the boy in the belfry

[pancakeboy]

In the end, Akechi comes out of Mementos into the Shibuya night, walks past the people still making for the station, and sits in the shadows, on a bench under the trees. Nobody notices him; a lot of the people passing are drunk, and couldn't see a metre in front of their face.

Shido had dragged him out for a psychotic breakdown, of course. And it was fun, they're always fun, they're funny. Except for this one he'd also been really fucking angry; even getting to the target had almost killed him. That thing inside him that's not Loki, exactly, but is like Loki; the thing that's always in chains, and can't quite spread its wings. Akechi gives it a little prod every time he fights, to see what it will do.

And it's him, of course, just like Loki is him, deep down. Why shouldn't he hurt things? Shadows aren't fucking real. Even a person's shadow isn't them. And yet there's always that chain on his neck, fine gold rather than a prison shackle, whispering control.

For the first time, he consciously thinks about Ren, reaching for his phone. This time it's the gold chain that tightens on his neck, as he types from memory.

"In the moment a captive lion steps out of his cage, he possesses a wider world than the lion who has known only the wilds. While he was in captivity, there were only two worlds to him; the world of the cage, and the world outside the cage. Now he is free. He roars. He attacks people. He eats them. yet he is not satisfied, for there is no third world that is neither the world of the cage nor the world outside the cage."

Comments

[poesmasquerade]

[ Well, the answer to that question is no, Ren kind of saw it coming. But the reason for that is not to be spoken of. And so: ]

not really
maybe surprised but shocked has such a bad connotation
and i kind of thought you had a side like that
like.. i was trying to figure out who you are when you arent detective princing, u know? and i saw hints

[ All of that is true. Akechi can trust him; he promised. ]

[pancakeboy]

[Almost, he sends you did not see hints. Almost.]

You thought I had a side like the one you saw that first time? Before we did anything?

If that's true, I'm going to need an image consultant.

[poesmasquerade]

[ He grins. ]

no need to hire anyone
ill tell u what gave u away for the low low price of one (1) kiss
IOUs accepted

[pancakeboy]

[Akechi thinks about this for all of ten seconds. Sunday's the next time he expects to see Ren, but it shouldn't be too difficult....]

You're on. The next time I see you. No matter the time, no matter the place.

[poesmasquerade]

not convincing me i shouldnt get a taxi
but ok
firstly the smile is so blinding idk why more ppl dont wonder why ur trying to blind everyone but anyway

[ That may be an experience unique to people who are extremely attracted to Akechi. ]

u were *real* upset whenever i had a good turn in billiards. like. u hid it but
u were so upset lol. i was worried u were going to snap ur cue stick at one point
and u were so pleased when u talked abt coming at me with everything u have
honestly a lot of things abt competing w/ u were enough to make me wonder
but what really gave u away was when u called me and talked to me abt how u wanted to dress me up and control me. idk what else u expected me to think
like ... honestly i wasnt sure even after that. but it was enough to make it worth testing the waters u know

[pancakeboy]

[It drips over him, one thing after the next, one little thing after another that Ren has not only seen, but remembered. I see you, I see you. I always saw you. He feels like someone's lifted his mask to stare in at him, but he also feels a weird exaltation: he was watching me from the start, like I was watching him.]

You're right. Most of that isn't much of a giveaway. Anyone in my homeroom could tell you I'm competitive. Not that any of them are worth the effort.

I couldn't believe you touched me like that. [Really. Nobody touched him, other than to drag him along or hit him or to be a fucking creep, since... when, exactly?]

[poesmasquerade]

u seemed so sad that those girls were going to chase u out
& also i wanted to see what u looked like w/ messy hair
two birds one stone

[pancakeboy]

I'd say you've got your wish by now.

I admit, that phone call wasn't the best-judged thing I've done. Not my finest hour - I was a little embarrassed, though it seems to have worked out. [No, he'd been mad as hell, he'd tingled all over his body for hours.] I wanted you to know I could do the same to you. Make you into whatever I wanted you to be.

I still think my clothes would suit you. We'd have to comb your hair.

[poesmasquerade]

[ A little embarrassed. Sure. ]

ill wear whatever u want just bring it over
everyone acts like i dont comb my hair tho
this is what it looks like when i comb it

[pancakeboy]

Really? *Anything* I want? That's quite the blank cheque.

I can't imagine you fixing your hair in front of the mirror, so I won't suggest it.

[poesmasquerade]

[ Well, he can't back down now. ]

i said what i said
& i did that once. put stuff in my hair and everything
it was like wearing a greasy helmet and it didnt even work that well

[pancakeboy]

I know the feeling. They fix mine for TV. It's not my favourite thing about it.

I should call that taxi. But I'm quite enjoying sitting here alone.

[It's closer to two than one now, and the square really is desolate. Only him, in all the world.]

[poesmasquerade]

[ Yeah, Morgana is going to tell him to go to bed at any moment. But he hasn't yet. Turns out it's harder to make bombs than lockpicks without opposable thumbs. ]

its impossible to be alone in tokyo. theres always someone around the corner
maybe someday u can come home w/ me. see the stars n stuff
find actual solitude

[pancakeboy]

You'd be amazed how quiet it is here, right now.

[Of course, just as he says that, a pair of salarymen stumble past. And he feels the shackle, rather than the fine gold chain. There's no way he can leave the city, and by the time he can....]

I'd like that.

I'm too busy.

I'm a murderer, Ren, and you want to take me to your home town?

That sounds like too much solitude to me. I'd have nothing to do. Besides, stars strike me as a little underwhelming.

Goodnight.

[poesmasquerade]

[ That was too friendly, huh. Ren is still holding out hope that if he says that stuff enough, one day it might not freak Goro out. ]

good night
get home safe!

[ And then... yeah, he'll go for it. ]

(*¯ ³¯*)♡

[pancakeboy]

[Akechi actually looks at it and laughs under his breath—sour, but definite. Honestly. But sure, if that's how Ren wants it.]

[Image]

[poesmasquerade]

[ ... Ren's entire face heats up as he stares at the gif. ]

(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)
me irl

[pancakeboy]

[Some of the sourness leaves his face at Ren's reply.]

Just as planned.

Sleep well, Ren.

[poesmasquerade]

u too
<3

[ And he turns to help a frustrated Morgana finish the bomb. He's going to be so fucking tired tomorrow.

And indeed, the next morning finds him blinking sleepily on the train platform, yawning into his hand. Morgana is having a quiet morning in his bag, probably for the same reason. ]

[pancakeboy]

[Akechi gets three hours' sleep, which isn't exactly unprecedented. It doesn't show; he puts some concealer under his eyes and gets on with it. So when he draws up alongside Ren with his usual princely smile, it's like he's not even human—like he's some kind of pleasant boy robot. Except for the quiet suggestiveness in his tone, that is.]

It's really summer now, isn't it? I've broken a sweat just walking down here.

[Actually... yeah, there's a slant to his smile that only Ren will see.]

[poesmasquerade]

[ You're on, Akechi said. The next time I see you. No matter the time, no matter the place. Ren's sleepy expression slowly shifts into quiet hilarity as he watches Akechi approach. ]

Yeah, I get that.

[ Blandest of bland tones. ]

[pancakeboy]

[Akechi draws up beside him on the crowded platform, because why the hell not. His eyes are dancing.]

Yes, it's been an interesting year all around, what with Medjed getting involved now. The influence of the Phantom Thieves knows no bounds. I truly underestimated them.

[Just like that, where Ren can see, he cups his hand over his mouth, as if in thought. And he kisses it on the back, sticking out the tip of his tongue to lick his palm.]

[poesmasquerade]

I remember. Talking trash on the TV set.

[ They'd run from a powerful enemy, and all that. Morgana is probably listening to all this, but luckily for Ren, he's curled up drowsily in his bag. Ren's expression is utterly blank, like he's seeing nothing out of the ordinary, but his eyes are fixed on Akechi's mouth and the little flick of his tongue. ]

[pancakeboy]

Yes. Perhaps I was wrong about that. How they handle Medjed, though, an enemy they can't see or touch—no, I'm still afraid of the implications. The potential for that fight to spill onto a wider game board is immense.

[He lowers his hand to his side; it's still cupped, as if he's palmed the kiss like a magician palms a coin. Again, he meets Ren's eye with a sparkle he's had entirely too little sleep for.]

Speaking of the wider game board, what do you think the public are making of this? Are they entertained? Or would you say they're more inconvenienced by it?

[poesmasquerade]

[ The public seem like they're enjoying it, frankly. Ren isn't sure how he feels about that; he doesn't think he likes it very much. ]

I'm having fun, anyway.

[ He yawns widely, lifting his hand to cover his mouth. When his hand falls, he doesn't shove it back in his pocket. ]