Static and Sparks

*But it did. It did, and we’re fine.* “But it did,” I say, my voice steady, sure. *We’re fine, Jamie. We’re okay.* “And even if it hadn’t, even if someone had walked in… we would have dealt with it. Together. Just like I told you.”

*Believe me. Please, just believe me.* I hold his gaze, letting him see everything I’m feeling, everything I want. *I’m yours, Jamie. I’ve been yours since the moment I met you. Let me show you how good this can be.*

He leans into my touch, his eyes fluttering closed for just a second before he forces them open again. *Always so stubborn. So brave.* “Together,” he echoes, the word a little stronger this time, a little more certain.

*Yes. Together.* I smile at him, big and bright and probably a little dopey. *Can’t help it. Not with him.* “Come on,” I say, stepping back, taking his hand in mine. *Mine. This hand is mine.* “Let’s get out of here. I’ll buy you a cup of coffee.”

*Or ten. Or twenty. Whatever it takes to wipe that look off your face.*

He lets me lead him out of the bunk room, down the hall to the break room. It’s empty, thank god, and I guide him to the couch in the corner, pushing him down onto the worn leather. *Sit. Stay.* I cross to the coffee pot, pouring us both a cup, my hands steady, sure.

*You’re okay. You’re both okay.* I carry the mugs back to the couch, handing one to Jamie before sinking down beside him, close enough that our thighs brush. *There. Better.*

We sit in silence for a beat, sipping our coffee, the warmth of it seeping into my bones, grounding me. *This. This is what I need. Just him, just this.*

“You’re being awful calm about all this,” Jamie says finally, his voice quiet, cautious. *Don’t ruin it. Don’t—*

I shrug, taking another sip of my coffee. *How else should I be?* “What’s the point in panicking? It’s not going to change anything.” *Except maybe give you an ulcer. Not exactly my idea of a good time.*

*He doesn’t look convinced. Of course he doesn’t.* I hide my smile in my mug. *Oh, Jamie. What am I going to do with you?* “Look,” I say, setting my mug down on the table beside the couch. *Enough coffee. Enough stalling.* “I know you’re scared. I know this is all new and terrifying and probably feels like the world’s about to end. But it’s not. It’s really, truly not.”

*Believe me. Please.* I reach out, my hand finding his, our fingers tangling together. *There. Better.* “We’re going to figure this out, Jamie. One day at a time, one moment at a time. And we’re going to do it together. Because that’s what people do when they care about each other. When they…” *Love each other. When they love each other.*

*I don’t say it, not yet, but I think he hears it anyway, his eyes going dark, his breath catching in his chest.* “Together,” he says again, his voice rough, wrecked.

*Yes. Together.* I squeeze his hand, my thumb stroking over the back of it, feeling the calluses there, the strength. *My man. My brave, beautiful man.* “So no more panicking, okay? No more jumping to conclusions, or assuming the worst. We’re a team now. Whatever comes at us, we face it head-on. Together.”

*Okay?* I raise an eyebrow at him, waiting. *I can do this all day, baby. I’ve got nowhere else I’d rather be.*

After a beat, he nods, his shoulders relaxing, just a little. *There it is. That’s my boy.* “Okay,” he agrees, his voice a little stronger this time, a little more certain. *Good. That’s good.*

“Good,” I say, my smile widening, my heart giving a little kick in my chest. *Look at him. Look at what you did, Leo. Look at him.* “Now come here. I think I owe you a kiss.”

*Or ten. Or twenty. However many it takes to make you see yourself the way I see you.* I lean in, my lips brushing his, soft, sweet, chaste. *For now. For later… later I’ll show you exactly how much I want you.* “You’ve earned it,” I murmur against his mouth. *You’ve earned it, and so much more.* “My brave, brilliant boy.”

The moment shatters with footsteps in the hall—the crew returning. *Shit. Reality.* I pull back, cheeks burning. *Caught. Almost. Again.*

*This hiding will be a problem.*

Clearing my throat, I grab my coffee, taking a scalding gulp. *Act normal.*

“O’Shaughnessy, Vance,” Cap nods. “Good work out there.”

*Right. Work.* “Thanks, Cap,” I manage, mostly steady. Leo smirks behind his mug, eyes sparkling. *Fondness. For me.*

The crew filters in, the house shifting to relaxed. *Safe. Normal.* I can do normal.

Ben calls for cards. “Losers buy pizza.”

*Normal. Safe.* “I’m in,” I say, standing. *Distance. Need distance.* “Leo?”

*Please say no—*

“Sure,” Leo says, that smirk lingering. *He knows. Exactly.* “Deal me in.”

*Of course.* I sigh, running a hand through my hair. *Long night.*

The game is a distraction, easy banter washing over me. *This is who I am.* I laugh, groan, trade shit with the guys.

*And Leo is there. Always. Knee bumping mine, hand brushing, eyes finding mine—warm, steady, sure.* *Mine.*

“Fuck, Jamie, you’re cleaning up,” Ben grumbles. “What’s gotten into you?”

*If only.* I shrug, stacking chips. *Clarity. Everything’s brighter.* “Good night,” I say, eyes finding Leo’s. *All thanks to you.*

Leo smiles, soft, private. *World shrinks to us.* “Must be,” he agrees, casual. But his eyes—dark, intense, full of heat. *Later.*

*Jesus. Focus.* I shift, half-hard. *Torture.* Should leave. *But don’t want to.*

Martinez shuffles. “Anyone notice how often Leo’s at the clinic?”

*Where I find excuses to linger—*

“Probably avoiding chores,” Ben laughs, elbowing Leo. *Don’t touch him.* “Right, pretty boy?”

*I’ll break his arm.*

Leo swats Ben away. “Fuck off. I do plenty.”

*Oh, I know.* I shift again, throbbing. *Get it together.*

“Yeah, yeah, you’re perfect,” Ben laughs, throwing a pretzel. *I’ll kill him.* “But seriously, clinic time? Secret admirer?”

*Or something.* I freeze, cheeks heating, heart pounding. *This is how we get caught.*

*Don’t look—*

I look. Leo’s eyes meet mine—wide, startled. *Oh, baby. No.* Panic, fear, urge to run. *I know that look.*

*But we don’t have to hide. We could—*

*Are you crazy?*

*Maybe.* I hold his gaze, heart in throat. *We could be real.*

*Is that what you want?*

*I…* I don’t know. It’s too big.

*Say something.*

I don’t. Can’t. The moment stretches, thin, brittle. *Chicken. Coward.*

“Nah, nothing like that,” Leo says, easy, casual. *Pro.* “Just busy. New equipment, protocols.”

*Lie.* My stomach twists. *He’s protecting you.*

*And you’re letting him.*

“Yeah, yeah, important,” Ben laughs. “Don’t forget us.”

*For fuck’s sake.* I roll my eyes, slumping. *Lie.* “Yeah, Leo, don’t be a stranger,” I say, steady. *Good.* “We miss your pretty face.”

*See? You can play.*

Leo shoots me a look—narrowed, tight. *He knows.* “Fuck off, O’Shaughnessy,” he says, no heat. *Disappointment.* “Like you’re one to talk.”

*What—*

Cap clears his throat. “All right, ladies, that’s enough gossip,” he says, amused. *No idea.* “Early start. Oh-six-hundred. No excuses.”

*Saved.* I stand, chair scraping. *Too loud.* “Right. Bed. Beat.”

*Lie.*

I head for stairs, not looking at Leo. *Can’t. Not yet.*

*But I feel his eyes. Judging. Hating. Wishing he’d never met me.*

*Should have been brave.*

I take stairs two at a time, feet heavy, heart heavier. *This is how it ends.*

Halfway up, footsteps behind me. Light, quick. *Leo.*

*Please.*

“Jamie. Wait.”

*Leo.* I stop, gripping railing. *Don’t turn—*

*Fuck it.* I turn. His eyes in dim light. *Beautiful.*

*Mine.* I close the distance, hands in his hair, yanking him close. *Mine.* Kiss him, hard, deep, filthy—everything I feel, want, fear.

*He tastes like coffee, need, home. Mine.*

*Never letting go.*

Jamie. Wait.

*Jamie.* I stop, gripping railing. *Don’t turn—*

*Fuck it.* I turn. His eyes in dim light. *Beautiful.*

*Mine.* I close the distance, hands in his hair, yanking him close. *Mine.* Kiss him, hard, deep, filthy—everything I feel, want, fear.

*He tastes like coffee, need, home. Mine.*

*Never letting go.*

I can feel the tension radiating off Jamie as we walk into the community center, the low hum of conversation washing over us. *It’s fine. It’s going to be fine.* I nudge him with my elbow, a small, reassuring smile on my face. *Look at me. Just look at me.*

He does, his eyes locking on mine, some of the tightness around his eyes easing. *There you are.* I reach out, my hand brushing his, a silent question. *Okay?*

*This is it. No going back.* For a long moment, he just looks at me, his expression unreadable. Then, slowly, deliberately, he laces his fingers with mine. *Yes. Fuck, yes.* My heart gives a wild thump in my chest, my smile widening, turning dopey. *He’s doing it. He’s really doing it.*