Something Going On (Rob Lucci X Reader)
Synopsis: The whole of CP9 always speculated that there was something going on between the two of you. Although your constant flirty comments weren't exactly subtle, Lucci never quite matched your energy until today.
Word Count: 1.5k
Tags/Warning: No Reader Pronouns, Explicitly Suggestive, Comedic, Crude Language,
Notes: writing for lucci is like bringing the boyfriend all your friends hate to an event
The relationship between you and Lucci couldn’t exactly be described as chemistry.
This was Lucci after all, and the cold, ruthless face of CP9 wasn’t exactly one to have an outward interest in relationships of any kind, even professional ones. And yet, the way the air seemed to thicken when the two of you entered a room together and the way in which your many comments seemed to roll off his shoulders was uncharacteristically suspect.
“Let’s not sugar coat things,” you sighed, leaning back in your chair near the head of the table, “I know a suicide mission when I see one.” Your briefing papers sat long forgotten on the conference table in front of you. You cocked your head at Lucci, who stood at the head of the table. “You won’t let me die a virgin, won’t you, Lucci?”
Lucci’s gaze sharpened, his typical neutral frown deepening into a scowl as he met your eye pointedly. The map he was presenting flickered on the projector behind him.
“You’re not a virgin,” he said, and if his voice had any more inflection, it would’ve sounded like a sigh.
You winked at him with a sly snicker, and no one batted a goddamn eye. You’d been like this since day one, always winking, flirting, and making kissy faces to little reaction from Lucci. He answered dryly, if at all, promptly ignoring you to continue as usual. You didn’t let up, and he didn’t budge, and that was that.
But… this was Lucci, and the mere fact he hadn’t maimed you or worse for being a sheer annoyance was a continued mystery.
Lucci carried on with the presentation, dryly taking the team through locations and targets.
Near the back of the conference table, Fukurou leaned back in his chair toward Jabra, knocking him on the knee with the back of his hand.
“It’s gonna happen any day now, japapapa,” Fukurou tried to whisper, although his voice was far louder than he intended. That was another thing that the rest of CP9 tried to ignore. In fact, most of them preferred to ignore Fukurou anytime he spoke.
Jabra shook his head, his jaw locked tight. “No way,” he gritted.
Fukurou’s gaze narrowed, extending a palm out toward Jabra. “If you’re so sure, put money on it, japapapa.”
Jabra’s eyes flickered from you to Lucci and back to Fukurou. He crossed his arms, leaning back in his seat with a boot up on the table.
“I don’t put money on conspiracy theories,” he muttered.
Lucci spoke your name, “I’m putting you on point,” he said lowly, his gaze still narrowed. “Take the assignment and don’t say another word—”
“Put me wherever you want,” you hummed suggestively, already interrupting. After all, Lucci should have known better than to think you’d listen to him anyway. You leaned an elbow on the table, resting your cheek in your palm as you addressed Lucci with a far too relaxed posture. “I know you love bossing me around.”
Lucci didn’t bat an eye. None of this was remotely new.
“I assign roles based on skill,” he reminded you sternly, his face only growing more severe by the moment. “Yours are limited.”
“God, you’re fun when you’re mean,” you sighed, practically melting into your palm.
An annoyed rumble erupted from Lucci’s chest, but nothing bubbled to the surface quite yet. A deep scowl remained on his face, and Lucci shifted his attention back to the presentation with a curt, “Moving on.”
“Now, I would be willing to make a wager,” Kumadori chimed. “For I do believe that they have been engaged in an affair for quite some time now, yoyoi.”
“Bullshit!” Jabra barked, and his volume caused the room to fall silent.
Every head turned toward Jabra, and for the second time during his presentation, Lucci had been interrupted. Lucci’s eyes flattened. His nose twitched, forming the slightest crinkle of disdain at his muzzle as he slowly lowered his presentation clicker to the table.
“Is there anything you want to share with the class?” Lucci growled, low, deadly, done.
Jabra fought the deep panging sensation at the pit of his stomach. He laughed slightly, his eyes darting around the room before he couldn’t dodge answering Lucci any longer. Jabra cleared his throat, channeling his confidence into one word.
“No,” he snarked.
“Then shut. Up.” Lucci turned back to the board, but this time, you’d picked the clicker up from the table. He didn’t try to grab it from you or look twice as he continued. “Moving on,” he continued, and you clicked the button to the next slide.
And that’s how the rest of the briefing went, with Lucci presenting the information with his hands dug deep into the pockets of his slacks, and you clicking the button to go through the slides, all without needing to be told. Not only did Lucci never have to remind you twice, but your timing was exactly on queue. The room could have easily chalked it up to your skill set as an agent, if not to a display of very meticulously honed observation haki.
Definitely nothing else.
You definitely didn’t have the opportunity to see this presentation beforehand.
“I place 9,300 berries in favor,” Kumadori asserted, his voice lower than before.
“What are you two idiots going on about?” Kalifa hissed, still trying to pay attention to Lucci. Her pen never stopped scrawling on the notepad in front of her.
“Whether something is going on between those two,” Fukurou whispered loudly, glancing between you and Lucci.
Kalifa scoffed, shaking her head as she continued to pen down her notes. “Tch, that’s ridiculous,” she dismissed with a huff. And then quietly, just under her breath, “Everyone knows they’ve been fucking for months.”
Kaku nearly spat out his water. “Fucking hell, Kalifa,” he breathed. “You can’t just say things like that.”
“Oh, please,” she huffed again, “The two of them have said worse out loud in this meeting alone. It’s obvious.”
“Not obvious to me,” Kaku muttered. “I didn’t know any of that…”
“Any questions?” Lucci’s voice boomed across the room. The far side of the table looked down, pretending they hadn’t been completely invested in a separate, very unprofessional conversation. “Good,” Lucci said, “You’re all dismissed. Get some rest before we set out at sunrise.”
That concluded the meeting. The team stood, collecting whatever papers and other office accoutrements, before they trickled out of the room one by one.
Kaku continued, his voice muddled. “I’ve known Lucci for longer than anyone here. I think I would know if there was anything uncoothe happening.”
“Be honest, Kaku, you tend to be kinda oblivious, japapa,” Fukurou murmured.
“Oh, shut up!”
“You’re all ridiculous,” Jabra grumbled, stopping at the entrance of the conference room. The door closed behind the group, leaving the lot of CP9 out in the hallway as you and Lucci wrapped up. “I’ll put 20,000 berries on nothing being going on.” His eyes narrowed. “This is Lucci we’re talking about. Who would want to fuck that overgrown house cat?”
Kalifa rolled her eyes. “Your loss then. I’ll bet double against you,” she asserted, adjusting her glasses.
“Let me throw my hat into the ring,” Kaku chimed in, “If something were going on, I’d know about it. I’ll bet 20,000 with you, Jabra.”
“I’m with Kalifa,” Fukurou decided with a few nods, but before the conversation could go further, you and Lucci approached the exit.
It sounded as though the two of you stopped just shy of the closed door. The rest of the team froze, and no one made a sound as you spoke.
“At least give me a good-luck slap on the ass. For morale?”
“Not a chance.”
Multiple sets of eyes flickered to one another, not too unlike a band of cowboys just before a shootout. Oh yes, they’d be debating about that one for the rest of the night.
They were about to scamper off down the hall when you placed your hand on the inside handle, half-turning to flash Lucci a cocky grin.
“You know,” you taunted, your voice somewhat muffled through the crack of the door. “If you wanted me to behave so badly, you could just—”
Lucci didn’t even look up from the folder in his hands.
“One more word out of you, and I’ll show you exactly what that smart mouth is good for.”
The door stayed frozen halfway open.
You went perfectly still.
And just outside in the hallway, the rest of the team who’d been lingering in the corridor suddenly found the ceiling tiles very interesting.
A beat of silence passed, and then slowly, you pulled the conference room door shut with a soft click. The team didn’t say a word, but Jabra and Kaku quietly fished out their wallets.
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