Help her wash off this adhesive

(chapter originally by faith at writing.com)

"Just open the door and keep your eyes in front." Yukari growled, constantly glancing around.

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Jeez, you gonna nag me the whole way?" Junpei muttered as he opened the locker room door.

"Shut up and close your eyes!" Yukari snapped, skittishly moving past him, certain she would be seen every moment she stayed in the hallway.

Junpei muttered something incoherent to himself as he pulled his cap down and pulled the door shut behind them. Fun as it had been to start with, Yukari was becoming a big pain in the ass. He was just trying to help, and what he was getting for his trouble was a constant stream of sarcasm, orders, and insults. Some of that he had come to expect from Yukari, but she usually managed to be at least civil around him. Hell, most days they could banter and joke with everybody else. The way she was acting now was more like the Yukari he'd known before getting a Persona, the one who liked to warn new students away from him like he was some kind of sexual predator. And yeah, she had a right to be stressed, but come on! He'd (literally) pulled her ass out of a bad situation, and she was treating him like a cross between a **** and a criminal!

"Face the wall, dammit!" Yukari barked.

"Yeah, I know!" Junpei snapped. "Dammit, Yukari. Its not like I was trying to catch ya like this! And I'm trying to look as little as I can manage here!"

"Yeah right!" Yukari snapped back. "Like you've never tried to peek at me! I remember what happened in the baths, idiot!"

"I told you a million times, men and women were allowed in that stupid hotspring at different times, and we just lost track." Junpei snapped.

"And I told you a million times that that is such bullshit. We all know why you were there." Yukari snapped.

"You know what? Fine. Yeah, I decided to go in towards the end of the guy's time and not pay too much attention about how long I stayed. The plan, if it came to that, was to be embarrassed and apologetic and get out. Wouldn't have seen more than a bath towel. But of course Mitsuru freaked out and the whole thing blew up." Junpei muttered.

"That's still peeking! Who the hell gave you permission to see us...see ME in a towel?" Yukari practically screamed.

"Well, excuse me for thinking you were cute enough to take that risk!" Junpei fired back.

"Well- well excuse me...for being cute!" Yukari faltered.

"Oh, believe me, I already did! If I was half the perv you think I am...half the perv you are treating me like, what I'd have done was laugh in your face, get some pictures for my cell, and left to you to hump that fountain while everybody watched." Junpei said. "I mean, dammit Takeda! I've been trying since we formed this squad. How many mountains do I have to move before you decide I'm actually a pretty decent guy, instead of the loser pervert your always treating me like."

Silence.

"Okay, look, let me just find you some clothes while you get 'unglued' and you won't have to deal with-" Junpei muttered.

"I already know that." Yukari interrupted.

"Eh?" Junpei asked.

"You're a decent guy. I already get that, okay? I've seen that already. I mean, your kind of a idiot, and you act recklessly a lot..."

"Look who's talking." Junpei shot back.

"...but I know there's more to you than that! The way you help out, the way you'll try to cheer me up if things are bad...how you acted around Chidori. You don't have to prove anything to me." Yukari said softly.

"So why do you keep treating me like this?" Junpei muttered, the mention of Chidori's name sparking unwanted memories.

"I'm sorry, all right? I'm...trying hard too. I'm trying to prove myself to everyone just like you. If...if I didn't trust you, I wouldn't even let you tag along like this. I'm not good with relying on other people. Even when my clothes are on." Yukari explained. "And its harder for me with you than anybody else."

"Kinda got that vibe, yeah. Why?" Junpei asked, his anger cooling.

"Because! I-" Yukari took in a breath. "When we first met, I made an impression. It wasn't fair to you, and I know I was wrong, but I made it and its hard to shake. You acted all tough and sleazy and cool in that fake macho way when we first met, just like all those...those assholes my mom started dating after dad died! She...turned herself into a complete slut just so she wouldn't have to be alone! I'm never going to be like her!"

Yukari made a small noise that sounded suspiciously like a sob. "Yukari..."Junpei muttered.

"But I guess I am after all, huh? Look at me! Completely helpless! Running around without any clothes! If that's not what a slut would do I don't know what is!" Yukari said, her voice quivering.

"Would you shut up!" Junpei snapped back. "Look, Yuka-tan, I...uh...I don't know anything about your mom or your dad or anything. But I know you sure as hell aren't weak. You've stuck with this as long as any of us. Hell, your the one who got Mitsuru back in the fight, and she's more determined than anyone I know. So shut up about you being weak, okay? Your not some needy little girl who needs everyone around her to hold her hand. Your just...a little over your head right now. That happens to everybody, ya know."

"Most of them don't end up naked."

"....true. But the point still applies. Its okay to ask for help when ya need it. And from the sound of it, you ended up like this on accident. That doesn't make you weak, and it definitely doesn't make you a slut."

"Oh?" Yukari said softly. "Not even if...I'm enjoying it? Or didn't you notice?"

"...that was just the fountain."

"That didn't help. But...I've been feeling like this ever since...you got ahold of my underwear. Like there's been these two little voices going through my head, one that says 'that pervert is jumping for joy at my humiliation, this is awful!' and the other saying 'he's getting excited, and its because of me!'. I'm getting off on this!" Yukari said all at once. "Argh, why am I even telling you this?? What the hell is wrong with me?"

Junpei cleared his throat. "Look, Yuka-tan...I'm a perv. You've been right about that. But...you know, everyone is. I'm just a little more honest about it. And I don't think there's anything wrong with that. There's a...lot of stuff that turns people on. Most of it is a hell of a lot weirder than running around naked. That doesn't make you slutty, especially since your just kinda realizing this now. Its how you handle your kinks that matters. How much they rule your life is really the only thing to worry about."

Yukari stayed silent.

"For...uh...what its worth...I don't think any less of you hearing this. Although, sorry to say, I do think it makes you a little hotter."

"Pervert." Yukari said in mock outrage.

"Yeah, well-"

"Thanks, Junpei. For everything."

"Sure. And, uh, sorry for blowing up earlier. This is gotta be way more stressful for you than me."

He turned, a sympathetic smile on his face, to find her standing away from him, still very naked. He quickly found the wall.

"And, umm, I...may have just turned around on accident and seen your naked butt." Junpei admitted sheepishly.

"....that's...okay. This will be easier if you go ahead and look." Yukari said.

"What, seriously? What's with the change of heart?" Junpei asked.

"....like you said. Its okay to be a little perverted."

"That's...generous of ya, Yuka-tan."

"Who says I'm talking about you?"

Junpei turned, and watched as Yukari moved into the showers. Was it his imagination, or was she putting an extra wiggle into her movements. Junpei shook his head. Think you know someone...

"Junpei?"

"Yeah?"

"I..uh...need your help with something. Can..can you help me get this paint off?" Yukari asked.

"...you want me to take a shower with you?"

"No! I just need you to...umm....help get my hands unstuck." Yukari said awkwardly.

"......doing what, exactly?"

"Stuff like....turn the water on. And...maybe, if...if it comes to it...scrub the places I can't get to...."

Which was basically everywhere at the moment.

"Absolutely!"

"You didn't have to agree that fast." Yukari said with chagrin.

"Pretty sure I did, Yuka-tan."