Work Text:
Akutagawa stood at the riverside with an unreadable expression. No words could describe whatever the hell he was currently seeing.
After a long day at work, he had went to the weretiger's apartment to drop off a cake that the other had practically begged for in the morning, just for him to not be home once he was at his door step. Unimpressed and unsurprised, Akutagawa went to the location that Atsushi’s phone displayed and found familiar pajamas splayed out a few feet away from the river's edge.
The question of ‘where was Atsushi?’ didn't stay in Akutagawa's head for long after that discovery.
A white tiger surfaced out of the water chuffing loudly. It shook its head violently to dry its fur off just to hypocritically dived back down into the dark depths. The white coat under water was easy to spot as it glided through the water, oblivious to the disgust radiating out of Akutagawa's person. Akutagawa continued to watch as the tiger repeatedly came up for air after diving seemingly to the river's bottom. The tigers strong legs redirected water all over, splashing Akutagawa’s face an annoying amount of times.
How could it enjoy that river water when it was extremely dirty, Akutagawa had no clue.
The tiger finally seemed satisfied as it swam towards the shore, its eyes closed happily as it felt the final moments of the disgusting water. Then, black eyes met yellow and the two made eye contact. The tiger blinked. A gentle light covered the feline and drew back to reveal an Atsushi who was not wearing any clothes.
“How long have you been here?” Atsushi asked nervously while deliberately keeping everything below his shoulders below water.
“Jinko, why are you skinny dipping in the river?”
“Answer my question first!” Atsushi yelled. "You're oddly judgemental for someone who just watched me swim around in the water for who knows how long."
Akutagawa scoffed. He put his hand to his mouth to strike a fake cough, but used it to hide the blush that had appeared onto his face at the sight of his partner's wet features. “I believe my question has more relevance, considering you left— directly after making plans, may I add— to go into a dirty river.”
“I didn't expect you to come find me in the middle of the night, and Byakko wanted to go for a swim.” Atsushi articulated simply. “Is it a crime to swim?”
“Naked? Most likely. Someone whose job intertwines with the law as much as yours should be familiar with that."
Atsushi sighed. “Well I’m naked now but I wasn’t naked when I was the tiger. I had fur on."
"I suggest you review the definition of naked once more." Akutagawa continued after the other finished his loud annoyed groan. "Are you so impatient as to not be able to wait until morning to swim, or perhaps choose an acceptable body of water?”
"I’m only swimming now to not attract too much suspicion." Atsushi replied as he rung out his hair. "It would be odd for me to swim in the day.”
“Because we are all aware that a giant white tiger swimming in a river in the dead of night is far from abnormal.” Akutagawa dead panned.
“Are you only here to heckle me !? Look away so I can get out of the water and change into my clothes!”
Red bloomed onto pale features as Akutagawa finally shut his mouth and turned away. After a few excruciating seconds of hearing water drop, fabric shuffle, and invasive thoughts of Atsushi's frame that hid underneath said fabric, Akutagawa was instructed to face Atsushi once again.
Atsushi was wearing the stupid tiger pajamas that were splayed onto the ground just a few minutes ago with an embarrassed expression and still-wet hair. He put his hands on his hips angrily and expectantly. "Well? You have something of mine?"
They both were silent for a few moments.
“Your diving is shockingly above average.”
Atsushi hissed. “Hand over the cake. I’m done with you.” He tried to swipe the box out of the other's hand but missed as Akutagawa swiftly dodged.
“I do not intend to share this cake with someone who has just been marinating inside runoff, weretiger.”
Atsushi pouted. “Since when were you eating it too?"
"Did you not intend to share with me?"
"I did—" Atsushi admitted while furrowing his brow, "—but I’ve been waiting for that cake all day, and you not letting me eat it is hurting my feelings.”
Akutagawa shoved his hands into his pockets and began to walk away with the cake. “Then perhaps you should’ve chosen to resist your sinful temptations. I’ll be off to your estate to eat this all alone; enjoy watching me.”
Despite Atsushi’s relentless cursing and scratching, he followed
Akutagawa walked towards Atsushi's apartment as the cat behind him cursed and scratched at him. Lucky for Akutagawa, Atsushi's heart was not truly in the gesture as his nails were barely making contact with his coat.
“If I shower will you let me eat with you?” Atsushi whispered once they arrived at the agency dorms.
“Only if you allow me to wash you myself.” The words had already escaped Akutagawa’s lips as he realized their lewd connotation.
Atsushi’s face turned an appropriate shade of red. “Excuse me—?”
Unfortunately, Akutagawa was a stubborn man. He swallowed his pride and doubled down. “You heard what I said.” He wasn’t sure if this was more embarrassing for the weretiger or himself.
Akutagawa turned around after a few seconds of silence and saw the absolute shock on Atsushi's countenance. He watched the cogs in the detectives brain slowly work, eventually commanding him to let out a defeated sigh. “I do need that cake…”
Holy shit that worked.
Akutagawa opened Atsushi’s apartment with his spare keys. Atsushi dragged himself towards the bathroom. The bathtub faucet sounded as Akutagawa placed the cake into the refrigerator.
In all honestly, the mafioso had no clue why he suggested to wash the weretiger's body. It had crossed his mind multiple times recently—feeling the muscles Atsushi hid underneath his clothing— but he was always uncertain as to why. He pushed away the surplus of sensual answers and came to the conclusion that he wanted to make sure Atsushi was properly clean and without unchecked wounds.
…yes, that was most likely the case.
Akutagawa took off his coat and went into the bathroom. Atsushi was already in the tub awaiting his demise when he walked inside.
"I'll allow you to wash me only above the hip." Atsushi announced as Akutagawa rolled up his sleeves and sat beside the tub. "I can do the rest myself."
Akutagawa nodded. "I wouldn't touch you there anyways." He grabbed the back of Atsushi’s head, feeling the knots in the other's hair. In another context, someone might believe this to be an intimate gesture.
Akutagawa didn't like that.
He dunked Atsushi's head all the way underwater.
Atsushi resurfaced with a loud gasp. “Why did you do that!?”
“I’m going to wash your hair first.” Akutagawa replied as if that explained the sudden display of brutality. “Or would you prefer me to do something else?”
“You’re a freak, y'know?” Atsushi protested. “If I didn’t know better I’d say you only did this to touch my body.”
Akutagawa froze and let out a loud cough. “Of course not,” he cleared his throat and started to rub shampoo into Atsushi's hair, “I simply do not wish to share a cake with someone dirty.”
“You always think I’m dirty.” Atsushi said as he leaned into the touch comfortably. “I only went to the river since I thought you had forgotten. I asked you for that cake this morning and you only arrive with it in hand at night.”
“I was busy at work, weretiger. I’m certain the concept of working a stable, well paying job is hard to wrap around your head.” Despite his sharp tongue, Akutagawa gently massaged Atsushi’s scalp with as much care as he could provide.
“You always say that but not all of us have illegal activities to attend to. I’m a hard-working, law-abiding citizen who makes a decent salary, while you're akin to a militaristic dog.” Atsushi bit. “A doggy who occasionally doubles as my food delivery man.” His last sentence was accompanied with a small laugh.
Akutagawa cupped up a bit of water and rinsed Atsushi’s head, opting to not dunk him this time. “Occasionally implies an uncommon occurrence. You beg me to have meals with you almost every day now, it’s almost parasitic.”
“You don’t enjoy my company?” Atsushi snapped his head towards Akutagawa’s face, his expression disappointed. “If you don’t want to be around me then you just have to say so.”
“If I didn’t enjoy your company I wouldn’t be touching you while you are nude, would I?" Akuatagwa rolled his eyes. "Additionally, I would not have came to your home anyways and eaten with you.”
That answer seemed to be the correct one, as the tension in Atsushi's face eroded. The small victory painted a small smirk onto Akutagawa’s face as he applied conditioner into Atsushi's locks.
After a few seconds, Atsushi spoke: “Do you really think I’m good at diving?”
“Yes.”
“I think I should go diving more often. It might be useful for a mission one day.” Atsushi thought out loud.
“And then the runoff gets to your brain, making you mentally ill.” Akutagawa stated dryly, finally finishing washing Atsushi’s hair. He paused, in embarrassment as he realized what he had to do next.
“Well, where else would I practice?" Atsushi complained. "The average bathtub isn’t exactly that deep as you can tell. I can barely sit in here without hunching over to cover my chest. Besides, I don’t enjoy showing people the scars on my torso so I wouldn't enjoy a beach or pool.”
Atsushi needed to stop talking about his body parts or else Akutagawa was going to kill himself. “Wear a shirt.”
“I hate how it sticks to me—“ Akutagawa hesitantly put his fingers onto Atsushi's back as he replied, “—it feels gross when it’s all over and sticking to me. I’m not sure how you do it with Demonic Armor—being surrounded by so much texture—but I can’t stand having too much on me.”
Akutagawa bit his lip hard. It was either wash Atsushi now, or have to stand being in the same room with him as he was actively in the nude.
The bullet he bit tasted of embarrassment as Akutagawa began washing Atsushi's body as he spoke. Just as he had imagined Atsushi was extremely muscular. Great.
Thankfully, the weretiger had once majored in the art of complaining and began to mention annoying clients. Akutagawa kept his replies brief for he was too busy worrying about how much he enjoyed this. Every pass over Atsushi's chest, torso, back, everything made Akutagawa unbearably hot in an uncomfortable way. He felt like he could die a fulfilled but humiliated man right there.
He finished washing Atsushi's upper body after what felt like ages. He dried off Atsushi's hair messily as Atsushi told him of a man who had entered the agency thinking it to be a toy store. Akutagawa didn't know the man, but he figured maybe there was something off with him in the head.
Akutagawa exited the bathroom to allow Atsushi his privacy and began preparing tea to accompany the cake.
“You got the right flavor, right?” Atsushi asked as he made his way towards Akutagawa. He had chosen to wear new pajamas that looked oddly like the ones that Akuatagwa had gifted him months prior.
Akutagawa clicked his tongue. “How could I forget when it is all you mention?” He took the cake out of the box, brought out two plates, and handed Atsushi a knife to serve himself. Atsushi happily cut out two large piece of the lemon cake and placed them onto the matching plates displayed on the table.
The taste was simple due to Atsushi’s easily overwhelmed palate, but the flavor was delicious. They both enjoyed the taste of lemon and commonly got pastries in that flavor for the two of them to share. Atsushi continued his small rant from earlier and Akutagawa continued to listen, nodding along.
After eating the full slice (and stealing a bit of Akutagawa’s own), Atsushi was satisfied. He sighed contently with a dumb smile that radiated positivity and rested his head onto his palm.
“Did you enjoy?” Akutagawa questioned, glancing over at his companion. He already knew the answer.
“Definitely!” Atsushi gushed. “The flavor was amazing!"
“Good. I didn’t pay that much to have you disappointed.”
Atsushi ignored the snarky comment. "When I saw it in the display window I thought to myself: 'I think Akutagawa would love that', was I right?"
Akutagawa feigned indifference. “I suppose I did.” He didn't like Atsushi being right. He felt Atsushi's gaze linger on him even after he finished speaking, but he avoided his eyes. "Are you analyzing me, Jinko?"
“I’m doing nothing of the sort.” Atsushi denied with a placid expression. “I’m simply thinking.”
“About?” Akutagawa asked.
Atsushi redirected his gaze to the ceiling. “Some would consider this a date.”
“Oh.” Akutagawa was speechless. Was this a date? “And your logic is?”
Atsushi shrugged, his prior confidence withered slightly. “You bought me cake and went to find me once you realized I wasn’t home. Others would've just left it at my doorstep."
"It's simple hospitality."
"You have your own set of keys to my apartment. You bathed me—I think that’s the most important—then ate dinner with me.” He titled his head. “What do you say this is, if not a date?”
“Cake isn’t dinner.” Akutagawa changed the subject. "Cake is a dessert, calling it dinner is not an appropriate title."
“Don’t avoid my question.”
Akutagawa permitted himself think. Perhaps this could be seen as a sort of date, but he was not dating Atsushi. Would having a date require him to court the weretiger? Had he already courted him? Akutagawa wasn't familiar in this field.
“I suppose—“ Akutagawa crossed his arms, “—you could see this as a type of 'date'.”
Atsushi stared wide eyed for a single moment. Akutagawa was extremely on edge. Had he said the wrong thing? Had he messed up? His thoughts tumbled exponentially until a familiar, calm smile appeared on his partners face.
“I guess that’s what it is then: a date.” He leaned back in his chair and looked at Akutagawa once more. “A romantic date; with you.”
Akutagawa cut in. “I don’t think I’ve heard of anything odder than that.”
“Me neither.”
"I reckon that implies we must be infatuated with one another." Akutagawa glanced at the detective besides him.
"I reckon I am with you." Atsushi nodded. He was clearly not as affected by the weight of the conversation as Akutagawa was, who was currently unable to think straight. He spoke once more after a few beats of comfortable silence. “Wanna stay over for the night?”
“Do you not have work tomorrow?”
Atsushi stood up and stretched. “Yea but, I’d rather have you stay than leave so late. It looks suspicious.”
“Just like how a tiger inside a river looks suspicious only in the day.” Akutagawa nodded knowingly.
Atsushi gawked in fake offense.“Tigers stay in river all the damn time!”
“How many tigers are native to Japan?" Akutagawa rolled his eyes. "Only you.”
“I’ll make you sleep in that river if you don’t accept my invitation.” Atsushi's tone was grave but his face showed he was enjoying the bickering. "I'll kick you out of this date."
Akutagawa strode off to Atsushi's bedroom and grabbed pajamas from his drawer. "I never declined."
He changed quickly and hopped into Atsushi's cramped closet-bed. Even with Kyouka living in her own apartment, he continued to dwell in the closet.
Atsushi followed him short after. "Good night," he whispered as he curled up next to the mafioso.
Akutagawa ran his hands through ivory locks as the two of them drifted off to sleep. In the morning, Akutagawa would wake up and wish to shower Atsushi in affection, but for now he slept soundly with light chuffing aligning with the rise and fall of his own chest.