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kusagrasskusa · 2 years

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Mortal Kombat Males X Reader Imagines - VILLAIN EDITION :D - "Falling In Love" - Part 2

HOW THE FUCK AM I JUST NOW LEARNING THAT KUNG JIN IS GAY AND MILEENA WAS IN LOVE WITH TANYA- and who the FUCK is Meat?

Kano, Shang Tsung, Quan Chi, Ermac, Shao Kahn, Baraka, Scorpion, Noob, Goro, Reptile, and Erron Black.

FOR ALL THE NOOB FANS, I'M SO SORRY SKSJHSJ IT'S SO EFFORTLESS SINCE I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO DO AJFHSJSHSJJA (and thank you commenters of We're All Mad Here by SJ Tucker for the help)

I know some people hate it when writers engrave a song they like into their story, because a lot of the time, the reader doesn't know the song and just wants to get to the story instead. Reptile's part does have reference to He Is by Ghost, but it isn't much, I promise! I'm kinda listening to it right now and feel influenced by it haha

@wants2fight @bihansthot @jt-artsandfics @thetigerandthedoe @theelderhazlenut Thanks for the support on part 1!!!

~~~~~~

Scorpion

Y/N L/N was no fighter, nor could she even bare the thought of a person being cut. So what made Quan Chi want to keep her around? Simple; she had detailed vision, accurate predictions, and a personality that makes her loyal, vulnerable, honest, and weak. She was kind and entire harmless as she's been scared by so many things in the NetherRealm that she's barely capable of talking without stuttering. She holds her arms close together and talks quietly and nervously, looking at the ground and being shaking whenever she's around people. She cries when she alone and seemingly has forgotten how to smile.

Being under the watchful eyes of the hellspawns of Lui Kang, Kitana, and all those, Y/N is scared senseless all the time. It's not like she's given an outfit or armor to resist hits and fire; she's sorta expected to wear a dress, kimono, or something civil. Therefore, she gets constant burns, cuts, and others from crackling lava and hits from the demons. She's treated constantly for her wounds.

Scorpion is the most humane of all the hellspawns. This takes place in Mortal Kombat X before some people are freed from Quan Chi's control, however even with all these different creatures Y/N still knows Scorpion is more alive. He's a slave, however he still feels constant pain whereas the others simply believe something happened to them but otherwise feel nothing bad. They're empty shells that survive off a lie planted in their heads.

Scorpion is typically the one escorting Y/N around, as he knows Hell more than any of the other revenants. They always walk silently side by side, and Y/N's also so thankful of which. She's heard of Scorpion and knows about his past entirely, but she's always been too scared to tell him. Scorpion felt pity for the girl, however he never knew her enough to truly care for her.

At least, that was until one day. Y/N was being escorted to her chamber after being burned badly by Lui Kang for not speaking straight. She was in tears, shivering, and whimpering. Suddenly, for the first time, she boldly grabbed Scorpion's sleeve softly and stopped him. She then leaned her head on his arm, breaking down in tears. She begged to be killed by him as what she's going through it worse than death. Servitude, severe abuse, constant fear, no family or friends, not even the strength to talk right is only a few of what she goes through. The demon pat her shoulder and waited for her to stop before returning her to her chamber.

No judgements, no pain, nothing negative came from rather embarrassing act from Y/N. Hell, just emoting was embarrassment to someone who was considered weak. Though the very next day when Y/N was being escorted, Scorpion mentioned out of no where that she had a very difficult life and that he pities her. She shouldn't be afraid to cry around him, he explained. As if she was in a small concrete room filled with poison, blades, and monsters, Y/N felt trap. But just a few sentences by Scorpion made her feel as if the walls of that cage were cracking, giving her a chance to possibly escape her harsh world.

Whenever they were alone, Y/N would stutter out how she feels and what she has to endure. She would explain she had no chance of defending herself since she isn't allowed to even carry a glass shard. She's a slave due to her knowledge and killing herself wouldn't do anything as Quan Chi could revive her. Much to the girl's surprise, Scorpion had slowed down their paces to listen to every word she spoke as if he cared.

It would take many events like this before Y/N would finally fully trust the demon enough to talk more in depth about out her feelings. Often times, she would break down crying and Scorpion would be by her side, holding her with one arm. He didn't have to do anything to help her at all, but had a reason to. Y/N was a small, loving woman who's scared, helpless, and weak against those trying to kill her every second of her life. Yet despite these traumas, the trust in her prevails revealing just how innocent she really is. It reminds him of someone who was very close to him and how scared and helpless she must have been when she passed.

Y/N was sleeping in her room one particular night, and had a dream about Scorpion. He was alive and well, on a table drinking tea with someone who she knows he hates. Sub Zero spoke about how he knows the truth of his family and clan, and later on shows him proof that Quan Chi killed all of them. The suppressed sadness Scorpion felt was unleashed and his anger was redirected. It was when the two ninjas promised a truce did Y/N wake up, shaking with shock and smile on her face.

Just then, she got a knock on her door meaning that Quan Chi needed her. She got up and opened the door, revealing Scorpion. He immediately noticed her smile and tears at the corner of her eyes, asking about what had happened. After all, she hadn't smiled genuinely in so fucking long. She then nervously giggled, shaking her head. "I had a vision about you. But I think it's best if you wait for it to happen. In advance, I'm so happy for you!" A sense of relief washed over his body as if he was wanting to hear something good about him for a while.

It just so happened Scorpion was to escort her somewhere further away, making room for a long conversation between. During the walk, Y/N couldn't stop smiling and Scorpion couldn't help but notice. Then he asked on a desperate tone if he would return to life. Y/N looked up at him, replying with, "so much more than just life." That said it all for Scorpion. He knew he would relive, restore the Shirai Ryu, and get revenge.

Quan Chi had asked Y/N to tell him the outcome of Special Forces invading NetherRealm as he found out it was inevitable. Looking into the future, she found out that it wasn't going to be what Quan Chi likes. She stuttered out a few filler words as she fidgeted with her hands. The sorcerer scowled, raising his voice at Y/N for not giving him a clear answer. She stuttered out that Sonya Blade and Johnny Cage would defeat him and the revenants and force them into hiding.

Quan Chi hissed and slapped the girl, yelling at her for "given the wrong fate." Y/N yelled out that she was being truthful and explained more in depth of what would happen. The sorcerer raised his hand above the girl, however before he could strike, a voice yelled out for him to stop. Scorpion held his hand out in a halt sign while his other hand pulled Y/N away from Quan Chi's range. The girl yelped and covered her head with her arms out of fear whenever Quan Chi began to yell.

To say that Scorpion received harsh punishment would have been an understatement if Y/N hadn't stopped it. Just as Quan Chi was about to react, the girl had jumped in the way and yelled out that if something happened, some of revenants will die and thats not something to risk. It was a lie, of course, but she had to lie. Later, Scorpion had thanked her and suddenly, the idea of his died wife came into his mind. How he felt when he met her to when he asked her to his forever.

The thought wouldn't leave him. Such a shame that only mere days later, he wasn't able to see her as much at all. Even if he was the one to put her into hiding whenever the SP attacked, he wasn't satisfied. Saying goodbye to a woman he began to love was heartbreaking. Putting her into that crate in a dark, unoccupied room was dreaded for him. Y/N, that sweet girl, was however able to calm him. "Scorpion," she whimpered out, wiping her fearful tears. She knew what would happen so she just smiled at him. "It's time!"

When Scorpion returned to the abandoned Shirai Ryu as a mortal again, he couldn't think about anything else but restoring it. Although he felt empty now without that girl, this would satiate his needs for now. As he'd train and piece by piece being back his clan, the idea of one day taking back Y/N from hell wouldn't leave his mind even in sleep. One day, he promised himself. One day she'll be free again.

Y/N'a life had taken a terrible turn. She couldn't kill herself or she'll lose her humanity and simply turn into a demonic servant. There was no escape to her servitude and pain. She wanted to be happy too, considering that such an incredible person had returned along with a few others. But her mental and physical anguish was too much. Quan Chi would assure her youth as well.

20 years later...

Blindfolded and cuffed, Y/N sat down in a seat surrounded by guards from the SP. In front of her stood the blind swordsman known as Kenshi. Despite his best efforts, he wasn't able to see into her mind. It's unclear as to why, but it seems no one was ever able to see into her mind. Afterall, Quan Chi wouldn't have needed her to tell him anything if he could see into her mind. Kenshi may have not been able to look into her mind, but her submissive and uneasy nature proved to him that she was just very nervous and therefore easier to read. She was very honest.

Trust didn't come quickly, of course, however it was only enough time until they understood she was simply a slave to the Oni. Captured from her clan, she was held hostage for about 45 years despite her youth. She was kept young, in her 20s, in order to remain healthy for as long as it served Quan Chi. Y/N couldn't help break down crying as she was quickly found innocent.

Actually, it's been a few, maybe 2, days til they finally realized Y/N was innocent. The girl confessed to every single thing she was asked and gave away as much of Quan Chi she knew. Luckily, the timing was right as she was able to watch besides Takeda, Kenshi, and the others as Quan Chi got escorted to another SP camp.

God, that hatred she felt was beyond comprehension. Takeda had wrapped an arm around the girl as she began to whimper, then began to cry. She has to say, the old hoodie she was given in placement of those strangely revealing outfits (c'mon, this is MK) was much more comfortable to cry in. For the first time in 45 years, she would be able to smile and laugh as her confidence would slowly raise. Kenshi airway informed her of the psychological issues she will deal with for the rest of her life, but she didn't care.

In her time as a slave, her confidence was destroyed. She had no individuality and was seen rather as a number with all the other slaves rather than a person. She was beat, abused, humiliated, alone, witness to terrible things, scared, and everything else for what's a lifespan to some people. But finally, she'd see the cause of it be put away for longer than she has. He'll suffer like she did, right?

Of course, she didn't mean put away as in prison. She knows the man she thought about ever since a fateful day would return and imprison that creature in an afterlife. It's only a matter of time.

We all know how it happens. Sonya and the others fight then get held down by Hanzo's clanmembers. Hanzo mercilessly harms Quan Chi before finally, cutting off his head. The excitement held in Y/N's mind is alive as she closes her eyes, waiting for Shinnok to be summoned. She knew it would all happen, but she also knew it was would be okay. Cassie would defeat the newly awoken God.

As Hanzo was casted down with the force of the amulet, Y/N runs towards him. She dropped by his side, grabbing his hand tightly. The terrified girl ignored Shinnok as he spoke, only focusing on the man under her.

When he sees her, that feeling in his chest came back. His eyes widened as his hand weakly tightens around hers, whispering, "Y/N...?" Suddenly, a large smile grows on her face and she begins to giggle.

"I told you, you'll get more than just life. You'll get your revenge, Hanzo Hasashi," she giggled tearfully, pressing his hand up to her cheek. Hanzo weakly smiles back, staring into her eyes.

At least a shared kiss was able to ease the pain momentarily.

Noob Saibot

Noob Saibot. In short, a being of darkness and servitude who lost everything that could ever make him human. He started off a Grandmaster that had a heart of ice after ruthlessly taking the lives of many. However due to someone targeting him for the wrong crime, his life was cut short. Swallowed by flames, the once leader of his clan turned into a being of hatred, darkness, and shadows. He has two separate minds now; Noob, his body. And Saibot, his shadow.

Y/N L/N, a certainly interesting person. She doesn't fight, no, never did. But she does have a strong weapon; her mouth. It's hard to say what drove her to her insanity, however whatever it was ruined the girl for life. With a permanent smile and a mind of riddles, her words always keep people from crossing her. She was simply able to convince people of anything she wanted. Remember how the Cheshire Cat would talk? She was very similar to him.

However, even though he couldn't fight through her strangeness, the original Subzero couldn't stand being with her. So what if she could talk her enemies into killing themselves for the two when they were assigned missions together? Bi Han was an assassin who needed no help. However, with the previous Grandmaster assigning them missions together, there was nothing he could do about it.

Y/N was brought without any ice as a power. She was from the Lin Kuei, however she was nearly abandoned for being labeled useless and insane. Even as a child watching someone fight to the death, a smile remained on her face. Even when seeing two innocent toddlers play with toys, her words could make the entire situation sound as terrible as hearing someone slowly be skinned alive. Her eyes were filled with no emotion at all however her actions were never laced with bad intent.

Growing up together, Bi Han wasn't very fond of the girl. After all, she could talk people into fighting each other just so she can be entertained, therefore ruining his time. However, he was always impressed to to the least.

One of their missions was particularly dangerous. Kill the leader of a neighboring clan while ensuring no one sees them. Well, the mission ended up being a success! But only because Y/N talked everyone she came across to kill themselves for her. And damn that annoyed the Sub Zero.

In the middle of the mission, Bi Han had no problem yelling at the girl for her ignorant actions. How is it that she just has to run her mouth for a few minutes to get them to fucking kill themselves while he has to fight and train his best in order to win a fight and be prepared for the next.

Of course, Y/N just giggled and booped his nose playfully. "Bi Han, darling," she sweetly cooed, "you make an excellent warrior, sir. If you don't need me, I'll simply wait outside next mission, okay?"

So that's what happened. However, the young Bi Han ended up needing help.

Y/N giggled to herself as she watched an enemy slit his own throat open in shame, dying around the rest of his comrades. Bi Han hissed, rolling his eyes and his cheeks heating up under his mask. "Show off."

"You know, I would rather be anywhere else but with you most days. I don't know or care where, just not with you."

"Well," Y/N shrugged cockily, "you'll only know where you want to go when your somewhere you don't want to be."

To be honest, most missions ended up like this. But eventually, Bi Han was able to simply handle himself in these missions. Y/N would smile but damn she felt so bored. Bi Han's ego got big in the meantime, even if he himself wasn't used to winning all the time.

One time however, Y/N decided that she would join in the mission anyway. As the people around her dropped dead, Bi Han simply sighed and retrieved the item they needed. "Strange. You aren't mad? Perhaps the stress was getting to you, hmm?"

"Not at all, Y/N. I simply wanted to get this over with quickly," he answered. "Besides, you looked so bored by yourself."

Y/N smirked, awing. "Aww, did you miss me?" She wrapped her arms around him as he rolled his eyes.

Later on, the two sat down at the table together and ate. In a bit, the two would go on another mission. Y/N brought up randomly how Bi Han didn't react to her hugging him. Bi Han's face turned a little pink as he tsked, shaking his head. At this point in the time, the two were only 15 years old so I'm just saying that childhood crushes are very possible right now.

Quickly brushing off the conversation, Bi Han continue to eat until eventually they both finished.

Let's skip a few years, shall we? The two are 17 years of age and talk about a tournament is coming up in a few years. Two years of training and missions together sure as hell caused the two to get close, even if Y/N annoyed him a lot.

"Sooooo, Bi Han! Do you think we'll fight in the tournament?"

Bi Han tsked, shaking his head. "I will. You, however, will not ever. As son of the Grandmaster, I will be able to set that in stone soon." Y/N giggled, shrugging it off.

"You must hate me, don't you?"

"Hate you? You've clearly never seen me hate someone if you think this is what me hating is like."

Let's be honest right now, Bi Han doesn't hate her in the slightest. As a matter of fact, he grew impressed with her skill more and more among the years. Not only impressed but...feared her skill.

As we all may know, Bi Han was a warrior whose heart was cold from many killing sprees. He couldn't stand someone getting in his way so as he grew to realize that Y/N could easily destroy him, he began to worry.

He feared her and that earned her his respect

But also because I have like no fucking idea what should happenn between these two characters, let's just say Bi Han is some tsundere for Y/N okay? BeCaUsE fOr HiM tO rEsPeCt SoMeOnE sO mUcH, hE MuSt LiKe ThEm DeArLy, AnD tHeIr TiMe GrOwInG uP ToGeThEr LeD tO bI hAn FeElInG iN lOvEeeeeEEE~

Of course, that doesn't mean the girl would love him back. So what if Bi Han would start turning red whenever she hugged him? It didn't make her want to consider the possibility of him liking her. Hell, the thought had never crossed her mind.

Even as a child, the one thing she always thought of was just getting things over with; such as life. All she wants is to just talk to people, maybe make a few friends and enemies, eat, drink, breathe, survive, and all that. Not to be suffering or reclusive, but not to be obsessing over perfection and center of attention. Part of just getting over life was to simply complete her missions until she's in a comfortable place as an assassin.

She never cared about love. She may not be fully developed but she's an old soul. Her strength in her words prove that. So when she tells herself that having a family is something she doesn't want, then having a family is something that will never happen.

But, even if she never wanted to fall in love romantically, she loved Bi Han like a brother. All those hugs, teasing, and playing wasn't just to ease her boredom, but rather because she loved him.

"Bi Han! Look at this!" Y/N called out to her friend in the middle of a dangerous mission. Bi Han jumped, turning towards her with a glare that could fucking kill. She held out a baby turkey to him and silently squealed in awe. "It's so cute! I'm taking her back with us." She put the baby into her scarf to keep her warm and secure as the two would carry out their mission.

"You yelled at me while we were trying to hide just to show me...this?" Bi Han asked as he watched Y/N walk around with the poult following. She giggled, nodding her head. He rolled his eyes and simply accepted the fact that this dumbass managed to get away with kidnapping a baby bird and kill an entire group of skilled fighters by talking.

However, unfortunately, times weren't always this happy.

On Y/N 18th birthday, tragedy struck.

With the turkey who was now 2 years old, fully grown, on Y/N's lap and Bi Han sitting next to her, Y/N managed to have a good time simply by watching the sunset and talking.

Don't ask me how, but it's like the turkey, P/N, was otherworldly. By which I mean that their feathers faded from brown to colorful blues, purples, and red. Their eyes were pure white and it's body was larger than it should be. Not only that, but their wings were capable of shooting feathers out of them. So yeah, turns out Y/N found a turkey from Outworld without even knowing it.

P/N silently purred (yes, turkeys and chickens purr) as Y/N carressed their feathers softly. Bi Han simply sat silently contemplating what he'd say to Y/N. "Hmm...You seem antsy. What's on your mind?" She asked her friend, smiling softly at him.

A pause came between them before he finally replied. "Y/N... We have known each other since childhood and together, we have finally reached adulthood. In that time, we grew so close, did we not? After so long, I," he trailed off. Y/N cocked her head to show she was listening.

"I could not help myself from feeling not only like your friend but something more. The more I think of it, the more I realize that I perhaps care for you not only as a friend, but as someone I would love to spend the rest of my days with. Y/N..." He paused once more. Y/N hummed when her friend grabbed her hand, squeezing it lightly. Bi Han took off his mask, the redness of his cheeks visible as he finally confessed, "I believe I have fallen in love with you."

...

A minute of silence passed before Y/N finally opened her mouth. Yet as soon as she did- Boom!

The walls of the village crashed down then creatures from hell ran in next. The trio were quick to rush into battle (well, I suppose one just spoke) with the help of their clanmates however it would have been simpler if someone else hadn't stepped into the village.

A creature filled with hatred and rage stepped into the battlefield as most of the clan's fighters were occupied with the common hellspawns. Y/N and P/N were a bit too busy to fight the new intruder, but Bi Han, the Sub Zero, had time. (hah battle turkey)

Scorpion; a creature from hell who claimed Sub Zero had killed he and his clan. Yet even so, no one knew what the hell he was speaking of. But all Sub Zero knew was that whatever happened to his clan, he was grateful for it.

And Sub Zero would remember this for the next years of his life. The rest of Y/N's birthday was spent repairing the village walls and ridding the corpses of the demons. And Y/N and P/N in the village infirmary watching Bi Han barely survive all the wounds he suffered from Scorpion.

Seeing Y/N frown for the first time was a sight he never wanted to see again. She was known for always smiling, every hour of every day of her life. How much sorrow she must have felt when she thought her only friend in this world could die. Knowing that there was nothing she could do about it considering for some reason, her words don't affect the dead and demons in the slightest. All she could do was fight alongside P/N with her mediocre fighting skills.

Before the two had met, Bi Han was cold and serious he knew. But only after befriending Y/N did he start to act less serious. He simply allowed Y/N to yell when they were hiding, let her fight large groups while he handled smaller ones, let her act like a child, and let himself fall in love. But now, his serious side was coming back to him.

"Not now, Y/N," the Sub Zero spoke as Y/N wrapped her arms around him. "I have to be somewhere."

"Aww, when did you get so serious? You used to just drag me around at times like this, hehe."

"Indeed, but not anymore."

Y/N would still try to hug and talk to him playfully, but he would always push her away. She grew to accept it considering that he was soon to be the next Grandmaster but still, he hadn't acted like this in so long.

Yes, it's true, in two years the Sub Zero will be Grandmaster. Once he's 20 years old, he'll be head of everyone. Y/N just thought was strange that right after a dark event such as meeting Scorpion. he decided to start training extra hard and take lessons for leadership. Hell, Kuai Liang had noticed it too.

"Excuse me?" A softer voice spoke from behind Y/N. She turned around, smiling down at the small brunette boy. He looked to be about 14. "Are you Y/N, the friend of Big Brother?"

"That, I am," she replied, bowing down. "I see your brother must speak of me to you. You know, he speaks highly of you to me. How may I be of service?" Nervously, the young boy began to speak. In short, he was worried for his brother. Y/N would giggle and pat his shoulder reassuringly.

"Your brother is strange, is he not? Do you believe a dog is strange?" Kuai cocked his head questioningly, then shook his head. "Correct. A caring dog will growl when angry but will comfort when it's pleased. Yet your brother; he cares enough to comfort us when angry, but growl when pleased."

"I'd like to call it yelling," corrected the boy.

"Call it what you'd like," Y/N replied, giggling. "But it's strange nonetheless, isn't it? That's why I love him, truly."

That sisterly love for him never went away, even when Bi Han was away for long periods of time. Whenever Kuai would tell her stories of her big brother, that admiration for him would only get stronger.

Even in two years time, she loved him the same. During Sub Zero's ceremony for Grandmaster, she was the one who believed in him the most. In the two years of them speaking only half as much as before, she managed to get him to spar a couple times. And damn, he became so much stronger than ever.

It's a shame that she never figured out if Sub Zero still loved her or not. Of course, as we can imagine, he still did but he would never tell. If Y/N knew, she probably could have convinced herself to love him romantically.

As the tournament drew closer, Y/N knew she'd have to get serious too. P/N was 4 by then and her size made up for Y/N's mediocre fighting skills; like Ferra and Torr. But damn, she wishes she wasn't qualified.

"I remember one day when you said that when you were Grandmaster, you would make sure I wouldn't never enter the tournament. What changed, Bi Han?" Y/N joked as she smirked playfully at her friend. Bi Han leaned forward in his desk, recalling that event.

"Would you prefer staying here then? You and P/N would make an excellent team," Bi Han replied, taking his mask off to show his full face. Y/N giggled when she saw facial hair starting to grow him; she would make fun of him being a late bloomer often.

"Shang Tsung's scroll tells me I can't stay here." Y/N pulled out the scroll and read over a paragraph again before sighing to herself. "I'm excited, you know. I can't wait to see us fighting together like we used to!" Bi Han smirked to himself but brushed off her comment.

"I could not agree more."

A few days before the tournament, the selected members of the Lin Kuei were on their way to Outworld. Cyrax, Sektor, Smoke, Bi Han, and Y/N set out on horses to their destination. Smoke and Bi Han communicated while Cyrax kept his attention on our lovely Y/N.

And damn it annoyed Bi Han. Cyrax had no problem flirting as he was amazing at it. The two seemed to get along well and quickly got into each other's personal lives. Like where from the clan their from, who their parents are, what happened to their parents, their goals, and all that. When Y/N mentioned that she just wanted to get life over without worrying about a significant other, Cyrax made a comment with that. "That's a shame. I would love to change your mind, sweetie, cause I could grant you a good time." (idk how to flirt okay)

Luckily for Cyrax's life, the group had found their entranced to Outworld before anyone died. But don't think this wouldn't be brought up later, when everyone was getting settled into chambers that they'll rest in until the tournament is over.

"Do you like him?" Bi Han asked, pouring tea into cups for he and Y/N.

"That would depend on which like you mean," she replied, sitting down. P/N cuddled next to her, resting their head on her lap.

"It does not matter," he hissed, pulling his mask off. A look of jealousy would have been confused for hatred or bloodlust if Y/N hadn't known him so well.

"Well then," she spoke softly while grinning cockily. "It really doesn't matter if I like him or not."

Bi Han rolled his eyes, glaring. "I am serious, Y/N. Do you like him?"

"Why are you serious, friend? Me and him had only just met a few days ago. How could I possibly fall for him?" Y/N asked, picking up her cup and sipping some of the tea.

Bi Han didn't answer. Instead, he just took a drink and thought to himself. The tournament would begin in the early mornings of tomorrow. The way should would fight would surely annoy plenty as she never gets many bruises or cuts, she only speaks. She would probably annoy people with her childish and careless speech but then in battle, she becomes cryptic.

Her words are like the wisdom of the laughing god; some would call her insane. But what is insanity but a definition, one that is always changing, always earning and losing meaning. All we know is that we know nothing, and we may be wrong sometimes. Only he who thinks he knows everything can be wrong a hundred percent of the time. Perhaps the wisest of them all was the prophet who never spoke, but just laughed and saw the joke. For you see - the universe has a wonderful sense of humor. Perhaps that can explain her childish behavior and laughter.

"Perhaps,' Y/N spoke up again, smiling wider than usual. "Maybe you still love me. Is that it?" Bi Han felt his cheeks warm up as he nodded.

"Perhaps I do. It's a shame I never got your answer that day. What were you going to say?" he asked as he set down his tea cup. Yet again, as soon as Y/N opened her mouth, Sektor knocked on the door.

"It is getting late. We must be going to sleep now, you two." And just like that, the two said their goodnights and went to their rooms to sleep.

The tournament required too much training and focus to even worry about what her answer was. It's, again, a shame.

Two Lin Kuei warriors fell to the floor, unconscious, as a looming figure of pure hatred stands over them. "I will have my revenge, but I will not kill Sub-Zero."

The doors silently pried open, revealing a grinning girl with a turkey and an ice cold man. "Will not? Or cannot?"

"You!" As Y/N and the turkey walk over to where the familiar Raiden is, Sub Zero and Scorpion approach each other.

"The Shirai Ryu are dead. You will suffer as they did."

"To hell with your clan!"

"No, to hell with you!" Instantly, the bodies of these two enemies were swarmed by flames before seemingly disappearing. Y/N smirked cockily to herself as she awaited her best friend's victory. However, as the minutes past, she grew nervous.

"I can sense your agitation, Y/N," a deep voice spoke. Y/N looked over at Raiden, nodding her head. "I can assure you that he will live. Do not fret."

By the gods, if only he was right.

Y/N eyes focused as flames grew in the middle of the room. She expected to see her friend, but instead saw Scorpion. She waited for Sub Zero to return as well but it never came. She noticed Scorpion raising his hand slowly, a skull and spine within his grasp.

Being buried to her neck and kept alive so she can feel warms and bugs eat her from within the ground would have hurt so, so much less.

Y/N fell onto her knees, her smile disappearing for the fist time in two years. Her eyes were wide as she watched the skull of her best friend hit the floor and shatter. With a scream, Scorpion had disappeared after being engulfed with flames. As people begin to leave, Y/N stays onto the floor while others surround the skull.

Y/N drowned out the sounds of the god and Lin Kuei member arguing as she just sat in sorrow.

...

Y/N hadn't smiled in a few days. When she was called to fight, the battle was over in moments. P/N would charge at them while Y/N would dully speak in a low voice that only her opponent could hear, convincing them to back down. Once they let their guard down, she would simply hit them hard enough to knock them unconscious. That's all she would do.

All she focused on was training whenever the tournament wasn't going on. No matter what drama happened between the realms, all she cared about was keeping EarthRealm safe.

Even when she was brought to the inauguration of Lui Kang, she remained cold and lonesome. Yes, it was edgy but that disbelief and emptiness in her heart stopped her from even caring. Congrats, Lui Kang defeated Shao Kahn and Goro. But how can she celebrate happily without her happiness alive to celebrate with her? Sure, Kuai Liang was there now but she simply couldn't be happy.

To say that great sorrow made her stronger was an understatement however.

Whenever the second tournament started back up, of course she fought her heart out but in the end it was worthless to her.

Until...

"Y/N L/N," a deep voice called out. Y/N paused, turning around to face however just called out her name. The two stood in the middle of the forest of Outworld, where the trees had faces and corpses hung in displayed everywhere.

"Greetings, creature of darkness," Y/N replied, frowning as she eyed the new person in front of her. He wore a black mask, black clothing, black everything. "If you came for a fight, I apologize that you will need to speak to me in a few ours. I don't know where, but I'd rather fight anywhere but here."

Suddenly, the creature chuckled at the girl's voice filled with boredom. "I was once told that you'll only know where you want to go when your somewhere you don't want to be," he replied, taking steps closer. Y/N raised a brow, thinking back to when she said that exact line before.

Y/N then faced the person completely, cocking her head. She frowned more, shaking the thought from her head as she took steps towards him. She then took back what she said about not wanting to fight by getting into a stance.

Every single hit he threw at her with a few exceptions was somehow predictable. When he would through ghost balls, when he was slide, when he would hit and kick seemed so familiar to her. And somehow he predicted most of her movements as well, as if he'd seen her fight many times. Her voice seemed to do nothing against him either, telling her that he was a dead soul.

Y/N coughed as she hit the ground a final time, blood spewing out of her mouth. She covered a large cut over her stomach as she struggled to stand up, heaving. However the creature of darkness stepped on her, pushing her back down. He then stepped off her, circling around her.

"You have gotten stronger. Unfortunately, not strong enough." Y/N coughed as she looked up at the creature of darkness.

"Do you know me? Who are you!" she yelled, whimpering a she tried to sit up. If she had P/N with her, she would probably be in a better predicament.

"It is I, Y/N," the creature spoke as he stopped by her head. "I am Bi Han, only perfected in every way. However, I am now known as Noob."

Y/N's heart drops upon hearing this. This explains so much...

She covered her face as sudden tears slipped from her eyes, whimpers following after. Bi Han simply watches as his closest friend cries, not being able to feel bad for her.

"Goddammit, Bi Han... You had so much potential but you do this? Our people are now robots and have no official leader to guide them. Your brother is in danger! Yet you destine yourself to servitude?"

"Perhaps my death affected you more than I had initially thought. You don't smile anymore, do you? No games when you speak; you simply beg." Suddenly, he roughly grabbed her arms and pulled her up forcibly, causing her to fall against him.

She hissed as she struggled to stay on her feet, blood dripping from the ends of her mouth. She shoved him away forcibly, taking a step back. "I would have said, I love you too, that day. I really wish we could have lived out our lives under different circumstances."

Tears formed in her eyes as she watched what was left of her best friend pull out a scythe. She knew she was gonna die so why would she fight back.

"You will not be gone forever, Y/N," Noob replied as he neared her. "You will be back, only forever. We will live out our lives together then."

Then suddenly, everything went black.

Goro

As some may know, Goro has 7 wives. One of them being Y/N, a princess who was forced into marriage.

It's all for good relations, right? So her family can restore the honor and security lost when their realm was conquered by Shao Kahn?

Y/N was a princess who had been raised to act submissive, caring, and quiet. Anything her husband would want, she was raised to want it to. However, in her mind, she hated her life so badly. She didn't want to wear makeup, keep her hair pretty, wear dresses, and always reply with, "yes sir," or, "yes ma'am." She didn't want to be someone else's property. She knew marrying the price would bring her life to an end.

Goro, his full name being Gongoro, is a giant man of brute strength who was able to crush a skull like it was nothing. He's a showoff who believes he's the best of the best aside from Shao Kahn. And he isn't wrong, either. His wives mean nothing to him so he distances himself from them, but allows them to use his money whenever because he knows that's why they're with him. However, as not many know, Goro can be compassionate at times, even if it's just a little.

Y/N shivered to herself as she stepped onto the marble floors of the throne room. It was required for everyone who works with Goro to know his relationships, along with each other's relationships, to ensure that no one is betraying the empire. So in front of everyone, Y/N would be asked questions about who she is, what she does, where's from, what she expects from the marriage, and many, many more.

Of course she replied with optimism. She didn't want to but her marriage with Goro had to be perfect so she can live her full life and make her family happy. But in her eyes, anyone can see how unhappy she really was. Kitana was able to see it right away; the princess approached her right after the questioning.

"I pity you, Princess of [Realm]. This truly is a fate worse than death," Kitana spoke, bowing her head. Y/N kept up a small smile, shaking her head.

"I thank you, Princess Kitana," she replied as she bowed. "However if my family and realm is protected, so be it. Perhaps my Prince shall have mercy on me for as long as I live." Our princess's heart pounded heavily although her face remained calm. She knew all about Goro and his fights; she could only pray to the gods above her that she won't make him mad. Kitana frowned, looking into the fear held in Y/N's eyes.

"I pray for your safety. Word of advice; praise him and never get close to him whenever he is angry. You showing fear will tell him that you do not love him, and being brave would insult his authority and harm his pride. Prince Goro is tricky."

These words rung through Y/N's mind every second of her life from now on. As Shang Tsung walked her to her chamber in the palace, she couldn't help but break down. A sly smirk appeared on the sorcerer as he heard the poor girl whimper and cry.

In her chambers, she let in all out. Luckily nights are longer in Outworld than in her realm since she was able to get good amounts of sleep even after spending hours of crying into her pillows. She didn't want to marry a monster! She didn't even want to be a princess; why couldn't she be like everyone else and choose her life decisions?

Every night was like this up until the day of the wedding. Every day was spent being tutored on how the Prince likes things done and what to never do. Of course, she did it all with a smile and with the feeling of regret sitting deep inside her.

When the day of the wedding came, that was it for her. She spent the night before praying to the Gods for redemption since clearly, there was something she did that caused such a terrible fate to be bestowed onto her.

The wedding was interesting, to say the least.

When she first stood in front of the Prince himself, her heart stopped. A was giant; so incredibly large compared to her. His hands were enough to crush her skull with ease. And when he looked at her, he could see the ultimate fear in her eyes. A sly smirk appeared on his face as pride filled him. Yet another wife to love him eternally, and this one wouldn't need to be told to do something twice.

She had no idea how wedding worked in Shokan tradition so Y/N just spent the day being commanded. "Put the ring on him," "be quiet," "give your speech and make it sound sincere," and things like that.

She was so scared when she delivered her speech. Her parents, family, enemies, guards, Outworld dynasty, and so many Shokan peoples were there. She gave a toast with a look of pride but in her voice, she can just hear how scared she was. And that only scared her more.

Cheers and applauses filled the room when the vows were finished. Goro gripped Y/N tiny hand and rubbed his thumb over her knuckles. It was a display of affection made to make the wedding seem sincere but they knew down down inside that it was all pretend.

Y/N remembers the first time she ever stepped foot into his lair. She was scared, petrified even, but she tried her best to conceal it. She knew she had to if she even wanted to live another year.

That night, the two sat down at the dinner table in their formal wear still, no other wife present. The two ate in silence; Y/N barely touched her food while Goro stuffed everything down like he had no manners. In a sense, he didn't need to have any though.

And she didn't have a say in the house, she might as well simply let it be

Months went by and nothing really happened. Of course, the night of the marriage, there was something expected of royalty right after marriage in the middle of the night

It was...traumatic, truly. Knowing services like that would be her legacy...the rest of her life, her people, depended on sitting around lazily and listening to screams, then bring pained every single night

He was gigantic and she was a small girl...she was so scared of him. Goro would have a wife lay in his bed every night, and on her turns, she'd shake and remain awake the whole night. How could she sleep when her fear of him accidentally rolling his large arm on her and crushing her is in the back of her mind?

And if he did that, waking him up would be the death of her

...

One night, she was called into her prince's chambers. She gulped, remembering what day it was...it was her turn to sleep with her husband. All of his other wives had no problem sleeping with him, as they were from larger races. However she just couldn't...she had to pray to the elder gods everyday to almost ensure she wouldn't die...

She stepped into the chambers, finding her husband absent from the room. Y/N breathed heavily as she laid in the bed and waiting for her husband patiently, time going uncomfortably slow. Where was he?

After a few minutes of waiting, Y/N's beating heart was being laid to rest. But as soon as she had started to calm down, a roar emitted from the hallways, coming closer to the room.

Y/N shot up, tears immediately swelling up in her eyes. God, why is he mad?

The last time she saw him mad...dear Elder Gods, she hates to merely recall the memory taking place...she brutality one of his wives received despite not doing anything was terrible. Just terrible...

Would she be next?

"Dear Gods!" Y/N full on screamed as she felt her breathe hitch a single time. She hates knowing that she's scared! She hates knowing that in this situation or anything around here, she's always so anxious and terrified! It's like feeling her entire well being drain every single moment until there's almost nothing left.

Just knowing she was becoming scared made her more scared, and the moment Goro broke his door angrly and entered the room, Y/N snapped

Instantly, all that graciousness from earlier was gone. She couldn't hold in her manners and pride any longer! She was scared, so scared for her life.

He immediately made eye contact with her, seething so heavily. Y/N quickly covered her mouth and tears feel rapidly from her eyes and onto the bedsheets. She sat up in the giant bed, pretty much balled up and stared

Goro led out a noise from the back of his throat, approaching the bed with a look that could literally kill. Had Y/N not prepared for this before marrying him, her frail heart would've been too petrified to let her body go on.

Goro towered over her like a rabid beast...and simply stared at her tiny form freaking out

Y/N had broken down, fully into tears and crying so loudly as she buried her face into her hands. She whimpered loudly, sniffing and trying to herself to calm down but she knew she couldn't recover from this..

"Hah hah.." a low chuckle erupted from the prince. "The most attractive trait in a wife is her fear. The inability to withstand me..is quite amusing. You must hate me, do you not? Do not lie."

Her cries quieted down a tad as she heard him speak, but once he finished then she immediately got louder again. She had to lie! But he would know..

The rest of the night would follow by more demeaning, objectifying statements about her and her position as his wife. Of course it got him feeling a little specially, and so the night would get worse and worse.

Looking into a mirror and seeing so many deep cuts and red marks on her skin had made the poor girl dry out yet again...she cries every night, but never in the sights of Goro. Or anyone as a matter of fact

But...to an extent, feeling the attention wasn't a bad thing

Demeaning but if she choose to be the wife of a monster, then she deserves it, don't she?

Looking into the mirror and outlining every cut, Y/N let her last tear fall.

"I choose to prefect my people and suffer for it..Goro may do as he pleases, as this must be my punishment."

Within time, Y/N knew she was his favorite. Now rather then 3 times a month, she would sleep with him 4 times. Then 5. And then more.

What can he say, he loved seeing that true, raw emotion in his miniature wife's eyes.

Goro was breaking her down day by day, but she'll learn to love it

Reptile

Standing there in the foggy, humid air surrounding an unimaginable jungle, young Y/N witness fire, battles, burning of peoples and trees, and all else related. There were her people of the L/N clan attacking their neighbors, a hardly recognizable clan. Reptilian peoples. Those people, their world- in flames. What were they fighting for?

...

Y/N cold, icy eyes held a look of familiarity and remorse to seeing her dear childhood best friend in front of her. His arm crossed over his heart respectfully, pledging his full loyalty and all. If she remembered anything about her first battle, it was how she felt betrayed and like the world was against her. She had to fight her dearest friend. Neither could do it, no matter how much they needed to.

In the end, the two just stared at each other until Y/N simply walked away. The pressure was released since they knew it wasn't each other's fault for the fight between their people, and if either can live another day, it'd all be worth it in the end.

Or so, at the time that was the thought process.

Being broken down, tormented, taunted for centuries... It has its affect on one's mind.

Just a few hours later, a large gathering was thrown at the palace of Shang Tsung to celebrate the new mighty warriors, including Baraka, General Kotal alongside Aztec warriors, new demons and hellspawns, Scorpion... and of course, Reptile. However, the party was mostly for Shang Tsung to showcase his wealth and power, and everyone knew it but the food and drink was worth tasting even if it stroked his ego.

Y/N stood tall at a pillar in the room. She wore a sort of dress required for this kind of gathering- The dress was pretty and touched the floor almost. She wore a small underskirt to make the dress more puffy. It was eye catching to say the least, but not nearly as much as how Princess Kitana and her side kick Jade was. Scarlette and many of the other men and women wanted to show their wealth and attractiveness.

However, it all looked like this blur to a visitor. Her face shun like the sun yet as cold as ice. Yet, whenever she looked back at that visitor too, her face warmed and her chest felt heavier.

Step, step, step...

His eyes glowed more then she remembered. He was way taller than her, too; her head almost reached his shoulders. Reptile, Syzoth, stood close enough to her to feel her heat radiating off her.

"You grew quite a bit since I last saw you. I'm almost at your shoulders, hehe," Y/n giggled as she looked at Syzoth right in his cold eyes. "It's been centuries."

"My people have all been lost. I am the only one left of my kind. All that remains is few ashy, destroyed homes and statues," Syzoth replied in his raspy, reptilian voice. "I never understood why your kind did it."

"I had never touched a thing. We were destined to different paths and had no choice. I wish... I wish it never ended the way it did. I remember us talking about running away together and starting our own people; our own clan. Maybe then our people would be at peace."

"Had only we saw the world through the lens of reality," Reptile replied, closing his eyes for a moment.

"Had only, my friend."

Silence filled the space between them as everyone around them talked and laughed and gambled. The music in the background that was softly playing ranged from different genres- traditional Chinese, Edenian, and whatever else sounded right. However, it was all put to a halt whenever Shang Tsung tapped against a glass to make a loud clinking sound.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I would like to grant a toast to our beloved emperor... Emperor Shao Kahn." The crowd raised their glasses and clapped, roared, or produced whatever sound their specie can make to show support. When the crowd died down, Shang Tsung continued.

"And to appreciate the new warriors who shall stand against Earthrealm in the name of our emperor! You shall all be the reason we will take over our greatest enemy and conquer yet another major realm. One by one, you will see the effects of your support on your lives as you are approached with fame, wealth, love, support, and most importantly, power. You shall all be respected and worshipped by those in Earthrealm after the tournament begins! And with that, thank you all!"

The crowd cheered and smiled at each other cheerfully and took their shots as they were reminded of the upcoming tournament. However, the mood changed whenever the music changed to something more slow and romantic. Alas, the couple's dance begins.

Jade and General Kotal take the floor, followed with Erron Black and a maid lady most likely, Baraka and a Tarkatan female soldier, and more.

Y/N looked away from the crowd and back and Reptile.

"I do remember the festivals of our people. You looked stunning in that flowered dress you wore during your celebrations, and the warrior clothing you wore at mine. You were such a wonderful dancer," Syzoth broke the silence. A warm smile appeared on Y/N's face.

"I still practice our danced. Do you?" Y/N questioned.

Syzoth held out his arm for her, replying with, "would you like to find out?"

The pair walked onto the dance floor once she took his arm in her's. They walked into the center and held onto each other and stayed close. Together, they danced just like how they'd used to. It wasn't very eye catching or anything, but to them, it was special.

At least, for the night.

...

Two hundred years later. That's right, two hundred years.

And absolutely nothing had happened between the two. They were put on group missions time to time but they spoke as partners who's never met prior to the mission. They worked side by side, but nothing more.

Why?

It was the first time seeing each other in centuries the day of that gathering. There was no need for aggression or hatred on that day when it was a day of memorial and celebration. Since then, things have gotten more serious to the point where there was no more time for reunions and flashbacks.

Besides, the gathering was his appreciation to Y/N. There was no more left to appreciate as only the memories of the ruined home he once lived happily in remained. Everyday was a reminder of what had happened- how he was spared by his best friend when he'd rather join his family in death. He couldn't kill himself so he has to live out each day and survive. Working with Shao Kahn was his reminder of what he's fighting more.

Vengeance cannot ever be granted as long as Y/N is alive, but he could never hurt her. If he could revive his fallen people, only then will he be satisfied.

...

Reptile was knocked out by Johnny Cage in just a single fight. After the fight between Baraka and him, there was a break.

Reptile rested on a bench somewhere in Shang Tsung's island while he tried to rid of his headache. He groaned with his reptilian voice as he heard footsteps quietly approach.

"He was a lot stronger than we anticipated. I despise seeing people such as Cage winning," Y/N's calming voice filled the silence as she sat down next to him.

Y/N grabbed his arm and squeezed it slightly, causing a questioning look from Syzoth. However, his headache disappeared immediately, and suddenly he remembered her kind could aid any pain in the blink of an eye.

"It would take about 10 of my kind to kill a single person in your clan, however due to our healing abilities, we would live. With regeneration magic, we are practically impossible to defeat."

Oh, the memories.

"Do not worry though, for Shang Tsung would get the neck of it. It is he who runs the tournament so any failure is his failure."

Syzoth remained silent as he listened in to Y/N. His entire life, he wondered why his people had to die to this very girl's. The thought just wouldn't leave his mind.

"You did a few moves I had never seen before. I knew you could use your tongue and throw spit balls, but your slide was impressive. Along with the way you throw him up in the air like that and attacked again before he could react. You're even more skilled than your father."

His father died by the hands of her mother and uncles.

"Is that so? Would you like to see more?"

"You want to spar?" Y/N questioned as Syzoth stood up and held out his hand for her to take. He pulled her up once she took it and smirked.

"I would love to."

They walked in an open area and brought up their fists. A casual sparing match. Seconds passed before Syzoth ran and slide towards Y/N, throwing a ball of acid in the air that would hit her if she tried to jump over him. Y/N reacted fast and lunged forward, barely escaping the acid or the reptile.

She rolled onto the ground and summoned a whip covered with spikes. She swung it at it and the spikes poked through his skin, before she ripped back the whip. The spikes ripped his flesh apart and he came clashing down forward.

The sparring match slowly became more and more aggressive. To the point where it became a scene that passbyers watched. Not everyone left the island after the tournament after all.

Slowly, the two started to get genuinely pissed off at each other tactics, and eventually, Y/N tackled Syzoth and summed and dagger and plunged it into the palm of his hand. She summoned another one and did the same for his other palm. He hissed and attempted to kick her off him, however she moved too fast.

She summoned one more dagger that she pieced the scales around his throat with. "Do you give up, Syzoth?" She taunted.

She was covered in blood and bruises, and clearly badly roughed up, as was Syzoth. The crowd around them watched as the reptile started to feel self councious and humiliated. He said literally nothing and stopped struggling. He simply quietly hissed at the pain in his palms. He had given up.

Y/N got up slowly and took out the daggers. Slowly, shame started to set in. What a way to greet an old friend, huh? She had a look of pity as she watched Syzoth stand ho and brush himself off before walking off.

The crowd dispersed with their small talk and comments, but she ignored them. "What have I done?" She pondered.

The next tournament began, where Lui Kang was to fight Scorpion and Quan Chi. Y/N stood and watched the fight, but couldn't help but notice Syzoth in the background. He looked hurt, and an empty feeling in her heart remained. She felt terrible.

Little ways after then, the two happened to meet up at that pond again where they "sparred." Reptile was sitting at that bench again, before sensing Y/N.

"You are just like your clan. Taking advantage of whatever you can."

"I beg you're pardon? You fought back with equal might, Syzoth."

Before Y/N even noticed him, Reptile insulted her. But Y/N was correct- it wasn't all her fault. "Do not call me by my name," Reptile hissed as be stood up.

"You are just like your clan. You blame everyone else for your own faults in order to make yourselves think you look good," Y/N spit back. She glared at the heated Reptile, who began to quickly approach her. She went to take a step back, but immediately he was in her face hissing.

"I have no clan. Your family killed them all."

Y/N felt a tear in her heart but ignored it. "That was not our doing and you know it. We left home to protect ourselves and keep our legacy alive. What my clan did is not my fault. You embarrassed yourself yesterday, bur get over it. We aren't children anymore, Syzoth."

Venom spewed in his name. "I am not Syzoth to you, traitor!"

Y/N shoved hard against him and like a bomarang, he came back. Only he pushed her as hard as he could, causing her to fall back and hit her head. She growled and went to stand up but Syzoth got on her and held her down.

He opened his mouth, venom dripping from his tongue and onto the stone. Y/N gasped silently and tried to get him off by kicking and turned, but his grip on her wrists was strong.

"I heard it could take 10 of me to kill one of you, Y/N.." he hissed as his voice became more reptilian. He picked his lips as venomous acidstarted to drip onto her clothing. She gasped ad her heart began to pound. "Let us test that now!" He hissed.

She expected him to spit up the acid all over her face and make her skin melt, or to wrap his long tongue around her, or something other than what he did!

What he did was connect their lips. He kissed her dearly and made her gasp! Was he gonna force acid down her throat?

She was waiting and waiting for it, and while waiting a few seconds ahead couldn't help but pursue. She closed her eyes tightly and deepened the kiss. I mean.. if she's gonna die, what the hell?

Also, sorry this one sucks, I for some reason can't type on my laptop because of a random word limit on posts so I'm writing on my phone lol

But it never came. Despite the reptile seeming to be in attack mode, especially after the humiliation of yesterday's fights, he didn't harm her. He held her down and kissed her.

Her heart fluttered as she drifted away into peace. Well, I suppose they did say they would marry once they were older, and that they'd always love each other.

It does seem a little cliche though, doesn't it? Like they hated each inherent one moment then suddenly love each other? Well, you can say that these were built up feelings towards each other that Syzoth was just like, "okay, idgaf anymore, it's been centuries without holding hands so Imma"

When Syzoth pulled away, his anger had disappeared. Y/N grew a small smile and said, "Hmm, I did not know you would be the one to act first rven after all these years."

He rolled his eyes and got off of her, thinking back to their childhood. Y/N held hands with him first, hugged him first, and so on. Y/N helped herself up and smiled.

"Well, I'm glad you're not mad about yesterday. I thought I had embarrassed you."

"Of course you had bur it was expected," he replied. "No matter to me now."

Y/N held his hand and from then on, no more fights, okay?

Erron Black

150 years ago, there was a shortly lived era from 1860 to 1880 where there were cowboys and gunslingers. 150 years ago, a Chinese sorcerer had encountered a gunslinger, asking for the assassination of someone in return for immortality. Of course, the gunslinger had accepted, and staying young would allow him to remain patient with everything. He has so many years to fulfill everything he needed to do, so why hurry?

With the ability to stay young for years to come, he had so many opportunities to see people, see women, assassinate, and serve. Before he knew it, 150 years had passed and here he was, working for a mythic man in a realm he never would have thought real. Erron Black, a gunslinger who had lived 3 lifespans considering he was likely to live until 60 in the 1870s. A stoic, flirtatious man who perfected his aim beyond what should be possible and lived for the moment.

How would such a man react when he's invited to a party in the islands of Shang Tsung? His first thought when he arrived would be to find liquor, of course. However, when he looks around, his eyes immediately land on the girl across the room. She has flowing H/C hair that swayed when she walked across the room, handing out drinks to people. A short, beautiful F/C dress flowed with her movements, a dragon symbol suggesting that she worked for Shang Tsung.

The room was full of people Erron had never seen before considering he'd only just decided to officially become an outlander. Before a week ago, Earthrealm and Shang Tsung was all he knew about.

The cowboy raised an eyebrow, eyeing the girl as she spoke to an unrecognizable face from across the room. He already knew he would find a way to talk to her later so he simply shrugged off his findings for now to look for something to drink.

Goro, Sheeva, Kitana, Jade, Shao Kahn, Kintaro, Baraka, Reptile, and plenty of other guests surrounded and spoke in the room at once, and many soldiers and guards drinking and laughing.

Erron made his way through the groups of people, heading towards the throne in the middle of the room towards the wall. There sat the infamous Shang Tsung who at the time had a youthful form, as this takes place before the tournament. Erron's slow and cautious steps could almost be mistaken for nervousness, even. Before the cowboy could make it to the sorcerer, someone steps in front of him, putting him to a halt.

The one who cut him off was none other than that server girl from earlier. She had a soft smile on her features as she bowed her head to the cowboy, holding a tray in her hand. "Excuse my sudden visit, sir, however I noticed you seemed worried. May I offer you a drink, directions, or perhaps a person you need to see?" Erron smirked under his mask, chuckling as he stared into her deep E/C eyes.

"Well, lil missy, what's a gorgeous lady like you servicin' for? Ya outta be out havin' yourself a good time too," he complimented, looking the girl from head to toe as he took a took a beverage from her tray. The girl breathed out a short giggle, smiling.

"Why thank you, cowboy," she replied softly as her cheeks warmed up. "However if I had done so, I wouldn't be the first lady you'd speak to. I cannot have another woman be your first dance or good time of the night," The cowboy chuckled at her reply, placing his hand on his belt and the other lifting the glass cup and taking his shot of liquor.

"Darin', aren't cha?" he stated, taking a step closer to her and setting the glass on her tray, "I like it." The two were close to begin with, but now there was only one feet between them. "May I ask for your name, darlin'?"

"My name is Shang Y/N, sir. What may I call you?" she replied, smirking to herself as she leaned in.

"They call me Erron Black, milady. But you?" Erron leaned in closer, his hand pushing back a few strands of the girl's hair from her face. Y/N moved the tray in her hand to the side to allow Erron to get closer. "Call me what you want as long as I belong to you for the night."

Y/N's face heated and this warm feeling in her chest grew. She giggled to herself, feeling like a school girl whose crushing hard on the mysterious new guy, placing her hand on top of his. "You have a way with words, Black. But surely you didn't just come here to flirt with me, did you?" She teased. "There must be something you need. Please, name your need and I will provide."

Erron cocked his head at the change of topic, but then noticed a pair of eyes staring at Y/N from Shang Tsung. He knew that meant he had to step away from her and get serious, so he did. "Eh, the fanciest liquor you got will do; don't matter what it is." And with a bow, Y/N headed off to ask a few more people what they need.

Erron watched as she walked away swiftly before turning back to Shang Tsung and approaching him. The sorcerer smirked, greeting him and asking him how things were.

Minutes passed before Shang Tsung had been requested elsewhere and had to leave their conversation, leaving Erron to wait for his drink to arrive. He was a patient man but boredom hit him quickly.

E/C eyes and H/C hair, and a soft voice that was elegant. That reminded him of his first encounter with an Outworlder, whenever he was only nine. He remembers waking up in the middle of the night because a bright light illuminated his room. He tiredly walked over to his window, peering out and freezing in fear when he saw what it was. A portal. Quickly, he rushed outside through the front door of his home but by the time he managed to get outside, the portal was gone. And when he tried to go back inside, he went face to face with his father who he had woken up on accident.

Erron once was asked if he had shot his father, to which he responded that the son of a bitch had it coming. Another time, he mentioned that his mother would have loved someone, and later said that he hated her. With this in mind, you can imagine how upset his parents would get when Erron would claim to see things at night and rush out the door to get a better look, his footsteps waking up his parents.

---------------------------------------------------

Until one night. Always, the portal would come up at a certain time and Erron was prepared for it. When he saw a portal open, he busted open his window and jumped out. He ignored the glass shards on the ground and darted for the portal.

The bright light lit up three men that had walked through the portal. As soon as they were fully on Earth, the portal dispersed. Erron slowed down his running, observing the three men. A man who was white as paint and bald, a man with his hair down but some of it in a small bun, and a man with fire in his eyes.

Erron watched, mouth agape, and slowly crept forward. He was practically right in front of them, but he stayed to the side to not get caught. Two talked in a serious matter, the one with fire was silent.

It's strange. He knew now that it was Quan Chi, Shang Tsung, and Scorpion he saw that night. He knows they noticed he was there, but ignored him since he was just a kid. His parents were furious though, causing Erron to chuckle.

He leaned against the wall and crossed his arms, tipping his hat and closed his eyes. "Yeah, those ol' bastards got what they deserved."

"...I beg your pardon?"

He opened his eyes, seeing the beautiful Y/N before him. In her tray, she held a unique glass filled with red liquid. The glass was shaped like a dragon and was crystallized.

"Ah, sorry ma'am. Say, whatever would that be?" He asked, referring to the glass bottle. Y/N smirked as she grabbed the glass and handed to Erron.

"This is your fanciest liquor, Black. It's an royal delicacy. Only those such as the emperor, my father, and those working under the throne will ever have the chance to consume it."

Erron hummed before taking a sip. Immediately, he felt strength coursing throw his veins, as if he just drank an energy drink. He furrowed his eyeborrows, taken aback by the taste.

"Sweet Jesus," he muttered. Y/N giggled, smiling warmly as his face. "This is the best thing I ever did taste! I want one once a night," Erron smirked, licking his lips. He held out the drink for Y/N, offering her a sip.

"Oh! Well, I should not..." she loomed around her, making sure no one watched as she took the glass and quickly took a sip of it. Her smile grew on her face as she felt the magic flow through her.

"Yeah, but 'cha did, as you deserve little lady," he leaned forward, brining his face closer to her's. She giggled, leaning closer to him as well.

"Well, I would not mind sharing a glass with you, gunslinger," her face heated up again, and she moved her tray to the side.

"Why don't you share a bed with me later tonight too then, hmm?" He asked, nearly breaking the space between them. Y/N was never one for sex or going out and partying like how her father is, but she was really liking this gunslinger!

"Y/N, dear," another voice called out. Y/N looked over at the man walking towards them; her father. Her heart dropped and she changed into a more professional stance. "You have been asked for by General Kotal. Don't slack, please, dear."

"Yes father, my apologies," she quickly bowed before rushing off. There left Shang Tsung and the gunslinger.

“She’s your girl, huh?” The gunslinger asked, putting his hands on his hips near his gun holsters. “She’s quiet the gal, boss.”

Shang Tsing smiled, nodded his head and replying, “She appears as quick-witted and sweet as her beloved mother, yet is as cold and hateful as I. She truly is a blessing yet a curse to all she opposes.”

And damn, was that right. Erron never really had a chance to speak to her again that night, and he soon forgot about it. He was gonna live for a long, long time, so what’s wrong with chasing a little tail? A blessing to married mortals is death, so they manage to last until death instead of maybe 80 years then onto the next person. Give it maybe 30 years later before they meet again- sex, booze, long nights, fights, parties, money- he had all he could ask for. But serving Kotal Kahn and beating people’s broke asses all day would get sort of boring, along with the same kind of but different chick every night to wake up to.

Erron did his regular patrol through the market place on the east side of Outworld. He hated it most- poor sons of bitches and whores always grabbing his boots, begging for a spare dime. Erron glared at those peasants, ignored them or hurting them if they wouldn’t get the message. He was an unforgiving asshole.

But FUCK, if you’re reading this, you love unforgiving assholes too.

He sighed as he heard the start of another fight- someone probably tried to steal a fruit or something.

Erron made his way over, walking his intimidating walk as he pulled his pistol out of the holster, shooting it towards the sky. “Settle down, ya filthy animals.”

A man in regular peasant clothes angrily looked at the gunslinger, pointing a finger at the women across from him. She was shorter, a long black dress with long sleeves and black veil on. She didn’t look rich, but she certainly wasn’t poor. Perfect. Erron was worried he forgot too many coins at home to get that one drink at the bar. Maybe the women would have a few coins to spare in exchange for her life?

The peasant man yelled, “this treacherous snake! She used black arts in the sacred walls of Kotal Kohn! She’s a slave of Shinnok!”

The woman glared at the man as if he was a mere inconvenience, rather than an actual problem. Her eyes held such spark and cold, false personality in them, in almost made him think of that girl long ago. She cried out, “lies! Please, gunslinger, you must believe me!”

She played her part so well. She was a fearful, harmless women who had wronged by this lying peasant. So everyone thought, anyways. She slapped her hands together and cried out, “please!”

Erron looked her up and down, smirking under his mask. “Is that so ma’am? Well I ain’t a damn reason to trust neither of ya. But accusing her of dark arts from the likes for Shinnok is a harsh statement to make and I doubt you want to suffer the pain that comes with being caught lying from that. Unless you wanna stick to your word, partner.” Erron took steps closer to the man, who dwindled in uncertainty and anxiety. “Am I right?”

“Sir, please, I saw it myself!” The man cried out as the woman fearfully stepped away from the two. “Her face, it- it changed! Like she morphed! As if Shang Tsung himself was-“

“Hol’ it.” Erron looked at the woman and glared. Those eyes, although all that was visible due to the black mask covering her nose and mouth, were an unforgettable sight. The woman sniffed, holding her arms close.

She knew he knew. The gunslinger she met that night was unforgettable to her, and she knew who he worked for. One of her father’s old “toys.” But perhaps he didn’t know exactly who she was.

“Ma’am, step o’er here with me for a moment.” The woman nodded and followed him away from the market and somewhere a minute or so away, in this larger building nearby. Torn and abandoned building with no one but homeless fools within it.

When they arrived, he turned to her and said, “Back to the wall. No funny business.”

The woman suddenly differed from the way she acted before- she was no longer scared or anxious. Just cold and hateful. It’s like the air around them had gone from one thing to suddenly dangerous. She blankly looked at the gunslinger, replying, “no. I do not think I will.” Erron glared, grabbing onto his pistol but before he pulled it out, the woman raised her hand.

“Long time, no see, Shang. Still as cocky and pitiful as ever, huh?” He glared at the woman, ready as ever to put a bullet between her eyes. Or his.

“It has been a while, indeed. As much as a brainwashed slave to the leaders as always, I see.” She only had to hold her hand out to seem threatening although nothing would happen. No spell was being conjured but a simple cowboy would never understand that.

“I work for myself, and always have. I never gave a damn about ye, unlike those mindless things ye call servants.”

“Hehe,” a sweet giggle left the woman’s mouth, making Erron question if it was Shang or someone who is going along with the idea that she’s him. It’d be sort of weird if the all powerful and feared sorcerer made a cute little giggle, wouldn’t it?

“I thought you were speaking of me, not my father. I know you had feelings for me, gunslinger.”

It all came together just like that. Unless this was a simple trick by the warlock too. “Okay, enough talk. For me, at least. Back against the fuckin’ wall, or have your guts spilled across it. Ye know ya have no way of escaping this.”

“Hehehe, well Erron, I am not my father. I have done non wrong at all. Should you Khan execute an innocent woman, imagine the uprising he will receive as a result. Not only that, but for if you don’t fear that, just know I won’t be going down alone.” She raised her hand to her veil, lifting it up- the sudden movement making the gunslinger pull out his gun and press the trigger within lightning speed, though never shooting. She lifted the veil off and pulled down the mask, revealing the face of the daughter of Shang. Beautiful face shape, beautiful lips, beautiful eyes, and an unmistaken smirk.

“Knock me out if you wish, but I assure you, I am Y/N. Ferra and Torr will not have met me. Neither your Kahn. And if you truly do serve none other than yourself, then you should have no reason to not let me go.” Erron studied her features, keeping his pistol steady in place. “Besides, you know I can make make you a mystery.”

A few silent seconds passed before Erron sighed, putting his gun away. Y/N smiled sweetly, as if the intense talk-off had never taken place. He chuckled, taking a few steps towards the woman, “yeah, you are a sweet and soft gal on the outside, aren’t cha? Don’t think I didn’t kill you because of your threats though. You know how disgusting the prisons here are, and such a gorgeous gal like yourself deserves better than that.”

“What are you insinuating?” She asked kindly, her unnerving smile never ending. She looked up at the tall cowboy, you were less than a foot away from her now.

“Well, howsbout we make a deal? I keep quiet about you, and let you roam to do whatever you please. But, I get to see you once or twice a week.” He pulled down his mask and smirked.

“And what do you see us doing?” She asked, putting her arms behind her back and feeling her face get flushed.

“Oh nothing. Maybe tour yer daddy’s island. That place was badass last time I went.” Y/N giggled, nodding and holding out her hand.

“Deal.”

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skania · 10 months

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Hai Kanae!

I really like your opinion about Akane and about her dynamic with Aqua! If you don't mind, would you like to share your opinion and also your analysis about chapter 97? Because there's so much I want to know. Aqua said she would like Akane no matter what (people translated this as a fake and Aqua is lying).

But before that Memcho said Aqua was obsessed with Kana (chaper 83). Idk, but obsessing is not healthy for a relationship especially if it is a romance. Obsession is a negative form of love, that's all I know. If we compare it to Akane-Aqua's relationship when they were dating for real it looks healthier. Because Kana always makes Aqua return to his trauma about Ai. Aqua is always too much to think to keep Kana safe and to not let Kana have same bad thing like Ai. Idk if it's because he really love Kana, seeing her as a romantic route. But, all i know and what i see it's just Aqua scared for something happened like Ai. His trauma and his guilt bring him to act like that. More like a shadow of Ai when he look at Kana. In chapter104 is proof that Aqua feels guilty towards Kana (scandal arc). He thought back to when Memcho said Kana got into the idol world because of Aqua. That's why he paid for his mistake by covering up Kana's scandal by exposing the fact that he and Ruby were Ai's children.

When Aqua says that he don't have anything to Kana same like he says that thing to Akane. But he looks unsure about that (Doesn't have anything to Kana chapter102). And after that there's chapter108 and chapter117.

Notes; And for tittle chapter107 they use "Friends" in Japanese 友達( Tomodachi). We can use it to their rationship. But we never see about tittle Akane-Aqua. relationship.

He says the same thing to Akane and Kana he doesn't have anything to do with them because he want to ravenge. Both of them doesn't have to include to his revenge. But there is chapter108 and chapter117 he putting Kana on his revenge. There's chapter116 when Aqua want to reminding (again) Akane not to do anything dangerous. But when Aqua knew that Akane wanted to stop his plan, Aqua or rather Goro challenged Akane.

Akane side; Aqua remembering when he picks Akane up to the studio on a rainy day (chapter97) he said it's was his happy day but the other side Akane thinks that Aqua got smitten to Kana(chapter87). But here (chapter97) Aqua used that memory with Akane as his happy day. I think you right about Akane doesn't know about her own worth. Because she always put someone else first. Also when Memcho talks about his relationship with Akane(chapter108) Aqua said he doesn't need that kind of relationship again (a boyfriend and girlfriend things). Because he had thrown away any naive thoughts about being happy. he made up his mind on this in chapter98.

Note: And for the latest chapter, Aqua has seen Ruby as Sarina so far. I don't know why I'm glad that Akane didn't remind Aqua of his past and his guilt in the past. Akane doesn't remind Aqua/Goro of someone from his past.

I'm sorry if i make you confused abouy my question (T_T). I just want to know about your opinion and analysis.

Hi anon! Thank you for your kind words!

If you don't mind, would you like to share your opinion and also your analysis about chapter 97?

Definitely! I'm planning to write a post about it, I just need to find a way to organize my thoughts. I'd also like to write a post about Aqua's "Freedom" period first because I think that it contextualizes that chapter a lot. I'll probably end up talking about Chapter 108 too because it's super intriguing!

I'm glad you mentioned Chapter 102, though!

It may be just me, but Aka guilt-tripping Aqua about Kana left a bad taste in my mouth. Not because Memcho wasn't right, she was 100% correct. I'd even argue that the fact that Aqua seemingly didn't realize that he is the one and only reason Kana became an idol shows how big a disconnect there is between Kana and his idealized version of her. Since Kana has the qualities that would make her into the idol Sarina strived to be, the idol Aqua projected onto Ai, he convinces himself that he didn't do anything wrong by manipulating her into becoming one, because of course Kana will be an incredible idol. Except Kana never wanted to be one in the first place.

What I don't like about it is how it infantilizes Kana by acting like Aqua bears all the responsibility for her own choices—Aqua, who is already guilt-ridden enough as it is. It also sells Kana short, because it pampers the unhealthy dependency Kana developed on Aqua when it's the very hurdle Kana needed to overcome.

Kana would've been so grossed out if she had heard that conversation 😂

She knows that while Aqua is the one who forced her hand, she is the one who ultimately made the choice. She owns it and chooses to see all the positives that came out of it.

So while that scene was pretty important to make Aqua aware of the disconnect between his biased perception and Kana's reality, it felt like adding yet another burden on a guy who's already carrying the world on his shoulders lol

Notes; And for tittle chapter107 they use "Friends" in Japanese 友達( Tomodachi). We can use it to their rationship.

Indeed! But to play devil's advocate, the title comes from Kana's "you're my precious friend" line—which in turn comes from the line the love interest says about the heroine in Sweet Today 😂

I don't know why I'm glad that Akane didn't remind Aqua of his past and his guilt in the past.

Me too! Akane playing Ai turned out to be a great thing, because it allowed Aqua to clearly separate Akane as person from Ai lol

#onk asks convos #me: aqua and kana #aqua projects sarina onto ai and ai/sarina onto kana but he doesn't project either of them onto akane and thank god for that

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kurjakani · 2 years

Note

What would be the top 3 things you loved in cyberpunk77?? ❤ Love your sweet oc for it!!

Ahwww THANK U i absolutely fell in love w the lore so I'll defi be working more within the world !!! >:')

1. Characters & character relationships

Genuinely fun stories for characters, their growth, how you take part in their growth and grow from it yourself (though that part is a bit lacking, but I rp w characters a lot anyways :'))!!! Some of them ended up a bit weird, but in a way fitting? Eg. Mr Goro in the Arasaka ending seems so unattached after what you have gone through with him (personally I managed to build good repor w him he was SO SWEET) (he sent me the boomer selfie i love him sm) but it... makes sense for multiple reasons..... !!!!

One thing that did rly make a lot of the interactions stand out was the sit down/lean interactions; whenever V would be prompted to sit down/lean on smth, you get that rly close up n personal pov of the conversation. I don't play a LOT of aaa games, but as far as I've seen it's pretty unique? Comparing to...

Fallout 4's staring off to the distance conversation prompts

Obsidians (fallout nv & outer worlds) "we are keeping eye contact but its rather stiff and extremely centered and you have no control of the view".. thibk this is the most common one?i recall it being in vtmb, skyrim & smth uhhh.... i had one other in mind cabt remember sorry

Compared to;

Cpunk 2077s more pre-designed major shots. You can move your field of view, the characters can get extremely close 2 u depending on the scene etc. I would catch myself rping just, where V would look 2 be real lol. Ofc this was a very minor part, of convos- a lot of them r done from further away, but i think its a rly neat addition to the interactions that made them a lot more intimate& memorable!!! Panam putting her legs on Vs, Royce pointing a gun at u, etc. I think a lot of people would prolly critique the mechanic of locking a player into these convos but I rly don't mind it...

2. Side mission stuff..

A lot of the like.... "go here do this go there do that" issue of side missions can be prettyyyy easily fixed for me by giving sm interesting storyline etc 2 work w and yeah just.... yk.... delamane cabs.... taking over clouds... peter pan braindance stuff... a lot of these missions had like somw small variation 2 keep them exiting, but also just, a bunch of fun stories and ywah :') u can probably guess by now that I like story based games LISTEN it is my weakness yeah

There were some rly fun writers working on cpunk!!! I have some issue w how streamlined Vs personality was, and how a lot of their dialogue came down 2 quips and funnyman stuff, but I think in a way that fits what I've gathered 2 be the feel of the original tabletop game??? Like its fun... it's guggi.

In a way there were points where like, a part of my brain can a lil bit say that some of the stories weren't explored as throughoutly as they could have been but.... exploring them urself is literally half the fun. Which is why it's kinda devastating that the fanbase isn't as big as smth like fallout 4 etc!!!! There was like hours of lore video content & theories for that- smth that could easily be done for cpunk, but i think the early relase that soured ppl 2 cpunk and i think the cost of the game & the cost of the console/pc that youd need 2 play limits the playerbase a lot... so there hasn't been chance for a proper culture like that to flourish, though there is a LOT of incredible fan creations !!!

3. The maelstroms

Listen I'm just obsessed they're so interesting 2 me. The addction to bodymodification, the occult & the crime, their mental states, their health, their LOOK bvs its BEAUTIFUL, their strange lingering between organized and loose and weird..... god I love the maelstroms sm i wanna study them in a little terrarium

Sorry this got qquiiiite rambly but!!! 😭😭😭 i dont have a lot of ppl 2 talk qbt this to so im v exited 2 just go off.... i have a lot of critique of the game but in a loving way, in the same way that I would critisize new vegas or vtbmb.... theres some clumsiness and weirdness, and thats exactly what i love abt it- im kinda aversed to sleek, completely smooth games.

#cyberpunk 2077 #cp2077 #kanimomence #ask #anon

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so-this-happened-i-guess · 3 years

Text

Detective, guide me?

[Goro Akechi x Reader]

Summary: You’re visiting your cousin who lives in Tokyo and you just happen to meet the Detective Prince, Goro Akechi.

Warnings: NONE

Author’s Note: I feel like we need more of Akechi, am i right? Sure I am. Just a short story, please bear with me.

https://archiveofourown.org/works/32248585

“Like I said, cousin, I have literally no idea where I am or where I am supposed to be going,“ you huffed as you talked to your beloved cousin on the phone, while also being completely lost in Shibuya. Well, it seemed like such a good idea to visit him while he was here during his probation. Now you were not so sure anymore as you stood completely dumbfounded next to the famous Buchiko statue.

Out of self pity you reached to rub the dog’s paw, listening to your cousin’s attempt to give you the easiest possible directions. Easy, my ass, you thought bitterly.

You eyed the people go on and about their business and you caught yourself spacing out, suddenly the voice that spoke to you on the phone became a white noise.

“You got that? Just make sure you get to Yongen-Jaya. I can pick you up there at the station...“ your cousin hummed, a cat-like noise in the background that made you think the cat was telling him something. Ha, ridiculous. Thank Anime for those thoughts.

You blinked once - then twice. You felt hot and cold at the same time and you glanced around nervously. What was it he just said?

“Uh- yeah! Got’cha! No prob. Be there. Y-Yongen-Chia- was it?” you stuttered.

“What? No, Yongen-Jaya. Good luck, I gotta do something now,” your cousin laughed. “I trust you can do it!”

“W-wait- wait don’t hang up- Wait- Yongen-Jaya- how there?” you called desperately but the call was already disconnected.

Awesome-- you’re doomed. Were you supposed to just call a taxi? Surely that’d be the best course of action-

You had to look very lost and pathetic, because a young man approached you. You weren’t paying him much attention at first, frantically searching on your phone for any help internet could give you.

“I apologise for eavesdropping,“ the man said, forcing you to look up at him. You realised two things: his voice sweet like sugar and his face as handsome as that detective’s you saw on the TV just the other day-- huh, what?

“You were.. eavesdropping..? On me?“ you questioned suspiciously.

“Oh yes, how rude of me, I know. I overheard you’re headed to... Yongen-Jaya?“ he asked, giving you a sweet smile.

“You’re hearing things, sir,“ you remained cautious as you looked up and down his slim figure. You noticed the familiar uniform he was wearing, the attaché case with an A. in a circle. The reddish-brown eye colour that somehow reminded you of red wine.

He laughed softly, a dangerous glint in his eyes.

“My, I understand your concerns, but let me assure you, I approached you with good intentions. I, myself, am headed there. There’s this restaurant I’d like to visit.“ he hummed, still smiling.

Well, you should’t look given horse in the mouth if he was offering to help, right?

“What’s your name, sir?“ you mumbled, at this point just making sure.

This question seemed to take him by surprise as he blinked at you, his shock bringing you just a little satisfaction.

“Goro Akechi, Miss. I am-“

“Oh, so it is you,” you gasped quietly, covering your mouth. “Sure have guts talking to random person on the street. Should I start screaming that I see ‘the Detective Prince’?“ you teased, really just testing his intentions.

“Please don’t. Don’t you need help getting somewhere?” he smiled innocently, which took the wind out of your sails.

You nodded, defeated.

“Let me help you.”

With that, you followed Goro Akechi.

_____________

The train was packed.

You could not believe the amount of people that managed to squeeze in, and it was even more shocking to you that it felt comforting when the detective stood between you and the others, shielding you from the rest of the passengers, as you stood with your back pressed against the train’s window.

Admittedly, it was a little weird having his hands just centimetres away from your head on both the left and the right side of you, but he was steadying himself from falling or being pushed on you. What a gentleman.

In return, you were holding his briefcase.

“I apologise, i didn’t think it’d be quite this crowded at this hour in the evening,“ Akechi mumbled, as if annoyed by the others.

“It’s alright, not your fault,“ you offered him a shy smile.

Akechi smiled back at you, keeping as much distance as he could when he felt someone’s backpack press into his back, forcing him closer to you. He still tried to keep calm.

“You know, you seem more patient on TV,“ you thought out loud.

“I try,“ he mumbled, eyeing you as you let out a quiet giggle. Well, that was cute.

"So, you said you're going to some restaurant?" you asked, fancying the idea of trying to have a small talk with the detective.

"It's famous for curry and coffee," Akechi nodded.

That made you pause a little. You were pretty sure your cousin was saying that exact same thing. Curry and coffee of the best quality. A restaurant located in a back alley with a French-like name. Hmm, name. What was it called again?

"-- anyways, in case you were interested, thats the restaurant's name," you caught the last portion of whatever Akechi was saying.

"Huh?" you blinked up at him, now actually feeling his breath on your skin as the crowd made him close the distance between the two of you almost completely. Centimetres apart, literally.

For reasons unknown, you felt your cheeks heat up. On the other side, it was pretty warm these days and the train was pretty full. Yup.

"Quite the habit of not listening, huh? I wonder if you have in common with whoever you're visiting," Akechi voiced his thoughts with a small snicker, either ignoring or not noticing the blush on your face.

Don't be stupid, he was a detective, he had to notice--

“No, not really. He’s a really good listener, actually,“ you shook your head slightly, gripping Akechi’s case tighter.

Akechi didn’t answer verbally, giving you a small nod instead. At this point his elbows were bent and his forearms also rested against the window. So close. You were pretty you’ve read about scenes like those online.

“Can I know his name and your destination, then? I could just escort you there, seeing how close we’ve gotten over our short ride,” Akechi said, an almost amused look on his face when you choked on your saliva. He meant literally. He meant literally!

“Akira Kurusu. Uhh, I am not sure what the place is called-“

“Akira Kurusu?“ Akechi blinked.

You nodded shyly. Did you say something wrong? Surely not?

“Then, assuming you weren’t listening when I first mentioned the restaurant’s name, are you headed to LeBlanc?“

Your gasp was all he needed to hear and you heard him sigh, mutter a quiet ‘Seriously,’ under his breath.

“Is there something wrong?“ you frowned a little. “Do you know my cousin?“

“Ah yeah, We... have met. A few times, actually. Yes.“ Akechi gritted through his teeth quietly. Well, what a full 180° turn in the atmosphere.

You couldn’t help but giggle. This was quite interesting. You loved to annoy your cousin and seeing Akechi’s partially annoyed expression gave you ideas.

Maybe you found a partner in crime.

_____________

Akechi helped you step out of the train, holding your wrist tenderly as he pulled you aside as the crowd flowed through the station. He held your wrist for a bit, watching the people exit and enter the train.

“Here, your thing,“ you mumbled, pushing the briefcase into his free hand, letting him hold onto your wrist as long as he thought was necessary.

“Hmhm,“ he nodded. He fell quiet after he confirmed your destination and Akira’s name.

“Does it bother you that much?“ you asked.

“Does what bother me?“ he frowned a little.

“That Akira’s my cousin, that you volunteered to take me to LeBlanc,” you shrugged nonchalantly, noticing he still didn’t let go of your wrist.

“You said it, I volunteered - and I am headed there too, either way. And it was just... an unexpected information, don’t make it a big deal,“ he mumbled, looking around. “Let’s get going.“

Holding your wrist, he pulled you along, avoiding people as he followed the path he knew so well.

What a tsundere, you thought. That meant Akira knew this man too, then, right? You’d ask him later. Now, all you could do was drag yourself behind this fast paced detective.

_____________

“(Y/N)- finally- why didn’t you call m---“ Akira paused in whatever he was about to say as was left speechless after he just opened the door to LeBlanc to greet you - and Akechi who was still holding your wrist-- wait, what?

“Cousin!“ you beamed, throwing yourself at Akira who caught you in his arms, holding you close - and you realised it was because he was just kind of glaring at the man who guided you here.

“Hello, Kurusu,“ Akechi faked his famous TV smile. “I apologise for this late intrusion, but I happened to run into (Y/N) here and seeing the lost look in your cousin’s eyes, I couldn’t not-help,“ he explained, oh so sweetly.

Akira rolled his eyes, glancing at you as he held your shoulders.

“I’m really sorry, Akira! I just felt so bad calling or texting you again, it felt so embarrassing! And he happened to be headed the same way!“ you apologised as you wiggled out of Akira’s hold.

“... Sure, alright. Uh. I will make you coffee on the house, tomorrow?“ Akira mumbled to Akechi who beamed in response.

“Splendid, how kind of you, Kurusu.”

“Yeah. Uh, (Y/N)... I will ... just... prepare your dinner, you must be hungry... uh... say thanks to Akechi...?“ Akira mumbled, actually unsure how to talk to the detective when you were present. He turned on his heels, shaking his head as he went inside the restaurant.

You glanced at Akira and then turned to Akechi who crossed arms over his chest.

“Thank you so much for the help. I am sure I’d be still at Shibuya station if it weren’t for you!“ you laughed nervously.

Akechi gave you a small nod.

The silence stretched, but you weren’t sure you wanted to say goodbye to the detective-guide that you met today.

You grasped all of the courage you could as you leant to peck Akechi’s cheek quickly.

“Please, be my guide again, sometime soon, detective,“ you smiled sweetly and then rushed inside the restaurant to bother your cousin.

Akechi stood outside with a dumbfounded expression, eyes wide as he watched you disappear inside LeBlanc. He blinked once, then twice, as a smile spread on his face. His gloved fingertips touched his cheek where your lips touched his skin.

“I’d love that,“ he mumbled, to no one in particular.

#Persona 5 #Goro Akechi #Goro Akechi x Reader #Persona 5 imagine #ren amamiya #Akira Kurusu #fanfiction #oneshot

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maddogofshimano · 3 years

Text

A Particular Kyoudai’s New Years

Spoilers for Y4 and Y5

This one is extremely near and dear to my heart, it’s so so nice. I had to do a lot of cultural research for it because I didn’t know a whole lot about new years traditions in japan, so expect a lot of notes in this one too.

This one was also a sugoroku event, here’s the chibi Saejima to go with it.

I also really like the details on Majima’s new years outfit, look at the hannya snakes on the fan and on the liner fabric!

That was the only card I put real life money in to get, I spent so many diamonds on him. I had saved up around 7k and ground out another 7k from stories I hadn’t done yet and still had to put in 10 bucks before I got him, but I still have every single Majima card so it’s worth it.

Summary: At the end of 2012, Saejima has been served his papers to go back to jail, and will be going back in a week. Majima decides that they should celebrate this New Years in a big way then! Saejima would really rather just stay home, but Majima has a whole day planned out and it’s going to end with a bang.

It’s New Years Day, 2013. Saejima will be returning to jail in a week, and is currently with Majima in the family office. Saejima complains that Majima is already drinking, Majima retorts that New Years is a drinking holiday, so he’s gonna drink! Saejima doesn’t feel much like celebrating since Kiryu’s still in the hospital.

Saejima: You're too youthful, kyoudai. How are ya burnin' even brighter than ya were back then? Majima: You've always been an old man. ...Yeah, that settles it! Saejima: What? Majima: I want my kyoudai to have a great new year! Let's start the celebrations!! Saejima: Wh- all the sudden? Ehhh, let's just have a quiet time together here. Majima: What, just gonna blow me off? Saejima: ...Okay. Where we going? Majima: I'm gonna get us a ride, don't worry! Go get yourself ready. Hey! Nishida! Nishida: On it sir! Saejima: ...? Majima: <changes clothes> Yeah! Now I'm feelin' the new year!

Saejima: ...Are we really goin' out like this?

Majima: Of course we are, idiot! Why the hell else would I get changed!

Majima: Alright! Let's roll out in my favorite yukata~ Saejima: Good grief. Don't get too excited. I guess goin' on a little date can't be helped huh. Well, he'll probably get tired of it right away. (Tl note: date here is 付き合い which is more “associating” in the dictionary but used a LOT for romantic dates)

The two of them make their way to their first stop, a back alley where they’re going to play hanetsuki, which is similar to badminton. Saejima dunks on Majima’s fashion choices. Majima complains that there aren’t enough people around to see his fashion choices.

They finally stop squabbling about fashion and get ready to play only to get interrupted by two goons who start talking shit. Majima asks if they should just beat them up, that could be fun? Saejima says nah, they’re not even worth the effort, besides we were here first so they have to step off. Majima throws his wallet into the air because he’s tired of carrying it, and the goons agree that whoever wins at hanetsuki gets to stay.

Unfortunately, Majima wants to hit EVERYTHING, and collides with Saejima in his attempt to steal a shot that Saejima could have gotten easily. Saejima declares that they each gotta stay on their own side and deal with only stuff on that side. Majima gets bored of playing since he has to actually wait, and zones out while a shot sails right past him.

Saejima is ready to throttle him.

Saejima: Kyoudai! Stop bein' so moody! goon a: Hahaha! You keep calling each other kyoudai but you're not in sync at all (Tl note: this is also like, a match for each other, as in "they are a perfect match for each other") goon b: I guess they're """kyoudai""" huh? Haha. Both: WHO'S NOT IN SYNC, IDIOTS??

They were down 9:0, but from here on play seriously, and come back to win 10:9. The goons jump them, because they want Majima’s wallet full of cash, and unsurprisingly get their asses kicked by the jimas.

Next up they head to Tojo HQ; turns out the Majima Family has rented the whole place out for New Years. Minami has prepared something...

The next stage is kakizome! It’s like a new years resolution. Majima, Nishida, and Minami all get to writing their new years goals, and Saejima thinks he’s kind of old to be doing this, but whatever. Nishida’s goal is revealed first: he wants to build a house for his parents!

Majima: Ughhhh, boring Nishida: I'M SORRY BOSS! Saejima: ...Nishida, why are you in the Majima family...? Minami: Boss! I'm done with mine!! Majima: Let's see if you did good... Minami: Here it is! "REVENGE MATCH"

Minami says that he wants to get as good as Majima, who is clearly better than Saejima, so he needs to get a rematch with Saejima after losing to him 3 years ago. Majima is thrilled, Saejima agrees to the fight. Saejima wins but says Minami is getting stronger, and if he keeps at it maybe he can still fulfil it this year. Majima says he's done with all this new years writing and Saejima says he already wrote his, it's "The Top". It's also the exact thing that Majima wrote down.

Saejima: Back when I was in the Sasai family, I wanted to make a name for him. I felt like I wanted to see how far up the ladder I could climb. I keep that feelin' with me even now. Majima: Hehehe! I think we'll see who's the strongest soon. Kyoudai... even if I'm your opponent, don't give up on that feeling, alright? Saejima: Heh, that's my line

Onwards to stage 3! This time it’s hatsumōde, the first shrine visit of the year.

Saejima: We're doin' this in the wrong order. Majima: Whatever! I'm gonna go pray! Saejima, internally: Kyoudai... why are you makin' such a mysterious face? It's not like you to rely on a god Saejima: What'd you write on your ema? I already got my miracle Majima: Don't worry none about me. Next we're drawin' you a fortune! Saejima: ...? Saejima: So this is the fortune huh... oh! Major blessing! (Tl note: the luckiest possible draw) What's it say, what's it say... "You are going to have the best fight of your life"... Wow, this is one dangerous shrine! What the hell?

Saejima immediately gets jumped by a goon. Those fortunes work fast, huh? He wins easily and threw the goon into the ema wall and knocked them over, and when he was picking them back up he found Majimas which said "I wish that Sasai will recover"

"Thank you so much. Kyoudai."

Next we’re doing fukubukuro, new years blind bags that have random items at a discount. The guy selling them sure looks reputable!

They both buy one and head over to the park to open them, but Majima gets a call that the Majima Family office has been robbed! Everyone was at Tojo HQ, but they’re looking for who did it now. Even Majima’s safe was opened and the contents taken. Majima apologizes and has to run off to the office, leaving Saejima to open the bags himself. The first one has............... a snakeskin jacket? He knows Majima custom orders these! The shop keeper!

Saejima goes back and kicks his ass and recovers all the Majima Family items in time for Majima to come back. The item in the safe was a wedding ring, and Majima apparently hasn’t told Saejima anything about being married. Saejima wonders what else Majima has gone through while he was in jail.

Now we’re doing osechi, traditional new years food! Nishida made a dish, and here’s the general meanings of what all he put in them:

tai - good luck ebi - long life kazunoko - wanting a lot of kids in the coming year (Tl note: this one caught be off guard but it’s PROBABLY wanting to grow the families lol) roast beef - no special meaning date maki - more good luck

Two Majima family guys are out in front of HQ making mochi, but they got way too much. Minami ate so much of it that he collapsed, but Saejima refuses to let this rice flour go to waste, so he and Majima head out to theater square and just start making mochi there. Minami and Nishida are selling it to everyone, and it’s a huge hit.

(This guy is saying it’s really delicious, but his face is looking like they just shot his dog)

Some dude hassles them about the mochi, they kick the shit out of him, and get down to their final two. Majima says he knows exactly who he wants to give them to, and takes Saejima to Yasuko’s grave.

Saejima thinks to himself that there's no question about it, when he's not around Majima is always taking care of this grave. He tries to give Majima the "thank you so much" line but Majima brushes it off as something he just felt like doing, nbd

Majima: Well, Majima Goro's present to you this year is this new year's tour. Did ya like it? Anythin' ya still wanna do? Saejima: Nothin'. This whole day has been a lot of fun. Majima: That so? Good, then it's time for the final stop. Let's go... kyoudai.

Majima: It's been a long time since we've been here. Since that fight Saejima: Yeah. Why's this the final stop of our tour? Majima: Heh, why indeed? ..............I decided on that night that if it was the end, I wanted to go all the way, but I didn't get to. And now, you're going back to jail. Leaving things all pent up and half done just isn't in my nature. Saejima: Did you do this whole tour just for this? Majima: More or less. Well, there were some troubles on the way. Hanetsuki for a warm up. New Year's writing to make sure ya still had that fire in ya. Saejima: And that fortune saying I'd have the best fight of my life... I shoulda figured somethin' was up. Majima: Does it hurt to just get that now? And the grab bags... that went kinda sideways, but I intended it to be some stress relief. And then deliscious food is good for ya mentally and physically. Saejima: I'm amazed at how into this you are. Do you remember what you said before? "You're gettin' soft, come back to the Tojo clan with your teeth sharpened. If ya get soft, it's over for you". <RECEIVE AND SLASH YOU CUTS IN> Well, let's check if my fangs are soft now. Majima: ...Hehehe. Yeah, that's the look I wanna see! That's Saejima Taiga... my kyoudai! Saejima: Let's go, Majima!!

They fight and both collapse to the ground and gush about how much fun this all was. The ending card then cuts in

A few days later.......... Saejima Taiga himself suspended his probation and turned himself in. He was sent to Abashiri prison. Majima continued supporting Daigo and the Tojo clan. In their pursuit of climbing all the way to the top of the Tojo clan.............. these two beasts will keep fighting.

<END>

Whew! Also, ouch!!

I also translated most if not all of Saejima’s thoughts, here’s some of the highlights.

Batting Center I went with my kyoudai to the batting center. We used to bring Yasuko stuff like homerun prizes as gifts. ...I miss her. Wood Carving As part of my penal labor I learned wood carvin', so now it's a hobby of mine. One is being displayed by the entrance to HQ.

Kanrai I joined up cause of my patriarch. The Sasai Family was a respectable and good family, which I should feel good about, but I just feel sorry

Purgatory Coliseum Why would you fight a tiger? People really are fuckin' idiots nowadays. I'm going to make em stop. The tiger's miserable. Kyoudai Wearin' an eyepatch and makin' a ruckus... He really changed a lot while I was gone, but the same roots are still there. He really is Majima Goro. Hair style In the old days I would let my hair grow out until Yasuko complained, but going with the shaved look ain’t too bad. This is the only thing I can empathize with Shimano on.

Stray Cats These cats were abandoned. I've already gotten attached. Well, I guess the number of cats in the family office is gonna increase...

Clothes Even now I still wear the clothes I got from Kiryu. Heh. That guy has good taste. I’m still wearing hand-me-downs. Karaoke It’s not that I hate singing, but I don’t like doin’ it in front of people. I’ll play the tambourine though.

#rggo #ryu ga gotoku #ryu ga gotoku online #yakuza #Majima #Saejima #Nishida #Minami

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thepancakeboi · 3 years

Text

63. “Is this how little you think of me?”

Note: spoilers for today’s (2/2) ingame date in Persona 5 Royal, including final palace details. Especially under the cut.

“I will carve my own path for myself.”

Why do I have to be telling Ren this? Well, when I had decided to come to Leblanc the evening before our deadline, I had expected a calm evening with Ren going over the plan for tomorrow, probably with some coffee. Or maybe we’d go somewhere else. The jazz club comes to mind, or even Penguin Sniper for darts or billiards.

What I hadn’t anticipated was for Ren to be in the middle of a conversation with our target upon my arrival.

I had to speak with Ren immediately before he did something foolish. Sure, the calling card had been given and the plan’s in motion, but I can still see the hesitance in his face. All this time, he had been as steadfast as the rest of us in breaking free from this fake mirage. He had been the one person who had seemed unaffected and knew something was amiss.

Until now, that is.

To hear Maruki confirm my suspicions, that I could be dead in the real world and that Ren’s wish is to “have a fresh start” with me...it’s exasperating. This is nothing more than a setback. Can’t Ren see that this is a trap meant to coerce him to Maruki’s side?

When Ren doesn’t say anything to my words, I continue to assert my position on the matter. “I refuse to accept a reality concocted by someone else, stuck under their control for the rest of my days.”

Ren finally speaks up, sounding distraught as he says, “But then, you’ll...”

Die. I know. It’s better than the alternative: living a life without agency. “So what? That’s the path I chose.” It’s simple. I would rather be dead than controlled again. Once was enough. “All you have to do is stick to your guns and challenge Maruki. Or are you really so spineless that you’d fold over some bullshit, trivial threat on my life?”

He looks stunned that I’d talk so callously about my own life as if it doesn’t matter. Frankly, it doesn’t matter. If I can’t live my life the way I want, then it’s simply not worth living. “Trivi-Goro, this isn’t small potatoes!”

“It is!” I snap, looking away from him. My life is insignificant in the grand scheme of things. It would probably be better if I wasn’t around. I’ve caused enough misery to everyone who was unfortunate enough to meet me in these eighteen years, yet here’s Ren being decidedly stubborn about it. He’s the only reason I’m still alive, even though my disappearance from this reality would be better for everyone else. I clearly don’t deserve this blissful happiness, but Ren thinks otherwise. And it’s infuriating. “Do you really think I’d be happy with this? Being shown mercy now, of all times? I don’t want to be pitied.”

“I’m not-”

“This isn’t something I’m debating with you!”

“Goro...?” Ren hesitantly asks as I shift my gaze to the ground. “Please-”

“Your indecisiveness on the matter is essentially a betrayal of my wishes.”

“I...I’m not...”

I look back up at Ren as he trails off, unable to answer. I’m going to have to press him for one, it seems. If he won’t give me an answer by himself, then I’ll just have to pry it from him. “I want to hear you say it aloud. What do you intend to do?”

After a few seconds of agonizing silence, he finally responds, “I don’t know.”

“What do you mean, you don’t know?”

“I don’t know what I should do.”

I scoff. “You really are that spineless, aren’t you?”

“No!” The only reason I don’t interrupt him is that he looks completely vulnerable right now. “It’s just...Maruki was right. When I thought you had died in...his Palace, I...wasn’t okay. After we stole the treasure, I just wanted to sleep. Everything hurt. I couldn’t stop when we had to defeat Yaldabaoth, but...I wanted to stop. I had to force myself to keep moving. And now that I have you back...I can’t bear the thought of losing you again.”

This is not good if Ren is admitting all of this to me. He’s not the type to tell others about his problems as he doesn’t want to burden his friends. I know how that is, being the same way myself around everyone except him. It’s the only reason I know that about him; it’s yet another similarity between us. The fact that he is sharing this information now...worries me. It means he might be seriously considering Maruki’s offer. I refuse to be the reason Ren falters, after everything we’ve done. We’ve come so far that folding now over something as worthless as my own life would be inane. “Is this how little you think of me? If you truly cared, you wouldn’t even consider accepting Maruki’s offer.”

“I do care!”

“Then why the hesitation? How can you possibly be so indecisive when the answer should be so blatantly obvious?”

“I love you.” Well, that unexpected confession stuns me into silence. Part of me is wondering why he would ever love someone like me, someone who is undeserving of anyone’s love, let alone his. At the same time, I’m hopeful that it’s true. Wait, no. This isn’t the time nor the place for these thoughts. All this could ever be is detrimental, a temptation that I’m afraid Ren can’t resist. “You’re not like the others. Everyone else just sees what they want to see. I can’t be myself around them, so I just wear a mask and show them what they believe I am. You’re the only one who understands me and accepts me for who I really am.”

“Ren, you’re in love with a fake version of me living in some sweet fairytale kingdom full of false happiness.”

“That’s not true,” he immediately refutes. “I love you for you, Goro, flaws and all. I don’t want to give up on you, but if I go back to reality, I...I can’t let you go.”

I jolt as he tightly embraces me as if he’ll lose me as soon as he lets go. He can’t be doing this. It’s only going to make my possible death much more painful. I shove him off of me. “Don’t you get it, Ren? You can’t save me.”

“At least let me try. Maruki’s not evil. He just wants to make everyone happy. Is that really so bad?”

“What the hell’s gotten into you!? He’s the same as Shido!” I snarl. It takes immense mental restraint to stop myself from lashing out at Ren. “His intentions may seem ‘pure’ to you, but a gilded cage is still a prison. He wants to take control of the world and everyone’s lives. And I don’t want to be controlled again.”

“I...”

I’ve had enough of his indecisiveness. He has to make a choice now before he becomes too bogged down by the “what ifs” to decide. “What do you intend to do?” I ask him again. “I won’t wait a moment longer. Answer me.”

“I’m...I’m sorry. We’re taking his offer.”

I stare at him in disbelief, not believing what I’m hearing. Sure, I knew it was possible that he would take Maruki’s offer after what we have learned tonight, but I had been denying that he would be so foolishly sentimental. “Are you serious?”

“I am.”

I search his expression, shocked to find that he’s...he’s actually being serious. He fully intends to accept Maruki’s reality as the truth. And it doesn’t seem like he’ll change his mind. He’s...going against my wishes. I’ve dealt with backstabbing and insincere people in the past, but this? Being betrayed by the one person I’ve come to trust...it hurts. It hurts so much. I’d rather Ren just stab me in the heart with a rusty, serrated knife and let me bleed out. I sigh, not even bothering to keep up false pretenses regarding my feelings. “...Well, I have your answer.”

“Goro-”

I slap Ren’s reaching hand away, turning my back to him so that he doesn’t see the tears starting to form of their own volition. It pisses me off that I can’t even fight against him. His friends don’t have the backbone to refuse him if Morgana’s earlier comment of leaving the decision to Ren is any indication. And, despite my own strength, I know I’m not capable of bringing down Maruki on my own. The only thing I can do now is to accept Ren’s decision. I want him to be happy, I do. Even so, I’m furious with him and his choice. At this moment, I don’t want to see his face ever again. Not that it’ll matter. Starting tomorrow, I won’t have a choice. I’ll be nothing more than a puppet, stuck under another’s whims with no chance to escape. “There’s nothing left I can say. Our deal’s off.”

I stop with my hand on the door. I expect Ren to try and say something, attempting to convince me he’s doing what he thinks is best. Instead, there’s only silence. I turn my head to stare him down. His steadfast, stubborn determination is what pushes me over the edge. If he’s going to hurt me like this, then I have no regrets about driving my own metaphorical knife through his treacherous heart. I won’t get another chance to be myself, so I might as well make the most of it. “I hope you’re happy, Ren. Happy you’re living a lie that you know is wrong. I want you to remember that you’re forcing me into a situation that I don’t desire. I’ve explicitly told you that I refuse to be controlled by another, and what do you do? You stab me in the back with your betrayal because you say you love me. You may call it love, but you don’t love me at all, do you?”

I don’t give him a chance to respond, to deny my accusation and claim that he loves me with all his heart. I’m already out the door, tears streaming down my face as I try to get as far away from Yongen-Jaya as I can. I ignore the door slamming open, Ren desperately calling out to me as he tries to follow. He isn’t able to keep up, and I manage to lose him in the night crowd. There’s no destination in mind. I just want away from here, away from him for whatever length of time I have left before I’m no longer me.

Leaving Leblanc, and Ren, tonight...is the last action I will ever take with my own free will.

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shadow-scenarios · 4 years

Note

hey! my bro and I are in a run & I got hit with this idea! So whaT if while Aketchi was playing good against his better judgment he started falling for kind/sweet!reader, & they seem the most hurt by his outburst/transformation - & when they reach out for him like a hug or something he hurts them really bad and snaps out of it to cry over her and confesses all sad & she’s not dead but weakly tells him that he doesn’t need shido cause he’s precious or whatever to her?

Hello Anon!! I had to read this about four times to get the gist of what you were saying but I think I understood. Akechi angst is good for the soul, I swear!

Trigger Warning: Blood ;; Injuries ;; Violence ;; Swearing

- Nexus.

Blooming Villain | Goro Akechi

Kindness was a foreign concept to Goro Akechi. He held his true personality away from the masses under the mantra of ‘ the world cannot be hate you if the world does not know you ’. Suppressing his inner rage & turmoil led to him manifesting a second Persona with the God given gift to make a heart psychotic.

With this, he plunged the world into chaos. They would finally understand the circumstances he was forced into. How sick people made him with their petulant bullshit. How much he despised Masiyoshi Shido. Akechi was the puppeteer, everyone else the puppets.

Until the Phantom Thieves began to make a display. Harpering on about bringing criminals to justice & how evildoers would be punished. Once he ascertained their identities, they would be torn to shreds, crippled by their own mistakes. That criminal trash Akira Kurusu & his band of motley do-gooders were nothing to fret about. It was simple: Laying the blame on them. He dismantled their foundations at the roots by killing off the leader, leaving the rest to scatter in fear of their lives.

Call it detective’s intuition but something was off as he began to piece the puzzle together: It was the bug planted on his phone that finally tipped him off. Everyone had known from the beginning, even if they acted so nonchalantly towards him. If they had listened in on his phone conversations, then they knew about Shido and the manifestation of his distorted desires.

So he waited. Waited for the Phantom Thieves.

The confrontation came on the afternoon of December 15th. It was a grey morning, rimed with frost & dark clouds on the horizon. Entering the Metaverse in his detective prince outfit was jarring but he paid no mind. Akechi watched as they solved the puzzles, obtaining the Letters of Recommendation until they reached the final room.

Engaging them with the princely facade & the psychotic shadows, he was quickly defeated. As to be expected. They began to spout their trash about teaming up, working together, overturning fate by working together. The same petulant bullshit everyone had given him.

Screaming at them to shut up, his transformation began. Akechi had to be stronger than them. No, he was. Loki began to manifest & they all watched in varied states of horror as his true mask began to unveil itself.

Individually, they were easily crushed. Much like ants. However, it was a colony of ants that worked together. Bringing each other back up when one was knocked down. He had almost managed to kill Joker, until one of his pathetic teammates threw themselves in the way. Despite the power he carried as a Wild Card, he was eventually defeated.

Frustrated would never be able to convey anything Akechi was feeling as the last of his energy sapped away. Losing was never a possibility in his mind & the Desperation began to set in. Slaughtering them all would be what he achieved, no matter the cost to his body.

Still, he had lost. All of his ambitions began to crumble around him & he could feel his pulse counting down the seconds he had left to live. They were going to end it all here as his vision began to blur-

A figure stepped out of formation & began to approach. They were decked out in the same fancy garb as all the other Phantom Thieves but there was boldness to the way they moved.

After everything he had put into motion, all of the harm he had caused, she still reached for his hand as he knelt on the ground, his mask shattered. Pieces realigned in his memory. Akechi remembered her as she spoke:

“ Akechi, don’t you want to come with us? ”

It was her. The person he cared about in some sort of twisted sense.

The day they met was supposed to be average. Kosei High was an institution for the privileged, which was what made Akechi despise it so. Plastic smiles & easily hidden facades, no one ever had good intentions when they approached.

He had made a foolish error, losing some of the paperwork he needed for the latest case. It would not have him lose his job as it did not contain any confidential information but it would be tiresome to rewrite. As to not arouse suspicion, he carefully picked his way through the classroom, his body language rigorously casual.

Someone tapped him on the back & he whipped around.

“ You’re Akechi, right? Well, I found some of your detective stuff underneath the desk you sit at & you seemed kinda lost so I thought I’d return it, ” was all she said as a small stack of papers were offered to him. It was exactly what he was looking for.

Taking them into his arm to ensure nothing had been taken from him, he gave her a once-over. Donning the Kosei High uniform as any student would, she seemed mostly composed. Usually, the fangirls were the most distracting part of his career with all the harassment & questions that were slightly too inappropriate to answer but she seemed less bothered about who he was, instead ensuring that he obtained what had been previously lost.

“Ah, thank you. I had been looking for these. It wouldn’t look very good for a detective to lose their work, ” he replied, playing his role.

“ No worries about it, we all lose things sometimes! Anyway, I have to go now, lunch is starting soon. See you around. ” As quickly as the conversation began, it had ended & Akechi was genuinely baffled.

There was one thing he had gleaned from that interaction: Her smile was genuine. She had wanted to help him, in return for nothing.

Second meetings were uncommon but somehow it was possible.

One of the most common places for Akechi to eat lunch was the school rooftop. It was quiet during the winter & the sound of wind rushing through his ears was serene compared to anything the school had to offer. There was something softly screeching open & as he turned to face whoever it was, there was recognition from both of them.

“ Ah. Akechi. I’m really sorry if I’m interrupting something, I like to come up here whenever there’s too much noise, ” she clarified, making no move closer nor further.

“ You’re no trouble at all. I’m merely taking a break as well. ”

So she sat. They talked. It was never about anything important but it was therapeutic not having to regurgitate promises about the Phantom Thieves & serving justice. Eventually it became a somewhat regular routine, as whenever he attended school she was there waiting. This went on for a few months with them exchanging contact information to keep in touch, even when not in school.

Being in denial was not going to help him approach the situation. He liked her. She was counted among one of his very few friends & yet he longed. Ached. Every time she said something, he felt like a fool. Only through years of practise did he barely stutter. It felt both exhilarating & disgusting at the time. No matter. Puppy crushes were easy to smother out.

When he found out she was a Phantom Thief, he felt betrayed. Was he just a source of information to her?

Yet even in the Metaverse when Akechi was essentially blackmailing them, she was still as sweet as ever. Akira insisted on having the two of them in the front lines for almost the entirety of Sae’s Palace & although keeping pace was relatively easy { he had been through entire Palaces on his own }, she always made sure to check up on him whenever possible.

In the Safe Rooms when the Phantom Thieves were to take a break, she insisted on patching up his wounds & try as he might there was no refusing. Her touch was gentle, unlike anything else he had experienced. Even if she casted a healing spell such as Diaharan, there was something all too soothing about the way it helped. It made him want to throw up.

Irrationally, all of his mangled thoughts correlated together: She had betrayed him; She was the one who decided to side with the Phantom Thieves; She would be in the front lines of the battle. He never needed her petulant bullshit.

“ Shut up! I don’t need pity, especially from the likes of you. You’re the one who pretended to care, only to go behind my back & side with them. ”

Something about the way his sword slashed all the way across her body was far too easy. The fabric from her Phantom Thief outfit tore like paper & it was clear the protector underneath did not suffice, as she screamed in agony.

Akechi did not care. He never cared to begin with.

Then why did he catch her?

Watching her blood permeate his costume was worse than any physical pain he had ever experienced. The Phantom Thieves were staring and he almost collapsed from the raw shock. It was obvious she was trying to speak but all she could do was cough up blood.

Working quickly in a panicked haze, Akechi simply put pressure onto her wound. He did not know any healing skills, though he really wished he did right now. Curses mumbled out as a fresh emotion covered his rage, his contempt for those around him: Sorrow.

Someone touched his face & he whipped his head down.

“ I- I know you’re angry,” she uttered through gritted teeth, “ but you don’t have to be. You’re precious. Shido doesn’t need you, Goro. ”

Crying was a foreign concept to Goro Akechi.

Word Count: 1.5k

Publish Date: 01.10.20

#{ crow }#{ I kinda struggle to write Akechi content since Dance with Justice }#{ I just feel like he’s not in character?? }#persona 5 royal x reader #persona 5 x reader #persona 5 imagines #p5r #persona #goro akechi x reader #goro akechi #{ someone tell me if I’m writing him okay }#{ akechi: ok so I like her }#{ also akechi: haha jagged sword go brr }#tw: injury #tw: blood #tw: swearing

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sillyfudgemonkeys · 3 years

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i havent been here in a hot second is there a reason for the makoto hate specifically? like the rants go back to p5's writing issues but the spite for makoto seems very specific did she kill someones dog in one of the spinoffs or what?

You're all good. So here's the thing, she did kill my dog-I'm joking.

When I say “I’m the residential #1 Makoto Hater” it’s a joke, partially cause it probs looks that way (and probs cause it might be true, who knows if you could quantify hate then maybe I’m at the top of the leaderboards 8U but you can’t so we’ll never know). But I’m saying it at as a joke, to own myself and everyone here that knows what I think of her, rather than wear it as a badge of honor or some silliness. It’s just a “oh haha yeah there goes Silly, dunking on Makoto again! She’s basically Makoto’s #1 hater haha oh she’s so silly.” (so please don’t look too deep into it, I just want to have fun).

Anyway, me hating Makoto isn’t new, but I do hold a similar ire towards Futaba, Goro (tho I have camaraderie with his fans, I relate to their struggle in terms of my own brown hair and red eye fav and Atlus screwing them over u_u I may hate your fave but I respect you and will be in your corner), and Yukari (as well as Chloe from LiS if you want a non-Persona example). Makoto might be talked about more because 1) She hits my buttons that much faster (Futaba/Goro are more like a festering wound, and when I talk about them it’s hard to pick a starting point), 2) Her fans tendency (early on in the fandom) bringing her up frequently.....was a bad combo with #1 (overexposure+pushing all my buttons really fast=disaster). Obvie not blaming her fans, but it was hard to curate how I was able to curate my content online (esp with gaming news websites calling her “best girl” when showing off a figure announcement or some BS when I just want to know what new games have been announced >.> I can do without you trying to start a waifu war in the comments Siliconera -_-)

Anyway, I think I’ve made my reasons for hating her very clear (you just have to search her name on my blog and you’ll get a ton of essays I’m sure, too many to count). And a lot of it is the failure of P5′s writing. “So it’s just the writing you hate, not the character.” No. Because that doesn’t make sense. Except under certain circumstances (which I’ll provide examples of below with Luke Skywalker), you can’t separate the writing from the character. The character IS the writing, the writing IS the character. If you can’t hate/dislike the char because “of the writing” then you also can’t love/like them either. The character and the writing/writing choices for that character are connected. The writing embodies that character. They are the same.

Now I said there was an exception, and that’s....”different writer/director,” tho it’s not ALWAYS the case (sometimes the new writer really gets the original writing, like Saito for MM.....they are very good at emulating the clusterfuck of P5′s writing). P5′s writing is the original basis for Makoto’s character, that’s her. You can’t separate it from her. Same thing with say....Luke Skywalker from the OG trilogy, that’s him. But then we get to the sequel/Disney trilogy, new writer/director....and yeah that’s a mess (from what I understand OG trilogy=Hopeful and tries to see the best in people, 2nd Disney=Cynic and tried to kill a child, 3rd Disney=Hopeful again for some reason). There’s character development, then there’s just straight up changing the character just cause you need them to be this now.

*writes how this can apply to Persona spinoffs but deletes because I was getting too off track* Look at me exercising control. It’s probs best I save that for a meta after I’ve replayed all the spinoffs again.

But....if you want me to boil down my issues with Makoto, I hate the message we get from her. I hate the lesson we learn from her. What is supposed to happen vs what happens. It’s supposed to be about a girl who is blindly following authority and becomes disillusioned with it after being burned by it, on top of “immense pressure” she has as well, and then comes to our side (we know this because Atlus told us). We don’t get that (we know this because we saw the execution). We get two adults, yes TWO ADULTS, one of which is her sister and wants her to do well in school (but isn’t like.....a tiger mom about it, because Sae can’t be TOO horrible because we need to like her later), who in retrospect seems very busy with her job (which gives Makoto freedom), but also feels burdened by her younger sister (in which she has one shitty slip with her and then NEVER again). And the other is a dumbass principal who asks a really strange and stupid task for Makoto that snowballs into bullshit. That’s IT! THAT’S IT! That’s all we get from Makoto and “authority.” Strawmen. We don’t really get much of her personality either (I’m not saying that cause “she’s cardboard” I legit just.....don’t get her? Like I don’t get enough of her to get a solid foundation, you get me?) Like as the player, what we see of her is she’s just studying in the library (Kamo arc), then the principal calls her in, she mentions the rumors about Kamo, he asks her to look into the PT in exchange for a recommendation (to which she’s surprised and says thanks, not no, she looks like she’ll accept JUST BASED ON THAT) but before she can even say Yes (OR NO) he threatens Makoto with her sister, to which Makoto hardens and then agrees. Then she acts like an asshole and yadda yadda stuff happens.

But if she’s supposed to blindly follow authority, she’d say yes, but then they don’t let the character breathe so she can make the “wrong” choice because the Principal goes STRAIGHT to threatening her.......so now the message is muddled, or really it’s non existent. The whole Sae thing is a nothing bag too, it’s just family drama. Her sister is, no HAS to be absent a lot for her work, just so Makoto can have the freedom to be a PT....which means....it hurts her lack of freedom and other stuff associated with Sae being a big pressure on Makoto’s life. You know, I’ve said before they’ve squandered Sae, and that Makoto’s presence really harmed Sae (iirc it was this post). But at the same time, how they handled Sae really screws up Makoto’s character. Neither are allowed to breathe. Neither are allowed to make a true, horrible choice...and then learn from it. They aren’t allowed to have an actual arc. Altus played it safe, took choice away from them, didn’t want to take risks with either character and have meaning. Instead we just have this nothing contradiction thing dicking around until they join our team.

What really sucks about that....is we got that with the Kamo arc. With Anne, Ryuji, even Yuki and Shiho. Kamo was manipulative, and his manipulation caused people to make....not the best choices, all out of a means to survive. Ryuji physically acted against Kamo, and he got his leg broken, team disbanded, and outcasted. Anne was trying to protect Shiho’s position on the team, which lead to her almost getting harmed by Kamo, Shiho getting harmed, her not seeing the truth about what was going on around her, and she didn’t tell Shiho (because she didn’t want Shiho to think she didn’t get on the team for her own merits), and so on. Shiho didn’t tell Anne what was going on because she wanted to protect Anne from Kamo (and was afraid Anne would, very much blame herself), and her and Yuki and the rest of the teams helped keep quiet about Kamo so they wouldn’t be next on the physical chopping block. This isn’t me blaming them, this is me showing their choices, their attempts to fix their (hopeless) situation, to help themselves or others, and the dramatic irony being it just made everything worse. BUT, even tho Kamo was the real one to blame, each character is aware of the actions that were made, and the consequences of each action (esp Anne/Ryuji/Shiho). And in their CoOps, they identify this, and take strides to learn from it so it doesn’t happen again. That’s an arc. That’s character development. They were allowed to make errors, mistakes, decisions that negatively impacted themselves/other’s. We see a solid foundation of their character from the get go, and how it changes over that small time. We don’t get that with Makoto. The group is like solid concrete to Makoto who is like shifting sand.

Sorry got a bit off topic, anyway, I hate her message of boasting about her fighting ability but she only harms her friends (outside of shadows, but that’s not special) WHILE ALSO being a damsel that needs someone else to rescue her! I hate how when she gets called out, she wants to drop it, and gives gaslighty apologies, even tho she really ROYALLY screwed lot of people very badly. I hate how she demands us to help, only to literally be a detriment to our investigation. I hate how she gets to fly off the handle without repercussions (despite needing to be cool calm and collected for her job, especially since she miraculously can do that when needed so what the hell????). I hate how the text has her be shitty, say shitty things, be bad at her job, but will turn around and reward her time and time again.

Sure she doesn’t break the lore like Futaba, or unravel P5′s plot like Goro. But as a character with a message attached to her, even ones that the creators surely overlooked (I’m sure they didn’t intend for her to only hit her friends), it’s simple but very annoying. Fast and easy to see, doesn’t require me to think of P5′s lore as well as the grander Persona lore. Doesn’t require me to dig through text for Goro bread crumbs and then unravel the entire basis of the P5 plot thanks to him. Makoto is easier to get into, it’s smaller scale and more personal I guess.

#silly asks #silly answers #makoto salt #the thing with Kamo's arc is that when you ask 'why' to why a character or a situation is the way it is you can give a decent 'because'#when you ask 'why' with kane's arc.....you don't get that #you get a 'because' but then you keep asking 'why'#why does makoto have to stalk the PT? Because the principal is making her do it #But why is he making her do it? Because the conspiracy is breathing down his neck.#1) WHY her tho? seems a bit contrived and might not work 2) WHY do they care about some principal?#Because......um...... For 2 because he's part of the conspiracy.#Why is he part of the Conspiracy then? Um....they put him there?#BUT WHY did they put him there? Cause....it's prestigious?#BUT the game said Kamo fixed the school's bad rep so it wasn't always that...and he hired kamo.....SO WHY does he owe them getting a job at-#-a shitty school? WHY did he need help getting a job there? WHY is Haru there if-#you see? kane's arc unravels a good portion of what P5 (a least school) is based off of #vs Anne #Why won't Shiho tell Anne about the abuse? She's afraid anne might think it's her (anne's) fault and she loves her friend and wants to-#protect her. why doens't anne tell shiho? Anne doesn't want shiho to think it's shiho's fault and wants to protect shiho #kamo's arc is full of dramatic irony and people making wrong choices (which they might not realize in hindsight)#why doesn't anne know shiho is being abused? Anne thinks shiho is upset about her position on the team also Kamo won't let anyone watch #the practices so we just take the team's words at face value also the teams are protecting kamo to keep from getting hurt-#also shiho won't tell anne anything and so anne just assumes it's a rough practice and that shiho is afraid of losing her spot ALSO #ALSO anne isn't psychic also anne is outcasted from the rest of the school so she doesn't interact with them so she doesn't know what's up-#with other people and-#you can go on they have their bases covered in kamo's arc they have reasons #kamo's arc is also a bit more grounded (kane being ungrounded because of the stupid princpal and his bs0 #sorry for the side rant just.......#you don't have to agree with decisions in the kamo arc...but at least they GAVE us reasonings (and the chars are aware #in hindsight that their decisions weren't great and chose to learn from them)

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magioftheseas · 3 years

Text

Jagged Along The Edges

For @badthingshappenbingo

Prompt: Broken Angel taken from here.

Rating: M

Warnings: Body horror, violence, gore, cannibalistic thoughts, but I swear to god this is supposed to be hurt/comfort/treating injuries

Notes: Idk why I wrote another Persona 5 fic despite not reblogging p5 content, but shuake’s too powerful or something. Also the power outages are making me lose my mind. Wheeeeeeeee.

***Alternate Ao3 Link***

Commission? Donate?

Whoever would have thought that angels had fangs? Certainly not Akira, who had just been bitten to shit by the angel he just found and had thought to help.

He had a bad habit of trying to help as a human, and it turns out that habit carried over as a demon, albeit one of a low level. He can certainly imagine the same looks of disapproval as before when people realize that he held out a hand to a supposed enemy of his race, but would he have acted any differently?

Well.

He’s still acting the same now, enflamed bitemark on his arm be damned with the rest of him. His biter is still glaring, snarling, and hissing at him like a feral cat. Quite unbefitting of an angel—except this creature probably couldn’t be called an angel anymore.

Not with its wings ripped off like that.

What was left were mangled, jagged edges of bone and a few bloodied clumps of feathers sticking to the back. It was curled up so pitifully but was still managing quite the fierce little glare. Since being bitten still hurt, it wasn’t like this once angel was completely defenseless. But it was still in pretty horrible shape, and Akira didn’t even know if it retained any level of intelligence.

Angels are always so fucking pompous and up their asses. An angel wouldn’t be caught dead looking this unhinged and disheveled. More akin to an animal, running on nothing more than fear and aggression—but, even so.

Well. Akira half-wanted to pounce, never one to miss out on an easy meal. Especially one with such gorgeous fucking eyes, like hot damn—sorry state or no, the angel had eyes as deep and potent as the finest blood-red wine. Akira wasn’t so noble as to not be tempted. He’s still imagining it. This angel, who’s skittering into the corner it’s been backed up in, would have just the richest taste.

He wants a taste. Just a little.

And the angel hisses, but it’s also cowering. Poor thing. Poor, wretched creature. Its tortured state was so excessive. It must have really pissed off some higher-ups. What a tragedy. He should put it out of its misery.

He should. Especially since the little beast fucking bit him. His arm fucking itches, too. Angels are venomous to demons, but since this one’s so injured, it’s more of an especially annoying bug bite than anything remotely lethal. Most other demons would’ve acted immediately, and Akira’s stuck staring helplessly at this thing while he still tries to formulate a plan to approach it without an attempt made on his throat.

What a pain. Physically and metaphorically.

This stupid creature had yet to let its guard down, too. If Akira had been interested in eating it, he would��ve done so by now. Or he would’ve left. This just wasn’t worth the trouble of staring stupidly with a face scrunched up in concentration—that probably just looked like constipation.

“I...” He drawls. “I’m not trying to hurt you.”

No answer. Same as last time.

“You’re in an awful state,” Akira explained like he was talking to a child. “And l don’t feel comfortable leaving you alone.”

The angel spat at him, hissy and frazzled. It would be really fucking cute if it wasn’t really fucking annoying.

Ah.

If he just stands there, that angel will surely bleed to death or something.

...

Fuck it.

That angel sure had some lungs when Akira pounced.

One thing he had to admit was that even while mutilated, the angel knew how to fight. Like really knew with how its body moved and how it clearly aimed for weak spots with its nails and teeth. Just when Akira thought he had it pinned down, he had to jerk back before his face got clawed off. And the angel took off the flesh of his nose, leaving Akira to hiss between his cheek and shove them down with far more force than he would’ve preferred.

“I’m trying—to help you!” he got out through gritted teeth. “Let me help you! Who else could’ve injured you like that but a stronger angel?!”

The angel, back against the ground, screeched. No surprise there. Anything against those injuries surely felt like agony, and when Akira pressed harder, he almost immediately jolted back by the next heartrending, distorted scream.

“Sorry,” he whispered, not that the angel could hear when it was now sobbing. That face was twisted in tortured misery, and that expression was far too much to take.

“S-Sorry!” Akira yelped, pulling the angel close. Careful to avoid its back, he frantically cooed and stroked its hair. He minded any tangles and knots, murmuring soft reassurances with shaking shoulders. “It’s okay, you’re okay, it’s okay...”

The angel whimpered, digging its nails into his shoulders. Since it was more out of desperation than anything, Akira allowed it without missing a beat. For added measure, the angel was huddling closer, even to the point of pressing its face into Akira’s collarbone with a pained whine.

“Good...fucking god...” Akira utters. “What the fuck did they even do to you?”

He didn’t get an answer. The angel had gone limp against him, breathing harshly against his neck.

He didn’t have time to lose before booking it to his place.

“Aw jeez, aw fuck, aw jeez... What the hell...”

Akira considered himself fairly proficient in magic, even healing magic. But no matter how much energy he channeled into the angel’s body, there was just no smoothing out the crude edges of bone where wings had once been. He’d have to do so a more old-fashioned way with a really tough grater, which he doubted the angel would respond well to.

For now, he focused on the more treatable injuries. The scrapes from the earlier tussle, some miscellaneous lacerations, and a couple of bruises for good measure. There was some internal bleeding to deal with, but overall, the most damage was situated on the back. The angel wouldn’t even be able to lay down like this.

Akira wiped himself off, sighing and cursing whatever monsters of this angel’s kind had thought this humane much less justified. While he had heard of angels getting their wings torn off before, it was always at the roots. Leaving gaping holes in the back that, while pretty horrifying in their own right, would still be preferable to this shit.

Just thinking about it pissed him off to no end. And maybe the angel could sense him just buzzing with fury because it began to stir from where it was propped up against its side on the wall.

“Ah,” Akira clicked his tongue. “No, no, just...rest more.” His hand hovered by the angel’s shoulder. The angel’s face scrunched up, and despite everything, Akira’s breath caught at just a glimpse at a sliver of deep red from the angel’s eyes. “It’s...uh...”

The angel was staring at him now, and he was left speechless.

Oh, he thought as those red eyes bore into him. Beautiful.

“...f-feeling better?” he choked out as the angel blinked at him. “You, uh... You don’t...seem...to be afraid of me anymore. That’s good.”

The angel kept staring, and Akira let out a strangled laugh.

“Right, uh, you...might still be...”

“You.” The angel pointed at him, slurring its words. “You are an incomprehensible demon.”

“And you can talk,” Akira remarked, with dull surprise. “Great. That makes things easier—but why didn’t you speak earlier? Were you really that scared?”

The angel shook its—his head.

“It’s not that,” with a sigh, he stated, quite clearly. “I just hate demons. They irritate and infuriate me beyond my capacity for speech. And I really hadn’t been in a mood to converse in the first place.” He was speaking like they were just discussing the weather. “Since you helped me, I suppose I owe you now. What is it that you want?”

“I...” Akira blinked. “Your...name...? Maybe?”

The angel’s eyes narrowed sharply and, oh, those eyes were deadly. Akira could get lost in them for millennia.

“Akechi Goro.” The angel turned away the best he could without brushing his back against anything. “Surely that’s not all.”

“Kurusu Akira. Nice to meet you.”

“It’s not that nice.”

“...”

Akechi, huh.

“I... Uh, I did the best I could with your injuries. But for your back, I’d have to...smooth it down...” Now wasn’t the time to be getting nervous and now especially wasn’t the time to notice that the angel had quite a lovely profile. A strong, defined jaw and nose—angels were beautiful in general, but this one... No. Fuck. Akira had to focus. “I need tools for that. So, um, be patient with me.”

“It’s not like I have much else of a choice,” Akechi replied softly and sullenly.

Is this really the same angel I found? Did my feral beast of an angel get replaced when I wasn’t looking?

“Uh...” Rather intelligently, Akira scooted closer. “Do you mind if I...ask who did that to you? You—don’t have to answer.”

“I don’t know who it was specifically,” Akechi said, waving his hand dismissively. “But, as you can no doubt tell, this is punishment.”

“It’s torture.” Akira didn’t waste a second. “Tearing your wings off like this was unnecessarily cruel.”

Akechi seemed to smirk before his face fell.

“A demon with morals,” he said, snorting. “Now I’ve really seen it all.” He leaned his shoulder into the wall. Akira hovered by, uncertain. When Akechi’s eyes shut once more, the spell was broken and Akira was able to distance himself once more.

If Akechi was aware of the effect he had, he didn’t remark on it. But if he did know, Akira had a feeling that it’d be used to the angel’s advantage. Akira had to be careful. Since Akechi wasn’t a mindless beast, that meant...

It meant a lot of things. Akira imagined the other probably had a lot on his mind. Especially with how tense he was around the shoulders. Considering his situation, it was more than understandable. It was admirable, even, that Akechi was keeping his cool like this.

Akechi still had his guard up, which was fine. Akira didn’t expect any different.

“I don’t plan on hurting you,” he announced as if that would serve as a reassurance. Akechi was unmoved, even as Akira stressed, “I don’t plan on eating you, either. I want to help. What happened to you wasn’t right.”

Akechi gave a non-committal hum.

“I’ll do what I can about your injuries,” Akira went on. “Once you’ve recovered enough, you can decide for yourself what to do. I’d, uh, prefer you didn’t kill me afterward though. I’d hate to have to fight back.”

“Demons are wretched, malicious creatures,” Akechi said, rattling off the rhetoric Akira’s heard a thousand other times from countless other angels and humans. “It’s not uncommon for them to toy with their meals. To build them up, tear them down, and savor every last drop.”

The thing is.

Remaining humanity aside, Akira can’t deny how appetizing Akechi looks. And how the thought of Akechi cleaned up and pristine made his mouth water. Even now, Akira stares at the slope of Akechi’s neck, the curvature of his shoulders, his waist, and thick thighs—and his teeth itch to sink in.

It’s in his nature to eat, and Akechi’s a hell of a fucking meal. Angels always tasted best.

With the way Akechi does look at Akira’s mouth, the angel surely knows this.

So, why hadn’t he tried to escape yet?

Probably, Akira’s brain supplied. Because he not only has nowhere else to go but nothing to live for.

How pitiful.

Wouldn’t it be merciful to put this creature out of its misery?

Just because it’s in my nature doesn’t mean I can’t make choices.

“I’ll get something for your back,” he said, turning his back on the angel. Giving Akechi ample time to lash out if so desired. “Sorry. It’ll be a moment.”

He leaves, and he takes more than a moment. More than enough time for Akechi to escape if he so pleased.

When he came back, Akechi hadn’t moved at all, but he was staring up at him with two haunting eyes.

Everything was settled without the need for words.

(Even if Akira was seized by quite the unfortunate desire to pull Akechi close and not let go.)

(For a demon, hunger and sexual desire often got conflated. With Akechi, the latter was bound to become more and more of a fucking problem.)

#Magi fics #shuake #akeshu #bad things bingo #body horror #persona 5

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akechicrimes · 4 years

Text

summary: college aged akira is a little stupid and attempts the big bang burger challenge while drunk as all hell. it goes about as well as you can expect and goro is long-suffering as he deals with the aftermath

cw: drinking, vomiting

read on ao3 here

***

Goro finds out that Akira made a hobby of eating gigantic twenty-pound burgers during high school when, during college, Akira downs five martinis and a shot of tequila on his twentieth birthday, walks plastered as all fuck into a Big Bang Burger at two in the morning, and finishes the burger challenge in front of Goro's and Ryuji's increasingly horrified and equally drunk eyes in less than four minutes.

"DUDE," says Ryuji.

"Congratulations," says Goro. "That's one of the most disgusting things I've ever seen."

"Hey, don't say that to him on his birthday! That was—okay that was a little disgusting, but what a effin' shot chaser, huh?"

"Can you even move?" Goro asks. Akira's looking increasingly queasy, and the poor cashier for the Big Bang Burger is looking increasingly nervous.

"I'm a veteran," Akira says.

"Wow. You really say that with unironic pride," says Goro.

Akira flashes him the peace sign without expression.

Unsurprisingly, they make it down two blocks, during which Goro and Ryuji argue about whether or not the cashier could tell they were drunk (she could, she was just too polite) when Akira suddenly stops. "Wait," says Akira, and then a very long pause, in the way that drunk people do when their thoughts are moving at five kilometers an hour but nonetheless are struggling towards the finish line. Then Akira announces like a personal life revelation: "I'm gonna hurl."

Goro freezes. "You are not serious."

"Here?!" Ryuji yelps. He looks around frantically; they're not quite in Shinjuku but close enough that there's hardly a public bathroom just conveniently around. "Oh, geez, uh—"

Akira starts walking towards the nearest alleyway, swaying on his feet with his hand over his mouth. "Holy shit," says Ryuji, "go go go go—"

And this is how Goro comes to be standing over Akira Kurusu, ill-fated high school crush of his that Goro may or may not have never gotten over, while said crush throws up behind a dumpster.

Akira's still bent double, chest heaving, hair slowly growing sweaty and plastered to his face. Goro's hands flutter over him without touching. Smoothing someone's back when they throw up is just what you're supposed to do, a sort of meaningless platitude from movies, but it never made a lot of sense to Goro. It doesn't make the retching stop. On the occasions Goro has ever been sick enough to throw his guts up, he's never had anyone to stroke his back, so he wouldn't know if it helps at all. And for all Goro knows, maybe the last thing Akira wants is Goro touching him.

Ryuji has no such qualms, and is quite aggressively rubbing Akira's back, even stroking his neck in a way that makes Goro's eyes narrow. Makes him wonder what precisely goes on when Ryuji touches his male friends constantly, and why Akira seems to let him like it's nothing.

"Geez," says Ryuji, coming over to peer at Akira from the other side. "Ugh. Shit. This is kinda my fault, huh?"

"No," says Akira, in a high, strained voice. "Uh. I'm fine."

"You're effin' not. It is my fault. Fuck." For a second Ryuji looks so pissed off with himself that Goro's convinced they're going to have a drunken sob session in a dirty alleyway covered in vomit. When Ryuji drapes his whole arm across Akira's back, Akira just—leans into it with his whole body, like he's relieved. Goro is holding his breath. "Shoulda told you not to do it. This sucks as a birthday party, huh?"

Akira retches in answer, the soundless kind of your whole body revolting from the bottom up but not quite able to get anything out.

Goro stares at Ryuji's hand again. "I'll.. go get water from a convenience store," says Goro eventually. "Maybe something with electrolytes. I'm sure he'll need to replace those."

"Oh! Wait, that's a good idea—I'll do it!" says Ryuji. "Yeah, that's what he needs! Hey, uh, just stay here with him, I'll go—"

This backfired spectacularly, Goro thinks. "Don't worry about it, Sakamoto."

"No, no, I got it! Gotta make it up to him after I screwed up and all that," says Ryuji, and with one more enthusiastic backrub, he's bouncing out of the alleyway. "I'll be back in just a second!"

"Sakamoto—!"

No use. He's gone.

Akira retches again. The vegetable bits are coming up impressively whole, Goro notes with mild disgust.

"I didn't join a frat specifically to avoid holding someone's hair while they hurl, Kurusu," says Goro.

"Sorry," says Akira into the pavement, still a little drunkenly. "The burger challenge was supposed to be funny."

"Well," says Goro, and thinks. "It's not not funny."

Akira thinks about that double negative for a whole five seconds. He's beginning to look nauseous again, possibly from the force of thought. Goro regrets making the joke. Akira looks incredibly ill, and increasingly miserable, in the way that people do when they're realizing that nothing they can do can stop their body from making them feel like shit, and they'll just have to sit here and bear it.

"Face away from me if you're going to throw up again, please," says Goro.

Akira does faces away, but just pants. "Am I still sexy like this," says Akira like a joke that Goro has a feeling he is missing a lot of context for. Goro frowns.

"Considering you inhaled a burger larger than your torso, I don't know what convinced you that you were ever, at any point, sexy."

Then Akira does throw up again, which Goro is quite sure managed to get on Goro's shoes, and something in the back of Goro's head just says Okay, fuck it, because Akira is literally shivering with nausea and Goro figures that he maybe won't notice if Goro dares to put his hand right in that empty space between his shoulderblades.

Akira shudders harder.

Slowly, Goro rubs his back, the way he saw Ryuji do it. Akira's skin is insanely hot under Goro's hand, even though Goro's glove. Akira's wearing a stupidly thin shirt, too, considering that they're well on their way into autumn; Goro can feel a surprising number of lean, curved muscles. He can feel every one of Akira's breaths, messy and deep.

"Sorry," says Akira.

Goro very nearly freezes, but Akira looks so put out by it that he makes himself keep going. The back of Akira's neck is cool and wet with sweat. "You don't have anything to be sorry for. You're the one who's sick."

"I wanted the party to be fun for you too." Akira closes his eyes. Wipes his face. "I dunno. I wasn't thinking. I thought it'd be silly." Another deep breath. "I wanted to make you laugh. Sorry. Wait. I didn't say that. Well. It was something I did in high school so... I wanted you to know more things about me... since we didn't really. Have enough time. Back then. Um. Sorry. Wait."

"What on earth are you talking about?"

Akira looks up. He doesn't wear his glasses anymore, and although Goro's seen him without his glasses for longer than he's seen him with them on, there's some part of Goro that still expects him to be wearing them, still expects that thin film of glass between Akira's eyes and Goro's. Akira looks especially naked today, expression not so much hazy so much as it is blown wide open, almost looking a little... afraid. "Sorry. I know you didn't want to spend your night this way."

Goro should probably tell him that it's a Wednesday and he felt so bad for Akira with all his friends abroad and barely anyone free to go drinking on a Wednesday for his birthday, but Akira's breathing is deep under Goro's hands, his hair is wrecked, and there's the smell of vomit in the air because Akira's face is maybe too close. "I don't mind," says Goro instead without thinking.

"Yeah, you do."

"Okay, I do," says Goro. "But it's fine because—"

—because it's you, Goro almost says, and successfully bites off before he can say it. He lost the right to say those kinds of things; and if he hadn't, he wouldn't be saying it now, here, in a alleyway covered in vomit. Akira frowns. Goro takes a breath. His hand is still on Akira's back. Akira swaying where he's standing, their legs almost touching. Goro scrambles around for something else to say: "I would never say no if you showed your weaknesses to me."

There's half a moment of surprise on Akira's face, and then another half a moment in which Goro reflects that maybe he himself is drunker than he really expected, when—"Hey, Akira!" Ryuji calls, barreling back into the alleyway, jangling a plastic bag full of more plastic.

Goro nearly jumps out of his skin and snatches his hand away.

Ryuji stops, staring at the two of them standing four feet apart, Goro's hands very pointedly at his own sides. "Hey, uh... you guys good?"

"Yep," says Akira.

Goro clears his throat. "Get on with it, Sakamoto. I'm calling a cab to get us all home," he announces, and strides out of the alleyway, already pulling out his phone.

"No, seriously, you alright?" says Ryuji's voice behind him. When Goro turns around, Akira's eyes are illuminated in the dark like a cat's, tracking Goro's escape.

"I'm fine, Ryuji," says Akira again, like he always does.

Goro turns away quickly. The hand he'd rested on Akira's back, even through his glove, is still warm.

There’s definitely thrown-up burger bits on Goro’s shoes, though. Goro sighs, and calls the cab.

#mine

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lokiarsene · 4 years

Text

Goro Akechi Confidant - Rank 8 (ENG.)

breathes heavily in “enemy lovers romance dynamic appreciation” glee

y’all i’m not fucking kidding when i say this is a the love confession rank. i am NOT.

Note: I unfortunately lost my notes where I translated some of the alternate answers at the end of this scene. If anyone has the script or screenshots of those answers, please send them to me!

Goro’s Text: Are you free? I have something important to tell you.

Ren’s Text: I’m on my way.

Goro’s Text: Thank you. I’ll wait for you in Kichijoji.

If you do not answer his text and go to Kichijoji:

Goro: Good evening, Ren. I was waiting for you. There’s something I’d like to discuss with you, if you have the time? I’d prefer it if we went to a place without other people. How about Mementos? We don’t want anyone to disturb us.

(Ren travels to Kichijoji)

Goro: I’m all prepared... All I can do is wait for the day we send the calling card (lit., “wait for the notice day.”).

Goro: Hah... why is my heart pounding like this? That’s unusual for a detective...

Goro: I have something to tell you. Do you have time to talk? I’d prefer if we go to a place without other people... How about Mementos? ... We don’t want anyone to disturb us.

Mona: You two will go to Mementos alone? ... Well, it should be all right since you two can take care of yourselves... I’m not sure what’s going on here, but be ready for anything.

Ren: Let’s go.

Goro: Then let’s go to Shibuya.

(Screen fades to black. Fades back in, Ren and Goro are in Mementos alone.)

Goro: This spot should do just fine.

Ren: Answer #1: What did you want to say? (lit., Speak.) Answer #2: Why did we come to Mementos? (lit., Why to Mementos?)

Goro: For this.

(Goro turns around, takes out a gun. He’s holding it in his left hand.)

Goro: Don’t you remember what I said? If you beat me when I use my right hand, then I’ll become your true opponent.

Note: The word he uses for opponent is literally the same word for “companion/partner”--相手。See what I mean when I said love confession and that these two are all about layered meanings?

Ren: Answer #1: You mean in billiards? Answer #2: So you want a fight? Answer #3: What’s the point of this?

Goro: I truly do regret this... But it is your fault. (lit., absolutely insufficient/regrettable.)

Goro: You saw through me when I switched hands, you're quick and resourceful (lit., quick-wit/perceptive/clever), and above all, you can adapt and change (lit., growth potential)... You exceeded all of my expectations. And so I’ve decided: I want to have a true competition with you. (lit., I want to compete with you for real/true.)

Ren: Answer #1: I understand. Answer #2: Let’s go.

(Note: The verb he uses here is the same way he responded to almost all of Goro’s previous texts to go out (付き合う). The implication is that they’re truly going to “see/meet/go somewhere” with each other. And again, this is the same verb that, depending on the context, you can use to say you’re dating/going steady with someone).

Goro: Thank you for indulging me. Don’t hold anything back.

Goro: Let’s begin!

Note: He actually yells 来い! here, which, if you know your animu or Yakuza games, basically is a command to “come [over here]”. I could not for the life of me think of either a non snooty or a non ridiculous way to say it in English (”HAVE AT YOU” or “COME AT ME, BRO”) so I had to adjust it a little. Also, here’s the cut in for y’all to enjoy:

(Boss battle begins.)

Goro: You can’t beat me if you don’t intend to kill me.

Goro: Don’t hold back; show me how serious you are.

(The fight progresses. When you do enough damage, Goro says:)

Goro: Ah yes--this is fun! (lit., How nice, interesting)

(When you get Goro’s health low enough to win the fight, he says:)

Goro: Hahaha! This is better than I expected!

(The fight ends.)

Goro: ... As one should expect from the leader of the Phantom Thieves... Have you truly surpassed me already?

Ren: Answer #1: Do you want to stop here? (lit., Take a break?) Answer #2: Is it that serious? Answer #3: Does that still bother you?

Goro’s Answer to #1: Never. But if we take it any further, we might do something we regret... (lit., hold nothing back).

Goro: I want to keep going, but we still have an important mission to complete. And until then, you and I are true partners.

Note: He uses the words 大切な仲間, which when broken down means “important, beloved, dear, cherished, etc.” “colleague, partner.” Another alternate translation might be “you are an important part of my life.” I tried to go with the one that’s more subtle and layered, as that’s how Goro always talks to Ren.

Goro: ... We’ve done what we came to do. Let’s go back.

(Screen fades out. Screen fades back, and they’re standing outside in Shibuya, near one of the stairs leading to the subway.)

Goro: Once again, I understand more about you. (lit., I knew you today too.) As your teammate fighting at your side, I find your strength truly inspiring. To tell you the truth, I find myself even relying on it.

Ren:

Answer #1: I feel the same way. Answer #2: I rely on you too.

Goro: Is that so? That makes me happy.

Goro: Sorry I dragged you out with me today. I’m feeling a little better now.

(I feel like my relationship with Akechi has gotten deeper...)

Goro: ... By the way, about the fight we just had. Do you think you would have won if we continued to the very end?

Note: “the end” as in, if we fought to the death.

Ren: Answer #1: I wouldn’t lose. Answer #2: I don’t know. Answer #3: Maybe.

Goro’s Answer to #1: You would say that.

Goro: To be honest, I hate you.

Goro: The way you’ve stayed true despite everything, the way you work to surpass me, all the ways you’re nothing like me...everything about you is infuriating. If there’s one person I never want to lose to, it’s you.

Ren: Answer #1: I feel the same way about you. (Note: Another ambiguous line. This can be translated as “we are like each other”, “we like each other,” or “we feel the same way.”) Answer #2: I hate losing.

Goro’s Answer to #1: You really...? ... Well... that’s...

Goro: I accept that you were the winner, but next time, the victory will be mine. (lit., I will give you the win today, but next time I will win.)

Goro: ... And this is the proof of that.

(Goro takes the glove off his right hand, pulling on each finger, and throws it at Ren.)

(... It’s the glove Akechi usually wears.)

Goro: In the West, it is customary to challenge someone to a duel by throwing down your glove. If the opponent accepts the glove, then they agree to the duel.

Ren: Answer #1: I accept. Answer #2: I’ll have to think about it.

Goro’s Answer to #1: Don’t ever forget this: I will always be the one to beat you.

(Note: Alternate translation: “It is this me who will defeat you.”

Please note that he threw his right hand glove at Ren, instead of his “true” hand. Meaning that the “false” him will win, or that the one who will betray and kill Ren is not the real him [as in, once again he doesn’t want to kill Ren in order to win against him. This also means that since it’s not a “true” victory, Goro intends to have another competition against Ren in the future--basically promising that he will go for a rematch, which is what the glove represents. The ending of P5R confirms that it’s proof of their promise to each other.)

Goro: I think it’s best if we end it here for today.

---

So. The whole “dominant/true hand” thing here is obviously symbolic of both a card game and hidden truths. The card game stuff fits with P5′s penultimate boss theme (”Last ace in a lost hand”), as well as Sae’s Palace, the Casino, being the place where the betrayal happens. It also ties into one of the overarching themes of Goro and Ren’s Confidant, which is what they have between them is like a game (a meta choice on the devs’ part, as they are literally in a game).

Right from the start, Ren knew that Goro wasn’t showing a true side/his “true” hand, and the game showed this as Ren noticing the smallest details about Goro from the moment they met. This did not escape Goro’s attention, which is why he gets so fixated on the whole “dominant hand” issue as well as how perceptive Ren is. This is also why he panics and gets frustrated with how much he shares with Ren. Ren already sees so much, and Goro can’t seem to help himself and reveals so much of himself whether he intends to or not.

So basically both boys knew the other one had a secret that they were not telling each other (playing in their “off hands” so to speak). “Dominant/true hand” here can also be symbolic just in a narrative sense for who has the upper-hand.

This is why this Rank goes the way it does. In this Rank, Goro pulls a gun on Ren and tells him that now, because of Ren, he is Ren’s true opponent. Which, yes, he is. But the wordplay with “opponent/partner” cannot be overlooked because it was deliberate. Because again, Goro and Ren and their relationship is never just one thing. So it being Ren’s “fault” is like... Yeah thanks you to I wanna fight you. Replace “fight” with the romantic or saucier word of your choosing.

#akeshu #shuake #persona 5 royal #p5r spoilers #persona 5 royal spoilers #meta #mod krist translates

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itsa-lie · 3 years

Text

Birth Of A Liar Part Two

||Part One||Part Two||Part Three||Part Four||Part Five||

More of the boy’s backstory, including a cameo from a special someone. Oh boy will that someone hurt.

Trigger warning for abuse, murder, and an unlikely pair-up

Days went by since that horrible day of his parents death. Days became months, and months became years. How the young boy managed to keep himself alive for that long was a miracle in itself. He mostly would stand outside shops making sad pouty faces until the owner or someone who would give him a half-eaten sandwich or, if he was lucky, a soda bottle. One time a kind man bought him this really sweet grape drink he really liked. It was cold, sweet, and tasted like sweet grapes. He was too young to read back then, but the man called it “Grape Panta” and oh boy was he hooked on it.

Not only would he beg for food and drink, sometimes he would outright steal using his small height to his advantage. The cashier at the local bakery leaves for a few minutes? He’d just sneak in and go around the back of the display and steal a few jelly filled donuts. It wasn’t that hard and if he was lucky he’d be able to steal a Panta too. He’s never once been caught and he is very proud of that.

One summer day as he carries his loot of sweets to his hole, he noticed something odd was going on. Someone was there with him. Kokichi practically dropped his treats in surprise! There was a boy a bit older than him with red hair that draped over his eyes, a small girl with brown hair who looked terrified and holding onto an older girl, and the older girl herself looking around Kokichi’s age with long black hair in ponytails and crimson red eyes. She was the only one not looking scared in this situation, her eyes glued to the boy in front of her as if she would attack any second.

Kokichi tries his best not to look scared, but does try to intimidate them the best the six-year-old could.

“Who the ever-loving hell are you?”

He’s heard a few grown-ups use this phase outside him hiding place. It seemed to get the job done with them into scaring the other person. Well while it did intimidate the little girl who began to sob loudly, the other two didn’t seem to be intimidated in the slightest, the red eyed girl becoming more enraged.

“If you do anything to us I swear I’ll-”

“Maki, I’ll take care of this, calm down.”

“Goro stand down, he’s already scaring Hanako.”

“WAAAAHHHH!!!”

The odd scenario going on before Kokichi both baffled and amused him just the same. He hasn’t seen any kids before nor has he played with anyone before. Or maybe he has? Unfortunately as much as he tried to prevent it his memories while his parents were still alive kept coming back fuzzy as if they were going to be forgotten entirely. It would be nice to have some company in this lonely little building. However you can never be too sure.

“Hey I know you’re probably wondering what we’re doing here, kid. I don’t blame you. This was your hole after all.” The older boy, apparently named Goro mutters with a timid laugh. He didn’t want a fight to break out it seems. “But we need your help. You see, some bad people are looking for us and we really need a place to hide. We won’t be much trouble I promise.” The red eyed girl scoffed at Goro’s plea but continued petting and comforting the child in front of her who was sniffling hysterically. Confused but intrigued, Kokichi poked his head out the hole looking around. There seemed to be a group of adults each carrying firearms. That didn’t look good.

“Fine fine, just keep her voice down! There’s guys everywhere out there.”

His loud shout only made Hanako cry more. “You idiot. That’s no way to comfort a child.” hissed Maki as she holds the girl close. “There there...don’t cry...I won’t let anything happen to you...” Kokichi, for some odd reason, felt a warm feeling hearing those words as if he heard them before...somewhere. Hanako seemed to calm down at least. This Maki girl was really great with kids.

“I heard something this way! Come on!” booms a man voice outside walking into the alley. Oh no! Did he hear them? And they are coming this way! Kokichi was able to keep a low profile for so long! Why now of all times and places should he be discovered! Thinking quickly Kokichi started to bark orders.

“You, take the kid behind that sink over there and lay low, kid, don’t worry, I got this under control. And you, big red over here, sit in that darkened corner by the kitchen and stay completely still.”

The children had no other choice but to listen, following Kokichi’s words exactly. The boy himself climbed up on a shelf above the hole holding a wooden bat in his hand. Yes it was the same hateful bat that that horrible gang member used to kill his father with, but it could still be used for protection. Though Kokichi would never kill anyone and would only knock out the man if he even tried getting in. Outside it would seem that the hole was spotted by one of the men. He leans down to look inside, flashing his flashlight around. All he could really see was a bag of what seemed to be donuts on the ground. Did an animal hide them away here for safe keeping? Defeated, the man gets back onto his feet. “False alarm. Must be a rat or something...” Kokichi gives a sigh of relief to himself and wipes the sweat from his brow while listening to the footsteps get further and further away. “Okay, he’s gone now, it’s safe.”

The three other children come out of their hiding places like fawn staring out for their mother to give them the go ahead to move. They all sat down in front of the purpleish blue haired boy as they gave sighs of relief.

“Wow mister! You’re really good at being a leader!” Hanako states with a smile. Maki didn’t want to admit it, especially from how loud and brash this kid was, but she’d admit this kid saved their skin and she was grateful. Goro nodded in agreement with the little girl. “Yeah, you really saved our butts back there, thank you. Maki why don’t you say thanks too?” Maki was quiet, her gaze to the ground, before she finally gives in and rolls her eyes. “...thanks I guess.” The orphan boy blushed from the compliments and the thanks, but pretended it meant nothing. “Yeah yeah yeah, I know I’m like...an ultimate leader and all that.” The red headed boy laughs a bit at the younger’s cockiness before speaking again. “Anyway why don’t we introduce ourselves? I’m Goro Harukawa and this is my little sister Maki.” Maki didn’t even bother to look at anyone, only cradling Hanako softly. “And I’m Hanako!” Says the smallest as she waves her hand in the air. “Hanako was a baby when we found her so we just...ya know...took care of her. Could you believe someone would leave this cutie on a doorstep?”

Kokichi stares at the others with an eyebrow raised. “So if you’re brother and sister what happened to your parents?” Goro’s eyes started to look a bit sadder but continued to smile as Maki grunts and turns away much to the confusion of the young Hanako. “Well our...mother died when Maki was born so...well our father had three sons before me who had grown up or got sent to a boarding school, and he usually had mother by his side so...well...he...”

Maki was looking more and more uncomfortable at what her brother was saying.

“He was already angry at Maki for being born and was...punching her whenever he got mad or would punch me for defending her. So when he saw a defenseless baby Hanako outside he...well he tried to kill her. That was until Maki stabbed him in the back of the neck.”

“He would have killed us! Father’s temper was horrible, you know that! Don’t paint me out to be some sort of horrible murderer!” Maki snapped, her eyes filling with hate. It was enough to even scare Kokichi who glanced back at Goro like he was saying “he said it not me”. Goro stares down at the ground, sweat pouring down his face. “I-I didn’t mean it like that. I was only explaining-”

“Actually,” Kokichi started, a blank stare on his face devoid of emotion. “You’re still a murderer if you had good intentions or not. You still took a life. You’re a murderer.” Goro’s eyes turned as big as dinner plates, Hanako stares confused, and Maki...oh man Maki...was on fire with rage right now. She reeled her fist back before socking Kokichi right in the jaw, his head moving back from the blow. “You don’t know shit about what I am. You don’t know ANYTHING about me. So don’t keep talking out of your ass or else you might be the next one hurt.”

“M-Maki!? What the hell?! I know that was uncalled for but-” Before Goro could finish his sentence Maki was already up the stairs, going who knows where. Kokichi gets back up, rubbing the side of his face that hurt. “You bitch! You’re not the only one who can fight ya know!” Kokichi picked up his bat and tried to run right for her but was stopped by Goro who practically held the boy in the air by the collar of his shirt. Kokichi made a whining sound before Goro put him down again. “Look, maybe you should just...leave her alone for a bit. This whole thing hurts her very much. Heck it even hurts me and Hana.” The boy looked up at the taller boy, skeptical.

“Didn’t you say your dad was an abusive douchebag?”

Goro’s eyes start to water as he looks down. “...he didn’t used to be...he used to be a kid father until mom died...” The lump forming in his throat made it hard to talk, he holds onto Hanako close who was nestled beside him. “I thought...if we waited a bit longer he would go back to the way he used to be...that’s what I told Maki...we just...had to wait and he’d be loving and sweet again...” Goro was shaking as tears went down his eyes. “It kept us going and made Maki happy but...he wasn’t ever coming back.” Now Kokichi felt like a total ass for what he said. They had that little bit of hope from a lie, just like how he had hope from his own lie that his parents weren’t dead. The boy himself shook as well, his eyes peering to the ground as his body trembles. “I thought lying to myself would make me happy but...this makes it much worse. I’m sorry...”

Goro feels a bit better and pats Kokichi’s head. “It isn't your fault. I mean if someone came into my house saying they killed their father I’d be pretty freaked out too. I’d probably call the police.” He giggles a little before putting on a comforting smile.

“But sometimes you care about someone too much to let them suffer in lies. You have to do something or someone will get hurt.”

Kokichi was silent, taking the older boy’s words to heart. Even if lies do make you feel better, there were some that makes you feel better for a little while then hurt you in the long run. But what kind of lies are they? How could he tell the difference? Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by his growling stomach. That’s right, he didn’t get a chance to eat his stolen donuts yet. He quickly picked up the bag and starts chowing down. Given he was so young when his parents had passed on, he didn’t really have manners or the idea to share. Well, until both Goro and Hanako stared at him sadly as their own stomachs rumbled.

“Y-You want some?”

The three of them ate as much as they could and there was still some left over for Maki. They each told each other stories of their pasts and dreams they had until Goro and Hanako fell asleep on a full stomach and cuddled up next to each other on a pillow. Kokichi couldn’t sleep now feeling guilt he made Maki hurt. But it wasn’t a lie, that was the truth! Anyone who kills another human being is a murderer! Was it better if he lied about that too? Well he didn’t want the donuts to go bad or stale so he went up the stairs. The most beautiful thing about this building was the way it would go up to the roof, it would show the most scenic spots of Tokyo. Kokichi didn’t think that’s why his mom hid him in that spot, in fact she probably didn’t know it existed, but he was grateful nonetheless. If only father and mother could see these beautiful sights...perhaps someday...maybe...

As he reached the roof he could see Maki sitting alone. She stares at the busy roads and cars below her, hearing the hustle and bustle of the city. Timidly Kokichi sat on the other side of her also looking down at the ground. She didn’t seem to notice, and even if she did she gave no response. This lasted for a few minutes, only the sounds of the city bellow. Kokichi couldn’t stand the awkward silence anymore before he holds out the bag of treats to her. “Here, we saved you some.” Maki eyed the bag of treats for a second as if she was checking if they were safe or not before sighing and taking the bag. She cautiously took a bite of a cherry jelly filled donut, then took another, and another. Damn these things were good. She ate it pretty fast which made Kokichi giggle a bit before Maki gives one of those infamous stares in which he holds up his hands defensively. Maki seemed to have eaten the rest of the donuts in one sitting before taking the empty paper bag and handing it back to him. “Thanks. It was...oddly tasty...”

“Ah so you do like it? They make the best damn donuts anywhere!”

“I’d appreciate it if you would stop cussing in front of Hana.”

There was a stillness in the night, awkward silence in the air. Finally Kokichi just decided to say it.

“Hey, I really am sorry for hurting you. I shouldn’t have said that...” His hair swayed in the wind as a gust came from the east. “I’m an orphan too. My mom and dad died when I was three. Three gang guys killed them. I...I was too young to do anything so I...hid in that building. I’ve been living on my own ever since...”

Maki looked over at him carefully, her eyes still narrow but at least a bit softer now feeling sympathy for the brash loud child. She then turns back to the city and smiles a little. “It’s fine...honestly you got it worse than me. I at least have my brother and sister. You have...no one. I’m sorry...”

“About what? You weren’t those three guys.” Kokichi states as he kicks his legs over the building’s ledge. But now that he thinks of it...he really was alone. He was too busy trying to survive to notice it but...it hurt. “H-Hey...” Maki started, her eyes still on the city streets. “You don’t have to be alone you know. We wouldn’t mind keeping you company. Like an extended family or...something...” Maki seemed bashful saying this but she meant it. He did help her and her siblings out after all. Kokichi turns to the girl, giving the first genuine smile he had in a long time. “If you all want to you’re welcome to stay. Us orphans have to stick together, right?”

Suddenly he stood up quickly onto the edge of the building, almost looking like he’s about to fall but catches himself pretty quickly with cat-like reflexes.

“We should start our own orphan gang!”

Maki stares at him worriedly like he was about to fall but calmed down once she noticed he wasn’t going anywhere. “An orphan gang? That does sound fun. Just the four of us, huh?” Kokichi nods his head enthusiastically as he stares back into the girl’s red eyes. “Then we need a leader. How about you? You managed to direct us without getting caught. That was very leader-like. Even Goro would’ve froze up in that situation.”

Now this caught him off guard as Kokichi almost fell forward but moved his weight backwards so he fell on his butt onto the roof’s concrete.

“M-Me?!”

“Yes you. ‘Ultimate Leader’.”

Kokichi crosses his legs, his head down in deep thought. “W-Well...I guess. Mom used to say my dad was a leader in his gang so...”

“Then I guess you have your dad’s genes.”

“No? My dad’s jeans would be too big for me.”

Maki looks at him down founded for a second, then shook her head. “Never mind. Anyway what should the gang be called?” Kokichi thinks for a few minutes, his eyes glancing everywhere to find a name out of anything. His eyes wondered to Maki’s hairbands that held up her pigtails. They almost looked like playing die. He then nods his head again, even more enthusiastic than before.

“We’ll call it DICE!”

Maki really had to get used to this kid’s sudden outbursts. “What does it stand for?” Kokichi blinks. “Stand for?”

“N-Never mind...” She smiles a little. This dude was an idiot, but a funny idiot.

Kokichi glances over to Maki noticing her smile for the first time. “Heeey you’re smiling!” Maki looked shocked but then sighs defeated. Damn this kid’s observation skills. “All right, you got me ultimate leader.”

“You’re very pretty when you smile!”

Oh no! Here comes the blush! She stares at him for a moment, her cheeks cherry red. Kokichi noticing this quickly tries to think of a way to fix his friend’s red face.

“S-Stop lying!”

“Nyhehehe! Okay. I’m lying. You got vampire eyes. Are you a vampire?”

Her red face became red for another reason, anger.

“I’m gonna kick your ass!”

Kokichi peeks up from the door to the stairs. “I thought we weren’t cussing in front of Hanako?” Seeing Maki run forward he quickly paniced and closed the door and ran down the stairs.

“SHE’S NOT HERE RIGHT NOW! KOKICHI!!!!”

#kokichi ouma #kokichi oma #please don't read the tags there's a spoiler #maki haruwaka #headcanon

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niighteagle · 3 years

Photo

PLAYLIST. HEADCANONS. AESTHETIC. BIO.

NAME : Aizawa ‘Grim Reaper / Ghoul’ Ren.

AGE : 35.

GENDER &. PRONOUNS : Genderfluid & they/them.

SEXUALITY : Panromantic &. demisexual.

LOYALTY : Rogue.

FC: Tony Thornburg.

ROLE & MARK : Night Eagle.

INSPIRATION: Akechi Goro (Persona 5 Royal), Korosensei/Grim Reaper (Assassination Classroom), Aizawa Shouta/Eraser Head (Boku No Hero Academia), Badou Nails (DOGS), Villanelle (Killing Eve).

SYNOPSIS

Out from the Gutters and in to the frays of the elite, Ren made a name for themselves saturated in blood as the emperor’s personal assassin. While not everyone knows Ren by their name (Aizawa Ren, surname first), they either know them by one of their designated titles: Ghoul or Grim Reaper. Neither name was created by Ren themselves but, instead, out of fear of those buried in guilt or simply born under the wrong name that, one day, the shadow of the emperor might come for them as well. This continued until it could no longer, leaving Ren to fend for themselves as they head back into the Gutters to figure out where they went wrong and what path they’re meant to follow now. Ren has the ability to petrify (temporarily) with a single glance out of one eye; of which they cover with an eyepatch in an effort to not petrify every person they come into contact with. Their mark is conveniently right under that eye as well, effectively covering the mark when the eye patch is on.

FUN FACTS

In case you read this and don’t feel like perusing my headcanons, Ren has a tendency to be in their head quite a bit as of late. That’s, mainly, due to their equivalent of a conscience in the form of an ‘unrelenting limbic system’ response to their potential decisions. Think of it like a video game where there are many forms of dialogue to choose from and this one is desperately trying to show Ren what the least problematic option is but, you know, they aren’t great at listening. This is mainly important to note because when I do replies, you’ll probably see them silently arguing with themselves.

Basically, parts of their mind talk to them as though they’re entities on their own. It’s linked back to their mind working in a stranger way than others’ and not processing basic things like emotions, empathy, etc., the way others’ would.

Ren doesn’t look the same as they used to. Over the time that they’ve been gone, they’ve grown their hair out fully, now have facial hair and are quite a bit skinnier than they were before. Also, there’s the eye patch. Even without money, they still somehow tend to dress in somewhat eccentric outfits though most of them are all black.

Ren has several different residences depending on what they feel like getting up to. One of which might be with Killer Kraken but, I’ll fix this after I talk to a future player about whether or not that’s the case. Either way, they tend to stick to places that others might overlook like areas in the Gutters that are already overrun with people and you know they hate that but, they’re able to blend in well enough. Lastly, they occasionally stay at Sukja’s church but, they try not to make it a habit. They joke that they don’t want to become the next sacrifice but, part of that’s not a complete joke to them, lmao.

Right now, they’re exploring options for their life. Whether it’s joining a grift or helping out with the church, they’re trying to figure out where they fit in amongst the chaos of it all. They don’t plan to join either side again, mostly because they’d likely be killed the second they tried, but it isn’t totally out of the question either.

WANTED CONNECTIONS

COFFEE ORDER - Someone that specifically knows Ren as the personal assistant to the emperor rather than their true role as assassin. The joke is that they probably had to take menial orders like for brunches and shit to actually appear as though they were, in fact, just an assistant.

STRAIGHT INTO MEDUSA’S EYES - I mean, someone had to be petrified for Ren to have found out that they had the ability, right? It’s a temporary thing, though, so besides complete confusion, they probably wouldn’t have experienced much else (other than the person that ran once they blinked or moved away).

JOKER & AKECHI - Enemies that can potentially benefit from one another’s skillsets. This relationship is a strange one, they teeter on friends on occasion and other times, they genuinely want to kill one another (perhaps have even tried). But, there’s a push and pull that keeps them together regardless.

I SHOT THE MOON - People who will/want to try to kill Ren. Technically, they are a wanted person so, it’s viable that people want them dead for that reason. Or, it could be another reason because generally speaking, Ren has done a lot of harm to a lot of people. If that’s not enough, their personality is A Lot and could probably turn the wrong person right off.

EVE & VILLANELLE - Someone hunting down Ren either for the emperor or for their own personal gain. Perhaps not sure what they want to do with them yet, just know that Ren has to be found. In the show, it def becomes romantic (and hella toxic lmao) which doesn’t at all have to be the case here or it can, who the fuck knows.

AIZAWA & HITOSHI - A protegee of sorts, someone that Ren has taught everything they know to. Assassinations, fighting, stealth and everything in-between, they’ve taught them everything. This could take on a deeper connection of Ren being protective (and literally all they’re emotionally capable of atm, sorry) and the other person caring about the good ol’ Night Eagle. - TAKEN by Xian.

#ren: intro.#this is......very late #but i'm playing bugsnax so here's 1 thing to add to my productivity pile

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snowpeawritings · 4 years

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Can I ask for a scenario/headcanon ( u can choose ) with Akira, Yusuke and Akechi with depressed S/O? Love your blog btw! Sorry if I make some mistakes. My english isn't perfect 😅

Reader is gender neutral

CW (CONTENT WARNING): Depression tw, persona 5 spoilers

| Akira Kurusu |

- He knows that feeling all too well, on not wanting to get out of the bed. His time in juvenile prison plus the fact that he’s been ostracized by literally everyone he’s met with will do a lot to his mentality.

- But he’s not going to let you suffer through this alone. He doesn’t want anyone to experience the same thing he’s did, especially his lover. So he devotes his time in making sure you at least get out of bed and drink.

- Tries to bring you outside and walk around with him throughout Yongen-Jaya. It doesn’t have to be too far, just a simple walk around the neighborhood as Akira drags you to the nearest antique toy shop. He lets you play with old toys like the wooden propeller or a blow-up paper ball. Mundane things but as long as you’re actively moving and smiling at how Akira’s twirling the propeller funnily, he’s content.

- Would be the type to bring you close to his side and teach how to make curry or coffee. Just places himself behind you as he guides you on how to do it. His voice is very calming when he starts talking so it’s a motivator for you to learn the lessons with him as he talks.

| Yusuke Kitagawa |

- Wouldn’t understand at first but he’s a fast learner. He understands your reasoning why you were like this. He would never try and force you to move but he’s stern on trying to have you at least get out of bed.

- For him, he would have you pose in different action poses. Anything that ranges from your arms in the air or Yusuke’s Orobas pose when he was in the church. Sure, it’s going to have your limbs get tired but it’s all worth it to see you work up a sweat when you try and do different poses in the span of 2 minutes for Yusuke’s gesture drawings.

- If that doesn’t work, he’ll whip out his silver tongue and lay on the compliments thick. Even when you’re in the bathroom showering, he’s spitting out facts until you have to splash water in his face that his compliments are too much for your heart.

- Would, I REPEAT, would not paint you when you’re depressed. He would never romanticize your depression on his paintings as much as the rest of the old artists did when they made their masterpieces. For him, he’s leeching off of your problem and he will not do that.

| Goro Akechi |

- Like Akira, he knows the feeling all too well but he doesn’t dwell on it too much. With his lifestyle, he doesn’t have time to take care of himself so the old Goro wouldn’t even spend the time to talk you out of it.

- Again, that’s old Goro. With the Goro whom was healed of all of his past trauma, he makes it a point to cancel any plans he had today to spend time with you. He knows that depression is an ugly feeling so he makes sure that no matter what, he won’t let you face this alone.

- He makes you pancakes. Believe it or not, he has to make something to keep himself alive and besides the basic dishes, he has a natural talent for making the best pancakes. He even lets you near his kitchenette and teaches you how to flip a fluffy pancake.

- Both of you are each other’s supports but it’s not favorable for two depressed people to be in the same room so the rest of the group stays with you guys and basically do whatever normal teens do. It’s a fun time.

#requests #headcanons #persona #persona imagines #persona 5 #persona 5 imagines #akira kurusu #akira kurusu x reader #akira kurusu imagines #yusuke kitagawa x reader #yusuke kitagawa #yusuke kitagawa imagines #akechi goro #akechi goro x reader #akechi goro imagines #onigiriofficialblog

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perfeggso · 4 years

Text

Noir (yutae)

Week III pt. 2

Tokyo – fall of 1983: Nakamoto Yuta is quickly rising in the ranks of one of Japan’s most notorious yakuza families, and he’s poised to climb even further if he can stop himself from being ruined by the pretty Korean boy who’s shown up out of nowhere.

Glossary of Japanese words

Characters: Yuta x Taeyong + NCT ensemble, Twice J-line (for funsies)

Genres: Gang!AU, angst, smut, fluff, 1980s!AU

Warnings: graphic violence, swearing, minor character death, alcohol use, mentions of drugs, period-typical homophobia, xenophobia, BDSM

Rating: 18+

Length: 9.3k

If he didn’t think too hard, Yuta was elated. He’d righted his wrong, put his desires on the line, and gotten the boy he’d been lusting over for two and a half weeks not just to reciprocate, but to come undone in his lap. As he would say, mission accomplished.

Still, if he did think about it, he was worried. As he’d expected, he and Taeyong being an item was distracting to him at work. All those little moments when Taeyong caught Yuta’s eye and Yuta would suppress his impulses before they had confessed started blossoming into full-on flirting – or worse, makeout sessions in the car or in closets at headquarters. When Yuta was alone, instead of strategizing for his mission, he would find himself strategizing how to keep everything adequately under wraps for him not to become a liability to the organization or to his men. He even sometimes worried that he was taking advantage of Taeyong.

This was all in the three days following the party at Johnny’s bar. By the fourth day and the end of the week, Yuta resolved to go easy on himself. Taeyong had given every indication of enthusiastic consent, and continued to give it, and Yuta figured once he got used to being with Taeyong, the butterflies would dissipate, and he’d be able to focus again.

Yuta sat at his desk, legs crossed on the buffed wood, throwing his pen up and practicing catching it while pushing himself side to side in his swivel chair. Taeyong was in a seat near the window, messing with his nails and making absent-minded ‘beep’ ‘boop’ noises to occupy the time.

Yuta sighed. They were at a weird midpoint in their work where they had enough information to have a plan but not to act on it. Most of the acting would happen in the week and a half leading up to the Mitsubishi meeting. On top of that, he and Taeyong couldn’t get up to anything because they were expecting a report from Johnny soon.

“What if she doesn’t bite?” asked Taeyong, ceasing his strange little symphony.

“Hm?” asked Yuta, not sure what he was referring to.

“Sana. What if she doesn’t decide to flip when we confront her? What if she stays with Yamaguchi and they still get into the meeting?”

“That’s not anything you need to worry about, Taeyong,” Yuta tried to explain, setting his pen on the desk with a clack.

“But, I mean, I’m involved now,” Taeyong insisted. “So, wouldn’t it be good for me to have an idea?”

Yuta smiled, acknowledging the merit in Taeyong’s point. “Okay. Basically, if she doesn’t side with us, we’re screwed. We’ll just have to send a large delegation to the meeting and hope we can offer enough perks to get the board of directors to agree to our demands over Yamaguchi’s, and convince them that Yamaguchi’s scheme with Miyazaki’s mistress is real.”

Taeyong rolled his ankles around, looking preoccupied.

“This is why I didn’t want to say anything, Yong. I didn’t want you more stressed out than you already are.”

Taeyong leaned forward, elbows on his knees and jaw in his hands. “No, it’s alright. I think it’s better for me to know.”

Yuta smiled, appreciative. “That’s why we’re going to make Sana flip. We can’t afford not to, and she already hates the Yamaguchi-gumi for screwing up her life, so even if she thinks we’re just as despicable, at least we haven’t proven it yet.”

Taeyong cringed. “That’s one way to look at it.”

Yuta checked his watch after a brief silence. It was 4:40 p.m.; Johnny was supposed to have been there ten minutes ago. “Where the hell is he?” Yuta grumbled.

“Johnny?” asked Taeyong.

“Yeah. Didn’t I tell you that?”

Taeyong shrugged. “Maybe.”

Yuta thought he saw concern flicker over Taeyong’s face and reasoned there might be a cause for Taeyong’s spaciness that he wasn’t picking up.

“Taeyong?”

“Yes Shategashira !”

“Come over here for a minute, will you?”

Taeyong hopped to his feet and walked over to the desk, leaning against Yuta’s side of it. Yuta remarked to himself that the etiquette he had always insisted on regarding his desk was quickly going out the window.

“What is it?” asked Taeyong. Yuta slipped his hand into the other man’s, squeezing and swinging their arms in a soft rhythm.

“Is everything alright?” he asked Taeyong. “People still treating you well? Are you getting enough rest? I’m not overwhelming you, am I?”

Taeyong laughed. “Not at all. You’re – everything’s really good, and I like all the attention you give me.”

Yuta felt a flash of fondness overcome him. Lord help him.

“I’m glad.”

“There is one thing I’ve been wondering about though,” said Taeyong, starting again at the nails on his free hand.

“What’s that?”

“I was just thinking,” Taeyong began, “what is Momo going to do? Like, I presume that she knows about you but, how does that work for her? Is she going to hate me? Is it going to be weird if I have to talk to her any time soon?”

Yuta looked at Taeyong, head cocked to the side like a question. “Why would it be, if you know she knows?”

“That’s just it – I’m not sure!” Taeyong blurted. “I just feel like it would be. Like, it’s kind of a big sacrifice for her, isn’t it? And here I am, getting to do what she would if – if you were like, wired different or something.”

Yuta dug a nail into Taeyong’s palm, getting his attention. “Yonggie, none of that is going to happen, alright? I wanted her to tell you but since you’re worried and bringing it up, you should know that she’s similarly wired .” Yuta emphasized the last part to mock Taeyong for his awkward use of euphemism. Taeyong looked confused for a moment, and Yuta watched in amusement as he worked through what he had just learned.

“Oooh…” Taeyong puzzled. “Oh! Well, that’s a coincidence.”

Yuta laughed. “It’s not a coincidence, Taeyong, it’s the reason for our arranged marriage.”

Taeyong pushed off the desk and started to pace. “This makes so much sense, now!” he said, making Yuta laugh harder. “Ooookay.”

“So, will you calm down?” Yuta asked, and Taeyong nodded, settling back in his chair.

“By the way,” Yuta offered, “how would you feel about going out this weekend?”

“Out?” Taeyong pondered, “like, clubbing?”

“Yeah,” Yuta said, hopeful.

Taeyong smiled, practically buzzing in anticipation. “Sounds fun!” he said.

“You can come over to my apartment after, if you want.”

Taeyong wiggled his eyebrows suggestively and Yuta guffawed. “Oh dear,” he said, shaking his head.

“This a good time?” came Johnny’s muffled voice from the other side of the door.

Yuta pushed himself into a more decorous sitting position. “ Douzo .”

Johnny slid open the door and stood in the entryway, saluting and wearing a beige suit and orange shirt with wide lapels. To Yuta’s surprise, Mark was with him.

“Phew,” jested Johnny, “I was worried you guys would be going at each other.”

Yuta rolled his eyes “Want to get hit?” he asked, figuring that would shut his friend up. Out of the corner of his eye he thought he saw Taeyong blush.

“No, sorry, Shategashira ,” said Johnny, sitting in the chair across from the desk and holding his hands up in mock surrender. “I’m done.”

Yuta smirked, allowing himself some slight irritation but knowing this was all in good fun. He addressed Johnny.

“Why is Mark here?”

Mark, who was still standing, awkwardly not knowing what to do with himself, opened his mouth but was cut off before he could answer.

“He was getting bored and Haechan was there to fill in for him,” Johnny explained, as if that was supposed to be satisfying. Yuta shook his head incredulously, frustrated by what his men’s lack of discipline represented more than its actual consequences. In reality, it didn’t matter all that much if it were Mark or Donghyuck at that post – Donghyuck would have likely just been hanging out in construction projects, otherwise.

“What was Hyuck doing there?” asked Yuta, simultaneously reasoning himself out of being strict. “Oh, whatever,” he allowed before anyone could answer. “It’s fine; just try to stay at your posts.” He turned his attention to Mark. “Alright?”

“Yes, Shategashira !”

“May I proceed with the report?” Johnny asked, both eyebrows raised and hand poised at the entrance to his jacket pocket. Yuta nodded and Johnny pulled out a cigarette and lighter, getting himself a smoke before he continued.

“So,” said Johnny, “I just got off the phone with Kun. He’s going to be arriving with the Triad delegation this weekend so that they can have plenty of time to strategize, prepare, make sure our priorities align, etc.”

“Perfect,” Yuta remarked. “Do they need an escort for when they get in?”

“Kun said that would be appreciated,” replied Johnny. “However, if one is unavailable, his men are trained to defend themselves.”

Yuta rapped his fingers against his desk. “I’ll contact him and tell him that I’ll do it. I want to make sure they know they’re valued. Anything else on that?”

“No, Shategashira .”

“Alright. What did you find out about Sato?”

“He’s a simple case; got a gambling addiction,” Johnny explained.

“Sounds like your kind of guy,” said Yuta. Johnny laughed. Taeyong yawned in the corner, rolling his wrists around to get rid of the stiffness he was surely feeling. Yuta’s throat tightened up out of affection. He couldn’t wait for the weekend.

“What time is it now?”

Johnny checked his watch. “4:52, Shategashira ,” he reported.

“I guess now’s as good a time as any to head out,” Yuta figured. “Goro hasn’t sent in anything else that needs to get done, anyhow.”

Johnny stood, still holding his cigarette and pulling a pair of keys from his jacket pocket. “Can I offer you guys a ride?” he asked. “I think we all live in the same direction.”

Johnny’s car was an orange 1980 Honda Prelude with five seats that he kept parked in the underground lot below headquarters. Yuta leaned around to check on the two men sitting in back and almost broke into laughter. Johnny’s tiny car had five seats only in theory; Taeyong and Mark’s knees were nearly colliding in front of the center seat.

Johnny lowered – or more accurately, dropped – himself into the car, hand steadied on the steering wheel since it was also a bit short for his 6’1” frame to enter comfortably. He pulled out the vehicle’s plastic ashtray and stamped out the end of his cigarette.

“ Yoshi , are we ready to go?” he asked, revving the engine.

Everyone responded affirmatively and all at once, and Yuta found himself wondering, had his been the type of family to go on road trips for vacation, would it have felt a little something like this?

“Now, Taeyong, you’re going to need to give me a little guidance here,” said Johnny, pulling onto the street. “I don’t know your address.”

“Okay!” came Taeyong’s voice from the back. He was seated diagonally from Yuta, and Yuta thought he could feel his gaze almost devouring him, but he decided to feign ignorance and not return the look. He wanted Taeyong frustrated for this weekend.

Taeyong gave up and averted his eyes out the window, breath fogging the glass’s interior as its exterior beaded with a slow-moving kaleidoscope of raindrops.

“Johnny,” began Mark.

“Mm?”

“Did Kun say who’d be coming with him?”

Johnny’s brow furrowed as he ticked up the speed of the windshield wiper. “I have it written down, but I can try to remember off the top of my head for now. Let’s see. I think Yukhei, Ten, Dejun, Sicheng, Kunhang, and Yangyang are supposed to be his entourage. That could change though – or he could bring more. I just know he’ll be there, and Yuta’s supposed to meet him at Narita this Saturday.”

“Wow,” said Mark as Yuta thought he felt knees bumping around against the back of his seat as if he were in front of a child on an airplane. “I haven’t seen those guys in forever; since I was a kid, practically!”

“You’re still a kid,” Johnny deadpanned.

Yuta watched Mark roll his eyes in the rearview mirror. “At least I’m not a shatei anymore.”

The sun began to dim as they rolled through the streets of Aoyama, casting the neighborhood in a shimmery palette of greys and yellows. Wet cement, soaked tree trunks, café windows, umbrellas: grey. Ginko leaves plastering the sidewalks, neon signs, reflected headlights, and traffic signs: yellow. Johnny clicked on the radio which was playing “midnight cruisin’” by Kingo Hamada.

“So,” Taeyong began, “these Triad guys, they’re basically us but in China?”

“I suppose so,” said Yuta. “They run a similar business to us out of Hong Kong since the mainland Triads got pushed there twenty years ago. They have even better international connections than us, though. We’ve been trading between each other forever, but we’ve always run the risk of getting our ships searched and taken in by the authorities. That’s why they want in on the Mitsubishi deal. Both the Chinese Navy and the Maritime SDF have been upping patrols in the South China Sea and that means inconvenience for us unless we can piggyback on legitimate business.”

Taeyong looked nervous, his knees pulled together and his thumb nail wedged between his teeth. “I see,” he said. Yuta knew that he and Taeyong were well past the stage of pity, but he still couldn’t help the pangs of responsibility he felt every time Taeyong seemed to remember what exactly he’d gotten himself into. Moments like this made Yuta feel like he was going cold from the inside. Here they were, sitting three feet away in a car with two other people, not even having properly fucked yet and Yuta was already worried about losing what they had. Once Taeyong completed his mission he would have the choice to go back to his old life, and even Yuta acknowledged it would probably be in Taeyong’s best interest to do so, but what if leaving Inagawa also meant leaving Yuta? He had too much firsthand experience with that exact scenario to feel secure.

They dropped Mark off at his apartment, then Taeyong directed Johnny the rest of the way to his. Once there, Taeyong slipped out of the idling car into the rain, immediately getting soaked due to his lack of rain gear. His dark hair flattened, luminous, against his forehead and the black button-up under his oversized denim jacket clung in a way Yuta would not be able to forget any time soon.

Before Taeyong could scurry too far away, Yuta grabbed the crank on the interior of his car door and rolled down his window, ignoring Johnny’s grumbling that he was going to ruin the upholstery.

“Taeyong,” he called through the screen of raindrops. Taeyong turned immediately, a warmth in his face which thawed the chill Yuta had sensed before.

“Yes, Shategashira ?”

Yuta smiled. “C’mere,” he instructed, and Taeyong jogged his way back to the car until he was folded at nearly a 90-degree angle to lean into Yuta’s window. Yuta could see the soft expanse of Taeyong’s torso clearly down his collar. Fuck . He placed a finger under Taeyong’s chin and looked into his eyes, which had gone as glassy and round as the puddles in the uneven sidewalk in front of Taeyong’s building.

“Remember what I said about this weekend?”

Taeyong bit his lip and nodded, searching Yuta’s face.

“How about tomorrow night?” suggested Yuta.

“Okay!”

Johnny sighed, looking pointedly out the opposite window. “Let’s hurry this up, lover boys,” he quipped.

“Ignore him,” Yuta told Taeyong when he noticed the other man’s eyes straying in embarrassment. “You’ll be on patrol tomorrow without me, so I’ll swing by around eleven at night to take you somewhere fun, m’kay? Just be ready by then.”

“M’kay.”

Yuta pulled Taeyong closer for a chaste kiss, then mercifully let him go to escape the rain.

“Now, go get yourself into something warm and dry!” he yelled, smiling as Taeyong practically bounded towards the door of his apartment.

“Aye aye, Shategashira ,” Taeyong responded.

Johnny turned back to face Yuta in mock frustration. “Will you close the window now?” he asked, and Yuta couldn’t help smiling while cranking it back up.

“You guys are cute,” said Johnny, as if commenting on the heavy rain. He didn’t seem to have any intention of starting the car.

“I’m glad you think so,” Yuta responded, cautious.

“Where are you taking him this weekend?”

“Out,” said Yuta. “In Yokohama. A place where no one knows who I am.”

Johnny nodded. “I don’t doubt that you’re being careful,” he said. “I’m just concerned for him.”

“For Taeyong?”

“Yeah,” Johnny expanded. “He’s so new at this; does he know what officially joining would even look like? Someone needs to have that conversation with him.”

“ I’m going to have that conversation with him,” Yuta practically hissed. This was not the discussion he wanted to be having.

Johnny sighed, shifting into drive, “Okay,” he said. “I trust you, Shategashira .”

“Good,” said Yuta. “You shouldn’t have to assure me of that.”

***

Yuta looked at himself in his full-length mirror, doing a little spin and checking over his shoulder to get as full a view as possible. He’d sent Taeyong to go on patrol with Donghyuck and Mark for the day while he stayed at headquarters talking to Doyoung about finances.

He’d gotten home, cooked himself some packaged curry, and shut himself in the bathroom on a whim with a tub of black Manic Panic. Yuta was growing sick of the white hair, and even though he was confident that no one at Copycat knew him or would be a threat, he still felt more comfortable with a less eye-catching hairdo. It had seemed like a good idea, especially since Yuta’s nerves were still a bit on edge after the assassination attempt. It had seemed like a good idea, that is, until the chemical fumes in his bathroom were almost enough to make him pass out and he had to scrub the dregs of the dye out of his bathtub once he was done.

But that was a few hours ago and now, with his hair newly monochrome and slicked back, and the bathroom aired out, Yuta was feeling much better. He had a cassette of R.E.M.’s “Murmur” blasting from the Hitachi TRK-7020H he kept next to his bed, dancing around to the music and sipping from a tumbler of whiskey as he got ready. He wanted to take his time picking a good outfit, knowing this would be one of his last opportunities for real fun before the Mitsubishi deal. Eventually, he settled on a black leather blazer, black pants, white leather boots, a black and blue button-up, and a chain necklace.

He turned back around to face himself in the mirror, sneaking a sip from his glass and examining the layers of bandage wrap he’d wound around what parts of his chest and lower neck were exposed.

His watch said it was 10:30. Time to go.

***

Yuta got to the front door of Taeyong’s building at 11:07. He buzzed the dial for “Unit 127, Lee,” and after an electronic screech that made Yuta’s eyebrows raise, startled, his date’s voice came through the speaker. Even through the crackle, he sounded bright, like he was bouncing around on the other end.

“Yuta! I just saw you pull up!” Taeyong giggled. “Be down in a minute.”

Yuta smiled to himself when Taeyong hung up. In stark contrast to yesterday’s downpour, this was a mild, early November night with a full moon and a soft breeze shuffling the bushes outside the apartment and making Yuta’s skin tingle. As he waited, Yuta pondered the tile exterior of Taeyong’s building and how desperately it needed washing. Then, he looked up to the sky where wispy clouds were curling in the moon’s glow like steam over a cup of coffee. He wondered to himself what that sky would look like out in the countryside, where there was no light pollution and the entire Milky Way would have undoubtedly unfurled overhead for the mortal onlooker. He wondered what that moon looked like to his family in Osaka.

The front door opened, pulling Yuta out of his ponderings. Taeyong smiled and Yuta momentarily forgot to breathe. His hair had been coaxed lightly off his forehead with some hair gel, and he wore a translucent lavender turtleneck, an oversized houndstooth jacket, black jeans, and sneakers. Yuta couldn’t have designed a more fantasy-worthy man himself, and Taeyong seemed to notice the reaction he’d caused, because he grinned wickedly.

“Hi,” he said.

“My god,” said Yuta, regaining his composure and returning the wicked look right back. “I didn’t think you could get any sexier.”

Taeyong smirked, sticking his chin out so he was looking at Yuta from under hooded eyes. “I could say the same about you, Shategashira . Especially like the hair.”

Yuta chuckled, moving in slowly to peck Taeyong on the lips. He wanted to do more, but even though the street was empty, he didn’t wish for any of Taeyong’s neighbors to see. Also, he reminded himself, there would be plenty of time for that later. Yuta watched as Taeyong’s eyes flitted quizzically over his collar. He lifted a slender finger to trace over the flesh-colored bandages underneath.

“What’s up with these?” Taeyong asked.

Yuta took Taeyong’s hand in his and guided it back down between them.

“They’re for covering my tattoos,” he explained, assuming that was obvious.

“I know, but Yutaaa,” Taeyong whined, “your tattoos are so hot.”

Yuta burst out laughing. “I’m so sorry, baby, but I don’t want to risk it. Can’t have anyone assuming I’m trouble.” Yuta narrowed his eyes, trying to look sinister like a yakuza in an anime or something. Taeyong didn’t seem to buy it.

“Aren’t the bandages suspicious in and of themselves?” he queried.

“Sure,” Yuta said, “but they’re not proof.” Yuta pulled a dramatically pitiful expression. “I could be recovering from a traumatic car accident.”

Taeyong giggled. “Yeah,” he said, “recovering at the club.”

“Listen,” Yuta insisted, “just think how much fun you’ll have peeling them off me tonight.”

Taeyong bit his bottom lip in anticipation and Yuta let go of his hand. Yuta thought if he was going to survive waiting for Taeyong until they got to his bedroom, he’d need a lot more drinks at Copycat. Still, the nervous glint in Taeyong’s eyes told Yuta that having patience would make tonight so much more satisfying.

***

Copycat was a notorious gay club in Yokohama. Those in the know would recognize it for outlandish parties, drag queens, mysterious drugs, and letting people in strictly based on their looks. It was a bit out of the way, being in a different city, but Yuta decided the loss of convenience was worth the safety. They listened to The Violent Femmes’ self-titled album on the forty-minute drive there, as it had recently become one of Yuta’s favorites for amping himself up. In the car it became clear that Taeyong had pre-gamed because he was much more forward than usual. He told Yuta he’d missed being with him all day and offered him road head. As much as Yuta would have liked that, he had to explain that he’d already had a drink too and couldn’t afford to get pulled over.

The two of them made it past the line easily and slipped their way through the black box of a club. There were shards of mirrors stuck to the walls which reflected the multicolored lights that flitted about the space. Go left, and one would be face to face with a wall of caged dancers, go right for the bar. They went right.

Yuta decided to order for the two of them.

“Taeyong,” he half-yelled over the music. It was “Sex (I’m A…)” by Berlin.

“Do you want beer, or do you want vodka?”

Vodka was the obvious answer and pretty soon, they were downing a suite of shots one after the other.

The DJ must have been really into Berlin, because the next song that blared through the speakers was “Pleasure Victim.”

Yuta’s eyes bugged out when he heard it, and he hastily slapped several yen on the bar, pulling Taeyong to the dance floor.

“I love this song!”

“I can see that,” said Taeyong, tittering as he let Yuta drag him into the center of a mass of bodies, both of them being jostled in a way that would have been dangerous if they were just a little drunker. The synthesizer in the song complemented the dreamlike aspects of the dance floor (the lights; the glitter), and helped Yuta forget the baser aspects (the grime; the smell).

Taeyong looked ethereal under the twisting colors and the silver confetti that started to fall, reflecting his gorgeous face ad infinitum. The thrum of the base in Yuta’s spine and ears made him feel like he was underwater, his movements so slow and heavy in comparison to the music.

Yuta couldn’t help himself – he was enchanted. He pulled Taeyong so close that they were writhing against each other more than dancing, and planted a searing kiss to his mouth. Taeyong tasted harsh, like all the alcohol he’d been drinking. Yuta felt him pressing against his chest, trying to wriggle out of the kiss and when Yuta pulled back in concern, he was overwhelmed with fondness. Taeyong panted, offering a sheepish smile.

“Sorry,” he explained. “I couldn’t breathe.”

Yuta just laughed and pulled Taeyong close again, and the two opted to grind on each other rather than kiss for the time being.

Yuta murmured into Taeyong’s ear. “Do you come to places like this often?” he asked.

“Every now and then,” answered Taeyong. “When I wanna find someone to take me home.”

Yuta hummed. Taeyong’s body against him was making him feel like oil floating in liquid. “Say we didn’t know each other,” he began as the music switched to Lime’s “Come and Get Your Love.” “If you saw me from across the dance floor, would you try to get me to take you home?”

Yuta heard Taeyong laugh – felt the vibration of it in his neck. “I’d do everything I could to make that happen,” Taeyong answered, dropping kisses to the skin just above Yuta’s bandages.

“I’d come over to dance with you, and you’d no doubt reciprocate, cuz you would’ve had your eyes on me all night. Am I right?”

“Of course you’re right,” Yuta confirmed, dragging his hands shamelessly over the back of Taeyong’s body.

Taeyong trailed a smile over Yuta’s skin. “Then I’d make sure you couldn’t rest until you’d brought me back to yours and taken out all your frustrations on me.”

Yuta growled as Taeyong pulled away. His face was flushed. It looked like the stains left on your hands after eating cherries. His eyes had gone glassy from intoxication and the edges of his mouth curled in an adorable smile. Yuta couldn’t believe his self-control that he’d managed to wait this long to fuck him. God…

Taeyong bit his lip as he swayed his hips to the music. “But we could…we could make that happen anyway,” he offered, going bashful for a split second before drawing a couple fingers over the skin under Yuta’s bottom button. “Right, Shategashira ?” he whispered for good measure.

Yuta grabbed Taeyong’s wrist. “You’re a menace, you know?”

Taeyong cocked his head and spun around so his back was against Yuta’s chest. He kept his eyes on Yuta, batting his lashes innocently.

“It’s just what you do to me,” he explained.

Yuta could only shake his head in disbelief as he wrapped his arms around his dance partner.

***

The restroom at Copycat was cleaner than Yuta would have expected; at least as far as he could tell under the dark lighting. The almost surgical white tiles which lined most of the space were shockingly devoid of even marker graffiti. So was the red of the dividers between stalls and urinals.

Yuta stared into the mirror as he washed his hands. The empty bathroom gave him a familiar liminal space feeling as Madonna’s “Lucky Star” echoed from the dance floor, dreamlike, and he had the impression that should he walk back out the door, he would find himself in a dark void rather than a physical, tangible environment. Maybe it was all the vodka, or simply the temporary damage suffered by his eardrums that made everything sound faraway.

As Yuta shook his hands dry, a tall man in a shiny black suit with a buzzcut strolled in and made his way to the urinals. Yuta didn’t think anything of him, until he decided to strike up a conversation. Yuta watched the man’s back in the mirror.

“Having a good time out there, boss?” asked the man’s back.

Boss?

Yuta ignored the quarry, figuring it was just drunken banter, and he didn’t have the nerves for that. He started towards the door.

“Hey, it’s an innocent question.” The man’s voice came now from just behind Yuta, insistent. Apparently this guy wasn’t planning on washing his hands.

Yuta paused. “Fun!” he repeated, almost mockingly. “Yes, I’m having fun, thanks.” Yuta moved to leave but his interlocutor blocked the door.

“That boy you got with you’s a real nice piece of ass, I gotta say. You got me jealous.”

Yuta glared, his wits forcing themselves about him as he hoped desperately that he hadn’t left Taeyong in a dangerous position. He needed to be getting back.

“I’d prefer you didn’t refer to him like that,” Yuta said coolly, trying to defuse the situation.

“Oh, you got feelings, I see,” said the guy in mock apology. “He your boyfriend?”

Yuta reached into his jacket pocket and the man jumped, moving out of the way and opening the door for Yuta to walk past. Yuta pushed out a clipped breath, glad he hadn’t needed to resort to threats of violence. Still, how had the man anticipated what Yuta had been reaching for? It was probably the bandages giving him away. The man trailed after Yuta once in the hallway outside the restroom.

“Alright, sorry, sorry. Listen, so you’re having fun with your boy toy out there. What if I told you I had something that could make it even more fun?”

Yuta refused to look at the man. He almost never did drugs stronger than alcohol and nicotine. Having taken part in illegal drug smuggling and sales, he knew what kind of weird and dangerous ingredients people passed off as “the real stuff.” Not to mention his oath to Inagawa which forbade it.

“No thank you,” he said plainly.

This guy would not give up.

“Oh, come on, you haven’t even heard the whole pitch. I’ve had nothing but stellar reviews and – and it boosts your sex drive like, it’s incredible! Don’t you wanna check it out? I just gotta go get it out of a back room; you two can follow me there!”

Alright , thought Yuta, that’s enough . He grabbed the guy by his collar and pushed him against the wall. Despite his impressive height, he was thin and Yuta gained confidence when he realized how little this man could actually do to challenge him. He didn’t have the reflexes of an experienced criminal. Still, he was likely an inexperienced one.

“Go push your shit on someone else,” Yuta insisted, an implied threat of harm hanging in the air. When he was sure the bothersome man was sufficiently flustered, Yuta stormed away and plucked Taeyong from where he’d left him at the bar and where he had thankfully remained. Taeyong was about to down a Jell-O shot when Yuta arrived.

“Thank god. Let’s go.”

“Hm? What about this?” Taeyong asked, referring to the shot.

Yuta shook his head. “I’ve had enough of this place,” Yuta asserted. “Let me take you home.”

Taeyong didn’t argue with that logic, as Yuta knew he wouldn’t, and they weaved through the crowd and slipped out the back door into the cool air. Yuta hadn’t been aware of how sweaty and disgusting he’d become until he had the breeze there to remind him. He heard Taeyong let out a whooping noise at his side.

Taeyong practically sprinted the couple blocks back to the car, still buzzing with booze and dancing, and Yuta had to work to keep up. Once in the vehicle, Yuta used the car phone to call a designated driver service.

Yuta hung up. “They’ll be here in ten minutes,” he relayed.

Taeyong arched an eyebrow. “Ten minutes, huh?”

That’s all he could get out before Yuta was cutting him off with a kiss.

***

The driver followed Yuta’s instructions to park around the corner from Yuta’s place. He lived in an adjoined but separate wing of the Inagawa-kai mansion in Ginza. The main structure of the building resembled a scaled down Samurai castle painted black. Yuta had lived there since he came to Tokyo when he was fifteen. At the time, he was placed in the mansion proper, where he struck up a quick friendship with Oyabun Hirai’s daughter, but also felt constantly surveilled. Now, as an adult in his own sectioned off wing, he could come and go as he wished, with whomever he wished. Having lived there for ten years, Yuta sometimes didn’t notice the building’s slightly threatening grandeur. Yuta was reminded by Taeyong’s shocked expression when they turned the corner to see it.

“You live here?” Taeyong gasped.

“I forgot you’ve never needed to come to the mansion,” Yuta reasoned. He pointed to the much smaller and plainer structure tacked on to the side of the Oyabun ’s residence.

“I used to. Now I live there.”

Taeyong’s eyes scanned the building before him in wonder. “Still…”

Yuta laughed, grasping Taeyong’s hand. “Alright enough gawking. Let me show you inside.”

Inside was equally stimulating to Taeyong apparently, who began spouting variations on “wahhhh!” the second Yuta had opened the unit’s purple door and let him in.

Yuta’s apartment had three rooms not counting the bathroom; each with a distinctly different style which worked well alongside the others, nonetheless. The one into which the front door opened and in which they were standing was the kitchen/dining area. It was a galley kitchen with a wooden table and chairs and patterned wallpaper with fruits on it. To the right opened a traditional tatami room where Yuta kept his sofa and TV.

Yuta laughed at Taeyong as he nearly bounced off the counter space, letting his fingers titter over spice containers, an ashtray, plastic flowers; whatever he could get his hands on.

“I’m glad you find my apartment so entertaining,” Yuta quipped, a bit confused.

Taeyong shrugged. “I really like this,” he explained. “Getting a little peak at my Shategashira ’s personal space. It’s not what I expected.”

What had he expected? Black paint and walls of katana and guns? Yuta asked as much.

Taeyong laughed breathily. “Not necessarily. I’m not sure. Maybe.”

Yuta’s skin was getting itchy as he eyed the door to his bedroom on the far wall.

“Okay,” he allowed. “Follow me.”

Yuta and Taeyong made their way to the door and once on the other side of it, Yuta again observed Taeyong’s reaction. He drank in the space, black chambray wallpaper, red moldings, and silky purple sheets on the bed all being slowly processed. Yuta knew his taste sometimes delved into extremely tacky territory, but his bedroom décor made him feel like a badass and he hoped Taeyong would understand the vibe he was going for.

“This is a little more what I was expecting,” admitted Taeyong, finally.

Yuta smiled, catlike, and closed the door, caging Taeyong in against it. Taeyong’s breathing faltered for a moment as his eyes fluttered shut. Yuta drew in a deep breath, the smells of the club mixing on Taeyong’s skin with his cologne and the natural scent of his body. Yuta kissed at the hinge of Taeyong’s jaw as Taeyong shucked his jacket.

“I’ve been hoping for this since we first met,” Yuta admitted, running his hands over Taeyong’s figure for the nth time that night. Taeyong preened under the touch, beginning to lose himself for the first time with the knowledge of what this was all leading up to.

He sighed, a half-smile gracing his lips.

“Please, do whatever you imagined, Shategashira ,” he almost panted. “I want you to show me everything you’ve thought of doing to me.”

Yuta smirked, planting a hard kiss on Taeyong’s lips.

“That would take a while,” he said slyly when he let up, “but I’ll give you a taste. We’ll have opportunities to get to the rest later.”

Yuta watched in satisfaction as Taeyong visibly shivered. He stepped away until the backs of his knees were brushing his bed.

“Can you take your shirt off for me, sweetheart?”

Taeyong obliged immediately, dropping his shirt to the floor and standing against the door, laughing his way into a nervous smile and crossing and uncrossing his arms. Yuta bore his gaze into him, and Taeyong quieted his movements in response.

“Good boy,” Yuta murmured, pleased when he heard Taeyong gulp down a groan in response. Yeah, he’d had a feeling…

He slipped off his jacket, instructing Taeyong’s to stay put as he folded it in half and set it on a chair in the corner. Taeyong took it like an order, with a “yes, Shategashira ,” that was so cute it made Yuta’s stomach churn. He made his way back to the man he’d left by the door, wrapping his now half bare arms around him. He noticed that Taeyong was chewing his lip hard enough that it looked painful.

“You okay?” he asked, petting his right hand over Taeyong’s hair. Taeyong released his lip, eyes fixed on Yuta’s face only millimeters from his.

“Yeah,” he breathed in confirmation.

“Good.” Yuta walked backwards towards his bed again, guiding Taeyong forward with him and stopping only when he was sitting and Taeyong was climbing up to straddle him, neither breaking eye contact the entire time. Yuta placed his hands over Taeyong’s hips.

“You seem a little nervous, baby,” he ventured.

Taeyong smiled. There we go. “You make me nervous, Shategashira . But, in a good way.”

Yuta smiled back. “I didn’t seem to make you nervous earlier,” he jested.

“The alcohol is starting to wear off now,” explained Taeyong.

Yuta sighed, dropping a quick kiss just above Taeyong’s belly button. “Tell you what: why don’t you tell me what you want right now, darling. Forget the things I’ve imagined. I want you to feel comfortable.”

“M’sorry,” said Taeyong, eyes darting off to the side, and Yuta shook his head.

“Don’t be. Just name it and I’ll give it to you.”

Taeyong’s eyes returned to Yuta as he drew his lips into the softest smirk.

“Well first of all,” he began, “I want to undress you and take off your bandages, like you promised me.”

Yuta was more than happy to oblige. He let Taeyong surround him, crawling over the bed to different sides of him to get the angles he needed to unbutton his shirt and peel off the wrappings, slowly revealing Yuta’s tattooed skin. Taeyong hummed to himself as he worked, insisting Yuta relax and stay still, and placing soft kisses to each section of flesh as soon as it became accessible. Yuta felt like he was floating with Taeyong tittering about and mouthing at him. At the same time, it was teasing him into impatience.

When Taeyong finished, he threw the bandages to the ground and placed his hands on Yuta’s shoulders to steady himself as he leaned forward, observing the ink figures that covered Yuta’s entire upper body; dragons, flames, and Oni practically crawling out from the waist of his pants.

“Shit. That looks so painful.”

Taeyong yelped in surprise as Yuta grabbed his face and pulled him in for an upside-down kiss. When Yuta pulled away, he took advantage of Taeyong’s disorientation to turn around and chase him back on the bed into the pillows.

“It was,” he confirmed finally, giggling, and pretty soon he had Taeyong laughing too.

Taeyong regained his composure and worried his lip between his teeth again for a moment before speaking. Yuta couldn’t help noticing the flush that had taken over Taeyong’s face, neck, and chest.

“Yuta?”

“Mm?”

“I want to feel you inside me,” Taeyong almost whispered. “And I want you to take over now.”

Yuta felt his dick twitch at Taeyong’s words. He settled his expression and let out a deep breath.

“Okay, baby,” he said. “Then I need you to take off your pants.”

Taeyong obliged easily as Yuta stood and removed his own, then pulled a bottle of lube from the bedside table.

Yuta looked quizzically at Taeyong’s sudden nakedness. He was so beautiful.

“You weren’t wearing underwear?” he teased and Taeyong demurred.

“No,” he admitted, and Yuta caught Taeyong’s eyes grazing over the less dense tattoos which continued over Yuta’s lower body.

Yuta shuffled back onto the bed between Taeyong’s legs.

“No wonder you were in such a mood earlier,” said Yuta, almost coldly. “You’re my naughty boy tonight, hm? Spread your legs.”

Taeyong shuffled his legs wider, his hardening cock wobbling with arousal.

“Mmmmmm mhm, I am,” Taeyong groaned as Yuta coated his fingers with the lube, smirking to himself. Taeyong sounded wrecked already from all the intimacy and the light dirty talk, and Yuta hadn’t even properly touched him yet.

Yuta scooted in closer and circled Taeyong’s entrance with his pointer finger, eliciting a gasp from him.

“You’re so sweet, it kills me,” Yuta murmured, and with that he looked Taeyong in the eyes and pressed his finger in. Taeyong keened, panting.

A few minutes later, Yuta was stretching Taeyong with three fingers, admiring the man beneath him as he rocked himself lightly into Yuta’s thrusts with one bent leg as an anchor. He had his eyes shut forcefully and chewed on his thumb nail, clipped, muffled moans emanating from the base of his throat.

Yuta’s cock was straining against his underwear and leaving a wet mark on the fabric. He was so turned on that he would almost have been satisfied just watching Taeyong ride his hand all night. Almost.

“You take my fingers so well, baby,” he teased, brushing over Taeyong’s prostate and causing his eyes and mouth to drop open simultaneously in pleasure. “You think you’re ready for my cock?”

Taeyong bucked his hips as he dropped his hand from his mouth.

“Yes, yes, yes…” he repeated as if in a trance. “Please, Shategashira .”

He mewled as Yuta withdrew his fingers, clenching around air, and then again when Yuta removed his boxer briefs. Yuta was naked save the chain he’d been wearing all night, reveling in the image of it swinging while they fucked.

Taeyong shimmied himself down into the bed until he was lying down, his arms bent and framing his head on the purple pillow.

Yuta lined himself up and pushed slowly inside, groaning when he bottomed out. He watched Taeyong’s stomach flex as he got used to the stretch and steadied his shallow breathing. Yuta ground his hips experimentally and Taeyong whimpered.

“Mmm, you feel so good around me, baby.”

“You feel good too,” Taeyong reciprocated. “I – ah – you fill me up so well.”

Taeyong reached his arms out in a fidgety motion and Yuta obliged him, leaned forward until Taeyong could wrap his arms fully around him. He took one of Taeyong’s nipples into his mouth, catching him by surprise as he began to thrust and bit down, making him whine.

Yuta wondered where Taeyong had been all his life. Sure, it sounds cheesy, but it was true. Taeyong was so tight and warm, it made him crazy, and he let the most endearing string of curses and breathy moans fall past his lips as Yuta fucked into him with increasing insistence.

Yuta pulled himself back upright so he could get a better view of the man under him, thumbing over the nipple that was still wet and inflamed from his mouth. Taeyong’s skin sparkled with sweat as he knit his brow and sent his fingers absentmindedly to his mouth. Yuta reached down and moved Taeyong’s hand, replacing it with his own, and the look Taeyong gave him when he reopened his eyes made Yuta feel a telltale clench in his gut.

“Keep your eyes on me,” he instructed.

“Yes Sha – Yes, Shategashira .”

The slap of flesh on flesh grew louder, mixing with the metallic sound of Yuta’s chain and filling the space as Yuta thrust hard enough it would probably leave Taeyong with bruises. Taeyong drew in a breath and let it out as a broken sob.

“I’m so close,” he warned over Yuta’s fingers.

Yuta wrapped his hand around Taeyong’s cock, which was angry and straining at this point, pumping him in time with his thrusts to the best of his ability. The movements were slicked by the precome that Taeyong had been dribbling consistently over himself.

“Ah, thank you, thank you, thank you…” Taeyong repeated as he bucked jerkily into Yuta’s touch, his hands wandering in spastic fits over his own heaving chest.

“You’re going to come when I tell you to. Okay, darling?” Yuta sing-songed.

Taeyong sobbed again as Yuta dragged his thumb over the head of his cock. “Yes, Shategashira .”

Yuta shuddered, nearing his own climax. He thrust deep into Taeyong, abusing his prostate as he pressed his thumb into Taeyong’s slit.

“Now, baby. Come for me.”

Taeyong wailed as he came a moment later, streaking his stomach in pearly white and huffing from all the energy he’d expended.

Yuta’s thrusts grew more erratic and his voice came out like gravel. “Fuck, baby,” he said, “you did it just when I told you to. My good boy. I wish you could have seen how incredible you looked.”

Taeyong shook his head in embarrassment against the pillow and threw an arm over his face. He kept spasming now and again from aftershocks and from Yuta still fucking into him.

“Thank you, Shategashira . I wanted to be good for you.”

Yuta let out a gut-punched sound at that. “I’m gonna come now, sweetheart,” he informed. “Where do you want it?”

Taeyong’s voice was barely there as he answered. “Inside. Please.” That alone was enough to push Yuta over the edge.

He kept grinding his release into Taeyong once he’d come, bringing himself down and pulling a new string of whimpers from the man below.

“Aah, that was so good, baby,” he said dreamily. “Let me see you.”

Taeyong removed his arm from his face, and what Yuta saw sent a residual wave of pleasure all the way to his toes. Taeyong’s cheeks were red and shiny, not just from sweat but also from the small collection of tears that had welled up at the corners of his eyes and started to spill over.

“Oh, baby,” Yuta cooed. “You look so pretty like this, it’s unreal.”

Taeyong spasmed. “Please…”

It was a bit unfair to Taeyong, who hadn’t been introduced to Yuta’s sadistic side in bed yet, but Yuta couldn’t stop himself from continuing to grind in and out of Taeyong’s entrance just a little longer than was obviously comfortable, egged on by the tears and by the little noises Taeyong kept making. When Taeyong started begging for real, he finally decided to give him a break and pulled out.

By the end of the night, Yuta was completely whipped, for better or for worse. Sometime during their post-fuck cuddling, Taeyong had informed Yuta that he liked it when he told him what to do, liked being bitten, and that as much as it had made him sensitive and squirmy, he’d have been okay if Yuta had continued to overstimulate him. The conversation turned to other things they might like and soon enough, they were both recovered enough to get hard again. Using some of what he’d just learned about Taeyong to his benefit, Yuta sat the other man on his lap and jerked him off with one hand while wrapping the other around his neck. Taeyong came over Yuta’s fingers, licked them clean, and returned the favor with a blowjob. By the time they were done and somewhat cleaned up, both men collapsed in a heap in Yuta’s now slightly sticky bed. Yuta let Taeyong cuddle into his side, thinking to himself that he was going to need to figure out how to make this work.

“How long did these take?” Taeyong asked, tracing a finger over the Oni on Yuta’s sternum.

“I got them over the course of five years, so it’s hard to say. Maybe, 100 hours?”

Taeyong raised his head in shock and Yuta laughed. “No way.” Yuta nodded. “And it really hurt?” Taeyong asked, eyes wide.

Yuta adjusted his head on the pillow, taking a drag of the cigarette he had perched between his fingers.

“I mean, it’s not the worst thing ever, but it’s pretty unpleasant. They’re not normal tattoos, either.”

“How so?”

“You get them done with this sharpened piece of bamboo and no modern equipment. It’s the traditional way for us. Someone’s granny does them; I forget who she’s related to.”

Taeyong finished tracing the Oni and moved on to the flaming border next to it. “Do you think I could ever get one? Not like, the whole thing – just something small like what Donghyuck has.”

Yuta felt the familiar pang of nervousness he got every time he thought about Taeyong’s future with the Inagawa-kai and, by association, with him.

“Mm,” Taeyong acknowledged. “Well then...”

“Have you thought at all about it?” Yuta ventured, immediately wishing he hadn’t when he felt Taeyong tense. Still, he knew the question would have eaten at him either way.

“A little bit, but I haven’t come to a decision,” Taeyong explained. Yuta took another drag and offered his cigarette to Taeyong, who took it, to Yuta’s surprise. Taeyong tried smoking it and started coughing on the exhale, scrunched his face up in distaste.

“I don’t know why I try it every time someone offers me one. I never like it,” he said.

“Sorry,” said Yuta with a laugh. “Anyway, mind giving me some insight into your thought process?”

Taeyong settled back into Yuta’s side. Yuta could feel vibrations in his ribs as Taeyong spoke.

“Well, as I imagine you understand, officially entering a life of crime or whatever is pretty intimidating even if you’ve never operated in the mainstream. It’s a big commitment. At the same time, I don’t really have anything waiting for me on the other side.” Taeyong flushed. “Besides, I’m really enjoying being with you.”

Yuta blew another puff of smoke as some bittersweet feeling kicked around in his stomach.

“Don’t let me be too much of an influence on your decision,” he advised. “We can be together anyway. I mean yakuza don’t usually date other syndicate members anyway for…obvious reasons.”

“Yeah,” Taeyong mumbled. “That’s true. But I promise, no matter what I decide, you’ll be the first to know.”

“Thank you.”

There was a short silence where Yuta reveled in listening to the slightly off rhythm of his and Taeyong’s breathing.

“Yonggie,” he began again.

“Yeah?”

“Want to hear about how I joined the Inagawa-kai?”

Taeyong turned on his stomach and placed his chin on Yuta’s chest. “Sure.”

“I grew up in Osaka, where my father worked for an Inagawa outpost. When I was a teenager, he got killed on the job. I was devastated. He was the person I admired most in the world. I didn’t have a rebellious bone in my body because my dad was the center of authority in our house and I thought he was the greatest person who’d ever lived. Anyway, when he died, I still wanted to be like him and tried to join the Inagawa in Osaka in his memory I guess, but it didn’t work out.”

Yuta paused for another drag. He continued.

“That was because the rest of my family took their grief in a very different direction. My mother and sisters blamed the syndicate and wanted to cut all ties to it, so that would rule out me becoming a yakuza, you know. I figured though, that anything my father would give his life for must be worth something, right? One of his old friends who knew Goro set me up to move to Tokyo and the rest is history. I wouldn’t say I got disowned for my decision, but I rarely talk to my family and going home would just be too unpleasant to stomach. Me being gay didn’t help either.” Yuta chuckled wryly.

“I bet,” said Taeyong. “That’s really rough though. I’m so sorry about your dad.”

“It’s all worked itself out, more or less,” said Yuta. “I still miss him though. But this is all to say that you’re the person who knows best for you. The syndicate can be a great place to find community and purpose when you don’t have that anywhere else, I’ll give it that, and that’s how most of us ended up where we are. But, you have to be okay with the violence; both the threat of it against yourself and those you love and that you will inevitably perpetrate against others.”

Taeyong nodded, his eyes fluttering down to Yuta’s chest. Yuta figured that was enough heavy talk for one night. He put out his cigarette in the ashtray next to the bed and grinned, ruffling Taeyong’s hair. Taeyong smiled back.

“I’ll shut up now,” Yuta said.

“S’okay,” replied Taeyong. “Yuta?”

“Yah?”

“Can – can I stay the night?”

Yuta balked, scratching his nails over Taeyong’s neck. “Of course!” he said. “I didn’t think that was even a question. It’s too dangerous for you to go back to yours alone in the middle of the night, anyway.”

Taeyong looked relieved and he nuzzled up into Yuta’s shoulder. Yuta hadn’t been exaggerating earlier when he’d said that Taeyong’s sweetness was killing him. He only worried he might not have the natural disposition for his current line of work.

“Thanks, Shategashira .”

Yuta spluttered, poking Taeyong’s nose. “Of course. Besides, anyone who’s that good a lay deserves to spend the night.”

“Aww,” said Taeyong jokingly, “good cause you owe me anyway, I think. I hadn’t been fucked for a while and now my ass hurts.”

“I will not apologize for breaking you back in the correct way,” said Yuta, turning out the lamp by his side, and Taeyong swatted his opposite shoulder.

“Whatever, just cuddle me and I’ll get over it.”

“Get some sleep, baby. We’ll take my car to the airport tomorrow and we need to leave around eleven.”

“Oh shit, I forgot about the Triads,” admitted Taeyong, voice suddenly breathy with fatigue.

“You won’t once you’ve met them,” Yuta joked. “Goodnight.”

“’Night.”

Yuta struggled to sleep at first, still exhilarated by the night’s events and unable to shake from his mind the memory of how good Taeyong had looked under him – better than he’d even imagined. The only thing which helped pull him under was the quiet rhythm of Taeyong’s sleepy exhales.

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