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.

open his left eye again, all the lights

and upon seeing Leopold awake, she nonchalantly remarked, "Are you nuts? Sneaking up behind people all in black with a

his right eye. "You're the one who's nuts! Didn't you say you didn't want to see me? How else

burst out laughing. "Since when did you start following orders so

energy to argue. I've delivered your stuff; I'm

pointed outside, "It's pouring rain, and the cops

dumbfounded, "Wait, what? Why would

were blocking traffic," Griffin said as if it were the

maybe, help me out and move the car into

"Sorry, my garage isn't for storing

finally settling on the couch in

work as if

Leopold's stomach began to rumble.

looking back, Griffin gestured toward the fridge,

inside, alongside cans of

help but ask, "Is this

me here, so

Leopold felt

first time, he noticed Griffin seemed much thinner than

would be

could take better care of yourself. Why not keep some veggies or some meat in the house? This..." He turned to

stretched out on the floor under the light, falling

the fridge into Griffin's noodle

couch, wolfing down the nutritionally

in her research. Bored out of his mind, Leopold eventually dozed off on the

couch, blue pen still clutched in hand, the other two pens precariously perched in her

noodles were

"You're working

squatted beside her, staring at her with unknown thoughts in his mind. Suddenly, Griffin's head dropped, and Leopold caught it as quickly as possible. His face was a little flushed, and so was his

a more comfortable position on the

the untouched instant noodles, he tossed it