They've crossed the line now, Beatrice thought as she made her way back to her cubicle, coffee forgotten, the newest flagrant disregard for company policy clutched between fingertips.
Beatrice sat at her desk, waiting for her computer to power up as she thought back to how this had all started.
The first had been a photocopy of a forearm that had been moved across as it had been scanned, blurring the final product. So, no way to tell who it belonged to, and even if it had been still, Beatrice had very few people's forearms memorized.
The second had been some water droplets. While it was concerning that the culprit had put water so close to the photocopier, it was clear in the print that something was covering it and the printer was still working. So they weren't a complete monster.
The third had some leaves, old and young alike, scattered across the page. The image surprisingly beautiful in its composition, pity about the fact that they had soiled company property. Not that Beatrice could find a single trace of any leaves in the morning.
The fourth had been marbles as well as the culprits fingertips. The marbles scattering the light of the photocopier in odd ways, while the fingertips stood as beacons between them.
It was the fifth that had crossed the line, a smiley face constructed out of mugs. The mugs, however, belonged to different people across the office. So now, not only were they misusing office supplies they were also misusing their coworkers belongings without permission. Beatrice had had enough.
Beatrice's printer came to a stop, her note done printing. She grabbed it, the offending fifth picture, some thumbtacks and headed back to the photocopier room.
As Beatrice was attaching it to the notice board as Ava walked past. "Morning, Bea!" The photocopier was located in the room before the break room. A few seconds later Ava reappeared. "Uh, you okay? Bea?"
"Fine." Beatrice stepped back, hands on her hips as she regarded her work with a nod.
Curious Ava came to stand level to read the notice. "Please note: such flagrant disregard for company supplies will not be tolerated. Work supplies are intended for work use only. Any further misuse, as indicated in the image below, shall be reported to management, are we clear?" Ava sucked in a breath. "Yikes Bea."
Beatrice turned to scowl at her before turning to point at one of the mugs in the picture. "That's your mug, that's my mug, that's Camila's. They just used our stuff and a whole bunch of other people's. They did not get permission." Beatrice turned on her heel, heading back to the break room, she really needed her coffee now.
"I guess." Ava agreed, leaning back against the counter looking thoughtful. "Would you have left them alone if they didn't use other people's stuff?"
"Are you defending them?" Beatrice snapped, her eyes narrowed as she focused back on Ava.
"Whoa. No." Ava lifted her hands. "Bea. Calm down. Please. Why are you so angry this morning?"
"Sorry." Beatrice inhaled, realizing Ava was right, suddenly feeling the tension in her neck, back and jaw. She took a few moments to take some deep breaths. When she opened her eyes Ava was waiting for her with a welcoming smile.
"Better?"
"Yes. Sorry. I didn't sleep much. My mother called last night." Beatrice explained, finishing making her coffee with careful movements.
Ava let out a growl, drawing Beatrice's gaze back to Ava. "What did the bitch want this time?"
Beatrice felt her lips twitch. "She's found the perfect man for me, wanted to know if I'm still a lesbian."
Ava's face went blank. "Are you still a lesbian?"
"Yes?"
Ava cupped Beatrice's cheeks, pulling her close. "Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"One hundred percent sure?" Ava asked seriously, now smooshing Beatrice's cheeks.
"Yes!" Beatrice hoped Ava couldn't feel how flushed her cheeks were. Being this close to Ava's face made her knees weak, her stomach fill with butterflies and her pulse race.
Ava grinned suddenly, her whole face lighting up with joy as she placed a quick kiss on Beatrice's forehead before releasing her and lifting her hands in the air. "The gays win today!"
Beatrice tried her best to control her blush, she was pretty sure she failed, as she shook her head at Ava. Her best friend just grinning and wiggling her eyebrows at her. "You're a menace." Beatrice said with a laugh.
Ava shrugged, taking a quick step into her space to wrap her up in a hug. "Maybe." Beatrice closed her arms around Ava. "But when you signed the best friend contract, I became your menace." Ava patted Beatrice's back in feigned sympathy.
Beatrice laughed quietly, squeezing Ava before letting her go. "I guess that'll teach me to not read a contract."
Ava bounced to the counter, handing Beatrice her mug of coffee. "Probably the only contract you didn't read." The pause and lack of eye contact giving Beatrice away, causing Ava to start laughing. "No way, you read the contracts?!"
"Yes! Of course, Ava! I like to know exactly what I'm signing!"
By the time they made it Beatrice's cubicle, Ava can barely breathe she's laughing so hard. Beatrice is sitting down, looking unamused (trying to at least) while Ava is clutching her sides and leaning against Beatrice to remain standing, she'slaughing so hard.
It's only when they hear the elevator ding, that Ava manages to get herself under control. After a few deep breaths, Ava manages to get her feet under her, Beatrice offering a withering look and a steadying hand.
"You good?"
"Yeah." Ava says with a grin, eyes sparkling. "Love you, Bea."
Beatrice waves her off. "Love you too, Ava. Now go get ready to work."
Ava offers Beatrice a grin before wandering off to her own desk.
Once Ava is out of sight Beatrice slumps back a little with a groan. Being in love my best friend is difficult.
Ava's distraction works, mostly, Beatrice doesn't think about the photocopier until the next time she has to make copies of something.
Beatrice grimaces when she sees her note, okay, it may have been a bit harsh, but she's not going to remove it. The culprit usually misuses the photocopier every two or three days, so she'll leave it up for the week and then take it down.
Beatrice gets home on Friday, feeling rather proud of herself. The Photocopy Bandit has disappeared, not a single misuse of the photocopier this week. All she'd have to do was take down the note on Monday morning and it would be over.
Her phone rang, Ava's name flashing across it. Perfect. Ava usually had something fun planned.
To say Beatrice is in a bad mood is an understatement, she's glad she's the first to arrive at work. Especially on Monday's. The one day a week when Ava wouldn't be here second.
She could make her coffee in peace, get her computer up and running, put her headphones on and ignore everyone else.
Her and Ava had gotten into a fight on Friday. Kind of. They'd gotten into something. They'd gone out to some club, Camila, Mary, Shannon and even Lilith joining them. They'd had more than a little to drink, but she'd been in a good mood and then... And then Ava had gone to get another round of drinks while Beatrice when to the bathroom. By the time Beatrice made it back to the table, Ava wasn't back yet, so she figured that Ava would probably need an extra set of hands to carry the drinks back anyway so she'd gone to find her.
Instead of finding Ava alone with to many drinks, she'd found some guy hitting on Ava, Ava laughing at whatever he was saying. Beatrice had stopped dead when Ava had put a hand on his arm, going cold when the man grinned. Ava had chosen that moment to turn, to see Beatrice. Beatrice wasn't sure what her face looked like but she knew it wasn't fit for company so she'd turned, heading towards the exit. She needed to get out of here now, it was to hot and to loud and she couldn't deal with it for a moment longer.
Beatrice first breath of fresh air made her realize how hard her heart was pounding, she turned left, walking blindly. She pulled out her phone, sending Camilia a quick message, the other woman would worry when Ava reappeared without her. But she needed a minute. A minute to pull the mask back in place. She leaned against a wall, the cool bricks anchoring her.
"Bea?"
Beatrice flinched, because, of course Ava had followed me, she turned slowly, hoping she wouldn't find Ava standing there but knowing she would.
"Are you okay?"
"Fine." Her voice came out hoarse, she cleared her throat, pulling her gaze away from Ava in her shirt that showed of so much skin that Beatrice just want to spend all night gently running her fingers across. "Just got hot in there. Needed a minute. You can go back in."
Ava walked to stand in front of her, Beatrice resolutely keeping her gaze off Ava. "You're lying."
Beatrice felt her body jerk, her gaze finding Ava's, they stood eye to eye. Ava was wearing heels tonight. Beatrice swallowed. "I'm not."
Anger flashed across Ava's face, one of her hands coming up to gently grasp at the collar of Beatrice's button up shirt. "Yes. You. Are."
"Ava." Beatrice's voice came out weak.
The anger disappeared as quickly as it appeared, Ava smoothed out the collar she wrinkled. "Fine." Ava ran her fingertips along Beatrice's jaw, thumb coming up to brush against her cheek, her eyes searing into Beatrice's soul.
She waited a heartbeat longer and when Beatrice didn't say anything, her hand dropped, and she turned and left, Beatrice catching the sadness that had filled her gaze before she could look away.
Beatrice had gone home after that, she'd left some pathetic excuse on the group chat about feeling sick and ignored everyone for the rest of the weekend.
So here she was, stomping across the office towards the break room to make her morning coffee, feeling like shit. Because how do you tell your best friend that you're in love with her and that when you see her flirting with other people it makes you want to toss said people across the room? And - what is that?? Beatrice stopped in her tracks, taking a few steps backwards to stand in the doorway of the photocopier room.
And there, where her note used to be, was a new, sixth image. With careful hands she removed it from the notice board, slow steady rage filling her chest. Because this person had ransacked her desk, taken the custom pens Ava had gotten for her (they were different swords) and arranged them into the word "NO". With the mug they were usually housed, lying at the bottom of the picture, another gift from Ava.
Calm settled over Beatrice as she made her way to her desk, the mug with said pens exactly where she left them, the rage settled from hot to cold. She carefully placed the paper on her desk, and turned to go and make her coffee. Lilith wouldn't be here for another fifteen minutes, and as floor manager, she would be the one that would have to handle this.
Beatrice had just placed her mug onto the counter when she heard someone clear their throat from behind her. She turned, finding Ava standing in the doorway with two containers from the nearest coffee place.
"So you're probably still not talking to me, and that's totally fine, I mean, I'm not totally sure what I did. I mean, I think I know. But I don't want to assume, ya know?" Ava's eyes were darting around the room, looking anywhere but at Beatrice. "Anyway, I bought you some coffee! I mean, you don't have to have it. It's just, here, if you want it. I mean."
Beatrice took the cups from Ava's hands, cutting off the rant, and placed them on the counter. She pulled Ava into a hug.
Ava's arms stayed in the air for a moment. "Oh." She said weakly, before her arms tightened around Beatrice. "Bea." Her voice shook a little, her face tucked into Beatrice's chest.
"I'm so sorry. I'm an ass."
"Language." Ava laughed wetly.
Beatrice squeezed Ava. "I promise I'll explain everything one day." Nerves filled Beatrice at the thought, but knew she owed Ava the truth at some point, she just had to hope Ava still wanted to be her friend afterwards. "Just know that it was entirely me being an idiot and then the alcohol and the voices in my head teamed up and. Yeah."
Ava nodded against her chest. "Sorry if I pushed."
"I think you're the one person allowed to push."
Ava let out a hum, her arms tightened around Beatrice a little more before she relaxed a bit more. "Oh, um, there's something I need to-"
"Oh, good, you two have made up." Lilith said, entering the break room with an eye roll.
"Good morning to you too, Lilith." Ava said dryly, stepping out of Beatrice's space to scowl at Lilith.
"Morning, Lilith. I need to speak to you about something."
"Work related?" At Beatrice's nod, Lilith waved her off. "Work doesn't start for another 20 minutes. Come find me after that. Not a minute before."
"What do you want to talk to Lilith about?" Ava asked curiously, handing Beatrice her coffee.
Beatrice offered Ava a grateful smile, bumping her knuckles against Ava's before they were out of reach. "Remember the person who has been misusing the photocopier? Well they left another one!"
"About that-"
"Bea! Ava!" The pair were immediately wrapped in a pair of arms.
"For God's sake, Cam! They have coffee!" Mary scolded, skirting the trio to go make her own cup.
"Whoops!" Camila jumped back, grinning impishly at the pair, before inspecting their cups. "Clear!" This time she leaned in to give each woman a more gentle hug.
"Good morning, Camila, Mary." Beatrice greated. "Sorry about dissappearing this weekend."
Mary came and leaned next to Beatrice. "You good?"
Beatrice nodded. The pair watching as Camila and Ava giggled as they tried to 'out-hug' each other. A game they'd started when they'd run into each other at the gym, despite their petite statures, both woman were corded with muscle. Mary took a picture, sending it on their group. Shannon and Lilith backed Camila, Beatrice and Mary backed Ava. Eventually Camila tapped out with a gasp, Mary and Beatrice sharing a grin. Ava strutted around the room, Camila clapping softly while Ava continued to flex.
The four of them made idle chit chat until it was time for work to start, slowly making their way to their desks. Beatrice and Ava stopped at Beatrice's desk, the pair catching sight of the sixth image.
"Oh, yes." Beatrice picked it up. "I'm going to go talk to Lilith."
"Bea."
"You can come with if you want." Beatrice said, not stopping on her way to Lilith's office.
Her knock on the door covered the sound of Ava's "wait!"
"Come in!"
"Beatrice, Ava. What can I help you with?" Beatrice gave you the photocopy, Lilith raised a perfect eyebrow in response. "Is this your creative way of tell me you quit?"
"No!" Beatrice said immediately. "Someone is misusing the photocopier. This is the sixth one I've found but the second one where they've used their fellow employees belongings without permission."
Lilith put the page down, leaning back in her chair to regard Beatrice. Her eyes flicked to Ava once before landing back on Beatrice. "Were the items damaged?"
"No."
"Do you know who's doing it?"
Beatrice hesitated. "No."
"Then I can't do anything." Lilith picked up the photocopy, holding it out for Beatrice. "If you can figure out who's doing it, then I can do something."
Beatrice took it, frustrated but she understood what Lilith was saying. "Alright. Thank you."
"Try not to kill them." Beatrice nodded, turning to leave. "Ava? A moment, please."
Beatrice caught Ava's slightly alarmed look but Ava just shrugged when she caught her looking.
Beatrice waited at Ava's cubicle, the woman appearing a few minutes later. "Everything, okay?"
"Oh! Yes!" Ava rolled her eyes with a grin. "The she-devil just wanted to remind me that I owe her some reports."
"Right." Beatrice blinked. "I'll let you get to that then."
"See you later, Bea."
Beatrice walked to her cubicle, frowning all the while, it didn't make sense. Ava often worked overtime, how could she be behind on work? Did Ava just lie to me?!
The seventh image pushes Beatrice over the edge, because now she's decided she's going to catch the person. The seventh image is composed of four tiny plushies, one little patchwork dog on each corner of the page, and in the middle a doodle of a bone. The drawing was vague enough that she wouldn't be able to trace it to anyone.
Why did these little plushies push Beatrice's buttons? Because one is from her desk, one is from Mary's, one is from Camila's and the last one is form Ava's. Lilith and Shannon have one as well.
They'd spent a weekend doing random things for one of Ava's birthdays, one of which had been a "Make your own plushie!". They'd all picked the dog, figuring that there was no way they could mess up something so small. They had been wrong but they'd had a great time and when they finished them they'd put them all in a bag and blindly chosen one to keep. A ridiculous thing but a cherished keepsake. They were ugly and adorable and lived on their desks, they were not to be touched.
It was the rule, the entire office knew the rule. So who in their right mind would dare to touch them? After grabbing the picture, she went from desk to desk making sure each little plushie was in its place. Mary's still had its tiny shotgun, Camila's was sprawled out on a tiny laptop, Ava's was still sleeping in a sleeping bag that was actually a chip packet, and Beatrice's had a miniature version of her favorite book that it slept on.
Ava found Beatrice at her desk, with her little plushie cradled in her hand and the seventh picture in the other. "Bea?"
"They touched the puppies." She held out the picture for Ava.
Ava sucked in a breath, putting the picture down and crouching in front of Beatrice. "Why is this bothering you so?"
"Why doesn't it bother you more?"
"The puppies are fine right?" Beatrice nodded, so Ava shrugged. "No harm done, then. Come on, Bea. Sappho is fine." Ava gently nudged the tiny plushie, it had been the one Ava had made. "The pens are fine. The mugs are fine. And it's seven pieces of paper. So why?"
Beatrice frowned, thinking it over. "I guess because it's so obvious? Why don't they thrown the paper away?"
Ava looked thoughtful for a moment. "Have you considered that they're being left there for you?"
"Me? What? Why?" Beatrice asked, genuinely perplexed.
"I mean, you're always the first one here, right? And from what you've told me, they clean up everything else. So why leave just the picture, if not for someone to find?"
"I guess so." Beatrice conceded. "But I doubt it's for me. And either way, this person needs to be stopped."
Ava regarded her for a moment longer, her smile gentle. "Alright. Let's agree to disagree. How do you plan to catch this master criminal?"
This was how Ava and Beatrice landed up logging a few to many hours of overtime the following week. Beatrice insisting that she be the last one to leave the office and Ava insisting she not be alone.
Ava jokingly saying that Beatrice had that "Going to aikido someone into submission" look, so when Beatrice didn't deny it Ava stayed until Beatrice left. And Beatrice only left thirty minutes after the last person, she'd make sure all the bathrooms were empty, the cleaning staff had come and done (she'd even questioned them) and she'd checked to make sure she hadn't somehow missed The Photocopy Bandit. Only after all of that was done, could they leave.
They pair hit the sidewalk and Ava let out a happy sigh, lifting her arms over her head in a stretch as her back arched. "Oh, yeah. That's the stuff." She groaned.
Beatrice shook her head at the shorter woman. "You could have left hours ago, you know."
"I know." Ava linked her arm through Beatrice's, grinning up at the taller woman. "But then I wouldn't get to spend all this time with you." Ava knocked her hip into Beatrice's, sending them both stumbling a little to the side with a laugh. "Now, Thai for dinner? I'm really craving Thai for dinner."
"Oh, I wasn't really-"
"Nope." Ava cut her off. "You're getting real food tonight. Let me guess, you were to tired last night so you got home and just had a sandwich?"
"Maybe." Beatrice muttered, warmth filling her chest, it was just Ava looking after her friend but it was still a nice feeling.
"Knew it. So tonight, you eat delicious warm food that you don't have to cook." Ava tugged her a little faster, their favourite Thai place not to far away.
Before Beatrice could blink Ava had paid for both of their food. "Ava! I'm perfectly capable of paying for my own dinner."
"Beatrice Redacted Young." Ava said seriously. "I know, however, I coerced you into buying takeout, therefore I am responsible and should pay." When Beatrice opened her mouth to argue, Ava rolled her eyes and continued. "And if it bothers you that much, you can just buy me dinner tomorrow. I imagine we have a few more stake outs in our future."
"That's fair." Beatrice grumbled, following behind Ava. "And my middle name isn't Redacted."
"I'm aware, but until you tell me what is it, I'm going to assume it's classified." Ava teased. "Now hurry up, your apartment is closest and I'm starving!"
Beatrice makes her first mistake the next night. In her defense she was tired, she was getting up earlier, staying at work later, eating later, going to bed later and sometimes not sleeping well. She'd seen the looks Camila and Ava had shared but had brushed them off, she was determined. She made sure her work didn't suffer, so Lilith didn't step in, although she had caught her and Ava having a hushed conversation once or twice.
Beatrice's mistake came about in the form of just resting her eyes for a minute, she had planned to go get another cup of coffee. She just needed a moment, just one.
The next thing she knew Ava was shaking her awake. "Bea? Hey, Bea?"
Beatrice jerked, Ava immediately backing up a step.
"Sorry, you fell asleep. It's ten o'clock."
Beatrice checked the watch on the inside of her wrist and groaned. "I'm so sorry, Ava."
Ava offered her a sweet smile. "Hey, it's okay. I know you're tired."
Beatrice slumped back in her chair. "I'm being ridiculous, aren't I?"
"Maybe a little." Ava agreed, leaning over Beatrice's desk to shut down her computer. "But you're cute when you're being all stubborn so."
Beatrice feels the tips of her ears heat as Ava winks at her. This woman! "Anything exciting happen while I took a nap?"
"No idea." Ava shrugs. "I had my headphones on, I only realized the time because Lilith called to ask why the fuck my desktop was still active."
"I'll explain tomorrow. Let's head out." Beatrice says with a yawn, a faint headache already thrumming through her skull.
"No hundred point check tonight?"
Beatrice shrugs into her jacket, checks the photocopier and finds nothing. "Nope." She wraps an arm around Ava's shoulders, an arm immediately settling around her waist in response. Beatrice doesn't often initiate physical contact but she's to tired to care.
"You okay?" Ava asks softly as they wait for the elevator.
"Headache." Beatrice mumbles back. Ava knows Beatrice gets headaches, knows they can get bad, knows she likes human contact when she has them. So Ava doesn't hesitate to wrap Beatrice up in a hug, head nestled in Beatrice's shoulder. Beatrice hugs her back, head resting against Ava's, her body relaxing.
"Scale?"
"Two. Climbing, will need food."
"M'kay. Pizza fine?"
"Yeah."
They briefly separate when the elevator arrives but find each other again before the doors close, this time Ava lifting a hand to massage at the base of Beatrice's neck, relaxing the muscles that had gone tense when she'd fallen asleep at her desk.
It's when she gets to work the next morning, that she finds the eighth image. Or, more accurately, the eighth image has found her in the form if Lilith sitting at her desk, photocopy in hand. Because Beatrice is five minutes late for work.
Beatrice had skipped her morning workout and gone with her later set of alarm, unfortunately she'd managed to sleep through them. She'd woken up twenty minutes before work started. She lived twenty minutes away from work.
"Good morning, Beatrice. So nice of you to join us." Lilith greeted, tone ice cold, before offering Beatrice a wide grin. "What time did you wake up?"
"Twenty to." Beatrice grumbled, putting her bag down.
Lilith laughed, getting up and offering Beatrice her seat. "That is impressive."
Beatrice sunk into her chair with a sigh. "Why are you here?"
Lilith's expression turned wicked. "I wanted to see your face when I gave you this." She put the page in front of Beatrice. "I was the first one here this morning but I figured it belonged to you."
The eighth was paw prints. Cat paw prints to be specific. The Photocopy Bandit had brought a cat into the building, got it to stand on the photocopier and then let it get its paws get photocopied. What. The. Fuck.
Beatrice was snapped out of her daze by the sound of Lilith's laughter. "This was so worth postponing my meeting for. Don't forget to do some work today!" She instructed before leaving, still laughing.
Beatrice wasn't sure how long she sat staring at the paw prints, not doing work, because the next thing she knew Mary was tapping her on the shoulder.
"Are those paw prints?"
"Yes."
"Dude's got balls. I'll give them that."
"And a cat, apparently."
"Or they are a cat." Mary said with a shrug.
Beatrice scowled up at Mary.
Mary shrugged, offering Beatrice a smile. "I'm just saying. You and Ava left here late and then they got here before Lilith. Maybe there's a cat living in the air vents and it's decided to mess with you."
"You're hilarious." Beatrice said, dryly.
Mary nodded. "I know. One of my many charms."
Beatrice figures it out before the ninth image. She's at Ava's apartment, all eight of the pictures spread on the floor around Beatrice, with a glass of wine carefully placed on a coaster amongst the pages. (Ava teased her for using a coaster on the floor, Beatrice claims its more stable than the carpet.)
"Still nothing?" Ava asked from her sprawl on the couch, her cat, a black female named Snow, lying on the floor batting at her fingers.
"No." Beatrice grumbled, rubbing her eyes. Something connects these images, she's sure of it. She just has no idea what.
Beatrice is taking a long sip of wine when Snow comes up to her. An adorable little void Beatrice had found abandoned one night on a walk home, her building didn't allow cats, but Ava's did.
Ava had all but melted when Beatrice had shown up with the tiny bag of bone. She'd adopted it immediately, always having wanted a cat.
"Hi, Snow." Beatrice ran her nails down the cats back, a purr rumbling through Snow's body in response. Beatrice put her glass down and pull the paw prints forward. "Do you know this guy?"
Snow blinked up at her for a moment before walking across the page, her paws falling exactly above the the ones on the page. Beatrice frowned, scooping up Snow before she got to far. The photocopier printed in colour, the cat had black paws, except for a tiny pink spot on their back left paw. Beatrice flipped Snow, grabbing her paw and finding a tiny pink spot. Beatrice went still, Snow squirming out of her arms.
Beatrice swallowed, slowly lifting her gaze to Ava's. Ava was sitting up now, looking very guilty.
"Hi."
"You?" Ava nodded. "Why?" Beatrice asked, her voice devoid of emotion.
Ava blinked, swallowed hard, her hands fidgeting in her lap. "The first one was an accident, that I forgot to throw away. The rest were actually for you. I didn't realize that you didn't know until I saw the note you left and then it kind of felt to late. And then I was going to tell you on Monday but then-" Ava's face went red. "We'd had that thing and I'd gone back into the office because I'd left my charger. I saw your note, and the next thing I knew I'd replaced it. But then we made up on Monday so I was going to tell you but then you went to Lilith before I could. And Lilith told me to keep doing it."
"Lilith knows?"
Ava nods, gazing locked on Snow as she curls up on the floor. "She gave me the keys to get in on Saturday. Anyway. So I didn't tell you. Then I used the plushies cause I figured you'd definitely know it was me. But you didn't. You got mad instead. Then we started the over time and you were getting tired and then you fell asleep and I felt so bad. So decided to do two more and then tell you."
"The paw prints?"
"I needed to take Snow for her booster shot. Early that morning after you feel asleep and it's right past work and I knew you weren't going to be there as early as usual. I saw an opportunity. Lilith caught me. She laughed so hard, she cried." Ava offered with a lopsided grin, her hands clenched around a couch cushion.
"What was going to be the last picture?" Beatrice asked, her face blank.
"Oh. Yeah. My face. I figured. Just rip the band-aid off." Ava laughed nervously.
"But why? Why these things?"
Ava blew out a nervous breath. "Okay. Yes. I'm just going to do it. Just say it. So I was working up the nerve to ask you out. On a date."
Beatrice sat, stunned. "What?"
Ava looked panicked, her arms out in a placating gesture. " Please don't freak out! Let me explain! So the first one a mistake! But each other one was kind of a letter to you?"
"The water?"
"I'd talked you into going out to lunch with me. It had been raining the day before and there were puddles everywhere. And like the gentleman you are, when a car came flying past and hit a puddle, you shielded me and got hit with it. I was horrified but you made me laugh."
Beatrice nodded, remembering the day. The water had been gross and made her clothes uncomfortable but Ava fussing over her had made her day. "The leaves?"
"I came into work covered in them. You spent ten minutes helping me get them out of my hair and clothes."
"I bought you the marbles." Beatrice said suddenly, filling in a piece of the puzzle.
"You did." Ava said with a nod. "Because I mentioned, once, that I'd never had any as a kid." Ava smiled softly before continuing. "With the mugs, I only used the ones I'd bought as gifts for people. And, that day, we used them to build a mug pyramid in the break room."
Beatrice frowned slightly at the memory. "Yes. That did make me uncomfortable. Mugs should not be up that high."
"So you did all of this to ask me out?" Beatrice asked, still confused.
Ava crawled off the couch, coming to kneel in front of Beatrice. "Things may have gotten a little out of hand but yes. Because you are the most amazing woman I have ever met. I'm so lucky to have you in my life, Bea. But I understand if you just want to be friends."
"Oh."
Ava blinked. "Oh?"
Beatrice felt her face flush, her heart suddenly kicking into overdrive as she processed the exact implications of what this meant. Beatrice's hands came up to cup Ava's cheeks. "Can I kiss you?"
Ava's eyes went wide. "Yes."
Beatrice leaned forward, hesitating a moment before closing the gap. The instant her lips touched Ava's everything went still, until Ava inhaled shakily. Then warmth blossomed, one of Ava's hands coming to rest on the back of her neck while the other clutched at her shirt collar.
They only pulled back when air became necessary, but neither went far, leaning their foreheads together.
"Oh." Ava said softly.
Beatrice let out a hum, her heart still pounding. "I think a date is definitely in order."
"Yes." Ava agreed, she licked her lips, Beatrice tracking her movement. "But I think we should definitely try that kissing thing again."
"Oh?" Beatrice teased, not at all opposed to the idea. Except perhaps moving to a more comfortable surface.
"Yes. I was supposed to ask you out over a week ago. Got some catching up to do. Don't want to be behind or anything." Ava breathed, her gaze not moving from Beatrice's lips.
Beatrice laughed softly, finally drawing Ava's gaze back up, she winked, Ava's cheeks flushing in response. "I like your work ethic." She grinned, leaning back in, Ava meeting her with a pleased groan.
They went on their date that weekend, their friends letting out a collective groan of 'finally'.
When The Photocopy Bandit appeared after that, it only made Beatrice smile.