Work Text:
Click click click click.
Operations Leader Okonogi walked through hall at a moderate pace, the heels of her boots striking the floor with feigned confidence. She'd donned her formal uniform today, for it was time to welcome more new recruits to the Third Division. Said uniform consisted of a double-breasted military coat and pants... if you were a man. The women wore similar outfits, only their coats were lengthened to pass as what one could technically call a dress. Instead of pants they were provided black thigh-high stockings, and bringing the whole outfit together were a pair of ankle boots. Three inch heeled ankle boots.
Click click click click.
She was quite familiar with the clicking of her keyboard, but the clicking of heels was another matter. The woman rarely wore anything higher than an inch if she could help it. Under most circumstances, three inches was nothing impressive. She knew this, logically speaking. But for Okonogi Konomi - short as she was - the difference of being three inches farther from the ground was disorienting to say the least.
She needed to re-calibrate.
Click click click click.
Back and forth she walked along the empty hallway, getting a feel for the rarely-worn footwear. It was like training. Very solider-like of her! So she'd love to think, were her uniform not so very sensual. What purpose did the stockings serve, save to be a constant annoyance in how they dared to slip from her thighs and reveal even more skin? Why a pencil skirt, when it was so restrictive??
Irritation quickly turned to vigor, and vigor to carelessness.
Click click CLACK—
She's made a misstep. Konomi knows it the instant her foot hits the floor, and she knows that in milliseconds the rest of her will be hitting it too. She makes a hopeless attempt to steady herself anyways - arms outstretched in search of balance even as her body continues on its downward trajectory. The woman squeezes her eyes shut in defeat, head turning slightly to avoid a complete face plant. If she could just protect her glasses th-
-ump.
What Konomi collides with is decidedly not the floor.
Her hands find purchase immediately, fingers digging into something distinctly fabric-like. Underneath the familiar acrylic texture is a firm mass of warmth and comfort. She sinks against it all too quickly, muscles unwinding in relief after landing on something safe.
No - someone safe. The sudden grip on her shoulders makes the distinction clear.
"Whoa there, Okonogi-chan! You alright?" The words are spoken with an unmistakable Kyoto accent.
Okonogi grasps the situation instantly, not unlike how Vice Captain Hoshina was grasping her right now. He must have arrived just in time to see her slip - lovely. And now here she was clinging to him like some clumsy fool.
"M'okay sir," she begins, lifting her face from the man's shoulder. "I was just..."
Konomi's throat tightens as Soshiro looks down to meet her eyes, for his face is so very close to hers now. Closer than she would ever be under normal circumstances. A whole three inches closer in fact.
Damn, stupid, wonderful heels—
"You were just...?"
"P-practicing!"
Okonogi detaches from her superior officer with a sputter, smoothing out her skirt and stockings to avoid looking at him for a time. She needed to at least appear composed.
In stark contrast to her quick retreat, Hoshina's hands linger. With the suspicious squint he's giving her, Konomi thinks he must doubt her ability to stay upright. Why else would he trail his fingers down her arms so carefully? Why else would his palms cup her elbows with enough delicacy to make her knees weak? See! He was right to doubt her.
The Vice Captain's hands leave her too soon at last, coming to rest on his hips in a dubious fashion.
"Practicin' what, somersaults?"
Okonogi frowns at the remark, adjusting her glasses slightly to bring the source of her displeasure into focus.
Hoshina was in formal uniform today as well - in his nice, practical Mens' uniform that wasn't weirdly sexy at all. No. Just effortlessly sexy, curse it all. Having him make jokes at her expense while looking like that was unfair.
"Walking." She declares firmly, as though it were admirable instead of embarrassing. "As, ah - as I'm sure you've noticed, I'm not exactly great with heels. I wanted to warm up a bit before the ceremony started."
Soshiro lets out a little hum. Whether it's in agreement of her need to practice or a simple acknowledgment that she's said something is unclear. Konomi continues to wait for some kind of retort as his gaze travels down to her feet, then back up her legs, and...
His eyes never quite reach hers.
...
......?
"Sir??"
Hoshina blinks, as if just remembering where he was. He slowly pulls on a grin before looking her in the eye again.
"Sorry, dear. I was just thinking what a treat it is to see you in the mini-skirt an' thigh-highs this time of year."
Operations Leader Okonogi lets out an alarmed squeak, hands flying her exposed legs. "Stop that! I know it doesn't suit me, alright!?"
She could already feel her cheeks reddening to a shameful degree. This was just like him - pretending to flirt while poking fun at her. Konomi shoots him warning glare. She was in no mood for this game.
Soshiro's brow furrows in confusion, for there was no game. "C'mon now - there ain't a girl alive who doesn't look good in thigh-highs."
"Except for me, is that what you're saying?"
"What!?" The Vice Captain throws up his hands, gesturing at something intangible to get his words across. "No! I'm just saying you look good in 'em! Sexy even!!"
"Ha, ha. Very funny, sir."
Hoshina wilts slightly as she turns to leave, stricken by her blunt tone as if it were a weapon.
Click click click-
"Okonogi-chan, wait... just hang on a sec...!"
click click click click click click click-
Despite his pleas, Hoshina finds himself outpaced.
Konomi struts out of sight with newfound speed and grace, fueled by the incorrect assumption that Vice Captain Hoshina is just being his usual sarcastic self (because he certainly wouldn't be flirting with her in earnest.)
Somewhere down the hall, the clicking of her heels mixes with the sound of Soshiro banging his head against the wall.