Akaashi Keiji worked alone. It's how it has been for so many years now. He built a life for himself; the apartment he owns, the cash in his bank account--all of it. It didn't matter how dirty his hands got, he really didn't care at this point. He wo...
A/N: Sarukui for this chapter's character profile!
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
You can find this on tumblr here: https://unknxwnspecies.tumblr.com/post/190003762700/httpsarchiveofourownorgworks19726012chapters
----
It was dark.
He was tripping over his own feet, hands still tied behind his back. Akaashi couldn't see anything through the sack they placed over his head, but he could hear the footsteps they were making. "You're lagging behind. Hurry up." Akaashi hated it, how he was getting pushed around and he could kick them right then and there but he knew it wouldn't end well for him. He felt lightheaded, and the way his stomach grumbled and how dry his throat felt told him it might have been a little over twelve hours since his last meal. He was in no condition to fight. Komori prepared well for Akaashi, and it showed in the way he made Akaashi choose between keeping his eyes covered and the ties that kept his feet together. Komori knew if he left any gaps, Akaashi could pull through, no matter how small it was. But little did Komori know, he had already broken Akaashi down. Komori tore his strong facade apart like it was nothing but Akaashi wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing despair and pain on his face.
Akaashi stood with Komori and his people inside the elevator, quiet and unmoving, but he didn't miss the way someone's hand touched the small of his back. It dared to go lower, his ears immediately picking up the quiet snickers behind him until his foot found the strength to kick someone at the ankle. The hand on his back disappeared followed by a loud yelp that alerted everyone in the ride. "Why you little--" Akaashi stood still, waiting for anything--a slap, a punch, the sack over his head getting roughly pulled back, but it didn't come. Everyone in the elevator went quiet all of a sudden, and Akaashi guessed it had something to do with Komori. He let out a quiet breath, not one of relief but exhaustion. He just wanted it to be over, in any possible way it could be. The doors opened with a quiet 'ding' and Akaashi forced himself not to kick someone again when he was practically shoved forward, making him almost lose his balance. His knees buckled a little but he dared not to let it show. His shoulders felt numb and it was starting to spread down to his arms and chest, but the moment he was pulled back and halted from walking by pulling the ties that bind his wrists together, the ache he felt earlier seemed to have bloomed into something like excruciating pain.
"I'll take it from here."
At Komori's announcement, Akaashi heard three consecutive knocks on the door followed by a request to come in. Akaashi could hear the retreating footsteps of the men that accompanied them, slowly fading into the background. The door Komori was knocking on earlier now creaked open, Akaashi heard. He felt a hand on his shoulder to guide him inside. Wherever he was, it seemed eerily quiet. It was the kind of silence he experiences when he's alone, but not quite. No. Of course, Sakusa Kiyoomi would be there, but there's someone else. "What's he doing here." Komori's voice sounded strained, laced with bitterness and betrayal and Akaashi can't help but feel like he's about to get saved by someone he blames for everything that's happening to him right now. He hated the fact that he hoped--even if it was just a little--that things weren't over for him just yet. Getting pulled out of his thoughts, Akaashi heard the coarse, muffled voice of Sakusa, "Komori, please. If you must." There was silence, and even through the sack on his head, Akaashi could sense the disdain Komori was feeling. Sakusa hated repeating himself, so Komori knew not to question his decision and just simply follow. Taking a deep breath, he yanked the sack off Akaashi's head, followed by his hands getting untied.
