Markus sat in his office idly browsing the Diance's Diamonds web site. "It's a bit soon, don't you think, Markus?" Miriam had stepped into the room and laid a hand on his shoulder. "Besides, I know I love you, and I know you love me. I don't need a ring to know that." Markus smiled and closed the webpage.
"Alright, Mirri." He said as he let his head fall back into Miriam's chest. "What are we doing tonight, anything?" Miriam stepped backward and replied that tonight was her overnight shift, so whatever they were doing would be in her office, and PG rated. "No objections. Do we want me to pick up a pizza from that wood-fired oven place in Mesagoza and watch a movie on the projector?" Markus asked, and Miriam smiled.
"How are you always such a sweetheart?" Miriam chuckled and Markus noticed her usual surly attitude had started to fade. "You make me feel giggly and stupid in the way only a woman in love can. I'm so happy I have you." She said as Markus stood and pulled her into a hug.
"Do you want to move in with me over the summer break?" Markus asked. Miriam's breath caught in her throat for a second, then she hugged Markus tighter. "I guess that's a yes." Markus muttered as Miriam nodded.
"Yes, I want to share a space with you." She pulled away from Markus as the doorknob turned. Director Clavell stepped through the doorway and smiled at the two of them.
"Mr. Vaughn, I've done some digging into Ms. Myseeks, and I have some grim news." He shuffled nervously as Markus and Miriam exchanged a look. "Is there something I don't know?" He asked. Markus let out a sigh.
"So, you found out that Jessica's dead?" Markus asked, deadpan. Clavell flinched at the nonchalant nature of Markus's comment. "We've known for quite some time, Miriam treated Penny after everything happened." Clavell stuttered for a minute, then cleared his throat.
"Well, I don't know why I wasn't informed." Clavell turned to Miriam. "Am I right to assume the documents were a part of the record purge our former assistant director undertook?" He inquired. Miriam nodded her head and confirmed the only copy left was in her off-site backup storage. "Your what?" Clavell asked as he took a seat. "You have copies of the missing records?"
"Only the medical records. If a student was injured in any sort of incident, there's a record of it off-site in my sister's safe in Eterna City." She pulled out her phone. "I can have it here in a few days."
"Do you have records for the students who lead Team Star?" Clavell's voice dared to hold hope as Miriam nodded. "Please, I need those records. Make the arrangements." Miriam quickly sent a text.
"She'll put the records in the mail in the morning, her time." Miriam put away her phone. "Sorry for the delay, Director Clavell, I thought the academy's official position was to abandon those records as lost."
"It was, but then you told me you had them. I'll check with campus police to see if they've done the same. Thank you both." Clavell turned and left the room. Markus and Miriam took each other's hand and smiled.
"I was just now getting excited." She murmured. "And now I'm going to have to revisit the Team Star incidents. Where's that whiskey?" Markus hugged her and told her she drank the last of it when she met Amara. "Bullshit. There was more in that bottle." She glared at Markus. "Don't hold out on me, babe."
"Mirri, you're an alcoholic." Markus's tone was flat, but uncompromising. Miriam paused, then thought for a moment. Then she lifted her head to protest, paused again, and lowered it. Markus put his hand on her shoulder.
"Fuck, I'm an alcoholic." Tears welled up in Miriam's eyes as Markus pulled her into his chest. "I swore I wouldn't. I swore that I wouldn't end up like that abusive asshole." She cried into Markus's chest as Markus stroked her back. "Fuck, I'm a goddamned alcoholic."
"I sense a tale." Markus muttered to himself as he held Miriam in his arms. "Right now, though, I'll just hold you. I love you, Mirri." Miriam cried for another five minutes, and Markus held her until her tears ran dry.