Toromaki, Party of Two! (Painters, Arc/Lani; E)

"Let's get 'em." Takumi said, giving her a thumbs up and a smile, before looking back ahead of them. "If they exist." He then added.

"Someone had to write it." She insisted. Whether they could find out who themselves or not was the current question, however.

Before long, a taxi pulled up to their drive, and she directed him to the local office of the newspaper she'd found.

"The writer might not be who they say they are." Takumi pointed out. "I hope that is not the case."

It was a worrying thing to think about. Really, this could very easily be a trap. Looking down at her arm, she willed her bandages to unravel and wrap her more protectively. In the confines of the taxi cab, they snaked beneath her clothing, holding her securely as they covered nearly every inch of skin, from her neck to her ankles, wrists held protectively beneath their bounds. "We'll have to see."

"Yes." Takumi agreed, looking out of the window.

OOC: I gots no padding.

Rin Toromaki nodded, pulling her phone out to try to investigate the company they were heading to. Occasionally, she'd show the phone to her partner, though the screen was interrupted at one point by a text from back home. The sender's name was just an emote, the message reading: "Why aren't you here anymore? I have no one to double date with! (┛◉Д◉)┛彡┻━┻" Not caring whether or not he saw, she read the text before exiting out of the message, mumbling a light-heartedly apology.

Takumi looked over from the window to her phone whenever she went to show him something, looking back at the window whenever he finished reading, commenting at the times he had a comment to make. So, when the message came up, he also looked away; it was none of his business.

Rin ignored the message, for the time being, continuing the research. Soon, they were at their location. Rin searched her purse, pulling out the necessary cash and paying the cab driver.

Takumi got out of the taxi wordlessly after Rin had paid, looking around the immediate area.

She joined him shortly, looking around before instinctively grabbing his hand as she started leading him with her across the street.

That was... Unexpected. He didn't react in any particularly strange way, simply letting her lead him along if only because of the surprise at her doing it stopped him from getting flustered instantly. He pulled his hat down somewhat lower to hide the signs of his embarrassment once his head caught up. Surely, considering the connection a meister and weapon had, this shouldn't be a big deal...

Even once they were across, she didn't really let go, looking at the building with calculated interest. Taking a deep breath, she brought him inside with her, seeking out whoever was in charge, ignoring the weird looks she was being given.

Takumi was at a point where if his hat were any more over his face, he'd have trouble looking where he was going. He wasn't sure whether it bothered him more that people were staring or the idea that she would look back and see him all sorts of red. He really had no idea whether she was clueless or knew exactly what she was doing, and he didn't know which would be worse.

Honestly, she just frankly wasn't paying attention, nor did she have a particular opinion one way or the other on the manner. Finding the main office, she started asking questions about the editor in question. As it turned out, they had been trying to figure out who posted the article, since their networks were secured and it was no one, it seemed, from the office.

Takumi spent most of the time simply trying to shrink to be even smaller than he already always seemed to be, and really, was. He had nothing to say, either way.

Grumbling when she found that they had reached a dead end, she tugged him with her out. When she did so, her eyes sought to find Takumi, signifying that she at least was aware that she had ahold of his hand.

Apparently, that was worse. When she looked his way, he looked another way completely, hiding himself between both had at hair based on the angle from her to him. Though, that entire time, he didn't really think to let go and pull his hand away.

She raised a brow at him, a slight smirk playing at her lips. Really, the man should have known better than to show weakness to Rin Toromaki, of all people. Without a word, she brought him out of the building and into the streets. Looking at him curiously, she tried to draw the attention of his eyes again.

Takumi barely turned his head, until only really his eye was visible between the gaps in his hair and below the edge of his hat. Even like that, it was difficult to keep looking at her without looking away for him.

"You're hiding from me." She said, to the point with her statement while she squeezed his hand to punctuate the statement.

"Yes..." Takumi said, turning his head down a little more so even the eye that was visible was barely so afterwards.

There was a hint of a pout that tried to make it's way onto her face, her eyes seeming undecided between expressing a predatory gleam or her usual calm, collectedness. This was her partner, though, and she didn't want to break him. As such, she settled on the latter, still giving his hands a squeeze even as she walked them along, looking for somewhere private enough that she could place a call without being overheard.

Once again, Takumi followed her without word, glad that she wasn't demanding he look her in the eye anymore. Every squeeze of his hand made it a little harder to even think about looking at her straight on reminding him that, yes, she was holding his hand. He was glad that she looked at him like she did at any other time, though. He thought he'd really panic if he saw anything else in her eyes.

Pulling them into an empty side street, she lifted her phone to her ear and choice to use the nature of her station to investigate the matter further, trying to uncover how the article had been posted. Three calls and a partial payment later and she seemed to have the investigation underway. However, now that she knew they wouldn't be interrupted, she moved to stand in front of him, one hand still circling his while the other arm crossed over her chest. "Look at me." She commanded with the authority and confidence of a noble, a voice that demanded obedience.

"Hai!" Takumi almost shouted out as he stood up straighter, at attention like a soldier. He was not looking at her straight on, though still not looking into her eyes, his cheeks red and getting redder. That sort of tone, it was a shock to him, and he figured it still would be just as effective on anyone that wasn't as timid as he.