Operation TWO
Entry ONE
Tied Up
La Villa Shopping Complex
Phoenix, AZ, USA
January 5th, 2307
There was something sweet with the scene before him, Billy pondered to himself on a crisp fall afternoon, but he wasn't sure if he was supposed to be finding it slightly hilarious or slightly disturbing.
Before him, struggling on the floor, was Graham Aker trying on a pair of new dress shoes. Billy noted with a small smile that, despite his partner's mannerism and painstaking perfection when it came to his Flag, he was a struggling klutz when attempting to perform everyday necessities outside of the military.
"I didn't think MSWAD would deter your necessary skills elsewhere." Billy mentioned offhandedly to Graham, who shot a poisonous look over his shoulder as he struggled with the laces of his new shoes. "But shoes aren't that hard to tie. Just pretend they're a Gun—"
"I can tie my own shoes, Katagiri."
"Impress me, then."
His never ending humour with Graham would be the death of him one day, he swore. The blond let go a soft 'harumph' and went back to fiddling with the tongues and laces of the shoes. Billy let go a soft chuckle, perhaps out of pity, and with the soft flick of a ponytail, bent down in between Graham's legs and gently plucked Graham's hands from the troubling shoe.
"Kata—"
"No complaints; I still need to find a tie, remember?"
"Whatever style it is, it's going to be purple." The Union Ace shot back with just as much vigor as his technical adviser. They locked eyes for a second, emerald green clashing with dancing grey. Then, with a slow exhale of defeat, Graham closed his eyes and let Billy play with the troubling laces expertly.
It only took a few minutes for the older man to undo to mess that had once plagued his friend's feet, and by that time, Graham's face was a mix of feverish embarrassment and gratefulness.
"Just get up from there."
"Alright, alright. Can we go to the tie section now?"
The blond man sighed, picked up what dignity he had left, and followed behind Billy with a sway of defeat in his shoulders and legs.