Confession

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I'm on a roll. So, erm, I said this would be short - about 30 000 - but I guess I was underestimating it again. Too bad :) Story of my life, I can't do short.

"Knock knock."

Her voice was tentative, the words almost a question. Tōga sucked in a breath; it was the first time Gwen voluntarily came to his office. Unit leads did barge in every so often, but the recruits had little reasons to bother the station's mighty Captain.

Locking eyes with her, Tōga tried to assess whether her reasons were those he dreaded. Given her posture, half-hidden behind the door frame, the answer was plain.

"Am I interrupting?"

Gathering his courage, the Captain shook his head with a welcoming smile.

"Not at all. I was about to take a break..."

Gwen was still frozen, her grey eyes wide.

"I ... uh. I came to discuss some papers."

Tōga's heart rate increased drastically, but he kept his neutral expression in place.

"Close the door, Gwen, and take a seat."

The young woman shut the door without a noise, her moves gentle as she slowly lowered herself to the chair in front of his desk. She seemed so ill at ease that a horrible doubt started to creep up his spine.

She hated it. Or worse, she thinks I'm crazy.

Both thoughts swirled in his mind, taking root in the deepest recesses of his soul. Eventually, tongue half glued to his mouth, he broke the uneasy silence.

"You read it?"

"I read it," she nodded.

When she added nothing more, seemingly searching for the right words, Tōga took the lead.

"My style if pretty awful..."

Gwen's head snapped up, her gaze trapping his. It felt like watching a blade descend upon him without any means to dodge it. Tōga never lacked courage; he'd always faced death head on.

"The style in irrelevant, Taishō."

He cringed; trust Gwen not to sugarcoat. Suddenly, the bluntness he usually enjoyed left a sour taste in his mouth. Her flustered state made no doubt; Gwen was fidgeting in her seat, and her cheeks darkened. Her nervousness echoed to his, and he felt his lungs constrict in his chest, chains coiling around his frame to smother him.

He snapped.

Tōga suddenly reached for his top drawer, pulling it open with such force that Gwen jumped. The little box regarded him challengingly; would he dare? Fed up with the tension, the Captain reached for it and set it down on his desk, balanced over paperwork.

"Dig in," he said, pulling up the lid to reveal a set of dark chocolates he'd bought a few days prior in a French chocolaterie.

Gwen's expression brightened, the sparkle returning to her grey eyes.

"Really?"

"Yes. You're my chocolate expert, I need to know if they are worth the price."

Elegant fingers chose a little brown square with a pensive hum and she popped the treat in her mouth. A moan of delight escaped her as she munched on the chocolate and, just for that sound, he decided they were well worth the hassle.

"Those are delicious. Where did you get them?"

"If you manage to say your piece, I'll give you the address," he teased.

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