Work Text:
Romance is such a fickle and trivial thing, Akira tells himself.
Back in the days of being a phantom thief, it wasn’t that there was no time for it. He just found himself preoccupied with bigger priorities, such as making sure he doesn’t stir up trouble with his reputation as the supposed juvenile, while carrying the identity of the icon of justice and rebellion against a broken system, and trying to apparently stop a god from destroying the world.
Looking back, it seemed all so crazy and surreal, even if it indeed all happened.
Nowadays, his worries simply consist of maintaining good grades for a sound future.
However, the idea of a sound future remains vague to Akira. To his parents, it was a stable job; others, it’s about having a significant other or family and a house of their own.
Akira sighs; his thoughts are all over the place. He should be productive right now, but instead he finds himself bound to the chains of staying in bed all because of a bad case of the common cold.
‘Stupid rhinovirus…’
He thinks it’s outrageous that a man who’s fought Shadows and stolen hearts can be easily downed by a viral infection. But honestly what did he expect? He is still a regular human despite having the ability of summoning his inner facade.
“Akira?”
To his surprise, he finds you entering with a tray of coffee, water and omurice. He can barely smell the food, but the omurice does look appetizing.
But suddenly, his mind goes into that weird sort of reverie all over again about romance and relationships.
He hopes it’s because of the low-grade fever that he’s being all scatterbrained, and not from the fact he’s suddenly all touched and fuzzy inside that you decided to bring him breakfast in bed.
“Good morning,” he greets you, his voice slightly rasp as he struggles to get up; he blames the malaise taking over his body, a definite sign his body is fighting an infection.
“I knew something was up the moment I didn’t see you up first,” You click your tongue. “It’s actually really sad to see you still and all seemingly vulnerable.”
He chuckles softly in response, getting up from his supine position on his bed. “Do I look that bad?”
You take a seat on the edge of his bed, cupping your chin in thought. “Well yeah,” you reply. “But maybe it’s a good thing to see you laying still for once, given how you’re practically out and about.”
Come to think of it, he has always been the busy bee type of person; he took his parents’ and Sojiro’s advice to really prove his worth and up his credentials through joining a few prolific organizations here and there. Even with the whole criminal record cleared and behind him, it was better to be safe than sorry given the mark it’s already stained.
People would likely still put him into question about the past. But fortunately, such a smear didn’t matter to you when you met him. To you, he was the guy who fell asleep in the middle of writing a paper in the library, the guy you tapped to save him from a possible scolding by the ever so stern librarian of the campus.
Since then, you two have become quite good friends, to the point he’s now your flatmate in your quaint apartment after a meeting (and interrogation) with your parents.
Due to such things, he likes to think that you two are pretty much inseparable.
Perhaps, as his friends would say, partners .
He suddenly feels all nostalgic, until he feels something in his throat and the itch to let it out. He does so, immediately covering his mouth with the crook of his elbow to save you from the clutches of catching the illness.
The last thing he’d want is to get you both struggling to function as young adults and college students.
“Well I’ll definitely be still for most of the day.” He says with a sheepish smile.
However, the smile fades as he sees a pout curve your lips.
“Does that mean no special curry?”
Akira flinches in response. The way you say it just seems to tug at his heartstrings; it makes him want to get up and make it for you, considering that it seems his little promise from the other night has been remembered.
You seem to read him almost immediately and hold onto his shoulders so he stays still. Silence and what seems to be tension fills the air, as you two realize the proximity you have. Akira’s mind feels like it’s about to fry, as his face flushes a little. His mind is wandering off to silly thoughts again, and to things he shouldn’t be saying out loud, such as questioning if you’ve ever been this cute up close.
Luckily, Morgana comes in to save the day as he lets out a meow. You then let go of Akira to look at the feline gazing at the two of you. “Ah I’m so sorry, Morgana!”
As he clears his throat, you immediately decide to get up from the bed. “I’ll be back to get the tray later. I think Morgana hates me for almost forgetting about him.”
He lets out a soft chuckle, “He’ll forgive you if you give him his favorite.”
“Right, there’s some fatty tuna in the fridge! You’re a lifesaver!” You exclaim as if suddenly invigorated to face the world.
“Only returning the favor,” Akira says with a wink that makes you giggle in response.
Your departure from his quarters leaves him back to the company of his own thoughts as Morgana glances at him before following you into the kitchen.
Romance is a fickle and trivial thing.
And yet, Akira finds himself drawn to the concept of it.