[Murder Bath] The most romantic

[sasugajoker]

It was late in the evening, though not as late as he'd expected. Akira trudged along through the alley and jumped up to grab onto the fire escape as he often did, swinging himself upward and climbing the long way to the cracked window that was always open for him on nights like tonight. Nights he had to work late.

Sure, he could have used the front door, but people tended to ask questions when there was blood on your face. And hands. And jacket. Couldn't have that, now could he? He really wasn't in the mood for putting in any overtime.

Carefully, he slid in through the window, pulling his shoes off before touching down on the floor, nudging the window shut behind him with his elbow.

Would Goro be up at this hour? Sometimes he was. It smelled like there might have been some coffee on recently. Maybe he was working late, too.

Comments

[modestandloki]

"Welcome home~"

Chimed, from where he was sat at his wide work chair by the coffee table that faced away from the window; hiding the entirety of his frame; legs crossed at the knee and perusing some documents over a cup of soothing tea.

The coffee was on, of course. But that was for a little later.

"You smell." Noted. "Our poor laundry always takes three cycles these days." A heavy sigh and he'd set the papers aside, a hand finally visible round the rim of the chair. "Productive night, Joker?"

[sasugajoker]

"Yes. Though messier than I'd planned. Sorry for the smell."

First, he padded over to the door to set his shoes down. Then, he'd head over to the chair with a smile, leaning in to see if he'd let him kiss his forehead or pushed away. The chances were pretty even, he thought.

"Thanks for the welcome. You weren't waiting up, were you?" Sure, he was looking over some papers, but he was very good at putting up a guise.

[modestandloki]

He'd pick up a single finger at the last moment to pause him mere inches away by placing that finger pad direct to his forehead and applying a little pressure.

Looking away, he'd shrug a shoulder. "Hmm, was I? Who knows. I did have work to do... but also, I may have been worried about you. You've been pretty reckless lately, after all." He'd let that soft scold sink in, finally lifting his gaze to consider him, as one might a pet. "I'm worried one day you might just get caught by the scruff~"

[sasugajoker]

Oop. Stopped. And so close, too.

"May have, hm?" Mumbled against his finger. He stood up straight then and backed up a pace, unbuttoning his jacket and going to shrug it off, glancing down where the blood soaked through to his shirt.

"... I can't help it. I like to have fun. If you're worried, I can rein it in." It would be difficult, but for Goro, he would. "Maybe I just need some of your self-control to rub off on me."

[modestandloki]

"A double entendre? My, you did have fun tonight." Sitting up a little straighter, he'd set his teacup back into its saucer with his other hand, watching the show as Akira performed.

"I don't think you know the meaning of those words. And to think, here I was going to reward you tonight..."

[sasugajoker]

"Reward me?"

That could mean any number of things. He smiled at Goro as he began to unbutton his shirt, bit by bit, taking his time.

"You know I'd never turn that down. What did you have in mind?" He really wanted that reward, whatever it was. Deciding to play to his strengths, he came close, looking as though he might go for a kiss, but he instead took a knee, peering up at him with big grey eyes that held no shortage of fondness for him.

"... you know my greatest reward is coming home to you."

[modestandloki]

"You're so full of shit." Akechi scoffed in return, looking imperiously unimpressed.

...It was so nice, to be himself at home. Relaxing, really.

"Your present is in the bathroom. If you're getting blood on my rug, you're going to be the one in the maid outfit cleaning it up. You got that?"

[sasugajoker]

Akira laughed softly and stood up, grabbing his jacket from the rug.

"Okay, okay. You know that tempts me to get the rug messy, right?" He walked off toward the bathroom, looking back over his shoulder as he spoke. The maid outfit was one of his favorites. Still, he should be thinking of cleaning himself up first before anything else.

Flicking the bathroom light on, he tossed his jacket to the floor.

[modestandloki]

Inside, he'd find an oasis. Different from the one at the bathhouse he used to frequent (dirty, Akechi had always thought), but with the same relaxing vibe.

The tub was full, and giving off pleasant heat: either Akechi had predicted when he'd be back, or else he'd continuously refilled it. All bets on the former-- Joker didn't phase him, and rarely surprised hi, even though he was glad every delicious time he managed to.

...Which, admittedly, was much more often than other people.

Sprinkled on top of the bath would be a scattering of blood-red rose petals, giving off a sweet, sticky scent. And on the rim of the tub? A rare luxury, almost heinous for someone Japanese: a sweating tall cup of iced coffee, brewed not so long ago.

Akira was always filthy these days. It was a bummer to sleep next to someone who smelled like metal and dirt.

This was much more fitting. After all... image was everything.

[sasugajoker]

For a moment, Akira could only stare at the picture before him. Grand gestures really were Akechi's strong point. He was touched.

Stepping fully into the bathroom, he shed the rest of his clothing and then slid into the bath water with a soft sigh that was full of relief. The way the blood began to slough off and give the water the barest of pink tinges made him smile. It went well with the rose petals.

"I don't deserve you." He said mostly to himself, lifting one of his hands, a rose petal in his palm. He dipped his head to smell it. It did a fair job of masking the metallic scent he felt covered in these days.