Week of Love: Sulking
Title: Sulking
Rating: T
Contains: Fluff. Mild arguments.
Nanao hid a smile behind her teacup as she read over the report. The office was warm, even for July, and even with the fans the air hung like a wool blanket over the office. Shunsui lay on the sofa opposite her, his hat over his face and one of his legs hanging off the side. Over the past few hours he moved repeatedly between the sofa and the floor in an attempt to solve the dilemma of heat versus comfort.
Ordinarily, it would have been all she could do to keep him in the office on a day like this. But today, she suppressed a sigh.
“You might as well go outside and nap, Captain. There is no point in staying in here.”
He did not move.
“You are are only making yourself more uncomfortable by not going outside, Captain,” she said pointedly.
“I will not go outside because Nanao-chan is not outside.”
Setting down her pen, Nanao reached up to massage her temples.
“You are correct, Captain. It is a workday.” She glared pointedly at his hat.
“If Nanao-chan is relegated to staying indoors, then I will remain with her.” His voice had not changed, maintaining a flat, dark tone, a combination only he could deliver.
“Very well, sir. Have it your way.”
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the soft sounds of her brush on the paper and the occasional bug buzzing through the office on it’s way to the lush gardens of the 8th.
“I just don’t know why it had to be today,” Shunsui intoned.
“Because today was when I was able to procure tickets at the best price.” Nanao didn’t bother looking up from the training roster.
“Captain, I’m thinking of moving Isawa-san to the intermediate sword drills class. He has surpassed the others in his class and would benefit from the challenge, even if it does mean a mid class transfer.” She looked up at him, brushed poised over the paper and a question in her eyes.
“Whatever Nanao-chan decides is fine.”
“I’m asking your opinion, Captain.” This time there was an edge in her voice that he could not miss.
“And I just said that my opinion is what ever Nanao-chan’s opinion is.”
She slammed her hands down on the desk and marched across the office, looming over his lounging form.
“I don’t believe that. Whatever people say, you do have opinions, on many things in fact.”
When he didn’t move, she snatched his hat and found herself glaring into dark, sad eyes.
“What’s wrong, Captain.”
His eyes narrowed, “Really, Nanao-chan?”
“Yes. Really.”
He closed his eyes with a sigh. “If Nanao-chan is too preoccupied to notice, then it doesn’t matter.”
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Are you sulking, Captain?”
A mournful gaze met hers and she laughed in disbelief. “You’re actually sulking. This is about tonight, isn’t it? You’re upset that I didn’t invite you.”
“It’s Nanao-chan’s birthday and Nanao-chan doesn’t want to spend time with me.”
Nanao stared at him for several minutes before collapsing in of the chairs in fits of laughter. Shunsui watched her with interest. Emotions were always a private thing with Nanao, and it was a rarity to see her show anything with such abandon.
“I didn’t think it was that funny.”
He sounded hurt and Nanao felt a slight twinge of guilt flit through her conscience. When she made the arrangements several weeks prior, she had had the feeling he would be less than delighted. He had always been watchful of her, possessive some might say, and of course he was always insufferably dramatic in his overtures. Still, while he often pouted, this time he was genuinely sulking.
“I can’t believe you, Captain. It’s a simple outing to the living world.”
“To see a play.”
“Yes, to see a play. Not one you would be interested in either.” Although, she reflected, he probably would enjoy it. He did have rather eclectic tastes.
“But you didn’t offer to take me.”
“No.” She had composed herself by now and occupied herself with straightening her uniform. Sitting and staring at him was entirely too dangerous. He could see through her when he wanted to.
When she did finally look up, she was surprised to see him not looking at her. Instead he was gazing listlessly at the ceiling, but it was the genuine look of hurt in his eyes that at last broke her resolve.
She sighed, pushing herself out of the chair and moving back to the desk. “I believe my original words were, ‘I bought tickets for the SWA to attend a play on the evening of July 7th.’” She sat neatly at her desk, allowing her words to sink in and refusing to acknowledge his interested gaze. When he didn’t say anything, she picked up her pen, holding it primly above the paper before adding, “I do not recall stating that I was going to be included in the party.”
A sudden rush of air and she found herself in his lap in her chair, the pen skittering across the floor.
“Am I to understand that lovely Nanao-chan intends to spend her birthday with me?”
“Captain! This is highly inappropriate. Release me at once.”
“Not so fast, Nanao-chan. You haven’t answered my question yet.”
“Fine. Yes. I had intended on staying behind. But of course you had to ruin the surprise,” she huffed in defeat, giving up on struggling an crossing her arms over her chest.
“But Nanao-chan, I must be absolutely clear as to the details,” he purred into her ear.
“If you don’t release me this instant, I will be spending the rest of the evening doing paperwork and you will personally do all of the expense reports for this quarter.”
He set her down, reluctantly, she noted, and she stomped over to retrieve her lost pen.
“I’m glad you are not planning on going, Nanao-chan.” The look in his eyes made her blush. “I wouldn’t want to cancel the dinner reservations. I even bought Nanao-chan’s favorite sake.”
She glared, pointing to the door. “Out.”
“Of course, lovely Nanao-chan. I will be waiting in the rose garden composing a new poem about Nanao-chan’s radiant beauty and -“
He dived out the window to avoid the kido ball hurled in his direction. Sulking did have its advantages.