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The powerful wind blew harshly right behind them, howling like a living creature. They could feel it getting closer. As fast as they were, it was going to catch up to them any second now, the frigid, biting cold that was freezing everything it came in contact with. Taking away what was a regular spring day just a minute ago and turning it into an almost dystopian winter.
The result of a last effort from the enemy ability user in getting away, the ability, however, was not well controlled and had frozen the user into solid ice first before going for everything else. Now, Atsushi and Akutagawa did their best to outrun the sudden freeze. Using the tiger’s vision, he spotted a rusty door almost completely camouflaged against the equally old and dirty walls it was attached to. Despite the decrepit state it remained sturdy, even from a distance he could tell. Not an ideal establishment, but for now, it would have to do.
He quickly grabbed Akutagawa and pulled him in the right direction. The man immediately caught on to what his plan was and followed without much more prompting or argument, a Christmas miracle.
Once inside, they used every rusted machinery and collapsing scaffolding they could find to block the entrance and keep it from cracking or blowing away. After just a second, the change was visible, now a coat of ice covered the windows, the door handle, and even parts of the wall. Inside, the temperature was dropping quickly as well.
The only source of light was the grey-white hue bleeding in from a sky smothered in clouds. Snow piled against the doors outside, trapping them in with no signal, no heat, and not even a damn blanket.
“Let’s hope our organizations don't take too long to notice this”- Atsushi muttered, staring at the scene.
Alutagawa at his side scoffed- “I’m sure the instant worst winter Yokohama has ever seen will go right over their heads.”- Sarcasm and cold were not a combo that made Atsushi happy. Without exchanging any more words, they each started to inspect the surrounding area. Anything that could keep them warm would be appreciated.
An old wooden desk destroyed later, they successfully had a small fire going on.
By now, probably an hour had passed, as fun for Atsushi as it was to try his best to ignore Akutagawa's existence, he was getting ridiculously bored. Akutagawa had gotten his hands on an ancient-looking book and seemed mildly entertained at least, but he had had no such luck, and the other man had refused to share.
“We might be here for a while.”- He commented, shifting closer to the fire and eyeing Akutagawa's book again.
Without even looking up, Akutagawa shot back- “Don’t try to make conversation just because the snow’s trapping us here.”
Atsushi groaned, annoyed and proud- “Don’t flatter yourself. I was hoping for silence.”- He lied. For some time, he continued to shift in his seat, sighing at the fire and yawning exaggeratedly. Akutagawa’s book was shut with a loud smack.
“Don't touch me, don't breathe on me, don't ask me to slow down or go back to the beginning”- He spat, his version of inviting the tiger to read with him. Atsushi took the opportunity, carefully and slowly he approached, as one would do with a stray animal that was just starting to be friendly.
The fire crackled between them, throwing dim, flickering shadows across the icy walls. For a moment, there was peace, tense, cold, and very temporary.
Then, as if the universe had a personal grudge, a gust of wind howled outside and a fresh flurry of snow blew in through a cracked window, snuffing out half the fire and dropping the temperature even further. Atsushi shivered violently, wrapping his arms around himself, then glanced at Akutagawa, who was visibly shaking now, his lips pale and body stiff. Clearly trying to stifle a cough.
He deliberated for a second on the decision he was about to make, but ultimately decided he would really rather not have Akutagawa die right now. With one quick move, he closed the distance between them, leaving their arms squished together.
“Don’t touch me.”- The mafioso practically screamed, trying to shove him away but not quite having his regular strength, so instead just standing up to move away from him.
“I’m literally trying not to freeze to death”-Atsushi muttered, exasperated- “Relax.”- He tried to reason- “You’re not built for this kind of environment, and your ability is useless without energy to sustain it. So drop the pride for once and come here.”
Silence. No one moved. Snow continued to creep in.
Then, reluctantly, Akutagawa made a sound between a scoff and a sigh. He moved stiffly toward Atsushi, dragging his half-frozen limbs like they no longer wanted to cooperate. Every step seemed to cost him something. Once he was close again, he hesitated to sit next to the tiger, glaring at the spot next to him on the floor like it had personally offended him.
Atsushi sighed, the man had serious issues with physical contact- “Back to back?”- He offered.
Akutagawa considered it, then gave a terse nod and sank down behind him, pressing their backs together.
The contact was immediate relief and sharp discomfort. Atsushi winced. Akutagawa was like ice- “God, you’re freezing.”
“Shut up.”
They sat like that for a few minutes, barely breathing, letting the heat slowly, slowly build. It wasn’t much, but it helped. Atsushi felt the trembling in Akutagawa’s body start to lessen. His own shivering dulled slightly as well.
Eventually, Akutagawa shifted, muttering something under his breath.
“What?”- Atsushi asked, already annoyed.
“This isn’t working. Not fast enough”- A pause. Then, almost as if it physically hurt him to say it- “Face to face.”
Atsushi blinked- “Wait, are you saying you want to…?”
“I said face to face, not spooning, you animal.”
Atsushi flushed but didn’t argue. Pride aside, Akutagawa was right. They were wasting time. He moved quickly, awkwardly, until they were seated opposite each other, legs overlapping, coats drawn around them both like a makeshift blanket.
Their faces were inches apart now, breath misting between them.
“If you tell anyone about this, I’ll kill you”- Akutagawa muttered, voice hoarse.
“Yeah, yeah”- Atsushi sighed, a small smirk playing at his lips despite the cold- “But if I die here and they find us like this, I hope they know it was your idea.”
Akutagawa rolled his eyes but didn’t move.
Minutes passed.
Then, very quietly, Atsushi said- “Thanks for not... attacking me. When I first suggested it.”
“I’m not stupid”- Akutagawa replied- “Even I know when death is a more pressing matter than pride.”
Atsushi nodded- “Still. Thank you.”
A long silence settled between them, broken only by the wind and the slowing of their breath.
For now, the mission was on pause. The fight could wait. The rivalry could sleep. What remained were two bodies, pressed together, clinging to warmth, and, maybe, some small, fragile understanding between the tiger and the hound.
They sat in stillness, the tension softening, and then, slowly, a conversation began to form, hesitant, awkward.
They talked about food. Missions. The book Akutagawa had found. Boredom made them talk longer than they probably would’ve otherwise.
“You don’t seem very shaken by the cold”- Akutagawa commented, eyes flicking toward Atsushi as the wind rattled the cracked window beside them.
Atsushi shrugged, exhaling a soft puff of steam into the air. “I think I just have experience dealing with it, from the orphanage and all. Winters were brutal, and the building had no heating. You just… adapted.”
Akutagawa was silent for a moment, his gaze lingering on the fire. Then, voice quieter, more distant, he added- “When it was cold like this on the streets, my sister and I used to gather all the street cats into our hideout.”
Atsushi turned to him, surprised, Akutagawa rarely talked about his past, and even more rarely about his sister. His voice had softened without him noticing, the usual edge dulled by the memory. Atsushi felt something unexpectedly warm bloom in his chest.
“Did that work?”- He asked, grinning.
“More than you would expect”- A breath of laughter passed between them, light, honest. The kind of laugh that escaped before either of them could think too hard about it- “I guess old habits die hard”
Atsushi gave him a playful nudge, half-offended- “I’m a tiger”- Akutagawa smirked, the corners of his mouth twitching with restrained amusement. They fell into a brief silence again, but it was different now, companionable, charged with something tentative and unspoken. The kind of quiet that doesn’t demand to be broken- “... This isn’t so bad”- Atsushi said softly, eyes still on the fire.
Akutagawa tilted his head slightly, letting himself lean just a little closer- “Maybe it's not”
Atsushi smirked, lifting an eyebrow- “Are you going soft on me, Akutagawa?”
“You wish”- He shot back immediately, but his voice lacked venom. It was almost fond.
Their eyes met. Something about it, the closeness, the vulnerability, the absurdity of their situation, made the silence feel heavier. Not uncomfortable. Just… full.
Atsushi chuckled under his breath and looked away first, heart oddly light.
Akutagawa didn’t say anything else. He just stayed close. And didn’t move away. Atsushi glanced back at the cold lips that were right in front of him, pale, slightly chapped, and parted just enough to let out a slow exhale. He could see the man’s breath forming soft white clouds in the frozen air, like ghosts of words never spoken.
He hadn’t realized how close they’d gotten.
Somewhere between the bickering, the silence, and the shared warmth, they’d begun to shift unconsciously toward each other. Not out of necessity now, but something quieter. Something almost magnetic.
Without either of them noticing, they had started to orbit closer, until now, there was barely any space left between their knees, their coats overlapping where the firelight flickered against their shadows.
“If I didn't know any better, I would even say you are enjoying my company right now.”- Atsushi murmured, a teasing smile tugging at the corners of his lips.
Akutagawa didn’t respond at first. His expression was unreadable, not quite a glare, not quite a smile. Just tired eyes, soft at the edges, focused only on him. Then, in a voice so quiet it could’ve been mistaken for the wind, he answered- “If I didn't know any better, maybe I would”
The air held still. The cold forgot to bite. Time seemed to hesitate, and then, just like that, their mouths met. It wasn’t graceful. It wasn’t dramatic. It was hesitant, cold, and clumsy, two frostbitten fools leaning in without thinking.
They separated slowly, foreheads still almost touching. Neither of them dared say anything. The fire crackled, still burning. Suddenly, it wasn't so cold, and they weren't in such a hurry to be rescued.