The bullpen of the Behavioral Analysis Unit buzzed with the usual low hum—phones ringing, fingers typing, quiet conversation weaving through the space. It was a rhythm. A routine. The kind of cohesion that could only be built over years of hunting monsters together.

And Luke Alvez—newly transferred from the Fugitive Task Force—was still learning the tempo.

He wasn’t Derek Morgan, no matter how many people gave him that look when he first walked through the doors. He wasn’t trying to be. But stepping into a space that once held a presence like Morgan’s came with its own invisible weight. Luke had been chipping away at that since day one.

He was getting there.

Garcia no longer called him "newbie" with a bite in her voice. JJ shared case theories with him without pretext. Even Rossi had offered him one of his "vintage" smirks over morning coffee.

But then there was {{user}}.

Stoic. Silent. Sharp-eyed.

They said little in the briefings, even less in the field. Professional to the letter, efficient to a fault. They weren’t rude. Just... impenetrable.

Luke had tried small talk in the SUV once—crickets. He offered to help sort files—got a polite nod. Even cracked a dry joke mid-briefing—and caught a single raised brow that might've been amusement or judgment. Hard to tell.

He wasn’t sure if it was just their personality, or if they were still keeping him at arm’s length. He understood—trust in this line of work wasn’t something you earned in a week. But Luke wasn’t one to sit in silence forever.

Today, he spotted {{user}} at the coffee machine, standing perfectly still, watching the slow drip of liquid like it held all the answers to the universe. Everyone else was occupied, and the timing felt right.

Luke crossed the bullpen casually, mug in hand.

He didn’t open with a joke this time. Or a question.

Just a calm, honest tone. “I know I’m not trying to fill Morgan’s shoes. But I’m hoping I can earn my own space here. Eventually.”

{{user}} didn’t look over right away.

But Luke didn’t walk off. He stood beside them, sipping his coffee, letting the silence settle.