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Akutagawa was informed of Atsushi’s return late in the evening through a text from Chuuya, of all people. Along with an assurance that he was ok.
Admittedly, it was a relief, if not confusing.
It’s been three days now, and since the ability user William Baldwin has been handled, Dazai is scheduled to come back with that obnoxious detective soon. One would think everything is better now, and Akutagawa can relax finally…
But they would be wrong.
For some reason, only Mori and the executives are privy to what William Baldwin’s ability was, and all who were affected have been ordered to secrecy. He isn’t quite sure if it’s because it was some horrifying and dangerous ability, or if the boss is just feeling playful.
There was a shine in his eyes when he told Akutagawa it was confidential, so he’s pretty sure the boss is just messing around in his own weird way again.
Probably using it as leverage against someone else, he’d imagine.
Honestly, that man and his ability are of no real consequence to Akutagawa anyways. He was curious to know what happened to Atsushi, but he saw him healthy and walking with Kyouka the morning after receiving Chuuya’s text, so ultimately it doesn’t matter.
What does matter, though, is Chuuya.
Ever since Atsushi's return, there has been a glaring difference in the man.
A deeply concerning one:
He hasn’t brought up Mignon once.
Before that, Akutagawa would be bombarded with pictures and anecdotes, Chuuya would be rushing through his work or cursing out the ADA for getting to play with his kitten, grumbling about missing out since Mignon ‘won’t be like this for long’.
He’s tried asking about Mignon, obviously, but each time Chuuya just assures him the kitten is doing well with an oddly measured smile. There’s a sadness in his eyes when he says it, though, and a part of Akutagawa is terrified of what that sadness is hiding.
Still, he’s had enough of this. Mignon’s well-being is extremely important to him, after all, so he decides to ambush Chuuya.
He waits til 8 pm to arrive, late enough that he knows Chuuya will be home. Knocking wouldn’t be an ambush, so he goes to force his way through the door, only to discover it unlocked.
…Suspicious...
He cautiously enters, his attention immediately brought to the couch where he sees not red hair…but white.
“Why are you here?” Akutagawa asks, stomping over to the younger man sitting on the couch, looking terrified.
“Ch-Chuuya figured you’d do something like this…and told me that I need to be the one to explain everything to you…” Atsushi mutters, staring down at his lap.
“Alright,” Akutagawa narrows his eyes at the usurper sitting in front of him, “Where’s Mignon?”
“...He’s here…”
“Where?”
Atsushi raises a trembling hand and points to himself, “...H-he’s…right here.” He answers, his face deeply flushed, eyes refusing to look up from his lap.
Akutagawa feels his own face flush as rage builds up inside him, “You?” He snarls, rashomon getting ready to destroy this room and Atsushi for making a fool out of him…
Until he looks at the teen, terrified and guilt ridden, and suddenly all of his rage vanishes.
So the ability user turned people into kittens? Or cats in general?
Ultimately, that's not Atsushi's fault. He didn’t ask to be a kitten, didn’t try to force his way into those interactions with Akutagawa.
Atsushi was tossed into a situation he never asked to be in.
“I see.” Akutagawa finally says.
“I’m sorry…” Atsushi’s whispers, voice trembling, “I didn’t mean to deceive you…”
Sitting down next to him, Akutagawa crosses his arms and sighs, “There’s no need to look so pathetic, I’m not angry anymore. With you, at least.” He grumbles, “None of this was your fault. If anyone is to blame, it’s Dazai and Chuuya.” His gaze turns to the surprised man next to him, “I’m assuming they both knew the entire time?”
“Well…Chuuya learned a little later…but yeah.”
“So they were messing with us.”
Atsushi laughs weakly, “You don’t know the half of it.”
“I know enough” Akutagawa assures him, before everything he did with Mignon suddenly comes back to him, in a new light.
Along with the worst realization of all…
Atsushi knows about his relentless pursuit to find him.
Akutagawa scowls as he feels his face begin to burn.
He knows about the sleepless nights, the ignored warnings from Chuuya, the desperation.
But…what do they do now?
Atsushi’s stupid but he can’t be that stupid. He has to know Akutagawa’s feelings to some extent…and while knowing that, he’s here.
Guilt-ridden and scared, but here.
Is he just tying up loose ends? Politely explaining it to someone he knows cares too much?
Or could he also…?
He begins to wonder how much of Mignon’s actions were Atsushi’s himself.
Were the ones that might give Akutagawa hope actually done by Atsushi or just the instinctual reactions of a kitten?
He’s scared to ask, refuses to be that vulnerable.
“I wish…I’d learned about you as myself,” Atsushi quietly admits, his hand coming to rest next to Akutagawa’s on the couch, “Instead of having to be something else to see that side of you…”
The words hit Akutagawa so hard, he can't but but laugh a little under his breath before taking Atsushi's hand in his, “There’s still more to learn. A side I'd only show...to one person, if they wanted to see it.”
Atsushi’s worry visibly vanishes as he smiles at Akutagawa, lacing their fingers together, "I look forward to it."