Chapter Text
Erik continued to do the chores Gerda asked of him. He still bought donuts to work occasionally; but he would leave them in the lunchroom - there was no chance of interrupting the briefing there and Gerda could not get mad at him. Now though, he realised it would be no quick fix. Still, it seemed something he should keep doing. Like cleaning the Safety Patrol vehicles. Gerda hadn’t asked him to do so, but they were always covered in a fine dust. If he took each of them home, that meant he could wash them and Safety Patrol’s transport would at least look somewhat respectable. Gerda must have noticed their cleanliness improving, as focused on details as she was, but she said not a word. Erik simply assumed this meant she didn’t mind him driving them home.
This morning, Erik drove in the vehicle he'd cleaned the evening before and stopped on the way to grab donuts from the bakery.
On arrival, he booted open the door to Safety Patrol’s reception area.
“You are getting far too comfortable,” said Delores. “You're in danger of breaking that door again.”
“I wouldn't do that!” said Erik. “Then I'd have to fix it.”
He took the donuts and dumped them in the lunchroom, then turned to the kitchen. The Bell Keeper was standing, leaning against the counter, a mug in his hand, smirking.
“Well, I see you're early.”
“Got to get in before you murder my coffee,” the Bell Keeper said. “Speaking of which...” He handed the mug to Ahlberg.
“What? What’s this?” It wasn't the Bell Keeper's usual mug, with the ring of coffee stain around the top.
“Try it. That's how you make coffee - properly.”
Erik raised an eyebrow, sensing some kind of trap. Still, he could think of no response where he could save face, save for taking a cautious sip. He spluttered. “Good lord. This is how you like it? It tastes like motor oil!”
“It's not about the taste - it’s about the kick.”
“If you want a kick, why are you drinking instant?”
“Because I like the taste.” He slapped Ahlberg on the shoulder and sauntered out with his own mug.
Erik stared after him, then his lip slowly twitched upwards. That seemed like a point to him. The guy had made him a cup of... well... coffee. He tipped the rest down the sink and headed to the janitor’s closet. Collecting the cart, he headed down the hallway. Gerda was walking towards him. And she wasn't alone. Okay, here went nothing. He should do this. It was the right thing to do, the polite thing to do. Gerda would approve.
“Chief Officer Gerda, good morning!” Erik gave her a wink.
She raised an eyebrow. He'd probably confused her, using her rank... and winking. Okay, that had been a tad much. “Good morning, Erik,” she said, cautiously.
He stepped aside until she had just moved past him, then added. “Good morning, Deputy Chief Elven-liaison Officer Alfur.” Gods, now that was a mouthful, but he'd been sure to get it right.
The little elf on Gerda's shoulder turned and raised an eyebrow, almost in unison, with Gerda doing the same.
“You can see me?” he said.
“Of course. That's why I said good morning.”
“You signed the paperwork,” said Gerda.
“Delores had a copy on file for new officers. I figured it wouldn't be a problem.”
Gerda stared at him, squinting a little. “It's not...”
“Did he though?” said Alfur, narrowing his eyes, and again mirroring Gerda’s expression. “It is very involved.”
Erik scowled. “I can do paperwork, involved or not. And if I can't see you, why am I looking right at you?”
“Hmm... hang on for a minute.” Alfur ran up Gerda's shoulder and grabbed onto her earlobe.
“Ow! Alfur... what are you doing?”
“Shh!” he said, rather loudly, right in her ear.
Gerda winced. Alfur swung onto her ponytail. Gerda glanced to either side and seemed to have misplaced him. She sighed, glared at Erik, then stood still.
How was this little guy’s antics his fault? Erik frowned, glaring back at Gerda. Alfur appeared on the edge of her hat. Erik turned his glare onto him, following him with his eyes as he scampered across the brim, then used the yellow band to hoist himself up to the top, then on towards the feather stuck in Gerda's hat. Erik wondered if he should tell her that wasn't technically part of the Chief's uniform.
“Don't climb on that,” he said, just as Alfur reached the feather. “You'll break it.”
“Huh. He can see me.”
Gerda sighed. “Are you both satisfied?”
“I was just trying to say good morning,” said Erik with a huff. Not a word about the cars. And now she was mad about this? He wondered why he was even bothering. But he just didn’t really like doing a half-ass job. As much as to stick it to Gerda, doing a shoddy job would just make him feel more depressed. He didn’t need that right now.
Alfur let out a little sigh. “My apologies. It's just... well, some of the things Hilda has told me...”
Erik sucked in his gut. Crap. This elf knew Hilda?
“But it seems we must work together. And I am prepared to be civil. Good morning... what's his job title?” He hissed at Gerda.
“Er... I didn’t give him one.”
“I thought we talked about this and agreed it was… safer to make him an employee?”
“He is. He just doesn’t have a job title.”
Erik cleared his throat. “Erik is fine.”
“Good morning... Erik. I,” and Alfur gave a small smile. “I do appreciate you putting in the effort to sign the paperwork. And... at least from what I have heard around the office... perhaps you have been putting in the effort otherwise as well in your new... role. So, thankyou.”
Erik faltered. “You're... you're welcome.” Hell, his expression was hard to read, he was so small, but it seemed genuine.
Alfur grinned wider. No mistaking it now. “I... I take it, as you are getting more involved, you'll be at the...”
“Okay, that's enough pleasantries,” said Gerda curtly. “We both have work to do.” And she turned so brusquely, the poor little elf lost his footing and grabbed onto the hat's feather for dear life.
Erik's shoulders sagged a little, then he bolstered himself and continued with his cleaning.
“You didn't tell him about Friday karaoke. In fact, you cut me off.”
Gerda put her pen down on her desk with a sigh and pressed her hands against her eyes. She had hoped the elf wouldn’t notice. “I'm sorry, Alfur.”
“It's fine. I'm just not sure I understand why.”
The door to her office was open, as she'd got into the habit of doing, unless she needed privacy. It was easier to see everyone in the open layout of the rest of the office, and it made her seem more approachable. Right now, Erik was out there, cleaning out bins. He had stopped and was talking to Deputy Officer Selby. Selby was her official deputy, although he shared the role with Alfur, who was technically the liaison officer for the elves. Gerda had wanted to give Alfur the deputy rank, so he’d have some authority, and everyone knew she expected him to be taken seriously. Something that would help when you were on the… shorter side. ‘Sharing’ the rank didn’t seem to bother Selby one bit. After initially being a little skittish around her, probably expecting her to treat him like Ahlberg had, he'd eventually become quite relaxed. In fact, he seemed relaxed talking to Ahlberg now.
“Inviting him seemed premature. I do not want to make my officers uncomfortable.”
Alfur had his own little desk, perched on the corner of hers. He followed her gaze out into the office. “Look,” said Alfur. “I don't like the man. At all. After how he treated Hilda, and this city, and, I assume, you as well...”
“I know. I know what he did.” Gerda’s hand tightened on the edge of her desk.
“But he does not seem to make any of your officers uncomfortable. Not now, at the least.”
“You think I'm being too harsh?”
“Not at all. I think it’s what he deserves… to be left out.”
Gerda winced. “When you put it like that... I am not leaving him out. That is not my intention.”
“What I'm trying to say, it isn't about Ahlberg. It wouldn't bother me if he were there, though I don't think he’s earned it. But... well... I think you know he is no longer making people around here uncomfortable. So, I think that, perhaps, that is not the real reason. And you are not being entirely honest with him. Or me.”
Ooff. Gerda smiled faintly. “I knew it was the right move, making you my deputy.”
“Yes, but you are changing the subject.”
Double oof. “I’m not even sure I know what the reason is, exactly. I too would not be bothered if he was there. At least, I shouldn’t be. And yet…”
Alfur moved from behind his little desk until he stood next to her hand. “Look, I get you feel betrayed. I understand you two were close.”
Gerda's cheeks grew warm. “Close... Alfur, please, do not listen to the rumours around here. We never DID anything.”
Alfur flushed. “That's... that's not what I meant. I meant like a close... working relationship.”
“Oh. Right.”
And maybe that was it. Maybe she felt betrayed. Outside the office, Erik was being so loud. Hell, he was asking about Selby's wife like he was actually interested.
“I... I'm really mad at him. And he deserves... something needs to happen to him because of what he did. That’s why I brought him in to clean up, but... well, I'm also a little worried about him.” A little? She'd damn near broken down his door a few weeks ago, just because he hadn't shown up, and she'd thought... No wonder he'd been so angry at her, bursting in like that. Talk about an overreaction. But it hadn’t felt like an overreaction at the time. She had imagined the worse. “Imagine if you'd done what he did. Imagine if you realised... what you almost allowed to happen. Imagine how you'd feel.”
Alfur thought for a moment. “Well, I can tell you one thing - I certainly wouldn't have accepted a medal for it.”
“Yes, but you're not Erik Ahlberg. And for all his bluster, if something was wrong, he would not be so direct about it… as you have been with me now. And, so…”
“You’re worried about him,” Alfur finished for her.
“He is still my friend.”
“Which is probably why you’re mad at him. Believe me, my friends? They can sometimes be quite frustrating. But just because he is not being direct, that does not mean you cannot be. It will be far easier to be direct with him, rather than just… giving him chores. Otherwise, you’ll just be worrying about him needlessly, and not even able to have a civil conversation in the hallway.”
“You’re right.” And perhaps inviting him to the work socials was an easy enough place to start.
Erik finished moping the halls. It was Friday, and everyone had left a little early. He pretended not to notice. It had been awkward avoiding the question: 'are you coming this evening?' Worse, everyone had changed the subject quickly when they realised he was uncomfortable, as if they knew exactly why he hadn’t been invited. At least they felt bad about it.
And at least they were starting to be friendly. Hell, even the Bell Keeper had made him a coffee. But Gerda? She had mellowed a little, but she was still standoffish, cold. But whenever she rushed off on him, distracted, or busy, he thought of the morning she’d come to his house, thought of her taking care of him. It made it really difficult to be angry with her.
It was just... awkward. Like it had been in the hall when he'd introduced himself to Alfur. They should have been able to laugh or just connect over how silly the little guy was being. Except when the elf had brought up the night's activities, Gerda had all too obviously changed the subject. She’d straight up bolted.
No, Erik was pretty sure Gerda did not want him at whatever the hell Safety Patrol was doing for fun, but he could no longer work up the emotion to be mad about it. He and Gerda may no longer be furious at each other, but nothing had replaced it, and that seemed worse.
Maybe, Erik thought, scrubbing the mop at a coffee stain on the floor all the harder, he'd just wear his Hawaiian shirt next Friday, and declare it tropical Friday. No one else could join in, as they had to wear uniform, but, well, then at least he'd have something he couldn't invite them to.
“Erik.” Gerda stood outside her office, handbag over her shoulder. “You don't need to finish mopping that all now.”
“Oh... right.” Erik stopped, and she stared at him. Bloody hell, this was even more awkward. “Got plans for tongi-” Erik flushed and bit down on his tongue. Why the had he said that?
Gerda took a breath. “Yes, karaoke.”
So that’s what they were doing. “Oh... yeah, I'd... I'd heard.” Erik drew a breath of his own, holding onto it, and puffing out his chest. “I wasn't sure I was invited to a Safety Patrol function.”
“A… function?” Gerda raised an eyebrow, and then her lip twitched up ever so slightly. “Erik, no. I've told everyone, no uniforms. I'm going home to change myself. It's karaoke. I mean, if I am going to make a fool of myself, I can hardly do it in the chief's uniform. That would be inappropriate.”
“Wait, you're going to sing?”
“You don't think I arranged a work thing for everyone to let off steam that I wouldn't enjoy, did you?”
“Well, yes, but...” Gerda enjoyed singing? Why had he not known this? The answer came quickly. When he'd been so focused on the trolls, had he even cared? “I mean, CAN you sing.”
Gerda blinked at him. “Can I sing?”
“Er, I mean...”
She stepped up closer to him. Erik snapped up his mop and tugged it in tight against his shoulder, almost hiding behind it.
“I think,” said Gerda. “The question is: can YOU sing?”
“What? Of course I can sing! I'll have you know my mother spent quite a bit of money on lessons when I was training.. for the...” Oh hell, why was he telling her this? Erik Ahlberg, hero of Trolberg, did not want anyone to know that... “when I... wanted to be an actor…” he mumbled into the head of the mop.
“You wanted to be an actor?”
“Just in the theatre!” he said quickly, flushing.
“Well, singing shouldn't be a problem for you, then.”
“So I… I am invited?” Erik winced. That had sounded far too desperate.
Gerda rubbed a hand on her arm, lowering her gaze. “Of course. And I’m... sorry. I should have invited you, clearly, earlier. But... Erik Ahlberg… in the theatre. I supposed that tracks.”
“What's that supposed to mean?”
She smiled at him. “You were always so good at speeches. I think the only thing I beat you there in is brevity. But the question is… do you think you can make a bigger fool than me at karaoke? If you're game.”
“Of course I’m… well.. I'll come. If I... I mean, I have other offers, but I'll think about it...”
What the heck was going on? Was she just teasing him? Or was this some other half-baked plan of hers to embarrass or punish him?
“It would be nice to see you there,” Gerda said.
Erik still wasn’t sure if she meant it sincerely, but he desperately wanted it to be.
As Gerda walked out into the parking lot, Alfur climbed out of her handbag and clambered up to her shoulder.
“There,” said Gerda. “I was nice to him. I invited him. I did not... well, I think you were right. It wasn't fair to leave him out, and being direct with him... well, it feels better.”
Alfur caught her eye and raised an eyebrow. “I said I thought you should have been more direct. I didn't think you were going to flirt with him.”
Gerda flushed. “That was NOT flirting!”
Erik paced his living room. “I ... I can't go. I have plans!” He'd intended to watch a movie, and be in a huff about how he had not been invited. And now? Gerda had ruined that. But could he go? Would the rest of Safety Patrol even want to see him there? Did Gerda, really, or was she just being polite?
But no, she wasn't just being polite. “I mean, she didn't just invite me. She… she challenged me! I mean, to think she thinks I can't sing? I dread to think what she sounds like! Screeching orders is hardly the same as singing.”
She’d issued him a challenge. Did she think she had him so scared of he wouldn't take her up on it? If he didn't show...
“If I don't go, she wins. Damn it!” Erik stormed into his bedroom and pulled out his Hawaiian shirt. So, Friday night at the pub it was. He'd show her. She may intend to stir him up, but he wouldn't take it lying down. Erik put on the clean shirt, shrugged on his jacket, and then headed out.