stealhearted | are you hurting the one you love?

「 I've definitely hauled more inconvenient loads of paperwork around. 」 [ Sae's voice is a little wry as she takes the proffered coffee, sitting down on the barstool and crossing her legs. ] 「 I won't be staying long. It wasn't a problem to come here, but it's been fairly busy at work lately. 」[ With all of the chaos and Phantom Thieves and mental shutdowns... it's been a little much for her, though she still seems less stressed than she was at the height of her palace.

Akira looks at Akechi. ] Want me to take them upstairs?

[He makes a vaguely agreeable sound, trying to decide if he wants to join her at the bar or... what, he's trying to decide a lot of things. His brain is spinning its wheels, and it's obvious when he looks to Akira with a blank expression for a handful of seconds longer than it should really have taken him to process the question.] Oh-- no, I'll get them...

[He moves to the bag, carefully hefting it onto one shoulder and pinning it gingerly to his hip with one arm, holding the strap with the other. He can't remember if the bag was something he owned or not.] Was... do you need this bag back?

「 It's not urgent. It's my gym bag, but I haven't actually gone to the gym in long enough that I should probably cancel my membership. 」 [ Sae can also be self-deprecating, when necessary; she hasn't had a chance to go kickboxing in long enough that her gym trainer is going to let her have it when she finally shows up again.

Akira reaches out to heft up the box, which is the weightier of the two options. ]

You keep talking. [ He's taking things up. ]

[His hand on the strap of the gym bag tightens when Akira makes his claim for going upstairs, and Akechi almost protests. But that's... that's Akira's way of telling him something, maybe-- of a subtle push so Akechi will actually talk to Sae like he's always done. He knew Sae before he knew any of them, after all...]

[He looks from Akira to the bar, to Sae's back. And then almost dutifully, he moves to sit with a chair between them, the duffel still carefully secured against him. He's pretty sure he knows what's in it, from the weight of it and the way there's a solid rectangle cushioned by clothes. It's the thing he's least prepared to open. He folds one arm to rest his elbow against the counter while Akira ascends to the loft with the box of his other items, still keeping one against the strap of the bag.] ...thank you, truly. For keeping these things, and for bringing them.

「 I thought... there'd be nothing sadder than no one remembering you, you know? No matter what you'd done. And I figured he'd be the kind of person to want to remember you, so I was planning to give it all to him before he left town. Glad it worked out this way instead. 」 [ Sae offers him a small smile before she takes a sip of her coffee. ]

「 It's good that you've got someone in your court. I'd offer, but I think the last thing you need is a mid-career change defense lawyer. 」 [ Which is an offer in of itself, that she imagines Akechi can catch, without outright putting it there to be rejected, for both of their sakes. ]

[On the contrary, he thinks there would have been nothing better than no one remembering him. It would have made this all so much easier, all up until the part where Akira Kurusu refused to forget him, to the point that he couldn't stay dead. He offers a strained sort of chuckle, nodding and curling his fingers tighter still around the strap of the bag where it rests against his shoulder.] Kurusu is... a force to be reckoned with, as they say.

[He doesn't quite register what she's saying at first, raising his hand from where it rests against the counter to wave her off until the words sink into the folds of his brain and he stalls, slowly giving her an ugly little smile that isn't really a smile at all, just a grimace turned up at one corner.] Certainly no more than you want a fake detective murderer hanging around to nearly destroy everything you stand for a second time. [It's posed carefully, just as hers is-- he can't say he'd kill for the chance, but the idea that Sae would be willing to let him work with her again turns his stomach in as much ugly, terrible self-loathing as it does in excited potential.]

「 On the contrary. Even while you were trying to kill him, you were still doing exceptional paperwork. 」 [ It's said with a hint of humor, but it's no less genuine -- or true. Even if Akechi had been faking the bulk of his cases, and near the end, had been part of the sabotage against Sae to force her into a palace, he'd always done good work, and they'd always worked well together.

Sae understands everything that he's done wrong, of course, and acknowledges how weighty his sins are -- but she's not a prosecutor anymore, and it's really up to the kids to forgive him or seek any retribution for the crimes that are well outside of the real world legal system. ]

「 You've always been the sort of person to rise to the occasion. If you were presented with a real mystery to solve, I imagine you'd still solve it with any problems. Not that I think you're intending to go back into the show business, of course. 」

[ There's a small amount of exasperation in her voice there, because it's been an absolute press circus nonstop, for her included, and she cannot imagine what Akechi's life had been previously...

It's exhausting to think about.

Meanwhile:

Akira is studiously setting the box next to the couch and then checking his phone to get them a minute to talk. ]

[His mouth goes dry, so his tone is a bit unintentionally lofty when he returns,] I have always been good at paperwork... [And falsifying it, but he doesn't say that, because she's made her point that she's not having his self-hatred. He's still coming up short on how the fuck any of these people are real. He turns away from her, slowly, not quite focusing on any one thing in particular and just sort of giving a faraway stare to the lower half of the wall of exotic coffee beans Sojiro keeps. He waves his hand again, after a moment.] If I never see another news camera as long as I live, it might well be too soon.

[A beat, and he turns back to her, a confused sort of smile on his face.] But, if you ever need tips to avoiding the paparazzi, I'm your guy. Or, possibly not, since most of the times I managed to shake them were due to outside forces. [And Akira's glasses, but.]

「 I'll keep that in mind. 」 [ Sae finishes his coffee and sets it down, and it's the distinctive clink that has Akira finding his way back down the stairs. ] 「 I'm afraid I do have to get back before it gets too much later. Oh -- there's a few bottles of toiletries in the duffle bag. Makoto mentioned that you might have hair that misbehaves. Do you really have to go to a bath house? 」

[ Akira nods solemnly as he steps over to them. ]

「 Honestly, I'm kind of impressed. 」

[He's glad she's on a time restraint, and one that's up. It's not that he doesn't enjoy her presence, it's more that he can actually feel himself being whittled away the longer he's forced to function beyond being curled on his side in a fetal position.]

[How absolutely pathetic.]

[He makes a sound at the question, at the mention of toiletries, confused at first before he turns to look briefly at Akira before turning back to Sae. Something about joking at Akira's expense is always easier, and the slightest amount of tension ebbs from his shoulders.] ...and yet somehow, this asshole always looks like a GAP model under these conditions. The true mystery. [He moves his arm from the counter, angling himself in his chair to hold his hand out to Sae.] ...thank you. For all the trouble I've caused you, I can't feel like I'm anything less than indebted for your continued guidance.

「 God, I'd save so much sleep if I could just wake up like that... 」 [ Perish the thought, honestly. Akira has the decency to look at least moderately embarrassed, because he does, in fact, just wake up like that, and he didn't realize it was at all strange until very recently.

Sae turns to Akechi regardless, taking his hand and shaking it with a smile. ]

「 Anytime. Really, my phone's always on for you if you need anything. You're not the kind to ask unless it's an emergency, but... try not to let it get to that point. 」

[ And then she'll shoulder her own purse -- which thankfully weighs substantially less than the duffel bag -- and gives Akira a small wave. ]

[He surprises himself in squeezing her hand gently when she shakes it, but doesn't linger.] I'll try to be better about that. Oh-- but. ...Tell me your favorite doughnut flavor, sometime. I've somehow been roped into treating everyone.

[He's actually smiling, faintly, even if he absolutely looks significantly more ill now than he did when she arrived, but he raises his hand to wave as she heads for the door. By the time Akira locks it and comes back, he's sagging forward onto the bar.] Really, staying dead would have been so much easier than all this.

「 I like the lemon filled ones. 」 [ And then she heads out. Akira steps over to Akechi, hesitates, and then steps around the counter for a second. A moment later there's a fresh bowl of rice with carrot furikake in front of him. ]

I've heard the more worthwhile something is the harder it usually is. [ Akira doesn't know if it's true, but being a phantom thief was pretty hard and was equally rewarding -- aside from the getting arrested part -- so he sort of believes it.

He doesn't want to acknowledge that loving Akechi has also been hard. ]

[The bowl sliding across the bar makes him sit up on instinct, and he looks at it for a long time, letting Akira's words sink in. And... just, the fact that this asshole literally made him carrot furikake to entice him to eat. He's infuriated, but mostly because his chest physically hurts from how unbelievably foreign and kind the gesture is.]

[He shifts, carefully setting the duffel bag on his shoulder on the floor beside his chair before he reaches out to claim the bowl with one hand, and Akira's hand with the other. It's a sort of unspoken understanding, maybe-- his head's such a damn mess it's hard to say whether he catches the fact that Akira doesn't want to acknowledge loving him has been hard, but if anyone knows how hard it is to deal with him, it's Akechi himself. And since Akira is so very hell-bent on the fact that Akechi is worth something...]

You said the carrots were for tomorrow.

Three-fourths of a dessert crepe isn't dinner. Or, I guess it could be, but I'm insisting on real food. [ Loving Akechi is hard because Akechi has died twice and seems hellbent on not allowing himself to be loved, but Akira thinks it's not only worthwhile but also something Akira couldn't stop if he tried, so really, in for a penny in for a pound. Several pounds.

Of carrots, probably. ]

Also because -- [ a vague hand gesture at the empty cafe, at the duffel bag ] -- emotional exhaustion means you should eat more, probably.

Pushy, [He frowns at the bowl, but claims chopsticks and starts eating it in small increments anyway, because Akira is almost certainly right. Three-fourths of a dessert crepe that was mostly whipped cream and cinnamon was not dinner, and he should probably eat more, even without the emotional exhaustion.]

[He gives the duffel bag at his feet a baleful look.] I'm not looking forward to this.

Do you want to do it tonight? [ Akira leaves it open, in case it's the kind of thing Akechi needs permission for -- it's okay to do it tomorrow, it's okay to wait until you're ready. It's not like Akira minds the fact that Akechi has been living in his hoodie and school uniform, but he doesn't think Akechi will take the easy way out.

He rarely does.

He brews some coffee, almost idly -- decaf, this late, but he throws it over ice since Sojiro isn't there to see the abomination and since it'll mellow out the subdued flavor of the decaf. ]

[He takes a contemplative bite of rice and carrot, chewing and leaning back in his chair.] ...well I need clothing, and it'll be best to determine what I'm capable of doing financially without employing Sakura's offshore siphons. [He takes another bite of rice.]

Yeah, but you can just sleep in my hoodie if you want to tackle it tomorrow. [ Akira doesn't know if Akechi wants to be talked into it or out of it, honestly, so he figures he'll just play devil's advocate unless Akechi seems really deadset one way or the other. ]

...well, you'll probably have to do that anyway, if everything's been in a box for two months.

[He chews very slowly for a moment.] ...and considering the laundromat is too far, apparently, possibly longer. Not that I've heard you complaining about me having to borrow your things. [There's a vague degree of teasing there.]

It's cute. [ This is his default answer to most things involving Akechi, apparently. ]

The laundromat might not be too far... If you're prepared for it, and you don't stay as long, it might help. You can let Mona guard the machines.

[He makes such a face.] There's really no hope that you'll ever stop saying stupid things, is there.

[He hums, taking another bite of his rice. He's about halfway through the bowl, go him.] What, does he like going with you to do laundry?

Yeah. He tags along to most things, honestly. He likes to sit on the washer during the spin cycle. [ Cat go brr brr. ]

[He chuckles at that, setting his chopsticks down on top of the bowl and looking down at the bag at his feet again.] What a strange creature.

I think he likes you, so bring him next time and maybe it'll work out. [ If they figure out more specifics on how long Akechi can stay away, how far he can go, it'll be easier to manage... Akira really thinks so. Then they can push the boundaries when they're comfortable and it won't be so bad.

So long as Akechi doesn't hit that terrifying level of cold again. ]

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