Chapter Text
“And here’s your desk.”
Camera was taken out of his ruminating by the sound of the chief’s voice, the clean desk in front of him. One that he knew wouldn’t stay clean long, due to Camera’s poor work/life balance.
“Your assigned partner should be here soon, but he’s usually running late.. I swear if that boy misses another day.. I’d have fired him long ago, but he’s one of the best detectives we have. I’m sure you’ll work great together.”
Camera just nods. He never liked working in groups- he did best alone. Thankfully it seems his assigned partner wouldn’t be around too often.
The chief leaves him with his case file- a recent house fire with three deaths, and suspected foul play.
Camera taps his pen on his desk. He would have to arrange an interview with the family members, Camera always hated those, but they were necessary.
He was in the middle of putting away his files when he was interrupted by an unfamiliar, low but almost breathy voice.
“So, you must be my new partner.”
Camera looks up to find a charming, pristine smile on the face of the most handsome ice pack he’s seen.
Wait, this was Camera’s coworker, he scolds himself. He really shouldn’t be thinking this way.
“Uh.. yeah, hey.”
The ice pack leans on Camera’s desk.
“Pleasure to meet you. My name’s Ice, it’s great to finally have someone new in the station. So, you just moved here, right?”
Ah, he was hot for being ice. Camera cursed inwardly, hating his luck. Camera wasn’t gay, he was a god fearing hard working crime photographer, yet he was feeling like he had caught some hallway crush.
“I did.. how’d you know?”
Ice laughed nervously, hand going to the back of his neck.
“Oh, you know, just idle gossip.”
Camera decided not to mention that he hadn’t told anyone he wasn’t from here.
Ice pauses for a long moment, Camera could have sworn something darker crossed his face, but it was wiped away by that charming smile.
“It’s a small town, word gets around fast. We’re cool though, right? I’d like to.. get to know you better,” Ice says, his hand brushing through his hair nervously.
Camera decides to brush it off, something about Ice’s demeanor makes him want to trust the detective. Not in a gay way though.
“So the case, right?”
——
Camera.
Ice had found himself infatuated with the easily overwhelmed device.
The way he never bothered to organize would have driven Ice half mad if it was anyone else, but practically everything about Camera made him want to crawl inside the other’s skin and hold him forever.
As of now Ice was busy ignoring his work in favor of staring at his partner.
In the middle of filing a request for a warrant- he was so darling like this.
He was so dedicated to their work.
He would hate me if he knew what I’ve done.
———
Camera looks over the charred remains of the building, snapping pictures occasionally.
Ice had wandered off, or that was what Camera had thought before he felt someone lean over his shoulder, an arm slung over Camera.
“Find anything?”
Ice had become increasingly touchy lately. It wasn’t unwelcome, but it was odd. They were just coworkers.
“I think-“
“I brought you coffee.”
Camera blinks, his brow furrowing. They were in the middle of nowhere doing field research, how did he get coffee. Nevertheless, Camera held his tongue and took it anyways, he was becoming such a pushover when it came to Ice.
Sipping it, they took a small break before Camera came down with a headache, his vision fading in and out. He presses a hand to his temple, feeling as if he may faint.
Ice takes his hand, Camera manages to look up at the gesture.
What’s wrong? Ice says, his cold thumb brushing over camera’s knuckles.
“I- I feel… really lightheaded- and hot..”
Ice pauses, looking over his partner in feigned concern. “Oh dear.. I’ll hold you, it’ll cool you down.”
Camera nods, relaxing into Ice’s cold arms.
He recovered quickly like this, but found himself not wanting to move.
And then even less so when Ice’s hand tilted his head up by the chin.
“Are you feeling better?”
Was he? Fuck no, now he just wanted to kiss men. Even more so than usual.
———
It had been two weeks since Ice first held Camera, and Camera found himself calling Ice more and more.
You’re being idiotic. Thinking sinful things. Feeding into them. Letting the fester.
You need to break it off.
Get a different partner.
Camera didn’t want a different partner.
But this growing feeling of shame in his chest was telling him over and over- it was for the best, wasn’t it? They would go their separate ways, and Camera could be normal.
Ice was at his door in a matter of minutes.
Camera doesn’t lead him inside, doesn’t let his coworker cuddle him on the couch and stroke those cool, icy hands through his hair.
“I- we can’t do this anymore.. I’m putting in a request for a new partner.”
It hurt, watching Ice’s face grow into something almost betrayed.
“You can’t be serious.”
“I am.”
Ice lets out a broken laugh, as he takes a step forward, putting his foot in the door.
“No. No, you need me. I need you. Fuck, Cam, you need me more than you even know. You wanna know how long you’d last without me? Without your sorry ass fainting into a puddle?”
Camera was shocked. This side of Ice.. it almost scared him. “It’s for the best-“
“What even am I to you, Camera? Tossing me aside the second you get mixed feelings?”
“That’s not what I’m doing!”
“Isn’t it?” Ice laughs, his balled hand twitching at his side. “You know you need me. And I fucking know you want me, so don’t even bother denying it.”
“We can’t be together!” Camera blurts out his hand going to his empty holster. “I can’t- be with you. Not in this lifetime.”
Ice scoffs bitterly, turning his back on Camera. “Right. We’ll see how long it takes, before you come crawling back. You need me.