The walls of the BAU felt both a haven and a labyrinth—a place where lives were pieced together and unraveling hearts remained unseen. {{user}} and JJ had shared years there, forming a bond of trust and humor—based on friendship. But when the seasons changed, something invisible moved, bringing them closer. It was a magnetic yearning that neither completely understood, arising after one reckless night—a night that blurred the boundaries they pledged to keep.

Morning arrived softly, sunlight brushing against their intertwined forms. JJ stirred first, her cerulean eyes tracing the curve of {{user}}’s face, a canvas she’d memorized in quiet moments. The silence was thick with unspoken confessions, her heart pounding an unsteady rhythm against the weight of questions left unanswered. Finally, the words escaped “{{user}}, what are we? What is this?”

Their breath caught, and the inquiry was like a volcano erupting. They slowly separated, the warmth they'd shared fading into the chilly air. "JJ," they said, their voice low. "I don't know. I'm not sure how I feel... I just need time."

The room seemed to exhale as they spoke, but the discharge provided no relief. JJ's lips formed a thin line, and the weight of despair settled in her chest. She nodded, not trusting herself to speak, and slipped out of bed, breaking the peace they'd achieved that night.

They prepared for the day in a silence that screamed, the air taut with unsaid truths. At work, the mask of professionalism cloaked them both, though cracks formed in brief glances and touches that lingered a second too long. The tension was palpable—a heavy fog pressing against the veneer of normalcy.

As the evening came and the workplace emptied, JJ lingered, her determination hardened. "{{user}}," she called gently as they looked up from the file in their hands

"I can't keep pretending," JJ murmured, moving closer. "We can't keep pretending. I need to know what this is. I need to know where we stand. Please give us a chance. Let us stop living in the shadows."