stealhearted | are you hurting the one you love?

「 There he is! The man, the myth, the legend! 」 [ Futaba chirps, her voice a mild sarcastic drawl as she half-dabs to present him from her seat at the booth. A smile twitches at the corner of Akira's lips, and Ann rolls her eyes. ]

「 Well, it's good to see you, you know... Not dead! 」 [ Ann is a little awkward about it, but no less genuine, and Yusuke offers a vague agreement. Haru nods, her smile a little tight at the edge, but no less present for it. ]

「 Akira mentioned that you've been feeling some side effects from the resurrection process, so be sure to tell us if you need a break. I'm aware that this group is overwhelming even at the best of times. 」 [ Makoto's tone is a little rueful and a little dry, but there's something in her eyes that says that she, too, is pleased to see Akechi back, even as she has a hand under the table to rest reassuringly on Haru's thigh. ]

[His hand immediately moves to rest against his neck as he is bombarded with sound and specifically, several voices. Futaba he'd at least seen previously, and she was about as meek as she was snarky. He raises his other hand to wave her off.] None of the above, really, [And then Ann is about as awkward and sweet as he anticipated, but as his eyes travel from her and her genuine expression to Yusuke's to Haru's more tight one he feels his stomach drop to his toes.]

[His expression doesn't change, but his shoulders pull a little straighter as Makoto speaks, and he can't quite see where her hand is but he can tell it's under the table, and he assumes she's either holding Haru's or something similar, so the weight of her statement isn't lost on him. He has no intention of expressing he needs a break-- he's on their time, now. He'll be exhausted afterward, but he's been exhausted since he was revived, so what difference does it really make? He owed them that much. He just wished he could figure out how to say that easily.]

[Instead he strides uneasily forward to stand as much in front of them all as he can, hands at his sides balled into fists, and folds forward at the waist to stare at his feet.] I can't claim your tolerance of me is anything less than baffling, but I appreciate it all the same. [He stands again, staring resolutely at the table to avoid anyone's gaze. Specifically, especially, Akira's.] It isn't as though any of you wanted this, or can especially get out of it, but-- [He played it cool on television for years, why is this so hard. He looks fine, if you ignore the way he's tapping his right ring finger to his thumb rapidly, but his heartbeat is roaring in his ears to the point he's not sure he can actually hear himself speaking. He lifts his gaze from the table, looking over each of them individually, and waits until he makes eye contact with Haru before he starts speaking again.]

First and foremost I find it prudent that I apologize for my behavior in the past. My transgressions against each of you, independently, and as a unit, go much farther than I can accept forgiveness for, but that doesn't change that an apology is more than due. I have... never been adept at much in the way of being genuine, so I don't expect anyone to believe that is an honest apology now, or at any time. But while you are forced to allow me to occupy your spaces, I will work toward a means of apologizing more effectively.

[He stops there, shoulders tense and knees locked, and returns to staring at the table. He should sit down, and he knows he should, but he's going to give them a chance to speak, first.]

[ There's a long silence as most of the Phantom Thieves just... look at each other. Sojiro scratches his head from behind the bar where he looks like he's seriously contemplating leaving the room for how awkward it is, and most of the other participants look unwilling to speak first.

It wasn't them that Akechi hurt the most, it was... ]

「 I don't know if I can, like, forgive you and all, but you did kind of die, so like, debt repaid, I guess? Apology accepted? I'm still going to bully you for the rest of eternity. 」 [ Futaba offers, a little carefully, with a vague hand gesture before she goes back to her posture with her knees up at her chest. No one else speaks for a moment, until Haru ventures, very cautiously: ]

「 Yes. I accept your apology, and thank you for saying it. 」 [ Her tone is tense, but genuine; she doesn't mention forgiveness, but she does look at him, and her face is the same way she'd look at something in the MetaVerse -- careful and determined, but unwilling to strike an opponent without a good reason. ]

「 ...sooo, now that that's settled, Ryuji and I stopped by to get some food before we came over! You like crepes, right, Akechi-kun? 」

「 I like crepes, 」 [ And just like that, with Yusuke's automatic interjection, the tenseness of the scene starts to fall away, which may or may not have been exactly what Ann planned, given the way she shoots Akechi a small smile and pats the open seat next to her while Ryuji attempts to stop Yusuke from being the first pick to the crepes. ]

[He's bad at this.]

[He isn't really sure what he expected, really, but he knew he wasn't going to address it properly, because it wasn't something he could calculate and see coming. There's an awkward, heavy silence, and he's a scant handful of seconds from pivoting and going back upstairs or hiding in the bathroom for the foreseeable future when Futaba, bless her, breaks the silence. She isn't much less awkward than Akechi himself had been, and by the time it gets to the crepes Ann and Ryuji brought along he's taken a step and a half backward and sunk sideways into a chair at the bar. His expression remains steely and impassive-- it's TV Akechi, because he can't even begin to sort through any of this openly and honestly, but he manages a vague sound of agreement to Ann's question.]

[He watches her pat the open seat beside her, and he's startled by how much he wants to go sit there. Like he belongs there. As if the invitation wasn't strange and-- genuine, because Takamaki Ann didn't know how to be fake, like he did, but --stilted, as if his throat wasn't closing up on words he didn't know how to speak. He wants someone else to claim the seat, in the clamor of Yusuke trying to claim the first crepe, he wants something to happen that would let him disappear into the bar, but he knows he's not that lucky. So he stands up again, and he shuffles stiffly to the table, and he perches on the edge of the seat so he doesn't touch her, but not because he doesn't want to, more because she figures she doesn't want him too close.]

[He'd like to appreciate the fact that they didn't bring pancakes, but his mouth is stuck together.]

[ Unfortunately for Akechi, it really is that easy. The group dynamic is different with him, but they've experienced it twice before -- and the last time they had him as a member was when everything was already laid on the table, so it isn't as though they're unused to his real personality. If anything, it's better, now that he's apologizing. Akira's always thought that the real Akechi was somewhere in between the "Loki" and "Robin Hood" personas that he usually wears, after all.

Ann offers him a crepe, eventually -- cinnamon sugar, because everyone else grabbed one first and he wasn't quick enough to lay claim to a better flavor -- and everyone seems to banter around him, discussing the crepes and the store and school.

Haru and Futaba still don't go quite as far as to actively address Akechi, but they don't avoid him, either. ]

「 If you pick your food blog back up, you've gotta promise to take me to all the places with the best desserts if we're friends for real now. 」[ Ann tells him, a little conspiratorially. ]

[He's bunched up at the edge of the seat, hands gripped at the corner and trying to stay there instead of belatedly getting up and making a run for it. He's simultaneously trying to catch all the conversations going on at once and trying to ignore them, and he's keeping his breathing shallow to keep from being obvious, all up until Ann just presents him with a crepe and he's stunned, rearranging his posture to accept it. He looks from the crepe to her and back, opening his mouth and making an odd sort of croaking sound. He wasn't sure what to say to "if we're friends for real now", because he didn't want to refute it but he certainly didn't want to agree to it. Were they friends? Was it that straightforward?]

[How the fuck did he do this, before?] I didn't really think that was my decision to make. [Since he fucked up so many times. Since he can't seem to get it right. His mouth still feels sort of stuck together, so he's all mumbles, staring down his crepe with a horrid amount of uncertainty, but he does like cinnamon sugar. He takes a bite of the crepe and winds up closing his eyes around a sudden suffocating warmth that floods him, chewing carefully and trying to not do or say anything else at all.]

「 Well, if it's my decision, then I declare us "already friends"! So we can go to the bougiest places. It'll be your treat. 」 [ Ann jostles him good-heartedly with her shoulder, shooting him a grin -- she's already devoured half of her crepe, where does it all go, scientists continue to be baffled. ]

There's one of those gourmet doughnut places opening in Shibuya. [ Akira offers, helpfully, and Ann immediately goes oooh. ]

「 Let's go there! Whenever you're up to it, of course, I don't know what kind of funky after-effects happen when you get brought back from the dead. I'm sure it's nothing that good food can't fix, though! 」

[He's chewing through his second bite of crepe at the speed of "uncertain anxiety nausea", and stops to give her a boggled look when she declares them, as she so eloquently put it, "already friends". He's still staring when Akira supplies his bit about gourmet doughnuts, and he turns to look at him with a perplexed expression like he'd forgotten he was even there. He was usually pretty quiet, in these gatherings, now that Akechi took a moment to think about it, though he's not sure he remembers them being quite this noisy as a whole, either.]

[He swallows his mouthful of crepe.] ...whenever I know what the standing of any assets I may have retained postmortem, I'll. [He nods, holding up his crepe a little higher as though to signify he'd buy them. Crepes, or doughnuts, or-- whatever "the bougiest places" sold.]

[Morgana chooses that particular moment to launch himself onto the back of the seat Akechi and Ann are at the far end of, crowing loudly.]

「 Make sure to bring something back for me! 」

[ Akira is usually more than quiet in these gatherings because everyone else does more than enough talking -- but he has the sense that in this case, his voice can help keep Akechi a little grounded from where he might find himself floating in the anxiety born of all the other voices clamoring for attention.

Futaba leans over, around Akira, to interject: ]

「 I gotcha on the assets. There's a couple guys who're part of the conspiracy I've been siphoning funds from for a few weeks now -- they've got a ton of offshore accounts -- so if your money is all confiscated I can set you up. 」

[ There's a deeply aggrieved sigh from Sojiro behind the counter. ]

「 I'm going to go get a pack of cigarettes before you discuss anymore crimes. 」 [ He mutters, despite the fact that he does not need cigarettes. He turns the sign to "closed" on his way out, despite the fact that the cafe should be open several more hours. It's not like Leblanc's hours were really that standardized to begin with. ]

「 Sorry, Sojiro! I promise I'm only using my powers for good! ... Mostly. Heheheheh. 」

[Akechi looks approximately as aggrieved as Sojiro sounds, sitting back in his seat and bumping his shoulders into Morgana as a result.]

Well given Sakura seems to have ascertained a budget, I suppose I will do my best to find a cat-friendly doughnut.

「 Much obliged! --Except I'm not a cat!! 」

[Akechi makes a soft sound, then, a bit like he's coughing, but after a moment it continues and it's clear he's laughing, quietly. He can't really look at any of them for too long, but the sheer anxiety of sitting with them is ebbing, slowly.] I'll find one in a tuxedo, then, surely.

「 If Mona-chan eats a doughnut that's shaped like a cat, is that cannibalism? 」

「 I think that's just really... weird... 」 [ Makoto seems vaguely disturbed by the concept, her reply fading away as she frowns. She looks helplessly at Akira, who only shrugs. He doesn't pretend to understand what goes on in the depths of Futaba's mind. ]

「 Well, it's settled! To commemorate our new-refound friendship, we're having crepes, and then Akechi-kun can treat us to doughnuts some other time! 」 [ Somehow it's gone from 'Ann and Akechi's doughnut date' to 'Akechi gets to get doughnuts for the entirety of the phantom thieves' but even Haru is laughing softly, so maybe it isn't so bad. ]

[He takes another bite of his crepe, mostly to avoid the stupid way his face wants to dissolve into a smile he's afraid of the sensation of, shifting one foot under the table to find and nudge Akira's. He doesn't look at him, but he sort of steps on his toes a moment and then recoils, angling his body a little inward toward the group, just barely.]

「 I'm not a cat!!! 」

Be sure everyone makes note of a few top favorite flavors, so I ensure I find something everyone likes. Tuna, Morgana? Or salmon. Do they make Nova Lox doughnuts...? [Teasing the cat, it seems, is safe enough he can manage. He does, however, fold himself up a little and lean on the table, the gesture unconsciously made to preserve warmth. He's pretty sure at this point he's just going to always be somewhat cold if he isn't touching Akira, which he hates, but supposes he will adjust to.]

「 Tuna doughnuts sound awful... 」 [ Haru muses, idly, and then the conversation continues to the best and worst flavors of doughnuts, with Yusuke putting in for lobster as the best and getting resoundingly voted down.

Makoto looks at her phone after a minute, and then catches Akira's eye to communicate something to him -- the leader of the group and the one that would be the interim leader if they ever needed it having some wordless communication skills.

She stands up, after a moment. ]

「 At any rate, while it was nice to catch up with you, Akechi-kun, it is a school night, so we shouldn't stay out too late-- 」 [ There's groaning from Ryuji and a discreet transaction of Haru slipping Yusuke a final box of snacks to ferret away to his dormitory.

Akira offers everyone a smile, and the smile is definitely not just because his almost-boyfriend is playing footsie with him under the table. Lucky you for not getting the wrong person's foot, Akechi. ]

Yeah. He still gets tired easy. [ Akira offers as an excuse, which seems to be the easiest way to describe what... exactly... is happening between them without going into detail. ]

[He sits nearly silent in the ambiance of them bickering over doughnut flavors, slowly making his way through about half of his crepe before carefully folding the paper back up over and around it in favor of setting it down. By the time Makoto makes her declaration of it being a school night, he's folded both arms over the table and is leaning on them, clearly fading but determined to listen anyway. He sits up specifically straighter when Makoto addresses him, stretching his shoulders up and backward, and shuffles out of the seat to allow Ann to get up as well.]

It's best to not wait until the last train, they can sometimes be crowded. [He notices both Ryuji's grumbling and Haru giving Yusuke snacks, and his throat closes up around a desire to say something he doesn't ever quite figure out how to put together. It helps that Akira calls him out on being tired, because he turns a light snipe on him, instead.] Forgive me for struggling to adjust to being undead.

「 Hey, I hope I look half as good as you when I'm dead! 」 [ Ann offers, and then pauses immediately afterwards. ] 「 That... came out weird... I meant-- uh-- someone save me. 」

「 What she meant was, "I want to know Akechi's skincare routine". 」

「 Shut up, Ryuji! 」

[ And then Futaba is pausing, grabbing Morgana and hefting him up. ]

「 You guys, uh, need another night alone or should I leave Catticus Rex here? 」

[Akechi startles, ending up with a hand placed delicately over his collarbone, and he laughs softly.] I'm flattered, truly-- if I can remember the brands of facewash I've used I'll recommend you some. [He can't quite figure out why Ann is so much less intimidating than the rest of them. Haru, at least, makes sense.]

[He turns his attention downward to Futaba, and Morgana in her arms (who yowls dramatically and goes deadweight, closing his eyes and sprawling with a dramatic "I've lost control of my limbs-- carry me, Futaba!", to which Akechi unthinkingly reaches out and scritches the very top of his head.] Whichever you prefer-- I'm not certain of custody rights between the family.

Go ahead and take him another night. We're still getting things figured out. [ Akira offers Futaba a smile, and she looks a little dubious but doesn't press. Truthfully, Akira thinks that explaining

1. making out with Akechi, and
2. why Akechi is crying at all times, and
3. these two things potentially at the same time

to his sentient cat, is simply more than he can handle on top of everything else. ]

「 Okie doikie artichokie. C'mon, I'm gonna feed you gummy sushi. 」

[His ears flare pink, because "still getting things figured out" in Akira Kurusu speak is Never A Good Thing, but he thinks maybe he also appreciates it. He wouldn't mind Morgana around, and it would give him a chance to force himself to stay centered, but if it's even remotely convenient for him to not be present, he doesn't mind not being seen by the soulful eyes of a loving tuxedo.]

「 Gummy sushiiiii! Do you have anymore of the fatty tuna kind?? Those are my favorite. 」[Morgana exchanges a brief Look with Akira-- a fond sort of "let me know if you need anything", but in cat, and it flies directly over Akechi's head except for the fact that it's the second time he's seen Akira just... telepathically communicate with another of the Thieves. He doesn't know what to make of it.]

[Once they've all filtered out and said their goodbyes, the tension he didn't realize he was holding goes out of Akechi all at once and he drops back into the booth where he'd been sitting beside Ann, leaning hard against the table and putting his forehead in one hand. He doesn't say anything, at first.]

Edited 2021-03-25 04:56 (UTC)

Makoto figured everyone should clear out since Sae-san will be heading over soon. [ Akira offers, into the quiet. He locks up behind everyone automatically -- Sojiro probably won't be back for the day, he figures, so he might as well set about closing up. It gives him something to do.

If Akechi looks up, he might notice Akira doing something with carrots and a grater, but the specifics of it are a little hard to make out. ]

She thought it'd be better if you had a break between emotionally overwhelming events.

[He considered asking Makoto when she figured her sister might be headed their way, but didn't find the right time and realizes now that it likely just would have made it harder for her to corral the rest of them out. He considers sending her a text to thank her, but can't figure out how to word it without it sounding awkward, so he just continues to sit still until he angles his head to figure out what Akira is doing. Carrots and a--]

--you don't need to make me anything, I still have half a crepe.

This is for tomorrow. [ That's all Akira offers, despite the fact that a dessert crepe Is Not Really Food, Actually, but he's just glad Akechi is willingly eating it. And will probably finish it, if only because he won't want to waste something Ann spent money on and it's not going to be good by tomorrow, given it's comprised of 75% whipped cream by volume. ]

It's a new recipe, so you're my test subject. [ Oh, now he understands how Takemi feels. ]

[He grimaces slightly at being a test subject, but drags himself to standing to shuffle over to him and lean on a wall nearby.]

...I'm glad they all seem to be doing well.

Yeah. They're all doing really well. [ Akira's voice has something strange in it -- there's the requisite fondness, but there's also... something almost bittersweet? They're all moving along to not need him, and while he understands and is even happy about it, it's still strange to him.

They were all willing to let him go so easily. ]

Especially with you back.

[Akechi hears..., something, in his tone, but can't quite decipher in, and opts to reach out to swipe at him gently rather than think too hard on it.]

Stop your senseless carrot grating and come here.

[ The grated carrot is already in a pan on the stove -- but he turns the heat down and steps over to Akechi regardless. ]

It's not senseless. [ It's food! ]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject