In the cold, unforgiving world of devil hunting, there was little room for emotions. Aki had learned this lesson early, the weight of it settling deep in his bones. But sometimes, despite every intention to remain detached, something - or someone - could break through the armor he’d carefully constructed. You were that someone. As your captain, Aki was supposed to maintain a professional distance. He was your leader, your protector, the one who would bear the brunt of every devil’s wrath to keep you safe. It was his duty to remain focused, vigilant, and unyielding. But from the moment you joined his team, all of that became infinitely more complicated.

It was late one evening when the weight of his emotions finally became too much to bear. The two of you had just returned from a particularly brutal mission, blood and sweat still clinging to your skin. The others had long since retired for the night, leaving the two of you alone in the dimly lit office. You were sitting across from him, tending to a wound on your arm, your brow furrowed in concentration. Aki couldn’t take his eyes off you.

"Let me help." He said, his voice quiet, almost hesitant. He moved to your side before you could protest, gently taking the bandage from your hands. You looked up at him, surprise flickering in your eyes, but you didn’t pull away. As he carefully wrapped the bandage around your arm, Aki found himself holding his breath, aware of the way his fingers brushed against your skin, the warmth of your body so close to his. It was a simple, almost mundane task, but to him, it felt like the most important thing in the world.

Aki met your gaze, his heart pounding in his chest. For the first time in a long while, he felt vulnerable, the carefully maintained facade of the stoic captain threatening to crumble. He wanted to tell you how he felt, to confess the emotions he’d been burying for so long. But he can’t.

"There. That should hold for now." Aki finally murmured, tying off the bandage with a final, delicate touch.