Outside MCA #1- Sunday morning

[thatwaslucky]

Rey had not intended to spend most of the month back home. There were just a lot of feelings that got compounded with bad timing, like romantic holidays and not wanting to sit with thoughts while everyone was out of the country for a week. Better to not dwell on things constantly, especially when you could be productive.

She was back this morning with time to get to work, pausing at her door with her bag slung over her shoulder while she tried to find her key.


[For one!]

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[doctorgingerspice]

Another day, another dog walk.

"Kol, oh my god, hang on, we're not even outside yet-" and a fluffy golden tornado was pulling him out of the apartment and across the hall.

Hope you didn't mind dogs, Rey, because this one was going to just adorably demand your attention right now.

[thatwaslucky]

Rey did not mind dogs at all, as evidenced by the way the key hunt was immediately forgotten so she could bend down and give him scritches.

"Hello there!" Which was of course said to the dog. She'd notice you in a second, Will.

[doctorgingerspice]

You know what? That was completely fair, because Kol was adorable. Yes, Will was absolutely biased, but the point stood.

"I'd say we're sorry to bother you, but he's not sorry at all," Will told her.

[thatwaslucky]

"And he shouldn't be," Rey said, finally looking up. "What's his name?"

[doctorgingerspice]

"Kol," he told her. The dog in question even gave a soft little bark at his name, as if to say, 'yes, that's me, hi'.

[thatwaslucky]

"It's very nice to meet you, Kol," Rey told him before straightening up. "He's very sweet."

She probably would have said that even if Kol was snarling and barking nonstop.

[doctorgingerspice]

“The best,” Will agreed. “Certainly makes meeting new neighbors easier.”

[thatwaslucky]

Rey blinked, only now processing where he'd come from. She was at least pretty good about hiding that little gutpunch, hopefully.

"Oh, you're on this floor."

[doctorgingerspice]

“Yup,” Will confirmed. “Just moved in on Thursday.”

“Is, uh. Is that okay?” He might not be a Force-user with the ability to sense emotions, but something in the way she’d said that ‘Oh’ seemed a little sad.

[thatwaslucky]

"Of course," she said quickly, because it was. She knew this was coming. She thought she'd have more time, but she knew.

But, in the interest of fairness, she said, "My boyfriend used to live there. It's not a big deal."

[doctorgingerspice]

“I’m sorry,” Will said anyway, because breakups were rough. In his experience, at least.

[thatwaslucky]

"Don't be. You didn't do anything," Rey told him.

[doctorgingerspice]

“Except move in across from you when you weren’t expecting it,” Will pointed out.

[thatwaslucky]

She shrugged. "Someone was going to do it eventually. At least you have a dog."

It was mostly a joke, but also a little bit serious.

[doctorgingerspice]

“And it’s actually partially his fault I’m even here,” Will offered. “I felt bad keeping him cooped up all day in a hotel room.”

[thatwaslucky]

"He'll have plenty of room in there," Rey assured him. "You do get about half the floor."

Not all of it, because her apartment was bigger.

[doctorgingerspice]

"Yeah, we're still trying to adjust to having all that space to ourselves," Will confided.

... Okay, it was mostly Will himself who was still adjusting. A hotel room was one thing, because it had a certain level of impersonal-ness to it, but this was- this was his.

[thatwaslucky]

"I'm still not used to it," Rey admitted. Which had been something that was easier with another person around, so maybe Kol would help. "If it ever feels too big, you're welcome to come by."

[doctorgingerspice]

"Yeah?" Will smiled at her. "Thanks. Went through a breakup myself not too long ago, and it's been. Well. It's been, you know?"

[thatwaslucky]

"Yeah, I know," she said, sympathetic. "Different spaces still take some getting used to?"

[doctorgingerspice]

Will nodded. "Different spaces. Different stuff even. A- friend-" he stumbled a little over the word, because 'former FBI handler' was... accurate if awkward to explain, "- sent me a new couch 'cause she knew I wouldn't have one of my own. And I know it's just a thing, but it feels a little... out of place?"

[thatwaslucky]

"Yes!" Oh, Will, you might be best friends now. "I took back the furniture I gave him but then it all feels like a whole different thing. It's the strangest thing."

[doctorgingerspice]

It was nice talking to someone who just... got it.

"It really is," he agreed. "You know what you said earlier, 'at least you have a dog'? It's funny, I ended up with him practically right after Nat and I split and I dunno what I'd do without him," he said, leaning down to scratch between Kol's ears. "Any time you need some fuzzy company, I think he'd be glad to hang out with you."

[thatwaslucky]

Yep, besties.

"That's really nice of you," she smiled. "Thank you."

[doctorgingerspice]

"He's got a lot of love in him," Will said fondly. "Who would I be if I kept it all to myself?"

[thatwaslucky]

All right, she was still going to have a little cry later after work but she didn't hate the new neighbor like she assumed she would.

"That's the best attitude," she decided.

[doctorgingerspice]

Kol was gonna end up figuring out how to open unlocked doors, just you wait, Rey.

“Well, he’s the best dog,” you know, in Will’s very unbiased opinion.

[thatwaslucky]

"I'll obviously need more time with him to see this for myself," Rey said, smiling at Kol. "Are you the best dog?"

[doctorgingerspice]

You wouldn’t think it’d be possible for that tail to wag any harder, and yet.

“I think that’s a yes,” Will ‘translated’.

[thatwaslucky]

"Good to know," Rey grinned. "Have I been interrupting a walk or something?"

[doctorgingerspice]

"I," Will scrubbed a hand through his hair. "Yeah, actually, we were going to- but he needed to say hi, so."

[thatwaslucky]

"I'm glad he did." For a few reasons, actually. "I should drop my things off before heading to work."

[doctorgingerspice]

"Oh!" Will said sheepishly. "Yeah, yeah, absolutely. You bet. Hopefully we didn't make you late."

Because workplaces around here were so strict about that sort of thing.

[thatwaslucky]

"No, not at all," Rey assured him, and more seriously said, "Really. I'm glad I ran into you."

[doctorgingerspice]

"Me too," Will said honestly. "When I came here originally, it was just supposed to be temporary. Now that it's more of a long-term thing, well. I'd like to have a few friends around here."

[thatwaslucky]

"Well, consider me one. And if you ever want company, it's just me, and I get bored."

[doctorgingerspice]

Boy did he ever know how that went.

"I'll take you up on that," he promised. "But right now I should let you get ready for work, I guess."

[thatwaslucky]

"And enjoy your walk," Rey said, going back to finding her key. "I'll see you both later."