Chapter Text
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Atsushi never calls.
Throughout their partnership, Shin Sokokou has communicated a plenty. So Akutagawa has had to read texts, listen to voicenotes and decipher cryptic emoticons from the Jinko, but he is never the one who initiates phone calls, the crinkly audio too grating on his sensitive hearing. Something is wrong.
The couple decided to take things fairly slowly and out of the public’s eye, letting things happen naturally. Given that both young men have had extremely tumultuous lives and practically zero relationship experience, they had agreed it was for the best to continue at their own pace, no matter how slow it may seem for “normal” couples.
They agreed to keep their new closeness on the down low, only telling their sisters, to the Port Mafia and Armed Detective Agency they are just very close partners turned friends.
It had been 3 years since they met and 2 years since they began dating, now Atsushi and Akutagawa are twenty one and twenty three respectively. Ryuunosuke has been happier than ever with his boyfriend (he will never tire of using that word), even random mafia grunts had noticed his higher spirits, rumours of his more tolerant behaviour had spread quite quickly. Since his Jinko started staying over more often, Ryuu has been basking in the sweet, soft domestic moments he’s always craved, the weretiger has given him a new purpose to his life, a reason to get up in the morning, a reason to live.
He’s not going anywhere either, drinking Atsushi’s blood had been enough to halt the degeneration of his condition. He is going to live.
Atsushi has grown a lot since that fateful day in the dark alley, the boy has had ample time to experience the world outside his cell's four walls, to meet new people and to simply live. And since their partnership began, Ryuu has been there. Through night terrors to (both of their) first times at a theme park, his boyfriend has been there, to hold him as he cried and to laugh along with him. For once in his life, Atsushi is safe and surrounded by family. (Safe might be debatable, but lately Yokohama has been fairly conflict free)
An unbreakable trust has been formed between them, Rashoumon and Byakko alike have become entwined on a near molecular level, working in tandem, almost as one on the battle field. The new Double-Black is thriving: a terrifying, unstoppable opponent.
So, as his Jinko’s contact name flashes across his phone screen, Akutagawa felt as his stomach began to twist into an uncomfortable series of knots, countless potential scenarios crossing his mind. The mafioso knows the Agency were in for a pretty boring day, but what if a rogue criminal organisation ambushed them? Or a previous enemy has escaped prison? Though he is strong, Atsushi is not infallible, he can regenerate but he can most definitely be hurt beyond what Byakko can fix, as proven by his recent illness.
He answers as quickly as he can, ignoring the Port Mafia executive meeting going on around him and promptly walking out the door, shooting Chuuya a concerned glance on his way out. The click of the meeting room door closing is easily drowned out by the bickering of the other executives, something about the distribution of firearms between the Port Mafia forces, Akutagawa was never really listening in the first place.
“Jink-“ he starts, concern lacing his voice, holding the phone to his ear with an iron grip and tucking himself into a corner away from the loud conference room. His heartbeat continuing to pick up and Rashoumon rippling uneasily along his body.
“I need you to be quiet and listen very carefully.” Instead, it is Kyouka’s monotonous tone that cuts him off. The mafioso’s climbing heart drops, he is very aware that his relationship with the young girl is unbalanced, she will likely fear him for as long as he lives. She would never command him to do anything. Something is very wrong. He shuts up immediately.
“Atsushi is ok, but he’s in shock so he can’t come to the phone. It’s gonna be Byakko in control for the foreseeable future.” Ryuunosuke breathes a sigh of relief, he’s alive. “I’m taking Atsushi to your apartment, something very… something has happened. Go buy some raw meat for Byakko, and some pillows and blankets that you wouldn’t mind getting shredded. Then go home, trust me this is more important than anything Mori is asking of you. I don’t know how to explain the situation, so I’ll let you see it for yourself, we’ll be at yours in about thirty minutes.”
She hangs up.
Akutagawa doesn’t feel much better about this whole thing. He’s alive, he reminds himself. The ravenet inhales deeply, pulling the phone away from his ear, exhaling as Rashoumon returns it to his pocket. Just what is going on.
With a final drag of his hand through his dark hair, Ryuunosuke sets off to the closest store, he has some nervous shopping to do.
The mafia grunts seem extra jumpy as he stalks down the hallways toward the exit, perhaps the murderous aura had something to do with it.