He was put off balance by her responses.  Don’t be sorry, I’m not your boss, and the ‘enjoying control’ comment were all just coming in with mixed vibes and he wasn’t sure what was sarcasm, what was a snide remark, and what was genuine.  

He hated first days.  

There was an awkward silence where he found himself wanting to apologize after being told it wasn’t necessary to apologize, so he just kind of hung out there awkwardly when tasked with driving.   He started it and adjusted a few things after putting on his seatbelt, not making a comment about the radio as it didn’t matter to him anyway.  

Then, she asked a question, and while physically he didn’t react, inside, he cringed slightly.  He’d have preferred the awkward silence to this question.  The issue wasn’t really his past, or what had happened.  He wasn’t ashamed of anything.  The issue was not knowing what these people knew or didn’t know, and if they DID know something, what their thoughts were about him and his past.  He found it odd that he thought of it as “his past” when in reality, everything started after he’d left...

He debated going one of the “it’s complicated” or “I don’t really talk about the past” routes, but all that did was left room open for more assumptions and raised more questions--neither of which he wanted.  So he took a moment, feigning on focusing on exiting the parking structure before answering.  

He opted to go with half truths, because they were always a lot more believable and lot less detectable than lies or deceptions.  He also decided to add a little humor and see how it went.  “[color=0054a6][b]Well, ever since I was a little boy, I dreamt of being that guy who saved the village from the boogy men, you know?[/b][/color]”  He gave his sideways smirk, assuming she was insightful enough to know that between the look, and tone, it was a joke.  He turned out into the street and made his way to the address.  He’d spent the last few weeks studying the roads and layout of the city as best he could.  It wasn’t necessary, he knew, but it was an oldschool beat cop thing.  If you were a cop and didn’t know the city, it could be the difference between someone living and dying.  He didn’t want to depend on GPS if another officer, or a victim, was bleeding out in a house and he needed to get there.  

“[b][color=0072bc][color=0072bc]So anyway, my transfer.  My command didn’t think too highly of me I guess.  Working inner city, you get a lot of people claiming dirty cops, or brutality, and over there, it’s a political circus.  When you have people, lawyers, news papers and politicians breathing down your officer’s necks, it rolls downhill.  Sometimes, it’s easier to relieve pressure and make an example of one of your own than deal with the constant bullshit coming at you about what’s going on down on the streets.  I guess I was that example.[/color][/color][/b]”

He took another few turns, looking around and trying to get a feel for the city.  The whole time he was talking, he didn’t really look over at the passenger, for no real reason other than trying to focus.  “[b][color=0054a6]I mean, it’s proof enough it’s bullshit because they didn’t fire me.  If they had any legitimate dirt on me or anyone else, they’d have tarred and feathered him publicly before crucifying him.[/color][/b]” 

They stopped at a light and he took a moment to actually look over at her as he spoke.  “[b][color=0054a6]So I got desk duty and looked for a way out.  They looked for a way to say they ridded the department of a bad cop.  Here I am.  And working with--[/color][/b]“ he caught himself almost saying ‘you people’ but caught himself, “[color=0054a6][b]supernaturals, honestly.  It’s part of the job no matter where you go.  Sure, here it’s the majority of the cases, but there, sometimes it’s an abusive husband.  Next a drug dealer.  Next a gang retaliation.  And then you have some SNat burning down a liquor store.  Another day in the office.[/b][/color]”   SNat was a term used by many local agencies, easier off the tongue than supernaturals. 

He looked away from her and as the light turned green, and muttered something that over the noise of the car and the city, may have been lost to her ears unless she was paying attention.  “[b][color=0054a6]The sky’s the sky, people are people.  Everywhere you go, it’s all the same.[/color][/b]”

“[b][color=0054a6]So, what’s your story.  You’re a magical enhancer, right?[/color][/b]”