Work Text:
Kaoru hated long work days with annoying clients. They tended to be quite rare, and he usually loved his job, but this whole week had been a nightmare.
Every day of the week, there was at least one client who’d, quite literally, ruined his whole day. Today was, obviously, gonna be no different.
“What do you mean you can’t have this ready by tomorrow?”
“Sir, I already told you, I’m closed on the weekends, and even if i were to make an exception for you, I couldn’t do it in less than a day. Had you come in in the morning-“
“I think you have enough time.” The man interrupted Kaoru’s explanation, his face getting redder and redder every minute that passed. “I think- No, I know you’re just lazy. I know how you kids are! Just because you’re not open on the weekends doesn’t mean you get to slack off!”
“With all due respect sir, I am fully booked with commissions for this weekend and i physically cannot squeeze yours in anywhere, especially not in front of some other commissions which were ordered months ago and are meant to be ready on Monday. And, another thing, I am not a child.”
“Why would it take you months to finish a single commission if you ‘work so hard’?” the man asked, making air quotes at the last part of his sentence.
Kaoru suppressed a sigh of annoyance just so he could seem extremely calm and professional. In reality, he was absolutely fuming. Who does this man think he is? Does he not know the first thing about making art commissions? Well, the answer to that question is obvious.
“Watanabe-san, I understand that you might not understand how commissioning artists works, and that is fine. I will, however, not take this level of disrespect towards me and my work. I will ask you to please lower your voice or leave my studio.”
“What I understand perfectly well is that I am not respected here. Young people are no longer taught how to behave it seems. I will not come back here!” he said, as he waked out the door, still fuming.
“I’m glad.” Kaoru said, sighing. At least the day is almost over.
He turned back to the piece he was working on. It should be done by Monday, along with a few other pieces he has to do some finishing touches on. Just thinking about doing another piece along all of those, and doing it from scratch at that, made Kaoru cringe. Sure, he loved his job, but he also loved his free time.
Watanabe-san came in around four, an hour before closing, so Kaoru didn’t expect many more people to come in.
About ten minutes before closing, though, the door of his studio swung open and Watanabe-san stormed in looking angrier that he did when he left.
Kaoru jumped a little at the sudden intrusion, making a small line on his painting in the process.
“No one wants to do my piece for me! No one! What is it that I have to do to get a simple painting done?” the man yelled. He walked towards Kaoru in long strides, making the smaller man cower a little in surprise.
“Could you please back awa-“
“No! No, I will not back away! Not until I get my piece, that I will pay for, ready! Honestly, with how lazy you all are, you should be paying me!”
“Watanabe-san, if you don’t back away and calm down, I will call the police.” Kaoru warned, feeling slightly threatened.
The man scoffed and folded his arms over his chest. He looked to be in his mid to late fifties, with a quite strong build. Kaoru, as strong as he was, probably couldn’t fight back effectively if things got ugly.
“The police? Go ahead, see if they care,” the man snarled, “I’ve worked with them long enough to make you the guilty one in their eyes. Besides, I haven’t even done anything, you’re the one refusing me service!”
“Sir-“ Kaoru got cut off by the man grabbing his kimono and pulling him up towards his face.
“Listen here, kid. My niece is celebrating her graduation and she specifically asked for a piece that you make, and she will get it. Understood?”
Kaoru stared at the man’s red face in complete disbelief. All of this for his niece’s graduation? Huh?!?
Despite the utter shock at the mans reasons for this outburst, Kaoru was genuinely a bit frightened at this point. Why would he get so aggressive?
“Let me go.” Kaoru said after the initial shock wore off. He was hoping the man would be at least a little intimidated at his apparent lack of fear.
“And who are you to tell me that? Just a stupid little useless calligrapher. Why have this whole studio if you don’t even do your job?” the man seethed. Anger was radiating off him in waves.
Kaoru had never seen anyone get so emotionally invested in calligraphy, other than himself of course. If he wasn’t about to shit his pants, he’d be impressed.
At least he was hiding it well. Probably.
The bell jingled, someone came in.
“Hey Ru, you ready to- What the fuck?”
Watanabe-san was ripped off of Kaoru almost immediately as Kojiro dragged him off to promptly punch him in the face.
“Kojiro! Stop!” Kaoru shouted, regaining his composure.
“Who even is this asshole?” Kojiro asked, holding Watanabe-san by the back of his collar.
“A client,” Kaoru explained, “now please let him go before you get in trouble. I was handling it.”
“Sure you were.”
“Yeah, just like you can handle doing your own job” The older man smirked.
“Oh, shut the fuck up, old man. I haven’t beaten you to a pulp only because Kaoru asked me not to. Now get lost, the studio’s closed.”
Kojiro shoved the man towards the door, folding his arms defensively. He deliberately stood in front of Kaoru’s seat, so the man wouldn’t have a direct view of the calligrapher.
“Just know you lost a client.” The man said, basically repeating what he said a little over an hour ago, when he first stormed out.
Kojiro turned to Kaoru once he finished locking the door after Watanabe-san left. Kaoru took a few deep breaths in the meantime to calm himself.
“Are you okay?” Kojiro asked, concern visible on every inch of his face. It was strange, he was so angry just a minute ago, but every trace of that anger was replaced with concern for his boyfriend.
“I think so,” Kaoru sighed, looking at his hands, “I guess I just didn’t expect him to be actually violent.”
Kojiro frowned.
“What was that even about?”
“He wanted a piece done by tomorrow morning. Said I was lazy and useless when I told him I was too booked to do it so quickly.”
“What an absolute piece of shit. All this over a painting? No offence, but I don’t think they’re worth that much.”
Kaoru laughed. He got up and walked to where Kojiro was standing, readily waiting with open arms. He melted into the hug, almost going completely limp from exhaustion.
“Let’s get you to bed,” Kojiro chuckled.
He lead the older man outside and locked the door again before guiding him to his motorcycle.
Kaoru held onto him the entire ride home, and as soon as they got there, he went straight to bed, not bothering to do anything else.
“Kaoru, it’s not even six- Ah, whatever, get your rest.” Kojiro concluded, tucking the already asleep Kaoru into the sheets.
He laid down beside him and scooped him into his arms, sighing contently when the man clinged onto him tightly.
“I love you.” Kojiro kissed his head.
He then also fell asleep.
At six in the afternoon.