Neuvillette's POV
I wanted nothing more than for the ground to swallow me up right now.
How could I have allowed myself to land in this situation? To be carried around in someone's arms like this...
This is incredibly embarrassing.
"So..." Wriothesley started speaking.
"If you want to ask something, just ask."
At least that might keep my mind off the position I'm in.
"Do you drink?"
"Not unless I'm suicidal."
Alcohol and my painkillers don't match well.
He gave me a look that screamed 'what the f*ck?'.
Alright. I should have probably worded that differently.
"No, I do not drink. I neither enjoy nor am allowed to consume alcohol. I prefer plain water." I clarified.
He hummed in acknowledgment before asking another question.
"Why don't you use your cane more often?"
"It showed weakness. Someone in my position cannot show any weakness even if those watching are aware of it."
Even if every group or criminal organization around already knows, they cannot be allowed to see it.
"So those that shouldn't know already do." He concluded.
"They are the cause, of course they know."
Wriothesley gave me an unreadable look.
He opened his mouth a few times but shut it time and time again, eventually opting to stay silent.
Sigh...
"I took a bullet to my spine. It was a misfire. I wasn't the target." I answered his unspoken question.
Wrong place, wrong time.
And now I'm stuck in the damn situation.
I somewhat expected him to ask about the details, but he changed the subject instead.
"Do you often lose the ability to walk?"
"I don't lose the ability to walk. I would have been able to get outside on my own eventually. Sometimes the pain is simply so strong that my brain rejects the idea of putting more weight on it."
"So you just take some meds and walk on it anyway?"
"I usually go home and rest at this point."
"Oh? But I heard you would have preferred to go to work instead." He gave me a look
I couldn't help but flinch slightly.
Did Alhaitham leave his phone on speaker again?
How many times have I told him to pay attention?
"Have you been around Sigewinne while under the influence of your meds?"
"No." I answered firmly.
Who in their right mind would be near a child while under the influence of a strong medication?
"How do you decide whether you prosecute or defend someone?"
"Excuse me?"
That question had come so suddenly that I didn't quite know what to do with it just yet.
It was quite a bit off-topic, wasn't it?
"You always randomly pop up, handle a case, and then we don't hear from you for weeks sometimes. At times you prosecute, at times you defend. I'm just curious what's going on in your head." Wriothesley elaborated.
That...
"I thought you would have figured out on what basis I prosecute by now."
Did they not take the time to think about it?
I for one think that it is rather obvious.
"Those that I prosecute have committed murder, attempted to do so, abused someone physically, mentally or sexually, or have done something against a child."
That's it.
It's that simple.
"Some of the people you put away have done none of the above."
"None that you know of." I corrected him.
He fell silent as the meaning of my words hit him.
Yes...
There are far too many things his side doesn't know. Things they can't possibly know.
We walked back to the car in such silence.
To say that Alhaitham was surprised by my method of arrival was an understatement. He nearly fell over from shock.
"Just how much does that damn leg of yours hurt to warrant... this?" He pointed to us.
"It does not hurt enough to warrant this." I said in defense.
But of course, Wriothesley had to go and ruin it.
"He collapsed."
His words earned me a glare from Alhaitham as if wasn't me who was paying his salary.
I ignored his glare, turning to Wriothesley.
"I would appreciate it if you'd drop me in the passenger seat."
"Wouldn't the backseat be more comfortable?"
"It would, and I will move to the back after I've taken something from the glove compartment." I explained.
Soon, I was lowered into the passenger seat. His hands left me but he didn't take a step back, instead opting to stand around and stare.
I sighed, placing my fingers on the compartment in a particular way till I heard a small click.
"So it was a fingerprint reader." Alhaitham commented.
I didn't bother and try to answer the tens of unspoken questions that lay beneath that observation. I did answer the one that was written all over Wriothesley's face though.
"This is my car. Alhaitham uses it while he's working."
As he processed my words and took another look at the car I took a small white box from the glove compartment.
Alhaitham most likely realized what I was doing as while I removed a single pill from the box, a bottle of water appeared in front of me.
I muttered a thank you as I swallowed it, ignoring Wriothesley's mildly judgemental look.
Though, as it turned out that look wasn't because of the pill.
"You are not planning to go to work now, are you." He asked straightforwardly.
It took everything I had not to flinch.
I had indeed been planning to do just that.
"Don't worry too much. He's going straight home." Alhaitham interrupted.
As if that wasn't enough, he got in the driver's seat and directly reached into my pocket.
???
"What are you doing?"
"I'm confiscating your car keys... Here it is!"
Without another word, he slipped my keys into his pocket.
...
"Alhaitham."
"I'll give them back to you tomorrow."
That's not it.
If I really wanted to drive I could just take another car, there is no need to argue with you.
Instead...
"Give the keys to Mr. Wriothesley."
"Sorry?"
"Excuse me?"
Both of them looked at me utterly dumbfounded.
Sigh...
Where has everyone's common sense gone?
"Mr. Wriothesley, do I have to remind you that Alhaitham drove you here?"
"My memory isn't that bad, you know."
"What I know is that your car is still at your workplace, so unless you want to walk home with your very tired daughter in tow, I suggest you just take my car."
"That-"
"There is both a booster seat and a car seat for younger children in the back, don't worry too much." I cut him off.
While he frowned hesitantly, I snatched my keys back from Alhaitham and held them out to him.
"So. Will you take it?"
He hesitated a moment longer before eventually taking them.
"Thank you."
"No need. It is my fault that you were left without a car. I failed to take it into account since Navia usually drives Clorinde to and from work."
"You blame yourself too much, Mr. Neuvillette. I would have gotten here far later and in a much worse state had it not been for the ride. You spared me from Sigewinne's nagging." He smiled.
Oh, I wouldn't be so sure about that.
I reckon you will receive that scolding soon enough.
We exchanged a few more words and he thanked me once more for the favor.
It was only a few minutes after I had already departed that I remembered something.
Ah...
I forgot to tell him about that.
Well, no matter.
He'll figure it out soon enough.