Work Text:
All Akutagawa remembered was a blinding golden light and a strong wind. The next thing he knew, he was on his back on some kind of cushioned surface, his veins still thrumming with adrenaline. He jolted upright, Rashoumon poised behind him in a series of spikes. Atsushi lay face down on the bed next to him, groaning. His legs were halfway regenerated, a blue glow around the ends of the severed limbs.
Right. The weretiger had jumped in front of him in battle, taking the brunt of the enemy’s attack. And for his stupidity, he’d gotten both legs sliced off, rendering him useless. This was why Akutagawa hated working with him. His savior complex made him act outside the plan, and nearly always cost them the fight.
But what had he done this time? This was certainly different. The rusty walls of the abandoned warehouse were replaced with a lot of… pink. Far too much pink. And cushions, pillows, and drapes. Where the hell had that idiot weretiger transported them?
“Sorry, Akutagawa,” Atsushi said, voice muffled by the mattress beneath him. “I had to get us out of there before that guy killed you.”
Akutagawa scoffed. “Right, because I was the one in danger. I’m not the one who jumped into the line of fire and ended up with half their limbs missing.”
Atsushi finally lifted his head up. “Hey, you could be a little more gra-” His eyes scanned the room as Akutagawa’s had done minutes earlier. “What the fuck?” he whispered under his breath.
“I was about to ask you the same thing,” Akutagawa mused. “Were you not the one who transported us here?”
“No, no, I did, but…” Atsushi trailed off, looking around with a thoroughly perplexed expression. “Poe gave me a book he’d written before we left for the mission. He does that sometimes; writes short stories we can use as emergency safe houses if the fight goes south. I’ve never used one before, but this… isn’t what I expected it to be like.”
“You mean to tell me he was planning on our failure?” Akutagawa asked, scowling.
“He was just thinking ahead in case something went wrong. Y’know, like how ships always have life rafts on board.” Now that his legs were fully regenerated, Atsushi stood up and started wandering around the room. “I’m just confused about why our safe house is a fucking love hotel room.”
Akutagawa raised an eyebrow. “Is that what this is? Why would you recognize such a thing, weretiger?”
Atsushi blushed and folded his arms. “None of your business.” He pointed to a cardboard box on the dresser. “Have you opened this yet?”
“It’s still sealed with packing tape, what do you think?” Akutagawa snapped back, trying to distract from the fact that he hadn’t noticed it.
“Hey, if we’re gonna get out of here, you need to stop being an asshole,” Atsushi said. He transformed just one fingernail into a tiger claw and used it to cut open the tape. He opened the box and immediately turned beet red and slammed the flaps shut again.
“Let me see,” Akutagawa demanded, standing up.
“No, it’s nothing useful for getting us out, just leave it,” Atsushi said quickly.
But Atsushi’s strange reaction only made Akutagawa more insistent. He shoved Atsushi aside and opened the box to see for himself. He silently stared at the contents inside. The box was filled to the brim with sex toys of every kind, from fleshlights to prostate massagers to whips. After a few seconds, Akutagawa closed the box. “You’re right, let’s keep looking,” he said quietly.
The fact that Akutagawa had agreed with Atsushi on something truly was a sign that he was shaken. Although, Atsushi didn’t have much time to bask in it before another clue presented itself. While scanning the room, his eyes landed on a red envelope on the bedside table. It must have blended in with the decor at first. Atsushi made an “oh!” sound and quickly dove for the envelope. Akutagawa joined him in a flash and watched as he opened it. Inside was a short letter, first written in English in a fancy cursive print, then underneath that it was translated into Japanese. Akutagawa read it in his head over Atsushi’s shoulder.
My dearest Ranpo,
I feel so fortunate to have been able to call you mine for an entire year now. To celebrate this trip around the sun by your side, I created this book as a gift. I know you’ve been wanting me to use my ability this way for a while, so I thought our anniversary was the best time to try it.
The “mystery” to be solved in this book dimension is the mystery of each other’s bodies. The room we are in now is made to have everything we need for a night together. When we are both satisfied with having learned the ins and outs of each other’s desire, we will be freed from the pages.
I look forward to understanding you even more deeply, my darling mystery.
Love,
Edgar
Akutagawa was very pale. Atsushi stared off into the distance in silence.
“So it was a mix-up with the books…” Atsushi said softly.
Still saying nothing, Akutagawa strode towards the door to the room and rattled the locked knob, pulling on it in what could almost be read as desperation.
“Hey, what are you doing?” Atsushi asked, tossing the letter back onto the table and joining Akutagawa at the door.
“Getting us out of here,” Akutagawa growled, now pulling on the doorknob with all his weight. “There’s gotta be another way out of this than having sex with you.”
Atsushi’s eyes widened. He hadn’t gotten that far in his reasoning, but it made sense. The book dimension didn’t care who was in it, and the mystery they had to solve wasn’t going to change just because a different pair had fallen in. Shit, this was bad.
“Weretiger,” Akutagawa snapped. “Break down the door.”
Atsushi didn’t even argue. His right arm transformed instantly, white and black striped fur rippling across his skin. Akutagawa stepped back as Atsushi planted his feet. With one powerful swing, Atsushi smashed a hole right through the wooden door.
On the other side was a white void. The two crouched down and peered through the hole, hoping for something, anything, to stand out in the blinding white expanse. But there was nothing. The splinters of wood on the edge of the hole stretched and thickened, connecting at the middle. In no time at all, the door had repaired itself completely.
Atsushi put his hands over his eyes and groaned. “It’s hopeless,” he said, flopping back down onto the bed. “We’re gonna be stuck in here until we starve and die.”
“Of course you’d give up so quickly,” Akutagawa snapped. “We’re only in this situation because you gave up on the fight, after all.”
“Hey!” Atsushi yelled, sitting up. “I saved your life! My legs may have been cut off, but at least mine grow back.”
“At least I don’t need to rely on regenerative powers to win fights,” Akutagawa snapped back.
“If you didn’t insist on fighting like you’re invincible, I wouldn’t have to keep saving you!”
“I never asked you to save me,” Akutagawa snarled.
Atsushi slammed his fists down on the bed. “AND THAT’S WHY YOU DIED!”
Akutagawa said nothing, but ground his teeth and glared. As the weight of what he’s said sunk in, Atsushi broke eye contact and frowned at his shoes. In his mind’s eye he saw the spray of blood from the gash in Akutagawa’s neck. He remembered the fear that had flooded through his veins; the despair that lay heavy on him like a lead coat as it sank in that Akutagawa was dying. That helpless, lost feeling and Akutagawa’s soft smile. And how he ran when he was told to, even though every bone in his body begged him to stay.
When Atsushi couldn’t stand the silence anymore, he huffed out a breath and muttered, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that.”
There was a pressure on the bed a couple feet away from him as Akutagawa sat down. “I suppose there’s one thing we can agree on at least,” Akutagawa said. “We need to communicate better.”
Atsushi laughed bitterly. “That, and we need to get out of this room before we die of starvation.”
“With your appetite, I’d say that only gives us a few hours,” Akutagawa said, eyes on the ceiling. A rare smile played at his lips.
“Did-” Atsushi snorted. “Did you just make a joke?”
“No,” Akutagawa said, a hint of a smile still on his face.
Atsushi laughed then, a real laugh. The bulk of the tension melted out of the room. “Alright,” he said finally. “Let’s do it. Given the choice between fucking you and dying slowly and painfully here, I’ll take the sex.”
Akutagawa thought it over for a moment. “Likewise,” he said.
“So,” Atsushi started, picking up the letter from the nightstand, “This says that we’ll only be freed when we’re both satisfied and have learned about our turn-ons or whatever. So in the interest of speeding up the process, maybe we should start by telling each other our kinks?”
The tips of Akutagawa’s ears turned red. Through gritted teeth, he said, “You first, weretiger.”
This time it was Atsushi’s turn to blush. “Ugh, this is so embarrassing! Let’s just take turns.”
“Deal. You start.”
Atsushi hid his face in his hands. “Um, I kind of have a thing for hair pulling,” he said very quickly.
“But…” Akutagawa furrowed his brows. “I pull your hair all the time in fights.”
“Your turn!” Atsushi said quickly, his voice a little too loud.
“Praise,” Akutagawa said simply.
“Like, being praised or giving praise?”
“Receiving praise,” Akutagawa clarified.
At this point Atsushi was starting to warm up, but he was still blushing profusely. “I also like wearing collars or harnesses and being grabbed by it,” he admitted. “Oh and biting! I like to bite. A lot.”
“That was two,” Akutagawa said. “So I’ll tell you two of mine, I suppose. I have a preference for soft doms. And I like role reversal. For example, when a shyer or more sensitive man is dominant or when a man who is otherwise confident and strong is submissive.”
Atsushi nodded thoughtfully, trying to bring himself to ask the question he really wanted to know the answer to. “So… when we… y’know, uh,” he stammered.
“You’re topping,” Akutagawa said, answering the question before Atsushi could finish asking it.
“Right,” Atsushi said, embarrassed. “So… how do we do this? Like do we just start taking off our clothes or should we do some foreplay or-”
“Just kiss me, weretiger,” Akutagawa said impatiently.
“Got it, got it,” Atsushi mumbled. He scooted closer to Akutagawa until their hips were nearly touching as they sat side by side. He could feel Akutagawa’s body heat radiating off of him; hear his soft rattling breath. It made everything so much more real. He reached out and cupped Akutagawa’s cheek in his gloved palm, gently rubbing his thumb over his skin. He brushed Akutagawa’s hair aside with the other, running his fingers through the short hair on the back of his head. Tapping into his tiger hearing, he swore he could hear Akutagawa’s heartbeat speed up. Their eyes met for a moment, and it was like Atsushi was seeing Akutagawa for the first time. His steely gray eyes were soft, honest; framed by short black eyelashes. He was beautiful, Atsushi realized. He didn’t know how he’d gone so long without noticing.
Before he could lose the nerve, Atsushi tipped Akutagawa’s face forward. Their lips met softly, tentatively. Atsushi kissed him like that again, then again. It felt right. This felt right. At some point, Akutagawa started reciprocating, meeting him halfway each time. His arm wrapped around Atsushi’s waist, pulling him closer still. Atsushi licked into his parted mouth, deepening their kiss. He swung his leg over Akutagawa’s, now sitting in his lap. This was much better. Their chests were pressed together. Atsushi wasn’t sure whose racing heart was whose but it didn’t matter. All that mattered was Akutagawa’s lips on his and the way his arms wrapped around his waist, keeping their bodies flush to each other.
Eventually, they had to pull apart for air. A light flush tinged Akutagawa’s cheeks, his eyes cast down, but he didn’t push Atsushi off his lap. Atsushi stroked Akutagawa’s cheek with his thumb once more.
“You’re so pretty,” he breathed.
Akutagawa’s gaze turned sharply to him, but the malice was lost on Atsushi. He was lost in those eyes, the color of storm clouds gathering over the ocean. He leaned in again, capturing Akutagawa’s lips in his. This time he was more aggressive, raking his fingers down Akutagawa’s back as their tongues swirled together.
Atsushi pushed Akutagawa’s upper body down so he was half-lying on the bed. His kisses trailed down to Akutagawa’s neck. He undid the top buttons of his coat and white shirt and held the fabric aside with his hand. Without warning, he bit down on Akutagawa’s neck, his fangs coming out only slightly. As his teeth sunk into flesh, Akutagawa made some kind of breathy grunt and he tensed up under Atsushi.
Atsushi quickly lifted his head. “Was that-”
“Shut up,” Akutagawa hissed.
It was. Akutagawa liked that. It was like some horny demon took the wheel of Atsushi’s mind at that point. He needed more. He needed Akutagawa moaning his name; needed to hear those desperate noises as he lost himself in pleasure.
“Don’t hold your voice in,” Atsushi purred. He licked the bite mark he’d left, making Akutagawa tense up again.
He stood up, carefully climbing over Akutagawa’s legs. As he loosened his tie, he said, “Take off your clothes for me, will you?”
Akutagawa sat up, looking angry and turned on. He shed his coat and set it on the bed next to him, then got to work unbuttoning his shirt. He watched as Atsushi did the same, opening his work shirt to reveal an impressively sculpted torso. Akutagawa had the sudden urge to run his fingers over those abs, to tease those perfect nipples. Maybe even take one into his mouth… He tore his gaze away and focused on undressing himself instead. He wasn’t supposed to actually enjoy this. They were only doing this to escape this nightmare love letter.
He sighed at his comparatively wiry frame, feeling self-doubt creep into his mind once again. Atsushi was better than him in every way and it was infuriating. At this rate, Akutagawa wouldn’t be surprised if he had a bigger dick too. Speaking of which… he’d stripped down to his underwear but wasn’t sure what the plan was from there. He felt a little awkward getting totally naked. He glanced up at Atsushi to see what he’d done about the underwear situation.
Atsushi stood in front of the dresser, digging through the box. He was butt-ass naked, his entire backside on display. Akutagawa quickly averted his eyes, listening to Atsushi mutter to himself as he rummaged through the box.
“I’m sure they’d have… aha!” Atsushi dug a collar out and presumably (Akutagawa had his eyes firmly on the floor) turned around.
“Akutagawa,” Atsushi laughed. “You’re allowed to look, you know. We’re literally about to have sex.”
Akutagawa took a breath and turned his head towards Atsushi. Jesus fuck. He was big and he was hard and he was hot . Had all that been beneath his work uniform the whole time? Honestly, he’d have better luck quitting the agency and becoming an underwear model. Or maybe a porn star.
Apparently Akutagawa had been staring silently for a little too long, because Atsushi smirked and put his hands on his hips. “Like what you see?” he asked seductively.
“No,” Akutagawa said, face flushing again.
“You still have your underwear on!” Atsushi noticed, pouting. “How am I supposed to fuck you if you’re wearing those?”
It’s this or death, Akutagawa reminded himself. He swallowed his pride and let his underwear fall to his ankles. He put them on the pile with the rest of his clothes.
“Good boy,” Atsushi said.
Akutagawa froze. There was no way to hide it now; his dick went from soft to hard like that. Idiot weretiger. Using his vulnerable position to tease him.
But all was forgiven as Atsushi crossed the room in a couple of strides and started kissing him again. And god, somehow it was even better without clothes on. He let Atsushi push him onto the bed and climb on top.
Atsushi trailed kisses down his neck, then his chest, and finally to his inner thighs. Akutagawa breathed shakily as Atsushi teased kisses all over, everywhere except where his lips should be. Akutagawa’s cock throbbed between his legs. At one point, it brushed against Atsushi’s cheek and Akutagawa thought he might die after all.
“Get on with it,” he snarled.
“Oh, you want me to suck you off?” Atsushi asked innocently. “Ask nicely.”
Akutagawa growled. “If your mouth isn’t around my cock in the next three seconds, I’m strangling you with Rashoumon.”
Atsushi shrugged. “Close enough.” He took Akutagawa into his mouth, running his tongue along the underside of his cock as he gave a few tentative bobs of his head. Akutagawa threw his head back and groaned at the sensation. It was too much and still not enough. He needed to be deeper. He wanted to be all the way down the weretiger’s throat.
He grabbed a fistful of Atsushi’s hair and shoved him further down. Atsushi gagged at first, but quickly recovered. He glared at Akutagawa, eyes still watering. It was so sexy.
Akutagawa used Atsushi’s hair like a handle as he fucked into the tight, warm heat of his mouth. It felt so good. Better than his hand, better than any toy. Every time his cock head brushed the back of Atsushi’s throat, Akutagawa groaned. And it seemed like Atsushi was getting off from the manhandling as well. He moaned around Akutagawa’s cock, sending vibrations down the shaft.
“Fuck,” Akutagawa groaned, thrusting deep into Atsushi’s mouth. “Gonna cum…” True to his word, he spilled down Atushi’s throat with a deep moan seconds later. When he’d finished, he released his grip on Atsushi’s hair.
Atsushi pulled back and wiped his mouth. He stuck his tongue out, making a disgusted face. “Could’ve let me pull off,” he complained. “I hate the texture of cum.”
Akutagawa looked pointedly at Atsushi’s throbbing dick, which now had precum leaking from the tip. “Seems like you liked it enough.”
Atsushi rolled his eyes and made his way back to the dresser. He put on the collar he’d found earlier and grabbed a bottle of lube and a condom from the box as well. “Have you ever bottomed before?”
Sensing this was an important thing to be honest about, Akutagawa told the truth. “No.”
“Me neither, but I’ve heard it can be painful if you don’t prep properly,” Atsushi said. He returned to the bed and set the lube and the condom on the nightstand. “Lay on your back for me and spread your legs,” he instructed.
Akutagawa scowled, but did as he was told. He’d gotten his turn already, and now it was Atsushi’s.
“Good boy, just like that,” Atsushi coaxed. Akutagawa could already feel himself getting hard again. Embarrassing.
He watched the ceiling and tried not to think too much about the fact that Atsushi’s fingers were about to be in his ass. There was the snap sound of the lube bottle cap, then another snap as it closed. Akutagawa squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for the cold impact of a lube covered finger.
But when Atsushi pressed his finger to Akutagawa’s hole, it was warm. Akutagawa found it perplexing. What strategic benefit was there to that? Atsushi slipped his finger inside as Akutagawa continued to think. The room would have still let them out if Atsushi hadn’t warmed up the lube. Any way he looked at it, the answer came out the same. Atsushi had just done it for the sake of being kind. For some reason, that made Akutagawa’s stomach feel all fuzzy. He didn’t like it.
Atsushi slipped a second finger in and started to move them, curling and scissoring them to stretch out Akutagawa’s hole.
“Doing okay?” Atsushi asked.
Akutagawa nodded.
“You’re taking it so well, especially for your first time,” Atsushi hummed happily. He politely ignored the fact that his simple praise brought Akutagawa from half to full hardness. “Ready for a third?”
“If you must,” Akutagawa replied, still cursing his gut for the uncomfortable feeling he got when he thought about the care Atsushi took in preparing him.
Atsushi eased a third finger in with the others. Two had been easy for Akutagawa, but now he was really feeling the stretch. He furrowed his brows and hissed between his teeth, hips jumping slightly as Atsushi slid his fingers inside.
“You’re okay, just a little more,” Atsushi murmured. He started moving his fingers, gently pumping them in and out of Akutagawa’s hole.
As much as Akutagawa hated to admit it, it felt good. The feeling of Atsushi’s slick fingers rubbing against his walls, the look of concentration on his face as he stretched Akutagawa out, even the disgusting wet squelching sounds that filled the room - it was like his own fucked up version of heaven. All he needed now was the weretiger’s thick cock filling him up.
“Hurry up and put it in already,” Akutagawa demanded. He frowned at the slightly whiny tone to his voice.
“You sure you’re ready?” Atsushi asked. His expression was one of genuine concern as he peeked between Akutagawa’s thighs. The care that filled his sunset eyes made Akutagawa’s heart clench once more. He glared back.
“Fuck. Me.” he growled.
That was all it took for Atsushi to spring into action. He carefully pulled his fingers out of Akutagawa’s ass and reached for the condom on the nightstand. His fingers slipped from the lube as he struggled to tear the wrapper open.
“Here just-” Akutagawa exasperatedly snatched the condom out of his hands and opened it himself. He rolled it onto Atsushi’s cock and fell back onto the bed once more. “There.”
Atsushi was blushing and covering his face and that was when Akutagawa realized it was the first time he’d touched Atsushi’s dick. He felt his own cheeks start to heat up. This was ridiculous. He pointedly thrust his hips up to remind Atsushi to keep moving.
Atsushi took his hands away from his face and instead slid them under Akutagawa’s ass to angle his hips up. Akutagawa wasn’t quite able to hide the sharp intake of breath he took when he felt Atsushi’s hands on his ass cheeks. Though Atsushi didn’t look at him, he did squeeze them in response, the barest trace of a smirk on his lips.
And then that monstrous thing was prodding at his entrance. Faintly, Akutagawa wondered if his inevitable aching back would continue to feel sore when they left the book dimension.
Atsushi pushed in, and his cock was definitely bigger than three fingers. Akutagawa generally considered himself too proud to express pain, but he couldn’t help the small whines that escaped through his shaky breaths.
“Doing okay?” Atsushi asked partway through. Akutagawa was so fucking tight. Atsushi could almost feel his eyes start to roll back into his head from the overwhelming squeezing sensation as he pushed deeper and deeper. He could only imagine how uncomfortable Akutagawa must feel.
Akutagawa opened his mouth to reply that yes, he was perfectly fine, thank you very much, but instead a moan fell out.
Atsushi’s pupils dilated as he heard the sound. His heart raced in his chest. He needed to fuck. He needed it, needed Akutagawa writhing and moaning under him. It was like a primal switch had been flipped.
Before he could even think things through, Atsushi shoved himself the rest of the way in with one hard thrust. Akutagawa’s back arched and he yelped, the sound a mixture of pain and ecstasy. Atsushi didn’t even give him time to recover before he started thrusting into him, fast and sloppy.
“W-Weretiger!” Akutagawa gasped, frantically reaching for his arm.
Just like that, Atsushi snapped out of it. He looked at Akutagawa’s face, tear-stained and wrecked. “Oh shit,” he whispered. “I’m so sor-”
Akutagawa cut him off by grabbing him by the collar and pulling him into a kiss. “Slower,” he murmured between kisses.
They stayed pressed together like that as Atsushi tentatively began moving again. He slowly thrust into Akutagawa as they kissed. Akutagawa’s moans rumbled between their mouths while Atsushi languidly fucked into him. Atsushi couldn’t help but moan too, their tongues sliding together and saliva mixing as Akutagawa swallowed the sound.
“Can I go a little faster?” Atsushi asked, kissing the corner of Akutagawa’s mouth.
Akutagawa hummed in approval. “Just a bit.”
Their lips met again as Atsushi picked up the pace ever so slightly. A few thrusts in, Akutagawa arched his back and groaned.
“Right there,” he moaned, fingers digging into Atsushi’s back.
Atsushi thrust again and again, hitting the spot each time. Akutagawa shuddered under him. He broke the kiss and buried his face in Atsushi’s neck, clinging tightly to his body.
“Are you close?” Atsushi asked. His breath came out in short huffs with each thrust.
Akutagawa moaned, the vibrations tickling Atsushi’s neck, as he nodded. Atsushi angled his head to kiss under his ear.
“Can you say my name when you cum?” Atsushi whispered.
“Were-” Akutagawa growled in protest.
“My real name,” Atsushi insisted. “You’ve been such a good boy for me so far. I know you can do it.”
Akutagawa groaned again. “Fuck!” he moaned as Atsushi hit that spot again. “Fine, just… keep doing th… god, fuck, right there!” Akutagawa arched his back up again as warmth pooled in his belly. He felt so full, so damn turned on. He wanted the weretiger to keep fucking him like this forever. It was perfect. And he was so, so close.
“A-Atsushi,” Akutagawa moaned. He knew his nails were digging into Atsushi’s back but he didn’t even care. “Ngh… Atsushi, Atsushi, please… ” Akutagawa bit down hard on Atsushi’s neck as he came, muscles shaking. He vaguely sensed Atsushi groaning above him, hips stuttering as he fucked them both through their orgasms.
Akutagawa released his jaw from around Atsushi’s neck and let his head fall back into the pillows. He gazed up at Atsushi, exhausted. The way his head eclipsed the overhead light made it look like he had a halo. Akutagawa unthinkingly reached up and brushed a sweaty strand of hair off Atsushi’s forehead. After a second of hesitation, Atsushi leaned in and kissed him once again. It was a slow, tired kiss, but it was infused with post-sex euphoria. Akutagawa’s fingers slid into Atsushi’s hair as he pulled their bodies together.
When they broke apart, Atsushi was smiling. Akutagawa didn’t think he was smiling back, but the aching of his cheek muscles told a different story. Atsushi lovingly ran his hand over Akutagawa’s cheek again.
But that was when Akutagawa realized the halo was gone. The light Atsushi’s head had obscured was no longer behind him. He bolted upright, Atsushi falling to the side. This wasn’t the love hotel room anymore.
They were in a dimly lit bedroom, on a large bed. It definitely looked like someone’s personal bedroom, what with all the personal belongings scattered about, but it wasn’t where the book had been activated earlier.
“God, where are we now?” Akutagawa groaned.
“Forget that, where are our clothes?” Atsushi asked.
Both of them were still naked, but the clothes they’d worn earlier were supposedly still on the floor of the love hotel… in the book dimension. Luckily, two robes were laid out on the end of the bed.
Atsushi pulled out of Akutagawa and took off the condom. He threw it away in a trash can by the bed, then wrapped himself up in one of the robes while Akutagawa did the same.
Akutagawa’s gaze fell on a note on the nightstand. “Oh great, not this again,” he grumbled, picking up the note. This time Atsushi was the one to read over his shoulder.
I AM SO SORRY ABOUT THE MIX-UP!
Ranpo and I placed the book in which you’re currently stuck in our bedroom and we will stay away until you are out, for your privacy. When you are decent, please come meet us downstairs so we can apologize properly.
Deepest apologies,
Poe
Atsushi didn’t want to go down and face Poe and Ranpo. He knew they’d know what took place between him and Akutagawa. Honestly, he wasn’t even sure if he’d fully accepted what had happened yet. He dreaded Poe’s inevitable awkward guilty rambling and Ranpo’s knowing smirk. It wasn’t like they could hide anything from him most of the time, but both of them had messed up hair and hickeys and their clothes were stuck in the sex dimension, for Christ’s sake! No, there was no way around this. He’d already checked for windows to climb out of and found none. He’d just have to suck it up and power through the discomfort.
Atsushi took a deep breath and straightened his spine. “Okay, let’s go,” he said gravely.
Akutagawa must have taken the time to brace himself as well, because he nodded tersely and followed Atsushi through the door without complaint.
The two followed the sounds of animated chatter and laughter down the stairs and into the kitchen. Poe was leaned against the kitchen island, hands moving as he rambled away at Ranpo, who sat at a barstool across the counter from him. Both had big smiles on their faces, and Atsushi could tell from their body language that they were comfortable together. He couldn’t recall hearing Poe this talkative ever. For a moment, he wondered if he and Akutagawa could ever be like that, but his thoughts were interrupted when Ranpo spotted them.
“Oh good, you escaped!” he said, jumping up from his seat. Poe quickly reverted to his usual fidgety, shy self and walked over to greet them. His eyes were fixed on the floor as he spoke.
“I can’t apologize enough for what I put you through,” he said, wringing his hands. “I’ll reimburse you for the clothes you lost but I know that won’t be enough. For that reason…” he tensed, like he was bracing for impact, “I’m willing to accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate.”
Atsushi reached out to comfort Poe, smiling gently. “We’re not going to punish you. It was an honest mistake,” he reassured him. “Right, Akutagawa?”
Akutagawa said nothing. Atsushi elbowed him hard, earning him a glare, but he nodded in agreement anyway. “Right.”
“Thank you,” Poe said with a breath of relief. “I’ve arranged for one of my personal drivers to take you home, so you don’t have to deal with calling a taxi in only a robe.”
“Perfect, thank you,” Atsushi said. He suddenly realized Ranpo had been uncharacteristically quiet, and turned to him expectantly.
“I’m impressed you guys escaped,” Ranpo admitted. “Poe and I were already starting to discuss how to go about a rescue mission if it came down to it.”
Atsushi smiled awkwardly. “I don’t think that would have helped much, but I appreciate the thought.”
All four were uncomfortably silent for a few seconds, until Ranpo spoke up again, a mischievous glint in his eye.
“So… which one of you was the-”
“I will drop-kick you,” Akutagawa hissed, a wall of white Rashoumon spikes forming behind him threateningly.
Atsushi coughed and stepped between them, trying to diffuse the tension. “We’d better get going now. Can you show us to the car?” he asked.
Once he and Akutagawa were safely in the backseat of the car, Atsushi started thinking about what had taken place in the book dimension. He wasn’t ashamed to admit he had a great time, and was maybe even starting to get a crush on Akutagawa. But there was no way his feelings were reciprocated. To Akutagawa, their actions were just a means to an end.
The driver mentioned something about how he was putting up the privacy shield and wouldn’t be able to hear them unless they knocked on the panel. But Atsushi was lost in thought, watching cars and buildings pass by out the window as he spiraled.
Akutagawa cleared his throat. “Weretiger,” he said. “You will date me.”
Atsushi snapped his head up. He couldn’t have heard that right. “What?”
Akutagawa frowned. He hated repeating himself. “Date me or suffer the consequences.”
A grin spread across Atsushi’s face and he started laughing. Akutagawa’s bewildered expression only made him laugh harder. “That’s such a weird way to ask someone out,” he wheezed. He caught his breath and looked at Akutagawa fondly. “You’re cute.”
“I am nothing of the-”
“And yes, I’ll date you.”
Akutagawa shut his mouth and nodded. “Good.”
Neither of them said anything else for the rest of the drive. But that was just fine. They could both sense it - they were warming up to each other. The silence fit like a new pair of shoes. They’d wear it in. For now, they’d enjoy each other’s company. The windows on both sides of the car reflected their soft smiles back at them as they headed home.