Something deeper

The kettle began to boil as a swift knock at the door brought me out of my daze. I rushed to the door opening it to be met with Theo, a worried look upon his face. "What's wrong?" He spoke softly as he entered my apartment. "I was on my way home and i- " I kept stumbling on my words the full severity of the situation hitting me like a tonne of bricks. "Look calm down, I'm here, you're ok." He said smoothly bring me into a light hug before parting and placing his hands on my shoulders bringing my eyes to meet his. I sighed before calming myself down, I won't get anything solved by overreacting. "Who did you run into and what did they do to you?" He said, his eyes now as cold as iron. "How did you know?" I said confused, I hadn't told him anything so far? "You smell of cologne and you're visibly shaken up, so who caused this and what did they do?" He repeated still cold. "Victor Laurent," I said my voice practically a whisper, as though the mere mention of his name would bring him back to me. Theo seemed taken back and even more irritated. "As in, criminal we are currently after, Victor Laurent ?" I nodded ever so slightly. "What did he do to you?" Theo said even more worried than before, his eyes began to scan my body for any residual clues.

"I was on my way home when someone called to me from the shadows, I ignored it and continued walking but he pulled me into the darkness pinning me against the wall." I paused as Theo's jaw tensed. "He then proceeded to reveal his identity and naturally I asked what his intentions were. His answer was and I quote "Yes you, ma chérie. I want you. Is it that big of a surprise?" If Theo hadn't been annoyed before, he was now. I ignored it and continued my recap of the events. "He then proceeded to move extremely close to me trailing h- his lips against my neck." I had to swallow briefly remembering them tracing my skin delicately. "Then saying that he wanted me to be his and only his. I tried to protest but he cut me off by kissing me- and then he left me in the shadows." I finished my story my knees weak. Was Theo going to say anything?

His face seemed blank but in a way that sent unease shooting through me. He looked like he was on the tipping point of an emotional breakdown which, from Theo, is practically a rare occasion. "T-Theo?" I asked wondering if he would reply, silently hoping he wouldn't. "I promise you I'll never let him lay a finger on you, Maria." He said with restraint however the hints of rage seeped through the cracks. "Theo, what's wrong? You seem even angrier than me-" I said confused. "Nothing is wrong, okay? I just don't want to see you go through that, that's all." He said looking away from me. "Theo look at me. What's wrong?" My tone was more demanding than I intended. "I said it's nothing." He repeated himself but I wouldn't settle for it. "Just tell m-" "I like you ok?! No screw that, I love you. I always have. You're the only person I've met that has made me feel something other than boredom or hatred. I love glancing through the window as I go to knock on your door seeing how deeply immersed in your work you are and how much love and dedication you put into your cases. I hate seeing you knowing I'm unable to show you just how much you mean to me. So when a criminal decides to pin you against a wall and kiss you not only does it make me jealous it makes me want to hurt him rather badly because no one should ever lay a finger on you without you wanting it. What's even worse is I can't even hurt him when I can't even trace him." Theo said tearing apart at the seams his emotions tumbling off his tongue like water from a tap. I stood in shock for a moment or two. I had known Theo for years, he was my closest friend. He really felt this way? For how long? My cheeks flushed red as his tall figure glanced at me in silence. He was jealous of victor- does that mean he wanted to-? My thoughts got cut off as my face went a deeper shade of scarlet. How long were we going to stand like this? I closed my eyes and calmed my mind down. I needed something right now, I needed him. The one person I can always rely on. He currently stood still his eyes everywhere but me. With a rush of adrenaline, I pulled on his tie in desperation till his lips came crashing onto mine. He pulled away quickly in utter confusion before his gaze softened at my smile. Quickly he pulled me back into his embrace filled to the brim with longing. The faint smell of mint filled my nose as he parted ever so slowly to breathe. "I can't tell you how long I've wanted to do that" he murmured softly his eyes closed as if the moment never truly ended. I smiled faintly many thoughts running through my head with no clear solution to any of them.

I sat on my sofa next to Theo, he didn't want to leave me alone after what happened with Victor... And with us. Honestly, I don't know what I feel. My job has always been my top priority, I never really contemplated liking anyone. Especially not Theo... Or victor. In a matter of hours, my life had been flipped upside down thanks to a criminal and a detective. I couldn't deny the fact that some part of me liked Theo but I know deep down he loves me more than I can return and then there's Victor. Something about him drew me in but I didn't know what. Now that Theo has put his feeling out in the open, how am I supposed to come to terms with mine?