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Rookie watches Stevie for a long moment. The grin fades into something quieter, more thoughtful.
“You’re kind of cute when you’re bossy,” he says.
“I am not bossy,” he snaps, immediately. “I am enforcing regulations.”
“Right,” Rookie says, nodding.
Stevie turns away abruptly, pretending to check the hallway, “This conversation is inappropriate.”
Rookie laughs, soft and surprised. “Is it?”
“Yes.”
“How?”
Stevie opens his mouth, then closes it. He doesn’t actually have a rule for this. He hates that.
Rookie leans back against the lockers again, but his voice drops, less teasing now. “Hey. I’m not trying to mess with you.”
Stevie glances at him despite himself.
“I just,” Rookie scratches the back of his neck. “I like how seriously you take things. It’s kind of… grounding.”
Stevie blinks, trying to muster up a good comeback but clearly failing, “It is?”
“Yeah,” Rookie says. “Don’t tell anyone. Ruins my image.”
There’s an awkward silence after.
Stevie shifts his grip on the clipboard. “You’re still off post.”
Rookie sighs dramatically.
“You’re relentless.”
“It’s a compliment,” Stevie says before he can stop himself.
Rookie lights up. “Oh?”
Stevie stiffens. “I meant professionally.”
“Of course you did.”
Rookie pushes off the lockers and finally, finally turns to leave. He pauses a few steps away and looks back.
“For the record,” he says, “I don’t mind getting told what to do by you.”
Stevie’s jaw tightens. “Rookie.”
“Going,” Rookie says, hands up. “Back to my post. No distractions.”
He disappears down the hallway, whistling quietly.
Stevie stands there for a full ten seconds, staring at nothing.
Then he writes Rookie’s name on the clipboard.
He hesitates.
And, against his better judgment, does not check the box.