here comes the smoulder

“Exactly. Paperwork. So unless you are planning to use it to blackmail your clients, it’s essentially worthless.” Sherlock looked at him again. “Though I’m sure you’d consider skating on the wrong side of the law. It wouldn’t be the first time for you.” Sherlock popped a sweet into his mouth and closed his eyes, only opening them again when the other man asked him if he’d been stalking him. It caused a snort to fall from his lips. “Boring.” He stated matter-of-fact. “You put effort in this morning. Presumably trying to impress someone and given it’s a frequent stop for you; i’d assume that it’s for more than just the coffee.Though the one you are currently half wearing because you spent too much time talking to the waitress to realise you were going to be late, is a brand specific to that particular coffee shop.” He stated as if it were obvious from the splashes that the other male had managed to drip on the cuff of his shirt sleeve. “Assuming that all that is correct, one could rightly come to the conclusion that in your rush you left the briefcase under the desk as you were more interested in making sure you got her number; the one that is half sticking out of your pocket right now in fact.” Written on the back of a napkin. “And you could tell me I’m right. That’d be a start.”

“Excuse you I–” he began but was cut off by the man going off on an eerily specific rambling. “I have no idea what you’re–” Flynn huffed, puffing out his chest but was once again cut off. How did this man know these things? He felt threatened, not only because the man knew so much about him out of nowhere, but also because he felt like a subpar P.I. in comparison. He tried his best to keep his jaw from dropping as the man began to recite Flynn’s day as if he had been there shadowing him through it. “Who the hell are you?” he finally said, still struggling to process the invasive analysis that had just happened.

“If it’s going to inflate your ego, maybe I should reign you back in a little. Don’t want you getting too big of a head Mr Rider.” Rae teased the other, “Do you? Because I do believe you try and con me out of free things the majority of the time, that and you leave me IOU’s that never get repaid.” She commented, crossing her arms over her chest for dramatic flair. “That’s what I like to hear, dangerously good means the cake it’s going on should have a dangerous name. Any suggestions?” She asked, pointing her spoon in the others direction, “Do not underestimate my time keeping skills.” 

“It would be to late for that, sunshine,” he told her with a smirk. “I’d say it’s your fault for never checking up or cashing in those favors. I’m also a busy man, we can’t forget that,” Flynn spun with another little chuckle. “A dangerous name for a cake?” he furrowed his brows, “You could always go for something as simple as ‘revenge’, considering it’s as sweet as that,” he suggested with a little shrug. “I’ve quickly learned that it’s not really wise to underestimate any of your skills.”

Allison squinted her eyes at the other. “Touché.”

“What are you doing here? Hiding?”

“ ah. library goers. i approve. but are you deliberately hiding books behind your back ? you act as if any knowledge might be forbidden . ”

Flynn stood up straighter, bringing the book back in front of him, “I wasn’t– uh I wasn’t hiding anything,” he insisted with a little huff. He had been caught.

“Next state over.” He tries to keep a straight face, and can’t help laughing. “Nah, mate, they don’t pay me enough to drive long-distances. Outskirts of Maple Falls. You’re alright. You’ll be out a bit of cash to get a bus back, unless you’re happy with waiting for me to go back the other way.”

His eyes went wide for a moment until the man began to laugh. “Fuck– you scared the shit out of me there,” Flynn cursed, reaching for his heart that felt like it might just jump out of his chest. He listened to the other continue, weighing out his options. “How long until you set off to go back the other way?”

“You are the worst friend ever, aren’t you.” Belle teased, hooking arms with Flynn and smiling brightly at the mention of food. “Oh definitely! That sounds perfect actually and then I’ll walk you home.”

“I really am,” he beamed back. “Walk me home? I mean you’re more than capable to walk yourself home but letting you walk home alone makes me look bad,” Flynn teased her lightly.

“That’s not a maybe.” Just how much people could put up with was dependent on the person of course.  “Yeah yeah, just don’t mess me round in the future Flynn.”

“You don’t have to worry about that,” Flynn promised the other with a curt nod.

“Oh, not again - look, mate, really sorry, but it’s the end of the route and you’ve got to get off the bus now.”

“Huh– wha?” Flynn gurgled tiredly, the man’s words having woken him up from what appeared to be a very deep sleep. “Sorry wait– where am I?” he asked, squinting at the light coming through the bus’ windows and rubbing his eyes from the nap he had just had. “End of the route? Where... where is that exactly?” Flynn asked, seeming to be more awake from the shock and realization. “I’m still in Maple Falls right?”

“That pathetic thing that probably has nothing of real value in it?” Sherlock answered slowly after a moment. “But no, it was not left here.” The curly haired man turned his head to look at the other man for a moment, surveying him. “I would say you probably left it in the cafe you visited this morning. I’m presuming its that Lait one.” He stated with a twirl of his wrist. “I’d look there if I were you given how distracted you were when you were there.”

“Excuse me?” he blinked at the other as if he had grown a second head. “It had a lot of paperwork I use for my job– so I’m sure my clients would beg to differ when it comes to whether or not the contents of that case had value or not.” When the man suggested he check the café, Flynn was even more bewildered, “Have you been stalking me?” he asked, suddenly looking behind him before looking to the man once more. “Did somebody hire you to follow me?” Flynn added, his mind suddenly rifling through any clients or people from his past who could possibly be holding a grudge. Unfortunately that list existed, so it was highly plausible. Regardless he tried to steady himself but his tone came out a little tense, “What do you want?”

“For someone who has confidential work, you’re not a very good liar.”

“Every thought that maybe that’s exactly what I want you to think?” he countered snippily. 

“Why yes, yes you did.” Isabelle agreed with a nod and a laugh at that though it was clear she felt fondly about the man. “You know, I don’t particularly mind being called a nerd so your insults fall a little flat Mr Rider.”

“That is exactly something a nerd would say,” Flynn cracked an amused grin. “Alright where to next? Maybe some fries and milkshakes? Feels appropriate after a movie.”

“Maybe. There is still a limit as to what people are willing to put up with though.” Bucky answered, setting his things down again and handing over the keys. “It’ll go like a dream now.”

“Yeah maybe so,” he shrugged slightly. Flynn eyed his keys before looking back up to Bucky. “Thank you. Again,” he said before reaching for the keys.

“I don’t know who told you that, but that’s certainly not true in politics. And in life.”

“No offense but I don’t exactly trust the street smarts of a guy dressed as nicely as you,” Flynn nodded towards the younger male. “You also had a considerably more comfortable upbringing than I did, being the mayor’s son and all,” he pointed out.

Just how many cigarettes Sherlock had gone through today was beyond counting now. Still, he was lounged across the seat, exhaling a long plume of smoke, watching as it curled enticingly in the air above him. “Unless you have something at least vaguely entertaining to say, I would avoid interrupting my ‘me’ time.” Came the comment as he noticed the arrival of another body.

“Trust you me– I’m all about not getting in between a man and his ‘me’ time but this is kinda important,” Flynn told the other as he had approached him. “I was on this bench earlier today and I'm retracing my steps trying to find a briefcase. I was wondering if I could have left it here. Did you see anything? If not that’s fine I’ll get out of your hair,” he elaborated, feeling admittedly stupid he had lost anything in the first place. It wasn’t like him but he was determined to find it.

“I mean… you are pretty good at shutting off your brain.” She teased, giving the side of his head a tap with her finger playfully before laughing. “And you’re welcome. I always like to get other people into books and I like to think I have a good grasp on things that people will like.”

“I– Well I can’t even take offense to that because I totally set myself up there,” Flynn gave in with a chuckle, swatting away her hand childishly. “Of course you do,” he rolled his eyes playfully at her, “Nerd.”

“And do you really wonder why?” Bucky asked after a moment before letting out a slight, frustrated sigh. “You’re not exactly an angel. And example or not, I’d say it’s pretty dead on the mark.”

“That whole ‘angel’ thing is so overrated if you ask me. Satan was once an angel and what did that get him? You know?” Flynn replied, feeling rather lost with who he was meant to be really.