Paige and Shinobi go to see Scott

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Paige and Shinobi ask Scott if shecanbeontheteamnowplease? They may or may not create a scene while doing so. It all ends well; they have a five in the morning appointment for something and a leather fitting.


Company was good. Company that had been gone for a-week-or-few-months was even better. It meant lots and lots of hugs, and Shinobi was growing more and more fond of such things. And hand-holding. That was pretty cool. Walking alongside Paige as the pair made their way to Scott's office, he was doing his best to look dignified, even if he was also quite cheerfully swinging their joined hands in time with their steps. "This should be fun logic to argue," he mused, grinning cheerfully. "Think we'll win?"

Paige had missed Shinobi quite a lot, obviously. The lack of Bobby made her sad, but Shinobi had managed to pick up where Frosty had left off without so much as a stumble. The kicker had probably been his screaming, “Frappe!” and tackling her in the hall. Not that she’d minded. He was a very good handholder. In fact, she was wondering if he wouldn’t mind a winter wedding either. He probably even liked calla lilies! “Well, I like to look at it this way. You are cute. I am cute. Scott adores the both of us, even if it is secretly. There will be no arguing and more just us being cute. I even cut my hair!”

Scott heard the knock on his door and looked up, a grin slipping out before he quickly composed his expression. Betsy had been kind enough to give him advance warning, having seen Paige and Shinobi traipsing down the hall very Purposefully. "Come in," he called out in his most neutral tone.

"Fingers crossed, captain." With a wiggle of his eyebrows, he reached out with his free hand and opened the door, only releasing Paige's so he could gallantly gesture inside. "Ladies first, madame."

Making a quick crossing of fingers in return, Paige entered the room, followed closely by Shinobi, who closed the door behind him. Issuing her best smile, Paige started talking. “Hi there Scott, it’s so nice to see you again, I love what you’ve done with the place, want to guess how old I am?” Her smile turned into grin, unapologetic. “I figure I’d do away with the small talk as quickly as possible, although, it is good to see you.”

Scott looked at Shinobi, very carefully not smiling. "You brought back-up?" he inquired. "Am I that fearsome?"

"Most fearsome, sir," Shinobi replied solemnly, though it probably would have been more effective if he could stop grinning. He was trying, honestly he was. "I'm on moral support duty."

“Terrifying even,” Paige replied solemnly, caught up in the act. “That, and I figured you wouldn’t make a girl cry in the presence of another man. Or maybe he just followed me. Actually, we never figured out the reason why he was here.”

"Sounds fair. So," Scott said, leaning back in his chair. "You think that since you've technically been gone for three months and are thus eighteen, that I should ignore the fact that your birthday is still a little bit down the line?"

For his part, Shinobi stayed silent - this was Paige's deal, and he didn't want to risk mucking it up for her. So, he resigned himself to being a silent, hopefully-reassuring presence, loosely clasping his hands behind his back. Let her do the talking - she was more than capable.

Paige shook her head, allowing her new hair to bounce around. “Of course not, sir. Not ignore. More... look at reasonably. You’re nothing but reasonable.” Not wanting to risk a spared glance at Shinobi, she continued, hoping she was going about this all right. “I’m not expecting to be coddled, Scott. I will work for it if you deem it necessary.”

"First of all," Scott said, his voice and expression still perfectly even, "you wouldn't be getting coddled even after you legally turn eighteen." He paused, his fingers tapping out an idle rhythm on the arm of his chair. "Secondly, I see no reason that we can't ease you in a bit early. Since you are technically of age now." He finally let himself smile, but wryly. "Obviously nothing active just yet. You have quite a bit more training to go through before anyone's throwing you on the jet."

Well, that was outstandingly painless. Shinobi couldn't precisely help the way his grin widened - he didn't really think it necessary to try hiding it anymore, even if it had been largely unsuccessful to begin with - and while technically, he probably could have stopped himself, he still lightly nudged Paige in the side with an elbow anyway. "It likely goes without saying, sir, but if you think I can be of any use in helping her get adjusted to things, I'm game for it."

“That’s why I said I didn’t expect to be coddled, sir!” Paige chirped back at him brightly, refusing to be let down by his neutral on the border of grumpy behavior. She’d just come home after being thought lost forever you jerk, give her a little love here. Instead, she merely nudged Shinobi back, trying not to giggle. “Thank you, sir. Scott. You won’t regret it, I promise.” This was probably not the time to mention she was already going to be training with four people, was it? No, probably not. More grinning would probably be okay, though.

Scott nodded. "I'll draw up a training schedule for you," he said, not mentioning that he'd already had several ideas in mind. And talked to a few people about it. Planning ahead was good, after all. "We'll see about getting you fitted for the leathers soon, too." A beat. No chance in the mostly-neutral expression. "Can't deprive Jono and Angelo of the chance to ogle you in a catsuit, after all."

Don't nudge her back, Shinobi, or it would turn into a tickle fight, and that just was not something that should happen. Not in Scott's office, anyway. That was how rumors got started.

"T'would be an unforgivable crime to deprive them, if Sarah's word on mine is any indication," he agreed, nodding and chancing a quick, amused look at Paige.

Turning a narrowed gaze on both of them, just to make sure they understood that was quite rude, even if it was true, Paige sent it up heavenward. “And to think, I signed up for this,” she muttered. “I like training, though. Training is good. Let me know. Possibly in ten minutes when I might be back. Until then, Shinobi and I should probably go out into the hall where we can scream like little girls.”

Scott waved magnanimously at the door. "Go, scream," he said with a chuckle, the wry smile fading into something more natural. "I'll see the two of you at five tomorrow morning? We can talk more then."

"Five it is," Shinobi confirmed, smiling cheerfully as he reaches back for the doorknob. Sure, he usually woke up at five, but pushing the alarm back another half-hour wouldn't be too bad. Disturbing a thought as that might be.

“Okay! Five. Sounds good. Going now,” Paige rambled, walking backwards through the doorway Shinobi had just made clear, still grinning. “Bye now!” She was nice enough to wait until the door was closed before taking his hands and beginning to scream.