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i've been waiting for the dark to come
[It isn't a surprise that they work well together.
Goro and Ren have been dancing around one another for months now: first under the guise of a friendly rivalry, then as actual almost friends, and then rivals again, constantly trading the upper hand in their game until it's difficult to know who's coming out ahead, even this late into their trajectory. And it is a trajectory, one that Akechi has mapped out in his mind more than once, a twin to Joker's own projection, he thinks - except Akechi is determined that he's going to be the one to finally come out on top.
Part of his plans means that he has to watch him, has to know exactly how he works, how he moves, what his first reaction is when he's caught off guard. He has to not only observe what Ren does when needled, but also predict what he'll do under each stimuli. Akechi has watched him so closely that at some points it seems like he knows him better than he knows himself.
And so, battle comes naturally to him and he slots effortlessly into the Phantom Thieves when it comes time to actually raid through the Metaverse - possibly too effortlessly, but he doesn't think that anyone is looking so closely at him as to be suspicious of his quick and easy power, let alone the way that he covers Joker's blind spots without prompting. Akechi compliments him easily by preparing his own attacks before Joker even finishes a command, attacking the target shadows so quickly that there's no hope of retaliation.
He's efficient and he's brutal - and so is Joker, but he's known that Joker would be. He's seen it in him, maybe better than Ren's own friends have, and Akechi is pleased enough to match him here, outstripping the others and keeping up with Ren in a perfect lock step.
It's what brings them here, at a three-pronged fork in their path and pressed for time. They need to get back soon, but this poses a significant blocker to their progress through this place. Neither Morgana nor Futaba can sense their target well: it's difficult to get a good read on anything this far deep into the metaverse and Goro frowns, pausing as he perfunctorily wipes the blackened blood of a shadow from his sword.]
The most obvious strategy is to split up, [he volunteers, never one to be intimidated into silence by how most of the group seems to actively dislike him.]
It would be more efficient if each path had adequate coverage in all forms of combat and healing: Skull, Panther and myself in one, Queen, Mona, and Fox in another, and - Noire and Joker for the final path.
[Not everyone is a fan of this idea and Ryuji is the first to complain but Akechi takes it in stride, glancing toward Joker with a casual air. This is the most efficient way forward, even if it splits them up. They should all be skilled enough to be able to hold their own by now.
He sheaths his sword while Ryuji suggests that they all just go in one by one. Yusuke mentions a way to solve mazes by only taking the rightmost path every time. Akechi meets Joker's eyes quietly: you know I'm right.]
Joker? You're the one with the most versatility. What do you think?
Goro and Ren have been dancing around one another for months now: first under the guise of a friendly rivalry, then as actual almost friends, and then rivals again, constantly trading the upper hand in their game until it's difficult to know who's coming out ahead, even this late into their trajectory. And it is a trajectory, one that Akechi has mapped out in his mind more than once, a twin to Joker's own projection, he thinks - except Akechi is determined that he's going to be the one to finally come out on top.
Part of his plans means that he has to watch him, has to know exactly how he works, how he moves, what his first reaction is when he's caught off guard. He has to not only observe what Ren does when needled, but also predict what he'll do under each stimuli. Akechi has watched him so closely that at some points it seems like he knows him better than he knows himself.
And so, battle comes naturally to him and he slots effortlessly into the Phantom Thieves when it comes time to actually raid through the Metaverse - possibly too effortlessly, but he doesn't think that anyone is looking so closely at him as to be suspicious of his quick and easy power, let alone the way that he covers Joker's blind spots without prompting. Akechi compliments him easily by preparing his own attacks before Joker even finishes a command, attacking the target shadows so quickly that there's no hope of retaliation.
He's efficient and he's brutal - and so is Joker, but he's known that Joker would be. He's seen it in him, maybe better than Ren's own friends have, and Akechi is pleased enough to match him here, outstripping the others and keeping up with Ren in a perfect lock step.
It's what brings them here, at a three-pronged fork in their path and pressed for time. They need to get back soon, but this poses a significant blocker to their progress through this place. Neither Morgana nor Futaba can sense their target well: it's difficult to get a good read on anything this far deep into the metaverse and Goro frowns, pausing as he perfunctorily wipes the blackened blood of a shadow from his sword.]
The most obvious strategy is to split up, [he volunteers, never one to be intimidated into silence by how most of the group seems to actively dislike him.]
It would be more efficient if each path had adequate coverage in all forms of combat and healing: Skull, Panther and myself in one, Queen, Mona, and Fox in another, and - Noire and Joker for the final path.
[Not everyone is a fan of this idea and Ryuji is the first to complain but Akechi takes it in stride, glancing toward Joker with a casual air. This is the most efficient way forward, even if it splits them up. They should all be skilled enough to be able to hold their own by now.
He sheaths his sword while Ryuji suggests that they all just go in one by one. Yusuke mentions a way to solve mazes by only taking the rightmost path every time. Akechi meets Joker's eyes quietly: you know I'm right.]
Joker? You're the one with the most versatility. What do you think?
sorry for the delay!
Akechi wears an immaculate mask, as always. All smiles and calculations — this time, however, he sensed something was off from the get-go. There's a colder whiff to his actions, pointed cold shoulders. The communication is there, but the heart is elsewhere.
It pisses Joker off, this song and dance. This isn't the fun kind, not when Crow is so focused in finishing this as quickly as possible, and Joker has been finding every opportunity he could to isolate and demand Crow's attention.
Then, it finally happens — the three-way split in the road. Crow's trying to pull a fast one on him, but gives him an opening. It's like dangling keys in front of a wild cat, Joker snatches at the opportunity. ] Queen, Skull, Panther in one squad, Fox, Noire and Mona in the other.
[ He fixes his gaze on Crow— he won't have it any other way, and he's prepared to make it happen no matter what. Based on the overwhelming tension from the two of them, it seems the rest of the Thieves are okay with that arrangement that they went ahead first before Crow can protest.
He waits until their mumbling dies down each individual tunnel dies down to finally confront Crow. Just the two of them. ]
Avoiding me, now?
np!!
The others make their way off and are none the wiser then Joker looks back at him and asks the question that Akechi knows is on his mind.
Crow looks away. He knows that he seems like a petulant child now and it irritates him all the more. He just can't seem to think straight when Ren is involved, can't seem to keep his emotions in check or keep his metaphorical masks tightly in place. It was why he'd pulled away from him, why he's trying to push this... whatever this was between them, into the background while he focuses on his own goals: goals, which ultimately include putting a bullet in Ren's skull.]
Of course not. Just trying to get this over with.
[He starts moving for the third path then, trusting Joker to follow him into the darkness. Akechi stays on alert, scouting out the area for shadows, but Ren's presence is like needles in the back of his mind - eventually, he has to look back at him.]
...why do you ask? I thought that you'd want to keep your distance after - that.
[He can't stop prodding at it, even after everything. Akechi should know better than to pick at old wounds. He should know to just let things go, move on with his life, and commit himself to his goals. But... well, he's never really been any good at that sort of thing.]
hope you're recovering well!!
He steps closer.
His gaze is nails stabbing him in the spot. There's nowhere left he can hide like this, and he isn't going to let him hide behind the mask. Not after all they've been through. ]
You don't get to decide that.
thank you!!! it's goin' okay, just glad i can type again :)
We're temporary allies, Joker.
[He says it bluntly, reminding them both of their positions here, on the chessboard. Akechi wears the tension in his shoulders, his gloved hands curling into fists, but he stays the course, watches Ren with a coldness he doesn't quite mean.]
This was never going to last. Or did you get so caught up in playing house with all of us that you forgot what I'm really here for?
i'm so happy to hear that!
But this is no obstacle. It's personal. For once, he doesn't want to think about the goddamn world. Just for a goddamn second, he wants to think for himself. ]
Was it really just 'playing house' with you? [ He steps closer.
He can't hear the something creeping in the depths of the hallway through the thumping of his heartbeat, roaring against his eardrums. ]
Akechi. Can you just be honest with me? We just lay all our cards on the table - I tell you my secrets, you tell me yours.
<3
And how would you know I wouldn't say 'yes' and lie to you anyway?
[Now, he finally takes a step back, caving to Ren's physicality and the way he's moving so close. He's focused entirely on the man in front of him, watching for the minute movements of his hands, listening for the shifts in his tone. He can't think about anything else, not when Ren is offering him something that could break their game wide open.
He grits his teeth. He can't falter now.]
How would I know this isn't a ruse to open me up and stab me in the back?
no subject
Alright. So then we keep our secrets— what then, are we supposed to just ignore how we make each other feel?
[ Joker reaches out, his gloved hands grip on Akechi's shoulders. ]
Crow— Akechi. Let's be honest about our feelings then.
no subject
[Ren's touch is a shock of heat against his shoulders. Akechi shivers, but there's nowhere further back for him to retreat: the wall is right behind him and Joker might as well have him trapped there. There's no way out, and what he's asking for...]
My feelings...? [Does he want him? Yes, a thousand times yes. But that sort of thing doesn't matter - it can't matter in the grand scheme of things. What do his feelings matter when he's got so much blood on his hands? When he knows he'll be putting a bullet through Ren's head in a few weeks' time?]
...I don't know what you want me to say. My feelings don't change anything about the reality of our situation.
1/2
[ He moves his hand — the color of his glove matches crow's mask, he notes as his fingers curl around the edge. his fingertips stay there, making eye-contact once again, fixing his gaze sharply as if asking and demanding at once: "I'm taking off your mask," his gaze says.
He takes off his own mask at the same time. Tosses them both aside. Ren's face, without his black mask, appears rosier than usual - a result of the humidity under the pressure of the tunnels and prior battles., sweat prickling at the tips of his dark curls.
Without their masks, he feels even more bare than when they shared the hot springs. ]
Let's just throw away our "situation" for now. I just want to talk about us. I just—
no subject
He doesn't even know what status ailment hit them until it's too late. Joker takes Crow by the wrist and throws a smokescreen. He blindly darts toward a safe room and dumps their bodies inside before the ailments can register.
Chest heaving, he rolls over to check on Akechi's status. ] Hey— hey, you alright? I don't... really know what hit us...
[ He's out of breath, dizzy, and — incredibly thirsty. He swallows. ]
no subject
It's disorienting all at once, and he sprawls down, instinctively casting his mind out for help: Loki bubbles up in the back of his mind, clawed fingers curling in anticipation and Goro shuts it down immediately before he can manifest. He squeezes his eyes shut, trying to focus, to fight the way he's supposed to fight around Joker, but before he can do much else, he's being yanked aside by the arm, breathing in the heavy smoke.]
I -
[He coughs, rubbing at his face and quelling both personas inside of him, pushing them back into dormancy for now. His eyes are itchy and his first reaction is to hiss and curse, but he restrains that too, looking up at Ren with suddenly-wide eyes.]
It came out of nowhere -
[There's a pause. His throat feels dry all of a sudden and Ren is very close to him. Akechi's cheeks go pink with a flush and he looks back at the door of the safe room, quickly putting together the sequence of events in the last thirty seconds.]
...thanks. I'm fine, just - a little disoriented.
no subject
At the very least, they're out of immediate harm's way.
But his insides are burning. His heart races, and his jacket is suddenly too heavy and tight and sweaty for him. Ren peels his coat off, sighing at the immediate relief the air-conditioned breeze hitting his bare shoulders. ]
We're safe in here, so— just gotta wait it out. [ Ren peers at him, this time seeming through him. Deep understanding somewhere in their cores. ] You're burning up...
no subject
[Ren strips out of his coat so quickly that Akechi feels like he can't keep up. He's a little dizzy all of a sudden and he takes a quick step back, not quite placing the effect yet. He takes in a deep breath but it feels too hot - everything feels too hot, even the air between them, and it takes him longer than it should to realize that he's staring at the soft, pale curve of Ren's shoulder now that the other boy has shed his jacket.
He is burning up. Akechi can feel the heat stain his cheeks and throat, his heart beating too hard, opening up the small blood vessels at near the surface of his skin. He understands perfectly, scientifically, biologically, what is happening to him - but he doesn't know why. Has it always been this warm in a safe room?]
I can't... breathe.
[There's not enough cool air to pull into his lungs. Akechi furrows his brow and quickly follows suit, unclasping the small capelet at his throat and dropping it to the ground before his fingers slipping along the ornate clasps at his coat to pull it open. There's an undershirt shirt on underneath - it's still too hot. He rubs at his face, not wanting to be seen so immodestly, but he grudgingly lets his coat fall to the floor anyway, his finger tugging at the collar of his shirt for a little more air on his skin.
His hand quickly lifts up to press against his face, his eyes screwing shut. He still feels dizzy, he wants - his own touch against his skin feels odd, like it's not quite enough to reassure him and he pulls his hand away, looking down quizzically at his fingers.]
...we got hit by something. This is - ugh, it's hard to think.
[He finally looks toward Ren again, and realizes all too suddenly what it is he wants pressed against his skin.]
-Ren?