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aceghosts · 1 month

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❛ so, what do i owe this pleasure? ❜ and/or ❛ how long has it been since you've slept? ❜ for the OTP Rooney and Yorinobu

Thank you for sending these prompts in! It gave me an excuse to write some fluff, and Rooney and Yori pining for each other.

[Prompt List]

Summary: Yorinobu is having trouble sleeping, and Rooney steps into help him. (AO3 Title comes from Poets of the Fall's The Labyrinth.) Words: 2,367 words. Content Warnings: This is mostly fluff, but a warning for minor referenced drug use. Author's Note: In terms of the timeline, this fic takes place a few weeks after Rooney and Yorinobu's reunion in 2077. Also, I hope you'll forgive me for being self-indulgent and including a nod to what was supposed to be Rooney's original ship. (Lol, I say that like everything I do isn't self-indulgent.)

AO3

Taglist (Opt In/Out): @bbrocklesnar, @sergeiravenov, @alexxmason, @voidika, @tommyarashikage,

@carlosoliveiraa, @imogenkol, @strangefable, @socially-awkward-skeleton,

@theelderhazelnut, @direwombat, @derelictheretic, @cassietrn, @cloudofbutterflies92.

Yorinobu frowns, swiping to the next file. Each one is dense, heavy reading not meant for someone on such little sleep. He takes his glasses off, briefly rubbing his eyes before putting them back on. “Yorinobu-sama, Shepard is here to see you.”

“Send them in.” Anyone else would have received a sharp rebuke for disturbing him. Yorinobu wanted to see Rooney, to make up for the time that the two had spent apart. He would not make the same mistake twice. Rooney’s visit also gave him an excuse to take a needed break from searching through his father’s files. The door to his office slides open, and Rooney steps through the threshold quietly. He notes the way their eyes scan his office, searching for some potential threat. Good to know Rooney was still their hyper-vigilant self. They stride towards him as Yorinobu gets up from his chair, attempting to hide a yawn. “So, what do I owe this pleasure?” He asks as Rooney reaches his desk.

Rooney narrows their eyes, searching his face. He catches a glimpse of concern crossing their face as they take him in. “How long has it been since you’ve slept?” They ask bluntly.

“I slept last night.” A lie, but he dismisses their question with a wave of his hand. “Any updates on the Relic?”

“Bullshit,” Rooney crosses their arms over their chest, “Yorinobu, you look like shit. Seriously, when did you last sleep?”

Yorinobu loves so many things about Rooney, but their tendency to hyperfocus on a single issue causes trouble. Rooney won’t let this go until they have an answer, and Yorinobu is not in the mood. “I do not pay you to worry about my health. I pay you to find the Relic. I will not ask again-.“

“I’m not asking because you pay me,” frustration bleeds into their voice as Rooney stubbornly digs their heels in, “I am asking because I care, and it looks like you do need someone to worry about your health. Doesn’t look like Hanako or anyone else at Arasaka is doing it.”

He scoffs, anger building within him as Rooney hits a raw nerve. “When did you last sleep?” Yorinobu notices the dark circles under their eyes, giving Rooney a semi-haunted look. What right did Rooney have to lecture him on sleep? Especially if they were getting so little themself? “You have no right to lecture me on my health.”

“Don’t turn this around on me,” They shake their head, uncrossing their arms, “We are talking about your-.”

“Do not worry,” Yorinobu reaches down towards his desk for the pill bottle in his desk drawer, some stimulants to get him through the rest of the day, until he could hopefully fall asleep, “I will make it through-.”

Yorinobu does not get the chance to finish his sentence as he starts to pull the bottle out of his desk drawer. In a blink, Rooney’s hand, the mechanical one forced upon them by Arasaka, grabs his wrist, fingers wrapping around tightly. Not tight enough to hurt him, but tight enough to let him know that Rooney is serious. “Put it down,” They order.

“Let-.”

“No.” Rooney’s tone is deadly quiet, a grim look on their face.

“If you do not let go, I will fire you, and Smasher will throw you out.”

“No,” Rooney’s face softens, their shoulders slightly dropping as their grip around his wrist loosens, “I’m worried about you. You’ve been through a lot these last few weeks. And I’m not talking about Saburo. I’m talking about you taking over Arasaka. I know what you plan to do, and I worry that you’ll burn yourself out before you take Arasaka down. I care about you too much to let that happen.”

He drops the pills back in the desk drawer, Rooney releasing his wrist. “You are correct. I am not sleeping. Between travel and Arasaka, sleep is not a priority.” Yorinobu would sleep for an hour or two occasionally, but could not stay asleep, despite his exhaustion. More urgent matters require his attention.

“Go home. Lay down for a while. Or,” Rooney motions over their shoulder to the black leather couches in his office with a teasing smile, “You could lay down here, but I know how you feel about Arasaka couches.” He feels a warmth in his chest, touched by their attempt at a joke about his distaste for Arasaka couches.

Yorinobu relents, knowing Rooney will win this battle through sheer stubbornness. He presses down on the intercom button. “Aria, cancel the rest of my meetings for today. Tell the AV to meet me in five minutes.”

“Yes, Yorinobu-sama.”

Rooney relaxes, a weight coming off their shoulders. “Good, you need the rest.”

“You are very persuasive, and you would have dragged me back to my apartment if I did not agree,” He teases.

“Yeah,” Rooney replies sheepishly, rubbing the back of their neck in slight embarrassment, “I can be stubborn like that.”

“You are very stubborn.” A massive understatement. Yorinobu wishes that Rooney would care for themself the way they do others. When it came to everyone else, there was no limit to what Rooney would do. For themself? Rooney would brush it off, insisting that they were fine, that no one needed to look after them. He wishes they would look after themself or listen to him like they used to.

“Have a good night, Yorinobu. I’ll update you on my investigation next time; there isn’t much.”

“Good night, Rooney.”

He watches them turn away, walking a few steps. Rooney stops and turns back towards him, seemingly hesitant. “Would you like me to come with you? I know playing with your hair helped you fall asleep,” They ask, rolling their left shoulder out of nervousness. His eyes widen in surprise as Rooney backpedals, looking away from him, flustered and bright red. “I’m sorry; I overstepped. Forget what I-.”

“No,” He cuts them off, “You caught me by surprise. If you want to come, I would not say no, but please do not feel compelled to.”

“I want to,” the words rush out of their mouth slightly, Rooney relaxing, “I mean, I would be happy to.” They smile at him softly, that small smile reserved for few, reserved for him.

Yorinobu smiles back, a warm feeling in his chest. “Good. Allow me a few minutes to get ready.”

—

Rooney follows him into the apartment, like a shadow. “Go get comfortable. I’ll go put on some white noise,” Yorinobu raises an eyebrow, “Reconnected with some old friends from the Unification War in Night City. One of them swears by white noise along with some other stuff. Figure it might help you too.”

“From the Unification War?” In all their time together, Rooney rarely talked about the Unification War. He knew that whatever Rooney had seen had been horrific, having met a few other Unification War veterans.

They nod. “He was Militech; I was part of the Free States. It’s a long story; He’s an,” Rooney pauses, brow furrowing for a moment as they search for their next words, “interesting guy.”

“He does sound interesting. Do you take any of his advice?”

“I tried,” Rooney frowns, wrinkling their nose as Yorinobu holds back a laugh, “It only stressed me out more.”

“You think it will help me?”

“Can’t hurt. Besides, you know how I am,” They smile at him again, “Now, go get ready.”

Several minutes later, Yorinobu lies on the right side of the bed. Rooney approaches, shrugging off their worn black and blue leather coat. They fold it neatly, laying it on the nightstand. Sitting on the edge of his bed, Rooney takes off their boots, before sitting up against the headboard. Yorinobu lays his head in their lap as the soft rain noises play. Their hand runs through his hair, a relaxing sensation. He sighs in contentment, closing his eyes as serenity washes over him. As he drifts off to sleep, Yorinobu hopes that they’ll still be here when he wakes up.

—

Stifling a yawn, Rooney looks down at Yorinobu, relieved to see him asleep. They had been deeply concerned about him when they stepped into his office. Yorinobu looks tired and older than when they first saw him, the weight of Arasaka finally bearing down on his shoulders. Despite their duty towards V, Rooney hopes that they can help shoulder some of Yorinobu’s burdens, especially with Arasaka. Their hand continues to play with his hair, a comforting motion to Rooney. A yawn escapes them, Rooney blinking slowly. Their eyes feel heavy, their own exhaustion overtaking them. Maybe, they could just close their eyes for a few seconds. Wouldn’t hurt them.

—

Yorinobu groans, his senses coming back to him as he wakes. He feels a comforting pressure on his waist, looking down to see a familiar red and black metal arm wrapped around him. Glancing over his shoulder, Yorinobu finds Rooney spooning him, still asleep. They are frowning in their sleep, as they always do, but still sleeping peacefully. Rooney must have fallen asleep, exhausted from their PI work. He smiles softly, happy to lay with Rooney in this quiet moment. He remembers the moments the pair would spend in bed, a lazy morning to themselves. Cuddling together as they would quietly talk, which occasionally turned into something more intimate.

As if they sense his staring, Rooney awakes, blinking a few times. “Where-?” They mumble, their voice groggy. Awareness kicks in seconds later as their eyes widen. “Yorinobu, I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean to,” They apologize profusely, pulling away from him and sitting up against the headboard, “I don’t know what happened. I’m really sorr-.”

“Do not apologize,” He shakes his head as he sits up next to them, trying not to feel hurt, “You were asleep.” Disappointment lingers in his chest. Perhaps Yorinobu misread their signals, thinking that Rooney might still have lingering feelings.

Rooney does not look convinced, guilt on their face. Before they can apologize again, he notices the electric blue circle in their eyes, a telltale sign of Rooney receiving a call. “Yorinobu, do you mind if I take this call for a second?”

Shaking his head, he reaches for his glasses, setting them on his nose as Rooney answers. “Vik, I’m okay.” A jealous feeling rises in his chest. Who is Vik? A partner perhaps? He grabs his phone as they speak again. “I promise I’m fine. Listen, I’ll meet up with you later. I’m in the middle of something right now.” Now, Yorinobu is ‘something’, a secret to be hidden? “Thanks. I should go.”

They hang up, looking over at him. “Sorry, I had to take that.”

Yorinobu waves them off, burning with jealousy. Rooney moved on with their life, just as he had. He had no right to expect them to pine after him. Yet, Yorinobu felt jealous of Vik. He hopes that Vik is treating Rooney well, understanding how rare someone like Rooney is. “I understand,” wincing at how bitter his voice sounds, “You do not want your boyfriend to know you are in bed with another man.”

“Boyfriend?” Rooney blurts out, staring at him in shock. Realization dawns on them a few seconds later “Vik! Oh no, he’s a really close friend,” They rub their neck awkwardly, and Yorinobu senses that there might be something more to it, “That’s all, just a close friend.”

“Oh?”

They nod. “What about you? I was surprised you didn’t have someone waiting for you here.”

With Rooney back in his life, Evelyn had become an afterthought, a past situation. While he preferred his relationships casual, Rooney had been one of the few exceptions, turning his life upside down. “No, I am not seeing anyone. Are you seeing anyone?”

“No,” Rooney rolls their shoulder, slightly embarrassed, “When I returned to the military, I went on a few first dates at the encouragement of friends, but none of them made it past that,” They look down at their hands, “Truth be told, none of them were you, and it didn’t seem fair to lead them on.” Rooney looks up again, meeting his eyes. “I guess, it’s just finding someone special now.”

“Have you found someone special?”

Rooney smiles at him fondly, a warm, affectionate look in their eyes. “I might have,” They admit, “There are things that I have to take care of first. But, once I take care of that, I think I can give it a shot. Anyone catch your eye?”

Does that mean-? Yorinobu feels lighter, like he wasn’t wrong for reading into their actions. “Not until recently,” He reaches out, tucking a strand of their dark red hair behind their ear, “I would ask them, but they are dealing with something. I hope they will tell me what they are dealing with and let me help.” Please let me help. “I want to help them.”

Their cheeks flush bright red. “I hope it works out for you,” Rooney replies softly, trying to keep the wide smile off their face, “Do you need to get back to Arasaka?”

“I should.” Yorinobu would rather not. He would much rather stay here with Rooney, letting this moment last a little longer between them. “I need to keep looking through the old man’s notes, understand what he was working on.”

Rooney frowns, growing serious. “Yorinobu, if you need help with that, you know you only have to ask, right?”

“I do.” He knows that he could ask almost anything of Rooney, and they would do it for him. If Rooney were to ask almost anything of him, Yorinobu would do it. He wishes they would ask him for help, confide him in like they used to. He wishes he could truly confide in them like he used to. Another reminder of the distance between them.

“Good luck, Yori,” Their nickname for him slips out as they get out of bed, “And if you need help sleeping or with Arasaka, don’t be a stranger. You can always call, anytime.”

“Thank you, Rooney.”

“Goodbye.” They grab their coat, departing from the bedroom, leaving him all alone. Yorinobu sighs, his shoulders dropping. One day, he will convince Rooney to stay.

#kate writes #the rooney fic tag #commander rooney shepard #I won't let fear compromise who I am #OTP: It always comes right back to you #yorinobu arasaka x OC #v: cyberpunk 2077 #cyberpunk 2077 fanfic #cp2077 fanfic #I needed to post about them after the shitty last 48 hours I've had #anyway I hope you enjoy this #and I love how rooney is like 'i'm supposed to be keeping my distance from my ex'#and then they go and do stuff like this #lol I love Rooney so much

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