#herturnabout

          Grin starts to form as soon as he catches a glimpse of the woman making her way to his desk, attention shifting from his paperwork to his company. Her visit makes for a pleasant ( admittedly much needed ) break from the mundanity of filling out forms and reviewing notes, although with his lunch break approaching, all that’s left on this slow day is to file his papers away. “Sure do, I’m fuckin’ starvin’,” he answers, finishing up what little work remains. “There’s this one burger joint a few blocks from here that got those triple burgers with extra cheese n’ all. Let’s go for those.” Rising to his feet, he tucks the folder underneath one arm and places a hand on Mia’s back to guide her out of the aisle of lined-up desks. “Shoot me a message next time though — you don’t gotta walk all the way from your office to here.”

        he only distantly registers the sound of the coffee cup setting down on the table—what with all the thoughts that pass through his mind like ebbing tides at the vaguely familiar, yet almost forgotten touch. there are only few things that could be any more surreal than this; but he decides, for once, to not let diffidence get in the way of veracity. “... i missed you, you know?” 

          He’s a little too caught off guard, a little too dumbfounded by the kindness awarded to him to maintain the nonchalance that’s otherwise second nature to him — gaze darting from her to the sign of approval glued to his hand, and back. Oh, she must’ve heard about that carpool incident and understood ( unlike others ) why he had deemed that measure necessary. It’s rare to be shown gratitude in this thankless job, but even rarer for his smile to reach his eyes when he responds, tone free of any bite, “Thank you, Miss. I’m gonna keep it up for sure.”

       “i don’t ——” the sentence dies in his mouth before ever making it past his lips, vowels cut off by the sharp movement of his turning head; ( comprehension hitting him like a rogue brick ). “—— your what?! this man has single-handedly put an entire company’s car pool out of commission last week, mia! i’m still swamped with complaint letters!” and she gives him cheek kisses. CHEEK KISSES!!?

     ❝This may be an...Odd question, but can you tell me where this train is going?❞ 

        “ — and i take it any variations thereof are off-limits too,                           ... isn’t that right, ms. ace attorney?”

❝   You’re   the   one   defending   me   here,   but   do   you   really   think   they   won’t   find   me guilty  ?   ❞

    “ listen closely and you can hear the milk in the fridge HISSING my way, mia. ”