Chapter Text
My heart is racing. My breath comes out in short, ragged puffs. Working on instinct, my eyes scan the area for threats. Nothing jumps out of the ordinary. Everything is as bright and lively as a carnival ought to be. I turn around anxiously, and inadvertently bump into my companion as he takes a step toward me. His long fingers brush against mine tentatively. When I don't move away, they wrap around my hand, giving it a soft, reassuring squeeze.
I look up, and my gaze meets Nate's. Neon lights dance across his face, vibrant pinks and blues making his eyes sparkle with intensity. His easy smile soothes my nerves, and I find myself unable to look away. How can one person be so beautiful?
“Are you all right?” he asks softly, and a sudden pang of guilt knot my insides for getting him worried over something so dumb, especially when this place must be playing havoc on his heightened senses.
“Yeah,” I breathe out.
I take another quick look around the place, noting the screaming children, the sideshows’ blinking lights, and the pungent scent of sugar and grease. It's a carnival alright, only a little more modern than the last one I visited twenty or so years ago, when I strayed from my grandparents and got lost in the crowd.
“No creepy animatronics,” I point out as nonchalantly as possible, though I'm doing such a bad job of it that I'm sure Nate could have seen right through my false bravado even without his vampiric abilities. “They must all be installed in the dark rides.”
He tilts his head to the side and looks at me curiously. “Is that what's making you so nervous?”
I frown. There's no mockery in his tone—not even a hint of teasing, yet I can't help but feel like I just told him I still believe in Santa. Though to be fair, if vampires, demons, and fairies exist, then who's to say the jolly old man doesn't? And who's to say those old animatronics aren't just waiting for the right moment to come to life and murder you?
“I know it's an irrational fear, okay,” I defend myself, “but these things creep me out.”
“They make me uncomfortable too,” Nate confesses with a frown. “There's something about those soulless eyes and the rigidity of their movements…”
His voice trails off and I shiver, though I'm not sure if it's the thought of coming face-to-face with one of these things, or the way Nate's fingers caress the back of my hand. All I know is that I miss his touch when he lets go of me. But his smile returns, enveloping me like a warm blanket, and I feel comforted even before he speaks again.
“I won't let anything happen to you, I promise,” he says.
My ears grow hot, but I somehow manage to keep myself composed long enough to whisper a quick, “Thank you.”
He slides his hands back into his pockets, his smile twitching slightly. “So I guess that means we won't be going for a ride through the Tunnel of Love.”
I let out a quiet chuckle. “That's probably a good thing. We're being watched, remember.”
I point at his jacket and the tiny camera strapped to it, suddenly all too aware of the rest of Unit Bravo's unseen presence. Of Adam's disapproving glare and Farah's excessive eagerness. Not to mention my mother…
“I would not have taken advantage of you in a darkly lit tunnel,” Nate tells me seriously, his smile gentle but no less seductive.
“That’s too bad,” I tease. “It might have been a good distraction from the creepy animatronics.”
He licks his lips, his eyes flicking to mine. “I would prefer to hold your full attention when we're finally alone.”
“I'll keep that in mind,” I breathe out, losing myself in his eyes.
Again.
My heart does an annoying little jump in my chest, as if I'd just climbed onto one of those roller coasters. But the wanton look playing on his face tells me the feeling is very much mutual, and that thought fills me with a certain kind of joy I haven't felt in a very long time.
Then a child starts wailing nearby, and the charm is broken.
We both let out a nervous chuckle, soon erupting into a pleasant laugh. His laughter is softer than mine but no less genuine. Its warmth ignites a fire deep inside me that even Adam's grumpy voice barking through our coms can't extinguish.
“Why aren't you scouting the place? This isn't a vacation. Get to work.”
“Don't be such a stick-in—” Farah's voice echoes before the signal gets turned off.
Nate sighs, and I roll my eyes so far back it gives me a headache. It’s all I can do to stop myself from throwing a rude gesture at the Commanding Agent.
“I'm not sure which is worse, the animatronics or Adam?” I joke.
“Oh, most definitely the animatronics,” Nate replies good-naturedly. “As far as I can tell, Adam has never given any of us nightmares.”
“I'm sure he's given someone nightmares before.”
He lets out a light chuckle. “Of that I have no doubt.”
“Anyway,” I go on, returning his smile, “I think we should get back to work before he gives us reasons to have nightmares.”
Nate offers me his arm, and I reach out to take it, letting his warmth seep into me.
“Lead the way, Detective.”