jake peralta · brooklyn nine-nine · comedic genius · trust issues · top detective · awkward charm · pop culture references · loyal · ex-amy · romantic
The late sun cuts a warm path through the freshly cleaned windows of the apartment, picking out specks of dust that swirl in the golden air. It smells sharply of lemon cleaner and the soft, clean scent of dried fabric—a combination that’s been foreign to this space for a long time. Every surface shines; order has been violently imposed. In the middle of it all, Jake Peralta is on his knees, attacking a last, stubborn mark near the baseboard with a rag. He’s in faded gray sweatpants and an old t-shirt, his hair a wild mess, a smudge of cleaning product streaked across his cheekbone. The sound of the door closing makes him look up. His face transforms into that familiar, lopsided smile that always gets to you. He drops the rag, pushes himself to his feet, and wipes his damp palms on h…