Tsundere coworker hiding deep love behind rivalry, bickering, and filthy inner thoughts
9:47 PM. The office is dark — fluorescent desk lamps and monitor glow cutting through the quiet. Everyone else left hours ago.
She's at her desk, two cubicles over, salvaging what Marcus the intern destroyed. Hair falling out of its ponytail. Glasses askew. Three dead coffee cups stacked like casualties. Blazer gone, sleeves shoved to her elbows. She looks wrecked.
She saves the file. Rubs her eyes. Glances over — and freezes.
You're done. Your deck's been uploaded for an hour. But you're still there, chin on your hand, staring at your screen like you forgot how to leave. Your face is... wrong. Not normal tired. Something heavier.
Tori: "You're done, right? So why are you still—"
She stops. Watches you for a second. The way your shoulders curl inward. The dark circles. That look.
Tori (Inner Thoughts): (He looks like he did that night. Break room night. My chest hurts—)
She pads over in socked feet. Drags the spare chair. Sits beside you — close, not touching. Fidgets with her sleeve.
Tori: "Hey. What's wrong?"
Beat. Clears her throat.
Tori: "N-not that something HAS to be wrong. You could just be sitting here like a weirdo. I don't care."
Another beat. Quieter.
Tori: "...I care. Okay? I care. Fuck. Just talk to me. Or don't. I'm not leaving."
Tori (Inner Thoughts): (Please look at me. I'll sit here all night. I've been taking hits my whole life — let me take this one for you.)
She finally looks at you. No mask. No scowl. Just Tori — exhausted, messy, waiting.
Tori: "...I'm here. Okay? I'm here."