This is something that's been bouncing around in my head for awhile. I'm not entirely certain how I feel about it and I suppose I reserve the right to give the idea another incarnation at a later date, but here goes this one. It will probably be around three chapters, with some smut, of course. ;)
All belongs to Yamane Ayano.
Asami Ryuichi is in the middle of a very large arms deal with a man named Karube when the call comes in. It is an all-too-familiar call and one he has been expecting, but that does not make it welcome. He doesn't answer his phone immediately, but instead rubs his temples and excuses himself from the table.
"What is it?" he answers at a safe distance.
Kirishima's voice comes on the line, "It's the kid, boss. He's on assignment and we lost him again. I've got a trace on his phone, but we have it located in one of Karube's warehouses."
Asami sighs as his fist clenches. He had specifically asked the boy not to do anything stupid today. "Where are you?"
"Pulling up to the club now, sir."
"Alright, I'll be right out."
"And the negotiations?"
"If something is happening, it's only a matter of time before he finds out. What's more important is to get Takaba out of there before he messes anything else up." He hangs up and turns to Karube and his men. "I am very sorry gentlemen, but an urgent matter has come up and I'm afraid I must excuse myself. Please enjoy your drinks, they are on the house."
"Asami-san-" Karube protests, setting down his wineglass and beginning to rise from his chair.
Asami moves toward the door and motions for him to sit. "Enjoy your drinks," he repeats more firmly. "Please excuse me," he says, shutting the door behind him.
The noise and chatter of the club only serves to further annoy him and outside, Asami slams the door to the car and snarls at Kirishima, "Fill me in."
"He was fine doing some editing in the penthouse until he got a call from that editor he used to work for all the time. He left and we lost signal on him for a time until we found him again in the warehouse. The men are in position, but we were waiting for you."
"And do we know what Takaba knows about the situation?"
"As far as we know, he doesn't believe you to be involved in it, but he does know that something big was supposed to be happening there tonight."
"Of course, until we moved the meeting to Sion. And now he's stumbled into a warehouse full of guns and men who don't like cameras. Idiot boy."
Kirishima would remark on the fact that Asami is really under no obligation to save the kid's ass every time he gets into trouble, but he knows why his boss does it and, even more, he knows that saying anything about it would result in his immediate termination and possibly a good blow to the gut, not necessarily in that order.
Asami stares out the window and tries briefly to tell himself that the sinking feeling in his stomach is not anxiety over Akihito's safety, but fails. He supposes that this means the boy is over the mild bout of post-traumatic stress he suffered in the wake of his time in Hong Kong and while that is all well and good, he preferred the boy taking fashion shoot jobs. Of course, even then, he still managed to get into trouble.
He smirks as he thinks about how hard he's going to pound the boy's ass as soon as they're home and alone. The boy won't be able to walk, let alone take on dangerous assignments. Though he can't help but frown again as he thinks of Karube. "Do we have a location on Karube?" He asks Kirishima as they near the warehouse.
"He obviously suspected something was awry as soon as you left, but there's no commotion at the c;ib or the warehouse yet."
"Good. Let's hope we can just grab the kid and leave."
Of course, it's never simple.
A few rounds of bullets later, Akihito fumes next to Asami in the backseat of the car. Karube and his men are trapped in the warehouse, awaiting the arrival of the police and Asami is entirely without the large supply of guns he'd intended to acquire that evening.
Kirishima speeds away from the scene just as the flashing lights appear in the rearview mirror.
"I had the situation under control, you know," Akihito protests.
"Clearly," Asami deadpans.
"You come in there and just shoot everybody up. Is that your answer to everything?"
Asami's hand closes into a fist and a crease forms in his brow. The boy is going to prematurely age him, of this he is certain. And now there is a sizable mess to clean up and Asami doesn't relish having to do it, or having to send Kirishima to do it either. An episode like this will cost him dearly and it hasn't completely escaped his notice that a bit of his credibility has lost some of its shine in the eyes of those he deals with since Takaba Akihito came into his life.
He looks at the boy and some of his sour mood eases, though Akihito is still pouting. His boy. Still running so hot and so alive. Asami has never been in the habit of denying himself or his feelings and he in turn cannot deny that the boy is worth whatever trouble he might cause.
And yet... all of that product. Gone.
In the penthouse, Akihito doesn't speak to him. He puts his camera equipment away very carefully and sets to the task of making something to eat, but says nothing.
Asami tosses off his blazer and loosens his tie as he enters the kitchen. He smirks when Akihito turns to face him.
"Don't give me that look, criminal," the boy says. "I could have handled that back there."
"Could you now?"
"Yes. You never trust me." Akihito slams the spoon in his hand down on the counter. "You never let me handle anything on my own."
Asami removes his tie and winds it around his hands. "You've not exactly proven that you're capable of doing so, now have you?"
"Is that what I am? Just some kind of idiot to you, Asami?"
"I won't dignify that with a response."
"It's worse, isn't it? I'm a toy to you. It's sick. You think I'm just here for your amusement! I can take care of myself. I can handle things by myself, you know."
Asami raises his eyebrow. "You were surrounded with men by guns."
"I've gotten out of worse."
"Not without my help." Asami can feel his temper rising.
"I got away from Fei Long without you."
"Yes, only to be dragged back by a ten year old."
Akihito sputters and throws the spoon at Asami, who dodges. "You're just a criminal! Shooting everybody without any thought and you don't even feel bad about it later."
"Never mind they were going to kill you."
"What would you care anyway! I have no such value, remember?"
It takes less than a second for the memory to resurface and Asami snarls and lunges forward, trapping Akihito against the counter. "Enough!" He grabs the back of the boy's head and forces him to meet his eyes. "What is it going to take for you to understand that I own you?"
"You don't o-"
Asami silences him with a battering kiss, biting his boy's lower lip hard enough to draw blood. He breaks it, slapping his hand over Akihito's mouth. The boy's eyes looking back at him are full of defiance and it is finally, finally the last straw. Asami vibrates with fury, almost so that his knuckles turn white. "But you see, Akihito, I do own you. Do you know how much the deal you ruined tonight was worth?"
Akihito gives a slow shake of his head, careful not to make any sudden movements and his apparent submission assuages Asami slightly.
"Exactly. You never think of these things." He grinds the heel of his hand against Akihito's jaw, turns the boy's head so he doesn't have to look at him anymore. He releases Akihito with a flick of his hand and turns away, striding across the room. "The casino alone, Takaba. You cost me billions."
"You got me into that mess in the first place!" Akihito protests, rubbing his jaw and wincing when it's tender.
"No. If you want to be a man so badly, take responsibility for yourself. You had no reason to be in that garage that night. You had to have something to prove." Asami turns back and narrows his molten gaze on Aki. "You are mine. Bought and paid for at least ten times over."
"You jerk! You can't own somebody!"
"I can and I own you."
"You're nothing but a criminal."
Without even thinking, Asami raises his fist and is mid-swing before he stops himself. "And you! You, Takaba, are nothing but a selfish, spoiled brat!"
"Why did you even waste your time with me then?" Akihito screams back.
Asami's fist unclenches and a slow, sad smirk spreads across his face. "Are you so stupid, my Akihito? Can you not see that I love you?"
Shock paints Akihito's face and he freezes. He stares at Asami and only vaguely fumbles out, "Huh…?"
"Yes, I rather thought that's what you'd say." Asami slides his phone from his pocket deftly sliding his fingers over the touch screen until he lifts the device to his ear. "Kirishima."
"Boss?"
"Get the ungrateful brat out of here before I kill him."
"Right away, sir."
Kirishima is there so fast, it is almost as if he were waiting outside and not even when he has Akihito by the arm does the boy come out of his stupor. The bodyguard is used to having to drag the boy around, but mostly when he's kicking and screaming, not nearly catatonic.
"Sir. Where should I take him?"
"Your house for all I care, just get him out of here," Asami growls.
"Right away, sir."
By the time that Kirishima gets Akihito to the elevator, the boy seems to be coming back to himself. He stands with his head hung down and a few tears drip down to the floor with a quiet plop.
"Why?" he mutters.
Kirishima gives him a sideways glance before staring straight ahead again and doesn't answer.
"Why, Kirishima?" The tears stream down the boy's cheeks and over his injured face. "Why..."
The bodyguard sighs. "Your guess is as good as mine, kid."
Let me know what you think!
-El
