Work Text:
It was late at night when you finished your shift. The rain was coming down hard as you stepped outside. The cold wind was blowing very harsh, and the thin material of your coat provided very little protection from the frigid rain in January.
"Damnit..." You realize you left umbrella at home while you were in a hurry to get to work on time.
The only two options were to book it to the nearest Poppo and pray that you don't end up soaking wet from the bad weather or stay and possibly draw unwanted attention from the drunk men that stalk the streets.
You raise the small purse above your head and made a run for it.
In the distance, a Poppo store lit up brightly in the dark stormy night. You ran as fast as you could with whatever breath you had left in you and damning your high heels for slowing you down making you no longer dry.
Majima was finishing up his cigarette when he spots you running past him without a glance. Majima was in the same situation as you and the Poppo store was the only place that could provide him some temporary shelter. He takes one last drag from his bud and disposes it before walking back inside.
The sliding doors opening followed by a chime made the clerk perk his head out from one of the aisles.
"The rain still isn't letting up, huh?" The clerk notices Majima enters and returns to his nightly stocking routine.
"Not anytime soon." Majima shoves his hands in his pockets and watches the clerk restock the last couple of shelves.
Majima had been a local in the location for a while. It took some time for the clerk to warm up to Majima's personality. The clerk enjoyed his company due to it being so dead at night. It was better than dealing with aggressive drunks. He was only there to make some money and in the morning he was attending college classes. If the clerk ever told his parents about the new friend he's made, they'd be exasperated.
The clerk stands up to wipe off the dust from his knees. "It's a shame we don't have any umbrellas here to buy." He returns to his register. "I'll ask my boss if we can get some in here."
Majima leans against the counter of the register. His eyes lingering to find where you disappeared off to.
Suddenly, on the other side of the store a door opens followed by clicking sounds of high heels echoing through the quiet store, then you appeared in Majima's view. He could see how bad your condition was: Sopping wet clothes, matted hair, and smeared makeup.
Majima and the clerk took pity for your appearance. They both watch as you stride across the store, your arms tightly hugging yourself.
You stop in your tracks as you felt eyes staring at you from a distance. You glance in their direction and a blush appears on your face from the embarrassment. The two men quickly look away to allow you to go on about your business.
"I bet she'll be an icicle by the time she gets home." The clerk mumbles to Majima.
"She ain't got nothin' but sopping clothes to cover herself." Majima eyes her attire.
Your dress was long and once gave a flowy look that reach your ankles with matching high heels and a coat. It would have been more appealing if the fabric of the dress and coat wasn't drenched and clinging onto your skin for dear life.
The clerk takes notice of Majima gawking at your frail form. He's never seen this side of Majima before. Then a grin appears on his face.
"Go talk to her."
Majima looks at the clerk with his wide eye. He was unsure how he would be able to put your stress at ease when he has nothing to offer to you.
"I'm sure she could use some company." The clerk gestures.
Majima watches you hugging yourself close to try to bring yourself any bit of warmth you had left. Thunder roars loudly along with lightning illuminating the dark sky for a couple for seconds. You let out a quiet whimper and pleading to yourself for the rain to stop.
Now was his chance to try to distract you from your foul mood. He slowly begins to approach you.
His footsteps growing louder which causes you to turn and look up at the man.
"H-Hello." You tremble.
Majima replied to you with a warm smile to uplift your mood. Even with your messy appearance he still found you cute looking.
You looked tired as if you worked a twelve-hour shift and the dark circles stood out a lot more due to your skin being pale.
"I see you're in the same situation as me... Just less wet."
Majima chuckles. "Yeah." He crosses his arms. "Looks like ya got caught by the rain at really a bad time."
He gazes your late-night attire. He found it endearing and sympathetic at the same time, however he understood how uncomfortable you felt in your wet clothes. However, the way your dress clung to your body showing every curve on you made his heart skip a beat, and the faint smell of your perfume captivates him in a trance.
"I didn't think I still looked good after being drenched."
Majiama quickly catches himself staring at you longer than usual and clears his throat.
"Heh, sorry about that." He scratches the back of his neck. "Can't help it when I'm lookin' at something that's so eye catching."
"Oh well thank you for that. I'm surprised that I can still pull my outfit off even when I'm soaked."
"Thought ya needed some admiration to lighten the mood 'cause it looks like yer not having a great night."
"Pretty much." You shrug your shoulders. "I left my umbrella at home." You turn back to the window.
"That's a shame. If I had an umbrella, I'd lend ya it."
"That's very thoughtful of you."
Majima could see a smile appear on your face from his act of service comment.
"So, what brings ya out here at this time?"
"One of my co-workers had called out sick so I had to stay a bit longer."
"Work, huh. Are ya a hostess?"
You nod. "I've been one for a while. It's tough work, but it pays well."
"I bet yer one of the most popular gals in the club then."
"I'm getting there slowly but surely." You smile.
The two of you stood in silence watching the rain fall. As you were fixated on the droplets of rain, Majima would steal glances from you. He liked the way you were comfortable with his presence. Not feeling intimidated by him by the slightest. He was already daydreaming about the two of you being together. Despite his bad experience of being in a relationship in the past, you were capable of to have him entertain the thought of trying again, but with you.
Finally, after a while, the heavy rain turns into a light sprinkle.
"About damn time." You mumble. "I wouldn't be surprised if I woke up with a cold in the morning."
Majima felt a bit sad now the rain had calm down. He was enjoying your company and now you were about to head home.
"Thank you for keeping me company, um..."
"Goro Majima." He grins. "You'll be alright walking home all by yerself?"
You nod. "My home is just a couple of blocks down, so I'll be alright." You reach down into your purse and pull out a business card.
"I'd like to get to know you better, Majima-san."
Majima takes the card from your hand. It was a hostess card with your name and location of the club you work at.
"I'd love that." Majima says in a flirtatious tone. "I'll stop by soon."
You reply with a smile before exiting the store. Majima watches you until you disappear from his sight. He could feel butterflies in his stomach just thinking about the next time he meets you. It was a feeling he's never felt in a long time.
"Looks like you got lucky." The clerk's voice pulls Majima back into reality. "I'm surprised she wasn't intimidated by you."
"What makes ya say that?" Majima side glances back at the clerk.
The clerk raises both of his hands to surrender. "N-Not that you're a bad person or anything!"
Majima chuckles. "I know whatcha' mean." He walks back to the clerk, leaning on the register counter with his elbow to support him. "Am I that intimidating?"
"Well…" The clerk nervously grins. "The first time you walked in here you had a bat."
He remembered the poor look on the clerk's face when they met for the first time. The clerk was working one late night shift when Majima and a few of his men stepped foot in the store. The first thoughts were either he was going to be robbed or kidnapped, but as soon as Majima cracked a joke about the clerk' being so timid it eased the tension of the environment.
"So, when do you think you'll visit her?" The clerk leans over to get a better look at the business card.
Majima already grinning to himself at the thought of their late-night conversation hopefully blossoming into something more. He was eager to see you again.
"I'll stop by this week and maybe take her out for dinner after work. Besides," Majima slips the card in his pocket and turns his head to the clerk. "A fine gal like her shouldn't be walking home all by herself."
"I'm sure she will enjoy your company." The clerk chirps.
Majima smiles at the clerk's comment.