Short Stories: MC's unexpected promotion [Lexie Version]

Lexie tilts her head back, feeling tired, and puts an ice pack on her sore temple. What's taking so long?

She's been sitting outside Detective Bergmann's office for about forty minutes now. She knows she'll sit for another forty if she has to. When it comes to Name, she's willing to wait as long as it takes. But judging by how long they've been inside, something serious must have happened.

But why would it be serious? It was just an armed robbery, and they caught both culprits. It wasn't the most serious situation they've dealt with, but there were injuries. She got hit on the temple with the gun's handle, but Name...

She leans forward, putting the ice bag in the other hand. her mind keeps replaying the moment when one of the robbers broke free from her grip, pulled out a knife, and—

"Shit." Lexie squeezes her eyes shut.

Yes, Name only ended up with a cut on their jaw, but the knife was dangerously close to their neck, and if they hadn't dodged it... I should have seen it coming. What if—

Suddenly, the door opens, causing Lexie to open her eyes as she stands up abruptly. "How did it go?"

Name doesn't say anything, as if lost in thought, closing the door before turning to face her. When she notices their expression, her chest clenches with a pain sharper than the pain from the bump on her temple. "What happened? Name?"

She strides up to Name quickly; the sudden movement makes her feel dizzy, and she grabs her head with a groan, which seems to snap Name out of their daze.

"Hey, take it easy..." She feels Name's hands on her shoulders, supporting her, and instantly relaxes.

"Why were you called?" Lexie repeats, her eyes meeting theirs again. They look puzzled and uncertain, but she waits for Name to explain what's wrong.

Name doesn't say anything, but something shifts in their expression when they glance at her injury, and Lexie's breath catches in her throat as their hand reaches up to her forehead, gently pushing away damp strands of her hair from the pack.

When their hand retreats, she resists the urge to reach for the comforting touch she craves, knowing only Name can make her feel better. It's always been like this... And it always will be.

"Let's go," Name says, gently grabbing the edge of Lexie's jacket. "I'll take you home and explain on the way."

Lexie follows silently, her head spinning, and though everything around her is a blur, she fixes her gaze on the one constant that remains clear, now and always: Name.

.

.

.

Despite Name's words, they stay silent during the entire ride home. But she doesn't mind, closing her eyes tiredly. She'll wait until Name's ready. She always does. And she always will.

"We're here..." Their touch on her forearm fills her with warmth, and she opens her eyes. "Come on, I'll walk you."

Fatigue washes over her as she nods, her eyelids growing heavy, but Name's hand shifts from her forearm to her back, gently guiding her to the door, erasing the throbbing pain she's been feeling all this time. She smiles involuntarily. Name always changes things. Always brings comfort...

All thoughts blur, and everything seems hazy when she finally hears the jingle of keys as Name takes them out of her pocket.

As if Name's done it many times before, Name gently guides her inside, and soon she finds herself on the couch in her dark living room, closing her eyes in relief as her hand finally releases the ice pack.

She's not sure how much time has passed, but when she feels a cool sensation on her forehead, she opens her eyes again.

"How are you feeling?" Name asks softly, adjusting a wet towel on her forehead.

She notices that Name left the lights off everywhere except the table lamp, its soft glow illuminating their weary features, their gaze is filled with concern.

Unable to resist, Lexie weakly grabs their wrist, allowing Name to move her hand away if they wish. But Name doesn't.

"I shouldn't have let you leave the infirmary at the station," Name says, keeping their gaze locked with hers.

"They said it's not a concussion," Lexie reassures them, gently tracing the inside of their wrist with her thumb. Name hums, and, after the moment that will never be enough, withdraws their hand.

They don't say anything, and Lexie immediately notices that familiar emotion in their gaze that they always try to conceal. "You're worried."

"I'm worried because you're hurt," Name responds firmly, and Lexie can't help but let out a chuckle, ignoring her throbbing headache.

"That's not the only reason you're worried." A moment passes, and Name looks away.

Lexie sighs, patting the space on the couch beside her. Name closes their eyes tiredly but still settles down next to her and begins to explain...

.

.

.

"So they offered you a detective position," Lexie murmurs, staring blankly ahead. "You're going to be a detective..."

Out of the corner of her eye, she sees Name lean forward, clasping their hands together.

"That's a long way off. I'd need to retrain and get the required qualifications. Besides, I haven't agreed to anything yet...," Name replies, their tone is filled with uncertainty.

"Why?" Lexie asks, barely recognizing her voice.

"Why what?"

Why is this happening? Why am I so scared? Why do I feel so terrible? Why—

Lexie closes her eyes. "Why do you doubt?" she asks calmly as the storm inside her reignites.

Name sighs heavily as they stand up; she instantly feels the loss of their warmth.

"Because..." Name starts, taking a couple of steps away from her, but then shaking their head, quickly turning around and walking back to her, leaning closer. "Because of this," they say, and she feels their eyes on the area where she was hit. A sad smile graces the corners of their lips when they meet her gaze again. "Do you really think I can work peacefully knowing that you'll be in danger... and that I won't be there with you?"

Heat rushes to her face, and she exhales their name, almost reaching for them when her eyes find the fresh cut under the band-aid again, making the bitter truth pierce her chest painfully.

Name wouldn't have been hurt if they hadn't been on that call.

As if following her thoughts, Name steps away from her. "I can't, not right after—"

Name doesn't finish their sentence before she pulls them close by the waist, carefully avoiding her bruised area and resting her forehead against their stomach. "Lexie?"

"...Seems like I took a harder hit than I thought," she murmurs, feeling their hands rest on her shoulders, yet they don't push her away. She inhales slowly, taking in their scent as she closes her eyes.

If Name becomes a detective, she thinks, feeling the urge to embrace Name tightly grow stronger. Name will be safe, doing their job without risking their life on police calls...

If that's the way to keep Name from harm, then... She'll support them. She always will. Even if it means that Name will no longer be her partner and they won't be spending as much time together anymore.

The thought brings nothing but pain, and Lexie squeezes her eyes shut, trying to push it away.

"Let's call a doctor," Names says, interrupting her thoughts, causing her to open her eyes and chuckle softly.

No doctor can help when you're lovesick, she thinks, but instead says, "You should accept."

"Lexie—"

"Think about it, Name. You've got no reason to say no. You'll be safer, move up in rank, and earn more money," she says, feeling Name tense up. She sighs, burying her face deeper into their stomach. "I'm not the reason to refuse. We'll still hang out, still be friends."  She involuntarily squeezes Name tighter on the last word. "And more importantly..." She sighs once again, lifting her head to meet their gaze but still holding them closely. "You'll have control over that jerk's case..." she trails off, knowing Name understands exactly who she means.

She holds Name's gaze quietly, tenderly, hiding inside the fire raging within every fiber of her being.

Finally, when the quiet grows too heavy, Name lifts their hand, their thumbs brushing the area near her temple, and she closes her eyes, resisting the urge to hum in contentment.

Their gaze, their words, their voice, their presence... Name's mere existence soothes the pain better than any medicine, and all she needs is right here, in her arms...

Despite the inner turmoil, despite the throbbing pain in her head, she couldn't feel happier than she does now, with Name in her arms, and all she wishes is for it to stay that way forever. But it's impossible. Not when—

"You really took a hard hit," Name whispers, and Lexie can't help but feel the bitterness creeping into her thoughts, making it difficult to open her eyes, to breathe, to simply exist, until suddenly, Name embraces her, and her eyes flutter open in surprise.

"Name...," she whispers, feeling them gently squeeze tighter.

"Thank you for thinking of me." Only a moment passes before they pull back. "But right now, my priority is to make sure you're okay. Alright?"

"Alright..." She looks away. "Will you stay?"

After a brief pause, Name sighs, taking off their police jacket. "I'll stay..." They turn to her. "Go change your clothes; I'll get you a fresh towel."

Lexie nods, closing her eyes. As she's about to drift off, she calls out for them again.

"Name—"

"Lexie—"

They say her name just as she says theirs, causing her to smile. She opens her eyes to see Name lingering in the doorway, returning her smile.

"You first."

"Thank you. For everything...," Name says, their tone is filled with genuine gratitude, and everything inside her shutters. She can see it in their eyes: they made up their mind.

Yet, she forces herself to smile. "Thank you for staying," Lexie murmurs softly, resting her head back on the couch as she hears Name's footsteps fading away.

She closes her eyes, feeling burning tears prick her closed eyelids, and, exhaling shakily, finally confesses her true desire to the emptiness of the room.

"I wish... I wish you could stay forever..."