towerofanimus | The Lovers' S/Working Out the Issues

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The Lovers' S/Working Out the Issues

Characters: Shoutarou and AU France
Setting: Floor Ten - Aquarium
Format: Prose
Summary: Francisca finally has a little talk with Shoutarou over his foolish heroics during the power outage.
Warnings: Possible swearing, arguing?

"Francisca, what's gotten into you?!"

That was his big question after he'd been forcibly dragged into the aquarium level after crossing paths with Francisca on the stairs. Apparently, she was upset, given the look on her face when she grabbed his arm.

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There was a sigh, then he turned to face her. "I can't do that, Francisca... I know that I might get killed, but we run that risk just being in this place, whether people stick their necks out for others or not. It's something I've come to terms with. Something you run the risk of having happen in my line of work."

She whirled around with a snarl and grabbed him by his tie, dragging him close. "This is no risk - this is you throwing yourself at danger you imbecile!!!"

Grip transfering to his shirt collar, she turned with him in tow and roughly dunked his head into the aquarium quickly, yanking him back after a few seconds. "There are dangers you can control, but if you keep flinging yourself into the face of death it would be no different to me killing you myself!" she snapped, tears coming to her eyes, shaking him roughly.

Before Shoutarou could protest, he found himself getting his head soaked. Once he got out, he coughed and spluttered, then pushed his hair out of his face with a scowl. "Well, SOMEONE has to protect those people who can't protect themselves! It's my duty to help those in need as a detective, and it's my duty to protect people in need as a Kamen Rider!"

His teeth clenched a bit, and one hand moved to rest on one of those shaking hands. He spoke again, but his tone was quieter this time. "I don't expect you to like it, or agree with it, but it's something I must do."

She trembled with rage at his utter stupidity, ready to throttle him at that point. "You... something you 'must do'?"

Before she could stop herself, her hand flew out and slapped him hard across the face, just barely checking her strength in time to stop from sending him flying. "You idiotic man! You think it being your duty makes it acceptable!?"

Her hand was tremble as she curled it into a fist, containing the urge to slap him again, and the urge to cry. "This is why you humans are ridiculous - don't you understand? Once you die, you don't come back!"

The detective still staggered from the strike, if just a step. His hand goes up to the point of impact, and he looks back at Francisca rather indignantly.

"...you think I don't know that?!"

"You certainly don't behave like you do!" she snarls, absently noting that this had quickly progressed to a shouting match.

"I'm very, very aware of that potential outcome! I'm not -trying- to throw my life away! I don't want to die, but I recognize that it's a possibility!"

He huffs, turning on his heel and putting his hands at his hips. It's a good few moments before he speaks again. "I swore to protect my home - I didn't want anyone there to be sad - didn't want them to cry. When I got the power to actually carry that desire out, I jumped at the chance. If I don't, no one will."

"... Your home isn't here, you don't have to protect it when you should be using your strengths to protect yourself!"

"I want to make sure everyone here lives to see their homes again!"

She stomps her foot, frustrated. "And at this rate, you yourself will never see your own home! How do you think your friends and family there will feel!? Wondering where you vanished to!?"

"I'm not going to sit around and do nothing just because of a possibility! I fully intend on going back home - I owe it to my former partner and my boss, but I'm not going to sit idle while until the chance presents itself!" He clenches a fist, glancing back. "That's just how it is."

"I won't accept that," she hissed, grabbing his shoulder and turning him to face her. "If you insist on protecting everyone in this tower..." Her voice lowered as she kept going, "If you risk your life continuously to save the others, then do it for those who need your strength - don't waste it on me."

Her eyes hardened as she continued, "If I die as a result of that, so be it. It will be my own fault for losing my edge with age."

Shoutarou's face is initially angry, though it gains a confused edge.

"...those who need my strength? What, did I bruise your pride by defending you?"

She gaped at him before snarling and pushing him back. "No! I'm hurt because you almost died because of me!"

Throwing up her hands, she turned on her heel muttering about stupid men while rubbing at her eyes and moving to leave the floor.

He stumbles, but catches himself - he can't reach her to stop her physically, so he calls out instead - "Francisca." His tone is a lot more gentle - still firm, however. "Don't you dare blame yourself over that. I made the choice to do what I did."

She paused at the doorway to the stairs and glanced back at him, expression unreadable. "... Too many I cared for have died defending me throughout the years. You think it being your 'choice' makes it better?"

"I don't know!" He huffs, then shakes his head. "I've never encountered anyone like you that's so adamant about me not helping them. It's unfamiliar territory, and it doesn't make sense! Not protecting someone I care about, it just doesn't register. It goes against everything I've been taught, everything I know..."

He makes an exasperated noise, then motions at Francisca. "It'd be like if I asked you to stop being French or something!"

She makes a rude noise and huffs, leaving the room and stomping down to the lower floor.

The detective sighed, staring off at the water for a few minutes before leaving the room himself, though heading upstairs.

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The Lovers' S/Working Out the Issues

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