Work Text:
Papers were scattered all over his desk. The wooden surface was covered in documents, photographs and old letters. The solution, the right tactic to win that case was in front of his eyes and yet Hitoya was struggling to see it. Something was missing. That clue, that detail… the definitive evidence that could help his client. He had spent the last few days trying to weave a perfect strategy with no avail.
Sighing, Hitoya took a sip from the glass full of whiskey and leaned on the back of the chair.
The loud sound of his phone ringing broke that instant of quiet. He looked at the name on the display before answering. As he opened his mouth to greet his partner, noisy laughter almost deafened him.
“Sensei, are you calling your secret lover??”
“Hifumi! Respect Sensei’s privacy and wait inside!”
“But I’m just…”
A door closing was all Hitoya could hear until Jakurai finally spoke. “I apologise. Hifumi-kun is always so energetic.”
“Nosy, you mean.”
“Curious is a more fitting word.” Jakurai chuckled. “You should see the banquet he had prepared. He could feed a small village with those delicious dishes.”
“Well, it’s your birthday. You deserve an entire feast, Jakurai.”
There was a moment of silence between them. Hitoya could feel the smile disappearing from Jakurai’s face.
“Hitoya…”
“I’m sorry for not being there.” Hitoya blurted out, his grip on the glass getting a little tighter. “It’s an important day and I should be there.”
Jakurai took a deep breath before speaking. “Hitoya, I didn’t call you to make you feel miserable. I just wanted to check on you.”
“What do you mean?”
“When you called me today at lunch, you sounded so tired and right now you don’t seem that different.” Jakurai’s voice was distant for a second, a sign he had moved his phone to the other ear. “I understand that it’s essential to close the case you’re working on as soon as possible, but you should focus on your health as well. Have you eaten a proper meal today?”
Taking another sip of whiskey, Hitoya eyed the half eaten dinner left on the desk. “Yes, don’t worry.”
An exasperated sigh came from the other line. Jakurai wasn’t believing him. “Promise me you’ll at least go to bed at a reasonable hour tonight.” His tone was calm, but there was a hint of threat hidden in his words.
“What if I won’t?” Hitoya asked after stifling a yawn.
Jakurai replied without hesitation. “I’ll come down there and force you to sleep.”
The lawyer let out a tired laughter. “In that case, I’ll give you my present when you come here instead of shipping it.”
“Hitoya.” Another sigh. “The only gift I need is to know that you won’t pull another all-nighter for this case.”
“I…” Hitoya hesitated. He didn’t want to make him worry even more, but lying wasn’t the right thing to do. He wasn’t a good liar anyway. “I can’t promise you that.”
“The case will be easier to face after a night of sle-”
“Your friends are waiting for you, Jakurai. You shouldn’t be on the phone right now.” He interrupted him, trying to escape from yet another advice.
“Fine.” Jakurai’s voice told him they were just pausing that discussion. They’d pick it up another time. “I’ll send you some pictures of what Hifumi had prepared, ok?”
“Yes, thank you. I can’t wait to see them.”
A new moment of silence. It was clear Jakurai would have wanted to add something, instead he just whispered a few words. “Good night, Hitoya.”
“Good night and… don’t worry.” He added, already focusing on the papers in front of him.
“I’m afraid that’s impossible.” was the last thing the doctor said before hanging up.
Hitoya was feeling bad for what had just happened. He knew Jakurai was right. He knew he should take a break and think about something else. But still, there was something preventing him from letting go yet. He was sure he was almost there. The solution was close.
Finishing his whiskey in one last sip, he tried to ignore the growing headache and took the nearest document in his hands.
It was almost 9 in the morning when Hitoya finally closed his laptop. The papers he fought with for the entire night were now divided in messy stacks. He might have avoided his bed again, but at least he had been able to create a solid argument for his client. On Monday, he’d just check what he had written one more time and then they could discuss it calmly.
He was moving to the kitchen to put the used glass and cups in the sink when an unexpected ring at the doorbell startled him. It was Saturday morning. The postman usually came every Tuesday. He wasn’t expecting guests. He had warned both Jyushi and Kuko to leave him alone for a few days too.
Curious, he looked at the intercom screen and almost cursed when he recognized the person waiting to enter the building. He closed his eyes. Maybe he was just too tired and that was a hallucination. He opened them. No. He was still there. Shit. Pushing the button of the main entrance, Hitoya sighed. After opening the door a little, he crossed his arms and waited. He could hear the sound of footsteps. It was still hard to believe he was in Nagoya.
“May I come in?” A deep voice asked.
“What are you, a vampire? Stop asking dumb questions.” Hitoya sighed again and finally walked back to the living room.
“I see you are in a good mood.”
The lawyer glared at Jakurai as he was taking his shoes off. “Well, I don’t like it when people invite themselves to my home.”
“You didn’t sound that reluctant when I told you I’d come over.” Jakurai chuckled and left a grocery bag on the floor before taking off his coat.
“You came here even before knowing if I actually slept or not. How pretentious.” Hitoya sat down on the leather sofa.
At that, the smile disappeared from Jakurai’s face. He got closer to the other man and tilted his head. “Then… Look me in the eyes and tell me what time you went to bed last night. Or if you went to bed, for that matter.”
Hitoya stared right at him for a few seconds before moving his eyes away, suddenly in need of a cigarette. He grabbed the packet on the coffee table without replying.
“I knew it.” Jakurai let out a small laughter and lowered a little to place a kiss on the other’s forehead. As he was straightening up, he glanced at the desk. “Was it worth it?”
“Yes, I found what I was searching for.” Hitoya nodded. “Next week I’ll be able to proceed with…” He was trying to light the cigarette in his hands, but Jakurai just took it away.
“Smoking can wait.”
“Jakurai, c’mon…”
“Now you just need a long shower and a bed.” Jakurai explained and he forced him to stand up from the sofa. “I’ll wake you up for lunch.”
Letting himself be dragged to the bathroom, Hitoya yawned. “You are just like my mother. No, wait… you’re worse.”
“Of course I am.” Jakurai nodded and looked at him. “I am a doctor.”
“I didn’t know you made house calls, Sensei.” Hitoya joked, starting to get undressed. “This visit is going to cost me a kidney.”
As he was closing the door to give Hitoya his privacy, Jakurai murmured. “Yesterday you mentioned a gift. That will cover the expense.”