“A movie makes more sense. It’s still sweet either way.” Osora assured, pressing a kiss to the corner of his mouth. “But I’m fairly certain I’m not. It fits a bit better than pretty though. Are there any ways you would suggest it being a good thing? I’ve heard plenty of negative, but not much positive.”
He blushed a tomato red and laughed softly, nuzzling her softly. “Yes. You stick up for what you believe in and aren’t easily swayed. You know what you want and so you go for it, nobody and nothing will sway you from it. That’s wonderful.”
"Wonderful, huh? Well, at least you're right about me not being easily swayed." She shifted, lifting a hand to play with his hair idly. "It's gotten me into a lot of trouble, but oh well. Positive things, right?"
"Yes, positive things only." He stated firmly, his eyes slipping closed at her touch. He leaned into it much like a dog would, smiling. "That feels… really good, you know." He commented, bringing her closer so he could bury his face in her neck. "Mm you should just stay here, with me. Work is boring anyways. I can help you with finances."
"Does it?" She mused, scratching lightly along his scalp. "I don't have any finances to do. My job doesn't really have anything to do with finances. On the rare occasions, banks, but no finances." She stayed still enough to not disturb him, letting him keep his face buried in her neck. "I might stay with you a bit longer anyway. As long as I can."
“It does.” He murmured sleepily, his tired eyes slipping shut. Tali groaned lightly, pressing his face more into her skin, enjoying its warmth. “Ugh. I’m going to have to do the right thing and find a job, huh? I don’t think you’d let me go out and swindle and sleep for my money.” He mused, his hand pressing against her back to bring her closer. “Stay with me.”
"You can do what you want, of course, but you're right. I would much prefer you get a job. Swindling and sleeping with people can only get you so far, and you need financial security." Osora said, sort of massaging his scalp and playing with his hair at the same time. "I will. For as long as I can, Tali."
He hummed at her touch and sighed softly. “Mm I guess you’re right.” He mumbled. “I can’t go around doing that.” Tali’s opened his eyes and sighed softly. Her soft touch was putting him back to sleep. “Thank you Toki.”
"No, you can't. It'll come back to bite you in the ass eventually." Osora continued to play with his hair as she spoke, unaware of exactly the effects it was having on him. "Why are you thanking me? All I did was agree to stay in bed with you."
His eyes struggled to remain open, a soft laugh leaving his lips. "I know, I know. I'll stop. I'll find someplace to work." He mumbled against the skin of her neck, an arm lazily looping around her waist. He yawned, pressing up into her touch. "You've done a lot more than just that…" Came the slurred response as the skin-stealer began to doze.
"Thank you. I'd rather know you were stable in that area, than know you're relying on luck and volatile circumstance." She replied, snuggling up to him as he looped an arm around her. "I haven't done much, Tali. Other than tell you things you should already know and have heard." She murmured to him, letting her eyes fall shut again.
He chuckled weakly. "I haven't slept around yet… don't worry." He told her softly. "I'm going to make that act sacred now. I'm going to save it for someone I love." He smiled to himself. "You've done a lot." He repeated suddenly. "I didn't know those applied to me. You've been kind…"
“You can sleep with whoever you want, but it might be easier on you if you do keep it for someone you care about.” She murmured, pressing a kiss to his shoulder since she couldn’t reach his cheek. “I haven’t been all that kind. But you deserve kindness either way.”
He laughed softly, shaking his head gently. “You sound like a parent.” He mused. “Thank you, though, for not judging me too hard on that topic. And you have to been kind.” He huffed, his grip loosening around her. “Mmn I’m falling asleep again.”
“Sleep, Tali.” She said, working her fingers slowly through his hair. “I’ll be here as long as I can.” Curling up slightly now that she had some more freedom of movement, her other arm tucked against her chest. She wouldn’t sleep, Not now that she was awake, but she could lay here comfortably and keep him company while he did.
He shook his head in a soft defiance but despite his attempts to stay awake, his exhausted body wouldn't let him. As he drifted off his features once again returned to their usual, leaving him as the original Tali. The splash of black still poked out from where his cheek was rested against her head.
((Idea! What if she gets a call and has to leave? She can either accidentally wake him up while leaving or leave a note for him))
(OH YES! He's so confused when he wakes up.)
((First or second then?))
(Hmmm…. I'd say maybe accidentally waking him up, but he's too tired to really figure out what was going on and falls back asleep or something?)
((Gotcha!))
A tapping at the window an hour later had Osora carefully and silently slipping from Tali’s arms, heading straight for her closet as the crow at the open window let himself in to pick a shiny trinket from the bowl on the small table there, before grabbing a quick drink of water. She was well practiced in quickly changing into her patrol outfit, and had just pulled on the hoodie and was about to put on her mask, when the crow cawed loudly. He was flapping his wings, cawing in Tali’s direction as Osora shushed him.
“Hitoshi, shut it. He’s allowed to be here, don’t worry.” She hissed in Japanese, making a shooting motion at the crow.
Tali stirred slightly at the sound of something like wing beats and the harsh call of a carnal bird. He blinked his eyes blearily open and moved to sit up. His hair was a mess, and he made no move to conceal his face. It was much more wide than his previous face had been, much more masculine and much more rounded. His lips were small and thin, eyes more almond shaped than before. However, all of his features seemed dull in contrast to the dark black symbol tattooed across the left side of his face. The black, thin lines of the tattoo blended smoothly into his skin, matching the darkness of his hair. He hummed softly as his eyes focused on Toki. "Are you leaving?" He asked softly, almost not quite himself in his half-slumber.
Osora kept her eyes on the crow, instead of looking at Tali. She had made a promise, god dammit, and she wasn't about to break that promise. He could show her his face when he was coherent and awake, and ready. "Yeah. I have to go, something came up at work. I have to head out to the red-" She had almost said the red light district, and it was decently obvious, but she hoped he wouldn't remember. "Kabukicho. Go back to sleep, I should be back in a couple hours at most."
Tali nodded sleepily and curled back up, throwing the blankets over his head. "M'kay… be safe" Came his soft reply, muffled by the blankets around his head. He groaned softly before he completely relaxed and settled into another dreamless slumber. The male had curled his arms around his head, letting out soft grunts every now and then. The skin-stealer hadn't gotten this good of sleep in a long time.
Osora let out a soft sigh, stepping silently over to scoop up the ruffled corvid and his trinket, carrying both to the window. She sent the bird off with a wave, fully placing on her mask as she climbed out onto the fire escape, phone in hand. The news wasn't too bad, or Heivar would have been much more worried, even though he was a crow. So backup wasn't needed. She wouldn't bug any of the others.
With that, she was off, heading for the train station to catch the fastest train to the Kabukicho red light district.
Tali wouldn’t wake for another few hours or so. His mind was foggy and his eyes felt heavier than usual as he stirred, breathing in a scent he found intoxicating. In his disoriented state he couldn’t tell what that scent was, but he liked it a lot.
When he finally gained enough consciousness to function, he shot up, blinking his almond eyes before rubbing at them. He felt like shit and probably looked it too.
With a yawn he glanced around, trying to process where he was. This wasn’t his apartment. Nor was this the dirty little hut he had rented. He looked around, the scent still filling his nostrils and lulling him into a peaceful state.
“Ah! Toki!” He suddenly rasped, the memories of yesterday returning. He sighed softly, reaching over for his mask and tracing its lines. That’s right… she had left sometime in the night. Or was that a dream?
“Mother fucker.” Osora was in pain. A lot of pain. And her abilities were no help, because she’d used up too much of the energy fighting to try and mend herself. Various gashes covered her body, and she’d taken a crowbar to the knee at some point, leaving her with a noticeable limp. Tired and hurting.
Her phone ringing brought her out of her thoughts as she limped away from the train station, and she didn’t have to look at the ID to know it was Shou.
“What.”
“What the fuck, Osora. You got a call and didn’t send out for backup? Where the fuck are you, I’m coming over and making sure you aren’t fucking dead.”
“Climbing up my fire escape, and no, you aren’t. Stay in your meeting.” Osora instructed as she climbed, ignoring the pain in her leg. Shou seemed surprised she knew he was in a meeting, but she knew him well enough.
Tali slowly sat up and groaned, reaching for his luggage and pulling it by him. He pulled a mirror from its depths and once again allowed his face to morph back to the way he liked it, studying his now narrowed jawline. “Better.” He hummed, combing his fingers through his messy hair.
He went about making himself look presentable, but refused to change out of his clothes at the moment. He’d change later, when he knew if Osora was safe and around.
“Goddammit Osora. Fine, but at least tell me you told that boy where you were going. That way someone knows where you are.”
“I did. Not that it matters much anyway.” Osora said, pulling herself up and through the window, hoping she wasn’t getting blood anywhere. “I know you want to talk about him, but we aren’t doing that right now. I have to go.” With that, she hung up on her friend, lifting her eyes to look around the room and stilling as she realized Tali was awake.