The thoughts flash through his head in less than a second which, co-incidentally, is just as long as [Y/N] meets his mouth and shuts up his brain. It’s a kiss. A brief one, but hard and impossible to ignore because it’s sends flames racing through Benimaru’s body, stealing his breath away and he can’t help but look to her lips the instant she pulls back.

“Go,” she says, tip of the tongue darting out as if to taste him, “and hurry home.”

The captain can’t think of anything more intelligent than nodding – not that he’d get a chance to say much as the familiar voice of Konro yells from below for him to hurry.

...  Reader   ...

Before climbing down from the watchtower, you see the two men hurry off in the direction of the smoke and flames. What just happened?

Your knees are wobbly, belly fluttering, all the way home. Did he just...?

The headquarters are silent. Not a soul left because they’ve all hurried out to do their job. Kissed...I kissed him?

“Ah, right on time,” someone says from behind.

You don’t have time to face the speaker before a sharp pain crashes through your skull and turns off the world.

...  Benimaru   ...

Looking over the rubbles of what used to be the company’s favourite teppanyaki place, Benimaru accepts his men’s decision. They and Konro are insisting on staying with the men to help with extinguishing the last flames before clearing as much of the street as possible.

“We don’t need you for this, Shinmon,” the lieutenant smiles knowingly.

It’s strange. The explosion has taken out only the restaurant, creating plenty of chaos and unfortunately injuring a dozen people. No deaths – even the cook had managed to get out before the fire spread and the place blew up. It’s all...normal. No infernals. Just an unfortunate accident in a perfect, newly renovated kitchen.

“Konro...didn’t we help -” Benimaru begins.

The cheeky grin is gone, replaced with a somberness better suited for the situation. “Yeah. Finished last month.”

Asakusa is not connected to the Haijima Power Grid like the rest of Tokyo. Mostly, it’s powered by wood and fossil fuels with the exception of a water-driven generator for the hospital.

There had been no gas line installed for the kitchen. But this is a gas explosion.

“We’ll figure it out,” Konro assures, “now go.”

That’s the second time today someone’s told me to go. At least this time he’s excited for what’s waiting for him.

...

He can sense something’s wrong even before dodging through the curtained entrance. A sweetly pungent smoke curls through the air, bringing back memories from not long enough ago. Joker.

As expected, the lanky man is waiting, leaning against the wall and his hat hanging on the coat rack as if it belongs there. No greeting, no explanation as Benimaru sits down and removes the heavy boots, noting mentally that the uninvited guest already has done the same. [Y/N] hasn’t invited him in?

The building is silent as the grave and no one comes to greet them as they walk to the kitchen where the captain fills the kettle and places it on the stove. The fire inside is almost dead, but it’s nothing a few logs and a flick of the fingers can’t fix.

Maybe she’s asleep, that’s why she hasn’t shown up, he tries to calm himself.

“I’ll be right back,” Benimaru mutters.

“She’s not here.”

What? He can feel it in his bones that it’s true. “What makes you say that?”

“I checked every room.” Joker has made himself comfortable at the end of the table where Benimaru normally sits. “She’s gone. I thought you’d protect her.”

He wants to scream, wants to punch the lights out of the guy who’s relaxing as if nothing’s wrong, wants to tear up the city if it could just bring [Y/N] back. It won’t. The captain breathes it out through his nose and unclenches his fists.

“If you cared that much, why’d you not let her stay with you?”

“Not my decision.”

“...but you care and you know where she is,” Benimaru states with a growl.

The purple, hypnotic eye reveals nothing as it stares back unflinchingly. Though different in stature, the men are evenly matched and there’s no denying the Joker has a confident swagger albeit it being a bit off-putting for people who can’t appreciate the art of taking their time to think. Konro would approve. There’s no saying what the girl in the middle of this mess would, and the uncrowned king of Asakusa doesn’t want to consider it.

A polite cough brings his attention back to Joker.

“Water’s boiling...do you want it any hotter?” the jackass grins.

Could test it by throwing it at you. Of course, Benimaru doesn’t do that but occupies himself with tea making while he waits for the other to talk. Eventually, he slams down steaming cups for both of them and sits down.