Well, this chapter isn't longer…sue me. Maybe they'll all be short like this…I dunno. ^^;;

Kara Angitia - Thanks! Hmm…I think you're right. Tsuzuki would look better in boxers. They suit his personality much better.

Meritite - Thanks for the advice. Don't worry, though, I already know where I want to go with this fic. I don't like to make characters too OOC, either, because it takes away from the believability of the fic, ya know?

Watercolor-Dragon - I'm very glad you like it! ^__^

"TSUZUKI!!!"

Watari jumped, hitting his head on the cabinet door above him. Cursing, he retrieved an orange bottle from the cabinet, closing the door and rubbing his sore skull. He glanced in the direction of Tatsumi's voice, which could be plainly heard since the lab door was wide open. 003 squawked to Watari as if to say 'you're going to go for him?!'

"…It's alright, really. There's nothing to worry about. Tatsumi doesn't mean it when he yells like that, he's just blowing off steam. You would, too, if you stayed cooped up in an office doing paperwork all day and night."

He could still hear the shouting, but Watari just smiled and went back to work. He was looking forward to implementing experiment #86396599054217...otherwise dubbed 'Operation: Tatsumi'. He had all the details meticulously worked out: he would start with small talk, then turn to light, playful flirting. After that, he would work on getting Tatsumi to confide in and trust him, then on to the heavier flirting and innuendo.

'He'd be happy to know that for once I'm doing an experiment that won't blow anything up or cost money,' Watari mused. Once the shouting ended, he heard footsteps echoing down the hall toward the lab and paused, turning to face the doorway. The shadowy figure of Tatsumi entered, his face stern as usual.

"Watari-san, my office." Having said that, he turned stiffly, not waiting for a response. The scientist blinked, glancing at 003 and shrugging.

"Stay here, girl. I'll just be a few minutes…"

He entered the small office, eyeing its sparse walls and single fake plant. Tatsumi sat at his desk, hand folded in front of him.

"You wanted to see me, Tatsumi?" Watari put on his brightest smile.

"Yes. Would you explain this expense to me?"

He held out a sheet of paper for Watari to read. The blonde eyed it for a moment, looking up only to realize something. 'Operation: Tatsumi begins now. It's perfect!'

"Oh, this?" he said, making every attempt to sound convincing. "I was trying to make a robot with artificial intelligence."

He watched as the Kagetsukai's brow arched.

"For what purpose?"

Watari mentally cheered. 'Here goes…' He sighed forlornly, casting sad eyes to his pseudo-partner. Making sure he had Tatsumi's attention, he continued.

"Well…it's just that, you know, it gets lonely…being stuck in a lab all day with only birds to talk to…I guess I just got sick of being alone."

The secretary's eyes narrowed slightly, and he leaned forward.

"Watari…even if that is so, you have the option of leaving the lab and chatting with Tsuzuki. We both know he's never busy working."

The younger man almost smiled at that comment, but instead nodded sadly.

"I know. It's just that…well, Tsuzuki…he wouldn't understand some of the things bothering me. I mean, he's always so cheerful and everything's so clear-cut for him. There are some issues that I wouldn't even trust him with."

Watari bit his lip, surprised that he had blurted that out. He had meant to say something along those lines, but not so close to how he truly felt.

Tatsumi stared at him for a moment in contemplation. Seeing this, Watari smiled slightly.

"Ah, but don't worry about it. It's a shame that there's no one who's mature, serious-minded and intelligent enough for me to confide in…The only person who would fit that description is…well, you, Tatsumi-san. But I know you don't want to hear my stupid problems."

He stood to leave, still pretending to be forlorn. 'I hope this works,' he thought.

"Watari-san…" He paused for a moment. "I have never intentionally given the impression that you cannot talk to me. If…if you need to…"

The scientist could see that the Kagetsukai was uncomfortable.

"Thanks, Tatsumi. I'll remember that."

He smiled genuinely, exiting the small office in high spirits. 'Step one: successful.'