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]

"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."

[sumarusfinest]

Probably!

"I..I meant with the other person you had dated." Clarification is key, Katsuya.

"Though it seems as though despite all assumptions to otherwise, you and this god of lies seem to be very close. He's lucky to have you as a friend." He believes it, too.

[brave_heart_verity]

"Oh. Well, it was high school. I think drama is a graduation requirement." She gives a little shrug. She was upset at the time, but distance has dulled the pain of the betrayal.

It's reassuring for her that he believes that. And also that he believes her about what they weren't as much as what they were. "We're both pretty lucky about it. And so are you. I wouldn't be able to be here right now if I'd never met him."

[sumarusfinest]

That's right. SHe told him how she used to be. A hermit cramped in her apartment all day, hiding from the world. Isolated. Would she still be in that apartment now if nothing had happened? He doesn't want to think about it, considering the fate of her world. Though, he'd have never met her, because she'd have never come to the Nexus...

It's a sad thought. One Katsuya tries not to follow for long.

"I believe most of the Nexus owes him a great deal of gratitude then. Including myself." He'll give her hand a little squeeze.

[brave_heart_verity]

It's not a thought worth following. Better to enjoy the quirks of fate that brought them together. She did meet Loki, she did learn to live in the world (okay that part's a work in progress), she did have crazy scary wonderful adventures, and she did find her way to Nexus.

And now she's safe as houses, curled up beside him and blushing. "Really? How do you figure that?"

[sumarusfinest]

"Think of all the people you've touched and affected since you came there." The officer remembers walking in, shocked confused and angry this had happened again. And there she was.

How many others had she helped?

"You're the one that called me when the demons attacked the Nexus. You've befriended magi, creatures, and people from many worlds. Helped them with both your unique ability, and...and your capacity to care, much as you'd like to deny it's there. I think this place is much better off for your finding your way."

[brave_heart_verity]

She hadn't thought of it that way. She wouldn't. He's seen what heroes look like in her world, and she doesn't think she could ever compete with that. It's hard for her to believe she's important. So now her blush is spreading, up to her ears and down to her shoulders, trailing off somewhere under the gauzy fabric.

"I hadn't thought of it that way." She's not admitting that he's right, but she's not arguing that he's wrong, either.

[sumarusfinest]

"Most good people don't." His voice is quiet, musing. He seems rather happy that she's at least taking it into consideration, and he gives her her dignity back by not staring at her spreading blush for too long, instead leaning back into the couch further and squeezing her hand one more time.

"I'm certain your other friends would agree with me, however." She even stood up to a...whatever Schon is and took part of his burden onto herself. She's quite heroic. He should make her a cape.

She probably wouldn't like that teasing joke, would she? Even if it was purple?

[brave_heart_verity]

"Friends are biased in our favor," she points out with a smile. She appreciates that he doesn't stare for long. But if he can feel the heat of it through his sleeve, he doesn't need to stare to know she's still blushing.

She's pretty sure Schon is a god. But gods have never scared her. Except once. But she doesn't count herself brave for going and having a talk with someone she considers a friend. Maybe Katsuya's overly concerned about how things went down.

And no. Capes are very serious business. Most jokes are fine, but you just don't joke about capes.

"But I'm not going to complain about your thinking well of me."

[sumarusfinest]

"I have a secret." Katsuya leans over so he's closer to her ear.

"I think you're very heroic in your own way."

That confession made, he'll get up and take both of their mugs to the kitchen to rinse them out and set them next to the coffee pot just in case seconds are wanted.

He goes a bit cross eyed for a moment before shaking his head and glancing at the clock. Yikes. How had it gotten so late already?

No more coffee for him, then. He'll be lucky if he doesn't doze off right there on the couch sitting next to Verity. He isn't gone for long this time, sitting right back down and extending his hand for her to take if she wants to.

[brave_heart_verity]

Mention of a secret catches her interest, and Verity looks up at him when he leans over. That secret is not what she expected to hear. He's so earnest about it. It's not a joke or an attempt at flattery and she just doesn't understand. She wants to ask him to explain, but she doubts he would, she doesn't want to look like she's fishing for compliments, and he's already gone into the kitchen.

She'll sit there and think about it until he comes back, and yes she wants to hold his hand again. "You are my hero," she points out once he's sitting, "and I don't care who knows it."

[sumarusfinest]

"Eheh. Thank you." He ducks his head, cheeks flushed from the compliment. He doesn't try to argue back why that's silly. If she thinks he's heroic, then well. He'll just have to make sure he lives up to it.

He looks relaxed once he's settled himself in again.

"Do you want to find something to watch on tv?" He asks after a moment. He doesn't mind sitting and enjoying her company in quiet peace, but he doesn't want her to be bored either.

[brave_heart_verity]

"You're welcome." He saved her (and everyone else) from a demon attack. That's pretty damn heroic in her opinion. It's good they have each other to see the good parts of themselves the other overlooks.

She thinks about the question for a moment before she nods. "I probably won't know what's going on, but that's okay." She's going to be equally bored either way, which is to say, not very because she's with him. If there's something he wants to watch, she'll try her best to follow along.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmYVfyqzu4Y

[sumarusfinest]

He'll scoop the remote up and turn the television on. A little bit of fiddling has English subtitles showing on most channels, which is as good as it's going to get.

The officer checks the weather report for the next day before handing Verity the remote.

"Whatever catches you eye is fine." He's content just sitting here holding her hand and relaxing. Definitely not dozing off.

That Mario one at the end...

[brave_heart_verity]

"Thank you." It's all so bright and colorful and full of dancing. She has no idea what's going on in any of it. Is that a game show or the evening news? She has no idea and doesn't really care.

Eventually, she settles on something and glances up to see if he likes it. But that's a moot point since he's asleep. Aww. She'll turn the television off before giving him a gentle nudge. "Katsuya, go to bed."

Japanese tv is amazing and terrifying

[sumarusfinest]

His sunglasses have slipped down his nose slightly, and when she nudges him all it really does is jars him out of balance so his head is now more or less resting on top of hers. There's the tiniest inhale of a snore.

Twenty hour days will do that to you.

At least he's comfortable enough around Verity to let his guard down?

[brave_heart_verity]

Whoops. It's not that she minds the contact; she rather likes it. He's not heavy or unwelcome, however much he might find this unacceptable when he wakes up in the morning. She plucks his glasses from his face while she deliberates, folding them and setting them on the table.

She wants to stay. She doesn't want to take advantage. She wants... but he needs to sleep. Trying to carry him would almost certainly wake him up. Better to get his blanket and pillows and tuck him in on the couch. It's only hard to ease herself out from under him in an emotional sense. She does her best to make him comfortable, undoing the top two buttons on his shirt and brushing his hair out of his face, smoothing the blanket over his shoulder.

In the morning he'll find a note from her in his little notebook, which she's left next to his glasses. Thank you for dinner. I hope you slept well. V.

Maybe he won't notice the smudge of lip gloss she left on his forehead.