Like everything else that had brought them to this point it had been Dazai’s fault. When everything had settled and something akin to relative peace was made between the Hunting Dogs, the ADA, and the Port Mafia, there was only one issue left to tackle. The vampires, while no longer quite the same threat they had been under Fukuchi’s control, still existed. And there had to be a way to save them, bring them their humanity back.
When they had talked about it, Dazai’s mischievous eyes kept looking over at Atsushi until he finally made the not-so-subtle hint that perhaps the fast-healing were-tiger could be of use. From there it spiraled, Yosano and Ranpo theorizing where the healing capabilities came from, whether it was possible to distill that in a simple medication or treatment. And Atsushi, self-sacrificial but scared, let himself be dragged along.
There would be a trial run, contained and careful—and Akutagawa was to be the first test subject. Atsushi frowned at the suggestion, but Dazai had only brightened up when he made the suggestion, insisting that it would bring the two closer together.
“We don’t need to be closer,” Atsushi has protested with a grimace. He didn’t dislike Akutagawa, not after all that happened. But it didn’t necessarily mean that the pair got along either. It was a tentative tolerance forged between blows shared and fights won by each others side.
Dazai had simply tilted his head to the side with eyes that knew too much and shared nothing at all, “But don’t you?”
And that had been enough. No amount of grumbling Atsushi did would stop it from happening so he might as well accept it and offer himself up for Akutagawa to consume. It was only when he really stopped to consider it did Atsushi feel a bit uneasy—as all the preparations were made it was far more simple to just continue on and ignore it until that day finally came.
When it did come, barely a few days after the first brainstorming discussion, Atsushi bit back protest as he was shoved unceremoniously into the room. All it had was a simple chair and side table with merely a button to push in case of emergency.
Not like that could do much, he thought pessimistically, If Akutagawa’s already sucking out all my blood how would that help?
Still, at least the ADA tried and Atsushi couldn’t entirely fault them for that. So he paced around the room simply waiting, the fear creeping in more with each passing second. He had seen Akutagawa as a vampire of course, the interaction still sending shivers down his spine. But what would it be like now, now that they were trapped in this confined space, now when he sole purpose fo their interaction was for Akutagawa to suck his blood?
It wasn’t long until he heard the sound of the door snapping open and he turned to see a dazed vampire step into the space, the door locking right behind him. He was no more pallid than usual, radiated a no less dangerous energy, and perhaps in a different light, Akutagawa would have seemed normal. But when his eyes gazed up and trained on Atsushi’s exposed neck, the difference was clear.
Looking at Akutagawa now was like looking at an animal, uncaged and feral. Perhaps the vampirism enabled him to let go of the inhibitions that he clung so tightly to on the usual day. It was an almost welcome surprise, to see the usually restrained mafioso let himself simply be. It reminded Atsushi of what it felt like when he fully gave into the were-tiger, when he finally let all of the burdens of his anxieties and hesitations crumble in the tiger’s claws. It was never safe nor healthy, but it was nevertheless a feeling Atsushi knew well.
Akutagawa leapt at him and for a moment Atsushi was thrown back to their last encounter like this—how long it had taken for his limbs to regrow and heal. This time, though, instead of wrapping Rashomon around his body, Akutagawa seemed drawn in by the expanse of unmarred flesh Atsushi was showcasing.
The bite was easier than Atsushi had anticipated, it was the feeling of his blood being sucked from his body that felt uncomfortable. It was odd to feel oneself giving up their life for someone else and yet here Atsushi was doing just that. The were-tiger could see dark spots beginning to dot his vision, even more grateful now that he had been seated since it felt increasingly likely that he would pass out if Akutagwa continued.
The fangs released for just a moment as Akutgawa pulled away and snarled. His eyes were still two dark pools with no shred of humanity to be found. Something tuned in Atsushi’s gut seeing that, the sort of rage that only Akutagawa had ever been able to pull out of him.
So Atsushi let his hand grip into the black locks, holding the vampire away for just a moment as he practically growled out, “Get ahold of yourself, Akutagawa. Just drink it out of me and be done with it already!”
He let his hand go and like a spring Akutagawa snapped back, his attention now solely where the two red holes marred the were-tiger’s neck. It took only a second longer before Akutagawa returned, his mouth pressed against Atsushi’s neck and sucking.
Atsushi could feel the dizziness return, letting his arms now snake around Akutagawa’s waist and pressing into his back for support. At least now if Atsushi passed out he hopefully wouldn’t fall off the chair. He let his eyes close and held close as Akutagawa continued to drain him.
After what seemed to be another eternity, Atsushi heard a noise somewhere in between a whimper and a moan escape the other’s lips, feeling the fangs retract. He sighed at the pain no longer coursing through him and let his eyes drift open.
Sitting in his lap now was no longer a feral vampire quite literally out for blood, but instead the face of a confused mafioso. His eyes were blown out as he came back to humanity, back to reality.
It was then that Atsushi realized how close they were, how clearly he could see each fleck of light in Akutagawa’s eyes. All of a sudden, their closeness felt too much. And yet he did not pull away. No, he rather liked having Akutagawa this near to him, didn’t mind the feeling of him on his lap, or the way he felt to the touch. As awkward as it was, Atsushi would not have minded staying like that for a while longer.
Just as the he opened his mouth to say something, apologize or ask if Akutagwaa was alright, the door swung open. A mix of both the ADA and Port Mafia had poked their heads in, something on the video feed must have tipped them off that Akutagawa was healed. In the blink of an eye, Akutagawa was gone, storming down the hallway to nobody knew where.
Atsushi was left, then, staring at everyone as his cheeks painted red in embarrassment. With a melodically teasing voice, Dazai butted in, “And here little Atsushi said they didn’t need to get any closer—seems like a success on multiple fronts then!”
The blush became more fierce as Atsushi slunk down in his chair, wanting to curl up and away from everyone’s probing gaze. Yosano thankfully came to his rescue, with bandages in hand as she worked to cover the bite marks.
As he let himself be taken care of, Atsushi’s mind wandered to Akutagawa once more. He wasn’t sure what he would even say when they saw each other again, not certain whether or not to tell the other man that he had not, in fact, hated the closeness. Perhaps he should honest, but knowing the mafioso that could drive him away even further.
He had some time, though, thankfully. Enough time to mull over his options, and sort through exactly what those feelings meant. Patched up and left alone, Atsushi could only think about his rival.
Yes, perhaps he was a bit lovesick.