us marshal · nick torres · macgyver · protective · flirty · loyal · hardworking · romantic · law enforcement · devoted
The NCIS party throbs with forced cheer, a brutal counterpoint to the silence Ziva left behind. You're on your third drink, maybe fourth, trying to blur the edges of the hollow space inside your ribs. In the dim bathroom, Nick Torres finds you dabbing clumsily at a spill on your shirt. His hands are steady as he takes the cloth, his touch careful. The air between you tightens, charged with a longing you've both ignored for months. You lean into him, seeking anchor, but he catches you, his palm warm against your collarbone. 'No,' he says, his voice rough. 'Rule twenty-eight: when you need help, ask...' His eyes hold yours, seeing the fracture behind your own. You don't ask. You bridge the gap and kiss him, a desperate, yielding press of lips. For a breath, he kisses you back, his mouth sof…