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“Chifuyu~”
Chifuyu (im)politely ignores the Toman executive calling out to him. It’s pointless though when Hanma’s obnoxious grin follows him right through the elevator doors.
He could not have pushed the “close door” button fast enough, letting the reaper slip in with him.
“Hanma.” He manages to grit out, now that he’s forced to acknowledge the other’s presence.
“Shuji.”
“We are not doing this right now.” The shorter man refuses to look up and make eye contact with the taller. “What floor do you want?” His finger hovers over the buttons, courteously enough so that they can get this ride over with quickly.
“The only number I want you pushing is mine, baby~”
The unamused grimace on Chifuyu’s face sets off Hanma in an uncontrollable giggling spree.
“Just the next floor above us — 4.” Hanma finally manages to supply just as Chifuyu’s patience wears thin. He needs to get to his next meeting in the next fifteen minutes, and Hanma has already wasted more of his precious time than he’d like.
Chifuyu smashes the console, stomping down the need to comment that the lazy asshole should have taken the stairs and left him alone to stand in this metal box by himself. Hanma’s 4 is pushed before being followed by Chifuyu’s own floor, 10. The numbers flicker alight and the ride up could not go any slower.
The seconds tick past as the machinery pulls them to the next floor. Almost gratefully, the claustrophobic presence that threatens to consume him whole makes no further remarks. But Chifuyu can’t lower his guard. An air of mischief surrounds Hanma and it keeps Chifuyu on edge more than usual.
Ding!
They reach the fourth floor and the doors slide open. Hanma’s smile stretches wider as he wiggles his fingers at Chifuyu in lieu of a goodbye. He strides across the threshold and Chifuyu thinks he’s safe — until punishment is sliding down the console and the rest of the floor buttons are all alight.
“Bye Fuyu! Have a nice ride~”
“Hanma, you bastard!”
“Although I wish you could be riding me instead~”
The doors slide closed and Chifuyu is left with the sleek brass metal reflecting his angry, red face as well the echoing cackle from Hanma.
He moves upwards.
Ding!
Doors open. Fifth floor. Chifuyu pinches the bridge of his nose and breathes out slowly. Doors close.
Ding!
Doors open. Sixth floor. Chifuyu taps his foot. Doors close.
Ding!
Doors open. Seventh floor. Chifuyu’s eye twitches. Door clo— Chifuyu’s hand shoots out to stop the doors from fully closing and steps out into the hallway.
Streams of curses leave his mouth as he storms towards the stairwell and takes the steps two at a time. It was only three flights anyway. Checking his watch, he only has five minutes left to be there on time. He can make it.
Sweat drenches his hair and soaks his back by the time he reaches the meeting room. Chifuyu’s thighs are burning from the unexpected exertion, but he’s there right when everyone is about to be seated. And it’s fine — it’s fine until he notices the smirking bastard across the room from him.
Chifuyu is forced to keep his temper under control in a room full of other Toman executives as he takes his place by Takemichi. And he absolutely has to keep himself from leaping at Hanma when he waves a hand of sin at him.
Fucking bitch.