Chapter Text
The simple joy of standing under the little shelter a little away from her work building, watching people pass by as she smokes her cigarette is sometimes the only thing that Momo looks forward to. No one prepares you for the loneliness of adult life when you get your first job. Momo had a harder time adjusting than most, she went from being surrounded by people at school, and that popularity followed her as she went to university - yet it all disappeared when she moved to the city. She wanted to dance, but that isn’t something that can allow you to live comfortably for the most part. So, she did the only other thing that she was good at - working security (in truth, it’s the only job she could get with a dance degree and no experience). It’s boring, and sometimes she hopes for trouble just to break up the monotony of the day - but most days are lonely, long and absent of any chat.
So when she gets her smoke break, and finally a chance to fight away some of the loneliness that seems to hang over her like a shadow throughout her days, she makes the most of it. She befriended all the other security in the area, even if at first they didn’t even consider her to be ‘strong’ enough to be a bodyguard because they’re all men - she asserted her dominance by challenging them all to arm wrestles in the local Starbucks - they’re now her friends and have since apologised for writing her off as weak with such stupid, weak minded thinking. She is now securely a part of their group, even goes to the gym with some of them at the weekend - but the interaction is still nothing compared to what she used to have.
Momo is used to the general discomfort of passersby - is so used to being given a wide berth, either because they look too imposing or because of the haze of smoke around them. But none are often as brazen as the one girl who is running in heels, trying to avoid the puddles from the rain, and accidentally gets a little too close and runs right through all of them. She literally ends up right in the middle of about five very tall, large muscular men and Momo, who is equally muscular but not nearly as tall. And when she looks up, Hirai Momo sees the prettiest woman she’s seen in a long time. She lets out the smoke from her mouth slowly as her eyes find the woman’s but instead of scared, flirty or even remotely friendly eyes, she finds herself greeted with an eye roll and a scoff before the woman continues her path. Momo watches as she goes into Starbucks.
“Seems like someone's womaniser charms don’t work on everyone huh?”
The rest of the men laugh, and Momo rolls her eyes. Most women that get close to them end up tripping over their feet when they get a look at Momo, even when she doesn’t try to get their attention, so this is new. And just like when they doubted her abilities to be a security guard, she knows she’s going to have to rise up to this challenge the next time they see this pretty woman.
—
The next time Momo sees the woman, she makes sure she is ready to start walking in the same direction as her. She times it just right, so she gets to the door of the coffee shop right before her and then pushes the door open, leaning her back against it so she can look into the face of the woman. Up close, Momo can see the pretty light flecks in her brown eyes as the light reflects on them, and she can smell the sweet, fruity perfume that’s left behind after her every movement more clearly.
“Thank you,” the woman says, smiling before walking in and going straight to the counter to order.
Momo follows, rushing a little to catch up. The woman orders an iced americano, and Momo can’t help but scoff at the predictability. It’s that which gets the woman’s attention, making her turn to look at Momo - and without all the others around watching, she’s even more bold, looking Momo up and down as if she’s scrutinising her.
“If you have something to say, you can go right ahead and say it.”
“I could say the same to you,” Momo answers, rolling her eyes and then ordering her own drink.
They both end up waiting for their drinks in excruciating silence. The woman is looking down at her phone, dark hair falling around her face and Momo is itching to push it behind her ear so she can see those eyes again.
“Iced Americano for Sana, and Momo, here’s your mocha.”
The server winks at Momo as she hands her the drink in her hand, a service that Sana doesn’t get.
“You know, flirting to get what you want is so unattractive if you can’t follow through on it.”
“And rolling your eyes, no matter how pretty they are, Sana, won’t get the reaction you want out of me.”
“Who said I care about anything you do, Momo?”
Sana is staring at her, eyes focussed on her face - Momo catches the way her eyes fall down to her lips even if it is barely a second. So she smirks, and turns to walk away. She turns back to find Sana watching as she walks away.
“If you didn’t care about anything I do, your eyes wouldn’t be on me at all,” Momo says over her shoulder, before laughing and leaving the cafe.
—
Momo doesn’t see Sana going on her usual coffee trips for the rest of the week - and she likes to think that it’s down to her, but she also wants to see her again. She can’t stop thinking about her, and she itches to have more interaction with Sana, even if it is all eye rolls and snide comments.
She gets her wish on Saturday when she’s working her shift at one of the local nightclubs. One guy had been getting too handsy and making a group of women uncomfortable inside, so she dragged him out, throwing him on his ass into the rain.
“Fuck you, stupid bitch.”
Momo walks towards him, grabs him by the shirt to make him stand up. He’s a little taller than her, but Momo makes up for it with her aura, which she perfected a long time ago. She’s imposing and scary and has been told many, many times that it’s hot.
“Want to say that again?” Momo asks, her voice low and quiet.
The guy doesn’t speak, looks like he’s about to pee his pants actually and Momo tries her best not to laugh because it would break the whole tension and she needs to be taken seriously. As much as she’d back herself in a fight, it would still be a hassle to kick the guys ass. Luckily, he mutters a sorry and Momo lets him go. When he turns back to walk to the door, she sees Sana leaning against the wall under the dim light of the neon sign.
From the look in her eyes, Sana saw all that. And Momo is just going to let it go this once, let Sana have her time to be free of the monotony of everyday work but then she notices the cigarette hanging between her pretty, long fingers. It looks unnatural, not at all matching with Sana’s beautifully manicured nails and her whole work persona. But here, Sana is wearing a skin tight dress that is just a little too short - the kind that Momo always wonders why people wear because they spend most of their night pulling it back down trying to cover their thighs. Momo’s eyes make their way back up to her face, and Sana lets out the smoke from her mouth. But when it clears, Momo sees the smirk on her red stained lips, sees the way her pupils are a little bigger than usual, and her eyebrows are raised as if asking her what her next move is.
Momo walks right up to her, and then past her - because she’s fucked if she gives in to whatever game Sana has started between them that easily.