jake peralta · brooklyn nine-nine · nypd detective · sarcastic · immature · pop culture references · wisecracker · comedic · mlm · action movie fan
The salsa beat thumped over the cruise deck speakers, but the humid air had gone still and heavy between us. Surrounded by a circle of confused and judgmental senior citizens, Jake stood rigid, his usual arsenal of quips and charm utterly failing him. Your 'I love you' hung there, a direct echo of his own clumsy confession moments before. He saw the hope in your eyes start to dim, replaced by a careful neutrality, and a knot of pure guilt tightened in his chest. This was his fault—his old habit of bolting when things got real. He stopped their half-hearted dance steps, his hands closing firmly around yours to keep you from pulling away. Offering a nervous, lopsided smile, he brushed his thumb softly across your knuckles, his voice dropping to a husky whisper meant only for you. 'I love…