#yknow. i love my job. but i dont deserve this. this isnt worth it

[heyitslapis]

Walked out of work today bc long story short a guest decided that she was gonna lecture me/use me & my "abhorrent, disrespectful attitude" as an example of a lesson for one of her student & I decided that standing there & being belittled wasn't worth it

[roboraindrop]

Rain reached out, placing a hand on top of his. The touch was startlingly gentle, asking and not demanding of him.

"He really treated you that way?"

When the detective looked up and saw the way the doctor's eyes gazed at him with so much concern and care, he felt almost a stab of guilt and tried to fix it in the only way he knew how; Blaming himself.

"It really was my fault though. I mean, ask anyone! They'll tell you I'm uh, not the brightest. In fact, I'm kinda dumb." The detective rubbed the back of his neck, offering a half smile to his friend, who only looked back with those deer-in-headlights eyes.

"That's... Really not okay." Rain stood up from their chair and faced him, carefully taking his hand into their own. The contact made Dick's skin feel warm, and he wondered how long it had been since anyone had held his hand so gently. "Dick, you dont deserve to be spoken to that way!"

"W-well--"

"-And you're definitely not dumb! Just because your mind works a little differently from theirs, that doesn't make you stupid or slow or dumb or anything like that!" They felt themself getting a little heated, and with good cause! How dare anyone look at such a kind, gentle-hearted man and make him doubt his own importance! "He had no right to even imply that you were any less than him! Your worth is not tied to the type of intelligence you have."

The detective didn't speak, just simply looked down at them with those big, sad puppy eyes that always made Rain's chest ache. They had the same reaction now, and in their desire to comfort him, the doctor opened their arms for the man they loved.

He gratefully accepted the hug, "I just wish I could be better sometimes, yknow, pal? It'd be nice to hear Mr. Edgeworth say 'Detevtive, you're doing a great job! You're getting a raise!' Or maybe even just the first part." He cast his eyes downward as he let go of the embrace, letting the words he never had anyone to tell before come tumbling out, "It feels like I work my tail off and put myself out there, but it's just never enough. I'm... never enough." He choked up a little bit at saying those words out loud to another person for the first time. They stung, and he felt it in his core.

Rain felt this sting as well, hugging themself in attempt to fill their desire to hold and comfort him. "I wish I could let you and everyone else in the world see Dick Gumshoe through my eyes, even for a minute. Maybe then you'd understand."

"Understand what, pal?" He asked, looking to them with eyes that were defeated and tired. What could they possibly see in him that was so wonderful?

The fact that he really didn't know reaffirmed their need to tell him, and they did so softly. "Dick, you are one of the kindest people I've ever met! You're passionate, you're selfless, and you always try your hardest to take care of those around you. You're an amazing person and a terrific detective, regardless of what Miles or that spiky-haired defense attorney may say! Even if you overlook a few details or miss something small, that doesnt change the fact that you deserve respect! Don't you ever think for one single second that how they berate you is how the world sees you."

The detective stood silent for a moment, tears brimming in his eyes. Nobody had ever asserted his worth to him before, let alone done so in such a genuine and caring manner. He almost felt like a weight had been lifted off of him, and he couldnt help himself from pulling them into another embrace. "Thanks, pal... I think I really needed to hear that."

"You deserve to hear it! Your worth isnt measured by how well you fit into anyone else's mold of what they think you should be! I think you're perfect just the way you are," They said quietly, squeezing him tight. "I care a lot about you, and I mean it, really and truly."

When the hug was let go the two of their gazes held, both tearing up more than a little. Rain laughed in embarrassment and the sound caused Dick to do so, as well. Never before had he felt so cared for by another person. He knew in that moment that he truly was cared about by someone, something he very rarely had concrete evidence of in his life of prosecutors with whips and sharp tongues.

For the first time in a while, he felt truly cared for, and that maybe he really was good enough.