Chapter Text
Static. It's all he can hear, the raining thundering down, yet his ear can subtly make out the grating noise of passersby, shuffling of important feet, murmurs of dull conversations. Back against a corporate building while holding his vice in one hand, phone in the other. It's difficult to not check his phone, for a call or text, even the time.
Gently he lifts the fag up to his mouth, lips curling while inhaling. Deep. Orange embers escape the bud as he throws the cigarette down to crush it beneath bloodied dress shoes.
God, he would hate for Gin to yell at him.
Grey smoke enters his lungs and he closes his eyes momentarily while taking it all in. The familiar warmth of a lovely acquaintence now trapped in his chest hugging his lungs tightly. The rain, a cool wind tapping against his face, then a buzz from his phone.
He blinks, slow. A tumultuous exhale. It stutters out of his chest, shoulders shuddering gently with the movement.
I'll be there soon, I'm sorry; the text reads. The blue hue from the electronic screen dies down immediately as it finds its way back into his pocket. Eyes finding nothing in strangers stares while waiting against the granite. Despite being covered from head to toe his body manages to shiver much to his chagrin.
In no time, she has arrived.
A vision of dark cutting against the warm hue of brightness from the sunset behind her. Dressed in a casual black dress, her hands clasped, and a brown peacoat draped around her shoulders.
An apologetic gaze knits her eyebrows together as a nervous laugh bubbles out. She ducks into Akutagawa's space, forehead resting on his shoulder. A strange show of penance he never truly expects nor wants from the younger girl.
"I'm sorry." Is a murmur against his neck. She receives a quiet nod in response signaling for the removal of her shameful bow against his body. Then she is offered a hand to hold. Without hesitation she accepts it, clasping cold digits around warm wool. A gentle smile graceing her features.
Akutagawa uses leverage from his leg against the wall to lean forward and open his umbrella. Black, to match his ensemble - consisting of a long-sleeved turtleneck, gloves, jeans that are far too thin to be considered so, and a trenchcoat cinched tightly and protectively around his waist. Their outfits seemingly complimenting one another as the umbrella shelters the two from the downpour.
"Is that Chuuya-san's coat?"
She nods timidly, "He said it wasn't wise for a girl like me to get soaked in the rain with such a pretty dress on."
Though irked at the comment Akutagawa reluctantly agrees in the back of his mind. He could have lended his coat but perhaps Chuuya had done well in lending his coat as they departed the port at radically different times today. She would have been freezing on the way over and he would have reprimanded her for forgetting to bring a coat from home. So, he swats the ugly thoughts away before they have the chance to encompass his mind.
"Hm." Akutagawa leans his weight comfortably on his sister's shoulder, head resting there, "Are you excited about the movie?"
Small talk is not his forte, he enjoys silence but he tries to appease Gin as much as he can. The younger sibling being quite the talker despite her quiet reputation in the mafia.
"I think you are. At least more than me, nii-san." Gin's laughter slips out softly, deftly. As smooth as caramel and it warms Akutagawa's heart despite the fact that she is so obviously teasing him. He finds that he doesn't mind it even if his cheeks betray him in this moment, blood flooding his face out of sheer embarrassment because she's absolutely right.
"You're not suppose to tease your nii-san like this, Gin-chan." Akutagawa tries to chastise his sister albeit failing as she kisses the top of his head in her version of an apology.
"Sorry, sorry." She sings in a light and cheery tone mimicking that of the great Dazai Osamu's while managing to not sound even the slightest bit apologetic.
Wriggling her fingers in his grasp elicits a humorous scoff from his cold mouth.
What a troublesome sister.
They step in time with one another, setting a slow pace. Afterhours are a lot more relaxing now that Akutagawa can actually spend some quality time with his sister instead of waiting up until 3, sometimes 5, in the morning for her to come home. Tired, bruised, and bloodied from her sessions with Chuuya or Mori - getting little to no sleep while he patched her up. No longer does he have to wait so long for her to cuddle into his chest and fall asleep while watching the Hallmark channel together.
Now? Now that preliminary training for the two are over, they have much more time to themselves. More time to enjoy terribly mundane things. Things that Gin likes to tease him about - his obsession of cliché romance novels but moreover films.
"How was your day?" Gin chirps while rubbing small, comforting circles into hands that she assumes must hurt after exerting himself with Rashomon.
Akutagawa holds back a sigh threatening to leave his chest, it's heavy with guilt and the remembrance of the day's work.
"It's okay, I won't yell at you for it. Today at least." Gin quickly supplies as she can tell that her brother is holding his breath for a little too long.
She could smell it on him the moment she met him under the bank's high tower. Could see evidence of it while he pivoted his body away from the building. Ashes under his shoes, poorly hidden though she bitterly appreciated the gesture.
A heavy sigh escapes his lungs and Gin can almost taste the smoke on her tongue from it,
"Did some spartan training with Dazai-san." Though the guilt is still there, it is alleviated just a tad at his sister's kind words.
"Are you okay? We can always rest up if you aren't feeling up to it." The younger girl assures with a worried expression and a gentle squeeze of her palm against his gloved hand.
Akutagawa twirls the umbrella about between his fingerstips while genuinely mulling it over,
"Okay, let's go home." It isn't defeat but something the two of them very much need.
With a smile Gin presses another kiss to the crown of his forehead,
"I'll make you tea." She offers as they both turn on their heels, letting go of each other's hands just to hold the opposite.
It's perfect, seamless. Though it is usually Gin that suggests going home instead of out.
Akutagawa sighs while entering the threshold with his sister. His body aches, inside and out. Contact with the leather sofa slowly ebbs away the day's pain making it a little more bearable. Gin makes her way to the kitchen after locking the door, out of habit really, she opens the cabinet. Though mostly bare, there a few things here and there. Soup cans, loose tea leaves, sugar, and a couple of boxes of pasta. She brings the square box of loose leaf tea to the counter before making her way to another cabinet. It holds all the glassware. Clear saucers, cups, and teapots. A little too pristine for her tastes but she carefully places a glass teapot and teacup next to the tea box.
Akutagawa closes his eyes, taking in the gentle noises of Gin preparing tea. Glass clinking against glass, the aluminum tin being opened, tea leaves shifting in the can, the timid movements of his sister's feet. It isn't long before Gin taps his shoulder signalling him to sit up and not sprawl selfishly out on the couch.
She makes herself comfortable next to him, thigh to thigh. Her cheek rests on his too bony shoulder but she doesn't mind, her cheeks have enough cushion in them to provide support against him. It's warm. Both her and the saucer of tea she places in his lap. It feels lovingly bitter yet sweet. Akutagawa breathes in the calming scent of black tea as it warms his cool fingers.
Gin reaches for the remote which is an arms length away.
Flickering through channels is easy enough being well aware of what it is that her brother wants to watch, even if he will never say it aloud.
It's so glaringly obvious and he doesn't really make an effort to hide his excitement when they do end up on this specific channel. His usual eyes painted with a glaze of boredom will lighten, widen just slightly with interest.
Gin thinks it's really adorable.
Her brother will let out small but defintely audible gasps at twists and turns even showing irritation at the protagonist's poor choices. He'll grasp her hand or thigh after something surprising has happened. Anger will flare up when characters are being oblivious or hiding things on purpose to make things difficult.
The Hallmark channel, in all its glory.
Gin lands on it purposefully, a nonchalant
"Oh?" leaving her mouth as she sets the remote down in her lap and her teacup on the glass table in front of them - level with their knocking knees.
Akutagawa shifts beside her, relaxing into the couch cushions while blowing the steam away from his tea in an attempt to cool it down. It brings a content smile to Gin's face as she makes herself comfortable in his lap; body stretching onto the couch - legs hanging over the side of the armrest. Her hair billowing down his pants like black lakewater. The assassin manages a smile while her head rests on his warm thighs.
"What are you, a cat?"
Nimble fingertips reach for carved out cheeks and they pinch out of retaliation.
"Are you going to lie to me and say you don't like cats, nii-san?"
On cue, her brother turns away from her gaze - silky black hair dipped in white sway childishly.