Work Text:
Hi minjie
im fighf now
cna you comd g et me
Mine’s heart dropped from his pressed lapels to his genuine leather shoes as his eyes scanned over the scattered texts from the Sixth Chairman.
The Sixth Chairman rarely ever texted him, so Mine had done a double take when the notification popped up on his phone. His breath had caught in his throat—definitely only because he was surprised—and his fingers fumbled to read through the messages.
His brow furrowed, and his eyes narrowed at those inintelligble words. Compared to the few previous texts the Sixth Chairman had sent Mine, the lack of sophistication stood apparent.
But Mine scrutinized that last message closely. Was the Sixth Chairman asking Mine to get him? Did he not have a driver or guards with him? Why ask Mine?
Something ressembling panic exploded in Mine’s chest. Maybe the Sixth Chairman was in trouble. Thumbs burning with urgency, Mine typed out, “Where are you, Sixth Chairman?”
The sound of his heel tapping against the carpeted floors punctuated each seemingly insurmountable second that Mine waited for a response. He grew alert as he watched those typing bubbles juggle with such intensity that he could have burned a hole through his phone. After a bit, Mine almost jumped at the response:
Bantamnbar
Mine’s brows shot up. The Sixth Chairman was at a bar? That explained the texts. But it also sent a wave of anxiety through Mine. The Sixth Chairman had put himself in a vulnerable position so late at night. It wouldn’t take much for someone to harm him.
Mine scrambled to text him back, “Stay there. I’m coming.”
The door had already shut behind Mine with his key jingling in hand before the text even sent.
His jaw worked as he squeezed the steering wheel with a tense grip. Even as he shoved his foot against the gas, and the streetlights of Kamurocho blurred behind him, he still did not feel fast enough.
This was the Sixth Chairman, the man who had shown Mine companionship in ways he had never envisioned, who Mine would go as far as to declare he would die honoring him. Thus if he couldn’t save the Sixth Chairman tonight, such bonds must have been in vain.
With one hand remaining on the steering wheel, Mine grabbed his cell phone and opened up his messages with the Sixth Chairman. No response. His foot pressed on the gas just a little more. His thumb darted out to type out, “Are you okay?”
He divided his attention between his phone and the dimly lit roads in front of him. After a beat, his phone buzzed, and when he glanced over, he almost swerved off the road.
On the screen lay a selfie of the Sixth Chairman with a bleary smile and an empty glass in hand, his normally slicked back hair hung over his face. Maybe it appeared disheveled, but for Mine, his heart skipped a beat when he saw Daigo-san—no, the Sixth Chairman—look so relaxed and laid back. Along with this, it relieved Mine to know that the Sixth Chairman was safe. The corners of Mine’s mouth lifted as he let out a quiet chuckle. The Sixth Chairman looked so… cute.
Mine quickly shook that sentiment out of his head. He would not let himself think about the Sixth Chairman that way.
Not again.
Mine responded to the message with, “It’s good that you’re safe.”
He sighed and put his phone away. By now, he wasn’t too far.
His car slowed near the low key bar, and he quickly parked and jogged to the entrance. He pushed his way inside, his eyes adjusting to the dim space as he peered around. Yet the Sixth Chairman was nowhere to be found.
“Are ya Mine?”
Mine swiveled around to face a patron speaking to him. He narrowed his eyes. “Who is asking?”
“I’m askin’ for your friend. Don’t know ‘is name, but he was ramblin’ on about ya and was even showin’ us pictures.”
Heat pooled in Mine’s face. The Sixth Chairman did that? As concerning as it was that the Sixth Chairman had put himself in such a condition, the thought touched him. A fluttery feeling filled his chest until the patron’s voice broke him out of his thoughts. “There he is. He’s comin’ out the–”
“Mine!”
Mine’s eyes shot wide as a warm, boozy mass staggered against him. He grew rigid as he could feel the soft skin and gentle hairs of the Sixth Chairman on him. He cleared his throat, trying to keep composure in his voice, “Sixth Chairman.”
“Mine, I was waiting for you. D’you wanna drink?”
The Sixth Chairman pulled back to give Mine a toothy smile. Mine couldn’t construe the feeling that glowed in his chest at this sight. He drew in a breath and shook his head. “No, thank you. It’s not advisable for you to be out like this so late. Where are your guards?”
“Told them I was going home,” he slurred, “s’not to worry.”
Mine sighed. And of course the guards had been incompetent enough to believe him. They should have ensured his safety from afar.
“Sixth Chairman, you need to get home.”
“I know. That’s why I called you.” He let out a satisfied hum as he placed a hand on Mine’s shoulder, the contact warming through Mine’s suit. “Do you mind taking me?”
“Oh.” Mine failed to hide his confoundment this time. But he swallowed it down. He was just doing a duty for the man he deferred to. That was all it would be. “Yes, Sixth Chairman. We’ll be on our way. Can you stand?”
“I think so, but it’s nicer to lean on you.” The Sixth Chairman’s hand rested on Mine’s elbow.
Mine cursed under his breath. The way that the Sixth Chairman was acting was stirring something within him. Something he had to stow away. His safety mattered more than whatever contrived nonsense Mine couldn’t help but feel.
“As you wish, Sixth Chairman.”
Mine guided the Sixth Chairman out into the cool night air, except it hardly made a dent in the heat that Mine felt. He pressed his hand lightly against the Sixth Chairman’s back to keep him from staggering, and he hoped the Sixth Chairman wouldn’t notice how hard his heart hammered inside.
“My car is here.” He opened the passenger door for the Sixth Chairman and helped him into the seat before shutting the door. He took a deep breath before he got back into the driver’s seat. “I will take you home immediately.”
“Mhm. Thank you, Mine.” He let out a sigh. “I knew I could count on you.”
Mine swallowed. “Yes, Sixth Chairman.”
He commenced his drive, trying to focus on the road instead of the presence beside him that made him feel like he could not function properly. The Sixth Chairman was just inebriated. He wasn’t himself. Yet, something like hope buzzed beneath Mine’s fingertips. But hope for what? Certainly it couldn’t be…
“I’m sorry for the trouble,” the Sixth Chairman mumbled.
“It’s okay.” Mine blew out a breath. “I’m just glad you’re okay. I was… worried. Something could have happened to you.”
“I know… I know it was irresponsible. I just wanted a night to myself. Tojo Clan sometimes feels like such a heavy burden to bear.” The Sixth Chairman’s words sounded strangely sober, and Mine would have thought he was if it weren’t for the slur at the edge of his words.
But he could sympathize with the Sixth Chairman. In a way, this all had been a responsibility forced on him before he even knew he was ready. He accepted it, because that was the type of man the Sixth Chairman was. Honorable to a fault.
Mine opened his mouth, but a few moments passed before words finally came out. “I understand, but you shouldn’t feel the need to do something so reckless. It’s not something you have to bear alone. I’m… I’m here.”
“Thank you, Mine.”
And the rest of the car drive took place in this unconquering silence.
Soon, he pulled up in front of the the Sixth Chairman’s place. For the sake of his heart rate, Mine should have let the Sixth Chairman enter from afar, but he knew it would be more responsible to make sure he had been guided in and safe from any threats.
He got out of his car and opened the Sixth Chairman’s door, who immediately pressed his weight into Mine. God, he felt so warm, like a shot of liquor that warmed Mine head to toe. If he pulled the Sixth Chairman closer, would he get a larger dose of that feeling?
He needed to stop kidding himself. Mine steaded the Chairman once he got to his feet. “I’ll lead you inside, sir.”
“Mm.”
By now, the Sixth Chairman’s eyes were half-closed. At least this made Mine’s job easier. He would drop him off in bed, and he would leave. Nothing more.
Mine guided him into the elevator and up to his penthouse. He had never been inside before, but he had been in the building itself. The Sixth Chairman was relatively a private person.
So it felt strange to guide him into his cozy abode, like some breach of contract. The Sixth Chairman let out a heavy breath. “Thank you, Mine… where’s… can you take me to my bedroom?”
The way he said those words in a drowsy tone made Mine’s heart seize in his chest. God… saying something like that to him? In this situation? He drew in a breath, gathering himself as he led the Sixth Chairman along to find his bedroom.
“Mmph, here.” He weakly pointed at a door, and Mine nodded, pushing it open.
He fumbled around to find the lights along the wall, before he took in the illuminated surroundings. It was quaint… but so Sixth Chairman-like. A modest bed with light blue sheets, some paintings along the wall, and all the furniture was a matching mahogany. Next to the bed was a large patio door which seemed to lead to a balcony. He wondered if the Sixth Chairman ever got out of bed, walked over, and peered over the city. Imagining him doing that brought a smile to Mine’s face.
“Hold on.” The Sixth Chairman broke out of Mine’s grasp and staggered his way to another door, almost falling over a chair in the process.
“Sixth Chairman!” Mine hurried to his side as the Sixth Chairman entered the door, which seemed to be an expansive closet. “What are you–”
To his shock, the Sixth Chairman began tugging off his clothes. No, no, no, this was not how this evening was supposed to go.
His face caught fire as he turned away from the Sixth Chairman, catching a glimpse of his irezumi. “S-Sixth Chairman, maybe I should take my leave now.”
“Wait, Mine, I want to show you something…”
Show him something? As confused as Mine was, he couldn’t help but feel curious. And it was the Sixth Chairman’s orders.
Mine blew out a sigh and left the closet, pacing in his bedroom. This was a night unlike what Mine had imagined. The Sixth Chairman was just drunk; that was all it was. Still Mine’s heart hammered in a way it had never before.
“I’m coming!” the Sixth Chairman called out.
Mine’s head whipped around to watch him exit the closet, his eyes widening. In front of him stood the esteemed Sixth Chairman adorned in a tight black shirt, cross necklace, even tighter leather pants, and… a white puffer jacket?
Before Mine could question it, the Sixth Chairman sidled up to him with a grin. “Y’know I used to dress like this a few years ago. I kinda miss it sometimes.”
“Really… oh…” Mine was at a lost for words. He didn’t know what to say. He had never seen the Sixth Chairman lack refinement. It felt… weird. Weird in a way that his brain seemed to be shortcircuiting.
He was extremely cute.
“I wonder if we would have liked each other back then.” The Sixth Chairman gave a soft chuckle. “I was a bit of an asshole before I met Kiryu…”
The sound of that name made Mine’s skin burn. God, he couldn’t stand that man that the Sixth Chairman idolized. He couldn’t help but feel… jealous.
Mine pushed his irrational thoughts aside, drawing in a breath. He intended to make sure the Sixth Chairman got home safely. And he did just that. It was time for him to depart before things became complicated.
He gave a low bow. “Sixth Chairman, I will departing. Let–”
“Wait!” The Sixth Chairman stumbled into Mine’s movement, and quickly grasped his shoulders as they tumbled backwards. Mine prepared his back to take the brunt of the hardwood floors for the Sixth Chairman’s sake, but instead, he felt something plush beneath him.
The Sixth Chairman’s bed.
His heartbeat reached a frantic crescendo at this point. Espcially considering that the Sixth Chairman now peered down at Mine with those eyes of his, their bodies pressed against each other.
“Mine…” The Sixth Chairman visibly swallowed. “Don’t go yet.”
Mine opened his mouth but struggled to find words, so he simply nodded. Whatever the Sixth Chairman asked of him.
The Sixth Chairman tilted his head at him, raising a gentle, calloused hand to his cheek that sent a shockwave through Mine’s pulse. “You know, Mine… you’ve always been so… pretty.”
The way that last word fell from the Sixth Chairman’s lips would imprint itself on Mine’s mind until his grave likely. But now he was stuck. He didn’t know what to do, nor what to say. He had never been in this situation with anyone before, and for it to be with the man he revered the most, he had no clue how to navigate it.
“Sixth Chairman…”
“Mm, no,” the Sixth Chairman mumbled. “You know… I’ve always wanted to hear what it would sound like for you to call me Daigo.”
Mine swallowed, taking in a shaky breath. Whatever the Sixth Chairman asked for. “Yes… Daigo.”
The corners of his mouth lifted for a split second before his head flopped against Mine’s chest. His eyes widened as he shook Daigo slightly. But his concern disappated as he heard the sound of faint snoring. He grinned slightly. Of course Daigo snored. And it was the cutest thing ever.
Not wanting to wake him, Mine figured that he might as well stay the night. Whatever Daigo asked for.