Fitting Back Together

Relationship Status: It's Complicated

A/N: Brief reminder now that 11c is starting that, like it says in the tags, this is only canon up until 11x10 then it becomes wildly AU. That goes for the characterization and motivations of characters like Lance, Pamela and Sebastian as well. Even though I haven't posted all the chapters of this fic yet (because I have to do hundreds of proofreads and sorting scenes into order) I wrote the drafts for all of them back around 11x10 and I can't change anything. So this fic is more just my own version of season 11 and how I imagined things going. It was always my intention to have this entire fic posted before 11c aired so there wouldn't be that contradiction of canon while you're reading but my health made that impossible. Sorry :(

. . .

"You know, you look tired." Tomi leaned forward, examining her face. "When was the last time you had a day off? Have you in fact had a day off? You haven't, have you? What is it you're even doing? It's not as though we have a lot of criminal activity here."

That was up for debate.

"I don't just have experience as a defense attorney, Tomi. You know I started off in civil litigation."

The corner of his mouth curved. "Mm, until a certain someone came along and changed your focus. Don't tell me you've been doing paperwork all this time?"

She happened to like paperwork.

And the Commonwealth was certainly in dire need of some.

"There's a lot to be done."

"I find that hard to believe," he commented, approaching a record player sitting idly on the counter. "Sure you weren't just trying to avoid your ex?"

"Don't be ridiculous." If she wanted to avoid Magna, she had an entire town in which to do it. "There's actually a lot that needs doing."

And she wasn't exactly ungrateful for the distraction.

Tomi plucked up the dust cover, inspecting the vinyl beneath. "Yes, I'm sure crafting NDAs is very time-consuming."

Yumiko's mood soured. "Are you ever going to let that go?"

"No. Someone has to give you a hard time about it."

"Well, luckily for you Magna's already volunteered." She was unable to keep the edge of bitterness out of her tone.

"Good. Then maybe you'll listen to one of us."

Or maybe you could listen to me.

Yumiko knew what she was doing. As Tomi had so kindly pointed out before, this was her world. And she knew how to navigate it better than her brother or Magna ever could. She could play the long game because she knew how to play the long game.

Both Tomi and Magna were far too impatient for that.

Mouth pursed, she watched as her brother finally placed the stylus down. An audible click sounded. "Ah."

Yumiko prayed he hadn't chosen a song that would worsen her migraine. It would be just her luck if he had something the likes of Rob Zombie on there.

'Looking counterclockwise

Knowing what could happen

Any moment maybe you

Maybe even you. . .'

Oh no. It was even worse.

'And I'd sell my soul for total control. . .'

Yumiko stared. "Seriously?"