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In all Aki Hayakawa's years of working in the police force, repeated offenders of a misdemeanour have never stopped being his least favourite cases to deal with. There's nothing much to investigate and the paperwork takes a lot of time still, and worst of all, he has to go get the old case file from the archive, where he's yet to find anyone who wouldn't annoy him.
For some stupid reason (Aki has asked and never got a full answer), the way to archive is designed in a most unnecessarily complicated manner, including two elevators, steps, many corners, and using his passage card total times of five.
"I'm here for the file from last week," he says before he can even make it to the officer's desk.
"Show your identification and give me the case number."
Aki pauses, looking up from his phone.
The unfamiliar voice he has just heard is matched with the sight of a new officer, who is sporting an unfazed and mildly annoyed look.
"Excuse me?"
"Identification and case number?" the young man in dark pink hair sighs. It gets in his eyes a little bit. "I don't know everyone here yet, but honestly, did no one ever check the information before giving away files? Everyone I met so far has been surprised."
"We don't have time for this," Aki says, but he does show his badge ID to the new guy and even adds, "I'm Aki. Case number M-87/1009. You're new here?"
"Angel. Not really new in archives, but I got transferred here from the Kyushu department."
Aki only nods in acknowledgement and waits until Angel goes to pick up the case files.
"Misdemeanour," he says, handing the documents to Aki, "must be so much fun ."
Aki snorts and grabs the binder.
"Welcome to hell, kid."
-
Himeno takes a long drag of the cigarette and lets the smoke escape through her nose.
"I don't know," she says, "I never had to show my ID or anything. It's kinda funny."
"It's not," Aki sighs, and closes his eyes, letting the back of his head bump the wall he's leaning against, "you're sergeant, so maybe that's why, but honestly, he doesn't give me any documents until I show him my badge that he already knows the number of. It's–"
"Oh sweet Aki, maybe he's just interested in you."
Aki opens his eyes for the sole purpose of rolling them at Himeno.
"Sure."
"No, listen," she inhales smoke a few times before continuing, "you're so stoic and cool, and weirdly the easiest way to get on your mind is to give you annoying tasks. Attention is attention."
"That's your idea of flirting? Annoy someone to death?"
"Hey, I did get some from you, didn't I?"
Aki finishes his cigarette and angrily presses its butt against the side of a trash can.
"Maybe I should report you to HR."
There's a little smile dancing on his face though, and Himeno laughs.
"I'll give you a better case next time," she says. "No old files, no archives, no IDs. Deal? For old times' sake. "
Aki snorts.
"Come on, we have a briefing in five minutes."
-
True to her word, Himeno does assign a brand new case with a clean plate to Aki. It's simply Aki's own issue that he digs deep enough to find a link to the past crime which he needs to go to the archives for.
"Honestly, you could get used to it and simply show your badge without me asking you for it," Angel says as if he couldn't tell who's coming from the walk alone.
"Or you could just give me stuff."
Angel snorts.
"Not how it works. What do you need this time?"
"Can you run someone called 'Power' through the archives system? There seems to be a connection to my case but only basic info is disclosed in our online database."
Angel sighs as if the task isn't his literal job. He types the name in and looks at his computer screen for a while before bringing his eyes back to Aki.
"You do realise there are loads of files with mention of 'power' in it?"
Aki smiles.
"I've got the whole day."
Angel sighs again and wordlessly starts filtering things out. Aki knows it won't actually take the whole day, so he just hangs around, taking notice of everything on Angel's desk as well as Angel himself.
There's a wings-shaped hairclip lying around which Aki'd guess was a fun gift from someone. For a moment he thinks Angel would look cute wearing it, but when he looks up at Angel, the other seems not bothered by his hair getting into his eyes.
"You'll need glasses if you keep this up," Aki says and Angel doesn't even spare him a look.
"Who said I'm not wearing contacts already?"
"Are you?"
Angel glances at him.
"Are you my mom?"
Aki raises his eyebrows.
"A bit of an asshole, aren't we?"
This makes Angel smile, even let out a little amused puff, his eyes jumping to Aki for a second. Then, he stands up and turns around.
"Seems like I found your files, give me a moment," he says and disappears behind shelves.
-
"How's that Power thing going?" Angel asks, sitting down at the lunch table Aki's occupying. "Mind if I join you?"
"You're sitting already," Aki notes, but he doesn't really mind the company. Surely, it's nice to enjoy one day per week without Himeno joining him - which turns into loud lunch - but Angel doesn't seem like a chatty type, so Aki guesses it should be fine. "The usual stuff with lots of documentation but no clear leads," he goes on. "Have to keep an eye on my guy, but other than that? No charges yet."
"Cool," Angel says, even if there's absolutely nothing cool about it. Aki looks up at him nibbling on his food as if it tastes like garbage. He looks more tired with dark circles under his eyes and far less shiny hair than usual. Aki scowls.
"What's stressing you out so much?"
Angel pushes away his plate and takes a deep breath as if that magically includes all the nutrition he needs.
"Makima - new head of our department since last week. She's making everyone-"
" Makima ?" Aki blinks at Angel. "Long red hair-"
"You know her?"
Aki sighs. He does know her; she's occupied way more time of his thoughts than he'd like to admit.
"Yeah, well," he clears his throat and takes a moment to eat some broccoli from his plate, "Know her back from the academy, though she's from a different year, obviously. Was brutal."
Aki gives him an unamused look.
"Still is. Any tips on how to deal with her?"
Aki thinks for a moment, but nothing comes to mind, except the silly words of Himeno.
"Never had much luck myself, but if you listened to sergeant Himeno - please just don't report her, or me as well, actually - sleeping together might help."
"Not a chance," Angel retorts immediately, and, feeling his pride slightly hurt, Aki pursues the topic.
"Hypothetically," he says, "what's there not to like?"
Angel looks at him as if Aki has asked the dumbest question. He sighs, then takes the pudding from his tray and opens it.
"The fact that she's not a he," he says, making Aki want to choke on his food for the sole purpose of taking attention away from how embarrassingly long it takes him to realise what Angel is saying.
"Oh," he lets out belatedly, missing his chance to give Angel assurance as the other finishes his pudding in three spoons and stands up.
"It was nice to chat with you," Angel says with a blank face.
Aki watches him walk away. He's not sure why he doesn't stop him, he's not sure why he has offered such an offhanded reaction that he himself has always hated receiving from people every time he'd mention being attracted to men as well. He's not even sure how in the hell he didn't pick it up from Angel's initial reaction. He blames it on his old crush, and he blames it on himself, yet he doesn't do anything about it. Himeno would call him a wuss and she'd be right.
-
"You absolute dumbass," Himeno says over a glass of beer, "you didn't care to bring it up later and mention that oh by the way we're in the same boat of rainbows or something?"
"It felt awkward and I didn't even have a reason to visit him." Aki lowkey regrets telling Himeno about Angel, but the thought was strangely eating him from the inside and after a few beers with Himeno their tongues always get loose. Maybe she'll forget until morning. "Want to stay at the hotel tonight?" he asks to change the subject and to stop his own train of thoughts.
Himeno laughs and then she leans forward to press a wet, drunk kiss to Aki's mouth.
"You know I'll always say yes to you," she tells him and tonight, that's enough.
-
"I didn't know you were with Himeno."
Aki turns around to see Angel in the parking lot where Himeno has left him a moment ago, sticking her half-finished cigarette into his mouth once they got out of the car. Aki finishes it in a few drags.
"We're not," he says, getting raised eyebrows from Angel. For some reason it makes him want to explain himself. "It's just casual sometimes, but we're not dating."
"Why not?" Angel asks when they start walking to their buildings. "She seems nice."
"She's tiring," Aki says. "It just wouldn't work out and neither of us wants it."
Angel hums like he's not fully believing it.
Aki clears his throat.
"Listen," he says. "Sorry about the other day, I didn't mean-"
"It's fine," Angel interrupts him. "It's not like you said something bad."
"No, but," Aki frowns. "I just wanted to tell you that I, well- I understand you."
Angel lifts his gaze up from the pavement and looks straight into Aki's eyes.
Aki looks away.
Angel lets out the slightest puff and all he says is only: "I see."
It bothers Aki, but he doesn’t say anything back.
-
Aki doesn't meet Angel for a while and he starts to wonder how he is doing. Is he still overworked and stressed? Is he eating well? The pudding lunch is stuck in Aki's memory and he doesn't like it. He hasn't seen Angel in the cafeteria at all, and as much as everyone thinks of Aki as cold and not-caring, he's actually soft and can get attached easily. Maybe too easily sometimes.
He finds an excuse to visit Angel a couple of weeks later when he has some free time before the commemorative event to attend.
"Returning some old files from our department," he says, dropping the binder he snatched from Hirokazu's desk onto Angel's. He's glad to see the familiar dark pink shine of his hair. "How have you been?"
Angel blindly takes the files folder and checks it in the system before putting it into a pile on a desk next to his. Only then does he look up, but instead of an unfazed expression, Aki is met with wide eyes.
"Is anything wrong?" he asks.
Angel blinks and his neutral face is back on.
"No," he says. "You look hot in official uniform, that's all."
Aki looks down at himself. He's not sure if Angel means he must feel hot in a fully buttoned high collar suit with padded shoulders and an accompanying hat or that- He clears his throat.
"It's for today's commemorative ceremony," he says. "We don't get to choose what to wear."
"I know," Angel gives him a tiny smile. "It's a compliment. You look good."
Aki returns the smile. Angel looks better than before, still tired, but better. It eases something within Aki.
"Your dark circles went away," he notes, not wanting to leave yet.
"Got used to the workload and Makima herself, so it's more or less fine now, I guess. She's attending the ceremony as well, by the way," he tells Aki, a weird look in his eyes.
"Let's go for lunch tomorrow," Aki suddenly changes the subject, the memory of red hair overwritten with a warmer shade of dark pink.
"I use lunch for naps," Angel draws his eyebrows together at the thought of skipping one. Surprisingly though, he goes on, "Dinner? If you're free."
Aki nods.
"Alright," he says. "See you then."
"Don't get a heatstroke," Angel warns him as Aki is walking away. When he turns to look past his shoulder, Angel is tying his hair into a ponytail. His neck is pale and slender, and Aki finds himself wondering how soft it should be to touch it.
He shakes his head and hurries outside.
In the air-conditioned hall, it feels hot.
-
"Why did you become a detective?" Angel asks, slurping soba noodles, one actual meal Aki sees him eat.
"I lost my family in my teenage years and the case was never solved." Aki is good at answering this question, there has never been any hesitation in his choice. The answer might not be pretty, but it's a reason nonetheless.
"That's tough," says Angel and Aki is glad about a reaction that doesn't include a sorry. "So, revenge? Trying to solve the case yourself?"
Aki shrugs.
"At that moment, yes. Later it turned more into making a difference for other people as well, I guess. Makes me feel less shitty."
Angel nods understandably but when Aki asks him the same question about his choice, he lets out a snort.
"That's not my dream job," he admits. "But nothing would be, I suppose. I had no motivation, no desire and simply chose whatever I could get into and leave home. Still the same now as you can see, but I get paid and that's enough."
Aki wants to give him a talk about motivation, about still having a chance to change things, to find something more rewarding if his current life doesn't bring joy, but looking at Angel's blank face he has a feeling it's not what Angel wants or needs. So he simply accepts the reason, unvoiced pains and struggles from the past which got dragged into the present and future.
"Well, you're better than the previous guy, so that's a win for us," Aki tries the good-guy act. "Even if you ask for my badge every single goddamned time."
It brings a smile to Angel's face.
"I have to say I get some satisfaction from your scowls," he says and despite himself, Aki laughs.
He tells himself it's alcohol, sips upon sips of sake that the two of them share during dinner, and not some warm feeling that Angel's smile evokes. He's cute, Aki finally does admit to himself, and for a moment he lets himself imagine what Angel would feel like under his fingers.
"Himeno said maybe that's your way of flirting," he blurts out, dipping his toes into unknown waters. Angel doesn't let him go further. Not yet.
"You two are close, aren't you?" he asks.
That's not where Aki has hoped the conversation would go, but he plays along.
"We've been working together all this time. She's one of the very few friends I have."
"That's nice," Angel says.
"And your friends..? All in Kyushu?"
Angel shrugs, "Kind of. I'm not much of a people person, I suppose you've noticed."
"Takes one to know one," Aki says and some brightness comes back to Angel's eyes.
The conversation comes and goes, but even with silences the evening easily drags on into the night, dinner moving to late snacks and more drinks. Angel's cheeks are slightly pink with tipsiness and he shows more emotion than usual; Aki feeds on every laugh or chuckle he gets out of him.
When they finally do step out into the night the last trains are still running, but the thought of completely packed cars with drunk salary-men makes Aki scrunch his nose. So he asks, out of habit:
"Want to stay at the hotel?"
Angel watches him, his gaze moving from Aki's eyes to his lips and back to his eyes.
"To be another casual for you?" he asks, but before Aki can say anything, he goes on, "What the hell, yes."
Angel grabs his hand and he's the one who drags Aki away from the street leading to the station and into an alley with neon lights of a love hotel. His hand is slightly clammy, but Aki doesn't let go.
That's not what Aki was expecting, not what his original motive was, but as he looks at Angel's face, the pinks and blues of a shitty hotel sign shining on it, he wants to kiss him, to touch him more, to pull him close.
-
The love hotel bed is strangely soft, but Angel's skin under Aki's hands is softer. He closes his eyes and he finds himself calling Angel’s name. It feels good.
-
"Was it out of pity?" Angel asks in the morning, putting on his socks while Aki is trying to make his grumbled tie work out.
"What?" he looks away from the mirror and directly at Angel. Angel shrugs.
"The sex."
"No? Why would- no," Aki says, confused with the question, with the thought Angel must have slept with.
"Alright," Angel says. The laughter of yesterday has been forgotten during the night and it makes Aki sad. He watches Angel for a few moments.
"Do you regret it?" he asks, albeit hesitantly. Angel lifts up his eyes and gives Aki a look.
"No," he says like it's the most stupid thing to be asked. "I just thought you might."
"Why would I?"
Angel shrugs again, but he doesn't reply, and Aki's not sure if he'd want the answer.
-
Everything goes back to usual in the following days, and even if behind closed eyelids Aki gets a few images of Angel with his hair spread out on the pillow, he doesn't do anything about it, doesn't go see him.
"Could you take this as well?" he holds up an old file when Himeno announces she's going to the archives and can bring what should already be there.
She raises an eyebrow at him.
"Did not expect this from you," she comments and Aki furrows his eyebrows. "You always eagerly go to Angel yourself."
"I never eagerly go anywhere," he corrects her and Himeno laughs.
"What happened?" she asks, sitting on his desk.
"Nothing? You asked if we have something lying around and I do. Take it." He pushes the papers into Himeno's hands. She laughs again.
"God you're adorable," she says. "So that's what Aki having a crush looks like, huh? Gotta admit I'm lowkey envious."
"Himeno…"
"Alright, alright. I'll miss you but you should go for it." She hops off the desk and gives him a wink, "He's cute."
-
"Please don't let sergeant Himeno bring your files for you," Angel says with a sigh as he sits down next to Aki for lunch. Aki looks around. "She's not coming. She has some meetings, but she has stayed chatting all the time until now," Angel explains and Aki beams at him apologetically.
"So sorry," he says. "And hello."
"Hello," Angel replies and Aki thinks there's a bit of rosiness in his cheeks.
"Did she say anything bad?" Aki asks. Knowing Himeno she probably tried to get personal with Angel as well or get blackmail material to use against Aki. He’s not sure which is worse.
"Only asked if you were decent. She was really amused."
"Decent," Aki repeats, wishing his soda was beer. "Sorry about her. I didn't tell per se, but she's good at picking on such things."
"So you're out at work?"
Aki shrugs.
"I don't go announcing I like men too, but I'm not hiding it either."
Angel smiles at him.
"I sometimes wear a pin," he says.
"That's cute."
"Yeah, well…"
"It wasn't pity," Aki suddenly says, an urge that rises up his throat, accompanied by an odd feeling in his chest. "Just wanted to make sure. Back then," he adds when Angel looks at him with a blank expression.
"I'm good at making things awkward," Angel admits.
"It's fine."
"I like you," he tells Aki, as if that's the most natural next thing to say. Aki's not even sure that's an actual confession, but he takes it, and together with nervousness it brings some content as well. Aki enjoys it.
-
"Could you please stop distracting Angel?"
Aki turns around to see Makima closing the door behind her. He salutes and behind him, Angel lets out a silent sigh.
"Good afternoon."
"Hayakawa Aki, right? It's been a while." Smiling, she offers her hand. Aki shakes it.
"Indeed so. Is there a problem?"
"You tell me." She smiles again and, innocently, hands over a pile of documents to Angel. "I need this done by tomorrow noon at the latest. I hope this won't be an inconvenience for you."
Angel puts the pile right in front of himself and Aki can see his shoulders drop.
"I will inform you once I'm done," he says, flatly. "Sorry," he tells Aki in a lowered voice, "I don't think I can do dinner after work today."
Aki gives Makima a look which she deliberately ignores.
"I have some notes to share with Angel," she says, "so if your chat wasn't urgent, mind if I occupy him?"
Aki minds, he minds a lot, but he doesn't have any serious matters to inquire about and there's no way he could simply disobey a high officer, so he gives Angel an apologetic look and takes his leave.
-
The rain is heavy and Aki doesn't hear Angel's footsteps until he appears right in front of him in the smoking corner. His hair is wet, clinging to his forehead, and he looks like he hasn't slept.
"Are you alright?" Aki asks, already knowing the answer. "You're drenched, take my jacket," he says, putting the cigarette back between his lips to unbutton his jacket. Angel puts his hands over Aki's to stop him.
"Hope you won't mind," he says and then his hands immediately move up. He takes away Aki's cigarette and leans forward, the other hand behind Aki's head, pulling him down, pulling him closer until their lips meet. Aki doesn't mind.
He returns the kiss, tasting of desperation and rain. He touches Angel's waist and he wraps his arms around him. Angel sinks into him.
Half-finished cigarette drops to the ground, Angel's fingers splatter on Aki's cheek and the time stops.
-
"Sorry," Angel says when they're sitting on the bench, still in the smoking corner, and Aki is taking out a new cigarette.
"Sorry for the tobacco taste," he replies. Angel lifts his eyes to him and he even chuckles a little bit. There's some liveliness to his face.
"I could get used to it," he admits. He looks down again, but Aki doesn't look away. He watches Angel with his shoulders squared in Aki's size-too-big jacket, his fingers fidgeting on his thighs. Angel who hates stress, hates working, hates people.
"I'm here for you," Aki says and it's not pity. It's a promise and it's a confession.
Angel looks at him again, and he smiles.
"I might take you up on this."
"Please do."
-
Himeno laughs when Aki offers to bring the pile of files to the archives.
"Shut up," he says and she hums, pleased.
"You're adorable."
He doesn't indulge; he takes the papers from her and mindlessly walks all the way there, not even bothered by having to use two elevators and touching his passage card to the closed doors five times.
"Hi," Angel greets him the moment Aki steps in from the hall.
"Hi."
He holds up the pile of papers, "Business this time. Just returning the files."
"Sure," Angel snorts. "If you wait for four minutes, I can take a lunch break."
"I'll go get coffee?"
Angel nods, already typing things in on his computer.
Aki smiles to himself and he walks back to the hall and straight to the vending machine in the corner. After he gets the drinks, he doesn't even make it all the way outside when Angel joins him.
"Fast," Aki comments and Angel shrugs.
"I found out that sometimes you're a pretty good motivation."
Aki's expression is doubtful and Angel bumps their shoulders together.
"Really," he says.
"I'll take it."
They walk all the way to the river, grabbing onigiri from the convenience store on the corner and settling in at the bank, right on Aki's laid-down jacket. The wind is playful and even if Angel's hair wants to join in the fun, he isn't so eager about the idea. He looks for a hairband in his pocket and gathers all the strands into a ponytail. It's hot outside, but the summer heat has nothing to do with the warmth spreading in Aki's chest and going down his stomach. He lets out a heavy sigh.
"What's up?" Angel asks, tilting his head to look at Aki.
"I just realised it's been a while since I wanted to do this."
Angel draws his eyebrows together in question.
"Do what?"
Aki places his finger on Angel's chin and pushes it lightly so that Angel would face forward again. Then, he leans forward and presses a kiss to his neck and another, just behind the collar, on his nape.
"Really, this?" Angel asks with a little puff through his nose.
Aki hums.
"Really."
Angel shakes his head. He then unpacks Aki's onigiri and touches it to his mouth.
"Stop staring and eat."
"I don't think I ever will," Aki says even if he does take a bite of onigiri.
"Why so?" Angel asks. He's watching the river now, slow and peaceful. He belongs in the sunlight, Aki thinks, basking in its' ethereality.
"Who gave you the wings-shaped hairclip you always have on your desk?" Aki suddenly asks. A tiny smile appears on Angel's face.
"My mother," he says. "So I could fly away. From the hell there was."
"Did it work?"
Angel glances at him.
"I'm here with you," he says. "You tell me."
"Doesn't feel like hell to me," Aki replies and Angel smiles.
"Doesn't feel like hell to me either."
His cheeks are dusted with pink, and Aki can't stop looking at him again.
"Because I adore you," he says and Angel raises his eyebrows. "I won't stop staring. Because I adore you, Angel."
Angel's smile grows bigger and then, he starts laughing, his eyes narrowed in joy, his cheeks as pink as his hair. He lies down then, covering his face with his arm, but he still peeks through to catch Aki's eyes.
"You're a silly man, Aki," he says. "And I happen to love a silly man."
Aki snorts and he lies down next to Angel.
"I might stop asking for your ID when you need some files," Angel says after a moment.
"Really?"
Angel shakes his head.
"Not a chance," he says. "You look too good in that photo."
"Eat your food before you fall asleep in the sun," Aki says after a deep sigh.
"I'm already napping," Angel replies as he's taking out his onigiri with his eyes closed. He takes a bite and then another.
Aki closes his eyes as well.
It's his favourite kind of lunch break.