Predecessor (Connor x Reader)

19 - Recognition

Shift ended an hour ago — but somehow, neither of you moved. Across the bullpen, Connor turns off his terminal. Not rushed. Not eager to bolt.

The tension from earlier lingers—but it's softer now. Faded around the edges. He stands, walking over to your desk. Neither of you says it—but the air between you is different now.

"You did the right thing," he says finally, low enough that no one else can hear.

You whip your head toward him a little too fast. Your heart lurches—stupid, obvious—but you can't help it. For a second, you just blink at him. Like maybe you misheard.

But you didn't.

You can see it—the set of his jaw, the flicker of something real in his eyes.

He means it.

A slow smile tugs at your mouth before you can stop it. It's not smug. It's not cocky. It's relief.

"You agree with me," you say—almost breathless.

Connor gives the smallest nod. Barely there. But it's enough.

And you can't help it—a quiet laugh escapes you. Not mocking. Just... happy.

But the laugh fades a little faster than you'd like. You glance down, thumbing the edge of your desk.

"I keep hoping it's enough, fighting for them." You shake your head a little. "But sometimes I wonder if I'm just... making everything harder. For everyone."

You don't even mean to sound vulnerable. But it slips through anyway. But Connor doesn't hesitate. His voice is steady—stronger than you expect.

"You're not making anything harder." he says simply.

You look up at him—startled, just a little—and he meets your gaze without flinching.

"Most people don't have the courage you do," he adds, quieter but no less firm. "You should be proud."

The words sit heavy and real in the space between you, and you feel a warmth spread through your chest.

"Thank you." You smile.

"What were you talking about with the deviant?" Connor asks, his voice dipping back into something curious but still warm. "The cloth?"

You hesitate, drawing in a slow breath. The rooftop. The darkness. That fragile, awkward kindness you hadn't even thought twice about.

"Two years ago, I was just... passing through the rooftop gardens. I saw he was bleeding. Nothing serious, but I had a cloth in my pocket. So I wrapped his arm. That's all it was." You glance down at your hands. "At least, that's all I thought it was."

Connor studies you for a moment. "And... you somehow played a part in its deviation?"

You nod, a little stiffly. "I guess so. I didn't know until today. I never even thought I'd see him again."

Connor folds his arms lightly across his chest, still studying you

"You underestimate the impact you have," he says.

You huff a breath, half-disbelieving, half-flustered. "It was just a cloth."

"Maybe to you," Connor says. "But sometimes... even small things change everything."

And something about the way he says it, certain, makes you wonder if he's only talking about Rupert anymore.

But then he falls silent for a moment, looking down. He closes his eyes briefly, a sigh slipping out through his nose.