jigglephysics | Nothin's Gonna Hurt You, Baby

[ It's been a long haul to adapt to the life they're all living now. Shino had been in the CGS for longer than everyone but Eugene. But Eugene had had a life of comfort before his family's fallout. Shino never had the sheltering Eugene had. There were never any expectations for him growing up. It wasn't until after Tekkadan had formed that he finally found some purpose and future to strive for with his own efforts. Orga had given that to all of them, and now he can make an honest living beside.

Well.

Someone he didn't think would become so important. It's not that Yamagi had never meant anything before. He was family just like anyone. It really wasn't until the fight in Edmonton that he really started paying Yamagi such specific mind. Sure, he'd hung out with him more as they started to work together more closely. Who knew it'd end up with Yamagi falling for him? By the time Yamagi was his mechanic and his mechanic only, he felt like they could be thick as thieves.

And then he'd paid attention to the way Yamagi looked at him when he came by to check on the status of Ryusei-Go's maintenance. The way he ruffled when he got too close. Once the signs became clearer, he figured out his feelings more easily that Yamagi might have liked. It was more from someone that a guy like him could ever hope for, those feelings of love. He'd spent his time since giving him openings to act on them and learning how to let that love into his own heart. It wasn't easy for the older CGS crew to look at love and accept it.

And now he's lugging boxes for him, using his strength to do what he does best. Yamagi's thicker than he used to be in build from all the hard work, but he's still not on par with Shino's mass. He's happy to trot at his heels as a trainee for a new maintenance procedure. Yamagi's patient enough to teach him but hard enough to keep him in line and he enjoys it. He gets to tease the hell out of him when he's bored and learn new things when he's into it. He can keep his hands working here at the old man's company, too, so it all works out for him. ]

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Nope! If I was old enough to do all the crap I was doing, I figured I was old enough to have a good time. It was a lot harder when we weren't being paid.

[ He holds fast to Yamagi's hand, feeling very lucky to be the one who gets to do it. Yamagi's picky. He loves Tekkadan as much as any of them, but he's a lot more selective with his personal time. Ride, Takaki and Mika are the only ones who really get in on it. Eugene now that they've bonded, too, but not as much as Shino. Never as much as Shino. Other than Eugene, no one's ever seen him as this special. He's enthralled by it. ]

You've been patient with me. I'll be patient with you.

[ That's what's fair. ]

This is it. Let's go in, huh?

[ The inside is nice and full of replicant wood and tiles. It's still got the grimy stains of Mars in its corners, but compared to most places, it's charming and a little higher end. He'd saved money since the last year of 'Tekkadan'. He can afford to pay for a nice night for them.

He takes him up to the bar counter to sit and keeps hold of his hand so Yamagi can use him as a brace to climb up on the stool. ]

[ shino makes a very fair point. that, and his honest words make his chest constrict with warmth and happiness — shino seems to understand him more and more over time, little by little. he's grateful. when he compares himself to the others, yamagi guesses that he can be a difficult person to be patient with. ]

Mm. Okay.

[ yamagi allows shino to pull him inside, following him closely, acutely aware of the way their hands are still locked together. he offers him a delicate smile and squeezes his hand when he climbs up onto the stool, legs dangling just above the ground when he settled. it occurs to him that there's no real reason to keep holding it once he's seated and comfortable, but he's committed the feeling to memory, and he has to let go sometime. ]

Wow. You were right. This is... This is pretty nice. You weren't kidding when you said you'd spoil me.

[ he looks around and takes it all in, eyes wide. yamagi isn't used to places like this. it isn't a loud, rowdy bar, but a smaller, more intimate space, just like shino said. there are only a handful of other people around, and they're all in pairs of two.

pairs of two. dates. yamagi realizes, rather belatedly, that almost everyone else looks like they're on a date. so he was right to be suspicious after all... he chances a look at shino, tilting his head. a light blush is creeping onto his cheeks, hard to miss underneath the glow of the lights. ]

This is almost like a date, huh?

[ he did not mean to voice that thought aloud. it just slipped out, and once yamagi realizes what he just insinuated, he can't look at shino, not quite sure what kind of reaction to expect. instead, he stares down at the floor, suddenly finding it very interesting. he searches for something, anything to add on, anything to just brush it off as a joke, but he's coming up short.

perhaps it's because it wasn't a joke at all. what else could he possibly call this? just buddies hanging out? is that all it is? he doesn't know. he's confused and nervous and excited and hopeful and wow, drinking suddenly sounds like a better idea than it did ten minutes ago. maybe it'll help him relax. ]

Edited (HOURS LATER) 2017-06-26 09:09 (UTC)

I told you! I wouldn't kid about it, you know?

[ He doesn't look like he knows what he's doing and he doesn't act like it, either, but he does. He's thought about this a lot. He's revisited the ladies at the brothel he used to frequent to talk with them on a nice couch and ask him what kind of things he should do for him. He's even talked to Azee about it. He's been taking in good advice from those he trusts most about it.

Shino feels the eyes on him. He turns his head, smiling with confidence. ]

Ha? Yamagi, it is a date! I'm definitely considering this an after work date.

[ And that's that! He lifts a hand to wave the bartend down, waiting to hear what Yamagi might say about it. ]

[ oh. ]

Oh.

[ he swallows thickly. there's a long pause as he tries to process this information, but his brain may or may not have just short-circuited. a date. he's on a date. he's on a date with shino.

okay. this is fine. he's fine. ]

... Get me something strong.

[ nope, he's not fine. he has no idea how to handle this. he was not the least bit prepared, which all things considered he should be seeing as he was the one who was trying to ask shino out before shino filled in the blanks for him, but was he ever going to be prepared for this? deep, deep down, yamagi had started to realize that something like a date with shino didn't seem so impossible anymore awhile ago. he just hasn't known how to acknowledge that; the possibility that he's worth shino's attention. it still seemed so unreal, he just...

he runs a hand through his hair. ]

[ another minute passes before yamagi summons the courage to speak again. surprisingly, his voice doesn't tremble; his gaze is averted, but his words are thoughtful. ]

Earlier, I was trying to ask you out. That's probably obvious now, huh?

[ a short, breathless laugh. it doesn't do anything to ease the tension in his shoulders. ]

I've been trying, but I just freeze up, and when you filled in the blanks I just didn't know that you'd... I mean...

[ ugh. he's starting to stumble. breathe, yamagi. ]

I didn't want to just assume that this meant what I wanted it to mean.

Strong? Mmm, you sure? Well, if you say so.

[ He doesn't connect two and two well though he can sense his stress. He's not totally dense about these things. He's been out with enough people in his past. Just... not as seriously as this. Yamagi has genuine feelings he needs to be careful with here. He's trying to be conscious of everything he says. ]

Yup! Pretty obvious to me, at least.

[ And that smile of his softens for him. Yamagi's been so worried and maybe Shino's been worried, too. Maybe he's been a little afraid of investing in anything when Yamagi might get hurt. When he might be too ephemeral to bring Yamagi happiness. He's just had so many close calls, he's still afraid of tangible things and Yamagi is right here, too solid and too real.

He keeps on smiling for him, though, and he reaches to ruffle his hair fondly. ]

I can't say I totally know what I'm doing here and I can't say I totally know what it all means or how it works but... either way, let's do our best with this, Yamagi, okay?

Shino...

[ yamagi looks at him with eyes that are practically sparkling. he looks at him with all the adoration in the world, with all the affection in his heart and soul. when shino ruffles his hair, one eye flutters shut and he laughs, pretending to swat him away. ]

I don't know, either. I feel like I'm stumbling in the dark, but...

[ yamagi averts his gaze, color high on his cheeks. ]

You've been my light. That's not going to change. So I'll give this everything I have.

[ he hesitates to look back at him, but he chances it. ]

Nothin's Gonna Hurt You, Baby

shino is always parched

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