stealhearted | are you hurting the one you love?

[He makes a face as he does it, at least trying to look solidly put-out, but he rolls onto his side and presses forward. It only lasts a handful of seconds before he decides he really doesn't like his back to an open room like that, so he rearranges himself yet again, close enough to Akira to be almost touching him but not quite, curled on his side.]

Mmmn, I imagine you're an absolute nightmare in the summers.

[ Akechi has left himself in the prime position for the ideal cuddling position, and so Akira drifts closer to spoon him properly. He leaves his arm around Akechi loose, in case Akechi feels the need to bolt for whatever reason, and props his other arm up under his pillow. ]

Yeah. I keep a fan on as often as I can.

[The only reason you're getting away with this is Akechi's current state of cried-out exhaustion, you cuddle mongering fool. As is, he's basically already drifting the moment Akira moves close enough to touch and drapes his arm over him like a human blanket, rumbling a faint mumble of sound that isn't quite words.]

You should look into a window unit aircon, you might save money doing sweaty laundry that way. [There's the slightest hint of taunt in his tone, and he looks over his shoulder with eyes only half-open.] Unless you just stew in your own sweat, which I don't think would overly surprise me, either.

Yeah, keep thinking about my sweaty clothing. I'm on to you. [ Akira says it, but it's a little sleepy: it's a faint, teasing murmur more than anything else. Akira's hygiene is shockingly good, for a teenage boy, even if he doesn't do much in the beauty department. ]

Go to sleep. [ Akira nuzzles in a little closer, and then also drifts off. He hasn't been through quite as much emotionally, but -- well. It's been a Day. ]

That's disgusting, [He grumbles, but there's a grin to his tone even as he drops off entirely and his breathing evens out.]

[But of course, they can't just be granted a restful night's sleep wrapped up in one another. When he startles awake, he's less conscious of the temperature surrounding him, but even then he's well aware that it isn't the comforting warmth of Akira's jerry-rigged futon. He recognizes the circular room, lined with narrow prison cells and all washed in blues and golds. It's always been strange to him to startle "awake" while standing, but this time is worse, somehow, and he staggers until he puts a hand on Igor's desk in the center of the room to steady himself.]

Oh, what now.

[ Akira wakes up -- Joker wakes up in the normal prison cell, in his full Metaverse outfit. No prisoner uniforms here, which is probably a metaphor that's accurate about how he feels, but he doesn't really give it much thought at the moment. He just reaches out to pull the door until it swings open with an in-depth creaking noise. ]

... huh. [ It's been awhile. ]

「 Welcome back, tricksters, to the Velvet Room. 」 [ Lavenza seems as small, prim, proper, and blue as ever, and Akira drops his hand down to ruffle her hair, which temporarily makes her break character to frown as she pats it back in place, slightly indignant. ]

「 I regret that I could not inform you of our plan before it was put into action, but you have been called here today to clear up any remaining questions. It was us that have meddled in your affairs once more, though we hoped that it would seem more a reward than a punishment. 」

[Akechi is going to murder one adorable tiny Velvet Room guide one of these days, really he is.]

[He jolts and turns to find the source of the sound when Akira opens the door to his cell, and being faced with Joker so suddenly after allowing himself to admit to wanting to seal their mouths closed with solder has Akechi's fingers curling on the desk.]

[Of course, given he's got fucking claws, it makes a horrible sound and gives him right away, but that is beside the point. Ruffled, he stomps his way over to stand... near, but not too near, baring his teeth at Lavenza.] You mean to tell me you're why I'm here again? Can none of you incompetent fools let dead men stay dead?? I can't imagine this is without consequence, there has to be some sort of... order. Paperwork, at least. [He's not actually mad.]

[ Igor is laughing, which Akira tunes out as unimportant. He gives Akechi a rogueish little grin that communicates that he knows exactly what that horrible sound was and why it happened, and then he nonchalantly adjusts his gloves. ]

「 As you originally died within the Metaverse, it fell on us to decide what would happen, and since you had been brought back once before... It's true that it was his will that allowed for it to happen, though I believe you have encountered some of the consequences thus far. 」

[ This gets a faint snort from Akira, and then he steps up alongside Akechi. Wild how Akechi's posture goes to shit when he's dressed like this -- it's kinda cute. ]

We've noticed some stuff.

[Akechi is positively leering, because he hates this situation and he hates being perceived by both Lavenza and Igor right now-- especially given he is now fully aware they Know. He's barely prepared to Know himself, why do creepy grandpa and his lolita assistant have to know? This is terrible.]

[He looks Akira over as he steps up to him and he leans his weight back on his far foot to put as much distance between them as he can without active stepping aside, going from leering to him to leering at Lavenza, though the expression is muted from the sheer unhinged rage he has previously exhibited in his Hot Topic reject costume.]

So he actually willed me back into existence with the sheer force of his interest in me. [He shoots Akira a tired frown.] That's so like you.

What can I say? I really wanted you alive. [ Akira seems completely unrepentant about this, which isn't exactly surprising given that Akechi being alive is exactly what he wanted. He got what he wanted; this is his prize for saving the world, twice, at great personal cost. ]

「 Yes. However, that existence isn't entirely complete... It's only possible due to your unique nature, and your connection with each other, which is why you have been forced to stay in proximity to each other. In the most simplistic of terms, should you stray too far apart before your bond is properly cemented, that which ties you to this world will -- fade. 」

[ That gets Akira's attention, and he frowns a little. ]

He'd die again?

「 I'm afraid so. 」

I suppose that's better than you "wanting me" dead. [He specifically places emphasis on the wanting part, because this scenario is wild enough already, why not taunt Akira about some necrophilia.]

[He turns his attention back to Lavenza, then, digesting her words and pursing his lips as he does. Should they stray too far apart-- specifically, should Akechi wander too far from Akira, before their bond is properly cemented...] I have my doubts I'll like the answer, but what constitutes "properly cementing" our bond?

「 You've already started discovering it. You... made quicker progress... than I anticipated. 」

[ Lavenza flushes, ever so slightly, at this, and Akira has a distinct feeling that he has to worry about more than Futaba spying on him now. God. He doesn't want to think about that. He especially doesn't want to think about Igor-- ]

Do I have to steal his heart? [ Like, that wouldn't be the weirdest thing that Akira's had to do with the Metaverse, you know? ]

「 Ah -- not exactly. The closer you two grow, and the more understanding you share between you, the stronger the bond will be. However, this will just hasten the process: you simply need be within the same space to ensure he survives, if understanding is beyond you. 」

[ Akira doesn't know if making out counts as understanding, but... sure. Sure. ]

[Akechi just closes his eyes, drawing in a breath slowly and exhaling just as slowly, possibly in an effort to make as little sound as possible. He flexes his fingers at his sides, all at once and then individually, in some sort of unconscious gesture of remaining calm. Akira asked for this, it's okay to go through with it. Even if his first instinct is the move as far from him as he can, just enough that he doesn't see him fade out of existence. Even when he agreed that their kissing meant something, even when he sobbed himself nearly unconscious and borrowed his clothes and fell asleep curled in his arms. It still feels instinctive to run.]

[He starts clicking the ends of his claws together, thumb to index, thumb to middle, thumb to ring, thumb to pinky, back and forth, until he sticks on his index finger tapping his thumb because it's not working anymore, and he opens his eyes with a sharp inhale, regarding Lavenza carefully.] So ignoring the fact that the nature of your supervision of us involves you prying into a personal life I, for one, never really planned to have, how much of this is premeditated? You have to understand my lack of trust in a situation like this, I'm very partial to my own free will.

「 Your will, trickster, is your own. Now that you have been informed of the risks, you'll find that you can separate from each other -- however, spend too long away and you'll understand the detrimental effects. That, too, is your choice. We offer you merely a second chance, as your first life within the game was unjustly set against you from the time that you were first chosen. 」

[ Akira wonders, idly, how much of this Yaldabaoth simply didn't understand by virtue of drastically underestimating how stubborn a bunch of hormonal teenagers could be. Like, Akira understands his whole plan, sees how he thought pitting Akechi and Akira against each other was a good idea, and...

Yeah, it was pretty stupid, actually. Some god. ]

In other words, "sorry the fake Igor set you both up for failure"?

[ Lavenza frowns. It is not a pout, and she resents anyone who says otherwise. ] 「 I... suppose that is a way of explaining it, however simplified. 」

[He stops tapping, exhaling in a rush of air. He'd be proud his breath didn't shake if the rest of him weren't, but it's fine. The way she words it, "your first life within the game" and "the time that you were first chosen" twist in his stomach and he can't not ask, so ignoring Akira's blithely simple take on the situation, he asks:]

So is this just another game?

「 If you chose to see it that way. 」

[ Akira leans over to Akechi, and in a faux-whisper -- he doesn't care if they hear him, since he's pretty sure they're moderately psychic anyway -- ] It's a NG+. [ Given the way Igor and Lavenza completely don't react, it's clear they have absolutely no idea what he's talking about.

He's spent too much time with Futaba. ]

[Akechi just gives him a withering glower, reaching up and pushing him away gently at the shoulder.] I'm delighted to know you consider my life a game, truly.

[He looks back to Lavenza, stepping a bit closer to her and sinking into a crouch so he has to look up to speak to her as opposed to down.] ...so as long as I stay within the allotted proximity to him, regardless of any further steps in the direction of our "understanding"... I remain alive. Am I still human, or does this shift me into an extraneous category similar to how Morgana isn't really a cat?

[ Akira does not mind the fact that Akechi is in form-fitting pleather booty shorts, but he does mind that he cannot hold his hand? This is terrible. You can practically see Akira frown down at Akechi's hand in resignation as he adjusts his own gloves.

Weh. ]

「 You are human. Should you experience any fatal wounds during this process, or after, you will die a true death that we cannot prevent. I do not know how long it will take for you to regain complete control of your life -- time runs very differently for us. I can only say that thus far you have excelled at it. 」

[ Akira holds his hand up, like he has a question, cheerful and irreverent. ]

Does it help if we're touching?

「 ...Yes. 」 [ Lavenza is on to you. ] 「 Should you find yourself in need of separating, you may do so if you then come in physical contact to... "recharge", so to speak. 」

[ The wild grin Joker shoots Akechi cannot be understated. ]

[Akechi rearranges himself to sit in his odd little gremlin crouch, one knee drawn up to his chest with his arm around it, chin set atop it while he digests Lavenza's prognosis. He sighs, barely bothers to acknowledge Joker's ridiculous antics, and makes his way back to standing.]

So my life force is effectively a lithium battery and he's the charging block, but beyond that I'm a normal human being.

[He raises a hand and considers it a moment before carefully reaching out to set it atop Lavenza's head. He offers her the briefest of smiles.] ...thank you for your insight, and your undoubtedly tireless work toward this scenario that I continue to not understand the reasoning behind. Baffled as I am, I must admit I appreciate being alive again.

[ Lavenza looks at Akechi and gives him a genuine smile that makes her seem much more like the child she looks like and doesn't normally act like. She gives him a small curtsy, delicate and proper. ]

「 My apologies that you have been treated so unfairly up to this point. I hope that together, you will both find the happiness that you deserve for all you've done to help the world. 」

[ Akira's pretty placid throughout the entire thing -- he gets a far off look at one point like he's nosing through his compendium, since he didn't think he'd ever get a chance to do it again and it's an interesting thing to look back on. (He wants to see if he can get ahold of Satanael, mostly. That was neat.)

He eventually snaps back into paying attention. Really, the "touch boyfriend charge life force" was all the explanation he needed. ]

[Cute. Lavenza is a cute weird lolita overlord. He chuckles, reclaiming his hand and folding into a shallow bow in return.]

I can't say I did overmuch in helping, but I suppose giving this moron something to desire when he's so set on paying more attention to everyone around him is something. Ah-- one last thing, though. [He sets a hand on his hip, tapping the knuckle of his clawed other index finger against his lower lip.] What of the Metaverse? If you're still here, and considering Mementos, in particular, represents the cognition of humanity as a whole, it seems strange to me that it just no longer exists.

「 Mementos in the state that you knew it is gone, however, the Metaverse will remain. While I hope we won't need to see each other again... there may be a time in which we call upon you once more. 」

[ Akira kinda of expected that, frankly. ]

So long as I can get my finals done. [ In between the boyfriend thing, the Mementos thing, the fake god and then the faker god (complex) thing, Akira really just wants to maintain his rank in the top slots for academics. He's gotta make Kawakami proud, after all, since it looks like he's going to be staying at Shujin another year. ]

[Akechi nods, because that makes enough sense. He flexes one clawed hand a moment, and then turns to Akira, keeping his other hand on his hip, grinning crookedly.] I'll make sure you do. [Academics are one of the few things he was very honest about, after all.]

Ah, I'll study well, Akechi-senpai. [ Akira offers it in sort of a vague singsong that isn't an actual imitation of how someone would genuinely say it at all, but it's enough for Lavenza to clear her throat. ]

「 With that said, I'll allow you to return to your slumber. However, keep in mind: the further you are from one another, the less time you can spend away. The effects are quite detrimental, and we will not be able to help a second time. 」

[ And then... everything goes blue and fades back into normal sleep, which is a little disappointing, because Akira had a few ideas about Akechi's claws-- ]

[Akira stop being horny for two seconds challenge--]

[He startles awake the moment they're returned to themselves, and he brings a hand forward to pat the gunshot scar on his chest first, and then rolls over to face Akira, watching him carefully. He stays that way a while, letting his heart rate return to normal before he slots himself against Akira's side again, finding it awkward to settle his head against his shoulder but doing it anyway. The further they are from one another...]

[He's spent so much time alone, it's unnerving to think about suddenly having to spend as much time close to-- in contact with, really --someone else. But, as per usual, things with Akira were always just a half-step to the left of what seemed normal. He falls asleep again huddled up to him and eventually with an arm over his ribs, unconsciously seeking to maintain as much contact as possible while they slept.]

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