Chapter Text
With the glasses on the bridge of his nose, Shirafuji seemed rather complacent with his day. Being an antiquarian bookstore keeper wasn't a hard job at all. In fact he would just let the customer come in, take a look and leave. Some buy the books and some don't, somehow Shirafuji couldn't care less.
One day, a rather strict looking man walked in. With tasselled blonde hair and dark circles, he trudged through the door. Clumsy as he is, stumbled over a chair before sinking into one with a rather peculiar book in hand. You wouldn't expect a serious and furious looking man to enjoy the fantasies of ancient times but there he was alright.
Shirafuji like he typically was, didn't care. He didn't bat an eye, going on with his routine of helping customers out with a book they are looking for or making simple transactions at his counter.
Shirafuji was the owner of a rather unruly, pesky animal. A cat to be more specific.
He had brought the animal along, only for the day though.
Purring and acting all sweet, it sat firmly on the book Nakayama was so engrossed in.
"Oh come on..." Nakayama groaned watching the cat spread its fur all over the book he was planning to purchase.
Inspite of his rather gruff exterior, Nakayama was soft...especially for animals. So instead of roughly shoving the cat away, he slowly picked it up and placed it on the ground.
"Shoo!" He barked at the animal as quietly as he could muster while taking note of his surroundings.
The cat simply plopped itself on Nakayama's lap, having taken a sorta liking to the blonde man or the blonde oaf as some of his office might say.
"Get off me..." He grumbled while contemplating on whether to just push the cat away.
The cat in response as if to spite him spread itself out on his lap, it rubbed its fur all over Nakayama's pant which further deepened the frown of the man. It wouldn't be a surprise if he had to get permanent frown lines at this rate.
"You stupid animal. Get off me. I got work after this...I already look like shit...do you really want me full of cat fur?"
The man kept doing what he does best, complain.
The atmosphere of the room was rather pleasant, at least a few people sat content. Saying few because of a certain whiny blonde who refused to accept a rather adorable cat had attached itself to him.
"Uh..." He mumbled not knowing how to get the plastered animal off his leg.
With his sharp yellow eyes, Shirafuji noticed his cat missing from his counter.
His voice was gentle and soft as he called for him through the shop, hoping he'd respond.
"Where's my baby gone?" His coos were heard clearly.
Shirafuji was soon found behind one of the shelves watching the gruff looking man rather intently. In other words, the purple head was ready to step in if Nakayama showed even the slightest hostility to his 'son' as he called the cat.
And step in he did.
Nakayama lightly brushed the cats fur finding it fluffy and rather comforting, a soft smile formed on his face but was soon shot down into a frown when he realized what he was doing.
"Okay. Enough kitty. Get. Off. Me." He spelt it out loud enough for Shirafuji behind the shelves to pick up on.
Nakayama like stated before would never lay a finger on anyone. Somehow his tough exterior always went against him.
So when Nakayama showed the slightest discomfort with the cat on his lap like gently nudging it to the side being extremely careful not to agitate it, was interpreted as hostility by Shirafuji who was rather overprotective of his dear ones which included his cat.
Rushing up to the blonde, he quickly placed his hand under the cat and hoisted him up into his arms. He glared at the middle aged blonde who now sat confused and irritated.
"Is this man bothering you?" He spoke to the cat as if it was human, perhaps a learnt habit after having no friends for most of his middle aged years.
"No, what? I barely even pet it!" Nakayama said feeling defensive and then shut his mouth immediately realizing he is getting riled up over a dispute with something as silly as a pet cat.
"Right...let's go, handsome. We want nothing to do with this aggression fest." Shirafuji spat and walked off with his smug cat in his arms.
Nakayama gritted his teeth and went back to reading his novel, feeling entrapped by the narrative.
Shirafuji made his way back to his desk, he placed the cat on top of it.
The fur ball was immediately attracted to the soft yarn placed on top of a book.
"No no, don't you dare." He said in a warning tone.
The purple head placed his hand firmly on his yarn to prevent it from being untangled by the scheming kitty.
Shirafuji is an interesting man you see, he has an odd passion for knitting. He pulled out a sleek needle out of his granny sweater and settled into his seat.
Meanwhile...Mr. Handsome was up to no good, he hopped off the table quietly and snuck past customers.
Many cooed at its well groomed fur and absolutely adorable face...even though it was simply a roadside pest as Nakayama famously called stray cats.
The ginger cat made its way to the unsuspecting blonde.
Nakayama had his nose in the book, so engrossed by it he didnt notice the furry creature approaching.
"ACKKKKKK!"
A loud shriek filled the shop as the cat pounced or rather leaped into his lap.
At first Shirafuji's expression remained neutral, he pushes aside his yarn a bit to have a look at his pet...except there was no furry baby.
Shirafuji's eyes widened in an instant...this means Handsome is up to no good and depending on the yelp he just heard, it could mean anything from tearing one of the book's up to knocking a whole shelf over.
Shirafuji's mind races with possibilities as he dropped his knitting tools in a hurry. He had to know if his child is alright.
Shirafuji has a natural mother's instinct. When a child is in danger, their guardian immediately comes to their aide.
"Handsome!?"
He stumbled into the area, almost knocking down a table.
And boom, there he saw it, his dear son snuggling up to some bastard who smokes charcoal.
And Shirafuji took immediate offense at the sight.
"Mister, what did I tell you about stealing my cat!"
He stomped up to Nakayama.
"Excuse me!? Your cat came to me! I dont like animals get him off me!"
The switch up following this almost drove Nakayama insane.
Shirafuji's expression had morphed from annoyance to a smug smirk as an idea popped into his head.
"Hehe, Sir since my lovely cat loves you too much...
How about you look after him while my shift continues."
As if on cue Nakayama's face turns to horror.
"WHAT. I never agreed to such a proposition!"
He argued back, trying to move the fur ball off his lap but the creature had already made itself comfortable.
"Oi! Come back!"
"Oh, I suggest you remain a bit silent during this time period."
Shirafuji placed a finger on his lips playfully, smiling mischievously at the same time.
"You-!" The blonde's cheeks started to feel unusually hot and uncomfortable.
Shirafuji sauntered away lazily, not caring about the protests of the blonde.
Minutes passed,
If you thought in those few minutes Shirafuji didnt mind keeping his baby out of sight...you would be wrong.
Horribly wrong.
"Are you just going to stare at my face all day?"
Nakayama muttered the pointed question more to himself than anyone.
He wasn't the type to be polite and deny the fact that Shirafuji's stare from across the room was unnerving.
Not to mention.
The seat Shirafuji had placed his butt on...was right in the middle of the shop.
"That will be...1 yen please!"
Shirafuji chirped happily, still eyeing the two.
Earlier in order to complete transactions with ease from his new seat,
"Hehe...Heh..."
Shirafuji had the brilliant idea of pulling out the drawer itself much to the alarm of other customers.
Shirafuji started rummaging through the coins, looking for the smallest pennies...like a certain broke man, cough cough, totally not referring to the blonde holding a cat.
Around thirty minutes had passed. Shirafuji had picked up the everyday newspaper...but behind the neutral look, his eyes searched for any hint of discomfort from Handsome.
His eyes softened as he watched the gruff man, cradle the cat in his arms.
"Oh, my tears are flowing!"
Shirafuji exclaimed while dramtically wiping the corners of his eyes.
Nakayama glared at the purple head.
It was bad enough that he watched him cautiously as if he would hit an innocent creature.
"Now, now don't get so defensive. The cat is still mine you see."
Shirafuji grinned proudly.
"I can see that."
Making the cat face towards him, Nakayama gently held the pet up to eye level.
He held it further away from his eyes, comparing the expression of Shirafuji to the naughty fur ball's.
"Hah. Almost the same." He chuckled softly to himself.
The other's eyebrow raised curiously, "What is?"
"Like father, like son." Nakayama said simply while caressing the cat's fur. "Only difference is one has fur to make up for the insolence."
"Ah! You wound me, sir!" Shirafuji said with an exaggerated flare in his voice.
Nakayama would never admit it but, he was starting to enjoy not only the cat's company but also the eccentric purple head's.
Nakayama grunts roughly.
"I better get going."
Just as he was about to pull the cat off him, Shirafuji let out a shaky breath.
"Oh! You might not wanna do that, he hates when people place a hand on his bel-"
To his surprise, his dear handsome snuggled up more into Nakayama's hand.
Shirafuji scoffed in mock scorn.
"Oh ofcourse because rules don't apply anymore hm?"
Shirafuji frowned...but then his eyes flashed with a quite understanding.
"Looks like he enjoys your company."
Nakayama nodded quietly.