sweet nothings (stris)

glowing like the metal on the edge of a knife

SWAT has a softball league, Chris played in high school, and Street's enamored.

Pining/Early relationship, mututal feelings, Best Friends, Street learning how to have a family, Tan teasing them both, Fluff/fun.

-x-

Street shouldn't be surprised when 20-Squad starts talking about the annual LAPD summer softball season, but he is.

More accurately, he's surprised at how Chris's eyes light up, bright and fiery, the first time Deacon brings up starting to work on the schedule with Rocker.

"Woah," he interrupts, all eyes turning to him from the team's various positions getting out of uniform. "What softball season?"

Tan scoffs and rolls his eyes lovingly, muttering something about the new guy that in turn makes Luca and Chris laugh. Rolling his eyes at them, Street turns to Deacon and Hondo in hopes of getting an actual answer, and Hondo quiets the trio with a hand before looking at him.

"I'm surprised Buck didn't tell you. Every other Saturday from the end of May through August, whatever Squads are off rotation get together and play. The last two weeks of August are tournament play, and whoever wins that gets bragging rights for the whole year."

"And we've won the last four years, ever since Chris came on." Deacon adds, winking at her. She looks away, but her smile widens and Luca claps her on the shoulder to add to the faux-celebration. Street wants nothing more than to ask what Deacon means, but knows he'll get the chance to later. He sticks his on-duty weapon in its holster and closes his locker, not yet ready to drop the topic.

"Squads are 6 people, where are we getting 3 more?"

"Uh, who said anything about we , Pretty Boy?" Tan jumps on him, eyebrows raised like he doesn't believe Street has ever so much as seen a softball. Shoving at his shoulder, he again looks to Hondo. In his periphery, he sees Chris leaning against her locker observing the scene, and he can't help but notice how good she looks. Her sweater is half-tucked in to keep her badge on display, her legs last for days, and all the energy around her is so cool, like there's no weight on her shoulders. It makes him smile, but he shakes the thought off and forces himself to look away before someone calls him on it.

"Not every Squad plays together." Luca provides a welcome distraction. "Normally, we pick up Rocker and a few other strays. No roster has to be set until tourney play. Fosters some inter-team competition, too."

"When's our first day, Deac?" Hondo asks, sliding his phone into his pocket and slinging his backpack over his shoulder. Chris leans in, eyes narrowing.

"Probably not until mid-June with how Hicks has the schedule. Sound like enough time to get that arm in working order?" He juts his chin towards Chris, Street tracking the movements of his team members that look like a dance he hasn't quite gotten the steps to yet. Pushing herself off the locker, she lets out a short, but easy laugh that he wants to keep going long after her lips close.

"More than enough." She promises. "I think a beer's a great place to start. Anyone in?"

While Deacon and Hondo gracefully bows out, Luca and Tan jump on the opportunity. She notices the uncertain set of Street's mouth in the corner of her vision, and how he unconsciously picks at his thumbnail. Exhaling, she offers him a soft smile.

"Got a hot date or are you in?"

His stomach floods with loving warmth. It feels unfamiliar, like butterflies, but his dimples are on display before he can stop them.