Chapter Text
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"You know you don't actually have to destroy city property to get my attention," Munakata tells Suoh Mikoto after the nth time they have a standoff in the middle of a field of broken glass shards and burned doors. It had been amusing the first time, to be called on to stop the rampaging Red King and his band of delinquents, but as time passed by the novelty wore off, and each HOMRA-related warning sign was met with a drawn out sigh.
Suoh Mikoto smirks. "But this is a lot faster," he says. His clansmen are busy engaging Munakata's own, leaving the two Kings to have their usual banter away from everybody. After all, no one wants to get caught in a crossfire between the two Kings.
"If you're so insistent on a meeting, Suoh, you could simply ask for my number," Munakata says.
"Hmm." Suoh makes that knowing little sound that Munakata hates; somewhere between a drawl and a scoff, and altogether undermining. It's as if he's looking down on Munakata, and it galls him so. "But if I did call, you'd tell me you're busy."
"I am busy," Munakata agrees. "I don't really have the freedom to do this with you all the time, you know. I have a job," he adds with emphasis.
Suoh chuckles. "I know." He leans in to deliver a swift punch that Munakata gracefully evades. "That's why it's easier this way. I don't like to be kept waiting, after all."
"If you had any decency, you'd at least give me a day's notice," he says severely. "Some people keep schedules, Suoh."
"I'd rather not be just another date in your appointment book, Munakata."
Munakata rolls his eyes as he strikes at Suoh. "Ah, so you want to go on a date? If you wanted to ask me out, you could just say so."
"Would you even say yes?" Suoh retorts. His eyes are bright - he's already decided to take this battle seriously. Munakata sighs and readies his weapon; he can't afford to let his guard down around the Red King, no matter how easygoing their conversations are.
Their skirmish eventually ends with another destroyed building and a few wounded clansmen. Whatever purpose HOMRA has for starting this ridiculous fight seems to be achieved, because Kusanagi signals to Suoh, and Suoh slowly pulls away from their own fight. Munakata sighs as HOMRA members start moving away.
"Is it all right to let them go?" Awashima asks as they watch the Red Clan walk away from the battlefield.
"They haven't really broken any rules," Munakata replies, with just some slight annoyance. Beyond the destruction of city property, which was actually in the Red King's dominion, there have been no laws actually broken. SCEPTER4 had only been called in because of the Red King's presence. Of course, Suoh would have gotten them worked up for nothing. Honestly, next time Munakata's not going to bother appearing personally.
...Okay, he can't really do that because no one else can stand up to the Red King, but every moment he spends away from the office is another mountain of paperwork added on his desk. Suoh Mikoto is a cruel man who has no care for his desk job.
Munakata sighs and walks away. "I don't care if the Red King is there next time. Unless Suoh calls upon his Sword of Damocles, I will not be appearing on the field," he says to her as their team begins the trip back to the office.
Awashima nods as she keeps up with his steady pace. "He does seem to enjoy meeting you in battle," she says thoughtfully. "And...elsewhere."
Munakata regrets telling Awashima of all the times he's run into Suoh in all kinds of places - bars, public baths, theaters (the last had been unexpected, he'd never have pegged Suoh as a musical fan) - because now he can see that she's getting ideas.
He already has enough to deal with the rumor mill about SCEPTER4 only admitting young, nubile men into their fold. If he had his way he'd admit more women like Awashima. It's not his fault that the only screened applicants that make it all the way to his desk are men. He secretly suspects Awashima has something to do with it but he'd rather not ask.
They arrive at their headquarters without any further incidents, and Munakata settles himself for a hopefully tranquil week with his puzzles. His hopes are dashed, however, when just two days later, Fushimi knocks on his door.
Munakata looks up as their newest recruit enters quietly, looking bored as he always does. So far all he's been doing is grunt jobs, and he doesn't look pleased at all to be doing errands. Truth be told he's a brilliant young man, due to a promotion very soon, but Munakata thinks he should enjoy a bit more time working his way up. It builds character. "Suoh Mikoto wants to see you," Fushimi announces dryly.
Munakata blinks. "What?"
Fushimi gives him this look that would have made lesser men quake in fear. As Munakata is the Blue King, a thorny glare is nothing to him. "Suoh Mikoto," he repeats slowly, "is at the front gate of the building. Sir," he adds, though the tone is of forced respect.
Munakata pauses at that. "Then how would you know he's here to see me?"
The other man clicks his tongue. "Captain," he says, in a this-is-really-obvious sort of tone, "there is no one else in this building that he would have any reason to see." Fushimi looks vaguely annoyed. "Also, he's carrying flowers."
Munakata actually opens his computer to check their security cameras if Fushimi's joking. As he had said, Suoh Mikoto is standing outside their gate, and he is carrying a bouquet of sunflowers. Sunflowers. Munakata's just thankful it isn't roses.
"He clearly adores you," Fushimi says flatly, before stalking out of the room without so much of a goodbye. Someone definitely has to teach that young man manners. Munakata glances at the security camera video once more; Suoh's staring straight up at it, with that characteristic lazy grin, so sure in his knowledge that Munakata's watching him. Munakata huffs and closes the window, and contemplates making Suoh wait there in vain.
But then again, Suoh is a patient man. He would likely lay in wait until Munakata leaves the building and then accost him. Munakata sighs and heads down to his fate.
The first thing he says when he's face-to-face with Suoh is, "When I said you could ask me out, I didn't mean you should show up at my workplace with flowers."
Suoh laughs and puts the bouquet over his shoulder. "What should I have done, then?"
"Perhaps give a call to my secretary," Munakata suggests. "You seem to have forgotten how busy I am. I don't have time for this, Suoh."
Suoh looks amused. "And yet, you're here."
Munakata sighs, because he has no answer to that. He looks at the sunflowers, and then at Suoh.
He sighs again. It is always a losing battle when he is against Red King. "I get off at eight pm," he finally says. "And I don't like spicy food. Also, you're paying if it's the first date." He gives Suoh a look, daring him to protest, but the other man just shrugs and then shoves the bouquet in his arms.
"Then I'll see you at eight," Suoh says, looking so self-satisfied that Munakata wants to say he signed up for overtime for the rest of the month just to spite him.
Then, unexpectedly, he leans in to give Munakata a quick kiss on the cheek before walking away, leaving Munakata half-frozen in shock in front of their gates.
Damn him, Munakata thinks angrily, raising his hand to touch his cheek. Everything is a battle and Suoh has just landed the first hit.
Munakata's definitely going to have to destroy all the evidence in the security cameras later.