The Clerk
Author: D.twister
last update2025-12-20 22:19:07

The DMV in Coral Gables smelled like burnt coffee and broken dreams, and the clerk behind the counter had the weary patience of a man who'd seen every form of human desperation and filed it under "C" for Couldn't Care Less.

Marcus stood at the window, Claire asleep in a carrier strapped to his chest, her breath a warm rhythm against his sternum that kept his own heartbeat steady. The paperwork for her birth certificate was spread on the counter, meticulously filled out in black ink, every box perfect except for the one labeled "Father's Occupation."

"Occupation?" the clerk—name tag **JEROME P.**, the P probably standing for Pain—asked without looking up, his pen hovering over the form.

"Unemployed," Marcus said, and the word tasted like ash.

Jerome's pen moved, the scratch loud as a verdict. "Address?" He still hadn't looked at Marcus, his eyes fixed on the computer screen where he was clearly playing Solitaire behind a government firewall.

"Coral Gables," Marcus said, and gave the s
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  • Going public

    "Already on it. But Commander..." She showed him another screen. "Sophia's at the courthouse. She's trying to file a restraining order against Marcus. Claims he's been threatening her." "She's waiving her anonymity. Going public." "Yes." That changed things. A woman who'd once chosen status over safety was now choosing confrontation over comfort. The test subject was rewriting the experiment. "Send a protection detail," Ethan ordered. "Discreet. Not Dragon Guards. Civilians. People who blend." "And if she sees them?" "She won't." He looked out at the city passing by. "She's learning to see what matters. That's a harder skill than it looks." The SUV stopped at a light. Outside, a newsstand displayed the morning papers. The headline screamed: **WELLINGTON SCION TO WALK FREE? EX-WIFE FEARS FOR SAFETY.** There was a photo of Sophia, looking tired but determined, leaving the courthouse. In the background, barely visible, was Ethan's garbage truck. The irony wasn't lost on

  • Anonymity

    "Already on it. But Commander..." She showed him another screen. "Sophia's at the courthouse. She's trying to file a restraining order against Marcus. Claims he's been threatening her." "She's waiving her anonymity. Going public." "Yes." That changed things. A woman who'd once chosen status over safety was now choosing confrontation over comfort. The test subject was rewriting the experiment. "Send a protection detail," Ethan ordered. "Discreet. Not Dragon Guards. Civilians. People who blend." "And if she sees them?" "She won't." He looked out at the city passing by. "She's learning to see what matters. That's a harder skill than it looks." The SUV stopped at a light. Outside, a newsstand displayed the morning papers. The headline screamed: **WELLINGTON SCION TO WALK FREE? EX-WIFE FEARS FOR SAFETY.** There was a photo of Sophia, looking tired but determined, leaving the courthouse. In the background, barely visible, was Ethan's garbage truck. The irony wasn't lost on

  • Commander

    "Already on it. But Commander..." She showed him another screen. "Sophia's at the courthouse. She's trying to file a restraining order against Marcus. Claims he's been threatening her." "She's waiving her anonymity. Going public." "Yes." That changed things. A woman who'd once chosen status over safety was now choosing confrontation over comfort. The test subject was rewriting the experiment. "Send a protection detail," Ethan ordered. "Discreet. Not Dragon Guards. Civilians. People who blend." "And if she sees them?" "She won't." He looked out at the city passing by. "She's learning to see what matters. That's a harder skill than it looks." The SUV stopped at a light. Outside, a newsstand displayed the morning papers. The headline screamed: **WELLINGTON SCION TO WALK FREE? EX-WIFE FEARS FOR SAFETY.** There was a photo of Sophia, looking tired but determined, leaving the courthouse. In the background, barely visible, was Ethan's garbage truck. The irony wasn't lost on

  • Waiving

    "Already on it. But Commander..." She showed him another screen. "Sophia's at the courthouse. She's trying to file a restraining order against Marcus. Claims he's been threatening her." "She's waiving her anonymity. Going public." "Yes." That changed things. A woman who'd once chosen status over safety was now choosing confrontation over comfort. The test subject was rewriting the experiment. "Send a protection detail," Ethan ordered. "Discreet. Not Dragon Guards. Civilians. People who blend." "And if she sees them?" "She won't." He looked out at the city passing by. "She's learning to see what matters. That's a harder skill than it looks." The SUV stopped at a light. Outside, a newsstand displayed the morning papers. The headline screamed: **WELLINGTON SCION TO WALK FREE? EX-WIFE FEARS FOR SAFETY.** There was a photo of Sophia, looking tired but determined, leaving the courthouse. In the background, barely visible, was Ethan's garbage truck. The irony wasn't lost on him. Hi

  • Chances

    "Already on it. But Commander..." She showed him another screen. "Sophia's at the courthouse. She's trying to file a restraining order against Marcus. Claims he's been threatening her.""She's waiving her anonymity. Going public.""Yes."That changed things. A woman who'd once chosen status over safety was now choosing confrontation over comfort. The test subject was rewriting the experiment."Send a protection detail," Ethan ordered. "Discreet. Not Dragon Guards. Civilians. People who blend.""And if she sees them?""She won't." He looked out at the city passing by. "She's learning to see what matters. That's a harder skill than it looks."The SUV stopped at a light. Outside, a newsstand displayed the morning papers. The headline screamed: **WELLINGTON SCION TO WALK FREE? EX-WIFE FEARS FOR SAFETY.**There was a photo of Sophia, looking tired but determined, leaving the courthouse. In the background, barely visible, was Ethan's garbage truck.The irony wasn't lost on him.His phone ra

  • Chapter 169

    "Already on it. But Commander..." She showed him another screen. "Sophia's at the courthouse. She's trying to file a restraining order against Marcus. Claims he's been threatening her.""She's waiving her anonymity. Going public.""Yes."That changed things. A woman who'd once chosen status over safety was now choosing confrontation over comfort. The test subject was rewriting the experiment."Send a protection detail," Ethan ordered. "Discreet. Not Dragon Guards. Civilians. People who blend.""And if she sees them?""She won't." He looked out at the city passing by. "She's learning to see what matters. That's a harder skill than it looks."The SUV stopped at a light. Outside, a newsstand displayed the morning papers. The headline screamed: **WELLINGTON SCION TO WALK FREE? EX-WIFE FEARS FOR SAFETY.**There was a photo of Sophia, looking tired but determined, leaving the courthouse. In the background, barely visible, was Ethan's garbage truck.The irony wasn't lost on him.His phone ra

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