Work Text:
After countless missions together, fighting side-by-side with his partner, Akutagawa Ryuunosuke realised that he had feelings for him.
Was it from the way he dared to chastise Akutagawa? Was it in how his lovely eyes of gold and purple reflected light? Was it how he held his ground, no matter how much he was beaten?
Perhaps it was a combination of factors, that however, didn’t change the conclusion that Akutagawa’s heart raced when he was around Atsushi.
He first thought of asking his sister for advice, but he remembered that they were raised together, so she would be better at taking hearts literally than figuratively.
After thinking about it for a while, he picked his phone to text his former mentor, Dazai. He somehow seemed to be able to charm women during his time in the Mafia, perhaps he knew how to woo someone.
He sent a text, keeping it short and crisp,without any formalities.
[Akutagawa, sent 6:47 pm] Dazai how does a person confess his love?
He was about to start his work when his phone pinged.
[Dazai, sent 6:47 pm] OOOOOOO Akutagawa has found love??
[Dazai, sent 6:48 pm] Tell me who this lucky person is?
Akutagawa’s eyebrow went up in anger
[Akutagawa, sent 6:48 pm] It’s not me in love, it’s a subordinate.
[Dazai, sent 6:49 pm] I see, I see
[Dazai, sent 6:50 pm] Flowers are always a good place to start!
[Dazai, sent 6:51 pm] Give them flowers, in such a way that they knows how you feel about them. With lots and lots of passion!
Akutagawa thought about it for a bit, and saw what Dazai meant. He decided to show Atsushi how he felt about him, with full force.
*
Atsushi was heading to work, walking down the same path that he took everyday. He had to submit paperwork today, so he was in a little bit of a rush. He was thankful that the streets weren’t crowded and he could reach the office a little early , until he saw Akutagawa with a bucket.
Atsushi stopped, glaring at the man, Why the hell is he here? And what’s with the bucket? As far as Atsushi remembered, there were no missions needing the two of them to forcefully work together, although it was Akutagawa who was more reluctant about those missions than Atsushi. This increased his confusion, which went up when he saw what Akutagawa did next.
Akutagawa threw the contents of the bucket at him, mainly roses and the water meant to keep them fresh. Atsushi got drenched, with the petals of the flowers sticking themselves wherever he was damp. Atsushi could feel the flowers on his wet body, but he couldn’t see all of them. He was about to grumble when Akutagawa yelled, “I love you!”
Atsushi then reached his tipping point, “Is this a sick joke? Please don’t interfere with my life unless it’s a mission,” he said, with his voice seething. He ran ahead, ignoring his appearance. He was running late for work, and did not want to witness Kunikida’s anger first thing in the morning. So he set off, leaving Akutagawa behind to deal with his heavy heart.
*
“And what reason do you have to come to work like this?” Kunikida yelled at him.
Atsushi sighed, sitting still as Kenji removed the flowers and put them in a vase. “I don’t know, I got ambushed by a weirdo.”
Kunikida pinched the bridge of his nose, “I see, please dry off soon, and complete the paperwork.”
Dazai then strolled in, “Ah, Atsushi I need-” He stopped to note Atsushi’s disheveled appearance.
“Don’t ask,” Atsushi said sadly.
The gears of Dazai’s brain started to turn, and once he put two and two together, he started laughing. Laughing really loudly. Kunikida had to stop him by shaking him, making Atsushi bewildered.
After things had settled down, Dazai took Atsushi to the side, to hear his side of the story fully.
*
Atsushi paced a little bit in his room. He wasn’t sure on what to do. Sure, he may have fights with Akutagawa. But there were some moments where he couldn’t help but feel warm while seeing him. Sometimes when Akutagawa was focused, he seemed quite attractive.
Atsushi never considered the possibility of Akutagawa having similar feelings for him. He thought to take it slow, be friends first. But this wasn’t too bad either…
He picked up his phone.
[Atsushi, sent 9:21pm] Hey Akutagawa, Atsushi here.
[Atsushi, sent 9:22pm] I’m sorry for what I did.
After a while, his phone screen lit up.
[Akutagawa, sent 9:27pm] How did you get my number?
[Atsushi, sent 9:27pm] Dazai
[Akutagawa, sent 9:29pm] Oh
[Atsushi, sent 9:30pm] Anyways…
[Atsushi, sent 9:31pm] I do kind of like you, but I don’t want to rush things yet.
[Atsushi, sent 9:32pm] How about a place where we just sit and talk?
Atsushi was afraid when Akutagawa didn’t respond, until he saw a message just before he ate his dinner.
[Akutagawa, sent 9:57 pm] I’ve booked a table at a chai shop on Saturday evening, be there. Here is the address.
On reading the address, Atsushi smiled a little. Normally he would be mad at Akutagawa’s lack of consulting, but this was rather sweet. He texted back, then left his phone to charge and then went to eat.
Akutagawa blinked in disbelief a bit, then gave a small sigh of relief, followed by a smile at the boy’s cheekiness.
[Atsushi, sent 10:05pm] Sure! But don’t bring flowers.
Akutagawa then went for his duties, glad that things invariably turned out the way they did. He hoped, that even if the path for the both of them became rough, they could help each other up, like how they did in battles.