Work Text:
Chizome didn't really mind the operation at first. A serial killer had been on the run and heroes all across the nation came together for the search, which also meant pros from the Kanto region. The rabbit hero, Mirko, obviously opted in to help and put an end to the criminal’s wrongdoings. Chizome was no hero, but his…experience in the field would be of help, so with Hawks permission and under Mirko's watch, he was dragged along the mission.
The search started from Tokyo for Chizome and Mirko, after one month of unsuccessful partolling in the prefecture, the pair switched with heroes from Saitama. And from there to Tochigi.
Neither of them was thrilled at Hawk’s and Toshinori’s proposition 11 years ago, but had to agree for the sake of a better future. Despite their very rocky beginning, considering all the tension and unwillingness to work with one another, the two operated in harmony with each other, upon silent agreement that professionalism would make the job way more bearable. As years passed, with Toshinori’s efforts, Stains good behavior and the inevitable amount of time spent together, they grew closer, even becoming friends. The hero wasn’t a bad company at all, her furiously bright and powerful personality being hard to not admire.
The said friendship blossomed even more after All Might’s passing, leaving Mirko as the only comfort in Chizome’s life. Her unstoppable resolve gave the bereaved man hope and her presence - a sense of security and support. Usagiyama’s boisterous laughs, her wild stories and encounters with villains, the sparring matches with the heroine and displays of her strength and true heroism ultimately made their way into Chizomes’s everyday life, and before he knew it, into his heart too. It was a different kind of love, he loved as a person now, as Chizome. It was a kind he hadn't felt before, simply because the former vigilante didn’t have the time (and care, really) for it . This was less intense but just as passionate as his previous experience. The detective wanted to give the hero everything he could, and be by her side till the end of his days.
Of course, this was all just a dream.
Chizome knew from the moment he picked up the blade to cleanse the world of scum, he was throwing away his every chance at a normal life, at love. He came to terms with that decision years ago.
And in this moment, he was living its consequences, standing in the doorway of the hotel suite bedroom, or more precisely - the bed - he'd have to share with the untouchable love of his life, Usagiyama.
“I’ll be sleeping in the living room.” said Chizome after a few seconds of processing the situation. As he was about to turn and boot it to the living room, the hero caught his arm.
“Hey, wait now! Don’t get your bunnies in a bunch.” Mirko sighed a little after turning the detective around to face the room again.
“It’s really no bother, Usagiyama, neither of us will have to worry about anything if I just take the couch.” Chizome desperately tried to reason with the rabbit and wanted to leave her in her room.
“Come on, Akaguro! Am I that bad? I swear I don't even snore.” chuckled the woman.
The detective was about to reassure his white-haired roommate that she most definitely wasn't the problem here but the latter cut him off :
“Besides, the only thing I’m worried about is your old back.”
Usagiyama was obviously not taking this as seriously as she should have been. “My back is in perfect condition, and I simply just don’t want to invade.” While the detective's back hurt from time to time (technically making one part of the statement a lie), it was none of Mirko’s business.
Rumi gave an irritated scoff at the response and looked at the quirkless man with determined eyes. “Akaguro, either two people sleep in that bed tonight, or neither does for the rest of the stay.”
The ex-criminal went rigid and uneasy at the promise/threat. The hotel they were staying at was completely booked even before the heroes arrived (some guests gave up their rooms for the pros), so switching rooms was impossible. He could take it to the extreme and switch hotels, but that'd be an overkill, separating the group and messing with the operation itself. He could always just ignore the hero and still sleep on the couch, but Chizome, being a detective and close to Usagiyama, guessed that it would result in the woman also sleeping on the couch, making an already flustering situation even more awkward. He looked at the tidy, queen sized bed, covered in pristine white covers and two pillows at the top and closed his eyes, knowing he had no other choice but to share the damned thing and accepted his fate. He sighed, turned his head to a delighted looking Mirko and nodded. The hero gave an excited shout at that.
“Great! I knew you'd agree, man. I call shots for the shower!” said Mirko as she grabbed the duffle bag that was on the ground prior to this exchange and ran to the bathroom, leaving Chizome alone to himself, questioning his life choices. There were times in life, when you just had to stay strong and keep your head up and push through whatever fate throws at you. This was one of those moments for the former murderer. The man took a deep breath and tried to ignore the sound of the shower turning on, the victorious humming of Usagiyama and what would soon follow. Chizome was trying hard to be casual and professional, and less like a teenager about the matter at hand, but when you stand face to face with the fact that you'll be sharing a bed with the sun of your world, the only things that matters and keeps you going… it ought to mess with your nerves.
Getting close to something that is untouchable nearly killed Chizome before afterall.
The detective usually slept naked but this time was obviously going to be an exception. Chizome always wondered about Mirko’s sleeping habits. He started unbuttoning his dress shirt and taking off his pants as he imagined Mirko arriving home at the end of the day, drained and grubby. She’d start by slowly taking off her prosthetics with a tired huff, massaging the ends of her limbs and promptly taking a shower after, washing off the day's work. She’d probably put on something comfy (or nothing at all. The thought made Chizome blush a bit) before falling on her bed and passing out from exhaustion. Her limbs would be sprawled out in all directions possible and, despite the hero herself saying she doesn't, she would snore loudly.
Akaguro was under the impression that Usagiyama would be as active in her sleep as she was while conscious (considering the dreams Mirko tells the dark-haired man and the barbaric fights that take place there, Chizome expected a few kicks).
The detective has seen the hero take power naps before while working, but this was totally different. This time, Usagiyama would be asleep asleep, totally relaxed, with her guard down, laying next to Chizome. He would probably feel her heartbeat and her bodywarmth. They could even end up touching in their sleep! He was too old for this..
For his nightwear, Akaguro just left the white tank top he was wearing under his day clothes and black boxers he had on. He stood anxiously near the bathroom door he walked over to after taking out his toothbrush. He was waiting for Mirko to come out after hearing the shower turn off, so he could complete his nightly rituals.
And so she came.
Hair slightly damp without the help of a blowdryer, face flushed from the steam that was currently scattering around her and the bright bathroom lights behind her (giving the hero an angelic glow), Usagiyama was wearing a white t-shirt and much like her starstrucked counterpart, purple boxers. Standing in the doorway, the rabbit was holding her prosthetics in one hand and had her used clothes tucked away in her armpit.
“Help me to the bed,will ya? And the bathroom’s all yours.”
Chizome was sure he had died at some point and his brain was fueling him with dopamine and hallucinations, as its final attempts to get the man up, or to make his last minutes on Earth not-so-dreadful. Despite the pounding of his heart and the racing of his mind, the man kept his composure and helped Usagiyama to the bed. “Thanks, Akaguro,” said the hero after a few steps and a soft plunge on the mattress. “Go now, I’ll be waiting for you”.
Chizome took a deep breath and silently went away to get ready…for bed….with Mirko. He went back and into the bright, hot bathroom and locked the door behind him. He sauntered over to the sink, seemingly unconcerned, and started brushing his teeth, while looking back at himself with wide eyes, tasting the mint. Even though his mind was now in shambles, thinking of everything happening and about to happen, he couldn't form a single coherent sentence.
The detective finished his duty by splashing cold water on his face and drying it off with a towel provided by the room service. He was about to reach for the doorknob when he stopped for a bit and thought back to every turn he made in his miserable road of life that led him here. The late killer didn't know whether to curse or to be grateful for them. Akaguro inhaled one last time and went out into the bedroom.
He was met with the sight of Usagiyama putting away her prosthetics. She was probably checking for any damages. Like how she - most likely - usually does. ‘There really is nothing worrisome about this’, thought Chizome, trying to calm himself and failing. The man slowly got closer to the bed. Usagiyama crawled in the bed, settled nicely and patted the cover next to her, inviting a very obviously-trying-to-play-it-cool-but-not-managing-to Chizome to lay by her side.
“Hop in, big guy.” said Mirko softly, with mischief in her voice.
Akaguro, with very careful movements and graceful stiffness, finally got under the sheets, as far away from the hero as physically possible. His companion was clearly holding in a laugh, but he paid that no mind, instead, he quickly switched the bedside lamp off on his side, signaling the heroine to do the same (she had switched them on previously). Usagiyama did so, after a quiet chuckle. The pair said their goodnights and the room felt silent.
It was awkward for Chizome as he was anything but silent on the inside. His heart was hammering inside his chest, he was unreasonably uneasy and restless about this.
They just happened to get a room with a single bed on a work trip and as very serious, mature and romantically-uninvolved adults, didn't overreact and simply shared it. There was absolutely nothing domestic, or sweet, or intimate, or comfortable, or secure about this. So, he should not be feeling them. Especially not with Japan's one-of-the-best heroes. Not with the most amazing woman he has ever met. Not with the brave Mirko, not with the fearless rabbit hero, not with the free spirited, confident Usagiyama, and explicitly not with the only hope in his life, the reason of his happiness, someone so electrifying it hurts and entirely the cause of the resurfacing of his humanity and soul, Rumi. Everything with her felt more pleasant and warm. Waking up wasn't a chore, the world didn’t seem so dull and horrible. His life wasn’t just a thing he kept around for the sake of a promise. With Rumi, days were worth remembering. His heart wasn’t fueled by hatred anymore. Through Rumi he was regaining his humanity. And it was painful. He hadn’t felt fear in decades and yet this was scary, it made him weak, it made him vulnerable. Rumi gave a dead, buried man a beating heart and a will to fight again, to crawl out and to see the sun and to breathe fresh air again. The hero was making Chizome, a man who gave up a long time ago, get up and keep walking forward. It was gruelling work, it was agonizing, Chizome was suffocating, his hands were weak and worn, not fit for battle, his body set ablaze and his mind crumbling-
As the detective was being engulfed in his own thoughts, the hero had sneaked close to the man, and much to Akaguro's demise, was snuggling his arm, pressing her (by comparison) cool body to Chizome’s gently.
Chizome’s entire being froze and the storm in his mind came to a halt. The man stayed like that until he felt a nasty chill in the place of Usagiyama and a soft apology from the hero. Something about making him uncomfortable. Before the rabbit could fully pull away, Chizome wrapped an arm around her and held her close. He let out the breath he didn’t even realize he was holding.
“No..I…I want you to stay, Rumi.”
Rumi momentarily paused. She felt there was something more to that simple phrase. She understood, buried her face in Chizome's arm, hiding an already obscured smile, trying to calm her giddy, pummeling heart.
“Gladly, Chizome.”