soul_logs | V-Day Means Work Day. [OPEN]

Yuri had done his best to ignore anything to do with Valentine's Day. The day itself had lost its meaning to the Judge long ago, and he simply had no interest or desire to partake in any of the 'festivities'. That was why he had arrived at the Agency much easier than he should have and had done some work before finally making his way into the Watch building.

Skilfully avoiding anything to do with the useless 'holiday', Yuri made himself a cup of tea, stirring in just the right amount of honey of course, before skulking his way into his office and closing the door behind him. With some luck, everyone would be too involved with themselves to come and bother him, and he would be able to get his work done in peace.

Setting the teacup down on his desk, he got himself set up before sitting down and getting onto his work.

Sarah had been in the office sorting out a little paper work before she had planned on once again hitting the city. She didn't know much about the 'holiday' or cared much to celebrate it; it wasn't as if she had love in her life anyway. She had work to do after all, and she had just finished dumping the papers on a desk for filing when she turned and spotted a familiar skulking figure.

Thoughts of leaving left her as she followed the Judge towards his office before taking a detour to grab a few chocolates from the staff area. She made her way to his office, intent on making his day a little better with her presence, though he would deny it. No matter, she knew what she was doing.

She walked right in like she owned the place and plunked her backside down on the corner of his desk. "Mr. Petrov, I thought I saw your skulking back easing through the halls. You're here early today. Not doing anything romantic for your one and only?"

No sooner had he sat down did he find the presence of another entering his room. A quick glance up left him inwardly sighing in annoyance, but he did his best to keep his expression schooled neutrally even as Kerrigan parked herself down on his desk again. It seemed to be an irritating habit of hers, and one that wouldn't stop either.

"This is a work day just like every other," the Judge murmured in reply rather than answering her question. He had no interest in such foolish concepts, and was more than content to not have it involved in his life. It was nothing but a waste of time in his opinion. "May I help you, Miss Kerrigan?"

While he kept his expression neutral, the way that his eyes flashed was enough to let her know that she had annoyed him. That was an amusing thought as she made herself perfectly comfortable on part of his desk, being sure to settle on a few papers he might need in the day.

"Hence why we are all here," she replied conversationally before she dropped two chocolates next to his tea cup. "I just wanted to give you some chocolate, since it's apparently some kind of ridiculous celebration day." She had little interest, but using it to bug him was in the cards. "Though, since you're basically skin and bones, you might not eat chocolate."

There was some part of him that hoped Kerrigan would have found something else to bother while he got back to his work, but he knew that such things were impossible. She seemed like an annoying pebble within his shoe, so why would she take a day off and go elsewhere when there were enjoyment possibilities of his torture here?

When the chocolates were slipped next to his teacup, he found his attention drifting down there. He wanted to frown at the gesture, and nearly did, but he managed to keep his expression neutral. That was... surprisingly kind for her, and he wondered behind her motives for the gesture. There had to be something, after all.

"That's very kind of you," Yuri murmured politely while ignoring the comment about him being just skin and bones. "Shouldn't these be yours though?"

Simply because it was a day called Valentine's Day didn't mean that she would let him get away with skulking around the office. If he would just act like everyone else with a little socialization and pretending to care then she would probably have left him alone by now. Oh he was polite enough, put up enough of a front, but she saw through it. He was hiding so much behind that pretty face.

The only reason she had gotten him chocolate was because they were there, apparently a strange tradition on this day, and he had already gotten himself some tea. That left her with this option, so she had gone with it without much thought for what the chocolates could do. in her mind, they were just chocolate.

She held up her hand where there was a chocolate remaining in her grip. "I'm giving them to you, and I have this one," she murmured softly. "A lady needs to watch her figure after all. Doesn't a little sweet go with tea?"

His only hope would be that she would disappear and leave him be if he had the chocolates. Would that be considered enough of a victory for such an outcome to take place? He was skeptical, of course, but would at least make an attempt if there was the possibility of it happening.

"Very well," he muttered before turning his attention to the chocolates. Why he had to have two chocolates was beyond him, but he knew better than to voice his complaints while in the presence of another. That was why he reached out for the first chocolate before popping it elegantly into his mouth.

He chewed on the sweet chocolate quietly before swallowing it - the Judge entirely unknown of his impending doom because of that gesture. "It was delicious," Yuri honestly murmured while making no attempt for the last chocolate. Perhaps, if he was lucky, she might be satisfied enough with that.

Sarah was actually very surprised when he seemed to relent far faster than ever before. She sat still and silent on the desk, watching him with almost a suspicious air as she rolled the small chocolate in her own hand. She was trying to determine if his sudden complacency was really him or he was just doing it because he thought it would be rid of her faster.

Either way, it was unheard of. She had to annoy him for far longer on any other day. Yet, there he was popping a chocolate into his mouth as if it were a normal activity, and she hummed softly at his honest words. Strange for him to be so honest. Was he sick?

"I brought you two, Mr. Petrov. You need to put a little meat on those bones," she murmured and pointedly glanced down at the other chocolate before slipping the one in her hand into her mouth and eating it. They were... surprisingly good actually.

His small ray of hope seemed to disappear behind a cloud when she pointed out the remaining chocolate. Yuri didn't mind sweets, even if he rarely had them, and so he found himself hard pressed to come up with a reason as to why he shouldn't have any more. Although even if he had, the Judge knew well that Kerrigan wouldn't relent.

Giving her a small look, he sighed ever-so-slightly beneath his breath before following suit. The sooner he got this over and done with the better. That was his opinion anyway, but whether it happened or not would be another question. Chewing on the chocolate, while it had a different flavour from the first, it wasn't unpleasant either.

Swallowing his mouthful, he peered up at her and murmured, "I never knew that you were so concerned over my health, Miss. Kerrigan."

Raising an eyebrow at his look, she continued to chew the sweet in her mouth before swallowing when he gave in. He was so complacent today that it was odd, and it made her suspicious of him. She would have to get to the bottom of his odd behaviour today, especially that honesty which she couldn't help but crave.

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me, Mr. Petrov," she murmured as she picked at some of the papers on his desk. She felt a strange warmth spreading from the chocolate in her stomach and finally looked at Yuri before freezing as the warmth took hold.

Her heart fluttered, which was the oddest sensation she had ever experienced in her life. For the first time, she thought that she actually saw the man sitting in the chair and hot emotion flooded her as she found herself staring at him. She drew in a deep breath, holding it as warmth spread across her cheeks as she blushed for the first time in many years. She was... in love.

He did what he could to ignore the weight of her gaze as he finished chewing on his chocolate. Yuri had to agree on her reply, loath as he was to admit to it, as he had done everything within his power to locate information on the people of this city. There wasn't much of any of them, given the nature of their appearance here, but it wouldn't stop him from beginning to compile his own.

Yet despite his thoughts, the Judge couldn't help but glance back up to Kerrigan when she was suddenly breathing in a deep breath. Looking at her as if waiting for her to up and leave, he frowned in confusion when instead her cheeks seemed to burn red before she glanced away.

"Is there something the matter, Miss. Kerrigan?" Yuri asked out of concern as he pushed himself up to stand. There was an odd need beginning to quietly burn within him, but it was something he barely sensed as he strangely enough reached out with one hand to touch against her arm. It didn't stop there though, and without any conscious though, he stepped around the edge of his desk so that he could actually pull her into a hug.

It was in that moment, as he felt Kerrigan's chest press up against his own, that his eyes widened and he wondered just what he was doing. Releasing her almost as if he'd been burnt, Yuri rushed to put some distance between them as he felt his pulse hastening in something akin to panic. What had he just done? It didn't make sense to the usually stoic man, and he couldn't help but feel that same compulsion inside to touch and hold someone close to him.

"I--" he began, but found that he couldn't voice any excuses to get him out without further questioning. Instead he shut his mouth tightly closed before trying to force his expression into neutrality. "Good day, Miss. Kerrigan," Yuri managed to force out before leaving everything behind as he moved to the door of his office. Pulling it open, the Judge had nothing but a quick escape weighing on his mind at that moment.

There was no way that she could explain away the redness of her cheeks, and she shuffled her legs on the desk as she tried to think of a way to keep him nearby. She had never felt strongly about anyone before, not since Jim Raynor, but even then, they had been growing together. It wasn't like this.

She blinked when he suddenly touched her, and it was the first willing contact that he had ever given to her. She stared at him in slight disbelief, uncertain what was going on even as his arms slipped around her and while awkward, the hug was a definite slide his arms around her. She leaned into the embrace no matter how fleeting and her heart was thumping in her chest as her head seemed to fill with clouds.

She shifted when he suddenly excused himself, hopping off the desk gracefully. "Wait, Mr. Petrov," she called and followed after him. What was she supposed to with these sudden feelings? She didn't want to be too far from him until she had sorted it out, especially after he had shown her affection for the first time. "I'll walk you home."

Barnaby and Kotetsu had been heading out. Although they were leaving a bit early, it was easier than trying to deal with the awkwardness of being in the office. That, and Kotetsu didn't seem like he wanted to sit still, and frankly? Barnaby didn't either. The less conversation, the better.

However, as the hero duo had been heading from the office, hand in hand due to the supernatural, poisonous course of the day, Barnaby had to stop as he witnessed the hug between Kerrigan and Judge Petrov. Well, it was Valentine's day. Had the two decided to start a relationship? Cliched, but acceptable... And probably not the moment the two should have walked in on.

Barnaby's grip tightened on Kotetsu's hand, to keep the man from getting too involved in the midst of it. Whatever it was... Maybe if they just turned and returned the way they came, they wouldn't be noticed.

To say that he had been happy about finally getting to leave the office would have been a huge understatement, like saying the sun was hot or ice was cold or rubbing your stomach and patting the top of your head at the same time was hard (it was, Kotetsu would refuse to hear otherwise). Kotetsu was ecstatic, because it meant being able to do something other than sulk in his chair and ignore the subtle pissed mist emanating from Barnaby. Which was acceptable. Grown men didn't just suddenly hold hands for no reason. And in public of all things! He knew better than that.

But apparently some people didn't, and as his wandering gaze lead him to look ahead, all he could see was a woman and a man embracing. Oh... gosh. That was awfully personal. Did they really need to be seeing this? And was he walking away? She was totally following him too. Oh great, come on people. Don't bring your lover's tiffs into the offi--

And that was when Kotetsu realized he actually knew those people. The squeeze of his hand snapped him out of his temporarily shocked daze and he quickly whipped his head over at Barnaby, unknowingly pointing a hand over in the direction that the Judge and Kerrigan were walking off to.

"Bunny, you saw that, right? You... did they....? That didn't happen did it? The Judge and... what was that?"

His mind was still reeling from what had just happened as he walked off. The thought that Kerrigan would follow him didn't even enter his mind, as he couldn't help but fixate on why he'd done such an action in the first place. It was entirely unlike himself, as he'd somehow ignored his personal preference for distance, and all he wanted to do now was to retreat from the public eye and reflect on his sudden and unexpected strange behaviour.

Yuri had heard Kerrigan calling out to him as he retreated, but he ignored it as he stalked his way through the office. Avoiding eye contact of everyone in his path, the Judge was doing well until he caught a flash of familiar clothing as he drew nearer to the exit. It was his damning moment in a lot of ways, one that told him that something was terribly wrong with him as he glanced up and sighted the Tiger and Bunny pair.

The fact that they were holding hands went beyond his notice for now, as he had once again felt the strange impulse to do the same to them as he had to Kerrigan. He became mortified by his following actions though, as after nodding his head in greeting, all of Yuri's attempts to ignore that building need fell to the wayside as he stepped in towards them both and slipped his arms around their shoulders in order to pull them both in for a hug.

"My apologies Mr. Brooks, Mr. Kaburagi," Yuri stiffly said before forcing himself to release the hug and step back. He couldn't take any level of relief or comfort for the satisfied feeling he felt within at hugging another person, or the undoubted fact that the other two would be housing shocked expressions on their face. No, instead there was almost a strained look of frustration and confusion flashing over his face as he excused himself and once again slipped away before anyone could question his strange behaviour.

He needed to get back to his apartment now more than ever.

Sarah wasn't to give up on him just because he happened to be ignoring her. This was Yuri Petrov, and he spent most of his time ignoring her until she managed to badger her way into making him react. She wasn't just going to give up because he was walking away, and she suspected that he was trying to escape. That just wouldn't do.

She followed after him, huffing noisily in order to make him realize that she was still coming. She weaved around desks before she saw him heading for the door of the office and moved to cut him off, but he was eager today to escape.

Thankfully, she arrived just in time to witness him hugging the two people from his world, and that was almost as good as him hugging her. She stopped dead and enjoyed the sight, a small smirk appearing on her lips even as he apologized and fled from the building as if he were on fire. "Try not to hug too many people on your way, Mr. Petrov. The burning will hopefully stop after a few minutes," she called after him before looking at Barnaby Brooks Jr. and Wild Tiger, only then noting their hands. "Are you two a couple now, or is holding hands a security thing?"

A... What. Besides the fact that Barnaby was trying to inch away and Kotetsu was trying to figure out what happened--to which Barnaby answered with a simple nod, as all words left him--that had been a very awkward situation to witness. He had figured Kerrigan had some sort of romantic interest in the Judge, but she seemed completely infatuated, and the Judge had had no problem making closer contact than necessary--

Oh. He was coming closer. There really was nothing that could prepare Barnaby for the joint hug he shared with his partner and Yuri, eyes wide in shock and confusion. Was... Was today just some sort of hugging day? Then with the muttered apology, Barnaby's mind fumbled over words as he tried to think of something to say. And by the end, it was Yuri leaving, so he merely waved his free hand. "Have a nice afternoon..."

And hopefully, whatever brought that hug on would end. Well... hopefully Judge Petrov would be alright out there...

Well, now they could leave--nope, Kerrigan had asked a question. One which was embarrassing and a tad disturbing to think, but one he couldn't help but answer. "It's neither," he said. "He can't let go - it's actually rather frustrating."

Oh shit, they had been found. This was the absolute last spot he wanted to be in at the moment but with Barnaby's presence literally holding him back from escaping to some far corner where he could deny he ever saw anything, all Kotetsu could do was stiffen up and try to smile as innocently as he could while Yuri approached. Just as he'd been about to offer some type of greeting though... they were hugged.

The Judge was hugging them. Both of them. He was hugging both of them. And just as quickly as it had happened, it was over with and he was leaving and Kotetsu had completely forgotten how to form coherent thoughts and words. Until Kerrigan had spoken up, and boy did that get him going again.

"Wh-what was that even all about?!" After he sputtered out his own response Kotetsu turned his head over to Barnaby. "And who says it's just me? You can't let go either! Don't go putting all the blame on me! --oi, back to you!" Once Kotetsu finished berating his partner, he directed his temporary frustrations back to Kerrigan.

"This hands thing is just an accident, an accident! I'm married y'know! Besides, we could ask you the same thing, what with how cozy you were looking with the Judge back there!"

She couldn't help but glance at their hands again, noting that they did seem rather comfortable there regardless of what the rest of their bodies were doing. No one else in the office was hand-locked though, so it made her wonder how such an 'accident' could come about. They seemed rather sensitive about it too.

Sarah crossed her arms over her chest and blocked their way from getting through to the rest of the building. This seemed like a prime location to drill them, and it allowed Yuri ample time to contemplate what he had done.

"So... you both can't let go of one another's hands?" She glanced between them again. "I suppose to each their own on a romantic holiday. Maybe dinner and a vid-screen next time?"

She looked at Wild Tiger for his outburst towards her, and she thankfully managed to hold it together enough to not blush. Instead, she shifted her weight on her feet. "Jealous I know him better than you?"

"Still your fault." Barnaby just glared in Kotetsu's direction. There was no way he would even consider taking the blame for this hand-holding, seeing as Kotetsu was the one who had taken his hand first. But right now, that didn't even matter--no, they would probably argue about it later--right now, they had to deal with Kerrigan.

And whatever this sort of reaction was. Barnaby's frown deepened and he found himself blurting out an answer to her sudden onset of questions. "We can't, but it doesn't matter because there won't be a next time." Really, this sheer honesty needed to stop. That wasn't even much of a decent retort, but he couldn't help it.

Though, as she turned somewhat shy at Kotetsu's remark, Barnaby found himself definitely rather disturbed at this. "I'm not," he answered. "But I'm glad for him. I'm sure he'll find happiness with you."

"I'm not gonna argue about something that wasn't all my fault!" Kotetsu barked back at Barnaby before turning his attention back to Kerrigan. Something about the way she was looking at them and questioning these... weird things that absolutely made no sense, just about made Kotetsu freeze up in horror. He'd even attempted to try and yank his and Barnaby's joined hands out of Kerrigan's sight but of course that proved impossible. The most he could do was take a step forward and extend their hands as far behind them as he could reach, trying to use himself as a barrier.

"And you! What's there even to be jealous of? Did you even listen to a word I said?! It's not like that! Like we could ever even sit down for two hours to watch a movie, Bunny's tastes are too much for me! Besides, we already have dinner just about every day so that doesn't even make sense!" And just like that, Kotetsu's Foot In Mouth Syndrome starts acting up. Of course he could care less seeing as he was now far too busy with trying to get Kerrigan to take back these insane things she was concluding. Kotetsu huffed loudly as he pointed a finger right in Kerrigan's face, becoming more and more frustrated with this entire mess that had started.

"Y'know if you really liked the Judge so much you wouldn't be standin' here saying weird things, you'd be going off after him right now. How about that, huh?" Kotetsu looked over to his side and gave Barnaby an expectant look, as if more than assured he'd just said something fitting for a man his age... and that he hadn't mentioned that whole thing about them having dinner together all the time. Nope. Nothing but the most intelligent things have come out of his mouth.

Sarah wasn't about to get involved in their little argument when it came to their hand-holding predicament. It seemed like some elaborate scheme to get away with it, but then again, neither of them seemed like the dishonest type. They were quite the opposite really, so perhaps they were telling the truth.

She stared at Wild Tiger for a few moments before pointedly raising an eyebrow. "The fact you know all about his movie tastes, and that you already have dinner together is kind of a damning comment to make while your hands are glued together, don't you think?" He glanced pointedly at the way he was trying to hide their hands from view.

The topic of the Judge was a little sensitive one, and she looked away finally. "I have all the time in the world, since I know where he lives. There is no hurry. Besides, if he hugs too many people, his head may decide to cave in," she remarked with a sardonic smirk.

She turned her attention to Barnaby after that. "I wanted to ask you about those superheroes from your world, and since you're here, I may as well now, yes? Unless you mind?"

Barnaby had to sigh. There really was no way to get out of this one, and with Kerrigan already emphasizing the stupidity of his partner's words, he figured he might as well give up early. He just shook his head. "In our world, most of my fans know my movie preferences," Barnaby came to their defense, hoping it could dispel even part of this new uncomfortable thought. "Most of that you can read in a tabloid. As for dinner, it's merely convenient." He decided to refrain from mentioning that they shared an apartment, though he was sure she had already assumed that much.

But at least she backed off when Yuri was mentioned - well, somewhat. There was the briefest moment of concern that the judge's head would actually cave in, but he was sure the judge would find a safe way home. Or... preferably to a hideout, since it sounded like Miss Kerrigan would stalk him later. (She worried Barnaby, she really did.) But he found himself almost distracted by the idea when he met her eyes again.

And he really wanted to cry. She was asking questions. He couldn't stop when she answered them.

"I do mind, but I'm not at all capable of stopping you," he blurted out, and with that he mentally cursed himself. Whatever had taken over his self control really needed to be killed. He could only hope she didn't get it... But he had a feeling he would end up answering everything anyway.

All Kotetsu could do at that point was stare Kerrigan down in displeasure, seeing as he really couldn't pick a fight over something as unimportant as whether or not he was having some sort of... relationship, thing, with his partner. Which he wasn't. Never in a thousand years. Barnaby was his partner! What was wrong with them holding hands (totally not even by choice at that), having dinner together (they lived together, how was that even a surprise??) and just... he didn't understand it, but he would have no part in having such weird things implied between the two of them, so he merely turned his head away in a huff, refusing to argue about it more.

As concerning as the comment was about the Judge, he hardly doubted that someone's head was able to cave in under jealousy and so he figured that at this point Kerrigan was just making up a load of things due to simply being unhappy on Valentine's Day. Women were like that sometimes on this holiday, right? He'd seen it before plenty of times so that could easily explain away her attitude. Nothing he needed to mess with them.

But then, once she directed her questions to Barnaby he raised an eyebrow and focused on paying half-attention to whatever the two were about to talk about. "Oi, what kinda answer is that? If you don't wanna say anything then don't say anything." Kotetsu mumbled over to Barnaby, unsure of where things would lead. By that point he hadn't really figured out that his partner was incapable of not answering questions, only really thinking that he seemed a little more up-front and honest than usual.

"Well, it seems that popularity has informed the public of all your best qualities, yes?" She didn't pretend to know much about their world, and the few times that she had spoken with both, there had been only tidbits of information. It seemed she wasn't all that popular with them either; maybe people from Sternbild hated her.

Raising an eyebrow at what seemed like a testy reply, she considered not asking anything at all. He seemed to be awful grumpy for a simple question, and she too thought that if it was such a pain, he could just refuse to answer. She was unaware that he was forced to answer, so she chalked his rudeness up to some arrogant male ego.

Huffing, she crossed her arms over her chest and stared at him. "Just answer me this: those NEXT people in your world, are they all superheroes or do use their powers for bad things as well?"

V-Day Means Work Day. [OPEN]

[Closed] [Yuri & Kerrigan --> future Barnaby & Kotetsu]

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