Work Text:
Oof. Is it seriously only a little past noon? A low groan slips past Kotetsu’s lips as he lays his upper body on his desk. He really shouldn’t have stayed up so late last night, but he can’t help it with the anticipation of his first day off in a while only a day away now.
He had all these plans of things he wanted to do—go for a nature walk outside the city and identity as many birds as he could; hop on the train to visit Kaede and take her out for lunch at her favorite restaurant; and catch up binging the latest episodes of that mystery-drama he found himself addicted to.
That is, if he can actually make it through today first.
A chair next to him slides out and then in, awareness of where he still was appearing in his mind. That’s right, it’s Apollon Media offices. At his desk. Surrounded by a mountain of paperwork. Agh, paperwork.
“What’s up with you, old man? I thought you were looking forward to tomorrow.”
Kotetsu turns his head and instead stares at Barnaby, who’s started eating his lunch with a lifted eyebrow directed his partner’s way. Oh, hey. That smells pretty good.
“Whatcha got there, Bunny?”
“Something that’s not yours.”
“Hey! I’m gonna go get my own. I’m just curious.”
“Suuure you are.”
Kotetsu can feel his spirits lifting at the smell of food—was that Italian? Greek? Some other Mediterranean-based dish?—which makes him realize where the saying about the way to a man’s heart being food comes from. At least for him. He was so food and drink motivated it was easy enough to win him over.
The older man moves up from his desk finally, leaning over into Barnaby’s space and staring at the plate in his hands. Both of Barnaby’s brows come together and he moves the meal away, continuing to do so with each shift of Kotetsu’s body into his space. Eventually, Kotetsu gives up and sits back down.
“Oh, come on, you’re not still mad about the last time I ate your food, are you?”
“Hmm? No. But I’m trying to eat and you keep moving into my space.”
“What, are you worried about old man cooties getting in your lunch or something?”
In spite of himself, Barnaby laughs, nearly spitting out some of his food. He quickly places the paper plate down and grabs his water, coughing a little even as he drinks from the bottle.
“Your what now?” he finally asks once his voice has returned from the laughter and coughing fit.
“Cooties! Silly term for imaginary bad germs.” Kotetsu gestures with his hands to emphasize. “Didn’t you use that term as a kid? Man, I really am feeling my age.”
Green eyes stare blankly at him and Kotetsu sighs, ready to admit defeat. However, Barnaby is quick to smile and chuckle again. “I know what it is and I did use it. Just wanted to mess with you a little too.”
Kotetsu feigns offense, lightly punching the other man’s arm. “You punk,” he mumbles, folding his own arms after. “Are you gonna tell me what you’re eating now then? Or at least where it’s from?”
“It’s a chicken gyro plate from the new Greek place around the corner.”
“Ohhh! Next to the Vietnamese one?”
“Mmhmm.”
Now his brain can only think of one thing—food. Talk about a one-track mind, eh? Kotetsu rises from his chair and is about to run out quickly to retrieve his own plate or wrap when Barnaby snatches his wrist and nearly yanks him over from the abruptness of it all.
He leans down in Barnaby’s space, hands on his hips with a very annoyed, “What was that for?! I almost fell!”
“You’ve still got those papers to finish before 2.”
“Aww, but I’m hungry! Can’t it wait 10 minutes—?!”
Barnaby lifts a paper bag up in front of the older man’s face, the sulking expression shaping Kotetsu’s features shifting into something more confused. Barnaby keeps his own face turned away, chewing a bite as he just holds the bag there.
“What’s…?”
“For you.”
“Huh?!”
Amber eyes widen. If literal hearts could shoot out of him right now Kotetsu’s positive there’d be a million or more. He takes the bag enthusiastically and plops back into his seat, pulling out the meal and digging in with the childlike excitement of a young grade-schooler on Christmas morning.
“Thank you, Bunny! It’s so good!”
From his side, Barnaby just watches a moment, a small smile making an appearance. “You’re very welcome. Now make sure you finish those papers before 2,” he hums, turning back to his own food.
Agh, figures. This overgrown brat always had a catch, didn’t he? Still, Kotetsu is appreciative of the random acts of kindness his partner affords him during times like this. It genuinely does help uplift him when he needs it.
Speaking of uplifting spirits…
Florence clears her throat as she appears back in the space, having disappeared downstairs to get lunch herself. “Excuse me, Tiger, looks like you got a delivery.”
“What? Me?”
Kotetsu blinks a few times as his brain struggles to process the suddenness of it, but once it does, he turns in his seat in time to catch her placing said delivery in front of him. Kotetsu flicks his gaze to the… very large bouquet of flowers situated in a fancy vase. Wait. Flowers? Flowers?! Someone randomly got him flowers?!
“Oh, wow! These are beautiful! And they look expensive… Are they from a fan?”
“Who knows? It wasn’t with the regular fan deliveries and there was no name. I just happened to be downstairs when the delivery man came by.” The woman shrugs and returns to her own desk, sitting down to get back to work.
Kotetsu finds himself mezmorized, temporarily distracted from his only half-eaten meal. It truly was a very costly-looking bouquet. The main flowers are bright orange tiger lilies mixed with a dozen red roses, the two strong and vibrant colors standing out even more among the accenting flowers and leaves of white and green. The vase they sit in isn’t a typical clear glass one, instead green with cute detailing around the edges.
Who in the world would buy him something like this?
“Hey, Bunny, look! Isn’t it nice?”
“I can see it. Very nice.”
Barnaby finishes up his meal, tossing the empty paper plate in the barrel under his desk before turning back to the stack of photos he needs to sign for a charity event.
Kotetsu deflates a little at the non-reaction. Maybe Barnaby was used to getting extravagant gifts like this, but for Kotetsu it was a big deal. He did get things from fans too, but they were usually small letters and sweets. This? This was beyond any of that.
“What’s with that reaction?” Kotetsu sulks, shoulders slumped.
“What reaction?”
“That nonchalant one just now when I told you to look.”
The ever popular hero gets through about ten photos before he sets the marker down and flicks his gaze Kotetsu’s way. “Are you expecting more of a reaction?” he asks softly, even the slightest bit of annoyance completely absent from his expression.
Kotetsu purses his lips, leaning back in his chair. “Well, maybe. Like, ‘Wow, Kotetsu! Those are super pretty! Congrats!’”
“Huh, okay.” Barnaby turns in his seat and exaggerates a happy expression. “Wow, Kotetsu! Those are super pretty! Congrats!”
This guy… “Thanks, wiseass,” the older man grumbles, going back to prodding at his meal and stuffing more of it in his mouth.
As he does this, Barnaby keeps his attention on him, quietly observing the other man as he finishes his lunch too. It takes a while for him to notice, but as Kotetsu is enjoying the last bite and then throwing out the empty bowl too, his eyes happen to catch his partner’s gaze.
“Why are you looking at me like that?”
“Like what?”
His jaw finishes chewing and he swallows, darker eyebrows furrowing. “Like… with anticipation?”
Barnaby clears his throat and turns back to the pile of photos. “Finish those papers, Kotetsu,” the younger male says only, going through page after page.
From his side, he receives a groan as Kotetsu begrudgingly starts tackling the stacks piled high on his desk. Honestly, if Barnaby was going to be like this perhaps he shouldn’t have bothered hunting for a reaction. It’s just, Kotetsu liked sharing happy things with him. Didn’t most people like to do that with the ones they care for?
The minutes tick by quickly as the two of them work, only the sound of an alarm snapping him out of his daze finally. A cramp in his fingers makes the man groan as he stretches his neck and shakes them out.
“Is that your alarm, Bunny?”
“Yes.”
“What’s it for?”
“The reason I told you to finish before 2.”
Kotetsu blinks a few times fast, mouth dropping open. “Huh?”
Barnaby pushes himself to his feet, the neatly finished piles on his own desk being lifted into his hands shortly after. He nudges his chair in with a hip, wandering by his companion’s desk and intentionally bumping into him.
“Hey!”
“Let’s go, old man. Turn those papers in. Unless you didn’t finish?”
“No, I did! But… go?” In spite of himself, Kotetsu’s curiosity is getting the better of him. Well, it’s true he had finished his paperwork somehow, so it’s not like he couldn’t teeeechnically leave. “Go where?”
A smile perks up paler features as the slightly taller form belonging to them comes to a halt by one of their managers’ doors. Damn. It’s really no wonder so many people find Barnaby to be attractive. Not only is he physically, but it’s the way he carries himself. Especially now after learning what it’s like to live the way he chooses, free of the heavy burden of vengeance and survivor’s guilt.
“I’ve got one more thing for you.”
“One more… thing… for me?”
Realization dawns on Kotetsu as his eyes widen and he looks at the bouquet. After Barnaby is out of view momentarily, turning in the autographs and paperwork to Lloyds, Kotetsu reaches carefully inside the delicate flower stems. What he finds is a single little notecard, familiar handwriting across it. Even unsigned he can tell who it’s from.
These flowers remind me of you. Bright and fierce, with a gentle warmth. Did you know tiger lilies mean confidence and pride? You probably already know what red roses mean, so I’ll spare you the rest. Hint, hint. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Probably the cheesiest grin he’s had in a long while prods up his cheeks. Kotetsu jumps from his seat and carries over a combined stack of papers with a spring in his step. He practically runs into his partner as he exits the office, quickly rejoining him after a moment.
“Hey, Bunny. Are we off the hook early today or something?”
“I asked both Lloyds and Ben, and they each said it was fine, all things considered.”
Barnaby leads the two of them out of the building, ultimately stepping over to his car. Kotetsu eagerly follows, humming while he carries the large bouquet he’d received gleefully. It makes Barnaby chuckle when he sees how Kotetsu looks hidden behind the mass of petals and leaves.
They each hop inside and strap in, the large vase safely secured by Kotetsu’s thighs and arms. Hey, he hardly ever got flowers. These things were as precious as gold to him.
“Sooo, you still haven’t told me where we’re going. At least let me drop these off at my place, yeah?”
Barnaby starts the car, but doesn’t yet shift it from park to drive. Instead, he flicks his gaze from his partner’s lap companion to his face, a tinge of deviousness to his features.
“Your place anyway, naturally. The third thing is private.”
“Oho? Private, you say?”
“Yeah, I’ve got a mailing box in the back with your name on it.”
Kotetsu’s expression dips into a hybrid mix of nervous excitement and he turns his head to see the box in question. Not too big. Hooboy. What exactly did this damn rabbit have planned for today?
Needless to say, he’s about to find out soon enough.
“Bunny, you make me feel bad. I only got you some chocolate and a card.”
Barnaby shakes his head. “That’s alright. We both know you’re bad with gifts.”
“Hey! I tried! The chocolates are even rose-flavored.”
“I’m kidding!”
Laughter escapes the younger male as leans into his partner’s space, stealing a kiss and silencing any further attempts for complaints. Rather than pull away to continue what he was saying, Kotetsu melts into those lips, bringing a hand up to brush through blond locks lining the back of Barnaby’s neck. This invokes a purr that gets muffled against their joined mouths, the fingers of one of Barnaby’s hands digging into the shoulder of his seat.
Before things get a little too wild while they’re still technically at work and someone could see them if they happened by this dead little corner of the garage where only Barnaby’s car sits, Kotetsu pushes Barnaby back. Phew. The guy sure knew how to take his breath away. He used to blame it on his youth, but ultimately it was his technique. Mr. Perfect just had to be perfect even at this.
Teeth sink into his bottom lip before Kotetsu speaks up. “Aren’t I supposed to be the cat? That noise you made though… Are you a cabbit?”
Barnaby huffs out a laugh, slapping a hand gently against the other man’s cheek—“Funny.”—before returning to his seat and driving them out of the garage. Clearly, his patience has run out.
Kotetsu grins from ear to ear, knowing full well he’s going to get it for that corny joke and all the ones to come the rest of today. After all, he had a habit of ruining the mood and Barnaby never let him get away with it without some form of punishment.
At times like these he supposes he’s very lucky his Lil’ Bunny loves him.