Well, I’ll be damned! It’s a short, sweet Chapter 16!! My lovely friend @funnymonkeythief suggested a self care chapter and (while it isn’t a spa chapter) the gang gets to be cute before I damage them to the brink of destruction!
“Look what I found!” Lupin smiled, pulling a portable radio out of a box on the kitchen table.
It had been about three days and they were all trying to take it a bit easier. Jigen was at the stove, cooking up a hell of a storm while the rest of them sat along the table. Fujiko was putting Goemon’s hair up while the samurai and inspector looked through some store bought seed packets and some flowers from outside together.
“A radio?” Zenigata glanced over, raising an eyebrow. They had the TV though?
“Ah, ah! The radio.” The thief smiled, turning the station dial carefully before picking up a station from Tokyo.
“How the hell did you manage that-?” Zenigata’s eyes widened a bit, looking at the radio incredulously.
“There was a time we had to use this place for long stints, so Lu programmed the thing to pick up stations worldwide.” Jigen shrugged, chopping some vegetables.
“Makes it easy to know when you’re after us.” Lupin winked, smiling as he placed the radio down on the table.
The inspector huffed, glancing away as blush crept into his cheeks. Whatever… He pulled the radio over, examining it quietly as Fujiko sat down beside them.
“It would be nice if we had a pool out here. We could swim while we listened to this.” She smiled softly, glancing at Lupin playfully.
“A good distraction for them while you and I go to the deep end~” Lupin giggled, smiling at her.
“Get a room.” Jigen bopped Lupin over the head with a rolled up newspaper, leaning against the counter as he let the food cook.
“Don’t flirt in front of my onigiri.” Goemon pouted a bit, glancing between them.
“Sorry, Goe.” Lupin laughed a bit, rubbing the top of his head where Jigen had smacked him.
The group continued to discuss their plans for the house, Goemon occasionally slipping hand woven flower rings and crowns onto the group throughout the conversation.
“A chicken coop sounds nice too.” Jigen glanced over. “Fresh eggs would save us money.”
“They’re easy to build, pools too.” Goemon glanced at Fujiko as he smiled softly.
“Yes! Oh, and a gazebo! It would be so pretty.” Fujiko gushed, smiling happily. “And it would be so nice to sit in the shade and read a book.”
“Who would make sure everything was taken care of once you all left?” Zenigata raised an eyebrow.
“I do have neighbors, yknow?” Lupin cocked an eyebrow, looking over at him.
“Ones that like you?” Zenigata asked, eyes widening in fake surprise.
“I’m wounded, Pops!” Lupin gasped, mock offended as the others laughed at him.
After some minutes, Fujiko grabbed the radio, turning the dial a few times before she found some trendy American station that was playing current hits. She smiled, turning the volume up as she jumped out of her chair. The others watched, amused, as she danced her way over to Jigen and grabbed his hands.
“Hey-“ Jigen hesitated, glancing at the group around the table.
“What, too much of a sourpuss to dance with me?” Fujiko teased, looking up at him playfully.
“Oh, what the hell…” Jigen mumbled after a moments hesitated, smirking as he danced with her.
Lupin laughed, watching them happily as he glanced at Goemon and Zenigata. The samurai was tapping his foot, watching Jigen and Fujiko with a small smile while Zenigata laughed softly and watched them fondly. The thief smirked, standing as he bowed and held his hand out to the inspector. The older man hesitated, face going red as he stumbled over his words.
“Jeez, Pops, I’m asking you to dance, not commit treason.” Lupin laughed softly. “We are on a truce, right?”
“…right..” Zenigata nodded hesitantly, standing as he took the smaller man’s hand in his own.
Lupin laughed, pulling him over by Fujiko and Jigen as the group danced together. Given everything that had happened, he hadn’t expected to be feeling so…good. But being together with his gang of partners, of family…it really helped him feel like nothing had even happened. Looking up, he beamed at the inspectors smiling face as the older man laughed and spun him around. This was living.
When the song eventually ended and the station cut to commercials, the group was out of breath and Goemon was enjoying his onigiri he managed to snag while nobody was looking. Fujiko laughed, kissing Jigen on the cheek as the gunman smirked and lit up a cigarette. Lupin laughed, hands on Zenigata’s broad chest as he shook his head.
“It’s been a while since I’ve done that.” Lupin smiled softly, glancing up at him.
“You’re definitely a lot better than I’d give you credit for.” Zenigata teased a bit, smiling down at him.
“Aw, Pops, you flatter me~!” Lupin winked, pulling him closer as he laughed.
“Jesus, Lu, give him a break or you’re gonna break him.” Jigen called over to him, laughing around his cigarette as he jerked a thumb at the inspectors red face.
“Kidding, kidding.” Lupin smiled, pulling back as he sat down and crossed his legs. “Or am I~?”
“Lupin-!” Zenigata sputtered, blushing more as the group laughed.
~~~~
From the attic, a shadowed figure worked with some machinery. Turning dials and knobs, crossing wires and pushing buttons, it wasn’t long before they managed to hack a barely used broadcast channel in the area. Perfect! Soon they would be able to begin their operations and nobody would be able to stand against the organization and Lupin the Third.
