Chapter Text
“What’s the planner for.”
“Huh?” Oh that startled him. Damn. Huddled over his journal Gumshoe replied, “Oh um, I use it to budget.. my stuff.” He suddenly recalled whose voice that was. “-AH SIR, hello, I didn’t, realize it was you.” Looking up, he gave them a strained smile.
Godot, the newest addition to the prosecutor's office, was standing in front of his desk, peering at him, coffee mug in hand.
They took a sip, “You use it to budget, huh?”
“...Yeah.” Gumshoe looked away and fiddled with his pen. He hadn't formally met them before so, better late than never I suppose. Just as he was going to respond, the pen slipped from his grasp and fell from the desk.
It clattered loudly on the floor and rolled to its destination. He stared down and clasped his now empty hands. While squirming in his seat, he heard a long sip of coffee being taken. A swallow. He didn't have the heart to continue the conversation.
“Ahhh... You know, this is one of my special blends... Godot Blend #96 to be precise. Nothing too special in it, just a bit more.. richer than usual. It soothes the throat, wraps it in a blanket of fire before its next use.” He grinned and then took another sip. “Aren’t you a lead detective? You shouldn't have to-” they took ANOTHER swig.
Gumshoe couldn't fucking take this guy. Why was he at his desk. So fucked up, drinking coffee right in front of him and carrying the convo with stupid comments about coffee as if they were friends. He wanted to get back to work.
“Actually, who’s in charge of your pay.”
Oh God. “It seems to be Prosecutor Edgeworth at the moment. Sir.”
“You’re kidding.”
“No, no!! I would never lie about that.” Gumshoe reached for the back of his neck as he continued, “Mr. Edgeworth um, he’s not entirely in charge of my pay since the district’s technically in charge of that but he does have a huge influence on what I receive. And I do mean huge.” he winced and looked up.
His visitor didn't seem too pleased.
The detective decided to focus on a safety protocol posted on the wall and continued, “I mean if it’s Edgeworth they gotta listen and I'm sure he would know if my pay wouldn't be enough to sur- get through the month.”
“That’s… unfortunate.” They took another sip.
“Ha ha! You don’t even know it, pal.” Godot was still staring at him and their frown was certainly noticeable now. This was SO Not Cool and frankly? Very terrifying. If the prosecutor had wanted to make sure Gumshoe was under his heel; well then, he had succeeded. He felt very heeled, thank you very much. If not, Gumshoe had no idea what else could be wanted of him. He returned to fiddling with his thumbs.
“Shouldn’t your union, you know, do something about this?”
“My what?”
That visibly startled Godot. “Detective,” he paused and took a sip of his coffee. “Detective, are you seriously admitting you’re not in a union.”
Gumshoe was silent. Racking his brain for an answer, he contemplated brushing it off as a joke because of COURSE he was in a union and ah, he was still being stared at. Whatever.
“Ah, um, I don’t think? So? I don’t recall ever going to one so uh, yeah, sorry pal.”
He heard another sip of coffee being taken; damn he was getting hungry.
“I think… you should join one.” Godot set his coffee on Gumshoe’s desk and leaned in, “It’s essentially a group you send a bit of your pay to.” Gumshoes’ pen was in his hand, pointed downward at his desk. They rested the tip on the planner.
“In return,” He laid the pen down gently then rested his arm on the table, “it protects your rights and may provide you with benefits such as maintaining your pay at least at minimum wage. Joining one should have been mentioned when you entered the force.”
The detective almost reached out for his pen. This was tiring. He was still hungry.
Godot snapped back up, taking his mug with him, “I know what you need, you need a nice cup of coffee. Seems like you’d like one drowned in cream and sugar.” he snorted. “Come on.”
He walked off.
Now, Gumshoe had two options, ignore the fact that that whole interaction happened and finish outlining the month’s expenses before the chief decided to give him another meaningless task to tackle OR... get that nice cup of coffee.
Gumshoe sighed, picked up his pen and started twirling it around. There wasn’t anything stopping him from getting up and following after the guy. He slid the pen into his pocket and himself out his chair and made his way to the break room.