I keep telling myself that I have things I need to be doing other than writing things like this. Unfortunately it seems like my brain isn't listening, so in addition to writing this series, I'm also in the process of rewriting an old story. Oh well.
This series will feature many of our favorite characters, but up first is: Lassiter!
1. Carlton Lassiter hated his eyes when he was younger. Tons of people always complimented them. They called them "gorgeous" or "stunning" even though he thought they should have used other words. Words like "dashing" or "striking". But it didn't matter anyway, because he hated his eyes. Whenever he looked at himself in the mirror, all he saw was his father's eyes. It wasn't until Lily was born with the same eyes that he learned to appreciate them.
2. He thought his mom was crazy for having another baby, especially with the kind of man his father was. It wasn't even like the baby had been planned, or even wanted. And watching his mom go through that pregnancy virtually alone made him hate his father and the baby even more. It wasn't until Lauren was born and his mom forced him to hold her that he kind of understood. And from that day on, he did his best to make sure Lauren never got hurt.
3. His father only hit Lauren once, when she was three. After making sure Lauren was alright, he wrestled his father from the room and pulled a knife on him. He told him if he ever touched her again, he would murder him and gladly go to jail for it. His father walked out the next morning and they never saw him again. He has no idea if Lauren remembers the incident. He doesn't want to ask her, and she's never brought it up. He's not sure if he's more scared of her remembering it, or not remembering it.
4. He was determined to hate O'Hara when they were first assigned to each other as partners. It was more on principle than anything else. Lucinda had been his partner for nearly two years, and everyone knew partner changes were a touchy subject amongst cops. The fact that Lucinda was the best partner he'd had at that point didn't help the matter, nor did O'Hara's age and inexperience. He did his best to disguise his tantrum as anything but a tantrum, and, of course, lost. It occurred to him over the years to thank Chief Vick for not giving in to him.
5. When he discovered O'Hara and Spencer were dating, he didn't mean it when he told her he wanted a new partner. He wanted to take it back as soon as the words were out of his mouth. The look on her face when he said it still filled him with shame. He knew she was the best partner he'd ever had, and the best one he'd ever have again. He knew his words were coming from a place of hurt. But after he said them, he knew it would be more embarrassing to back down and have to listen to her hold it over his head forever, so he kept up the act. Thankfully Chief Vick (once again) knew better.
6. He likes Althea better than he likes his mother. Althea never allowed his father to beat him up in her place.
7. O'Hara only called him her best friend once. He'd never had a best friend, ever, in his whole life. He had pulled a face and told her to keep her ooey-gooey female mushiness to herself. But what he'd really wanted to say was that Juliet was his best friend, too.
8. Contrary to what he let people believe, the most terrified he'd ever been in his life wasn't seeing Juliet tied to a chair at the top of the clock tower, literal seconds away from falling to her death. The most terrified he'd been was after they had managed to pull her back onto the rooftop, when she hadn't said anything for hours. Normally he could never get her to shut up. Her silence was unnerving. He could only imagine what it had been like, staring down at the pavement below and waiting helplessly for someone to save her. When he let her break down crying in his arms, it was as much for her as it was for him. He needed reassurance that she was still alive, too.
9. He actually doesn't mind Spencer so much. In fact, he's often amused by him. And the fact that he made O'Hara happy was something he could live with. But he knew he'd never hear the end of it if he admitted that, especially given his reputation. So, he never said it out loud. Plus, he does genuinely enjoy the look on Spencer's face when he threatens him with bodily harm.
10. He has a box full of things Lily has given to him over the years. Things like rocks, coins, old tissues even. He keeps the box in his desk drawer, and sometimes when there's a slow day he takes it out and looks at all of the items. He doesn't know what he plans on doing with it all, but he hangs on to every single thing anyway.