[Akira just nods. He didn't like to speak poorly of his parents, despite knowing they shouldn't have had a son when he was nothing more than a status symbol for them, to be cast aside when he could no longer be used as a trophy for good grades, for achieving something. Talking about it made him nasty, because he'd turn the upset back on himself, reflexively-- clearly if he'd just been what they wanted him to be, none of this ever would have happened--]
[Goro's question pops the rain cloud of melodrama above his head and leaves him looking up, startled.] Huh?
[Buddy you're the last person who gets to scold him about getting stuck in his head. Meekly, he drops his gaze to the floor with a quiet,] Oh.
...two? Maybe... if they have mattress covers here, we could get one to cover both, and push the two beds together. So it's nothing forced. [So Akechi can have space if he wants it, he doesn't say. Akira is pretty sure he would never want space-- he certainly never has, not from anyone he trusts. He laughs at himself, a moment later.] Is that childish?
[Meanwhile Akechi glances back towards the bedroom. It's more spacious than his own, so they definitely could fit two beds there if the inn were to provide an extra for them. If not, well.. They've gotten by with one so far.
But he'd definitely would prefer to have his own space.. Especially now that talking about logistics is making this decision feel more heavy and real.]
No. I'd like that. [He admits, turning his focus back on the dark coffee in his cup.]
So, [He starts, surprised by his own bashfulness.] I take it you want to keep continuing having an intimate relationship.
[He hums, smiling, and looks up at the slight change in the sobriety of the conversation, startled too by Akechi's bashfulness. He stares blankly for a long moment at the question, and his ears tinge pink in his wild mess of curls.]
[It's funny how he wants to do about just anything else than to sit here across Akira and look him into the eye. So he keeps his eyes fixated on the coffee, swirling it carefully around the cup a little. The memory of the last time still fresh on his memory -- or rather what was before it and after. Akira's tears, his own panic attack and clumsy confession. I like you. I don't want you to leave.]
I think I already said more than enough last time.
[He inhales sharply, his shoulders tensing up a little as he holds the air in. There's that burning sensation making its comeback within his stomach. Then he exhales, and presses his gaze down.]
If I say yes. [When. not if.] What will that mean to you?
...guess that depends on what you want it to mean. Are we together? Are we just physical? I'm open to suggestions. [If Akechi takes his hand, Akira threads their fingers.]
[Akira watches him, watches him not looking at him, watches their hands, and scoots forward. With his other hand, he reaches out and tips Akechi's chin up, choosing chaste violence and kissing the end of his nose.]
I don't owe you shit other than a black eye and a week of pretending to be dead.
Guess you'll just have to train yourself to become ambidextrous.
[Look if he could do it!
But then there's that. Simple word, sealing everything that he knew was going on. He still can't quite understand that just why. Why someone as messed up and wrong as him -- someone who will no doubt just hurt him in the long run further.]
You really are an absolute idiot. [His voice is so quiet as he breathes the words out.]
Already am, but that doesn't solve the issue of singularity.
[Akira smiles, closing his eyes almost entirely until they're slits, and he's looking down at Akechi's face through his lashes.] Good. [He tips his head sideways and taps their lips together, just once.]
It's almost as if he just forgot how to breathe all of the sudden. Akechi feels a little light-headed when Akira presses their lips together. It's soft and chaste, barely counting as a kiss but it's still enough to lift the heaviness off from the pits of his stomach. Akechi moves in, chasing after Akira's lips with his own.]
Yes. I want more. [He whispers his answer against Akira's mouth, before sealing them into another kiss. It might be a stupid and irresponsible of him to agree on becoming something more with all things considered. But it's fine, he doesn't mind being stupid if it's with Akira.]
[His heartbeat launches into his throat and stays there, and the anxious thrum of it is surely loud enough to be heard in space, but he just keeps tapping light little kisses against Akechi's lips.]
Okay. [He's-- he's terrified, actually, but he can't let anyone else know that, least of all Akechi himself.]
[Honestly? Akechi is just as terrified as Akira here, probably? Never in his life had he thought to find himself in a situation like this -- one where he agrees on a relationship like this. Romance had never been his priority and besides, it wasn't like he was going to ever find anyone insane enough to stick with his crazy ass..
But oh well, here he is. Softly kissing Akira with their hand intervened together, right above half-empty coffee cups. What comes next? Should they go over labels? Are they boyfriends now? Why isn't there a manual how to do these things right?!]
Our coffee has gone cold. [When in doubt, stick to what you know. Facts are helpful.] I like you.
He knits his brows into a slight frown. Don't laugh at him! But now that Akira's pulled away Akechi, too, leans back against the chair -- keeping their hands locked still.]
[Oh, good! Logistics. Just the right nerdy thing he needs at the moment.]
No, let me handle that. We should take measurements just to be sure. Luckily neither of us have that many possessions here so we don't have to worry about the clutter. -- Oh, which reminds me, you'll have to make room in bathroom for my toiletries. This backwater place might be lacking on skincare products, but I have managed to find something that is adequate. [rambling rambling.]
Also we need to agree on visitors together. Kotone and Yoshizawa-san are both given but with others I'd like you to ask me first.
[He likes when Akechi overtakes a conversation-- it means he doesn't have to talk as much. He also just so happens to really enjoy the sound of Akechi's voice. He chuckles, nodding.]
The bathroom is your domain so long as you leave the kitchen-- or what of it there is --to me. I might have you help me with some skincare, Ann was always fussing at me to take better care of it.
[He blinks, nodding.] I usually go to other people more than the reverse, but Kotone and Sumire get free reign and I don't think either of us have a say in that, anyway.
Worry not. I'm not cruel enough to actually cook for you. [At least he's not overconfident in his abilities in the kitchen. He's come to accept that food-related items are his nemesis.
Akechi reaches over the table and catches a strand of Akira's hair between his fingers, curling the digit around it.] And she was right to do so. Your good genes will take you only so far. I hope you had enough common sense to use sunscreen at the beach.
[He keeps twirling the hair around his finger for a bit before withdrawing, looking rather thoughtful for moment.]
You will tell her, though? She always seemed to be rather.. infatuated with you.
[He grins, shaking his head.] I'm happy to cook for us and leave you easy things to reheat so we don't have any accidents.
[He goes crosseyed looking at Goro's fingers, just grinning.] I did-- I burn like a lobster. [He considered briefly letting himself burn to see if it would somehow lure Yusuke here, but-- it's best that no one else wind up here accused of crimes they may or may not have committed.]
[He follows Akechi's fingers with his eyes as he withdraws them, seeming a little stunned by the question.] Oh, I... [It's not that he's surprised, really-- Akechi didn't seem the type to manage non-monogamous dealings of any sort, given how he rarely gave the other Thieves the time of day, but the notion of telling Sumire... It feels Big, somehow, and Akira knows it's because Goro wants to lay claim, to make it exclusive, and the phrasing that Sumire is infatuated... It's going to hurt her, especially since for her, it comes before she's told him how she feels.]
[He stares at his hands a beat.] ...infatuated makes it sound creepy. She confessed, at the end of January, and I turned her down, but... Our timelines are weird, she hasn't gotten there yet. [He looks back up, making pointed eye contact with Goro.] You want me to tell her we're together? Exclusively?
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[Goro's question pops the rain cloud of melodrama above his head and leaves him looking up, startled.] Huh?
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For us. How many beds should we get?
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...two? Maybe... if they have mattress covers here, we could get one to cover both, and push the two beds together. So it's nothing forced. [So Akechi can have space if he wants it, he doesn't say. Akira is pretty sure he would never want space-- he certainly never has, not from anyone he trusts. He laughs at himself, a moment later.] Is that childish?
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But he'd definitely would prefer to have his own space.. Especially now that talking about logistics is making this decision feel more heavy and real.]
No. I'd like that. [He admits, turning his focus back on the dark coffee in his cup.]
So, [He starts, surprised by his own bashfulness.] I take it you want to keep continuing having an intimate relationship.
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...do you?
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I think I already said more than enough last time.
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I want to if you do. But I need you to get used to telling me, so we can continue to be honest with each other.
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If I say yes. [When. not if.] What will that mean to you?
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...guess that depends on what you want it to mean. Are we together? Are we just physical? I'm open to suggestions. [If Akechi takes his hand, Akira threads their fingers.]
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And you'd really want to be more? [He's still not looking up. ] And not just because you think.. you owe me something.
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I don't owe you shit other than a black eye and a week of pretending to be dead.
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Akechi makes a soft, surprised sound when his chin is tipped up. He opens his mouth to say something but then Akira speaks and he huffs out air.]
Try that and I'll fucking break your hand, idiot. [He groans but still tightens his grip on Akira's hand.]
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[He leans forward and bumps their noses.] ...I don't do this because I feel obligated. I just happen to like you.
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[Look if he could do it!
But then there's that. Simple word, sealing everything that he knew was going on. He still can't quite understand that just why. Why someone as messed up and wrong as him -- someone who will no doubt just hurt him in the long run further.]
You really are an absolute idiot. [His voice is so quiet as he breathes the words out.]
...I like you too.
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[Akira smiles, closing his eyes almost entirely until they're slits, and he's looking down at Akechi's face through his lashes.] Good. [He tips his head sideways and taps their lips together, just once.]
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It's almost as if he just forgot how to breathe all of the sudden. Akechi feels a little light-headed when Akira presses their lips together. It's soft and chaste, barely counting as a kiss but it's still enough to lift the heaviness off from the pits of his stomach. Akechi moves in, chasing after Akira's lips with his own.]
Yes. I want more. [He whispers his answer against Akira's mouth, before sealing them into another kiss. It might be a stupid and irresponsible of him to agree on becoming something more with all things considered. But it's fine, he doesn't mind being stupid if it's with Akira.]
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Okay. [He's-- he's terrified, actually, but he can't let anyone else know that, least of all Akechi himself.]
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But oh well, here he is. Softly kissing Akira with their hand intervened together, right above half-empty coffee cups. What comes next? Should they go over labels? Are they boyfriends now? Why isn't there a manual how to do these things right?!]
Our coffee has gone cold. [When in doubt, stick to what you know. Facts are helpful.] I like you.
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[Akira laughs suddenly, breaking away from Akechi's lips with a rush of anxious breath and giggles, for a moment.] I like you, too.
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He knits his brows into a slight frown. Don't laugh at him! But now that Akira's pulled away Akechi, too, leans back against the chair -- keeping their hands locked still.]
..What happens next?
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[He doesn't know, because there isn't a bookstore here for him to find an opportunistic novel about how to date your rival in.]
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No, let me handle that. We should take measurements just to be sure. Luckily neither of us have that many possessions here so we don't have to worry about the clutter. -- Oh, which reminds me, you'll have to make room in bathroom for my toiletries. This backwater place might be lacking on skincare products, but I have managed to find something that is adequate. [rambling rambling.]
Also we need to agree on visitors together. Kotone and Yoshizawa-san are both given but with others I'd like you to ask me first.
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The bathroom is your domain so long as you leave the kitchen-- or what of it there is --to me. I might have you help me with some skincare, Ann was always fussing at me to take better care of it.
[He blinks, nodding.] I usually go to other people more than the reverse, but Kotone and Sumire get free reign and I don't think either of us have a say in that, anyway.
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Akechi reaches over the table and catches a strand of Akira's hair between his fingers, curling the digit around it.] And she was right to do so. Your good genes will take you only so far. I hope you had enough common sense to use sunscreen at the beach.
[He keeps twirling the hair around his finger for a bit before withdrawing, looking rather thoughtful for moment.]
You will tell her, though? She always seemed to be rather.. infatuated with you.
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[He goes crosseyed looking at Goro's fingers, just grinning.] I did-- I burn like a lobster. [He considered briefly letting himself burn to see if it would somehow lure Yusuke here, but-- it's best that no one else wind up here accused of crimes they may or may not have committed.]
[He follows Akechi's fingers with his eyes as he withdraws them, seeming a little stunned by the question.] Oh, I... [It's not that he's surprised, really-- Akechi didn't seem the type to manage non-monogamous dealings of any sort, given how he rarely gave the other Thieves the time of day, but the notion of telling Sumire... It feels Big, somehow, and Akira knows it's because Goro wants to lay claim, to make it exclusive, and the phrasing that Sumire is infatuated... It's going to hurt her, especially since for her, it comes before she's told him how she feels.]
[He stares at his hands a beat.] ...infatuated makes it sound creepy. She confessed, at the end of January, and I turned her down, but... Our timelines are weird, she hasn't gotten there yet. [He looks back up, making pointed eye contact with Goro.] You want me to tell her we're together? Exclusively?
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