26. Cinema Shenanigans (Ian Edgerton)
Tony couldn’t believe he had a free afternoon at the same time his lover did. Yes, that’s right. Tony had a serious long term lover and it would be an even bigger shock to everyone to know it was a very sexy male FBI agent. They were both in LA at the same time and Ian had phoned him up. “Hey so you’re in town, I’m in town and the Los Angeles theatre has a matinee showing of Sorry Wrong Number.”
Tony walked away from Tim and Ziva who were arguing about what to do with their afternoon off before their red eye flight back home. “Hello sexy - so you planning on seducing me?”Ian snickered. “Oh, I will do that and so much more. Meet you there?”Tony signed off with a very bland acceptance. It grated on him but when he and Ian had first met - it just wasn’t safe for either of them to acknowledge how much they cared for the other. Ian was a Sniper in Special Forces and Tony was a young Detective on the force. Attitudes were slowly changing but back then they would have had no chance. You couldn’t do their jobs and worry about a lack of backup.McGee rolled his eyes. “Do you seriously have a date? We only just landed here yesterday!”Tony smirked knowing how much it bugged the other agent. He had to laugh as poor McClueless didn’t realise that most of his dates were him snatching time with Ian or just outrageous phone calls between the couple for their own amusement. Their lives were not easy but they made it work.“Yes, I do. You will have to keep Ziva company and I will meet you at the Airport.”McGee stiffened. “Gibbs won’t like it.”Gibbs snorted. “Tony is a big boy now and I only order him about on the job. Now all of you get out of here, I want to have my coffee in peace.”Tony quickly made an exit stage left. He heard a screeching howl that could only belong to Ziva and had to smile. He had no doubt his nosy aggravating co-workers would try and tail him but they had no chance. He could evade a tail better than most, it kind of was an important skill when taking on rougher undercover assignments. He weaved around the streets, remembering them from a holiday he’d taken in the city of Angels before.
Ian was standing there in Tony’s favourite dark shirt and slacks. It was too bad they were going into a dark theatre room because Ian’s ass was made to be ogled in those pants. Ian hugged him close. “It’s been too long.”
Tony agreed and wondered what they could do about it. That was a thought for later, right now he just wanted to revel in the fact that he and Ian could spend time together. The seats were comfy, more like couches - it was a new thing in more exclusive cinemas. Tony smirked when the lights fell and sat on Ian’s lap. The movie was one he’d seen a thousand times so Ian was of far more interest to him.
Ian didn’t blink and teased Tony within reason of them being in public. They were both Federal agents and as sexy as public acts might be for some, it wasn’t smart for them. “You should be watching the movie,” Ian whispered in his ear.
Tony shivered. “You are more interesting.”Ian was flattered, knowing just how important movies were to Tony. “Flatterer.”
Tony’s breath hitched when Ian kept up teasing patterns on his leg. It was a major weakness of his and Ian knew it. Tony whispered. “Damn, I have missed your magic hands.”
Ian chuckled, low and dirty, ramping up his desire. “Oh babe, I want to do so much more than that.”Tony wondered why they wanted to watch the movie instead of finding a hotel room. It was one of the perils of their type of relationship, both lived in and around Quantico but Ian’s job kept him moving all around the country. “Name the place.”
Any further thoughts were cut short hearing the telltale sound of a gunshot and the screams. Tony wondered what it said about the pair, that rather than run from the danger - they ran towards it.
The gunshots were not over and their training and instincts took over. They covered the innocent public members and Tony prayed that they survived this. He was going to hunt down the shooter and make him paying for ruining his date. The shooting then stopped, so either the sniper was out of bullets or their objective was achieved. “IAN!”Ian forgot about staying hidden for the sake of any priority. Tony could handle anything that came at him. “Not dead babe. Stay alive.”
Tony snorted and fell back on humour. “Next time let’s just find a room.”
Tony got up from the would-be second victim at the same time Ian lifted himself off his protectee. Tony was armed, as was Ian and luckily their badges were clipped to their belts - That way they wouldn’t be mistaken for civilians. Tony looked pissed. “Where from?”Ian already knew. “That building over there.”Tony sighed. “Back-up is coming but I’ve got your six, your call.”
Ian was off down the street and Tony was keeping up with him. It wasn’t what he had in mind for their date but it would do. They entered the alleyway, just in time to see a suspect exit. “Freeze FBI!”
The person bolted off in the opposite direction and Tony found himself asking. “Why do they always run?”Ian snorted. “Because they are stupid!”Tony’s lungs were better but he couldn’t be bothered to run. He saw the football on a shop stand and ‘borrowed it’. He pitched the football forward and watched it slam into the perp’s head causing him to crash to the ground in an ungainly heap. It would have been funny if the perp wasn’t wanted for shooting innocents.
Tony ambled up at a more sedate pace as Ian cuffed the idiot. “How is it that we went on a date and did the local LEO’s job for them?”Ian smirked. “We can multitask? Oh, and there is no way this will stay with the cops.”
Tony shrugged as it was as good as explanation as any. “I love how you Feebs always announce you’re coming, real smart with a sniper.”Teasing about their respective agencies was just a part of their relationship. It was always good natured and never mean. Ian, in all honesty, had no good response because Tony was right, there was no justifiable reason why you would do that.
Sure enough, not ten minutes after the event was finished, the FBI local agents were rolling up to the scene in their Sedans. Tony guessed given the surprised look on the lead Agents face, the guy knew Ian.
“Eppes you’re late to the party!” Ian teased the new guy.
Eppes didn’t bother to hide the shock. “So this is the shooter?”Ian nodded. “Shooter this afternoon yeah, unlucky for him two Federal Agents just happened to be in the cinema.”Don snickered. “I’m SSA Don Eppes.”“SFA Anthony DiNozzo. NCIS.” Tony responded shaking the guy’s hand, unlike Gibbs he knew how to make friends with people who might be useful.
Don nodded. “So this is the guy who shot five people today?”
That got the guy’s attention. “WHAT? No, I just wanted to get my cheating girlfriend. GQ saved her!”
Eppes had to snort. “GQ is a respected NCIS Federal Agent who carries a gun so I would avoid talking about his looks.”
Ian glowered, he was not blind to his lover’s looks but Tony was so much more than his appearance. Ian looked to Tony because even a glib comment that revealed him deserved a question - It was just good fortune that they had been together for long enough to no longer need words.
Ian loved the fact his persona was such that all he needed to say was. “And his partner is a sniper.”
The perp’s eyes bugged out and he looked scared. Ian could be offended, all he had done was look at the guy. It was not his fault the guy was easily scared.
“I didn’t shoot those others, I just wanted to get at my bitch of a cheating girlfriend.”Tony growled. “So dump her, you don’t shoot at people ... Not ever. You moron !”
Ian had to smile at his lover showing just what he was made of. The shooter, so big and mighty recoiled at Tony’s anger. He noted even Don seemed surprised by Tony’s reaction. Then to add a surreal gloss to tidings, Gibbs appeared on the scene throwing his weight around.
Gibbs stomped over to Tony and everyone held their breath. “How is it is you go to the movies with your boyfriend and get shot at?”Tony shrugged. “I’m lucky that way and Ian objected to the shooter calling himself a sniper.”“Didn’t police their brass.”There was a matching sneer on both of their faces and Tony did not like this. He did not need his lover and boss connecting. “Thanks for the concern boss and where are the duplicitous duo?”Gibbs smirked, “Running around chasing their tails in the airport. I told them you were going early to meet your lover at the terminal.”
Tony snickered because neither Tony nor Gibbs were happy when Vance insisted they stay on the team. Well, they would do as they were told but no one didn’t say that they couldn’t have some fun at David’s and McGee’s expense.
Gibbs was happy. “Well, I guess Vance will let us stay here for...”Tony smirked. “Inter-Agency cooperation?”
Gibbs nodded. “Yeah that you will have to sell.”Tony didn’t care because he could stay in LA with Ian and Gibbs and solve a case like the good old days. The fact of Ian and Gibbs both being in LA meant that the viral sniper shooters didn’t last long but that was a different story.