They take a deep breath. "Thank you for your concern and advice, ma'am, I will—think about it."

"If you didn't realize this needed thinking about then there is an even more serious problem than I'd realized. Is there anything you ought to tell me, Glam?"

...do not make the smiley face reflect their facial expression. Not wholly, anyway.

"If there was, ma'am, I would have told you. I try to do things I ought to."

"Let me rephrase, then," she says. "Is there anything I ought to know."

Sigh. "I am not aware of any pieces of information you ought to have that you currently do not."

"That's an interesting way to phrase it."

"It was the most absolute way I could think of to say 'no.'"

Piggot frowns. "...You may go."

"Thank you, ma'am," they say, trying (and probably failing) to sound neutral, and stand up and make their way out.

The shoulderbot rejoins them when they leave the office.

Ugh no why are you here go away.

They don't say that.

Instead they say, "I think I'm gonna go for a walk to clear my head."

"In civvies?" the bot asks.

"Yeah. Need to get my mind off cape things."

"Okay." It buzzes off.

Away from the building, secluded place, costume off. He starts walking.

Stupid Nine copycat. Stupid Piggot. Stupid power. Stupid cape business. Goddamnit this isn't a good day, why did Piggot thought it was a good day after he had to look at a full building of people who'd hanged themselves? And of course it'll turn out that they didn't, really, it's all a trick to make it look like something Nice Guy could've done, just like all other times, and this is terrible and annoying and he kinda wishes he had someone who isn't neck deep in this bucket of shit to talk to.

Gosh, like who?

...

He texts Chelsea: I'm kinda down and need someone to talk to who isn't related to the reason I'm kinda down, are you by any chance free and willing to listen to me not-whine?

Yeah, sure, I'm done with this tour group in five, where are you?

He rattles off an address and suggests a meeting point as well as the bus station closest to it.

I'll be there ASAP.

Thank you.

And he goes there and waits for her.

She's there shortly and she sweeps off the bus and pulls him into a hug.

Hug!

...he clings a little.

"Oh you poor dear." Snuggle.

Snuggle snuggle. He doesn't actually cry, but he sighs a little into the hug. And it never occurs to him that this might have been comfort he could've sought from Bella.

Eventually he pulls away. "Thanks. Wow, I needed that."