The Office [Closed to Apollo and Stiles]

[eyeforaneye]

It's become his new routine to show up at work at least a quarter of an hour ahead of schedule and he's been tempted to query Apollo about getting a spare key made for that reason... but somehow the older man always beats him here, waiting to let him in just before the office itself is opened to the general public. The first hour is pretty much a wash anyway, generally spent listening to the morning shower outside and brewing the first pot of coffee, double-checking notes from the day before, making sure all the pencils are--

Ah, but now the door's opening. A first client already?

...

"No." That's all he has to say when he sees Stiles, an instinctive reaction. No. "Whatever you've done this isn't the right place to search for representation."

Comments

[mensrea]

If only this were a video game; Stiles would be impatiently mashing the A button to move along the tutorial. As it is, he barely manages to avoid dislocating a shoulder when he jerks in surprise from the close proximity. Chancing a quick glance up at Sasuke, he turns his attention back to the monitor only for his eyes to immediately glaze over. It’s the summer; his brain steadily refuses to retain or absorb any uninteresting information. While he’s busy not listening to the explanation, he mulls over Sasuke’s previous words.

“Yeah, right. Don’t think for a second I’m fooled by that stoic look. I’m not happy about this either, okay? And you technically didn’t offer anything. Your boss told you to.”

Huffing, he slumps back in the chair (which consequently rolls backward into Sasuke).

“But let’s get the facts straight. What have I done for you?” Here he holds up a hand, and ticks off his points finger-by-finger. “I didn’t report your shady operation at the hardware store, because no way was that legitimate. I gave—” Stiles cuts himself off abruptly. Along with The Matrix, the fact he gave the guy his number is just something They Don’t Discuss. “I gave you a ride on my bike to a bunch of errands. I hung out with you at the zoo. All you do is verbally abuse me. So appreciate me! God.”

1/2

[eyeforaneye]

The wheel of the computer chair rolls neatly over his toes and he very narrowly suppresses a violent reaction to the pain that blossoms throughout his foot as a result, not exactly feeling very receptive to the list he then lifts his head to listen to.

"My shady-- I didn't have a shady operation; it wasn't one that I put into place and it was largely legal even besides that. Don't count inactivity as a favor." Ugh. "And it was one errand. And I didn't ask you to stick around with me."

2/2

[eyeforaneye]

... The more he speaks the more he's becoming distantly aware of Stiles's point, unable to really hold it against him that he's actually willing to voice his grievances instead of leaving Sasuke to guess what exactly he's done to offend someone this time.

"... fine. Then if you're going to lambast me, at least say thank you for the coffee. I bought those grounds and I didn't make it for you, so you're also capable of pulling this shit."

[mensrea]

Stiles’ brows have hiked up into his hairline and vanished there. “Largely legal?” he mouths silently to himself in disbelief. Well, that definitely warrants more investigation. Making a mental note to later dig up information on both hardware store and Sasuke, he swivels around in the chair to scowl up at the other boy.

When Sasuke points out what an equally unappreciative asshole he is, Stiles glances down at the coffee mug in his hands. Then, with exaggerated slowness, he raises it to his lips and takes a long, noisy slurp.

“Thanks for the coffee,” he chirps with mock cheer.

[eyeforaneye]

...

"I'm sure there's a way that that could've sounded more forced but I don't know what it is. Look, neither of us were expecting this arrangement when we woke up today but now we don't have any choice. Apollo's the one that hired me and then knowingly... ah, tricked you into employment or whatever your arrangement is.

There's not even a point in us being angry at one another." It's just enough pragmatism to get them both through the day, hopefully. "Are you ready to look at this program or do you need the coffee to kick in first?"

[mensrea]

“I’m not angry,” comes the low mutter, spoken directly into the mug of coffee. “I’m just being dramatic for effect, dude.”

As honest as Stiles Stilinski will ever get, really. Were it anyone else, he wouldn’t have even admitted as much. Sasuke, however, would probably benefit from people outright explaining the obvious. Such a weird guy. It’s like he was raised by bears or something, for all the subtlety he’s capable of.

A dull throb makes itself known in his left temple. Grimacing, he puts aside the coffee and answers the question with a shake of his head.

“Do your worst.”

[eyeforaneye]

"The effect is lost on me." And that's as honest as Sasuke will get, both of them incapable of dealing with one another's regular attitudes in a way that's both irritating and challenging and Sasuke refuses to acknowledge the possibility that Stiles is good for him due to that alone.

"It's like I said, you need to set a password. Minimum character length is eight, one special character, number, and capital required. I'll turn my head away if you think I'm going to malign your hours for a joke." Yeah. RIght.

[mensrea]

No kidding, he thinks to himself, squinting blearily at the computer screen. After a moment he reaches forward and adjusts the monitor's brightness without bothering to ask first for permission. Much better.

"Nah."

Stiles will just change his password later, after he's settled in. For now, he slowly types out a temporary password, allowing Sasuke to see it.

H-A-R-V-E-Y-'-S_T-O-O-L_B-O-Y