Work Text:
Another fail. Is this thermometer working? I know it’s pretty old… Oh, is the battery old too? When was the last time that I replaced it? Maruki stood at his kitchen counter, his hands clean but his shirt was not. Flicks of chocolate had found his rolled up sleeves, but he wasn’t really willing to change shirts for damage that small - plus, it would probably just spread to his other shirts if he wore them right now. He grabbed the edge of the chocolate, showing a dull colour but a small snap. At least it’s actually snapping this time.
Maruki took his glasses off and set them on a spot of the counter that wasn’t currently occupied by kitchenware as he gave himself a break. He sat on the tiles and ate the thin piece of chocolate he snapped off of the failed attempt as he contemplated what went wrong in that attempt. Maybe my apartment’s too hot. The weather’s been picking up lately. He stood back up and unlocked his window. He pulled it open and looked back at his little project when he grabbed his glasses again. I’m sure everyone at work will love it. Maybe they won’t even know that it’s Easter soon? I know a lot of people don’t really celebrate it.
Maruki ran through the process again, breaking the previous attempt’s chocolate into small pieces to be retempered. He pulled a bag of chocolate pellets close by as he transferred the smashed pieces into a glass bowl. Then he looked over to his pot, which had a small amount of water left. He filled that up just a bit more and then sat it over his stove, which he turned back on. He sat the bowl over the top of the pot and began to mix the chocolate through again, watching it slowly melt back down into a puddle. He turned his thermometer back on and stuck it into the puddle, checking for the right temperature. Now I add the spare chocolate…
He tossed the chocolate pellets in and took the bowl off of the heat, setting it on top of a spare chopping board to cool down. He mixed the spare chocolate until it cooled to another specific temperature, then he went back to the stove with the bowl. It has to be this time. It has to be, please. My arms… He was tired of stirring, but he kept it up when he could see the light at the end of the tunnel.
The temperature hit the number he was looking for again and he immediately pulled the chocolate off of the stove, setting it back on the spare chopping board as he brought the mould closer to him. The tea towel he was using for the chocolate grew pretty hot, but he didn’t dare let it go now of all times. He filled half of the ditches on one side and pulled it shut, flipping it over after the plastic clicked together. He grabbed another set and did the same thing, though he ran out of chocolate about halfway. Running out is good. Running out means that I don’t need to improvise what to do with molten sugar. He flipped the moulds again after a couple of minutes, wanting to be sure that the inside was evenly coated.
He went to lean onto his counter when he realised that somewhere along the line a part of his arm had touched the side of the bowl, which had tiny strands of chocolate now beginning to set in place. He washed his hands, bringing the water up to his arms so that he could get it off. Maruki felt the water for a while and his eyes began to close, the time was creeping up on him. He only really noticed that he was about to fall asleep when he nearly fell back. Wow, that was close. I should really do this kind of thing earlier in the day… I was tired when I got back home. He debated in his head the ‘correct schedule’ for this kind of thing and shut off the tap. What’s the time, anyway? He dried his hands with a spare tea towel and tapped his phone to wake it up.
His heart dropped. What do you mean it’s almost two in the morning?
Maruki nearly tripped over the stairs as he came into work, wearing the white and blue uniform as best he could given the trouble he went through last night. It had become later and later as he tried to make enough chocolate for everyone, leading to the state that he was in today as he wandered over to the breakroom. It didn’t make it much better that he decided to come in earlier for his shift to quickly run everyone their gifts.
Still, when he entered he saw a lot of his colleagues in the same uniform and others in work-appropriate wear. Oh good, that makes things a little bit easier. Maruki smiled and set his bag on a free chair, avoiding attention for just a little while longer. That’s not everyone. There’s six people here, where’s… He watched quietly for a moment before he switched plans. He took one of the colourful bags he’d wrapped up and set it aside separately in his bag while he gathered the rest and set them on the table.
“Wait, Maruki - what are those?” One of his colleagues beamed when she saw that it might be a snack. Then the attention was drawn, causing Maruki to laugh awkwardly. It’s easy enough talking one on one, but with a group I’m not too sure on that.
“Oh, I got some chocolate for everyone, for Easter. I wasn’t sure if anyone in particular celebrated it, so I just got everyone something.” Maruki smiled again, though the amount of eyes that were on him and on his hands in particular was overwhelming. He looked at his bag, unable to process the thank yous and the other voices around him. He picked it up and smiled again in the general direction of the room before he walked out, looking for the offices in particular.
He found the hallway and paused. Wait a second. What if I hand this to him specifically and he has some kind of allergy or intolerance? Maruki took smaller and smaller steps until he was outside of one office in particular. I’m just giving these to the people who are on the morning shift with me. I’m sure he’ll understand that. If he doesn’t like them, he can just give them away, right? Maruki stared at the door like he’d been frozen and stuck in place. Half of his brain was saying ‘just do it’ and the other half was going ‘we really don’t have to’ .
Luckily for Maruki the door opened and Adachi stepped out, wearing smart casual clothes for work. He usually looked friendly and upbeat but Adachi was taken off guard and all he could do was stare with his brows furrowed. It was quiet for what felt like a year before Adachi spoke up, switching back into that expression.
“Oh, hey Maruki. Looking for someone in particular, or is there a problem?” That was the smile and voice that helped him make quick friends with anyone. Maruki looked down to his bag, trying to snap himself out of it.
“Sorry to bother you. I was actually looking for you, I made-” Maruki paused briefly while he grabbed the paper bag out and held it out for Adachi to take. “I made some chocolate. I noticed you weren’t in the breakroom and I was worried you’d already be busy. I feel a bit bad that I didn’t have enough to hand out to the rest of the payroll staff.” Maruki smiled awkwardly, hoping that it wasn’t weird to go out of his way like this. Oh, what if people think that I’m trying to get Adachi to pay me more? Is that even possible with how his job works? Maybe that cognition is enough, even without that fact.
Adachi stayed quiet for another while. Maybe he’s thinking that too. Maybe I should have just left it in the breakroom… Maruki’s eyes wandered to the scene behind Adachi, the slight height difference helping him see a little more. It was just people working in cubicles, though some of the clerks had noticed what was happening and avoided eye contact with Maruki. Do they think so too? Maybe this would have been more comfortable if I had enough for all of the payroll staff. Maruki’s face started to burn, the embarrassment setting in as he looked around for the time. As his head turned he felt a weight get added, so he looked back to see that Adachi had finally accepted it. He let it go and Adachi turned it around to have a look.
“This isn’t actually for me, is it?” Adachi turned his head to have a look toward the cubicles and determined that it might be best to step outside and shut the door to talk with Maruki. Actually, I think this will make it worse, but I don’t want to say anything.
“It is. I know we haven’t really spoken that much, but I thought it would be nice to give you something. I mean, you’re the one who has to process everyone’s payments. You’re a part of my interactions at work just as much as anyone else - even if we don’t see each other a lot. So…” Maruki smiled, relaxing as he felt less eyes on him. Adachi had a moment where a kind of pain struck his face, looking back down at the gift. Does he like it? I really can’t tell…
“I guess that makes sense. Uh… Thanks , Cabbie.” Adachi stepped around Maruki. Cabbie? The confusion sat in Maruki’s expression as he watched Adachi look back and laugh, the tension fading when Adachi could see it. There was a kind of strain in his words, but… Maruki watched Adachi turn the corner. That felt nice. That was nice. Maruki lit up, beaming as he walked back down the hallway to collect his keys and start his shift.
Adachi couldn’t focus. What do you mean ‘hey, here’s some chocolate! No strings attached, by the way’? He stood in line for the coffee machine, trying not to show the conflict in his mind on his face. Who does that? Why would someone just do that? Just because we work together? He stepped one pace forward and felt the brush of someone’s arm as they zoomed by him. When was the last time that I got chocolate like that anyway? He looked down at the ground to think about that. Maybe… In university. God, I don’t want to think about it anymore. He clenched his jaw tightly together. Maybe I should… He noticed that it was his turn and filled up a mug. No, I shouldn’t. Maybe I should just pretend it never happened. But the look on his face… Adachi glared into his cup. That’s gay as hell. Maybe I wouldn’t be having this debate if he didn’t act like such a bitch. He sighed, taking the cup and turning around with a smile, nodding to one person in the line as he walked back to the office space.
“God damn it.” He muttered under his breath when he was sure that no one else would hear him. He opened the door to the payroll cubicles and continued to smile, finding his own spot among the handful of people in the room. He set the mug down and let the tension in his jaw go. If I give him something in return, then I don’t have to think about it anymore. But I don’t know when I’ll see him next. He paused, taking a look at the computer in front of him. Hey, but no one’s going to know if I just… He opened the payroll software and took a look at the different names until he found Takuto Maruki in the list. He clicked on it and found his usual hours worked in a week. So if he’s on a regular shift today when it ticks over to the next hour, then that means that he’s doing…
Eventually Adachi figured out what hour Maruki would be back by. I can’t believe I’m even considering this. He returned to his usual work, which was more supervisive than it was crunching numbers - making sure everyone else had their shit together, keeping in contact with the bank to do the payments, that sort of thing. Unfortunately, I’m a dumbass and I can’t keep my shit together for five seconds. Honestly, someone hands you chocolate once and now I want to be buddy-buddy with them? The thought wouldn’t leave him alone. I didn’t even know it was Easter.
The hours ticked by but even on his breaks he could barely keep the friendly facade up. What would I even do? Give him chocolate in return? Isn’t that redundant? But it’s Easter, so it makes sense to do that. He’s insane to give chocolate out just like that. I bet he doesn’t even know what position he’s put me in. I feel like those morons are looking at me funny. Do the ‘rules of this world’ still count if they fucking started it? He took a slow breath in and out. Mandatory work sucks. I don’t even know how or why I was promoted that fast. I guess there’s only fifteen years left of this parole before I really get back into society again, huh?
Finally it was five o’clock. Adachi sat in the break room, leg kicked over the other as he read. I don’t think people have noticed that I’m still here even after my shift has ended. Good, that would be too much to explain. He watched Maruki walk in and he was like a completely different person - like life had been drained from his face. He did seem tired when he was talking to me. Maruki took his bag slowly and turned to leave. Has he even noticed me?! Adachi stood up, making a gesture, looking inside his mug like he was going to leave for another shot of coffee. Oh no you don’t. At least I know how to do this kind of shit without drawing attention to myself. He let Maruki leave and then followed after him, shutting the door behind him first.
“Hey, Maruki!” Adachi smiled, talking loudly enough that it spun Maruki around. There you go, idiot. Yes, dumbass, walk closer. He let Maruki wander back to him.
“Hey, Adachi. How’re things?” Maruki smiled again, a vague sense of warmth in his expression even if everything in his body language said that he wanted to go home and nap. Just give me a second. I won’t sleep tonight if I think that I owe you something.
“I’m good! I’m just leaving work too, so let’s walk together for a bit. Do you catch the train?” Adachi walked with Maruki out the doors. There we go. Now I can tell him what I actually want.
“I do, do you?” Maruki tried not to trip back down the stairs, moving slowly so that he could focus enough to get his steps straight before continuing down the path. If gods can exist outside of that world, they fucking hate you for some reason. Adachi smiled and shook his head.
“No, but you seem tired. Lemme walk you back to the train, didn’t you nearly fall there?” How the fuck did you drive today? He’s so lucky that I’m not a snitch. Adachi hesitated when he realised that he might have to hold onto Maruki. Oh come on, stop being a coward. It’s not anything like that, you’re just walking him home for crying out loud. No one from work is walking this way - as it turns out, most taxi drivers have their own cars. He tucked his arm around Maruki to support him as he walked.
“Oh, thank you… You’re really nice for doing that.” Maruki smiled, looking ahead to make sure that he didn’t trip Adachi over now. Oh come on. Adachi looked out, over the road. If I threw him now, would it look like an accident?… He shook his head. No, that wouldn’t fix the issue. Even for a joke that was weak.
“It’s really no problem. Just think of it as thanks for the chocolate earlier!” It was really good. He said he made it, didn’t he? Adachi looked back at Maruki as they walked. What’s the matter with me? Get it together.
“Okay, then I will. Thank you, Adachi.” Maruki stopped at the stairs to the train station. Finally. Honestly, what a dumbass, showing up to work like that. He should have called in sick and done that later. What if he crashed and fucked himself up just because he lost a couple of hours last night?
“That’s no problem. Oh, you-” Adachi’s face suddenly twisted into disgust, like he just sucked a lemon. Just fucking do it. That idiot’s going to fall over or something on his way home, I can just tell. His expression returned to the smile he usually wore. “We should probably stay in contact, huh? Let me know that you got home safe, yeah?” Adachi offered his phone for Maruki to put his number in. Or, worse, he’s going to trip someone else over and they’re going to blame the company. I might as well step in while I can. That’s all this is.
“Okay, sure. Here…” Maruki filled his number and name into Adachi’s contacts and smiled again after he was done trying to focus on numbers and letters.
“There we go. I’ll see you - Oh, I guess not tomorrow but the day after? I’m not sure when you work, but I don’t have Sundays.” I know that, dumbass. Well, technically I shouldn’t have memorised that, but… Adachi laughed a little, smiling and nodding.
“Sure! See you next time.” Adachi let Maruki go and watched him as he wobbled slowly down the stairs.
That moron. Well, I guess that solves my issue. Now I don’t owe him anything.
Adachi turned around and started to walk toward his car, which meant he was heading back the way he came.
Damn it. What’s this fuzzy feeling in my chest?