Kala slips inside the small restaurant and peeks through the glass of the revolving door.

Not a block away, stopped impatiently at the crosswalk, is her colleague, Lukas. He seems to scan the row of closed shops that line this side of the street before his eyes pause thoughtfully at the restaurant. Kala ducks quickly out of sight although she doubts he can see inside.

Dammit.

She almost made it through the entire week without interacting with him. But tonight as she was leaving the building, she heard him call her name, and her stomach knotted. Every muscle in her body mutinied against her ingrained politeness.

Kala pretended not to hear, glanced at her phone as if checking a message, her steps quickening.

She should have known better than to think Lukas wouldn't follow her. Kala gives a frustrated huff.

Instead of waiting at the bus stop where he would surely catch her, she turned down another street in an effort to lose him, finally seeking refuge in the small eatery.

Kala scans the thinly-crowded floor. Her eyes rest on a man sitting at a corner table for two, distractedly pushing aside an empty plate that a server swoops to recover. The man says something to the server, making her laugh before she leaves a bill. He hunches casually forward in his seat, head down, probably surfing his phone. The man is angled with his back to her, but he's dressed neatly in dark jeans and a black jacket. More importantly, she only sees a single glass at the table. He's alone.

Kala takes a deep breath and walks over before she can reconsider.

"Hallo," she says breathlessly. She takes the vacant seat across from him, heart racing at her boldness.

The man looks up, startled, blue eyes wide with surprise. The man is around her age, decent-looking: His face is long, capped by dark-blond hair; his eyes are kind. A furtive glance at his hands shows no wedding ring.

"Hallo?" he repeats, confused, fingers paused mid-message on a cell phone. There's a flicker of interest in his gaze that's belied by wariness.

"I'm sorry to bother you." Kala shakes her head at the approaching server, casts a nervous glance at the revolving door. "But do you think you can pretend that you know me? That we're friends? I have a co-worker… He's coming here…" She trails off in dismay, realizing how crazy she must sound to this stranger whose eyes have grown even wider before his brows suddenly snap together.

"Is someone bothering you?" he asks, his tone grim. "Do you need me to call the police?"

Kala shakes her head, alarmed. "Oh no!" she says. "It's not like that." The man looks at her with a slight frown and she wilts a little under his sharp gaze. "I mean, he's just persistent. And I think he doesn't believe me that I have a, um, a friend." She can feel her face grow bright red at the attentive look the stranger gives her. "I think he followed me here." She forces herself to meet his eyes, despite how embarrassed she feels. "But I think if he sees me with someone, he'll finally believe me. And I was hoping when I saw you... Could you please pretend that you're with me? That we're -"

"Together?" he asks. He doesn't seem shocked or offended; he merely looks concerned. "Guy's that much of an ass?" he asks. Kala stares back, unsure how to answer, but the man shrugs. "If you think it will work, I guess. I'll help you get rid of him."

"Thank you!" She almost sobs in relief. "I'm Kala," she says, but movement at the front of the restaurant catches her attention; she blanches. "He's here," she says faintly.

"Yeah?" The man doesn't bother to turn around. He sets his phone down, covers her fidgeting hands with his own. The steady warmth of them settles her nerves a little as she concentrates on focusing her attention to his face, to look relaxed. "It's ok," he tells her. "Don't you worry. I'm gonna act like the fuckingest jealous boyfriend you could want." He gives a confident smirk. "He's gonna think I'm crazy and leave you alone. You'll see."

She nods at that, reassured by the certainty in his voice. "Okay," she says, breathing again. "Gut. Danke."

"Kala?"

She is almost startled to see Lukas just steps away from the table, stopping just behind her "boyfriend".

Lukas Fischer is not a particularly large man, although he is tall, visibly fit. But if Kala is honest, there is something about him that makes her uneasy, even though Lukas has been nothing but friendly since she was transferred to Berlin three months ago. She was even grateful the first week or two, having moved alone from Hannover. But then his attention became more demanding, his kindness almost suffocating.

Kala's fingers tremble a little, but her "boyfriend" gives them a final encouraging squeeze. She meets his confident eyes and relaxes as he releases her hands, settles back into his seat. She manages to look unconcerned. "Lukas?" she says, as if surprised. "What are you doing here?"

Lukas looks nonplussed, eyes darting between her and the man she sits with. "I tried to catch you before you left." He gives a huff, eyes boring into the back of her companion's head.

Kala's fake boyfriend quirks his eyebrow at the first sound of Lukas' voice. He gives Kala an odd look as he turns around. "Lukas Fischer," he says. "You know Kala?"

Lukas turns a shade of red, his gaze wary. "Jesus," he mutters, body tensing. "Felix. I thought it was you. What are you doing here?"

"Meeting Kala after work," says Felix, eyebrows raised. "What are you doing here?"

Kala's eyes widen. There's a palpable current of dislike between her colleague and the man at the table. Felix she repeats to herself: His name is Felix. "You know each other?" she asks nervously. Of all the people in Berlin to be her fake boyfriend, she manages to pick someone that Lukas knows.

"Yeah," answers Felix amiably, but the smile he gives Lukas fails to meet his eyes. Felix doesn't elaborate.

Lukas looks equally reluctant to explain, choosing instead to turn his attention back to Kala. "I tried to catch you after work," he tells her again, "but you left a little earlier than normal. I'm just glad I saw you as you were leaving." He smiles at her through gritted teeth, clearly annoyed by Felix's presence. "I'm not in the office tomorrow, but I'm having a little party at my home Saturday night. I want you to come, if you can make it."

"Oh?" Kala shoots Felix a quick glance. "I'm not sure…" Now would be the time to act like a jealous boyfriend. She catches her lower lip between her teeth. "I mean," she stammers uncertainly.

Lukas looks from her to Felix and his expression turns insultingly dismissive. "Oh," he says, eyebrows raised. "Are you two a couple?" He says the word with an incredulity that causes Kala to frown, defensive. She looks at Felix, but his friendly expression doesn't change. A flicker of unholy amusement crosses his face.

"Us?" asks Felix with the same note of surprise in his voice. Kala stares at him, her expression carefully neutral. "Nah. We're just friends." Lukas relaxes for just a heartbeat before Felix adds: "She's Wolfgang's girlfriend."

Kala tries hard not to look shocked by the unexpected announcement. Lukas looks visibly pale.

"Wolfgang?" Lukas repeats.

Felix nods. "Yes," he says slowly, as if articulating to a child. "Kala is Wolfgang's girlfriend."

"Is this true?" Lukas turns an accusatory glare at Kala.

Kala doesn't know why her eyes stare back at Lukas Fischer gravely, why her head nods in agreement with Felix as if she's always lied with ease.

"I'll let Wolfgang know," continues Felix, deliberately oblivious to the shock he's caused. "Thanks for the invite. I'm sure Wolfgang will like to go; he hasn't been to your place in years. What's the occasion?"

Lukas stares hard at Felix, caught. "Just. A small get-together." He looks at Kala, and something in her expression must have reassured him because he recovers some of his earlier swagger. "I'll look forward to seeing you there, then," he says.

Kala's chin tilts up. "With Wolfgang," she adds. The swagger visibly slips from Lukas again. He nods in agreement, takes his leave quickly.

Felix watches him go with unrestrained glee, finally breaking into a triumphant laugh once Lukas is outside. "With Wolfgang!" he repeats, chuckling. His eyes flash approvingly at her. "Classic!"

Kala shakes her head, stares at Felix, aghast. "What did you do? What did I do?" she demands."What was that all about? Oh my god." She slides back in her seat, horrified by the turn of events, by her complicity in the elaboration of what should have been just a simple lie. "Why didn't you just agree that we're a couple?"

Felix shrugs, unperturbed. He leans forward, fixes her with his earnest blue eyes. "Look," he tells her, "you work with Lukas Fischer? I've known him for years. Since we were kids. And he's an asshole. A bully." Felix frowns slightly. "He might even be worse than that. And he wouldn't be put off by some fake boyfriend; maybe not even by a regular real boyfriend. I mean, maybe he'd think twice going after you if he thinks you're my girlfriend. But he'll leave you alone for sure if you're Wolfie's."

Kala hides her face with her hands. "Oh my god," she murmurs. "Who is Wolfie? Why would Lukas be afraid of him?"

"Oh." Felix shrugs. "They've got an understanding." As with everything else about Lukas Fischer, Felix chooses not to elaborate. Kala uncovers her face to stare at him. He merely grins. "Trust me," he says. "This is the best coincidence, that I happen to know the asshole who harasses you. He's shit. I bet you that there's no real party. That you would have gone to his place on Saturday and it's a party for two. I know you thought that too. Don't deny it. I can tell from your face."

Kala flushes. "Ok," she agrees grimly. "But that's why I wouldn't have gone."

Felix smiles. "Well now Fischer's gonna have to throw a party, just in case you go and show up with Wolfgang." He chuckles at the thought, gives a sigh of satisfaction at the inconvenience he's sure he's caused Fischer.

Kala lays her hands on top of the table. "Do you think he believes it? That I'm Wolfie's girlfriend?"

Felix considers. "Maybe? I'm not sure," he admits. "I mean, Wolfie doesn't really -" Felix seems to search for the appropriate term. "He doesn't really do relationships. But that's why it's a big deal that Fischer lays off."

"Oh." Kala takes a calming breath. "Then I guess it's good you told him I'm with your friend. At least Lukas will leave me alone for a bit." It's clear to her now that she needs to do something about Lukas Fischer: He's no longer just a nuisance to avoid at work; a colleague interested in her romantically, even though she's turned down his advances on two memorable occasions already. He has been getting more aggressive in his pursuit the last few weeks - hence the lie about already having a boyfriend. Kala frowns, still shocked that he followed her into this restaurant.

At least this new lie should buy her some time to think of how to deal with him, even if it means reporting him at work. At her new job. Where he's worked for years.

Kala shakes her head again, aware that she's taken up too much of this stranger's time. She eyes Felix apologetically. "Thank you for helping me," she says, pulling her chair away from the table. "I appreciate it, even if it wasn't quite what I expected. You've been more than kind."

Felix looks surprised. "What about Saturday?" he asks.

"Saturday?" Kala quirks an eyebrow at him. "I'm not going, of course. I told you."

Felix shakes his head. "Fischer's not really convinced you're dating Wolfgang." Felix frowns a little. "I think you need to go. Just to prove it. Go with Wolfgang."

Kala feels sure she's gone pale. "I don't think that's necessary," she demurs. "I can make up an excuse. You don't need to ask your friend to go."

Felix shakes his head. "I know he'd do it. They don't like each other, yeah?" He sees the hesitation on her face, shrugs slightly. "Look," he tells her. "Obviously you don't have to do anything you're not cool with. If you're worried going to a party with a guy you don't know, I get it. I mean, you gotta watch out for yourself, although I'm telling you Wolfie is a gentleman. You can meet him before, somewhere you feel safe. I mean, if you'd rather not go to this party, and just deal with Fischer some other way, that's cool too. I'm just offering cause it seems to me that Fischer's not just gonna disappear."

She is tempted. She is so tempted. Kala thinks of all the subtle and not subtle ways in the last few weeks that she's adjusted her routine to avoid Lukas: lunch at odd hours or not at all; starting earlier or leaving later, and always preferring to do so with someone else so she's not left awkwardly talking to him alone, dreading the inevitable press for a date because surely she didn't mean "no" the last two times either.

"If you think your friend will do it," she finds herself saying.

Felix grins widely. "I'm sure he will," he says. "You wanna meet him here tomorrow maybe? After work? You should probably get to know each other a bare minimum before showing up at the party."

"Of course," she says weakly.

"Great." He smiles, confident. "I'll tell Wolfgang. He'll be glad to help."

"Wolfgang." Kala says the name carefully, as if trying to commit it to memory.

"Yeah. Wolfgang Bogdanow." Felix takes a pen from the inside of his coat, grabs his napkin. He writes carefully, passing her the napkin when he's done: Wolfgang Bogdanow is written in neat print. Underneath it, Felix Berner with a phone number.

"If you need to reach me before then, or you change your mind, you can call or message me," he says.

"Thank you." Kala nods, still uncertain.

Felix smiles reassuringly. "I won't be offended if you change your mind," he says. "I come here a lot anyway."

Kala puts the napkin in her purse. She gives a faint exhale before she stands. "Thank you again," she says, extending her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Felix."

He nods, shakes her hand firmly. "Nice meeting you, too," he says.

Kala leaves the restaurant cautiously, half expecting Lukas around the corner. She frowns at her own paranoia, walks to the nearest bus stop with deliberate bravado. As she waits, she takes the napkin out of her purse, stares at the names and the number written in black. She's not sure just how desperate she is to avoid Lukas Fischer; she wonders why she is even considering the suggestion of a complete stranger. Except maybe she is that desperate to avoid Lukas Fischer.

She stares at the napkin a long time. She puts it back in her purse when the bus arrives.

A/N : I wasn't sure I'd be back to write more for this fandom, but welp... Here I am. Thank you so much for reading. As always, reviews are appreciated.

Thanks go to the amazing Halcyon_Red for saving poor KinoGlowWorm and being my beta this time around 333 And thank you Heike for helping me come up with a title.