Part 2: In which I take on Royal in an attempt to do more fluff

[le_corbeau]

December 24^th

 

Goro Akechi wakes up in a cold sweat, one hand on his pounding heart. He wants to scream, but no sound comes out. It’s only when he calms down and stabilizes his breathing that he realizes that he’s alone.

 

Truly alone.

 

The lack of a small, warm body on his chest oddly enough hurts more than the dream he just had of the Phantom Thieves all dying, somehow. A dream he knew happened earlier that day when Yaldabaoth (And by extension, humanity) had attempted to erase them from reality. That fear and pain will be etched into his memory as much as the victory when he summoned Satanael defeated him with a bullet to the head.

 

He looks at his phone.

 

17:10.

 

Frustrating.

 

He had hoped he had slept longer, but now he has a pounding headache as the adrenaline from earlier is dying down. It’s only been a few hours since the Phantom Thieves officially disbanded, after all. They haven’t even celebrated yet, and it’s Christmas Eve. He peeks out the window and it’s dark outside, to be expected during this time of the year. He groans as he sits on the side of the bed, the wooden floorboards cracking from the shift in weight before sighing. He should take a bath, or eat, or anything that would help his health, but can’t seem to muster the energy to do so.

 

Maybe some cold, fresh air would help.

 

He leaves the empty café in silence, his phone set on do not disturb and messages to unread as he quietly enjoys the lightly fallen snow and into the subway station. His friends would understand...sometimes you just need a bit of time alone. He’d be there for them tomorrow, and they could plan something. Taking the train in silence, he decides to go back to where they disappeared earlier that day. Just to be able to see it still standing there and that his nightmare was just that – a nightmare.

 

It’s hard not to feel a pang of loneliness. The sudden loss of Morgana coupled with the disappearance of Akira makes him feel empty inside. He knows Kurusu asked him to ‘trust him’ when they were escaping Shido’s Palace, but the fact they didn’t find him after, nor has he ever given him as much as a clue makes him wonder if he managed to get out at all. He’d even sent out an annoyed text yesterday to his old phone number, perhaps in a meek hope he’d reply back;

 

How can I trust you, if you can’t give me concrete evidence of your existence?

 

This number is no longer in service.

 

Maybe he just missed it. The clue that would be so evident looking back so that Akira could rub it in his face when he came back.

 

Akira Kurusu is an asshole.

 

“Shibuya Station.”

 

That’s his clue to get off, his single gloved hand holding on to the bars as he walks up the stairs into the streets. He stands leaning on a railing, watching Tokyo’s populace walk among the busy streets and lights of Tokyo that they just saved from disappearing. Not knowing what happened. Not caring what happened and who had to sacrifice themselves to save it.

 

It makes him angry, but in the end, justice can be silent. He’d rather have the ignorance of the truth in the minds of populace than hearing the screams of people as they slowly disappeared before his eyes.

 

“I didn’t expect to see the world’s savior alone on Christmas Eve.”

 

He stands up and sees Sae looking at him, her stern features softening at the sight of the teenager.

 

“Sae-san?”

 

“What luck. I’ve been trying to contact you for the past hour and you haven’t replied.”

 

“Ahh...my apologies. I turned my notifications off for some peace and quiet.” He opens his phone back up as a multitude of bells go off from the piled up messages and he quickly mutes his phone. Sae stands closer to him as they continue to watch the lights go from red to green and people begin to walk the Scramble Crossing. It takes a few minutes before Goro finally asks her what she wants, although he suspects he already knows the answer. “So, what did you need my expertise on, Sae-san that requires my skills on the 24^th of December?”

 

“Now that you’re done with thieving, you’re going to become a consulting detective?”

 

“Maybe. Maybe not. I need a few more days to think about it.”

 

“I know….I’m sorry, I was trying to lighten the mood. With your actions, I can only hope that the public’s opinion changes.” Her voice sounds a little worried. “It will, won’t it?”

 

“I suppose we’ll find that out very soon, but people can’t be that stupid.” What a very Akechi way of saying that. It seems to ease Sae, at least.

 

“I think so too.” She looks back at him a little more serious now. “Shido’s confessed to a number of crimes. We can arrest him on those charges.” There we go. Once again, he had deduced correctly. Sometimes being right so much was a curse.

 

“...but the problem right now is a clear lack of concrete, unerring evidence of what he’s done to prove him guilty, correct?”

 

“That’s right. I’d be difficult to prove unless the relation to the Metaverse and the mental shutdowns are made. Moreover, Akira Kurusu, the one who actually perpetuated these crimes in his name is dead...you’re the only one who is left.”

 

“So you want me to turn myself in, so that I can testify against Shido.” She nods.

 

“I’m sorry to ask you so much considering everything that has happened, however...that will mean placing you center stage. You’ll be treated as a hero who saved Japan…”

 

So you finally realized that dream, heh, Goro Akechi? After all those years, you’re a damn hero. There’s a slow clap of the inner voice in his mind. But--

 

“...but there’s no way the police or public prosecutors will let that slide.” She finishes, even as Akechi rolling his eyes at the pure nightmarish bureaucracy that would be involved.

 

“Of course not. They’d want to save face, in front of the public and the Phantom Thieves, especially considering how many were in Shido’s pockets. Which means…” he trails off, and Sae finishes his thought for him.

 

“...who knows what they’d do to you or your teammates. They might get desperate enough to make up a crime and pin all of you for it.” He clicks at his tongue in anger. Cockroaches that won’t die off...

 

“Pieces of shi—”

 

“If you turn yourself in to the police, you’ll definitely be arrested. And I suspect that they’ll prompt up your blood relation to Shido to cast doubt into the entire thing. You might even be accused of collusion or the true mastermind behind it all and Shido being the victim.”

 

Akechi wants to throw up at the implications, but she’s right. If he doesn’t go to jail, they’ll go after his friends. Hell, they might get desperate enough to try and find Akira, wherever he’s hiding.

 

He’s hiding, right? He had to make it out...but without the Metaverse, even the Black Mask is helpless against that powerful of a group.

 

“You think if I turn myself in, they’ll be content until the trail if I stay quiet and the Phantom Thieves aren’t hailed as heroes?”

 

“That should protect your teammates. Or at least I will make sure it is guaranteed.” Goro is pretty sure that Sae means it when she says that as well. He needs to trust adults more and she is an expert in her field. “I will close all the cases around Shido. I intend to expose them all.”

 

We’ve succeeded in changing Shido’s heart, defeating the malignant god and swaying the general public’s hearts as well….but the police, politicians and prosecutors, they know opening these cases would mean their reputations and livelihoods are on the line. Without the Metaverse or the Metanav, we can’t exactly fight back, and there’s no telling what they’d do to make sure they aren’t accused as well…

 

There’s no way they’d want the Phantom Thieves to be hailed as heroes.

 

…

 

They’ll find out Shido is my father, if they haven’t yet. That might make it harder for Sae to prove I wasn’t acting under his interests. However, if I go along, the testimony would keep everyone else safe…

 

He realizes he’s been silent for a little too long when he opens his eyes again.

 

“I’m sorry for asking so much of you. Think of this as the final deal between the two of us. Please...I’d like you to turn yourself in, of your own accord. I can come with you.” Akechi nods in a sort of quiet acceptance. Of course he’d do it – but then someone next to him coughs loudly to catch both of their attention.

 

“If it pleases the court, I’d like to submit a new piece of evidence. Me.” The voice cuts into the air like a knife, and Goro’s ears can’t believe what he’s hearing. Or rather who he’s hearing.

 

“You?!” Sae speaks before he can go on.

 

“If they gets their hand on the actual perpetrator, they wouldn’t need Goro, right?”

 

“Kurusu...what the hell are you doing here?!” Goro had asked him to get away. Akira had promised! And now...and now….the fucking idiot! Akira just grins back at him, pushing his glasses up his nose.

 

“Honestly, it was worth the price of admission just to see your pretty, stupid face looking this surprised.”

 

Akechi just wants to punch Kurusu’ dumb, stupid face in. Sae is still confused by the entire sudden twist that would be worthy of a video game or movie, and Goro honestly can’t blame her. He had told her Akira Kurusu was dead. It was something all the Phantom Thieves promised to do so that Akira would be able to get away from his situation. And now, the idiotic dumbass that he was, comes parading right back into the wasp’s nest in a busy street in nothing but a hoodie of a costume that barely hides his identity paired with an extra thick pair of glasses. A master of disguise indeed.

 

“Just what do you mean by that?” Kurusu shrugs and blows Akechi an airy little kiss before speaking again.

 

“I’m ready to testify against Shido and his crimes, instead of him. Why have the novice detective, when you can get the as seen on tv version?” He looks back at Goro who is wrestling with a multitude of emotions looking extremely pleased with himself. “Does that work for you, Mr.Scholmes?”

 

“You--”

 

“Don’t worry. I don’t plan on escaping this time. Basically I owe you a big one, and I always repay my debts.”

 

“--Moron.” It’s a good thing that Sae doesn’t know all of the situation between them because Goro feels he’ll have an earful about it tomorrow about the fact he had insisted that Kurusu was dead (also what was the deal with being called Scholmes.)

 

“Alright. For the time at least, I’ll believe you want to cooperate with the investigation.”

 

“Thanks.”

 

“I’m sorry Akechi. You can forget all I said to you.”

 

“Actually wait.” Akira holds up a hand. “If you don’t mind, Sae-san. I’d like just a few hours with him one on one before we go to the police station. We have so much to catch up on before I’m put behind bars. Would that be acceptable? I promise I won’t run away. See?” He locks his fingers and holds on to Goro’s hand. “We’re practically connected now, so you just have to call him up if I’m not back!”

 

Sae stands there in stunned silence as Kurusu continues to grin and Akechi turns very, very bright red. In the end, he thinks she either gives up trying to figure them out, or knows exactly what is going on and bites her tongue twice before speaking.

 

“Very well. A few hours. Meet me here in at 8 tonight...but if neither of you show up, I’ll track down you down myself.”

 

“You got it Sae-san!” Kurusu bows at her. “Thank you very much!”

 

Saw turns around and leaves them alone. Goro has butterflies in his stomach. He still can’t believe Akira is standing before him. And yet--

 

“I should punch you and leave you here alone so Sae-san can come back and get you.” Akira laughs and tightens his grip around Goro’s hand.

 

“Aww...but look at my face, do you really want to mess it up?” Before Akechi can protest, Akira plants a little kiss on his forehead. Right here, in public. He gets so hot he’s pretty certain the snow under him is melting.

 

“Hey--”

 

“So, just Goro Akechi, now that it’s all over, and it’s Christmas Eve, and we’ve got a few hours together...what say we go grab something to eat? Maybe head down to the bar for a short drink and music listening session after, and then...perhaps head back to your place?”

 

The implications were rather clear. It feels like a miracle, what with his dread of being alone suddenly squashed by the appearance of Kurusu. A little too good to be true. But then, so had that first kiss they had shared in the Metaverse.

 

Maybe he needed to stop being paranoid for once and just accept that good things could happen in life.

 

“I’ll figure out a way to get you the lowest sentence possible…” Akira taps Goro’s lips with his free hand.

 

“Shh..shh...we’re going to have fun now, we can talk about that later or as prison pen-pals.”

 

A new notification. There’s a text message from Futaba.

 

“Hey! We’re having a party at Scarlet! Where the heck did you go? We were going to surprise you, but there’s no one in your bed :( PS – Ryuji already ate a slice of cake. PPS – Ann too.”

 

Ahh darn it. The cons of being popular. He should be with them, and he knows it, but the chance of being with Kurusu is one of those once-in-a-lifetime-don’t-be-a-fucking-idiot-to-miss-it events he can’t ignore.

 

“Sorry...tell the others that I’m occupied tonight. AK showed up, and I just have a few hours with him before Sae-san takes him in to the police station.”

 

“WHAT?!?! :O OMG I need deets!”

 

“Please, Futaba, I’d like to have the café for myself tonight.”

 

“Why? Wait….WAIT!!! just like my doujinshi collection. Okay, I get it, I’ll tell everyone to GTFO in a bit, I’m sure they’ll understand. We can party together tomorrow ;) Don’t worry, I got dis.”

 

Futata’s status goes yellow as she idles and Goro breathes a sign of relief.

 

“Her doujinshi collection, huh.” Kurusu had been busy reading over his elbow the entire time and Akechi pushes him away, only to snap back closer with their hands still interlocked together.

 

“Can we go now? Please?” He tries to wiggle out of the hand-holding, but Kurusu is steadfast as they go off to the nearest Fried Chicken restaurant to stand in line and get a Christmas meal and see the Brigadier mascot dressed in Christmas clothing.

 

It’s only when, twenty or so minutes later, that they finally arrive at the Jazz Jin Club and Goro can breathe a sigh of relief. There’s no one else besides themselves, which is surprising, or maybe people just don’t think of jazz and bars for a holiday evening. They obtain special permission to have their food inside, and in thanks order a few more than their usual drink to make up for it. Finally, now that they settle down, he can start to ask questions that have been burning in his mind.

 

“Where did you even go?” Akira waves a hand away like it’s not that a big of a deal.

 

“Does it really matter? Maybe it’s best you don’t think about, you know?” Akechi knows that sounds wrong and is a clear cop-out, but Kurusu might be right. Shido might still have others hearing nearby and talking about where he’s been could be dangerous in that of itself. At least right now, in public view.

 

“Alright. Fine. I’m just….glad you got out.”

 

“Wow. Thanks for the vote of confidence. I can’t believe you would think so lowly of me to think I couldn’t get out of there on my own.” He takes a drink from the two he had ordered, the little rainbow colors mixing together when he swished them with his straw.

 

“I was worried.” His voice is more quiet. Akira looks at him mid-sip, before putting his drink down, sighing and then taking Akechi’s hand to put it on his chest.

 

“Feel that?” The thump thump of his beating heart. “I’m here. I’m alive.” Goro wants to cry (in joy or embarrassment, he’s not sure) at that sappy line, but it calms him down. Akira then gets up and silently walks over to the piano, taking off his glasses to begin and play a tune. The music is quickly shut off by the staff once they realize what is happening. How odd. Despite their conversation about Akira’s mother pushing him to play the piano, he’d never played music while being here before. Or maybe it’s simply a way to thank Goro for all he’s done to him; show a piece of himself that the other never got to witness before. A little bit more of the personality behind the mask...or glasses, in this case.

 

As the first notes hit the strings, Goro recognizes the song instantly.

 

Claire de Lune. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDsYu7bhrNo

 

He listens and watches in silence, noticing the subtle changes in Akira’s movements as he plays. Opening and closing his eyes to the song, swaying back and forth to emphasize certain notes; almost becoming one with the music he is playing. Expertly woven together, the song which he’s learned by heart only lasts a few minutes, but it feels like an eternity before he’s done. The last notes echo in the empty bar, as he sheepishly returns back to his seat once the softer jazz music is put back on.

 

“How did I do?”

 

“I…” Goro has to be truthful about it, because somehow, the music had touched his very soul. It felt oddly familiar to how he felt when entering the Velvet Room. “...that was beautiful.” Kurusu blushes as he sips his drink loudly.

 

“Heh. I think that’s the first time you’ve given me such high praise.” He leans on one hand to smile at him, wagging his eyebrows. “Maybe I should have serenaded you with music earlier this year.”

 

“Don’t get too cocky,” Goro replies, sipping his own drink, pretending to ignore him. “Besides, we’ve got limited time together, whatever concert you’re planning inside that head of yours would no doubt take too long.” That makes Akira stands up in his chair, pushing his glasses and hoodie back on.

 

“Right. I think it’s been long enough for everyone to have...uh….GTFO’d out of Scarlet, as Futaba put it. We should go and make use of the place.” Wink. “Or should I say, your palace?”

 

The implications, once again, make Goro blush, but he does not protest, quickly grabbing the remains of their dinner and getting out of the jazz club to take the subway back home.

 

***

 

“Honey, I’m home!” Kurusu calls out into the empty café once Goro has unlocked the front door. There are tiny pieces of paper streamers on the ground, but barely anything else to tell of the brief celebratory passage of his friends. Goro wonders if Futaba had to shove them out the door and smiles at the very image of her small form chasing them with a broom. The warm feelings make him want to tease Akira right back.

 

“You’re back awfully late.” The double meaning doesn’t get past Akira, and he grins as he steps into the building like he owned it, making a beeline for the stairs leading into the attic.

 

“Oh, darling, I know! I’ve had a hell of a month. I bet you did too.” As he’s nearly upstairs his head peeks down at Akechi. “Maybe you’d like a...massage to calm down?”

 

Good thing Goro wasn’t drinking anything anymore, because he would have instantly spit it out. Sure he’d gotten massages before by one of his confidants, but this was...well...different.

 

“Excuse me?!” Laughter echos in the attic as Akechi hears him walk around the room.

 

“Awww some on, Goro! It’s Christmas, you saved the world, we have….” he pauses to look at his watch, “...maybe an hour left together? I think you deserve a little bit of ME time.” He peeks back from the attic again, making a come-here motion with his hands “With a little of WE time.”

 

Bold and brash, that Akira Kurusu. Goro doesn’t want to be flustered in front of him, but it is hard not to do so. He drops the food on a nearby table and follows him upstairs, briefly missing hearing Mona’s little tippy-taps, but he knows Morgana would be even more pissed if he was sad at his disappearance right now, and not appreciating what he was given.

 

At least...he thinks.

 

“Oh! Actually that reminds me…” Akira breaks his thoughts by producing a brightly colored wrapped present from the bag he always carried (again, being terrible at disguises apparently), and nearly shoves it into Goro chest the moment his feet are squarely on the top wooden floor. If Goro wasn’t who he was, he might have fallen backwards with it, but simply grunts instead. “While I was away, I got you this.”

 

Despite being the hero of the world™, Goro is not used to being given presents during the holidays or his birthdays apart from his mother. Tongue-tied doesn’t even begin to cut it, as he takes it wordlessly, putting it close to his chest as it rattles from the movement inside. It’s not particularly heavy, but he has literally no idea what Kurusu would even think of getting him. Maybe some sort of ‘Detective’s First Investigation Kit.’ in an attempt to make him laugh. Except he can’t retaliate in kind, and it begins to bother him.

 

“Akira...I had no idea you’d be here tonight. I don’t have anything to give you.” Kurusu scoffs with one hand up as if it’s no big deal, despite Goro’s guilt.

 

“Oh please, Mr.Akechi. I already have my present.”

 

“Do you?” Goro sits down on the side of his bed, present still in hand, Akira joining to lean on his side. The silence is then broken by the sound of the zipper of Akira’s bag being opened again as he pulls out a plastic piece of mistletoe.

 

“Tada!” He places it above Goro’s head and his own. “See? I have all I need for the holidays tonight.”

 

Goro groans and leans backwards, the length of his body across the side of his bed making his head touch the side wall.

 

“What’s next? Are you going to pull out a rose and tell me no flower is as beautiful as me?”

 

“Actually yes, how did you know?”

 

It makes him bolt back upwards in utter surprise.

 

“Are you serious?!” Akira laughs so hard he has tears coming out of his eyes, but never falters holding the mistletoe like his life depends on it.

 

“Oh my gods, Goro. I was joking!”

 

...Akira Kurusu is an asshole.

 

But he did bring him a present. That, he supposes, deserves at least for him to plant a small kiss on his lips. Just long enough for Kurusu to lower the plastic plant down and toss it on the floor.

 

“Finally! I thought you’d never get the clue.” Goro doesn’t bother giving him an answer as he carefully tears open the wrapping paper to reveal the object inside.

 

A child’s gun.

 

“You got me a gun.” His mouth is open, realizing what it is.

 

“Not just a gun. I got you the fancy-schmancy Proof of Justice deluxe version with all the lights, bells, voice clips and sound effects, and before wrapping the entire thing, I even took the time to put batteries inside so it’s take out of box and enjoy.” A pause. “...unless you wanted to keep it mint in box, in which case, woops I broke the seal on top to do that.”

 

“No.” Akechi is trying to form words, but there are tears in his eyes and he can barely see as he put the present on the floor. “No this is fine.”

 

His mother could never afford such a toy, as desperately as he had wanted it growing up. Considering how little he spoke of himself, Akira had been endlessly attentive to even piece together that he’d like something of the sort.

 

He was touched to the very core of his being. Is this what...what it was like to experience love? Could he be brave enough to call it that? He had his mother’s unending love for him all of his life, but this was different.

 

It was strange, and new, and frightening and like Akira himself, grandiose and glorious.

 

And now he had less than forty minutes left with him. It made him want to suggest they both run away together and start a new life, but that’s not how it worked in the real world. They’d be chased down. His friends might catch the blame.

 

He wants to cry, but there’s no time. No, he needs to enjoy the now. He brings Akira close to his face by grabbing his collar, feeling the heat from his breathing, and silently kisses him with more passion and fevor than he’d ever done before. It happens faster than either of them could stop themselves; Akira removing Goro’s remaining glove so they could lock their hands together, his free one gently touching Akechi’s hair. When they finally parted, he realized that somehow their shirts were removed.

 

He didn’t want to make it seem like he was getting weak from this either, so he boldly added, his face reddening;

 

“Akira Kurusu. I’ll take that massage offer.” His ex-rival smiles as he gives him a brief hug, kissing him in the neck before cracking his hands together.

 

“Goro Akechi. I thought you’d never ask.”

 

***

 

I spent a bit more time with Akira, before going back to Shibuya and sending him off with Sae…