Work Text:
~
“What’s got you so distracted Torres?” Kevin leans from where he’s sat at his desk, poking his pen into Dante’s space who’s busy staring at his phone every two seconds.
“Uh- nothing, nothing sorry.” He quickly apologizes and slides his phone into his jean pocket, looking back up to where Kim and Jay roam the bit of floor between everybody’s desk, this case has gone nowhere so a minute to talk doesn’t seem too bad to Jay.
“It is Valentine’s Day, you got a hot day?” Torres averts his eyes at Adams tease which only has the team more interested, they haven’t learned much about Torres since he joined the team and Jay took over as sergeant.
“Ooo who is she? Is she hot?” That earns a pen hucked towards Adam from Hailey, her disapproving scoff making Kim chuckle under her breath.
“Can’t we get back to the case?” Dante pleads, staring over to Jay with big eyes that would usually make Halstead take pity on the kid, though this is much more entertaining and a rookie needs his time of prodding.
“We will in a minute, tell us about your date, you taking her somewhere nice?” Jay comes to sit on the edge of Haileys desk, allowing Torres to falter with a blush shining through on his cheeks.
“I made reservations somewhere.” He all but whispers but Adam and Kev still hoot and holler about what a player Dante is, only making Torres turn more red.
“Will we be meeting this girl soon or is this the first date?” Kim uses a much more soft tone than whatever Adam and Kevin are rambling behind her with, something along the lines of Torres getting some, it makes Jay roll his eyes.
“We’ve been going out a while, about a year.” A smile plays across Torres face, looking down at his hands a second then back up to Burgess’s grin.
“Okay so it’s serious then, you’re excited for tonight then?” She inquiry’s.
“Yeah, we haven’t gone out in a while since works crazy for them and then all the stuff happening here, it’ll be nice to have a night for just us.” Kim and Jay share a quick raised brow at the use of ‘them’ for whoever Dante’s dating, most would assume he would use she or her, but then again, he’s never disclosed who he goes out with.
“What do they do?” Hailey pipes up, sharing the same look that Jay and Kim have, Jays pretty sure Adam and Kevin are also catching on.
“They work at Med, a doctor.” Torres informs.
“Oh yeah, my brother works there.” Dante hums up at Jay, and god does Jay need to try and get use to how quiet he is compared to Ruzek or the others.
“What’s his name? I might’ve met him.”
“Will, or Dr. Halstead at work.” Torres nods, knitting his brows together as if he’s trying to remember something but is coming up short.
“I don’t think I’ve met him but my b- partner is pretty new at Med.” Dante corrects himself in seconds, though the team already noticed and Kim’s coming to give one of her ‘mom smiles’ as Haileys described to Torres.
“I hope you have fun on your date, you’ve worked really hard these last few weeks and deserve a night.” Tension instantly drops from Torres’ shoulders as he nods along, allowing Kim to pat his hand a moment before she’s herding Adam and Kevin back to their desks, Hailey turning to her work as well and Jay starting to talk about the case again.
~
“Hey Jay?” A knock comes to Halstead’s door right as everyone files out of the precinct, Hailey going to get dressed for the planned date her and Jay have while he finishes up some paperwork.
“Yeah Torres?” He looks up from his paperwork, still not use to using Voight’s old office as his own.
“Can I talk to you?” The anxious energy is practically radiating off of Dante, he shifts on his feet, the most nervous Jays ever seen him since he started.
“Sure, everything okay? Don’t you have a date?” Dante nods once, it’s jerky, he pauses to suck in some air before turning to click the door shut and sit in front of Jays desk, picking at his nails as he avoids Halstead’s worried eyes.
“Yeah- yeah I’m just about to leave, I just wanted to talk to you before I did.” Jay scoots his chair closer to the desk, trying to look reassuring as he does.
“I’m here for whatever you need.” You sound like a middle school guidance counselor, Jay huffs to himself, he’s bad at this and especially with someone he doesn’t know well.
“I’m gay, Jay.” It’s rushed but clear, Torres still staring down at the floor and Jay nodding seriously. While he definitely knew this was coming based on earlier events, he still has nothing prepared to say.
“Okay, that’s okay I mean.” Idiot, god how Jay wishes Hailey was here to help him with this.
“I just um- wanted to tell you, cause y’know you talk about trust a lot and how the teams our family and- I felt like you should know.” Dante ends with a small breath, finally looking up to meet Jays eyes.
“Thank you for telling me, it takes a lot. And I can assure you that absolutely nobody on the team would ever be hateful towards you, we’re all accepting.” Jay has full trust that the team would accept Dante with open arms, no questions asked.
“I know, or I think I’m starting to know, you guys seem really nice. I think everyone likes me, I just don’t tell a lot of people after everything with how I grew up.” Jay nods understandingly, he can’t imagine it was easy for Torres to accept himself with how he grew up and being a cop must add pressure, but this unit would never judge anyone.
“Everyone likes you, I’ve gotten no complaints.” Aside from the slight annoyance at how quiet Torres is but that’s just Adam wanting someone to ramble with.
“And you don’t have to worry while you’re here, I know other cops aren’t as progressive but trust me, this unit has your back.” Jay says with his full chest.
“Thank you Jay, it means a lot. And I hope you and Hailey have fun on your date, mines downstairs asking for me.” A smile falls to Torres’s face as he stands, giving Jay one more nod before waking out the door and leaving Jay to let out the biggest sigh of relief. Maybe being sergeant won’t be so bad.