Work Text:
Akutagawa was in a closet.
How…had he ended up here in the first place? Here squished uncomfortably between raincoats and old boxes and wrinkling his nose against the dusty smell. A shelf above his head made him hunch over awkwardly and his neck was not thanking him for it.
He was still processing the unceremonious way his boyfriend had suddenly shoved him in here. Placing a finger to his lips to indicate silence before panickedly slamming the door shut in his face.
“Coming, Dazai!” He’d heard the weretiger call as he hurried off to answer the door.
Ah that’s right…
They had an unexpected guest.
Which wouldn’t have been a problem…if Dazai or anyone else for that matter was aware of their relationship.
The Port Mafia and the Armed Detective Agency have had their moments where they could be civil with one another, tensely cooperating with one another when needed. However, for the most part neither organization saw eye to eye. And tended to have more clashes than alliances with each other more than anything.
That was especially true for rivals like Atsushi and Akutagawa. Or rather…it had been.
How this had come to be neither could really say. Outright burning hatred had turned into annoyance. Annoyance had turned into begrudging respect. Begrudging respect had turned into tolerating one another within the same vicinity. And tolerating one another had turned into invites to a local cafe or late night walks to vent their troubles.
One late night walk had led to getting caught in the rain and both of them having to seek sanctuary in Akutagawa’s place because it happened to be closer. And that led to waiting out the storm which led to complaints and snippy back and forth about it. That then led to grumbled offers of tea to help chase the chill away.
And then they were on the couch, sitting far too close. Complaints and threats were made. “I’m cold.” Was the grouchy excuse given. Then tolerance was begrudgingly given in return because they were both cold. And then it was quiet save for the pelting of the rain and rumbling of thunder. And the warmth from each other had been so nice—so comforting.
And they both thought the other’s lips had felt so soft and tasted so sweet when they kissed.
It was the start of something very strange and new for both of them. And also something very dangerous should either’s allies find out about it.
The two of them had done well about keeping their…involvement with one another secret while they stumbled to understand what exactly this involvement was. Weeks of lying or making up clever stories to cover for them when they snuck off to see one another. Dismissing inquiries about their sudden shifty behaviour. Panickedly coming up with ways to hide the “damning evidence” whenever they’d get carried away during their usual meetings.
Meetings…
Dates were probably the proper term.
It had taken some time for Atsushi and Akutagawa to come to an awkward agreement on what they were doing exactly. To finally agree to put a name to their arrangement…
And the afternoon was supposed to have been theirs.
It had been perfect. Atsushi had been off for the day and Akutagawa was not needed for any pressing assignments. So neither would be missed by anyone if they decided to spend a day together. A rarity they were going to make the most of.
Atsushi had wanted to take them out to lunch and that had been the plan before they got…a little distracted. Akutagawa would never admit a pathetic confession like missing the weretiger but weeks of work related responsibilities had left little time for their usual escapades. And so he had wanted him to himself for a while before he had to share with the public eye.
Things had gotten…out of hand on the couch. Kisses turned hotter. Clothing was pulled away and tossed carelessly to the floor. And lunch had nearly been forgotten until there had been a knock at the door, accompanied by a very familiar chipper voice.
And well…That’s now why Akutagawa was standing in a cluttered and smelly closet, having been unceremoniously shoved in by his panicked partner. An awkward hand at his pants to keep them from falling below his waist. And forced not to move lest he noisily bump against something and reveal his location.
“Aren’t you supposed to be at the office?” He heard Atsushi ask; his voice was muffled through the door.
“I am.” Came Dazai’s casual response as well as the sound of footsteps entering the apartment. “Don’t tell Kunikida.”
Dammit. Akutagawa gritted his teeth. Of all the people to show up now, why did it have to be Dazai?!
What reason could he possibly have for coming here?!
The mafioso willed himself to stay still, hoping that his former mentor couldn’t hear his heart jackhammering within his chest. This certainly would be one of the most unfortunate ways to run into the man. Half dressed and in his current mentee’s home…
Akutagawa swallowed when heard Dazai’s voice close to his hiding spot.
“How have you been doing today, Atsushi?” It sounded as if he were lingering right outside the closet door.
“Fine. Just been catching up on some reading. I actually had a few books I was planning on returning to the library today.” Atsushi replied back.
Idiot. If you sound nervous he’s going to know something is off. Akutagawa silently scolded. His voice was muffled but even through the closet door the strained note in his tone could be heard.
“Really?” Dazai’s voice moved away. “You know I finished that one you recommended to me. Quite the interesting read.”
“You liked it?”
“I did. The author has a very unique and poetic writing style that made the narrative flow well.”
“That’s great! But if you don’t mind me asking…ah is there something you needed here? Not that I don’t mind! But if you’re here just hide from Kunikida…you do know this is the first place he’ll look, right?” Atsushi’s voice also wandered past. “I’d rather not get yelled at by him again for harboring you.”
“Oh? You sound like you’re trying to get rid of me?” The direction his voice came from sounded like somewhere in the kitchen. “I was only coming to check on my favourite subordinate~!”
“N-no. It’s not that. Like I said, I don't mind at all!”
I do! Akutagawa acidly thought.
Why hadn’t the weretiger just shooed the man away when he met him at the door? His neck was beginning to burn from the awkward angle and that was a sign that Dazai had stayed too long already. Surely there were hundreds of other more interesting things to do in this city right now that didn’t involve an impromptu visit like this?!
“Then you don’t mind if I stay a while? Promise I won’t be long. I just wanted to stop by before I had to take care of something.”
Don’t you dare. Akutagawa glared at the door.
Atsushi was quiet as if contemplating it. And he no doubt could feel Akutagawa’s glare burning through the door the whole time. “Sure. Though not too long. Like I said, I uh…have some books I want to return.”
Damn you, weretiger. The mafioso seethed. They would need to have a talk later about his pushover nature because with the slightest bit of pressure from the right individual, he always bent so easily.
A laugh from Dazai distracts him from his thoughts. “Oh I won’t take too long. Come on, let’s sit and chat—catch up a little. You’ve been put on so many assignments by yourself or with someone else it feels like I haven’t seen you in weeks.”
“You say that as if we don’t sit next to each other in the office everyday.” Came Atsushi’s reply.
The sounds of cups clattering. He must be about to put some tea on.
“That’s different! I miss getting to work cases with you. That aside, you always seem so busy these days!” Dazai’s tone had taken on an exaggerated sort of dramaticness. “Always having to run errands downtown or you owe some old lady a favor and had to watch her dog for her. You know, Yosano and I were talking the other day and she thinks you’re secretly sneaking off to talk to some cute girl you’ve met. And you’ve just been making up stories to cover for it.”
The sound of a cup shattering against the floor.
“O-oh! Whoops!” Atsushi exclaimed. “That was pretty clumsy of me. Sorry…”
“No worries. Here, let me get the broom for you. It’s in the closet, right?” The sound of one of the kitchen chairs pushing back as Dazai stood up.
“No! I-I mean. No, it's fine. See? It didn’t even shatter that bad so I can pick it up myself to throw it away.” The weretiger had insisted.
It sounded like Dazai had sat back down. “If you say so. I just didn’t want you to get cut.” There was the clinking of glass being cleaned up. “Though from that reaction I’d say I was pretty spot on. So who is it? Some cute librarian you met? Oh! Or was it the daughter of that shopkeep we helped last month? She was making those eyes at you and every time I pass by that store she’s always asking about you.”
Dazai continued to list off the young women of Yokohama that Atsushi had apparently accidentally charmed.
“It’s nothing like that, honestly.” Atsushi sheepishly dismissed the allegations. “I’ve just been busy. It doesn’t necessarily mean I’ve been seeing anyone.”
Akutagawa hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath during the entire exchange. Clenching his jaw so hard that his teeth ached. Dazai was hypothesizing dangerously close to the truth and he didn’t like it. At the back of his mind, he weighed the risk of just slipping out the closet when the man’s back was turned and escaping out the front door.
An amused hum. “That so? Come on, a handsome young man like you hasn’t found anyone who’s caught his eye? I fail to believe that. What about that pretty Lucy girl who used to work with the Guild? You two always seem so close.”
“Lucy?” There was a pause. “She’s nice but we’re just friends.”
“Aw come one, there has to be at least one pretty face in all of Yokohama that you’ve been interested in!” Dazai continued to prod.
“I assure you there’s no one.” Atsushi laughed. “You know just because you can’t keep yourself from flirting with every woman you meet doesn’t mean I’m the same.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Exactly what you think it does. Here, be careful it’s hot when it comes straight off the stove.”
Akutagawa had to fight the urge to groan aloud. How much longer is this going to take?
The burning in this neck had now spread across his shoulders and the dust was constantly tickling his nose. Twice he had to struggle to hold in a sneeze. To make matters even worse, his hand was beginning to cramp from holding his pants up.
It was all rather embarrassing but there was little to be done about it. Unfortunately, Akutagawa was stuck with waiting their uninvited guest out. And from the way Dazai chattered out there, it didn’t seem like he was leaving any time soon…
At some point, Akutagawa must’ve somehow managed to doze off despite his cramped confines. Every so often his mind would drift awake, catching fragments of conversation.
“...wanted to know if you’d go to the farmer’s market with him…”
“...how’s that case going…”
“...stand across from the train station…”
“...Kunikida’s going to be…”
The sudden sound of chairs moving are what shocked him awake.
“Ah, look at the time, I better be heading back to the office.” Came Dazai’s voice. “By now, Kunikida’s probably called a manhunt to look for me.”
Is he finally leaving? Akutagawa groggily thought.
How long had it been?
He ached from his neck all the way down to his back. The thought of finally escaping this prison made his heart flutter.
“Yeah well when you do head back, leave me out of it. I’m not getting into trouble with you again.” Atsushi replied.
“Leaving me all by myself to face Evil Kunikida’s mercy? You’re so cruel to me. Aren’t you at all grateful after I fed you when we first met?”
“It was on Kunikida’s card…”
“My point stands.”
There was shuffling, footsteps.
“Of course, I’m grateful. I always will be.” Atsushi’s voice wanders past the closet door. “But, do me a favour? At least let me know when you’re coming over? N-not that I don’t mind your visits! Just—let me know so I can prepare things for company, alright?”
A chuckle from Dazai. “Alright, alright. No more surprise visits.” He agreed. “But if you keep being all mysterious and busy like this, expect me dropping by more. I can’t help but to worry about my favourite weretiger after all. And you do know you can talk to me if you do meet any pretty girls you like, right? If you come to me I can offer way better advice than Kunikida’s book.”
There was the sound of the front door opening. “ Goodbye, Dazai.”
Goodbye, Dazai. Akutagawa also acidly thought. Honestly, it felt like he was lingering on purpose.
“Alright, alright, kicking your poor mentor out.” He heard the man feign hurt. “But oh! Actually there's one more thing before I go!”
There was a pause and suddenly there was a knock at the closet door. “You awake in there, Akutagawa?” Came the Dazia’s teasing tone. Then the door opened a crack and he peeked in at him. Akutagawa was face to face with his former mentor’s mischievous grin, too stunned to react. “You know you could have joined us, I wouldn’t have minded. But maybe next time then?”
Shock. Akutagawa’s mouth gaped, flapping open and closed for words that would not come.
“Dazai…I…” His face was burning.
And then he was gone, not giving his stunned former pupil even time to speak.
“Thanks for the tea, Atsushi!” He heard the man call on his way out. “By the way, your shirt is inside out.”