this quiet little life / mynameisv

[arasakadogs]

(oda did not tell v when he planned to contact hanako. it is not for the sake of secrecy but he knows v by now and their situation and her pregnancy seem to only amplify her anxieties. if she knew when she would worry. he elects an early morning before v stirs to retreat to the study and make a very difficult phone call. oda bothers not with encryption; hanako already is well aware of his location.

she sounds surprised to hear his voice.

oda asks pointed questions, ones he has rehearsed for weeks. she answers some. others are met with telling silence. they talk. he is compelled to believe her, if cautiously. when the call ends a half hour later he cannot discern if he feels better or worse.

he pauses by the nursery on the way back to the shared bedroom. it would not be long now, just over three months left. it terrifies him more than any foe.)

Good morning, (oda mutters once he slides back into bed beside v, kissing her temple and fully expecting her to grump and bat him away.)

Comments

[mynameisv]

[Getting sleep has been challenging in a way to V these days. It's not as if she's gotten to the really uncomfortable part of pregnancy yet, but the little one is active. The swell of her stomach is enough to make sleeping interesting, and she has other symptoms that are less helpful when trying to get a good night's rest. Oda is patient with her and caring, but she still finds herself grumbling from time to time.

Like right now, when he wakes her and she groans, stuffing her face into the pillow away from him and sighing out. It takes a moment and she turns back to him, opening her eyes.]

Good morning.

[arasakadogs]

(he knows it has been difficult for her to sleep between the tossing and turning, occasionally waking to find a wall of pillows between them in an attempt to get comfortable. usually he would allow her to sleep as much as she can but this is important.)

I spoke with her. Shall I tell you now or wait until you have had morning tea?

[mynameisv]

[V freezes. Her entire body goes from lax to tense in a matter of seconds, her breath catching as she meets Oda's eyes and pauses a long second.]

Tell me. Tea can wait. [Her heart is pounding slightly, rattling in there like a loose coin in a can. She's afraid of Oda talking to her. There's such a connection there. One she can't even begin to understand.]

[arasakadogs]

(it is impossible to miss how harshly v tenses and part of him regrets bringing it up but it is necessary. he would never speak to hanako and not tell v. oda reaches for her hand.)

If what she says is true we are not actively beings pursued by Arasaka.

[mynameisv]

[Some of the tension melts at that news. If they're not being actively pursued, maybe Arasaka has given up the notion of his super soldier. Or maybe he's just waiting to see what happens. Let the captive animals raise their young, then pounce.

V squeezes his hand gently.]

Good. Good. Do you trust her?

[arasakadogs]

(it is a very loaded question.)

Not as I once did. But she seemed sincere. Evidently her father has grown more paranoid and mistrustful. She resents that this extends even to her. And that he is the reason I am no longer with her.

(it had been a difficult conversation to have. the last time they had really spoken was in that brothel.)

[mynameisv]

[V listens. It's a lot to take in, but it was a lot for him to do. She knows how he felt about Hanako for years. How Hanako felt about him. It couldn't have been easy. Still, it makes her gut churn to know that Hanako apparently still has those feelings for him.

She couldn't like V very much, if at all.]

Thanks. [Leaning forward, she kisses his temple gently.] Not sure I like the idea of Saboru getting more paranoid...

[arasakadogs]

It does not bode well for anyone, (oda concedes but knowing they are not his immediate focus is some solace. he hesitates to disclose the next piece of information but transparency is important to them both.)

She said she would be sending a baby gift...and she is sure the baby will be beautiful.

[mynameisv]

[V grunts softly, her mind working instantly. Saburo being paranoid was dangerous, if only because he was the most powerful man in the world. The things he could do on a whim could spell disaster for anyone, not just them. It already had for so many.]

Wait. A baby gift? [V frowns at that, sighing out through her nostrils.] She really doesn't have to. Really.

[arasakadogs]

Believe me, that is what I told her. (oda knows full well hanako will do precisely what she pleases. he brings v's hand to his lips and kisses her knuckles.)

If she does we can donate it. (despite their decades of history, she has no place in their new home.)

[mynameisv]

[V sighs softly, reaching up to push some of Oda's dark hair from his cheek, away from his eyes. She cups his cheeks with a slight smirk.]

I don't hate her, you know. We're just two women in love with the same guy. Things are bound to get... unfriendly. Plus, I'm jealous of her. She had your undivided attention for a very, very long time.

[arasakadogs]

(oda nods in understanding and leans into her touch. what she says is true: his history, if kept strictly platonic, with hanako was decades long.)

You need not be jealous, V. You are the one...who has my whole heart.

[mynameisv]

[There's a little bit of a weight lifted off of V from that. That he found out what Hanako wants, why she's been haunting them with her presence. She smiles, leaning in to kiss him softly, well aware that she's just woken up and probably needs to brush her teeth, get some tea, and become a human for the day...

But this is nice.]

I am a thief, aren't I?

[arasakadogs]

One of the best.

(v had stolen him from hanako but more impressively, from arasaka itself. oda kisses v back, gentle and maybe a little longing.)

Did the baby behave last night for you? (he asks, v's discomfort between general stiffness and the baby's enthusiastic movements not lost of him.)

[mynameisv]

Mm. [V strokes her fingers through Oda's hair, parting the soft black strands and letting them run between her fingers. It calms her, and she knows he likes it.]

The baby... shares my predisposition towards being a night owl. [She groans softly. Shifting onto her back, she takes Oda's hand and lays it on her stomach where he'll be able to feel those sporadic movements.] Still hasn't entirely calmed down, but I think the baby will quiet after tea.

[arasakadogs]

(underneath oda's palm there is a ripple of movement, a kick. it is not the first time he has felt it---that happened weeks ago---but it still leaves him awestruck.)

I shall give them a stern talking to on your behalf, (oda jokes dryly and leans closer to v's belly.)

You stayed up past your bedtime again, little one.

[mynameisv]

[V gazes at him adoringly, stroking her fingers through his hair as he speaks to her belly and the acrobat inside. The little fluttering movements still amaze her, and she looks forward to them, even if they keep her up.]

I think this baby takes after both of our rebellious ways.

[arasakadogs]

Mm. I have only been "rebellious" since being with you, V. (he glances up, smirking. oda chuckles and presses a kiss to her belly.)

[mynameisv]

[V laughs, her touch lingering in his hair, her belly shaking a little. It causes the baby to kick again, just as Oda kisses.]

Careful. Make me laugh too much and they'll never get to sleep.

[arasakadogs]

(he smiles, delighted by feeling the kick.)

Mm. I am just glad I can make you laugh.

[mynameisv]

I hope you know it's really sweet when you smile. You usually have such a serious expression when you're thinking... [She runs her fingertips over the line between his eyebrows.] Right there.

[arasakadogs]

I have more reasons to smile these days, (he might be blushing just a little.)

[mynameisv]

Hell yeah, you do. [She laughs again, feeling that slight little flutter. The baby's calming down, thankfully, and it's making her sleepier.]

You mind making me some tea and bringing it in here? I think I finally have this one wound down... [She rubs her stomach idly, giving Oda her best puppy eyes.]

[arasakadogs]

(he leans in a steals a kiss before standing.)

Jasmine? Oolong? I can prepare breakfast too, if you wish it.

[mynameisv]

[She leans into his kiss and then shifts up onto the bed so she's sitting more, trying to find a comfortable way to lay. It's not even her size. She's stiff and she hates it in a special sort of way.]

Do we have anything with spice? Like chai? I can have a cup of that... [She grins softly.] And a light breakfast would be awesome.