Work Text:
Their relationship had been strictly business. Nothing more. It took lots of correcting, lots of long-winded explanations, but they made their point. They weren't together. It was strictly business.
But it hadn't exactly stayed that way.
Their conversations started as short tidbits of information--just the essentials. Go here, do this, protect each other if anything goes wrong. They were the only ones that really knew the truth behind how they'd met but nonetheless, an alliance was formed. Soon they were talking about life outside of work, and their awkward fragments of conversations turned into something more involved. Something that started to gain curious looks, something that didn't go unnoticed by their coworkers.
And Sokabe, the unspoken referee in their back-and-forth, was always watching. He noticed.
"Noticed what?" Tosaki had questioned. "What exactly are you inferring?"
Sokabe narrowed his eyes, scrutinizing his superior, a thousand words hidden behind a smirk. "Miss Shimomura and you are awfully...friendly." He had chosen his words carefully, but he certainly wasn't wrong.
What about those glances that turned into stares? Those blatant violations of personal space, oddly unnoticed by either of them?
"Just something I've observed lately." Sokabe leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms in a way that invited a thorough explanation.
"I'm glad you've found something to do with all your free time." Tosaki retorted, his icy expression never faltering. "Maybe you should channel that energy into getting some work done."
But the gossip continued drifting around the facility, twisting and turning into all sorts of scenarios. Still, they both held on to the same story--two people fighting for the same cause, and nothing more than colleagues.
"Yes, colleagues." Tosaki had replied with a long sigh of annoyance. "I trust you know what that word means."
"Just colleagues?" Sokabe taunted again. "Would you offer me your jacket?"
Tosaki scowled. "Only if I could tie the sleeves into a knot and wrap it around your neck first."
And with that empty threat, his subordinate went silent. The banter would end just as quickly as it had started, the truth still hidden behind Tosaki's unwavering defense.
All the while, Shimomura remained stoic as well. When they stared at her, she would stare back. She kept her answers short, with a fierce expression that warded off any potential accusations.
But as time progressed, something changed. Perhaps it was the realization that they were fighting a battle bigger than themselves or that they might become targets at only a moment's notice. Whatever the reason, they came to an agreement. Who cares what others will say? Who cares what they'll think? Why keep a secret until tomorrow if you can't be sure that you'll live through today?
So, the next time someone had something to say, they had the perfect reply.
Sokabe had rounded the corner, well-prepared to antagonize his superior. "I suppose you've figured out a way to explain why you'll be meeting up with Miss Shimomura outside of work this weekend?"
"What's there to explain?" Tosaki had begun as usual, but this time his story became a bit different. "That I like her a lot? That she means more to me than anyone in the world?" He pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose, a slight smile curving his mouth. "That should be old news around here."
Sokabe could only stare wide-eyed, the blatant truth stealing any sharp remark that he'd planned to make.
"Well, have a good weekend." Tosaki glanced at his desk before turning to leave. "I'll leave my jacket just in case you still want to borrow it."