Akutagawa wasn't certain who he was expecting when someone knocked on his door, but Atsushi was clearly not one of them. His cry of shock was through his lips before he could control them. "Man-tiger?"
Atsushi was just as surprised and embarrassed by this situation as Akutagawa was if the color of his cheeks were anything to go by. Then again, it could just be the winter weather. "Um... Hello."
Thankfully, Akutagawa was able to regain his composure very quickly. He shut the door in his face.
Almost immediately, Atsushi started banging on the door while Akutagawa huddled behind it.
"Hey! Look, open up!" he heard the other man heave out a heavy sigh, "I don't want to be here either! Dazai just dropped me off and I don't know how to get back..."
Of course Dazai gave up his location. He expected nothing less from such a cruel man. Leading the one person he least wanted to see on such an awful winter day right to his doorstep. Akutagawa's heart was all panicky and he could swear he could feel his soul leaving his body. He'd just barely come to the conclusion that what he felt for Atsushi wasn't exactly friendship two days before. This was far from opportune timing.
"Akutagawa, it's freezing out here..."
Of course it fucking was. Akutagawa held in another groan. It's got to be -10°C outside. Today of all days. Today of all days...
He couldn't resist. He opened the door.
"Heating's down," he told him, as he stepped away from the entrance hall and disappeared right back around the corner into his room, "Not any warmer in here."
He hears Atsushi step inside and slip off his shoes. He huddles down deep into the blanket, and votes to ignore him for however long he's here until the ADA comes and picks him up. He sure as hell ain't walking him back. His brain is coming up with far to many frightening scenarios for such situations. What if they're hands get cold? Will Atsushi suggest holding hands? Or what if Atsushi ends up needing a scarf and he only has the one? Are they supposed to share? How about it starts snowing and they have to go get hot chocolate together to get out of the weather? He'll have to talk to him!
His heartbeat speeds up exponentially and he buries his head under the comforter. Terrifying. All those situations sound absolutely terrifying...
"Haven't you got another blanket?" Atsushi asks as he kneels down to be eye-level with Akutagawa's face peeking out from behind the comforter. Akutagawa nearly jumps away on instinct.
"No," he said, his face heating up, "You should have brought a coat."
The light-haired man is visibly shivering and he wraps his arms around himself. He stands, though, clearly not willing to argue.
Akutagawa feels something like pity (but clearly not that because that's weakness) and before he can truly process that consequences of his actions he opens up one arm to let the man-tiger in.
Atsushi is beaming at him with a face Akutagawa never thought he'd be blessed enough to see directed towards such a gloomy individual and settles down next to the him. "Thank you! Dazai took my coat..." He cuddles closer to Akutagawa than he had really bargained for and wrapped the blanket around himself.
Perhaps walking him back to the ADA was a better plan after all. This was hardly any less of a terrifying situation. His heart feels like it might beat right out of his chest.
Then again, this isn't really all that scary. It's… rather nice he has to admit. Warmth floods his chest as their shoulders nudge and Atsushi starts leaning on him. Sure his heartbeat is racing, but it's hardly unpleasant. He feels relaxed and safe and comfortable… perhaps Atsushi wouldn't mind if he leaned on him a bit more and fell asleep on his shoulder.
He started, causing the other man to jump. What on Earth was he thinking? He's is suddenly intensely grateful it's cold enough he can excuse his rosy cheeks on the awful weather.