Chapter Text
Kamisato Ayato was a young man aged 26 but despite this was already considered a valuable asset to his company. He worked tirelessly and constantly to perform, always pushing the barriers and taking risks to ensure what he craved most, success. Professionally, he wore his pride on his sleeve. Emotionally however, well, that was a different story. The man was aged 26 but had never been in a long term relationship, a relationship that actually meant something, it wasn’t that he was unlikeable or unattractive, it was that his work always persevered above all else.
Despite all of this he comes from a great family, has wonderful friends, colleagues who admire his work ethic, a nice apartment and even a cat who he loves dearly. So overall his life wasn't amazing but it also wasn’t bad; it was good.
Wintry chills emanated from Ayato’s body as he attempted to shake off the early morning sleep. His limbs felt like lead as he forced himself out of bed and got dressed languidly. He often fussed over his appearance, always applying eyeliner, ensuring that his hair fell a certain way and always picking out clothes in accordance to his supposed ‘best features’.
After getting ready for work, he walked coolly through a sea of people in an attempt to get to the train station, which would (if the workers weren’t on strike) would hopefully deliver him to work.
Whilst on the train, Ayato’s finger traced the pattern on the cover of his paperback book. He usually reads for thirty minutes whilst going to work, even though there could often be slightly distasteful distractions.
Alas, he arrived at the behemoth of a building, his companies’ headquarters.
Subsequently, Ayato spent the next few hours of his life interlaced with an office desk and chair. Almost mindlessly and automatically typing characters into a computer, filing insurance requests that would never be looked at again and looking over numbers upon numbers of analytical spreadsheets. It was one of those days. One of those days when there wasn’t really any point of him being here, one of those days when anyone could easily replace him.
The phone rang.
“Hello, Kamisato Ayato speaking.” The man said gravely.
“Hello, Ayato, could you come down to the office now?” His boss asked, “It’s important” he added.
The cool nature of the door’s metal knob knocked Ayato out of his reverie as he gently twisted it and pushed the door open. Inside was his boss’s office. Despite being slightly bigger than Ayato’s, all in all their offices weren’t that different from one another- the signature smoky grey wallpaper, a smooth laminated wooden floor, a few mundane drawings of monochromatic flowers dotted sporadically around the room and a medium-sized desk.
“Boss, you called me here to discuss something?” Ayato straightened his posture, a questioning lilt to his voice.
“Yes, that’s right” The man said, sighing as continued, “I’m afraid we are discontinuing your winter monthly bonus.”
“Could I ask why?”
“No you may not.” He said simply.
“What about my overtime?”
“Not talking about it” His boss stated, “You may leave.”
Ayato face showed complete disgust and disbelief - wrinkles sprouted on his forehead and his eyebrows made a ‘v’ shape, the skin that framed his eyes creased as his mouth hung openly. Inhibition was written plainly and clearly across his features. Ayato, in a dignified huff, then turned and left.
A warm gust of air encircled Ayato’s figure as he walked into the bar. Mixes of deep blue and red hues lit up the inside of the room as distant chatter and laughter filled the man’s ears. He quickly sat down; feeling awkward and out of place.
After mulling over the drinks menu for at least a good five minutes the man decides on a beverage that might perhaps be to his tastes.
“One espresso martini please” Ayato said as he slid the money over the counter.
“Sure, anything else, sir?”
“No it’s ok.”
Ayato observed his surroundings. He was sat at the bar itself and so, had a full view of the building. The place was dimly lit and contained mostly open brick walls with rich dark wood accents and pillars, with a laminated ashy grey floor.
“Hey, uhm, how you doing?” A man asked apprehensively.
Ayato turned his way, and was stunned by what he saw, a man - around the same age as him with soft blonde locks, eyes like emeralds and a really toned, nice muscular body. He was wearing a black leather jacket, a baggy loose red shirt and some dark washed wide fit jeans. He wasn’t wearing any accessories or anything but still appeared well kept despite having the slightest bit of stubble around his cheeks and jaw. The man had calloused hands that were accompanied by freckled skin that gave him an overall boyish appearance.
Thoma was a cheery young man only slightly younger than Ayato. He had a thriving social life, having come to the bar they were all situated in at the moment with his greatest friends: Kaeya and Ajax. Whilst Ajax was in the bathroom, Kaeya was busy fussing over his boyfriend, Albedo which left Thoma to his own devices.
“Hi, good thanks and you?” Ayato responded, initiating eye contact with the man whilst a natural smile began to appear across his face. This was nice.
“Good, good.” Thoma replied whilst his face had developed a growing shade of cerise. “You, um look very pretty tonight, how come you’re not here with someone?”
“Oh,” The other giggled, “well, aren’t you flattering, thank you, y’know you aren’t so bad yourself.” Ayato giggled as he placed his hand on Thoma’s arm. “Wait, uhm, what’s your name?”
“It’s Thoma and you?”
“Ayato.”
“Here’s your drink, sir.” The bartender stated as she placed the drink on the counter.
“Oh, thank you.” He said, his attention briefly diverted, smiling softly.
“So, Thoma what do you do for work?”
“I actually work at the local pet shelter” he replied.
“Wait, which shelter?”
“The one near upper Tenshukaku, why?”
“No way! That’s where I got my princess!” Ayato noted excitedly.
Thoma’s demeanour immediately changed, his chest became lighter as he felt his body get pushed into a fit of laughter, “Sorry you’re who?”
“My princess, she’s my cat.” Ayato informed, “Wow, are you really laughing at me? I thought you found me charming a minute ago.”
The two continued to chat for hours about anything and everything: their respective jobs, interests, opinions and even past experiences. It felt easy and freeing Ayato thought, like they had known each other for three years, not three hours.
“You know it’s getting late, how about I walk you home?” Thoma asked, looking over Ayato’s figure with as much care as his eyes could communicate.
“Oh I’m fine, really, I’m not even that drunk.”
”Please?”, Thoma asked.
The light frosty chill outside admittedly sobered Ayato up a bit, that and the scenery. The sky outside was a deep midnight colour that was less and less detectable the further they ventured towards Ayato’s apartment due to the light pollution. Towering glass giants stood at every turn and the city itself was still quite lively despite the time of day.
Thoma had his arm protectively around Ayato’s shoulder whilst they were walking, overly-conscious that he would trip or stumble on some sort of debris.
“You know, this was nice and I think I’d like to do it again sometime.” Thoma confessed, his heart thumping in his chest like a constant smack.
“Are you asking me out on a date?” Ayato asked, a smile growing considerably quickly on his face.
“Maybe I am if that’s something you be open too.” Thoma said standing still for a moment as he awaited Ayato’s response.
“Oh I would be very open to that.” Ayato teased, running a graceful finger along Thoma’s bicep. “Well in that case, could I have your number? So we could discuss the, uh, details?”
“Yeah, yeah that sounds great!” Thoma said almost too enthusiastically.
Once at Ayato’s apartment, the two exchanged numbers before Thoma bid Ayato farewell and made his way back to his own home, completely forgetting about his two friends he had originally gone out with earlier but certainly not forgetting about the man he had just met.