Twice a Day

Chapter 10: Clearing it Up

"Lupin, hold on."

"No doubt about it, Goe-Goe. I can't share a room with her, it's indecent!! You've known her longer. You're much more of a softie too, y'know? Good night!" He started to close the door, pausing to regard you one last time. "And hey. Don't worry. We'll get it sorted." His face returned to the light-hearted smile. "Nighty night!"

The door shut, and Goemon muttered something about Lupin's cry of indecency. He faced you, stonecold and unfeeling, and bowed. It was a stiff, strange bow that you'd expect from a stranger. Not someone you'd kissed in a fit of panic and love. Was that all not the real Goemon? Was the real Goemon this stiff, unfeeling stranger?

He opened the door, and motioned for you to go first. As soon as you reached the bed, you wanted to shout. You wanted to pull at his hair and shame him for playing you for a fool. So, first thing being first, you...

Fell butt-first on the bed and began to sob.

Goemon's shoulders tightened as he heard the noise while locking the door again, turning to you with horror. He dropped the plastic key on the ground and ran to your side. He looked like he wanted to say something, but he wasn't sure what. He lifted his arms, as if inviting you in, but remembered the situation he'd entirely messed up.

But he couldn't sit and watch you bawl either.

"Look at me..."

"Why should I?!" you fired back instantly. In a heartbreaking realization, you decided you couldn't trust him with that clock anymore, and proceeded to stick it under one arm so you could point at him angrily and freely. You were emotional, sure, but you were by no means forgiving him yet. "Go on, tell me! Explain yourself, down to the bone, right now, or don't even bother talking to me!"

Goemon's eyes widened at the outburst, but he respected it. "First, I would rather you stop crying."

You took off your shoe, ready to throw it at him.

"B-Because you cannot hear me if you are sobbing throughout!"

You lowered your leg, satiated temporarily. You wiped your face with your hands and glowered, ready for what better be a hell of a good explanation.

"It is true, Lupin and I are thieves."

"What about um... Jigen?" Goemon looked at you, deadpan. Jigen did kind of dress suspiciously, didn't he? "Okay."

"We are not malicious to innocents. Had the operation gone as planned, no harm would have befallen your grandfather, and especially not you."

"Gone as planned? You really did plan on stealing from him!"

"It was not my idea, but I did partake in the original plot. Then I... Met you. You threw things off quite a bit."

"But why lie about who you are?"

Goemon looked aside. "In most countries, we are known for the wrong reasons. I could not risk you recognizing my name and turning Jigen and I in."

You thought to events earlier that night. "Lupin introduced himself rather honestly."

"Lupin is a fool. You would have learned that earlier had you met him." Goemon shook his head and returned to his former train of thought. "It was not your family we were after. It was the clock. You really-- No, I will not blame you."

"What?" Your anger had mostly reduced to a simmer, but your face was still wet enough with tears to remind you of your circumstances. "What is it?"

"He had no protective measures for the clock."

"Of course not," you said dumbly. "Why would he need to?"

Goemon stared at you. "Why would... Why would he need to hide a clock with golden and silver gears?"

You blinked at him, wiping the last of the leaks off your face. "What?"

Goemon looked like someone had spit in his food. "Did you not know?"

"Goemon, its-- The reason that clock is so important is because my fourth great grandfather carved it when he was a teenager! He made it himself, that's why it's valuable to us!" Goemon still looked stunned. "It doesn't even run right, Goemon!"

You stood, a mix of rage and laughter bubbling inside you. "YOU WERE GOING TO STEAL MY GRANDFATHER'S BROKEN CLOCK BECAUSE YOU THOUGHT IT WAS THE CARMEN CLOCK?"

"N-NO! I--" Goemon's embarrassment wasn't enough to distract him from what you said after. "What did you just say? What did you call it?"

"The clock with the gears or whatever? That belongs to the Carmen family." You huffed at the memory. "They're nothing but a bunch of spoiled a-holes. They're on the other side of our town, in the big white house. They never shut up about that stupid old clock."

Goemon looked faint. He shakily sat on the couch, holding his head with one hand. "Dear God."

You stared at him. "I can't believe..." A sudden giggle rose up. "You were..." Another laugh. Your anger finally melted away. "And you helped me without even knowing!" You burst into laughter, at last taking him up on his offer for a hug.

At the sudden weight, Goemon fell back only slightly, before grinning and holding you tight. "Is this forgiveness?"

You paused at that, thinking as you stared at his arm. "No. Yeah. Okay, halfway. You're forgiven for the lie, but not for throwing me into danger."

Goemon was floored. "B-But you insisted--"

"We can talk about it later," you smiled into the fabric of his shirt. "For now, I'm just... Really, really tired. And I want to sleep in a real bed."

Goemon shook his head, too tired to question the emotional turnaround. He lifted you off of him long enough to remove the covers, gently guiding you beneath. You hadn't truly realized how exhausted you were until you were snug inside the sheets. "All this over a clock that wasn't even my grandpa's," you laughed softly, your voice already heavy with sleep as you set the clock on the nightstand.

He joined you underneath, something stronger than his usual modesty bringing him close to you in a warm, comforting hug. You felt something thin and wispy on your arm as he curled his head towards you. 

"Your hair is soft," you mumbled, so quiet you yourself could barely hear it.

"Hmm?"

"Thanks for the clock."