"…Shut up," she muttered under her breath, though there was no heat in it. "You were the one who started it."
"Oh, come on," his voice teased. "All I did was point out that you take everything way too seriously."
"And all I did," she shot back quietly, her eyes not leaving the photo, "was remind you that not everyone has the luxury of being an idiot."
"Ouch," he said, laughing again. "See? That right there. That face. That tone. Comedy gold."
"You're insufferable."
"And yet," he replied lightly, "you keep me around."
A pause.
Then, softer,
"That has to mean something."
For a moment, there was a pause.
Selene's voice, younger, broke through the stillness.
"Branch Director… do you have a dream?"
The man beside her chuckled, the sound easy and unguarded.
"A dream, huh…"
He scratched the back of his head, glancing off to the side as if actually thinking about it for the first time.
