──/ 𝐭𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞
Time tends to break down like rusted wheels on a set track when he’s been wilted over his desk as the hours tick by. No help for his posture like there’s no help for his soul. He’s read until his eyes burned, paused for water, and started the process over again and again, for hours.
Sometimes, his incessant need to punish himself becomes particularly effective. Lack of free time is generally a blessing, intentional and needed, a band-aid over a wound- doesn’t really make the pain go away, but he can at least forget about it temporarily, hope it doesn’t fester and carry on with his life. But it’s building now. The pressure; his body shutting down from court cases and tallying up numbers here at HQ, pounding in his head with a sharp migraine threatening to build. That won’t do at all. He leaves his desk for the first time in so long he can only recall morning, and it’s now well into the night. HQ is quiet, no more meltdowns, few people left tending at this hour, and he grabs his coat from the hook in his office intending to stretch his legs. There’s too much to take care of, he can’t quit yet, but if he continues pouring over the contents on his desk, he’ll run dry and shrivel up. There’s nothing more to milk from his exhaustion smothered thoughts. He might have bypassed the office door on his way past entirely. Usually, he certainly would. But something gives him pause. Standing outside with coat laid over his forearm and ears perked up. It’s not concern, not really. He certainly doesn’t care about anyone here beyond professional interest. But it isn’t professional interest that has his lips pulling into a dense frown, blinking dry eyes before a strained sigh parts his lips. And he knocks twice, tap-tap, sharp and clear, before prying it open and letting himself into @wonjaevc‘s space. His back is rigid strait for the first time in countless hours and the twinge of discomfort he feels down his spine is ignored. His expression conjuring intentional neutrality. “You’re still here?” He wages gently, voice low as if any sound may be too loud, approval and disapproval all at once.
