man on the run • shyan

glutton for your affection

A/N: the two songs in this chapter are stand by me by Ben E King and sea of love by Cat Powers (in order)

((this is just a bonus but i was listening to can't help falling in love while writing this))

Cecil Tinsley has always been touched starved.

Despite how much his parents smothered him as the baby brother, he had always craved affection.

He's got a history of partners leaving him for being too clingy, each one giving him a pitying glance before walking away.

He fears one day he would be too much for Ryan too and he'll get bored of the detective eventually.

He doesn't complain, though. Ryan's always patient with the other man. Giving him whatever he wanted, whenever he wanted it.

Even when the criminal was busy, he always makes time for Tinsley, smothering him with as much affection as he craves.

Ryan was in the living room now, doing whatever he does that Tinsley doesn't question as the detective's skin starts to itch.

He misses the other man already.

So he makes his way to the criminal sprawled over paperwork he hastily covers up with books as he hears Tinsley approaching.

He turns around in the kitchen chair, his expression of concern melting into a fond gaze as Tinsley stares down at him wrapped in their bed sheets.

He doesn't say a word as the taller man automatically wraps his arms around him and buries his nose in the crook of his neck.

Tinsley holds onto the other man as tightly as possible, feeling the warmth and flesh as a reminder that Ryan was still here and hadn't left again.

Ryan wraps his arms around Tinsley's torso, nuzzling the side of his head as he hushed the troubled detective with soft words.

Tinsley craved being closer, like the miniscule distance between their bodies was still too much to bear.

Ryan had a desire to rip open his chest and allow Tinsley to climb into his rib cage. A measure to protect him, next to his heart.

Ryan had become Tinsley's solace alone in the dark and the detective fears at how attached to the other man he has become.

But still doesn't will himself to let go.

∆

They're outside now, a rare occurrence that came with the dangers of them being men as well as Ryan being a wanted criminal.

But it was a quiet night that night, the kind of night that made Tinsley feel like they were the last two people on earth, and Ryan had insisted taking Tinsley out that wasn't in Death Valley.

It was kind of cute and Tinsley had flushed at the implications of a date, a romantic night between the two of them that he had always wanted but knew he couldn't risk.

The city was asleep, not a car in sight this late into the dark, when they snuck out like reckless teenagers and drove off in a vehicle Tinsley has no doubts was stolen.

He remembers staring at Ryan's profile in the front seat, the way the city lights would cast little shadows on his sharp cheekbones as they rushed past.

He remembers kissing Ryan at every stoplight they came across.

They were laying in a clearing somewhere far from the city now, the sky dark and infinite above them making Tinsley feel so small. Ryan was under his arm, nuzzling into his side, lips pressing gentle kisses into the side of his neck.