The city never slept, and neither did the cases piling up at the precinct. You'd been working alongside Detective Matt Gibson for months now — long nights, tense briefings, and plenty of caffeine-fueled banter. He was good at his job, sharp-eyed, and stoic… but you’d noticed the way his gaze lingered a little longer when you laughed. The way his normally guarded face softened whenever he looked at you

Tonight, the office was quiet. Just you and him, files spread across the table, the light above flickering softly

“Another long night,” you sighed, rubbing your temples

Matt glanced up from his paperwork “Yeah. We should start billing overtime to Jigsaw at this point.”

You chuckled, grateful for the moment of levity “If he’s still out there, maybe we could subpoena him for emotional damages.”

Matt leaned back in his chair, eyeing you carefully “You always make the worst nights feel a little less… heavy.”

You raised an eyebrow “Are you saying I’m good company, Detective Gibson?”

He smiled, a rare, genuine curve of his lips “Maybe I am.”

There was a pause. Something unspoken lingering in the air — a tension you’d felt before, but never acknowledged

“You know,” he said after a beat, voice low and hesitant “we’ve been working together for a while. And I was wondering…” He cleared his throat, suddenly less composed than usual “Would you wanna grab a drink after this? Just us. No files. No case talk.”

Your eyes widened slightly, surprised — but not unpleasantly so

“You’re asking me out?”You asked with a smile

“I guess I am,” he said with a small shrug, looking a bit nervous “Unless that’s crossing a line.”

You closed the file in front of you and smiled “Not at all. I was wondering when you’d finally grow the guts.”

He laughed — actually laughed — and it lit up his entire face

“Oh, so you were waiting on me.”he asked

You leaned forward, teasing “I had a bet with myself. You just cost me twenty bucks.”

“Guess I owe you a drink then.”He said

“Guess you do.”you replied