Chapter Text
Aramaki did not like Kizaru. With his annoying voice, mocking face, and arrogant swagger, the oldest admiral could just breathe in his presence and Aramaki’s blood would boil. Sitting in a meeting with the other admirals and vice admirals, his eyes frequently landed on the object of his hate. Kizaru had the same bored look he always sports and he wasn’t even pretending to listen!
“Ryokugyu, are you listening?” The fleet admiral asked in a harsh tone and Aramaki nodded. Sakazuki didn’t seem to believe him but carried on. He focused on the meeting, but even Sakazuki’s commanding voice wasn’t enough to keep his attention. Who cares about the budget anyway? Aramaki’s more than happy to follow Sakazuki’s orders and execute justice on his command. He didn’t need any boring numbers cluttering his mind.
“Borsalino, where are the reports I had you make?” Sakazuki asked, eyes glaring at Kizaru who blinked blearily as if waking up from a nap.
“They’re at your desk, Sakazuki. I handed it to you last night, remember?”
Aramaki struggled to keep the jealousy from his face. They spoke so casually to each other as if they weren’t boss and subordinate, as if there were no one else in the room. Sakazuki always uses Kizaru’s name and the damn monkey doesn’t even bother using the fleet admiral’s name with the proper honorific.
“That’s all, you’re all dismissed.”
Aramaki stayed seated as the others left, wanting to be the last to leave, only for Kizaru to remain in his seat with a blank look in his eyes, mocking Aramaki yet again.
“I said you’re dismissed.” Sakazuki huffed, giving a pointed look to Aramaki and ignoring Kizaru. Why did that old man get to stay with Sakazuki when Aramaki was far better company? He wasn’t blind, he knows that the yellow admiral often invades the fleet admiral’s office. He’s even overheard the lower ranks instructing each other to check Sakazuki’s office first when they were looking for Kizaru. He got up without a word. Damn that Kizaru.
Why did Sakazuki even tolerate that man? Their personalities are so different, one would assume they’d be enemies or something. Even their devil fruits don’t go well together, not like Aramaki’s! He could still remember watching the events of the Paramount War, seeing Sakazuki’s magma burn through enemy lines and executing that devil’s son cemented Aramaki’s admiration for him. When he was drafted after the events of Punk Hazard, he found it poetic, as if fate itself allowed them to finally meet. Sakazuki’s magma has cleared the land of corruption and Aramaki is now here to bring back life and spread Sakazuki’s will to the world. Only he wasn’t the right hand he expected himself to be. That position was occupied and has been occupied for a much longer time than he thought.
Aramaki grumbled under his breath as he fished for his pack of cigarettes, pausing in his stride as he felt nothing in his pockets. Damn it. He turned around and retraced his steps. He must have dropped it when he stood up to leave Sakazuki’s office.
Aramaki smiled. This was a chance to see what those two were getting up to. He marched back with a bounce in his step, wondering if this would be the time Sakazuki would kick Borsalino out. As he grabbed the edge of the door, he stopped as he heard voices.
“Are you sure you don’t need—”
“I’m fine, Sakazuki.” There was something off about Borsalino’s voice. If Aramaki didn’t know any better, he would assume that the man sounded sick. That’s weird.
Before he could think more about it, he slid open the door with a flourish, “Excuse me, Sakazuki-san, I think I left my cigarettes here. It must have slipped when I got up and…” The bravado in his voice faded as he took in the scene before him. Kizaru had his back to him, his head being tilted up by Sakazuki, a gloved hand holding his face. He blinked,not quite realizing what he was seeing.
What did he walk into?
Aramaki’s eyes met the fleet admirals.
“It’s customary to knock before entering.” Sakazuki grunted, not even moving from his position.
“I—” He didn’t know what to say. Was he supposed to go now? Was he just going to pretend he didn’t see anything?
Kizaru craned his head back and looked at Aramaki. “Oh, you’re back.”
“What the hell happened to you?”
With a clearer view of the admiral, Aramaki can see that Sakazuki was holding bloody tissues against Borsalino’s nose. He unconsciously stepped forward and invited himself inside.
Kizaru smiled that idiotic grin of his, wincing when Sakazuki pulled his head back into position. “Just a minor nosebleed, Aramaki. It must have been from the heat earlier.”
That was weird. Aramaki didn’t think it was hot today. Glancing at the open window, he saw that it was overcast, confirming his assessment. Then again, he was wearing nothing but his pants and coat in comparison to Borsaino’s full suit, but—what was he even doing? He hated the guy, why would he care if he had a fucking nosebleed out of nowhere.
“It’s not that hot out.”
Kizaru tried to look at him but was held in place by Sakazuki’s hand. “Oh~, are you worried about me?”
“I’m not! Aren’t you made of light, shouldn’t you be immune to the sun or something?”
Sakazuki cleared his throat, relinquishing the tissues when Borsalino’s hand made to grab them. “Your cigarettes are in your chair. Don’t leave anything behind next time or I’m throwing them out myself.”
Aramaki grabbed the pack from his seat with a frown, his eyes glancing back to Kizaru’s seated form. Was it the light or was he imagining that tender look he saw in Sakazuki before? He wonders how it would feel to have that usual magmatic glare sent his way melt into one of those.
What did Borsalino even do to earn that?