"I apologize for interrupting," Shiro said as he entered the room, "but I don't believe you've eaten all day."
Pidge didn't look up from her desk.
"What did you bring?"
"Lemon biscuits and Earl Grey."
"Earl Grey at THIS hour?"
"I assumed you were planning on staying up late tonight. Please forgive me."
"No, you're right," she said, leaning back in her chair. She snapped a biscuit in half and plunged it in the tea.
"You seem upset," he said, taking the tray to a table.
"Nothing's adding up," she muttered, pulling out the biscuit and watching the tea drip down the side. He'd have to remember to clean that up when she was done.
"What are you looking into this time?"
"Investors," she said. "Anyone who might think they were financially wronged."
"The company's been self-sufficient for a long time, hasn't it?" he said. "Your investors must be pretty few nowadays."
"That's why nothing's adding up," she said, setting down the biscuit. "Everything's been paid off for longer than I've been ALIVE."
It seemed she'd scrutinized everything. Investors, competitors, critics, scorned lovers. Not everyone had been FRIENDLY with the Holt estate but so far all of the alibis were in place.
"If you'll permit me to say it, I don't think your family would want you to tear yourself up over it."
"I did not permit you to say that."
"Very good, my lady."
He thought she was going to yell at him.
"Sit. Have tea with me," she said.
He hadn't brought a second teacup.
When he returned, she was pinching the biscuit into dust.
"Would you prefer a different kind?" he asked.
"No."
He hadn't tried Earl Grey until recently. He'd never really cared for human food before.
"What happens if we don't find the killer before I die?" she asked.
He put down his cup.
"The contract still holds."
She took a sip of tea.
"That won't be for a long time."
"If we don't find them."
Find them and dispose of them.
By contract, he would stop any outside force from hurting her. But a human body wouldn't last forever. Death by natural causes wouldn't break the contract, and if they hadn't exacted revenge by then, it would be her loss.
"You don't suppose he knows?" Shiro asked.
Pidge scoffed.
"He hasn't spoken to me."
She looked inside her teacup.
"You don't even know what it's LIKE to miss someone."
"That's true," Shiro said. "I don't."
"Must be nice."
"In a way."
"I don't suppose you love anyone, either."
"Not by nature."
"What's THAT supposed to mean?"
"It means nature can be a fickle thing."
She set down the tea with a clink.
"You're weird."
"I've heard that before."
He tried a biscuit. Not a bad taste. But he didn't feel like he'd eaten at all.
"You look like you're thinking about something," she said.
"Yes," he said. "I think I found something of yours today."
"What is it?"
"Do allow me to bring it in."
It was a dress, deep green and edged in lace.
"Oh…" she said. Her eyes grew soft. "I'd always wanted to wear that one outside."
"It is beautiful," Shiro said, smoothing down a wrinkle. "I admire your taste."
"I thought I'd lost it."
Shiro smiled.
"I'm sure it looks lovely on you."
"Mother always said so."
She got up and walked over. He didn't see her look that way very often.
The tea sat on the desk, turning cold and soggy with crumbs. Underneath it, the documents took moisture.
She put a hand on the dress like it was something that would break.
"Shiro, help me put this on."
He nodded.
"Very good, my lady."
"You knew I was a girl from the beginning," she said as he laced up the back.
"Of course," he said.
"How?"
"Some creatures can see things that humans can't."
"Things like?"
"Hearts," Shiro said. "Inner selves."
She brushed down the material.
"What exactly does that look like?"
"I'm afraid it's impossible to describe," he said, tying the last string. "It's a sense that humans just don't have."
"Hm," she mused. "Well, did you see anything else about me?"
"Yes."
She waited.
"So, what is it?"
"You've loved a lot more people than I have."
"I'll bet."
"And you're lonely."
"No I'm not."
He readjusted the bow.
"This dress looks beautiful on you, my lady."
She watched herself in the mirror. He could see the tears welling in her eyes.
"Okay, yes, fine, I'm lonely. But why do you care, you don't even know what it's like."
"Well that's not exactly true. You don't have to miss somebody to be lonely."
"I guess…"
"I know. Yours is different. There's more than one way to be lonely."
She wiped her eyes.
"Thank you for finding this."
"Of course."
"You're the first person to know about it. Outside of my family."
"Well, I'm honored that you would share this with me."
"I used to be so mad at them for not letting me outside like this. But I know why they didn't."
"It's everyone's loss," he said. "You're beautiful."
She smiled shakily.
"I don't believe you, but thanks."
"I never say anything I don't mean," Shiro said. He smiled, stepped before her, and put out his hand. "May I have this dance?"
