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Atsushi was running late.
Today he was supposed to investigate a case about a mysterious ability user who’s been causing disturbances in the past few weeks.
His assigned partner – who Atsushi didn’t know who was – must be annoyed of him, Atsushi thought as he picked up pace when the familiar four-story red brick building where the Agency was appeared in his field of vision.
His muscles were burning from running all the way from his dorm and he could barely breath. He gasped for air and his tiger senses picked up a familiar scent that made him halt, almost tripping over his feet.
The weak smell of blood, dust and some herbs came from an alleyway. It made his stomach clench from excitement, worry or irritation, Atsushi was not entirely sure, maybe a mix of all and he approached the dark alley.
Against his extraordinary good eyesight Atsushi saw nobody in there, only a few bins and boxes. On the other hand, on the ground laid a black lump. It was the source of the weak smell, definitely not as strong as if it was coming straight from the person.
Atsushi was confused to say the least. He leaned down to pick it up, but he barely laid a finger on the fabric when aggressive hissing came from under it. Atsushi pulled his hand back surprised. Did a cat make itself home under the coat?
Atsushi grabbed the coat again and lifted it from the ground, not caring about the loud hissing. To his greatest confusion there was no cat under it. The coat, on the other hand felt heavier than Atsushi remembered.
He ran his eyes over the fabric then finally noticed the ball of stabbys dangling from it. It had pitch black spines, only a few of them, close to its face ended in white, its belly and face were white, a perfect contrast to its spines, the fur around its neck a bit fuzzier than everywhere else. ‘How did a hedgehog even got here?’ Taken aback, Atsushi lowered the garment until the hedgehog’s feet touched the ground, but it didn’t let go.
Atsushi tried to pull the fabric out of its mouth without tearing it. If he returned it torn, he was sure, he would meet a similar fate. But the hedgehog didn’t even stubble, it kept a firm grip on the other end.
“C’mon, let it go! I just want to return it to its owner.” Atsushi gritted between his teeth, pulling his end of the coat. “And I’m already so late.”
The hedgehog released the fabric for a moment to make an annoyed clicking sound. That was all Atsushi needed to pull the coat away from the hedgehog’s reach. He turned around and was just about to run when he felt a tug, this time on his belt.
The hedgehog was now pulling the end of his unreasonably long belt. Atsushi groaned in annoyance and tried to walk off. If he wanted, he could easily just move with his free rider, but he didn’t want to harm it.
“Let me go, little one.” He tried but the hedgehog just let out another hiss without releasing its grip. “I’m late and Dazai-san is waiting for me.” Atsushi wasn’t even sure why he explained his situation to an animal, but it seemed to work as it let him go when he got to the ‘Dazai’ part of his sentence.
Instead, the hedgehog started towards the end of the alley, walking past a flabbergasted Atsushi. It walked for another metre before it started coughing and stopped. When it recovered, it turned back, shooting a familiarly expectant glance towards Atsushi.
Atsushi’s eyes widened to the size of saucers as the realisation finally hit him. He quickly scooped up his sworn frenemy in his coat and dashed off towards the Agency.
The door to the Armed Detective Agency burst open as Atsushi kicked it in. He was panting and gasping for air. He didn’t even let himself catch his breath properly, he hurried to Dazai who was just slacking per usual.
“It’s not like you to be so late. Where were you?” scolded him Kunikida. Atsushi quickly apologised before stepping to Dazai, with the hedgehog secure in his arms.
“Dazai-san!” Atsushi started, gaining the older’s attention who had his headphones on and was humming along till then.
“Ah Atsushi-kun, were you slacking off?” He looked up at him from his chair as innocent as he could.
“That’s only you.” Kunikida mumbled but it just bounced off of Dazai.
“Dazai-san, I need your help.” Atsushi started intent to get Dazai’s attention. The man just hummed, tilting his head to the side curiously, like a dog.
Atsushi showed the coat and nested in it the hedgehog, who raised his head from his coat, to the older. Dazai studied him for a moment, then raised his gaze back to Atsushi to go on.
“It will sound unbelievable, but this hedgehog is actually Akutagawa. I found him in an alleyway.”
“Actually, Atsushi-kun, it’s not unbelievable at all. You two were supposed to collect information about the ability user who can transform humans to animals.”
“What?” Atsushi was not sure what surprised him more, that he was supposed to investigate this very case or that he was supposed to investigate it with Akutagawa .
“But now,” Dazai continued like his mentee didn’t interrupt him “your mission is delayed. Enjoy your day off.” He finished, almost sounding jealous, saying that last part.
“Wait WHAT? Can’t you nullify it?” Atsushi asked desperately.
“No, only if I touch the ability user.” Dazai explained, absentmindedly shrugging his shoulders while he already put back on his headphones. Atsushi let out a disappointed sigh and so did Akutagawa.
“Then what should I do with him?” he muttered. Even if he was his enemy, Atsushi didn’t feel well, just leaving him on the streets. Akutagawa coughed in his arms, attracting the human’s attention. Atsushi glanced down at him pointing his nose at Ranpo, who was sitting with his legs on his desk, a lollipop in his mouth.
Atsushi immediately got what his hedgehog companion wanted to say and approached the master detective.
“Ranpo-san,” Atsushi barely stuttered it out in a pleading tone when the detective already interrupted him.
“Can’t help, Atsushi-kun. We have no info.” Ranpo pointed out through his lollipop.
“Then what shou-” he got interrupted again.
“Just take him home. It is only temporary.” The older answered nonchalantly. Atsushi sighed and looked down at the scowling hedgehog in his arms.
“Wait, why me?” the boy asked confused.
“Who else? You are the closest to him.” Ranpo stated like it was the most oblivious thing in the world. “But if you ask me, he’s better like this” the detective added. Atsushi felt his face heat up a bit while Akutagawa was hissing, clearly offended.
Atsushi in the end took Akutagawa back to his dorm. He was certain the mafia would kill him if he came even close to one of their properties, not caring if he has one of their own with him. On the other hand, his dorm was calm and since Kyouka was at the Agency, it was safe too.
The short journey wasn’t calm, on the other hand. They were bickering the whole way. It most definitely meant something if they could perfectly understand each other’s insults even when one of them was not even a human at the moment.
“Ouch! Stop that!” Atsushi exclaimed when Akutagawa bit his finger that came a bit too close to him. He hissed at the human, clearly saying that he does not want to be taken care of by him of all people in Yokohama.
“Well, you have to deal with me.” Atsushi was beyond annoyed. “I can’t just leave you out here.” he grumbled. The hedgehog raised his head and pointed a nearby alleyway whit what seemed like a challenging look.
“I said no. There are stray dogs in this neighbourhood.” Atsushi played out the ace up his sleeve and it worked. He knew Akutagawa didn’t like dogs, or more accurately was terrified of strays, although he would deny it to his last breath.
Akutagawa just couched and curled up in his nest made of Rashomon. Atsushi smirked, writing it down as a victory in their never-ending war of bickering.
The rest of the way home went in silence other than the occasional coughs coming from the hedgehog and a few yelps from Atsushi when he – obliviously – accidentally got stabbed in the arm or stomach by tiny spines.
When they finally arrived at Atsushi’s dorm room, he was already exhausted. Taking care of his sworn enemy turned into a hedgehog drained his energy like nothing else. He kicked off his shoes and dragged himself to the small living room.
His tired brain shut down only for a second, but it was enough for him to forget the lump in his arms had a living thing in it and casually threw it onto the couch. His brain however turned on quickly when myriads of annoyed clicks and barks came from under the black coat.
Out of instinct Atsushi instantly starter apologising, hands moving rapidly. Akutagawa crawled out from under his coat and, after a wrathful hiss, made himself comfortable, arranging his cloth-nest with his nose in the corner of the couch.
Atsushi slumped down on the other side with a long sigh and closed his eyes.
They stayed in a comfortable silence, but Atsushi’s mind was not as quiet as the room. ‘What should I do?’ he pondered. ‘I don’t want him to turn back when Kyouka-chan is here... I wonder when it will wear off.’ He creaked one eye open to peak at his companion.
Akutagawa was facing away from him, which was not uncommon at all. What did surprise Atsushi was that he was nodding off, trying not to fall asleep. He never let his guard down around anyone, so showing how tired he was, was something Atsushi has never expected. On the other hand, it was understandable: both hedgehogs and mafiosi were nocturnal, preferring the night over the day and it was nearly noon.
Not even a minute later Akutagawa’s head stayed down, and the otherwise silent room was filled with his soft snores. Atsushi couldn’t recognise the fuzzy feeling in his chest as he looked at his – for once – peaceful enemy, the calm and rhythmic rise and fall of his chest as he laid on his side, slightly curled up. He looked almost...cute?
‘WHAT? No!’ Atsushi shook his head, but he couldn’t help his face heating up. His eyes unintentionally landed back on the glinting black spines and barely visible white fur.
Against his better judgement, Atsushi slowly extended his hand towards the hedgehog and after a moment of hesitation he carefully lowered it on the slicked back spines. With feather light strokes, he started petting the other. If he was careful, it felt kinda nice actually.
Then Akutagawa stirred in his dream. Atsushi quickly jerked his hand back, fearing he disturbed the other. But Akutagawa didn’t wake up, he just changed sleeping position, now exposing more of his white furred belly.
Atsushi was still tired and he only realised it when he noticed that his hand subconsciously drifted back to Akutagawa, his fingers buried in the thick ruffle of fur below his chin. Atsushi had no clue why or what he was doing, but it felt nice and didn’t want to stop. The other must’ve felt the same way, as he curled around the warm hand a little.
At this point, Atsushi didn’t care how hot his cheeks were, he felt comfortable and shortly he also drifted off to sleep.
Atsushi had a dream. A nightmare to be exact.
It was all so horribly familiar. He has seen this nightmare multiple times, but even if he knew from the first second it was not reality, it always left him terrified and anxious, guilty of existing and when he finally woke up, his breath was ragged and shallow, his face damp from cold sweat.
He knew this nightmare like the back of his hand, knew what followed what, when came the worst part.
But it just started. When Atsushi saw a painfully familiar figure materialise in front of his eyes, his stomach instantly twisted in anxiety. His heartrate picked up pace and he was already felt tears stinging his eyes.
His slightly blurred vision saw that wicked mouth open. Atsushi waited for the cruel words to leave that monster, but they didn’t. What came instead was a sharp pain jabbing into his cheek. Real pain.
Atsushi jolted awake. He sat up and touched his aching face. Drawing back his hand, he saw some blood cover his fingers. He was confused only for a moment before he looked down at Akutagawa, who was now awake and staring back at him with a neutral face.
Atsushi wasn’t sure if he should be glad that the other saved him from his mind or mad for doing it by digging his small but razor sharp, pointed teeth into his cheek. In the end he settled with neither. “Sorry, I woke you up.” he mumbled instead.
Akutagawa accepted it with a cough and settled back in his nest, shortly falling back asleep.
Atsushi stood up and left for the bathroom. He examined the small wound in the mirror, then cleaned it. It was just a scratch, something didn’t worth the tiger’s healing ability. Atsushi rummaged through the cabinets, searching for a band-aid and after some rummaging and slight cussing when he almost knocked down a bottle, he found one.
It was for kids. It had a pastel yellow colour and was decorated with cute cat illustrations and hearts. Definitely for little kids and not embarrassing at all. Atsushi leaned close to the mirror and sticked it on his face, when he noticed a greenish light from the corner of the mirror.
Atsushi leaped out from the bathroom back to the living room. On the sofa laid Akutagawa, as a human. He was still sleeping, half hugging, half covering himself with Rashomon. For once, he was calm and Atsushi almost admitted to himself that it was a pleasant sight but then he noticed something that made Atsushi’s face turn bright red.
Akutagawa was naked.
Atsushi immediately averted his gaze and leapt to his closet. He picked out a few garments he never wore – thank god they had the same size – and placed them on the small coffee table without looking at his enemy’s sleeping figure.
Atsushi then climbed back into his closet, giving the other man some privacy.
Around ten minutes later he heard some shuffling and rustling, a gentle click, then steps, the window sliding open and the soft creak of the windowsill.
Only a minute later dare Atsushi open the closet door. The apartment was empty. On the table though he discovered a short note with neat handwriting:
‘Thank you’
The next day Atushi was sitting at his desk, mentally preparing himself for today’s joint mission. Soon Akutagawa appeared to pick up the younger. He walked straight to Atsushi’s desk.
“Your taste in clothes is horrible, Jinko.” he said as a greeting and tossed the borrowed clothes on Atsushi’s desk. Atsushi was already irritated.
“Well, at least I don’t dress like a Victorian vampire.” Atsushi retorted without missing a beat.
After receiving some basic information about the transformation ability user from Dazai, the two were already on their way.
Akutagawa was walking on Atsushi’s right and noticed the band aid on his face. It was light blue with cartoon bunnies on it. Akutagawa coughed a laugh.
“You look even more ridiculous with that.” He pointed to the other’s face. Atushi touched the band aid but didn’t take it off.
“It’s your fault I have to use it” Atushi snapped.
“So what? Want me to kiss it better?” Akutagawa said it like it was the most normal thing to say to your enemy. Atsushi halted, his face blushing a deep shade of red.
A few metres later Akutagawa noticed the other’s absence and also stopped. Hands in his pockets, he half-turned back and raised an eyebrow at Atushi. ‘The bastard. Like he doesn’t know what’s up.’ Atsushi was fuming. He then shook his head and ran after the mafioso.