Chapter Text
(things you said when you were scared)
“That was unexpected,” Sam says, pressing his fingers against his lower lip and staring at Gene across the dusty air of Lost & Found.
“It was? You’re my DI and you’d no idea this was gonna happen?”
“I mean, I thought it could, but not like this.”
Gene narrows his eyes at Sam, and Sam can’t help but think about how long and dark his eyelashes look, how green his eyes are in the murky light. It’s possible he’s gone into shock.
“How’d you think, then?” Gene asks, leaning closer.
Sam’s never really found Gene imposing before, despite Gene’s best efforts, but at this very moment, he feels small against the hulk of Gene’s stature.
“I dunno,” Sam says, shrugging. “After one too many at the Railway Arms? After a fight in a damp, dark alleyway? Before you’d insist it was a mistake and it’d never happen again?”
“You underestimate me, Sammy-boy,” Gene says. “I’m mildly insulted.”
“Only mildly,” Sam says, flat.
“It’d take a lot of effort for you to make a dent in me,” Gene says, eyes glittering. He rocks back on his heel, reclines against the brick wall. “So, you said this was unexpected, but you didn’t say anything about unwelcome.”
Sam bites his lip, glances at the floor, takes a deep breath. He needs to collect himself. He needs to readjust his preconceptions and think about Gene’s done, what he’s said. Because, actually, now that he thinks about it – about the confidences they’ve shared and the experiences they’ve been through together, and the relationship they’ve worked towards – Gene kissing him softly after a case discussion and joint rifle through files isn’t so unbelievable. If he’d truly considered all the clues, he’d have seen this coming a mile off. When it comes down to it, he trusts Gene. He trusts him with his life, with limb, and he can be brave enough to trust him with his heart.
Sam draws himself to his full height, stares Gene in the eye. There’s a tick in Gene’s jaw that speaks to him not being quite as confident as he’s pretending, and when Sam encroaches on his space and draws his hand behind his head, the sound of Gene swallowing is loud enough Sam hears it.
Sam kisses Gene just as tender as he’d been kissed – exploring, tentative and curious. Gene winds his hands around Sam’s waist and draws him closer, makes the kiss go deeper. Sam’s heart kicks into an unsteady rollick and his chest goes tight with joyous anticipation.
When they pull apart, Gene graces him with the smile he usually only gives after they’ve defied death.
“Alright then, my little deputy dawg?” Gene asks, raising his eyebrows comically.
“Alright,” Sam agrees, smiling back.