β
β air , gaze focused now on his own steps .
β ' feels like we've all got chains tying us
β down . spend day in and day out trying to
β break 'em . you know ? ' he muses , a bit
β quieter of a tone now as he exhales .
β
β
β if there was , he does a good job of hiding
β it . such a facade came with years of faking
β a smile , covering for a clandestine hobby
β of vicious proportions . it'd gotten easier .
β he glances in her direction , teeth sunk a
β ( + )
β
- human for a bit, and this conversation indulged into that craving⦠to some extent.
βreally, now?β she replies, brows raising with a rather surprised look.
βsomething pulling you down? I mean, you do lookβ¦ π±π³π¦π°π€π€πΆπ±πͺπ¦π₯.β
β
β bit into a bottom lip as if to keep a smile
β at bay whilst he thought of an answer .
β ' we work at the same place and you're
β asking me if something's pulling me
β down ? you must not be paying attention , '
β he teases as warm breath wafts into cool
β ( + )
β
β
β want them to go . but this . . . their banter
β felt good to engage in , even if to some
β extent it was all a facade , perhaps even
β on both their ends . it was different .
β ' so don't worry . your secret's safe . '
β
β
β now amusement floods into his own
β expression , and he carefully turns on his
β heel to walk side by side instead . his gaze
β turns upon the concrete sidewalk briefly .
β ' been doing that a lot lately myself , ' he
β admits with a small , inward sigh .
β ( + )
β
β
β ' been caught a few times but , a round
β of drinks usually gets me out of it , ' he
β adds with a shoulder shrug , licking his
β lips to mask a fleeting chuckle .
β inside , his guard was always up . never
β one to let anyone in where he didn't
β ( + )
β
β
β ' and here i thought somebody like you
β would never run out of shit to do . a day
β off ? ' he gives her a suspicious look , his
β hands shoved away into his pockets .
β he π§ππ―ππ« got a free day . from either job .
β
β
β her gaze , the blue of it , was nothing like
β his own . there was no trace of the same
β sort of darkness that engulfed his own .
β ' any drink sounds good to me , ' he says
β as he takes a half step past her , then
β turns , slowly trekking backwards a bit .
β ( + )
β
β
β ' so what you're saying is , i'm worth every
β minute of your time ? ' he asks , serious
β tone a mere facade as amusement briefly
β flashes in his dark eyes , head tilting .
β ' i'm touched , really . means the world . '
β
β
β his hand drops back to his side once the
β cigarette is taken , and slides into pocket .
β a flash of feigned realization crosses his
β expression and he turns , leaning instead
β with his shoulder against the rough wall ,
β now facing the assassin entirely .
β ( + )
β
β
β he had a habit of doing that . his dark
β eyes were notoriously difficult to read ,
β and it made his lingering gaze studious .
β ' i work whatever shift they tell me i have
β to . lately it feels more like i'm on call . '
β ( + )
β
- lying if she said his gaze didnβt make her nervous. it was like he wasβ¦ analyzing her.
or maybe..
perhaps..
sheβs overthinking?
βyou work at nypd? I usually do night shifts, probably why I havenβt seen you.β
β
β now , she , along with a handful of others ,
β had not escaped his radar . he knew her
β relentless interest in . . . certain cases .
β his gaze flickers over her features briefly .
β ' we could always grab a drink , though .
β ( + )
β
β
β was prepared to let on just yet .
β ' same here . sergeant , actually , ' he says ,
β his head tilting the opposite way as he
β speaks . his gaze watches her like a hawk .
β ' had a few decent footholds , i guess . '
β
β
β her laughter brings a tinge of a smile to
β his own face , more out of necessity than
β genuine endearment , hands stuffed into
β his pockets . truthfully , he kept a close
β eye on everyone in his vicinity , notably
β the detectives . he knew more than he
β ( + )
β