Chapter Text
Oz entered the bullpen, holding 2 cups of coffee; he was still feeling tired and exhausted from yesterday’s case. It was about a woman getting abducted while the sister was killed right in front of her. The killer was on the run. Oz managed to tackle the person but was injured in the process. Selena insisted he should stay at home and get some rest. But Oz, the person he is, decided to go to work anyway. The bullpen was quiet; only a few people had arrived, and there was no sign of Morgan and Karadec. For the past 3 days, they’ve been arriving together, which felt odd for Daphne. Morgan explained, claiming her car broke down and was at the shop for repairs, but Daphne wasn’t buying it. Oz felt it too. The consultant and detective were closer than ever. Lingering looks, subtle touches, and it certainly wasn’t just a ‘friendly’ way.
Oz made his way towards Daphne, who was typing on her phone, giggling at something. Oz set one cup on her desk, an espresso with extra sugar, just how she likes it. Daphne looks up at him and smiles, “Morning, Oz! Before returning her attention back to her phone.
“Morning, Daphne," Oz greeted her. “What’s got you all smiling?" he asked, raising an eyebrow suspiciously at her. Daphne looked up, covering her phone close to her chest.
“It’s nothing, really! ” she said quickly.
Oz narrowed his eyes on her. “Nothing? Oz let out an exaggerated groan, wanting to know what had gotten her smiling early in the morning. "C'mon, tell me. I promise I won’t tell anyone.”
Daphne shook her head, biting back another smile. “Promise? ”
“Mhm.” Oz nodded solemnly, doing a sarcastic salute. “Scout’s honor.”
“You were never a scout.” Daphne rolled her eyes teasingly. “Come here,” she said, patting the empty chair beside her. Oz sat down, now placing his own cup of coffee on her desk. He clasped his hands together as if this were truly business.
“Okay, spill.”
“Remember when Ava and I went out to have a girls' day two days ago? ”
Oz nodded. He remembered when Ava came to the station excitedly in the late afternoon. Morgan and Karadec were out at that time, trying to gain some clues or evidence on the last case they had.
“You both went to the mall,” he said. “She had you buy 3 lipglosses, and you bought me a pretzel for me. Ava bought Morgan a pink sprinkled donut and Karadec a chocolate chip cookie, which he took the chocolate chips out of.”
Daphne let out a small laugh. “Yeah! Morgan, who was next to him, was so shocked when he did that! She looked at him as if he died! ”
Oz chuckled at the memory. “But why are you telling me this? ’
Daphne looked at him seriously, as if this conversation were going to get even more interesting. She leaned in closer, her voice a little quiet, not wanting anyone to hear. “When Ava and I went to the fancy restaurant for dinner, we saw Morgan and Karadec. They were on a date! ”
Oz looked at her, eyes wide in shock. “Shit. Are you being serious? ”
“Yes!”
Oz shrugged. "Eh... Maybe they’re going out as friends?"
“Nope!”
“What do you mean no? Oz shot back dramatically, almost knocking over his cup of coffee on her desk. “Wait… did something else happen? ”
Daphne didn’t answer, she didn’t look at him, and she was clearly trying to hold back a smile.
“Oh, no. No, no, no. Daphne! ”
“Daphne, if you leave me hanging, I swear—”
Before she could reply, Morgan’s voice rang through the room too enthusiastically for a Saturday morning. “Good morning, everyone! ” she greeted, carrying two large boxes of donuts in her arms, a warm smile on her face. Karadec followed, holding 2 cups of coffee (Oz and Daphne were sure one of them was hers), looking calm. Coworkers gathered around the small kitchen area, grabbing donuts and starting conversations. Karadec looked at the junior detectives who were huddled on the desk, eyeing them in suspicion. Both of them immediately avoided eye contact. Daphne organized papers that didn’t need to be organized; Oz sipped his coffee that had long gone cold. Karadec narrowed his eyes slightly at them but brushed it off and turned his attention back to Morgan, who was talking happily.
Oz leaned slightly forward to Daphne, making sure Karadec had turned away. “You are absolutely telling me later," he whispered, already retreating back to his own desk. Daphne grinned, finally returning to focus on her phone. A few minutes later, Oz got a notification from his phone.
Daphne Forrester added Ava Gillory.
Daphne Forrester added Lev Ozdil.
Daphne Forrester changed her name to Daph.
Daphne Forrester changed the group chat name to No. 1 Morgadec supporters.
Daph: @AvaGillory, he wanted to know what we saw. I thought it was best to make a GC instead. 🤭
Ava Gillory: that's okay, no worries! hi, detective oz
Oz looked at Daphne, who was grinning like a cat. He began typing on his phone.
Hi, Ava. Call me Oz, please.
Ava Gillory: alright :P
Daph: Ava, show him the picture!
Ava Gillory sent a photo.
[The image contained Morgan and Karadec sitting at their table, talking. Karadec looking at Morgan as if she hung the moon.]
Daph: Send the other one. 🙈
Ava Gillory: okay. oz, be prepared for this one 😛
Should I be scared??
Daph: No. Maybe.
Ava Gillory sent a photo.
[The image contained Morgan and Karadec standing at a quiet parking lot, kissing each other.]
Oz stared at the photo in complete shock, eyes darting between the photo and Daphne, who was now laughing uncontrollably. Not too loud for everyone to hear. Oz just sat there frozen in disbelief. Morgan and Karadec kissing? Since when were they a thing?! He looked back at the photo, examining the way Karadec’s hand held her waist while the other cupped her cheek; it’s as if they had done this before. Daphne was still laughing, trying to muffle the sound into her hand, shoulders shaking violently.
“No way…” Oz whispered. “The way he looks at her, oh my god. This wasn’t the first time, wasn’t it? ”
Daphne shook her head; it only made her laugh even harder at Oz’s reaction. A few people—even Morgan and Karadec—glanced in their direction, confused with the sudden outburst. Daphne buried her face against her desk to muffle the noise, her hands clearly doing no work anymore. She finally replied, yet she was still trying to catch her breath. "No," she said, wiping under her eyes.
Oz groaned in disbelief. He glanced at the photo one more time before turning off his phone. “How dare you not tell me this sooner? "He places a hand over his heart dramatically. “I thought we were friends!"
Daphne chuckled. “I was going to tell you eventually, but it was fun keeping the secret between me and Ava.”
Oz stared at her for a second, before shaking his head with a quiet scoff. “Fair,” he said, shrugging his shoulders in surrender.