Work Text:
All that paper work is making his head buzz, he should definitely take a break if he doesn’t want to die of overwork. Absence of the chirping of birds outside his window indicate It's close to evening.
He places a paper weight on top of the sheets, clicks his pen shut and stands up.
Isagi proceeds to stretch his whole body and is pleased when his back makes cracking sounds. He takes another look at the stacks of paper sitting on his desk and sighs for the nth time. That stupid boss of his thrives from making his employees overwork, not that Isagi could say no — the pay is too good to deny.
Isagi heads towards the staircase, determined to spend his self-funded break on the rooftop.
If isagi could he would quit, he really would.
But he can't help it, he can't help himself. The world runs on useless hierarchy and he's determined to make it to the top. He's motivated to climb the stairs of success, to fight tooth and nail and make the higher ups eat shit while they grovel at his feet.
Isagi stifles a laugh at the thought. then goes back to being blank faced after he realises he's being tyrannic again.
He opens the door and his face is hit with a cool breeze. The sky is painted orange with a purple hue hinting summer is in the air. Isagi walks close to the ledge and stills. His hands search his pockets until the similar box makes contact with his fingers.
He fishes out his lighter from the other pocket, a beautiful blue in color and an "I" marked on the side. It was a gift from a friend of his back when he started working here.
It's been that long, huh.
He puts a single cigarette in his mouth, the dry taste of paper on his tongue and smell of tobacco tingling his nose.
With a swift finger movement he lights the lighter up and brings it close to his mouth. He covers the small fire with his hand lest it should disappear.
Isagi inhales the newly lit cigarette and finds himself relaxing already. The soreness in his neck succumbing to the relaxants, his mind fuzzy yet clear. Isagi feels euphoric.
His euphoria doesn’t last long.
Isagi hears the door open, the steel door making a "tang" sound after it makes an impact with the wall.
Footsteps can be heard coming towards him and he's already grimacing because he knows who it is.
"You should stop smoking."
He doesn’t turn his face to acknowledge the others' presence. He stands still, feet planted firmly on the floor. Fingers holding the cigarette.
A pause, and then he replies -
"I'd really rather kill myself."
"It's bad for you Isagi."
"Really? What's next? Are you gonna start repeating the essays we wrote in middle school titled 'why smoking is bad' ?" Isagi inquires, bouts of mockery evident on his tone.
Rin scowls at that. Typical Itoshi sibling, ready to glare when someone criticizes them but heavily offended when their advice is not appreciated.
"Tell me this, why do you smoke in the first place?"
Rin takes a step back and folds his arms, awaiting an answer.
"I'm not obliged to tell you anything,
Rin."
At that moment a vein popped out in his neck and Isagi had to take another puff of his cigarette to physically stop himself from laughing.
His expressions are too damn funny.
Isagi exhales a cloud of smoke, the smoke takes up the shape of a cloud and mixes with the evening sky. Isagi found it funny for no reason.
"Then why not pick up something less harmful and more useful? Why not pick up a hobby so that u forget about it?"
"In THIS economy? No thanks, I'm fine with smoking my 3 yen a piece cigarettes."
"I'm trying to have a serious conversation with you Isagi."
"And I'm trying to avoid it."
Rin jumps at the brash tone, he doesn’t say a word for a few seconds until his face goes back to normal. Isagi's hands go into his pocket while he keeps a stern composure.
He's really getting tired dealing with Rin. This was just supposed to be a work break not a fucking therapy session.
"I just wanna know why you smoke, the way you are. Is it that bad?"
Isagi looks at Rin again. His gaze soft,unlike anything Isagi has ever seen. Isagi is genuinely trying to understand why he would even ask that. Rin didn’t even seem angry, just in despair.
"You don't need to know shit about me."
He takes one last puff of his cigarette, drops it on the concrete roof and stomps on it.
"Now excuse me, I've got a shitload of work to do cause your brother clearly enjoys seeing me suffer."
Isagi almost sprints towards the stairs, having felt that he had dealt with Rin enough. Behind him he hears Rin closing the metal door and hurrying along the stairs too.
Seriously, why doesn’t Rin leave him alone.