#stopppppp the way I can picture his soft little smile so clearly too

[strawberrystepmom]

Are you busy? Can I show you something?

Tenko doesn’t type more than a couple words to you per text - not much more than an ‘okay’ or a ‘thumbs up’ whenever you give him updates on the new security features and restrictions to his support items and paraphernalia - given that you’re not exactly the best of friends (yet), so when he sends you a text message on the latter end of the work day, you have to admit you’re surprised.

But you’ve always had the feeling Tenko was somewhat skittish around you. Much like a cat.

Perhaps just awkward. You can’t imagine that he’s been socialized properly given all the suspected childhood trauma that’s culminated in your homeland nearly being destroyed, so the fact that he’s just a bit timid is both jarring but also expected.

You wonder what he has to show you.

Sure, you type back.

You set your phone down and go back to your blueprints for a moment. When it lights up again, instead of a text of a photo or screenshot, you realize your phone is ringing, and when you let it float into your hands, you find that he’s sent you a video call.

For some reason, your heart is racing, as if he were anything more than a client particularly personal to you because of a dear friend. It’s odd that he wants to video chat you, and part of you wonders if one of your restraints malfunctioned while he was on the job and you’ve somehow irked him beyond belief. Could you deal with the fallout of being the one to turn Tenko back to a life of crime? 

The very idea makes you sick to your stomach.

Your cameras connect, and he’s possibly a little too close to the camera, enough that you can practically see up his nostrils. Realizing immediately he pulls back and readjusts himself - you note that he seems to be walking somewhere, outside, the feedback from a particularly zealous wind a bit harsh on your ears, but he’s not yet talking. 

He doesn’t say anything for a few more seconds - he just looks at the phone as he walks, and you wonder if it’s really you he’s looking at, he seems somewhat preoccupied, entranced even. A hand runs through the waves of his dark hair, and then right when you’ve grown tired of the awkward silence, he speaks.

“Hey, um, do you notice anything different?”

“Huh?”

As the word comes out, you feel immediately apologetic, because Tenko seems to recoil and it doesn’t help that you sound practically foolish in your confusion, but you’ve been spending a half hour trying to get a bit of wiring in a gadget correct and you’re not exactly sure what social game this young man is playing right now.

For a moment, you wonder if there’s something on your face, and pat your face reflexively.

“I, um-,” he pauses, and you notice he’s also stopped his walk. You wonder where he is, how close he is to you, holed up in your apartment for greater than 24 hours and unable to enjoy the crisp, fall air.

You don’t want to ask, why did you call me? But it would really help if you could.

“Is there something I’m missing, Entropy?” you ask. 

He quickly pipes up to correct you.

“Tenko.”

“Tenko,” you repeat. He seems to bloom as you say his name, his real one, and encouraged, he finally says,

“I got a haircut.”

You blink.

He did get a haircut. Cropped slightly on the sides but the back portion still slightly long, fuller waves framing his face. Still somewhat shaggy, but better kept. Softer.

You smile. “It looks nice.”

He smiles back, brightly. “You told me the hair was fucking with your-” he pauses, “I mean, messing with the suit collar’s contacts so I talked to the agency’s image coordinators and they…” He trails off again, waving his hand over his visage.

“It looks really fucking good,” you say again, smiling widely, the emphasis on the curse word reminding him that it’s okay to be less formal.

Pride practically beams on his face like a child. Satisfied, he changes the subject. 

“How was your day?” he asks, and you wonder again how far he is, and if maybe you could spare some time to get just a little bit of fresh air.

entropy x sparkles my beloved <333