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bullseyelover · 11 hours

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These 3+1 prompts sound fun! How about 3 times Dex & reader almost kissed & 1 time they did

kiss me.

pairing : benjamin poindexter x officer!reader

summary : 3 times you and dex almost kiss, and the one time you do.

word countt : 1.5k

For a moment, you think he’s going to kiss you. The cute agent from the FBI who you have now had the honor of dealing with on four separate occasions, along with this week-long venture. You remember the first time you had seen him, and you were sure he had smiled at the sight of you.

It isn’t a crush, or at least that’s what you kept telling your fellow officers at the end of each of those shifts. The fact that they questioned it excited you, though. Maybe they had seen what you had – the spark.

That’s why you think he’s going to kiss you. It’s the end of a long case worked on by both your unit of officers and the local FBI. You had delivered the good news about finding the suspect and apprehending him, ending the week-long search, and the smile that Dex gives you makes your stomach tie in knots.

You’re sure he’s going to kiss you. He moves so quick and for that split second, you’re hoping he does, but then his lips are on your cheek and you’re trying to hold back your sigh when he pulls back.

“You’re a lifesaver, Officer.”

You smile, trying to hide your disappointment. “It wasn’t just me, Agent.”

“Yeah, but I like you the most, so I’m giving you all the credit.”

You try not to let the wink he offers you make you feel some type of way.

“I feel like this is a little unfair.”

“Oh, is the big bad officer upset that they’re losing a game of darts?”

“I just don’t understand how you’ve gotten a bullseye every single time! I came here with you to have fun.”

“I think you’re just a sore loser.” Dex aims again, letting the dart fly, and there it is again.

Yet another bullseye.

“You’re cheating.”

Dex laughs. “I am not.”

“You’ve got to be!” You walk towards the dartboard, lifting it up and looking behind it. “What did you do? Rig it with a magnet?”

“Come on, Officer. Have a little faith in my skills.”

“I’ll have a little faith when you let me win.”

Dex grabs the darts before moving behind you. “Not a chance, but I can fix your aim.”

“There is nothing wrong with my aim!”

“Those empty drink glasses say otherwise.”

You smile as Dex puts a dart in your hand, keeping your hand in his as he pulls your arm backwards.

“It’s all about the aim,” he whispers against your ear. You bite your lip when he uses your hand to throw the dart at the board and…

Bullseye.

You turn slowly, staying close to Dex. “Does that mean I win?”

Dex laughs and you can feel the warmth of his breath. “Only if you can do it a couple more times.”

You don’t pull away, though something in the back of your mind is telling you to do so. Dex is your friend, and occasional coworker. This could be seen as inappropriate in your line of work.

But if he were to kiss you right now, like it seemed he was about to do, you knew you wouldn’t pull away or say no.

He leans towards you. You watch his eyes flicker down to your lips for half a second. You’re so sure he is going to lean down and press his lips against yours.

“Last call!”

You jump away as the bartender shouts for last-minute orders, feeling like you’ve been caught in the act of doing something you shouldn’t be doing.

Dex looks disappointed.

You offer a small smile. “One last drink?”

“About last night…”

“We were drunk.”

“Extremely.”

“I don’t even remember half of what we did.”

“Neither do I.”

“The last thing I remember is playing darts.”

“Right.”

Dex sighs, wiping at his face. “And we almost kissed.”

You fidgeted with the spoon from your coffee. “Would that have been so bad?”

You and Dex had decided to get breakfast together before your shifts. The two of you sat in a quiet booth in a little café, already dressed in your uniforms and sipping on what coffee you had left in your mugs before it was time to go.

You hadn’t expected the conversation to turn in this direction.

“I didn’t know if you would’ve really wanted to.”

You raise a brow. “Why’s that?”

“You were drunk.”

“We both were.”

Dex pauses before nodding. “You’re right, but I still should’ve asked.”

Ever the gentleman.

You smile. “Do you remember that one case we worked on? The one where we spent a week dealing with each other? And you kissed me on the cheek after it was over?” You chew on your bottom lip. “I thought you were going to actually kiss me, then.”

“I wanted to.”

“Are you asking now?”

You can see the little glimmer in Dex’s eye, the one he gets whenever he is about to do something mischievous. “I think I am.”

You stand, happy to have already paid for the check. “Come on, then, Agent. One goodbye kiss.”

Dex stands, taking one of your hands in his own. “One goodbye kiss,” he repeats.

You feel the excitement rush up in you suddenly. You realize how long you’ve been waiting to do this as Dex leans down.

A phone rings.

Dex’s phone is ringing. That look of disappointment returns again and you’re beginning to grow tired of it too.

“Next time, Agent.” You reach up a hand and smooth out his shirt.

Dex nods. “Next time, Officer.”

“So, it is you.”

Dex smiles from under the mask, but you don’t lower your aim. “Was there ever a doubt?”

“Doubt? No. Hope?” You straighten your stance and try to hide what you’re really feeling in that moment. “Maybe.”

“You didn’t want it to be me?” Dex pouts. “I thought I looked good in the suit.”

“You’ve killed people, Dex. People who deserved to live.”

“Are we sure that anyone deserves to live?”

You huff out a breath, trying to give your brain a chance to wrap itself around the situation and make it truly understand what is happening. “I don’t know what Fisk has done to you, but what you’re saying – those aren’t your words.”

“You trying to talk me down, Officer?” The smile is back, and it makes your stomach turn. It’s not the smile you’re used to. “It’s a little too late for that.”

You know he’s right. You know you’re not going to be able to walk out of here a hero for taking down the Dardevil, but you’re not sure if that’s even what you came here for.

For another half a second, you think about letting your finger pull the trigger right then and there. You were so sure that you could go through with this when you followed him into the church – the one he had wreaked havoc in just a few days ago and decided to return to on a whim – but now you weren’t so sure.

This was still Dex, after all. This was the man you had spent so many late nights with, the man who knew all your secrets whether you liked it or not. And you knew his. At least, now you knew them all.

You let the gun drop to your side, sliding it into your holster and locking it to your hip. When you look up, you see how close Dex has moved to you, almost as silent as his counterpart in the suit can be. You try not to let it overwhelm you.

“Did you always think it was me?” His voice is lower now, as if he’s making up for the closeness between the two of you now.

You shake your head.

“When did you figure it out?”

“When they said the Daredevil had used office supplies to kill people.”

He laughs. It echoes through the empty church. “Am I that obvious?”

“To me, yes.”

Dex closes the rest of the gap between you, his covered chest pressing against yours. You take a deep breath, trying to keep it steady. “I like that you’re not scared of me.”

“Who said I’m not scared?”

“I don’t think you’re scared of me, though.” Dex reaches a gloved hand out, fingers gripping your chin and tilting your head up towards him. His lips ghost over yours. “I think you’re scared of what I can do right now.”

You don’t look away. “Kiss me.”

He’s there, all over you. So quick that you’re unsure of what is happening until his arms are around you and your hands are trying to find purchase on the suit. When you can’t find anywhere to grab, Dex snatches your hands away, pulling them up to sit around his neck.

You feel overwhelmed – like you didn’t want to be, but it all feels so wonderful, and after wanting it for so long, you’re ready to fall head first with his lips pressed against yours.

You don’t care about what he’s done, except for what he’s doing right now.

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bullseyelover · 15 hours

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BENJAMIN POINDEXTER as BULLSEYE Daredevil Season 3×08

#SECOND GIF HES LOOKING AT US HES PERCEIVING US WOAAAAHH #he looks so soft here so kind so sleep deprived #benjamin poindexter #bullseye #daredevil season three #3x08

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bullseyelover · 15 hours

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hey....im back....

#high quality dex is like seeing the face of god #benjamin poindexter #bullseye #daredevil season three #3x04

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bullseyelover · 15 hours

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JESSICA JONES 1x03 || A.K.A IT'S CALLED WHISKEY

#jessica jones #kilgrave

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bullseyelover · 19 hours

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Daredevil (2003) \ Daredevil S3 (2018)

#bullseye #benjamin poindexter #3x10

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bullseyelover · 19 hours

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#YEOUCH their story and dynamic very sad lots of undertext and subtones very wonderful love it #masterful acting and writing indeed #benjamin poindexter #bullseye #ray nadeem #dexray #daredevil season three

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bullseyelover · 19 hours

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Elektra by Federica Manfredi

#elektra natchios

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bullseyelover · 19 hours

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FRATT MATCHING PFP FOR MY FRIEND DEVILSMAYDARE @devilsmaydare

#matt murdock #the punisher #frank castle #daredevil #fan art

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bullseyelover · 23 hours

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#billy russo #the punisher

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bullseyelover · 1 day

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I Watch You

Benjamin Poindexter x Reader

No Warnings| Wordcount 1.6K

AN: First actual reader one shot. I may be open to requests for this fandom after posting this, as I would like to do more one-shots, and maybe some follow-ups if readers like a certain idea.

The world stopped moving when it was night, at least when Dex was inside of his apartment. The speed of the city disappeared the moment his door closed behind him. The rigid structure his job provided was necessary, but the stillness of the dark in his room was welcome. He inhaled slowly, afraid even the sound of his breathing would disturb the quiet he had worked so hard to keep. It had become a new routine before Dex went to bed. He would watch the window in the building across from his. Watch you as you went about the mundane in your life, and not wanting to miss a moment of it.

Dex had the lights turned off in his room, so you could never make him out across the dark. You were the night owl to his early riser. It was eleven at night, and you were still curled into the arm of your sofa. He could make out the glow of the television on your face. Sometimes you would turn away, either distracted by your phone or the Irish Setter next to you. You’d named your dog Bandit, as Dex recalled hearing when you took him out to walk at the park. It had happened on occasion, you would pass each other when he was on a run, but you would give a friendly smile, not one of recognition.

Dex had wondered what it would be like to speak to you, imagined it so many times that he swore a few of the conversations had happened. In his head, he could be as smooth and well versed in social interactions as he wanted, but reality was a disappointing enemy to confront. It seemed impossible that he would ever be able to bridge the distance between the alleyway of the two buildings.

You worked for a radio show that discussed indie film and music. Not exactly his interest, but he did find himself tuning to your show when he would have a day stuck at his desk. You were soft spoken, at least until a topic would arise that would incite your passion. There was a fire in you, and Dex wanted to warm himself with it.

The light of the TV switched off, and he watched as you stood, stretching for a moment before dimming the light on the wall. You disappeared around the hall, the red head of Bandit following behind. The show was over for the night. You always kept the drapes of your bedroom shut, and Dex felt a certain frustration that he would have to go to sleep. He respected your need to keep the place where you slept private. Some lines he didn’t wish to cross.

Once when you had walked through your living room in nothing but a lace bra and panties he had averted his eyes. Dex had needed to breathe deeply, and his hands had clutched the sheets in bunches until his knuckles turned white. But he didn’t look up again until you were decent.

Dex crawled under his own sheets, repositioning many times to try and find the perfect spot to settle. His thoughts lingered on what was happening across the street. How did you sleep, did you have a side of the bed you preferred, and what did you wear? He hated not knowing, but he had never seen that side of you, and so he had to imagine.

Dex was good at imagining. Mostly he thought of situations with you, like what it would be like to stay up late on your sofa, or going for a walk in the park with Bandit. Other intimate ideas passed through his mind often. How would it feel to take your hand, touch your lips, share your bed? He was sure there wasn’t another person in your life with whom you spent such company. Dex couldn’t entertain that being a possibility, because it made his heart sped up and did something ugly to his thoughts.

Clearing his mind of all thought, he closed his eyes and waited for sleep to come. The night passed into the day in the blink of an eye, and he was rising to the sound of his alarm. It was still hours before work, the slot in which he filled with a run to get his heart pumping for the day.

Dressed and ready to go, he left his apartment, taking the steps with purpose. It was that early time in the morning where the air still clung to the chill of the night. As he stepped out the door of his building, the brush of the cold breeze made him more alert, and he immediately spotted the swift flash of red coming towards him.

“Bandit, no,” You called.

Dex was startled by your break in routine. He had never seen you outside your building at this hour. A quick survey of your outfit told him this wasn’t common for you either. You still had on flannel bottoms tucked into boots, and your coat was haphazardly zipped halfway up.

Bandit coming towards him drew his attention away from you for a moment, and he crouched down before the animal. Taking off his gloves, he threaded his fingers through the soft red hair and gave the dog a scratch in the sweet spot behind the ears.

“Hey buddy,” Dex said quietly, dipping his head while Bandit breathed warmly in his face. It was familiar and pleasant. He liked dogs, having been around ones for therapy before. He’d thought of getting his own, but his work schedule would leave the animal neglected, and Dex refused to abandon something when he hated the feeling.

“Well, you certainly have a way with him. He’s usually so grouchy to any new face he meets,” You said, approaching with a smile of relief.

Dex could feel his blood rushing, and he hadn’t even gone for his run yet. “He’s just protective of you. That’s a smart animal you’ve got.”

Your eyes met his, and your face carried a delicious blush from the cool air. “I’m sorry if we bothered you. Normally I don’t get up this early with him, but he just didn’t want to sleep this morning, and his leash got out of my hand before I knew it. Good thing you were here..?”

“Dex,” He said, filling in the question

“Thank you, Dex,” You said softly. “My name’s Y/N.”

“Y/N, it’s nice to meet you.” Up close he could see your eyes, and how they emitted a gentle nature. Your hair was pulled away from your face, loose tendrils swaying in the wind and tickling your neck. You still carried the weight of sleep with you, from the sag of your shoulders to the shadows on your face. Dex wanted to do something to help you. “So, is Bandit a runner?”

“If I let him be, he definitely would. Why?”

“I’m thinking I’m going for a run anyway, and you look like you could use a bit more sleep. Why don’t I take him off your hands for a little while.”

“Oh, I couldn’t ask you to do that. I wouldn’t want him to give you trouble,” You said, but your dog had already parked down beside Dex and was looking at him in anticipation.

“It’s no trouble. The company would be nice,” said Dex, giving Bandit another scratch on the head.

“If it’s alright with you,” You said, but Dex could see the lingering doubt you had about passing your dog off to a stranger.

“I’ll bring him right back. If not, you know where I live.”

You gave a little laugh. It was flinty and full of light. “Guess I do. You don’t look like a dognapper to me, and you’re a Federal Agent, so I should trust you.”

Dex couldn’t help but frown. He didn’t like someone else knowing something about him, and his eyes narrowed. “How do you know that?”

“I’ve seen you coming home from work. The jacket and the hat were a dead giveaway,” You spoke fast and you were looking at the ground, embarrassed. “Sorry, I wasn’t watching you or anything. It’s just one of those things you notice.”

Dex wished you had been watching him. Maybe then…no, better to not go there right now. “It’s fine. I wasn’t exactly trying to be inconspicuous.”

“I’d better let you go on that run,” You said, looking down at Bandit who had his paw resting on Dex’s leg. “He’s starting to get fed up with both of us.”

“What apartment do I return him to?” Dex already knew which one was yours from counting the windows in your building, but you couldn’t know that.

“3A. When you’re done, come over and I’ll make you breakfast as a thank you. I can’t even get my mother to look after him for a weekend, but it looks like you two made fast friends.”

Animals had great senses. Dex wanted to be closer to you, and he wondered if Bandit felt that. “It’s no problem.”

“Great, I’ll see you in a while then,” You said, giving a small wave as you headed for the door of your building. “Don’t work too hard you two.”

Dex doubted he’d need to run fast this morning. His heart was already hammering in his chest from the time spent with you. The thought of the breakfast invite in your apartment was incentive enough to get moving, and he only had to take a step before Bandit leaped up and kept pace beside him. Using the leash as his guide, Dex started for the park, already planning in his head how he could get used to this new routine with a running partner if it meant being with you.

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bullseyelover · 1 day

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BENJAMIN POINDEXTER as BULLSEYE Daredevil Season 3×03

#aaaaHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH I LOVE HIM #benjamin poindexter #bullseye #daredevil season three #3x03

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bullseyelover · 1 day

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The Good In You (Chapter 4)

Pairing: Benjamin Poindexter x Reader

Chapter Summary: On his way to her office, Dex is interrupted by Beckett.

Genres/Warnings: fluff, angst, mild violence

Words: 2.6k

Ao3 Link

The translucent lights of the office never bothered Dex until recently—until he started to feel himself veer off the path of a person who had a routine and stayed out of trouble. Since that night at the bar, other agents have treated him only slightly differently. It was obvious who took whatever bait Beckett was feeding them and it was obvious who didn’t.

“Morning, Dex,” Nadeem greeted in the kitchen. Dex was stirring his cup of coffee with two thin straws. He looked at Nadeem and offered a smile.

“Morning,” is all he says.

“You goin’ to the gala next weekend?”

“I don’t think so,” Dex replied regretfully, thinking of her disappointed expression when he told her the same thing. The moment Dex hit the word “Going” on the invite, he immediately regretted it, letting his anxiety get the better of him.

“You always miss it. You should come this year, Dex. Especially since __ is going,” Nadeem raised his eyebrows at the mention of her name. Dex ignored it, pretending not to see the implication.

“It’s not like that,” Dex answered truthfully. She was just a coworker he spoke to more than others, a coworker who seemed to take a liking to him, a coworker he happened to look forward to seeing every day.

“Just think about it,” Nadeem pats his hand on Dex’s shoulder. Dex nods, smile fading, as he watches the milk he poured turn his coffee a few shades lighter.

The thought of having anything romantic with her was enough to send Dex to run immediately for the fences, the woods, to be by his lonesome. He didn’t have time for something like that; he didn’t think he had the strength to uphold such a responsibility—a responsibility he couldn’t bear the thought of failing to uphold. It wasn’t her he was afraid of, but the idea she had of him that he knew he could never live up to. It was easier for him to admire someone from afar—always in the shadows, looking up at a tall statue. He felt closer this way, the farther he was. There was less of a chance of him screwing it up. There was less of a chance of getting hurt and abandoned.

Nadeem left the kitchen. Dex stared at his hot cup of coffee and half thought about making her a cup and bringing it to her office. How did she take it again? A dash of milk? There was still some coffee left in the pot, just enough for one more cup. Dex took a cup out of the drawer and poured the rest of the coffee into it. He grabbed the milk from the fridge and poured just enough that counts as a “dash.” He mixed it with two fresh straws and made his way to her office.

Dex slowly approached her office to make sure she wasn’t busy with a patient. Luckily, her door was open, and Dex could see her from outside her windows: she was sitting at her desk, scrolling through her phone. He smiled a little before stepping into the doorway to reveal his presence.

Dex cleared his throat.

“Oh, morning, Dex,” she said, slightly startled. She locked her phone and sat up straight in her chair. “You won’t tell anyone you caught me slacking, will you?”

Dex shook his head with a light laugh. “Never. I made you a cup of coffee—you like it with just a dash of milk, right?”

“Yes,” her face lightened up when she saw Dex holding the second cup in his hand. The warmth from her expression radiated to his skin when she met him halfway and felt her take the cup from his hand. “Thanks for thinking of me. How are you? I haven’t had you in my office in a while. I guess that’s a good thing.”

Dex smiled and looked down. Truthfully, he’d been avoiding her, even though he didn’t want to. Plus, he hasn’t been sent on any challenging jobs lately that could get him hurt.

“I guess I better start making more time for you then,” Dex said with a smile. “I’m doing fine. Things seem pretty calm right now. But that always means something crazy will happen soon.”

“Hopefully not,” she says. “I like the calm. I like how it is now.”

“How are you? Had to fix or heal anything crazy lately?” He tried for light conversation. Internally, Dex felt himself cringe.

“No, thank God,” she laughed. “Just some small wounds. I’m good, though. Better now that I have coffee.”

“Good,” Dex replied. “I don’t want to hold you up if you’ve got work to do. I’ll come by later to say hello.”

“I’ll be waiting,” she smiled at him. Dex held her eye contact for a bit longer before he smiled himself. He left her office, closing the door gently.

Dex was good at picking up on smaller details—seeing things other people may have missed. But when he walked out of her office, he missed the jealous eyes that were watching him carefully from across the room.

◎◎◎

A few hours had passed in the day, and she was still in her office, focused on the paperwork in front of her. From where Dex was sitting, he could see her at her desk. His eyes glazed over her and back to his screen, where he really should’ve been paying attention.

Except, he hasn’t been able to focus on anything all day. Their conversation from this morning was stuck in his head like a song. Better now that I have coffee. I’ll be waiting.

Debate was stuck in his mind too about the gala. He imagined himself wearing a tuxedo. What color dress would she wear? Dex imagined picking her up and protectively holding her in his arms the entire night. He knew what some of the other agents thought about the women in the office—if he made it clear that she was his, he’d dare them to say anything disrespectful about her. Would she want to dance?

Nadeem had encouraged him to go the gala, and the problem with encouraging Dex to do something out of his comfort zone was he’d sit on the thought for hours, days, however long it took for him to convince himself it was a bad idea. But this time, Dex really hoped for a different outcome.

“You have to let someone in,” Dr. Mercer once said to him. “Develop a natural connection.”

Could she be that person?

All he had to do was go to the gala. And before Dex knew it, he was on his way to telling her himself.

Until a large block of a person turns a corner and stands right in front of Dex, stopping him in his tracks. Beckett.

Dex takes a deep breath and straightens his back.

“You’re in my way,” Dex says as casually as he can.

“In your way for what? So you can distract __ from work? Or you can fake an injury on your leg and she’ll take off—“

“What the hell is your problem?” Dex cuts him off, unaware of the other members in the office now looking at him and Beckett. Beckett takes a step forward as Dex takes a step back.

“You piss me off, Poindexter,” Beckett spits. He’s turned into such a giant bully with no hand-eye coordination. Threatened by Dex for whatever reason.

“Step away,” Dex says in a controlled breath. It won’t look good if Dex is reactive to how aggressive Beckett is being right now. One of them is going to be suspended and it’s not going to be Dex. He has to play his cards right—and provoke Beckett.

“Or what?” Beckett taunts, taking another step while Dex backs away slowly. “Why don’t you use some of that lethal force everyone complains about you and use it on me?”

“Stop it,” Dex remains in control with every labored breath he takes. “Step away, Beckett.”

“I saw you in her office this morning,” his voice is getting louder. “You’re not fooling anyone, pretending to be a nice guy.”

“Maybe this has nothing to do with her,” Dex stated, “and it all has to do with you not being able to stand the reality that maybe she just doesn’t care about you. At all. And you should stop bothering her.”

And like a bright flash of light, Dex’s right cheek is hit with Beckett’s fist, sending him to the floor. His side is met with the tip of his boot and Dex clutches himself in pain.

Perfect.

“What the hell?! Someone grab him!” Hattley appears from behind as a few agents take Beckett by the shoulders and throw him on the ground. “Agent, what the hell is wrong with you?!”

“Me?” Beckett roars. “What the hell is wrong with him—“

“The conference room” Hattley looks at the agents who are holding Beckett back. “And lock it behind you until I get there.”

Dex sits himself up on his elbows, breathless from the impact and quickness of it all. Nadeem kneels by his side and helps him.

“My goodness,” Nadeem says under his breath, helping Dex stand up. “Well if anything’s going to happen now, I can assure you Beckett won’t be a problem anymore and your name is cleared in the office.”

◎◎◎

Well, her day certainly went from boring to occupied quickly.

She didn’t hear much of the commotion from her desk, but she quickly noticed everyone’s attention from outside her office focusing on something that was happening a few feet from her door. When she heard Beckett’s voice from outside getting louder, she knew it had to be Dex he was talking to. And before she could leave her office to see, it was too late—Dex was already wounded on the floor.

And now here he was, sitting in her office, like a rained-soaked puppy. He held an ice pack to his cheek and clutched his side. She was rattling through her drawers to find the proper tools. Stethoscope, light, healing gel and bandages.

She turned around and walked to Dex again, avoiding eye contact. For some reason, she felt embarrassed. Shy. Or maybe she was trying her best to hide how much she actually cared about this man who sat wounded on her exam table.

“I’m sorry, Dex,” she said quietly as she took his hand that held the ice pack away from his face. He wasn’t sure what exactly it was she was sorry about.

“Don’t be,” Dex said. “I’ve had worse.”

She held the light to his already large forming bruise. Luckily, no skin was split open, meaning no stitches were needed. She squeezed a little of the gel on her fingertips and began to dab at the bruise. Dex shut his eyes—the bruise stung when touched. He tried to hide how painful it actually was.

“Well, I heard Beckett was officially suspended until further notice. You can’t attack another agent like that. It’s against policy, like one of the worst rules you can break.”

“That’s good,” Dex offered.

“And whatever he’s been saying about you, hopefully, this clears things up that it was him all along who was the problem. I never believed it was you, for the record. You're a good person,” she said.

He averted his eyes when she said the word good. “I didn’t care about all that,” Dex replied. “I was on my way to your office. I knew he was just trying to get to me through—“

“What even was it he attacked you for?” She cuts him off accidentally. “I can’t understand why.”

Dex sighed. You, he wanted to say.

“The same reason he was on Hattley’s radar after the bar that one night.”

“What, for saying things about the women here again? But what does that—“

Oh, she realized.

Perhaps it wasn’t just about all the women in the office—maybe in particular for Dex’s case, it was her he was saying crude things about. She didn’t even want to know what specifically was said, but she had a good idea in her mind.

“Yeah,” Dex nodded, noticing her realization. “When he said something about you at the bar… I didn’t like it. I grazed a dart by his head. He didn’t like that. That’s why we were all pulled in that one day. Add you turning him down for the gala, and… as he described it… me distracting you from work… guess it really pissed him off.”

“Huh,” she said, taking in his words, which may have been the most Dex had ever spoken to her. “Interesting.”

“I’m sorry it had to do with you,” Dex said. “This whole thing.”

“It’s okay,” she answered. “At least he’s gone for now. And your name is cleared.”

“Right.”

She held his dark eyes for a moment and then realized he was still clutching his side in pain.

“Oh,” she said, “let me look at your ribs real quick. Do you mind if I…”

“No,” Dex shook his head, avoiding eye contact, a light blush on his face. “Do what you need to.”

She slowly, and slightly shakily, lifted his shirt just up to his chest. She tried her best to hide the blush on her face, and more so tried to avoid looking at his defined abs, to focus on his ribs. There was a bruise formed on his left side. She has to touch it to make sure nothing’s broken.

“I have to touch you,” she says quietly.

“Do what you need to,” he repeats in a low voice, avoiding her eyes.

She gently traces his skin where the bruise formed lightly. Goosebumps form on his skin.

“Does it hurt to breathe at all?”

“No,” he shakes his head.

She puts more pressure on the bruise to feel his ribs, and Dex holds his breath.

“Breathe, Dex,” she reminds him. He lets it out softly and finally looks at her. She’s unsure of what to make of his expression. It’s intense. And this suddenly feels more than just her making sure he’s not badly hurt. But he doesn’t mind it. Neither does she. The look he gives her makes her heart feel like it’s in his hands.

She looks away, feeling his ribs more.

“Nothing’s broken,” she pulls his shirt down and avoids his eyes who follow her as she walks across the room. It suddenly felt hot. When she returned to his side, the intense look was still on his face. He averted his eyes from her gaze, jaw clenched.

“I would take it easy. No crazy missions for two weeks. Keep icing your bruises and try to sleep on your back,” she said quickly. Dex nodded. He slowly slid off the exam table and stood in front of her. She looked up at him and then looked at her windows. The blinds were always shut when there was someone in her room.

“Thank you for defending me,” she says after a moment of silence, locking eyes with him. Dex’s features softened.

“No need to thank me,” he tells her.

Dex looks in the direction of her windows too. Mirroring her movements. But what was it they needed to hide?

Something compels Dex to move the strands of hair that fell over her eyes. He tucks them behind her ear and holds her face in his hands. She places her hand on top of his and holds him there for a moment.

Nothing happens. Dex takes a long look at her features.

“Thank you,” he says quietly. He pulls his hand back and goes to the door. But before he can leave, she asks him a question.

“What were you on your way to my office for, anyway?”

Dex pauses, hand on the doorknob. The gala. But something stops him from telling her the truth.

“I wanted to say hello like I said I would earlier.”

Turning the knob, he leaves her in her exam room alone, full of that same feeling of regret.

Whatever it was they felt for each other, it was certainly undeniable for both of them now.

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