perfect victim - mirrors (1/2)
Paring: detective!grayson x (creepy)victim!reader who's apt is burglarized cw: sfw, modern!au, r!gender neutral, no y/n, no description of r!, inspired by you (netflix), no age gap, r! is toxic adjacent, dark relationship themes synopsis: Detective Grayson knew better than to trust symmetry—it was often the prettiest lie. The story you offered was fragile and bruised, but the artistry in the way it positioned each piece, As Grayson traced the delicate contours of the narrative, part of her—a quiet, aching part—wanted to believe it. She wanted to preserve the illusion just a moment longer, even as her instincts whispered that truth never wore a mask so convincing. pt. 1 pt.3 wc: 4.9k a/n: I wanted this to be one part but it was already on the long side. this has been sitting in my drafts since last year, enjoyyyyy°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･ taglist: @genderqueerafrolatine @riotstemple29 @meamouraa @httpscatra
PAST:
Meeting Grayson wasn’t an accident, it was a kismet intervention.
Fluffy tangerine clouds took over the sky. That only happened when it rained, but the air lacked petrichor. The smokey atmosphere made it hard to see past a few feet. Pushing past bodies, the streets were bursting with activity; pedestrians, firetrucks and police cars.
Yellow tape segregated everyone from the officers, your gaze followed where everyone was watching. Mama Macaroni’s had burned down, the familiar brightly lit emblem was burned to a crisp. Luckily your favorite sushi spot next door was unharmed.
An older woman in a robe was behind you.
“Did they say what happened?” you asked your neighbor.
She shook her head. “Nobody knows yet. It happened around dinner time. No one was home, thank the heavens.”
You tossed the woman an uncommitted smile, and went back on your way. As you looked up, you saw her.
Detective Grayson was interviewing eye-witnesses that had seen the fire. Her scarf, the authority she possessed. Her allure added to her appeal.
The crowd of nosey neighbors gave you an excuse to hang back and watch her in her element. Her attention to detail as she listened to the witnesses, the privilege of holding her attention. They didn’t deserve it.
Eventually the officers told everyone to disperse, not you. Cigarettes made excellent decoys, nobody asked you why you were outside, or bothered you because most people despise the smell of nicotine. You didn’t need to light it. The cancer stick was enough of a caution for all.
Normal people go home and facebook stalk a hot cop they see, but everyone was fake online. Face to face interactions are the best for getting to know people. In your case, the 20 foot distance while you followed Grayson home was close enough.
...
PRESENT:
She couldn’t hold your gaze because rage had been eating away at her since yesterday. Her mind found clues she’d ignored during her stint, the polaroid in your entryway taken on the day in question. Catra hiding in the cabinet only at your command. She couldn’t share any of this with her unit. If they found out about your relationship, it’d compromise the case. She played it safe and avoided any mention of your relationship. The voice of reason in her head questioned why she was protecting you still, her main goal was to find the perpetrator. How could she protect you from yourself?
The door clicked, you inched closer to the table and sat on it.
She came in slowly, she had on the same shirt from last night. Darkness surrounded her once bright eyes.
“[name]” she sat down, a manilla folder in her hand. Tension hung in the air, she avoided your gaze.
“Grayson,” you state.
“There is CCTV footage of you, on days of two separate B&E’s minutes after the crime fleeing the scene, ” Grayson places two freeze frames of a figure in black, a face somewhat resembling yours.
You picked at your nails. “I live in the area, is it illegal to walk through my own neighborhood?”
She placed another bit of evidence before you, “We also have eye witness testimony placing you at the scenes,”
“‘Bad cop’ looks sexy on you, Grayson.” you purred
She remained stone faced. But her heart raced, she could feel her pulse thrumming against her forearms. Scarlett creeped up her neck.
You sighed deeply, dropping your mask. “Either arrest me or let me go and stop wasting everyone’s time,” you seethe.
Grayson got up and left the room. Marcus along with the Captain were in the examination room.
“If we keep her longer, she’ll confess, Cap,” Marcus said.
The captain raised her hand up. “That’s enough, we don’t have evidence for a conviction and our time is up, release her,”
Grayson felt a weight off her shoulders.
“Cap, are you serious? We can’t let her walk,”
She didn’t acknowledge the rest of his nonsense and left the space.
This battle was won but Grayson knew this arrest was the least of her problems.
…
PAST:
Grayson lived in a brownstone on a mundane street. She lived on the second floor, curtains were always drawn even if she was home. At night, you’d watch her silhouette dance around her place. You quickly learned how rare it was for Grayson to be home, only going home to sleep or change. Her work life balance was rancid, she needed more time to herself. The detective work consumed her being.
It was fairly simple getting a hold of a police scanner, after work you’d listen to the day’s scans in the background as you cooked dinner. Local PD’s used encrypted channels so you only had access to EMS/Fire dispatches, that only kept you entertained for so long. She wasn’t at any of the incident sites you went to. After some begging Vi was able to connect you to a computer geek, Ekko. He was able to get you access to the police channels. Which gave you access to stabbings, grand theft auto, and shootings; with each violent crime you’d get giddy, praying it’d be the one that brought her to you.
Picking up more opening shifts at work, leaving your nights open to explore.
Your partner in crime, Vi didn’t appreciate your extracurricular activities, she grew frustrated with your growing obsession. Keeping her in the dark was for the best, she wouldn’t understand your relationship with the detective.
Your restaurant job got in the way of your sleuthing, you switched to dog walking. The doggo’s approved of Grayson, they enjoyed walking by her place just as much as you did.
After getting familiar with her routine you were able to pay her a little visit.
As you followed Vi up the fire escape, keeping an eye out for snoopy neighbors.
Vi grunted as she lifted the rusted window, slipping inside and holding a hand for you.
You climbed through the window and examined the space. Dreaming about it for the past couple of months
The inside of Grayson’s apartment was the only thing you’d dreamt of and standing in her living room was anti-climatic. The space was filled with boxes like she’d just moved in.
“You sure an old lady lives here?” Vi questioned.
“Yeah, something like that. Why?”
Vi points to an officer photo of Grayson in uniform, most likely after graduating. She’s posing with her hat and standing all stoic. You snapped a photo on your polaroid.
“Oh. Weird. That’s what the intel said, maybe we got the unit wrong?” you shrugged. Trying to get Vi off your scent.
“Whats the pic for?” she probed.
“Nothing, I just thought it was a cute picture. You know I love uniforms.”
Vi walked around the space looking into the boxes. Entering the kitchen you zeroed in on the trash. Getting gloves you studied her waste. A lot of Chinese take out containers, milk cartons and cracked egg shells.
How did she like her eggs in the morning, You wondered.
“Gross, what the hell?”
You rolled your eyes at Vi, “What? You can tell a lot from a person's trash.”
She peered over your shoulder as she hovered over you.
“Well this person can't be old, too much takeout. We’re in the wrong place.” she muttered.
“C’mon it wouldn’t hurt to look around.”
Vi huffed and went down the hall.
You continued searching in the kitchen, a pink bakery box snatched your attention. Such a stereotype, you loved it.
The box had glazed donuts, 3 and a quarter. Your mouth ached to have the last bit of that donut. The closest thing to a kiss. But Vi would murder you if you messed with anything. Closing the box you search for Vi. She’s in the bedroom, squatted in front of a safe in the closet.
Unmade bed with basic white sheets, and a few loose hairs. The urge to lay down and sniff the sheets but Vi would sense something is up, so you resisted. Instead opting for the bathroom, searching the trash in there you found pieces of loose floss. Without thinking you grabbed a few strands and shoved them in your bag. Continuing deeper into the bathroom, you grabbed her shampoo bottle and smelled it, she smelled like almonds and cocoa butter. After snapping photos of her shampoo and conditioner, you return to the bedroom.
“Did’y get it yet?” you asked. Sitting on the edge of the bed. Gaze studying the bedroom, taking in the staleness of her bedroom. Besides that official photo in the living room, no pictures or personal touches to indicate this was her apartment.
“Take a guess,” she mutters.
“Let's go, they’re a cop.”
Vi huffs deeper. “Fine, waste of fucking time.” She closes the closet as it was.
The both of you head back to the window. You exit, waiting for Vi. The sound of keys at the front door alerts Vi to move faster. She tries to close the window but the rusty old thing doesn’t slide down all the way.
Without caring to see who it was, you both head down in the opposite direction. The detective should still be at work, she never came home during lunch time…
So you assumed.
Unbeknownst to you and Vi Grayson saw the cracked window in her living room. She approached it with caution, taking her gun out, she inspected all the rooms for signs of anyone. After she cleared her bedroom and the bathroom, she approached the window, she looked out only catching a running body with a flash of pink.
…
PRESENT:
Grayson found you standing on the sidewalk distracted on your phone. The outside of the precinct was quiet, some pedestrians. She looked around to ensure no one from her team saw her. She approached you, “Follow me.” then continued walking, her fingers inched to touch the small of your back and guide you, the habit had set.
With apprehension you looked past Grayson assuming she was with others.
You watched her walk alone, and get in her sedan with the tinted windows. She eyes you down once she realizes you didn’t follow her. The scrutinizing gaze she gives you makes you relent. Slowly you enter the passenger seat. Refusing to meet her eye.
“You know I have tinted windows.” she states.
With a dismissive glance you roll your eyes, “I have nothing to say to you!” You huff. “I can’t believe you turned me in, like the past few months were nothing. You were more than eager to toss me to the wolves.”
“Hey! I’m the one who should be upset. I’m an officer of the law before your girl-” she stops herself.
“Yeah before my girlfriend, don’t worry Gray you’ll never have to worry about that anymore.” Your fingers reach for the handle on the door. “Have a good life, officer.”
“Wait, [name]. I want to talk, please. You owe me some sort of explanation.”
“I don’t owe you shit.”
“If you leave, I have more than enough evidence to give my captain, or stay and we can talk.”
That got your attention. “Fine. But only if you take me home. I need a shower."
“We can’t. There are police on every corner of your block. You can shower at my place.” she offers.
“Fine, whatever, I don’t have any other choice.” You slouched into your seat.
The ride to Grayson’s apartment was tough, the car filled thick with tension. Neither of you wanted to break the bubble of silence.
When you arrived you walked up the steps to her unit, Grayson watched as you stepped inside and proceeded to go up the steps toward her apartment. Confirming the suspicions she’d had. This wasn’t your first time.
The both of you strode into her unit.
“Ignore the mess, I just moved in. “
She watched you observe the space, taking it in slowly, unaware of the fact that you’d already shown your hand.
“News to me. But should I be surprised? You’re like a steel door,” you exclaim. “Ain’t nothing getting past those walls.”
Grayson didn’t respond to your jab, she led you to her bathroom, her fingers finally got to touch you since you’d been out of the pokey. You hadn’t even noticed her soft fingers on your back, the familiar feeling.
“The towels are in the closet. I’ll be right out here.”
Walking past her you look up. “Thanks Gray,” A tiny smile graces your lips. “You’re free to join,”
Grayson loses her train of thought, your gaze stirs something inside. Her rational mind was in a battle, she knew what you’d done but her feelings toward you remain unmoved. It disgusted her, how easily you’d fooled her. A fly caught in a spider’s web, yet she was comfortable in her entrapment.
She closed the door behind her, feeling stuck on how to move forward. Her mind kicked in as soon as she heard the water running. Grayson riffled through your bag, you’d left it on the counter. She moved past the receipts and old gum pieces at the bottom, searching through all the pockets until she found your phone.
Grayson put in your code, and it unlocked. She secretly hoped the phone would reject her, but it didn't. Grayson went through your messages with Vi, She’d begun to suspect she wasn’t your ex, which meant everything you’d told her about Vi was a lie. Much to her dismay all the messages were deleted and you didn’t message anyone else. The shower stopped. She put the phone back in the side pocket and returned your bag to the counter.
Grayson met you at the door, you stepped out and walked to her bedroom. She stood by her door, while you stalked the closet side of her room.
Keeping the towel hugging your body you looked at Grayson. “Go ahead, I know you have questions. Talk.”
Grayson had to fix her face to overcome the annoyance pooling from her. She wiped the bottom half of her face and took a quick breath. The inner torment of Grayson’s conscience on whether you were still on the same team or not.
…
PAST:
After the stint in Grayson’s apartment it felt like she was avoiding you. The crime reports never led you to her anymore. She’d stopped coming to any crime scenes, domestic violence or familial disputes, nothing. A shooting near a grocery store? No detective in sight.
Vi had begun to take notice of your agitation.
The sun was setting, a soft glow covered your apartment. The two of you were on the floor of your apartment counting the money you’d gotten at your latest mark. Vi had intel of a widow that was out of town, a big brownstone that’d be empty with millions of dollars worth of art and jewelry. Disarming the alarm system was easy enough, with the rise of at home security anyone with a wifi connection can reroute the system and turn it off for a few minutes. The house sitter only came during the day at the beginning of the week. The house lights were kept on the rest of the time to give the illusion of someone at home. The waste of energy leaving all those lights on sickened you. If anything the widow deserved to get robbed for her hatred of the planet. Unfortunately, the intel was only half correct, the Rembrandt paintings were fake, and the broad kept her good jewelry locked away. The safe was easy enough for Vi to crack, a few gold bars, $75,000 in cash and some diamond necklaces that could pay your rent for the rest of this year and then some.
Vi huffed at the collection of goods.
“How tacky, we would’ve been set if either of those paintings were real. But I knew it was too good to be true. No one leaves a Rembrandt in their house without lasers and shit.” you muttered.
“We still have this,” Vi held up a key found in the safe.
You rolled your eyes. “You step a foot in that bank and you’ll be locked up faster-”
Vi shook her head. “Still not caught… We have time to check out the safety deposit box.”
“Why stop there, let's just do the bank, imagine the luck.”
Vi shoved you for being sarcastic.
Before she could answer, a screeching drew your attention to the walkie you kept for police dispatch.
“Panic alarm triggered at Chase Bank. Possible robbery.”
“Central, 2-Adam-21 responding, en route Code 3.”
“Copy, 2-Adam-21. Additional units staging at 43rd and Madison. Suspect description unknown.”
Vi’s gaze met yours. “What’s the point of that shit?”
“I told you! I’m making a chart of how fast dispatch responds to each area. They respond with more units if it’s below 10th St.”
“Yeah, no shit. Pigs get horny to arrest anyone from the Under city.” she murmurs.
You shove her. “It’ll be good to know later if we decide to do anything that big.”
Vi stood up. “Stop with that nonsense. Only amateurs rob banks.”
“But-”
“No. It’s pointless, with the security and all the vaults, it’s not worth the risk. If you wanna be a dumbass, I won’t stop you.”
Vi walks to your bathroom, stepping on your toilet she removes one of the ceiling panels, and moves the duffle of stolen goods in there. She returns the panel to its place.
“Don’t touch that. We need to clean the money before we can-”
You interrupt her. “I know. I know.”
She exits the bathroom, you follow her to the front door.
“I got a shift at the package store, so I gotta go. Cupcake is still in motion.” she winks.
“Can’t believe you’re still on that. Give it up.”
“You say that now, you’ll be eating your words when I’m eating he-”
Grabbing the door open, you shove her out. “Okay okay okay, goodbye Vi.”
…
PRESENT:
Grayson crosses her arms. “I only want the truth, if you can’t afford that, I won’t waste my breath.”
Something on the ground interested you more than her at that moment. “Okay, ask the right questions.” you state blankly.
Your gaze meets hers. “How long have you been doing this? We’ve got 4 B&E’s total, are there any others?”
You shook your head. “Nope. It was something dumb I started. Not gonna do them again, straight and narrow from here on out.”
Grayson didn’t believe you but she went forward. “You didn’t take anything from the apartments, why?”
You picked at the hem of the towel, pulling the thread. “Why not? I wanted to know what they had and they didn’t have shit.”
Grayson began pacing, she was growing frustrated with your petulance. Everything she asked was followed up with a lie. She needed to approach this from a different angle. Her mind came up blank with solutions, any method of interrogation she had didn’t work with you. The time spent together clouded Grayson’s judgement, you’d become acquainted with all of her tells. The way she approached cases, she was at a standstill.
A cardinal perched on the window ledge, the light streaming in made it appear pink. An idea popped into her head.
Grayson hated lying to you, but she needed answers and you weren’t making it easy. She walked up to the window and cracked it open a bit. The bird watched her movements.
“If you won’t answer then I’ll just get your pink friend down to the station, you think she’d be open to answering some questions?” she asked in a cool tone.
Grayson kept her back to you.
“Vi has nothing to do with this. I broke into all those places myself, no one else was with me. Question me all you want but don’t bring her into this.”
The stress in your voice told Grayson everything.
She turned and leaned against the windowsill. “Let’s try this again, and be a bit more honest. This is all off the record. For my own peace of mind.”
Your face gives nothing away, she sees you ponder over her proposition.
“Fine.” You state deflated. “No, those aren’t my only B&E’s but they’re the only ones I didn’t…borrow stuff from,”
She holds your gaze. If she tightened her jaw anymore it’d break.
Avoiding her gaze you keep your eyes fixed to the ground. “I didn’t take anything because that wasn’t the goal.”
Grayson squints her eyes at you. Crossing her arms. “What was your goal?”
She noticed the purple hue creeping up your ears.
“I was umm-trying to impress a crush,” you admit a bashfulness radiating off you.
“For Vi? She’s your crush?”
You scrunch your nose at her. “Ew. No, we grew up together. I don’t see her like that.”
“Who then?”
Shaking your head. “No. It didn’t work so there isn’t any point in rehashing.” Turning away from her.
Grayson walks in front of your eyeline. “Let me be the judge.”
“I thought you were a cop.” you joke.
Grayson keeps her arms crossed, not amused at all.
Without responding you get up and drop your towel, Grayson has to remind herself to look away. The temptation did nothing to cloud the anger that was festering in her. She watched you grab a henley from her drawer and put it on, along with some shorts.
The distraction gave you time to think of something on the fly. Exposing yourself to Grayson was easier than being honest. What would she think if she knew you did it for her attention? The thought terrified you, she’d be angrier than she was about the break in’s. The entire relationship had been on lies, another wouldn’t hurt?
Slowly you rubbed your hands together, sitting on the edge of the bed. You took a deep breath looking away from Grayson, “It’s too embarrassing, I don’t want it to change how you see me.”
She sits beside you. “The last of our relationship has already been destroyed.”
Her blank statement stabbed you deeply.
“There’s this dealer in the undercity.”
“Downtown?” Grayson probes.
You nod. “Yeah, he controls the streets, that’s how Vi and I got involved in that stuff. We were a couple of street kids, our families tossed us aside, well mine did. Hers died.”
Grayson didn’t nod, she eyed you down.
You continued. “I borrowed some money, I was between jobs, the interest piled up that it doubled the original amount. I can’t afford to pay him back, so I do little jobs in exchange.”
Grayson stood up, she went back to pacing, then stopped. “How is that embarrassing?”
Collapsing on your back, you shut your eyes. “Because, I’m dumb and got fucked by a loan shark,”
Grayson didn’t say anything.
“Not literally Grayson, Jesus!”
She was grateful you can’t see the various emotions she’d gone through in the past couple of seconds. You didn’t deserve to take pride in her jealousy.
“If you’re being blackmailed, you should’ve gone to the authorities.” she states.
Laying on your elbows you eye her. “Right, since you’re known for having such a great reputation at being helpful.”
Before you could blink Grayson was hovering over you, steel eyes gauge your response. Her arms trapped your head below her.
“Convenient that you were able to pay off the debt, when we started seeing each other.”
Her cologne is the first thing that catches your attention. Spending the last few hours with her and you were only now inhaling her oak scent.
Yesterday she was yours, today you couldn’t recognize her. She smelled like your woman, had her comforting aura but there was a new roughness to her, you couldn’t help being drawn.
Without cause, you found yourself drawing her hips closer to you, expecting her to push you away, she didn’t. Her gaze fixed to your lips. The gap closed as you crashed your lips into hers. Missing the taste of her even if it’d been less than a day. She returned the kiss with the same fervor, you thought the electricity in the air had been something you made up in your head. Your fingers fumbled with Grayson’s belt, you couldn’t move fast enough.
A knocking interrupts you. Both your heads turn in the direction of the front door.
“Grayson, you home?” Marcus called through the door.
…
PAST:
The night was steamy, humidity fogged up your glasses as you left your apartment. The pedestrians around you were chattering, you strolled with your burrito in hand. Getting ready for your dinner and show.
A bus stop and bench were parked on the opposite side of the Detective’s apartment. More specifically into her living room window.
Grabbing your burrito you listened to the police dispatch as you ate and memorized her silhouette. The curtains covered any sign of her so it would be an occasional shadow.
The street lamp protected you from the darkness of the night.
On a Friday night, most people were getting ready to go clubbing with their friends. A group of women walked across the street, giggling and chatting amongst themselves.
A loneliness tug at you seeing others with friends. A dispatch took you out of your pity party.
Central to all units, be advised, report of a home invasion in progress, 1123 Bergen St. Caller hiding in closet, suspects armed.
4-David-7 en route, lights and sirens. Advise if backup is available.
Central, 2-Lincoln-3 arriving on Bergen. Taking the north side—covering the front entrance and street view.
5-Adam-9 on scene. Taking the east alley—covering rear access and side windows.
David-7 posted on the west side. Triangle formed. Holding perimeter until K9 and backup arrive.
Copy that. Triangle perimeter established. K9 en route.
For once the dispatch was interesting, usually the crimes were domestic or boring neighborhood squabbles. This was the action you craved. You continued listening to the encounter. As you were about to take another bite into your burrito, she came rushing from her brownstone.
The detective was en route to the robbery. The idea was elementary; you were annoyed for not thinking of it sooner. Detectives came to the scene of robberies, even if they were low stakes you didn’t mind getting her attention.
Perimeter secure. No movement in front. The rear door appears forced.
Breaching rear.
On the edge of your seat you waited for a response. Finishing off the last of your burrito you throw the wrapper in the trash behind you. Getting up, you look both ways before crossing the street.
Seeing as you were successful last time, you enter the Detective’s apartment through the window. On your 3rd attempt the window didn’t budge, you chalked it up to your lack of strength.
Suspect fleeing toward kitchen. 4-David-21 intercepting.
You try to enter the building from the front entrance this time. Pretending to be on the phone, you stalk the entrance of the building until someone exits, you wait just before the door closes before putting your shoe through the door.
Making your way up the stairs, you get to her apartment. Checking the handle, people forget small things like locking the door when they rush. Unfortunately the detective is not one of those people. Your hands reach into your purse, grabbing your lockpicking kit. 3 minutes later you hear a click and you’re inside her apartment, again. The door was heavy as you made your way in, looking down upon entry you noticed a 24 pack of water bottles on the ground. Rolling your eyes, you make your way to the living room. Why didn’t she just have a water bottle and save the excess plastic waste?
One suspect in custody. The second suspect fled upstairs. Officers in pursuit.
Second suspect attempting to exit through second-story window. Officers have visuals.
She left all the lights on, you look at the chinese take away on the fold out tray in front of the TV. Caring for the environment was nowhere near the detective's list of priorities. Searching for a remote you turn it on to see what she was watching before she left.
The news channel appears. Something about a break in. Turning it off you head to your main mission.
As you enter her bedroom, you grab her pillow and smell her scent, faint almond and musk. Walking past the clothes on the floor, you spot her hamper. Digging through the used clothing you grab a sock and tuck it into your purse. Spotting a pair of boxers on the ground, you decide against taking it. You’re not some creep that steals women’s underwear. You had boundaries.
Suspect detained on roof. Officers climbing ladder.
Second suspect in custody. Both suspects secured. No injuries reported.
Amusement as you continued listening to the dispatch. Only a moron would rob homes, all risk very little reward.
After the field trip, you make your way to the window and notice a lock. It suddenly clicks, she locked her window. A validation radiates you in knowing it wasn’t your lack of muscles, the detective had grown suspicious. Why would she feel the need to lock her window? When you and Vi left everything was in it’s place nothing to alert her. Then you remember the window slamming. You curse to yourself, you’d been made.
Scene is secure. Suspects being transported to precinct. Investigation ongoing.
The idea from earlier was gonna be your best bet, if you wanted to meet your woman, you’d need to take matters into your own hands.
a/n: not sure if it needs to be said, but jic i don't not endorse robbery(ehh) or general creepy/stalkerish behavior towards your crush this is all fictional.
