Chapter Rating: PG

Pairing: Asami/Akihito

Spoilers: No spoilers, but this is sometime soonish post Escape and Love.

Contains: a bit of silliness

Summary: Akihito asks Asami for a favor.

Disclaimer: These characters belong to Yamane Ayano, not me.

"How much longer do you intend to stand there without saying anything?"

Asami's expression was impassive, but it was belied by the amusement Akihito could see in his eyes. "Not that I'm complaining. It makes for a rare and refreshing change, wouldn't you say, Kirishima?"

"As you say, Asami-sama."

Akihito allowed his glare to shift to the assistant who was standing next to Asami's desk holding a stack of binders, before it shifted back to Asami himself. One corner of Asami's mouth had curved up, and the look of amusement became more pronounced.

"I-" Akihito steeled himself and forced the words out of his mouth. "I have a favor I'd like to ask."

Amusement gave way to surprise, evidenced by the slight arch of Asami's eyebrow.

"A favor?" A small smile graced Asami's lips as he regarded Akihito steadily. "This should be good. What kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time? It must be something bad if you've brought yourself to ask me for help."

"I haven't!" Indignation made Akihito bristle, his hackles raising before he managed to calm himself down enough to get out a cordial sentence. Staying on Asami's good side was important for the time being. "I mean, I'm not in any trouble. There's just a situation..."

"Right. A situation." Asami leaned forward to rest his elbows on his desk, steepling his fingers. "I'm all ears.

Akihito's eyes flicked briefly to Kirishima again, a blush reddening his cheeks as he looked back at Asami and fidgeted from foot to foot.

Asami smirked. "Leave the reports here, Kirishima. We'll go over them later."

Once the door had closed behind his assistant, he looked expectantly at Akihito. "Now I'm truly intrigued. What was it that you couldn't bring yourself to say in front of Kirishima?" His smile turned wicked. "Don't tell me you're actually being honest for once, Akihito, and you came all the way to my office because you wanted me to take you and you couldn't wait until I got home tonight."

Heat suffused Akihito's cheeks. "That's not it!"

"No?" Asami's voice was a low purr. "Pity."

Akihito did his best to ignore the shiver that sent up his spine. Without waiting to be invited he sat in one of the leather armchairs in front of Asami's desk and lifted his chin in unspoken defiance.

"My mother set up an omiai for me."

Asami blinked slowly. Akihito thought he might have seen a flicker of something in his eyes. He waited for more, but no other reaction was forthcoming. Frustrated, Akihito scowled. "Did you hear what I said?"

"I heard. I'm still waiting to hear about this favor, though. Did you want me to come along? Are you asking me to be a chaperone perhaps?"

There it was, the amusement lurking in those eyes again. Akihito lost his none-too-ironclad control over his temper. "As if I would! Introducing a sweet girl like that to a bastard like you..."

Asami's eyes definitely flickered at that. "And how exactly do you know she's a sweet girl?"

Taken aback, Akihito paused. "Well...Kato-san-she's my mother's good friend-said she was, and she looks very sweet in her pictures. I can just tell! Anyway, who wouldn't be considered sweet compared to you!"

Asami chuckled, relaxing back in his chair and pulling a cigarette from the case on his desk. He lit it and took a drag, not saying anything else until he exhaled a long stream of smoke.

"So how are you getting out of it?"

"What makes you think I am?" Akihito tried to sound challenging, but the words came out in more of an indignant huff.

Asami only smirked. "I think you and I both know that it's not sweet little girls that you desire."

"Bastard! Whose fault is that?" Akihito was red again, his fists balling in his lap, and he glared furiously at Asami who merely met his angry look with a smug one of his own.

"Are you saying I made you gay, Akihito? That's flattering, really, but wouldn't it be more accurate, and honest, to say that I merely awakened you to what you truly desire?"

"Awakened, huh?" Akihito scoffed. "Somehow that doesn't quite capture what you did to me."

Looking thoughtful, Asami placed his cigarette in a crystal ashtray. "I suppose that's true." Then he stood and moved around the desk with his usual grace, a feral grin shaping his mouth. "In any case," he pulled Akihito to his feet with a powerful movement, one large hand curling around the nape of his neck, "there's no question that you crave what I do to you, is there, Akihito?"

There was no point resisting the kiss that Asami pulled him into, and Akihito didn't really want to try as his body reacted and he melted into the heated embrace. Nor could he believably protest Asami's claim. His rapid pulse and uncontrollable reactions to a relatively innocent touch showed all too well how much he craved the man. Still, frustration gave him enough strength to tear his mouth away eventually and fix Asami with a petulant glare. "I thought you said you'd listen."

With an indulgent chuckle, Asami let him slip out of reach, leaning back against the desk and gesturing for him to proceed.

Akihito paced a few steps, turned, and twisted his hands nervously together. He couldn't believe he was actually going to this. Asami merely folded his arms across his chest and watched him placidly.

"The thing is..." Akihito turned and paced again. "The thing is, my mother-well, she and my dad were on the older side when I was born. I was kind of a surprise, you know?" Akihito laughed a little sheepishly, pushing his hand through his messy bangs as he shot a quick look at Asami. "And, I was, well I wasn't the easiest child in the world."

He did nothing more than narrow his eyes when Asami snorted, determined to stay on track and not get into argument just then, not when he needed Asami's help.

"Especially when I hit my teens."

Amusement laced Asami's next words. "Yes, I know. I've seen your rap sheet. Such a naughty boy. Begs the question of how you can maintain that morally superior stance with me all the time."

The words were teasing, Akihito knew, but he flushed bright red and couldn't refrain from jabbing back. "You're the worst! As if a bit of joyriding and underage drinking compare to you!"

Asami laughed again. "Don't get your nose out of joint, brat. We'll never get to the end of this story if you do."

"Bastard," Akihito muttered, but he breathed deeply and went on. "So, what I'm trying to say is that she's been through a lot for me. Both she and Dad have always been really good to me. At the same time, she can be very emotional and she..." Akihito's brow furrowed as he thought about how to put it. "She has a really good memory, despite the fact that she keeps saying how she's getting older, so these past, uh, issues get brought up, you know. And she's been saying for a while that all she wants before she dies is for me to settle down with a safe job and find a nice girl, and..."

"Is she in poor health?"

Surprised at the interruption, Akihito shook his head. "No, not at all."

"So what you're saying, then, is that she's very good at guilt trips, and you, being you, are susceptible to them." The corners of Asami's mouth twitched up and Akihito couldn't help the little grudging laugh that slipped out of his own mouth.

"Yeah, basically that's it."

"So what do you want me to do?"

"Ah." Here it was, the crucial moment. "Well, they really have been good to me, despite all the trouble I've caused and even what with me worrying them more recently."

The cause for that went unsaid, though the thoughts of both men darkened for a moment. Akihito cleared his throat. "Anyway, two weeks ago when I went to visit them-it was when you went to Osaka for a few days-they brought up the omiai. I-I didn't know what to do."

His voice cracked a little, and he stared at Asami, his eyes wide and unfocused as he remembered the awkward situation. When he focused on the man before him again, he found Asami's expression utterly neutral. It made him swallow nervously.

"I'm a terrible liar, Asami. I knew I couldn't pull off going to something like that. It wouldn't be fair to the girl, and I would have made a fool of myself. I just know it!"

"Yes, probably."

Akihito would have cringed, but for the fact that Asami's words, despite his obvious amusement, were tinged with a warmth that seemed almost sympathetic.

"Yeah, anyway. I totally panicked and did the worst thing possible."

An elegant eyebrow rose, curiosity evident on Asami's face. "And what was that?"

"I blurted out that I was gay."

The silence only lasted a few moments and then Asami let out a low chuckle. "Only you, Akihito."

Akihito glared.

"I imagine it came as something of a surprise?" The conciliatory and soothing tone of Asami's voice softened Akihito slightly and he was able to continue.

"They had a lot of questions. I told them that I had been...dealing with it for about a year." Akihito's gaze dropped to the floor. "I think I shocked myself more." His voice held a faint tremor. "I had never said it out loud before, or even admitted it to myself, not really. But I told them that it was true. So, there was no way I could do as they wanted."

His fingers twisted together as he started down at Asami's expensive shoes, unable to raise his eyes to meet the cool gaze that would surely be mocking. He was startled when Asami pushed off the desk and went to the sideboard where he poured a finger of some amber-colored alcohol into a short glass.

"Sit." Asami nodded at the couch. For once, Akihito obeyed, glad to relieve the shakiness in his legs, and he wordlessly accepted the glass from Asami as he settled onto the other end of the couch. "What did they say?"

"Well, they were pretty shocked." Akihito frowned. "At first at least."

Having learnt from past experience, Akihito took a slow sip of the strong liquor, still gasping a little as it hit his throat. The heat felt good sliding down his chest and into his belly.

"But later, after a lot of questions, they were good about it. Better than I could have expected even."

A hand fell onto his shoulder, and Akihito lifted his eyes from the glass to look over at Asami.

"I'm glad for that. Never a dull moment, eh, Akihito?" Asami's eyes were softer than usual, though the bastard still looked as if he was enjoying Akihito's predicament way too much. Even so, his thumb brushed soothingly across the skin of Akihito's collar bone. "Coming out to your parents. More significantly, to yourself. Perhaps you are growing up."

Akihito's eyes turned fierce again and stubborn. "All of it is your fault."

"Haven't we already established that?" Asami's rare, genuine smile curled up.

"Yeah, well," Akihito blustered, "You should take responsibility."

"And how would you like me to do that?" The teasing, indulgent tone was making Akihito's cheeks heat up again, so he tossed down the rest of the burning drink and blinked away the sting of it.

Akihito turned his face away and spoke gruffly. "My mother wasn't satisfied with my vague responses. She kept on and on until..."

"Until?"

"Well, they kind of figured out that I must have met someone, that I'd been...seeing them." Squirming with embarrassment, Akihito rushed out his final words. "My mother wants to meet my boyfriend."

When nothing but silence met his confession, after several long seconds Akihito peeked up at Asami, who took the opportunity to bestow one of his best smirks.

"Boyfriend, Akihito? How coy."

"Shut up!" Akihito bristled. "What was I supposed to say? Sure, mom, I'll bring home my perverted bastard of a Yakuza-"

Asami jerked him forward by the front of his shirt, cutting off his words with a violent kiss. The glass fell from his hand to the thick throw rug in front of the sofa with a heavy thud.

Akihito was breathing hard and flushed when Asami finally let him go, only to smile sharply, a dangerous glint in his eyes. "Lover, perhaps?"

"That's-" Akihito licked his lips, drawing the lower one between his teeth and worrying at it unthinkingly.

Asami's hand came up, thumb brushing over the abused flesh as he leaned in to whisper in Akihito's ear. "I'm honored, Akihito. I have to admit, meeting the people that produced you intrigues me more than a little."

Fighting the shiver that sped down his spine, Akihito scowled and attempted to push Asami away. "Stop making fun of me!"

"What makes you think I am?"

"Because..."

"Yes?" Asami met his look expectantly.

"You don't..."

"I don't what?"

Sulky, unsure of what he meant to say or of how he really felt about Asami's reaction at all, Akihito folded his arms across his chest and gave the infuriating man a sideways glare. "Do you-will you really come to Yokohama? Just once would probably be okay. Just the one time to set my mom at ease."

"And you think meeting me will set her mind at ease?" Asami set back, resting his arm along the back of the couch.

"Well...no." Akihito frowned. "Not if you're like normal. When she asks about what you do, you can't just up and tell her you broke a pair of kneecaps that day or blackmailed a Diet member over your morning tea."

"I haven't broken any kneecaps in years, Akihito. That's the great thing about being the boss. I have others to do my dirty work. And I never blackmail anyone that early in the day. Bad for the digestion."

"I'm glad you think this is so funny." Akihito huffed.

Letting his amusement show even more, Asami leaned closer. "Would you like me to set up a false identity for the occasion? What would suit you? Let's see...Watanabe Ichiro, hard-working and mild-mannered salaryman and weekend golf enthusiast? I could wear a pair of thick, black glasses, and show up in a pair of plaid trousers and short sleeves."

"You really are annoying." He should've known Asami wouldn't make this easy. "If you don't want to do it, you can just say so. You don't have to rub it in like this."

"I've already said I'd do it. I only want to make sure I carry out this favor properly. What would please you, Akihito?" Akihito watched the bastard smooth his face into it's regular impassive lines, but the eyes gave it away. They were dancing.

Akihito narrowed his own, but he decided he would play along a little. He had to admit that he was a not a little surprised by Asami's willingness to do this at all, by his playfulness. It made his heart beat faster and a warm, pleased feeling loosened his stiff spine a little, even if this was probably the worst idea he'd ever conceived.

"Like they'd buy I was dating a salaryman. That's worse than a old, perverted crimelord like you."

"It's good to know you have standards." Akihito could tell from the unusually mellow tone of Asami's voice that he was enjoying himself immensely. "But I suppose you're right. Adrenaline junkie like you, well..." Asami put his forefinger to his temple and put on a show of thinking hard. "Keeping up with your insatiable needs is a demanding job. Thinking up a plausible prospect for you is quite the challenge. This just goes to prove there's no one better qualified than me to see to it.

Akihito blushed. "Ha, you wish. Pervert. Anyway, I already told them you owned some clubs." His nose scrunched up as he grimaced. "And plaid trousers, really?"

"Do you think you have room to talk about wardrobe choices? Do you even own any shirts that have sleeves."

Akihito took exception to that. "My wardrobe is just fine!"

"I have to admit I'm rather fond of how easy it is to get you out of those things." To illustrate his point, Asami let his fingers drift across one bare shoulder, then down the front of the thin fabric of Akihito's sleeveless t-shirt, rubbing over one nipple until it pebbled beneath the friction.

Trying to ignore the way his entire body seemed to heat up instantly, Akihito batted Asami's hand away and scowled. "Weren't we talking about you. Look, just don't show up in a three piece Italian suit with two goons flanking you and we should be fine. God forbid you put on a pair of casual slacks or even jeans once in a while."

"I'll see what I can do." Before Akihito could react, Asami was right there again, breath hot on his neck and both hands slipping under his shirt this time. A gasp slipped out of Akihito's mouth before he could stop it. "Now, why don't we explore ways that you can repay this favor."