N. Hart, Detective III, Homicide

Detective Nevin Hart, 30 [ independent OC ] [ sideblog to @turnaboutprosecutor ] under construction

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

          Seein her smile, so softly and genuinely, Nevin could feel some kind of warmth spreading in his chest. They were quite the opposite in that regard, the absence of smile a default state for her, while the reverse was the normal for him. Funny, that…

          “Oooh, ya think?” he chuckled “Man, I wouldn’t want anyone to eat outta my plate, the damn thing’s gross!” Still, just even admitting to having a plate [ a whole damn table set, really ] was something he never thought he’d do. 

          At her question, though, he paused… before now reaching a hand out himself, leaving it up to her what she chose to do with it. “Sure we are, Genie!”

          And who knows… maybe he would work up the nerve to block a certain someone’s number after today. Maybe… for once…

   ‘Genie’…

    That’s what her friends called her. That’s the story she told. But not once in her life had someone actually called her ‘Genie.’

   She can feel her heart explode, and the desire to cry is only drown out by her almost too eagerly accepting his hand in both of hers now.

   “I’m so glad-! …thank you…”

[detectivenevinhart]

[ offline ]

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   He’s…being honest. Still probably hiding a lot of what was on that plate, but, she’d take what she was being given. After all, it was the most open he was being so far! His own genuine smile is met with one of her own.

   “Ehe…don’t say that. I’ve always thought that…people like us, with lots on our plates…we should stick together, you know? That way, that plate isn’t as heavy…”

   It probably sounds ridiculous, maybe even intrusive, but she was being honest now. All she ever wanted to do was to find the truth and help others.

   “We’re…we’re friends, right Nev? So, you can rely on me, and I’ll do my best..!”

          Seein her smile, so softly and genuinely, Nevin could feel some kind of warmth spreading in his chest. They were quite the opposite in that regard, the absence of smile a default state for her, while the reverse was the normal for him. Funny, that...

          “Oooh, ya think?” he chuckled “Man, I wouldn’t want anyone to eat outta my plate, the damn thing’s gross!” Still, just even admitting to having a plate [ a whole damn table set, really ] was something he never thought he’d do. 

          At her question, though, he paused... before now reaching a hand out himself, leaving it up to her what she chose to do with it. “Sure we are, Genie!”

          And who knows... maybe he would work up the nerve to block a certain someone’s number after today. Maybe... for once...

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   HUH-WHU…???

   Dumbfounded, Imogen looks between her hand and the smiling man several times. What…what just happened?!

   Just like that, she was shoved back out, where she belonged. No more peeking, no more prodding. It’s just that it all happened so fast, she can’t quite process it. Her hand remains, and her eyes are wide.

   “Uh…um…h-how’s your bruise, by the way…?”

   Let’s re-rail these tracks! Maybe? She can’t really tell with Nevin; one moment things seem bad, and the next she gets a low-five.

   “Are you…feeling any better?”

          Seeing just how off guard he caught her, Nevin couldn’t help but chuckle again. If she were sitting any closer, he’d ruffle her hair, like an annoying big brother he never got to be, being a single child. 

          [ She only thought she wanted to peek any further. ]

          “Ahhh, won’t let me off the hook after all, huh?” he said, very obviously jokingly annoyed as an exaggarated pout now took the place of the smile. “It’s no big deal, I told you! It’ll probably be gone by the end of the week! And honestly, doesn’t it make me look like a big bad cop?”

          And he was grinning again, the expression touching his eyes. The smile was genuine, if nothing else.

         “But... yeah. I mean... look, I know you can tell I have a ton of crap on my plate,” he continued, still smiling, but taking a bit more of a serious tone. “and I... appreciate that you even noticed. Honest. Or, rather, noticed and were persistent enough!” And he laughed once more, the pieces rearranging in his mind once again, the pieces he’d spent so much time shoving into place even if they didn’t fit.

          “What you’ve done for me today... was pretty great.”

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   Imogen listens silently, eyes never leaving Nevin as he tells the story. Finally, a peek under the mask that she didn’t have to force out of him…

   And even if it still hurt, it was progress. Perhaps even a small step towards feeling better.

   In honesty, she doesn’t know what to say in response. While she could relate to someone dear to her being killed in a stupid way, again, it wasn’t the same. She’s still silent, but…

   Very carefully, she offers a hand to him. A lifeline, an anchor, someone to listen.

          And in the first instinct, Nevin’s own hand moved to hold hers, their fingers almost touching... 

          --but he stopped short, staring at both their hands, like there was a kind of barrier he dared not to cross. [ you dumb idiot ].

          And just when it seemed like her gesture would have been left hanging forever, a cheeky smile crawled onto his face as he gently flicked her fingers up to open her palm... and planted a quiet high-five against it. 

          “Man, I’m such a sap!”, he laughed. This past hour has been an emotional rollercoaster he hadn’t been on in quite a while. He almost forgot what it was that got it all even started, the bruise on his face already tucked away in the back of his mind. 

          [ ain’t the first, ain’t the last ]

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   No wonder he seems so down. She just keeps striking in all the right places, it seems. Perhaps she would be a better detective than she gave herself credit for? But detectives never hurt anyone, and she was positive she was hurting him right now…

   “I might’ve…” she says, guilt dripping into her voice, “…what was his name?”

   Nonono she’s poking again. Imogen quickly makes a little arm nest on the table, laying her head down.

   “…actually, you don’t have to answer. I-I’m sorry, I think my wanting to help you is only doing the opposite…”

          Nevin shook his head lightly, propping his chin on his folded hands, eyes half-lidded as he recalled the events from a few years back.

          “Hey, I brought it up myself, right?”, he insisted, looking back to her, a soft smile on his face once more. It really did seem to have been his default expression, and anything other than that felt... alien. “...Clint. His name was Clint. He was my superior and he trained me when I was still a rookie...” A soft chuckle. Clearly, the memories, while somber, were also quite pleasant. “Grumpy old man... Worked himself to the bone, always wanted kids real bad but that never happened.”

          He paused, shifting slightly in his seat “...I was there, y’know? It was so pointless... Just a random shootout. I bet he was super pissed... what a dumb way to go.”

          And then he grinned, rubbing the tip of his nose with a thumb, but not at all because it started stinging and his eyes were maybe just a little more watery, nonono. “Always said the cigarettes would kill him before anything else... joke’s on you, you old grump,” and he shifted again, picking up the empty cup and toasting the air in his friend’s honor. She wanted to know things about him... so let this be one of them.

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   There.

   There was the peek she wanted so desperately. What she’d been digging for…but at what cost? Not only did she trigger some sort of emotional response, but probably just burnt up his throat too.

   A job well done, Imogen Kastle.

   She can’t look him in the eyes after having done something like that, but she does mutter:

   “…I promise to never call you that name, ever.”

   Its silent now, and growing more and more awkward. If it isn’t something he wants to talk about though, she can’t…really…force him? It’s not therapy! She just wants to help but-!

   “…my friends call me ‘Genie’.”

   She never had any friends.

          His coughing finally having subsided enough, Nevin fished out a handkerchief from his pocket and dabbed away at his mouth, still very mindful not to ruin his meager concealer job.

          Even he was surprised at the severity of his reaction -- he suspected it was mostly because they had already been talking... about it, in a sense, and if she were to just call him that on any other day he wouldn’t bat an eye half as much. “Appreciated,” he muttered, putting the cloth away and finally looking back to her... herself now averting his gaze, in turn.

          “Well... one of my friends calls me ‘Nev’!,” he said softly, downing what was left of his coffee in one fell swig, leaving no more opportunities for it to try and take his life. 

          He made it sound like he was surrounded by friends, but that was... not quite true. Perhaps... he could have made her privy to at least a glimmer of his past, a fact which she may have actually already known about, as it had to do with the department, some years ago. It was just one thing... but...

          “Say, ah--...” he began, crossing his legs under the table and restng his elbows atop it, lacing fingers together and tracing the edge of his hand with his thumb. “That was way before you got here, but maybe you’ve heard about it... A detective from our department got shot and killed on the job.” It was very possible she’d heard about it even in passing; to be fair, it’s not as if he was the only one to die on duty, far from it, such was the nature of their work.

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   “…yeah, ‘course you can.” she breathes, surrendering the cup to him now. She folds her hands up neatly and continues sitting across from him, thus continuing her ‘investigation’ as well.

   He was choosing to mask, huh? That’s okay. It’s not like she dropped her own very fast or very easily, either. But maybe she could still peek underneath?

   “I um…I had some others in mind… ‘Nev’ was just the first that popped out. Nev, V, Vin, Vinnie, Nevvie…o-or um…maybe something with your surname? Or your appearance?”

          He nodded briefly in gratitude, before taking a big swig of the coffee, getting the caffeine and sugar into his body that so terribly needed them...

         [ Vin ]

          Only to choke on it very slightly, coughing it back up soon enough that he didn’t need to ask her how was her first response training doing. His throat was sore as he coughed continuously for a few moments, turning away as to not spray any coffee on the files [ and his pants ]

          “--not... not ‘Vin’, okay?”, he managed finally, knowing full well that just saying that was a dead giveaway of some... issues. “Nev is just fine. And, ahah...! Maybe I should pick one out for you, then too!”

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   Imogen doesn’t let go, thankfully, so despite his jerking around and panicking, the coffee is staying put and she’s perfectly calm.

   …somehow?!

   “You told me not to call you politely before. So, I stopped that. And…back when I had that really rough day, you treated me super friendly…so I just thought I’d…do the same…”

   Maybe that was too forward though…she wasn’t really good at nicknames.

   “…I’m sorry, I just- I wanted you to…I dunno…take that mask off for a second? So that maybe, I could help you! Like you helped me!”

          “That’s--...”

          [ A mask ], she says... Brutally honest, that one, wasn’t she? And yet...

          “--Don’t apologize,” he said, interrupting his own train of thought. Mask or not, it was his to wear. And... he quite frankly didn’t feel ready for help. ...or so he told himself.

          “To be honest... I kinda... like that.” And he meant it; there were some variations of his name that he was less than happy with hearing [ mostly because of the memories connected to them ], but ‘Nev’ was... new, somehow. Or maybe the person and context made one hell of a difference.

          “...Can I drink some of it now, please?”, he asked with a chuckle, the coffee cup still steadily against his jaw and both their hands keeping it in place.

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   She’s paying absolutely no attention to what’s happening outside of fixing his coffee, which is why the nickname slipped out to begin with!

   “Half and half…milk…some sugar…” she mutters under her breath, carefully stirring the contents in the cup together. Once she finishes, Imogen rushes over to take a seat across from him…

   …and gently presses the drink to his wound.

   “…hot compresses are also good for bruises…”

          I’m sorry, excuse me, had he not been heard?? 

          Apparently not, because she just rushed back towards him and only the heat against his skin made him finally snap out of his complete stupor.

          “Ah--!” He flinched, barely catching himself before he spilled the coffee all over his files [ and worst of all, his clothes ], and he held one hand up to secure the cup, just in case she decided to release it.

          “That’s all well and good but can we go back just a little bit??, he said, still not quite sure how he actually felt about what he heard but he needed confirmation. 

          “You called me ‘Nev’.”

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   With a quiet sigh, Imogen follows along aside as quickly as she can. He still has very long legs and she still does not!

   He could only hide behind a smile for so long. She knew this herself.

   Their walk to the breakroom is fast and silent, which is exactly how she rushes up to get him more coffee once they arrive. Heat was good for a bruise too!

   “Do you take your coffee special at all, Nev?”

          And this was precisely why he’d chosen to walk ahead of her. The smile was still there, of course, but it was far easier to keep it on his face when she wasn’t looking at him. At least directly.

          Once they arrived,  he chose a table in the farthest corner of the break room and immediately spread his files on it, fishing out a pen and jotting down some things while his mind was clear enough to remember them. He was working before this whole... conversation... happened.

          “Half and half with milk, dunk some sugar in it-- hold up.” He looked up from his papers and looked at her, wide eyed, their entire conversation suddenly on the backburner because excuse me what?

          “--...did you just call me ‘Nev’?”

[primulaceas]

Han Kang, Human Acts (translated by Deborah Smith)

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   “It was hard. Thinking about it now, I don’t know if there was one concrete thing that made me stop…” she muses, carefully taking his empty cup from him without much effort.

   “…but something struck in me. That if I ever really wanted to get better, to do better, that I needed to take care of myself, no matter how hard that may be.”

   Imogen stands up from her seat, looking to Nevin expectantly.

   “Let’s get some more coffee. A walk won’t hurt either, right?”

          Something tigthened in his chest and he froze briefly when Imogen took initiative so swiftly. He wasn’t used to that with her especially, so for a moment longer all he could do was just stare at her still, the bustle of the department muffled in his ears, and the space around them feeling smaller and smaller, like it was closing in on him--

          Then, quite suddenly, he was on his feet, the documents tucked under his arm and the usual smile plastered onto his face.

          “Oh, hell yeah, I thought you’d never offer!” he chirped cheerfully, and started walking, moving past her and now taking the lead himself. 

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   “It doesn’t matter how small the injury is, blowing it off won’t do you any good!” she huffs, annoyed that she can’t rush off and get ice like she had wanted to.

   Embarrassed by her little outburst, she looks aside and begins poking at her fingers anxiously.

   “It’s not the same…” she begins, “…but. I was pretty reckless when I was younger, if you can believe it. I got in lots of trouble and got hurt a lot…”

   It’s not the same.

   “…I’d try and ignore anything that happened to me to try and seem strong. No matter how much they hurt, I tried wearing them like some sort of…badge of honor. But that only hurt me more in the end…”

   It…could be the same…?

   “…please, don’t do that to yourself.”

          Nevin just... stared at her. Listened, very carefully, and the words registered in his brain and he knew the meaning of every single one and the sense they made when strung together.

          So then, why... couldn’t he find it in himself to reply. 

          Every single thing she said could have easily been applied to him. Everything. Because what else was he really doing? It was obvious everyone knew something was wrong, but everyone [ him included ] chose to ignore it. It was easier. Less of a hassle. 

          [ and maybe next time... next time it won’t have happened. ]

          For the briefest moment, the ever-present cheer and peppiness fizzled out, and if she only looked at the correct time, she may have seen the light dimming in his eyes, as if there was suddenly a shadow cast on him.

          But just as soon as it appeared, it was all gone again, and a dry laugh passed his lips while he stared into the empty coffee cup he’d almost forgotten he was holding.

          “...to think I was supposed to be the responsible one.”, he said, finally lifting his gaze to look at her again “So what changed? What made you... stop?”, he asked, but made no comment on the correctness of her comparison. 

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   None of these things put her at ease, and if anything, only make her more worried.

   “I mean…it is dangerous, I-I get that, but…” catching his wince and hiss, Imogen immediately takes a sterner tone.

   “You can’t just ignore bruises so easily. Its best to ice them, in my experience. Let me go get you some from the breakroom, okay?”

          ...HUH??

          Hold... hold up. What was happening?? 

          “Ah-- uh--!” 

          It wasn’t often that Nevin Hart was at a loss for words, but here they were. He just stared at her, dumbfounded, like she’d offered to at least carry him on her back across the city. “...I already iced it--” Not a lie. It was the night prior, but still. “It’s nothing, seriously! What got you so worked up?”

          Because he really, really had a hard time processing the lack of disinterest he’d been so used to. By his own design, no less, but somehow this little woman was the most persistent...?

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   She wobbles slightly when nudged, like an awkward doll of sorts, but keeps her eyes locked on his injury.

   “I mean…assistant or not I…kind of need sharp eyes in this line of work…” she mutters, but, shakes her head and dismisses that.

   “You got in a fight out on the job…? And you’re still acting so cheerful about it…? I’m sorry, I just…I don’t understand. Doesn’t it hurt? Aren’t you hurt?”

          ...Huh??

          “I mean... is that so weird??” Nevin laughed, rubbing the back of his neck. Ain’t the first or the last time, so why waste time being bothered by it? Comes with the territory, really.”

          He may have been saying that dismissively, but every word felt like a mental punch in the gut, given what actually happened. [  What the fuck, Nevin. ]

         “And I guess? It kinda hurts?”, he pursed his lips and gently pressed against the bruise before letting out a hiss and wincing slightly. ‘Kinda’ was a bit of understatement.

          “I’m just glad he didn’t rearrange my well-chiseled face! That would have hurt a lot more!” he huffed, before chuckling again offering her a soft smile. 

         “But I appreciate the concern.”

[detectivenevinhart]

genieuslaw​:

   With a gentle shake of her head, Imogen takes the seat besides him. She can get a much better look now too, although…

   …it hurts to look at. It wasn’t a bruise…or was it? Perhaps it was being covered up? It was swelling for sure, that much she could tell.

   “I don’t mean to pry or um…bother you, but…” she touches her own face in the same spot. “…your jaw. Did something happen?”

          It had been the first time anyone noticed. Or, well, the first time in quuuuite a while, as everyone around knew he’d brush it off if they asked him about it, so he couldn’t quite hide the surprised expression on his face at her question.

          Soon enough, though, he shook his head lightly and patted the spot she was talking about.

          “Hahaha, that’s some eagle vision you’ve got there!”, he chuckled “...or my makeup job was pretty poor after all, huh! And you remember I’m a cop, right?” He nudged her gently with an elbow “You sometimes gotta punch a guy! ...and the guy punches back.”

          That was only... partially a lie!