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Seated next to his client, Stiles couldn't help but glance over at the other lawyer. Grinning brightly when he catches blue eyes, before turning back and standing as the Judge comes out to take his seat. Glancing at the two of them and sighing deeply.
"Mr. Hale-Stilinksi, Mr. Stilinksi-Hale, I trust this will be a trial conducted in a serious matter?" His voice ran through the court room. He had been overseeing their trials before, and outside of the banter and the outright flirting, he couldn't cite them on anything. Yet, the need remained to call them out before the trial started just to make sure.
Both Peter and Stiles agreed, nodding before conversing with their client and preparing an opening statement. Making sure to dig out everything they could, not backing down even when once out of the court room they shared a marital bed.
People had come to expect this of them, as they were married and had started one of the best Law offices in the sate. Yet, no one was prepared for the revelation that Hale and Stilinski weren't just business partners but also married in real life. There had been some dispute, as some clients seemed to think this was what lost them the case. Only to discover that business and pleasure were kept separate in their households and while both of them were assholes, they didn't go after the other's case files because they could.
It became a game, and one people enjoyed watching.
Students studying law, at this very moment, were very likely to review one of their cases because it was done so well each and every time. Hale-Stilinski, named because Peter had been a lawyer longer than Stiles and no other reason, made a name of always winning. Being able to turn cases around and make sure their client came out with the best possible outcome.
Except when the husbands were in the court room together, then it was a coin toss and often never relied on either party as they were both so good at what they did. One had to loose in this case, but it was done with a dignity people were starting to expect from either of them. One more reason they were getting all the attention, because they didn't let their personal relationship stand in the way of their job.
In this case, as it was a civil lawsuit one, both parties were pleased with the outcome. The landlord would get to keep the deposit, but the renter would get an extra 30 day to move out. Given everything that had been going on, they hadn't had the time to look for a new apartment and had agreed. Thanking Stiles for the help, and commenting on the fine husband he had managed to find himself.
"He's an asshole, but he's my asshole, if you get what I'm saying," Was said to his client as they said their goodbyes.
Waiting on Peter to also get out of the court room before the both of them made their way to a nearby Italian place they both liked. It hadn't been a very long process, but it had taken a lot of preparation, leaving them little to no time together.
Peter grins as the starters are placed in front of them, looking at Stiles with soft eyes, "You were magnificent out there, Darling."
Flushing, Stiles look away, "Stop, you're just trying not to deal with the fact that my arguments were more sound. You love it when I pull one over you."
Laughing, Peter nodded, "I do love you keeping me on my toes in all ways of life. The fact that after close to 10 years of marriage you manage to do that at our jobs just makes it all the more interesting." He leans over to take a hold of Stiles hand and pulls it in to press a kiss to his knuckles, "You are so very amazing, Sweetheart, and despite having to deal with the concept of loss since meeting you; I can't say I regret any moment of it."
Stiles just grin wider, "You knew what you were getting up to, since passing the bar you were the one to teach me, Dear Husband. It was only a matter of time before the pupil surpassed the master."
That gets another laugh out of Peter, who shakes his head, before admitting he might have trained Stiles too well. Tossing in a jab at having a very effective rewarding system. Wiggling his eyebrows as he said it, which has Stiles laughing very loudly.
Not that anyone cares, most of the people in the Italian place are regulars who have seen the Lawyers more than once. Asked them for help too, more than once, as they were the best at their job and sickeningly sweet in love on top of it.
Nonna Lucia called them her non-biological grandbabies after they had helped her gain the upper hand against the man who had tried to buy her life's work from her. While she didn't work there anymore, given her age, her granddaughter did and loved the interactions like one loved a soap opera. They were always offered a discount, but never took it, and tipped well. What wasn't there to love?
At the register, Peter paid in full, handing Lucy (the granddaughter) an extra tip, "I know it's Nonna's birthday soon and we won't be able to make it for the party. Get her something nice from us?"
Most of the restaurant called out to them, wishing them a good day or just well. Knowing that things weren't always as they seemed. To the outside, Peter and Stiles did seem like asshole, big-shot lawyers. But to those that knew them, they knew that both of them were softies with a sarcastic streak a mile wild. Protective of the each other, but what did one expect after over 10 years together. The fact they managed to overcome so much, and came out on top of it all, just showed how amazing the two of them were.