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

[brave_heart_verity]

"No, I don't think so. It didn't do anything to me." She wouldn't bring anything like that into his house. He should have more faith in her. "We... if you don't want to risk it, that's okay." She'd be a little disappointed, but she won't force him. After last time she can't blame him for being wary.

[sumarusfinest]

Oh! Good, Verity has already tested it.

"Excellent." That's all he needs to hear really. He can count on Verity to look out for things like that. It's quite reassuring.

"I'll prepare the cream now then, if you'd care to dice the fruit?" Cutting board and knife are produced in short order. Katsuya's busy fetching a bowl and his whisk.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Sure." She'll take care of preparing the fruit, washing and drying it before dicing it up. She may be sneaking a bite while she works because it's really yummy. There's a piece conveniently out-of-the-way on the corner of the cutting board if he wants to do the same.

"You know, if we added marshmallows, this would be called a salad in America." This is meant to be amusing. Her tone suggests it's not something she understands or approves of, and considers the sort of weird habit people generally accept from a family member.

[sumarusfinest]

"Nothing about this is a salad." Katsuya mumbles with a shake of his head. He does not approve either. But he does op the conveniently out of the way fruit piece into his mouth with an interested hum. It's not like anything he's ever tasted before.

Powdered sugar is added to the cream and then Katsuya gets to whisking. Electric mixers are for suckers. He'll have a bowl of soft-peak whipped cream ready in no time.

By then, of course, Verity has the fruit into small bowls and Katsuya places a serving spoon into the whipped cream so Verity can take what she'd like. He gives a dollop of it to himself and settles over onto the couch with it and a spoon for eating.

"I'm glad someone discovered these. They're quite tasty."

[brave_heart_verity]

"No," she agrees with a soft laugh. "But American imperialism extends to the culinary horizons as much as the political." She watches his reaction to the fruit carefully, hoping he'll like it and pleased when he does.

Electric mixers are for people with bigger kitchens and a willingness to have whipped cream turn into butter when they're not looking. Let's just not go there.

She doesn't take too much cream, preferring it as an accent to the fruit, and then sits beside him on the couch. "They are," she agrees. A few more good associations with the place might make him feel better about wanting to spend time there.

"So, should I explore the new foods there further?" She's going to either way, but she doesn't have to involve him.

[sumarusfinest]

"Well, I mean, you're living there now. It would seem prudent to."

Katsuya can't get over this idea that there's someone else in his apartment spending an evening with him. The loneliness of the place still hangs--it will take a while to disappear. But for a change his home seems warm and inviting.

"I'd think you'd be safer than most to do such an investigation, too." Why wouldn't he treat it as an investigation. It's also a good distraction for her, Katsuya suspects.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I do have a better chance of avoiding the unpleasant side-effects," she agrees. "And it can be fun." He's right about it being a good distraction, and about her needing a few. She doesn't mind his framing it as an investigation. She can be very scientific about it all and write things down.

When she's finished with her dessert she sets the bowl down and folds her hands in her lap. She wants to cuddle, but she's not sure how to ask. With Loki, she would have just taken what she wants. She was always welcome to be whatever she wanted to be with him, except his lover. There was a freedom in that. This uncertainty is less appealing.

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya will scoop up all the dishes and retreat back to the kitchen. He's always so on top of things like this, making sure the area was clear before--no, not he's got the sink going now. Guess he's planning on doing the dishes right away too.

"Would you care for some tea or coffee?" Comes a polite offer from back in the kitchen. "I'd be happy to make some for you while you're relaxing."

Not a clue.

[brave_heart_verity]

Well, now she's disappointed and confused. Is this a date? Are they even dating? Are they just friends with feelings? Is she officially the world's worst girlfriend yet, or is that title still only in potential?

But she does know a good guest is a helpful guest, so when she hears the sink running she'll follow him into the kitchen to dry the dishes. "Whichever you're having would be great. I don't usually drink a lot of tea," which he may have noticed, "but it's supposed to be real healthy so that wouldn't be a bad change."

[sumarusfinest]

He seems rather shocked to see her come in and help, and the brilliant grin that spreads across his face tells her that he's very pleased she decided to join him.

"You don't have to, Verity.." He's mumbling, but he's already scooted over to give her room. Is the kitchen really this tiny or is he deliberately staying just a little too close to be casual? He keeps brushing her side with his.

"Coffee it is then." Katsuya dries his hands on a teatowel before getting them some beverages. "I must confess I don't drink nearly as much tea as I used to, but I received a very good quality brand of matcha powder from a coworker last new years, so I try to make a habit of drinking it when I can."

[brave_heart_verity]

She does love seeing him grin like that. Maybe she'll have to be more forthcoming about what she wants. He seems to have relaxed about her unexpected actions.

"I want to." He's going to have to explain this obligation language stuff to her someday. Feeling like she has to constantly reassure him about these things is going to get old fast. Maybe not so much when he's brushing up against her like that, though. The kitchen wasn't that small before, so she's pretty sure he's doing it on purpose. At some point when his hands are empty, she'll give him a gentle but deliberate hip check.

"That's a nice present. Why does matcha come as a powder? Does it taste better that way?"

[sumarusfinest]

He's really not at all accustomed to being in a relationship. She will have to ask with her words or be very very frustrated when the poor officer doesn't understand what he is doing wrong.

It really is jarring and obtrusive to a non-native, and Katsuya has actually made a habit of dialing it back. Which goes to show how crazy that whole structure must be. The hip bump makes him blush out to his ears again, and you know, that may just be the degree of blushing he normally gets. Because he's not moving away from her at all.

"It's healthier." Katsuya nods. "You drink the whole tea leaf this way, so only the best quality are used and ground into powder. The taste is richer, and it integrates into other dishes better this way. It's why you will see so many green tea flavored items and baked goods. All matcha powder."

[brave_heart_verity]

This is true, but it isn't wrong for her to need some time to figure these things out. And if she gets frustrated in the meantime, well, sometimes that happens.

Blushing and not moving away are a good sign when taken together. She'll test this theory by waiting a little while before trying again. She is again gentle but deliberate. Nobody said doing the dishes together can't be fun.

"Oh. That makes sense. But you prefer coffee?" Maybe it's a multiversal cop thing. Maybe it's a rule. She wonders what Japanese cops eat instead of donuts. So much to learn...

[sumarusfinest]

She can see his blush threatening to creep right on down his neck when she does it again. This time he makes a rather undignified noise of surprise. Briefly. And quietly. He wasn't expecting that.

"I-i. Well, uhm." He sucks in a deep breath. "Yes. Per cup, one gets more caffeine out of coffee and I like it old and/or reheated much better than old tea." And when cases get really bad he just makes double strength coffee that tastes awful but has enough caffeine to get the job done.

[brave_heart_verity]

Aww. She'll stop for now, and even manages to choke back the threatening giggle. But he should learn: let her get away with it once, and she's going to think she can get away with it again.

"So it's all about the caffeine? Promise me you won't switch to energy drinks, those things are evil." They're probably made by Roxxon in the 616, and probably made out of whatever's left over from their latest evil scheme. Nobody wants that shit.

[sumarusfinest]

"Primarily yes. Though I have grown to like the beverage for what it is over the years, I started drinking it as a way to stay awake." He still enjoys a good green tea now and again, but there isn't much occasion to make it these days.

"I've never considered them." He promises. "Too much sugar and preservatives."

Wish the dishes all done and the coffee dutifully poured in cute cat themed mugs, Katsuya leads them back to the living room. He catches sight of his suit and tie still slung over one of the dining room chairs and can't help the tiny smile on his face.

This is much better than the night he had expected.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Good answer," she agrees. Let's just let him think that's the problem. Maybe around here that really is the problem. "If you're not going to eat enough or sleep enough you should definitely worry about preservatives." This is more of her difficult American humor.

Even the simplest things together are so much better than being alone. This is true for both of them. And this time, once they're both sitting, she'll hold out her hand. It's a sort of asking.

[sumarusfinest]

She gets the black and white kitten mug that has a tiny 'Nya~n' written along its rim. If questioned he will deny buying them. They were a gift. And he is a horrible liar because he totally haggled with the middle aged department store clerk while he tried to decide which ones to get.

Watching her drink out of it makes him smile more. It's cute.

And not even Officer Suou, Sergeant Oblivious misses the question for what it is. He'll take her hand in his free one and shift closer so he can hold it more comfortably while they sit.

[brave_heart_verity]

He has seen her slippers. He will become acquainted with her collection of striped socks. She's not going to look amiss at her boyfriend having totally adorable cat mugs. At least he's got good taste. If watching her use it makes him smile, all the better.

She'll shift a little closer too so she can lean her head against his arm. It's not quite cuddling and they can both back away easily if it's too much for him. "So... what's the Japanese equivalent of dinner and a movie?"

[sumarusfinest]

"Dinner and a movie, I'm sure." Katsuya chuckles lightly. "Going to festivals together? I uhm.." He shakes his head slightly.

"I've no idea, actually. The closest thing to a date I've ever been on was inviting someone over to bake. And ended in a huge mess, a ruined batch of brownies, and both of us laughing until we cried."

"....It took me three days to clean my kitchen."

[brave_heart_verity]

She smiles at the story, tilting her head to look up at him. "I'm just sorry about the brownies." They both take food far too seriously sometimes.

It makes her nervous to admit it, but... "I had a boyfriend in high school, for a month. His idea of a good date was watching me watching him during basketball practice. He dumped me for a cheerleader when I was sick and skipped a game."

[sumarusfinest]

He laughs, a real laugh, not restrained by any politeness or public scrutiny. It makes his eyes turn up at the corners.

"Thankfully, they are an easy dish to replicate." He's still chuckling as he brings his own white kitty mug up to sip at his coffee.

"...I thought.." Well okay, no sense not asking now that he'd opened up his big mouth. Refraining from asking would only upset her. "I thought you and Loki..?"

[brave_heart_verity]

His laugh is so nice. She just brightens up when she hears it. She'll have to keep finding ways to earn it.

But that question. Siiiiigh. Such a sigh. "Why does everyone assume we were dating?" Because they've seen her Picstagram maybe? "No. We were never romantic. Everything but. Best friends, confidants, partners in crime. But I lack a certain feature he finds indispensable in his lovers."

[sumarusfinest]

Certain other friends of Verity would make crude assumptions as to what that 'something' was. Said friend means well, but is kinda a jerk when it comes to relationship stuff.

Katsuya, meanwhile, nods along. He briefly wonders if it's because she's human, but that's as far as the thought goes.

What was he supposed to say to that anyway? 'Good'? That's awful and insensitive. Even if he was a bit relieved to hear it, that's not the sort of thing you say.

"That's..I..I'm sorry you've had such a distasteful experience."

[brave_heart_verity]

That certain other friend is going to get along with Loki really well and she is not going to want to hear about it.

The "being human" thing might also have been part of it, but she never considered that. There are likely a lot of reasons things worked out the way they did, and she's simplifying or just not thinking too much about it.

"What do you mean?" She gives him a confused look. "It was confusing and scary sometimes and mostly wonderful. But not distasteful. Except when he wouldn't shut up about why he needed a new couch."