Work Text:
Beep. Beep. Beep.
It was 6:30 in the morning and Atsushi’s alarm was blasting some song he was sick of by now. He fumbled around to try and turn it off as he groggily wiped the sleep out of his eyes. He couldn’t help but feel super warm, like his body was overheating. He knew he had to go to work though, or the boy would not hear the end of it from Kunikida. Atsushi managed to drag himself out of bed, ignoring how sick he felt in the head.
—————
Atsushi found himself arriving at the familiar agency doors, as he walked up to where everyone else was. He greeted the other members with nods or small waves as he went to his desk to start on some boring paperwork Dazai had left him the day before.
As the day continued, the weretiger couldn’t shake off the headache he had. He thought it would eventually wear off, but to his luck, it didn’t.
Atsushi was sitting there, suffering in silence when he heard a voice call out to him.
“Atsushi? Could you come here a moment?”
The weretiger looked over to where the voice was and saw who it was. The voice belonged to Yosano Akiko. He wasn’t surprised it was her, the boy had a feeling she knew something was up with him. Atsushi walked up to Yosano nervously.
Atsushi: “You needed me?”
Yosano: “It’s nothing big, no need to panic.”
Atsushi sighed a breath of relief.
Yosano: “But…I couldn’t help but notice you’ve looked a little off today. Can I check your temperature?”
Atsushi: “Uh…”
Before the boy could respond, the doctor put her hand on his head, Yosano’s expression softened as she took her hand back.
Yosano: “I haven’t checked your temperature properly, but I can tell you aren’t well. You should have called in sick today. You are clearly not in the state to work.”
Atsushi: “No, no. I’m fine, really! I can work just fi-”
Yosano: “Absolutely not. You obviously have a fever. I’ll tell Kunikida why you’re leaving.”
Atsushi sighed once again in defeat. He knew he couldn’t convince Yosano any longer that he could work.
And with that, The white haired boy found himself walking back to his dormitory where he was staying. As soon as he got home, he collapsed onto his futon, immediately dazing off into a deep sleep.
—————
On the other hand, Akutagawa was busy doing who knows what when he suddenly got a phone call. He looked down. It was none other than…Dazai?! Akutagawa immediately picked up.
“Greetings Dazai-san. What did you need from me?”
He could practically see Dazai smirking from across the phone.
Dazai: “Ah…you see, Akutagawa, a little birdie told me that Atsushi-kun is sick. I’d like you to take care of him for me.”
Akutagawa scoffed quietly before replying.
Akutagawa: “The weretiger? He can surely take care of himself.”
Dazai: “You will take care of him, okay?”
Before Akutagawa had a chance to reply, Dazai had already hung up the call. He knew he didn’t have a choice, or Dazai wouldn’t be happy.
—————
And there Akutagawa was, standing outside the weretiger’s room. The goth decided he would pick up some medicine for the boy before arriving, like the thoughtful person he was (even though he usually wasn’t very thoughtful). He raised his hand to knock, before quickly stifling a cough. Then he knocked.
…
No response. He knocked once more.
…
No response again? The eyebrowless man sighed before kicking the door down. No biggie, he’d pay for it’s repair later.
To Akutagawa’s surprise, the man-eating tiger hadn’t woken up yet. He took in his surroundings, the room was way smaller than what he was used to, but this wasn’t surprising. The goth grabbed a stool from the lonely counter before placing it next to the futon. He sat there for a while, watching Atsushi sleep. He looked so…peaceful. So…beautful…
What.
He could not be feeling like this, they were enemies for goodness sake! He sighed and went to prepare the medicine for the weretiger, as he was planning to wake him up soon.
—————
Atsushi groaned as he slowly sat up, he heard some noise coming from…over there? It couldnt be Kyouka, right? Much time couldn’t have passed yet. As his eyesight returned to normal, he saw the figure. It was…Akutagawa?!
The boy accidentally screamed in shock.
“What the hell are you doing here?!”
Akutagawa just scoffed and turned around to the boy.
Akutagawa: “Are you planning to break my ears, stupid Jinko?”
Atsushi huffed as he stood up out of his futon, before immediately falling back on it. He stared at the ceiling.
Atsushi: “That doesn’t answer my question.”
Akutagawa: “Dazai-san told me to take care of you.”
Atsushi didn’t say anything, unsure what to actually say. Akutagawa walked up to him and sat on the stool again.
Akutagawa: “Whatever. Just take this.”
Before Atsushi could reply, Akutagawa had already shoved the spoon of medicine in his mouth.
Atsushi: “Did you really have to feed me?”
Akutagawa: “It’s not like you pushed my hand away.”
Atsushi went slightly red before burying his head in his pillow.
Atsushi: “Shut up…”
Akutagawa chuckled lightly at his redness. Atsushi looked up at him in slight shock. Did THE Akutagawa Ryuunosuke just…laugh?!
Akutagawa ignored Atsushi’s shock and immediately composed himself.
Akutagawa: “Uh…apologies.”
Atsushi simply smiled up at him from the futon.
Atsushi: “It was cute…”
Akutagawa went a deep shade of red as he covered his mouth.
Atsushi giggled and pulled him off the stool onto the futon with him. Akutagawa slightly gasped in shock as he had not anticipated this to happen. He wasn’t complaining, though.
Akutagawa: “Uh…It’s a bit tight on here…”
Atsushi: “Then move closer.”
The weretiger smirked as Akutagawa was now blushing even more. Oh how the tables had been turned in such a short amount of time.
Akutagawa: “You’re going to get me sick now, stupid Jinko.”
Atsushi: “It doesn’t matter.”
Akutagawa sighed once more and they sat in silence for a while. Atsushi then decided to speak up.
Atsushi: “Uh…This may be a bit sudden but…everytime i see you i feel my heart…beating faster.”
Atsushi locked eyes with Akutagawa on the futon.
Akutagawa: “I suppose I can say I feel the same.”
Atsushi’s eyes lit up.
“Really?”
Akutagawa: “Don’t make me repeat it..”
Atsushi just grinned once more, god he was so gorgeous when he smiled, the goth thought. Akutagawa didn’t have to hide his thoughts about Atsushi anymore.
Atsushi: “So…”
Akutagawa: “Hm?”
Atsushi: “Uh…I *guess* I like you..”
“You guess?”
“…shut up.”
Akutagawa managed to take his large coat off while laying down and threw it to the floor. Atsushi was getting tired again, and he yawned.
Akutagawa: “Sleep if you want to.”
Atsushi smiled, kissing Akutagawa on the forehead before laying back down and closing his eyes. The eyebrowless man just stared at him in shock, before smiling softly and bringing his arms around Atsushi. He held him close, feeling somewhat protective over him. Akutagawa then fell asleep himself.
It was only around 3:30pm when they both fell asleep, but whatever. This was the start of their relationship.