Chapter Text
It was hard to pinpoint the exact moment their relationship shifted when Akutagawa's hate for the weretiger turned into admiration but the closest was probably when he returned to the present. They had fought perfectly together every move was in sync it was as if he had never left. Afterwards the jinko did something unexpected. He hugged him. Akutagawa froze at the unexpected contact whenever he received physical affection from Gin, Higuchi or Chuuya he always made sure it was in private. Away from prying eyes. This wasn't. As Akutagawa opened his mouth to ask " what the fuck do you think your doing??" the weretiger gave him a smile that might as well of been taken from the sun itself," Sorry its just... I'm happy your alive.," Maybe it was that moment that made him see the jinko as more then just a nuisance made their relationship shift into something unnameable but excitable. The beginning of something new.
It wasn't long before he was meeting the weretiger, Akutagawa refused to call them " hang outs" thank you Gin, in the cafe under the ADA. Usually he wouldn't be caught dead anywhere near the ADA unless being ordered to but the jinko insisted. It was hard to focus on him as the redhead barista seemed to be trying her hardest to burn holes into the back of his head," You okay Akutagawa? ," Ever the observant weretiger," I'm fine with people glaring at me.," Jinko's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he looked behind Akutagawa his eyes widening when he realised who it was ," Oh sorry that might be my fault.," Akutagawa's signature scowl deepened," What did you tell her?," Honestly why did he trust the stupid weretiger? Jinko sheepishly rubbed the back of his neck guilt taking over his face," Well sometimes when I'm really stressed I kind of... rant about you trying to kill me... to Lucy.," Ah made sense he had also frequently ranted about the weretiger to Gin multiple times. But he still gave the stupid weretiger a glare he had an image to uphold after all.
Why did he trust the weather forecast? Akutagawa asked himself as the heavens itself seemed to be descending on Yokohoma. It was moments like these he was thankful for rashomon. But not all were so lucky," Ah a wet cat.," Indeed, there was Atsushi Nakajima in all his wet cat glory carrying a paper bag that looked like it was one second away from giving out," Jinko you look awful.," Atsushi stopped his desperate attempt to save the dying paper bag and glared at him," Why thank you.," Akutagawa couldn't help feeling a bit sorry for the idiotic jinko he looked like a drowned cat," Were you really so stupid as to not bring an umbrella? With a paper bag no less?," The weretiger's glaring continued," The bags-," The bag gave out. Akutagawa watched in amusement as the food spilled out. Atsushi's left eye twitched," Oh come on seriously?," The universe could never give him a damm break. As Atsushi knelt down to pick up the food the feeling of the rain pouring down on him stopped. Atsushi's eyebrows furrowed in confusion as he looked up and
was met with an umbrella made from rashomon," Well? Come on don't just sit there like a fool get up.," The stupid jinko smiled. It was one of his sun smiles ,"thanks Akutagawa," Stupid weretiger always thanking people for the smallest things," Its fine now come on I don't have all day.," Together the two walked back to Atsushi's apartment an almost soft silence between them. When they had gotten to the jinko's apartment he gave him a hug. Akutagawa didn't know why he always seemed to want to hug him but it made Akutagawa feel... safe as preposterous as it was," You can let go now jinko.," Said jinko pulled back and... was he... blushing? No no it was probably just a trick of the light why would Atsushi ever blush at him?
Akutagawa wanted to say every curse under the sun and then invent a whole slew of new ones. That damm ability user got him good," Where are your keys?," Which led him to his current predicament. Atsushi helping him. Of course he insisted that he didn't need help leave me alone you idiot but Atsushi had a heart of gold and wouldn't take no for an answer. So here they were," You can leave know I can handle this.," Did Atsushi really think he was so incompetent? But he only got an exasperated glare in response," Just let me help you Akutagawa.," Yeah he admitted defeat. As Atsushi opened the door to Akutagawa's penthouse his eyes looked like they were about to pop out of his skull. It was obvious he had never seen a place like Akutagawa's before, if Akutagawa wasn't in so much pain he would of laughed. Atsushi got over his shock enough to ask," Where's your med kit?," Akutagawa pointed towards the bathroom. It was odd having someone besides Gin or Chuuya tend to his wounds, Atsushi was treating him like the most fragile
thing on earth," I'm not a porcelain doll Atsu- weretiger.," When had he started referring to him by his first name? Atsushi paused,"... Because I care about you Aku.," Akutagawa felt his breath hitch at the nickname. Only Chuuya had ever called him that. Coming from Atsushi's mouth he thought it would sound wrong but instead... it sounded right like that nickname was meant to come out of his mouth.
Atsushi was acting... strange well stranger then usual. At first Akutagawa thought nothing of it. The weretiger was an unusual individual so surely this was just one of his odd habits but as days turned into weeks it didn't stop in fact it got even more ludicrous. Just what was going on with him? It had started when they were having one of their usual movie nights all was normal until Akutagawa had turned his head... and saw Atsushi rubbing his face against the blanket their were sharing," What on earth are you doing?," That seemed to snap Atsushi out of whatever trance he was in. He had the most guilty look Akutagawa had ever seen on him," Oh shit sorry its... my tiger she’s telling me to... scent the blanket.," Wait was he? God this was the most funniest thing he had ever seen. He started laughing," Hey don't laugh! I can't help this!," That just made Akutagawa laugh even more," Ok ok I'm sorry but your acting like an actual cat.," Honestly this was comedy gold. Atsushi sighed as he accepted that he would forever be mocked. He couldn't stay made at Akutagawa he just looked so beautiful when he laughed.
ask him if he likes the scenting, ask him
Byakko's voice coaxed him gently she knew this was an important stage in life for her cub. He wanted to court his first mate. Atsushi listened to his tiger's advice," Do you... like it?," Akutagawa paused his laughter. Did he like it? Well he certainly felt thankful that Atsushi felt comfortable to not hide his animal instincts from him, so did he like it?... Yeah he did," Yes I do.," To Akutagawa it was answering a simple question but to Atsushi? Akutagawa might as well of asked him to marry him.
the first step is complete
If only Akutagawa knew what he had just agreed to.