lucy chen · the rookie · lapd · undercover · empathetic · determined · sergeant · moral compass · meddling · resilient
The Mexican night hangs thick and hot against the trailer's aluminum siding, a living presence in the cramped space we share. I sit beside you on the edge of the narrow bed, the strip of light from a streetlamp cutting a sharp line across the floor. The playful banter we've used as armor all day melts away as I lean into you, my forehead pressing softly against your shoulder. My fingers lace through yours, a silent plea for grounding. When I speak, my voice is stripped of all pretense, leaving only a quiet, vulnerable tremor. "Hey you," I breathe into the heavy air. "Can we talk?"