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Something was off.
First, Atsushi perceived it from the darkness of the house. Normally, Akutagawa would let the lights off for most of the time, his liking being more of a warm little light like a bedside lamp, so when he didn't see the lampshade casting its glow on the living room, he got a bit worried.
The second thing was the scent. Akutagawa would have a strong scent that would stick to his nose – much to his dislike. A mix of figs with an expensive cologne and some type of tea that he probably couldn't afford wasn't the thing he smelled when he entered the house, instead, a faint smell of figs hit his nose, so faint that seemed almost like someone rub the scent off of Akutagawa’s skin.
He entered further in the house, looking around at the poorly lit living room. Atsushi got out of his way and turned the lampshade on, nodding, satisfied.
When he got in front of Akutagawa’s bedroom door, he started regretting everything and every circumstance that led him here, at this right moment, ready to knock at his sworn enemy bedroom door. He thought of leaving, Akutagawa wouldn't let him in, anyways. He could just turn the light off again, redo his steps to the front door, close it and pretend nothing of this has ever happened. But of course, his too big of a heart couldn't shut up, because Akutagawa hadn't appeared for the meeting today, because he isn't picking up any calls, because everything leads to something wrong.
Atsushi sighed, ready to bring his fist to the wood door, when a loud sound could be heard from inside. He thought for a moment Akutagawa was going to burst the door open and scream at him like he always does, but then a moment passed, and nothing happened. He tried to get any sound from inside the room, the enhanced hearing helped a bit, but with the door and Akutagawa seemingly distant he couldn't hear anything but the faint sound of his breath and heartbeat.
Then it happened, right when Atsushi leaned against the door to try to hear better, something opened it with too much speed, making Atsushi fall forward, something took him by the waist and held him in the air. He tried to fight back for a moment, some seconds later he perceived it was Rashomon, the ability turning and turning around his waist like it was nuzzling against him.
– What are you doing here, Weretiger? – A raspy voice came from inside the room, some meters down from him. He greeted the man with a scowl.
– Came to see if you’re alive?! You decided to stop answering everyone! – Rashomon squeezed him just a little bit tighter, it felt more like a hug and less like a death threat. The man coughed – and that cough hurted, Atsushi was sure – and scowled back.
– For what I know, it's none of your concern what I do or stop to do.
Atsushi looked at Akutagawa now, really looked. And he looked like shit. His hair was pointing every which way, he seemed to be sweaty but really cold, taking into account the sweater and sweatpants he was wearing. And now that Atsushi was closer, he could hear the more than abnormal raspy breaths and the accelerated beating of his heart.
– God, you look like shit. – Atsushi didn't want to say that. He really didn't. Another scowl, deeper this time.
– Thank you, Weretiger.
– Can you drop the sassy act just for a second? – Akutagawa rolled his eyes and was ready to squeeze him tighter, but Rashomon had other plans, instead of squeezing tighter, she dragged herself up to his collar bones, going down his arm until she reached his hand, the ability nuzzled herself between the opening of his fingers, like it was holding his hand.
If he was blushing from anger, now he was blushing for other reasons.
– Rashomon! – He heard a scream, and then a coughing fit. Rashomon recoiled back to Akutagawa, letting Atsushi free, who went immediately to Akutagawa's side, caressing his back in invisible circles, a soothing gesture.
He got a cup of water that was on the bedside table, handing it to Akutagawa when the coughing subsided. Akutagawa was trembling so much he almost couldn't hold the cup still, Atsushi holding it partially for him, that earned him a glare from teary eyes.
Atsushi suddenly perceived they were sitting on the floor, Akutagawa probably got out of his bed to attack whoever was at the door in a better angle. He sighed, pulling the other man up with him.
– Unhandle me, Weretiger. – Atsushi rolled his eyes, helping the other sit on the bed, which, miraculously, left him with all his limbs in place.
– You’re too light, y’know. You need to eat more. – Akutagawa snorted, sitting further on the bed.
– I know how to take care of myself.
– Sure you do, no doubt about that… but have you eaten today? – Akutagawa averted his eyes, looking at anything but Atsushi. He sighed.
– I got my answer. – He took the empty cup from the table and was ready to leave the bedroom when a voice – a little too desperate, Atsushi observed – called him.
– Where are you going? – Atsushi pointed with his index finger at the door, doing a face that Akutagawa would call “that idiotic face of yours”.
– To the kitchen… You need to eat. – Atsushi thought he said something wrong for a moment, the way Akutagawa curled in himself and fidget with his hands made something in his chest hurt.
– Sure. Just don't break my kitchen. Nor set my house on fire. – Atsushi scoffed.
– Sure. – He left the room, and started to wander through the kitchen, looking for something good enough for someone sick. Not that he knew, he never took care of someone sick, and when he got sick, no one was there to take care of him. He heard somewhere soup was good, so he was counting on that.
Some moments later, Atsushi had something that… seemed like soup. He put everything the receipt said, so wrong it wasn't… It was just weird looking. He came back to the bedroom, finding Akutagawa sitting at the bed, staring at the wall fiercely, like in deep thought. He poked him in the cheek, earning a glare, Atsushi answered with a smile, taking a pillow and putting in Akutagawa’s lap, placing the hot bowl in the pillow and giving him a spoon.
– This better be good. – A hoarse voice said, and Atsushi made a mental note to make ginger and honey tea for him later.
Akutagawa took a spoonful and put it in his mouth, with Atsushi anxiously awaiting the verdict of his soup.
– Not that bad. – Atsushi smiled brightly, and brought a hand to Akutagawa’s forehead, who jumped slightly.
– Happy you liked… You have a fever.
– Tell me a thing I don't know, Weretiger.
– Jesus Christ, you're such an idiot.
He swore he saw a glimpse of a smile in Akutagawa’s lips, and that made him want to kiss him. But maybe, he isn't allowed now.
Akutagawa finished the soup, putting the bowl aside and politely wiping his mouth with a tissue. He then leaned backwards, propping his back in a pillow, and closed his eyes.
– Are you going to keep staring at me? – He said to Atsushi, who was lost in an idiotic haze about how Akutagawa’s fingers were really delicate.
– Oh, sorry… Do you need something?
– I need you to shut up.
– Lovely as always. – He said, going to the other side of the bed and lying there, taking a stray hair off the other's forehead. Akutagawa mumbled a “you're warm” that wasn't audible if Atsushi weren't so close.
Akutagawa then closes the distance between them.
See, the thing that shocked Atsushi was not that his enemy was now hugging his waist, sweaty forehead now touching his shoulder, deep and hot breath tickling his neck slightly. No, it wasn't that. It was the fact that Akutagawa started the contact. Of all the times they had those intimate moments between each other, Atsushi was always the one who initiated the contact first. So Akutagawa doing it first was:
One, he was too sick to think correctly, and will or forget all this tomorrow or will pretend nothing happened.
Two – which Atsushi thinks is more likely, hopes it’s more likely – Is that Akutagawa did that only because he felt like it. He felt like hugging Atsushi and indulged in the want. The thought made Atsushi's stomach turn with happy butterflies.
– You’re thinking too loud. – Akutagawa said, automatically, stripes of Rashomon circled Atsushi, holding his waist, nape, and like early, his hands.
– Ok, I won't let you go, message understood.
He felt Akutagawa blush more than he saw, hot cheek against his collarbone. He kissed Akutagawa's head, caressing the messy, greasy hair.
– Sleep…
It was the last thing he said before he Akutagawa held him tightly, and slept soundly.