Work Text:
"I've got good news. We're off this weekend."
Shuichi's voice rang out as he walked through their shared office.
Jodie continued to work on her computer, oblivious to the fact that his smile was so wide the corners of his mouth almost reached his ears. She didn't answer, even when he called her name. It was a good thing the computer monitor blocked Shuichi's view, and he couldn't see how she fought an unknown force that was strongly shaping her lips into a wide grin. Only when she heard him sigh did she respond.
"Which means...?" she asked, pretending to be in total contrast to his excitement.
"Which means it's about time we do it."
"I must have forgotten, but I think I'm gonna get my period by that time."
"It doesn't matter."
"It does. I wouldn't feel comfortable."
Shuichi leaned against the backrest of his chair, fidgeting with a pen in his dominant hand, looking at the top of her blonde head from across his desk. "Jodie... Don't try to elude me."
Jodie peeked at him from behind her computer monitor and chuckled at the smug grin on his face.
"Shu..."
"Do I have to remind you that the FBI's video game master just lost by twenty-four points because she picked the wrong opponent? It's time to accept it, Jodie. I killed more zombies than you. And as we agreed, we will do it. So this Saturday, you are going to give me my prize." He got up from his seat and walked over to her. He sat at the corner of her desk, one leg dangling over. "Seriously, Jodie, I'm thrilled to bits. I'm looking forward to doing it with you."
The blonde typed in a few words before finally saving the file and shutting down her computer. "That much?" she asked, her brown eyebrows raised in fine arches.
The black-haired man nodded. "Yeah, that much," he answered, taking her hand. "I told you, it's only natural for first-timers like you to get scared. But I assure you, it will be fun, and it's totally safe. Besides, they say that you should have trust in your partner when you do it. I believe you trust me, don't you?"
Jodie smirked. "Of course, more than anyone else. And also, Shu, I'm not scared. It's just that I've never done something as extreme as that before. Well, I didn't know I had fallen in love with an adventurous person."
"We all have our first times. And I know how you must feel because I've been through that myself when I did it for the first time."
"How many times have you done it?" she ventured.
"Only twice; both times have been here in New York. First, when I was 20, and still a student during summer vacation. One day, I got extremely bored. I turned on the TV to watch a movie, and I saw a scene about that thing. I thought, 'Why not try it?' Second, it was two years ago. I had just started working for the FBI back then. I had been partnered with a senior agent who made me wait for ages before I could finally handle a case. At that time, my everyday life as an agent had been all about writing reports, running from one office to another, and hanging out at the shooting range. I had been really bored during that period, and one day, I just felt like doing it again."
"Wow, you've done it out of boredom?" Jodie asked, amused. "Have you done it with a partner or in a group?"
"I've done it solo. I have always liked to do things by myself, Jodie. But that was before," he said, intertwining their fingers and resting their hands on his lap. With his other hand, he reached out to caress her cheek, which was now flushed with the brightest shade of red. "Everything has changed since you came."
Indeed, he had always been alone. He had only been fifteen years old when he went to America and began to live on his own. His family stayed in Japan, and he had met them only once when he returned to the home country of his father. It was summer vacation, and for the first time in seven years, he wanted to spend some time with them. There, he met his little sister for the first time, his younger brother, who had grown into a teenager, and his beautiful yet grim-looking mother, who initially opposed his decision to join the FBI. She had reproached her firstborn for asking too much, rubbing it in his face for choosing to live oceans away from them instead of staying by their side and being a father figure to his two younger siblings since their father had gone missing for many years. The argument between mother and son had been so intense that it had come to the point where they traded physical blows, leaving him with a wound under his left eye, which he tried to cover up with sunglasses. In the end, he managed to convince his mother, as he was determined to investigate his father's disappearance and believed that he was still alive since his body hadn't yet been found.
When he returned to America, he continued his studies—more resolute than ever to reach his goal after gaining his mother's blessing. He would have pursued joining the bureau anyway, even if she disagreed. But it was much better that there was no resentment between them.
He had made friends, but the number could be counted on fingers. He went out with them, but only occasionally, for the sake of his peace, because they wouldn't stop banging on his door until he agreed to come. He had always preferred staying in his apartment, watching FBI movies and reading books. When he was finally able to buy his own vehicle, a Chevrolet C-1500, with his hard-earned money as an agent, he began to love driving alone, finding comfort and peace in doing so. Despite being alone, he lived a quiet and peaceful life. Then Jodie came along.
He had asked the heavens above why he had been given a partner who didn't know when and how to keep quiet. She was never short of words. She was, no doubt, an intelligent person who always had coherent speech, but she just wouldn't stop talking. There had been times when Shuichi just wanted to cover his ears with his hands when they were together, but he was kind enough to consider his partner's feelings. She would surely get embarrassed, and it might affect their partnership if he did that, especially that she was at the tender age of twenty-three.
Months had passed, and he had gotten used to her nagging, although it gradually decreased over time because he had told her once that he loved working in peace. One day, when Jodie caught a fever and had to call in sick, that was when Shuichi realized that it was not the same anymore when she was not around. When he was alone at the office, he imagined her sitting at her desk and smiling at him. In his head, he could hear her voice, her laughter, and even the clattering of her heels. On the third day of her absence, Shuichi went over to her apartment to pay her a visit and brought her food. They spent the evening getting to know each other as the casual and friendly conversation escalated and turned into an exchange of trivia about their lives. Since then, they became more comfortable with each other. He started inviting her out for a walk, a drive, and a cup of coffee at any newly opened coffee shop, regardless of the distance.
As time passed, their relationship continued to bloom. Jodie had experienced her first kiss, and Shuichi had finally felt the enjoyment of having company.
"Say, do you really want to do it with me?" Jodie asked, her big blue eyes shining as she felt a sense of belonging.
"I wouldn't have intentionally won our little tournament and asked for it as my prize if I didn't," Shuichi answered.
——
With his palm, Shuichi thoughtfully wiped the beads of sweat that had formed on his girlfriend's forehead. He smiled at her mockingly, for which he earned a punch to his abdomen in return.
The truth was, Jodie had been excited to try new things with her boyfriend. She had just been a bit playful by pretending that she was on the fence about whether to do it or not. Even her claim about getting her period was a lie. Of course, she wanted to do it. But now, as she looked around her surroundings, she became nervous. She had been instructed on what to do and had watched others do it before her, but her chest just wouldn't stop pounding. And yet, she didn't want to back out.
She grabbed the collar of Shuichi's shirt and looked him in the eye. "Listen, Shu, promise me that you will hold my hand until we're done, okay? If you let go, even for just a split second, I swear... I'll make you pay for it. I... I will not talk to you for a week. No, for a month. Or better yet, I will ask James to transfer me to another department and give you a new partner who is as lazy as you are in writing reports. I... I will..."
Jodie looked at him in irritation when he began to laugh, his low and rough voice wafting through the air.
Suddenly, his lips were on hers.
"You talk too much, Jodie," Shuichi said when he broke the kiss. He took her hands and held them tightly. "I will hold not just your hands, but you. Let's do it."
Jodie spent the next minute of her life screaming at the top of her lungs, her adrenaline rushing, while Shuichi didn't let go of her, as he promised.
An overwhelming feeling of accomplishment hit her when they were done. For Shuichi, although it wasn't his first time, he really did enjoy doing it with her.
"See? I told you it would be fun. Did you enjoy it?" he asked, grinning at her.
"Absolutely! We should do this again next time," she exclaimed and gave him a hug. "Thank you, Shu."
"For what? For winning against you in the video game that brought us here?" he asked jokingly.
She smiled at him. "For coming into my life. I've always been alone, like you. You changed everything. My life was dull, and you gave color to it."
Shuichi nodded, returning the smile.
Later that night, Jodie brought out her newly bought photo album and filled the pockets with her and Shuichi's photos taken during their bungee jumping experience that day—her first time.