Takigawa approached his house slowly. He was nervous as he looked at the closed door. He'd had a tiring day at work, checking up on multiple small deviant cases. There was still no sign of that damaged android, which was odd considering the amount of thirium it had lost. It probably crawled off somewhere and shutdown...he thought, but that wasn't what was making him walk so slowly now. He hadn't seen Ayako that morning, which was pretty normal. She rarely turned up until he'd already left for work, and she was often gone by the time he returned. He wasn't sure if she'd still be there, or whether she'd noticed what he'd done and left for good. A large part of him hoped she'd accepted the silent offer and just stayed. He wouldn't find out unless he opened the door. I can't put it off forever. He heaved a sigh as he took the final steps to the door and slotted his key in the lock.

Inside the house, he could see the warm glow of the side lamps through the curtains that covered the front windows. That didn't necessarily mean anything though. He gave the key in his hand a final look before he twisted. His heart was skipping anxiously as he opened the door and stepped inside quietly, slipping his coat off and hanging it on a peg in the hall. He tried not to feel too relieved as he noticed Ayako's heavy winter coat hanging there. So either she stayed, or she hasn't noticed yet...

"Ayako? Are you home?" he called warily as he stepped into the living room, which stretched out into the open-plan kitchen. He smiled warmly as he found her. She was curled up in one of the armchairs, an old book from his shelf lying open across her lap. Her red lips were open where she'd been about to call her response, but she paused at the sight of his slightly dishevelled appearance. His long locks were in a messy tail where he'd been out on the streets, and his cheeks were flushed from the cold. He was wearing a simple black suit, but instead of a shirt, he wore a neat white top beneath. It was tight and hugged his torso as he slipped the blazer off and tossed it over the back of the sofa. "Hey! I wasn't sure you'd still be up," he greeted cheerfully, opting to play it off as if they'd talked about her moving in.

"Oh, well, I thought I should..." Ayako trailed off, her cheeks heating slightly as she wondered where to begin. She was still dressed in outdoor clothes. Blue jeans clung to her long legs and a white top hugged her arms, but revealed a lot of her cleavage. Takigawa, being a gentleman, paid no mind to the low neckline. He couldn't help watching the way she reached up to play with a few loose strands of her hair. It was a coy gesture. He stretched lazily as he headed across the living room. "You unpacked my things..." Ayako added hesitantly, her hazel eyes peering at him over the back of the chair she was nestled in as he entered the kitchen.

"Well, you left them in a bag! Were you planning on just leaving them under the bed?" he retorted playfully, more curious than anything else. He looked over his shoulder to see Ayako peeking at him. Only her eyes and the top of her head were visible. She almost looked like a child who'd been caught doing something wrong.

"I didn't mean to...I just wanted to leave them somewhere safe," she added, her hazel eyes darting away as Takigawa's soft gaze met hers. He tried to ignore the small buzz that shot through his chest at that. He wasn't about to go mooning over his housemate. He gave her his usual wolfish grin as he shrugged and returned his attention to the cupboards. It touched him that she felt so safe there. It sort of made sense. She knew his working schedule, she had a key, she could lock the door, and he'd never said she couldn't use anything the house had to offer. She could rest and recharge with no risk of being interrupted. She could even completely avoid him if she wanted to. It sort of made his chest flutter that she didn't want to avoid him. She'd sometimes stayed late just to greet him when he came home.

"I didn't mind you leaving things here. No one uses that room anyway...What bothered me more was the thought of you wandering the streets in the dead of night by yourself...Things have been happening lately, people being attacked or going missing..." Takigawa added cautiously, watching over his shoulder as Ayako nodded her agreement. She was well aware of what could happen at night, especially to wandering androids. It didn't seem to matter to humans whether the androids were deviant, council owned, or privately owned. She'd seen them attack both maintenance androids, and some that had been left in the android parking terminals. She'd managed to avoid notice herself. Without her LED, people just assumed she was another human sleeping rough, probably because of an android taking her job. "I don't want anything to happen to you," Takigawa added softly. His tone was gentle and sincere, as were his eyes.

"But...what did you have in mind as payment?" Ayako asked hesitantly, seeming a little vulnerable as she tugged her neckline absently. She got a pre-programmed flush to her cheeks as she thought of all the things he could ask for. She was a Traci model. She knew more than most the ways a man's mind worked. Takigawa seemed kind and genuine, but that didn't mean he didn't have urges. "I don't have any money besides what you pay me, so..." she trailed off meaningfully. Takigawa's eyebrows shot up in response, his heart thumping at the suggestion. He didn't know whether to be offended or flattered at the silent implication her tone was making. He waved his hands in objection, feeling a slight heat in his cheeks.

"Whoa-whoa-whoa, back it up! I'm not asking for anything like that! Like I said, no one uses that room, and your things are here already, and it's really no trouble having an extra person in the house!" he replied hastily, trying not to stammer and trip over his words in embarrassment. Ayako looked at him in disbelief. Her experience of men may have been tainted, but she knew for a fact that it was common for women to pay for things with their bodies. She'd thought it rare for men to refuse such offers of payment, but perhaps Takigawa was different. There was no hint of a lie in his tone, and he looked truly embarrassed by her suggestion.

"Really? You'll just...let me live here?" she asked incredulously as she got to her knees and leaned on the back of the chair. She couldn't believe it. She didn't even know if she should be offended at the rejection. She knew he was attracted to her. His bodily reactions had given him away ages ago. Takigawa tugged his long hair free and ran a hand through it, resting his weight on one leg as he tugged out a few knots. Ayako felt more at ease as he nodded his agreement. He looked sheepish as she continued to stare at him as if he'd grown an extra head. Is it really that strange that I don't want to blackmail her for sex? He could almost laugh at the idea. He took his job seriously and considered himself a decent man. He wouldn't treat anyone like that.

"Just...keep doing the housekeeping, and maybe you could cook more often," he added as he noticed a covered plate in the kitchen. It was a slice of lasagne, clearly part of a larger serving that had been cut up, boxed, and put in the freezer already. He suddenly felt very spoiled, having two of his favourites in two days. "Wow, thanks! This looks great," he added brightly as he slipped the plate into the microwave. Ayako's dark gaze softened as she took in the bright expression on his face. He had a really nice smile. He always seemed so excited to see what she'd for made him. The only thing she liked more than his smile was the look he got on his face while he was eating the food she cooked. It was fulfilling to know she had more skills than those she'd been designed for.

"There's some salad in the fridge, too...I'll take a shower, if that's okay?" she checked as she got to her feet and waited for permission. Takigawa voiced his agreement over the hum of the microwave as he grabbed a beer and set it on the table. Ayako had already set him a place, complete with a glass and napkin. He looked up long enough to check she knew where everything was and whether she needed anything before she headed up. Ayako smiled softly at his concern. She'd been cleaning the house for a while now, so of course she knew where everything was. She'd even taken a few showers while he'd been at work, but she didn't tell him that.

Once she'd gone upstairs, Takigawa looked around the tidy living room. It hadn't looked this clean in months. Ayako had worked wonders. He almost felt domesticated. It was a nice feeling. He huffed and folded his arms as he leaned on the counter. This was the life he'd often dreamed of in his teens. Coming home from a busy day to a warm house, eating a home cooked meal, having a beautiful girl there waiting for him. He shook his head at the idea. Ayako wasn't his girl, but he couldn't deny he liked her. It would be nice, finally having someone around. Even if they weren't a couple, they could still keep each other company. She'd still ask about his day, he'd still keep her up to date on all the latest news. He'd also finally be able to sleep at night.

Since Ayako had started helping him out, he'd often lain awake thinking about her for hours before drifting off. He'd wondered where she was, whether she'd come back the next day, whether he'd see her, and whether she was alright. She didn't have a phone that he knew of, but he'd sometimes called the house and see if she picked up. It was nice to get that confirmation that she was safe. He couldn't help but worry sometimes if she didn't pick up, though on those days she'd often been there waiting for him when he got home.

"Houshou?" Ayako's voice called from somewhere upstairs. Takigawa felt his cheeks heat as he headed into the hall. It was rare for anyone to use his first name. He may have been raised in America, but his family still largely held onto Japanese traditions. At school, all of his friends had called him Takigawa. It was the same at work. Hearing Ayako call his name made his stomach do flips. Looking up at the top of the stairs, he saw her huddled in a large fluffy towel, her red locks hanging damp around her shoulders as she leaned over the banister. "Sorry to trouble you, but...do you have any old clothes? I don't have any sleepwear," she confessed sheepishly.

"Oh! Sure, yeah. Just...give me a sec," Takigawa replied around the lump in his throat. No one had worn his clothes besides this one girl in college. Come to think of it, she'd been a redhead, too. Guess I have a type, he mused as he hurried up to his bedroom. Ayako padded after him and waited in the doorway as he rummaged through his drawers. He tugged out an old police academy T-shirt he hadn't worn in years and tossed it to her. "I'm not sure my pants will fit you." He felt a little creepy saying so. It was almost like he was asking her to stay half naked for him.

"Oh, this will be fine! I can just wear my jeans if it's not long enough," Ayako replied as she unfolded the T-shirt and held it up to measure. Takigawa could have blushed at the thought. It would barely cover her rump when she put it on. Of course she needed to wear pants. "Thank you," she added before backing out and heading to her room. Takigawa joined her with a friendly wave before heading down to sort out his dinner. It was just the right temperature to eat by the time he'd taken it out and settled at the table. "Do you like it?" Ayako asked a few moments later as she came downstairs. Takigawa almost choked as he looked at her.

"Wha-I-you-I-it's very nice," he stammered as he dropped his gaze to her bare legs on impulse. He could feel himself blushing as he forced himself to look at her face, and only her face. He wasn't even sure he was talking about the food. Ayako almost smirked at his flustered response as she grabbed a glass of water and sat across from him at the table. Takigawa knew he was blushing. He hadn't been able to help it as she'd turned away to fill the glass. The T-shirt really did only just cover her rump. Ayako crossed her long legs. The skin looked so soft and flawless. He was glad her legs were now out of sight beneath the table. "I-I have a dressing gown somewhere if you get cold," he added in what he hoped was a considerate tone. He didn't want to come across as a complete letch.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Ayako replied almost smugly as she teased the glass between her hands. She'd only filled the glass halfway. Clever. He was less likely to think about it when she didn't drink if the glass looked half empty. Takigawa ate slowly, doing his best not to notice how Ayako definitely wasn't wearing a bra beneath her shirt. Luckily, Ayako was content to distract him as she asked about his day, and he told her about their latest troubles. They also spoke about Detroit. It was coming up in the news more and more. Deviants seemed to be everywhere these days. She always seemed a little guarded when they spoke about them, but she pretty much knew where he stood on the issue at this point.

It was nice, spending time with her without watching the clock. He didn't have to think about her leaving. He didn't have to feel that drop in his stomach as she suggested it was time to go. He did the washing up afterwards, letting Ayako head back to huddle with her book in the armchair. He hovered in the kitchen a while after he finished, just leaning on the counter and staring at the back of Ayako's head as she read her book. The house suddenly felt a lot warmer. He huffed lightly as he entered the living room and took a spot lounging on the sofa. Ayako had her legs curled beneath her again as she read. She spared him a small smile as he lay back and turned on the TV.