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evilgoosemusings · 29 days ago

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Rosa's (@electricgaslight) gift from me for the TnB Secret Santa 2024! Happy Christmas! I hope you enjoy it. Link first, no warnings apply. Story in full will be posted after.

My Name is Barnaby! - TotallyRockin - Tiger & Bunny [Archive of Our Own]

“My name is Barnaby, not Bunny!” Barnaby Brooks, Jr., yelled at the man in front of him. Why did he let this man rile him up so much? It wasn’t like Kaburagi was his boss or anything. Just an annoying coworker who refused (for some reason) to call him by his real name! He shoved his glasses back up his nose with his middle finger, hoping the Japanese man would take the hint.

“Oh, come on,” the dark-haired man whined, “but you’re so cute! Like a little bunny! Your hair makes a whole lop-eared look and everything!”

He scowled and hid behind his glasses, sulking. Being new at the company sucked, but being partnered to ‘learn’ from this moron was even more degrading. Why did his uncle have to pair him up with this idiot? He invaded his space, hogged all the good pens (even though he didn’t use them), and ate the unhealthiest and smelliest food imaginable. Contrary to popular belief, mayonnaise did NOT belong on EVERYTHING!

“Brooks! Kaburagi! My office, Now!”

Now what? That old man always messed up somehow, and he’d also get roped into the punishment.

When Barnaby and Kotetsu walked in, Alexander Lloyds sat at his mahogany desk, scowling at his computer. He didn’t even bother looking up. “You two are going to the conference in Panjourney this weekend. Your flight leaves tomorrow at 6 a.m.”

“WHAT?!” Kotetsu yelled. “But I can’t go! I promised Kaede I’d go to her ice skating recital!”

“If you don’t like it, you can quit,” Lloyds automatically replied.

Against his better judgment, Barnaby cringed a bit. That was a typical response from Lloyds, but only to Kotetsu. He never said it to him. “I can go by myself,” Brooks suggested, hoping for a break from his annoying partner. If he could get some time by himself, he knew he could be the best salesman Apollon Media had ever seen.

Tempted by the offer, Lloyds regarded the two of them briefly. He almost replied once, shut his mouth, then reconsidered and said, “No. You’re a team. Mr. Maverick gave explicit instructions on that. Once your probationary period is over, in approximately 6 weeks, 2 days, and 5 hours, that would be permissible, but for now, you’re stuck with Tiger here.”

The blond sighed. That stupid nickname his partner insisted on using. Wild Tiger. Like his sales earnings even merited that. “Yes, sir,” he replied.

It wasn’t like his records were measly. He’d managed to rake up more sales than Tiger already this month. Sure, one of the companies, Top Mag, had to return the copier they’d bought and go for the cheaper one Kotetsu had originally sold them before Barnaby upgraded them, but that was just once, right?

Later at their desks, which had been joined together for some reason, Barnaby started his list of things to take this weekend. If he traveled light, he might be able to whittle it down to one suitcase and one garment bag. Oh, and his toiletry bag.

“Whatcha doin’, Lil Bunny?” Kotetsu asked, peering over his shoulder.

“Packing planning.”

“Huh? For one weekend?”

He turned toward his partner. “Yes. I checked the seminar’s itinerary and several different events are happening this weekend. I’ll need a different set of clothes for each one. Not to mention my computer and phone. My notebook and several pairs of shoes to match each wardrobe selection.” As he rambled on, he noticed Kotetsu glancing at his own attire and scowling.

“Why do you need all that extra stuff?” his partner complained. “It’s not like anybody will actually care.”

“I do. I care,” Barnaby replied. “Mr. Maverick will be there this weekend. He’s one of the guest speakers. I will need to look my best.”

“Your uncle, huh?” Kotetsu scratched at his stupid split-w-shaped beard. “Why do you need to dress up for him? He’s seen you in sweatpants and t-shirts before, hasn’t he?”

“This isn’t for him,” Barnaby replied. “It’s for the stakeholders that he’ll want to impress. Can’t have his nephew looking like… you, now can he?”

“I don’t- Hey! I’m not bad-looking! A little scruffy when I don’t shave, but-“

Barnaby took the time to peer over his glasses at the brunet. “Riiiight. Uh-huh. Believe what you want.” But the insult didn’t have the power normally thrown in Kotetsu’s direction. Barnaby had found himself more and more distracted at his partner’s… entire package. Looks alone, okay, so Kotetsu wasn’t exactly a troll, but he was older and had crinkly laugh lines around his eyes. His soft, rose-colored lips pouted often enough to appear fuller than they were. The brown of his eyes wasn’t a muddy brown, but a honey, caramel color that twinkled when he smiled. More than once the differences in their skin tones had taken him aback, his pale white in stark contrast to the rich brown of Kotetsu’s skin. Well, that wasn’t helping.

He wasn’t sure when the switch happened, but somewhere along the way, he’d started thinking more fondly about his partner. This infuriatingly nosy individual got balloons for kids out of trees and helped old(er) ladies across the street. This idiot who had one of Barnaby’s fancy pens stuck between his lip and his nose, making crinkly faces at the ceiling.

“That doesn’t belong to you,” the blond stated, snatching his pen back.

“But I’m bored!” his partner whined.

“Then do that mountain of paperwork on your desk before you leave for the weekend. That way it’s not waiting for you when we get back.”

“You know, you’re not very cute for a bunny.”

“Good thing I’m not one then, isn’t it?” he retorted.

Kotetsu tsked and picked up one of the papers on his cluttered desk, side-eyeing it, then dramatically flopping back into his chair, letting his dark-haired head lean over the back. “Why can’t somebody else do this? It’s so dull!”

“Honestly,” Barnaby swore as he plucked the piece of paper out of Kotetsu’s hand, “it’s tedious but extremely simple.”

“Eh?” the old man said. “How do you manage to get all yours done so fast? Half of those I didn’t even show you how to fill out!”

“And he fills them out properly,” Florence, Lloyd’s secretary, supplied from across the room. “I don’t have to return ANY of his.”

A snort from Kotetsu.

“Okay, fine. I’ll show you,” Barnaby groused as he tugged his chair closer to Kaburagi’s desk and the stack of paperwork. At least Kotetsu tried to appear interested in his paperwork for the rest of the workday.

And he smelled great.

3 a.m. came pretty early, but Barnaby had prepared the night before. Everything he still needed to pack was laid out nicely for him to use and then pack. He showered, shaved, and primped in record time, deciding maybe he should do that from now on. He was out the door and taxied to the airport by 5 a.m.

There was no sign of Kotetsu.

After a little flirting his ticket was upgraded to first class for free. When they boarded the plane, Kotetsu still hadn’t shown. He sighed. Well, he might get a weekend away from the-

“Lil Bunny!”

He hung his head.

“Eh? Why are you up here? Our tickets-“

“I upgraded.”

“You did?! That’s great!” Kotetsu started to store his carry-on above Barnaby’s seat.

“Not yours!” Barnaby snapped. “You’re still in the back.”

“What?! But we’re a team! The first sales team for Apollon Media! We should stick together!” He glanced around. “I know! I’ll ask for a seat up here.”

Good luck, Barnaby thought as he watched Kotetsu flag down one of the stewards.

A few minutes later, not even the headphones could tune out the man’s endless prattle. How the bloody hell did he manage to talk his way into first class AND the seat right next to him? Luckily it was only an hour flight.

When they arrived, it only got worse.

They couldn’t check in to the hotel until after 11 a.m. and the convention started at 8. For a fee, the hotel stashed their bags in a locked room until they could check-in, but the hotel was packed because of multiple conventions. Getting to the first welcome assembly proved to be incredibly difficult, and Barnaby knew there wouldn’t be any seating available. But Kotetsu surprised him. An old friend of his named Antonio Lopez had managed to save them seats. Kotetsu must have called him when Barnaby was haggling with the hotel to keep their bags.

Product knowledge filled most of the first session. Kotetsu was woefully unprepared and against his better judgment, Barnaby carried their team so they weren’t dead last.

The second breakout session had them trying to set up devices for their ‘client’ and ended with Kotetsu wrapping them both up in an unnecessary cable. The embarrassment from that alone threatened to send Barnaby into hiding.

Lunchtime crowded the check-in, and after getting their luggage and finally making it to their single room (Barnaby argued with the clerk, but there weren’t any more rooms available in this or surrounding hotels), there was only one bed. One bed! Indignant, Barnaby made a beeline for the door, but Kotetsu stopped him and insisted he’d sleep on the small loveseat that lined one wall. Mollified and slightly interested, Barnaby silently decided they’d share the bed. There was no way either of them would fit on that tiny thing.

They ate lunch together, making small talk, with Kotetsu moaning about missing his daughter’s skating recital. He knew the man was married so he asked why his wife didn’t attend instead. The smile faded from the honey-colored eyes and amazingly enough, Kotetsu lost interest in his food.

“She left me 5 years ago,” he said.

Barnaby couldn’t blame her really. He didn’t think he’d last one day. Of course, he wouldn’t have made the mistake of marrying the man in the first place. Good-looking or not. “Sorry,” he mumbled.

“It was a while ago,” Kotetsu said, his smile returning. “My mom will go. She’ll videotape it for me.”

The afternoon sessions split up their team, so he didn’t see Kaburagi for quite a while. He met some other top salespeople in the area, including a young woman named Pao-Lin with enough energy to power an electric plant who worked for Odysseus Communication and an assuming young man named Ivan Karelin with the ability to blend in anywhere who worked for Helperidese Financial.

He stopped by the room to change before heading to dinner with his uncle and a few of Apollon's shareholders, declining Kaburagi’s drinking offer on the way out.

A late-night workout session, when Kotetsu still wasn’t in their room, reinvigorated him so much that he started up conversations with a couple of the others who found their way there: Nathan Seymour, CEO and owner of Helios Energy, and Karina Lyle, the top salesperson at Titan Industry nicknamed Blue Rose because of her cold beauty.

“You’re partners with Wild Tiger?” Karina asked before taking a sip of her water. “I couldn’t do it. That old man butts into everything.”

“Oh, he’s cute,” Nathan added. “He’s just trying to help. He’s helped me with sales before.”

“I won’t have to work with him much longer. Since I’m new, I have a probationary period. But I can tell you, I understand completely why his wife divorced him.”

Both Karina and Nathan exchanged a glance. “Oh, honey, she didn’t divorce him,” Nathan said.

“But he said she left him,” Barnaby replied before toweling off his face.

“She died,” Karina said softly. “Of cancer. She was in the hospital for a really long time.”

Surprise registered on Barnaby’s face. “What?”

“He used to visit her every day after work. He slept on a cot for a bit in her room there toward the end.” Nathan pursed their lips. “That last day-“ They stopped and couldn’t continue.

Karina took over. “She told him to go to a conference. Like this one. His old company, Top Mag, wanted him to go. Said they would promote him if he did.” She sighed. “He didn’t want to, but she said it would be okay and that he always wanted to be the best he could, so he should. So he did.” She paused. “She died while he was gone. They couldn’t reach him because the conference was at a center in the mountains outside of town where reception was shit. He was so excited to talk to her about how wonderful it was that he didn’t even go home before heading to the hospital.”

A harsh weight settled on all of them. “I think,” Nathan said, their voice cracking a little, “that this is the first one he’s been to since she passed.”

It made yesterday’s interaction with Lloyds a little more sinister. Barnaby couldn’t believe the man had the gall to say what he did, knowing what he knew now.

“I’m going to head back,” Barnaby said, throwing a wave over his shoulder. “Pleasure meeting you both.”

He quick-stepped to the room, but even after getting cleaned up, there was no sign of his partner. Grabbing a book from his bag, he sat on his bed and began reading.

A knock interrupted him. When he opened the door, a sheepish Antonio and a very drunk Kotetsu greeted him. “Could you-?” the big man asked.

Barnaby sighed and took possession of his partner. “Thank you for bringing him back. I’ll take care of him.”

“See you in the morning!”

Kotetsu felt heavier than he looked.

“Bunny!” The older man threw both his arms around Barnaby’s neck and hugged him. “I knew you would take care of me!” The man’s breath reeked of alcohol.

“Let’s get you cleaned up,” he began, but Kotetsu flopped down on the bed. “Oh, no, you don’t,” he began. He tugged on the man’s two-tone shoes, noting the hole in the toe of one sock. Then pulled off the man’s pants. Desperately trying not to register how firm those legs were. He wrangled Kotetsu upright and slid his vest off his powerful shoulders, after tossing the stupid hat onto the sofa. He unfastened the black tie, and unbuttoned the man’s green shirt, noting the revealed undershirt hiding sculpted abs.

“You have such pretty eyes,” his partner slurred. “There’s an actress who reminds me of you. She’s got green eyes, too. And blonde, curly hair. Her lips look so soft,” a fingertip traced the edge of his mouth, “just like yours. I wonder what it would feel like to kiss them.”

Barnaby froze. What?! What was he saying?

Kotetsu got closer, his caramel eyes staring at the blond’s mouth. “I bet they’re sweet, too.”

It was like watching a train wreck. Barnaby couldn’t move. Couldn’t look away. Couldn’t speak. He wanted this but didn’t want this. Kotetsu was so annoying but so…kind.

Then Kotetsu started snoring.

Startled, Barnaby sat back and pushed his glasses back up on his nose, letting the other man collapse to the bed. Stupid old man, getting him all flustered and stirred up like that, then having the audacity to fall asleep. The more Barnaby thought about it, the more insulted he felt. And the man positively reeked of alcohol. There was no way he’d let him sleep in the same bed smelling like that.

Luckily, Barnaby kept fit, but maneuvering dead weight wasn’t his forte. After a rough start, he wrangled Kotetsu, clad only in his undershirt and tighty-whities, into the shower and turned the cold water on full blast. However, his revenge plot backfired on him because when soaked those measly clothes hid nothing. Matter of fact, they accentuated…everything. Add the exaggerated movements of his wet and bedraggled partner to the slew of curses and insults and Brooks felt almost sorry for the man.

Almost.

“Next time you proposition me,” he snarled, “have the common decency to at least follow through.” He slammed the bathroom door on the way out.

The next morning he left before Kotetsu stirred, irritated at his own behavior the night before. Kaburagi affected him every single time. He ate a light breakfast, relying on a protein shake and a bottle of water for his repast. He noticed Kaburagi stumble into the assembly after it started, a large coffee and a donut in hand. He tsked and silently wondered how the man could possibly be so fit. Fat melted off those skinny bones so easily. It wasn’t fair.

This morning’s breakout sessions were all about customer excuses for not buying and complaints. He and Kotetsu were paired up for these. Not once did the man apologize for his behavior the night before. It rankled. He earned their team high marks for forestalling complaints, even with Kotetsu’s capitulation, but his partner shined when it came to complaints. He genuinely wanted to help fix whatever was wrong. Make it right.

Things got dicey though. One of their ‘clients’ told them he’d had some work done on the copier outside of the recommended warranty-affirming repair shops and now it didn’t work. Tiger noticed first that the circuit board in the keypad had been replaced. He saw the one in the core was new, too. Neither was the right kind to handle the type of power this particular brand needed. Kotetsu reached to unplug it when those boards both caught fire. Startled, Brooks jumped back in time to hear his partner yell, “Bunny! Heads up!” He turned and caught the fire extinguisher Kaburagi tossed his way, pulling the pin, and firing it toward the burning machine - the fires out before the alarms sounded.

The organizers added a special commendation to their files for their quick reflexes and impeccable teamwork, a TV team recording it for posterity. Barnaby bristled when accepting the honor, trying not to let it reflect in his green eyes, but somehow, his partner picked up on it, attacking him as soon as they left the room. “Bunny! What’s wrong? Isn’t this cool? We’re the best team!”

He glared at his partner. ‘They put everyone in danger. It was lucky we were there and there was a fire extinguisher in the room. They were completely irresponsible! That fire could have spread and killed someone!” His fingernails bit into his palms as he crushed his hands into fists, tears welling up in his eyes. “They could have killed someone…” his voice trailed off.

Blinking owlishly, Kotetsu watched him for a second before dragging him into an empty hallway. “You okay, lil Bunny?” he asked softly, sweetly.

The tears formed rivers on his cheeks. Barnaby tried to push past his partner, but Kotetsu held firm and gathered him into his arms, stubbornly hugging him as he cried. He didn’t stop until Barnaby did. He didn’t ask. Didn’t question him. He simply placed a small kiss on Barnaby’s forehead before resting their heads together. “Let’s go to lunch. Somewhere outside the hotel. My treat,” Kotetsu suggested.

Wiping his face clean, Barnaby nodded.

The afternoon sessions were simpler and uneventful. They were separated again and this time he was teamed up with the lead salesman in any division, a man named Keith Goodman, who repeated himself. All. The. Time. Barnaby got used to it after a while, admiring the man for his humility and graciousness. The man also listened to his irritated rambling regarding his so-called partner, only adding one comment toward the end. “Sometimes only the ones we care for the most can get under our skin.”

Some people he’d met, including Kotetsu’s long-time friend, Antonio, had dinner together. Kotetsu drank less than he had the night before. Against his better judgment, Barnaby enjoyed himself, laughing at the jokes at Kotetsu’s expense.

As the evening came to a close, Brooks fidgeted. Last night, it had been easy to feign anger. Mostly because he had been angry. Mostly at himself. But tonight, his gaze lingered too long on Kotetsu’s face, remembering the man in the shower. Those caramel eyes lusting after his lips. He finally excused himself. His mind kept wandering and his eyes couldn’t stop staring. He needed to leave. Soon. “I’m going to call it a night. Tomorrow’s the last day after all.”

“Aww, lil Bunny!” Kotetsu whined. “We can stay a little longer, can’t we?”

“You can. I am going back.”

Kotetsu downed his shochu in one shot. “Okay, okay. We’re going. See you guys in the morning!” He waved as he followed Barnaby out of the restaurant.

Back in the room, he cleaned up first, freezing when he saw Kotetsu clad only in his briefs sitting on the bed when he exited the bathroom. “Your turn,” he said as casually as possible.

“Oh! Thanks, Bunny!” The old man darted past him into the bathroom but didn’t close the door.

Why? Why didn’t he close the door? Desperately trying to ignore the open door and the noises within, Barnaby slid into his silk pajamas, grabbed his book, and slipped under the covers.

When Kaburagi returned clad only in a towel, he averted his eyes, rereading the same sentence in his book over and over again. Another set of tighty-whiteys and he nestled in the sheets, too.

Barnaby pointedly ignored him.

“Bunny.”

He didn’t respond.

“Lil Bunny,” Kotetsu singsonged.

He read the sentence again.

“Barnaby,” Kotetsu purred.

“My name’s NOT-“ Startled, Barnaby looked up from his book. He’d called him Barnaby… And holy shit, he was close. He could see the flecks of gold in the man’s eyes.

“Wanna kiss?”

“What?!” He practically scuttled backward. “Why would I-?”

The old man scratched at his ridiculous beard. “Last night, you said I should follow through. So… I’m following through.”

“I didn’t- You were-“

“I wasn’t THAT drunk,” Kotetsu offered. “I remembered stuff. And that shower was COLD!” he complained.

“You fell asleep!” Barnaby sulked. “You leaned in to kiss me, but I guess I bored you because-“

“Never.” Kotetsu crept closer. “You’d never bore me.” One of his hands reached out to take the book from Barnaby’s grasp. He set it on the nightstand. “One kiss. To make up for last night.”

Glasses pushed back up to hide his eyes, Barnaby blushed a bit. “Fine.” He removed those glasses and carefully set them on the nightstand. “One kiss.”

Smiling, Kotetsu leaned in closer. His breath mingled with Barnaby’s. “Just one?”

Barnaby nodded. “If I like it, maybe more.”

“Oh, so it’d better be good, huh?” Kotetsu chuckled and the sound traveled all the way down to the blond’s toes. “Challenge accepted.”

It wasn’t good.

It was amazing.

It felt like an electric spark traveled between them, igniting Barnaby’s basic needs. He would have pledged his love if he weren’t so damned levelheaded. Their lips touched, and that was it. Kotetsu pulled away.

But Barnaby wasn’t done yet. His hands darted out and grabbed the old man’s head, holding him in place, kissing him in earnest. At first, Kotetsu resisted, attempting to pull away, but Barnaby held him fast, deepening the kiss, thrusting his tongue into the warm, surprised mouth. A warm hand lighted on his chest, the other snaking around his waist. He tugged Kotetsu’s body closer and claimed that warm mouth again, wrestling with the man’s tongue.

Kotetsu finally broke free, his chest heaving. Barnaby panted, his body tingling. The old man chuckled again, the same deep, rich laugh that curled the blond’s toes. “Eager, my lil Bunny?” he whispered before stretching out and reaching for Barnaby.

Barnaby’s delighted smile lit up his eyes and he snuggled next to his Wild Tiger.

Maybe being partners with the old man wasn’t so bad after all.

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