Work Text:
"'Do Not Enter' is written on the doorway."
"Why can't everyone just go away?"
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"Rui?"
Tsukasa called out. He searched through the entire building for his lover. He wasn't in any of his usual spots, and nobody else has seen the hacker the whole day.
This worried Tsukasa for multiple reasons. Did Rui see anyone today? Has he gotten any fresh air? Did he eat or drink anything at all?
That last one worried him the most.
Putting a pause on his search, Tsukasa made his way to the building's cafeteria. N30N, the organization they all work for, usually has some good food in stock. Just gotta remember to not grab any vegetables, unless the assassin wants to REALLY piss the other off. If Rui was in a bad mood, that'd explain why he's dodging everyone.
Tsukasa entered the cafeteria, though he surprisingly wasn't alone. A familiar head of blue hair was nearby.
"Toya?"
"Hm?"
They made eye contact, and Tsukasa walked up towards the cyborg. He knew why Toya was up this late in this part of the building - Hungry again. Not even gonna question it.
"I wasn't expecting to see you awake."
Tsukasa mentioned, grabbing a plate and looking for some food Rui might enjoy.
"I.." Toya shrugged. "..Failed to enter sleep mode."
"That's a first."
"I'm aware."
"You always knock out after eating something." He quickly put together a sandwich, and.. You know what? Sure. Rui can have an ice cream cup. A mix of chocolate and vanilla, perhaps he'll like it.
"I'm aware..." Toya sighed in response. "I'm not sure why I can't enter sleep mode.. Maybe I should just try again. It's midnight, I can't stay up forever."
"Yeah," Tsukasa nodded. "Try that. You know you can always come to me if you need help."
Toya nodded and, with a wave, he left.
Tsukasa left shortly after, his destination being different from the section of the building Toya was going to.
His destination?
Rui Kamishiro's room.
It wasn't a long walk at all. Once he reached the door,
"Rui!"
He knocked, his free hand rapping on the door while the other carried the plate of food.
...
Tsukasa doesn't know how long he was standing here, honestly.
He was about to give up and just leave the food out, but the door sliding open made him stop.
There was nobody on the other side, but Rui and Tsukasa are close enough. He walked right in, pushing a button to close the door behind him.
"Rui?"
Oh, why is he calling out? It's not like Rui will actually use his voice and answer back verba-
"What."
"Holy shit-!"
Nevermind.
Following that voice, Tsukasa ended up in Rui's bedroom. The hacker was just.. Sitting in bed, looking out of the window at the neon lights outside in the darkness.
Tsukasa sat next to him.
"Nobody's seen you this whole day, dude."
"I know."
"..Why? Is everything alright?"
Rui made eye contact, though of course it was impossible to properly read him with that mask on.
"I didn't want to be around people today. It's one of those days; The smallest thing gets on my nerves. The faintest sound of the clock ticking, the buzz of Kanade's hologram, even Neko's whirring." He gestured down to Neko in his lap - a pink drone with ears, which had a scarily human AI installed for a robot. "It all ticked me off." He sighed. "Rather not take that out on people. So I kept myself hidden."
Tsukasa inched closer, cautiously. Offering space if needed.
"I see.. Did you eat today?"
"I had coffee."
"So you didn't eat! Here - Sandwich and ice cream cup. Don't worry, the sandwich is veggie-less."
Rui took the sandwich from the plate and gave a small 'thank you' nod.
"The last thing I need is a weird texture in my mouth."
He took his mask off - Something he only does around those he REALLY trusts, like Tsukasa / and took a bite. No veggies.. Yeah, this was nice.
It didn't take long for him to finish it, either. Now to quickly get to the ice cream cup before it melts..
...
"..Did you forget a spoon?"
Tsukasa froze, then groaned.
"Ah, shit.."
"Hm.. I'll save it for later, then."
Rui shrugged, opening the mini-freezer on his bedside table, putting the ice cream inside and closing it. After that, its back to window watching.
"..."
...
"..So why are you here?"
"Huh?"
The two made eye contact, and Rui spoke.
"You gonna drag me out?"
"What- No! I'm only here to see if my boyfriend is still alive and breathing!
"..Hm. Okay."
Back to the window.
There was silence for a while. The time on the clock nearby showed 12:43 AM.
Tsukasa should really leave and get some rest, but..
"..Rui."
"Mm?"
"I'm staying with you tonight, if that's alright."
Rui looked back at the other.
"..You know I don't care. Though is this because of what I said earlier?"
Tsukasa nodded.
"If the smallest things are setting you off, I wanna be there for you when it happens so I can help. Whether it be through words or hugs or anything - I'm your lover."
He scooted closer, now sitting directly across from Rui. He took Rui's gloved hands in his own, carefully removing one so he can place a kiss on the back of his hand.
"..Let me help you. Yeah?"
"..."
Rui was speechless - Not because of someone being stupid this time, but from the amount of.. Warmth and care coming from Tsukasa.
Without thinking, after moving his drone to the side, he pulled Tsukasa in for a hug and flopped back on the bed, holding the assassin against him.
"Stay."
One simple word was all it took.
"Pfft.. Haha, yeah. I'll stay here."
"Good. Don't fall asleep on me."
"Don't worry, I'm far from tired. You wanna pull an all-nighter? Been a minute since we've done that together."
Rui nodded in response.
"Yeah."
A simple response earned a soft laugh from Tsukasa. Caring for his partner was the best way to get him to open up.
Rui lets nobody in his room, except for Tsukasa. Some people take this as Rui being harsh or mean - Being a shut-in.
But Tsukasa knows better.
Rui just needs someone he can lean on.
"Alright. We'll stay until the light rises."
"..Mm. Thanks."
Tsukasa will forever be that 'someone' .
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"Except you.."
"..You can stay. ♡"