Lance Sweets (Bones) - Crossover AU - Chapter 3
“Dr. (L/N), you have a visitor.”
“Send them in.” You call absentmindedly.
The person was guided inside and you intended to address them right after you’d finished filing for the most recent item you were about to put in the archive.
“Good morning, I wasn’t sure what you liked so I just got one of each donut.”
The voice caught you off guard and you placed the item down, spinning around. Sweets was holding a box of donuts, a broad smile on his face. He moved over placing it on the desk.
“I’m not trying to interfere with your work, so I’ll get out of your hair. See you at lunch.”
You were gaping at him as if he’d sprouted an extra head. He just wore a proud smile, strutting out of your office. For a moment you just stood there, unsure of what just happened. You were positive that you’d literally threatened the man to never come within a hundred feet of you. Much less show up at your office with a treat.
Your eyes directed at the box and you clenched your jaw. You really wanted to set the damn thing on fire. But you didn’t need the hassle of a fire drill right now.
So you carried on with your day as if nothing happened. Maybe it was a fluke. He was testing the waters.
When lunch rolled around you were careful to leave the office. Usually you have lunch there because you always seem to get lost in your work. Yet, since the encounter you haven’t had much luck focusing on your work.
You settled for the diner close by. Your hope is that the meal will distract you long enough to figure out his angle. Picking at your fries, you sigh heavily.
You jolt, turning at the voice.
Sweets took a seat opposite you.
“I was stopping by to bring lunch to you, but this works too.”
He was wearing a smile, and you clenched your fist on the table.
“What are you playing at?”
“Despite what you might think, I’m not here to cause you harm. I just want to be your friend. From your reactions it’s clear that you don’t have many that you truly trust with anything. You’re accomplished but you have no ties. You were adopted as a teen. You’ve lived in Washington all your life.”
You can’t believe it, he did a background check.
If you even didn’t trust him before that’s amplified now.
“You’re not exactly selling yourself as a comrade. I don’t need friends. I’m warning you.”
“I believe everyone needs friends. Humans strive for social interaction Unless you’re not human.”
He caught the slight tenseness in your shoulders.
“Interesting. Well I suppose we’ll be getting closer. I have to get back. This was a nice talk.”
He stood, and despite the purely venomous look, he was still smiling straight until the point that he exited.
“I’m going punch a hole in his stupid face.”
He’d definitely gotten under your skin.
Those little meetings went on for a while.
He’d pop up at the craziest times with a smile and lunch. Then he’d start chatting like you’d been buddies all your life. You couldn’t figure out his game, or why he wasn’t running like a headless chicken away from you.
A week of the strange behavior and you finally decided to confront him. You had meant to do it privately, but he was just sitting there chatting with Booth and Brennan as you held the documents in your hand that you needed Camille to sign before she left. The second he saw you, he smiled, waving you over and your anger increased.
“Hey, join us for dinner. We were about to head out for a meal.”
Angela and Hodgins walked over, and it became clear that this was a friendly gathering. One you had no interest in joining.
“No thanks, I just need a signature.”
Brennan’s office was closest, she did a little shuffle, grabbing a pen off the desk as she moved back over, taking the files from your hands.
“So what are we having tonight?” Hodgins asked.
“I don’t know, we should let (Y/N) pick since it’s her first time with us.” Sweets suggested.
Camille clicked the pen, handing you the clipboard back.
“Here you go, so what are we feeling for tonight? Any suggestions?” She inquired.
Sweets sent a smile your way. You gripped the papers, trying to stay neutral. You didn’t want to lose your temper, but this felt like a game. Sweets must have been messing with you.
“My new friend has the call.” Sweets informed.
That comment made you snap.
The entire space went quiet after your yell. Your glare was fixated on Sweets.
“You’re nothing to me, we aren’t friends, do you understand that!! Your entire existence is insignificant to me!!”
It was cruel to say that, but you hated this. Being toyed with. Like you were some puppet for him to pull. He knew your secret and he was dangling it in front of your face. It was a declaration that he could out you at any time. At any point you could become some experiment because he knew about your weakness. He must have figured it out by now. This must have been his play.
Nothing else made sense to you.
“Alright, let’s all take a breath.”
Booth moved between the both of you, and you stepped back. You were furious. When you finally got yourself to calm down, you could see it, the judgment they wore. It was normal. You’d ripped into their friend for what seemed like no reason. To them, you must look like a complete bitch because all he’d been offering was company.
Huffing, you lower your head.
“I’m sorry. Please excuse me.”
Just like that you were turning to leave.
Saddened looks were exchanged before they decided to leave. They expected Sweets to follow them, but he sent a smile, shaking his head.
“I’ll have a word with her.”
“Are you sure that’s a good idea? It’s pretty obvious she prefers her own company. It’s possibly the reason behind her outburst. Your attempt for inclusion backed her into a corner.” Brennan’s words caused Booth to sigh.
“Bones, times like this are when you say good luck, you got this.”
“Oh, well good luck. You got this.”
Her usual flat tone caused the rest of them to stifle their laughs.
Sweets followed you all the way up to your office. When he knocked on the door and entered, he could see the anger in your gaze, doubled with fear. He closed the door, ready to plead his case.
“Is this some kind of game!! Do you think it’s funny to toy with me! You have no idea how difficult this is. What right do you have to do this? I haven’t done anything wrong. Don’t you think that I would much prefer to be on my planet with my own people! I have no one left of my kind and now you’re holding my faith in your hands!”
He hadn’t truly understood the seriousness of the situation until he saw the tears. He thought that if he came off as a friend, it would help you to be more relaxed around him. He realizes now that the tactic must have felt like a mock.
“I’m alone in this world..I have..no one..”
You were sobbing, and he moved closer. With your defenses weakened, you seem a lot less like you were going to punch a hole through his body. Your shaky gaze looked up, and it broke his heart to see that look again. That fear, just like when you were in that bedroom bleeding out on the floor. You were terrified that he would tell someone. This whole time you were scared.
“I’ll never tell anyone your secret. I’d sooner die. You saved me and I owe you my life. I’m not trying to hurt you. I just want to be your friend.”
His words sound sincere and when he reaches out, it’s hesitant. He places it on your shoulder, and to his surprise, you don’t flinch or pull away. He takes one more step, pulling you to his chest.
At that very moment, it seems like the right thing to do.
Apparently it was, because slowly, you hug him back.
