James Ryan Haywood. That was the name that was written on Gavin’s wrist in the tiniest, sloppiest, hardest to read soulmate mark ever. Seriously, couldn’t the man have at least tried to write neatly? How was he ever supposed to find a soulmate who’s name he couldn’t bloody read?! It was like Ryan hadn’t even wanted to be found. Though, that wasn’t too far from the truth.

Gavin David Free wasn’t written across Ryan’s wrist. It wasn’t stashed anywhere else on the other’s body either- there was no connection between them. Instead, Gavin’s name was on the bearded man who probably deserved better. Or at least deserved someone who had his name. The entire office was just a mess of soulmates, after all. Like Ryan and Ray.

Ryan had Ray Narvaez Jr written right over his heart. Because why just make it a mismatch? Why not absolutely rub it in Gavin’s face that the name he’d held onto all his life wasn’t even actually his. It belonged to one of his best friends who got all the cheesy romantic and ridiculous things Gavin had always dreamed about as a kid. None of this damn situation was fair.

Sighing, he moved the slap bracelet down to cover his wrist again. Maybe one day he’d show Ryan- but not today. Not when Ray and Ryan was still so new that he might ruin it just by showing off. For now he’d accept Jack’s offer for a dinner between friends and then maybe drink and talk with Geoff about what could have been.

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There’s been radio silence for the last twenty minutes.  Two explosions, way too many cops, and silence that is driving Ryan past the point of sanity. Not that he was ever really far from it anyways- being the Mad King and all that. Still, it’s too quiet. Even for the tail end of a heist it shouldn’t be this quiet. Geoff or Jack should still be screaming for everyone in his ear. Or at least Ray should be saying something. Their sniper had been far enough away that he should have gotten out of everything just fine.

The cops are closing in on him. The alleyway he took has one exit and two fire escapes that won’t lead him anywhere but out of cover. Ryan’s got more than enough firepower to take them out but right now he doesn’t have the patience. He needs to get out- to go fix the radio silence and make sure that Gavin’s okay. Frowning under the mask, he readies the tommy gun he’d been carrying. His finger is still on the trigger when it’s Officer Sorola that steps forward, alone.

The Officer offers out something and Ryan drops the gun back to hang at his waist when he sees what it is. His ear piece. The radio hadn’t gone silent, he’d lost the damn ear piece that connected him to everyone. Laughing silently, he gratefully takes it and places it back in. The sound of Gavin’s voice has never been sweeter, even if it’s panicked yelling about a missing teammate.

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The necromancer isn’t safe here. Gavin knows that like he knows that the closest cleric to them is more likely to argue with them than fight. Jack’s only a little bit to the North, but it’s still too close. Besides, only a bit further than him is that paladin who’s nickname is all about undead slaying. So when Gavin trips over his words, for once it’s not because he’s flustered over something the handsome man said.

It’s because they’re not safe. Gavin’s current travelling group won’t accept someone with a skeleton bull companion. The town they’re at has only a church of life. It ignores that Erivorte is also the God of death- and preaches how every necromancer is denying His will. It’s possibly the worst town for them to have seen each other in. Gavin shakes his head, tears in his eyes as he covers Ryan’s mouth. “No you don’t understand. You have to leave! They’ll have your head if you stay here and I can’t.. I-”

“Gavin..” Ryan says softly, pulling the ranger’s hands down into his own. “I understand. What direction is your group travelling?”

“East.”

“Then I’ll go ahead and meet you at the next town. I’ll wait for you there, I promise.”

“Ryan-”

“I love you, Gavin.” The necromancer leaned down to kiss the other man before retreating back to Edgar. “Go back before they suspect anything. I’ll see you soon.”

“I love you too.” Gavin whispered, his lover already gone. He made his way back to Jack, Caleb, and Chris with a sense of nausea. So many questions had gone unanswered, so many moments stolen away but it wasn’t worth the risk. Not here. He suggested that they get moving to the next town, eager to spend some time with Ryan.