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.

Comments

[tinstar]

Will do. I like a scallop. It'll be a few hours

[abrightboy]

I know. At least a few. And as much as I enjoy the appearance of a Surprise Raylan though the door, a heads up will have food on the table. You're not in Harlan because they were giving you a hard time?

[tinstar]

Nah. Ava and Boyd. Once I get back I've got some paperwork to do but that wont take me long.

I miss you.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm smiled down at the phone.

Well, the upside is that - if you don't procrastinate that paperwork too hard - you'll see my real face instead of my video face.

He paused and took a selfie with his mess of this half built herb garden, grinning at the camera and sent it.

Maybe me having a hard time building rectangles will hold you over. I miss you too.

[tinstar]

I like that upside.

The sudden delivery of a picture was, in a word, adorable. None of the people he'd dated so far was into selfies like that, but Malcolm was, technically, part of a different generation and one that was far more comfortable with technology than Raylan was. He grinned at the phone.

It'll have to. I'll see ya soon.

Well, soon was a lie, a few hours was not soon, but after seeing the inside of Tramble Pen and more of Harlan then he wanted to, he was finally headed back to Lexington and his office, for that last bit of work that he would try to power through.

Malcolm got a simple text as he hit the road. ETA 2 1/2 hours til I'm back in Lexington

[abrightboy]

Drive safe. I love you.

Scallops didn't take long to make and Raylan had paperwork to do still, so Malcolm puttered away at his project a little longer before cleaning up.

They still had the previous day's bean salad as a side and he hoped Raylan wasn't bored of it, though he was pretty sure he'd disapprove of wasting it quite strongly.

The scallops recipe was simple and easy to follow and he was in the kitchen, leaning on the counter, reading a novel with David Bowie on the stereo by the time Raylan was due to arrive.

[tinstar]

Raylan reread that last message over again in his mind as he drove, unaware of the soft, half dopy happy smile that was living on his face now. Once he was back in Lexington, he pushed to get through his paperwork, happy to be left alone long enough to do so. Last thing he needed was a phone call, this late, that delayed him more.

But he got none and got to leave shortly after, almost giddy to go home to a place that had someone warm and waiting for him.

He walked in with the same smile that he'd ridden into Lexington with, pulling his hat off as the door closed behind him.

"Knock knock," he announced himself, hanging his hat and ambling over towards the kitchen. "Smells good in here," he praised, immediately heading for Malcolm with an intent to kiss him in proper greeting

[abrightboy]

Malcolm looked up as he heard the door open, grinning broadly at the sound of Raylan's voice, tossing his book on the counter to go and intercept him on his way, just as intent to wrap arms around him.

"Hi!" he said brightly, just before he got close enough to throw his arms around Raylan's neck and meet the kiss.

[tinstar]

Malcolm looked happy. Unbothered. Bright. Good. It was a boost of its own for Raylan who gathered him in one arm, off hand settling on the high of Malcolm's hip.

"Mm, I could get used to this kind of welcome," he murmured when the kiss broke. "Had a good day?"

[abrightboy]

"It's always better once you get here," he admitted, "but I went shopping... I made a mess...." he explained, gesturing around, then he looked at Raylan. "That's normal stuff, right?"

[tinstar]

Raylan glanced around at the mess with a grin, happy it was here too. "Yes, very normal," he assured stealing another kiss before pulling back and away to start getting comfortable. Gun and badge on counter was his first stop before he peeled off his jacket and started in on his tie.

"Do I get to see the garden box? How far did you get on that today?" Did you have fun? It was underlying there somewhere, in his features, in his tone. Malcolm's selfie looked like he was having fun.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm laughed. "I will show it to you... let me just take these out of the oven," he said, pulling the tray of scallops out and setting them on top before coming back around the counter, his fingers brushing lightly over Raylan's badge as he passed it before heading towards the terrace.

"I only made one of the boxes," he said. "And it's not great. And it's my third attempt. I have to buy more wood tomorrow."

He had fun. And frustration. But it kept his brain busy, regardless. But that smile? That smile had been for Raylan.

He stood in front of it and looked down at it dubiously and then looked at Raylan. It was a little crooked but at least there were no signficant gaps between the pieces this time.

[tinstar]

Taking the chance to pull his shirt from his waist, Raylan hummed in anticipation of what he saw on that tray and started unbuttoning his shirt as he followed Malcolm out.

"No one's perfect outta the gate," he assured with a grin as he stepped out and stopped in front of the box. His eyebrows lifting, face curling with a nod of approval. "Four sides and a bottom - looks like a box to me. Good job," he praised, slipping his arm around Malcolm's waist with another nod. "I bet the next one you get together will be better than this too. The whole practice makes perfect thing. Wood is no different."

[abrightboy]

He looked at the box, then looked at Raylan again. "The instructions make it look so simple," he almost pouted. "I thought I'd at least get it up and painted in a day."

He was not used to finding learning things difficult.

"The guy in the video built the whole thing in, like, an hour and a half."

[tinstar]

"Yeah, but I bet he was a pro or something," Raylan dismissed with a bob of his head and a smile. "I bet he didn't manage a box on his first day."

He smiled at Malcolm.

"Ya did good." He looked back inside at the meal and then back again. "How much longer til dinner is done?"

[abrightboy]

"It's done now!" he exclaimed with some excitement. "I just need to plate it."

He went back inside and into the kitchen, setting nine scallops on one plate and three on the other and a serving of beans on the first plate and couple of beans on the other. He then rummaged in the fridge and set a sprig of fresh parsley on each plate, grabbed a couple of rolls of silverware and carried them over to the table.

"Ta-da!" He looked at Raylan. "What do you want to drink?"

[tinstar]

Raylan turned them towards the door, following Malcolm inside and shutting the doors behind them as he went.

"You cooked, I'll get my own drink. And yours too. What do you want to drink?" he asked as he gestured to the table before heading towards the kitchen himself.

[abrightboy]

"There's sparkling water in the fridge," he said with a charmed smile, sitting down. "I'll have a glass of that."

He slid the napkin ring off his silverware and set the napkin across his lap.

[tinstar]

"One sparkling water," Raylan echoed, as he pulled two different glasses down, putting scotch in one before reaching into the fridge to pull out and pop open one of the fancy bottles. Once Malcolm's glass was filled, he came back with both of them and took his seat after setting them down.

"What brought on the scallops?"

It was easier than talking about his conversation with Art and he assumed that Malcolm would eventually ask about it. Generally, he was too curious to seem to help himself.

[abrightboy]

"I was thinking 'what's quick and edible?' and came up with 'seafood' and went from there." He cut one of his into quarters and took a careful bite, then pointed at the plate with his fork. "Solid food two days in a row."

[tinstar]

"These life things might be doin' you some good," he said playfully as he stabbed one and popped it in his mouth, humming shortly after with a nod. "Good too." The scallops, that was.

But he was hungry and Raylan wasn't a man to mess around when it came to his food. The next few minutes would be busy with that before he finally broke for air and a sip of his scotch.

"We got a new player in Harlan today. Avery Markham. Old Country Crime money. I think Boyd might go after him."

[abrightboy]

A cool case was definitely the way to distract Malcolm from asking about Art.

"Go after him? In what sense? To kill him? To show him who's boss around here?"

He barely got the question out when Raylan's phone rang.

[tinstar]

Raylan frowned at the tones coming out of his pocket and leaned back to fit his hand in, fishing out the reliable blackberry he'd stubbornly stayed with for so many years. He didn't recognize the number but that didn't mean anything for a number that was so widely findable.

"Givens," he answered, brow pinched in a faint concern about what was going to mess up his dinner.

[abrightboy]

Malcolm hoped Raylan didn't have to go back to work, but he didn't say anything, carefully cutting a bean into thirds.

"Raylan!" came the cheerful voice on the line. "It's Martin Whitly. Can I call you 'Raylan'? Deputy Marshal is a bit formal when I hear we're practically family these days."

[tinstar]

The phone was pulled away from his ear so he could stare at it like it had shocked him or something and abruptly hung up the call, eyes lifting to Malcolm.

"How did your father get my number?"