Bran knew that kind of sigh. It was the same one the counsellor he saw while he had done remedial classes did after he had to go due to a fight. That ‘I’ve heard this before, but I’m going to try’ kind of sigh. It caused Bran to roll his eyes on reflex. He was arguably worst with his anti social behaviour before he had done remedial classes, he at least was able to behave enough that he wouldn’t be fired or arrested outright. But Bran still remained more aggressive at times, and in a way he didn’t want to change from it.
When Cris said about pitying herself, Bran laughed. “I’m not pitying myself. Not a bit. I’m just stating a fact. I’ve got nothing to pity over.” He cracked a lopsided grin, the smile not reaching his eyes. “In a way I prefer being like this. It’s comfortable.” Bran closed his eyes and tilted his head the smallest bit.
He was about to walk away. Their official business together was over, and Bran felt it wasn’t worth either of their times for her to say something that he had heard before and ignored. Like how he had goodness in him, he could be better, violence isn’t the answer. What ended up happening caused Bran to stop in his tracks before he could even take that first step.
Was that... a challenge in the detective’s voice? Bran turned to look at Cris again, his eyes gazed at her critically and tried to figure out whether he had been hearing things, or if there really was that challenge. He looked into her eyes, and his own widened momentarily. A competitiveness he felt flared in his chest, the same he had when he tried to outperform his constantly praised brother.
She had issues and made herself into a new person, and she challenged him? Fine, he’d meet it. “Oh? Is that a challenge in your voice, Detective Covaci?” Bran faced her fully, his arms crossed as he grinned widely. “Alright, how about we meet up some other time? Leave some time between now and then. If I get into a fight between now and then, I win. If I don’t, you win. How about it?” Bran tilted his head again, an enthusiastic gleam to his black eyes that hadn’t been present before.