Sheriff Marcus x Reader

Three

Completely surprised, Marcus froze. His eyes were wide open while his lips were still on yours. His brain was working at full speed so he could explain the situation to himself.

But all that came to his mind was that this moment felt strangely familiar.

With a grin, you pulled back and gave him a gentle hit against the shoulder.

"Well, surprised to see me?", you asked. "Don't worry, I didn't recognize you right away either after all these years."

Still confused, he stared at you. His brown eyes jumped over your face, from your lips to your (H/C) hair and up and down your whole body. He took a step back, only to open his mouth in surprise when your eyes met.

"What's the matter? Swallowed your tongue, grumpy?", you grinned. "Funny, I remember you liked talking to me. Hm, but I guess people change over time? Although I would say that nothing about me has changed, really. I've just grown up."

You stepped closer to him. Your head tilted to the side and you had to take in the unfamiliar sight of his sharp face for a moment.

"My goodness, you've grown a beard?", with excitement sparkling in your eyes, you took his face in both hands and forced him to bend down to you so you could get a better look. "Unbelievable and you told me back then on the roof that you were afraid never to look like a man. And now look at you! A little thin I admit, but little is better than nothing I would say."

Right at that moment, realization lit up in his eyes. Rather, it wasn't actually realization, but pure surprise, the kind one felt when something completely impossible happened. His lips moved, but he needed another moment before his tongue could form words again.

"(Y/N)..?", he asked, barely audible.

Amused, you laughed and patted his dark hair, which was already turning a little gray at the sides, as if he were a child. You paused and looked him up and down.

"My you've grown up...", you muttered to yourself. "Holy shit, my little grumpy is bigger than me now?"

Your hands settled on his shoulders, only to wander over his arms. He was surprisingly muscular under his blue uniform, you were impressed to see. The man standing in front of you had little to do with the small, skinny boy from your memory.

"(Y/N).", this time he said your name louder.

You did not react and instead continued your investigation.

One thing hadn't changed about him, you noted with a satisfied smirk. He still had the habit of making his emotions as obvious as if he were an open book. His current expression was a mixture of confusion and the desire to close his hands around your neck.

You didn't blame him, but perhaps you miscalculated a bit, suspecting that he still wouldn't harm a hair on your head.

As your hands settled on his chest so you could check how strong he really was, he suddenly pushed you off him. Surprised, you stumbled back.

Gritting his teeth, Marcus held in his anger as his gaze said it all.

"(Y/N)!", your name sounded like poison from his mouth.

His breathing was heavy and fast, as if he was about to explode.

You tilted your head.

"The one and only!", you gifted him your signature grin, something that hadn't changed about you either. "Did you miss me?"

But instead of the hoped-for joy, perhaps a few bitter reproaches, his expression changed. What appeared was a man who at that moment wanted nothing more than to strangle you.

"(Y/N)!", again he said your name.

This time it sounded as if he had fully realized who was standing in front of him, in his office, acting as if nothing had happened.

"Glad you didn't forget my name, Marcus.", you joked, leaning against his desk. "I guess this is the big surprise then? I'm back. Yay!"

But Marcus couldn't wring any joy out of it. Instead, he stormed toward you. His hand wrapped menacingly around your neck, applying light pressure.

"What the fuck are you doing here?", he asked in a trembling voice.

You shrugged.

"I was transferred here."

"Bullshit! You shouldn't be here. Who are you?"

For a moment, the two of you stared at each other.

His chocolate brown mixed with the shimmering (E/C) of your eyes.

Taking a deep breath, you closed your eyes and sighed.

"I think we have a lot to talk about.", you said, gently releasing yourself from his grip.

"A lot to talk about? A lot to talk about?! I thought you were dead!"

"Huh, funny, I thought so too."

"Quit joking around! Is this a joke? Does the Hextech wonder boy find this funny?", his eyes jumped from your face, through his office and to your eyes again. "Are you some sort of clone? Did he make you to spy on me? How does he know you existed?"

Rolling your eyes, you had to suppress a smile.

"I'm real, Marcus.", you insisted and snipped two fingers against his forehead. "It's me, in the flesh. I swear."

With a grim expression, he pulled back and eyed you. The way he was looking at you told many emotions, from fear to melancholy and cold anger. But there was this one thing inside those brown eyes of his that he couldn't hide.

Relief.

He was relieved to see you even though the frustration of the past years made it difficult to express those feelings.

"You're... you're telling me you're that little fucker that I grew up with?", he asked. "The annoying brat that couldn't keep the mouth shut even if life depended on it?"

Amused by the memories, you had to smile.

"Exactly the same one from whom you used to steal t-shirts to sleep in.", you confirmed.

Immediately his face turned red.

"That was ages ago! I was a kid.", he defended himself.

You shrugged.

"I wouldn't count an eleven year old as a child but whatever suites you best. But nowadays you wouldn't even fit into my socks. You really did get a growth spurt. Look at you, mister."

Sighing, he lowered his gaze and had to massage the bridge of his nose.

"Shit... It really is you..."