Work Text:
Tim slumps into the locker room after a long shift and sits down on the bench and running his hand through his hair. He wants nothing more than to go home and curl up with Lucy who is probably already in bed.
He hates metro hours sometimes and he hates that he has to crawl into bed and then crawl out of it a few hours later. The only good thing about that is, he’s never alone when he goes to bed or wakes up, Lucy is usually always there.
He slowly gets up and starts changing out, when he hears low voices coming around the corner from where he is.
“She is a hot piece of ass.” One voice says and Tim pauses and frowns as he tosses his shirt into the locker and grabs the shirt he wore into work today.
“Agreed.” Says another voice. Tim doesn’t recognize the voices but they are probably new patrol officers.
“Is she dating anyone or is she single?” The first voice asks. The second voice sighs loudly and Tim pauses again. He wonders who the hell they are talking about, because they shouldn’t be talking about any woman that way.
“I think that Bradford guy. He’s a metro sergeant.” The second voice says. Tim freezes and then pulls his shirt all the way on and inches closer to the two men talking.
Oh. He knows exactly who they are talking about. And he doesn’t like it one bit.
“That asshole? She could do so much better than him. Plus isn’t he like a lot older?” The first voice says. “I could show her what it’s really like to—”
“Like to what?” Tim rounds the corner and the two men turn on their heels to face him. Their eyes are wide. The first man’s mouth is hanging open, and the other man is looking anywhere but at Tim.
“Oh sir.” Says the second one nervously. “Um…”
“Do you just stand around in the locker room and degrade female officers?” He snaps. “Is that the cool thing to do now?”
“Look man.” Says the first man. Tim squints at his name tag. Tucker. “We were just saying what a good cop she is.”
Tim steps closer to them. Tucker doesn’t move but his friend shuffles to the side nervously. “You called Officer Chen a hot piece of ass.” Tim growls. “You said nothing about her being a good cop. Which she is and she would kick both of your butts.”
Tucker rolls his eyes at Tim. “Everyone knows she slept with you to get to the top.” He says cooly. “Of course you will say she’s a good cop, you get to tap that every night.”
Tim steps forward and lifts Tucker up slamming him up against the lockers. His friend makes a noise of protest but doesn’t do anything.
Tucker squirms under Tim’s hold, “This is assault.” Tucker chokes out and Tim releases him but doesn’t let him get far.
“Stop being a asshole and stop degrading women.” Tim growls. He turns to the other man who is staring at them with wide eyes. “I would pick better friends if I were you.”
He storms off grabbing his bag from the bench. “See he’s an asshole! Chen will dump him soon. He’s not worth it.” Tim hears Tucker say. Tim has half a mind to go back and show Tucker what he deserves a swift punch to the face would do it but he decides he doesn’t want to be suspended or fired. He stomps through the station ignoring the looks of the other officers and hops in his truck, slamming the door angrily behind him.
He knows he shouldn’t have lost his temper but these two were idiots. They had no idea how long it took for him and Lucy to get to where they were now. And it was worth it. Lucy was worth it.
To hear these two idiots say the things they said: he’s an asshole, too old for her, she slept to the top to get to where she is.
It made him angry, it made him feel like his skin was on fire. He hit the steering wheel once causing the horn to go off.
He sighs as he backs out of the parking lot, the men’s words rolling around in his mind. Asshole. Too old. She will dump him soon. She deserves better.
He pulls in front of Lucy’s apartment building and parks but doesn’t get out.
What if she realizes he’s not worth it? What if she does break up with him? What if he is too old for her?
They never actually discussed their age gap but…
He sighs and grabs his bag out of the car and makes his way upstairs, he’s quiet going in. He knows Tamara is probably asleep and so is Lucy. He slips into Lucy’s room and drops his bag down and then slips off his pants and grabs his pajama pants that are hanging over a chair. He pulls his shirt off and tosses it aside and then slides into bed.
He doesn’t go to sleep though, he just lays there thinking about what happened in the locker room.
“You are thinking too loud.” Lucy mumbles. She rolls over and cuddles up next to him placing her hand on his heart. “What’s wrong?”
Tim is silent and Lucy is patient as she draws patterns on his bare chest. “Do you think I’m too old for you?” He asks. Lucy sits up and looks at him confusion written all over her face.
“No.” She says. “I don’t think you are too old for me.” Tim blinks at her once and then twice.
“Do you think I’m an asshole?” He asks. Lucy furrows her brows at him and then turns completely so she’s looking at him.
“No. You are not an asshole Tim. Where is this all coming from?” She asks.
Tim blows out a breath and looks away from her. “There were some guys talking about you in the locker room. It was degrading more than anything. And that’s not going to fly so I confronted them and this one—he said I was too old, I was an asshole and you would break up with me. And you deserve better.” He says and he feels so stupid saying it out loud.
“And you are worried about all this?” Lucy asks. He doesn’t answer and Lucy smiles and moves so she’s practically on top of him. “First of all you are not too old for me. Age is just a number Tim and I have never even thought about that. Second of all, you are not an asshole.. maybe you were but I know that wasn’t really you. You are a big—”
“Do not say I’m a softy.” He grumbles.
“You are a big softy for me.” Lucy finishes grinning at him. Tim’s lips twitch into a smile. He wants to deny it but he can’t. Lucy just does something to him, and he can’t help but turn a little soft when he’s around her.
He scoffs but Lucy continues. “Third of all, I am not going to break up with you. I can’t think of a world where I would willingly break up with you.” She says and she reaches out to run her fingers across his face. “And you deserve everything good Tim.”
“That’s you.” He mumbles. She smiles at him and gives him a small kiss.
“Those officers don’t know us Tim. We are strong, we know what our relationship is. We are worth the risk remember?”
Tim nods and pulls her down to kiss her. “Yeah.” He says quietly. “They also said you slept to the top.”
Lucy rolls her eyes. “Everyone who knows us, knows that’s not true Tim. Like I said Tim they don’t know us. And our relationship really is no one’s business. Except ours.” He smiles because he knows she’s right.
“You are right.” He says. She grins and pokes at his chest.
“I usually am.” She says teasingly.
“This is the first time.” He shoots back.
“Shut up.”
He rolls his eyes and she rolls off of him and slots her leg in between his and wraps her arms around him and then lays her head on his chest.
“So what did you say to these officers?” She asks.
“I told them you could kick their butts.” He replies and she laugh and nuzzles her nose into his neck.
“Were you just saying that or could I actually take them?”
“Oh you definitely could take them.” He says.
She huffs out a laugh. “Goodnight Tim.” She says and he listens as her breathing evens out.
“Goodnight Lucy.” He replies. And he falls asleep too, feeling luckier than ever to have someone like Lucy by his side.