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Another mission. Atsushi's eyes scan the area as he and Akutagawa walk slowly forward, the sound of machinery filling the silence. Dust flutters up from the stone floor from fans that whirl softly. Akutagawa coughs. But suddenly, small footsteps caught Atsushi's attention. Their target, Q.
"Follow me," he whispers. Akutgawa nods.
The footsteps get louder, but still masked by the loud factory noises. Q knew that they were coming. Atsushi then spots him on the platform above.
"Go."
Akutagawa runs and wraps their target up with tendrils made of cloth. Q yelps in surprise. The troublesome kid had taken an opportunity on a mission to run off. Mori and Dazai had sent the duo to bring Q back.
Akutagawa mumbles beside him. "Don't tell me what to do." Atsushi gives them a little cheeky smile.
Akutagawa must have lost their grip on Q, because the boy slips out and stabs a pocket knife into Akutagawa's flesh with skilled hands.
Akutagawa lets out a gasp, biting their lip hard. Q runs quickly away from them.
"Akutagawa?!" Atsushi starts to panic and rushes to their side. "Can you hear me?"
Akutagawa stays silent. Atsushi's stomach twists. If only he wasn't so careless. The sounds around him now were so loud, so loud and uncomfortable. He feels trapped, with his only company being the repetitive groans of machines that worked hard to produce the same result over and over again.
He's stuck there in the moment. Akutagawa wasn't moving, wasn't saying anything. It didn't look like they were breathing either. It was like time had paused so Atsushi could drink up this sight. So that this sight could replay over and over in his nightmares, waking up with sweat rolling down his back.
So when Akutagawa finally opens their eyes, Atsushi feels tears in his own.
He cups Akutagawa's face with as much care as he could, so relieved that he doesn't hold anything back, his emotions bubbling up.
They stare at each other a bit, like they were getting sucked into a different world through the other's eyes.
"Your face is really soft," Atsushi keeps his gaze on Akutagawa. Heat went to his cheeks when he realized what he had said.
Akutagawa is taken aback as well, their eyes widening. “Oh.”
“No- I mean- I-” Atsushi flares up immediately. “I'm sorry I ever said that! It just slipped out!"
Now Akutagawa is confused. They grab Atsushi's hand and place it back on their cheek, and Atsushi froze.
"I do not mind…" is what Akutagawa gives him, puzzling Atsushi a bit. They don't seem one for random touches, or any touching at all.
But Atsushi takes them for their word and gently starts to pet their cheek. They seem pleased by this, leaning in a bit into his hand.
They look a little stressed out, Atsushi finally realizes. Probably from the failed mission. So with this information, he boldly puts his other hand on Akutagawa's right cheek. Shock went past their face, before it melts back to the expression from before.
"Are you okay?" Atsushi whispers, schooling his face to not look too worried.
"Mostly, I have been putting pressure on the wound with Rashomon, I perhaps should go get this stitched up," Akutagawa says. "I have a needle and thread at my apartment."
"You should see Yosano, just for her to look at it." Atsushi takes his hands off Akutagawa's face and places them carefully onto their waist.
“Alright,” Akutagawa lets out a pleased noise, so Atsushi gives them a gentle hug, leaving space for them to break out of it. They hugged in silence, not wanting to let the other go yet.
“We better go,” Atsushi looks over at Akutagawa, as they give him a small smile and a nod. Atsushi extends his hand out, and Akutagawa grabs it. They hold on tightly, bringing themself up from the ground.
“You’re right,” they scoff lightly, playfully. “Let’s not worry your organization.”
Atsushi is left shocked by the almost adorable chuckle. Flushed, he looks away, unaware that he’s still holding Akutagawa’s hand. They walk to Akutagawa’s apartment with the light atmosphere following them.