Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Cold.

It was so fucking cold.

Atsushi looked back up at the bathroom mirror with blurry vision. He felt sick, and it felt like bugs were crawling up his skin. And he was freezing, but all at the same time, the pain that sat on his skin felt like a raging fire. The excruciating feeling started from nowhere, when he went to sleep he felt fine, hell, it was too hot when he fell asleep. But he woke up, in the middle of the night, feeling like his blood was slowly turning to ice. 

He stood, still cold, in the bathroom, the heated floored bathroom, the bathroom where he could turn the thermostat almost all the way up and not get stabbed because of the other person in the room. But he was still ice cold, better, but still frozen to the bone no matter how high he turned the thermostat, no matter the burning temperature of the floor. He turned and slowly sat on the floor hoping for a better sense of warmth and an ease to the nausea.

He stared at the door, cold, trying to focus on it. He didn't know what caused it, he wasn't hit with an ability, not one he knew of at least. He didn't eat or drink anything that could have caused him to get sick, or whatever this was. There was no reason for this so why?

his thoughts on it and his vision was suddenly shut off as he seemed to pass out falling into a plain and dreamless involuntary sleep. 

Atsushi felt a sudden nudge to his shoulder as he shot awake, the light from the prevalent sun glaring through a small and blurred window taking the place of what he last remembered as a pitch midnight. He heard the buzz of the electric like sound of Rashomon as it pulled away from him. The air around him was dreadfully hot; it almost gave him a headache. He looked up at the mafioso who stood in the door frame reaching around to mess with the thermostat.

“Weretiger, what the hell are you doing on the bathroom floor!” Akutagawa hissed suddenly. “And with the thermostat to one hundred degrees, I can't even get in there cause the floor is so God damn hot!”Akutagawa finished as he returned to standing, motioning the room with his hands as he glared at Atsushi who was still sitting on the floor. The room went silent as Atsushi tried to remember why he was on the floor. Cold, he was freezing, that's why he was on the floor. 

“... I.. was cold." He Mumbled. Akutagawa responded in a cold, confused, and angry glare.

"So you tried to cook yourself alive? I get cold but the thermostat never reaches over seventy five.“ He gritted his teeth in irritation. “If you're gonna turn the heat to that of an oven, don't do it in the room we both have to share, and one you're paying for.” He seethed.

 Atsushi didn't care about the other man's complaints at the moment, he was just relieved to not feel whatever he was feeling the night before. 

“What time is it? How much longer do we have?" Atsushi asked, ignoring what Akutagawa said; as he stood up, his feet burning against the scorching tiles beneath him. He had supposed it wasn't that late, debating on the fact that Akutagawa was still dressed in a plain T-shirt and not his ridiculous victorian-esque frills, he still had that God damn coat wrapped around his frame. Atsushi wouldn't be surprised if one day it slowly morphed and became part of him with how few times he saw the man without it. 

“We have about forty five minutes, now get out, I need to get changed." Akutagawa answered stiffly with a tired croak in his voice that Atsushi only manged to now hear as he pulled Atsushi out of the bathroom, slamming the door after he walked in. Atsushi shivered at the sudden drop and contrast in room temperatures but didn't complain as he walked over to the duffel bag that he carried his stuff in.

Atsushi, after changing himself and who had been waiting for his partner in the time that was left, jumped at the almost slam of the bathroom as Akutagawa walked back out entering the shared bedroom, as he coughed into his sleeve. He glanced over, making eye contact with the weretiger who sat at the edge of his own bed on call with Kyouka. He seemed to turn his glare at the front door as he walked away, his black coat flowing animatedly elegant behind him.

“Come on Weretiger." He shot back as he turned the handle of the door, swinging it open. Atsushi quickly ended his call as he stood up, quickly catching the door before it closed. He shoved his phone in his pocket as he ran up to the ravenette’s side.

“Atsushi!”A brunette man called from behind as he ran up behind him in the unfamiliar hotel's hallways. The man draped His arm around Atsushi's shoulder as soon as he caught up to the two, leaving Yosano and port mafia executive Chuuya trailing behind.

“Wow, you're really warm! I was freezing last night because they gave us a room without heating.” Dazai pouted as Atsushi practically dragged him through the hallway. The brunette let one arm go as he reached over, slapped a hand on Akutagawa's shoulder, the sudden movement seeming to startle the mafioso as he clenched his fists. “Even Mr. Irregular body temperature is warm, you guys must have lucked out! Can we switch rooms?" Dazai childishly begged as he pulled his hand away, returning it to being wrapped around Atsushi.

“No, I was cold enough last night, I don't want to trade for your sucky room." Atsushi answered as he tried to shove the older man off himself. He managed to peel Dazai's arms off him, luckily, as they arrived at the hotel's cafe.

Atsushi sat down beside Akutagawa as he watched from across the table as Dazai obnoxiously jumped into Yosano and Chuuya’s peaceful conversation. Atsushi's watching of the three was subtly interrupted as he felt the weight of the cushioning beside him shift as his coworker, Kunikida, sat beside him tiredly. He then suddenly got handed a folder by the man as he handed out one to each of the people at the table.

“I hope you guys know we're not here on vacation. We have a mission, it's further information should be consoled in these." He explained, primarily aiming the first comment at Dazai who put his hands up in defense, almost smacking Chuuya in the face. Atsushi let the annoyed grit of Chuuya's complaints of the brunette's spatial awareness fall almost silent as he focussed in on the file.

As he studied the file and noticed odds and ends of important things that included very little as the file seemed to almost contain only three papers, more than half of which just explained the mission. It seemed two, and possibly three, unknown ability users had been running rampant and seeming to spread a deadly disease through the city. All that was recorded about them was their first names and a rough understanding of their abilities and current location, in which was Atsushi and the other’s current location. They were supposed to gather both more Intel and an attack strategy with the conjoined efforts of both the mafia and agency, since it threatened both organizations 'homes; in other words, A rapid and ruthless, deadly illness was running a muck in and throughout Yokohama.

 The disease had become a very worrying threat to everyone as it spread fast and hard to pinpoint the differentiating symptoms until it killed. The way it was spread seemed through the touch of the ability user whose identity was barely known to the public, as the agency only had a photo of a hooded older blond woman and a young girl whose face was covered almost completely with a medical mask. They were suspected and last seen in the small town that the six were staying at as of now and frequently were spotted. 

Atsushi reached the end of the file, setting it back on the table as he swapped it for a menu, skimming through and choosing something that seemed appealing fairly quickly. He could care less about what he was getting really, food was food. Besides, it's not like he grew up with the luxury of choice when it came to just about anything. His thought finished as he almost, in sync, sat his menu down at the same time that Kunikida did. And then he waited, for the waiter or anything else. 

Atsushi's attention was abruptly interrupted by an earsplitting ringing that started in his ear. He brought his hand up and hovered it over his ear as it seemed the feeling of crawling bugs enwrapped his limbs again. He felt a stiff cold sharply overcome him as his skin began to burn in pain and then, it stopped. All of it just stopped in mere seconds just as soon as it started. It all just stopped, the cold, the pain, the crawl of insects, even the ringing. it all just disappeared.

What the hell?

He didn't even realize the waitress standing now at their table from the ringing and then bolt of confusion. Luckily she had only got to talking to Yosano and had just begun asking Akutagawa for his order. She quickly jotted it down and then asked for Atsushi's in which he just as quickly gave her. His attention drew back to confusion almost instantly.

He let his thoughts interrupt themselves as he watched his dish of food get set on the table in front of him. He ate fast and quickly finished, listening to everyone else's conversations as he set his silverware diagonally on the plate. 

The loud talking of the three from the other side of the table was soon cut to a short halt but a violent slam from Atsushi's side. The sudden and brute motion made both Atsushi and his mafioso partner jump. 

“Now that I have everyone's attention, we need to work on the mission and we'll be gathering Intel for today, but each of your groups will have a side task.”Kunikida articulated as he handed out another file. He sighed as he opened the file up, ignoring Dazai's loud complaining, it was more like whining if Atsushi was being entirely honest. 

The file was sharply yanked from his hands by the ravenette to his right, luckily he had finished reading it before it was violently pulled from his grasp. He rubbed the crease of his thumb and finger due to the friction of the aggressive movement causing it to sore, and lucky not give him a paper cut, as he shot a glare at Akutagawa. “You could have just asked, you know. Or can you not because you have coughed your vocal cords out already?” he hissed. He didn't give much recognition or care to the sharp glare at his insult.  

“I would prefer not to waste oxygen on you, Weretiger.”Akutagawa scorned as he opened the file, an attempt to shut the conversation down. To no ax from Atsushi who just continued to talk.

“Yeah, cool, I would prefer not to have paper cuts because of your issues either." He left out the part that it would heal anyway, it's not nothing Akutagawa didn't know, and surely didn't mean that the rash didn't hurt at the time. But also, if he was being entirely honest with himself, he was just looking for an excuse to argue with the mafioso, it felt only natural, and was considerably amusing.

“Woops." Akutagawa sarcastically replied as he continued skimming through the file they shared. He pushed his half finished plate of food away, nauseously not wanting the rest, as he made room for his arms.

“Aren't you gonna eat that?” Atsushi aforementioned as he grimaced at the waste of a good meal.

“I don't like plants.” Akutagawa answered. What? Atsushi glanced down at the plate noticing the fact that it did consist primarily of vegetables.

“What are you three?... Does little Akutagawa not want to finish his salad? Will you eat it if I airplane it? Or are you more of the train kinda person?" Atsushi responded mockingly. He leaned his face against the palm of his hand as he set his left elbow onto the table, turned to face the ravenette as he waited for the reaction. The reaction he was rewarded with was Akutagawa's eye roll, complemented with under-breath complaints that from what he could make out as "Immature fool" or along the lines of it. 

Atsushi sighed, slightly disappointed at such a lax reply, as he sunk into the rough, but decent cushioning, grabbing the glass of no longer iced water that he neglected. He looked at the glass, small drops of condensation that built up on the side of the cup quickly melting onto his hand as he swirled the cup slowly, watching the clear and thin plastic straw slowly circle around the rim of the glass. He slowly began sipping on his water as he returned back to people watching those around him. Dazai, Chuuya and Yosano, it seemed at some point in time Kunikida had disappeared without a singular flag being raised.

Atsushi felt a sudden and slightly rude and violent nudge to the side of his thigh as he set his empty cup down. He glared over to his right as he rubbed the small area. Akutagawa who was far from ever patient it seemed, once again, began pushing Atsushi to the edge of the seat with his foot, digging the sharp and refrained shaped shoe heel back into his thigh.

“Ow, what the hell, Akutagawa!" Atsushi gritted through his teeth as he shoved the dark clothed leg away with a glare, the sharp clap of the sole colliding with the ground brought the sharp ringing quietly whispering over his shoulder and back into his ear.

“You're in my way, move.” Akutagawa said, returning the glare. Atsushi raved his insults and complaints under his breath as he slipped out from the seat. He leaned back over the table as the mafioso made his way to the lobby, he grabbed the files, including Akutagawa's that sat forgotten, on the far side of the table, waving to Dazai, Yosano, and Chuuya he'd supposed too before running off to catch up to a impatient Akutagawa.

Chapter Text

Atsushi hurried quickly down the sidewalk trying to reach Akutagawa's side as the man left him behind. They were going to the same location, but they didn't even have a plan. All the both of them had was knowledge of what's going on, and even then it was brief. Something About a smuggling heist.

Atsushi accidentally bumped into a girl sending her down and onto the slate gray pavement. He looked down at the girl quickly apologizing as he reached a hand to her. She was young, and seemed sick as she coughed into her sleeve, despite the medical mask, which just made Atsushi feel more severe with guilt.

Such a young girl affected by that God damn disease it seems. It's truly a shame.

The young girl looked at him with large emerald eyes, she looked at him in ominous eldritch before she bowed her head assuring and thanking his many apologies. The girl then turned and began to walk off, her steps quiet. Atsushi had a shiver sharply slither up his spine as he watched the girl disappear into the crowd, the look she gave him still lingering.

His thoughts were, once again, suddenly interrupted by a sharp tug on his shoulder. He turned quickly to meet face to face with his abandoning partner. His face quickly contorted from a face of dismay and grief to that of annoyance at the sight of the neglectful ravenette.

“You are the most impatient person I think, no, I have ever met. You left all your stuff on the table and didn't even wait for me to grab them before you left." Atsushi seethed.

Akutagawa said nothing in response as he quickly turned, making his way through the large crowds of people that he tried to avoid. Atsushi quickly watched his surroundings better as he ran up to Akutagawa's side. He broke through the crowd and managed to reach the mafioso, quickly being sent back to the floor as he slammed into Akutagawa's back.

“What the hell? Why'd you stop!" He picked his hands from the floor as he sat on the pavement, that was chilled by the ending fall and tunting winter. Rocks and pebbles wedged painful dents into his palms from the impact leaving him to have to brush the ones that stuck on, off as he glared.

“We're here." Akutagawa motioned in front of himself as he spoke.

Atsushi glared for a bit longer before he snapped his vision over to a tall old run down store. It was hidden in a secluded area, not many passersby to acknowledge its existence, and no buildings of its size to neighbor it. It looked like at any sudden breeze it would topple over effortlessly like a house of cards. Surely they couldn't go in, not without getting crushed.

“There is no way it's safe to go in there." He said, shooting his gaze back to Akutagawa. The mafioso glanced over, barely giving Atsushi the light of day before rolling his eyes heading laxly into the building.

“You can't just go in! At least let's set a plan up first!" Atsushi scrambled to his feet, following quickly behind Akutagawa.

And just as expected, almost seconds after arrival into the building a large arrow soared between the two wedging its way into the thin stone behind. Atsushi watched as Akutagawa lifted his sleeve to wipe the blood that dripped from the large cut on his cheek before steadily turning his attention to the origin of the arrow. It was gonna leave a nasty scar. He warned him to not go in so hastily, now look at him. Atsushi huffed, directing his attention back to his mission, he'd prefer to get the mission done and over with then to draw it out with arguing.

The arrow came from a kitchen, run down and stacked with dusty papers. It didn't come from the hand of a person but instead a set of several precisely placed strings that triggered, delayed due to age, at the crack of the door. More were to be expected throughout the building.

“We need to get to the basement, and be more careful this time." Atsushi said, turning to Akutagawa.

“Don't you think I knew that, Weretiger?” Akutagawa hissed, with as much offense in his voice as it seemed could be mustered, at the command. He huffed impatiently, walking towards a nearby door. He swung it open leading another arrow to come flying towards him. Instinctively Rashoumon flared up to protect its user, deflecting the arrow.

“Be more careful, asshole." Atsushi said as he walked through the gap between the ravenette and the door.

“Shut it, weretiger."Akutagawa jeered.

"Or what, you'll get shot by another arrow.'' Atsushi mocked stopping to turn to Akutagawa. He then felt a sudden sharp pain pierce his thigh; he looked down. another one of those stupid arrows. He pulled it out with a glare, biting his lip as the movement shot more pain into and throughout his thigh, throwing it to the side, the bright blue of his regeneration slowly closing the hole with a slower than usual, gone unnoticed, ease.

“It seems you could use some of your own advice.” Akutagawa Swifty moved past Atsushi as he spoke, taking the lead. Atsushi grumbled to himself as he followed, ignoring the pain that slowly dispersed as he healed. They both managed to reach the bottom of the staircase without any further injury. The small entrance opened to a large room, doors and boxes littering the walls shrinking it with a subtle clutter.

Atsushi supposed that in the boxes were why they were here. Note of smuggling, many things, relics, drugs, and other things among the category had been flagged but unable to be investigated by the police due to a member, or members, of the heist being an ability user. Nothing Atsushi, nor Akutagawa, hadn't dealt with before; that being, they usually had a rough plan at the least, and at the moment they, as a matter of fact, do not.

Which is probably why, in the next two seconds Atsushi was dragging Akutagawa into one of the close rooms running from the explosives that had begun to destroy the stairs behind them. The last explosion, which was held right outside of the door, went off just as Atsushi slammed it shut. He felt a subtle ringing in his ear again as he felt his hands begin to burn from the heat of the door handle. He ignored it, and instead he turned swiftly to Akutagawa.

“I told you we needed a plan! but you walked into this death trap anyway, you need to stop using that hot head of yours and actually work with me!” He hissed. His words were returned with a glare, no words, just a glare, because there was nothing else Akutagawa could do because he knew Atsushi was right. Atsushi waited and then waited some more and then sighed as he relaxed his shoulders.

“I'm taking your silence as agreement. So, we're gonna set up a plan. Better late than never." Atsushi sighed as he took his hand off the door’s handle.

Even with his and Akutagawa's brains put together the plan wasn't fool proof, he could never guarantee it would be. It was based on brim knowledge after all. But he trusted in the other man that they both would at least be safe. He reached out to the door handle again.

“Wait,” Akutagawa started grabbing Atsushi’s hand, “it drugs, meth and inhalant ingredients specifically, were dealing with. God knows what could be in that air. Cover your mouth and nose.” He continued. Atsushi nodded as he covered the lower of his face. He let his hand fall down onto the door’s handle, the heat on the other side causing the handle to burn his hand through the glove. He motioned Akutagawa to move from the way of the door as he swung it open, him moving from the now pouring in fire's way as he stepped back in front of his mafioso partner.

He peeked to the other side of the door, the fire gnawing on the edge now as it Slowly ate up the wood. Then he noticed the shear amount of reach across the room the fire had made.

“Can you run fast?” Atsushi turned to Akutagawa.

“I can run..”

“Do you think you could run for let's say.. twenty five thirty feet without being burned if it was just straight fire.”

He was left with no response, only an agitated stare. Atsushi sighed as he walked over and reached his arms out.

“You're joking.”Akutagawa hissed.

“I'm depending on you to cover my mouth as well as your own.” Atsushi dead panned.

“There's no way in hell I'm letting you carry me, Weretiger.”

“Ok fine. burn.” Atsushi began to pull his arms back and walk away before he felt hands on his shoulders. He breathed out a laugh, as Akutagawa let him wrap his arms around his thighs and waist. Akutagawa grumbled complaints in acrimony as he let Atsushi hoist him up, wrapping his arms around Atsushi's shoulder and neck.

“You're not allowed to let anyone know about this.” Akutagawa gritted curtly.

“I'll add it to the ever growing list.” Atsushi's sardonic mocking reunited him with a familiar shove to his shoulder.

“We have a job to do.”

“Yeah, yeah.” Atsushi sighed as he rolled his eyes. Akutagawa removed his hands from the back of Atsushi's neck and shoulder, leaving the spots chilled, as he moved one hand to cover Atsushi's mouth and one over his own.

“If you drop me, I will personally pay for your funeral.” Akutagawa mumbled through the thick and lavish cloth of his sleeve.

“Don't worry, princess, I got you.”

Akutagawa opened his mouth to criticize Atsushi back but was quickly cut off by Air and smoke breezed quickly past his face. Atsushi felt as the ravenette buried his face into his collar bone, coughing into his own sleeve from inhaling the noisome smoke and ash. Atsushi tightened his grip and pulled Akutagawa closer as he set his feet into the ground and continued his running, practical leaping, through the unceasing ablaze fire.

Atsushi dug his heels into the ground as he halted to a stop just on the outskirts of the fire. He gave himself less than a minute to have a break before tracking back off to the only other room that wasn't covered by large boxes or fire, in which was more than likely where their targets were. Akutagawa was still in his arms, he didn't need to be, but Atsushi never put him down, in which he didn't complain either. No, instead he sat giving heads up and conversing with the Weretiger without a mention as he let Atsushi carry him undoubtedly comfortable in his arms, Akutagawa didn't like running anyway.

When the two finally made their presence in the room Atsushi dropped Akutagawa's legs as the other gained his balance quickly, defecting from Atsushi's arms. Atsushi then hastely closed the door behind him so as to not let any of the smoked toxins in more than what was already in the stale air. He turned to look around, the room was dark and would be hard to see. He identified where each of the doors and staircase lead with the tiger’s vision as he remembered the outlay of the old store's blueprints. He heard a distant shuffle from one of the rooms that were supposed to be the main used rooms, and started towards it.

He stood just outside the door listening to the quiet and labored breathing of several people from inside the room. The breathing seemed scared and fearful, there were about five people, four of which didn't seem like a threat. The fifth person, who stood beside the door, had a calm but angry tone to their breathing. He shifted to the other side of the door, so when opened he could easily slip in. Akutagawa readied Rashomon for defense with a red glow as he slowly wrapped his hand around the door's handle. Then, with a sharp twist and pull he swung the door open, guarding himself as bullets shattered through the door.

“Shit!" A voice expressed as the gun clicked empty. Atsushi slipped into the room and wrestled the hands of the man holding the gun behind his back, prying the gun out of his hands and tossing it to Akutagawa who entered the room behind him. Rashomon suddenly wrapped around Atsushi's right as arrows appeared from nowhere and began to fly towards him with only one warning full glow, only to be deflected as they hit the fabric of Rashomon.

Atsushi looked past the shoulder of the ability user as he struggled to break free from Atsushi's hold. He looked down at the four people across from him on the other side of a table that was covered with different drugs and substances. The people, three girls and one boy who looked similar to the ability user, huddled in a corner, probably at least half of them being his siblings. Atsushi let Akutagawa take hold of the ability user with Rashomon as he pulled out his phone to report back to Kunikida that they had the ability user.

The four easily made their way out of the building with the two, accepting their fate. The ability user on the other hand still tried to struggle away using his ability several times but failed to land a hit on either of the boys. Atsushi eventually got sick of it and knocked him out as delicately as he could, debating that he was knocking someone out and all.

“That went faster and easier than I expected it to” Atsushi sighed in relief as he watched the police take the five in, cautiously and with more care for the ability user.

Akutagawa replied with a quiet hum before walking down the street without a word. Atsushi complained to himself before he gave thanks to the officers and trailed after the mafioso.

“Can you stop doing that?" Atsushi said as he caught up to Akutagawa's side.

"Stop doing what?” the other replied.

"Walking off without a warning.” Atsushi glared.

“No, I can't." Akutagawa dismissed. Atsushi couldn't tell if he was teasing him or completely serious, his default glare and even tone never showed it. Atsushi huffed as he walked faster, just wanting to get back to the hotel and crash. Talking to Akutagawa, if you could even call it that and not constant arguing, was always tiring. He flung the doors to the hotel open, giving the lady at the entrance a slight wave that she tiredly returned before he made his way up the stairs.

When he made his way to his and Akutagawa's room the first thing he did was flop onto the bed. He let out a long and heavy sigh as he let the blanket encase around him as his sore back and joints became noticeable as he finally relaxed. He stretched his arms out above his head as he rolled over on his stomach.

“Take your shoes off, Weretiger, you're gonna get dirt all over the bed sheets.” Akutagawa sat on the end of Atsushi's bed as he flicked the heel of his shoe.

"Get off my bed." Atsushi muffled through the bed sheets he had his head dug in.

“If I need remind you who's the one paying for this room?" Akutagawa scoffed and Atsushi didn't even need to look at the other to know he rolled his eyes and crossed his arms.

"Aw shucks, sucks to be you.” Atsushi dismissed as he snapped his fingers in a mocking motioned swing above his head. He dug his face deeper into the bed sheets tiredly.

“Shoes off before you knock out." Akutagawa commanded as he stood up, shrugging off his coat. Atsushi grumbled as he sat up, pulling his shoes off with little care and throwing them to the ground as he fell back into the soft blankets of the bed. He didn't even crawl up to the pillow before he was out within seconds.

Chapter Text

Akutagawa had given up trying to sleep about an hour ago. He was skimming through the added information that the older blond detective had gathered to the mission on the disease when Atsushi first woke up. He didn't give much notice to it, Atsushi frequently woke up at random inter points to get water or eat food on missions, that was till he was stumbling out of bed and had fallen to the floor and failed to stand back up. Akutagawa got out of bed and kneeled down beside the other. He reached out to touch Atsushi’s back before quickly recoiling back as he felt as if he had just stuck his hand on ice. It was odd, even when Atsushi complained about the cold he always seemed to run hot so the sudden unnatural chill to his body felt discordantly foreign.

Atsushi seemed to try to struggle back to his feet again, and that's when Akutagawa noticed the blood trailing down his arm and the slight puddle on the floor. He seemed to scrape it on the sharp metal frame of the bed. But wouldn't it have been almost healed by now because of his ability? Akutagawa moved quickly, ignoring the screech of his quickly chilled hands and blood veins, as he wrapped his arm around Atsushi's back and held his waist tightly as he brought his right arm over his shoulder and secured it with his other hand. He pulled Atsushi, who he practically dragged across the room, to his feet as he made his way to the bathroom. He settled him down gently as he could on the bathroom floor just like how he had been the evening before. 

Dispute Akutagawa's complaining before he ranked the thermostat up and turned the floor heating on to one of its highest levels that wouldn't scold a person alive. He searched through the sink's lower cupboard for the first aid he had stashed in it. He pulled it out and opened it as he began to slowly pull Atsushi's sleeve up, the lack of his regeneration confused him further as the wound continued to push blood. Akutagawa tried his best to be gentle as he cleaned and tended the wound when he suddenly felt a cold, to say the least, hand press against his neck.

He paused and looked down making eye contact with Atsushi.

“Yes?"

“Nothing, i‘m just cold." Atsushi slurred.

"Is this why you were on the floor yesterday?” Akutagawa asked. Atsushi nodded his head and hummed. Akutagawa continued to wrap Atsushi's forearm in bandages as Atsushi shifted his hand to the other side of Akutagawa's neck. If anyone were to ever be so close and to touch him like Atsushi was he would probably run them through six ways to Sunday, but it oddly felt ok with it being Atsushi. Not that that's anything he'd admit.

When Akutagawa finished bandaging him up the best he could he put the first aid kit away and stood up.

“Where are you going?” Atsushi asked as he weakly hooked a finger around the rim of the bottom of Akutagawa's coat.

Lord, was it a pitiful sight that made Akutagawa's stomach drop.

“I need to call your doctor detective. And Dazai probably." Atsushi didn't look happy about it but he let go and let Akutagawa walk back into the bedroom and call Yosano and Dazai.

After he explained the situation to a very tired Yosano and called Dazai informing him of the situation, he grabbed the blanket from both his and Atsushi's bed and drug them into the bathroom. He wrapped them around Atsushi's shoulders and legs, keeping his bloodied and injured arm from touching the white fabric as it instead stained Akutagawa's hand. 

“I'll grab you a different shirt, don't touch the blankets with your arm in the meantime." He told Atsushi as he stood up, washing his hand off and then heading to the door way.

“Mkay" Atsushi responded. Akutagawa left the room pulling a plain light gray blue T-shirt from his bag entering back into the bathroom with it.

“Do you need help, or can you put it on yourself?" He asked as he laid the shirt out on Atsushi's knees.

“I think I'll be ok." Atsushi unbuttoned his shirt and discarded it to his side, the toren and soaked through bloodied sleeve being bundled in the rest of the fabric as it fell to the Weretiger’s side. Akutagawa stared at the sink so he'd be there if Atsushi needed any help but also wasn't staring at him as he sat, half dressed, on the bathroom floor. Atsushi pulled Akutagawa's T-shirt over his head slowly and painfully, shoving his arm through the sleeve. Akutagawa, to make use of himself, grabbed a dark colored rag and ran it under warm water as he went to clean the blood that was left from his shirt and stained his arm.

He heard the door to the apartment open and then footsteps rush over to the creaked open bathroom door, the only source of light that filled the bedroom on the other side. He watched as Yosano swung the door open, briskly missing Kunikida with it.

“Let me see the wound." She walked into the bathroom, despite the floor's temperature, and kneeled down by Atsushi inspecting his arm. She looked up at him, her face stern.

“What happened, Atsushi?”

The room was quiet, not a single sound came from any of the other five as they waited for Atsushi's response.

“I don't know,” he started. “I was cold and stuff like I was yesterday, but when I tried to stand up, unlike before, my body went limp and stiff. I don't get why.” He tried not to slurp his words as he spoke.”And, oh God, this headache and ringing is killing me” he mumbled as he held his head. Akutagawa made eye contact with yosano as he turned from leaning against the bathroom sink as he began searching through the medicine cabinet, finding pain relief and aspirin containers buried behind all his prescriptions.

“As much as I hate this possibility, do you think you came into contact with the disease?” she questioned Atsushi again.

“No… I was watching out for her or the girl that's her accomplice, I would have known if they touched me.” 

“Then do you think you're just sick?”

“I don't know, maybe.”

Yosano sighed and looked back down at his arm. She headed back to her room as Dazai walked into the bathroom quickly hoping back out and almost bumping into Chuuya who was half asleep behind him.

“Ah, fuck, why is the floor so hot?!”

“He's cold.”Akutagawa pointed at Atsushi who was staring half-lidded at a floor tile.

“Ok? But he's not a stake either, you don't need to grill him via the bathroom floor.”

“He had it hotter yesterday, if anyone is trying to cook him it’s himself.” Akutagawa scoffed. Yosano then suddenly came back into the room with a medical kit and a bag, making no haste as she kicked Akutagawa out of his own bathroom. The other four, three of which were half asleep due to Akutagawa waking them all up, just stood silent waiting for yosano to open the door back up.

“So what's going on exactly?” Chuuya broke the science as he sat back on the end of Atsushi's bed.

“I was looking through the mission report and then the Weretiger woke up, which isn't usually abnormal, but he stumbled out of bed and was barely up for five whole seconds before collapsing to the floor and struggling to even move and stand back up. And he seemed to give himself a nasty scrape on his arm when he did fall though. But he's not healing at all, and he's extremely cold for him, who runs hot almost all the time.” Akutagawa explained in a mouth full. Chuuya hummed as he nodded his head in understanding.

“So why do you think that is?”Kunikida broke in.

“I have less of a clue than the Weretiger himself.”Akutagawa crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned against the bed beside Chuuya as he spoke. 

Any following noise that would break the thick silence would be Yosano clicking the bathroom door open 

“Well he'll live, but whatever he's sick with isn't letting up.”she said as she glanced back at Atsushi. “Akutagawa, do you still have that Advil; I'm out of something for his headache.”

Akutagawa pushed himself back to a steady walk and he pulled the small container out of his pocket and handed it to her. Dazai then reached his bandaged hand over Akutagawa's shoulder, giving her a cup of water. Akutagawa could care less where ever the hell he stole it from at the moment. 

After Atsushi took the Advil he chugged the rest of his water and handed the cup off to Yosano. 

“You feeling any better?" Akutagawa leaned against the door frame, looking down at Atsushi as he asked.

“The headache isn't as bad." Atsushi answered with a sigh as he let himself rest against the wall of the bathtub; as well, he released his hold on his knees, still keeping them folded to their tucked and bent position as he wrapped his arms around his torso. “Warmer than when I was in the room, still cold." He heard Yosano sigh from behind him and he looked over at her.

“This is the best of what can be done, I'm sorry Atsushi. Get some sleep, I'll make sure that if Kunikida sends you on a mission, if any, that it is something simple for you guys. For now maybe some sleep will help.” Atsushi nodded at her as she breathed out heavily before nodding her head and making her way out of the room. Chuuya just looked at him and nodded before he left, pulling Dazai with him out the door as the brunette shouted as he stumbled out of the room. Kunikida, however, was kneeling on the ground and checking in with Atsushi.

“Ok,” the blonde man stood up, it was weird seeing him without glasses, even for Akutagawa who had at most seen him about seven times max. The blonde then turned to him as he had made his way into the bathroom leaning against the sink and watching the two. “Take care of him.” Kunikida said as he patted Akutagawa's shoulder and left with a sigh that matched yosano’s.

But he is now currently sitting on the bathroom floor, which he genuinely thinks he might be being cooked alive on; but in contrast, Atsushi's icy hands are, as of the moment, pressed against Akutagawa's neck and he at the same time had his forehead resting on his shoulder. God it was Awkward, and cold, Atsushi was gonna take away Akutagawa’s already small amount of body heat, Jesus.

“You sure you don't want me to go get you food.”

“I'm good, and I will be colder if you leave.” Atsushi mumbled. Akutagawa reached over, leaving a pause to their conversation, as he pulled the blanket that gravity began to pull off The silverette’s shoulder around him. He pulled the blanket around Atsushi and slightly over the half side of himself that Atsushi was leaning against.

“I think freshly made food would be warmer than me.” He scoffed as he leaned back into the wall of the bathtub.

“food cools down too fast, and nothing can beat body heat. Except an actual heater.”

“Yeah, but usually you're the one needing to warm me up, not the other way around. It's weird for my living, breathing, portable heater to be the one that's in need of being heated up.” 

“Oh? I thought that was on the list of things we don't talk about.” Atsushi mocked, earning an eye roll from Akutagawa.

“We can talk about it. But you can't tell another soul, or else I swear on my sister's life I will end you.” 

“Swear on something else, Gin’s nice and I don't want her dead.”Atsushi argued.

“You've met her five times, Weretiger, and the first half of which she tried to kill you. And I would never actually kill her over you.” Akutagawa scoffed.

“But yet, I am still fond of her, she apologized and has been nice since. Unlike a certain sickly Victorian nun I know.” and with that Akutagawa began to stand up, removing his warmth from Atsushi.

“Wait, no, Akutagawa, come back! I didn't mean it, I was joking! I'm cold, come back!”Atsushi begged as he quickly tucked the end of Akutagawa's pants leg and wrapped himself over his own knees. Akutagawa sat back down on the bathroom floor with an amused huff; in which, he would forever deny it as a laugh. Atsushi was like a needy three year old. It was truly a slight, Atsushi usually always was collected and decently calm despite however hurt he was on missions. And with Akutagawa, specifically, he seemed to always have a way to bite back at any of Akutagawa's insults, when they weren't fighting. If Akutagawa was being entirely honest with himself, hearing whatever creative and amusing comeback Atsushi would reply with was half the reason why he insulted the other so much. But as in stark contrast Atsushi was curled up against his side trying to grab onto any heat he could get to warm his frozen skin, seeking warmth in his already cold blooded enemy.

The silence that broke and rang loud throughout the small bathroom floor the two occupied together was oddly comfortable. The slight drip of the tap rang like a repetitive song lyric as it lulled the two.

“Weretiger.” A harmonic hum responded as Atsushi shifted closer. Akutagawa used the arm that Atsushi wasn't clung to, to reach behind him and press his hand down to the bathtub’s floor where the heated tile had warmed decently.

“We're not sleeping on this nasty floor.”

“I'm cold.”

“I know. The bathtub floor is heated as well, and is at least half cleaner than this nasty hotel floor.” 

“Oh, m‘kay.” Atsushi responded. Akutagawa then wrapped his arms around the other and lifted him, with the help of Rashomon, into the bathtub, wrapping Atsushi up in one of the thickly quilted blankets and laying the other on the bathtub’s floor. Atsushi tucked on Akutagawa's sleeve as the ravenette pulled his hands back to leave; accordingly, Akutagawa understood and sighed then climbed in beside the silvery white haired man in accordance with the silent invitation. He was almost certain sleeping in a bath would do absolute wonders for his back, but at least he nor Atsushi weren't sleeping on the hotel floor.

“Remember to add this to your ever growing list, Weretiger.”

A tired but amused scoff replied as the warm silence sat over the two following after. The dim and artificial buzzing light above the sink leaving a similar effect of calm.

Chapter Text

Atsushi raised slowly from his sleep, he was sore from sleeping in a squishy bathtub. Slowly pushed himself up hitting the back of his head on the water faucet.

“Ow.”

“Please try not to injure yourself five seconds after you wake up, Weretiger.” Akutagawa grumbled as he pushed himself away from the bath wall taking the space Atsushi left. Akutagawa then pushed himself up and held his head as he faced the opposite way of Atsushi and away from the faucet. “Also.. you owe me, Weretiger, I just sacrificed my poor breaking back to sleep in a bathtub with you, I'll need a reimbursement.” Akutagawa had more rasp to his voice and he sounded tired as he talked.

“You're the one who said we're sleeping in the bathtub; besides, what do you expect me to do? I'm too poor to buy you a new back.”Atsushi complained as he continued to peer over his shoulder. 

“I wasn't asking for you to become the next Jesus Christ, calm down, just something simple like buying me food.”

Atsushi wasn't fond and was to an extent astounded in the hypocrisy of the idea of buying his supposed mortal enemy breakfast with his hard earned and little money, but he did further break the poor old man's back. What can he say, he's just oh so generous when it comes to Akutagawa.

“..ok fine I'll buy you breakfast later.” Atsushi pulled himself over the edge of the bath leaning over to pull one of the blankets up and with him. Atsushi then walked over to the bathroom door and set his hand on the handle.

“Where are you going?” Atsushi looked back At Akutagawa as the Ravenette asked the question.

“Back to sleep.”

“I'm pretty sure we're gonna be assigned a mission soon, especially since it seems you're doing ok at least. And I want my breakfast now.” Akutagawa explained as he rested his head on his arms that he had crossed and rested on the ledge of the bath as if he was ready at any interpoint of time to suddenly become a muse for the next great Mona Lisa for God knows why.

“So needy, fine get up, I'll get you something. Nothing too expensive though.” Atsushi sighed.

“I know you have peasant money, Weretiger. I'll keep it to the limit of your small salary.”Akutagawa climbed out of the bathtub draping the blanket that was working like a mattress for them before while sleeping over his arm as he walked past Atsushi and back into the bedroom. Atsushi glared at him as he threw the thick blanket he himself was holding onto his bed unorderly, unlike Akutagawa who was smoothing the fabric out and tucking the edges under the mattress. Atsushi then watched as the mafioso pulled out different clothes from a suitcase that he laid on the bed.

“We're just going to the cafe down stairs, you don't have to change?” Atsushi puzzled.

“I try to look presentable in public, in contrast to you.” Akutagawa pulled his coat off as he began to shut the bathroom door behind him.

“Oh? I thought you were trying to look like a coffee filter.”Atsushi managed to get the comment in before the door closed letting him watch in the silver of the mirror as Akutagawa rolled his eyes while he began to pull at the top of the dark unsaturated blue button down he was wearing. The door shut and Atsushi fell back on to his bed to stare at the ceiling.

Atsushi had now came to the conclusion that Akutagawa took for-fucking-ever to get ready due to it bring almost thirty minutes already and Atsushi had gotten so bored he even used the last of the battery life on his phone to play a random game Kyouka and Kenji got on his phone since neither of the two had phones that connected to the Internet. 

“Ok, come on Weretiger, let's go.” Akutagawa said as he swung the bathroom door open.

 Atsushi would expect for an average breakfast for Akutagawa would probably be the tears of orphans and the heart of his enemies, not fig jam spread, syrup drenched, strawberry sided, fluffy, triple layered pancakes with a cup of tea that had sugar added. Atsushi was astonished, the Ryuunosuke Akutagawa, rabid dog of the port mafia, having a sweet tooth is something he would never have expected from the other man. But then again he also wouldn't expect him to sleep in a hotel bathtub with his quote unquote enemy only cause said enemy was a little cold either. Akutagawa was truly an anomaly.

“Stop gawking, Weretiger, eat your food.” 

“You know,” Atsushi stabbed his fork into his food. “I was expecting you to be the sort of person who would drink a tiger's blood drink or something edgy like that, not tea.” he finished before he shoveled the bite of food into his mouth.

“I have always liked tea; and furthermore, I think I've already drank enough tiger's blood for a lifetime.” Akutagawa explained nonchalantly. Atsushi took about five seconds to both swallow and realize what the mafioso meant by that statement, causing him to start choking when he remembered the vampire outbreak.

“You can't just say that!” Atsushi managed to say as he tried to even his breathing .

“I can and I will, don't tell me what I can and can't do.” 

“Eat your food.” Atsushi said instead of an insult, but the way he hissed the command and glared conveyed the message plentiful.

“I was gonna eat it anyway.” Akutagawa argued as he used his fork to cut through the pancakes on his plate. Atsushi rolled his eyes and turned his Attention back to his own food.

When he finished, Atsushi grieved his food while he looked down at his empty plate. He would buy seconds but the few dollars in his wallet hindered the decision, so instead he just slowly sipped his bland, free, cup of water. He stared Akutagawa down across from him as he waited for him to finish and stop taunting him with his half finished plate.

“Stop staring at me, Weretiger, I'll eat slower.” 

“I will leave you here all by yourself.”

“How atrocious, evil, noxious Weretiger,” Akutagawa responded sarcastically. “If you're hungry just eat one of those weird nutrition bars you pull out of thin air.”

“I gave the last two to Kyouka last week.”Atsushi sank further into the seat, his knees that he had pulled up to his chest now pressing sore from pressure of having them pushed against the table edge they were now sitting against.

The room went quiet, then, Akutagawa sighed with annoyance, “stop moping like a child. You can have some of my food, you paid for it anyway.”

“It's ok, I'll deal,” Atsushi dismissed.

Akutagawa glared,“Give me your plate.” Akutagawa practically demanded it. He continued to glare as he reached out his hand in wait. Atsushi obliged begrudgingly as he plopped the heavy plate into Akutagawa's hand.

“Knowing a glutton like you, you'll need more than one dish to keep your bottomless pit stomach substante.” Akutagawa cut half of what was left on his plate, using his fork and knife to move it evenly over to Atsushi’s plate. He then shoved the plate back over slowly. “And I doubt I'll finish it all anyway.”

Atsushi put his feet back on the ground and grabbed the plate, dragging it over to himself. He quietly whispered a near silent thank you before he picked his fork up. Akutagawa only sighed in response. 

The silence that followed after was peaceful, the sound of the workers asking the few other customers for their orders. It was early when they woke up and the cafe still had an atmosphere of a calm sleep that, if it wasn't for being in a hotel more lavish than any he could ever afford, Atsushi wouldn't mind falling back to sleep. The earliness of it showed further as Atsushi turned when he heard the small ring of the bell to the entrance of the cafe when Kunikida And Yosano walked in, Chuuya and Dazai strolling in right behind them. Yosano spotted Atsushi and started towards him.

“You look like you're doing better.”she said as she leaned against the wood wall of the comforted seat. Atsushi nodded as he put the next bite of food into his mouth.

“Much better, I feel fine actually.”Atsushi replied delayed after he swallowed. 

“That's good.” She said as she motioned for him to move so she could slide into the seat beside him; eventually, Atsushi and Akutagawa where both squished to the inside of the seat, sitting directly across from each other. Chuuya and then Dazai were to Akutagawa’s left, and Yosano then Kunikida were on Atsushi's opposing right.

“Is there something linked to being Dazai’s apprentice and liking figs?” Chuuya asked, the conversation between Yosano And Kunikida running like background music.

“What?” Akutagawa replied.

“You got the same thing?” Chuuya replied back as he motioned back and forth to Atsushi's plate and Akutagawa's plate with his hand, confused mildly on how the mafioso didn't understand.

“Oh, this? He just got hungry and mooched off me.” Akutagawa used his fork to point at Atsushi.

“I did not moch off you. You insisted on giving me some.”Atsushi defended himself. Akutagawa just looked at him with eye contact, then diverted it to the fogged up, with the coming winter chill window. Atsushi exhaled in annoyance as he pulled his knees back up while he leaned back into seat, sipping his water.

“You were practically begging for some like a disowned puppy with that pout.” Akutagawa then commented in a bit of a whispered muffle.

“I think you need to get your vision checked, and your brain, because I. Was. Not. Pouting.” Atsushi slammed his feet back down on the ground.

“careful, Akutagawa, he might scratch you with those kittie claws of his.” Chuuya advised sarcastically. Atsushi glared at Chuuya and then Dazai who was, in betrayal, trying to conceal a laugh.

“I'm not a cat.”he hissed as he glared.

“no, no, you're right. you're not a cat. You're one with rabies.”Akutagawa had his arms crossed and had a flat tune and neutral bitchy face as he spoke. And Atsushi felt further betrayed as even yosano laughed from behind her hand.

“Wow, I can't believe you guys, you traitors!”

The loud conversation was, without warning, interrupted by a waitress who continued to ask everyone at the table what they'd like to eat in contrasting lively tone. When she got to Him, Atsushi quickly thanked her with a dismissal, due to already eating and not having the money to buy three breakfasts in one day. He picked his cup back up and slowly sipped it as he stared across the room at the creepy, broken cat clock that ticked on the wall. 

“Atsushi.” Kunikida’s voice sounded from the other side of Yosano suddenly after the other four of the table's food arrived.

“Yeah?”

“How are you feeling?” Kunikida asked.

“M’ well definitely better, I feel really good actually.” Atsushi looked at his free hand as it was filled with a contrasting warmth and pink and colored tint from only the night before.

“That's good,” Kunikida sighed as he disappeared behind Yosano, not that well due to him being taller than everyone else at the table though. Atsushi smiled to himself as he put the cup of water back up, only to realize it was empty. He instead crossed his arms as he listened to the noises around him while he waited for everyone else besides Akutagawa and him to finish eating so he could see what side mission he'd be sent on. He eventually had singled in on the quiet tick of the broken clock once again.

After twenty minutes or so Atsushi’s attention was diverted quickly by a sharp kick to his ankle. He pulled his leg up on the seat and away as he made eye contact with Akutagawa who had violently kicked him. He glared at him in which for a response Akutagawa just motioned subtlety to Atsushi's side and then that's when h e heard his name get called.

“Atsushi.” Kunikida repeated.

“Yeah?” Atsushi said, slightly startled 

“I said, do you think you can do this mission?”Kunikida then gave him a small little folder. Atsushi opened what's inside, meeting a short little mission that was only to find, rescue, and return a pet cat to its owner.

“I can do more than this-”

“Atsushi, I just want to send you guys on a small mission for today, we can't be sure you're feeling completely fine, especially with how sudden it started.” Kunikida interrupted before Atsushi could complain.

“I'm feeling fine, I promise, you can send me on a bigger mission, I can be of more help then finding and retrieving a cat.” 

“Atsushi were doing it for precautionary measures, we can't have you suddenly getting cold and your body going stiff and easily injured while you're chasing down a murderer or doing a drug bust. It would not only endanger civilians and police, but both you and Akutagawa as well.” Yosano put her hand on his shoulder as she spoke. He sighed in response as he sat back into the seat. Both of them were right, he'd be less help if the illness kicked in suddenly, even if Akutagawa was there to watch his back, And Atsushi understood that.

“And if you really want to help so much,” Kunikida started and Atsushi's attention was instantly perked up as he looked towards the older blond man. “The owner of the cat has recently had her younger sister fall down with the illness. She's willing to be interviewed, see what you and Akutagawa can find out about the case. That would be a massive help, farther more than catching a small drug operation.”

“We'll find the best of what we can, and the cat, we'll find the cat too. You can rely on us.” Atsushi promised, and Kunikida gave a slightly huffed laugh at his enthusiasm while he gave him a notepad and paper. Kunikida then paid the tab and handed off other missions to Chuuya and Yosano and then one for him and Dazai. And then everyone else dispersed to their on own ways, Atsushi and Akutagawa following the same actions as they left to go find a cat.

Chapter Text

Rashomon yanked Atsushi back as a large truck zoomed past him only meters away.

“Aw, I almost had It!” Atsushi huffed in frustration as Rashomon dropped him and slithered back to Akutagawa.

“You almost got hit by a truck is what happened.” 

“I would have been fine.”

“Don't be stupid, Weretiger, even if you were to regenerate and heal you'd still be getting hit by a truck.” Akutagawa then grabbed the collar of Atsushi's shirt and began dragging him across the now clear road and to the other sidewalk. He let go as he rounded the corner to find the cat cowering in the corner of an alley way; when it noticed the two, it tensed as it readied itself for an escape. Akutagawa summoned Rashomon to grab the cat but Atsushi walked in front of him and put a hand on his shoulder. Akutagawa watched as Atsushi kneeled down and stuck his hand out to the cat.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Shh, you'll scare it off.” Atsushi shushed him as he glanced back towards him for a few seconds. Then the cat walked up to Atsushi and after a bit let him pick it up and carry it out of the alley way. 

“You'll just scare it off again if you use Rashomon. You need to approach cats slowly and be gentle like this.” Atsushi said as the cat peeked out from his arms, looking back at Akutagawa.

“I'm pretty sure it just smelled its own kind when it smelled you.” Akutagawa said as he reached a hand out and let the cat sniff it before he petted it. Atsushi rolled his eyes and began walking down the sidewalk with Akutagawa to his side. Akutagawa then pulled out his phone and the file as he searched up directions for the location of the owner's house.

When they arrived at a nice house about three other cats spawned and followed Atsushi and Akutagawa up to the front door. Akutagawa scoffed as behind him Atsushi struggled to use one hand to hold the cat and the other to try taking the extension to his belt from the cat that started playing with it, having given up on trying to stop the one that was climbing up his leg. Akutagawa turned away and reached out to knock on the door, but as luck would have it, the door swung open and Atsushi, him and the lady who opened it paused.

“Um?… hel- Millo!” She interrupted herself as she ran past Akutagawa to Atsushi, holding her arms out as he gave her the cat. “Oh my God thank you, I've been looking for her everywhere since last week.”

“It's no problem at all, I'm just glad we could fulfill your request and that you got her back.”Atsushi smiled with his usual blinding bright tone as he spoke, it was as if the sun could talk as much as it blinded you when you looked at it. Akutagawa rolled his eyes away as he continued to stand, just staring at the open door watching a cat stroll in without telling the woman. 

“Oh, you were gonna interview my sister,” the woman's face dropped a little.”Ok, come here, follow me.” 

Akutagawa followed Atsushi, who followed the woman inside her home. The whole house seemed gloomily clean for a place a lively and upbeat kid lived. They reached a door that was painted in a light bird's egg blue that had painted in a dark blue the name Maria.

The woman turned to them, cat in one hand, door knob in the other,” Try to be quieter when you ask questions, she's had a massive headache and ringing in her ear and she is young so try to be considerate of that.” 

Atsushi nodded, slightly bowing in understanding. The woman sighed and turned the door knob with a quiet knock. A small voice piped from the room as she entered and replied back. It felt wrong to enter the room, both Atsushi and Akutagawa were already feeling on the border of intrusion. So, they stood just in the doorway, as the woman and girl had a quiet and gentle conversation. Quiet but loud enough that if listening close you could hear the slight pain in both girls' voices as they talked.

“There are um, two men here to ask you questions by the way.” Akutagawa picked up as he perked his attention to the room, not taking a step forward though.

A voice hummed back to the woman and then came out in the crackle it had continued to be in. “Can you sit me up? So I can talk.”

The woman hummed back in response as a shuffle of bedding and movement sounded from behind the doorway. “You two can come in now.”

Atsushi stepped forward and Akutagawa followed behind. And there, in a small but lively and filled with different notices of youth sat a girl perched up against her bed frame. The violent sight of illness sat in contrast to her soft surroundings on her appearance. Her hair came down in strings and her features sunken and shadowed by a gray due to the paleness of her skin. She stared at the two with tired and big eyes as she stiffly moved her fingers to pet the cat in her lap. The sunlight spotlighted her grim features as four painted magpies that sat above her on her bed frame like a crown.

Atsushi's voice broke through the sickening science as he pulled a chair up to the bed and spoke softly to the girl. “Hi there, what's your name?”

Quiet fell, and then a chokey answer. “Maria.”

“That's a wonderful name, mine's Atsushi, his is Akutagawa,”Atsushi motioned backwards to the mafioso. “What's your cat here's name?” He asked, despite him and Akutagawa both knowing the answer.

“Millow. She's a ragdoll cat, that's why her hair is long.” the girl's raspy and soft voice replied. Atsushi smiled and looked at her for reassurance as he reached out his hand to pet the cat. She nodded and the room went quiet yet again as Atsushi and the girl petted the cat, only a low purr to interrupt a complete silence. Akutagawa looked from the girl to the woman as she looked at her sister with her brows furrowed and a pained look on her face, and after a bit made brief eye contact with Akutagawa before turning it back to her sister. He then looked down to Atsushi who continued a small conversation with the girl calmly and gently as he looked at her and the cat with soft facial features that wouldn't indicate anything like the sister was. But, him clenching the side of his chair till his knuckles were white opposed.

“How are you doing?” he finally asked after a ray of side questions about the frail girl.

“The best I can.” The girl dropped the liveliness from her voice as the conversation switched. “This sickness doesn't let me eat anything but nasty plain dusty old soup that I throw up half the time. I'm always cold, my head hurts constantly, I can barely move anymore, my stomach hurts as well and I keep coughing, I keep falling asleep and not waking up for anything and I keep having mean things come back and scare me in my brain. I'm pretty sure I only have half a week or so left, at least it'll be over then, even though I want to stay longer, but it hurts too. If that's what you wanted to know as an investigator.”

Atsushi nodded as he kept the calm complexion as he scrapply wrote down what the girl said in a notepad. “You're a smart girl aren't you? how do you think you got the illness?”

“Well I think I first got it on my sixth birthday four months ago. Later that night I got all cold and stuff.” The girl explained.

“Was there anything out of the ordinary that day? Were you touched by anyone unusual?”

“There was a creepy girl who wasn't invited who grabbed my arm and walked off. I think.” The girl answered and Atsushi continued to write down what she said without leaving out any details. The woman then stood up slowly so as to not scare her sister, as she mentioned something about tea before walking out of the room.

“You must be strong, if you've been able to fight against this illness for four months. Most only make it one or two if lucky.” Atsushi complemented, despite the harsh undertones and subject of it.

The girl shook her head, “it's only because of the medicine my sister's been giving me.”

Atsushi nods and writes down what the girl said again, when the woman comes back in the room with four cups of tea and medicine. It looks different from the medications other people had been taking, and it was paired with capsules of powdered herbs. Suddenly a cup of tea is being held out in Akutagawa's direction, interrupting his thoughts. He reaches up and grabs the small, intricately painted cup and sips it. The ginger tea, despite the added honey, stug the back of his throat.

“What kind of medicine is that?” Akutagawa then asked as he set the cup of tea on the window seal.

“..oh, I'm just, you know, painkillers? The capsules have Barberry in them.” the sister answered confused as she paused giving the medicine to her sister.

“What's in it?”

“Just pain killer stuff.. and I think a little bit of the edible parts of the yew and rhododendron plants.” the woman continued to go back to giving her sister the medicine. Akutagawa then looked down at Atsushi who was watching the other two as he slightly rubbed the side of the tea cup in his hand with his thumb. Akutagawa elbowed his shoulder which got him a glare as Atsushi reached up to hold the spot. Akutagawa rolled his eyes and then mouthed for him to write down what the woman said. Only then did Atsushi hurriedly set the cup of tea down on the window seal beside Akutagawa's and start writing down the ingredients in the medicine. 

A sudden rough coughing interrupted the silence as the girl stiffly moved her hand to her mouth and continued to rasp out illegible words between each cough as she gripped onto her younger sister's shirt. Her sister then sat hers and her sisters cups on the nightstand beside the bed as she stood up and wrapped her arm around her sister. The cat then jumped off the girl's lap as the woman pulled her up and off the bed. Atsushi then stood up as well and rushed over to help as the two of them carried the frail girl to the nearby bathroom. Akutagawa followed behind and entered the bathroom behind the three.

The girl struggled to hold herself up as her sister supported her as the frail girl continued to cough into the sink. The girl still covered her mouth with her hand as hints of red seeped from between her fingers. When blood dripped from her hand into the sink Atsushi froze and Akutagawa moved. He took Atsushi's place and lightly patted and rubbed circular motions between the girl's shoulder blades as Gin had done before for him when he was having a bad coughing attack. He held her hair back then kicked Atsushi in the shin to gain his attention away from the blood dripping from the girl's hand and to him.

“Come hold her hair, and her waist, she might pass out.” Akutagawa commanded. Akutagawa reverted his attention back to the girl as Atsushi then took her hair from Akutagawa's hand and wrapped his arm around her waist. The girl shook weakly as the coughing died down and she slumped limp. She fell back unconscious into all three adults arms as her sister then took her from the two and set the girl down in her bed.

Akutagawa and Atsushi then stood silently in the bathroom as her sister entered the bathroom again, grabbed a rag, ran it under water, then raced back out like it was routine. The water continued to run behind them and then quickly Atsushi turned around and turned it off swinging back away from the sink. The woman then came back into the bathroom and set the bloodied rag in the sink as she sat down on the toilet as if it were a chair and let out a shaky sigh.

“You two should probably get going home, it's getting late, there's nothing else you guys can do here.” She said tiredly. Atsushi opened his mouth to speak but Akutagawa grabbed his wrist and dragged him out of the bathroom and back to the bedroom to grab the notebook. Akutagawa grabbed Atsushi's bag, swinging it over his shoulder and the notebook as he then put the chair the other was using back in its place. He turned back to Atsushi who furrowed his brow and bit his bottom lip as he looked down at the unconscious girl.

“Come on, Weretiger, let's go.” Akutagawa said as he looked down at the dying girl. 

“She's dying, how am I supposed to just leave when she's dying?” Atsushi clenched his fists and dug his nails into the cloth of his gloves.

“There's nothing we can do besides stop the ability user, staying here and sitting like ducks to wait till she dies won't do anything for her.” Akutagawa spoke and then grabbed Atsushi's wrist and dragged him without protest out of the house. 

The two of them continued to walk in silence down the dimly lit street. Atsushi then stopped and the sudden hult yanked Akutagawa's arm. Akutagawa then also stopped and turned halfway to face Atsushi. 

“What is it, Weretiger?” he said flatly.

“...she's only six, she's just a child.” Atsushi said as quite grew through the street. “She hasn't even lived long enough to say she had a life. And she's just gonna die? Like that? Harsh and cruel and painful? All because of some user's ability?”

The conversation went quite again.

Akutagawa sighed. “Have you ever heard of reincarnation?”

“What?”

“Where when you die you are reborn again.” Atsushi nodded. “Then think of it like that when she dies, even if you don't believe in reincarnation, just thinking that she might not be able to live out her current life but maybe live a long one in the next time as her favorite animal or become someone famous. At least it's a little better than thinking that when she dies she will cease to exist.” Akutagawa finished.

“I'd never take you to be the kind of person to believe in that kind of stuff.” Atsushi joked bitterly.

“I never said I did, it's just easier to think of some deaths in a different light then just a sudden stop.” Akutagawa explained.

“I guess that makes sense.” Atsushi sighed as he then took the lead and yanked Akutagawa forward. And they continued to walk in silence down the street and back to the hotel. 

Chapter Text

Atsushi closed the door to the rooftop of the hotel with as much silence as possible. He stood back up straight and looked around the high building as he made his way to the ledge that he placed his feet against as he stared down at the town below. He then sighed as he sat down onto the cold slab of some kind of rock slab that made up the material of the roof.

Atsushi couldn't sleep. The girl from earlier had been stuck like an endless record on his mind. He clenched his fists digging his nails into his palms until it stung. 

The door to the roof then made a clicking sound as it opened. Atsushi turned, expecting Dazai due to antics, or Akutagawa who was fairly any closer than Atsushi himself to sleep when Atsushi left the room. But when he turned he saw Kunikida shutting the roof door behind himself. When the dirty blonde haired man turned he seemed to be slightly startled by Atsushi's presence, then when calm walked over and sat down beside the younger detective.

Kunikida then held out a bag of sweets,“Want some?” Atsushi looked back at his usually stern superior as the man held out a bag of sweets. 

“Can I?” Atsushi asked 

Kunikida paused, “of course, what kind of question is that?” 

“Sorry, I'm just out of it.” Atsushi replied as he reached his hand out. 

Kunikida sighed as he set one of the sweets in the younger detective’s hand, “you don't need to apologize.” 

Atsushi nodded as he realed his hand back and un wrapped the chocolate. The two continued to sit in silence while they shared the bag. Atsushi gratefully took and ate each sweet that the other man slid by his side. When the flow of primarily chocolates stopped, after somewhat of an amateur pile grew by Atsushi’s side, Kunikida offered him the bag in which he declined. The other man nodded as he wrapped an elastic bland over the opening and set it off to his side.

“What’s wrong, you're oddly dull?” The blond detective finally asked after the long silence.

“Nothing really, I just haven't been able to sleep after that girl we interviewed.” Atsushi answered truthfully.

Atsushi could feel the presence of the older man's gaze but paid it no attention as it wasn't one of worry or agitation but more of understanding. 

“I just feel like I have to help, but I can't, you know.” Atsushi continued.

Kunikida sighed and took his glasses off, setting them to the side, “it is hard to feel like you're not able to do anything to help, and to just watch someone die in front of you, but I think what you have been doing is helping significantly. You've managed to gather further information that none of us even took into consideration with finding out about that medication that slows the disease process.”

“I know, but it doesn't stop the process, they just suffer longer when they shouldn't have to at all!” Atsushi said as he tightened his fingers against the edge of the roof.

“And that's the ability user's fault, they are selfishly putting all of these people through this, that's why we're working to stop them, cause it's the best we can do to help. But we aren't some fictional superheroes, we can't always.. save everyone. But it's still better to try than to sit and watch.” Kunikida reassured Atsushi with pained understanding in his voice. 

“..Thanks.” Atsushi grimaced at the town below him in understatement of the older man's words. He then felt a stiff hand rub his shoulder before the older man stood up, drawing his hand back. Atsushi's expression softened as he relaxed.

“It's no issue, you're a strong kid who selflessly cares for others with all your heart.” Kunikida started as he leaned down to grab the bag of sweets and his glasses, slipping the back on, “go try to get some sleep.” Kunikida finished as he held a hand out to the younger. Atsushi took his hand as he let the older man pull him up to his feet and away from the roof's ledge.

Atsushi continued on to walk side by side with Kunikida as they made their way back to their own respectable rooms. Atsushi arrived in front of the door to his and Akutagawa's shared room, but before entering he turned to Kunikida. The older detective stared back at him.

Atsushi went to step forward to hug the older man but stepped back, “Good night, Kunikida.” Atsushi said with a tired smile.

Kunikida nodded and then suddenly ruffled Atsushi's hair before walking back to his own room. Atsushi smiled to himself as he unlocked the door to the shared room. He pushed the door open and turned around and closed it as quietly as he could to try not to wake up a possibly sleeping Akutagawa. His efforts decreased to nothing as the side lamp beside Akutagawa's bed turned on with a click, illuminating the room with a dim brightness.

“Oh.. sorry, um did I wake you up?” Atsushi asked lightly as he turned around to look at the Ravenette.

Akutagawa shook his head, “I never fell asleep and am not anytime soon, Weretiger, it's not an issue, don't apologize.”

Despite his words though, Akutagawa’s voice came out with a tired and slow rasp that begged for him to go to sleep. Atsushi nodded as he took his shoes off and set them in a pair beside the door. Atsushi was still wearing his work pants and Akutagawa's shirt from the night before and probably should also take a shower as well, but he wanted to at least sit down before he did anything. While Atsushi sat down on his bed Akutagawa watched from the other bed. The two made eye contact as Atsushi laid back his attention, now being drawn away from the side of the room with the door.

“Come to think of it, why are you awake? Even Dazai is asleep.” Atsushi asked all of a sudden. 

“I'm not used to going to sleep when you all do, so I've just been going over today's work report.” Akutagawa answered as he turned from leaning his back against the frame of his bed to his side, keeping his upper body arched up with his elbow. He then pulled a random envelope out of nowhere, setting it on the nightstand.

Atsushi hummed an ‘okay’ in response as he stared at the ceiling. He then reminded himself of his needed shower and pushed himself back up to sitting on the edge of the bed slowly pushing himself to his feet. He's tired, both mentally and physically, but hygiene is important.

“If you go up to the roof for another hour I am duck taping you to your bed, you keep letting cold air in every time you open and close that door.” Akutagawa said as he grabbed a book he'd been reading of the night stand

Atsushi scoffed, “ok one, I'm going to use the shower, so don't worry your pretty little head, and two, you can suffer in silence, I'll go out whenever I want to.”

“I would kick you right now, but It's not worth getting out of bed.” Akutagawa bickered as tuned into his back while he opened the book in dismissal of Atsushi. Atsushi rolled his eyes in response as he grabbed clothes and a towel and headed off and into the bathroom.

When Atsushi finished and came back out he held his old clothes and towel in his hand as he fell face first into his bed, much like the night before. Akutagawa was still awake and was leaning against the headboard of his bed as he was when Atsushi first came back to the room. Akutagawa barely even acknowledged Atsushi's dramatics as he kept his attention and focus of the book he was reading.

Atsushi stood back up and put his clothes into a different bag of the ones to be washed. He then walked around his bed over to Akutagawa’s as he made his way over to the side of the bed with more space away from the edge and leaning over, digging his knee into the comforter. He looked down at what the other was reading and gave up after a few lines and found it boring, at least for his two am tired brain. Akutagawa then pushed Atsushi away with a palm to the side of the face as he slowly pushed him back away from him.

“Don't get so close, Weretiger.” the Ravenette glared.

Atsushi rolled his eyes as he leaned back, “It's not like I'm gonna infect you with some diseases.”

“I'd say otherwise.”

“Oh, how scary I might infect your black soul with the disease of joy and laughter, how atrocious.” Atsushi mocked as he sat down on the edge of the mafioso’s bed.

“I'll have you know that I have and didn't mind being happy before.” Akutagawa said as he placed the bookmark in his book and slammed it closed,setting it down with a contrasting softness onto the nightstand. “And get off my bed, I don't want your shedding on me.” Akutagawa added.

“I'm not a cat, I don't shed, and I just took a shower, unlike you, I don't think I've seen you take a shower once while here, or on any missions that is.” Atsushi rebuked.

“I have showered while here, and me showering is none of your business.” Akutagawa stated.

“It is, if I'm gonna be carrying you around and sleeping with you I would prefer you to be clean.” 

“You're never sleeping in the same bed, well bath, with me again, don't keep your expectations up.” Akutagawa said “and please phrase your words better.”

Atsushi rolled his eyes as he pulled his other leg up and onto the bed as he crossed his legs. Akutagawa sighed as he reached back out for his book, cracking it open and studying each line. Atsushi, despite it being such a bore, leaned over and read along with the mafioso, extremely confused on what was happening debating that he had jumped into it at page one hundred and fourteen.

“What is this?” Atsushi then asked as his curiosity and confusion finally builded enough.

“Some book I grabbed off the shelf at my house.” Akutagawa said as he still had his eyes turned to the book as he tuned the page.

“Very helpful, I ment like, what's going on.”

“That's very hard to explain, and I don't care enough to explain.” 

“I guessed I'll forever be clueless then.” Atsushi replied with a slim bitterness, but not enough for it to indicate any actual anger. He then sunk down to the pillow,still looking up and reading, or more or less, skimming through the story, still confused. The pillows were comfortable and hugged him with a lack of use and tainting sleep at least.

If Atsushi was being entirely honest, he at least knew how he fell asleep on his enemy's bed. But what he didn't know was that he would to wake up with Akutagawa closer then even when they had slept in the bathtub, cause at least then they were faced away from each other then unlike the moment the two were in at the moment, shoulder to shoulder and Akutagawa's arm laid at an angle cupping Atsushi's face as it laid across the the detective’s neck while the mafioso laid on his back, book in his free hand. Atsushi wasn't any better though, as he was currently laying on his side slightly curled into Akutagawa's side as his arm that wasn't so trapped under his own body weight was instead laying across the mafioso's waist as well as his leg slightly pulled over the other man's.

When it finally processed as Akutagawa began to wake up they both freaked and then toppled over each other rolling off the side of the bed and onto the hardwood floor with a painful and loud thud. Atsushi reached up and held the back of his head as it rang in pain from slamming into the floor. Akutagawa did the same as he pushed himself up, holding one palm to the side of his head, primarily his temple though.

“Ow, what the hell Weretiger!” Akutagawa groaned in pain and a raspy tiredness as he sat up fully, still holding his head.

“You can't just blame me!”

“What the hell do you mean I can't, you're the one who fell asleep in my bed!”

“Yeah, and you never put me back in mine, so it's both our faults!”

“Like shit it is! You shouldn't have decided to crawl over here in the first place.” Akutagawa struggled to stand up as he spoke and Atsushi scoffed as he pushed himself up to his feet.

Before any other insults or accusations could be thrown around, Atsushi's phone began to ring. Atsushi made around to the outlet that he had let his phone charge by and answered the call. He noticed that instead of Kunikida or Dazai, it was Kyouka calling him, he'd been expecting when she would call to check up on him. He cracked to answer then his train of thought was interrupted when the bathroom door behind him slammed shut and clicked locked.

“What was that?" Kyouka's voice sounded from the phone speaker.

"Just Akutagawa, but we don't need to talk about him right now, how have you been?” Atsushi dismissed, not wanting to go into depth of the fact that the two men had slept together twice in a row.

“I've been ok, what about you, I heard from Yosano that you haven't been doing well lately?" Kyouka asked with concern.

“I've been ok, it was only for two nights, I'm sure it was just a cold or something. Nothing to worry about. “ Atsushi reassured Kyouka of his well-being as he stared from his bed out the window watching two black ravens follow in behind one faster raven. 

“Good, cause it sounded really bad, I'm glad you're doing better." After younger girls statement a sudden clater could be heard from the other side as another voice came in, “Hi Atsushi!" Kenji said.

“Hi Kenji," Atsushi responded.

“Are you having fun over there, I heard the town you're in has tons of fun stuff!" Kenji asked, the honest brightness in his voice almost visible through the phone.

“It's been decent, they have really good food in the cafe that's connected to the hotel we're all staying at." Atsushi said as he herd the click of the lock from the bathroom door as it began to open. Atsushi glanced over at Akutagawa as he stepped out, fiddling with his sleeve.

“Have you gone to any other fun places? What are the stores like there?" Kenji continued the conversation causing Atsushi and Akutagawa on the other end to break eye contact as Atsushi turned back to his phone that he had put on speaker.

“I haven't gone anywhere, including stores, yet, but I promise I will soon and get both of you souvenirs.” Atsushi replied.

“Really! Thank you so much, Atsushi!" Kenji beamed.

“Who are you talking to?" Akutagawa finally asked, lurching slightly over in front of Atsushi to look at the silver haired man's phone screen. 

“Kyouka and Kenji," 

"hm, go get changed though, we have to go get our mission from the tall blonde detective.” Akutagawa said standing back up straight.

"It's Kunikida, not tall blonde detective,by the way, and fine give me a second, “ Atsushi turned his attention and conversation away from Akutagawa and to his call, “I got to go, sorry, duty calls.”

" Aw, bye Atsushi, hope you have a good time on your mission.” Kenji bid farewell 

"Goodbye, I'll call another time.” Kyouka added

“Got it, buh-bye now." 

"Bye.” Kyouka said as the call ended. Atsushi tossed his phone on his bed and grabbed his clothes from his bag. He then took off and into the bathroom to get changed.

He came back out and made eye contact with Akutagawa who was leaning beside the door, texting someone. The mafioso stuffed the device in his pocket before pulling out Atsushi's and handing it off to the detective. He then opened the door for both of them. Atsushi walked through as he set his own phone in his pocket.

Breakfast flew by quickly and the next thing Atsushi could remember was walking down the street, Akutagawa attached at the hip, reading over the mission packet. It seems they were off to bust a smuggling and illegal market operation. 

Akutagawa stopped walking from what Atsushi could see from his peripheral vision, leading him to also stop and look up. The photo of the ship and shipping containers that was stored in the mission packet matched their current location. Atsushi slipped the photo back into the packet and then into his satchel, then taking the bag off and setting it to the side, hidden where it wouldn't get ruined or stolen.

“We're supposed to get the victims out and away from their captors, only after they are all safe do we go after any one who would give our positions away, understand?" Atsushi directed.

Akutagawa hummed in reply and turned as he started towards the boat and shipping containers. Atsushi walked less than a foot behind the man as they reached the mid-range boat. He observed the boat for any danger before they went to it. He glanced back at Akutagawa before they took off towards the boat steadily.

The detective readied himself to attempt the high jump before Rashomon wrapped around his waist as he was pulled up beside his partner. Then was dropped onto the deck of the boat onto his stomach. Atsushi looked up, directing a glare at Akutagawa who only glanced down at him with a blank expression, his lower face covered by that trench coat he always wore. 

Atsushi pushed himself up to his feet, as his hand was then grabbed harshly and was swung around and followed in presuit, as much as fast as he could, while Akutagawa began pulling him behind the boat's wheelhouse. The silverette was pulled down beside the Mafioso as they kneeled just out of plain sight. the older of the two peering through the window as Atsushi could pick up the sounds of feet and voices. He singled in on the conversation as the voices entered the ships deck.

“Number six is being bought out for twenty thousand, but I think we should charge her up at least five thousand more. And set three of artifacts is being bought for nineteen thousand, but the buyers are complaining that the price should be lowered, boss.” one voice explained.

A rougher voice coughed a tobacco induced cough as it grew closer, “raise her price up to thirty thousand, and lower the price of the relics down to seventeen thousand, but tell the buyers that's as low it's going and that if they down buy it we have others who will.” The voice dismissed.

There was a jingle of keys close to the wheelhouse and Akutagawa quickly ducked under the vision from the window. They listened as the conversation between the two men continued to draw on. The door then opened as the one without the rough like voice and heavier footsteps one exited and began walking around to the front of the wheelhouse where Akutagawa and Atsushi were hidden.

Atsushi began to open his mouth to whisper but was quickly cut off by Akutagawa cupping his hand over the Weretiger's mouth to silence him. There was a pause as the two stilled in silence as they listened to footsteps that grew nearer by the seconds. Atsushi watched the edge of the building and the slim bit of window for the person as then he got tugged backwards. Atsushi then got pulled behind the edge of the wall of the wheelhouse, no longer in the front and out of view of the man as he rounded the corner.

Akutagawa’s hand released from Atsushi’s mouth. Atsushi peered over the walls edge to view the man as the gun that attach the ehis hip glimmered back with a taunting danger. Atsushi sat back against the wall as he looked back over at Akutagawa making eye contact as he sighed.

Atsushi broke the long stare as he whispered lightly and barely eligible even in the thick silence, “we should get going, before we get caught.”

Akutagawa nodded as he turned from the other facing his attention to the door the two men came out of. Atsushi watched as Rashomon slithered across the ground and up the door. The door cracked open as Akutagawa then grabbed onto the detective's waist as he then used Rashomon to open the door to a full extent then pulled the two into the room on the other side, continuing to shut the door quickly but quietly behind the two with the demonic fabric.

They were sitting in a short hallway that opened to what looked like an office. Atsushi observed as well as the ravenette while they looked for anything like a camera that would give them away. Atsushi then sighed and relaxed as the lack of cameras reassured the two's temporary success and advancements in the mission.

Atsushi studied the door they came from and looked back at Akutagawa, “i don't hear anything neither the buzz of a camera or anyone coming close to the door.”

“Good.” Akutagawa replied as he then shoved the detective off himself before standing back up and coughing into his sleeve and walking to the door across on the other side of the room. Atsushi stood up and walked over as Akutagawa then opened the door.

The room opened to a harsh darkness that filled a hallway with both left and right walls lined with evenly spaced doors with numbers labeled on the front of ones closer to the front and empty ones near the back. Atsushi took a step into the hall as he walked up to the first door, now that he was closer he noticed how the door was locked from the outside and how the number on the door was easily removable. Atsushi listened as he grabbed onto the handle of the door while from the other side small breathing could be heard.

He turned the door handle, using the tiger's strength as he broke the lock to let himself in. Atsushi opened the door to view inside to see a girl who was just around Naomi’s age sitting on a small bed in the stuffy room staring at a blank wall as she brushed her hair. Atsushi watched as the girl brought the brush up to the top of her hair to brush the same strand again as if almost in a full trance. He then knocked on the door to get the girl's attention. She stilled her movement and then turned to him with tired eyes.

“Are you new?” She asked.

“Oh, I'm here to get you and all the other people here out of this place as well.” Atsushi answered. The girl gave him a look of fear and suspicion, but hesitantly stood up with the brush still in hand. Atsushi stepped back as he let the girl exit the room first, she entered the hall and relaxed slightly as she met two other girls who were standing huddled in the corner of the hallway. Atsushi was relieved and then watched as another young girl joined the group as Akutagawa held the third door down on the left side open for her.

Atsushi made eye contact with the other man as he then nodded, tuning to the next door and opening it. He went down the rows of doors till he reached the last with any source of life in it. He then turned as the last person flooded over to the crowd. There were about sixteen different people huddled in the group varying in different ages, of sixteen to thirty, and genders.

Atsushi walked up to the group, but made any haste to touch any of them. He stood beside Akutagawa as the group then turned to the two. Atsushi went to speak but cut himself off as he heard a noise.

“Were-”Akutagawa started before Atsushi held up a finger indicating silence as he tried to listen closer to the sound. Footsteps. He listened as the steps of two more heavily built people walked closer to the door of the deck of the ship that opened up to the office on the other side. Then a clink with each step. Guns, he supposed.

He then turned his attention to the group, “we got to go, someone's coming.” he whispered, “take lead and stay in front and lead them out, I'll stay in the back.” Atsushi directed as he turned to Akutagawa.

He didn't give the other time to say anything before he headed behind the group as it started moving forward by Akutagawa’s lead. They slowly made it through the halls and into another hallway. He then turned to the woman in front of him. “Is there anyone else here?”

The woman shook her head, “there isn't anyone else victim wise on the ship besides us.” 

Atsushi nodded as the group then moved forward. They made it to a large window where the Ravenette leading the group used Rashomon to cut smoothly and set to the side. He then turned to the group, that slightly cowered in fear he then used Rashomon to act like a sort of bridge or slide from the boat's window and the boating deck.

The group stood still with a lack of trust. And then one, the youngest girl, stepped forward and let Akutagawa help her over the edge and onto the surprisingly stable fabric ability as she slid down it and then stopped as she placed her feet onto the wooden dock. Eventually the one girl on the deck grew to three people and then seven and eventually the last two people got ready to go when the door to the hallway then opened as the two men from before stood in the entrance. 

They took their guns from their holsters and aimed the weapons at Akutagawa and him. They fired as Atsushi triggered his ability and put his arms in front of his face and blocked the two victims after he made sure Akutagawa had Rashomon up to protect himself and the two. The guns clicked empty and the men turned to reload and call for backup.

“Weretiger, go-”

“No, you be quiet, last time I left you on a ship you died, you take these two and go with the others to get the police. I'll take care of these two and any others.” Atsushi interrupted.

“It's only bullets, I've fought bullets perfectly fine before.”

Atsushi turned to Akutagawa, “they have ability users on this ship as well, and someone needs to protect the group, please, just go. I can fend them off, I'm not that weak.”

“I wasn't saying you're weak.” Akutagawa mumbled to himself and then wrapped the other two that were left up in Rashomon. He then lifted them through the window and set them down on the dock. Atsushi turned to the door.

He then felt the front of his shirt get pulled around as he was forced to face Akutagawa, “You're not allowed to die, or else I’ll resurrect you and then kill you myself.” Akutagawa threatened as he balanced himself on the window seal.

Atsushi looked at his partner and then put his hand with a small squeeze over the mafioso's that was still clenching the front of his shirt, “I'll be fine, now, you, go.”

Akutagawa relaxed as let go of Atsushi's shirt, throwing him back slightly in the motion; he turned away and drew his arm back. Atsushi turned back to the door and smiled slightly to himself while behind him Akutagawa used Rashomon to help propel himself out of the window and to the boat dock. The two men appeared back in front of the doors closing as they began to rain fire back on Atsushi, to their unluck. Atsushi used his ability to push through the bullets and reach the men enough to knock the two out. He then used a nearby rope to tie the two up against a table that was nailed stiff and unmoving from the boat's floor.

He then stood back up leaving the two men unconscious after emptying them of anything that could help them escape. Atsushi walked through the hallway door to the next hallway. He was met with three more men with guns as both parties opened opposite doors. He then readied his ability as the men aimed at him. The same sequence of events went down as fire broke out. Atsushi kneeled under the primary aim and then used his ability again to launch himself forward into the middle attacker's stomach. He then flung himself and the man into the door of the room the men went through before as the man fell back unconscious. A bullet barely missed his head as he looked back at the other two as they pulled the trigger of their guns again to emit nothing but air from the weapons. He then knocked the other two unconscious and tied the three’s arms and legs up.

He then managed to make his way to the office he and Akutagawa were in before when suddenly foot steps walked up behind him without warning as he felt the nose of the gun press against his shoulder and then fire. Despite the feeling of his bone shattering he swung around, utilizing his elbow to hit the attacker's jaw before letting it limp to his side as it slowly regenerated.

The man coughed blood out as his jaw dislocated, “I was thinking we could sell you off, ability users like you sell for a lot, but I think I might just kill you instead.” the man said before disappearing from sight. Atsushi activated his ability as he tried to sense wherever the man would appear visible next. The Silverette listened as the man stopped just in front of the door leading to the boat's deck. Atsushi leaped forward as he body slammed himself and the man through the door. The man appeared and he coughed till he went limp on the now broken down door.

Atsushi then quickly rolled over as a bullet hurled towards his head. The wood beside him shattered and flung in the air as the bullet penetrated it. He looked up as the man with the rough voice from before held a gun out in his direction. Atsushi rolled away again pushing himself up to his knees as another ray of bullets took his now demolished place.

The man swapped places as the other man who was talking to him before took his place and started shooting at Atsushi. Atsushi blocked with his arms, ignoring the agitation it drew to his shoulder as his wound from before still healed abnormally slowly with pain. Another set of bullets shot towards him from the front, as another pair to his left as the crackly voiced man made his way closer to the Weretiger.

Atsushi thought fast as he then propelled himself forward out of the aim of what he supposed was the leaders and then skidding across the deck and into the other man after landing. He then quickly pried the gun from the man's hand and hit him over the head with it knocking the man to a temporary sleep as he fell onto the ground. Atsushi then ducked down as a bullet flew just above him.

Before adrenaline could die down, he pushed through rays of bullets as he reached the lead man. Atsushi grabbed the nose of the gun and using his ability ripped it from the man's hand as he glanced up, making eye contact with the man. Atsushi untransformed his arm as he drew it back to knock the man unconscious like the others.

Click

The nose of a gun pressed against the back of his head as he froze. He glanced around to see the door that he had knocked down earlier when attacking that ability user empty. 

“You're a real pain in the ass.” the voice from behind said as Atsushi then felt as the other man in front of him took advantage of the situation and grabbed the detective's wrists hard enough it could leave an impression. “At Least we won't have to deal with you anymore though, cause I'm gonna blow that pretty little head off.” The ability user said as he pressed the gun further against the back of Atsushi's skull as he began to worm his finger around to the trigger. Atsushi braces himself for the impact, only for the only loud bang to be the man slamming back against the wall of the boat. 

Atsushi grabbed the sleeves of the leader as he used his leg to knee the man in the stomach. The man let go and Atsushi punched him in the face causing the man to fall back unconscious. He then let out a long sigh as he looked back to see the man unconscious as the wall grew with cracks, he then looked over at Akutagawa who was retreating Rashomon back.

Rashomon then wrapped around Atsushi's waist as he was pulled over to the mafioso, “You obnoxious fool! I said you're not allowed to die!” Akutagawa said as he grabbed the front of the detective's shirt.

“I'm not de-”

“You almost got shot through the head! You're such an idiot!” Akutagawa interrupted

“I'm ok now, aren't I? I'm safe now, thank you for worrying that I'm alive, even if it's just because you want to kill me later, but I'm ok, ok?” Atsushi said, causing a drawn out unbreakable silence to whisper between the two, even when Akutagawa went to say something he cut himself off as he looked away leaving the silence to continue, “Where's the group?” Atsushi changed the subject as he peered behind the mafioso to police cars but only police men.

Akutagawa sighed,“At the station, those officers are here for the sellers.” Akutagawa answered flatly as he let go of Atsushi's shirt more gently than before. He then grabbed Atsushi's wrist as he began to get dragged across the ship’s deck behind the mafioso.

Akutagawa seemed to avoid the officers as much as possible as the two walked past them while the authority figures filled the ship's deck where they previously were. Atsushi continues to let Akutagawa pull him through the thick crowd of people, who had gathered to watch the scene. He then dropped The Weretiger's hand, shoving his hands in his coat pocket.

Atsushi shoved his own hands in his pockets as well as the two walked in silence. He stared ahead at the older’s back then directing his vision as he looked from his left and right observing the streets as they reeked of liveliness. His mind raced at the quick and harsh silence that broke out between the two during the last conversation on the boat. Whether it was just the atmosphere messing with his head or a slow realization, Atsushi began feeling guilty. He knew he said something wrong, he always does, he didn't know what, maybe everything.

“Hey, Akuta-” he said, interrupting himself as he stared across the street.

Akutagawa turned as his name was cut short. He observed as the Weretiger stood and stared in almost shock. He then watched as Atsushi mumbled something to himself. “What is it, Weretiger, speak louder.”

Atsushi pointed across the street to a small market, “isn't that-” he started, Akutagawa looked where the other was pointing, a woman, she seemed familiar, he'd seen her briefly before.

Atsushi grabbed the bag he hand draped across his chest and lifted it off and set it off in an alley. When he looked back, Akutagawa gave him a puzzled look. He walked back over to him as he eyed down the target, getting ready to jump across the road and over to her.

“It's her, I'm certain.” Atsushi said.

“What?”

“The disease’s holder,” Atsushi used his ability as he made it across to the other street with little time. And just in time as he began towards the woman she whipped around her head.

“Shit!” The woman said as she then left the conversation she had started and turned on her heel and began running. Atsushi chased after her as they rounded the corner together. He watched and then followed as the woman entered an old abandoned bookstore as he chased her up a flight of stairs and then another. When the two made it onto a roof the detective was clueless on how high they were up, he wasn't keeping track of each flight of stairs. But when he ran at the woman as she jumped from the current roof to another, he reached a ledge and looked down. The length seemed to reach to the ground forever, the concrete below taunting a messy death.

He then looked back up as the woman glared at him from the other roof. Suddenly a door slammed to the roof behind him. He turned to see Akutagawa enter the roof, he clenched the front of his shirt as, from even the length between them, he could see as the older man breathed labored and heavily.

“Were-” Akutagawa cut himself short of words as the use of speaking stung his throat and taunted a coughing attack.

Atsushi stared at his partner and then down at the woman as she began to turn away to begin running. 

“Akutagawa, I've got her, you just stay there.” Atsushi summoned his ability as he got ready to jump down to the woman. Then suddenly a force from his side shoved as he looked down to see a familiar girl shove into his side with an abnormal strength as she took him with her and managed to shove him into the building to his left. He felt as his back harshly collided with the brick wall as he couldn't tell if the crack that rang loud was his back and skull or the wall. He felt light flicker from his eyes as he began to fall unconscious and then air rushed past as he began to fall to the ground.

Chapter Text

Fucking dumbass, that idiotic fool!

Akutagawa slung Atsushi’s bag over his shoulder as he waited for the road to clear to an extent before using Rashomon to pull himself across to the sidewalk. When he managed to reach over to the sidewalk, the Weretiger was already chasing after the disease’s holder. Akutagawa followed in presuit as he after Atsushi turned a corner he then watched as the younger ran into a bookstore. Akutagawa breathed in deep as air hitched and stuck as he began to cough hard. He held the side of the wall as he coughed into his sleeve. He then forced his legs forward in chase of the Weretiger again.

He followed the two up several long and high flights of stairs as the attempt to keep up with the woman and Atsushi, burned Akutagawa's lungs with each step. Akutagawa stopped as a coughing fit broke out as he grabbed the railing to steady himself as he coughed into his sleeve. When the coughing calmed, Akutagawa instantly pulled himself up the stairs despite the growing pain conjuring in his lungs.

When he pushed the roof's door open he opened it to the sight of the woman Atsushi was chasing jumping across onto a slightly lower building’s roof. The Weretiger, on the other hand, interrupted jumping down to the woman to, instead, look back at Akutagawa. 

Akutagawa opened his mouth to speak, “Were-” he was quickly cut off as his throat was sore and burned, the cooling fall air did nothing to help as his lungs screamed. He clenched the front of his shirt harder as he tried to push the need to cough back down. He made brief eye contact with the Weretiger before the younger man turned his gaze back over to the woman.

“Akutagawa, I've got her, you just stay there.” Atsushi said as he activated his ability. Akutagawa then watched as beside his partner a girl almost appeared from thin air, she looked similar to the one in the case photos, but slightly different, almost like a sibling. The girl then shoved herself into Atsushi's stomach, shoving the two to the side and hard into a building wall. Cracks grew slightly up the brick from the impact. The girl disappeared just as soon as she materialized and Atsushi fell unconscious as he began to plummet to the alley ground far below.

Without a second thought Akutagawa was, leaping down and into an alley, using Rashomon to grab Atsushi and then using his own arm securing the unconscious Weretiger as he pulled the other man close, he then used Rashomon as he wrapped the sole of his shoes and then created a claw with his free arm as he slid down the brick wall. 

When he managed to reach solid ground, he let himself fall onto the ground on his back, letting Atsushi rest on his chest. His lungs seized as he breathed in, but he refused to break into another coughing fit while still holding Atsushi as he tried to even his breathing with each long and raspy breath.The mafioso held his shirt tightly as his throat stung for air that he struggled to breath in.

God damnit, of all times for those shity lungs to decide to stop working properly.

 He sat up and pulled Atsushi into a more comfortable and less awkward position in his lap as he used his heels to push himself and the detective to the wall as he finally let himself relax. He coughed into his sleeve as the sudden movement added to the painfully rasp.

“shit.” His voice shook as the coughing fell dead but still stung lighter in his throat. He looked down at his hand self consciously expecting red to reflect back but in luck he managed to not cough up blood.

He looked down at Atsushi. The Silverette was still unconscious and had blood that trailed slightly down his neck, from what Akutagawa could feel as he held the other man's lower neck. He'd supposed it was from the impact of him slamming back into the red bricked building. Atsushi felt cold to the touch like he was before back in the bathroom, also, Akutagawa had inquired, he was probably sick like before too. He settled the Weretiger's head back on his chest as he rested his own head back as shadows that took the place of sun rays due to the large buildings that towered over the alley, shown down on the two.

The Ravenette did not let exhaust catch up to him as he forced himself to scrunch his legs as he searched for The Weretiger's phone as he drew his hand up the other's thigh to find his phone pocket. He grabbed the phone and turned it on to have the harsh brightness of the screen slightly blinding the mafioso. He tried at the password, first trying the Weretiger's birthday, fail: second, one two three four five, fail, surprisingly : third, five four three two one, also fail: then finally opening it when trying kyouka's birthday.

He should have known it would be Kyouka's birth date, the sentimental fool.

He opened the contacts as he scrolled to find the name Akiko Yosano plastered beside a photo of the agency’s doctor. The line rang before the strangely soft yet Stern voice interrupted the ring. “Yes, Atsushi?”

“The Weretiger is unconscious, it's Akutagawa.” Akutagawa answered as he looked down at his partner as he pulled his shoulder closer, ignoring the fact that it was digging into his collarbone.

“ What did you do?” Yosano’s voice turned cold.

“Nothing, we ran into the disease holder and her accomplices.. ability I suppose. Anyways, the reckless idiot ran after her and then got knocked unconscious by the accomplice’s ability. But now he's not healing again and he got injured back during the mission and by the ability.” Akutagawa explained.

“Where are you two now?” her voice softened to a worry.

“The alley behind a run down book store.” Akutagawa answered.

“Okay, be there in a bit, keep him safe at least.”  

A soft hum Is all Akutagawa responded with before he hung up. He then stuffed the detective’s phone into the satchel that somehow managed to survive the fall better than both Atsushi and Akutagawa as it was still slung around the mafioso's shoulder. He then tried his best at lifting the bag off himself as after he let himself relax fully as he let out a long sigh.

He shifted his face up to see the sky that sat far above with clouded skies. Akutagawa ran his fingers through the Weretiger's hair, letting gravity keep the unconscious man in place leaning against Akutagawa's chest as he laid his head in the crook of Akutagawa's neck, chilled and slow breathing fanning across his neck and down and over his collarbone, “you stupid, stupid fool. Look at you all banged, it's like you're trying to defy my directions.” He huffed. His voice was oddly soft and slightly quieter and showed a hypocritical care for his enemy despite the wording of his statement.  He wrapped his free arm around Atsushi's, securing him from falling, as Akutagawa sighed and closed his eyes.

He must have eventually, at some time, drifted to sleep because the next thing he knew was that he was being woken up by a quiet rumble of a car motor. Both him and the Weretiger laid out on the seat of the back of the car, Atsushi trapped between Akutagawa and the back of the seat. The Ravenette pushed himself up and created more room for Atusishi, readjusting the other's position. Whoever had picked the two of them up somehow managed to put them in the Car without separating the two,  not that they really could as Rashomon seemed was self consciously wrapped around Atsushi in a way to protect and secure him back while in the alley way.

“Nice to see that you've woken up.” Yosano's voice chipped in.

Akutagawa looked over his shoulder to see the tall bl- Kunikida and Yosano in the front seats. Kunikida seemed to be driving, ignoring the sudden chatter as his eyes stayed on the road. On the other hand, Yosano turned in her seat facing the two in the back as she draped herself over the container armrest that sat between the driver and passenger seats.

Akutagawa didn't say anything in response to the doctor's statement from before.

“You've got some impressive grip strength for someone who was asleep and so slim and twig-like. Not even Kunikida here could pry your hands off our little Atsushi, let alone Rashomon. So I haven't been able to inspect him either, by the way.” the doctor drew out before finally getting to the point of the long monologue.

“He was shot through the left shoulder, which healed to an extent but stopped just leaving it as a painful surface wound. But when the Ability attacked him he got slammed against a wall.” Akutagawa responded as he then awkwardly left space between him and Atsushi.

“I could tell that much from the massive crack in the brick wall that was just above a trail of just as massive claw marks that trailed down the wall just above you two.” Yosano said with a tone of ridiculousness at the measures.

“Would you prefer I just let him fall on all those feet without anything to protect him?” Akutagawa scowled.

“No your right, I apologize, anyway, from what you can observe, now that I can't even reach him, what else is wrong beside the gunshot wound?”

Akutagawa looked down at Atsushi, “Well, from what I already know is that he is bleeding from the back of his head, but I i didn't check anywhere else really.”

“Do you think his back is broken?” She asked.

“No, it's probably bruised to oblivion, but I don't think it's broken.”

Yosano nodded, “well, I guess we'll know when we get back to the hotel where I can fix him up.” 

Yosano turned forward leaving the conversation to dwindle to nothing. Not that Akutagawa was complaining. He then sat down by the Weretiger's feet moving them to give himself room to lay against the back of the seat. The car ride was short and silent for everything but the silent rumble of the engine and ramble of the radio. When they had arrived back at the hotel Kunikida carried Atsushi into his and Akutagawa's room, setting him down on the bed for Yosano to examine. 

Almost a second later, Yosano entered the room with a medical kit. She quickly moved without a word as she removed Atsushi’s shirt and looked over his back; as expected, he was covered almost fully in bruises, so much that they even littered his arms. If Akutagawa was being fully honest, he would probably be more surprised if Atsushi didn't break something small. 

Kunikida and Yosano seemed to have a conversation of their own as the doctor went over each of the Silverette’s wounds; However, Akutagawa zoned out the two's conversation as he glared down at his partner. The bottom of his hair was stained with a reddish tint from his own blood that had trailed harsh red down his neck from a head wound that Yosano was bandaging. His shirt was also stained and torn at the shoulder in which he was shot according to what Akutagawa could see. The article of clothing had been draped over the side of the bed as the harsh but slim red line that decorated the Weretiger's shoulder from being shot and then his healing faulting to leave him with excessive bleeding that stained the fabric. His back was covered by water colored bruises that were mildly interrupted by scars that felt wrong and intruding to see without permission, despite the fact that Akutagawa had already known to an extent about the abuse his partner had endured in childhood. 

Yosano bandaged Atsushi’s shoulder and then by some way verified the lack of broken bones.

“He's not gonna die. Me might have a mild concussion and that weird illness is acting back up, but luckily he'll be ok.”Yosano sighed as she pulled a chair from the corner of the room up to Atsushi's bed. 

“How long do you think he'll be out?” Kunikida asked as he sat on the end of The Weretiger's bed.

Yosano sighed as she ran her fingers through her hair, holding it in a bundle at her forehead as she closed her fingers around the black strands,”God knows, a day at most.”

The room went quiet. All eyes were on Atsushi. Yosano then moved as she grabbed his bag, pulling a simple t-shirt out. She set the shirt, folded up, beside the detective. The doctor pulled the blanket out from under him as she pulled it over his shoulders as she laid him on his back. With a hand to his forehead, she checked Atsushi’s temperature.

The silence was broken by the ringing of an obnoxious ringtone from Kunikida's phone, “what do you want, Dazai?” Kunikida said as he answered the phone, he stood up and waved to Yosano before heading through the front door to continue his conversation as if it was a bother to the atmosphere that had set in Atsushi and Akutagawa's room.

Yosano turned to Akutagawa, “update us if anything happens, and,” she interrupted herself as she grabbed out a piece of paper and scribbled out a number on it handing it to the mafioso, “mine and Kunikida's numbers, you should probably have them for this mission.”

Akutagawa took the paper and studied it before stuffing it in his pocket.

Yosano packed up and turned to the door, glancing back at an unconscious Atsushi with sharp eyes and a poignant gaze. She didn't say anything and instead turned and left through the front door. The click of the door falling shut behind her was one of the few sounds that would ring out through the night.

Akutagawa had now come to the understanding that Atsushi was more than likely going to be out of it for the rest of the night, or at least another three hours. The detective hadn't even moved an inch from the position Yosano had set him in before; so much so, that if Akutagawa hadn't been checking his pulse every five seconds you might just be tricked into thinking he was dead. In the time of sitting, waiting, and watching Akutagawa had begun to regret not bringing several books with him as he reached the last five pages of the nameless book in his hand.

He should go to a bookstore, maybe get Gin something while in town.

Akutagawa turned the next page when a sudden wave of heat hit him like a train. He peeled his coat off, setting it close to his side, and opened the window to his right just a crack.

A sudden shuffling caught Akutagawa's attention as he looked back over to Atsushi. The other man had seemed to turn onto his side, luckily not rolling onto the shoulder that had been shot. No further movement came from the other bed then on.

Akutagawa considered texting Yosano, but in the end didn't as he instead began on the last pages of his book. He laid down in his bed on his shoulder facing the Weretiger as the cool breeze from the window blew on his back. He supposed he should close that before much longer to keep the room itself from cooling down.

He looked at his phone and noticed the time, supposing getting lunch would probably be a good option, debating that the black hole that he roomed with would probably be starving by the time he woke up. Akutagawa sat up and glanced over to Atsushi before bringing his attention back to his book that laid lax in his free hand that wasn't carrying his phone. He marked his place in the book as he set it on the nightstand beside his bed before standing up and closing the window behind him before crossing the room over to the door. He glanced back at the Weretiger before turning the knob of the door and leaving, letting the door close behind himself.

Chapter Text

Clothes weren't something Atsushi ever thought he would begin to empathize with. But waking up feeling like he'd been thrown into a washer and dryer wasn't what he was expecting either.

Slowly pushing himself up felt straining and painful as his back stung with a rapid pain. His head throbbed. And he felt oddly cold. He pressed his palms to his forehead as he scrunched in on himself.

The door suddenly clicked open and then shut but Atsushi didn't acknowledge the footsteps that crossed the room towards him. However, he did look up when he felt a subtle tap on his knee. He was met with a bag of what he could smell as freshly made food. Atsushi looked above the food at Akutagawa who was holding it out to him before slowly taking the paper bag.

“I was expecting you to be out for another hour or so.” Akutagawa broke the silence.

“I would have slept longer, but sorry, my body says otherwise.”Atsushi said as he pulled out a steamed pork bun.

Atsushi felt the weight beside him shift as Akutagawa sat beside him on the edge of the bed, “I wasn't complaining, it's good that you're awake now.”

Atsushi froze, stopping from bringing the food to his mouth to stare at Akutagawa,“What?”

“ What ?”

Akutagawa stood up, “I probably should tell the ar- um Yosano and tell her you're awake now.”

“Awe, look at you saying her actual name, you care. Maybe one day you'll care enough to say my name!”

“Shut up, weretiger.”

“You're no fun.” Atsushi huffed unamused.

“Oh poor you,” Akutagawa said as he walked to the door.

“Where are you going?” Atsushi turned to Akutagawa.

Akutagawa looked back at the Silverette, making eye contact, without a word.

“You don't have to leave, I can text her.”

“If you don't want me to go just say it.”Akutagawa said as he  walked back and sat back down beside Atsushi, “and don't worry about texting her, she gave me her number.”

Atsushi nodded as the conversation dropped to silence. He ate awkwardly slowly as Akutagawa, who was to his left on the bed, texted Yosano. The clater and click of Akutagawa's phone keyboard ceased as he tossed the phone behind him on the bed. Atsushi watched as suddenly the mafioso displayed his hand forward and instead of sharing Atsushi just stared at the slim hand.

“I shared some of the food you gave me, I want some from what I gave you.” Akutagawa glared at Atsushi as he opened and closed his hand.

“oh-so needy.” Atsushi sighed as he split the pork bun in half and dropped the other half, he hadn't begun eating already, in the mafioso's hand; in which, Akutagawa took back to eat.

Something Atsushi has learned recently, even though debating on all the missions Dazai had forced them to be on overnight together he probably should have noticed sooner, that Akutagawa was a slow eater. Even when the Mafioso ate only half of his plate he always finished either after or at the same time as Atsushi, from what he had observed. It was either because the mafioso took bites the size of an atom or because he chewed the slowest way he could as he multitasked eating and.. whatever he was doing on his phone.

Atsushi rolled his eyes away from his partner who he was more than certain  had his attention fully on his phone and instead stared forward towards the window that glared across the Ravenettes bed from him. It was early in the night and there was a sunless dim light that showed a deep dark blue sky. Despite the window being closed though, the autumn chill still stained a light fog over the glass. The time and temperature of year was never one Atsushi could decide his opinion on. But debating the fact that he was already cold and the cold emanating off the window taunted a similar freeze to recent nights, he didn't as much at the moment.

His thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a sudden barely there glide down the side of his waist.

Atsushi jumped back, “Oh my God, don't do that, it feels weird!”

“Then put your shirt on, idiot.” Akutagawa said, muffled through his hand that covered his mouth as he used his other hand that had victimized Atsushi's waist to switch to instead point at the shirt that was sat beside one of the beds' pillows.

Atsushi lifted his arm to observe that as a matter of fact he was not wearing a shirt, how he didn't realize till now, only God knew. He flushed slightly as he threw himself across the bed and quickly sat back up as he pulled the shirt over his head. He struggled to twist it back to sitting comfortably on his skin as the loose and airy fabric bundled and instead tightened around his neck and torso. From Atsushi's peripheral vision he could see Akutagawa shook his head and rolled his eyes in slight amusement.

Atsushi relaxed and then glared at Akutagawa as the fabric finally gave into the correct position. 

“You're so stupid, Weretiger, such a fool.” Akutagawa smirked from behind his hand.

“I'm gonna turn into a tiger and eat you alive.” Atsushi threatened and glared; but despite his words, seeing Akutagawa smile his once in a blue mooned smile recently always brought a warm twist to Atsushi's chest, even if it was at Atsushi's expense this time. It's not that Mafioso didn't smile ever, but, his smile being genuine and soft was always rare and latent.

Akutagawa stood up and shoved his hands in his pockets before looking back at the Weretiger. Atsushi stared back.

“I'm going to town, but.. Yosano said she wants me to babysit you while you're hurt, so if you want to come get ready quick please.” Akutagawa spoke with a flat but slightly wavered voice complimented with his usual rasp.

Atsushi found his shoes on the floor and pulled them over his socked feet. He then searched for another layer to add over his thin T-shirt only to not find one. Due to the lack of a coat or something to act in the place of, he decided to just suffer through the cold.

It was a really stupid idea. Atsushi underestimated how cold it was outside; the clouds covered and littered the sky with a gray to add the it's more monotone then contrasting blue background. The taunting weather turning for worse made the cold that latched like a cat's claws to his skin just even more agonizing. The illness was in effect, clearly, he wasn't healing and he was cold, but far less then the times before where it was nearly skin clawingly, painfully, unbearable. 

Atsushi sniffled as he tightened the grip on his arms while he held them with a sense of search for warmth. He then yanked himself right as he followed Akutagawa in making a sharp street turn. He then just as quickly made another left turn into a bookstore.

The small yet large literature store brought a sudden fighting heat that chipped the cold that stuck to Atsushi skin away with a subtle thaw. The only word that perfectly explained the little store was that it was cozy and cluttered but somehow elegant at the same time. Atsushi followed Akutagawa into the fiction section.

The rows went on for what seemed like miles compared to the orphanages library. Maybe for the first time Atsushi didn't know what to read. Every book he'd read since the orphanage was one given by Kunikida, Dazai or one of the other Armed detective Agency members. For the first time Atsushi actually had a choice, and it kind of hurt his brain trying to decide.

He let go of one of his arms letting the now uncovered area fit to the room's temperature. He reached up to a book with an interesting title. The cover was plain just with words engraved on the cover and the back, where the summary was supposed to be, was smooth and flat with nothing but just the color filling the empty space with colored empty space. When Atsushi opened the book reading the back cover, finally finding the summary, he watched from his peripheral vision as a weaved basket was handed in his direction.

“What do you want me to do with that?” Atsushi asked, the question came out in a haughty tone that he usually used when he talked to Akutagawa, not that he was trying to have it come off that way, the question was genuine.

“Just take it, I'm leaving, but only for a second. Find a couch or table if you get bored of searching for books,” Akutagawa held up the basket,” and this is for you to put the books you're buying or renting in, there's some already in there that I'm getting, you can read them while I'm gone if you can't find anything that interests you.”

Without warning the basket was set into Atsushi's hand and Akutagawa was already talking to the clerk when Atsushi pressed the others words fully. He didn't complain aloud, instead he turned his attention back to the book's summary that he was reading.

Interesting enough.

Atsushi threw the book in the basket and continued down the rows. Luckily Atsushi limited himself to three books, he didn't think he could carry around all of the ones he had found a liking to, not that his knowledge of what he liked when it came to literature was ever able to be narrow. He used to just go down the rows one by one reading whatever he could back in the orphanage, it was one of the few things he could do for a sense of entertainment without.. causing an issue.  

Atsushi found his place in a small corner of the bookstore library, the little area was filled with places to sit. Atsushi ended up opting for the lovesac that was shoved up in the corner. He set the basket on the couch beside it as he flopped back onto it. He dug out a book and began reading as he waited for Akutagawa.

Atsushi closed the book, using his pointer finger as a temporary bookmark, and then stretching his arms above his head. He fell back into the lovesac and sighed letting the cushion mold around him as he relaxed. 

He must have fallen asleep there after closing his eyes, cause the next thing he could half sanely remember was waking up on the lovesac to find Akutagawa sitting on the couch beside him, the mafioso's full attention on the book in front of himself. Akutagawa's legs were tucked up on the couch as he sat on his side, his signature black coat falling over his thighs and curtaining over the ledge of the couch. The dim light illuminated the Ravenettes features with an peaceful elegance as his face sat in a calm expression, his sleeve that pressed against his cheek as he propped up the upper half of his body with his elbow digging into the armrest of the couch. It was a light that maybe Atsushi shouldn't be seeing his enemy in, a lighting that shining down on the other man caused Atsushi's chest to burn with an almost pain that maybe he shouldn't feel for his enemy.

Ok, wow, we're dramatic today aren't we, up we go.

Atsushi sat up fast and faced away from Akutagawa, opting to instead find the book he was reading to take the thought of Akutagawa off his mind. Atsushi began to worry actually when he couldn't find the hardcover book though, but then he felt a sudden stiff tap on his shoulder. Atsushi turned to Akutagawa who had used a book to tap him on the shoulder to get his attention, Atsushi's eyes then traveled down the mafioso's arm and then to the book that he had been looking for in Akutagawa's hand.

Atsushi reached up and let the other set the book in his hand. Atsushi then watched as Akutagawa turned back, swinging his legs over the couches' ledge and onto the ground. Atsushi studied the book, staring at the unfamiliar book mark that was wedged between the pages.

Suddenly Atsushi had a piece of cloth thrown at his head leaving him to reach up to pull it off to let him see. It was a jacket, a thick and expensive jacket. Atsushi looked back up at Akutagawa who had thrown it to him.

Akutagawa leaned back over the couch taking the book from Atsushi's hand with no protest from the other man, “You put that on, I'll be back.” Akutagawa said as he dropped the hardcover book into the basket.

Before Atsushi could get anything but the first syllables of a word in the mafioso's was already gone and out of sight. Atsushi looked back down at the jacket in his hands. It was longer, definitely a little too long for his frame, but despite the fact, Atsushi pulled his arms through the sleeves, the soft inner fluffy fabric grazed across his skin. The jacket hugged his arms and shoulders loosely; however, the fabric seemed to hold and furnace heat. 

Atsushi stood up, ignoring the sudden jolt of pain from the sudden movement from his bruised and sore back. Atsushi turned the corner looking at the books that lined the shelfs as he walked towards the front of the small shop. He spotted Akutagawa talking to the store clerk as the graying older man set the books into a bag he handed off to the mafioso.

Atsushi walked up beside Akutagawa's side, sticking his hands into the pockets of the open jacket, “I can take one.’ Atsushi said pulling one hand out of the pocket to display it for its wait to be used.

Akutagawa looked the Weretiger in the eyes and then slid his gaze over to his hand, “no need Weretiger, I may be slim but I'm not a twig. I don't snap that easily.”

Atsushi rolled his eyes as he grabbed one of the bags away from the mafioso before walking forward and out of the store, “I wasn't saying that, I just wanted to show you some common human decency.”

Akutagawa followed behind Atsushi as they walked down the street in silence. Oddly, it wasn't a bad or awkward silence, just a silence. Atsushi spotted a small gift shop down the road and he began making his way, Akutagawa following close behind, over.

Atsushi had come to a conclusion that the stores in this town were all small, or at least compared to Yokohama’s. But the small but cozy atmosphere was something that Atsushi, despite his little time there, had grown fond of. Atsushi looked around for something to bring home with him to give to Kyouka and Kenji like he promised.

He felt eyes on him, not that he minded, he knew whose they were. He glanced back at Akutagawa who stood by the register, waiting, making eye contact.

“You sure you don't want to get something for Gin? Or?” Atsushi asked as he turned back to the trinkets in front of him.

When Atsushi reached out and grabbed a tiger lily necklace he watched as Akutagawa reached around him to a silver and black hair clip.

“What do you think?” Akutagawa turned the clip towards Atsushi.

“It would look good on her.” Atsushi paused and looked up at Akutagawa, “unless you were asking for you. But then again, same answer “

“No, it would be for Gin.” Akutagawa answered as he checked the price tag of the broch.

Atsushi nodded as he himself glanced down at the price he looked back up to find another thing this time for Kenji, “is it something she'd like?”

“Gins has never been materialistic, but she likes having jewelry at times, it's smaller and easier to hide but still can be a sentimental thing she can bring to work. I don't know. She said something like that last time I got her a necklace.” Akutagawa attempted to explain.

“Do you get her jewelry often?” Atsushi turned and looked at Akutagawa making eye contact.

“When I can.” The other replies.

Atsushi turns back and looks for something that Kenji would like, “I'm glad you care about her.” Atsushi nodded.

“Of course, she was the only person I had that cared,”Akutagawa said, quieter.

Atsushi smiled as he looked down the aisle looking further for something. He spotted a travel brochure with a gift card and necklace in a package tapped to the front. Atsushi turned and walked down to the section of the shelf that had the rows of brochures. He remembers Kenji saying something about it being a fun and cool place.

He looked at the two gifts in his hands and decided to settle on both of them. He looked back at Akutagawa who was staring down and observing the jewelry that Atsushi had left him at. He walked up as the Mafioso picked up a necklace.

Akutagawa then turned to Atsushi with his usual resting glare. Atsushi tensed when Akutagawa suddenly grabbed his chin and tilted his head. The cold of the necklaces trinket suddenly sat against the skin of his cheek. He stood awkwardly as he fidgeted by picking at the skin beside his nails. He looked to the side at the jewelry cause if he looked back at Akutagawa who was studying his face only inches away he might actually die.

Akutagawa then pulled back with the necklace in hand as he stared at it. Atsushi didn't relax when the raven haired man dropped his hand from his chin, leaving the area to half to even the temperature to the skin around it. Akutagawa was staring at the necklace in his hand hopefully unaware of the sudden flush and shock that stung Atsushi. It was further than just the random pain in his chest as he would probably not be surprised if his face was fully flushed in a deep shade of pink.

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa said, gaining Atsushi's attention before holding the necklace back up dangling in his hand beside Atsushi's eye, “the yellows a bit off, but it's close enough.”

Atsushi was confused.

“What does that mean?”

“The coloring?” Akutagawa held the necklace up for Atsushi to see the gold chain with a yellow and purple gem dangling from the end.

Atsushi was still confused.

“I don't get it.”

Akutagawa rolled his eyes, “Anyways I'm going to buy it. When you finally realize I'll give it to you.” Akutagawa walked up to the cash register as he set the hair brooch on the counter as the woman rang him up with a smile. Atsushi just shot a confused and slightly taken back look at him when the others words finally processed fully.

“Hurry up and buy your stuff, Weretiger, before I leave you here to turn into a statue.” 

Atsushi came back into reality as he apologized to the cashier and put the necklace he was getting for Kyouka and the brochure and necklace he was buying for Kenji. The cashier disregarded his apology kindly as she rang him up. He pulled the money out of his wallet before thanking the woman and taking the necklaces and rushing up to Akutagawa's side.

Atsushi looked at his wallet. He might just wither away. He should have expected such a chunk of money to be taken when buying the gifts for his younger coworkers. But nonetheless, the loss of money stung.

“You can keep that by the way.” Akutagawa stated beside him as he clicked the yellow and violet necklace around his neck, tucking it under and hidden by his coat.

“Keep what?” Atsushi asked genuinely.

“The jacket. Knowing you, you'd probably give it back to me later tonight while I'm sleeping by stuffing it in my suitcase or something if I didn't tell you.” Akutagawa answered flatly.

“Oh,” Atsushi looked down, “well you did buy it you don't have to give it to me.”

“You misunderstand, I bought it for you cause you were freezing. Keep it. And, If I find you trying to give it back I'll skin you alive and make you my rug.” Akutagawa explained and.. threatened?

Atsushi put his hands up in defense, “Yeah yeah, I got it, I'd like to keep my skin on my body please and thank you.”

“Good, you would be an ugly corpse.” 

“Thought you wouldn't mind what I would look like as a corpse, debating the sheer amount of times you have threatened and tried to kill me.” Atsushi scoffed.

Akutagawa didn't respond, leaving the conversation to fall almost to complete awkwardness. The streets, despite the empty space… everywhere,filled with noise. The buzz of a street light, the music from inside closing stores the rumble of an occasionally passing car. 

The air grew colder and Atsushi stuck his hands in his pockets. Then a white haze fell and filled the ground. Atsushi stopped and stuck his hand out to let the blur of white fall and melt in contact with his skin.

Snow.

It was snowing.

“Weretiger.”

Atsushi hummed back as he watched as the snow continued to fall into a puddle on his hand.

“We need to go. You might get sicker than you already are.”

“I know, just a second.” Atsushi let the puddle drip slowly from his hand as he stuck his hand back into his pocket as he looked up at Akutagawa. The flakes fell with a contrast to the deep black of the mafioso's hair. He was a muse. And if Atsushi knew how to, he would paint a portrait of the other in the snow like he was now. Because, despite the other man's detest of the cold, the dark night and white snow seemed to come off as elegantly calming surrounding the Ravenette.

Atsushi smiled to himself as he walked forward, “ok, lets go before you freeze to death.”

Akutagawa rolled his eyes and huffed in annoyance at the Weretiger's comment, but followed behind him anyway, leaving a matching pair of footprints to partner Atsushi's in the fresh snow.

Chapter Text

Atsushi drew a fake tally in the air as if he was carving it out on the bed frame with a knife, “day four of being locked up in solitary confinement; my parole officer wont let me leave and join society and if he's gone then my doctor is watching me like a hawk.”

“Atsushi, I don't like to be mean to you, but you're being dramatic.” Kyouka said flatly from the phone speaker.

“That and I would never be a parole officer.” Akutagawa said from the other side of the room.

“Don't make me agree with Akutagawa of all people, Atsushi.” Kyouka agreed.

Atsushi dropped his phone as he buried his face into his pillows.

“You sure I can't go on just one small mission, something like the cat one, I'll be fine!” Atsushi looked towards Akutagawa.

Akutagawa looked back at him making eye contact for about thirty whole seconds before turning his attention back to the book that was propped up on his lap so he could shovel another bite of raspberry yogurt into his mouth, “No.”

Atsushi groaned as he threw his face in the pillow in agony and pure boredom.

Three days ago, the day after Atsushi got thrown into the wall by an Ability, the entire group had pulled him aside, even Chuuya, to tell him that until they were absolutely sure Atsushi was doing better he would be exempt from any missions that required him to leave his hotel room and be active. Sadly they all knew him too well and he couldn't even leave the hotel room to join one before Rashomon yanked him back and pinned him on his bed. So now he has to be babysat by Yosano, Akutagawa, or sometimes Kunikida so they make sure he's not getting in trouble.

About all he's been able to do besides sit around and call people, Kyouka and Lucy mainly, was paper work. No one had stepped closer to figuring out the location and identity of the disease ability user besides the few bits of information Atsushi had given them after his chase after her.

Kyouka sighing over the phone broke his thought as she began to speak, “Atsushi, we just care. We don't want you getting hurt worse than you already are. I've heard from Yosano that your neck wound still hasn't healed fully, faster than any normal human, but still…” 

“I know, I just don't like being useless.” 

 The apartment door opened and Kunikida and Yosano walked in, “you're not being useless, you're just putting your health first which is more helpful then having to stop everyone else on their missions because you broke your skull open again. Besides, you've given us more information and clues than anyone else on this mission currently.” Kunikida explained.

Yosano walked over and sat on the side of his bed, Atsushi knowing the routine, sat up and let her check his upper neck injury. Atsushi sat with his legs criss-crossed as the doctor unwrapped the bandages from his neck. When she finished and wrapped a new bundle of bandages around his neck, she stood up to the room’s attention, especially Atsushi's, on her.

“It'll be healed in a few more days,” she said as she put the excess and used bandages in the trash can to the side of Atsushi's bed. 

“Hey, so since I'm almost fully healed, can I go-” Atsushi started.

“No.” Yosano and Kunikida said in sync.

“You're still injured and can reverse any of your current growth of the healing process.” Akutagawa added as he scraped the little bits of yogurt that were scraped left on the sides with a spoon.

“It's a neck injury, it's not like I had my waist slit open.” Atsushi scoffed 

“You can still reinjure yourself, Weretiger, don't be stupid.” Akutagawa turned and glared at him with effrontery. 

“yeah, yeah, fine I got it I'll wait till Im healed to go on a mission.”Atsushi huffed as he sunk back into the cushion of his pillows.

“Can I hang up now? I have a mission to go do.” Kyouka's voice broke through the silence.

Yosano answered for Atsushi, “Yes, good luck on your mission.”

“Mkay, thanks, goodbye then.”

Yosano waved adue in the air, despite the fact that Kyouka couldn't see her, “bye.”

The call ended and Atsushi slid his phone to the end of the bed. Atsushi sighed as he watched Yosano and Kunikida leave towards the door.

“We'll be back if anything big happens regarding the case; otherwise, if anything big happens over here on your end please don't refrain from calling.” Yosano said as she held the door open for her eventual departure.

Akutagawa nodded and she walked out, closing the door behind her and Kunikida. 

The worse part, or at least one of the worse parts, about Atsushi's current situation was the pure boredom he had to endure. He wouldn't be surprised if he died from a lack of brain function and creativity or the massive migraine he got from his neck (/head?) injury. He would at least want to socialize with someone, but… his only companion was rude, parsimonic Akutagawa. Atsushi stared at the ceiling, glancing over at his partner, who did nothing but read it seemed, here and then. Atsushi sighed as layyed one of his arms across his eyes closeing them, opting to stare at nothing then that goddamn beige ceiling. That color was becoming a blinding eye sore with how much he was just staring at it.

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa suddenly said.

Atsushi hummed in response.

“I got to go out on a mission with Dazai.” Akutagawa voiced. 

And before Atsushi could even move to speak Akutagawa interrupted, “and no you're not coming along. Chuuya is in the other room and will know everything you do and can and will call me or Dazai the second something is amiss.”

Atsushi sat back up, “You don't know that I was gonna ask that.” He glared.

“Really? What was the first thing you asked the last four times I went on a mission in the last three days?” Akutagawa scoffed. It was more of a statement than a question but nevertheless, Atsushi answered.

“If I could go with you.”

“Precisely Weretiger, I must go now, don't get in trouble. I'll know.” The Mafioso replied as he left through the front door turning the light off and leaving Atsushi in the darkness of their hotel room. But Atsushi didn't really give enough care to it being on anyway. Atsushi huffed as he threw himself into the sheets of his bed, curling his legs in on himself. Spending so much time with Akutagawa, Atsushi must have begun picking up his terrible sleep schedule, cause within seconds of laying down he had fallen asleep at two pm for one of the first times in his life.

It was dark, like dreams before, but different. There was a small noise as the rough understanding of the situation played out in small grasps. Atsushi wishes he could lucid dream, or at least he thinks that's what it's called. He wished he could control what happens in his dreams and control what he does. But almost like an involuntary movie, harsh memories or terrifying thoughts get shoved down his throat. He doesn't wake up instantly as another memory replays like a broken record.

There were two dreams he would have at times. Ones where he was observing what was happening like a book in third person, unable to change a course of events. Or, he would see it through the eyes of a younger version of himself. Usually the latter, like now.

Harsh hands grabbed and yanked at his small and young wrists leaving a burn of the friction and the hands suffocated the blood trying to circulate in his wrists as the hold squeezed. The grasp of the cold hands let go as he was dropped to the floor, his knees bare from the length of his pants colliding with the ground with a cruel sting. Candy, a source of nutrients he knew he lacked at the time, was dropped to the floor in front of him.

He'd been here a few times before. This memory would repeat at times, yet still harbored the same sting every time. 

“Where'd you steal these from?” The director's petrifying voice broke through the murmur of the crowd of the other children at the orphanage. He was a zoo, set to be watched as an example and to publicly humiliate him as the eyes of children who were fit to the same predicaments but different treatments hooked into the display.

“I didn't steal them.” the silver haired boy replied, voice shaky as fear replaced every bone, organ, and atom in his body.

His response was replied with a skin burning hit of a whip across the cheek sending him to the floor. Iron built in his mouth as the metallic tastes of blood filled the area. He hunched over as he coughed out the red liquid.

Atsushi now would move, run, and leave. He would figure something out. But he can't change the past and as much as he hated it, he knew that. And despite that he knew and understood that now, these dreams were screwed over and over into his head.

“They were from the trash, I found them when I was cleaning.” he mumbled through coughs as his younger self seeked that through his explanation he would be given peace.

But the world he lived in then didn't seem to care that much for an explanation and cared most for the crime itself.

“So that made them yours.” The director's voice came out steady, but angry, “when did you start thinking you owned anything in this institution?”

The man who had hit him before tapped the whip that held blood and trauma within its fabric as if it were as simple as a teacher's ruler, “is there anyone willing to tell the truth in this orphanage?”

The room went quiet except from the murmur from the other children at the orphanage. Then a boy from the front walked forward a step and raised his hand, “um.. I.. saw it. He stole them from the warehouse.” He lied.

The boy was rewarded from the point system for the lie. Fingers clawed through Atsushi's hair as he began being dragged down the hall by the director. His scalped burned as well as his throat as he pleaded and begged for forgiveness. He pulled on the directors hand as he felt that his sculp was gonna eventually begin to bleed.

He was threw into a doorway sliding into the center of the room, “you've been abandoned, by society, your parents, the world. Your valueless and worthless, I feel remorse for your barely beating heart that tries to support someone like you .” the director said as he walked over to his desk back to Atsushi, in search of an object Atsushi knew now as a hammer and nail.

“It is my job as the director of this orphanage to educate feins like you the rules of how to behave.” the director turned back to Atsushi, tools in hand. He walked forward and wrenched the hammer and nail into his hands as he then directed Atsushi to nail his foot to the ground himself. Atsushi stared back, his hands weak, in disbelief. But through pure terror he raised the hammer weakly above his head, it came down with just as much weakness only landing on the floor beside him with little to no sound. 

“It's no wonder your parents threw you away like garbage.” The director yanked the hammer and nail from Atsushi's hand, steadying it on the top of his foot and bringing the hammer down swiftly with no haste in the cruel action. A scream filled with pain and petrification conjured up, still shaky and breathless but blood curdling and loud, from his choked up throat and vocal cords.

Atsushi flung forward in a cold sweat throat dry. He stared at the dark hotel room around him. He tried to move but his movements were stiff and cold. His head rang as he pushed himself up from the empty room’s bed as he stumbled to the bathroom. Hu pushed the door open as he let himself fall to the floor.he looked down at his hand in front of himself slowly opening and closing it on his own will despite the stiffness of the effect of the illness.

This is real

This isn't a dream

This isn't a memory

This is real

I'm real, I have will, I'm safe

The silverette pushed himself up as he propped himself back against the sink sitting on the warm bathroom flooring. 

Atsushi heard as the door to his room clicked open, the bathroom door following after. In Front of him stood Chuuya. He wearily walked into the bathroom and kneeled down beside Atsushi.

“It's Atsushi right?” The red haired man asked.

Atsushi nodded, “Yeah, um sorry if I interrupted whatever you were doing.”

Chuuya shook his head as he sat down beside Atsushi on the bathroom floor, “you weren't, I wasn't doing anything important. Are you ok though, dumb question sorry, you obviously aren't, what's wrong, and what can I do to help?”

“Nothing, just a bad dream, I know childish.” Atsushi laughed kind of awkwardly.

“I wouldn't say it's childish, everyone gets bad dreams, even me, it's a normal thing. And besides, I doubt it was just ‘ a bad dream ’ with that scream.” Chuuya reassured, “if you want you can tell me what happened in the dream, you don't really have to though.”

“Just some stuff that happened when I was a kid.” Atsushi replied.

“Mhm, so um… At.. sushi? How are you feeling physically?” Chuuya said, “you're back on the floor.”

“Oh, the desiease kicked in when I woke up, so, I got cold and stuff. Again.” Atsushi answered.

“Well that would explain why it's so hot.” Chuuya scoffed slightly in a joking manner.

“Yeah.” Atsushi replied with a weak smile.

The room silent as the two men looked eyes locked on the door in front of them. The silence wasn't awkward Atsushi felt that the conversation ended and Chuuya on the other hand was slouched against the sink perfectly calm. The floor was warm, not as hot as it had been previous times before, but just enough to keep Atsushi from freezing.

Atsushi then turned to Chuuya, “Nakahara?”

“Chuuya's just fine, but what is it?” Chuuya replied, sitting up.

“um, it's just, I was wondering when the others are getting back.” Atsushi answered with a question, but then he quickly added, “not that I dislike your presence or anything of course! I was just wondering cause I wanna go back to sleep but I'm scared to do it alone, sorry that sounds childish, it's just comforting knowing that someone else is there and close enough to hear me and stuff, you know. And I have less nightmares when someone else is around. So I'm just wondering when Ak-”

Chuuya put his hands on Atsushi's shoulders interrupting his rambling, “Breath Atsushi, I understand, you don't have to explain. Akutagawa should be back soon, his and Dazai's mission is halfway through debating on Dazai's texts, and if you're tired I can stay and wait with you till he comes back and you can go back to sleep.”

“Sorry.” Is all Atsushi replied with.

“Don't be, your human, not a mind reader.”

“Mk,” 

“Also,” Chuuya started as he pulled out his phone from his pocket. “I should probably tell the others.”

The line rung as he put it on speaker. The line clicked as a rough(and angry-ish?) voice came on the line that he recognized as Akutagawas almost instantly, “yes Chuuya?”

“Um, it's Atsushi, he-” Chuuya started

The anger from before dispersed almost fully from Akutagawa's voice as it seemed his full attention turned to the call, “What about the Weretiger, he didn't try to jump out the window and get hurt, did he?” he interrupted.

“You have so little faith in me, jeez.” Atsushi scoffed.

“ I was saying. He woke up from a nightmare and the desiease started up it's effects. I just thought maybe you might've wanted to know. But if you interrupt me next time I'll call you last. ” Chuuya threatened, more friendly then crule.

“Ok, got it. I'll try to finish soon and get back there.” Akutagawa replied.

Another voice came in, muffled slightly by the distance of the call, “Akutagawa.. you need to slow down.. I can't keep up…” dazai huffed breathless. “Listen.. I-”

“I got to go, I'll see you when I get back. You stay safe and don't get yourself hurt again, Weretiger.” Akutagawa replied flatly as the line cut to silence as the call ended.

“Agh, fuck, I'm gonna have to deal with that when I get back aren't I.” Chuuya sighed.

“Well, there's nothing we can do about it till later. I'll call Yosano now.” Chuuya added.

Atsushi stayed quite as he explained the situation himself. Sleep crept back up on him as he started at the robin haired man's phone screen rereading the the name ‘Akiko Yosano” over and over. He turned and instead put his head on his arms that rested on his bent knees as he let sleep take a hold of him while in the comfort of knowing that someone's presence was close.

Atsushi woke up curled up on his bed the blankets pulled over his shoulder. Chuuya's doing he supposed. He looked over his shoulder at the weight that leveled his bed.

“Akutagawa?” He mumbled, as he sat up rubbing his eye.

Akutagawa looked back at Atsushi, “welcome back to earth Weretiger.” His voice came out to tired, to rasped, for the same joking effect that he'd Attempted.

Atsushi placed his forehead gently onto Akutagawa's shoulder that stiffed slightly before relaxing after the sudden contact, “what time is it?”

“It's three.” 

“did you just get back?”  Atsushi asked as he drew a hand up and set it on the other shoulder.

“mhm, I just got back after talking to Chuuya a bit and sending him off.” Akutagawa said as he pulled his coat off,leaving Atsushi to move for a second before returning back to using his enemy's sholder like a head rest.

“Weretiger.”Akutagawa said as he turned to look at Atsushi.

“Mhm?” Atsushi replied.

“I need to go hang up my coat, get off.” Akutagawa said as he pushed Atsushi off him throwing him back into the comforter as he stood up and hung his coat up on the coat rack.

“What happened to your cheek by the way?” Atsushi said gaining back Akutagawa's attention.

“I feel down a flight of stairs.” Akutagawa answered truthfully as he sat back down on Atsushi's bed.

“ You, fell down a flight of stairs?”

“Yes, it's not like I'm excluded from making stupid mistakes.’ Akutagawa glared slightly as he looked back at the detective.

“I know, I was just saying. How'd you fall down a flight of stairs exactly?” Atsushi asked as he sat beside Akutagawa, letting his feet reach the cold wood floor.

“I was arguing with Dazai and stepped the wrong way and fell.”Akutagawa summarized, “now stop talking about me. I want to know what happened earlier.”

“Didn't Chuuya already tell you I had a bad dream and the illness took effect?”

“Yes, but not most people wake up screaming bloody murder cause of just some bad dream. ” Akutagawa said.

“what else am I supposed to call it? Time travel via dream?” Atsushi scoffed as he folded his arms. “It was just a shity dream about the abuse I went through at the orphanage, it's nothing important.”

“The abuse you went through because of that vile orphanage and having to relive it is actually really important. If you just bottle it up and disregard it more than you already do it's just gonna all crash down at once, causing you more issues for yourself than before, Weretiger.” Akutagawa explained to the Weretiger, making sure to keep eye contact.

Atsushi leaned against Akutagawa's shoulder, “I know, everyone says that, but it's kinda hard to just tell them what fucked my brain up, when half of the time I don't remember it myself at times.”

Akutagawa didn't respond as instead he sandwiched Atsushi's head between his shoulder and his own.

“Ow, you're squishing my skull.”Atsushi mumbled.

“You're squashing my shoulder. We're even.” Akutagawa argued.

“Your shoulder is boney.” 

“Then get off it.”

“I don't wanna, you're warm.”

“You're such a heat leach.” Akutagawa scoffed, “you'll be warmer under the blanket.”

“I suppose.” Atsushi said, but didn't move from Akutagawa's side. Akutagawa was the first to move as pushed Atsushi off his shoulder and pointed at the pillow. Atsushi huffed as he threw himself at an angle towards the pillows, failing to reach and instead just grabbing the pillow and stuffing it under his head. 

Akutagawa flicked his knee, “that's not under the covers, you lazy fool.”

Atsushi sat up as he pulled the blanket from underneath himself and Akutagawa causing the other to slide and fall back smacking his head against the headboard. Akutagawa laid on his side holding the back of his head as pillows cushioned around him. Atsushi, in contrast to the harsh yank of the blanket from before, lightly fluttered the blanket over himself and Akutagawa, uncaring of the fact that he was there and more attentive to the warmth of the blanket. 

“You're not even gonna apologize.” Akutagawa huffed as he sat up and glared at Atsushi lurching over him.

Atsushi deadpanned as he stared back at mafioso,“Im sorry, poor headboard of my bed, his thick ass head might have dented you.” Atsushi said as he looked up to the headboard.

“I'm going to murder you in your sleep.” Akutagawa glared down at the Weretiger before plopping down around him.

Atsushi pushed at Akutagawa's leg with his foot, “Go sleep in your own bed.” Atsushi mumbled tiredly.

“I am, I'm paying for this room with my own hard earned cash, so if we're being entirely correct here, you're the one in my bed.” Akutagawa corrected.

“I'm gonna push you off and onto the floor when you fall asleep and leave you there to freeze and decay.” Atsushi mumbled back the weak threat.

“You're the one falling asleep right now, Weretiger.” Akutagawa scoffed .

Atsushi hummed In response as the room fell back to silence. Atsushi listened to the slow breathing of the other as the small warmth that radiated off the Mafioso from the close proximity added to the warmth of the heavy blanket  that wrapped over the both of them just enough to keep Atsushi at a comfortable warmth. He let the silence lull him to a sleep that he now felt safe in for the third time that night.

Chapter Text

Akutagawa wished his eardrums would explode. It was nearly the twelfth time he had heard  Dazai's infamous suicide song on the walk to the abandoned hospital where their mission was being held, and he was getting sick of it. Dazai was totally off key and seemed to put little to no effort into the low sung song. The walk and mission itself was already stiff and awkward and uncomfortable, well, for Akutagawa it was at least, now it was stiff, awkward, uncomfortable, and insufferable. Akutagawa was half convinced the older man was doing it on purpose just to torture and torment him.

A wave of relief washed over the mafioso as he spotted the hospital the mission packet depicted approaching  in the distance. He sped up his walking, leaving the brunette only a few steps behind as he sang the last cores of his song. Akutagawa glanced back as he reached the door, setting his hand on the knob, hasteful to open it. When Dazai caught up behind him he opened his mouth to say something, but before he could speak Akutagawa turned the door handle and pushed the door open, already sensing the other man's words to be commanding him to do so.

Akutagawa stepped in, instantly bringing his sleeve to his mouth as he coughed up the dust he had inhaled when the door swung open disturbing the layer of dirt and dust that had set.

“It's a little dirty for a place to live and keep a kidnappy.” Dazai said as he drew a smiley face in the thick dirt layer that rested on a shelf that sat in the entryway.

“I suppose.” Akutagawa said aloud before whispering to himself, “but, I don't think many kidnappers care about their victims' environment.”

“They do if they want something out of the kidnapping.” Dazai corrected.

Akutagawa glanced back towards the other man. He shifted his vision back forward, starting towards the set of stairs that ascended  as he shoved his hands in his pockets. He heard Dazai's footsteps behind him as he walked up the blocky set of stairs.

The stairs opened to a large hallway filled with rooms that seemed to not have been touched in years.

“You go that way, search the rooms. Don't leave a thing unturned.” Dazai commanded as he pointed out to his left, signaling and directing Akutagawa.

Akutagawa stiffly nodded his head as he turned walking to the first room. The room was filled with white stained to  gray walls, hints of what could have been a bright baby blue not turned into a dull almost white gray blue accenting the walls. The light above the hospital bed was busted and left shatters of glass on the floor that Akutagawa had to hinder stepping on. It looked barely off from any normal hospital room, just unnervingly untouched and covered with dust that caused Akutagawa's lungs and throat to catch and sting each time he breathed in the musty air.

He walked over to the cupboards that lined the walls. He took one hand from his pocket and reached up using small force and only the tip of his pointer and middle fingers to open the dusty door. All that comforted the molding wood of the walls and floors of the cupboards was but one lonely cobweb. Akutagawa closed the door of the cupboard as he crouched down to another set of cupboards that instead accommodated the tiled floor. As well, the ones on the floor were just as empty for everything except an empty bottle of cleaner. He stood up and walked into the bathroom only to be met with the same amount of nothingness and dust that the rest of the room held.

Dazai was the first to run into something Interesting. Akutagawa had made his way to the other side of the left hall when the brunette called his name.

“Hurry up, I'm not gonna wait here all day, we have other rooms to search.” Dazai called right as soon as Akutagawa stepped into the room.

Dazai glanced back at him, “I found this.” He held up a small clear glass bottle that held powder capsules that looked similar to a medical prescription that were kept in a Ziploc bag.

“Drugs, in a hospital, astonishing.” Akutagawa replied sarcastically.

“Nu-uh-uh,” Dazai started as he nodded his finger, “ illegal drugs. Ruffies to be exact.” He finished the statement by shaking the bag.

“your suggesting they used date rape drugs on the victim?”

“It's my hypothesis, a theory.” Dazai corrected, “I'm supposing they used it to knock their victim unconscious.”

Akutagawa didn't know what to respond, so he didn't. He did agree with Dazai's theory, primarily because they usually were always true. 

“Ok, back to work. I already found something but you have not, if this was a race you'd be losing.”Dazai said as he walked past him out the door.

Akutagawa continued to be quiet with a lack of knowing what was the correct statement to respond with. Dazai looked back at him. Still there remained no response from the Mafioso.

“Not even a “stop your antics,” or something?”Dazai said, still receiving only silence from the Other, who still didn't know what to say, so he opted to be quiet instead.

“Bor- ing , why'd Kunikida send me on a mission with you, you're no fun! I'm gonna search rooms, I suggest you do the same.” Dazai exclaimed before he pushed the door to a random room open.

Akutagawa turned just as quiet as he had been, making his way to the opposite side of the hall, searching the rooms. He continued through the rooms, almost each the same copy paste design. The only things that differed in the rooms was the state of mild destruction, graffiti, busted objects and interior, or the clear sign that someone had slept in the room at some point throughout the years.

Akutagawa exited the last room, he'd found nothing that he wouldn't expect from an abandoned hospital. The most interesting thing he found was a half holed up newer red blanket that a family of mice had buried their home into. But it was too old and neglected to have any sentiment to the kidnappers or victim, so he left it.

He met Dazai at the staircase peering over the edge in practical amazement at the deathly drop of the hole that reached to the bottom floor that sat beside the lengthy sets of stairs. Akutagawa didn't say a word as he trudged up the other set of stairs. But he then almost fell back down the stairs that he already had almost made half his way up, luckily catching himself on the railing when a tug at his coat stopped his continuation forward(almost sending him on a painful and sudden continuation back down the stairs instead.)

Akutagawa turned, slightly glaring, to Dazai who had yanked him back by the end of his coat regretting informing him of the dangerous action, “what.”

“Stay.” Dazai commanded with a familiar serious and stern tone that sent a clawing shiver up Akutagawa's spine as he tightened his grip on the railing. He stood and stayed as told despite the urge of retaliating against the command.

The sound of slight shuffling and talking from the floor above was amplified by the grow of unnerving silence. The movement traveled closer as it began to travel up the set of stairs onto a different floor. A few more seconds passed after the noises disappeared entirely but neither man moved.

“Ok, go now.” Dazai said as he let go of Akutagawa's coat pointing up the stairs 

Akutagawa but his lip as he nodded, pushing himself up the stairs. Each step had a slight sting to it from when he twisted his ankle when Dazai pulled at his coat on the stairs before, but he ignored it.

“same thing as last time, search rooms, but they were just down here, so don't do anything stupid.” Dazai lipped, turning and entering a room before he could give Akutagawa room or time to respond.

Akutagawa stuffed his hands in his pockets as he turned to the rooms that lined the halls. They seemed to remain the same, each and every room he went into. He left the room he was in entering the next expecting the same copy paste hospital room; however, when Akutagawa creaked open the door he was met with a gun pointed at his face.

“Who are you, and what are you doing here?” the man who pointed the gun shakily at his said with the same equivalence of shake to his voice, “speak now or i'll shoot!”

Akutagawa walked forward, “feel free.”

“What, you think I won't!? Cause I will!” the man said as he tried to steady the gun in his hand.

“I didn't say you wouldn't.” Akutagawa said as he summoned Rashomon, yanking the gun from the other man's hands and throwing it to the wall behind him across the hallway. “Did they ditch you back here to take care of us? How pathetic. ” 

“I-” the man stopped himself from answering. The man opened his mouth and inhaled deeply, readying himself to scream to alert the other kidnappers. He was only returned with screaming silently into a black fabric that covered his mouth like a mask. Akutagawa grimaced with disgust as through the ability he could feel the rambling confusion of the man as he mouthed each word against the fabric, trying to get a noise out as he moved his hands up trying to rip the fabric off.

“Hey hey, don't be so harsh Akutagawa, let the poor man breathe.” Dazai said behind him as he leaned his elbow to rest, unknowingly digging into Akutagawa's shoulder, canceling his ability causing the man he found to slump to the floor and breathing in deeply.

“I was stopping him from alerting the others; it would be best to keep him silenced.” Akutagawa said as he pushed Dazai's arm off his shoulder. 

“Yeah, but we also don't want to have you kill him by removing his ability to breathe, you know?” 

“I was watching, I wasn't gonna kill him. I don't kill anymore." Akutagawa grumbled to himself.

"You don't for now, and you never know, you're quite impulsive, Rabid Dog of the Port Mafia.” Dazai shrugged as he walked over to the man, taking a clean roll of bandages out of his pockets and tieing the man's hands and feet before wrapping them around the mouth to silence him. Akutagawa watched him do so as he shoved his hand back into his pocket, biting back his lip to keep from talking. 

“Ok, I have some questions for him. On the other hand, Akutagawa, go search the rooms, find something valuable." Dazai said as he pulled the bandage we wrapped around the man's mouth down slightly so he could talk.

Akutagawa listened as he turned and left out the door, leaving Dazai and the man to themselves. It didn't take long to search through rooms, due to there being little to nothing in each. He began searching on the right side of the hallway.

He opened the door to a room, a cloud of dust flying into his face causing him to cough into his sleeve. He slipped into the room from the crack of the door he had opened. When he stepped in, his foot hit something causing the something to slide slightly away. He looked down to be met with a dusty picture frame. He fully walked into the room, slowly closing the door behind him as he looked back down at the photo that was hidden behind a layer of dust. He leaned down picking it off the floor, sitting on the bed, ignoring whatever illness he would probably pick up from doing so. The dust held thick to the glass in its layers from over the years; Akutagawa used the edge of the bed sheet to wipe it away revealing an old photo of an old woman and a much younger one paired with an old man, a necklace that spelled the name “Janninne" stuck in with the photo. 

A family photo, One of a child and her grandparents. Akutagawa looked away from it as he looked at the end of the bed, a name tag encased in plastic sitting at the end. He leaned over to grab it. The name Janninne followed with the date she was admitted to the hospital and her photo that looked the same but older than the old woman in the photo. 

“We gotta go to the next floor, c'mon, get up." Dazai said from the doorway. Akutagawa looked up at him before looking back at the photo. He begrudgingly pushed himself up to his feet, setting the photo and name card on the nightstand.

“What did the man say?" Akutagawa asked, eyes averted from the brunette and instead on the picture frame that he drew his fingers along the rims of.

“That's for me to know and you to not." Dazai neglected Akutagawa's question it's answer. 

“That's not how teamwork works, Dazai; furthermore, as the one who found him I feel that I'm obliged to know.” Akutagawa glared, fed up, as he paused, two fingers lingering on the photo frame, looking over to Dazai.

“Ok, let's both admit that we don't want to work together, it's awkward, teamworks almost a fantasy. Also, almost killing him doesn't earn you that privilege. Now stop arguing and let's go " Dazai corrected.

“Stop ordering me around like a doll. I wasn't arguing, I was just stating what I deserved, I wasn't trying to kill him, I have more control over my ability than that to know if what I was doing would kill him or not. Thought you would know that debating on how much more you focused on my ability then my well being just a few years ago.” Akutagawa lipped, surprising himself and Dazai it seemed at the sudden straight forwardness of it all. But you know what, fuck it, it felt better to finally say it then to continue to add it to the bottle. 

“If it seemed that I was coming off as down playing your ability, I apologize that you perceived it that way I wasn't meaning it that way. And, I was trying to help you improve your ability, admitably, yes my methods may not have been… the best but it worked in the end. I was just trying to get results fast back then, you did the same with Kyouka. Now can you just stop arguing this?” Dazai argued back. 

"I never said I was some god, I know full fucking well I'm a shit person and I probably deserve the shit I've been drug through for doing what I did to her. but we are not the same. At Least I don't continue to use her. After she left, I didn't use what I did to her to manipulate her after. I didn't manipulate her to the point that it led her to her death. I don't still command her around after our ties were severed like a fucking dog. That, that's the difference between me and you.” 

“Akutagawa I don't use you like a dog-" Dazai started

“Just stop, if you're not even gonna admit it, then just shut up, I don't want to hear your excuses anymore, I'm done with it. I'm sick of it all.” Akutagawa interrupted, before adding as he shoved past Dazai and through the door, heading off to the stairs,  "I'm gonna go do this mission myself."

“Akutagawa, wait-" Dazai said as he turned and began towards the stairs and Akutagawa as well. 

“Fuck off." Akutagawa interrupted as he pushed himself up the stairs, reaching the top quickly leaving Dazai behind. Akutagawa shoved the first Door open, glancing for anything inside before slamming it shut and going to the next one. 

“Akutagawa You have to give me a second to explain-" Dazai said as he reached the top of the stairs.

“I don't have to do anything for you." Akutagawa replied as he slammed the next door shut, opening and closing the next.

Dazai tried to catch up to him, grabbing the mafioso’s hand and yanking him backwards towards him, “Akutagawa, listen to me for fuck sake!"

“No." Akutagawa replied flatly as he pushed Dazai's hands off him heading for the next door.

“Ryunosuke Akutagawa!-" Dazai started but quickly interrupted himself as realization hit after he pulled back the ravenette again, habitually backhanding him hard as his arm swung through the air, leaving a cruel sting to Akutagawa's cheek.

The room went completely silent.

“You’ve gotten weak, you used to hit harder.” Akutagawa gritted as he shoved Dazai's arm off, biting back his lip. 

“Akutagawa, I-"

“Shut it, to change you have to be better to those you hurt, not just their replacements." Akutagawa interrupted as he pushed Dazai away, heading for the second set of stairs.

It didn't take long for Akutagawa to get to and up the set of stairs, compared to Dazai who he ignored as he called for his attention as he followed steps behind. He was just as quick to check rooms and head to the closest set. Dazai was steps behind him, only beginning to reach halfway up the stairs when Akutagawa's phone began to ring as he checked rooms. Akutagawa quickly read the name as he answered.

“Yes Chuuya?” he said as he entered another room, exiting quickly and entering the next, paying half attention to the older man's words. 

“Um, it's Atsushi, he-” Chuuya started. 

Akutagawa's Attention was quickly turned fully to the call as sudden worry struck through him, , “What about the Weretiger, he didn't try to jump out the window and get hurt, did he?” he interrupted.

Atsushi's voice came on the line,“You have so little faith in me, jeez.” Atsushi scoffed and relief washed over the mafioso.

“ I was saying . He woke up from a nightmare and the disease started its effects. I just thought maybe you might've wanted to know. But if you interrupt me next time I'll call you last.” Chuuya threatened.

“Ok, got it. I'll try to finish soon and get back there.” Akutagawa replied.

Dazai then reached the doorway breathing heavily from chasing After Akutagawa,  “Akutagawa.. you need to slow down.. I can't keep up…” Dazai huffed breathless. “Listen.. I-”

“I got to go, I'll see you when I get back. You stay safe and don't get yourself hurt again, Weretiger.” Akutagawa replied flatly as the line cut to silence as the call ended.

“Ak-" Dazai started but was quickly interrupted by Akutagawa shoving through him and the doorway and heading towards the stairs. He ignored Dazai's calling as he tried to pay attention to any noise from the rooms that would indicate any value of it to the mission. He reached the next set of stairs, stepping back in front of the set of stairs that descended to the lower floor as Dazai blocked his way to moving up the stairs.

"Akutagawa! Stop for five fucking seconds and-” Dazai yelled as he pulled the fabric of the shoulder of Akutagawa's coat harshly causing the other man to stumble and his ankle to roll as he tried to step unknowingly on the edge of the descending stairs. Akutagawa watched as the air in front of him suddenly rushed as he fell and crashed down at an angle sideways,the stone stairs digging harsh bruises into his side and arm as gravity continued to pull him down the stairs hitting him every which way leaving instant and constant sets of bruises. He hit hard against the wall at the end of the stairs knocking air from his lungs as he began to cough blood.

“ Shit. " Is all Dazai said before descending down the stairs, “are you ok? I wasn't planning that-" Dazai began as he reached out a hand to Akutagawa before the other slapped it away.

“I'm not a fucking pawn in your chess game, I'm a human fucking being, the future isn't always that predictable." Akutagawa snapped as he glared from the corner of his eye.

“Akutagawa, listen-"

“ I am not your fucking dog anymore, I will no longer turn and run and bark at your command, I do not have to and will no longer listen to you . "

"I know that, Akutagawa.” Dazai said.

"Doesn't fucking seem like you do. If you did, you wouldn't still treat me like a disposable toy that you can just grab to throw into battle when you need an extra hand by taunting me like a child with whatever you can manipulate me with and then just ditch me in whatever broken state it leaves me in unfilling your promises.” Akutagawa advised. 

“I-” Dazai cut himself off as he grew silent.

“Precisely.”

An awkward and long silence broke through the both of them as Akutagawa struggled in pain to push himself to sit against the wall, hostility accompanying the silence from him.

"Will you let me help you now? “ Dazai said, breaking the silence. 

“Yes, but only because we currently have a gun pointed at us. And we need to finish this mission so I can get back to the hotel.“Akutagawa said as with the help of the brunette he pushed himself up to his feet holding the side of his arm activating his ability.

Dazai looked back at the three men who lined the top of the stairs, guns pointed at the two, "I had everything planned out, didn't know my little side mission was gonna cause this much issue.” He whispered to himself.

“The future is unpredictable, Dazai, even if your theories are usually correct." Akutagawa said as gun fire ran out at the two. Akutagawa quickly put use to his ability as the bullets rickashay off the space ability that took up the air in front of the two of them, sending the bullets to bounce off to the ground. Akutagawa canceled out his ability as he switched and used the tendrils he formed from the fabric of his coat to jolt out at the men, slicing the guns, rendering them useless. He then quickly used the same fabric to suspend them in the air. 

“You better go find the one with the ability before he attacks.”Akutagawa advised Dazai, but still kept his eyes on the men in front of him. Akutagawa watched as the older man walked up the set of stairs and pulled a photo from his pocket, studying each of the men's faces as he touched their shoulders in the meantime.

Dazai reached the last man and looked at him and the photo before turning to Akutagawa, “He's not one of these three.”

“Of course he isn't.” Akutagawa grumbled to himself.

“You keep a hold of these three, I'll go find something to tie them up.” Dazai chirped as he hopped off and into one of the hospital rooms, coming back out with a torn bed sheet that he began to wrap tightly around each man's wrist and ankles. Akutagawa dropped the men harshly as he moved to step up the set of stairs, pain shooting through his leg. Both his knee and ankle stung with sharp pain that almost ran harsh enough to leave him unmovable. But despite the pain, Akutagawa ignored it as he pushed himself up the stairs. He stepped over the men on the floor as he used the railing to start up the stairs to the next floor.

Dazai grabbed his arm quickly, drawing his hands back and in surrender as Akutagawa gave him a glare, “I think, it would be best if you sat back and rested.”

“I'm fine, let's just get the mission done.” Akutagawa intoned.

“Not only are you limping, you're bleeding. You just feel down a set of stairs. A lot of people die from that, you know. You're not fine.” Dazai aforementioned, “I can take on the rest of the mission myself.”

Akutagawa looked down to see blood pouring in lines down his arm, pacely dripping from his fingers. He could also feel the same wet warmth of red blood shading his pants, a subtle darker value of black from where he also seemed to be bleeding on his leg. How the hell did he not notice till now?

Akutagawa bit the inside of his cheek as he activated his ability, wrapping the fabric tight around his injuries to stop the bleeding, “Ok, there, let's go now.” Akutagawa vocalizes as he begins to push himself up the flight of stairs. Dazai followed close in pursuit after sighing. 

Akutagawa reached the top of the stairs, using the railing to steady himself as the pain shot through his body with almost every movement. It was the top floor, excluding the roof of course. Out of any of the floors it seemed the most occupied as layers of dirt were clearly disturbed enough to leave a trail that led with most boldness to one foot that sat at the end of the hall.

“It's a trick, they're in there.” Dazai said as he pointed at the door on the other side of the hall. Akutagawa looked down to see the faint tracks of shoes that lead to where he pointed to. The older man of the two walked out in front and to the room he had claimed the victim and kidnapper to be in. Akutagawa looked back to the room that the trail led to before looking back at his ex-mentor, quickly deciding to follow the brunette as they approached the door.

Dazai opened the door slightly as he looked in, following the action with the quick and almost silent closing of the door.

“We are gonna need to go in arms up so he doesn't think we have a weapon.”

“We don't.”

“Yes we do.” Dazai said as he motioned the both of them, or more or less their abilities. Dazai then creaked the door open slowly as he walked in with his arms up. Akutagawa huffed as he followed in presuit. Infort of them stood a man with an average build and a younger more fragile boy being held by him as the older boy pressed a gun against the younger's temple.

“Empty your pockets.” The older man directed. They did. The man inched forward captive still in hand as he pointed the gun now instead at them. He began to search Dazai’s person for any hidden weapons as the brunette looked towards Akutagawa. Akutagawa glared back but understood the other man's silent plan as he activated his ability at flung one strip of fabric blade out towards the gun in the man's hand summoning another from his coat to wrap around the younger boy's waist to pull him away from his captor. Dazai was quick to action as well as the man activated his ability to quickly cancel it. He pushed at a pressure point in the back of the man's neck as he began to fall, Dazai moving out of the way as he fell to the ground.

The time from them to the police showing up was almost exiled from his memory; it wasn't even worth remembering. Just a lot of awkward silence and waiting. But at last, when the police showed Dazai took the pleasure to introduce them to the unconscious captors. Akutagawa let as the victim he had been supervising go off with an officer as he quickly made his escape out of the building and steadily to the street heading for the hotel.

The sun had gone down and it had grown late when he arrived back at the hotel, enough that when he arrived there was no notice of the receptionist being anywhere near the perimeter. He headed up the stairs quick and quietly despite the stop of pain that still burrowed its home within his skin. He reached his and Atsushi's door slowly, creaking it open.

“I'm back, where's the Weretiger?” Akutagawa said instantly, only to notice just as soon as his statement ended, the unconscious Atsushi curled up on his bed.

“He fell asleep after I called you so I put him back in his bed; anyway, I hope you don't mind but I decided to wait here on your- Oh my god! What the fuck happened to you!?” Chuuya started before he interrupted himself as he got a clear view of Akutagawa.

“Be quiet! Don't wake him up.” Akutagawa grilled the older man.

“Well sorry, but I wasn't expecting you to come back mauled by a bear!” Chuuya yelled in a whisper.

“I wasn't mauled by a bear, I fell down a flight of stairs.” Akutagawa corrected.

“As if that's any better! Yosano is asleep right now but in the morning we're going straight to her to go get this fixed.” Chuuya said as he stood up and moved over to the younger man, “In the meantime, let's get this bandaged up, your dripping blood.”

The robin haired man grabbed his wrist as he pulled him into the already open bathroom, pulling the first aid kit out from under the sink. He pulled bandages and ointments from the kit as he approached Akutagawa.

“I can bandage it myself.” Akutagawa said, a clear attempt at expressing his discomfort if the other did it.

Chuuya sighed, “fine, I'll find you something to wear, your clothes are also covered in blood and dirt. It would be best if you took a bath as well.”

Akutagawa nodded as Chuuya left, the Ravenette locking the door behind him. He took the older man up on his recommendation and decided to take a quick shower before redressing himself and addressing his wounds. The bandages were wrapped harshly around his bruises covering his skin. He sighed as he pulled the sleeve to his new and fresh(not covered in his own blood) shirt down down to his wrists the length of the fabric covering most of all of his injuries. The cold metal of the necklace he had bought just a few days before sat cold against his skin as he picked his clothes from the sink’s marble countertop. 

“Hey hey, you were taking long enough in there I thought you might have passed out from blood loss.” Chuuya said as Akutagawa walked out of the bathroom.

"A few scrapes and bruises wouldn't take me out.” Akutagawa scoffed

" a few scrapes and bruises, you looked like the walking dead, and you still kinda do.”

"Wow, such a self esteem boost."

“Yep, give me those, I'll go take them to the wash." Chuuya said as he extended his hand out for Akutagawa's clothes. Akutagawa picked his coat out from the stash as he handed the rest to the other man, “thank you."

“You know you really don't have to, the shirt is probably ruined anyway, that red’s not gonna go back to being white." 

"Awe, but who's gonna rock the gothic frills of the group if not you? I'm gonna clean them.” 

“I have other shirts." Akutagawa dead panned. 

“I know, anyway, I'm going before you can take it back and throw it away. Goodnight sleep tight, don't let the bed bugs bite." Chuuya said as he hopped off Akutagawa's bed and made his way to the door, leaving before Akutagawa could reply.

The door clicked shut and he walked over to lock it. Akutagawa sighed as he drapped his coat over his shoulders, opting to do that instead of staining another shirt. He glanced behind him as Atsushi shifted on the bed behind him.

He sat down on the edge of the other's bed, glancing over his shoulder at him, “As your enemy, I really shouldn't have to worry about you.” The statement was followed with silence as Akutagawa looked back toward the door, the adrenaline of the day settling and letting wear finally catch him. 

Suddenly, after a while, he heard his name mumbled lowly from the other behind  as the bed shifted in weight. Akutagawa looked back at Atsushi as the other sat up rubbing his eyes. 

“Welcome back to earth, Weretiger.” Akutagawa attempted to joke only for the exhaust to wear it down to a statement. The only response he got was the other shifting on the bed to rest his head on his shoulder.

“What time is it?" Atsushi's rasped from sleep voice asked.

"It's three.” Akutagawa guessed.

"Did you just get back?” Atsushi asked again as he curled his fingers gently onto Akutagawa's other shoulder.

“mhm, I just got back after talking to Chuuya a bit and sending him off.” Akutagawa replied, pulling off the coat that sat on his shoulders leaving the warmth from both it and Atsushi to leave for a second, but Atsushi didn't take long before resting back on him. Atsushi nodded, his head shifting the mafioso's shirt with the movement. The room fell to a small silence after.

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa said as he turned to look at Atsushi. 

Atsushi replied with a hum.

“I need to go hang up my coat, get off.” Akutagawa pushed the silver haired detective off his shoulder as he walked over to hang his coat up on the rack, rather having it there then to stain the white sheets of Atsushi's hotel bed. 

“What happened to your cheek?" Atsushi suddenly questioned, gandering Akutagawa's attention. 

“I fell down a flight of stairs." Akutagawa answered in full honesty, sitting back down on the Weretiger's bed.

“ You fell down a flight of stairs?" Atsushi spoke as if it were impossible.

Akutagawa glared slightly, more of a scoffing gesture than one of anger, “Yes, it's not like I'm excluded from making stupid mistakes.”

“I know, I was just saying. How'd you fall down a flight of stairs exactly?” Atsushi- questioned. Akutagawa felt the mattress shift beside him as the silverette appeared to his side, sitting on the same edge of the bed as him.

“I was arguing with Dazai and stepped the wrong way and fell.” Akutagawa summarized, not wanting to explain the fact that Dazai was the reason he had fallen, it was too late in the night to get into it all and burden Atsushi with all that right after he had woken up. 

He switched the conversation, “now stop talking about me. I want to know what happened earlier” Akutagawa referenced the call from earlier.

“Didn't Chuuya already tell you I had a bad dream and the illness took effect?” Atsushi puzzled.

“Yes, but not most people wake up screaming bloody murder because of just some bad dream.”

Atsushi scoffed as he folded his arms, 

“what else am I supposed to call it? Time travel via dream? It was just a shity dream about the abuse I went through at the orphanage, it's nothing important.” Atsushi said, a pause in the statement.

“The abuse you went through because of that vile orphanage and having to relive it is actually really important. If you just bottle it up and disregard it more than you already do it's just gonna all crash down at once, causing you more issues for yourself than before, Weretiger.”

" I know that, everyone says that, but how am I supposed to level their importance and tell people if half of the time I can't even tell myself about them cause I can't remember.” Atsushi gritted out as he took comfort in resting his head back on Akutagawa's shoulder. Akutagawa didn't feel that any response of his would be efficient to settle and comfort the weretiger, so he didn't and instead replied with the same physical gesture as he rested his head on Atsushi's. The silent response seemed to be the correct answer because, as the other leaned against him, Akutagawa felt the other relax.

Atsushi's voice broke through the quiet with a complaining mumble, “you're squishing my skull." 

Akutagawa scoffed, "You're squashing my shoulder. We're even.”

“Your shoulder is boney.” Atsushi argued back. 

“Then get off it.”

“I don't wanna, you're warm.”

“You're such a heat leach.” Akutagawa scoffed amusedly, “you'll be warmer under the blanket.”

“I suppose.” but despite the others' agreement he continued to just linger leaning against Akutagawa. Akutagawa pushed the other from his shoulder as he pointed at the bed, signaling for the other to go back to sleep under the covers instead of on Akutagawa's shoulder; to which, Atsushi laxly plopped back onto the balnets only grabbing a pillow and stuffing it under his head.

 “That's not under the covers, you lazy fool.”

Akutagawa then watched as Atsushi sat up and pulled the covers from under both of them. Akutagawa also felt as he fell back slightly, falling back against the headboard. He let himself fall to the pillows as he held the back of his head. A blanket fluttered over his legs as Atsushi laid back into the pillows in front of Akutagawa. 

Akutagawa pushed himself up as  he looked down at Atsushi, “You're not even gonna apologize.” he scoffed.

Atsushi stared back blankly up at him before shifting his vision up to look at the headboard, ,“Im sorry, poor headboard of my bed, his thick ass head might have dented you.”

Akutagawa scoffed as he let himself drop to the pillows and close and around to the other before mumbling back, “I'm going to murder you in your sleep.”

Akutagawa got a weak push to his leg from the other, “Go sleep in your own bed." Atsushi mumbled. 

"Um, I am, I'm paying for this room with my own hard earned cash, so if we're being entirely correct here, you're the one in my bed.”

“I'm gonna push you off and onto the floor when you fall asleep and leave you there to freeze and decay. “ Atsushi muttered his threat.

Akutagawa mused at the statement,  declaring the fact that Atsushi was the one who was falling asleep at the moment. In which, Atsushi returned a barely heard hum as he shifted slightly closer to Akutagawa. After a bit, the room fell to complete silence and Akutagawa was convinced the other was asleep. 

Akutagawa laid a hand on the weretiger’s shoulder, shaking him slightly, “did you really just fall asleep on me, weretiger?" He scoffed. To no response he received. He kept his hand lingering on the other's shoulder as he closed the gap between them, barely pulling him towards himself as he wrapped his arms around Atsushi's shoulders for a sense of comfort. And despite the raw and tiring exhaust, Akutagawa didn't fall asleep instantly compared to his detective counterpart. He didn't blame himself for his lack of bodily shutdown, between the change in sleep schedule and over time natural lack of sleep or the sheer burn of his injuries, both being compared with the feeling of regret from the argument with Dazai, sleep was hard to wish for. However, he did eventually fall asleep after due time as he stared across at the window on the other side of the room. He put a rest on the eventful day. 

Chapter Text

The brightness of the sun woke Atsushi up after time despite the darkness of the room, paired with the fact that he had half his face buried in Akutagawa's shoulder. Whether it was early, or it was late in the morning, Atsushi didn't know. He would check his phone, but the thing was, he was in a predicament: one he didn't plug his phone in the night before so it was probably dead, two he was still half asleep and had no clue where it was and didn't care enough to go find it, three he didn't, and couldn't, and in all honesty want, to move; he was tired and not to his surprise Akutagawa had a really comfortable shirt on(the shirt that Akutagawa had given him earlier was just as soft, and the fact that he knew the mafioso had plenty of money, as for how he would have guessed.) That and his arm was kinda trapped under the other's weight and the other as well had a surprisingly tight hold around his shoulders for being unconscious.

Atsushi sighed as he spotted Akutagawa's phone on the other side of the bed (the side of the bed that had been neglected as both men ended up tangled up together on the right side of the bed.) Atsushi reached out, grabbing it and checking the time. For a second, Atsushi thought the Ravenette's phone had also died due to being met with the same darkness of the off screen when he clicked the on button, but he noticed the faint lettering on the screen when he looked harder.

Of course he is one of those people.

“What the hell, why is his brightness all the way down, how does he even use it like that?” Atsushi muttered to himself as he, using one hand, tried to turn the brightness up. Succeeding and reading the time, whilst peering over the others shoulder. It was ten am, later than Atsushi would usually wake up. He sighed, whether of relief or boredom, maybe both, at the fact that he wouldn't be going to work anyway and the fact that he wouldn't be going to work . Atsushi turned the phone off, letting it fall back onto the bed sheets.

“Isn't it a little disrespectful to insult the phone habits of your enemy who's letting you lay half your body weight on instead of stabbing you? I'll have you know, your leg is very heavy.” Akutagawa mumbled, still half asleep, surprising Atsushi. The silver haired man looked at his leg, it was hiked over the other man's hip and bent to have his calf resting on Akutagawa's thigh. Atsushi flushed slightly as he  slowly removed his leg from the position that it had self consciously moved itself too while he slept. Akutagawa mumbled something eligible in response to the action, but all Atsushi could catch were the words I and complaining. Atsushi didn't dwell on it for long.

“We should probably get up, it's ten pm.” Atsushi said, quiet, almost like a whisper. And when his partner failed at a response he began to think maybe he was a little too quiet. “Akutagawa?” He said, slightly louder than before.

A tired hum replied.

“We should probably get up, it's ten pm.” Atsushi repeated his statement louder.

“No.” Akutagawa protested.

Ok, wow. Just ‘no.’? Not even an excuse. Just ‘no.’

A sudden pull at the side of his pants around his knee drew Atsushi from his thoughts. As Akutagawa pulled Atsushi's knee back over his hip Atsushi tried to compute the fact that he wasn't dreaming(in a his enemy suddenly being affectionate and unreluctant to touch nightmare to be correct.) The fact that Akutagawa followed up the action with a subtle pat to his knee before wrapping his arm back around the Silverette didn't help the mental pause of Atsushi's brain function.

“Did you just pat my leg like a dog?”

“Yes, deal with it, you left my leg cold when you removed your's from its previous spot.” Akutagawa explained the same tired rasp to his voice.

“And I'm the heat leach.” Atsushi scoffed, a low eligible complaining mumble being the response he got back. 

Truly, after Akutagawa had fallen back to sleep (strangling Atsushi in the process) , Atsushi didn't know what to do with himself. The sun was up so he was up. But it seemed, his partner had other plans. So what did that leave Atsushi to do? To stare forward at one of three things: Akutagawa's shoulder, Akutagawa's neck, or the boring, plain, wood door; in the end he opted for the door.

I really haven't admired that door enough, it's a really nice door.

A slight glimmer of light caught Atsushi's eye as he looked in its direction. The gold chain of the necklace that sat, slightly imprinted, on Akutagawa's neck glared back at him as Akutagawa shifted, tightening his hold and ducking his head into silver hair. Atsushi reached up slightly with his hand, which was trapped under the mafioso's arm, twirling his finger under the chain enough to lift it from the other's skin and inspect it.

Purple and yellow stared back at him as he stared at the gem that hung on the other's neck. Atsushi didn't ponder on why the other had bought the piece of Ametrine jewelry as much as he would expect. It still made him curious; Akutagawa wasn't one he would expect to buy and consistently wear such a flamboyant price of jewelry. Atsushi thought it suited him though, he looked pretty with the color, or any color in general. 

Atsushi twirled the necklace around his finger a few more times as the warmth from the heat of both men over the night's metal sat against the skin of his finger. The detective backed up slightly to inspect the diamond shaped jewel as the early sun that peeked through the window, from the wall ajar to the door, made the color in the necklace burst with vibrance. He let the necklace untwine from his finger, the chain sliding back over the ivory skin, paired with the few light bruises of Akutagawa's neck and collarbone. 

Atsushi pulled himself back to the lack of space position he was in before. Atsushi pressed his face against the soft velvet like skin and shirt of the other's shoulder and neck with a sigh as he let his arm drop and cup around the mafioso's shoulder. He stared forward at the door once more, letting the same sleep that took over Akutagawa take over him as well.

Wake creeped back up on him as he woke up and tried to move his arms to stretch, to no avail. Atsushi squirmed his arm out, finally, from underneath Akutagawa letting it properly circulate blood through his veins. He freed the other arm as he managed to shift enough in Akutagawa's bear tight hold to look at him as he placed a hand to his shoulder to wake him. To Atsushi, Akutagawa looked peaceful when he slept, pretty even, but he dismissed the thought as just being the fact that he was glaring daggers into his skull being the cause of the idea. He shook the shoulder of the other man, and when the other didn't respond, he shook harder.

Akutagawa groaned as he shoved Atsushi's hand off, glaring up at him as he rolled onto his back, “I don't understand why you feel it necessary to be awake if we both are just gonna sit around doing nothing.” Akutagawa scorned.

“Your lazy ass is allowed to sleep all you want, but I want to make use of myself and find something productive to do, and see I can't really do that if I'm being held in a choke hold .” Atsushi returned the glare. Akutagawa rolled his eyes as he searched the sheets beside him for his phone. He turned it on and looked at the time.

“It's only twelve.” The Mafioso relayed as he showed the phone screen to Atsushi.

“That is three whole hours after I usually wake up. You are not proving a point in showing me that.” Atsushi dead panned.

Akutagawa, somehow, managed to glare harder as he turned his phone off and dropped it on his stomach. Atsushi glanced at the device and then back at Akutagawa. However, Atsushi had to double check that his eyes weren't playing tricks on him, because through the small sliver of skin he could see from Akutagawa's shirt working it's way up his waist, a large purple and blue bruise fell briefly on the side of his waist hidden slightly by bandages.

“Oh my God, are you ok? That looks bad.”Atsushi said as he hovered his hand over the area, wery to touch the other man without permission.

“I'm fine, I don't notice it much, my ankle hurts the most if anything.” Akutagawa dismissed.

“Are you sure? Can I touch you? I wanna check to make sure.” Atsushi asked

“No, you, and your leg that is sprawled out over me, can not touch me.” Akutagawa jeered sarcastically.

“Sor -ry I care whether or not I get stabbed because I invaded your weirdly governed bubble without permission.”Atsushi moved the rim of Akutagawa's shirt just enough so he could look at the harsh bruise. He then looked at the bandages that wrapped around the others waist.

“We should go change that.” Atsushi muttered every word dipped in an indifferent quietness, sounding as if it were to himself, despite the statement being meant for both of the two. Atsushi slipped off the bed, the chilling contrast of the hardwood floor almost sending shivers up his spine as he touched his foot to it and steadied himself. “ The bandage I mean.” He added as he looked back at Akutagawa.

Akutagawa gave him a scowl as he sat up, “ We? I can bandage myself just fine on my own, Weretiger.”

“ That mess is not doing fine on your own.” Atsushi said as he gave Akutagawa a look that complemented his words. Akutagawa grumbled to himself, but nonetheless in the end he stood up, quickly grabbing Atsushi's shoulder as he almost plummeted to the ground.

“Fucking ankle.” He mumbled to himself as he let Atsushi wrap an arm around his waist as they made their way to the bathroom, Akutagawa almost instantly pushing Atsushi off as they got there, trying to steady his walk. He sat down on the lid of the toilet while Atsushi scavenged through the sink cupboard for the medical kit.

Atsushi stood in front of the Mafioso, medical kit in hand,“Um.. you need to take your shirt off, you know.”

“I'll lift my shirt, but I'm not taking it off, don't push your luck.”

Atsushi sighed, “ Fine , turn around and lift up your shirt then.” 

Akutagawa scowled but turned around facing the wall, away from Atsushi, and pulled his shirt over his head to expose his entire back. He held the shirt to his chest tight as he still had the sleeves pulled half way up his bicep. Atsushi stared down, holding the bandages in hand, at the large and dark bruises that colored the other man's back.

“Stop staring, Weretiger, and get on with it.” Akutagawa scorned.

Atsushi quickly pulled up a nearby chair and sat down, setting the roll of bandages in his lap as he reached around to undo the bandage that was already wrapped around the other. The room stayed silent as Atsushi unwrapped the old bandage. Atsushi glanced every so often at the few but harsh scars that appeared every so often in his prepheral, he would like to know the stories behind them, but then again, he knows he wouldn't like the answer and doesn't want to pry into the older's life. Maybe Akutagawa might tell him one day, maybe he won't, but Atsushi will wait for that and listen if wanted, but he won't demand the story.

Atsushi discarded the old bandages in the trash, picking up a rag and searching through the medical kit for disinfectant.

“You know, you made it sound like this injury was way less than it actually is.” Atsushi said as he poured the disinfectant onto the rag and lightly pressed it to the wound. Akutagawa stayed silent and Atsushi sighed. He stood up and set the rag and the disinfectant on the counter before sitting back down to wrap the wound back up. He wrapped the fresh bandage around Akutagawa's chest and back as the other relaxed slouching into a less up tight and stiff posture letting his shirt fall to his elbows revealing more bruises, scars, and bandages.

"If you don't mind, I'll rebandage that too, Akutagawa.” Atsushi mentioned quietly, an approving hum being his response. Atsushi tightened the bandages one last time before securing them in place.

“Tell me whether or not that's too tight.” Atsushi offered.

“It's fine.” Akutagawa answered.

“How about your lungs? Can you breathe?” Atsushi continued to interview as began a knot slowly, leaving it unfinished before his answer.

“The same, I'm fine, just get on with it.” Akutagawa dismissed. The silverette nodded, despite the fact that the other couldn't see him, as he finally finished securing the bandages.

“Turn, so I can get your arm.” Atsushi said as he reached for the medical kit, scavenging through it for another roll or two of bandages, debating the fact that he might have to bandage other places he has yet to know about. By the time Atsushi found what he was looking for, the raven haired man had already turned to have his bandaged arm facing him. It seemed within the time span as well, he had fully removed his shirt, not that it was really on anyway. The article of clothing was folded in the mafioso's lap as he held the edge tightly with his free and unbandaged hand for countermeasure. 

The comfort and safety that Akutagawa felt around Atsushi, enough to be lacking his usual amount of clothes, and therefore, further lack to his ability as well, made the detective feel warm. Atsushi smiled to himself as he began unwrapping Akutagawa's arm bringing it to his lap to better inspect and deal with the wound with the freedom the other gave him as he lacked to give any protest, verbally or physically. He stood up again and threw away the old bandages, sitting back down and putting Akutagawa's arm back in his lap before he reached for the disinfectant and rag from off the counter. he pressed the rag gently but with the right amount of pressure to the arm wound after pouring the disinfectant on the piece of fabric. He studied the other's arm as he wrapped fresh bandages around the wounded area, hardly having to memorize what each scar, scrape, and bruise with the harshness of the look of each being in itself enough to burn the sight into his brain. How the hell Akutagawa could act so… he wouldn't say immune but more or less ignorant towards the obvious painfulness of it was beyond him. Atsushi finished wrapping all that he needed of the arm readying to tighten and tie the bandage around the older's arm.

“Tell me when it's too tight.” Atsushi directed as he slowly began to tighten the bandages.

“That's fine, tie it.” Akutagawa answered and Atsushi obliged with a nod as he tied the bandage. Atsushi stared down at the neglected scrapes and cuts that littered the other man's arms. He searched through the kit again pulling out Neosporin and band aids.

“What are you doing?” Akutagawa scowled.

“Putting ointment and bandages over the scrapes on your arms so they heal faster and hurt less.” Atsushi answered, “and stop glaring at me, your face will get stuck like that and people will start contacting you to become their scare actor, if they don't already do that is. Who knows, maybe you'll be a haunted house prop by day, mafioso by night.” Atsushi continued as he held Akutagawa's arm with both hands and rubbed the ointment over a small cut softly with his thumb.

Akutagawa scoffed, “being a scare actor is also a night job, much as well, the mafia is a full time job, Weretiger, it would be unconventional.”

Atsushi hummed in reply as he unwrapped and smoothed a small bandage over the cut, moving to fixate on a different one. “It sounds like you've done your research, were you actually considering becoming a scare actor at some point?”

“No, but I'd do well, I already look half dead the majority of the time.”

“Yeah, but at least you look like a pretty dead, like a vampire I guess, I don't know,  aren't vampires supposed to be super pretty as like one of their lure tactics in the media or something? So you're like a media stereotype vampire pretty, if you get what I mean.” Atsushi ranted, his attention to the scrapes and shallow cuts left him to lack notice of the silence that encased the room after the comment.

Atsushi smoothed his finger over one last band aid, continuing to let his fingers and hands lingerie on the soft bruised skin of Akutagawa's arms, “ok, i'm all done. Do you have any other places you need me to bandage?” Atsushi looked up, finally meeting Akutagawa's eyes. But instead of a glare or any kind of sour look that Atsushi expected, he was met with a soft and gentle stare, maybe too soft. Atsushi stilled as Akutagawa's dark gray, almost black eyes stared back focusing on him fully as the heavy gaze began to explore the other features that made up Atsushi's face. Akutagawa seemed to pinpoint his attention back fully onto a specific feature of the younger's face that Atsushi couldn't determine, but almost immediately after staring for a while he met his eyes back to Atsushi's. The sudden eye contact seemed to break him out of his trance as he turned quickly back to the wall, Atsushi thought he saw him slightly flushed as a more vibrant color dusted his cheeks. The other man cleared his throat, lifting a fist to his face to do so as an excuse to cover his face.

“I have another bandage on my thigh, but I can reach that one pretty well, so..” Akutagawa finally answered, glancing from the side of his eye back towards Atsushi.

Atsushi waited for the rest, “so…? So show me so I can bandage it.”

Akutagawa's expression changed as he gave him a confused (almost concerned look,) “it's on my thigh…” 

“Yeah? You said that already, now I'm just waiting for you to show me.” Atsushi gave back the confused look.

“Weretiger, I am not taking my pants off for you in this bathroom, I said I could reach and bandage my thigh better then my arm or back so I could do it myself for a reason.” Akutagawa deadpanned with a slight glare.

The words processed through Atsushi's brain and he flushed, beet red more than likely as he stumbled to grab the bandages, “that's not what I was meaning, oh my god!” he shoved the needed products on the mafioso's hands as he turned to leave, “If you need help or something, I um, I'll get you some shorts or something and try my best to help, just call if you need anything. Yeah, ok bye.” Atsushi stammered before he slammed the bathroom door shut behind him, leaving Akutagawa to finish rebandaging himself.

Atsushi decided to instead of letting his brain run wild with Akutagawa's words to instead look for his phone that he lost the night before. He started with the bed searching the sheets and then pillows. He found the device under all the pillows, and to none of his surprise, dead as well. He grabbed his phone and then looked over at Akutagawa's that was also on the bed and grabbed it as well. He set them side by side on the nightstand in-between the beds, plugging both in. 

He let out a long and deep sigh as he plopped back onto his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He turned back over, grabbing Akutagawa's phone to check the time, beginning to wonder if the cafe would still be serving breakfast at that time. The door to the bathroom creaked open as Akutagawa stepped back into the room, smoothing his shirt.

“Get off my phone, Weretiger.” He glared.

Atsushi turned the phone off, setting it back down on the nightstand as he put his hands up in the air in surrender, “I was only checking the time, I was hungry and wondering if they were still selling breakfast in the hotel cafe.”

“They close the breakfast menu down at eleven, but on the weekends keep it available for an extra hour, as while, with the lunch menu.” Akutagawa explained as he crossed his arms and leaned on the door frame.

“Oh, good! I prefer the breakfast options.” Atsushi exclaimed as he sat up.

“Get dressed, I'll treat you for helping with my bandages.” Akutagawa said as he made his own way over to his suitcase.

“You don't have to do it because of that, I was doing that cause I wanted to.” Atsushi disregarded.

“I'll treat you anyways.” Akutagawa argued, pulling out a more plain shirt than usual, it was still fitting and fancy to his style but was a more unusual pick unlike the pants that followed the same tighter slick black dress pants.

“What happened to your usual shirt?” Atsushi asked as he grabbed whatever from his bag.

“I fell down a flight of stairs hard enough for it to break skin.” Akutagawa explained flatly.

“Ok, listen give me some slack, you've acted this entire time as if it were a simple sprained ankle.” 

Akutagawa rolled his eyes as he headed off back towards the bathroom to change. Atsushi sighed and did the same within the comfort of their room. He, as usual, was quick to change unlike Akutagawa, but at last eventually the mafioso came back out of the bathroom somehow fully dressed as if he were to go to a ballroom dance despite that ballroom being a small cafe and the dancing being eating breakfast with his enemy. Akutagawa crossed the room and grabbed his perusal black coat of the rack pushing his arms through the sleeves despite the trumpet sleeve design fighting against him.

Akutagawa sighed as he finally got the coat on, “ok come one, Weretiger, let's go.” He began opening the door, holding it for Atsushi to go through. Atsushi stepped into the hallway of the hotel Akutagawa following close behind as he closed and locked the door, putting the key into his back pant pocket before beginning down the hall Atsushi close to his side. 

Atsushi made eye contact with the waitress and waved at her as the two of them reached a booth to sit at. Atsushi sat across from Akutagawa as they skimmed the menu, waiting for the waitress. In of which, she was quick to take and deliver back their orders 

Atsushi might have to admit, he might just not ever get used to Akutagawa's sweet tooth. No matter how many times he tries, he just can't see it. But nonetheless, there the Ravenette was with his chocolate crepes with berries.

“I swear, you having a sweet tooth is the last thing I expected, I was expecting you to eat like plain salad or something with no dressing.” Atsushi said as he took a bite of his own food(an omelet and some pancakes, as well, sided with some blueberries and raspberries.)

“I don't think even your stereotype of me could eat a salad straight, and I've told yoLu before, I don't like plants, I don't understand how it's so hard to believe that I prefer a little sugar to my food.” Akutagawa explained as he used his fork to cut an edge of one of his crepes.

“That's a lot more than a little sugar, Akutagawa.” Atsushi scoffed.

“Well, it's my money I decide what to do with it, and if that's to treat my enemy/partner/whatever to breakfast and listen to him nag me about my sugar intake when if he had more money, it would be just as bad, then so be it.” Akutagawa rebuttaled as he took a bite of food.

“Hey, you eat as much sugar as you want, I just wasn't suspecting it is all.” Atsushi said in defense of himself. 

“Weretiger-” Akutagawa started before the jingle of the cafe door interrupted him. Atsushi glanced back at the door, seeing as Dazai and Chuuya walked in, Dazai seemed almost half asleep as he walked in behind the executive. Atsushi watched as a waitress walked up to them and directed them to the next open booth two behind Akutagawa and him. 

Turning around in his seat, Atsushi studied the nearly unreadable expression that sat on Akutagawa's face as he cut off another piece off the crepe, shoveling it into his mouth. He seemed bothered, Atsushi thought.

“That's weird, they joined our breakfast last time?” Atsushi mumbled to himself. Akutagawa looked up at him and nodded as he ate another bite of his food.

“It's probably just because of mine and Dazai's argument yesterday, and they probably just want to eat with each other or something.” Akutagawa explained as he leaned in on his palm, placing his arm on the table.

“Hmm, that makes sense I guess. What were you guys arguing about by the way?” Atsushi agreed as he ate another bite of his omelet, “you don't have to answer that if you don't want to.” He added after swallowing.

Akutagawa glanced up at the younger as he continued to cut another bite from one of his crepes, “it wasn't anything really. I was just irritated and tired, and it ended up causing me and him to get into an argument over stuff from the past and issues because of it, don't worry about it though.” he answered briefly.

“Oh, okay then.”Atsushi replied as he turned back to his food. But despite his agreeing response, Atsushi thought that Akutagawa wasn't being honest or at least, was chopping it up as less than it actually was with his answer. But he wouldn't pry any further, it wasn't his place to. 

The two of them continued to eat their food in silence. When Atsushi finished his food, he ordered some orange juice, for the first time since staying at the hotel. He sipped the orange juice as he waited for Akutagawa to finish, sitting his back against the window as he set his feet to sit up on the seat.

“How much slower are you gonna eat those?” He said before going back to sipping the juice through the straw.

Akutagawa looked up and glared at him, “you can be patient, Weretiger. I'm almost done.”

“You still have another two crepes on your plate excluding the one you're already eating?” Atsushi paused as he pointed at the raven haired man’s plate.

Akutagawa returned his gaze back to his food, “I don't have the stomach to eat all this, I'll finish this one.” he explained as he cut into the crepe, eating the bite.

“Can I have one then?” Atsushi said, extending his hand across the table. Akutagawa looked at his hand, almost disgusted, as he reached for The detective's empty plate, setting the other two crepes on the dish. He slid the plate back in front of Atsushi as he returned his attention back to his food.

Atsushi turned to sit normally in his seat as he pulled the plate closer, eating the food the mafioso gave him. He finished the crepes quickly, washing it down with the rest of his orange juice, raising his hand to get the unoccupied waitresses attention for a refill.

The waitress came back quick with the cup of juice in hand, giving it to him with a smile as they exchanged words quickly

 the waitress walked back off, leaving the two as she disappeared behind the counter.

“Your ability to eat food within a matter of seconds awes me, you're like a goat.” Akutagawa said as he took one of the last few bites of his final crepe.

Atsushi shrugged as he took a sip of his orange juice. Akutagawa finished the last bit quickly as he gathered the dishes into the middle of the table to be taken easily from the table. Atsushi watched him do so as he slipped his juice to a halfway point.

“You better chug that, I'm not gonna wait for you forever.” Akutagawa advised as he put the silverware on top of the stack of their two plates.

“Oh, ok give me a second.” Atsushi then took his straw from his cup, setting it on the stack as well as he began to chug down the rest of the drink. He finished the other half of the juice, setting the then empty cup into the others.

“Ok let's go.” Atsushi said as he slid out of the seat, heading off and back for the hotel room, Akutagawa followed close behind after paying the bill and walking back up to his place by his partner's side.

Chapter Text

“When you guys said, you'll be here for a few more days, I thought you were meaning like a day or two.” Atsushi said as he flipped to the next page of one of Akutagawa's books(in which he stole out of pure boredom and the fact that he had already finished all the ones that the mafioso had bought him prior at the bookstore they had gone to.) not that the other would mind really, he'd finished reading it earlier and it was sitting on the nightstand just beggi ng for Atsushi to read it.

Akutagawa sighed as he turned the page to his own book, “you’re just gonna deal with it, Weretiger, so stop nagging and read your book or sleep.”

“I've been sleeping and reading non stop, I think I'm actually gonna go crazy.” Atsushi complained as he set the book over onto the nightstand, rolling onto his stomach.

“You'll be fine, you already act crazy anyways, there won't be much of a difference to worry about.” 

“I don't act crazy?!”Atsushi appalled.

Akutagawa scoffed, “sure, whatever you tell yourself to sleep at night.”

Atsushi glared at the other, “I'm going to go take a shower.” He muttered as he stood up from the bed’s soft cushioning, instead opting for the cold hardwood floor.

“You took one this morning?” Akutagawa mentioned as he gave the silverette a confused look.

“Who says I should limit my cleanliness?” Atsushi responded as he made his way to the bathroom. He closed the door behind him and looked across at the mirror. He then looked down at the sinks cupboard when he felt a sudden chill and bug like craw run up his arms, he wiped his hand down his arm, the action barely doing anything to stop the feeling , so he ignored it, he kneeled down onto the ground opening the cupboard and pulling out a fluffy white towel.

After taking his shower, Atsushi, instead of leaving the bathroom and returning to his bed, he sat on the bathroom floor. He had the soft towel sat on top of his head, it slightly tucked in around his shoulders in an attempt to keep water from dripping off his hair and onto his dry shirt. He scratched slightly at his arm as the feeling of cold and stinging pinch like itch of bugs crawling over his skin.

There was a sudden knock on the door that drew Atsushi's attention away from the feelinging, “how much longer are you gonna be in there, it's been half an hour since the shower went off? You didn't fall asleep did you?” Akutagawa's voice sounded from the other side of the door.

“No, how would I fall asleep in the shower?”Atsushi responded, a twinge of confusion in his voice.

“I wouldn't know, if you're dressed could I come in?” Akutagawa answered.

“Huh, oh yeah sure.” Atsushi said as he leaned over just enough to unlock the bathroom door.

He returned back to his position on the floor when the door opened. Akutagawa walked into the bathroom, attention and yes diverted from his partner and instead on the door he closed behind him. At last, Akutagawa met Atsushi's stare as he let his hand fall from the door's handle and to his pocket.

“Why are you on the floor with your hair half dried?” 

Atsushi shrugged and then he winced slightly at a sudden drilling feeling pain in his arm. He dismissed it however. The sudden sound of the wood stool that occupied the bathroom being moved in front of the sink. He looked up, giving Akutagawa a confused look that the other only returned an unemotional glance to.

Akutagawa patted the stool to signal for Atsushi to sit, adding a slight commanding “ sit.” To further the notion.

“Why?” Atsushi asked as he stood up and sat down on the tall wooden stool anyway.

Akutagawa didn't respond as he instead grabbed the towel that had at some point fallen from Atsushi's head to only rest on his shoulders. Atsushi stared at the mirror in front of him, studying the mafioso as he began to dry his hair. He watched as the other man gently dabbed the dry towel to his wet hair, ruffling it slightly after to dry it faster. Despite the fabric, Atsushi could feel the full warmth of Akutagawa's other hand that was pressed to the other side of his head to steady him, he found the warmth nice against his chilled skin.

Akutagawa's movements slowed but didn't stop as his concentrated gaze was broken as he met Atsushi's eyes in the mirror. That eye contact lasted long, but eventually the raven haired man returned his full attention back to Atsushi's hair. The hand that rested on the side of Atsushi's face before switched occupations with Akutagawa's hand that had dried one side of the Silverettes hair as Akutagawa began drying the other half of Atsushi's hair, resting his other hand to the other side of Atsushi's face.

With the feeling of bugs crawling over his skin again, Atsushi began scratching at the skin of his arm again to get rid of it.

“You shouldn't do that, you might hurt yourself.” Akutagawa advised as he shifted slightly to dry the bottom of Atsushi's hair.

“It's fine, it doesn't hurt that much anyways, if I break skin I can just regenerate.” Atsushi dismissed, but switched from scratching at his skin to rubbing it instead.

“Just because you can regenerate doesn't mean that you should act immune to pain, as well, the disease seems to not only hinder your ability but any other healing abilities as well, or at least that's what.. Yosano said.” Akutagawa rebutled pausing to get the doctor's name right. Atsushi opened his mouth to argue back, but the sudden feeling of fingers carding up the back of his hair shut him up. Akutagawa moved his hand from the back of his hair leading his fingers up the side of Atsushi's hair before retracting his hand back.

“Stop making that stupid surprised expression, Weretiger, I was checking how wet the roots of your hair were.” Akutagawa directed as he threw the towel over Atsushi's head and face anyways. He began rubbing Atsushi's hair with the towel again. He pulled the towel off and carded his fingers back through Atsushi's hair.

“Well, it's as dry as I can get it.” Akutagawa said, pulling the towel to himself and folding it and setting it on the sink. Atsushi nodded as sat up from the stool, setting it back in its place before.

“What do you want to eat by the way?”Akutagawa asked as he leaned against the sink.

“Oh, uhm. I don't know, you choose, I'll eat anything.” Atsushi answered. Akutagawa nodded as he pushed himself of the sink making his way to the bathroom door, holding it open after walking through for Atsushi.

Atsushi found his place back on his bed, watching the Ravenette pace around the room to grab his coat and other necessities. Akutagawa slipped the coat on as he grabbed his phone, shoving it in his pocket as well as a few other things. He made his way to the door of the hotel, but stopped to look back at Atsushi before turning the knob and leaving.

“Don't do anything that will get you in trouble while I'm gone.” He commanded with a glare, leaving before Atsushi could reply that he wasn't planning to. Atsushi heard the door click and sighed as fell back into the cushioning of his bed. He reached over to the nightstand for the book he had been reading before.

A freezing cold grew from his fingertips as he felt his arm grow limp, dropping to his side. He felt the chill continue to grow throughout his body as closed his book and sat up. He forced movement from his numb arm, pins and needles running like cat scratches up from his hand to his shoulder. He pushed himself off the bed catching himself from falling as he made it over to the bathroom. He turned the heat on, not the floor heat but the general thermostat, it had less effect but it was better then nothing. He sat down on the bathroom floor, the subtle less sever heat of it warming his hands as he set his palms against the floor.

Atsushi ignored the drilling headache and irritating bug like crawl that spread over his arms and legs. He rested his head on his knees as he folded his arms, the warmth of his hands transferring to his arms. He dug his fingers into his skin, the pressure of it causing a subtle pain that kept him from passing out.

After God knows when, he looked back up at the door as his head ache seemed to lessen. The nausea that overwhelmed him seemed to disappear like magic as well; the cold and fell of sudden painful digging at his skin at times, however, continued at a steady pace as before. 

Atsushi was getting sick of having to deal with these weird and painful symptoms, he hated how sudden it would effect him, how it would differ from whatever symptom or symptoms each day like a fucked up game.

A knock at the bathroom door drew Atsushi from his thoughts, “it's not locked.” he mumbled as he laid his head back on his knees.

The door opened and shut, and there was a rustling next to him, but Atsushi didn't move. There was a subtle quiet slam  of a cabinet door and the warmth of a hand sat like a greeting on the side of his knee. He lifted his head enough to meet Akutagawa's gaze.

“I have some pills you need to take.” He explained flatly as he showed some pills that he had placed on his hand to the younger. Atsushi looked at the pills, unfolding his arms and letting his knees straighten forward in front of him as he put his hand forward. Akutagawa placed the few pills in his hand as he stood up, filling up a cup of water and giving it to Atsushi for him to take the pills. 

Atsushi took the pills fast to not leave them or the cold water in his mouth, leaning the then half empty cup back to the older man.

“Are you still up for food?” Akutagawa asked as he rinsed the cup out and set it on the side of the sink.

“Yeah, I mean, I'm not hungry and nothing sounds appealing or unappealing, but I'll eat it.” Atsushi over-explained his answer.

Akutagawa only nodded as he made his way out of the bathroom, leaving Atsushi to himself, not for long though, the Ravenette re-entering the bathroom again with a bag in hand. He handed the warm food hidden in the bag to Atsushi before sitting on the ground beside the Weretiger.

“Which one's your's?” Atsushi asked as he reached in to the takeout bag, pulling out two large containers of some kind of soup.

“Neither, I already ate, I just got you extra.” Akutagawa answered as he leaned back against the sink.

“Are you sure?”Atsushi said setting one of the containers in his lap, the warmth of the fresh food clinging to his cold skin. He held the other container in his hand unclipping the lid off the rim of the tall container.

“Just eat the food, Weretiger, stop asking all these nonsensical questions.” Akutagawa glared as he shoved the soup's accompanying cutlery in his hand free.

“Ok ok, I will.” Atsushi surrendered as he held the utensil, dipping it into the soup and pulling out a bite. Akutagawa sat beside him, texting who he supposed was Gin, as Atsushi ate. Akutagawa slipped his phone back into his pocket after a dwindling conversation and late responses and a end at one point.

“That was Gin, right?” Atsushi asked before eating another spoonful of soup.

“Yes, she was just wondering how I've been doing here.” Akutagawa answered.

“Does she know about your fall?” Atsushi continued to interview between mouthfuls. 

Akutagawa didn't respond.

“You should tell her.” Atsushi states.

“She doesn't need to have more things on her mind at the moment.”

“Akutagawa, you need to let someone worry about you as well as worrying about the people you care about, if Kyouka had an issue, no matter what, I would prefer she tell me or someone about it then bottle it up, I doubt Gin would want any less.” Atsushi explained before taking another bite of soup. The conversation fell quiet again. 

Atsushi finished his food in silence, stacking the two takeout cups in each other and throwing them away. He used the counter to pull himself to his feet that still sat numb and stiff like the passing of rigor mortis. Atsushi reached a hand out for Akutagawa, pulling him to his feet after the mafioso took his hand. 

Atsushi barely noticed as Akutagawa slipped his hand away, shoving it in his coat pocket. Atsushi reached the end of his bed, holding the end as he let himself fall into the cushions, the ache from pushing himself to just move setting in. He rolled himself onto his back sighing as he stared up at the ceiling.

“How much longer do I have till I can go back on a mission?” Atsushi asked as the itch of his skin being dug into increased along with a subtle ring. He began scratching at his arm again, while he glanced around briefly for pain killer, non to be found, but he had been expecting that in all honesty.  

“i would not be able to tell you that, Weretiger.”Akutagawa answered in a flat tone as he walked over to Atsushi, gently wrapping his hand around Atsushi's as he removed his hand away from his irritated and reddened arm, letting his fingers and palm rest peacefully in his palm, the tips of his fingers barely pressing against the webs of his fingers, seeming like he was stopping himself from holding hands with the other. “Stop that,” Akutagawa added quietly but flatly. 

Atsushi sighed as he spread his fingers moving his hand forward to let Akutagawa's slide in between them. Atsushi closed his hand, rubbing his thumb over the back of Akutagawa's hand. Instead of responding, knowing that if he did, it would be a lie, he just closed his eyes holding Akutagawa's hand, letting the warmth of the other man's hand warm his. The irritable sting of bugs on his free arm going unnoticed as he tried to ignore it and his headache.

“You're gonna fall asleep like that.” Akutagawa informed.

“Maybe, but I thought you would prefer me to sleep so I'm not bugging you.” Atsushi responded as he rolled onto his side, tightening his hold on Akutagawa's hand so as to not lose it in the action. Akutagawa doesn't respond, no, instead he just silently sits on the edge of Atsushi's bed. The Weretiger felt as his hand dropped, yet still intertwined with the mafioso's, onto the sheets of the bed. 

Akutagawa slipped his hand away from Atsushi's, however, shoving his hands in his pockets. He sat there for a bit before removing his hand from his pocket and reaching for his phone. Atsushi watched as he opened his messages with Yosano.

An image intruded Atsushi's brain. Bugs. God why was today absorbed with bugs? He returned his hand to his arm, not scratching at his skin luckily, but instead gently gliding his fingers gently over his lower arm. The feeling of eating at and into his skin ceised, but grazing his fingers over the rigid and exfoliated skin and the lack of feeling anything but air meeting his skin still was reassuring.

Akutagawa standing up and crossing the room to the door drew Atsushi's Attention, “where are you going?” he asked sitting uo to look at Akutagawa.

“To go talk to Yosano, behave yourself while I'm gone.” Akutagawa replied, opening and leaving through the door before Atsushi could respond.

“I wasn't planning to.” Atsushi mumbled to himself as he flopped back down into the cushions of his bedding. He stared out the window as he laid on his side. It was dusk, based on a call they had earlier in the day, Kyouka would hopefully be at the Tanizaki's by now. Kenji would be at home on his farm. Fukazawa would likely be at home or at a tea shop; Haruno would either be with Kyouka and the Tanizaki's or at home with her cat. Atsushi hoped they were all good back in Yokohama, all healthy and enjoying themselves. He smiled as he curled his legs in on himself, curling into a ball for warmth. He watched out the window to pass the time as he stared back to the crow outside that sat on the telephone line.

 After a bit of just laying staring out the window he decided to return to reading the rest of the book he “ borrowed ” from Akutagawa. He didn't expect to finish it, but he did, and when he did Akutagawa was still not back. He closed the book, setting it on the nightstand, as he began searching for his phone. His confusion burrowing more are he noted the time. 

When the hell is Akutagawa coming back? It's been an hour and a half… 

He reached over to drop his phone back down on his desk, but then he felt a sudden pain craw, almost literally, up his arms and legs. He fell back to sitting on the edge of his bed holding the most pained area of his arm, he couldn't tell wether or not it hurt worse cause of the cold or the red lines of scratch marks that he made. He also couldn't tell wether or not it was the scratch marks or something else that caused an irritating rise to his skin.

The bug like crawl over his skin returned, but instead of feeling the invisible bugs crawl over his skin it felt like they were in his skin. And he might have been going insane but he could almost swear he felt his skin shift on the palm of his hand. He closed his fist and felt another shift; he bit his lip as he  slowly removed his hand from hud arm. Plain, well, exept for the reddened scratch marks, unriled skin is all he saw. He felt another painful score of movement up his arm he recoiled internally and physical at the harsh unnerving feeling tenseing in response. That's when he watched a pulse strain through his arm with the pain.

It may have been his pulse,or a tendon, but he wasn't risking it. He pushed himself up to his feet, his joints fighting against the movement as they returned to being stiff like before. He stumbled towards the bathroom almost slamming his side into the sink when one of his legs grew numb tilting his gravity. He cursed under his breath and leaned against the sink to keep his weight up as he turned the warm water on running his arm under it, scolding threatening burns. He pushed his palm into his arm, both it and the water in an attempt to get rid of the bug-like sensation.

Neither worked as it seemed the rubbing just irritated his scratched skin leaving stinging in their wake. Atsushi didn't know when but he returned to using his nails, digging his nails down his skin in an attempt to remove the insects crawling under his skin or just the painful feeling of it as well. 

Get out , he repeated in his head, get out of my skin

Atsushi just continued scratching hoping for freedom from the feeling, he didn't notice the slightly pink tinted water or the slightly differed sharpness of his nails. He also didn't notice the click of the door, and didn't even react as he felt fingers wrap around his wrists trying to pry his hand away from his lower arm. He fought as his hand slowly lifted away from his arm, the feeling of bugs still lenient as the feeling crept over other parts of his body. His head was ringing, he felt nauseous and the ringing had been lasting almost since he entered the bathroom, that's probably why the shouting was muffled as he protested his hands removal from his arm.

He felt something wrapped tightly around his irritated arm, more in a way to protect it then harm it. The water from the sink turned off. Atsushi had been suddenly rested on the floor against the cupboard. He felt hands still wrapped around his wrists. He felt a sudden pain shoot up again, and without even thinking about it he pulled against the restraints trying to gouge the feeling from his arm once more. 

“Ats- stop! God damn it! You might pass out if you bleed anymore!" Akutagawa’s voice broke through the ringing as Atsushi's hand was pulled away again.

He could still feel as insects crawled under his skin that was covered in the black fabric that he stared at when looking at his irritant arm, “They are still in there."

“What in all hell are you going on about?"

“I can still feel crawling under my skin."

Akutagawa sighed, “your minds just fucking with you."

“I could feel them, I could see them, they're there." Atsushi responded,  another stroke of pain ran up his arm as it felt like something was shifting and prodding under his flesh. "Get them out, “ Atsushi stated quietly, "Get them out, it hurts. I can feel them, I need them out.” Atsushi restated louder as he fought against Akutagawa's grip.

"Nothing is in your arm, it's ok. You just need to calm down.“ Akutagawa reassured as he pulled him into a hesitant hug. Atsushi pressed his forehead against Akutagawa's shoulder as he.

After sitting there for a while, Rashomon dispersed from the detective's arm, the throbbing pain becoming a reality as blood started circulating through his arm again; however, Akutagawa still had his fingers curled around the other man's other wrist, giving Atsushi a sense of comfort and grounding. Atsushi was still resting his forehead on Akutagawa's shoulder while the Mafioso reached for medical aid in the cupboard behind him.

The click of the medical kit being set on the ground was followed by Akutagawa gently pushing Atsushi off his shoulder to give them space as he drew Atsushi's arm between the two of them. Atsushi stared at the sheer severity of the wounds on his arms, long, deep, bloodied gashes down his arm, he bit his lip back as he leaned forward again. He tried his best to give Akutagawa access to his arm as he rested his head in the crook of Akutagawa's neck, out of a sense of comfort and preferring to look at anything else than the destruction he did to his arm out of shock and paranoia. The silver haired boy sat like that, observing the cupboards, observing Akutagawa and his calm expression as he bandaged Atsushi's arm, or just looking in any general direction as he just stared thoughtlessly.

“Sorry.” Atsushi mumbled.

“You're fine, don't apologize.”Akutagawa responded, finishing with wrapping the last of the bandage around Atsushi’s arm, “let's clean your hand up.” Akutagawa added as he stood up standing beside Atsushi as he grabbed a rag and ran it under the water. 

Akutagawa kneeled down next to Atsushi again, “give me your hand.” Atsushi obliged, giving the raven haired man his hand without protest. The rag, or water specifically, was warm, it felt nice compared to the nonstop on and off chill of Atsushi's skin. Atsushi looked down at his hand, watching as Akutagawa thoroughly cleaned each of his fingers. Atsushi looked up from his hand and at Akutagawa.

“What is it?” Akutagawa questioned, not looking up to meet Atsushi's eyes.

“What do you mean, what is it ?” Atsushi answered with his own question.

“You're starring.” Akutagawa explained letting go of Atsushi's hand and standing up, washing the rag out and draping the price of fabric over the spout of the sink to dry.

“There really wasn't any rhyme or reason, I was just looking to look.” Atsushi answered truthfully.

“Mhm. I'll get Yosano to look at that in a bit, come on.” Akutagawa directed. Atsushi stood to follow him out, his legs still numb. Akutagawa offered a hand when Atsushi stumbled forward leaning into the doorframe.

Atsushi looked at Akutagawa's hand, “it's ok, I can walk by myself, i'm not helpless.”

“Wasn't saying you were.” Akutagawa corrected, drawing his hand back, and shoving it in his coat pocket. Atsushi made his way to the bed watching as Akutagawa made his way to the door. A slight irritation grew in his Injured arm that he scratched at, despite the layers of bandages, habitually. When he noticed he pulled his hand away and instead just held over the area tightly. His attention was drawn back to the door as it clicked shut, leaving him alone once again in the hotel room.

That isolation didn't last long however. Yosano was the first to enter the room, looking at Atsushi and then the bandage on his arm and sighing. She walked in, Akutagawa following behind her, closing the door.

She grabbed his arm, unwrapped the bandages, and looked at the injury, properly treating it, “what happened?”

“I um scratched at my arm.” Atsushi answered, picking at the side of his thumb with his pointer finger, a nervous tic he'd adapted over time.

“Well yeah, you look like you clawed your arm, lucky it's not super deep so you'll be fine if it isn't injured beyond this point.” she explained, “why?”

“I've been having a feeling of bugs crawling on me since I got the disease, it's just gotten worse recently, especially today.” Atsushi explained.

“Well,it's just gonna get worse from here on out, it might clear up at times but until we find a cure or the Ability user it'll still be in effect.” Yosano drawled.

Atsushi paused before he responded, “what if we don't find her or a cure in time?”

The room went still. the disease will kill you if not yourself . They knew that was the answer, but no one said it.

Yosano finished the last wrap of the bandage, quickly tying it and grabbing Atsushi's shoulders, looking him in the eye with determination, “that won't happen, the agency would never let it. We will find her, I promise.” she reassured.

Atsushi nodded in understatement, but he wasn't sure he believed in the older woman's words.

“Ok, I'll go tell Kunikida and the others about this, we'll come in here for dinner and go over the information on the mission later if that's ok with you two, in the meantime get some sun and go outside. It's cold but some fresh air might do you some good, mentally and physically.” Yosano evaluated before she left.

She waved to Atsushi before closing the door leaving him and Akutagawa to themselves. Atsushi looked from the door to Akutagawa, the slightly older man meeting his gaze soon after. 

Akutagawa gave him time before taking up on Yosano's advice, letting him rest for a bit. Even though that rest did only amount to laying down, it was still refreshing to settle for once. The only thing that irritated Atsushi at the moment was the slight sting from his arm, but he'd already expected that.

“Where's your coat?” Akutagawa asked after a while.

“Oh, uhm, in the closet.” Atsushi answered.

Akutagawa nodded, crossing the room to the closet. He found the coat quickly, making his way back over to Atsushi with it. Atsushi grabbed the coat from Akutagawa when the other man had held it out.

Atsushi was slipping the coat on when he felt two fingers tap his knees, “you should put on some pants that aren't gonna defeat the effort of a coat.” Akutagawa advised.

“Mkay.” 

Atsushi quickly grabbed a pair of cargo pants from his duffle bag, reappearing from the bathroom once changed. The coat rubbed against the bandages of his arm, leaving it slightly irritated, but his arm had been irritated non-stop all day so he'd gotten used to it, and ignored it. Atsushi didn't give Akutagawa much time to think, let alone stand, before he was grabbing his hand and dragging him along out the door.

“Jesus, Weretiger, slow down, why are you so enthusiastic?” Akutagawa intoned.

Atsushi slowed down enough for Akutagawa to catch up as told, “I haven't been outside outside since that trip to the bookstore, I'm tired of being cooped up in this hotel.”

“I understand what you mean but, If you walk too fast you'll trip, the outdoors isn't gonna grow feet and walk away anytime soon.” Akutagawa lipped.

“Yeah, yeah, I know.” Atsushi dismissed with little care. Akutagawa sighed, but Atsushi ignored it as he beamed when he spotted the several inches of snow on the ground on the other side of the hotel's front door. His pace kicked up again as he dragged Akutagawa through the front door with him, a chime of a bell indicating their departure from the hotel's walls.

Fucking finally! It's so good to be out!

 Cold winter wind hit Atsushi like a freight train, but he basked in the fresh air instead of shivering away.

He turned to Akutagawa with a smile, “where to?”

“Wherever you want to go, i'm just here to keep you out of trouble.” Akutagawa answered.”

Atsushi rolled his eyes, “You don't have to act like my babysitter, you know. Come on.” Atsushi ended the conversation and began dragging Akutagawa around the town. He was searching for somewhere to go. The streets were unusually empty for the time of day. He spotted an empty park across the street hidden behind fences and a small cafe. He checked both directions for vehicles, crossing the street when it was clear enough. He led himself and Akutagawa to the park, instantly letting go of the older's hand and falling back into the snow.

Akutagawa stood beside him, looking down at Atsushi who just laid down, looking back up at him, “A park? Seriously, are you a child?”

“Oh, be quiet, let me live a little. I've only been to a park like this once in my life.” Atsushi lipped.

Akutagawa rolled his eyes, and sat down on a nearby swing, just close enough to keep Atsushi in sight. Atsushi stared up at the sky, soon sitting up when the clouds uncovered the sun that shines in his eyes. He looked over to Akutagawa who seemed to be too invested with whatever he was doing on his phone to notice Atsushi getting up and walking in behind him.

Atsushi rested his arms on top of Akutagawa's head to peer down at his phone. Akutagawa grumbled and pushed Atsushi off, with a glare.

“What do you want, Weretiger?” he said, turning his phone off and shoving it in his pocket.

“Nothing, I was just curious, you should text Gin I say hi though.”

“I'm not texting Gin anything from you.” Akutagawa glared.

“You're so pissy at times, you're like a cat with anger issues.” Atsushi mouthed as he sat down on the swing next to Akutagawa.

“Like your one to talk about calling people cats.” Akutagawa scoffed.

“I'm a tiger, not a cat.” Atsushi glared.

“Tigers are still in the cat family.” Akutagawa rebutled.

“There is still a difference.” Atsushi mumbled to himself, using his feet to push the swing to a back and forth sway. He used his feet to push off and give momentum, opting not to stretch his Injured arm out and feel like he's tearing his skin for no reason.

Atsushi looked over at Akutagawa, “you're using the swing incorrectly, you're supposed to swing, not sit.”

“I'd rather not.” Akutagawa dismissed.

“Oh, you bore! Have a little fun! ow.” Atsushi said, stretching himself back to look at Akutagawa, accidentally pulling the skin of his arm and being reminded of his injuries.

Akutagawa just replied with a dead panned expression. Atsushi sighed as he jumped off the swing in mid air, which ended up with ridicule and safety warnings from Akutagawa. Atsushi ignored his warnings as he walked up behind him, plucking his phone from his pocket so it wouldn't fall out and setting it in his, zipping up his pocket so it wouldn't fly out and fall breaking more than likely in the process. He grabbed the sides of the seat of the swing.

“Hold on.” Atsushi warned.

Akutagawa gripped the cabins of the swing and looked, well glared , back at Atsushi, “don't you fucking dare-” he threatened, but was interrupted by, Atsushi pushing him forward and then back, pushing him forward with as much power as he could. Atsushi moved out of the way as he plopped back down into his swing, pushing himself off with his feet to match Akutagawa's speed.

“See, you're fine!” Atsushi said.

“I might, but you won't be if I ever get my hands on you again.” Akutagawa threatened.

“Awe, what are you gonna do? Cuddle me to sleep again?” Atsushi teased. 

Akutagawa replied with a glare. Atsushi just laughed to himself in response. By the time he had decided he had had enough of the swings, Akutagawa had made his way up into the playset that had several large slides connected to it. Atsushi crawled up next to him, sighing in exhaustion and leaning down on the other's shoulder.

“Did you run all that pent up energy out?” Akutagawa asked.

“A little bit, I just need a little rest and I'll be up and running again, don't worry, I'll force you to go down the slides with me soon.” Atsushi answered.

“Oh yay, I'm so excited.” Akutagawa grumbled sarcastically.

“Yep!” Is all Atsushi replied with before he closed his eyes and rested his forehead on Akutagawa's shoulder. 

He sat like that for a while, finding comfort in the position. However, a chill ran through him, a slight ringing through his head as well, and a dull feeling of bugs crawling over his skin. He held his arm tightly and put his lip due to the pain of the sudden headache and the pain of the pressure against his wound.

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa said, almost like a question.

Atsushi hummed back.

Akutagawa paused, “come on.”

Atsushi raised his head off Akutagawa's shoulder, sitting back, and giving him a confused look.

“Just do it.” Akutagawa said, returning the look with a stern glare. Atsushi huffed, but stood up anyway, following Akutagawa out of the park and around the corner to the cafe that faced the highway. There was a similar chime when Akutagawa opened the cafe door open to the one of the hotel. Atsushi walked into the warm and cozy cafe, it looked similar to the cafe back at home, but larger with less windows and a more orangish lighting, there were more dark wood colors to favor the feel of the coffee shop.

Atsushi followed Akutagawa as they approached the cashier. Akutagawa ordered a coffee and cheesecake, both of which he couldn't care enough to name specifics. Atsushi read the menu, trying to ignore the prices debating that Akutagawa seemed to be paying. The room was quiet as they waited for his order.

“I'll just take some hot chocolate.” Atsushi said.

“Are there any specific kinds you'd prefer? We have hazelnut, peppermint, salted caramel but we're out of it I apologize, dark chocolate, white chocolate, pumpkin, pumpkin spice, apple cinnamon, and we can add marshmallows, whipped cream, or syrups.” The cashier listed off.

“Uhh….” Atsushi paused, “just, the normal kind? And whipped cream I guess?”

“Ok great, your orders will be out in a bit, choose wherever to sit.” The cashier smiled as she took the paper with their orders to the back. Akutagawa grabbed Atsushi's hand and brought him to a secluded booth on the back corner. Atsushi looked at the pamphlets and newspapers displayed in the middle of the table as he slipped into the booth. He picked up the newspaper on top, skimming through the headlines, none important, just something something market skeme, or new booming business company scandal; however, the last one caught his eye, two-hundred and sixty-one deaths from unknown uncontrollably disease in the past two weeks: morgues over ran with bodies of all ages.  

Lord…

Atsushi shut the newspaper and set it back on the table, lightly scratching at his irritated arm. Akutagawa reached across the table grabbing Atsushi's hand away from his arm.

“Sorry, I forgot.” Atsushi apologized, letting his Injured arm fall to his lap.

Akutagawa shook his head, “stop apologizing all the time, Weretiger.”

“I'll try. No promises though.” Atsushi responded. Akutagawa nodded as he coughed into his elbow, letting go of Atsushi's hand.

“How are you doing by the way?” Atsushi asked and Akutagawa shot him a confused look, “your cough.”

“Oh, I'm doing fine, better than I was back before the fight against Fukuchi. My lungs have just gotten worked up recently, particularly because of chasing after you and the disease holder and falling down the stairs back in that old hospital, let alone the dust.” Akutagawa explained.

“Oh… sorry about that, I didn't think to think of that back then when I was chasing her…” Atsushi said, picking at the skin beside his nail.

“It's fine, it's mainly because of falling down the stairs if anything.” Akutagawa dismissed.

The waitress interrupted the conversation as she silently set their drinks down in front of them without warning. She set Akutagawa's cake down in front of him, with just as much precision, before smiling and telling them to enjoy their meal, leaving before they could say a word. Akutagawa shrugged it off, picking up his cup of coffee and swirling the coffee stick around. Atsushi picked up his own cup, using the plastic spoon to eat the whipped cream off the top. 

Atsushi sipped his hot chocolate slowly. Hot chocolate was a good choice, it was tasty, but not overwhelming, plus an extra dose of energy from coffee might not do him well if he wants to sleep at a proper time later. Atsushi had reached halfway through his drink when he looked back up, bringing his attention to Akutagawa, who seemed to have done the same as they made eye contact. Akutagawa diverted his eyes quickly looking back at his coffee as he took another sip, Atsushi brushed the odd behavior off.

Atsushi nudged Akutagawa's foot, tapping the toe of his shoe against the other's to draw his attention back, “Hey.”

Akutagawa glared back at him, “What do you want?”

“Why do you assume I want something, I might just be saying a simple hello.” Atsushi defended himself from Akutagawa's accusations.

“Well then we're you just saying a simple hello?” Akutagawa dead panned.

“Nope, you were right, I do want something!” Atsushi chirped.

 Akutagawa rolled his eyes and sighed, “well then spill it.”

“Well, you see, right beside your right elbow, that you're digging into the table so you can use your hand like a headrest, is a quite beautiful, and more then likely delicious fig and strawberry cheesecake that you have neglected, and so it doesn't feel so lonely and unimportant, I would love and adore a bite, please and thank you.” Atsushi exaggerated, clasping his hands together and tilting his head.

“I don't need the full novel on why you want a bite of my food, you greedy glutton.” Akutagawa replied curtly. 

“…Is that a yes or a no?”

Akutagawa grumbled to himself but cut the detective a piece of the desert anyways. He scooped it onto the fork and pointed it at Atsushi, close enough for him to take. only for him not to catch on and just eat the bite off the fork and not even giving an ounce of effort to take the utensil from the Mafioso.

“Ew… I'm gonna have to disinfect it now..” Akutagawa retorted as he used the napkin that was supplied to clean the fork off.

Atsushi swallowed the bite of dessert, “it was gonna end up in my mouth anyways, I don't understand what you're getting at.”

“I don't want to eat from a fork that you made me feed you with.. in public. The idea itself is repulsive.”

Atsushi shrugged and took a sip of his hot chocolate. Atsushi continued to eye Akutagawa's cheesecake throughout the rest of the time at the cafe. Akutagawa, who had been trying to peacefully drink his coffee, had picked up on it and began to grow irritated.

“ Do you want another bite ?” He glared 

“I would love another bite.” He smiled innocently.

Akutagawa rolled his eyes and cut Atsushi another bite, pointing the fork out to the Weretiger once again, pulling it back when Atsushi moved to eat it off the fork again, “you take the fork and feed yourself or I'm not giving it to you.” He glared.

Atsushi plopped back into his seat, disappointed in his ruined fun. He took the fork from Akutagawa and shoveled the bite into his mouth, handing the fork back to the Ravenette. He swallowed the bite of cheesecake, and took another sip of his hot chocolate as he watched Akutagawa eat a bite of his cheesecake with the same fork, swallowing and giving himself some time before returning his attention back to his coffee.

“See, I don't understand how you can think of it as weird to eat of the same fork after feeding me but think otherwise if I use the same fork to feed myself, it's an indirect kiss either way, we're still using the same fork.” That one made Akutagawa choke on air. He flushed as he began to cough into his elbow. And maybe for the first time in his life, Atsushi found his arch nemesis at a loss for words.

Akutagawa glared at Atsushi.

“What, I'm just telling the truth.” Atsushi defended himself. Akutagawa cleared his throat, eyes diverted, as he picked up his cup of coffee and took another sip. The conversation for the rest of the time in the cafe fell quiet. Atsushi, as perusal, finished his hot chocolate before Akutagawa finished his coffee, watching as the other man sipped the rest of his coffee. Atsushi reached across the table, picking up Akutagawa's fork, locking eyes with its owner for verification, that he was given in the form of an eye roll and a hand movement that he could only indicate as a go ahead. Atsushi gave the other man a smile as he cut himself a piece of cheesecake. The next piece he cut was for Akutagawa, holding it out to the other man, who, hypocrisy at its highest, leaned over and ate off the fork that Atsushi held. Akutagawa slipped another sip of coffee as Atsushi took another bite from the cheesecake. He set the fork down after that bite, leaving the rest for Akutagawa, debating the fact that it was his.

When both men had finished they set the dishes in the middle of the table. Atsushi took the lead, Akutagawa following close behind as they returned back to the park. Atsushi made his way up the playset to the slides.

“The playground again?” Akutagawa asked.

“I promised to force you to go down the slides with me, didn't I?” Atsushi said.

Akutagawa sighed as he took his coat off, bundled in his lap and sat down beside Atsushi, “I'm killing you later.”

“Then do it after dinner. For now, slides.” Atsushi replied as he squished in the best he could into the slide, wrapping his Injured arm around Akutagawa's back as to not strain it any further, resting his hand on the other man's shoulder as he practically sat on his lap.

“Are you ready?” Atsushi asked.

“Are you?” Akutagawa returned the question.

“Yep.”

With that they pushed off, catching wind as they slid down the slide like children. They reached the end with the halt of Akutagawa stocking his feet onto the ground. The ride wasn't as sporadic as expected, but Atsushi had fun. 

“Can we go again?” Atsushi asked before even standing up.

“Sure, but I'm the one sitting on your lap this time, my pants are soaked because of the melted snow.”

“Got it.” Atsushi agreed as he sat up as climbed back up the playset, sitting down on a different slide. Akutagawa sat down on Atsushi's lap as he set his coat down on his own. Atsushi wrapped his Injured arm around Akutagawa's waist and made eye contact before pushing off and sliding down the slide.

They did that a few more times before determining that if they wanted to get home before dark that they should probably go get take out and get home soon. They ended up in a soup kitchen, getting two bowls of miso soup to take home. Akutagawa was the one who carried the food down the street back home. It was dusk by then. 

They walked beside a billboard that caught Atsushi's eye. He stepped back to observe a familiar face on a poster displayed in the front. He recognized her as the little girl  from the mission a few weeks ago. He read the poster, money needed for funeral services, everything helps. Along with a number on the bottom he had supposed to be her sister's. He took the poster from the bulletin board. He looked back at the board, spotting a few similar ones. The paper in his hand was slid away as Akutagawa began observing it.

“How long ago?” Atsushi asked.

“Last Monday. It says she passed away in her sleep.” Akutagawa answered.

“How long do you think it'll be till they can bury her?”

“Two weeks at least, two to three months at most. If they can get the funeral done soon.”

Atsushi fell silent as he reached out for the paper. He looked over it again. The money goal was one point eleven million yen to pay for a good funeral. Atsushi decided, no matter what, he'll help pay for the funeral services before it's too late. He put the poster back up and took a photo of the number on the page.

“Let's get back to the hotel.” Atsushi said, grabbing Akutagawa's wrists and leading him back to the hotel with him. They returned to their room and ended up sitting on the floor between the two beds as they ate.

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa said, breaking the silence.

“Yeah?” Atsushi answered after swallowing.

“You're not expecting to pay all that money off are you?”

Atsushi paused and considered lying, “Yes.” He answered truthfully.

“You know you don't have the money for that.” Akutagawa stated.

“I'll figure it out.”

Akutagawa sighed, “I'll pay it, don't put yourself into federal documented financial debt.”

“I can't let you do that, you've already paid for all my expenses on this mission. I want to do this, I need to, I didn't do anything when she was alive, the least I could do is help with her death.” Atsushi argued.

“Who said it was for free? I'll pay it now so they can get the funeral done as soon as possible; You can pay me back as time goes on, you'll go in debt to me, but not the bank.” Akutagawa explained.

“You promise you won't just not accept the money when I do pay you back right?”

“On my sister's life.” Akutagawa promised.

“I'm going to tell Gin that you kept making promises on her life.” Atsushi replied as he set his empty take out container on the floor next to him, pulling out his phone and pulling up the photo of the phone number On the paper. 

“She might just cheer that I've made enough promises with someone to bet her life on them if anything.” Akutagawa counter attacked.

“ Wow , you're lonely.” Atsushi scoffed as he dialed the number into his phone. The line rang through the quiet room, once, twice, a third time and then, click.

“Who is this?” The voice of the girl's sister came on the line.

“Oh uh.. you remember a while back when two detectives came by a few weeks ago, we saved your cat from an alleyway?” Atsushi explained.

The woman paused,“yeah..? Why?” 

“Well, we found your poster for your sister's funeral services, we were just wondering how much more of that needs to be paid off?” Atsushi explained further.

“three million yen, precisely.” she answered.

“Mkay got it, three million yen.” Atsushi repeated aloud as he looked at Akutagawa who just nodded, Atsushi reached over to the nightstand, grabbing a notepad as he set it on the floor and wrote the number down. “What's your mode of payment? Do you have a fundraiser or online donation of any kind, or would it be better in a check?”

“Uh.. a check or physically cash, I guess.” She answered.

“Got it.” He said as he wrote it down and looked at Akutagawa who had paused eating his food for the call, “ how soon can you bring it to her?”

“We can bring it in physical cash tomorrow, I prefer to not slap my legal name on things like this.” Akutagawa answered.

“Jesus, you make yourself sound like a mob boss.”

Akutagawa shrugged.

Atsushi cleared his throat as he turned his attention back to the call, “how good is tomorrow?”

“Tomorrow is wonderful, thank you.” She answered.

“No problem at all, have a good day.” Atsushi replied. She replied with similar words before the call ended. He sat up and set the notepad on the top of the  nightstand. Akutagawa returned to eating, finishing the last little bit left in his dish before gathering both his and Atsushi's and throwing the plastic containers away.

Akutagawa tapped Atsushi on the knee with two fingers, “give me your coat, i'll hang it up while you go change.”

Atsushi nodded as he grabbed the coat from the floor from under him, as he had been multitasking it as his seat. He changed fairly quickly after grabbing some clothes and entering the bathroom. He felt a crawl over his arm as resisted scratching it. He instead held his arm bandages tight as a reminder as he ignored it and left the bathroom.

He laid down in his bed, staring up at the ceiling. He heard the bathroom door click shut, meaning he was left alone in the room again. Not for long though as with little indication it opened back up. Akutagawa walked over and turned the light off, leaving the room dark as it fell quiet like many nights as they both fell asleep.

Or so Atsushi had hoped. His arm was mildly irritated, he was kinda cold, and his mind wouldn't settle, replaying the early events of the day through his head, as well, the head lines and made up images from those headlines like a record through his brain. To sum it up though, he couldn't sleep.

He had ended up on his side through tossing and turning, he rolled over one last time, trying to blank any thoughts from his brain. It worked for a little bit, he grew tired, but not for long as an image of dead bodies piled up in the morgues flashed through his brain, waking him right back up.

Know what, fuck this.  

He sat up and looked over to Akutagawa, who much like him was wide awake; however, Akutagawa was reading a book in complete and utter darkness. Atsushi got out of bed and grabbed the other man's book mark from his hand as he lifted a knee onto the mattress. He set it in the book and closed it, taking it out of the mafioso's hands.

“You're gonna ruin your eyes reading in the dark like that.” Atsushi advised as he set the book down on the nightstand.

“What are you doing?” Akutagawa asked. Atsushi didn't answer, however, he just let himself fall across to the other side of Akutagawa.

“Weretiger.”

“....I'm cold.” Atsushi summarized. Akutagawa sighed as he turned to his side to face Atsushi. Atsushi waited for a threat or a lecture, but neither can, no, instead Akutagawa moved Atsushi's legs from the uncomfortable position on his hip and wrapped his arms around the younger.

“Can't sleep?” Akutagawa said.

“Yeah.” Atsushi answered.

“Me neither.” Akutagawa empathized, pulling Atsushi in closer.

“Then why were you reading a book ? I don't think that'd help.” Atsushi criticized.

Akutagawa scoffed, or laughed possibly? “I didn't think it would work, I just knew that I'd rather do something than just lay there staring at a ceiling.” he explained.

“Is that so?” Atsushi reached up and wrapped his arm around Akutagawa's neck, and another over his torso but under his arm. He was warm, yes, but warmth wasn't the entire reason, Akutagawa, oddly enough as it was considering their relationship of being supposed enemies , brought a sense of comfort.

Since when did he become someone like that to me?

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa's voice drew his attention.

“Hm.”

“How's your arm?”  He said, drawing Atsushi back a little so he could look him in the eye. Atsushi sighed and chewed on the inside of his cheek, looking at his arm the he had gouged the skin of, the only thing keeping him from seeing his mess being a bandage that wrapped around his arm.

“It's fine, a little irritating, but nothing I wouldn't expect from a wound.” Atsushi answered with his truth.

Akutagawa nodded, “Next time, could you please tell me what's going on, I don't want to have to leave and come back to you dead.”

“I wasn't thinking rationally at the time, I didn't even think about it being able to kill me-” Atsushi began to ramble.

“I know that, and I understand you weren't in your right mind, I'm not blaming you, cause you're not in the wrong. All I want is you to tell me, or someone, what's happening next time, ok?” Akutagawa explained.

“Ok, I'll try.” Atsushi answered. Atsushi couldn't tell because of how low it was, but he thinks Akutagawa said thank you as he pulled Atsushi back up next to his neck. He smelled nice, a weird observation for Atsushi to make but one he made non the less. He couldn't pinpoint it, something expensive, but floral and herbal? Or neither? Atsushi brushed the thought off as Akutagawa shifted slightly, a metal chain brushing against his neck.

Atsushi shimmied his arm out from underneath Akutagawa's, reaching down to grab the metal. He recognized it quickly even through the dark. It was the necklace from before.

“I thought you'd throw this away or something by now.” Atsushi expressed.

“Why would I throw it away?”

“I don't know, I still haven't guessed what it's supposed to mean, I don't know why you'd keep it if that's the only reason you bought it.” Atsushi explained.

“Who says that's the only reason I bought it? I bought it because I liked it. That just also happened to be a factor.” Akutagawa countered. “As well, I wasn't expecting you to take this long to figure it out.”

“You made it hard ok.”

Akutagawa scoffed, “it's as easy as looking in a mirror, dear god.”

“Sure, whatever you say.” Atsushi huffed as he dropped the necklace

“Go to sleep.” 

“I'm trying.” Atsushi defended himself.

The conversation fell off from there. Both became quiet, as they tried for sleep again, hopeful to get just a sliver. Atsushi felt fingers card through his hair at some point, and it felt nice, soothing even. Atsushi tightened his grip as he ducked his head down. He sighed as he rested his head on the raven haired man's shoulder.

“I'm surprised you haven't threatened me to never tell anyone about this yet.” Atsushi said, despite a slight tired rasp in his voice calling him out for needing sleep.

“That's because you know by now that you shouldn't if you value your life.” Akutagawa responded.

“Yeah, I guess.” 

There was a pause as the room fell to a comfortable silence again.  Atsushi held Akutagawa a little closer, whether for warmth, or for comfort, or just because he wanted to.

“Goodnight, Akutagawa.” He said, sleep finally taking a hold of him.

Akutagawa replied with the same words, and maybe because he was tired, Atsushi thinks he might have heard his name, his actual name , at the end.

Good night, Atsushi.

Chapter Text

It was straining to reach over and close the curtains, but Akutagawa was determined to go back to sleep. He was woken up by the sun blinding him through his window, the one that he usually had the curtains drawn over. He could barely reach the fabric without moving too much and risking waking the beast named Atsushi. He both did not want to wake him up because one, as much as he would deny it to himself as well as others, he'd secretly been very fond of sleeping with the other man. He wasn't particular on being touched by others, but Atsushi was one of the few on the list that he didn't feel uncomfortable or repulsed by touching him, matter of fact, Akutagawa found the contact with the other man nice. However, the second reason was that Atsushi had too much energy. That was probably the only downside to sleeping with him. The second he wakes up he insists on getting up for the day. While on the other hand, Akutagawa would prefer his off day just lying down with him resting, they didn't even have to sleep, they could always steal the tv from Chuuya and Dazai's room and just sit there cuddling and watching it. But no, Atsushi always wanted to get up and help with a mission or find something useful to do.

He managed to catch the edge of the curtain with the tip of his finger pulling it over the glass that separated him and the outside weather. Reaching the other was as easy as reaching the one he already had closed. He sighed after finishing his mission of blocking out the sun, bringing his hand back to himself and resting it on Atsushi's waist where it was before,  wrapping his arm around the Weretiger's back.

Akutagawa ducked his head down into silver hair as he tightened his hold only slightly. 

Unlike wished, Akutagawa didn't fall back asleep in the time he had before Atsushi woke up. But he still was just able to relax for a bit, so he thought it wasn't all that bad. Atsushi mumbled something as he began to wake up, pulling one arm out from underneath Akutagawa's as he rubbed sleep from one of his eyes.

“You'll need to repeat that, Weretiger, I can not understand mumbling.” Akutagawa suggested.

Atsushi seemed almost startled by Akutagawa's sudden words, almost he was too sleepy to care to a full extent or act surprised that is. But he returned back to a neutral as he let his arm fall in the sliver size gap between the two of them.

“I thought you were asleep?” Atsushi rasped, wear and sleep still hooked like a fishing line to his voice.

“I've been awake for a while. What was it you said earlier?” Akutagawa dismissed, asking his own question.

“oh, that, umm I think I said it was cold or something?” Atsushi answered.

“I would suppose. we did sleep on top of the blanket.” Akutagawa stated, “here give me a second.” He added as he rolled onto his back and reached across to Atsushi's bed, grabbing the large blanket and pulling it over to his own bed, the one they both occupied at the moment. He tucked it around them, trying to give most of the blanket and heat to his partner, “better?”

Atsushi nodded. “But was it really necessary to get the blanket from my bed? Couldn't we just crawl under the one we're on?”

“I'm paying for both, my beds, my blankets, my choices.” Akutagawa scowled. Atsushi scoffed.

“I will push you off the bed.” Akutagawa threatened.

“Yeah yeah, I know.” Atsushi said with a roll of his eyes, and a quiet but still prevalent rasp to his voice that Akutagawa noticed only because he focused on it. He found that tired rasp that mixed in with Atsushi's soft voice, something he was fond of.

The room fell quiet. The conversation ceasing as there was an unsure response and continuation from both parties, so they just let it die an unpressured death. Akutagawa felt a soft and subtle tap right above his collarbone as Atsushi rested his head there as a soundless solem encased the room.

“Akutagawa?” Atsushi broke into the silence.

“What is it?” Akutagawa replied.

“What time is it?”

Ah, there it is.

“I think it's around eleven. I'd have to check.” Akutagawa answered.

Atsushi sat up and reached over to look at the clock on the nightstand(the one they had just barely seemed to replace recently without Akutagawa noticing it seemed.) Atsushi sighed and grabbed the edge of the blanket to crawl out. Akutagawa reached to grab his wrist and pull him back down but stopped himself, letting the other leave.

Akutagawa himself didn't get up and get ready for the day. Instead he just watched Atsushi as he made his way around the room, struggling to tie his tie. Atsushi made eye contact with him as he finally got it, and turned back to look at Akutagawa. Akutagawa diverted his eyes to the curtain covered window.

Atsushi walked over and tapped him on the knee to gain eye contact back, “you need to get ready too, you know.”

He removed the fingers from his knee, “you don't need to remind me. I know. I'm holding it off.”

“It's almost one, we need to go.” Atsushi dead panned.

Akutagawa sighed and begrudgingly got out of bed. He grabbed clothes at random and changed into them in the bathroom. At the moment he didn't care to tie back of his shirt correctly, or at all really he instead occupied himself with brushing his teeth and combining his hair. He finished with both and stared at himself in the mirror.

A sudden knocking on the door startled him slightly, he reached over and unlocked the door. Atsushi walked in, not caring to lock or even close the door behind him. Akutagawa reached behind him as he began trying to fix his tie job 

He looked over his shoulder as he finished, making eye contact with the Weretiger, “what do you need?”

Atsushi didn't answer with words, he just held out his arm that he had Akutagawa's coat wrapped over. Akutagawa took the coat from the other. He locked eyes on the younger's arm, or rather, the bandages that encased around it tightly with precision. His lips pressed into a thin line as he frowned, throwing the coat over his shoulders, pushing his arms through the sleeves. He regretted not being there, he thinks he could have stopped the Weretiger from hurting himself like that if he hadn't left. He knew the other man didn't do it with a clear conscience let alone for the act to hurt himself, but more as just to get rid of the feeling of bugs in his skin, but the thought that the disease at any time could cause him to start thinking irrationally and cause harm, such terrifying life threatening harm , again.

Akutagawa couldn't let it happen again.

“How is your arm doing?” He asked, the concern he harbored concealed by monotone.

“Huh?” Atsushi replied, a little startled by the sudden question as he looked down to his arm, “Fine I think, it doesn't hurt as long as I don't stretch it a lot or push it further than it can, sometimes I can barely tell it's there.”

Akutagawa nodded, following the action up by grabbing Atsushi's uninjured wrist and dragging him out the door. Atsushi stumbled at first but quickly followed in presuit. They left the room and made their way down the hall in silence, Akutagawa had a tight grip on Atsushi's wrist, one that he loosened when the other man reached his side. Atsushi didn't pull his hand away though, he seemed to be too busy studying the pictures on the wall to even notice. However, a subtle fear shot through Akutagawa on the other hand as he dropped the other man's hand crossing his arms as his palm grew cold and mind quietly craved for the contact again.

They continued out of the hotel Atsushi following Akutagawa in silence as Akutagawa dragged him places, one of which included and Atm that he withdrawn the money needed from. He would prefer if he, a criminal with a name, wasnt putting or sending things through his name. Another place was a thrift store that he bought a small briefcase from to store the money.

However, Atsushi is the one that took the lead as they approached the woman's house. And almost like a sign of being correct about five or seven cats came out of the shadows following the two as they made their way up the steps. Akutagawa barely noticed when Atsushi ended up with two in his arms, another mauling his leg. Akutagawa rolled his eyes and scoffed amusedly, as he knocked on the door.

There was a quiet shuffle from the other side, and then a few small clicks as it opened. The woman opened the door, eyes slightly bloodshot from what both assumed to be crying. She quickly opened the screen door and let the two men in, helping Atsushi as they removed the cats off him. 

The woman led them to a small room with a couch and low rise table, “I should get you two tea.” She said before stalking off out of the room leaving the two alone. Both men wearily sat down on the couch hesitant to even sit on the edge.

The woman came back quickly, setting two cups of tea down on the coffee table in front of them. She sat down on a smaller couch to Akutagawa's left sipping the tea she made for herself. The room was quiet, no one said a word, neither men knew what they should say if anything at all.

But the silence grew a bit too irritable to Akutagawa as he sighed and picked up the briefcase he had set pushed up against the couch by his feet. He displayed it out towards the woman. She looked at him with hesitant eyes before slowly and wearily reaching up and taking the briefcase. She opened it and bit back her lip.

“Are you sure? It's a lot of money to give to some random woman.” She said as she looked back up at them.

Akutagawa didn't say a word, just looking at Atsushi who glanced back at him before speaking, “were sure, your sister even though we met her only briefly was a delight. She was taken too soon, she deserves a good funeral at the least.”

The woman nodded, “thank you, truly, it means a lot to me and it would to her as well.”

Atsushi nodded, “it's a pleasure.”

She looked down at the money again, then she closed the briefcase with a small smile, setting it to her side, “so.. uhm.. how have you two been? Anything big?”

“Nothing much, just a lot of sitting around waiting.” 

Akutagawa glanced over at his partner, and a cat? When the fuck did he get a cat? And how have I not noticed him holding it till now. Akutagawa brushed it off as he looked back at the woman.

“I've been busy babysitting.” Akutagawa answered, earning a strict glare from his partner that he cracked a small amused smile, which he covered with his hand as he rested his jaw on his palm.

The woman took a sip of the tea she made herself, studying Atsushi, “what happened to your arm?”

“Oh..” Atsushi said.

“Too personal? Sorry, you don't have to answer that then…” the woman apologized.

“Huh. Oh, no, don't worry you're not doing anything wrong. It's just, I wasn't expecting the sudden question. If you really are wondering, I've had this feeling recently of bugs crawling on my skin, but it only got bad yesterday, but I ended up scratching at my arm too deep by accident.” Atsushi explained.

“Bug?” The woman asked.

“Yeah, bugs.”

“Weird, my sister used to complain about the same thing after the disease. She developed a phobia because of it.”

Atsushi fell quiet in response, Akutagawa assumed that it was because he didn't have the heart to tell her he had the same disease. However, the woman was smart.

“Oh my god, you have it too, don't you?” She said quickly.

“I-” Atsushi started, “yeah. But don't worry I only got it recently!” he answered, quickly hooking the end on.

“That's good, hopefully they find a cure before it… Actually, could you come with me? I want to give you something.” She cut herself off switching the subject as she stood up.

Atsushi replied the question, “oh ok.”, slightly stumbling as he  set the ragdoll cat down on the floor, the animal letting out a protesting meow. Akutagawa watched as the two left the room, Atsushi glancing back and making quick eye contact with his partner before leaving sight.

Akutagawa sighed as he diverted his attention facing forward again, letting his shoulders slouch and relax to a bad posture as he drew out the exasperated breath. He looked down at his feet. There standing a small fluffy ragdoll cat at his feet. Akutagawa made eye contact with the feline for a while before reaching down to guide his fingers through its white, gray, and black tinted fur.

“I wonder if that incolent tiger knows his hair feels as soft as cat fur.” Akutagawa mumbled to the cat as if it could understand him. It meowed back as if pretending to trick him into believing it could. Akutagawa rolled his eyes and grinned slightly. 

The cat rolled onto its back and began playing with the bottom of Akutagawa's pants. Akutagawa grabbed his phone and looked at the time, they needed to leave soon. That's when Akutagawa noticed  the strap of his coat. He picked it up and dangled it over the cat that began to attack it.

It was a while before they did, but Atsushi and the woman came back, three or four pill bottles in the Weretiger's hands. Atsushi seemed to be thanking the woman for them before he turned to Akutagawa. When he locked eyes with and on the other man he gave him a sly and mischievous grin as he walked over leaning over the back of the couch, perching over Akutagawa's shoulder.

“Seems you've made a friend.” The Weretiger said, motioning to the cat.

“I suppose I have.” Akutagawa dead panned. He then turned his attention to the pill bottles in Atsushi's hands, “What are those?”

Atsushi looked down at the bottles, “pills that are supposed to help me prolong the disease longer.”

“Yep, my sister took them and they kept her alive longer than most, I thought I should give them to you two.” The woman further explained.

Akutagawa hummed in understanding.

“Yeah, and I'm going to take as much as I can, so I asked for the whole stock and where to get more!” Atsushi said with every ounce of determination.

“Will you now?” Akutagawa replied, as he stood up.

“Yep!- you're losing your strap, by the way.” Atsushi pointed out, pointing at the cat that began to wrap itself up in the belt of Akutagawa's coat, pulling it out of its loops.

Akutagawa sighed as he grabbed the long piece of fabric, pulling it up, causing the cat to unravel almost comically out of it, plopping down on the floor with a meow.

Akutagawa looked back at Atsushi and the woman, “well, we better get going.”

“Yep, thanks for the medicine. If you even need anything just contact the agency!”

“I'll keep that in mind. Remember to take the pills two to three times a day, three on the bed ones.” the woman advised before the two men could leave.

“I will! I'll take them no matter what!” Atsushi answered in full confidence before Akutagawa dragged him all the way out the front door, and down the steps.

Two days later

“Swallow the pill god damnit!” Akutagawa scorned as he pressed his hand over his partner's mouth, pill in hand.

“Hm-mm!” Atsushi refused as he shook his head, freeing himself from the force feeding on the medical pill trying to escape from the bed.

Why'd that damn doctor leave me to do this, he's her coworker.

“Weretiger, you have to take the pill! It slows the effects of the disease!” Akutagawa argued, pulling Atsushi back as he wrapped his legs around his waist holding him from escaping as he reached his arm around holding the pill over Atsushi's mouth with his hand again.

Akutagawa barely caught the pill back in his hand when Atsushi managed to fight an arm under both of Akutagawa's, the one that he'd secured his shoulders as well the one that held the pill to his mouth. He pushed both arms off, trying to break free.

Fuck this.

Akutagawa used Rashomon to pull Atsushi back down, pinning him down onto the bed. Atsushi struggled against the ability as he tried to lift himself back up off the bed.

Akutagawa grabbed the water bottle from the nightstand and leaned over Atsushi, pill in hand, “listen you can either take this water bottle and pill and swallow it without fighting, or I can shove it down your throat. Take your pick, because you're taking it either way.” He threatened through gritted teeth.

“shoving it down my throat would defeat the purpose of helping me.” Atsushi smart mouthed.

“Don't underestimate the lengths I will go.”

“Oh please, do your worst.” Atsushi scoffed and crossed his arms, or at least he would have if he didn't have one arm pinned down by Rashomon and the other by Akutagawa's knee.

Akutagawa gave him a flat look. He uncapped the water bottle and drank enough to just settle flat in his mouth, he looked to Atsushi who gave him back a confused and processing look. He then held the sides of the other man's face using his thumb to gain access and open his mouth slightly, which in itself startled the Silverette as he stilled and flushed a bright shade of pink at the action.

It was when Akutagawa leaned down slightly and moved his hand that had the pill to his own mouth that Atsushi finally processed the leading actions, audibly gasping with a subtle shriek as his eyes widened, “what! wait, gi-” he started before Akutagawa took advantage of the situation, slapping the hand with the pill over the younger's mouth. Atsushi grabbed his hand trying to remove it .

Akutagawa glared down at him as he pilled his other hand over the first,“swallow the fucking pill, bitch.”

There was a second of pause, then Atsushi dry swallowed the pill, choking it down, sitting up and coughing the second Akutagawa let him up, removing his hands off his mouth and sitting up, “ nasty. And you! I can't believe you were gonna do that!” He exasperated as he turned to Akutagawa.

“I wasn't going to actually do it, well.. not without your consent." Akutagawa explained himself with the cross of his arms and an eye roll.

“Ha! So you'd still do it!” Atsushi accused, pointing an even more accusing finger at him.

“If it's what got you to take your medicine, yes, for however long needed.” Akutagawa answered, adding the end with hidden sarcasm.

“G-” Atsushi cut himself off, taken aback by the straightforwardness of Akutagawa's statement. A flush of pink tinted color took over the Weretiger's face as he paused for longer than he should. He stuttered at the beginning “...You're joking right.”

“I am, get your mind out of the gutter, Weretiger, we need to go.” Akutagawa dead panned as he stood up from the bed putting his hands in his pockets.

“What? Go where?” Atsushi asked, confused on such a sudden change in subject.

“To the cafe, everyone is able to have breakfast together early today and would like you to go along.” Akutagawa explained as he made his way over to his own bed, which was very neat and untouched because somehow ended up being convicted by his detective partner to sleep with him in. He picked up his coat and flung it over his shoulders, shoving his arms through the sleeves. Suddenly there was a hand around his wrist and he was being dragged towards the door.

“Weretiger, wait, I need shoes.” Akutagawa protested right before Atsushi could drag him out the door. Atsushi huffed but let go of Akutagawa's wrist and let him put his shoes on.

“Can we go now?” Atsushi asked.

Akutagawa looked up at him as he zipped up his boot, “patience, Weretiger.”

Atsushi groaned and leaned back on the now closed door. Akutagawa finished with his other boot and stood up, getting dragged by the Weretiger grabbing his hand the second he noticed he was ready. Akutagawa stumbled at first by suddenly getting pulled out the door and through the hallway but quickly gained his balance as he caught up to the same pace as his partner.

Akutagawa glanced at their hands, the warmth of Atsushi's hand almost running like electricity around Akutagawa's. Akutagawa curled his hand slightly, the tips of his fingers brushing against the side of Atsushi's hand. Atsushi paused and stopped, looking back at him.

“Do you need something?” He asked.

Akutagawa paused for a second before slipping his hand away and into his pocket, “It’s nothing, Weretiger, let's go.” Akutagawa replied, with a flat and forced cold tone to his voice, as he walked forward.

 Atsushi walked to his side, calm but a bit excited to see everyone (not that Akutagawa could blame him, even though he had that annoying, stupidly bright smile plastered on his face. The Weretiger had been stuck in that room, only rarely seeing anyone besides Akutagawa and Yosano, who only half of the time brought Kunikida along.)

When they reached the staircase Atsushi rushed down it, the odd out of place strap that was attached to his belt flowing like a tail behind him as he reached the bottom. Atsushi was already almost through the cafe door when Akutagawa caught up, guaranteed, he wasn't putting as much speed as the detective behind his steps.

When Atsushi and him, Atsushi especially, entered the cafe, they heard a cheer.

“Well if it isn't the little tiger! How are you feeling?” Chuuya said, leaning sideways over Dazai. Akutagawa was reminded about how early it was by the older Mafia executive lacking his signature hat(that prospect was furthered when he noticed how dressed down everyone else was as well, almost all of them were wearing borderline night wear.)

“I'm doing fine, except for the fact that I had to dry swallow a nasty nasty pill right before this.” Atsushi complained in self pity.

Akutagawa rolled his eyes as they approached the table, which for some reason emptied, making the two sit beside the cold windows again. Atsushi didn't seem to complain as he slid down the seat Chuuya and Dazai were standing by; therefore, leaving Akutagawa to sit beside the agency's maniac of a doctor, and almost terrifyingly scheduled detective. Akutagawa did suppose it would be better than sitting by Dazai, who the second they met eyes, diverted them away with a nerve wrecked grin on his face. More than likely still feeling guilty for Akutagawa falling down the stairs, or over the argument entirely that caused it.

The seats filled back up quickly as Yosano and Kunikida took a seat beside Akutagawa and Chuuya and Dazai beside Atsushi.

Chuuya turned to Atsushi leaning back against Dazai's shoulder, “what's this about a quote unquote nasty nasty pill ?”

Akutagawa huffed in anyonce, rolling his eyes when Atsushi spoke with every drop of dramatics in his voice, “i was made by that heathen over there” he pointed at Akutagawa, “to take the most fast dissolving nasty disgusting pills on the face of the earth.”

“Even Yosano advised you to take them, Weretiger.” Akutagawa argued.

“You took them right?” Chuuya asked.

Atsushi turned in his seat to face Chuuya, ignoring the fact that Dazai barely had room on the seat(however, it didn't seem like he was that bothered, to Akutagawa, he seemed more busy listening in to the conversation with amusement with his arms draped over the smaller ginger man's shoulders, his jaw resting on top of his head, to notice)“Well of course. He said he would shove them down my throat if I didn't.” Atsushi huffed as he crossed his arms.

“Akutagawa wouldn't actually do that to you , you know?” Chuuya informed, as if the man himself wasn't barely two feet away and could have said that himself.

“Oh, I know he wouldn't. The reason I swallowed it is because he almost-” Atsushi cut himself off, his cheeks turning a darker shade of pink.

Chuuya seemed to be amused  by this as he grinned and looked at Akutagawa. Akutagawa glared back, arms crossed, and kicked the older man in the shin under the table. Chuuya only snickered behind his hand at that. Akutagawa thanked God that Yosano seemed too tired to care, and Kunikida had seemed to have drowned out their conversation in paper work.

Chuuya turned back to Atsushi, “what was it he did? You didn't finish.” He pried.

Atsushi opened his mouth to speak but seemed to only gain a deeper shade of red to his face as he played out the scenario in his mind again, as well as what could have happened, which only seemed to worsen his predicament. “I- uhh… He shoved the pill in my mouth, and held his hand over it till I swallowed it dry.” He explained quickly.

Well… not a lie but not what Chuuya was looking for more than likely

He turned forward in his seat, looking at his hands as he set his forehead down on the table in an attempt to hide his embarrassment. Akutagawa observed as Chuuya gave him a small comforting pat on the back, but couldn't hold back a laugh because of his teasing.

A waitress walked up to their table asking Kunikida what he was ordering. Akutagawa was quick with his order that consisted of thin pancakes(again) set with raspberry (and for him specifically to add to his order, fig) jam and chocolate drizzled over the top, but add tea, any kind really, as the drink. The waitress seemed to study him with a hint of confusion before writing his order down quickly and turning to Dazai for his order.

Akutagawa looked down at the Weretiger, his face still planted on the table. He moved his foot under the table, tapping the  side of Atsushi's ankle with the throat line of his shoe. Atsushi raised his head from the table to look at Akutagawa, wide gold and violet eyes giving him a confused look. Akutagawa stared into or more of less at Atsushi's eyes, looking at a clear view of them. He brushed his thumb against the chain of the necklace that he had draped around his neck, but hidden in his shirt to not be seen by anyone besides him or Atsushi. He ripped his eyes away from Atsushi's, staring out the window for a bit at the telephone line that was lined with eight jackdaws. He returned his gaze back onto an even more puzzled Atsushi, he then tilted his head towards the waitress to motion what he meant.

Atsushi looked at the waitress who had just finished with Chuuya's order and smiled at him waiting for his. Atsushi looked at Akutagawa, contemplation and a lack of answer almost radiating off the look he gave him.

“What?” Akutagawa snipped through gritted teeth.

“I- what did you get?” Atsushi whispered across the table, as if no one could hear him.

“The usual.” Akutagawa answered.

Atsushi glared, “I don't know what your!- ugh whatever!” He whispered before turning to the waitress and speaking with a louder voice and fake smile, “I'll just get what he's getting, but whatever it is make it strawberry. Oh and water to drink.”

The waitress nodded and smiled, walking off without a word. Akutagawa watched her leave turning back to find Atsushi glaring at him. It didn't phase Akutagawa, if anything he had to fight back a smile.

He thinks he’s scary like that to me, how cute.

The waitress came back quickly with their drinks, and a small basket of rolls. A new snack policy, Akutagawa supposed.

Akutagawa lightly kicked the toe of his shoe to Atsushi's after a while of watching him stare off towards Yosano, Chuuya and Dazai's conversation as he ate a roll to garner his attention. Which, Akutagawa slightly regretted as he found the weirdly concentrated but intrigued facial expression the silver haired man made in interest at the details of the conversation, fond. Akutagawa brushed it off though as Atsushi directed his attention to Akutagawa, a light confusion in the way he looked at the other man.

Akutagawa paused. Wait, what does he do now? Why had he wanted Atsushi's attention in the first place? Did he even have a reason at first? Akutagawa pulled his palm from his cheek to his mouth to ignore such embarrassing questions.

“What is it? Do you need something.” Atsushi questioned as he leaned his cheek against his fist, holding his glass of water on the table, but he clearly wasn't going to drink it anytime soon. 

Akutagawa studied the other man, his posture, facial expression, his features, the way his hair fell around his face, the one long strand hidden behind his arm as it felt at an angle complementary to the angle Atsushi was tilting his head. The fact that Atsushi was wearing his usual outfit but without the suspenders and fingerless gloves, as well, the button up shirt he had on was slightly messy as it missed the top two buttons being done up, just enough to stop right where it showed just enough of his collarbone. The way his fist pressed against his face, causing a slight crink to his eye as well a slight pull at the edge of his mouth that sat in a line, of neither a frown or a smile but at rest. From there he studied his lips, soft, warm to the touch, a weird but oddly intriguing fact about the other he had learned earlier that morning in their wrestling match over taking his pills. He studied his eyes, from them on, one of his favorite attributes about his partner, gold and violet irises mixing a soft breathtaking falling gradient into each other like watercolor.

 Akutagawa wanted to reach out and cup the other man's face in his hands, and wanted to feel the velvet-like softness of Atsushi's skin against his own callused hands. Wanted to feel the contrasting warmth that attached and ferniced from the Weretiger fight away the cold that latched like an annoying disease to Akutagawa's pale skin. Wanted to feel that electric like feeling burn through his veins, fingertips, and heart at the contact and way the other looked back up at him. Wanted to study and memorize every inch of skin and features that adorned him. Wanted to observe those beautifully bright and soft, yellow and purple eyes with every ounce of admiration and care he could, wanting those same eyes to look back up at him with all similar affections and desire. Wanting Atsushi's own hands to reach up and cup his own face, letting that warmth and softness brought with them cancel out the chill of Akutagawa's skin and infect it with a more desired disease. 

Akutagawa wanted. But he didn't hope, cause God knows what consequences hoping for such luxuries could gain him.

“Hey?” Atsushi whispered, the softness and subtle concern in his voice breaking Akutagawa from his thoughts, “are you okay?”

That concern, that god damn fucking concern! Every word filled to the brim with such genuinely caring human concern.  

There was a subtle light, careful , brush of fingers down a small bit of his arm, the gentle feeling drawing his attention again. There was a pause as Akutagawa looked down at Atsushi. The Weretiger looked back up at him.

“Akutagawa?” He whispered a hesitant but caring hand curling its place over Akutagawa's hand.

Akutagawa stared at Atsushi.

I can't. Not now. I can't do this right now.

“I'll be back.” He mumbled before turning to Yosano tapping her shoulder to get her Attention, “can I get through.” He asked with a forced but calm voice.

“Oh- uhm, yeah sure. Move your ass, Kunikida.” 

Akutagawa filed out of the seat once empty, not even gaining the will to glance back at Atsushi, who watched him walk off with worry and confusion, or the rest of the table. He pushed open the men's bathroom door, a calm expression still plastered like a mask as he opened a stall. The metal door slammed behind him as he let himself sink against the wall to the floor. He buried his face in his knees letting his shoulders sag and his arms lay like ragdolls at his sides.

Of all people.

Of course it was Atsushi.

“God-dammit.” He cursed to himself. He reached his hands into his hair, holding what he could so tightly it stung as it pulled, “God-dammit!”

I love him. I love that insufferable Weretiger. I love his stupid giddy grin, and I love his childish care for the world and others. I love the way his eyes shine with meaning no matter where. I love the way his warmth radiates as he holds my bloody cold hand. I love him. I love him enough to trust him with my life. I love him enough to throw my life, that same life, away for him. I love him.

“How the fuck did I let my self fall in love with the god-damned Weretiger!” he yelled quietly at himself. 

God.. I hate myself. How fucking pathetic.

How stupid can I be to let myself love, and want love? And with the Weretiger nonetheless.

I can't. I can't let myself do that. I don't deserve it.

“Wow.” Akutagawa mumbled to himself, “Ryuunosuke Akutagawa, silent rabbid Fucking dog of the port mafia. Sitting in a nasty public restroom floor throwing a fit over not being able to be loved back by my own fucking enemy. I really am quite pathetic, aren't I?” Akutagawa asked himself. Knowing what his answer to that question is.

“I wouldn't say your pathetic.” Another voice spoke.

Akutagawa froze looking at the small sliver between the door and the floor, staring at a tan trench coat in terror. 

Dazai…

oh my god.

The figure stood up. “Can I come in?” The voice asked.

“You might as well if you herd all that anyways, Dazai.”

The stall door opened, “oh no, covers been blown, I thought I might have hidden my identity better than that!”

“What do you want?” Akutagawa glared.

The older man plopped on the floor in front of Akutagawa, “you're human.”

Akutagawa gave him a confused look.

The older man pulled a juice box out of his pocket, “ Im mean , you asked if loving Atsushi and wanting to be loved by him is pathetic. It's not, it's human.” He elaborated as he stabbed his straw into his juice box taking a long sip from it.

Akutagawa scoffed.

“I mean it. Here is a better explanation, what is Atsushi as far as humans are concerned.”

Akutagawa paused, what a stupid question? “...he's a human?”

“Exactly! Good job! I'll reward you with a juice box.” Dazai said as he pulled another juice box out of his coat pockets.

Akutagawa stared at it, “no… thank you…”

Dazai shrugged, “ok your loss.” Dazai took another sip of his juice, “Atsushi's a Weretiger, he's half tiger half human.”

“You just said the Weretiger was human.”

“He is! Despite his ability causing him to become a ravenous beast, therefore, a Weretiger, he is undoubtedly human. Why is that?”

Akutagawa paused, it was a simple answer, “his humanity.”

“Correct again! Bravo!” Dazai cheered as he clapped his hands, “what is humanity exactly?”

“emotion, and compassion.”

“Yep!” Dazai said, “Therefor…, you trusting Atsushi, you getting angry or upset at yourself because of it, you loving him, and wanting him to love you, all makes you human, because wanting and loving someone, no matter what way it is, is one of the most humane things someone can do. To find humanity by finding another human.”

“I am not a human. I am a tool, and I am a weapon. And with humanity I am only dull and useless. I will only be thrown away with those things.”

Dazai sighed, “and that is my fault. You've been taught to be a weapon as the only way to survive since you've known how to walk. I only made that worse by trying to sharpen you like a knife that I could use.” Dazai looked at Akutagawa, really looked at him, placing a comforting hand on his knee to make sure he had eye contact, “I'm sorry.”

Akutagawa fell quiet.

“You're not a weapon, or a tool. And if you fear being thrown away if you aren't, then whoever is the one making you think that you should leave.” Dazai advised.

“Tch- and do what? Leave myself alone with no one?” Akutagawa scoffed as he crossed his arms.

“Do you really think everyone would leave you? What about Gin, would she leave you? And Chuuya, would he leave you? What about higuchi? Would she leave you? What about Atsushi, do you think Atsushi would leave you if had humanity? If you weren't an emotionless man killing weapon?” Dazai explained.

Akutagawa paused, “I suppose you're right.” Akutagawa mumbled to himself. Because he was. There was no doubt in his mind, if Akutagawa let himself be the human his skin, bones and blood tell him he is he would be sure that at least Gin and Atsushi wouldn't leave him. If anything they'd be happy to see him act human.

Dazai switched the subject, “Are you sure you don't want the juice box? It's apple juice…” Dazai said, shaking the juice box in front of Akutagawa in quarter circles.

“You're insufferable.” Akutagawa said, taking the juice box from the older man's hands.

“Knew you'd want it eventually! Anyhow! We should get going, food’s probably been delivered and your little crush is worried about you.” Dazai teased as he rose to his feet, leaving Akutagawa to grumble at his comment as he slowly stood up and followed the other man out.

It seemed the food had just barely arrived when they returned. Dazai plopped onto his seat next to Chuuya, wasting no time to drape his arm around the executive as he ate. Yosano and Kunikida let Akutagawa into his seat beside the window.

Atsushi looked up at him as he sat, quickly swallowing the bite of food he had in his mouth, almost choking on it in the process, “hey! Your back. Are you good?”

“I'm fine.” Akutagawa answered.

“Ok good, cause these are some really good pancakes and the worried mood was dampening their flavor.” Atsushi stated in full seriousness as he shoveled another bite into his mouth.

Dear god, how the hell did I fall in love with this fool? Akutagawa grimaced.

Atsushi swallowed his second bite, “you should eat your food, Akutagawa.”

Akutagawa listened, taking up his fork and cutting into the thin but fluffy pancakes. He ate the bite. Rather staring out the window at the same fence line and the same birds then at Atsushi. 

“Hey, Akutagawa.” Chuuya asked.

“Hm.” Akutagawa replied still starring out the window as he took another bite.

“Where'd the juice box come from?” Chuuya motioned at the juice box that sat beside his tea cup on the table.

Akutagawa pointed at Dazai, who seemed to be in the middle of a conversation, or more of a one party teasing, with Kunikida.

“Ah. Can I have it if you don't want it?”

“Get your own juice box. I doubt it could be that hard for you to ask him .” Akutagawa dead panned, leaving the suggestion in the air. If Akutagawa was being honest, he didn't care much for the container of apple juice, he preferred fruit punch, but he cared enough to not hand it over to Chuuya, the greedy man, he had his boyfriend to mooch juice boxes off.

Seems Chuuya listened to Akutagawa's advice cause when he looked back up at the man, he was holding a juice box full of orange juice. A stupid pun Dazai intended more than likely.

The table seemed to dwindle in numbers after time. The table was nearly empty not after too long. The last three that remained were himself Atsushi and Kunikida. The Weretiger and the blond detective engrossed in a surprisingly very chatty conversation. Akutagawa just continued to eat as he listened to it, not really catching what it was about but listening anyway. It's not like there was anything better to do.

Kunikida had left, for a mission he said, leaving the last two occupants of the table to themselves. Atsushi was nearly done, seeming to prolong the meal as he slowly sipped his cup of water. Akutagawa had only reached two thirds of the way done on the other hand. He pushed the blueberries, raspberries, and three slices of mandarin oranges around his plate as he cut himself another bite.

Atsushi seemed to take notice of the habit, “why don't you eat the fruits?”

“I don't want berries right now, and I loathe mandarin oranges.” Akutagawa explained as he ate another bite of his food.

“I'll take them if you don't want them, I like mandarin oranges.” Atsushi suggested.

“Of course you do.” Akutagawa sighed, but scooped up the berries and fruits and transferred them onto Atsushi's plate. Atsushi beamed, his smile glowing as he thanked Akutagawa for the added accommodations to his plate.

Akutagawa hid a small smile behind his hand. He watched Atsushi across from him as he himself ate. Even when Atsushi's plate was empty he didn't leave. He sat there and waited for Akutagawa as he rested his head in his arms, looking out the window at the flock of fourteen birds as they flew in sync like a dance in the sky.

Akutagawa paid for both him and Atsushi, even though the other man protested him needing to do so. He let Atsushi wrap his hand around Akutagawa's as they left, dragging him up the stairs and to their room. He plopped down onto his bed, taking off his shoes and setting them on the floor before Akutagawa could ridicule him for having them on the bed.

Akutagawa checked the time, “Weretiger.” Akutagawa said.

“Hm, yeah what is it?” Atsushi replied looking up at Akutagawa.

“You need to take your second dose of pills.” Akutagawa answered.

Atsushi groaned as he fell back on his bed, “but they're so nasty, I can taste them in my mouth after swallowing them and it's so gross…”

Akutagawa walked over to Atsushi leaning over the bed beside him and grabbing the pill bottle and bottle of water, he looked down at Atsushi who starred back up at him, “the only reason you keep getting such a strong aftertaste is because you keep fighting and having it dissolve in your mouth as you dry swallowing it.”

Atsushi grumbled complaints to himself but sat up as Akutagawa stood up, handing him the pill and the water bottle. Atsushi, despite his complaints, took up Akutagawa's advice, throwing the pill in his mouth and chugging water from the water bottle.

Atsushi then became embarrassed, his cheeks dusting in pink as he mumbled, “you were right, sorry.”

Akutagawa took the water bottle from the detective, reaching across and setting it and the bottle of pills on the nightstand, “don't apologize.”

“I should, I was being intolerable and annoying, like a kid over taking some pil-” Atsushi began, Akutagawa interrupting him as he placed a hand on each side of Atsushi's face, drawing his face up to look him in the eyes. He stared down at him, his eyes searching the other man's face, making eye contact and studying his eyes with precision.

Words rang through his head, words he refused to speak, or at least not at the time.

I love you. I love you, Atsushi. I love you so much. Please, please love me back. It doesn't have to be now and it's selfish but someday please, love me as I love you.

Atsushi leaned against Akutagawa's palm, pillowing his head on his enemy yet partner's hand. He gave him a confused look, waiting for Akutagawa at whatever pace he needed to speak.

Akutagawa rubbed his thumb over Atsushi's cheek and breathed out deeply, giving himself a second before speaking.

“You're right, you are intolerable and annoying.” Akutagawa stated.

Atsushi scoffed, “you suck at this.”

“That's because I'm not done, you insufferable Weretiger.” Akutagawa glared, “ as I was saying, your intolerable, but that isn't always a bad thing. Yes you can be childish, and stupid, and foolish. And your a pain in the ass.”

“Wow, kick me when I'm down, why don't you?” Atsushi mumbled.

“Stop interrupting me.” Akutagawa ridiculed, “the thing is, everyone is all those things. Childish, annoying, insufferable, foolish. And sometimes they should be allowed to be.”

“I doubt everyone is childish.” Atsushi stated.

“I can reassure you they are.” Akutagawa reassured, brushing his thumb over Atsushi's face as he spoke. Atsushi closed his eyes and rested his cheek further into Akutagawa's palm, the action causing Akutagawa's heart to catch in his throat.

Atsushi opened his eyes back up, only a sliver, “are you saying that you are childish?”

“I am very childish, Weretiger.” Akutagawa reassured.

“Is that so?” It was a question that didn't need an answer. Atsushi closed his eyes again letting a small smile creep onto his lips as he rested his face into Akutagawa's hands. And they sat like that for a while. Atsushi creeped his hands up Akutagawa's that never stopped cupping his face, and Akutagawa watched and felt as Atsushi webbed his fingers through Akutagawa's, sitting there in a soothing silence as he held the back of Akutagawa's hands.

After a while, of which neither knew how long, Atsushi moved, raising his head up off Akutagawa's hand, pulling each hand gently off his face, but never taking his hands off Akutagawa's.

“Today has been long.” Atsushi stated.

“Indeed it has.” Akutagawa agreed.

“I want to lay down.” Atsushi said.

“Then do so, you don't need my permission to lie down.” Akutagawa responded.

“Come with me.” Atsushi asked, looking up at Akutagawa, making eye contact.

Akutagawa was quiet for a second, “ok, fine, make room.”

Atsushi smiled as he lay down, leaving Akutagawa room to lie down beside him. He wrapped his arms around the mafioso's neck as he laid down.

Neither of them slept, it was light out still, but neither had anything to do, so instead they laid there. Akutagawa, at some point, had began driving his fingers through Atsushi's hair. It was soft from what he had already determined.

It was nice. Just laying there with each other close by. Even if it was the closest Akutagawa would ever be allowed to get, it was enough.

Atsushi wrapped his grip tighter around Akutagawa's neck, resting his forehead on Akutagawa's collarbone, “how much longer do you think it'll be till the disease kills me.”

Akutagawa stilled, “don't ask questions like that.”

“most people last two to three months right.” Atsushi stated.

“Weretiger.”

“With the pills I could last four. And I've had it affecting me for about a month now. So I guess it will kill me in two to three months.” Atsushi continued, “that is if it runs its course how it should and nothing happens to speed it up. That or if I don't end up killing my-”

Akutagawa grabbed Atsushi's face and covered his mouth with his hand to stop him from continuing talking, “shut up. Don't continue that.”

Atsushi relaxed his grip, “sorry.”

“Stop apologizing. You aren't going to die. No matter what. Your little agency, and I would never let that happen.” Akutagawa said, loosening his grip and cupping Atsushi's face. “Got it?” Akutagawa said, pushing the silver striped black strand of hair behind Atsushi's ear.

Atsushi rested his head back onto Akutagawa's collarbone, slowly gliding his finger up and down the chain of the necklace on Akutagawa's neck, “Got it.”

“Good.” Akutagawa said as he ducked his head into Atsushi's hair running his fingers through the silver strands of it once again.

Atsushi mumbled something that Akutagawa didn't catch.

“What did you say?”

No response.

“Are you asleep? It's like one pm?”

He felt a soft squeeze against the back of his shirt.

“I'll take that as a no.” 

Atsushi backed away to look Akutagawa in the eyes, “what I said was, thank you.”

“What for?”

“I don't really know. Putting up with me I guess.” Atsushi answered.

Akutagawa pulled Atsushi back, resting his jaw on Atsushi's head as he ran his fingers through his hair, “it's not an issue, you my arch nemesis, I'll put up with you no matter what.”

Atsushi scoffed, “ arch nemesis, sure , let's call it that.” He joked. Akutagawa smiled, letting the conversation fall with that. He supposed staying like this for a while wouldn't be that bad.

He ducked his head down into Atsushi's hair. He let himself relax fully, not worrying about being hurt or killed or keeping his guard up. Just relaxing there with his enemy, listening to the soft hum of his breathing.

Chapter Text

Atsushi found himself on a familiar floor of a familiar bathroom, plagued by a familiar worsened disease. How the effects from before could be taken up a notch was a mystery to the detective. The ringing went from subtle painful headaches to causing migraines that felt like he was being lobotomized with screws and nails being jammed or hammered into his skull from every which way. He felt cold, so cold that he couldn't tell whether it was his body going stiff as if like rigor mortis or whether he was just purely freezing from both the inside out and the outside in. The bugs were unbearable. Atsushi considered trying to gouge them out again, but he considered the fact that at that moment he was the only one in the hotel room.

God, it hurts.

He breathed in, and it stung like he was trying to inhale water. No, wait . He gave himself a second before feeling something along the lines puddled in the back of his mouth, the liquid bringing an iron-like taste along with it. He leaned forward, his frozen muscles and joints fighting against the motion, he grabbed the empty trash can that sat near infront of him. He didn't have to cough or spit the liquid up, he simply tilted his head down into the bin and opened his mouth. A deep red liquid poured almost fluidly out from his lips. Blood. There was something new .

Atsushi spat the rest that remained in his mouth out. He pulled his head back. Staring at the red of the blood that sat in contrast with the white plastic of the trash bin. The thin clear liner was the only thing separating the blood from staining the clear milky white of the plastic bin. He inhaled, and choked on the liquid that seemed to quickly have built but up his throat. He managed to contain the blood in the trash can as his throat stung from a harsh and sudden on-slot of coughing and choking on his own blood.

He breathed in little at a time as he held himself in the same place over the trash can, each small breath threatening him choking on blood again. The breath out was slow, shaky, painful. He continued to sit there letting blood drip from his lip from the hallowing under Atsushi's tongue and in his bottom lip where it began to puddle.

He spit the blood out, wiping the blood on his bottom lip away with the back of his hand, coloring his skin with a variation of values of reds and pinks. He then breathed in habitually, breathing in too sharp as air caught in his throat again, causing him to choke out his blood again.

When his coughing ceased he rested his forehead on the rim of the trash bin. The only taste in his mouth was the metallic coppery taste of blood. His throat stung sore from coughing and choking. His head ache only grew more painful as he struggled to breath without choking again, lacking oxygen. The buzzing ringing in his ears taking over anything else capable of noise, or everything really.

He stared nauseous at the blood that began to puddle in the bottom of the trash can. The puddle only grew as he sat there staring like a statue as blood ran like a river up his throat with ease, dripping from his bottom lip. Thel ringing drowned out the sound of the tap water dripping from the faucet of the sink, the water rushing through the pipes in the wall, the rumble of the heater in the other room, like a loud background acapella. 

 He moved every so often to wipe blood onto the back of his hand from his lip. And God knows how long he sat there like that. Long enough to have his legs go numb from what he'd determined when he moved them slightly. 

It was maybe an hour or so later of him still sitting when the feeling of hands on his shoulders was added to one of the few things that had his senses triggered. Atsushi didn't look to see who had touched him, the ringing and overwhelming smell of blood took too much of his attention. Atsushi could barely catch the words through the buzzing, as Akutagawa spoke to him. The ringing began to die down as the raven haired man began prying Atsushi's fingers off the edge of the trash bin.

“Weretiger, can you hear me?”

Atsushi looked over at him, and subtly nodded. Akutagawa nodded and then reached for Atsushi's hand, the one that had been covered in blood from wiping it from his mouth. Atsushi only then noticed the wet rag in the Mafioso's hand as the other man washed the blood from his hand.

Akutagawa didn't look up at him as he spoke, “what happened?”

Atsushi grabbed the trash, spitting the build up of blood in his mouth out, quickly taking in a long and big breath before blood could work back into the places it had been removed from just seconds before. He gave himself a second before turning back to Akutagawa, “the disease got worse.” His words were short and taunting, choking as each word dwindled the air source he had taken in.

“what's happening with this ?” Akutagawa punctuated his speech.

“I don't entire-” Atsushi began before breathing in with his words caused his air to catch once again. He pulled the garbage can back over to himself, managing to keep the blood contained in the trash.

His coughing and choking dispersed to a copacetic amount, after a while.  He didn't dare move from the trash though, as he drew in slow, painful breaths into his dry yet wet sore throat from coughing, ragged breaths. He could feel the wrapped down sharp edge or the trash dig into the skin of his fingers.

There wasn't a disturbance in that silence. Akutagawa gave Atsushi the time he needed. When Atsushi untensed dropping his shoulders and letting his grip on the edge of the trash cease as his fingers loosened away, the imprint with a slight sting of pain still left in the skin of his fingers. Then, and only then, did Atsushi lightly feel a hand press in between his shoulder blades, another reaching across his shoulders pulling him back from the garbage bin.

A hand that only lightly touched his cheek drew his face to his side. Akutagawa looked him in the eyes with an expression Atsushi couldn't read even if he didn't have an obnoxious ringing in his ears and a growing, unbearable headache. Something calm, comforting, but still had the fierce hint that it always has. Akutagawa broke the contact as he removed his hand from Atsushi's face, turning to grab the wet rag that he had draped over his lower thigh. Atsushi watched his actions thoroughly, his eyes following Akutagawa's hand as he reached the rag back up to Atsushi's face, gliding it over his cheek. Akutagawa talked low, saying words that were only eligible to Atsushi as the annoying buzz grew and lessened on and off as if someone was in his brain playing with the volume settings, leading him to only catch a few words at a time. 

Akutagawa brought the rag down over Atsushi's jaw, slowly leading it over his  mouth and chin. Akutagawa looked up at Atsushi as he glided the rag over the weretiger's cheek. Atsushi looked back, and guilty began to dig its place into his stomach and head. Akutagawa looked away, focusing back on his hand as he moved the rag up and over his temple.

Atsushi swallowed the blood that had built up in his mouth, luckily the amount seemed to die down. He reached up and pulled Akutagawa's hand down, “Sorry, you're probably uncomfortable. You don't have to go this far to take care of me.”

Akutagawa moved his hand back up, finishing washing the rag over Atsushi's face before he led it back  to his cheek, cupping his other hand on the other side of Atsushi's face he sighed and stared for a second in a solemn calm without eye contact. However, when he looked up he met Atsushi's eyes with a stern glare as he changed his hold on the younger mans face to a more harsh grip pulling his face closer to look him in the eye better, “You, stop apologizing for things your insufferable little brain makes up, fool.” He scorned.

Atsushi, not fully processing the sudden change from gentle to ridiculing, just nodded slowly as if to agree. 

“Good.” Akutagawa said as he retreated his hands back to himself, leaving the place they once took up on Atsushi's skin cold. Atsushi's eyes followed the other man as he stood up and ran the rag under the water faucet, draping the light cloth over the metal faucet. Akutagawa looked over and down at Atsushi.

“You'll freeze like that, let me get you a longer shirt and a blanket.” He mumbled to himself despite the use of language directing to Atsushi. Akutagawa looked down towards Atsushi as he left the room. Atsushi let out a breathy sigh, breathing back in a slow and raspy breath as he rested his face in his palms.

“It happens that you don't own a shirt that has a sufficient thickness, therefore not warm enough. So I had to scavenge to find one in my clothes.” Akutagawa announced as he entered the bathroom with the blanket from his bed folded and wrapped over his arms, a thick, long sleeved, knitted sweater draped over the top. Akutagawa picked the shirt off the top, holding it out to Atsushi. Atsushi slowly and stiffly moved to take the fabric in his hand, feeling the expensive and soft fabric.

“Don't get blood on it.” Akutagawa advised with a harsh seriousness to his voice as he let go of the shirt.

Atsushi set the shirt down on his legs carefully. He then turned his attention to the shirt he was already wearing, the desaturated light grayish blue short sleeve shirt Akutagawa had given him before(and hadn't taken back yet). He grabbed the end of the shirt and pulled it over his head, despite the sheer temperature of the bathroom the exposure sent a shiver up Atsushi's back.

“I will go text Yosano about, um, the new coughing up blood thing.” Akutagawa announced, Atsushi looked up and watched as Akutagawa walked off, a slight speed to his step.

Atsushi dismissed Akutagawa's actions without much care. He had learned that after time, Akutagawa was always confusing or weird(with a new surfacing apathy, and care). That's something that he also seemed to take a mental note off, Akutagawa wasn't just some emotionless monster, he was just.. closed off Atsushi supposed. But he guessed the raven haired man had a soft side, it was just hidden under layers and layers of walls.

Atsushi grabbed the shirt in his lap, unfolding it and reaching an arm into one of the sleeves when suddenly a surprisingly heavy mass of blanket was dropped on his head.

“Reminder Weretiger, because I suppose you'll need it before you forget due to your arrogant air headedness, if you get blood or any dirt on that shirt I will skin you.” Akutagawa left the threat in the air as he jolted back out of the bathroom.

Nevermind, he might just be an asshole.

Atsushi used his free hand to move the blanket of his head. He grumbled as he grabbed the shirt and pushed his other arm through the free and empty sleeve, pulling it over his head. He pulled the shirt down stiffly as his stiffened muscles protested his every movement.

The polyester silk cotton knitted fabric fell against his skin, the warmth and comfort of both the texture of the fabric hugging loose around his frame. Atsushi could feel the thought and effort and care put into the article of clothes. He'd been fond of the feel and fit of Akutagawa's clothes after he gave him his shirt but Atsushi might have just fallen in love with it 

Maybe I can convince him into letting me keep one of his shirts.

Atsushi pulled the turtle-neckish collar of the shirt up to his cheeks, holding the fabric to his cheeks. That's how Atsushi began to wonder what laundry detergent Akutagawa used, the thought of Akutagawa in such a domestic situation weirded him out. Akutagawa's clothes(except that coat he always wears and barely washes) despite popular belief smell nice. Great actually, Atsushi would justify that. Oddly, and as awkward and flustered as it made Atsushi, they also smelled like the man, Akutagawa, himself, which he thought was weird and arbitrary( and weirdest of all he found as pleasing and made one part, one small small part of his brain happy) knowledge to know, especially taking in how he found out about that knowledge.

Atsushi bent his legs and rested his face on his knees. His head was still throbbing from his head ache, and his skin was still cold. But luckily Akutagawa's shirt was warm and kept his skin from freezing. 

Akutagawa had recently become unusually kind to Atsushi, which worried him slightly that it wasn't for good reasons. But that was only a small voice in his head that told him it was for ill will. The other part, and the biggest part, was glad to see the change from the beginning, back in that alleyway, to now. The older man being gentle, close, and caring towards him made the detective's chest burn with an almost painfully warmth.

His thoughts were cut off by a knock on the doorframe. He looked up, Akutagawa was still outside the door, he seemed to be waiting for Atsushi to finish changing still, which Atsushi appreciated cause even though the other man had seen his shirtless before, he was still self conscious about his scars.

“May I come in?” He asked.

“huh- oh uh sure, I'm done.” Atsushi replied. Akutagawa turned and entered the bathroom kneeling down, grabbing the blanket that had been set on the ground and without a word pulling the ends around Atsushi's shoulders. He didn't remove his hands instantly as Atsushi expected, no, instead he let his hands linger as he studied Atsushi. Akutagawa pulled his hands away suddenly as if breaking out of a trance.

“How is your throat and the blood?” Akutagawa asked, breaking into silence with a monotone voice.

“It's fine, I'll probably go to the bedroom soon when I can move my legs.” Atsushi answered. The topic of the soreness in his throat caused him to reach a hand up to his throat, his fingers slowly grazing down his neck. He glanced over to Akutagawa as he reached the middle, stopping, his fingers lingering, as he stared at the other man's neck and the thin scar that drew where it was cut by Fukuchi’s sword.

Atsushi reached his hand from his neck to Akutagawa's, pausing before he touched. He glanced up towards Akutagawa for an answer on whether or not he could touch the other man. Akutagawa sighed and leaned slightly into Atsushi's hand, letting the other man's fingers graze the side of his neck. Atsushi's gaze drifted from Akutagawa's eyes to his neck. He raised his other hand that had been hidden in the blanket up with his hand that he had already raised up to his partner's neck. He slowly and carefully soothed his fingers over the scar.

His hand stopped as he reached each side of Akutagawa's neck, curling his fingers and holding each side of the other man's neck. He bit his lip back to stop the tears that taunted to form in his eyes, “I'm sorry." He whispered.

“I said to stop apologizing, Weretiger. I have this scar because of my own free volition. You are not the one who gave me it. Stop apologizing for that nonsense.” Akutagawa denied with a stern tone, but let Atsushi's hands and fingers linger.

“I-" he started, “I was there, I could have done something. Anything. But I just left you there to die."

“Do you think if you stayed and tried to help me he would have let you live? I pulled you into that hole for a reason." Akutagawa explained.

"I would have risked my life if I could have helped you.” Atsushi argued. 

Akutagawa reached up to Atsushi hands, holding them as he pulled the other man's fingers from his neck. He pressed them together, encasing them on his own as he looked back from them to Atsushi. He looked the other man in the eye with a stern emotion blatant on his face, “I would not allow that. I would do whatever I could to make sure you stayed alive back then watch you die with me." 

Atsushi diverted his eyes away. He bit back tears as he replayed Akutagawa's words in his head.

A sigh broke his thoughts as Akutagawa removed his hands from Atsushi's, leaving a cold chill in their wake. Akutagawa pulled the blanket back tighter around Atsushi's shoulders. He shifted to Atsushi's side as he wrapped his arms around his legs and shoulders, using rashomon as he pushed himself and Atsushi in his arms up. 

The mafioso carried him through the room, laying him down on the bed. Atsushi looked up at him from the pillow as Akutagawa stared back down at him. He rubbed a comforting finger over his cheek as a silence grew between the two. Atsushi studied Akutagawa's face, it displayed an expression Atsushi couldn't exactly determine. Akutagawa cut the moment short, however, as he sighed and stood up, leaving Atsushi to stare up at the ceiling. 

Akutagawa walked back into the room and set the trash bin on the side of Atsushi's bed. Atsushi looked to his side, gaze fixed on the slightly older man as he set the trash down and fixed his coat. Akutagawa met his gaze as he turned to Atsushi.

“I need to go back to the mission, I apologize.” he started, pausing for a long, too long, time. He then diverted his eyes away as he continued to smooth a wrinkle that did exist in his coat away, “I'll come back as fast as I can. If anything more happens try to contact me.” Akutagawa mumbled something that the headache Atsushi hadn't let him defer further than a please .

Akutagawa turned to leave and Atsushi tried to reach out for his hand for a slight bit of comfort before the Mafioso left, holding the other man's hand in his, and if he was lucky maybe Akutagawa would allow him to intertwine their fingers for a second. but his body protested the signals his brain sent and so he could barely inch his hand forward before Akutagawa was out of reach. The sound of a door shutting and a lock clicking behind him plunged the room into an agonizing and uncomfortable silence.

His body, at the moment he didn't even care for, seemed to finally bend to his will. He rolled onto his side and dug his fingers into the covers. Atsushi huddled in on himself, holding his stomach as pain grew like a vein throughout his body.

 He moved the hand he had tried to reach out with before in front of his face. He opened and closed the hand with ease.

Why do you choose now to move?

Atsushi returned his hand to holding his waist and curled further in on himself.

I just wanted to hold his hand. 

Atsushi sighed, drawing out the breath as he let his body relax. He felt as if he was being stabbed by a knife, a sharp pain running further through his body. He held tighter around his stomach as he tried to keep his mind off anything but the pain.

Somehow through the pain(or he could have just passed out because of it) he fell asleep. And He thinks he was being delusional but he thinks he may have seen and heard someone beforehand. He brushed it off as his headache made him imagine things.

There wasn't any dream he had for a while, or at least not something eventful. But eventually the area around him morphed as the voices that constantly tormented him before dying down recently replayed as he found himself on a familiar ship again.

The only voice that broke through those repetitive voices was that of his partners. Those same words he'd heard before spoke to him again. And blood. He watched, motionless as Akutagawa died in front of him again. And then the world paused as the voices grew louder.

Then the world shifted again back to the ship, but only seconds before. And then he watched it again. Then the world went white, not even giving him time to see his partner at least rest in death.

And then it shifted again back to the ship.

I don't want to see it again.

His brain didn't listen, instead only replaying the same events again. And then once more. And again. After a while he didn't think he could even count it. He watched over and over in his self-consciousness as Akutagawa's throat was slit and he smiled at him as he told him to leave, pulling him into the hole. And in the entire movement, not once did Atsushi do anything to stop it. The voices grew loud and then tuned down as he was returned to the ship and watched as Akutagawa died once more.

Atsushi woke up in a cold sweat as he sat up and stared blankly forward. He didn't breath for a while, but when he did his breath caught instantly in his throat. He rolled his sleeve up as he covered his mouth, coughing into his hand. He stumbled as he rolled off the side of the bed in an attempt to get off. The detective continued to cough into his hand, slowly feeling as the blood puddled in his palm, his throat catching each time he breathed in after coughing and worsening the cough. He reached for the trash pulling it towards himself as he let the blood on his hand drip away leaving a still wet red liquid stain in his palm. He coughed into the trash, cold running up his body to agonize him more along with the barrage of coughing up blood and pain that still stung like a stab wound in his stomach.

The coughing ceased for a moment as it allowed Atsushi to rest and breath in heavy breaths. Atsushi moved his hand to wipe the blood from his mouth, stopping when he saw the sleeve of his shirt. He instead moved to try taking the thick shirt off to not get blood on Akutagawa's clothes. He set the shirt nicely to his side as a cold chill ran up his back, the chill not leaving as he just grew colder without the article of clothing.

Then the air caught in his throat again as he quickly turned back to the trash coughing into the container. The coughing attack didn't stop for a while. His throat stung and it felt like each cough just grated the surface further. He couldn't tell if the lightness of his head was because of the oxygen deprivation or loss of blood. 

The coughing stopped for a second. Each breath grazed air against the soreness of his throat, scarily on the brink of another attack of coughing and choking.but then blood built up again as he breathed in causing him to return back to blood filled coughing. That repetitive actions followed each other one after the other over again like a broken record.

Atsushi ended up sitting with his back against his bed, the frame digging into his skin as he coughed repetitively into the trash bin.

The door clicked open and closed. Atsushi didn't pay much attention to Akutagawa as the man kneeled down beside him, hovering a hesitant hand over his back. And then he lowered it touching the Weretiger as he rubbed small circles in-between the other man's shoulder blades. The coughing died down as Atsushi panted each heavy breath in.

Akutagawa opened his mouth to speak but was cut off by another violent round of coughing from Atsushi. That lasted for the next long while. Atsushi couldn't even gain the energy or time to say something before another round of harsh choking up blood.

His throat finally cleared up for good as he shakily pushed himself from the container containing only the blood he had painfully coughed up. He moved his hand slowly up to his mouth, wiping any blood left on it off. He breathed in a painful and raspy breath. 

It hurts, it hurts so much.

“Weretiger?” Akutagawa spoke quietly, carefully, softly . Atsushi looked at him for a solid minute and then went back to the trash. He bit back his lip but he was too overwhelmed to have such a precaution fail to keep him from his tears. He placed his face into his palms as he cried.

Arms wrapped around him pulling him into a soft and comforting hold. He wrapped his arm around Akutagawa's waist as the room only fell into sobbing and small comforting words from Akutagawa.

“It hurts.” Atsushi rasped out.

“I know.” Akutagawa whispered back as he ran his fingers through Atsushi's hair to comfort him.

Atsushi breathed in deep, the air on his throat only hurting Atsushi more.

“It's cold.” Atsushi mumbled between tears.

“You're not wearing a shirt, of course it is, Weretiger?” Akutagawa reinformed.

“I didn't want to get blood on your shirt, sorry.”

Akutagawa only sighed as he pulled Atsushi closer. Atsushi breathed in and the air caught in his throat again. He quickly slipped out of Akutagawa's hold and turned to cough blood out into the trash once again. 

He breathed in heavily once his throat was cleared. Each breath painfully scored down his sore throat. He whipped his mouth with the back of his hand, staring at his blood, tears still streaming silently down his face and pain infecting every inch of his body.

“Are you ok now?” Akutagawa asked.

Atsushi looked from the blood on his hand to the other man who sat meters away. He let himself get pulled into another hug as he reached around Akutagawa's waist digging his nails into the cloth of the back of his coat. The Weretiger dug his face into the other man's shoulder as his pain picked up again and therefore his crying.

He doesn't know how long he sat like that. But once he had calmed down and some of the pain had died down he let his surroundings become more relevant. Only then did he notice the growing warm liquid that touched the side of his arm where he held the side of Akutagawa's waist.

He removed one hand from Akutagawa's back and untied the knot of his coat strap.

“What are you-?” Akutagawa started.

“Oh my god- you're bleeding.” Atsushi mumbled as he stared at the red growth that infected the side of the other man's shirt.

He's hurt.

He's hurt and he dealt with me before even taking care of himself.

Akutagawa moved Atsushi back slightly as he looked down to see the same thing the detective had.

“Fuck.”

Atsushi struggled but pushed himself up, pulling Akutagawa with him. His legs were numb from sitting for so long but he pulled Akutagawa along with him to the bathroom. Akutagawa didn't say a word but stumbled slightly by the sudden movement behind Atsushi. He sat down on the seat of the toilet like he had before when Atsushi bandaged him up.

Atsushi searched and scrambled around the sink cupboard for a medical kit. Pulling one out and looking up at Akutagawa who stared back. After a while  the Mafioso sighed as he pulled his coat off, steadily breathing out as he shakily unbuttoned his shirt, pulling it off as well. He set both articles of clothing in his lap as he let Atsushi observe the wound. 

A small, luckily fully exited gunshot wound.

“How'd you get shot without noticing?” Atsushi looked up at Akutagawa.

Akutagawa diverted his eyes away, “I remember noticing when I did get shot, but the adrenaline rush from seeing you coughing up blood again covered up the pain and it slipped my mind until you said something.” He explained.

Atsushi bit back his lip as he looked back down at the wound, “I'm sorry.” He mumbled as he pressed a rag over the wound.

“Don't apologize, Weretiger.” Akutagawa replied. 

Atsushi only looked up at him, meeting his eyes for a second before returning them to the wound. He silently cleaned Akutagawa's skin from the blood that could almost stain the pearl white of his skin. The conversation still fell on silent terms as Atsushi began to apply the bandage to the side of Akutagawa's stomach. He finished wrapping the wound up tightly, staring At the bandages as he held the sides of Akutagawa's waist.

“I'm so sorry.” he mumbled. Atsushi heard Akutagawa sigh as hands cupped his face. Atsushi's face was drawn up so he could meet eye to eye with the other man.

“Stop apologizing. You are not the one who  shot me. You have nothing to apologize for.” Akutagawa spoke with every ounce of stern confidence in his voice.

“I know that, but it's just that you've been having to take care of me all mission long. And you probably hate it, because you hate me and all.” Atsushi explained.

Akutagawa sighed, “you shouldn't assume things, Weretiger.”

“Well you do hate me.”

“Look at the position we're in and repeat that back to me.” Akutagawa rebutled. Atsushi diverted his eyes in an attempt to acknowledge his previous statement’s ridiculousness. Not only was he practically sitting between the other man's legs he was also holding each side of his waist, his bare, apart from some bandages, waist. Akutagawa was cupping his face holding someone he claimed as his enemy that attacked in short range combat nearly inches away without barely any access to defense. Akutagawa was right, Atsushi didn't even know if they could call each other enemies at that point.

Akutagawa removed his hands from Atsushi's face, removing the other man's hands from his waist as well. He kneeled down beside Atsushi on the floor, sitting down and patting his lap. Atsushi quickly picked up the message and followed the other man's instructions as he laid down in Akutagawa's lap. He felt Akutagawa slowly groom his fingers through his hair as they sat there in silence. 

Words weren't needed at that moment. The silence felt comforting enough without words. Atsushi just basked in the small touches and the comfort the older man gave him. Akutagawa would card his fingers through Atsushi's hair, at times rubbing a finger up and down underneath Atsushi's chin and along his throat.

After a while Atsushi became brutally aware of the clothes, or lack thereof, he and the other man had been wearing. He curled in slightly as he attempted to hide those scars that littered and broke imperfectly against his skin.

“Sorry.”

“What are you apologizing for this time?” Akutagawa sighed but still ran his fingers through silver strands of hair.

“My scars, they're hard to look at. They make me look weird.” Atsushi elaborated.

Akutagawa held Atsushi's shoulders as without protest he lifted him up from his lap. Atsushi felt Akutagawa's gaze slowly glaze along his features, and he didn't know whether to feel uncomfortable or not. Akutagawa didn't look.. disgusted like he expected, he just looked calm.

“I don't see anything weird or hard to look at. You look fine, sublime even.” Akutagawa stated, fully serious.

Atsushi didn't know how to react to that information. Akutagawa thought he looked nice? No, not even just nice, perfect and sublime . Atsushi could feel his face grow hot. Akutagawa's complement, that he said in full sincerity, replayed in Atsushi's mind.

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa said as he drew a line with his thumb along Atsushi's collar bone, the small contact and motion sent electric like energy through Atsushi's body as he began to crave for the feeling again.

Atsushi hummed back.

“Let's get out of the bathroom.” Akutagawa explained. Atsushi obliged as he let Akutagawa pull him to his feet and lead him out of the bathroom, turning out the light, and to the already somewhat dark bedroom. Akutagawa grabbed his shirt that Atsushi had been wearing before and turned to Atsushi. He handed the shirt to him and watched as Atsushi pulled the price of cloth over his head and pushed his arms through the sleeves. Akutagawa left Atsushi in that spot to watch as he surfed around his suitcase for a shirt of his own. Atsushi admired Akutagawa's frame as the other man slipped a shirt over his head, covering the milky white skin and the slightly natural bend inwards of his back and the dip of his collarbones and the slim inward curve of his waist as well the fall of his shoulders. Atsushi, realizing what he was doing, diverted his eyes away before Akutagawa looked back at him.

A subtle tap of fingers on his shoulder drew Atsushi's Attention back as he looked back towards Akutagawa. Akutagawa made eye contact with him for a bit but turned back to his bed after a bit. Akutagawa sat on his bed and leaned back against the headboard. He didn't need to motion or speak before Atsushi joined him on the mafioso's bed, laying in-between his legs,resting his head on the raven haired man's chest. He was slightly surprised at the lack of protest in the close contact but was happy as well.

He listened close to each heart beat he could hear on the other side of the older man's rib cage. Each one indicating life, the life he had witnessed slipped away before. He looked up at Akutagawa who just stared out the window as he slowly drew his fingers through Atsushi's hair.

Atsushi pushed himself up and looked down At Akutagawa as he glanced at the healed wound on the other man's neck. Akutagawa, having the sudden shift draw his attention, met Atsushi's eyes. He tilted his head back slightly to let Atsushi touch the scar again. 

Atsushi slid his finger across the ridged scar and paused, “Why'd you do it?”

“I already said why.” Akutagawa answered.

“What do you mean?” Atsushi queried.

“Earlier. I said I didn't want you to die. You're worth something in this world. And you're worth something to people. And you're worth something to me. My dull and useless life is nothing in comparison to that. So if you were to live I wouldn't have any regrets throwing my worthless life away, so I did.” Akutagawa explained.

Atsushi's chest grew tight as he looked down at Akutagawa with a pained expression, “your life isn't worthless, Akutagawa.” Atsushi started, “there are people who you are worthy to. Your life matters just as much as mine.”

Akutagawa didn't say anything, he just turned his head and looked away.

Atsushi put a hand on his cheek and drew his face back up to look him in the eye, “you and your life are worthy to me, and it hurts me more to see you throw it away for me than for me to die. Watching you die in front of me like that hurt far worse than this disease ever will.”

Akutagawa stayed silent, but he had a slightly pained expression. He reached up and wrapped his arms around Atsushi's neck pulling him back down. Atsushi let Akutagawa pull him down and rested his head in the crease of his neck as he let out a long sigh.

He rolled him and Atsushi onto their sides and ducked his face into Atsushi's hair as he tangled his fingers through it, “what do you expect me to say to that, Weretiger?”

Atsushi paused before he spoke as he felt Akutagawa run his thumb along the underside of his chin and jaw, “ you don't have to say anything. Just lie here with me.” 

Akutagawa nodded slightly as he pulled the younger man closer to him. He continued to glide his finger along Atsushi's neck as he relaxed and laid there like Atsushi had suggested. Atsushi smiled to himself as he pulled himself and Akutagawa closer that even air barely dared to separate them.

“Thank you for everything you've been doing for me.” He expressed.

“It's not a problem, Weretiger. Go to sleep.”

Atsushi smiled again, ignorant of the pain that the disease still clenched onto his skin, “ok.” he replied.

Chapter Text

Atsushi had been outside nearly two times since the snow had begun to fall. It was three now. Atsushi had woken up alone in the hotel room in the dark. Not his preference, not after getting used to waking up to Akutagawa carding his fingers through his hair at the least. Atsushi had grown bored waiting for his partner to come back, or something, anything, to do. So in conclusion, he'd wandered his way up to the roof top. He sat on the ledge like usual as he crossed his arms for warmth, seeming his disease not letting up since waking up leaving him frozen. Snow fell around him, whitening his surroundings. There was also a subtle ringing that had also stuck since waking up that drowned his surroundings to become dull.

Luckily he wasn't all that cold. He had Akutagawa's sweater and the coat he had bought him, both adding their own heat. But the chill of winter still stung close to his skin.

He looked down at the town below him.

Far drop, you'd definitely die if you jumped.

Atsushi whipped around to try and find the owner of the unfamiliar voice. Nothing. This disease must be driving him insane. He'd heard voices before, but all of them were of people he knew, this one was not.

He stared off into the distance for a bit. Maybe my mind is just playing tricks on me.

He looked back in front of him, determining whether or not he should get up and go back to the hotel room. Then there was a click of the door opening and closing. Atsushi turned around again to see who was now on the roof with him. He was met with Yosano giving him a smile as she walked over to him.

“It's cold out here, you sure you're not going to freeze to death?” She said as he sat down beside him.

“I'll be fine for a bit. I'll just turn the heat up when I get back to the hotel room if I get too cold.” Atsushi reassured.

“I don't think your little boyfriend’s Wallet will be so happy when this mission is over.” She joked laughing slightly to herself.

“I'll pay him back ev- Boyfriend!?!” Atsushi yelled, interrupting himself. At that Yosano Laughed aloud.

She patted him on the shoulder as she 

finished laughing at him, “it was a joke, unless…?”

Atsushi felt his face grow hot, “No! me- there's nothing going on between me and Akutagawa!”

“Are you sure?” She teased.

“I- Yes!” Atsushi denied. She laughed again as she patted his shoulder.

“Ok, ok, I'll stop teasing you. Come with me.” She said after she finished laughing at her teasing as she stood up, reaching out a hand for Atsushi. He hesitated but placed his hand in the older woman's as he let her pull him up to his feet. She walked to the door holding it open for him to enter.  

The heating of the inside of the hotel warmed part of the cold that latched to his skin. Yosano closed the door behind her as the room faded to almost pitch black darkness, that if it wasn't for the disease, Atsushi would have used his ability to see better. He followed the brief figure of Yosano walking down the stairs.

“I heard from Akutagawa that you had a new symptom show up yesterday. Coughing blood was it?” Yosano said through the dark.

“It seemed more like choking on it as it poured up and out of my throat then coughing it up, but yeah.” Atsushi answered, clarifying the exact details of his experience. He held a hand up to his throat, slowly rubbing the surface of his skin as if it would rub the soreness away.

“It must be bad. Your voice is all raspy.” She evaluated as they reached the floor hers and Kunikida's rooms were on(one floor above his and Akutagawa's as well as Dazai and Chuuya's room which were side by side on the same floor).

“Hm, didn't notice.” Atsushi said, paying attention to the feedback of his supposed raspy voice. Atsushi looked up to Yosano offering him into her room. He nodded in subtle gratitude as he walked into the room.

“I hope you don't mind me experimenting on you a bit, to see what other symptoms you could have.” Yosano explained as she closed the door and turned to Atsushi.

“Ok.” Atsushi agreed.

“Have you eaten anything recently?” she said as she grabbed a plate of food from the small fridge in the corner of her room.

“I've eaten soup. I've actually only eaten soup… for like a week.”

Yosano nodded, “good he listened to me.” She said as she gave him the plate of food, “don't eat that yet.” She said as she disappeared into the bathroom, coming back out with a trash can and placed it in front of him.

“What's that for?” Atsushi asked.

“You'll find out, now you eat.” she instructed briefly.

Atsushi looked at her and then backed down to the plate of food in his hands, picking up the fork. He dished food onto the piece of silverware and shoved it into his mouth. He finished the bite and looked back up at her with a confused face.

“Ok so that one's not in effect yet. What about your appetite? Did the food seem appetizing?” She interviewed.

“Well, no not exactly. I kinda hated eating it, it made me feel sick.” he answered.

“Ok, we'll just stay precocious and have Akutagawa keep just giving you soup to eat.” She mumbled.

Oh so she is the reason I haven't eaten solid food in forever .

“Ok, now give me your hand.”Yosano directed as she reached out a hand for them. Atsushi gave her his hand. She took his hand and rubbed and squeezed his finger tips.

“Open and close your hand slowly.” she instructed, eyes still glued to his hand.

There was a small protest of his muscles but he closed his fingers into a fist and then paused and slowly opened his hand.

“Ok now do it fast.”

He closed and opened his hand.

“Did you have any issues?” She asked, turning her gaze up to him.

Atsushi thought about it for a second, “I don't think I did? Maybe. I don't know.”

“Were your hands stiff as you or before you closed your hand?” Yosano clarified.

“When I closed them slowly at the start, yeah.”

“What about your legs or feet do they feel stiff like that?” She questioned.

“No, my hands mainly unless I'm going through another episode with the disease, then it's my whole body practically.” He answered.

“Hm. Weird most people have it start from the feet up. Ok. How frequent are the rest of the symptoms?” She asked.

“Well I'm always cold, and rarely don't have a subtle buzzing and headache. The stiffening of my muscles and joints are an older new, but affect me at least once a day. The bugs are just annoying and almost always constant and get worse when the rest gets worse. The coughing up blood thing only happened yesterday tho, but I spent almost an hour trying to stop it each time.” He explained. Yosano nodded as she picked up the garbage can and returned to the bathroom leaving Atsushi alone in the room.

He looked around and took in the environment. He could clearly tell which side was Kunikida's and which was Yosano’s further than her sitting him on her bed. Between the pristine And organized side and the one that had a medical kit out on the desk side table and an open suitcase thrown on the bed that was unmade and had blankets thrown everywhere it wasn't that hard.(Not that he could judge, his and Akutagawa's room wasn't much better, one bed had both blankets from both beds set half assed on it and the other bed was missing practically everything down to one singular pillow which would probably taken over and find home on Akutagawa's bed eventually.) Atsushi thought of that fact and Yosano's comment from earlier rang through his mind. His face flushed as he began to understand maybe where she had gotten the boyfriend idea, he probably would have thought the same if it wasn't well them . 

But that only brought another round of questions. What were they? They didn't hate each other, even though they did try to deny otherwise, or Atsushi at least did for forever. Friends maybe? No, that didn't seem right..

Atsushi would prefer to just continue to call them rivals then dwell upon it. Enemies were easy, it didn't have to make him think about stuff he wasn't ready to acknowledge.

Atsushi shook the thought from his head, turning to a different subject as he looked towards Yosano's night stand. He could see the report on the disease user in it. He hadn't been told about any progress on it. Curiosity got the better of him, he reached for the paper packet and took it with care. He looked through the packet, past any information he had already known or given. Nothing. There was barely any progress in the case beside trying to track her back down. Did she go into hiding after I chased after her?

Your team has almost lost such an important piece of info because of your arrogance. The mission is being held back because of you. The mission that thousands of peoples lives depend on every day.

The voice from before, he turned back only to meet eyes with Yosano as she turned the light of the bathroom out.

“Are you good?” she asked, giving him a puzzled look.

Atsushi paused and looked back at the nearly empty packet in his hand, the voice's words repeating through his mind, he then redirected his attention back to the older woman, “How…” he paused, “how much longer till I can go back to helping with the mission?”

Yosano was quiet for a bit, “I'm not sure you'll be out on anything big like the main mission till we can determine how fast and effective the disease is for you.”

“Oh.. will I go on a mission soon?” he asked.

“When we get one that's smaller I'll see if I can get Kunikida to send you on it.” she said as she walked over and patted his shoulder to comfort him.

You'll hold them back, that's why they're sending you on the unimportant ones. The lively childlike voice spoke again.

“Can you hear that?” He asked the doctor.

“Hear what?” She replied.

How useless.

“Nothing.” He dismissed.

“O… Kay… let's get you back to your hotel room...” She said, with a confused  tone in her voice, Atsushi didn't protest even though he didn't want to return back to the room. He was getting sick of staying in there. He followed silently behind the doctor as she led him back down the stairs and to his own room. She gave him a smile before heading off, disappearing behind a wall that led to the stairs. He turned back to the door in front of him hesitantly, setting his hand on the door handle and twisting it open.

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa looked up from his bed unzipping his shoe to look at the detective before returning his gaze back to his shoes. Atsushi only hummed back a greeting as he walked in, taking off the coat and setting it on the frame of his bed. He fell into the blankets of the bed beside the other man. Akutagawa glanced down at him before returning his attention back to his or other shoe.

Atsushi felt the slight touch of fingers touch his back before they were quickly removed, “Weretiger.” Akutagawa said.

Atsushi rested his head in his arms as he looked back at Akutagawa,”what is it?”

“A question I should ask, What is it? What's wrong?” He restated Atsushi's statement.

Would you really push your issues on him again? He's been taking care of you non stop, what a nuisance. That annoying voice returned.

“It's fine, it’s nothing really.” Atsushi mumbled back as he turned he faced away from the older man.

“I have a small doubt in my mind that that highly isn't true “ Akutagawa rebutled twisting back to see his partner.

“I'm ok, I mean it.” Atsushi insisted, turning back to Akutagawa, locking eyes with a stare.

“weretiger-” Akutagawa started before Atsushi cut him off, sitting up and grabbing each side of his arms.

“Akutagawa, I really am fine, I'm just a little tired. I don't want to be any more of a burden on you then I already am.” He said as he, keeping his grip tight but not enough to hurt the Raven haired man, pulled Akutagawa in slightly to punctuate his words.

Akutagawa moved with concealed hesitations as he placed his hands on Atsushi's shoulders, “No matter if you're simply just tired or worse, I have dedicated myself to help. You are not a burden on me, Weretiger.”

“If I'm not a burden then what am I? I haven't done anything to be anything but. I've just been weighing everyone down. I'm useless, I don't get the point why I'm still on this mission if I'm just useless. But I want to help, with something, anything, but no one will let me!” Atsushi argued back.

“Wereti-” 

“I don't want to be useless! What's my point in living if I'm useless!” Atsushi added, interrupting Akutagawa who just gave him a wide and slightly hurt and took a back stare in response to the harsh self loathing(and worrying to say the least( comment.

It would be better if you were to be dead then be a useless Burden. The girlish voice whispered loudly in his ear, the volume paining his head as it only added to his constant headache.

Atsushi paused.

What was it that one of the orphanage workers said? Something about the world being better if you just died in a ditch or something? The voice sounded louder.

Atsushi let go of Akutagawa's arms placing his palms on his ears to try blocking out the voice.

It's not a bad idea is it?-

 “Stop it! Shut up! Stop saying that!” he pleaded, interrupting the voice.

Hands slipped into his as they pulled them away from his ears, “Weretiger.” Akutagawa said, his voice soft but stern, an attempt to knock the other out of whatever was sounding invisibly in his head.

“She won't shut up, I Don't want to do that but she's insisting.” He stated.

Are you so sure you don't? That's when he felt another set of hands curl fingertip deep and painfully into his collarbones. He ripped one of his hands from Akutagawa's, quickly swinging his elbow back through the air to get whoever it was off. There was nothing.

Then the voice was in his other ear this time, now you're just being irrational, that could have been just an innocent person, or even one of the people on this mission of yours.

“I-” Atsushi started.

Atsushi's face was drawn over to the place it was at before as he faced back towards the man holding his hand and face, “don't listen to it.” He directed.

He's doing it for, what was it? Dazai, correct? He's doing it for Dazai's approval. Do you think he actually cares? That's amusing. The voice said from his other side.

 Atsushi slowly looked over to his side, 

His face was drawn back, “Whatever she says, she's lying, don't listen to her.” Akutagawa said as he pulled Atsushi' forward slightly, letting Atsushi rest his head against his shoulder.

You're so needy. Here you are pushing your boundaries again.

“Can you hear it too?” He asked, his voice low and soft. Akutagawa didn't respond.

“Akutagawa.” Another unanswered question, Atsushi pushed himself up as he looked the older man in the eyes,“Akutagawa please tell me you can hear her too.” He begged.

Akutagawa held his gaze, “I'm–” he cut himself off trying to situate his word, 

Watching you sit and beg is pathetic. Is it all you can do anymore? Sit around and be a problem?

“No-” he started the panic rising in his voice as he stared at his lap, “No, no, I can't, no if I'm- no” he started choking on his words.

If you're useless then you have no right to live.

Atsushi pulled his fingers through his silver hair, grabbing and holding what he could tight in his hand to the point it hurt as he mumbled under his breath, “I'm useless, oh god- what do I do,what do I do. I can't live. What worth am I? I'm useless,-” fingers dug between his as they tried to remove his painful hold on his hair. “No. No, no, no no no nonono” his words slurred together as he repeated them as he continued to stare into his lap. “I'm useless, I have no right- I don't deserve to live-”

There was a hand that slapped over his mouth as he was made to meet the others eyes, “Don't you ever say that again!” Akutagawa glared him down.

The room fell silent as he stared at the serious and pained expression in Akutagawa's eyes. And then a voice broke through, only one he could hear. Atsushi could see a figure adorned with long curly but tangled blonde hair sat beside him, he looked over at the woman that had been talking to him. Except it wasn't a woman at all, it was a young girl, maybe around the age of ten, one that looked familiar, one that looked like on the brink of death. He watched her mouth move as she spoke, you finally got it, you finally understand that you don't have the right to live anymore.

He stared at her.

She reached out a hand and put it to his forehead. Now sleep. At least you won't be a bother then.

Atsushi felt as his body fell limp and his conscience being chipped away as he passed out falling forward into Akutagawa's arms.

-

Atsushi opened his eyes to a pure white room. He sat up as a dull sound of familiar voices sounded through the bright endless white.

Oh this is a dream.

“Hello there.” The voice returned.

Atsushi looked to his side as he stared at the girl.

She stood up and kicked him in the leg, “get up.” The cheery voice changed to a dull commanding one.

“I don't want to go with you.” He mumbled.

“And who said you had the choice?” She said as the surroundings changed to a dark room. The floor beneath him felt wet and cold as whatever liquid he was sitting in spread further across the concrete flooring.

The dim light turned on and it blinded him as his surroundings came into sight. He had only seen a place like this briefly in a crime scene photo or tv shows, and once on a case with Kunikida. He recognized it as a morgue. Except the weird thing about it was that it was messy . The tools and equipment were freshly used but weren't cleaned seconds after, seeking to prioritize getting the body out of the morgue to make room for another. He recognized the puddle of whatever liquid he was sitting in as blood from a tipped over pail that had fallen off of an autopsy table. He gagged at the thought.

He tried to sit up but was only greeted by a lack of movement. The girl walked around him and off to the side of his feet.

“Do you know what these are?” She asked with a sly grin as she looked at him with greed colored eyes as she motioned to the wall of shelves behind her.

“Dead bodies.” he answered in a petrified whisper.

“Yeah, but not just any plain old dead bodies!” She said as she stood up and pulled one of the drawers on the walls that held the dead, “they’re the dead bodies of the people who died because of the disease” she said as she looked back at him.

He stared forward at the body that she had opened the drawer too, not that he could look away because of the laws of the dream anyways. He wished she closed it, not only was the sight in of itself horrifying but it just felt wrong. He thinks the dead should rest in peace, especially the dead that are dead because of something like the disease. They suffered through life, why should they have to suffer through death?

“Did you know that they, the bodies, are starting to pile up in the morgues? They are running out of room in those places, luckily they just managed to clear this one before they ran out of shelfs. There would likely be a pile on the ground right there where you're sitting if they didn't.” she stated as she looked back at the body.

“You don't know that. You're just a figment of my imagination.” He glared trying to sound stern, but his voice betrayed him as it came out quite and slightly shaken.

“Oh but I'm not! Actually I was alive as well, I'm a spirit now, an ability actually! Matter of fact the disease ability user was my mother! But I was also her first victim.” The girl stated.

“Wha-” he started.

“I don't blame her for it. It was an accident after all.” She interrupted him.

“Why are you telling me this? Wouldn't that help me finish the mission.” he puzzled.

“I'm telling you because one you'll forget that statement later, and two because after this dream your going to kill yourself.” She explained, a lively tone to match her smile as if she hadn't just said what she said. Then her sly grin returned as she switched the subject, “I wonder if my body looks as bad as these ones. Probably worse right?” she said as she looked at the small body pointing a finger about to touch it. If Atsushi could throw up at the immorality of the act he would.

“Stop that! Let them rest in peace, don't violate their body like that!” he shouted before she could continue the act.

The girl frowned as she removed her finger, “it's only a dream, not their actual bodies.”

“It's still immoral.” He gritted out.

“Yeah yeah, not the point of why I chose here, that I want you to guess. Why did I bring you here?” she asked as her grin curled back up onto her lips.

“To torment me.” He answered.

She made a buzzer sound, “incorrect! It was to show you how holding back your mission has caused such a catastrophe.”

Atsushi paused, “ this is my fault?” he said looking towards the wall.

“Yup!” She chirped. He stared at the pile. Oh my god- I feel nauseous.

The room became quiet aside from the girls humming as she began hopping on one foot around him. The tune had a harsh and grim sound to it as her voice rasped on each note. He stared forward, unable to turn his eyes from the sight of the walls of drawers filled with bodies, and the one drawer the girl neglected to close in front of him.

I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry.

“No point in being sorry. It's not like the dead can hear you. Let alone in a dream.” She said,

The room fell quiet again as she crouched beside him, “you want to know what i'm more curious about then what my body looks like?” Atsushi didn't answer, he just stared forward.

“No answer? Well I'll tell you anyway. What I'm more curious about is what yours will look like.” she said morbidly. “Will you be thrown on top of a pile because of overrun morgues? Or will they remove a body and put yours in its place, discarding it like the rest?”

Atsushi looked at her, the horrific effect of her statement displayed in his expression as he started to talk.

Then the environment changed again. Now instead of the morgue he was in a graveyard. But one thing he noted was his ability to move at will this time. He looked around and spotted the girl to his side sitting on top of a gravestone.

“This is my gravesite.” She said, “pretty isn't it?” her voice softer as she drew shapes on the top of her grave stone that sat on.

“Why'd you bring me here?” He whispered.

“Simple, I wanted to show you my grave.” She said as she hopped off the stone.

“You know, I don't mind being dead much.” She said as she crouched down picking up a dandelion from the grass, separating the stem into three as she began to braid the ends. “It's more eventful than my life was.”

“I don't want to die.” He replied. “I have people to live for, and just because I die doesn't mean I'll become a spirit like you.” 

“Are you sure you don't want to?”

“I'm more than sure.”

“Why are you so sure?” she started,“But didn't you say you don't have any reason to live? You've become useless and a burden. And you're in constant pain, wouldn't it be better?”

Atsushi paused,“But I have more to do, I can't be useless.”

“You're going to die anyway, the disease likes you, it affected you faster than most, you probably only have a month left. There is nothing more you can do.”

“We will find the ability user and I'll be fine.” He argued.

“ We? Really? Will you ? There are no advancements into the case and it's been almost two months now. And you holding back the mission as well? You'll die before the mission even starts.” she rebutled. “What you haven't realized yet is that you are useless. You no longer have a worth. Your ability doesn't work, you can't help anyone and only hold people back, you no longer can no longer save people, you no longer have a right to live.”

“I-”

“You don't, you said it yourself.”

I don't. I've held back the mission, people have died because of that. I've been nothing but a burden on everyone. I'm no help anymore.

She's right, maybe I should just let the disease kill me.

“You don't have to wait for that disease to kill you, just because you're useless and can't live anymore means you have to die painfully.” She said,

Atsushi looked at her.

“Just do it now.” She implied.

“Do what?” He averted.

“You know exactly what.” She answered. “Don't play dumb.”

Atsushi thought of it for a second, did he even have the gut to do it? But he only just now started living, he had people to live for, he couldn't die, not now, he wants to live.“I can't do that, I don't want to, I want to live-” he replied.

“Jesus Christ you're hard to convince, you really are selfish.” She said as she stood up and moved a few steps back.

He felt sudden hands push against his throat as he was shoved harshly onto the ground, he choked as he tried to breath clawing at the hands that pressed into his throat. He looked to the side at the girl, who just sat and smiled.

“Just let him kill you, and then you won't be in the way. The mission will finish, no one will be burdened by your issues, no one will have to die. But you.” she said.

Atsushi looked up to his offender.

Is that me?

He choked as his airways fought him for oxygen. He fought against the him that was strangling him, trying to push him off clawing at his offender's hands trying to pry the cold fingers from his throat. The thumbs of the dream version of him that sat and towered over him with an almost inhuman plain expression only pressed further into his throat, closing off almost all his passage to air. He tried to squirm free, kicking and digging the heels of his feet into the dirt as he felt his head ache increase as his vision began to blotch.

“This is the only solution, Atsushi, you have to give in.” The girl informed.

“I don't want to die.” He choked out each word, each syllable of his words sounding nearly impossible to finish.

Atsushi struggled still, grabbing the wrists of himself and trying to remove them from his throat.

“You said you have no right to live before. So it's only right that you die.” the voice recommended.

But I am useless now.

Atsushi choked for air as his grip on his own other self’s wrists loosened.

I am not worthy of living.

He let his hands fall as he gave up, both hands now laying limp beside his head. He watched as his vision faded to black.

-

Atsushi woke up gasping for air choking on the amount he took in. He held his throat as the image of his dream replayed in his head. The pain of being strangled to death by himself still stuck on repeat in his mind. 

Why didn't I die?

He looked up and around the room. It was dark and empty. The silence that encapsulated it whispered with an unnerving tune. He was in different clothes from when he fell asleep. He noted the window across the bed, it was late, not dark out just yet but the sun was hidden. It was snowing.

I have to die, why didn't I die? I don't want to do it again.

Atsushi stared down at the blanket that had sat in his lap. He wondered how long he was asleep. Not that it mattered in the end. Because he had decided, he needed to end the burden that was himself, he couldn't keep holding people back he couldn't keep killing people by holding this mission back. He died in the dream, he killed himself in the dream. He could do it again. 

He pulled the blanket off himself as he moved to get out of the bed. Pain shot through him, his head buzzed due to ringing and a migraine, his body felt stiff and colder than ever before and it felt like he had a hole aten through his stomach, each and every one of his limbs were sore. he felt bugs crawl throughout his skin as he stood up, pushing himself to his feet. He only fell, falling onto the ground.

He felt his throat stung as it filled with liquid, he inhaled and choked on the blood. his legs almost refused to move as he tried to push himself up, dragging himself to the bed frame and pushing himself up. He felt his body shake as it risked collapsing from beneath him again. He reached a hand to his mouth as he began coughing again, quickly raising his sleeve to his mouth, blood staining the white sleeve of his shirt as it drenched his sleeve and wrist.

It hurts.

He stumbled forward smacking his head onto the shelf in front of him, causing him to fall back down with a hard smack onto the floor. He felt blood begin to trickle down his face as he pushed himself back up to his feet. He slammed his shoulder into the wall to steady himself as he began to cough again, leaving his sleeve to be stained with a deep soaked red.

The young detective pushed himself off the wall and towards the door of the room he struggled to unlock it and turn the handle as his vision fogged due to the severity of his headache.

He grabbed the railing as he pulled himself along, struggling to stand up as his legs grew from numb to stiff as if it were a child playing with a light switch, turning one from the other. He eyed the staircase as he reached the halfway point pulling himself towards it. He managed to steady his legs enough as he turned the corner reaching the staircase, walking up each set to the roof, nearly falling down tripping on one of the steps at some point.

He opened the door to the roof, the harsh winter wind blowing it shut seconds after he entered the platform. The cold of the wind leeched onto him as the snow that was felt around him landed on any skin showing, freezing it further. Atsushi breathed in a shaky breath, the cold air felt like shards of ice on his throat, causing him to cough into the cuff of his sleeve again, and if it weren't for the irony taste of his blood he wouldn't have been able to tell if he did cough up blood.

Just one jump, and then it's over, you've solved all the problems you created. The voice returned.

Atsushi looked towards the ledge that he frequently sat on. He walked over taking a step up on the ledge, staring down at the city below him. 

Stunning.

He was but inches away from death when he began to reconsider. 

I don't know if I can do it. Won't my death affect people? I don't want to hurt anyone…

Atsushi, just do it, stop thinking. The voice said sternly. No one cares, no one wants a useless doll like you.

Atsushi breathed in a shaky breath, one shook by his pained throat and his threatening tears. Atsushi looked back to the door when he heard a noise, the door was still closed, but instead there sat perched up on the top sat four crows almost like they had joined to watch him as if his death were a movie. Then he looked back to the door, hoping at least someone would open it, to show he was cared for. But the door remained closed.

What are you waiting for? No one's coming.

Atsushi looked back in front of him out towards the city as his ringing got louder and headache got worse, he stared for a second more, taking in the view. He breathed out a shaky breath as he took a step forward, nearly off the edge. Then he took another, feeling as gravity pulled him down as the already blowing wind blew past him.

And then it stopped. He felt something wrap around his waist as he was almost just as quickly pulled back over the ledge. Arms wrapped around his torso as they replaced whatever had pulled him up, him and whoever saved him collapsed back onto the floor, away from the ledge. The hold on him tightened as one arm remained around his waist while the other one shakily reached up and held his shoulder tightly, holding him close.

The door to the roof clicked open behind him and the person he turned slightly to see who had opened it, “oh thank God,” Chuuya sighed, exasperated and out of breath as he looked at them through the door.

Yosano appeared behind the mafia executive quickly after and she let out a relieved sigh, “Is he ok? He's not hurt is he?” She said, referring to Atsushi.

The person holding him didn't answer, instead just turning him around to face him. He met eyes with Akutagawa who was glaring up at him as tears stained his face, “Don't you ever do that again! You can't do that again! I can't live without you, you can't leave me like that! Please, your life is so so valuable, you have so much you still need to live for, you stupid fool! You have every right to your life! Don't try to kill it!” He choked out, his voice stung by crying. 

Crying, Akutagawa is crying. He's crying for me?

Atsushi looked at the other man as shaky hands gripped his arms tightly to not let him leave, to keep him safe from himself. He looked into his partner's gray eyes as tears of his own ran down his cheeks. Atsushi bit back his lip as he too started crying, reaching up holding Akutagawa's cheeks, wiping the tears off his face. He leaned down wrapping his arms around Akutagawa's neck  as he rested his forehead on the other man's shoulder.

“I'm sorry.” He croaked out as he dug his fingers into Akutagawa's coat, holding the fabric tight in his grasp, “I'm sorry.”

“Stop apologizing, you imbecile.” Akutagawa advised, his words still rasped and choked from tears.

So he didn't, instead he just held Akutagawa tighter as he cried. Akutagawa held him back with just as much grip as he ducked his head into the crease of Atsushi's neck. They sat like that till both of them stopped crying, and even longer after, both ignoring the cold that held to their skin as the snow that littered over their clothes melted as the wind blew harshly clasping cold with it.

Atsushi felt as arms wrapped under his knees and under his arms, picking him up. He didn't protest as he just kept his hold around his enemy's neck as he  rested his face on his shoulder. A conversation began behind them as they entered through the door, one Atsushi could hear clearly but didn't care enough to listen to.  He listened to the sound of the group walking down the stairs as they made their way through the halls to his and Akutagawa's room.

“Hey, Chuuya, go see if Dazai and Kunikida are back.” Yosano said as Akutagawa set Atsushi on his bed.

“Okay.” He Said, turning and letting the door close, leaving the other two with Atsushi. Yosano walked over with a rag motioning for Akutagawa to move. Atsushi reached for his hand, holding it loosely.

Atsushi sat up, “can I do it? Please?”

Yosano handed him the rag, “of course.”

Atsushi took the wet rag and washed the blood from hitting his head on the shelf off, wiping the blood from his mouth as well. He hesitated but slipped his hand back so he could hold the rag and clean his hand.

He finished letting Yosano take the rag back, freeing his hands as he slipped his one back into Akutagawa's.

Yosano disappeared into the bathroom to wash the rag and grab something to bandage his head. Akutagawa, still holding  Atsushi's hand, leaned over using his free hand to lift his hair to observe his wound.

“What did you do?” He asked.

“I lost my balance and fell onto the shelf.” Atsushi explained. Akutagawa hummed in response as he dropped his hand from Atsushi's face.hr moved back to the side of the bed when Yosano walked back into the room, a box of large bandaids and a disinfectant in her hand. She walked over and began tending to the wound on his head.

She didn't lose her attention on the wound as the door opened, still tending to it as the other three older men filed into the room. Kunikida walked over and began to ask Akutagawa questions, placing a comforting hand on Atsushi's shoulder doing his best not to ogle his and Akutagawa's hands. Dazai and Chuuya just sat on the edge of Atsushi's bed, watching patiently. Everyone in the room stayed away from asking Atsushi anything about his attempt, switching the conversation around before it ended on the subject. That was until Dazai said something for the first time since entering the room.

“Why'd you do it?” A question they were all wondering, but we're avoiding asking.

Atsushi bit back his lip as he tightened his grip on Akutagawa's hand, causing the slightly older man to look from Dazai to him.

“You didn't have to answer that.” He said, squeezing Atsushi's hand back.

“No, it's fine.” He dismissed, “I did it because I felt like I didn't deserve to continue living while being useless.” 

“Useless? What made you feel like you were being useless?” Kunikida questioned.

“Not being able to help the mission. I've been doing nothing but holding back the mission by having to have people sit around and babysit me.” Atsushi explained.

“Atsushi, you are probably one of the people who have helped the most on the mission, and you haven't been holding it back at all, we send two to three people on the missions relating to the disease, if anything you being affected by it motivates us further to finish it quickly, if anything you've been doing the opposite of holding it back.” Yosano explained.

Atsushi picked at the side of his thumb nail, “but I chased her off, I fucked up and chased her off.”

“You didn't chase her off, you cornered her, we are supposing she is uptown at the moment but haven't pinpointed exactly where, chasing her away from here only helped lessen the places to look, kid.” Chuuya explained.

“But the girl said she fled?” He queried.

“What girl?” Yosano asked.

“I don't know, she was confusing to understand, but she also was the main reason I did it.” He explained digging his nail into the skin beside his thumb.

Kunikida opened his mouth to say something but Atsushi quickly spoke before he could, “Can we stop talking about this now… especially her; that dream and her words are still fresh in my brain.” he looked at Dazai, not noticeably, he didn't want the entire room staring at him. Dazai gave him a slight guilty but empathetic look as he nodded with a slight fake smile.

“Atsushi is right, we should give him some space. We can go get dinner, and if it's ok we can eat it here.” Yosano said, pointing the end of the statement towards the young detective.

Atsushi nodded in agreement as everyone else in the room began to make their way out. He, however, only tightened his grip on Akutagawa's hand as the other man began to walk after the others, leaving the near, exempt from him, room empty. He looked back over his shoulder to the Weretiger.

“Can you stay? Please, I don't want to be left alone, I want you to stay.” he pleaded.

Akutagawa turned around, walking back closer, “of course I can if that is your wish, Weretiger.”

Yosano, who was holding the door open waiting for Akutagawa, peered in the room, “what do you two lovebirds want to eat? I'll get it, but you better pay me back Mafia boy.” She asked.

“He's getting soup, so I will as well.” Akutagawa replied, turning back to Atsushi, “what kind of soup do you want?”

“Huh?..I don't know, Tofu and Miso I guess?” Atsushi answered quietly. Akutagawa nodded and relayed it to The doctor as she nodded and let the door close behind her. The room fell quiet as both men watched the door. 

“Akutagawa?” Atsushi spoke up, looking up towards the mafioso. Akutagawa turned back toward him, waiting for the Weretiger to speak.

Atsushi hesitated at first, “sorry– you'll probably hate me for this, I know you don't like touch.” Atsushi pulled Akutagawa closer, slipping his hand out of the others as he wrapped his arms around the other man's waist resting his forehead on his stomach. Akutagawa didn't protest or say a word in retaliation, just resting his hand on Atsushi's head and sighing. 

After time Atsushi fully relaxed, turning his head pressing the side of his face into Akutagawa's stomach, his arms relaxing as they fell, hooked around the other man's hips. He stared forward towards the wall with slit eyes as the raven haired man ran his fingers through his silver hair.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

“It is not an issue in the slightest, Weretiger.” Akutagawa replied. The room faded to silence again as Atsushi sighed, tightening his loose armhold around Akutagawa's lower waist; the mafioso drew his fingers through Atsushi's silver hair. Staying like that for however long they needed.

Akutagawa's hand traveled from Atsushi's hair down his jaw as with his fingers drew the weretiger's face towards his own, “Your shirt is still covered in blood, Weretiger.”

“Oh, yeah it is, I should probably throw it away.” Atsushi frowned, “It was an expensive shirt as well…” He sighed as he began unbuttoning the front, “I'll have to deal.” He mumbled.

Akutagawa hummed in response as he walked to the end of the bed, pulling his suitcase up on top of the bed, unzipping it.

Atsushi slid his blood stained shirt off, “You don't have to give me your clothes, I understand if you'd want them to yourself.” 

Akutagawa looked up at him and then back down at his suitcase, pulling out a dark gray button up and walking back over to Atsushi, “I do it because I wish to, Weretiger. Put your arm through the sleeve.” He replied, directing Atsushi as he pulled the shirt around the detective's back. Atsushi paused for a second  and then pushed his arm through one of the sleeves in parallel. Akutagawa dropped the other side of the shirt as he lifted Atsushi's other arm by the elbow.

He stared at his upper arm that had been colored with a large purple bruise, “what did you do for this one?”

“I think that's from slamming and falling into the wall.” Atsushi replied.

Akutagawa hummed with a low tone as he dropped Atsushi's elbow reaching behind the other man and grabbing the other side of the shirt, letting Atsushi slide his arm through the sleeve. Akutagawa began buttoning up the front, finishing and dropping the shirt to look Atsushi in the eyes. Then he leaned down and hugged the young detective resting his head in the crease of his neck as he held him tightly.

“Ak-?” Atsushi started.

“You won't do it again, right?” The mafioso interrupted, “please tell me you won't do it again.” He pleaded.

“I won't. I promise.” Atsushi reassured him quietly.

“Good “ Akutagawa sighed, however, not letting go of Atsushi's shoulders just yet.

There was a jingle in the door handle  as Akutagawa quickly separated from Atsushi, walking over and opening the door. Chuuya walked in and thanked him, leading the line as everyone started filling the room once more. Yosano and Kunikida entered last with two things of food in their hands. Yosano walked forward to Atsushi, handing him the bowl of soup. Atsushi smiled and thanked her as he looked at Akutagawa making eye contact. However, that eye contact was cut short by Kunikida clearing his throat and moving the bowl of soup in his hand towards Akutagawa. Akutagawa let the door shut as he took the dish from the older man.

Atsushi looked away and back to his dish as he began to eat. Only then did he realize how hungry he was as he shook slightly as he finished the dish within seconds. He set the bowl down on the nightstand as he noticed everyone else either two thirds or half way done.

“How long have I been asleep?” He asked after a bit.

Everyone looked at him and paused for a second.

“Two days.” Akutagawa said as he gave him a cup of water. Atsushi looked at him and took it as the other man sat beside him on the bed, one leg perched up on the edge of the bed as it pushed against his chest.

Yosano swallowed the bite of her food as she turned to Atsushi, “I don't exactly know what happened, but you passed out according to Akutagawa over there.” She said motioning to the man.

“Thank you.” He said with a nod of his head.

“Of course.” Yosano said as she returned to her food. A few other conversations commenced after at random inner points, some peacefully ones between Yosano and Kunikida, occasionally Akutagawa as well. But most of the conversations were from the entire group, driving from what either Dazai or Chuuya said.

Atsushi smiled. The conversations were still lively and as normal despite the reason for everyone for them all being there.They worried but respected his wishes on not talking about it just yet. It felt nice.

“Ok, you,” Chuuya said pointing at Atsushi, “what's your opinion on dogs? Dazai here doesn't realize how great they are, a man's best friend and all the great things about that." Chuuya asked.

Atsushi sat on it for a second, “I don't know, it depends on the dog, they all kinda scare me.” Atsushi answered. 

“That's because you're half cat.” Akutagawa scoffed to his side. Atsushi rolled his eyes and shook his eyes.

“Yeah? And what about you, do you like dogs?” Chuuya said, turning the question to Akutagawa.

“You already know my opinion on dogs?” Akutagawa puzzled.

“Yeah, but not everyone here does.”

“Well, the only dogs I ever had encountered were the ones from the slums, they would eat your food supply and leave you to starve, that is, if they didn't kill you first. So to answer your question, No. Disliking dogs is one of the few things I and can Dazai agree on I suppose.” Akutagawa answered with little care in his expression or tone.

“Ok, jeez , depressing answer. What about you, glasses?” Chuuya replied, turning to Kunikida.

“They're ok, but cats are far less of a hassle.” Kunikida answered.

“I like dogs.” Yosano said, raising her hand.

“See, this is why Yosano is the best, take notes.” Chuuya remarked. Dazai dramatically coughed as he held his heart as if stabbed in response.

Atsushi smiled again, a small but dear smile, one kept to himself as he watched those around him. 

Yosano finished laughing at wherever Chuuya and Dazai had said as she looked at the time, “Ah, shoot. We should all probably get some sleep if we plan to get up at a decent time.”

“Damn, yeah it's almost one. Well, better get going.” Chuuya said, standing up reaching out a hand for Atsushi as he slipped the other into his pocket. Atsushi looked at his hand, hesitantly lifting a hand to the others as he shook it. Chuuya gave him a firm handshake before nodding in means of salutations. Dazai quickly took Chuuya's place as he walked up to the young detective, and even though Atsushi didn't particularly experience much contact in the terms of sympathy and affection from the older man, Dazai leaned down and gave him a tight hug. After processing the action for a bit he hugged Dazai back.

“I'm sorry, you should never have to feel like you don't deserve to live.” He whispered into Atsushi's ear.

Atsushi let a small smile take part of his conversation as he hugged Dazai tighter, “thank you, but neither should you.” He whispered back.

Dazai smiled, a small genuine smile as he gave Atsushi one last tight hug before retracting from the hug, keeping one hand on the weretiger's shoulder as he looked him in the eyes as he spoke with the joking tone to his voice, “Wow Atsushi, I didn't know you think of me in your lowest moments, how flattering!” He joked.

“God, Dazai. Make sure he gets his much needed sleep, Chuuya; otherwise, he's just gonna become more unbearable.” Atsushi ridiculed with a smile as he waved the two off.

“I doubt sleep will cure him, Kid, he's probably always been weird.” Chuuya said with a slight under-breathed laugh as he began pulling Dazai with him to the door.

“Wow, how rude! This is why you don't have a girlfriend, Chuuya.” Dazai complained loudly and dramatically as the two reached the door.

Chuuya scoffed, “Sure, that is the reason I don't have a girlfriend. Anyways, night, tiger boy.” the mafia executive said as he waved to Atsushi as he opened the door. Atsushi waved back with a smile that got returned by the robin haired man returning the smile and closing the door, dragging Dazai, who waved to Atsushi as well, out of the room.

Yosano turned from the now closed door to Atsushi, “we have to go as well, but if you need anything, and I mean anything, please contact us, we will always be there for you.” She reassured him.

“Thank you, Yosano. I will try.” He replied with a nod. Yosano smiled and nodded back as she switched her attention to Kunikida who seemed to be conversing with Akutagawa. Since when did they have civil conversations, without glaring daggers at each other too? Atsushi left his question unanswered, just happy that his coworker and partner were getting along well.

Kunikida looked over at Yosano making eye contact, looking back to Akutagawa to finish off the conversation, “Take care of him.”

“Of course, don't fret, he will be safe.” Akutagawa reassured with a nod and calm and sturdy voice. Kunikida pushed up his glasses back as he turned to Yosano, nodding to verify that the two could now leave. Yosano sighed and looked back at Atsushi.

“You two get some good sleep, we will always be just upstairs, shoot a text if ever needed.” She restated.

Akutagawa nodded without words as Atsushi spoke, “we will, Goodnight, Yosano, and you too Kunikida.” He said with a light smile.

“Goodnight to you too Atsushi. Ok, come one, Kunikida, let's go.” Yosano replied as she began to make her way to the door.

Kunikida, however, didn't follow her immediately, he placed a firm hand on both sides of Atsushi's arms looking at the younger man, “Stay out of trouble. We care about you, Kid.”

Atsushi gave him a soft smile, “I know, You're such a mom, Kunikida. Not that that's a bad thing, it's comforting how you take care of all of us. Go get some rest, I know you probably haven't had a break all mission, you need the sleep.”

Kunikida removed his hands from Atsushi’s arms clearing his throat and he nodded, “Goodnight, Atsushi.”

“Goodnight, Kunikida.” Atsushi replied. And with that both armed detectives left.

The door clicked shut and Atsushi let out a long sigh as he relaxed fully leaning to the side as he rested his cheek on Akutagawa's shoulder. His expression displayed just how tired he was as he pulled his legs up, resting his forehead on his knees, however still leaned up against Akutagawa's shoulder. He felt Akutagawa shift slightly as the other man let the weretiger rest on his chest instead of his shoulder, carding his hands through Atsushi's hair.

“Are you tired, Weretiger?” He asked.

Atsushi hummed and thought of the question, “Yes. But I think I'm worn out from today, I've been tired since… you pulled me back onto the roof but I didn't want to worry anyone.” Atsushi explained, “and I feel kind of numb? I don't know, I guess I'm still processing it all.” Atsushi finished.

Akutagawa sighed, a slow, long and shaken breath as he pulled Atsushi's face from his chest to look him in the eyes. Atsushi stared back up at the other man as he noted the thin line, lipped frown, half lidded squinted eyes, furrowed brows and barely noticed movement as he seemed to chew on the inside of his cheek; the features made up to paint the pained and worried expression that drew across the other man's face. Atsushi felt the subtle twitch of Akutagawa's finger against the side of his jaw where the man held his face. Akutagawa bit his lip As he leaned down wrapping Atsushi's neck and shoulders in a tight hug as he rested his head on his shoulder.

“Atsushi, my dear, poor, beautiful Atsushi.” Akutagawa whispered as he curled his fingers tightly into Atsushi's shirt. Atsushi froze as he heard his name spoken for the first time, a clear, full word spilled and said with every ounce of emotion, softness, and elegant compassion from the other man. Tears choked him as he began crying almost as if the simple words had pulled the knob of a faucet. He ducked his head as he hid his face in the groove of Akutagawa's shoulder curling up and crying like a child in his arms.

Akutagawa's voice continued with mellifluous infecting his words, “You are one of the few things in my life I cherish, please, please , understand that. I don't have much I allow myself to care for. And as selfish as I am, I can not continue my own life if I know you can't be in it.” He choked the last part as his voice strained.

Akutagawa turned his head curling his face into Atsushi's neck as he breathed out a rasped and shaky breath that blew electricity across Atsushi’s collarbone and grew like a weed throughout his skin burning his heart,  “Please, Atsushi, never try to leave me like that again. Please, use me as if I were an outlet, tell me what is wrong, tell me what I can do to help, whatever, just stay alive . I don't care what I will have to do, just don't ever take your own life. Your life is important, it is cherished, don't ever throw it away.” He rambled, his voice strained as he pulled himself from tears as he spoke. Atsushi couldn't respond, only crying further as he held Akutagawa close, curling up closer into his lap. Akutagawa let one last long breath escape his lungs as he shifted resting his chin on top of Atsushi's head, raising a hand and caressing down Atsushi's hair in comfort as he continued to cry.

 Never once did the other man stop him from showing his raw vulnerable emotions, not ridiculing or shaming his tears; Instead, he let Atsushi finish crying without a word or complaint. Atsushi sniffled as he used his sleeves to wipe the wet of the tears from his eyes.

“Akutagawa?” He said, his voice still raspy from crying.

“Yes?”

“Thank you, I know it was probably hard to say all that, just know that I will.” He answered.

Akutagawa's before loose grip on Atsushi's shirt tightened, he ducked his face into Atsushi's hair and sighed ridgedly, “that I thank you as well.” He whispered.

Atsushi hummed, tightening and then loosening his grip on the back of Akutagawa's shirt. He moved and backed from Akutagawa's chest, his hands never moving from their place around Akutagawa's neck. Akutagawa's gaze followed his motions, raising his own head to meet Atsushi's eyes. 

Atsushi spent the time the other man had given him to observe him. He sighed as he stared into the raven haired man's almost just as dark gray eyes. Stunning he thought as he let a small but dear smile stain across his lips as he leaned back down resting his head in the crook of his neck. Akutagawa let him. He let him lay there in silence just finding comfort in Akutagawa being there for him. Akutagaw rested his one hand against Atsushi's gently as burrowed his fingers into the weretiger's hair. Atsushi sat, letting Akutagawa rub his fingers through the silver strands as he calmed fully, his face drying, and headache dying down. Even after, he continued to sit in Akutagawa's lap, resting against his chest.

Akutagawa sighed one last time as he rubbed his thumb over the side of Atsushi's neck before grabbing his shoulders and pulling him of his chest to look him in the eyes again, Akutagawa sat there his expression resting void of any harsh indication of emotions as he observed the state of being of his partner. He fixated on the choppy silver bangs as he fixed them, brushing his fingers through the slightly, barely tangled bits. Afterward he placed his palms on each of Atsushi's cheeks, just under his eyes, the final chill that had only been warm to Atsushi since the disease had been in constant affect. That wasn't the case, for once, he wasn't in a battle against the disease that infected him. The chill of Akutagawa's usually cold hands balanced the usual burning warmth in Atsushi's cheeks. He let sleep attack him as he leaned in rest against Akutagawa's hand.

“Are you tired, Weretiger?” Akutagawa asked.

Back to “weretiger”? “Just a little.” He answered.

“Do you think you are awake enough to walk? I wanna go somewhere.” Akutagawa continued.

Atsushi hummed in compliance as he let the other man pull him to his feet. Akutagawa searched the closet for Atsushi's coat, pulling it out and handing it to him.

Atsushi slipped the coat on, “do I need to change my pants as well?” He asked.

Akutagawa shook his head, “No, you look fine, it's not like we're going anywhere fancy.”

Atsushi nodded as he let the other man hold his hand as he began pulling him gently out of the room. The halls were quiet, stinging with silence of not even a mouse or the click of a door. Akutagawa led Atsushi through the dark halls as they reached the front of the building. The wind was still crisp, snow falling from the sky, and wind blowing harshly. The chill didn't freeze Atsushi like it would have with the severe disease. Him and Akutagawa walked hand in hand, silently down the empty dark streets of the town.

The two began to grow close to their destination when Atsushi began to recognize his surroundings better. He saw the small gift shop he and the Mafioso had gone to before the disease affected him for the worse. It was where Akutagawa had bought that necklace he doesn't take off now.

They approached the store as Akutagawa pushed the door open letting Atsushi and. Akutagawa quickly took Atsushi's hand back into his and the detective let the mafioso take the lead as he intertwined their fingers. Atsushi followed close and curious behind Akutagawa as they made their way to the jewelry section.

“Are you gonna buy another guessing game necklace?” Atsushi asked.

Akutagawa looked at him as he looked through the brooches, “again it's not that hard to figure it out.”

“I think it is.” Atsushi answered as he looked at the rings. One caught his eye, a lily of the valley as the shape of the silver band, he noticed a few of the same model and different color of the bud.  There was a light blue, pink, red, grayish white, purple, yellow, and a tea, half with silver and the other half with gold bands. Atsushi touched a light finger to the white one with the silver band. He retracted his hand as he looked to the brooches to see what Akutagawa was doing; however, the raven haired man seemed to be peering over his shoulder at the rings.

“Do you want this?” He asked, referring to the ring as he picked it up, observing the jewelry.

“Huh? Oh, it's pretty, but I don't have the money.” Atsushi mumbled touching the gem on the ring lightly

“I don't understand how you have come to the conclusion that you will be the one buying it.” Akutagawa replied, moving to Atsushi's side, grabbing Atsushi's wrist and raising his hand. Akutagawa lightly took Atsushi's hand in his own, raising his ring finger as he slipped the ring on his finger.

Akutagawa let his hand fall from Atsushi's as the younger man stared at his hand. He flipped his hand over and then backed up, observing the piece of jewelry on his finger.

“It looks good on you.” Akutagawa said.

“Hm? Does it?” He said back. Akutagawa nodded as he grabbed Atsushi by his shoulders, moving him in front of the mirror and holding up his hand. Atsushi Looked at the ring in the mirror.

“It kinda looks like a wedding ring.. Oh wait!” He said quickly turning to the rings, trying to find one similar to his. Atsushi failed to find one, but the purple one with the yellow band caught his eye as he picked it up.

He grabbed Akutagawa's hand, sliding the ring on his finger, “it's not the same one, but it's the same colors as your necklace.”

Akutagawa hummed in amusement as Atsushi pulled the necklace out of Akutagawa's shirt. He held the necklace and the hand with the ring up next to each other in the mirror. “See, they look good together, don’t they?... Wait.” Atsushi paused looking at the jewelry and then at himself, “Oh, My eyes! That is what it is!” He deduced.

“I told you it was as easy as looking in a mirror.” Akutagawa remarked.

“Yeah? I guess I just wasn't paying that much attention.” Atsushi replied.

“Do you want it now?” Akutagawa asked, turning to Atsushi.

“Hm? No, they look better on you. You should keep it.” He said with a nod as he dropped the necklace, letting the sunset colored gem disappear in the ruffles of Akutagawa's neck accessory.

“Then we're unbalanced, I have to buy you a necklace now.” Akutagawa said as he quickly slipped past Atsushi and began looking through the necklaces. 

“You really don't have to.”

Akutagawa grabbed a silver-chained necklace and looked at Atsushi, “I know I don't have to, I do it because I want to.” He corrected as he walked over to the detective, standing behind him, opening the clasp of the necklace and pulling it over Atsushi's collarbone and neck. He clipped the necklace back together and let it slip over Atsushi's shirt, displayed in the middle of his chest. Atsushi raised his palm, holding the necklace in it to look at the pendant. It was also a flower, a rose or something with thorns as the veins of the flower reached up the chain.

“It's pretty, thank you.” He said turning to Akutagawa.

The other nodded as he looked in the mirror at Atsushi again. The silver haired man reached behind his neck, unclasping the necklace and nesting it in his hand. Atsushi felt fingers slip into his palm as he followed the one dragging him to the counter. Akutagawa let Atsushi set the jewelry in his palm as he watched the ravenette set the three items on the counter. The clerk quickly checked out the items and asked for his mode of payment, leading Akutagawa to pull out his intimidating shiny black card. The clerk smiled as he handed back the receipt and Akutagawa's card, as well as the items in a bag. The two men took the items and made their way out the door.

“Are we going home?” Atsushi asked.

“Not just yet, there's one more place I would like to bring you.” He said as he stopped beside a bench, “sit here please.” He directed.

He handed the small jewelry bag to Atsushi and held a hand on both of the weretiger's shoulders leaning down and looking him in the eye, “stay here, I will be right back.”

“Okay, got it.” Atsushi replied with a nod. Akutagawa nodded back and let Atsushi go, shoving his hands in his pockets and walking down the street. Atsushi pulled his legs up on the bench resting his head in his knees and sighing. He looked to where Akuatagawa had walked off to meet eyes with an empty street illuminated by store lights. He folded his arms on top of his knees and looked back out at the road. He's been so sweet. He leaned his head against the side of his arm as he watched a car drive past, it's nice. Atsushi smiled to himself, a smile hidden from the public by his arms.

Fingertips brushed the back of his neck, causing him to turn back. He looked back at Akutagawa who paused before retracting his fingers from their spot. He reached into a bag, pulling out a warm plastic container and handing it to the weretiger. Atsushi took it and watched Akutagawa walk around the bench, sitting  down beside him. He set his feet back on the ground and opened the container.

More soup? Hey, it smells good though.

Atsushi took the utensils Akutagawa handed him and began eating. It tasted good, he was quick to finish, as per usual. He set his bowl to his side and leaned back looking up at the night sky. It was full, more visible then Yokohama's, it wasn't infected by light pollution.

“Thank you.” He whispered.

“What was that?” Akutagawa asked, leaning forward and grabbing Atsushi's dish, setting it in his, and putting it in the garbage behind him on the side of the bench.

Atsushi looked over at Akutagawa as he pulled one last container from the bag. He noted the way he looked illuminated by the street lights and dim shop lights and contrasting white due to the snow background. Atsushi had come to the conclusion that he looked good at all angles, and lighting, and just in general. Who let God make someone so beautiful?

“Weretiger?” Akutagawa said, looking up at the young detective, still clicking off the lid of the container in his hand.

“What is it?” Atsushi said, sitting up.

“Why did you say thank you earlier?” The raven haired man asked, turning his eyes back to the container, struggling to unclip it.

“Oh that. I was just thankful for all of this again, especially pulling me back up onto the roof. Caring for me I guess.” the silver haired detective answered honestly.

Akutagawa paused looking up at Atsushi, “It’s not an issue, I would do It again. As long as you’re alive.” he said, turning back to the container.

“Then thank you even more,” Atsushi said with a smile, “do you need help with that?”

Akutagawa looked back up at Atsushi and handed him the container over. Atsushi took it and tried taking the lid off, failing. "What did they do? cement it on?” he said, activating his ability slightly to gain access to his claws, popping the lid off with them.

“Cheesecake? This looks like the one we had before.” Atsushi said as he handed Akutagawa back the container.

“Put your claws away tiger, I don't want to accidentally puncture myself.” Akuatagawa said, reaching out for the small box. Atsushi unactivated his ability as his nails grew back to normal; Akutagawa took the container. “And I know it's similar to the one from the cafe we went to, I did that due to not knowing if you like any other flavors.” He said as he picked up the two forks in the container, handing one to Atsushi.

Atsushi sulked as he took his own fork, “Feeding it to each other was so much fun though. Your reaction was so fun and it tasted better that way.”

Akutagawa rolled his eyes as he took a bite of the cheese cake. Atsushi took a bite himself.

“Still good though, thanks.” He said as he swallowed. Akutagawa scoffed, borderlining on a laugh as he took another bite, leaning his face against his palm as he leaned his side against the backrest of the bench. Atsushi and the other man continued to eat, random remarks emerging from the weretiger as Akutagawa Replied with few words, only watching the weretiger as he spoke.

Atsushi looked up and met Akutagawa's stare, “what? Oh, is there something on my face?” He said as he reached up his palm and wiped at the side of his mouth. 

Akutagawa reached out a hand, gently touching the back of Atsushi's as he directed it back down, “there's nothing, I was just listening. go back to your story, what was it that you and the small blonde detective were doing on this mission?” 

“It's Kenji, anyways…” he started as he began explaining the mission. He watched as Akutagawa rested his head in his arm that he had rested on the bench, his eyes following Atsushi as he spoke. Atsushi paused and looked at his partner as he watched him intently. He engraved the scene into his memory. God, he's gorgeous.  

“You were saying something, Weretiger.” The mafioso said.

“Huh…” Atsushi paused, “oh wait I was, what was I saying last?” He asked.

Akutagawa smiled, even though the expression was nearly hidden behind his arm, Atsushi made sure to memorize it, “you were saying something about running into an older woman Kenji knew.” He informed the younger detective.

Atsushi took that information as he broke out of his trance-like state and continued from where he left off, pausing to take another bite, quickly continuing the story after swallowing, eyes diverted from the other man as he spoke.

He finished the story as soon as he finished the cheesecake, letting Akutagawa take the fork from his hand and the container, throwing them into the trash behind him. Atsusi moved to stand up, however, before Atsushi could stand fully, fingers lightly wrapped around his wrist pulling him back down.

“Wait.” Akutagawa said lighter than usual. Atsushi found his place back on the bench quickly as he let Akutagawa maneuver him slightly to be turned in front of him as he pulled the necklace from the bag, leaning forward as he rested his forearms on Atsushi's collar bones head slightly tilted to see the clasp of the necklaces he clipped it together. He sat back and moved to fix the necklace, setting the gem where it belonged in the middle of Atsushi's chest. He then grabbed the ring Atsushi had picked out from the bag and slipped it onto Atsushi's finger, puting minimal care into outing his own, unlike he did Atsushi's. He folded the bag and there's it away. Atsushi watched the other man as he did so, enchanted by his movement as he stared silently. 

Akutagaw met his stare, “let's get going now, Weretiger, we need to sleep.” he said as he placed his palm into Atsushi's, webbing his fingers through Atsushi's. Atsushi nodded as he let the other man pull him to his feet as they walked hand in hand back to the hotel.

“It's pretty out.” Atsushi mentioned, referring to the snow that began to fall lightly around them after a bit of walking.

“It is.” Akutagawa agreed as they approached the hotel. Akutagawa pushed the door open and let Atsushi enter first, the weretiger never letting the other man's hand go as he walked it, following the Weretiger soonly after. Atsushi looked back at Akutagawa as he waited to walk up the stairs with him. Akutagawa walked forward, taking the lead as Atsushi followed close behind him up the stairs. They made their way back to the hotel room silently, not that there was need for a conversation, both were at peace with the silence.

Akutagawa once again let Atsushi in first as he held the door open for the other man. Akutagawa closed the door and walked over to the front of Atsushi as he felt his hair.

“The snow made your hair all wet.” He said as he began leading Atsushi to the bathroom. He let his hand fall from Atsushi's as they made their way, the raven haired man grabbed a towel and walked back over to Atsushi. The detective let him dry the damp from his hair as he watched the other man in the mirror.

Akutagawa finished, carding his fingers through Atsushi's silver bangs, watching the weretiger in the mirror.

“How's your forehead?” He asked, his voice low and quiet.

“It feels fine, it doesn't hurt as much as it did, probably my ability healing it.” Atsushi answered. Akutagawa didn't answer, not with words at least, he just wrapped his arms around Atsushi's neck again as he rested his head against the weretiger's shoulder. He rubbed his thumb up and down near Atsushi's collar bone.

Akutagawa stayed silent for a while before he did speak, “how are you doing right now?” He asked, his breath as he spoke blowing shivers down Atsushi's back.

“I'm doing fine, and I mean it this time. I might be a little tired but now that I don't have that obnoxious ringing and voice in my ear I feel sane at the least.” Atsushi explained, “I'm not going to try to kill myself again I promise. I can't do that, not knowing you guys care about me.” he added on, turning his head to look towards his mafioso partner.

Akutagawa's grip on Atsushi's shoulder tightened as he fell back to silence. But in the midst of the silence he began to speak, or well, whisper in response to the weretiger's statement. “Thank you. Thank you so much, Atsushi. Thank you.” He rambled. Atsushi leaned his head against Akutagawa's, letting the slightly older man's soft hair press against his cheek, as he reached his hand up as he brushed his fingers through Akutagawa's hair this time.

Atsushi breathed in deeply and then back out, “thank you, thank you for caring, thank you for being on that roof when you were, thank you for keeping me from finishing the act or doing it again. Thank you too, Akutagawa.”

Akutagawa mumbled something quietly, and Atsushi could barely even hear him make a sound. Atsushi sighed one more time as he let his hand fall from Akutagawa's hair. Then Akutagawa moved off of Atsushi's shoulder, letting his hands slip away as he set the towel in the hamper.

Atsushi noticed the barely older man reach for his hand but retracted it; Atsushi, however, grabbed it before it could disappear in the man's coat pockets. Akutagawa glanced at their hands before speaking, “we should get to bed, we don't know what's in-store for tomorrow.” he said, his voice nearly flat as normal, that subtle rasp from his cough still stung to his voice. Not that Atsushi hated it, he liked the way Akutagawa's voice sounded, it's just the prospect of why it sounds like that 

“Weretiger.” Akutagawa said. 

Atsushi's attention was drawn back at the sound of the nickname, “hmm?” He hummed back. 

“To bed.” Akutagawa repeated himself. 

“Oh.” All the silver haired detective replied as he began dragging the both of them out of the bathroom and to bed. Atsushi climbed into the covers making room for Akutagawa who occupied himself with turning the light off and changing in the bathroom. Akutagawa returned back from the bathroom, baggier more landing on the spectrum of comfort than style(even though in Atsushi's mind everything looked stylish and good on Akutagawa) clothing hung loosely upon his shoulders. The wide neck line showcasing the necklace draped around his neck and the pure milky white of his skin. Once the room was encased in the dark of the night as Akutagawa turned the light of the bathroom off, slightly illuminated by the moon's glow through the window, Akutagawa climbed into the covers beside Atsushi. Atsushi was quick, the second Akutagawa laid down he cuddled up next to him, Akutagawa didn't mind Atsushi doing so from what the detective had observed, it's how the night would end anyways. Akutagawa wrapped his arms around Atsushi holding the younger back. 

Atsushi let his fingers run through the bottom of Akutagawa’s hair, “You know, that list of ‘things not to tell anyone if I value my life’ is pretty screwed if someone ever does find out.”

“I don't think I would mind that much anymore, Weretiger, this here is nice. If someone found out they might just be jealous. And besides, they won't, it is called  the ‘things not to tell anyone if you value your life ’ for a reason, my future tiger pelt.” Akutagawa replied, loosely threatening the weretiger.

Atsushi smiled as he rested his face on the other man's shoulder, “thanks.”

Akutagawa hummed back, “for threatening your life?” He joked with a monotone tone.

“No, for all of everything you've done for me, today, yesterday, this month, the entire mission. I'm grateful.” Atsushi corrected the other man's statement. 

Akutagawa simply hummed back as he drew his thumb over the back of Atsushi's neck, “Goodnight, Atsushi.” He said clearly as he let the conversation dwindle with only Atsushi's response left. 

“Night, Akutagawa.” He said, letting Akutagawa's breathing and light rubbing against the back of Atsushi's neck as well the loud silence draw him to and near sleep.

Chapter Text

“What are you doing?” Atsushi asked.

Akutagawa looked up and then back down, “bringing us a form of entertainment.” He said as he secured the tv in his arms with Rashomon’s help.

“Do Chuuya and Dazai know you're stealing their tv?” the detective asked.

“Chuuya's helping actually. Dazai does not, however.” The raven haired man answered.

“Yeah, cool, can we go? I don't understand why you aren't letting me use my ability, this would be so much easier.” Chuuya complained.

“I don't want it damaged.” He answered as he began walking back into the room. Chuuya rolled his eyes as he followed. The two mafiosos reached the empty dresser top and set the television on the top. Chuuya sighed as he let go of the tv, Akutagawa slipping past and plugging it into the wall.

“I'll go get the console.’ Chuuya said as he left the room. Akutagawa nodded and felt fingers tap his shoulder. He turned around to Atsushi.

“What is it, Weretiger?” he asked, letting the detective slide his hand into his fingers gently gliding against his palm.

“Why the tv? explain further what ‘a form of entertainment’ means.” Atsushi asked as he sat back down on the end of the bed.

“You're always complaining about being too bored, and Chuuya and Dazai weren't using it, so he said we could borrow it.” Akutagawa explained, reaching out for Atsushi's other hand to hold it. Akutagawa didn't let the smile that pulled at his lips curl into his face as Atsushi took his hand without looking as he began to talk almost as if it were instinct.

“I could just go buy myself another book.”

Akutagawa hummed in response, “I'll keep in mind to buy you another while I'm up town.”

Atsushi let out a disappointed sigh, but let a bright smile creep on his face as he held his and Akutagawa's hands up turning his palm in the mafioso's, Akutagawa relished and memorized the way Atsushi slid his fingers through his own. 

His hands are surprisingly soft.  

“Should I go?” Chuuya said from behind the younger mafioso.

“If you want, you don't have to.” Atsushi said sheepishly as he looked at Chuuya.

Chuuya glanced at their hands, “hmmm… are you sure? I can leave you guys here to enjoy yourselves. ” He implied suggestively. Both you get men paused, that was until they understood the implications, and then Akutagawa just glared as Atsushi went brain dead silent as he flushed bright red.

“Chuuya, go back to your hotel room if you value your dignity.” Akutagawa threatened.

Chuuya scoffed, “You wouldn't.” he said, crossing his arms.

“I wouldn't risk that if I were you.” Akutagawa warned.

The executive put his hands up in surrender and defense, “Ok, ok, fine I'll go.” Chuuya gave in, turning to the door. He left, locking and then closing the door behind him. Akutagawa sighed and grumbled complaints to himself.

Atsushi's soft, sweet, cherry like voice broke through his inner thoughts and complaints as the weretiger spoke, “I- ummm. We should go get coffee or something or- can we go somewhere?” He asked, still slightly flustered by Chuuya's comment from before, trying to change the subject. 

“If you insist, but you know the others are already suspicious that these little strolls are dates.” Akutagawa acknowledged.

“I wouldn't mind if they were…” the detective mumbled quietly, even though Akutagawa heard the words spoken. However, the mafioso pretended he didn't, he wanted to hear it again, clearer.

Akutagawa leaned down slightly only enough to close a few inches, barely that, between the two of them, to hear better this time, catching Atsushi's eyes that diverted to the side nervously, “I didn't hear that. What was it you said, weretiger?” he asked, leaning his head to the side in confusion, planting his hands, still holding Atsushi's, to the other’s sides in the cushions of the bed.

Atsushi looked back at him, meeting his eyes unsteadily as they traveled around the room and Akutagawa’s face, mainly, “it was nothing really.” He answered.

“I'm curious, I really must know.”  Akutagawa persisted, losing Atsushi's eyes once again as they drifted to the side, “as well, I like being looked at when I'm being talked to.”

Atsushi closed his eyes and sighed, almost as if it would help him not be so flustered. He failed however as that calm facade melted the second he looked back up at Akutagawa, “I said that I wouldn't mind… if they were… I don't see it as a bad thing.” He answered quietly as his face flushed and he averted his eyes again. 

Akutagawa couldn't help but let a grin pull onto his face as he ducked his head, letting his forehead rest on the weretiger's shoulder as he wrapped the other man up in a tight hug. He fell quiet as he pushed himself and Atsushi down to their sides on the bed. He sighed once again, his face pressed against the detective's collarbone as he relaxed, letting his shoulders sulk and his smile drift as he drew the back of his fingers along Atsushi's back.

“Akutagawa?” Atsushi asked not too long after.

Akutagawa hummed back, running his fingers slowly down the small of Atsushi's back and then just as slowly back up.

“Why do you keep randomly hugging me like this?” He asked.

Akutagawa paused his hand near the base of the weretiger's neck as he shifted back slightly, “I'm just holding what I could have lost.” He answered truthfully as he continued running his hand along Atsushi's back. 

“It's not like I'm leaving, I'm not going to attempt again, I promise, you have my word.” Atsushi mumbled as he ducked his face into Akutagawa's hair.

“I know.” Akutagawa replied as he moved Atsushi closer. Atsushi sighed slightly as he relaxed as well, the two plummeting into silence. Akutagawa pushed away slightly as he met Atsushi's eyes. He pulled his hands from Atsushi's back and instead placed them on each side of his cheeks, studying the other's face.

“What is it?” Atsushi asked as he leaned into Akutagawa's hands, relishing in the touch.

“I'm just looking, nothing more.” Akutagawa answered.

“Mmhmm.. ok then.” Atsushi replied  softly as he just let the mafioso stare, making his own observations of the gray eyed man.

Akutagawa looked to where he held Atsushi's face, slowly watching as he drew his thumb from the detective's cheek down slowly along just under Atsushi's soft bright colored bottom lip. Pausing somewhere near the middle of the lip, Akutagawa slowly began pulling the Weretiger's face towards his own, running his fingers slowly back through silver hair as he held the back of the weretiger's head as he pulled him meer inches away without protest from the slightly confused detective who only pressed three light fingers against the mafioso's waist. And then he stopped himself before he could finish the act, ducking his head instead under the weretiger's chin, pressing his forehead against Atsushi's neck as he bit his lip back, disappointed in himself.

I'm being selfish, Akutagawa thought, I'm pushing boundaries I shouldn't, I'm getting too comfortable, far too greedy. 

He sat up, slipping away from Atsushi as he clenched his fists into the blankets and breathed out steadily, but his throat caught anyways as he began to cough I to his elbow. The bed shifted beside him as Atsushi sat up, lightly patting Akutagawa on the back as he finished coughing. He cleared his throat before he spoke, “you said you wanted to go somewhere, Weretiger.”

“Oh, yeah I did.” Atsushi aknowlaged, “where should we go?” he asked as he leaned forward, turning to meet Akutagawa's eyes as he spoke.

“You're the one who recommended coffee; as well, I'm taking you out, it is your choice.” the ravenette replied, holding the silver haired man's gaze. Atsushi gave him a bright smile as he stood up, Akutagawa letting him pull him to his feet as he had dragged him out the door.

Akutagawa walked close in behind Atsushi as the younger man dragged him around the hotel and out the front doors. The mafioso just followed watching the weretiger's back as they walked through crowded streets. Akutagawa's grip tightened as he tried to pull himself closer to the detective as he nearly began to lose sight of him through the crowd.

One guy bumped into his shoulder nearly flooring him as his hand slipped off Atsushi's slightly. He clenched his fist on his free hand as he gave the man a sharp as knife glare. The other man scoffed as he gave him back a look with slight disgust as well over confidence. The man purposely bumped into Akutagawa this time as he walked off, harder than before pushing him nearly into a woman and her child's stroller.

He turned to the woman and apologized for the inconvenience as he looked back to where the man was. He glared as he patted off his shirt, the area slightly damp from the rude stranger's sweat.

Disgusting. He internally retched.

 He felt a slight tug on the belt of his coat, as he turned to look who was bothering him now . He was met by a child who was followed by a small girl who he supposed was the young girl's little sister by the similarities. 

“Could you spare some change, or food-?” The older girl started.

“Don't bother with those street rats, they're a waste of good money.” One man said as he tried to grab the girl's hand dragging her and her sister away as they tried to yank their hands back.

“Unhand them, I am in no need for any of your illogical advice, I do with my money what I please.” Akutagawa gave a threatening look as he clamped his hand down onto the man's wrist.

The man looked at him and then to his hands he let the girls go, yanking his hand back as he walked away with a glare.

Obnoxious asshole, this is why I avoid the streets.

He felt a subtle not as harsh tug at his coat this time as he turned once again to meet eyes with the younger of the two girls. The older quickly joined her, grabbing her hand away from his coat to not be a disturbance. Akutagawa kneeled down to be level with the two girls.

“Do you two have food for a meal tonight?” He asked. The older of the two looked at her sister as she held her arm waiting for the answer as well. The girl looked back up at Akutagawa and shook her head.

Akutagawa nodded as he stood up, “Do you have a group, or is it just the two of you?” He asked as he pulled out his wallet.

“...it's just us.”  the youngest girl replied. Akutagawa hummed In response as he pulled out the cash that was left in his wallet. He kneeled down and gave it to the older girl, “Make sure to use it wisely, this much if spent with the fact that it won't last you a month or two will make it last at least a year.” He advised as he stood back up. He watched the girl count the cash with wide eyes as she showed her sister. The two siblings reminded him of him and Gin back in the slums, first receiving charity money from a stranger.

They deserve a warm meal tonight.

“I'm going to go get you two some food for tonight, so just stay here I'll be right back.” He said as he turned to walk away. Oh, what about Atsushi? He'll wonder where I went… He turned back around, pulling out his phone and giving it to the two girls. “If I get a call, answer it and just tell the weretiger to come to this place, it will be our meeting place.” He directed, the oldest girl nodded as she held the phone tightly in her rough and shaky hands. Akutagawa stood back off and disappeared into the crowd looking for somewhere that sold warm food.

He entered a random food joint, ordering two of the largest meals on the menu. It was fast food, and maybe he should have chosen somewhere healthier, but he knew they would like the taste, and it was enough to settle them for the night. Maybe I should stop by a grocery store and get some canned food as well…

The cashier handed him the food in a bag as he paid her and took it. He looked for a nearby grocery store, entering just as quickly and loading up enough canned soups to last the two for at least the rest of the winter if they spared it well. He made his way back to the two girls, meeting eyes with the younger who peeked her head around her sister to see him as he returned back.

He set the cans of food down on the ground in front of the girl's as they sat on the bench on the side of the street. He then pulled out the bag with the fast food, pulling out the two meals from inside the bag, handing them to the girls.

“Thank you.” one of them said as she took a bite from the warm food.

“There are enough cans in this bag here to last you through the rest of the winter, so about a month. Make sure that they and the money are hidden.” He advised as he set the bag now on the bench beside them. The girls nodded as the oldest paused eating to hand him back his phone.

“Your friend is on his way by the way.” She said as she returned her attention back to her food.

And almost like magic,“Akutagawa?” The tired slightly out of breath voice of his partner said as he had finally made his way over, still almost getting run over by the feet of people like a stray street cat as he stumbled and pushed through the crowd to Akutagawa. Sighing and breathing in and out deeply 

“I lost you in the crowd earlier, Weretiger.” Akutagawa said.

“Well, yeah, what's going on here?” Atsushi mumbled back.

“They said they were hungry. Did you run here, Tiger?” He asked. Atsushi unashamedly nodded his head as he took a seat on the bench next to the bag of soup. Still a little confused and a little awkward.

“Is it normal for you to buy kids on the street food when I'm not around, hiding your good deeds from me or something?” Atsushi asked.

“It was very spur of the moment. Extremely, spur of the moment. And it wasn't to do any good deeds really, I just kinda did it.” Akutagawa answered.

Atsushi nodded back and gave a smile to one of the girls who gave him a small wave before her sister grabbed her hand, whispering to her to beware of strangers. The detective turned back to Akutagawa, “I think that's sweet.”

“You are ridiculous.” Akutagawa sighed as he crossed his arms and looked back towards the girls.

“You two.” The two looked up at him, “It is important that you understand that the people on the streets are cruel. The probability of someone just giving you money and food like this without selfish reprimand is very unlikely. Be cautious next time, if someone offers food, take it and run before they can ask for something in return.” He advised. The girls nodded back instantly, him and the older girl making reassuring eye contact.

“Good, quickly hurry back and hide that food where others on the streets won't find it.” He waved them off. The girls quickly took the cans of food and disappeared into the shadows of the musty alleyways.

“What was that all about?” Atsushi asked from his side.

“If they do not hide their food or are cautious of who they are receiving food from they will only have a large and dangerous target on their back. It's just how the streets are.” Akutagawa explained.

Atsushi hummed back in reply as he looked up at the sky where the snow began to fall. Akutagawa looked back at him observing the other man as snow began to surround him, the contrary sun shining down on his face. Akutagawa walked in front of his partner and kicked him in the ankle , light as to not hurt him however.

“Ow.” Atsushi said.

“That did not hurt, stop being dramatic.” Akutagawa dismissed as he reached a hand out. Atsushi smiled, that bright beautiful smile that Akutagawa adored, as he placed his hand into Akutagawa's, letting the other man pull him to his feet. They walked close, side by side with tight hands this time so as to not lose each other as they walked down the street.

“Where are we going?” Akutagawa asked as he rubbed his finger down the back of Atsushi's hand.

“That's what you get to find out.” The weretiger responded with a cheer in his voice as he bumped into Akutagawa's side.

Akutagawa smiled, “then lead the way, Weretiger.” Atsushi hummed back as he squeezed Akutagawa's hand.

“We're gonna stop here first, Kay?” Atsushi Said, turning to a small cafe and looking back at the mafioso for an answer. Akutagawa lifted his hand and motioned to enter, the young detective giving a soft smile pulled him into the small cafe giving his own silent reply to the already silent response. 

Akutagawa watched the other order with a bright but weary smile due to the pricey food and coffee. After he turned to Akutagawa and waited for him to order, “get whatever you want, I'm paying this time, don't worry about the price.” He said. So that's exactly what Akutagawa did as he searched the menu for something cheap but still to his liking. He told the cashier the name and let Atsushi pay before he dragged him off to a random table as they waited for their order to be cooked.

Atsushi slipped into the seat across the table from the mafioso, “this place is nice, it's a lot like the cafe back at home.”

Akutagawa hummed back and nodded in response. He opened and closed his hand that was left cold when Atsushi  took his hand back, taking the heat of it with him as well. He glanced over to Atsushi as the detective observed the room around them, eyes elsewhere, his complexion glowing in the golden sunlight that peered through the window and shined down like a spotlight onto the silver haired man as if it was only necessary to take in the beauty of his features that fit perfectly together to make the masterpiece that was the man himself. Akutagawa continued to watch the detective and admire him, reaching his hand across to hold Atsushi's, stopping though and curling it in a fist tight, ignoring the sharp pain of his pains pushing hard against his palm as he looked off at the table instead.

Akutagawa slipped his fisted hand and the other one that sat lax off the table And shoved his fists into his coat as he nipped at the inside of his cheek, “I suppose it is quite nice.” He mumbled back quietly.

“yeah. Have you ever been to the Uzumaki Cafe?” The weretiger asked.

Akutagawa looked up and met Atsushi's eyes, “no, I have not.” he answered.

“I'll have to bring you sometime if I can when the mission is over.” Atsushi  said, any further statements being cut off by the waitress arriving and giving them their food and drinks. Atsushi thanked the server as they left, giving him a smile quickly before returning back to their job. 

Even though Akutagawa ate quicker then usual (because Atsushi did use his money on him, he wanted to show he at least enjoyed the meal and didn't want him to sit there waiting for forever as per usual) Atsushi still finished before him, slower than normal however. Probably effects of the disease starting their full effect on his appetite. The weretiger slowly sipped on a small cup of some kind of coffee, waiting,  watching the people of the crowded street pass by out the window that became nearly filled with white heavy snow.

Akutagawa finished his plate, it was a small dessert anyway, and placed it onto Atsushi's in the middle of the table, pulling his almost smaller, cheap cup of coffee closer. He looked up at the weretiger, silently watching him. Then he sighed, taking another sip before kicking Atsushi's ankle lightly. The other man turned his head and looked at the raven haired man.

“What is it?” He asked.

“We should get going soon.” Akutagawa said, “The snow's getting heavy, I'm worried it might kick start the disease after all this time of having it disappear.” He mumbled his concerns as he stared into his cup of coffee, slowly taking a sip out of it after. 

“I'll be fine, if we're in the cold for a little while." Atsushi replied, playing with the coffee stirrer and spinning it in little circles as we rested his cheek on his palm as we watched the cup.

“I don't want to risk it." Akutagawa replied.

A slightly disappointed expression displayed across the silver haired man's face as he hid it behind his hand, “I don't want to go back to the hotel yet, and I had somewhere I wanted to bring you.” he said before dropping the stirrer into the cup and taking a slow sip.

Akutagawa looked at the weretiger, his saddened expression, and sighed, “Ok, fine, but please tell me if there are any issues at all.”

Atsushi lit up and gave him a big smile and thanked him before taking another drink of his coffee; Akutagawa took the smile from the detective ment for him in and held it close to his heart. He pitied how fast he folded for the other, but ignored that side of him that was disappointed in himself. 

Atsushi, on the other hand, seemed completely composed as he seemed to drink his drink quickly, finishing it in seconds. He seemed to impatiently wait for Akutagawa to finish his, the second in him doing so the weretiger quickly stood up and reached a hand out for the other. Akutagawa wasn't hesitant to set his hand on the others, letting the other man pull him to his feet and quickly put the door, the silverette thanking the cashier before dragging Akutagawa and him out the door.

“You're eager to come back to the freezing cold aren't you?" Akutagawa scoffed as he tried to walk, well stumbled more or less, faster to keep up. 

“Totally.” Atsushi replied as he tightened his grip on Akutagawa's hand as he dragged him through the streets, and Akutagawa let him. Akutagawa followed Atsushi as they made their way to the outskirts of the small town, the weretiger looking back at Akutagawa as he led him to a small dirt path. The mafioso waited for the other man to continue walking as he stared back.

Atsushi smiled and looked forward, walking in the direction the trail led, “It's pretty isn't it?”

Akutagawa hummed as he ducked under a tree branch, “what is?”

“The snow, the way it looks on the trees.” Atsushi explained as he glanced back to Akutagawa again. Akutagawa looked back into the other man's gold-velvet eyes before drifting them to the scenery around them. Atsushi was certainly right, it was pretty. Akutagawa Looked back at Atsushi who quickly diverted his eyes as he looked out at the trees below them. 

“I think you're more pretty than it ever could even try to be.” he whispered to himself.

Atsushi  looked back at him with a confused expression, “Hm? What did you say? sorry, I couldn't hear you.” Atsushi asked.

Akutagawa met his gaze with silence as he just stared at the other as the white snow fell into his white hair, and the cold of winter made his face bitten by the cold, as the detective stared back with wide sunset colored eyes. Akutagawa Tightened his grip on Atsushi's hand as he began up the trail. The weretiger was to his side in seconds walking alongside Akutagawa; he slowly rubbed his thumb over Akutagawa's hand, and the mafioso was unbearably aware of the fact. He grazed his thumb over the back of his hand, over his knuckles, along his fingers, along the inside of his fingers, over the inside of his palm, along his wrist and then thumb, each slow and light graze of contact sending electric currents up his arm. Akutagawa slowly twisted his hand as he slid his fingers between the webbing of Atsushi's.

Atsushi gripped his hand back with a soft tightness as he picked up his pace, seeing the top and end of the trail. They reached the top where a bench and a railing sat on the edge of the cliff like hill. Atsushi led Akutagawa forward to the bench, using the sleeve of his coat to whisk the fresh layer of snow off and sit down. Akutagawa looked down at him before he sat down beside the weretiger, who leaned against his side, pressing his cheek against the mafioso's shoulder as he looked out at the city below.

Akutagawa shifted, slipping his hand out of Atsushi's and brushing the snow out of the detective's hair as it brushed cold against his neck, leaving his hand ruffled through the silver hair, “It's nice here, Weretiger, thank you.” He acknowledged, as he slid his fingers down Atsushi's hair, setting his hand back in his pocket.

Atsushi pulled his knees up, planting his heels into the edge of the bench as he curled his fingers into the palm of his hand that sat close to Akutagawa's pocket where he burrowed his own hand, “I saw it mentioned somewhere online and thought it would be a nice place to go while it's snowing, it's prettier that way.”

Akutagawa hummed in response, noticing the slightly reddened tips of Atsushi's fingers. He began pulling his hand out of his pocket and holding it over the other man's, bringing the younger man's hand into his own as he buried both into the pocket of his coat. He’d barely caught it, but a small smile grew across the detective's lips at the action. Seconds after, the other man turned and rested his forehead against the raven haired man's shoulder. Akutagawa leaned his head against Atsushi's as he drew his finger along the back of his hand.

They sat there for a while, just looking at eachother or out at the town below.

“Akutagawa.” Atsushi mumbled quietly. Akutagawa hummed back.

Atsushi moved, lifting his head to look Akutagawa in the eyes, “how long can we stay?” He asked as he hugged his knees with his free arm resting his cheek against them as he looked at the raven haired man.

“A bit longer, if you aren't feeling cold, or sick in any way.” Akutagawa replied.

“You really don't have to care that much. I'll end up affected by the disease eventually.” Atsushi mumbled back.

“Yes, you might, and it might be tomorrow that it starts affecting you again, or it could be a month from now, either way, it's not now and I don't want it to be now because we weren't cautious. The longer we delay it, the longer we have to find the ability user, and the less pain you'll have to go through.” Akutagawa explained.

“I understand that, but I don't like not knowing the next time I'm going to end up curled up on the bathroom floor, choking on my own blood and having to fight back the pain of bugs in my skin. It would hurt, and I would rather be dead than have to go through it, but it would be better than not knowing the next time I will. At least back then I would have daily episodes, I would know when they would start, I would know what to do, but I can't anymore and I'm scared that the longer it doesn't affect me the worse it will be when it does.”  Atsushi explained.

“You're letting your mind run wild, Atsushi. Don't think of it that way, it would be more likely to be affected and have it speed up its process  then have it affect you suddenly and have all its time off just like up and be worse. That's not what the delays before we're like, and it's not what they will be like now. You can't think of it as waiting for it to affect you again but as it not affecting you as of the moment.” Akutagawa rebutled.

Atsushi sighed, but let a small soft smile grow onto his face as he rested his cheek back onto Akutagawa's shoulder, “I'm not being too much of a Debby downer, am I?” he asked.

“If I'm being entirely honest I think you deserve to be entitled to being a Debby downer at this point. I am always unreasonably a Debby downer, so I think it's fine.” Akutagawa explained as he laid his head on top of Atsushi's as the other man smiled. The conversation fell quiet from there as the two spent just a bit more time looking out to the city.

Atsushi was the first to move standing up in front of Akutagawa and reaching out a hand, “We should probably go make use of that TV we stole from Dazai and Chuuya.”

Akutagawa took the detective's hand, pushing himself up to his feet, “it wasn't stolen, but I do think making use of the tv would be a good idea.”

Akutagawa appreciated the smile the weretiger gave him, much like the other smiles as well, as they began down the trail. It was slick with mud and snow as the white winter fell around them. Akutagawa thanked God that neither of them slipped and fell when they reached the bottom of the trail. Atsushi didn't give him much time to do so though before he began pulling him along as they walked around a barely crowded street on the outskirts of the town. 

Akutagawa held himself closer to Atsushi as he tightened his grip on the younger man's hand as they began making their way into the heart of the town and onto the crowded streets. I'm not losing him this time.

“I'm not going to run away, you know. You don't have to hold on that tight.” Atsushi said as they began to reach the end of the crowd.

Akutagawa loosened his grip, only a bit though, as they pushed through the crowd, “I am aware of that fact, however, last time we walked through a crowd like this we got separated and I almost punched a random man.”

“That is true- wait! Almost punched a man!?” Atsushi gaped as they reached the end and began approaching the hotel, stopping their continuation of the journey as he looked back at Akutagawa.

“I didn't mean it seriously.” Akutagawa explained himself.

Atsushi simply sighed as he continued forward to the hotel. Akutagawa was grateful for the warmth of the hotel, when they entered and made their way to their room. Atsushi opened the door to their room, being the first to enter as he crossed his way over to the closet, taking his coat off and putting it away. Akutagawa observed him do so as he walked over to his bed letting himself fall back as the back of his knees hit the mattress, causing him to plummet back into the cushions of the mattress. The light on the ceiling shined bright in his eyes, nearly headache inducing, causing him to drape his forearm over his eyes.

The bed dipped beside him as he supposed Atsushi sat down on it beside him, the other man seemed to lay down on his side beside Akutagawa and shift a bit, “Do you want me to turn the lights off?” He asked with softness and sweetness even honey was jealous of, or at least, in Akutagawa's opinion it was.

“If you want to turn the lights off as well, then go ahead.” Akutagawa replied. Atsushi hummed back in response as he sat up, kicking the toe of Akutagawa's shoe with his foot.

“Take those off before you put your legs up on the bed.” Atsushi stated.

“Don't tell me what to do, Weretiger.” Akutagawa rebutled.

“I'm just saying what you always do, no shoes on the bed you know.” Atsushi scoffed as he flipped the light switch off. Akutagawa begrudgingly sat up and unzipped his boots, slipping his feet out of them and pushing them into a corner as he lifted his legs onto the bed.

Atsushi, completely unbothered, didn't even ask for the other to move as he practically crawled over him and plopped down to his side. He held his head up on his hand as he messed around with the controller of the television. Akutagawa didn't pay much attention to whatever he put on or the channels he flipped through, the light of the tv was bright so he just watched the colors of the tv screen change in the other man's eyes, his observation deviating between his partner and the ceiling.

Atsushi looked down at him after he set the controller behind him on the other side of the bed away from them, “you're supposed to watch the tv, not me and the ceiling.” 

“The screen is too bright, it's giving me a headache.” Akutagawa explained. 

“Oh, sorry, I can try and figure out how to turn it down.” Atsushi said as he turned and fumbled around the blankets for the remote, observing the controls and turning the brightness of the screen down, and for extra measures the sound just a bit as well, “That better?” He asked. Akutagawa nodded with an approving hum, and Atsushi replied back with a smile as he laid his head in his arms, propped up on the pillow as he watched the tv. Akutagawa turned his attention to the television as well.

They were half way through watching whatever Atsushi had put on when the detective broke the silence, “You can push me off if you are uncomfortable.” He mumbled. The statement confused Akutagawa as he moved his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the other shifting closer and dropping his head onto the mafioso's shoulder, snaking his arms around his neck as he returned to intently watching the tv. Akutagawa held his mouth open to speak, but words never came to him so he simply shut his mouth and just stared forward at the television, sighing as he shifted a little on his side and just a bit closer as well.

Atsushi was the one who ended up deciding what to watch for the duration of the time. Not that it was something Akutagawa was complaining about, he found the concentrated and enthralled expression the weretiger made while watching whatever he had chosen, trying to understand the characters and the story, fetching. That, and he found Atsushi captivating at all times anyways. Simply laying there, cuddled up, with his supposed cross enemy and watching random shows and movies he put on was a placid experience. 

Atsushi seemed completely taken with the movie, watching it intently with half lidded eyes when Akutagawa's phone buzzed. Akutagawa used one arm to reach behind him to the nightstand, trying his best to not make such a ruckus in the movement as he pulled his phone off the appliance, returning to his position with arms wrapped around Atsushi as he checked the notification. A message from Kunikida.

He sighed slightly, not a sigh of disappointment or reluctance but just a sigh. He opened his phone and opened up the message that read: I have a side mission for you tomorrow, I'll hand you the packet in the morning if you want. Akutagawa was ready to type out a simple ok and discard his phone but paused and looked down to Atsushi and changed his mind. Instead, he texted the man back: I'm awake, and I also was wondering if I could talk to you about that. May I come up to your guys’ room and discuss something?

The message was left on delivered for a while before Akutagawa turned his phone off, directing his attention back to the television. The second in which he did his phone chimed. He begrudgingly turned his phone back on and put the password back in reading Kunikida’s response to his text, verifying the go ahead.

Akutagawa didn't answer after that, simply shifting out of Atsushi's grip.

“Where are you going?” the silver haired man asked.

“To go talk to Kunikida About something.” Akutagawa answered.

Atsushi tightened his hold slightly pulling Akutagawa back, “Is it that important that you need to go talk to him about it now ?” he questioned again.

“I mean, I guess it can wait.” Akutagawa answered as he relaxed and let Atsushi pull him back down. He quickly texted Kunikida that there will be a delay in him coming up, but he would be there eventually, after texting the message tossing his phone over and wrapping his arms tighter around Atsushi focusing back onto the tv.

After a while Atsushi had managed to talk Asleep, and only then did Akutagawa move, he was slow and steady, but he slipped his arm and legs out from underneath the only slightly shorter man standing up and shoving his phone into his pocket. He leaned back over the bed grabbing the remote to the tv and turning the television off, looking down at his sleeping partner and reaching over for the blanket, pulling it over the other man's shoulder. He brushed his fingers through the weretiger's hair as he looked down, observing the detective. He removed his hand from Atsushi's hair as he stood back up straight, shoving his hands in his pocket.

“I'll be back soon.” He whispered as he turned and left. He walked through the empty halls, and up the stairs to the floor above, crossing the hallway to Kunikida and Yosano’s room. He knocked on the door and waited for one of the two to answer.

The door cracked open as he met eyes with Yosano, “Akutagawa, why are you here? It's like two in the morning, shouldn't you be asleep?” she asked

“I usually go to bed late, it's not an issue; I'm here to talk to Kunikida.” The raven haired man explained. Yosano nodded as she opened the door and let him enter.

“Oh you're here, I thought you fell asleep and weren't coming.” Kunikida remarked as he stood up from his bed grabbing his glasses. It was weird seeing the dirty blond haired man with his hair down, he looked like he was in a hard rock band with it like that. Kunikida searched the papers on his neatly sorted desk pulling out one file and walking over, handing it to Akutagawa.

Akutagawa looked down at it, observing its content as he spoke, “I was waiting till the weretiger fell asleep before I came here, otherwise I would have come when I was going too.” He finished, as he closed the packet, finishing having read through it.

“You're lucky we were still awake, otherwise you would have likely had to wait till tomorrow.”  Kunikida explained.

“Oh, let the poor kid be, he had to wait to tuck his secret not so secret lover into bed.” Yosano teased laying on her stomach on the bed backwards observing the conversation, earning a glare from Akutagawa that she only scoffed and laughed at.

“Me and the weretiger are not dating, that would never happen.” He dead panned.

Yosano hummed, “you wish it would though.”

Akutagawa only sighed irritated as he turned the conversation back to kunikida and the mission, “ Anyway , about the mission, I was wondering if we could let the weretiger join.”

“He's not cured yet-” Kunikida rebutled.

“I know, but the disease has came to a sudden halt and has had been ineffective for a decent amount of time, that and I will be there and will keep an eye on him, we don't have to go on anything big, but just having and being on a mission will probably sooth his mind and he won't think that he needs to kill himself again. He promised not to, but that disease when it's back in effect can fuck with the brain; I trust him, but not the disease.” Akutagawa explained.

The room went silent afterwards as Kunikida contemplated the words. Akutagawa waited nervously as the only tall tale sign in which he was was the slight biting of the inside of his cheek. He glanced over to Yosano who also had eyes on Kunikida, curious for his answer.

Then she sighed, “I think he has a point personally, and besides, would it really be that bad to let Atsushi join some missions? He would be under direct supervision if he got sick again.” she defended.

Kunikida thought about it and sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose where his glasses would be, “fine, but only if someone else that will help him fast is there. He is a diligent and strong young man but God knows what will happen.”

“Of course.” Akutagawa agreed, “that was all I wanted to discuss, I'll let you two get some rest now.” He added with a nod as he held the mission file tight in his grip, turning to the door to leave.

“Akutagawa wait,” Yosano called, “He's still taking the pills despite this pause right?”

“Yes, I've been making sure. He's been very against it though.” Akutagawa nodded back to her.

She gave him a soft smile, before waving him off with her hand, “ok go back to the tiger, I need my beauty rest.” He turned then and left out the door making his way down the hall. He opened the file back up, reading through it as he made his way down the stairs and to his and Atsushi's hotel room. 

It was a good case for the weretiger to go on after this involuntary break. Not too big but not too small, and some simple scouting for the ability user afterwards.

He closed the packet and held it close to his side. I should likely change my bandages from that gunshot wound I had gotten a while back as well, and then go back through the mission packet, he thought as he reached the door, unlocking it and opening it. He walked in and turned the light on setting the packet on a nearby shelf as he let the door close behind him.

A small groan followed by the blankets shifting caught Akutagawa's attention, “bright.” The small tired voice of his partner mumbled as he sat up.

Akutagawa turned the light back off, “I didn't expect that to wake you up.”

Atsushi hummed tiredly, “it's fine, I wasn't fully asleep anyways.” Atsushi dismissed.

Akutagawa slowly pulled his coat off his shoulders, setting it down on the end of the unused bed Atsushi used to sleep in as he crossed over to the weretiger. He sat down on the edge beside the detective, allowing himself to reach out and grab the other man's hand, sliding his fingers between Atsushi's.

He met Atsushi's eyes as he looked up from their hands and sighed, “How are you feeling?” 

“I'm fine, just a bit tired.” Atsushi answered, his voice raspy.

“Then go back to sleep.” Akutagawa advised.

“I will, but only after you do as well. You're not going to sleep now or any time soon and I know it.” Atsushi argued.

“You've caught me, I need to go change the bandages of my gunshot wound.” 

“You didn't take that to Yosano?” the detective asked.

“I will be fine without her having to use her ability on me, I'm not new to gunshot wounds, I can take care of it myself, she should worry herself with different matters.”

Atsushi gave him a sympathetic look that Akutagawa, personally, didn't think he deserved. Akutagawa tore his eyes away, turning his head, only for Atsushi to draw it back over with his hands, looking him in the eyes, “Gunshot wound shouldn't be something you should be used to. Also, it wouldn't cause Yosano that much grief if you just asked her to use her ability , it's not like she has to go through a five month long surgical procedure. I'm taking you to see her tomorrow and we’re getting that fixed. You can't be all pissy with me when I don't take care of myself and then turn around and do the same thing, you hypocrite.” Atsushi grilled, “Now let's go get those bandages changed.”

Akutagawa sighed, “Fine.” He agreed, too tired to argue anyways. I think only God could possibly know how he can wake up and have the energy to argue. Atsushi’s hands fell from holding Akutagawa's face, grabbing his hand instead, pulling the mafioso up with him as they made their way over to that bathroom. And just like many times before, Akutagawa ended up sitting on the lid of the toilet, shirt pulled over his head, Atsushi on a stool, unwrapping bandages that encased his waist, the heat of the floor warming the room.

The silver haired man worked silently with a calm expression as he held a wet rag over the dry wound, “is there disinfectant in the first aid kit? It's yours after all.”

“I think, but it's only really a small thing of Vaseline.” Akutagawa answered.

Atsushi hummed, “that'll be enough, hold this to your side.” He said, letting Akutagawa hold the rag to the side of his waist as he searched through the fist aid kit for the Vaseline the raven haired man had mentioned. He pulled the small bottle container out and opened it, grabbing a bandage and applying it to the gause.

“Ok move your hand now.” Atsushi directed. Akutagawa removed his hand and the rag, watching as the weretiger pressed the gause to the wound, “hold that please, and turn so I can get the exit wound.” He advised as he grabbed another applying the Vaseline again. Akutagawa, holding the first gause to his stomach as told, turned , his side facing the weretiger as he let the detective apply the gause and the bandages to his waist. Atsushi finished wrapping the mafioso back up, sitting back allowing him to pull his shirt back on.

“We're going to Yosano tomorrow, but that will help for now.” Atsushi stated as he stood up and washed his hands.

“You said it before, I understand.” Akutagawa replied.

“Good. Now come on, let's go to bed.” Atsushi said, placing his bench in the corner of the bathroom  and reaching a hand out to Akutagawa for him to take. Akutagawa looked at the hand, placing his own into the weretiger's palm. Akutagawa was pulled to his feet as he allowed Atsushi to guide him through the dark room to the bed, letting his hands drift from the Mafioso's as he climbed under the covers. 

Akutagawa sat on the edge of the bed, looking down to Atsushi before laying down, “I have a mission tomorrow.”

“That's good, don't get injured again.” Atsushi advised. 

Akutagawa brushed his fingers through Atsushi's gray-silver hair, the detective leaning into the contact, and he paused before speaking, “I asked kunikida if you could join.”

Atsushi's attention was drawn by the statement as he sat up and looked at Akutagawa with wide vibrant eyes, “did he say I could?”

Akutagawa nodded, and Atsushi lit up, “Really! I can go on a mission!” 

“He's allowing you to join missions, yes. So, you should get a good night's rest so you can be at one hundred tomorrow.” Akutagawa reassured as he lightly put his hand on Atsushi's shoulder, lowering him down to the pillow again. 

“You need sleep too.” Atsushi said. 

“I know.” Akutagawa answered as he pulled his legs onto the bed as well, pulling the blanket over the two of them. And before he even thought about it he looked down at Atsushi and leaned down, turning Atsushi's head slightly, and it might have been just because he was tired and wasn't thinking but he gave Atsushi a small but long kiss on his temple. He could feel as the weretiger went still from the contact, not contemplating it, as Akutagawa simply sat back up and laid down beside the weretiger.

Chapter Text

Waking up was sudden and early the following morning. Guaranteed Akutagawa’s and his alarm was Dazai pick locking the door slamming it open and turning the big bright blinding light on.

“Good morning, my wonderful subordinates! Time for breakfast, lovebirds. Most important meal of the day, you know!” He said loudly.

“Must you be so loud?” Akutagawa groaned,covering his ears, hiding his face in Atsushi's shirt, barely conscious.

“I must, I, a diligent soldier, have been sent to awaken you two from your slumber!” Dazai replied.

“Go away, Dazai.” Atsushi finally said as he grabbed a nearby unused pillow, throwing it at the man. Dazai nearly dodged the makeshift weapon, watching it as it smacked into the door.

Dazai dramatically gasped as he looked over Atsushi, “Atsushi… I'm hurt! How could you be so cruel to the man who taught you all you know! Akutagawa is teaching you some bad things, isn't he?” He said dramatically, wiping a fake tear away from his eye. Sighing at the silence that clouded any response and cutting the act, walking over to the window. Then he swung to bright curtains open with a proud smile.

“What a beautiful day! Come on,” he said, turning back to the two men, “Rise and shine!”

“Why do we have to wake up, we're not going to do anything.” Atsushi complained, covering his eyes as the bright sun stung his eyes, curling in closer to Akutagawa.

“You two have a mission today actually!” Dazai corrected.

Atsushi paused, “oh shit, we do.” He whispered, pushing himself up.

“You're letting the light get in my eyes, Weretiger.” Akutagawa complained, his arm slowly falling down Atsushi's shoulder due to the changed position. 

“We need to get up.” The weretiger replied. 

“I will, just not right now.” Akutagawa dismissed rolling partially onto his stomach as he buried his face in his arms and the pillow.

With a sigh, Atsushi dismissed the movement, opting to let the man sleep as he pulled the blanket over his shoulders and slid off the bed. He turned to Dazai who gave him an innocent and pleased smile, a fakeish joyfull prep in his step as he snuck around Atsushi leaving the room with a cheerful salutation and information of him and the others being down stairs In the lounge, shutting the door behind him. 

Atsushi shifted around the room to the bed of his that had been left neglected practically the entire mission. Retrieving clothes from the bag he had stuffed under the bed, he made his way to the bathroom, opting for a shower. He set his hand on the handle, pausing before opening the door to glance back to Akutagawa who slept in the bed, arms barriering his face as he slept. Atsushi looked away heading into the bathroom.

With clothes folded somewhat neatly on the counter of the sink, the detective searched through the cabinet adorned with guest towels pulling out one and walking back to the sink setting it near his clothes. He glanced over to himself in the mirror.

He looked as tired as he was, probably because he had just woken up but still. It wasn't exactly his fault he stayed up so late. He wasn't the one who leaned over and kissed his enemy on the temple, and cuddled next to him like it was nothing. Doubt was that Akutagawa even remembered it, like Atsushi who ended up staying up another good hour, give or take ten minutes, contemplating mind stuck on what it ment, and the way the small kiss felt and the way it made him feel. Knowing Unnecessary facts like the surprising softness of his partner's lips were something Atsushi didn't want to dwell upon, but did anyway. It was like his brain couldn't rip his attention away from the probably not so significant action.

Atsushi clenched his fists as he stared at himself in the mirror, reaching up and lightly touching his fingers to the side of his head on his temple. His fingers were softly pressed to the side of his face just as Akutagawa’s lips had the night before, the memories plaguing his mind. The two fingers began to drift down to his lips. His mind wandered with them.

I wonder if..

The image flashed into his brain as he quickly flushed. He erased the thought quickly, turning to the shower to forget.

His shower was short an quiet, consisting of him trying to keep his mind on anything but his thoughts from just before. He was quick to get out and changed, drying his hair off, not fully ending with it s bit damp but good enough. He folded the towel up, throwing it in the hamper in there that reminded him that he will probably need to do laundry soon. He put it off for later, simply turning the lights off as he opened the door, letting it stay cracked open as he entered the bedroom again. 

He fixed his tie for the first of the hundred times he would that day(the one that he hadn't really ever tied correctly). The weretiger looked to his partner, supposing he should wake him up. But first before he did, he made his way to the window, closing the curtains and then to the light switch, turning the lights back off, because even fully awake, Atsushi would have to agree the lights were too bright.

He made his way across the room back to the bed looking down at the raven haired man, he had eventually manged to turn onto his side in his sleep. He lightly placed a hand on the other man's shoulder, briefly dodging the sharp tendrel that materialized from the blanket, even though it barely even reached halfway to him. Rashomon quickly fell limp before it even reached Atsushi as the owner of it caught eye of the one who had touched him holding himself up on his side with one arm, the other extended out with a now limp hand.

“Oh, it's just you.” Akutagawa mumbled his voice raspy from the sleep he borderlined as his glare dissipated quickly. He sunk back close to the mattress still keeping himself lifted from the mattress, but instead with his forearm and elbow as his shoulders sulked with wear, “What is it, Weretiger?” He asked as he rested his forehead in the plan of his hand, tired eyes diverted.

“I, um, we have that mission today. We probably will need to leave soon.” Atsushi answered, still a little taken aback from the half-assed attack from the other.

“Oh yeah, that, could you grab my coat?” Akutagawa replied, pushing himself up, swinging his legs down off the bed, quickly raising his feet from the cold floor with a hiss when making contact, “And some socks would as well be appreciated. Holy hell it's cold.” He added, practically punctuating his last words as he held his arms close for warmth.

Atsushi nodded, “yeah, one second.” He said collecting the items quickly and giving them to the other man, watching as he put the coat and socks on in seconds. Atsushi had barely noticed the cold, it was nice after the disease had such a hold on his warmth before, no longer for now. He reached out his hands for Akutagawa's, the other man far from reluctant as he placed his in the weretiger's. Atsushi held them with the cold of the other man's fingers and hands being warmed by his own. Then he pulled Akutagawa to his feet.

“Ok, get changed, It's warmer in the bathroom.” Atsushi informed, still holding Akutagawa's hands tight, not yet wanting to let go of them. However, when the other man didn't pull them away, Atsushi had to. 

Akutagawa stared at his then empty hands stuffing them in his pocket after a while, “Okay. I'll be quick.” He said his voice monotone and tired as he turned grabbing his entire suitcase instead of just clothes and makeing his way to the bathroom.

Atsushi stared at the closed door and sighed, sitting down on the bed. He fell back into the mattress, starring up at the ceiling as he waited. The lack of sleep caught up to him as he feel back to being tired, covering his eyes with his arm.

However before he could even try to sleep the bathroom door clicked and opened letting the light from the cracked door fill the dark bedroom, “Weretiger.”

Atsuhsi hummed back as he sat up meeting Akutagawa's eyes. The other man finished fiddling with the button of his shirt, reaching for the light switch in the bathroom. The light turned out and left the room in a shallow darkness, the room lightly illuminated by the blue light colored by thin curtains, vauseing the room to not fall to a complete pitch black.

Akutagawa walked to the closet, “You need a coat, Weretiger.” He said, pulling the long navy almost black coat he had bought Atsushi, out. Atsuhsi didn't respond and just watched closely as Akutagawa made his way around the bed to Atsushi. When the coat was displayed to him Atsushi smiled and took it, swinging it over his shoulder and shoveing his arms through the sleeves, reaching for Akutagawa's hands. The other man took them, holding them steadily as the detective pulled himself to his feet, the both stumbling a bit as he steadied.

And then he let one of his hands drop from Akutagawa's, however, holding the other in his hand As he began making his way out of the room. Akutagawa stopped pulling him to a hult just before they could leave. Atsushi looked back at the other man watching him as he grabbed a yellow folder from the close-by night stand, only then did the two of them finally leave.

Atsushi's eyes wandered to Akutagawa's free hand, the packet in his hold, and then back up at the man, "What's the mission about by the way?” He asked.

Akutagawa seemed to be broken out of a sleepish daze as he made eye contact with the other man before looking back forward and speaking, “We have to deliver a criminal to their prison cell. The prisoner is too dangerous for just the police to do it, so they called us in to help. Afterwards we just scout for any clues or the ability user.” He explained as they began down the stairs to the lounge area everyone else was supposedly at. “I'll give you the packet and let you read it after we're done with talking to the others.”

“And going to Yosano and fixing your bullet wound.” Atsuhsi added. Akutagawa grumbled quietly to himself in response but didn't outwardly protest.

Atsushi felt Akutagawa slip his hand away from his and shoved it in his coat pocket when they reached the lounge, leaving the young detective's hand uncomfortably bare. Atsuhsi shook it off, as he quickly turned the corner into the lounge area, meeting eyes with the other four that accompanied the mission. 

The room wasn't as cold as most everywhere else, so with that safety he took the coat that wrapped his shoulders off, folding it over his arm as he sat down on one of the arm chairs. Akutagawa sat down on the edge of the couch close to his side. Atsushi watched as he began rereading their mission packet again intently. Akutagawa looked up and met his admiring eyes for a split second before the weretiger quickly diverted them away, weirdly embarrassed. 

The group was silent, Dazai seemed a little too preoccupied with braiding an uncaring Chuuya’s hair, as the executive seemed busy texting someone. Yosano was eating snacks and watching the lounge TV while kunikida went over files half diligently due to being tired as well it seemed. Everyone seemed to be doing something, not him, he was just sitting there waiting and watching really. So, he took it upon himself to at least rest his tired and sore eyes in his arms as he laid awkwardly in the chair, resting his head in his arms on the arm of it.

That silence and relaxation was quickly cut short as Dazai began the conversation, “So what's the mission you two are going on?” The question was clearly meant for Akutagawa and Atsushi.

Atsuhsi raised his head and opened his eyes to respond but Akutagawa was quick to answer before him, luckily just giving him more time to lay down and rest.

“Transporting a prisoner.” The mafioso answered in monotone.

Dazai hummed, “That's fun.”

“Mhm.” Was the only response Akutagawa gave as he continued to go over the mission packet.

“When are you two going?” Dazai continued the conversation.

“An hour and a half.”

“So early. Have fun.” 

“Yep.”

The conversation fell flat and died on that hill with each question only being answered with monotone tired answers. Everyone else seemed to go quiet, even when Kunikida began handing out mission packets, the only noise coming from a protesting Dazai and a polite gratitude from Chuuya. No other words were spoken from then on. Atsushi began feeling tired again as he turned his head in his arms, letting his eyes rest for.. just a bit.

However, the next thing he knew was being shaken awake. Atsushi woke up with a mumble that even he himself didn't care enough to depict. He just looked up and met eyes with Akutagawa.

He sat up and rubbed sleep from his eyes, “what time is it?” He mumbled.

“Ten, we have thirty more minutes before we have to leave.”

Atsushi hummed as he rested his cheek in his palm. He noticed Chuuya's and Dazai's absence from their previous vious spot on the couch compared from his last memories of the area. Mission, more than likely. 

He looked back towards Akutagawa, meeting gray eyes as he looked up at him. With the twitch of his finger, Atsushi reached up slightly with his free hand to reach for the other man's but stopped himself awkwardly as he remembered the fact that Akutagawa pulled his hand away just a bit before and was probably uncomfortable with him holding it at that moment. So, despite all his wanting for the opposite of holding the mafioso's hand, interlocking their fingers if he was lucky even, he pulled his hand back just enough to hold next to his elbow on the arm rest of the chair. 

He averted his eyes searching for something to talk about when he spotted Yosano, still adamantly staring at the hotel's tv, “If we're leaving soon we should get that wound of your's healed up.”

“It truly isn't that severe, Weretiger, we don't need to.” Akutagawa protested. Atsushi sent him a glare before turning his head back towards Yosano.

“Hey Yosano.” He ignored the low complaining and sigh from the dark clothes man behind him.

“What is it, Atsushi?” Yosano said, not turning to meet his gaze.

“Could you do me a favor?”

“Depends, what do you need?” The older woman answered, finally turning to meet his eyes.

“You see, Akutagawa here got shot a bit back. I was wondering if you could heal it.”

“You don't have to, it's really not that bad, I’ve dealt with wor-” Akutagawa began to add.

“You, be quiet.” Yosano interrupted, standing from her spot on the couch, “You mafioso's are all shit at taking care of yourselves. Kyouka took forever before she would come and get help, and Dazai never does. I think Chuuya has been the most reluctant out of all of you and that's saying a lot. You guys are a pain in the ass to deal with, you know.” She said with an accusatory tone as she walked over grabbing Akutagawa by the wrist earning a glare from the man. She didn't care though, she just gave him back a glare and began pulling him with her, she looked back to Atsushi as she tightened her grip around Akutagawa's wrist as she made her way to the staircase, “Don't worry, Atsushi, I'll make sure your little boyfriend here is in such tip top shape that even that tiger of yours will be jealous of my healing abilities.” She said  before turning the corner, dragging Akutagawa behind her. And Atsushi must admit, he didn't know whether or not to be scared for his mafioso partner. He was just glad he was getting healed up.

He sighed in relief letting a small smile creep onto his face as he settled back into the chair. And then an unsettling feeling. Eyes were on him. He looked up and met eyes with Kunikida for a second before the older detective quickly looked away. Atsuhsi observed him. He had a tight lipped frown and he held his file a little tighter than usual. He was burning to ask a question, that's what atsushi could tell from his uprooted demeanor at least.

Atsushi sighed, “what is it, Kunikida? Just ask if you have a question, I'm fully willing to answer it.”

Kunikida pushed his glasses up as they began to be pulled down the bridge of his nose by gravity, “there is nothing of importance I needed to ask.” 

“I can still probably answer it anyways, I don't mind.” Atsushi insisted with a calm smile.

Kunikida popped his knuckles and glanced at Atsushi With I sigh, “You aren't actually in a ‘relationship’ with Akutagawa, are you?”

Atsushi's calm expression was hit, he grew red in the face and embarrassed, “where would you get that assumption? Of course not he’s.. my enemy.” Enemy, right. They were enemies, or at least they were supposed to be. But Atsuhsi was uncomfortable with that answer, it didn't feel true.

“It's just that you two seem suddenly very close, and Yosano-” Kunikida began.

“Yosano is just teasing us, it's nothing! We've just had a lot of time to spend together over this last bit, he's really not that bad of a guy.” Atsushi explained frantically.

“I just want the best for you.” Kunikida sighed.

“I know.” Atsushi replied and gave the older man a reassured smile. Kunikida gave him a nod and closed the packet he had in hand. Smoothing it over as he set it on the seat he looked back at Atsushi.

“Stay safe on the mission,” he said.

“I plan too.”

“If anything bad happens make sure to inform Akutagawa and do your best to take care of yourself. It's not a hard mission but it's not easy either. Especially if the prisoner escapes.” Kunikida explained.

Atsushi nodded as he heard the sound of two familiar footsteps approaching. He turned in his seat, meeting Akutagawa's deathly glare that he just gave a smile too. As upset as Akutagawa was, probably because he got scolded by Yosano as well while she treated to his injuries, Atsushi was glad he was ok. Because as outwardly as he didn't show it if you looked hard enough (which Atsushi did, he did a lot of looking when it came to the mafioso)you could see the small pained grimace in his expression as he sat down, bending where he was shot, or when he would hold his side for a bit, especially after a coughing attack. The two walked over Akutagawa reaching for their mission packet and then for Atsushi's hand, unbenounced as he began pulling him to his feet suddenly.

Atsushi stumbled up to his feet, almost falling into the other man as he grabbed his shoulder to stabilize himself. Even when he was even with the ground he didn't remove the hand.

“You're eager to go.” He said.

“That's because we are ten minutes late.” Akutagawa explained, his tone surprisingly calm.

“Oh, shit. Ok let's go.” Atsushi responded as he began walking away from the room, to navigate to the hotel's entrance.

“Hey!” Yosano called just before they could leave the room, stopping them in their tracks, “thank me at least.”

“Oh, yeah, of course, thanks for the help!” Atsushi said in a cheery voice

“Yes, thank you for the insults while you tended to my injuries, those were so very needed.” Akutagawa added sarcastically.

“You don't know, they might come in hand.” Yosano shrugged as she turned back to Kunikida, waving them away. And with that the two were off. 

They reached their destination shortly, a Courthouse. A police car, or van more or less, pulled out infront of the two, one of the officers stepped out from the passenger seat. He reached a hand out to greet the two of them.

“Thank you for coming, this criminal is dangerous and we don't know if we could deal with her on our own, your reassurance is help full.” He thanked. His hand, however, was left in the air untouched as it sat extended out to Akutagawa who just glared at it. The officer slowly lowered it with his smile growing uncomfortable.

Atsuhsi sighed, “it's a pleasure, we're always willing to help.” He replied instead, reaching out his own hand for the officer's. The man seemed to brighten up a bit at the opposing generosity as he took Atsushi's hand giving it a firm shake before leading them to the back seat of the van. Atsushi caught eyes with the criminal, a young girl. He quickly diverted his eyes though as she stared back, her eyes and expression giving him an uncomfortable eirieness.

Akutagawa sat next to him in the back giving him a look Atsushi could only determine as soft. Akutagawa seemed to bite the inside of his cheek and divert his eyes, handing their mission packet over, still not looking at the detective he was giving it to. Atsushi looked at the packet and then back at his partner, reaching up slowly and taking it. He set it in his lap and opened it to read. 

From what he had understood, they were helping transport the criminal in the seat in front of them (a divided area, separated by clear glass and bars). Her name was Hana Sato, a nineteen year old girl wanted for several counts of murder to the first degree. A serial killer in other words. She had a streak, however, of escaping from her transportation car and killing the officers in it in the process before going back on the run. Three accounts of which. They, Akutagawa and him, were there to prevent this from happening again.

Atsushi sighed, putting the packet down and looking in front of them to the girl. She was so young, only a year older than him, he wondered what could have led her to brutally murder five people and then some. She looked back at him, peering into his soul almost with piercing blue eyes, that creepy feeling crawling back up his back. He looked away, out the window instead.

The ride stayed like that, silent. It was long, and there wasn't really anything to see besides desert-like terrain as they drove into the outskirts of the small city, no one for miles. The sleep, or lack of sleep, from the morning began to catch Atsuhsi in the dark as he fought to keep his eyes open. He sat up and stretched his arms forward out in front of him sinking back into the cushions of the seats, his arms falling to his sides. He looked over at Akutagawa who was still adamantly staring out the window, eyes narrow to a slit as the sun glared down on him. He looked good in that lighting.

Atsushi looked down at their hands. Akutagawa's hand was close to his own there on the seat. Subtly the silver haired man moved his closer, sliding it across the seat, slowly inching it closer. And just as he began reaching over slightly to hold the other man's hand, Akutagawa lifted it from the seat, pulling his phone out of his pocket and checking the time, burrowing both his phone and hand into his pocket after. Atsushi bit his lip, looking away and back out the window as he drew his hand back and clenched his fist.

The ride continued in that silence, another long batch of minutes of boring empty quiet. That silence was cut short though as the officers suddenly slammed on the brakes. Everyone in the vehicle halted forward, both Akutagawa and Atsushi managing to catch themselves from slamming forward into the barred glass. Hana, the criminal, on the other hand wasn't so lucky as she slammed forward into the glass in front of her. She gritted something under her breath as she pushed herself away from the glass, holding her head.

“Are you ok!?” The passenger officer yelled out the window. That's when Atsushi saw it, a woman in her mid thirties out cold in front of the car, blood staining and puddling the ground around her head. When she didn't respond or even move the two officers began to panic, stepping out of the car to examine her. The two men stood in front of the car trying their best to help the woman, opening their cell phones to call for an ambulance. 

Atsushi was distracted by the scene holding the door handle on his side ready to hop out and go help the two when the sound of glass shattering caught his attention. He looked forward to the seat in front of him, looking on in horror as the girl in front of him pulled her bloodied and scratched arm out of the glass in front of her, ignorant of how the broken glass lodged into her wounds and pulled deep gashes into her arm, and the with that she pulled her arm back again punching through the glass once more, it nearly shattered completely, but it was just enough for her to crawl into the driver seat in front of her, before anyone could do anything the hit woman dissipated and Hana turned the keys to the ignition and pressed on the gas, the car zooming forward for the officers. Luckily Akutagawa thought quickly as he pierced Rashomon through the windows and made a ramp just before she could have hit the two.

The car crashed back onto the ground with a thud that threw Atsushi and Akutagawa forward once more. Pain ran up his shoulder as Atsuhsi slammed it into the seat. He pushed himself up and looked over at Akutagawa, who seemed busy trying to figure out what too do, having caught himself from the fall by slamming his foot onto the glass and holding the door handle. 

The woman made a sharp turn that resulted in the two sliding across the seat into each other.

“Sorry.” Akutagawa mumbled as he pushed himself off the detective.

Atsushi sat up, “it's fine, we just need to figure out what to do.” 

Akutagawa nodded, “I would just incapacitate her with Rashomon, but we'd end up crashing because of it.”

Atsushi hummed in response, “what if-” Atsushi started but was interrupted by the woman making another sharp turn. Slamming into Akutagawa's door, they slid across the seat again. Atsushi tried his best to push himself off the mafioso.

“You good?” He asked.

“I'm fine, finish what you were saying.” 

“I was saying, what if you drove the car with Rashomon?” Atsushi restated.

“I might be able to for a bit while we get her out of the driver's seat.” Akutagawa agreed.

“Okay.” Atsushi said as the woman swerved again. Atsushi and Akutagawa both grabbed something close trying to hold on as they crashed into Atsushi's seat. Once somewhat stable and not still on the sharp turn Akutagawa quickly aimed Rashomon to the front of the vehicle, the cloth blades piercing through the cloth leather seat and glass in front of them and then the blood streaked glass that was between the middle seats and Driver seats. The car jolted slightly as he secured the woman to the seat, the car quickly being taken over as he wrapped Rashomon around the steering wheel and used the cloth ability to press on the gas. Another star and of Rashomon shot out between the two, Atsushi narrowly dodging it as it cut a large hole through the seat in front of them.

“Go get her out of the driver's seat.” Akutagawa instructed. Atsushi nodded and held onto the seat steadily as he began to  climb through the hole, quickly lifting his hand up from the seat as something sharp lodged into his hand.

“Shit.” He mumbled as he saw the piece of glass, reaching to pull it out, biting his bottom lip and he yanked it out of his palm. He hissed in pain as blood began to pulse through the wound, he put his hand to his mouth by instinct almost as if it would help sooth the pain. He threw the glass down at the door.

“Weretiger.”  Akutagawa said quietly, a hint of worry in his voice.

“It's fine, just stuck my hand on some glass.” Atsushi dismissed as he looked at his hand again, the wound almost fully regenerated.

“Be careful, your hands getting cut up isn't ideal.” Akutagawa advised.

“Yeah yeah.” Atsushi huffed and pushed himself fully through the hole onto the seat the criminal sat in front of them before. He kept his hands off the seats he moved over and let Akutagawa cut another hole in the glass in front of Atsushi, just enough room for Atsushi to reach over and pull the woman through. He wrestled against her as she tried to escape his and Rashomon’s hold. Akutagawa gave him eye contact and nodded, beginning to climb forward into the seat with Atsushi and the serial killer.

“Careful of the glass.” Atsushi warned.

“I know.” Akutagawa replied as he cut the glass swiping the driver's and back seat clean as he maneuvered himself into the driver seat, taking the wheel.

“Hold onto her tight, we need to turn the car around.” Akutagawa warned.

“Wait the glass-” he started but was interrupted as he felt Rashomon begin to wrap around his limbs keeping him secure to the seat he was in. Akutagawa pulled the steering wheel and the car spun, and Atsushi almost saw his life flash before his eyes as he watched through the window as the world around them became a blur.

“I think I'm going to be sick.” He mumbled as the car finally started straight forward. Akutagawa looked forward towards the road, and then back at Atsushi and the woman. 

“I'm going to release my ability off of her, so make sure you have a hold of her,” he warned.

“Ok- wait, watch the road!” Atsushi ridiculed.

Akutagawa huffed, “we'll be fine, it's just flat and bare terrain.” He replied but sat down in his seat anyway. But then suddenly swerved sharply and hit the brakes.

Atsushi slammed into the seat with the woman, “ow, what the hell was that for!?” He gritted out as he instinctively reached for the back of his head.

“There was a hole in the road, I guess I didn't see it before. Are you okay?” Akutagawa replied back, slightly shaken as he turned to look at his partner.

“Yeah, I will be.” Atsushi responded.

“You two talk too much.” Hana broke in, slamming her head back into Atsushi's, smashing it back into the car window, and elbowing him in the stomach. While he recoiled in pain, she quickly opened the car door and ran out.

But she only got just outside the door before the detective grabbed a hold of the collar of her shirt, jolting her back as she stumbled down onto the ground.

“Asshole.” She grumbled before she ended up wrapped up almost entirely in Rashomon, silencing her.

Akutagawa lifted her with his ability back into the car as Atsushi sighed in relief and closed the door.

“Tired, Weretiger?” Akutagawa acknowledged.

Atsuhsi didn't make eye contact with the man and simply pinched his fingers together to show measurement as an example, “just a smidge.” Atsuhsi answered. The small amused hum his partner replied with sounding soothing to his brain she breathed out.

“Well, I'm going to see if I didn't bust the car up with that slam on the break and hopefully find the road and maybe even the officers. You can just sit back, keep an eye on her though.” Akutagawa said as from the sound of the shifting of the seat the man turned back forward.

“Got it.” Atsushi replied as he set a hand down on the criminal's shoulder. The car's engine revved as it sparked to life and drove slowly forward and then stopped for a bit(Akutagawa checking the brakes he supposed) before resuming forward.

They managed to get back to the road without issue or even a singular complaint from Hana. Guaranteed, she was a little wrapped up, it would make sense that she hasn't moved an inch. She did, however, have one of the most sharp and deadly glares Atsushi had ever seen.

The car stopped suddenly, and Atsushi looked out the window, “what is it?” He asked.

“The officers,”Akutagawa answered. Soon the door to his right opened as the two thanked them both sheepishly as they climbed in, the ride continuing in silence from then on.

The officers, in Atsushi's opinion far too apologetic, took Hana with them, putting new handcuffs on as they took her, and the now disheveled car into the prison, Akutagawa and him sitting on a beach in the hallway as the two police officers got a new car to drive them back home in. 

Atsushi just was relieved that it was over as he sighed and slumped in the seat.

“That was fun.” He said as he stretched his arms above his head.

“Surprising, I wouldn't say getting your head head butted into a car window would be that entertaining.” Akutagawa remarked.

“Who knows, maybe I'm a masochist,” Atsushi joked, “And besides, it was more of the adrenaline rush and the teamwork of it all then getting thrown around the car the entire time, I just kinda missed going on missions you know.” 

Akutagawa paused and began to speak but was interrupted by the two officers calling them out to the parking garage. Atsushi watched the older man stand up, nodding to motion Atsushi to follow. Rising to his feet, the weretiger followed quickly after the mafioso through the halls to the parking garage.

The car, an actual car this time, was parked in front of an opened garage door. The officers waited inside the car with open doors. Atsushi ended up taking the left side like before as Akutagawa took the right. The interior of the car was like the other, except for any barred glass luckily. Atsushi could swear he still felt that glass in his hand, even though the wound was healed up completely. The two officers glanced back at them before turning back forward and starting the engine and pulling steadily forward.

Atsushi glanced towards Akutagawa who seemed busy watching (glaring, in Atsushi's general opinion) the window as it slowly rolled up, moved back just enough that the wind wasn't blowing in his face. The other man let the button of the then fully rolled up window go as he leaned back into the seat and breathed out, the breath slightly wavered and rasped. The light of the sun just briefly outlined his profile as it shone down on him through the window. It was a moment that was short-lived as Akutagawa clearly hated that natural spotlight as he moved further down the seat away from the sunlight, sucking in air so sharply it almost sounded like a hiss.

“You're not helping the vampire allegations deflecting from the sunlight like it's burned you, you know.” Atsushi teased.

Akutagawa looked back at him, “hm, I find it amusing that you're using that as an insult even though you’re the one who said I'd make a pretty vampire not only a few weeks ago.”

“oh, shucks, you've seen through my backhanded insult.” Atsushi dramatized.

Akutagawa scoffed and Atsushi froze slightly as he felt the weight of the other man as he rested his head on the detective's shoulder, leaning against his side.

“Tired?” He asked, low and hoping his tone didn't give his sudden uprooted nerves away.

“Yeah, what about you? You've seemed quite tired today as well, Weretiger.” Akutagawa answered.

Atsushi barely caught the message as his attention was drawn to his sudden unbearable awareness of Akutagawa's proximity, each raspy breath sounding loud like drums in his ears. He cleared his throat as he looked out the window, “yeah, me too.”

“I would suppose we did go to bed at like three in the morning last night.” 

“Yeah, I couldn't really sleep for a while so probably four or later.” 

Akutagawa hummed, “I'll probably crash the second we get back to the hotel.”

“Sounds like a good plan, I'll do the same.” Atsushi replied as he looked back and glanced at Akutagawa who looked forward with glossy half lidded eyes, and at this point he wouldn't even try to lie and say he didn't look pretty then. Whether it was just cause from Atsushi's evaluation he just was in general or cause while he was in those dreary states actually looked at peace, not so in danger and on edge. Not having his guard up. It was a side of the other man that was t shown frequently, but luckily one he seemed to show a bit more recently.

Atsuhsi let his head rest against Akutagawa's as he looked down at their hands. He was hesitant at first, a slight twitch in his own hand as the thought and then denial occurred, but he slowly decided to inch his hand over to the other man's. He paused hesitating again, it's not like they hadn't held hands before, it's just felt… different recently. That sudden hesitation was met by cool slim fingers sliding between his. Akutagawa finished the act by closing his fingers over the back of Atsushi's hand. An almost giddy feeling grew in Atsushi's chest as he couldn't even try to fight the smile that grew across his lips. He pressed his palm into Akutagawa's, the two fitting together perfectly like a puzzle, perfectly designed to fit together.

They fell asleep at some point, because one of the officers shook Atsushi's shoulder a little to wake him up. Atsuhsi sat up, still a little tired, pressing his palms to his eyes for a bit before stretching his arms forward. 

“I would have let you sleep a little longer but we need to get back to the station, sorry.” The officer apologized.

Atsuhsi shook his head and gave the man a smile, “No, it's fine, we have to set up a stakeout anyways, I thank you actually, the drive was nice.” The officer nodded back and Atsushi moved slowly, to not wake Akutagawa up(a difficult task when the man in question made a knot out of their limbs and must have sacrificed his soul to the devil to have such a strong grip, out of the seat, taking the other man into his arms and standing outside the building the two would perform their stakeout in. The two police officers gave him a wave that he replied with a polite nod too as they drove off. 

Atsushi tightened his hold on his unconscious partner as he made his way through the freshly abandoned hotel, walking his way up to one of the rooms. Based on the interior of the rooms and lobby you would expect it to be up and running, with a few repairs of course. From what Atsushi had heard however, was that there was a money incident with the company and the man who owned the building wasn't keeping it repaired, especially after he caught the disease. He died because of it, and then so did the hotel.

Atsushi dismissed his wandering mind as he reached the room where Kunikida had written them to go too. Nudging the door open with his foot, Atsushi shifted across the floor and set Akutagawa down on the bed. When he did, he sighed at the lack of dust that rose from the bed when he did set the other man down. Ataushi closed and locked the door before sitting down on the edge of the bed.

He glanced over to Akutagawa who laid peacefully as velvet red and gold bedding surrounded him. Atsushi leaned over to fix his coat, the sleeve falling down one of his shoulders ever so slightly. He pulled the fabric back over the shoulder and paused before letting the sleeve fall from his hold.  He took the time and let himself just look at his partner, taking in every beautiful feature that adorned him. He slid his fingers across Akutagawa's palm into the in between of his own, holding his hand like before.

He slowly moved the mafioso's hair out of his face, running his fingers through his hair before sitting up.

“Sorry…” he whispered, despite the fact that the one who he was speaking to was far from conscious, before pulling his hands to himself and smoothing out a wrinkle in his tie. He quickly stood up and sat in front of the window watching out as he picked at his nail.

There was nothing, an hour of sitting and watching, and absolutely nothing. Just a few kids running down the street throwing snowballs at each other or random adults going in and out of shops. The disease ability user wasn't anywhere. Atsushi should have expected it, he supposed, it's not like she'd be out wandering around all the time. He just wanted to spot her and bring them closer to catching her, but he didn't let himself get his hopes up. 

Atsushi quickly turned around as he heard the bed he was leaning his back against shift. 

“You're awake. Welcome back, sleeping beauty.” Atsushi said as Akutagawa sat up.

Akutagawa held his head and then let it fall from his face as he looked forward, his face contorting to one of confusion, “where are we?” He asked, his voice raspy and low from sleep.

“At the old hotel scouting out for anything related to disease ability user.” Atsushi informed. Akutagawa hummed as he turned to get off the bed, making his way over to beside Atsushi.

“Do you by any chance have water in that bag of your's.” The raven haired man asked tiredly. Atsushi looked to his side to the bag of his that he completely forgot he brought. He looked inside, pulled out the thermal water bottle and handed it to Akutagawa. The older man thanked him and took it and uncapped it before drinking nearly half of the warmish water. Once he finished he put the lid back on and handed it back to the detective.

 As Atsushi put it back in his bag Akutagawa asked another question, “seen anything yet?”

“No, nothing yet.” Atsuhsi answered as he turned back forward.

“Hm.” 

Atsushi looked over to his partner and his slightly torn clothing, “did you get hurt at all from earlier’s mission?”

“I don't know. There was a lot of glass we both crawled across but I didn't feel anything.” Akutagawa answered.

“Can I check?” Atsuhsi asked.

“If you wish, I'll keep watch.” 

“Okay.” Atsushi said, turning his attention to the scraped up cloth on his partner's knee, pulling out a small travel sized first aid kit and setting it to his side. It was a struggle but he rolled Akutagawa's pant leg up to his lower thigh and looked over the worst of the small glass cuts on his legs, placing bandaids on them. Luckily, most of the cuts and scrapes on his legs weren't that bad. He pulled Akutagawa's pant leg back down, feeling eyes on him as he did so.