Done for this prompt at Dreamwidth: Five times Renard almost kissed (had his way) with Nick and one time that he actually did.
Rumor Has It.
1:
Renard checked his watch. It had only been an hour at this bloody party. Sixty agonizing minutes, and already he was getting sick of the rowdy jokes, the incessant chatter and the needless small talk of the other officers. He had known it would be a bad idea to attend an office party… But then protocol dictated his being there for at least, he checked his watch again, another two hours. Right, another two hours and the he could slip out and enjoy the rest of the night sprawled on his patio with only a bottle of wine for company. Hell, maybe he'll spend the whole of Christmas sleeping, not that there was anyone who would object to that…
He turned away from the bar he had been standing at for the past half hour and took in the scene. Several officers were already drunk enough to be exchanging high school stories, loud enough for the whole gathering to hear. Someone had had the brilliant idea to hang up a large glittering disco ball in the middle of the hall and a small group of the more enthusiastic rookies were dancing to the music blaring on the loudspeakers underneath it. Really, it would have all been really funny, only if he had not been awake for the last two and a half days working his ass off to sort out another threat the reapers had launched against Nick. At least the party was serving some purpose, providing Renard with some potentially useful blackmail material.
Speaking of whom, where was Nick anyway? Not that Renard was interested or anything, it was just that experience had taught him to keep him in sight lest he runs off and bumps into the wrong sorts of people. Really the young detective had a tendency to attract more trouble than he could handle.
Sweeping another cursory glance over the large hall, heavily populated with people who were steadily growing drunk by each passing minute, Renard shook his head and sighed when he did not spot the grimm anywhere. He must be cooped up in that musky trailer of his aunt's again, poring over the books and notes. On Christmas Eve too…
"Captain! C'mon over!" Wu's slightly high pitched voice broke Renard out of his musings. He looked over to where some of the detectives and forensics people were busy at a drinking game. Sergeant Wu waved to him frantically before drowning down another shot. Renard grimaced slightly before making up his mind: he had to get out of here if he was to retain his sanity.
With a single minded determination he made his way through the throng of people, walking briskly towards the door. So intent was he in getting away from the several officers who were now calling for him to join in their game, that he did not notice the man entering until he had collided into him. Hard.
With the reflexes of a trained cop, his arms shot out to catch the man who had lost his balance, apparently not expecting someone to be literally running out of the hall. He instinctively grabbed his shoulder with one hand while another flew up to his lower back, when he realized the grey slightly panicked eyes staring back at him were those of Nick Burkhadt.
The detective looked up at him with a confused half dazed expression when he did not let go after a second. Renard stared back, his mind suddenly growing into overdrive: those eyes, those mysterious pools of grey and silver, and those full lush lips…
"Go on captain! Give 'im a kiss!" Some smart ass called out and before Renard knew it, an annoying chant of "Kiss, kiss, kiss…" was sounding throughout the hall.
Glancing up he flushed when he saw that they were standing right underneath the branch of mistletoe that some idiot had hung in the doorway. He looked back at Nick who was smirking softly up at him, eyes twinkling with mischief, a delicious blush creeping up his neck.
Renard shifted uncomfortably, not knowing what to do. He glanced back at Nick, who cocked his head at him, smiling mischievously. He was about to step away and apologize, when suddenly Nick stood on tiptoe and craning his neck, gave him a quick peck on the cheek, before ducking his head and hurriedly walking past him. Renard turned around, mind not registering what had just happened, when applause broke out in the hall, punctuated with whistles and hoots. He looked around for the detective to find him standing across the room, watching him.
Their eyes met and Nick raised his glass up at him, giving him a wink.
That cheeky bastard. Renard walked out of the hall grumbling, the feel of soft warm lips still lingering on his cheeks.
AN: Updates will be regular. Do tell me what you think.