Jim's Best Friend: The Office AU

Gambling More Than Money

April, 2006.

You sat in the office, sorting through the files you had to look at that day, the rest of your colleagues settling down as well, when Mr Schrute decided to walk in looking like a penguin: full tuxedo, bow tie, too long trousers.

He hung his coat up by Pam's desk, and Jim sauntered over, hands in pockets.

"Excuse me. How long is the wait for a table for three?" Jim asked with all seriousness, gesturing to you and Pam as he spoke. Dwight straightened up, far too unhappy for so early in the morning.

"I would never, ever serve you. Not in a million, billion years." Dwight stared Jim down, and then glanced at Pam.

"It's a nice tux." She offered the compliment.

"I know, it belonged to my grandfather. He was buried in it so... Family heirloom." Dwight fixed his bowtie, and the three of you just took a moment of silence to process that information.

"So... Did... Did Dwight dig up-" You started, and Jim looked back, shaking his head. Not because you were wrong in your line of thinking, but rather he just didn't want to think about it anymore.

In the next five minutes, as you all settled in to your desks, Roy turned up, giving Pam a quick kiss and beginning so chatter about the night ahead: Casino Night in the Scranton Business Park, a fundraiser for some unknown charity, but the entire warehouse staff were spending the day setting it up.

"So, what's the deal? We've gotta pay for our own drinks? That's lame!" Roy exclaimed, and Pam quickly defended.

"Come on, it'll be fun! And besides, I'm a roulette expert." She wiggled her shoulders, getting a smile out of you and Roy.

"Impossible!" Dwight called from his desk, which he stood by as he sorted through files. "Roulette is not a game of skill. It is a game of chance."

"I can always kind of win at roulette." Jim said casually, not looking away from his screen.

"Oh really? Mm-hmm?" Dwight said, sitting down. He was clearly not amused. "How would you do that?" He asked, and you glanced up.

"Mind control." You answered for Jim, on the same wavelength. Dwight chuckled, looking between the pair of you.

"You can't be serious." He said, but when Jim returned it with a blank stare, Dwight's smile dropped. "Are you serious?"

"Ever since I was a little kid, like eight or nine, I could sort of control things with my mind." Jim shrugged, and you did your best not to smile.

"I don't believe you. Continue." Dwight was staring directly at him, intrigued in that half-creepy way only Dwight could be. Jim sighed.

"It was just little things, you know? Like I could make something shake. Or make a marble fall of the counter, you know. Just, little things." Jim said, and you nodded along. Dwight scoffed.

"Hah! That's ridiculous. You know what? Why don't you move that coat rack? Or..." Dwight looked around, seeing you replace your pencil holder near the edge of your desk. "Or knock Y/N's pencil holder to the ground." Dwight demanded. "Excuse me, everyone! Attention in the office, please! Jim is about to prove his telekinetic powers, and he needs absolute silence." Dwight announced, looking over at Jim. "Go ahead."

"Okay... I'll try." Jim said with a nod, his mood sombre. He twisted his chair to face you and Pam, holding one handing up and directing it towards the coat rack. With an exhale, he pointed his finger, and you all waited in silence, watching the coat rack.

Suddenly, it began to move, and Pam's eyes darted from Jim to the coat rack in surprise. Jim's attention then switched to your pencil holder, and as the coat rack stopped moving, your pencil holder begun inching closer and closer to the edge of the desk.