bakerstreet | thursday pic prompt

[Her question earns a quick glance and the crooked smile slips back over his lips. That answers his question as to whether she's recognized him or not. And he's torn, between giving it away or enjoying being nothing but a typical space jock.

She's proven she's pretty quick on the uptake so it won't take her long to figure him out but in the interim...]

My team's got some downtime. [Probably an understatement and the world is still trying to figure out what to do with the entirely new intel about life beyond their solar system and the state its in that his team's arrival has given them. He doesn't know how much of that has leaked to the public yet. Just - giant robot lions (and Lance's mouth) are hard to hide from the public. He stretches out a long arm and holds the door open for her and for just a second he thinks how... normal this all feels. For just a second, its jarring. He inhales and lets the mental vertigo pass. Flashes her a smile.]

I've always wanted to visit a Lantern Festival. Everyone else was busy so I jumped ship for a little while and came myself.

[ She gives him a quick nod of thanks as she steps through the doorway and into the shop, and though the way he seems to pause himself for a second doesn't escape her, she only observes it for now. They're greeted by the people working there from the other side of the counter, and while there are a few other patrons inside cooling off with some ice cream, it's still significantly quieter than the main street where all the booths and the parades were taking place. At his response, Hana offers a bit of a conspiratorial look, grinning at him. ]

Oh? So you snuck away too, huh? Don't worry, I'll keep your secret if you keep mine.

[ Which... isn't really much of a secret, at this point, seeing as the people inside the shop definitely recognize her, and they seem to recognize him, too. And of course, recognizing them together is more than enough reason for whispers and some curious staring. ]

[He automatically scans the interior of the shop before he steps in behind her. It's a habit he picked up in his year as a prisoner, looking for potential secondary exits and threats but the habit also lets him catch the recognition, for both of them, that's happening. And, honestly, up until this point it hasn't occurred to him what the two of them together will add up to in the public eye. Mostly because until a few minutes ago he wasn't aware she was anyone people would recognize. Questionable vanished deep space pilot and Overwatch mecha star pilot...

that was something the gossip columns would have a hey day with.

She seemed capable of handling the media attention if it came though and he - didn't know that he'd still be around. He didn't have to feel guilty and he could focus on her teasing instead. Which brought a long slow grin to his face and he leaned in just enough to tease back.]

I won't say a word. Just don't live stream us, okay?

[ Sure enough, Hana doesn't seem the least bit bothered by the attention; she's gotten used to it. In fact, before they inevitably part ways she'll likely ask to take a selfie with him to post on social media. But for now she giggles, sparing a moment to think that he wears his smile pretty well, and nods in agreement. ]

Deal. D.Va's on a day off today, anyway. Come on!

[ So, hey, there will be an attempt to grab him by the non-mech arm to pull him over to the ice cream counter. ]

Have you ever had patbingsu before? 'Cause if not, we totally have to get that.

[He hears that giggle and it makes him feel - proud. As if he's done something worthwhile to earn it. He could understand someone going out of their way to make sure she did that often.

The catch at his arm is a surprise but more than welcome and he follows her without any resistance. His mecha arm does feel things, the same way the metal has its only heat that still isn't as warm as his body temperature and the metal has a slight softness to it but - he's glad its his human arm she grabs. Her fingers make the fabric of his shirt slide against his skin there and the pressure of her hand is a nice reminder of his humanity.

She has no idea how badly he craves simple human touch.

So he comes to a stop next to her, making no move to get his arm back, grinning, perhaps a little too goofily at the couple on the other side of the counter. He hasn't been dragged around like a teenager in years. It's nice.]

No. [He shakes his head, scattering white hair across his forehead. Japan loves its 'foreign' food and he's had several Korean dishes growing up there but patbingsu isn't one of them and he looks curiously at the ingredients on the other side of the counter. He gives her his trust to abuse if she wants to.] You'd better order for both of us.

[ Luckily for Shiro, Hana would probably act like a teenager even once she's well into her early twenties. For now, at least, she has the excuse of being nineteen. Still, her demeanor belies all of the burdens that have been placed upon her. But--well, not having to think about those burdens has been pleasant, even if only for today. And having Shiro for company helps; he didn't recognize her at first, but even after he did, he didn't change how he treated her. Hana likes that. And it's probably why her hand remains on his arm even after they've gotten to the counter. ]

Even better--we'll share! Their specialty's this huge bowl. There's no way I can finish it all by myself before it melts.

[ She gives him another one of her winks and a thumbs up with her free hand before she turns to the person at the register, ordering the patbingsu in her native tongue and despite her earlier excitement at getting treated to free ice cream, she tries to pay for it herself. He is, after all, a space pilot. Hana feels like this is her way of welcoming him back to Earth. ]

[He notices the continued contact and, sure, it feels good because she's pretty and friendly and he likes her personality but it feeds something so much deeper inside of him too. Maybe they're both escaping from their usual lives for the day and if they can escape together -

having someone along for the ride makes things seem even more warm and welcoming.

The sound he makes is a coughed laugh at both her enthusiasm and her decision to share and that's not a protest of any kind. His head cocks, just the slightest bit, listening to her talk and if he doesn't understand a word of it, he likes the way it sounds and the flow back and forth between her and the couple behind the counter. As cheat at it 'dates' go, he thinks his is going really well and he watches without even trying to hide his curiousity as the meal is put together in what is, she wasn't exaggerating, a huge bowl of - things. Ice and fruit and what looks like bean paste and - maybe ice cream and by the time they're done he's not really sure what's in it anymore, just that its going to be impressive.

She beats him to the draw with paying for it too and his mouth opens to protest - before he shuts it again and picks up the bowl with his free hand instead. He doesn't want to argue with her, not if it means he'd lose her touch. He doesn't think he's off in his guess that she can afford a bowl of ice cream. He can treat next time. He'd like to think he might get a chance at a next time. So he just gives her hand a light squeeze, pressing it between his own arm and his side and heads them both for a booth that lets him sit with his back to a wall and a good view of the doors.]

Next time, I treat, Hana.

[ Hana's sure to swipe two spoons at the counter for them as Shiro leads them away to a table, where Hana is happy to take the seat facing the wall instead, completely oblivious as to why Shiro might prefer being able to keep an eye on the doors. She's pretty excited to dig in and it being Shiro's first time eating patbingsu makes this even more fun as she sticks the two spoons in, one on his side and one on hers. ]

Deal! I'll even let you pick what we get next time.

[ So, yeah, there's a pretty good chance of there being a next time. Hana is just a friendly person by nature, but she's been having a nice time so far and doesn't see why there shouldn't be a next time, apart from her schedule being a little hectic and the yet-unmade realization that Shiro could be gone from Earth for some time after this. As if it's second nature to her, she pulls out her phone and takes a picture of the treat on the table before she puts it down on the table and looks back up at Shiro, now with her chin resting on her hands. ]

You get the first taste since it's your first time.

[His eyebrows go up a little at the sudden phone picture but he supposes if she livestreams so much else of her life, why not the food, especially when its as good looking as what's in front of them. The important thing is she puts the phone down afterward and he appreciates what that says.

He prefers her attention on them.

And its cute the way she sets up the spoons and then settles in to watch. He shoots her a smile under his bangs and picks up his spoon.]

I'm going to hold you to that. [The spoon points at her for a moment.] Next time, Hana.

[And then, because she's waiting, and because he honestly is curious, he takes a good sized scoop of the concoction in front of him, trying to get as many of the different ingredients in the mix as possible.

He's a long way from the suspicious green glop he's been stuck eating the past however many months.

-

and he lets his face speak for him. Because - ]

This really is good.

[ Hana just watches him with a smirk on her face when he points the spoon at her, but it turns into a smile that just brightens when he tries the treat and she sees the look on his face even before he verbally says it's really good. Shiro may be unofficially a giant, but he's... pretty cute. ]

Well, you can't go wrong with a recommendation from me! Especially for food.

[ Then, with a confident nod, she picks up her own spoon and proceeds to dig in, too. She's a little less careful than Shiro was with her side of the dessert, but the look on her face once the spoon is in her mouth is just-- pure delight. ]

No argument.

[Because it really is good and he doesn't hesitate to dig in for his next bite. He always ate fast, thanks to his time in the military but after his year with the Galra he had the habit of inhaling his food. He makes it a point now to slow down and really enjoy the meal though.

He does stop, just to watch her take her first bite because the way her face changes is -

is something he'd really like to see again.

Getting another spoonful, he asks:]

How often do you get to sneak away?

[ She has to make sure mouth isn't full of ice and ice cream and red bean paste and whatever else she got a chunk of in her spoonful before she purses her lips with a thoughtful look and she answers, ]

I dunno, once every couple of weeks?

[ Frankly, she's lost track. When it's not going on missions with her MEKA unit to defend her home country against omnics, it's being shipped off somewhere for an Overwatch operation, and when it's not either of those things she has responsibilities to make appearances as someone who's become a public figure, too. Surely, she has days that are freer than others, but days like this when her schedule had been completely clear are few and far between. She's digging in for another scoop as she gives him a curious look. Her turn to ask a question. ]

What about you? How often do you get to come back to Earth? What's that like?

[He absorbs the information, chewing his next mouthful while he lets it ride. Once every couple of weeks. That's not bad. It's not great but - he can wait a few weeks. It would give him something to look forward to.

As long as he could stick around that long.

Her question is only fair but he takes his time with a second mouthful. Because - that's the kicker. The second he answers that she's either going to realize exactly who he is or -

well, she really would have to live under a rock. Which is possible if she's busy with what amount to crisis all the time but she seems too hooked into media flow to miss it entirely.

Somehow, it doesn't bother him as much as it did before though. So he answers straightforward and with a slightly crooked smile because it isn't going to be the answer she expects. But his eyes watch her and he doesn't take a next immediate bite.]

This is my first time back in the solar system in over a year. So - not very if we're going by my recent track record. It's amazing what you realize you miss once you're gone and can't come back.

[ over a year... what you miss once you're gone and can't come back

His words give Hana pause, certainly, because she does not live underneath a rock. She may have been slow on the uptake today because she thought that by space pilot he meant he was with the Garrison, but over a year doesn't add up when the only mission she's aware of that'd gone on for that long hadn't ended well for anyone involved and--

oh.

He's that Shiro.

The realization is enough to stun Hana mid-chewing into a terribly unladylike and uncute display of ice cream almost falling out of her mouth from the way she stares at him, dumbstruck and slack-jawed. It's only after a second or three that she catches herself (and the ice cream about to fall), and she covers her mouth with her hand. She would almost be embarrassed if she was capable of feeling that way. Instead, she's just. In awe. ]

Oh my god. [ she says, quietly, and with her voice muffled by her own hand. ] It's you. I didn't even realize!

[It may be unladylike but its honest and its her and that's more important to him. She certainly doesn't think to hide her reaction and - that's reassuring too.

He is tempted to reach over and gently push her chin up to close her mouth for her - but she recovers and does it herself. His smile stays crooked - but his eyes don't stop watching her and they're very quiet despite the way the rest of his face is relaxed. His free hand reaches up and he lightly taps the side of his nose, and the scar that runs there.]

It's me. [His voice matches his eyes.] Surprise.

[ Oh jeez, Hana, here she was thinking she was the superstar at the table. Nope. You're sitting across Shiro. That Shiro. Thank god she paid for their food, because seriously. It's the man's first time back on Earth in forever and there's no way she should've made him pay.

She blinks at him a few times, hand still on her mouth, but before long it slowly falls back onto the table. Everyone thought this man in front of her was dead, but then he returned after being abducted by aliens (which isn't the "official" story, but Hana would totally believe in aliens over anything else) and left shortly after to go deeper into space and now he's sitting and eating dessert with her. That's... cool. Right? Her lips draw into a thin line, almost pouting, and she looks down at the table for a bit. ]

... Sorry I called you a giant.

[ Though, he still is one, but that feels rude now. ]

[He thinks, for however long she's going to be in his life, he's never going to have to wonder what's going through her mind or what she's feeling.

It's a trait he needs in people he keeps close to himself.

But it still drags at him, watching the way her face changes, watching the thoughts fly over her face

watching the way she thinks of him change.

Gentle, he reaches out and his fingertips touch her chin. It's his human hand so he knows his fingers will feel warm even under the glove he's wearing. His voice is gentle, soft as he asks:]

You calling me short now, driver?

[ His gesture garners a quiet gasp from onlookers; Hana finds herself startled, too, and it begs her to look back up at him. His hand definitely feels warm. It only takes a short moment of them in that position for her to snap back to her usual, spunky self, at which point she smirks at him. ]

No way. You're still stupid tall, Shiro.

And why are you calling me driver, huh?

[A part of him would like to think that what the rest of the people in the small shop think doesn't matter to him. Only Hana's reaction matters.

But another part of him wouldn't mind if news of the gesture got out. Because maybe that would warn the other boys away from her.

That's too far ahead of themselves though and he didn't touch her for any reason but for her alone and he lets everyone else fade from his thoughts. Because - only Hana's reaction really does matter and the one she gives him is -

is pure Hana as far as he can tell.

It brings his own grin back. And it lets the tightening bands around his chest relax again so he can breath. His thumb brushes her chin and then he pulls his hand back and takes another spoonful of the dessert.]

Good. You had me worried there for a tick. [He takes a moment to shovel the spoonful in his mouth and eat it before answering:] Driver. It's military slang I picked up at the Garrison. Means 'pilot'. And that pink rabbit of yours definitely qualifies you as a pilot.

[ The news might also send D.Va's collective set of guardians at Overwatch on a manhunt for Shiro, but if Hana thought about it she'd be confident that Shiro could take the heat if it ever came to that.

For now, though, she quirks a brow once he pulls away, still not entirely sure what that was about just now but having a vague feeling that he did it to get her to focus on what they're doing now rather than her failing to recognize him from the start. And... she doesn't mind. He hadn't recognized her at first either, but when he did he still treated her as Hana and not D.Va. She should try to do the same for him. To that end, she picks up her spoon once more and digs into the dessert, letting herself relax and smile at him again. ]

I am a pilot, thank you! [ and not to brag but totally to brag-- ] The number one, too.

Though... my pink rabbit's a tiny mech compared to yours, isn't it? The Black Lion.

[His smile spreads at her bragging but - if its the truth there's nothing wrong with stating the fact. He was the top flight pilot and pretending otherwise would have been silly. Now he's - whatever he is. And he's not the type to try to knock someone down a peg when he knows from experience they had to work their tail off to get there in the first place. As far as he can tell - she is the top pilot, in both Overwatch and the Korean military -

and possibly in video games though he doesn't really follow that culture that much.

And he feels strangely proud as if its something he has any right to be proud about that she's so highly ranked.

He just wished it didn't come with people trying to kill her in any way other than via pixels vs. pixels...]

Black. [His smile changes, becomes something... proud and content and whole and sunrise warm and for just a second his eyes lose their focus on her.] He's amazing. [His eyes focus back on her and his smile is for her now.] And yeah, he's huge. I've never flown anything like him. It's completely immersive. [He pleased sound as he takes another bite and chews before adding:] You'd probably understand it better than most pilots. It's not flying a machine, its being a part of one. I think your pink rabbit must be a lot like that from the looks of your piloting. You almost have to be an extension instead of a driver to get it to move the way it can.

[ Definitely in video games.

And definitely not for the first time today, Hana thinks that he really does have a nice smile. And now, knowing that he's been through a lot with having been on the Kerberos mission and being gone for a year and coming back-- it's a bit of a wonder at how easily he seems to be smiling. (Of course, she has no sense that she's played a role in that at all.)

Hana leans back with a thoughtful look, spoon still her mouth as she's enjoying the treat, though she pulls it out just enough to be able to talk. ]

Mmhmm, I get it. My MEKA fits me just right, and it responds to everything I do the way it needs to, but... yeah. It does feel like an extension of me! [ Another thoughtful pause, then she goes on, ] Those mechs used to be unmanned drones, you know. It took a lot of practice for me to get it to move like that.

[Shiro's always interested in other people's flight experiences. No two are ever the same and its' always fascinating to hear how they're alike and yet different from his own.

He's also missed in a lot, in the time he's been gone. Overwatch was history when he'd left and now it was reactivated and very mobile again. He's got a lot of catching up to do.

He just hopes he has the time.

So he leans forward a little in his seat, elbows resting on the table and simply asks:]

Tell me? How you ended up with your rabbit. How you ended up in Overwatch. Just - tell me about you.

[ She reaches over to push her spoon into a pile of ice remaining in their bowl before shoving her hands into the pockets of the jacket she's wearing, sinking down in her seat a little, generally being the picture of terrible posture as her expression takes on a more solemn note. If Shiro's been gone for a year and this is his first time back, then it figures that he might not know so much about what's been happening. He wouldn't know why the Korean military had to draft pro-gamers into the military. And truth is, he chose the perfect day to come and visit Korea. Lantern Festival aside, today it's... not under attack. ]

Well... Before all of this, I was a pro-gamer. [ Here, she manages a little smile. ] One of the best around, actually! But there's a huge Omnic that goes around this part of the world... destroying everything. Every time they found a way to beat it, it would come back later stronger and smarter. Kind of like in the movies, I guess? So the military had to find pilots who could pilot the mechs and try and outsmart it.

[ She pulls a hand out of a pocket to point at herself. ] And that's where I come in! Overwatch, though, that's pretty new. When I was growing up it was already falling apart, but... I think the world needs them again. They asked me to join. And now here I am!

[He senses the shift in tone and adds his spoon to the bowl. They managed to do a pretty decent amount of damage to the dessert and he's full. He can focus on her and his eyebrows come down and he rests his crossed arms on the table and listens.

His team is aware of the Omnic situation - but its spotty. There's the official reports - but Shiro knows from experience how truthful those can be. And there are the stories they're getting from their families and friends. And there's what they've managed to see. But its all parts of a patchwork, too much going on too fast and a large gap of time for them to try to fill in. So far, they haven't done anything. Voltron would be a huge asset - but he can't belong to one planet. Or one group of beings on one planet either. Fighting the Galra is easy when it comes to knowing who your enemy is but here...

Not to mention the fact that, even as separate lions, Voltron really isn't low on the level of damage a fight with them does.

And there's the fact that they'll need to leave soon, no matter how much they'd like to pretend otherwise. And if they sweep in and change the balance of things - its just going to make more of a mess when they're called away.

It's a difficult position to be in and one that none of them are really happy with but -

but at the moment it seems like the only thing they can do.

So he listens to Hana because she's boots on the ground. She knows better than any official report what's really going on. And - she's on the front line. He doesn't underestimate what that means.]

A lot's happened since I've been gone. [An understatement but what else can he call it?] Two Special Forces positions. That's a lot to maintain. [There's so much he wants to talk about - and that's not something that two soldiers that don't know each other would do on a first meeting.] You must not get a lot of sleep.

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i started watching voltron bc of this just fyi

>:Db I hope you enjoy it! (and I miiight be watching Overwatch vignettes and playthroughs too)

(in that case i am sorry d.va is a gremlin)

(it's too late. I've already fallen in love with the fan art)

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