Hope you guys enjoy reading this chapter as much as I enjoyed writing it :3 (sorry it's long again T_T a lot happens – the rest aren't this long I promise I think).
Musical inspiration at the end: Dearly Beloved from Kingdom Hearts (oldie but a goodie)
CHAPTER 17: PLUMS
"And where the hell're you going?" Yamagata turned as Ataru dashed past him, away from Wasureppoi, which was where he thought they were supposed to meet.
"We'll catch up, she doesn't know how to get there." Ataru called back over his shoulder, pausing only long enough to deliver the answer. He had no idea if that was true, and didn't care, as long as the reason sounded plausible. Without waiting for a response he took off, leaving his sempai puzzled but overall untroubled. Yamagata wasn't a man known for his curiosity.
Ataru dodged his way down the sidewalk toward an intersection where he told Lum to wait for him. His nerves were all over the place. Throughout the day he allowed a several worries to consume him, conjuring up imagined situations where she lost her cool or said/did something weird. Chief among those concerns was the mere existence of Tomoko Minami. And if he didn't explain the nature of her orientation, any number of things could happen. All of them bad. The night hadn't even begun and Ataru was already doing damage control. Why did he ever agree to this?
With his speed Ataru managed to beat Lum there, arriving earlier than expected. As he waited for her, he caught his breath and checked the sky while simultaneously trying to soothe his troubled mind.
It could certainly be said that Lum matured since high school. They'd gone out multiple times and nothing strange ever happened. Even when his attention wandered to other girls - you know, to be friendly of course - she'd scarcely do more than pull him back with a punishing glare or issue a fairly tame zap. He couldn't remember the last time she really trounced him. If he had to guess these changes were the result of having to thrive in a corporate setting, not to mention everything involving Ten and his education. Those facts gave him hope.
And yet there was history to consider, and no shortage of instances when things did not go well. Lum could be loud and opinionated, sometimes both at once, and she still tested the boundaries of social norms by clinging to him and stealing the occasional kiss. Ataru could argue she'd largely reigned herself in and their many visits to cafés, movies, noodle shops, and other outlets had been overwhelmingly positive. However, in all those instances they'd either been alone or among friends who understood their unique relationship. Ataru never introduced her to anyone new before – let alone a group. So this was unexplored territory for them, and he didn't know what to expect.
Really, he should have gone over all this yesterday over the phone, but he'd been bested by nerves and defaulted to procrastination until the day arrived, and here he was.
A rush of cold air buffeted Ataru and he turned so his back took the brunt of it. Naturally that was the moment Lum appeared from behind, catching sight of her husband amid the crowd almost immediately. Before he knew it Lum's arms were wrapped affectionately around his neck, adding weight to the fear that she would embarrass him in front of the others. Just thinking about it had him irritated.
"Darling you're early!" She was early too, but that wasn't surprising. Lum also noticed he was shivering. "Are you cold? You didn't have to come get me y'know. We could've met there." Lum had actually been to Wasureppoi before and knew the way. In fact, she knew a lot of things Ataru wouldn't expect her to. But he hadn't asked, and she didn't think to tell.
Despite his annoyance Ataru kept himself in check. Getting angry would just waste time and they had more important things to talk about.
"It's fine, let's go." With Lum latched onto his arm Ataru marched away from the noisy intersection, stopping under the awning of a convenience store out of the way where they could talk more easily.
Lum released him with an excited twirl, settling at his side shoulder to shoulder. Ataru glanced at her, and in doing so, found himself hopelessly sidetracked by her outfit; a buttoned pale teal pencil skirt paired with a black leather jacket sporting a furred collar with boots to match. These elements highlighted the sweeping curve of her waist and accentuated other attractive features of her body. On her head, hiding her horns from view, was a glittering turquoise headband that appeared to be tied in the back beneath her flowing navy-dyed hair.
"Darling I'm so excited I get to meet your coworkers!" Lum broke in cheerfully.
"Really?" Ataru blinked at her. That was unexpected. Then again, she was known for finding joy in unexpected situations. Which vexed him, if only because it reminded Ataru that Lum was a strange girl from a strange world who was most assuredly going to embarrass him tonight by being strange. "Most normal people would be nervous." Because most normal people would be nervous. He was nervous. The least she could do was pretend to be nervous like a normal person, rather than giddy as all hell.
"That's weird." her face scrunched quizzically. Lum couldn't fathom why anyone would be anxious meeting their husband's coworkers. "I'm not nervous at all, I've wanted to meet them since you started working there." Lum nearly pouted but refrained.
Not once since they reconnected did he divulge anything about the people sharing an office with him. Any conversations they had about his job included gripes and complaints about the workload and/or his boss, but that was it. The people themselves were a mystery when, as his wife, she should know everything he knew about them. Lum shouldered some of the blame, internalizing her ignorance as a personal failure – although, she considered her close-lipped husband equally culpable.
"Listen Lum." Ataru spoke firmly, taking her shoulders in his hands to force her focus. Curiosity overshadowed Lum's other emotions; what had her husband so concerned? More than likely, he was being paranoid over nothing. Nobody was better than Ataru when it came to overblowing things.
"I'm telling you this now so you don't go jumping to any weird conclusions." Ataru took a small breath. "There is one girl on my team." He studied her face intently for a reaction, and as expected, her eyes narrowed threateningly. Ataru was quick on the defense, "But she's not like other girls!" Okay, that might not have been the best way to phrase it.
"Oh really?" Lum found some amusement in watching him squirm. If she had to guess this mystery girl was adorable and kept him distracted all day by simply existing in the same space as him. And really, not like other girls? What a unique descriptor. Lum leered at him sharply, her arms crossed, smirking in anticipation of what he'd say to dig himself out of this deepening hole.
"She's -" Ataru paused thoughtfully, trying to figure out a way to explain her orientation to someone who probably never heard of such things before. "- more like a guy. I guess?" For a person who separated genders according to "likes guys" and "likes girls", this made sense to say. Historically, for him, guys like girls. So it worked. Ataru really was that simple.
"Like Ryuu was?" Lum reached for the only reference she could think of without fully understanding. Her annoyance turned to intrigue. First Ryuu and then Nagisa, were there even still more people like them? What else could he mean?
"Kind of, but also no." Well, Minami didn't exactly embody his understanding of femininity. Not completely. She dressed feminine, but she was also unapologetically brusque, blunt, and monotone most of the time. Better to just says it outright: "She's into other girls."
Lum's face lit with realization.
"Oh! She's a lesbian." That was easy to solve. What was his deal? Lum looked at Ataru strangely. "You could've just said that, Darling." Sometimes she really wondered about her husband.
"How," Ataru hesitated, matching her confusion, "how do you know what that is?" He didn't expect her to know about the intricacies of preference. They didn't experience much diversity at their school or in Tomobiki overall, and he certainly didn't teach her any of this.
"Darling you're silly." Lum laughed as she brushed one of his hands off her shoulder. "I work with all kinds of people."
"Right. I guess that's true." Ataru had to remind himself that Lum lived a life rich in experiences out of his sights. Come to think of it, many of her new quirks, like her preference to walk rather than fly, particularly in the city, or the altered pitch in her voice whenever she spoke to a waiter or clerk, were probably the results of that life. Ataru's current vision of her was tainted with old memories, so it was hard to measure her growth. Time and experience polished her rough edges, giving the once naive alien girl more worldliness than she had before. Ataru felt his tension ease. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.
The walk back to Wasureppoi was a short one. Lum remarked how she'd been there once before, sparking a small worry in Ataru that she'd mention it when meeting the others and expose his fib. But that wasn't something he could really fix without revealing his true intention for meeting up with her and possibly initiating an argument. So he let it go.
On entering the bar and drawing closer to their usual table Ataru felt his insides quiver nervously and new concerns began seeping into his conscious mind. Considering how his coworkers behaved when they made the suggestion, how would they act now that the Go-Time Travel girl was right in front of them? Especially Tenjou and Minami.
Shit, maybe that's what he should've actually been worried about the whole time.
Yamagata, having seen them first, made a grand show of calling out to the pair, drawing a number of curious glances their way and lending credibility to Ataru's newest fear. On top of all that, he noticed at once that nobody was sitting in their usual spot. Every Friday, without deviation, he sat between Yamagata and Minami, who sat beside Tenjou, with Tachibana completing the circle next to Yamagata. Today they'd rearranged themselves, so it was Minami and Tenjou shouldering two empty chairs. That did not bode well. Alarm bells rang in Ataru's ears at the sight of Tenjou braced on the edge of his seat like a coiled spring. Even Minami's stare embodied the exuberance of a bull seeing red.
Lum, likewise, had to reign in her own excitement. She longed to meet each of them with her natural buoyancy, but there was too much training on her now. In a world where first impressions mattered significantly, she'd been forced to employ restraint and follow certain rules of decorum and politeness. Bearing these lessons in mind, Lum maintained a patient and biddable vigil at Ataru's side.
Judging Tenjou to be a greater threat than Minami, Ataru made sure to stand between him and Lum.
"Lu-" Ataru stopped to correct himself "- Ramu, this is Naoki Tenjou, Shigeru Yamagata, Osamu Tachibana, and Tomoko Minami." He gestured to each of them as they were introduced, until he'd gone full circle. And they, in turn, waved or nodded when their names were given. "Everyone, Ramu."
"It's so nice to finally meet all of you!" Lum's delight was palpable, radiating warmly from her face as she dipped her head to them.
Surprising no one, Tenjou sprang from his seat, nearly bowling Ataru over in the process.
"Oh no, Miss Ramu, the pleasure is all ours!" Following a prince-like bow he reached for the chair next to his, pulling it out with a gentlemanly wave bidding her to sit. "Please do sit down my dear."
Ataru stepped lithely forward, and with his voice hiked by an octave, planted himself down in the chair, feigning all the bashful gratitude of a Disney princess.
"Why thank you!"
"Not you," Tenjou hissed between his teeth.
"Who else would you be talking to?" Ataru hissed back through a fake smile.
Minami snatched the opportunity presented by their bickering and pulled the chair out beside her.
"Just ignore them, you can sit here."
Having been bested by Minami, and with neither willing to contest the lioness for her prize, Tenjou and Ataru ceased their fighting and sat back in their respective seats with matching frowns. Ataru regarded his opportunistic coworker with a sideward glance, caught between appreciation for her cleverness (among other things) and annoyance for the same reason.
Yamagata watched on in amusement while Tachibana sucked slowly on his drink, wishing he could vanish into it.
Kise came upon them with an energetic greeting for Ataru and Lum, who'd just arrived, before setting about the mechanical task of checking in with the rest. Having been there for a bit, most of the table was already polishing off their first round and going on seconds. When the question came their way, Ataru placed his usual order of Sapporo, and then immediately turned his attention to Lum. Knowing she'd been here before, he saw this as a chance to glimpse the life she lived away from him. Lum answered Kise with the swiftness of someone who had been asked this question many times, delivering a polite smile in tandem with her order. Umeshu Soda. Confusion twisted onto Ataru's face, which was wiped away immediately by dreadful enlightenment. Ume; plums!
"Wait a -"
"Miss Ramu," Tenjou's voice rose loudly over Ataru's budding protest. "I have to say, you're even more beautiful in person."
Venom smoldered in Ataru's eyes as they locked onto Tenjou, the problems surrounding her order set aside for the time being. Lum met his compliment with a well-mannered smile that held nothing beyond polite appreciation. Unfortunately, to Tenjou, civility and flirtation were taken to mean the same thing.
"Have you ever considered working with another studio on the side?" His hands folded together over the table and he regarded Lum with professional (and not so professional) interest.
"No, she hasn't!" Ataru snapped at once before Lum even had a chance to process the question.
By tacit consent the two faced off, their foreheads pressing together and an issue of challenge blazing in their eyes.
"Will you stop interfering!" Tenjou growled angrily, confused and frustrated by Ataru's continual meddling when he hadn't even admitted to being in any sort of valid relationship with her.
"Interfering with what?" Ataru clapped back with matching anger. Did this skeevy son of a bitch really think he could flatter her into modeling for them? In front of him? And that he'd just let it happen?
It should be said that Lum was not ignorant to the battle raging next to her; she was well aware of the reason behind it. But for someone who had since grown accustomed to unwanted advances, licentious remarks and saccharin flattery, she could no longer muster the will to give a damn in any sense of the word. Much less entertain these overtures with anything more than the polite smile she'd been coached to give. And really, her husband didn't need to stoop to his level. Ataru should know by now there was only room enough for him in her heart. What did it matter if other men gawked? That was all they could do. As such, Lum's primary concern was keeping her darling from making a fool of himself in public – which wouldn't put either of them in a good light.
Even if, secretly, Lum wanted to shower him with love for coming to her defense.
"Darling calm down you're making a lot of noise." She advised, pulling him gently back by the arm. A depressing realization slowly gathered on Minami's face as she watched them.
From across the table Yamagata barked a throaty laugh.
"You think this's bad?" He pointed an accusing finger at Ataru and the color instantly left him. "One night he got so drunk-"
"Oh wow that girl over there sure is hot!" Ataru declared loudly, pointing in a random direction.
"Where!?" Tenjou's head whipped around excitedly, only to be disappointed by the sight of a puzzled and mildly offended Kise taking orders at another table full of equally perplexed men.
Lines of bewilderment creased Yamagata's face. Did Ataru really think that would work on him?
"That's just Kise!" Tenjou griped. Yamagata double checked and instantly started laughing, the idea of their usual waiter being compared to a beautiful woman was wildly hilarious to him. Tenjou was beyond annoyed, particularly as Yamagata decided to make a case for Ataru's misidentification, even encouraging Tenjou to get his number.
Ataru didn't really give a damn how they felt. It served the purpose of keeping his sempai from recanting one of his bigger blunders. The last thing he needed was Lum thinking he was a lush with no self-control – the fallout would be disastrous. And it was this thought that reminded him of the plum Soda she'd just ordered! Damn it all, he never should have agreed to this!
"Hey," Ataru whispered with great urgency, "Lum, about that -" only to be interrupted once more.
Minami laid a hand on Lum's arm to initially draw her attention – keeping it there for more self-serving reasons.
"Did you call him darling just now?" She queried hesitantly. This halted the conversation between Tenjou and Yamagata.
Fear once more gripped Ataru, and the plum Soda returned to the back of his mind.
"Mhm! That's what I've always called him."
"If you call him darling," Tenjou began, equally tentative, "am I correct to assume that you both are..." his voice trailed off as though he were afraid of the answer that would follow. He pointed his fingers one way, then another, then joined the tips, flustered and fidgeting beneath their bemused stares until Minami's patience evaporated.
"Are you two dating?"
Lum made to speak and froze within a hair of a second. On her tongue was primed the usual clarification of their marriage. Yet before it could be delivered her mind traveled back to the morning when she stood before her vanity, heart fluttering excitedly, and promised herself she would make her husband proud. Lum understood the importance of reputation. Human societies were strangled by formalities and processes and other ways to make words stick. Even marriages were bound by contracts and required validation beyond a simple oath. These were probably the reasons her husband didn't like talking about their marriage openly. So, much as it pained her to do so, she reduced the nature of their relationship to something more palatable for the simple people of Earth; dating.
All these considerations came to Lum in a blink and she answered with no sign of deliberation -
"Yup."
Silence followed, and considering the usual flow of events involved some type of argument or protest on Ataru's part and bewilderment on the part of others, silence was good. Unfortunately, while she was overcome with relief, Lum failed to notice the ripple effect her words had on the group.
Minami and Tenjou flinched as if they'd been shot, and glumly hung their heads over the table. A wide grin parted Yamagata's face and a light of realization shone in his eyes, as though he'd solved a riddle. Tachibana only raised his brows, not quite as invested in the mystery of Ataru's love life, but not so detached he didn't find the discovery at least somewhat interesting.
Likewise, Lum's words gave Ataru pause, albeit for a different reason. Subtly he watched her, notes of confusion written in the lines of his face. That was it? No 'I'm his wife' or 'actually we're married'? Normally he was the one refuting her claims, either directly to her or as a correction to somebody else. But to hear Lum say, in essence, that they were just dating, sent a rush of nerves through his body and inspired a wave of unease. Why the downgrade? Had she done it simply to avoid questions, or was there a hidden meaning she'd yet to mention? Or maybe she'd said it as a way to get back at him for making the same claim the day he left home? Ataru puzzled over the matter, feeling more anxious and unsettled. All the while Lum scoured the dinner menu, blissfully unaware of the turmoil she'd caused.
"Well that doesn't sound very complicated." Yamagata concluded, harkening back to the night of his engagement celebration. This comment snapped Ataru back to the present, whereafter he glared accusingly at his sempai.
"I never said it was!" Those words never came out of his mouth, they just made assumptions. Sure, maybe he hadn't been very direct, but that's because he didn't want to talk about it to begin with! Why couldn't they all just catch a hint and stop asking such intrusive questions about his personal life?
Yamagata met Ataru's explosive rebuttal with a mirthless expression, behind the mask of which, his thoughts churned. And then a grin, devious and impish and suggestive all at once, smeared across his face. Ataru's blood chilled at the sight.
"W-what's with that look?"
Yamagata reclined against the table and propped his chin with one hand, amused by the situation as it was presented to him.
"You know," he damn near purred, "there's always room for more on my chariot of joy."
"Chariot of joy?" Lum parroted questioningly. Ataru honestly thought he might die.
"Can we talk about something else?" It was less a question than it was a demand. A demand Tenjou was happy to oblige.
"So Miss Ramu, if I could ask you a personal question?"
"No!" Ataru wailed, half in exasperation, half in impotence.
"Oh check out the babe over there?" Tenjou gaped, mimicking Ataru's earlier trickery, unsure if it would work a second time on the very person who had employed it minutes ago.
"Where!?" Ataru hungrily followed the direction indicated by Tenjou's finger. Ah but it was Kise yet again, appearing about as annoyed as Ataru was disappointed. Lum, for her part, far outmatched them in agitation. Tenjou smirked condescendingly, despite having no right to do so, and Yamagata gave another hearty chuckle at Kise's poor luck.
"Anyway, Miss Ramu, I couldn't help notice," From his back pocket Tenjou produced three pictures of Lum – one from a newspaper when she'd first appeared as 'the invader girl', the other two, magazine clippings from previous Ads. The edges were frayed and worn, as if they'd spent a lifetime in his pocket, serving devious purposes. Both Ataru and Minami grimaced. "Your horns are hidden in every Ad you've been in. Even now I see you're hiding them. I can understand the hair, but why hide your horns?"
Tachibana flinched and his eyes hardened on Lum, studying her with great care and intensity. After a brief instant, understanding swept over his face, and he glowered darkly at her from over the rim of his glass. Now he knew why she looked so familiar.
"Well," Lum debated with herself a moment, ultimately deciding there was no harm in sharing the reason, at least from a professional standpoint. "Mr. Paul said horns might be too intimidating." Her tone suggested a lack of understanding behind the logic employed by this mystery person.
"Mr. Paul?" Minami asked, giving voice to the question on everyone's mind - except Ataru, who'd already heard plenty about Paul over the months.
"The studio director. He makes all those decisions."
"That's ridiculous!" Tenjou gasped as he swiftly returned the pictures to his pocket just when Ataru tried snatching them away. Minami sighed regretfully; she had to concede, it was a good design choice. Tenjou was outraged enough for the both of them anyway. "This Paul guy sounds like an idiot. I think your horns are extremely charming, just like you!"
"That's not how I'd describe someone who tried taking over our planet." Tachibana broke in without warning, his words so cold they smothered the warmth out of Lum's face. A chill prickled her skin and she looked at him with a dim flicker of concern in her eyes. Not for her own safety, rather, for the peace of the evening. The last thing Lum wanted was for the controversy surrounding her residence on Earth (a thing she'd grown familiar with over the course of her employment) to cause issues between her husband and his coworkers. Especially after trying so hard to make sure the night went well.
Ataru was also taken aback by Tachibana's open contempt. This was the second person he'd met who disliked Lum for her past actions. And knowing there could be more out there, some of them probably not as harmless as Tachibana, nurtured a small fear within him for Lum's safety. Even more so with how much she traveled, doubly as someone who did the bare minimum to hide herself. And if she couldn't use her powers she was about as dangerous as a puppy. Honestly, the more he learned about the nature of her job and all its perils, the less he liked that she had one at all.
Fortunately, neither he nor Lum had very long to nurse their worries.
Without warning Minami's fist slammed against the table, visibly startling all of them.
"Tachibana! Don't be rude!"
Beneath her fury Tachibana paled and shrank away miserably in his chair, trembling and wishing he could simply disappear.
"Ignore him Miss Ramu, I for one am happy you ended up on our humble little planet." Tenjou swooped in apologetically, leaning into Ataru's space to get closer. Ataru stared daggers at him but made no motion to move (sitting between them had been a wise choice). Minami rolled her eyes.
"You might be an alien," he continued in spite of them, "but if you ask me, I think you fit in perfectly on Earth." Then he leaned further forward to study Lum with unsettling scrutiny. "It's really amazing how much you look like us." After a moment his cheeks flushed red and a grotesque, quivering grin gave form to the depraved thoughts swimming through his mind. "A-anatomically speaking, exactly how-"
His question was interrupted, first by a hacking cough as Ataru choked on his beer. Then by Minami's fist slamming against the table a second time.
"Tenjou! Don't be gross!" With a yelp Tenjou retreated back into his seat, hunkering against the table to avoid further backlash. Satisfied with this, Minami turned to Lum, her voice sweet and inquisitive. "Sorry about all that. So how have you liked living on Earth so far?"
Minami's question, rudimentary in nature, returned some semblance of normalcy to the conversation and served Ataru with a moment to take stock of the evening. Lum's retelling of her lengthy adaptation to life on Earth, and all that it entailed, was a tired story that didn't require his attention.
So far nothing had gone the way Ataru expected. Lum hadn't done anything outlandish whatsoever. Rather, it was Tenjou's wanton advances (Minami at least had the decency to be subtle), and the ever-present risk of embarrassing stories coming to light that really stressed him out. Tachibana, well, he was of no concern as long as Minami was sitting right there, putting the fear of God into him. That allowed room in Ataru's busy mind for another concern which had been knocking about in his head for the last several minutes; the plum Soda.
Why order anything made of plums when she knew what they did to her? Pickled or not, there was something about the fruit that interacted with her alien biology. What would happen after a few sips of that drink? Was it strong enough to get her drunk, or was it too mild? Clearly she had it before, being so quick to order and having come here previously. Did that mean it had no effect? No, Ataru shook his head, he could never be so lucky. The night was young, and there were plenty hours left for her old habits to resurface. Some might say he was pessimistic; Ataru considered himself a realist. And in keeping with this personal truth, he eyed Lum with ever-growing suspicion, watching her as one would over a mischievous child.
Shortly thereafter Kise returned with their orders and refills, engaging in a reluctant conversation with Yamagata, who was feeling spirited and found great sport in convincing Kise that there was no shame in being mistaken for an attractive woman. Twice. Ataru took this as an opportunity to address the elephant in the room.
Before Lum even had a chance to sample her drink he pulled it away. Her eyes flashed instantly, demanding its return – Ataru had a habit of occasionally stealing the first bite or sip of anything she ordered, if he didn't outright finish it entirely.
"Don't give me that look," he whispered angrily into the space between them, "This is a plum drink isn't it." There was no question in his voice. Ataru knew exactly what it was. Lum surprised him by rolling her eyes, as if she had any right to be annoyed!
"Darling you've gotten even more paranoid." Lum whispered back, reaching for her drink, which Ataru only pulled further away.
"I'm not paranoid," He grumbled, "you know what plums do to you."
"You're thinking of pickled plums," she scoffed. "This is different."
"How different?"
Lum met his suspicion with a tired, resigned sigh.
"Darling it's fine. I've had this drink before." Ataru didn't seem convinced. Lum issued him a humorless stare. "Y'know this isn't the first time I've gone out with people I want to impress."
Alarm at this new revelation widened Ataru's eyes and sent a tremor of apprehension through him.
"Wait who have you been trying to impress?" Came the hasty retort.
"Darling." Lum addressed him sternly, annoyed and a little hurt by his continued lack of faith in all respects. "Is it really so hard for you to trust me? Could you at least try, for once?" Neither was she interested in playing to his paranoia, not tonight. Because if she did, and allowed him to make a scene, Lum could guarantee he'd turn the whole thing back on her. She'd carried plenty of the blame for situations he put himself in by over-reacting. Tonight was too important to let it happen yet again.
Ataru, of course, was ignorant to her line of thinking. All he saw, all he heard, was a weary plea for him to employ just a little bit of trust. Her words tugged at the guilt hiding behind his justifications, and he found the ground beneath his predictions was shaken. Maybe she was right after all. Lum rarely spoke to him like this unless she was being serious. And, well, she hadn't done anything weird tonight, or on most of the dates they went on. So...perhaps he could just let her be this one time.
"Fine." At last he relinquished control of her drink, and the cheer returned to brighten Lum's face. Ataru felt the blood run hot in his cheeks at the sight of her - it should be a crime for someone to be so effortlessly adorable.
"If it makes you feel any better, I came prepared." Lum referenced the headband from earlier. "It's a special wrap from my planet, made of cellulose and isoprene fibers and fortified with plantanite. Tying it off creates-" Lum glanced at Ataru, who looked about as bemused and bleary-eyed as he did throughout high school. Right. Such technology was probably too advanced for him to really grasp. Plantanite wasn't even a native mineral on Earth.
"It stops electricity, but still lets me fly. I've had it for a long time now and its always worked fine." Lum concluded proudly. And Ataru had to admit, he was a little impressed. It reminded him of the games they used to play in his room back in the day. Somehow, she always managed to outthink and out-maneuver him. And she'd done it once again.
Even so, it was hard to set aside years of precedent. Ataru studied her dubiously as she took in those first few sips, scanning for a reaction that could tell him exactly how honest she'd been. But for all his worrying there was nothing to see besides a contented smile and a subtle flash of color in the shine of her hair. Beyond that, it was no different than any other person indulging in their first sip of a strong drink. It was not the explosive reaction he'd been afraid of. Seeing this gave Ataru a bit more confidence and, slowly yet surely, he allowed himself to relax.
After a few more rounds, interrupted occasionally by shared appetizers, Ataru's mind slipped into that place where consequences no longer matter, and life is best lived as it happens.
Moments merged into half hours, which came together and changed evening to night. Crowds thinned outside the bar windows, but inside they were suspended in time. With a fresh perspective, old conversations were given new life, and stalemated arguments received a tiebreaker. Ataru even felt confident enough, and drunk enough, to sit back and watch Minami and Tenjou make bold attempts at winning Lum's favor. A foolish endeavor; she only had eyes for him. They could shoot their shot all they wanted but it wouldn't get them anywhere. Thus, he was happy to watch the show, both a spectator and participant in this meeting of worlds.
Ataru felt as if he were floating, and not just because of the booze. Secretly he longed for moments like this, when he could pretend he was just a normal guy in a normal relationship, same as everyone else. No weird contraptions, no cultural faux pas, no bizarre foods that may or may not try to eat you in return; being with an Oni, with an alien, could be very challenging at times. So when Kise came asking for last calls to herald the end of their evening, Ataru was deeply disappointed. Lum, keeping it together as well as she could, declined. Ataru nodded gravely and also declined a final drink. Just as well, since he had no plans of getting sloshed the way he did the night he wound up at Yamagata's apartment.
Having paid their tab, the group collectively stumbled out into the cold night air to begin their final goodbyes. Both Tenjou and Tachibana lived within the city, and so departed first. Of course Tenjou was loath to go and took to belting out his phone number for Lum as Tachibana almost literally dragged him down the street. The rest of them, Ataru, Lum, Yamagata and Minami, later boarded the train where they continued their idle banter. Minami decided to try one of Ataru's plays in asking for Lum's address and phone number - which he declined for her. This led to a very loud, incomprehensible argument. Minami would have missed her stop completely had Yamagata not literally picked her up and removed her from the train. When it came to the devil's nectar he was a veteran, and among them, retained the most of his senses. Enough to give Lum a proper goodbye and impart a whisper to Ataru regarding his good fortune. A pompous grin flashed on his face; nobody needed to tell him he was lucky.
And then there were two. Leaning shoulder to shoulder, Ataru and Lum enjoying the quiet reprieve from conversation and delighted in the comfort of familiar company. They rode like this all the way to Senshoo, wordless and content, their heads filled with highlights of the evening. When the train finally pulled in, Lum drifted from the sliding doors, cutting a loop through the frigid winter air and chasing gray clouds of crystalized breath while giggling to herself. Ataru staggered below her, tripping his way down the platform and onto the sidewalk, pausing only a moment to find his bearings through a boozy haze.
"Daaar-ling!" Lum practically sang above his head, drifting this way and that, "Your coworkers are super-duper fun!" Again she fell to laughing and twirling through the air, coming to hover at her husband's side and nearly crashing into the ground when she did.
Ataru did not share her sentiments. Not after having spent the first half of the night being on guard against lustful idiots and embarrassing stories. All while drinking no less! Which was not an easy thing to do. Into the cold winter night he voiced his discontent with a throaty, long-suffering sigh -
"Ah hate ev'ry one'uv 'em."
Lum wasn't exactly listening. Her attention had strayed to the twinkling sky above, which she regarded while coasting on her back, ignorant to a nearby fence until her head came forcefully against it. Ataru snickered and pulled her back to his side by her wrist. To his surprise, Lum pulled away.
"Whassamatter?" He asked, staggering to a halt.
"Well," Lum sighed loudly, staring melancholy at the sky above. Ataru's head craned to one side and disbelief marred his features. Did she mean to fly all the way home, in this condition? From the dark pits of his imagination arose images of her smacking into a plane or pole or something stupid like that, landing herself in the hospital or worse.
"Idiot! Ya can't drink n' fly!" Ataru argued noisily. "'Assa law!" True for pilots perhaps, but Ataru wasn't concerned with semantics.
"Is not!" Lum snapped back with confidence, folding her arms and drifting slightly off her axis. How dare he assume she couldn't handle herself. He'd flown maybe once in his entire life? To think he had any right telling her she couldn't manage drinking plum liqueur and flying! "You watch!"
Leaning against a nearby fence Ataru watched with great skepticism as Lum lifted off toward the sky. She'd cleared maybe ten feet before veering to the side, overcorrecting herself right into a telephone pole. From there she met the ground, her fall fortunately broken by a pile of leftover snow.
"Tol' ya!" Ataru howled obnoxiously as he stooped down to scoop the dizzy-eyed Oni off the ground. In his mind the matter was settled. If she couldn't handle a few feet there was no way he'd let her fly all the way back to her ship. A million things could go wrong between here and there, and he'd never forgive himself should any of those possibilities become reality. Although this wasn't the way he imagined introducing her to his apartment, Ataru felt he had no choice but to bring her home. "Le's go."
Rather than carrying her, Ataru took Lum's hand and tossed her gently into the air where she hovered like a balloon above him.
"Where?" Lum asked with all the cadence of an inquisitive child. Even without being drunk Ataru had a hard time forming a reply.
"My place." Came his reluctant response, spoken barely above a whisper. And as expected, Lum gave voice to her elation with an ear-splitting screech. "Shhush!" Ataru hissed, yanking her arm back and forth. "Ya better chill or Imma leave you outside!" At once Lum sucked in her lips to signal her compliance, going so far as to not utter a single word while they navigated the empty streets of Senshoo. Not that she needed to. Ataru could feel the joy emanating from her, but he wasn't sober enough to truly care. Better obnoxious and alive than lost in space or hit by a plane.
The ensuing journey was uneventful, at least until Ataru remembered he lived on the second floor. Walking on level ground was already problematic enough, not to mention exhausting. Ah but what did stairs matter when he had a veritable elevator hovering over his head? Ataru tugged Lum's arm, pointing to the top of the stairs once he had her attention. Lum pouted at her husband, muttering something in her native tongue that did not sound very flattering. Begrudgingly she hooked her arms under his and hoisted him slowly up the staircase, setting him down once they reached the top.
Lum marveled at the gray doors as they passed - one, two, three - all of them identical and boring. This honestly wasn't what she expected. Then again, Ataru had been very tight-lipped about his apartment. Could this have been the reason? Because it was kind of ugly and kind of bland? Lum was lost to her thoughts now. She hadn't even noticed Ataru fidgeting with his keys at the corner unit and sailed obliviously past him at a snail's pace.
By the time he managed to get the key in right she'd nearly flown over the balcony. Ataru snorted a laugh as he caught sight of her drifting along on her side and frowning pensively – and she really believed she could make it home? Shaking his head Ataru grabbed her by the leg and pulled her inside, shutting the door behind them.
In the darkness of his genkan Ataru braced himself against a wall to take off his shoes, fingers plucking at the laces which refused to come into focus. He snickered at how absurdly difficult the task was, vaguely aware of one of Lum's boots dropping from overhead, followed shortly thereafter by its twin. He'd only just managed to free himself of one shoe when her coat unexpectedly fell over his head. Ataru could hear Lum laughing from above, and finding the comedy in her antics, he took up a chuckle of his own and flung her coat carelessly to the side. Glaring at her with a devilish smirk, Ataru employed a bit of force to relieve himself of the remaining shoe and stood up to confront her.
"G'down from there," He commanded, only to be met with coy laughter and no sign of compliance. Challenge accepted. Ataru made a grab for her, pawing at anything that came within reach, her leg, her skirt, anything. Dodging him would have been a simple matter for Lum, if her mind wasn't already swimming. But she was careless and let her hand dangle a little too close. Ataru was quick, despite the sluggishness of his reflexes, and managed to grab her hand in his, pulling her down with much more force than he intended. Lum yelped as she came crashing into his chest, sending both of them into the far wall. Ataru's weary legs buckled, and the pair of them slid laughing to the floor in a heap. He sighed as their laughter died away, and in that moment of blissful levity, their eyes met.
Ataru couldn't name the force or emotion that brought him forward, slowly and sincerely, until his lips were on hers. Lum leaned into him as if she were melting, supported only by her arms which wrapped themselves around his neck. Ataru swept his arms around the small of her back and pulled her ever closer. The world ceased to be, the hour no longer mattered, and the sleep that had tugged at their eyes only moments ago fell away. Lum already felt like she was in a dream. She offered no resistance, following Ataru as he worked to get them both up, holding his back to the wall for support. Once he was sure on his feet he pulled away, just enough for some air to pass between them.
Ataru took her in, and lost himself in her eyes which glowed ethereal in a shaft of glittering light from a small window in his front door. They were a meeting of warm tints, fire red and gold, reminding him that she wasn't of this world. Lum was a fallen star, and despite the vastness of the universe, by some random chance of fate, she landed in his front yard.
Thoughts flowed through his mind like the reel of a movie, playing memories of their time together over the years. Moments of her innocence, how even simple things captivated her immortal sense of awe; her navigation of the world without the trappings of greed or avarice. She was good and kind but also stubborn as hell, with a spirit that burned brighter than any star. He'd been an explorer, watching her journey through life on earth, catching every novel moment and holding them dear. In this sense he was able to relive his own experiences too. Her wonder was boundless, her laugh inspired joy. Lum was fearlessly honest with herself in a way he could never be. She was beautiful in every way, and he knew, in the depths of his heart, that he'd fallen under her spell years ago. Not because of any deceit or coercion. But because he wanted to. Because she was someone worth loving.
There was no denying in drunkenness what he hid in sobriety. And the truth was he loved her absolutely. She was the one stroke of good luck fate had ever gifted him.
Ataru leaned toward her, only this time, Lum was ready and met him halfway. He moved from the wall and she followed his lead out into the hallway where he pulled away to gaze on her, hoping she could see those feelings he couldn't speak aloud reflected through his eyes. It was the same look he'd given her on their final day of tag. And the same look he'd always seen glowing from her eyes, even now. And he hoped she'd always remember it, long after this moment passed. Ataru sought her lips again, removing his hands from her waist to lose them in the thick tresses of her hair, unwittingly sliding her headband off in the process.
Light pulsed through the hall with every crack of electricity, sparks culminating into an explosive bolt that singed Ataru's clothes and scorched him down to the bone. Stray cats scattered and dogs yowled their alarm in the distance. In the wake of this whirlwind electrical storm, Ataru sat on the hallway floor beside Lum, who matched him in her confusion. Of all the things that could have happened, being electrocuted hadn't even made the list.
"I thought you couldn't do that right now." Nearly all of the drunkenness was burned from his mind, and with its absence Ataru had remastered his ability to speak clearly.
Lum didn't think it was possible either, and raised a curious hand to her head, whereupon she discovered the reason her headband failed – because it wasn't there at all! A quick search of the floor around her revealed its new location and ended the mystery.
"It must've fallen off when..." Lum's voice trailed and her face burned as the events of the last few minutes came rushing in. And in the ensuing silence, Ataru's memories also crystalized.
"Th-that's okay!" he declared loudly, springing to his feet with alarming agility. "It's late anyway, I'm tired. You're tired." Ataru grabbed both her hands and effortlessly lifted her off the ground. "I'll get you something to sleep in." Lum opened her mouth to speak but he flipped her around in front of him and marched her into the Livingroom, leaving no room for discussion. "Wait here."
At once Ataru hurried down the hallway to his room and shut the door behind him to put some more concrete distance between himself, Lum, and the vision of her golden eyes gazing up at him in the dark. In a desperate bid for composure, he slapped his cheeks and gave his head a violent shake, spraying soot and ash in a halo around himself. Leaning against the door he inwardly cursed Lum's beauty, cursed alcohol and his carelessness, and above all, cursed himself for wanting more of her.
For wishing that stupid headband hadn't fallen off.
For liking the feel of her lips on his...so...soft, and warm, and - no!
No no no! Get it together!
Ataru paced a circle in his room, clutching at his hair. At the forefront of his mind was a desperate need for control in all things, a quiet fear of vulnerability, and his all-consuming pride that said such overtures of affection were unbecoming of a man; at the core of his heart was Lum, beautiful and captivating, the only woman he honestly loved and the embodiment of his future; and fluttering between them was Ataru, struggling as he always did to find harmony between the two.
To make matters worse Lum was still waiting for him – which reminded Ataru he didn't have a spare futon to give her. There was just the one, and he wasn't mentally or emotionally ready to share it. Not after everything that just happened. Ataru heaved a sigh and his face set decisively on the pile of blankets. Far be it for him to let a lady sleep on the floor like a dog, Lum or anyone. Ataru had standards. So, taking in a deep breath to steady his frayed nerves, he gathered his futon, along with whatever courage he could muster, and prepared to face her again.
While Ataru wrestled for composure in his room, Lum endured a similar struggle down the hall. Her heart leaped at the memory of his arms around her, his lips on hers, and it drummed against her chest so fiercely she thought it would break free. Rarely, outside of a few instances, was he the pursuer. It had always been her, chasing, demanding, and at times even pleading, for his affections. But tonight he came on his own. This was a side of her husband she never knew; the tenderness within his eyes, the strength of his arms as they held her close. Oh, he had been affectionate with her before, but not like this. And beneath the intensity of his gaze, in the shadow of his love, a shyness awakened within Lum she never knew existed. What would have happened, she wondered, had her sash not fallen? Predictions swam through her mind involuntarily, and in their wake, Lum's skin reddened and she became flustered.
Ataru appeared in the doorway and found Lum standing at the window with her back to him and her arms wrapped around herself in a peculiar fashion. If he hadn't known better, he would have thought she were cold. Seeing her there, alone in the dark of his Livingroom, Ataru felt an urging, intrinsic, like hunger or thirst, to gather her in his arms. He fought against this impulse, swallowing his emotions, choking on them silently behind her. To save himself he dropped the futon between them and pulled his arms back to his side so he was standing straight and stiff like a frightened animal ready to flee. Lum flinched at the sound of the heavy blankets hitting the floor. A flicker of light danced around her horns.
Neither made to look at the other.
"You can," Ataru began haltingly, "have this. For tonight. To sleep."
"Thank you." Lum's voice was a quiet wisp of a sound.
Both stood anxiously silent in the pause that followed, until Ataru could stand it no longer. He stepped back into the hall.
"Good...goodnight." he said simply.
"Goodnight." she answered without turning.
Ataru's steps faded as he retreated back to his room. The door closed behind him, and for once he was glad for the silence of solitude and the darkness enveloping his room. It was welcome after the emotional roller coaster he'd just endured. But soon his relief gave way to exhaustion, and the sleep which had been tugging at him the last hour or so swept in upon him. Ataru managed a few steps to the center of his room where his bed had once been. There he dropped to his knees, and fell forward the rest of the way. Sleep came shortly after.
Lum is such a buzz kill! Literally! Hah!
Also in case anyone was wondering, or it wasn't completely obvious; pickled plums make Lum drunk, but plum alcohol gets her high. At least in my fan universe.
My favorite line of notes I made when drafting this chapter was literally:
*Minami yells* TACHIBANA! DON'T BE RUDE!
*Tachibana shrivels up and blows away*
Also, SURPRISE! I bet more than one of you were expecting Lum to be the one who would cause problems. Nay nay I say! Lum has gone through a lot, and let's not forget she is actually extremely smart and very perceptive. Emotions may get in the way of her logic, but she is now equipped with greater confidence in her relationship and out of that has been born her tempered patience. Not to mention her job has indeed helped cultivate a greater understanding of Japanese culture, and she has more knowledge of what is and isn't appropriate (also thanks to someone who hasn't been introduced yet, but he will be soon!) I wanted to hint at this so badly in the last chapter and in comments, but I also wanted the readers to be just as surprised as Ataru. Lum was never the one he had to worry about, it was his coworkers all along!
In any case, some interesting developments! For one, Ataru has realized that he really doesn't like Lum's line of work, and not just because of all the attention she receives. Honestly his more practical concerns are pretty valid, so I'll give him that. What will he do with these feelings? Who knows. Maybe something. Maybe nothing.
Lum also upset him by inferring they are "just dating". Ataru often expresses acceptance of something by a lack of argument. Responding to Lum's nickname of 'Darling' is his validation of their relationship. Whenever he refers to his home as theirs, it's acceptance of her place in his life. Just to name a couple examples. What's more, he's long since viewed Lum as the person he will ultimately end up with, even to the point of giving up on his harem dream once he realized he can't have both. Lum suggesting otherwise, by confirming Minami's question, really struck a nerve with him and has put everything he thought was set in stone to question. It was a fleeting, passing moment, but the thought now lives in his subconscious.
Oh yeah, they kissed too. I guess that's pretty important XD. Ataru is normally such a guarded person, he usually either has to be half asleep/sick, possessed, under some kind of influence, or under extreme duress to put aside his more abrasive emotions and follow his feelings. Being moderately drunk was the vehicle for his vulnerability today. I wanted to force his hand and put him on shaky ground. He didn't predict the night would go this way, but it did, and now he's going to have to unpack all of that.
Like some of the other chapters in this story, this one and the next one are connected. What's going to happen tomorrow? Tune in...in two weeks! Because of the July 4th holiday I will not be posting a chapter next Thursday.