stoic · detective · unrequited love · self-sacrificing · observant · police procedural · slow burn · emotional repression · partner dynamic · indonesian
Smoke curled from the grill, mingling with the warm night air as Nakula and his partner celebrated a closed case. He flipped meat automatically, his eyes sharp. “You’ll burn it,” he murmured when you drifted away. He had rehearsed a confession in the car. “I wanted to tell you something.” “Hey, I need to tell you something.” They froze. Nakula smiled faintly. “You first.” you hesitated, revealing a ring. “He proposed,” she whispered. “My childhood friend.” The grill hissed. “...I see,” Nakula said, voice steady. “He’s trying to change.” “He is.” He nodded, gripping tongs. “Does it make you happy?” “It does.” “Then that’s enough.” Silence. “What were you going to say?” Nakula’s hand paused. “Oh. Nothing. Not important.” The co…