redstarling, 1.9k, set a little over 5 years ago. pre-relationship.
•••••••
When Jodie found Special Agent Akai, he was, as the Special Agent in Charge had blithely suggested with a wave of his hand, in the break room, smoking.
“You’re not supposed to smoke in here,” she said, feeling the irritation rising, her patience already frayed from a rankling encounter minutes ago out in the office area.
Agent Akai looked up from his phone, cigarette dangling from his lips, nonplussed. He was slouched against the wall next to the trash can. And as Jodie got a better look at him, she grew even more unimpressed. Long hair that came down just past the shoulders—against regulations. A well-worn leather jacket with some noticeable scuffs and tears—dress code violation. As for the smudges of almost bruised-looking shadows and sunken bags under his eyes, she uncharitably decided were likely due to late nights spent smoking and drinking himself into a stupor at a pub. She knew the type; she grew up around the type.
No wonder the SAC asked her to come fetch him—she might have a glowing recommendation from Assistant Special Agent in Charge James Black, but she was still just a probationary agent, and newbies got crap detail. And this man? This man appeared to be a real piece of work. She couldn’t believe someone like this was an FBI agent. She couldn’t believe someone like this could remain an FBI agent.
He hadn’t said a thing since she entered the room, eyeing her in silence instead. She shook her head to herself, and proceeded with what she was sent to do. “Special Agent Akai? The Special Agent in Charge is requesting you in his office,” she announced, putting her hands on her hips, trying to project authority. “There’s an urgent matter that requires your presence.”
The man tilted his head ever so slightly. “Who are you?” he asked.
Jodie took a quelling breath before replying. “I am Special Agent Jodie Starling. I’ve just been assigned here to the New York Field Office today.”
“Ho…” Akai dragged out the single syllable into an idiosyncratic expression of emotion that was, objectively speaking, neutral in tone, yet Jodie couldn’t help but sense a hint of derision. “You’re the new probie?”
She bristled at the belittling moniker, but bore it. It wasn't the first time and until she proved herself to everyone else in the office, it wouldn’t be the last; she knew that. “Yes.”
“How old are you?”
She frowned and crossed her arms, not liking where this was headed. “I don’t see how that is related to the issue at hand, or any of your business.”
“You seem young for this position. That’s all.”
This time, Jodie had to physically swallow down the defensive flare of temper that threatened to disrupt the evenness of her voice. In her mind, she heard all the insinuations that weren't being said. How did someone like you get this position? What connections do you have? Who did you have to bribe or fuck? “I assure you, they would not have assigned me to the Violent Crimes Unit of New York City had I not been qualified.”
Akai’s expressionless, studying gaze did not waver, and as Jodie stared right back, she was beginning to feel as though it was a competition, or perhaps a test, and she did not like it, not from this man who looked like he should model the “Before” picture of an agent rehabilitation program’s brochure.
Finally, just as Jodie had about had enough, Akai seemed to come to some conclusion within his own head, chin dipping in the slightest hint of a nod. “Can I call you Jodie?”
“You may call me Special Agent Starling,” Jodie snapped.
The corners of his lips ticked up, ever so faintly, and the realization hit Jodie that he was probably just trying to get a reaction out of her. It made her feel even worse, because she had met no shortage of men like that, had encountered a group of men like that just minutes ago, her new colleagues. Men who would never view her as their equal in competence and ability, who would bait and provoke and taunt just to see her lose her cool—and she had just lost this round with this Agent Akai.
And now that the root of anger and humiliation had taken hold, it was even harder to keep it in check.
“Well, if you’ve had your fun,” she forced, hearing the bitter tremor in her own voice and feeling the rising sting of indignation clog her throat with heat, “are you capable of following orders, or do I have to report back that Special Agent Akai could not be bothered to part from his nicotine fix?”
She took some measure of satisfaction at seeing Akai blink, his self-possessed composure disrupted for all but a second.
He paused to consider his next words. “I had not meant to insult you,” he said, almost carefully.
How farcical. “Hadn’t you?” Her words were clipped—as far as she saw it, he had not done anything to deserve courtesy.
His brows twitched in displeasure.
“You can go tell the SAC, then,” he said, looking away, “that I will be there soon”—he took another drag on his cigarette, and smoke furled out alongside his next blasé words—“if he has anything new to say to me this time.”
And what she did then—she knew it was rude, beyond rude—but slapped in the face with that man’s flippancy and his flagrant insubordination against a superior’s demand that would’ve gotten most disciplined if not fired, her self control splintered.
She strode forward in four brisk steps and yanked the lit cigarette from his mouth.
She would later learn that, at that time, Akai had just come off of a three-month-long deep undercover stint in a local crime ring, and that it was with an adamantine force of will that he managed to smother a reflex for violence into a barely-there flinch, but in that moment, she attributed his lack of response as yet another sign of either his ineptitude or his total disdain for her. The flicker of surprise in his eyes had been quickly suppressed, and he regarded her now with stony composure, as though an adult rebuking a wild, recalcitrant child: What do you think you’re doing? His hand that had been raised to his mouth, now empty, fell slowly into a crossed-arm position across his chest.
“You…” She wanted to scream. Am I not enough for any of you to even take me seriously? Is a child all you’ll treat me as?
Then, a more sombering thought struck: Is that all I am acting like? A child? Throwing a tantrum because she isn’t being noticed?
The cigarette in her hand kept burning in the severe silence—until the lit end finally singed her skin.
The sudden pain wrenched her fully back to reality.
“I—” she began, the steam of her anger lost, a train sputtering to a stop. She took one step backwards. The cigarette lay on the linoleum floor between them, where she had dropped it in shock. “Agent Akai, I apologize,” she made herself say, face hot with shame. “My actions just now were totally out of line.”
Her father had always told her, ever since she could remember, to not let anyone tread all over her; however, he had also taught her that, when the injury was not grievous, a noble person knew to turn the other cheek. And, divested of her father’s presence so early in her life, she had tried hence to cling hard onto every word, every doctrine, his teachings all the more precious for its scarcity. Her anger had just made her lose sight of it all, and now she stood there, beating herself up.
Something in Akai’s flinty demeanor softened.
He extended a hand, palm up, and she realized he was asking for the cigarette back. She swallowed, her pride balking against the act. But, there was no denying it, she thought; the one squarely in the wrong here was her.
She knelt and picked up the still-lit cigarette, and passed it over.
As he plucked it out from between her fingers, on his hands, she saw knuckles that evidenced years of regular martial arts training and combat, saw scars and old injuries and gun calluses.
This close, she can tell that her previous assessments of the agent, colored by personal animus and prejudice, had been wildly incorrect. Contrary to what she had assumed to be the case, she could now see that Akai was well-built under that scuffed leather jacket, and the marks on his hands said that this wasn’t a body cultivated in a gym to be looked at but something to be used. Even his slouch, indolent though it might seem, was controlled. It brought to mind the image of a panther—it might lounge lazily up on the branch of a cypress tree, but its muscles would always be ready to coil and pounce.
This was not some derelict who fancied himself a tough, daredevil guy—this was a true field agent, through and through.
Hadn’t she fallen prey to the very thing she hated others doing to her?
She swallowed again, and tasted something that was not quite humiliation and not quite apprehension. She forced herself to look up and meet Akai’s eyes again, but there, instead of the reprobation or animosity she had expected, she found with surprise a hint of a smile.
She noticed suddenly how startlingly green his eyes were, and how, when not overshadowed by a dour expression, his features, angular and striking and sharp, were exceptional.
“Well, as you said,” he said, “I am not supposed to smoke in here.” He reached to the table beside him for a plastic cup that held about a half-inch of water, and dropped into it the cigarette he had just gotten back. The cigarette fizzled and went out. Then, he tossed the whole thing into the trash. “So, how about we say the blame here was fifty-fifty”—he reached out a hand, and that ghost of a smile solidified into, nearly, a real one—“and call it even, Agent Starling?”
He did not have to give her an out, nor offer her the olive branch. But here he was, extending a hand to her, affording her the choice of whether or not to accept.
I had not meant to insult you, he had explained, and she had spat in his face, thinking it a flimsy cop-out. Now she thought she might have been incorrect in her judgment of that, too. Perhaps she had just gotten too ingrained in the habit of looking for mockery, even when there was none.
She reached out and grasped his hand. His shake was firm, and his hand, unlike how the man himself had seemed at first sight, was warm. “Agent Akai.”
He nodded at her, once, in acknowledgment, in respect. “Welcome to the team.”
•••••••
[extra snippet, probably takes place during/after they work on a case together.]
“You need not be so defensive. You’re better than the majority of the rest of them out there. You have nothing to prove.”
“You don’t get it.” Of course he didn’t; he didn’t have people whispering behind his back that he only got here because he’s pretty and fucking someone higher up the line. Probably. “Proving myself and establishing myself as an outstanding agent is the only way I can get access to the files and data and resources that I need.” Realizing how that might sound, she added, “There’s someone that I’m looking for. That I need to find.”
The moment she mentioned that she’s on the hunt for someone, his demeanor shifted, ever so slightly.
“Long-lost family member?” he suggested, casually, but she thought she could hear an undertone of intrigued commiseration.
“No,” she replied flatly. “The opposite. The woman who murdered my entire family.”
Not gloating over anyone, as we all can ship whatever we want, but it’s noticeable that Gosho can answer so much about Red Starling, but doesn’t even know (as in: he never thought about) what Dai and Akemi did when they dated at all.
I read a book from an FBI agent who said that mobsters don’t usually kill FBI agents. Not even when they have been undercover in their own rows. Smart ones don’t. He said that it’s not impossible but rather unlikely.
And then there is Amuro, a cop, who doesn’t give a single shit about killing an FBI agent. Ah...
Jodie watches videos of “idiots in cars” for fun. She also makes Shuichi watch. The first time she made sure the video showed someone ruining their chevrolet.
So Jodie is playing this (weird) video game and she’s looking into ways on how to proceed in the game. She mentions the game to another colleague, who’s also into the game, and they get really into making up the fanciest theories, and Jodie is taking notes as they speak. When her break’s over, she stuffs the notes into her folder and heads back to her cubicle.
She goes home, throws the folder on the coffee table and since she’s not careful the content is spilling on the table.
Shuichi is already home at that point, sitting on the couch and - since they’re working on the same case - reaches for the files because he’s a workaholic and doesn’t get the concept of Feierabend, and so instead of the files he expected he finds himself looking at a list of ways to get rid of a husband - written in Jodie’s hand.
And he simply stares at the slip of paper, then at Jodie, then at the wedding ring on his finger, back to the list, and wonders what he did to make Jodie that angry.
MTX, Big theories aside...Do you think there's potential to Akai and Jodie getting back together?
Yes, I do (this includes if it's in a lowkey implied manner, like a romantic gesture from Akai), though I'm personally in the mind of that it will be short-lived, as I feel Akai is gonna die during the resolution of his character arc of defeating Gin for his revenge.
At the very least, Gosho showed that he either had something in mind or at the very least interest in wanting to write about their romantic relationship in Let's Talk Day 2017.
It could be a flashback, but either way, it's likely to get connected to, and progress in, the current time (after we are further into Akai's character arc of trying to honor Akemi). I think that Gosho is aiming for a positive end to Jodie's longing feelings for Shuu.
I wonder though, if the “if” part in the answer got translated correctly? Not here to point a finger at someone, but isn’t the detectiveconanworld quite a bit against Jodie (or her relationship with Shuichi anyway) to say the least? I don’t want to lie, but somehow I remember that they purposefully mistranslated some things to make a future for them look unlikely and at the same time put more light on Akemi. I can be wrong about it, but that’s what I’ve seen in the past.
So if his answer instead is more in the sense of “when I get to it” he will write about it. He actually hinted at it more than just once (which keeps the hope high he eventually will). Maybe after writing that he didn’t bang his cousin...
But, wouldn’t it be super unfair for his family to make him die in the end? I don’t believe he will, but making Mary go through the grief of losing her child, then oh surprise mom, I’m not dead, just to then get killed off? That would suck. And I somehow also don’t believe Gosho is going to kill the most liked Character in the whole fandom after sparing his life a first time.
A what if question, Akami had somehow survived do you thinks Shu could have broken up with her when he realizes they are not suitable for each other a) he is with the FBI, she is with BO he may have to put her behind bars for sometimes even if she did not do some things wilingl b) Shu's life in US is very differs from Dai, she does not know the real him c) he was mainly attracted to her because she resembles his ex-Jodie, a bit d) they are cousins e) his mom was poisoned by his Aunt's medicin?
Thank you for that question, Nonnie!
I don't know about the "because she resembles his ex" part, but otherwise I agree with all your reasons that might cause him to break up with her eventually.
Even if you could argue that her actions were born in a desperate attempt to get her sister out of the BO, she still decided to do these crimes willingly and even killed someone. Unintentionally, for sure, but if she believes Gin would hand her some sleeping pills, then she's either extremely naive or was quite a bit stupid. But believing the BO would let them go when she succeeds in the robbery is also not really the sign of her being overly smart. And regardless of all this, she committed crimes and if she hadn't died, she'd have gotten convicted for them (probably). I don't know anything about the Japanese law, but even if she'd get a lesser sentence, I think we'd still talk prison with everything that happened. However, I think that wouldn't be a deal breaker for an FBI agent. Wouldn't look good, but wouldn't make him lose his job either. Far more of a problem would be the distance plus the prison. I don't think Shuichi would consider living in Japan when everything is over.
And then, as you say, the person Akemi just to know and date was Dai, not Shuu. Maybe there was some Shuu in Dai, but at the end of the day, he lied to her and lived a lie. When we see her last message to him during the clash, she addresses him with "Dai" and not with Shuichi. Maybe she figured it isn't his real name (well, the BO knew, so she might should have come across his real name as well?) but she still addressed him as that man she met, knowing it's not his true identity.
The cousin part isn't even that bad either. I mean, for our standard maybe, but the fact that it's not illegal in a lot/most countries speaks for itself I think. (But then again, I barely know anyone who - if anyone at all - who would shrug it off). So it might be a deal breaker for most people, but legally it seems fine (though, not everywhere in the states to be fair).
And the thing about Mary I think would have nothing to do with his feelings or intentions. It wasn't Akemi's fault that Mary got poisoned by Vermouth.
However, I think it's pretty obvious that Jodie was his first love and we know how Gosho treats first loves. (Little side note: Gosho never said a name when he said who his first love is, but if it wasn't Jodie, it would mean he had never loved Jodie at all but stayed in a relationship with her for up to around three years. If the girl he fell for was Akemi, then nothing about him and Jodie had been true and this is something we can just strike as a possibility. Not sure if this needs prove, when it's a general and obvious thing how Gosho treats these issues; but as for Red Starling, this "argument" doesn't seem to count, so).
Also Akemi asking him to go out with her as her real boyfriend doesn't sound like she saw their relationship as a real one. Not sure if there might be a little bit of a different nuance in the Japanese original, but as it gets translated, it just sounds like they haven't been in a relationship and therefore he wouldn't need to break up. They certainly could and would need to talk, but ultimately, I believe, he wouldn't go back to her.
Hey redstarling shipper! Whos better for you, jodie or shuichi? The answers quiet obvious but people are different
Hey there, Nonnie!
Difficult question. Both are perfect and good in their own way. You can't really compare them. Or ask me to pick one. This is actually mean to ask for :D
hey im no redstarling shipper but do you mind if i ask a question? its those words above- i dont get them. what do they represent fbi stuff or another language. thats all i want to know
Hello Nonnie!
What words are you talking about? I would like to help you out, but I'm a bit at a loss of what you mean.
Are you speaking of the links on the blog? Then it's just FBI stuff we used as links to certain posts.
Will we ever see any signs of Akai either getting jealous and acknowledging that he still loves Jodie even after he broke up with her?
Hello Nonny!
Personally, I don't think he is the person who gets jealous— not in the sense that he overreacts or does something impulsive anyway. I see him (and Jodie too) as too mature to get especially jealous.
And let's be realistic, with Jodie not caring for any other man as far as we're into the manga, I don't think it will happen eventually just to make Shuichi confess or acknowledge his feelings.
He's keeping Jodie (but actually everyone) out of his affairs as much and as long as possible, but the fact that they're still close is maybe a sign of their mutual understanding of their situation. They both prioritize their mission, go on as friends and co-workers— and eventually, I think, they will get back together in a rather mature way that doesn't involve any pre-shown jealousy. Anything else wouldn't fit them imo)
Shuichi Akai, the man the BO fears most, the man with the mean eyes, kneels down to a random cat to spend some time petting it on his way home.
I know episode 1002 is a filler and not manga material, but can we all just stop what we’re doing for a second and take this in? It’s not like he’s been watched to act this way, he just felt the need to pet this cat. He is not immune to cuteness around him.
Maybe I should go and pretend this is canon. I deffo want to pretend this is canon.
As it seems to me right now, Jodie doesn't need glasses and that her father's glasses she's wearing doesn't have lenses anymore.
I've actually wanted to make a post about the idea that at the end, when the BO is destroyed, Jodie will take off her glasses as Shuichi will delete Akemi's message. This answer from Gosho in the SDB Justice just is maybe a little hint in the same direction!
So in a Japanese talk show with Gosho and guest VA Hamabe Minami, Gosho said that Jodie's action scenes in the upcoming movie is like a very large scale American drama and that he finds it really cool.
