Memory: Nosy Intern

The HQ was a mess. With case after case after case being slapped onto the team's desk, there was little time in between to clean up the place. Now while Matthew stayed behind, he was far from OCD with his surroundings.

"We need an intern." Ivan voiced one day. He had just returned from a phone call, to whom no one knew, and he stared at the place with a frown. Matthew and Alfred were like children and never picked up their toys. Case and point, the rather alarming pile of yogurt containers and strewn clothes that belonged to the older blond. Why they weren't in Alfred's office, or better yet his apartment no one knew. Currently the pair were lounging on the couch, Matthew chewing on something or another while Alfred blew up zombies in yet another apocalypse themed game.

"An intern?"

"We can't hire a maid, now can we, Yao?" Ivan shrugged as his boss' mind started to work. They could use extra hands around the place, even if it was mostly cleaning.

"I'll think about it, aru."

"Hnn."

Kuma was a bright boy. He just needed a chance to prove he was worth a team. So, when he was contacted to start an internship, he was more than excited. Well, until he saw just what this new team provided. His first day there he noticed that Matthew was rather rude when he wasn't flirty and was a disaster waiting to happen to anything other than technology. Alfred was carefree and messy at best, though Kuma accidentally made Matt snap at him, which earnt him a pointed look from the older blond for the rest of the week. Ivan merely smiled and ignored him saved when he needed something. And he always needed something.

In fact, the only person who treated him like a person was Yao, his boss. He didn't talk slowly at him like Matthew did because he didn't understand what the tactical genius went on about half the time. Nor did Yao's mood depend on said tactical genius'. When he needed something, it was always something reasonable, like some extra folders or a new set of eyes on something he was looking at.

And maybe that's why he stuck to Yao. And maybe that's why he freaked out and whined when Yao wasn't around.

The only argument they had to date was held after the third case Kuma was around for. Yao was tired and wanted to sleep. He couldn't make it home that particular night since he had a meeting early the next day. So, on the office couch it was. After he closed the door and just as he started to doze off, he heard the insistent knocking of Kuma. The boy wanted to know if there was something he could do. When Yao said "no, go home." he was met with protests and whines. To say they had an argument was a light use of the word. It wasn't really one until Yao pried himself off the couch and opened the door.

The poor intern looked worried and tired and just utterly wrecked. He needed to go home. The heartstrings in the Asian's chest gave a tight pull. With a heavy sigh he listened to the need in Kuma's voice as he begged for something to keep him around, keep close to his boss. "No, it can wait, go home and rest. Arguing with me at...three forty am is not helping your case, Mr. Muit, go home. Don't make me turn that into an order."

Kuma deflated and with one last pleading glance at Yao he left, tossing over his shoulder, "you should go home too then. You'd rest better..."

And if Yao's heartstrings pulled tight once again, well no one had to know.

Memory End