Workplace... Rivalry?
@smlgbtqweek day 2: lonely/company ao3 link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/66828994
summary: Minako and Kaia are part of a secret program dedicated to solving crimes by patching into the minds of the deceased. Romance between employees is strictly forbidden, but rules have never stopped them before. ship: Minako Aino/Kaia Luthor (Beryl) wordcount: 1,094 tags/warnings: secret relationship, Stitchers AU
Minako Aino tag | Kaia Luthor tag | Minako/Kaia masterlist
“Like hell she can!”
Minako bit her lips together to hide a grin as her coworker marched up the stairs, still dripping wet from the tank. She looked from Kaia to their boss, watching the older woman sigh in frustration.
“Minako, you know she won’t be able stitch if she shuts out her navigator,” Miko Bando declared. She turned her head to Kaia. “And you cannot shut out everyone who doesn’t work fast enough for you.”
“Why not?” Kaia demanded, suddenly tilting her head and whipping a bit of water from her ponytail onto one of the many computer screens in the lab.
“Hey, watch the tech!” Kaede snapped, running up and wiping the water away. “These aren’t regular computers you can get at Best Buy. If one of them breaks, we could be out of commission for weeks!”
“Good, you can find me a new navigator in that time,” Kaia quipped back.
Miko raised an eyebrow and held out a file towards Kaia. Just as the redhead reached out to grab it, Miko shifted to present the file to Minako instead. “Minako, you’re lead on getting the new navigator caught up,” she declared. “Kaia, give this one a chance; he got a higher score on the screening than any of the old navigators.”
Kaia just rolled her eyes, nearly pouting, and Minako had to hold back a snicker.
Minako held up the file briefly as she threw in, “I’m gonna go study in Conference Three.” She left the group and headed towards the conference room, sitting down to review the new navigator’s profile.
Jason White, age 29, recent transplant from America and an expert in linguistics. At least that explained how he got such a good score on the screener- stitching was basically translating the dead’s memories into reality. Every other navigator had been a programmer.
He’d been fairly popular in high school and college, but as of late he’d been sticking to his employer and home, avoiding going out for drinks after work or engaging in any community events. What changed? Minako wondered.
“So am I gonna break this one, too?”
Minako looked up from her work to see Kaia in jeans and a light grey sweatshirt, hair released from its ponytail to air dry. She closed the door behind her and sat down across from Minako. “Well?”
Minako sighed and flipped over to another page, then turned the file towards Kaia. “Maybe, maybe not,” she replied. “He’s not a programmer.”
“Thank god, one more of them and I was gonna strangle someone.” Kaia looked down at the file. “He’s cute.”
“Careful, I might get jealous.” A smirk sat on Minako’s face as she teased, watching Kaia break out in a smile as well.
“You know no one could ever tear me away from you.” Kaia slowly reached out across the table, seeking Minako’s own hand.
Minako glanced at the glass wall of the conference room, checking to make sure no one was looking before she took Kaia’s hand and gave it a squeeze. “I’m not getting any suspicion off of Miko; are you?”
Kaia shook her head. “I think we’re safe for now; she still thinks we hate each other.” She slowly pulled her hand back. “You’re different here. You act like lonely Venus, the weight of worlds on her shoulders.”
Minako shrugged and averted her eyes. “We’re dealing with murder victims; I’m supposed to be serious. Besides, it’s good to separate who I am at work from who I am at home.”
“Sure it is.” Kaia didn’t sound convinced. She slid her foot forward, rubbing it against Minako’s.
Minako furrowed her eyebrows, giving her girlfriend a worried look. “What exactly did you see in the last stitch?” she asked. “You’re clearly experiencing residual emotion; you’d never risk being this affectionate at HQ.”
Kaia sighed and leaned back, crossing her arms. “Her husband was cheating on her; she tried saving the marriage by being more physical.”
“Poor thing,” Minako mused. She pulled the file back towards her. “Well, we can’t do much about her relationship now, but when we get home I’d be happy to get real physical.”
“Oh?” Kaia asked, sitting up and leaning back in. “When can we leave?”
Minako glanced up to see Miko walking over, and she cleared her throat, straightening her back. “Look, I know you’re a giant misanthrope, but this guy might actually be a good navigator for you.”
“Just because I don’t think everyone is secretly good and selfless doesn’t mean I’m a misanthrope,” Kaia objected, immediately falling back into character as Miko walked in. “I’m here, aren’t I? Helping solve these crimes?”
“Back to your corners, ladies,” Miko sighed. “Isamu went to the victim’s apartment, but her husband wasn’t there. While he tracks him down, I’m cutting you loose. Go get some sleep.”
Kaia let out a dramatic huff and rested back in her chair. “Finally! God, I thought I was gonna fall asleep during the last stitch.”
“Good, then I expect you both to be in at eight am, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.”
Before Kaia could object, Minako replied, “We’ll be here.” She stood up and closed the file on Jason White, tucking it under her arm. “Come on, roomie.”
The two got up and headed out, making their way back to their own apartment.
——
Once they were settled in bed, Kaia’s head resting on Minako’s breast, the blonde finally asked the question that had been on her mind all evening. “Do I really act like Nanaya at work?”
She heard Kaia’s breath stutter, pulled from the beginning stages of falling asleep. “Is that so bad?” she asked in response.
“Nanaya didn’t notice you were being groomed by Metallia,” Minako replied. “She dismissed your concerns. You must have felt so…”
“Lonely?” Kaia offered. “Seems there was a lot of that going around in our past lives.” She propped herself up on her elbow, looking down into Minako’s eyes. “I knew we would never work out when I fell in love with Nanaya. I knew we were doomed from the start, but I wanted you anyway. Nanaya was loyal, principled, courageous. All the things I fell in love with Minako for. It doesn’t matter that Nanaya was stoic and Minako is easy-going; you’re the same person I fell in love with, and I’d fall for you a million times over.”
Minako smiled, going doe-eyed as her girlfriend spoke. “And you’re still just as loving and authentic as you were back then.” She reached up, cupping Kaia’s face. “We never have to be lonely again.”
