Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

You are intolerable. No amount of money in the world could make me work for someone like you again. I quit, get yourself ready for your own shit.

Ryuunosuke sighed. It wasn’t the most vulgar resignation letter he’d ever received, but it is the first one he’d received over text. He sighed and tossed his phone onto the couch in his apartment before sitting himself down.

He supposed he would have to get Higuchi to pick up his suit for tomorrow. He would prefer not to ask her, she often took things too seriously to the point where it got annoying. But, he wouldn’t be able to find a new assistant before the dinner the next evening.

He picked his phone back up and shot her a brief message. He ignored the many replies he got in return.

Was he really that intolerable? Ryuunosuke liked things done a certain way, and he acknowledged that he had a bit of an attitude, but was working with him that impossible? This was his third assistant who quit within the last couple months.

This is why you’re still single, Akutagawa-kun.

His boss’ voice rang in his head. He clicked his tongue.

Whatever. He didn’t need a significant other, he never needed one before. But, an assistant was something he couldn’t really do without.

He’d put up an ad in the morning.

Ryuunosuke stared out the car window, watching the street lights pass by.

Higuchi had helped him get ready, much to Ryuunosuke’s chagrin. Despite being his father’s assistant, she was always a bit too enthusiastic to help Ryuunosuke out. He didn’t know if it was a crush, or some kind of motherly love, but it was unwelcome either way.

“Young master? We’re here,” she said as she opened his car door. He must have been out of it to not even realize the car had stopped.

“Shouldn’t you be with my father?” he asked as he stepped out of the vehicle.

“He told me it was fine to bring you. He thought you might not show up if I didn’t,” she admitted. His frown deepened.

He did have a tendency to skip out on these things. Rather than having anything to do with work they were typically a way for these rich people to show off their wealth and drink together. Though Ryuunosuke had the wealth, he didn’t care much for showing off, or drinking for that matter.

Ryuunosuke fixed his suit before walking up the stairs to the hall his father had rented for the night. The hotel it was in was pretty, and there were no doubt incredible rooms that were booked full with the party’s patrons. Ryuunosuke wasn’t planning on staying long enough to even think about getting a room.

“You look skinny. Have you been eating alright?” Higuchi asked, trailing behind him.

Ah, right. His housekeeper quit a few days before his assistant. Usually she had done the cooking, but Ryuunosuke complained about the food one too many times it seemed. He had completely forgotten to hire someone else.

“Mind your business,” he snapped back.

As they stepped into the hall Ryuunosuke squinted. The lights were bright, and shining off the reflective tile flooring. Much like the rest of the building, the hall was pretty. It screamed I’m rich, look at me.

“Irritating,” he mumbled under his breath.

“Ryuunosuke,” a voice said to his left. He looked over to see his father looking all dolled up. His long black hair tied up, dressed in a black and red suit that most people couldn’t even dream of affording. “I’m so happy you came.”

“Father,” he responded. “Where’s Gin and Elise?”

“I left them at home for tonight. This evening is more for adults,” he said. His cheeks were already a bit red, and he held an almost empty glass of champagne in his hand.

Ryuunosuke sighed. He was hoping he’d at least get to hang out with Gin tonight. His little sister was one of the few people he enjoyed spending his time with. Though, he couldn’t say he missed seeing Elise. Her constant whining got on his nerves.

“There are many exquisite guests tonight. Go introduce yourself,” his father said, lightly patting him on the back.

He knew what that meant. It meant there were marriage prospects that would benefit Mori Technologies. His father had brought up the topic almost every time they met since Ryuunosuke turned eighteen.

It didn’t matter. He wouldn’t be introducing himself, and he certainly wouldn’t be getting married. It didn’t matter how persistent his father was.

He scanned the room for his last hope for fun that evening. It didn’t take long to spot him in the large crowd. His bright red hair stood out.

He stepped away from his father without a word and moved over to the opposite side of the hall.

“Chuuya!” he called out to his superior. The redhead turned to make eye-contact with him. He smiled devilishly when he realized who was calling him.

“Ryuu! I was sure you weren’t gonna show your face here tonight. Here, take a drink,” he said, throwing his arm around his shoulders and handing Ryuunosuke a glass of champagne.

Normally, he would have put it down somewhere before taking a sip, but he felt like he needed to loosen up for a while. He could have one glass.

“You’re actually drinking?” Chuuya asked when Ryuunosuke tipped the glass into his mouth.

“I’ve had a rough week,” he responded without revealing any details. He knew Chuuya wouldn’t pry. That was one of the things he liked about him.

“I know what you mean. Dazai’s been annoying the hell outta me lately,” Chuuya complained. Ryuunosuke cringed at the thought of his other superior.

“I’m sure my dad made you guys partners so he could get a laugh,” he said. Chuuya groaned.

“Why does he like torturing me?”

“He’s like that with everyone. His entertainment matters more than numbers half the time. Where is Dazai-san anyway?”

“Who knows. Probably off with some rich woman asking her to commit suicide with him,” Chuuya answered. Ryuunosuke put his empty glass on a passing tray and took another drink.

“I don’t get him. Doesn’t he have a therapist?”

“Probably not. I wish he did,” Chuuya said, throwing back a full glass of wine.

Their conversation was interrupted when Ryuunosuke noticed a crowd forming, and a woman’s booming voice echoing throughout the hall.

“You little slug! You think you can just treat someone like me this way?” she shrieked. Her voice was like nails on a chalkboard.

Ryuunosuke glanced over to who she was yelling at. A man, an employee of the hotel by the looks of it. He was dressed similarly to the people serving drinks. His silver hair was dripping wet as he bowed his head.

The woman had an empty glass in her hand. Ryuunosuke could put two and two together. How disgusting.

Another man joined them, waving his hands frantically.

“Atsushi-kun!” he shouted before turning to the woman. “I apologize, Miss. He’s a new hire.”

“Does he think he can just ignore me? I spoke to him and spoke to him and he didn’t say a word,” she went on.

Really? She was making this fuss because one employee didn’t acknowledge her? Pathetic. Who the hell did she think she was? Ryuunosuke didn’t even recognize her.

“I apologize. He has a disability, he doesn’t speak—,” the man started.

His explanation was cut off when the woman slapped the silent employee across the face. The noise was loud enough to make Ryuunosuke flinch.

“He’s disgusting. He doesn’t even look like he gives a shit,” she said. She looked over to his employer. “Fire him.”

Ryuunosuke hadn’t even realized his feet were moving until he had taken the woman’s wrist in his hand.

But, before he could say or do anything. The employee, Atsushi, had grabbed a drink from another’s tray and tossed it in the woman’s face. He then proceeded to smash the glass on the marble floor and pushed passed them. Ryuunosuke watched him stomp away until he was out of the hall, eyes wide.

What the hell did he just see?

“Young master!” he heard someone say. He looked back over to the woman and the employer. He was still holding her wrist.

“What an awful wretch. He ruined my dress. I’m so sorry to cause a scene, young master,” the woman said, feigning innocence in Ryuunosuke’s presence.

Then he heard laughing. Loud, hysterical laughing. It took until he felt his stomach hurt for him to realize that he was the one who was laughing.

The woman looked at him with disgust before turning her nose up and walking away. But, he couldn’t stop himself.

He wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol, or the situation itself, but it was just so funny. Seeing her get humiliated in that way was satisfying in a way that he couldn’t describe.

“What’s wrong with you, man?” he heard Chuuya’s voice behind him.

He composed himself and wiped the tears forming in his eyes. He turned and started walking towards the exit.

“I need some fresh air.”

-

It had been a while since Ryuunosuke actually walked anywhere. The cool air felt good on his skin when he had stepped out, so he decided to walk home. He rarely ever went outside without someone accompanying him, he liked it.

For once he was glad he went to one of his dad’s stupid parties. He hadn’t seen something that entertaining in a long time. It was almost enough to make up for his shitty week.

Almost.

His walk came to a halt when he saw someone squatting next to the sidewalk, their face buried in their knees. Ryuunosuke recognized the hair and the outfit immediately.

“Hey,” he said, standing over him.

The man, Atsushi, looked up at him. For a brief moment he looked exhausted. But, something like recognition clicked on his face and he stood up straight. He took two steps back, holding his hands out.

Right, he had seen Ryuunosuke at the party. He probably thought he had come here to kick his ass or shake him down for money for the dress he ruined.

“I’m not here to cause trouble. I’m just walking home. Shouldn’t you be doing the same?” Ryuunosuke asked.

Atsushi lowered his hands, still looking suspicious of Ryuunosuke.

If what he heard at the party was correct, Atsushi didn’t talk. It’s not like he could answer his questions out loud.

“Do you not have somewhere to go?” Ryuunosuke asked anyway.

Atsushi’s face turned red. He took out his phone and typed something before showing the screen to Ryuunosuke.

I have an apartment, but my landlord is probably waiting to evict me right now.

“Kind of late in the night for getting evicted, isn’t it?”

Atsushi typed more and showed him the screen again.

I said I would pay him once I got home from this job, but obviously I’m not getting getting that money.

Ryuunosuke stared at him for a moment, long enough to make Atsushi squirm under his gaze. This might be an opportunity for him to fix some of his own problems.

“Let’s go to yours. Since you cured my horrible evening with that show of yours, I’ll give you something in return,” he said.

Atsushi’s face reddened even more as he shook his head. A clear refusal of Ryuunosuke’s offer to help.

“Don’t start with that. You have two options here, and you’re taking one of them,” Ryuunosuke ordered.

Atsushi looked unsure, but he didn’t refuse this time, or run away.

“You can either let me pay the rent you’re missing for tonight, or we can move you out of that place and into mine,” he offered.

Atsushi’s eyes went wide. Ryuunosuke could feel him declining despite his lack of words or motion. He felt like he needed to be more transparent for Atsushi to trust him.

“I’m not that generous that I’m gonna let you live with me for free. You’d be taking the job of my housekeeper. I usually don’t let housekeepers live with me, but I can at least let you stay until you have enough to move out on your own. The job pays well, but I’ve been told it isn’t easy. You’d be working with someone like that woman you just drenched,” Ryuunosuke explained.

Atsushi looked down at his feet, fidgeting under the pressure. Ryuunosuke understood he was giving him an offer that could potentially change his whole life, but either way he didn’t deserve to be homeless.

“You can think while we walk. Which way is it?” Ryuunosuke asked.

Atsushi took the lead, silently showing him paths that Ryuunosuke had never been on. It seemed like the more they walked, the worse the living conditions got.

Although, this kind of territory wasn’t all that unfamiliar with Ryuunosuke.

They came to a shabby looking building and Ryuunosuke followed Atsushi up the stairs. Sure enough, just like Atsushi said, a man in a robe waited outside his door.

“Nakajima! Have you brought the money?” he shouted before they even got that close.

“Sir, could you give us a moment inside? We won’t be long,” Ryuunosuke said when they approached the door. It was framed like a question, but he wasn’t really asking.

“I’ve been nice enough. I’ve given him chance after chance. If he doesn’t have the money, he can pack his things,” the man said, crossing his arms.

“Well, we’re going to go inside for a bit. When we come out, you’ll either have your money, or an empty apartment. Let’s go,” he said, turning his attention to Atsushi.

Atsushi jumped when Ryuunosuke looked at him, and then fished in his pockets for the key. He quickly unlocked the door and let them in, closing it behind them ignoring the landlords complaints.

“Well? What’s it gonna be?” Ryuunosuke asked. Atsushi typed on his phone.

Will I have time off if I live with you?

“Do you take me for a slave driver? You’d be working normal hours,” he scoffed. Atsushi scrambled to type more.

Can I start immediately? I need a new job now.

“Obviously you’d be starting right away. I’m also in desperate need of a housekeeper,” Ryuunosuke replied.

Atsushi’s eyes lit up. Ryuunosuke hadn’t expected him to be so eager. Did he not need any more time to consider it?

Can I take my stuff?

Ryuunosuke glanced around the room. The whole place seemed smaller than the room Atsushi would be moving into.

“There’s already a bed in my guest room, and other furniture. But your personal belongings are fine. I don’t care what you bring,” he said. It didn’t look like Atsushi even had enough stuff to fill his own room.

Atsushi’s eyes were sparkling now. Ryuunosuke wondered if he was gonna cry. He tapped on his phone again.

Can I change first?

Ryuunosuke took that as a yes for the job. He looked Atsushi up and down.

He was still wearing his soaked uniform that looked like it was probably sticky now. He could probably use a shower, but Ryuunosuke wasn’t planning on being in this place that long.

“Go ahead. But hurry it up. I’m calling someone over to pick us up with your things,” he said. Atsushi quickly turned his back to Ryuunosuke.

He took out his phone and sent a text to Higuchi, requesting her to pick them up while Atsushi unbuttoned his shirt. He glanced over just as Atsushi shrugged the shirt off of his shoulders and did a double take.

Tattooed across the man’s back was a white tiger. It took up the entire expanse of his back, from his nape down to his hips. It was beautiful and enchanting, but there was something sinister about it that he couldn’t explain.

Without thinking he reached out and traced his finger across one of the calligraphic lines. Atsushi flinched, a small noise leaving his throat before he turned to face Ryuunosuke.

“Are you yakuza or something? What’s with that?” he asked, ignoring his momentary loss of control.

Atsushi shook his head furiously, and in the light Ryuunosuke could see his red cheeks better.

There was definitely more to this guy than meets the eye.

“Whatever. Just hurry up and change and pack, Jinko. I’m not waiting around here all night.”

-

When they arrived at Ryuunosuke’s apartment, after dodging all of Higuchi’s questions, Atsushi was stunned. Ryuunosuke almost laughed out loud again for the second time that night.

He knew that feeling. Being in a place that nice for the first time was a shocking moment, especially if that was the place he would be living. Ryuunosuke almost wanted to reach out and close Atsushi’s mouth for him.

“Don’t get excited. This isn’t charity, remember?” Ryuunosuke said after nudging him to finally take his shoes off. Atsushi did so carefully, placing them down gently like he’d break something if he was even a little more careless.

Ryuunosuke sat at his kitchen table and gestured for Atsushi to join him. Atsushi scurried over and took the seat across from him.

“I assume you have something like a resume on your phone. Here’s my number, text it to me,” Ryuunosuke said, showing Atsushi his phone screen.

Atsushi hastily took the number down and texted Ryuunosuke a document.

Nakajima Atsushi, twenty-two years old. It looked as though he had only worked entry level jobs, and all of them were short lived. But, under skills it looked like he spoke four different languages. Though he guessed that it was only understanding and written, since Atsushi didn’t speak. It was still quite impressive.

Ryuunosuke was curious about Atsushi’s voice. He had made a noise earlier, so it wasn’t like he couldn’t make the noises needed to talk. And it seemed like he could hear just fine.

But, it really wasn’t Ryuunosuke’s business. As long as he did the work it didn’t really matter if he spoke or not. The job didn’t require talking out loud. As long as they could communicate there shouldn’t be issues.

“Can you cook?” Ryuunosuke asked.

As if on cue, Atsushi’s stomach growled loudly. The redness in his cheeks was back. Why was he always so red?

He nodded aggressively. Ryuunosuke pointed at the fridge.

“Okay. Then your first test is cooking us dinner. I didn’t eat before I left for the party, and I’m guessing you didn’t either. You can make whatever you want, the fridge should be full,” Ryuunosuke ordered.

Atsushi typed something on his phone and Ryuunosuke received a text from him.

Can I really eat it too?

“Obviously. You think I’m just gonna let you starve?” Ryuunosuke replied.

Atsushi stood up looking determined. It was obvious that he was going to try his best. He wore his feelings so plainly on his face. Even though Atsushi was quiet, his features spoke loudly.

“I’m gonna change. Let me know when it’s done,” Ryuunosuke said, standing up.

Atsushi didn’t even respond, too involved in deciding what he was gonna cook. Ryuunosuke might have been annoyed any other night, but now he was too tired to care. He went back to his room, had a quick shower and put on his pyjamas.

When he left his room, the smell of food wafted into his nose. It smelled delicious. Atsushi looked a little clumsy and incompetent, but maybe he wasn’t like that after all.

Atsushi was standing over the counter, shifting back and forth on his feet. Ryuunosuke stood behind him and looked over his shoulder.

“What is it?” he asked. Atsushi made another small noise and dropped the spoon he was holding into the teapot he had open. “You’re jumpy.”

Atsushi waved him off, the tips of his ears burning red. He stepped aside so Ryuunosuke could have a look while he grabbed another spoon.

“Chazuke, huh? Do you like this?” he asked. Atsushi nodded with a smile while he fished the spoon out of the teapot.

It wasn’t the fanciest dish by any means, but it smelled good and Ryuunosuke knew the tea he had was the best quality.

“Hurry up. I’m hungry,” he said, seating himself at the table. Atsushi nodded and put the rice in two bowls, carefully pouring the tea over them.

He placed one in front of Ryuunosuke, and then seated himself. He dug in right away, and his face was pure bliss. Ryuunosuke wondered how long it had been since Atsushi had eaten a good meal.

“Is it good? I have nice tea,” he asked. Atsushi nodded again, closing his eyes to enjoy the taste.

Ryuunosuke took a bite. For a simple dish, it was quite delicious. It was prepared perfectly. It was much better than anything his last housekeeper made for him.

“It’s good. You pass,” Ryuunosuke said.

Atsushi was beaming. He took out his phone and sent Ryuunosuke another text.

I used to cook for my sister all the time. This was always my favourite thing to eat.

“I know what that’s like. I have a younger sister, too,” he responded.

Well, he technically had two younger sisters. But, the other one was…

Atsushi smiled at him softly. Ryuunosuke felt his chest tighten.

He didn’t really notice appearances much, but Atsushi’s face was definitely attractive. Even he could see that. If you looked past the awful haircut. He wondered if the woman from earlier was hitting on him and got offended because he didn’t respond the way she thought he would.

Though people like her enjoyed the company of rich people, flaunting their wealth in front of those who have less was also a frequent pass time. He’d seen many of his father’s rich friends take home young men and women like Atsushi just because they could.

“You really caused a scene tonight. If my father finds out I hired you I wonder how he’d react,” Ryuunosuke said. Atsushi tensed up. “I’m messing with you. If anything he’d find it funny. I certainly did.”

Atsushi sighed in relief and sent him another message.

When she said I was disgusting I lost my temper. I hope it doesn’t come back to harm you.

Ryuunosuke scoffed. Atsushi was worried about him?

“It’s fine. It was my father’s party anyway. They were all there to gain his favour. I even laughed in her face after you left, and I don’t laugh,” he explained.

Atsushi stared at him wide-eyed. Ryuunosuke wondered if he said something wrong.

“What?” he asked. But, Atsushi didn’t move, or even blink.

That was when he realized he never introduced himself. Atsushi had even forgotten to ask his name, or maybe felt too awkward to ask since they had been together for a few hours already.

“I’m Akutagawa Ryuunosuke. I’m the heir to Mori Technologies,” he said.

Atsushi’s jaw dropped. His face turned bright red again before he smashed his forehead into the table in an attempt to bow. He slapped his hand over the sore spot with a grimace on his face.

“Don’t freak out. You look like an idiot right now,” Ryuunosuke said, barely holding back another laugh.

Atsushi looked at him apologetically.

“In case you’re freaked out, I hate things like status based on wealth. I’m an employer, and you’re an employee, thats the only power dynamic here. The only reason I need a housekeeper is because I don’t have the time to do these things myself. Though, I am picky about how I like work to be done, and have been called a tyrant before,” he explained. Atsushi stared at him, expressionless. “If you want to leave, I’ll give you one more chance.”

Atsushi shook his head. He typed out another message on his phone.

I’m already here. I’m not quitting.

“Fine, Let’s discuss your schedule then.”

Chapter Text

“Who the hell are you?”

Ryuunosuke shouldn’t have to be asking that question at seven in the morning, and yet the world seemed to find a way to throw him unwanted curveballs every single day lately.

“Tachihara Michizou at your service, sir!” the imposter in his doorway said, saluting like Ryuunosuke was some kind of general.

“Okay, Tachihara Michizou. What the hell are you doing at my front door? How the fuck did you even get into the building?” he asked, losing patience.

“I was hired by Dazai-san to be your assistant. He gave me a key to get in so I could start right away. He told me you would want me to pick you up,” Tachihara explained.

Damn it, Dazai. How could he hire someone without Ryuunosuke even meeting them first? He didn’t even remember telling Dazai that he was in need of a new assistant, or giving him a key to his apartment building for that matter.

Though, he supposed having someone ready to start so early wouldn’t be a bad thing. Even if they were incompetent, which Tachihara certainly seemed to be.

He was dressed in a suit, although it looked sloppy on him. It clearly wasn’t tailored, and it looked wrinkled. He also had bedhead, and a bandage placed across his nose like some kind of kid.

His judgements were interrupted when he felt someone push past him from behind.

“Watch it, Jinko,” he said, checking himself to see if any of the garbage Atsushi was holding got on him.

Atsushi politely bowed at both of them before heading to the elevator, presumably to the basement to take out the trash. Tachihara stared after him intently.

“Was that your lover? When I was researching the company I didn’t see that the heir had a partner,” he asked. This guy was really getting on Ryuunosuke’s nerves.

He was honestly surprised to hear that he did any research at all. He didn’t seem like the type.

“He’s my housekeeper. Don’t go spreading shit around or I’ll fire you on the spot,” Ryuunosuke said as he put on his shoes.

“He’s cute,” Tachihara pointed out.

At this point, Ryuunosuke wasn’t sure this guy would last until the end of the day.

“And he’s technically your co-worker. I don’t care if you swing that way but I do care if you bring unnecessary drama into my life. Your jobs will end up overlapping a lot. Date at a bar or something,” he snapped. Tachihara laughed.

“Relax! I’m not after him. I was just making an observation. Come on, we don’t wanna be late,” he said, already walking towards the elevator.

Yeah, Ryuunosuke was gonna kill this guy.

-

To Ryuunosuke’s surprise, Tachihara wasn’t a complete disaster. He worked efficiently, despite using such lax language. He acted like he wasn’t taking things seriously, but that didn’t appear to be the case. He didn’t seem at all bothered by Ryuunosuke’s attitude either.

“Where the hell did you find this guy?” Ryuunosuke asked his superior, Dazai.

Dazai was planted on top of Ryuunosuke’s desk, eating some kind of dried mushrooms. As always, he ignored all of Ryuunosuke’s complaints to remove himself from his office.

“I met him at a party last weekend. I knew you’d be out of an assistant by then, so I offered him the position,” he responded with a sly smile on his face.

“How the hell did you even know I would need a new assistant?”

“Your last one looked ready to burst for a while now. I figured she couldn’t have lasted more than a week longer,” Dazai said nonchalantly, as if it would have been obvious to anyone.

“You’re so annoying.”

“Don’t you need a new housekeeper too? I know some people I could ask,” Dazai teased. He didn’t even want to know how Dazai knew his old housekeeper quit. Even if he asked, he knew he wouldn’t be satisfied with the answer.

“He has one. A real cute one,” he heard Tachihara’s voice at the door to his office. Dazai instantly perked up.

Fuck.

“Oh, really?” Dazai said in a sing-song voice. “Is she single? Do you have a chance Akutagawa-kun?”

“He’s a dude. I thought he must be Ryuu’s lover, but he said he was the housekeeper,” Tachihara continued. Ryuunosuke pretended he didn’t hear him call him Ryuu.

“Really! Akutagawa-kun, you sly dog. You always said you weren’t interested in dating, even after I tried to set you up so many times,” Dazai whined. He clearly wasn’t listening at all.

“He’s a fucking housekeeper. Not my damn boyfriend. I’m not interested in dating whatsoever and I don’t remember ever saying I was into men at all,” Ryuunosuke complained.

“Yeah, but you never said you were into women either,” Dazai pointed out. Ryuunosuke let out a loud groan.

“Get back to work. I don’t remember inviting either of you into my office to gossip. Chuuya is probably looking for you anyway,” he directed the last part to Dazai.

“I guess I’ll go find my darling and tell him that our kid has a new boyfriend,” Dazai said, hopping off of Ryuunosuke’s desk and heading out the door.

Ryuunosuke wanted to curl up and die. He’d never hear the end of it. Especially if word travelled to his father. Which it probably would in no time.

“You have no idea what you’ve just done,” he spoke in the most threatening tone he could muster. Tachihara just smiled.

“Sorry! Anyway we have a meeting with a client in a half hour. We should head out soon,” Tachihara said, completely unaffected by the aura Ryuunosuke was attempting to put out.

“Right. Give me ten minutes,” he replied. Tachihara nodded and stepped out of the office, closing the door behind him.

Ryuunosuke checked his phone. No word from Atsushi. He hoped things were going okay and Atsushi didn’t burn down the whole apartment building. He thought he should send a text just in case.

You (2:34pm)
How is everything?

Jinko (2:35pm)
Good! I just finished up the laundry.

You (2:35pm)
Don’t wreck my clothes.

Jinko (2:36pm)
I won’t, young master!

He realized this was the first time Atsushi called him something. For some reason, he didn’t like the title when it came from Atsushi. Not that he was a big fan of it at all, but something about Atsushi using it made him feel weird.

His thoughts drifted to his conversation with Dazai and Tachihara. He wondered how his father would react if he were to date someone like Atsushi. It would have no benefit to the company at all, and while his father liked fun and games, he valued his status. If Ryuunosuke was to be with someone without status, would his father’s pride take a hit?

He shook his head. There was no reason for him to be thinking of this. He wasn’t interested in dating. Not at all.

-

“Come up,” Ryuunosuke ordered. Tachihara looked confused.

“Uh, why?” he asked.

“I’m introducing you formally to my housekeeper. You guys should communicate as to not mess up my schedule,” he said.

Tachihara didn’t argue and followed Ryuunosuke up to his apartment. When they got inside, it smelled delicious.

“Jinko!” Ryuunosuke called out, slipping off his shoes and walking toward the kitchen. Tachihara trailed closely behind him.

Atsushi was in the kitchen as expected, looking over his shoulder to where Ryuunosuke and Tachihara entered. He straightened out the apron he was wearing and greeted them with a bow.

“Jinko, this is my new assistant, Tachihara Michizou. Tachihara, this is Nakajima Atsushi, my housekeeper,” he said, keeping the introductions brief. He would prefer Tachihara get out of his house as soon as possible.

“Nice to meet you, Atsushi,” Tachihara said, jumping right to using his given name. He held out his hand for Atsushi to take.

Atsushi wiped his hands on his apron before taking Tachihara’s hand and shaking it. Tachihara raised an eyebrow at him, and Ryuunosuke realized he left out an important detail.

“He’s mute. He doesn’t speak. You guys will have to communicate over text, so exchange numbers,” Ryuunosuke said.

“Mute, huh? I guess it doesn’t really matter. Give me your phone, I’ll put mine in,” Tachihara said, holding out his hand. Atsushi gave him the phone and waited patiently for Tachihara to put his number in.

While they were doing that, Ryuunosuke took a look around the kitchen. Aside from the things he was currently using, it was spotless. There wasn’t even a trace of his cooking from last night, and Ryuunosuke couldn’t tell if he had made anything for himself during the day.

“Jinko. Did you eat today?” Ryuunosuke asked as Tachihara was handing him back his phone. Atsushi shook his head. “Are you an idiot? I told you to eat.”

Atsushi’s expression turned guilty. Ryuunosuke knew exactly what he was feeling. He remembered the first time he had an abundance of food to choose from, and how he didn’t feel like he was allowed to touch it.

“Look, it’s more annoying if all the food I have goes bad than it is for you to eat some of it. You can’t work well if you don’t eat, so eat,” he said bluntly.

“Don’t be so rude. It smells really good in here, Atsushi,” Tachihara said with a smile. Atsushi smiled back at him.

For some reason, that irritated Ryuunosuke.

“Whatever. You met, now you can leave,” he said, shooing Tachihara away.

“Alright, alright! Nice to meet you! See you tomorrow,” Tachihara said before leaving the kitchen.

Ryuunosuke waited until he heard the front door open and close before he exhaled heavily. He looked back over to Atsushi, who had returned to cooking.

“What are you making?” he asked. He peeked over Atsushi’s shoulder. “Udon?”

Atsushi nodded. Just like dinner last night, it looked pretty good despite being simple. He wondered if Atsushi knew how to prepare more complicated things.

Not that it mattered. Ryuunosuke didn’t need a five star meal every time he ate.

“I’m gonna need lunch tomorrow too. Did you remember?” he asked. Atsushi nodded again and pointed to the fridge. “Good.”

He sat himself down and Atsushi served him his dinner like the night before. He made himself a bowl as well and sat in his spot across from Ryuunosuke. Atsushi’s serving looked considerably small.

“I told you to eat, didn’t I?” Ryuunosuke growled. Atsushi took out his phone and sent him a message.

Yes, but you look a bit thin so I gave you extra.

“You’re not exactly filled out yourself. My appetite is small, so take more,” Ryuunosuke said, putting some of the noodles and beef in Atsushi’s bowl.

Atsushi pouted, but started eating anyway. He sent Ryuunosuke another message.

Tachihara seems nice. I like him.

“He’s an annoying brat. I don’t think he’ll last long,” he replied. Atsushi frowned at that.

He’s a good guy. And he seems like he can put up with your bad attitude.

Atsushi seemed to realize what he said after he already sent the text. He stood up, waving his hands around like it was some kind of apology.

Oh? This was interesting. The corners of Ryuunosuke’s mouth almost turned up.

“Did all your other bosses fire you for that temper of yours? Or is it because you’re incompetent?” Ryuunosuke asked.

Atsushi slammed his hands down on the table, droplets of soup bouncing from the bowl onto the surface. His frown was back and his gaze was fiery.

This was interesting indeed.

That was the first time Ryuunosuke noticed Atsushi’s eyes. They were coloured in an odd way, purple in the top half and yellow in the bottom. He’d never seen eyes coloured that way. At least not naturally. He was pretty sure Atsushi didn’t have contacts in.

They were pretty.

“What? Are you gonna hit me?” Ryuunosuke taunted.

Atsushi bit his lip, hands curled into fists shaking on the tabletop. He didn’t seem like the type to hit someone, but there was a lot he didn’t know about Atsushi.

“I thought you knew what kind of person you’d be working for. I told you over and over,” Ryuunosuke said.

Apparently that was the last straw. Atsushi kicked over his chair and stomped past Ryuunosuke heading to his room. When Ryuunosuke heard the door slam he turned back to his bowl.

He picked up some noodles in his chopsticks and slurped them back. They were a little cold now, but very flavourful.

“It’s good.”

-

Unlike Atsushi, Tachihara paid no mind to Ryuunosuke’s outbursts. It didn’t matter how angry Ryuunosuke got, the other man always had a smile plastered on his face. Even when Ryuunosuke told him to go fuck himself after he messed up a document.

He hadn’t seen Atsushi when he left in the morning. Technically he didn’t start work until eight, but he had been up earlier the day before. Ryuunosuke wondered if he’d be welcomed home with a resignation letter.

He didn’t even know why he was thinking about it. His work should be taking priority right now, but he found himself staring blankly at the computer screen, thinking about how angry Atsushi had looked the night before.

Ryuunosuke didn’t usually see such expressions from people who worked for him. Usually they’d fake a smile, or look dejected. But, the rage that was clearly on display on Atsushi’s face was a fresh look.

“Hey, Ryuu,” he heard, followed by someone tapping their hand on his desk. He hadn’t even realized someone had entered the room.

“Chuuya. What do you need?” he asked, trying to act like he was just working and not thinking about personal issues.

“You were zoning out pretty hard. Does it have something to do with your new housekeeper?” Chuuya asked. Ryuunosuke frowned.

“Did Dazai tell you we were involved?” Ryuunosuke asked. He already knew the answer.

“Yeah. Figured it was bullshit but you’re acting weird today,” Chuuya said. Ryuunosuke wanted to kick himself.

“It’s nothing. I didn’t get much sleep last night,” he said. It wasn’t a lie necessarily, but that wasn’t the issue.

“When do you ever get enough sleep?” Chuuya teased, obviously not believing Ryuunosuke’s bullshit.

He figured if he could be honest with anyone it would be Chuuya.

“I hired the man who dumped that glass on that woman at the party. You know, the one with silver hair,” Ryuunosuke admitted. Chuuya’s eyes went wide.

“No way. So you went out after him to offer him a job?” he asked.

“No. I ran into him on my way home and offered him a job. He’s living with me for now, since he got evicted. Well, maybe not anymore,” Ryuunosuke muttered the last part under his breath.

“So, something did happen?” Chuuya asked.

“I pissed him off at dinner. I provoked him and he went to his room. Haven’t seen him since. He could very well be gone by the time I get home today,” he explained. He was trying to act nonchalant about the whole situation.

“So? Just hire someone else. You do it all the time.”

“Yeah…” Ryuunosuke trailed off. That would be the normal course of action.

Why did it feel like a problem this time? He purposely never got attached to his employees, so he never cared when they left.

“Do you feel guilty sending him off to the streets?” Chuuya asked.

Ah, that must be it. He felt guilty about making him homeless. He knew he should have just paid Atsushi’s rent and let him be forever. Now he had a guilty conscience.

“Maybe a bit.”

“Can’t you just text him and apologize? What did you say anyway?”

“I asked him if all his past bosses fired him for having a temper or being incompetent,” he explained. Chuuya flinched a bit at his words.

“Jeez, dude. You wonder why the turnover rate is so high with you,” he said. Ryuunosuke pondered it for a moment.

Of course Chuuya thought he was being too harsh. Despite being wealthy and having a foul mouth, Chuuya was probably one of the most compassionate people Ryuunosuke knew. He was the type to buy his underlings lunch and expensive gifts unprompted.

Though, Ryuunosuke did provoke Atsushi intentionally. Not at first, but he wanted to see just how far he could push him.

“This is annoying. I’ll just wait until I get home,” he said. Chuuya rolled his eyes.

“Well, if he’s gone by the time you get home and living on the street don’t come crying to me.”

-

Atsushi wasn’t gone when Ryuunosuke got home, but he was about to be. They came face to face with each other when Ryuunosuke opened the door, and he noticed that Atsushi had a couple bags with his stuff in them.

“Quitting?” Ryuunosuke asked. Atsushi’s brow furrowed.

He stepped aside to let Ryuunosuke in, and Ryuunosuke shut the door behind him. Atsushi continued to stare at him, looking apprehensive.

“What? If you’re quitting, just go,” Ryuunosuke said. Atsushi’s expression turned bewildered.

He pulled out his phone from one of the bags and shot Ryuunosuke a text.

I’m not fired?

“I don’t remember firing you. Aren’t you jumping to conclusions?”

I purposely damaged your furniture.

“Ah, so you did. Should I fire you for that?” Ryuunosuke asked him. The frown was back. “I’m not going to. Feel free to quit whenever you want, but I’m not going to be the one to end this contract.”

Ryuunosuke realized belatedly that they were standing close to each other, their feet almost touching. Their heights were similar, Ryuunosuke standing just slightly taller. And Atsushi’s skin was clear and soft looking. He almost wanted to reach out and brush his finger across his cheek.

He wondered if Atsushi would blush again if he did. He wondered if his frown would disappear.

His phone vibrating snapped him out of his thoughts.

Don’t expect me to stay long.

Ryuunosuke almost laughed.

“I never expected you to, Jinko,” he replied.

A housekeeper? Staying a long time? It really was a laughable concept.

He took his shoes off and stepped further into the apartment. He glanced around the living room, surprised to find it looking completely spotless again. Not even a speck of dust to be seen.

“You still cleaned even though you thought you were fired? Aren’t you good,” Ryuunosuke said. He wasn’t looking at Atsushi but he could feel him seething behind him. His phone vibrated again.

I’m going to see my sister tonight.

So, Atsushi was going to ignore that remark. He probably didn’t want to lose his temper again.

Too bad.

“I don’t know why you’re telling me. Go,” Ryuunosuke said, waving him off with his hand.

His eyes followed Atsushi as he went and threw his things back into his room and came back out to put his shoes on. He walked out the door without so much as a wave.

Ryuunosuke sighed. Atsushi was more trouble than he was worth.

He walked over to his office and grabbed his laptop. As much as he wanted to rest, he needed to make up for the work he didn’t do while he was stressing about having to find a new housekeeper.

He set it down on the coffee table in the living room and got to work.

-

Ryuunosuke woke up to a bright light. After blinking a few times, the blurry image became his computer screen. He must have fell asleep while he was working. The clock on the screen said it was one thirty in the morning.

After blinking a few more times, he noticed the hand on his shoulder. Startled, he snapped his head to look at whoever was touching him.

He recognized those eyes immediately. He took a deep breath as his fear subsided.

“Jinko,” he said, his voice coming out hoarse.

Atsushi started pulling on his bicep, motioning for him to stand. Ryuunosuke groaned, but he complied.

Atsushi led Ryuunosuke into the kitchen and sat him down in his chair. He still felt groggy, his eyes barely staying open. He registered something being placed in front of him, and then the sound of Atsushi blowing on something.

Next he felt something cold press against his lips. He jumped back in surprise and opened his eyes fully.

The foreign object was a spoon with some kind of soup inside. Atsushi was still holding it out, waiting.

He couldn’t think of something more embarrassing than being fed like a child, but exhaustion was really taking over. He opened his mouth and closed it around the spoon.

They made eye-contact while Ryuunosuke slowly pulled off of the spoon, and he felt the breath catch in his throat. Suddenly, he was hyper aware of his surroundings. The drops of water hitting the bottom of the sink, the ticking of the clock in the corner of the room.

And Atsushi’s breathing. Why was it so loud?

Atsushi seemed to be in a similar trance, not breaking the eye-contact they had and not moving to feed Ryuunosuke anymore.

Ryuunosuke wondered what he was thinking. His expression didn’t give him any hints.

The tension was enough to make him go insane, so he broke it by opening his mouth once more. Atsushi blinked a few times and took the hint. He scooped up more soup and blew on it again before holding it out for Ryuunosuke.

He allowed Atsushi feed him a couple more times before he spotted a slight frown on Atsushi’s face.

“What’s your problem?” he asked. Atsushi rolled his eyes. “Are you mad I didn’t eat?”

Atsushi nodded and forcefully shoved another spoonful into Ryuunosuke’s mouth. He swallowed it, liking the feeling of the hot liquid on his throat.

“Someone didn’t make me dinner,” he said. “I forget to eat when I have work to do. That’s why I hired you.”

Ryuunosuke took the bowl from him and drank the rest himself. He didn’t know what kind of soup it was, he was too tired to care. But, it tasted good, and made him feel full.

He wanted to ask how Atsushi’s visit with his sister went, but he couldn’t bring himself to actually get the words out.

He was getting more curious about Atsushi’s life every passing moment he spent with him. What were his parents like? Why couldn’t he stay with them while he was looking for work? What was his sister like? Did she look like him?

What he was most curious about though, was the huge tattoo on Atsushi’s back. He didn’t see any other tattoos on him, and it seemed weird to get one that grand for a first tattoo. Especially when the placement had negative connotations attached to it.

Getting curious about an employee’s personal life was a first for Ryuunosuke. He was simply never interested in anyone else’s business before. What was so different about Atsushi?

“You really bother me,” Ryuunosuke said as he reached out and touched one of the longer strands of Atsushi’s hair.

Atsushi grabbed his wrist, leaning his head out of Ryuunosuke’s reach. It was almost like he thought he was gonna hit him.

“I’m not gonna pull it,” Ryuunosuke said, but he made no move to touch him again.

Atsushi released his grip on him and looked down at the table. His expression was a guilty one, like he felt bad that he didn’t let Ryuunosuke touch him.

“I’ve seen a lot of faces from you today. It’s been a long time since someone showed me this range of emotion,” Ryuunosuke mumbled.

And there they were, the red cheeks again. Ryuunosuke thought his embarrassed expression might be his favourite.

He stood up from his chair and looked down at Atsushi.

“I’m going to bed. You should too,” he said. Atsushi nodded and rose to his feet.

They walked together down the short hallway to their rooms and before they entered their respective spaces, Ryuunosuke looked over his shoulder. Atsushi had done the same. Ryuunosuke fought the urge to look away when their eyes met.

“Goodnight,” Ryuunosuke said, and the words surprised even himself. When was the last time he said that to someone?

With his cheeks still red, Atsushi smiled a genuine smile. The tightness in Ryuunosuke’s chest was back.

He swiftly entered his room and closed the door behind him, leaning back against it. He felt out of breath, like he had just run a mile.

He lied. That was definitely his favourite of Atsushi’s expressions.

Chapter Text

Why would Atsushi come to his work? Of all places, this was the worst place for him to be. Letting him meet Tachihara was a big enough mistake, but this was a complete disaster.

“So you’re the famous Atsushi-kun!” Dazai said, leaning too far into Atsushi’s personal space. The discomfort was obvious on Atsushi’s face.

He had burst into Ryuunosuke’s office like there had been some kind of emergency, slightly out of breath. When Atsushi showed up to drop off his lunch that he forgot, he hoped he would leave before Dazai caught wind of it. Of course, he could never be so lucky. Dazai always managed to know everything Ryuunosuke wanted to keep from him.

“Leave him be, Dazai-san,” Ryuunosuke sighed. Dazai ignored him, leaning in even closer.

“It’s fine, I already know he doesn’t talk,” Dazai said, inspecting Atsushi’s face carefully.

Tachihara must have blabbed. Though, that wasn’t the reason he wanted Dazai to leave him alone.

“You’re bothering him,” Ryuunosuke said.

Ryuunosuke could tell by the anxious look on Atsushi’s face that he wasn’t happy with someone he didn’t know leaning in so closely. He barely even let Ryuunosuke touch him. Not that they were close, but they were definitely closer than Atsushi and Dazai.

“You really are cute. Tachihara was right,” Dazai said, smiling smugly.

Atsushi blushed, looking away from Dazai. Ryuunosuke pinched his nose. He could feel a headache coming on.

“Jinko! Shouldn’t you be getting home?” Ryuunosuke interrupted.

Their eyes met only briefly, before Ryuunosuke turned his gaze to his computer screen. It had been a few days since their argument and the intimate moment they shared in the kitchen, but for some reason Ryuunosuke was still having a hard time looking at Atsushi.

He heard Dazai snort and glared at him.

“What?!” he snapped. He felt a little guilty when he saw Atsushi flinch.

“Oh, this is fun. By the way, I’m having a party tomorrow and I wanted you to come, Akutagawa-kun. We’re going to this new club just down the street. It’ll be fun,” Dazai offered.

He didn’t know why Dazai even asked. Ryuunosuke never went to clubs, or to any of Dazai’s parties. He should know better by now.

“Atsushi-kun! You’re invited too. Please show up, even if Akutagawa-kun doesn’t. I already got your number from Tachihara, I’ll text you the address,” Dazai continued.

Atsushi’s eyes became wide, and he nodded. Ryuunosuke clenched his fists.

What kind of game was Dazai playing? There was no way he invited them for no reason. Dazai was friendly and charismatic, but he didn’t know anything about Atsushi.

“Jinko, go home,” Ryuunosuke ordered this time.

Atsushi looked between them, like he was trying to figure out the reason for Ryuunosuke’s sudden domineering attitude.

He bowed politely before heading out of the office as Dazai waved happily. Once Ryuunosuke was sure that Atsushi was far enough that he couldn’t hear them, he spoke.

“What are you planning? Why would you invite him out?” Ryuunosuke asked him. Dazai smiled, but he could tell it wasn’t genuine.

“Because I like him,” he lied.

“You’ve known him for about thirty seconds,” Ryuunosuke pointed out. Dazai chuckled.

“Yes, but I think we hit it off! If you’re that worried about him, you can come too,” Dazai said, a mischievous look in his eyes.

Was he using Atsushi to get Ryuunosuke to go? He’d never tricked Ryuunosuke into going before.

“Whatever. I don’t care,” he lied. He most certainly did care, but he despised the part of him that did. Ever since Atsushi showed up his emotions had been out of control.

“He had interesting eyes didn’t he?” Dazai said, somewhat dreamily.

“I guess. The colour is unique,” Ryuunosuke sighed. Dazai smirked.

“That’s not what I meant.”

-

“Where are you going?” Ryuunosuke asked Atsushi as he watched him put his shoes on.

Atsushi pulled out his phone and texted him a response.

I need to get something to wear for Dazai’s party. I only have rags.

“You’re actually going to that thing?” Ryuunosuke asked, somewhat shocked. Atsushi didn’t seem like the partying type.

But, he supposed he didn’t know Atsushi very well.

He invited me.

Atsushi turned back around to open the door. Ryuunosuke walked over to him and pulled down the collar of Atsushi’s t-shirt, revealing a little bit of the tattoo on his back. Atsushi flinched, but he made no move to remove Ryuunosuke’s hand.

“Make sure this is covered. If word gets out that Dazai’s hanging around with yakuza, that could be bad for the company,” he said. Atsushi nodded.

Atsushi still didn’t move, so Ryuunosuke took the opportunity to pull his collar down a little more. Even though he could just see the top, he could see the details of the tattoo a lot more closely this time.

There was a scar covered by one of the darker lines. Ryuunosuke ran his thumb over it.

“Who did this? The art is quite nice, but it looks like it scarred over a lot. It’s a shame,” he said, his thumb finding another scar and gently touching it too.

Atsushi was completely still under Ryuunosuke’s fingers. Even though he wasn’t running away, he was tense. Ryuunosuke wanted to get rid of that tension.

“I guess it’s difficult to afford a good artist. A white tiger this size must be pretty difficult to get for cheap.”

The back of Atsushi’s neck was bright red. The colour contrasted prettily with his hair. Ryuunosuke touched the skin to see if it was as hot as it looked.

It was.

This time, Atsushi slapped a hand over the back of his neck and turned to face Ryuunosuke. His back was against the door, his eyebrows knit together.

“Did I overstep?” he asked, even though he knew he did the moment he pulled down Atsushi’s shirt collar.

Atsushi nodded. Ryuunosuke sighed and reached into his pocket. He took out his wallet and pulled out a card, holding it out for Atsushi to take.

“Take my credit card. Since it’s my superior’s party I’ll pay for your clothes. You need more anyway,” he said.

Atsushi eyed the card for a long while, like it would bite his fingers off if he touched it. But, he took it from Ryuunosuke’s hand anyway with delicate fingers. He sent Ryuunosuke a text.

Thank you. I won’t spend too much.

“Treat it as a work expense. This isn’t a favour.”

Atsushi nodded, smiling ever so slightly. Everyone always went on about how cute Atsushi was but Ryuunosuke never really thought so unless he showed his genuine smile. Something about that smile made his heart speed up.

Atsushi gave him one last wave before exiting the apartment. Ryuunosuke only gave him a nod in return. When the door closed, Ryuunosuke pinched his own cheek.

“Work expense, my ass. What is wrong with me?”

-

Can my sister come over tomorrow? Just for a bit?

He looked up from his phone to face Atsushi, who was standing nervously next to the couch Ryuunosuke was sitting on.

“I see no problem with that. As long as she doesn’t make a mess,” he warned. Atsushi nodded.

Ryuunosuke normally would have said no. He hated having strangers in his house. But, this was his opportunity to learn more about Atsushi. Maybe his sister would give him new information without him having to ask.

Atsushi smiled again. Why was he smiling so often lately? It wasn’t good for Ryuunosuke’s heart.

Thank you so much. I have to get ready for Dazai’s party now.

Ryuunosuke had almost let himself forget about Dazai’s party. How annoying. Dazai couldn’t let him rest even for a day.

“Right. Are you just walking?” Ryuunosuke asked. Atsushi shook his head.

Tachihara is picking me up.

Dazai invited Tachihara? What the hell was that? This was definitely some kind of ploy to torture Ryuunosuke, there was no doubt about it at this point.

Without his consent, his mind started to wander. Tachihara complimenting Atsushi, Tachihara and Atsushi drinking, Tachihara and Atsushi dancing.

He forced his train of thought to end there. He rose from his spot on the couch and faced Atsushi.

“I’ll come too. See what it’s all about,” he said, still attempting to seem uninterested.

Atsushi blinked at him a few times before nodding. Ryuunosuke watched him as he left his side and disappeared into his room.

He figured dressing up would give Dazai the appearance that he gave a shit. It wouldn’t really matter if he acted like he didn’t give a shit though, he was showing up. That was enough for Dazai to get a good laugh at least.

Still, his work clothes from that day would suffice. He was more interested in what Atsushi would be wearing.

He caught himself staring at Atsushi’s door. It didn’t matter what Atsushi was wearing, so why did he care so much? He should be more interested in the price tag on the outfit than the outfit itself.

He heard the door creak open and Atsushi took far too long before he stepped out. But, when he finally did Ryuunosuke swallowed roughly.

It really wasn’t much, a tight black turtleneck and some equally tight black jeans, but it made Ryuunosuke’s throat feel dry. He could see the outline of Atsushi’s entire body, his broad shoulders, his tiny waist. The clothes he normally wore didn’t do him any justice.

Atsushi must have caught him staring, because he held out his arms and looked down at himself. His eyes met Ryuunosuke’s again and gave him a questioning glance, tilting his head ever so slightly.

“Looks fine,” he answered the silent query. Even though he looked way better than fine.

There was a knock at the door and Ryuunosuke went over to answer it. He wasn’t surprised this time to find Tachihara standing there. Though, Tachihara’s eyes widened. Clearly he was expecting Atsushi to answer.

“Hey Ryuu! I’m here for Atsushi,” he said, peeking behind Ryuunosuke.

“I’m coming too. Let’s go,” Ryuunosuke replied, putting on his shoes and pushing past Tachihara.

“You are?!” Tachihara shouted after him as he walked to the elevator.

He heard the door close behind him, and two sets of footsteps catching up. Tachihara whistled.

“You look hot, Atsushi,” Tachihara said. Ryuunosuke’s eyebrow twitched.

This is exactly what he didn’t want happening. It was a good thing he decided to come.

Once they were in the elevator he could see Atsushi smiling and blushing at Tachihara. Ryuunosuke felt like he might burst.

“What did I tell you on your first day of work?” he asked Tachihara, unable to keep his emotions completely buried.

“Don’t worry, boss. I’m just giving a friend a compliment,” Tachihara replied. Ryuunosuke glared at him anyways.

The drive to the club was filled with Tachihara’s chatter, mostly directed to Atsushi. Atsushi listened enthusiastically, acting out replies when he could. They seemed to get along well. Ryuunosuke wondered if they texted even if it wasn’t about work. There were places in their conversation that Ryuunosuke couldn’t follow, so that was probably the case.

He wouldn’t be surprised if Tachihara was just speaking nonsense though.

The line-up at the club was long, but Tachihara whispered something to the bouncer and they were let in right away.

Ryuunosuke scowled when they got inside. It was hot and smelled like sweat and cigarettes. There were bodies everywhere, making it difficult to keep an eye on Tachihara in front of him.

He felt someone grab the sleeve of his blazer, and he turned around to give them an earful. He relaxed when he saw it was just Atsushi, trying not to get lost in the crowd.

Atsushi pulled his hand away when they made eye-contact. Ryuunosuke rolled his eyes and placed a hand on Atsushi’s back. He guided him through the crowd and caught up to Tachihara, who had stopped at the bar in the middle of the room.

“Akutagawa-kun! Atsushi-kun!” he heard a familiar voice yell. Ryuunosuke frowned.

Dazai was next to Tachihara, waving them over. Ryuunosuke removed his hand from Atsushi’s back before anyone could see them and make a fuss.

Dazai put his arms around both of them. He leaned over to whisper in Ryuunosuke’s ear.

“I knew you’d come,” he said. Ryuunosuke’s frown deepened. Dazai then shouted for both of them to hear. “We have the VIP area upstairs! Let’s go!”

He took all three of them up the stairs and into a seating area that was much more secluded. Ryuunosuke felt like he could breathe again, but it still smelled disgusting.

Chuuya was already seated along with Higuchi and a few people Ryuunosuke didn’t recognize. He quickly grabbed the empty spot next to Chuuya.

“Ryuu! I didn’t know you were coming,” Chuuya exclaimed, patting Ryuunosuke on the back hard enough to wind him.

He watched Atsushi and Tachihara seat themselves next to each other at the other end of the table. He clicked his tongue. He should have made Atsushi sit next to him.

“I wasn’t planning on it,” he mumbled.

Apparently, he was staring again, because Chuuya followed his gaze right to Atsushi.

“That’s mister housekeeper, huh?” he said. “He looks close with Tachihara. Hey, are you pouting?”

Ryuunosuke straightened his expression out quickly. He fixed his eyes on the mysterious drink in front of him.

“No, I just don’t wanna be here,” he said. Which he knew was ridiculous, because he literally didn’t have to be there.

“Whatever you say. You better keep an eye on him. He’ll get eaten alive in a place like this,” Chuuya warned.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I mean this is a hotspot for gay men and your boy looks like a meal. If he came here with intentions like that he’ll get scooped up in no time,” Chuuya explained.

Ryuunosuke felt his stomach drop. Did Atsushi know that before coming? Did he come here with those intentions?

“That’s not my problem,” Ryuunosuke said before picking up the drink in front of him and downing the whole thing.

The taste was so intense he started coughing. There was a burning sensation in his throat and tears threatened to fall out of his eyes. He heard Chuuya gasp.

“Ryuu! That was mine, and it had a lot of alcohol in it!” Chuuya shouted, taking the glass from Ryuunosuke’s hand.

“Gross, how do you drink that?” he asked, coughing a couple more times. The terrible taste wouldn’t leave his tongue.

“Well you’re supposed to drink it over time, not chug the whole glass,” Chuuya lectured. “Your tolerance is low since you don’t drink. You should have some water.”

Ryuunosuke did as he said and got himself a glass, sipping on it periodically. It didn’t seem to be working, his cheeks feeling hot and his head getting too heavy for his neck to support.

He glanced over at Atsushi again. He was still hanging out with Tachihara, smiling prettily.

Ryuunosuke hated it. He wanted that smile to be directed at him, not Tachihara.

And the idea that he was being possessive was even more irritating than watching the scene in front of him.

“Young master?”

He shifted his focus to his side, to the seat that was previously empty. Higuchi had filled the spot, giving him a concerned look.

“What?” he asked, not bothering with politeness.

“Are you feeling okay? Your face is so red,” she said. She reached out and put her palm on Ryuunosuke’s forehead.

If he was sober he probably would have slapped her hand away immediately, but his reaction time was significantly slower under the influence. By the time he lifted his hand, hers was already gone.

“He just drank my drink. Our baby is drunk,” Chuuya cooed, ruffling Ryuunosuke’s hair.

Ryuunosuke made an attempt to fix his hair. Why were all these people touching him?

He looked back over at Atsushi, unable to keep his mind from wandering back to him. This time, their eyes met. Atsushi looked startled for a moment before he stood up. Ryuunosuke couldn’t hear them, but he could assume from their body language that Tachihara asked him where he was going. Atsushi pointed over the railing to the dance floor downstairs.

Ryuunosuke thought Tachihara would go down with him, but instead he just gave him a pat on the back. Atsushi smiled again and hastily left the table. Ryuunosuke’s eyes followed him until he was out of sight.

Was he really going by himself? He didn't need to talk to dance, but what if someone crossed the line?

Really, Atsushi could probably handle himself. He didn’t speak, but he didn’t take shit either. But, Ryuunosuke still felt uneasy not being able to at least see him.

“I have to go to the bathroom,” he lied, pushing himself off of his seat. He didn’t know where the bathroom was, so he hoped it was in the general direction of the dance floor so no one would assume anything.

“Have fun!” he heard Dazai shout after him.

Ryuunosuke cursed under his breath. So much for lying.

Brushing aside the annoying quip, he continued down the stairs and started looking for Atsushi in the crowd. After wading through countless people and swatting away a few hands he finally found him.

Atsushi was dancing, but only barely. He seemed more concerned with the man whispering something in his ear.

When Atsushi’s cheeks reddened Ryuunosuke started pushing past the couple of people that still blocked his path. He threw his arm around Atsushi’s shoulders and shot the other man a threatening glance.

He was surprised when Atsushi wrapped his arms around Ryuunosuke’s waist and pulled himself closer. Their noses were almost touching, and up close like this he could smell Atsushi’s unique scent. There was no alcohol on his breath, which threw Ryuunosuke for a loop.

If he wasn’t drunk, then he was touching Ryuunosuke like this sober. He had a completely clear head, and his arms were still snug around Ryuunosuke’s body.

He hadn’t noticed when the other man left, and he didn’t really care at this point. Not when Atsushi had pressed his forehead against Ryuunosuke’s and sighed a breath of relief. He watched Atsushi laugh, but he couldn’t hear it.

Why did he laugh here of all places? Ryuunosuke desperately wanted to hear it.

Subconsciously, he started swaying with the music. He kept his arms wrapped around Atsushi’s neck. He took comfort in Atsushi keeping his arms where they were too, like he wasn’t the only one who didn’t want to let go.

Their movements didn’t match the music, but Atsushi seemed like he was having fun so Ryuunosuke didn’t stop. He really hoped no one from upstairs was watching them. It would leave him with enough embarrassment and teasing to last a lifetime.

Suddenly, Ryuunosuke’s legs gave out. Atsushi tightened his grip on his waist to keep him from falling, and pulled him back to his feet. He adjusted their positions so he could help Ryuunosuke walk.

He let Atsushi lead him away, until he could feel the cool outside air on his skin. His ears were still ringing from the loud music, but he could hear their footsteps now.

“Why are we leaving?” he asked. Though he never liked dancing, he wasn’t ready to end the night quite yet.

Atsushi continued to lead him further and further from the club, and Ryuunosuke felt dizzier with every step they took.

“Feel sick,” he mumbled, grateful now that Atsushi had taken him outside.

Atsushi promptly found a bench to seat themselves on. Ryuunosuke leaned forward, placing his head in his own lap. He felt Atsushi’s hand rub circles on his back.

“You’re not even my assistant. Why are you the one helping me?” Ryuunosuke asked.

Atsushi waited for him patiently, gently patting his back until Ryuunosuke sat back up.

Ryuunosuke took a good look at Atsushi, who smiled at him. It made his stomach flip.

“You’re dumb,” Ryuunosuke said childishly, a knee-jerk reaction.

Atsushi pouted. He looked so fucking cute.

“I’m kidding. Don’t be a baby,” he said.

He reached out and pinched Atsushi’s cheek, pulling at it softly. His skin was soft, just like Ryuunosuke thought it would be.

Atsushi swatted his hand away and stood up. He grabbed Ryuunosuke’s biceps and pulled him back to his feet as well. Ryuunosuke was surprised at the lack of effort Atsushi seemed to put in to get him to move.

“You’re strong,” Ryuunosuke mused.

Atsushi turned his back to him and bent down. As Ryuunosuke climbed onto his back he wondered why he was always willing to do such embarrassing things if they were with Atsushi. He normally wouldn’t be caught dead having someone piggyback him in public.

Atsushi stood up straight and adjusted him before continuing on his way. Ryuunosuke rested his chin on his shoulder. Atsushi’s scent wafted into Ryuunosuke’s nose, and he had to stop himself from inhaling deeply.

“You smell nice,” he said before he could stop the thought from falling out of his mouth.

Atsushi didn’t drop him, so he pushed his nose into the side of his neck. His smell was soothing. He couldn’t remember thinking another person smelled this good before.

He felt Atsushi tense, but only for a moment before he relaxed again.

He must have fallen asleep, because the next thing he knew they were back home. Atsushi had Ryuunosuke leaned against him on the floor while he took off his shoes. Ryuunosuke sat back up when his shoes were fully off, and tried to stand.

Atsushi took him by the wrists and stood up with him, giving him more support. He walked Ryuunosuke to his room and laid him on the bed, sitting beside him. Ryuunosuke stared up at him.

“Your outfit is nice,” he said, plucking at the fabric of Atsushi’s shirt.

When Atsushi smiled down at him he felt his heart stop beating and his breath catch in his throat.

“Why the hell do you look like that?” he said, not intending for Atsushi to hear.

Atsushi’s smile disappeared, replaced with an anxious expression. He looked down at the floor, his face looking almost fearful.

Ryuunosuke used all of his remaining energy to sit up. He hooked his finger under Atsushi’s chin, turning his attention back to Ryuunosuke. Atsushi’s eyes squinted shut, like he was preparing to be hit.

“Are you scared?” Ryuunosuke asked, leaning a little bit closer. Atsushi shook his head. “You look scared. That’s a strange reaction to someone thinking you’re pretty.”

Atsushi’s eyes snapped back open. Ryuunosuke ran his finger along the skin under Atsushi’s eyes, feeling it warm up as Atsushi started to blush.

“There they are. Your eyes are so pretty, why would you hide them?” he asked.

At this point he knew he was acting in a way that would make him cringe in the morning, but he couldn’t care less right now. He just wanted to take in all of Atsushi right now.

He moved his hand to run through Atsushi’s hair, closely inspecting the individual white strands.

“Your hair is nice too. It’s soft, and it has a unique colour. Pretty,” he said, his voice almost a whisper.

Ryuunosuke wanted to swallow his words and turn back time when tears fell from Atsushi’s eyes. Heavy, round droplets kept coming out, and Ryuunosuke couldn’t keep up with wiping them away.

“Why?” he asked, panicked.

Atsushi stood up and stepped back, wiping the tears away. He very quickly bowed and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Ryuunosuke sat there dumbfounded. What the hell was that? Did he say something wrong? Did he cross Atsushi’s boundaries again?

He flopped back down in bed and covered his face with his hands. He couldn’t blame that entirely on the alcohol. Ryuunosuke had wanted to touch him, wanted to feel his skin on his fingertips. The alcohol simply gave him the courage to do it.

Now Atsushi was no doubt creeped out at best. Ryuunosuke let out a loud groan.

“What the fuck am I doing?”

Chapter Text

The morning hit Ryuunosuke like a train. He had been too drunk to remember to close the blinds, and the sunlight was burning through his eyelids. He groaned and rolled over so his back faced the window, but the room was still bright.

He eventually gathered the strength to pry his eyes open and he instantly regretted it. The intake of more information alerted him to the fact that he had a raging headache. He yanked his blankets over his head, giving him just the slightest bit of relief.

He recalled the events of the night before. Going to the club, drinking Chuuya’s gross drink, and then—

Shit. He really messed up. He wanted to bury himself in these blankets forever and never come out again. How could he face Atsushi after making him cry? It wasn’t like he could apologize. He was always terrible at apologies, but this time he wasn’t even sure what he did wrong.

He probably came on too strong. His boldness had been extremely out of character for him, and he didn’t even know what he was being so bold about.

It was probably too late to deny that he had some kind of attraction to Atsushi. Though he tried to push those feelings down, he’d been attracted to people before. He knew what it was. However, he’d never been attracted to his own staff before, let alone someone who lived in his house.

He felt something hard beneath his arm, quickly recognizing it as his phone. He unlocked it and was completely blinded by the screen. It took him a moment before he could actually look at it.

He had plenty of messages from the people at the party last night, and he chose to ignore those in favour of a single message from Atsushi.

Jinko (10:02am)
I left you a glass of water and a painkiller on your night table. Also, my sister is here already, I hope you don’t mind. Rest well.

Right, Atsushi’s sister was here today. He checked the time. It was already eleven.

He poked his head out of the blankets and looked on his nightstand. Sure enough, there was a glass of water and a small pill there. He sat up and popped the pill into his mouth, chasing it down with a sip of water.

Now that he was more awake and coherent, he registered a voice travelling through the apartment. His own door had been left open, so he could hear it was a girl’s voice and she was the only one talking.

Ryuunosuke stretched out his arms before standing up. As he walked toward the door he realized he could hear what she was saying pretty clearly.

Eavesdropping wasn’t his thing, but when it came to Atsushi it didn’t ever seem to matter.

“The headmaster is still looking for you. You don’t seem to be taking this seriously.”

Who was the headmaster? The headmaster of a school? The girl’s voice was cold and monotone, but he could tell that she was frustrated by her phrasing. A few moments of silence passed.

“I know, but you shouldn’t go out by yourself. He’s obsessed.”

So, someone was looking for Atsushi? A stalker? The thought made Ryuunosuke’s stomach drop.

“Whatever you say. You always worry about me but your situation is way worse. At least you’re living here now. He won’t make a scene in such a nice building.”

Hearing this made him happy that he took Atsushi from that shady building. The security here was good, not just anyone could waltz in. Especially not some crazed stalker.

“You should let me cut your hair. I don’t get why you insist on keeping it like this.”

Ryuunosuke felt like that was a better time than any to come out and introduce himself. He opened his door fully and across the hall he could see Atsushi in his room with his sister. Both of them turned to look at him, the girl standing up from her seat on the bed and bowing politely.

“Hello, I’m Izumi Kyouka. Thank you for letting me in your home,” she spoke, her voice still unchanging.

“Akutagawa Ryuunosuke,” he replied, leaning on the frame of Atsushi’s bedroom door.

Her surname was different? Not to mention they looked nothing alike. Kyouka’s hair was long and dark, and her eyes were a pretty blue. Her face was round in comparison to Atsushi’s, and she stood around a foot smaller than him. He found it more difficult to pick out similarities than differences.

“Thank you for taking in my brother. He’s very stupid, and he ends up homeless sometimes,” she continued. Atsushi frowned and lightly pushed her.

“It benefitted me as well, no need to thank me. Thanks for lending him to me,” Ryuunosuke said. Atsushi pouted in his direction this time.

Ryuunosuke almost cracked a smile.

“Atsushi, I’m hungry,” Kyouka said, tugging at the sleeve of Atsushi’s t-shirt.

Atsushi looked to Ryuunosuke, silently asking if he would like to partake.

“Yeah, I could eat. Make whatever you want,” he said.

“Tofu,” Kyouka ordered. Atsushi smiled and nodded.

He brushed past Ryuunosuke and headed to the kitchen, and Ryuunosuke was about to follow him before he felt Kyouka’s small hand wrap around his wrist.

He looked down at her. Her features seemed to lose all their softness, now looking at him with a borderline threatening glance.

He couldn’t help but find her interesting.

“He’s been stiff since you came out. You didn’t hurt him, did you?” she asked. He almost flinched.

He had probably hurt Atsushi, but he had no idea how. What was he supposed to say to her? That he flirted a little too hard and pushed Atsushi to tears?

“Not that I know of. I am his employer, maybe he’s just tense around me because of that,” he made up an excuse. He could tell she didn’t believe him.

“Please don’t give him a harder time than he’s already having. I have no qualms with hurting someone like you,” she said, threatening him for real. He felt the corners of his mouth quirk up.

“Someone like me?” he asked, although he already knew exactly what she meant.

“Rich, arrogant. I’ve seen lots of your kind,” she clarified.

Ryuunosuke almost chuckled. He couldn’t keep the smirk off of his face as he leaned in closer to her.

“The difference between me and the other rich, arrogant people you’ve come across is that I know what it’s like to have my face pressed into the dirt. I won’t be doing that to him,” he said.

She frowned, looking him in the eyes. He knew she was looking for a hint that he was lying, or playing some kind of game with her. She wouldn’t find any of that. Completely against his will, he was soft on Atsushi. He bent to the other man’s will constantly.

Kyouka loosened up a bit, some of her round, cute features returning.

“I heard you were an orphan, adopted to be the heir of a big company. I hoped some of your humanity would remain after receiving so much,” she said.

He rarely talked about his past, but his father always talked about it publicly and at length. His adoption was well known both in the company and in the public eye.

“And? What do you think?” he asked. Her bottom lip poked out.

“I can’t make a decision after one talk. Give me time,” she said.

“Fine. Your brother is probably lonely out there,” he said, nodding toward the kitchen.

Kyouka left the room, padding down the hall to the kitchen. Once he could hear her talking again, he took a quick look around Atsushi’s room.

He hadn’t been inside since it became more lived in. It was tidy, Ryuunosuke was unsure if it was intentional, or just from a lack of belongings. The one thing that stood out was a small picture frame on his nightstand. Ryuunosuke walked over and picked it up.

The photograph inside was of a group of young kids. He recognized two of them as Atsushi and Kyouka, who both looked the same as they did now.

A photo with a bunch of kids was usually lively and full of energy. But, the kids in the photo were all standing straight. It reminded Ryuunosuke of a class photo, only kids usually smiled in those. The kids, Atsushi included, were expressionless. Despite the kids looking so cute, there was something undeniably uncomfortable about the image.

He put it back down on the nightstand and went out to the kitchen. Atsushi was cooking, and Kyouka was standing next to him, assisting with what she could.

Though he wouldn’t admit it out loud, it was heartwarming to see normal family stuff like this. He remembered cooking with Gin when they were kids, when he would only let her wash the food in the sink because she was too young to cut things or touch anything hot.

It had been too long since they did anything like this together. Maybe he would invite her over to cook soon.

Ryuunosuke sat at the table and watched them silently. Kyouka spoke every once in a while, but for the most part they stayed in a comfortable silence.

At some point Atsushi made a few hand gestures, and Kyouka came and sat at the table with Ryuunosuke.

“You sign?” Ryuunosuke asked them. Atsushi nodded.

“He learned a few years ago, so I did too,” Kyouka explained.

He supposed he should have assumed Atsushi could sign. His resume said he knew multiple languages, why wouldn’t sign language be one?

Atsushi placed their food in front of them and sat down. It was fried spicy tofu with some vegetables. It smelled as amazing as it looked.

Of course, the taste also held up.

“You cook well. Did your parents teach you?” Ryuunosuke asked.

The two exchanged a look and Ryuunosuke was reminded of the fact that their surnames were different. Did he step on a landmine?

“You didn’t tell him anything, did you,” Kyouka said to Atsushi, a hint of annoyance in her voice.

Atsushi stared at his food, looking utterly embarrassed.

“Tell me… what?” Ryuunosuke asked.

“Atsushi and I don’t have parents. We’re orphans. We’re not actually related either, we just grew up in the same orphanage,” Kyouka explained rather bluntly.

Atsushi stood up and signed something to Kyouka, looking distressed.

“I’m not saying too much. If anyone is gonna understand, it’s him. You guys have something in common now,” she said, stuffing another piece of tofu into her mouth.

Atsushi looked over at Ryuunosuke with a questioning expression.

“Did you not know that I’m adopted? I thought it was common knowledge,” Ryuunosuke explained.

Atsushi’s jaw dropped, his eyes sparkling. Clearly he didn’t know about Ryuunosuke’s situation, but his reaction was quite cute.

Ryuunosuke was also quite shocked to hear that Atsushi had spent time in an orphanage. Though, that didn’t mean their situations were the same at all. He could tell they were vastly different just based on who they were now.

Kyouka knew too. The only reason she brought it up was to make Atsushi more comfortable, he could tell.

“I didn’t spend long in an orphanage though. Only about a year before my father picked us up,” he continued.

Kyouka went silent, picking at her food. Atsushi sat back down, his expression mimicking hers. Did he say something wrong?

They ate the rest of their food without speaking, and when Ryuunosuke noticed they all finished he started picking up the plates. Atsushi stood up to help him, but Ryuunosuke pressed down on his shoulder until he sat again.

“You have weekends off, remember?” he said. Atsushi blinked up at him before nodding.

While Ryuunosuke did the dishes, Kyouka spoke about school and her daily life. It sounded like she was in her last year of high school, the same as Gin. She mentioned a few other names and Ryuunosuke wondered if any of them were in the photo in Atsushi’s room.

Listening made him realize just how little he knew of Atsushi’s life. He never thought he knew him well, but there was so much he had never even considered. What was he like in high school? Who were his friends? What hobbies did he have?

“I should probably go. I promised some of the younger kids I would hang out with them today,” Kyouka said as she headed to the door.

Atsushi followed her, signing to her as she gave brief responses. The fond look Atsushi gave her made Ryuunosuke’s breath catch in his throat. It felt so warm.

They hugged each other after she put on her shoes and she was gone. Silence filled the apartment, and Ryuunosuke was forced to remember the events of the night before.

“Hey,” Ryuunosuke said. Atsushi jumped. “I’m not exactly sure what I did wrong, but last night…”

He trailed off. He could never find the words when it came to apologies. Saying a simple I’m sorry always seemed to be taking things too lightly. Not that something even that simple was easy.

A hand slapped over his mouth, snapping him out of his thoughts. Atsushi was looking at him anxiously. Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow at him.

Atsushi shook his head and removed his hand from Ryuunosuke’s mouth. He pulled out his phone and Ryuunosuke did the same.

You did nothing wrong. You don’t have to apologize.

“Didn’t you cry? That usually means someone hurt you,” Ryuunosuke pointed out. Atsushi shook his head again.

I wasn’t hurt. You really don’t have to worry.

Ryuunosuke was just getting more confused. If he didn’t do anything wrong then why did Atsushi react like that? The reaction felt visceral, not something that could just be brushed off.

Whatever. If Atsushi wasn’t hurt, then there really was nothing to worry about.

“So… you’re an orphan, huh? I never thought that was something we had in common,” Ryuunosuke said, changing the subject. Atsushi smiled.

I’m happy. I don’t meet other orphans that often. I feel like I understand you a little better.

“I was only an orphan for a year though. I was lucky,” he reminded him.

Something tells me you suffered for much longer than a year.

Maybe Atsushi was better at reading people than he thought. His life before the orphanage was far worse than being at the orphanage itself. Even living with his father afterwards had been difficult, despite the privilege that came with it.

“You should be more worried about yourself. Aren’t you still suffering?” Ryuunosuke asked.

Atsushi looked down at the floor. It was like he wanted to deny it, but there was no way he could. Ryuunosuke had seen too much.

“I like your sister,” he said, switching to a lighter topic for Atsushi’s sake.

Atsushi gave him a suspicious look. Ryuunosuke gently pushed him.

“Not like that, dumbass. She reminds me of my sister. I think they’re around the same age,” he said. Atsushi’s smile was back.

Does she look like you?

“Yeah, usually people who see us together point it out,” he said.

She must be pretty then.

Ryuunosuke could feel his own cheeks heat up. Did Atsushi really just imply that he was pretty? He decided it would be best not to acknowledge it.

“She is. She got all the good genes,” he said.

The young master is pretty too.

Ryuunosuke almost choked on his own spit. There was no way those words could be twisted, no way to trick himself into thinking Atsushi meant something else.

Atsushi just smiled at him, like he hadn’t said anything out of the ordinary at all. Completely innocent.

“Don’t call me young master,” Ryuunosuke said, opting to ignore the compliment.

Why? I’ve heard that girl call you it before.

He must have meant Higuchi. Most of the other people in his life that Atsushi had met never called him that.

“She’s a different breed. Call me something else,” he demanded. Atsushi hesitated before sending the next text.

Is she your girlfriend?

“Huh? Are you kidding? She’s my father’s assistant,” he said, baffled that Atsushi would even think that he was dating someone like Higuchi.

Oh, I saw her touching your head last night so I thought she must be your girlfriend.

Was Atsushi dense? Last night he was hurling compliments at Atsushi, flirting away, but he still thought he was dating Higuchi of all people?

“Nah. She treats me like a kid, that’s all. Even though I’m older than her,” he explained.

Atsushi appeared to look relieved. Was that wishful thinking on Ryuunosuke’s part?

Akutagawa then?

“Whatever you want. Just not young master.”

-

The next day, Ryuunosuke found himself finished his work earlier than he thought. When he left his office, Atsushi was sitting on the couch in the living room, watching tv. The empty spot next to Atsushi was calling out to him.

Ryuunosuke thought he deserved a break once in a while. He hadn’t actually watched anything properly in a long time. If he was in front of the television, he always had his work keeping his attention there with him.

He walked over and took a seat next to Atsushi on the couch. Atsushi greeted him with a smile before turning back to the tv.

The show was some romantic drama. Ryuunosuke had never taken any interest in romance, so he typically avoided shows like these. He always preferred something more stimulating.

As the two leads, a man and a woman, argued, Atsushi watched intently. He seemed like the type to get invested in fictional characters easily, if the way he leaned toward the tv was any indication.

When the two characters started kissing, Ryuunosuke started to feel tense. The object of his recent desire was sitting only a foot away from him, and he couldn’t help but imagine what it would be like to kiss him.

Ryuunosuke’s own romantic experience was limited. He wondered if Atsushi was the same. He was more sociable than Ryuunosuke, and better looking. He probably had at least some experience.

Would he be shy and timid while kissing? Or would he be the type to take control? Maybe he was someone who moved at his partner’s pace.

Ryuunosuke wanted to learn all about how Atsushi kissed.

But, he wouldn’t make the first move. It wouldn’t be appropriate to kiss his own employee unprompted. He’d let himself slip too much after drinking, he wouldn’t be doing that again. The last thing he wanted was to make Atsushi uncomfortable, or find a lawsuit on his hands.

Which reminded him…

“Hey,” he said. Atsushi looked over to him. “You never mentioned that you know sign language.”

Atsushi shrugged. Ryuunosuke turned to face Atsushi more.

“Teach me some,” he said.

Atsushi looked at him in disbelief for a moment before turning his body to face him. Ryuunosuke watched him place two fingers to his forehead, and then taking both index fingers and curling them toward each other.

“What does that mean?” he asked.

Atsushi texted him.

Good afternoon.

Ryuunosuke did his best to mimic Atsushi’s actions. When he finished, Atsushi laughed silently.

“Like this?” he asked, unsure of himself.

Atsushi nodded enthusiastically. He looked a lot happier than normal, his eyes wide and glimmering. Ryuunosuke wondered how rare it was to come across someone who knew sign language.

“Would it be easier for you if I knew it?” he asked.

Atsushi’s cheeks turned red and he typed something out on his phone. His eyes were apologetic.

Yes, but don’t bother with it. You have lots on your plate as it is.

“Isn’t communication with my employees part of my work? Keep going, show me something else,” he said.

Atsushi was frozen for a moment, just staring at him. Ryuunosuke was about to speak, but he was cut off when Atsushi lurched forward and wrapped his arms around Ryuunosuke’s neck.

He was dumbfounded. Atsushi was hugging him tightly, this wasn’t a dream. Ryuunosuke cautiously wrapped one arm around Atsushi’s waist to keep himself from collapsing under Atsushi’s weight, hoping it wouldn’t scare him off.

The hug felt like it lasted ages, but when Atsushi started to pull away it felt like it was too soon for it to end. But, Atsushi didn’t pull away completely. Just far enough so they could see each other’s faces.

Atsushi was looking down at him with a nervous expression, his cheeks tinted pink. When his eyes drifted down to Ryuunosuke’s lips he sucked in a breath. With his free hand, Ryuunosuke cupped the side of Atsushi’s face, rubbing his thumb over the apple of his cheek.

Ryuunosuke wouldn’t be the first to lean in. He’d already decided that. But, it was proving to be difficult when Atsushi didn’t move at all, his breathing becoming more laboured as time passed.

“You—”

He was cut off by his phone ringing, startling them both. He lowered his head in frustration, letting out a heavy exhale, before checking the caller id.

Shit.

“Hello,” he said into the speaker. Atsushi had already pulled away from him, standing up and briskly heading to his own room.

What terrible fucking timing.

“Ryuunosuke, good afternoon,” his father’s voice came through the other end.

“What?” he asked, not bothering to conceal his annoyance.

“Come to my office first thing tomorrow morning. We need to have a little conversation,” his father said, sounding as though the conversation he was referring to would be light.

Though, Ryuunosuke knew better to assume it would be just a casual talk about work or the family.

“What for?” he asked.

“Oh, you’ll have to wait until tomorrow.”

He heard the click of his father hanging up and cursed. This couldn’t be good.

-

Ryuunosuke stood in front of his father’s desk, waiting for him to say something. He didn’t like the look on his father’s face, a smile that said he was about to have some fun. Fun at Ryuunosuke’s expense.

“What did you want to speak about?” he asked, attempting to hurry the conversation along.

“I’ve heard some interesting rumours about you, Ryuunosuke,” he said, still being vague. Luckily, Ryuunosuke knew exactly what he meant.

“He’s my housekeeper, not my boyfriend. If that’s all, I would like to go back to work,” he said.

“I’m not that dense. I heard you were quite touchy with him at that club,” his father continued.

Someone must have snitched.

“I was just drunk. It was nothing,” he lied, hoping to sound like he truly didn’t care.

“As entertaining as I find this, you must end things with him immediately. And terminate his contract,” his father ordered. Ryuunosuke frowned.

“There’s nothing to end, so why must I fire him?” he asked.

“You can’t fool me, Ryuunosuke. I have a marriage interview set up for you, and I’m not letting you ruin this opportunity for some little housekeeper who can’t keep a job.”

Ryuunosuke was burning with rage. Just how much did his father know? He spoke of Atsushi like he was some kind of animal he could just release. It made Ryuunosuke clench his fists until his knuckles turned white.

“So, this is just about benefitting the company. I don’t mean any disrespect, but I’m not firing a housekeeper just because you’re scared it will affect some marriage that I’m not interested in,” he said in place of much harsher words.

“He means that much to you?” his father asked.

Ryuunosuke hated it. It was like he was picking away at Ryuunosuke’s weakness.

“He’s good at the job and doesn’t seem to hate it like all the others.”

“Fine, keep him. But you’re still going on that interview. Don’t forget why I picked you up in the first place,” he said, commanding him, not asking him.

Ryuunosuke couldn’t respond whenever he brought up the adoption. He couldn’t help but feel that he was constantly under his father’s thumb. Everything he had could be ripped right out from under him if his father decided to take him off the family registry.

“I’ll go. But, don’t expect anything else,” he said, turning around and excusing himself from the office.

He managed to keep his composure until he was in his own office with the door shut tight. He pressed his forehead against the wood and sighed.

He’d been on countless marriage interviews before. It was normal for someone in his position. But, this time he felt sick even thinking about it. And it seemed his father picked up on that and was raising the stakes.

What would Atsushi think if he told him he was going on a marriage interview? Would he care?

Ryuunosuke fought the urge to slam his fist against the door. Was Atsushi all he could think about these days?

He took a deep breath before sitting in his desk, getting back to work. He did his best to ignore his desire to go home to see Atsushi and finish what they had started the night before.

Chapter Text

Atsushi was avoiding him.

He was by no means subtle, disappearing from Ryuunosuke’s sight as soon as he possibly could each time they crossed paths. They communicated for work matters only, and they no longer ate together.

He never ate with his housekeepers before, but now eating felt like a lonely task if Atsushi wasn’t sitting across from him.

Though he was planning on it, he didn’t get the chance to tell Atsushi about the marriage interview until Tachihara showed up on the day of to help him get ready.

“Let’s get Ryuu all dolled up!” he said, taking the plastic off of the suit Ryuunosuke would be wearing.

It was something his father picked out. Flashier than Ryuunosuke would like with a bow and gold trim.

Tachihara was much too helpful when Ryuunosuke was getting dressed, even going as far to do up the buttons on his shirt for him and straightening out the collar on his jacket.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Atsushi walk past his open door. He considered calling out to him, but Tachihara did it before he could.

“Atsushi! Doesn’t our prince look just dashing!” he yelled. Atsushi stopped in front of the door and peeked inside.

He looked Ryuunosuke up and down. Nervously, he smiled and nodded. Ryuunosuke thought his fake smile wasn’t nearly as nice as his genuine one.

“Any girl would love to make you her husband. You’ve got this in the bag,” Tachihara said, attempting to encourage him, patting him hard on the back.

Atsushi gave them a questioning glance. Ryuunosuke wanted to clear the air immediately to avoid misunderstandings.

“I’m only going to this thing because my father is making me. No one is getting married, it’s just an interview that I’m not going to follow up on,” he said. Tachihara clicked his tongue.

“You might like her!” he said.

“I don’t like anyone. My father has horrible taste anyway,” Ryuunosuke scoffed.

“I think you like someone,” Tachihara said with a wiggle of his eyebrows.

Ryuunosuke’s cheeks felt warm as his gaze drifted back to Atsushi. When they made eye-contact, Ryuunosuke broke it immediately. He didn’t even want to register the expression Atsushi was looking at him with.

“Shut up. Are we done here?” Ryuunosuke said.

“Yeah, yeah. I’ll go wait in the car, just come down whenever you’re ready,” Tachihara said, slipping past Atsushi.

Ryuunosuke knew that Tachihara was trying to give him alone time with Atsushi. His co-workers had seen them together at the club and didn’t waste a moment before teasing him. The whole week they made fun of him, asking him when the wedding was. Tachihara included.

When they heard the door open and close, Atsushi looked at him inquisitively. Like he wanted to ask questions but didn’t know if he should. Ryuunosuke sighed.

“It really is just something my father put me up to. I should be a good son once in a while, right?” he asked. He didn’t know why he needed to make excuses to someone who had been avoiding him for days.

Atsushi nodded, staring at the floor.

“Hey,” he said, making Atsushi look up. When their eyes met, he started talking again. “Shouldn’t you be wishing me good luck or something?”

Atsushi reached into his pocket, but Ryuunosuke interrupted him.

“No. Show me,” he said.

Atsushi hesitated for a moment before stepping closer to him. He took Ryuunosuke’s hand, forced it into a fist with his pinky up. He looked up to Ryuunosuke, who nodded. Atsushi then changed his hand to uncurl the fist until all his fingers were only about halfway curled in.

When he let go, Ryuunosuke repeated the two motions. Atsushi nodded.

“That’s good luck?” he asked. It seemed a little short.

Atsushi shook his head. Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow at him.

“So, you aren’t wishing me good luck. What does it mean?” he asked.

Atsushi pulled out his phone and this time Ryuunosuke didn’t stop him from typing.

It means no. I won’t wish you luck because I can tell you don’t want it.

“Obviously. I just wanted to see if you’d do it,” he said. Atsushi shifted in his spot before biting his lip and sending Ryuunosuke another message.

I’m sorry for the other day. I’ve been wanting to apologize but I couldn’t figure out a good time.

“What are you apologizing for?”

I breached our boundaries when I hugged you. It was unprofessional.

Ryuunosuke felt like toying with him a bit. He wasn’t at all bothered by Atsushi’s hug. In fact he probably enjoyed it a bit too much. Obviously more than Atsushi had perceived. Was he really that dense?

“So, you regret it?” he asked. Atsushi’s eyes widened in surprise before he texted back a response.

That’s not it. I usually like hugs a lot, but I figured since you are my boss it wasn’t appropriate.

Ryuunosuke hummed to himself.

“I suppose it was inappropriate. I should fire you,” he said.

Atsushi looked regretful, like he really thought Ryuunosuke was going to fire him. That meant that Ryuunosuke got to play a bit more.

“First your angry outburst in the kitchen, and now you’re coming onto me? You’re troublesome. I think I should fire you, unless you do something to make up for it,” he said, reaching out and tapping Atsushi’s chin.

What do you want?

“You’ve been very mysterious since I let you live here. Sometime soon you’re gonna have to tell me more about you. If you promise to do that for me, I won’t fire you right now,” he said. “Also stop avoiding me.”

Atsushi seemed to finally catch onto the fact that he wasn’t serious. A smile tugged at the corners of his lips, even though Ryuunosuke could tell he was trying to keep a straight face.

“Do you promise?” Ryuunosuke asked again.

Atsushi nodded, the smile breaking through his resistance. Ryuunosuke’s stomach fluttered. It had been too long since he saw that smile.

“Good. Now, I guess I shouldn’t make Tachihara wait too long. I’ll see you tonight,” he said.

Atsushi let him step by him and leave the room. Ryuunosuke could hear his footsteps follow close behind.

Ryuunosuke slipped on his shoes and turned back to Atsushi. His eyes were filled with an emotion that Ryuunosuke didn’t recognize. Then he looked Ryuunosuke up and down and his bottom lip poked out ever so slightly.

“What’s wrong?”

Atsushi jumped, like he had been caught doing something he wasn’t supposed to. He fumbled with his phone in his hands.

Nothing!

“Don’t lie. Your face gives you away,” Ryuunosuke said, gesturing toward Atsushi’s head.

I was just thinking you looked nice.

“Is that any reason to pout?” he said, detecting a lie.

I wasn’t pouting.

“Then put your bottom lip away,” he said. Atsushi covered his own mouth with his hand. “I’m leaving now. Don’t burn the building down while I’m gone.”

Atsushi nodded and waved as Ryuunosuke left the apartment. When the door clicked behind him, he had a strong urge to turn back and spend the night in Atsushi’s arms instead.

-

This marriage interview felt just like all the others. He sat silently in a strange house, across from a woman who also did not speak. Their parents were going to do the talking for them, bragging about their respective child’s accomplishments and merits.

This time the family looked foreign. He thought he heard them mention America, so that was probably it.

The woman, Louisa, looked like she wanted to be there even less than Ryuunosuke did. Each time her father spoke up about her she looked as though she wanted to cry.

“Ryuunosuke here lives on his own right now. He’s always been independent,” his father said. Ryuunosuke wanted to roll his eyes.

Of course it wasn’t that Ryuunosuke was independent. He needed to get out from under his father’s watch as much as he could. Even though his father always found ways to get involved in Ryuunosuke’s personal life anyway.

“It must get lonely. Companionship is important,” Louisa’s father said, making an obvious attempt to segue the conversation into the main topic for the night.

“I am living with someone,” Ryuunosuke corrected them. His father laughed next to him.

“A housekeeper isn’t like living with family or a loved one,” he said, squeezing Ryuunosuke’s shoulder a little too hard to be accidental.

“It’s companionship all the same. I’m not lonely,” he continued.

He had been lonely in the past, but Atsushi changed that for him. His apartment felt more like a home these days.

“You shouldn’t mingle with the help too much. They are probably trying to get close to you to reap the benefits of having a wealthy friend,” Louisa’s father said, a tinge of disgust present in his voice.

Louisa looked mortified. He could tell she wanted to say something, but the words weren’t leaving her throat.

“I don’t care if he’s just trying to reap the benefits. I enjoy his company, much more than I enjoy being here,” he said bluntly.

“What did you say?” Louisa’s father said, utterly offended.

His face was turning red, the blood vessels in his forehead looking like they were about to pop. Ryuunosuke wished they would.

“I have no interest in spending time with wealthy people who have everything handed to them on a silver platter. People like you have no humanity. You don’t even care that your daughter hates being here,” he said, nodding toward Louisa.

She gasped, but didn’t make any attempt to deny the accusation.

“Don’t speak for her,” her father shouted, slamming his fist down on the table.

“Why not? You’ve been doing it all night,” Ryuunosuke replied. The old man let out a growl, sounding more like a feral animal than an aristocrat.

“You ungrateful brat. You’re acting as though you worked for your position. We all know your story,” he said. Ryuunosuke chuckled lightly.

“Ah, of course. Mori Ougai, multi-millionaire, adopts lowly child and gives him everything he could have ever wanted out of the goodness of his heart. Heartwarming, isn’t it?” he said, sarcasm evident in his voice.

Ryuunosuke felt a hand on the back of his head, forcing him into a bow. More than the force of his hand pushing down, the fingers tangled in his hair hurt. He could feel some of the hairs removing themselves from his head.

“Alcott-san, I apologize for my son’s rudeness. He’s throwing a tantrum because I made him do something like this despite his protests. He will be punished severely,” his father said, directing the last part at Ryuunosuke.

A chill ran down Ryuunosuke’s spine. Fuck. He was definitely gonna get it now. He had let himself forget about his father’s threats, a mistake he knew he would regret in due time.

His father made up an excuse for them to leave, apologizing once again on Ryuunosuke’s behalf. Once they were outside, his father stopped him from texting Tachihara.

“Let’s take a walk,” he said. He was smiling, but the aura he was exuding was anything but friendly.

Ryuunosuke did as he said, following him down the street.

It was silent for a long time as they wandered aimlessly, the only sounds were their feet against the pavement. Ryuunosuke followed a few steps behind his father, not wanting to stick to him too closely.

“You sure had fun tonight,” his father said. His voice made Ryuunosuke’s stomach churn.

“What’s my punishment?” he asked, trying to get straight to the point.

“There will no doubt be rumours spread around after tonight. You’re okay with being known as an ungrateful leech?” his father asked, stopping in his tracks.

“Isn’t that what I am?” he responded, keeping his spot to remain somewhat distant.

“It’s true. You are. I know there’s nothing I could do to you that would really teach you a lesson. I’ll have to rethink your punishment,” he said. “Perhaps your sweetheart has something exploitable.”

A lump formed in Ryuunosuke’s throat.

“Don’t,” the word left him involuntarily. He realized he just showed weakness, completely giving himself away.

“Oh? Did I finally find a way to get under Ryuunosuke’s skin?” his father sang.

“He’s done nothing wrong. Don’t involve him,” he said, his voice louder than he expected.

“Isn’t he already involved? You’re acting up now ever since he arrived. Isn’t that his influence?”

Ryuunosuke clenched his fists. Maybe Atsushi had made him feel a bit too comfortable. He made him forget the responsibilities he was expected to uphold.

But, his anger and hatred had been there long before Atsushi came around.

“You think it’s because of him? I know that you know about my life before I was put in the orphanage. You think I like hearing your shitty friends talk about people like me like we’re dirt? I know you never intended to be a real father, but you could at least pretend to give a shit,” he said, voice cracking.

“Ryuunosuke, of course I care. This is for your own good,” his father responded, but it sounded so fake it made Ryuunosuke want to vomit.

“Liar. It’s always been about you and the company.”

His father stepped closer to him. Ryuunosuke was frozen.

“Hasn’t it benefitted you too? You no longer have to go through dumpsters just to find something to eat. You no longer have to find places that will hire you illegally just so you can get some cash. Your beloved sister has everything she needs,” his father said, leaning even more into Ryuunosuke’s space.

“I never said I didn’t benefit. I try to pay you back by working hard every day,” he said, fighting the urge to run and not look back.

“I adopted you to be an heir. Part of that is a marriage. Companies look better when there is a family attached to the name,” his father explained.

“Do I have no free will at all?”

He was answered with a cold hand slapping across his face. The pain registered after the impact, leaving him winded.

“Go home, Ryuunosuke.”

-

When he got home the tv was still on. At the same time as a wave of comfort washed over him, the feeling of guilt pooled in his stomach. He felt sick to his stomach.

While he was still taking off his shoes, he heard Atsushi’s footsteps come to greet him at the door. He looked up and Atsushi waved a hello.

After a moment, his eyebrows knit together and he reached out, looking to Ryuunosuke for permission before touching his cheek. Ryuunosuke took his wrist, placing it on his face for him.

The slap must have left a mark. There was a slight sting where Atsushi was touching, even though his fingers were gentle, very lightly rubbing over the spot.

He couldn’t remember a time where he was touched with this amount of care. He leaned into it.

Atsushi removed his hand and wrapped it around Ryuunosuke’s. He led him to the kitchen and made him sit down in a chair at the table. Ryuunosuke watched him as he opened the freezer and put a bunch of ice in a plastic bag. He wrapped the bag in a wash cloth and then pulled up a chair across from Ryuunosuke.

He carefully placed the covered ice against Ryuunosuke’s cheek. It was cold enough to make him wince, but it did give the pain some relief.

The comforting feeling was back. The warmth he felt when he saw Atsushi and Kyouka cooking together.

“I used to spend a lot of time in the kitchen with my sister, you know,” he said. “Before we went to the orphanage, my birth father never went to the kitchen. He never made us food, we never had family dinners. If we asked for the food he bought for himself, he would get angry.”

He didn’t know why he was saying this stuff, but Atsushi listened intently, waiting for him to finish.

“The kitchen was safe. Being here with you reminds me of then,” he continued.

Atsushi cracked a smile, his ears turning pink. He was too pretty for his own good.

“I told off the girl’s father tonight. My dad was mad, so he gave me a good hit. Think I deserved it?” he asked. Atsushi shook his head, not hesitating for a moment.

He leaned forward, pressing his face into Atsushi’s chest. He felt Atsushi flinch, but he didn’t pull away. Instead, Ryuunosuke felt his hand start to card through his hair. He took it a step further, wrapping his arms around Atsushi’s waist and squeezing.

He’d made a point in his life never to appear vulnerable, no matter what. He never had the freedom to. But here he was, holding onto someone he barely knew like a kid who needed the comfort of someone older than him.

The embarrassment he felt didn’t stop him from nuzzling against Atsushi, curling his fingers into the back of his t-shirt. As always, Atsushi smelled good. The scent relaxed him even further.

He looked up to see Atsushi’s face. He looked back at him with patience and care.

“You make me act childish,” he admitted. “I don’t think I’ve ever held onto someone for comfort in my entire life.”

Atsushi continued to run his fingers through Ryuunosuke’s hair. The sensation was making him sleepy, his eyes fluttered shut.

As much as he wanted to stay like this forever, to keep Atsushi by his side, it was starting to feel impossible.

“It’s dangerous to be with me like this. I can set you up somewhere, give you money. But, if you stay here, something bad will happen to you,” he said. Atsushi looked surprised and stopped petting him.

They separated from each other when Atsushi reached for his phone in his pocket.

I’m not scared.

“You should be. My father always had ways of knowing everything. He has more power than you know,” he warned.

I’m still not scared. I’ve been through much worse than he could do to me.

Ryuunosuke hated that. This was the exact reason that he couldn’t let Atsushi be in any kind of pain for his sake. He told Kyouka he wouldn’t do this to him.

“I promise to set you up with a good life. You deserve that from me at least,” he said. Although, he felt that Atsushi deserved far more than that.

You said you wouldn’t fire me.

“I have to. I won’t rush you out of here, but consider your contract terminated,” Ryuunosuke said, lowering his gaze to the table.

He heard Atsushi stand up, but he didn’t leave. He looked up at him.

Why did he feel like crying? Was it Atsushi’s desperate expression? Was it the thought that he wouldn’t get to see him anymore?

He shouldn’t care. He hadn’t known Atsushi for long at all. Ryuunosuke knew very little about him, and vice versa.

Maybe because he was cutting a relationship off with a person he actually cared about for the first time. He hadn’t cared when his mother left, he hadn’t cared when his birth father died. He hadn’t cared when any of his past employees quit, or any of his romantic relationships, if you could call them that, came to an end.

No.

This time it wasn’t a text, but Atsushi’s hands doing the talking. His expression was stern, his hands moving sharply. He stared blankly at Atsushi, needing time to comprehend what just happened.

A sound left Ryuunosuke throat, and then another. Before he knew it, he was clenching his stomach, laughing so hard that the tears he felt like crying earlier actually came out.

He could feel Atsushi’s annoyance as he continued to laugh, trying to wipe the tears away before they streamed down his face.

“You’re insane,” he said between his chuckles.

He got himself composed enough to open his eyes. Atsushi clearly didn’t like being laughed at. He frowning at him, standing stiff.

“Who on earth says ‘no’ to getting fired?” he said, trying to catch his breath.

If you wanted to fire me, you wouldn’t look so sad.

“I suppose. I don’t know what it is about you, but I feel some sort of connection to you. My father knows that, and he wants to exterminate that connection so I go back to doing what he says. As long as you stay here, I’ll have to do a lot of things I don’t want to do. Maybe even get married to someone I don’t know,” he explained. Atsushi didn’t budge.

You’ll do that if I leave too.

“Yeah, but at least it’s just me being made to suffer. He’ll no doubt dig up your past and use it against you. Kyouka would never forgive me if I allowed that to happen,” he said.

She’ll get over it.

“You’re so annoying. Do I have to call security to throw you out?” he said, with another laugh.

Yes.

“Most people quit on their own, you know.”

He recalled all of his former employees who had left as soon as Ryuunosuke pushed them without looking back.

I feel a connection too. I want to be friends.

Ryuunosuke tried to pretend that the word ‘friends’ didn’t sting a bit. He set his phone down, taking Atsushi’s wrist in his hand. He pulled him close, slipping the phone from Atsushi’s hand on onto the table with his own. He wrapped his arms around Atsushi’s middle again, pulling him close and resting his chin on his stomach. Atsushi’s blush turned a deep red.

“Suit yourself. If Kyouka kills me it’s your fault,” he said. “I’ll do what I can to keep you safe.”

Atsushi nodded, toying with the hairs on the back of Ryuunosuke’s neck. The sensation made Ryuunosuke feel tingly, and he shuddered.

He stared up at Atsushi, attempting to bury the feelings bubbling up inside of him.

He was afraid. He didn’t know what his father was going to do. He didn’t know what lengths he’d be willing to go to get Ryuunosuke to behave.

But, he also felt warm. He never wanted to let Atsushi go. And apparently, Atsushi didn’t want to let him go either.

He couldn’t remember a time when someone fought for him. Getting people to want to stay was much more difficult in his experience.

And yet, here Atsushi was. He tried to get him to go, offered him a comfortable life. But, Atsushi refused. He was still here, letting Ryuunosuke hold him, playing with his hair.

It wasn’t a question anymore. He knew why he was so preoccupied with Atsushi. As he reburied his face into Atsushi’s torso, he admitted it to himself for the first time.

He was in love.

Chapter Text

“I’m in love with Atsushi,” Ryuunosuke said, resting his chin on the table.

Chuuya reacted by spitting out his drink, barely avoiding a direct hit on Ryuunosuke’s face.

He needed someone to talk about this. He wasn’t sure what to do with the realization after it hit him. And when Chuuya offered to take him out for lunch, he thought that now was a better time than at the office. Dazai couldn’t hear them here.

“You—,” he was cut off by a cough, the rest of the drink falling down his windpipe.

“I know, I didn’t expect it either,” Ryuunosuke continued.

“No, it’s actually not surprising at all. We all saw you at the club,” Chuuya said, his voice hoarse. “I am surprised that you’re admitting it.”

“Well, I need to talk to someone about it,” he said, feeling his cheeks heat up.

Was he really that obvious?

“Why? You want to brag about your perfect relationship?” Chuuya asked. Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow at him.

“What perfect relationship? I didn’t think that going on marriage interviews while the person I actually love thinks of me as an employer, or a friend at most, was considered a perfect relationship,” he sighed.

“You’re really stupid. He obviously likes you back,” Chuuya said nonchalantly, like it was completely obvious.

“He said he wanted to be friends, and I’ve given him tons of openings and he’s taken none of them,” Ryuunosuke explained.

“Making a move on your employer, especially when they give you housing, is not usually something someone does carelessly. I would make the first move if I were you,” Chuuya said.

He’d never thought about it like that, but was it really worse than a boss making a move on an employee?

“And catch a sexual harassment lawsuit?” he asked.

“He’ll respond,” Chuuya said, sounding certain.

“How are you so sure?”

“Like I said, we all saw you at the club. You were all snuggly and he seemed to be pretty happy too,” Chuuya responded. Ryuunosuke thought he didn’t have the full story.

“That was because he needed that guy to leave him alone. I was just the one who happened to be there,” he said. Chuuya rolled his eyes.

“Sure, Ryuu. Because Atsushi is super touchy with the rest of them,” he replied sarcastically. “Don’t be a coward. Just go for it.”

“Easier said than done,” he groaned.

“How do you have the balls to tell Alcott that he lacks humanity but you don’t have the balls to kiss a dude you like?” Chuuya teased. Ryuunosuke flinched at the memory.

“How do you know I said that?” he asked.

“Higuchi overheard your dad’s call with him. She told me in a panic,” Chuuya answered.

“Fuck. She probably told Dazai too. He’s definitely gonna bother me about it.”

“Probably. You know you can come to us when you have issues with things like this, right? We work for your dad, but we all like you better,” Chuuya said.

The admission surprised Ryuunosuke. His words got caught in his throat.

“Why?”

“You’re like a cute little brother to us. Even Tachihara and Higuchi have a lot of fondness for you,” Chuuya said. Ryuunosuke pouted.

“I’m older than both of them,” he grumbled.

“Yeah, but you’re cute. I bet Atsushi thinks so too,” Chuuya said, throwing in the last bit to tease him. “If you’re not comfortable just kissing him, then flirt. Flirt a lot.”

“Do I look like I know how to flirt?”

Chuuya reached out and gave Ryuunosuke a pat on the shoulder that was probably supposed to be reassuring.

“Just do it, Ryuu!”

-

He wasn’t used to being around Atsushi while actively being aware that he was in love with him. As soon as Ryuunosuke got home he could hear music playing, and even that made him flustered. It meant Atsushi was here, in close proximity.

He breathed deeply, before walking to kitchen where the music was playing. Atsushi was there, swaying gently to the song as he cooked. The song was slow and romantic, making Ryuunosuke feel even more nervous.

It didn’t seem like he heard Ryuunosuke come in, and Ryuunosuke was reminded of Chuuya’s advice.

Flirt. He wasn’t exactly sure how to do that. But, he could give it a shot.

He slid up behind Atsushi and spoke directly in his ear in a low voice.

“Too preoccupied to greet me?” he said. Atsushi jumped, turning around to face him.

He politely bowed, and gave Ryuunosuke a smile.

“Do you often dance when I’m not home?” Ryuunosuke asked. It was a cute thing to walk in on. He wouldn’t mind seeing it more.

Atsushi blushed and pulled out his phone.

Yeah. I used to daydream about being a prince at a ball when I was a kids.

Once Ryuunosuke had read the text, Atsushi posed elegantly like he was about to waltz. Ryuunosuke held out his arms.

“Come here,” he said.

Atsushi hesitated for a moment, but eventually allowed Ryuunosuke to take hold of him. He took Atsushi’s hand and placed it on his own shoulder, then placed his own hand on Atsushi’s waist. With the other hand, he held out Atsushi’s delicately.

“My father made me take dance lessons when he first adopted me. I can show you how a prince dances,” he said.

Atsushi nodded with red cheeks. Ryuunosuke started moving, spinning them around the kitchen. Atsushi’s movements didn’t match his, clumsily stepping on his toes. He almost laughed at the way Atsushi stared down at their feet, trying to copy Ryuunosuke’s steps.

Eventually, he was consistently getting the timing right and looked up at Ryuunosuke with a satisfied smile.

“Good. You’re a real prince now,” he said, continuing to pull Atsushi along in their dance.

Atsushi shoulders shook with a silent laugh before he shook his head.

“No? You look like one,” he said.

Atsushi shook his head again, more aggressively this time.

“You do. I’ve told you before, haven’t I? You have pretty features, like a prince,” Ryuunosuke said. “Maybe I shouldn’t say that. You cried last time.”

Atsushi pouted, and Ryuunosuke let out a chuckle.

“You never told me why you cried. That’s not usually something to cry about, is it?” he asked.

Atsushi looked back down at their feet, his pout turning more sad than angry. Ryuunosuke halted their movements, let go of his hand, and wrapped his arm around his waist with the other one. He tugged Atsushi closer, making him meet Ryuunosuke’s eyes.

Maybe he was better at this than he thought, because Atsushi used his free hand to grip the front of Ryuunosuke’s shirt.

He stared at Ryuunosuke for a moment before pulling him into a hug. Ryuunosuke tensed before squeezing him tightly, burying his nose in the crook of Atsushi’s neck. His smell was driving him crazy. He held himself back from nibbling on his skin.

Holding back got harder when Atsushi pulled back and rested his forehead against Ryuunosuke’s. He looked so cute with his pink cheeks and his eyes just barely open. Ryuunosuke couldn’t help himself when he leaned forward and kissed the side of Atsushi’s nose.

He heard Atsushi’s breath hitch, and to Ryuunosuke’s disappointment, he slowly pulled away. He took a few steps back and pulled out his phone from his apron pocket. Ryuunosuke’s arms felt empty.

I should make good on our promise. I have things I have to tell you.

Was this rejection? The moment felt perfect, like Atsushi was just as desperate as he was. But, perhaps he was imaging things.

On the bright side, Atsushi was offering up information about himself. Ryuunosuke wasn’t about to pass this up.

“Should we talk now? Your food is probably burning,” he said, looking behind Atsushi at the stove.

Atsushi’s eyes widened, and he turned around, quickly switching the stove off and taking the pan off of the element. There was a strong burning scent in the air, and Atsushi’s shoulders drooped in dejection.

“Let’s order something for tonight,” Ryuunosuke suggested. “What do you like?”

Before Atsushi could answer, they both heard the front door open.

He wasn’t expecting anyone, and he knew Tachihara wouldn’t enter the house without permission. Or at least he was pretty sure he wouldn’t.

Atsushi stood with his eyes wide, his chest rising and falling at a speed that was much too fast to be considered normal.

“Hey,” Ryuunosuke said, gently touching his shoulder.

“Nii-san?” he heard a familiar voice behind him. Atsushi visibly relaxed, and Ryuunosuke turned around.

“Gin. What are you doing here?”

His sister stood in the kitchen entrance, her hair tied up and still wearing her school uniform. Honestly, he’d completely forgotten that he had given her a key. It had been a while since she last visited.

Relief washed over him.

“I didn’t want to go home yet, so I thought I’d come visit,” she said. He took a deep breath.

“Good timing. We burnt the food, so we were just about to order something. Stay for dinner,” he said. She smiled.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you had someone over already,” she apologized, directing her attention to Atsushi.

“Oh, right. This is Nakajima Atsushi, my housekeeper. He lives here, so you’re not intruding on anything,” he introduced. “Jinko, this is my sister Gin.”

Atsushi waved and Gin gave him a smile. Atsushi looked much happier than he did a moment ago. Despite just meeting her, he looked a Gin with fondness.

“Ah, he doesn’t talk. Just exchange numbers if you want to,” he said. Gin’s eyes widened.

“Oh, I think Higuchi mentioned that. It’s nice to meet you, Nakajima-san,” she said with a bow.

Atsushi nodded in agreement, bowing in return.

As per Gin’s request, they ordered pizza and the three of them ate together in the kitchen. Gin and Atsushi exchanged numbers, and they created a group chat with the three of them so they could all communicate at once. Though Gin wasn’t the most sociable girl in the world, she really seemed to hit it off with Atsushi.

Ryuunosuke tried not to show how happy that made him.

“Why are you avoiding going home? Is Elise bothering you?” he asked her. She let out a heavy breath.

“No, it’s nothing to do with her. Even she’s been tense lately. Father’s been irritable, you know how he gets,” she said. Ryuunosuke sighed.

“That’s probably my fault. I botched a marriage interview pretty badly. He was pretty pissed about it,” Ryuunosuke explained.

“It didn’t go well with the Alcott girl?” she asked.

“She was fine. Not that we spoke at all. Her father however…” he hesitated before continuing. “He was a monster. I was actually talking about Jinko and how we were living together, and he started spewing some bullshit about poor people. I obviously didn’t let it slide.”

Atsushi’s eyes widened at the admission. He never told Atsushi that the man was talking about him directly.

“Sheesh. People like that are irredeemable,” Gin replied.

“Father acts like I ruined this family’s only chance at success. It’s not like I would have married her anyway.”

“His traditional ways are frustrating. Hopefully, he calms down soon. It’s normal for him to neglect us, but never Elise. She’s still a kid, she needs a parent,” Gin said.

Atsushi tilted his head in confusion, and Ryuunosuke realized he never told him about Elise before.

“Elise is our other sister. She’s father’s biological child,” he explained. Atsushi nodded in understanding. “She’s family, but she’s spoiled beyond belief.”

Ever since they were brought into the family, he had never been able to understand Elise. He felt that there was too stark a difference between someone born into wealth, and someone who was born with nothing.

“Nakajima-san, what are your parents like?” Gin asked. Ryuunosuke’s chest tightened.

He looked to Atsushi, who just waved him off and started texting.

I’m not sure. I never knew my biological parents and I spent my childhood in a catholic orphanage.

“Really? So all of us are orphans. I guess that’s why my brother likes you,” she said.

“What are you talking about?” Ryuunosuke scoffed.

“When I showed up you seemed to be comforting him. I’ve never seen you do that with anyone but me. Also, you’ve never had live-in workers before,” she said.

Ryuunosuke’s face felt hot.

“We fought at first but…” he looked over at Atsushi, who was also blushing up to his ears. “I’d say we get along.”

Atsushi nodded, only glancing over to Ryuunosuke for a moment. Gin’s eyes shifted back and forth between them.

“I see,” she said knowingly. Ryuunosuke knew he’d been completely figured out. His sister was always too sharp for her own good. “My brother never really had friends before, so take good care of him.”

“I have friends. Chuuya counts,” he said with a frown.

“He’s more like an older brother. You’ve known him since you were still a teenager,” she pointed out.

“I was sixteen, he was eighteen. It’s not that far-fetched.”

“Well, whatever. Nakajima-san is nice, so take care of him too,” she said.

The words held a different meaning than what was actually said. He knew what she was implying.

“Obviously,” he replied.

While Ryuunosuke cleaned up their mess from dinner, Atsushi helped Gin with her homework. He seemed to have a good grasp of all the subjects, if Gin’s noises of understanding every so often were any indication.

“Nakajima-san’s descriptions are so helpful. You should be my tutor instead of the one dad hired,” she suggested.

Ryuunosuke joined them at the table with his own laptop, working on his own things while he listened in. He grabbed his phone and kept their group chat open so he could see what Atsushi was saying in response.

I read a lot of different textbooks while I was at the orphanage. I was put in advanced classes in school.

“Wow, so you’re really smart!”

He shook his head. Modest as always.

Not really. I just didn’t have anything else to do but read.

Ryuunosuke remembered when he had a love for reading. Since he started working for the company, he hadn’t had the time for his hobbies. When he was younger he read all the time, and he even developed an interest in calligraphy.

Those days felt so long ago.

“Nii-san reads too. I always liked more physical stuff, like P.E.” Gin said. “He can’t do physical stuff since he has weak lungs.”

Atsushi looked to Ryuunosuke, worry evident on his face.

“Don’t look so concerned. The worst of it is long gone. I used to have a lot of trouble breathing though,” he explained. Atsushi’s concern didn’t disappear from his face.

If you have health problems you should work less. It can’t be good for you.

“I can’t work less. I have a debt I owe to father. I’m fine anyway,” he said, attempting to reassure him.

Atsushi let the topic slide, for now. He continued to help Gin with her work until her eyes started to droop.

“Gin, sleep here. You can sleep in my bed, I’ll take the couch,” Ryuunosuke ordered.

Though this wasn’t her home, he felt weird about sending her home while their father was in a rage. It didn’t feel like the right choice when she could just sleep at his place.

She looked like she wanted to argue for a moment, but when a hefty yawn pulled itself from her chest she nodded.

She packed up her stuff and said a quick goodnight to both of them before disappearing into Ryuunosuke’s room.

Ryuunosuke closed his laptop and stretched out his arms.

“I’m going to sleep. Don’t stay up too late,” Ryuunosuke said.

As he walked toward the couch, Atsushi reached out and grabbed his wrist. He turned around to face him.

“What?” he asked. Atsushi used his free hand to text.

You can have my bed.

“No. I’ve slept on the couch lots, I’ll be fine,” he refused.

He attempted to walk again, but Atsushi didn’t let go, instead gripping him tighter.

Come to my room with me then.

Ryuunosuke wanted to pinch himself. This must be a dream.

“With you?” he asked, just to make sure he understood, that he didn’t read the message wrong.

Atsushi’s cheeks were red when he nodded. He didn’t let go, dragging Ryuunosuke down the hall until they were in Atsushi’s bedroom.

Once the door was closed behind them, Atsushi went to his drawers and pulled out two t-shirts and two pairs sweats, handing one set of clothes to Ryuunosuke.

“Thanks,” he said. Sleeping in suits was never comfortable, but he didn’t want to disturb Gin’s sleep with his shuffling around.

He started pulling off his work clothes, slipping on the sweats first, and then the t-shirt. He glanced over to Atsushi, who was standing shirtless with his back facing him.

“Hey, can I look at it?” Ryuunosuke asked before Atsushi could put on his shirt. Atsushi looked over his shoulder and nodded.

He walked over to Atsushi’s bed and sat down, gesturing for Atsushi to sit next to him. Atsushi did, sitting cross-legged and revealing his back to Ryuunosuke.

Now that he could look at the whole thing freely and up close, it was a lot worse than Ryuunosuke thought. Not the art itself, which was just as pretty as Ryuunosuke remembered it being, but what was underneath.

Scar after scar was covered with vibrant coloured lines. Some of them could have happened during the tattooing process, but certainly not all of them. Definitely not the ones that looked more like cigarette burns or branding.

“What did they do to you?” he asked, tracing his finger over a particularly large scar.

Atsushi leaned back until he was pressed against Ryuunosuke’s chest. He rested his head on Ryuunosuke’s shoulder, looking up at him. Hesitantly, Ryuunosuke wrapped his arms around Atsushi’s middle.

His skin was soft and warm against Ryuunosuke’s bare forearms.

Atsushi didn’t tense, instead he relaxed himself further. They stayed like that for a while until Ryuunosuke felt Atsushi pry his fingers from his middle. He was about to back away, but he realized Atsushi wasn’t trying to get up. Instead, he messed with Ryuunosuke’s fingers, changing their positions.

First he made them point to himself, then to Ryuunosuke. Then, he drew his index finger and thumb down either side of his jaw, continuing down past the end of his chin.

“What does that mean?” Ryuunosuke asked.

Atsushi let out a giggle, and the sound of it took Ryuunosuke’s breath away. It was the longest amount of time that he had heard Atsushi’s voice, and it was so much prettier than he imagined.

“You’re unfair,” Ryuunosuke spoke into Atsushi’s temple.

Atsushi laughed again, but this time it didn’t make a sound.

Ryuunosuke kissed the spot where his mouth was resting, right on the side of Atsushi’s head. He regretted it instantly, remembering how Atsushi pulled away after he kissed his nose.

Atsushi shifted, and Ryuunosuke was sure he was about to be rejected for the second time that night.

However, he got butterflies in his stomach when Atsushi kissed his jaw, then moved up to kiss his cheek. Ryuunosuke turned his head, brushing his nose against Atsushi’s. He let their lips touch, giving Atsushi a chance to avoid what he was going to do next.

But, Atsushi leaned in, kissing Ryuunosuke’s lips and pulling away before he had a chance to kiss back. Ryuunosuke cupped the side of his face with his hand, keeping him from going too far.

He kissed Atsushi tentatively, his heart rate spiking when he felt Atsushi kiss back. He kissed him again, harder this time. Atsushi was responding with just as much enthusiasm as Ryuunosuke was giving him, which made his blood pump faster.

Atsushi adjusted himself to face Ryuunosuke and lightly pushed on his shoulders until Ryuunosuke was on his back on the bed. He hovered overtop of him and captured his lips another time.

Ryuunosuke trailed his hand to the back of Atsushi’s head, burying his fingers in Atsushi’s hair. It felt like silk between his fingers.

He couldn’t remember kissing ever feeling this good before. Every time he felt the drag of Atsushi’s lips against his, his stomach flipped and his throat felt like it was gonna close. His breath was shaky as it left his nose.

Atsushi rested on his elbows, their bodies now in contact with each other. Ryuunosuke wrapped his free arm around Atsushi’s waist, holding him tight.

Ryuunosuke whined when Atsushi ended the kiss and looked down at him. Red cheeks and swollen lips was a good look on him.

Atsushi stared at him, his eyes switching focus on different parts of his face. It made Ryuunosuke nervous to be observed like this.

“What?” Ryuunosuke asked, embarrassed by how breathless he sounded.

Atsushi stared for a while longer, then leaned down to kiss along Ryuunosuke’s jaw. He trailed his lips down Ryuunosuke’s neck before nibbling just below his Adam’s apple.

He bit again, harder this time. Ryuunosuke flipped their positions, pressing Atsushi’s back into the mattress.

“Are you trying to eat me alive?” he asked. Atsushi gave him an apologetic look. “What will my co-workers say if this leaves a mark?”

Atsushi looked to the side, his expression guilty. Ryuunosuke leaned down and kissed behind his ear.

“I do like the idea of being marked by you though,” he whispered. He felt Atsushi shiver underneath him.

Ryuunosuke rolled off of Atsushi, laying on his side to face him.

“As much as I’d like to continue, we should probably get to sleep,” he said. Atsushi nodded, looking a bit disappointed.

Atsushi got up and slipped on the shirt that he never got to put on. He switched off the light before returning to the bed. They both slipped under the covers and got comfortable, facing each other.

Even in the dark, Ryuunosuke could see Atsushi’s pretty eyes. He couldn’t help himself when he wrapped his arm around Atsushi’s waist and pulled him in close. He kissed him once more, hard and deep. He heard Atsushi inhale sharply as his hand found Ryuunosuke’s face.

Ryuunosuke broke the kiss, peppering a few more across Atsushi’s nose and cheeks.

“Goodnight,” he whispered against Atsushi’s skin.

He felt Atsushi nod and relax into a more comfortable position, not bothering to pull himself out of Ryuunosuke’s hold.

When they were comfortable, Ryuunosuke closed his eyes. Falling asleep was usually quite difficult for him, but he could feel himself drifting off already.

Once more he questioned whether or not this was a dream. It felt surreal, but the way he could feel Atsushi’s breath against his collarbones was grounding. The way the room smelled undeniably like Atsushi was too realistic for his brain to fabricate.

This was real. He didn’t make this up.

He took one more deep breath and fell asleep.

Chapter Text

Ryuunosuke reached out for his phone on his night table. He was completely disoriented when his fingertips met with a wall instead of the space that was normally there.

The room was still dark when he opened his eyes, but he could tell it wasn’t his own.

His memories from the night before flooded back to him, sending him into a daze.

He kissed Atsushi. He finally went and did it. And Atsushi reciprocated.

Instinctively, his hand shot out next to him, feeling around the bed. Atsushi wasn’t there anymore. He sighed in disappointment. He wondered what time it was.

He stood up quickly and fished his phone out of his jacket pocket that he had left on a chair in Atsushi’s room.

Shit. It was seven in the morning. Atsushi was probably starting work already. Ryuunosuke thought he better get ready to go too. Tachihara would be there soon.

When he heard several voices outside the room he thought Tachihara might be there already. He clicked his tongue in frustration. Why didn’t anyone wake him up?

He stepped out of the room and peeked into the kitchen. Sure enough, Gin, Tachihara and Atsushi were all there chatting casually.

“Hey boss! Good morning,” Tachihara said happily, like he wasn’t going to be late for work.

“I slept in. Give me a minute to shower and get ready,” Ryuunosuke responded.

“That’s fine. Gives me a chance to chat with Atsushi and Gin-chan,” he said cheerfully. Ryuunosuke frowned at him. “I’m not trying to date your man or your sister, relax.”

“I didn’t think that!” he shouted before rounding the corner and heading to the bathroom.

He most certainly did think that. Although he could admit that maybe he was wrong about Tachihara. He never actually made a move on Atsushi, and while he was weird he didn’t seem the type to go after high schoolers. Maybe he was just overly friendly.

He showered with haste, not wanting to keep Tachihara waiting for too long. Once he was dressed, he walked back out to the kitchen.

Before he got there, he accidentally overheard their conversation and stopped dead in his tracks.

“I have no intention to quit. Boss might seem mean but his anger seems more like a kid’s anger, ya know? Harmless, kinda cute, a little funny,” he heard Tachihara say.

His first instinct was to turn the corner and berate him, but something held him back. Something that made his chest feel tight.

“He’s always been like that. When we were kids he’d say stuff that other kids thought was malicious, but I think he’s just honest. Our birth father wasn’t the best at teaching us to socialize as kids, so we were teased a lot for being weird,” Gin said.

Ryuunosuke almost choked on his own spit. He pressed his back against the wall to sturdy himself. Gin never talked about their birth father, not even with him. How did Tachihara and Atsushi fish it out of her?

“I get that. Some parents don’t prepare their kids for the real world, huh?” Tachihara responded, like he could relate.

“If anything he made it worse. Nii-san and I would have been better off if it was just us, I swear,” she groaned.

“My older brother raised me. I think he did a good job. Right, Atsushi?” Tachihara said.

There was a pause where Atsushi probably nodded.

Ryuunosuke pried himself from the wall and turned the corner. He had already eavesdropped too much.

“Let’s go, Tachihara. Gin, don’t be late for class,” he said. She rolled her eyes at him.

“Of course not,” she said.

While they were putting their shoes on, Atsushi joined them at the door.

“You’re going out too?” Ryuunosuke asked. Atsushi nodded. “Groceries?”

Atsushi nodded again. They followed Tachihara out, and as soon as the door closed behind them he turned to face the pair.

“So, you guys shared a bed last night?” he asked, an annoying grin plastered on his face.

“Not your business. I’ll fire you if you mention it again,” Ryuunosuke threatened, ignoring the heat in his face.

He looked over to Atsushi, who was blushing bright red. He was giving them away completely without saying anything at all.

“Dazai and Chuuya will love this,” Tachihara said, pulling out his phone.

Ryuunosuke leapt at him, attempting to grab the phone from his hand. Tachihara moved quickly out of his reach. He started laughing like a hyena.

“You're really fired if you tell them,” he said, but it didn’t stop Tachihara’s cackles.

“Boss, your words really have no bite to them,” he replied.

He held his phone up high, too high for Ryuunosuke to reach. There was no way he was going to jump for it like a dog.

“You’re annoying me,” he snapped. Tachihara winked at him.

“Yeah, yeah. Keep talkin’ pretty boy.”

Then, he heard a giggle from behind him. He turned to face Atsushi, who was letting out a breathy laugh. It was the loudest he’d ever heard Atsushi’s voice, and it made him completely freeze.

He’d forgotten about Tachihara telling Dazai, it didn’t feel like it mattered anymore.

“You’re so lovestruck, it’s disgusting,” Tachihara said close to his ear.

Ryuunosuke clicked his tongue and shoved Tachihara away. He kept walking to the elevator, the other two following behind.

“At least Atsushi’s nice to me,” Tachihara said, slinging an arm around Atsushi’s shoulder.

Atsushi nodded, joining in with the teasing.

“Don’t gang up on me. He’s teasing you too,” Ryuunosuke said to Atsushi. Atsushi just smiled bigger.

“I’m just supportive of true love,” Tachihara said dramatically. Ryuunosuke wanted to punch him.

“God, shut up.”

When the elevator opened on the main floor, another man was waiting to get on. Ryuunosuke attempted to step off, but the man didn’t move from the entrance, refusing to give them room.

“Move,” Ryuunosuke said bluntly, tempted to shove him out of the way. The man didn’t even look at him.

Instead his gaze was fixed onto Atsushi. An uncomfortable feeling settled in Ryuunosuke’s stomach.

“Hey, Atsushi? You okay?” he heard Tachihara ask.

He glanced over at Atsushi, and he didn’t look okay at all. Droplets of sweat were forming on his brow, his eyes were wide and his breathing was heavy. He could clearly see Atsushi’s chest heaving, his breath leaving him in sharp bursts. His face was paler than he’d ever seen him.

“I found you,” the man in front of them said. Ryuunosuke’s head snapped in his direction.

“Who the hell are you?” he asked, rage building up inside him.

“You demon! You thought you could escape forever? Have you fooled these gentlemen too?” the man said, stepping closer to Atsushi.

Ryuunosuke put his arm out, pushing Atsushi back ever so slightly. Whoever this was, there was no way he was gonna let him touch Atsushi just like that.

“I asked who the hell you are,” Ryuunosuke repeated.

“I almost hoped you’d be dead by now, but it’s better that I have you again. I want to get rid of you myself so I know you’re really gone,” the man said, reaching out to Atsushi.

Both Ryuunosuke and Tachihara gripped the man’s arm, halting him. Fury was building up in Ryuunosuke, he was seeing red.

“Get the hell away from him,” Ryuunosuke growled.

The man lurched forward, ripping his arm free. His hand encircled Atsushi’s throat, cutting off his airflow in a swift motion.

“Just die already, demon! Go back to hell where you belong!” the man screamed.

Tachihara yanked the man away and pushed him onto the tile floor in the foyer. Atsushi collapsed onto his knees. Ryuunosuke dropped to his side, taking his hand. Atsushi squeezed so tightly that he thought he might lose circulation in his fingers.

His heaving had only intensified as he tried to catch his breath, the sweat now falling down the side of his face.

Ryuunosuke looked up to Tachihara who was holding down the man along with the security guard from the front door. The guard was on the phone, likely with the police.

“Tachihara!” Ryuunosuke called out. When he turned his head to look at them Ryuunosuke spoke again. “I’m taking him upstairs for now.”

Tachihara nodded.

Ryuunosuke let the elevator door close and pressed the button to his floor. He turned his attention back to Atsushi, who was still hyperventilating and squeezing his hand.

“Hey, he’s gone. Don’t worry. It’s just me,” he said. “No one’s going to hurt you.”

Until they reached the correct floor, Ryuunosuke continued to softly reassure him that he was safe now, and that he would be protected. It did little to help his breathing.

The elevator was quiet, but Ryuunosuke’s blood was pumping so loudly he was sure Atsushi could hear it was well.

He picked Atsushi up from the floor, one hand under his knees, the other supporting his back. As he carried Atsushi to their apartment, Atsushi buried his face into Ryuunosuke’s chest, breathing into his shirt.

He quickly opened the door, not bothering to remove his shoes before stepping into the apartment.

“Gin! We need help here!” he shouted. “Get a paper bag!”

He laid Atsushi down on the couch and took his hand. He gently rubbed over his knuckles with his thumb, attempting to relax Atsushi. It wasn’t working.

Gin was at his side in an instant, handing him the paper bag. Ryuunosuke held the bag to Atsushi’s mouth, and he was just attached to reality enough to breath into it without pushing Ryuunosuke away.

Slowly, his breathing began to even out. Tears dripped from his eyes onto the couch as he came down, but his grip on Ryuunosuke’s hand didn’t let up.

Eventually, Atsushi’s eyes fluttered closed and his breathing turned into light snores. When he was fully asleep, Ryuunosuke took a deep breath.

“Shit. I have to call his sister,” he said.

He reached into Atsushi’s pocket and took out his phone. Luckily, he didn’t have a passcode and Ryuunosuke was able to find Kyouka’s number quickly. He dialled and held the phone up to his ear.

“Hello?” she answered, obviously confused that she was receiving a call from Atsushi.

“It’s Akutagawa. I think you need to come down here when you can. Some guy showed up and Atsushi was panicking. But, he’s fine. He’s asleep now,” he explained, trying to get as much info out as quickly as possible.

“He found him?” he heard on the other end. She was silent for a while before saying, “don’t wake him. I’m coming.”

He hung up and turned to Gin. He explained to her what happened in the foyer, and while the confusion from her face disappeared, the concern was still apparent.

“Why would someone be looking for him?” she asked.

He could tell she was angry, but she was keeping it down as to not misplace her rage. He was feeling very much the same.

“I don’t know. We’ll have to ask Kyouka when she gets here. Surely she knows more than we do,” he said.

Hopefully, she could provide them with answers. He remembered her warning him of a stalker before. This was surely the stalker in question.

Ryuunosuke tensed when the front door opened, but relaxed at the sight of Tachihara.

“The security guard has the guy locked up. Waiting for the police to get here. He’s sleeping?” he said.

“Yeah he passed out as soon as he was breathing somewhat normally again,” Ryuunosuke said.

“What a creep. Who the hell was that guy?” Tachihara asked, looking ready to kick something.

“We don’t know. Atsushi’s little sister is on the way. She probably knows at least a little bit of what’s going on.”

“Shit. Well, the cops are gonna want to talk to us so we should stay here. I’ll send a message to work,” Tachihara said.

Ryuunosuke nodded.

While Tachihara and Gin migrated to the kitchen to get something to eat, Ryuunosuke stayed with Atsushi.

Kyouka showed up before the cops did, basically sprinting to Atsushi’s side when Ryuunosuke let her in.

“He’s okay, right?” she asked.

“Yeah, that guy only touched him for a moment. Luckily Atsushi was with my assistant and I. We were able to separate them,” Ryuunosuke explained. She was visibly deflated.

“I was so careful. I didn’t think he’d follow me here,” she said, her eyes welling up.

Ryuunosuke didn’t want to ask, not now. She was distraught, her usual composure fading away. But, he needed to know. If he was going to protect Atsushi, he needed to know what he was going up against.

“If you don’t mind me asking, who was that guy? What’s going on here?”

She stared at him for a moment, like she was deciding whether or not he could be trusted. But more than that, she looked like a kid who was desperate for someone to trust.

“He’s the headmaster of the orphanage we grew up in,” she said.

Ryuunosuke was taken aback. Why was a man like that able to run an orphanage? Not that he had a lot of faith in orphanages as a whole, but this man seemed particularly insane. Letting him be in charge of children was absurd.

“What does he want with Atsushi?” he asked.

It seemed weird that the headmaster of an orphanage was looking for a twenty-two year old man.

She sighed deeply, and Ryuunosuke could tell she was fighting back tears.

“The orphanage, St. Francis Orphanage, is a place for lost cause children. Children with behavioural issues who are seen as undesirable. Adoption from there is rare. We all went to multiple orphanages before that one. Except Atsushi. He was dropped off as a baby, at that orphanage specifically. We don’t know why he was dropped there, just that he was,” she explained.

Ryuunosuke was not aware that there was such a place. He wondered if he would have ended up there if he hadn’t been adopted when he had.

“The orphanage advertises as catholic, but it is more of a cult. The employees treated it as a kind of reform house for bad kids who needed God. Atsushi was different though. Since he was dropped there as a baby, the headmaster had a special obsession with him. He believed Atsushi wasn’t human, but a demon who was sent to him to exorcise,” she continued.

It was so much more insane than he thought. He’d heard about exorcisms, and the damage they can potentially cause. Especially when done to children.

“The rest of us were treated harshly. Beatings and the like. Atsushi had it much worse. Headmaster thought that if he brought Atsushi close enough to death without killing him that the demon would be purged. When the kids questioned why this was happening to him, the nuns said they knew he was a demon because of his yellow eyes and white hair. After a while, the other kids started to reject him too,” she said.

“He ran away when he was eighteen, and the headmaster has been looking for him since. Every time I visit with him I have to make sure that I’m not being followed or tracked. I thought I was doing a good job, but I must have slipped up.”

Without thinking, Ryuunosuke reached out and ruffled her hair. She tensed up, and looked to him for an explanation.

He felt embarrassed, showing this kind of affection to a girl he barely knew. But, he didn’t take his hand away, continuing to pet her.

“It’s not your fault. It’s that bastard’s for being so insane. You did your best,” he said, a weak attempt at reassurance.

He could hardly believe the words left his own mouth. He wasn’t usually the encouraging type. But, seeing her cry reminded him too much of his own younger sister.

She blinked up at him with her bright blue eyes.

“You’re not so bad. I approve,” she said, her stiff composure somewhat returning.

“Approve?” he asked, raising an eyebrow at her.

“Yeah, I approve of you. I think you can take good care of him,” she said, a tinge of pink appearing on her cheeks.

He looked over at Atsushi, asleep on the couch. His cheeks still wet with tears, the colour still missing from his face.

Ryuunosuke sighed.

“I hope so.”

-

When the cops came, Ryuunosuke reluctantly woke Atsushi up. The officers took everyone’s statements, Kyouka interpreting for Atsushi.

They assured them that the headmaster would be taken into custody, and that they could file a restraining order if they pleased. Ryuunosuke was seriously considering it.

After the cops left, the five of them went to the kitchen. Gin and Kyouka offered to cook lunch and refused Atsushi’s help when he reached for a pan. He pouted and sat at the table with Ryuunosuke and Tachihara.

Although he was tired, Atsushi still relayed the story Kyouka had told him to Gin and Tachihara, sending it in a group chat with all five of them. They read it while they ate.

“What a psycho,” Tachihara said. “Hopefully he gets jail time.”

“No kidding. I can’t believe you guys grew up under someone like that,” Gin said to Atsushi and Kyouka.

“I still have to deal with him from time to time, but he spends significantly less time at the orphanage since Atsushi left. I’m about to age out anyway,” Kyouka explained.

“We should move out together. I don’t think I can last at home much longer,” Gin suggested, taking Kyouka’s hand.

Ryuunosuke was shocked at her remark. Since when did the shy little Gin become so social? Kyouka looked surprised too, taking a moment to answer.

“I’d like that,” she replied after a while, her shoulders relaxing. Gin smiled.

Atsushi poked at his food, looking vacant. Ryuunosuke reached out and took his free hand. Atsushi squeezed him back gently. He continued to squeeze him periodically, like he was trying to ground himself in this reality.

“I guess we all have one thing in common, huh?” Tachihara said at some point.

“And what is that?” Ryuunosuke asked.

“Traumatized orphans. I knew I had a connection with you guys for a reason,” Tachihara continued.

“You too?” Ryuunosuke said, eyes wide.

“Yep. Since we’re all sharing I might as well too. My parents died when I was young, and my brother raised me. However, when I was sixteen he took his own life. Instead of going to an orphanage though, I lived on my own right away,” he explained.

Ryuunosuke couldn’t believe that someone so carefree had such a past. But, he supposed everyone deals with trauma and trials differently.

“I felt a connection too. Even though Nii-san and I have different circumstances than you guys, I still feel like no one understands me but you,” Gin admitted.

Ryuunosuke thought maybe the same went for him. It hadn’t been long since he met these people, but at some point they started to feel comfortable. He’d stopped trying to push Tachihara to quit, he always felt some fondness and responsibility to Kyouka, and Atsushi…

Atsushi was one of the most important people to him. He didn’t even want to think about what life would be like without him.

He squeezed Atsushi’s hand a little tighter.

While they talked throughout the afternoon Ryuunosuke didn’t say much. He was happy to let the other three do the talking. At some point, Atsushi rested his head on Ryuunosuke’s shoulder. A couple of times he felt his shoulders shake with a laugh.

“I’ll take the girls home. We’ll give you two some alone time,” Tachihara said when it started to get close to dinner time.

His normal teasing tone in his voice was gone. Ryuunosuke nodded.

They said goodbye to their sisters and Tachihara at the door, all of them reassuring Atsushi that they were there for him before exiting the apartment.

When they were finally alone, Ryuunosuke didn’t know what to say. But, he didn’t feel like he needed words when Atsushi pulled him into a hug, wrapping his arms around his neck tightly. Ryuunosuke hugged him back just as tight, kissing the side of his head.

“I’m sorry,” he mumbled in Atsushi’s hair. “I said I’d protect you.”

Atsushi pulled away just enough to look at him. He shook his head and cupped Ryuunosuke’s face in his hands.

“I didn’t know you had been through all of that,” he said, leaning into Atsushi’s touch.

Atsushi shook his head again, a way to say that Ryuunosuke didn’t need to worry about it.

“I’ll do a better job,” he said anyway.

Atsushi smiled and released Ryuunosuke. He held out his palm face down, and place the side of his other hand on top, pulling it upward.

“Whats that mean?” he asked. Atsushi pulled out his phone.

It means thank you.

Ryuunosuke pulled him back into a hug, lifting him off his feet. He almost lost his balance when Atsushi wrapped his legs around his waist, but he was able to stable himself.

“You’re lucky you’re light,” he said.

He walked them over to the couch and sat down with Atsushi in his lap. He examined Atsushi’s facial features, tucking his hair behind his ear.

“That time you cried, did you think I was gonna call you something mean?” he asked. Atsushi looked down and nodded.

He leaned forward and kissed Atsushi’s cheeks before giving him a chaste kiss on the lips.

“I hope you know I wouldn’t do that. I always thought you were pretty,” he said.

Atsushi’s cheeks reddened, his expression one of disbelief.

“It’s true. From when we first met until now,” he said, reassuring him.

Atsushi kissed him this time, once and then twice. Ryuunosuke buried his hand in his hair to keep him from leaving as he kissed him back harder. Atsushi didn’t seem like he wanted to leave, working Ryuunosuke’s mouth open until he could feel Atsushi’s tongue slip in.

He was more forward than Ryuunosuke thought he’d be. More eager too. As much as he wanted to keep this going and take it to the next step, the timing felt wrong.

When Atsushi bit his lip, he grabbed his shoulders and gently pushed him away.

“Slow down,” he said sternly. Atsushi pouted. “Do you really think I’m gonna do this on the same day you had something traumatic happen to you? What kind of man does that make me?”

Atsushi sighed. Though he was disappointed, he seemed to understand.

“Don’t make that face,” he said, kissing Atsushi innocently. “I’m not going anywhere.”

A large yawn left Atsushi’s mouth, his eyelids looking heavy.

“Looks like you’re too tired for more fun anyway,” he said. “Should we go to bed?”

Atsushi gripped the front of Ryuunosuke’s shirt tighter, like he didn’t want to be separated.

“We can sleep in my room tonight,” Ryuunosuke suggested.

Atsushi’s eyes widened as he nodded a little too quickly to be normal. Ryuunosuke cracked a smile.

“Okay, but no funny business,” he said. Atsushi rolled his eyes as he got off Ryuunosuke.

He tugged him off the couch and led him down the hall to Ryuunosuke’s room. It was still a little early for bed, light trickling in through the curtains. But, going to bed early didn’t seem so bad if Atsushi was going to be there with him.

Atsushi laid down first, patting the spot next to him. Ryuunosuke chuckled.

“You’re acting like you own the place. I’m coming,” he said.

He changed into some more comfortable clothes, and pretended not to notice when he caught Atsushi peeking. He climbed into bed next to Atsushi onto his back and Atsushi wasted no time latching onto him. He wrapped his arms around Ryuunosuke’s waist and buried his face into his neck, inhaling deeply.

Ryuunosuke carded his hand through Atsushi’s hair, marvelling at how soft it felt. His skin tingled when he felt Atsushi leaving gentle kisses against his neck. When he felt the slightest touch of his tongue a shudder ran through his entire body.

“Thought I said no funny business,” he said. He felt Atsushi smile against his skin. “You’re so annoying. Close your eyes.”

Atsushi kissed a trail up his neck to his jaw. He propped himself up on his elbow and kissed Ryuunosuke’s lips, so softly and yet it sent Ryuunosuke’s stomach into a flurry of butterflies.

“You’re not listening, huh? You’re lucky you’re cute, Atsushi,” he said dragging out the syllables of his name.

Atsushi blinked down at him in surprise, and he realized this was the first time he actually called him by his name to his face. Atsushi’s cheeks slowly turned pink, burning up all the way to his ears. Ryuunosuke laughed.

“You get shy because I said your name but not kissing? Isn’t that a little backwards?” he asked.

Atsushi buried his face in Ryuunosuke’s chest, obviously embarrassed. Ryuunosuke wanted to tease him more.

“Is kissing that simple for you? Is it a casual thing?” he asked. Atsushi shook his head, nose still pressed into his shirt.

Part of him was relieved to hear that kissing wasn’t a casual thing for Atsushi. It wasn’t like they confessed any feelings to each other, this could have been something very minor in Atsushi’s eyes for all he knew. He couldn’t bring himself to confess his love if he wasn’t sure that Atsushi returned the feeling.

He was about to tease him more, but he felt Atsushi’s breath coming out deeper. When he heard a small snore, he knew Atsushi was asleep.

Ryuunosuke laughed to himself. He knew Atsushi was exhausted, but apparently he was more tired than he let on.

He shifted them into a more comfortable position, with Atsushi resting on his shoulder instead of facedown in his chest.

Still asleep, Atsushi’s fingers curled into his shirt. Ryuunosuke ran his fingers through Atsushi’s hair again and closed his eyes.

He could always confess tomorrow.

Chapter Text

Ryuunosuke forced his eyes open when sunlight touched them. He blinked a few times, adjusting to the brightness.

He was definitely late for work. But, he didn’t feel like going anyway. He could work from home today.

Something shifted next to him, and he glanced over. For once, Atsushi was still asleep beside him. He must have been completely exhausted if he was still so deep asleep. The day before had been too much for him after all.

He laid on Ryuunosuke’s chest, gripping his t-shirt with one hand. Ryuunosuke used the arm that Atsushi was laying on to reach up and pet his hair.

Because Atsushi was such an early riser, Ryuunosuke never really got to appreciate his sleeping form. Though he was around the same size as Ryuunosuke, he seemed small right now. The snores that left his mouth reminded him of a cat’s purrs.

He was rather kitten-like while he was asleep. The comparison made Ryuunosuke smile.

He heard his phone vibrate and begrudgingly pulled his attention from Atsushi to the device on his nightstand. He picked it up and noticed he had many texts from different people.

Chuuya and Dazai both texted him telling him to stay home for the day to look after Atsushi. Tachihara texted him to say he had covered for him at work and let him sleep in. He sighed in relief.

He didn’t like the concept of them babying him, but he figured this was more for Atsushi’s sake than his own. And Atsushi deserved to get taken care of for once in his life.

The last text was from Gin. He assumed she just wanted to check up on Atsushi, but he was wrong.

This was a completely different kind of problem.

Gin (8:32 am)
Nii-san, I had a bad feeling since yesterday, so this morning after father went to work I snooped in his office. I found this stuff.
[Image attached]

Ryuunosuke was burning with rage when he opened the image. The photo was starting to look blurry from his hand shaking so much.

On his father’s desk was some photos of St. Francis orphanage, as well as photos of Atsushi as a child. Next to the photos was the orphanage’s information, including the headmaster’s phone number.

The man hadn’t followed Kyouka at all. His father leaked Atsushi’s information to him. How did he even find this shit out?

Ryuunosuke sat up without thinking, accidentally waking Atsushi in the process.

“Sorry. You can go back to sleep,” he said, reaching out and touching Atsushi’s cheek.

With heavy eyelids Atsushi blinked fully awake, smiling when he processed who he was looking at. It almost made Ryuunosuke’s anger disappear. Almost.

“I have to go somewhere. Stay inside today and rest,” Ryuunosuke said, leaning down to give Atsushi a chaste kiss.

As soon as he stood up, Atsushi grabbed his wrist tight. Ryuunosuke was about to ask why, but Atsushi’s expression said it all.

The colour disappeared from Atsushi’s cheeks, and his hand was shaking around Ryuunosuke’s wrist. His palm felt clammy against Ryuunosuke’s skin.

“I guess I shouldn’t leave you alone right now,” he said leaning in and kissing Atsushi’s forehead.

He sat back down on the bed, and Atsushi pulled himself up to sit next to him. He rested his head on Ryuunosuke’s shoulder, pressing in close.

He felt so warm and comfortable, but guilt welled up inside Ryuunosuke, overflowing.

“I want to be honest with you. The reason yesterday’s incident happened was because of me,” he admitted.

Atsushi looked up to him inquisitively.

“My father, because he is punishing me, told my address to that man. He was the one who gave him your current information. My father knows he can’t hurt me through normal means, so he went after you instead. This is exactly what I didn’t want,” Ryuunosuke explained.

Instead of guilt or fear like Ryuunosuke expected, Atsushi’s expression turned to one of anger. He stood up and walked out of the room briskly. Ryuunosuke followed after him.

“What are you doing?” he asked. His heart started beating hard against his chest.

Atsushi went to his own room, changed his clothes and stomped over to the front door. Ryuunosuke started to panic.

“Hey! Where do you think you’re going?” Ryuunosuke said, taking him by the wrist before he could put his shoes on. “You’re not going to talk to my father.”

Atsushi nodded, slipping one of his shoes on and pulling his wrist free from Ryuunosuke’s grasp.

“No, you don’t know what you’re getting into,” Ryuunosuke ordered.

Atsushi didn’t listen, putting his other shoe on and reaching for the doorknob. Ryuunosuke took him by the shoulders and turned him around to face him. He cornered him against the door, preventing him from leaving.

“Don’t you listen? My father is dangerous. You don’t know what he could do to you,” he said, aware that he was coming off desperate.

Atsushi looked at him, determined as ever. Ryuunosuke’s words weren’t getting through to him at all.

He rested his forehead against Atsushi’s shoulder and took a deep breath.

“Please, don’t go,” he pleaded.

They stayed like that for a moment before he felt Atsushi’s hands on his cheeks, pulling him back up to face him.

Atsushi reached into his pocket and pulled out his phone.

You always try to protect me. Didn’t it occur to you that I want to protect you too?

“I don’t need protecting. No one is after me,” he said, though he knew it wasn’t a completely true statement.

The person who was after Ryuunosuke already knew where he was.

Then come with me. Protect me while I protect you.

“You’re really gonna go?” he asked him once more. Atsushi nodded.

Ryuunosuke sighed. He really didn’t want to do this, but if he had to choose between Atsushi going alone and them going together, he would rather be by his side.

“Fine, let’s go.”

Atsushi smiled. He waited patiently for Ryuunosuke to get ready, and while he put on his shoes Atsushi took his hand, lacing their fingers together. He didn’t let go when he opened the door and stepped out.

-

Atsushi had no tact. He stormed into the office building and headed up to where Ryuunosuke worked, dragging Ryuunosuke along with him. With their hands interlocked like this there was bound to be rumours around the office. He could feel his face heat up in embarrassment as people were already starting to whisper and stare.

Atsushi looked to Ryuunosuke, silently asking him to lead the way to his father’s office. Ryuunosuke sighed and reversed their roles, tugging Atsushi along behind him.

He hesitated when they reached the closed door of his father’s office. He really didn’t know what would happen when he opened it. He didn’t know how angry his father would be.

Atsushi apparently didn’t have such worries. He swung the door open without so much as knocking and stomped over to Ryuunosuke’s father’s desk slamming his hands down on the wood.

His father barely had time to look up before Atsushi was only inches away, staring him down. But, when he processed who exactly was at his desk, a smile crept onto his face.

It chilled Ryuunosuke to the bone.

“Nice to finally meet you, Nakajima Atsushi,” he said. He leaned in closer to Atsushi. “My, you do have interesting eyes, don’t you. Like an animal.”

Ryuunosuke lightly pulled Atsushi away from the desk and stepped in between them. He didn’t want Atsushi doing anything that could end in a lawsuit that he would most definitely lose.

“You went too far with your last game,” he said to his father.

“I just thought your Atsushi might benefit from a family reunion,” he responded, like he did nothing wrong at all.

“Bullshit. I know you dug up his information and gave my address to that man. What the hell is wrong with you?” Ryuunosuke snapped.

“I thought you deserved some punishment. We talked about this didn’t we?” his father reminded him. Ryuunosuke gritted his teeth.

“I’m not a child. You may have taken me in, but you can’t dictate my life,” he said, his voice getting louder in his ears.

“Can’t I?”

Ryuunosuke clenched his fists. His father was the reason he had any of the things he had today. He wouldn’t have even met Atsushi if it wasn’t for his stupid parties or his stupid money.

He wanted to talk back so badly, to tell his father to go to hell. He wanted to leave his office in ruins and never come back to this place ever again. If only he could run away and never look back.

But, something occurred to him in that moment. Something that Ryuunosuke hadn’t considered before.

“You can’t. You took me in, you gave me everything a boy could have wanted. But, you need me too. You didn’t adopt me out of the goodness of your heart. You needed an heir to take over when you retire,” Ryuunosuke said.

“Indeed,” his father replied.

“What would all your friends think if your beloved son ran away in favour of a gay affair? If he quit his job and started living a life that your people deem unsightly? What would you do if he started telling stories about your blackmail and neglect?” Ryuunosuke threatened in a low voice.

The smile on his father’s face didn’t waver, but something in his eyes changed. He looked like he was… enjoying this?

“Ryuunosuke, do you wish to leave that badly?”

“No, I don’t. I am actually quite fond of this job, and I have no objections to running this place one day. I’ve worked hard to be someone worthy of that. But, if you hurt Atsushi, or if you try to separate us, I’m willing to give it all up and do whatever I can to ruin your life in the process,” he growled.

His father laughed. He really had the nerve to laugh in Ryuunosuke’s face.

“You’re really willing to lose everything to keep him?” he asked.

“Yes,” Ryuunosuke answered without hesitation. His father took a deep breath and sat back comfortably in his desk chair.

“Do you know why I took you in, Ryuunosuke? Of all the kids, do you know why I picked you?” he asked.

“I assumed it was because we looked similar, and my looks weren’t bad,” Ryuunosuke replied.

“That was part of it. People trust a good looking face. But, that’s not why it was you I picked,” his father said. Ryuunosuke raised an eyebrow at him.

“Then why?”

“You have the same eyes as him,” he said, nodding toward Atsushi.

“What is that supposed to mean?” he asked, frown deepening.

“The eyes of a feral animal. Ruthless and cold and starving. Like you’d do anything to keep what you want. I was hoping I could get your desire to latch onto the company or your wealth, but it seems that you’ve found something else,” he explained, staring at Atsushi for the last part.

Ryuunosuke stayed silent. How was he supposed to respond to that?

“You’re even willing to sabotage yourself for him? What are your conditions, Ryuunosuke?” his father asked. He grabbed a pen and started scribbling on a piece of paper.

Ryuunosuke was dumbfounded. Was his father surrendering to him?

“I already said them. Just leave us alone. No meddling in my relationships, and that includes marriage interviews. I was never interested in marriage in the first place,” Ryuunosuke said. “If you don’t stop then I will have no qualms with telling the media about all your misdeeds.”

His father waved his hand in the air.

“Fine. Have it your way. I suppose things could get worse than having a gay son who’s dating a housekeeper. Some might even find the tale heartwarming,” he said, the smile still not leaving his face.

“And wouldn’t you look so righteous for being so accepting?” Ryuunosuke tacked on. His father laughed again.

Why was he having so much fun with this?

“I suppose you’re right. We have a deal, Ryuunosuke,” he said, writing more down on his scrap of paper. “Be good, boys.”

“You too, father.”

“You take after me more than I thought. I chose well,” he said.

Ryuunosuke didn’t respond, turning to the door and opening it. He stormed out of the room, but he didn’t get far before he felt someone grab the back of his jacket. He turned to see Atsushi, smiling brightly.

Before he could say anything, Atsushi cupped his face with his hands and pulled him in for a kiss.

For a moment he was mortified. There were people around, definitely staring, but he quickly forgot about them when he felt Atsushi’s tongue against his lips. He opened wide for him, kissing him deeply as Atsushi’s arms traveled around his neck. Ryuunosuke wrapped his own arms around Atsushi’s waist, lifting him up off the ground.

He put him down, and when he heard someone whistle he broke the kiss. He looked up to see Dazai, Chuuya and Tachihara hooting and hollering at them. The mortification was back.

The three men made their way over to them, Dazai slinging an arm around Ryuunosuke’s shoulders.

“I never took you guys for the PDA type of couple,” he said, too close to Ryuunosuke’s ear.

Atsushi was blushing brightly, getting teased by Tachihara and Chuuya.

“Shut up,” Ryuunosuke snapped, attempting and failing to shrug Dazai off of him.

“I’m glad you finally realized your father is scared of you. You and Atsushi are good together, I would have hated to see you separated,” Dazai said, feigning tears.

“How’d you even know what happened in there?” Ryuunosuke asked.

“If things went poorly I doubt you would have left the room making out,” Dazai said. He had a point. “Mori-san is probably glad he got away with just letting you two date.”

“It’s impossible to follow what you’re saying,” Ryuunosuke said. He should have known that talking to Dazai would just end up with more confusion.

“I mean that when you finally decided to rebel he was probably expecting you to force him out of the company and put him into a home. Instead you just wanted your pretty little boyfriend,” Dazai said.

“Shut up. We’re not even…” he trailed off, his cheeks feeling warmer.

“Don’t tell me you haven’t told him how you feel yet. You’re hopeless,” Dazai sighed.

“I haven’t found the right time,” he said. Although he probably could have confessed a thousand times by now.

He should have confessed a thousand times by now.

“Well, hurry up. He’s probably waiting.”

“Don’t bother me.”

“So mean, Akutagawa-kun.”

-

They walked back to the apartment hand in hand, bumping their shoulders occasionally. Ryuunosuke couldn’t help but smile as he looked at Atsushi’s happy expression.

When they got back home, Ryuunosuke took him back to his bedroom. They got under the covers and laid face to face. Atsushi was still smiling ear to ear, and Ryuunosuke couldn’t help but lean in and kiss him.

Ryuunosuke could still feel him smiling into the kiss.

“You’re that happy?” he asked against Atsushi’s lips.

Atsushi nodded, kissing Ryuunosuke again.

“I’m glad you came with me. I don’t think I could have said everything I wanted to if you weren’t there,” he said.

Atsushi kissed Ryuunosuke’s neck and slipped his hand under his t-shirt.

“Are you even listening?”

Atsushi nodded, but he didn’t stop kissing. He gripped Ryuunosuke’s bare waist, making him gasp. Atsushi obviously heard, if the way he smirked against Ryuunosuke’s skin was any indication.

“You’re bullying me,” Ryuunosuke said, embarrassed by how breathy he sounded.

Atsushi climbed overtop of him, straddling his hips as he continued to leave kiss after kiss along Ryuunosuke’s collarbones. He sucked a mark there, or at least it felt like it would leave a mark.

Atsushi pulled himself up to look at Ryuunosuke, a devilish smile making its way onto his mouth.

Ryuunosuke should have felt like he was being teased, because he was, but he didn’t. All he could feel was an intense love for Atsushi that he knew wouldn’t go away for a long time, if ever.

“Be my boyfriend,” he said. He meant for it to be a question, but it sounded more like a demand.

Atsushi laughed, and Ryuunosuke fell in love one more time over.

He watched Atsushi make a fist with one hand and rub the top with the other hand in a circular motion.

“What does that mean?” Ryuunosuke asked. Atsushi shrugged.

Ryuunosuke flipped their positions, pushing Atsushi back into the mattress.

“That’s the second time you’ve avoided telling me what something means. Why are you being cheeky?” he asked, playfully biting on Atsushi’s earlobe while he giggled.

Atsushi pointed at himself.

“You…” Ryuunosuke vocalized.

Atsushi made a heart shape with his hands.

“Love…” Ryuunosuke said, blushing when he pieced together what was coming next.

Atsushi pointed at him, then repeated the sign from earlier.

“You love me?” he asked. Atsushi’s cheeks were red, but he nodded.

Ryuunosuke copied the sign, making a fist and rubbing it the same way Atsushi had. Atsushi pointed to himself, a questioning look on his face.

“Yes, you. Who else would I be talking about? Did you not see the show I put on earlier with my father? You think I would fight so hard for someone I didn’t love?” he asked.

Atsushi blushed harder, turning his head to the side. Ryuunosuke leaned in, his lips touching the shell of Atsushi’s ear.

“I love you, Atsushi,” he said before kissing his temple.

Atsushi covered his face with his hands, but Ryuunosuke could still see that his ears were bright red.

“Why are you so shy now? You confessed first, or did you forget?” he teased, kissing the back of Atsushi’s hand.

Atsushi didn’t come out, a small whining noise leaving his mouth.

“Should I tell you what I love about you?” Ryuunosuke said, kissing his other hand. Atsushi shook his head. “Too bad. I’m gonna.”

Atsushi rolled over onto his side, a weak attempt at escaping.

“I love your hair, and your eyes. Really, your appearance is perfect, even down to your fingers,” Ryuunosuke started. “I love how much you care about others. Even me in the beginning, when I wasn’t even nice to you. And I love your temper too. You never back down, and it amazes me.”

Atsushi kicked the mattress, clearly embarrassed.

“I also love that tattoo of yours. It’s sexy,” Ryuunosuke said.

Atsushi uncovered his face, staring up at Ryuunosuke for a while. Then he pulled his t-shirt off and laid on his stomach, giving Ryuunosuke an opportunity to admire the artwork once again.

“You should tell me the story behind this. It’s really gorgeous,” he said. He leaned down and kissed along one of the tiger’s stripes.

Atsushi pulled his phone out of his pants and started typing. Ryuunosuke laid down on top of him, reading over his shoulder.

I got it when I left the orphanage. Every time I saw myself in the mirror, I hated looking at the scars. A friend of mine who went to the same orphanage as me did it for free to cover them up.

“Why a tiger?”

This might sound bad, but Kyouka used to tell me the scars looked like tiger stripes. Plus, my white hair and yellow eyes. Very tiger-like. It felt like I was reclaiming some of what I went through, I guess.

“Well, your friend did a good job. At first I thought it was pretty weird that you had a tattoo that big on your back, but it makes sense now. Maybe I should get one to match,” Ryuunosuke said.

Of what?

“Maybe something feral, like a dog. My dad treats me like a stray anyways,” he said. Atsushi’s expression brightened.

My friend can do it for you!

“I’m looking forward to it. I’ve always kind of wanted a tattoo, but I was too worried I’d get in trouble,” he admitted.

It fits your image.

“What’s my image?”

Emo boy.

Ryuunosuke bit down on Atsushi’s shoulder. Atsushi shrugged him off. He tossed his phone onto the other side of the bed and turned over to face Ryuunosuke. He looked up at him with a soft smile on his face.

He couldn’t remember a time when someone looked at him with such a loving expression. Actually, he didn’t think anyone had ever looked at him with as much love as Atsushi was right now.

“I think that’s enough playing around. I want to show you how much I love you,” he said, resting his forehead against Atsushi’s.

With red cheeks, Atsushi nodded and pulled Ryuunosuke down for a kiss.

-

“Boss, your pain tolerance is insane. I would be crying so hard right now,” Tachihara said. Ryuunosuke rolled his eyes.

He was on his stomach in a leather seat, his final round of colour being added to the tattoo on his back.

“Atsushi cried a lot when he got his,” the artist, Tanizaki, said, making Atsushi pout.

Ryuunosuke let out a breathy laugh. Atsushi didn’t cry often, it must have hurt him quite a bit.

It hurt Ryuunosuke too, but his emotions never really showed on his face. Not like they did on Atsushi’s.

He held out his hand for Atsushi to take. Atsushi laced their fingers together, squeezing him gently, his expression softening.

“I heard St. Francis is closing down. Finally,” Tanizaki said.

“Yeah, after we went public with our relationship rumours spread quickly about that place. Some rich man took all the kids in. It seems he funded the place without knowing what was going on,” Ryuunosuke explained.

He tried not to get annoyed when he remembered that their “going public” was because Dazai told the media.

“I’m glad they aren’t with that shitbag anymore. Anywhere is better than with him,” Tanizaki replied, obviously referring to the headmaster.

“He’s definitely getting jail time. Enough kids and former residents came forward,” Ryuunosuke said, wincing when the needle touched a sensitive part in his back. Atsushi must have noticed, because he squeezed his hand harder.

“You didn’t come forward, Tanizaki?” Tachihara asked.

Ryuunosuke was a bit shocked that Tachihara wasn’t already using the man’s given name. Something was up.

“No. I don’t think I could face him in court. Though I do wanna see his face when he’s sentenced,” Tanizaki said. Atsushi nodded in agreement.

“Atsushi didn’t want to either,” Tachihara said.

“Well, Atsushi got it the worst out of anyone. It’s more than understandable,” Tanizaki said. Atsushi looked down to the floor.

“Yeah, and now he’s got the world’s best boyfriend to protect him,” Tachihara teased. Atsushi blushed and waved his hand to dismiss them.

Tachihara took a step closer to Tanizaki, looking over his shoulder while he worked on Ryuunosuke’s back.

“So… do you have a girlfriend? Maybe a boyfriend?” he asked the other redhead.

“I don’t,” Tanizaki replied.

“Really? Date me then,” Tachihara said, way too enthusiastically. Both Atsushi and Ryuunosuke snorted.

Tachihara was such a flirt around his friends, Ryuunosuke assumed he’d be the same way with someone he’d been interested in. Apparently, he was wrong. Tachihara had no tact at all.

This was even more proof that he had never been interested in Atsushi, and Ryuunosuke had been jealous over nothing.

“Akutagawa is my last appointment today. Wait for me?” Tanizaki replied. Ryuunosuke’s jaw dropped.

Did Tachihara really just score a date like that?

“Oh, but I drove these guys here,” Tachihara said, looking to them for help.

“We can walk. It’s nice out today,” Ryuunosuke said, giving in. Atsushi nodded along with him.

“But, you just got a huge tattoo,” Tachihara said, concern in his voice.

“I’ll be fine. Atsushi can carry me if it’s too hard to walk,” Ryuunosuke said.

Atsushi nodded in response. It wouldn’t be the first time he carried Ryuunosuke home.

“You guys are the best!” Tachihara said, pulling Atsushi into a hug.

Ryuunosuke felt Tanizaki wipe him down with a towel.

“Okay, we’re done,” he said. “The mirror is just over there.”

Ryuunosuke stood up and walked over to where Tanizaki pointed and checked out his back in the full length mirror.

“Wow…” he marvelled.

The tattoo was in a similar style as Atsushi’s was. But instead of a white tiger, a large black hound filled up the space. Tachihara and Atsushi joined him, staring in awe at the beautiful artwork.

“This is badass. You’re such a bad boy heartthrob now,” Tachihara said, and it sounded sincere.

Atsushi looked entranced as his eyes carefully traced over every detail, like this would be the last time he ever got to look at it.

“I hope it’s to your liking. This might be my favourite work I’ve done since I did Atsushi’s tattoo,” Tanizaki said, impressed with his own handiwork.

“It’s amazing. Thank you,” he said, turning to face Tanizaki. The man smiled at him in return.

They all walked to the front desk and Ryuunosuke paid. Tanizaki left with them, giving Atsushi a heartfelt goodbye and a hug before walking to Tachihara’s car with him.

Ryuunosuke turned to face Atsushi, who smiled happily at him. Atsushi signed to him:

Let’s go home, Ryuunosuke.

He held out his hand, and Ryuunosuke took it.