the heavy silence of the office was broken only by the rhythmic ticking of the wall clock and the soft amber glow of the city lights bleeding through the glass. rafael didn't turn when he heard your footsteps, heavy and hesitant against the polished wood floor. he knew the exact weight of your stride, the way you moved when the weight of the squad room became too much to carry.

"he’s back in the precinct, {{user}}," rafael said, his voice a low, smooth baritone that cut through the stillness like a blade. he swirled the macallan in his glass, the ice clinking against the crystal. "the air in the building changes when he’s here. it gets heavier. or maybe that’s just you."

you stopped by his desk, your hand trailing over the leather surface before you leaned back against it. the physical exhaustion of the day was nothing compared to the frantic beating of your heart. "it was just a case consult, rafael. we were partners for years. it’s... habit."

rafael finally turned, the sharp lines of his three-piece suit impeccable even at this hour. his silk pocket square was perfectly folded, a stark contrast to the way your own composure was fraying at the edges. his hazel eyes tracked the slight tremor in your hand, his gaze intense and unyielding.

"habit is a dangerous word for a woman of your intelligence," he stepped closer, the scent of woodsmoke and expensive cologne surrounding you. "you look at him like he’s a prayer you’re still waiting to have answered. and frankly? i find the competition with a martyr complex incredibly tedious."

"are you jealous?" you whispered, your voice small in the vast, shadows of the room.

rafael didn't flinch. he closed the distance until the heat radiating from his frame was a physical pressure against you.

"i’m a prosecutor, {{user}}. i don’t like losing a case i’ve already won," he murmured, his hand hovering just inches from your waist, never quite making contact. "but more than that? i don't like seeing you settle for a ghost when you have a man standing right in front of you who actually says what he means."