Sometimes it still caught Lady Truth off guard that her childhood friend, Naib Subedar, who now went by Inference, had a lover.

Much less you.

But even so, she could see how he loved you. Even White could.

Inference loved his partner, truly loved them, even if he didn’t show it much. He loved everything about you, from the way your mind worked to the way you looked, to your… well, everything.

Because of that, he didn’t mind that you wore larger sized clothes or that you sometimes stole his coats.

Slightly exasperating, yes, but mostly endearing.

He had to admit, though, he got a little ~~(very)~~ worried in the summer when he saw you still in those familiar oversized layers.

He didn’t comment. It was your choice, after all. He wouldn’t be pushy about it.

Instead, he became quietly more attentive, checking in to make sure you were drinking enough water, staying comfortable.

What he didn’t expect was the day you walked into his office wearing something completely different.

Something lighter, more revealing, something that showed your skin and body in a way that had him immediately, embarrassingly frozen.

The detectives brain completely shut down.

His eyes locked on you from behind his desk, your words slipping in and out without registering.

He tried so hard not to trace your body, to keep his usual gentlemanly, aloof demeanor. But the flush creeping up his ears betrayed him as he subtly adjusted his cap.

Your presence had him entirely hypnotized, from your hips to your thighs.

Christ.

It felt like you were trying to kill him.