Chapter Text
By now, Atsushi should have been used to the way Akutagawa believed every word coming out of Dazai’s mouth and strived to accomplish every and each of his orders and requests, no matter how weird or unreasonable.
He was not. Nor he could understand how they had ended up in such a strange and awkward situation.
The decision was set: willy nilly, it was necessary for them to work together. Was this the problem? No, or at least not the worst one.
In order to better their joint work, they had to train together. Okay, this was normal too, for how displeasing for them it might be. However, after having welcomed Akutagawa to the Armed Detective Agency’s offices for this purpose, when they had asked their mentor, Dazai, how they could do this, they were met with the reply: -You should take Chuuya and I as an example. –
Unfortunate, unclear, wording. Given the relationship between the older men, assuming that the correct meaning was not “fighting each other” since they already did so, the deduction was straightforward: -So we should… kiss each other? –
Dazai didn’t hesitate to strike while hot, with a shrewd grin and such confidence that the statement almost sounded true: -Yes! It’s an excellent exercise for team building! –
Atsushi didn’t have the time to close his mouth, wide in astonishment, to recompose his surprised expression and to reply that there was no way they would do that, that he found himself even more shocked when Akutagawa, of all people, responded first, with a composed and stern -Okay. -
So, he really did believe everything Dazai said.
Atsushi tried to complain but was prevented by an extremely excited Dazai. He clapped his hands and looked at them with a wide, satisfied, smile. -Perfect! I’ll leave you alone, to train. – The mischievous gaze that accompanied his words made their true meaning even clearer. – I’ll be in the next room if you need me! And please behave, no destruction nor torn limbs – (you could already hear Yosano’s disappointment at the last indication). As announced, he swiftly and happily trotted out of the room, and closed the door behind himself.
So here they were, alone together. Atsushi’s hesitant gaze was looking for Akutagawa’s determined one, without finding it: the latter kept staring at the closed door.
Atsushi sat down on a low sofa with a heavy sigh. -Do we really have to do this? -
No reply, just a thoughtful expression still directed towards the exit. Slowly, he walked to the sofa and sat on it too. He glared at Atsushi with a frown.
-Listen Jinko, don’t get any idea from this. I’m doing it only for Dazai. He knows what he is talking about, if he thinks that we should work together and this is necessary for that, I’m willing to do it. I’m not going to let him down. –
He gulped and lowered his eyes, gazing in front of himself. The thought of having to kiss that were-tiger felt gut-wrenching.
After a few seconds of silence, thoughts, and embarrassment on both parts, Akutagawa looked up at Atsushi again. This time, his look was softer, awkwardness surpassing animosity.
-Jinko… Have you ever done this before? -
So, it was his first kiss. Or better, it was for both of them, and neither of them had imagined that they would “waste” it this way.
-No…-
-I had always imagined that my first kiss would be with Dazai, not with you. – the last word charged with disgust, as he clenched his fists.
-We don’t have to do it. I don’t want it either. - Atsushi opted for the most diplomatic response, thinking it was not the case to point out how absurd Akutagawa’s dream was. However, he couldn’t but feel a little offended at the repugnance towards him he had felt in his voice.
-No, we have to. Dazai said that we have to. –
Thus, trying to reason with him would be useless, wouldn’t it? Atsushi sighed. -Okay, okay, let’s get this done quickly then and then forget about it. – Little he knew that forgetting about it was the last thing they would do.
After a decisive nod of his head, Akutagawa partially turned towards Atsushi. His gaze was burning and resolute, but otherwise impenetrable, the frown still on his face. He leaned in, close.
Too close, according to Atsushi, who couldn’t prevent himself from unconsciously backing away. Akutagawa’s frown deepened. He placed a hand on Atsushi’s arm. Not a caress, but a firm grip, as to prevent him from fleeing. He leaned in closer. This time, Atsushi stood still, his eyes widening as those of an animal cornered by a hunter.
Ryuunosuke closed his eyes at the last second, as his lips pressed Atsushi’s. A chaste, clumsy, closed-mouth kiss, which however was enough to send shiver down their spines.
They both retreated immediately, as if they had gotten shocked by electricity, and they both brought a hand to their own mouth, mirroring each other’s action.
Electricity, that was exactly how it had felt, for the both of them. They found themselves staring at each other, their eyes wide open and incredulous.
Akutagawa was the first to make the next move.
He could feel his own heart pounding as he leaned in again, and again joined their lips. This time, they indulged into a longer kiss, their lips taking the time to feel and savor the other’s, with slow and hesitant movements. Ryuunosuke’s hand, which had left Atsushi’s arm when they had backed from each other and was now resting on the soft surface of the sofa, twitched, getting closer to Atsushi’s. He almost touched it, almost took it, but ended up just brushing against it.
Once again, they both retracted. Akutagawa’s hand was back at covering his mouth and, as it could, his lightly reddened cheeks. -Are we done for today? –
-I think so…- a flabbergasted Atsushi replied, still widely incredulous about what had just happened.
Behind a small gap in the door, Dazai was grinning.