"It were kind o' you to offer, but I think I will decline."
"Are you sure?" Commissioner Barton asks her.
Lucy affirms this with a nod. "Aye, sir."
"I understand," Barton shakes her hand, ending the brief meeting, "If you change your mind-"
"I already told ya," Lucy insists, "I love my job." Her eyes twinkle when she says it, making it impossible to doubt. He smiles and let's her return to where he knows she belongs.
Detective Constable Baker has reached a potential none could have foreseen. Barton always had a feeling that Lucy's passion for detective work would surpass her clumsy test scores. Something in her reminded him of when he had first started out. He made many, many mistakes, but sometimes all someone needed was a chance to prove they did have what it takes.
"I wouldn't be anything without your guidance, Inspector Chemley sir." He gives a small salute to the photograph on his desk in his memory. The man would always be a mentor, a friend, and his hero.
Grocery bags overflow in her grasp, but Lucy refuses to split up her haul into two trips. Having a bike does make the chore slightly easier now, her sturdy handlebars could hold a great deal. The only inconvenience is that on a grey day like today, the light rain made for a cold ride home.
'We oughta consider savin' up for a car,' Luckily her violent shivers lessen when she steps inside the warmth of her flat. It is dim inside so Alfendi mustn't be home yet. She flicks on the light switch, and then one of the plastic sacks rip, it's contents spill free. Soup cans are rolling down the hallway.
"Oh 'eck," She drops everything else off on the ground to chase after them. The soles of her shoes are slippery against the tile and she stumbles once. There was a can beside the house plant, another had met a wall, and three others stopped in the middle of the floor. There is still one missing, but then her search is interrupted.
Alfendi leisurely lounges in a chair, opposite of the one she is meant to occupy. A candlelight dinner, a bottle of red wine, and freshly cut roses invite her closer to a very romantic atmosphere. He bends over and picks up the last can that had met his red and white sneaker.
"You missed one." He places the runaway soup into her arms.
"Wot's all this then?" Lucy asks with a tilt of her head. She stands there numbly until it occurs to her that she should dispose of the cans. She urgently stacks them on the counter, but then feels self-conscious because she has nothing to do with her hands. Does she put them on her hips? Pockets? What is even going on?
"Our anniversary," he acknowledges casually. He has a navy collared shirt and a crimson bow tie. Jeans and shoes intentionally hinder the formality, but it is still rather snazzy for him.
Lucy squints her eyes, "Eh, no it ain't." Their anniversary was on her birthday and that is still two months away. The single date couldn't be any more convenient to remember. How could he possibly be mistaken?
He chuckles at her sour expression, "Not that one. It's two years to the day that you became my assistant."
Lucy gasps with a hand to her mouth, "Aye it is!" She can't believe it. It had completely slipped her mind with all that happened today...
"Don't tell me you've forgotten," he mocks, sighing sarcastically. "After the fuss you made last year?"
"I'll be right back!" She shouts in distress. Lucy immediately sets out to amend the situation. In her closet must be something dry and special to change into. The rose printed dress that she loved so much whispers to her that it would do nicely and is a perfect time for a reappearance. She throws it on, removes her hat, and brushes through her hair that is mostly dry but damp at the ends.
The look on Alfendi's face when she returns reveals he is smitten by the return of his lovely flower. Lucy smirks and takes her seat across from him, "I see you took t' precaution to plan summat inside. Did ya really hate being dragged outside so much?"
"Oh yes." He laughs, "This is much nicer than any old run of the mill place, isn't it?"
"I guess we're even now, eh?"
"I'm not sure about that..." He smiles mischievously, and places a sarcastic hand over an aching heart. His imitation of her is poor, but that is what makes it entertaining, "I can't believe ya forgot t' day we met."
Lucy sticks her tongue out at him, "Well, I say I should get a pass this time. Then no more forgettin'. That's fair and just it is."
"We might as well alternate from this point," he jests.
"Take turns each year?" Lucy considers this bringing a hand to her chin, "That could be a tradition of sorts."
"It's unconventional, but who's to say anything about us is?" With that Alfendi initiates a small toast. "To many more years of solving crime in the Mystery Room with my lovely assistant."
The slightest change in Lucy gives him a strange feeling, but when the glass clinks together, it is zapped away without a trace. It was so faint he almost questions if it was his imagination, but his instincts nag at him. He watches a little more closely, but honestly can't find anything abnormal because they had so much fun. The night is spent laughing at their old stories, silly teasing, and flirting as if they were teenagers. He has an even better day than the year before, and that was one of his favorites now that he can look back on it with humor.
Only one thing could make this night unforgettable. His heart is about to take a leap.
"Lucy..." He begins, reaching for a newspaper bundle tied with a spare red ribbon inside the container of roses.
Lucy finishes a last sip of her drink with a hiccup. She covers her mouth quickly, but can't stop giggling at herself and the squeaky sounds she is making. It is rather adorable, but come to think of it, that's been her third glass. He knew for a fact, Lucy only drank in small moderation to be polite. He can sense it more clearly now that her guard is down, something is off. Alfendi instead pulls away the bottle to his side of the table, deciding she has had enough.
"Lucy." He says again, but with severe austerity.
She catches on to his serious tone, with a nervous expression now stricken on her face, "Aye?"
"Is everything alright?" He asks sincerely.
With nothing but those gentle words to provoke her, Lucy's lip quivers. Her chin tucks down, and she closes her eyes trying to ignore whatever it is, "It's stupid." Another ridiculous hiccup escapes, making her jump.
"Come here." Though as soon as he says the words he is kneeling beside her, hands resting on either side of her chair.
Her gaze fixes down on him with so much intensity it is hypnotic. The spell is broken by another sudden squeak and he soon finds how close she has come to him. She remains in her seat but leans forward with her arms on his shoulders, making his breathe catch abruptly. A strand of his tied back hair is curled around her finger and it becomes a challenge to think a coherent sentence, probably because he has had a drink as well. It was too late to regret that. Her determined face is an inch away from his, but despite her boldness, her request is barely a whisper. "Alfendi... can we get married?"
He gulps, gently pushing her out of his personal space, and holding her at a safe distance, "Umm. Aren't I supposed to ask you?"
"But... you haven't," Lucy whimpers, dropping her head again, he had never seen her so depressed. "Pleeeease?" she pleads.
This was complicating things. What could he say now? That he actually intended to propose to her? Tonight. Just five minutes earlier. How could he propose now when she is like this? How special would an alcohol tainted memory such as this be? He wanted her to remember it forever.
He is just going to have to postpone this temporarily. He inhales deeply so that he may handle this delicate situation with as much tact as possible. Pulling her close again, he places her head under his chin and he rubs a soothing hand on her back, hoping to comfort her.
"I'm sure we will one day," he tells her, but she doesn't seem to believe him because she won't say a word and hasn't moved from he slumped form, except to hiccup.
If this really bothered her so much why hasn't she told him before? Why is she saying this now all of a sudden? Or rather not saying it, but trying to drown away her sorrows. "Is there something that brought this on?"
Lucy shrinks, "May -hic- beee..."
"Like what?" he presses.
"Shhhh," Lucy presses her finger to his lips, much to his confusion, "I weren't goin' to say anything... Don't tell Potty Prof. I don't want you to be mad at me."
Placid gives her a strange look, "I... won't." It isn't a lie. He can't believe she is so out of it she doesn't seem to understand she is about to tell him herself. After only three glasses of wine? Lucy must be an easy drunk.
"What if..." She starts uncertainly, "Let's pretend -hiccup- I were recommended for a job?"
His stomach flips, already not wanting to hear where this was going. He guesses this isn't hypothetical. There is a frightening .05% chance that it actually is, otherwise why would she bring it up?
She starts spouting off the description of this job from a very foggy and dreamlike perspective, "I would be training the newer members and such. Help 'em -hic- improve some not so strong skills... Like me, -hic- and commissioner Barton," she pauses, seeking his approval, "Do ya... think I would be any good at that sorta thing?"
"I'm sure you would," he admits sadly. There is no doubt in his mind. Any young officer would love to learn from Lucy. She would be a brilliant, young, fellow detective who would understand the difficulties of starting out on the force. Lucy was the most helpful and caring person he knew. If anyone could help them to overcome personal obstacles, it was her.
"Ya wouldn't be upset then?" Lucy asks in disbelief.
"No. If you want another job then you deserve it," Placid says with a great deal of maturity, though it pains him more than he lets on. He knows it isn't the end of the world. Lucy would still be at home in the evenings, "The Mystery Room can only offer you so much. You could do a lot of good."
"Why aren't you fighting to keep me?" She shouts, clutching to him, "I want to keep solving crimes -hiccup- with you!"
"Would you make up your mind! I'm trying to do the right thing!" Potty Prof rants, "Do you want this job or not!?"
Her eyes widen in what shouldn't be shock, "I didn't. I thought I didn't," she stammers, and then rips herself away from his embrace in fury, "You said ya wouldn't be mad!"
"Placid made that promise! Not me. You wanted me to fight and keep you so that's what I'm going to do. How can you just leave? After everything we've been through?" he criticizes.
She whimpers, cringing."Hiccup- I don't want to leave, but... shouldn't I be doing summat more with my life?"
"So... what?" He tries to decipher, "You're saying that the Mystery room isn't good enough for you anymore? May I remind you our office is where cases go when dimwits fail?"
"I've been a mere assistant for two years! We all know I'm more skilled than that!" Lucy shouts freely now, "Why are ya holding me back, Prof? Why!?"
"Could you be any more irrational?" He is so lost he just wants to scream, "What are you even angry at?"
"You!" Her eyelashes slam against a wall of tears, splashing them down her face like waterfalls, "I can't take it anymore. You say you love me, but it's only so much. It's not enough Prof!" She hugs her arms to herself tightly, "I'm done!"
Was she... breaking up with him?
"No..." He whispers, "Don't... don't say that..." Uncontrollable sobbing interrupts her hiccups or it could possibly be the other way around.
How long had she been bearing such conflicted feelings?
"I didn't know you felt this way," Alfendi says quietly, "I'm sorry that I put you through so much emotional affliction. I'm selfish... I know I am. I can't stand the thought of you ever leaving me yet I push you away. If you give me one last chance... I can't believe I'm saying this because I don't deserve it, but it's all I need."
She wipes her eyes, and inhales deeply, "Ok. If you say so, Prof." She stands as tall as she can, but staggers as she slowly retreats to her room.
He waits until she disappears before he collapses in grief. His hands shake so badly he clutches them to his sides, but his whole body shivers. Exhausted and only wanting to sleep, he finally gets up, but trips on the abandoned groceries all over the hallway.
"Who just leaves groceries on the ground?" He mutters to himself. He had never seen anything so absurd. He would never find anyone that absurd. He resorts to picking up the sacks and taking them to the kitchen to put away, though it doesn't take his mind off of this. Running his hand through his hair, he is not entirely sure if he is laughing or crying. He walks into their room to see Lucy curled tightly to her pillow, slumbering soundly. She never even bothered to change into her pajamas, or get under the covers. Alfendi sighs, taking his own blanket and tucking it around her sleeping form.
'I can't believe I could have lost her. Do I really hold you back, Lucy?'
The thought echoes in his mind when he escapes the flat and even when he decides to spend the night in his office. When the morning dawn shines on his face, he finds himself on the couch in the Mystery Room, but the instant he is awake he is on his feet. There is something he must do, and it requires breaking down the door to Barton's office.
"Commissioner, I have a request."
Ummmm, to explain myself a little bit... Being in a relationship is hard work. Due to such complicated circumstances with these two I feel that they would have broken up at least once. It just allows them to take a step back and then they would find that yes they do want to be together. I think it's probably even healthy. I decided to let Alfendi off pretty easy. (It would just be a mess to try and make up a reason for them to get back together. I don't got that kinda time. This fight was bad enough)
If you don't hate me already... you are going to. I promise to finish this story, but I need about two or three weeks off. I have a super important competition. I need to write speeches and rehearse and I need to focus on that (not a strong point). But when I do come back... I'll have had so much time to develop the ideas in my head for the finale and it's gonna be so amazing. I hope you understand.