technically challenged

☤ chapter 07 ☤

a/n: ugh finals are finally over!

Alyx was up late, again. She was sitting perched up on her kitchen counter, the view of LA dark and foggy. The only thing that casted light was the bright laptop screen; Hondo had sent the woman forensic images of a shooting earlier in the day. Analyze...Sometimes I think he forgets I studied technology and not the human mind. Sighing, the woman closed her laptop, and threw away the takeout food that was growing cold.

Before Alyx could make her way towards her room she could hear fainting knocking on her front door. Swiftly, Alyx opened the door and there Luca stood with an upset look, yet he still sported a faint smile.

"Luca?" Alyx grabbed his bicep and pulled him inside. "What are you doing? It's like 2AM."

"I'm sorry, I just–". The brunette sighed, closing the door and moving him towards the kitchen so she could grab him some water.

"I'm listening." Alyx kept her eyes trained on Luca, his movements were slow.

"My grandfather passed away." Her eyes widened for a moment but then closed seeing Luca's calm demeanor. Alyx moved closer pulling him into a long hug, her arms were wrapped around his neck. He leaned back against the counter holding his friend close; arms fully embraced the woman while his head was buried in her shoulder.

"I'm sorry Dom." Alyx pulled away, she gave him a sad smile and pushed him towards the bedroom. "Come to bed, and we can go to work together."

"How did you know I would want to go?" Alyx looked at him with a playful glance.

"Come on, that's the 'Luca way'. Knowing your family, they wouldn't want you to miss work. You know, SWAT over everything."

"Yeah.." His voice trailed off. Before hopping into bed Alyx turned the lights off and turned the fan to full power, which always did annoy the man to her right. "Seriously...full power?"

"Sorryyyyyy. I can't sleep without it." Luca rolled his eyes, and joined the short woman in bed. Eyeing the stuffed animal in between them he carefully removed the gibbon plushie before moving to pull Alyx closer to him.

Something that Alyx never got used to was how clingy Luca could be, she was never a big fan of physical touch but somehow his didn't bother her. She felt content knowing that she could support her friend through contact and not just words.

"Night Lynx."

"Goodnight Luca."

꒷꒦︶꒷꒦︶ ๋ ࣭ ⭑꒷꒦

"Fucking shit." Justin turned to look at his friend; Alyx had departed with Luca at the front of HQ and she decided it would be best to one-trip all of her work. Papers and bolts fell from her arms at a rapid pace.

"Jesus lady." Before she could spit out a retort she fell flat on her face, the papers that had fallen creating a comical scene. "I-."

"Don't." Raising his hands in mock surrender Justin bent down to help Alyx pick up her mess. Once the two managed to get situated in the tech room, silence filled what was never a quiet room.

"Is everything okay?" Alyx let out an exasperated sigh, slumping down into one of the various bean bags littered across the room. Justin followed suit, he watched his friend with careful eyes.

"Luca's grandfather passed away last night." Justin nodded slowly waiting for her to continue. "He came over last night and I thought he was okay with it until he started sobbing out of nowhere."

"Yikessss, did you comfort him?" Alyx just looked at Justin with a strained face. "Alyx.."

"I didn't know what to do! I-I don't know, you know I'm awkward about that stuff." He nodded. "And he seemed, I don't know, fine? I guess?"