#cute lestrade

     “Yeah, I’m okay. I lost my friends though…” You huff and shove your hands into your coat pockets. “They left me high and dry.”

     He chuckled softly, his fingers itching to touch you again. “I know how you feel.” His eyes scanned you over quickly before he kneeled down to grab his map. “Do you…want to pair up? Two brains are better than one. And I can fight off any crazy monsters. Hypothetically, I guess. I don’t think this maze has any scare actors.”

     “It doesn’t, but I’d love to pair with you.” You look at his map and frown. “Though I think we should use my map…yours isn’t right.” Hands him the one from your pocket. 

     Greg compares the two before exhaling. “That dirty little bugger…no wonder I couldn’t find my way out. My friend gave me the wrong one.” Sherlock would be given a heavy lecture when he made his way out of here. Greg crumpled the map before shoving it in his back pocket. “Don’t worry love, I’ll get us out of here in a jiff now that I have the right map.”

     “You good at reading maps? I feel like I’m going to explode when I look at one.” You laugh softly and warmth tingles throughout his chest at the sound. 

     “I know my way around one. I’m Greg Lestrade by the way.” He stretches out his hand, and you shake his hand as you tell him your name.

     “Greg Lestrade? Have I seen your name in the papers?”

     His cheeks redden and you both begin to walk down a path. The way his name rolled off your tongue short circuited his brain for a second. “Yeah. I’m a detective inspector over at Scotland Yard. I was dragged out here by my friends. They say I work too much.” He chuckles and kicks up a few leaves.

     “Well, I’m glad they did. Or else I would be stuck in this maze all alone. And I wouldn’t be meeting such a cutie.” 

     You smile at him, and his heart beats a little faster. He hasn’t exactly spoken to many women recently, and he feels like an inadequate teenager. His ears feel unusually warm, and he laughs as he looks down at the worn path. He’s afraid that if he looks up, his face will erupt into a parade of red. Shrugging, he walks a few steps and fiddles with the map. 

     “Ah, you’re very kind, love. Not sure many people think a graying detective like me is a cutie, but I’m flattered.” He wets his lips with his tongue and huffs out a small breath before looking at you all rosy cheeked. “You’re pretty cute yourself.”

     Warmth crawls up your neck. “Thank you.”

     Greg keeps light conversation as the both of you make your way through the maze, your hands brushing against each others occasionally. The exit comes into view and he puffs his chest out slightly as he leads the way. He turns back to look at you, a smile plastered on his face, only to be short lived when his foot comes in contact with a stray pumpkin and goes toppling down. The cold dirt and leaves kick up in a small cloud and Greg groans softly. If his face wasn’t red before, it definitely was now. Heat crawled up his skin in embarrassment as he looked up at you. You were trying your hardest to contain your laughter as you stared down at him, flushed cheeks and wind tossed grayed hair, but you couldn’t hold it in. Your laugh rang throughout the maze, and he couldn’t find it in his heart to be upset.

     “Are you…” You stifle soft laughter. “Are you alright?”

     He dusts off his jacket as he stands up, before glaring at the little orange pumpkin. “Bruised my ego mostly.” He breathes.

     “Are you sure?” You step forward and gently dust off his shoulders before adjusting his scarf.”

     Greg’s heart starts that crazy drum solo again. He swallows slowly and looks down at you. “I’m fine, love. Though I do think you owe me a hayride for laughing at me.”

     You hum. “Oh yeah? I think I can do that.”

     He tangles his fingers with yours in a bold move and you don’t pull away. 

     “Lead the way dear Detective Inspector.” You squeeze his hand and he gently squeezes it back.