Work Text:
"come on
come together
come on
come together"
To say you were a destructive force in Section 9 was an understatement. If no one knew any better, they'd assume you were sent there with the sole intention of destroying that entire department. It wasn't like you wanted to give all your superiors headaches. You just wanted to make things a bit flashier. Your initial training and studying while trying to become an agent in public security was filled with daydreams of all the cool things you'd finally be able to achieve. Not a second of your childhood, or teen years, or adulthood, wasn't filled with watching hours and hours of various SWAT and Action flicks. You so desperately wanted to feel that rush and glory, so you made that thrill for yourself. It got you in a hell of a lot of trouble though, and it's a miracle you were even a part of Section 9 still.
You were lucky to be backed by your friends, and workmates, Togusa and Batou. Despite your tornado of destruction that followed you, you were still an invaluable member of the department. What you lacked in self restraint, you made up for in results. Rarely did you ever miss a deadline, or complete an objective, it's just the method of attaining that victory was the biggest thorn in Motoko's side.
Your mentor, and love interest since day 1, Major Motoko Kusanagi, has probably never lost her cool in her entire career as much as she did with your 6 year tenure with Section 9. Other than wanting the adrenaline rush of chaos and action, all this showboating was also a way to try and get her attention. Whether that was successful or not, definitely was up for question, because she totally had her attention focused on you, but not in the way you really wanted. She was laser focused on all the fuck ups you left behind, and it drove her mad, and that's what happened again.
You were sitting in Motoko's office, and she was furious. Sitting across from you with a feverish anger in her. Her face was as stoic as ever, but you could tell she was trying not to snap at you. Once again, you went past the typical Section 9 protocols during a mission. You caused thousands of dollars in damages to various Tachikoma's with your recklessness. You can hear her muttering to herself while smashing the digits of her keyboard with her fingers.
"Idiot... Reckless Idiot..."
She typed away at her computer again, not wanting to even look at you.
"I swear. Next time it's really over. I don't know why everyone covers for you... I'm sick of it."
She mutters angrily at you, finally making eye contact. You've never seen such contempt from her before. You really pushed her buttons this time. You sit quietly for a few seconds, before meekly talking back, hoping to diffuse some of her anger.
"It was mainly cosmetic damages..."
Her eyes snap up from the screen, narrowing dangerously. Pure malice in her gaze.
"Cosmetic!? Do you think I only care about the price tag on those Tachikoma's? You could have killed someone! You could've killed yourself! Over theatrics!?"
She slams her fist on the desk, making you flinch slightly. That didn't seem to go over well...
A soft sigh leaves you as you decide to try again.
"Fine, sorry... It was just a bit of fun is all..."
That sentence hits her as if it was a direct punch to her gut. She looks absolutely mortified. She stands up abruptly, hands on her desk, as she leans closer to you.
"Do you have any idea what line of work you're in!? You're driving me insane! Fun!? Lives are at stake, and it's our job to make sure there's as little casualties as possible, and you're talking about fun!?"
Her voice reverberates through her small office as she absolutely loses her temper. She lets out a frustrated groan as she runs a hand through her hair. She sits back down with a loud 'thud'. A deep, low sigh leaves Motoko's lips as she gives up on trying to reason with you. Her voice spent.
"Just get out... I'll deal with all of this tomorrow..."
She mutters. Dismissing you completely. You stand and awkwardly leave. As you walk down the halls of the quiet building, you're already scheming ways to make it up to her. It's a deep thought process that loops around a few dozen times, before it finally hits you.
As if divine inspiration just hit for the first time, you rush through the Section 9 headquarters, making a direct line to the maintenance bay. This was going to be great.
____________________________________________________
Maybe it wasn't a miracle that you didn't get fired sooner. Maybe the real miracle is that Motoko didn't completely short circuit and explode from your antics first.
When you arrived to work the next day, it should've been an obvious indicator that you fucked up, again, by the way everyone was looking at you. The main hall practically went dead silent as you entered. The tension was thick, and it really set an eerie tone. You were about to just shrug it off and make your way to get some forensics work done, when you heard Motoko's boots loudly stomping towards you. In an instant, everyone averted their gaze, not wanting to watch the inevitable freakout that was going to occur.
"Y/N!"
She bellowed out, grabbing your arm. Motoko's grip was agonizing as she dragged you towards the garage. Shoving you inside, there was her Tachikoma. The one she so lovingly treated almost like a child, completely painted a bright neon purple. The Tachikoma let out a tiny mechanical whine, almost like a whimper.
"EXPLAIN THIS NOW!"
Motoko screamed at you. Making you wince. The engineers in the garage were tight lipped, not wanting to break the silence themselves.
You awkwardly tap your finger against your thigh, your eyes darting everywhere in the room just not to meet Motoko's furious gaze.
"...I thought you'd like it if I made it up to you for what I did yesterday by making your Tachikoma look nice...?"
The look that crosses her face transforms through what feels like a dozen emotions in the span of a few seconds. Confusion, awe, and then back to pure anger. She doesn't reply, just gripping her hair and letting out the most frustrated groan you've ever heard in your life.
Motoko furiously stomps away, not even elaborating further. She storms out of the garage, blowing past Togusa, who was watching the entire exchange in the doorway. He gives you a look of pity, before following after her.
____________________________________________________
An hour later, you're back in her office. She's glaring daggers at you from across her desk. Her breathing is slow and controlled as her eyes bore into yours.
A deep sigh escapes her as she buries her face in her hands. Her voice tired and defeated.
"Just tell me what goes on in that brain of yours that thinks any of this is acceptable. Please... Just help me understand how you think, if you even do that during all these stunts..."
You thought about it for a second. A decent stretch of silence permeated her office, before you just shrugged.
"I dunno. It just feels right to me, and I like you, so I want to impress you."
The expression that coats her face is of pure bewilderment. She just sputters, gesturing frantically.
"That's IT?"
Another groan.
"You couldn't just tell me that like a normal person!? You couldn't just be straightforward and ask me on a date?! You can risk your life and multiple others, but not do THAT?"
You just shrug again.
"Well... When you word it that way... It does sound pretty bad..."
She buries her face in her hands again, another exasperated sigh exiting her lungs.
You speak up again
"So... Would you want to?"
Shu drops her hands, looking at you, looking completely exhausted.
"Are you seriously asking me out after all of this? Really?"
You just shrug again, and then nod.
She rolls her eyes and sits back in her chair, eyeing you.
"You're Impossible..."