(EDIT: here's the Start a Discussion version, which is also the edited version)

REID

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Reid straightened her shoulders and strode up to the administration headquarters. The two guards at the door moved back as she came forward. They both grabbed the same door handle at the same time and ended up falling backwards.

Reid stamped her foot, glaring at them in disgust. “Hurry up. I don’t have all day,” she snapped.

Both bucks scrambled to stand upright, both very red. They yanked the door open and Reid walked through, kicking the door shut behind her. Inside, she looked around the room, adjusting her preymark but keeping it on. Keeping it on when it wasn't needed was a symbol of undying devotion to the administration. A signal that she would do all and more than what was necessary.

Reid slowly scanned the room for Glenn, a handsome officer she had met a few weeks ago. Reid didn’t find him, so she sighed and began to head for the hallway. But just then the door behind her swung open and Glenn walked in, almost running into her.

“Oh, I’m sorry!” he said, as Reid stepped back a bit.

“It’s fine,” she said, mesmerized by his dark gaze, a gaze she wished would stay locked on her forever. But then Glenn looked past her, breaking eye contact. He clearly wanted to go.

Reid's heart sank, but she kept her face emotionless. She looked at his eyes a beat longer then jerked away, walking toward the hallway. “Bye,” she said in a clipped tone over her shoulder.

Glenn’s voice reached her ear as he too walked away. “Bye, Reid!”

Reid strode down the hallway, roughly opening the door to her office. It snapped shut behind her as she sank into her chair. Three neat, precise stacks of paperwork lay on the table in front of her. Work. Reid fingered the nearest top sheet of paper, suddenly wanting to cry - something she hadn't done in years.

Am I ever going to have a life? An experience away from all this work and all these masks? A life where someone loves me back?

The answer came sharp and clear to her. No. This was the life she chose. If she wanted to keep this position, to keep herself in good favor with Vitton and the authorities, there was no time for feelings and happiness.

Straightening, Reid felt the familiar and welcome hardness begin to enter her heart. She didn’t need anyone to love her; she was perfect as she was. S.

Reid picked up the first sheet of paper and began her work. An hour later, she had completed the three stacks, in record time like always. A knock sounded on her door.

“Come in,” she said without looking up.

A servant doe peeked in, eyeing Reid hesitantly. “Do you want any refreshments, Miss?”

Reid frowned. At first something in her heart warmed to the clear and undeserved kindness in the servant’s offer. Then she stood up until she was looking down at the servant.

“The administration isn’t nice,” she said, her gaze drilling into the servant’s eyes. The servant looked down, clasping her hands tightly. Reid went on, her voice low and menacing. “We don’t accept offers, nor do we give offers. We do our job. We’re not kind.” She paused until the servant was forced to look up at her again. “Do you understand?”

The servant blinked and swallowed, then nodded quickly. “Yes, Miss. I understand.”

Reid pointed a finger to the door. “Go.” The servant left.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I hope you enjoyed this and, again, I would love feedback of any kind!!!! Bear the Flame!