A Ghost With No Name- Bl- Officer and Thief

The week felt longer than usual.

Zev had spent every night lying awake, staring at the ceiling, trying to make sense of Elias. Of the meals. The jacket. The words he'd said. "I admire you. You survive."

It made no sense. Nothing about Elias made sense.

Yet here he was, sitting on the bench, waiting.

The jacket was folded neatly on his lap, untouched for the past few days. He hadn't worn it since the night Elias put it on his shoulders. Keeping it felt wrong.

When Elias finally appeared, Zev didn't hesitate.

"I can't accept this."

Elias stopped mid-step, staring at the jacket before looking at Zev. "...What?"

Zev shoved the jacket toward him, his grip tight, almost like it hurt to let go. "This. Everything. You keep showing up, being kind, and I—" His voice wavered, and he bit the inside of his cheek. He forced himself to keep his tone sharp. "I don't understand what you want."

Elias didn't move to take the jacket. "I already told you—"

"That's the problem." Zev's fingers curled around the fabric. "You don't want anything. No one does this without expecting something back."

He looked up, expression hard, but there was something desperate beneath it. "Every time you do something nice, I just keep thinking about when you're going to cash in. About when you're finally going to use me for whatever reason you've been waiting for. And I—"

His throat tightened.

"This debt is choking me, Elias." His voice was quiet now, like it hurt to say it out loud. "I can't pay it back, and I don't know how to carry it." He let out a bitter breath. "So stop. Stop following me, stop—"

Caring.

He couldn't say it.

Elias was quiet for a long moment, his gaze steady but unreadable. Zev couldn't tell what he was thinking, and that only made his chest feel heavier.

Then, finally, Elias moved.

Not to take the jacket.

But to sit down next to Zev.

Not close enough to touch. Just close enough that Zev could feel his presence, solid and unmoving.

"You think this is a debt?" Elias asked, voice softer than before.

Zev didn't answer.

Elias exhaled through his nose, like he was gathering his words carefully. "I don't do this because I want something from you." He tilted his head slightly. "And I don't do it because I pity you either. You know that, right?"

Zev's hands clenched into fists.

Elias continued, "You keep trying to measure it. To turn this into some kind of transaction where you owe me something." His gaze flickered to Zev's lap. "But I don't want anything from you."

Zev's chest felt tight while Elias' fingers twitched, about to reach out as an act of comfort, but they never did.

Zev wanted to believe that. Wanted to accept Elias' unreasonable affection he couldn't quite explain. But he didn't know how.

He didn't know how to take kindness without looking for the price tag.

"...Just take the jacket back," Zev muttered, forcing his fingers to unclench.

Elias was quiet for a moment, then sighed. "No."

Zev turned sharply. "Elias—"

"You can keep it," Elias said simply, standing up. "Or throw it away. I don't care."

Zev scowled. "That's not how this—"

Elias looked down at him, eyes steady, and said something that made Zev's breath hitch.

"You don't owe me anything."

Zev's hands shook slightly.

Elias took a step back, his expression unreadable once more. "...I'll see you around, Zev."

And with that, he walked away.

Leaving Zev alone on the bench, staring at the jacket in his hands, feeling like the weight on his chest had only gotten heavier.

---

you know the ship is good when they have a breakup scene without even dating itfp:D