Work Text:
It was well into midday as you walked up several flights of stairs within an office-to-hire complex. Even though it was compact and cold, it was still really expensive to own a place here... at least that's what Nomad kept complaining about. In your hands was a plastic carrier bag which contained two boxes of homemade bento. You decided to treat the Tiger to a special Valentine's treat. Alongside the bento boxes were a bag of red bean mochi, you recall him having a hidden sweet tooth from which he was really embarrassed to admit.
You knock on the door... to which nothing came. Haaah- did you reach him on a smoke break? Or... perhaps a sudden case that was rung in? You wait around idly, checking your phone in case the feline had texted you. After a while you begin to hear something from the opposite side of the door:
"ZZZzzz... zzz..." Ah- the Detective was fast asleep... snoring logs too. Since you are his 'assistant' he had trusted you with his spare keys in case he accidentally melts the others alongside his clothing, his exact words began to echo through your head: "Do not. Under any circumstances open my room without permission 'kay? I can't let a single piece of paperwork get swept away."
Disregarding this, you open the door. And then you saw perhaps the saddest but also the most adorable thing you've seen in your life.
Nomad was slung over the 'Client Sofa' (Certainly not his bed) snoring somehow even louder than he was before... scattered along the room was empty take-out containers and plastic bags, the room smelled like a convenience store with all the fried chicken containers strewn about. The culprit was adorned in a simple tracksuit... it looked awfully dingy compared to his leather work clothing, but even worse was his hair tied up with elastic band... it was really like you couldn't leave him be for a single week without him turning back into a bum.
Before awakening the Beast, you decided to clean his room. It wasn't really that hard considering most of it could just be thrown into the recycling chute downstairs, but alongside that, you also decided to air his room out. Afterall, it was pretty stale from smoke and takeout. After such an arduous task, you treat yourself to a bottle of soda; the carbonated beverage almost revitalizing Your systems instantly. Finally, you decided to quickly travel home to bring Nomad an outfit that garnered at least a bit of self-respect. Just a simple white t-shirt and torn-up jeans would probably fit his style anyway.
After Your 'chores' were completed, there really was no point in letting Your poor ears get tortured by the transient's obnoxious snoring. You then found yourself stretching their cheeks out and in slowly, to which his eyes finally began to flutter open. "HEY, HEY- WHAT THE H-ell... oh- it's You." The Tiger yawned loudly as he sat up and looked around. "Huh?! Where'd all my food go?" He said in a befuddled voice as it became apparent that there were absolutely zero traces of cheap convenience store food scattered around the room.
"I decided to treat you, Nomad." You inform him as you reveal the fresh clothing and Bento.
"What? I can't accept this! What am I, a cheapskate?" They retort stubbornly, much to your dismay. To prevent him from rejecting your kind charity, you open his meal and take out a riceball. "Eaaaat-" You say as you tease it in front of the Big Cat's mouth. "Mmrrrr... fine! But stop waving it in my face!" Nomad growled as he hungrily began to scarf down the riceball presented. Ah- his hands are reaching for more.
"I thought you said you didn't want it- hm~?" You tease him as he then crosses his arms stubbornly.
"Well- I can't just eat a riceball! That'll accelerate my hunger! Now gimme! Now!" The Cat was now trying to bat for the Bento... You should probably give it before he makes a huge mess by punching it.
"Okay, Mr.Nomad. You've eaten now you can get showered and put some *decent* clothing on." You say in disgust as you tug at his dingy tracksuit.
"Aw come on- why can't I relax in my sleepwear?" He grumbles as he turns his head away in a moody manner.
"Because... we can't date when you're dressed like a hobo." As soon as You said the d-word, his ears pricked up in self-defense
"Idiot! Who said we were dating- that's not accurate at all I-" Aaaand You shushed him with a finger. "...Fiiiine. I'll get showered I guess... I kinda smell anyway." And with that, the Detective stood up beside you. "Because I don't have a Shower, I'll have to commandeer yours, okay? Partner?" He says as he holds your shoulder firmly with one hand... this kind of physical contact only really happened when you melted through his prickly demeanor.
One walk later and you found yourself at your small apartment. The decorations were... white. That's pretty much it. It had only three rooms: A Living Room joint Kitchen, a closet shower and Your Bedroom. It was Highrise though, giving You a wonderful look at the Tokyo skyline. However, such view merely paled at the sight of Nomad exiting the shower... his hair fluffy and puffy due to him taking care of himself with a hairdryer. You looked into his eyes, pleading for the permission to touch his hair. This was naturally received with an eye-roll. "Fiiine... just this once as payment." Nomad replied in a defeated voice, he was still shirtless too... this was the perfect time to execute your plan.
Your hands began stroking the Tiger's fur, to which he grumbles in defeat even more... though it was pretty obvious he was grumbling in order to disguise the fact that he was purring under his breath. The feline's hair was... surprisingly soft, despite it obviously not being well groomed for the best of times. "Hey- you're getting waaay too into this but... please don't stop 'kay?" The Detective submitted as he ungracefully slumped onto your couch. Deciding to be ever so risqué, you straddle him and begin petting his hair from there. This obviously flustered him as he would no longer make direct eye contact with you as his grumbling got noticeably more nervous. Was he... blushing from this? "Fiiine you got me- you're really good at this whole 'grooming' thing. Please- continue- but! It's just payment for cleaning my room!" The transient bargained as he closed his eyes out of pure relaxation.
"Mr. Nomad... do you know what day it is?"
"Yeah... it's the 14th of Feb, why?" He replied, being as dense as ever.
"Do you... know anything special about that day?"
"Eh- it's Valentine’s, right? Nothing too special." This made You bite your lip... How could he not get all these hints?
"Do you want to... hah- be my Valentine?"
"...sure, why not?"
Naturally, this took you way out of the left field. Nomad... just casually accepted your proposal? Was he out of it?
"Come... again?"
"I said 'Why not' didn't I?! Am I suddenly not good enough?!" Ah- there's the Nomad you knew.
"Of course, you are, why would I dinner date you otherwise~" You flirt back as you stroke his hair again.
"Agh! This was your plan all along?! You- traitor!" Nomad laughed as his giant hands pulled you down to his chest and ruffled through it. He was really rough around it but it was obvious he meant well. His chest smelled like peaches- did he use your shampoo without asking?!
Nomad yawns and flicks on the TV, idly coursing through your hair as he stared at the plasma TV, it was probably miles better in quality compared to the old-fashioned CRT that he had procured for free at an electronics store. "Saaay- could I make this my HQ? The... resources here are much better than back at mine." He asks... was that just a fancy way of saying that he wanted to live with you from now on? It was obvious what your answer to this will be.
"Of course. Feel free to use the coffee machine and balcony too." You reply, to which he chuckles with a smile.
"So, I can smoke outside?"
"Yeah... as long as you don't bring it inside and mouthwash."
"Man... who knew a Kid such as you lived like a prince? I shoulda asked sooner!" Ah- that precious smile... You could see his red implant clearly, but it made it seem even more charming. It was only now that you could hear the Tiger purr without hesitation. He was truly comfortable living with you.
"I love you, Nomad." You confess as you cuddle into his chest, you could hear his fiery, passionate heartbeat beneath his impressive pectorals as you're enveloped in a blanket of warmth.
"I love ya too, professionally, of course, ~" The Big Cat teased as he attempted to cuddle you to sleep. You... wanted much more but... this is good enough for now...