Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

almost like fate, it seems as though the two were destined to clash at every turn. they have never gotten along, not once in the months they have been stuck together on this jigsaw case. one by one their team had been picked apart and still, hoffman and strahm were constantly at each other's throats. as the leading investigators on the jigsaw murders, you would think they would at least try to get along for the sake of everyone involved. however, that didn't seem to be the case.

talking things through was out of the question, the only time they actually spoke to one another was when someone died or it became mandatory. neither enjoyed it. so you could imagine the annoyance and eagerness that came with the next found body with a puzzle piece etched into its flesh.

strahm wanted nothing more than to catch the killer and put an end to this senseless bickering once and for all. he arrived on scene with a variety of police cruisers parked outside a rundown warehouse. blinding red and blue blended into each other as the flashing lights guided him to the crime scene.

with no functioning power, it was hard to find his way down the endless hallway so late at night. the rays of distant flashlights told him where to go as another squad of police arrived on scene. the potent smell of rotting corpse told him this was an older body that the killer had left weeks in advance.

upon entering the room, he saw the bloody mess left behind. dried maroon was left hardened down the side of the table. the victim lay restrained to the cold metal table with a pendulum hanging overhead. his intentioned dangled from his split open torso. what an awful way to die.

some police couldn't bear to look at the sight before them, most sucked it up. but one didn't seem fazed in the slightest. his eyes stone cold and unfeeling as his gaze met with the decomposing corpse that had yet to be covered. the detective lacked any kind of remorse, and that was one of the abundance of reasons why strahm despised working with such a heartless prick.

as he approached the body and where hoffman stood unmoved, he brought along a cloth to cover the victim's face. hoffman shot a disapproving glare at the man who'd disrupted his line of slight.

"you shouldn't stare, it's disrespectful," strahm says, teaching the detective about proper crime scene etiquette.

a photographer flashed photos of the deceased from all angles while the police scoured the crime scene for any clues. the videotape left behind at the scene was played on the screen for all to see.

strahm approached the split open body, looking at the jigsaw piece that had been cut from his flesh. after time and time again seeing the same mark engraved into the victim's bodies, it became apparent what the mark looked like.

"another jigsaw murder," hoffman stated to the rookies in the back who chose to stand clear of the corpse. strahm couldn't say he blamed them. he's seen many decease in his time working as an agent, and it still makes him nauseous every time they find a new one.

his finger traced along the outer edges of the missing piece, something didn't seem right. "no." strahm objected, "this one isn't a jigsaw victim. the other piece was removed with surgical-level skills and equipment. "look at the lines, they're slanted on the corners." he said with the utmost confidence.

hoffman stepped closer to inspect the wound, his eyes squinting at the smallest error in the mark. "nonsense, everything about this trap and its location aligns with the killer's patterns." he argued. disagreeing with strahm like have always done. and every time his snappy comments would never fail to get an annoyed response from the other agent.

"that's a load of bullshit, any psycho who watches the news could have copycatted our original killer," strahm says, standing from his crouched position next to the body. he faced his fellow detective who already seemed to have his mind made up. completely discarding the option of another killer on the loose.

"you have no idea what you're talking about." hoffman pointed out. this only caused strahm's blood to boil, further aggravating the already irritated agent.

"did we listen to the same tape? just look at his hands, they are totally crushed beyond repair. he did as the tape asked him to so why is he dead?" strahm hissed, looking for some type of explanation from hoffman since he seemed to have everything figured out. though the other stayed quiet, knowing that he couldn't come up with a reasonable explanation for it.

a smug look consumed the agent's face. "get your head out of your ass for once." sure, strahm may have been a bit rusty after taking some time off on medical leave. but he could never forget what the mark looked like. the piece had carved itself into his memories from the first day he saw it.

hoffman scoffed, his eyes narrowed in a less amused way. he leaned closer to the agent who didn't do so much as flinch as he whispered in his ear. "you have no proof."

hoffman knew he was strahm's key suspect, and the detective couldn't blame him for thinking that way. but the lack of evidence was stacked against him, which in turn favored hoffman.

the same question has been stuck in the agent's mind since they wheeled him out with a pen lodged in his throat. he caught a glimpse of hoffman before being rushed into the ambulance. for the first time, he showed the smallest trace of emotion. for the first time, he looked scared.

"how did you leave that building? because i sure as hell know jigsaw wouldn't just let you walk out without some broken bones." his tone rang with judgment. a good portion of their team was killed in that building, and he was supposed to die as well. so it made no sense how hoffman could leave without so much as a scratch.

hoffman took a small step back, noting the unmoved expression on the agent's face. "are you accusing me of something agent? why not just come out and say it." he asked, not loud enough for any of the surrounding police or photographers to hear. there was no evidence.

strahm bit his tongue, as he watched a smug grin appear on the detective's lips. they both knew he was backed into a corner.

strahm knew hoffman was working with the killer, but couldn't prove it without undeniable evidence to back it up. it was checkmate.

"that's what i thought," he said, patting strahm on the shoulder before walking past him. the agent let out a shaken breath he didn't realize he had been holding in. there was no comfort in knowing the last member of his team alive could turn out to be a ruthless serial killer. and he was the next target.

Chapter Text

one thing about the killer that stuck out was they happened to be very good at hiding their tracks. no fingerprints, no smeared blood or trash left behind. there was no way to figure out his next move if they didn't have the slightest idea who they were looking for. what was he supposed to do now?

strahm sat at his desk repeating the same question on loop for the past hour. the dark pen locked between his fingers tapped on the hard surface. with the lack of evidence, there was no way anyone would believe a word he said. knowing that he would more than likely be the next person to fall victim to this alleged jigsaw killer, he took this very seriously.

his fingers tapped on the keys, trying to find something on hoffman that he could use. previous criminal records would be a start, but after extensive research, he came up with nothing. strahm reclined in his chair with a small sigh, his attempt to catch the killer in vain. and most likely he would be next on the chopping block.

there was one last thing he thought to check, and that was the storage room filled with previous case files and whatnot.

strahm grabbed out the most recent file which happened to be a younger male named seth baxter. sliced open by a pendulum and left for dead, what a terrible way to go. he flipped through some of the paperwork and horrific crime scene photos.

the agent sat down at a nearby desk, seeing that seth had a previous criminal record it caught his attention. trying to link hoffman to the crime he needed some background knowledge on his victims.

strahm peeked out into the hallway, knowing full well the new classified documents were off-limits. he scurried back to his office with the documents in hand, sitting them down as he did a quick search on the victim.

after being taken into police custody and found guilty of murder, seth baxter was sent to prison, where he had to face a life sentence. however, due to the legal technicality, he was released after serving only five years. sentenced for the murder of his former girlfriend angelia acomb. his eyebrows furrowed as he glossed over the girlfriend's name. it sounded familiar.

one google search later he found out why that name rang so many bells. she happened to be hoffman's younger sister.

strahm grinned, "i got you now you motherfucker." he whispered, slamming the computer screen before racing out the office door. such in a rush he hadn't stopped to think if someone else was walking in the hallway. bumping into the one person that he could've gone another lifetime without seeing, hoffman.

"watch where you're walking will ya?" he growled, tightening his grip on the stack of papers placed under his arm. strahm had a clear goal in mind, and nothing was going to stop him, not even hoffman. sure the detective was probably expecting a snarky comment or rude remark.

but strahm simply mumbles, "i'm in a hurry asshole" before continuing along on his path. hoffman had never seen his fellow agent in such a rush. it struck him as odd and ended up peaking his curiosity.

strahm got in his vehicle and drove back to the rundown building where the most recent crime scene took place. when he arrived he started down the hallway, listening to his steps echo as he continued on his path.

eventually, he got to where he was going, which looked nothing like the horrid sight he witnessed the first time he entered the room. the door to the room had been closed, strahm took a moment to observe the frame. a small peephole was dug through the door, giving him a clear view of the table where seth baxter took his last breath.

the bloody mess was cleaned and the body had already been taken, but the hole was perfectly lined up with the table.

hoffman wanted to watch him suffer. "you like to watch your victim's executions.. you sick fuck." strahm whispered, he knew there was always something twisted about hoffman. how he never showed the smallest glimpse of remorse at crime scenes, it looked more like he was admiring the work than judging it.

seeing the officers had missed that tiny hole in their crime scene report, strahm took it upon himself to observe more carefully. upon inspection, he noticed that the door locked from the outside when shut. so even if seth baxter somehow was able to break free, with the boarded-up windows and sealed door there was no hope for an easy escape.

not wanting to get stuck alone in an abandoned building, strahm made it crucial to keep the door propped open. since no one knew where he was. or so he thought. the door leading to the outside was heavy, and made a loud squeaking sound that reverberated through the empty halls.

not even the strongest winds would be strong enough to push it open, which meant only one thing, someone else was here. upon hearing the approaching footsteps strahm quickly tucked himself behind the door. knowing whoever came through that door was trespassing on a restricted building.

whether it be a squatter or a local news reporter, no one was allowed access to this building. strahm stayed hidden, keeping his breathing steady as his heart pounded against his rib cage.

the footsteps drew near and strahm feared his heartbeat would give him away. hoping that whoever they are would just leave and save him the trouble. but instead, the sound of steps entering the room sent a shiver racing down his spine.

with no way to defend himself and no way to call for backup, he hoped to settle this in a civil manner. he took a heavy breath before taking a peek from behind the door. immediately he froze.

in a moment of pure heart-pounding adrenaline, he kicked away the support holding the doorway open. the heavy door shut with a loud thud causing the person to turn and face him. the man in the suit just so happened to be detective hoffman. locking him in with the killer.

Chapter Text

"you have to be fucking kidding," hoffman muttered under his breath. seeing his partner standing in front of the sealed door. apart from him knew it was a bad idea to follow strahm here, but after some convincing he did, hoping that this would be the beginning of a new game. after following the agent and not hearing the timer ticking down, he took it upon himself to investigate only to be trapped in the room with the psycho.

the slamming of the door triggered a bright red timer to flick on the wall. with sixty minutes in counting the numbers began to drop one by one. from the ventilation shafts came a tampered gas that slowly began to flood the room.

"what the hell did you do?" strahm hissed, his voice littered with anger. not only was he trapped with the one person in the world who made his blood boil, but he would end up dying with him as well. before hoffman was able to get a word out strahm marched over and landed a hard punch to the detective's cheek.

after a struggle and punches flying across the room, strahm came out on top. he grasped onto a sharp shard of glass that was clasped in his bloodstreamed hand. cutting into his palm as he held the object to the other's throat. blood oozed down hoffman's beaten and bruised face. heavy huffs of breath were exchanged between the two. with the lethal toxins filling their lungs neither wanted to waste precious breaths.

"you sick bastard. tell me how to get out of here or i swear to god i'll slit your throat." strahm threatened, his vision filled with a dark maroon. all he could see is red, there was nothing more in that moment he wanted than to slit the throat of this lying asshole. however, he was smart enough to know once he did so this sealed room would most likely be his tomb.

surely the gasses would flood the room and result in his death. neither of which did he want to happen. strahm got into this business with the hope of saving lives, even if that meant sacrificing himself for the sake of others. keeping the traitor here was his main and last priority as an agent. "dumbass, now you got us both killed." hoffman growled.

he made certain there was no possible way of escaping, knowing for a fact there was no hope for either of them. with no way out their fate had been sealed. "just tell me how to open the damn door!" strahm wasn't going to ask again. his time and patience were running thin. he pressed the glass piece into the sensitive flesh, drawing a string of blood as he winced at the sharp pain radiating from his neck.

he then smiled and with a raspy voice he spoke, "don't you get it? there is no way out." his answer was sincere, and deep down strahm knew that. though his stubbornness refused to believe it. strahm stood from his straddled position on hoffman's lap, using up his energy while he still had the chance.

he went around the room banging on the glass windows that didn't react to his failed attempt to get fresh air. the windows had been reinforced by hoffman's doing, he couldn't take any chances. the detective sat up, still in pain from the way he was tossed aside like nothing more than a pitiful rag doll. unlike strahm, he saved his energy for when he really needed it. he coughed out a couple blood droplets every now and again into his stinging palms, but overall he managed to keep himself breathing.

he watched from the sidelines at strahm's worthless attempts to escape. pacing from one side of the room to the other. "don't waste your time, i wasn't going to let seth break free and neither will you." hoffman stated the obvious. not expecting strahm to take his advice for once.

the other agent stopped in his tracks, feeling the effects of the gas settle in as he coughed up a glob of blood from his lungs. he saw firsthand the lengths hoffman would've gone to ensure his sister's killer never left this room. seeing no use in struggling further, he slid down the wall next to hoffman in case he tried to make a break for it. only twenty minutes remained and there was no sign of either of them leaving alive.

"you've always been an asshole, but this.. this is a new low even for you," strahm said in between heavy breaths. the air was slowly becoming harder to take in. his eyes fluttered shut while he rested his head against the ice-cold wall.

"baxter deserves to rot for what he did. you, on the other hand, got in my way." hoffman added. "he served his time. i agree he should've served much more for what he did to your sister and that's fucked up, but this isn't the answer." strahm said as he forced his eyes to stay alert. the toxins were getting to him and his vision became a glossy haze.

he wanted nothing more than to rest, to blow this whole thing off as a dream and go back to bed. but he knew better than to give false hope. "you might be a dick.. but come on, you're better than this." strahm muttered.

whether it was the gas messing with his head or the restless nights creeping up on him, he couldn't quite say what possessed him to rest his hand on top of the others. a hushed moment of silence washed over them. soon enough he felt it, their fingers intertwining to form a sense of truce between them. their lungs stung from the poison seeping its way in.

strahm came to peace with himself, knowing that he was going to die in this room. there was no point in holding a grudge against hoffman, part of him understood why he did it. all the anger and frustration of losing a loved one in such a horrific way snapped something in him.

strahm coughed up blood onto the back of his free hand, his throat felt like it was caving in on itself. the pain stung as he looked out into the world with hazy eyes. "i'm sorry." hoffman mumbles an apology, "i shouldn't have dragged you into this.." it's not what john would've wanted.

as much as he hated him, strahm was never a bad guy. his intentions were pure-hearted and straightforward from the very beginning, he didn't need to be tested. the timer struck ten, knowing it was only a matter of minutes before the gas inevitability ended them.

"don't sweat it.. we all die someday.." strahm said, his words mumbled with his dying breaths. it became painful to breathe, his throat no longer allowed oxygen to freely pass through. he was dying. hoffman felt a weight leaning on his shoulder. and unconscious strahm's weight pressed against him.

he knew he wasn't far behind. "fuck you strahm.. you don't get to die first.." he muttered in a weak attempt to wake the other from his nap. a haze of red and blue lights beamed in through the filth-filled windows, though hoffman paid no mind.

his lungs caught on fire for the last and final time as he took a deep breath of the toxic fumes. once again shutting his eyes and laying himself to rest.

Chapter Text

death was the last thing hoffman remembered. being at peace with the world and all that he’d done it in. the regret of dragging his fellow agent into his mess and the blinding lights that seeped through the filthy windows. so you could imagine his surprise when he awoke, eyes drowsy and linked to a variety of machines. he pulled the oxygen mask from his face before sitting up.

the heart monitors beeping in its eerie arrhythmic beats. his mind was still fuzzy as he took a glance around the hospital room. his eyes settled on the patient lying in the bed next to his.

it was strahm, still unconscious with tubes and other medical devices linked to his body. all the memories came flooding back in waves, everything down to the tiniest details. strahm knew everything. he knew who he was, not as a detective but as an apprentice of jigsaw. if that got out this operation he worked his ass off for would crumble under his feet. he couldn't risk them finding out.

he unhooked the rest of the medical equipment, not caring much at the moment. his throat and lungs still stung with the familiar pain, but he chose to ignore that for now. hoffman staggered over to the unconscious man's bedside, his body still weak from the toxic fumes invading his system.

carefully he sat down on the edge of the mattress and turned his attention to strahm. peacefully asleep with the hiss of the breathing tube sounding every couple seconds. all he had to do was remove the mask and push a pillow over his face. do that and his secret would in turn stay a secret. he knew what needed to be done, but as much as strahm pissed him off his priorities faltered.

even though hoffman wanted strahm dead he couldn't bring himself to suffocate him. he grasped the tube hooked around his face, trying to find to willpower to yank the oxygen away. before he had a chance to steal the things keeping him breathing, there was a sudden gasp.

the heartbeat motor beeped faster as the dead man's eyes fluttered open. it only took a second before his eyes were drawn to the detective at his bedside. a moment of shock fell over the room, not expecting hoffman's face to be the first one he saw when he awoke.

he cleared his burning throat, "what.. happened back there?" he asked in a raspy tone, the mask muffling his speech. neither of them actually knew how they were saved after the poison rendered them unconscious.

"i'm not sure.." hoffman answered with a small sigh. strahm unstrapped the mask from his face, taking in the smells of the hospital room. he then sat up, his throat still painfully swollen.

"i'm glad to see you're alright." those were the last words hoffman was expecting to hear. after what he did to him, he expected a punch to the face or handcuffs strapped around his wrists. hoffman rarely felt regret for his actions, but this was the exception. he was supposed to be carrying on jigsaw’s legacy, not ruining it. strahm was never meant to be tested.

he watched as the agent rubbed his sore throat, noticing his prolonged gaze. the moment their eyes met hoffman turned away, overwhelming guilt taking hold. "again i-"

"don't apologize, it's not like you." strahm interrupted, he wasn't easy to forgive but he didn't care for this new side of hoffman. he shouldn't be sorry, not after everything they went through. a sudden knock at the door caught them both off guard. in walked agent erickson accompanied by two fit policemen by his side. hoffman lowered his gaze, life spent behind bars was inevitable.

"gentlemen, it's good to see you both awake." he spoke, "mind telling me exactly what happened back there?" this was it, his last moments of freedom before getting stuffed behind some metal bars. there is still so much he needs to do.

he figured it was better to own up to his own shortcomings than have someone else say it for him. before he could get the first word out, strahm spoke in his shaken voice. "after reading the case file, i believed there was more that we missed, so i dragged him back and it turned out to be another jigsaw trap. it's my fault, i put us both at risk and i apologize." he cleared his throat.

strahm took the fall for him, but hoffman didn’t understand why. their eyes locked in the heat of confusion. why would he take the fault for him? their gaze broke with a sudden pat on hoffman's shoulder causing him to flinch.

"well, i'm sorry you had to go through that." hoffman gave an unresponsive head nod. unanswered questions flooding through his mind like an out-of-control river. "hoffman, since you're up and moving we will take your statement first. anything that might help us catch the bastard behind this." he stood from the mattress, complying with the officers.

"yes sir," he answered, taking one last look at strahm as he was excoriated from the hospital room.

Chapter Text

he couldn't wrap his mind around it. hoffman sat in restless curiosity just waiting for a swat team to break down his door and arrest him. the questions were slowly starting to eat at him from the inside out. why would strahm lie to save his sorry ass?

strahm made it clear daily that he hated hoffman with a burning passion. whether it was an annoyed side eye or the occasional snappy attitude, he did so one way or another to show how little fucks he gave. hoffman paced around, no one else knew this secret he'd been trying so hard to keep quiet, no one else but strahm.

he cooked up an abundance of ways to keep him quiet, none of which sounded right. some small part of him refused the idea of endless torture to keep strahm from yapping. which happened to be the only surefire way to keep him on a short leash. hoffman let out a short-winded sigh, figuring he should stop thinking before his mind explodes.

his tracks came to a sturdy halt having only one option left. he grabbed the nearby car keys from the counter and slammed his front door shut. strahm had just arrived home after long hours of being interrogated like a convicted criminal. he hung up his blazer before making his way over to the couch to relax after a few endless days of working and whatnot, only to hear a loud pounding noise from his door. as soon as the doorway was opened in stormed the last person he was expecting to see at this hour.

"we need to talk." hoffman says, kindly making himself at home inside strahm's apartment. "well good evening to you too detective." he says with a tint of annoyance.

once the door creaked shut hoffman let out a sigh, "why did you do it.. you didn't have to lie for my sake.." his words were as sincere as he could muster up. knowing if this somehow got out, strahm would be marked as an accomplice and be sentenced to the same fate as his own.

the agent cracked a grin at the puzzled detective. leaning against the wall with his arms snug over his chest. "i'm sorry what was that? i'm still a little woozy from the gas, i don't think i heard you right."

a thank you would've been enough. strahm taunted by cupping his ear and waiting for those sweet words. hoffman on the other hand wasn't in the mood for some senseless child's play. he wanted answers.

"cut the crap," he growled, bearing his teeth at the man who saved his life. and of course, strahm didn't take too kindly to that gesture. "look asshole, if i wouldn't have lied to save your sorry ass you would be facing the electric chair and i would have been in deep shit." realizing after those words left his mouth that he had said far too much. strahm bit his tongue to keep any more words from leaving his sealed lips.

hoffman just shook his head, "as the man who stopped the jigsaw murders, i find that hard to believe. look i don't need your pity alright." he said while slumping down on his uninviting partner's couch.

things between them started changing the moment agent strahm found out about his murdered sister, what else was he supposed to think but pity. strahm took this opportunity to sit next to hoffman.

"i don't pity you, detective, you're strong enough to get by without my help. it's admirable really." his words were nothing but sincere, he truly believed that hoffman was somewhat of a motivator. throughout their short time working together, the bitter rivalry between them kept strahm on his toes. which in the end paid off.

the eye contact between them was held for a few seconds too long. there was a thud in the detective's heart, strahm had found a way to puppeteer his heartstrings. making them dance without even knowing it. the feeling was warm and uncomfortable, he hadn't felt this way about anyone in a long time.

that realization scared him. having no more questions that needed immediate answers, hoffman stood from the couch and started for the door.

"you're leaving already? you just got here." strahm says, the weight of his words surprising even himself. only now realizing that he was actually enjoying the detective's company for a change.

"you're welcome to stay." he invited, not knowing where this sudden display of fondness was coming from. hoffman cleared his throat and stood before the doorway. "thank, but i must be going." he answered plainly, not giving it much thought.

strahm felt rejected like his offer meant little to nothing with the hasty response it got. apart of him couldn't stand to be turned down so fast. before hoffman reached for the knob, strahm managed to swallow his pride for a moment.

"would you like to grab a drink with me sometime? how about tomorrow, after hours of course." strahm blurted out. he wanted to get to know hoffman, seeing this as a second chance to rekindle their dwindling partnership. with this burden the agent carried on his shoulders, the least he could do was grab a drink.

"alright, i'll take you up on that offer," he said with a weak grin. they wished each other a farewell which was more awkward than ever. strahm slammed his door before smacking himself on the forehead. "stupid." strahm murmured into the air. he should be trying to pull away from hoffman by putting distance between them. but instead, he kept drawing him in.

Chapter Text

going out to a bar as strahm's first choice wasn't the best nor brightest idea he'd come up with. he didn't consider himself to be a heavy drinker. maybe one or two drinks every now or again to soothe this anxious tendency about recent cases. and yet this time was different, usually he was responsible and paced himself when it came to alcoholic beverages. however, he swallowed shot after shot, not caring how or when he got home.

the weight of everything left him feeling overwhelmed, so this was his way of coping with the stresses of the world around him. hoffman showed up a little while later, after a good half a dozen shots had already been taken care of. the detective ordered a round for himself as well as another for his nonsober companion.

"lightweight." hoffman scoffed. he watched as his fellow agent placed his head in his crossed arms, feeling the coldness of the counter-pressing against his left cheek. "shut up asshole, am not."

strahm refused to admit that the room was becoming more and more like the aftermath of an amusement park ride. hoffman rolled his eyes before tilting his head back and gulping down his first shot of the evening. strahm couldn't help but stare.

there was something rather captivating about how his lips made contact with the small shot glass. something that drew him in. strahm watched intently as his head leaned back, the motions of his neck as he swallowed the bitter liquid in one fell swoop before slamming the empty glass on the counter. hoffman wiped his lips with the back of his palm, not yet noticing how the agent's eyes were causing a hole to burn right through him.

it wasn't till the detective's eyes made contact with his own did he realized the small fantasies he was imagining about the other. a sudden sting in his chest caused his gaze to be faulted before turning him away altogether.

"you've been staring an awfully long time," hoffman says, catching wind of the agent's prolonged gaze. "like what you see agent strahm?" he joked with a small grin consuming his face.

maybe it was the liquor causing the lightened atmospheric tension, but strahm felt himself catching the contagious smile. in this sudden spark, he decided to play along in his intoxicated state.

"what if i said yes?" he asks with a prolonged purr to his vocal cords. something the agent rarely did unless it was with a close friend or family member. hoffman adverted his gaze to the shot being placed. "then i'd figure you have a high school crush." he said.

recalling back to school, where love-struck girls who were too afraid to speak to him would send heart eyes burning into the back of his cranium. frankly, he found it annoying.

the agent hummed in thought, cracking a slight smile. "i guess that's one way to put it." hoffman took another shot with a grin tugging at the corners of his lips. he abruptly ended the flirty interaction with an eye roll and a goofy smile.

their conversations went on as normal as they could get. neither brought up what happened in the warehouse, when their hands connected for an exceedingly long second. nor the instances where they had tried to murder one another for the sole crime of being a dick. however, since then they've seemed to get on better terms with one another.

the night was filled with drunken nonsense and extended storytelling about their experiences working as agents and running cases. hoffman, being the responsible person he was, paced himself when drinking. seeing that he would have to chaperone the overly intoxicated agent strahm.

the night soon came to a close and the two men stumbled out of the bar. an arm around waist to keep the stumbling agent on his own two feet.

"i'm fine, i don't need a prick like you to help me walk." he slurred his words, his weak and weary eyes hardly able to keep open as the weight of the night took hold. discarding the rude insult, the detective tightened his grip around the other waist. however, that never meant he hadn't considered letting go and watching the agent immediately passing out onto the cold hard concrete beneath his feet.

"we're almost there, now would you just cooperate for once?" hoffman said, his voice riddled with annoyance. a groan of protest left strahm's lips as he continued to squirm in the detective's arms. seeing that it wasn't going to be long till the agent broke free, quickly unlocked his car and helped the wobbling man into the passenger seat.

once it was all said and done he let out a sigh, strahm let his head lean back, his eyes pressed shut and his mouth slightly hung open. "what am i going to do with you?" the detective asks, he was like a toddler who could perform the most basic tasks.

hoffman extended the seat belt over the resting man. having the inconvenience of climbing into the agent's lap to locate the damn buckle. finally relieved he heard the lock snap.

"can i kiss you?" for a moment he almost thought strahm had already drifted off to sleep. he backed off the other man only to be met with eyes locked on him. after a moment of confusion, strahm felt the need to elaborate.

"you're lips, they look incredibly soft. kinda like marshmallows." hoffman chuckled at that analogy. he found this new side of strahm to be rather amusing and strangely lovable. "your drunk agent strahm." hoffman felt the need to remind him.

strahm once again closes his eyes, saddened by the blatant rejection. "get some rest agent." the door was then slammed shut with hoffman making his way to his side of the car. by the time he made it and started the engines, he was certain this time that strahm had fallen asleep.

there he could've easily taken advantage of the naïve, man beside him, he was like putty in the palm of hoffman's hand just waiting to be molded.

by the time he awoke, the detective could've already tossed him inside another inescapable trap and watched as he flopped like a fish out of water. however, there was a strong sense of compassion that came with the man sitting beside him. no wife, no kids, not even an animal to keep him company. in an odd way, agent strahm reminded him of himself at times, even though they just so happened to be two completely different people.

hoffman continued to take small sneak peeks over at the agent's peaceful sleeping expression. for a face that was always so tensed up and easily angered, it was odd to see him so relaxed. and quite frankly it was kind of cute.

Chapter Text

the next day, strahm found himself regretting his previous evening alone with the detective. waking up to the bright ball of sun peeking through unfamiliar curtains. his head throbbing with a hangover and the consequences of downing shots like sweets finally caught up with him. the agent squinted, the brightness of the strange room had become too much for him to bear.

he took a small glance around, trying to remember where he was or how he got there. the covers were pulled back to reveal he was halfway undressed. the multiple buttons of a baggy snow-colored dress shirt had been dismembered from their original positions. what exactly happened last night?

all he could recall was drinking till he blacked out, most of which was a blank space in his memories. the missing gap wasn't going to be filled by sitting around and doing nothing, so he didn't. strahm shuffled out of bed, pulling his pants up and zipping the undone fly. he then showed himself out, stumbling down a strange hallway he couldn't seem to remember.

hoffman, by this time, was sitting on the couch enjoying his blissful saturday evening by sleeping in and was entitled to a rude awakening. he winced as a foot jabbed him in his side, waking him from his restful evening slumber. his eyes fluttered open only to be met with the disheveled agent standing a couple feet away from where he laid. hoffman muttered a curse under his breath.

"what did you do to me, you sick bastard?" strahm asks in search of answers. having just woken up, the detective hadn't a clue what the yapping agent was going on about. the puzzled hoffman groaned, stretched, and rubbed his weary eye.

"what the hell are you on about?" he asked with a sudden yawn taking control of the last couple words. strahm glared at the man sitting atop the less than comfortable couch.

"you know what i'm talking about. why were my clothes off when i woke up? did you pour something in my drink you son of a bitch." it was too early to deal with this. seeing the miscommunications of the progressing situation, hoffman let out a brief cackle. it became apparent the agent couldn't recall what went on last night.

"look i didn't do nothing. you were the one begging me to take them off, which i declined." he explained. strahm happened to be very promiscuous when intoxicated, at times he was hard to turn down. the agent felt his cheeks flush with embarrassment.

he didn't often drink with other men, if he did he paced his drinking pretty well. this was one of the numerous reasons why drinking wasn't his favorite thing in the world. half of the time when he drank too much he would almost always end up in another person's bed with that stranger.

hoffman was the first instance that took the couch instead of them both waking up next to one another. and for some reason, strahm was thankful the detective had loaned him his bed to use for the night.

hoffman grinned "awh look you're blushing." he teased, which only made the situation that much worse. "be quiet you ass," strahm grumbled before taking his rightful spot at the foot of the couch in desperate need of coffee to soothe his hangover.

he rubbed his pounding forehead, serving as a reminder never to drink like that again."mind filling me in on what happened last night?" strahm says, knowing he would undoubtedly regret asking. and judging by the smile growing on hoffman's lips as he recalled the previous night's events, he already did. he shared small stories that made the other man's face light up with sheer embarrassment.

he bit back trying to rationalize the situation, knowing that would only incriminate the act further. when he mentioned the kiss strahm almost immediately shot up, his face a ghostly white.

"we didn't.. did we?" he asks, staring at the man like a deer flashed in headlights. hoffman considered lying to see what kind of reaction he would get from the other man, but being the kind soul he was, he refrained.

he shook his head and a blissful sigh of relief came from strahm's parted lips. the detective, who's already had a rough start to his morning took a bit of offense to the small gesture. "so if i kiss you, you wouldn't like it?" the all too curious detective asks, knowing that he is pushing the fine boundaries of their make-believe friendship.

strahm refused an answer, figuring it was a stupid question that didn't deserve an honest response. without another word hoffman stood from his former position, he needed to get ready and the day wasn't getting any longer.

"i'm going to take a shower, you're welcome to join." at this point, strahm couldn't tell if his showering together offering was genuine. for a long moment, he actually considered it, seeing hoffman's naked body all sudsed up in foamed bubbles. seeing strands of his dark dampened hair slapped to his forehead. he swallowed hard to get the intruding images to disappear.

"thanks but no thanks." he said, declining the offer that he most definitely wanted to accept. the detective shrugged his broad shoulder. "your loss." hoffman said. "but you might want to reconsider, you did throw up, twice." finally solving the mystery of the agent's missing shirt, and why he was wearing this baggy sack.

strahm sunk his canines into his bottom lip, biting back his calling card. strahm watched as the offer slipped away before his eyes, hoffman left him alone on the burgundy-shaded sofa.

after a moment or so of pondering around the idea of seeing him nude, and letting his highly intrusive thoughts get the best of him. in the end, he chased the offer, trying to rationalize it in his mind he held no bounds.

upon entering the bathroom and seeing hoffman's shirt being torn away from his chest he stepped into the room.

Chapter Text

no touching, first rule and only implemented between them. strahm made sure to have clear boundaries in place, even though his touch-starved mind was so desperate to be felt up. he'd also made it blatantly clear this interaction was nothing more than purely a way to save time and water.

however, that couldn't be farther from the truth. if strahm learned anything about hoffman from their time working together, he knew the detective never played by the rules. and for the first time, it was something he looked forward to.

hoffman, who seemed to be off in his own little world as small pelts of liquid splattered down on his bare chest, was deep in thought. thinking about the nude man standing less than a yard away.

his fingers carded through his dampened charcoal hair with ease. both knew deep down this was more than what it seemed, more than just an innocent way to save a high water bill, it was intimate. with suds flying around the steamy shower, both made it a point not to look at each other to avoid unwanted eye contact.

hoffman hogged the waterfall of small droplets, letting each individual one drop onto his skin to wash away his once lathered-up body. with his back to strahm, the other man couldn't resist the temptation of sneaking short involuntary glances.

he had never seen hoffman naked, and after the water stopped running he would never see him this exposed again. so he took in the mental image till he realized he was staring a little too much. he let his unholy thoughts slip to the possibility of them being intimate just for a moment when all hell broke loose.

a sudden surge of panic flooded his mind. the agent bit onto his lower lip, trying to distract himself blood rushing to a lower part of his body. it became hard to hide the distasteful thoughts when they were both so vulnerable with one another. as much as strahm tried desperately to rid his mind of the impure intentions, the things between his legs had a different agenda.

his canines sunk into his lip hard enough to puncture the skin, making a small amount of blood flood onto his taste buds. he uttered a sole curse under his breath that had been swept away by the pitter-patter of the shower head. strahm's gaze landed back on the detective, still washing the soaps from his hair. knowing what he wanted to do, but didn't have the balls to go through with.

now having no control of the thoughts clouding his mind with lust, he watched the water droplets roll down hoffman's frame. wishing that his hands could do the same, running down the other's body with ease. he wanted to touch him, feel his body stutter under his fingertips. the weight of the dirty images made strahm unhook his teeth from his lip. watching as the detective turned around sent a moment of fright coursing through him.

there was no way of hiding it and no way to explain. for the first time in forever, he let go of the reins binding himself together. even though he knew this was going to turn out as an awful idea, his rational thoughts were wrapped up in lewd intentions.

he kissed him.

acting out his most desired fantasies wasn't what he planned on doing this morning. the aggression that followed caused him to slam hoffman's body against the steamy glass of the shower, resulting in a sharp wince from the detective.

so caught up in the moment, feeling what hoffman's lips felt like pressed against his own was freeing. no longer holding back he was able to let go. strahm placed his hand on the back of hoffman's neck to deepen the thrilling sensation before inevitably pulling away when oxygen became scarce.

strahm huffed for air, seeing the shock in the detective's eyes. only then did he realize the full weight of what he'd done? he kissed his co-worker, his partner, and his lifelong enemy. he kissed him without a second thought.

the moment was consumed in short breaths and the sha of water dropping against the shower floor. strahm pulled his arm from behind the other nape. he whispered a somewhat sincere apology before taking his leave, quickly dressing before hurrying out the door. when the door slammed shut hoffman knew how stupid he must've looked, still wide-eyed and kiss happy.

he had trouble processing what happened with his fingers lightly grazing over his lips. imitating the lingering sensation of the kiss that seemed to slowly fade away.

for a moment he stood there in the prolonged silence of the shower till it was too much to bear. a curse slipped from his lips, he should've said something to keep him from leaving, anything at all. the sharp sting of guilt set in even knowing that the other man wouldn't be returning anytime soon.

pointless what if's questions seemed endless and continued to rile up a storm in his mind. wondering what would've happened if he hadn't frozen up and if he actually asked him to stay for a little while longer. as silly as it sounded, he wanted strahm to come back through the door and continue where he left off.

even when he knew that was nothing more than a stupid fantasy clinging to his mind. admittedly some part of him enjoyed the kiss. the roughness of it all was invigorating, sending moths fluttering in his stomach the moment his back hit the glass. the feeling left a bitter-sweet taste on his tongue.

this tower of glass they'd built up from these past weeks of them bonding over drinks and whatnot, seemed to shatter the moment the front door slammed shut. hoffman turned off the shower, he wiped his clean self dry but for some reason, he still felt dirty. wrapping the towel snuggly around his waist he wondered what could've been if he just said yes.

Chapter Text

avoiding hoffman after the incident was close to impossible. since they worked in the same building there wasn't a way to discreetly evade him without raising suspicions. sure the two rarely interacted during working hours, so he figured with no secret meeting he should be fine to live out his day in peace. that was until he received the phone call he dreaded hearing, there had been another game.

hoffman showed up on the scene with officers already surrounding the once-living woman. a thick layer of blood oozing from her slit wrists, this wasn't his doing. her skin as waxy as a candle and as pale as a ghost, all but the marking that was engraved in her flesh was left untainted. he quickly glossed over the mark, this one done with the surgical skills hoffman hadn't yet possessed.

the detective stood with an unpleased look on his face from inspecting the deceased corpse. there was some chatter at the entrance which in turn caught the curious man's divine attention. there stood the man who had stormed out on him, chatting up some cops and other important people about topics of importance.

even news reports wanted a piece for their next big article about a man who not only survived one but two rigged traps set by himself. hoffman caught his eye for a moment, looking over at him for a split second before continuing with the conversation.

an ambulance arrived on scene in a failed attempt to revive the injured girl, but in the end, her cuts were too deep and she was too far gone to be saved. with all the outside commotion and police storming the warhorse, strahm hadn't noticed the detective sneaking up on him.

"you've been avoiding me, agent strahm." he says, taking a few steps and watching body after lifeless body fly from the building. hoffman took note of strahm’s stern expression, not paying any attention to the man next to him. he then cleared his throat,

"i'm a very busy man detective," strahm answered in hopes that it would justify his reluctant attitude. he thought that would be the end of it, but instead, he was pulled off to the side without hesitation.

"are we not going to talk about it?" hoffman asks. this wasn't the time nor place for this discussion, however, strahm didn't leave him much of a choice. the detective noticed every time strahm would exit a room for the sole to get away from him. all this sneaking around for what? strahm straightened his posture, refusing to look him in the eyes out of fear of what he may see.

"there is nothing to talk about." he responds, wanting to forget everything. go back to the way things used to be and forget all these complicated feelings that got thrown into the mix.

the senseless bickering, and the early morning fights all seemed so much simpler now. strahm went to walk away but was stopped from doing so. "what, you're just to pretend everything's fine?"

"that was the plan, yes." unsure of what to say, hoffman let go. so many words that he could've said but the knot bound in his throat kept the words from coming out. "now if you don't mind."

was the last thing the agent said to him before entering the warehouse, leaving hoffman conflicted and alone with his thoughts.

the next day this whole incident brought on loads of paperwork and investigations. hoffman sat alone at his desk going through the case file when all of a sudden he heard on knock at his door. "come in." he shouted to the person outside, and in walked the last person he was expecting to see, strahm.

he thought after their last interaction during the crime scene, they wouldn't be on speaking terms till the next victim popped up. he carefully shut the door behind him, giving them more time to speak in the privacy of hoffman's office without interruption.

"we need to talk." strahm started, reluctant to sit down in the conveniently placed chair. he could tell by the serious look on strahm's face that he came here with a goal in mind, why else would he barge into his office in the middle of the day?

"was this your doing detective? in that case, i might as well turn us both in and risk us getting pared as accomplices." he hissed, threatening to toss them both behind bars even if that meant he went down with the sinking ship. hoffman was a bit taken back by the sudden black mailed response, but kept his composure intact. he folded his hand onto the hard surface of his desk.

"no, this wasn't my doing. i haven't exactly killed anyone." he felt a bit betrayed by the sudden police integration. questioning him like he was some type of low-level criminal and expecting him to snap. hoffman leaned back in his chair while the agent's gaze burned a hole straight through his core. a strong glare that would have any other person crumbling beneath it.

"then who did? i want names, hoffman." the words were tainted by the venom on strahm's tongue. he needed names, descriptions, anything that could at least point him toward the true mastermind behind these killings.

but when it came down to it, hoffman's lips were sealed. he let out a short-winded sigh before breaking the tension-filled eye contact to daze off at other things on his desk. this only angered strahm, sending him further down the increasingly dangerous rabbit hole.

hoffman called his bluff without a second thought which only made the idea of turning him in all too real. he hated it, he hated him.

"fuck you and your twisted way of thinking." strahm cursed at the detective before storming out the door.

hoffman, who still sat idly in front of his gigantic stack of paper work felt a sense of remorse for the agent. he was so close to catching the man responsible for these killings, and yet so far away.

Chapter Text

back at his apartment, strahm paced around the hardwood floors with a conflicted look etched onto his face. there was no doubt in his mind that he'd single-handedly fucked everything over between him and the detective. even considering the idea of turning hoffman in, after all this time it would surely lend him in some sort of trouble as well for gatekeeping crucial information.

the thoughts became looped in an endless cycle of torment till a sudden knock on his door put a stop to the madness. strahm sighed and opened the door, unbothered to check the peephole beforehand.

outside stood a man holding in one hand the agent's white dress shirt from the previous night spent at his house. strahm considered slamming the door, but then he wouldn't get his shirt back.

"may i come in?" hoffman asks, offering the piece of fabric as a truce between them. reluctantly strahm answered, "..sure."

he opened the door wide enough for the detective to walk past and into the apartment. for the first couple minutes, they talked about the new case like everything was fine between them, gradually moving the conversation over to the couch where the television blared some kind of news channel.

through the awkward waves of silence came at the expense of the new breaking news alert, strahm found himself reflecting. thinking about what the last couple of days have entailed for their relationship. and as much as a prick hoffman was, he deserves an explanation.

strahm tapped his finger anxiously on his leg, trying to swallow his pride and admit what he did was wrong. something he never would've imagined he’d be saying to anyone, let alone someone as arrogant as hoffman. strahm took a sharp inhale and allowed the words free pass from his lips.

"and i apologize.. for my behavior the other morning, it was a shitty spur-the-moment thing and meant nothing but i-" his thoughts cut off instantly with a sudden tug on the tie wrapped loosely around his collar.

that was the first time strahm felt actual butterflies flapping around the inside of his stomach from something as insignificant as a kiss. his lips were consumed in this cloud-like softness. the small gesture felt heavenly, even if it only lasted a couple seconds.

so heart-stuck he couldn't get his eyes to open once their lips departed. once the lingering feeling faded with time the agent gradually allowed for his eyes to flutter open, wondering why he stopped. "is this alright peter?" hoffman usually refrained from calling the agent by his first name, but in this heated moment, it just felt right.

the heavy eye contact, parted lips in need of something to fill the emptiness, and the small puffs for air sent the lighthearted atmosphere into a spiral. no longer were they just two people who worked together without any prior relations. in a moment everything changed. "fuck yes."

strahm didn't waste a second more, slamming their lips together while caressing the other's cheeks with the palms of his hands. kissing him like he was drowning and hoffman was the only source of air. all the worries and problems of the world flew out the open window. in that moment nothing else seemed to matter. it became apparent this was more than just a one-sided high school crush, this was way more.

the innocent butterfly kisses were soon replaced with lusting lips. the embers began to spark as strahm shrugged the blazer from his shoulders, prompting hoffman to do the same. strahm ran his fingertips down the detective's neck before fiddling with the buttons keeping his shirt snug to his body.

in between the huffs brought on by the quietness of the room, strahm made his intentions clear. letting his hands part way to the detective's now unbuttoned shirt. he mouthed a silent curse before pulling off his shirt and discarding it somewhere on the living room floor. "how long have you-"

"since the bar. the way you took those shots was so fucking hot." strahm answered, giving it little to no thought as his mind was flooded with nothing but craving.

the kissing continued to grow sloppy as stream practically radiated from heated sensation. tongues dancing elegantly the occasional teeth clanked against one another out of uncoordinated need. the hard make-out session had left them both breathless, with glistening lips shimmering in the evening sun's faint rays.

hoffman, who expected more action to come from his visit found himself disappointed when strahm backed away, a smug look smeared on his face. the agent leaned back against the softness of the sofa and unzipped his fly before turning his attention to the confused detective.

"i need you on your knees, detective. that's if you want to continue." the detective, almost obedient to strahm's wishes, dropped to his knees between the other man's legs.

he looked almost innocent with his blueish doe eyes staring upwards towards the man giving the commands. as much as a tough guy act hoffman portrayed in a work setting, strahm figured it would be more of a challenge getting him to submit. hoffman reminded him of a mutt, awaiting its master to bark out another command.

"pants." he said and the detective obliged obediently with his request. gradually shuffling the fabric out from beneath the man in front of him, who hardly had to lift a finger in the process.

seeing him sit there in nothing more the a thin pair of black boxers was enough to make his own hard-on twitch underneath his restrictive pants. strahm glanced at his boxers then back at the kneeling man, and immediately as if he was telepathic, hoffman knew what was expected of him.

he leaned forward and planted an array of kisses on the boxers separating him from what he truly needed his mouth to be touching. the ruthless teasing through the fabric caused short-winded sighs to escape the agent's somewhat parted lips. he watched carefully as his lips carefully coordinated where the kisses would be placed as they continued upward.

the sounds became louder with rough hands latching onto the insides of his thighs. rubbing him up in a delicate motion towards the connecting center. strahm could feel his control dwindling in the vast sea of building pleasure, but not wanting to release too soon and miss out on the main showing he managed to compose himself.

hoffman snuck a hand underneath the briefs causing the other man to bite down on his already swollen bottom lip. making a muffled moan hum through his enclosed lips as a strong hand wrapped around his shaft. hoffman grinned, amused by the sensitivity of his companion's body.

"asshole, wipe that smirk off your face." strahm hissed, obviously flustered and embarrassed by the noise his mouth had unwillingly produced. and yet, the way hoffman's hand began stroking along his deprived cock it became easy to forget.

strahm huffed, and silently pleaded for the other to quicken the agonizingly slow pace. but instead, he did one better. hoffman slipped the boxers down just enough for the hard-on to spring free before dragging his tongue across the slit.

strahm, whose head had been thrust back against the supportive cushions, was currently at a loss for words. knowing that idiotic smirk was back on the detective's lush lips.  hoffman lapped up the dribbles of pre-come that bubbled to the tip of strahm's dick. feeling cocky by his small movements receiving such a gigantic reaction out of the sensitive agent.

seeing strahm in this vulnerable state caused him to rub his thighs together, craving the friction he'd been missing out on.

"it feels nice when i taste you." hoffman said, keeping his voice low and husked. "doesn't it?" he asks, looking up as though he expected some kind of answer to proceed.

strahm, at that moment, not caring how desperate it made him sound gave hoffman what he wanted to hear.

"fuck, it does.. it feels fucking good.." strahm huffed out, feeling the ends of his lips curl upward and eyes flutter shut. he was trapped in a drunken haze, his mind spinning a mile a minute while the other licked him up and down.

taking the agent's cock past his marshmallow-like lips and began to bob his head in a repetitive motion. strahm was already on the verge of exploding. he grasped a fistful of hoffman's dark brunette locks, tugging it and reviving some pleasurable sounds that vibrated in his vocal cords.

there had been a rumor floating around the office some time ago that detective hoffman, who had recently hooked up with one of the low-level agents, had a thing for pain. strahm of course paid no mind to these little rumors till now. he found out for himself how true these supposed rumors were.

he deliberately bucked his hips forward into the detective's mouth, causing the tip of his dick to ram against the back of hoffman's throat. the man gagged against the sudden intrusion before quickly stabilizing himself. not so much as a glare was sent in strahm's direction, instead hoffman obliged by taking more and more of his length past his lips. feeling himself edging closer, his fingers buried themselves into hoffman's dark hair.

"hey- fuck.. i'm gonna come.." strahm warned, slurring his urgent words in a fit of pleasure. apart from him wanted to thrust forward and climax deep down the other's throat, but in turn, he would feel bad watching the other man ascend into a restless fit of cougher.

so instead he gave the other man enough time to let go. you could imagine the agent's surprise when no such thing happened.

hoffman continued to suck him off, acting like the words of caution strahm spoke held little importance whatsoever. before he could get another word out, the blissful sensation had become far too overwhelming, reaching the point of no return.

unintentionally bucking his hips into the warmth while simultaneously making sure he didn't go too deep, strahm came in the other mouth.

the bitter taste flooded the detective's taste buds, milking the tip for every last droplet before swallowing the batch.

"you mother fucker.. you didn't need to swallow.." strahm said, trying to steady his rapid breathing. his body acted as though he'd just finished running a marathon as his heart pounded on his rib cage. hoffman crawled between the other's legs, keeping the tense eye contact as he did so.

"i wanted to." the detective answered, stopping himself inches away from the agent's expecting lips. "and i do what i want."

strahm was about to close the gap that separated their lips when a ringing phone ruined his perfect moment. hoffman backed off him and pulled the flip phone from his pants pocket, seeming a bit alarmed by the caller.

the detective, who'd planned on staying longer for his turn, wasted no time climbing to his feet. he gave the other an apologetic glance, "i have to go." hoffman said as he hurried out of the apartment without so much as a simple goodbye.