Leda: Ocean, why are we at a bridge in the middle of the desert? Ocean: Because I love this spot… Le? Leda: Yeah? Ocean: Do you have a special spot? One where you just go to and sit and think, and no matter how often you do it, you never get tired of it? Leda: I did… when I was little. Ocean: That’s what this bridge is for me. My own, special little area, nestled into the desert. I come here when I wanna think or just.. get away from the city for a bit. Just sitting here and staring at the river below and the desert mountains.. it’s breathtaking to me, yet it’s just simple.
Everyman had a limit to his patience, and Shawn was rapidly nearing hisown. What else could he possibly do? He'd smirked and winked,complimented and teased. He'd thrown himself into a full body clingagainst Lassiter during a 'vision' only to be pushed away without somuch as ruffling thedetective.
Shawnwas irritating him, but Lassie was staying closed off, not lettinghim wheedle closer. It was infuriating.
Hecould be subtle, if he reallywanted to be. Dial it back, take his time, let those walls slippyslide down until Shawn could ease himself over them without alarmingLassie.
Instead,he settled on leaning on Lassiter's desk while he pretended to ignorehim, hands braced on the wood as he hissed, "I'm flirtingwith you."
Lassiter'spen stopped scratching, bright eyes flicking up to Shawn's. Itoccurred to Shawn at that exact moment that maybe he shouldn't havedone this at work. But this was also the place least likely forLassiter to blow up. Would he accuse him of sexual harassment? Huh.He hadn't even thought-
"Iknow."
Shawnbit his tongue in surprise, flinching at the pain. "Whaddya meanyou know?"
"Contraryto whatever you may think, I'm not an idiot, Spencer." Lassie'seyes remained on him, indulging in the outrage before he got back tohis paperwork.
"I'mnot an idiot either," Shawn glared. "You haven't beenflirting back."
"You'reright."
"Why?!"
"Becauseall of this is just a distraction." His jawline tightened. "Youwant me to make a mistake by leading me on. I'm not playing yourstupid game."
"Andwhat if it's not a game?"
"Everythingyou do is a game."
"Nottrue."
"Yes,true."
"Nuh-uh."Perhaps he was being the slightest bit petulant, childish.
Itwas worth it. Lassie parroted back in a higher, mocking tone,"Yuh-huh."
Shawnwatched the realization sink in with a gleeful grin. Lassiter stareddown at the desk, hand still, and face slowly turning deeper shadesof pink. "One date," Shawn asked, choosing graciousnessinstead of rubbing Lassie's nose in it, trying to prove that he couldbe worth the rest of the irritation and petty fighting. "S'all Iask."
Lassiter'slips pressed into a thin line, and he mumbled, "Fine. Just one."
Shawnlit up like fireworks on the Fourth of July. "You won't regretit, Lassie."
Lassitersighed, looking up at Shawn again, guarded and cautious. "We'llsee."
Ocean: You said you had you a special spot when you were little. What was it like?
Leda: It wasn’t much. It was an empty school house that I visited a lot with my childhood best friend. After he moved away I just went there to reminiscent on the time we spent. It slowly developed into a place I went to, to just.. get away and think. Much like this spot for you.
Ocean: Will you take me someday? I wanna see where my best friend hung out as a kid.
