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It had been a long day for Lester and Yang. A day full of a long, seemingly never-ending case, creating even longer sighs. As midnight approached and the duo were ready to put in the towel for the night, Parker took out a bottle of whiskey.
“To celebrate,” he raised an empty glass towards Arthur, “Partner,”
“Do tell me, what are we celebrating? Maybe the night has just gotten to my memory, but I don’t remember us solving a case today, or any day recently might I add, Partner,” with a heavy amount of attitude added onto that last word.
“Are we not allowed to celebrate making it through another day?” Parker asked with a smile as he placed the glass on the desk next to Arthur. Somehow he had already put a second glass on his own desk, along with the nice ash tray that Arthur had gifted him last Christmas. Arthur sighed,
“I suppose so, Parker,” his face turning into a smile as he raised his glass towards Parker, who was opening the bottle.
Enough time had passed to where the bottle was nowhere near empty, but pleasant laughter bounced in the air, and rosy cheeks sat upon the men’s faces. As they drank they had traveled towards the couch that sat across the room from their desks. It had been added for clients, but it seemed that the two ended up on that couch together more often.
Parker sat on the right, and Arthur sat on the left – spots that they accidentally assigned to themselves, and chose to never waiver from when they sat again and again. The hour hand on the clock spun as they talked, until Arthur looked over and realized it was nearly two in the morning. Arthur yawned before speaking, “Well my dear friend, I should get some sleep soon, and you can, oh-” he stopped with realization, noting that Parker would have to get home alone and inebriated. Arthur patted the couch and continued, “you can just sleep here tonight, how is that? I think I have a blanket I can bring down for you to borrow,” a hand met Arthur’s thigh.
“No need to be so hasty, Artie! I’m barely tired,” Parker retorted, turning into a yawn.
“Uh huh, yeah right okay. Just wait here, Parker.”
Parker quietly nodded and relinquished his hand back to his own thigh. Arthur left the room and returned not many minutes later with a thin pillow, and a blanket that seemed just large enough for Parker, as if he owned it specifically for this purpose. “I’m sorry I don’t have a spare change of clothes for you, but I would rather you come back here later in the morning with fresh ones than have to walk home so late.” Parker placed his glass on the small table next to the couch and looked up to Arthur,
“Aw jeez do you have to leave so soon? I mean it’s not so late, and we have plenty more-”
“Parker, you know we have to work on this case again tomorrow! I would rather sleep now than later. We can continue tomorrow night, yeah? Celebrate another day, eh?” Arthur ended his sentence with a slight chuckle, but Parker’s gaze met the ground.
“I suppose… I suppose I just don’t want you to leave, Arthur,” The words came out smoothly but there was intent behind them, unknown intent but it was there nonetheless. Arthur stumbled to get a response out,
“W-what are you saying? I’ll just see you in the morning like always,”
“Mm. Y-yeah, just… Just ignore me, I’m sorry, Artie, just slipped out. Must be the whiskey talking!” Parker said as he stood, about to remove his suspenders so he could sleep more comfortably. Arthur took that as his sign to leave and placed the pillow and blanket on the arm of the couch. Arthur turned to face the door, ready to grab the handle,
“Good night, Partn-”
“Wait,”
“What?” Arthur turned around to see Parker standing, suspenders successfully off, but with his head facing the ground. “Are you feeling alright? How old was that whiskey heh,” he joked,
“I… Please stay,”
“You sound like you’re asking me to sleep on the couch with you, Parker,” Arthur joked,
“I am,”
And for once Arthur was at a loss for words. Every witty remark or comeback died on his tongue as Parker’s answer hung in the air. Parker was known for his honesty (and borderline bluntness at times), but this felt like something that even he would only admit after some glasses of liquid courage.
Arthur wished he could smell the alcohol on Parker’s breath, but alas it was nothing but a rosy invitation. It scared Arthur, but Parker slowly made eye contact with him and continued his invitation, “it’s only us, Arthur.” Arthur could feel his face turn redder as Parker’s remained the same, as if he was unaware of what he was asking. There had never been anything but platonic love between the pair, however Parker’s eyes, his dark, coffee brown irises staring back at Arthur, gave a look that insinuated it didn’t have to be anything serious, it could just be them.
Arthur stuttered over nothing before turning to make sure the door was locked. Parker took this as acceptance as he walked to the couch. Arthur kept his back to Parker as he began to set up the blanket and pillow. The two detective’s suspenders and belt joined each other on the floor, and Arthur turned to see Parker laid out on the couch under the blanket. While they weren’t drunk, they were just inebriated enough to not think to grab another one.
Parker’s arms opened, and Arthur sheepishly landed on the couch between them, with Parker letting out a noise of contentment because of it.
"Parker, I,” Arthur began, “I…”
“Hm?”
“Good night, Parker.”
Good night, Artie.”
As the pair's breaths began to steady, and moonglow slowly passed through their window, Arthur could feel Parker’s warm hand meet his chest, atop his heart. Arthur had never come close to a near-death injury, but he could tell Parker put his hand there to confirm Arthur’s life. It was as if Parker was trying to reach his own heart behind Arthur through him. The blanket meant for one tied them together. It was just them, but their cheeks and smiles were bright enough to relight the room.