Disclaimer: I do not own Danger Mouse (2015) or any canon characters. They are the property of Brian Cosgrove, Mark Hall, FremantleMedia, CBBC, Boulder Media. I also don't own The AristoCats, that's property of Disney. I do own the mentioned Emma White.

PSDM

The door slid open and she stepped into the flat. She wasn't surprised to see Ernest Penfold was watching The AristoCats for the tenth time since the funeral. But, where was Danger Mouse?

Penfold looked to the entrance and forced a smile. "Hi, Danger Moth."

She waved to him before stepping over to where he sat. "Don't force a smile on my account. How are you holding up?"

He allowed his false smile to fall and sighed. "Better, I suppose. Still miss her a heap."

"I don't blame you in the slightest, Penfold. I'm surprised to see you sitting alone though, where's DM?"

"Bedroom. You can go in and talk to him if you want, he didn't say he wanted to be alone."

"Alright. I'll let you get back to the film. Oh, but before I do...why this one?"

"It was Emma's favourite. When I watch it, though it makes me sad, it also allows me to remember the good times. I don't cry as much during Scales and Arpeggios anymore, even when I believe I can hear Emma singing along."

"I understand." She let the hamster be and made her way to the bedroom. She knocked.

"Enter!"

She pressed the control panel in the wall, allowing the door to slide open and stepped into the room. "How are you holding up, DM?"

He looked to the moth and smiled tenderly. It wasn't forced but still lacked his usual joy. "Ah, Danger Moth. Thanks for coming by. I'm...not as bad as I was, though I won't deny I still have my moments."

"That's fair enough."

"You've been in the lab, I take it?"

"How did you know?"

"For one thing, you've been spending quite a lot of time there lately. Is the professor still ticked off?"

"About the Multi-Controller, you mean? Well, it's simmered to mild annoyance by now, though she is in a state of refusing to say your name."

He chuckled. "That's our Squawks. So, how come you're not there now? Not that you're unwelcome here or anything."

"She was about to turn on the bright lamp and since I'm without my goggles, my instincts would've kicked in and I would've been more than a slight annoyance."

"Ah, I see. Fair enough."

"Have I really been spending a lot of time in the lab lately?"

"Quite so. It's almost as if you live there or something." He smirked, his eye twinkling in mirth.

She grinned and punched him lightly on the shoulder. "Don't tease," she mock-whined.

"Sorry, sorry! Still, you really have been in there a lot. If you're not on a mission or not having some rest following a mission, you can usually be found there. You don't even worry about if there's a new gadget to be tested out, so it's almost as if you go for the sake of being with the professor."

Her grin faded as she noted Danger Mouse's eye lost the playful glint he had earlier. "Well, we are good friends and being the only females in the Danger Agency and all..."

"Oh, don't think I am jumping to conclusions about anything yet. But, I will say that if you need help figuring it out, you can come and talk to me about it."

"Figuring what out?"

"You'll know it if it happens."

She cocked her head in confusion. Her eyes widened as she started to realise what the mouse was hinting. "What? Wait, hold on a second, are you saying you believe there's something more?"

"It's a hunch, but that's all it is."

"But, DM, surely it can't be...I mean, I'm not into girls! At least...I don't think I am..."

"Well, you should know I'm not into blokes."

"You're not? But, you and Penfold..."

"It's simply because he's Penfold. That's it, really." He placed a paw on her hand. "Like I said, it's a hunch. I'm not always accurate, you know that, and I certainly can't tell you how you feel for someone. Still, if my hunch is spot-on, you can talk to me about it."

She nodded. "Thank you, DM. I need to ask this; how do you two manage to keep it a secret from the other Danger Agents?"

"Simple. We act as we always did. Penfold giving me a hug and vice-versa isn't really unheard of, so it wouldn't seem suspicious. But, kisses or any further displays of intimacy are saved for the safety of home. It's only around you, Squawks and Colonel K we can be a bit more open, though again, further displays of intimacy are saved for the safety of home."

"In here mostly?"

"Pretty much any room without a view from the outside. We'd cut it close with Greenback, but he, Stiletto and Nero are not the only fiends in the world. We definitely can't allow Jeopardy Mouse to know!"

She nodded in solemn understanding. "Though there is a very miniscule modicum of respect between you two, you're rivals above all and if she caught wind of your relationship with Penfold, she'd probably use it to discredit you if things became far too tense between you."

"Exactly. As for the other Danger Agents...well, Danger Mackerel has already made his stance of same-sex relationships clear. Danger Hedgehog, Danger Mole and Danger Bug aren't as open as to their thoughts, and Danger Pelican pretty much ignores it being possible, so..."

"Anything to avoid upsetting the dynamics of the agency."

"Right."

"So, if...and I mean if...things between the professor and I turn out the same as you and Penfold, we should try to keep others from finding out."

"If you'd rather. I mean, Danger Mackerel wouldn't become violent in his protests, but it could cause a strain. It would be something you two would have to discuss if, and only if, it comes to that."

"Right. Thanks, DM. So, why were you in here alone anyway?"

"Just been thinking."

"Not those same regrets, I hope."

"No, and Penfold made me promise that if they should bubble to the surface, I must speak with him immediately so he can help persuade me otherwise."

"Good. Well, I won't pry into your thoughts. Actually, I think the professor should be done with the lamp by now. If not, well my room is on the way so I can simply grab the goggles."

"You're off then?"

"I am."

"Thanks for stopping by to check on us. Have any other agents said anything?"

"Danger Hedgehog wondered why you two have been hiding away so I briefly explained what happened. He was sympathetic."

"I see. Well, thank you for that. It must be strange for us to be hiding away for so long."

"Well, you need time. In your hearts, Emma was a daughter to you, so the loss was significant." She rose to her feet. "See you later, DM."

"You too, Danger Moth." He watched her step out of the room.

PSDM

Penfold looked over to the bedroom. "You heading off then?"

"Yes, I'm going to return to the lab. See you later, Penfold."

"Bye-bye!" He turned back to the film.

She smiled as she made her way out of the flat.