Old Prejudice

[madimpossibledreamer]

Main Points:
Persona 4 Ghost in the Shell inspired au
Summary: Narukami's got something against Corporate.
Word Count: 385
Rating: Gen

        Yosuke’s running late.  Most people having to run through the acidic rain would probably have to apply a MedPatch once they got into a building after running through the rain, but he just has to concentrate a little and shake out his hair when he gets inside.  He feels a little like a drowned rat, felt the acid start to eat through his skin, and even with newly regrown skin feels odd, like plastic second skin.  Since he’s a Magician he doesn’t usually have to use manual methods of disguise, but it never hurts to do things the normal way sometimes, keep himself in shape.  It doesn’t do to just rely on tech and magic, because of what might go wrong, because he has to stay responsible.
        His hair still looks a bit odd, but then, it was his fault for not parking closer.  Technically, he could, but he hates throwing around the perks of his new position.  Maybe it’s because he’s a Magician.  It’s better to not draw attention to yourself as a Magician.  Maybe he’d be loudly obnoxious instead of quietly obnoxious.  But it’s useless to speculate about it too much, since he is a Magician and has been one for long enough he can’t guess what it would be like to not be a Magician.
        He takes the stairs three at a time, one hand on the more professional black headphones to ensure they don’t fall off, and before he gets to the top he can hear Narukami yelling.
        Yelling.  The man barely ever raises his voice.
        “I don’t care about your reputation, Mr. Director.  What I care about is finding the killer, and as a police officer I have more authority than a low-level corporate stooge like you.  If you keep refusing to cooperate, I will arrest you for obstruction, and I doubt any Corp employee would fare too well in jail.”
        He’s never, ever heard the Chief talk like that, never casually threaten anyone.  He’s so hard to rattle Yosuke had begun to wonder if his cyborg nature extended to the emotional level as well.
        Uhm, Amagi, on a scale of one to annihilation, how likely is the Captain going to bite my head off for being late?  She intimidates him, true, but less than Satonaka and definitely less than Kujikawa.
        You’re not Corporate.  You’ll be fine.  In fact, you might help his mood, given that I’m almost positive he has a crush on you.
        He blushes and hates that she can tell through the link, because it’s all she can do to hold the helpless giggle in.
        Even after that little Shadow virus stunt.  You’re lucky.
        Shut up, he grumbles, but pushes on the door anyway.
        It’s got something to do with his past, but we’re not sure and I’m not the type to gossip anyway, she adds.
        The Chief whips around, a snarl on his lips, but the words die before they are spoken.  He blinks a little, looking embarrassed, and then smiles.  That might even be a chuckle.  “Didn’t want to fix your hair, huh?  I hope the acid rain wasn’t too bad.”
        Yosuke runs a hand through his hair, annoyed.  “My hair is fine, Captain.  Now that I’m here, how can I help?”
        Narukami sends an image of petting the bedraggled hair, like Yosuke’s a cat, and in retaliation Yosuke sends the best enraged cat hiss back.  Which makes Yu snort even as he starts filling him in about corporate espionage and two heavily mangled bodies.