𝐌𝐈𝐃𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 𝐁𝐑𝐈𝐃𝐄 • k. ayato

19

☄. *. ⋆

Ayato had sighed softly once he had learned of [Y/N]'s side of the story, before taking a sip of his favourite drink. It wasn't that he was disappointed with [Y/N] or the detectives, or any of the people working on this case, but more so upset that the results weren't a step closer to bringing the victims justice. Despite this, he was glad that at least they now had a suspect.

They knew the suspect was a man, most likely a clan head or a clan-head to be, a figure with a lot of authority, and someone with a vision. The vision could not be identified as its powers were infused with the victims' brains and therefore could no longer be traced since its elemental powers had scattered when the explosions of their heads occurred.

Ayato did have a man in mind, but he wouldn't dare let [Y/N] know, albeit he was certain in the back of her mind she too knew who was responsible for all of this, but she simply could not bring herself to accept that.

One other thing Ayato wasn't happy about is the Raiden Shogun being informed of everything that was going on. While of course informing the Archon of Inazuma of this situation was the most logical thing to do, to him it only meant that he had to be especially vigilant and alert at all times to prevent the Raiden Shogun from placing the entire blame on the Yashiro Commission.

Such a thing happening would be a pitiful waste of his time, another bleak reminder that hell was not six feet under but instead the Shogun's sword slicing his clan's heads off. After all, what was the use of people who couldn't get something like a rogue man under their control? If she did begin disliking the current commissioner—Ayato, he would soon be stripped of his position and his family would be on the verge of being annihilated.

That was why he was currently drowning in a pile of paperwork, and reports, while also making sure that all clans and their people were being investigated. Whether that made him an enemy of the clan heads or not didn't matter.

He was prepared to lose several connections should anyone dare defy his orders.

Nevertheless, it has been a long time since he last had to resolve a crisis as grave as this. All these papers and worrying were starting to take a toll on him.

Sleep had not been honouring him with its presence for a few days now. Dark circles under his eyes sunk deeper and deeper into his skull, in contrast to his pale skin there was an undeniable resemblance to a fresh corpse. He was smiled out, talked out, quipped out, socialized so far from any being. And despite Ayaka and Thoma demanding that he get some rest, he knew he couldn't. Not until all of this was over. Not until he could welcome [Y/N] home from her long work days outside.

He missed her quite a bit. He had not seen her ever since all of this began. She went out before he woke up, and he finished work when she hadn't come home yet. Usually, he was told she fell asleep in one of their detective offices, and only came home to shower and change.

Having realized this, he did not expect to lift his head up from his desk and find her standing in front of him with a mellow smile on her face. His eyes widened before a small blush settled down on his cheeks. He truly did miss seeing her.

"Once again I did not hear or sense you walk into my office."

"Hm, I suppose I'm too skilled for even the Commissioner?"

Ayato chuckled, feeling his muscles relax at the mere sound of her voice.

He placed his inked feather down and stood up to walk up to her. He was about to ask the reason she was back, but before he could do so he felt her arms wrap around him. His heart skipped a beat. Up until now, he was the one initiating such things.

"[Y-Y/N]?" He asked in surprise.

"I'm sorry," she whispered, closing her eyes, "All I know is that I'm tired, and your embrace is the place I wish to rest in."

Once again, his heart skipped a beat. He settled his arms around her as well as he felt her slump into him, and his blush deepened. As far as he knew, he hadn't blushed once in his entire life before he met her, and he was mortified by it.

So mortified in fact, he hid his face in the crook of her neck. Stumbling back a bit, he gently leaned against his desk—almost as though he was sitting down on it, and he gripped the back of her uniform. Such a bitter feeling washed over him, and he realized; he wasn't mortified by his feelings, he was pained by them.

And tears came before he could stop them, boiling hot, then instantly stained on [Y/N]' clothes, but much to his comfort, she did not move, did not even flinch. She simply stroked his hair as she pressed his head to her chest.

He wanted to weep. He wanted to be reassured. He was so exhausted from being strong. For once, he desired to be foolish and frightened. Just for a small while, that's all... a day, an hour, for as long as [Y/N] would hold him.

Ayato had heard the word "strong" a lot in his life. Even though he was aware that people were saying it as a compliment—when he heard it, his heart broke and he felt a wave of anguish wash over him. Because of the forced resilience he exhibited, which he had to exhibit his entire life in order to survive, he's always wanted to live a decent life and be truly happy, and he understood that in order to do that, Ayato had to keep going and continue to walk through every difficulty.

But he could only do such things for so long.

When [Y/N] came into his life, he did not even think of showing weakness in front of her, and yet, just the mere notion of her embracing him sent him into a spiral of tears.

With each tear that rolled down his cheek, and with each silent wail that escaped his lips, he brought her closer and closer. He wanted to feel all that she was, but unfortunately, this was the closest he could get to her.

"Honestly...  You hide yourself from me, Ayato. Your grief, your desperation, your tears... When was the last time you truly let it all out?"

He did not answer, and so she solemnly smiled, "We need never be ashamed of our tears. You taught me that."

"I'm... sorry," he whispered. His face now lifted up to see hers.

As he stared into her eyes through his tears, he realized there was nowhere to go, nowhere left to run. He just had to stay there, facing this terrible truth. He felt, as more tears fell, just how hopelessly tired he was, a tired that had nothing to do with the hour, or with his work. He was tired of running away from this, tired of not telling people, tired of not talking about it, tired of pretending things were okay when they had never, ever been okay.

These feelings of loneliness were haunting him constantly—and he was tired of them. He wished so dearly to have this woman by his side, supporting him as only in her arms did these feelings diminish.

His lips shook as he parted them to speak, "[Y/N], I'm... I'm sorry for being so wea—"

"Ayato..." she said, her mouth inches away from his, she cupped both of his cheeks with her hands, "You want to know what it was? The reason I came here to see your adorable little face? It was the memory of me showing you the darkest parts of me, and instead of running away, you took hold of my hand and pulled me out of the depths of despair. The need to be here with you, the knowledge that you've always been by my side despite our hateful beginnings tore my heart apart, however... thanks to that..."

She tucked a strand of blue hair behind his ear, "Thanks to that, I have now realized that I want all of you and then some. I want your midnight lows and all of your brokenness. I want to know what terrifies you the most so I can tear it to pieces, and if it is loneliness that is haunting you," she neared his lips, eyes barely open.

"Then let this be my love and regret promising to stay by you for as long as the Gods will it."

☄. *. ⋆