The Dreamtrap

 

   They got back to the house almost three hours later, and Julian threw two plastic-wrapped bags onto the couch when they walked inside, shutting the door after them.

   “Could care less about the color,” he said after Desmond looked on the couch, trying to see the bags without getting off his chair.

   “I am not much into color-coordinating,” Desmond shrugged and leaned on the back of the chair with satisfied look on his face. “Took you a while,” he said. “Got lost?”

   “I don’t get lost,” the blond replied absent-mindedly, swiftly putting his laptop together and unplugging all the cords.

   Desmond narrowed his left eye and looked at content Raven who was leaning onto the wall, his hands in his pockets. Suddenly, the ex-assassin let out quick, loud laughter and stabbed his cigarette in the ashtray.

   “Hell, yeah, it was funny,” he said, grinning widely.

   Raven blinked at that, and Julian threw him a dark glance without saying anything.

   “What was?” Gabriel came out of the kitchen, licking something off his finger absent-mindedly.

   “Nothing,” Julian said shortly.

   “Raven played dead on Emerald Court light,” Desmond completely ignored the blond. “Apparently, he was quite convincing!”

   “I thought you said you don’t eavesdrop,” Raven said in a strained voice.

   “Unless I want or absolutely have to,” Desmond nodded energetically. “This fits into one of the categories. But yes, it was funny,” he grinned again.

   “Well,” Gabriel said in somewhat thoughtful voice. “I can see it both ways; I wouldn’t find it funny if you did it to me, for example,” he nodded. “Which, knowing you,” he added pointedly. “You would!”

   “I won’t,” Desmond shrugged and reached for another cigarette. “I don’t do copycat routine,” he still wouldn’t look away from Raven; it seemed like he wasn’t even trying to be subtle.

   Raven let out a short, annoyed sigh and stared into Desmond’s green eyes without shifting his gaze, small smile playing on his mouth. Suddenly, Desmond blinked somewhat rapidly and broke eye contact.

   “Ugh!” he said and got up, heading towards the coffeemaker.

   Raven let out satisfied laughter.

   “Two can play this game,” he called after frustrated Desmond. “I have a hell of a lot more images, believe me…! That one was the mildest, just so you know!”

   “Ugh,” Desmond said again, emerging from the kitchen with a coffee mug glued to his mouth.

   Gabriel sighed, deciding that he really didn’t want to know what image Raven just flashed in Desmond’s head.

   “Let’s go,” Julian walked towards the door, black bag across his shoulder. “Goodbye,” he said in his usual manner, glancing briefly at both men in the kitchen.

   “Please, do not come back,” Desmond said sincerely.

   “That’s the plan,” the blond sighed and left the house, his arm draped over Raven’s shoulders.

   “Do you wanna know what he showed me…?” Desmond started saying when the front door finally closed.

   “No,” Gabriel said firmly. “And if you dare describing it to me, I am not cooking until the very end of August!”

   “Damn…” Desmond sighed, knowing that Rayhe meant it.

   “I guess Magda is gone for good,” Gabriel said thoughtfully several minutes later.

   “Spirit or not, but that spider meant business,” Desmond nodded with satisfaction.

   “Holy hell,” Rayhe sighed and took the mug out of Desmond’s hands. “This is finally over…” he placed his hands on either side of Desmond’s head, pressing his forehead against the other man’s without looking away from green eyes.

   “Could be the beginning of something new…” Desmond said with a small smile.

   “Stop talking,” Gabriel winced and helped him to do just that.