Work Text:
02:13
The numbers in red are bright against the complete dark of Lucy’s room, the semi-colon blinking softly as she yet again thinks to herself, what the fuck?
The day had started out great. Seeing Jake’s mugshot – the tattoos, the greasy hair, the belly – all on someone who looked so strikingly like Tim. The way Tim had been absolutely annoyed every time someone mentioned Dim. You know, the usual piss-off-her-ex-TO-rile-him-up-good.
Then she had seen Juicy and she honestly felt like karma was challenged to prove it was real. In a very odd way.
She couldn’t help it, her very first thought had been, so our look-alikes get to date?
But she had quickly compartmentalized, she was going to think about this only in the safe confines of her room. Like every other thought she had had these past few… well, months. Unfortunately, the universe didn’t like that plan. Nyla and Angela suggested that Tim and Lucy be prepared thoroughly for the next job. She had even gotten to smirk at Tim when Nyla said she trusted Lucy to show the ropes to Tim. He had rolled his eyes and Lucy was very pleased.
So, they had decided he’d come over to her place after shift. She was glad for that, the only other time they had been to his place by themselves was, well, when Lopez had been kidnapped. When all of this began.
She preferred her house, that was her ground, she got to light as many candles she could to calm her nerves. It was just work. They were hanging out. She’d done it with Nyla before, coming up with backstories. Tim and her certainly had hung out together before. Of course, that was before she saw him go down on one knee for Ashley and felt like she had been hit by a fucking truck.
But this wasn’t about that. This was about Dim and Juicy and the goal of cuffing a huge drug-trafficking ring.
She sent a quick text to Chris to let him know they had to cancel their plans for tonight and tomorrow. Work emergency. Then, she decided to mentally prepare herself.
Unfortunately, as much as she did, it didn’t work. As soon as he walked in, smiling nervously before settling on her couch, her brain started providing unnecessary suggestions. Tim looked nice. He smelled nice, he definitely had showered. He brought beer, the one she liked. He was sitting on her couch waiting to discuss how they were going to pretend to be their look-alikes who definitely had a more physical relationship that Tim and Lucy themselves. They were going to have to address that. She was not going to be the one to bring it up.
He did look really nice.
She opened two beers and walked to the couch. It was going to be okay.
That changed when Tim suggested his idea of a backstory. She wanted to say something like ‘Really? That’s the best you could think of for two people who sleep together?’
She resorted to ‘Lame.’
Tim challenged her and maybe that was what she was waiting for. As she spoke, she saw him pleased with her idea of a meet-cute. Evading cops, classic. Then she decided to spice it up a little. They just really needed to have a strong understanding of their avatars. She did with Nova, she’s doing it with Juicy.
His reaction to it was an added bonus. She filed it away for later.
She took a sip. Just them meeting was not enough. How long had they been seeing each other? Was it serious? It had to be; they couldn’t betray each other even if things went south. How far did she fall into the life of crime?
She heard Tim clear his throat and looked back up at him. He looked nervous.
Elephant in the room, he called it.
Lucy mentally cheered, she didn’t have to be the one to bring it up. She could have her fun with him. She’s just his aide, she had no idea what elephant he’s talking about. She did her best to look clueless. When he looked at her as if he couldn’t believe her, she had to press her lips together to stop smiling. When he looked really close to giving up, a small part of her decided that it wanted to grab the other chance.
Just so they wouldn’t be caught off-guard in the middle of the op. Just so she didn’t lose her damn mind if Tim randomly decided to kiss her in the middle of the op.
He looked relieved that she understood, almost turned towards her before turning away again. She tapped the beer bottle against her knee. The couch seemed risky. They definitely should be standing for this.
Then they were standing in front of one another, at quite a distance, with the intention of kissing. Lucy imagined what it would be like. She looked at Tim, his hands half in his jeans’ pockets.
Professional, yes. Just kissing Tim for work reasons. Definitely not how she had imagined how they’d first kiss, if ever.
Tim Bradford, her training officer. The guy who made her life hell for a year. The guy she set up with one of her best friends. Her boss. She had a random thought about Rachel finding out they had to kiss. She’d definitely want to compare. The sudden thought that made no sense made her laugh and Tim almost whined.
Oh, just get this over with? Super romantic. She turned away, gathering her thoughts. He’s Dim, she is his girlfriend. It’s not Tim and Lucy kissing each other.
She took a deep breath and turned to him, waiting. He leaned in, closed his eyes, her own fluttered shut, their lips touched and – then they were not touching anymore. She opened her eyes in time to see him looking proud of it.
Seriously?
And right now, lying in her bed well into the night, she can give a million reasons about how criminals doing PDA probably do not kiss each other so softly, so chastely but the truth remains that at that time, she just wanted more.
'Sorry. Is this it?'
And in a very Tim Bradford way, he thought she was criticizing him.
Oh, he was infuriating. She thought she should explain that she was not. She tried speaking; all she could do was let out a small whine and then she thought, fuck this.
She reached out with her hands and decided to show Tim. Wasn’t he the one always telling her to do better?
And then their lips were touching and she realized no matter how deep she tried to bury Lucy, this would be her kissing Tim. Tim Bradford, her ex-training officer. Tim Bradford who found her and dug her out with his bare hands, who took her home when he thought she shouldn’t be alone, who went out of his way for the people he cared about, who spent half the time on her damn mind.
Who she had thought about kissing a thousand times.
It was better than she had ever thought, his lips against hers. He tipped a little towards her, almost like falling into place. His hands that were at his side slowly moved up her arms. She moved her to his chest, grabbing his collar. One of his hands reached her shoulder, his long fingers almost ghosting over her neck. The other hovered over his hips, as if trying to make a decision. They pulled away for breath, his hand finally landed on her hip firmly, and she would never be able to tell who moved back in first, but they both did and he opened up his mouth and then Lucy heard the lock. They opened their eyes at the same time, she saw his pupils wide for that second before they turned towards the door.
Oh, Tamara had looked so smug, telling them they didn’t have to explain themselves.
Right now, lying in her bed, Lucy isn’t entirely sure if she’s glad Tamara came in when she did or if she wouldn’t have minded a few more seconds, just a little bit more.
A part of her knows it’s the latter.
She turns once again, looking at the clock.
02:17
Did she really have to call out ‘Good work today’ afterwards? She gently presses her palm to her forehead, groaning. It’s a mystery how she manages to get any sleep.