"Nowaaaaa! Jim is here!" Marin called opening the door. Nowa jumped from the couch to find her shoes, as jim entered scanning the room–his eyes falling on Daki, "so wheres the wolf? I see the vixen."
"dont." Marin gave the biggest scowl she could muster letting him know It was his first and last warning to act right. "I'm just counting all the chickens in the coop to make sure none are missing. Especially my golden goose," he leans against the frame, "sheesh, mar, im surprised you forgave them for the brick already, speaking of where is Gojo? Did you have to throw him away a second time?"
"Just take nowa and get out!" She shoves him hard out the door, "that hurts you know!" he touts angrily bulldozing back in, causing her to fall back, all the girls start shouting profanities at him, "hey i didn mean to knock her over!" he shouts over them but it was daki that reacted the strongest grabbing a golf club she left in marins umbrella holder (she placed various other melee items throughout her house after the mukago incident) and let it clank to the floor getting everyone's attention, "Why dont you make like a tree and fuck off!" disdain dripping off the poorly worded boondock Saints reference they watched earlier.
He sneers at her his deep green eyes downcast as if she were lower than him, "i could have you arrested for threatening a police officer you know." That didn't deter daki in the slightest. nowa gently placed her hand over hers holding the golf club, "Daki stop! he didn't mean to!" she glares at nowa a vein popping out of her pretty forehead visibly, "to think i actually thought you looked somewhat cute earlier… psh, not anymore" she turned back to face him at the doorway, he merely snickered looking down at her, "what kind of coward has his sister fight his battles? are there no men at this party?"
That's when gyutaros laughter could be heard from outside at the edge of marins stoop. It was wild and high just like at the parking lot when he gave her a ride home. Oh No! She panicked.
"ive been standing here the entire time!" he held his hands out in a T pose, beckoning jim to meet him at the driveway, "I wonder if youre the most pathetic loser ive ever laid eyes on...? Bet you felt real big and strong picking fights with women huh, you big coward!" Nowa panicked knowing that look in jim's eyes when he was well and truly angry, she tries to stop him having gotten her shoes on, "Jim, ignore him! Jim!" he shoves her arm away as he stomps down the steps slowly, "You're him?" he eyed gyutaro suspiciously, but he merely cackled that the cruel look on his face never disappearing.
"Yes it appears I'm popular amongst my little neighbor's friends, heard youve been looking for me for a while now. well I'm here so what do you want, worm?" Jim reached the edge of the stairs but up close gyutaro despite his hunched pose and skinny frame just seemed so much bigger. The energy he gave off– like marin was always saying– was fearless- daring as he looked down on Jim with dehumanizing eyes as if he were looking at a rodent or insect. Marin knew Jim felt it. Afterall she's definitely been on the receiving end of it and yes, while it wasnt fun... she didnt expect Jim to look so… afraid. He's a cop for fuck's sake! The moment he took that last step off her stoop she saw the fear in his eyes- He was terrified of Gyutaro!
And she knew Gyutaro definitely saw it too. This is bad. She watched as Gyutaro took a step towards him, that crazed look never leaving his face as he reveled in the altercation. Without so much as a flex, Jim swallowed the visible lump in his throat loudly and instinctively took a step back tripping over the step he'd passed and falling backwards into marin's bushes, everyone gasped, "Eh?" even gyutaro broke character for a second not expecting such a weak reaction, as Jim basically fell to pieces trying to get out of marin's bushes.
Eventually his mouth upturned into a grin, "Oh I see!" he begins to laugh, "Your tiny heart fell apart at the last second, huh?" he laughed even louder, bending over holding his stomach before leaning back and howling at the sky in laughter. Jim hugs the rail finally getting to his feet flustered, "You good there, chump?" Gyutaro mocks, "i suppose no matter how much a rat pretends hes a lion, reality proves him wrong eventually," his laughter trails and his tone gets serious, "still… nobody insults my sister and gets away with it" pulling out a knife and flipping it open, he juggles it between his fingers, "let's see…how should i make you pay...?" he turns around, "Your truck maybe...?"
Jim shouts at him still flustered, "You fucking vandal! I told you marin hes the one who destroyed your window! It's so fucking obvious why cant you see it!?"
Daia chimes in, with her hand raised, "Actually, I have questions about that!"she snaps her fingers, "why were you here that day? Even if me and Rune were working we shouldve gotten here first that day. not you, you live too far away" He blew out air from his nose angrily, "shut up daia! i have half a mind to think you helped too, sucking him off for drugs! since you're so obsessed with shitty people," he looked around, "speaking of shit people where's your shit ex, did you lie about him being here too?"
'guilty as charged" she shrugs without a care in the world. "but still, ignoring your half-assed deflection, i thought you came because mar called you but nowa said you got a call from the department... why?you weren't working that day, and this isnt even your zone! I would know I work forensics afterall… Strange."she shrugs again glancing in gyutaros direction, daki immediately noticed and glances his way too as he glances back at her; a telepathic understanding among them.
Jim rubbed his eyes, "are you implying I threw the brick, daia seriously? you'll say anything to get out of shit wont you?"
"If only we had a polygraph." she could not have sighed more dramatically if she tried, "You're fucking high, i didnt throw shit, i had nothing to do with that," Jim says exasperated.
Then almost as if it was coordinated, both siblings laughed hysterically, "what're you laughing at?!" but they only laughed harder. Daki could barely talk, "D-d-did you hear him brother?" she said in between guffaws, "I know! What a loser! all that tough talk but It seems words are the only weapon he has!"
"Right?" daki points at Jim in between laughs "w-werent you the one whining about hiding behind skirts? But isnt that what youre doing now trying to convince them to believe you over marin? what a pussy!" marin looked at both siblings and then at jim who was seething shouting profanities, then to nowa whose face was red with embarrassment trying to hush him. The realization slowly hit her what the siblings figured out. " You fucking onlyFans whore!" he screams then shouts at gyutaro "and youre an ugly fucking incel loser-"
That's when kensei leaps off the stoop, "like daki said, why dont you make like a leaf and fucking split, bitch!" (he had been taking a shit but heard the entire altercation) he shoves Jim hard back into the bushes. Jim could not believe Kensei put hands on him as evident by the dumb look on his face, "shes not a whore, asshole, say it again and ill end you" kensei was completely serious. Jim got to his feet about to lash out at him when Gyutaro growled at Kensei, "Hey... i dont recall asking you to step in" Jim halts at his voice, his eyes darting back to gyutaro afraid of what he'd do.
"yeah well if i didn't jump in you wouldve killed this guy. Arent you already in enough trouble with the law? dont waste your time with this loser." kensei retorts casually. Marin could see she needed to get this under control before a brawl broke out,"Jim just get the fuck out! NOW!"
"HOOOLD IT!" gyutaro waves his arm in front of her, "hes not going anywhere, till he pays his dues. He came out here talking all that toughguy shit afterall." he puts a finger to his bottom lip rubbing slightly a contemplative expression on his face,"Gyu dont-" he watched marin with great annoyance as she yelled at him to knock it off, when it hit him, "HEY I have an idea! oh why didnt i think of this sooner!?Its perfect! He slaps his knee raking a hand through his hair. He extends his arm out pointing his finger behind Marin's head, "You! Nowa, right?" everyone turns to nowas direction,"I'm gonna ask you a question and if you answer honestly, i promise ill let your wimpy, lil boyfriend go." he says as if to imitate a toddler. "If you had to pick between that snivelling loser next to you or all your friends who showed up here tonight who would you pick?"
daki jumps in her laugh high and shrill as she leans on the guardrail arms dangling looking down at nowa, "hes gotta point, so whos it gonna be, Nowa?" Nowa looks like shes about to pass out, kensei raises a worried eyebrow, "Nowa?" he almost pleaded her for an answer, now all eyes were on her even marins, as they waited for her to make a decision, "I-I uhh..." she looks to marin with a pathetic look."Gyutaro–" she put her hands lightly on his shoulder but he brushed marin off completely.
"Hang on." Daki interjects her voice flat, "brother, its no fun without stakes ... better make her decision binding." she points a limp manicured finger at her, "if you pick your friends, this scumbag cant ever show his face again… you're officially broken up… but," she smirks that blend of giddy and cruelty, "if you pick him then you dont ever show your face again."
"yes yes good idea, sister! Her brother points excitedly, "Now whats it gonna be!? Youve been sitting on the fence for far too long. Now choose! Come on!"
"Yeah! come on!" daki goads laughing along with him.
"STOP!"Marin steps up, "both of you!" she turns back at daki too her nose wrinkled in deep disdain, "now youre just being cruel bullies!" gyutaro cocks his head at that also aggravated. He reaches into his pocket to pull a cigarette and lighter out, sheathing his knife in the process, "No actually, we're not." he says putting in his mouth, then lighting it "Your little bestie over there is the cruel one for taking you for granted, you know." Seeing the look on marins face daia spoke up, "hes right marin"
"daia you cant be-"
"No... nowa has to choose." she turns "its either us or him, nowa."
"how can you-"
"Oh, grow up, Marin! you know how we all feel about him, we're sick of it, we only tolerate it for you." She scans her friends faces, "Sorry marin" rune shrugged looking ashamed but accepting of the situation. kensei was more than done with it, sajuna had a look of disgust but also quiet acceptance of the situation, shinju was perhaps the most empathetic but marin knew she'd side with sajuna,"what kind of friends are you-"
"Oh, My God! Marin youre driving me nuts!" gyutaro rolled his eyes his patience run-out, "the answer should be simple enough!"
"It isnt fucking simple!" she stomps at him red with rage, "It's not!" she growls right up to his face, he was despondent speaking calmly, smoke billowing out his mouth "All right, since it isnt so simple, you choose then." he says lazily as if this were the most uninteresting thing in the world, "between nowa, your bestie, who youve known since childhood or your felon neighbors next door who you've just met, who are you picking, if you had to?"
"I'm not-"
"Just answer, princess!" he cuts her off gruffly tapping the cigarette watching the ashes fall, now eyes were on marin as she tried to blow it off as if it were stupid "pfft, i mean i-it would be..." He tilted his head slightly raising an eyebrow, cigarette in his mouth, "Well, obviously I-" it looked like she froze in real time, at first he thought it was an act so she wouldnt have to answer,but upon closer scrutiny, he almost dropped the cigarette from his mouth, "you cant be serious, Marin..?" normally he'd laugh condescendingly at the slam dunk he and his sister achieved over nowa... but he couldn't. He was almost mortified. Daki too, as evident by the look of silent shock on her face when he glanced over. He never actually thought she'd hold them in equal esteem to her best friend.
"M-marin?" upon hearing nowas voice she snapped out of her quiet mulling, "uh, N-nowa! D-dont answer them!" she covered her mouth as if trying to prevent from throwing up. Marin could practically hear their friendship shattering. Nowa hangs her head low, A dark realization set in, "let's go Jim" but
he huffs and puffs his chest, "no fuck that, nowa, i can still get this fucking asshole and his bitch sister!" but everyone was silent. Daki stared down her nose at him like he was a dung-eater. Even nowa looked at him ashamed, walking passed marin and gyutaro to the truck's backseat to lay down not even buckled in, as jim stood there awkwardly, he looked like he wanted to say something but instead grumbled as he side stepped kensei and turned the ignition on driving away."shouldve let me go for the truck" gyutaro says nonchalantly.
"shut up…just, stop. Youve done enough…"she didnt yell or make a stronger case than she did but it angered him to no end, he grabs her by the arm tightly, forcing her to look at him, "Again, with the fucking pity, huh? We did you a fucking favor, they were both playing on that pathetic weakness of yours!" He growled his face flushed with anger, throwing her wrist away, she rubs it gently glaring at him. His face softened slightly almost as if he felt bad, but as the staredown continued marin walked right up to his face his expression hardened again. She whispered harshly so only he could hear, "just because you and daki live this us vs everyone bullshit doesnt mean you can force that on me!" he moves even closer to her face.
"and thats why youll always be eaten alive, marin. this us vs them shit is what got us this far. If our lives were switched you would have been finished long ago!"
He steps off back scratching his neck so hard he drew blood. "Fuck! I fucking-" he turned back around to face her "i fucking dont get why youre like this! growing up, no one, not a single time ever g-"he cuts himself off as if realizing his words and more importantly the memories associated with them were carrying him further than he'd like. "DAKI!" he yells instead never breaking eye contact, "What!" she hollers back from the front door, "You staying or leaving?"only then does he break eye contact with marin as she rubs her wrist again "ill be at the Inui's tonight,"
"fine" He pulls the plastic bag out his pocket and throws it at marins feet. She picks it up realizing quickly what it was watching his retreating form as He shoves his hands in his pockets and closes his door with a slam.
"Mar-mar I'm sorry. are you ok?" daia held her hand on her shoulders stopping her once they were all back inside "It's fine"
"Marin... we're really sorry-"
"-so.. you and gyutaro were talking for a long time… what did you talk about? i-i bet he was a big jerk right?"her laugh couldnt have been more forced. Daia understood she was crumbling but still she twists one of her nipples till she howls in pain, trying to ease the tension, "You sure are hostile when it comes to him, but i see why you like him, he reminds me of gojo too." Marin rubbed her boob gently wincing, "What!?"
"Well not in looks or profession…let's call it. But think about it: Tall, quiet, awkward, a virgin," she elbows her at that, "plus he seems really lonely. Definitely screams gojo." she flicks her hair, "but everyone likes him mar, that i can say for certain," Marin stared passed her clearly sulking, it was only when daia, pinched her cheeks hard and she screamed ouch, that she answered her unspoken question, "If you wanna know why he had the bag, ask him yourself."
"i cant" She plastered the best fake smile she couldd muster while looking down.
Daia knew she was crumbling. "But, I'm happy you guys became fast f-friends. I-i-I mean I didn't get his number for months… despite asking, like literally every day. Afterall, He wasn't hostile to you like he was me so I'm sure he likes you enough." daia pats her shoulders.
"oh mar-mar, really you're adorable. But trust me, I've dated enough bad boys and other low-lives to know he was on his best behavior because of you, not me." She reaches into her purse and jingles her keys, "Reach out to him if it gets bad tonight, ok? I'm sure he'll answer, he's a good boy and You do live next door afterall. lucky!" She air kisses her and she walks out the door. "Good night sexy, it was a lot of fun. I'll see you later." She waved and drove off.
Something In marins chest felt weird, she walked into the kitchen, but she wasn't really sure why The panic wouldn't subside it only grew and grew,
She heard a car go by and In a panic looked behind her shoulders suddenly feeling watched again.
She ran upstairs to her room, and sat on her bed with the lights on trying to breathe normally. Something is wrong. Something is definitely wrong. She heard another car drive by and peered out the window expecting to see that van, but the car kept driving. She looked at the photo of her and gojo again on her desk... panting and then at the calendar on her wall With tunnel vision feeling like she was suffocating. She was scared… just so, so… scared…
"ugh!" gyutaro sat at the stool his face buried in his hands, whats wrong with that stupid fucking girl? I just dont get it!" his voice muffled under his hands, daki ran around the house grabbing items for the sleepover, "nah, we were totally fucked for that one, brother!"
"Were not! She-" he points a finger at her house, "Shes fucked up! After all that shit she said about me what was i supposed to think? It Was obvious to pick nowa! What a moron!" he slams his elbows back on the countertop his face buried in his hands again,
"So you learn anything from watching her friends?"
"Yeah 2 words, whore-culture and capri-cortious or something."
"I have nomidea what the fuck you said"
"yea me either," he threw his head back laughing out loud, "oh man! but seriously, they're strange, I was so certain they'd be afraid but they werent, they're just like her."
, "you know Shinju of all people said something that made me think maybe marin is right and the answer wasn't so obvious"daki said from the bathroom, "Shinju was the big, dumb sister, right? The one that looks older? what could she possibly know?"
Daki dropped her 3rd duffel bag by the door, "these bags aint gonna pick themselves up, bitches!" she waves laughing at the sisters to help her bring them into their car. G"yutaro sucks his teeth grabbing two of the duffels, " grab the other," daki pouts but does what shes told. After slaming the trunk shut, she turns to her brother, "Gyu hypothetically in a life or death situation, if you had to pick me or marin who'd you pick?"
"You sure took your sweet time, princess." he whined when he opened the door phone in hand, towel around his neck. He leaned closer, "and you look like shit." She didnt say anything staring at the ground.
He sighs loudly, "come in." But she doesnt move. He was about to say something else when a voice interrupted, "Marin!" Amane calls waving at her with Kagaya and one of their daughters. "Hey its dakis brother!" Kanata chime, "Oh hi amane," her happiness wasn't at full strength but she tried to sound friendly, " did you manage to give him a call?" Amane asks, to her utter horror, "uh-huh! Yeah! We're in contact. thanks, but we...uhm" she looked at gyu who had a puzzled yet very amused expression on his face then back at amane, "we-we have to go over taxes! I'll talk to you soon!" She laughs nervously pushing him into his own house as she waves awkwardly, slamming the door.
Gyutaro had a weird look on his face like he was trying to hold in a laugh, "you really are the worst liar I've ever heard," She didn't get why he was amused she thought hed be angry and now it ruined her momentum, she couldn't figure out what to say or what she even Wanted. "I…um… I can't sleep?"
"You don't say." well, he sounded playful, he was even chuckling in between as he walked to the fridge pulling out water. "Whatever" was all she could think to reply with followed by a long agonizing pause.
What the hell? I thought he'd be mad? What's got him in such a good mood? She couldnt help but scrutinize him as he drank from his water bottle eyeing her too in another strange staring contest. He folded his arms and legs leaning back into his fridge for support, studying her for a few seconds, as she did the same, then with a sigh they both uttered..
"...I don't understand you.."
…at the. same. Time Shocking the other. "Wait, What did you mean?" She asked first, "what I said," but that ambivalent response did nothing for her. In fact it jump started her rage again, "Argh! I wanna beat the shit outta you!" he raised an amused eyebrow with a smirk on his face, in fact he was downright struggling not to laugh, "its not funny asshole.! why did you do that?! Why did you… argh! Ugh I'm so fucking pissed!" she ruffles her hair aggravated, kicking his cabinet hard.
Now getting serious, he asks"why are you mad at us? Your friendship was already fucked, Daki and I just expedited the process, you should be thanking us, the rest of your friends have." She raised her fist wanting to punch him, finally understanding how angry one had to be to wanna punch somebody during an argument– like him at her house the night they were taken– but he didn't flinch plus she knew he wouldn't let her land the blow. She lowered her fist glaring at him instead exhaling a breath she didn't realize she was holding when he asked, "so are you staying over?"She rubbed her temples in disbelief, "why the fuck would I stay over?" He scratched his neck, "I thought you said you couldn't sleep? So you're staying here, right?" he worded it like a math equation he wasnt sure they had right. She couldn't settle on what expression to make confusion, anger, shock and frustration all fused into one.
" Or are you gonna stand there gaping at me like the world's dumbest goldfish, porky pig? Or you gonna answer?" before she could, he pushed off the fridge and walked to the adjacent room–his bedroom– that already had a light on. Feeling foolish standing in his kitchen She eventually followed. His room was kinda small, like it had been repurposed. His bed was perched against the wall next to 2 windows one that faced the front of the house, the other to the side down the street. It was twin sized with blue bed sheets and a large comforter, She noticed he had aDesktop with a computer perched as well as a CCTV screen fastened to the wall.
I knew it… thats how he knows when im home …so paranoid.
"The bed is Clean." he says breaking her thoughts "Clean? It's looks like it's never been used," She frowned, "It hasnt, daki bought it haven't had a chance to even sleep in it, seems your financial advice is working." She eyed him cautiously, "why are you being so nice?"
"Maybe I'm a nice guy?" He answered casually, grabbing clothes from his dresser but there was a bit of sarcasm at the tail end though, "you can watch whatever you want on my computer" he says, "im gonna shower."
"What the hells wrong with you?" He sighed, "look marin You're nice… too nice for our blood if im being honest. But just remember this isn't an anime. the moment that idiot swerved in our lane he was finished, so was she if she left with him. don't be so selfish as to think you can have it all taking your friendships for granted like that. Everyone has their limit for how much bullshit they can deal with, yours is just higher than most. What happened– happened, get over it. She'll either come around and dump that loser or she won't and your friends will be spared the bullshit." he fired back. She had her finger up about to nag him, but put it down."Why did you have daias bag in your pocket?" She asked quietly instead, "took it." He said simply. "From your room."
"Why?" He rubbed his forehead when he spoke, "had to make sure it wasn't yours."
"like a withdrawal?" She rolled her eyes, slumping her back against his bed frame to the floor, "I don't get you gyutaro, I really don't. You're like, I don't even know…" she brought her knees to her chest putting her forehead on top, "you're like the boogeyman or something," he laughed wildly at that, "damn! That's a new one!"
"It wasnt meant to be a compliment," she glowered, "didn't bowser even say he couldn't kill you because it'd somehow haunt them? You're like a damn curse." He stopped laughing at that, "you really think that I'm a curse?" He wasn't angry more curious, "I don't know what you are, I dont–" she lifted her head pressing her manicured fingers on the sides as if the stave off a migraine, "how'd you hurt your arm?"
Shit…
Her eyes shot open. He kept his distance but his face was scrutinizing looking to her arm as red dots formed on her long sleeve shirt. Knowing she couldnt lie… btu also didnt wanna tell the truth she gave a generic response.
"Fell."
He almost deadpanned, "right...Fell."
"look if im bothering you I can go"
"Do I seem bothered by you being here?" She admitted–he didn't. He seemed at ease in fact… talkative even."You really are fucking weird, youre not scared at all are you?"Although the words are harsh, It was amazing how gyutaros tone could change the context of his lines, he had eyes closed hand on his forehead as if he were dealing with a migraine, "I mean you keep going on and on about how fearless I am when really you're the one without fear. Must be that potential you talked about… or you're just crazy."
She growled something fierce "Gyutaro i fucking swear –"
He rolled his eyes, "You really wanna spend your birthday angry at me all night?" She stopped mid-sentence, "h-how do you know about.."
"I make it my job to know things. Just like I know that shithead framed us, just like I know you moved your boyfriend's ashes to your room and didnt throw them away like that asshole said. i know you tried to clear our name with the neighborhood, I know the drugs ain't yours," he took a deep breath, "and though im not entirely sure why, i also know you changed your favorite character from katara to azula." She couldn't hide the surprise on her face, before catching herself.
"really? You're gonna pretend you care about me or what I like now?"She saidCorrecting the dumb look on her face she followed up with mock disdain, sitting cross legged on his floor.
"I assume someone told you about my boyfriend too then, right?
"No. Theyre very tight-lipped about it actually", She raises an eyebrow at his steadfastness, wonderin gif he was lying about what he knew,"Well," She kicked her legs out leaning back against his bed frame, "he was the only one who took anime as seriously as I did. He didn't mind listening to me talk for hours about it. And when he died..." she bit her lip brows upturned in sorrow, "I've never felt more alone-or more depressed. Honestly some days, I'd miss him so much I could barely stand it. So i treat every day like its the same as any other." she smiled again leaning back on his bed, with her eyes closed so the tears wouldnt fall, "it's funny, even though you pissed me off ... the only thing my mind would focus on was how happy I was you finally came and met all my friends. They're all I have really."
Now he leaned forward, "what do you mean?" His face was stoic but he wasnt mocking, he was being genuine for once, even sat down against the wall with an arm draped over his leg. She laughed bitterly, "I guess for someone like you it doesnt make sense right? Im always surrounded by people. But i know what everyone thinks behind my back, that im stupid or crazy. Even my friends appease me, you're the only one with the balls to tell me i'm a dumb slut to my face and still come over my place to eat. Im actually really grateful! " she let out a laugh that was surprisingly genuine; full teeth on display.
"After mom died, dad worked extra hard to provide, so he was never home. And unlike you I'm an only child, and Gojo's dead so… all I have are my friends. It's why that stupid question of yours that pushed nowa away–" she shook her head, "forget it, like you said it's done," her tone was especially harsh at the end as she glared at him again. "I will admit though, while the other stuff doesn't surprise me, I am surprised you know i like azula. you never seemed interested like your sister."
"Psh…" He closed his eyes leaning back against his wall, " those slippers youre wearing were the first thing i noticed when you came in. Daki loved Flower Princess Blaze, I'd scour every inch of every store to shoplift merch, just so ume could pretend to be her." He looked at the towel clutched in his lap, thinking back fondly at the memory, "I used to beat the shit out of kids at the YMCA whenever they changed the channel on her Since it was one of few places she could– where we could -watch it together" he corrected. He shook his head slightly, as if reminding himself it was present day.
"Eventually we got kicked out though, so i never knew how it ended that is…until we finished it at your place," he pursed his lips looking at her with softer eyes. he pointed to her hoodie next, "That's Shizukutan from slippery girls vol 3, i know shes a favorite of yours because of the costume in your room."She perked up almost crawling on her knees to scrutinize him better. "You watched slippery girls?" He grimaced ever so slightly, "daki did."
"But thats not right, when we met she said she didnt watch anime,"
"Tch, she lied to you obviously," the smugness was back on his face as her expression went from intrigue to baffled in the blink of an eye, "Haaaaaa?! Why would she lie about something meaningless like that?"
"please, if you strolled down our ghetto-ass block advertising all that shit we wanted but could never afford you would've been jumped. It isnt meaningless to lie to protect yourself." She reflected on his response, she saw he tried to stay as stoic as possible but his face turned sour when he said that… made her wonder if tthat sort of thing happened to them? She noticed a while back how he'd slip from time to time calling Daki 'Ume' which made her wonder if they lied about their own identities just to keep safe? So she asked him:
"Is that why you lie?"
"Believe it or not, I hate dishonesty. Doesn't mean it isn't a useful tool, why do you think I'm so good at detecting it? I can read people's very hearts, you know." he snickers to himself getting up to leave,"So Is that why you kicked nowa out too? Because she threw the brick?" she spoke quickly making him face her at the door, unable to hide the shock on his face, "So you knew." She chuckled, "Shes my best friend i knew the day it happened, guess im not as dumb as you think, Mr detective," she sneered.
"So that's why you couldn't answer the question. What's wrong with you!?" he looked like he couldn't decide if he should be angry, disgusted or both. "You knew they both did it yet you still defended her? Why fucking help at all? Why give second chances? You'll never be thanked for it! People like that just keep taking until you're empty while insulting you behind your back, sabotaging you every chance they get!" She knew it wasnt just Nowa he was talking about, she remembered when he stopped himself short at the party when he was yelling at her per usual and couldn't help but wonder what he was gonna say.
Yelling… always angry at her ... why is that all she can do is make him angry? "Tell me the truth, gyu are you…" she hesitated, unsure if she even wanted to ask, "Are you... a-afraid of me? Kensei said you were but I dont think so… you're not afraid of anything."
"Kenseis a fool! i'm not afraid of you!" he shouted throwing his hands up still mad at her earlier confession, "but I am… afraid for you, i mean jesus christ… you're just so damn–" His mouth twitched, "y-you're…" He looked up to the ceiling, "Shit what was the word? Capri…corn...?'' he tilted his head to the side, "I'm sorry im what? pfftt…" She knew he didnt mean to make her laugh, but she couldnt help it.
"capricorn? you mean capricious right? Daia always says that! Why are you trying to sound like her?" Great she whined now i cant stay mad… "d-do you like her?"She pursed her lips wanting to say something else, but mumbled it so he couldnt hear, "Huh?" he asked stopping for the millionth time from entering the shower,"Daia. Do you like her?"
He eyed her funny, but let it go, focusing on the question, "She's… surprisingly sharp,"
"Then Is it ok if I shower too?" another strange look she noticed,"Sure… daki has a master bath upstairs you can pull some of her clothes," he said finally closing the bathroom door.
"Gyu where does she keep hair ties? I wanna braid my hair"
"It's in a–"He choked on his breath when he looked up at her standing in his doorway, "where?" she asked, confused. "What the hell! why are you wearing my clothes?!" he squawked turning red again. "Uhhh, because they fit better? Hers are all tight and… revealing." she lifted her arms in his baggy black band tee and boxers, "By the way i didnt know you listened to Bring me the Horizon! Nowa loves british metal bands!" But he ignores that comment, "Arent tight clothes what you like? You wear them all the time! Even your cosplay was like that!"
"Well yeah but not to sleep," she giggled. he rubbed his face, irritable again, "she mustve taken her sleepwear with her. "Ugh, cant you atleast wear a bra underneath my shirt or something?"
"Really, you've never seen a pair of braless boobs before!?" She cupped her breasts, jiggling them a bit just to irritate him more she laughs, snapping her fingers to get his attention. "hey ~hey, my face is up here~,"
"Youre fucked!" He shouted but she noticed he was having trouble keeping his eyes on her face. "WHYA RE YOU SO SHY?"she continued to laugh as He put his hand over his face red as a tomato again."look, We're not the same size, besides even if we were I dont sleep in bras," his shoulders slumped, "then would you please just put something else on?" Marin blinked, "whatd you say?"
"I said put something else on, Marin" she cocked her head to the side… wakana? For some reason when gyutaro said that it sounded exactly like him...
"I see why you like him… he definitely screams gojo…" Hm...
She squatted in front of him hugging her shins to hide her boobs, "Gyu if I tell you why i like azula, will you promise not to laugh?" She expected him to scoff or 'say in your dreams' but surprisingly he did none of that, instead promising he wouldn't, his head was still buried in his hand as if looking at her would turn him to stone, but he was sincere. "She reminds me of you." she cracked a small smile when he peered through his fingers, showing he was listening.
"She's you and your sister merged into one person, confident, fearless, smart, strong, resilient, doesnt care what people think, except for one major thing I guess," she crosses her legs hands holding her bare ankles, "In the final season, Azula gets betrayed by her close friends and it unravels her. It's how she got defeated by Zuko and katara. it's the one thing I have in common with her over you." She sniffed smiling sadly.
"do you… hate me, gyutaro?" He eyed her warily "Why would you think that–"
"-Whyd you turn down my offer to hang out? Are you seeing daia? Is that why you gave her your number?" She wrung his oversized shirt around her belly button in frustration. He couldn't hide the confusion at this point, "I am not seeing daia."
"Then why did you give her your number!? It took months for you to take mine!" She couldnt hold it in anymore, she had to pace the room "I-i mean I get it shes definitely pretty, like way prettier than me and she's way smarter than me and way less annoying and… sh-she likes you too," she fidgeted, "Look it's totally fine if you wanna keep it a secret but… i just need to know if–" she knew this anxiety-induced word vomit she was spewing would probably annoy him but she didn't expect him to get up and leave
"I'm not arguing with you about this, Marin"
"No! Fuck you!"she ran ahead blocking the doorway, pointing angrily, "Fuck you and your stupid games and your stupid words always making me feel dumb!" She slammed her fist on his door frame, "im not d-dumb! I'm not! I know you just tolerate me and I'm ok with that"
She knew she should've stopped when She felt tears poking her eyes, but she was so frustrated with him she had to get it off her chest. So she wiped them and continued "if you like daia, im fine with that too, but what im not ok with is…"
She paused to gauge if he was still listening, his arms were cross and his face was impassive but he was, so she continued, "Look, I know you know kensei likes daki and if she likes him too then… then she won't be around as much, like nowa." She looked up at the ceiling rapidly blinking her tears back again,
" i admit, a-at first I felt sorry for you… she's all you have, so I thought I'd be n-nice and hang out so you wouldn't feel lonely if she … wasnt around as much." she shrugged in a defeat
"But when I saw you and daia talking….and you turned down my offer, I realized if you st-start dating daia then…" She hiccupped, "you wont be around as much either and youll leave too… just like… gojo!" she covered her face crying "Please don't go! Don't leave me all alone!" she couldn't stop herself from bawling like a baby falling to her knees on his floor "i-im sorry, for being selfish and im sorry for making you mad all the time! I-I promise I'll be better. I won't annoy you and i w-wont make you mad anymore, I'll be better just don't forget about me!" I should've left…now i know i scared him away, there's no way he'll deal with me now, there's no way–
with snot coming out her nose, almost to the point of hyperventilating she continued to ugly-cry slamming her fist on the floor yelling 'stupid' over and over.
until She felt a towel pressed into her face followed by a head-pat,"Oh, come on now, crying won't help you know. " he whispered squatting in front of her. She grabbed the towel, she could tell it was clean by the scent new fand blew her nose loudly, "s-sorry!"She hiccupped her voice and lips quivering. "I'll say, what a pain you are," his laugh was shaky as he took a seat next to her his arm pulling her head to lean on his shoulder. "Why are you being s-so nice, I was sure y-you hated me," she felt fresh tears stream down her face, "like i said, maybe I'm a nice guy." it didn't sound as sarcastic the second time. She pulled away to look at his face, she had to to make sure she was reading this right. He certainly looked uncomfortable, his face was red, his eyes shifting everywhere and he was biting his bottom lip too, but he wasn't angry, uncomfortable sure, but not angry. she figured, maybe it was her boobs making him uncomfortable... oh and the crying.
So she curled her knees up to her chest sniffling hoping it made him feel a little bit more comfortable before leaning into his shoulder. He was being uncharacteristically nice to her so it was the least she could do. He didn't stop petting her head the entire time, when he asked "you… still free tomorrow?"
"I can be." she choked wiping fresh tears still coming,"Good, There's a place i wanna take you that you should like." She blinked, her heart racing for a second, "are you asking me on a date?!"
"n-no, you f–!" He stopped himself, removing his hand from her head to cup his face for the millionth time that night. she choked out a laugh when he did, "n-no Im saying there's a place I go to think, so i figured it may be good f-for… whatever your goofy ass is going through." he tried to sound like his old self but it came out more like a stammer. "Ok."
"And i-im…" he stammered again, barely intelligible, "…s–s-orry...a-about nowa,"he clearly didnt want her to hear it, but she did and was grateful he said the words even if he didnt mean them.
But that's not all he surprises her again with a proposition: "I wanna take you up on an offer you made a while back." she pulled her head off his shoulder asking him what it was. Her eyes were puffy but she did stop crying.
"Look I'm not gonna lie, if you keep getting involved with us, what's happened is likely to keep happening. The bricks, the messy clients, the fighting, all of it… so if you promise to keep being …nice, the cooking. The movies, the parties, our finances- do all that and I promise I wont sell you to any more rapists. Ill... protect you." he finished.
"I'll accept if you promise to do the same being nice." she mimicked the way he said it, "letting me stay here. The…talking. she said instead of using other words. "... but you have to cosplay zuko" she added as an afterthought.
She expected some protest but he agreed without so much as a scowl. "For you I guess it's fine you can stay in my bed," He stood up, extending his hand pulling her up with him, before sauntering off to his closet grabbing his sleeping gear and heading back out the room to the couch.
"Gyu, wait, you dont have to leave" she called taking a seat on his bed. she felt bad, she couldnt kick him out of his own room like that. He peeked his head back in sleeping gear still in his arms, but instead of protesting he simply set up his sleeping bag and pillow on the floor instead, "Sorry for taking the bed."
"Don't be I've handled worse,"he glanced up briefly at her before glancing back down. He looked sad – or maybe exhausted was more accurate as if all this took an emotional toll on him as well. After setting up, he took his wet shirt off, throwing it haphazardly to the corner to grab another from his dresser. He noticed he had more scars but these were distinct small and round
Those look like…
He left the room again before she could get a goo look, returning with a rattail comb and some hair elastics, "Sit up." He ordered tapping her gently with the metallic end of the comb, she did what she was told holding out her hand expecting him to put the items in it but instead he hopped behind her on the bed, "one braid or two?" She opened her eyes slightly, "uh, two…"she said her hand still extended. He used the rattail to split her hair in two parts tying one end with the elastic while french braiding the other half like a pro. "my sister" he answers her unspoken question.
"Actually i was gonna ask about those scars on your shoulder…?"
"Bullets, yeah," He said casually like he was more focused on the braiding than the question, "Sunny has a lot of scars too." His hands stopped for a second, "Daia's ex right? Owns a shop?"
"Yeah, you remind us of him.I guess without realizing it I was treating you that way. But you're different people."Would you be willing to tell me about it sometime? How you got them?"
"He waits a few seconds making sure he got his words right, ""maybe…" he said simply, "I may have been… expecting you to act too much like my sister but Youre ...different too."before finishing up the last braid and scooting off the bed to the bathroom to return what she assumed was dakis comb. When He returned he leaned against his door frame expectant, she realized he was waiting on her to see if it was ok to turn off the light, she climbed underneath the covers,"i wont lie, I almost died when you intimidated Jim into my bushes."she snorted cupping her face while laughing. He laughed with her, "ill say. Had even me feeling sorry for him, the idiot."
" hes the worst …like bowser he can go fuck himself" she muttered, flipping on her side away from him. He blew hair out his nose with a smile on his face before turning off the lights.