we're convenient to a wide variety of establishments

"I wouldn't," he says.

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"Neither would I. I'm holding out for a mint Bell to pass on her powers to me. Then it'll be easy. Right now there's too many risks. Lots of critters want me dead, I am just barely powerful enough to go toe-to-toe with them and win, and I just don't have the resources to fend them off and also attract more attention. I'd get, say, shot in the head. I'm not that good at healing."

"Good luck," Sue says cheerfully.

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"Thanks!" She turns another corner. "Hmm, are you hungry?"

"Little bit, yeah."

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"Let's swing back by my house, I'll fix us sandwiches."

He beams.

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"You're very cheerful, aren't you," she says, leading him through a circuit of the neighborhood that will take them back down her street.

"Yep!"

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"That is good."

They reach her house. There's a police cruiser in the driveway. "Oh, Charlie's home. ...It doesn't actually matter if he finds out who you really are and where you're really from, but let me do the talking."

"Sure," he says, amused. "No problem."

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Juliet lets herself in. "Hey Dad," she calls into the house. "I have a friend over. Gonna make sandwiches, you want some?"

"If they're done in ten minutes, but then I've got to get back to work, I'm just looking for my badge," Charlie calls from upstairs, "don't know where I left it, do you?"

"Haven't seen it! Salami good?"

"Salami's great! Do I know your friend?"

"Nope!"

Sue does indeed let her do the talking. He's still happy, but he's also... subdued, more so than he's been since she met him.

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"You okay?" Juliet asks Sue as she heads into the kitchen for bread and cold cuts and condiments.

"Who, me? Yeah, I'm fine," he assures her.

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"Okay. Salami or turkey or both?" she asks, assembling Charlie's sandwich.

"Both!"

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"And if I ask the same question about the available condiments will the response be 'all of the above'?"

"It's like you know me," he laughs.

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"You're not that hard to read," she laughs, and she finishes Charlie's sandwiches, sets them aside, and makes Sue a sandwich with relish, mustard, mayo, and ketchup all, plus both kinds of cold cuts. It's a little messy. She hands it over and starts on hers.

Charlie pokes his head into the room and Juliet presents him with his sandwiches. "This your friend? He have a name?"

"Oh, probably," says Juliet.

Charlie snorts. "What do I call him, Bells?"

"Matt," says Juliet.

"Good to know you, Matt." Charlie bites into one of his sandwiches, then grabs a sandwich bag and packs them. His badge is pinned on his shirt where it belongs.

Sue is busy eating his sandwich, and therefore not practically able to join in the conversation.

He's oddly alert, though. He pays attention to Charlie, to what he says and where he looks and how he moves. Not staring or anything, just... noticing.

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Charlie zips up his sandwich bag, and, as Juliet's closing her own sandwich, he holds out his arms for a hug. She gives him one. "Have a good and badge-augmented day," she tells him.

Charlie laughs. "Will do, Bells. See you tonight, and if you're going to be home after eleven, call first."

"If I'm going to be home after eleven I'll call first," Juliet agrees, almost ritually, "I will borrow Sherlock's phone if mine is dead, and I will not leave you in a panic in the wee hours of the morning ever again unless I am actually dying, cross my heart."

"Good. Love you, Bells."

"Love you, Dad."

Charlie goes, sandwiches in tow.

"Your dad seems nice," Sue comments, as soon as the named party is safely out of earshot.

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"Is. I take it you haven't met Aegis's? Hers would be about like mine."