#GETTIN REAL SICK OF YOUR SHIT MASTER!!! /J IJWEIWJWHARAFKJKGLJ

[dnangelic]

scary , ritsuka says , and azumano's fallen angel feels his feathers stiffen and raise in a ruffling hackle --- the quiver in the master's voice squirms in his ear like a mouse he wanted to swoop down , pounce upon , and snatch .

' --- are you being serious ? ' the hand that had innocently extended itself at first suddenly raises , and though its hidden claws and razor talons keep themselves from any sharp , threatening reveal , he still presses his fingers hard against the other's cheeks , blowing out their lips until the master resembled a caught fish .

' don't hide behind others just to make excuses for yourself . ' his wintry clutch shakes the other : before someone like him , who was endlessly arrogant , who took an immense and stubborn pride in his independence and all the lonely-leaden-weights of responsibility that came with , did the master truly believe that he could be fooled by reasons as flimsy as those ? ' fujimaru ritsuka isn't a coward . when has something being scary ever stopped you ? i've watched you stand before all sorts of ridiculous things without the light dying in your eyes , and on the field , never once were you someone who ran from a fight and abandoned your servants just to save your own hide . you've always stood right beside us --- with us , so why is anything any different now ? '

his speech hangs heavy in the air ; the word honesty leaves the other's lips and the great phantom thief scoffs . ' --- this isn't about something like that anymore . don't lecture me about honesty when you're behaving like a hypocrite . ' a blunt accusation --- one even his other self might have readily called too cruel and too harsh .

even so , ' you're only human . '

a breath . his grip eases , and the strict , oppressive hold of his touch gradually retreats from ritsuka's mien . his gaze remains as it were ; an unflinching ruby smoulder . ' it isn't wrong to rely on others when you feel weak . it's fine to have needs . and if you want something , there's no reason to settle for what feels good enough . ' the ambition of any dai-kaitō : to claim the very world for itself , right into the palms of his hand . yet ritsuka beats him to any more touch ; the embrace comes and it shocks him . his nerves alight , and the moment he comes to , heart pounding , form shrinking , the terrible sense of something wrong striking him like lightning , he shoves --- and grips the other by a second snatch at the sides of both of their arms .

' stop it . stop trying to make yourself disappear !! '

ㅤㅤTHE immediate refute caught the master in a flinch and he found himself nervously holding onto the other side of his arm, gaze lowered elsewhere as if he were the picture of uncertainty. Honestly ... what was he so afraid of ? Being an ordinary person, he was well aware he had the privilege to love and be loved just like anyone else but standing here now, he couldn't help but wonder ... just what sort of person did everyone see across the glass ? Perhaps, all they saw was the ideal facade that the master had desperately maintained for as long as he could remember. It was the self that everyone flocked to because he was incredibly kind, helpful and most of all, willing to accept anything that came his way. But yet behind this ideal, he was an utterly selfish and miserable person who sought to act out of self-gratification ( it was the only way he knew to make himself feel like he was worth something ). So that's why, he was content to stay where he was, wearing that same smile while his true self remained behind the looking-glass self, detached from the world.

ㅤㅤBut to admit all of this ... would be pretty pathetic wouldn't it ? In the end, he was nothing more than a coward, afraid to have his true self acknowledged out of the fear that there was truly nothing worth staying for. Besides, why did it matter ? His own insecurities were practically miniscule in the face of the world. He was just but an ordinary person that didn't have anything worth going for him.

ㅤㅤ" ... Breaking that wall is pretty scary, you know ? " He finally, spoke his voice quivering ever so slightly even with a smile on his face. " I wouldn't want them to get hurt after all. " He was only making excuses ( after all, he was the one afraid of getting hurt ). " ... Maybe under normal circumstances, it'd be difficult for her to believe you when you act the way you usually do but I think if you're honest about your feelings like this, maybe you would get through to her. Even if it's just by a little. She and I are pretty different people after all so maybe you'd have a better chance there. " It would be pretty upsetting if she was anything like her master after all.

ㅤㅤ" ... But ... well ... it's not that I don't understand where you're coming from -- rather ... it's a bit hard to believe in myself. It might be a little hard to understand but ... " He trailed off as he found himself hesitant to continue. " ... I do appreciate the sentiment at least. " It seemed more like an apology rather an expression of gratitude. Even his gaze that flicked towards Dark's extended hand had followed the same sentiment.

ㅤㅤ" In the end, you don't really need to do any of that for me. It's not as if it's that big of a deal and besides, I'm already happy enough where I am. " He suddenly reached out, as if to finally take Dark's hand but instead, he seized his wrist to pull him into a tender embrace. " Still ... I'm really happy to have a friend like you. You and Daisuke both. " Perhaps on the surface, it could be perceived as an act of appreciation towards Dark's concern for him but in reality, this was his way of deflecting any attempts to peer into his heart ( this was his way of regaining the control that momentarily slipped from his fingers ). All he had to do was veil himself with the facade that everyone was so happily acquainted with. " So, you don't have to worry about me in the slightest. " He reassured with a gentle smile, squeezing his shoulders ever so slightly.