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It’s her again. That one, annoyingly skilled lawyer from the Themis Law Firm. Seeing her across the court room as she goes on about her client’s defense, Lewis can’t help but bite the inside of his cheek. It was always, always her. Rosa, a rookie lawyer, yet a rising star among her peers. Rosa, the lawyer that beat him again, and again, and again. There were moments were he nearly tasted victory, but it felt as if he were being played with whenever that Themis attorney would come back with a rebuttal that completely tore his argument apart.
Rosa is annoying. Always one upping him, always facing him in court and beating him.
And yet, something about her managed to worm its way into his mind. Lewis would honestly rather do without it. If it weren’t for her, maybe he’d be able to stop thinking about how to win against her, finally being able to even out his legal office's losses. (Though he knew it wouldn't do a whole lot, truthfully speaking.)
The next case that the Baldr Legal Office takes is nothing too special. It’s one that Lewis doesn’t bat an eye at, something related to a copyright dispute. He’s even more unsurprised to hear that Rosa is the one playing defense. What does surprise him however, is when he’s told that he doesn’t have to take the case this time.
The look of shock on his face is apparently obvious when Syter raises an eyebrow.
“What, do you want to take this case?”
Lewis scowls. “Obviously, no, idiot. Jumping out of the window would be much more preferable than seeing her again in the courtroom."
Syter frowns, but shrugs in the end.
“Good for you then. You’ve been on a losing streak anyways to that girl anyways, so maybe it’s time you take a break from being crushed like a bug. Besides, you wouldn't want to lose to her again now, would you? Unless you’re a masochist of some sort.”
He smirks a bit on those last words as he starts to walk away, leaving Lewis to silently glare.
It was annoying. Extremely annoying. Lewis knew that he right. That he should be glad that he didn’t have to see that girl. That incredibly talented, skillful, and stubbornly bright person.
But he wasn’t. If anything, he was even more frustrated that he wasn’t taking the case. It had to be something with their rivalry, he thought. After all, Baldr was really the only other legal office in Stellis that was as well known as Themis. It had to be it.
He threw himself into the case. Strengthening his argument, making sure he had all the facts in place, and trying to think of ways to make that Themis attorney trip over her feet. It was probably the most work he’d ever done for a case, and it wasn’t even that complicated. He knew it was dumb to do so. But still. For once, he wanted to win against her. For once, he wanted to see her expression knowing that he won.
And in the back of his mind, he wanted to see how she would react to his meticulousness. Would she be impressed? Would she be surprised?
For once, he wanted to see an expression that was one not of victory.
He lost, clearly.
It was an inevitable result, once Rosa submitted evidence that clearly exposed his client. Once again, this rookie lawyer from the Themis Law Firm won against Lewis of the Baldr Legal Office. He wanted to be angry. He was frustrated, yes, but not quite angry.
How could he be angry anyways, when she looked like that the entire time?
Her steadfast expression when she faced him and how her composure held no matter what. How she smiled softy at her client who was thanking her for her help. How confidently she acted when she submitted that final piece of evidence that broke his entire line of reasoning and the smile that she wore proudly when she won.
The moment Lewis feels so much as twinge in his heart, he wishes that he could punch himself right then and there.
It wasn't right. Not in the slightest. It was nothing, he adamantly told himself. Nothing but rivalry, nothing but feelings of annoyance toward this terribly talented attorney.