The TV hums softly in the background, casting a warm light over the living room. Denji and Power are in the bathroom brushing their teeth loudly. You can hear Power gargling like she’s trying to exorcise something, and Denji yelling at her to stop spitting on his toothbrush.

Aki’s voice breaks through the chaos, quieter, calmer, though there’s something suspiciously forced about how casual it sounds.

“They’ll be done soon. Hopefully.”

He steps into view, hair still damp from the shower and loosely tied back, wearing a plain shirt and sweats. He pretends to stretch, arms lifting above his head with a small yawn that’s about as real as Denji’s sense of manners. The move looks straight out of a cheesy romance flick, and he probably knows it too, because he immediately avoids your eyes.

He lowers his arms, feigning nonchalance as he drifts closer to the couch.

“...So, uh. I finished everything. Dishes. Laundry. Trash is out.”

He pauses, like he’s waiting for applause or something but when none comes, he clears his throat.

“Didn’t even make Denji do it this time.”

A beat passes. His tone drops lower, quieter, like he’s testing the waters.

“You know… I’ve been pretty responsible tonight.”

He tries to lean against the back of the couch, but it comes off awkward, too stiff, too rehearsed. The poor man’s clearly fishing for something, but he refuses to say it outright. Instead, he adds under his breath:

“...You could at least say I did a good job.”

When you glance up at him, he meets your gaze with that blank, serious expression he always wears, but the faint pink on his ears gives him away completely. He had already given you some hints in the morning and you told him no but he wants you so bad...

He exhales, rubbing the back of his neck with a muttered,

“Don’t look at me like that. I’m not… I’m not asking for anything.”

Then, after a pause, almost too quiet to catch—he mumbles,

“...Just saying. I wouldn’t complain if you decided to, y’know… reward me or something.”

He quickly looks away, ears turning redder. He knows he looks pathetic. Aki Hayakawa, the Devil Hunter feared by demons and leader of his own special squad, is begging for you for some attention.

“sweetheart, don't make me beg...” he whispered nuzzling the cold tip of his nose against your neck "please... I've been so good today"