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"Na~ , Shima-chan" Ibuki paused mid chew to reflect " I would like to properly date you".
Shima looked taken back from that sudden statement and could only reply with a "...what?"
Ibuki put down his ramen and chopticks on the tablet and inched closer to the other on the sofà.
“I mean, I think it's time. Don't you think so too?” He continued unperturbed, as if this speech were completely logical.
“What are you taking about? “Shima asked again, cheeks finally catching up with the mind as they turned bright red.
“Well, it has been a decent amount of time that we know each other...”
“What are you taking about? Do I look like a pretty girl to you?“ Shima interrupted pointing at his own face, agitated.
“Of course not Shima-chan! You are my partner, a very mainly one”. Ibuki declared with a smirk, but when he turned to look at the incredulous male next to him his eyes glistening dangerously "Why, is there any problem?"
Shima shivered. Sometimes Ibuki had this piercing gaze like an unstable person keeping check on theirself. He knew he was just an honest and very caring person deep inside but the glare was scary.
"Not for me, no" Shima tried to regain his composure by coughing briefly "But it didn't seem like you were interested in-" he stopped mid sentence.
...Didn't he?
Ibuki was waiting for him to process, quietly smiling while pouting. It was an expression only he could master like the sweet devil he was.
"I..." Shima was speachless for few seconds as his brain was being put on major workload, recalling their every interaction.
Ibuki smiled even more and turned back to eat his ramen seemingly unfazed. The only difference from before was that he was sitting very close to his partner and looking intently at him.
Shima couldn't honestly think Ibuki would joke about something like that; so that meant he was actually serious about it.
Did he notice a few details here and there about Ibuki wanting something more? Yes and no. He valued himself to have pretty good deductive thinking but the bias applied to him too as much as he tried to ignore them.
For a second in his mind flashed the memory of Ibuki meeting him close to Kikyou-san's apartment. The gentle yet persistent inquiry about them spending the night together and the last, happy sigh when he told him that nothing could ever happen between Shima and their chief.
He blinked and focused again on his partner on his side. Ibuki was recording every expression Shiba was making, from time to time turning his head on one side or the other much like a dog would do when unsure of his surroundings.
"I'm sorry I didn't see it, Ibuki"
"Mm? Oh don't worry about it Shima-chan" the now empty bowl was set aside. Shima's eyes lingered on ibuki's hand; long fingers delicately scrubbing the corner of the still chewing mouth.
"So, what do YOU want?" He asked simply instead.
Shima once again was stunned but the person Ibuki was. He was brutally honest, even about important things such as this. Ibuki loved his job, he would never jeopardize it by having a relationship with his work buddy just for kicks. No. He had to love him even more than the job that saved his life.
That was pretty deep.
So the question was on Shima. Did he like Ibuki? Yes of course. He couldn't say that openly but everyone knew that he admired his chaotic energy and kind soul.
Did he find him attractive? Also yes, so much so he often joked about him being a noodle. He had a thug's bravado, moved like a cat and had a remarkable runner physique.
Ibuki was an amazing mix. The running pants also couldn't Hide his-
"Shi~ ma-chan?" Ibuki's singsong voice interrupted his thoughts slowly turning VERY graphic.
Shima grunted, and rapidly blinked fixing his gaze on the other's.
"What? I'm thinking!"
"You were blushing again" Ibuki got closer to whisper close to his ear "Were you thinking naughty things?"
The blush deepened on the older policemen's face and Ibuki chuckled satisfied.
"I will not answer to that"
"Hai ha~i"
In that exact moment Jinba entered the office, telling them to get ready because they were moving towards a suspected aggression.
After the brief interruption, they stayed in silence for a few seconds more. Ibuki then proceeded to put back on his glasses and get up with a "Yoshaaa" of self encoragement, the important matter seemingly forgotten.
Shima knew it was a coping mechanism, so he grabbed his arm before the younger could get too far from him.
"Ibuki" he called him and made him turn to look back once more.
"Mmm?" he asked, seemingly unfazed by the bomb he just dropped.
The touch lingered, and with a embarassed cough Shima manager to say "I would like that too"
The smile that received back from that statement was something so precious in his mind that his stomach filled with a million butterflies.
Ibuki nodded and used the leverage on the hand that stopped him to put a quick kiss on its back.
“Let's go, aibou”.