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Adachi knew it was late without having to look at the clock, and he stood up from the desk.
“All right, pack it up. Work's over.”
Eiji didn't even look at him and didn’t answer, still flipping through papers with one hand and tapping at the computer with his other hand. There wasn't really anything to put away, just the lights to turn off and the door to lock, Adachi already scooping up the keys from the table.
“Come on. Whatever you're doing, you can do tomorrow.”
Eiji spoke absently. “I'm almost finished.”
Adachi shook the keys in his hand to emphasize that him not being done didn't matter.
“Yeah, I'm not waiting for you to finish. Let's go,” he ordered, but Eiji was clearly focused on his task.
“You can go on ahead.” He gestured for the keys while keeping his attention on the computer screen. “I can lock up.”
If there was one thing Adachi learned about him, it was that he was a hard worker--and a good one. He was fast and accurate, but sometimes, he did not want to stop.
Adachi approached him to flex his authority.
“Nope.” He pointed down at him. “You're coming with me for some drinks. I'm not about to have you overworked when you've just started.”
And this made him what he considered an amazing and sexy boss for looking out for his subordinate like this, but for some reason, Eiji was not grateful since he spoke curtly, dismissing any concerns.
“That's fine.”
Adachi narrowed his eyes. He already knew Eiji was stubborn, but to want to work when there was drinks and camaraderie and not working to do…
“No. It's not fine,” Adachi said, losing a touch of his composure and hands on hips. “How do you think it's going to sound when everyone asks where you are and I have to say I left you to do paperwork?”
“You worry too much.” Eiji finally looked up at him like he was certain the eye contact would be enough to reassure him. “They'll understand I want to.”
His calm voice and laidback demeanor was making it seem like Adachi was the one being unreasonable, and that just wasn't right. He had been generously patient, but now he closed the distance between the two of them in an instant, his tone leaving no room to disagree.
“All right, that's it. I'm not arguing.”
Eiji was easy to scoop up in his arms, easy to lift out of his chair, all bones and no meat. He sucked in a sharp breath, eyes wide and angry.
“Adachi-san.”
He started kicking up a fuss, both literally and figuratively, and Adachi had to get a better hold on him in order to not drop him.
“Less squirming, more thanking me for not working you so hard.” He kicked the chair to tuck it where it belonged closer to the table and headed for the exit. “I’ll put you down outside the door. Can’t have you trying to get back inside to work more.”
Eiji settled down with a huff once he seemed to realize he couldn't escape. He began grumbling.
“It was just a little more left,” he insisted.
It sounded reasonable, but that, Adachi knew, was a slippery slope into just ten more minutes and just one more email, and then that's how all nighters and working through weekends happened.
He hummed in thought and made sure to sound like he was seriously considering what he was about to suggest.
“I guess I could carry you all the way to the bar since you seem to rather work instead of have fun.”
But Eiji didn’t react much more than crossing his arms and looking like a disgruntled bride about to be carried over the threshold.
Adachi grunted in realization since he remembered exactly who he was talking to.
Right,” he said, stopping at the door. “You don't like fun. Care to explain that?”
“I was having fun transferring the information we need for tomorrow. Early tomorrow, might I add.”
It really sounded like Eiji was scolding him, and Adachi raised an eyebrow at that.
“You do realize how boring you sound, don't you?”
Eiji sighed, rolling his eyes. “How were you running this business on your own before?”
Adachi puffed up. “Impressively, I'll have you know. But you've been a big help now that I've achieved the dream of having a cute, young secretary working for me.”
“I'm not your secretary,” Eiji shot back immediately, and Adachi teased.
“Not denying the cute part, I see.”
That's when the door in front of them opened, and Adachi felt Eiji tense up when they saw Ichiban peeking in. Then Ichiban blinked at the two of them, confusion evident in the tilt of his head.
“What’s going on?”
Eiji was the first to speak, or try to, at least.
“We were just–” But he seemed too focused on his position to continue, as he grabbed onto Adachi’s arms and shifted his weight like he wanted to jump down, but he could hardly brace himself enough to do so.
He was clearly flustered seeing Ichiban, which tended to happen when Ichiban came over unannounced or got a little too close or complimented him a little too much. An obvious crush, which Adachi thought was endlessly entertaining. Especially since Ichiban didn't seem to know it and would keep giving Eiji encouragement to goof off a bit and to try new things together, which meant more energy from Ichiban towards him and more time spent one on one.
But also considering the current scene, maybe it was more that Eiji felt that he was caught in a compromising position. Who wouldn't think something was up when someone was being cradled in a pair of big strong arms owned by a dashing handsome older man?
Either way, this could've all been avoided if someone had listened to him in the first place.
Adachi spoke up, laying all the blame on Eiji.
“See. If you weren't so damn difficult.”
Eiji shot him a glare, which was hardly effective considering he was being toted around like it was nothing.
“Me?” he said like he was offended at being told the truth.
Adachi stepped forward to Ichiban. “Here, take him.” He shoved Eiji into Ichiban’s arms, leaving no time for anyone to react other than to accept the transfer of goods.
Ichiban sputtered but took hold of Eiji without a hitch. Eiji protested but hooked his arms around Ichiban's neck to grab on. Adachi left the two of them fumbling as he also shooed them through the door.
“Out, out. Get out of my office,” he ordered. He could rag on them later, but it had been a long day. “I need a drink.”
Adachi locked the door behind him amid Ichiban's unsure reply of,
“I was going to walk with you two to the bar…”
He was giving Eiji eyes as if he were asking permission, like he felt that he was intruding or something, and Adachi stepped up to cause more trouble.
“Kasuga, he wanted to stay here and work instead of hang out with you.”
It had Eiji huffing out in exasperation. “That's not–” He was ready to deny it but made the mistake of looking at Ichiban right then, probably to reassure him, but with how close they were physically, their faces so near, Eiji halted immediately.
Adachi couldn't blame him. Ichiban had those big eyes that made people react to him–not always in a good way. Sometimes it made people want to fight him, but they drew others in and lowered their guard and softened them up to him, and the next thing they knew, they went places for him and laid down their lives to protect him.
Not Adachi though, he was immune to such charms.
He cleared his throat after the two of them kept staring at each other like deer in headlights, and they snapped to attention like they both just remembered they were holding each other.
Ichiban put Eiji down amidst Eiji's sudden squirming, apologizing and trying to lighten the awkward mood.
“You know, I'd stay at work longer if I could, too. It's fine.” His attention swept to Adachi, grinning. “And, hey, I'm grateful that the two of you have been helping me when I need to send someone your way.”
After he saw Adachi bask in his approval, he turned back to Eiji, placing an appreciative hand on his shoulder.
“Thanks for working extra hard, Ei-chan. I know you have complicated feelings for these guys.”
Adachi snorted at the complicated feelings comment. Eiji only had complicated feelings for one ex-yakuza, and he certainly wasn't admitting it.
Maybe Adachi could eventually wheedle it out of him, but right now, Eiji was frowning, taking a moment to gather his thoughts and glancing at the hand on his stiff shoulder. Then he did his thing where he got grumpy and aloof. He pulled himself together by taking a step away to smooth out his clothes, hands quick and rough. Without looking at the other two, he set off, his stride swift and his voice impatient.
“Let's go already.”
Adachi stopped Ichiban from questioning Eiji's actions with an arm slung around his shoulders and a playful tone.
“Let him lead the way. First round is on him.”