Work Text:
He'd actually had to get a new phone. Arakita having gotten fed up by the fact that Toudou did not seem to understand that he didn't want to talk.
He ended up having to go to the hospital as well after he his fist lost a fight against the wall. The visit was long overdue so he'd had some tests done, general checkup stuff.
He probably should have been more diligent about going to checkups all those years before now.
At work, people knew that if they wanted anything from Arakita, you emailed. Every time it rang, Arakita would tense up and snap at the next person in the room to make so much as a sound.
It'd been a month since Arakita had arrived back in Tokyo after his short trip up to Hakone.
The knocking at his door was enough to put him on edge. He really, really didn't want to deal with Toudou, especially face to face.
Not now.
Not ever.
The television was off and if Arakita closed his eyes and focused he could almost smell Toudou's shampoo on the couch cushions.
The knocking stopped.
“Anyone home?”
Arakita knew that voice anywhere.
“What the hell do you want, Shinkai?”
More importantly, how did Shinkai know where he lived.
“If Toudou's involved in whatever you're up to then you can just fuck off.” Arakita shouted, not wanting to get up off the couch to yell at Shinkai in person.
“Did something happen between you two? I didn't know.”
“Well, who sent you then?”
“You dropped off the grid for a month and people were worried. I got the address off your mother. Is everything alright?”
Arakita didn't want to continue having this conversation through the door. His neighbours were terribly nosy. Apparently there was a rumor going around that he was involved in some less than legal activities.
Pushing himself up off the couch, Arakita shuffles towards the door. The chain bolting it shut against unwanted intruders who may have a key to the place rattles in his hands.
When did they start shaking?
Arakita opens the door.
Had Shinkai always been so big?
“What do you think?”
Shinkai is sitting on the couch, duffle bag at his side.
Arakita would normally bite his head off about Shinkai's annoying habit of jittering his leg, but he decides against it.
He has coffee for two to make.
Shinkai had offered to join him in the kitchen, saying it would be like old times. The both of them did have the nasty habit of rocking up at the other's university and stealing a couch for the weekend.
Those sporadic trips had always been fun to some extent.
As Arakita moved around the kitchen in preparation he made sure to slide the collection of pill bottles out of sight.
The less questions the better.
“So,”
“Shut it, almost done.” Arakita snaps, but the bite that's there is nothing more than a ghost.
Silence hangs between the two until Arakita slowly moves over, a mug in each hand.
He's extra watchful of the one in his right hand, the surface of the coffee choppy.
The two of them sit next to each other, drinks untouched on the coffee table.
“So, radio silence.”
“Sorry for being busy.”
“Your hand?”
“Won a fight against my old phone, but lost the title against the wall. Currently sitting on 1:1.”
“You never sent out your new number.”
“Busy.”
“Too busy to answer an email?”
“Work's been riding me hard.”
“You're required to have days off legally.”
“And those days are spent doing other projects.”
“Like?”
“This and that. I'm contractually required not to speak about some of them.”
“That's kind of cool, even if I still don't know exactly it is that you do.”
“I work with computers and junk, not too hard to grasp. What've you been up to?”
Shinkai watches Arakita out of the corner of his eye before sighing. He reaches over to the coffee table and brings the mug up to his lips.
“I still don't understand how you managed to perfect coffee despite never working in a coffee house.”
“It's not hard. You put the coffee in the cup, pour in some hot water, add milk and bam, wow, coffee.”
“Yours is always the best though.”
“Flattery will get you nowhere.” Arakita crosses his arms over his middle.
“Is that a challenge?” Shinkai smiles over the rim of his mug.
“How did you get the time off?”
“My boss loves me. She thinks I'm a proper, polite you man.” Shinkai seems pleased with himself.
“Aren't you a legal secretary or something?”
“Sure am.”
“Do you join her on business trips?”
“Yeah.”
“You're her boy toy. Arm candy.” Arakita states plainly.
Shinkai isn't thrown off in the slightest.
“So?”
“Just pointing it out.”
“She's nice.”
“Of course she is.”
Shinkai finishes his coffee.
“How about we go out and get something to eat?” He turns to Arakita, watching how the other man's face goes from reluctance to acceptance.
“Whatever.”
They both stand, moving to get their wallets before they exit Arakita's apartment.
Arakita's coffee was untouched.
“You sure you don't mind me crashing at yours for the weekend?” Shinkai asks for the umpteenth time. He shoves another forkful of food into his mouth and Arakita can't look away.
Watching Shinkai eat was like watching a train wreck. Disgusting, but you couldn't tear your eyes away from the grisly sight.
“I can't exactly kick you out.” Arakita grumbles before going back to pushing his own meal around his plate.
“Not hungry?”
“Can you blame me? I forgot how disgusting you were.”
“Are you sure everything is alright?” Shinkai's face softens.
“Everything is fine, how many times do I have to say that until you believe me?” Arakita snaps, letting his fork fall from his hand with a clatter.
“Fine, fine. I get it.” Shinkai offers. “So, what happened between you and Jinpachi?” Shinkai asks after a pause.
“Nothing. Nothing happened. Nothing will happen. And I'd really like it if we talked about anything other than princess headband.” Arakita spits, shoving his plate away from him so he can bury his face in his arms.
“So, have you heard from Juichi recently?” Shinkai steers the topic, coaxing Arakita to partake in the conversation once more.
After the initial rough footing, Arakita had to admit he kind of enjoyed having Shinkai around for the weekend. The guy may have been oblivious, an utter slob, and knew how to push all of Arakita's buttons, but he was a welcomed distraction.
“Don't be a stranger. Answer your phone for once.” Shinkai orders as the two of them stand outside the front of the apartment building. Shinkai's duffle bag slung over his shoulder.
“Whatever. I'll do what ever I feel like, you big lug.”
Shinkai smiles, stepping forward and pulling Arakita into an embrace before stepping away.
Arakita was really going to miss the idiot.
His days feel into a routine.
Wake up.
Check emails.
Take his morning pills.
Force down some food.
Head to work.
Organise his team.
Check his work emails.
Ignore his phone.
Take his lunch pills.
Try to force down some food.
Fail to keep food down.
Lead his team throughout the afternoon.
Ignore his phone.
Head back home.
Take his evening pills.
Try to force down some food.
Fail to keep down food.
Head into his study and work on his private projects.
Go to bed.
Rinse and repeat.
Arakita was rather fond of the routine, no matter how hollow he felt at times.
He knew all good things came to an end but Arakita hadn't been expecting this.
“What're you doing here?” Arakita splutters, eyeing the tall, green haired man standing in his doorway.
“Um, Toudou said this was your address and,”
“And I don't care what that idiot thinks. Just, just leave.”
Arakita is much too tired to deal with this shit.
“No. I can't do thank unfortunately. May I come in?” Makishima's unsure posture shifts.
“Like I have a choice. Everyone seems to get a kick over forcing themselves into my life and place these days. Why would you be any different.” Arakita steps aside, letting Makishima enter.
Makishima stands there in the middle of the apartment, looking every bit out of place.
“Why are you here?” Arakita asks, arms crossed. It's more to help hold himself together than intimidate Makishima, but the other man doesn't need to know that.
“Toudou's upset and he doesn't know what he's done to make you ignore him. Like I know he can be annoying, and over bearing, and everything, but he misses you. I'm sick of all his pouting and moping so I'm here to get to the bottom of things.”
“Are you and Toudou a thing?”
“Yes?”
“How long?”
“Third year, high school.”
“So you went long distance while you were in England.”
“Yes?”
“Are you back often?”
“I work at my brother's flagship studio in London. But I also do work from here sometimes since he opened up a smaller studio in Tokyo.”
“You realise that me and Toudou have been fucking, right?”
“Yeah. I thought that was a given.”
“Wha!”
“Well he told me that he was seeing you.”
“But you just said that you two were together.”
“We never agreed to be exclusive, long distance is difficult and we are both fine with it.”
“So it didn't bother you that Toudou was fucking me even though he was your-”
“Boyfriend. Not at all.”
“I didn't know. He just said you were in England and that it didn't matter. I thought you two had broken up.”
Silence.
“So he never explained the situation?” Makishima speaks slowly, realisation dawning.
Arakita shakes his head.
“My god, what an idiot. So what made you put up the distance?”
“I drove up Hakone to spend the weekend. Saw you two together and freaked out.”
“Because the idiot didn't tell you.”
“Because the idiot didn't tell me anything.” Arakita adds.
“I'm going to have some words with Toudou.” Makishima hisses as he brings a palm up to his face.
“So am I. How dare he make me feel like a home wrecker.”
“I'm so sorry for him.”
“I'm sorry that you have to put up with him. Do you want a drink or anything?”
“Tea, if you have it.” Makishima answers.
“I think I have some lying around somewhere. Make yourself comfortable, I won't be long.” Arakita calls out as he heads towards the kitchen.
Arakita had to admit, Makishima was an alright guy.
Awkward as fuck at times, but then again Arakita would be a hypocrite if he said he wasn't as well.
Once the green haired guy was comfortable though, it was nice.
Really nice.
“Didn't realise it had gotten so late. Sorry, I have a video call with the London branch in a bit.” Makishima splutters out apology after apology.
“Nah, it's fine. You've got work to get back to. I have work I need to get back to. I get it. It sucks being busy.”
Makishima chuckles.
“It's the worse. Hey, um, you don't have to or anything, but it was nice getting to know you and be able to put a proper face to who Toudou has been blabbering on about. Since I'm still in Tokyo for a bit, do you maybe want to grab a bite sometime? That is if you want to and you're not to busy. Actually, you don't have to. That was terribly forward of me. I'm sorry.” Makishima rattles on, looking more and more embarrassed as he goes on.
“Well it was nice to finally get some one on one time with the ever elusive Maki-chan. Food would be good. Pass your phone, I'll chuck in my number. Text me when you're free and we'll sort the rest out from there. Okay?”
Makishima nods, handing his phone over. Arakita can't help but notice that all the straps and charms hanging off it were nearly identical with the ones dangling off Toudou's own.
“I'll see you around then.” Arakita says as he walks Makishima to the street outside his building.
Makishima flags down a cab. The car idles as the taller man looks back.
“Will do. And feel free to let him stew. The idiot deserves it.”
Arakita can't help but nod his head in acknowledgment, standing where he was until Makishima's cab was lost in the traffic.
While Toudou could afford to stew longer, Arakita knew he probably had to do something to make the other man less insufferable for those around him.
To: Princess Headband
I'm sorry for bailing. I don't hate you. Stop being a pain in the ass.
It didn't even take five minutes for his mobile to start ringing.
“You've got some grovelling to do.”
The next six weeks saw a change in Arakita's routine, and he'd have to say that he really didn't mind it.
His phone bill had gone through the roof in that time, but it kind of was a given considering Toudou was involved.
Lunch breaks were reserved for reply to all the texts Toudou had sent in the morning, or even sending off a couple to Makishima.
Some nights were spent out with Makishima, the both of them complaining about work in whatever restaurant caught their fancy.
Other nights were reserved for Toudou's phone calls . The other man feeling he had to check up on both Makishima and Arakita since he wasn't there in person to assess their condition.
Arakita really didn't want Toudou to notice the weight he'd lost or his lack of appetite.
At least that was something he could put off, with the combination of him taking on more private projects, along with Toudou working through the tourist season up at the inn.
He had time.
“Surprise!” Toudou calls out as he strides through the sea of desks, over to Arakita's workstation, a hesitant Makishima in tow.
Arakita grunts, eyes fixated on the three screens in front of him, his hands flying over the keyboards.
“I said surprise!” Toudou repeats, reaching out to wave his hand in front of Arakita's face.
Luckily one of the IT workers saw what was happening, and ran over.
“No hands. Trust me. The last time he was in the zone and someone interrupted we ended up with two broken monitors, that coffee stain on the wall over there, and we had to find a new intern.”
Toudou whistles.
“And here I thought you were bad when you were focused, Maki-chan.”
Makishima looks away.
“I'm not terrible, I just don't like being interrupted. Since Arakita's busy, maybe we should get going.” Makishima suggests, aware that all eyes in the office aside from Arakita's were watching them.
“But-”
“The bitch is done! Kanada, I'll send it over, can you do a quick check and then give it a run.” Arakita pushes back from his workstation and points a finger at the man who'd stopped Toudou's attempt at interrupting him.
“Sure thing, Arakita.”
“Good. The rest of you, I didn't realise that there was anything interesting to watch over here.” Arakita threatens and everyone makes a point to look at the work in front of them.
“So, what's this surprise you were talking about?” Arakita asks as he rolls back towards his workstation, fingers clattering across the keyboard briefly before he turns to face the two of them.
“Well there was a quiet week up in Hakone so I thought I'd surprise my two favourite guys. And while phase one seemed to work, it appears that phase two was a bust.” Toudou sighs.
“Not a complete bust, it's nice seeing you again, though it'd be nicer if you could tone down the volume. Makishima, good to see you to. How did those designs go down?”
“Well I've been given the clear for mock ups, so you tell me.” Makishima cracks a smile.
Toudou looks between the two of them, slightly shocked.
“Wow, I didn't know you two got on so well.”
“We united against a particular threat.” Makishima states.
“How to deal with a certain Headband wearing princess.” Arakita adds with a grin.
“The two of you hanging out is the worse. I bet you're both conspiring against me.”
“Where's the fun in telling you that?” Makishima offers.
Arakita can't help but throw his head back and laugh at that.
“Oh god, you're beginning to rub off on each other. I need to separate you two immediately. Arakita we'll let you go back to doing you're nerd work here. Give us a call once you've finished and we'll pick you up.” Toudou calls out as he drags Makishima back out of the office space.
Makishima salutes Arakita before he's dragged out of sight.
“Back to work, unless you feel like you don't have enough, then I'll find you all some more.” Arakita yells out to the room, smiling all the while.
Arakita hadn't managed to acquaint himself with Makishima's apartment by the time the three of them stumbled over the threshold early that morning, so when he reluctantly woke up he was rather confused.
Calling Toudou and Makishima after he'd finished work was a mistake.
First off, he was dragged into the closest public bathroom and was handed a bag of clothes, instructed by an excited Toudou to change. Apparently while the other two had been waiting an impromptu shopping trip happened.
Arakita had to admit that Makishima could have picked out something worse for him to wear.
After that they hit a restaurant, one that Makishima and Arakita had been to a few times before. The familiarity was nice and made Arakita feel less on edge.
He knew Toudou was up to something.
Then came the third part of the evening that eventually led to Arakita waking up in an unfamiliar bed in an unfamiliar apartment, feeling like the world was spinning.
Toudou had insisted on hitting a club.
Which ended up being three clubs.
And there were shots.
And bright lights.
And loud music.
Dancing.
More shots.
Hands on his hips.
Lips on his neck.
And here he was.
Arakita groaned, the flashes of the night before too much for his current state of being. He rolled over, sliding out from what turned out to be Toudou's dead weight of an arm, and looked around the room.
The floor was covered in clothes and notebooks. The walls appeared to be molting in places due to the amount of sketches pinned up.
Arakita's stomach began to make it's unhappiness known and he was quick to clamp a hand over his mouth, breathing in deeply through his nose to try and control the nausea that didn't want to take no for an answer.
“Bathroom is second door on the right.” Makishima sighs quietly from the other side of Toudou, voice raspy.
Arakita didn't need to be told twice before shuffling out of the room as fast as he was able.
“Hey, you alright in there? You've been a while.” Makishima asks from the doorway, looking in.
Arakita simply curls himself further over the toilet bowl as his body tries to purge whatever is left in him.
“Here.” Makishima sits down on the tiled floor next to Arakita, holding out a glass of water. Arakita eyes it skeptically before taking it. A few sips into the glass and he was back to emptying his stomach.
“How's Toudou?” Arakita asks, having shuffled around to wedge himself between the toilet and Makishima's side.
“You should know that the sleeping part of his title is no lie. He'll be dead to the world until the afternoon.” Makishima laughs, hand resting on Arakita's back. “How're you feeling?”
“Dead, and very gross. Sorry about this.” Arakita mumbles, resting his heavy head against Makishima's shoulder. While it was boney, the physical presence was grounding.
“It's fine. I work in fashion. There are models. I've seen much worse. Never took you for one to be heavily poisoned after a night out to be honest.”
“Never used to be. But I'm starting to find out that a lot of things are making me feel like shit these days. Must be getting old.” Arakita admits, feeling extremely weary in that moment.
“Do you think you can stand?” Makishima asks, his hand shifting down to rest at Arakita's waist.
“I'm always one to try and see where I end up.” Arakita groans as he attempts to raise himself, his stomach muscles aching with the movement.
“I think we'll move you to the lounge. Get some tea in you.” Makishima says as he hoists Arakita up, supporting and leading the other man out of the room and down the hall.
When Toudou wakes up, he stumbles out of Makishima's room to find the two on the couch.
Makishima sitting on the end. One hand turning the pages of the magazine resting on the couch's arm while the other was in Arakita's hair.
Arakita, meanwhile, was back asleep. Makishima's lap made for an excellent pillow.
“I can't believe you let me sleep in so late, Maki-chan. What did I miss?” Toudou asks.
Makishima raises a hand away from the magazine, pressing his index finger against his lips. Toudou takes the hint.
“Nothing much. Arakita was pretty sick but it's fine now.”
“You should have definitely woken me up, I could have helped.”
“Nah. It was fine. Plus I don't think he would've appreciated an audience.”
Toudou paused for a moment after that, taking in the scene in front of him.
“You know, you two actually look pretty cute together.”
Makishima tries his best to look displeased at Toudou's comment, for Arakita's sake.
Waking up to the smell of something hot and greasy was not what Arakita thought his body would've wanted, but apparently someone else knew better.
“Sorry that I didn't have the stuff to make a proper English Breakfast, but this works as well.” Makishima offers as he gently rouses Arakita into the land of the living while Toudou goes to grab some serviettes.
“Well, if you swear that these western hangover cures work, then who am I to judge.” Arakita relents, slowly pulling himself upright. He still stays pressed to Makishima's side. Something about the thin body helps stabalise his spinning head.
“You don't have to eat if you don't think you can stomach it, but getting some food in you won't hurt.” Makishima says as he reaches over, grabbing a slice of pizza out of the boxes laid out on the coffee table.
The surface of the pizza is glistening and Arakita doesn't know what to think.
“Usually this is where I'd lecture Makishima on his eating habits, but trust me, Arakita. I let that lecture slide when it comes to eating this sort of thing after a night of heavy drinking.” Toudou speaks too loudly for both Arakita and Makishima. He's quick to look sheepish and apologetic after the looks he receives from them.
Arakita swears to trust Makishima's taste in things more. Despite his reservation about ingesting the greasy food, the pizza does wonders.
He doesn't tell this to Toudou, instead deciding to use the other man, still seated in front of himself and Makishima, as a make shift foot rest.
The next time Arakita wakes up it's back in Makishima's bed at some god forsaken hour of the morning but his situation is anything but. Tangled up in two sets of limbs, one pale and thin, the other tanned and a little on the stocky side, Arakita realises that he feels better than he has in years.
Yeah, his arm still feels off, and his stomach hurts, and his mouth is full of that awful taste that comes with sleeping at odd hours, but being sandwiched by two walls of clingy warmth, it's something that can't be beat.