Work Text:
Aki struck the vending machine glass hard. "Great. It ate my money and won't give me the coffee. This night truly never ends."
In that moment, the lone vending machine tucked away in the hidden alcove behind the Public Safety back entrance became Aki’s greatest enemy in the world. Between the endless paperwork keeping him from going home and Angel’s constant complaining all night, he had become nothing more than a slave to the keyboard and screen.
Angel spoke up from behind in a lethargic voice "Let it go. Even machines rest at this hour. Not everyone is a workaholic like you."
Angel was slumped against the wall opposite the machine, his wings spread out on either side. His eyes too were bloodshot from lack of sleep. For some reason he hadn't left Aki alone tonight.
"We're so lucky" Aki said, giving the machine one last shake before surrendering and collapsing into the space beside Angel. He stretched his legs out next to Angel’s. He glanced at Angel’s shoes; they were so small. Looking down at his own, he felt like a giant. Then his gaze drifted back to the machine. "We’ve been up all night, can't we even get a single coffee?"
"I told you we should sleep but you insisted on the reports" Angel said. He turned his head to look at Aki. Aki’s hair was a mess, his tie loosened. That usual razor-sharp look was gone, replaced by a man who was simply finished. "Look at you. Don't you seriously get tired of pushing yourself this hard?"
Aki leaned his head back, thumping it lightly against the cold wall. Sometimes he wanted to be able to just let go like this lazy devil but the to-do list never ended. Actually what started in his mind once the tasks were finished was even more terrifying... He let out a deep sigh.
"I am tired, Angel. Yes, I'm very tired."
Angel looked at Aki with a sigh of his own. For a while now, Angel’s head had been spinning from the feelings brewing inside him whenever he looked at Aki. The way this human shouldered everything, silently trying to be enough for everyone... the way he’d traded the childhood and youth he never had for a pursuit called "revenge".. This side of Aki touched something deep inside Angel.
"Then stop" Angel said.
Just as Aki was about to say something Angel suddenly leaned in close to his face. Before Aki could even ask anything Angel kissed him.
Aki’s eyes snapped wide in shock, his hands hanging frozen in mid-air. Angel didn't pull away; instead, he lingered, stretching the second out. He felt how Aki’s usual rigidity softened beneath his lips. As for Aki, he cast aside the logic that screamed "no" in that first second; amidst the crushing exhaustion this contact felt like the only warm thing in his life. He felt Angel’s lips catch his own... and as Angel pulled back Aki felt as if something was being uprooted from within him, flowing toward the devil. It was a warm, soft, and wet, brief kiss.
When Angel finally leaned against the wall again both were out of breath.
Aki stared at the broken vending machine for a while. Once his heart rate finally settled into a rhythm he wiped his mouth with his hand.
"What was that?" he asked. His voice was so flat it was as if he were asking about the weather rather than what had just happened.
Angel shrugged, averting his gaze. "I don't know. You were complaining too much. You had to stop somehow."
Aki turned to Angel. "I've stopped. Are you happy?"
"I suppose" Angel said, his voice trembling slightly. "I think I woke you up better than a coffee."
Aki looked at Angel’s face -it was usually so lethargic but now strangely vulnerable- for a long moment. He didn't get angry; he didn't complain. He just let out a heavy breath. "Yes, really you did" Aki said.
Angel simply smiled. They stayed in silence for a while.
Aki stood up and brushed himself off. "Come on. If we sit here any longer, the reports won't get done and we'll look pathetic in front of Makima."
"You write them, I’m going to sleep. I’m already a mess anyway" Angel said following after Aki.
As they were climbing the stairs Aki paused for a moment. Once he was sure Angel was following he took a deep breath. "The taste... it was like something sweet."
Angel was taken aback and didn't answer immediately. A few seconds later he sighed deeply and said:
"Must be from the last wafer I ate."
Aki smiled. Then he started walking again. He could feel Angel’s gaze on his back. He knew that nothing would ever be the same again but strangely, it didn't bother him at all.