Feel My Heart Beat

Chapter 7: Strings

Akihito was sulking. He was angry at his mother for butting into his life, trying to make decisions for him and trying to manipulate the situation. He could deal with the same room and bed thing. If he was honest, that shouldn't have been unexpected. And waking up wrapped in Asami's arms had actually been nice and the event that followed had managed to leave him curious for more. But discovering that his mother had put them together to try and get Asami to let Akihito live with him? They could both make their own decisions. He could grudgingly admit to understand her worry but that was still no reason to stick her nose in. Asami was no help either, he stayed out of the argument and looked like the whole thing was entirely too funny! The only thing that he could currently agree with his mother on was calling Asami by his first name. It was a valid point and yet Akihito just couldn't bring himself to say it. And now they were going to be stopping by some fancy clothes shop on the way to one of Asami's high class clubs before he would be dragged back to Asami's lair. He had tried to argue himself out of the clothes but the businessman was having none of it, apparently he wasn't allowed to show up to one of his venues in a t-shirt and ripped jeans. And so Akihito was sulking.

"You have a very cute pout Akihito." That deep voice still sent little shivers down his spine, the bastard seemed to have noticed the effect it had at some point too.

"I'm not pouting and keep your damn eyes on the road." A rumbling chuckle met his words.

"Have you gotten over your shyness yet?"

"What?"

"Since your mother called you out on it this morning, you haven't once referred to me by name."

"Uhh..."

"It's not that embarrassing, I would have thought you would be more embarrassed over this morning."

"That's different," He could feel the flush spread across his cheeks at the memories of the morning. "It's... I don't know how to explain it but it's different."

"I see. I'm sure I can find a way to make you say it." Akihito looked over at Asami with wide eyes. "It's amazing what you can get someone to say or beg for." Golden eyes glanced at him, filled with dark promise and he would be lying if he said he wasn't filled with terrible curiosity. "We will have all night to explore that once I've sorted out Dracaena."

"What's going on anyway?"

"I only have some ideas about what is going on, Kirishima will fill me in when you are getting clothes. You don't actually need to know the details."

Akihito huffed; "What's the point of taking me then?"

"I'm not allowed to show you off a little?" Asami was smirking again.

"What?"

"I think you would look particularly delectable in some nice clothes and this is a good opportunity to test that theory. And you get to know more about me. That's what you wanted, wasn't it?"

"Yes but why do I feel like I'm going to get the watered down version of what's going on?"

"Because you don't need to know."

"Then why am I even coming with you?"

"So that I can take you home afterwards."

"We are going to buy expensive clothes to wear for a few hours to one of your pretentious clubs purely so you drag me home afterwards?!" Akihito was incredulous. Who did he think he was?

"Pretentious huh? It caters to a younger crowd, there's a dance floor and you'll have free drinks, I'm sure you can entertain yourself for an hour or so. I might even join you for a dance."