Early upload because it's Christmas/Christmas Eve and you guys have earned a gift for hanging in this long lol. Thanks again for all the kudos and comments, they warm my scrooge-like heart :')
Also, I uploaded a sketch of a scene from this chapter to my tumblr tsipasce, so feel free to check it out and follow. Hope you guys are enjoy the holidays and this chapter! 3
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"I promise I'll keep a low profile, just let me come with you." Nanami entreated as she sat at the kitchen island. Overhaul was cleaning up after dinner, his back turned as she made her case.
"This is not a casual outing, I'm meeting with a contact and he doesn't appreciate extraneous variables, which, in this case, would be you."
"And when have you ever cared about what other people do or don't appreciate?"
He paused, turning to her, setting down a cleaned dish and folded towel, "Flattery is appreciated, but it will not get you out of this house before Sunday."
She pouted before trying a different angle, "But strategy might, right?" He knitted his brows, folding his arms across his chest, a silent tell that he was just bored enough to entertain her pitch, "Hear me out—though indirectly, you've been targeted by the Okamura—a rival org, right? Wouldn't it be nice to have some back-up just in case they find out you're meeting this contact and decide to strike before the raid can happen?"
"That's what the Precepts are for."
"Sure, but they might send the wrong message. If I was meeting somebody under the pretext of civil conversation and they brought along backup that looked like Rappa or Kurono—I'd feel pretty threatened. But me? You'd hardly even know I was there. Besides, it's not like I'm the most physically intimidating person to begin with anyway."
He looked down thoughtfully as he considered her proposal. Nervous he might still reject the idea, she chewed her lip, waiting for his response. Just as the feeling of defeat seemed imminent, he answered, "We're leaving at noon. Wear your hair differently and dress in muted colors. If you're not ready by 11:59 exactly, I'm leaving you behind."
She beamed before quickly reeling her excitement back in, "Understood. I'll be right here and ready to go at 11:59am, sharp."
Though the two-week sequestration at his house was nearing its end, Nanami was beginning to get stir-crazy. Overhaul had been working long hours, strategizing the retaliation against the Okamura, knowing that taking them down would be much more complicated than simple massacre. On the other hand, Nanami knew even after the raid, she'd have to limit her time in public and remain especially vigilant for months to come until the dust fully settled. Though it may have only been a trip to the park to exchange information, it would probably be the most amount of time she'd get to be outside for a while.
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Nanami awoke from a light sleep, having been too excited about the outing. She wasn't naïve enough to believe it was without its dangers and that the possibility of her having to spring into action wasn't real, but given the circumstances, she thought it wise to take what little joy she could when she could.
Rummaging through her luggage she tried to keep in mind his wardrobe mandates as she reluctantly passed over a myriad of cute, but boldly-colored clothing. A look of self-satisfaction crossed her face as she assembled a fitting ensemble and quickly got dressed. Trotting out of her room at 11:55 she carried her shoes to the entrance way, slipping them on as she heard him emerge from his room. Looking up she saw surprise in his eyes as he stopped a distance away from her. Slipping on the other chunky sandal, she stood up straight showing her full outfit, hoping he'd approve. She'd chosen a casual, sage dress with subtle ruffles and her favorite oversized, beige cardigan just in case it got chilly. Her hair was done in a low braid that went over her shoulder and to the front, a few wisps of hair loose on the opposite side making her look softer than her usual professional get-up. He wore his usual black dress shirt, slacks and dust mask to do his version of blending in. Noticing his silence, she panicked momentarily, worried she'd made the wrong choice in clothing and he'd make her stay put, "Do I need to change? Sorry, I've obviously never done this before, but I've got other outfits if this doesn't wo—"
"No. Don't change." He replied a bit too quickly before clearing his throat and continuing, "You look…" he trailed off as his eyes continued to rake over her," …This outfit will work. Let's get going."
"Oh ok, great— right behind you!"
They made their way to the car, a skip in Nanami's step as she felt like a kid being taken out for ice cream, though instead of ice cream it's intel for a hit job and some sunshine, but to-may-toes, to-mah-toes ~. The drive was relatively short, though it was hard for her to tell. Time flew while she gazed out the window, enjoying the overcast weather and seeing people out-and-about.
Parking, they exited the car, as Overhaul surveyed the area and checked his watch. "He should arrive in the next 15 minutes. Follow me." He walked briskly to a bench overlooking the river that ran through the park. For a Saturday, it was relatively calm and empty, save for a few joggers running by and couples gazing at the holiday decor and the last of the fall foliage without a care in the world. Food trucks lined the other side of the river as people ate small treats.
After he went through his usual ritual to santize the seat, they sat down and waited patiently for the informant to arrive. Five minutes passed, then ten, and then twenty. It was obvious Overhaul was beginning to get irritated at the tardiness, his knee bouncing as he checked his watch for what felt like the umpteenth time. On the other hand, Nanami was beginning to get bored, staring dreamily across the river at one truck in particular. Sighing, she decided to go out on a limb and ask hoping it might lighten the mood," So… do you wanna—"
"No."
"You don't even know what I'm gonna ask," She retorted to his stern answer, completely undeterred.
"Yes, I do. You've been staring at that crepe truck since we sat down. As I said before, this isn't some casual outing and patronizing a food truck is the very definition of casual."
"It's not like I'm gonna skip over there and play in the leaves while I stuff my face—it'll just be a quick breakfast/brunch and then we're back sitting down, waiting patiently and ~incognito~. Besides, I know you're hungry, probably not the best idea to do something stressful on an empty stomach anyway."
"And how long have you been formulating that rebuttal?"
"Mm, about as long as you've been stealing glances over there, thinking I was too busy staring myself. It's ok to indulge every now and again, and we'll have a clear view of this spot in case he comes by while we're up." She reasoned, knowing he couldn't deny logic or his grumbling stomach.
"… Fine. Let's make this quick."
Before he could finish, she hopped up and made a b-line towards the bridge nearby as he reluctantly followed after her. They ordered crepes, the decadent, cute concoction providing a comical contrast to her partner's otherwise intimidating aesthetic. Nanami bit her lip, trying not to laugh as she promised herself she'd describe the visage in great detail to Kurono later. Hers wasn't very conservative either, smothered with a superfluous amount of strawberries, chocolate syrup, and powdered sugar that kept the all-black clad Overhaul at a safe distance. They made their way back to the bridge, Nanami admiring the scenery as the auburn-tinted leaves made their descent to the water below.
Sitting back down, there was still no informant in sight, though a comfortable silence fell upon them as the sounds of birds chirping and the river flowing gently filled the air. Pulling out a small bottle of hand sanitizer from her bag, she put a dollop into his waiting hand and then her own after he disposed of his used gloves in the plastic bag she'd brought, replacing them without a word. He handed her extra napkins and a wet wipe, fully aware she was a messy eater. They'd gotten into a routine having eaten together so often that now words were no longer needed, neither of them able to fully remember what it had been like before the other. She let her eyes wander as she took another bite, until she settled on watching the leaves fall. The descent of one in particular caught her eye as the golden leaf danced lazily through the air before finding its resting place atop his head. Knowing full well how very unwelcome he'd find the accessory; she decided to do the right thing and alert him.
"Overh—" She stopped short, realizing it probably wasn't the best idea to use his villain name in public. It wasn't the most dire of situations but, she was very aware that they'd never referred to each other by name At least not while sober anyway... She agonized for a moment on how to address him, unaware she'd already gotten his attention.
Seeing the conflict in her features, he responded simply, "Chisaki is fine, or Kai if you'd like."
Her eyes went wide before quickly looking away, flustered at what felt like a very intimate moment. She'd only heard two people refer to him by name and even then, it was seldom—only twice between the two of them to be specific. It felt like she held a grave secret simply by knowing it, much less casually addressing him by it. Well, if he says so…
"Ch-Chisaki…" she swallowed, as he regarded her calmly, though his eyes had a glint in them as soon as she uttered his name.
"Yes?" He coaxed, unconsciously leaning in closer.
"There's a leaf on your head." He went to grab it though his hands were full, his fork in one and the crepe in the other, finding the thought of touching a dirty leaf and then his eating utensil repulsive. He considered his options for a moment before she offered her assistance motioning him to lean down so she could reach. He paused for a moment, before acquiescing, lowering his head to be within reach. She grabbed the leafy offender gently, holding it betwixt her fingers, "Got it."
Looking between him and the leaf, a candid smile formed as she noticed it matched his eyes. He lifted his head back up, admiring the visage. By all accounts, she was physically beautiful to him, but what he savored most in this moment was her smile. He remembered being equally touched by that radiant smile when they met at the tea shop almost a year ago, though he would have never admitted it back then. Their circumstances had seemingly changed for the worst, yet it hadn't dimmed; it was though it refused to. Chisaki had never been a sentimental, nor particularly emotional man, but her resilience was nothing if not captivating to him. In his weary eyes, Nanami was the picture of strength. She possessed a power—not from brawn, cunning or some misguided self-righteousness, but something else entirely. He found himself drawn to it, to her competence and constant challenge. What others had readily accepted out of fear, she appraised, demanding more. Though her hands shook momentarily, she'd steady herself without fail, demanding him to be more. He felt proud knowing she'd be the one by his side on this path. Until someone else discovers her. And then what? What if that radiance is directed at someone else someday? He didn't want an answer to that question. He had waited long enough; the decision having been made long before he was fully aware of it. His face was blank, though he imbued his words with as much sincerity as he was capable of, "Go out with me."
Her smile persisted for a beat as she fully registered what he'd said. Then it promptly dropped, her eyes going wide as the leaf was blown out of her now-limp grasp.
"Ahem. Sorry for the lateness," a man said from the bench next to them as he continued to face forward. Chisaki kept his gaze fixed on Nanami as hers shifted to what was behind him. Hm guess the movies are actually kind of accurate about this kind of stuff… she commented inwardly as the man was dressed in a baseball cap, glasses and hoodie. "I'll leave what you asked for here." He continued, patting an envelope placed on the bench before rising.
"First you come late, and now you rush off? That's not how this is going to go. Sit down, I have more questions for you." Overhaul chided, shaking himself from their little moment, still finding time to be peeved that he'd been made to wait.
"Look, I'm sorry but I have to go," the man began rather nervously as he glanced around," No amount of money or threats could get me to stay. I don't know how you got involved, but I don't want anything to do with this shit. I got you the intel, I'm out."
Nanami rose hoping to calm the man down. At the angle she sat, her form was hidden from the man by Overhaul's larger frame, and it was painfully obvious when she came into his line of sight. The man flinched like he'd seen a ghost, turning white as their eyes met. "G-get the fuck away from me," he sputtered almost tripping over himself. It was truly a sight to behold as a grown man scurried away, terrified of a person half his size. "Here's a last bit of intel, I'll give this one on the house: if you're smart, you'll stay away from her." He continued, leering at Nanami, "I haven't seen a bounty this high in a long time and I'm sure whoever's paying out knows they'll get their money's worth. She's probably worst than the rest of us; a true monster."
Though his brow furrowed questioningly for a moment, in the next Overhaul had decided he'd heard enough and was making a move toward the man. His gloves were already discarded, but a tug on his sleeve kept him in place, "Let go." He seethed through gritted teeth.
"No, it's not worth it. He's right." Came a small but firm voice.
He turned to see a familiar small hand gripping him. Her head was hung low, though guilt was obvious in her countenance. By the time he had taken in her appearance, the man was disappearing through the trees, vanishing from sight. As his rage ebbed momentarily, a nostalgic feeling took its place as he remembered her face when he asked her the question that had been on his mind for months now: rejection. He snatched away his arm in a move that startled her out of her own trance, "Fine."
Grabbing the envelope, he turned on his heel, making a b-line for the car. He strode to the parking lot, no longer abating his usually wide gait for her to keep up. As he reached out for the handle of the car, the distinct sound of her shoes hurriedly beating the pavement became louder before coming to a stop behind him.
"I… I'm sorry."
"I don't need your pity."
"It's not pity, I could never pity you. I just… I shouldn't have let it get this far without being honest with you."
"It doesn't matter anymore. I misread our relationship. It's over now."
"But I—wait, what do you mean you 'misread our relationship'?"
"You know what I mean. The least you could do is refrain from dragging it out." He intoned, a poorly hidden look of hurt in his eyes.
She had expected anger, maybe even disappointment that she'd still kept such a large secret from him but hurt had never crossed her mind as an emotion he'd ever display, much less in this situation. She'd never told a soul about her real past and wanted to be absolutely sure before breaching that barrier. I know it was wrong, but if anyone understood secrecy, I thought it would be him. I mean why does he look like he just got dumpe—"Oh my fucking gosh. This is all a big mix up, this is what I get for being all cryptic and vague," she chided herself, rubbing the bridge of her nose in frustration.
"Don't worry, you've made yourself perfectly clear."
"No, no, you don't get it, this is one of our trademark Misunderstandings™!"
"There is nothing to misunderstand. I assumed you had feelings and that assumption proved to be… foolish. I won't make that mistake again."
"Just let me explain,"
"I don't want to, nor do I need to hear i—"
Before he could turn away, she closed the distance between them, reaching up to grab his face in her hand. He was startled by the abrupt contact after she'd made it a point to be cognizant of his boundaries, but she noted he made no efforts to move away or resist her. If she weren't so riled up, she could've sworn she could feel the slightest bit of pressure as though he'd decided to rest his chin in her palm. Good, because I plan on touching way more in the future… she confirmed to herself, enjoying the feel of his square jaw in her palm before locking eyes with him to speak.
"You didn't misread anything," she corrected as confidently as she could before continuing. "But you need to hear me out. What I meant to say was this: I'm sorry. I shouldn't have let it get this far without being honest with you because I want to be closer… I want us to be closer. I didn't know if you felt the same, so I didn't know what to say when you asked the first time… but I do now. So, ask me again. Please."
He looked at her searchingly, taking a centering breath, "Nanami, go out with me."
"That's more of a command," she amended. His eyes narrowed in annoyance, though his glare lost much of its usual edge with his cheeks squished between her fingers, "but I'd love to, Kai."
Upon hearing her answer and his name, his hardened gaze softened, and she reluctantly let him go, "Let's go home."
As they entered the car, his usual slouch was replaced with a more confident posture, though Nanami still felt a heavy weight upon her shoulders, "Hey… about the whole honesty thing… I still do need to tell you something."
Undeterred, his smug face persisted, "That's fine, you can tell me over dinner."