pancakeboy | the boy in the belfry

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."

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[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.]

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. ]

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?

[ 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. ]

[He keeps tight hold of the mask, without even much effort; the sparkle in his eyes doesn't sharpen to a glitter. But he pats the back of Ren's wrist, firmly, for a few moments: kiss. The centre of his palm is still wet.]

Oh, I'm sure you are. And in fairness, it's not as if you're uninvolved. It's natural that you'd support them. [And he takes his hand away. Really, Ren, like he wouldn't keep his word—on this, at least. Though, in his mind, he's borne Ren back against the platform wall, to let the whole world see them, cameras and all.]

But I really can't be late. I've missed so much school lately, with one thing and another. I'll see you soon, yes?

[ And there it is: Akechi has kissed him right on the platform, in front of everyone's eyes, and no one saw. The little piece of Joker that's always inside him grins in wild triumph; his eyes glint with it.

It takes him a second to respond. ]

Yeah. Just text me.

[And just for a moment, Akechi's eyes have a feral glint as he glances back, as they know each other. Just for a moment.]

I'll let you know, Amamiya-kun.

[ On the train, Morgana finally stirs. You're hanging out with Akechi a lot, he says. And Ren can't even respond until they're walking the final stretch to school, because if he starts muttering to himself on the train, his classmates will think he's finally snapped. ]

We're friends. Me and Akechi, I mean.

[ You need to be careful, Morgana says uneasily from his bag. You know he's been in the Metaverse. ]

Yep. We can still be friends.

[ Okay, Joker. As long as you know what you're doing.

Morgana has a bizarre amount of faith in him. All the Phantom Thieves do, but Morgana was the one who started it, back when they barely knew each other. Ren just hopes he's worthy of it. ]

the boy in the belfry

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