"So that's how it is, huh?" I asked somberly but with a smile - letting my eyes droop as I read the text in the folder.

Fable nervously laughed as she hid her emotions behind the cheerful mask, "Yeah, not exactly a warm winter welcome from me, sorry."

"It's alright." Myla began, "Recognizing you need help and asking for it is the first step to improving. Raise your head, okay?" And she continued, reassuring her as she clasped her hand - clearly worried about the young woman not just as a surveyor but as a friend.

"You don't have to sugarcoat things, y'know?" Fable protested, but all she received from my partner was denial in the form of a shaking head.

"Me? Sugarcoat things? You're sorely mistaken." And as they continued to chat, I took the time to continue browsing the folder.

It wasn't just a document detailing a request - it was the entire record of the pair's history with aiAI, including their personal profiles.

Gale Glenn.

The name wasn't wholly unfamiliar to me as what kind of friend would I be to Fable if I didn't at least know his name, right?

But that was, for the most part, the extent of my knowledge of the individual as his face was nothing but blank to me and his character only snippets of an incomplete puzzle formed from the short tales recounted by the shopkeep during our brief but regular visits.

However, today, that would change as I examined his image that was plastered on the corner of his profile - clearly, a recent one, as its edges were a pristine white compared to some of the aged papers within the folder.

His facial features were sharp - from the edged curves of his face to the narrow matte-blue eyes he held just from a glance, he was far from unattractive. But what was equally apparent was an air of gentleness surrounding his portrait. His fringe cut was bestrewn in a scattered yet somehow even manner as the lengthy locks formed waves of browns tinged with gold that reached all the way down to his silver orbs - the swells of hair complimenting the contours of his visage. And to top it all off, the small and ever so lightly stubbled smile he carried eased my eyes even against the biting cold of the winter breeze - a warm gale to contrast was the best way to put it.

When making puns, one has to be opportunistic.

"Let's see..." I continued scanning the page once I was done with his physical profile, "Aged twenty-five, currently taking a course in musical history, paired five years ago with one Fable Edwards..." My hand subconsciously reached my chin as I continued to scan his file.

But as I did, all I learned were reasons not for but against our current circumstances.

Judging by the old descriptions of previous surveyors, which were strangely familiar to me, all I could gather was that Gale was a hardworking and determined individual - someone who did their best if it meant it would make their other half happy and someone who wasn't opposed to taking things head-on.

Sure, it was always best to hold your thoughts on a person until you actually met them, but as I concluded my reading, I couldn't help but ask.

How'd we get here?

Gale Glenn and his partner's story was near-perfect - a shining example of what aiAI stood for. Two people are given the chance to grow and love each other, learning to overcome problems and better themselves for the sake of one another. It was such a sweet concept I could feel my stomach ache just from reading it.

From what I could recall and from what the aged documents described, the two first called for assistance back when Fable decided to join Gale's band, perhaps leaving the shop to change careers. However, her father, Edmond, disagreed with this, and the surveyor pair of Alexandre Adams and Myla Marika was sent in to solve the case. This resulted in a compromise that had Gale take up a course in musical history to earn a more reliable income source - while Fable continued to improve her musical skills and help out with the family business.

All this is to say the two weren't unfamiliar with tackling problems together through hard work and mutual sacrifices.

How sweet it was to read.

But that sweetness was now undercut by a bitter aftertaste, and it was up to us to figure out why that was.

I flipped the pages back to the beginning to reread the main document - the one which held the reason for this meeting, but before I could, I was stopped, "Ah, you can read it later if it's a bother." Fable offered - her slightly down expression still beaming with kindness.

"Come on now, Fable," I began, looking at her with a reassuring smile of my own, "A few minutes is nothing. And besides, this is our job, remember?" I ensured her, expressing professionalism but speaking as a companion.

"Precious as ever," My dear partner quipped, "Now move a bit and stop hogging the documents you're so eager to read." But before I could, our shoulders were already touching as she leaned in to scan the file.

You know I can place it on the table, right? Look, now Fable's giving us that look again...

I ignored her closeness as best I could and began reading the main page with what composure I had in me.

What I read on the page saddened me, if nothing else.

It detailed how Fable was experiencing what many would call falling out of love, a statement that hit so close to home it may as well have been my roommate.

And the reason why? Similarly familiar, it seemed.

According to her, Gale struggled to juggle his education, band, and married life. His schedule was becoming stressful to maintain, and while it was clearly something that began quite some time ago, it only became noticeable now.

"Not that I'm faulting you for it, Fable, but why did this issue only recently become evident?" Myla asked, the query also floating in my thoughts.

"...I guess 'cause he was hiding it." She finally replied, struggling to accept the answer even now.

"What do you mean?" I continued, placing the folder on the table.

"I think it's cause he's still stuck in a honeymoon phase, you know what I mean?" The shopkeep added, looking down at the file which detailed what exactly she meant.

Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road.

"Ever since we cleared things up a few years ago, he's been trying to maintain the happiness and success we felt back then, but, well..."

"It's not gone to plan, huh?" I finished for her, getting silence as confirmation.

It's inevitable that one's honeymoon high eventually comes to an end. It's called a phase for a reason. Motivation wavers and circumstances change. Life is far too unstable for things to stay idealistic for long, and I was well aware of that.

"I've tried to tell him about it, but he just deflects what I say and tells me everything will be fine with a look in his eyes that says anything but." Fable continued, letting a sigh out as she finished.

"To think Gale would end up like that...I'm sorry for not asking." Myla spoke, her cold tone providing warm comfort to our client, "And to think you'd have to deal with this all over again." She continued - now speaking to me, not mockingly but with what seemed like worry in her amber orbs.

"If this reminds you of me, it shouldn't." I vehemently stated, getting a slight rise from the two, "Fable didn't just ignore it once she noticed - she's fighting to change things. She's...They're far better than me and Amanda." Myla remained silent, though, for a second, I could almost see her surprise turn into a genuine but discreet joy.

I gave her an accusing look, which she noticed once her eyes drifted back to mine, "Oh? Can't someone take a little pride in seeing their partner say something nice?" She switched from reassuring to teasing so quickly that it was almost impressive.

I would've shot back with my own heckling, but the slight easing of Fable's expression kept my words in check.

"That aside, I'm surprised you brought this up without Gale here. He knows about this, right?"

I'm still a little burnt out from our previous covert operation, so I'd like this one to be normal. Thank you very much.

"That's a fair point," Myla began, leaning back into her chair and closing her eyes in thought, "You should have just gone to our office and made a formal request there, no?"

Fable took a moment to mull over her reply, hesitation clear as the winter day in her eyes as a brief silence overcame us.

"I did bring it up with him...A while ago, actually." But, just as she began speaking, she fell silent again as she continued to meticulously pick her words.

"Maybe it was because he was self-conscious about asking for help again or just plain overconfident, but he shot down the idea immediately, not angrily...just...sad." While at first, I thought the dominant emotion Fable felt was sadness, her statements here offered me some nuance.

She was anxious about what the future now held. She was frustrated at her partner and at herself for their inaction. And she was, without a doubt, simply tired.

And as I realized this, my heart ached in a familiar pain. And it was then that perhaps personal ambition took over professionalism. I didn't just need to help Fable for a paycheck.

I needed to help her so that I could prove to myself that I had changed and that I could help others do the same.

"So, how do you plan on getting us to meet if he's so against the idea?" I finally asked, composing myself with a quick breath of the frigid air.

"Well, our routine check is coming up soon, so if you could switch with our usual surveyors and..." She trailed off, perhaps nervous to present her idea as she thought it would be difficult to arrange - especially regarding the fact it would be far more than just a regular inspection.

"We can arrange that," Myla answered, looking up at the October sky in thought, "Exchanging shifts is quite common with surveyors, and we can keep the rest of your request between us, okay?" She added, earning a look of relief from the young woman.

I don't remember being good at keeping secrets being a necessary skill when I signed up. Then again, I signed up the moment I saw the paycheck, so who am I to complain.

"I see...Thank you again, both of you." Fable said - a mix of reassurance and gratitude floating in her eyes, "I'm sorry that we have to trouble you again." She continued as the cold winds gently pushed on her mahogany locks that sat on her shoulders.

Perhaps I didn't deserve a lot, but you and Gale do. We'll help you, promise.

"Don't worry about it. You know the drill. Call us, pick a place, a time, and we'll discuss whatever else, m'kay?" I said, standing up and taking the rest of our food to go in a paper bag.

"You can count on us. Just like last time." My partner followed up, a determined and kind look in her eyes that contrasted with her collected and stern outer self.

"We best get going then," I said, beginning to walk to the sidewalk.

"Take care." I could hear a cold voice from behind me speak, the car's lights coming to life as her steps began to trail mine on the ice-caked concrete.

We entered the car, the frosty mist turning into a cozy air as we closed the doors. Myla rolled the door on the driver's seat down as we bid farewell to the young shopkeeper whose tender smile saw us off even amidst the winter landscape.

The soft whir of the heater became the only sound to fill the car as Myla and I took a moment to process what just happened. Each turn we took in the frozen metropolis was accompanied by another thought regarding the situation, and only once we left the urban tundra did either of our mouths move to speak.

"Our next client is still a ways off, huh?" I asked, looking out into the dull greens of the open fields.

"A bit," Myla replied.

"Sparing no words for small talk, are you, Miss Marika?" I joked, easing the mood as she gave me an exasperated sigh, which earned her a chuckle from me.

"Still," I started after taking in a deep breath, "I know you probably already know I'm thinking this, but Gale's making a mistake...My mistake." But before I could continue, Myla countered my point.

"We can't say for sure yet. No two problems are alike. You can't let your experience influence this."

"I know...It's just...I can't help but feel a little familiar, y'know?"

"...I can't comment on that. But I at least understand what you're trying to say." She answered, her voice slightly wavering as I kept my eyes focused on the moving scenery.

"I know Gale, and I know he's acting like this for Fable," Myla stated, finally catching my full attention as I turned to face her.

"That much is obvious, so what do you mean?" I asked as her eyes drifted for a fleeting instant - it seemed she looked back at a moment from the past.

"He doesn't want to see Fable sad again," She began explaining, "He doesn't want her to experience the stress they faced years ago, so he's trying to keep her and himself in the bubble they made with me and Alexandre. Or at least that's what I think."

"Sounds like quite a pain. Just the kind of work we take, eh?" I tried to lessen the tension through a joke, but Myla's face remained serious.

"Also, try to...Nevermind." She shook her head, her eyes focused on the road, not for safety but to avoid mine.

"What is it? You can tell me If you've got something on your mind." I assured her, but all that did was reinforce the hesitation she kept well hidden in her expression.

"Look...Keep what I said in mind, that's all." Myla finally eked out, uncharacteristically soft in tone.

"What? About letting my sentiments get the better of me?" I protested, half smiling as I thought her reply was another jab, "Come on now, you know I'm better than that." But the look on her face said otherwise.

"Just...Take my advice, and don't say anything you'll regret, okay?" My partner added, a quiet humph as she finished and returned to her usual self.

That's...Kinda cute.

"Still don't know what you mean, but sure." I didn't really have much of a choice, or more accurately, much of a reason to object, "Though, with the way you say things, your advice sure sounds a lot more like a threat." But I wasn't gonna accept defeat without at least one shot taken.

"I'm saying this because I'm on the client's side, after all." She remarked with sincerity, though for what reason I couldn't tell.

"Isn't that a given? It's kind of our job, remember?" I asked in my confusion, but all she did was stay quiet.

I guess I got a little bit of what she meant. Myla must've noticed how I reacted to Fable and was worried I'd let my past mistakes get the better of me, but that was why I was so adamant about taking this task head-on, as proof that I wouldn't let that happen anymore.

Or maybe it's because of that eagerness she's worried...Just a thought, Bridger.

Before I could shrug my conscience off, she spoke, "...I'm saying it because I'm on your side, too. So just shut up and listen, please." Myla spoke with an annoyed yet flustered tone, drawing my attention as I could almost make out a slight blush from the apathetic queen, though I couldn't comment on it as I was at a loss for words upon hearing her strangely thoughtful statement.

She placed her silver locks behind her ear and resettled her eyes on the road as she regained composure - any hint of what seemed like what I'd consider unfounded worry leaving her.

All I could do was nod and go back to viewing the scenery, admittedly confused and feeling a little weird.

Well, if she asks like that, I really don't have much of a choice...Maybe I'm getting too easy.

And the rest of our day went on as usual, though perhaps a bit warmer, even in the winter haze.