Work Text:
Sitting in the Boonboomgers’ base alone allowed for the gravity of the situation to set in fully. The Boonboomgers, Boondorio Boonderas included, went to rescue Byoon Diesel within seconds of receiving that message. In turn, that escalated to not only fighting Disrace, but going all the way to the moon to continue it too. She had faith they would make it, they all have exceeded her expectations so far after all, but worry creeped in as the minutes and hours ticked by.
It also led to more and more questions piling up in her mind. Since the secrets of Boondorio’s past had been revealed to her, she wondered how this related to the overall case of the ISA investigating him in the first place. If Hando and Meita knew, and Meita specifically was sent to investigate Boondorio, wouldn’t that mean…? No, that doesn’t line up with the timeline at all. Boondorio told them himself, didn’t he? Though if she were assigned to the Boonboomger case after this was originally handled by a different chain of command, why had they failed to provide her with any of their findings?
It was a shock to find out all this information but it was important in regards to the ongoing work.
And now that she’d gotten so close to the team over the course of her time working and watching them… it looped back around to making her concerned on a level that was certainly not professional.
So crying was justified for this reason and she kept thinking this later on when everyone returned. The slight shame of even being seen like this mixed with the relief that they were all safe looped around and around into a very long crying session on that couch while everyone took turns just... talking to her.
When she tried heading out for the night, too wary of the possibility that more tears might fall after she calmed down, she passed by Boondorio and Byoon Diesel.
“Heading out for the night, Miss Shirabe?” Boondorio asked.
She looked away. “Yes. I have to start on that report as soon as possible.”
“Aw, was hoping you could stick around for the rest of the party.”
“I’m sorry. If everything's to go as smoothly as possible, I need to get this report in quickly."
“It’s okay! After we get done with that questioning you mentioned we can do something!”
“As in… just the two of us?”
Shirabe blushed as she pictured the two of them walking hand in hand out of an interrogation room, out into the streets, and at a cute cafe Mira mentioned working at the she’d been meaning to check out.
Unfortunately it was a complete and utter conflict of interest! Besides, she saw how Boon-sa- Boondorio and Byoon Diesel looked at each other right now. Clearly there was something there that, even after all the recent confusion, has a higher chance of continuing to be a strong relationship compared to where she stood.
This didn’t mean she wasn’t going to try her best in advocating for the Boonboomgers. It’s just…
“Remember what our goal as an organization is,” she remembered Director Tokoyari saying while discussing the logistics of the possible inquest over the phone. “I don’t understand your personal interpretation of the Boonboomgers. That thinking will only cloud your judgment for situations like what you’ve told me.”
Shirabe said she understood and that she would try to maintain impartiality. The fact that she has to try so hard as of late to, let alone being called out for it, had her on edge.
Was that even true? Not too long ago she wasn't bothered about bottling up her undesirable feelings. Her parents, her teachers, her bosses, and her peers reactions to even the slightest glimpses of what could be summarized as "deviance" really taught her not to show it all. By following the rules and keeping her thoughts to herself, she could continue succeeding in life in the proper way no matter how empty her words and actions felt. However, she’d gotten so used to expressing every emotion around Boondorio and the other Boonboomgers by proxy that at some point it stopped feeling as apocalyptic.
It's a problem that affects her ability to perform her job as an ISA agent all the same. Yet...
Shirabe smiled as tears began rolling down her face again and said, “I hope we can too!”
Boondorio laughed. “Phew, you have no idea how less scary that makes this!”
Boondorio held his arms out… for a hug? A hug? He’s done that with the other Boonboomgers before, so this was very much not a big deal in the slightest, or at least it shouldn’t be!
Shirabe took a step back. No, she had to keep her distance if everything was to go well.
Yet when she saw Boondorio look down, start to lower his arms and say “Right, probably shouldn’t ru-”
“No, it’s fine!” Shirabe said louder than she meant to.
She then practically felt herself jump in the air as she wrapped her arms around Boondorio. After what felt like a second where he didn’t seem to register what just happened, he reciprocated as gently as possible.
Shirabe had many observations about how this hug went from an objective standpoint, a general societal standpoint, but all of it blurred into the overwhelming feeling of energy and warmth radiating from this hug.
When they let go of each other, Shirabe was still smiling.
Boondorio patted her on the shoulder. “Don’t wanna keep holding you up, so safe travels, Miss Shirabe!’
“Thank you…” she trailed off as she looked over at Byoon Diesel as he seemed to slide a notebook away. "Have a good night."
She started speed walking away, the banter between Boondorio and Byoon Diesel and the distant sound of Belora's music grew even more distant.
Later, when she settled down at her computer with the first cup of coffee of what was sure to be a long quiet night and early morning, it was hard to keep the colour out of the report.