The Million-Dollar Heart

As the quartet happily indulged in a cozy fondue dinner, Leopold brought over the documents from headquarters.

Peering through the empty doorway, Leopold hesitated, unsure whether to enter.

He texted Anna: [Where are you guys?]

Anna, who had not quite finished chewing her lamb, hit the voice message button, "On a mission, gotta stick to Ms. Vivienne like glue." Vivienne said, "Just drop the stuff off, and don't be a nuisance. You mess up the deal, I'll break your legs."

Percival added his own threat, "I'll dislocate your arm."

Thomas kept it simple, "Good luck, man!"

Listening to the sounds of bubbling fondue, fizzing sodas, and the stubborn mastication of lamb, Leopold was in disbelief.

Was this really a mission?

This was sheer torture!

But he had no choice; he had to deliver the documents quickly.

Griffin had already sent a reminder in the Little Bombs group chat - a special group Vivienne had created for convenience. With no other option, Leopold donned a mask and hat, covering himself completely, and entered Griffin's home.

The evening was setting in, and Griffin had only a desk lamp on, leaving the main lights off.

Three different-colored pens lay strewn across documents, each marking various annotations. Leopold cleared his throat gently, but Griffin showed no reaction.

He moved closer and tapped Griffin's head with the documents, "Hey, the papers..."

"Ah!"

Bam!

Stars danced before Leopold's eyes as he staggered backward and collapsed to the floor.

to, or more accurately, when he could finally open his left eye again, all the lights in Griffin's

there, casually perusing the documents, and upon seeing Leopold awake, she nonchalantly remarked, "Are you nuts? Sneaking up behind people all in black with a mask? How

say you didn't want to see me? How else was I supposed to

laughing. "Since when did you start following

sharply. "I don't have the energy to argue. I've delivered your stuff; I'm

pouring rain, and the cops towed your

what? Why would they

were blocking traffic," Griffin said as if it were

fists, grinding his teeth, "Couldn't you, just maybe, help me out and

garage

settling on the couch in

work as if he was not even

to rumble. He tapped the desk,

gestured toward

found nothing but instant noodles and pre-made sandwiches inside, alongside cans of

but ask, "Is this what you

an affirmation, "Just me here,

some reason, Leopold felt a sudden

time, he noticed Griffin seemed

of course, she would be on a

not keep some veggies or some meat in the house? This..." He turned to find Griffin

shadow stretched out on the floor under

his lips and silently added the only sausage left from the fridge into Griffin's noodle cup, then placed it quietly on

couch, wolfing down the nutritionally void

and Griffin was still engrossed in her research. Bored out of his mind, Leopold eventually dozed off on the

he awoke, he found Griffin asleep on the carpet, leaning against the couch, blue pen still clutched in hand, the other

noodles were

sighed. "You're

less swollen, he approached and squatted beside her, staring at her with unknown thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold caught it as

he lifted her into a more comfortable position on the couch, draping his

he tossed it aside, grabbed Griffin's car keys, and