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[controlledvariable]

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[5055034455]

What, you really think I'd just find some schmuck to play court with me? This is serious business, Miss Brown.

[He turns on his toe, switching directions.]

So what I'm wondering now is who's gonna defend you if I'm the plaintiff?

[controlledvariable]

[She isn't entirely sure what happened, here, but she would like it stop right now because it's a little unnerving.

She licks her lips, pushing wet hair back from her face as she keeps watching him.]

There's that other lawyer here, I'm sure I could convince her to help me out.

[Some... how...

Help.]

[5055034455]

Who, Karimov? [He chuckles, shakes his head.] God, she'd love that.

[Also wow is that a terrifying thought: Sonya defending Steph against him. That's nightmare material.]

[controlledvariable]

[Yes? That one. Steph hasn't been paying as much attention to the network as she normally would.]

See, I'm all set. And you're still down a judge.

[5055034455]

[Saul has to stop himself, then, because instinct almost has him wonder aloud who might not like Stephanie around here. And that's not playful; that's just malicious.

He stops behind her, head cocked to one side.]

I'll find someone.

[controlledvariable]

[Somehow it feels like turning around is letting him win, so she's just watching him over her shoulder.]

If you say so. [so very skeptical] I'd like my marques in cash, rather than on one of the debit cards. Just for when you're paying up.

[He doesn't have a monopoly on being smug.]

[5055034455]

[Was he that close to her a few seconds ago?]

Cash, of course. Lawyers prefer being paid in cash, anyway, so that'll make Sonya happy.

[Legal fees, Steph.]

[controlledvariable]

[help.]

What, you think I can't convince her to represent me for free?

[no really.

help.]

[5055034455]

[Don't worry, Steph; he's not stupid enough to move any closer. Because.

No.

He's pretty sure there's a gravity/orbit metaphor hiding somewhere in here, but he doesn't care to look for it. He shrugs, then pushes his wet hair back. Why are they still out here?]

Maybe.

[controlledvariable]

Definitely.

[Maybe if she keeps trying to be smug she'll stop being... unsettled by every Saul is doing.]

I'm good with lawyers.

[Wait no can take that back it's too close to actual flirting ABORT ABORT.]

[5055034455]

[...he tried so hard and got so far...

Pop goes Steph's little bubble of personal space as Saul places a hand on her arm, still grinning. And also wanting to throw himself off the building a little.]

I dunno if you're her type.

[controlledvariable]

[She might, possibly, maybe just a little, gulp at the touch, realizing just how terrible an idea this was. Pretending that they could just joke around like there wasn't... anything between them.]

I'm everyone's type.

[why]

[5055034455]

Trying to make me jealous of a co-worker?

[What he wants to know is how.

How did they go from talking about feelings to a stupid fake argument to a stupid not-even-serious lawsuit threat to this? How does shit like this happen every time?]

You're bad for business, Stephanie.

[controlledvariable]

[If making him jealous was her actual aim, there are a lot of other things she could bring up other than a co-worker she's never met. She's not going to say that, though.]

How's that?

[She'll just focus on the rest of what he said. Surely that'll be safe.]

[5055034455]

[He knows. That's why he specified co-worker.

His hand trails up to her shoulder, then drifts back down.]

This is tremendously unethical. You should probably fire me.

[controlledvariable]

[This is really bad.

At least it's easier to not look at him when he's standing behind her.]

I don't think that'd help.

[Maybe they'll both just ignore how rough her voice suddenly sounds.]

[5055034455]

[He probably shouldn't be standing out here in the wet cold like this with no jacket on after getting over an illness that almost killed him. This thought comes courtesy of the realization that he's shivering a little — not that he thinks the weather has anything to do with that, but it's good cover. It'll get him out of this situation, at least.

...except first he's going to bow his head, almost like he's about to kiss her shoulder. Again. It's too familiar a gesture, though, especially paired with the fact that he's still touching her arm like he was touching her arm back in his room that night, so he doesn't. Wants to, but doesn't.]

You should go back inside.

[Careful word choice: you, not we.]

[controlledvariable]

[Even not looking at him, Steph is still hyperaware of her surroundings, which right now mostly just includes rain and Saul, so she... kind of just stops breathing, as he leans in. She's expecting another kiss, and isn't sure what to do when it doesn't come.

The words take a moment to register, but she manages to nod after a moment.]

You planning to stay up here on your own?

[Because he said you.]

[5055034455]

[She should have taken that as her cue to move away, not just nod her head, because now he's — well, it's not quite a kiss, but his lips are definitely touching the fabric of what he suddenly remembers is his own coat. So when he speaks again, it's more of a mumble.]

For a little while, yeah. Might be a good idea...

[controlledvariable]

[How does this keep happening?]

You nearly died a few days ago, you shouldn't be out in the rain at all.

[She's just going to let her medic instincts take over and actually force her to move, which mean she's stepping away from Saul and turning to face him.]

C'mon.

[With a nod towards the roof exit; she will drag him inside if she has to.]

[5055034455]

[Because idiots.

He blinks at her when she turns as if slightly dazed, then shrugs his agreement and gestures: after you.

Now all he has to do is not try to get her back to his room. Not that he's planning to, but with the way things keep happening...

Luckily(?), he has enough presence of mind to acknowledge that that is the actual worst idea, that he shouldn't even tempt fate a little, so maybe he'll just avoid going back there entirely.]

[controlledvariable]

[As soon as she's inside, she shrugs off his coat and holds it out for him, her other hand twisting in her hair to wring it out, keeping her hands and herself busy because she's not sure if it's a good idea to actually - look at him.

She really should've just run down the stairs as soon as she was sure he was coming inside, but that would've been rude.]

[5055034455]

[They really need to learn to disregard social graces. Or Saul, at least, needs to remember how to be that kind of asshole again.

He takes his coat, makes a face when he realizes how wet it is, and gives it one good shake in a direction that won't spray either of them.

...except it does.]

Sorry.

[controlledvariable]

[She looks up in surprise when she gets flicked with water, but just shrugs after a moment, fishing an elastic from her pocket so she can tie her hair up in the messiest bun ever.]

S'fine, I don't think I could get wetter if I tried.

[5055034455]

[...yeah so he's just going to concentrate on fixing himself up now, from smoothing back his hair to straightening his shirt and frowning at his shoes. Good thing this pair isn't real leather, or they'd have been ruined months ago.

Priorities.]

So — you going back to your room?