Work Text:
Being a detective doesn't necessarily dictate a work schedule. If Akechi worked for the police department, then maybe he'd have some semblance of one, but he didn't. The only thing he thought they were good for was their organizational capabilities. And so, instead, he opened up a private investigative firm with a few people he knew from his days as the Detective Prince. It had taken a few years to get it off the ground, but it had been entirely worth it.
The only problem with not having even the smallest semblance of a distinct schedule was that his boyfriend did have one. Ren inherited LeBlanc from Sojiro a few years after he graduated high school. The man wanted to retire, but he felt that the shop would be in good hands with the boy. And so he woke up every morning at 5 AM and was home by 6 PM, guaranteed. Solid, easy schedule.
Akechi never had the slightest idea what his schedule would be like until the phone calls started after he woke up. Some days, the only contact they got was Ren leaving him a kiss as he got out of bed to get started on work—or vice versa if the brunette needed to get up first. (That was rare.)
Their new method of communication all started one day when Akechi walked into the bathroom and saw a Post-It note on the mirror. 'Why, don't you just look dashing today? I made cookies last night. Don't just eat those for breakfast!' Warmth spreading through his chest, the brunette snagged it off the mirror and re-read it a few times, allowing the smile to bloom across his cheeks. He could imagine Ren writing it with that goofy grin of his before smacking it on the mirror.
These Post-It notes became their normal. While they did still text throughout the day, it was nice to have the little reminders. They were cute and Akechi made sure to store each one. Ren had made him a sentimental fool after all these years. When they're old and gray, he'd pull them out and they'd talk about them—nostalgia running through their lips and their finger tips. It still sucked, though, for the only method of communication to be through the written word.
'I saw that look. You're tired. Dinner's in the fridge.' The smirk across Akechi's lips as he wrote this note after making a meal (albeit not restaurant quality, or even Ren-quality) and putting it away.
'I love you. I'm thinking about you today, please smile!' Ren could imagine the way Akechi would roll his eyes and pretend that he wasn't going to smile, all the while a small one would come across his lips, just at the mere thought that Ren would want to see it there.
'I love you a latte!' Ren then drew a small mug of coffee with foam and everything, making it look like it was a latte. He then drew a heart in the foam.
'I'm not going to pun you back, you know that, right?'
'A guy can dream.'
'You've known me long enough that you should know better, you idiot.'
'But I'm your idiot!'
'Or perhaps I'm the idiot here. Your dumb puns still make me smile. Begrudgingly. Don't go getting any ideas here.'
Ren smiled widely at that last post-it note. He held it in his fingers as he turned and leaned against the fridge where all their notes back and forth had been stuck to. He held it close to his chest with a soft, happy sigh. It had been so long since they'd even seen each other. Two months? And they lived together. They both needed to take some time off so they could see each other.
'We should take a vacation together.'
'Where is this coming from?'
'I miss you.'
'A latte?'
'I knew I'd get you! But I do. We haven't seen each other in weeks.'
'Can't we text about this? It'd be faster.'
Ren huffed at that one and shook his head before pulling his phone out and drafting a text to Akechi.
Ren: texting is less fun though.
Goro: Perhaps, but we'd never get anywhere if we continued to discuss a potential vacation over post-it notes. Would we?
Ren: eventually.
Goro: Yes, well maybe eventually is too long.
Ren: when should we take our vacation?
Goro: I didn't agree to take one. It depends on when and how long. It's only me and Daisuke here lately. I cannot control when we'll get busy or get a new case.
Ren: so you don't love me
Goro: Oh, for fuck's sake, Ren. I'd ask where you came to that conclusion, but I feel I may be in for a series of texts that I don't feel like reading. Fine, what did you have in mind?
Ren: aha! i don't know. i can leave the store to Futaba for a few days. i just miss you. we don't even have to go anywhere.
Goro: A stay-cation then? I suppose I could make some wiggle room for that.
Ren: no phones! we turn them off and toss them in a drawer. just us.
Goro: Let me guess, non-negotiable? I need my phone. If Daisuke needs help, I need to be accessible.
Ren: just don't take cases for a week
There was a long pause and Ren stared at his phone, waiting for a response. It was taking too long so he set it down and got to work making dinner. He hoped that Akechi would go for it. It wasn't like he was asking him to quit his job. He just wanted them to have time together. He missed him. And maybe he could get him to agree to one day a week where they get to see each other. Two months was too long…
Chopping up vegetables and meat was taking up his time as Ren tried desperately not to keep checking his phone every two seconds. Why was he taking so long to respond? It was making him antsy. Was that asking too much? They'd been together through everything. College, weeks apart because of seminars or travel, weddings, baby showers, everything. This was the longest they'd gone without spending any meaningful time together since they officially got together.
Goro: How soon can you ask Futaba to watch the store?
The speed with which Ren reached for the phone when he saw the text appear on the screen was almost inhuman. He read the text and his brows furrowed. He wasn't sure what that meant. Did that mean that he wanted it ASAP or that he wouldn't know if he could take the time off until last minute? He really hoped it was the latter.
Ren: what do you mean? i can ask her now, but if i don't know the dates, then i dont wanna ask
Goro: Ask her.
Ren: for when?
Goro: Ask her.
Oh for the love of… Ren sighed in annoyance. He shook his head and pulled up the texts with Futaba.
Ren: hey do you think you'd be able to watch the store for a few days?
Creature: yup! wassup? >_o
Ren: goro and i wanna take some time off together
Creature: when? :o
Ren: idk. he just told me to ask you
Creature: thats vague. but its akechi. whenevers fine
Ren: ill see if i can get an answer out of him
Creature: gl!!! o7
Ren shifted back to his messages with Akechi and leaned back against the fridge.
Ren: she wants to know when
There was no response. Ren set the phone down and turned back around to get back to chopping up the meat and tossing it into the pan that was now bubbling with the oil he'd put in earlier. Hopefully all of it wasn't gone by now. He then heard the front door open and his head lifted, brows furrowed. "Who is it?" he asked carefully as he stepped away from the stove.
A loud gasp escaped his lips as Akechi stepped into the kitchen, a smirk across his lips. He mozied over to Ren and pulled him into his arms, "What about now?" he grinned as he pressed a kiss to his lips.
"Wh—" Ren laughed softly as Akechi's lips made their way down his jaw and his neck. "Goro!" He laughed happily, "How—"
"Mm," Akechi hummed and stood up to look at him, "We only had one case, and Daisuke will be able to get it finished up in the next couple of days. That means," he knelt down and swooped the man into his arms.
"Wait—" Ren laughed, "The food!"
Akechi looked over at the stove and flicked it off before he carried Ren into the bedroom. He set him down on the bed and climbed over him to press a kiss to his lips. He then reached into his pocket, "Phone?" he nodded and he pressed the power button so that the other could see it powering off. He then opened the drawer and tossed it in there, "Non-existent. Just us." He leaned back down to kiss him again.
As the two were lost in each other, Ren's phone dinged with a series of messages from Futaba.
Creature: hello?
Creature: when?
Creature: cmon!!! i dont have all night >:(
Creature: im just going to bed in the assumption i have to open it up tomorrow, you meanie