Chapter Text
Ayato sighed, rubbing his nose. the paperwork was starting to blur before his eyes. He glanced at the clock. 2 in the morning. He should go to bed.
Just as the thought came to him, the door to his study opened. He didnt even need to look up, the muffled clinking of dogtags told him who had entered.
"Sorry I'm late." Thoma said, depositing a bag next to his desk.
He merely hummed in response, only looking up when a plate appeared in his peripheral view. He glanced up at Thoma, confused. His assistant's hair had a golden glow in the dim light of his desk lamp, but there were shadows in it. Dark splotches. He knew it to be blood. Some on his face too.
Ayato narrowed his eyes. "Who hurt you?"
"Hurt me? Oh, that. Relax, I just took care of a rat." A rat. Had Thoma weeded out yet another traitor in their ranks? He was quick to spot those that went unnoticed by people in power. As a mere errand boy with a sunny disposition, he was easily trusted and could get information the head of the clan could never uncover.
"I see. Who was it this time?"
"One of Kujou's underlings thought he could smuggle poison into your food. As if I wouldn't notice." Thoma let out a dry laugh. "All these rumours, nicknames and jabs about me being your lapdog and yet so many think I'd turn against you." Ayato smiled at that. It was no secret that he trusted Thoma more than anyone in the clan. Somehow everyone, including Ayato's enemies, trusted him. Must be his charm. Or the subtle manipulation he was so good at. Thoma knew how to use his connections.
"Anyway," Thoma continued, shoving Ayato's papers aside and putting the plate in the middle of the desk. It was a cake. And there was a second plate at the edge of the table. "Happy anniversary, Ayato."