Work Text:
"This one's the last of them, which means..."
There's an unceremonious thud as a large box of unknown contents is dropped onto the conveyor belt — marking the end of a rush in one of Rhodes Island's many trading posts. Exusiai dusts off her hands for emphasis and gives Texas a sidelong glance. "The end of our shift! Right?"
"You better hope there wasn't anything fragile in there."
"It'll be fine. I'm pretty sure it's all a bunch of metal anyway." She watches the box get manoeuvred into the space in the wall, off to its next destination. "We got paid, so it doesn't really matter. The point is, we're free!"
Exusiai practically skips out the door, her wings shining, dancing shards of light even in the fluorescent shine of the facility. She waves at the incoming operators scheduled for the next slot and doesn't look back.
Her partner is used to this sort of spontaneity by now. Texas wordlessly follows her all the way to the exit of the landship, passing through several corridors before they finally step onto the evening streets of Lungmen.
"You're weirdly excited to go home." 'Home' currently meaning one of the few unscathed safehouses they have on the fringes of the city. "What happened to moping about how boring it is there?"
"I'm not going home!"
"...Hm? But the van…"
"Don't worry, we'll be taking it anyway. You aren't doing anything else after this, are you?" Exusiai throws the question over her shoulder. Her eyes are bright, but fail to completely conceal her nervousness.
"Yeah, but you didn't have to phrase it like that."
"I didn't mean it that way! Just… you're free to come with me, then?"
She stops completely and turns on her heel to face Texas. The latter looks away from those damned puppy dog eyes, instead focusing on a street sign up ahead.
"Yes." Her right ear flicks. "Uh, where are we going?"
"On a date!"
The wolf's attention snaps back to the angel almost instantly. Exusiai clarifies needlessly: "The romantic type."
She presses on despite Texas' flummoxed expression, albeit more tentatively. "...Surprise?"
"...Eh?"
"It would be really embarrassing if I remembered this wrong, but…" Exusiai cocks her head to the side, her halo tilting along with it. "I believe I promised to take you out after Boss stopped swamping us with work. At some point in the past."
"That I can recall."
Some point in the past — when she'd realized what her feelings really were. There are so many words to say; all of them are too cheesy, and none of them are going to come out right. Texas is inclined to just keep her mouth shut instead. Not that anything will keep Exusiai from seeing right through her, though. She clears her throat. "...Well, uh, I accept." What do people even say in this situation? "Lead the way."
"You could at least try to express some of your excitement!" Exusiai's tone is complaining, but she's smiling all the way through. "This would be way more swoon-worthy."
"If I said anything else you'd never let me live it down."
"Exactly —"
Exusiai's crushed in an embrace that she reciprocates as soon as her surprise wears off. There's a slight breeze against her legs as Texas' tail swishes back and forth, but she doesn't point it out for the wolf's sake.
Instead, though, she whispers: "Your heart's beating so fast."
Texas releases her and holds her at arm's length. That stupid(ly cute) grin is still plastered across her face. "Stop saying things I already know," the wolf says, putting on a scowl, "and let's go already."
"Okay, okay! We're going!" Exusiai holds up both hands and whirls on her heel, bounding a few metres forward before throwing back a final question. "...You're not even going to question where I'm bringing you?"
"Where haven't we been in Lungmen? I'll be able to guess from miles away."
"I was kind of hoping you'd say something like 'no, I'd follow you anywhere.' I mean, you implied that already, but —" She sees the look on Texas' face and gives up. "Right. Fastest route. It'll be fifteen minutes, tops."
The Penguin Logistics company van is easy to spot in the car park nearby. Exusiai holds her hand out for the keys which are reluctantly handed over and gets into the driver's seat.
"Two hundred and fifty-eight tickets last month," says Texas from beside her. "Took like a tenth of my pay."
"Mine too, you know." Exusiai starts the engine. An Emperor bobblehead stares at them from the dashboard. "Think I can beat that record?"
"Don't even think about it."
*
They are just about fifteen blocks away from the destination when the route starts to feel very, very familiar.
Texas rolls down her window and wind rushes in. She pokes her head out for good measure.
"This is —"
"Shh."
"— the way to —"
"Yes, it is! Just hold on!"
Tires trundle on asphalt next to stalls lining the streets, passers-by mingling in the midst. Texas retreats back into the car interior and obediently waits for the journey to run its course.
Before long, Exusiai pulls into their usual lot. The night air is cold. She fishes for keys in her pockets.
In front of them is a bar. Their bar.
It's been closed for… "renovations", for a while now, but the Logistics members still come by regularly to enjoy what reserves of stock there are left behind the counter.
The two themselves were last here less than a week ago, together with the rest of them. Kind of strange to be here without the group, really. Texas finds herself disproportionately nervous as Exusiai unlocks the door and flicks on the lights. The air conditioner's switched on for good measure.
"Well," she says, sounding sheepish and maybe even a little apologetic, "Welcome to our date night."
"It's a nice place," says Texas, genuinely. The booths are still pristine, if just a bit dusty, and the room is all the more spacious when it's just them here. They move to the counter by force of habit. Neither of them bartend much — it's usually a task both Sora and Croissant are more eager to take — but this time Exusiai finds herself on the other side.
"I always thought so too. No wonder we raked in the revenue from this place. Used to, anyway."
"How'd you make sure we'd be alone?"
Exusiai pours her a glass and sets it on the counter. "I told Boss, of course. He said, I always knew you girls had something going on, I just didn't know what. Fine, we'll all scram for the evening, but don't mess any of my shit up. You can use the mixtapes on my chair for background music though."
"I'm not sure if I'm more upset about the first part or the last part." The drink washes off a good amount of Texas' embarrassment, but not enough. She puts it back down with a sigh. "Also, your Emperor impression is terrible."
"I know!" She smiles in a way that makes Texas want to do the same. The tension in the latter's shoulders dissipates. "That's the point."
"... Are you going to put on his music?"
"Only with the volume turned down." Her smile turns mischievous as she makes herself her own drink. "That way I can hang onto your every word even when completely smashed."
"Exusiai."
"Kidding. I'll never forget that time I woke up hungover in the van with you brooding in the driver’s seat. Did you know you’re hot when you’re mad?"
Texas flushes despite herself. "That was ages ago. Can't believe you still remember."
"Mm-hmm. A lot has happened since then. ...Like us!"
The wolf rolls her eyes, but doesn't reject the fingers that move to intertwine with hers. "It doesn't feel all that different, to be honest."
"I can only assume that's because we were practically dating already."
"You know that's not true. The, uh… logistics were difficult."
"Because of you, ice queen. You should thank me for taking one for the team and forcing your hand." Exusiai squeezes said appendage on cue, then releases it. "What's that trope? A deathbed confession?"
"Don't joke about that," Texas snaps. The harrowing memories of that event flash through her mind, blood and steel and broken angels. "I was genuinely worried about you. It could've turned out much worse."
"Yeaaah… Well, that's all history now!" She's quiet for a moment. "...Sorry. I know this is all quite sudden."
"We did agree we didn't have to figure it out all so fast." Etching out a new life in Lungmen had been tricky enough. Throwing a love life into the mix was not the best idea.
Though their work was all about questionable decisions. And there were definitely less worthwhile risks to take.
(We have all the time in the world. As long as you keep protecting me.
As long as we keep protecting each other.
...Yeah. That makes more sense.)
"You kept staring at me so hopefully every time we were alone, I had to do something."
"...I did?"
"And I also felt pretty bad for you having to keep watch over my poor recuperating self. That was a lot of sleepless nights, wasn't it?"
"What was I supposed to do? Leave you alone?"
"Could've just left me with someone else. Even for just a day." Her eyes sparkle. "I understand, though. I know you just can't let me out of your sight."
"Even more so after that incident."
"But hey! Good news is I haven't been brutally injured ever since! Aren't you proud of me?"
Texas has the urge to reach over and ruffle her hair. She tightens her grip on her glass instead. "Don't look to me for approval. I think you know you've greatly improved your marksmanship.'"
"Hehe." Exusiai hums happily, not in that practised joviality of her work, but in what shows up in only the best tranquil moments with her. "You know, I'm so glad I can finally do this. Properly."
"'This'?"
"Spend time with you, silly."
The obvious rebuttal comes to Texas' mind — that they always do spend time together, on the road and in the field. But of course, it's different now.
"...Me too."
*
"So? How do I compare?"
An unknown amount of time has passed. Temporal dilation is common when they're together. Comfortable silences stretch long and conversations turn to heartfelt ramblings. On Exusiai's part, anyway. Texas just listens intently.
"To what?"
"To… other…" Exusiai's conviction falters, which hasn't happened yet so far in the night. "Wait — Tex, this isn't your very first date, is it? Like ever?"
Texas blinks. This was unexpected. "Err… it depends on how you define 'date.'"
Maybe she did go out with a certain someone once, or twice, or fifteen times — but they were not the sort of events normal people would classify as such. Texas doesn't think anything that has even remotely to do with murder counts as a date, in the general sense anyway.
"Now you're just avoiding the question."
"I think you know why."
They share a look.
"Honestly, I thought you'd have more experience with this," Exusiai says. Her tone is playful, not mocking. "I mean, you're definitely not the romantic sort, but you seem like the type of girl to have multitudes of suitors falling at your feet."
"I did have that," Texas admits. "...But let's just say they were falling for all the wrong reasons."
"What, like instead of courting you, they courted the business end of your swords?"
She takes a pointed sip of her drink and slowly nods. Exusiai winces sympathetically.
"...Texas…"
"What?"
"You're so morbid sometimes."
"I don't want to lie to you." She takes another, longer pull. "To be fair, I suspect pretty much all of them were getting close to me to further their own position."
"All of them? Really?"
"...Almost."
"Oh."
Exusiai leans across the bar between them so their faces are inches from each other. "Well, let me assure you I'm not here with any ulterior motives."
"I am aware of that." Texas hopes the light from the angel's halo reveals none of the blush on her face. "I trust you with my life."
Their gazes meet for a long moment. "I don't even need to say it back, do I?"
Two, three heartbeats. Texas looks away and lets go of the breath she'd been holding. "Did you have any plans beyond taking me out to a bar we technically already own?"
"A date doesn't have to be some grand event!" Exusiai retreats from her position and perches back on her barstool. "I thought we could play videogames on the TV, just like old times…"
"Just like we did a few days ago?"
She sticks her tongue out. "It's different because we have the whole place to ourselves."
"Yeah, I guess." Texas pretends to be unimpressed but ends up repressing a smile instead. "What are you waiting for, then?"
She hops off her seat and moves toward the corner with their set-up; console, couch, coffee table that should be piled with snacks. Exusiai fires up the slightly-dated television before squeezing herself next to the wolf in the middle of the cushions.
"There's a lot of space on the side, you know."
"I know." The angel yanks two controllers out from the bottom of the table and hands one over. She rests her head on Texas' shoulder — the halo brushing the latter is surprisingly room-temperature. "I just like sitting here."
"Don't get in my way."
"Wouldn't dream of it." Faded arcade music plays over the speakers. Exusiai nestles even closer. "I'm winning this time — fair and square."
*
Texas wakes up suddenly on full alert. She blinks against the lights overhead.
This isn't her bed. Where is she? Why —
She notices the peacefully snoring Exusiai practically wrapped around her left side — one hand still holding onto a controller with a game end screen in front of them — and relief floods through her. The long day must have been more tiring for their bodies than they thought.
And then she's shot with a completely different type of adrenaline. Right. The date.
But she can't move now. She takes a glance at the television again. Eleven rounds with a near-perfect win record. Seventh round was the one where Exusiai had experimentally reached to touch her ears and made her car veer off course because it felt too good — but naturally she couldn't say that as an excuse. Not to mention the angel's joy at winning was also too heartwarming to destroy. So that was Texas' first loss in a long time.
Come to think of it, the fact that Exusiai kept challenging her to games at all after losing so spectacularly every round had probably been an early sign.
"T-e-x-a-s —"
She snaps out of her reverie to find Exusiai blinking sleepily up at her. "What are you thinking about?"
"Nothing."
"You're smiling though."
Whoops. "Uhh…" Time for a diversion.
Texas asks a question that's been bugging her ever since their moment at the bar counter. "Quick question. Will anything weird happen if I come between your head and your halo?"
Exusiai thinks for a moment on how to explain Sankta anatomy and eventually gives up out of laziness. "I dunno. But by all means, stroke my hair if you want to."
So she does. Exusiai settles against her and sighs contentedly. Texas is not used to being tender in any way, but she tries her best not to rough up those beautiful red locks. And it works, she thinks — her angel's eyelashes are beginning to flutter closed.
"Hey. Don't fall asleep again. I'll be lonely."
"You'll be lonely? Did I hear that right?"
"Not the point."
"Hmph… What was — Oh right! We have one more stop!" Exusiai sits up now, reluctantly dislodging herself from Texas, eyes shining brightly once again. "The streets outside. Specifically the street food!"
"Street food, huh?"
Exusiai continues, "You're always going to those Siracusan restaurants round the corner. Thought you might like to try something new."
"...You noticed."
"Yeah." She turns more serious. "I know what it's like. I used to spend so much time ruminating on my life in Laterano. Do you remember?"
"I think so." When they were both new to the job, fresh hires both from afar, Exusiai kept to herself a lot more. It's practically a miracle they didn't just stay out of each others' paths forever. "And now…"
She hits Texas with another dazzling smile. "Now I've fully explored the broad tastes of Lungmen streetside cuisine. So trust me when I say I'm taking you on a journey."
"O-kay."
"Really!"
*
There are all sorts of finballs and skewers and baos surprisingly still being sold at this late hour. Texas has to admit she has learnt quite a bit over the course of Exusiai's gushings. And it is rather nice to have a change of pace beyond apple pies.
More importantly, Exusiai diligently gauging her reactions and being wholly excited about bringing her everywhere is the cutest thing she's ever seen.
Their final stop is dessert.
"This is kind of a lot for supper —"
Exusiai silences her by gently stuffing a piece of glutinous rice cake into her mouth. Its peanut filling is sugary, but keeps its substance all the same.
"...Mm," Texas scowls as she chews, "Hmm? Hrm."
"It's good?"
"Yes." She takes another one.
"I knew it. You always had such a sweet tooth."
Texas allows herself a smile. “I developed a taste for you only recently, though."
"Wha — Hey!" Exusiai’s wings flutter rapidly. Score one for Texas. "Who are you and what have you done with the real Tex?!"
"I'm just trying to keep up. Am I doing something wrong?"
"No, you're just learning faster than I thought." She thoughtfully chews on her own piece of dessert. "...So how recent is 'recently'?”
"Maybe… a year ago? Ten months?” Texas can’t even remember how long she’s been working for Penguin Logistics and how long it’s been since they met. “I don’t know for sure.”
“That’s still a long time to wait.”
“Maybe I just didn’t know I had to say anything."
Exusiai huffs. "Good point. But now you have to compensate."
"Me? You're the second person in this —"
She grabs hold of the hand closest to hers and strokes its back with her thumb. The skin is lightly nicked with past accidental cuts built up over the course of their work. "You can't let go for the rest of this date."
Texas draws in a breath without realizing but quickly recovers and feigns disdain. "Is this seriously why you made me take off my gloves when we left?"
"Worth it, isn't it?"
She says nothing in response but squeezes Exusiai's hand back in turn. It's soft and warm and everything she'd thought it'd be.
*
"Just a bit more…"
It's approaching the early hours of the morning. On the next street they turn into, Exusiai pulls her into an alleyway to their right, a solace from the still-bright lights and midnight stragglers of the streets. Texas sees nothing of interest inside.
"What are we here for?"
"I just know you wouldn't want it in public."
"Want it… in public?"
"I can't let this date end without a…" Exusiai puffs out her cheeks and her gaze flicks to the wall. "It's the last thing on my plan."
"Hm? ...Oh." It dawns on Texas all too late. A plan? Exusiai must have put more thought into this than she'd realized. She swallows her nervousness. "Huh. Isn't it supposed to be a third date kind of thing?"
Her words sound completely innocent. Exusiai laughs, genuinely, which is just about the brightest sound in the universe.
"Isn't our whole thing that rules are made to be broken?"
"That… is true." Texas has unconsciously cornered her against the wall. Oh no.
No more thinking. She hopes her canines won't be in the way, because experience tells her they can be pretty sharp.
Exusiai's halo illuminates them both as Texas — Wait.
Double oh no.
"Wrong angle," she says quietly. Their noses are almost touching. "Let me try this again."
"Sure," says Exusiai, who's now grinning so widely Texas' teeth hurt in sympathy. She couldn't be happier. "Here, I'll help."
At least one of them seems to know what they're doing.
The two meet properly in the middle this time. Exusiai kisses her gently but passionately and Texas is utterly wrapped up in her nimble hands — or hand. That "compensation" is yet to be completely paid for.
Their surroundings melt away as they figure out more ways to do the same thing. It's surprisingly just like one of Sora's more generic pop songs. Lightning and butterflies and the whole lot.
"I love you," Texas says afterwards, still lost in a haze of elation. It just comes out. An accident, but she doesn't care.
"I see we are doing it for real this time," Exusiai teases. Their first confession was similarly unplanned, but, well, semantics.
"Say it," the wolf pouts. Maybe the loosened inhibitions brought on by the time of day are finally getting to her. "Say it back. Now."
"Alright," the angel concedes dramatically. "I — love — you — too."
"So choppy."
"Can't help it." Exusiai takes both her hands now. "I started getting — choked up."
"Aww..."
They stay there just basking in each other's presence for a while longer. For once, Exusiai is the one who reminds Texas of the time — and that, unfortunately, there's still work tomorrow.
But it's okay. Work is just seeing more of each other at this point.
*
(Texas comes back from a late-night delivery the next day and tells her, offhandedly: "Next time we're doing it in full view."
"...Are you trying to one-up all the other random couples doing PDA?"
"No. Of course not." She crumbles at Exusiai's piercing look. "...Fine, okay. Maybe."
"That's a yes!" A lightbulb goes off over the angel's head. An additional one. "Actually, wouldn't you agree that tonight's a good time for practice~?"
The wolf makes weak noises of protest as Exusiai leads her out the door again.)