Look Up The Mountain, Then Look Down

Dusk murmured, his eyes barely holding up. How he hated morning flights. Who schedules them at six in the morning? Those poor pilots...

Then, he smelled coffee. Real coffee.

Cécile smirked like a fox, approaching him. "Not trying to suck up to you, but..." She taloned him a cup of coffee. He couldn't believe his eyes, as they hurt from the lack of sleep. Gratefully he took it, and sipped.

"...You drove all the way to rue de la boulangerie to get me one?" Dusk weakly smiled.

"I might make it a part of my routine." She smiled. "Who knew the old ways of making coffee are worth the drive? Even though, I feel like their grinders are old enough that I'll need to check for tetanus, heh..."

"You have a sense of humour." Dusk brightened up as well. "If only we'd started out the case like this...Then again..." He sipped his coffee, looking at the Aquileian sky. "I'd like to work with you again in the future."

"Oh? Well..." She blushed. "If we find out that Queen Chrysalis or the remains of some other important Equestrian person have appeared in Aquila, I'll be sure to recommend you first to help out."

Quietly, they exchanged a soft smile. Cécile regretted how much she brushed him off, but who was she to anchor him when he had a world to see, and a future to experience?

The announcer of the airport spoke. "Aquila-Fillydelphia, boarding in ten minutes!"

"That's my cue I guess." Dusk finished his coffee. He was about to shake her talon, when he saw she held a brown parcel.

"For you." Cécile said. "Some...evidence for the case." She blatantly lied, smirking. "Security shouldn't wonder why my "service" pistol is missing from my holster too fast, I hope."

He looked at her, and then at the brown bag. He gently opened it a little, not to reveal it fully, but to peer inside. And so, his eyes lit up like a colt on Hearthswarming.

He gleamed with mad love at the '18 Manheron revolver.

"It's perfect..." He whispered. "How did you...?"

"We officers must buy our own pistols, but as such we have access to more special ones." She chuckled. "Enjoy. It's even got a small bipod and scope, if you wish to use it like the Groupe d'intervention de la Gendarmerie used to until they got those fancy Vedinian AW snipers."

He was unable to contain his smile. For a moment, he spread his hooves wide - and immediately blushed, holding back. The sight made her smirk, and she brought it in herself, patting him on the back with her talon as she hugged him. How could she not, after what he did for her? She put her talons on his shoulders, and looked him in the eyes.

"Stay safe, Detective." She said. "No matter what happens with this Princess Cadence case, you have a friend here. Remember that."

Although a little stunned, Dusk found it in his resolve to return the warm smile. With the crowd gathering at the gate, he waved. "S-See you, Inspector."

"Come here on a vacation, you hear!?" She laughed with a bellow as he ran off to not be late. As she watched the detective disappear into the crowd, she couldn't help but sigh. She was alone, as she was before.

...Or, was she?

She pulled out her cellphone, and dialed a number she wouldn't otherwise, if not for work.

"Monique? It's me, Cécile." She spoke, turning around to slowly walk to the airport exit. "...No, it's still my day off, I'm not working today. Nothing's come up. No-- merde, listen. I was wondering if you want to grab some lunch. Maybe with some other officers and the chief, but if you want to keep it tête-à-tête I don't mind. W-What!? N-No, Monique, I'm not hitting on you...! I-I'm old enough to be your mother! Right...How does Wingbardian sound like? I heard of a nice place from a Wingbardian dock worker. No, I didn't go on a date with Du-...You seriously need to get laid. Okay, I'll pick you up at..."