Walking down the almost identical cream corridors, Veronica took her usual path down the quieter corridors, so she could allow her mind to wonder without the possibility of bumping into passing reapers, avoiding any snobbish barbs and more commonly as off late, taunting sneers concerning the absurd, circling rumours about Theo and herself.
Everything was going smoothly, up until a book trolley came out of nowhere, causing a head on collision between her and it, knocking her to the floor and forcing her to landing awkwardly on her ankle.
"Drat, there goes my 6 month record of no collisions..." a male voice chuckled, revealing it to be the man she was hoping to avoid for as long as physically possible... Theo peered around the trolley to see who he hit "If it isn't my favourite supervisor, I was hoping to bump into you today, not quite this literally, but alas things can't always go exactly to plan" he mused jovially before offering her a hand "care for some help?"
"And I'm to believe that this isn't revenge for what happened in the craft shop?" she grumbled taking his hand, begrudgingly letting him help her up, her left ankle complaining as she tried to stand on it, "Oh great" she grumbled, leaning into the wall.
"I may have a record for ending up ramming things, but believe me this wasn't done maliciously, for the last thing I need right now is you to be in a worse mood with me then you are already" he mused, sounding oddly sincere "Would you like me to have a look at that for you?" he asked, feeling a little guilty for injuring her, no matter how minor...
"No it's fine... plus your a mortician, not a doctor"
"Well technically, I'm a doctor of the dead, m'dear~" he mused with a tilt of his hat "At least I can honestly say I've never had a patient die on me~"
"That really isn't as reassuring as you quite obviously believe it is," she muttered,
"Come now~ you can trust me~ I mean, who is more trustworthy then a undertaker? We humble folk will always take your secrets to the grave, well that being yours, naturally~" he chuckled heartily
Veronica rolled her eyes that this, if only he knew... "I can fix it myself, I rather not deal with death doctors that giggle" she retorted before turning, using the wall to keep herself steady, set off hobbled back the way she came.
Theo quickly abandoned the trolley, catching up with her and ducking under her right arm "then at least let me help you back to your office"
"Is someone feeling guilty?"she inquired, raising an eyebrow at him, as they started walking in step with each other.
"Just a little yes" he replied honestly, casting her a little smile.
"What about your accomplice, are you just going to leave it there?" she asked, thumbing behind them, pointing at the book trolley.
"Yep" he shrugged nonchalantly "who knows someone might be a dear and take it away for me" he grinned cheekily,
Veronica rolled her eyes and shook her head "Well, ain't you just the fuzzy scoundrel?" she stated sarcastically
"Oh I know~ someone ought to slap my wrist for being naughty and not putting my books back from where I found them~" he joked, putting on a mock remorseful look, hanging his head in shame.
"Yes Theo, you ought to know better" she scolded half heartedly, flicking his nose gently.
He grinned widely, licking her finger "Maybe I just need someone to show me the error of my ways~" he chuckled softly, resting his head on her shoulder and looking up at her suggestively
"I could always get William for you" she mocked, faking obliviousness to his suggestion as she wiped her finger on his robes.
Theo pulled a face "no thank you. I much rather go talk to the elders..."
"Will isn't that bad... he just happens to have the social skills of a teaspoon. As for the elders I would much rather play tag with a werewolf during a full moon, then have to deal with those gnarly old crab apples."
"Will is just so rigid, he need to learn that it's not against the rules to relax"
"I bet there is a rule in there about it... somewhere in the depths of the archives, there's simply far too many rules for any one being to keep up with" she concurred lightly, smiling softly despite herself.
"Hate to tell you this, but you appear to be talking to me..." he chuckled down her ear
"Hate to burst your bubble, chuckle butt, but we're talking about elements of work, it's not like I'm giving you my life story" she corrected, as she felt him deflat under her arm, as if someone had got him with a dart.
"You just had to ruin my moment" he whined as they come up to Veronica's office door,
"I just didn't want you getting ahead of yourself" she mused, the corners of her lips twitching lightly once more.
He cast her a kicked puppy look "Come on Nikki, I did help you back here, isn't that worth something?"
She sighed "I suppose, how about a cup of tea?"
"Now you're talking, in return let me have a look at that ankle"
"Very well" she grumbled as she scooped her keys out her pocket, slipping it in the lock and open the door, letting him help her inside, and over to the sofa, carefully lowing her down onto the cushions.
"Now let's have a look at your booboo~" he chuckled kneeling down in front of her, carefully lifting her ankle up, removing her shoe and sock, inspecting her slightly red ankle, his long slender fingers grazing her skin so lightly she had to suppress a shiver.
To say that his gentle touch was a surprise would be a rather large understatement, she was under the impression that it would be like the rest of him, brash and invasive... to the point that she would be glad when it was over. In reality it was quite the opposite, she, in all honestly to herself, welcomed the softly probing touch... so much so she had to suppress a small whine as he placed her foot back on the carpet.
It had really had been an extremely long time since someone had touched her, that she let them close enough too... even in the medical expect... she would always just tend to herself after fixing up whoever else that need it. Weakness... he seemed to be fair to able to locate and exploit the dents in her armour... to the point it was quite alarming.
"Looks like it just a sprain, you should be fine in a few days as long as you don't go running a marathon or go doing anything to strenuous~" he advised light heartedly before getting to his feet "do you have a first aid box around here somewhere perchance?"
Veronica nodded "it's under the sink over there" she replied pointing to the spot, watching as he went to retrieve it, holding his hat to his head when he bend down to stop it from slipping off. "And there I was thinking that was glued to your head... it never seems to move, no matter what you do" she expressed thoughtfully,
"I may be attached to it, but not quite in that way, m'dear~" he chuckled softly as he returned to his place on the floor, snapping open the case and retrieve a thick roll of bandage.
"Is that why it looks like it's been sat on more times then is good for it's structure"
"No matter how fond of it I am, it does get in the way on occasion, and it has been sat on a few times when I forget where I put it" he mused jovially, starting to carefully wrap her ankle "besides I'll have you know that this is the butt print of love~"
Despite herself a small laugh left her lips at his last comment... moving her hand over her mouth to cover it up, but she was too slow...
Theo looked up at her hearing her soft laugh "do my ears deceive me or did I just get a laugh out of you?" he inquired, a victorious grin started to spend across his face.
"Must be your age finally starting to catch up with, you are after all quite the old fart" she denied point blank, leaving her face expressionless.
He just grinned knowingly at her "admit it I made you laugh, m'dear~"
"Never! And even if you did, what is it too you?" she stated simply, crossing her arms over her chest,
"Is it so wrong of me to hope that you are starting to warm to my company so I don't have to cheat and trick you into letting me stay for even the shortest length of time?" he demanded his normally jovial voice hardening... as he tucked the end of the bandage into the top in the wrapping.
"Yes it is" she snapped back curtly
"But why?"
"Because everyone that remains in my company ends up dead" she blurted before she could stop herself... putting her head in hands, cursing herself for slipping up once more.
"Veronica..." he breathed, as he climbed into the sofa beside her, taking a gently hold of her chin and tilting her face towards him "What do you mean?"
Averting her eyes from his covertly watching ones "Just go... please... leave..." she choked, pushing him off her and pulling her knees up to her chest.
He glanced down at her for a moment before forcing himself to leave... knowing that any move he made at the moment would be futile.
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A/N: So what do you think of the story so far? Opinions? Feedback? Predictions?
Reviews please... Pretty please? With a chibi Theo on top?