#embarrassingly so

sammy bryant and the overworked, underpaid, absolutely miserable state defence attorney that the scumbags he arrests get. most of the time cops don't really respect these lawyers too much, and at first he does have his reservations. especially when you show up with a bit of an attitude, clearly having a shitty day and tired from dealing with worse cops than him. but sammy knows that you don't get to choose your cases, that you just get assigned to them. and he feels so bad everytime you arrive at the station with a cup of burnt coffee in your hands and anxiety written all over your face.

despite it all, you have always been so cordial with him. you always call him detective bryant and you kinda avoid his eyes when you say im alright, thank you while you guys wait in the station hallways before an interrogation and sammy can't help but ask you okay? to fill the silence. which makes you always seem a little bit too shy around him. though you seem shy around everyone and he wonders if this is the right job for you at all. he does makes you smile once, though, and it makes him so giddy he takes it as his win for the month.

Neil laughs at Andrew's question.

"He was never a big fan of being too hot but no... not Arizona." Neil says with a smile that is more fond than sad. "I've given you quite a few questions on credit Andrew. I'll consider us even if you answer the next one honestly." he says, "But after that I don't want to play this game for a bit." he crosses his arms and leans heavily on them as he looks out over the campus.

"Ask." Andrew says.

Din dropping The Child off at school.

Din to his son in front of everyone: “What do you say?”

The Child: “Dad! Embarrass me, you are.”

Din: “I’m not leaving until you say it.”

The Child: “Love you, I do.”

“Hello Fleur, it’s lovely to see you too.” Hermione doesn’t look up from the parchment, her quill still scratching across the paper.

Fleur rolls her eyes as she sat down beside Hermione. “Salut Hermione, ça va?”

“I’m fine, thank you for asking.” Hermione sets the quill aside, she takes off her glasses as she turns toward Fleur. “And to answer your rudely asked question, no, no one has asked me out.”

“Truly? No fine, young woman has come to catch the heart of Hermione Granger?!” Fleur gasps in mock disbelief. “How come? Surely only a fool would let this chance slip through their fingers!”

“Stop being ridiculous, Fleur, and besides this is me we’re talking about; boring, know-it-all, butch, Hermione Granger.”

“Pardon my French, but that is bullshit,” Fleur hisses. “The girls of this school are idiots if they do not see how beautiful, and how kind you are, and what is wrong with being smart? I find that quite attractive. Actually, I would happily date you, if you wanted me of course.”

During Fleur’s little rant Hermione had sunk down in her chair, her fingers spinning her ring. “Come on, stop with that rubbish, you’re just saying that because you’re my friend.”

“Hermione, look at me.” Hermione met Fleur’s eyes with hesitation, and she found herself staring into stormy blue eyes. “Be my date to the Yule Ball.”

“Wh-what!? Fleur, please stop-”

“I’m not joking, I would never joke about this...I was planning to ask you in a far more romantic way, but I guess this will do too.” Fleur suddenly turns shy, turning her head to stare at the table top. “I...I have never really felt this way before for someone, and I think-no! I want to believe this means you-that you are someone very special to me.”

Fleur looks back at Hermione, a small smirk blossoming on her lips at seeing how flushed Hermione is; her fingers couldn’t stop fidgeting with her ring. Fleur gingerly took Hermione’s hands in hers. “It is okay if you do not feel the same way, though I ask you to kill me gently if that is so; we veelas have soft hearts when it comes to love, I’m afraid I will not survive the heartbreak.”

“...Love?” Hermione’s voice is so tiny Fleur almost did hear the word.

“Yes, veelas only fall in love once and that is with their mate. I’m not sure, but I do believe you are my mate, like I said I have never felt this way before for anyone else.”

Hermione is quiet for a minute, though to Fleur she swears it was hours. “...You know, for a not romantic asking...it turned out pretty romantic.” Hermione couldn’t stop the small giggle that slipped pass her lips.

“Thank you, I’m told I can be very dramatic by this handsome, young woman that just loves to point out my perfection.”

“Sounds like a smart girl.” Hermione giggles again, but her slight smile quickly faded; she can’t stop playing with Fleur’s fingers.

Fleur lets Hermione keep playing with her hands. “I told you a lot today, I practically told you I’m in love with you. There is no rush to give me an answer.”

Hermione’s fidgeting finally stops. “are you okay with waiting a bit?”