Work Text:
He couldn’t get to sleep.
Renji Amanokage lay in his apartment, his snake coils filling all the space, his arm resting on his human torso. He shifted around on his futon, stretching his body out and curling it up. As though his position had anything to do with his sleeplessness. As though just tossing and turning could fix the problem. As though –
rrrrgGGOOOUUUURRrrrrl
“Ugh…”
As though his empty stomachs had nothing to do with this. Truth be told, he’d barely been able to get any sleep at night for the past few days, and it had everything to do with his lingering hunger. Between the loud grumbles that came from his midsection, and the sharp, hollow cramps and pangs that disrupted any peace he got, Ren hadn’t been able to nod off. The only rest he’d been able to get was from passing out at work, and that didn’t do his mind (or his wallet, for that matter) any favors.
After a particularly ornery cramp, Renji threw off the blanket and started scrounging around his apartment. He couldn’t take it anymore. He had to make it stop, somehow. It didn’t matter that his fridge was empty, and that he hadn’t gotten the paycheck to stretch his (minimal) food budget yet. He had to try. And maybe he’d get lucky; maybe he’d tire himself out and his famished organs wouldn’t be able to stop the sleep.
There was nothing in the bathroom. There was nothing in the fridge. There was nothing on or under the kotatsu. He’d already known all of that. But he was tired enough, he was even willing to check his clothes. And there, in his coat pocket, he found something: a 2,000 yen banknote. When had he gotten that? Had that always been in his pocket? He didn’t remember Ayame coming to visit at work today – the older naga always seemed to be doing things like that. If it wasn’t taking him places on his days off, it was slipping him a bit of extra cash here and there. He kind of wished Ayame wouldn’t do that so often. He was working and making money just fine. He didn’t need that kind of help!
GUUUuuoorrooowwwlgh
…current situation notwithstanding.
Regardless of where it came from, 2,000 yen was still 2,000 yen. And 2,000 yen could go a long way at a convenience store. Not enough to fill even one of his stomachs, but probably just enough to shut the human one up. Switching to human form, Renji donned his coat and shoes, and walked out to the convenience store.
The walk wasn’t all that long, but Ren’s exhaustion still made it an ordeal, especially this late at night. At least the convenience store was open 24 hours, and nobody in the store seemed to give him a second glance. Even with his middle growling up a storm. He was tempted to just swallow everything in the store – cashier included. But he knew he couldn’t, for a variety of reasons. Instead, he gazed at the shelves, carefully scanning for something that was filling and cheap. And while he was at it, he should get a pack of cigarettes. It’d be 570 yen, more than a quarter of what he had on him now – but it would keep him from doubling over in pain from hunger tomorrow.
It was a tradeoff. 570 yen was enough to keep him standing tomorrow – but it was 570 yen’s worth of food out of his mouth tonight. He eyed the plastic packages that lined the shelves. 3,000 yen bento, 1,700 yen bags of sweets…
uuuuUUUUOOOOOouurrrrr
Renji’s stomach contracted in an especially awful way, and he winced, pressing a hand to his midsection. He knew it wouldn’t really help, but he continued to shove his hand against his abdomen, as if making it even more concave would quiet it. The last two “jumbo onigiri” on the shelf drifted into his sight, and he snatched them up. They were swiftly joined by a package of melon bread, a sakura bun, and a wrapped chocolate baumkuchen. 1,400 yen. Perfect.
Renji was about ready to snap at the cashier if she asked why he was buying all that food with his cigarettes. But she didn’t speak a word, just rang up his items and gave him his change. As he practically stormed out of the store, he shoved most of his purchases into his coat pockets – except for the baumkuchen. That one, he took out of the wrapping and chomped into as he walked. The ring-like cake was the perfect shape for him to bite into. Usually, he didn’t even bother with taking bites and chewing. He’d just swallow the morsel whole (to Ayame’s chagrin). But he felt the need to take a bite of this one. Maybe it was hanger and crankiness. Maybe it was part of him that wanted to be like a human, even though he wasn’t. Maybe it was just his mouth working on autopilot. It didn’t really matter why; Renji found himself savoring that first mouthful of chocolate cake, bewitched by its pleasant taste and fluffy texture. When he finally swallowed, he was quick to shove the rest of the baumkuchen into his salivating maw, and he could feel it hit his stomach by the time he unlocked the door to his home.
He savored his other purchases far less. The melon bread and sakura bun were swallowed whole, and the large onigiri were gone in two bites each – and only so he could see what kind of fish was inside them. Those slipped into his gut far less smoothly, and Renji worried for a moment that he’d be left with cramps from both hunger and speedy eating. Fortunately, that didn’t come to pass. The dull ache within subsided, and the cramps disappeared as his stomach began to contract around his late-night snack.
Sighing with relief, Renji slumped onto his kotatsu, tucking his legs beneath the blanket. Thank goodness. He’d eaten something, and he wouldn’t have to worry about his stomachs bothering him for the night. He’d have to sleep in his human form to keep it that way, but that was a small price to pay for some peace. And now that he’d chased away the pain and the noise, he was dead tired. Ren’s eyes fluttered shut, and he was out in seconds. It wasn’t enough; he’d be ravenous in the morning as if he hadn’t eaten anything at all. But he’d have gotten some rest, some actual rest. And for now, that was good enough.