#detection kit | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

rosecoloredsunshine · 3 months ago

Text

we'd be good, we'd be great together — colin zabel

masterlist

PAIRINGS: colin zabel x female!reader

SUMMARY: working together with colin was something you had expected. but falling in love with him? that was certainly not what you had anticipated. not when he still hadn't moved on from his ex-fiancée.

REMINDERS: please be reminded that this is a work of fiction. meaning that all events and occurrences in this story are all fictional and all are part of my imagination. any resemblance to actual life events and people, living or dead, are all purely coincidence.

WARNINGS: no use of y/n, angst (in the beginning), unrequited love (in the beginning), fluff attempt, reader works as a forensic pathologist, mentions of ex-fiancée (colin's), and minor typographical errors.

WORD COUNT: 4.6k

AUTHOR'S NOTE: you guys, this is kind of a long one, i'm sorry 😭 y'know, every time i hear an ari song, it reminds me of evan. idk, maybe evan's just ari coded. i guess expect more fic that is inspired by ari songs. this one, i decided to make it as a colin zabel fic. hope you guys will enjoy this one! :)

Working in Easttown had never been a part of your plan. You had cut your teeth in Philadelphia’s bustling morgue, cutting into truth with scalpel precision and filing reports until your hands ached. But the allure of a quieter life, with less pressure and more air to breathe had drawn you to this small town where crimes were less about statistics and more about personal betrayals.

It was one of those days where the chill of the morgue had clung to your skin, its sterile, antiseptic scent lacing the air. You were used to it by now, hours that were spent beneath the harsh fluorescent lights, hands wrapped in latex gloves as you examined the latest tragedy brought in from the streets of Easttown. It was not a glamorous job by any means, but it was one you were really good at.

You were thorough, very meticulous with your work—a forensic pathologist who had earned the respect of the local detectives for your sharp eye and unrelenting attention to details. Cases were rarely simple here, and sometimes, their twisted nature required you to collaborate with the detectives, lending your expertise to their investigations.

That was how you had met him, detective Colin Zabel. It was laughable how quickly you had noticed his handsomeness, how it took root in your kind and only seemed to grow. Colin was good looking in that boy-next-door kind of way, with eyes that softened when he smiled and a dimple that surfaced everytime he laughed. But it was his kindness that drew you in, his gentle manner that seemed so at odds with the horrors you both encounter on a daily basis.

You remembered the first time how he had brought you tea, since you never drink coffee. Colin sheepishly handed it over after a particularly grueling autopsy.

“Thought you might need this,” he had said, cheeks tinged pink, gaze flicking nervously to the floor.

“Thank you,” you replied, a smile twitching at your lips as you took the warm cup from his hand.

The gesture should not have made your stomach flip, but it did. It was these little moments that stacked up over time. A shared lunch during long hours of casework, his effortless jokes that coaxed laughs from you when you had thought you were too exhausted to even smile. Colin had a way of making you forget the darkness you worked in, his presence is a comforting warmth you found yourself to draw to.

However, the admiration you felt for Colin began to morph into something deeper, it was something that you could no longer ignore. It was not just because he was kind, it was the way he always listened—actually listened, even when you rambled on about things entirely unrelated to work. How he remembered details you had mentioned in passing, like your favorite song or how you like your tea.

You can’t deny the fact that you had already fallen for him, hard and fast. It was ridiculous how easily he had snuck into your thoughts, how your chest tightened every time he walked into a room, and maybe it would have been fine, if it were not for one glaring problem—Colin was still hung up on his ex-fiancée. You had pieced it together over time, the way his gaze sometimes drifted to his phone like he was waiting for a call that would never come. How he would trail off mid-sentence when something reminded him of her, expression turning distant, like he was lost somewhere you could not reach.

One night, he showed up at your apartment unannounced, hair disheveled and eyes glossed over with alcohol. You had let him in without any second thought, your concern weight over the confusion why he was even there.

“Sorry,” he had slurred, collapsing onto your couch like the weight of the world had finally brought him to his knees. “I just, I couldn't be alone tonight.”

You decided to make him coffee, listened as he poured his heart out about how his fiancée had left him with nothing but a half-hearted apology and an empty apartment. How he had tried to be the man she wanted, only for her to turn her back on him with no real explanation. You held his hand as he spoke, your thumb tracing soothing circles over his knuckles. It hurts, hurts hearing him speak so longingly about someone who had shattered his heart. But you had stayed with him, letting him vent and unravel the knots inside his chest.

After that night, something had shifted between you. Colin grew more comfortable around you in a way that made your pulse quicken. He sought you out more often, whether it was to run a case by you or simply to share lunch. His smile came easier when you were around, and you could feel the magnetism between you intensify with each passing day. But it wasn't enough.

There were times you forced yourself to put distance between you, knowing you were getting too close. You had tried ignoring his texts, limiting your interactions to strictly professional matters. You needed to convince yourself that you could move on from whatever this thing was, this one-sided affection that you couldn't even shake. Except he always noticed.

Colin would find reasons to stop by the morgue, leaning against the doorway with that crooked smile of his, effortlessly charming as he tried to draw you out.

“You avoiding me or something?” he had asked, voice light but his eyes sharp with genuine curiosity.

“Just busy,” you mumbled, pretending to be engrossed in your paperwork even when your heart raced from his presence.

It never worked. It never did. Colin had a knack for making you laugh, breaking through your defenses with those dumb jokes and boyish charms of his. You hated how easily he could pull you in, how the warmth of his smile made all your good intentions melt away.

“Why do you always do that?” you had blurted out one day, frustration finally bubbling over as he teased you for the millionth time about your tea addiction.

“Do what?” he asked, blinking at you with genuine confusion.

“Act like…” you struggled to find the right words, hearing the vulnerability that laced your voice. “Like you care, like you…want something more, and then you just pull away again.”

Colin’s expression faltered, brows creasing as he searched your face. “I do care,” he said, voice soft and almost hesitant. “But I’m, I don’t know if I’m good at all this. At feeling something for someone again.”

The admission caught you off guard, your chest tightening with something that felt both hopeful and painful. You wanted to be mad at him, you wanted to pull your hair out of frustration, to tell him he could not keep stringing you along. But the sincerity in his eyes held you in place. He was still hurting, still caught up in the ghost of a relationship that had left him broken, and yet, he looked at you like you were the only thing holding him together some days.

You didn't know what to say, you felt your throat tightening as emotions clashed within you. But before you could even respond, Colin’s phone rang—another case demanding his attention, and just like that, he left you standing there with words unspoken and feelings unresolved.

You just watched him walk away, Colin’s retreating figure is a reminder of the distance between you. It was always like this—back and forth, push and pull, so close and yet so far. But the worst part was that no matter how hard you tried to let go, you knew you would fall for him all over again the next time he walked through that door.

The next few days passed in a blur of autopsies and reports, your attention scattered as you tried to keep your mind off of Colin. But it proved to be easier said than done when he kept showing up, knocking on your door with that charming grin that made your resolve crumble like dust.

Colin did not mention the conversation from before. Neither did you, instead, things fell into a routine again, comfortable but excruciating all the same. Colin brought you tea when he knew you had been working through the night, his smile as bright as the sunrise peeking through the morgue’s tiny window. You would return the favor by packing him lunch whenever you caught wind of his endless hours spent chasing leads and combing through evidence.

You could just try and pretend it was just purely friendship, that it’s all fine. But it wasn't, it was anything but.

The latest case had been brutal, a double homicide that left everyone on edge. You were elbows deep in post-mortem analysis when Colin had shown up, looking sleep deprived but very determined. His coat was damp from the rain, droplets clinging to his hair as he hovered by your workstation.

“Got anything for me?” he asked, voice roughened by fatigue.

You glanced at him, noting the dark circles under his eyes. “You look like you haven't slept in days.”

“Neither have you,” he shot back with a crooked smile, but it faltered under your scrutiny. “You okay?”

“Yeah,” the lie tasted bitter. “You know, just busy.”

He nodded, though the concern in his gaze lingered. “Let me know if you find anything. I’ll be at the station, probably drowning myself in bad coffee.”

You huffed a laugh, despite yourself. “Sounds like a great way to spend your afternoon.”

“It’s a living,” he shrugged, but his smile returned, more softer now. “You should eat something, and take a break. You work yourself too hard.”

You did not miss the irony of him saying that, but you let it slide. “I’ll try. No promises, though.”

Colin lingered for a moment longer, like he wanted to say something else. But then, his phone vibrated, and he glanced at it with a sigh.

“Duty calls,” he looked at you apologetically. “I’ll see you later.”

“Yeah. Later.”

Just like that, Colin was gone again. It was like he had slipped through your fingers like sand.

The next time you saw Colin, he was sitting outside the morgue, shoulders hunched over as rain drizzled from the overcast sky. It was already late into the night—past midnight, and you were surprised to see him still hanging around. The precinct was quiet, most of the officers having clocked out hours ago.

“Colin?” you approached slowly, breath misting in the cold air. “What are you doing out here?”

He looked up, his eyes bleary and rimmed with red. “Hey. Sorry, I—” his words were slurred, tone thick with alcohol. “I just, I couldn't go home yet.”

You frowned, a wave of concern prickling at the base of your neck. “Have you been drinking?”

“Guilty,” he raised a hand in defeat. “Wasn't planning on coming here. Just happened, I guess.”

You sighed, heart squeezing as you took the spot beside him on the damp concrete. “What happened?”

Colin looked down at his hands, fist clenching. “Ran into her tonight, my ex,” his voice cracked, and it hurt you to hear it. “She was with someone else. Happy. I just, I don’t know, it messed me up.”

Your chest tightened, you wanted to reach for him, to take away the hurt that seemed to cling to him like the rain. But you held back, fingers curling into your palms.

“I’m sorry, Colin.” you sighed softly.

“It’s stupid, right?” his laugh was bitter, harsh. “Shems moved on. I should be able to, but I can’t. I try, but every time I think I’m okay, something like this happens, and it just—”

He cut himself off, shoulders slumping forward. “Sorry. You didn't need to hear all this.”

“I don’t mind,” the words came out more softer than you intended. “You’ve been holding it in for too long. It’s okay to let it out.”

He looked at you, gaze unfocused but earnest. “You’re too good to me, you know that? Always here, listening to me complain…bringing me food when I’m too stupid to remember to eat.”

“It’s called being a decent human being,” you replied, trying to lighten the mood. “You should try it sometime.”

Colin chuckled, it sounded raw but genuine. “Guess I don’t deserve someone like you.”

You opened your mouth to protest, but he continued before you could even speak.

“Sometimes I think, maybe I could try again. Let myself be happy, but then I remember how badly I fucked it all up before. How much it hurt.” his hand shook slightly. “It’s like, every time I try to move forward, I just keep looking back.”

You wanted to tell him that moving on doesn't mean forgetting. That it was okay to still feel hurt, but that it didn't have to define him, but you couldn't bring yourself to say it, afraid that he would see right through you.

You sighed. “Come on, you’ve had enough for tonight.”

He didn't argue, just let his hand fall limp to his side. “Guess I’m not a great company right now, huh?”

“You’re not so bad.” the words slipped out before you could even stop them.

Colin’s gaze snapped to yours, something unreadable in his expression. The rain had also begun to pick up, droplets splattering against the pavement with increasing urgency. You were both getting soaked, but neither of you moved.

“I should get you home,” you said finally, standing up and offering him a hand. “Come on.”

He stared at your hand like it was something foreign, but eventually, he took it. His grip was cold and shaky, but you held on, refusing to let him fall.

“Thanks,” he murmured as you helped him to his feet. “For everything.”

“Anytime,” you replied, voice trembling despite your efforts to keep it steady. “Let’s get you somewhere dry.”

You ended up driving him home, with his head leaned against the passenger window, eyes drooping with exhaustion. He mumbled apologies the whole way, guilt-ridden and apologetic in a way that made your chest ache. You left Colin at his doorstep, watching until he managed to unlock his front door and stumble inside. It should have been a relief to leave him there, knowing he was safe. But all it left you with was a hollow, gnawing ache.

As you drove away, your mind was consumed by the weight of his words. How he wanted to move on but couldn't, how he kept looking back, with his heart tangled in something broken. But despite everything, you knew you were already too far gone.

Days turned into weeks, and the double homicide case progressed with agonizing slowness. The rain had become a near-constant presence, like the weather itself mourned the senseless tragedy that you were all trying to unravel. Work was demanding and relentless, but you welcomed the distraction. Anything that would keep your mind off of Colin.

You had thrown yourself into your duties with even more precision than usual, pouring over reports and samples with a fervor that bordered on obsession. It was better than letting your thoughts stray to Colin, to the late night confessions and the pain in his eyes when he spoke of his ex. It should have been easier to keep your distance, to maintain the boundaries you had tried so hard to draw, and for a while, it worked. You kept your conversations with him clipped and professional, responses curt when he swung by the morgue to check on your progress.

But it didn't stop him from seeking you out.

“Hey,” Colin greeted you one afternoon, voice cracking the silence like a shard of glass. “Got a minute?”

You didn't look up from your microscope. “Busy.”

“That’s what you always say,” there was a teasing lilt into his tone, but you heard the undercurrent of frustration. “Starting to think you’re avoiding me.”

“Mhm, maybe I am,” you hated how petulant you sounded.

Your words had already slipped out before you could even swallow them down. Colin went quiet, and when you finally forced yourself to glance up, he was watching you with furrowed brows and parted lips.

“Did I do something wrong?”

You nearly laughed. Of course, Colin doesn't understand. How could he? You had been so careful not to let your feelings show, to keep your longing tucked away beneath layers of professionalism and feigned indifference.

“No, Colin. You haven't done anything wrong,” the truth felt jagged, scraping against your throat as you spoke. “I’ve just…been trying to focus. That’s all.”

Colin didn't look convinced, but he just nodded slowly. “Right. Well, I was just going to see if you wanted to grab lunch. I thought maybe you’d appreciate something other than tea and vending machine snacks.”

The invitation tugged something in your chest. It was so casual, so typical of him to act like nothing had changed. Well, maybe for him, nothing had.

“I can’t. Too much work,” your fingers tightened around the edge of the metal table, knuckles paling.

Colin hesitated before giving you a small, reluctant nod. “Sure. Another time, then.”

You watched Colin leave, shoulders hunched and hands shoved into his pockets. You told yourself it was all for the best, that putting distance between you would make it easier to move on. Except it didn't. It only made you miss him more.

You kept your distance for nearly a month, and Colin let you. He respected your boundaries, even if the distance clearly puzzled him. He would still drop by the morgue now and then, his greetings polite but his smiles subdued. The banter you had once shared had dwindled to near nonexistence, your exchanges stripped down to sterile professionalism. It should have helped, but it only made you feel like you were missing a piece of yourself.

The case had finally reached a breakthrough, with the suspect finally being arrested. Evidence confirmed the suspect’s guilt, and your forensic findings lined up perfectly with the story he had told. The relief was overwhelming, the tension you had carried for weeks melting away in an instant.

The precinct held an impromptu celebration, a rare moment of levity in a place so often steeped in grief and frustration. You lingered on the outskirts of the gathering, nursing a drink and watching the detectives congratulate each other with weary smiles.

“Didn't think you’d come,” Colinms voice startled you, and you turned to find him standing beside you, hands wrapped around a plastic cup filled with cheap whiskey.

“I almost didn't,” you admitted. “But I figured we could all use a break.”

“Yeah,” he rubbed the back of his neck, eyes searching yours. “You did good work. You always do.”

“Thanks,” your fingers tightened around your cup, the alcohol doing little to ease the tension in your shoulders. “So did you, couldn't have solved it without you.”

“Guess we make a good team,” his smile was hesitant, cautious. “When you’re not avoiding me, that is.”

“Colin—”

“No, it’s fine. I get it. You’ve been busy,” he shrugged, but the hurt was clear in his eyes. “I just, I don’t know. I thought we were friends.”

You flinched at the word. Friends. It was true, but it wasn't enough. It would never be enough.

“Colin, I—” you faltered, voice snagging on the raw honesty that threatened to spill out. “I didn't mean to push you away, I just…things got complicated, and I needed some space to figure things out.”

“Figure out what?” his gaze was intense now, dark eyes sharp and focused on you like he was determined to unravel every secret you had tried to hide.

You opened your mouth, then closed it, your chest constricting painfully. You could lie, deflect like you always did, but the exhaustion of pretending was catching up to you, defenses crumbling beneath the weight of your own longing.

“I like you, Colin,” the confession came out in a rush, voice trembling with the force of it. “More than I should. More than I’m supposed to.”

Colin stared at you, the silence stretching between you like a chasm. You wanted to take the words back, to pretend they had never slipped out. But there was no turning back now, you had already exposed yourself, laid your heart bare before him with no way to shield yourself from the consequences.

“I…I didn't know,” his voice was quiet, expression unreadable. “You never said anything.”

“Of course I didn't, because it’s stupid, right?” you laughed bitterly, the sound hollow and strained. “You're still in love with someone else. You’re not ready to move on, and I can’t keep pretending like it doesn't hurt.”

Colin’s eyes widened, shock flickering across his face. “Is that what you think? That I’m still humg up on her?”

“Aren't you?” your voice was barely above a whisperer.

He shook his head slowly, hand coming up to scrub over his face. “Maybe I was, for a while. But god, I didn't even realize what I was doing to you. How much I was screwing this all up.”

You swallowed hard, pulse roaring in your ears. “Colin…”

“I care about you,” his voice broke, rough and desperate. “More than I should, and that scares the hell out of me.”

You stared at him, heart pounding in your chest. This was new territory, the ground beneath you shifting in ways you hadn't expected.

“What are you saying?” you asked, voice small and trembling.

“I’m saying…” his gaze locked onto yours, expression painted but determined. “I don’t want to lose you. Not because of my own stupid mistakes, not because I was too afraid to admit what I was feeling.”

You couldn't breathe. His words wrapped around you, both a comfort and a dagger. Colin’s admission hung in the air, voice still echoing in your ears like a haunting melody. You tried to process what he was saying, but the shock of it left you reeling. This was what you had wanted for so long, some hint that he cared about you beyond the polite pleasantries and small acts of kindness. Yet now that it was happening, you were paralyzed, unable to respond.

“You don’t have to say anything,” Colin added quickly, shoulders hunching as if he was bracing himself for rejection. “I just…I needed you to know. Because I’ve been an idiot, and I kept pushing you away without even realizing it. When you started avoiding me, I thought maybe I’d finally gone too far.”

“I wasn't avoiding you,” your voice cracked, and cleared your throat. “Okay, maybe I was. But it was never because you did something wrong, it’s because…”

You trailed off, words tangled on your tongue. This was not supposed to happen, you had already convinced yourself he did not feel the same way, that you were setting yourself up for heartbreak by even just hoping.

“It’s because I couldn't keep pretending we were just friends,” the truth slipped out like a wound left to fester. “Because I care about you too, more than I should.”

Colin stared at you, eyes wide and searching. His lips parted, but no words came out. For a moment, you thought maybe you had made a mistake, that confessing your feelings would only make things worse. But then he stepped closer, closing the distance between you until you could feel the warmth radiating from his body. His gaze softened, the tension in his shoulders easing as he looked at you like he was seeing you for the first time.

“I’ve been an idiot, haven't I?” he murmured, voice low and thick with regret. “All this time, I kept telling myself I wasn't ready to move on. That I couldn't handle getting close to someone again. But the truth is, you’ve been the only person I’ve felt anything real for in a long time.”

“You mean that?” your heart thudded painfully in your chest, breath catching as his words settled over you.

“Yeah,” his smile was tentative but genuine. “I mean it. I know I haven't exactly made it easy for you. I’m sorry for all the mixed signals, for making you feel like you weren't important to me, because you are. More than I can even put into words.”

You let out a shaky breath, chest tight with emotion. “I’ve spent so long trying to convince myself that you didn't feel the same way, that I was just…setting up myself for disappointment.”

Colin’s gaze softened, with guilt flashing across his face. “You weren't. I was just too caught up in my own mess to see what was right in front of me.”

He reached out, hand hovering near yours before finally clasping it gently. His fingers were warm and steady, a comforting contrast to the storm of emotions building up inside of you.

“So, what now?” you whispered, voice trembling with uncertainty.

“I guess that depends on you,” Colin’s smile was crooked, eyes glinting with a hint of his usual charm. “But if you’re willing to give me a chance, I’d really like to try. To figure out what this is, what we are.”

The hope in Colin’s voice was evident, and it sent a rush of warmth through your veins. You squeezed his hand, lips twitching into a hesitant smile.

“I think I’d like that,” the admission felt like a weight lifted off your chest. “But you have to promise me something.”

“Anything.” Colin was watching you so intently, like you were the only thing in the world that mattered.

“No more mixed signals. No more shutting me out when things get hard,” your gaze held his, firm and unyielding. “If we’re going to do this, I need you to be honest with me. About everything.”

Colin nodded, expression solemn. “I promise, and if I mess up, which I probably will, you can call me out on it. I’ll do better, I want to do better.”

His sincerity was enough to dissolve the last of your doubts, pain of the past replaced by something that is more warmer, fragile but real. You hadn't expected this, hadn't dared to believe that Colin might feel the same way you did. But now that you knew, you couldn't bring yourself to walk away.

You looked around slowly—the precinct around you was bustling with voices and laughter, the celebration still in full swing. You looked back directly at Colin, and in that moment, it felt like the world had shrunk down to just the two of you.

“So, would you like to go get dinner with me?” Colin asked, voice light but eyes earnest. “Something better than vending machine snacks for once.”

You laughed softly, sound breaking free from your chest like a breath you had been holding for far too long. “Yeah, I’d like that.”

“Good,” he smiled, dimples showing. It was the kind of smile that made his eyes crinkle at the corners, and makes your heart skip a beat. “Let’s get out of here then.”

You let Colin lead you away from the precinct, your hands still clasped in his. The rain had eased to a gentle drizzle, cool air crisp and refreshing as you stepped outside. His thumb traced circles at the back of your hand absentmindedly, a simple gesture that made your stomach flip. It wasn't perfect, there were still so many things left unsaid, so many wounds that hadn't fully healed. But for the first time, you felt like you were finally moving forward instead of standing still.

As you walked beside Colin, your finger entwined, you couldn't help but smile to yourself. Maybe this was the start of something real, something that is worth fighting for.

#Spotify #mare of easttown #colin zabel #colin zabel x reader #detective colin zabel #colin zabel imagine #colin zabel fic #colin zabel oneshot #evan peters #evan peters x female reader #evan peters x reader #ahs fandom #american horror story #tate langdon x reader #james patrick march x reader #kai anderson x reader #kit walker x reader #kyle spencer x reader

50 notes · View notes