Puff...Puff....Inhale.
Another cloud of smoke melted into the gray sky.
Rain dropped rhythmically on the pavement. The storm hadn't stopped all day.
Thunder roared. Like it had nothing else to say.
A man walked through the drizzle, hood down, ignoring the wet chill.
The smoking man saw the figure. "Hey, boss," offering a fist bump.
William gave him a look but bumped back. "Sam, you've got to stop calling me that. It's cringe."
Sam smirked. "You keep saying that, but you don't stop me."
They stood together in silence for a moment. The rain. Cigarette smoke.
The low hum of electricity from the nearby power line.
It was peaceful yet enjoyable for the duo.
"How many that's today?" William pointed at Sam's cigarette.
Sam looked at the half-finished cigarette. "Ninth? Maybe tenth."
"You keep that up, there won't be any lungs left." William joked.
Sam didn't respond.
His eyes were on the horizon, but his mind was clearly elsewhere.
"You good?" William looked at the sky Sam was looking at.
"Yeah," Sam lied with his smile. "....Just tired."
The loud thunder still echoed in the background.
"You wanna eat after we finish the papers?" William offered his hand.
Sam gave a short laugh. "After those damn things? I'll be lucky if I make it home without collapsing."
"What did Ishan say?" Sam asked trying to let the conversation going.
William shook his head. "He wanted to come. But I said no... It's better for him to spend time with his family."
"That's true," Sam gave a chuckle, looking at the ground. "Good for him."
Another pause. Sam took one last drag, then crushed the cigarette underfoot.
"Alright. How many papers left, William?"
"Not much. If we move fast, we might even get a head start on tomorrow."
As William moved to the door, he glanced back at the ground.
"Sam." He pointed at the cigarette butt lying on the ground.
Sam groaned. "Fine, boss." drawing the title out sarcastically.
After he picked it up and tossed it inside the trash can, they headed inside.
"Ishan," Sam called out in the dim office. "Why don't you go home early? We got this."
Ishan looked up from his desk, caught half asleep and exhausted.
William stepped in.
"This storm's just getting worse. Go while you can, or I'll cut your pay for staying again."
Ishan quickly packed his things and slipped out with a nod. "Bye boss, bye Mr.Sam I'll arrive early tomorrow!"
As the door closed, William and Sam were left alone with the humming fluorescent lights and the paper towers.
Sam let out a long sigh and rubbed his eyes.
"Beer?" he offered.
William hesitated, before nodding. "And maybe a few things to eat. Feels like another night shift."
Sam looked at the stack. Then at William.
"You ever get the feeling like everything's going to go wrong at once?"
William didn't answer right away.
"I try not to think about it," he looked through the window. "That's how it gets you."
Sam nodded slowly, but didn't smile.
Grabbing his coat. "What beer?"
William handed his credit card. "If possible try to grab Asashi Sakura or plain root beer. While I order the food."
Sam waving the credit card as he was leaving.
William alone in the office smiled at his friends back who was leaving.
"Why did you make me the boss?" He didn't dwell on it long before he picked up his phone and ordered food from a nearby restaurant.
As he was going to his desk to bring out the more papers.
Seeing Ishan's pile of work not finished William grabbed them also.
"Sigh... Let's finish this quickly then." As William started to work on reports, Sam soon arrived.
While holding a bag of snacks and beer.
"Yo, you already started without me?" As he put down the bag and sit opposite of William.
Grabbing few of Ishan's documents and started writing.
After few minutes the food that William ordered arrived.
After taking the food. Sam looked at William. "Wanna eat first?"
William looking back at the unfinished reports. "I guess that's a better choice."
Soon they both sit down in a different table far away from any papers.
"You picked damn good food for the night." The sly smile on Sam's face lit up.
"It looked tasty." William opening a beer at the side.
After they both finished the dinner and a few beers they went back to finishing the papers.
What felt like eternity they both exhausted from doing all the signings.
Both of their fingers are numb from holding the pen too long.
"God dammit it's 5 am!" William wanted to curse but didn't let his anger win.
Sam sighing in relief "just be happy we finished today's also!" As he got up stretching his body while stopping the numbness spread.
"Any beer left in the fridge?" William asked while his head was laying on the table.
"2 just for us and a bunch of snacks." Sam grabbed the beer with the chips.
"I guess it's a lucky night haha." William's exhausted voice coming from the table itself.
Sam opening the beer and put it next to William's head.
"Thanks Sam." William finally raised his head.
"Don't mention it. After we're done let's clean this place and message Ishan to stay for today." Sam sipped some more.
"Well let's take today easy and relax." William hearing this smiled.
"Yeah let's do that, it's Sunday after all." William wiped his eyes which were starting to develop black lines.
Before they left the office, William asked.
"Hey Sam when is your sister Ina coming?"
Sam looked at the calendar and back at William. "Dunno I'll call her when I get back home."
"Oh, want my help to surprise her?" William laughed from the thought of what kind of surprise they should do this time.
"Definitely!" Both Sam and William went to different paths.
Sam arriving home somewhere 6-7 am.