Work Text:
Richard slouched back in his swivel chair and heaved a sigh. His last patient for the day had left about fifteen minutes earlier. His computer pinged, letting him know that he received another email from his personal email. He decided to ignore it, choosing instead to finish the last of his coffee. Straightening his deskspace, Richard locked his filing cabinets and desk. He shoved his laptop and USBs into his suitcase, and shrugging on his jacket, he turned to leave the office. He was looking forward to relaxing with his partner for the weekend.
~!~
Shuffling through the doorway Richard set down his suitcase and the bag of groceries he picked up on the way home. He stomped his feet a few times on the mat to loosen the snow stuck on his shoes then he switched to his slippers. He took off his coat and hung it on a coat hook. Richard then brought the bag to the kitchen, where he put them into the fridge. He made two cups of tea, a floral tea and a pu’er, for himself and his partner. Carrying both mugs, he left the kitchen in search of his partner.
Richard stopped in front of the door. Balancing carefully on one foot, he kicked the door a few times to get his partner’s attention.
“I’ve got tea,” he bribed. “Avery, open up. Do you want your tea to go cold?”
Just as he finished asking the question, the door was opened by a person with rich brown eyes and hair. Their hair was short and tousled. One hand was sliding down their headphones while the other was on the door handle. Their eyes lit up when they saw the mugs in Richard’s hands and immediately reached for one.
Holding the mug like a hand warmer, Avery asked about his day. Richard relaxed into a beanbag chair across from his partner and took a sip of his tea.
“Work was good. The emails I keep receiving? Not as good. I’ve told you about them before, the FBI keeps sending them to me. I keep reporting them for spam. It’s not helping, so I’m still getting them.”
Avery snorted. “Well then you should make a new email account. And you certainly have told me about them before. 36 times in fact. And I keep telling you to make another email. Now, why don’t we set one up right now?”
Richard shook his head even as Avery leaned over to grab their laptop. Before Avery could sidle up beside Richard with the laptop, the ringing of the doorbell sounded through the flat. Richard slumped further into the beanbag chair as the doorbell continued to ring.
They let the doorbell ring for another minute before Richard finally stood up. Avery simply looked blankly at him. He opens the front door to a squadron of FBI agents, many of whom he knew by name.
“Hello, gentlemen. To whom do I owe the pleasure?” drawled Richard, sounding bored. “It hasn’t been three days and you’re back again. Did you really miss me that much?”
The leader snorted. “Of course not. We have the warrant to search your home, would you care to invite us in?”
“Invite? Never. But a warrant is a warrant. You will find, as the same with previous attempts, that there is nothing out of the ordinary here. Just me, my partner, and food. As you will not be deterred, I suppose I must allow you in.” Richard recited calmly with a hint of boredness to it. Stepping aside gracefully, he raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘Go on.’
As always, he received a warning glare in return. He watched as the squadron hustled in and split up, two to a room. Their routine was beyond familiar at this point. While Team B moved on from the kitchen to the second bedroom, Avery came to stand beside him silently, watching their search with him.
He felt a nudge from Avery. He glanced towards them and tilted his head questioningly.
“Yes?”
“I’m gonna go prepare more tea, you want any?”
Richard nodded. He continued to watch the group of people ransack his home. At least they were careful not to damage anything. It was not long before they made their way back to the front door in pairs. After they had reported back to their leader, Richard spoke up. He now had a mug of steaming liquid in his hands.
“I assume you found nothing, like always. I don’t know why you keep coming back. Could it be, that you all do miss me?” He paused to take a sip. “ Anyhow, your search is done. Please leave and come back another day. Actually, please never come back again. I am but a therapist, not whatever your warrant accuses me of.”
The leader laughed, “Is it that amusing to you? You say that every time, and every time you are never taken off the list.” Turning around to face his squad, he motioned to them to leave. Giving Richard a final wave, he left with his agents.
Richard stared at the doorway. It was clear now. He sighed and closed the door. Avery appeared from the kitchen with a mug and scone in each hand. They were eating the scones he had bought earlier on the way home.
His mobile rang to notify him of another email from the government.
