[Despite being a hitman that crawls through a world of cognition to assassinate others, this is something that strikes him as just a little bit too unbelievable.
But, Akira has no reason to lie to him. Or, at least... There's no reason Akechi can come up with now, even as he spends a long moment staring at him, searching for something in his expression.]
... Is that so?
[Hm. Feels a little bit like rubbing salt in the wound, huh.]
Allow me to guess how the rest of your story goes, then. [Though there's not much left to tell.] You and your teammates fought this false god, and you won. This is why you're so certain you're alive.
[. . . well. that is the gist of it, isn't it? with some additions]
You asked me about the last thing I remember. The battle against Yaldabaoth occurred on December 24.
The last date I remember is March 20-- three months later. [AFTER LIKE TWO MONTHS IN JAIL but who is counting] My probation was over, so the rest of the thieves were taking me home.
... This is pretty saccharin, though, isn't it? A happy ending, all for Akira. He succeeded where Akechi failed. He defeated a god. He got to the end of his probation without any further incident as far as he's aware... And now? He gets to go home, surrounded by his dear, precious friends who cling to him like remora. How sweet!
He hates him so fucking much.
Whatever.]
I anticipated there would be discrepancies in our timelines, but to think it's been three months already... [He expected a week at most... Oh, well. At least he doesn't have to think about his corpse rotting in Shido's palace if the palace just straight up doesn't exist anymore.
But more importantly—
A beat.]
I've been dead for three months from your perspective and the first thing you thought to say was that ridiculous pun?
[Akira can't read minds, but he can imagine what's going through Akechi's head at the moment. he sets his jaw tightly, stomach once again curling with the guilt he doesn't verbalize. you should have been there]
[not for the road trip. for that he should've been in jail. but for taking down Shido, for fighting Yaldabaoth, for stealing the hearts of the public-- Akechi should've been there]
[. . .]
[anyway, Akira's response to Akechi's next comment is a bit wry]
There's no such thing as a manual on "how to greet someone you thought was super dead," you know.
[HE JUST SAID THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND HE'S SORRY]
. . . and yeah; there isn't. [the strangeness surrounding Akechi's circumstances aside] It's so weird that it could barely even be called a "normal" kidnapping.
Barely? [More like, at all.] At first, I thought it was a poor attempt at a joke. A dinner to die for.
[Since, you know, he's dead. A dinner you literally have to die before participating in.]
Thanks to you, that's no longer plausible. Operating under the assumption that it isn't just hyperbole, however... I can only think of a new, even worse possibility.
[Well.
Your friendly neighborhood hitman is obviously going to think of murder right away.]
... Haha, you never fail to surprise me. Even after facing the wishes of the masses you tried so hard to save, you continue to cling to your sense of "justice."
[You can almost hear the quotation marks...]
Let's make another deal, then. You won't say no, will you?
[apparently he'd just bounce back because SOME PEOPLE HAVE TRIED THAT]
[anyway, a flicker of surprise crosses Akira's expression, because he actually didn't expect Akechi to be the one of them to make that offer. doing so was on the tip of Akira's tongue from the very moment they entered this room together, so. . . it doesn't take much for him to agree]
. . .
Huh.
[but now without a slight curve of his lips, and a knowing quirk of his brow]
So you have changed.
[even if it's just a little bit]
[anyway, in response? he steps forward and offers Akechi his hand, so they can shake on it]
[and Akira wouldn't lie to himself by thinking otherwise. but Akechi coming to him with this proposal, even for his own convenience and selfishness, is still. . . something. a step up. a very tiny, very minuscule, step up]
[especially considering the last time they really worked together Akechi was actually plotting on murdering him]
[there's no part of Akira that changes his mind, so the handshake he gives his firm and pointed]
And I'm only agreeing because it's convenient for me.
[not. . . a lie. . . all Confidants are built upon an equal exchange]
Of course it was bound to be something like this.]
... If that's what you had to say, you're truly an idiot.
[He hates him. He hates him. He hates, hates, hates him.
He will never understand him.]
I have no intention of fighting you as long as our alliance stands. Furthermore, I have no reason to kill you. [After all, Akira's not in his way anymore. Their goals are compatible.] Is that what you needed to hear?
[a sharp exhale of breath, slightly frustrated. like a brick wall. . . but then again, there had always been a wall between them, hadn't there? there was no breaking that down just one conversation into their reunion, alliance or not]
[if there was any breaking it down at all]
No. I didn't "need" to hear it. I believe we're beyond that.
[. . .]
[but a small part of him-- the part that can't so easily trust someone who hurt so many of his people-- does wonder what would happen if Akechi were given reason again]
[he doesn't voice that aloud]
But I wanted you to know how I felt. After everything-- I though you deserved that bit of honesty.
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But, Akira has no reason to lie to him. Or, at least... There's no reason Akechi can come up with now, even as he spends a long moment staring at him, searching for something in his expression.]
... Is that so?
[Hm. Feels a little bit like rubbing salt in the wound, huh.]
Allow me to guess how the rest of your story goes, then. [Though there's not much left to tell.] You and your teammates fought this false god, and you won. This is why you're so certain you're alive.
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You asked me about the last thing I remember. The battle against Yaldabaoth occurred on December 24.
The last date I remember is March 20-- three months later. [AFTER LIKE TWO MONTHS IN JAIL but who is counting] My probation was over, so the rest of the thieves were taking me home.
[well]
[not straight home]
[they were totally going on a road trip :T]
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... This is pretty saccharin, though, isn't it? A happy ending, all for Akira. He succeeded where Akechi failed. He defeated a god. He got to the end of his probation without any further incident as far as he's aware... And now? He gets to go home, surrounded by his dear, precious friends who cling to him like remora. How sweet!
He hates him so fucking much.
Whatever.]
I anticipated there would be discrepancies in our timelines, but to think it's been three months already... [He expected a week at most... Oh, well. At least he doesn't have to think about his corpse rotting in Shido's palace if the palace just straight up doesn't exist anymore.
But more importantly—
A beat.]
I've been dead for three months from your perspective and the first thing you thought to say was that ridiculous pun?
[RUDE AS FUCK?]
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[Akira can't read minds, but he can imagine what's going through Akechi's head at the moment. he sets his jaw tightly, stomach once again curling with the guilt he doesn't verbalize. you should have been there]
[not for the road trip. for that he should've been in jail. but for taking down Shido, for fighting Yaldabaoth, for stealing the hearts of the public-- Akechi should've been there]
[. . .]
[anyway, Akira's response to Akechi's next comment is a bit wry]
There's no such thing as a manual on "how to greet someone you thought was super dead," you know.
[HE JUST SAID THE FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MIND HE'S SORRY]
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Anyone with common sense would have known not to resort to that. I should be offended.
[No, he's totally offended.]
... But, I'll let it go so we may focus on the real problem at hand. It goes without saying, but there's nothing ordinary about our current situation.
1/2
[CALLED OUT]
And it was a damn good pun, too.
[GIVE HIM CREDIT WHERE CREDIT IS DUE]
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[an exhale]
. . . and yeah; there isn't. [the strangeness surrounding Akechi's circumstances aside] It's so weird that it could barely even be called a "normal" kidnapping.
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Barely? [More like, at all.] At first, I thought it was a poor attempt at a joke. A dinner to die for.
[Since, you know, he's dead. A dinner you literally have to die before participating in.]
Thanks to you, that's no longer plausible. Operating under the assumption that it isn't just hyperbole, however... I can only think of a new, even worse possibility.
[Well.
Your friendly neighborhood hitman is obviously going to think of murder right away.]
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[Akira opens his mouth]
[closes it again]
[his expression grows slack]
You think we were all brought here to be killed?
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[Oh. RIP to Akira, but he's different.]
The "toy" we've been gifted would drive the point home.
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I hadn't. . . [thought about it. but he trails off, because now that he does think about it. . .]
[he curses, hands balling into fists]
Fuck that.
[sharp and defiant and determined all in one]
If this Master Blue thinks I'm just going to sit around and let them hurt people, then they've got another thing coming.
[typical Akira response, tbh]
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... Haha, you never fail to surprise me. Even after facing the wishes of the masses you tried so hard to save, you continue to cling to your sense of "justice."
[You can almost hear the quotation marks...]
Let's make another deal, then. You won't say no, will you?
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[that same justice got him arrested on false charges of assault, but hey, whatever, right???]
[. . .]
[he also affixes Akechi with a scrutinizing look, but-- despite the history between them, his answer comes without hesitation]
No. I won't.
[HE DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT THE DEAL IS??]
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What if Akechi plans to ask him to throw himself off the balcony.
What if.]
We both want to get to the bottom of this. As long as we share that same goal, it will be far more efficient if we work together to solve this.
[But, no. It's a reasonable request instead. Shocking.]
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[anyway, a flicker of surprise crosses Akira's expression, because he actually didn't expect Akechi to be the one of them to make that offer. doing so was on the tip of Akira's tongue from the very moment they entered this room together, so. . . it doesn't take much for him to agree]
. . .
Huh.
[but now without a slight curve of his lips, and a knowing quirk of his brow]
So you have changed.
[even if it's just a little bit]
[anyway, in response? he steps forward and offers Akechi his hand, so they can shake on it]
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With a look of mild disgust:]
Don't misunderstand. I'm only offering an alliance because it's convenient for me.
[People don't change so easily. In the end, he can only ever be himself. To think otherwise is to delude themselves.
But as long as Akira doesn't totally change his mind right here and now, fine. They can shake on it.]
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[and Akira wouldn't lie to himself by thinking otherwise. but Akechi coming to him with this proposal, even for his own convenience and selfishness, is still. . . something. a step up. a very tiny, very minuscule, step up]
[especially considering the last time they really worked together Akechi was actually plotting on murdering him]
[there's no part of Akira that changes his mind, so the handshake he gives his firm and pointed]
And I'm only agreeing because it's convenient for me.
[not. . . a lie. . . all Confidants are built upon an equal exchange]
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As long as we have an understanding.
[Smiling! Not very pleasantly.
But, hey. This is at least a step up from ranking up while someone is pointing a gun at your head, Akira..........]
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We do.
[. . . . . . .]
[and, while their hands are clasped, Akira's gonna sneak in]
. . . I'm glad-- relieved-- to see you're alive.
[TAKE SOME OF HIS SENTIMENTALITY AND SHOVE IT DOWN UR THROAT, AKECHI]
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He's taking his hand back, thank you.]
You shouldn't be.
[Point blank. Like the bullet he shot at Akira's cognitive double, whoopsies!]
Is there another matter you'd like to discuss? If not, I suggest we get to work.
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[draws his hand back when Akechi does, folding his arms again and looking completely unfazed]
I don't care what you think I should or shouldn't be.
[said just as point blank. YOU DON'T SCARE HIM, AKECHI]
And I think we have plenty we need to discuss. But that depends on how ready you are to address the elephants in the room.
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Annoying...]
If there's something you have to say, say it.
[Or just keep those elephants to yourself forever? There's no point in addressing things with someone who's dead?? It won't change anything???]
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[. . . if Akechi is going to be that way about it. . .]
[Akira's going to say it, chin lifted, eyes locked with the other detective to give it more ~feeling~]
I don't hate you.
[which Akira wants to think is obvious, but. . . it doesn't hurt to say]
I never have. You can hate me all you want in return, and that's fine.
But I don't want to fight you anymore.
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Of course it was bound to be something like this.]
... If that's what you had to say, you're truly an idiot.
[He hates him. He hates him. He hates, hates, hates him.
He will never understand him.]
I have no intention of fighting you as long as our alliance stands. Furthermore, I have no reason to kill you. [After all, Akira's not in his way anymore. Their goals are compatible.] Is that what you needed to hear?
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[if there was any breaking it down at all]
No. I didn't "need" to hear it. I believe we're beyond that.
[. . .]
[but a small part of him-- the part that can't so easily trust someone who hurt so many of his people-- does wonder what would happen if Akechi were given reason again]
[he doesn't voice that aloud]
But I wanted you to know how I felt. After everything-- I though you deserved that bit of honesty.
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