bitch cop.

       “Does he know about the baby?” 

       “What do you remember about your mother?”

Talan hated the quiet. But right now, truthfully, he needed it more than ever, after feeling as if he’d confessed too much. And holy fuck, how in the hell would he ever confess to telling Sawyer he loved her now? And after grabbing a towel from a rack beside a station, walking back towards her, he stopped entirely at her questioning. Slowly he handed the towel over, expression blank. What the hell was he supposed to say? After just practically pouring everything out on his chest? This was what she was asking? The last one stinging the most, initiating a rare, unamused laugh from him. “Seriously? After all I just said out there?” He ran a hand unnervingly through his hair. Why couldn’t she understand he was just as fucking clueless as she was? The only thing apparently happening was taking steps backward. “I shouldn’t really have to give one! And I don’t even know if you want an answer if you’re questioning that?! Questioning us?” His eyes narrowed, the rain only making things feel even more tensely colder. If he hadn’t exactly felt threatened by her many remarks before, he certainly was feeling so right in this moment.

       Sawyer was dumbfounded, knowing she just shouldn’t’ve asked but also.. needing that clarification from him. This was all foreign to her. But it was also like her to just focus on the negative and ignore all the good until that one little negative thing, in her eyes, was figured out. She lacked the ability to trust others easily, and it seemed those who tried to prove themselves to her would often face her skepticism. Pressing her lips together and clenching her jaw, her hazel eyes zoned in on his own, narrowing slightly. “All I’m fucking asking for is for you to explain what the hell you want from me. You say you want me to prove it to you, and I’m asking how.. and all you’re focusing on is the apparent fact that I’m questioning us?!”

       “So, to be honest,” she starts, taking another swig of her whiskey, features scrunching up at the burn that courses down her throat before glancing the blond’s way. They were kindred spirits, in some weird sense. Two souls so very alike, and yet not alike at all. But she knew he understood what she was about to say, which made it that much easier to do so, alcohol being a strong factor in her confession too. “I’m not really one for relationships. Guess it’s not really a confession, but I just.. I’m just so surprised at myself, you know? And I’m kind of in my first ever monogamous one and, I think that I suck at it? Purely because I don’t fucking know how to girlfriend, let alone love. What if I was just built to be on my own?”

       “How do you know you’re falling in love?” More or less a confession in itself, really, not so sober Sawyer admitting to the fact that she was probably falling for Talan. And, as it should be considering they were best friends, Maddie was the first person to know. She’d probably figure it all out, even if Sawyer denied it til her death bed, Maddie would know. But, her drunken self was okay with that. They were so tequila’d up, they probably wouldn’t remember a thing in the morning. “What does it feel like?” 

        “I think I could love you someday,” and maybe she already did, but even her drunken self refused to let such a big word slip, such a great statement.. one she was certainly not prepared for. Truth be told, if she’d experienced anything like love, it was solely with Talan. She’d been shown no form of love before, not by her parents, not by past lovers because.. she didn’t let them. She always left before she was dumped, always hurt before she could get hurt. She protected her heart fiercely, and even in this vulnerable drunken state, her stubbornness would prevail. “I really think so.”

                 “It’s like—” her lips twist, unsure if describing it would sound as appetizing. In Grace’s defence, she wasn’t a huge fan of the trend, but it is her job to make it taste great. “It’s charcoal. But, it’s been heated in a sense to become this powder that people use to dye their food. So burgers can look black, as well as ice cream and drinks. There are some benefits too. I heard it’s good for your cholesterol, teeth whitening, and hangovers— though I’ve yet to experience that yet, so. But you should! I know that, for me, eating something that’s not it’s intended colour really throws me off but the girls and I have been working on different ways to interest people. And— it won’t kill you, which is a huge bonus.”

        “Interesting,” was all she could muster, completely lost in thought as she put it all together. She’d always wondered how such foods and drinks could be so dark.. but the most interesting part was the mention of hangovers. That was certainly something she needed to invest in. “Well, thank God for that,” she breathes a laugh, brows pulling together in interest and curiousity. “So you’re saying if, you guys make this crazy dessert with charcoal dye, it’s going to help my hangover? I mean, if you ever need a taste tester or a trial run, I’m more than happy to volunteer.” 

Say something. Anything. His gaze didn’t waver, but Talan’s eyes couldn’t help but shift to the ground momentarily. The built-up, fronted confidence, within him was glaringly drained, the fire deducted to a mere, struggling flame. The haze of the weather may be hindering, yet, something told him from Sawyer’s own demeanor that it was certain things like this connecting their innate differences. But what else could he say, do now? Even with this being the one thing he didn’t want ruined, this sort of silence…with the rain plummeting down, no sign of stopping, Talan couldn’t help but feel like he’d done just that entirely. Despite not completely understanding why, his feet remained planted on the dampened sidewalk….if words weren’t doing a damn thing, then maybe something within the gesture would hint that he wouldn’t and didn’t want to stop fighting for her against any and all odds that arose. Anyone could call him fucking stubborn all they wanted. Although, as her next answer came against thunder clapping, flashes of lightning, Talan only held Sawyer tighter, out of an insane relief and that he could feel her frame still violently trembling. His eyes close with a grin as she placed a soft kiss against his soaked cheek. And when she pulled away, his light eyes didn’t break from hers again. “Now prove it. Prove that you do know that. ‘Cause I’m completely serious about this, Sawyer.” He needed her to know this wasn’t some dumb joke of his. “First…we get you warm though.” Talan nodded towards the door of the ink shop.

         Sawyer nods at his words as she drops her gaze, her frame trembling against his own. And amidst all the fear and fighting words threatening to escape as she felt tempted to fall back into her usual ways, she simply remains quiet, left alone with her thoughts against a blackened sky and raging rain hounding around them. As they enter the store, she pushes her soaking wet hair from her face, releasing a shaky breath, simultaneously rubbing her arms. She’s quiet a moment or two before a pressing question sits at the very tip of her tongue, desperate to escape. Turning her body around to face him, she holds a hand out in question. “How do you want me to prove it to you, Talan? Has.. me not apologising and coming here to explain myself.. is that not enough for you?” She didn’t mean to be so defensive, but it was likely because she was an emotional wreck who usually just.. pushed these kinds of feelings away before ever dealing with them. But, she had to know. She wanted to know; after all, she wasn’t accustomed to monogamous relationships by any means. “Is this not enough for you?” 

“I know, right? Especially when you have scissors that close to someone’s head or working with someone’s feet..” Shuddering at the memory of working on a hangover once, Alessia tried to push it out of her mind. It was having to give someone a pedicure on that day that made her vow she would never do it again. Taking a deep breath, Alessia nodded at the detective’s reassuring words. She had only ever really dealt with the cops after the accident but it wasn’t fair on her to constantly associate the police with that. “Sorry, I only have one experience with the police and it wasn’t.. The best moment of my life, just makes me nervous is all.” Biting down on her lip a little as she tried to think, Ale shook her head. “None that come to mind, honestly. We’re always so busy we don’t really recognise if someone is picking up one of our clients, waiting to book an appointment or could be lurking.” Shaking her head again, Alessia offered an apologetic smile. “I’m not sure we’re really in a business to create enemies, but if we’ve sent you the surveillance cameras, I could see if anyone doesn’t look familiar if that would help?”

        Sawyer released a short chuckle, amused by the girl before her. “Fair call,” after all she used to have.. quite the experiences with cops before in her time. Not that she was going to disclose that with a stranger, much less a civilian she’d be working on a case with. She nods some as the brunette moves to explain further, biting down on her lower lip in thought. “Alright, well, the only thing we can do I guess is have a look over those tapes. If you.. recognise anyone or something about the person, we can go from there.” 

Truth be told, he’d been intimidated by Ava Sawyer at first, blown away by the sheer power rolling off her shoulders in waves - in the way she moved, in the way she spoke, in the way she entered a room and simply demanded your attention, which he’d learned came in handy in the interrogation room especially. She had a gift when it came to this line of work - and after months of cracking away at her shell, Noah was grateful she’d finally let him in, at least a little bit. Enough to make work enjoyable and off hours just as much so. Even if their favorite hobby tended to be chugging some booze and indulging on some cheap, greasy pizza. Still, he wasn’t about to complain. This arrangement suited him just fine. “Matchin’ tattoos? Never thought you’d ask, Selene,” popping out his new nickname for her, nodding along to her suggestions and following alongside her towards an exit.

        “Matching tattoos, are you crazy?!” Although, the idea amused her after her initial shock over it, even more so at the idea of Talan possibly doing them. As such, a soft chuckle escaped her lips as she started heading for the elevator, shaking her head at the insane idea. And then she realised what he’d called her, narrowing her eyes at him. “I can’t believe you got a hold of my records, asshole.” Truthfully though, she really liked Noah’s company considering previous partners, aside from Mia of course, were complete duds and left her doing all the work on her own. I mean, they certainly weren’t as talkative or sometimes as annoying as she deemed Noah to be, but he entertained her and kept things fun. And, he was a damn good cop. They truly worked well as a team. As the doors of the elevators closed, she glanced his way with an arched brow. “You got any tatts, McElroy?”