bakerstreet | Fake it till you make it

[With both of Aqua's hands retrieved, Maya takes a moment to shimmy backward just a little, propping herself up on the railing with her ankle hooked on the lower rung. Maybe she's just using Aqua to keep her balance, but it does get her face a little closer to his, their eyes locked on each other's until Maya looks down at their hands. She tilts her head to the other side this time, rubbing at Aqua's palms a little as though she senses some need to relax him.

Eventually she looks back up with a little shake of her head to get her hair off her shoulder, and speaks again;]

Sometimes it almost sounds like a crowd out there, right?

My family teaches that eventually after they pass, all spirits return to the sea. Everything that ever was and ever is and ever will be goes back to it.

I think a lot of books and movies make the ocean look really lonely, but there's like a billion fish out there with all those spirits, right? So if you're out by the ocean, you're more surrounded by life and death than you would be anywhere else.

[Everything that ever was and ever is and ever will be.

Once again, Maya Fey manages to reach past all of Aqua's informed predictions and land a surprisingly gentle touch. He takes a stunned second to stare at her, letting the power of that image wash over him to the sound of the rolling surf below. She couldn't have framed it better with a camera. Closer to eye level, sky and water at her back, the dark, straight lines of her hair emphasizing that forthright gaze, contrasting that light kindness--right now, all his focus is anchored wholly on her, held as surely as she's holding his hands.

It reminds him of that rooftop night with Ai, when she stood beneath that clear, bright spill of stars and told him, Lies are the most exquisite love.

He knows instinctively that this moment, that Maya's words--whether he chooses to believe them or not--will leave their mark on him indelibly. He never thought of lies the same way, after meeting Ai. From now on, he'll always listen for voices in the sea.

Aqua doesn't even realize he's lost track of the person in the hoodie until they've walked past him and Maya without a second glance, apparently on their phone. (Snapping pictures on the sly, maybe.) He blinks at her. His fingers curl slightly around hers before he pulls one hand free.]

...You're really something, Maya Fey.

[More surrounded by life and death than he would be anywhere else, Aqua lets his fingertips graze Maya's cheek and pauses there, poised for what he knows would come next in a script, but more aware than ever of the two of them as real people, of the ever-so-thin border between fiction and lasting consequence, of the regret he'll feel if this, too, is only part of the act.

It doesn't mean he won't kiss her. But he realizes, with a pang, that he wants to, if only for this.]

[At first she isn't quite sure what to expect of Aqua's reaction, a bit confused by the quiet— and then any confusion gives way. Of course this moment is— it's super romantic, right? And everything that has happened so far has fit a pattern, one suggesting what the undeniable next step would be.

It's just a kiss. It's just an act. So why does Maya feel herself tense up when Aqua touches her, she wonders? Is she supposed to hear her own heart in her ears? Is she making too many assumptions?!

The fear Aqua had been looking for on Maya's face never comes, her expression becoming sheepish instead. Her fingers curl in his tighter, and with the hand he has left free of hers, Maya finds purchase in the end of Aqua's jacket. Her moves may be hesitant, but she tries despite any worry or inexperience to show herself as being open to him.]

Um— yeah. Right,

[She absolutely cannot remember what she was supposed to say in response to that, though...]

[Because he is who he is, Aqua notices the little clues that speak of both her hesitance and her willingness, the nerves without fear. He remembers, too, what she said earlier: 'This is the Maya Fey First Voyage experience.'

She didn't explicitly confirm that was her first time holding hands with a guy, but given what she didn't say, he thinks he's right. Most likely, this would be Maya's first kiss, too. That sort of thing is important to people their age, marking those 'firsts.' While they're both consenting players in this act they're putting on, is it fair for her first kiss to be like Aqua's own? Part of a show?

She's so sweet. Brave, too, for agreeing to do this, knowing full well what she risks. However damned hard he tries, Aqua may or may not be able to protect her from public opinion or the delusions of a serial killer. But maybe he can protect this small thing for her. This first kiss.

His hand leaves her cheek to brush down the long strand of hair that frames her face, lowers his head and lifts that to his lips instead. A lonely prince swearing fealty to a forbidden love. It's still good enough for photos. Maybe it's even better.]

If you're not sure, I can wait. [With the faintest hint of playfulness, he adds:] I know you wanted to play hard to get.

[He looks up, and hidden at the heart of that warm, slight smile is a tiny knot of wry sincerity.]

You should just know you won me over a little with that one.

[He'll tear himself a new one over the admission later. The guilt for it can wait. Even a moment of weakness like this can be useful, if it helps them draw out a killer.]

[It's somehow both mortifying and comforting that Aqua is so observant. Still, it's a conflicting sort of feeling where as much as she might want to hide her steadily reddening face, Maya can't seem to draw herself away. She's always thought Aqua was so very, very beautiful, but once he kisses her hair— her hair! How sweet!— it's like he's so brilliant he's almost painful to look at, a weight pressing on her chest the longer she looks at him.

It would be easy to say no— it's too much. Aqua probably wouldn't be upset eith her, or at least she isn't afraid he will be when he talks to her so sweet like that, but then— but then when would she ever get a chance like this again? To kiss someone like him... no, to kiss him, specifically. It's different, she realizes.

When Aqua gives Maya the chance to back out, she tightens her hold on his hand and his shirt.]

Nothat'sokayIwantfo—

[Too hurried, too flustered. She has to try again if she wants to be believed. It's impossible to make eye contact when she admits, like the bubbling of water from a spring—]

I mean— I want to. It's okay.

[Very effective.]

It's cool.

...Cool. Okay.

[God, she's cute. Aqua lets her hair fall and slides a finger under her chin instead, not pushing, just touching.

He doesn't deserve this. He knows. It's wrong, letting himself kiss someone like her with the excuse that it's work, that it's an act for a good cause. That they could, just maybe, save lives.

But she deserves it. Maya deserves to have her first kiss as she chooses, with the handsome young actor she helped acquit, like the plot of a TV drama. He smiles, letting the real fondness he's started to feel for this sweet, clever, unpredictable woman suffuse it.]

Then look at me. All right?

[It's allowed to be as simple as that. Just a little wish fulfillment in addition to their oh-so-noble motivations.

When Maya follows his instruction to look at Aqua's face, though, she can tell at least for her it's a little less simple. Really, it might be her only chance. Love is not a long-term friend of the Feys. It's never really about starting something that will endure the test of time— there is no expectation for more.

But there is this moment, where she can see how soft the smile rests on Aqua's face, how sweet he looks smiling. This "now" that they have together is still something vital, even if it's "only now". Aqua's joy matters to her right now. Aqua's lips look perfect to her right now, the way she's staring at his mouth.

It's funny, that it should be as simple as a celebrity kiss, because right now Maya's forgotten all about what this moment is supposed to look like from the outside.]

Okay,

[It's quiet, more hesitant than she has been with him until now, but it's certain. She levels her eyes with his, taken again as she always is with how she can see the ocean's blue in them even turned fully away from the water.]

[That's what he wants--for her to see the way he smiles when he smiles at her. For her to associate her first kiss, and maybe all kisses going forward, with the knowledge of her own power to change something within another. With the power she has to turn ordinariness into something sparkling.

It's with a filmmaker's sense of the dramatic that Aqua leans in slowly, drawing out the moment so that she can take in every moment of it. His eyelashes catch the light as he draws closer; they fall to fan prettily against his skin when he's near enough to close his eyes. And then his lips meet hers, warm and soft and just the right pressure for a sweet first kiss.

They're picture perfect. The golden boy, the dark-haired girl, joined at the ocean overlook by lips and fingers and tentative, grasping hands. Their bangs brush together, his gentle wave bouncing softly off her blunt cut. Aqua lingers, savoring the moment though he knows he'll hate himself later; he takes care to give her time to etch it into memory.

He doesn't know much about Maya, but she gave him a gift. The least he can do is offer her this in return.]

[Undoubtedly, there are photos. It's not exactly a moment that's private, but Aqua manages to make Maya feel like there's no one around. It's the magic of his acting skill, and it's working like a charm.

She makes the smallest little squeak when their lips touch, surprised at the sensation, how it can feel like so much and so little at once, like the first sparkle of carbonation from a freshly opened lemonade. And then it's warmer, this feeling that Maya finds herself lingering in as well, sweeter than she'd imagined.

As if something is telling her just what to do to make Aqua regret it more she lets go of his sleeve to instead rest her fingertips on his cheek, bidding him to stay close to her as she takes in this experience, lets it overwrite all her previous opinions on intimacy. She lets herself be a little selfish this once, making sure to engrave it all in her memory.

When they pull away from each other it's necessary, the right moment, but it still almost feels too soon.]

[His eyelashes flutter once against her skin, surprised when she touches his face. It's then, though, that he relaxes more into the kiss, letting more of the closeness to Maya, the sensation of Maya, the wonder and newness of this to Maya sink into his own memory bank.

Well, fuck future Aqua, anyway.

Finally, their moment ends. When it does, Aqua straightens slowly. His smile is still warm and soft, but it's as though he's taken a subtle step backwards, back towards the script--though not all the way. His hand is still touching her face.]

...You're right. I like the ocean a lot more now.

[Maya stares after him as if dazed for a moment, though when clarity strikes her it slaps a grin on her face. She covers her mouth with her hand to shield the little laugh (to cradle close the buzzing in her lips) but it's still quite clear when she says—]

Did you really just say that? That's so corny.

[And yet, she's gone back to avoiding eye contact with him as well, smile wide and gaze averted like she's hiding a secret.]

[>:(!! Betrayal.

He huffs quietly and glances away.]

If it's so corny, why do you look like you're melting.

I didn't say it was bad!

[She kind of curls forward a little though, as if to hide all that melting, though it's not particularly effective.]

I liked it. It was cute.

[The kissing, or Aqua being corny after? yes.]

You're cute. I'm a cool wandering swordsman, remember?

[But because he's a cool wandering swordsman with layers, he reaches up and strokes her bent head. Affectionate and playfully patronizing--a gap between the standoffish persona of a ronin and the tender heart beneath.]

Edited 2025-01-16 11:31 (UTC)

Playing a cool person and being an adorable one aren't mutually exclusive.

[It's so very convincing, said from beneath her curtain of hair that he is so sweetly petting.

She takes a deep breath before straightening up (holding on to his sleeve for balance again, because falling back over this railing would very much suck) and looking Aqua in the face again for a second.]

...I hope you meant it, though. That you'll like it better from now on, I mean.

[She smiles softly, a little less bouncily than usual, as she works to overcome being so flustered. But she knows this will remain on her mind, that she'll wonder every time she thinks about it— if she'd done it right, if it was enough, if it was really something Aqua wanted. If he really really meant it when he implied she'd been useful in changing his feelings at all about the sea.
If kissing always feels that way.
If they'd ever do it again.

She tries not to think about it too much, though, once again aware that oh, yeah, right— this has all been for the cameras and the investigation. She should be getting her head back in the game.]

[He pauses, both to look at her like this for a while and to consider his answer. Finally, after a beat:]

The sea is in my name, you know. Hoshino Aquamarine.

[Triply so. It's in the kanji, too: 愛久愛海. That's "love, affection" (愛) (a), "long time" (久) (ku), "love, affection" (愛) (a) and "sea, ocean" (海) (marin). Maya would know that. Having been part of his legal team, she'd have seen his full name on all those case documents.

To add new meaning to that last character, to propose a new way to think about who he is in the world, is no small thing. The sea is always with Aqua. Is he supposed to like that part of himself, that profound connection to the ebb and flow of life? Of death? He's not sure, but it resonates.

Also, let's not talk about how his mother stuck "love" in his name twice.

Exhaling, Aqua offers Maya his hand.]

All right, c'mere. I don't want you to fall.

[That would suck. People can die like that.]

Edited 2025-01-16 12:25 (UTC)

[Maya takes his hand without hesitation, stepping down without protest. She's eager to move from this spot, anyway— from her own hesitation. She steps past him a pace, hands still connected, and looks back at him to wait rather than drag him away.

She adds, though—]

That's why you should like it better anyway.

[Someone loved him and the ocean enough to put all that love into his name, after all. His mother must have been something else. What does love like that from a mother look like? Maya can only hope that at least Aqua remembers that much.]

You and the sea are both pretty good things. Well, at least I think you're both cool, anyway.

[Or someone loved him and thought it would be cute to give her twins a matching set of sparkle-sparkle names like 'Ruby' and 'Aquamarine.' His mom absolutely was something else.]

Me and the sea, huh? Mmm. Don't think I can speak for the water, but... it's appreciated.

[This time, Maya doesn't have to ask him to hold her hand as they continue their walk. Aqua doesn't let her go in the first place.]

[Unfortunately(?) for Aqua, if Maya had ever had the chance to meet Ai, she would immediately and automatically agree with all of her decisions over Aqua's. Maybe he's just drawn to women who can be described as 'something else'.]

Oh, yeah, well, don't worry, I heard it myself.

It was all, wooosh I'm the ocean, Aqua's a big dork but he's also pretty cooool, wooooosh.

[Well, he's locked in— Maya certainly won't let him pull away now. Their hands might get cold, otherwise.]

[Oh yeah no, that's not a 'maybe,' it's patently canon. He is a moth unto the flame--the flame of a bright and fascinating personality. And invincible cuteness. Moeeee~.]

I'm a dork? You're voice-acting for the ocean.

[He's not sulking, you're sulking.]

What can I say?

The ocean speaks through me.

[How she can say such stuff with a straight face... well, it's more of a cheesy grin anyway.]

Edited 2025-01-17 16:16 (UTC)

More like goofiness speaks through you.

[He reaches across himself and taps his knuckles lightly against her head, the very mildest of tsukkomi rebukes.

It's easy, walking with her and trading banter like a comedy routine. It's... nice. Privately, secretly, Aqua wouldn't mind it going on a little longer.]

[Maya even sticks out her tongue when he does it like they truly have some punch-and-judy dynamic going on.]

You'll learn to appreciate my comedic genius one day.

[It's easy to say, as if there isn't a time limit on this little adventure of theirs. And it's easy to say because Maya means it, because escaping her is not quite so easy, as long as he has an address at which to receive letters.]

Fake it till you make it

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