Dex is making me mad.

Okay, not actually, but that's kind of the problem. He's driving me insane. The things he does should upset me. Teasing me, constantly finding ways to insert himself into different aspects of my life, being so fucking nice all the time. I don't deserve it, that's a fact, and if it were anyone else I wouldn't want it to begin with.

I've known from the second we met that Dex was different, though. I haven't been able to get him out of my mind since he moved in across the hall almost a month ago, no matter how hard I tried. I resisted and avoided him to the best of my ability, but against my will, our lives somehow still got entangled. In fact, it seems the more I resist, the worse it gets.

Right now, he's in the bathroom, and I'm sitting at his kitchen table. Lucia is across from me, and it's silent, and I have decided that I do not like her company. Something about the woman puts me off, and I don't think it's because of her attitude.

No, I just don't like the looks she gives me. Every once in a while, I'll catch her eye, and I can recognize it immediately. A sentiment I've always done everything I could to avoid.

Suspicion.

I'm not sure what exactly about me could've set this off, because I'm always so careful, and I've hardly spent any time around her. Nobody's intuition is that good, and I'm unsure how to handle it.

Of course, I could also be completely off base, but I don't think I am. I can sense it in the way she talks to me, the way she looks at me, the questions she asks. I don't like it.

Dex's apartment is quite bland, which is probably because he hasn't lived here all that long. It's hardly decorated, and it doesn't have much furniture, but I didn't expect much less. I caught a glimpse of it in the past, when his sisters were acting up, and it seems as though not much has changed. Still, the place smells like him, which changes a lot. It makes it comfortable, for whatever reason.

"So," Lucia says, and Dex is in the bathroom. I really want him to come back, because I decided during this meeting that I don't like this woman. "What made you want to work in a morgue? Not the most popular job."

The answer to that question is simple: dissection. For as long as I can remember, this is the job I wanted, because it was the best way to sate myself. I constantly have an itch, one that only science will scratch, and it's strong. My work helps me take the edge off, and my extracurricular activities are what really satisfy me.

After all, I can't keep organs from an autopsy. I can't experiment, or do what I want, I have to follow rules. It helps, but it's not what I want. My desire to kill and dissect has always been there, and it's always been strong. There's a reason so much of my life revolves around it. There's a reason I risk it all to do it to begin with.

Instead of revealing my identity for no reason, I reply; "anything to pay the bills."

"Really?" Lucia asks, quirking an eyebrow at me. I really do not appreciate this overwhelming sensation of judgement, and I wonder if my job is why she's acting so strange. Is that why she's onto me? There are many others that work in morgues, why would she focus on me? "Dex told me you have an interest in science."

Shit. Yeah, that would make sense. Dex has seen the decor in my house, which he might've told her about. I know that when it comes to police work, partners tend to be close, but I'd hoped that wasn't the case with them. I should've known better, and it appears as though Dex tells her quite a bit. I can only assume he notified her about my lie as well, and all of this could be quite incriminating, when combined.

Part of it could be Lucia's intuition, though. It might actually be that good. I hardly know the woman, and even I can tell she had a good head on her shoulders. Again, she got promoted to detective for a reason, just like Dex.

"I do," I tell her, trying to maintain my aloof demeanor. I can't help but give the woman a slightly strange look, trying to react the way a normal person likely would.

Thankfully, Dex comes back at that moment, and I hope he doesn't leave me alone with her again. I must fit some sort of profile they've developed for The Doctor or something. Fuck, I don't know, but I can sense her suspicion, and it has me on edge.

I decide that, in the future, I should try to stay away from her. Just like I should've with Dex, but I'll make sure of it this time. I will minimize contact.

Dex sets down a stack of papers in the table we're sitting at, and I immediately recognize it as my collection of newspapers.

I'm beginning to regret my decision to come over.

"I swear I didn't go through your things," Dex says right off the bat, and I can't help but to find his demeanor kind of cute. I don't know why, since I'd normally be upset, but the way he immediately began with defending himself is kind of funny. "You were outside, and I know you were looking for them, and they were at the top."

"I said you could have them," I reply simply, hoping it will ease him. I wish I'd have gotten the chance to go through them all, but that was purely a formality. I don't believe I actually have anything incriminating in there, so it's not a big deal.

I glance at Lucia, and find her eyes already on me. Dex must've already told her where he got the newspapers, which is probably not helping my case with her. At this point, I'm almost positive that what I'm sensing from her is in fact suspicion.

Well, that's not good. Ideally, I could just get her out of the way permanently. However, killing a cop would be way too risky. Again, someone always goes down for that, and it may paint a target on my back. Especially if she has voiced any of said suspicion to Dex, it would not be a good look.

Not to mention... she seems important to him. Knowing what she must mean to Decari, well... I'd rather not put him through that pain. I won't write it off completely, though. Sustaining myself comes before anything else.

"Okay, well, we noticed a pattern," Dex tells me, beginning to lay out a few of the newspapers on the table. My dread for this increases impossibly further, and I try not let my lack of interest show. I'm supposed to have some sort of fascination with true crime, after all.

"Time of death for all of the victims seems to be in the early morning, which is also when the bodies are approximated to be dumped. He averages two to four victims a month, but it varies. Anyway, I figured it could be worth setting up surveillance in the areas."

Dex looks at me in expectation when he finishes speaking, and  this is the most correct he's been about anything so far. I dislike it, and it becomes much more difficult to maintain my positive attitude. Still, I manage. "I've noticed that, too. It's worth a shot."

It takes everything in me to agree, and I'm going to need to find somewhere else to dump my bodies. I have quite a few locations anyway, which is probably why nobody's ever done this before. However, if they've been able to narrow down the timeframe, it's not a reach.

"Okay, cool. Do you have anything to add? The DNA results for the copycat aren't finished yet, but when they are that'll probably be our main focus. His victims have made him a priority."

Okay, well, at least there's that. I figured the copycat case would take over the police force, entirely because of what Dex just said. Again, his victims are far too high profile. He went after the mayor's daughter, for fuck's sake. They will find him, somehow

The conversation only lasts about twenty minutes after that, and I resist the urge to let out a sigh of relief when Lucia finally leaves. Her presence puts me on edge, makes me feel exposed, and I really need to avoid her in the future.

Dex and Lucia do most of the talking, but the conversation becomes more centered on the copycat after a while. By the time it's over, I'm already planning on never doing this again. It has been far too nerve wracking, especially with Lucia. Also, again, investigating myself just sucks. It all feels so ironic, and stressful. I'm too nervous about messing up.

Anyway, when it's over, I am beyond ready to leave. I stand and stretch, but before I can say goodbye, Dex completely changes the subject.

"Wait, before you go,"  he stops me, standing as well. I'd already been preparing to turn around, but I stop at his voice. This guy really sucks at saying goodbye—he always has to extend it. "I wanted to ask you something."

Oh, god. He's onto me. I fucking knew Lucia probably told him something, and even though he hasn't been acting like her at all, I need to be careful. He could just be hiding it, and this friendship might not last long at all. Not if she's in his ear like I think she is. If I'm right, I might have to distance myself from Dex as well.

The thought, frustratingly, makes me sad,

"Yes?" I reply, acting natural.

"Do you have any plans tomorrow?"

I never have plans, because I don't talk to anyone, but I still take a moment to think. I'd actually been planning on working with Willow to find another victim, because I'm growing more and more restless by the hour. That shouldn't take all day, though, especially since she does most of the work.

"No, I don't think so."

Dex nods, glancing off to the side for a moment. I've never seen him look so unsure of himself, and my curiosity grows at what else he has to say. I wait patiently until he speaks again, eyes locking with mine once more.

"Okay. Do you want to get lunch or something?"

Oh, alright, that makes a lot more sense. I probably should've seen this coming sooner, since I did agree to a friendship. Friends hang out with each other all the time, something that I was actually already aware of. I should've expected this.

"Yeah, sure," I agree, shrugging. Dex's face lights up, his previous demeanor disappearing as he smiles at me. I return it, though it's a little awkward, and Dex looks my face up and down. I've learned that's a tendency of his, almost like he's memorizing me.

"Alright. Just let me know what time works for you." His voice is kind of quiet, but just as cheerful, and I nod. We say our goodbyes after that, the situation not making much sense to me, mostly because of the way he was acting. Why did he seem so nervous? I've never seen his confidence fade like that, before.

Oh well. It'll be nice to have a real meal, for the first time in god knows long.

That said, I can't help my slight excitement for tomorrow.