Unexpected Developments [For Verity Willis]

[sumarusfinest]

The entire week has been a near constant roller coaster. Between discovering the fate of Verity's world, designing the memorial for the Nexus, interviewing with Schon and...revelations, the officer is completely drained when he wanders into his empty apartment at the end of the week, late evening and wiped.

The stillness of the apartment makes a numb sense of loneliness settle over him that makes eating seem like more trouble than it's worth. Might as well just settle in and read a book until he's too tired to stay awake anymore.

His tie is loosened, suit jacket hung up carefully. His holster comes off, followed by his cell phone, both set down on the counter. A pot of coffee maybe? Katsuya looks back at his cell phone.

Oh.

It's scooped up immediately, speed dialing Verity's number. The officer worries at his bottom lip while he waits for it to ring.

Comments

[sumarusfinest]

"I'm quite certain I don't rightly care." Katsuya shifts the bag to his right arm and holds out his left for her to take.

"As two grown adults, I should think we could hold hands wherever we pleased." She might have to get the door though. His hands are now officially full.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I'll take that as a 'no', you rebel." She blushes happily at the idea that he likes her enough to not care. With one hand in his and the other carrying the fruit, she'll catch the door with her foot. They are just being all kinds of improper now!

Once they're through she makes sure the door is shut firmly behind them, giving the handle a tug before turning to follow him back to his apartment. "Hard day at work?"

[sumarusfinest]

"Not terribly difficult, no." Katsuya sighs and glances at the station before turning to head toward his apartment.

"I had quite a bit of paperwork built up since the aftermath of the demon attack in the Nexus. I finally managed to get caught up today. Hence staying in late."

[brave_heart_verity]

"And now you're cooking for me. You're too good." She won't scold him for it since he's mentioned he finds it relaxing. "Thank you."

She'll lapse into silence while they walk, worrying her lower lip between her teeth. She's got something on her mind. But of course she does.

[sumarusfinest]

"It really isn't any trouble." Katsuya insists, and it's not. He's chosen an easy to prepare dish for their supper, and she is providing half of an even simpler dessert. "You can make the coffee for us while I get started."

If Katsuya notices she has something on her min d(he does), he doesn't say anything about it while they're out in public. Given what's going on in her world he expects her to.

She'll open up to him when she's ready. He suspects when they're safely sequestered in his apartment's tiny kitchen.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Okay." She's going to keep thinking he's good. He can't get out of her good opinion that easily.

He's very astute. She relaxes visibly once they're safe in his apartment, and having something to fuss over keeps her hands busy in a good way. Coffee, water, a pinch of salt, and then she's free to wrap her arms around him and watch him cook.

"So, I have some good news."

[sumarusfinest]

Now, Katsuya is cheered up when he sees Verity relaxing once they're alone in his apartment. No one to judge or lie or cause her problems in here. Except Katsuya, but well. That was just going to be something he'd have to be careful about.

He blushes slightly when she pushes herself against him, but it's not discomfort. Just readjusting to personal contact. It's never been something he's gotten a lot of.

"What is that?" He's already pulled a red apron on over his shirt and slacks, carefully chopping vegetables.

[brave_heart_verity]

Even Verity lies sometimes. She knows nobody's perfect. The fact he tries is enough.

She's going to wait until the knife is put down before telling him her news. Sharp things and shocks aren't a great combination. And maybe it's also that she selfishly wants to enjoy this moment a little longer before he's angry. "I talked to Schön about what you owe him. It's not as much as you think."

[sumarusfinest]

For a few minutes there's only the sound of the knife chopping its way through carrots, green onions, and mushrooms before all is transferred to a bowl so he can gut and clean the fish.

He hums in understanding before the movement at his workstation stops completely.

"You did? I..I mean, i've already paid some of it. My discretion, blood, and an interview. Four? Tasks left. I imagine."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Two," she corrects quietly. "You only owe him two more." Her arms tighten around him subconsciously. She'll let him go if she has to, but she doesn't want to. She so very much doesn't want to. "That's good news, right?"

[sumarusfinest]

"How did you convince him to do that?" Katsuya smiles and shakes his head slightly. "That's awfully kind of you, arguing him down like that. You didn't have to, Verity...but thank you."

He really doesn't want to owe Schon more than he has to. No arguments there.

"I wonder why he didn't tell me before." Maybe they just worked this out? He'll pull away just long enough to fish out a skillet so he can brown the fish briefly.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're welcome."

She wonders if she can leave it there, just let him be grateful and ignorant of what she's done. They'd both be so much happier... until he found out anyway. And he'd find out someday. So she takes a breath to steady her nerves before admitting, "I didn't talk him down. I took on responsibility for the other two."

[sumarusfinest]

"Hm~" Katsuya clicks his saibashi cooking chopsticks together as he waits for the fish to brown, turning them over once before removing them from the heat.

In goes the rice, the liquids, the vegetables, mushrooms, and the fish on top into the rice cooker. Start the timer and Beep boop dinner is practically done.

"Oh? Then how...Wait." The chopsticks slip form his fingers, clattering against the counter. Katsuya lifts his right arm so he can peer around him to see Verity.

"You did what?" His stomach clenches. "Why?! Verity--no. Why...I mean...what if he asks something dangerous of you?"

[brave_heart_verity]

She reaches out to stop the chopsticks before they bounce onto the floor, then looks up at him. "He promised it wouldn't be anything he doesn't believe I have a reasonable chance of succeeding at. I thought about what I was willing to do before I went to see him and I was careful when we were negotiating." Unlike certain handsome cops she could name.

"And the first payment wasn't dangerous for me at all." Disagreeable and heartwrenching and dangerous for other people, sure, but that's not what he's worrying about so it doesn't need to come up. "Anyway, the Nexus is my home now. I'm allowed to defend it."

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya totally negotiated. At least he thinks he did. He made Schon promise him that the requests would be made of him and not to interfere with his friends or family. Something he's quite certain has been violated by goddamn putting half his remaining favors onto Verity's shoulders.

He's completely dumbfounded about how to react to this. He's furious at Schon for breaching their deal. Worried about Verity. Upset that literally no one talked to him about this. And guilty. For needing to be helped.

Tatsuya would have done the same thing.

It occurs to the officer while he's struggling for how to rely. And then he smiles. Because he'd given up trying to change his brother. The boy was fool hardy, reckless, and s well meaning Katsuya could only stand back and be proud of him. DIdn't Verity deserve the same sort of treatment?

"...I'm...not pleased that you did this without talking to me. That Schon went back on his word about only taking his payment from me. I can't deny that, you'd know anyway." He doesn't let Verity pull herself away even if she tries.

"...But I'm proud that I have someone who cares enough about me to stand up for me. It must have taken a lot to do that. So..thank you."

Have her goofy face

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity was prepared for more of an argument. She's got several excuses and attempts to reason with him lined up in her head. The fact they're not needed leaves her speechless for a minute, but not helpless. She'll give him a gentle squeeze and a relieved smile while she figures out what to say next.

"You're welcome. And you're right, I should have talked to you. Maybe neither of us were thinking clearly at the time." If there's room she'll maneuver around in front of him so they can talk (and hug) properly while they wait for dinner to cook.

Heehee!

[sumarusfinest]

"I knew..potentially, that Schon's requests could be dangerous. Knew that I may not want to do them. But my wants...or even my needs...did not change the fact that the Nexus and everyone's' worlds were in danger if I did not shut that door. I would have given much more, had he asked it of me."

Don't ever let him hear you say that Katsuya.

"I'm sorry you got drug into this as well.You have so much to deal with on your own already..." He doesn't want anything to happen to her.

[brave_heart_verity]

Oh, he already knows that. Verity can guess although she tries not to think about it.

"Shh. Katsuya. I didn't get dragged into anything. I went to him." She doesn't want him feeling guilty about this. This was supposed to make his life better, not worse. "I chose this, because this is something I can do. And if it's dangerous, that's okay. I'll be careful. I have friends who can help me prepare. And whatever happens, it's worth it to me. You're worth it."

[sumarusfinest]

He'd have done the same for her. Katsuya knows it. It's astonishing how many times he has to remind himself this. Verity's getting a proper hug now, Katsuya's face buried into the top of her head.

"I'll protect you. No matter what happens." When he finally pulls away, he's trying to keep a smile on his face. "The dishes are in that cupboard there, do you mind setting up while I tend to the food?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Proper hugs are wonderful things, and she'll enjoy it as long as she can. The way he's nuzzling into her hair is so nice, and she's glad someone else gets to enjoy her fancy shampoo that smells really good.

"We'll protect each other." She's not helpless, Katsuya, and she doesn't want to be treated as an unequal partner. Her smile is more firmly fixed when she looks up at him again. "Okay." Setting the table will take her longer than usual because she's not used to Japanese dishes and has to think about these things. But she will manage. She even remembers the hashioki, although they might not be in the right place.

[sumarusfinest]

"I think you are already doing that whether I like it or not." Katsuya admits with a chuckle, turning back toward the beeping rice cooker.

With a little 'pop' he opens it up to let the smell permeate through the kitchen. He already has the rice paddle in hand, removing the fish, mixing the ingredients (tossing in half the green onions) and shutting the lid again.

The fish gets de-boned and broken into bite size pieces before the rice gets another toss.

"Ah, thank you Verity." He'll fill two of the rice bowls, sprinkle on some more of the green onion before serving both bowls to the table. "Here, I know it's a bit late, but...dinner is ready."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Then you'd better learn to like it." Because she's not going to stop.

The smell of dinner gets an appreciative sound from her. It smells so good. She's fascinated by his de-boning the fish. That's something she's never really done before. American fishmongers do all that for her. This is something she'll have to learn to do for herself.

"Thank you. And it's just on time because we're not eating until now." She's very good at finding these little and sometimes silly ways of reassuring people. It comes with practice. "Next time can you teach me how to deal with the fish?"

[sumarusfinest]

"Deal with?" Katsuya raises an eyebrow, chopsticks halfway to his mouth before he sets his bowl down again. "You mean like, cleaning?"

He's so used to beheading, gutting and filleting his own seafood he almost doesn't understand what the question is. It's the freshest when it's whole, so it's pretty common to just do all of that at home.

"I can show you. It's not terribly difficult but it does take practice."

[brave_heart_verity]

She nods then gives a little shrug. Is it really so shocking he has to stop eating? "It's already cleaned when I buy it at home. I never had to learn." These things may be common for him, but need she remind him things are different in America? He's going to be so disappointed to learn she's used to tuna coming in a can.

"I don't mind practicing." She idly wonders if Naugus eats fish. He doesn't usually turn down anything she makes, but she's never quite sure about these things. "It would be good to know, I'll probably have to do it myself from now on anyway."

[sumarusfinest]

It's not shocking, he just can't gesture with his bowl in one hand and chopsticks in the other. Plus its super rude to gesture with one's chopsticks. So down they go.

"I suppose that makes sense, though Manhattan is so close to the water I hadn't considered that." He's making these slicing motions with his hands, as though mapping out how to clean and gut an imaginary fish on the table.

"With the smaller fish like the sanma...er...pacific saury I think? In English? Anyway, they're easier to remove the spine and small bones once cooked. You just have to be thorough."