Chapter Text
“Sebastian.” Joseph’s voice is lost to the other man, who was merely staring past the computer screen in front of him; looking like he was about to pillow his face into the desk in front of him and cover the pesky paperwork with saliva.
Julie sent the smaller man a knowing grin and the detective glowered under her teasing grin. Clearing his throat, Joseph tried again as he stood up from his pristine desk to go aid his partner. “Seb?” By the time he was standing by the other man with a frown, Castellanos is licking his suddenly dry lips and jerking to attention.
“M’yeah?” The larger man grunted with a thick swallow as he rubbed his eyes with his clenched hands. He knows that Joseph is worried about him. He’d come stumbling into the station looking lost and bewildered more than once.
Those dark eyes bore into Sebastian’s own light golden ones and the other detective finally breaks eye contact while aimlessly tapping a few keys into a document on his computer. “I’m fine, Joseph… let’s just focus on this case.”
His partner doesn’t look at all convinced but he silently stalks over to his desk across from the older detective and sits there with a silent stare. Sebastian tries to promise himself he’ll try to get some sleep tonight, just for Joseph’s sake.
Though that gets increasingly hard to do when the primal side of him encourages late runs and howls at the moon.
-:-
Even though they’re rushing to grab their winter coats, Sebastian takes the time to breathe in a lungful of the scent rolling off Joseph’s turned back as the smaller man shrugs on a thick winter coat. The black coat goes to his partners thighs and has a high collar to protect against the wind while still flexible enough to move around. He can tell its wool and the pea-coat style actually hugs his partner’s smaller frame quite nicely.
Joseph turns his head and catches him staring and Sebastian clears his throat to tug on his own trench coat. “Let’s catch this guy, Jojo.” He hopes the ill-favored nickname will take the younger man’s mind off the topic of his staring.
His partner simply gives a curt nod, double checking his gun before it disappears into the holster and is covered up by that coat. While Joseph and Kidman are whisked away for the moment, Sebastian scents the lingering smells of Joseph.
His partner always smelled so clean, but his inner wolf could pick up on the traces of coffee and an aftershave that smells like something herbal. His hair gel is faint, and oddly smells like coconuts. Sebastian descends out into the street, slipping into the passenger seat of the police cruiser and he glances at Connelly.
The scene reminds him of Ruvik’s mind prison and he shudders, barely suppressing a growl at the memories.
He can still remember the exact moment that Oda found out about the pesky little curse that gave the older detective a brutal edge.
“Sebastian… Jesus, Seb.” His voice cracks and Joseph sits heavily on one of the many scattered church benches. Sebastian stops staring at the purple and green stain glass and regards his partner with a worried look.
It was always hard to watch their reactions to his hidden truth. Especially considering he’d just ripped apart two giants with nothing but his bare claws and jaws. He can still taste the putrid blood on his lips and his eyes haven’t stopped glowing their natural golden hue.
He watches helplessly while Joseph sags to the side and clutched at his side as if in pain. His inner wolf implores him to aid his companion, and he does so readily.
Joseph leans into his tender touches and his voice is hardly a whispering ghost while Sebastian crouches and simply holds him. “It’s alright, Joseph.” He grunts, unsure of what else to say.
What is one supposed to say when their greatest secret was just revealed in one of the worst ways possible?
Shaking his head free of those memories, Sebastian glances into the rearview mirror and watches while Joseph flips open the little black pocketbook and reviews notes.
After a moment their eyes meet and his partner sends him a tiny, knowing smile.
Sebastian merely grins back as the car slowly lurches from the street and takes them to the next reported crime scene in the winter chill.