Chapter Text
Having a partner is getting annoying.
“Pass me another rice cracker,” an overly-chipper voice demands.
Very annoying.
“Just take the damn box, Jinko. You’re probably going to eat the rest of them, anyways.”
The were-tiger pouts, but snatches the box out of Ryuunosuke’s hand. “It’s not my fault there’s nothing else to eat. Besides, if you want more, just eat some.”
Ryuunosuke rolls his eyes. “You’ve barely given me a chance to have even a handful. I’ve just given up at this point.”
The mafioso turns back towards the warehouse they’re supposed to be watching, peering through his binoculars. He hears an exasperated huff from beside him and elects to ignore it.
“ Here , dumbass.”
Something prods Ryuunosuke’s shoulder. He turns to look at it, and Atsushi takes the opportunity to dump a handful of crackers into Ryuunosuke’s hand resting on his thigh.
He finds himself frowning. “We need better stakeout food.”
“Well, if you had just let me go out hours ago, we could’ve had a proper dinner,” Atsushi nearly whines.
“And risk compromising our position? Honestly, Jinko, your ignorance is astounding. Have you never done a stakeout before?”
“As a matter of fact, I haven’t!”
“Mm. Shocking.”
Atsushi bats lightly at him. “Whatever. There’s no need to be so rude about it.”
Ryuunosuke flicks Atsushi’s bangs to the side as an act of revenge. The were-tiger grins back at him, but says nothing as he returns his attention back to the warehouse. They go quiet, taking turns with the binoculars. The warehouse appears to be empty. Still, they watch, searching for any signs of life.
Movement to his right pulls Ryuunosuke’s attention away from their target yet again. Atsushi is yawning widely, stretching his arms forward like a stupid, oversized cat.
The mafioso feels an involuntary smirk tug at his lips. “Not used to staying up so late?”
“Oh, shut it. I’m fine,” Atsushi snaps lazily, another yawn following.
Ryuunosuke bites his lip to keep from laughing. “If you need to rest, we can take turns keeping watch.”
The were-tiger waves him off. “It’s fine. Stop hovering.”
“I’m not hovering— ”
But Atsushi obviously isn’t listening. His eyes are fluttering closed, despite his apparent efforts to fight sleep. He sways a bit as his eyelids slide closed.
“Jinko—”
Atsushi slumps to the side, landing against Ryuunosuke’s shoulder. Ryuunosuke freezes, but the were-tiger appears to already be asleep and, therefore, blissfully unaware of where he’d chosen to fall unconscious.
“Idiot,” Ryuunosuke says.
Yet, for some reason, he doesn’t move him. He simply watches the younger boy for a moment, taking in the softness of his expression. It’s warm, Ryuunosuke realizes. Of course, he’s always known that Atsushi is a warm, gentle soul. And yet, something about this moment feels different. Perhaps it is the physical warmth the were-tiger is giving off as well. Ryuunosuke himself feels warm now, almost unnaturally so.
He feels the warmth growing in his cheeks, discomfort abruptly gnawing at his chest. The mafioso decidedly pulls Atsushi off him, lowering him gently to the ground so as not to wake him. The were-tiger stirs, muttering something before going still again.
Ryuunosuke wills himself to focus on their mission again, peering back through the binoculars. After all, he’s a member of the Port Mafia. He came here to work. And he certainly cannot tolerate someone falling asleep on his shoulder, let alone someone from the ADA. Akutagawa Ryuunosuke doesn’t get distracted, and definitely not by his archnemesis (and partner?).
Besides, he has his coat to keep himself warm.