Work Text:
Work was hard. Well, it was hard everyday, but today it was particularly hard and Ryūnosuke had just had enough. Coming off of a fourteen hour shift, Mori had been relentless (not that Akutagawa minded the work, but she had things to look forward to at home). Between the long hours and the gruelling training, there was only one person the women wanted to see, to just collapse into and lay in comfortable silence. Atsushi.
When the two had moved in together a few months ago, Ryūnosuke didn’t know how well it would work. She loved Atsushi, they’d been together for a very long time - years at that point - and the move in was only the next natural step of the relationship, but it still worried her. Until it actually happened. Until Akutagawa was coming home after long missions and shifts to cooked meals and clean clothes and a tidy bed ready to fall into. Until soft hands and a warm body were easy to find. Ryūnosuke didn’t like people, until it came to Atsushi.
Atsushi’s work schedule tended to be a bit more punctual than her girlfriends, always ending at a decent time. Which meant that the times that Ryūnosuke would get off in the middle of the night, she could have dinner prepared and a bath run and clothes set out. The Weretiger enjoyed making sure her lover was looked after. She knew that she enjoyed it as well. It felt nice to look back on the years together and recognise how far they’d come, from mortal enemies to sleeping in the same bed and kissing each other goodnight followed by an ‘I love you’. It was nice. It was domestic.
It all came together perfectly at times like this. Ryūnosuke would walk in the door late, body heavy with fatigue, and stomach growling. Atsushi looked up from the living room and smiled, excited to see her girlfriend.
“Welcome home.”
It wasn’t met with words. That was okay, it just indicated to Atsushi that it had been a rough shift, and it was a dinner, bath and bed night.
She got up from her spot on the sofa, moving to take Ryūnosukes jacket and hang it up before leading her girlfriend toward the kitchen, taking a bowl of the curry that had been made earlier that evening and putting it into the microwave to be heated, and when it was done the bowl and cutlery were handed over with a quiet hum.
The silence was comfortable - comforting. They used to bicker all the time, even if it was playful, but sometimes when Ryūnosuke had had enough of the day and enough of speaking, the silence was just right. Hence why she didn’t mind when Atsushi left the room with a kiss on the cheek.
When the shower had started running Ryūnosuke put the curry down, having had enough and wandered into the bathroom, looking over the scene. The soft flicker of candle light illuminating the room and the sweet smell of the fresh flowers sitting on the window was nice. It was homey and comfortable and the light wasn’t harsh in Akutagawa eyes. Atsushi had laid fresh pyjamas out on the counter, two sets, one for each of them. It was just the ideal situation.
The Weretiger looked up from the cabinet as Ryūnosuke came in, lifting up two bottle of shampoo and conditioner, setting them on the shelf next to the shower.
“Ryu, I’ve got to wash your hair tonight, it’s dirty and I won’t let it get any worse. So get in the shower please.”
Akutagawa couldn’t help but crack a small smile. Even as they’d gotten older, Atsushi had never lost any of her sass, and after she’d gotten over finding it annoying, it became endearing and kind of cute. So she obliged, stripping off her shirt and pants, letting them sit haphazardly on the floor to be picked up later, before climbing into the shower and letting the water warm her achy joints while she waited for Atsushi to join.
Akutagawa's eyes were closed when she felt the soft warmth of Atsushi’s hands on her shoulders, rubbing gently for a moment before pulling away and running through her long black hair. It had been short when they met, Ryūnosuke just didn’t have time to keep up with the upkeep of long hair, but now somebody could help to take care of it - was willing to help take care of it - it could grow out long, something that now felt like a luxury.
It didn’t take long for Atsushi to start the process of washing her girlfriend's hair. Letting the shampoo lather in her hands before she spread it evenly and scrubbed it into Akutagawa scalp, washing away any lingering dirt or blood. She let her nails scrape slightly, itching at the other's head before bringing the soap down the lengths of her hair and then guiding her under the water to rinse, and repeating the process once more. When it was time for the conditioner, Atsushi took her time, applying enough pressure to release any potential stress build up in her lover's head, enjoying the soft sounds that came with it. Hair washing was easily one of Atsushi’s favourite activities, and she was almost certain that it was one of Akutagawas as well. It was almost a shame when it was time to rinse out the conditioner, but it was quickly hushed by the action of Atsushi starting to wash Akutagawa's body.
Atsushi grabbed a cloth, letting it get soaked with water before lathering it with soap and starting to run it over Akutagawa pale skin, kissing her wherever she could. Soft lips coming into contact with plush skin regardless of the soap suds was one of Ryūnosuke’s greatest comforts. It was more often than not the complete opposite of sexual, which was more than perfect, and it was an actual field by purely love. In the way that Atsushi made sure to take extra care around cuts and bruises, and use the just right firmness to scrub away blood before kissing the spot and moving on. It was just right.
After the water had been turned off and all evidence of dirt and grime once being on their bodies had disappeared down the drain, fluffy towels had been used to dry off and then pyjamas pulled on. Akutagawa found herself sitting on the floor at the foot end of their bed, between Atsushi’s legs while the other sat with the hairdryer and a brush, strangling and drying long hair. The first time Atsushi had brought up the dryer they’d argued over why it was necessary, Akutagawa pointing out that she’d never used one before and was fine, Atsushi pointing out that their goal was to help her heal from her lung issues and catching a cold was not the way to go away that. The warm air was nice though, and the brushing was therapeutic, and Atsushi always knew how to do it without pulling in a way that hurt, and when she’d made sure it was completely dry, it would be pulled back into a braid. Never tight enough to cause a headache, but never loose enough that it fell out.
Climbing into bed after was always nice as well. It was always warm. Akutagawa slept on the right side, Atsushi on the left, but Atsushi’s tiger fur still managed to get through all of the sheets and blankets regardless. Akutagawa didn’t mind. She could pass off the messy fur for the fact that Atsushi made up for it when she wrapped her arms around Akutagawa's thin waist and pulled her close, resting her chin in the crook of her neck and letting Akutagawa's head rest on her chest. Atsushi’s hands rubbed small circles into Ryūnosukes back until she could feel the fatigue taking over and her eyelids becoming so heavy that it wasn’t even worth trying to fight the sleep that took over her body. The mumbled ‘I love you’s always came right before both of them fell asleep, not quite dreaming, but still sleeping soundly.
Akutagawa was grateful for her girlfriend. She was grateful for the fact she was so willing to love her unconditionally, feed her, wash her hair and love her. She was grateful for the comfort and growth that came with the relationship, and she was grateful for the good nights rest that came along too. Akutagawa Ryūnosuke didn’t like people very much, but she loved Atsushi. Atsushi Nakajima enjoyed many people’s company, but she enjoyed Ryūnosukes the absolute most.