced, so the idea can be securely held." Greedy cowboy demands more time to snuggle with fractured profiler - tonight at 10.

"At least 3 more nights. In my expert opinion." Not at all for his own selfish reasons. "You mentioned coffee. I could use a cup while we discuss what's on the schedule for today, Mr. Knows people who Knows people."

[abrightboy]

"That is sexily scientific," Malcolm informed him, rewarding it with a kiss.

Three more nights at least.

He smiled broadly and considered Raylan's mouth for a moment before kissing it one more time, then rolling to the edge of the bed and bouncing to his feet to pad across to the kitchen island. He took down a mug and filled it, heading back towards the bed with it with less bounce in his step, because safety first.

"Coffee in bed. Maybe tomorrow it will be breakfast."

[tinstar]

Raylan hummed his proud, surprised approval at the information, features curling as he leaned up to meet the kiss. The following kiss had him breaking into a grin and as Malcolm rolled and padded off, Raylan shifted to sit up against the headboard. He'd have gotten up if Malcolm hadn't started heading back his way, but since he was, Raylan wasn't going to rush.

"Breakfast in bed is messy," he replied with a smile and a soft 'thanks' as Malcolm handed him the cup and took a sip, eyes dancing with pleased amusement over the edge. "Plus, might get crumbs in your luxury sheets. I'd hate to give you a reason to kick me out of 'em."

[abrightboy]

He laughed, scooting back up onto the bed as carefully as possible so he didn't cause a spill.

"Sheets can be washed. I have more." He slid up against the headboard close to Raylan. "But only one you to spoil."

[tinstar]

One hand came over to drape onto Malcolm's closest thigh, thumb brushing back and forth in a brief gesture. The start of the answer had him smiling but as Malcolm finished, Raylan couldn't help but look over.

"You're going to spoil me, huh?" Had he ever been spoiled? He couldn't remember a time where he had, not like this anyway. Coffee in bed was one thing, but what Malcolm was suggesting sounded like a lot more. Starting with breakfast in bed, apparently.

"Well I'll be the last to talk you out of it. Though now I'm gonna have to worry about keeping up." His smile curled around the edges as he took another sip of his coffee.

[abrightboy]

"I think, technically, you're ahead right now," Malcolm pointed out, letting his shoulder lean against Raylan's shoulder. "You've saved my life twice, for one thing."

[tinstar]

"Twice?" He glanced down as best he could with the closeness and huffed a breath. "They wouldn't have killed ya. Just beaten you and broken more than would have been acceptable. Which is any break, but." That wasn't his point.

"Between the both of us though, I have a feeling it won't be the last time."

[abrightboy]

"Mm. Gil has suggested that my sense of self-preservation is underdeveloped," he admitted. He looked at Raylan. "Are you sure they wouldn't have shot me and dropped my body in the hills somewhere? I was getting a wanting to shoot me kind of a vibe from them."

[tinstar]

"I think your sense is fine, you just disregard it for a greater good. Bit arrogant, if you ask me." The reply came with a sidelong smirk. He liked the bit of arrogance, just not that it tended to get him hurt.

"I wouldn't have let 'em and you talk fast enough to work your way out of a bullet. They kinda want to shoot everyone, me included. It's not personal."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm turned sideways to scoot closer, resting his knee against Raylan's thigh and his chin on Raylan's shoulder.

"Well, you went and turned officer of the law. I'm sure they see that as some sort of betrayal."

[tinstar]

Raylan's smile pulled as Malcolm snuggled in, shifting his hand to drape over both of his legs. This was nice. Non-stressful and not dramatic.

"Only so much in that it doesn't service them. I'm not the only one. Only one to join the Marshal's but. Over the counties, we've got locals for cops. They want to shoot me because I'm a pain in their ass." And he took great pleasure in that. "Course, the older crew would agree with you, but Harlan Crime ain't half of what it was. Old generation and all. And after Arlo?" Raylan scoffed. "They mighta felt that I was betraying my family. Thankfully, I don't have to give a shit."

[abrightboy]

"I'd drink to sons who disappoint their disappointing fathers," Malcolm told him, turning his head to rest his temple on Raylan's shoulder.

"I got a text from Gil. The game is tonight at ten after seven," he murmured. "So we have lots of time ease our way into hitting someplace for breakfast and picking up the tickets at the precinct before we make our way to the batting cages."

[tinstar]

"Mm, me too. If it weren't.." He frowned a little, checking his bare wrist and remembering that he'd taken his watch off. He'd grab it but... Malcolm. "What time is it? Sounds like we have breakfast and lunch to get through before then."

It also meant there'd be no rushing this. But he was looking forward to the batting cages.

"Think Gil will give you any shit for going out around town with me?"

[abrightboy]

Malcolm turned his own wrist out so Raylan could see his watch on the inside of it, holding it up for him.

At his question, he laughed.

"The same Gil that constantly asks me what he has to say to make me take a few days off? No, I expect you'll be considered magical."

[tinstar]

Two fingers adjusted his wrist so Raylan could see clearly but he nodded and draped his hand back over Malcolm's legs.

"Mm, good. Makes me wonder how long I could steal you before he asked for you back." Smirking, he drained his cup and leaned over, stealing a kiss. "Let me piss and you can show me whatever Crane of Peacock stance got you into Scorpion while I have another cup of coffee."

Then he could look at getting dressed and starting the day officially.

[abrightboy]

"Until about when they got stumped by a really twisted murder," Malcolm suggested, leaning into the kiss before scooting out of the way so Raylan could get out of the bed.

As Raylan headed into the bathroom, Malcolm padded over to the kitchen and refilled his coffee cup, setting it on the island, and taking a sip from his own half-finished mug.

[tinstar]

"I won't even make 'em promise to bring you back in one piece, not that it'd matter if they did." Raylan stepped into the bathroom before Malcolm could respond and set about his morning habits.

Returning a few minutes later with a fresher face and breath to match, Raylan walked up next to Malcolm to collect his cup of coffee and stare at Sunshine. "When'd you get the bird? I meant to ask about her before. Companionship?"

[abrightboy]

Malcolm looked over at her, then stepped over and opened the door of the cage, holding his fingers next to her perch. She hopped onto them. Once she was clear of the cage, he lifted his hand and she flew across the apartment.

"I got her about a year before I left DC. A pet was my therapist's idea. I expect she probably thought I'd get... I don't know, a dog or something. You know, a traditional therapy animal. But I went to the pet store and..." He shrugged. "I don't know. I liked her. She was singing. It was a happy sound. I pictured a happy sound filling an empty apartment."

[tinstar]

Even in such a small apartment, it was kinda pretty to see a bird flying around.

"We never had animals, not like that. I think Arlo might have had a dog at some point.." He watched Sunshine return to Malcolm with a chip. "She suits you. And your attitude in the morning."

[abrightboy]

Malcolm grinned at him, letting the bird perch on his hand.

"Are you suggesting that I'm the real Sunshine Bright?" he teased. He lifted his hand so the bird flew the other way.

He tilted his head towards the yoga mat. "I have another mat. Are you going to try it with me? We'll go step by step."

[tinstar]

"You suggesting you're not?" Raylan countered with a curl of his features behind another sip of coffee.

If Malcolm had thought he'd seen how high Raylan's eyebrows could arch, the idea would be challenged at the look that Raylan blinked over at him, neck seeming to extend a little bit as his head moved forward. "I'm sorry?"

The yoga mat was looked at like it might explode. "I don't..." He gestured with the cup. "Yoga." But that, like so much else, was a natural engrained flaw. He didn't because he never had, was all.

[abrightboy]

"How do you know?" Malcolm asked cheerfully. "Have you tried it before?"

He went to a cupboard under his bookshelf and pulled out a charcoal grey mat, rolling it out a couple feet from his.

"I doubt they have many yoga studios in Harlan, Kentucky, but maybe courtesy a bikini-clad instructor on Miami Beach?" he suggested with a devilish look. He paused. "Maybe I'll take that class," he remarked. Malcolm swung quite happily both ways with no shame about it. He turned and looked at Raylan.

"Come on! You can at least do the first couple; they're day one stuff. You develop a decent downward dog and you'll impress the bikini-clad Miami Beach yoga instructor."

[tinstar]

He frowned slightly, but it was a look of distrust towards the idea, not the fact that Malcolm had called him out on it. But the picture he painted had Raylan chuckling despite himself, eyebrows lifting again as his tongue peeked out to edge one of his canines, eyes finding part of the floor until Malcolm mentions taking that class.

That got him to look up from under those eyebrows, jaw shifting a little.

Alright. You got him.

Raylan pushed off the counter and set his cup down padding over and putting on a suspicious look before kneeling down.

"Can't promise how much of this'll I'll tolerate," he warned.