Another chapter, yes! Eh.
Lilly strolled into H.Q., coffee in her hand. She glanced around, her gaze running over the detectives, who were all, for some reason, watching her, and finally landing on her desk. She stopped. On her desk was a thick bouquet of white lilies.
Reluctantly, she approached her desk and picked up the card at the top of the bunch.
Lilies for Lilly. Kite.
She could imagine the grin on his face when he had written that. Sighing, she picked up the bouquet and set it in the trash.
"The flowers not to your liking?" Vera asked, munching on a donut, a grin on his face.
"Why, you want them?" Lilly asked sharply. Kat snickered and Jeffries smiled at Vera's sour face. Stillman came in through the main entrance.
"They found Gordon's DNA on the body," the boss informed them. The detectives exchanged triumphant looks.
"We got 'im," Kat said, smirking. Stillman nodded, a vaguely victorious look in his eyes.
"Go talk to him," he said, gesturing towards the interrogation room, where Wantenoff was being held. "See what he says. Closure." Jeffries and Kat agreed, disappearing inside the room. Stillman began turning, but his eyes caught sight of the trash bin next to Lilly's desk.
"Nice flowers," Stillman said, a glimmer in his eyes, before returning to his office. Lilly stared after him and her eyes slowly fell on the card that was still on her desk. She picked it up, looking at it. Forcing herself to think about that moment when Kite had simply walked away, without looking back, she threw the card into the trash, too.
A while later, Kat and Jeffries left the room, Jeffries escorting an livid Gordon away in handcuffs. Kat was pleased as she strolled over to them.
"The jerk confessed," Kat told them, crossing her arms and leaning on a desk as Vera strolled into the office with a hot dog, biting into it
"Case closed," he said happily with his mouth full. Kat shot him a disgusted look.
"Damn, Vera. Eat with your mouth shut," she said, rolling her eyes. Vera merely chewed.
Lilly strolled down the sidewalk, thoughts winding around the case. It had been easier than usual-except for the 'asking for the exhumation' part- -but no one was complaining. It had been based on the boss's intuition, which had luckily paid of, which meant that they didn't have to say late. Only, it left her no choice but to head home.
She glanced up absently and stopped, freezing. Kite was in the process of crossing the street, unaware of her yet. For a ridiculous second, the idea of turning around juggled in her mind, but she brushed it aside and braced herself for the uncomfortable and unavoidable greeting. Kite heard her steps and looked up, surprise flickering across his face, eyebrows rising. "Hey, Rush," he said, slowing down, grinning.
"Kite," Lilly said, swiftly passing him. He turned, following her and she suppressed a sigh that the single greeting hadn't sufficed.
"You in a hurry?" he asked, the easy grin still on his face, catching up with her quickly.
"Gotta get home," she said, shrugging, steps quickening, eyes fixed on the sidewalk.
"Right. To your mutant cats," he added and a quick smile crossed her lips, matching his. She glanced once at him, over her shoulder, but didn't slow down.
"Rush, geez, slow down," Kite said resignedly. Lilly slowed to a stop, staring straight ahead without turning around. He made his way around her, stopping in front of her. His gaze ran over her face as he paused.
"So. The flowers been enjoying their time in the trash?" he asked, eyebrows high. She grinned again, eyes fixed on the sidewalk.
"Didn't really think of you as a flower guy," she replied, not looking straight at him.
"Yeah, well. I know you love your pretty plants," Kite said, hands in his coat pockets. Lilly rolled her eyes, already moving.
"Right," she replied, taking a step past him, prepared to leave. Kite stopped her gently, a hand flying out of his pocket to rest on her arm. She glanced up at him, her breath cut short. Her eyes flickered between his.
Then she reminded herself that she couldn't do this. Kite had walked away once and there was no guarantee that he would stay this time if she gave him the chance. She wouldn't get hurt again; she wouldn't feel the pain of being left behind again.
Lilly gently slipped away from his hold, despite the small, annoying part of her that was yelling at her for doing so.
"I... have to go," she said softly. She was sure he would comprehend that he could leave, that she would have preferred he leave so she wouldn't fight herself. Instead, he nodded and said, "I'll walk you," so nonchalantly that she couldn't help but wonder whether he was just ignoring the signals in her words or he truly didn't understand.
There was tense silence as they walked, until they neared her apartment and both stopped. He turned to her as she walked up the steps.
"You thought about the coffee offer?" he asked. He looked completely relaxed, but his eyes were serious, questioning. She braced herself and then said it.
"Kite, there's...someone else," she said awkwardly. She wasn't sure if Saccardo would come back anytime soon, didn't know what would happen even if he did, but she had gotten stuck between two people before and it hadn't ended well; she had lost both of them. Plus, it gave her a firm reason to turn him away. Kite didn't even blink.
"Who?" he asked. It was like the words had no effect on him. The casual look on his face was still there. Lilly hesitated and he held up a hand.
"You don't have to tell me. But if you see the guy, tell him I'm not backing down," Kite said, leaning on the banister of the stairs. "Rush, I'm not giving up."
She tried to act indifferent, but she had fully thought he would nod and walk away; she could feel herself slipping.
"And just so you know," he continued. "There'll be more flowers unless you agree." She couldn't keep herself from smiling slightly at that. Flowers as blackmail.
"Fine," she agreed, a wave of nervousness running through her as she said the word. Concealing it, she turned and opened the door. Her eyes flickered back to him, from within, just before the door came between them.
Inside, Lilly leaned against the closed door, scolding herself. She had tried to stop him from going any farther and it was almost like she had just encouraged him. I'm not giving up. His words rang in her ears. It wasn't going to end well. She wouldn't pine for something impossible. But despite what she told herself, she could feel herself grudgingly falling for his charm. Again.
I'll try to be the last to leave. Lilly frowned as her mind reminded her of Joseph's words. Joseph, who despite his promise, had still left. They were always only words. Empty words. And, yet, she couldn't drive Kite's sincere look from her head.
Ok, ok, I threw Joseph in there. I had recently watched the episode with him. He wasn't my favorite character, but I don't really hate anyone...even Cavanaugh. -_- Next chapter is another from Kite's POV, F.Y.I.