Follow up to Angry Pair.


Make Up Pair:

Souji with a heavy heart tried to make up for the void that was their relationship at the current time. Naoto was good on her word at not speaking to him. Hearing her sobs through the door ate at him until he worked on earning his place by her side again. Yeah he was a prick about and she was stubborn but it didn't give him a right to act the way he did. Souji spent the late afternoon preparing food for the detective, all of her favourites while cheekily allowing the aroma of his work to spread around the house as much as possible. Once the California rolls were all done with a side portion of the karaage and rice, Souji knocked on the door of their bedroom.

"Naoto?" He called softly, he heard no response. He pressed his ear to the door to hear the bed sheets or any footsteps but nothing came from it. He knocked again.

"Naoto?" He asked again, with more concern laced in his voice and yet again got not reply. "I'll leave the food out here if you are ever feeling hungry; just leave the plates outside the door."

He carefully placed the tray of food on the floor and headed into the living room. He thought best not to push the situation to have it blow up in his face and let Naoto have her time to cool down.

About five minutes into reading Souji heard shuffling from the bedroom and then heard the creek from the hinges of the door to signify someone opened it. The small clattering noise of the plates and the tray confirmed to Souji that she did originally hear him but she didn't want to see him right now, or she wasn't ready to face him. He smiled as he worked on the lesson plans for the upcoming week, knowing that she wasn't angry enough at him to turn down his cooking. He hoped the food made her better enough that she would talk to him in the morning.

As the day went on, all Souji heard was the odd ruffle of noise from the bedroom but he made sure he kept a keen ear out just in case Naoto called him so he could apologise and put it all behind them. While it Naoto didn't like to dwell on situations, if she felt someone violated her pride she would hold a grudge, or some sort of resentment. Souji made a note to talk to her before he left for work.

It was getting late, and Souji thought better of staying awake to finish some of the case files Naoto had left on the study desk. He could take some of them to work and complete them there. He had done his best to fill out all of the details of the last case and get them sent off to the estate so they can wrap it up. Every time he worked on it though, he felt a pang of guilt knowing that this case had pushed them apart momentarily in a conflict of ideals and methods.

"The quicker I can get them done the better." He wrote a quick note saying that he will take care of them and placed it on the desk. He neatly gathered the file book and its contents and put them in his messenger bag he took to school. Fastening the clip he made sure it was tight so nothing fell out. Placing it by the living room door, he went to the kitchen to take out clothes from the dryer for bed and bring out the guest futon so he could sleep on.

...

...

...

Dressed in a set of long shorts and a baggy T-shirt, the emotional strain of their argument meant as soon as he was on the futon, he was already sleepy. His thoughts drifted to Naoto, wandering if she was already asleep. Considering the silence that filled their house, he could only assume she called it quits for the night. He switched his body posture so he was lying on his back looking up at the ceiling.

'I'm really sorry for today...'

His eyes closed taking a moment to think back to how he could have changed how today, wanted nothing more to go back in time and change what happened. He wanted to take back his words, he wanted to just let it go but the poison of each other's ego only clouded their judgement. It was never about who was better than the other, it was about looking out for one another. Making sure they both got home safe. If life taught him anything, that conflict like this only get in the way of how short life is, considering how dangerous Naoto's job was and what they went through in school.

He could feel sleep pulling him into the silent abyss, to lull him into the land of silence and dreams. He was almost there, but he hoped it didn't remind him of his mistake...

"Souji-kun..." Souji blinked.

'Am I dreaming already? I guess it's no surprise it's what my mind reflected back to...'

"Souji-kun?" It was Naoto's voice again. He looked up to see the ceiling that he was staring at a moment ago. He shook his head lightly, but then noticed the night light that shone in the passage was being partially blocked into the room. He shifted in his futon to turn to the obstruction and saw a silhouette of his wife standing at the door way. He took in her details, she was wearing one of Souji's button-up shirts which were obviously several sizes too big to her and while looking through the seam at the bottom, she was only wearing her plain black panties. Her face held an unreadable expression but it was obvious that she had shed tears not too long ago. Her hands were interlaced in front of her but her head was tilted, waiting for to be accepted into his presence.

She was scared.

She was scared that argument drove them away from each other to the point where she was worried he held it against her. They weren't used to the conflict so it hit them pretty hard when it happened.

He looked at her, his expression shifting into one of warmth. He nodded quickly and she took a few steps forward then crouched down next to his futon. Souji hand extended forward towards her slowly, almost in question if it was ok to touch her. While her expression was still blank, the subtle blink of the eye she gave was a signal for him to continue. His hand cupped her cheek gently and immediately she nuzzled against it, the warmth and affection she craved came flooding back.

They were still, enjoying the company of each other as warm grey met concerned silver. Naoto placed her hand over his against her cheek and murmured softly.

"I miss you Souji-kun..." She whispered into his hand, her cheeks lighting up in a blush.

"I love you Naoto." He said simply. Not finding any other way to express how he felt. Her smile was small; pleased that the small rift didn't change how they felt about each other.

"Naoto I'm sorry." He breathed but she shook her head.

"It was us; we were stubborn and prideful..." She held his hand tighter. Small droplets formed at the corner of her eyes.

"I should have known better. I know what I said got to you. It's not about one of us being better than the other; it was about us both of us getting home ok."

The sleuth nodded.

"What I hate, is that I know I was close to losing you. Please don't put me through that again. Promise me you won't do that Souji?"

The former leader was about to answer her instantly, but then he thought about the question. Would he really never put himself in danger for her sake or would he give it all up for her well being?

"I can't promise you that Naoto."

Her eyes widened as he rejected her request, shocked at what it might mean.

"What? W-Why?"

"If you were in danger I would risk everything for you in a heartbeat. I done it back then when we're in school and I'll do it for you now. You mean too much to me just to sit back and see something like that happen." His explanation caused the detective to break down into a sob.

The sound of Naoto sobbing tore his heart in two.

"I don't do this to prove I'm better than you, or I don't need you. I just don't know what I can do without you."

Naoto paused for a second, trying to find words.

"Souji-kun I should not demand compliance from you, considering your abilities we should be equals, my pride clouded my judgement and treatment of you..."

Souji smiled the best he could, trying to turn around the look of turmoil Naoto had.

"You are the one of experience and I'm your assistant. I shouldn't have winded you up. I'm more than happy to assist you where I can so don't feel obligated to not call the shots."

Even in the darkness, they could see each other's eyes clearly. The sleuth felt that if she let this conversation carry on they will go back and forth until they both fell asleep. If they wanted any closure on tonight one of them would have to cut this conversation off. Naoto's hand moved to his wrist and ever so gently tugged on it.

"Souji-kun, come to bed with me." It was her demand, she didn't want to be without him anymore and considering his actions he felt the same about her. She missed the warmth and the embrace that she's grown so accustom to within their walls.

"Are you sure Naoto?" His warm smile turned to a small frown of worry. She noticed that he was still concerned about her anger, wondering if it was ok to cut his punishment short.

"I wouldn't want anything more. You not sleeping there was a horrible reminder of what may have been. It's those thoughts I want to push away, your presence would be the assurance I need for them to disappear."

She closed her eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath in.

"So would you?" She breathed.

'An offer I can't refuse...'

Souji nodded, ever so slowly which brought a small smile from the sleuth. She took his hand in hers and began to sit up, pulling him up from the futon. Slowly he rose up with his wife until the both stood facing each other. Naoto resisted the urge to press herself against him and let him embrace her right this second; it could wait for the bedroom. Taking a solid grip of his hand she turned and walked with him in tow back to the bedroom, intending to give him the new punishment of showering her with affection for the night.

His work be damned...

"Naoto?"

She didn't break her stride.

"Hmm?"

"Why are you wearing my shirt?" The heat bloomed on her face but her words never wavered. They've been going for far too long for her to be embarrassed about it now.

"I always do when you are not home, it reminds me of you."

"That explains the laundry." He said flatly.

Naoto scoffed.

...

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It's a bittersweet story of Naoto and Souji accepting their flaws and the situations that may came up and how they deal with them. But at the end of the day they have each other and ultimately that's all that matters.

Birthday Pair is coming eventually I swear.