Resslington

Resslington is the slash ship between Raymond Reddington and Donald Ressler from the The Blacklist fandom

Canon
Donald Ressler spent his last five years hunting down Raymond Reddington, a criminal and #4 on the FBI's most wanted list, with no success. Until one day, Raymond Reddington surrenders himself and a black OPs is forced to work with him. Since Donald Ressler is a part of that special OPs team he now has to work with Raymond Reddington, which isn't easy for him. There is a change in their dynamic, that reaches it's heights when Red saves Ressler's life.

Season 1
In Season 1, we notice Red's constant mockery and harassment of Ressler.

In the 9 episode, when the Post Office was attacked, Ressler did not abandon Reddington but rather he protected him.

Red asked Ressler why he doesn't let them have him, that he will be likely tortured for weeks and left to rot, something that Red thought that would please him, but Ressler replied that he could not give him up because he was an informant for the FBI which meant that his job was to protect him regardless of his desire to take Reddington's life,

While he was trying to protect him, he was shot in the leg. Red did not abandon him: he pulled him out of danger and saved his life. Ressler needed to transfer blood to his leg and Red asked him what is his blood type, and he replied that is B negative, so Red laughed and said "And you thought we had nothing in common. There are 2% of us, you know".



Red asked Ressler about Audrey and Ressler said that she abanded him because he spent five years of his life chasing him. Sometime later, Red had to make Ressler go in pain so he could take off the bullet, and after it Ressler fainted. Red was by his side protecting him. After everything is done, Ressler entered the hospital and Audrey visit him. This surprised Ressler, but at the bottom of his heart, he knew that happened because Red had contacted with her and told her that Ressler was in hospital.

In episode 16, when he wanted to know who killed his friend agent Raimo he Asks Liz to put him in touch with Red. Liz states that Red is looking for him, and asks what's happening between the 2 of them.

When the two of them met, Ressler asked Red if he had something to do with this, but Red said he knew how killed agent Raimo, which was Mako Tanida. Red was worried that Ressler would chase Tanida to get revenge. After Audrey's death, Ressler got decided to get reveng. Red gave him the information he needed, and Red warns Ressler that the path of vengeance required accepting a personal darkness that never vanishes. After Ressler discovered that his friend Julien was the person responsible of everything that happened, he tried to kill him, but at the end Julien commited suicide by Ressler's orders. He told himself that his greatest enemy brought her back and his best friend took her away.

At the end of the events, Mako Tanida escaped, until Reddington sent Tanida's head in a box for Ressler with a letter: "Donald, I want you to know that I do understand how you feel. There is nothing that can take the pain away. But eventually, you will find a way to live with it. There will be nightmares. And every day when you wake up it will be the first thing you think about, until one day it will be the second thing."

Season 2
In the 16 episode, Ressler asks Reddington to go with him but reddington refuses, until Ressler insisted that he will keep his mouth shut.

In this episode we see how Reddington and Ressler work together as partners. and this make ther relationship more stronger. Ressler started trusting Reddington a little more.

Season 3
From episode 18, after Elizabeth "died", Reddington was the most affected one. Ressler helped hm ge to his car and put him his sweater. When Reddington was about to fall, Ressler, alongside Dembe, grabbed him and helped him to sit down. Days later Reddington disappeared from the FBI's sight, and they were sure he wans't coming back after what happened to Liz.

Season 4
After some time, the FBI needed Reddington back. Aram tried to convince him but had no success. Donald understood why he didn't want to, but he and Cooper told Aram to that he needs to ask him again, since they needed to solve Elizabeth's case with Red.

Fanon
Donald and Raymond have been enemies for a long time, but nevertheless they have an respect based on a series of events that occurred between them. Since Raymond saved Ressler's life, Ressler has changed his view of him. Also the dynamics in their relationship changed.

Raymond also understands Ressler's feelings when he wanted to revenge for Audrey’s death and even helped him to get his revenge, and Ressler having respect towards Reddington for his choice of leaving the FBI after Keen's presunted death.

Fandom
FAN FICTION
 * Raymond Reddington/Donald Ressler tag on FanFiction.net
 * Raymond Reddington/Donald Ressler tag on FanFiction.net

TUMBLR

Quotes
"Donald, I want you to know that I do understand how you feel. There is nothing that can take the pain away. But eventually, you will find a way to live with it. There will be nightmares. And every day when you wake up it will be the first thing you think about, until one day it will be the second thing."

- Red