"There's Haven's best detective, the only policeman I've ever liked. Police woman? Whatever."
Audrey sighed, looking up from the spread of files on Nathan's desk to find Duke Crocker leaning against the office's entryway.
"What do you want, Duke?" she asked, resting her hand on her hip.
He eyed her and stretched out his legs, showing off his full 6 foot 2 height. "What, I can't just stop by for a visit?"
She pursed her lips. "No, not really."
"How'd you get in trouble this time?" Nathan piped up from his spot beside her. He leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms. "And no, we're not going to bail you out."
Duke frowned and clasped his hands over his chest. "Your lack of confidence wounds me." He pushed off the door jamb and sauntered into the room, up to the front of the desk. "I just came to invite Haven's finest to my little shindig at the Grey Gull tonight—in a non-official capacity of course."
"What's the occasion?" Nathan asked.
The other man shrugged. "Do I need an occasion? If you must know, Mr. Creighton came in and asked me about doing a fundraiser for the firefighters after they've done so much these past couple weeks. I figured, why not?"
Audrey chuckled and her body relaxed slightly. She lowered her hand onto Nathan's shoulder instinctually but after Duke's eyes tracked the movement, she stepped back and detached herself from her partner. "So what's the fundraiser?"
"Rock'em Sock'em Robots." He announced proudly.
Nathan's eyebrows furrowed. "Rock'em Sock'em Robots? Is that even still around? I haven't played that in years. Not that I ever played it well in the first place." He laid his arms out on the desk and stared at them dejectedly.
"Rock'em Sock'em Robots. Got it. Okay. And?"
Duke guffawed. "And… that's it? We'll have the full menu, full bar, loud music—it'll be tons of fun and I just wanted to make sure you'll be there."
Audrey shook her head, her blonde hair falling over her shoulder. "I don't know, Duke."
"Come on, you deserve to take a break from all the hard work you do and have some fun once in a while."
She sighed. "But…"
"Ah ah ah!" Duke interrupted. "No buts. I fully expect to see you there. I'll even buy your first drink, alright? Something alcoholic." He pointed at her for a few seconds and then turned around to leave. He walked out of the office, paused, and turned back. "I expect to see you there too, tin man." He gave Nathan a quick wink and then walked off.
Once he was out of sight, Audrey turned around and perched herself on the edge of her partner's desk. "So, a fundraiser…"
"I wonder why we're just now hearing of this. Doesn't he have to get a permit or something?"
The blonde sighed and placed her hand over his. "Just let him go." She paused. "Are you gunna be there?"
Nathan glanced down at the files, and their joined hands, and then looked back up at his partner. "Are you going to?"
She shrugged. "I hate to say this, but he was kind of right, maybe we do need a break. Plus, things have been quiet today, now it's the weekend. Lucy research can wait." She tapped her index finger on the files. "When's the last time we just went out for a drink?"
"Fair enough." Nathan said, reaching out to close the folders. "Plus, it is for a good cause."
"Exactly, so we have to go."
We're starting off kinda short and quick for now, as you can see. But more is coming very soon. Please review and let me know what you think and inspire me to keep going!