Work Text:
Hating Akutagawa Ryūnosuke was easy, madly so. He made it as easy as eating a good bowl of chazuke; with his snarky remarks, his habit of threatening (and doing!) to rip Atsushi’s limbs, his creepy bug eyes that seemed non-human. He was a vicious enemy that wouldn’t listen, that wouldn’t care to.
A monster.
Loving Akutagawa Ryūnosuke was as easy as wearing his gloves, as natural as breathing. Atsushi doesn’t remember when those non-human black eyes became a silver that carried a bleeding soul, but he knows their outcome couldn’t be any other.
The monster was only human.
Ever since the Decay of Angels case has been closed, Akutagawa was told to rest at home, to take his time to overcome everything that happened to him. Atsushi stayed by his side, taking unlimited days off for himself. As long as it was necessary for him to be by his partner’s side, he would.
“You should leave and live your life instead of being trapped here with me.” Akutagawa says.
“Akutagawa. My life isn’t stopping just because I’m not doing some useless paperwork at the Agency.” Atsushi snorts.
It is a well-known script by now: Akutagawa trying to make him go, Atsushi grounding his feet and staying, ignoring the cute pout he does when he’s clearly upset but doesn’t want to show.
“You’re a fool.”
“So I’ve heard. You need to think of new insults.”
They’re seating on the sofa in the living room. Akutagawa’s home is cozy, looking like it belongs to a magazine or a cool website. It has a navy-blue wall, a lot of paintings, plants, a very pretty white vase with some red lines, and items Akutagawa had called antiques. Atsushi didn’t understand what that was, but he nodded along. He was too busy at the time noticing that Akutagawa has a mole under his eye, and another one under his lips.
“Gin and I created the house we could only dream of when we were kids. The plants and furniture came from her, and the art came from me.” he explained when Atsushi had joked about expecting an emptier and darker apartment. It was cute.
They stayed in this domestic setting for four days (yes, Atsushi’s counting, he’s in love and gay, thank you very much!), with Atsushi coming early and leaving before the night came. He wanted to stay, wanted to be there for Akutagawa, but Gin had told him on the second day that her brother is having rough nights, which can only mean that he wasn’t ready to be that vulnerable in front of Atsushi, which he understands.
Everything changed on the fifth day, though. They were sitting at the sofa again, Akutagawa’s head resting on a broad shoulder, Atsushi’s heart beating itself out of his bones, after both just finished eating their karaage for dinner. He was ready to pack his things and leave, even if he didn’t want to, when a warm hand holds his and a soft voice calls for him:
“Stay in today. Gin’s gone for a mission and… And.” he bites his lips, discernibly stressed, and Atsushi waits “And I can’t deal with it alone. Not yet.”
“It?”
“You’ll see. But I must warn you it’s not a pretty sight. It’s haunted.”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to go through it alone, Akutagawa.” Atsushi assures him, holding his hand a little stronger.
Akutagawa scoffs, but his cheeks turn a little bit rosier.
“You’re a fool.”
And he’s right. Atsushi’s a fool. A fool in love with an enemy, a partner, a friend.
A fool in love with someone who had humiliated and hurt him before, someone who fought with him, who gave his life for him.
A fool for only noticing it after the love of his life died for him.
After he could’ve lost all of it.
Could’ve lost him.
Atsushi sleeps first, tucked in under a very soft blanket on the sofa, when he suddenly wakes up because of a pained scream. His legs react faster than his brain, and he’s quickly by Akutagawa’s side, who’s still sleeping and having a nightmare. His scream sounds and looks painful, his eyes tremble even closed, and his hands hold the sheets so tight his hand color themselves red.
“Akutagawa, wake up. Akutagawa.” Atsushi softly shakes him, but he doesn’t wake up “Wake up, it’s not real, it’s just a nightmare.”
Atsushi shakes him until it’s not a soft touch anymore but the start of desperation, his own hands shaking. What’s he supposed to do? He shouldn’t have agreed to stay, he should have told Akutagawa to call Chuuya, someone who’s definitely better at handling situations like this, someone who’s not so useless ̶
“Akutagawa. Akutagawa please.”
What do I do now? Do I call Gin? What if they get upset and don’t let me see their brother anymore? Why can’t I do something so simple as this? He’s suffering and I’m doing nothing, I can’t do anything right ever, he saved my fucking life and I can’t help him from a nightmare ̶
“Just the two of us?”
“Do we need anymore?”
Not about winning or losing, but a reminder that if they have each other, they are going to be fine.
“Akutagawa. I’m here with you.”
And just like that grey eyes snap open as Akutagawa sits abruptly on his bed, his forehead shimmering with sweat. Atsushi can feel his own forehead sweeting, too, as he takes Akutagawa’s hand in his, caressing the palm with his thumb.
“I’m here”, he repeats. Forever, he thinks.
“You look terrible. I told you it was bad and you chose not to listen. It’s nothing but your own fault you went through this.”
“What the fuck, Akutagawa!?”
“Watch your tone, it’s too late for screaming.”
This man never failed from going against the expected, did he?
“And it’s too late to be this rude! If I look terrible, you should see yourself!”
“I know how I look. Every night has been like this since the day of our final battle against Fukuchi Ouchi.”
Atsushi softens at that, noticing that they’re still holding hands. He hopes the blush he can feel on his face can’t be seen in the dark they are in “Do you want to talk about it? Letting it out helps.”
“There’s nothing to “let out”. I close my eyes, sleep, and have memories of myself hurting Higuchi and this guy who I don’t even know the name. I dream of Fukuchi’s voice in my head, ordering me to do things for him, ordering me to kill a child. And the worse thing aren’t those memories, it’s the pain I can only feel now, probably because I wasn’t that much alive to feel. My head throbs, my neck hurts, and when I dream of you calling for me my whole being hurts because at the time I couldn’t call for you back. I was trapped inside myself. It was… I don’t know how to put into words.”
“Oh.” Atsushi says, dumbly.
“Oh, indeed.”
“I’m sorry.” is all he can say, lowering his head as Akutagawa scowls at him.
“For what? Do you even known what you are apologizing for?”
“For everything.”
“Don’t be stupid.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Shut up ̶ “
“I’m sorry for not trusting you enough. Everything you’ve been through is my fault. I’m sorry, Akutagawa. I’m sorry, I’m sorry.”
“I didn’t expect you to be such a narcissist, Nakajima Atsushi.” Atsushi snaps his head up so fast he’s almost sure he broke a bone, his eyes wide open and his heart beating so hard and fast he’s sure Akutagawa can hear it “The choice to die so you could escape was mine, you have no right to put yourself at the center of my decisions. I won’t let you.”
“But then, Bram ̶ “
“Shut up. My head hurts and I don’t want to think about two dead men, not when ̶”
“When…?”
“… Not when both of us are alive and well.”
Atsushi can’t do anything but kiss him after hearing that. He expects Akutagawa to push him away and chop one of his arms, but he kisses back. One of Atsushi’s hands goes to hold his waist, the other goes to hold his cheek. Atsushi stops the kiss as he gasps and pulls away, because Akutagawa’s cheek is so so soft.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that your cheek is so soft.”
Something unexpected happens again, their night full of bold surprises: Akutagawa laughs. It’s a cute lighthearted giggle, its sound muffled by his hand. And Atsushi watches him laugh, but he’s the one out of breath. He’s so stunned he doesn’t see Akutagawa leaning in to kiss him again, he can only feel it. And Atsushi kisses him, kisses him, kisses him, and Akutagawa keeps kissing him back. And soon after he can feel himself crying, but both smile through his tears, through their kiss.
“Akutagawa… Can I sleep here tonight? With you?”
“It only takes you a kiss to get this bold? I didn’t know you were this type of person, Nakajima.”
“N-no, that’s not what I’m talking about!!!!!! I only want to be here for you!!!!!”
“Humph. You may stay if you want to.”
“I want to. Do you want to, Akutagawa?”
“… I do. And I want to eat the leftover kakigori Gin brought. You can stay here in bed if you want to.”
“You know by now I can never say no to food. And I told you at dinner that you should eat more.”
Akutagawa snorts at that as they head to the kitchen.
It becomes a habit for them, after that day. Atsushi stays in for the night and they lay together, tangled in each other’s presence. Akutagawa has nightmares every night, but now Atsushi can say he’s a pro of helping him, reassuring him. Some days he has his owns nightmares, too, and Akutagawa’s always equally there for him. His bed becomes something like their own private sanctuary.
On the eight day Atsushi lays with Akutagawa’s head on his chest, their whole bodies touching as Akutagawa’s left arm holds Atsushi’s torso and Atsushi’s left arm holds Akutagawa’s waist. Akutagawa lifts his head a little, and they start kissing between small smiles and tender gazes.
“I want to have sex with you.” Akutagawa says suddenly, making Atsushi’s brain stop working all at once.
“H-hu ̶ H-huh…!!!!!!!??? Sex? Us????? N-now?”
“I want to.” he repeats, frowning “But we can’t. At least not now.”
“Why not?” Atsushi asks, a little too fast.
“I didn’t take you to be a horny teenager, Nakajima.” Akutagawa scoffs, and Atsushi just knows his face must be red. Akutagawa’s own face has a soft blush, too.
“Oh shut the fuck up, Akutagawa. You were the one who said you wanted to have sex with me!”
“And I do. But I have to tell you something first.”
He breaks a little from their embrace to make up space so he can take off his shirt, and Atsushi wants to stop him, wants to ask what is happening, wants to ask Do you trust me that much? but he can only watch, dazed, as the man who doesn’t feel save without clothes on, without his ability, lays now bared in front of him.
And Atsushi wants to be respectful and don’t look, but maybe he really is a horny teenager because he can’t help himself as he looks with eyes wide open to Akutagawa’s chest, to a pair of small breasts, one with a huge scar underneath.
“Do you know what a transgender person is?” Akutagawa asks, rolling his eyes when Atsushi raises his head to look at him in the eyes, most definitely calling him a fool on his mind.
“No…?”
“It is someone whose gender identity is different than the one assigned at birth because of their genital organ. I happen to be one of these people.” Atsushi can see Akutagawa’s lip trembling as he speaks, so he draws them in to their original position, all around each other. I’m here, he wants to say, but waits “That’s why you are seeing what you are seeing on my chest area; I use a binder to hide them on normal days, and bigger shirts at home… Why are you not saying anything?”
“… I’m just not really understanding the issue here…? What does this have to do with not having sex?”
“… Are you an idiot?”
“…?”
Akutagawa breaths in heavily, his hand holding Atsushi’s torso tighter “I don’t have a dick like you do. I have breasts. I ̶ Why are you looking at me like this? You’re okay with it?”
“Why wouldn’t I be? I don’t really get it ̶ “ and Atsushi doesn’t get to finish, because Akutagawa is kissing him with passion and he’s eager to kiss back. Atsushi is grateful for everything that is given to him, even if he didn’t really need it or want it, because people took the effort to give something to him, because he’s not supposed to have things. But Akuatagwa he wants, he wants, he wants so much; he's honestly, bleeding so, grateful. He’s not supposed to have things, to want things, but he has Akutagawa and he wants him even more. Maybe Akutagawa is a fool, too, for not knowing that.
He has him, he wants him, and he wants to keep him forever. With him, everything is right.
“You’re hard, Nakajima.” and maybe he wants him too much, but who wouldn’t? Akutagawa is so pretty, so soft, and he’s the person who Atsushi needs by his side the most.
Between black and white are all the colors, between Atsushi and Akutagawa are all the feelings of two people who are life-changing for each other.
“What happened?” Atsushi asks when they are just embraced again, tracing that scar under Akutagawa’s breast.
“I was twelve and loathing my body. I have known I am a man ever since I can remember and I was in peace with myself, but when I started gaining breasts just like the girls while the other boys didn’t, I started feeling disgusting. One night while everyone was sleeping, I used Rashomon to cut it.”
“Wait, what? Cut a part of your body? Just like that?”
“Yes and Rashomon didn’t like it too, because she struggled to do it. She took so long that when she first pierced my skin, Gin woke up and saw us. He started to cry and ask me to never hurst myself that way again, which I complied. Seeing my sister cry because of me was worse than anything else I was enduring.”
On the ninth day, Akutagawa sleeps peacefully for the first time. Atsushi doesn’t talk about it while he shaves his newborn beard and Akutagawa brushes his teeth, even though both can see he’s beaming through the mirror. He doesn’t talk about it while Akutagawa is eating his usual fig for breakfast, but he does lift him up as soon as they finish eating.
“Put me down, you freak!”
“Nope! We have to celebrate, love!”
“Huh?”
“Huh?”
“What did you just call me?”
“Oh…!” they stay in awkward silence and awkward position for some time (because no, Atsushi’s not putting him down) until he gulps and looks away “Do you not like it? I’m sorry, it came out accidentally!”
“… I’m not against it. Atsushi.”
“E-eh!?”
“Humph! You heard me!” Akutagawa pouts, blushing a deep red. He’s visibly embarrassed, and he’s so cute. Atsushi wants to kiss his pout, wants to squeeze his cheeks, his waist, wants to bite his arm, his neck, his shoulder. Wants to hold all of him tight, because feeling his love doesn’t feel enough, he needs to let it out in some physical way; because like a fire as red as Rashomon, Akutagawa burns; scorching Atsushi’s heart, his soul, his aching fingers.
He settles to kissing his pout, though.
“Your lashes are so long. You’re so pretty, Akutagawa.” Atsushi murmurs, nose going to caress Akutagawa’s cheek.
“Hmm?”
(And Atsushi doesn’t know, but Akutagawa’s too busy staring into his eyes to notice what he’s saying).
“Onii-chan, do you think I ̶ Oh!”
Atsushi is fast to drop Akutagawa on the ground, which makes him fall on his butt. Atsushi winces as he sends one of the most deadly glares he’s ever seen on his way “Nakajima Atsushi you son of a ̶ “
“Hey hey hey, no fights on the kitchen. It’s actually good that Atsushi-san is here because I need opinions. Is my outfit good?”
Gin’s wearing more traditional clothes, a red and green hakama with green gloves and a red bow tying their hair. It’s different from her usual dark attire and that white dress she wore that one time with Katai and Higuchi.
“You look beautiful.” Akutagawa says, a soft smile adorning his lips. Atsushi nods “Where are you going?”
“I have a date today. It’s going to be our first time meeting each other personally, so I’m kinda nervous. But I trust you, onii-chan! Thank you very much!” she runs closer to her brother to kiss his cheek, smiling to Atsushi as well before running back to his bedroom.
“Brat.” Akutagawa whispers and Atsushi giggles, coming closer to hold him by his waist.
“Aren’t you curious to know who’s this date with?”
“It’s with a girl from some queer app. Gin told me briefly about her some days ago.”
“And you aren’t worried?”
Akutagawa snorts, snaking his arms around Atsushi’s shoulders “Gin knows how to handle himself. The person who should be worried about their safety is the one who dares to do something to them.”
“Fair enough.”
The rest of their day is mundane; despite getting better every day, Akutagawa still spends his afternoons more to himself, quiet, hugging his legs close to his chest as he watches Atsushi play Mario Galaxy 2 on his Nintendo Wii U that Chuuya brought him (and yes, Chuuya did buy Akutagawa both the game and the console). He does cheer up when Atsushi switches to Mario Kart and they play against each other, ever so competitive.
Atsushi wouldn’t have it any other way.
As the night approaches, Akutagawa decides he’s making dinner. “It’s going to be simply onigiri with tuna flakes, don’t anticipate much.” he says when Atsushi enters the kitchen to watch him cook.
“I didn’t think you’d know how to cook.”
“Of course, I do; at the time we started working for the Por Mafia, Gin and I didn’t know the concept of restaurants or delivery, and she had to eat. So I learned how to cook the basics first, and what she liked after I was more skilled.”
“But what about you?”
“What?”
“You said you learned how to make food your sister likes. But what about the foods you like?”
“None to speak of.”
“You can’t be serious! Let’s say you had to choose something.”
“If I had to…? Hmm…” Akutagawa’s gaze wanders as his mind goes to work “You are already aware of the fact I do enjoy figs. If I had to choose more, I suppose it’d be tea and red bean soup.”
“I’m sure you could make yourself red bean soup someday, then?” Atsushi asks earnestly. Akutagawa, however, lowers his gaze without saying a word. There’s something about the topic food that makes him uncomfortable, Atsushi has noticed it already. He smiles to him, caressing his arm “How about we make the onigiris together, huh?”
Akutagawa teaches Atsushi how to properly press and squeeze the rice to make a tringle shape as well as wrap it with the dried seaweed, and although Atsushi is awful at it, he looks content; happy. They eat, wash the dishes and go to the bathroom to brush their teeth in comfortable silence, only separating to take individual showers.
While Atsushi waits on the bed as Akutagawa showers (he goes last because he also has to do his skin care routine), he feels his heart burn; this is everything he has ever wanted; this, having someone to share his days with, someone who sees and accepts him for who his is, someone who also has a colossal beast living inside of themselves ̶ both ability and mind.
At that time in the orphanage, what Atsushi desired didn’t really have a name. He had so many dreams, so many fantasies that he couldn’t name them, couldn’t sort them out. Now, years later, he has found all those dreams on a person: the intensity of an enemy, the joy of a friend, the warmth of a lover. All of them, Akutagawa.
“You’re not wearing a shirt.” Akutagawa says as soon as he enters the bedroom, eyeing Atsushi like a curious cat.
“Yeah, it’s too hot today.”
In the blink of an eye he’s on Atsushi’s lap, gliding his hands over his chest, his shoulders, pupils blow wide as he softly traces all skin he can touch.
“There’s something that I’ve been thinking about for quite a while. You’re very handsome.”
“O-oh. You think so?”
“Mm. And you’ve been gaining more muscle.”
“Yeah.” is all Atsushi can manage, too focused on Akutagawa’s lidded eyes, his lashes adorning his cheeks so prettily.
“And it’s tremendously enticing.”
“Yeah?”
“Yes.” Atsushi’s cock hardens at a pace that probably isn’t normal and probably not heathy, but he’s not concerned when he has Akutagawa on his lap, saying things like that to him. Byakko roars loudly inside his head, chanting MATE, WANT, MINE. With a hungry growl, he curves his hands over Akutagawa’s ass, palming it as he urges him closer. Akutagawa moans.
“Freaky, huh?” Atsushi smirks.
“Good thing you are as well. Beast.”
And when Akutagawa leans in to kiss him, as visceral and hot as Rashomon, and Atsushi kisses him back just as fervently, he can’t really deny that.
Life goes back to normal the next day. Akutagawa had informed Mori that he was feeling better, and it seems that everyone at Port Mafia was waiting to throw a party for him in celebration of his life and Shin Soukoku’s victory against singularity-Fukuchi. Atsushi still has the rest of the week off, thanks to the President’s kindness, and Kyouka is at the Agency working, so he goes to café Uzumaki.
Uzumaki is empty besides the red-raided waitress cleaning the counter as she hums a song Atsushi doesn’t recognize. She doesn’t notice either the bells ringing at the door nor Atsushi’s footsteps approaching her.
“Montgomery-chan, it’s been a while.”
Lucy yelps at the sound of his voice, throwing the cloth she was using at him “Tiger-cat! Don’t scare me like that!”
“Sorry.”
Lucy huffs, but soon her eyes light up with mischief “Did your honeymoon end already? Kyouka told me what you have been up to these days.”
Atsushi thinks it’s best to ignore her “You look happy, Montgomery-chan.”
“That’s because I am.” Lucy beams, a smug look on her face “I had a date with the prettiest girl yesterday, and it went great.” she places her hands on her hips.
“Nice, I’m happy for you! I didn’t know you liked girls, though.”
“Neither did I before your doctor up there in the Agency introduced to me the concept of comphet. Truly life-changer. By the way, we still haven’t decided a second date yet, do you have any recommendations?”
“Why would I?” Lucy stares incredulously at him, making him self-conscious “What?”
“You have been dating for almost like. Two weeks and still haven’t gone on a date? You didn’t even think about places you want to take him yet?”
Atsushi frowns, feeling his face getting hotter “We aren’t dating, I think… And I don’t know? I didn’t think it was necessary since we already know each other?”
“Oh my God.” she mutters “Boys; totally blind. You must take him on a date and ask him to be your boyfriend!”
Lucy doesn’t take much to persuade him into asking Akutagawa on a date; all she had to do was say that it would make Akutagawa very happy, and Atsushi likes a happy Akutagawa; an Akutagawa that laughs, that giggles, that gives Atsushi the best thing he’s even seen: his smile. Atsushi is ready to do whatever it takes to make Akutagawa happy.
He's quick to plan everything: he books a table at a restaurant he likes, asks Lucy’s and Kyouka’s help with his outfit, buys a pretty bouquet of flowers, and two days later he’s at Akutagawa’s door again, palms sweating as he waits.
“Hello.” Akutagawa opens the door, and he looks so beautiful. He’s wearing a white shirt, black pants, a black corset and knee-high black boots that fit him so well “Stop staring and say something.”
“I-I’m sorry! Hi! Akutagawa, I brought this for you!” Atsushi stammers, giving him the flowers.
“Thank you. What are they?”
“White rain lilies.” The lady at the flower shop had explained to him that a rain lily symbolizes rebirth and happiness, and Atsushi thought it fit the man in front of him perfectly. He smiles as Akutagawa smells the flowers before entering his apartment again to put them on a vase with water before they go.
Akutagawa tells him how his party went as they walk together, coming closer to hold Atsushi’s hand with a gentle touch, almost shyly. Atsushi feels so much joy that he’s afraid his body won’t be able to hold it all inside of him. He knows people are talking around them, that Yokohama is the ever-busy city, but all he can hear is Akutagawa’s voice as he talks about Kajii exploding a cake, all he can feel is Akutagawa’s heartbeat; alive, safe.
“I’ve never been to this place before.” Akutagawa says when they enter the restaurant Atsushi booked. It’s not crowed, but he wanted to make sure they’d be able to get a nice table.
“It’s kinda new. The President brought us here to celebrate after we defeated The Guild. The food is amazing.”
“Every food is amazing to you. Your opinion holds no value as of now.”
Atsushi knows Akutagawa’s not joking, but he giggles anyway. A waitress greets them and gives them a menu “You’ll see for youself. What do you want?”
“Nothing.”
And then there is silence.
“… What do you mean, nothing?”
“I am going to eat from yours.”
Atsushi looks incredulously at him, but he smiles anyway. Akutagawa’s stubborn, but so is he “Wouldn’t you do anything for me?”
“You know I would.” Akutagawa frowns, tilting his head at Atsushi “I am willing to die for you, I am willing to live for you.”
“Then would you eat for me? You can’t live if you don’t treat yourself well, Akutagawa.” Atsushi says, softly. He reaches over to gently caress Akutagawa’s palm with his thumb, and Akutagawa looks torn between getting bashful or chopping Atsushi’s head with Rashomon.
“… I suppose a bowl of ramen wouldn’t be bad.”
“Great!”
They settle in ordering a bowl of ramen, one of chazuke (you’re so predictable, Akutagawa taunts him) and tea (and he can pretend he didn’t smile when Atsushi ordered tea all he wants, but Atsushi’s eyes don’t deceive him).
Some time goes by after their food comes and they start to eat until all of all a sudden Akutagawa says, “The food is indeed good.”
“Ha! I told you so.” Atsushi says with an amused curl of his lips, picking up a sugar cube off the saucer and dropping it into his tea. One. Two. Three cubes.
“Is this a habit from the orphanage?” Akutagawa asks, and only then Atsushi notices him looking at him with those big, pretty eyes of him.
“Oh, this? It is. I know it’s not healthy; everyone at the Agency always tells me three is too many, but I just can’t help myself. Old habits die hard, I guess.”
Atsushi knows he shouldn’t, but he feels insecure. He doesn’t want to scare Akutagawa off because of something so foolish, he doesn’t want to be seen as weak for still dwell on his past. Every second that Akutagawa watches him feels like torture, and he’s ready to apologize when the man in front of him picks up his mug and casually says:
“I put four sugar cubes in my tea. You were too busy eating like a starved animal to notice.”
“Four?” Atsushi’s eyes open wide. Akutagawa sips his tea.
“Yes. Sugar also used to be a rare luxury for me. But nothing held more value than chocolate bars. Did you fight over those, too?”
Atsushi stares at him in mute amazement for a few moments before laughing “Naturally. I used to teach the other kids how to read and write for three chocolate bars. It was good business.”
They continue to share experiences that their friends and colleagues would never be able to understand or even empathize with as they eat, and they talk and talk and talk and talk until they are in Akutagawa’s door again, neither wanting the day to end. Akutagawa places his arms on Atsushi’s shoulders, and Atsushi’s hands naturally place themselves on his waist. Their bodies touch and Atsushi can feel Akutagawa’s heartbeat, can see the scar he now carries on his neck. And Atsushi feels like crying ̶ he could’ve lost this. Akutagawa could’ve stayed dead forever, and Atsushi would’ve missed this, them, him, forever.
“Akutagawa.” he says, one of his hands letting go of his waist to trace the scar on his neck.
“Hmm?”
“Will you be my boyfriend?”
“No.”
“E-eh!? But I ̶ And you ̶ A-and us ̶ “
“I refuse to date someone who’s yet to call me by my name.”
His answer is so shocking that it takes Atsushi some time to process it “Oh... I didn’t think you would want that.”
“You kiss me, share a bed with me, calls me love, buy me flowers, take me to a date and yet you keep calling me Akutagawa. You are nothing more than a brainless fool.”
“Awww, love.” Atsushi coos, hugging him even closer “How long have you been wanting me to call you by your name? I’m sorry. Can you forgive me and be my boyfriend, Ryū?”
Ryūnosuke’s face was never so quick to be this red; he’s even quicker to hide his face on Atsushi’s neck.
“You’re so cute.” he smiles, but his smile soon is replaced by a yelp as Ryūnosuke bites him hard on his collarbone “OW! What’s wrong with you?”
“You have been bothersome vocal about wanting me to eat more; I am merely doing what my boyfriend asked me.” his voice is muffled by Atsushi’s skin. He keeps nipping his collarbone, his shoulder, nis neck. Atsushi wants to complain more, but Byakko starts chuffing inside his head. Clearly pleased.
And he can’t really deny he’s pleased, too.