Title: Promotion Night
Author: gothikmaus
Fandom: CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Pairing: Nick/Greg
Rating: PG
Category: fluff, ficlet
Summary: Greg is over the moon about his promotion. Nick can't keep his eyes (and hands) off him.
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and all related characters are property of CBS. I own nothing. No copyright infringement intended.
Greg was over the moon. He still couldn't believe he had passed his proficiency and was finally, finally, a CSI. He looked at the people sitting around him – his colleagues, his friends – and couldn't hold back the huge, ridiculous grin threatening to split his face open. After they had finished the champagne bottle in the lab (and made sure Ecklie had left), Grissom had sent everyone home, different shifts be damned, so they had decided to continue celebrating in one of their usual haunts. Greg had lost count of how many drinks he had downed, and didn't really care. He was happy and tipsy, and that was all that mattered at the moment.
Maybe it was because of his slightly intoxicated state, which made him act a little less guarded than usual, but his eyes kept wandering to Nick. The Texan had been especially touchy-feely that night, even more so than usual: his back slaps lingered just a little longer than strictly necessary; his shoulder grabs felt more gentle, almost caress-like. Greg tried not to read too much into it, but it sure felt like Nick couldn't keep his hands off him. And the way he had been looking at Greg ever since their impromptu little party in Grissom's office, with a mixture of fondness and pride, caused a funny feeling in Greg's stomach that had nothing to do with alcohol.
Greg couldn't deny he had been infatuated with Nick ever since the first time he had seen him. But he had always thought it was just a silly, unrequited crush, something that would hopefully fade with time. He never thought he could actually stand a chance. Hell, he was pretty much convinced Nick was 100% straight. But he wasn't so sure about that anymore.
Nick caught him staring and grinned at him. Greg smiled back, ignoring the blush he could feel creeping up his cheeks. He could always blame the alcohol later.
***
Nick, ever the gentleman, insisted on driving Greg home, ignoring the newly appointed CSI's feeble protests. It was almost dawn by the time they reached the parking lot in front of Greg's condo, a streak of orange already staining the horizon and illuminating the sky.
"Time to get some well-deserved rest, CSI Sanders."
Greg smiled again at the title. It felt like he had been smiling for hours.
"I still can't believe this isn't just a dream. I'm afraid if I go to sleep, when I wake up I'll still be Sanders the lab rat."
"Don't worry, you're a field mouse now," Nick reassured him. "And you deserve it, you did a real good job."
And there it was again, the same fond, proud expression that seemed to have taken up permanent residence on Nick's face. Greg looked away, unable to hold his gaze. He knew what he should do: he should thank Nick and get out of the car, get into his apartment, take a shower and try to get some sleep. Instead, he took a deep breath and turned back towards him.
"Please don't punch me in the face."
Nick frowned.
"Why would I do that?"
"Because of this."
Greg leaned forward and pressed his lips to Nick's in a tentative kiss. He drew back quickly and looked at him with huge, terrified eyes.
Nick blinked, and a smile appeared on his face. He reached out and cupped Greg's cheek with his hand.
"I could never punch that pretty face of yours."
Greg took a shaky breath and leaned in again, meeting him halfway for another kiss. Nick's lips were as soft as he had always imagined, and Greg moaned when Nick's hand slid from his cheek to the back of his head, keeping him in place as the kiss grew deeper.
When Nick finally pulled back, Greg couldn't help staring at his mouth, a shiver running down his spine as Nick's tongue darted out to lick his lips.
"You, uhm, want to come inside and... celebrate some more?"
Nick gave him one of his trademark, brilliant smiles.
"I thought you'd never ask."
-----
January 2022