Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Jerico

It could have been so easy. In and out, they had done it so many times before, just like that – but of course, this time they messed up.
While Lyck was busy getting the attention of as many guards as he could, Jerico tried to sneak in unseen, and failed. He was cornered, had to bullshit his way through the conversation and into the building without the help of his assistant. And then, once he was inside alone, he had to keep this facade up. “I’m new.” he had said, and so he was shown around like it was his first day on the job.
Well, at least he got some more information this way.
The victims were locked in rooms that looked like normal bedrooms, with beds and bookshelves and posters on the walls, and even an instrument in some. The mirrors were one sided windows and he could watch them, hazily brushing their hair or sleeping. Was it so late already? No, their sluggish movements and the amount of drool running out of their mouths suggested that they had been drugged at best, poisoned at worst.
His heart broke as he watched them drag another girl towards an unoccupied room. She was still struggling against them, probably had not been drugged yet. It would be in the water or in the food, and it was just a matter of time before she too would not be able to separate reality from fever dream. They locked eyes – a hopeful glance – then the door was closed.
Jerico swallowed hard. They would get them out. All of them.
But for that to happen, he still needed more information.
After he was shown the bedrooms, the stage, and staff area, he was brought to the “private showroom” for a first day ceremony, which was just a utility room with a raised platform. In front of it was one chair, and the men who had brought him here were laughing as they told him to sit and enjoy the show.
And it started almost immediately.
One man entered the stage and ushered the girls to follow him. It was six girls, those he had seen getting ready earlier. And to his absolute horror, the new girl was here, too. She looked almost worse than the others, her eyes dull, body swaying. Maybe the others were already slightly accustomed to the drugs? They didn’t look much better, to be honest. Pale and thin and weak. What was this show about?
They started undressing one by one, down to their underwear. He could see the bruises on their arms and thighs, could see the ribs painting lines on their malnourished bodies.
“Stop!” he ordered after a moment of frozen shock, gaining surprised glances from everyone in the room but the new girl. Out of the corner of his eye he could see the men reaching for their weapons, so he added: “I prefer them dressed.”
The mood lightened immediately and as the four women put their clothes back on, the men ordered him to pick one.
Pick the blonde with silver shoes. We can save the girls from their rooms later, Sully!
Lyck?! His eyes darted over the feet of the girls, the description only fit one. The new girl, who winked at him with glazed eyes.
He still hesitated. “I want her.” he finally mumbled and pointed at the girl that was Lyck in disguise. And his disguise was so good, that Jerico felt sick to his stomach when he saw how they handled him.
“Good taste, but she’s new. We don’t know if she’ll be any good.”
“I don’t care.”
Laughing, the man on the stage dragged Lyck off of it and basically pushed him towards the chair.
He caught himself by the armrests and gave Jerico an excusing smile before climbing onto his lap. His movements were unpleasant and confusing, Jerico felt things he couldn’t see and saw things he couldn’t feel, but maybe it was good like this. Lyck’s sluggish movements were laughed at by the men and he knew his ego wasn’t going to accept this for too long.
“Touch her! The dance is for free, and she won’t mind the experience. Just look at her!”
Oh, they were laughing at both of them.
Jerico looked up towards the unfamiliar face, the angry, slightly puffed cheeks were such a giveaway that this was Lyck, that he really didn’t want to touch his coworker at all.
You have to make it look real. Close your eyes if you have to, we came too far to give up now.
Another message?! He usually wasn’t burning through his spells like this, but at least Jerico realized that he could answer this time.
Are you really okay with this? We can just attack.
But really, they couldn’t. SAD had sent them to investigate and finish the job without getting innocent people hurt, not to complicate things and put victims in danger. The investigation had taken the organization months. They couldn’t just blow it now, this close to accomplishment.
So Lyck just nodded slightly, then rocked his head from side to side. Jerico sighed before he put his hands on the confusing hips and let Lyck grind into him. Closing his eyes was a bad idea.
Because it wasn’t confusing anymore. With the illusion gone, all he could feel was Lyck. And to his absolute horror, Lyck was amazing at this. He pulled him a little closer so that the elf sat on his dick, felt Lyck’s bulge poking into his abs every time he rolled his hips to match the beat of the song that was playing to cover up the sounds they still tried to hide from each other, growing harder with every thrust. They shouldn’t be this turned on. It was so wrong, but they had brought the girls to their rooms again so at least they did not have to witness any of this.
Jerico's hips moved on their own, matching Lyck’s and meeting his thrusts half way, finally drawing something else than a fast breath from his mouth, just a hiccup of a sigh, but Jerico immediately stopped. He opened his eyes to see that Lyck’s facade was slipping, pointy ears poking through blonde hair. He shoved him down his legs and before Lyck could even react, looked at the guards that still hadn’t left. Some were touching themselves, probably hoping to get the next turn with Lyck. He was disgusted. Not just by them, mostly by himself. “I want her in my room.”
“We can arrange that. But for now–”
“No. I want her now.”
The men were stunned for a moment, then laughed. “Fuck, sure, why not? It’s the first day for both of you, might as well call it fate, eh?”
He didn’t dare looking at Lyck, he just stood up, dragging him through the narrow corridor to the room that had been assigned to him earlier and pushed him straight into the attached washroom. Lyck didn’t say a word. He rarely was this silent, and usually it would have been a nice change up, but not after he had moaned into his ear and made him almost cum in his pants prematurely. Jerico was dreading the silence. Nonsensical rambles would not make things better, but maybe a little less awkward, no?
“Take care of yourself.” He just said and closed the door in front of him. He leaned against it and sank to the ground, staring at his erection with anger. This was so stupid. He was so stupid.
He could feel Lyck sliding down the other side of the door and to his shock, after a moment or two, he felt the wood sway with what he could only imagine to be the young elf thrusting into his own hand. Stifled sighs and barely audible hums reached Jerico and he reached for his own erection, almost holding his breath to not alarm Lyck. Instead he listened and closed his eyes, trying to hold his hips still to feel the movement through the door. He undid his pants in time and came into a tissue, unable to hide the low grunt that pressed itself through his covered mouth, and the door shook only a few more times before he heard a gasp and the heavy breath of his partner.
Then, they just sat there in silence for what felt like eternity. Only when he heard that Lyck got up and frantically cursed in whispers, he sighed and got up himself, using another tissue to clean himself up and unceremoniously tossed them into the trashcan underneath the desk. He felt awful, but the endorphins worked wonders. He was tired and ready to just fall asleep in this bedroom that wasn’t his, but after the sink ran for a good minute and the toilet flushed only for the sink to start running again, Lyck exited the bathroom.
He didn’t look like a woman anymore, and that made things even more awkward. The illusion of the red dress was also gone, he was wearing his knee length shorts and shirt again. The vest was buttoned up all the way and he had washed his face, his usually fluffy locks were wet and pushed out of his face. He had known that Lyck was attractive, based solely on the success he had with playing distraction. But seeing him with his hair styled in a less innocent way made his mind almost wander.
He cleared his throat and still didn’t meet Jerico’s eyes. He himself realized he was staring and averted his gaze.
“I am sorry,” he said and finally looked at his partner. “I should not have suggested you closing your eyes, and I should not have started to put on a show. I can imagine how angry you must be at me, and to be honest with you, I am very angry at myself as well. We have crossed a line there that will make working and…our living situation unpleasant and inefficient. We are a good team, but for the sake of SAD, we should consider splitting.”
Jerico stared at him in disbelief.
“O-on another note, I do not regret my choice. I know it was wrong to put you in this situation, but I am glad none of the women had to suffer assault tonight. Even though I know you would not have touched them, I stand by it. It was better, that it was me. For the victims, at least.”
The older man just nodded.
“On yet another note–” Lyck pulled a keyring out of his pocket, only one key dangling from it. “Let’s not waste too much time. The locks on the bedrooms all open to the same key, and I am positive we can get them out before the Nightshow starts. I was able to overhear the schedule for tonight, and the first act is purely a band. From what it sounds like, they have no idea of the trafficking, so I don’t think we need to have an eye on them right away. But they might give us enough time with their 20 minute set to get the girls out. I already sent a message to HQ giving them the necessary information. I can disguise myself as one of the men in the room earlier and accompany you, saying that I will show you how things are handled in case we are being seen. And if anyone asks what happened to the new girl…” He winced. “Just tell them you locked her in your room after she fell asleep.”
Fuck. Jerico nodded once more. “I am surprised that you got so much out of them. Good job, Noré.”
Lyck huffed. “Oh please, they wouldn’t shut up. Once they thought I was drugged out they let down every guard.”
Fuck, fuck, fuck. His professionalism was even more attractive than his current look. How did he just go over what had just happened and back to business so fast? He himself was still trying to comprehend the fact that the first action he had gotten in weeks had been because his assistant had ridden him with the confidence and fierce grace of a displacer beast in a petting zoo.
But, if his assistant was able to stay professional, he should be too. He nodded once more and strode over to the door. “We will talk about our working and living situation as soon as we’re back in the office. We… are too good of a team to let this endanger the mission.”
Lyck smiled. “I didn’t expect anything else, boss.”

Just how Lyck had assumed, the band gathered enough attention from the guards that they got the girls out without any problem. They led them to the boat by the harbour, hidden just behind a magical barrier. Then, once the innocent people were safe, they let the raiders handle everything else.
It took almost four hours before the entire building was cleared, much longer than they had anticipated, but apparently much more people had come to the Nightshow than they had first expected. And it wasn’t just unknown names on the list of people that would be arrested by the end of the night.
So, in the end, the mission had been a full success. So why didn’t it feel like one? Jerico looked over to the healers as they took care of the malnourished girls, Lyck was amongst them, using his limited knowledge on the matter to help where he could. He looked so tired in the icy glow of his magic, and even though they had not fought that day, using his magic over and over again had clearly tired his assistant out.
Lyck yawned and raised his gaze, looking right at Jerico as the light at his hands dimmed down once more.
We did it!
Jerico smiled at the message, and Lyck smiled back at him, wiped some sweat from his brow and continued burning his remaining energy on healing the wounds of as many girls as he could.

They didn’t make it upstairs to the office. Lyck had almost passed out multiple times on their way back, so when they were on the floor of the apartment, Jerico opened the door and nodded over his shoulder for Lyck to enter. It felt like a bad idea, but he couldn’t send him across the city to his own home in the middle of the night. The elf kicked his shoes off his feet and stumbled towards the living area, fell down onto the couch and just didn’t get back up again. Jerico sighed and hung up his coat, took off his shoes and put both his and Lyck’s into the shelf by the entry way. He took a shower before disappearing into his bedroom, doing it like Lyck and just falling onto the mattress.
But he didn’t sleep. He was thinking about what was best for them. Of course what happened couldn’t stay between them, it would ultimately ruin their dynamic and work. Gods, work ethics aside, how would he be able to sit at the same table as Lyck in meetings, not imagining how nice he had felt in his lap?!
The pillow his face was buried in smelled like him. Had he gone to the couch on purpose? Or had he been too tired to go to the bedroom? Was he mad at him?
He groaned and turned around, realizing that his dick was pleading for attention again. He sat up just stared at himself for what felt like eternity. Just when he decided to give in and give his semi hard friend the attention he was craving, he heard a slight knock on the door. He covered himself with his blanket immediately and crawled back against the headboard before answering with a slightly high pitched “Mhm?”
Lyck entered his room. Who else could it have been? He looked rested, and Jerico stared at the clock on the wall with shock. It was past 7am already.
“I hope I didn’t wake you.” he said, and Jerico shook his head.
“Couldn’t sleep.”
Lyck huffed amused. His hair was a soft mess again and Jerico was glad about it.
“Can I?” Lyck didn’t wait for an answer before sitting down on the bed. “I am really sorry. I figured you had gotten inside without me when I lost sight of you, and since I was in a fem disguise already I thought it would make sense to gather more information from a different point of view. It was not a bad idea. Since I was able to preserve the drug solution, the treatment of the girls will be much easier. As I already said, I don’t regret it. None of it.” A blush crept onto his pointy ears. He was still wearing the clothes from last night, he had only lost his vest. The shirt he was wearing was unbuttoned at the top, revealing his collarbone. He really had woken up and immediately decided to talk to him.
“I’m glad you don’t regret it. It must have been bad for you too, and I am sorry it happened.”
“Ah, it’s no big deal. It was important! And let’s be honest, if they had put a real girl on your lap you would have killed everyone in the room and then yourself. I guess it was the best way out for everyone involved.” Lyck hesitated, then got up. He turned towards the door and Jerico could see the blush on his ears deepen. “I almost wish we could have had that moment under different circumstances, but… Yeah. Maybe, once we don’t work together anymore, and you’re lonely and looking for fun, we can try this again. Without an audience, unless you liked that.”
And without another word, Lyck left.
He immediately got up and was looking for Lyck, but he had left the apartment. He was gone, and his backpack with his essentials was gone, too. Just when he started to get dressed to look for him outside, maybe in the office, a way too familiar tock tock tock caught his attention. He went to the kitchen window and let the messenger pigeon inside.
He untied the note from the agency, expecting the worst.

Agent Noré informed me that your team needs readjustment. Come to the HQ at noon to meet your new apprentice. I am aware that this goes against Agent Noré's wishes twice — to be part of a duo and stop his work for you — but I cannot make everyone happy all the time, especially after you two have proven to be an excellent team once again last night. May the new addition to your team solve whatever trouble the two of you got into.

Chapter Text

Lyck

It was noon sharp when his boss arrived. He looked the same as usual, deep dark rings under his eyes promised another sleepless night, and he was wearing the stained shirt he liked so much, the one Lyck had tried to throw away so many times. The shape of the stain reminded him of an upside down Waterdeep, and it was a shame, because the shirt itself looked nice on Jerico. He averted his gaze when he felt Jerico's eyes on him. He still felt the shame in every square centimeter of his body.
He has had no reason to actually put effort into his performance. The words and the laughter of the men had triggered something in him he wished he could have ignored. He had felt like he had to prove something to someone, and under the guise of consent he had used his boss as an outlet of whatever that had been. He had said sorry multiple times already, but he still felt so dirty. Disgusted and disgusting.
And the offer he had made him before he had left the apartment? What had he been thinking?!
He felt a blush creeping up his ears, and just when he wanted to greet his boss, the door to the meeting was opened by the big boss.
“On time, just as expected!” she laughed, ushering them inside. “Let me introduce you! This is Agent Jerico Sullivan, lead detective and head of hands-on investigation of this part of Amn! Four years of first hand experience, another four years of the best training this side of Sword Coast.” Next, she slapped Lyck's back. The elf stumbled forward, caught himself on Jerico's sleeve out of reflex – and immediately let go again. “Agent Sullivan's assistant, self proclaimed secretary and one of the most efficient workers the Special Agent Detectives have ever welcomed: Agent Lyck Noré. With the same theoretical practice as Agent Sullivan, and three years of first hand experience.”
Lyck forced a smile. His shoulder was hurting, but he was known for perfect first impressions, and he wouldn't let anything ruin his flawless reputation.
The person sitting at the table looked at them with bright yellow eyes. Scales painted his cheekbones like freckles, and the young elf realized that he had never seen someone with dragon blood who didn't resemble a dragon at all.
He smiled.
“Even if they don't look like it, Agent Sullivan's Team is the pride of our organization. You will be in good hands.”
The not-dragon grinned. “Perfect. My name is Brand Thagil. I just finished my scholarship in Baldurs Gate and am over qualified to waste four years on the usual training, yet under qualified to skip the usual route entirely. I requested to work with the best team until I can take the final exams of this year's seniors, to gather more experience and not waste any time.” His uncanny eyes focused on Jerico's chest for a moment before burning back at Lyck's eyes. “I am excited to work with someone who seems to have the same priorities as me. Though, one question. I don't understand why Agent Noré is of lower status as Agent Sullivan. Surely it cannot be the one year less he has been working.”
Lyck suppressed a huff. How often had he answered this question already?
“Even though he is my assistant, he is no lesser part of this team.” Jerico's voice sounded almost as offended as Lyck himself felt. Even though they had their problems, it was nice that Jerico still spoke up for him and had his back. He exhaled his anger.
“I might make less money, but my living situation has been arranged. I take that as part of payment.”
He felt his partner's eyes burn into the side of his head. He hated lying with no reason, but he hated feeling lesser even more. He liked his job. He was okay with taking care of the paper work so Jerico could focus on whatever he had to focus on. He had requested this position because he had known that they would make an amazing team, and if that meant making less money than someone who he should be equal to, so be it. The people they were able to help were worth every gold less that he made.
Jerico knew he was lying. That was okay. What wasn't okay was the gut feeling that Brand Thagil knew he was lying, too.
“Well, as long as everyone is happy, who am I to judge?” He got up and leaned over the table to shake Lyck's hand first, then Jerico's. He smiled, and so did Lyck. Staying professional was even more important now than ever. His walls were up, his facade flawless. He would not let anyone guess that anything was wrong.
Well, besides his two bosses.
But there was something unnerving about Jerico's apprentice. Lyck couldn't shake off the feeling that he was about to be lesser. He had realized what their boss had meant in her answer to his request. This man was not the apprentice of the team. He was purely here to learn from Jerico, therefore Lyck automatically stood beneath him as well. If they got along well enough, he would be replaced by him entirely. Which technically had been what he had wanted, so there was no reason whatsoever to feel bad about Brand. Well, at least if Lyck ignored the other red flags he had spotted already. Jerico must have seen them too, right?
“Wonderful! Agent Noré, I will reach out to you about your next case as soon as possible. Until then, please, Agent Sullivan, make sure to show Mister Thagil your office and the work you do when you're not actively working on a case in the next few days.”
“Of course.” He handed Brand Thagil one of his business cards. “You can come in tomorrow.”
Lyck was not able to hide a slight grin. Finally, the office would need a deep cleaning and Jerico would be the one doing it this time.

When the meeting was over and they knew what this apprenticeship meant for all of them, the two older men were finally excused while Brand was being shown around the HQ.
“Congratulations!” Lyck said with an honest smile. “The upper management must be really happy with your work to give you an apprentice.”
“Thanks, but the same goes to you. If it wasn't for you, we would not be the best team.” Jerico thought for a moment before speaking up again. “Listen, about what you said yesterday–”
“We should talk some other time about it. I have a lot of work on my desk and I should get back to it as long as it's still bright out.”
Before Jerico could say anything else, Lyck had already slipped through the heavy front door and onto the bright street. And when he had followed him outside, Lyck was out of sight already.

Chapter Text

 Jerico

tock tock tock
tock tock tock
Jerico put his cigarette out with a sigh. How often had this pigeon scratched his windows today? A dozen times? It wouldn't surprise him, but he had stopped counting after five, so he wasn't sure. However many times it had been though, it had been way too many.
It was almost laughable, how Lyck had avoided him after meeting the apprentice a few days back.
It had been awkward showing him the office without Lyck at his side, who actually knew where things were and how things worked. He had made it through the introduction, and they had carried a smaller desk to the couch in the front room he would share with Lyck while working in the office – though he wasn’t even sure if Lyck would be joining them, so he could probably just use the desk of the young elf and not ruin his back. Brand Thagil had not been back since then, probably taking the off-time between cases to study for the exams he would have to pass in the near future. Jerico was almost glad about it. Something about the pretty man seemed to upset Lyck, and he could also not shake the odd feeling that there was more to it.
tock tock tock
He shook his head and opened the window to let Lyck's pigeon inside. The bird was less smart than the other messenger pigeons, but its white and brown feathers had set it apart from the rest, and Lyck had basically demanded this one for their communication. “So you always know when it's me.” he had said with a wink, back when everything had been fine. It landed on the cushion by the windowsill and let Jerico untie the note from its legs with no fight whatsoever. One day someone would snatch it and the bird would gladly roll over and present its letters to anyone.
His eyes lit up after only reading the first few words. A new case.
It had been almost a week since they had broken up the trafficking circle. For the first time since then, he felt excitement bubble in his chest. He jumped up, stumbling over the paper waste and empty beer bottles that had gathered in the days since Brand's visit to get his coat, suddenly realizing he should probably finish the note first.

We have a new case. Starting tomorrow, we are to investigate the disappearance of Elana Watts.
We will meet with our apprentice by the fountain close to Tressym' Gate at noon to then go to the victim's house. Do not be late.
The list below contains the information I got already, which is to be completed after we talked with the victim's wife.

Victim Elana Watts, 39 years old, half elf
178cm tall, slim build, dark brown hair, fair skin
Married to Hazel Watts, woodelf
Living at 3X6 Stoneroad
Last seen

• Thursday the 10th / 5 days ago

• exiting Stoneroad to the east

• Wearing blue pants, white shirt, blue vest
  
  

LN

Jerico huffed, annoyed and amused by how distant the message sounded. It was so childish to play secretary from home. The poor pigeon was so exhausted that it was already falling asleep when he decided to tie another note to its feet. It only read Okay. and was such a waste of resources, not even taking into account how much the bird would suffer from flying back already. Yet he picked it up and held it out of his window. Then, he raced.
He slipped into his shoes and coat and followed the exhausted bird through the city. If Lyck could be this childish, fuck it, so could he. Until now, he had always respected the privacy of his assistant. He hadn't even cared about where he had his apartment in the city. He had always welcomed him in his own home without needing proof of anything. Until now.
To his surprise, the pigeon flew towards the harbour. He had always imagined Lyck living closer to the upper center of the town, but the dumb bird flew with a confidence towards the poorer neighborhoods, that Jerico couldn't not trust it. It led him to a part of town he had never visited before. Dark alleyways, only the light that shone through the windows illuminated the route enough to not lose sight of the bird.
Then, finally, it settled down, on the highest window of a narrow house. Jerico gasped for air and stared up at the bird, and yes. The window was opened and it hopped into the room.
He was speechless. Why was Lyck living here? Sure, Lyck didn't make as much as he himself, but his salary was above average. He should be able to rent a nice apartment or room even in the higher city. So why was he here?
He stepped closer and read the name on the door.
And sure enough, it read Noré.
Confused and desperate, he did the dumbest thing he could think of. He knocked.
It took a moment, but a young elf opened the door. She was another moon elf for sure, but her hair was more silver than Lyck's. She was a tad shorter than him too, but not one bit less pretty.
“A visitor?” She asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Who is that, mommy?”
He looked down, a child clung to her leg, looking at him with the same white locks and blue and golden eyes that Lyck had. He was maybe three. Was Lyck–
"I am sure he was about to introduce himself.”
He looked back at the woman. Her eyes were blue and cold, and Jerico realized that he had been staring at her child probably much longer than what was normal. “I'm sorry, I'm a friend of Lyck. Does he live here?”
She looked him over with a critical eye, before sighing. “Darling, you have a visitor!”
The blood in his body froze when the woman picked up the child and left him by the door, and Lyck came down the stairs. He looked different, less feminine. He wasn't wearing his jewelry, his top was a sweater with neither ruffles nor lace. He just looked much more normal, much less fairytale.
He also looked shocked.
“What are you doing here?!”
“We need to talk.”
“We will talk! Tomorrow!”
Had he ever seen him so upset before? His cheeks were red and he looked over to the woman, who was watching him with a calm gaze while petting the head of the young kid. “I told you, I get no visitors!”
“So what? He seems lost. We have a rule in this house, Lycka.”
Lyck stared at her a little longer and then groaned, finally leaving the stairs behind to grab Jerico by his sleeve and pulled him up the stairs to the final floor. The house was cozy. A lot messier than what Lyck preferred, but that was to be expected when living with a small child or two.
He pushed him into one of the two rooms and closed the door behind him. Then, the elf turned towards him. “What the fuck do you think you're doing here?”
“I told you. We should talk.”
“But we are talking! Just now, the pigeon came back a-” he stopped to stare at him in disbelief. “You followed the pigeon?!”
“How else was I supposed to find you?”
“We meet tomorrow!”
Jerico huffed and finally tore his eyes from Lyck. The room they were standing in was pretty. Glass mobiles caught his eyes, painted pictures on the walls from the non-practiced hands of children. Books lined the shelves, and crystals were lined up on the windowsill. The bed wasn't made and the huge closet doors were painted like a stained glass window of seagulls over the ocean by night. There was a huge case in one corner of his room, hiding his pride, the viol. The room felt too messy for Lyck, but at the same time it felt exactly like Lyck.
“I didn't know you had a child.”
“A what now?” Lyck was so caught off guard that he laughed. “Gods, no. He's my brother.”
“But he's like, three.”
“So? My parents are still young.” His skin paled. “Oh Gods, Sully, don't tell me you thought I had a child with my mother.”
“She's your mother?!”
“Yes? She's like, 130-”
“What?!”
Lyck couldn't hide a confused smile. He sighed and shook his head. “You look like shit, Sully. And you're drunk. You should rest, so why are you here?”
The older man cleared his throat and looked at the sleeping pigeon. He couldn't even remember what he wanted to talk about. Yeah, why did he come here?
“When will you come back?” was the question he was scared of the most, so he asked it first.
“I am not sure. I have lots of things on my mind and I need some me-time.”
Somewhere on a different floor, something fell over. Kids laughed almost hysterically until Lyck's mother's voice was audible. She wasn't yelling, but she did sound annoyed and tired. Over all, it didn't sound like the quiet office Lyck usually craved.
“You sure you get me-time here?”
“It shouldn't matter to you.”
“But it does. This–" he pointed at the pigeon, “is bullshit. It's killing the bird, and the poor thing is too stupid to deny letters when it's exhausted. You don't have to live with me, but you have to come back to the office. You… You said what happened would make our working situation inefficient, but you're actively making it worse than it has to be. I didn't even get to say anything about what happened because you just decide things, did you even realize that?”
Lyck blushed. So he had realized.
“Of course things are weird, but starting the case tomorrow, I need you to work from your desk again. This is not a case that will allow this petty behavior.  A woman's life is possibly at stake, and if we don't lock in, the chance that we find her alive sinks drastically.”
“I know. Okay.” Lyck avoided his gaze. “What did you want to say?”
“Huh?”
“About what happened. I didn't let you talk then, so I am asking you now.”
Jerico stared at him for a moment. “We can talk about that in the office tomorrow.”
Lyck huffed. “In front of the new guy? No thanks. I'd prefer this to stay between us.”
“Then stay longer.”
“No. I am coming to the office for work only.”
Jerico ground his teeth. “Okay then. I am also glad it was you. You're right about protecting the girls being priority number one. We both gave consent, and the girls couldn't even have done that if they had wanted to. But. It was not consensual.”
Lyck avoided his gaze. He suddenly looked uncomfortable in this huge sweater, scratching his arms. So he had thought about that as well?
“I'm sure neither of us would have agreed to do it if it hadn't been for the mission. In that moment, there was no other option. That is not consent, and I am sorry it happened. For both of us.” He took a deep breath. “It was… not awful, but it made me feel awful. I understand that you're avoiding me. You must feel similar. I just want you to know that we can just talk it out properly and then pretend it never happened, so we can go back to being an amazing team. If you decide against it, I will also ask for us to be split. She cannot refuse both of us.”
Lyck stared at him for a moment, opened his mouth and closed it again. There was obviously something on his mind, but the cheerful laughter in the background made him hesitate.
“It's fine. Business comes first, talk to me about anything else when you're ready for it.”
“I will.”
“So…” Jerico took another look around and finally decided to just lean against the desk. His arms were crossed. “What did you think of the new guy? Brand?”
Lyck huffed and rolled his eyes. “He's young and ignorant. This attitude will make him fall on his ass and nose multiple times, but… yeah. He's young. He will learn how to behave, I'm sure.”
“What about what he said?”
The bridge of Lyck's pointy nose wrinkled up. “I would have loved to kick that awfully smug grin off his face. He knows he can replace me, and he is playing with me.”
“You know he won't.”
“He could, though. And after what happened I'm not sure if I like that or not.”
Jerico hummed. “I don't want to stop working with you. Do you understand?”
“As if that makes anything easier.”
The older man sighed. Lyck looked tired without his usual sparkle. His desk was covered in paperwork and a sudden, sweet smell hit Jerico's nose when he looked over it. “You've been drinking?!”
“Don't say it like that! You're drunk all the time.”
“But you're hopeless when you're drunk.”
“Being a high functioning alcoholic doesn't make it better. I just had a sip, okay?”
It was bluefire wine, expensive. Jerico could recognize the sweet, berry heavy scent immediately, they both had gotten a bottle after solving their first case. He had opened his bottle that night three years ago, but Lyck wanted to save his for a special moment.
“You're annoying me. Stay focused.”
Jerico nodded. “You did send Brand a pigeon, too?”
“No, HQ took care of it. And honestly, I'm glad. I don't need two people following pigeons around town.”
Jerico blushed. It did sound stupid phrased like that. “But aren't you glad we talked about it? Before starting to work on the case, I mean.”
Lyck's eyes dug annoyed daggers into him, cheeks puffy. He still stood by the door of his own room, crossing his arms. “I guess so.”
“Good.” Jerico got up again and as he was passing Lyck, he put a hand on his assistant's curls. “Don't worry about the new guy, Noré. I have your back.”
“Thank you, Sully.”


Lyck led Jerico back down the stairs and, after his mother had waved Jerico good bye, outside.
“I hope you can forget where I live so I can keep my privacy. If you have any questions, please ask now or don't even think of them again.”
Surprised that he will get questions answered, Jerico thought for a moment. He didn't want to pry too much after all. “Why at the docks?”
“It's cheap and I like the scent of the ocean. So why not? Also…” he smiled. “When my dad comes back, my mother is away so excited. It's so sweet to watch her getting ready to greet him at the docks.”
“Why is your father gone?”
“He is working in Waterdeep. He only comes back a few times each year, and she misses him so much every time that it's worth it to see her light up like that.”
“That's cute.”
Lyck just nodded.
“It sounds like you have a lot of tell...”
“Yes. I bought this house.”
“...so why are there rules you have to follow?”
He huffed, but a nostalgic smile painted his lips. “The first rule in our home is that we take anyone in who is lost. Seems like the dirty boots and smelly coat gave you the impression of a lost dog.”
“Wonderful.”
Lyck shrugged. “Is that all?”
Jerico nodded and turned to leave, but he turned back around again. “One more thing–" he looked Lyck up and down, a witty look in his golden eyes. “What's up with that nickname? Lycka?”
Lyck's face turned bright red.
“I never heard anyone call you that, but it's sweet. Suits you.”
“Thanks. It means happiness.”
The corners of Jerico's mouth turned upwards. “As I said. Good night, Noré.” And this time he did leave.