TOO ICY

💎 TWENTY EIGHT/ PERCEPTION

Jetson's alarm rang loudly in the quiet, dim bedroom, awakening him. He stirred in his sleep, fighting the dreadful fact that he had to get up to return to work. Isis wrapping her arms around him, pulling him closer like a pregnancy pillow she could squeeze the life out of, only made him want to stay put much longer. With his free hand, he reached to the side table and silenced the alarm.

Three days had passed since Detective Sanchez went AWOL. The facts of the case were much clearer now. Jetson hated that he was right, but it wasn't common for him to be wrong. He just hated seeing a fellow officer be defeated by their demons.

As much as Salita and him didn't see eye to eye, she was still his coworker; and he knew the reason for her crime. He knew that she just wanted to be free of the monster still holding her hostage, although she had broken free years before. Mentally, she was still caged; still that little girl shrinking under the silhouette of Mr.Marco. She had accomplished what every little girl dreamed of - killing the monster under the bed.

So, Jetson felt conflicted about the entire thing. As he stared at Isis, still sound asleep on his bicep without a care in the world, he thought of the pain Marco caused her. He thought of all the pain anyone caused her, including himself; when all he could see was rage when he thought of her. Things were much different now, but he still remembered. He was sure she did too.

"I can feel your eyes. You're staring."
Isis's eyes stayed shut, but she let Jetson know she was actually wide awake.

He kissed her lips softly and chuckled.
"I'm admiring."

Slowly, her eyes fluttered open.
"Thank you, but baby, if you admire any longer, you'll be late. Then I have to hear about how it's my fault."

"To be fair, yesterday was your fault. You decided at 6am you wanted some and wouldn't let me go until you got a second round. Two rounds before work, I could barely stay awake."

Isis smirked seductively.
"I can't help it. It's been a long time since I've had you this close."

"True. I'm not going to lie, I'm surprised you're still here every time I wake up. Feels like a dream."

He stared into her, rapt, ruptured from the inside out from emotions too big to fit into his 6 '5 frame; that wasn't an easy feat. The gentle giant was in love.

"It's not a dream. We'll be here when you get back," said Isis, brushing his face softly.

"For how long?"

When her eyebrows furrowed, Jetson kissed away her confusion.

"I'm just saying," he said, pulling away. "This is nice. But we have to talk about the long term. You moving in; us being together. And if you're going to be here, if you want to be here, you can't have any part in-"

"I know."

Silence settled between them.

"I don't want to sound controlling."

"I know."

Jetson tittered. "You know a lot these days."

She simpered. "Maybe. Or maybe I just listened to what you need from me."

"What do you need from me?"

"Right now? Just you. You're enough."

Isis didn't know how much that made his chest swell with pride. Hell, he could spend the rest of his day in that spot, parallel to her. He scooped her closer, inhaling her scent that made him damn near animalistic.

His second alarm went off, reminding him of that thing called work. It was then that Jetson decided he wouldn't be going in. This situation with Salita was draining; the office was turned upside down with all types of D.A's, VP's, you name it. He knew his captain would be on his line before noon, but until then, he was going to indulge in Isis as much as he could.