#bridgecest

gardenias for my lover

~

Benedict Bridgerton/Eloise Bridgerton

tags: modern setting au; spies & secret agents au; secret relationships; cigarette breaks

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"Agent E," he greeted her as he stepped outside, holding back a smile.

"Agent B," she replied, her voice feigning indifference. 

They were at the headquarters' rooftop, observing the chaotic city from above as heavy and dark clouds approached, threatening to rain on them. A lot of agents were there too, since it was everyone's favorite spot to take a break from all the madness going on inside the building. 

Agent B didn't have the habit of smoking before he joined the agency, before he picked up on the fact that it'd be a safe and unsuspicious way of getting closer to Agent E.

"Do you have any fire?," he asked her.

She put her cigarette between her lips and used both hands to fumble in the left pocket of her pants.

"Here," she handed him the lighter, their fingertips softly brushing in the act.

"Thank you." 

It wasn't strictly forbidden for agents to have relationships with each other, the agency knew they didn't have such authority over people's feelings. But it was certainly frowned upon, especially because of all the bureaucracy involved. That's why many agents chose the easier path and kept their love affairs a secret.

E personally thought it made things exciting. Sneaking around to steal kisses, going on secret dates, only being seen together in these cigarette breaks. They had managed to keep a good rhythm for a few months now. But sometimes, if B were to be honest, he got tired of all this secrecy. Sometimes all he wanted was to go to HR and sign all the papers needed so he didn't have to keep pretending that E wasn't the best thing that had happened to him in years.

After lighting up his own cigarette, B handed the lighter back to her with a folded paper on it.

E noticed the strange object that came back with her lighter and unfolded the paper. Written inside, she could read "Friday 8 pm? [ ] yes [ ] no".

She couldn't help but smile brightly, only to quickly police herself to repress it. B had a romantic side and although it could be cheesy sometimes, deep down, she liked it. It would have been way easier to just text her about the date but it wouldn't have had the same effect.

E searched her pockets again but she didn’t have a pen with her. That's when she had an idea. 

With her cigarette almost over, she used the note to put it out, marking the answer with its ashes.

After looking around to make sure nobody was paying attention to them, she put the note in his pants pocket discreetly.

"Well, I should get back to work…" 

She then stood on her tiptoes, getting close to his ear to whisper, " See you later, Benedict."

The way she said his name made a shiver run through his spine, evoking memories of last night. He could still feel her soft skin on his lips as he trailed down kisses from her mouth, passing through her neck and breasts, making his way to between her legs, where he tasted her ferociously while she buried her fingers on his hair, crying out his name over and over again.

When she left, he got the paper from his pocket to see her answer.