Chrom had no right to insist so much of him. Sure, he had advertised to the man that his ability to work nights when necessary to keep projects on track made him a valuable asset to any independent bioengineering company, but that was mostly an embellishment because Gaius really needed to start working ASAP and he wasn't eager to go crawling to the major companies and try to find a dead-end entry level position. He never thought Chrom would actually call upon him to skim years of old reports looking for the one step that may have caused such catastrophic results in the final product. It felt like busy work better left to the interns, had the outcome not been a complete lack of function in what was supposed to be a revolutionary device, but in any case Gaius was not pleased at all with this kind of work. Scraping together all his money for a proper college degree with the hopes of going straight was supposed to lead to an engaging, unique career, not this. Not sitting alone at a desk in a cubicle in an office at night with only the protocols for company. His sharp eye had detected numerous small errors that could cause the overall issue already, but he knew if he presented an incomplete report it could cost the company a lot of valuable time in developing the device. He was stuck.
His phone buzzed in his pocket. Just a text, but it was a distraction from this endless work. After retrieving the phone he leaned back in his chair, a sly grin stretching across his face when he saw the contact. An old flame, someone from college who said he was too immature to ever amount to anything above stealing from the vending machines, had finally come to her senses and invited him out for drinks. There was no way he was still interested, but she had given him an excuse to leave the office and, should Chrom be furious when he showed up the next day and the work wasn't done, Gaius could at least cite the heartfelt invitation of the woman. He decided to go for it, quickly saving the notes he had made on the protocols before powering down his computer and plunging the whole floor into darkness. Naturally they had turned the lights off on him. He didn't mind much, aside from the clear implication that his work was not valued by his superiors, since the dark had been his friend for many years. After managing to snag his jacket from the back of his chair, he crept along the row of cubicles towards the elevator, which thankfully was both operational and had bright lights to welcome him. It was a relatively short ride and Gaius jogged past the security guards now stationed at the receptionist's desk without any sort of recognition. It was critical that he leave with the impression it was urgent, not like he had sprung on the first pathetic excuse to ditch work. He wouldn't have time to run home and change into something more fun, so he would have to show up to this bar still wearing the button-up black shirt and khakis he had forced on for work. Most bar patrons could care less what you were wearing unless they thought they could get you out of it, anyway. If he popped the collar and undid a few buttons and untucked the stupid thing from his pants it would be acceptable.
Making the necessary adjustments, Gaius hopped on the next bus bound for Cyrkensia. Sure, it was a bit of a trip away from downtown Ylisse, but he was willing to make the trip. Ylisse had the museums and theaters, Cyrkensia had the bars and clubs. That was how locals described the cities, at least, and in Gaius's experience it had been true. His first attempt at college had been ruined thanks to too many nights spent on those filthy streets. Well, that first attempt had been ruined by more than just excessive partying, but it definitely didn't help. To fill the time, Gaius scanned the other passengers with a practiced eye, nearly positive the three women seated near the front were heading out to the pleasure capital for the first time ever and that the three men a few seats away were going to take advantage of that. He would keep an eye out, step in if he thought something was really dangerous. Even at his lowest Gaius had been something of a vigilante in situations like this. But for now everything was fine, just a typical bus ride close to eleven fifteen at night with the typical sleazy crowd. He almost dozed since there was nothing particularly interesting to do, after, of course, arranging where specifically to meet up with this old flame, but the driver booted them all off a few stops before downtown Cyrkensia and forced Gaius to lead a march to the good bars. The girls thanked him enthusiastically when he finally turned a corner and neon signs split through the night, and the dudes were distantly appreciative. Gaius suspected no one really wanted to spend more time with some creep headed to Cyrkensia in his khakis and he didn't blame them, and besides their absence meant he was free to meander to the proper bar alone and enter it in his own time, just to ensure the woman waiting inside knew he wasn't in any great hurry to see her again.
From the moment he walked in she was loading him up with drinks, which he thought was a little strange since this was the same woman who said he wasn't mature enough for her way back when. Unfortunately for her, he had a tolerance for booze that superseded the depths of her wallet, not to mention he was starving and ordered enough slices of cake to form a full one, but she had graciously agreed to buy long before he had arrived. The fact that he hadn't mentioned to her the details of his metabolism was merely a coincidence. When the bar got boring she took him next door to dance, and he had no reservations about following her into a nightclub even though he still wasn't dressed right for hanging around a place as trendy as this. They stayed for a few hours, until Gaius was cut off by the bartender, and by then he was ready to tell the woman to get lost and just hang around outside on his own. She ended up leaving him before he could confront her on how little he actually cared for her company, on the arm of some typical douche. He didn't care. It was late enough for the last call in more than one of the bars along the street, but that only meant drunk people spilling into the streets. He had made a pact with himself after graduating with a degree that he wouldn't steal anymore, but there had to be an exception in times like this! None of these idiots were conscious enough to realize if he had picked a dollar or two from their pockets, and he wasn't conscious enough to stop himself anyway. Thieving had, in no small part, aided him through high school and both attempts at college, and of course through that year between said attempts. He was a natural. Why should he allow his talent to grow dull and pathetic just for a job?
The first few wallets were easy, and had plenty of cash left over. He wasn't fond of cards and ID's since that was a more dangerous game, though the occasional credit card could be useful, but it was easier to take an entire wallet than to take it, swipe the cash, and replace it in someone's pocket. In his prime he had done that with ease, just to show off in front of the other pickpockets, but tonight he didn't even have a need for money or theatrics. After a few unsuspecting victims he dumped the wallets in an alley trash can and moved down the street to a nightclub, slipping past its impressive line while snagging a few loose bills. Not once did he pause to consider how being employed for a solid month left him with plenty of money, and how this was all because he was bored and procrastinating on real work. He just kept taking cash, and of course getting away with it, until he reached into the purse of the one woman who was paying attention at the one moment he wasn't.
Needless to say, she called the cops since she just happened to be that bitter about the whole situation, and though no one could prove he was pickpocketing intentionally they booked him for disorderly conduct anyway. The cops hardly acknowledged him, both on the ride down to the station and while entering him into the system, and he was just wasted enough not to care. Probably thought he was just Irish trash anyway, no danger of criminal activity other than mercilessly attempting to murder his own liver. He was fine with that, since it meant he would get to go to work tomorrow and pretend like this was all some big misunderstanding. Tell Chrom he had one too many and happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. He would still be in trouble regardless, thanks to the unfinished work waiting idly on his computer, but at least he would have the chance to finish it rather than be fired. Probably should have thought ahead anyway; Chrom was an old high school friend but that only meant Chrom knew Gaius was a thief even when his criminal record couldn't support such a claim. He would be on thin ice for this.
The night wore on and Gaius found himself attempting to stay awake while sprawled on a bench in a holding cell. There were surprisingly few other occupants, but it was a weeknight and not exactly close to any major party holidays, so of course it was possible that it was just a slow night. At one point Gaius was the only one, with no family at home to bail him out and no way he would ever call Chrom for such a favor, but that solitude was short lived when a cop somewhat brutishly led a new man to the cell. Gaius lifted his head enough to observe the new guy, saw that his skin was dark enough to be some sort of hispanic, and determined that color alone accounted for the cop's treatment of him. The guy didn't seem especially resistant, though his face was stormy, and by the slight stagger in his gait Gaius deduced they were sharing a cell for similar charges. Once they locked the cell door Gaius let his head thud back down on the bench.
"You in for something serious?" the newcomer asked suddenly, tilting his head up at Gaius to show confidence. "I don't want to get all cozy for tonight only to have you strangle me in my sleep."
"Don't think this is the place for stranglers," Gaius muttered in response, casting a cool gaze to his temporary roommate. "I'm not trying anything if you're not."
"Good, good." The new guy plunked himself down on the bench opposite Gaius and crossed his arms. "So, what'd they get you for? I'm guessing stalking."
"What gives you that impression?"
"You look like you just got off work, probably so you could chase some poor girl around," the new guy teased, a smirk to his face that suggested he really didn't believe the accusation.
Gaius forced himself to sit up, his head just beginning to pound but he was more interested in entertaining this guy than nursing a hangover. "Disorderly conduct. Some chick thought I was pickpocketing."
"Right," the new guy replied, stretching out the vowel and nodding in the dramatic fashion that proved he knew exactly what really occurred. "They got me for loitering."
"Seriously?"
He nodded. "Tried to tell them my girlfriend was inside, I was just waiting for her, but they never believe it from me."
"Is she on her way for you?"
The new guy snickered darkly. "If she had been in there in the first place, I wouldn't be here. In fact, if she even existed, I probably wouldn't need to spend nights hoping for handouts."
"Where did they catch you?"
"Outside a McDonald's."
Gaius felt a twinge of empathy for the guy, since he had spent many a weekend in similar situations. "Sorry."
"Don't be. I would arrest me too." The guy sighed and leaned back against the cold wall. "Spent the week picking pockets too. They were probably on to me."
Gaius snorted and grinned. "Probably. I'm just glad only the one caught me tonight. I could be in a lot of trouble if everyone had noticed."
"You don't strike me as that type," the new guy commented honestly, shrugging. "Perfect crime, I guess."
"Yeah, but if you had seen me in high school you'd think differently." For some reason, probably related to the alcohol, Gaius felt like opening up to this guy. "I was homeless for a few years after I graduated, hanging around real sketchy places. Always on the cops' radar. I just recently got away from all that."
The new guy gestured around to the cell. "You sure about that?"
"Trying to get away," Gaius corrected with a smirk. "Got a promising job now. Just made a mistake tonight and went out with someone I shouldn't've."
"Good luck to you, then," the new guy replied, softly but genuinely. "I've got a lead on a job, too, but haven't managed to prove I deserve it. This won't help."
"Caught loitering outside a McDonald's. I'm sure they'll send you packing for that," Gaius huffed sarcastically. "Look, man, if all you gotta do is prove yourself, just comb your hair and sit up straight. I've been there before. They just want to see you pretend to be a businessman, nothing dramatic."
"You sure? They seem to be waiting for something dramatic."
"That's just to scare you. It's all these mind games to see if you'll fit in in the corporate world."
The new guy's lips twitched into a grin suddenly. "Thanks. You know, if I get that job, I'll have to make it up to you."
Gaius wanted to reply that it was all fine, no need for such formality, but the prospect of seeing this man on the other side of the bars was definitely more fun. "Yeah, we'll have to celebrate."
He must have passed out sometime after that, since his memories were blurry or else entirely blank after that, but after the cops pushed him off the front step that morning he bided his time until they released his new friend. They exchanged numbers and parted ways with little more than a wave, but when Gaius regarded the man's new contact in his phone he couldn't help but smile. Niles, the contact read, with the company listed as "Caught Loitering Outside McDonald's" and an email following the number itself. Maybe it wasn't a conventional start to a friendship, and maybe it would be in Gaius's best interest not to make friends in jail anymore, but a desk job was so boring. He deserved some kind of adventure like this, and how he longed for the adventure to continue!