Chapter Text
Rafael remembers that it had been uncharacteristically sunny outside for mid-October, and he thought about Sonny’s love for warm weather as he shed his coat. Light filtered into his office through cracked blinds and for once, he didn’t mind it because it had felt like a good day. Both he and Sonny would be off work at a reasonable hour, so they were going to have dinner together, cuddle with glasses of wine, perhaps even fool around for the first time in what felt like forever.
Those thoughts and plans kept Rafael smiling for most of the day.
At three in the afternoon, Sonny texted that he wouldn’t be able to make it home, that he was working late and it was important. He followed it with a heart emoji and an uncapitalized ‘i love you’ written like a Hail Mary. Sonny said and did things like that as merely a nature of being, so Rafael simply asked how long and did not receive an answer. Finally, he primly informed Sonny he’d be working late at the office and not to wait up should he manage to get home first. It was petty, but it made Rafael feel less hurt for the next few hours.
At one in the morning, he realized he still hadn’t heard from Sonny despite being so late at work, and messaged Liv asking how the case was going, if Sonny could come home soon. She called him. Told him that she didn’t know what he was talking about because Sonny went home early, actually, at around four.
Rafael knew something was wrong, in that moment. He sensed it the way dogs sense earthquakes and the squad sensed lies. His heart pounded in his chest in a poor parody of club music while the Uber he ordered sped him to their little home wrapped up in a towering apartment. While he wanted to believe Sonny had gone home, exhausted, and forgotten to say something about it, he was too aware how stupid the idea was.
When he walked into their apartment, there was no note. No scribbled final thoughts. No apologies or explanations. No last will. Just an unquestionable air of something being very wrong.
Sonny’s shoes were neatly left at the door and his coat on the hook. His gun, badge, wallet, keys and phone were laid out in a pristine line on the counter like an exhibit in a museum. All of the doors were open except for the bathroom, which was shut and had water that didn’t look quite right pooling where tile met carpet. Against his better judgement, Rafael crept towards the ominous door as alarm bells hit a crescendo in his ears.
He pushes open the door.
And screams.