InsaneJournal

Who: Percy Weasley + Sam Winchester
What: Lawyer-y stuff, talking about family
When: First week in August
Where: Law offices of Weasley and Winchester
Rating: Low/No triggers
Status: Complete




Sam, Percy had noticed, had been a little out of it this week. He realized, of course, that no one could be perfect and one hundred percent all of the time (although mostly Percy attempted it anyway, or pretended when he wasn’t), and had been giving his partner the benefit of the doubt.

Work had been busy -- what with figuring out how running a business and being lawyers both, but it’d been nearly a month now since Helen’s law office had become theirs. Weasley & Winchester. It did have a nice ring to it. Things were smoothing out now -- a bit -- since they’d found some particularly good interns. Percy suspected they’d never not be really busy again, but they were handling it well.

“When’s the last time you had a day off, Sam?” The redhead was hovering near the doorway of Sam’s office, holding a stack of files.

Sam had pretty much been working nonstop since they took over from Helen. Or, they took one day off back then, didn’t they? But he hadn’t had much time off since. Turns out it took a lot to run a firm. He was sure that Percy was feeling it, too. Not to mention all the shit that Sam had been going through with his family... and spending as much time as humanly possible with Deryn...

“I think I was eighteen,” Sam said, lifting his eyes from the paperwork on his desk to give his partner a tired smile.

Percy let out a snort that might very well have been a laugh. For Percy. “Yes, I think I know what you mean,” he agreed wryly. He’d had a few days off lately, but they never felt much like enough. And he usually ended up fitting some work into them anyway.

He stepped into Sam’s office to settle some files on his desk. “These are from the Miller case -- might need an extra hand with that one, nothing huge.” A pause. “Are you alright?” He hadn’t had a super serious life conversation with Sam since he’d gone to his place and watched him be desperately drunk.

“No problem.” Sam said. He was familiar with the Miller case, and could easily go through the paperwork to fill in whatever was necessary. He had to go to the courthouse Monday anyway, and would likely be dealing with it there, too. Ah, work stuff. Lots of cases, judges, filing with the courts and filing in the office.

“I’m all right.” Sam said, turning his eyes up to Percy’s face once more. He leaned back a bit in his chair. “I’m a survivor.” It seemed that was a theme in his dreams. No matter what, he survived. Whether it be by angels resurrecting him, Dean trading his own soul for Sam’s life, or whatever. He was like a cat on his second life. “I could really go for a cup of coffee with about a cup of brandy in it, though.”

Percy considered that for a long moment, hugging the extra files in his arms to his chest as he seemed to weigh the options of -- well, whatever it was he was considering.

“It is the end of the work day,” he noted. They both often stayed later than was needed, just to stay caught up on work. Longer work days were less stressful work days. “We could...”

Sam was already reaching into the bottom drawer of his desk to pull out a bottle of brandy. He set it on the desktop and brought up a couple of glasses afterward. “I think maybe we’ll just forego the coffee.”

Percy only quirked a brow, amused and disturbed both at the fact that Sam even had alcohol in his office. But, he supposed, it was their business and there were no rules against it so long as Sam wasn’t indulging while working.

He set his papers aside and sat down in Sam’s extra chair. Strangely, neither of them had moved out to the larger office that had once been Helen’s (although Percy was sort of considering it lately, it just had more space for filing cabinets). “It’s a bit late for coffee,” Percy agreed.

The bottle was nearly full. It was obvious that Sam didn’t indulge often. Though, the glasses were clean, so that was a plus. No dust in them that would need to be rinsed (or washed) away. He poured a finger of the amber liquid into each glass and slid one across the desk to Percy before putting the bottle away.

“If we can’t have a whole day, here’s to an hour or so off.” He said, smirking, and lifted the glass in a little toast.

The redhead mirrored the gesture, lifting his glass and giving a solemn sort of nod. “It could always be worse,” he said in toast. What? Percy was a realist.

Sam gave a little laugh. Best. Toast. Ever. He downed most of the liquor in one gulp, then set the glass down. “How do you deal with it?” He asked, turning his eyes to his business partner. “Having insane brothers?” Not that they were really insane, but... they were really different. That was sure.

No, they were pretty insane. Percy made a little face and tipped his drink back too, finishing it off and then pushing it forward for a refill. “Well. I avoided them entirely by moving to the other side of the country for nearly a decade,” he pointed out. “Otherwise now? I... uh. Well. James deals with them when things need to actually get done -- but I suppose it’s gotten easier in the past few months.” A pause. “Why?”

“I don’t think they’re really insane.” Sam said. That wasn’t very PC of him, was it? “And I don’t think that my brother is insane.” He added. Pot, meet kettle. “I’m just... dealing with stuff. Trying to, anyway, and now Dean’s back after I haven’t seen him for a decade, and I get these... like... guilt trips. I don’t even know what I’m doing wrong.” He gulped down the rest of the brandy, not even savoring it.

Percy made an understanding little sound, and leaned back in his chair a little, looking thoughtful. “I’d noticed. He’s a bit -- uhm. Vocal. On the internet.” Percy didn’t really know the situation though, so really didn’t want to stick his foot in his mouth.

“I’m afraid I’m possibly the worst person ever to give advice on family,” he was a bit of a black sheep, even when he did try his hardest. “Like I said, James tends to take care of a lot of it for me. I’m not saying that’s necessarily right, but it does work.” A pause. “Deryn is very friendly.”

“Maybe I should just get Deryn to marry me. Then she can deal with my family in my stead.” It was a joke, but it actually sounded like a pretty good idea. He couldn’t imagine being with anyone else. He wanted forever with her. Maybe it made sense?

Or maybe he was romanticising the one part of his life that didn’t give him stress.

“I don’t know that’s the best reasoning I’ve ever heard for it,” Percy hedged a little, looking concerned before picking his drink back up. Then he backpedaled, because that was what he did. “Not that I don’t think -- you know. You two go well together. And anyway, I’m not married, not yet.”

Sam chuckled. “It was a joke, Perce. I wouldn’t actually... that wouldn’t be the only reason I’d marry her.” He was planning on it some day. Marrying Deryn. It was on his bucket list. He just wanted to give it time. Do it properly. It felt like everyone was rushing into things. He didn’t want to be that guy. “You’re as good as.” Sam argued, though it was good-natured. “You two are practically a packaged deal now a days.” He reached for the bottle and poured himself a half shot more, then offered it to Percy.

Percy gave a near smile at that -- near smiles were something he was very good at these days, and it might not have seemed like a lot, but it was a fairly big step for a man who had once been too solemn to ever really bother. “You’re probably right,” he agreed mildly. “In any case, I’m sure you’ll figure out something that works for you.”

“That’s the plan.” Sam said. He hoped that was what would happen, too. Something that worked for him and Deryn, something that worked for him and Dean. ...funny how similar their names were. Oh, and Cas, too. Since, apparently, he was part of the family now. Weird.

Percy finished off his second drink with a little face -- straight liquor always was a bit much for him -- and then picked his files back up. “You’ll be fine. If I can deal with six siblings without murdering anyone, I think you’ll be able to handle just the one. Anyway, I should be getting home to my better half.”

“You should.” Sam said. He finished the last in his second glass, put the top on the bottle, and put it back into the drawer. For next time. “I’m sure I’ll end up wandering over to Deryn’s place.” Like he did oh-so often. As long as it wasn’t too late, or he didn’t have to get up too early. “Say hello to Wilson for me.” Sam collected the glasses to take them into the kitchen and clean them before he left the office for the night.

“I’ll do just that. You say hello to Deryn for us.” Percy grabbed his briefcase, loaded with files and his laptop, as well as his coat before heading out. Last one there got to lock up, and it wasn’t going to be him tonight.