miscakes | catch-all: akira.

Most of the time, it is.

[especially knowing how this place works and how many rules Blue and the sisters have to abide by]

[he thinks that covers most of his immediate questions, but. . . he does have one more]

. . . how much more do you know about this place-- this house, Blue, the sisters, the previous rounds-- than the rest of us?

I told you everything I learned through my job, with some small alterations to obfuscate the source of my information. You know everything I do.

[He has special privileges, but not like that. Now Akira knows why Akechi pushed so hard for certain theories, though.]

[hey, it was worth asking. especially b/c in the future Luna won't say JACK SHIT!!!]

. . . okay.

[he breathes out, mulling over everything he has learned]

[. . .]

[and then he smiles, though it's different than his usual ones. uncharacteristically fond? grateful? appreciative?]

Thanks.

For trusting me enough to tell me.

[for working so hard]

[...

That is a very gross look.

Akechi looks away so he doesn't have to acknowledge this shit.]

I may be forced to reveal myself on Sunday, anyway. Don't thank me because I decided to let you know a bit ahead of schedule.

[ACKNOWLEDGE IT!!!! ACKNOWLEDGE HIM!!!]

It's not just about you telling me, though that is the part I pointed out.

[a small shrug]

You've been sharing your information with me since we got here. I know we had our "deal," but it sort of feels like that deal is a bit lopsided now. That I couldn't give to you as much as you could give to me.

[he lifts the hand to rub the back of his neck, sheepish]

. . . so thanks for letting me be a partner to you in a different way, too.

[Oh, no. Stop this? He has no idea what the fuck to do that, and it kind of shows in his face and body language. This is absolutely terrible.]

... You realize I spent the entirety of that time lying to you, don't you? I think that makes us even.

[...]

But if you truly want to call yourself my partner, don't let me down this weekend. There's a lot of work left to do, and we're running out of time to. If we don't do this right, the house will consume what's left of our souls.

It was a lot different this time around.

[this time he wasn't lying in order to murder him, he was lying to protect himself. that's a little more forgivable]

And I won't. I promise. After coming this far, we aren't going to fail now.

If you break that promise, I'll kill you again myself.

[Lightly. He will strangle your ghost if they fuck up, Akira.]

For now... Report back to me if you find anyone else who received a letter. There has to be additional context for the one Phoenix-san sent me. If the "source" isn't what we've imagined so far, the deceased must be trying to point us in the right direction.

[Too bad they don't have a medallion anymore!!]

[Beau and Lio have theirs go borrow one of them!!]

[and later he will point Ken in Akechi's direction so he hopes that is good enough]

Mmm. I will. For now—

[. . .]

Akechi—

[hm??]

[GOOD ENOUGH.

He gives him a curious look, though.]

Yes?

[. . .]

[. . . . . . . .]

[there is so much he wants to say and do and feel in this very moment, and that realization is a little dizzying. what. . . is he even doing, daring to think that way in the first place. . .?]

[. . .]

[he reaches into his jacket and pulls out his still undamaged human skull]

Here. Take this and hold onto it, okay?

[...]

Akira...

[He makes absolutely no moves to take the skull, just staring at him. Very, very slowly:]

Loki has Tetrakarn.

[DON'T GIVE UP THE SKULL, YOU FOOL? PROTECT YOURSELF!!]

H--

[. . .]

[. . . . .]

[. . . . . . . . .]

Ah. Fuck. I messed that up.

[HE CAN'T EVEN FORCE IT ONTO AKECHI BECAUSE LOKI HAS TETRAKARN he should've just gone with his first idea]

[TOUCHES HIS FOREHEAD.]

What were you trying to do?

[You fool! You peon! You absolute buffoon!]

Be meaningful.

[okay. well. fine. he tucks the skull away, then]

[Akira... He looks amused now, at least, laughing at him. Thank you for the free entertainment.]

You could have done that without making a fool of yourself.

[YOU'RE WELCOME (???)]

[just huffs a little bit, also amused at his own tomfoolery, and then suddenly he has slid himself well into Akechi's personal space. hello!!]

Yeah. I guess so.

[and without further warning he slides both hands behind Akechi's hand to pull him in for a. . . very quick kiss, but this time it's on the top of Akechi's forehead. which means yes, he is pulling Akechi down a bit, fuck you and your extra inch, detective]

[...

????????????????

For whatever reason, that seems to fluster him more than the two times they literally kissed. He makes a small noise in the back of his throat, indignant, and pulls himself away as soon as he's able to.]

—What do you think you're doing?

[HISSED, while he fusses with his bangs.]