avengerwhoviantributesassemble: Callen teases Deeks about whatever is in the box.
"You ever gonna open it?" Callen asks suddenly, once the bullpen has cleared out for the night.
"Huh?"
He gestures towards the box, which is still pressed up on a shelf against the wall.
"The box."
Deeks leans back in his chair, folding both arms behind his head.
"Oh yes. The box."
Callen jets his neck out. "So?"
"So what?"
"You ever gonna open the damn thing?"
Deeks shrugs. "I dust it off once every week or so. Never let the cobwebs accumulate too much."
"Seriously?"
"What?"
"You should just open it."
"She's built it up quite a bit. Who knows what could actually be inside."
"Yeah. But you should still find out. It could be good."
"Or it could be bad."
"Why would Kensi give you something bad for your birthday?"
Deeks flashes a crooked smile. "I dunno. She likes to keep me on my toes."
Callen cocks his head to one side. "You're being an idiot."
"Ouch. That's a little harsh, don't you think?"
"Nope. I think you just need to open the damn box."
"I think it's none of your damn business."
Callen nods slowly. "You know, I could always just complain about it to Hetty. Say that it's taking up valuable shelf space."
Deeks narrows his eyes teasingly. "You wouldn't dare."
"Oh, quite the contrary. I would totally dare. And then, maybe if it sits in your living room for long enough, you might actually check to see what's inside."
Deeks shrugs.
"What does that mean?" Callen asks, replicating the gesture.
"I dunno."
"You dunno?"
"Geez dude. You're really being an ass today."
"No. I'm just sick and tired of this stupid thing with you and Kensi."
Deeks swallows hard. "This stupid thing? What's that supposed to mean?"
He pauses for emphasis.
"You're clearly mad for each other. Just tell her already."
"Excuse me?"
"Oh, come on. Don't pretend like you have no clue what I'm talking about."
Deeks crosses his arms, strongly resembling the proverbial petulant child.
"I have no clue what you're talking about."
He's lying, and they both know it. So Callen just calls him out on it.
"You're lying."
Deeks considers the statement for a moment.
"Maybe. Just a little bit."
Callen almost grins. "There it is."
Deeks isn't giving in just yet. Not without a fight.
"We're partners, Callen. And we have a… unique friendship, of sorts."
He just snorts. "It's not a friendship, Deeks. It's a holding pattern."
That comment finally forces him to relent. "Okay… I get how you could see it that way."
"Dude, you guys aren't even being subtle anymore. You're practically screaming I love her on a daily basis."
"That's ridiculous. How could we even-"
"With your eyes."
Deeks' expression morphs into a small smile. "With our eyes? Really?"
"It's true. So just tell her how you feel already. It's been years."
"You think I don't know how much time has passed?" He shrinks back into his chair slightly, running a hand through his mop of blond hair. "I tried to tell her once. It didn't really work out like I'd planned."
Callen isn't taken aback the slightest bit by his revelation, so there is no delay in his reply.
"Okay. Then tell her again."
"It's not that simple."
"Yes, it really is."
Callen stands up from his chair, tossing his bag over one shoulder. Deeks looks up to him with wide eyes, twiddling a pen between two fingers.
"Just tell her, Deeks. It's time."
Without another word G slips away, leaving a slightly dazed and rather confused Deeks to his own devices.
He nods after a long moment of silence, grinning as his eyes drift over towards the shelves, focusing in on one item in particular. The box.
"You're right, G," Deeks mutters to himself. "It's time."
