Hmmm...! Well, I guess if you really want to, I might as well let you.
[ Said with a biiiiiig dramatic sigh as if she's the one doing Aki a favour here... but truth be told, she's looking forward to it. She'll probably get a lecture from the makeup artist next time she's in work about drying out her skin with long baths (not that Ai has any idea how she can tell) but it'll be more than worth it.
The hand poking his cheek drifts up and gently strokes his bangs back from his face before settling there, her fingers stroking lazy lines through his hair. Anytime she can get Aki to unwind a little is always a success in her book. ]
But right now, you have to let me look after you, okay? [ Her smile turns a little cheeky. ] No buts!
[ Tilting his head, Aki rests his face against the warm touch of her hand, letting his eyes close. It's gentle and intimate, and would be even if they were fully clothed, with her curled around him. It's rare that he lets his hair down for too long, rare that he can calm down after a day at work without a drink or a cigarette, but she inspires it.
Yeah, but you're sneaky. If I let my guard down, you'll sweep me right off my feet before I can stop you.
[ He's already doing a good job of it — when Aki gets cuddly like this, that's when she thinks he's cutest. It's definitely a little selfish of her but part of her is greedily glad that it's a sight only she gets to enjoy, the same way Aki's the only one who gets to see her unvarnished and unpolished. ]
Turn around, okay? [ Before he can pull back, she presses a kiss to the crest of his cheek and then shifts forward herself to give him a little extra room. ] I'll do your hair first, then your back.
[ Rolling his eyes, Aki allows her to boss him around - he always does - and shifts to turn his body. It's a little awkward to manoeuvre himself in the bath, but since she's the one asking, he'll do it. Ai can get him to do almost anything, and there's no denying the fact that he's mostly happy to do it.
When she's ready, he leans back towards her, closing his eyes. She likes seeing him with his hair down, so this must be fun for her as well, to see him relaxed and at her mercy. ]
I'm always gentle...! You don't think I'd bully you, do you?
[ She would and she has and she will. Absolutely guilty as charged.
For now, though, her touch is gentle. She scoops water up into her hands and rather than soaking him, she slowly strokes her hands through his hair to wet it, fingers carefully working over his scalp. Not just anyone gets to touch Aki like this and if she's one of the few who's allowed, she's going to take that privilege seriously. ]
Is this gentle enough? [ her voice is low and just a little teasing. ] The last thing I want is to end up picking on you by accident.
Only when you were in the mood to get me to do something.
[ Which is a gentle, tender kind of bullying, the sort that he can tolerate. It's markedly different from how Power or Denji might treat him, which definitely crosses the line into bullying. Ai can get him to do a lot of things he doesn't want to admit to, but that's a risky thing to say aloud.
Leaning back, he sighs softly, closing his eyes and relaxing into her touch. It feels like heaven after a long work day, and her voice is soft and calming. ]
Hmm. When you say it like that, it makes me kind of want to bully you a little anyway.
[ As if that wasn't her plan, anyway. But for now, she'll be nice — her touch is gentle and slow, easing down his scalp and down the back of his neck. Even as relaxed as he'd been before, his shoulders had been all wound up with tension but it's slowly unwinding its way out of him. It's good to see — the last thing he needs is to hold onto however much stress he goes through once he's out of work.
Once she's satisfied his hair's wet enough, she lathers up her hands with some shampoo and gets to scrubbing with that as well, still careful and tender. ]
I was a little tempted to use some of mine on you, you know. Then you'd have to go into work smelling like my girly shampoo.
[ Not that Aki minds her brand of bullying, necessarily, since he adores her just the way she is. She can poke and prod at him and draw out all the parts of him, make him softer and happier. She is sweet, and kind, and she takes care of him in a way that no one else has never wanted to do before. Maybe Aki can accept his happiness, if she's the one giving it to him.
Leaning back, he groans softly, the pleasure of a simple hair wash a delight. ]
I already smell like your other products. I don't care.
[ Oh, she doesn't have to, sure - but where's the fun in that? Aki's the only one she gets to poke and play around with like this, after all. And she feels pretty confident in saying it's the same in reverse for him, too. ]
I guess you probably do at this point, huh... I guess it's a good job we've basically give up on keeping things that secret. Otherwise, you'd be having to come up with a new excuse every week for why you were coming into the office smelling like strawberry milk lotion and body spray.
[ His hair's all lathered by this point, but she keeps coming her fingers through. Her thumbs slowly work down the back of his scalp and follow the lines of tension down the nape of his neck. ]
You're still a little wound up. [ Her voice has softened a little - tender more than teasing. ] Was it really bad today?
[ It's a sign that Ai is comfortable around him, that she trusts him to be herself and let her guard down, and he likes that. Aki likes the way that she can say what's in her heart, admits to what is going on, asks for what she wants - and offers it immediately. He's trying to do the same in return, to let himself be as bared and open to her as he possibly can.
It's not easy for him, but... He's working on it. He'll get there, sharing the way he feels more openly as time goes on. ]
Everyone knows I'm seeing someone. I just haven't said who it is that I'm dating.
[ Tilting his head back, he hums a little, eyes closed. ]
It was just like any other day. I fought, I won, I came home.
[ Aki really is tough, huh. It's not like she ever forgets - how could she, when she worries every day about the work he does - but it really does take a special kind of someone to come home from fighting Devils and treat it like any other day at the office. Ai for sure couldn't ever do it. ]
See? What did I tell you? You're sneaky. [ Her playful grin colours her voice just a little. ] But that's fine by me. Stuff like this...
[ The slow circular motions of her fingertips work their way a little further down his neck to his shoulders too. ]
I want it to be just for the two of us.
[ They both serve up so much of themselves to everyone else, after all. It's only right that they should be allowed to have something exclusively their own. ]
[ Aki hasn't had enough experience of any other kind of happiness to really think of much beyond his work being a reason; he can get vengeance, he can pay back the death of his family, he can leave Ai and Denji and Power a little bit of something to make sure they're taken care of. For all that their deaths have little meaning, devil hunters tend to get good retirement funds.
Groaning softly, he sinks lower into the water. ]
It is. Just ours.
[ Ai has him, heart and soul, but he's not sure how to tell her about it. It's too heavy a weight on his shoulders, knowing how little time he has left to continue to survive. ]
Aki's always straightforward with her. That'd been one of the very first things about him that she'd liked - that she could trust me meant the things he said when he said them, that she didn't have to comb through his words for some implied meaning or that she was expected to just know the things he felt and thought without Aki ever actually telling her. Maybe other people can do that, but Ai can't. She's never been able to. So someone like Aki... it's a relief to know that when Aki tells her things, she can rely on them to be true.
So maybe she shouldn't be surprised to hear that in the least. She and Aki are together because it makes them happy to be that way, after all. Why else would any couple get together? It's just...
Hearing him say it so straightforwardly sort of makes her want to cry. ]
... I'm glad.
[ The water shifts suddenly, threatening to spill over the edge of the bath as Ai leans forwards and wraps her arms around him from behind, pressing as close as she can to give him a warm, tight hug. ]
[ Aki isn't the kind of person to beat around the bush or lie, not unless it's something perilously important; he's honest because there's no point otherwise. When he says things, he means them, sometimes a little more brash or abrasive than he intends to be, but at least no one has to worry about him hiding what he really thinks. He's been that way for as long as he can remember, a bitterness inspired by the losses of the past.
It's the same with Ai. He might be more tender with her, a little softer around the edges, but he's not a liar. He doesn't hide things from her, and he doesn't deceive her, either. His days are hard, his job is dangerous, but he comes home to her because he cares about her. If he started to hide the truth... It would be wrong. It would hurt.
A little surprised at her embrace, he tilts his head to look at her, eyes warm.
She's so pretty. ]
Then we'll keep doing this. Making each other happy, for as long as we can.
[ Her warm smile sharpens just a bit into a cheeky grin. ]
If we keep doing this, our water bill's gonna skyrocket. [ She's just teasing, like always. But that's all part of making Aki happy as well, isn't it? ] Buuuuuut... that's a small price to pay for seeing you smile like that.
[ The water sloshes around then a little more as she sits up just a bit more - just enough to lean in and press a kiss to his cheek. Seeing Aki smile really is more than enough for her. ]
Alright...! Close your eyes when I say so and I'll rinse the shampoo. Then maybe I will use my conditioner on you. Since you wouldn't mind and all.
[ Aki gets paid decently, and so does she, considering, so he's not concerned. He enjoys her teasing, though, leaning back to try and smile at her despite the shampoo in his hair. She's so cute, so soft and warm for him, and he yearns for something he can't quite name.
Let her make him soft. He can allow it, in these moments, when nothing else matters. ]
I won't mind. You can take care of me however you want.
Now you're really asking to get picked on. [ Like he wasn't already. As far as she's concerned, anyway. ] Close your eyes, then. I'll rinse you off. Ah, but I promise I won't do anything bad while you're sitting there.
[ For now, anyway.
The bath's not full enough that it'll overflow anytime soon, so she rinses his hair with a gentle stream of water from the shower head, combing her fingers through to loosen any tangles and to work out any stubborn suds still clinging on. Even without any conditioning, Aki's hair is so nice and sleek... ]
There. All done. Now let's see, what'll smell nicest on Aki...
[ She has. SO many hair care products. Sponsorship deal occupational hazard. ]
[ The water washes away the soap, and he can feel the warmth spread through him a little, and he closes his eyes and basks. She is so gentle with him, and he sighs at the fingers in his hair, the tenderness she offers him. He's used to so much worse, to the world being cruel and treating him poorly, so Ai is a relief.
Turning his head, he looks over at her with a small smile. ]
[ And uh, wow! That's stuff's potent! She hasn't even started working it into his hair yet and the smell's already bright and strong. With any luck it'll be more subtle once it's rinsed out. Hopefully.
Like before, her touch is slow and careful. It's almost as much of an indulgence for her as it is for Aki so she's planning on taking her time with it. ]
You know, I'd still rather he didn't take any offering from you... and I'm not exactly happy he nibbled on your fingers today... but I'm glad your hair made it out in one piece. It's nice with you have it down like this.
Fine, fine. But if Denji asks, I'm going to make you explain things to him.
[ Not that Ai and Denji have really met, or spent any kind of time with one another, but the principle still stands. If nothing else, Denji is going to be mad that Aki has a girlfriend - both because she's stealing time away from him and because Aki got a girl before he did. Simple pleasures for simple men.
Leaning back into his touch, he breathes out a little, his voice low from pleasure and contentment. ]
He was in the mood for something different today - usually the topknot is enough. [ Aki sighs. ] Do you want me to grow it out?
I'll talk him around. You should know better than anyone what my powers of persuasion are like.
[ Seeing as how she weaponizes them against him so frequently........... ]
... I wouldn't mind seeing it, though. If you wanted to. It's your hair, I mean. Would it be more of a hassle to look after if you grew it out? I've been looking after mine my whole life, so I'm used to it by now...
[ Then she titters. ]
Ah, I guess I went and volunteered myself to look after your hair, huh? That doesn't sound so bad.
He's probably going to ask you out, or if he can touch your breasts. Sorry.
[ That's just how Denji is... Aki isn't mad about it, necessarily, he just accepts it for what it is. He's used to it, but that doesn't mean Ai has to be.
Turning his head back to look at her, his lips curl into a small smile. ]
A hardship for you. I'll grow it out, if it makes you happy, but it might make Kon jealous.
[ She huffs a little laugh. A little too dry to sound right coming out of Ai of B-Komachi. But oddly, it seems to suit Ai. ]
I can handle that. It's not any worse than a handshake session.
[ Whether that's more damning of Denji or Ai's fans is entirely for Aki to decide. ]
But it wouldn't be a hardship or anything like that. I like your hair. [ She's slowly working her thumbs over the base of his neck as she speaks. ] And if Kon likes it too, won't he be happy there's more of it? Especially if it suits you.
[ Expression tightening, narrowing, he shoves off the awkward discomfort of the idea of Denji liking Ai and focuses on the moment between them instead.
She'd never do anything to hurt him. He trusts that. ]
Maybe. Kon isn't very happy with me at the moment, so it might be worth doing something to try and get him back on my side.
[ With a cheerful hum: ] I'm not worried. If he ends up getting the wrong idea, I've got the best bodyguard I could ask for to give him a smackdown.
[ Not that she expects it to come to that but she's definitely going to bet on Aki every time. Yes, she's totally biased, thank you for asking! ]
Maybe this'll be how we end up bonding. He'll realize we've both got the same good taste and we're on the same side. If that happens, I promise we won't gang up on you too much.
[ She strokes the conditioner through to the ends of his hair and unwinds her fingers from it just to let it sit for a second. Not that her hands have stilled - she's working the muscles of his shoulders with her thumbs the whole while. ]
Come to think of it, if your ponytail really grew out, I think that'd be a super good look on you... longer hair on guys is getting pretty trendy these days, you know.
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[ Said with a biiiiiig dramatic sigh as if she's the one doing Aki a favour here... but truth be told, she's looking forward to it. She'll probably get a lecture from the makeup artist next time she's in work about drying out her skin with long baths (not that Ai has any idea how she can tell) but it'll be more than worth it.
The hand poking his cheek drifts up and gently strokes his bangs back from his face before settling there, her fingers stroking lazy lines through his hair. Anytime she can get Aki to unwind a little is always a success in her book. ]
But right now, you have to let me look after you, okay? [ Her smile turns a little cheeky. ] No buts!
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[ Tilting his head, Aki rests his face against the warm touch of her hand, letting his eyes close. It's gentle and intimate, and would be even if they were fully clothed, with her curled around him. It's rare that he lets his hair down for too long, rare that he can calm down after a day at work without a drink or a cigarette, but she inspires it.
Leaning down, he kisses her gently. ]
Thanks, Ai-chan.
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[ He's already doing a good job of it — when Aki gets cuddly like this, that's when she thinks he's cutest. It's definitely a little selfish of her but part of her is greedily glad that it's a sight only she gets to enjoy, the same way Aki's the only one who gets to see her unvarnished and unpolished. ]
Turn around, okay? [ Before he can pull back, she presses a kiss to the crest of his cheek and then shifts forward herself to give him a little extra room. ] I'll do your hair first, then your back.
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[ Rolling his eyes, Aki allows her to boss him around - he always does - and shifts to turn his body. It's a little awkward to manoeuvre himself in the bath, but since she's the one asking, he'll do it. Ai can get him to do almost anything, and there's no denying the fact that he's mostly happy to do it.
When she's ready, he leans back towards her, closing his eyes. She likes seeing him with his hair down, so this must be fun for her as well, to see him relaxed and at her mercy. ]
Be gentle.
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[ She would and she has and she will. Absolutely guilty as charged.
For now, though, her touch is gentle. She scoops water up into her hands and rather than soaking him, she slowly strokes her hands through his hair to wet it, fingers carefully working over his scalp. Not just anyone gets to touch Aki like this and if she's one of the few who's allowed, she's going to take that privilege seriously. ]
Is this gentle enough? [ her voice is low and just a little teasing. ] The last thing I want is to end up picking on you by accident.
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[ Which is a gentle, tender kind of bullying, the sort that he can tolerate. It's markedly different from how Power or Denji might treat him, which definitely crosses the line into bullying. Ai can get him to do a lot of things he doesn't want to admit to, but that's a risky thing to say aloud.
Leaning back, he sighs softly, closing his eyes and relaxing into her touch. It feels like heaven after a long work day, and her voice is soft and calming. ]
This is fine. Keep going, please, Ai-chan.
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[ As if that wasn't her plan, anyway. But for now, she'll be nice — her touch is gentle and slow, easing down his scalp and down the back of his neck. Even as relaxed as he'd been before, his shoulders had been all wound up with tension but it's slowly unwinding its way out of him. It's good to see — the last thing he needs is to hold onto however much stress he goes through once he's out of work.
Once she's satisfied his hair's wet enough, she lathers up her hands with some shampoo and gets to scrubbing with that as well, still careful and tender. ]
I was a little tempted to use some of mine on you, you know. Then you'd have to go into work smelling like my girly shampoo.
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[ Not that Aki minds her brand of bullying, necessarily, since he adores her just the way she is. She can poke and prod at him and draw out all the parts of him, make him softer and happier. She is sweet, and kind, and she takes care of him in a way that no one else has never wanted to do before. Maybe Aki can accept his happiness, if she's the one giving it to him.
Leaning back, he groans softly, the pleasure of a simple hair wash a delight. ]
I already smell like your other products. I don't care.
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I guess you probably do at this point, huh... I guess it's a good job we've basically give up on keeping things that secret. Otherwise, you'd be having to come up with a new excuse every week for why you were coming into the office smelling like strawberry milk lotion and body spray.
[ His hair's all lathered by this point, but she keeps coming her fingers through. Her thumbs slowly work down the back of his scalp and follow the lines of tension down the nape of his neck. ]
You're still a little wound up. [ Her voice has softened a little - tender more than teasing. ] Was it really bad today?
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It's not easy for him, but... He's working on it. He'll get there, sharing the way he feels more openly as time goes on. ]
Everyone knows I'm seeing someone. I just haven't said who it is that I'm dating.
[ Tilting his head back, he hums a little, eyes closed. ]
It was just like any other day. I fought, I won, I came home.
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See? What did I tell you? You're sneaky. [ Her playful grin colours her voice just a little. ] But that's fine by me. Stuff like this...
[ The slow circular motions of her fingertips work their way a little further down his neck to his shoulders too. ]
I want it to be just for the two of us.
[ They both serve up so much of themselves to everyone else, after all. It's only right that they should be allowed to have something exclusively their own. ]
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Groaning softly, he sinks lower into the water. ]
It is. Just ours.
[ Ai has him, heart and soul, but he's not sure how to tell her about it. It's too heavy a weight on his shoulders, knowing how little time he has left to continue to survive. ]
I'm glad we're here together. I'm happy.
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Aki's always straightforward with her. That'd been one of the very first things about him that she'd liked - that she could trust me meant the things he said when he said them, that she didn't have to comb through his words for some implied meaning or that she was expected to just know the things he felt and thought without Aki ever actually telling her. Maybe other people can do that, but Ai can't. She's never been able to. So someone like Aki... it's a relief to know that when Aki tells her things, she can rely on them to be true.
So maybe she shouldn't be surprised to hear that in the least. She and Aki are together because it makes them happy to be that way, after all. Why else would any couple get together? It's just...
Hearing him say it so straightforwardly sort of makes her want to cry. ]
... I'm glad.
[ The water shifts suddenly, threatening to spill over the edge of the bath as Ai leans forwards and wraps her arms around him from behind, pressing as close as she can to give him a warm, tight hug. ]
It's the same for me. I'm really, really happy.
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It's the same with Ai. He might be more tender with her, a little softer around the edges, but he's not a liar. He doesn't hide things from her, and he doesn't deceive her, either. His days are hard, his job is dangerous, but he comes home to her because he cares about her. If he started to hide the truth... It would be wrong. It would hurt.
A little surprised at her embrace, he tilts his head to look at her, eyes warm.
She's so pretty. ]
Then we'll keep doing this. Making each other happy, for as long as we can.
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If we keep doing this, our water bill's gonna skyrocket. [ She's just teasing, like always. But that's all part of making Aki happy as well, isn't it? ] Buuuuuut... that's a small price to pay for seeing you smile like that.
[ The water sloshes around then a little more as she sits up just a bit more - just enough to lean in and press a kiss to his cheek. Seeing Aki smile really is more than enough for her. ]
Alright...! Close your eyes when I say so and I'll rinse the shampoo. Then maybe I will use my conditioner on you. Since you wouldn't mind and all.
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[ Aki gets paid decently, and so does she, considering, so he's not concerned. He enjoys her teasing, though, leaning back to try and smile at her despite the shampoo in his hair. She's so cute, so soft and warm for him, and he yearns for something he can't quite name.
Let her make him soft. He can allow it, in these moments, when nothing else matters. ]
I won't mind. You can take care of me however you want.
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[ For now, anyway.
The bath's not full enough that it'll overflow anytime soon, so she rinses his hair with a gentle stream of water from the shower head, combing her fingers through to loosen any tangles and to work out any stubborn suds still clinging on. Even without any conditioning, Aki's hair is so nice and sleek... ]
There. All done. Now let's see, what'll smell nicest on Aki...
[ She has. SO many hair care products. Sponsorship deal occupational hazard. ]
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[ The water washes away the soap, and he can feel the warmth spread through him a little, and he closes his eyes and basks. She is so gentle with him, and he sighs at the fingers in his hair, the tenderness she offers him. He's used to so much worse, to the world being cruel and treating him poorly, so Ai is a relief.
Turning his head, he looks over at her with a small smile. ]
Something fruity rather than flowery, please.
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[ And uh, wow! That's stuff's potent! She hasn't even started working it into his hair yet and the smell's already bright and strong. With any luck it'll be more subtle once it's rinsed out. Hopefully.
Like before, her touch is slow and careful. It's almost as much of an indulgence for her as it is for Aki so she's planning on taking her time with it. ]
You know, I'd still rather he didn't take any offering from you... and I'm not exactly happy he nibbled on your fingers today... but I'm glad your hair made it out in one piece. It's nice with you have it down like this.
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[ Not that Ai and Denji have really met, or spent any kind of time with one another, but the principle still stands. If nothing else, Denji is going to be mad that Aki has a girlfriend - both because she's stealing time away from him and because Aki got a girl before he did. Simple pleasures for simple men.
Leaning back into his touch, he breathes out a little, his voice low from pleasure and contentment. ]
He was in the mood for something different today - usually the topknot is enough. [ Aki sighs. ] Do you want me to grow it out?
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[ Seeing as how she weaponizes them against him so frequently........... ]
... I wouldn't mind seeing it, though. If you wanted to. It's your hair, I mean. Would it be more of a hassle to look after if you grew it out? I've been looking after mine my whole life, so I'm used to it by now...
[ Then she titters. ]
Ah, I guess I went and volunteered myself to look after your hair, huh? That doesn't sound so bad.
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[ That's just how Denji is... Aki isn't mad about it, necessarily, he just accepts it for what it is. He's used to it, but that doesn't mean Ai has to be.
Turning his head back to look at her, his lips curl into a small smile. ]
A hardship for you. I'll grow it out, if it makes you happy, but it might make Kon jealous.
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I can handle that. It's not any worse than a handshake session.
[ Whether that's more damning of Denji or Ai's fans is entirely for Aki to decide. ]
But it wouldn't be a hardship or anything like that. I like your hair. [ She's slowly working her thumbs over the base of his neck as she speaks. ] And if Kon likes it too, won't he be happy there's more of it? Especially if it suits you.
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[ Expression tightening, narrowing, he shoves off the awkward discomfort of the idea of Denji liking Ai and focuses on the moment between them instead.
She'd never do anything to hurt him. He trusts that. ]
Maybe. Kon isn't very happy with me at the moment, so it might be worth doing something to try and get him back on my side.
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[ Not that she expects it to come to that but she's definitely going to bet on Aki every time. Yes, she's totally biased, thank you for asking! ]
Maybe this'll be how we end up bonding. He'll realize we've both got the same good taste and we're on the same side. If that happens, I promise we won't gang up on you too much.
[ She strokes the conditioner through to the ends of his hair and unwinds her fingers from it just to let it sit for a second. Not that her hands have stilled - she's working the muscles of his shoulders with her thumbs the whole while. ]
Come to think of it, if your ponytail really grew out, I think that'd be a super good look on you... longer hair on guys is getting pretty trendy these days, you know.
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