With a deep sigh, Marcus wiped his eyes and slipped through the door into the headquarters. He had sleep terrible that night, tortured by the same nightmares he had had after your disappearance.

But that wasn't the worst thing. No, the worst thing had been to relieve all those happy moments, growing up together, the laughter, the feeling of always having someone he could rely on. Those dreams made him realise how many things he had banished into the deepest depths of his mind.

Now, the kiss from yesterday wasn't the weirdest thing the two of you had done while growing up.

Clenching his jaw, his eyebrows pulled together. His gaze jumped through the building. To his own surprise, he caught himself looking out for your (H/C) head, or perhaps that boyish grin of yours that had haunted him last night.

Everything still felt so unreal, so much like an illusion.

If he was fully honest with himself, Marcus thought that he had just imagined seeing you again.

"Anna.", he slammed his helmet onto the front counter. "What's on for today? Please make it short, I've got some things to settle before noon."

Smiling, she turned to him.

"Morning, sheriff.", she purred and pulled out a list to check todays schedule. "Not much to do for you today, congrats. The council wishes to see you for a general report about the uproar in the Undercity. Otherwise, just patrolling."

She smiled sweetly.

He nodded and wanted to leave but hesitated after a few steps.

It seemed strange that she did not ask questions. It was no secret that Anna loved to know everything, especially when it came to people she was interested in. It would have been exactly like her to ask who you were.

Unless yesterday had not been real.

"Was somebody here today?", he asked. "Did someone want to see me?"

Her eyes narrowed.

"Not that I know.", she said.

Again, he hesitated.

His lips curled. For some reason he disliked this answer.

"Yesterday... I had a visitor, right?"

Confused by his question, she frowned.

"The council member Talis announced one, but I never saw someone enter the elevator. And nobody asked to see you either."

"Huh... So I was just imagining things..?"

"Sheriff?"

"Nothing. I'll just check my office real quick. Tell the council I'll pass by."

"As you wish."

Marcus couldn't explain it but as the elevator door opened to his office, he felt the wish to see you sitting in his chair.

Or to be present at all.

But as he set one foot into the room everything was silent.

Frowning, he looked around.

"Was I really hallucinating?", he asked himself while his eyes wandered through the room, checking every little detail and every corner for prove that he wasn't going crazy.

His gaze fell onto the framed picture on his desk, a drawing of his family from his daughter Ren. The tension in his shoulders loosened. With a soft expression he grabbed it and looked at it for a moment.

This was the only drawing in which Ren had placed the little memories she had of her mother. It wasn't an award winning artwork, but one that had great sentimental value to him. It was important enough to frame and place it on his desk. And it had made Ren smile proudly as she had noticed it the very first time.

"What are you smiling at, grumpy?", your voice cut through the silence like a knife through flesh.

Startled, he slammed the frame onto his desk, the glass facing downwards so you were not able to see the drawing.

"(Y/N)!", he gasped, his eyes wide open. "You're here."

Chuckling, you leaned against the window frame. Arms crossed, you tilted your head and gifted him an amused smile.

"Surprised to see me?", you asked.

He fixed his dark brown hair.

"Yes- I mean, no. Not surprised to see you, but surprised that nobody else did. Speaking of which, how did you made it past Anna at the counter yesterday without being noticed? She's quite the watchdog. And noisy."

You laughed.

"I noticed. I wanted us to be alone for the first meeting. It was an important moment for both of us, I didn't want her to spy or be jealous that I had the great sheriff all to myself. I entered through the window."

As you said it, eyebrows wiggling and a broad grin on your face, Marcus couldn't help but snort in amusement. Immediately, he tried to hide the fact that he was still easily entertained by you and turned his gaze away.

But you noticed. Your heart began to beat faster.

Smirking, you jumped down to the floor and slowly walked up to him.

As you stopped right in front of him, Marcus looked up again. Or better down, he was taller than you now after all.

"I'm glad I can still give you a fragment of happiness.", you said and gently wrapped your arms around him.

It wasn't a tight hug. He could have slipped away if he had wanted to.

But he didn't.

Marcus did not return the hug, but also did not pull away. He just stood there and took in the familiar feeling of being close to you.

It wasn't the same as back then, he did not feel the urge to wrap his arms around you and never let go. Back then he had clung to you as if his life had depended on it. It wasn't like that anymore.

But it also did not bother him as much as he had expected it to.

As you pulled back again, the grim look on his face was gone. Instead, it looked neutral, neither hateful nor happy.

"So? What's todays plan?", you asked after giving him some time to collect his thoughts.

He blinked, the chocolate brown of his eyes seemed changed, a bit warmer than before.

"I need to pay the council a visit.", he said and grabbed his helmet. "I'll be back in a few hours. Just... do whatever you have to do, I guess."

You chuckled.

"So we will talk to the rich bunch. How amusing.", you followed him into the elevator.

"I will."

"My orders were clear, I'm supposed to support the sheriff in whatever his duties are. That means you won't get rid of me for a long time."

He huffed, the hint of a smirk appearing on his lips.

"Can't wait to change that."