They walked down the street, eventually passing the coffee shop. It didn't look nearly as inviting at night as it did during the day, lights turned out and dark shadows dancing inside cast from the street lamps that lit their way.

"Ok so I'm warning you now, I'm going to drink at this thing. Like…I'm not gonna get drunk, hangovers suck. But I'm probably going to act like an idiot, so prep for that." Kirishima tried to stifle his laugh unsuccessfully.

"What kind of drunk are you? Like a happy talkative drunk? Some people get really quiet, or go the opposite route and lose all volume control."

"Mmm, maybe a bit of the first two? I tend to get very giggly, and I laugh at honestly anything even if it makes no sense. I feel like I go back and forth between being social, and then wanting to just sit down somewhere quiet." Ryuko led them across the street to a tall office building where most of the lights were out except for a couple of floors about a third of the way up. "Ok, we're here." Swiping her keycard, she opened the door to the building and let them both inside.

"This is basically a house party with adults and the location happens to be in an office. Don't expect a lot of professionalism tonight." They stepped into the elevator, Ryuko pressing the button to the proper floor. She looked to her left at Kirishima, hands in his pockets, looking calm but excited. She held up a finger and gestured for him to come closer. Leaning over, their faces almost touching, she whispered into his hear "thanks for coming," before giving him a peck on the cheek. "Oh shit hold on," she said laughing, bringing a hand up to wipe his cheek. "Got some lipstick on you, OK you're good." Before she could pull away, he gave her one right back. The smile on his face could have melted a bucket of ice with its warmth.

"I'm happy to be here with you. Thanks for inviting me!" Kirishima was forced to pull away as the elevator doors opened. He nearly gasped at the sight in front of him.

This wasn't a normal boring looking office that he expected, not by a long shot. They worked at an animation studio, and naturally there was a lot of artwork and creative decorating happening on every surface. Framed posters of shorts and shows they had produced or collaborated on hung on a long wall to the left. All of the desks were simple uniform tables with tablet monitors and fancy looking powerful computers, but everyone seemed to decorate their desks to suit their personalities. Some had action figures, others had stuffed animals, one desk was piled high with various boxes of tea and snacks. The room was alive with not only artwork, but people as well. Laughing employees with their own guests walked around on the floor, light music playing from the very back echoing across the tiles and muffled by shifting bodies. This was certainly an unconventional office space, already.

"Oh wow, this place looks awesome! You have to show me your desk so I can see how messy it is." He a little shove for that, but it didn't have any anger behind it.

"Oh my god, you're not wrong though it's honestly a mess." She led him around the crowd towards the other side of the office. While he was distracted taking in everything, Ryuko glimpsed Tsu and Ochako talking across the room. Tsu noticed Ryuko and her guest, and grabbed Ochako's face to turn her towards the couple. Her face was already red, a mostly empty drink in her hand. She pointed excitedly towards them, trying very hard to keep from laughing at nothing in particular. Tsu just gave a silent thumbs-up, Ryuko hoping she didn't end up looking like a moron before the night was over.

"Ok, can you guess which desk is mine?" They stopped at a corner room filled with about seven rows of desks. Kirishima hummed to himself as he analyzed the tabletops of all the desks, trying to pick out anything that might remind him of his date. After a few minutes of going back and forth humming to himself, he finally pointed down to one, picking up a book and waving it in the air.

"You mentioned you were reading this book, right?"

"Uh yeah, you remembered?" She was a bit taken aback that he actually remembered a passing comment on a book she started reading during lunch the previous week.

"Sure! I feel I'm a pretty good listener. I'm guessing I'm right then?" He set the book down and surveyed the rest of the room. "You're in charge of all these people? I bet you're a great boss." There was that blinding smile again, and this time she couldn't help but hide her blush from the flattery. Commenting on her looks was one thing, but she really did care about doing well at her job, and making sure her team succeeded in area that she could directly control.

"Mmm…I hope so. It's stressful sometimes, keeping track of so many people. My job as a Director is to ultimately make them be better than me, to give them the potential to excel. There's this…mentality in a lot of places that keeping your position is more important than helping the people around you to the best of your ability. If you boost yourself while pushing others down, it'll only hinder your team. I probably won't work here forever, and someone here will take my place eventually. And hopefully they can improve on what I'm building…what?" She had spaced out while talking, but turned back to Kirishima. He had this…look on his face that made her breath catch in her throat. It was the look of someone who was falling into something deeper than he could understand in that single moment. He blinked, and the spell was broken.

"Uh, sorry. Um…yeah, I was right. You're a really good boss."

"Oh hey look alcohol yes I need some of that." The air was thick, and she needed something to thin it significantly. She pulled him over to a table filled with cheap beer, sake, and plum wine. "It's all free so go nuts." They made a mock toast with their cheap plastic cups, signaling the start of a long night.

"Oh, are you hungry? I'm a bad host, there's food over in the kitchen." Kirishima's eyes seemed light up at the mention of food, so she set her purse down at her desk, covering it with a blanket she kept around, and led him into the area filled with increasingly energetic and loud people. She grabbed his hand to lead him through the crowd to the tables with various snacks and foods, and he held onto it gladly.

"You guys don't hold back on the parties…" Kirishima's mouth started to water at the impressive spread. He went straight for anything with meat in it, Ryuko adding some greens and rice to her own plate. Before they could head back to the more secluded area around her department an intoxicated brunette nearly tripped in front of them.

"I FOUND YOU! You've been hiding…" Ochako's cheeks were flushed from the obvious alcohol on her breath, a mischievous glint in her eyes.

"Uh…Kirishima, this is my coworker Ochako. As you can tell she's drunk."

He nodded in her direction, "Hi, nice to meet you!" Ochako smiled crookedly at his happy demeanor. At that moment they were jointed by another person, this one with long dark green hair and large eyes. It took a moment, but a look of recognition hit him.

"Hmm…sorry, you look familiar. Do I know you?" Tsu smiled warmly up at him.

"Yes, you do. We had some classes together in college. When Ryu described you, I had a strong suspicion that I knew who she was talking about." Tsu kept a calm face as she held Ochako to keep her from wobbling to the ground in a giggling fit.

"Aha, you're right! Tsu, correct? It's good to see you again." The green haired woman nodded in confirmation.

"We'll let you guys eat, c'mon Ochako. You need to drink some water." Tsu started to lead her coworker away, when Ochako broke free to point back over to Kirishima.

"You better be nice to her! I'll kick your ass if I find out you're mean!" Quickly covering her mouth and voicing an apology, Tsu managed to lead Ochako back around to the other end of the room towards a table with bottled water. Kirishima's gaze lingered where they disappeared in the crowd, then slid over to his date next to him. She didn't look up as she cleared her throat.

"Uh, we can go back over to the couches near my desk if that's ok." She started to lead the way back to where they came from. Kirishima followed, a bit concerned at the sudden shift in body language.

"Is everything ok? You know I wouldn't do anything to hurt you right?" They sat down at an empty couch, Ryuko downing the rest of her drink before looking at him with a small smile.

"Yeah, I know. They're just protective, don't worry about it. We eat lunch together everyday so we're pretty close and they just.." she cleared her throat. "I invited you here to have a good time, right? So no somber moods tonight!" She popped some food into her mouth with a mock grin, a sign to move the conversation along to something new. Kirishima got the hint, not wanting to make her uncomfortable from prying.

They sat for a while just chatting about anything, learning more and more about each other. Ryuko was on her third cup of beer and it was showing. When she laughed really hard she snorted – just like when they were trying on crazy clothes at the thrift store - which made Kirishima nearly fall off the couch at how cute it was.

"So tell me, how did you come to work at the coffee shop? Have you always worked there?" Kirishima's smile fell a bit at the question.

"Ah, that's a bit of a story…" he said, scratching at his cheek.

"We have time. But uh, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want to," he said, noticing the slight hesitation in his voice.

"No, it's fine. I've been spending most of my off time looking for other job opportunities, but nothing's really stuck yet. After graduation…I started feeling like I wasn't good enough, no one would hire me. I could get interviews, but no one called me back after those first meetings. I've been at the shop a little over a year, and it's not a bad job or anything…but I think I can do better." His fingers slid against each other in a nervous fidget, his face staring out towards one of the large windows that looked out onto the dark city. A pair of firm hands grabbed him by the cheeks and turned him around to stare into the face of tipsy determination.

"HEY! Don't talk about yourself like that. You're smart, and nice, and a good listener, and I can tell you're a hard worker. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise, ok? You're strong, I can tell." His face was getting warmer and warmer at the outpour of kind words. He didn't have very many people in his life - not that he kept in regular contact with, anyway - that could boost him up when his self confidence started to wane. He was usually the one helping others, but sometimes he needed help too. He leaned into the palm of her hand, his eyes almost closing. It was comfortable, he could stay like this. It was nice.

"…Thank you." Without thinking he turned his head to place the softest kiss into her hand, like it was the most natural thing in the world in that moment, a simple gesture of contact and appreciation. She didn't pull her hand away, the warmth of his cheeks in her palms pouring across her skin and down her arms like a blanket on a cool night. Opening her mouth to talk, she was interrupted by a verbal exchange close by. Ryuko looked up over the back of the couch, and to Kirishima her sudden change of expression reminded him of his angry roommate.

"What's wrong?"

"Stay here." She got up from the couch, surprisingly sturdy for how much she'd drank so far. Kirishima looked over the top of the couch to see what was about to happen.

An older looking man was talking with a woman who looked younger than Kirishima, maybe just out of college. The man was laughing loudly, a hand rubbing circles on the woman's shoulder. But her body language was a red flag that the touch was uninvited, but she nodded hesitantly at their conversation, maybe not wanting to appear rude. It made Kirishima's stomach churn, but he watched his date walk around and place herself happily between the two. She managed to unhinge the man from the other woman, explaining something about needing to talk to her for a moment. The man seemed persistent, but Ryuko stood her ground and shooed him away playfully. As soon as his back was turned, she flicked him off with a scowl as she led the younger woman away towards the couch.

"You OK?" The girl nodded shyly.

"Uh, yeah. Thanks. I'm kind of new, I don't really know him…"

"Even people you know or see everyday can be creeps. You can always say 'no' to something, or tell them to leave you alone. It's not rude. If he messes with you again come find me OK?" The younger woman looked from Ryuko to the man on the couch who gave her a thumbs up and flashed that smile of his.

"We'll help you out, no worries!" The young woman nodded as she made her way back over to the kitchen area, keeping an eye out for the man she wanted to avoid.

Ryuko leaned against the back of the couch, arms crossed, her expression sour.

"Most offices are patriarchies. All my bosses are men. Only recently does it feel like things are starting to shift, but there's still a long way to go. A lot of those old assholes don't understand they can't just…ugh." She threw her hands up in the air exasperated as she walked over to pour herself another drink. Kirishima got up from the couch and walked over to stretch his legs and join his date in front of large windows dark with the expanse of night outside. "Thanks for backing me up." He shook his head.

"Even though I'm a guy, I've never liked creeps like that. I try and speak up when I see shitty behavior but…" He chewed his lip, looking almost guilty for something that he wasn't responsible for. "I'm sorry you have to deal with that. Like I said earlier…you're a good boss." Ryuko held her cup but didn't take a drink as she looked out the window at the few flickering office lights still on across the street.

"I worked hard to get where I am. I used to play it down, but I've been trying not to do that so much anymore, to accept that I'm her because I earned it. There are more women working here than there were last year, almost twice as many. It's still not a lot, but it's something. I've told anyone on my team that if anyone ever makes them feel uncomfortable, if they don't want to talk to HR about it they can come to me. I won't put up with it. I might not be able to directly affect things, but if I can help someone feel more comfortable then I'll do it." She looked at their mirrored reflections in the dark window, watching as his eyes scanned over the dark horizon outside and eventually moving to meet the eyes in her reflection. She turned her head away, suddenly feeling very embarrassed.

"Uh, hell sorry, I feel like I keep bringing the mood down."

"No, it's fine. I'm…finding out more about you. And that's not a bad thing." He moved a bit closer, she didn't move away. "You're pretty amazing from what I know so far." Her throat was dry as she turned her head to face him. He really was beautiful, ruby eyes glistening with acceptance and understanding that made her feel like she was swallowing molasses.

"HEY KARAOKE IS STARTING YOU CAN LICK EACH OTHER LATER!" Ryuko almost spilled her drink at the sudden screaming from the kitchen. Of-fucking-course Ochako had to come in at the perfectly wrong moment.

"Oh my god…" Kirishima laughed nervously, the break in atmosphere not lost on him. "I haven't done karaoke in…probably since college. Do you want to? It could be fun!" He was very effective at rolling with impromptu ideas and suggestions.

"Know what? Yeah sure this sounds like a good hilariously bad thing to watch."

Out of the handful of people brave enough to actually go up and sing, about two were OK and the rest were absolutely drunkenly terrible. Kirishima actually went up to sing and no one besides Ryuko, Tsu, and Ochako knew who he was but his energy was so great that it overshadowed the broken singing and everyone clapped. Overall it was an amazing end to the night when they left on a high note. It was almost 11 when they decided to head out, and on the way out Ryuko happened to glimpse a certain pair of friends talking in whispered tones, standing very close together, one holding the other's hand. Looks like the alcohol was just what Ochako actually needed after all.

They stepped into the elevator, Kirishima coming down from his karaoke high and Ryuko trying to suppress another round of drunken snickering. They were holding hands, fingers loosely intertwined.

"It feels like forever since I've really had this much fun! It's normally just go to work and come home, rinse and repeat without a lot of stuff in between." His eyes were shining like warm wet stars.

"I needed this break in monotony, like so bad…thanks for coming with me." She pressed the button to go down to the ground floor. As soon as the door closed, it was just them. He moved closer, his breath hot on her ear. It sent sparks down her spine.

"Can I kiss you?" Her breath caught in her throat for what felt like the hundredth time that night. This time, she didn't hesitate.

"Yes." Everything unraveled.

Unable to wait any longer, he cupped her chin gently as his lips met hers. It felt like a dam was cracking in her chest, electricity shooting from her mouth down her spine like a jolt. His lips were chapped but still soft. And so warm. Everything felt so warm, the blood in her veins burning from the inside out a river on fire. It was delicate, but sturdy, a reflection of what she saw in him. Time seemed to be going at different speeds simultaneously, like they had all the time and no time at all. She intertwined their fingers, his hand was sweaty. She didn't care.

The last remnants of her lipstick had rubbed off hours ago, but even if it didn't he wouldn't have minded. Like a mark left behind. Her lips were plump and she tasted like alcohol and power. He'd wanted to do this all night, even before then, his face on fire from the collective heat of every pent up breath being let out at once. The hum of the elevator sounded like music in this moment, echoing in his ears and chest.

The ring of the elevator brought them back far too soon. The door opened, revealing the cold dark emptiness of the ground floor.

"Um…we should go." He spoke against her lips, breaking the kiss with extreme reluctance.

"I know." They didn't move, bodies pressed together against the cold metal of the elevator.

The doors were about to close again, but Kirishima reluctantly jumped to open them back up. Still holding onto her hand like he never wanted to let go, he led them out of the elevator and into the cool air of the night.

The walk back to the train station wasn't nearly as talkative as it was on the way to the party. It was like they were in a hurry to get to a destination that didn't exist. When they reached streetlights illuminating the station, Kirishima didn't stop in front of the trains. He kept walking, leading them out of the way of most of the people to an area behind a wide pillar. He seemed out of breath despite their walking pace.

"Sorry, I just…" he rubbed the back of his head nervously. "Can I kiss you again?"

This time he was up against the wall as she leaned up to grab the collar of his shirt, bringing his lips to meet hers. He was taken back by the forward gesture but he certainly wasn't against it. Their lips moved faster now, adrenaline pumping through pumping veins. It was a bit clumsy and rushed at first, but after half a minute they fell into a rhythm, heads tilted in opposite directions. He was careful not to bite, even though his hungry mouth wanted to sing into hers. Kirishima's hands came up to rest on her shoulders, thumbs rubbing circles into her skin. Her hands still clung to his shirt in an attempt to hold onto this moment, this experience. Another train came and went.

She eventually forced herself to pull away, breathless, lips red and used from friction. Chancing to look up at him was a bad idea, because he look he gave her with those smoldering red eyes said don't go. How could someone hold so many different emotions with only their eyes? He pulled her in without words, as if words could properly capture a look like his.

"Uh…I-I should go." Swallowing hard, she thought to herself that she couldn't stay, it was a bad idea. Ryuko slowly let go of his shirt, his collar wrinkled from her grip. His hands were still on her shoulders. Luckily he didn't push it and accepted her answer.

"Alright. Did you have fun at least?" The question held several different unsaid meanings. His breaths were still a bit ragged.

"What kind of question is that? We just made out for like ten minutes, and I'm feeling pretty good right now. Better than I have in a long time. So yeah, I had fun." She couldn't tell if the flush on her face was from the confession or the alcohol. Possibly both. Either way it made Kirishima laugh, a sound that warmed her like the coffee she bought every morning. There was that damn smile again.

"I'm glad. I had fun too. I'm off work tomorrow, are you free?" This time she laughed.

"Really? You aren't tired of hanging out with me yet?" He shook his head in disbelief, looking morally offended in a non-serious way.

"What? No, so far I can't get enough…um sorry that was-" She cut him off with another kiss. It was gentle and not long enough, like the one in the elevator. It still sent sparks through her skin like the prickle of static.

"Yeah, I'm free."

They waited on their respective trains, this time standing in the yellow light of the street lamps. When her train started pull in, she pulled him in for one more kiss. He smiled against her lips.

"Call me when you get home, ok?"

"Sure, of course I will," like it was the most natural thing to say. As if it wasn't even a question that needed to be asked. He smiled and waved as she jumped onto the mostly empty train. She turned back around before the doors closed and gave him a look that, even from far away, he could tell held something like pooling hope. And with that, the doors closed.

She sat down, letting out a shaky breath. Her lips were still warm even though the air outside was slightly cool. She could still taste him on her mouth, still hungry, like sampling something that you wanted more of but knew was bad for you. Checking her phone for the first time in several hours, she saw Ochako had texted her. It was a picture of her and Tsu looking adorable with the caption "did u guys kiss yet? WE DID!"

"Oh my god what a dork…" She replied anyway with a simple "yesss."

Kirishima's train arrived a few minutes after Ryuko's left. Even though it was late and he was tired, his heart felt like bursting with something he couldn't quite name. No one could keep the toothy smile off his face. There were a couple of serious heartfelt moments, things that humbled him as a person. Even though he had his own problems, most of them were things he was actively working to change. Things that had the option to change. But for her it seemed like it was an uphill battle. But he was pretty sturdy, maybe she'd let him be a support in the future.

Ryuko walked off the train and towards her apartment. It was very dark at this point, a few of the street lamps needing replacement bulbs leaving gaps in visibility on the cracked sidewalk. The alcohol in her system affected her walk only slightly. The apartment wasn't far, just a couple of blocks away. She'd made this walk hundreds of times.

A hand clamped over her mouth from behind, muffling the scream that tried to escape.