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Ever since the mystery of Nola Kellergan’s and Luther Caleb's murders had been solved, Marcus had found himself thinking about the sergeant.
But he knew Gahalowood was married, so there wasn't a chance. Unless maybe his wife was interested too, so then it would be even.
His parents had always been supportive of him when he came out as bisexual, and he was grateful for that. Even if they were - well meaningly so - too involved, wanting to be informed about who he was interested in or dating.
"He's my friend." Marcus said.
"How close a friend, sweetie?" Mrs. Goldman asked.
"I'm meeting someone for coffee." Marcus said.
"A girl? Or a boy?" Mrs. Goldman asked.
"Uh huh. I love you too mom, bye." Marcus said.
-
"Got you a coffee." Gahalowood said.
"Who's that?" Mrs. Goldman asked over the phone.
"That's no one, ma." Marcus replied into his phone.
"Hi Mrs. Goldman." Gahalowood said.
"Look sweetie, I'm not gonna pry. Your love life is your own. I just hope he's big and can protect you." Mrs. Goldman said.
"I'm real big, Mrs. Goldman." Gahalowood said.
-
Marcus felt himself glancing over at Gahalowood as he said it.
"Why didn't you fire him? Becuase you were in love with him?"
-
He was still seeing Gahalowood. And his wife, Tisha. Talking to him on the phone, texting, going over to the Gahalowoods' for dinner. The three of them sometimes ended up having long conversations into the night. So long that he’d been put up in their guest room because it was too late to drive back. He’d wake up and have breakfast with Perry and Tisha and their kids in the morning.
One night, they were in the living room. Their kids were upstairs, asleep. Perry and Tisha on one couch while Marcus was across from them on the other couch. A table with three drinks on it were between the three of them.
"So, your parents were okay when you came out?" Perry asked, picking up his glass and taking a sip.
Perry had briefly commented about Marcus’ sexuality after he’d brought him the coffee and Marcus’ mother had been on the phone.
“Can I ask…” Perry had started, trailing off. It was after Perry had told Marcus he’d gone to see Elijah Stern on his own.
Marcus had looked briefly confused for a few seconds until he caught on to what Gahalowood was asking. “Are you asking me if I chose a label, sergeant.” Marcus smirked. “I'm bisexual. Men, women, whoever.”
“Cool.” Gahalowood had said.
Marcus took a sip of his drink and set it back down on the table. "Yeah. They were really great. Really supportive. A little too involved sometimes - wanting to know who I was seeing... Dating... And I know they mean well and I love that they’re so supportive but sometimes it can get a little… Annoying."
"I noticed." Perry commented, thinking back to Marcus’ reaction when his mother had had been on the phone and asked who Perry was when he’d brought Marcus coffee.
"Oh?" Tisha asked, looking between the two men.
"It was during the investigation." Marcus started explaining. "I was on the phone with my mom. Perry - " They had started calling each other by their first names once the investigation was over, but still sometimes called the other by their last names too. "- Had brought me a coffee. My mom had heard him, she asked who he was. Said that my love life was my own... Just that she hoped he was big and could protect me. And Perry said - " Marcus smirked at Perry, indicating he should help tell the story.
"I said 'I'm real big, Mrs. Goldman'." Perry said, smiling a little.
"Oh, did you." Tisha glanced at her husband, laughing.
Perry smirked. "You still owe me for that coffee." He told Marcus.
"I bought you lunch." Marcus defended.
"I bought you lunch." Perry shot back.
"Which we didn't get to eat." Marcus said back.
"That doesn't count. I still bought it." Perry said.
"Fine. I'll buy lunch next time." Marcus said.
"Fine." Perry said.
The two shared a look and smiled.
Tisha looked between them, smiling too.
Perry tapped the side of his glass before speaking again. "So, how did you..." Perry cut himself off. He glanced over at Tisha before looking back at Marcus.
“How did you know?” Tisha finished for her husband.
"Uh. Know what?” Marcus asked, picking his drink up and taking a sip before putting it back down on the table. It took him a few seconds to catch on. “Oh. That I was Bi? Well - I - “ He thought for a few seconds. “I just knew.” He said simply. “You just gotta… Search… Yourself. Deep down. Do some uh - Soul searching. Some realizations. Some figuring out. Realize your feelings.” He thought some more, a deep concentration crossed his features. “Uh - I mean, you just kinda know.” He shrugged. “You know yourself best. But that doesn’t mean it doesn’t help to talk to people. Friends. Family. People you trust. To help figure things out. But yeah. You know yourself best and sometimes it takes time to figure things out and sometimes you need some help, but ultimately you are the one deciding who you are and how you identify.”
“That’s true.” Tisha said, nodding.
“That was deep, man.” Gahalowood said.
“Thanks.” Marcus told Gahalowood. “Though that’s just my opinion.”
“Well, the world is a better place for you being out.” Tisha told Marcus.
“Thank you, Tisha.” Marcus said softly, smiling. “The world is a better place for what you do and the work your husband does.”
“Well, I had some help with this case.” Perry commented.
“Are you giving me a compliment, sergeant.” Marcus smirked at him.
“Don’t let it go to your head.” Perry smirked back.
-
A few days later Marcus found Gahalowood at his front door.
Well, elevator.
“Perry.” Marcus said, surprised. “What’re you doing here?”
“I figured I should do this in person and not over the phone.” Gahalowood said, stepping off of the elevator.
Marcus blinked. “Do what in person?”
Gahalowood didn’t say anything for a few seconds. “Tisha and I talked about it.”
“Talked about what?” Marcus asked.
“She said… What’s the word the kids used… Vibe.” Perry said.
“A vibe?” Marcus asked. “What kind of vibe?”
“A vibe between…. Us.” Perry said.
“Like a vibe vibe?” Marcus asked.
Perry threw Marcus a look.
“But you’re married.” Marcus said slowly.
“Again. Tisha and I talked about it. Really talked about it. She brought it up, actually. Came to an understanding. She’s really great. Said it was like a… Free pass. But that she got a free pass too.” Gahalowood said.
“Uh huh.” Marcus said, slowly again, still comprehending what was happening right now. “Like a celebrity list thing?”
Perry rolled his eyes. “I’m just saying… I’m trying to say…”
“That your wife gave you permission to explore your feelings because we vibe.” Marcus smirked.
“You’re a writer and that’s the most elegantly you could put that.” Perry deadpanned.
“I - Shut up.” Marcus couldn't help but smile.
Perry smirked.
Marcus smirked back.
“So. What do you think?” Perry asked.
“Oh, I’m in.” Marcus said, closing the gap between him and Gahalowood and kissing him.
Gahalowood kissed Marcus back.
-
The next morning Marcus and Perry woke up in Marcus’ bed.