お誕生日おめでとう~!

[sumarusfinest]

A day planner laid out on Katsuya's kitchen counter has a big red circle over the date.

October first.

The officer wipes his glasses clean with a cloth and removes the apron he'd been wearing until moments ago. Changes back into his suit and tie and resolves that his kitchen will just have to be cleaned when he gets home.

He has gifts for a very special someone to go deliver. He scoops up the cake box and his keys and leaves his apartment for the Nexus. A certain magi's tower in the Nexus, to be exact. He does have the courtesy to text her to let her know he's on his way.

Still feels weird to announce 'I'm here to see Miss Verity Willis' to a wall of solid crystal though. Would it still open if he spoke in Japanese? Experiments for another time.

"Verity?"

Comments

[brave_heart_verity]

"He said you're allowed to visit, and he really doesn't spend a lot of time downstairs." If Naugus wants to cause a scene he'll find an excuse for it, but somehow she doubts it's going to be over cuddling. It's really much more likely to be about a muffin shortage.

He has his priorities.

"If it helps, I'm pretty sure he likes you. But if you'd rather go back to your apartment that's okay too. It's just. My place is closer..." which leaves more time for cuddling. And her bed is built for two, should it come to that.

[sumarusfinest]

Her home is closer and Katsuya hasn't forgotten the argument of cuddling somewhere where all the kitten fur isn't going to make him have to clean everything tomorrow.

"Lead the way then. Your place it is." He'll take her hand in his again and give it a gentle squeeze.

[brave_heart_verity]

Good choice, Katsuya. She'll lace her fingers with his as they walk, enjoying the nice weather and the promise of things to come.

They can make small talk on the way. There are so many things she wants to know about him. Who his partner is at work, what his favorite story was when he was a child, who these mysterious world-saving friends of his are, just all kinds of things.

She's never had a partner at work, but she'd tell him about her supervisor Tammy, who's always been nice to her and didn't care why she wanted to work from home; her favorite story was about her parent's honeymoon when they got lost and ended up at someone else's wedding for three days; and she might talk about Sigurd and Lorelei a bit. Loki wasn't her only friend.

Small talk makes me want to replay this game again hngg

[sumarusfinest]

His work is a complicated subject mmmostly because the whole world saving thing really screwed up Sumaru and his life in more than one way. He's still considered a Sergeant despite his years on the force, but that's leaving out the fact that he oughtn't to have the job at all anymore considering he was wanted by his own force on more than one occasion where rumors went awry and demonic influence and corruption seeded its way through Sumaru.

So, while his coworkers think highly of him, he still gets the short end of the stick when it comes to the higher ups at the department. He doesn't seem to mind too much though. He isn't aiming to be police chief or anything like that.

He'll talk about his brother's fascination with cars and machines even from a young age, and how Katsuya remembered all the different lines and voices for his brother's favorite storybook that sounds like a remarkable Thomas the Train ripoff.

He'll talk about the Joker case, Tatsuya Sudou, and how he met Maya Amano, Ulala Serizawa, and Baofu thanks to the events that unfolded at his brother's school: Seven Sisters Highschool in Rengedai, near the Araya shrine. The whole first dungeon introduction to the end of the world and meeting of his companions could last until they arrived at her home.

Is that so bad?

[brave_heart_verity]

She likes hearing about it all anyway, although the fact he doesn't even have his own favorite story makes her incredibly sad. He deserves a life as more than his brother's keeper. Maybe they'll write their new favorite stories together.

The whats and whys weren't what she was asking about, but if that's the story he wants to tell she'll listen. Someday she'll get to hear about who they are instead of what. She just needs to figure out the right way to ask.

At some point, when they're in a less public area, she'll pull his arm around her again, but she doesn't press for more until they're inside and the door is shut. That's when she turns to him with an expectant smile. "So. Here we are."

No, it just makes me sad that the remake for EP never got released in the US :(

[sumarusfinest]

Who they are is integral to what. Maya was there as an intrepid beginning reporter for a popular teen magazine. A vehemently positive thinking woman with a determined streak wide enough to change worlds. A terrible driver (no seriously the WORST) who caught hell all the time from her harpy of a boss. Wanting to follow her dreams but having to settle for the equivalent of US Weekly to work her way up.

Who they all were. Maya, Ulala, himself, Tatsuya. At that time. He will talk about. But he doesn't talk about Who Baofu is. He knows. He admits that he knows. But it's not his business to tell Baofu's story. The rumor monger prefers to be a what. The who died a long time ago, or so the cynical older man thinks. The truth is he's the closest thing to a best friend Katsuya has. And he only sees the other once a year, if that.

But by then they're inside and Katsuya nods.

"Yes. I've been here before." Twice even! He'll slip his shoes off dutifully and take a cursory look around. It's hard to get used to the solid crystal structure after only seeing it twice.

Aw, that's frustrating.

[brave_heart_verity]

Maybe someday Baofu'll come back and Verity can find out for herself. And for the rest, she likes hearing about them. Even if he does sometimes sound a little too fond of Maya.

...okay, sure, they can take off their shoes. Those red slippers are waiting for him by the door, and so are her fuzzy ones. Not so different. But she's still looking expectant when he's done with that.

She's obviously waiting for something.

Katsuya.

Pay attention.

The original is fine, but the remake added content and my fangirl compeltionist is seething.

[sumarusfinest]

Hopefully! Baofu was the one that called Katsuya back into the Nexus after all. He wouldn't be here again if not for the rumor monger. And as for Maya...Katsuya wouldn't lie to her. It's not like he and Maya would have ever happened. And it doesn't matter now anyway. He still cares for her, but he chose Verity.

Hopefully she understands that.

He pauses. Looks back at her.

There is this horrible pause where Verity might get the idea that he has no idea what she wants. A tinge of red crops up on his cheekbones before he leans down and kisses her gently on her forehead.

"Where would you like to go?" Can they get inside first? Katsuya no, it's not the pace. It's you. Get it together, Suou. You're the one who's dated before even. Sort of. Once, during a zombie apocalypse. Wow neither of them knows what they're doing here, really.

Aww man I totes get that.

[brave_heart_verity]

She does. It's the same way she chose him. When they're a little more sure of things between them his fondness for Maya won't hurt any more than her fondness for Loki.

Well, that's a kiss, and she likes it of course. But it's not quite what she was looking for. They're inside. The door is shut. The slippers are on. How much more inside does this man need?

Wait. That's a really good question. "Um... the living room? Unless you're really nervous about getting caught, then we should sit in my bedroom. Naugus never bothers me when I'm in there."

They are so pathetic.

[sumarusfinest]

"Why...why would..." Getting caught? Just what does she intend to be doing here? They've shared a first kiss less than an hour ago, he has zero intentions of racing to the extreme intimate.

"It's fine. You're hardly a teenager sneaking a boy home." Katsuya tries to joke, even as he heads toward the living room. He'll sit on her couch and place his arm along the back of it, making room for Verity to cuddle up to him however she likes.

[brave_heart_verity]

Hey, their first kiss was on her birthday.

"I know. But you're really cute when you blush." She'll curl up beside him in a minute. First though, she's going to kneel on the couch beside him so she can kiss him. Making up for the height difference is important for proper... things. Angles. Something. Shut up.

[sumarusfinest]

"I could say the same about you." The kiss stops him from whatever else he was about to say. Katsuya squeezes Verity's hand gently and smiles when she pulls away.

He smiles even wider when she joins him on the couch to cuddle up.

This is really nice. Unfamiliar, but nice.

[brave_heart_verity]

"I suppose." She can be content with just the one kiss. She does hope there will be more later.

A good cuddle is hard to find, but in this at least she's confident. Verity sits so she can lean against his side and lay her head on his chest, curling up rather like one of those cats he so admires. One arm is tucked behind his waist, and the other curls over his stomach and chest. He is now her comfy spot and she's not keen on letting him up anytime soon.

"Thank you for today. It's been wonderful."

[sumarusfinest]

It's a good thing the officer isn't planning on going anywhere. He shifts slightly so Verity can curl up more easily, before wrapping the arm that was slung over the back of the couch around her shoulders gently.

"I wanted to treat you to something nice." Katsuya affirms. "I'm glad you enjoyed it."

[brave_heart_verity]

She makes another of those secret little sounds when his arm wraps around her. It's warm and safe and pretty much perfect now.

"You are the something nice. Everything else is a bonus." Maybe he doesn't need such stern reassurance, but she needs to say it. She needs to know he knows these things. "And now I know what your idea of a good date is, so I can plan accordingly in the future."

[sumarusfinest]

This is the sort of thing neither of them get to do nearly often enough. It's a comfort that is nearly alien to Katsuya, having spent so much time alone.

"I do try to please." The officer murmurs quietly, sinking further into the couch and thoroughly enjoying himself. He's really glad Verity had a good time. She deserves many more of those. As much as it takes to help with the wounds her world is leaving behind.

[brave_heart_verity]

Oh, Katsuya. There is so much cuddling in your future.

"And succeed quite marvelously." She shifts with him, somehow managing to curl up even closer to him. They both deserve days like this, and a safe place to heal. Lucky for them that's one of the perks of dating. "It's going to be hard to measure up, you know. But I've already got an idea, so. Next time. Prepare for so much cute."

[sumarusfinest]

He could get used to this. There is literally nothing to complain about in his current situation. He doesn't feel guilty about taking the day off, about leaving Sumaru to its own devices for an afternoon.

Sometimes, everyone just needs a break.

"I like cute." Katsuya murmurs, voice taking on the airy lilting of a man drifting off in the late afternoon completely relaxed.

[brave_heart_verity]

He's certainly earned one.

"I noticed." It's almost like he can't tell she's been watching him. Silly boy. Speaking of... oh hell, he's falling asleep again isn't he? Fine. This time she's not leaving, he'll just have to sleep with her half on top of him and also asleep. Slippers off, feet up, complete sleepy-time cuddle commencing: now.

[sumarusfinest]

Probably the biggest clue that Katsuya works too damn hard is that if you get him in a quiet place and get his guard down, he almost always drifts off for a while.

Of course, this is only possible because he's so comfortable around Verity. At least he won't wake up screaming and throttling whoever's touching him in an hour.

His nightmares are typically more psychologically traumatizing than physically violent. Typically. None for now. Verity's mastery of cuddling has earned her a warm cuddle buddy that sort of naturally feels like Verity's curled up next to a fireplace.

[brave_heart_verity]

She's trying not to take it personally. But a lifetime of seeing the world and everyone in it as horrible and herself as the worst of all has made it all too easy to think the worst. She has a lot to work on. She knows that. She's trying, but it's not going to be fixed overnight.

And she's trying not to say these things out loud. That counts for something, right? It's a start.

A warm and welcoming place to doze helps her keep the worst of the self-doubt at bay. Her nightmares aren't violent, she's not a violent person, and she learned young to be quiet. If he stays long enough for her to have one, he might not even realize what's happening. The damp spot on his shirt could be from her sweating. She should have taken off that cardigan before they started cuddling, she just got too hot, that's all.

[sumarusfinest]

Katsuya doesn't get nightmares as often as he used to. Right after the incident he could scarcely sleep for the constant reminders of Nyarlathotep's accusations. Of Maya falling into the fire in the museum. Of Tatsuya's face staring back at him in shock from the other end of his gun.

Very rarely he would dream of all the times he was hurt or nearly killed. Phantom pains. Memories of what he thought would be his last moments.

The incident itself, and many like it since, have made the officer a light sleeper. He wakens on his own some time later, perhaps to a noise from Naugus upstairs, or even just because his body was protesting relaxing for this long. When he notices the moisture on his shirt he gently shakes Verity awake. He's not certain it from crying, but even if it's sweat he'd like to be sure she wasn't overheating or something.

"Verity? Is everything okay?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity wakes quickly, but not well. There's a choking sort of sound, and then she's at the other end of the couch before she's even really awake. No, nothing is okay. Nobody panicking like that will ever say everything's okay in a believable manner. There's a few blinks before she wipes her eyes with the back of a hand.

"Yeah, I'm fine." Liar. "Just a nightmare. Nothing to worry about." Kind of true. She believes it to be true. "I'll be okay." Debatable.

[sumarusfinest]

"You're in your home." The officer replies gently, giving her the space she needs until she's woken properly and knows where she is and that it's real.

"...Do you want to talk about it?" He extends a hand, an offering for comfort. She doesn't have to sit there all alone.

[brave_heart_verity]

"This isn't... this is the tower. Okay." Deep breath. Another. And another. Then she takes his hand and slinks back into the spot against his side she'd so rudely abandoned. "I'm sorry. I didn't hit you or anything?"

Because taking care of him is obviously far more important than taking care of herself.