Work Text:
Clyde walked across the lobby of the hotel carrying two styrofoam cups of black coffee in steady hands. He sat down on the bench beside her, wordlessly holding out one of the cups as he took a sip from the other.
Emily pulled her finger out of her teeth and took it with a shaking hand.
They sat in silence, watching guests come and go in the lobby. They watched families with children, vacationing couples, honeymooners, and a few affairs before Clyde finally broke the silence.
“It’s okay.”
She breathed in sharply, shaking.
“I understand.” he took another sip of his coffee, still watching the people.
“Clyde I….I’m sorry.” she whispered.
“Don’t be. Anyone would be having second thoughts after what...after that.”
She looked down at her cup, her fingers white around it.
He took another sip followed by a deep breath.
“...you never do.”
He chuckled. “I have second thoughts every day, darling – I’m just in too deep to get out.”
She looked sharply at him. “Clyde-”
“No. No, we are not comparing circumstances.” He said, letting his commanding voice take over.
“clyde!”
“yes, boss.” he said for her, smiling a little. “You go back home, love. You get a desk job and you go home at the end of the day and you be happy.” he finally looked at her. “Be happy. For both of us.”
She swallowed, and her eyes grew wet. “You...I’m sorry.”
He shrugged. “No one was the same after it. It’s...it’s time. It’s been a great run but, it’s time for something new, yes?”
She breathed in and brushed at her eyes, drinking the rest of her coffee.
“There’s a rule I have-”
She laughed a little around the lump in her throat. “Another one of your rules?”
“I’ll write them all down for you sometime, but yes. Another rule. When you decide to walk away: don’t look back.”
She met his gaze.
“You walk away, and you live.” he said feircely. “You walk away and leave all of this behind – everything we did and everything that happened. You make a new life for yourself, a normal, safe one. For me.”
“If the team is…”
“It is.” he said simply, finishing his own coffee and tossing the cup in the trash.
“You could leave too. Start somewhere fresh.”
“I really couldn’t.”
“How do you know?” she demanded.
He shrugged. “I just do. This...this is my life now. I’m...it’s what I’m meant for.”
“You deserve better. Without...you’ll work yourself to death.” she said flatly.
“And you’re not going to look back.”
she made a frustrated noise.
He stood up. “It’s okay.”
“...how did you even know I was quitting?”
He smirked at her and straightened his scarf. “I’m a profiler, darling – one of the best. It’s literally my job.”