stealhearted | are you hurting the one you love?

You're my favorite, but I don't think I could spend time with only you forever. [ He could spend time with Goro indefinitely, but not just Goro. He imagines that once they're allowed to be apart from each other they'll both relish having some time to themselves, actually -- but he can't imagine ever getting truly tired of spending time with him. ]

So I think carrots are allowed to be your favorite. If you ate only carrots you'd turn orange, I think. [ No, like really. He read about it once. ]

[It's strange how that makes it click neatly into place for him. Maybe it's stranger because he can't refute it-- Akira's claim that Akechi is his favorite is just... universally accurate, and he doesn't know what to do with that being solid knowledge.]

[He latches onto the orange thing, instead.] Beta-carotene can turn skin orange if eaten excessively, yes.

Edited 2021-05-09 04:51 (UTC)

As attractive as you are, I don't think you'd look great orange. [ Akira can't imagine it. He tries, and he absolutely fails. Goro is too attractive to be sullied by the idea of being carrot orange, frankly.

It'd clash with his hair. ]

I'll keep feeding you a variety of foods. And also carrots.

[He would be a weird oompa loompa and that's not a good look for anyone, honestly. He just huffs a vague sort of laugh of a sound, waving him off with his free hand, carding it back into his own hair after a moment, tucking it behind his ear. It's a subtle nervous tic of his, he plays with the ends of his hair when he can't figure out what else to do with his hands.]

I don't eat very much, anyway, don't fuss. All you eat is curry, and that's fine with me.

I eat other things! It's just there's only ever leftovers, and I figured why spend money on food... But we all go out to eat sometimes. [ He offers Goro a smile, because today is kind of that day -- Ann's desire for sweets cannot be contained. ]

If the MetaVerse is back, we probably don't have to worry about money again...

I'm not chastising you for only eating curry, Akira. It doesn't bother me, and I don't mind eating it, myself. It's frugal, and it makes sense given you live above a cafe that serves it, without paying rent, and now with me around also.

[He's.. subdued. Possibly still a little stuck in his head, honestly. When is he not at least somewhat stuck up there.]

You don't cost very much, you know. [ Akira knows Goro's been worried about money this whole time, but Akira -- never has. Prior to being arrested the first time, he lived a pretty normal, middle class life; he never worried about money. With Sojiro, his pocket money was a little tight... until he started squirreling away his MetaVerse winnings. ]

You seem to think you're this big disruptive presence, but you're... not. You're quiet. You're nice to have around.

Maybe not big and disruptive, but having two teenagers in an attic is an uptick in expenses for Sakura, and by extension, you. It's not that I believe either of you mind, overmuch, it's that I'm aware that I am costing money. Even if it was handled by Shido's paychecks, I was paying my own rent, previously, it's not something I can just entirely ignore...

[He's very determined to be aware of himself in any way that could be troublesome. It's hard to say if it's specifically to remind himself of his own detriment or if it's just his way of keeping tabs on his existence.]

I have over seven million yen tucked away. [ Akira offers, casually enough that it seems like it's no big thing, but a little more quietly, because there's no sense in advertising it when he's in the middle of a zoo. ]

If we're going to the MetaVerse regularly, that'll only go up. It's not that I don't think you can take care of yourself, or that I don't want you to be self-sufficient and independent for your sake, but... You just got back. You can take it easy for a little while without having to worry.

[He affords him a vague sort of grin, shaking his head.] What are you, my sugar daddy? I always worry, your squirreled Metaverse riches aren't going to change that.

You'd never let me be your sugar daddy. [ But he would if he could get away with it, just... you know, less daddy-kink and also younger than Goro. The metaphor kind of falls apart. ]

I'm just saying that more than likely we'll be able to get another stream of income while everything gets figured out.

Ah, but you've thought of it. [He leans his weight into Akira's shoulder, closing his eyes and humming quietly.]

...I know. And I appreciate it, in as much of a way that I can, but I've taken care of myself since I was fourteen. It's... difficult to let someone else do it, now.

Well. At least let me keep doing it for awhile, okay? [ Akira leans back into Goro's weight as they walk, and leads him to the cage that has the leopards, which are very shockingly... laying in the sun and purring. ]

I'll never stop taking care of you, but I'll stop fussing quite so much.

[This is a frustratingly stressful conversation for him.]

[He barely notices the leopards, as a result, expression pinched and posture folded, but he stays leaned into Akira.] ...I don't think I have a choice. I don't hold that against you, to be clear.

Okay. Thanks. [ Akira offers it back, and then lifts their joined hands to point at the leopards. ]

They're just big Morganas.

..., Morgana is not leopard-colored.

[But he leans and smiles, just barely.]

Nah, but he sleeps in the sunny spot on my bed all the time. And this spot in Leblanc that Boss hates because 'you can't have a cat on the counter' but he never makes him get off. [ The leopards are not doing anything particularly interesting, so most of the other passerbys tend to take a couple photos and then move on -- Akira lingers, though.

Cute. Fluffy ears. ]

I'm sure Morgana argues that he is not a cat every time. Shame Sakura can't understand him.

[He isn't supremely focused, but it's fine.]

It's for the best. [ Akira can only imagine if Sojiro could hear Morgana's half of the conversation sometimes... though he's pretty sure there's a rumor going around that Akira can actually talk to cats, given the way he interacts with his bag Morgana. Whoops. ]

Even in Maruki's world, when he had a human form, he'd sleep curled up on top of me, and I'm pretty sure he tried to sleep on the counter. One day he'll have to admit he's a cat.

[He snorts at the visual of Morgana in his bizarrely pretty human boy form sleeping curled up on top of Akira.] He's only..., partially a cat, I suppose?

He's like... a catboy. [ Akira trails off for a long time in the middle of this before he draws his conclusion like it's the most obvious conclusion he could possibly come to. ]

One could say you're not terribly dissimilar, [He offers, offhandedly almost as if he hadn't meant to say it out loud.]

... like, nya? [ Akira offers, doing the paw thing very cutely. It doesn't quite match the slightly wide eyed look he offers Goro -- or maybe it does; cats always look vaguely surprised at everything. ]

[At first he looks a bit like he's swallowed something sour, or his stomach hurts, or both, as he tries to keep from laughing, but he fails and reaches out to push the paw gesture away, smiling toothily.] Stop, you are so embarrassing. [He loves one embarrassing cat boy.]

[ Oh no, Goro is really cute when he laughs like this. Akira was momentarily afraid the joke had landed poorly, but he's started to recognize Goro's "I'm emotionally constipated about positive feelings specifically" face. There's still some relief when Goro breaks out into laughter.

It's really, really cute. ]

I don't think cats can have coffee, so I can't be a true catboy.

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