ONCE BURNED was made by MEL. Copying, altering, or stealing any of the site's content is prohibited. All of ONCE BURNED's characters are the original work of their owners and may not be replicated or stolen. All images and graphics belong to their rightful owners and ONCE BURNED does not claim to own any of them.
She had been gone for some trip that had crossed over into the usual day that Emmett would stop in for lunch. The lawyer had only just been back a day before Emmett decided to reschedule. On that day. Sure, she could have considered that taking an important work trip meant there could be more for Teddy to have to handle when she came back, but in the mechanic's opinion, it only meant that there was better reason for her to take a break in the day.
She slipped into the law firm as quietly as possible, but it seemed like an impossible task given her attire. Emmett even attempted to dress a little nicer; the flannel shirt she wore might not have harbored any grease stains, but it still didn't match the business attire. At least nobody stopped her this time.
The glass walls of her office revealed Teddy inside, and the blonde gave a light knock with her knuckles before letting herself in, paper bag in tow. "Welcome back, boss."
The trip to New York had been enlightening, to say the least. Coming home victorious was nothing new for the high stakes lawyer, but it was nice to be able to share such a sentiment with the person she'd brought with her. The office, as she expected, didn't seem too thrilled with Teddy's speculated favouritism. But she could hold her own against any attempted evaluation, and in the end, she knew all those negative talks were just born from jealousy, not from facts.
On her first day back, she had a visitor. It was unexpected, but good enough for Teddy to leave the safety of her seat behind her desk. Clean lines of an immaculately tailored suit set made themselves known as she rounded the desk to half-approach the person who was definitely going to let herself in.
And as she crossed her arms over her chest, she knew her scrutiny looked much better in a suit.
"Well well," She mused, raising her chin a touch as she narrowed her eyes, "If it isn't my darling."
Crossed arms, a suit, and a look that could kill. Emmett raised her eyebrows slowly at the woman approaching her, dark eyes taking in the power that was Teddy James. She owned that look, but Emmett couldn't help the grin that pulled at the corner of her mouth, quick to spread into something wider. To oppose the stance, she spread her arms out, walking a couple steps further into her office. "These few days have felt like months." She offered her best impression of heart ache, if only Emmett truly knew what it felt like.
Her hands dropped back down to her sides as she placed the paper bag on the nearest seat, turning back to the lawyer to offer her her undivided attention. "Should I kiss you for show?" Her tone threatened that she really would, if anything to draw a reaction out of the dark haired woman. "I think it's necessary to cement my status in your office."
Bright eyes stuck their hardened gaze to her face as she saw hands that spread themselves wide, like threatening to envelop her in a hug. Steps brought her closer, and Teddy didn't move an inch. She didn't entertain the idea of looking. The arms dropped themselves in a matter of moments. A slight turn in incredibly high heels had her still watching silently.
She had a look in her eyes that couldn't kill, but it could definitely make good on that little threat of hers.
Parting her lips, she banked her jaw to one side, like the words had struck it physically.
"I think they still wouldn't let you in out of principle." She replied, dropping the fold in her arms.
At the drop of Teddy's jaw, Emmett wondered if she went a little too far. Though, that never stopped the mechanic from doing anything, so she dared a step just a little closer, enough where she had to tilt her chin up a fraction just to look her in the eyes. It would have been too good an opportunity - and really, she actually considered it for a moment. Instead, the blonde groaned, hands shoving in her pockets as she leaned her shoulders back.
"That's such bullshit." Emmett knew she had no place in the lawyers office when she wasn't around, but that wasn't entirely the point. Light mischief was the ways in which the mechanic worked.
She took a few quick steps around Teddy, making it around her desk and sitting herself down in a chair that she knew better than to sit in, but did anyway. "Let's get drinks tonight."
Teddy laughed at her instantly as she swore. She made a mental note to ensure the easy connection into this office wasn't easy for her. It was more fun this way.
She watched at Emmett took the seat that was strictly reserved for herself. Instinctively, she leaned against the edge of the desk, a hand pressing to the finish.
"You have to explain yourself a little first." Teddy rebutted, "Drinks as in you bring a six pack to my office while I'm working?" She never knew with Emmett; it could be the exact thing on her mind.
At least she hadn't put her boots on the desk; Emmett had some form of self control, after all. Her hands lifted up behind her head as she leaned back against the leather, using her toes to pivot it side to side as she stared at the woman. Was she even the type to go out and get drinks? The mechanic struggled to imagine it, and that was all the more reason to make it a reality.
"Hey, I brought you something nice today." Emmett tilted her head towards the bag. "And no, I mean at a bar. If that's not too below your pay grade." She laughed at her own joke. "It'd be fun."
Teddy pursed her lips before offering a thoughtful smile. Surely, on some level, Emmett tried to care for her. In her own way. Easing away from the desk, she stepped around to the other side, but she glanced back towards her before she opened the bag in play.
She exhaled a dry laugh at the mention of her pay grade. That type of attitude didn't surprise her, because she got that from just about everyone. "You're lucky they aren't billable hours." Because then it definitely would be.
"So, tonight. Are you going to wear your denim overalls?" She asked her, grinning to herself before she opened the bag to peer inside, "You know I'm a bit fond of them."
Emmett remained seated, head tilting to watch Teddy move towards the bag. She wasn't getting up from this chair any time soon. Inside, there was a bottle of red wine that Emmett had plucked off the shelf, as well as two plastic wine glasses. It was about as fancy as the mechanic could get given the decision she made while in store. Though, it didn't really match the Chinese takeout that was further down in the bag.
Her grin widened at what seemed to be a yes coming from the lawyer. "I'll wear anything you want if you drink tequila." Her eyebrows quirked upwards playfully.
Teddy couldn't help the way she grinned at the contents brought to her. Look at her, branching out. As she drew the bottle out, she didn't bother to read the label. There was no way it'd go with the familiar shaped box nestled against it, but bless her for trying.
"Oh no, I wouldn't dream of making that decision for you." She offered then. Truthfully, she enjoyed the aesthetic Emmett managed to carry. It suited her perfectly. "But tequila I can do. For you, of course."
She looked pleased for the bottle, and Emmett was a little smug over the fact. She could do good, too, even if wine was never her preferred drink of choice. Rather than bringing herself to her feet, she wheeled herself over towards the paper bag, and by proxy Teddy. "You know, those overalls are comfy. I should get you a pair." Emmett could hardly picture Teddy owning any form of denim, let alone something so practical like overalls. The thought alone was humorous enough.
"Great. I have someplace you're going to love." Plans were set in stone, and the mechanic couldn't help her own excitement. It'd be the first time she'd be given the opportunity to hang out with the lawyer outside of some sort of work environment. "Does eight sound good?"
Teddy didn't look as Emmett wheeled herself around. Now that she had the big boss chair, she doubted the mechanic would give it up until she was planning on leaving. With a twist of her wrist she cracked the seal of the bottle she seemed determined to share. It eased into the plastic cup with bloodied distinction, and she handed it off to Emmett so she could portion her own.
"Thankfully you've got no reason to give me a gift." Christmas was gone now and she had no intention of giving out her birthday.
"Eight is fine." She raised the quaint fake glass to her lips and took a small sip within the break. There was something about her words that didn't sit right with her.
"Are you going to tell me where we're going?" Teddy asked her, curiosity immediately sparked in her tone.
Emmett humored the idea of just getting her a pair for the hell of it. Her lips pressed together to stifle her thoughts, because she absolutely did have a reason to get the lawyer something, though she'd hold her reasoning for now.
Instead, she took the stem of the plastic wine glass between two fingers giving it a short lift before pressing it to her lips. The liquid was sweet but dry, forcing the mechanic's jaw to clench once she had taken a proper sip. It was a taste she'd have to get used to, that was for sure.
"Absolutely not." Emmett admitted freely. What was the fun in telling her that? So she could research it to know what she was getting into. "And if you're as smart as you say you are, you could probably figure it out." She leaned forward in the chair, diving a hand into the paper bag and securing her fingers around a white cardboard box. "Fried rice?"
Pursed lips matched her low eyebrows when Teddy was denied the information she asked for. She had to figure it out herself? She scoffed st that. For such a mundane town, there was an oddly popular nightlife. There were a lot of options.
"You have to give me something." Teddy replied instead, shrugging her shoulders, "How else am I going to figure out what to wear?" Given how much pride she took in her appearance, that desire must have been obvious to her.
"If it's the infamous sports bar I'm hardly going to walk in in a dress." Unless she wanted to get stared at by every man in the vicinity, which she definitely did not.
Of course the lawyer had a good point, and of course it would make Emmett reconsider her stance on withholding important information. The mechanic scrunched her nose, letting out a sigh as she opened up the white box, steam puffing up out of it. "It's not a sports bar." She could at least promise that.
Grabbing a fork, she stuck it into the rice, immediately taking a bite without concern of plating it. As she chewed, she looked up at Teddy in thought. "It's called Flight," she answered finally, shrugging as she gave in. "It's the local gay bar. For ladies." She shoved another bite into her mouth, eyebrows quirking up and down.