Chapter Text
There was a small squeak as Chief turned in her office chair to pull Nightingale close by the elbow. ‘She's my girlfriend.’
Nightingale froze. Her eyes widened as she stared down at Chief next to her. She’d been standing there after delivering a document for the chief to sign. It was one that was too important to leave to someone else to deliver. ‘Wh—’
‘What?’ Chelsea flicked her gaze between the chief and the adjutant behind the desk.
Chief looked up at Nightingale who had wiped the surprise off her face.
‘She’s clearly shocked with your lie, Chief,’ Chelsea said, chuckling.
Staring at the table, Chief supposed she'd have to apologise. She'd been desperate to get all the flirting directed towards her to stop. It had become tiring very fast and got in the way of her doing her job.
‘I was only surprised at the sudden revealing of our relationship is all,’ Nightingale said.
The chief’s heartrate should have calmed down now that her adjutant was helping her act out this lie, but her heart only beat faster.
Chelsea stared at Nightingale. ‘You can't be serious.’
‘I’m as serious as the chief is about this.’
They both turned to look at the chief.
‘I… yeah,’ Chief said. ‘We’re together. Girlfriends.’
Silence.
‘So, I'd appreciate it if you could stop flirting with me, Chelsea. It's highly inappropriate with me being the chief and you being a detainee. Even more so since I have a girlfriend.’ Chelsea wouldn’t ignore the fact that Chief was already in a relationship with another woman, would she?
‘I…’ Chelsea frowned, looked at Nightingale again, then sighed. ‘I understand.’
It worked? Chief thought, blinking in surprise. That easy? Maybe if all the Sinners know I'm unavailable, they won't be wasting my time... I'll be able to get my paperwork done in peace.
‘I’m leaving,’ Chelsea said, standing up from her chair opposite the chief's. She looked at Chief and Nightingale once more before stalking off to the guard waiting outside the office. He would escort Chelsea back to her cell. The heavy double doors slid closed behind her.
Chief let out a long sigh.
‘Is it alright to just let her leave like that?’ Nightingale asked.
‘Her appointment ended fifteen minutes ago. She was just lingering.’
‘I see.’ Nightingale had entered the office to see Chelsea leaning on the desk with her elbows, trying to get closer to Chief. She'd been talking about the worth of jewels and gemstones and how she could let the chief have as many as she wanted.
‘Sorry to drag you into this. I was tired and getting desperate. You saved me there, Nightingale. Thanks.’ Chief held out the stack of paper she’d just signed.
If her adjutant hadn’t arrived with a document at this time, Chief would likely be stuck trying to shoo Chelsea away for another twenty minutes.
‘No problem.’ Nightingale glanced at the signature and accepted the document. ‘I have to look after you as your adjutant.’ There was the slightest hint of pink on Nightingale’s cheeks. She was probably embarrassed at having to be a part of the chief’s lie.
‘You’re always so dependable,’ Chief said with a smile.
‘Are you going to tell the other Sinners the same thing that you told Chelsea today?’
A pause.
‘I'm sorry,’ Chief said, brows knitting together. ‘I should have asked for your permission first. Is it going to be a problem for you? I could tell Chelsea that I lied.’ I should have thought this through, Chief thought. Even if the lie would benefit her and her work output, if Nightingale was uncomfortable with it, Chief would clear things up. It wasn’t right to cause her adjutant any discomfort out of selfishness.
Nightingale stepped out from behind the desk and faced Chief from the other side of it. ‘No. It's fine. Better to not show them that the chief is a liar. Your honesty helps with your relationships with the Sinners.’
‘Ah… that's true.’ Chief frowned. ‘If that's the case, I could tell another lie and say we broke up?’
There was something undecipherable in Nightingale’s eyes. Chief thought she was fairly good at reading most people after all the interrogations she’s had to conduct, but she couldn't recognise that particular look she was receiving from her adjutant. Is she annoyed? Chief wondered.
‘Then, you'd be back to square one. Personally, I don't enjoy seeing you mobbed by flirtatious Sinners all the time.’
A little excitement, or perhaps hope lit up in the chief’s chest.
‘It’s bad for work. Unprofessional,’ Nightingale said.
‘Yes, that's true.’ Of course, that's what she meant, Chief thought. Her hope fizzled away.
‘I have to get this document processed, so I'll take my leave.’
‘All right. Thank you, Nightingale.’
‘Of course,’ Nightingale said with a nod. She turned on her heels and exited the office with the end of her coat trailing behind her.
Did I imagine it, or did she really sound annoyed? Chief wondered. Well, I finally got her to be my girlfriend. But a fake one…