I leaned back in my office chair as I stared at the morning cumulus that floated peacefully over the building. I placed my feet up on the black and smooth top of my laminated desk - trying my best not to knock over anything as I relaxed within the four corners of my workspace. The day was yet to begin, and with it, I took the time to appreciate the peaceful respite of the many faces slowly funneling into the building for their shift.

"If you're going to clock in early just to laze around in the office, at least act with some decency." My dear partner commented, closing the door behind her and filling the serene atmosphere of the room with a winter current.

"Oh, and good morning." She added with a polite nod and fraudulent smile.

"Well, at least you're courteous." I replied, "And besides, you said it yourself. It's technically still my free time, so what do you care?" She pondered on it for a second before going Hmph and walking toward my desk.

"Fair enough, but at least put your feet down. It's unbecoming even for you." She expressed with already exasperated eyes while placing a warm cup of coffee from our break area's machine onto my desk, a tiny wisp of steam blanketing my desktop along with a pleasing aroma.

"Thanks," I said, grabbing the plastic cup with both hands and gently blowing on it as I turned my chair to face her.

Myla sat down as well, placing her own caffeine next to her before readying her laptop.

"That's gonna get cold, y'know?"

"I prefer it that way." She added, her gaze unmoving as her computer booted up.

With how you are, I give that cup of joe five minutes before it turns solid.

Still, even she wasn't enough of a workaholic to ignore the fact that it was very early in the day to start any work. She sighed before closing her laptop shut and placing her back further into her chair to lounge as well - her ashy hair above and behind the backrest.

"Look who's come around to my way of thinking."

"I'd have to cease any kind of thinking at all if that was the case." She quipped back, taking the coffee into her hands and sipping it - the warm steam cloaking the minimalist glasses sat on her slim face.

I'd say you could paint this scene and put it in an art gallery, but her little flinch at the boiling liquid and the fact she probably can't see kind of ruins it.

As much as I would've liked to tease for that, I enjoyed the tranquility that came from a ceasefire with my dear partner, especially after last week. The case of Nash Newland and Livia Linville was a tough nut to crack, one that was not just a test of our ability as surveyors but my own conviction as one. Call it a result of too much free time and a bad case of overthinking. But it was a lapse in judgment that, while I regret, at least ended on a good note, as from our follow-up meetings with Livia, things have been going well for her and her other half's exploits.

Though J.C. won't let me hear the end of it...

On another note, Myla didn't seem to inquire further about what was up with me either. I didn't know how to feel about that, whether to be disappointed over her lack of concern for her partner or relieved that she was able to work with me even when I felt lost, or I guess a bit of both. Maybe she did know what I was thinking and had faith I could think past it, or perhaps she couldn't care less and just powered through without a care in the world. Whatever my dear partner was thinking, it was a good reminder that, if nothing else, she's reliable.

These words must never leave my mind, lest we admit surrender and submit to the icy devil's will.

"Random question, but what do you usually do with your salary?" I threw a query to pass some time and wait for my own drink to cool.

"Hmm? That's rather out of the blue." She returned with a raised brow.

"Yeah, I guess. It's just we get a fair amount, and the end of the month is coming up and all. It was on my mind." I said, blowing a bit at the cup.

"If I had to say, I don't spend much. Most of it I save for other purposes."

"Like what?"

"Now you're just prying." She shot back, clearly not entertained by my questions.

"Alright, alright." I conceded, taking a sip of my drink which had cooled to a tolerable level during our conversation. The question was on my mind for another reason, my motivation. At the start, I took the job because the money was good, plain and simple. But after meeting Amanda again, my goal shifted to ensuring she would be happy. But now, after last week, I'm a bit more open to this company's ideologies, which sucks because that extends to Myla's ideologies, something she'd never live down if she knew.

Even if I still find it strange that a loveless soul like her is so adamant about it.

I could almost find myself enjoying the job.

"At the very least, I've heard Alexandre has received far fewer complaints from the tech department over the week. I never thought I'd see the day you would become tired of being a nuisance." My dear partner commented, hiding her cheeky smirk behind her beverage.

Almost. Also, I saw you flinch again.

"Judging from your attitude, I'm far from sick of it."

"You walk the fine line between consistency and stubbornness masterfully. I find it hard to choose between disappointment and astonishment." She added, her expression conveying a mix of worry and sarcastic endearment.

"You know you missed me," I said teasingly, which only earned me silence from my exasperated partner.

No matter how heated or comical our battle of quips became, Myla would always return to her unshakeably cold state. But as frigid as the room's atmosphere became, being trapped in the marble-white corners of the room resembling polar ice sheets became a comfort I could rely on.

That or relaxing at work like this just feels better than doing it at home for some reason.

And indeed, we did have plenty of time to spare, more than enough to get an early start even. And being a child of the 21st century, free time meant phone time. I opened up my device, the wealth of applications all flashing themselves at me to try and take my time. But before I could choose today's time-waster, a notification caught my eye.

"That reminds me, didn't Keith want to talk to us about something? Something we couldn't include Amanda in?" I asked while skimming through the introvert's messages during our time with Nash and Lily.

"Yes, he asked me yesterday if we could meet him today." She replied, also taking out her cell.

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"And? What now?"

"I suggested during our break so as to not disturb our schedule and avoid informing Miss Adler." Myla informed me of the plan but with an unsure tone.

"Good to know. But it's still weird, right?"

"Requests like this aren't unheard of, especially when we have a client who wishes to surprise their partner. But even in those cases, we usually get a formal call, not something like this."

"If it's not that and there's some kind of issue, it wouldn't make sense for them not to file something. I don't see either of them hiding anything from us, so it just feels off..." I pondered, closing my phone and placing my hand under my chin.

In particular, I don't see Amanda making that same mistake twice.

"We can agree on that point. But as of now, we can only assume, and while I dislike the idea of meeting a client under such circumstances, I'll oblige this once." She finished, taking the last sip of her more than likely lukewarm drink.

"Aren't you just sweet as a peach?" I joked, earning a sigh from my dear partner before she stood up and stated,

"At least one of us has to be." And with that, Myla exited the office to fetch the day's workload, leaving me little chance to counter her final jab.

That's wrong, and you absolutely know it.

The day passed as it usually would, with a few spats here and there and a few awkward first dates or so later, and our lunch break arrived without much fanfare.

"He really likes this spot, huh?" I asked as we parked beside a building with a unique design boasting sharp edges and bold points. Its interior of ebony wood and elegant blacks reflected a silky sheen in the afternoon sun's autumnal barrage.

"Or so it seems." My deer partner commented before exiting the vehicle - her near-argent locks flowing along the fall breeze like liquid metal.

If her looks were as deadly as mercury, I'd say her looks could absolutely kill.

"You look menacing like that," I commented as I left the car, "You wanna scare the answer out of Keith or something?" I asked as I pointed out my dear partner's glinting amber orbs.

"I prefer glasses, but contacts prevent the air conditioning from blocking my view." She replied, turning away from me and facing the entrance.

We have been turning up the air conditioning since it's still hot out.

"...Does it look strange then?" Myla opened the door but held still before entering.

"Hmm? Not really? Glasses make you look all mean and serious, but contacts make you look like you're gonna stab someone, so it works either way-"

"Ah, there he is." And with that, she threw back the heavy door, slamming it shut behind her as she gracefully walked in.

"I deserved that," I told myself, following after her as I laughed to myself.

But Myla wasn't lying as I began to scan the aesthetically-pleasing space - I saw she had already taken a seat in front of our introverted client. He sported a fall-ready ensemble with a black long-sleeved polo shirt covered with a dark moss green bomber jacket. And atop his quaint pair of lenses sat a fluffy gray beanie.

I respect the seasonal attire but is it really worth the heatstroke?

"Ah, Bridger! It's been quite some time." He greeted me with a smile as warm as the honey-hued lights above us before adding, "Oh, you have something on your face around here."

"Don't worry about it. Probably just the door." He tilted his head at my response, but I chose fun over clarity as I took my seat next to Myla without elaborating further.

"Before we start, thanks a lot, guys. I don't wanna be a bother and-" He tried to explain, but a cold voice cut him off.

"It's alright. We've taken care to abide by your request, but even so, we only have until our break ends, so let's keep things concise."

"I'll order us food!" I interjected enthusiastically, only getting a drawn-out and dismayed mhm from my dear partner.

I love overpriced and mediocre food from cafes.

I flagged down a server, quickly getting one's attention as Keith began to explain himself.

"I called you guys to talk about something related to Amanda." He began as I cheerfully pointed to a salad and BLT - costing more than double what we usually paid.

"That much we could guess, but why the need to keep it secret?" I asked after the server left with a customer-ready smile to match my own.

"If there's a matter concerning your relationship with Miss Adler, it's best you inform us with her present. And if this could possibly jeopardize it, we can't make an exception." Myla added with a stern and almost accusing tone.

"Even to our favorite clients," I whispered with a grin, which I hid from my dear partner.

"Maintain your professionalism, Bridger. We do not pick favorites."

"She's lying," I continued softly, "You're our favorite by a longshot."

Myla sighed, realizing there was no refuting my factual claims, and instead cleared her throat tactfully before proceeding.

"Whatever the case, it's best you inform both us and Amanda of any such concerns."

"Ah, I guess that makes sense," The introvert began timidly, "But I swear, nothing like that's going on between us." He added with his hands together which did little to sway my and Myla's unconvinced gazes.

"Really! Ever since last month, we've gone out whenever we have a day off. And we've organized our schedules to line up with that too!" We nodded along, perhaps mumbling an uhuh or two here and there.

"We've headed to all the spots you guys told us about and even took your advice on learning about each other's hobbies." He spoke clearly and fluently, and even though he seemed a bit redder than earlier, honesty was evident in his disposition.

"Though I don't really have any hobbies, so that was a bit-" I cut him off before he could chew our ears out any further.

"Alright, alright. We get it. We asked for justification, not bragging, m'kay?" I asked with a warm smile, endearment, and some pride lacing my tone.

The introvert evidently realized the trance he had entered, lowering his gaze and anxiously laughing as I eyed him teasingly, my dear partner wordlessly observing but seemingly accepting the introvert's defense.

"And besides - when we observed you guys last month, you passed with flying colors. So we'll give you the benefit of the doubt for now." I reassured him, placing my arms on the table to begin.

Then again, the test we make couples take are custom-made for each pair. It's like school but better.

"That is to say, tell us what you need." I offered kindly but still understood the need to listen and speak from the position of a surveyor.

Keith exhaled while turning his gaze to his feet. It seemed even before he said anything - he was deadset on keeping things vague no matter the implied risks.

"For now, I really don't know, or maybe can't tell you. I feel like if I say it now, it won't come out the way I want it to, and I'll only confuse you two more than I have myself..." The introvert spoke somberly but resolutely.

It obviously wasn't ideal - far from it. Not only was Amanda unaware of her partner's acts, but both she and we were also blind to whatever reasoning fueled them.

"Man, you don't have to hide much from us, even ignoring that listening to you is our job - we, and if you'd take my word, Amanda, are more than willing to hear you out." I began with a concerned tone, clasping my hands together as I did.

"I don't think I have to explain why clear and constant communication is important in any relationship Keith, including communication with us."

"I fully understand that, and I'm not trying to deny it." He began, finally looking up at us with sincerity in his orbs.

"But I want to figure this out on my own, and I promise you it'll be just this once." Along with his final words came a silence between the three of us as we processed our client's request.

No one spoke at that point until our order arrived - only the soft "Please enjoy." of the server and the mumbled conversations of the cafe's patrons entered my ears. And even then, my mind spun with thoughts unhindered by their words.

Should we turn him down? Should we hear him out more? We're not entitled to heed these kinds of requests as surveyors - but what about as someone with a promise to keep? Would this let him understand himself and his partner more? Or would it just be a catalyst for the destruction of their pairing?

I pondered in the wordless atmosphere for a bit until the high-pitched clacking of utensils snapped me out of my contemplating. It made me turn to my dear partner, who was getting ready to eat.

"In a way, you're denying the very purpose of our existence as surveyors with that mindset." She spoke with her signature coldness, though her unbothered reaction seemed to be a sign of approval - her wary eyes said otherwise.

You're the boss, ma'am.

"He'll be fine! I mean, you deny my existence all the time, right?" I continued, beaming Myla with a smile.

"Special people like yourself are excepted to such norms." She shot back, clearly reserving her kindness only for clients.

"Where did Little Miss No Exceptions from earlier go?"

"She died the day we became partners." She added before taking a sip from the coffee that came with her meal, "And also, you know well I only take water for my breaks."

"Well, I'm sorry that the only water they have here is sparkling and costs more than twice a cup of coffee," I replied as I grabbed and picked up my own meal in hand to eat.

"It's what?"

"Guys!" Keith finally spoke up, breaking up our little quarrel, which in a way, was also to reinstate a more casual and familiar environment to restart the conversation.

Because us fighting is way more familiar than us working together.

We both turned to him with attentive gazes, readying ourselves for the form his request would take.

"This is going to sound weird, and I already checked everywhere for an answer, but..." He breathed in before continuing and speaking with eagerness...

"An internship program at aiAI?"

Why is it always so weird with you people? Why can't your requests ever just be fetch quests? Damn it all.