Love, in Progress

Nothing can change that

Tinsley nursed his drink tenderly, while Ricky had kept a steady pouring hand.

"How many glasses have you had?" Tinsley queried with a smile.
Ricky giggled, "Not nearly enough hun, are you still only on your third?"
"Ricky okay, seriously how many have you had?" Tinsley laughed. Ricky shyly held up more than a couple of fingers.

"Okay, you sir, are done for tonight!" Tinsley announced, taking the bottle away from Ricky.
"No- gimme! Give it back!", Ricky pouted, clinging onto Tinsley's arm, "Tinman please just one more- we can share?" he slurred with a dopey smile.
"And leave you one foot in the grave?Absolutely not- besides, I thought you said you didn't like sharing with other people?"

"Nah that's with criminals Tin tin, though you ain't exactly one of the fuzz are ya?" Ricky slurred curiously.
"Yeah I guess- I'm not really a good Detective, am I?" he sighed sadly.

"Don't you talk bad about yourself Tinsley, or Lo juro por Dios", Ricky leaned forward, poking Tinsley in the chest to emphasise his point, "You are a good Detective, the rest can sod off", Ricky waved dismissively, "They're no fun- bluenoses, the lot of them"

"But I- I couldn't even solve the Sodder case, it was supposed to be my big break! And now, now I'm getting chummy with criminals in the middle of nowhere, USA! What am I supposed to tell my family?! 'Sorry, you've wasted your time on a bloody disappointment, a nobody who can't even- who can't even'-" Tinsley choked up, desperately trying not to cry into the drink he was clutching.

Ricky gently pried the drink out of the taller man's hands and set it on the work surface, "Charlie, it doesn't matter how many cases are unsolved, how many suspects, how many crooks walk free- you are my Detective, and you are damn good at it too. Within the span of a few weeks, you were able to infiltrate a tightly knit crime family- nobody's ever got so close to us, to me, before. You've accomplished more in a few weeks than some do in years, so I won't hear any more of this", Ricky dragged the taller man into a comforting hug, "I love you Detective, nothing can change that."

Tinsley sniffled slightly and ran his fingers through Ricky's natural curly hair, "Thanks... I really needed that" he smiled.
"And I need another drink!" Ricky announced getting up.
"No, no more alcohol for either of us" Tinsley replied, pulling Ricky to his feet and letting him lean against him.

"Fine, I guess I'll concede a point to you detective, wait where are we going?" Ricky asked, with a squint.
"We're going to your room?"
"Oh, I see" Ricky smirked.
"No, not like that-"
"Aw, that's a shame."

The two men hurled into Ricky's room and barely made it to the bed, before slumping into a cozy pile of expensive booze, Ricky's cologne, and sleep.

A/N: Hey guys, here is a Tinsworth playlist I've made, check it out if you want to!

https://open.spotify.com/playlist/4OHmyevTsPt3yRF0Fc57b0?si=OJ-VEP97SQKZeabOtRyA5Q&utm_source=copy-link

Have fun!