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PARIS, VALENTINE’S DAY...
Riley hated where she was right now. Everything in her body was telling her to leave. Get out of the country as fast as possible.
But she knew she couldn’t. That it wasn’t a option right now. The jet wouldn’t be fully fuelled until tomorrow morning.
So she was stuck where she was for the night with Mac, Desi and Evan - who were enjoying each other’s company and making the most of Valentine’s Day. Giggling and share a few quick kisses here and there.
They were in Paris; the city of love as they call it. But Riley didn’t fully believe that after having a bad experience here a few years ago. And what’s worse ? The hotel they’re staying in, is the same hotel she was at when assisting her scumbag ex and his mom to catch their bounty.
Hence why she wanted to leave and head back home, now that the OP was over.
Riley already felt a little uncomfortable when she and the team were told about the OP in the war room.
That it would require her, Mac, Evan and Desi only.
It was a simple catch and capture mission, bringing in a ruthless war dictator, who was spending Valentine’s Day with his secret mistress in a restaurant on the other side of the city.
No one thought twice about the location or the hotel where they were staying at for the night.
But Riley did. And so did Mac.
She saw the look of concern on his face when they were told the details.
He remembered what had happened and how was there for her after breaking up with her lowlife ex.
She noticed throughout the night that he was keeping a eye on her. Sharing a quick glance when he could, before focusing back on the mission. Neither said a word about it, though.
Riley knew Mac was giving her space. Some time until she ever felt like talking about it.
And she appreciated that.
The mission didn’t take too long. They did unfortunately get made at some point and their target made a run for it, leaving his mistress behind.
Desi and Evan handled the guy’s security, while Mac and Riley gave chase, with Mac quickly pushing himself and the dictator through a glass window, leaving shattered pieces around them as they landed outside.
Riley immediately informed Matty that they had the guy and she sent in a nearby tac team, who were waiting for the order, to retrieve him.
After all that; the four of them headed back to their hotel, which their rooms were paid for by Russ of course, and were told they needed to stay the night there.
Not that Desi and Evan complained, mind you. It was Valentine’s Day after all.
So; while they were busy, Mac joined Riley at the bar and ordered himself a drink, seeing that Riley already had one.
“Hey.” He says.
“Hey.” She replies with a small smile.
“You alright ?” He asks.
“Yeah, it’s just you know... being back here. On today of all days.” Riley tells him.
“Yeah... it sucks.” Mac replies, making Riley chuckle just a little bit. He did the same as well.
“Thank you for not bringing it up earlier, by the way.” She says.
“Don’t mention it. It wasn’t my place to say anything, anyway.” Mac says, sincerely.
“Yeah but don’t think I didn’t notice you checking on me throughout today.” Riley adds.
“Like I said, it wasn’t my place to say anything but that won’t stop me from looking out for ya. I’ll always have your back, Riles.” Mac tells her.
The two form small smiles before facing forward and taking a sip of their drinks.
“What about you, though ? How you holding up, considering what day it is today ?” Riley asks.
Mac turned his head and looked at her with slight confusion.
“What you mean ?” He replies.
“You don’t need to pretend you’re ok with me, Mac. I ain’t pretending with you. This has got to be awkward.” Riley says, pointing her finger - with Mac following the direction to where Desi and Evan are.
“What, Desi ?” He asks, turning back to face her.
“Uh, yeah.” Riley says.
“Trust me Riles, I am way over that. It’s been a year since we ended things. I’m good.” He tells her but Riley raises a eyebrow at him.
“No, really ! I am. Look; what me and Desi had was a complete disaster. It just took me too long to realise that. But she and Evan are happy and I am happy for them.” Mac says.
“Ok, but what about you ? Don’t you want, what they have ?” Riley asks.
“I used too but I have spent this past year thinking it through very carefully about being in a relationship. Particularly what you said to me in Germany.” Mac adds.
“Me ? What did I say ?” She asks.
“You know... about the life’s we lead. How it’s impossible to have a stable relationship while having this job.” Mac says.
“You don’t actually believe that, do you ?” Riley replies.
“It’s hard not to, at this point. I mean; the last three relationships I had, ended not so well. Nikki used me because of her undercover assignment. Murdoc put Nasha in danger, so I ended it to keep her safe... and Desi... well you know how that ended.” Mac explains.
Riley saw his point and understood it. But she didn’t want him to think he should give up on having a relationship.
“Yeah but that’s doesn’t mean you should stop trying.” She tells him.
“I know and believe me, I wish things were that simple but what’s the point in trying to pursue and start something, when in the end, it’s not what you really want ?” He says, immediately realising what he said when he notices Riley’s eyebrows shooting up.
“What’s that supposed to mean ?” Riley asks, getting very curious.
“Nothing. Just uh... forget I said anything.” Mac replies, trying to avoid eye contact with her.
But Riley wasn’t going to let it go that easy.
She leaned in closer; about to question Mac further about what he meant, when she notices something near the left side of Mac’s neck.
“Wait, what is that... oh my god, Mac you’re bleeding !” Riley says.
“What ?” He replies.
“Yeah, right here on your neck. It’s a small cut.” Riley tells him.
“Huh. Must have happened when I went through the glass window at the restaurant. I didn’t even feel it.” Mac says, touching it with his hand.
“Hang on, i’m gonna ask for a first aid kit to be sent to my room. Gonna help with you with it.” Riley says.
“Riles, it’s fine. I can handle it by myself.” Mac tells her.
“No, you won’t. I ain’t going to let you.” Riley insists before calling out to the bartender, while Mac sighed and ran his hand through his hair.
A FEW MINUTES LATER IN RILEY’S ROOM...
The two enter Riley’s room, with Mac taking in the scenery.
Riley had a nice view window of Paris, which was the first thing he noticed upon entering.
She turns on the light and closes the door behind her.
“You need to take off your shirt, so I can properly get to it.” Riley tells him.
“Seriously ?” Mac asks.
“Yes, seriously. Now; take off your shirt and sit down on the bed.” Riley says.
Mac let out a sigh as he took his jacket and shirt off, while Riley looked away and focused on the first aid kit.
Once she heard him sitting down; she turned around and immediately felt her eyebrows shoot up again upon seeing Mac shirtless.
“Oh...” Riley responded.
“What ?” Mac asked.
“Uh... nothing. Just uh... stay still while I do this.” Riley says.
Riley stands in front of Mac and begins cleaning up his cut gently, while trying her best to not look down and stare at his chest.
She had seen him with far less clothing before when they were in Bosnia, dealing with the nano trackers for the first time but it was something about him here, in this moment that her mind couldn’t stop thinking about.
She keeps telling herself that it was the lighting in the room that made Mac look good without his shirt on but deep down, she knew that wasn’t true.
“Don’t stare at him, Davis - even though you want to. Just focus on the cut.” Her mind said.
“So... how bad is it ?” Mac asks, breaking the silence in the room.
“I’m afraid it’s bad news... you’re going to live.” Riley joked with a smirk.
“Ha ha, very funny.” Mac replied, earning a chuckle from Riley as she finished up and applied a bandage to the cut.
“There, all done.” She says.
“Thanks.” Mac adds as she turns to put the first aid kit away.
Riley then stands near the front door and crosses her arms as she watches Mac put his shirt back on.
“You still haven’t told me what you meant earlier, by the way.” Riley says.
“It doesn’t matter anymore, Riles. Let’s just leave it at that.” Mac tells her.
“No, I won’t it at that and it does matter. You can’t say what you said and leave it unexplained. That’s not like you, Mac. What is it that you want ?” Riley asks.
Mac sighed and closed his eyes for a moment - breathing through his noise before facing the music.
Riley wasn’t going to let this go. He knew that.
He just hoped what he was about to say, won’t make her resent him or think differently of him.
He stands up and looks directly into her beautiful eyes.
“I think you already know that answer.” He says, his voice being ever so sincere.
It caught Riley off guard for a second that it almost felt like her legs gave in and wanted to collapse right there and then.
Her eyes going wider told Mac that she knew what he was talking about.
“Oh...” was all that escaped her mouth, as she stared at him.
That didn’t make Mac feel any better. Only more worried.
“There’s no point in trying to date anyone else because the reason is, I don’t want anyone else. I want you, Riley... but I know I can’t have you. I lost my chance and I didn’t even realise there was one until I found out how you felt about me. I’ve spent the past year thinking about this and knowing you and me was never going to happen, I chose not to say anything because... I would rather keep you as a friend than risk losing you forever.” Mac explains.
He watches her eyes immediately face forward and look past him, as if she couldn’t stand the sight of him anymore.
Mac starts thinking he’s ruined everything - which was exactly what he was afraid of doing.
He lowered his head as if he was ashamed of what he just said and sighed.
“I uh... better go.” He says, grabbing his jacket and starts walking past her, only to feel Riley’s hand gently hold his, stopping him in his place.
He looked down at their hands, before slowly looking back up into Riley’s eyes, who had turned her head slightly to face him.
“You didn’t ask me what I wanted.” She whispered, making Mac’s eyes go wider.
“Riles ?...” He says, before she cuts him off.
“The truth is Mac, I’ve never stopped having feelings for you. I only said they went away because I thought you were happy with Desi. I wanted to fight off how I felt but I couldn’t. But I would be lying if I said I don’t have reservations about us, you know ?” She says.
“Yeah, I do.” He replies, nodding slowly at her.
“I mean; we work together. We’re partners and more importantly, we’re friends. There’s a lot on stake if we start something together. It’s risky.” Riley tells him.
“I agree.” He says, sincerely.
“But then again...” She begins to say before looking down at the ground for a moment, catching her breath - before looking right back up at him.
“...Some risks are worth taking.” She whispers.
From there; seconds of silence had passed as the two stared into the other’s eyes, before Riley gently wrapped her hands around Mac’s neck and pulled him in for a kiss.
It felt amazing and feeling the touch of Mac’s hand on the back of her neck, only sent Riley’s heart racing.
They parted their lips and continued to stare at each other - feeling the other’s breath on their faces as they did.
Neither said anything. They didn’t need to.
The way they were looking at each other, pretty much told them both what they wanted.
And nothing was gonna stop them.
Riley made Mac quietly drop his jacket onto the floor, before they continued passionately kissing each other.
It didn’t take long before Riley felt Mac’s lips touch her neck and shoulder, which only sent off fireworks in her mind and made let out a quiet moan.
From there; the two slowly begin removing the other’s clothes, before Mac picked Riley up and carried her to the bed, gently putting her down.
They made out some more, before eventually stopping and looked right at each other.
Feeling their foreheads almost touch as they did.
The two smiled as the both saw what could only be described as love on the other’s face.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Angus.” Riley whispered.
“Happy Valentine’s Day, Riles.” Mac whispers back, before the two kiss passionately again and proceed to spend their first night together.
And in the end, it was gonna be a Valentine’s Day neither of them would forget.
The end.