Work Text:
“Well, I’m off. See you both tomorrow.” Ginoza smiled at his coworkers and unobtrusively rose from his workstation, waving goodbye for the day.
Kougami stared at Ginoza’s retreating form and turned to Sugo, “That’s weird, Gino used to be the workaholic who would stay until late. Now it’s 6pm and he’s off. Like a normal person.”
Sugo laughed at the comment, “Good for him. He should be like a normal person. At least one of the three of us should have some semblance of a work-life balance.”
Kougami could only laugh at the self deprecating comment. It’s true, all three of them were recruited to SAD because of their skillset, and probably because Hanashiro saw how ‘dedicated to their work’ they were.
***
Kougami soon realized there was a pattern at work. It didn’t take much skill to figure out that Gino was still his workaholic self with the exception of Thursdays. Every Thursday, Gino promptly left the office at 6pm.
“Hey Sugo.” Kougami motioned towards Ginoza’s empty workstation. “Notice Gino only leaves early on Thursdays? He stays here like the rest of us every other day.”
“Oh. Hmm. Probably because he has dinner plans?” Sugo replied, still typing away at his computer.
That caught Kougami’s attention. “Dinner plans?”
“Oh, yeah. I overheard him making reservations to some restaurant earlier, asking for a table for two.” Sugo continued working, not paying attention to Kougami.
For his part, Kougami was having a minor meltdown across the way at his desk. Ginoza has dinner plans? For two? Did that mean that every Thursday that Gino left work on time….that it was because he was having dinner with someone? Was Gino dating someone and HE didn’t know about it?!?
“Wait. Sugo…. Is Gino dating someone?!?” Kougami couldn’t stand it any longer, he had to say something or he’d go crazy. Maybe he just needed some reassurance that probably Gino wasn’t dating someone without telling him.
“Huh? Oh, I don’t know.” Sugo stopped typing and turned to face Kougami, shrugging his shoulders. “I never gave it much thought, I mean, I don’t mean to pry into anyone’s personal life after all, but I guess it makes sense since this seems like a regular thing on Thursdays.”
“Gino’s dating someone…..”
***
At home that evening, Kougami finally allowed himself the meltdown he avoided having at work.
Gino! His (former) best friend Gino was dating and he didn’t know about it! His (former) best friend who he’s just had a crush on since forever is dating someone! He decided that slowly hitting his head on the door just inside his apartment was soothing at the moment.
After a few moments, Kougami went to pour himself a drink. He knew it was likely not a good thing to obsess like this, but he hated it. He hated the idea that Gino was seeing someone. He hated himself for never saying anything. He never even got to tell Gino how he felt. He tried, but in school all Gino was concerned about was his studies. Then they got too busy when they started working at the MWPSB. Then he became an enforcer, and Gino wouldn’t even look at him… and then well.
Now they were working together again, and he was just getting up the courage to tell Gino. However, clearly, he was too late.
***
“So, Kougami, you and Ginoza will go undercover at this housing complex suspected of trafficking people into the country. This is located within a few blocks of the abandoned zone where we suspect illegal immigrants are shuffled into. Try to talk to the neighbours, ask what they’ve seen. Lay recording bugs at your discretion”
Kougami and Ginoza nodded in understanding at the summary their boss gave.
“Sugo, you will infiltrate the organization, try to discern their reach in the country.”
Sugo nodded. “Will do boss. I’ll report in whenever possible.”
“Oh. Kougami. Ginoza.” Hanashiro looked at the pair. “The housing complex is in a lower working class area. So you two will go as a newlywed couple just trying to establish themselves. Kougami will be a part time office worker, and Ginoza, you will be looking for employment. That should not rouse suspicion if you are seen scouting the area during the day.”
***
“So this is home for the next month or so.” Kougami commented as he turned the key to their new apartment, a 1DK. It was pretty cozy, definitely not luxurious, but it fit their undercover profile.
Ginoza strode in right behind Kougami, examining the apartment. There was a unit bath, a combined kitchen, dining and living space, as well as a small bedroom. There was suitable furniture already inside under the guise of their having arranged a moving company to set up the day prior.
“Uh Gino.” Kougami froze momentarily as he opened the bedroom door. “There’s only one bed.”
“Hmm?” Ginoza walked over and looked over Kougami’s shoulder. Indeed there was one bed. “It’s a double, we’ll fit.”
Kougami gaped at Ginoza who had moved on to check out the bathroom. How was he going to get any sleep in the same bed as the guy he’s just harboured a crush on for the last 20 or so years?
***
The days following the start of their undercover operation were amazing. Or sort of amazing. For Kougami. He was living with Gino and sharing the same small space. Ginoza let him do the cooking, and he was able to make meals for the both of them. It made Kougami happy to see Ginoza’s face light up eating his food, telling him that it tasted good.
It was a false domesticity, but it still brought joy to Kougami. He imagined that maybe this is what living with Gino would be like. At night, it even seemed like Gino didn’t mind if they got too close in bed, not saying anything if Kougami’s arm somehow found its way around the taller man during the night.
It was one evening when Kougami and Ginoza were scouting the apartment complex and laying out recording devices that the building manager’s voice suddenly startled them. They were on the first floor, near some mechanical rooms - somewhere they clearly had no place being. Thinking quickly, Kougami grabbed Ginoza’s arm, and pushed the taller man against the wall. He kissed Gino, wrapping a hand around the back of Ginoza’s neck. Ever the professional, it only took a short moment for Gino to catch on and play along, bringing his arms around Kougami’s back to embrace his new ‘husband’.
“Hey! You two lovebirds! You shouldn’t be here. Go back to your apartment!” The gruff voice of the building manager called out.
“Oh! Sorry!!” Ginoza laughed lightly, tugging Kougami’s arm.
“Yeah, sorry!” Kougami went along, allowing Ginoza to pull him playfully away.
***
“Well, at least he didn’t question what we were doing there.” Ginoza breathed as soon as they flopped down onto their couch.
“Yeah, hopefully he doesn’t get suspicious. Maybe we just got carried away and wandered there to make out, out of sight.”
Ginoza turned and looked at Kougami, mirth clear on his face. “Well, we’re supposed to be newlyweds after all, it’s plausible.”
“Oh, I’m sorry though, I didn’t mean to kiss you like that unexpectedly.” Kougami apologized.
“You’re saying that as if it was some great burden to share a kiss with you, Kougami. So I’ll ask, did you like it?” Ginoza replied, eyes twinkling with unspoken laughter.
That made Kougami stop for a moment. Should he lie and brush it off? But he couldn’t do that either, Ginoza knows him well enough to know when he’s not speaking the truth. Kougami looked at the floor, and in a quiet voice, he replied, “Well, yes…Sorry, I’ve kind of wanted to try to kiss you for a while now. But I didn’t think it would happen like that.”
Ginoza smiled then, “Then I confess, I also wondered what it would be like. Funny how it finally happened after knowing you for about 20 years.”
“Well, ah, still, I’m sorry. I know it’s probably fine, but you’re dating someone right? So it might have been awkward.” Kougami shifted his eyes towards Ginoza’s face. He was relieved that his friend didn’t mind, even seemed okay with the kiss.
“Dating someone? What do you mean, Kougami?”
“Aren’t you? You were always leaving early on Thursdays to go on dinner dates, weren’t you?” Kougami asked, somewhat confused. He continued, “Though I guess not currently since we’re on this assignment… sorry Gino, you must miss seeing them each week.”
Ginoza’s face went through several different expressions, from confusion to clarity, and finally amusement.
“Tsunemori. I was going out to dinner every week with Akane. As you’re aware, she’s an enforcer now, so she’s unable to leave the MWPSB building without escort…. Which is me.” Ginoza explained. The taller man looked forward, a fond look evident on his face. “When I was demoted, Akane always made time to make sure she could accompany me out, to give me some normality. Eventually we fell into a routine of going out for dinner every week, if work allowed that is.”
“So… you’re dating Tsunemori?!?”
“Well, I suppose in the definition of ‘a date’ it would qualify?” Ginoza placed a hand on his chin, thoughtful. He had never really put a label to his and Akane’s meetings before.
“Huh. I didn’t know you and her were like that.” Kougami blinked and leaned back into the couch, trying to process what his friend had just told him.
“Hmm. Well, when you left… she and I grew quite close.”
“Do you love her?”
“Very much so. I would do anything for her. I’m sure she would answer the same for me if asked.” Ginoza answered honestly.
Kougami took a few breaths, still processing what he just learned. He thought he knew Tsunemori and Ginoza, but he guesses there was much that happened in his absence that he wasn’t privy to. He rubbed his face with his hands.
“Oh. But you were asking if it was awkward.” Ginoza looked to Kougami who looked exactly like how it would be expected when dropping a bomb like that on him. “It’s not like that. Well, not really.”
“Eh, what do you mean, Gino?”
“It’s not romantic in that sense. I mean, it wasn’t for a lack of trying. It got to a point where we became so close that we did… become intimate…but in the end we mutually agreed that what we felt for each other wasn’t that. I love her dearly, but I wasn’t attracted to her, and she wasn’t attracted to me.”
“Oh.” Kougami’s mouth formed an “o” shape. He was still trying to figure it out. So, Ginoza and Tsunemori were dating, but without the physical part.
Looking at Kougami, Ginoza smiled, “She’s a very important person to me, just like you are.”
“Oh.” Kougami sat up, absorbing his friend’s statement. “But I’m an important person you didn’t mind kissing. So… can I be an important person in your life that maybe you’d kiss?”
At that, Ginoza laughed fully, covering his mouth with his gloved hand.
It was with surprise that Kougami found himself being manhandled. Ginoza had pulled him up off the couch by roughly grabbing his shirt.
“I’d gladly do more than kiss, Kou.” Gino smirked as he shoved Kougami to their bedroom and onto their bed.
***
So in the end, it turned out that it wasn’t just Kougami who had been pining away for his best friend for the last two decades.
***
End