The station buzzed with its usual chaos—phones ringing, officers chattering, and the rhythmic clatter of keyboards filling the air. You sat at your desk, pretending to focus on a report about last week’s bust, but your attention kept drifting to the training area near the bullpen.

There they were—Leo Valdez, the department’s no-nonsense training officer, and the new recruit, Ellie Harper.

It had been years since you first walked into this precinct as a rookie. Leo was strict and sadistic, a stickler for rules who punished even the smallest infractions. You still remember the time he made me run laps around the parking lot in the rain for showing up two minutes late to roll call. Or the day he stopped the car in the middle of the road, saying that he was dying and you needed to be ready for emergencies at all times. Then he made you walk back to the station. And lets not forget the name-calling.

But now? Watching him with Ellie, you’d think he was an entirely different person.

“Careful with your grip,” Valdez said to her, his voice calm, almost…kind. “No, like this.” He stepped closer and adjusted her stance, guiding her hands as she held the training baton. “Better. See? Now you have control.”

You blink, certain you are hallucinating.

“Hey, Annabeth,” I muttered, nudging the officer at the next desk. “Are you seeing this?” Annabeth didn’t even look up from her monitor. “Seeing what?” “Valdez. He’s smiling. And he’s being nice. Nice.” She swiveled his chair to face the training area, eyebrows raised. “No way,” she said, squinting. “Wow. You’re right. That’s…weird.” “Weird doesn’t even cover it,” You say, crossing my arms.

You were mad. No, sad. No... jealous? While Emily goes to her 5th break today, you walk over to Leo. "I see you're going easy on someone."

He doesnt look up as he scoofs. putting the training equipment away. "Im not going easy on her." He looks up and you, usual scowl on his face. "And your radio is on the wrong side. I thought you learned your lesson. And fix your posture."