A/N: More flashback! Um, it might get a little confusing and it ended up being much longer than I expected (which is good because things usually turn out much shorter).

Komui had been a royal mess ever since Reever had left. At first he'd done lots of work (to prove to himself that he wasn't entirely helpless), that had lasted for all of three days.

Now two weeks had passed. He did a tiny bit of work, maybe fifty sheets or so, everyday. Not a sufficient amount to keep up with what was coming in, but just enough that everyone left him well enough alone.

Somehow, it felt like no time had passed at all. In the first week after the blonde's departure he'd called out to Reever countless times, wanting to show him something or tell him what Lenalee was up to, only to realize that he wasn't there. The others just looked at him sympathetically, they did it too, but no one missed Reever nearly as much as Komui did.

He wasn't sleeping either, he kept awaking with a start swearing that he'd heard Reever's voice. But it wasn't him, it was never him. And it never would be him, Reever wasn't coming back.

They might've stayed friends, and in truth Reever had been one of his best friends, but he'd just had to ruin that with his stupid confession.

Jerry had to come down and force Komui to eat. He accepted the food graciously, knowing full well that there was a sleeping aid mixed in.

Xxxx

In his dream Komui went back in time, back to when Reever was shiny and new, to when they had first met.

He had just left the preliminary experimentation for a robotics project and his mind was spinning with possibilities, so much so that he ran right into someone. The person and their cargo tumbled to the ground. Komui caught one of the boxes on sheer impulse.

He went to apologize, only to find himself staring down at the absolute cutest (non-Lenalee) person that he had ever seen. It was love at first sight, for him anyway.

He hadn't been able to stop himself from reaching out and touching Reever to make sure that he was real. Luckily, he turned it into helping the man to his feet so that he didn't seem like a creepy weirdo/molester.

Helping the blonde carry things was natural, it was his fault and he wanted to learn more about the adorably puppy like fellow. Scientist tend to be a gossipy (and highly observant) lot. Just the cutie's name could get him all sorts of information: where he was from, his specialties, personality, even his favorite color.

But they were interrupted and when all was said and done all he had was "Reever." It was enough. At dinner he learned that the blonde was mainly a chemist and that he was a quiet but extremely diligent worker, the kind who was easy to overlook.

Naturally, when Komui got bored the next day he decided to track Reever down. Luck was on his side, Reever was in the same lab as before and he was alone.

Xxxx

Xxxx

Reever should have known that Komui was trouble from the beginning , but back then he was blissfully ignorant.

That second day Komui had showed up and, claiming that he had a break, helped Reever set up for the experiment he was working on. Reever explained his theory and Komui built upon it, leading to an intense scientific discussion. Both were suitably impressed by the other's genius. Finally Reever was summoned by his section leader and Komui want back to work glumly.

The following day Komui was back again, he had heard that they'd be going back so he had decided to up the ante. He asked Reever all sorts of questions and rambled on about anything and everything but Reever was deeply engrossed in his work and only gave one word replies.

Finally Reever had had just about enough, he didn't mind the company but the ceaseless questions were getting annoying. "Don't you have something you should be doing?"

"Like what?" Komui highly doubted that the blonde's mind was following the same line of thought as his, but it wouldn't hurt to ask.

"Um, work perhaps?"

"Oh, that's boring." Komui said dismissively (inwardly pouting that it wasn't the "kissing me" he'd been hoping for)

Two seconds later he received a book to the face.

"Go do your goddamn work!"

The future supervisor gave him epic puppy dog eyes and, seeing the murderous look on Reever's face, left.

Reever hated people like that , even so, he almost wanted to apologize. But he didn't, he hadn't done anything wrong in giving the man what was already coming to him.

Xxxx

After that, Reever had only seen him twice, very briefly, in the hallways. Komui smiled at him and might have even winked (he'd been too tired to be sure) but he had only glowered in return.

Nevertheless, as soon as the Asia Branch scientists had gone home, Reever hadn't been able to resist writing the rest of the encounter down. He was fairly certain that he'd never see Komui again.

Xxxx

Reever shook himself out of it and got back to work. The past was gone. Now he had a job to do.

Oh shit, there were a few documents that he still needed HQ to send over.

He pinched the bridge of his nose with a sigh and reached for the phone.

Xxxx

Xxxx

Once again, Komui woke up with the sound of Reever's voice in his ear, but this time it seemed even more real than before.

Lenalee smiled down at him sadly and held out the phone. He took it cautiously.

"Hello?"

"Supervisor."

The phone fell out of Komui's hand but his sister caught it before it hit the floor and gave it back.

Komui swallowed hard.

"Section…" He shook his head, "Branch Head Reever, how may I help you?" He tried to sound as cheery as possible.

"Send over the damn documents!"

"Oh, errr I'd have to find them first…." Maybe if he delayed long enough the blonde would come over himself?

"Whatever. Russell knows where they are, just have him bring them over."

"Oh…."

The conversation ground to a halt, but neither wanted to hang up.

"Are you getting any work done?"

"Yep! Well okay, not really, but a little."

"Oh, err do more then." Reever hung up.

Komui was almost grateful, he'd been only seconds away from crying and begging Reever to come back.

A/N: Yay, my muse is finally behaving!

Um, I'm working on a few new fics and I'm about 3/4ths of the way through the next chapters on all my current fics!

Reviews are made of love! (and will encourage her to keep being good!)