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The lights in Leblanc are already off when they finally go upstairs.
It’s late enough that the street outside has gone quiet, the occasional car passing with that hollow whoosh on wet pavement. Ren pushes the bedroom door open with his shoulder, half expecting Akechi to make some dry comment about the state of the place, the crooked stack of books on the desk or the jacket thrown over the chair.
Instead Akechi walks straight past him and sits on the edge of the bed. Ren closes the door behind them. “Long day?”
Akechi makes a small sound that could mean yes, or maybe just leave me alone for ten seconds.
He pulls his gloves off first, slow and methodical, like always. Ren watches him from across the room while shrugging off his own jacket. Akechi’s shoulders look heavy tonight. Ren finishes changing and drops onto the mattress beside him.
The bed dips.
Akechi glances sideways. “What,” he says.
Ren reaches out and tugs lightly at Akechi’s sleeve. “Come here.”
“I’m already here.”
“You’re sitting like you’re waiting for a bus.”
Akechi gives him a flat look. “I was under the impression beds were for sitting as well.” Ren doesn’t argue. He just grabs Akechi by the wrist and pulls him sideways.
Akechi makes an indignant noise as he topples into him, half landing across Ren’s chest. “Ren–”
“You’re tired.”
“That doesn’t mean you can manhandle me.”
“You didn’t fight very hard.” Akechi opens his mouth to respond and then… doesn’t.
Because Ren’s hand has settled on the back of his neck, thumb resting just under his hairline. It’s warm there.
Akechi exhales slowly into Ren’s shirt. “…You’re insufferable,” he mutters.
Ren hums. “Mm.” They stay like that for a minute. Maybe longer.
Akechi’s cheek is pressed against Ren’s chest now, his arm folded between them awkwardly. Ren can feel the faint rhythm of his breathing through the fabric of his shirt. And as he starts running his fingers lightly through Akechi’s hair without thinking about it–
Akechi goes very still.
Then he melts. His shoulders drop, tension draining out of them like someone loosened a knot. He shifts slightly closer, nose brushing the collar of Ren’s shirt.
“You’re doing that on purpose,” Akechi murmurs.
“Doing what.”
“That.”
Ren keeps combing his fingers through the soft strands at the back of Akechi’s head. “Oh. This?”
“Yes, that.”
“You like it.” Akechi lifts his head just enough to glare at him. Ren smiles in response.
The glare lasts about three seconds before Akechi drops his head back down again. “…Don’t stop,” he mutters. Ren’s quiet laugh rumbles under Akechi’s ear.
They eventually shift into something that resembles an actual sleeping position. Akechi turns onto his side, facing Ren, one leg hooked loosely over Ren’s.
Somehow his hand ends up tucked under Ren’s shirt at the waist. Ren flinches. “Your hands are freezing.”
Akechi doesn’t move them. “They’ll warm up.”
“You’re using me as a heater.”
“Yes.”
“At least you’re honest.” Akechi presses closer instead of answering, forehead nudging into the crook of Ren’s neck.
There’s something soft about him like this. Not the sharp-tongued detective everyone sees, not the version of him that walks around with perfect posture and a smile that cuts glass.
Just Akechi.
Sleepy, half-buried in blankets, clinging a little without realizing it.
Ren wraps an arm around his back. His hand settles there automatically, fingers spreading against the thin fabric of Akechi’s shirt.
Akechi makes a quiet sound, almost a hum. “Comfortable?” Ren murmurs.
“Don’t ruin it by talking.”
Ren snorts softly.
The rain outside hasn’t stopped. It taps steadily against the windows. Akechi’s breathing slows.
Every so often he shifts closer in tiny increments, like gravity keeps nudging him toward Ren. At one point, his knee presses between Ren’s legs and he mumbles something half-coherent before settling again.
Ren smiles into the dark. “Goro.” A sleepy noise comes out of the detective’s mouth. “You’re drooling on me.”
Akechi lifts his head. “…Lies.” Then he drops right back down.
Two minutes later, his hand curls in the fabric of Ren’s shirt like he’s anchoring himself there.
He’s fully asleep now.
Ren stays awake a little longer, listening to the rain and the soft rhythm of Akechi’s breathing.
Eventually he presses a light kiss into Akechi’s hair. “Goodnight,” he murmurs. Akechi doesn’t wake up, but his grip tightens slightly anyway.