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The clacking of computer keys permeates through the room.
The clock reads 2:37 a.m., and despite the time, Spinel remains awake and working. He’s not up late due to procrastination, instead it’s a result of his nearly nocturnal sleeping schedule. He gets his reports done faster than anyone else’s, anyways. They have no place to judge his questionable sleeping habits. He was about to go to sleep, anyway.
It’s while typing one of these reports that he’s interrupted by an entirely unexpected sound—a text notification.
And due to the rarity of this kind of interruption, he nearly jumps out of his chair. Umbreon glances his way from where she lays on his bed.
Who in their right mind would.. Did Sango alter my notification settings?.. Again??
The only “text notifications” he ever gets are from an all Explorers’ group chat—which he muted the second he was added. Though occasionally, a certain gremlin would pickpocket his phone and turn them back on, solely to get a rise out of him.
He pinches his nose with one hand, mentally preparing himself for whatever buffoonery she’s up to this time, while his other hand reaches for his phone.
Unknown number..?
The hand on his face drops as he unlocks his phone.
[Unknown Number]
Heyyy so i probably should've checked this earlier but this is Awfully Shy’s number right?? You didn’t give me a fake number to mess with me right?
Also, when are you planning to tell me your actual name?
The professor? Were this any other time, he wouldn’t be surprised, with how rejoiced Friede had seemed when receiving the number.
But why on Earth is he getting the text in the middle of the night?
[Spinel]
Why are you awake? Why are you checking this at nearly 3 in the morning?
I would’ve expected this much earlier, actually. You seemed excited about the exchange during our last encounter.
And to answer your question. Never.
[Friede]
Yeah figures
Would you believe me if I said I forgot to
And why are you awake?
Actually no this makes sense you seem like the nocturnal type
[Spinel]
What is that supposed to mean?
[Friede]
I mean
You have an Umbreon, you’re always hiding in shady rooms, and you look like you’d evaporate if you ever stood in the sun vampire style
[Spinel]
I regret giving you my number.
Remind me why I shouldn’t block you.
[Friede]
Kidding I’m kidding don’t block me
He shakes his head with exasperation, yet the tiniest grin slips through. How he let himself get to this point, he doesn’t know.
[Friede]
Anyways, are you free tomorrow?
[Spinel]
That depends on why you’re asking.
[Friede]
I’m taking that as a yes
I’m guessing you’re still in the area so
Some new café just opened up nearby, wanna go? With me
[Spinel]
Inviting someone from an enemy organization to an outing?
Awful confident, aren’t you?
[Friede]
You bet
I’ll pay for everything if you swear to not pull your whole evil thing
[Spinel]
Deal.
You’re likely going to regret this. I have quite an expensive palate.
[Friede]
Whatever happens is my wallet’s problem not mine
Does 3 work? I’d go earlier but considering the time
[Spinel]
It works. Now, I have things to do. Bye.
[Friede]
Not even a good night?
[Spinel]
If you wanted a “good night” you’d be speaking to someone other than me.
[Friede]
All right all right I get it
Goodnight, don’t stay up too late thinking of me
[Spinel]
Ha ha. Go to sleep.
He locks his phone and places it back on the table beside him before the other can respond.
Why would he accept the offer in the first place? Research purposes, of course. Nothing more, not at all.
“Don’t stay up too late thinking of me..” Like I would ever stoop that low.
—
Yet at 1:32 in the afternoon, with zero hours of sleep, he realizes that yes, he would stoop that low. His plans for the next day—more so later on that same day, now that he thinks about it—kept him up the entire night.
Not out of nerves, or “excitement” or anything mushy like that. He simply had to plan for every possible occasion, every outcome. If he plays his cards right, not only could he have a.. “tolerable” outing, but possibly useful intel.
That was all. The only reason. Nothing else at all.
He checks that he has everything for possibly the 5th time. His Umbreon gives him a disapproving head shake from her seat on his bed before jumping up and padding towards him.
Phone, yes. Wallet.. may as well have it, just in case. Pokemon treats, also yes..
He steps out of his room, yet again resigning to his fate, this time one he brought upon himself.
—
2:52.. a bit early, it seems.
It was always better to arrive at meetings early, after all. And that’s all this is. A meeting.
Umbreon looks at him with a doubting look.
He stands outside the café and pulls his phone out to pass the time. He opens his messages to see if Friede’s said anything about how far he is when—
“You’re pretty early. Wanted to see me that badly?”
—Spinel jolts in surprise, dropping his phone in the process. Friede makes a noise of surprise before lunging forward to catch it. He hands it back to Spinel.
“Ahahaa.. my bad.” Friede puts his hand behind his head in an apologetic gesture.
“What a.. lovely greeting.” Somehow, despite Spinel having his eyes closed and a grin on his face, Friede felt nothing but fear. Were Spinel’s eyes open, his glare could likely kill a man. He snatches his phone back from Friede and walks into the café. He doesn’t hold the door for the man behind him.
“You.. aren’t gonna go easy on my wallet, are you?”
“You already know the answer to that.”
—
“This is a little excessive, don’tcha think?” The two sat across from one another, Friede drinking just a regular coffee, while Spinel had a plethora of coffees, teas, and pastries. He doesn’t have to pay, so why not?
“Is this not what you signed up for? You’re not the type to go back on your word.” Spinel shot a mischievous grin at the other man, sipping from an iced coffee.
Though, Spinel ordering a likely unhealthy amount of coffee did have an ulterior motive—alas, getting barely any sleep makes one very tired. But with the help of caffeine, anything is possible. And while generally he prefers tea, he most certainly needs the extra caffeine.
Would he regret this? Possibly.
—
“Sooo, other than your whole evil Explorer’s thing, what else do you do? Like for fun.”
“You certainly have creative conversation topics.” Spinel raises an eyebrow at the other man. “C’mon, just humor me here. Can’t fault a guy for being curious about someone so.. mysterious, you know?” Friede points an accusatory look towards Spinel. “Case in point, you still haven’t told me your name.”
“You’re quite desperate. What makes you think I’ll ever give it to you?” Friede pouts. How mature. “You wouldn’t just leave me hanging like that after all this, surely. I even bought all your stuff… you would leave me hanging like that, wouldn’t you.” All Spinel gives in response is a smirk. Friede lets out an exasperated sigh. Spinel puts a hand up to his chin, imitating a thinking position. “Hm.. maybe if you got something for Umbreon I’d be more inclined to share.”
“You really weren’t joking about sucking my wallet dry, huh.” Yet again, Spinel responds with only a smirk. Friede wordlessly pulls out his wallet, and Umbreon perks up from her spot on the floor.
—
“You still won’t tell me?!” Friede makes a face of almost comical betrayal, jumping up from his seat and slamming his hands on the table. The other cafe patrons look their way, and Friede sits back down in embarrassment. Spinel tries to hold back a chuckle. He fails, and lets out a small giggle. “Do I really seem like the type to keep to his word? For a professor, I’d expect you to think a little more,” he shot a mocking look at the other, still with a shit-eating grin.
“That’s.. A fair point,” Friede groans. “Anyways, since I’m clearly not getting anywhere with the name thing, back to what I was saying. Surely you have some hobbies other than.. Y’know. Crimes.” This time, Spinel actually takes a second to think. “I enjoy trying different types of tea. They’re a good yet mild caffeine source, and the differences can be intriguingly drastic.”
“That’s surprisingly normal coming from you. I would’ve expected you to go for whatever has the unhealthiest amount of caffeine, not tasting.” Spinel clicks his tongue in mild offense. “And what is that supposed to mean?” Friede, sensing the other’s less than positive response, quickly backpedals. “Not in a bad way or anything. You just seem like the more… ‘efficient’ type, is all.” Friede pauses before continuing, with an almost soft smile on his face. “Besides, I like how you keep proving what I think of you wrong. Makes you more interesting, y’know?”
A flush creeps onto Spinel’s face, though he wills it down as best as he can. Why this has such an effect on him, he does not know. That is something to unpack at a later date.
“You’re talking almost as if I’m some sort of research subject,” He rests his cheek on his arm, propped up on the table. “Should I be flattered?”
“What can I say? I’m a professor, after all. Not too many things pique my interest, though,” He smirks at Spinel. “I’d say that counts as flattery.”
This time, Spinel fails to will the flush down, though his hand going from a mere resting place to intensely gripping his cheek suggests an attempt to. This all earns a snort of laughter from Friede. “You sure aren’t subtle, huh?” Friede teases. Spinel sits up straight and takes a moment to collect himself before responding. “I fail to see what you’re referring to. Moving on.” This only brings more laughter from the professor, and for some odd reason, Spinel finds himself with a small smile.
—
Eventually, they find themselves preparing to leave—they’re both busy people, after all, and both have responsibilities to return to.
And perhaps, the caffeine Spinel consumed is beginning to lose its effect.
“I’d say that went pretty well, huh? Worth messing with your oh so precious routines?” Friede shot a jokingly smug grin at the other. Spinel responds with a mocking “Don’t flatter yourself,” but the grin on his own face shows his true thoughts.
“I think I will, actually.” Friede bumps Spinel’s shoulder with his own. “So, would you be up to doing this again sometime? Same deal, same..” Friede trails off, meanwhile Spinel makes a decision that his not sleep deprived self would never approve of.
“It’s Spinel.”
“Huh? Wait, is that your..?!”
Before Friede can finish his sentence Spinel makes his way to a door, giving a small wave over his shoulder alongside a teasing grin. “May we meet again, dear professor.”
Sure, a little dramatic for leaving a cafe “outing,” but judging by the blush it brings to said professor’s face, it got its point across.
As Spinel leaves, he hears Friede sputter from where he stands, before indignantly shouting something along the lines of “Was that a yes?!”
—
Sango’s cackling only grew louder and louder as she scrolled through the messages of her colleague’s phone. She managed to steal it once he came back from some undisclosed "business." His words, not hers.
Though now, it was disclosed just for her. The professor of their opposing team? Not only could she make fun of him for this for ages, this would be perfect blackmail material.
This’ll be funnnn!