Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

It was the day before the second to last race of the season, which at this point left like a countdown to his own funeral.

Ruben had received a small envelope from Kate, all it included was a time, address, and a small note, written on it was,

"Joshua and Sonny need to get their shit together"

He knew Pearce and Sonny were acting like manics on the track, he was the one having to explain it to the not-so pleased board members for goodness sake, but he had no clue what the note had to do with dealing with them.

In any case, he trusted Mckenna wholeheartedly with whatever she was planning, she was one of the most intelligent people he'd ever met, reminding him of an older version of his daughter, Bianca.

He could only hope whatever she was planning could at least help manage that dumpster-fire.

He arrived at the exact time, and walked into the restaurant to find Kate, Sonny and Joshua playing a game of, poker?

He moved towards the table, nothing but confused at the sight in front of him.

"Hello Ruben! You came quite late, we're just about to finish our game of poker!" Kate cheerfully greeted.

"Oh, late? I followed the exact time on the envelo-"

"Don't worry about it! We're choosing the number one driver fer' the race tomorrow, whoever wins gets the spot." She added

"And Joshua  is winning?

That got Sonny fighting every damn muscle in his body not to laugh, with Joshua grinning like crazy.

"Yes, old man, I am winning." The young man asserted

"We're tied" Sonny blurted out, still clearing fighting a war he was horridly loosing.

Ruben noticed the cups of alcohol on the table, Kate had a half-emptied pint cup, Joshua had a few beer bottles, and Sonny two empty cups, and was currently on his third.

Sonny had a high alcohol tolerance, but he was still a little tipsy, nothing to bad though, the guy used to drink till he blacked out when the two of them were younger.

Ruben watched as they both bet all in, only for the cards to filp, and Joshua only had a pair of fives, the poor kid was about to get humbled horridly- 

did Sonny just fold!?

Did Sonny Hayes, just fold, too a pair of FIVES!?

Ruben was thankful for his ability to keep composure, but what was Sonny thinking!?

He watched Joshua celebrate, and shared glances at an equally baffled Kate for a moment, both having a mutual understanding of what just happened, but at least there shouldn't be any problems next race.

Kate had a smirk flash on her face for just a second, before asking,

"Does everyone have someone to drive fer' them?"

Joshua mumbled something about his cousin, but all Sonny did was shrug.

"Ruben, do ya' mind taking Sonny back to the 'otel? I've got some friends picking me up so Im all set, we don't need one of our drivers crashing into a lamp-post."

Sonny tried to protest, but he wasn't exactly in the best condition to drive, so Ruben ended up have to drag him like a stubborn mule to the car.

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The car ride was going to be short, only twenty minutes according to the directions on his phone. He started the car and began to drive, with Sonny mumbling something to himself about how Kate should mind her damn business,

"I'd rather you not die, Sonny." He remarked, thirty years passed and he could still read Sonny like an open book.

"Im perfectly fine, dickhead." He got in response

"You just went all in, and got beat by a pair of fives, that's pathetic if anything, far from fine." He continued

"I didn't get beat by a pair of fives! I folded!"

"You still lost, to a kid who's barely played, too. Beat, folded, same thing."

"I would've swept the floor with that kid if I hadn't!"

"How convincing, Sonny."

Sonny shoveled in his pockets for a bit, before finally pulling out two cards,

"See!"

Ruben took a quick glance at the hand Sonny had, and the man wasn't lying in the slightest. Pearce should be thankful he was shown mercy, sweep the floor was an understatement, but who in their right mind bets everything they have on a pair of fives, Joshua, apparently.

"Alright, made your point."

"Told ya'!"

Once they reached the parking, Ruben killed the engine, and opened the door for Sonny,

"Wow, a gentleman, huh."

They got to the elevator, with Sonny quite convincingly acting like he hadn't downed who knows how many shots under an hour ago. Sonny was about to exit when he motioned for Ruben to follow him,

"C'monnnn, like old times"

Ruben looked at him with a deadpan expression, before sighing and following him, Sonny always managed to get his way with Ruben.

They stood on the balcony for half an hour, but Ruben couldn't count the time passing, it all blended together.

It was just like old times, except they would've been much more chatty when they were younger, instead now was silence.

The silence wasn't awkward, it felt welcoming, comforting, just the two of them gazing at the city view.

Chapter Text

Ruben pulled a cigarette out the box in his pocket, gazing at the sight. He reached futher into his pocket, only to realise he forgot a lighter, shit. He groaned out of frustration, grabbing Sonny's attention.

"You still smoke?"

"Yes, do you have a lighter?

"Dang, thought you'd quit by now."

"You didn't answer my question."

"I dunno."

"Wow, how helpful."

Sonny grabbed a ligher from his pocket, and shoved it to Ruben.

"Just take the damn thing."

"Thank you." Ruben said assertively

"Shut up."

"Why are you being so harsh, do you want a cigarette?" He teased while lighting the cigarette in his hand.

"Hell no, how do you even use that thing, it feels like shit."

"Oh please, you used to almost drink yourself to death when you were younger, looks like nothing changed, huh?" He gestured towards Sonny with his free hand, getting a laugh out the guy.

"Your still a pretentious asshole, nothing really has changed." Sonny teased as he leaned closer to Ruben.

"You know how to say pretentious? Im impressed, I thought it was too fancy for you."

"Your one to talk, remember when you tried saying "yacht" for the first time?" Sonny teased, now grinning like an idiot.

"Yacht is a stupid word."

"Ya-CH-t, look at all the yachts." Sonny continued, he leaned further, only a few centimeters from Ruben's face.

"Fine, you win." Ruben now was also smiling.

"Really? I don't think so." Sonny added,

"Remember you trying to spell Wednesday, back in F2?" He leaned even closer.

"Sonny, drop it." Ruben backed up a bit, still smiling.

"Wenday, you wrote Wenday, Ruben." Sonny grabbed Ruben's tie to stop him from moving futher.

"What do I have to do to get you to stop, hm?" Ruben moved closer to Sonny, their faces almost touching.

"Whatever you want"

He cupped Sonny's face with his hand, and the kiss felt almost too natural.