They walk towards the stairs

Ángel lights up a cigarette

“Sorry about the smoke, just needed a quick fix”

“Uh, it’s fine…”

“Not to bring back past arguments, but Vivi is right, you know. Smoking is not good for you. It can kill you”

“Something has to”

“You’re sending yourself to an early grave for no reason”

“Hah, I wish”

“What?”

“Nothing is just… you know… detective work stuff”

“… You can tell me”

“Well, it’s just… you know…”

“There’s so many great people in the world, loved people, smart people, capable people, who wake up like any other day, and they talk to me only to just go and …die.

And I can’t do anything but watch, you know?

I don’t really know what I’m doing wrong, or, well, right, I guess

Always in the right place, in the right time

Why me?

There’s people way better than me, people who deserve to live more than me

Good people. Loved people.

But it’s me who stays. It’s me who remembers

What can I do against that?

I couldn’t even help anyone.

At this point, I think only cigarettes can kill me

Something has to kill me

I shouldn’t have been given this many chances, I’m not worthy of them”

They stop walking

…

“Ah, that’s not to say I want to get killed or anything! I’m just rambling and being silly, really, you should ignore that, sorry”

“… You don’t have to be ashamed if you’re suffering from survivors guilt. The union should have dedicated therapists for something like this”

“Ah, right, the union…”

“Or you can go to a private one, that’s fine too.

Stressful times like this bring out a lot of emotions, I don’t blame you for getting overwhelmed, especially when we aren’t even supposed to be investigating right now.

And you can tell me anything too, we are colleagues, partners, we are here for each other. I’m happy you trust me!”

“I dont want to, um, haunt you with my thoughts like this, it’s not fair to you”

“I can be a little haunted, I want you to be okay!

I want to be here for you”

“Then…

"Would you stay by my side?”

“ For therapy?”

“No, well, yes, if you can, but

Tonight, tomorrow, and other tomorrows

I know it’s a lot to ask, and I’m probably not in the best state of mind at the moment to be asking for things, but still

Can you promise me to just… stay alive? for tonight?

I don’t want you gone”

“That’s… a hard thing to ask. I have no control over whether I die or not, much less with a possible killer on the loose.

I need to be honest with him”

“I promise”

“… but I always get stupid around handsome men”

“Sorry, that was unfair of me. I shouldn’t be asking you this, I’m sorry”

“You know what? I have an idea”

“After this is all over, we should get a vacation.

You’re a city boy, aren’t you? I bet you have never seen cows up close.

Take time off and stay in the region, I’ll take you sightseeing! I know the best restaurants and the best views. Have you ever fed chickens? My grandma has so many chickens, it’s like a feather tornado when you feed them!”

“…. You just want to see me get swarmed by chickens, don’t you?”

“Perhaps”

He laughs a little

“Yeah, I’d like that.

I want to go sightseeing with you”

“Stressful situations bring out a lot of feelings.

I haven’t felt this one in a long time though.

Is it bad?

To start something new in a place like this?

To imagine a future with him, a work partner, co-owning cats, going to restaurants, sightseeing

Laughing together, crying together.

To have a future together, to be something

A pair, sold as set, do not separate.

Would that be too bad? That I want to take a step into this direction? Am I even ready for something like this?

I want it though

I want to live that life

I want to try”

“It’s a date then”

“If, if you want to, i mean”

“I’d love to”

“I know this won’t solve any of his problems, hell, I know this won’t solve any of *my* problems

In fact, it could even make more problems!

Then why am I so happy?

Ah, I really get all stupid around pretty men, guess I’ll have to get used to it”

“Can I have my hat back now?”

“Nope!”

“Dick”