Going Out For Dinner

You wanted a Donovan and Mason interaction so that's what you got. Enjoy!

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Donovan sat at his desk in the office he shared with Carter typing up a report when Mason stuck his head in. Donovan glanced up but Mason was looking to Carter's empty desk, frowning. Donovan returned to his report. After a second, Mason spoke.

"Where's Carter?" he asked.

"She left a few hours ago to follow up a lead in Ohio."

"When will she be back?"

Donovan continued to type away. "In a few days."

"I'll come back then."

Retracting his head from the doorway, Mason vanished. Donovan didn't ponder for very long what Mason wanted with Carter. Their relationship was an odd one. From the outside, it looked like two dogs who constantly snapped at each other. Yet in some strange way that's why they were friends.

Mason reappeared a minute later, this time stepping fully into the office. Donovan didn't break his flow.

"You know I'll leave a note for her," he said.

"She has her phone," Donovan said.

Mason stole a piece of paper and started to scribble.

"It's a little too personal for a message."

When Donovan didn't comment on this remark, Mason stopped writing, Donovan didn't.

"Aren't you at all curious about what would be personal between your wife and me?"

"Sure, if I ever thought that there was a chance that you two would be involved."

"And you don't think we could be?"

Finally, Donovan paused and raised his head, looking at Mason blankly.

"Are you involved with my wife, Mason?"

"No!" Mason said as if the thought offended him.

"Then I don't care what you write to her."

Donovan typed out the last sentence of his report and sent it on. After clocking out and shutting down his computer, he rose and slid on his suit jacket. He grabbed his bag and keys and headed out of his office.

"Goodnight, Mason," he said.

But as he'd sensed, Mason didn't say goodnight. Instead, he trailed after Donovan. They both climbed onto the elevator.

"You want to get something to eat?" Mason asked. "It's on me."

"Sure."

Donovan leaned his shoulder against the wall and dug his phone out of his pocket. He sent off a quick text.

"You left me with Mason, come back now."

Before he could put his phone away it dinged.

"Good luck with that. He's been working up to something for the last two weeks. Why do you think I had to get away?"

"Is that Carter?" Mason asked, trying to see the screen.

Donovan shoved his phone away. "Yup."

"That's cute that you text each other," Mason said.

"Well, we are married."

"Naturally. There's a sushi place down the block, does that sound good? You'll like it, some of the best sushi I've ever had."

Donovan didn't bother pointing out that Mason asked if he was okay with it and then spoke like the decision was already made. They left the FBI building, walking into a cool night. Neither of them spoke as they walked but still, Donovan understood what Carter meant. There was something rattling about in Mason's head and he didn't know how to let it out. Donovan figured sitting down and having a face in front of him would do the trick. At least it meant a free dinner for Donovan.

After they sat and ordered, Donovan leaned back in the booth and looked at Mason. That was all the encouragement Mason needed.

In this regard, he was different from Carter. Sometimes getting Carter to open up was like pulling teeth, but with Mason, all you had to do was look at him and he'd spew everything. It was a trait he shared with Link.

"You know," Mason said. "I find it amazing that you and Carter are married. I mean I've known her for ages and she still pisses me off."

Donovan said nothing and sipped his water. Naturally, this wasn't about Carter.

Mason leaned forward. "Look at her, she's condescending, obnoxious, sarcastic. You can't say anything without her having a sharp comeback. And let's not get started on how closed off she is to most everyone."

Donovan figured Carter would have thrown some retort at Mason at this point, but he wasn't Carter. If Mason had wanted that, he should have waited until she came back.

"The girl is seriously guarded against letting anyone get close. It's a miracle that you two are even married. I'm smart and yet I don't see it."

Donovan thanked the waitress who set their meal before them. Mason didn't even bat an eye at her presence. Taking his chopsticks, Donovan admired the gold detail at the end then picked up the closest piece of sushi.

"How do you put up with her?" Mason continued. "It doesn't make sense. She doesn't share her emotions. She is slow to sharing anything of value. She's so damaged I wonder how she doesn't fall apart all the time."

Donovan liked the California roll. It was the perfect blend of flavors. Mason was right, this was the best sushi he'd had. He'd have to take Carter here at some point. Maybe when she got home.

"Clearly, you love her, but how? That's what I want to know. How can you love someone who is so broken, who has so much baggage from their past they would have to check three bags to get on a flight? It doesn't...it doesn't make sense."

Donovan reached for a tuna roll but stopped when he realized that Mason had finally stopped talking.

"Mason," Donovan said. "If Yvette hasn't broken up with you at this point, she loves you. Stop wavering and tell her."

Mason spluttered. "This isn't about me."

Taking the tuna roll, Donovan popped it into his mouth.

"Really, because I thought that's what you've been talking about for the last twenty minutes."

"Were you not listening at all? I was talking about Carter, your wife."

"No, you were talking about the traits you both share and trying to understand how Yvette could love you despite the mountain of faults you have."

Irritated, Mason worked his jaw, trying to find the right come back. Donovan set down his chopsticks.

"Mason, I don't love Carter despite her flaws. I love her because of them. They are what make her human. They are what make me work to grow as a man and a husband so that I can understand her more, be more patient. And it's the same for her. That's love. Not seeing the other as perfect, but loving them for being imperfect."

Mason snatched up his pair of chopsticks and stabbed a California roll.

"That's not what I was talking about at all. I was merely lamenting over how frustrating your wife is."

Donovan shrugged and snagged the tuna roll.

"If you say so."

As Mason scowled, Donovan fought back a smile.

**********

The city lay unnervingly quiet as Mason leaned against the side of his car. Streetlights lit up the sidewalk, staving off complete darkness. A single car drove past, its headlights flashing briefly at Mason before it disappeared around a turn.

The front door to the restaurant opened, letting out a group of employees. Mason straightened as Yvette broke away from the bunch. She'd pinned her hair up into a messy bun and though she smiled at the sight of him, she looked tired.

But that smile, it said it all. It made Mason's heart do things that freaked him out. How could a look affect him in such a strong way? How could seeing her yawn make him smile? How could everything she did make him want to watch her for hours?

It terrified him.

"Hey," Yvette said, stopping before him. "A little late for you to be out and about."

It was. It was two-thirty in the morning. Mason hadn't been able to sleep. Donovan was almost as irritating as Carter. At least he wasn't sarcastic and snappy. Still, his words had plagued Mason, making sleep impossible.

"I know," Mason said. "But I also know how you have to take the metro home and it's late, possibly dangerous so I figured I would come give you a ride home." He held up his hand, forestalling her words. "And yes, I know you're a strong independent woman and you don't need a man to look out for you-"

Yvette stopped Mason's monologue with her lips and he completely forgot what he was saying. He held onto her because right there and then life felt perfect.

When he kissed her it was like all the messed up pieces of himself weren't so messed up.

"Thank you," Yvette said. "That's really thoughtful of you."

Mason raised his eyebrows. "What? No, added comment about not needing protection?"

Yvette ran her fingers through his hair and he never wanted her to stop.

"Just because a girl can take care of herself doesn't mean she wants her man to stop caring about protecting her."

Mason kissed her again. He held the door open for her and circled to his side. The drive passed in silence but he didn't care, Yvette's presence made him feel peaceful. With her, he didn't feel like he had to try so hard. And at the same time because of her, he wanted to be better.

He found a spot in front of her apartment building to park and took her hand as he walked her inside. Outside her door, he paused. She looked up at him, tilting her head to the side. With the simple gesture, he felt he knew all the thoughts tumbling around in her head.

It hit him in the chest, he knew this girl. Knew her so much he understood the small nuances in her actions. But more than that, she knew him. She knew that he'd paused for a reason. She knew him. Yet here she was, looking up at him like she wanted to know more.

He had to say it. But finding the courage to lay himself bare felt like the most difficult thing he'd ever done.

"Yvette," he said, his voice strained.

As if sensing the mental and emotional battle taking place inside him, she touched his cheek. It seemed to still the riot in his chest.

"I...I..." He swallowed and gritted his teeth. "I love you."

His mind yelled at him that he shouldn't give himself away like that, that he was an idiot for putting his trust and his heart into someone else's hands.

"You don't have to say it back," Mason rushed on. "I understand if this is something that you don't feel and that it might be hard to since I know who I am and how difficult I can be at times. I get that-"

Yvette wrapped her arms around Mason's neck and kissed him. It was a sufficient tactic to shutting him up and one Mason enjoyed every time she used it. Maybe he talked a lot so she would.

She broke away but kept her arms securely around him.

"I love you, Mason," she said.

Words, simple words and yet hearing them spoken to him sealed cracks in his heart that had been there for so long he'd forgotten. He was loved by someone who knew him. Not by millions of people that had only loved him because of who his father was. By friends who only wanted to be close to him for his status. Loved him only because of some image they had of him.

She loved him.

"I've loved you since our fourth date," Yvette said. "And I loved you enough not to tell you till now because I knew how it would scare you. I know getting close is hard, so I wasn't going to push you."

She shrugged. Mason wanted to laugh at the lightness in his chest. She knew him, she truly knew him and still, she loved him. "I was willing to wait because each day I got to see more facets of you. And each facet however perfect or imperfect made me love you more."ย 

He kissed her, fully understanding Donovan. He wasn't loved despite his flaws, he was loved because of them.

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Heyo Pumpkin pie!

Are you ever bored with me asking you your thoughts on the chapter? If so, I hope you never feel like you have to answer it. This is a safe place! ๐Ÿ’ฌ๐Ÿ’ญ๐Ÿ—ฏ

As you can tell because OH MY GOSH MASON SAID I LOVE YOU!!! This is a huge step forward and I could not be more proud of him.

I know it would hurt Donovan's feelings but sometimes Mason holds more pieces of my heart, he's just so delightful messed up but still manages to grow and I love him for it.

Donovan is usually perfect all the time so I love him but he doesn't really need to grow, not like Mason does.

I'm curious where your feelings are at:

Our boi Donovan.

Our lovable scoundrel Mason.

Oh! I don't know if like Booktok or videos in general about being a reader or writer but I've been making funny videos for my Instagram reels and I figured I'd let you know!

I've been having a blast with them and thought you might too. ๐Ÿคทโ€โ™€๏ธ

My Instagram is Joymoment or you can use the link in my bio.

Vote, comment, follow but only if you feel it necessary!

I feel like Donny boy is the wise older lion and Mason is the yougin!

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