Chapter Text
Gepard's everyday activities included chasing after Sampo, trying to bust him. Sampo's everyday activities included being a menace to society and trying Gepard's limits. In more than one sense. Physically, when they engaged in a literal pursuit. Mentally, when he was stirring up trouble. Emotionally, when he was smiling at Gepard like this; panting from the effort, but seemingly content regardless. For someone who just got caught in a dead end alley, he looked a little too smug.
The smirk made Gepard feel a certain way. He didn't know what way exactly, just... certain. The way only Sampo could get him into.
There was also the glint in those green eyes, currently busy looking him up and down. Inspecting Gepard as if he were an especially valuable item in an extraordinary collection. Gepard didn't know why, but he felt exposed, even though he clearly had an upper hand now. He wasn't exactly used to people staring at him like this. Like they desired him and were neither afraid nor ashamed to openly show it.
So, Gepard had Sampo cornered. Step by step, they were getting closer to the wall at the end of the road, facing each other and refusing to break the eye contact.
When Sampo felt cold bricks behind him, his smirk got even more lazy and infuriating. His body language didn't betray his true intentions. If he wanted to escape, and he must have, it didn't show at all. If anything, he seemed eager for the encounter. He arched his back and pressed his shoulder blades against the wall with delight, sighing theatrically.
Gepard had caught countless criminal offenders in his career, but none of them had ever acted quite like this man. By now, they would have been pleading, begging, apologising, maybe crying. Some might curse and swear, have a mental breakdown, get violent. Meanwhile Sampo...
Sampo's hands swiftly reached for the collar of Gepard's coat when the captain temporarily lost his focus, and pulled him closer. It took Gepard less than half a second to realise he's not being attacked, and a solid minute of dead silence and looking straight into a pair of impossibly green eyes to free himself from the grip.
Momentarily at a loss for words, he kept staring at Sampo from a safer distance. Was he really-...? Did Sampo really want to kiss him just now? Was Gepard about to let him? Had it not been for the fact Gepard was on duty... No, it can't be. He would never, would he? Well, they were quite close and the mood seemed somewhat right... Okay, no, no way.
“You...” Gepard managed, his voice a tad bit raspy. “Why did you-?”
What, tried to steal my first kiss? Gepard suddenly wanted to excuse himself to go smash his forehead against the wall. Whatever he was about to say, it all sounded pathetic and ridiculous even in his head. Like a line straight from a teen romcom.
Sampo was patiently waiting for him to continue, his smile akin to a pleasant mockery.
“Why did you run away? I wasn't there for you this time, so why did you suddenly start running?” was the final accusation. Better than batting one's eyelashes in confusion and asking something along the lines of 'Do you like me?' while blushing like a maiden.
“Oh?” Sampo tilted his head in question. “And why did you run after me?”
“Because-!”
The truth is, Gepard didn't have an answer to that. Or rather, there was no answer that wouldn't result in getting him in a predicament. He clenched his fists and pressed his lips into a thin line, mentally admitting defeat.
“Don't know about you, but it's basically a habit of mine now,” Sampo said gleefully. “Could say my body reacts to a mere sight of you.”
Gepard clicked his tongue and closed his eyes for a moment. Rubbing his temple, all he could think about was just how shameless this man could be to say something like that so casually and to Gepard, of all people–
“Aaaanyways,” Sampo continued, airily dismissive of Gepard's embarrassment. “Good to see you, my dear. It's been a while and I must confess: I've missed you.”
As he was speaking, he was gradually getting closer to Gepard, who was too stunned to realise it in time. Before the captain knew it, he was the one trapped between a grinning man and a brick wall. He could just push Sampo away, almost effortlessly. The thing is, he didn't really want to.
For a second, a glint of surprise went through Sampo's face. He probably didn't expect Gepard to cooperate and let him take his silly joke this far.
As for Gepard, he involuntarily remembered Serval half-jokingly, half-seriously giving him The Big Sister Talk. Her words softer, gentler, and not that patronising, but the message behind them crystal clear nevertheless: don't let that man get too close to you, he will only break your heart.
So what if Gepard had a soft spot for him? When had Captain Landau ever let his personal feelings or fleeting emotions get the better of him, especially while on duty?
He would never fall the victim to some flirtatious rascal's schemes, he's not stupid. Besides, it's not like Sampo was courting him or anything. He just said whatever, whenever. He often spouted loads of bullshit if there was even a tiny chance it would turn out to be beneficial, somehow. He tried to flirt and charm his way out of trouble and into people's hearts or egos. Whatever he said, usually didn't mean much. Every spoken sentence was a transaction, every word meticulously calculated in whatever currency Sampo's mouth was running on at the moment.
Either way, Gepard had learned not to treat him too seriously a long time ago. Sampo didn't flirt with him because he seeked a romantic relationship, he did it simply because he could. It always got him various reactions and that itself seemed to be rewarding to him. And Gepard... just humoured him, sometimes. It's not exactly horrible to be complimented and recognised for his hard work. Of course, he was aware at least some of it was just Sampo making fun of him, but still. Even when Sampo mocked him, he did it with so much boyish charm Gepard couldn't help but feel a pleasant warmth spread in his chest.
Gepard coughed lightly into his fist to focus. It's not wise to dwell on Sampo's shenanigans when he's working. Sampo was a known offender, for crying out loud, it's unprofessional to think of him as anything other than a bothersome figure.
Gepard finally regained his confidence and calm. He looked up to meet Sampo's eyes. He hadn't truly realised just how close the man was standing until now.
“I apologise for disrupting your peaceful evening and for the unnecessary pursuit. It wasn't my intention. But I'll have you know, just because you and your friends are no longer wanted criminals, doesn't mean you yourself are off the hook. You are still involved in some shady business I will put an end to, eventually.”
Sampo chukled, “Promises, promises. Well, good luck with that. Since the great Captain of the Silvermane Guards is that interested in me, I must make sure to properly entertain him, right?”
“Careful. I'll really keep an eye on you,” Gepard stated in an ice cold tone.
“And I hope you will,” Sampo said and winked, then lowered his voice so the next part came out as a secret he was only sharing with Gepard. “In fact, I hope you'll never take your eyes off me. Honestly? I don't like sharing.”
That was enough to make a blush creep up Gepard's face, but apparently, it wasn't enough for Sampo himself. He leaned in, resting his palm flat on the wall behind Gepard.
“What's wrong, captain? You seem hot and bothered.”
Again, Gepard could slap, hit, push him away. Or just strictly tell him to back off. But he didn't and he wouldn't, both of them knew that by now.
Not being able to hold the man's gaze any longer, Gepard broke the eye contact. By pure accident, his eyes wandered to Sampo's lips for a split second. He averted them quickly, but he knew it was too late. Sampo was nothing if not observant and cunning.
Sampo's smile turned truly devilish, at least from Gepard's perspective. He backed off a little. Gepard took the chance to distance himself from both the cold surface and the man attentively observing his movements.
“How curious,” Sampo said softly. “If I didn't know any better, I'd think you may actually like me.”
“Ridiculous,” snorted Gepard.
“Captain, oh, captain. You just wait,” Sampo purposely drawled the syllables in a child-like manner as he slowly approached Gepard once more. “I have my ways. Sooner or later, you'll be under my spell. I'll–”
“Let me guess, you'll steal my heart?” Gepard shot a glare at him. He hoped that would shut him up, at least for a second.
“Nope,” Sampo gave him the most enchanting, widest smile he could pull off. He used his gloved finger to stroke Gepard under his chin like one would pet a cat. “That's one thing I never intend to take by force. You'll give it to me yourself.”
“Shameless!” Gepard was so scandalised by his audacity he instinctively took a few steps back, walking into a trashcan nearby.
Sampo only chuckled and blew him a kiss. And if Gepard's face suddenly felt hot, it's because he got hit with a new wave of annoyance. The embarrassment he felt was not related to Sampo's light-hearted laugh or the way his eyes sparked with pure joy and mischief when they locked with his.
“A–anyway,” Gepard cleared his throat. “If there's nothing else, I ought to go.”
“See you around,” Sampo made that simple farewell sound so suggestive it was borderline inappropriate. His little wave when Gepard risked one last glance at him, on the other hand, was nothing but genuinely friendly and innocent.
“See you,” Gepard replied curtly. The blush, still apparent on his face and the tips of his ears, betrayed him.
Well, damn, his older sister was right. He had it bad.