Chapter Text
Nick buried his face in his hands as a desperate moan of frustration escaped him. How could he ever show up for work again, his reputation was gone. How could something like this happen to him? Oh, he knew how, but he was going to take that little tidbit of information to his grave.
He could feel the blood still slowly oozing from the cut above his right eye and his left knee was so swollen he couldn't even begin to bend it.
"I'm sure a doctor will come and examine me at any moment. You don't have to stay here and wait."
In response Nick received a piercing look that stopped him on the spot.
***
Everyone in the South Precinct was excited about the upcoming Emergency Services Run for Charity. Everyone lent a hand, whether running, helping at the aid stations or cheering on the barriers. After all it was for a good cause.
But they were also ambitious and set themselves goals, and it wasn't long before Wu's betting pool grew to unprecedented proportions.
Who would be the fastest?
Would they beat the other Precincts?
How would they compare to the other emergency services?
And then there was Captain Anderson of the North Precinct himself, whose inglorious reputation preceded him, who dared to challenge their Captain. Nick was sure their Captain hadn't actually intended to take part in the run in person but when Renard saw the other Captain's smug grin, even he couldn't help but agree to the bet.
The two Captains couldn't stand each other and fought like cat and dog most of the time. No one knew what their bet involved in detail, they had agreed to keep it secret, but by the time Captain Anderson had left the Precinct it seemed he had already won. Nick was one of the best Detectives and knew he needed to get to the bottom of what was going on or otherwise it wouldn't let him rest.
And as weeks of preparation for the run turned into days before the Charity event, Nick was still no closer to solving the mystery. He knew that Sean was extremely fit, how else could Nick explain the Captain's Greek God like stature and therefore would win the run safely ahead of Captain Anderson. But why had the other Captain been so smug, something wasn't adding up.
***
Nick thought that he was prepared for the Charity Run. After all, he was a Grimm and the half marathon distance with its 13 miles shouldn't be a problem for him. As Police Officer and Detective he had to hold a certain level of fitness but as he came into his Grimmhood it had reached new highs. So his preparation had consisted more or less of getting into the habit of running a certain pace. After all, he couldn't run the half marathon distance in Grimm mode.
That stole a mischievous smile on his lips as he imagined what would go through the minds of the other runners if he would show of his Grimm pace. Not to mention the panic it would cause among the Wesen participants. The smirk on his lips widened, only to be wiped off his face when he heard the voice of his Captain.
"To think that you have accused me of my evil schemes is nothing in comparison to your try at world domination smirk."
"I've never said your evil, only that some of your decisions cast doubt on your morals."
Over the years they had found their way and could now laugh at one or the other hurdle they had overcome and a light banter had ensued between them where previously appraising conversations had taken place. A friendship had been formed so strong it now withstood the occasional storm, without a doubt sowed.
But turning around, Nick couldn't help but doubt his own thoughts regarding their friendship. He always held an attraction for his Captain and if he was honest with himself even more than attraction but that was nothing in comparison to the hunger he felt when he saw his man.
He knew Sean was turning enough heads as it was but nothing could have prepared him for the sight in front of him. 6ft 4 of man who for once wasn't covered in his pristine suits but with a t-shirt that clung to his upper body like a second skin and legs clad in long black running tights that left nothing to the imagination. Luckily Sean was wearing shorts although they were just long enough to cover what they needed to cover.
Nick had thought he was prepared for the Charity Run. Oh, he couldn't have been further from the truth.
***
Nick was sure that they drew attention. How could they not? Nearly a dozen women and men running behind his Captain since the start of the race. And they were already halfway through for goodness sake!
Luckily the other participants in the Charity Run weren't driven by instinct like those morons who were chasing after his Captain. And no, he wasn't one of those morons, he just ran after his Captain because he was looking out for him. And definitely not to stare at his backside.
Nick could feel his hackles rising and with it his inner Grimm. Oh how he longed to let his Grimm out and scare the others away. At least half of the group stalking his Captain were Wesen and they were grating on his nerves.
As the Captain picked up the pace, only Nick and Detective Moore of the North Precinct were able to follow. He knew the other man was a Löwe and he was sure the other man sensed that he was not entirely human either.
They must have been an odd sight, two grown men chasing the Captain for almost 13 miles like a predator chasing its prey. Nick had learned long ago never to underestimate Sean, so he wasn't quite sure who the predator and who the prey was.
And finally it was there, the last mile of the race. Luckily Sean was better prepared for the race than Nick himself, as Nick had long ago forgotten to watch his pace. The testosterone match between him and the Löwe took a toll on his brain capacity but also on the other man because he could see the woge rippling under the other's skin.
At one moment he was more focused on his opponent than his goal, and yes, ogling Sean was his only goal since the start of the run, it wasn't as if they were running a Charity Run after all, and then it had to happen.
Due to his lack of concentration he had overlooked the obstacle and tripped over it. Lying face down on the pavement, he couldn't pinpoint where the blood dripping onto the asphalt came from, but he was able to pinpoint a sharp pain in his left knee. And slowly he registered the voice asking about his well-being.
Somehow his Captain must have registered his fall and stopped his race to attend to him. Nick felt slightly touched. The worry on his Captain's face seemed to increase as Nick realized he still hadn't answered his man. Nick knew that trying to get to his feet was a mistake and that his Captain knew it too. Still he helped Nick along, knowing that objection would lead to nothing.
And so it was that they stumbled nearly half a mile along the way. Together. Like it was the most natural thing in the world. Trying to reach the finish line was a gruesome experience but Nick needed to reach it because it was all that was left of his integrity.
And he couldn't let Captain Anderson win when he felt the other man approach. Trying to get Sean to pick up the pace or leave Nick behind was an impossible task. As he kept trying to get him to finish the race before the other Captain, the scowl on Sean's face deepened.
"Run for heaven's sake! You can't let him win!"
Nick's frustration at losing made him raise his voice but it had the opposite effect than he had intended as they came to an abrupt stop. The fury in Sean's eyes took his breath away. Nick didn't comprehend what was happening because the next moment Sean's eyes softened and they picked up the pace again, even though they knew they wouldn't reach the finish line before the other Captain.
***
And here they sat, not talking, since arriving in the hospital waiting room two hours ago, just Nick's initial request to be left alone in the hospital, which had been met with the famous piercing stare of his Captain.
They had to make an odd pair while being stared at by the other visitors of the hospital. Nick himself, blood on his face and clothes, with an ice pack on his injured knee. And Sean like he was the Captain of the waiting room. Looking quite regal in his t-shirt that clung to his upper body like a second skin and legs clad in long black running tights that left nothing to the imagination.
Sean was a handsome man but it was getting ridiculous. Everywhere they went men and women alike kept starring at him. Some even tripped over their feet as they seemed to register the man in the waiting room. And it left Nick furious. No one should stare at his man like that. Oh, he felt his Grimm rising again.
"I am sorry you lost your bet against Captain Anderson."
And here comes the darkening scowl again. It seemed like he wasn't going to say anything right to the Captain today. He had to lighten the mood somehow but he knew that with his injuries that would be almost impossible to achieve with the Captain in care mode. So why not dig his grave deeper?
"Will you tell me what your bet entailed?"
He braced himself for the scowl again but nothing of the sort happened. A look passed over Sean that he couldn't really interpret but he seemed neither angered nor upset that he had lost.
"The Mayor’s Annual Christmas Party."
That left Nick confused. It was mandatory for the Captains to appear at the event. So what was the bet behind it? Color drained his face as he considered what Captain Anderson might have in store for their Captain there.
"Should I come with you?"
As soon as the question left his mouth, Nick knew he was going to be in trouble. Sean would certainly misinterpret it.
"I will not go."
"What?"
He knew Sean was an honorable man and wouldn't back out of the bet.
"I am going to the Children's Hospital Benefit Gala."
Nick knew it was at the same day as the Mayor's Christmas Party and that the coincidence that both dates were on the same evening had put the Mayor in distress.
Now the penny dropped and Nick understood why Captain Anderson had that smug smirk back then. He thought it was a win-win-situation for him, not realizing he had been played.
If he won he would force Sean to go to the Benefit Gala in his place, because the Mayor himself had elected Captain Anderson to either represent the Police at the Gala himself or to find a suitable replacement, and if he had lost nothing would have changed for him. Everyone knew that Captain Anderson only went to events that benefited him in some way and that sick children weren't high on his list.
Nick knew, although he would never let Sean know that he knew, that Sean on the other hand went to the Benefit Gala every year and was one of the most generous donors and had been looking for a way to attend. And the bet was the perfect way to achieve that. He just had to find a way to lose.
Nick's musings were interrupted by a text he received from Hank, asking how he was doing and sending a photo along that he wanted to give to the Police Journal. That bastard.
Damsel in distress Nick Burkhardt was rescued by their heroic Captain Sean Renard, although it cost him what seemed certain victory against Captain Anderson to save a man of his own who was in dire need of help.
Nick would never live it down. Emotions were beginning to overwhelm him but he couldn't be sure which way they were taking him.
"Do you hate receiving help in general or is it just my help that you resent so much?"
That brought his musings to an abrupt end, only now did he realize what the whole day must have been like for his Captain.
Followed the entire marathon by a Grimm, who almost refused the offered help because Nick thought winning a bet was more important to Sean, showing care by taking him to the hospital, only to be told to leave which would certainly be interpreted as further rejection, and finally seeing Nick staring red-faced at a photo of the two of them, unaware that it wasn't out of anger or resentment but out of embarrassment.
Because the day leading up to his stumble and fall had been perfect. Bantering with his Captain and despite being annoyed by the other runners, he was still able to ogle his man for most of the half marathon. And if he was honest with himself even the accident wasn't that bad because he liked that Sean had stopped his race to come to his aid, that he had supported him the rest of the run to the finish line though he knew Nick was injured but didn't want to quit in front of so many people.
"I generally resent needing help but your act of kindness was greatly appreciated. Even though I didn't show it in the best way."
"Or at all."
"Or at all. I am sorry but today I was thrown off course."
"How so? I thought running the whole marathon behind me would have helped you to stay on course."
"You've noticed that?"
Nick was grateful that the mood seemed to lighten and that he didn't get a response because it had been more than obvious. Looking once again at the photo Hank had sent him Nick couldn't help but notice the small signs his Detective's eyes were picking up.
Looking at himself in the photo he saw that he was embarrassed for having made a fool of himself. But if Nick was being honest he had made a fool of himself the entire marathon by running behind his Captain like a jealous lover trying to scare everyone else off. But it wasn't just embarrassment he had felt back then because looking into his eyes he saw the look that he had given Sean. Showing more than he ever intended for the man to know.
As his eyes strayed to Sean in the photo his heart stopped beating for a moment. Because apparently he hadn't noticed the way Sean had looked at him back then.
Worried about Nick's injuries.
Relief that it wasn't anything too serious.
And something else in his gaze that Nick didn't want to interpret because it looked damn similar to his own gaze.
"How did you intend to lose to Captain Anderson?"
Nick needed some time to contemplate his feelings and figured a change of topic would lead to it. But he hadn't counted on Sean.
"I would have let you pass and then got so busy ogling you that I would have stumbled and fallen."
"You would have ogled me?"
They were interrupted by the nurse calling his name to get him to the exam room. And instead of asking Sean a third time to leave him, he did what deep down in his heart felt right but left him scared for being rejected.
"Will you wait for me?"
A small smile tucked at the corners of Sean's mouth.
"I'll even take you home."
A smile bloomed on Nick's face and as he had nearly reached the door of the exam room he thought he heard Sean whispering over all the noises in the waiting room.
"And if you let me, I'll take care of you."