A/N: There's a specific reason why I decided to write this lol And not just for Valentine's Day.
A/N: Simplistically written...mostly!
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Of Your Heart- Mikage x Jack
Chapter 1.1
"Look, I didn't come here to discuss my relationship with Mikage, Yüsei," Jack presented with annoyance lining his tone. The stoic male adjacent from him took a casual sip of soda before extending their conversation, "All I asked was if she were all right and if the two of you made plans for the holiday."
"And again, I repeat, I didn't come to visit you on your only day off from the lab this week to talk about things in my life. Duels you can watch, and my personal life stays behind closed doors with my girlfriend."
To this, Yüsei sighed and placed down his drink. While extremely brash, Jack had his own ways of showing sentiments-regardless of if the one he expressed them to were accepting of it or not. But this was fine. Two hours prior to their meeting, Yüsei had received a call from Jack after the blonde had won another dueling tournament. He wanted to shoot the breeze with his old friend and Yüsei held no objections to this. With his new corporate identity of a scientist like his parents before him, he hardly ever saw the sheets of his own bed. Whatever the reason, he preferred to be around others and work late hours in his laboratories. Being in the company of his old comrade and former teammate was like breathing in fresh air- a very rude breath of fresh air. And in addition to that, he wanted to know how Mikage was doing. It had felt like ages since he last saw her.
"I know that look," Jack spoke up in a smooth tone, eying Yüsei acutely. Jack had seen a closely similar expression fitted on Mikage whenever she was fondly lost in thought. If he hadn't assumed otherwise, he would have thought these two to be closer than the old friends they were. Giving a sigh, Yüsei leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms, " Anyway, since you can't seem to answer a simple question, I'll just tell you what our plans are for Valentine"˜s Day."
" 'Our'?"
"Yes," Blue eyes flickered up into Jack's as the scientist answered. Then he reached over to grab his beverage, "Aki called me the other night asking if we could hang out during the holiday."
"Don't you mean, go on a date or something?" Jack surmised with his lips in a frown and perplexity knitting his brows. The expression was contagious, although Yüsei wore it for another reason. Instead of asking about Jack's nosy declaration, Yüsei dismissed it with a gulp of soda, "No, Aki didn't specify it as a date and I'm fine with that. I'm not comfortable with settling down just yet," he paused, appearing thoughtful as he let that declaration to marinate. Then he shrugged, "She's been busy herself."
"Sounds to me like you're avoiding something obvious..."
"I'm not avoiding," Was the curt reply; and with a sharp glare to match, "I mean that, I'm not ready yet...Which causes me to be even more surprised that a stubborn blockhead like you would ever get into a serious relationship before either of us."
"I resent that, Yüsei! I had to get my priorities straight first!" Jack bellowed, pounding a fist atop the counter Yüsei sat next to. Used to the behavior, Yüsei eyed Jack sternly, "If you break that you're paying for a new one."
"The only thing I'll break is your assumption!"
"Oh no. I'm terrified..." Yüsei drawled sarcastically.
"I'm serious!"
"Certainly sounds like you are."
"I'll make you eat that can!"
"And I'll have to explain to Mikage why her boyfriend has a broken hand..."
"Yüsei! And don't think that rhyming was clever!" Jack roared, resulting in his comrade to laugh slightly. It was a weak sound, but full of memories of older times spent together where the two of them would quarrel like brothers. And like siblings, they shared a concern for the other's life and well-being, "Well regardless, you got yourself a high class woman. Congratulations..." Yüsei added before taking a slow swig of his drink. He almost seemed a tad bitter in admitting the accolade. Nevertheless, Jack paid it no heed and crossed his arms, "...I want to do something special for her... Something that she'll love and never forget. What are you going to do with Aki?"
Yüsei chortled a bit at this, then placed down his drink, "We're going to talk and catch up like old times. I told you. It's not a date. Stop making it sound like one," In changing the subject, his tone heightened a tad, "You've been with Mikage for roughly 6 months now right? And the two of you barely have the time to see each other on the weekends when you two are free."
"That's because her weekday hours always change, but she makes time anyway to spend it with me."
"When was the last time you 'loved' her?" Yüsei asked effortlessly out of the blue.
Jack curled his lip in confusion. He may not have understood the wayward inquiry, but he certainly challenged the way it sounded, "If I didn't love her, I wouldn't have gotten with her, Yüsei. That's a stupid question!"
"I knew you'd say that," Yüsei smiled faintly and shook his head. His expression dressed his features in a quaint description as if he had recalled a bittersweet memory. Swiftly, his eyes then returned to Jack and he leaned forward. In a low voice, he clarified, "What I meant was...when was the last time you 'loved' her?"
"What?"
"Look, you've taken her on dates before right?"
"If you can call them dates. It's just us being together. It doesn't need a label!"
Yüsei sighed and shook his head, "Do you ever plan on giving Mikage kids, Jack?"
"Of course I do!" the blonde retaliated boastfully.
"Then on Valentine's Day, you should take her out, show her a nice time and then make the night one to remember."
Jack narrowed his eyes and made a face as if such a statement coming from Yüsei was a foul smell that had risen between them. Why was his friend so insistent on this? Jack actually already had plans to make Valentine's Day THE day when they took that next step together. It was almost as if Yüsei could read his mind. His puzzlement was overwhelming, "What are you getting at..."
"MAKE LOVE TO MIKAGE!" Yüsei blurted out all at once.
"BUGGER! Yüsei! Keep it DOWN!"
"This is my HOUSE! Don't tell me you never have...?"
"-! That's-! I-!." Jack trailed off and proceeded to mutter something inaudible to anyone else but himself. Seeming relieved, Yüsei took in a deep breath, then pushed himself to his feet on the exhale, "I knew it. Jack, I understand you both have tight schedules, but don't you think she'd want to be held in your arms?" he suggested cautiously, crafting the word "˜held' in a gentle manner to hint at an implied meaning. Jack caught on immediately.
"Aren't you a nosy bloke! I said I didn't come here to-"
"Jack, listen. When the 14th gets here in the next few days, take her to dinner or a movie. Make her happy; let her know you have the time to stick around. Personally, I don't know how to manage a long distance relationship. Tried one once before. It didn't work out," he reminisced softly.
"But we don't have a-!"
"You may as well call it one with the bizarre hours you two away away from each other. Let me put it this way, don't come back here to visit until after you've shown her how much she means to you. She may be patient, but she's not going to wait forever."
"And how do you know all this?" Jack asked; his voice was rich with seriousness and masculinity.
"..." Yüsei paused to obtain his reply. His eyes were solemn; his lips were thinned in a taut line. Then gingerly, they softened; their change was almost too minuscule to notice. Mikage never had to tell him anything. From the times they had spent together in the past, he uncovered her likes and dislikes almost all at once and learned her rather well. They had once been great friends and he still held her as one of his best. "Let's just say...I have a way of knowing these types of things. Now, please get out!" he urged, standing to press his hands against Jack's shoulders and steer him towards the door.
"Hey! You don't have to push!"
OoO
It was late in the afternoon on the 14th when Mikage had returned home. Being in charge of one of many police stations scattered throughout Domino was draining, but it did allow for flexible hours. Utterances of the day's excursions fluttered about her lips as the tired woman kicked off her heels one foot at a time. The dull glow of the sunset through her windows engulfed her body in a warm silhouette. Its shade followed her movements until her entrance into the next room silenced the imagery. She shed her work clothes in her bedroom, then padded towards the bathroom. After having a welcoming hot shower, she dressed and entered the small kitchen in her apartment. These few simple actions had become routine and she performed them more through repetition than through awareness.
The weary woman poured herself a hot cup of water from a coffee pot that she used for the clear liquid only. There was duplicate of the machine next to it filled with coffee. Her eyes trailed over the item briefly before returning to her current task. It seemed as if Jack hadn't had much of it today. She wondered if he visited the cafe for his favored cup of Blue Eyes Mountain coffee earlier.
Jack... Just where was he? Today was Valentine's Day, wasn't it? She didn't remember him having any particular important duels today. Then again, he could change his schedule at whim so quickly, she almost never knew what time he'd come to see her. Mikage had just begun to lower a tea bag into the cup when a familiar bounding of footfalls rushed up the hallway steps. She hardly had any time to check the door before a boisterous Jack busted right through.
"MIKAGE!" he shouted, barreling through the living room searching for her, startling the woman. No matter how much he had done that, it still made her jump. Thankfully she didn't drop or spill anything- except a thimble of wit in his direction, "JACK! Please stop doing that! One of these days, I'm going to throw something at that door!"
The blonde whipped around fully towards her at the sound of her voice, "Mikage! There you are. HOW MANY TIMES HAVE I TOLD YOU TO LOCK THAT DOOR?"
"! I-I didn't?"
"No, you didn't! Anyone could have barged in here and robbed the place or attacked you!" He warned, walking briskly towards her on every other word. The woman's eyes bore into Jack's as he paused directly in front of her and dropped his hands atop her shoulders. He gave them a squeeze and brought her closer to be sure he gained all of her attention, "Then I would be taken in by your officers for kicking some punk's-!"
"Jack, please! I've had a long day..." Mikage retaliated, moving his hands away with the backs of her wrists. He allowed the action, then grinned foxily; his eyebrows waggled automatically, "Then I have good news. We're going out. Get dressed!"
Alarmed, the petite woman blinked, "B-but Jack!"
"No buts! It's Valentine's Day, and I'm taking you out! And I won't accept '˜I'm too tired' as an answer! I'll be ready in 20 minutes!"
"But-!"
As to finalize his offer, Jack leaned down and veiled her lips with a tender peck letting his words linger "I want to give you the best so don't keep me waiting."
"Ah..Yes... That's sweet and all, but Jack-" Mikage stammered, only to be subdued by another, and much heavier, kiss. When Jack pulled back, he cupped her cheek in a palm and feathered a thumb over her bottom lip, "I'll meet you in the car. Don't be late," he concluded in a husky voice. As he stepped away from her, Mikage suddenly began to feel cold, as if a part of her was leaving along with him. A vibrant blush tickled her cheeks while her lips pursed in a cute pout. Then, she sighed. That man. She wanted to be mad at him, but there was no point in bickering with him, now. Besides, not only was the idea of going out on a date sounding like a lot of fun, but it would be a great way to spend more time with him. Smiling bashfully to herself, she peered down at her hands, wondering when she had clasped them timidly in front of her. She had been twiddling her thumbs from the joy of the thought. When was the last time they went on a date? Quickly, she tidied up the kitchen counter, then hurried into her room to change.
OoO
To Be Continued