Work Text:
Atsushi felt anxious walking into his fathers’s office, he could count on one hand the number of times something good had come out after being called there by him, it usually implied him having fucked something up in some way, and ending scolded, screamed at or punished, if he was really bad, maybe all three. That’s why he was so weirded out when he saw an unfamiliar face standing there next to his father’s desk.
“Ah, son there you are”- Shibusawa commented when he walked in, he greeted both of the men respectfully and waited for his father to speak again.
“You must be wondering who this man is”- He gestured towards the stranger- “His name is Akutagawa Ryunosuke, he will be your new personal bodyguard, he was trained by Dazai himself back at their agency before he left so I'm sure he will be very good at his job”.
Atsushi knew what exactly had caused this, last week he had scaped a photo shoot and ran away to a park, spending a few hours there and making the company lose the money and gaining the anger of the director of the shoot. He had good reasons for doing what he did, firstly, the guy doing the shot was a total creep who touched him way too much when he didn't have to ‘guide’ him, and second, he had a totally jammed schedule and he really needed a little break.
Of course, his little adventure had earned him a harsh scolding and a cut of his meals from three to only two a day for the entire next week. He thought his punishment would have ended there, what a fool he was, now he was going to have some guy paid to watch over him twenty-four hours seven days a week, just perfect.
Anyway, he knew better than to argue with the man. “Yes, father”- Was all he said. He was dismissed quickly after, the man, who he knew now to address as Akutagawa, following him behind quietly not saying a word, even when they were introducing each other he had only nodded, he wondered if maybe he was mute.
He walked back into the car that he had taken to arrive back to the agency, his new bodyguard walking into the driver seat that was now empty from the driver that had taken him there, that was probably his fault too, it had been the driver the one who found him in the park that day and he hadn't immediately dragged him back so he was probably removed by his father too just like his freedom.
As soon as he had put on the seat belt the car started and they were on their way back to his house, he glanced at Akutagawa a couple of times but the guy remained silent.
“So I guess we will be spending a lot of time together now”- Atsushi said feeling awkward in the silence.
“Yes”- Was all he got as an answer, so at least the guy could talk.
“Have you ever worked with a celebrity before?”- He asked, the guy looked pretty young for a professional, probably close to his age if not a little older, he must have really good credentials if he was being allowed to work for Atsushi.
“No”- He said, never looking away from the street, it was starting to annoy Atsushi.
“Can you speak in more than syllables?”- He muttered not hiding his annoyance.
“Yes”- It was like Akutagawa was trying to anger him.
“Look dude, we are going to be together every day for who knows fucking when, it won't kill you to talk to me in more than one word at a time”- He complained.
“What do you want me to say?”- Akutagawa spoke coldly somehow annoyed too like he wasn't the one being unnecessarily mean.
“Ugh!”- Atsushi loudly complained and turned around in his seat to face the window completely. They would not get along.
They in fact didn't get along, but after two months of spending every day next to each other Atsushi had managed to learn that Akutagawa had a sister who also worked as a bodyguard and that he was an orphan. Their conversation consisted mostly of Atsushi speaking and Akutagawa barely nodding along and giving one-word answers. It still annoyed Atsushi but now he knew that was just how Akutagawa was.
He was currently in his house at his home office reviewing some papers for his dad’s company. He spent most of his days locked at his own home, his work consisted of a mix of being trained to become Shibusawa’s successor and being a model on the side. It was completely exhausting.
“Achoo!”- He sneezed so hard he actually hurt his throat, he immediately covered his mouth with his hand hoping Akutagawa hadn't heard, the man was currently making them lunch since despite how rich his father liked to brag about being, he limited the people working for Atsushi, probably because any normal person would say something about the treatment he received from the man.
He had no such luck since he could hear the strong steps coming closer to the room he was in, he silently cursed and waited for Akutagawa to enter.
“That’s it, you are going to bed”- He said as soon as he walked in.
“No, I’m not, I have work to finish, you know that”- He sighed still looking at the documents.
“We can postpone them for tomorrow or another day if necessary”- He continued pushing.
Atsushi laughed with no actual joy- “I doubt my father would be happy with that”
“Your father hired me to protect you, protect you from other people and your own stupidity, you are in no condition to work, you will make yourself sicker if you don't rest”- He started walking dangerously close to him. Maybe he was right but Atsushi was not going to say so, he had been feeling sick since yesterday, and today he woke up with a fever. At that moment he felt a little dizzy but being sick was not on his schedule so he just ignored the man.
“You shouldn't call stupid the person you are protecting”- He teased and started writing into one of the documents.
“Alright that’s it you little brat, you are going to go to bed and rest you want it or not”- Akutagawa forcibly turned his chair around and took the papers and pen from his hands, he ignored his little ‘hey!’ of complain and quickly threw Atsushi over his shoulder, he was once again remained of the man’s strength despite his kind of lanky frame.
Akutagawa walked to Atsushi’s bedroom and let go of Atsushi, throwing him violently on the bed for a guy who claimed to want him to be protected, this situation had happened before in his dreams but it was a lot more romantic.
“I will be back when you wake up with some food”- Akutagawa said before closing the door, Atsushi didn't stand up as he could hear the outside lock being turned, he wouldn't get out not, his phone and laptop remained in his office so no online work either.
“Fucking asshole”- Atsushi insulted him knowing Akutagawa could probably hear him, despite the warmth he felt in his stomach for being taken care of, even if it was in such an aggressive way.
Atsushi had many enemies, with his line of job and the position he held it was kind of impossible not to have them, his father’s company wasn't exactly loved by the public due to their questionable treatment of employees and general respect for people, animals or the environment, Atsushi being the sole heir to such a business was always under some type of criticism, his modeling job also made him another good quantity of haters, some people didn't like the feminine clothes he wore in some of his shootings, others didn't like how close he would be of their favorite stars and were jealous. There were still people who loved him and he had many fans but every once in a while, one or another particularly nasty guy would start something.
Regardless of this, he was almost never in actual physical danger, Akutagawa’s position of bodyguard most of the time reduced to nanny, chauffeur, or cook depending on what he needed to do through the day. Akutagawa being himself, was always on alert, always carried some kind of weapon with him, always insisted on going with him anywhere and everywhere to make sure he was safe, checking rooms before he entered and not letting anyone approach him too much (this one he was actually thankful for most of the time), Atsushi often made fun of him for it but the other always said the same thing ‘you can never be too careful’.
Still, the constant nagging and being followed everywhere was starting to tire him even more than normal, he thought that with all of the eyes on him that Shibusawa sent on a regular basis since he could remember would prepare him for a situation like this but Akutagawa was just a different type of headache.
The guy was too good at his job that was the problem, Atsushi was used to outmastring or outrunning the people sent to watch him over when he needed to take a break and a breath of fresh air alone but Akutagawa had somehow developed a six sense when he wanted to do this. One time Atsushi went to the bathroom and escaped through the window only to come face to face with Akutagawa who was already outside waiting for him, he still didn't know how he did that, the guy would tell.
That’s why when someone from the crew that he was currently being photographed for asked for Akutagawa’s help in carrying some equipment to another room a plan started being formed in his mind.
He waited for just the right moment when Akutagawa would be too far away to hear him leave and come back in time to stop him, he asked for a break so he could go to the bathroom, and since everyone was putting everything away after being done they let him go without too much fuss. He actually walked in the direction of where he should be going so no one would think anything but then he walked right past the right door and into the exit.
He wasn't going to actually leave, he knew better than that, not only Akutagawa but also his father would have his neck the moment they found out, he just wanted five minutes of being alone with his thoughts, he wanted to stand and look at the sky and smell the fresh air, just that, nothing more. He didn't think it was that big of a deal despite what others said.
The exit didn't let out to streets but to a staircase that led to the rest of the studio, it was spacious enough to feel like a balcony so Atsushi remained there instead of going down, enjoying the light breeze and sunlight on his skin.
Moments like this kept him sane, he would have gone crazy if he actually had to be surrounded by people all the time. Akutagawa wasn't as bad past bodyguards and the as he had before, even if he never admitted this, while he was definitely the most difficult to escape at least he allowed him to be ‘alone’ in his own house most of the time, he would wait in another room when Atsushi wanted some peace and quiet if he wasn't such a dick he would probably be a gentleman.
Lost in his thoughts he didn't hear anyone approaching until they were right behind him.
“Oh my god, Atsushi Nakajima? I’m such a big fan”- He heard a strange man exclaim, just great, he finally had five minutes to himself and one of his fans had to find him. Still, he couldn't be mad at the random stranger just for being excited to meet him so he turned around and greeted him with a fake smile to hide his annoyance.
He waited for the guy to ask for a picture or a signature on one of his magazine covers but the guy remained silent, it was starting to make Atsushi uncomfortable, the guy was off he could tell, the creepy-way-too-happy smile on his face didn't look like the one most of his fans had when they met him, it looked like more. He tried to speak again thinking quickly on an excuse to go back inside completely giving up on his little break and just trying to get away from the man.
“I'm so happy to find you here”- The man said, cutting him off when he opened his mouth to say something.
When he realized what was happening it was already too late, the shine of the knife was the first thing he noticed but by then it was already going in his direction with speed. He closed his eyes and prepared himself for the pain of a stab but nothing came, he hesitantly opened his eyes when he heard the sound of struggling and grunting coming from the direction of the guy.
He couldn't see the guy anymore, just someone’s back, Akutagawa’s back, he gasped and quickly realized what had happened when small drops of blood started falling out from Akutagawa’s side, he feared the worst, his mind started going at ten miles per hour.
Akutagawa was hurt because of him, it was completely his fault, now because of Atsushi's selfish desire to be left alone he had gotten hurt. The tears quickly gathered at the corners of his eyes, he prayed that Akutagawa wouldn't be immediately replaced for being hurt.
He must have left some kind of scream since soon three more men came out of the exit door from where he had left, he recognized their clothes as being part of the crew’s security, and he had just noticed that the man had tried to stab him was wearing a simple worn out black hoodie, an obvious sign that he was not supposed to be there, god he was so stupid.
Realizing he had been caught, the attacker tried to make a run for it, only to be immediately knocked down to the floor by Akutagawa himself despite his wound. He was thrown harshly onto the floor and held there until the new men that had just come in took the guy from Akutagawa’s stronghold, Atsushi couldn't hear what they were saying, hyperfocused on the way blood didn't stop spilling from somewhere in Akutagawa’s body.
“Are you okay?”- Akutagawa asked walking to him calmly like Atsushi wasn't freaking out.
“You- You are hurt- You are bleeding”- He said hiccuping a little from crying.
“You mean this?”- Akutagawa said showing him his hand, it had a long cut in the middle. Akutagawa explained to him in the car that he had held the knife in his bare hand to stop it from reaching Atsushi and it was from that wound that all the blood was coming from, the rest of him completely unharmed.
“I can't believe you got scared by a little blood”- Akutagawa mocked him, of course, he was such a free talker when it came to making fun of Atsushi, and he was so worried for him just an hour ago.
Atsushi was currently helping Akutagawa get the wound bandaged after pulling out the first aid kit he kept in his house, they decided to leave immediately given how freaked out Atsushi was, leaving the rest of handling the guy to the other workers after giving their statements quickly.
“Well I'm sorry if I'm not used to seeing blood”- He lied easily, he was used to it, but only to his own blood from his own wounds, seeing someone else bleed, especially someone as special to him as Akutagawa put some fear on him he didn't know he could have. “I’m- I’m glad that you are okay”- He admitted carefully cleaning the cut before bandaging it expertly.
If Akutagawa found weird his proficiency in taking care of wounds like he was used to it he didn't mention it- “Of course I'm okay, it would take more than a little knife to hurt me for real”- He commented proudly, Atsushi had noticed that despite his quiet nature the guy had one big ego when it came to his abilities.
Atsushi sighed but continued with what he had been trying to say- “I know it’s kind of your job but… thank you for helping me… and I’m sorry for leaving like that, it was stupid”.
“It was”- Akutagawa agreed.
“Come on I’m trying to have a moment with you here!”- Atsushi complained loudly putting the finishing touches on Akutagawa's hand, just when he was about to let go to put everything away he felt Akutagawa grab his hand himself.
He looked at him surprised and waited for Akutagawa to speak- “I… am happy that you are not hurt, I care about you… probably more than I was hired to be”- Akutagawa admitted slowly and suddenly making Atsushi blush, he looked into his eyes finding the same kind of fear that he had, the same kind of hesitancy, they were so close holding hands like this, it would be so easy for him to just… come a little closer.
“I'm really growing on you aren't I?”- Atsushi teased effectively breaking the atmosphere that they had going on, leaving just a quick peck on Akutagawa’s cheek that left the bodyguard furiously blushing.
He stood up before he could start screaming at himself for his own actions and went in the direction of the kitchen.
“Guess I will cook today since you have a boo boo”- Atsushi said from the kitchen fully aware of his lack of talent in the cooking department.
“Atsushi step away from the stove right now!”- Akutagawa demanded running to where Atsushi was and making him laugh loudly.
Maybe another day, when they were both more free, he thought.