getting_better

Of course.

[She felt that touch of fear and she wanted nothing more than to soothe it so she patiently waits for him to put his request into words and when he looks at her she smiles.]

Sam. [It suits him, she thinks and if he needs it, she's happy to call him by that name as much as she needs to.]

[ He took in a large breath of air as her voice and his name reverberated through him. The emotion he fells after being called that after so long is strange. He couldn't quite describe it or even pin if it was just one emotion or a multitude of emotions merging together.

Regardless of whatever it is he didn't dislike it, at least not when it comes from Shiho. His smiles returns while his eyes softened and he just stared into her eyes for a moment before giving in to the effect they had on him, leaning in once more and kissing her.]

[His emotions are a lot to take in at once, but she's happy to let them wash over her regardless, to let him find his path and come to her with a smile. She likes the way he looks into her eyes, his gaze softly drawing her in until there's barely a breath of space between them.

Until he leans in further and he's kissing her once more. With a shivery sigh she kisses him right back, reciprocating the motion and sliding one hand to his cheek, her thumb stroking gently along his skin.]

[ He smiled into the simple but mesmerizing kiss making it harder to pull away and so tempting to continue. But he knows better than to rush, to be carried away by temptation, there'll be other times when giving in would be appropriate. ]

It's so hard to resist kissing you.

[ He says briefly between two kisses. ]

Hm... you say that like it's a problem. [Also it's not like he's resisting very much and that has her trying her best not to giggle again, leaning in to nuzzle the tip of her nose against his before she steals a kiss of her own.]

...Although, I did promise Kaoru-chan I was going to be back eventually.

Mmmm...eventually.

[ If he could, he would just keep her here but given the mentioned lousiness of his apartment even he honestly doesn't want to stay here. The name she mentioned though does ring a bell, but it couldn't be the same girl with the weird pickup line.

...

Nah it couldn't be. 'Kaoru' isn't exactly a rare name and there's a fair amount of Japanese people here as far as he can tell. It's probably just a coincidence. ]

Can I walk you back?

[ Also stealing another kiss. ]

[Shiho wouldn't mind being kept here since while the apartment is bare, it's also very clean and she likes that. But if she did stay too long then Kaoru might worry.

Right now though, she's returning that kiss with a soft hum.]

When I want to go, you can. [But for now she's clearly in no hurry.]

[ He nods before resting his forehead against hers and then holding her hand tightly, enjoying the momentary silence and calm he's feeling. ]

Have you always had this power?

[ The moment allows him some clearer thought, curiosity bubbling to the surface. Her power was intriguing as it was frightening. ]

I've encountered others in my world with the same ability, but it always seemed to vary though the method is the same.

[ Invade targets mind and see what you get, sometimes it wasn't helpful and mostly just a hint or a vague idea of the desired outcome. ]

[Shiho doesn't mind the curiosity but... the fact that her power may be frightening to him has her drawing back a little. Sure, she does like him... but this wasn't a compromise she could make.]

...I've always had it. I was born with it.

You're really... scared of my powers?

[ Since birth. That amazes him that someone could have that power but then the next six words caught him by surprise. A twinge of anxiousness pinched at him but he settles it with a breath and a pause. ]

I'm, well, to some degree in certain respects. I'm afraid of any power to be honest, even my own.

[ Especially his own. ]

I had to be. My world is at war, and I'm a soldier. Was.

[ Memories flashed in his mind, a time in trenches amidst a fight with comrades at his side, then fast forward to before Lunatia came about and he was fighting again but alone and in the dark against enemies he couldn't see. ]

I've been fighting for almost my entire my life, and I have to fight alone in my world now. Be wary of every shadow, every person, every word they speak, every action they do, every creature small and large, cause I never knew what they could do or intend to do. It helps keep me on my toes and stay alive.

[ 'Alone' was the theme of the memories that were in his head. Travelling even in a group, he was by himself. Sitting in a camp, chatting with others, he ate by himself. And in combat, he was always pitted against impossible odds. ]

But I know it's not the same here. It's nothing personal it's...[ He shrugs with a sad smile. ]...Old habits.

[Shiho kind of regrets asking. She can understand being afraid of her own powers, of being terrified of hurting people with what she is even if she's never, ever made the step to being afraid of other's powers. Shiho knows how much it hurts when someone is frightened.

Besides, she's always been scarier than all of them.]

I'm... sorry. I'm sorry that you had to be afraid of your powers. [That his life had to be so difficult before meeting her.]

I've always... been afraid of my own powers too so when you were scared.... I think I overreacted. I'm used to people being afraid of me and... not trusting me because psychometers.... [She takes a deep breath and squeezes his hand.] ...They think psychometers cheat with their powers, that they use it to find out everyone's secrets, that they're creepy. I was worried you thought that I was creepy, that you couldn't... trust me.

[ Discrimination because of her powers? The thought makes him a little angry but then he puts it next to how she's had them since birth and the revelation makes his eyes widen in shock.

'Has that been going on since she was a child? Since she can read minds, does that mean she knows what people thought of her?' He tasted something bitter.

He knows a little of what it was like, but he was a loner as a child because of how he acted and not because of what he was. It's wrong to make someone feel like that. It was wrong for him to be afraid of her.

He let go of her hand after a pause but also leaned in, arms wrapping around Shiho and pulling her into a tight embrace. ]

I'm sorry. I shouldn't have been afraid. I know I said it's a habit but, that's no excuse.

[ He needs to do better to make this work. God he wants this to work. ]

And for what it's worth, I'm not afraid anymore and I've never thought of you as creepy.

[At five years old, she thought she was a monster. Her parents' lives were forever changed because she'd been born the way she was and at five years old she was convinced her presence was not something that brought them joy. It brought them love, but it also brought them worry, anxiety and guilt and it had taken her years to be honest towards them.

And adults that weren't her parents had been terrified of her. So in response to it she had acted out. If she was going to be hated for what she was, then what was the point of being a good child, she had thought.

There's some of that in her expression when he lets go and she's not a precog and not prepared at all for him to pull her into a warm hug, holding her tight. She won't cry, she tells herself but her eyes feel hot and her shoulders slump as she buries her head against his chest.

She wants this to work and the fact that their thoughts mirror each other has her clutching on tight.]

...It wasn't all bad when I was a kid. My parents love me... and I had Kaoru-chan and Aoi-chan. It's normal to be afraid of me. But...

[She raises her head and it's clear there are tears.]

...But I'm glad you never thought I was creepy. I want.... I want this to work too. I want to be with you. I want to smile with you and talk things out, to... to have this for both of us.

[ Her response made him feel relieved. The fact she read his mind and his intent so clearly conveyed made him happy because half the time, he can't understand his own emotions. Save whenever something upset him, those are the ones he's most familiar with and always so clear cut. ]

"Us". [He says with a big smile as he wipes the tears from her eyes. ] I like that. I like it alot.

[ He embraces her again and kisses her brow. He never thought he'd ever get something like this, something that can be exciting, troubling, motivating, and happy all at the same time. He always thought it'd just be bullets, blood, and carnage until the end of days but now, now he's hoping the end never comes.

'I wish I could bottle this moment and keep it with me all the time' he thinks as he squeezes a bit tighter while the feeling in his chest grows brighter. ]

[It's so very reassuring that her powers could help him, even a little bit and that has her tearing up again so thank goodness he's wiping her tears away.

She likes the sound of "us" too. She likes the way he smiles at her, the tender way he touches her and she presses herself into his embrace, eyes closing as he kisses her forehead. Shiho had always hoped she could have something like this. Something supportive, gentle, accepting. The very opposite of what he thinks his end might have been, what her end might also have been on a certain timeline.

Her hands move to wrap around him, pressed to his back as she holds on tighter.]

I'm not going anywhere. We'll have more moments like these. Exactly like this. I'm here.

[ If his smile got any bigger his face may be stuck like that for a few days. Good thing people know him to always be smiling, though he wonders if he can pull of the 'I'm just in a good mood' for that amount of time. ]

Yeah...

[ The little voice of reason in his head was quiet for good while now, but now it reared it's ugly head. ]

Although maybe not exactly like this. Hopefully in the next few months, I'd have a nicer apartment.

[That earns him a little giggle, her hand soothing against his back.]

A nicer apartment isn't necessary, you know.

[But she does appreciate the effort and though her smile is still a little watery she leans in for a gentle, affectionate kiss.]

There, my donation to your apartment fund.

Thank you very much.

[ That giggle tickled him pink. A little surprising, but he thinks as long as it's from Shiho even the little things will do that to him. ]

Though I think you'll be donating so much to buy at least half of the apartment.

[ And following her lead, he returns the gentle kiss with one of his own. ]

[That little bubble of happiness has her smile widening further against his lips, her own heart feeling lighter, any trace of shadow, of doubt and sadness soothed over in that moment with just that. Her eyes are brighter, not with unshed tears but with a luminescent happiness when the kiss ends.]

Will I? Enough to buy half of an apartment? [A short, soft laugh and then she reaches up to brush his cheek with a finger.]

You haven't even taken me on a date, yet.

True. Let's correct that then.

[ His hands slide down her arms until he takes both her hands and help Shiho up as he stands. ]

Let's go out right now. Celebrate. Let loose. Maybe even have a few laughs along the way.

[Shiho lets him help her up and as soon as they're holding hands, she carefully squeezes his fingers, smiling.]

Okay. Let's go. [Thank goodness she's already dressed cutely enough for a date!]

Where do you want to go?

[ He turned his gaze upward to think. He knows that if he kept looking at her he'd never be able to think of something.

Definitely somewhere on level one and two for date spots. The PrismaPlace would be the convenient, shopping, food, and all sorts of entertainment but that seems kinda lame for a first date. He really should have paid attention to Natsumi when she talked to him about fads and trends instead of just half listening. Why is his head only filled with tactical vantage points, escape plans, locations in Caihong where he can skulk around in the dark, and other crap like that? He just wants to take her somewhere nice and get to know her. 'Dammit, brain.'

A good idea, or at least the start of one. ]

How about we take a stroll through the groves, then dinner at the Crystal beach? I know a shortcut and a nice place there.

[ He's confident in his choice of restaurant, and the groves has a bunch of stuff they could check out together along the easy trails. 'Good job, brain'. ]

[Shiho doesn't look through his memories but she can definitely see his thoughts, especially when the moonlacing from holding hands is fueling her psychometry.

It's endearing that he thinks she wouldn't have liked to visit tactical vantage points, or to know where likes to skulk in the dark. But it's also endearing that he wants to take her somewhere nice so she just patiently, cheerfully waits for him to figure out where he wants to take her on their first date.

'Good job, brain', indeed.]

I love the sound of that. I'll just let Kaoru-chan know I'll be a bit late coming home today and then we can go.

[She can't hide the smile on her face nor the butterflies she feels in her stomach though.]

[ He was nervous too but high he's getting from their moonlacing overpowers those queasy feelings. ]

Right. Then let me go grab -

[ Stopped short by the items at the corner of his eye. The disassembled gun. He pondered for a moment if he should take a few minutes to build and holster it but, he also didn't want to look or feel like he was ready for combat. No, he'll forgo bringing the gun. Tossing a dry cloth over it should be more than enough to keep everything in place. ]

-...I'll just get my coat while you tell your friend.

[Shiho is kind of reassured that he's as nervous as she is, though? It's a first for her to be going on a date that she truly, truly wants to go on (and isn't just going for the sake of free tickets/food).

She already has her communicator up when she sees him stop then turns, following his eyes to the gun.]

...Do you need help putting it away? [...also she might have a taser in her purse anyway??]

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