chapter word count: 678

noir heart: one hundred and seventeen

The woman in the doorway stares at Hans with a fire as fierce as her curly red hair. Clad in an emerald green business number and clutching a mahogany brown suitcase, she fixates her daggers upon him with accuracy scary even to the startled Jack - who's still trying to calm his heart from making music with his voice box.

"Not another word, Detective Frost!" she barks, and steps in just enough to slam the door behind her, still trying to incinerate Hans with her eyes.

Jack is the proud recipient of a suspicious-slash-bemused look from his adopted brother - it's all he can do to lightly shrug and mimic drawing a zip across his lips, thanks to the haze of introspection and second-guessing being ripped away - before both men regard the new arrival with curiosity. "And you are?" Hans asks, tone thick with irritation.

"Merida Dunbroch, defense attorney." She strides up to him, stopping barely two feet away. "Ye're talkin' ta my client without counsel present. Meaning: get tha hell out."

Upon receiving another look from his once-brother, Jack raises his hands and gives him innocent. "Don't look at me," he says, "I just work here."

"Detective Frost did not ask for an attorney," Hans says, voice smooth as silk but with a low tone to it - reserved for situations where he's trying to regain control. "He's not under arrest. You shouldn't be here."

Merida's eyebrows shoot into the cascade of flames masquerading as hair. "Oh, and you should? Three words, laddie: conflict of interest."

Jack's eyes, which up until that point had been bouncing between them like watching a leisurely tennis game, rest on Hans just in time to see him flinch. It's barely noticeable, and well-hidden as per usual - but it's there. She knows.

As it turns out - Merida doesn't miss it, either. She sucks in a breath and displays one of the most hilariously theatrical winces Jack has ever seen, or used, in his life. "Wasnae expectin' that, were ye, laddie? Detective Frost," she turns her head to address him, yet her eyes remain unblinkingly dedicated to lasering a hole through Hans' skull, "did ye ask tae leave at any point?"

"Ayep," Jack says, popping the 'p'.

"There ye have it, then." She drops the briefcase on the table, causing a metallic thud to echo around the room. "So, unless ye want me ta report ye fer misconduct, I suggest ye do what I told ye-" she marches over to the door, and yanks it open hard enough to make the hinges shriek in terror, "-and get the hell out."

Hans casts him one last glare, and murmurs, "This isn't over," before skulking out like a petulant child - but not without witnessing a little finger-wave from his almost-prey.

Merida takes care to close the door behind her, and then strides over to the free chair. Unbuttoning her suit jacket, she plops herself down in front of him and regards him with a searching look - and a wry smirk.

"Much as I hate to say it, he's right." Leaning his elbows onto the table, Jack laces his fingers together. "I didn't order the defense counsel sandwich with attorney-client privilege filling. Pretty sure I can't afford you - so, what gives?"

Merida's eyebrows bounce, and her smirk deepens. There's a confident fire behind her eyes, a sharp legal mind he knows has won her fair share of cases. She's an idealist, too - there's no weary cynicism in her rosy face. She's in it to win, but only if her client is innocent.

"Oh, ye cannae afford me. I'm doin' this pro bono."

Jack tilts his head, and his face cuts a frown of curiosity. "Wait - I'm getting one of the most badass defense attorneys in Arendelle City for free? Why?"

A feminine chuckle escapes Merida's lips. "Let's just say you and I have a mutual friend."

need to get back into the groove. Hope this was worth the wait.

special thanks to: melodypond77, snowfire12345, whimsical acumen, doomstone, lacoona, waguneru, chiqanti ceres, hornedgoddess, oninoko, heartonfire, riverfall, jpbake, isawaliciaarrow and lunasnoir for the reviews!