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“Hey Atsushi”- The little sing-song in Dazai’s voice was giving Atsushi the chills before the man could even finish talking. Nothing good ever came for him when Dazai was so happy for no seeming reason.
He let out a deep sigh before asking- “What”- His upperclassman made a show of being physically hurt by Atsushi’s annoyed tone.
“Why, excuse me for talking to you”- Dazai turned around to leave in a huff when he was stopped by Atsushi.
“Wait, I’m sorry, What did you need?”- Atsushi asked kindly, his polite nature making it impossible for him to just ignore the other. Dazai turned around to face him with a big smile on his face. This was certainly going to be trouble.
“I need your help with a little something”- He said and grabbed his arm pulling him farther and farther away from the main zone of the campus. Finally, they stopped in front of a supply closet, one of the oldest ones they had in the university, only used to keep the equipment that was so old no one wanted it but still worked so they wouldn't throw it away, it was a tiny space almost like a hole in the wall than anything and the walls and most of the floor was already occupied with sports stuff.
“What do you even need from here”- Atsushi asked suspiciously observing the place from the outside.
“I dropped my lucky pen and it rolled under the shelves, I can't give my tests without it!”- He whined and gave a little shove so Atsushi would get inside.
“Why can't you just get it yourself”- He asked still standing at the entrance just from inside now.
“My back hurts after jumping from a bridge yesterday and landing weird”- He fake cried like a crocodile, he could see the hesitation on Atsushi’s face so he continued talking- “Come on, it will only take a second. Kunikida already said he won't help me”- He mopped making Atsushi finally agree- “Perfect then just look around the back”
Atsushi kneeled and put his head on the floor so he could see under the dusty shelves but there was nothing there, he was so focused looking he didn't notice when Dazai disappeared. Atsushi could hear the voice of both Chuuya and Akutagawa just outside the door but when he finally realized what was happening it was already too late.
“Why do I have to look for-”- The current sentence that Akutagawa was trying to speak was cut short when he was pushed into the supply closet falling on top of Atsushi and lading them both in a weird not-standing-but-not-laying position since there wasn't enough space to actually fall onto the floor, the door flew shut before they could even get up.
Akutagawa stood up first and immediately tried the door when he realized it was locked from the outside he started banging his firsts on it. “Open the door!”- He demanded but was ignored.
“We’ll be back by morning at sunrise”- Chuuya said from the outside and soon they could hear his steps going away.
"And don't even look for your phones! We have them right here"- Dazai added, they could hear his steps hurrying away to match Chuuya's.
Akutagawa let himself fall onto the floor, having to sit next to Atsushi as there was no other space, Atsushi already sitting after getting up from having Akutagawa fall on top of him. They stayed silent for a couple of minutes, neither of them knowing what to say.
The two of them had been enemies before they even got into the same university. Their schools were rivals and they had always gone against each other in the same categories so it was always them against each other. The fact that Dazai used to be number one at the other school and Akutagawa’s predecessor didn't help their relationship get any better. Dazai himself didn't help either, the first times they competed he would brag about how much better Atsushi was than him, settling Akutagawa’s hate for him before they could even talk for the first time, the hateful way that the other treated him with and the stories he heard about him didn't make Atsushi's opinion any better.
“How did they even get the key?”- Atsushi said after a minute not actually expecting an answer from Akutagawa.
“They get together for the weirdest of things”- He responded, it surprised Atsushi but he also agreed with him. It wasn't like Dazai and Chuuya liked each other either, at least not to their knowledge.
It was currently around four o’clock which meant it would start getting dark soon, if what Chuuya said was true they still had more than twelve hours to go. Atsushi reached from the light switch not very high from the ground, the yellow light coming from the old lightbulb wasn't strong but it would keep some light in there at least.
“What are supposed to do now?”- Atsushi asked. Akutagawa had his eyes closed now, he looked like he was meditating, probably trying to take himself mentally away from their situation.
“We wait, in silence. There is no point in trying the door, is metal, and if it's locked from the outside we can't just kick it down”- He explained- “Go to sleep if you want”
“Wow thanks for granting permission your Highness but I doubt I'll be able to sleep with you so close to me, you’ll probably try to kill me in my sleep”- He insulted.
“Keep talking and I won't wait for you to sleep”- Akutagawa threatened opening his eyes before closing them back up making Atsushi roll his eyes. They fell back into silence, they stayed like that for what felt like an eternity before Atsushi spoke again.
“So what did you do today”- He asked awkwardly.
“Oh my god, do you ever shut up?”- Akutagawa was trying really hard to remain with his eyes closed and a neutral expression.
“I'm bored! And there is nothing here but old garbage and you”- He whined.
“I'm sorry did you want me to entertain you, princess? Should I do a magic trick maybe read you a bedtime story?”- Akutagawa spat full of venom dropping the meditation act.
Atsushi rolled his eyes so hard it actually hurt- “Look dude, we are going to be here for hours until the fucking morning comes up, we might as well at least try to get along until then”.
Akutagawa seemed to have an internal battle with himself before he spoke again- “I had two classes in the morning and did the sketch for a painting in the evening”- He said slowly like it physically pained him to talk with Atsushi in a cordial way.
“Cool”- He commented and then waited for Akutagawa to speak again, only he didn't- “This is the part where you ask me what I did today”
“If you want to talk, talk”- Akutagawa remarked.
“Jezz you are so annoying”- He complained but still talked- “I actually spent most of the day finishing a sculpture then I had lunch with Lucy and Kyoka, we actually-”- He was cut off by the loud thunder that suddenly came. It made both of them jump in their places and the little light they had was gone. “Well fuck me, this is just great”- Atsushi cursed loudly visibly tensing and hugging his knees together.
“Scared of a little thunder?”- Akutagawa teased but Atsushi didn't insult back, instead he just looked around in fear- “Wait, are you actually scared of thunder?”
“I'm so not!”- He complained.
“It certainly looks like it”- Akutagawa mentioned plainly.
“I’m not”
“Then what are you scared of?”- Akutagawa asked curiously trying hard to make it sound bored.
Atsushi debated if he should insult him, ignore him, or actually answer. He would normally go for the first option but what was the point of reaction like that if he couldn't just walk away after? “I don't like the dark”- He said softly with a trembling voice, he knew it was stupid but his past had left some bad memories associated with the darkness he couldn't help it, Atsushi expected to hear a mocking laugh or more teasing but to his surprise, Akutagawa actually scooted closer to him, he could feel their legs touching.
“Gin used to be scared of the dark too”- Akutagawa stated, Atsushi felt like he was trying to comfort him.
“Really?”- He couldn't believe it, someone as cool as Gin, that didn't hesitate to throw a punch and kick some ass, scared of the dark like a baby, like him.
“Yeah, she only got over it when she was sixteen and worked through it with therapy”- Akutagawa explained. The kindness that Akutagawa was showing him made something feel warm in his stomach, he sat a little closer too, and now their shoulders were touching.
So close together Atsushi could clearly hear clearly when Akutagawa’s stomach made a loud growling sound, the shock of it embarrassed Akutagawa and made Atsushi laugh effectively making him less anxious to be sitting in complete darkness.
“Hungry?”- He teased.
“I kind of skipped lunch”- He admitted.
“Gin is not going to be happy if she finds out”- Atsushi continued to tease pulling out a little granola bar from his pocket and handing it to him not accepting the complaints he tried to give- “You should really take better care of yourself”- He added more seriously- “I see how many nights you stay late in the art studio, the pottery is very close you know?”
“I know”- He said- “What are you doing so late there anyways”- Akutagawa questioned.
“Same as you, perfecting my projects”- Atsushi confessed. What he didn't say was the number of times he would stay around the art studio waiting for Akutagawa to leave so he could feel calm, he felt like a stalker every time but he couldn't rest knowing that Akutagawa was still working, he tried to excuse it with feelings of competitiveness but he knew he was just worried for him, Akutagawa had fragile health if something happened when he had already left and wasn't there to help it would kill him.
“You should have said something, maybe we could have eaten together someday”- If Atsushi could look at him right now he would see the way Akutagawa's cheeks tainted pink.
“What for? You would probably ignore me or insult me. Are you forgetting you hate me?”- Atsushi remarked.
“I don't hate you”- Akutagawa declared shocking him, he found that hard to believe after years of fighting.
“You don't?”
“Not anymore, at least I don't think so, I still find you incredibly annoying of course, but I don't hate you anymore”- It was a night of sudden confessions it seemed.
Atsushi hummed in thought- “When did that even happen?”
Akutagawa hesitated- “I don't know”
“I don't hate you either”- Atsushi admitted too- “If I was your friend I would actually think you were kind of cool”
Akutagawa laughed low and deep not even trying to contain himself like he usually did, letting his guard down around him, it made him feel special -“You think I’m cool?”
He blushed a little- “If I was your friend”
“I think you are cool too, I admire your strength, you never give up on a project, no matter how many times it doesn't work or others tell you it's a bad idea you don't stop, you were the same in high school too”- Akutagawa commented like he was reminiscing of their old times.
“Do you really think we could hang out someday?”- Atsushi asked hopefully.
“I do”- Akutagawa assured.
“Like friends?”- He specified not sure what he was asking.
“If you want to”- Akutagawa coughed a little to clear his throat and spoke again a little more cautious and nervous- “...We could be more”
The little comment made Atsushi sharply turn around ending face-to-face with Akutagawa, his heart was beating fast in his chest and he could feel the others breathing close to his face- “We could?”
“If you want to be”- Akutagawa started slowly closing the distance, so slowly it made Atsushi desperate, he suddenly grabbed him by the collar and brought their lips together finally. They kissed slowly and carefully, it ended shortly but neither moved from their places. The rest of the night didn't feel as cold in each other's arms.
Atsushi didn't know when he had fallen asleep, he woke up still being held by Akutagawa, he could hear talking from outside and the rustling of keys. When he recognized the voices as Dazai and Chuuya he sobered up quickly and pushed Akutagawa hard to the side, waking him up too.
“Had a fun night?”- Dazai teased looking at Atsushi’s panicked expression and Akutagawa’s barely waking up. They were barely separated with the minimal space but at least they hadn't been caught cuddling.
“I hate you both”- Atsushi said standing up to leave.
“It was his idea”
They left the room together completely ignoring the way Chuuya and Dazai looked at each other and high-fived in success. Their breakfast together was nice and the first one of many meals shared.