bakerstreet | Fake it till you make it

Pff--what?

[He doesn't say it, but that's not what matters. Maya gets a rare (SSR ★★★★★, even) shot of Aqua Hoshino with a genuine smile, off-guard and half-laughing. He covers it with his hand as soon as she takes the shot, but what's digital lasts forever.]

Oh, no no no. Delete that one, let's take another.

[He's mmmostly joking. Aqua doesn't try to grab her phone and actually force the issue, he just makes a 'give it' gesture with his free hand.]

I have a 'cool character' reputation to maintain, you know.

[Grinning ear to ear, Maya pulls her hand away so she can turn to the opposite side and take that snapshot in. What a smile! Maya knew he was gorgeous, but there's really something else about getting something so rare on camera.

Sticking her tongue out between her teeth, she starts tapping something, but it certainly isn't 'delete'.]

Fine, fine, I'm taking it off!

[She lies, blatantly, trying to curl around her phone so Aqua can't see.]

Girlfriends shouldn't lie straight to their boyfriends' faces.

[While his expression has returned to its standard neutral-to-displeased range, now Aqua's the one leaning into her space, craning over her head and shoulder and ridiculous curtain of hair to get a look at what she's doing. He puts his hand casually on the back of her seat to keep his balance.

The cameras are sure to pick up how comfortable they are this close to each other, even out in public, where they should know better than to act so brazenly. And it's doubly scandalous given how new their relationship must be, if they only met when her agency defended him for murder.

It's bound to call attention. That's what they're all counting on; and Aqua, at least, is a professional.

With a mood of sudden sinking suspicion, he says flatly:]

Who are you sending it to.

Edited 2025-01-10 23:03 (UTC)

[Maya leans away a little more, insisting—]

No-bo-dy~!

[In a sing-song voice before turning to face— oh, wow, he's closer than she expected. For a moment there's a flash of alarm— good-natured alarm, but alarm nevertheless— before she—]

Wow, your eyes are really really blue.

[...interjects with something completely irrelevant. As if recalling herself, she continues;]

Anyway, you can even kill it yourself.

[She twists her hand, still pressed close to her chest, to show Aqua her screen where the "delete" menu option is already pulled up. Hm.]

[He blinks, seeing her surprise, but has enough self-control not to shift back. He's had to be closer to others for similar purposes; Aqua's first kiss was even broadcast on national television. Thanks, dating shows.

Anyway. Hm.]

This is a trap.

[Still, though he frowns for a moment into Maya's face, nothing he sees in it stops him from reaching down and tapping DELETE.]

[Oh, perfect. He fell for it! Maybe he won't go prying through her folders to see there's a second copy. Especially when she pulls her phone away to lift it up again, leaning with into Aquas' chest where he's leaned so close to her, and winking up at the camera.]

Let's go~! Take two!

[Can't go digging now can you!!!]

Fine, fine.

[He doesn't think that's the end of that, but it doesn't matter that much, he supposes. In the meantime, he closes his eyes, quashes the tiny flutter behind his ribs to have her so close, and opens them again for the camera. This time, he offers one of his typical impassive faces, albeit with a peace sign.

A peace sign and a faint blush.]

'Steel Samurai.'

[It's got to be good for him that Maya's not a girl with ulterior motives. The way she presses back against him— the way the motion makes her hair bunch up a bit closer to his face, makes the scent of almond oil and green tea waft up into Aqua's face— more goal-oriented girls might be pulling Maya's moves quite deliberately, considering his status.

Instead, it's her turn to grin wide and genuine in a shot, instantly thrilled with Aqua playing along. When she lowers her phone and pulls away she turns that same smile his way, victorious. It's safe to say Aqua's won points for that one...]

Hee-hee. This one's a keeper for sure.

You look good in every photo, huh...?

[Stop, he is but a man! A man who answers her question blandly.]

Yeah. Pretty much.

[Not even an ATTEMPT at modesty.]

But it is my job. [He tilts his head to peer down at her phone.] You're plenty cute without even needing to be.

Well, it's every girl's job to be cute. And everyone else's job to remind a cute girl that she is cute.

[Maya points out as if it's a matter of fact. She scoots her chair closer to his (brazen! scandalous! ...and really not even Maya thinking about what will attract attention at all, just how she feels she can be around a friend) so that she doesn't have to lean, and starts tapping the 'edit' functions on her phone and swapping through some filters.]

I just don't get paid to do it.

No, no. In this economic model of yours, the cute girls get paid in compliments, and everyone else is paid with the existence of cuteness.

[Aqua retrieves his plate and sandwich, and the movement re-centers him naturally in his own seat. Now that she's right next to him, he can munch and peer over her shoulder at what she's doing without such a production.]

It's still not equitable. Cuteness is worth a lot more than what even the cutest girls get for it.

[Not to mention the risks...]

[A dramatic sigh.]

It's true. That's why it's so important you buy me cute snacks.

If I waste away, the world will have one less cute resource. Global warming is real, Aqua.

[As if to insist upon this, she pops the last piece of a cookie that was on her plate into her mouth, tapping a few more buttons on her phone.

From where Aqua can see, it's no longer picture editing, but a note document in which Maya has very quietly asked;]

cafe time slot up in 20. next up> park? waterfront?

[It'd be too easy to stalk and circle them under the cover of trees in a park. Too many possible routes of attack, and too likely that help might take too long to get to them, in the worst-case scenario. At least at the waterfront, he'll have one less side to watch closely. No one's going to jump them from a boat.

Probably.

None of those calculations touch Aqua's face. He chews and swallows with his usual cool equanimity.]

Like I'd let that happen to you. [He takes the final untouched quarter of his sandwich from his plate and offers it to her.] The planet may be out of my hands, but nothing's going to hurt you while I'm around, Maya.

[And he means that. Anyway. He lets those blue eyes close and inclines his head a bit, as though the statement doesn't have any special weight to it in their situation.]

I still have time before evening rehearsals. Want to hang out at the waterfront for a while, after this?

[Maya's already all a-glimmer about being offered that bit of sandwich (which she happily and shamelessly accepts) but something about the way he speaks really gets her heart fluttering. Jeez. So, this is the talent of a true actor on display, with the ability to move the heart of their co-stars as much as the audience... Maya's left a little in awe, watching Aqua for a moment almost as though she's forgotten her 'line' comes next.]

Um... Right! Yeah, I do, actually!

[She snaps that phone shut and stands rather suddenly, starting to get her things together with that bit of sandwich shoved between her teeth.]

I shuper fuh'god we were on a s'hedule...

[Pfff.]

I said I have time.

[Faintly amused, he watches Maya bustle about and then starts getting ready to go himself. He leaves a tip for the waitstaff--this being Japanifornia, one assumes, and thus subject to American customs--stands, and slides back into his jacket.

Without looking at her, still wearing that barest hint of a smile, he adds:]

Besides... no one could blame me for losing track when I'm with you.

[Maya stops, frozen solid, having been mid-jacket pull when Azul pulls his line. Pink to the tips of her ears, she really should be glad there isn't steam coming out her ears. She regains locomotion soon enough and shrugs her own cute little jacket back on before swatting him, scolding—]

You're such a flirt! You're gonna annoy the other customers!

[and doing her best to lower her face, lest he might see the grin she's trying to hide. She marches around behind him, pressing her palms against his back and trying to hurry him forward and out, grin unfading.]

[He stifles a snicker. It's easy; anything like emotion, Aqua's used to quashing with prejudice.]

Yeah, yeah, okay. Whatever you say.

[As Maya pushes him along, a warning pang goes through him. He better not be enjoying this. And of course he's not, this is work, he's doing it to stop a killer, and maybe, just maybe, this will turn up a lead in his own long-time hunt for a murderer...

...And if he smiles here and there and says things to make Maya blush, it's because a good actor makes it easy for his scene partners to perform, too. They both need to chip in to make their couple act believable. If anyone's going to buy it, he has to look like he's having fun.

That's all. It's fine. It's still fine when, once they've made it to the street, he falls back into step with her and lets his hand rest lightly at the small of her back.]

Well? Still annoying?

[It's just an act, and Maya normally tries to just indulge in it. Everyone knows an actor or entertainer or glamorous magician flirting with you is all for play! For the fantasy of the day! Maya loves to play along with things like that. This shouldn't feel any different— so... why does it feel so embarrassing all of a sudden?

Maya's even so good at enjoying things that are supposed to be work. And that's right! It's work! She has to do better than this, what is she, some kind of school girl??]

It's— fine—

[Okay take a breath and try again—]

But aren't we supposed to hold hands?

[Aqua considers that.

Then, without fanfare, he lowers his hand from her back and holds it between them for her to take, if that's what she'd like.]

Okay.

[Less 'whirlwind romance,' more 'two young people in the first blossoming of affection.' More... equal. And less of an act.

He scratches his cheek with his free hand and looks ahead, other hand still extended for hers.]

Don't think I've done this with anyone since my sister and I were in elementary school.

[Maya looks down at Aqua's hand and takes it. Her hand is small and soft, but her grip is surprisingly firm, deliberate.]

I'm pretty sure it's supposed to be different than holding hands with your sister, but I'll take it.

[She seems content with it, perhaps even a bit more confident. And yet—]

You'll still have to be the guide on this one, though. I'm pretty sure Nick would melt if he ever held hands with anyone, so this is the Maya Fey First Voyage experience.

[His hand, in comparison, is as long-fingered and elegant as one might expect. Her grip is firmer than his at first, but once he notices, he adjusts in kind: the secure, self-assured hold of someone used to doing delicate work with those hands.

He glances at her as they walk along.]

You've never held hands with anyone, or just not with a guy?

[As if being accused of being irresponsible;]

I hold Pearly's hand every time she crosses the street!

Aaaand I guess when I was little, my big sis probably held my hand a lot more than I remember.

[Idly, her thumb rubs over his knuckles, analyzing and curious and slow.]

[Oh. She doesn't--need to be doing that. It's too small a gesture to be picked up by others, even if they're being filmed and followed. Either she doesn't realize that, or she... doesn't realize she's doing it.

Subtly, as slowly as her thumb glides over the bones of his hand, heat creeps again into Aqua's face. He can't help it. Despite everything, he's human, and despite his profession, he's not used to being touched. Certainly not like this.]

Huh. Is that so.

I guess she's probably a lot older than you. [Then, while Maya was still little, she went off to college or something. Right?]

Ten whole years,

[Maya confirms, eyes on the sidewalk ahead. Their hands joined like this seems to be doing more to relieve her nerves than it is doing Aqua's, which at the very least keeps her distracted from his peril, and the further they walk the more of a swing she adds to their hands. It's casual and sweet, far too much so to be some deliberate ploy for attention.

It's just nice, she's finding, to hold someone's hand. And Aqua's hand feels so different from hers, in structure, in tenseness. Even if it's not on her mind right now, it's something she'll remember, later, when they're apart again— the pressure of his grip, the topography of his knuckles.]

But we were still really close, even after she went off to law school.

Just, you know. Not physically close.

[Once is a data point. Twice is a pattern, enough for Aqua to draw a line. Maya and her sister were still close, past tense.

It could mean multiple things. The conclusion he reaches isn't necessarily correct. But either way, that were speaks to an ending, a rupture, a loss, and he studies her for a moment through the loose sweep of his hair.

His hand tightens slightly, momentarily, a small and gentle squeeze.]

Sorry.

[He says that quietly before returning to his usual tone. Still quiet, but no longer private and soft, just for her.]

Well, any time you want to hold hands with someone now, you can just call. I'll come running over.

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this is what i get threading with two characters named blue

El agua es azul...

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