Masked
Just a random little one-shot I wrote at midnight.
They were more alike than they realized.
He hid behind his wit, his sarcasm, and his IQ of 190. He called her "sweetheart" just to piss her off; and because he enjoyed making those snarky little comments.
She hid behind her perfectly bland pantsuits and pulled back hair, behind her work and her ever-present gun.
Hiding, always hiding.
But slowly, things changed
He began to see her as more than a hot coworker. He saw her compassion, her determination to fight for humanity and bring justice to those who deserved it. He saw her sacrifice her own safety to protect the few she loved.
He wondered if he would become one of the select few one day.
She saw the occasional softening of those piercing blue eyes, and the gentleness and patience with which he treated Walter. She saw that he was fiercely loyal to those he treasured and would protect them until the end.
A small, irrational side of her wondered if he would protect her too one day. Not that she needed protecting or anything.
They were more alike than they knew.
They opened up slowly, their emotions unfurling like the petals on the most precious flower. But when they let go of all their inhibitions...it was beautiful.
No more hiding behind masks. Not with each other.