This is a multi-chaptered story about Detective Richard Paul hooking up with his MX. Because he needs some love too! (I mean Richard, but it also goes for the MX, I guess ^^ ) And I always end up shipping unpopular underdog pairings, so there you go. Ah well! I hope Det. Paul has some more fans out there and it's not just me ;)

Thanks a lot to Shirokuri for beta-reading!

When Richard arrives at the bullpen this morning, he's not really in the best of moods. Today is one of the worst days of the year for him.

His MX-43 in tow, he makes his way down the few steps and to his desk, giving a short nod to a few guys in silent greeting. He gets out of his coat unenthusiastically and hangs it over the back of the chair. From the corner of his eye he notices his MX sitting down on its allotted seat. Richard snaps his finger at it.

"Hey, come on. Get up."

The MX moves its head to look at the human detective, no emotion whatsoever on its blank face, but there's a slight, automated movement of its eyebrows that mimics a questioning expression. Richard is about to tell his MX not to sit down until it gets him coffee when his eyes catch something unexpected on his desk: There's already a mug of coffee right there. He pauses for a moment, puzzled, then reaches out to wrap his right hand around the mug to check the temperature.

The coffee is hot.

"Uh... forget it," he mutters to his MX, which stays glued to its chair, silent and motionless.

Slowly sitting down on his own chair, Richard looks around the large room suspiciously. Nobody is watching him for his reaction to the coffee, so he just accepts the unresolved mystery for now and starts his computer. After typing in his username and password and additionally confirming his identity by providing the touch-sensitive screen with his fingerprint to get access to his crucial work files, he takes a sip of the unhoped-for coffee. Well, it's not as sweet as he likes it, but at least it's black with no milk or cream.

He gets down to work.

About half an hour later, Valerie stops at his desk, crossing her arms in front of her chest and giving him a small – and almost teasing – smile when he looks up to her.

"Happy birthday," she says simply and in her naturally kind and soft-spoken manner. Then she demonstratively peeks into the now empty mug that Richard had pushed to the far corner of his cluttered desk. "I see you enjoyed the coffee…"

He pulls a face as if he didn't really care much, leans back in his chair and regards his co-worker with a smug look. "Could've used some more sugar, but it was okay, I guess."

Valerie rolls her eyes a bit, but she's still sporting a calm, reserved smile. "You're welcome anyway."

Richard doesn't say "thank you", and there's an awkward silence between them for a moment. But, they've had worse. He once asked her out and it didn't go down well. That was a long time ago, barely a few weeks after Valerie had been transfered to this precinct, so it's all just water under the bridge now, especially because nothing ever really happened between them. But on Richard's part, some of the old bitter feelings came back like an unwanted boomerang as soon as Kennex entered the scene and sparks started flying between him and Stahl. Richard already has enough reason to dislike the guy, and this little personal aspect only adds to his aversion. Never feels good to see another man easily swoop the trophy you failed to snatch for yourself.

It's not a broken heart that makes him take a dig at Valerie every once in a while; he's not in love with her, after all. (Frankly, he still isn't really over his ex-wife, although it has been years.) It's just a wounded ego of a too-proud man who always gets the short end of the stick. Valerie either ignores his snippy comments, or she shoots back with a verbal smackdown when she's had enough and won't put up with his macho behaviour anymore. But all of this happens only every now and then. On the whole, they've somehow managed to come to terms with each other. They actually work well together, even have respect for each other's professional competence and proficiency. They probably never will be close friends, but on most days, they can be peaceful and efficient co-workers. Nobody wants to fight a war here. They're both a part of the same team. That's why Valerie got him a fresh coffee this morning for his birthday.

And on most days, Richard is professional and doesn't let his personal moods and feelings get in the way. But then there are moments in which he just can't help it.

When he catches Valerie sharing a lingering look and a cute smile with Kennex across the room, he sneers and asks her bluntly: "So, did Pegleg ask you out yet?"

Stahl's gaze shifts back to Paul, her smile fading to give way to a serious expression.

"Richard…," she says with that typical undertone she's always using when she wants to scold him without getting loud or explicit. "Don't do this."

"Do what?" he asks promptly, just to provoke her. He knows exactly what she means, of course.

Valerie's lips tighten a bit, but she doesn't answer him. She's too smart to let herself get dragged into this.

"Have a nice day, Richard," she says, with the obvious intent to end this exchange before it gets ugly. "I hope you enjoy your party later."

"Sure. Will do." He doesn't even look at her now, as he's focused on his mobile phone and fumbling around with the settings. Of course he doesn't tell her that there won't be a party. There won't even be a special dinner. Nothing. The truth is, he doesn't really have anybody to celebrate this day with. Sure, some of the guys would come along for a drink after shift, but Richard's not really in the mood for that.

"Uhm, Valerie...," he says after she already turned around to walk away. "Thanks for the coffee, okay?"

She looks back at him over her slender shoulder and nods with a tiny, almost regretful smile. "Yeah."

He watches her go over to Dorian and Kennex, and her smile widens to a beautiful, stunning grin as the three of them engage in some easy and carefree chitchat. Quickly, Richard goes through some more of his files, answers a couple of e-mails (only the urgent ones), and then gets up from his chair.

"Come," he says to his MX that stands up on his command while Richard grabs his coat. "Let's get on the street."