bakerstreet | ( picture prompt meme )

[The following events happen about simultaneously.

1. Kanan reflexively whips around to look out the window.
2. Mari standing, however, throws her off balance in the other direction.
3. The bus driver, a considerate gentleman who deserves better than a pair of dumb kids who neglected to ring the stop bell, brakes when he hears Mari cry out.

The end result: Kanan slips sideways and her forehead smacks into the window ledge with a loud thump. (ฅฅ;;;;) how much more abuse must her face suffer today.]

-- Kanan! [ That's a wholly separate kind of 'oh my god' as Mari reaches down, pulling her away from the window just a little too frantically to be gentle. ] Are you okay?!

[It's a short while till her eyes refocus; and, raising her fingers to touch the large red imprint on her forehead, she can already expect the bump sure to form to turn out quite nasty.]

I think. [The pain is terrible, yet she forces herself to rub at the tender area anyway.] I've got ointment in my first aid kit...we should alight first.

[She can stand. Good enough.]

Right, right! There we go! [ She supports Kanan with an arm at her waist as they step off the bus, Mari calling out a loud, cheery thank you at the driver that comes out just a little bit strained. The frown of concern is back on her features the moment the doors close behind them, and the bus putters away. ]

We can take care of it at the hotel, too. [ It's close -- closer than Kanan's house, though not so much of a difference that would make returning there impractical, if she so wished. ] Put a compress on it...

[A grunt in reply, to indicate that yes, she's listening.]

My forehead must look pretty bad, huh... [If she agrees, they'll cause the hotel staff undue alarm. Or be the subject of gossip, even. On the other hand, if she goes straight home...explaining the circumstances around how she got such a noticeable bruise is a tribulation in itself, when her family can see through any untruth and/or omission of detail on her part.

Not that she won't tell them about Mari, it's just...

What a pickle. The mere thought makes her headache worse.]

Your staff is going to think I was beat up or something.

[ Hmmm... a tricky situation indeed. She wouldn't want to cause her darling staff members any concern, nor any embarrassment for her darling Kanan! Mari ponders this for a solid fifteen seconds, before being struck by revelation: ] Oh! No problem! You see... Yakuza!

[Her pause is long enough to rival Mari's. Was that knock on the head harder than it initially felt?

Yakuza?]

No, I don't see.

Yes! They jumped out of the bushes, all ooooossu!!, seven feet tall including that mullet! Having undoubtedly heard of my family's riches, they were looking to abduct me for ransom, but you stepped in to protect me and suplexed them a good ten feet away! The only blow they managed to land on you was that! It was all very heroic! Dashing!

[ She's definitely watched something like this in a movie at least once. Probably? Anyway. ]

With this, there's nothing to worry about, right? ♥

[She's laughing from the mental image, which might be a bad idea. Okay, she does see.]

I doubt there are any yakuza all the way out here in Numazu. [snrk] It's a great story, though.

[With holes big enough to sit in.] I wish I'd videoed that.

[ Ha! Made you smile. ] Ah, the tragedy! It's always the greatest heroes that go unsung--!

[ She grins, taking hold of Kanan's hand. ] But standing around here talking isn't going to make that bump any smaller, so we'd best get going, hmm?

How can I possibly turn down such a compassionate offer?

[The explanation to her family is a problem she'll chew on in the meantime.]

Much obliged, Miss Ohara.

It's the least I could do for my valiant savior!

[ Off to the hotel they go, then. Mari's sure to match her pace to Kanan's, watching for any signs of dizziness, not letting go of that hand until they've safely arrived. The hotel staff express sincere yet polite concern without being overly inquisitive -- they've seen the two of them arrive with skinned elbows and bruised knees enough times over the better part of a decade. Once Mari assures them there's nothing to worry about and that Kanan will be taken care of in short order, they ask no further questions, and the yakuza tale goes regrettably untold.

Once they're inside Mari's suite at last, she sits Kanan down by the living room table, then scuttles off to the bathroom. She's quick to return, dropping a couple of pills into Kanan's palm-- ] Here, for the pain-- [ before reaching up to apply the compress to the sore spot. ] Careful, it's cold!

[ ... she says helpfully, the very same moment she presses it into her skin. ]

Uaahhhh!

[Startled, Kanan nearly spills the painkillers. The cold's not so bad in itself, she just wasn't prepared.] Mari!!

...Aw, sheesh. You got me there.

[What's done is done. Still wincing a little, she tests the compress to make sure it stays (it does), then washes the pills down with sips from her water bottle.]

Heehee, oops! [ She could really stand to sound more apologetic there... regardless, Mari watches Kanan intently as she takes her pills, with the kind of look that can only come from honest concern. ]

How are you feeling? Is the pain bad? Dizziness, nausea? Ah-- [ She sticks her hand out milimeters from Kanan's face, two fingers curled in towards her palm-- ] How many fingers am I holding up right now?!

[Slowly...backing away...] Three?

[Has Mari been watching those medical dramas with more drama than medicine.]

I figure it'd be worse if I hit the back of my head. Only hurts here [a gesture at the compress], and I'm not even bleeding or anything.

[Cracking a wry smile.] Thickheadedness does have some uses, eh?

Good! Looks like that funny little bump is the only thing to worry about, then.

[ She grins back at that last bit. Ooh, ooh, she has one too! ] Well--! At the very least, you've gotta admit that confession had a real impact!

Yup, one of your greatest hits.

[Mari had confessed to her. Mari had confessed to her. Mari had confessed to her.

The thought, despite -- or perhaps because -- of the time it had taken to settle, and actual confirmation; still is so incredible, too good to be true. And yet, it is true. No two ways about it.]

...You were so brave back there. I kinda ruined the atmosphere, though.

Edited (punctuation...) 2016-10-24 06:12 (UTC)

[ Mari's grin slants with timidness, and she combs a hand through her hair. Geez, if you flatter her for something like that... she laughs, but it stutters a bit. ]

It's fine, it's fine! It was actually kind of a relief, you know? Of all the times to hit your head, I'd say you picked just the right one!

?

[A relief?]

If you say so. Not like I was planning on doing that, either. [Who does?]

[ She bumps Kanan's shoulder lightly with her own. ] I'm joking, so don't give me that look.

But it's true that I was really super-nervous, and wasn't sure what I should do next... so in that regard, it made things a bit easier. [ ... Maybe not that much of a joke, then. ]

[An observation she makes, too, but doesn't voice.]

I wouldn't know what to do either.

[She deliberates over her next words briefly.] Did I make you feel pressurized? Uncomfortable?

[Let me help fix this, is what she's trying to say.]

Huh? [ Mari stares up at her, momentarily stunned by the question. Uncomfortable? Why? How could Kanan think for even a second she did anything wrong, when she was nothing but kind and understanding? ]

-- No! [ It comes out kind of abrupt -- she catches herself, exhales, and reins in her voice. ] Not at all, silly. You made me really, really happy. I just hadn't thought about what I'd do once I've actually said it... [ A softer admission: ] And I hadn't thought you'd accept, either.

[ But then she laughs again. ] Honestly! It was kind of a shock!

Mh. [Self-conscious for a moment, she rubs at a ear, fidgeting. As expected, it's warm to the touch, presumably turning red again.

Putting something she scarcely understands into words is. Tough.]

I was also surprised. I -- I'm not rushing into this just because you told me about your feelings, though.

All I want is for you to be happy. [Even if she hasn't always gone about it properly.] So if my staying by your side is enough...

...

[ Weird. That's the only way Mari can describe the way she's feeling. Kanan looks so pretty, flushing warm all the way to her ears, and she wants-- she wants to make her happy, so why does she suddenly feel this awful queasy guilt bubbling up in the pit of stomach? Isn't this everything she wished for? Why is she getting stupid about this?

Ugh... Of course this wasn't gonna be that easy.

Mari plants her arms behind her head, and falls back onto the floor with a flump. ]

Nope.

[ She sounds like a little kid. ]

Mari?

[Forget the awkward bashfulness. She gets up from her seat, and crouches next to Mari, hands on knees. That shift came out of nowhere (to her mind).]

What's the matter?

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