Madelynn sat at her table, teeth clenching three pin needles at various angles. In front of her was her work sketchbook, pencil in hand, and next to it was a miniature model of the dress was currently designing. Or butchering, depending on your perspective.

With a flourish, she took a pin out with her left hand and used it to stab right into the small mannequin's heart as she drew. Her floofy hair bounced about with her jerking movements as she added something else to the drawing.

She could feel eyes on her from Diana on one side, and Trevor on the other, but she paid them no mind. Rather, she focused instead on pouring her emotions into this design that she intended to present as soon as possible. It had to be amazing. It had to be packed with rage, hatred, and a bit of a hurt.

It had to be…

“Maddie, you good?” Diana’s hand came on her shoulder, and Madelynn jerked away from her. Spitting out the pins onto the table, she glanced up at her friend's worry lined face.

“I am fine. I just have to finish this.” Madelynn fought the urge to roll her eyes. Diana was only being a good friend, after all.

“Well…It’s lunch time. If you want to join Trevor and I.” Diana offered her one of those smiles that Madelynn hated. It was the kind that was trying to be reassuring, but couldn’t hide the pity behind it.

And she didn’t need pity.

Knocking Diana’s hand away with her own, she turned back to her work. “I said I was fine.”

Diana and Trevor stood awkwardly around her for a moment, before she saw Diana’s shoulders slump out of the corner of her eyes. She gave a nod.

“Right…Come on Trevor.” They left.

The silence that followed their departure was heavy, pressing down on Madelynn liked that blanket her sister had gotten as a gag gift. Setting the pencil aside, she placed her elbows on the table and rubbed her temples.

“Damn it…” For a moment, she felt like a complete and utter failure. Then she heard the click of the office door and her eyes rose to see Damien coming out.

Somehow, he had managed to hide inside that office all morning. She had not seen him since their spat a few hours ago.

Now they stared at each other, him seeming rathered surprised to see her, and her, picturing pouring hot oil on his head. Though that would be overkill.

“Ah…Miss Fisher. I was on my way to lunch.” All emotion slid from his face as he got over his surprise. Honestly, that cold, aloof look didn’t suit him at all.

She leaned back in her chair, cocking her head to the one side rather haughtily as she crossed her legs.

“Don’t let me keep you.” Picking up her sketchbook, she held it up to pointedly block him from her sight.

“Not at all.” He started to walk away, then stopped, turning back to her. She suppressed the urge to groan, but only just. “Actually, Madelynn…Would you care to join me?”

Breathing in deeply through her nose, she took a long moment before raising her eyes to stare at him.

“No.” Madelynn leaned over to grab her pencil, and resumed adding a piece of rectangular shaped cloth to the front of the dress she was making.

“Suit yourself. Just don’t let your neglect of your bodily needs detract from your work.” She slammed the sketchbook down to glare after him as he headed out of the department.

“Who does he think he is?!” She snarled as she stood up, leaning over the table to continue glaring after him.

Then she took a breath and slumped in the chair, lips pursed into a fine line. He wasn’t wrong, but it still pissed her off. Like skipping one meal was going to kill her. Picking up her phone, she checked the time.

12:15

With a sigh, she stood up. She could make it to the cafeteria, but she didn’t want to see Diana and Trevor just yet. Though she did feel bad for blowing them off like that.

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“Hmm…I might have time to make it there and back…” She mused to herself, getting up from her seat. It would take some wing power, but she figured she could make it to the café and back before lunch was officially over.

Maybe.

Madelynn made good time, especially since she went out a window rather than go down to the first floor of the building. It wasn’t hard, and frankly, pixies and fairies did it all the time. Power of wings.

The Hot Spot was popping, as per usual, but she slipped to the back of the line with ease. She had come at a good time when the line was inside the building. It wouldn’t last, but not having to be outside was welcomed by her.

Taking out her phone, she popped open a Sudoku app, and started up a puzzle. She found playing games like this kept her mind sharp, and as her father always said, it was never too late to keep the old gears turning. He’d know, being nearly two hundred years of age.

It was well she was playing the app, keeping an eye on the person’s back in front of her, that she felt someone rather large knock into her. In fact, they knocked into her so squarely, that she was actually shoved from the line.

Spinning around with a cry of outrage, she flapped her wings to bring her up to the man’s height. Which was rather high, considering he was a troll; and on his phone at that.

“Excuse me!” She hissed at him.

He lifted a hand, telling her to hold a minute, which caused her face to flush with rage. Reaching out, she snatched the phone right out of his hand, and put it to her ear.

“He’ll call you back.” Before the voice on the other end had time to respond, she hit the red hang up button and handed it back.

That had certainly earned his attention. His green eyes, the color of rich, healthy moss, stared at her with a rather surprised expression. She registered many things very quickly in that moment.

One, he was a troll. Mountain troll, to be exact. Tall, straight back, with blue tinged skin that reminded her of a boulder freshly doused in rain then twinkling in the morning sun. Short spiky hair, sharp, broad features that suited him and a wide mouth that pulled into a smile.

He was rather…cute.

But she had to stick to her guns.

“Cat got your tongue, Pixie?” He arched a thick brow at her, tilting his head to the side.

“Not at all! You knocked me out of line!” She snapped at him.

He blinked, glancing down at where she had been between him and the other person. Then he looked up at her, and snorted out her nose. It was enough to almost send her over the edge.

“I’m sorry. I was caught up in my phone call, but that’s no excuse for not seeing you, Miss…?” Madelynn had not been expecting him to actually apologize. He even stepped back a little as he talked, motioning to the spot in front of him.

She eyed him for a moment, as if expecting him to suddenly sprout three more heads, and start hissing curse words at her. Slipping into the spot, she lowered herself to the ground rather gracefully.

“Fisher…Madelynn Fisher.” Adjusting her top, she glanced up at him with an expression that was equal parts distrust and curiosity.

“A pleasure to meet you, Miss Fisher.” He smiled at her warmly; it was the kind of smile that even reached his eyes, though she could tell from the deep lines there he was a troubled man. Warm, but tired. “I’m Detective Raymond Leaf-Thrasher.”

“D-Detective?” Her mouth fell agape, then she snapped it shut as her embarrassment rose in her. “Oh no, that phone call…”

“Oh, don’t worry. It wasn’t work related.” He shrugged a shoulder, and she could immediately tell how he averted his gaze that he was lying.

A detective with a tell.

He really was cute, and she couldn’t help giggling at him. He glanced back down at her, and the sheepish expression he had on now made him seem younger. More her age.

The line moved, and they moved with it, waiting in silence for a moment. Then she looked up at him again, head craning back to see him. Trolls were rather massive, especially mountain trolls, but it didn’t help she was only five two.

“I’m sorry about hanging up your call.”

“It’s quite alright.” The detective shrugged his shoulders, then inclined his head toward the front as they made it there.

She went to make the order, and felt his warmth remaining at her back as she did so. Her cheeks flushed, still feeling rather embarrassed about her behavior. Though, frankly, he did deserve it for not paying attention.

“A mocha with an extra shot of espresso, soy milk, and a vegan blueberry muffin. A chai latte, extra foam on top, and a green tea with almond milk. Oh, and two cookies - one oatmeal, one chocolate chip.”

As she turned to dig around in her purse for her wallet and card, she felt the man behind her lean over the top of her. She stiffened, preparing to open her mouth to say something when she caught what he was saying.

“I’m paying for her. Get my usual, and Ward’s as well.” His chest rumbled with his deep voice, reminding her of shifting rocks.

She shook her head. She really needed to stop getting caught up in men. For Pete sake, she had just finished a weekend fling with her boss.

Oh no. What if Diana was right, and she could be a…a…promiscuous woman. It wasn’t all bad, but it sounded messy.

“Wait! I can pay for myself!” Madelynn protested as she registered what he said. He looked down at her, and nodded.

“I’m aware. It's my way of apologizing.” With that, he handed over his card and she frowned up at him.

“Well, we were even when I hung up your phone.” Folding her arms, she followed him to the side to wait for the order.

“Then you can even us off once more next time.” He leaned against the counter, watching the barista’s work.

“What makes you so sure there’ll be a next time?” Flitting her wings, she rose up so she wouldn’t have to kill her neck to look at him.

“Heh, just a feeling, Miss Fisher.” He reached out to take her order as it appeared first, handing up to her. As she took it, she met his rather intense green eyes again. “Just a feeling.”