Her apartment sat five minutes away, the furniture probably pining from the absence of its mistress, but she's only seen it twice to pick up some necessary clothes and a toothbrush. For seven days, Gwen had been living upstairs, immersed in her Captain's world. Layer by layer, she dismantled him; his character, his habits, his cravings, the obsessive way he cleaned up the house, his love for mochis and white rice… Every little discovery was another step in his life.
Even when she realised everything in his way toppled over because of his long strides and swirling energy, she had to crack a smile… he suggested she found a dexterity potion to cure him of the long-life ailment of clumsiness. The sobriety of his flat made much more sense now; any object remotely in equilibrium was bound to succumb. Who would have guessed that the mighty Captain could be so erratic ? That a man with so much control could overthrow his own apartment when he wasn't focused on his movements ?
It was downright adorable, and something only a companion would ever discover. Is that what she had become in such little time ?
Gwen wasn't quite sure where they stood. So, finding herself here, in front of the piano once more before her shift began, she felt like an entirely different person.
Those were the same white and black keys she'd touched a thousand times. The last time she had played, Tōga had been her Captain, and her soul ached from his scolding. The last time, she didn't know the taste of his lips, not the feel of his body.
Taking a deep breath, Gwen allowed her fingers to start dancing on the instrument. Yann Tiersen's waltz wasn't an easy one, but she had learnt it years ago. Her hands knew the drill, freeing her mind for self-introspection.
She had a life, before Tōga. And this was the life after him; after the man she had crushed on for so long had embraced her, allowed her to barge in his life without battling an eyelash, given her a spot in his closet and a place in his bed.
Somewhere in the back of her mind, Gwen feared… to be unafraid. Was it normal to attach yourself to a person so easily ? To allow him to become her entire world ? To see his face in the morning, and find joy in the sleepy smile he gave her ? To share dinner on his sofa, speaking of travels, language, culture, geography, anything that came to mind so easily ? To shiver when his golden gaze trapped hers ?
Mayhap she ought to retreat to her own place for a few days to sort her thoughts. Perhaps her rational mind still dwelt here, in the mess of her closet, hidden from view ? Was she in danger of losing herself ? Would the yōkai Captain swallow her whole ? Was she strong enough to sustain the ever-swirling ball of energy that was the former Inu no Taishō ?
A warm hand landed upon her shoulder; she knew this touch. Intense and soothing. Without interrupting her playing, Gwen waited. What would he do ? A long trail of silver hair slid over her shoulder, shielding her from the rest of the room when a kiss landed upon her temple. The heat of his lips infused joy in her heart; Tōga wasn't shy to show affection.
Surely many of their colleagues had witnessed this simple, yet unmistakable statement. The Captain had just kissed her bare skin when he seldomly touched anyone. He retreated then, and she interrupted her playing to admire the broad expense of his back. But instead of finding a dancing ponytail over his traditional burgundy t-shirt, her eyes were captured by his. Tōga winked at her before he disappeared upstairs. Gwen's face flushed, her fingers finding the wrong keys.
Despite his previous announcement, it still surprised her that he would display their relationship in the station. He was a commander, after all, ruthless and stern when he needed to be. But he also was an instinctual being.
I will state my claim.
Gwen's lips quirked; the Inu still lived within after all, and he didn't take well to competition. Not that her eyes could ever stray; she was still dumbstruck to be the woman he chose. And calling him Captain or Taishō again was going to take some getting used to. Just as she was about to resume her playing, Gwen found herself suddenly tackled by an over-excited Jolyne.
"I can't believe it ! Have I just seen what I've just seen ?" she screeched.
Eardrums aching, Gwen shrunk on her seat. She could feel the many stares upon them both; a claim indeed. And whatever she responded to Jolyne would ironically spread in the station like wildfire.
Curse him !
She could handle an angry Captain, a dedicated one, and the slave driver that he was during self-defence training. But playful Tōga was another issue, and he had just thrown her in the shark tank without an ounce of remorse.
"Depends on…"
"Did he just kiss you ?"
Gwen nodded; Jolyne was so close. Joy exploded in joyful screeches and Gwen struggled not to fold herself inside the piano to escape the exuberance.
"To think it took you throwing yourself in a fire. Not good, Gwen… not good."
Erik had already given her another tongue lashing for her disobedience, and she'd warned Jolyne to keep it to herself; there was only so much she could take after all. She'd served her punishment – one week away from the station, and the payroll. So when Jolyne's arms crossed over her chest, Gwen rolled her eyes. She didn't expect the thundering look that descended upon her friend's face.
"You owe me chocolate and fruits," Jolyne stated.
Gwen could only gape as she connected the dots; prying this secret had been tougher than extracting an oyster from its shell. Incredulous, she jabbed her colleague.
"This was what the bet was about ?"
Jolyne gave her a sheepish grin. That woman had no shame, betting with colleagues that she would get together with their station commander.
"Damnit Jolyne ! You can't do things like that!" she groaned, cheeks flaming.
"Actually, I lost because I thought the Captain would find his guts and ask you out after the evening at the pub. Imagine how my hopes were dashed. AND my wallet."
The flush was now creeping down her collarbone, digging under the uniform. True, that evening at the pub had been the first step, but who did she think they were ? Horny rabbits ? Trust took time… But Jolyne couldn't possibly know what stayed Tōga's hand either. yōkai and supernatural beings were not part of her world.
To think she had willingly participated in making the chocolate for a bet that involved HER love life. Fuming, she turned to Jolyne, only for her rant to be interrupted.
"But I was right, wasn't I ?"
"You were," a familiar voice rumbled behind them. Jolyne turned around, eyes wide, only to find an irate Captain staring her down. "And you'll pair with me in the next self-defence class. No bets about my private life."
Gwen watched her friend dissolve into a puddle by her side, but when that intense stare strayed to her, she caught the playful flicker that resided within Tōga's warm orbs.
"Aye, aye, Captain," Jolyne gulped.
Well played, love.
He left like a General, his gait unhurried, long ponytail dancing behind him like a tail. He certainly knew how to remind people who was the top dog here; no one would question his love life anymore. Perhaps life didn't have to be so complicated after all. A slight pang of uncertainty clenched her chest, and Gwen swallowed nervously; hopefully, there would be no more major events in the Captain's love life anymore, right ?
After this bombshell was dropped and swallowed, the routine resumed at the station. Between emergency, deaths and random attacks. Fires and car accidents. And despite the shock of finding people hacked to pieces from car wrecks, Gwen found her peace every time she passed the threshold of her Captain's quarters.
This night, though, said Captain had a particular question to ask. Incidentally, his gaze had not strayed from her form – clad in one of the dresses he liked – from the very start of her meal. To say that her gorgeous curves were more appealing than dinner was an understatement; he was transfixed by the sight of her pale flesh peeking beyond her collarbone. And even though he knew what laid beneath, it didn't prevent his inner beast from salivating.
Oh, yes ! Tōga was inspired.
"I would like to draw you."
Chestnut eyebrows lifted upon Gwen's forehead, wondering what he had in mind. Tōga shifted his weight to close the distance between them, knowing that his heat would radiate on her skin, and his scent reach her easily. She watched his approach with the complete trust of a woman who knew she would only receive worship at his hands.
"In this dress ?" she eventually asked.
Not exactly.
How would she receive his request ? Well, at worst, she would die of embarrassment and say no; he wouldn't push. For now. In retrospect, perhaps he should have waited for her to swallow the mouthful rice before he blurted out:
"Without the dress."
Gwen choked, and immediately started coughing. Tōga mentally slapped himself and picked the bowl from her hands before it tumbled over. Setting it on the table, he handed her a glass of water instead. His hand settled on her back to make sure she was alright. After a few more coughs, Gwen accepted the offering with relief and took a few sips. Cheeks ablaze, she seemed to ponder his request before uttering her disbelief.
"You mean, like in Titanic ?"
Tōga's eyes filled with envy at idea, and he smirked at his flustered little lady. She was so impossibly cute. Titanic, uh ? James Cameron's picture had left a strong impression on him; could he capture Gwen's beauty with as much skill as the famous director ? Surely not, but he'd try nonetheless.
His lips graced the reddened skin of her cheeks while his mind already nagged him about the necessity of improving his drawing technique.
"Why not ?"
He allowed his breath to curl at her ear before planning his retreat. He never got the chance; Gwen braced her hand at his nape, trapping him against her. Amused, Tōga reached for her neck and lapped at her skin. This was all the answer he would get this evening as, once more, dinner was discarded on the table for yet another few hours.