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"Stop running, Q, you will trip."
Akutagawa says, his eyes closed, listening to the sounds of the nature. The warmth of the sun rays shone onto Akutagawa's pale face, the light wind swaying with the grass as well as hair of everyone outside. The park filled with people, though the chatter quite silent opposed to the loud conversations yesterday. Akutagawa opens his eyes, the smell of fresh grass hitting him, but alas it was a nice smell compared to the odor of rotting garbage. The blue blanket Akutagawa sat on was Tachihara's, who insisted on being the one to bring the blanket. As usual, Akutagawa was tasked with getting the food. Akutagawa often ignored his needs, including hunger. The picnic was the only event he consistently ate at.
Q jumped on the blanket, right next to Akutagawa. "Why noooot? I can't trip. And if I do, I will make sure the ground will pay for it."
"By using Tachihara?"
"By using Tachihara to hit the ground."
Akutagawa shakes his head, though the image is ridiculously funny. "Be careful."
"Yeah right, and what will you do if I'm not?" Q says, pointing their finger at Akutagawa and puffing out their cheeks. "I don't listen or talk to people who don't know how to use a knife in the kitchen."
"Does that mean you won't talk to Tachihara anymore?"
"What?? No! I didn't say that."
"You did. I heard it with my two ears."
"Your ears don't work then, octagon!"
Akutagawa rolls his eyes, Q loves to mimic other people. Q started to use that specific, irritating nickname for Akutagawa after hearing Tachihara call him that several times. Q never understood why Akutagawa called Tachihara a fake ginger though. People dye their hair? It doesn't matter, Q can't do it, which means its boring. The usual tradition of Akutagawa putting a bandaid on his nose to "dress up" as Tachihara whenever its Halloween influenced Q to do the same. Q also follows Akutagawa with his unhealthy habits, which only results in Kunikida's long rants about taking care of yourself.
Q stretches their arms. "When is Tachihara coming here? Did he get lost? I want my ice cream."
"You will get your ice cream in a moment, Kyuusaku," Akutagawa responds, his head lifted up high to look around in search of the annoying ginger. "Believe it or not, he should know how to get back here."
"My doll needs ice cream too."
"You are not getting more ice cream, Kyuusaku Yumeno."
"..don't use my full name, Akutagawa." Q crosses their arms, their face contorting into a grimace. "You can't scold me. I'll scold you for liking figs then!"
"Figs are a fruit, ice cream is not, is it?" Akutagawa replies, sorting through their picnic basket to find something to shut Q with until Tachihara comes back.
"Is it because of my ability?"
"..do not attempt this game with me Q."
Akutagawa's eyes narrow, this isn't the first time Q attempted to get more sweets. As much as Akutagawa wishes to grant every single wish Q had, even if it meant his death, too much ice cream can be bad. That's what Akutagawa heard from Yosano after he allowed Q to get as much ice cream as their soul wanted. Money isn't exactly an issue for Akutagawa with what he does behind everyones back. Guilt is something he truly feels, lies on his lips everytime he's with Tachihara. But seeing or hearing about Dazai is what determines Akutagawa further.
"I think Tachihara is finally getting back."
Q stands up before rushing towards the ginger with their large appetite towards ice cream. Akutagawa waved his hand next to his face, the warmth getting to him. Perhaps he shouldn't have been wearing a coat in this weather, but wearing gifted clothing is very important. Besides, he feels most comfortable in this coat with Rashoumon. Akutagawa glances at the two conversing with each other, Q trying to convince Tachihara for more ice cream while Tachihara looks at Akutagawa for approval.
The familiar sight of muddy ginger hair with its wild strands pointed in every direction possible graced Akutagawa's eyes, the usual messiness a trait Akutagawa learned to love after some time. The green hoodie fell from one of his shoulders, letting the sun rays hit his already slightly tan skin. Tachihara does enjoy spending time outside, dragging Akutagawa to every location possible. The baggy white shirt hung loosely on him, the reddish brown pants he adorned somehow never seemed to be dirty from sitting on grass. The two features Akutagawa most adored about Tachihara had to be his hands and eyes, the warmth of his hands always comforts Akutagawa from the thoughts of despair and doubts. Yet his eyes.. perhaps the sun has truly blessed him.
"No," Akutagawa simply says, shaking his head at Q's heartbroken face. "Too much ice cream is bad."
"But Tachihara!"
"Sorry kid, the hellhound spoke 'n we just go with what he says y'see."
"Not fair." Q stomps their foot on the ground, but they still grab the ice cream out of Tachihara's hands.
Q walks away, towards the trash can, a grimace still visible on their pale face. Q glances at the two, perhaps they would be able to find someone too. If Tachihara managed to do so, then Q can too. Q closes their eyes shut, crossing their arms only to start eating the ice cream a moment later. The classical taste of vanilla swirled through Q's mouth, a quite sweet taste for the taste of freedom. They savor the moment, it's not every day Q gets to enjoy such niceties.
Too bad Elise isn't here to joke around.
But they aren't alone, are they?
They have those two idiots and Yosano. Not to forget the boring man Kunikida and the ginger Chuuya.
And Kenji.
But Kyouka..
Q stares at the two idiots they consider a figure close to a parental or guardian one, their eyes narrowed.
Akutagawa blinks repeatedly at the sound of the nickname. Where did that come from? "Hellhound? How creative.."
"What can I say, ya act like one." Tachihara shrugs. "Anyway, sorry for takin' so long, babe."
"I was wondering what happened," Akutagawa says, his hands fix the collar of his coat, sitting down with his legs crossed before his hands rested on his knees. He leaned towards Tachihara, who crouched down right in front of Akutagawa. "Have you bumped into anyone? I sure hope not."
Tachihara waved his hand around, not worried about meeting anyone from Port Mafia. "Nah, even if I did, ya bet I woulda blew them off their feet with my skills. I ain't got this ability for no reason."
A sigh escapes Akutagawa's lips, a sudden urge to hide his face in his hands from the utter arrogance in Tachihara's words. "If I could have, you would have been thrown at that tree in this exact moment. Alas, I have no choice but to listen to your utterly despicable words."
"I understood absolutely nothing, but good work babe."
"Read a book at least once."
"Why don't you read a book to me?"
"No."
"But you read to Q."
"..You are not a kid. You are an adult, Tachihara."
"Unfair."
Q stuck out their tongue at the conversation, turning away from the two and continuing to lick the vanilla ice cream. Their beige cardigan laid down on the blanket, leaving them in their white, untucked dress shirt. Q had no intent on wearing boring clothes like everyone else in the agency. Having to listen to Kunikida, Q always made sure to make rude remarks about the clothing. The muted colours and the boring browns bore Q, the only person bearable in this whole agency was Kenji. Perhaps it was the cheerful ignorance he held or the blonde tuff of hair similar to Elise's. Q wants to be thankful for being free of the prison they had been locked in for years, unable to experience the sun kissing theirface or the wind whispering secrets into their ears. But are they really free when they're forced to wear brown out of all the colours?
Q stares at the ground. "..Can we invite Kenji next time?"
"Hm, why?" Tachihara asks, taking a step closer and sitting down right next to Q. Tachihara's fingers fix Q's hair, messy from all the running. "I mean, nothin' against it. Kenji's such an adorable fella, ain't he? Too kind though."
"I want someone to complain with about you and your stupid behavior!"
Tachihara ruffles Q's hair, the corners of his lips lifting up. "No need to act like tis, Akutagawa won't kill ya for likin' me."
"Stop messing up my hair!" Q slaps Tachihara's hand away, crossing their arms and turning their head completely away from Tachihara. "I can't hear you, unless I get more ice cream."
Akutagawa's eyes drift from Tachihara to Q. "If you're hungry, eat this sandwich."
Q takes one look at the sandwich, their eyes glancing up at Akutagawa's calm face. The grey eyes of his lighten as the sunrays hit his pale face. Q's grip on their arms tightened, they shook their head. "..what is it with?"
"..chocolate. You like chocolate."
"..give it then."
The way Q's eyes lit up at the mention of anything sweet warmed Akutagawa's heart, perhaps thats why Akutagawa goes easy on Q. If Akutagawa could, he would have saved Q from Port Mafia much earlier. The acts inside Port Mafia still haunt him, leaving it with Chuuya had been a nightmare Akutagawa wishes to never return. The tainted promise of returning his sister to him plagued Akutagawa's mind, yet he has made a terrible choice in the end. Red doesn't suit him.
"Hey Akutagawa," Tachihara speaks up, rummaging through the picnic basket only to lift up another sandwich, this time with some ham and cheese. "Come on, babe, ya ain't gettin' out of this without eatin'. We didn' get to spend our lunch break, so, doubt ya ate."
Akutagawa stares into the sandwich, as if it were a knife about to slice his neck. "I'm.. you eat first."
"Why don't ya start?"
"It would be better if you ate the sandwich first."
"Nah, you should."
"No, I believe you should."
Q furrows their brows, huffing in annoyance as they chew a piece of the sandwich in their mouth. Q places their sandwich into their mouth briefly, yanking out the sandwich from Tachihara's hands and breaking it into half. They say, with the sandwich still in their mouth. "You're both terrible!"
"Ah.." Akutagawa takes one part of the sandwich into his hands, glancing away at the scenery. He puts the sandwich up to his lips, but doesn't start eating. "Do not talk with food in your mouth, Q. Though, I do not see a problem in inviting Kenji next time.."
The sandwich in his hands burned his fingers by simply existing. The small crumbs drop down onto the blanket, his heart heavy with guilt of wasting such a small part of an important thing that is food. The ham hung from the side of the sandwich, almost falling because of the way Q "cut" it in half. The salty scent of the ham englufed Akutagawa's nostrils, but all it caused was for Akutagawa to feel his stomach dropping, the horrible fluids going up and up until he would puke.
But he doesn't.
It's not like he wants to anyway.
Not in front of loved ones.
"Can you please eat now." Q mutters under their breath, their head tilted downwards. "I don't want to hear you talking and not eating."
Tachihara chuckles. "Sure, sure, anythin' for ya kid."
Tachihara takes a hesitant first bite of the sandwich. Used to the taste of bread with nothing (which was still quite rare) from childhood, Tachihara relishes in the small delight. He still would have preferred for Akutagawa to eat the whole thing. That small exchange between them might have lasted some time, good thing Q interrupted as always.
"..Q, tuck your shirt in." Akutagawa mutters, his eyes narrowing as he stared at the thin figure of the kid. The white shirt remained untucked, possibly for a long time. Not a very good look.
"I don't want to."
"Kyuusaku Yumeno."
"Fine, later."
"Yumeno."
"Okay, okay. Stop acting like Kunikida! He's boring so you will be too!"
A laugh escaped Tachihara, who simply stared at the scene unfolding in front of him. Looking at how Akutagawa acted with Q was oddly endearing. The way Akutagawa's words mingled with Q's personality only to result in a ridiculous exchange between those two. It was pleasing to look at, especially with all those couples with those kids. Tachihara is sure they aren't good guardians, far from it, but the only thing that matters is if they're happy and if Q is safe.
But god.
Tachihara really loves that often overworking prick.
If smiles were a confession of love, Akutagawa would have gotten milions of those from Tachihara.
If only chocolate were as sweet as this love.