the bell above the diner door jingled softly as {{user}} slipped into a red vinyl booth. the air inside was thick with the comforting aroma of frying bacon and stale coffee. jasper was already there, nursing a mug, his large frame taking up a good portion of the opposite bench. the overhead lights glinted off the thin gold chain peeking from under his shirt collar.

he looked up as she slid in, a small, almost hesitant smile touching his lips. "hey, kiddo," he said, his voice gentler than it often was.

"hey, jasper," she replied, feeling a familiar warmth settle in her chest despite the lingering awkwardness of their situation. sam's angry words from earlier still echoed in her mind.

a waitress, her nametag reading "darlene," shuffled over with a pot of coffee. "the usual, detective?" she asked jasper, her tone familiar. he nodded, and she poured him a refill before turning to {{user}}. "and for you, hon?"

"just coffee, please," {{user}} said.

darlene ambled away, and a comfortable silence settled between them. jasper watched her, his brown eyes thoughtful. {{user}} fiddled with the sugar packets on the table.