1-17-19
zack addy x reader
fandom: Bones
requested: no
word count: 422
warnings: none
summary:
Zack had a crush on you the moment he saw you, thus creating an automatic tension between you two. You thought he hated you, due to lack of conversation and simple courtesies, such as eye contact. You planned to confront him about it.
"Zack!" you call as you enter the bone room. "I need to speak with you."
"Did you find something?" he asks, not even looking up from the femur he's examining.
"It's not about the case." you lean against the examination table with a sigh.
"Then it isn't relevant." he sets the leg bone down and reaches for another. You grab his hand to stop him and he pulls back automatically, almost like you shocked him.
"It is. It's about us." you say, stuffing your hands in your pockets, embarrassed about his disgust in you touching him.
He furrows his brow before asking, "What do you mean us? We don't have a relationship outside of being colleagues."
"Exactly." you look down. "I don't want it to be that way, Zack. I want to be friends," you look back up at him. "and more importantly, I just want to know why you hate me so much."
His eyebrows raise in surprise and he momentarily sputters for a response. "Hate you? I don't hate you." he makes eye contact for the first time in... you don't even know if he's looked you in the eyes before.
"Then why do you act like it?"
"I-" he looks away for a second l, trying to conjure up his words. "I have affection toward you." he can't bring himself to meet your eyes again.
This time it was your turn to raise your brows. "What?"
"That's why I try to avoid you. I want to keep a professional relationship. I don't think I would be able to control myself if we become friends. I would only want to become more." he continues to look at his hands that rest on the table.
You move around the corner of the table, closer to him, before saying, "Why didn't you tell me? What would be the big deal if... we did start a romantic relationship?" he looks at you again, hope in his eyes.
"I don't want the quality of our work to be tainted by having a significant other around."
"What about Hodgins and Angela? Do you think their work is compromised?" you couldn't like that you liked him too... and the pressure of pushing those feelings down has released all at once at the knowledge that he likes you back.
"Well, no, but-"
"But nothing." you interject. "I like you too Zack... I think we should try it." you smile. He smiles back and you have to resist the urge to jump his bones right then and there.