Chapter Text
A few days later, the two partners' rhythm had resumed. Akutagawa's gaze had returned to its usual coldness, and he rarely glanced at Higuchi. Yet her eyes shone with admiration whenever she was in the presence of her beloved leader. But despite her determination and efficiency, she seemed visibly tired, as if burdened by something. A weight weighed on her shoulders, growing heavier every day.
While he normally wouldn't care, Akutagawa couldn't help but notice that this state of affairs was hampering the young mafia member's efficiency. He was about to reproach her for it when he heard his own stomach rumble. He was hungry. It was true, he hadn't eaten since the day before, having completely forgotten. But he didn't feel like eating; it would be a complete waste of time. And there were other, much more important things to focus on, like the attitude of her bodyguard.
But upon hearing the sound of her hungry stomach, Higuchi reacted without delay. She left the office in an instant, and quickly returned with a fresh fig in her hands, hurrying to join him. She handed it to him, but he didn't say a single word of thanks in return, contenting himself with staring at the fig, examining it from every angle. He seemed to be waiting for something, but what? She couldn't help wondering what he wanted from her, but she kept her questions to herself, preferring to wait so as not to bother him.
"I don't want to eat," he finally concluded.
He almost looked like a capricious child refusing to eat his meal. The young woman tried to convince him, in vain.
"I'll only eat on one condition."
"What is it ?" she asked. He finally cast a burning gaze upon her. It was enough to make his prudish assistant blush, and in response to her embarrassment, he explained what he wanted. Was it okay with her ? The lack of a verbal response seemed to indicate as much.
The dark-haired man then gestured for her to come closer and position herself in front of him. The young girl's heart leaped when she realized the requested gesture. She moved slowly and came to stand in front of him and his imposing stature despite his thinness, trying to mask her confusion. She was so afraid of misinterpreting the situation and behaving unprofessionally…
"Open your mouth," ordered her superior's voice.
She hastened to carry out the instruction, more out of reflex than comprehension. The man in front of her examined her face at length, then pressed the fig against his own lips, holding it between them. The mafia woman's heart raced even faster, confusion overtaking her reason.
"What ?" she thought aloud, the hesitation in her voice blatant.
But she couldn't help but obey her superior's command. At his direction, she opened her mouth slightly to accept the fig, which was in turn pushed into her mouth. Everything was so confusing, yet so... surprising at the same time. They both bit into it at the same time, but Akutagawa's face remained impassive, as if sharing a fruit so intimately didn't affect him in the least, while Higuchi's had transformed into a crackling ember.
Once she'd swallowed the fig, he looked at her more intensely, noting every movement of her face. The way her jaw moved with tension, her eyelid twitched, that small crease between her brows testifying to her concentration. She took everything in a professional tone, seeing in each situation only an official task that might earn her the admiration of her boss. With a low sigh, he bit into the fig again, and put another piece on his own lower lip. "Come on," was all he said before running his hand around the back of her neck, bringing her even closer, pulling her to his face.
"Open your mouth," he said again, his tone almost bored.
He always had to say everything explicitly, or the mafia woman would freeze. Good heavens, where had he gone to find a dog instead of a discerning subordinate ?
Ah, right. He was the Mafia Dog.
"Come here," he repeated, his tone still serious, but beneath which a touch of indulgence had crept in.
"Or at least, something close to it."
Higuchi's heart was pounding frantically, blood rushing to his face. She obeyed nonetheless, trembling slightly, successfully capturing the bits of food directly from her boss's lips, without touching a single patch of that soft, attractive skin. He slowly savored the fruit, keeping his hand pressed against the back of her neck to prevent her from backing away, his fingers sliding through her hair as his jet-black eyes cast their shadows over her heated face. It was only when he saw her swallow that he finally stepped back, letting go. He didn't seem the least bit perturbed by the events, expressing no emotion. After all, he had learned to hide them well.
"Fine. You may be dismissed."
Blushing, Higuchi bowed and left the room, both disappointed that she hadn't made better use of her position and relieved to see the pressure ease. Behind her, Akutagawa watched her leave, a fleeting flash of satisfaction in his eyes as he licked his lips, picking up the remnants of fruit, and gathering the crumbs from her breath.
Evening fell quickly, the two colleagues losing track of the hours. Their stomachs were filled more with butterflies than figs, but who cared ?
***
Unfortunately for them, the night didn't grant them the pleasure of letting its hours tick by at such a relentless pace. It seemed so long that, rather than tossing and turning in bed without finding respite, Akutagawa preferred to get up again and go straight to the mafia. This was how his subordinate found him the next morning, bent over his reports since dawn. Dark circles under his eyes, even more prominent than usual, spread across his cheeks, which she couldn't help but point out:
"Hello, senpai! You look tired... you should get more rest."
He put down his pen but didn't bother to look up to retort condescendingly, "Ah, maybe you're right," before resuming his work. This response didn't please her, and she persisted until he stood up from his chair and smoothed down his sleeves, ready to leave if she dared to insult him again.
"Why are you so insistent on making me rest ? Are you worried about me ?" he mocked.
She widened her eyes and quickly denied it vehemently. The man approached her, asking what it was all about. If it wasn't worry, was she insulting him ? Was she calling him weak ? No, of course not, she would never dare. She simply wouldn't want him to get sick because of her. Why was she unable to suppress the blush in her cheeks in these kinds of situations ? She hated her inability to control her body. It was obvious she cared about him, far too much, in fact. So much so that she didn't notice him walking straight toward her until his hand brushed her jaw. She jumped then, not expecting to feel those long fingers clasp her skin. The closeness was... unsettling. He was watching her like a predator watching prey, making her uncomfortable. His voice trembled in his babbling, but he clicked his jaw to Shut her mouth shut and silence her.
"Tell me why you're blushing so much, Higuchi," he whispered provocatively.
He savored the moment, the embarrassment of the woman he could devour, or the feeling she seemed to have that she could run away. But no one would resist him. He blocked her retreat by placing his other hand on the wall right next to her head, bending his own to be at her eye level.
"J-just... hot!"
"Oh, is that it? You get hot just being around me, what does that tell us ?"
A wave of chills ran up her spine, her heart pounding in her temples. She was dizzy, absorbed by everything and nothing at the same time. She wanted to justify herself, but the sneering, dark-haired man getting closer every second was making it difficult. She stammered without forming a coherent sentence, until the hunter grew tired of this little game and reproached her for always being a bad liar. His interest turned to pure anger, and his hand slid from her jaw to her throat, which he gripped tightly. His raspy voice rose, scolding her not to lie, not to him, of all people.
He was menacing, holding her voice and her breathing in his grip, her entire life reduced to a fist he could clench or unclench at will. But that wasn't how the blonde perceived him; to her, her superior was closer than ever, his warm breath mingling with hers, sparse, his sensual voice filled with a sweetness she was truly devoid of. He smiled, revealing sharp teeth, pinning her completely against him. Her breath was caught by both his hand and his proximity, her brain foggy and churning. She was at his mercy, and... he liked it. Both of them.
"If I look tired enough for you to point it out, you can't be in much better shape. Go home and leave me alone, now."
He had given her a way out, but... Her body was reacting against her will, seeking more contact with the taller man. So he finally let go of her, stepping back to cough and end the scene. A sigh left Higuchi's lips, sucking in air thirstily. He had broken the contact, freeing her from this imminent danger. But why did she feel almost frustrated ?
He wasn't looking at her, he didn't want to look at her. He had almost lost control, crossed boundaries he was forbidden to cross. His impatience had failed his reason. He maintained a neutral expression, but desired calm to gather the fragments of his consciousness. His hand was tingling, but he would never admit it, even to himself. A strange tension emanated from them, heating their bodies as they avoided each other's gaze. After a moment, Higuchi took a step toward her. He turned so his back was on her when he noticed her movement, which slowed her down, not wanting to startle him. He had gone from predator to frightened animal. The beast wasn't so frightening once its mask fell. She wanted, or rather needed, to understand why he had played with her, why he had pinned her to the wall, why he wouldn't look at her anymore. It wasn't uncommon for him to explode in anger, but she usually didn't handle it this well. No, this wasn't a routine violent session; something else was hidden beneath the abruptness.
Where did these new emotions come from ?
"Senpai. What... was that ?" she forced herself to speak, her voice tense and trembling.
"Shut up," he snapped. "Nothing happened. So now, do me the favor of going home and leaving me alone. I don't want to be burdened with your presence any longer. I may be tired, but I'm no more stupid than usual."
Ah, that was the irritation. This was already more like him. Deep down, he himself wasn't sure of the answer. This little game made no sense, but it was so amusing to him for some unknown reason. And even if his heart were overflowing with the truth, he would refuse to admit it. He remembered the scene behind her closed eyelids. So close, that sweet scent around her, his chest against hers, his hand around her throat. All that domination he'd allowed himself with his subordinate. "Because I could," were his final words.
A shiver ran through the young woman again, but just as she was about to add more meaningless words, Akutagawa had had enough. He turned around and pinned her against the wall again. She slammed into him with all her weight, then saw him charge again. His hand struck her cheek, before returning to rest against her throat. He definitely seemed to like this place more than he should. He grabbed her forcefully, crushing her windpipe mercilessly. He wouldn't be so lenient anymore, so if she didn't If she wasn't careful and didn't stop being a stupid nuisance, she'd be in for a hell of a time.
The shock made her stagger. He'd regained control, his body arching against the concrete behind her back. Her chest rose and fell in time with her shallow breaths, and to avoid paying attention to her body, the curve of her waist or her quivering hips, the mobster stared instead at her pale, soft, pretty face and... fuck, he couldn't let her go. He didn't want to leave this moment or the feeling of infinite power it gave her.
Her pulse raced then, and she opened her mouth slightly, desperately trying to gasp for air as he seemed to squeeze her windpipe even more. A small moan escaped her, which made the man hum. She stayed there against his will, further annoying him. In his raspy voice, he whispered in her ear, "Are you going to continue being unruly ?" She tried to shake her head, but was unable to. The world spun around her, and only the tall figure pressed against her stood out through the clouds of mist. He had complete control over her, and his breath heated her to a dizzying sensation. His voice was now a husky, sensual whisper, and in the midst of this closeness, this strange moment of intimacy had a strange effect on them. She felt his breath against her cheek, against her ear, like a warm breeze. Her body tensed against the wall as she felt as if she were losing all ability to think beneath the sensations he was unleashing upon her. Yet she managed to regain some of the use of her voice, and though her voice was faltering, she managed to speak to him in a voice that was meant to be docile: she would be wise from now on.
That fragile voice, in which he sensed all the weakness, the total submission of the young woman under his hand, against the wall, was simply delicious.
"Well... now, second question: why do I want to keep you under my control ?"
Higuchi's boiling body momentarily resumed its place in the room, making him feel more intensely the pressure of the man's hand on his throat. His thoughts, having returned to reality for a moment, were already trying to escape again. The lack of air prevented him from forming any sensible reflection, carrying him away to a world apart, devoid of any clarity. His eyes were beaded with tears, and the limpid ignorance within them answered in place of his lost mouth.
A predatory smile spread across his superior's face, and he dropped her to the ground, not a single thought for her body hitting the wooden floor.
"Do you really know nothing ?" he asked again.
The answer was the same. But this time with a shake of the head. Her voice was weak and muffled, and her figure sprawled on the floor at his feet formed a pedestal he longed to climb onto. He was captivated by her obvious submission, her docile presence that he could so easily control... she was his subordinate, hers. And there was nothing she could do to oppose it.
"If you're so ignorant of the causes behind these sensations... you're useless to me."
The moment the words left his lips, Higuchi's heart sank. He moved away, as if he'd forgotten her presence, or didn't want to acknowledge her. She straightened up and sat against the wall, her legs still trembling.
She looked up, admiring him from below. After all, this was her seat, wasn't it ?
It was only after several long seconds that he finally deigned to look her over in return. His icy expression was like a mask, pretending nothing had happened... at least until his dark eyes plumbed her neck. A patch of color had bloomed there, unabashedly blossoming against her pale skin. He turned away as soon as he saw her.
"You. Go. Home," he ordered, his tone allowing no argument.
He sat down at his desk, crossing his arms on the desk. Higuchi nodded, regaining his composure, then walked towards the exit. A final sharp glance was cast backward as she placed her hand on the doorknob, and upon meeting the deeply dark gaze of the mafioso, disappointment washed over her.
Despite his stoicism, his heart had accelerated upon seeing the traces of his reorganization on his skin. He pushed these intrusive thoughts away as best he could, and finally got to work.
***