A/N: this is a quick AU story which will include adult content. happy birthday areyouserial!


Eddie Janko braces herself as she rushes onto the street, her tailored jacket providing little protection against the blustery wind that bites through the weak January sunshine. It just serves to irritate her more after an unnecessary trip to a client's office to correct what turned out to be a clerical error. What should've taken ten minutes to sort out took twice that thanks to the client's useless assistant, who was responsible for the mixup in the first place, and she's ready to sink into her couch with some takeout alfredo and a glass of wine. Or two.

Unfortunately she's got another three hours of work ahead of her before she'll be able to get out of the office. Minimum.

Clutching her jacket closed with one hand, she reaches the other into her purse in search of her phone. By the time she makes the twenty minute drive back to her office, her assistant can have an Italian panini on her desk, hot and fresh from the deli up the block—

"Hey! Come on!"

The NYPD officer admiring her car looks up while his partner, who's writing a ticket, barely regards her.

"Seriously? I'm right here. Put that away."

"I'm sorry, ma'am," he says, "but you can't park here." He nods at the No Parking Here To Corner sign that stands even with the side mirror of Eddie's Porsche before returning his attention to the pad in his hand.

Exasperated, Eddie groans loudly as she produces her keys. "I was here for five minutes!"

"You were still here."

She opens her mouth to argue once more but something about the officer's hard-set jaw tells her that it will be futile. Narrowing her eyes, she catches sight of his nameplate and then relaxes her hunched shoulders despite the cold. "Officer Reagan — please. I'm right here. Can't you just let me drive away, pretend this never happened?"

He looks up at her but her softer tone doesn't abate the sharpness she notes in his clouded green eyes. "I'm sorry, ma'am…"

"What if I back up a couple feet?"

"Should've thought of that when you parked the first time."

"I couldn't. There was a car there when I got here. Please, Officer." She's not begging — Eddie Janko doesn't beg — but that crease on the officer's forehead just beneath his hat makes her think that a little kindness will go a long way. "I know you're just doing your job, but what good does it do anybody to write me a ticket right now? I'll drive away, you guys can get out of the cold back to your car…"

"You broke the law," he points out without looking up.

"Half of my car is over the line," Eddie emphasizes. "So...does that mean you'll just write me half a parking ticket?"

Finally that forehead crease fades, melting into a small hint of a lopsided smile as he meets her eyes. "We round up, sorry."

Eddie steps past him and stretches her arms to measure the amount of her car that surpasses the sign before she shuffles sideways, arms still extended to demonstrate that more than half of the car is behind the line.

"But — if it's less than half you can round down right? Because by my calculation this is about 43 percent..."

Officer Reagan's jaw flaps open and shut once before a small chuckle escapes him. "Okay, alright, alright," he offers, lifting his hands in surrender. "Sixty-seven percent of your car is parked legally. Forget the ticket."

"Fifty-seven percent, actually — but you know. Minor details," Eddie says. "Anyway. Thank you so much, Officers. I hope you have a great day. Stay safe out there."

Before either cop has a chance to react, Eddie drops smoothly into the driver's seat and shuts the door behind her. Bringing her fingers up near her shoulder in a cute wiggly wave, she flashes Officer Reagan one more sparkling grin before she shifts into gear and speeds away.