Hey friends!
Sorry for minor delays with posting! If you don't follow my Tumblrs you may not know, but I'm expecting my second child. The first trimester was brutal with morning sickness and fatigue which made writing really difficult. I'm a good leg into my second trimester by now and feeling much better so I should be able to get back on schedule but please bear with me.
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Please enjoy chapter twelve!
Tamina shifted in her seat in the large auditorium. The commencement speeches at Raira's opening ceremony were all blending together now, each speaker drolling on and on. In her boredom she began to scan the crowds. Seat by seat she observed the other parents and guardians that filled the cluttered space. One face was noticeable absent though. 'Bastard..' She thought to herself. Izaya really hadn't bothered to show up...
She caught sight of Mairu and Kururi at the front with the rest of the first years. Kururi paid attention to the speaker, but Mairu leaned back in her seat, waving excitedly at Tamina. Tamina suppressed a small laugh at her usual goofiness and made a small wave back.
Tamina's phone chimed, the volume amplified in the silent crowd. She jumped at the noise, quickly fumbling through her bag to find it. The other parents in her row cast an annoyed glance, which she returned with an apologetic look of her own. She had meant to silence it before the ceremony began. Discretely she checked the text she had just received. Her embarrassment faded and a smile crept onto her face as she read the message.
It read, "Hey, just making sure we're still on for later. Can't wait to see you." From Shizuo.
Despite the stress she'd been under lately, he was always a comfort.
Tamina strode into the familiar cafe. They'd decided to meet at the first place they'd walked together. She found it incredible adorable that Shizuo would suggest it. She loved how sentimental and sweet he was. She found him sitting at a table, scrolling through his phone while he waited. It was the first time she'd seen him in anything besides his usual bar tender get up. He looked so casual, wearing jeans and a green track jacket. She just watched him for a moment, smiling.
He looked up when he felt eyes on him and his face immediately lit up. "Hey!" He called to her. She approached and he stood. He found himself suddenly feeling awkward and flustered, as usual. Should he hug her? Go for a kiss? Were they at that point yet? The date hadn't even started and he was already lost.
To his relief she stepped right up to him, standing on her tip toes to lean in. He bent down to meet her and her lips caught his in an eager kiss. It felt much smoother than his first attempts. He'd thought about it at least a hundred times since the last time he saw her. Wondering if he'd really get to be that close to someone again.
She broke away, smiling at the sweet, dazed look on his face. "Sorry to keep you waiting." She told him.
"No." He shook off the distracted look. "I just got here myself." He assured her. She sat across from him and he found himself lost again in her smile. It gave him such a calm and euphoric feeling. One he was still becoming acquainted with. He wished he had a picture of it. "Thanks for coming." He found himself saying in full gratitude.
She gave him a funny look. "Why are you thanking me?"
He shrugged. "Well, all things considered. I was a shy weirdo the first couple times we met. Then I threw a street sign at that flea right in front on you. Not to mention the massive head injury you got thanks to yours truly." He found himself averting his eyes, the sting of embarrassment still ever present.
Tamina's smile never faded. "You're forgetting the parts where you helped me when I was lost, saving me from a gang of creeps and getting me to a doctor faster than any ambulance could." She reminded.
"I still appreciate you giving me a chance." He said.
"Always so hard on yourself." She observed teasingly.
He allowed himself a small laugh. "Habit, I guess."
"Well, I'm happy to be here." She told him.
A short silence passed between them. She kept smiling at him and he finally felt a relaxed smile taking him too. He so enjoyed the way she made him feel.
"So," She finally spoke again. "I guess you don't go on many dates?"
"None, actually." He admitted.
She looked surprised. "None at all?"
He was a little embarrassed. "I've just never been comfortable enough with anyone. I've always tried to keep my distance considering..." He searched for the words. "How I... am..." He watched her as she studied him. "I know. You probably think I'm even more of a freak now."
"No, no." She protested, reaching over to touch his hand on the table. To his relief she was smiling again. "I think you're an incredibly considerate person." She told him sincerely. "And I'm even happier to hear that I'm the person you're comfortable enough with."
He was so happy to hear her say that. Beyond happy. Over the moon, in fact. She was always so understanding. He never thought there would be someone who would try to understand him. Someone who'd give him the benefit of the doubt. It was this fear, among others, that always kept him at arms length from everyone. He didn't believe there could be anyone who could look him in the face and see anything but a monster. But here she was. With that smile... He turned his palm over to meet hers and grasped her hand in his.
They spent some time in that cafe, sipping coffee and talking about just about everything. How they both grew up, Kasuka's recent movie endeavors, their friends. Shizuo found his words so fluid and his laughs so easy. This was certainly something he saw himself getting used to.
Once they finished up there, they took a walk. Tamina had become better acquainted with Ikebukuro's busy streets but was still rather unfamiliar with the in's and out's of the city. Shizuo pointed out restaurants he enjoyed and the best places to catch street performers. The couple didn't go unnoticed. A well known man like Shizuo walking around and holding hands with a pretty pint sized girl was something that provoked a lot of attention. Under normal circumstances, this would probably piss him off to no end. Today though, he barely noticed. He was too caught up in the uncharacteristic way Tamina made him feel. He hardly even felt himself. Which, at least to him, was a good thing.
Eventually they came upon a park. Shizuo hadn't intended to stop there but Tamina found the large open green of it's field far too inviting. She took the lead, tugging him along. He watched curiously as she guided him onto the grass. Once they were a decent way onto the green she turned and laid right down, playfully patting the grass next to her.
Shizuo laughed. "We're just gonna lay here?"
"Why not?" She asked.
He looked around. "Are we supposed to?"
"Who's going to stop us? The park police?" She teased. They'd had their fun for the day, but by now she was dying to get closer to him. She craved it, and PDA certainly wasn't a concern.
He couldn't find a reason not to, so he awkwardly crouched down and came to sit next to her in the grass. He was taken by surprised when she looped her arms around him and playfully tackled him into the grass. He was staggered by surprise rather than her strength but he fell back all the same. She nuzzled into his side, settling partially on top of him. She let one leg sling across him while she hugged around his neck. He always got a little anxious when she was this close, but his body acted in the right way, as it typically did with her. He hugged her, losing himself in how good it felt to have someone to hold. She laid her head against his chest and both settled in their contentment for some time.
The clouds passed over head in large, billowy puffs, occasionally shading them from the brightness of the sun. A strong spring breeze would gust every so often, causing the trees to shift. Shizuo felt like he could fully absorb everything. The haze of irritation and anger that usual occupied him wasn't present at all for fog his senses. He could see every detail and ripple in the clouds and hear the rustle of every single leaf. It was like the world spun around him in a whole new clarity now that he had some modicum of peace in his life. Tamina just rested her eyes, content to just listen to him breath and feel his protective arms around her. It wasn't long ago that she was so unsure of everything. There was still so much uncertainty, she knew, but now, at least in this moment, she felt whole again.
The sudden rush of this feeling caused her to lean up and look right in his face. His attention was immediately drawn from his distracted sky gazing back to her and her even closer proximity. He recognized the look on her face and had a feeling he knew where this was going. Her hand came to his face and she guided him to meet her halfway until her lips caught his. He was determined to do better at this this go around, but he still tried to start slow, allowing her to set the pace and guide him through the motions of their lips. Once he was comfortable with that his eyes lulled shut and he was able to melt into their slow make out.
Tamina was just contemplating their next move when her phone began to ring. She leaned away, internally cursing whoever was calling. These distractions always seemed to come at the most inopportune moments. "Sorry." She huffed, digging through her bag.
"Don't be." Shizuo said in a breath, still a little dazed.
She didn't recognize the number calling. "Hello?" She answered.
"Good afternoon. Miss Takeda?" The man on the other end asked.
"Yes..?" Tamina answered, unsure.
"Sorry to bother you. I'm calling from Raira."
Tamina inwardly groaned. It was only the first day! What had the twins gotten into already? "Can I help you?" She asked anxiously.
"I'm calling because of a small incident involving Kururi and Mairu Orihara today." He began.
"I'm so sorry." She began to apologize. "Should I-"
"No need to apologize." The man cut her off. "I'm afraid the girls were the victims of some bullying today."
"Oh." Tamina couldn't contain the surprise in her voice. She hadn't expected to hear that at all.
"It's just protocol to make you aware. We'd also like to assure you that the other girls have been dealt with appropriately. Raira doesn't condone or tolerate bullying of any kind." He told her.
"Well, thank you for letting me know." She replied.
"I apologize for the news. We'll make sure it doesn't happen again. Please enjoy the rest of your day." He said.
"Thanks, you too." With that she hung up. She knew the twins were a bit eccentric, but she never imagined them being the targets of bullying.
"Everything okay?" Shizuo asked, noting the change in her.
"I'm so sorry. The twins had some trouble at school. I should go." She told him, regrettably.
"Oh. That's okay." He said, leaning up on his elbows. "I should probably get ready for work anyway."
"Let's do this again soon?" She said apologetically.
"Please." He replied right away with a grin.
The two got up, brushing stray blades of grass off their clothes. Then Shizuo offered his arm, which Tamina gladly took, happy for an escort home. Despite it being cut short, she considered this quite a successful first date.
Tamina got dinner started early and finished tidying up. There was one more load of laundry drying that she would fold later. Other than that, the daily chores were done and she anxiously waited for the twins to arrive home. She perked up from her place on the couch when she heard the front door open.
"It smells so good!" She heard Mairu shout upon entering the apartment. "I'm starving!"
The twins shuffled in and tossed their school bags. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. They certainly didn't seem upset. Tamina watched them curiously. "How was school?" She asked suggestively.
"Fine." Kururi answered monotonously.
Tamina blinked as they moved to their room to change and get ready for dinner. She set the table and got their meals set up. The girls returned and sat, digging right in. She waited, but neither said anything to hint troubles from the day. She finally just decided to ask. "So... Raira called today. Is everything okay?"
"Yup." The twins both said, barely looking up from their meals.
"You're...sure?" She pressed.
"Is this about those girls that vandalized our desks?" Mairu questioned with a full mouth.
"I just heard there were some bullies bothering you." Tamina explained.
"We took care of it." Kururi said flatly.
Tamina quirked a brow. "What does that mean, exactly?"
"Well, I was pretty reserved." Mairu began. "I just made some threats with my thumb tac special. Kururi actually tried to set the girl on fire." She cackled.
"It didn't work." Kururi said, still with no inflection.
Tamina stared, undeniably perplexed. She almost felt silly for making such a big deal out of it. Clearly the girls were fine and dealt with the situation on their own. She raised her brows and gave a nod, dropping the matter. It seemed she could enjoy her dinner in peace after all.
"Come on you two! Your breakfast is getting cold!" Tamina shouted for what she felt like was the hundredth time. It was met by nothing more than a pair of groans. The twins were putting up their usual fight for the morning routine. She rolled her eyes and continued down the hall, dragging the vacuum cleaner with her. If they were going to ignore her, she wasn't about to make it easy. She plugged it in and turned it on, vacuuming the living room floor, completely uncaring of it's volume. It seemed to work, as the girls shuffled groggily out of their room and sat down to eat shortly after, casting her some mildly irate side eye. Tamina held a rather pleased smile and continued with her loud chore while they ate.
"Are we really the 'vacuum between the cushions' kind of people?" Mairu called to their caregiver over the sound.
Tamina continued to clean the couch with the hose. "No, you two are more of the 'make crumbs all over the couch' kind." She called back.
Despite the slow start she eventually got both of them to get dressed and ready for school with plenty of time. As they packed their backpacks a knock came to the front door. Mairu bounded down the hall to answer it. Tamina watched after her, wondering who could be paying them a visit so early.
"Wow!" She heard Mairu exclaim from down the hall. "Yakuza in the building!"
Tamina immediately stiffened, unsure if she'd heard correctly. Yakuza? Here? Why?! She quickly peeked into the hall to investigate.
"Is there a hit on us because, I gotta warn ya, I think I could take you on Mr. Shiki." Mairu teased, adopting a playful martial arts stance.
Tamina stared, completely baffled by the exchange. The man she greeted in the doorway certainly looked legit in his white suit, along with his entourage, but Mairu didn't seem concerned in the least.
"Very funny Miss Orihara." Shiki replied with a smile. "Luckily for everyone, we have no such business here today."
"Mairu?" Tamina called cautiously from her place down the hall.
"Oh! No worries Mina!" Mairu assured. "This is Mr. Shiki from the Awakusu's." She informed with a smile.
Her words hardly inspired comfort, but Tamina tried to mask her reservations. "Good morning." She greeted the man, forcing a smile herself.
"Hey! Could we get a Yakuza escort to school this morning?" Mairu asked hopefully. "That would be so bad ass!"
"Actually I have some business here with a Miss. Takeda." Shiki informed, casting a glance at the girl timidly waiting at the end of the hall.
Mairu looked suspicious now. "You swear this isn't a hit?" She asked, eyes narrowed.
"You have my word." He promised. "Just here for a chat." When Mairu didn't seem eased he added. "A pleasant chat."
Mairu finally relaxed, seemingly trusting of his words. "Okay!" She said with a shrug and retreated down the hall to get her things. It was about time for them to leave.
Kururi came to stand with Tamina, already carrying her school bag. Tamina leaned into her and whispered. "Should I be worried?" She asked, more than nervous by now.
"They won't hurt you." Kururi said simply. She seemed to be just as comfortable with the Yakuza men's presence as her sister.
With that Mairu returned with her own bag. "We're off! See you later!" She said cheerfully and made her way to the door along with Kururi.
Tamina felt horribly exposed and uneasy being left alone with these men, but tried to find comfort in the twins confidence. They were obviously familiar with them and were welcoming to say the least.
The girls left after putting on their shoes and giving a final wave. It was then that Shiki finally addressed her. "I assume you're Miss Takeda?"
Tamina had remained awkwardly frozen in her place at the end of the hall. "Yes, that's me." She confirmed.
"May I come in?" He asked keen on her apprehensions by now, but he wouldn't blame her at all.
What could she do now? Refuse? She hardly felt like that was an option. She tried not to make her contemplation obvious. "Of course." She gestured to the living area.
Shiki gave a nod to the men that accompanied him and they stepped back to wait in the hall. He came down the hall and into the living area, having a seat on the couch.
Tamina followed. "Can I get you anything?" She asked politely.
"No, thank you." He said.
She could hardly take the anticipation, so she just asked. "Am I in some kind of trouble with the Awakusu's, Mr. Shiki?"
He chuckled. " Not at all Miss. I'm sorry to make you so nervous." Tamina was about to protest but he went on. "I'm quite good with body language. I assure you, you can relax."
She tried to calm herself, pulling a chair over from the dining table and taking a seat. "How can I help you?" She asked.
"I was referred by Izaya Orihara." He began to explain.
Immediately a familiar irritation crept through her skin. She should have known that mischievous man had something to do with this. The angry words she'd have for him were already coursing through her head.
Shiki went on. "We work with Orihara frequently. The last time we met he spoke volumes of you. He claims you're abundantly familiar with his profession and the work he does and still do an excellent job of looking after his sisters. He also mentioned that you know the headless rider personally. As you can imagine, discretion is a trait my company finds abundantly appealing. I've come to ask if you'd be interested in a job proposition from my boss's wife." With her hesitant expression he added. "You're more than welcome to refuse but I promise, the work is legitimate. I'd never ask you to do something you weren't comfortable with."
It hardly seemed like an offer Tamina would be able to refuse. The last thing she wanted was to be on the bad side of the Yakuza. As nervous as this proposition made her, she felt as if she had no choice but to hear it out. "Okay." She replied, forcing a nervous smile.
"Good." Shiki said, standing. "There is a car waiting for us downstairs."
"Now?" Tamina couldn't contain her surprise.
"Will that be a problem?" He asked.
She couldn't come up with an excuse not to off the top of her head. She tried to regain composure. "No, not at all. Uhm... I just...need a minute to get ready." Was all she could say.
"Of course. We'll meet you downstairs." He told her, and began to leave.
"What the FUCK did you do?!" Tamina practically hissed into the phone, peeking out the window at the cars waiting downstairs.
This only warranted a cackle from the other line, much to her further irritation. "This is why I like you so much Miss Takeda! I never know what to expect when you call." The info broker said cheerfully. "Is she going to ask me some deep, self loathing questions? Is she going to yell at me? Does she want a date? What could it be?!"
Tamina scowled. "You give yourself way too much credit."
"Ah! So we're in a witty retort kind of mood today. I like that too." He replied, unfazed by her sour mood as usual. "What can I do for you?"
"Will you cut the shit, for once?" She asked, beyond done with his games.
"Alright, alright." He relented. "I'm guessing Mr. Shiki paid you a visit."
"He's waiting for me downstairs with a whole entourage of scary people and he said you sent him." She told him accusingly.
"I did, yeah." He replied, matter-of-factly.
"Why?"
"You said you wanted my help in handling things."
"How does getting me involved with the Yakuza help me?" She questioned, her building frustration reflecting in her tone.
"Calm down." He tried to soothe. "You need to relax and take a huge step back here. Let's look at the big picture, shall we? Your step daddy is causing all sorts of trouble and you don't know how to resolve it. In my opinion, a problem like this would be best solved if he were to just, say, disappear..."
Tamina leaned against the hall, pressing her head back against the wall. He couldn't be suggesting what she thought he was, could he?
Izaya continued. "In my experience the Awakusu's don't take kindly to men like Mr. Monsuta. Not at all." He emphasized. "However they also aren't in the habit of doing favors for individuals they don't know. So, I graciously opened the door for you."
"Graciously..." Tamina scoffed.
"You scratch their back, they'll scratch yours. You did say you wanted to handle this 'aggressively', did you not?"
Tamina thought on that hard. Could she really commit to something like this? She didn't know what she had expected of Izaya's help, but it certainly wasn't this. The more she thought about it though, the less she could fight it. What other choice did she have? She had no other options and had already committed herself fully to resolving the matter... No matter the cost. Perhaps the cost was getting her owns hands more dirty that she imagined.
"In any event!" Izaya interrupted her contemplation. "It won't hurt to hear them out. It's not as if you're obligated to ask them for any favors. I just thought I'd give you the opportunity."
"I'm sure an informant for the Yakuza, such as yourself, has a favor or two they could cash in..." She observed, a bit hopeful.
He laughed. "Now, now. I said I'd help, but only as I see fit. I'm not going to just do it for you. That would be too easy."
She rolled her eyes, that hope going right out the window. "Thanks a lot." She said sarcastically.
"Hey, if you don't like my way of doing things, I'm sure you can ask your boyfriend." He said, a distinct change in his tone. "By all means, tell that idiot about your little predicament. I'm sure he'll come up with a very sophisticated way of solving it for you."
"How do you-" She was about to question how he knew about their relationship, but shook it off. There was no point. "Oh, so now this is about you being jealous?" She pointed out.
"Aren't you keeping the Awakusu's waiting?" He asked, uncharacteristically dodging her question. "I wouldn't advise doing that. Better get a move on, Miss Takeda." With that, the line went dead.
"You must be Miss Takeda. Thank you so much for coming!" The woman at the impressive house greeted Tamina with a warm smile. "To be honest I wasn't sure if you'd accept an invitation like this."
'Invitation...Right...' Tamina couldn't help but think, the presence of the intimidating men behind her still making her uneasy. "Sure, no problem!" She lied, forcing a smile herself.
The woman invited her inside and the men finally left, giving Tamina a chance to breathe easy and regroup a bit. The inside of the house was surprisingly normal. She wasn't sure what she had expected. Perhaps something less homey? This was the home of a big Yakuza boss, after all.
She was led to a dining area and offered a seat. "Can I get you anything?" The woman asked.
"No, thank you." She replied politely.
The woman rounded the table and took the seat across from her. "My name is Akari Awakusu. It's very nice to meet you Miss Takeda. I've heard great things about you."
Tamina inwardly grimaced as she wondered how far Izaya's meddling had really gone. She tried to repress it though. "It's an honor to meet you, Mrs. Awakusu."
"I suppose I'll get right to the point." Akari began. "I'm sure I don't have to beat around the bush. You are aware of the kind of work my husbands company does, correct?"
Tamina took a moment to answer, but decided she shouldn't mix words. "I'm pretty aware, yes."
"I have a daughter. Light of my life. We've tried to keep her isolated from the kind of business that we do. However she's reaching a delicate age and it's becoming increasingly difficult. Unfortunately it's becoming hard for our men to escort her to and from school and social gatherings, considering the precarious situations we're often involved with. Furthermore, it's becoming harder for me to conduct the simplest things, like errands and shopping." Akari told her. "Orhiara said you were someone who could be trusted. I know your hands are already full with the twins, but if you could spare some time during the week for a few things, myself and the company would be abundantly grateful."
Tamina thought on her words. She was right, her hands were quite full with the twins. Furthermore, this was something else entirely. Working for the Yakuza? Even if the work was honest, she felt herself traveling down an ominously darker path.
"Of course," Akari added. "We'll match whatever your pay rate with Orihara is."
Tamina coughed a bit. As worrying as this was, another copious amount of money wasn't something she was so quick to turn down. Still, she hesitated.
"Hi mom." A young girl entered the dining room, pulling her backpack off of her shoulder.
"Welcome home dear. Miss Takeda, this is Akane, my daughter." Akari stood and extended an arm to introduce.
The resemblance between the two was uncanny. Akane had Akari's short purple hair and round face. They even shared the same smile, Tamina noticed as the girl approached warmly. "Nice to meet you Miss Takeda."
Tamina smiled back. "The pleasure is all mine Akane. What a pretty young girl you are."
Akane's smile broadened. "Thank you! I think you're pretty too!"
Tamina laughed at that. For the first time since this craziness began, she felt more relaxed. The girls sweetness was certainly the ice breaker she needed. Her smile softened, looking at the child. It was then that she remembered why she'd entertained this idea in the first place. The favor she'd eventually try to earn from the Awakusu's. Girls like this were exactly the reason she was doing all this. This kind of sweetness needed to be protected, and the thought of a man like her step father still out there preying on it caused her stomach to turn.
"I'll do it." Tamina told Akari abruptly. "I'll help whenever I can."
Akari looked very pleased. "That's wonderful news. Thank you so much, Miss Takeda. I have a good feeling about this."
"Hey, are you two-" Tamina abruptly stopped upon opening the twin's door when she found the room empty. After a quick scan it was abundantly clear that the twin's were not there. This was incredibly strange, considering they'd been there last she had checked and hadn't mentioned going out anywhere this late, especially since there was a Yuuhei Hanejima special on TV.
She heaved a sigh and pulled the door shut, taking her phone out to dial the mischievous pair. Now what were they up to? She certainly didn't need this right now. Her nerves were shot for the day.
Just as she was about to dial out, the phone started to ring and Shizuo's name appeared on the ID. "Hey." She answered. "Working?"
"Yeah." He replied. "Almost done. You wouldn't believe the weirdos that are out tonight."
"Seriously?" She asked, her anxiety increasing.
"Oh yeah. These freaks in masks just tried to jump me and Tom while we took a break. Broke our money briefcase and everything."
"Are you okay?" She asked before she realized it was probably a stupid question.
"We're fine. Nothing a park bench couldn't remedy."
Tamina let out a whine. "That's comforting." She said sarcastically. "Considering I just lost track of the twins."
"Lost track? How'd you do that?"
"I don't know." She groaned. "They're very crafty." A beep came from her phone and she pulled it away momentarily to check the ID. "Hey, they're calling me now. Can I call you back?"
"Sure." He said before she quickly switched to the other line.
"Where are you two?" Tamina answered, unable to fight the irritation in her tone.
"Yeah, I figured you would have noticed by now." Mairu began in her usual cheerful tone.
"Where are you, Mairu?" Tamina asked again.
"We were looking for the Headless Rider. Now we're currently at Russia Sushi saving lives."
Tamina nearly asked what that was supposed to mean, but stopped herself, realizing it was probably an answer she didn't want to hear. Instead she digressed. "Why didn't you just tell me you were going out?"
"If we asked there was a good chance you'd say 'no', and then we'd have to disobey you, which we don't want to do." Mairu explained, as if it made total sense.
"So you thought sneaking out was a better alternative?"
"Seemed like it, yes." Mairu said simply.
What could Tamina do now? She was taken aback by the twins honesty admittedly. Would demanding they come home really resolve anything at this point? She sighed. "Next time, please just tell me. And please be careful." She insisted.
"Will do!" Mairu replied cheerfully.
Tamina hung up. What to do now? The dishes from dinner were done. Laundry was folded and put away. The apartment was tidy and empty for the night. She pursed her lips in thought and tapped her foot and few times before dialing on her phone again.
"Hey." Shizuo answered right away.
"Hey. You wanna come over?" She asked.
Shizuo finished up with Tom and arrived at Tamina's apartment about a half hour later. He couldn't fight his nerves when she invited him inside. It was late and he'd never shared such company with a woman. It was much of the usual at first. Small talk about work and the rest of their day. Tamina explained the twins whereabouts and how she'd ended up on her own for the evening.
They came to the couch and sat for a while, talking and drifting in and out of different TV shows. Tamina shifted to rest against him, laying her head on his shoulder. He reciprocated, draping an arm around her shoulder to hug her closer. The more time they spent together, the more comfortable he became with touching. He certainly appreciated hers, but he was more surprised by his own. His reckless hands were becoming more familiar and he found their gentle interactions he once feared coming easier and easier.
She knew he was unfamiliar with intimacy. He'd made it clear on more than one occasion. She was more than willing to be patient with him, but their close proximity and increasing familiarity was making it difficult. Her body pressed against him and the peace they shared started to make her body heat up in a way she knew all too well.
He didn't seem to notice to way that she scooted closer into him, distracted by whatever TV show was on. She pressed her face into the side of his neck, planting small kisses there. That's when he seemed to tense a little, but he remained still. She brought a hand up to guide his face as she usually did, pulling him into a soft, slow kiss. She couldn't help herself though, and the kiss quickly became more insistent. He'd gotten better at it with practice and he quickly complied with her quickened pace and coaxing tongue.
Satisfied with the progress, she decided to try and take things further, pushing him against the back of the couch. He leaned back and she straddled his lap, never breaking the kiss. His heart was pounding by now and the excitement was building to a maddening level. He'd never felt like this before and the throb of arousal was stronger than he had ever anticipated. He'd been in brawls and street fights his whole life, barely breaking a sweat. But a girl on top of him like this had him breathless within seconds. He was struggling to keep up. She could tell he was straining a bit, but she didn't want to stop.
She paused momentarily when she thought she heard the sound of the front door. Her movements halted and she anxiously waited for the sound of the twins returning home. There was nothing though, so she picked up the pace again before Shizuo even noticed. She assumed she just imagined the noise.
Her hands came to his neck tie and pulled it off. Then she slowly started unbuttoning his vest and shirt. She tried to keep him occupied with sensual kissing but she could feel his whole body tense up.
He broke away suddenly, looking down at her fingers working at exposing his chest. "Tamina I-.." He rasped through hard breaths. "I don't... I don't want to give you the wrong idea..." He hesitated. "But I don't know if I can do this." He admitted. It was talking all his discipline to keep his body from shaking and he felt as if his heart was going to burst out of his chest.
Tamina paused, studying his face. She couldn't quite place his expression. He was flushed, but obviously anxious. He almost looked scared. She never imagined him wearing such a face. She understood his reservations but the lust in her was boiling by now. "Can't you try?" She asked, in a nearly pleading way.
He swallowed hard, obviously weighing the options. Once he showed the slightest bit of sway, she leaned in again and kissed him hard. He responded right away and seemed equally as hungry for it. Perhaps the worst of his hesitation was over and she could finally show him he was capable of more than just destruction...
They both jumped when a loud alarm suddenly started to blare through the building. Their heads spun around trying to identify the source of the sound. Tamina finally seemed to realize once surprise faded. "That's the fire alarm..." She said, quickly climbing off Shizuo and making her way toward the hall.
She halted mid stride when she entered the hallway, feeling a chill run up her spine when she noticed the front door to the apartment hanging ajar. She glanced back at Shizuo who was trying to compose himself before standing to help investigate. She hurried down the hall and shoved the door all the way open, knowing well the only other person besides the twins who could gain access to her apartment. Her eyes darted up and down the hall. She immediately noticed the "Pull in case of Emergency" switch a short distance down the long corridor pulled down.
One of her neighbors leaned out of their own apartment, arms crossed, clearly irritated by the late disruption. "I don't think it's a fire." He called to Tamina. "Some jackass just pulled the alarm." He told her.
Tamina nodded politely in acknowledgment, but her mind was racing. The hall was empty besides herself and her neighbor, but she knew well who pulled that alarm, even if the raven haired man was nowhere to be found. She ducked back inside her apartment when the apartment management came along to investigate and silence the alarm.
Shizuo had just gotten up to check when she reentered the living area. "Everything okay?" He asked.
"Yeah, it was nothing. Just a prank." She told him quickly.
"You're sure?" He asked noticing her tight face.
"Yes." She said, quickly trying to adopt a better look. "I guess I'm just tired." She told him, unsure of what else to say.
"I can go, if you want." He said, readjusting his shirt.
"No." She insisted right away. "You don't have to."
He stood there, obviously unsure and a little awkward considering the heated exchange they'd had moments ago. Tamina found herself at a bit at a loss too. She hoped her drastic change in mood wasn't obvious, but the last thing she wanted was to make him leave.
"Will you come lay with me?" She asked him. He didn't answer right away, his nerves obviously having returned. She couldn't suppress a small smile. "It's okay." She assured him. "Just laying."
He nodded and she took his hand, leading him down the hall and to her room. She climbed onto her bed and tugged him along with her, guiding him to spoon and wrap his arm around her. He was happy to comply, hugging her close, obviously much more comfortable with this. She settled in, trying to shake off the sudden anxiety and focus on how good it felt to be held.
It felt good to Shizuo too, laying like this, but he couldn't shake the nagging in his head. "I'm sorry." He finally said after a short silence.
"For what?" Tamina peeked back at him.
He was embarrassed to explain how much intimacy scared him, but he knew that she knew. "You know..." He said quietly.
She didn't need him to explain though. "What have I told you about apologizing?"
He sighed, resting his head against her shoulder. "I'm just worried you'll get tired of being patient with me. With everything."
She took his hand and laced their fingers. "You don't have to worry about that." She told him. "I promise."
The room went quiet again, and it wasn't long that the silence and his warmth caused her eyes to slowly shut and sleep to quickly take her.
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