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Entry tags:
Under Moonlight
Title: Under Moonlight
Fandom: Bungou to Alchemist, Bungou Stray Dogs
Character(s): BSD Atsushi, Muroo
Pairing(s): None
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 780
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Atsushi checks to see if his ability still works.
Notes: In the same AU-based-on-crossover-RP as Library Life and Closure.
The first time after coming to the library that Atsushi realizes he’s under the moonlight, he panics.
A full moon is shining its light directly on him. If All Men Are Equal doesn’t reach this far, or if he’d abandoned the Agency and thus given up Fukuzawa’s protection, then he’ll transform again. He’ll lose control of himself and hurt other people, hurt people who had taken him in when they had never even met them before and had no obligation to him. He should have just stayed where he belonged-
But the transformation never comes. No matter where on his body he looks, he doesn’t see a single tiger hair. His mind isn’t clouded.
All Men Are Equal can’t possibly stretch into another world, can it? So, isn’t there a possibility that his ability doesn’t work at all?
He can’t ask Kyouka if Demon Snow still functions. Knowing her history with her ability, he would never, especially since she would probably test it for him no matter how emotionally painful it was for her. Especially considering that she also had problems controlling her ability - this is something he has to do himself.
About two weeks later, Atsushi picks a night on the new moon to sneak out of his room - Chuuya grumbles but doesn’t wake when he slips out of bed. He feels bad for leaving, but it won’t take long, and this isn’t something he can do in front of anyone else. He enters the courtyard of the library, closes the door behind him, and takes a deep breath.
If he can’t do this… it’ll be okay. He’s a librarian now - he lives a peaceful life, and doesn’t need to transform into a tiger to protect the people he considers precious. Even if he might feel weak for a while, ultimately, it won’t make a difference.
Transforming is more difficult out of combat. In combat, he’s running on adrenaline, and the tiger responds to an immediate need - claws to strike with, feet to pounce with. When his heart is only racing from simple nervousness, he has to focus more on calling up his ability.
It’s more difficult than during a fight, but nowhere near impossible, and the paws he summons up look the same as always. He flexes them and they respond. It’s no different at all-
“Ahh!”
Atsushi whirls around. One of the authors - Muroo Saisei - is staring at him in shock. He reverts his hands back to their normal forms, but the damage is already done. “I, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...”
“It’s alright,” Muroo says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was just a little surprised to see you like that, that’s all. Did I scare you?”
Did he scare Atsushi. Atsushi can’t help but be bewildered at the question. “No, I… Is it really okay? To have someone with an ability like this in your library?”
“None of the writers are human anymore,” Muroo replies, plainly. (Despite seeing them disappear into books, Atsushi had almost forgotten they were spirits.) “We have a talking cat on staff. So you can turn your hands into tiger paws, who cares?”
“It’s not just my hands,” Atsushi finds himself mumbling. He wants to just accept that it’s okay for someone like him to be here, but he can’t help but worry.
“How much?” Muroo asks.
Atsushi stares at the ground. “...The whole tiger.”
Muroo considers that for a moment, then replies, “No big deal. But, hey, while you’re out here, want to help me with the gardening?”
“You’re gardening this late at night?” Atsushi asks, because ‘no big deal’ isn’t something he can process in regards to his ability right now. He’ll reflect on it later, after some sleep. Right now, changing the subject sounds like a better plan.
“There’s a cute cat who wanders by some nights,” Muroo says. “So if I do my gardening at night, it’s not as hot and maybe I’ll get to see that cat too. Heh, I guess I did end up seeing a cute cat, even if wasn’t the one I expected.”
Atsushi feels his face heat up. “I’m, I’m not that - um - thank you, but I’m not really prepared for gardening, maybe some other time-”
“You’re right, you’d get dirt all over your pajamas. Better not.” Muroo smiles a little sheepishly. “In that case, you might as well go back to bed. Sleep tight, and if anybody gives you problems over the tiger thing, let me know and I’ll punch ‘em in the head.”
People being so willing to stand up for him is something Atsushi thinks he’ll never get used to. He ducks his head to hide his smile.
Fandom: Bungou to Alchemist, Bungou Stray Dogs
Character(s): BSD Atsushi, Muroo
Pairing(s): None
Genre: Hurt/Comfort
Word Count: 780
Rating: PG
Warnings: None
Summary: Atsushi checks to see if his ability still works.
Notes: In the same AU-based-on-crossover-RP as Library Life and Closure.
The first time after coming to the library that Atsushi realizes he’s under the moonlight, he panics.
A full moon is shining its light directly on him. If All Men Are Equal doesn’t reach this far, or if he’d abandoned the Agency and thus given up Fukuzawa’s protection, then he’ll transform again. He’ll lose control of himself and hurt other people, hurt people who had taken him in when they had never even met them before and had no obligation to him. He should have just stayed where he belonged-
But the transformation never comes. No matter where on his body he looks, he doesn’t see a single tiger hair. His mind isn’t clouded.
All Men Are Equal can’t possibly stretch into another world, can it? So, isn’t there a possibility that his ability doesn’t work at all?
He can’t ask Kyouka if Demon Snow still functions. Knowing her history with her ability, he would never, especially since she would probably test it for him no matter how emotionally painful it was for her. Especially considering that she also had problems controlling her ability - this is something he has to do himself.
About two weeks later, Atsushi picks a night on the new moon to sneak out of his room - Chuuya grumbles but doesn’t wake when he slips out of bed. He feels bad for leaving, but it won’t take long, and this isn’t something he can do in front of anyone else. He enters the courtyard of the library, closes the door behind him, and takes a deep breath.
If he can’t do this… it’ll be okay. He’s a librarian now - he lives a peaceful life, and doesn’t need to transform into a tiger to protect the people he considers precious. Even if he might feel weak for a while, ultimately, it won’t make a difference.
Transforming is more difficult out of combat. In combat, he’s running on adrenaline, and the tiger responds to an immediate need - claws to strike with, feet to pounce with. When his heart is only racing from simple nervousness, he has to focus more on calling up his ability.
It’s more difficult than during a fight, but nowhere near impossible, and the paws he summons up look the same as always. He flexes them and they respond. It’s no different at all-
“Ahh!”
Atsushi whirls around. One of the authors - Muroo Saisei - is staring at him in shock. He reverts his hands back to their normal forms, but the damage is already done. “I, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean...”
“It’s alright,” Muroo says, rubbing the back of his neck. “I was just a little surprised to see you like that, that’s all. Did I scare you?”
Did he scare Atsushi. Atsushi can’t help but be bewildered at the question. “No, I… Is it really okay? To have someone with an ability like this in your library?”
“None of the writers are human anymore,” Muroo replies, plainly. (Despite seeing them disappear into books, Atsushi had almost forgotten they were spirits.) “We have a talking cat on staff. So you can turn your hands into tiger paws, who cares?”
“It’s not just my hands,” Atsushi finds himself mumbling. He wants to just accept that it’s okay for someone like him to be here, but he can’t help but worry.
“How much?” Muroo asks.
Atsushi stares at the ground. “...The whole tiger.”
Muroo considers that for a moment, then replies, “No big deal. But, hey, while you’re out here, want to help me with the gardening?”
“You’re gardening this late at night?” Atsushi asks, because ‘no big deal’ isn’t something he can process in regards to his ability right now. He’ll reflect on it later, after some sleep. Right now, changing the subject sounds like a better plan.
“There’s a cute cat who wanders by some nights,” Muroo says. “So if I do my gardening at night, it’s not as hot and maybe I’ll get to see that cat too. Heh, I guess I did end up seeing a cute cat, even if wasn’t the one I expected.”
Atsushi feels his face heat up. “I’m, I’m not that - um - thank you, but I’m not really prepared for gardening, maybe some other time-”
“You’re right, you’d get dirt all over your pajamas. Better not.” Muroo smiles a little sheepishly. “In that case, you might as well go back to bed. Sleep tight, and if anybody gives you problems over the tiger thing, let me know and I’ll punch ‘em in the head.”
People being so willing to stand up for him is something Atsushi thinks he’ll never get used to. He ducks his head to hide his smile.