#res.com

you wave at him, smiling widely, “howdy neighbour!”

but as soon as those two words came out of your mouth, your expression contorted into a grimace. “i’m never trying that again.”

but you soon perk up again, remembering the conversation you’d just started. “happy christmas eve, akaashi!”

he nods at you. “happy christmas eve.”

“so flat,” you sigh. quickly sending a wink down his way, you add, “it’s part of your charm though.”

akaashi chuckles lightly. “you think i’m flat? as in–”

“yeah, yeah.” 

come to think of it, it’s been a while since you’ve had a proper conversation with the dark-haired man. the last time that had happened was maybe two weeks ago, during the early days of the month of december. the situation had been similar to this, the two of you standing in front of your doors, talking about plans for the holidays.

“oh, how was your visit back home?” you ask him, placing both your hands inside the pockets of the fleece jacket you were wearing. 

he shrugs, repositioning the basket he’d been holding for the past minute or so. “it was fine. i hung out with my friends and family,” akaashi smiles. “what about you, did you end up going anywhere?”

you shake your head. “nope, i pretty much stayed inside the house all month long.”

he laughs. “damn. if i’d known that, i would have come back a day early to take you out.”

“i know, right? it was–” huh. what did he say? 

“yeah. do you prefer baking cookies over marathoning movies? or is it the other way around?” he says, so casually.

you gawk. “huh?”

somehow, akaashi keiji, the akaashi keiji, is now only inches away from you, and you don’t know how that happened. 

he reaches under your chin and gently moves your jaw shut with his hand. “you better not leave your mouth open, the flies may come in.”

he grimaces. “i can’t believe i just said that.” 

you blink and shake your head. “i can’t believe anything you said just now.”

“believe it or not, i’m expecting a text later tonight.” he grins. “or maybe a rejection.”

“now why would i reject you on christmas eve? out of the goodness of my own heart i humbly accept your offer.” you smile widely. “favorite movie’s the grinch, by the way.”

-

the increasing rain checks.

maybe it’s true that he really was tired, and that he really did oversleep or had a change of plans, but it doesn’t sting any less. maybe he just really was tired. (you want to say ‘tired of you’, but for some reason, it doesn’t come out.)

it’s the second time this month. he’s… less punctual than he would be. before, at least. before… whatever’s going on with him. you think maybe it’s the training? or the curses? whichever it is, you hope everything’s okay with him.

it’s the second time you’re left hanging outside your front door, eventually getting inside and slumping on the couch, enthusiasm dissapearing away. ‘it’s fine,’ you think. he’ll come next time.

-

the missed phone calls.

sometimes you fall asleep with your phone angled towards your ear, not on the nightstand where it would usually be. you wonder if he wakes up in the morning, seeing your calls that he missed and panics. or does he brush it off and go about his day, sending you an apology text in his spare time sometime in the day.

“hey, stop scrolling through your phone at night.” your mom reminds you. it’s the third time she’s found you in your room with your cellphone inches away from your head, laid on the same pillow. “i will.”

it’s the third time the ‘goodnight’s and the ‘i miss you’s were missed. ‘it’s okay.’ you think.

-

fast forward

the fourth time.

the sixth.

and the ninth.

and the thirteenth.

-

the argument.

“i was always two steps away from you.” you breathe out shakily. “whenever- whenever you needed something, mundane or not, all you had to do was take two steps toward me. and i would have bent like water for you. i still would.”

you sigh. “i wish i could say i hated you.”

“i-“ megumi cuts himself off, and the mere fact that you thought he didn’t have anything to say to that speaks volumes to you.

“you- you would only take one. you always, always take one step and you wouldn’t take the other.” by now, you were sure that you looked like a mess.

megumi stepped closer to you, tipping your chin toward him and used his free hand to cup your face and wipe away the tears staining your cheeks. and you let him. god knows why you let him. a moment passed, and then another.

“you’re doing it again.” you say softly.

he didn’t seem to want an explanation. you don’t wonder why.

“go. go to them.”

you think that it hurts the most when he doesn’t look back.

change is gradual.

it’s permanent too, most of the time.

a couple months after you two meet, he starts buying certain cat and dog treats and leaving containers of them on your desk.

it was anonymous however, so you were left wondering who started leaving them.

but the stolen glances at your expression when you come in the office said a lot already.

so one day, on a sunny morning, you stroll over to his desk and ask, “kunikida, could you leave some carrots on my desk tomorrow?”

he went through the five stages of grief /j

he got so flustered that all he could manage was a small nod.

true to his word action, carrots were neatly stacked on your desk the next day.

you grinned at him, whispering a 'thanks.'

"no problem." the blonde stiffly nodded.

he really wished you would leave his desk now that you've said all you had to say.

but no no no.

you went, "say, kunikida. why'd you start leaving those on my desk?"

he flushed red, as he did the previous day, but he soon regained composure. "i just- thought it could help."

anyways — your guys’ dynamic from then on is pretty casual.

kunikida gets flustered so easily — his reactions are really interesting. in a good way.

to be honest, i think he wouldn’t be the one who asked you out, you’d have to make the move.

so like if you casually walk up to his desk and just ask him out simply, like just a question?

his mind would immediately go blank and he goes so, so red.

but!! says yes — after like two minutes of just a bunch of ‘what’s and ‘huh’s.

definition of whipped. even after already dating.

the tiniest bit of affection sends him into a frenzy.

after a few weeks though, he’s learned to get used to it. sure, his heart still does entire gymnastic routines whenever you kiss him, but he thinks it’s a nice feeling <3

ii. fyodor dostoevsky

okok but imagine — fyodor dostoevsky and a pet shop owner……

okay that doesn’t have to be the occupation but anywho — this meeting is everything i’d ever want.

he was walking around yokohama, you know.

plotting mass destruction and whatnot, as per usual.

his alert ears pick up someone cooing to a cat, and he turns his head to an alley to see you, gently patting an adorable calico cat. ( ps if any of you are allergic you may pretend as if it was any other animal )

he sees so much adoration in your eyes, and he couldn’t help but be intrigued.

so he slowly approaches you — and the cat hisses, backing away from him.

you suddenly became aware of fyodor and you stand up, smiling.

“looks like it doesn’t like you.”

fyodor mentally agrees, observing the cat that was now a few feet further away.

“try giving these.” you handed him a couple of cat treats.

he raises his eyebrow but squats anyway, holding out his hand in the direction of the cat.

the cat seemed to be apprehensive — but it slowly makes its way over to the fist full of treats, and it starts eating them one by one.

fyodor’s eyes were fixated on it, and you chuckle, catching his attention.

he thinks that maybe you’re worth his time.

and yes, he was right. best decision of his life so far.

he isn’t familiar with the idea of a relationship, but it’s growing on him.

the type of guy who thinks that dating is pointless.

but at one point he thinks that dating you wouldn’t be bad at all.

oh. that’s his literal reaction.

consults to nikolai. and notes to never do it again /j

but at one point he spontaneously just?? kisses you??

combusting.

that speaks for itself — and one thing led to another — so you both are dating now!!

he’s a chill boyfriend. again, not experienced, but he’s doing his best!

and that was now best decision of his life.

your eyes flickered shut, and everything was about to go black before a rather familiar voice filled your ears. you slowly blinked your eyes open, focusing on the dark blob in your vision.

“the hell…..what…..can…see..” that was all you could hear, but you soon completely blacked out, slipping out of consciousness.

-

the stark white ceiling of shoko’s office appeared in your field of vision, and you blinked a couple times, looking around at the room.

your eyes land on a familiar figure, seated on a chair beside the bed you were settled in.

megumi’s dark eyes met yours, and he sighed in exasperation as soon as he sees a smile spread slowly across your face. he stood up from his chair and ruffled his hair, sitting down on the edge of your bed.

“good morning to you too, megumi!” you greeted, wincing as you attempt to lean back on the wall.

he sighed again, simultaneously helping you settle against the wall and complaining about your idiocy.

“where do i even begin- you almost died!” he exclaimed, dropping back down on his chair.

“i know! but i didn’t!” you grinned.

he thrusted out a finger at you, narrowing his eyes. “be glad i was out there before. ieiri-san isn’t in at the moment.”

you just chuckle, lifting up your shirt to examine his work.

“i detest you.” he starts. “i-“

you interrupt him, placing a hand on his shoulder. “thank you, megumi.”

“…..you’re welcome.”

if you see a tint of red in his ears, no, you were definitely imagining it. or maybe you weren’t.