Chapter Text
Shuichi didn’t mean to stay out so late tonight-- he’s sure Rantaro will be worried-- but it’s difficult for him sometimes to just put down a case and say that he’s done with it when he’s been making good progress. And he has, this time. Been making good progress, that is. Shuichi doesn’t necessarily view his cases in the same way as he does mystery novels (that would be terribly impersonal and he tries to avoid that; professionalism is one thing, that’s treating reality like fiction and it’s just not the move) but there’s something… captivating, about some of the cases he takes on, once he has a good lead on them.
Which is what happened tonight, and which is why Shuichi is out at the office past nine o’clock, when he should’ve been home over half an hour ago. He huffs a little bit as he packs up his bags, turning off the lamp at his desk and heading out. His uncle is pretty used to him working so late, so he has a key to lock up, which is a good thing, because Shuichi would hate to make somebody else stay later on his account, just because he was overworking.
He and Rantaro don’t have a car. They’re not in town enough for that, between business trips for Amami Sr. and going out to find the rest of Rantaro’s sisters (though they’re getting closer, having just found Rui in England), and anyway Rantaro doesn’t like using cars, even now, when his claustrophobia has settled down a bit. Shuichi doesn’t mind taking public transportation, but it’s a bit eerie and extremely time consuming and he wishes he could’ve left the office an hour earlier. At least then he’d be riding at his normal time. He’s never been the type to trust an empty bus. There’s just something… ghost-like, about it.
It’s alright, though. Shuichi seats himself near the driver and counts stops until he gets off, keeping his eyes moving around the bus, taking stock of his surroundings. By the time the bus pulls up to the stop near his and Rantaro’s apartment, it’s a quarter ‘til ten, and Shuichi vibrates a little bit down the sidewalk to the apartment complex. He shot a text to Rantaro around half an hour ago, letting him know he was on the way, and Rantaro replied, but there were three typos in the message, which leads Shuichi to believe that his boyfriend is pretty tired.
The thought makes him chuckle. Rantaro is cute when he’s sleepy. But Shuichi hopes he’s resting, and not staying up waiting for Shuichi to get home.
When Shuichi unlocks and opens the door to their apartment, he finds out that the answer is both; the lights are all still on, and Rantaro is sitting on the couch, but it’s pretty clear after a moment that Rantaro is asleep, based on the way he’s curled up at the end, his chest rising and falling evenly. He always looks so peaceful when he’s resting, even if the sleep can’t take away the bags under his eyes from consecutive airplane trips, and from nightmares.
Shuichi shrugs off his jacket and steps into his indoor shoes, undoing his tie as he pads over to his boyfriend. It’s nice that Rantaro doesn’t mind him working at his uncle’s agency whenever they’re in the country. Rantaro is the sort of person who won’t stop for anything, even himself, and yet for some reason he allows these breaks while they’re in Japan, for Shuichi to solve a case or two before they take off again.
Well… no. Shuichi knows why Rantaro allows these breaks. It’s so that Shuichi can get his rest. He’s always been so sweet about that, about making sure that Shuichi is taking care of himself and getting appropriate amounts of sleep, even way back in high school.
His lips curl into a small smile as he watches Rantaro drool on the arm of the couch. It’s nice to get to do the same for him, once in a while. Shuichi undoes his tie and unbuttons his shirt, removing his undershirt to take off his binder and then slipping his undershirt right back on. He pulls off his belt, too, and his socks, before scooping a blanket off the armchair and draping it over Rantaro. Shuichi walks around the room, turning off all the lights, then makes his way back to his sleeping boyfriend, climbing on the couch beside him and curling his arms around Rantaro’s back. Shuichi gets to be the big spoon this time. How’d ya like that, adventurer boy?
Hee hee. Rantaro smells like trees, and hot chocolate, and he’s so incredibly warm. Shuichi pulls the blanket over the both of them and tucks his face into his boyfriend’s shoulder. He really loves this man.
...Good night, Rantaro.