icarusalsoflew | 003. and in every raindrop... // open post.

( x | x | x )

[ For everyone's reference: Hikaru Shinta has been absolutely fucking boring for the past week. Work at the police station has picked up a bit with some new cases, it's paper checking season at the university, and a butt load of new requests to translate this or chip in his two cents for that have come around, effectively keeping him holed up in the office of the penthouse he and Joshua LaRue share.

In light of all that, maybe one can say that it's the universe's fault. Those who know Hikaru best, however, are likely perfectly aware of the fact that he brought this unto himself. He LIKES being busy, see. He'll complain about being overworked and how he longs for a vacation, but then he gets bored so quickly and find some other new thing to kill himself over.

Really: he ought to stop doing that.

Anyway, he's at his desk, working through a cigarette, flipping through a book so heavy and thick it might as well be a murder weapon. He is, of course, blissfully unaware of how he looks right now: dressed down in a loose shirt that's just barely buttoned up and silk pants, eyes on the prize, lips pressed together, brows furrowed in concentration. He's also unaware of the fact that Naoki, his ~~monstrously huge~~ cat is curled up in a disgruntled heap on the table, eyeing his master with Grave Disapproval. ]

[For everyone's reference: yes, he has. And to it all, Mae and Josh have shared their fair amount of eyeroll over the table or the desk or the couch - whatever furniture they were near, let's leave it there - over the past week, but a migraine's coming on.

She may not have known him for as long as Josh has, but even Mae knows he's bringing it on himself on purpose. For a few simple reasons: he's got TAs to split the grading burden with, and there are no 'cases' in Eudio that merit locking himself up in the office that long (people don't usually...commit crimes when it might land them in jail and keep them from getting some.)

(And don't even get her started on that part, don't.)

For the record, she tries to be very understanding, distraught by her own term papers and the part-time job that keeps her busy, but there are limits. Today for example, she comes into the flat expecting to find him more relaxed and with less work on his hands, and sees the complete opposite.

And you know that it's bad, when Naoki's the one who looks at her like Do you want to handle this or what?]

It smells like ashtray in here. [Cheerful, as usual. She strides into the office, throwing her back and coat on the sofa and moving to open the window.] What part of the city can't live without your help today?

Mm?

[ Yeah, that's... probably not a good sign, that it takes him a bit to look up, and a bit more to notice that you're actually in his office. How did you get there? ]

Oh. Hi.

[ Flashing you a swift smile before he's - yep - going back to his book. ]

How was work?

[Through miracles and magic.

See what she doesn't like about this whole habit of his is that it reminds her of her parents. And she knows what comes next. The question is just said out of politeness, because he's only listening with half an ear.]

I chopped a guy's cock off and sold it to him as a dildo. [And if she's wrong, he'll react to that. But if she's right...]

[ Come, love, give him a little credit: ]

Did you get a good price for it?

[ He's not THAT bad. (Or so he thinks.) ]

[She huffs, like someone loosing a battle but also too amused to be upset about it. Shaking her head, she walks up to his desk.]

Well, it's a tough market. Had to apply the five finger discount first.

[As she's speaking, she leans back against the edge of his desk, next to his elbow, smug smile at the corner of her lips. She's pretty clever.]

[ ...Right where he can really catch the way she smells. You know what that does to him, especially if he loves you. And he happens to love you very much, as you're well aware.

Turning to look at her, with a smile around the cigarette perched between his lips. Taking a drag from that, then. ]

For the record, I do believe that you're the only girl in Eudio who could do something like that and come out of it smelling like roses.

[Yes, yes, well aware, maybe using it to her advantage (and in the name of his good health?) right now. All's fair in love and Mae, as the saying goes.

She hums, reaching up to pinch his chin with her fingers.]

That's such a sweet thing to say. [But truly, smelling like roses after a castration? You like violence a little too much for her tastes, but she'll go with it. She knew what she was getting into, after all, getting into bed with gangsters. (Seriously, never letting that go.)]

For the record, [Her voice drops a little, and she leans in closer to continue,] If your mouth wasn't busy right now, I'd kiss you so well, you'd be left wondering why you hadn't asked for it sooner.

[ And he's distinctly aware of your lips: the shape, the way they move. Your voice, as well: it will, from here until always, stand out against about every other sound in a room at any given moment.

Hum. Making a thoughtful noise, his own lips quirking up in amusement, and then pulling back. ]

And it endeavors to be busy for a little longer. At least until this chapter's done.

[ He's a fast reader, okay. ]

[She's a little insulted, really. A little bit hurt, too. Wow.

She lifts the book to see what it is he's trading her kisses in for and with the distraction she gets it away from him altogether. Jumps away from the desk and puts some distance between them.

You could blame dancer feet, or you could blame Josh because if she's sneakier nowadays it's mostly thanks to his help.]

Let's see, what counts more than a hot and heavy snog... [Something thick and boring.] Good lord, you've got fourty pages left till the end of the chapter -- [She lowers the book and looks at him, appalled.]

I wasn't going to be, but I am insulted now.

[ Welp.

There's a flash of surprise (huh, okay, maybe he should have expected that?), and then you've got this one's full attention again.

Sighing, just a bit. To be fair to him, though, it's not precisely exasperated. And he does look a tad apologetic. ]

I only meant to finish that, and then give you my full attention.

For about fifteen intense minutes, before moving to the next chapter? [Gives him such a look.]

I don't think I believe you, Mr. Shinta. [And it's only because she's very nice that she picks a stray piece of paper off a shelf -- some receipt, maybe? - and shoves it in as a bookmark before slamming the book shut.]

You were here this morning and you're still here now, and I count too many cups of coffee and I know that there's nothing life-threatening. Do you think that Administration will what, slap your wrists if you don't hand the exams back a day before deadline? Or maybe the city will burn, what with it being a nest of such dangerous criminals - the traffic violations alone! Heavens.

[She may be smiling, but you can tell she's not pleased. Books shouldn't be of more interest than the people who love him. And her tirade is...

Well, that was very blunt. Not at all because she was projecting, no; there was no trace of little Mavis wishing her parents paid more attention, loved her better, loved her more or at all. Not here.]

Josh's face runs the risk of freezing in a sad puppy frown. [Yeah, that's the main cause.]

[ And maybe - just maybe - he should have expected that too. Cue instantly feeling like a complete and utter asshole. Time to ditch the cigarette. ]

Mae...

[ Trailing off, pursing his lips together. Does he look a little helpless? Yes. He really doesn't like hurting you. ]

Sorry. I'll stop.

[ Dutifully ducking his head and reaching out to set his things aside and shut the laptop down. ]

[It isn't hurting her, he's mostly hurting himself by running himself dry without any reasonable cause. At most, she's just a little mad over being neglected -- not just her, alright, but Josh and Naoki too! -- and isn't that the whole point of having more than one person to love? Not feeling alone?

Welp.

That victory sure doesn't taste sweet at all.] Okay.

[And now it tastes awkward. Like the silence that stretches. Gingerly, she places the big book on his desk, closed, gaze down.]

So - uhm - have you eaten today?

No, not yet.

[ Another smile in her direction, brief ~~a little brittle, anxious?~~ and quiet, before he's back to arranging his desk.

(He should have known better. These past two years have made them each intimately aware of everything they could possibly know about each other, right down to the words and stories that were often left unsaid, untold.) ]

Have you? Because I make something.

[ Normally he'd add we can eat together. But he's in the initial stages of Hikaru Shinta Modus Operandi "I Think I've Fucked Up With Somebody Who Matters, Time to Do All the Things For Them then Remove Myself from their Presence". ]

[She's familiar with that one. He should also be familiar with her own; he hasn't really won her rage with this, just a momentary little scolding that probably escalated because of her own mixed feeling regarding workaholics.

But she's cooling down, whereas he just gets distant in a different way.

She lets out a little sigh, and walks up to stand beside him, reaching out to cup his cheek and turn his head so she can drop a faint kiss on his lips. There, forgiven.

She pulls away.] How about takeout instead?

[ The relief he feels over all of that leaves him giddy. He also doesn't bother hiding it. ]

Sure. You pick.

[ That smile of his is looking significantly brighter now. ]

I do solemnly swear to be at your disposal - and Josh's, and Naoki's - for the rest of the day.

[ Will that do? ]

[That's more like it. And look, listen -- there's even a little joke: she shrugs and waves dismissively.] Well, you know, I don't care about Naoki's disposal very much.

[Oh, the cat knows.]

But he cares very much about yours.

[ Witness the great Blade King of the Fifth World fuss over the furrball, who is now wandering over and purring with enough force to rival a small airplane engine. ]

[It's very easy to forget the weight that hangs on Hikaru's shoulders when he slips into being such a cute goober. She rolls her eyes and huffs, now competing with the cat again. She'll get you, Naoki.

She finishes up setting his desk in order before pushing him away from it with a gentle guiding hand between his shoulderblades.]

He cares to make me huffy is what he cares - oh, much like his big human friend.

Can't imagine where he got that from.

[ Yes, yes, he is going to stop now. In fact, here he is, turning around and wrapping his arms around your waist.

Have a kiss on the forehead. ]

Hi.

[ Surely that is better than how he greeted you earlier? ]

[That's all nice and sweet and tender and parternalistic, but he should know she wants more. She nuzzles his chin with her nose, and presses a kiss just under his chin while climbing up.

It's his mouth she's after now, and when he provides a proper kiss maybe she'll change her mind about being upset over her receival.]

[ Come, love, you do know that he likes to be careful.

...Most of the time, which is no longer now. He's turning his face to let his lips meet hers properly, and drawing her in a little closer.

Better? ]

[A third better. A smile flickers on her lips just before he meets hers with a kiss, there and gone in a second. She reaches up and curls one hand over the nape of his neck - drawing him down closer - and settling the other hand on the curve between his neck and his shoulder, under the open collar of his shirt. Her thumb sweeps over his collarbone as her tongue sweeps along his lower lip.

A third and a little bit better.]

(that au if you pls)

distractions. [Just Future Things]

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