Work Text:
Akutagawa lazily flipped through various channels until he found one he could keep it on. After a few minutes of going around in circles, he found a cute romantic comedy movie and left it there. He wasn't really watching it, but the shy girl in the movie reminded him a lot of what- actually in this case- who he was really paying attention to.
Atsushi had already fallen asleep for the curled up in a ball next to his him with his head resting on Aku’s lap. He hadn’t been feeling well since this morning, so the weretiger had stayed home all day. Akutagawa wished he could have stayed with him, hating the early morning and late night hours of his job ended those wishes altogether.
Akutagawa watched in awe at how peaceful and adorable the weretiger was. He noticed every little detail of his sleeping form. From the small rise and fall of his chest, how beautiful and long his eyelashes really were, how his cutely uneven silver bangs fell along his forehead...the tears that were forming in the corners of his eyes…
Startled, the mafioso tried to shake Atsushi awake, “Hey, Jinko...wake up, what is it?”
He whispered. Atsushi’s silent tears turned into small choked sobs that instantly broke Akutagawa’s heart. “I said wake up, you idiot! Why are you upset?” he whispered louder, shaking him a bit harder. Atsushi’s crying only escalated.
And then
“Mm…’m not, weak...not...please…” Atsushi cried, now shivering in his sleep.
The younger man was a heavy sleeper, so it didn't surprise Akutagawa why he didn't wake up.
It did surprise him, however, to hear what he had mumbled.
Akutagawa blinked. Looking back down at his boyfriend, he sighed and carefully moved from his spot on the couch, propping Atsushi up in a sitting position on the couch. He walked to their bedroom, only to come back out with a large, fluffy blanket he had bought Atsushi when he had the time during work. He remembered seeing the younger male’s kaleidoscope eyes sparkle more than normal at the gift. Akutagawa loved seeing him like that.
“Ah, It's perfect! Thank you, Ryu! I love it...I really do.” the weretiger shouted, hugging and planting various kisses around Akutagawa’s face. He loved that about Atsushi, too. His little Jinko, (which became his pet name for Atsushi) was always so happy and sweet and full of love that was always directed to him…
So when he walked back into the living room to hear and see the opposite, he too, felt weak- he dread seeing Atsushi like that.
He took his place back on the couch, moving Atsushi again so that his face was buried in Akutagawa’s chest this time. He took the blanket and pulled it over the both of them, holding Atsushi even closer, resting his chin on the younger male’s forehead.
“You idiot...if you were really that weak, I would have killed you a long time ago.” Akutagawa whispered, secretly hoping Atsushi could hear.
“You're not weak- physically or mentally. So you can stop thinking that you are.”
He stopped for a minute, noticing how Atsushi’s crying had softened again, “However...you're not the strongest either...neither am I. You're not flawless, but you can still improve- ”
Aku lifted his hand to stroke the weretiger’s hair gently, “Besides...I may or may not lose my strength a little...no...completely when it comes to anything you say or do, so honestly, I think you're fine as you are...”
When Atsushi’s crying had finally ceased, turning into satisfied purring, Akutagawa smiled and kissed the top of his forehead.
He sighed,“My foolish little Jinko.” Another small kiss to his lips this time. He finished his last thought aloud before falling asleep with his said little Jinko, “You're good enough..You're...good enough for me...at least...I wouldn't want you...any... other way…”
Atsushi would never tell him, but he had heard the whole thing.