#thegrimdarkoffice

"DO YOU REALLY MEAN THAT?" Birch asks.

"He doesn't." Ezra answers for him.

"Well, it feels good now. I missed this place! I was here for a decade, you know." Bradley drops his arms with a pout. No one bats an eye.

"Why did you come back anyway?" Alice says. "You came crashing into our Office like you're running for your life. We all thought you and Ezra would be living happily ever after by now, not rushing to come back here."

"You told her about me?" Ezra mutters.

Bradley shrugs, unapologetic. "I was here for ten years. I thought I'd never see you again, Ezzy. Why shouldn't I have talked about my past?"

Ezra doesn't reply right away, seizing Alice and Birch up with obvious discomfort. His gaze lingers on Birch, especially. The darkness under her hood, her lack of arms or legs unnerve him.

"What if she tried to curse me or something?" He finally asks.

"Excuse me? Why the fuck would I curse you? Do I look like I have nothing better to do with my time?"

"SHE DOESN'T, USUALLY."

"Guuuuuys! Stop it! Can't a man return back to the Hellhole Office he suffered in for years and bring two innocent outsiders along without anyone making a big deal out of it?"

Alice huffs. "Speaking of, who is the newcomer anyway? We know about Ezra, but who is she?"

They all glanced at the woman, who just crosses her arms and glares back at them.

"What's it to you?" She snaps.

Her hair is tied back in a pony tail, light brown and disheleved. She sits like she's ready to spring forward like a taut rubber band, her eyes hard. On her hip she's carrying a pistol.

"She's a friend." Ezra says, at the same time Bradley says, "She's no one important."

A pause. They exchange glances, until Ezra purses his lips in disapproval.

"Don't worry about her." Bradley tells the others. "We were pretty busy in the real world for a while and we maaaaay have sort of accidently become three of the most wanted people in the United States. But! None of that matters right now, I promise. For now, all we wanna do is catch up on rest."

He gets up and offers his hands to Ezra and the woman. They take them, hesitantly, not sure what he's about to do.

"Why are we holding hands?" The woman asks and Bradley gives her a mischievous grin.

> god. um. okay. well, not by any fae rights, it isn't. that is to say, i amn't. but i don't think you've exactly got 'spooky goth lady' printed on your own birth certificate, and yet that's what you're called to me, so...

> identity's a moot point, i guess.

> yes, i'm the dude that tried to advocate for rex's visitation rights that one time. that's me.

Happy Birthday, Felix!  @neverendingparable                                                         I was a little out of ideas, so decided to draw them, hope it’s ok x)       (avatars are under the cut, just in case)

Maybe things could calm down for a while. His constant itch to hurt and torment is fading, replaced by a new want. To be around his kids a bit more, see them happy. To get into more fights with Raphael that will eventually end up with them having to stitch their mutually inflicted wounds or falling asleep in the Lounge together. He is growing fond of that angel as much as he hates to admit it.

He steps out of the Lounge and makes his way down the hallway, his feet bare on the carpeted floor after an entire night of running around in heels. He can't wait to curl up with the others and finally get some sleep-

"Hello, Townsend." A familiar voice stops him dead in his tracks.

Rex turns, a mocking grin is already on his face, out of habit.

"Nero."

She's carrying a small stack of books in her arms, which she places on a nearby surface.

"I brought some books I think you might like. Based on what reading materials you were checking out earlier."

Inspector Cornelius was sipping his coffee and reading his daily dose of the Office's news on his phone—which tab he instantly pokes closed the moment he hears someone calling him. He looks up and shoots her one of his nicest smiles. "Hello, Ms Dottie! What a pleasant surprise to see you again," he says as he waves at her.