𝕯𝖆𝖓𝖎 ♪

Every time you want to raise your hand to answer, you always hesitate and end up stopping yourself. However, Leon notices that, and always encourages you to ask whatever you want.

"Would you like to say something?" "Yes, but..." "It's okay." He's always very gentle and subtle, leaving you the option to just ask or not.

Thanks to that, you start participating more in class, specially since you feel quite good when Leon praises you and always thanks you for wanting to participate and share your contributions to the class.

He starts remembering your name before most students'. You're one of the top students even if you don't want to shine, so Leon likes keeping close track of your work.

Still, you feel quite unmotivated sometimes, and not to mention you have the thought that all you're doing is nothing but horrendous... so, even if you don't want to, you force yourself to go to office hours with Leon.

The first time you go is because you're a bit confused about a concept, and you almost turn back before knocking because you were nervous about bothering him.

When Leon opens the door, here's surprised to see you, but also happy.

"Hey. Wasn't expecting to see you here. Come in."

He lets you enter and offers you to sit, which you do, still nervous and getting more shy.

Leon sits a bit closer than you thought he'd do and starts going through your notes. He quickly starts explaining everything to you softly, making sure you understand everything.

"Got it?" "Want me to repeat it for you?" "Is there something else you have problems with?" "You'd want me to go with this again?"

Not to mention the eye contact. Leon can't stop looking at you, and he can't help but let a growing, a bit shy, smile, appear his lips.

After that first time, you start going to his office more times... actually, more than you should.

You put yourself (and Leon) excuses, like "I need to ask a question", "I need a bit of clarification for this concept", "I just want to make sure I've understood everything", but you're lying to yourself: you kinda like being with Leon... and you shouldn't like it that much given he's your professor.

What you don't know is that he feels the exact same way about you, but again: he's your professor.

Leon never blurry boundaries between you two, but he starts taking the conversations beyond mere coursework.

"How are your other classes going?" "Getting enough sleep?" "Did you have lunch today?" "Want me to get you a coffee? Or maybe a tea? It'll help you relax."

Without even noticing, you both start opening up to each other little by little.

Leon start noticing your habits, like how you tuck your hair back or put it in a bun when you're thinking or stressed, how you play with your fingers when you're unsure of something, how your eyes shine and your voice raises up when you talk about something you're passionate about...

Also, you both start meeting outside university, specially on a coffee shop that's close to your homes since you found out you were neighbors.

You finally recognize to yourself you've fallen for Leon when you stay after class one day to ask him something you definitely didn't understand... and he's fallen for you, too.

Leon's about to rush off class because you know he has a conference with some other doctors. You don't want to overwhelm him, of course, but you have this exam in a few days...

"Leon? Is it okay if—"

He doesn't even let you finish. He just nods, takes the notes you have in your hands carefully, and put them all over the desk, leaning against it and starts explaining you everything without even needing you to talk.

He arrived late to the conference, but he didn't mind since he got to spend more time with you.

But, also... that made Leon think about you two, and how, yes, he wanted something more than just a professor-student relationship, but he didn't want to cross the line.

For that reason he decided that, since that moment, he'd put up some space between you two.

Leon starts keeping things professional in public. No more meetings outside university, no special treatment that the other students could notice...

You notice the shift on Leon's behaviour, but you get it and feel bad about getting too close with him.

However, office hours and the brief conversations you share about no other than his class are still very nice... but you missed that little thing you shared, it's stupid lying to yourself.

Leon never crosses a line, but it's true that he can't help himself to care about you way more than he should've have... or not.

He overthinks a lot about what would happen between you two if you weren't professor and student, same as you let yourself daydream about it way too much.

During exams season, he notices when you're tired, when you're stressed, when you want to give up but still you keep going...

He also notices how you're overworking yourself, lacking of sleep, lacking of eating and drinking, and at this point, living on the library.

But, still, you keep your distance from the other while never stop worrying about the other.

The day his classes finishes, including his exams, you don't know how to feel. Maybe sad, because you won't get to see him more in class? Or, maybe... happy, since you could finally share something more?

One way or another, all you both know is that you didn't have more lectures to share, no more office hours to go to, and, specially... no more excuses to see each other somewhere else.

Leon doesn't approach you because he feels he's crossing boundaries anyways, but wants to every time he sees you, specially outside university.

It's not after like two weeks after classes finished when you decide to take the next step... even you're quite unsure about it.

You go to his office, and his door is half open. You feel unsure about knocking on the door, entering... but, thankfully, Leon quickly stands up and rushes to open the door for you.

"Hey" "Hi..."

He's surprised to see you, to say the least, but definitely quite happy.

When you enter, and before you start talking about anything else, you start thanking him for everything his classes related, specially with how much he helped you, and how nice he was to you even when you were too annoying.

"Thank you. That's what a professor's for." "Still, I was so annoying sometimes coming here to your office, can't lie." "I don't mind. It was so nice having you here. I really liked our the talks we've had."

You don't know what else to say. Well, you know, but... you don't know how to say it to Leon without sounding desperate.

He sees you struggling a bit, and even sees that you get close to the door with the intentions to leave.

"You need something else before you go?"

He sounds... hopeful, but also, a bit desperate...

You look down, a bit shy to tell him that you'd like to keep talking with him, meeting, maybe... taking your relationship somewhere else... but you don't know how to tell him.

"Yeah... so... about that..." "It's just me, you know? And I'm not your professor anymore... but a friend, I guess. You can tell me."

"I'd like us to keep... this" you point at you both. "Don't get me wrong... I felt very comfortable with you being my professor, and sometimes it felt like we were friends— Like, again, don't met me wrong, but— I don't want this to end as if nothing happened."

Leon looks at you and starts smiling a lot, relieved deep down that you felt the same way about him.

"Yeah. Me neither. I've been thinking about... stuff, for a long time now." "Stuff as..." "Like wanting to get close to you. Like telling you I'd love to get close to you. But, given the situation... it wouldn't have been fair to you."

You knew. You knew that was the exact reason why Leon put some distance between you two, and you understand it completely. It was fair. However, hearing it from him, specially now, makes things more real... in a way you can't explain.

"So, I was about to leave... If you're free now, I was wondering if you'd like to have lunch? There's this new restaurant I thought you might like."

You can't deny Leon's request, and of course you go to have lunch with him.

Actually, it's not just that lunch, but also a few cinema dates, a few dinner dates, even a few karaoke dates that none of you classified as "dates", but you knew they were.

Specially, when in one of them, when he take you to the theatre to watch a play you've been wanting to see for too long, he just spills "my girlfriend's been wanting to come for a while" as if you were his girlfriend. But no, you weren't, at least... not officially.

"My girlfriend? Really?" "Sorry for the spoiler... Can you wait for later tonight?"

He had in mind asking you the question in a park you loved walking in and having picnics that same night, and he did.

Of course you said yes.

"I've been liking you way before I should have, you know." "And I was the one feeling bad falling for my professor as one of those romantic cliche forbidden love stories..." "So you liked me, huh?" "I really thought you already found out with all the office hours I attended just to see you, Professor Kennedy."

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! Feedback, as well as comments and/or reblogs, are very much appreciated! My inbox is also open in case you want to make a request or talk to me! 💖

It took him quite a while to decide what he wanted to order not only for him, but for the whole S.T.A.R.S. team and other few cops he was close (almost the whole RPD)

"Uh... I think I'll just have 24 coffees. Medium. And could you put them in a big bag if it isn't much trouble for you? Thanks..."

You were just in shock with how many coffees he ordered. Actually, you were in shock because that's the biggest order you received so far... but everything's a start, of course.

"Of course! You want me to write any name on the bag? So I don't get confused with it, you know..."

You cursed yourself when you said that, of course... but you felt like you really had to convince him that your business was going great.

"Leon." "Leon... Got it!"

You wrote it down, taking your time so your handwriting was the best as possible, and of course, you had to add a smiley face next to his name.

Leon and you barely talked while you were preparing everything for him, and just told you quite a few times (more than the necessary ones) "thank you" (while you couldn't stop smiling) before he left.

After that day, Leon becomes a regular customer, and he always goes to order at the same exact time to order those 24 medium coffees.

Leon always gives you a huge tip which, honestly, you feel bad about receiving but can't complain about it since you really need the money.

You start having little conversations, getting to know each other more. You're the one who starts them, asking Leon how his shift's going and if he's been in too much trouble. He always asks you about what you're baking that day and if you were busy (specially when he knows you don't).

You start venting with him a bit about how the business isn't going as good as you thought it'd go, which makes Leon starts having ideas on how to help you.

Leon's quite surprised that you can actually remember his order, and you just laugh about it.

"But... how?" "Leon: it's exactly the same one everyday. You've been coming here for like three months now."

One of the things he likes the most about going to see you and ordering isn't only talking with you, but seeing how you get everything ready.

Every day that goes by, he starts staying a little longer to the point he starts coming back to his shift later than he's supposed to, always making a different excuse.

Barry and Marvin know that Leon's excuses are a shame, but they just let him go because his mood's much better since he started going to your coffee shop.

There was this time when they were quite busy at RPD that Leon, shyly, called you to ask you if you could bring the order there. To say that they actually were so happy to finally meet who's been brighting up Leon's days is to say the least.

Marvin even asked you to appear every day at RPD so Leon could actually see you and not have his mind somewhere else after coming back from your coffee shop. You just smiled and said "thank you" while your cheeks started being quite red.

Leon, of course, didn't stop going to visit you no matter what everyone told him. Chris even told said once to him that you should definitely hire Leon since he seemed more... invested about baking and making coffees.

And, actually... it kinda happened the moment he set up a bake sale outside RPD to help you (and your business, of course) after you got robbed and your coffee shop literally was ruined.

Worth mentioning Leon felt like shit that he couldn't stop the robbers since, come on, he's a cop. He's supposed to help you.

Your mood wasn't the best and you didn't want anyone to pity you, and even when you told Leon quite a few times that it wasn't necessary, he still did.

It turned out to be not a great thing to get back to your business, but also to get more customers.

Every time he has free time after his shift? He just goes and asks you what he can help you with, specially as you start getting more customers.

When you get back to your place, everything goes back to normal... unless things are way more different with Leon.

Even you have now lots of customers, he's still the #1 (and he's your #1 fan, no doubt).

You now have long full conversations, and now almost everything about each other... except that your relationship doesn't seem to go beyond anything related to your work or his.

But, come on: you both wish things were different... However, you don't know how to cross the line you both settled without even talking about it.

You're the one who starts crossing it by simply writing little cute notes on post-its and giving them to Leon every time you handed him his bag with those 24 medium coffees.

Also, you start baking a little bit more about everything daily to give it to Leon. Like... a whole box just of cookies, cupcakes, little cake pieces...

"We had extras today!" "I don't know if—" "You can share with the RPD guys... but it's for you. Thought you might like them." "But..." "Leon. Really."

Then, the days after, when he comes back to order, he just brings you something you told him you liked. Always.

One day, it was a book you told him you wanted to read. Other day, it was just some stupid chocolate you said out loud you were craving.

He even bought you once a bouquet of flowers because this girl who was getting married came with one and you just said that you never got one of those bouquets but you'd love to.

To say you were starting to fall for Leon was something... but Leon was falling for you too.

You kept your dynamics until Chris came with Leon to take the daily order (this time, it was 50 medium coffees) and basically how stupid you both were.

"You better ask her out tomorrow. If not, I'd ask her out for you." "Chris... I'm not asking her out." "Yes, you are. You like her, she likes you. Easy." "She doesn't like me." "She does. Shut up."

Leon ends up taking Chris advice... just not the way he probably should have.

He goes to visit you twice that day. First to, obviously, get the coffee, and after his shift (and after going home and get a shower and get changed into something else that's not his RPD uniform).

Leon sees you're taking a break, having one of your cookies while talking with a little girl no older than 3.

He doesn't say anything because he loves how nice you're being with the girl, but you end up seeing him and quickly tell him "Hi!"

No to mention you hug him and that makes Leon blush a lot and get more nervous.

"I'm surprised to see you again! Did something happened?" "No, no... just wanted to come to see you." "Leon, you see me every day."

He doesn't say anything else because it's stupid... but he's too shy to actually do something.

You can't help but smile nonstop at his shyness and at how awkward he's acting, rubbing his neck and smiling shyly.

"Leon..." you push him a bit because you know he wants to tell you something, and it's making you nervous that he's not talking you anything yet. "Is there anything you want?"

"Well... This might be weird, or—" "Leon... it's just me." "I now I come here a lot but—" "I know it. You're my favourite customer. And a great friend, too."

That confession takes you both by surprise, but somehow it makes you feel more comfortable.

You look at each other and your smiles grow a bit more.

He starts pulling out his phone, his hands trembling a bit... and making the phone fall on the floor, which makes him nothing but feel like an idiot. You just find him even more cute, and somehow quite nice.

"So... as a friend... Would it be okay if I got your number?" "Yeah... I'd like that. Been wanting that for a long time, actually."

Leon's relief is immediate, and of course noticeable, which makes you laugh a little.

"So... and before I fuck up something else... would you like to go to the cinema?"

You smile again, and without even thinking about it, give him a quick hug followed by a kiss on his cheek, a bit closer to his lips than you thought about.

"Yes. I'd quite like that. And, since we seem to be making plans... I thought on going then to have dinner. You'd like that?"

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING! Feedback, as well as comments and/or reblogs, are very much appreciated! My inbox is also open in case you want to make a request or talk to me! 💖