Work Text:
L hunched in the chair beside her, his eyes ever so often drifting from the monitor that held his attention. It has been this way for months now, the slow creep of interest in another person morphing into something more. He never found the courage to admit it to her or himself, better to keep it locked inside, chained in his heart where no one could get hurt.
Lately, though, he was realizing it was harder than he had anticipated…keeping his feelings for her in check, buried away like a secret that didn’t deserve to see the light of day. What if she didn’t feel the same for him? Surely, and more so likely, her reciprocating his affections was not guaranteed. He easily took chances when there was a calculated risk, but this…this was something even his logic couldn’t touch.
His thoughts drifted back to the times they had spent together, The fine line between professional and personal always being skated, even crossed in the hours his demons awoke, seeking comfort in her friendship and kindness, remembering the way he confided some of his deepest truths to her about his past, how she didn’t bat an eye at them, just smiled and took his hand gently in hers, never asking for anything in return.
The more he thought, the more he decided she was worth the risk.
She turned to face him, a smile growing on her blushing lips. “You’ve been awfully quiet. No luck with that batch of evidence?”
Her soft whisper broke him from his thoughts, immediately realizing he had been staring at her this whole time. “Hmm? Oh, no, that isn’t it.”
She looked at him with concern, but tried to hide it. “Oh…did you find something? What’s on your mind?”
“You know I have feelings for you, correct?” The words blurted ineloquently from his lips, a scowl becoming heavy on his face.
Her entire expression softened as she looked at him, one he couldn’t read nor decipher. “Yes, Ryuzaki. I know.”