Relax, Honey!
Summary
A completely tensed-up and over-worked doctor goes on a "fun" trip with a devilish captain who tries his best to make him …relax. Who would have thought that all Akari needed was a proper… !
Introduction
This little fic was inspired by the newest developments in the Karneval manga (ch. 90-94) where Akari and Gareki go on board of Hiratos Airship to accompany them to Reeberuganze on a special mission. I'm looking forward to the new chapter but also have my own ideas of what could be happening on Airship 2! ^^
- just to let you know: I was trying to get something across, a feeling between Hirato and Akari that's quite different from their all present sexual tension but also evident in the manga. Tell me if I managed to do so? More about that in the remarks section at the end of this chapter.
- Just to let you know 2: Of course, when writing the story, I didn't know how the newest section of the manga would develop… which is also why Akari boards with his crew as opposed to the manga's storyline.
Yeah and sorry for any mistakes, this needs a rewrite I might go back to that chapter to edit later (I did that with my other story as well… ) but for now I wanted to finally post it as I've been writing on it for a few months now.
Chapter 1
Gareki was bending over some scientific books while trying to do a test run of the experiments they were going to apply in Reeberuganze. For once, somehow contented with his pupil, Akari said nothing and just watched a little before giving the raven-haired youth an acknowledging nod. Despite his intention not to teach Gareki, or provide him with any of the training a normal apprentice would receive, he'd somehow relented to a certain extent when he saw how committed and focussed the boy had been all the time.
Not that he would admit that in front of him or that he had become soft on him or anything the like. He'd still continue to apply his authoritative methods. Being strict was the only way he knew that would lead to unrestricted dedication at this rebellious age. If the boy's thoughts strained too far from his goal, he'd regret it sooner or later. He understood how hard expectations were on him right now, but so they'd always been on himself. Gareki would be grateful for that some day!
It was not before 1 am that the researcher suddenly felt exhaustion settling in his every joint, most certainly caused by his new additional tasks and the fact that his research projects had also increased lately. Despite of that, there was of course no complaining, it were mostly his ideas, after all. All the more, his paperwork admitted no delay as their expedition forms and charts needed a refinement as detailed as possible for Gareki to at least understand the principles. So. it was already decided that he would be glued to his desk tonight, nonetheless.
Oh… last but not least, he had to arrange for their departure… right.
The thought alone caused an unwelcome tingle in his stomach. He wondered if there might have been something unhealthy in his lunch today. First things first, he thought, when he was alreadydialling a number saved to his short-cut list.
It was only seconds later that his interlocutor picked up at the other end, which almost gave him a start though he wouldn't let anything show.
"Akari-san?" the 2nd ship captain answered with a slightly sleep-drugged voice.
"Hirato. I'm sorry for contacting you this late. We had a busy day so I almost forgot to give you notice, however, …I just realised it was inevitable."
"Oh, how cruel of you…. I guess you must have finished preparations for our little trip together then, right? When shall I come to pick you up?" His response was still polite and provokingly cheerful, nonetheless - a behaviour that was apparently deeply ingrained in his character, or so it seemed.
"Preparations are done by tomorrow morning. Pick us up as soon as you're ready," the doctor retorted tersely.
A light chuckle. "Well then, I shall be ready at your service at 9 am. Good night, Akari-san."
"See you tomorrow."
9 AM RESEARCH TOWER - LANDING AREA
At 9 sharp, just as promised, Circus Airship 2 arrived at Research Tower to pick them up. Akari, Gareki and their research team were greeted by an extraordinarily good-humoured captain and some sheep. "Gaareeekiiiiii." ….and an outrageously good-humoured Blonde with an equally overjoyed silver-haired little boy in tow. Gareki was almost run over by them when they literally suffocated him in their embrace… or rather, Yogi's embrace.
"How have you been? You have to tell us everything. This will be a lot of fun!" Yogi beamed, teary-eyed with joy. "Let's have a welcome party later."
"Actually, I'm here for work this time." Gareki murmured averting his eyes ostensibly embarrassed.
While the young combat-medic-to-be was still occupied with getting Yogi's hands off him, Hirato made to approach his guests.
"Reebugeraze expeditions is looking forward to welcoming you on board", Hirato announced with a broad smirk on his face making a low bow deliberately in front of Akari. "Good morning Akari-san. Are you feeling well? You look a bit stressed."
Though, Akari seemed entirely unimpressed by Hirato's display of faked politeness, one could literally feel the air heating up around them. A trained eye could have told that the pink-haired physician was already seething with rage inside.
"Being in your presence alone is enough to look 'stressed'." He retorted sharply, attracting nervous stares around him. On realising that, he whirled around barking an order: "What are you staring at! Let's not waste any time and get going immediately."
With these words, he strode past the source of his annoyance who, after a bemused glance in his direction, tended to Gareki. Akari's pupil was about to hurry after his mentor and though he didn't show it in the open, the youth somehow looked a bit strained as well.
"Don't worry Gareki," Hirato said putting a reassuring hand on his shoulder, as if he wanted to confirm 'life ain't easy with him, I know'. "You'll see, … after this little trip, he will be heavenly rested." The allusion was enough to cause another stir of murmuring among the SSS-rank's subordinates who were following them inside. "And you probably will be, too." He added in a lower voice giving him a knowing wink. Gareki nodded slightly perplexed. "Ah."
After everything had been brought on board, they were shown their private chambers and the sterile area that had specifically been equipped for them to serve as a laboratory. To Akari's displeasure, who was constantly mumbling something like 'this is not a fun trip…' or 'waste of time…' they were also introduced to the ship's recreational and wellness department with an invitation to use everything to their heart's content. Although, it was not the first time Akari was on Circus' 2nd ship, he had never spent a considerable amount of time up here which is why he, in fact, didn't know there were such extensive leisure facilities integrated.
But then again, he wasn't particularly surprised since, after all, it was not other than this hedonistic incubus who was commanding this ship.
All the explaining and additional field work preparation had rendered the researcher with the peach-coloured hair utterly spent when it was only early evening. They would reach Reebugeraze, the following morning, but as it was now, his body would be completely useless by then, unless he takes some immediate counter-measures.
What he needed was a proper work out, he knew. However, using the fitness facilities on Airship 2 was out of the question, his body was already aching all over. Therefore, he decided to eventually make use of the ship's wellness features and have a massage first to loosen up his muscles a little bit. After that ,he would do some exercise in his private suite, take a bath and he'd be fit to work 24 hours straight tomorrow if necessary! Good plan, he thought.
It was only an hour later, when he was lying on a massage bank face-down, only sparsely covered by a thin towel around his lower body and the tentative hands of a young masseur were skimming over his back. He was kneading in a muscle relaxant oil, or rather than kneading, it was like gently caressing …
He had never been fond of being surrounded by infatuated, fangirling women, so he'd opted to choose male massage therapists only,… however, … this would-be masseur seemed to be incompetent as hell. Geez, where did they get their license?
As his treatment had only just started, he settled for stating his preferences of a deep tissue massage (involving the second and third layers of muscles) articulating quite clearly that he was not the sensitive type of person.
He started complaining only 5 minutes later, even tried to sit up which made his body ache all over again.
Visibly shocked by his patient's fiery temperament, the flaxen-blonde, admittedly attractive practitioner tried to calm him down. "Akari-Sensei, I'm really sorry, I will try my best, please relax, this way your muscles will only tense up again. Hesitatingly, he put both hands on the doctor's shoulders, and gently ushered him to lay down again.
"As if they could ever relax this way!" Akari snarled at the poor guy.
As if they could ever relax under you, you….! He supressed any further argument for the time being and reluctantly laid back down again, wondering why he hadn't brought his own masseur with him.
His muscles often got awfully strained as a result of his hard work, so he liked to indulge in a massage from time to time. Even if personally appointed massagers at Research Tower were treating him with restraint as well, they at least had the guts to press down a little bit never mind that Akari actually preferred pressure that almost went as far as pain.
He sighed. Will he ever be treated the way he needed it… without having them discuss his slightly masochistic tendencies afterwards, that is... Unfortunately though, nobody was bold enough to hurt Dr. Akari Dezart not even if just a little.
After the initial fluffy touches were done, the doctor was about to run out of patience yet again. I don't have time all day! He thought, when there was a little pause and let out another sigh that rather resembled a grunt. How unprofessional... At least, his superficial muscle tissue felt a bit less stiffened by now.
Adding more massage oil first, the young masseur resumed his work. His hands finally started working deeper. After only a few more seconds, the young man's hands felt out the most tensed areas between the back of his neck and the shoulder blades only to slowly sink in, letting his thumbs and ball of the hand roll through the deeper muscles. Akari gradually was losing the will to complain. God, this actually feels really good now. A small moan escaped his mouth.
"Yes, right there!" he ordered and the next push to one of his trigger points was so intense it almost made him scream. He will never complain about a gentle foreplay again, he mentally noted.
The healer's hands continued to traverse his skin in a stimulating pattern of alternating between firm pressure and sensual stroking that just felt right. And there, Akari was beginning to ease up some of the tension that had got stuck for almost two weeks now. The next thing that crossed his mind just came from his lips intuitively .
"Mmmh, your hands are magical…" And he meant it. " Say…"
The magician had started to stimulate another muscle knot making him twitch, before the "sweet ache" he was longing for came running down his spine. Indulging in this sensation, it took him some seconds to regain focus.
"Say …, wouldn't you be interested in working at Research Tower? I'm going to pay you double your salary, how's that?" he asked, his voice had become breathy and gentle. What was your name again?"
A chuckle escaped the young Blonde's lips. "Oh, I'd be delighted, though… I'm not sure if you can afford to double my salary Akari‑san. But if it's you, I might deign to work even for a meagre pay, how's that?"
What followed after the first moments of shock had passed, echoed through almost all floors of Airship 2.
"HIRATO!" He spun around with a sudden jolt, scandalised by the sight of the impersonate nightmare vision of horror grinning down at him showing an expression of pure innocence on his face while bending over his half-naked body.
Upon finally realising that he had fallen victim to this inveterate bastard's deliberate provocation yet again, his lips were trembling with seeping rage, a sign for Hirato to better move out of the doctor's close-combat zone immediately.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" He screamed trying to punch Hirato, but with his still sluggish movements, he missed his target and more looked like a helpless kitten fighting, which the captain found rather endearing, indeed.
Hirato had almost reached the door when a bottle filled with massage oil came flying in his direction only to barely miss his head and shatter into pieces when it smashed against the door frame.
"You'll hear of this! Don't you dare touching me with those filthy hands of yours ever again."
"Oh, that's quite ungrateful for someone who just luxuriated in the skilful arts of my … "magical hands", don't you think?"
Having no other weapons left at his disposal, the incensed little cat sprang to its feet ready to rush at Hirato who was attempting to escape.
The seemingly fleeing fiend hesitated in astonishment for a millisecond before his smile grew even wider. A radiating sight was just unfolding right before his eyes. … he examined the now fully exposed beauty in front of him before he boldly took a few steps back towards Akari.
"By the way,… your towel … " he commenced emphasising every syllable while bending down to pick up the white piece of fabric that had fallen from the doctor's lean hips. "….fell down."
He carried out his actions with his gaze remaining fixated on the other man's pair of fervid rubies, which was admittedly quite the challenge even for him given the situation, that is. He didn't regret it though, the slight red tinge spreading across the doctor's cheeks on realising the shameful condition he was in was too adorable to miss it.
With a furious look, the denuded doctor whipped the towel out of his tantalizer's hands and wrapped it back around his hips hastily. Averting his gaze, he pointed to the door.
"Get out of my sight, immediately!" he snarled at the commander.
"As you wish, doctor." The captain answered without protest, adopting an obedient facial expression in an instant… then, he made towards the door after making a deep bow in front of the SSS-ranked.
"Should you be in need of my services in the future again, just give me a call. I'll gladly-"
"LEAVE!" -
Unresistingly, Hirato closed the door behind him, leaving a fuming but heavenly relaxed researcher behind.
Author's remarks:
What I wanted to show was their consideration for each other. With Akari its more hidden, e.g. when Hirato asks him when to pick him up he says whenever he is ready (he doesn't name a time but adepts to the others schedule, which is quite astounding as we all know how tight Akaris schedule is and that every minute of non-work is basically a waste of time for him *grin*), given that, Hirato also kept their conversation short and chose to come at 9 am in the hope the doc would get some sleep until then, as the fact that "preparations weren't finished by morning" didn't slip his attention. Akari wouldn't admit that he actually is too tired to prepare the papers, he'd just do so.
It takes a loooong time for me to write stories as English is not my native language, so I don't know when I'll update again. But I'll try to continue this in any case, as I have a few ideas. If you have ideas, please let me know. Any other comments are welcome, as well! They motivate me to write on, in fact.
All of you who have read my other unfinished Hirakari fic: I actually started to write another chapter, let's see if I can hold it up.
