Jim was running a little late, and his eyes searched for Dwight. He found him quickly, though he was more than surprised when he realized Dwight was chatting up a girl up at the bar. He headed towards him slowly, not wanting to interfere. When he got closer he got a glimpse of the girl's face, expecting her to be unhappy, but she actually looked like he was doing a good job.
His movement caught Dwight's eyes and he glanced at him, the easy smile sliding off his face as he looked uncertain. Jim shook his head though, motioning at the girl, telling him to continue. Dwight tried to turn his attention back to her, but he was distracted now, and had lost his stride. It became clear after a few minutes that it was going downhill and he gave up, excusing himself.
He slid into the seat next to Jim, giving him a nod, "Jim."
"Looks like you were making friends."
He glanced at the girl, and again looked uncomfortable, "Sorry, I was just waiting for you and she sat there…"
Jim tilted his head, unsure what the problem was. "You don't need to apologize for talking to some girl, why… why would you do that?"
Dwight shrugged, "If I'm waiting for Michael he doesn't like me to talk to anyone else-"
"Oh Dwight. Even outside of work?"
"What?"
"We've talked about this before, he's your work boss, not your relationship boss."
"Michael said that friends wait for each other and don't make them feel bad by talking to other people."
Jim stared at him for a long time, it just sinking in that teaching Dwight to stand up to Michael was more than work, and he tapped his fingers on the bar top, "How much time do you spend with Michael outside of work?"
"We get drinks sometimes but I'm busy with the farm, and karate and laser tag." He shifted, "And Michael says it's not good to spend too much time with anyone from the office because it would show favoritism."
"Of course." It was quickly becoming awkward when he didn't say anything and Dwight was starting to look anxious, eyes darting around and Jim realized it was because he was trying to figure out the punch line. "Do you want a beer?"
Dwight only rolled his eyes, "This is a waste of time." He didn't leave though, just stared at Jim. "Well?"
"Who are your friends?"
"I don't see what this has to do with-"
"Just trust me-"
"Why should I trust you?"
"Who stood up to Michael today and who spent half of it sitting in a corner?"
It shut him up but it was counterproductive, it was easy enough to cut Dwight down but that wasn't the point. Dwight looked down at his hands, "Sorry."
He caught the bartenders eye and held up two fingers, nodding when she held up a beer and turned his attention back to Dwight, trying to be patient, "Who are your friends?"
"Michael. And Moses."
He waited, and waited and Dwight was usually a little off and too far gone to care but even he started to look embarrassed while he waited for Jim to realize there was no one else for him to list.
"What about the people you play laser tag with?"
"They go out after sometimes, I think…" He glanced up at Jim long enough for Jim to see the truth there but he looked away, "I wouldn't want to go anyways, it's not good to leave the farm that long."
"Oh, come on." It was so over the top, so ridiculous if he didn't know better he would think that Dwight was screwing with him. To avoid answering right away he grabbed his beer, taking a healthy swig.
Dwight was clutching his beer hard enough that his knuckles were white and his face was flushed and he snapped out, "Sorry I'm not just a little social butterfly like you!" Clearly his feelings were hurt and Jim was not making much progress.
"Drink your beer." He obediently lifted his drink like strings were attached and Jim couldn't decide if he liked that about Dwight or not. "Okay… you really think that Michael won't hang out with you if you don't do everything he asks?"
"He won't." There was no hesitation in his voice and when he met Jim's eyes he dared him to disagree. Jim started to come up with some kind of answer and Dwight looked away, "He only likes me because I do what he says."
"That's not true-"
"It is-"
"Even if it was true-"
"It is!" He slammed down his beer making the person next to him jump, "I'm not an idiot Jim."
"Woah." He reached out to touch Dwight's wrist, relenting when Dwight jerked away. "Calm down, okay?" He glanced over Dwight's shoulder, reaching for something, and his eyes landed on the girl. He met Dwight's eyes, "Would you have closed the deal with her?"
He glanced back at her too, distracted by the change in topic, and nodded. "Yes."
There was no arrogance in the words, like he was stating a fact and it made Jim smile. "Really?"
Dwight glanced at the girl again, and looked confused. "Of course. Why?"
That turned into a real chuckle and when Jim reached out to pat his shoulder Dwight didn't flinch away. "You are something else Dwight, really."
"What?"
He shook his head, "Nothing." He took a swig of his drink and the silence turned awkward again, and Jim remembered that they weren't really friends. "I think your problem with Michael is that you're too desperate to make him like you."
Dwight was looking down at his beer, but was shaking his head. "It's not just…" He looked up and Jim could see him close off.
"It's not just what?"
He looked infinitely frustrated, "I…" He wanted help, it was clear on his face, but he seemed to be struggling with letting Jim know that much about him. He shifted his weight nervously, "If I tell you you'll use it against me."
"Dwight…" He was still entertained by the apparent ease in which Dwight flirted with the girl, and was starting to relax. "I already told you it wasn't a prank." He was tempted to tell Dwight something about himself to relax him, but he was sure that Dwight wouldn't keep it a secret and if he started making up things his plan would go sideways because once he started pranking him, he wouldn't stop.
"I can't. I just… can't say no."
"Why not?"
He tilted his head as he tried to answer the question, "Michael… he's the boss and it's my job and I do it well and I need Michael to be pleased with me to know I'm doing a good job. I can't upset him, I don't want to."
It was a bit rambling, and not completely clear but Jim got the gist of it. "Dwight, you're a good salesman, okay? Once you start to stand up to him he'll get used to it. You just need to stop giving in to him."
"I can't."
"I will help you, you did okay today when I backed you up, right? And what did Michael do?"
He rocked the beer back and forth on the counter and sounded almost wistful, "He was nice to me."
Jim stopped with the beer halfway to his mouth, that hadn't been what he was going for, and it was telling. He tried to think back to when he first started, if Dwight had been so dependent on Michael and he couldn't be sure, but something told him he hadn't been. His voice was soft, "I'm not very nice to you either, am I?"
The words settled between them, and Dwight darted a glance up at him and even though he expected Dwight to be unsettled or dismissive he only shook his head. "When you started I thought we'd be friends."
H saw the opening there, finally really getting an idea of how he might go about this. "Okay, Dwight." He waved his hand distractedly, "Do… do you like any sports?" Dwight only raised an eyebrow at him and he frowned. "Basketball? You actually played pretty well."
"I don't have much time to watch sports. I tried playing basketball with Michael but he told me I embarrass him."
"I play in a pick up game on the weekends." Even as he was saying it he wished he could take it back, maybe Dwight could play but he was a little… odd. The words kept coming though, "Do you want to come play?" He put up one hand quickly though, "Not with that plastic mask though, it's just stupid."
Dwight's face had been blank but it turned indignant at that, "It protects my nose, I don't want to break my nose."
He couldn't help smirking at him, "Come on, don't be such a wuss. You can come and play if you don't wear that. Normal clothes, no skins." He thought about what he was saying, and wondered why giving Dwight orders like he was a dog didn't seem the least bit odd.
Dwight looked down at his beer for a long time, but Jim was starting to get it and just waited, not pushing him. He finally looked up and it was easy as day to read the hope on his face. "Yes, I want to."
Jim nodded, and he already thought he was going to regret it but he was stubborn. He nodded as nonchalantly as he could, trying not to make it into a big deal. He tilted his head towards him, "So tell me about Michael."
"What about him?"
"Well…" He figured he'd go for broke, "What exactly goes on in that office when he shuts the blinds? What are you guys doing?"
There was a loud thunk next to him and he realized Dwight had lost his grip on his beer, and it spilled across the counter. Dwight was apologetic, nervously trying to help the bartender clean it and things suddenly were a bit more interesting. The bartender was good natured about it, giving Dwight a nice grin before she left another beer for him.
"Dwight?"
"Nothing happens."
He raised an eyebrow and waited and Dwight rolled his shoulders. "Nothing, he just… works on ideas he has. Sometimes he has me help him, do things for him." Jim felt the look on his face and even Dwight noticed it and he frowned, "Not like that. What is wrong with you?"
"I didn't say anything." He coughed a little, trying to get the smirk off his face. "So why the secrecy?"
"Because…" He was struggling and finally his voice came out defensive, "Where is this game anyways?"
He let it go, "I'll meet you at work, we'll go from there."
"I can pick you up at your apartment."
"My…" The words sunk in and he gave Dwight a look, "Why do you know where I live?"
Dwight only rolled his eyes. "It's part of my job."
He was oblivious to the look Jim gave him, and if anyone else had said something like that he would be concerned but when Dwight said it somehow it felt natural. "Fine, come to my house but I'm driving." Dwight tried to protest but Jim put up his hand, meeting his eyes, "I'm driving."
Dwight looked down to his beer, "Fine." It was grudging, obviously unhappy about submitting, and covered it by glancing around the room. "How is this going to help me stand up to Michael again?"
"Just trust me Dwight."
Jim missed him glance at him, and Dwight's voice sounded odd. "I do."
There was no reply to that, nothing he could say to that level of sincerity, so he only answered his previous question, "Game is Saturday. Be at my house by 9am."
"Playing basketball will help me stand up to him?"
"It will." He thoughtfully tapped his thumb against his beer, "But for tomorrow… I do have something I want you to start doing tomorrow. Don't step a foot in Michael's office, okay?" There was no response and he looked at him, chuckling at the disbelief on his face. "What?"
"Michael needs me."
"Dwight, if you want my help, you gotta do what I say." He wanted to tell him that Michael didn't need him, that he was a grown man that desperately needed to learn boundaries, but that was a lot for the first day. "Okay?"
"How would I even… ?"
"I'll help. If it's really work related then so be it but if it's just to entertain him… to work on these… secret projects, then tell him no." His thoughts on that clearly showed on his face and Jim shrugged, "I'll tell him no."
Dwight's nod felt like a victory and he grinned. This was going to be interesting.
