Chapter Text
Jon sighed for the fifth time in the past 10 minutes. He had to restart the statement twice already because the noise from outside his office kept distracting him. It couldn’t be helped, he figured. He was stressed, and only tried to force himself to work in hopes it would take his mind off the fact that the police were supposed to interrogate them about Gertrude’s murder today . As if the whole situation wasn’t awful enough already. Jon scowled at the thought of cops coming into his archives. He sighed again and stood up from his chair.
He walked out of his office to join the rest in the common area. It only took a few seconds for Sasha to notice him and scramble for an excuse for not working. Tim beat her to it, though,
“Sorry, boss. See, I’m not sure we can do much work with all that stress, you know?” His tone was too dramatic for anyone to believe he was being serious. Jon sighed and decided to let it go. He actually was too stressed to try and argue.
“I know you are attempting a joke, but I do believe there’s a lot of pressure. I wouldn’t expect or require any of you to work as usual. All I ask is that you keep it down, so I can do my wo–”
He was interrupted by a quick knock on the door leading to the archives, followed by a head peeking through the gap. It was Rosie, probably here to remind them that the police will be here soon.
“Hey, police came early. I brought them here.” She said, pushing the door properly open. “I have to go though, Elias wanted me to reschedule a meeting. Good luck!”
And she quickly left without giving Jon a chance to respond. He cleared his throat and gestured for the two police officers to come in. He was trying his hardest to maintain his professional attire, until he noticed that unlike the blonde, broad woman, her partner stayed outside the door, staring at him intently. Then it clicked.
“Ashes- Basira? ” He almost choked on his surprise. “You’re a cop? ” He didn’t even bother to try and hide the disgust in his voice.
“Jonny, listen—”
“Don’t ‘Jonny’ me, that’s the job you said you don’t wanna talk about? Well I can see why, considering you’re a fucki–” Jon stopped, seemingly remembering they weren’t there alone. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Tim and Sasha exchange a look, and then Tim pulling out his phone and furiously typing something. After a few seconds, a buzz could be heard and Sasha was pulling out her phone in response. Great. Well, there goes his professionalism. They are never taking him seriously again.
“Well, but what did you expect? You know what I was like when we first met.” Frankly, she did sound ashamed. Jon did not care, she should be.
“Yeah, at first! I thought you’d come to mind after... Well, everything ,” he pointedly avoided saying anything even similar to ‘band’. “We all did. Actually, they still don’t know, do they? Well, guess what.”
He made a move to pull out his phone, but the other cop finally seemed to snap out of her confusion and cleared her throat. He looked at her as if he only now realised she even existed.
“Oh. R-right, yes. Sorry. Yes, we, uhh.. We’re old.. acquaintances .”
“Friends.” Basira pitched, and Jon only threw them a pointed look. He hesitantly reached out a hand to the blonde police officer.
“Jonathan Sims, I’m the Head Archivist.”
When she made no move to shake his hand, he pointed to his colleagues. “And my assistants, Sasha, Tim, and Martin. Is there an order you.. two would like to talk to us in?”
“Detective Daisy Tonner,” came in reply. “We’ll start with you, if that’s alright.” Jon nodded and noticed the way Dai- well, no, the detective had to give a pointed look at Basira to get them to realise they were here for a reason. Jon nodded and led them both to his office. He quickly regarded his assistants before leaving.
“Please, don’t make too much noise. Neither the walls nor the door are soundproof.”
The interrogation was draining, to say the least. And that wasn’t even regarding the fact that he had to stifle his growing annoyance and disappointment that came with seeing Ashes again, which normally would be great, he had to admit he missed her, but really, a cop?
His punk-with-pyromaniac-tendencies friend that broke into buildings with him and scribbled “ACAB” all over the walls, as well as covered for him on more than one (but less than five) occasion?? He struggled with wrapping his head around it, and was itching to get this over with so he could just talk to them alone. And, well, snitch to the rest. He just hoped that miss detective Daisy wouldn’t find his probably apparent boredom and irritation as suspicious. Which, obviously she probably does, because that’s just his luck.
When they were finally done with him, he left them in his office, to in turn send someone in. They said the order didn’t matter, so he sent in Sasha, leaving Tim for last. Knowing him, Tim might take either the shortest or the longest, and he didn’t want to have to make either Sasha or Martin stir in their nervousness. He sat down and pulled out his phone, going to find the chat that was only barely active since Death to The Mechanisms.
3:58 P.M.
To Dead not Gone
First mate : u will never guess ashes “secret” job
First mate : spoiler: disappointing
He looked up from his phone and noticed Tim staring at him intently. He sighed.
“Yes, Tim, go on, if you must.” He said it with annoyance, but he had to put actual effort in trying not to smile just a little.
“Sooo.. Acquaintances, huh?” Jon didn’t think Tim could smirk any wider.
“Really? Of all the things, you pick that? Yes, acquaintances. Well, no. We were friends at uni. I was dating someone at the time and it was not them. Uh, her. Basira.” Jon sighs. He can’t think of a reason for why he’s getting so chatty other than the stress finally letting go.
“You don’t have to lie about their pronouns, you know, we’re not pricks.” Tim said, almost offended.
“Oh, I’m not. She goes by they/she. I didn’t try to accuse you of that, I just wanted to make sure you know who I’m talking about.”
“Alright then. But yeah no, I just didn’t expect that you’d have any kind of social life, let alone friends.” Jon knows Tim is joking now, but he also doesn’t blame him for thinking that. He didn’t exactly try to present himself otherwise.
“And you thought me having a significant other was more probable?” He raised his eyebrow at Tim. The whole time Martin just listened in, most likely too stressed about the police to try to join in. Tim pitched his eyebrow in turn, a knowing smirk creeping up on his face.
“‘Significant other’? Are you that much of a pompous ass or does that suggest the possibility of you not being straight as a ruler?” If Martin wasn't so nervous he’d stop Tim by now. But he didn’t, and Sasha wasn’t there. Jon was too taken aback to be offended about being called a pompous ass.
“Straight as a- wait what? What even made you think I was?” Jon’s phone buzzed from his pocket, but the question threw him off so much that he didn’t even notice.
“Wait, you’re not? I don’t know, you’re just so.. Posh, I guess. Stuck up, and all that.”
“Even if I was all that, that’s still not a great argument. I mean, King Arthur himself was a queer man so what made you think I couldn’t be just because I’m trying to be professional?”
“He what? I didn’t know that.” Jon knew he’d regret talking so much later. He already felt his professional attire slip, and it won’t be easy to build back up. But he figured after almost yelling at Ashes when they were all right there already made irreparable damage. And he really was feeling rather relaxed now that he was done with the interrogations, especially that there was a friendly face. Well. Maybe he should apologise and actually try to hear them out. Just maybe.
“Well, I think being in a poly relationship with a man and woman would be considered as queer. You just don’t pay attention.” He replied, fighting himself not to go off on a whole rant about it. Not to Tim, anyway.
“What, like at school? I don’t think they taught us that.” Tim was so confused it could be funny. Jon scoffed.
“Obviously they couldn’t, what if the poor kids turn gay.” He cut himself off. This was still a workplace. And an institute of education, which made it even worse. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to go on like that.”
Right as Tim was about to try to get him to continue, the door to Jon’s office opened and Sasha walked out, gesturing at Martin that he can go in there now. Tim dramatically sighed.
“Why do I have to be the last, huh? Do you hate me that much, boss?”
“Obviously not. You’re just the only one that is likely to try to hit on them to try and get out of being questioned, which takes up a lot of time. And just for the record, it won’t work on Basira, and I doubt the other one would be interested in you.” Tim rolled his eyes, but didn’t even try to deny it. Instead he patted the couch beside him and looked at Sasha, but she pointedly ignored him and sat in her desk chair.
“Right?” She said to Jon. “She did look kinda butch” She said in a hush voice, throwing a look at the closed office door. Jon tried (and miserably failed) to conceal a smile.
“Right.” He then felt another buzz and took out his phone.
4:12 P.M.
To Dead not Gone
Br(ass) bitch : Are they mopping floors at Tesco’s
shipfucker : Or selling faulty yoyos in a weird alley
First mate : lMAO
First mate : but no not that type of disappointing
First mate : shes a COP
First mate : honestly i think that deserves like
First mate : at least a kick
still not a real boy (gender neutral) : That’s Disgusting!
powdered tim : the one time toy soldier gets online and it decidedfs to speak the truth
powdered tim : ACAB
shipfucker : ACAB
Br(ass) bitch : ACAB
archIVYussy : ACAB
bullied into getting a degree : ACAB
First mate : ACAB
Jon put down his phone as the door to his office opened again, a paler than usual Martin stumbling out. He flopped onto the couch as if he was going to fall over if he didn’t sit immediately.
“That was so awful. She’s scary .” He said and covered his face with his hands, while Tim stood up and went into the office instead, with not as much as a silly gesture. Guess he actually was more stressed than he let on.
“It was short, though. I feel like they took at least twice as much time with me, and even more with Jon.”
“Yeah, the nice one seemed to notice how stressed I was. Uh, Ashes, you said their name was?” Martin replied to Sasha, but looked at Jon in question.
“Oh, uh, no, their name’s Basira. Ashes was a.. nickname. From back when we were at uni.” Jon so hoped they would drop it at that. He was not planning to tell them about the Mechs anytime soon, and he’s already said too much with Tim. Building back up the professional attire that would break would be close to impossible.
The room went quiet for a moment. Somehow that was even worse. He looked around the room, looked at his phone to discover no new messages and looked at the time. Oh, maybe tea? Jon stood up and started walking towards the breakroom.
“Would anyone like tea?” He asked, and Sasha and Martin just looked at each other. “Does.. that mean no?”
“L-look, Jon..” Martin started, stopped, and sighed. Sasha waved a hand at him.
“Sorry, Jon, but your tea is nasty. I’d love tea, but let Martin do it instead.” Oh. Right. He didn’t think it was that bad. Significantly worse than Martin’s, yes , but not awful , surely. But, Jon nodded and sat back down. Martin stood up instead and went to prepare tea. Awkward silence fell again. Well that’s just great.
“Sooo..” Sasha started. Maybe she was feeling just as awkward as Jon? “Friends from uni, then? How did you meet?”
“Oh! Uh, through a friend. I mean, my then-girlfriend. She insisted she has to make her friends my friends. And she succeeded, I think. I think I grew closer to some of them than she ever did. Basira, for example.” Sasha stared at him, not unlikely shocked by how many words that weren’t regarding work orders he just said at once.
“Good! You keep in contact?” She seemed genuinely interested. Which shouldn’t be a surprise, but Jon was surprised nonetheless. He was their boss. Their boss who he was sure they didn’t really like.
“Rarely, anymore. We’re all busy with adult lives now. We keep a group chat, but it’s mostly inactive. And Georgie.. My ex, we.. didn’t exactly part on good terms. Which was my fault. I was an ass.”
“I mean you still kind of are.. But maybe you should reach out. If she thought you deserved her friends, she’d surely think you deserve forgiveness.” Jon thought for a few seconds. Maybe she wasn’t wrong. But how could he even go about trying to apologise? He really was awful to Georgie. But he did miss her. Just, as a friend. And he missed the Admiral. Just as he was about to respond, Martin came back with two steaming mugs.
“Could someone please fetch the other two? I made one for Tim as well, though I don’t know how much more time he’s going to take.”
Jon immediately stood up. Great opportunity to abandon the conversation that made him feel too seen for comfort. And right as he got back in the room with the two remaining mugs, the door to his office opened and out came Tim, as well as Basira and the other cop.
“All done?” Jon asked as he set one cup down, taking a sip from the other. He didn’t have to ask Martin if it was his, he always got his tea in the same cup. Tim nodded and sat back down at his spot. He had an exhausted look on his face, as if stress draining from him left him tired, not chatty like Jon, or lightheaded like Martin.
“Yes, we are all done. For now. You should all be prepared, though, my partner will come back in case we need anything more. As there are only four of you, I won’t be needed for that.” Daisy said, stance still intimidating. She was about to take her leave, when Basira spoke.
“Can you wait for me in the car? I’ll just take a moment. I’d like to speak to the Archivist alone.” Jon felt a shiver go down his spine at the way they said it. He looked around the room, but no one else seemed to be uncomfortable with the phrasing. He’ll blame it on Elias and the way he says the word archivist as if it was some kind of insult. Or, actually, maybe the opposite.
Daisy hesitated at the question, but finally nodded and left. Jon felt his phone buzz, but ignored it, and instead went to his office, gesturing to Ashes to follow him. Once they were both inside and she closed the door, he sat at his chair and set his mug down. The comfort of being in a place he knew and was his was enough to overpower the awkwardness.
“Sorry, I didn’t ask if you wanted tea. I can ask Martin to make one for you.” He said and pointed towards the other chair for her to sit in.
“Nah, it’s okay, I’ll just be a moment. Just.. Do you really need an explanation? I still stand by all cops are bad, and I know how bad it is that I’m just one of them now. I desperately needed a decent pay job, and with my education there weren’t many positions that wanted me, I mean can you see me? And then I got sectioned and it was too late for me to–”
“Ashes. You’re rambling. Calm down. I shouldn’t have reacted like that in the first place. I was.. shocked. But...” Jon took a breath, thought about his words. “I won’t tell you that I’m alright with you being a cop, because you know my thoughts about cops. But, I.. I’ve missed you?” He looked at Basira, who was looking at the desk instead of him. He sighed, he was shit at trying to comfort people. “And none of us are going to hate you because you got sucked in when you were desperate and are too deep in to leave. Think of it like.. Like, I don’t know, drugs? Obviously it’s different, but–”
“I get it, Jonny. And now you’re rambling.” They looked at him now, a slight smile. He managed to get his message across. He smiled back. “And I’ve missed you too. All of you guys, and I’d have told you all and quit already, but Daisy needs me. She doesn’t look like it, but she does need me.”
“I understand,” Jon said. He didn’t understand. But he didn’t need to.
“So, what’s with the whole pretentious fuck thing?” Ashes’ usual attire was back now. Jon sighed and shook his head in dramatic disapproval, but he smiled as well.
“That’s what happens when you suddenly get promoted to a position you didn’t even want and are not even close to being competent enough for it..” Jon wondered for a second. “Though I’m guessing you’d know that, based on what you just said.” Basira just chuckled and nodded.
“Guessing that won’t stop you from telling the others?”
“Oh, I already did. That’s what you get for being busy with a job or something. Honestly, don’t get it.” There was a knock on the door. Basira turned around in the chair. “Yes?”
The door opened and Tim peeked in. “Boss, it’s almost 5pm. I think we’re gonna go home.” He was less cheery about it, and Jon didn’t blame him. He looked tired.
“Yes, you can go ahead. I’ll clean up, so tell Sasha not to worry about it. You’re all free to go. Though I do expect proper work tomorrow, as none of you did much today, even if for an understandable reason.” Tim didn’t even argue. He nodded and left. Jon sighed.
“You’re like that towards them all the time? How do they not hate you yet?” Ashes looked at Jon, almost taken aback.
“I’m pretty sure they do. Not like I can change that now. I was so stressed during my first month as head archivist and started being like that, and.. Too late to back out. If I don’t keep it up like this, no work will be done. The archives are a mess, but they were so much worse.” Jon sighed, his head hurt from just thinking about the state the department was previously in. “I’ve only managed to get them to look like that by being like this.”
Ashes looked at him like they didn’t buy it.
“So, you’re just anxious because you think they’re too good for you and that they wouldn’t want you as a friend. Did I read that right?”
“What-, No, I–” Jon looked at her wide eyed. She just nodded.
“Of course I did.” She looked at the time. “I’ve gotta go. Daisy’s waiting for me.” They stood up and went to leave.
“Basira, just..” Jon stopped her. He thought about how to phrase what he wanted to say.
“Actual names, alright, serious now.”
“When.. if you’re ready to actually quit, I can always try to get you a job here. You’d like it. Lots of.. reading weird stories people give. And you don’t need to worry about being qualified, Martin–”
“Thank you, Jonny.” They spoke over him, cutting him off. “I’ll seriously think about it. I have to go, though, if I know Daisy, and I do, she’s about to start getting impatient.” As if on cue, their pager bleeped.
“Yeah, okay.” Ashes nodded at him and left. Jon sighed, gathering up the papers on his desk. He had to record the damn statement he was supposed to. But he knew that if he didn't go and clean up now, as he promised Tim, he’d be too tired later. He sighed and took his phone out.
4:54 P.M.
To Dead not Gone
shipfucker : Speaking of secret jobs we still dont know where Jonny works
First mate : not telling u
First mate : its the first kind of disappointing
First mate : js really boring
still not a real boy (gender neutral) : Oh, I Wouldn’t Say Boring!
still not a real boy (gender neutral) : You Just Didn’t Get To The Good Part Yet!
First mate : wait u kno where i work
still not a real boy (gender neutral) : Yes! And I Can’t Wait Until You Get Good!
still not a real boy (gender neutral) : Though I Really Dislike Your Boss!
still not a real boy (gender neutral) : Annoying Prick :o(
powdered tim : lolget good jonny
First mate : die