~The Shy and The Stubborn~ (the santa clause)

Chapter 13: Stockholm syndrome

Straight back into January - it was busy as ever.

Make no mistake, just because it was only the very beginning of the year, it didn't mean that the elves didn't have a lot of work to do. They were a determined and dedicated bunch, taking pride in their roles and the magic they brought to the world each year. January was a time for planning, brainstorming, and laying the groundwork for the grand celebration that was still many months away - and that had just passed.

Justice was naturally already up to her eyes in paperwork, however, she was starting to get used to it all - by 'it all', that also included Bernard's increased mood swings once again. The bruises on her wrists hadn't been fading quite yet, considering Bernard didn't give them the time, and would always grab her by the wrist and drag her away elsewhere, or make him look him in his dark brown, dreamy eyes...

God, what was she saying? Her boss was a jerk!

Though naturally, that didn't stop those weird feelings from stirring within her.

So there she sat, at the desk, a pen in hand, writing like a mad man, trying to complete a status report to the way higher ups - higher than Santa Claus himself - about how Christmas went that very last week, and that included an incident report as well to document the incident with the toy Santa. Though, other than that, Christmas had been a huge success.

While Justice had a high level writing stamina, and could absolutely go for a long time without her hands starting to hurt. But...this was just getting ridiculous.

Her sore hand dropped the pen she was using carefully, and she began cracking each and every knuckle on her hand before moving her wrist in circles and moving her fingers just to get the circulation running back through them.

Though, stopping was a mistake, naturally in this kind of work environment.

From behind her, Bernard dropped another pile of paperwork onto Justice's already plentiful pile of paperwork, naturally adding to her workload. She sighed quietly, so Bernard couldn't hear her.

"I need this all done by the end of the day," he would tell her, before rushing out of the office.

She wouldn't say anything in return, she would simply get back to work, as hastily and efficiently as she possibly could.

Today was a day where she decided she wouldn't go out to eat with her friends at lunch, even though it was in fact a Thursday. Instead, she would do her fun little trick, of eating food with her less dominant hand while still writing with the more dominant one - though she would switch hands when she was tired.

However, this would be a mistake. Her friends would naturally track her down.

The rapid knocks at the door alerted Justice of someone who wasn't Bernard, and she let out a tired 'come in' before the door opened. She didn't bother look up until someone spoke.

"Found her!"

The woman looked up at the sound of her best friend's voice, turning in her chair to face the door to find that not only was Max there, so was Jaime, and they looked at tad disappointed.

"Justice! What are you doing??" Max asked her, stomping on into the office with Jaime at her side. "You're supposed to be eating lunch with us today!"
"I know, Max, I know..." Justice sighed, slumping in her chair. "...But, I've just got so much work to do. I mean, just look at this."

She motioned toward the pile of paperwork on her desk, and Max and Jaime looked simply appalled.

"You're a prisoner Justice! You have a right to eat and Bernard has robbed you of it!" Max announced, Justice furrowing her brows at her friend.
"Don't be so dramatic Max," Justice dismissed her, turning back toward her work. "This is just...part of the job. And besides, I can still eat."
"This is starting to feel very Stockholm Syndrome-esque," Jaime sighed, raising a brow at the situation. "He kidnaps you, convinces you you're all he needs...you fall in love with him."
"For christ's sake, Jaime!" Justice snapped, turning around to face the two of them again, "I'm not in love with him!"
"You sure defend him like you are," Jaime added, though before anyone could respond, Bernard entered the room, from the unusually open door behind them all.