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After the last catastrophic mission between the Agency and Port Mafia, one would've thought that Mori and Fukuzawa learned a lesson out of it. When Akutagawa and Atsushi were forced to work together for another mission (having been forced to pair up countless times already), by none other that Chuuya and Dazai, it appeared the two Bosses still thought it was a good idea. All happened in less than an hour ; right after Soukoku had came back from their mission. The boys didn't have the time to protest even if they wanted to, not that either of them actually thought about it when the mission was explained to them.
During six months, they went back and forth between missions. Even if you wouldn't hear either of them say it, they actually enjoyed these times together. They were “forced”, so it wasn't suspect for them to grab a coffee to talk about their missions. Atsushi was now less nervous around the Diablo, more self-confident about his role and his powers, and Akutagawa had softened up a bit. It wasn't noticeable for anyone except those who were really close to the mafioso, like Higuchi – who was pealing the skin out of her face, poor one – Chuuya, whom found the situation really funny and of course, Dazai, because the detective knew his old subordinate to well for his own well-being (Akutagawa's not Dazai's). And all of that, in less than six months. Since they had beat Dostoevsky, when Akutagawa swore he wouldn't kill anyone during six months for Atsushi.
They had been given a mission that appeared quite simply, but to handle with caution as they didn't know what was the ability of the woman they were looking for. She owned to the Port Mafia a good amount of money, and furthermore decided that stealing directly in the national bank was a good idea. So of course, both the Port Mafia and the Agency were sent on the mission. Well … The Agency officially by the government, that's how Dazai had ended with the paper on his desk he had shoved in Atsushi's chest a few hours ago.
The ADA would just forget to precise a mafioso had helped as well when filling the papers. Like Dazai said : what Anko doesn't know can't hurt him.
“Jinko. Where is your mind ?” scolded Akutagawa.
The boys were wandering in the corridors of a really fancy hotel, both quite surprised, more or less obvious about it. Of course they were expecting something old, in disrepair, that menaced to break down with just a blow of the wind. But no. They ended up in front of one of the most prestigious hotel in Yokohama, often used by the Mafia, commented Akutagawa, but completely empty, except for the woman they came for and her bodyguards. They passed the security quite easily, too easily if you asked Atsushi, and were now at the 15th floor on 20.
“We're almost at her level, the guards are getting more numerous,” noticed Atsushi.
“True. I'll take care of those three in front of us. Use their bodies as a cover to attack the others.”
“Got it.”
Atsushi partly transformed into a were-tiger and Akutagawa showed himself, calm, hands in his pockets, like if he belonged in the corridor.
“Hey kid, what are you doing here ?” asked one of the guards.
“Rashômon !”
“Fuck- tell Lindsey she has to leave they're here ! Hey what-”
Atsushi jumped from his hideout on the guy to stop him from spreading more informations. He knocked out three others, and didn't even blink when something sharp and black passed next to his ear to hit a man behind him.
When the black cloth went back to it's owner, it tickled Atsushi's cheek and the boy couldn't help but shiver under the feeling.
“Jinko ?” nothing aggressive or pejorative in the nickname anymore, just curiosity. The called one just shook his head.
“Let's keep going. They had time to inform her.”
“We can't let her escape but she's five floors ahead of us.”
“How do you know ?”
“Just find this on one of the guards.”
Akutagawa showed Atsushi a metallic card for room 205 at floor 20.
“Crap-”
“No time for this you. Go with your tiger speed. I'll catch up.”
“But-”
“Go !”
Atsushi growled more animally than humanly but went anyway, Akutagawa following just behind. Akutagawa would've preferred to take the elevator, because lets just face it, his lungs were not really of any help, but he settled for the stairs. It took him a while and he kept hearing the sound of distant fighting, repressing deep down the anxiety he felt hearing screams. None sounded like Atsushi's but he was alert for anything at this point. He finally managed to reach the last floor and had the satisfaction to see the Jinko had done a good job : all the guards were neutralized and by the sound coming from inside the big hotel suit, he was already fighting their target.
Akutagawa grinned as the feeling of victory filled his head. However, he shouldn't have cheered too soon. His face went gray as he heard the most inhuman scream rise up in the empty hallway, and this time, a scream je would have recognised between hundreds ; he had torn a scream like that from Atsushi when he had ripped his leg on their first encounter . His blood ran cold and he rushed towards the door.
“Atsushi !” screamed the black hair man, not keeping away the worry in his voice.
He reached for the doorknob but before he could do anything, a powerful wave hit him and threw him against the wall hard, knocking him briefly. His ears were ringing, his eyes were seeing black spots and the hit in his back had left him gasping for air. He pushed himself back up, shook his head and tried to clear his thoughts.
Atsushi, he's … he's hurt, oh no Dazai-san is going to kill me if anything happened to him and I … JINKO ! Fuck Dazai. I'll never forgive myself if-
“Atsushi !”
Everything was silent now. No fighting noises, no screams, grunts, familiar noises of powerful tiger paws scratching the floor to gain momentum. Nothing.
Akutagawa finally managed to get himself up and stumbled inside the room. He was still a bit stunned but the sight in front of him made him sober up real quick : a broken bay window, the furnitures all upside down and a smoking figure in the center of the room, where the powerful wave seemed to have taken it's origin. No sign of the woman, no sign of anyone in the room really, and the mafioso tried to not panic. It began to be harder when he noticed the smoke was coming out of a pile of clothes. A pile that looked suspiciously like Atsushi's clothes.
“Atsushi ?”
“Mrouaw !”
“Huh ?”
Akutagawa couldn't believe his eyes. It had to be a joke. It had to. This thing, couldn't be Atsushi. Not his Jinko. Not the powerful tiger he usually was. Because now, he had a fucking white kitten, staring at him, with enormous central heterochromia eyes. Yellow and purple. White fur, black stripes. How the other seemed familiarly terrified …
Dazai-san is going to kill me …
“Jinko ?”
“Mhr !”
Did he dream or did the miaowing seem annoyed.
“Hey, lower your tone, it's not my fault !”
The kitten stared at him so hard he gulped. Then he remembered the situation and got back into his mafioso skin. He grabbed the cat with Rashômon, barely surprised when Atsushi started kicking and tried to grab the cloth to bite it, and went straight to the window.
“We have to report to Dazai-san and Chuuya-san, stop complaining.”
The kitten yelped in terror when Akutagawa jumped from the window, Rashômon holding them not making him feel better at all. Just before taking the big jump, Akutagawa changed his hold of Atsushi and actually took him in his arms, securing him the best he could. He was not a monster, he would not treat a kitten like shit, even if this kitten was Atsushi... Especially if this kitten was Atsushi.
The kitten in question didn't even feel when they landed on the ground. Akutagawa was actually good at holding cats. Then the poor kitten remembered that it was what he was now. A goddamn, fringing CAT.
He started to meow again, at the great misfortune of Akutagawa who tried to shush him up :
“I can't understand what you're saying, don't waist your time and breath.”
That didn't satisfy Atsushi at all and he decided to take his claws out and strike them in the mafioso's neck a bit. He was almost thrown to the ground, and he had closed his eyes expecting a powerful impact, but nothing came, if not for the emptiness he felt a second after. Rashômon had taken him back and kept him above the ground and away from its owner, as Akutagawa seemed to see this as a punishment for what Atsushi did.
The poor silver kitten tried to meow a bit, reached for the locks of the devil, but nothing worked. Being in such a state made him feel so vulnerable and lost, and uncomfortable, he just felt so small and useless ! Without realizing he started to cry a little, and his whining got louder the longer it lasted. Akutagawa stopped abruptly and turned a worried and shocked face towards the poor detective.
Seeing the state his partner was in, he sighed heavily but still decided to take him back in his arms. He opened his coat a little to stick the ball of fur in it but warned :
“Scratch or bite and I won't care how much or loud you cry, I will let Rashômon take you, got it ?”
He was answered by a knuzzling of Atsushi's head on his torso, and his facial expression softened up.
“Dazai-san is going to skin me alive, I hope you know that,” he growled in his beard and went straight to the Agency's office, knowing everyone was waiting for them.
**
And as expected, when he entered the Agency, nothing had changed. He felt like what happened with Chuuya and Dazai was days ago but no, it had just been a few hours. The two had gone to Dazai's apartment but after Akutagawa's message, had came back to the Agency.
“~Akutagawa ! So you see it wasn't that hard- wait. Akutagawa. Where is Atsushi ?”
All eyes were on him for a second and even if he was the Diablo from Port Mafia, he really started to fear for his life.
“Akutagawa ? Every thing's fine ?” asked Chuuya, the only one seeing something was wrong.
“I- we-” the boy didn't know how to begin. And like an old quote says, a picture is worth a thousand of words.
He pulled the kitten out of his coat, holding him with two hands, et put it under Dazai's nose.
“That is very cute, but does not answer my question. Where is my subordinate Akutagawa ?”
Before he could get in full old mafia Dazai mode and scare the shit out out his subordinate, Chuuya hit him on the back of the head.
“Idiot ! And you say you're smart ! This is Atsushi, mackerel !”
“We encountered problems. She was well guarded and I told Atsushi to go ahead as he's faster and we would've lost her. I don't know what happened. I just heard a scream, felt a blast, and when I finally got to him he was like this,” explained Akutagawa in one go.
He wasn't scared of much, except for Dazai to be angry with him.
“Let me get this straight,” started the brunet to be interrupted by the snorting of Chuuya. “Don't laugh ! It's serious matter, it's no time for gay jokes ! This could be my subordinate !”
“This is your subordinate.” repeated Akutagawa exhausted.
“Don't sound so proud about yourself !”
The poor mafioso let an actual growl of frustration out, as did Chuuya but out of exasperation. Atsushi decided it was his moment and start meowing madly. He was trying to slither out of Akutagawa's hands and was quite happy when the boy released him not on the floor, but on his own desk.
He was really kitten sized, so he had to go turn on his computer with one of his little paw, but couldn't manipulate the mouse. He turned to look at Akutagawa, his eyes clearly demanding something from the boy.
“What do you want ?”
“He won't answer you !” said Dazai, acting upset but internally thrilled and amused.
“He does !” whistled Akutagawa between his teeth.
“I think he wants to talk,” stepped in Ranpo.
“You think ?” asked Yosano surprised.
“You're right. I don't think, I know.”
Akutagawa opened for Atsushi a blank page on the tipping program of his computer and the little kitten activated himself on the keyboard. After long minutes - he had short paws and a lot to write - he stopped and everyone could read :
The informations were wrong, she can't transform people into animals, she transforms them into weaker versions of their power !
All were now looking at Dazai. He had been the one charged with collecting informations on the woman. The brunet laughed :
“I think the paper I gave Atsushi was from the wrong pile.”
“That's exactly why I tell you to DO YOUR PAPERWORK, YOU MORRON !” screamed Kunikida, pretty angry.
“I wouldn't have said better myself,” huffed Chuuya, exasperated.
“Oya oya,” tried to calm down Dazai.
The noise was only growing and filling the room with unnecessary arguing, and Akutagawa just wanted to kill himself right here and there.
“Alright I brought him to you, now I'll take my leave.”
He walked straight to the door but was stopped by a hand on his shoulder. He slowly turned his face to see a smile he never thought he'd saw on Dazai again – way too scary – and the sadistic looks of the other member of the Agency. Even Chuuya seemed to understand the common thought, and Ryuunosuke gulped hard.
“I don't think so,” started Dazai.
“You're a team, right ? So not only do you need to take care of the mission, but also of each-other,” completed Chuuya.
“But you failed in both,” added Dazai.
“So you'll be the one to take care of Nakajima until we find a way to get him back,” finished Chuuya.
Akutagawa wanted to die. Like right fucking now. He didn't mind that much taking care of Atsushi, but the boy was a godforsaken kitten, and he didn't know for how long this was gonna last. Even Atsushi looked horrified. Can we blame him ? He was just told that his former rival, the one who tried to kill him so many times before and almost succeeded, was suppose to take care of him in this way too vulnerable form ? Nope that would be without him.
Atsushi jumped off the table on the chair, and then on the floor, and tried to escape as well. Unfortunately, Dazai still had his hand on Akutagawa's shoulder, and when they both looked as the kitty running away, Dazai tightened his grip on the Diablo's shoulder before letting go so he could use Rashômon to catch the poor Atsushi.
He was meowing angrily. He even hissed at Dazai.
“Aye Atsushi, it's only for a few nights, he won't kill you, be assured of that.”
The threat was tangling in the air so hard Chuuya smacked Dazai on the head to cut it.
“He's my subordinate. If he kills yours, I'll deal with him.”
“I didn't need you to tell me what to do, I wasn't even thinking of harming Jinko but thanks anyway,” spitted Akutagawa before taking his leave, Atsushi in his coat just like when they arrived. He knew they both didn't have the best relationship, but he had taken upon himself to be a better man for Atsushi, and no one seemed to notice it. He was not looking for congratulations, but if people could stop threatening him when he was around Nakajima he would be glad.
Dazai narrowed his eyes while Chuuya smiled :
“You need to be gentler on the kid. He's trying his best you know, and I really think he got fond of your boy.”
“He sure didn't act like it.”
Chuuya lost his smile.
“Yeah, because you're such an example. At least he didn't leave him for four years without news. They were already enemies when they met, that makes some things easier.”
Dazai bit his inner cheeks and close his eyes with how stupid he could be but before he could fix anything Chuuya was already gone.
Akutagawa, I want you to prove me how wrong I was all these years. Take care of Atsushi like you took care of Gin, thought the brunet before chasing his red head.
*
In the fancy apartments of Yokohama ranted by the Port Mafia, Atsushi was discovering, without big surprise that the salary of a mafioso was way higher than the one of a detective. And the one of a detective was way higher that average so you could only imagine what the mafioso's was…
Akutagawa's place was huge ! They was a bay window giving a full view on Yokohama's bay, an open kitchen, and traditional Japanese door to separate the bedroom and the living room.
Atsushi was currently admiring everything from the leather sofa he was settled on. Akutagawa told him to stay in this room, that he could explore if he wanted to, but to not leave the living room, while he went showering. At the Jinko's big surprise, Akutagawa left his black coat on the back of the sofa.
He approached it slowly, sniffing the cloth, waiting for it to try and eat him. It didn't. He jumped on the back to sniff it better, and tried his paws on it. Would it be disrespectful if he stepped and walked on it ? Probably. Did he care ? Not really. The thing tried to cut him more times he could count, it was only justice that he was able to walk on it now !
Unfortunately, the thing was alive and sometimes didn't need Akutagawa to act on its own. A little head of Rashômon appeared right before Atsushi and made him yelped in surprise. You've all seen a cat scared then fall of where they were standing, well it happened to Jinko. But before he could smack himself on the ground, he was caught, and brought back to the safest place of the sofa – the seat – by that little version of the killing cloth. The little head looked exactly like the big one, and when it wasn't trying to kill him, Atsushi found that it looked a little bit like a pet too. If you could go past the narrow eyes and pointy teeth.
He tried to give a little head hit, and the thing answered just like a cat, by trying to hit Atsushi back.
When Akutagawa came out of the shower, he expected to have to find Atsushi everywhere in his apartment because the little shit wouldn't have listened to him, but he was greeted instead by the noises of playing. He curiously walked to his leaving room, only to find his coat playing with kitty Atsushi. None of them noticed him, and so he took the opportunity to take his phone out and snatched a few pictures. A few dozens pictures. What ? They were cute. It was definitely not for Atsushi. Definitely. He sent the pictures to Gin without saying it was Atsushi, and to Chuuya with the comment “ I can take care of him just fine”.
He was not really mad at Chuuya, the ginger never said anything. He was annoyed by Dazai's reactions. He apologized to Atsushi, started working with him for months, in a good relationship additionally and he knew Atsushi wouldn't crash him to Dazai, so why was the man still acting like a jerk towards him ? He didn't understand.
Atsushi seemed to notice him at last, and his sad look with it. With the help of Rashômon he jumped on the towel Akutagawa had around his shoulders and did the most stupid, cute, and thoughtless thing he could : he gave a little head bump on the black hair man's cheek, and rubbed his head against it a little bit. Akutagawa was kind of surprised, to say the least, but also very taken aback.
What the hell ?
He took the kitty in his hand, held it had eyes sight level and looked at him really confused :
“What the hell Jinko ?”
Atsushi seemed to have realized how he had acted because Akutagawa could've sworn to see a flash of embarrassment in his iris before the thing started to toss his way out of his hands. Before dropping him and hurt him the mafioso put him back on the sofa where the kitty tried to hide, unsuccessfully of course. His body was doing a little bump under Rashômon, and his white tail was still showing on the dark couch. Akutagawa scoffed a little and decided to let him for now, and just sat on the other side of the sofa and turned the TV on.
He couldn't find anything interesting, so he thought about putting on a movie. He was about to just put another horror movie on when he suddenly remembered the kitty. He was 100% sure Atsushi wouldn't like a horror movie. So he sighed and went to take a book. When he turned around, the kitty had poked it's head out of Rashômon to keep an eye on him, just to dig it back in when he was spotted. Akutagawa hid another laugh behind a cough and went back to the sofa, sitting closer to Atsushi this time.
He almost wanted to call Mori to know if there was anything he could do tonight, but knowing his senpais, they had probably called the Boss already to tell him Akutagawa wouldn't be free until the situation was over. This was hell.
Not that he minded the little kitty, but that's not really how he planned on having Atsushi inside his apartment.
He jolted up at the thought, fear taking over : he was going crazy, of course he never thought of having Atsushi over, why would he ?! He went to the bathroom to splash cold water on his face. He stayed a little while in front of his mirror, face dripping with water drops, staring at himself. He looked dead. When didn't he ? His lack of eyebrows and the deep bags under his eyes didn't help at all, but no matter how much sleep the boy tried to have, he always woke up exhausted. Oh and his coughs were also a reason for his lack of sleep, as their awakened him half of the time. That's why Akutagawa gave up on having long and resting nights, but focused more on short yet effective naps.
Lost in his thoughts, he almost called Rashômon to him when he saw a gray and white things crossing his corridors in the mirror's reflection. He sighed and mentally slapped himself : Atsushi. Thank god he wasn't as impulsive as Dazai was, or the kitten would be dead already. Quietly, he dried his face and went out of the bathroom to check on him.
He was right : the little shit didn't listen to him. But it waited a little before being disobedient, he couldn't take that away from him. Kitty Atsushi was walking quietly in every room he could access, sniffing all the part Akutagawa knew he'd find his smell. His stomach twisted when Atsushi just decided to act full cat and rubbed his body on his furnitures, marking his territory in his apartment and on his stuff.
He didn't even mind Akutagawa when he walked in front of him to go to the bedroom. How did he even know where it was ? He followed from afar, and watched as the kitty found his computer on his desk. He sat on the desk and finally turned to Akutagawa expectantly. But the mafioso would be damned if he made things easy for the detective.
He leaned on his door frame, taking his phone out to answer his sister :
GIN : You adopted a kitty ? Wow being friends with the Jinko surely made you soft ...
The little bitch.
ME : I didn't adopt shit, that's the Jinko. Mission failed tonight, I'm forced to look over him until he turns back
GIN : lmao you're a fucking mess
ME : Shut up or I tell Higuchi about your crush on her
GIN : You'd never, I got way too much tea on you
GIN : Anyway, maybe you can use that situation to your advantage !
ME : ?
GIN : Don't play dumb like you don't know what I'm talking about, you're fond of him, tell him !
ME : I am blocking you
Ignoring the messages Chuuya sent him, Akutagawa threw his phone on his bed out of frustration. He was careful to stay professional and as much detached as possible, but he guessed he could never hide anything from his sister. He lied to himself so many times about his relationship with Atsushi, he deserved a Guinness Award. He finally accepted his feelings, but never accepted to share them. No. He'd keep them to himself, and they'd just leave with time and patience. That's the best he could do.
Telling Atsushi was not even an option he considered. The Jinko was too nice, too pure, he'd never reciprocate and Akutagawa even feared the detective would find him even more twisted. He wouldn't be wrong though ...
“Meow !!”
He jumped when claws dug in his ankle.
“Jinko !”
Atsushi ran away in fear and hid under the desk. Akutagawa sighed and went to pick him up, forbidding the kitty from trying to bite him or scratch him. He put him back on the desk and sat on his chair. Atsushi tapped the computer and Akutagawa smirked :
“I don't understand what you want, use words.”
The look he got back was priceless. He almost lost himself laughing but kept control and just turned the computer on.
“You want to talk don't you ?” seeing the kitten nodded he added : “of course you do, you always do ...”
It didn't sound like he was stating something annoying about Atsushi, but more like something he noticed from the other boy's habits. Atsushi stared at him for a few seconds, surprised. His heart was already beating faster because of his smaller frame, but now it had accelerated again.
Once Akutagawa opened the writing program, he rolled his chair back away a little, leaving all access to Atsushi, and even crossed his arms on his chest, waiting.
After a few minutes, the kitty had tapped something :
Can I ask a question ?
“Didn't you just did ?”
Akutagawa !
“OK, OK, fine, what ?”
Why take care of me ?
Akutagawa looked at Atsushi in surprised and a little bit of worry. Did the kitty hit his head when he wasn't looking ?
“Dazai-san asked me tomo, remember ?”
Atsushi shook his head.
You could've said yes and then drop me at my apartment or in the streets.
Ryuunosuke felt bitterness fill his mouth. So that's what Atsushi thought of him ? He was right to keep his feelings secret then ... He couldn't blame him ... He brought it on himself. He guessed he'd need to work harder to prove he was changing and his demand of peace was truthful.
“I would never. Maybe a few months ago I would have, but now ... Now I'd kill anyone dropping you in the streets,” he still admitted, eyes looking at everywhere in his room but Atsushi. It was easier to confess things to the kitten as he wasn't looking like Atsushi completely, and speaking to animals was always different than speaking to a person.
He heard typing again and turned his head back to the detective.
Thank you
“Stupid. What are you thanking me for ? You're my partner, of course I'd do that ...”
Atsushi kept quiet a while, and typed again :
Why did you look sad earlier ? Was it Dazai-san again ?
Akutagawa furrowed his brows :
“I never look sad.”
Atsushi was the one looking sad now because of his answer. He sighed once more and rephrased :
“I was not sad. I was just disappointed that he didn't trust me yet. After everything we- I did to prove myself.”
I already told you, but I don't think you really need to prove yourself to him anymore. Dazai already acknowledges you, but you know him, how can you expect for him to admit it ?
“Isn't he just lying ? He doesn't act like what you're describing ...”
Don't take it badly ! Please ! But unlike Chuuya, you are a part of Dazai's past he would've preferred to forget ... Because he's changed, because he's grown, but most importantly because he still feels the guilt to have failed you. Not only by leaving for four years, but also by how he treated you when you were his apprentice ... You say that I had everything served on a silver plate, but Dazai is just using me as a replacement, a way to clean his board. I'm his second chance Ryuu, everything he wished he did with you, he's doing with me ...
“You have a place in his life. I don't and I never did. I was a nuisance to him, one he left behind as soon as he could.”
A place you fill through me ! He sees you in me, I can tell by the way he looks at me sometimes ! It's something no one talk about in the Agency, everyone just acts like it nothing happened when it does, but my first days, Dazai kept on calling me by your name. I tried not to react as well because of the conflicted relationship we had, but even now sometimes your name slips through his lips. He's mad at himself when it happens. Because it's always when he's praising me ... I think you should see past his cold features Ryuunosuke. He really cares for you ...
Atsushi gasped when he turned to the mafioso, surprised and shock taking over upon seeing the man's face covered with tears. He wasn't sobbing of crying, the tears were just running freely and silently on his cheeks, and that made it even worse for the sensible detective.
Akutagawa deserved love, and care, things he always secretly seek but never got. Atsushi decided that he'd risk his life to give him what he deserved.
He jumped on the way too thin thighs, and rested his back paws on them, while his front paws patted on the man's chest. He nuzzled his head against his chin, afraid because Akutagawa wasn't reacting. Before he could understand what was happening, Akutagawa took him in his arms, turned off his lights, and threw them inside his bed, using his blanket as a cover. He brought a confused Atsushi closed to him, and the kitty was so close he could feel the mafioso's heart beating like crazy in his chest.
He internally smiled, a fond and caring like smile.
It took a while, but Ryuunosuke finally stopped crying and dried his tears. When he was sure Akutagawa was deep asleep, Atsushi slithered his way out of his arms, and went back to the computer lef opened. He quickly tapped one last sentence, his heart also beating fast when he red himself, and went back in the bed the best he could before changing his mind.
He made his way back in Akutagawa's arms, nuzzling his nose in the crook of the pale neck, finally falling asleep after a tired day and a tired night, surrounded by the smell he knew by heart.
*
Chuuya smiled when he opened Akutagawa's text, and shoved Dazai off him to answer his subordinate.
“Chuuya,” whined the youngest.
“Shut it, my son is growing up !”
Confused, Dazai made his way back on Chuuya, and the ginger showed him the picture. Dazai's smile joined Chuuya's, and they both looked like proud parents.
“See, he can take care of him !”
“Oya oya, I get it, no need for Chuuya to scream in my ear.”
“Like hell ! Tomorrow you go apologies to him !”
“Chuuya,” Dazai's voice was serious and he left Chuuya's body to kneel in the messy sheets.
Chuuya put his phone down and raised his hand to meet Dazai's cheek. The later looked like a kicked puppy.
“You have to stop running away from him Osamu. You stopped running away from me, it's time you do the same with him. He doesn't deserve everything you put him through. I collected a mess when you left. A child with hopes and dreams you crushed. And despite that, he still looked up to you. During four years, and even now. Do you realize how many times you betrayed him ?”
Dazai was about to answer but Chuuya cut him with a peck.
“That's not to me you have to say sorry mackerel, that's to him. And I know you don't want to because you think you don't deserve his forgiveness, so at least do it for him, please.”
Dazai closed his eyes, brows furrowed in a painful expression, and found refuge in Chuuya's arm.
*
When he woke up the next morning, Akutagawa had to keep himself from screaming and activating Rashômon excessively. You'd do the same if you had woken up with a full naked human Atsushi in your arms, instead of the very small and fury kitten you fell asleep with. He slowly untangled their limbs so he could escape his bed. He took a moment, half sitting, half resting on his desk, a hand on his chest, feeling his heart beating way to fast for his liking. He turned around in the attempt to get back a hold of himself, but failed miserably when his eyes darted on the screen of the computer. It had gone in standby mode during the night, so he turned it on again to turn it off for good. Before doing so, he read again the conversation he and Atsushi had yesterday night, until he read the last one, and Akutagawa was sure it wasn't here when he went to sleep last night.
He raised a hand to cover his mouth in shock, and turned to look at the naked man still sleeping in his sheets. Atsushi was still very much asleep, and he was gratefully for it, because he wasn't ready to face him after reading those words without at least an entire pot of tea. He turned the computer off and rushed to his kitchen to prepare everything.
Atsushi was a heavy sleeper, and wasn't up for two more hours, leaving enough time to Akutagawa to compose himself and think about how he'd deal with the situation. He had gone through the entire pot of tea and was busy brewing another one when Atsushi awoke.
The first thing he noticed when opening his eyes was the empty side of the bed. He stretched, his bones popping and going back in place being the best thing in the morning. He then noticed that he wasn't seeing the world as small as he had this past few hours, and he was seeing it in full colors and not colorblindness, and jolted in a sitting position, checking himself out : he was back to normal ! An ecstatic laugh passed his lips and he fell back in the bed, meddling in the sheets, nuzzling his nose in the pillow covered in the scent he liked so much. He blushed hard when he remembered where he was and what he was doing, but didn't stop.
He'd enjoy it as much as he could. He heard noised coming from the kitchen and guessed Akutagawa was already awake. A quick glance at the computer and his heart stopped : it was closed. But he didn't know if Akutagawa had turned it off before closing it or not, so he still had a chance to get away with it. Or at least leave the man's apartment before he read what Atsushi had written.
His hopes weren't high though, but he refused to let himself feel down. He put on the pants and shirt Akutagawa left for him on the bed, and joined the man in the leaving room.
He didn't find him there.
“Atsushi ?”
He got flustered. He was the one whom asked Akutagawa to call him that, the same way he called him Ryuunosuke, but the later called him by his name so little often it still surprised him.
He found the mafioso in his kitchen, leaning against the counter, a cup of fuming tea in his hands, another one waiting behind him with milk and sugar.
“I don't know how you drink it, so I went to get milk.”
Atsushi took pink shades at the gesture, and couldn't help his signature smile to show up.
“Thank you !”
Akutagawa choked on his tea but it didn't seem serious.
He's gonna be the death of him, he thought, looking at the detective dropping two sugar cubes in his cup. He seemed to hesitate a little to ask something, and Akutagawa tried to think about what else could go with tea that Atsushi would like. He then took something else out a cupboard.
“Honey ?”
Atsushi's eyes widened and he turned to Akutagawa in shock, mouth opened in surprise. Akutagawa's brow furrowed, and he wondered if he had said something wrong. He seemed to understand as he turned a dark red as well, and they were left in an awkward silence. He cleared his throat and rephrased :
“In your tea, do you want honey ?”
“Oh ... OH ! Yes ! Definitely ! Honey for the tea ! Of course !”
Atsushi awkwardly took the bottle from Akutagawa and poured a good amount in his cup. Perhaps a little too much, he wasn't paying attention.
Both were so confused about the whole situation none of them realized a third party had joined until they made themselves known :
“You're both disasters, it's painful to watch, really ...”
Atsushi yelped and jumped out of his skin, dropping the honey. Akutagawa fortunately caught it with Rashômon.
“Gin ! For fuck's sake don't you fucking know how to knock ?!”
He was answered with a laugh as his sister left the apartment :
“Don't worry, just dropping the daily news like every day, but I can understand someone caught your mind so much you forgot !”
She closed the door in a hurry and the journal news paper her brother had thrown hit it instead of her. Her laugh filled the empty corridors a few seconds more after she left, but the embarrassment was still in the air for the two boys. Atsushi was trying to drown in his cup, while Akutagawa decided to ignore it and washed his own in the sink.
“Did you sleep well ?” he asked, taking Atsushi by surprise.
“Y-yeah, thank you for letting me stay in your bed.”
“I already told you, there's no need for 'thank you' between us.”
Atsushi was the one to choke this time, but it stopped when a hand laid on his back and his eyes met with the worried one of the other man. Silver iris dived into heterochromatic ones and time paused.
They stayed looking at the other for a while, getting closer each second, before they could feel the other's breath on their skin. Their eyes had drifted to look at the other's lips, but Akutagawa looked back at Atsushi, a silent question in his sight. The detective smile lightly before breaking the distance between them.
It felt better that what he expected. Akutagawa's lips were dry, but not rough. The boy was clearly inexperienced, and was all shy and sweet, unlike what could be expected of him as the Mafia's rabid-dog.
Atsushi locked his arms around his neck, bringing him closer, and the other had the same idea as he set his hands on the other's hips and also pushed him closer. Every part of them were touching, and even when they parted their head to breath, they stayed in their position.
Embarrassment kicking in, Atsushi hid in Akutagawa's neck, but the other didn't seem to mind.
“Atsushi ?”
“Mh ?”
“What you wrote on the computer last night, did you mean it ?”
Not understanding Akutagawa spoke about a precise part, he finally looked at the other with a fire of determination in his mind.
“I do ! Dazai really-”
“I wasn't referring to that .... I meant ... The last sentence ...”
“Ah ... Well, I-I guess that part too ...”
It was a whisper, but because of their proximity, Akutagawa was able to understand every word and kissed Atsushi again. When they parted, he closed his eyes and rested their foreheads together :
“I love you too.”