Chapter Text
Today was Akane's off day.
She decided it would be fun to go around town and see what downtown had in store... but she got lost.
She stopped in the middle of the sidewalk in hopes of turning her map upright or at least getting the stupid GPS to tell her where to go, but she was having literally no luck whatsoever.
It had been only a week since the Vina incident. She had hardly seen Shiro since, well, she had seen him in passing. He was running down the road after a criminal a few days ago, but he didn't seem to see her. Oh well.
She stuffed her phone into her pocket, and walked inside a building.
"Excuse me! Can someone direct me to.. the... hello?" She called out to an otherwise empty foyer.
Aside from the usual people waiting around she didn't really see anyone that looked like they worked in the building. What was the building she walked into anyway?
She looked at the wall to see a sign with "Karada Police Department" in big letters.
"Oh... Shiro works here!" She said excitedly wondering if she would be able to see her friend again. Then it hit her. "I ONLY WENT IN A CIRCLE?!"
Akane sat down on a chair nearby. The post office was two almost two blocks away! She had visited a while ago to hopefully get some directions from Alexis, but she immediately forgot them and thought" Hey, let's wing it!" LOOK WHERE THAT GOT HER! And the whole time she was only down the street having gone for almost four hours trying to find her destination! How in the world was she going to get anything done today?!
"Hey, you're that little miss red that White couldn't stop talking about." Said a voice from above her wallowing. She looked up and saw a man standing above her. He had bright kind eyes that watched her every move.
Akane sat up and took into account that he was wearing what Shiro usually wore, so that must mean he was one of his coworkers.
"'Little miss red?'" She echoed. "My name is Akane?" It came out like a question and she was very confused even as he laughed.
"Ha ha! Well, I only call you that because of your red hair, but also the way White is always talking about your pre- OW!"
"Shh! Don't out the poor man when he isn't here to defend himself!" Said another man dressed like Shiro.
"Please! It's always so fun!" The first guy said. "I'm sure it would be something that Little miss red would like too!"
The other guy smacked him upside the head. "Aspen, stop..."
Aspen wilted as he slinked away. "You're no fun..."
Akane watched it all with a smile. She enjoyed watching them have fun together.
"Forgive him. He's a little... special." Said the other. "I'm Yuki ice. Badge number U-2048. I work with Shiro as a squad mate. "
"I thought so." Akane nodded.
"Would you like to meet everyone?" They looked behind them to the rest of the team. "From how Shiro describes you, they're all dying to meet you."
Akane waved to the group that scattered when she looked at them, but Yuki rolled his eyes and guided her with him towards the door and into the back area.
Now in the bullpen, Akane was sat down at Shiro's desk and everyone noticed the red head girl in the room.
"So you must be Akane." someone called from behind her. She turned to see a brunette behind her wearing what looked like a mechanic's uniform. "White talks about you a lot. I'm Blake by the way! That's over there is Mark! He's obsessed with legends and books and stuff."
Blake suddenly was hit over the head with a book. "Shut up! It's good to know your history!"
"Yeah! And even better when it's not from the young adult section in the library!" Blake cried throwing the book back and starting an argument with Mark.
"Ignore them. They're always like this." Yuki said.
"This here is, Miyuki Winter."
"Badge number U-2626. It's a pleasure to meet you." He said with a polite bow. Akane smiled.
"I'm Aspen Snow! Badge number U-4989 since no one else is going to introduce me!" He bemoaned popping up from behind his desk. Akane giggled softly at his outburst.
And lastly, there's Haku Isa." Yuki said pointing to a man leaning against a desk.
"Badge number U-2001. White talks about you a lot. You must have left a good impression."
"I get lost all the time and he has helped me out in the past." Akane said. I don't know what about that makes a good impression."
"White has always been super helpful, no matter how distant he seems." Miyuki said.
"He's a shy guy, but he's a big softy at heart!" Aspen chimed in.
"Yeah, Shiro is really sweet! He's always helping me out and I can't ever thank him enough for it." Akane nodded.
Yuki, Aspen, Haku, and Miyuki all looked at each other before looking back to Akane. Miyuki made soft laugh as they all looked at each other. "Do you want his number?"
Suddenly, something hit the back of Aspen's head. He sat back in his chair rubbing his head in pain. "Ow..." He whined.
They both turned to see a very flushed Shiro from behind the desk. He'd thrown a roll of tape at him.
"Get back to work!" Shiro walked past everyone who all instantly scattered the moment they saw him.
Aspen huffed softly in annoyance, but not before whispering something to Shiro who smacked him upside the head causing the man to laugh.
Shiro composed himself and walked over to Akane. "Sorry about him. He's... special." Akane laughed softly at the face he made.
"So I've heard. He seems really nice." Akane said. Shiro nodded in agreement.
"He is, don't get me wrong, but there are some days..." Shiro glanced back and there were more of them. They all slipped away before he could throw something else at them. Akane watched the whole thing happen with joy sparkling in her eyes as she watched them all.
"Oh wait, that reminds me." Shiro mumbled. He turned to look at Akane. "What brings you to the station?"
Akane blanched for half a second before she flushed and swayed idly in place.
"I got lost..."
"I see..." Shiro mused. "Is this something that happens often?"
"With me? Yes. I've never been the greatest at directions."
"Okay." Shiro chuckled softly. "Well, then come with me. I'll help you to where you need to go."
"I can't ask that of you! You have your job to do!" Akane said following Shiro as he walked through the bullpen back to the foyer.
"I'm actually off my shift now." Shiro said. "And judging from your appearance, you aren't working either."
"Today was my day off, but I spent the whole day wondering around like a lost puppy." Akane whined. Shiro chuckled softly enough to draw her attention.
"I can join you if you'd like." Shiro said. "It's almost time for dinner anyways, and I'm sure you would like to have something."
"Oh no! I can't possibly take you away from whatever you're going to do!" Akane waved her hands dismissively.
"I actually wanted to treat you to dinner." Shiro sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck. "The other day, I saw you on your route and I wanted to talk to you, but you were busy working so I didn't stick around."
"I would have loved to talk with you." Akane whispered.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't hear that." Shiro said. Akane blushed in embarrassment.
"Oh, I just said it would have been great to talk with you." She repeated.
"I see." Shiro mumbled. "Well, would you want to go have dinner with me?"
Akane nodded. "Yes, I would like that."
"Okay, would you mind waiting here for me while I change out of my uniform?" Shiro asked.
"Yeah, I'll be here." Akane beamed waving at him as he walked away.
Shiro waved and disappeared in through the door they had come from.
A couple minutes later Shiro returned and they left the station.
Aspen and Miyuki watched the whole spectacle.
"Twenty bucks they end up together by the end of the year." Aspen took a sip of his coffee. Miyuki pursed his lips.
"I think they'll be together in three months." Miyuki said.
"I'll take that bet."
So they shook on it and Haku smacked the back of their heads.
"Get back to work you morons."
They both slunk back to their desks.
-~-~-~-~-
Shiro and Akane drove in Shiro's truck to a little restaurant down the road just a little ways past the library.
"You must know the whole city like the back of your hand." Akane said.
"It is a necessity in a way." Shiro said as he pulled into a parking spot. "To make sure I do my job to the best of my ability I have to know the ins and outs of every road, alleyway, and roundabout."
"Wow, if only I knew how to get around to where I need to go like you do." Akane said as she slipped out of Shiro's truck. Shiro held the door to the restaurant open for her.
"I can help you figure it out if you'd like." Shiro said as they walked up to the counter.
"Hi!" Greeted the person behind the counter. "Dining in or pickup?"
"Dining in." Shiro said.
"Alright. Sit anywhere you'd like, we'll be with you in a moment." She said gesturing to all the tables and chairs.
Shiro and Akane sat down, Shiro pulling out her chair to help her sit down before he himself took a seat.
"So, what type of place is this?" Akane asked.
"It's a pizza place I frequent a lot." Shiro said. "It's cost effective and close by when I forget my lunch and dinner at home."
"What do you usually get?" Akane asked as the menus were set down in front of them. Shiro didn't even look it over, he only watched Akane as she skimmed through it.
"I usually get a pasta dish of some kind. It's really good here." Shiro said. "Everything is really. I swear on the food when given the chance."
"It's that good?"
"It's that good."
Akane loved the shine in his eye as he spoke about something he liked. She had noticed that he would do that every once in a while.
As they chatted, Akane learned more and more about the man she had happened to bump into more times than not.
He was kind and caring, but that she knew from when she first met him. He helped out in the schools when he could, and from the sounds of it, knew almost everyone in town. She also found out he was in the foster system.
"Wait, you were in the foster system too?" Akane asked.
Their food was set down in front of them. Shiro got a pasta while Akane had ordered a smaller pizza.
"I was. I was adopted into a military family when I was around five or six." Shiro answered blowing on his hot food. "That's where I learned my sense of right and wrong, and the drive to want to become a cop."
"I was adopted by someone who worked at an orphanage. There were always lots of kids, but none of us felt neglected in any way." Akane said.
"That's really good." Shiro said. "I don't like it when people get hurt just for the paycheck."
They sat in comfortable silence as Akane hummed about how good the food tasted. Shiro was very pleased by her reaction. He was glad that something he liked was something she liked as well.
They chatted as they finished their dinner. Shiro was given the check and he paid despite Akane begging him to split the bill with her which he refused to do despite her pleas.
Shiro returned to the table and sat down.
"I do remember one time when I was young, there was someone who broke into our home and tried to attack me." Akane said suddenly.
Shiro's attention was immediately stolen.
"It was scary. He was tall and wore a mask that made it so I couldn't see his face." Akane recalled the memory. "It's honestly probably scarier in my head than it is in real life, huh?"
"No." Shiro said instantly. "What you felt was valid. You have a right to be scared. You don't have to downplay it."
Akane smiled softly at his words. For years she had felt dumb for a fear like that, for flinching when someone got a little too close. So it felt nice when Shiro validated her.
"Well, there was a boy. He was also a kid who lived there at the time. He came to save me."
"I'm glad you're okay." Shiro said.
"Yeah, me too." Akane whispered. "I wouldn't have been able to meet you if I never got away."
Shiro smiled and the two stood up and left. It was dark when they went outside, but the streets were lit up so it made for a very beautiful scene.
Akane and Shiro walked along the streets chatting and laughing like it was natural, because it really felt like it.
Akane felt like she knew him from somewhere. That maybe, just maybe, they had been friends sometime in the past.
The night was getting late and Akane and Shiro had work in the morning, so Shiro drove Akane back to her apartment.
"Oh, one more thing." Shiro pulled out his phone. "Would it be alright if I gave you my number.
...
...
...
"HUH?!"
"Wait wait wait wait wait!" Shiro was almost as red as her hair. "I wanted to give it to you in case you needed me! Like if you get lost or you need help or... or something"
Akane blinked a few times before she smiled and nodded. She took out her phone as well.
"Alright, then I'll give you my number as well." She said. Shiro sighed with relief.
The two exchanged numbers and Shiro wished her a good night. Akane waved as Shiro drove off. He was so kind to her.
Akane got ready for bed. She showered, brushed her teeth, and got into bed.
She stared at her phone for a long moment before she picked it up and looked at Shiro's contact.
Her fingers felt like they were moving on their own as she typed out a message.
Thank you for dinner.
The reply was almost immediate.
Of course.