Work Text:
The last case feels like it went on forever. Ryuki, Mizuki and Date are waiting for Boss to get back so they can debrief and finally go home and maybe even take a shower - no one warned Ryuki being an ABIS member would be this smelly.
From her spot on the only chair in the room, Mizuki pokes Date's arm. “Hey, old man! You promised to buy me a meal after the case, so you better treat me.”
Date groans, leaning against the wall. “Stop leeching off of me, I’m not your wallet! And I never said I'd buy you a whole meal! I said one sandwich. Singular. From the vending machine.”
(Ryuki kind of wants one of those hot chocolates from the vending machine now.)
Mizuki sticks her tongue out and threatens to shred all his magazines. Date looks like he's about to cry.
Before they devolve into a full argument, Aiba interrupts, “Quiet down, Date. Don’t make a fuss this late.”
"Wh-!" Date frowns. "She started it!"
The disapproving silence is loud.
Ryuki watches with a feeling of detached concern as Mizuki kicks Date, who dramatically falls to the ground in pain. "Ryuki, save me!"
Unfortunately, the only thing Ryuki can process right now is the fact that the adrenaline has worn off, and the ground looks super comfy. Surely a little nap won't hurt, right?
Tama sighs in his eye socket. "Ryuki, no, you are not sleeping on that nasty looking floor."
As Ryuki huffs in response, saying he's slept in worse places before, ("That doesn't make it any better!") there's an odd thump. They both pause at the noise, startled out of their conversation. Ryuki lifts his head to see Date. Or, really, where Date is supposed to be. Except he is not there.
Mizuki holds her pipe, looking at something behind the sofa. "Whew!"
There’s a second of stunned silence as Ryuki and Tama just stare at her.
"Mizuki, where's Date?" Ryuki asks carefully.
Mizuki looks at him.
Ryuki flashes through about 12 different emotions and lands on exhaustion. "Listen, if you killed him, just - don't tell me. Plausible deniability. Thanks."
The door swings open.
—
From outside the room, Boss can hear the three Psyncers. She sighs. "Sometimes it feels more like I'm a babysitter than a boss."
Pewter laughs at her, unhelpful as always. "That's your job, Boss."
"Babysitting was nowhere on the job description, actually."
"Probably not," Pewter shrugs. "But remember when we were the obnoxiously eager hires? This is probably karma."
Boss raises an eyebrow. "Speak for yourself. I've never in my life been eager to work." She swings open the door to her room and finds Ryuki halfway to collapsing, Mizuki holding her pipe threateningly and Date nowhere to be seen. Something from behind the couch twitches.
Boss takes one look at them and groans. “Yeah no, I can't deal with you guys today. I'm going to go file this document and by the time I come back I do not want to see any of you guys in my office. God, it’s like herding toddlers, aren’t you guys supposed to be the elite - Ryuki, if you fall asleep on my floor I'm going to make you lick the place clean. Oh my god I do not get paid enough for this."