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

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

He's been sitting outside Detective Bergmann's office for about forty minutes now. He knows he'll sit for another forty if he has to. When it comes to Name, he'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. He got hit on the temple with the gun's handle, but Name...

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

"Shit." Lex squeezes his 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 Lex to open his eyes as he stands up abruptly. "How did it go?"

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

He strides up to Name quickly; the sudden movement makes him feel dizzy, and he grabs his head with a groan, which seems to snap Name out of their daze.

"Hey, take it easy..." He feels Name's hands on his shoulders, supporting him, and instantly relaxes.

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

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

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

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

Lex follows silently, his head spinning, and though everything around him is a blur, he fixes his 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 he doesn't mind, closing his eyes tiredly. He'll wait until Name's ready. He always does. And he always will.

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

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

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

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

He's not sure how much time has passed, but when he feels a cool sensation on his forehead, he opens his eyes again.

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

He 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, Lex weakly grabs their wrist, allowing Name to move his 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 his.

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

They don't say anything, and Lex 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 Lex can't help but let out a chuckle, ignoring his throbbing headache.

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

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

.

.

.

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

Out of the corner of his eye, he 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?" Lex asks, barely recognizing his voice.

"Why what?"

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

Lex closes his eyes. "Why do you doubt?" he asks calmly as the storm inside him reignites.

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

"Because..." Name starts, taking a couple of steps away from him, but then shaking their head, quickly turning around and walking back to him, leaning closer. "Because of this," they say, and he feels their eyes on the area where he was hit. A sad smile graces the corners of their lips when they meet his 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 his face, and he exhales their name, almost reaching for them when his eyes find the fresh cut under the band-aid again, making the bitter truth pierce his chest painfully.

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

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

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

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

If Name becomes a detective, he 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... He'll support them. He always will. Even if it means that Name will no longer be his partner and they won't be spending as much time together anymore. 

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

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

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

"Lex—"

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

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

Finally, when the quiet grows too heavy, Name lifts their hand, their thumbs brushing the area near his temple, and he closes his 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 he needs is right here, in his arms...

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

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

"Name…," he 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..." He looks away. "Will you stay?"

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

Lex nods, closing his eyes. As he's about to drift off, he calls out for them again.

"Name—"

"Lex—"

They say his name just as he says theirs, causing him to smile. He opens his eyes to see Name lingering in the doorway, returning his smile.

"You first."

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

Yet, he forces himself to smile. "Thank you for staying," Lex murmurs softly, resting his head back on the couch as he hears Name's footsteps fading away.

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

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