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It's drizzling. When Soma takes a glance up, he realizes it's about to start pouring at any moment. What a nuisance, to get caught in the rain. If he catches a cold, he'll be sniffling even more than usual.
He wouldn't normally bother taking a detour for something so small, but he knows where he is. There's a tiny gym owned by RK just around the corner from here. Soma's footsteps are admittedly hurried as he makes his way to it, sifting through the keys on his keyring until he's picked out the two whose purposes he doesn't know for certain. The first one doesn't fit in the lock, but the second does.
Only, the door isn't actually locked. Considering how late it is, whoever was last in here must have forgotten to lock up properly when they left, but it doesn't matter much. As far as Soma is aware, this place sees RK members every day, so it's never left unattended for long.
There's a small landing immediately inside and a narrow staircase leading down and around to the left. When Soma closes the door behind him and the noise from outside ceases, he realizes it still isn't quiet in here. He stands still and listens closely, and the unmistakable sound of fists hitting a punching bag greets his ears. When he rounds the corner down the stairs, he sees that it's only Akutsu here.
Well, at least he doesn't have to scold anyone about forgetting to lock the door behind them.
"What are you doing here so late?" he asks, and Akutsu jumps at the sound of his voice.
When he turns around, he starts approaching Soma without hesitation. There's something in his eyes that Soma can't read in time before Akutsu has him in a tight hold. He's soaked.
"Akutsu, let go, you're covered in sweat! It's disgusting!" he complains, but Akutsu just laughs and ignores him. Soma knows Akutsu is strong, but it's very suddenly panic-inducing to realize he actually can't escape from the hug no matter how hard he struggles and shoves at him.
The second Akutsu's grip loosens, Soma pulls away, rough and indignant and a bit damp from more than just the light rain he'd been caught in now. He sighs gruffly, brushing at the front of his suit as if the sweat will just neatly fall off of the fabric.
"Do you always work out so late at night?" he asks, annoyance fading.
"Nah. Got a morning routine, usually." Akutsu walks away from Soma to sit down on a bench and drink some water. "People were pissing me off today. Wanted to let off some steam."
They must have really worked him up. He's drenched in sweat, and Soma can still hear him panting even now that the rain is pounding down in full force. He got inside just in time.
"Well, it doesn't look like we're leaving anytime soon," he comments, instinctively looking up despite the lack of windows.
"Why's that?" Akutsu asks, and Soma has to wait to answer him when he crushes the empty water bottle, the noise of crinkling plastic impossibly loud.
"It's pouring outside, that's why I'm here."
"Oh. What, you're not here to see me?"
"I didn't even know you were here."
"Good, 'cause I was wondering how the fuck you would have tracked me. My phone's at home."
He didn't bring his phone? He must have really reached his limit.
"I'd prefer if you kept your phone on you in case I have to contact you," Soma reminds him. "Even if you are pissed off."
"Yeah, yeah," Akutsu dismisses him with a wave, but then he thinks better of it and turns towards Soma again. "I got it, alright? I'll bring my phone next time."
"What was that hug about, anyway? And what pissed you off so much that you had to come hide here?"
"I'm not hiding from shit," Akutsu denies immediately.
"Fine. That still doesn't answer my question."
Akutsu sighs through his teeth and leans back against the wall.
"Now I'm gonna get you pissed off, too," he says.
"Oh, good."
Akutsu scoffs.
"It was those same two fuckheads from last weekend. I had to kick 'em out."
Soma takes a moment to think.
"What, the sexual harassment thing? I thought you already put them through the ringer for that," he recalls.
"Yeah, well they still weren't leaving the girls alone, who've got no reason to affiliate with us if we don't even bother keeping our own idiots' hands off 'em."
"Did we lose any?"
"No, just those two idiots. I had Taneda throw them out on their asses. So, we're short two guys."
"Well, whatever."
Akutsu stares at him in annoyed disbelief.
"You're the one who's been up my ass about recruiting," he points out.
"It can't be helped if we have to cut out a few problem children. Did you really think I'd be that bothered over two nobodies?"
He clicks his tongue now, looking away again.
"Not really, but I figured I had some bitching coming my way," he admits.
"Oh, would you like some?"
"Keep it."
Soma watches Akutsu walk the short distance to the vending machine. He buys another cold bottle of water and makes quick work of most of it.
"What about my other question?" Soma asks, noticing Akutsu hadn't bothered acknowledging it.
"What other question?"
"The hug."
After all, if Akutsu was so pissed off because he thought he was about to get a scolding from Soma, then why would he hug him as soon as he saw him? He's sweaty, exhausted, and in a bad mood. It doesn't make sense.
"Eh. Just felt like it," he deflects.
"Even though you've been angry?"
"Nah, I cooled down a while ago."
Well, he stands corrected. Akutsu certainly doesn't look overly happy. In fact, there's still a strange emotion in his eyes. When Soma takes a moment to stare, they look hollow. He still really seems like he ran himself into the ground. That isn't just about frustration.
"What's the part you're not telling me?" he asks, casual and not at all dangerous. If it isn't related to RK, he doesn't usually bother to pry very much. He doesn't mind Akutsu having some privacy.
Him being affected enough to do something like this tickles Soma's instincts, though. Akutsu isn't the type to let things bother him enough that it interferes with his work, which is one of the reasons Soma likes him as RK's frontman. Though it's true that Soma didn't happen to need him tonight, he might be a bit cross if he did need Akutsu only to discover him to be missing all night.
"Personal shit. I'll be fine tomorrow. I'll keep my phone on me, promise," Akutsu deflects once more.
Soma doesn't quite manage to get his handkerchief out in time to catch a sneeze, the dust in this little place finally catching up to him. It'd be wonderful if he could get out of here, this line of questioning abandoned as he walked out the door.
However, since he's stuck here for the moment, he can't help but be curious. He starts listing everything he knows about Akutsu in his head, quickly crossing off each item one by one as he determines they can't be the cause.
Management troubles? They already talked about RK; if someone was disrespecting Akutsu enough to get him to this level, he would have brought it up.
Significant other? He hasn't been bothering with his usual random flings nearly as often since the two of them became... whatever their relationship can even be called. Since they started fucking, he corrects himself for simplicity.
Hobbies? Money? Friends? Family?
Ah. Family is one of few things Akutsu refuses to speak of to anyone. Soma detects it as a weakness because of that, and chose long ago to let him have that much. If there's anything he'll clam up about, even to Soma, it's that.
"Trouble with your family?" he determines.
He's always had some guesses as to how Akutsu was raised. At times, he imagines an absent father and hardworking mother. Other times, he imagines an overbearing father who unintentionally drove Akutsu to rebellious delinquency. A clueless mother that Akutsu cherishes above all else, falling in with a bad crowd just to earn money to support her with. Maybe he has no parents and was raised by an aunt or uncle.
"Scares the shit out of me when you read my mind, you know," Akutsu bitterly admits.
"You'd ask me not to use my talent? I'm hurt."
Not that he knows anything for sure. Akutsu knows that, too. At least, Soma assumes he does.
"Well, I'm not about to demand details," Soma assures him. "Though, if you don't have anyone else to talk to about this, I, uh..."
He shifts uncomfortably. Usually, when he tries to reassure someone, it's with irony and humor as much as it is with warnings and violence. Actually, "reassure" isn't the right word at all for what Soma is used to. It's possible he's never done such a thing before in his life.
Akutsu says nothing, and Soma accepts that. They both know what the only thing he has left to say is: that trying to lie to him is pointless, and to refrain from attempting to do so again. They know it so well that it doesn't bear repeating out loud.
The water bottle is left half-empty on the bench when Akutsu stands, bending down to grab his sweater and sling it over his shoulder.
"I'm getting drinks, if you wanna come with," he says.
"It's still..." Soma trails off, deciding not to bother. Akutsu probably won't even feel the rain.
He follows him up the stairs. When the door opens, the rain is considerably quieter than it was, but still not gone. Akutsu walks out into it without closing the door behind him, leaving Soma to lock up. He gets the key on his second try again.
It looks like he's getting soaked after all. The rain isn't pouring anymore, but it's still coming down harder than the drizzle he'd escaped from earlier. He walks quickly to catch up to Akutsu, tending closer to the buildings they pass in an attempt to stay somewhat dry under the awnings.
The closest bar isn't far, but it's still a long enough walk that Soma feels cold and wet with somewhat ruined hair by the time they're inside. Akutsu is in even worse shape than him, but he seems to care significantly less. It's been a while since they actually went out drinking together. Soma orders a light cocktail. Akutsu orders a bottle and tells the bartender to forget the glass.
Soma watches Akutsu with growing caution as he drinks what must be almost half the bottle in one long go, pausing to gasp for air once he's had his fill. Soma places a hand on the bottle, gently pushing down, and Akutsu allows it to touch the bar.
"I don't recommend making a habit of that," he advises.
Akutsu's fingers stay wrapped around the bottle, and then they loosen and fall slowly to the counter.
"Know what it's like to give a shit about someone and... just watch 'em disappear?"
Soma doesn't think he can relate in the slightest.
"Disappear, how? Abandonment or death?"
He should probably try to use gentler phrasing.
"How 'bout both in one?"
"Both in one..?"
His hand comes up for the bottle again and gives up halfway.
"Suicide," he says, down to a whisper.
That would explain things, wouldn't it?
"I can't say that I do," Soma tells him honestly.
There's a long pause and it looks like Akutsu isn't willing to open up any more than that on his own. Soma isn't at all sure what he should be doing about that.
"Which... er, who was..."
"My little sister."
"Ah."
The atmosphere is painful and awkward, both compounding on each other to make themselves as unbearable as possible.
"I wasn't aware you had any siblings," Soma comments.
"I don't, anymore."
"... Right."
He's so far out of his element that he starts to question what planet he's on.
"Is there... anything I can do?" he asks. He doubts there's much he can do to speed up Akutsu's grieving process, but it's uncanny to see his eyes so empty.
"Yeah. C'mere."
Akutsu pulls Soma to his side with an arm around his waist, holding him close. It's not at all pleasant; Soma is leaning awkwardly on the little barstool and Akutsu is still sweaty as all hell and they're both wet from the rain.
But he silently allows it.