#ao3 phantom thieves au

[mari-lair]

hi! not a question but i'm so in love with your series about the phantom thief au! do you have any headcanons for thief akane x chief teru? like in the post you made about full supernatural akane?

THE AO3 PHANTOM THIEVES SERIES?? I did not expect to get an ask for it! :D There will be a prequel (eventually...) so I’ll try to keep it brief.

Teru’s mom died in a robbery when he was young. He was an eyewitness and has a more... traumatizing memory of it than Kou, who was told about it after, making her death hard for Kou to fully process it until her funeral happened and it really hit him. Kou and Teru do not talk about it.

Teru takes a while to learn Akane’s real identity, he used to call him “Thief”.

Akane has decent pain tolerance but his determination is near suicidal, he’ll grit his teeth through the most excruciating pain to get what he wants or black out trying. Teru have extremely high pain tolerance, and while he is not as stubborn as Akane, he never takes long to subdue his target, many people consider him more of a monster or a hero than a person: There is a reason criminals fear him.

Akane used to live in a relatively small, but dangerous, town. He moved out at 21, became friends with Aoi, his neighbor, in the same year, and met Teru at 24.

 Akane hates Hanako, he genuinely wants to see Hanako be caught and locked up, but he somehow finds himself being dragged by Hanako into hidden criminal hang-out spots instead. Hanako admires Akane, and tries to be his friend despite the older thief's palpable dislike. He doesn’t know Akane’s real name, and Akane doesn’t know his real name is Amane until much later, when Teru tells him.

Akane falls in love first and he hates it so much. He keeps trying to convince himself is lust, not love, and he is able to trick himself for a while since he does find Teru attractive and gets frustrated by most of his actions. When he realizes the reason Teru's actions frustrate him is because he wants his love and feels greedy for scraps of his attention, Akane has a crisis and gets drunk, something he very very rarely does.

Aoi is in a stable relationship with Mei, so Akane never got a crush on her but between his old town and his current one, he dated 3 people before he started pining for Teru.

Teru is touch starved:  He had some team missions but his coworkers (which soon turned into his subordinates) never touched him, be it shoulder pats or hair ruffles. He dated twice very briefly but any spark he thought he felt disappeared when his partner tried to ‘take it to the next step’. He only allows himself to fully relax with his siblings, and much later, with Akane.

Teru is aware half of the town is in love with him and his ego is off the charts, but when it comes to intimacy or vulnerability of any kind he becomes insecure (even if he is too arrogant to acknowledge it until it corners him).

[composereggwrites]

My preview for the Every Universe, Every Lifetime Akeshuake AU Zine [link]!

The zine is digital-only and free, and available now! All you have to do is follow the link above.

My AU (found in volume 3) Birds of a Feather, features a canon-adjacent universe where persona users manifest traits of their personas. It also features Akira having Gender(tm) at Crossroads, and some flirting via light murder.

It was an absolute blast to work on and the mods at @akeshuakeauzine were wonderful! All my fellow creators are amazing and I hope you check out our works!

[baykitthings]

https://archiveofourown.org/works/53654497/chapters/135822676

So I gave in and started a fanfic for this AU ...

Did I just spend two hours on Trolls AU art? Yes, yes I did.

This is the Phantom Thieves AU! Detectives Viva and Poppy are on the trail of the Jewel Thieves known as the Phantom Brothers. Will they catch them? Maybe if they can stop flirting long enough to actually put them in handcuffs...

[argentsunshine]

okay so. for people who still remember i had a palace au (stuck in the middle), due to unpopular demand, i finally got around to finishing and editing chapter 4, which is now up on ao3. if people are real niceys to me i might even write more of the fic and post it.

todays chapter: the phantom thieves learn more of what the fucking Deal with this Palace is. akira's friends become increasingly worried about him, even more than before. morgana has some regrets, ryuji has some bad memories.

[kenmagoesblep]

👻hey ghouls!! the boys are here!!

after a long writing period, my akeshuake paranormal investigators AU, that i wrote for the lovely @akeshuakeauzine, is finally up on ao3 - which will also home the next chapters of the fic whenever they come out! its loosely inspired by buzzfeed unsolved/watcher, phasmophobia (videogame), as well as john wolfe's work!

fandom: persona 5, persona series rating: teen and up audiences main pairing: akechi goro/persona 5 protagonist additional tags: alternate universe - ghost hunters, alternate universe - youtubers, fluff and humor, mild sexual humor, ghostly imagery chapter: 1/? wordcount: 8,432 words summary:

Akechi Goro, fellow youtuber and hardass skeptic, was not someone the Phantom Thieves were planning to work with. Their content was diametrically opposed: the Phantom Thieves investigated haunted locations, trying to collect evidence of ghostly activity and hopefully help bring those spirits to peace; meanwhile, Akechi’s channel was on the uprise thanks to his videos analyzing and debunking paranormal videos online.

Ren was aware of his channel for a while before they first interacted and really didn’t take any issue with Akechi’s content. On the contrary! Ren liked Akechi’s videos very much — Akechi was sharp, very knowledgeable on filmmaking and editing techniques, and his breakdowns of popular fake paranormal videos were pretty fascinating. He could get really sassy and even mean at times in his commentary, but in an amusing way. It was good content.

Also, Akechi was very attractive, which certainly played its part in retaining Ren’s viewership and his decision making in the events to come. Smugness looked so good on him.

you can read chapter 1 on the AkeShuake AU Zine or read and follow the fic on AO3 !!

[rubberduckyrye]

The AUs of the Twins

Ghost AU Ouma Twins Reference Sheet

So in actuality this isn't an official AU I'm working on by any means....... but I drew the BETA designs for Kokichi and Kurochi in Twins AU, back when it was just a couple of out of order fics posted on Ao3? Sort of as a patient Zero on the designs. Except I wanna show the art off so I was like "I need to bullshit an AU--oh! Dead Rochi AU, perfect!"

Anyway this AU isn't real and cannot hurt me. It's not real and cannot hurt me... The twins must always be together...

Ahem.

Canon Kokichi's cape is the most boring of all, sadly...

Still, in an AU where Kurochi died when he was 12, Kokichi would look like his canon self and Rochi as a ghost would probably mirror him. That's my excuse and I'm sticking to it.

Phantom Thieves AU Ouma Twins Reference Sheet

No u do NOT get to see Kokichi without his cape and mask, because I'm lazy. I've also gotten too lazy to separate the twins out into their own files so please forgive me I am Tired.

The back of Kokichi's outfit looks exactly like Rochi's so there's no need to really show it off here, right? I--FUCK. ROCHI'S LEG DOESN'T HAVE THE BLACK STRAPS ON THE BACK POSE. Ah well they're supposed to be there but I cannot be fucked.

Also remember how I was like "What if D.I.C.E. had a masquerade theme instead of a clown theme? This is the result of that. Kind of. It's actually the result of me putting the canon Twins AU cape on this old Twins AU redesign and putting on the P5AU persona mask for Kokichi on too, making a very interesting design! The hat was tackled on at the end to make it look real PT like.

Not really an official AU or anything, just for funsies and I didn't want to let these designs go to waste so I repurposed them.

Persona 5 Awakened Ouma Twins Reference Sheet

Okay so these designs have some themes I wanna talk about!

Kokichi's theme of rebellion is "Prince meets Robin hood, decides that eating the rich is a good idea, becomes new Robin Hood." Which is a bit of a mouthful but it fully explains Kokichi's design for the P5AU. He's from a wealthy family that he hates, and he wants to punish the rich bastards who hurt people by giving them a Change of Heart. Kokichi's cloak is themed after the phases of the moon and a bird chasing after the guiding star.

Kurochi's theme of rebellion is about reclaiming the childhood he never had. He's supposed to look like an extremely goofy, cartoon spy with his mask literally being those gag spy glasses and having a prop newspaper that probably has eye holes in it. He's even got a utility belt and everything. People often forget what his mask looks like when they haven't seen it in a while and they get shocked and laugh each time.

This AU is the only AU currently where the Twins don't actually match one another--and it's because it's their inner selves making the outfits that are fitting for their rebellion.

Bonus:

He looks so much more like a phantom thief here LMAO.

[might-be-tiny-gt]

Want to post more of my G/t Ocs so here’s Lynn Edda if she were in Persona 5

Here’s the thing, Lynn is my oldest and most fav G/t OCs I just haven’t posted everything I’ve drawn for her so I’m slowly but surely getting on that. I created Lynn for an original story called Lost Between the Pages which I do want to write and share in some capacity But that’s not what this post is about.

I’ve been in a Persona 5 hyper fixation lately, specifically Persona 5 g/t thanks to Even Small Acts of Rebellion. (Please go read it on Ao3) So I brainstormed with some of my friends what it would be like if Lynn was in P5 and became a phantom thief.

I’m currently writing her P5 AU story and plan on posting it here and Ao3 soon so keep and eye out for that. For basic AU details check under the cut. (Beware of Spoilers)

P5 Lynn AU

- Lynn is from America but she immigrated to Japan about 2 years before the game’s start. She lives alone in the walls of the bookstore on central street.

- She has a mouse she calls Despereaux who is basically her only companion until she meets the P5 crew.

- She meets Ryuji and Ren just after Madarame’s change of heart and before the infiltration on Kaneshiro’s palace. She gives the team some clues that give them insight on what’s going on central street during the Kaneshiro arc.

- Similar to Makoto she has an unpleasant encounter with Kaneshiro in the real world and gets saved by the team. However unlike Makoto, who enters his palace immediately, Lynn spends sometime after recovering from her encounter. (She was physically harmed and in a bad place mentally after) A few days into the thieves infiltration she follows them into the palace and awakens to her persona, Ozma.

- Ozma is a light based persona with healing abilities as well. Lynn’s weapons are twin sickles she fashions out of a pair of earrings. Her long ranged weapon is a gatling gun. When she joins the team she goes by the code name Reverie.

- Awakening to Ozma also gave her the unique ability to fly. She has wings made of light she can use to fly around although their power is based on how much SP she has. The more SP she has the stronger her wings, the less SP the weaker they get. If SP is depleted then she can’t fly at all.

- This AU is based on the fic Even Small Acts of Rebellion which establishes that the thieves get minor powers in the real world based on their persona’s powers. In the real world Lynn is able to heal minor wounds, manipulate light, and perform a double jump.

[byooregard]

hey give the people your p5 recs

cracks knuckles ok let's go

Between Scylla and Charybdis by KivaEmber

Akechi’s eyes were wide in disbelief - then he laughed; a sharp, ugly noise.

“Oh!” he leaned back on his heels, his vicious expression softening into a mocking smile, “I forgot. This is new for you, isn’t it? Fighting alone?”

Or;

Akira has a near-fatal encounter in Maruki's Palace. Akechi... barely takes it well.

[I have re-read this one so many times and I think about it & Goro Akechi so much. Also general reccomendation that everything by this author is good.]

The Plural of Soulmate is a Mess by VampireBadger

You're not supposed to have more than one soulmate. Everyone knows that.

Nobody told the Phantom Thieves, though, and Akechi...

Well, he's just kind of along for the ride.

[One time I made a whole PowerPoint where I talked about soulmate aus and I spent a whole slide on a tangent about Akechi & how he works with the themes in his character and I was thinking about This Fic Specifically. Look at this bitch. he doesn't realize that it's impossible to escape being loved!!]

Analogous by jortsbian

analogous colors: noun. of art: a selection of colors that, while not the same, bear more than a passing resemblance to each other. a palette of colors that are near each other on the color wheel, and are thus similar.

In the weeks following the interrogation room, it becomes clear Akira is struggling to cope with his situation. Yusuke and Futaba provide an easy evening to de-stress.

[I have written on my ao3 bookmark only "PHANTOM THIEVES AUTISM" and yeah. phantom thieves autism]

To Grate Against the World by pretentiousashell

“Nobody seems to know what to do with you. When I received the call, the warden seemed bewildered that you were even here at all.” It was a phone call that Naoto would not soon forget—the chilling way that the warden seemed to continually forget what he was asking mid-sentence, unable to latch onto Akechi’s name as if his existence was something contingent on his direct and immediate presence.

Akechi bared his teeth, eyes in shadow. “Nobody has ever known what to do with me,” he said, voice dripping acid.

“Then, this should be refreshing for you,” he said, delighting in the way that Akechi’s gaze sharpened as Naoto plucked a nonexistent piece of lint from his coat. “You’re coming with me. To Inaba.”

At the end of P5R, the world forgets Akechi.

[I'll admit that I haven't played p4 so I cannot attest to characterization on the p4 characters that appear; however this fic makes me insane. Off the charts Vibes with the feelings of longing and melancholy and growing up growing past trauma. Its very good I'm very normal.]

blood, guts, and chocolate cake by aesphantasmal

The aftermath of Akira Kurusu, Ryuji Sakamoto, and Ann Takamaki's first slaying of a monster.

[Magnus archives au; kamoshida is an avatar of the flesh and Akira Ryuji and Ann have to kill him. Read for the feeling of the unbreakable bond of friendship you form when you and your two acquatiences murder your gym teacher together. part of a series which you should read and I am not at all biased no sir when I reccomend also everything else by this author who I do not know at all nopenope nope.]

sagittarius by moonlight by Writeous

Futaba rescues Akira before, during, and after the interrogation. In the heat of the moment, it's hard to think of them as victories.

[good shit. siblings. phantom thieves.]

falling down, falling behind by intimatopia

Akechi: are you actually fine?

What was she even supposed to say to that? Being honest was out of the question, especially with him. She didn’t like him. She’d forgiven him, and she was friends with his friends and he was dating the one boy she’d ever let herself trust. He’d taken everything from her and she was better than him, or had to be, because that was all she had left.

Haru: Why do you ask?

[I have seen so many varying takes on Haru and her feelings about the whole Everything and so far this is the only one that I've read and went YEAH!!!! YEAH THATS HARU!!!]

The Diamond Chest by kinneas

“The quickest route to anywhere is a straight line,” Akechi says. “He’s a target, and I refuse to give up that easily. I’m doing this.”

Morgana turns his skeptical gaze on him. “Are you sure? You weren’t feeling so great earlier...”

Akechi watches their target for a moment longer, and the illusion of his soft yukata and softer hair dispels under his glass shard of a smile. There isn’t a trace of pain on his face anymore—only simmering, dark excitement. “As I said. I don’t like to lose.”

And neither does Ren. Yeah, they’re head to toe in yukata and sandals, and yeah, everyone is right: this is so, so stupid. Ren is so stupid. But he’s gonna climb this roof and catch that goddamn cop.

He meets Akechi’s gaze beat for beat. “Let’s do it.”

—

Who says you have to see Morgana speak in the Metaverse before you can hear him in the real world? Not the few hundred officers who arrested Ren in Sae’s Palace two years ago, that’s for sure.

[my favoritest persona fanfic ever I think so hard all the time about this author's writing style and how the characters are written how they handle trauma and growing up and moving on from all the Things that happened in the year they were phantom thieves. the way akechi and jokers relationship is written & the way their arcs are written . this is both a great take on the characters and persona 5 and also a very well written Story in general with well executed Plot and Arcs. Everything else by this author is also fire.]

Will You Fuse Hestia? by kinneas

He tells them on a Thursday, when they sign their second lease together. They knew Ren was seeing someone. They knew Ren had a roommate. Now, they know the rest.

He doesn’t hear from them for a couple of months after that, but that’s nothing new.

—

The Phantom Thieves of Hearts have faced down angels, demons, and gods. Now it's time to face the parents.

[great and nuanced portrayal of jokers possible relationship with his parents. best one I've seen so far good shit.]

Interminable Ballistics by Stealth_Noodle

Amamiya isn't nearly as terrified as he was. As he should be. Instead his head is cocked, and he sounds equal parts frustrated and confused as he says, "I thought I was getting a do-over."

Akechi stares at him. Nearly drops the gun. Tightens his grip until his gloves creak. "You remember this happening before," he says slowly, more an accusation than a question.

"Yeah. I thought it was the drugs." Amamiya gestures at the floor, where wet syringes are scattered. "Is this real?"

Akechi realizes that he was tricked into killing a cognitive Ren in time to return and kill the real one. When he wakes up the next day, it's November 20th again, and he is a very stubborn man.

Unfortunately for his plans, so is Ren.

[Goro Akechi is insane and would rather die than do better. good news!]

[shamelesslymkp]

REC: AltairAstralia - Deviltown

URL: https://ift.tt/DARcTOS “There you are!” The mechanical voice calls out, almost cheerfully. “I was beginning to think you were just going to ignore us.” And even beneath the off-putting hiss of the vocal distorter, Tim can hear the way his tone suddenly pitches down with something like bitterness– something like wrath as he mutters, “Wouldn’t be the first time…” Sometimes action, or in this case inaction, can have far-reaching consequences. But, hey- can't be charged with a crime if you're not legally a person, right? OR: Rogue!Eternal Trio AU

(Words: 16,238, WIP) !!!fandom, !!fic, |site:ao3, +fandom:danny.phantom, +fandom:young.justice.-.all.media.types, +fandom:batman.-.all.media.types, +fandom:justice.league.-.all.media.types, ::rating:teen.and.up.audiences, ~author:altairastralia, character:danny.fenton, character:tucker.foley, character:sam.manson, character:jazz.fenton, character:tim.drake.(dcu), character:kon-el.|.conner.kent, character:cassie.sandsmark, character:bart.allen, character:valerie.gray, character:danielle."dani".phantom, character:wesley."wes".weston.(danny.phantom), character:dash.baxter, character:paulina.sanchez, character:star.(danny.phantom), character:kwan.(danny.phantom), character:mr..lancer.(danny.phantom), character:dan.phantom, relationship:danny.fenton/tucker.foley/sam.manson, relationship:tim.drake/kon-el.|.conner.kent, ::category:gen, .multi, \creator.chose.not.to.use.archive.warnings, ~ao3:heist, ~ao3:alternate.universe.-.thieves, ~ao3:eternal.trio.as.rogues, ~ao3:espionage, ~ao3:weird.amity.park.(danny.phantom), ~ao3:ecto-contaminated.|.liminal.amity.park.residents.(da

[lunar-wandering]

Performance

for @skellebonez (sorry this is a week late!! happy belated birthday!!)

note: this is set during s1, since s1 lasts a lot longer in the Phantom Thief AU. (most likely this'd be after Impossible Delivery but before Skeleton Key, and also be before Red Son finds out about who the Phantom Thieves are).

Word Count: 1.3k

Read on Ao3

Glancing at the crowd around him, pulling his hood tighter to better cover his face as he did so, Wukong decided that he definitely regretted choosing to become a phantom thief.

Well. Not like he was one yet. According to MK, he still had a long way to go with his training, as well as something along the lines of a "phantom thief entrance exam", which the kid had only mentioned briefly but still sounded absolutely awful. But, he supposed the kid was right- he’d only been learning the methods of Phantom Thievery for a month and a half- he hadn’t even stolen anything yet, so… MK was probably definitely in the right with him not being quite ready. 

He wasn't even here to steal anything tonight, either (probably a good thing, considering this crowd). No, he was just here to watch the kid's performance.

And it was obvious that many others had the same idea in mind, considering the amount of people, as well as television crews that had set themselves up on the street. 

("Televised?" Wukong had asked, confusion in his voice, "Why would anyone want to televise, nevertheless watch, a heist?"

MK had just rolled his eyes at him.

"A show is still a show, even if it's a heist." He'd said, turning back to doodling in his heist-planning notebook. “And people love a good show.”) 

Wukong let out a sigh, shifting slightly to the left to avoid being bumped into by someone passing by. If it weren’t for the fact that the kid had specifically asked for him to be here in the crowd- something about this specific demonstration working better if he saw it in person, he would be at home, watching this through his tv, instead of here, in the middle of a giant crowd of strangers. 

“Five more minutes until heist time…” Someone to the right of him muttered, and Wukong imperciptively stiffened. 

He turned to the side and- yep. That- even though his hair was currently glamoured to black- 

That was definitely Red Son standing only a few inches away from him. 

Wukong shrunk back, trying his best to wrap his hoodie around himself even tighter. With a crowd like this, it was best to avoid any kind of fight with the Demon Bull Family right now… He hadn’t been noticed yet, but, seriously, what was Red Son of all people even doing here? 

That question was answered a mere few seconds later, as an explosion of confetti and golden smoke appeared above the crowd, the resulting excited screams enough to make even Wukong’s ears ring. His hands over his ears, he risked glancing back at Red Son again, …finding that the fire demon looked just as excited as every other fan in the crowd. 

Ah. Well, at the very least it was reassuring that there wasn’t going to be a demon attack in the middle of this heist. 

The excited screams switched to gasps of awe, and Wukong looked up to see what, exactly, had rendered the excited crowd speechless. 

MK was standing in mid-air. 

Wukong blinked, his golden vision activating sub-consciously as the people around him started to murmur again. One of the TV helicopters drew nearer to MK, likely in order to film him better, and Wukong just barely caught the sound of Red Son saying something along the lines of “doing such a thing without real magic- I have no idea how that’s possible, that’s incredible” before people started to cheer as MK took a step forward. 

Followed by another. 

The kid literally almost looked like he was walking on thin air. 

One of the usual detectives (one that tended to be present at ‘Golden Monkey’s heists, Wukong hadn’t bothered to learn the names of any of the regulars yet) must’ve gone up to the top of one of the neighboring buildings, because the next thing Wukong knew, someone was yelling about how there weren’t any wires connected to the buildings. 

The cheering got louder at that, but Wukong rolled his eyes. Of course there weren’t any wires on the buildings, couldn’t people see- 

Wukong blinked, remembering the golden tint at the corners of his vision. 

Oh. 

Right. 

Golden eyes. Of course the crowd around him couldn’t see what he saw. 

…Should… should he tell them? 

Wukong glanced at the amazed crowd around him, considering. Some people in the crowd were simply looking up with wonder, while others, like Red Son, seemed to have passed wonder and instead had their heads slightly tilted, clearly trying to puzzle out just how MK was pulling off such a feat. 

Well… surely it wouldn’t cause any harm, right- 

A hand settled itself over his mouth before he could even begin to open it, and Wukong stiffened, a chill running down his spine. Someone was behind him. It was only through sheer force of will that he didn’t grab their wrist and flip them over his shoulder and cause a scene- 

“C’mon now.” The whisper in his ear made Wukong shudder- “We wouldn’t want to ruin the performance, now would we? Some mysteries are meant to remain mysteries.” 

Wukong knew that voice. 

He whirled around, knocking the hand off of him, shifting to be ready to fight, but- 

There was nothing behind him but shadows. 

Wukong kept staring, half expecting a certain someone to jump back out at him at any second- 

A sudden increase in the cheering distracted him, and he turned back around to see what part of the heist he had missed. 

MK was no longer walking in mid-air, instead now standing on one of the museum’s balconies, waving at the crowd. A group of detectives entered through the building’s door, and MK briefly glanced down at them, before giving a two-fingered salute to the crowd and backflipping into the museum through the window. 

Abruptly, the large electronic advertisement screens on the buildings in the area switched to show a live-feed of the inside of the museum. 

The following ten minutes show-cased MK pulling off an increasingly difficult series of acrobatic tricks to avoid capture- ones that made Wukong raise an eyebrow, knowing for a fact that MK was not that good at dodging during training. Maybe it was something about mentality? Being better at dodging when in ‘phantom thief mode’ than when out of it? He should probably bring it up at their next training session for sure. 

On another note, Red Son certainly seemed to be enjoying the performance. Wukong kept glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, just in case something changed and he decided to try something, but every time Red Son appeared to be completely enamoured with what was occurring on the television screens. 

…Did MK know about Red Son attending his heists? By all likelihood, he probably did, the kid tended to not miss a single detail when it came to heists after all, but… 

…Maybe he should bring that up at their next training session as well. 

In the end, the heist ended almost as abruptly as it had begun. 

MK had run back out to the balcony, leapt onto the railing, and held out his prize- an emerald hair comb, above his head, for the whole crowd to see. The cheering became almost ten times louder, and man, Wukong mentally made a note to himself to wear earplugs to the next heist like this, because this was torture on his sensitive ears. 

MK shifted, and there was a bright flash of light- 

In the next second, MK was gone. 

The show very obviously over, the crowd slowly started dispersing. As Wukong moved with the flow of the crowd, he walked past Red Son, who was on his phone- 

And was setting a picture of ‘Golden Monkey’s triumphant smirk as he held up the hair comb as his phone’s background. 

Did he… did he not know that that was MK? 

Wukong looked away. Yeah, no, he wasn’t going to be touching that can of worms with a ten-foot pole. 

[themememerchant]

P5R ARCANA SWAP AU IDEAS I HAD

These are all small little ideas and thoughts I have for my fanfiction Queenpin Of The Metaverse which I will hopefully be able to begin publishing on ao3 soon enough

So until then, have this moderately sized collection of random facts about the swapped thieves personalities and such

HERE WE FUCkIN GO:

Something not mentioned the original post but is important to know is that the phantom thieves are effectively a giant polycule, many of them are dating each other with Sophia being the exception-(she’s 10)

Sumire, Futaba, Haru, and Ann all trying on Makoto’s bomber jacket when they think nobody’s looking and Makoto thinking they’re adorable

Yuuki trying-(and failing)-to “rizz up” Sumire without knowing what the phrase actually means while everyone else gets 2nd-hand embarrassment

Futaba calling Sumi and Makoto her “Waifus for life-u”

Akira 100% being like Gomez Addams where he challenges the sun to a duel because Goro or Sumi got sunburned

“EN GUARDE, Mon Soleil!”

“Akira, that’s the sun-”

“EN GUARDE, I SAY!”

Yuuki pulling stupidly annoying yet harmless pranks on everyone like giving them 1,000 yen in nothing but 10 yen coins

Anytime someone tries to get a favor from Makoto she pulls out a box of pocky sticks and says: “Ya gotta play for it.”

Sumire doing weight lifting instead of gymnastics because she still wants to be fit

Makoto spots her

Yusuke giving off cat energy by getting stuck in the stupidest places and crying about it

Haru being weirdly talented with every niche thing she tries like drawing and singing

People ask how she got so good and she just shrugs innocently with legitimately zero explanation, she’s just built different

Sophia and Sumire both use age regression to cope with abuse from their respective parents and they set up playdates constantly

Futaba is Sophia’s designated caregiver

Makoto and Ann take turns being Sumi’s caregivers-(they begrugingly agreed to share custody)

TW: ALL THE STUFF ASSOSCIATED WITH KAMOSHITHEAD 

Yuuki having a “Poison” moment like Angel from Hazbin, except the song flips between him being beaten and assaulted in the P.E. office and his cognitive self coming onto Kamoshida

In reference to the above, Makoto and Yuuki having a “Loser, Baby” moment where they bond over hating Kamoshithead once Yuuki awakens

Sumire saying things like: “Everything’s jake!”, and nobody knows what the fuck she means until she needs to explain

Sumire using slang from the American 20’s is such a funny concept to me since not only is it outdated terminology, it’s also in a perfect NY American accent from a Japanese highschool girl

The thieves taking on traits from their personas in general is such a fun idea to work with

Sumire with her slang as i already said but also being enthralled by jazz music and early 20th century fashion

Goro having excellent deductive reasoning and fascination with random knowledge, he also has slight opium cravings

Makoto having inexplicable knowledge on sailing and being really good at bargaining and negotiation

Futaba emitting an aura of almost royal-like confidence that makes other students fall head over heels for her

Yuuki being a master of sneaking up on people by accident and having a really good poker-face

Sophia having a child-like curiosity over basic things like why the sky is blue and how rain works

Akira speaking in random bursts of Latin and Greek, he also begins writing poetry in his free time

Haru saying obscenities with a Southern-belle accent and being really good at working a crowd

Yusuke being followed by Paimon’s demonic parade so anyone near him will hear faint sounds of drums and trumpets when he walks

Ann suddenly becomes a master tactician who was even able to beat Goro at chess once, she also unconsciously whispers French prayers sometimes

Ryuji is a masterful pick-pocket-(Nezumi Kozo)-with great public speaking skills-(Maximilien)-, he later gets a side job with crossdressing-(Nezumi Kozo again)-

Goro and Akira having the same homoerotic tension between each other as canon but Akira is less self-assured and Goro is not a murderer but is still very threatening and intimidating

Ann has a ���resting bitch face” because she has trouble expressing her emotions, so most students are too afraid to talk to her. After she joins and starts dating some of the thieves everyone just looks so confused as this gorgeous-yet-stone-faced blonde model starts hugging a red-headed cinnamon roll-(Sumi)-while looking as stoic as ever

Even better when Sumi makes comments like: ”Awww, It seems someone's in an extra good mood today!” And then Ann goes: “Thanks, I was hoping you’d notice.”

The students around them have no idea how anyone was supposed to know the blonde’s emotions, but Sumi is just built different

FUCK NOW I WANT TO MAKE A ONESHOT ABT THIS FUCK-

Yusuke and Futaba are both pretty smart people but when they try to work together they end up canceling out each other’s brain cells and becoming morons

Ann probably wears berets sometimes and the thieves poke fun at her by calling her a "French stereotype"

And that is all for now, who knows what else my diseased mind shall spit out next…

Until then, adieu all ye power tops

[mari-lair]

Wip of the Phantom Thieves AU prequel

Rated M

Pairing: Terukane.

Warning: OOC for being a decade older. Violence. Teru and Akane are mostly in the 'enemies' stage of their relationship here so they are assholes. Sexual Tension. Sexual Comments. Lust. Questionable consent in 1 scene. Incompleted scenes. No beta reader.

Word count: 9000 (HOLY SHIT I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THAT LONG)

Title: Catch Me (I Know You Can)

There was something off with this room. He knows some rich assholes consider minimalistic decor fancy, but the cheap glass roof, and colorful paintings didn’t scream money, just a marble floor isn’t enough to mask how barren it all feels. No furniture. No decor. 

Like the room has been emptied beforehand.

He narrowed his eyes at the lack of windows

Or maybe it was never occupied in the first place, build like a cage, not a room.

Click.

A door opened.

Akane immediately jumped to the darkest corner of this fancy cage.

The unwelcome visitor glowed in the weak moonlight the glass ceiling offered, so it must be a high-ranking officer with their pristine white uniform. Not that Akane cares, recruits and admirals alike are child’s play to deal with.

Akane picked a spoon roughly the same weight as a key from his pants pocket and approached the officer as quietly as possible, noticing a sheeted sword and the metallic hint of a gun partially hidden by his cape, focusing on a much smaller glint on the opposite side of his belt.

Bingo.

Akane lunged, as quiet as he could in this echo-y marble floor,  touching the edge of the key and  freezing when his moves were stopped by a firm grip on his arm.

That’s unusual, he tends to be too fast to be caught.

“Phantom Thief, so glad you came.” The cop said, his smile polite but his blue eyes cold, glowing like radiation in the dark “You’re as foolish as the rumors say.”

Foolish?!

Akane bristled, abandoning his jacket to slip out of his hold. The man stared at the empty sleeve in his hands with a frown, but he didn’t panic, throwing his jacket on the ground “And just as slippery.”

Akane didn’t comment, trying to search for a way out. The room was pretty big, but just as he had suspected: there wasn’t a window he could use for a grand escape in sight.

“You’re under arrest for multiple robberies, unauthorized possession of poison-”

“Poison?” He doesn’t have poison, what the fuck is he talking about?

“-and assault of seven officers,” The man said, raising two fingers up and immediately turning on the lights, making everything too fucking bright. It confirmed his suspicions this place only has one exit, but now what? “If you turn yourself I’ll be generous in your sentence.”

“Does that offer ever works?” Akane mocked, walking towards the only door and feeling just a tiny bit wary of the calm way this man followed him, still composed after witnessing Akane's speed.

“You would be surprised,” The man said, grabbing a whip from behind his cape, which is an odd weapon for a police officer, odd enough for Akane to pause, connecting the dots: Golden hair. Glowy eyes. Whip. Now that’s a combo that sounded familiar.

Akane resisted the urge to laugh, realizing he is dealing with the very top of the food chain, the chief of the police, infamous for being a monster in every criminal bar Hanako had dragged him against his will.

Akane doesn’t feel any camaraderie with other criminals, finding way too many rotten people in the ‘business’, but their popular rumors are worth listening to: The sewer is a good emergency exit, no cop will ever dirty themselves for their dear law. The industrial area is so loud you can fire a gun without being noticed if you time it right, so criminals and police officers alike are bolder. And if you fall for one of Chief Minamoto’s traps, it’s wiser to surrender on the spot.

It made his heart speed up, getting some hope for the asshole in the uniform. He would hate to end the night with his hands empty, but if he steal something from this monster, he will be unbeatable.

The chief badge is perfect. He wants it.

What he wants, he takes.

Akane has never been caught before, no doubt his name has plenty of rumors attached to it as well. He isn’t scared of monsters, just because he never ‘raised the bar’ of his crimes, as Hanako so stupidly puts it, doesn’t means he isn’t the best in his field. He can handle a pompous asshole with a whip.

Akane threw his cape at his face and run for it the second it got close enough to hide Teru's eye, cursing the easy way he keep his predatory eyes on Akane’s shadow, slashing the air in a perfect arc that caught Akane’s cape mid-air and slammed the ground far too close for comfort, the sound of his whip breaking the air made Akane’s ears ring, forced to jump back.

This demon is fast.

Teru's voice changed from coldly polite to authoritarian, “Get on your knees and put your hands where I can see them or I’ll be forced to use violence.” 

“Fuck you-” Akane eyes widened, barely dodging his attack and running farther out of range, waiting for an opportunity to try to steal his keys again-

He yelped when a slash nearly hit his head, the force of it damaging the wall behind him. Holy shit, is the bastard trying to kill him?? Akane sped up, needing a proper plan-

He felt something wrap around his leg, yelping at how it burned his skin and losing equilibrium when Teru pulled. Akane slammed on the ground, hitting his chest on the hard tiles and breathlessly cursing the fucker.

 “Watch your tongue, thief.”

This piece of shit-

Akane tried to jump back on his feet, but was smashed on the ground by a slash on his spine. The impact hurts like hell, and the fall didn’t help, making him get familiar with the ground again in the spam of a minute.

Something heavy pressed on his back.

Shit shit shit

“Get off me!” He tried to shake him off, panicking at how little he could move as he feel his arms be restrained “Watch your hands you son of a-”

Click.

Hard metal wrapped around his wrists. Akane froze, having not been caught in one of these in years.

Teru pushed him by his restrained wrists and analyzed him as if he was a chore, Akane tensed up, doing the same: The chief looks weirdly young, can’t be older than thirty, his disgusting cop uniform and the cold apathy in his eyes putting Akane on edge. 

Akane usually likes beauty, but it was impossible to care about his ‘long lashes and ocean blue eyes’ when the bastard looked at him like he was a piece of trash.

“What’s your name.” Teru ordered.

Akane spat in his eye, annoyed by the easy way he dodged, acting as if Akane was a badly behaved child. He grabbed his handcuffed wrists and roughly pushed him back on his feet.

“Get off me!” Akane snarled, his cursing cut by a pained hiss when Teru pushed his hair.

“Name.”

Akane just snarled, trying to get off the handcuff. These chains aren’t the cheap ones but he can do it.

Akane waited until he was sure the bastard wasn’t looking to slip the hairpin he hides inside his gloves to the tip of his finger.

“I’ll save the interrogation for later.” Teru commented, keeping a firm hold on his shoulder as he dragged him. His grip was uncomfortably tight, even if Akane didn’t have handcuffs on, he wouldn’t be able to slip out of it. 

Tch.

Akane pretended to have given up, not resisting when Teru unlocked the door and pushed him out but still glaring when the chief narrowed his eyes, wary of his ‘docile’ attitude.

Teru grabbed his hand and confiscated his hairpin, startling Akane. 

Teru ignored his curse, keeping a firm hold on his shoulder as he confiscated the hairpin on his other glove and pat him down.

Akane snarled, watching all the tricks he hide up his sleeves, shoes and pants be confiscated, feeling almost naked without any of it.

He was visibly more grumpy but he didn’t complainwhen Teru picked up the pace, taking note of an open window ahead. It was the one he had used to get inside this hell hole: two meters up, which isn’t ideal: Still, an escape route is an escape route, if he used Teru’s body as a step ladder he could make it.

He tried to steal his key, able to do so the second Teru glanced at the window Akane has his eyes on, but his victory was short lived, barely getting enough time to twist himself out of Teru’s hold before his scalp burned, the damn cop not gentle when pushing his ponytail.

“Escape attempts will only increase your sentence.” He said in a pleasant tone, smile falling as Akan’s handcuffs clattered on the ground. “You already unlocked?”

He sounded almost impressed. Almost.

“What else would I do with a key?” Akane hissed, changing his approach. If the wary bastard won’t let him out he’ll do it by force.

He grabbed his arm, aware his shoulder throw is a force to be reckoned with, but being tripped the second he touched Teru, losing his balance.

There must be metal on his boots cause his kick hurts.

Akane held his injured leg, cursing when he was restrained again.

“Keep this up and I’ll resort to violence.” He said calmly.

Ha! As if he wasn’t already fucking using violence.

“Eat shit and die.”

“Very well.” Teru's smile gained a sadistic edge to it, punching him straight in the gut.

Akane felt the air leave his lungs, swaying on his feet, his vision got blurry at the edges. The only reason he did not fall was the firm grip on his arm, dragging him.

“...Bastard.” He groaned, trying to dig his feet on the ground to make his life harder but all he achieved was to trip on the stairs.

.

He was shoved on a cell, his clothes changed into an awful striped prison uniform. Even his tie was confiscated, making his long hair stick to his neck.

…Great.

At least the handcuffs are off, this city’s prison cleaner and more spacious than the one on his old town.

.

“They really caught you, pal” a very familiar and annoying voice said “Thats rough.”

Great. Just who he wanted to see in this shithole.

“I’m not your pal No.7” Akane glared, his mood dropping even lower “What are you doing here?”

“Just visiting, thought you would be lonely in this cold cell.”

“I will call the cops” Akane deadpaned, hoping that demon whipped the smirk off Hanako’s face.

“Awww~” Hanako eyes crinkled, amused “You want me as your cellmate that bad? I missed you too my fellow thief!”

One of these days he will be charged with murder and if the bastard doesn’t disappear right now, he’s afraid the allegations will have basis.

“Police! Help!” He yelled, pretty sure they wouldn’t care, but trying to send Hanako a message by giving him a deadpan stare “I am being harrased.”

“You’re so mean to me~” Hanako whined but he looked happy.

The lonely brat probably just wants attention, doesn't matter if is good or not.

Loud footsteps made Hanako immediately shut up, getting out when the door opened.

Hanako didn’t even grab a key for him. What a waste of space of a ‘partner’.

“Thief!” A young officer with bright blue eyes and way too much enthusiasm said “What’s the problem?”

Akane raised a brow, both by how similar to the chief he looked, and by his question “I am in a cell”

“For your evil deeds,”

He snorted.

Sure. Very evil. “Like stealing?”

“Of course”

“And trapping and hurting a person?” He said, snorted went the young man nodded, taking a moment to notice Akane was showing off his damaged wrists.

The boy opened his mouth but didn’t come up with anything to say, looking stupid.

Must be an amateur

Akane tried to steal his keys, surprised by how quickly the young man grabbed his hand “You’re not escaping this prison, evil villain!” He gave him a determined look “I, Minamoto Kou, will make sure of it.”

Another Minamoto?

Just his luck.

.

His meal was way better here than in his last city's prison, it actually tasted pretty alright, filled him up too... Who would have thought?

.

Akane was pretty sure he figured out a way to escape by the end of the day, Kou may be fast but he seems easy to trick, eager to impress.

“Hey Minamoto!” Akane yelled, getting ready to put his plan into action, when the wrong Minamoto opened the door, his high-heeled boots clicking on the concrete floor.

Well, shit.

Akane held on tighter to his prison bars, looking up at Teru with a mocking smirk “Well well, if it isn’t the chief! What brings you to my cell?”

“Phantom Thief.” He greeted back, with the same cold smile. “I have a few questions for you.”

Of course he does. It would be a miracle if they could shut up.

“Were you behind the heist of the central bank last week?”

“Yes?” Akane was so confused he didn’t even try to withhold information “I thought that was the whole reason I am here?”

“Just making sure,” Teru commented, sounding a bit curious…? Maybe? It’s hard to read his mood.  “Why?”

“I like kicking your arrogant subordinate back in their places” Akane was honest, staying as close as he could to the bars “The money is a good bonus.” 

“I see” Teru gave him that cold smile  “I’m glad I’m working with such an honest criminal." He picked up a sheet of paper "Now, I have countless witnessed that claim the phantom thief have smuggled poison.” His eyes narrowed “Would you care to tell me more about It?”

“Wrong thief.” Akane sighed. “Hanako is the one you're after. Bastard stole my title. I think he is butthurt I don’t want to be his partner, but I have no idea what goes on in his head.”

Instead of not believing him, Teru nodded, putting a hand on his chin “So there truly are two phantom thieves… What is your name then?”

“None of your business.” Akane waved him off, walking away.

“Are you an illegal immigrant?”

Akane didn’t reply.

“Very well” Teru grabbed his whip.

click

Akane froze, turning around and lo and behold, Teru entered the cell, that coldly polite smile on his face “Now now, we don’t need to drag this out longer than it have to.” His eyes flashed dangerously “I have better things to do”

Akane felt a shiver down his spine, his muscles still aching where he had slashed him.

.

Akane spat blood on the ground of his empty cell, narrowing his eyes at the stain in his otherwise clean cell.

Bastard is clearly holding back but his lashes still fucking hurt, those cold eyes making him feel like a bug he would have no qualms in ripping it limbs one by one.

Despite what some people may say, Akane doesn’t like pain, so he gave Teru the fake name of “Shiki Nagisa” to buy himself time. It was incredibly annoying to give the bastard the satisfaction of even a fake full name.

‘You didn’t win anything’ Akane wanted to growl at the cop's pleased face, but he held back to only a glare ‘Good luck finding Nagisa, bitch.’

.

He tries to steal from Kou again the next time he saw the guard, playing up his injuries and putting effort into distracting him, able to keep the conversation going for long enough for the teen to lower his guard and not realize the keys in his belt were missing.

When Kou got out to get him bandages, Akane was soon to follow, leaving his cell behind.

He spotted Teru talking to a lieutenant near the building entrance, and fought back the urge to punch him. Even with the element of surprise, Akane isn’t sure he is faster than Teru's reflexes, so he settled with stealing more keys and throwing them to every captive he crossed.

.

“Akane-kun.” Aoi greeted him with big eyes, “Did something happen? You didn’t visit last week at all.”

Akane smiled awkwardly, not sure how to tell her he was in prison. She knows about his late-night robberies but not in detail, not that he is the phantom thief or that he is considered one of the seven most skilled criminals in town. 

(...Which he doesn’t particularly like, hating the other thieves he have been lumped with)

“I was on a trip, for my night job”

“How exciting! I hope you had fun,” Aoi hummed, understanding he was talking about his life as a thief when he mentioned a night job “Do you want the usual?”

“I will like a blue lagoon today, Aoi-chan” He smiled “And a raspberry juice too.”

Aoi nodded, going to the kitchen.

The raspberry juice was a bit emptier than his by the time she came, both knowing it was asked for Aoi.

“You don’t usually ask for alcohol, is everything alright?”

“Met an asshole on this trip” Akane sighed “I have a feeling my job will get harder”

.

Aoi either hate his heists, or is jealous of them. Till this day, even after knowing her for three years, he wasn’t sure.

She had once told him he isn’t fit for thievery, that he likes to give more than he likes to take, and that he should become a waiter at the cozy coffee she works on.

It is a lovely idea, Akane know they would have fun talking about clients behind their back and working side by side, but he can’t picture this dream like scenario lasting.

He was born to be on the run, filling his pockets with gemstones and wallets and on instinct, his insides burning when he set his sights on something that he cannot have. There is an itch under his skin that didn’t let him stay still or play nice for long, lingering in the danger zone to catch every hint of fear and awe in his chaser’s eyes, the insult thrown his way only fuelling the fire in his veins. 

He shouldn’t worry her.

.

Akane had no trouble finding Teru’s house. It wasn’t as stupidly extravagant as most noble mansions but it was still far too big for someone that reportedly lives alone.

Akane very carefully sneaked to a balcony on the second floor, expecting the chief to already be out and about, leaving his house free to be robbed but finding someone curled up in bed, engulfed by fancy blankets.

What.

It’s already 7 am. The police station opens in half an hour.

…Was his info-gathering flawed? Does Teru actually live with someone? Did he have a secret lover no one is aware of?? 

Akane was about to open the window, and do proper research, when a yawn made him freeze up, ducking and only occasionally glancing at the very sleepy man stretching: the man was slim, and not very intimidating, but he knew that pale hair and glowy eyes anywhere.

The chief rubbed his eyes like a little kid and dragged himself to one of the three doors in this bedroom. Of course the rich bastard's bedroom has a personal closet and a private bathroom.

Akane waited in pure silence for a bit, relaxing at the sound of the sink being turned on and using it as cover to sneak the window open, testing the floor.

.

Akane glared when Teru slammed him on the ground, keeping his restrained wrists in an uncomfortably tight hold above his head.

He tried to get free but teru only used more force, his smile tenserp “You never learn, thief.”

“You're a bad teacher"

Teru grabbed his neck and Akane snarled.

.

Teru narrowed his eyes when Akane threw his handcuff into the horizon but immediately started running after him, jumping high, and hitting the ground with a roll, the sword on his hip scratched the concrete, his long coat not made for this, but Teru kept his eyes on him, not slowing down.

Akane cursed, jumping off the roof and sliding into a balcony, using it to reach the fire escape in the next building and yelping at the feeling of a whip wrapping around his leg.

Shit

His jump lost power, barely able to reach the edge of the fire escape, holding on tight to the rusty metal.

“Too slow.” Teru pulled him back to his side, stepping on his chest the second he his back landed on the rooftop ground, his heavy boots digging in his ribs.

“I hate you,” Akane groaned, trying to kick him, and freezing at the way he grabbed his cravat, pushing it until the back of his neck hurt.

Teru took his cravat off and give it a quick once over, throwing it away.

“Hey!”

Teru ignored him, putting a hand on his hips and making Akane freeze, his eyes widening when Teru took off his belt, his gloved hand on his stomach far too warm.

Akane heart skipped a beat, panicking.

He tried to fight him with more vigor, face growing hot with frustration but the chief just held him tighter, keeping him pressed on the concrete.

Akane shivered at the dark look in those eyes, not remembering anyone who had ever immobilized him so easily.

“That should do,” Teru said.

“What?”

Teru wrapped the belt around his wrists, keeping it extra tight and pulling at it as if it was a leash, forcing their faces near “Now,” His polite smile was overflowing with malice, “be a good boy.”

Akane felt blood rush to his face as he stumbled to his side, the spark he had felt turning into rage. He tried to bite his nose, hating how unimpressed he looked, grabbing his neck before he could even scrap his teeth on his face. “Keep treating me like a fucking dog, and I’ll bite you.”

Teru's nearly choked him, the pressure making Akane cough.

 “Don’t make me buy a leash.”

Akane snarled, finally having the bastard off him, and hurrying up to keep up with his pace, barring his teeth. Teru seemed amused by it.

Asshole.

They walked in silence. Akane tried to undo the dead knot of his belt restrain, but it didn’t budge, all attempts rewarded by Teru tightening the knot.

Well... This sucks.

'At least my pants are tight enough to not fall without the belt,' he tried to be optimistic. 'it could be worst'

drip.

Akane blinked.

drip

He frowned, staring at the grey sky. It will rain.

Great. Wonderful even...

Teru pulled at the tie when he slowed down, seemingly ignoring the increasing rain as he headed to a small store “Have you ever hurt a civilian?”

“...No?” Akane blinked, not expecting this line of questioning. Frankly, it was a bit offensive “I am a criminal, not a monster.”

Teru was unimpressed, but his track of only bullying cops must have led to enough credibility to earn the benefit of the doubt.

“Can I trust you to behave inside the store?”

He hissed “I can ‘behave’ just fine when people aren’t a stuck up pieces of sh-”

“If you make civilians feel threatened I’ll punish you.” Teru tugged harshly at his wrists, dragging him far too close for comfort, and narrowing his glowy eyes without a hint of a smile, the rain sliding down his cap forming a small waterfall between them “I want your word.”

Akane felt a sting in his chest, never seeing himself as a danger for civilians, but understanding how someone might get wary about a ‘criminal’ in a bad mood.

“...Fine.” Akane said as if it physically hurt him, hating that he can see Teru’s point.  “I promise I’ll behave.”

Just while they are at the store, it will be quick.

Teru nodded sharply, the silent warning heavy in the air, and twisted his hoster, putting his gun in the back, out of view, before stopping in front of a big store.

He forced himself to relax when Teru opened the door, wearing an innocent look and staying quiet. He looked at Teru instead of the customers, even if he could feel their eyes on him.

He was surprised by the way Teru behaved, not teasing him for playing nice, merely buying an umbrella and a bag to guard his wet cape, smile far kinder than the one Akane is used to, tone comforting, far from humble but still grateful when the owner gave him a discount, the warm talk alluding Teru have helped them before.

The energy was so cozy it felt like being hit in the head. Either he is one hell of a good actor, laying deep into the image he was given, or Teru has more than violence in his heart, he just… doesn’t see Akane as a person.

The idea was annoying.

(It hurt, but Akane refused to acknowledge anything about the demon could hurt him.)

Akane tried to pocket a candy to distract himself from this creepy ‘sweet’ side of Teru, but before he could dream of touching it, Teru made a show of raising his hand to scratch his cheek, which tugged at the belt trying Akane’s hands, keeping them far away from his goal.

Tch.

He didn’t glare though, he keep his promises.

When they got out Teru was back to being a dick “I’m impressed you only tried to steal once.” He opened the umbrella “Good job, I’ll give you a treat~”

“Oh, I’ll show you a treat you two-faced pig.” Akane dropped the docile attitude too, yelping when he was tripped, nearly stumbling on his arm. 

“Watch where you’re walking” He mocked.

He made a face at the way he had to almost lean on the bastard’s arm to escape the rain, “Watch your step, bitch.”

Akane huffed, but he reluctantly appreciates being protected from the rain, Teru’s fancy jacket was warm and dry from having been under his discarded cloak.

Akane had no idea what to do so he stayed silent, watching the downpour eat up the city, the road infested by puddles. His socks was wet and uncomfortable, clearly more on the edge of the umbrella than Teru, they haven’t even crossed a block and half of his fringe was already dripping wet.

Teru was starring at him when he focused on the asshole again.

“Like what you see?” He mocked, 

The chief wordlessly tilted their umbrella, soaking Akane to the bone.

Akane spluttered, trying to take his wet fringe off his eyes and yelping when it only earned him a harsh tug, his belt digging into his wrists, burning his skin.

“Oh I do” Teru smiled maliciously.

Akane glared at him, uncomfortable at the way the demon blushed, liking to make his life harder. So he wasn’t imagining, the bastard really is a sadist.

He smiled pleasantly at his anger, and Akane resisted the urge to spit on his eye again.

After two blocks, the rain slowed down, still strong but not enough to create a river on the streets.

“It’s weaker” Teru commented, keeping his hold on the tie tighter, but his shoulder was not as tense.

“You stole Hyuuga’s necklace haven’t you?”

“Damn right,” He smirked “You couldn’t catch me.”

Teru gave him a side look, mood impossible to decipher “And you returned it”

Akane's smirk fell “So what?”

“Why?”

Akane sighed “He was bawling his eyes out about it, I can’t just take his only connection to his lover or whatever his 'Lady' is”

“How nice of you” He mocked.

“Fuck you too”

When they had to climb a set of stairs, he noticed Teru was making an effort to keep him under the umbrella, focusing more on measuring their steps. It was… admittedly not something he had expected of him, but he still wouldn’t call it ‘kind’: Teru pulls are harsh when Akane slows down, and he doesn’t try to warm him up, letting akane stay soaked, smile still unreadable and eyes cold.

Is a blessing in disguise. The idea of being hugged or borrowing his jacket makes Akane stomach twist, not wanting to cozy up to the sadistic cop with a rotten personality or feel comfortable while being led to prison.

Prison... 

He bet the cell will be very cold tonight. Way too cold.

He can’t have that.

Akane tripped Teru when they were near the end of the wet stairs, being pulled down with him but able to sneak out of his belt, and running away and grabbing the umbrella while he was at it by instinct “See you later chief,”

Teru got back on his feet quickly. Always fast to act.

Akane smirked, disappearing into a back alley. It was hard to hold on to drenched posts and plants littering the wall with his hands tied but he managed.

Akane peeked from the balcony, not surprised, but still feeling adrenaline make his heartbeat ring in his ears at the way Teru was chasing after him, with his little cape and cap, rain be damned.

Akane jumped away from his whip with a smirk, umbrella under his arm, making his escape harder, but worth it from how being wet annoyed Teru. There was a sharp edge on a window, so Akane used it to nick his belt and get enough of an edge to undo his restraints, picking up speed and leaving the chief in the dust.

Teru had taken the fire escape, his cap getting lost at some point, rain dripping down his hair, getting in his eyes.

Akane opened the umbrella, more to show off his victory than really get any safety from the rain. He is drenched already, they both are. It’s no wonder Teru isn’t smiling, a cold look in his eyes.

There was something about watching him struggle to catch up, hair darker and flatter, that was hard to look away from. The way he whipped his fringe off his eyes is too pretty for such a bastard, it’s a wonder he turned into a cop instead of a cover model.

“You look like you’re having trouble” Akane yelled to be heard over the rain, throwing a closed umbrella at him, watching him grab it before it hit him in the face “Don’t catch a cold chief!”

And off he went.

.

“Careful, you wouldn’t want me to involve your sibling-”

Teru kicked hard enough to feel like he broke his spine when he hit the ground, barely able to cough before he stepped on his chest and put a blade on his throat, the tip of the cold metal pressing him on the ground with enough force to damage some of his skim.

“Touch my family and I’ll kill you” He has never seen such a cold expression on his face, his tone making it clear this isn’t a threat. It’s a promise.

Akane narrowed his eyes, feeling scared, but unwilling to show it “Ha!" The laugh made the blade dig deeper "Bet Kou would adore to learn his dear bro killed someone-”

A sharp pain made Akane scream, surprised to have Teru slash his chest, soaking his shirt with blood.

.

He only got his wound treated at his cell, when Teru realized he wasn't being serious.

He didn't let Kou guard him Akane again tough.

Akane clenched his fists as he cleaned his bleeding shoulder, sure it would be harder to escape now.

.

Akane usually only went out into the night after careful planning, once every two week, or every month depending on how busy his life have become, but there was a buzz under his skin, a desire to see Teru again, attracted to those glowing eyes like a moth to a flame, wanting to scream at him, prove to himself that he is worthy of the chief's attention.

It’s no good, no good at all.

He is no fool, he knows the chief is a real threat, but he still wants his eyes on him, he wants to be the one to trip him, to tear that condescending smile apart with his teeth.

So he went out again.

.

Akane smirked, the chimney proving to be a good shortcut. He stopped right before he hit the ground and stepped out of the coal’s way. 

He grabbed a bag of expensive clothes and jumped out the window, using the electricity post as a boost and support to reach the top of fancy wall, feet in between two spikes.

“Too late chief!” He laughed darkly, looking back with malice and feeling this euphoric adrenaline crash at the sight of a baffled commander whose name he doesn’t even know.

What.

No!

He want to leave Teru in the dirt, outrun him- It wasn’t worth trying something new on these guys, he could have escaped even by walking through the front door.

Akane glared, slipping into the house he jumped over instead of running back to his home.

Where was that stupid cop?

After picking from three more houses, with no sight of Teru, Akane huffed, frustrated by his absence. 

He grabbed the haul successfully though so he should be happy. Usually this would be a big win, but he only felt a vague disappointment. Dropping the gems in his bed and freezing at the realization he had been looking forward to mocking Teru.

.

Oh, would you look at that! the missing chief!

Akane silently moved through the shadows, smirking at the way he analyzed writing on the walls, Sumire’s doing, that one is a dangerous girl. Till this day he has no idea if she causes destruction on accident or on purpose.

“My, if it isn't th-” Akane started his monologue, surprised by the gun pointed his way, the barrel dead set on his face.

Akane froze, too tense to notice his finger wasn’t on the trigger.

Teru's unreadable look didn’t disappear, but his shoulder slumped “Thief.” He lowered his gun, still far more tense than usual.

“On edge aren’t we?” He mocked, feeling a drop of sweat on the back of his neck. “Did a filthy criminal outsmart you?”

Teru's face closed up “Do you have any ties with the masked murderer?”

“I don’t associate with murderers” Akane deadpaned “and masks aren’t uncommon for criminals-”

“A skull mask.”

Oh.

Akane face closed up, he know the guy. Hates his guts, sure No.6 used to work with a cop, a while bback. A true disgrace for a criminal.

“Why would I tell you?”

“I won’t try to run after you if you do”

“Oh?” He smiled “You’ll let a filthy thief get away?”

“A murderer is my priority over stolen jewelry” Teru deadpaned “Do you have any information or not?”

Murderer…? Sumire is not a murderer.

He froze.

There is blood on his cape. He cannot tell if it’s Teru’s or someone’s else, but from the bloodstain angle, he is inclined to say it’s someone else.

Ha.

“Shouldn’t you lock yourself up then?” Akane mocked.

Teru smiled politely “No info then.”

Akane dodged his whip, still not on the same level as the bastard, but knowing him well enough to hold his own in a chase.

.

When they saw each other again, he had the urge to make him bleed.

Everything about the chief always felt too cold, too calculated. He wonders if he is even human underneath it all, if he will drop the politely amused smile if Akane choked something out of him.

He didn’t care about an image anymore, he grabbed Teru's jacket and kicked him as hard as he could, dragged Teru to the ground with him.

He probably sprained his ankle, it hurt, but Teru was down as well, immediately focusing on grabbing his arm so Akane didn’t run, “Why would you think this would work?” Teru hissed, a hint of annoyance in his voice “Stop always struggling!”

“Sorry for not liking jail, asshole.” Akane sassed, spotting a hint of red under his fringe.

Hah

He does bleed.

.

When Teru dragged him by the collar, Akane felt a shiver down his spine, wary of his smirk, panicking when it looked like he was going to kiss him-

“Watch your tongue” Teru used his authoritarian voice, shaking his bones. It made him tense up for all the wrong reasons “If you tell me how you got to the museum, I’ll give you a blanket for the night.”

The disappointment when the kiss didn’t happen was such a shock Akane didn’t have a witty comeback.

.

Akane glared as Teru disappeared.

That’s not good.

Akane paced his cell, understanding the man is beautiful but this is ridiculous.

Akane hates cops, disgusted by their superior attitude and their incompetence, the way they stretch the definition of what’s ‘legal’ the second it becomes convenient, putting a price on lives as easily as the criminals they condemn.

The highlight of his heists is always outsmarting them, the rush of pulling the rug from under their feet, to kick them off their high horse with only his shadow in their memories, watch what rumor they come up with to protect their pride.

And Teru is everything he hates the most, the arrogance, the clear sense of superiority, and sadistic tendencies. He would never get excited by his pretty face.

‘Behave’ That mocking smile came to mind, as infuriating as it was attractive, dark gloves holding on tight to his hair. ‘Or you’ll be punished'

Akane shook his head at the mental image, disgusted with himself. If he was that needy he should just get a one-night stand.

Akane isn’t very fond of those, he may not be as romantic as he used to be in his childhood, but he still believes being intimate is better with someone you trust.

(Even if the thrill of bringing a stranger to his bed and dangling his identity in plain sight is hard to beat, a road that can get addicting.)

Akane huffed, rubbing his wrists, unable to get any fluttering feelings when he pictured the asshole, at most begrudging respect for his skills, so at least it wasn't something as stupid as a crush.

.

Akane laughed, distracted by how close they are “And here I thought I was being subtle.”

“Oh thief,” He leaned even closer, his amusement cruel, the condescending smirk begging to be ripped to shreds “You’re as subtle as a dog near a slab of meat-”

Akane closed the distance, stealing a kiss to shut him up.

Teru’s lips are far softer than he expected.

The chief’s hold grew slack when he forced his mouth to open, eyes wide in a way Akane haven’t seen before. 

(It set of a spark in his stomach, adoring how big his eyes looked when knocked out of his high horse.)

He will be lashed for this regardless of what he does now, so Akane didn’t hold back, sneaking out of his restraints to grab his silky hair and deepen the kiss, intrigued to feel something sharp, a pair of small fangs on an otherwise flawless set of teeth. He could feel Teru’s mouth turn into a snarl, unsurprised Teru wrapped his fist on his collar the second the shock passed, pushing Akane off and slamming him into the wall.

Akane's brain bounced at the impact, not sure if he felt dizzy because of the blow or because he actually kissed the bastard. He inwardly laughed in the the face of his anger, not giving Teru the time to get his cool back before he dragged him down again for another kiss, trying to take the lead and succeeding, shivering at the way Teru tasted, getting on his tiptoes when Teru was able to straighten his back, lifting Akane to his level by lifting him up and scraped his back on the concrete wall, the pain only serving to blur his vision, making it all feel more surreal.

Akane got his tongue bitten for his audacity but he couldn’t stop, having never seen those icy eyes so wide before, his discomfort tasted like victory. 

He wrapped a hand around his neck when he felt the pressure on his back lessen, not wanting to lose this equal height, and tilted Teru’s head, getting more demanding. Teru did not like that, slamming him back on the wall and sinking his fangs where he could hurt him, but kissing back regardless. The hand on the collar of his shirt choked him at some point. It hurt.

He was out of breath by the time Teru threw him away, straight to the ground. The persistent ache on his bitten tongue even after getting air back, and blood on his gums, reassuring Akane this is real. 

Teru stared at him with hatred, his shoulders tense, hands turned into fists as he breathed a bit faster than usual. He wasn’t amused anymore, his wet lips with a brand new bruise on it.

Akane felt heat coil in his stomach at the sight, addicted to his unease, for once being the one to look down on him.

Akane resisted the urge to kiss him again, using Teru’s wariness as an opportunity to jump away, feeling invincible to taste freedom while his mouth is still bleeding.

(He could have run, but he stayed near, watching him, mesmerized)

Teru spat on the ground, and cleaned his lips with the back of his glove, positively furious “Have you grown desperate enough to use cheap seduction tricks?” 

“Have you sunk low enough to enjoy them? ” He licked his bruised lip, “You’re pathetic,” His smirk widened into something cruel, high on the way his eyes glowed with hatred, forgetting it all to focus on Akane and Akane only  “Just throw your badge away chief, go use your mouth for something useful, I’m sure you’ll have fun sucking dic-”

Teru jumped his way with a murderous glint in his eyes, fast as lightning.

Akane tried to run away, heart skipping a beat for all the wrong reasons, but he was grabbed by the neck before he could jump to the next building, coughing harshly at the tight grip but still high on the way he had ripped that condescending smile off his face, his anger uncontrolled for once.

“W-What?” Akane wheezed out, well aware he can’t escape his iron grip but still feeling victorious “Can’t handle the truth? Thirsty bitc-”

He expected the punch, frankly, he had expected sooner, but the explosion of pain in his gut was far stronger than usual, packing enough power to make him lose his conscience.

Akane woke up to see a dirty concrete floor, his vision blurry… Body moving without his consent. He vaguely registered that Teru was dragging him by his hair because of a sting on his scalp.

Hah…

He really angered the asshole this time.

Akane felt a hint of satisfaction before blacking out for good. A few days in jail is worth it.

.

Akane startled awake, cursing at the feeling of water dripping all over him.

He shivered, trying to clean his face and nearly falling, realizing he was sitting on a slippery surface, his hands handcuffed behind his back and wrists aching from the awkward pose, completely unprotected from the rain. 

Akane froze, slowly processing that he was trapped on the rooftop of what seemed to be an abandoned house located who knows where, his stomach still hurt from Teru’s punch, and the creeping night made the surroundings dim.

That son of a bitch.

Akane rested his back on the cold chimney he was handcuffed too and groaned at the way it was too short to offer much back support, its cone tip digging his spine. The rain didn’t take long to completely soak through his clothes as he tried to get out of his restrains and not slip down the wet shins. There is a window near this chimney, so at least he will get immediate cover once he is out-

Akane paused his struggles, taking a better look at the dirty window and noticing a shine on the windowsill, the key to his handcuffs innocently resting on it, out of reach but only by a meter.

Ha

Ha!

“You’re one petty fucking bastard.” He hissed, remembering Teru’s anger and smirking.

.

The chief was always so cold, so high and mighty and unbearable, it felt strange to realize he is endearing. 

He hid it well, rigid when Akane forced him into a dance, always ready to use violence, but he got tense by his flirting after being kissed, making a conscious effort to not let his eyes linger on his lips, clearly affected by his stupid taunts-

That’s so cute.

He was aware he should run, but the urge to make him angry, see if he could make him cry, made him greedy. The feeling was addicting, not resisting when Teru grabbed his hand, counting on it.

“You can kiss me back, is only fair~”

Teru laughed, so disgusted Akane may have misunderstood his intentions “Fair.” He grabbed his chin, fingers digging into his jaw “Is to put you in your place.”

Akane shivered, wanting to kiss him, pour gasoline until his eyes burned with hatred again but the merciless kiss he had hoped expected never happened, pushed down the fire escape stairs.

.

“I wish he’d fuck me” Akane admitted after swallowing another glass of alcohol, blinking slowly when Hanako choked on his wine, but unfortunately didn’t die from it. 

“What?” Hanako was looking at him like he was insane.

“He is pretty.” Akane shrugged, not understanding why Hanako looked sick, or why his body was shaking so much.

Or wobbling? Yeah wobbling. Everything was kind of wobbly now the he think about it...

Wait no, Akane’s vision is the wobbly one.

Hum…

… Maybe he is a bit drunk. 

Or tipsy? It’s been a long while since he drank more than a polite glass of wine.

Was this even wine? What the hell is he drinking?

His head hurt when he tried to read the label of his bottle so he just re filled his cup. It tasted good. So whatever.

“He nearly cut your arm off.” Hanako pointed out.

“Pretty and strong” Akane agreed, smirking at his discomfort but feeling a hint of annoyance at the thought of Teru's stupid face as he watched Akane scream “Mean too… Hate his guts. Need to get off his stuuupid high horse.” Akane frowned at his glass, imagining his bitten lip and blushing at the memory of his undivided attention as he glared at Akane, wanting more of it, “I want him to look at me. Break his back for once, bastard is so cold...”

He would lose a limb if he try to kiss him again, definitively die if he squeezes his ass, but it would be so worth it, just to see the rage in his eyes again.

‘He has been more violent with me lately… Bet he can’t get me out of his head’ Akane licked his bruised lips with self-satisfaction.

Hanako seemed traumatized.

Heh… That’s funny.

“Pussy.” Akane mocked, stumbling out of his seat and raising his glass up high “Hey! Who here wanna fuck the police chief?!”

He expected a solid three people to agree, aware that much beauty can blind some folks even after said pretty man ruin their lives, but a solid one third of the bar raised their glasses, starting a roll of yelling both of agreement and of judgment.

“Make him pay!” someone in the back snarled. 

“Yeah!” Akane cheered, taking a swing of his drink. Something about the number was too high for comfort, it made him annoyed, he wasn’t sure why, but he really didn’t like it.

Half these people wouldn’t be able to escape prison, so they must have never gotten their face smushed on the ground within seconds by Teru, or felt their lips split open by his fangs.

What do they know? Bet they don't even know the bastard have fangs.

Akane frowned, feeling an annoying itch in his stomach. Surely they would have bragged about it if they had kissed Teru.

…Right?

Fuck it, he raised his glass again “Who here has kissed the guy?!”

The bar got silent.

Akane laughed, this time louder, far more genuine.

“...You didn’t” Hanako paled.

Akane smirked, giggly with victory. Now that’s more like it.  “And I’ll do it again!”

“Thief, what the fuck-”

“How are you still alive??”

.

Akane woke up with a hangover and four different wallets on his bed, two more on the floor, which had likely fallen when he moved in his sleep.

He has no idea who he stole from, but he really hopes one of his targets was Hanako.

Akane got up, groaning at his aching head and drinking a generous amount of water before looking through his haul, smirking when he found a flashy wallet with 320 bucks in it, and another with no identity card and way too much paper money, the picture of the newbie reporter, Yashiro, making it obvious Hanako was the owner.

Nice.

Akane blinked at a picture of the youngest Minamoto hidden between two bills, amused to realize the fool also seemed to be interested in a Minamoto.

He feels sorry for the kid, Hanako's way of flirting make people's life hell. Akane would know.

.

Akane agreed to be his informant.

Why? He doesn’t fucking know.

He seriously considered not showing up to their meeting spot, but the mental image of Teru's disappointed look and a condescending “Shouldn’t have expected anything else from a thief” made him fume.

Akane kept his hair in a tight bun and wore a pair of reading glasses, which is a low-effort disguise but it worked since people rarely see the phantom thief in the night anyway, seemingly only knowing him from his cape and his ponytail. On his way he could hear a commotion, reluctantly checking it out when he realized it came from a jewelry store he planned to rob when he had the time.

He couldn’t get too close, police were blocking the way, but he could see a broken window and hear a girl, around twelve, maybe less, screaming for her mom.

Teru was speaking to her in a tone that was very gentle, too soft for Akane to discern words. He looked uncomfortable.

The girl stopped screaming but she still cried and shook her head, visibly shaken.

The chief orders were noticeably less loud and authoritarian when he asked his subordinate to get her a blanket, measuring his volume near the civilian.

Akane just stared, noticing Teru never touched her, keeping a certain professional distance, but he let her hold on to the edge of his long coat for support, seemingly genuinely trying to calm the girl down despite his discomfort, talking in a quiet tone.

When the officer he requested a blanket shook his head, Teru seemed a bit troubled, unclasping his cape, offering it to the girl with a gentle smile, and letting her wrap herself in it.

Akane felt frustrated by it all, ceirtain now that Teru isn't a demon, he just just doesn't consider Akane human enough for kindness.

( but also felt weird at the sight, something more sticky and troublesome. )

He has been vaguely aware Teru, in all his arrogant and cruel ways, is not as simple to pin down as the other cops he dealt with: He carried a sword and a gun, but rarely used them. He refused bribes, only locking up those he was confident were guilty for their crimes but Akane know nobles well enough to know there must be something shady going on with the Minamotos. Teru failed in many areas, treating people like garbage the second they were deemed a criminal, but he made an effort into keeping his men in check, putting work. He doesn't seem to trust anyone. But he help citizen.

Is odd, even if he reluctantly understands Teru lowered the town crime rate considerably, he does not like his approach, he can’t help but tense up at his presence. Hating his arrogance, his stubborn attitude, and his pristine little murderer uniform.

And yet…

When Teru smiled at the girl, the stranger, there was so much kindness put in the spotlight, the dangerous glow of his eyes soft and comforting.

For the first time, he perfectly understood why so many civilians called him a prince, a hero.

‘I’ll protect you, everything will be alright’ His actions seemed to say, keeping his energy light when asking her to describe the “bad guy” that invaded the place.

(It felt wrong, like a fake advertisement, and yet…

Akane couldn’t help but remember the umbrella store.

He couldn't look away.)

.

Akane held his face, his gentle touch making Teru narrow his eyes. Hard to read.

‘I want you’ He thought, but he couldn’t have that, so he settled for gently  brushing his fringe behind his ear and using his shock to steal his hat, hiding it behind his back and flashing him a smug smirk “See ya chief!” He gave him a mock salute, only exchanging his small tophat for the chief’s cap when he reached the next house roof, smirking at the immediate sound of footsteps after him.

“Thief!” Teru hissed, his voice commanding, reaching his very soul. “Return it. Now.”

He looks good without a hat.

“Came get it!” Akane egged him on,  jumping on top of a lamp post and using the momentum to dive straight into a four-story mansion balcony, disappearing inside the room and walking out too quickly for the arguing couple in front of the fancy bathroom to notice he was ever in their house.

From there he just had to climb one store up and hop around, determined to run away, keep the cap as a souvenir. He run until his legs ached, crossing many restricted areas and civilian houses any law-abiding citizen would have trouble walking around willy nilly.

He lost Teru after a few blocks, disappearing into the night and slipping inside his bedroom window. 

“My win” Akane laughed in his empty room, touching the dumb white cap in his head with pride, the sight of him with it in the mirror made him feel weird. He hates cops and their pretentious uniforms, but he couldn't deny he felt something at the idea this isn’t just a cop’s hat, but a part of Teru’s uniform.

It made him feel closer to the chief.

“How pathetic” He mocked his reflection.

[yarrayora]

Fic author interview!

tagged by @carriagelamp and immediately interested in doing it after seeing the questions

tagging people who will be mentioned at question 12 alongside @mickeymagpie @unexbellexreverie and @booksandberries

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

112 surprisingly!

2. What’s your total AO3 word count?

235,399 words which is actually lower than i expected it kinda annoys me

3. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

if i didn't delete my rise of the brave tangled dragons and my voltron fics it would be them but i did. i deleted them. now my top 5 are all bsd fics

A Good Enough Reason to Keep Meeting Up (1,055 kudos) is part of Stray Gods series where the supernaturals are all real and Abilities came from them. This specific fic is about Chuuya and Atsushi's budding relationship. Or rather Chuuya's budding crush on Atsushi with malnourishment and chronic pain as the vessel to get there.

Money Makes the World Go Round (939 kudos) BSDxOuran crossover that is part of a collection of crossover fics about Atsushi attending high schools from different fandoms in order to attain the qualifications to enjoy the employment benefits his workplace has to offer. You can tell I'm old when that's my worldbuilding for writing high school AU

Moral Compass (923 kudos) the first installment of the Stray Gods series set post Dead Apple where unlocking his repressed memories about Shibusawa let the actual god Byakko to finally communicate with his Champion.

Delicate Job (791 kudos) A case fic written to explore Atsushi's role as a detective and how he would handle a case while prioritizing the victim's feelings unlike popular depictions of detectives where they use facts and logic to trample over people because the authors think that's what makes intelligent people cool

The God of Destruction Wished For Naught (752 kudos) the third installment of Stray Gods and a continuation of A Good Reason to Keep Meeting Up where Chuuya's body is falling apart, which could lead to Yokohama's destruction via blackhole, forcing Atsushi to make connections with the Port Mafia

I was a bit disappointed at first that my most kudos'd fic hasn't broken 2k kudos yet but seeing how my top 5 fics don't have a huge disparity between the amount of kudos makes me happy

4. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

yes! i don't always know how to reply but i especially makes the effort for people who leaves paragraphs on my fic. sometimes if i know the commenter i just reply on their discord lmao

5. What’s the fic you’ve written with the angstiest ending?

oh that's hard. i have a lot of oneshots that are basically "and so, the cycle of suffering repeats yet again" and you'd think it would be the servampxbnha crossover where despite mahiru's best attempt to help deku get into UA even without a quirk so he will let go of his self-hatred for being born quirkless, in the end he receives One For All from All Might, undoing all the works mahiru-sensei has done to help deku but NO it's a bsd fic again that embodies this concept in the worst way possible as it's revealed that the event that happened in canon timeline was kickstarted by post-beast!atsushi who copes for his feelings for beast!dazai (both affection and hatred) by writing numerous worlds into existence to prove that dazai is a good man all along

wait. no. actually. the persona 5 fic where the phantom thieves deal with goro's sacrifice might be angstier considering this line

Akechi Goro was the only murder they ever committed, and in the years that follow never once would his name ever passed their lips. But he would always be at the edge of their vision, a ghost that they could never speak to.

or the birthday fic i wrote for the hunt twins where oz killed ewan who crawled back out of the cauldron to re-sacrifice himself so patchman won't survive???

or the big hero 6 fic where people are holding a funeral for personal health companion robots who carried a bunch of people out of a burning building??? repeating the word "Tadashi is Here" to people who never knew the man to comfort the terrified humans?

or the ben 10 fic where ben accidentally used too much force in his alien form resulting in his first murder and then repressing the memory??

it's impossible to make me choose

6. What’s the fic you’ve written with the happiest ending?

d-do i have a happy ending posted

actually im choosing the dragon age fic where cole accidentally made him saving the inquisitor from the envy demon sounds sexual which leads to hilarious results

7. Do you write crossovers?

yes and my non-crossover fics are actually stealth crossovers

8. Have you ever received hate on a fic?

i dont remember ever getting one

10. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

this is the question that actually made me want to do this interview. SO. be kiddie yarra during ff.net era. i was writing persona 4 fic where naoto says goodbye to souji. it was romantic. someone left a comment on my fic saying my writing got stolen and linked me to a naruto fic which made me go??? huh??? and turns out it was Word By Word the same fic but with souji being replaced as naruto, naoto as hinata, and the train station into konoha gate. it was insane.

11. Have you ever had a fic translated?

not on AO3 i think?? someone DID contact me to ask for my permission to translate my fic to russian but i don't remember the details

12. Have you ever co-written a fic before?

stray gods is written alongside @faerynova while @katzkinder helped with children's war. oh and also the Not Posted smtiva series written with @gothamcityneedsme

13. What’s your all-time favorite ship?

impossible to choose but i can tell you the very specific criterias that attract me to my ships if you want

14. What’s a WIP that you want to finish but don’t think you ever will?

usually when i abandon a fic i lose interest in it altogether

15. What are your writing strengths?

my bsd x ouran fic has been complimented as staying true to the characters even though im throwing ouran into a serious series like bsd and vice versa so i like to think it's my ability to keep the core of the characters true even when putting them in a different AU unrelated to canon. also writing convoluted political struggles that makes sense.

16. What are your writing weaknesses?

grammar. but apparetly im also somehow better than a lot of native english speakers???

17. What are your thoughts on writing dialogue in other languages in a fic?

im writing in english, arent i? (lol)

18. What was the first fandom you wrote for?

persona 4. it was an talkshow styled interview fic

19. What’s a fandom/ship you haven’t written for yet but want to?

don't have one as far as i can think of. i guess i want to write more of "how to make my notp make sense" and "characterxreader fic that doesn't sacrifice canon characterization" as a challenge for myself

20. What’s your favorite fic you’ve written?

the hope chapter of Despair (and Hope) because i had fun writing mahiru fixing mikuni through a persona 5 palace-like challenges except with zero fighting and more puzzle-solving

[lolo3hwriting]

Persona 3/4/5 Fic Recommendations

A list of persona fics from ao3 that I particularly like and highly recommend to others. Not in any particular order

Daredevil, You’ve Hit A Wall - P5 Strikers where Sumire and Akechi appear in the story. One of my favorites, mostly focuses on Joker but has perspectives from all of the phantom thieves and lots of introspection. Also has a sequel for P5 Tactica

By @/ez-cookie on tumblr

Pleasant Boy - P5 Royal where Akechi gets taken by Maruki and turns into the polite detective prince, with the phantom thieves trying to revert him.

By @/ez-cookie on tumblr

The Definition of Insanity - P3 Timeloop where P3 Protag is stuck in a timeloop with Ryoji. One day, Kotonoe shows up and throws everything off

By @/BkZa555 on twitter

Double the Hope - P5 and P4 crossover where Yu helps Akria by erasing his criminal record and they take down the conspiracy together 

By Novirp13 on ao3

Is That Really How the World Should Be? - P5 and P4 crossover, Ren took Yaldaboath’s deal and the Investigation Team/Shadow Operatives comes together to figure out what’s going on

By Aurelius_Carlan on ao3

I’m Sitting Right Behind You (And Definitely Not Peeking) - A P4 and P5 crossover chatfic/regular fic where Rise is Joker’s classmate and watches the events of the P5 game unfold, with a few twists

By @/prettypinklass on tumblr

Someone Else’s Soul - Joker summons DLC personas and speaks with their original owners in his dreams. Sweet and hilarious at the same time

By @/prettypinklass on tumblr

Marigolds - P5 Akechi gets sent back in time to get another chance at life after dying in the boiler room. Has his own fool’s journey complete with new social links and palaces. A very long fic, but all of it is very good

By Colbub on ao3

Leave Out All The Rest - Part of a NG+ protagonist au where the P3/4/5 protags go back in time. In this instance, Ren is genderfluid and adopts Akechi and tries to be a good parent. Also part of a whumptober 2020 collection that is also pretty good

By Missingwings on ao3

Life, Death, and the Events Between - Collection of fics from Ryomina week 2023. I particularly like Days 3/5, themed around a flower gifts leading up to a date and a school drama play respectively

By Missingwings on ao3

Can Shadows Find Love in the TV World? - P4 Shadow Kanji and Yu have a sweet conversation with each other. Author also has several other fics about the shadows interacting with each other 

By Unknown_Art on ao3

[argentsunshine]

it is with a heavy heart that i announce that i have written a fic again. more lighthearted than my standard fare

blood capsules

wordcount: 2095 words, chapter 1/1, complete summary: Detective Goro Akechi has agreed to work with the police to prevent the notorious Phantom Thieves from robbing a building. Dealing with their leader — well, that's a job he can't entrust anyone else with. warnings: none characters: Akira Kurusu, Goro Akechi ship: Goro Akechi/Akira Kurusu additional tags: Detective/Thief AU, Alternate Universe - Actual Phantom Thieves (Persona 5), fake arrest, Secret Relationship, ish?, they are being silly, I don't know if this is fluff, akechi goro hates cops

ao3 link in another rb as always

[weloveakechi]

As Dreamers Do Chapter 3

Hello everyone! Here’s chapter three of As Dreamers Do! I’m excited to share this one with you since it’s the first time we’ll be getting some of Akira’s POV in addition to Goro’s. I hope you enjoy it!

I’m trying something new with posting my chapter this time, rather than having the big AO3 box I’m just going to drop the full contents here and provide some links.

Chapters: 3/? Fandom: Persona 5 Rating: Teen And Up Audiences  Warnings: No Archive Warnings Apply  Relationships: Akechi Goro & Kurusu Akira  Characters: Akechi Goro, Persona 5 Protagonist, Kurusu Akira, Sakamoto Ryuji, Takamaki Ann, Morgana (Persona Series), Shido Masayoshi, Sakura Sojiro, Niijima Sae, Niijima Makoto, Kitagawa Yusuke, Okumura Haru  Additional Tags: New Game +, Time Travel, Time Travel Fix-It, Canon Divergence, Canon-Typical Violence, Akechi Goro-centric, POV Akechi Goro, POV Kurusu Akira, Hurt/Comfort, Angst and Hurt/Comfort, It Gets Worse Before It Gets Better, the boys are gonna go through it, Time travel AU with unreliable narrators, Reset the timeline he said fix your mistakes he said no one said anything about this, More tags to be added as the fic progresses, goro akechi has a velvet room, Akechi Goro Has Social Links | Confidants  Summary: 

“I wonder why we couldn’t have met a few years earlier.” Akira remembers, those words so clearly. They had been Akechi’s wish standing there, facing the Phantom Thieves, his plans in ruins, soul rent, desires so torn he’d manifested two personas all on his own, with no help from anyone.

The stars press into his palm, sharp enough to leave indents prickled across his skin. Two years. He’d wished to arrive two years earlier. Not a day. What good does a day make when Akechi has already spent so many years alone?

First Chapter | AO3 Link

~

Goro: Did your boss actually kill you?

The message releases with a pleasant swishing sound as Goro holds one handle on the train. It’s late enough in the morning Kurusu should be in class, so he doesn’t expect a quick response. He’s not even sure why he bothers reaching out. He should let things lie for a bit, hope Kurusu passes the whole Metaverse adventure off as a bad dream, or those drugs he’d mentioned. 

He’s on his way to see the doctor, arm still bothering him. He’d told himself he was going to message Kurusu about the doctor’s name if he couldn’t figure it out on his own, but a quick internet search on the train showed only one who fit the bill: Dr. Takemi. So that left him with nothing important to message the boy about. Perhaps it’s that he’s bored. Standing here on the train, waiting out the time between one stop and the other. 

Kurusu: How do you have my number? Better yet, how do I have yours??

He buries a chuckle behind his hand at the response. 

Goro: I added myself when I was looking at the navigation app yesterday. 

Goro: You need more friends. Your contact list was deplorable.

The response comes hot on the heels of Goro’s message: 

Kurusu: I have plenty of friends.

Goro’s fingers are quick as he types:

Goro: Oh yes, the ones who end up bleeding all the time. I retract my statement in favor of a new one: You need better friends.  

That has notification dots appearing quickly on his screen as Kurusu scrambles to respond. Goro lets his little smile widen into a proper grin. It's a nice tiny bit of payback for ruining his plans yesterday. It’s not a mauling, but it will do. 

“Yongen-Jaya.” The announcement pings as the train pulls to a gentle stop.

Goro tucks his phone into a pocket, ignoring the buzz that presses against his palm. He’ll let Kurusu stew for a bit. He has a doctor to find, after all. 

He slips out of the station, and onto the surprisingly populated street going over what he knows about Dr. Takemi. Kurusu had been right, rumors surrounded her practice, making all sorts of wild claims about her from how she robs graves to her development of a super drug that cures death. 

What has Goro most curious about her isn’t any of the rumors. It’s Kurusu knowing her. Despite claiming he'd only just moved here he seemed to know her well, if his tone had been anything to go by. Sure he could simply have had a single rather memorable experience at her clinic, or known her from a visit to his small town, but Goro knows it’s more than that. He can feel it. Kurusu’s whole reaction about it all set off Goro’s detective instincts and he’s not going to let this go. 

What’s even odder about it all, is how Goro wants to believe both statements are true. Simultaneously Kurusu is new to the area, and knows the doctor well. It’s a strange feeling. When he considers it for a long time it makes his head hurt, thoughts fogging up a bit like he’s missing something vital he can’t quite grasp it yet. 

The clinic is out of the way, tucked away up some stairs and not marked clearly. All that tells Goro he’s on the right track is a small unassuming sign. It’s clear she wants to stay under the radar. Goro intends to keep it that way as well. 

“Hello,” he calls, stepping inside, “I’m looking for Dr. Takemi?”

The woman behind the counter glances up, “That’s me.” 

Goro smiles and approaches her, taking in her appearance as he does. She’s well dressed, if a little gothic in nature. Her open lab coat reveals a dark shirt, whose logo Goro can’t make out as it’s cut off beneath the counter. A series of bracelets jingle on her wrist as she waves him over, studs flashing in the light. He can see why people might gossip, but the woman owns her own practice and can dress however she wishes. 

“I apologize, I don’t have an appointment. However, you come highly recommended.” 

She doesn’t bother hiding a snort at that, but gestures at him, “What can I help you with?” 

“I was told you could help me with a rather dicey injury?”

Her eyes flash over him, taking in the school uniform before lingering on his face. His smile stays locked in place, as unassuming and pleasant as ever. Every interaction, a lie he sells with perfection and polish. 

She leans back, “You’re pretty young to be hiding something like that from your parents.” 

“Ah, you see I’m here on my own. I moved for school.” Goro keeps his tone breezy, there’s no tragedy behind his words for her to find. No lie to catch him in. Everything he’s said is the truth. He’s left it just open enough so she’ll believe he’s a student living in the dorms, not an orphan emancipated far too early who’d struck a deal with the devil to earn a semblance of freedom. 

“If you call living under his thumb freedom.” Loki jabs. 

Goro wants to snap at him to shut up. He keeps his face neutral instead. 

“Hmm.” She considers, before her gaze sharpens, “You look familiar.” 

He chuckles, shifting another piece on the board as he plays this game of familiarity he’s growing accustomed to. Fame provides its own drawbacks and rewards. One is that people tend to trust him more than they really should. 

“You’ve probably seen me in one of my recent interviews. Goro Akechi, at your service.” He gives a little flourish with a hand, not quite bowing, more presenting himself to her. 

She jerks up, chair rattling as she straightens, “I haven’t done anything to be under investigation, you know. Those rumors are just that, everything here is above board and all my licenses are up to date.” 

Well that wasn’t the reaction he was expecting. He makes a mental note to take a much closer look at her. If she is being harassed, he could use helping her to his advantage. The longer he stands here, the more he began to realize just what a boon it was that Kurusu had sent him here. 

Ever since signing on with Shido, Goro’s privacy and freedom have been limited. He goes to Shido’s doctors. Drops everything to follow Shido’s beck and call. Even his agent is one of Shido’s men. His money is at least his own, made from his work and what he has found in Palaces and Mementos. He's never breathed a word of that particular windfall to Shido or his men. Some secrets are best kept close, tight to his chest. 

The idea of simply having anyone in his life unconnected with the man is refreshing. Even if he doesn’t end up making frequent use of the resource. 

“I assure you, I have no ill intentions towards you.” He raises both hands in his defense, wincing at how his wound pulls at the movement, “I am genuinely here for your assistance. Kurusu-kun sent me.” 

“Don’t know him.” Dr. Takemi’s response is instant, after a moment her eyes soften, “That, however, does look like it needs some work.”

One glance at his arm tells Goro he’s managed to irritate the wound again during his trip here. Despite the bleeding having stopped overnight it seems it's started again, red can be seen gently pooling, seeping out like an ink stain across his jacket. 

“As I said. I am in need of some discreet help. I can pay whatever you charge, please don’t worry about that.” 

Dr. Takemi’s chair makes a gentle scraping sound as she stands, “I’m sure you can, Mr. Detective. Come on back to the exam room and I’ll take a look.”

“Thank you.”

The decision to stay silent as she examines him is an easy one. Goro has little desire to answer more questions than is necessary. At the same time, he doesn’t want to disrupt her work. So he sits on the medical cot as she takes his arm gently and examines the deep scratches there. 

Her lips press together in a not quite hidden look of concern, made more obvious by the furtive glance she gives his school uniform. 

“The casualty of a case.“ Goro supplies, at last, “An ongoing one.” 

She hums a reply as she works, needle in hand to start numbing the skin around the injury. It’s pink and puffy, obviously irritated from Goro’s walk over, but to his eyes free from signs of infection. 

“You’re going to need quite a few stitches.” She tells him, “This is not going to be fun, I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright. They aren’t my first.”

The moment he says the words he knows they are the wrong sentiment to share. Takemi’s mouth presses into a thinner line, almost disappearing. 

At last she asks, “Do the police not have doctors?”

Goro wants to shrug, but thinks better of it with his arm is semi immobilized, a needle hovering above it. He’d rather not add getting stabbed to the week’s events. Even an accidental one. 

“They do.” 

She shoots him a glance that says: So? Explain. 

Goro goes for the truth, or as close to it as he can, “As an independent detective I don’t always work with them.” 

“What have you done in the past when you were hurt then?” 

The question comes as she begins the stitches and despite himself, Goro has to bite back a wince. It’s not a painful feeling per say, but neither is it pleasant. 

“To be honest, this is the first time I’ve sustained such an injury on one of my own investigations. They are normally less dangerous.” His gaze drifts over to a sign hanging on the wall that lists the symptoms of a heart attack while he speaks, unwilling to look her directly in the eyes, “I was not expecting this one to go as poorly as it did either.” 

Takemi doesn’t comment further as she works, and Goro lets it drop as well. His eyes turn back to her, or rather his arm, tracking the movement of the needle as it dips up and down, in and out of his skin. Quite a few stitches indeed. 

One thing still bothers him, “You really don’t know Kurusu-kun?” 

“I’ll admit, I wasn’t paying close attention earlier. Describe him?”

“Messy hair, glasses that cover most of his face, fairly nondescript aside from this air he has about him, like he’s ready to—” Ruin all your hard work, dash your plans, and have fun doing it, “Like he’s hiding something.”

“Kid, I get a lot like that here. You fit the hiding something description pretty well yourself.” 

Goro coughs, surprise rattling him, “I told you—”

“Mmhm, investigation. Yep.” She finishes the stitches and deftly wraps his arm. 

There is something about her posture and tone that sets off tiny alarm bells in Goro’s head, but he can’t pin it down. Even as she leans back, considering him. 

“You know–”

Goro’s not sure he likes where this is going. 

“You’re young, healthy, strong, and apparently don’t have a set school schedule.”

Now he has to defend himself, “While the school allows me much time off for my work, and various appearances, I am still required to attend and complete coursework.” 

“All the better for me then.” 

“Just what does that mean?” He’s now more than a little concerned. 

She leans towards him, elbows on her thighs, chin cupped in a palm, “I’d like you to become my guinea pig.”

Goro blinks at her, genuinely surprised, “Pardon me, but what do you mean by that?” 

Just what kind of person is this doctor Kurusu recommended? 

Her grin is sharp, but not unkind, “I need some help with a drug I’m developing. It’s totally safe but needs some work to get it where I want it. What do you say? I can sweeten the pot with some painkillers and specialized medicine, if your line of work continues down the dangerous path it’s suddenly taken.”

Participating in an unsanctioned clinical trial is not exactly what Goro has planned to do with his incredibly limited free time, but…it could give him a real connection with her. Hadn’t he just decided that he could benefit from that kind of relationship?

Still, it won’t hurt to make sure she’s legitimate first, before diving into anything too deeply. So far she has shown herself to be competent, however he’ll feel more comfortable after doing a deep dive into her history. 

“Would you give me a few days to consider your offer?” He asks. 

She raises her other hand, flicking her wrist nonchalantly, bracelets clicking together merrily, “That’s fine. It’ll take time to get things set up anyway. No matter what you decide, make sure to come in when you need medical help in the future. I’d hate to see you seriously hurt because you’re trying to avoid getting fired or kicked out of school.” 

He nodded, “Of course. Thank you.” 

“And be sure to keep that clean. I’m going to give you an ointment to help prevent infection. The stitches should disintegrate on their own, but if you have trouble come back and I’ll do a follow up.” 

A feeling of satisfaction washes over Goro as he exits the clinic. He’s looped the small bag of medicine she gave him over his good wrist, along with his soiled jacket. He’ll need to get it cleaned sooner rather than later so the stain doesn’t set. 

An email ping reminds him of his phone. Takemi didn’t totally deny knowing Kurusu the second time he asked, only slid around the question. 

Kurusu’s message from earlier still sits unread on his phone. The words take a second to make sense and Goro flicks back up to his earlier text. He’d told Kurusu he needed better friends. The response makes him blink.

Kurusu: Good thing I’ve got you now.

What the hell is that supposed to mean? Friends? They’ve known each other less than a day. That is not friendship. Not that he wants or needs friends. Kurusu is simply a curiosity. Just a Metaverse user who hasn’t awakened to his power yet and should be kept close so he won't accidentally interrupt Goro’s plans. 

He has no reasonable response for that, so he chooses to shift the tone of the conversation. Calling Kurusu’s lie. 

Goro: The doctor says she doesn’t know you. 

The reply doesn’t take long. 

Kurusu: I didn’t say she did. Only that I knew of her. 

Goro rolls his eyes, glancing up long enough to check where he’s going as he walks down the street. If he remembers right, Sae-san’s favorite hole-in-the-wall coffee place is somewhere around here. He’s got some time before his meeting with her, and a good cup of coffee sounds like heaven right now. 

Goro: You spoke like you knew her well.

The faint scent of coffee and something spicy draws him down a street. At last he sees it, plants surrounding the outside, a red sign above the door that reads: Leblanc. The name rings familiar and he’s pretty sure Sae-san’s shop of choice. The little sign outside the door tells him they serve not only coffee, but curry as well, answering the question of the spice in the air. What an odd combination, odd enough Goro knows he has to try it. 

Before he can even reach for the handle, his phone rings. Goro fishes it from his pocket and scowls as Shido’s name lights up the screen. He takes a step back from the door to get out of the way. After another breath, he schools his features, knowing that even visible dislike can find its way into his voice, and takes the call. 

“I’ve just received notice that Minato Takashi reported major structural issues with the rails for the subway, by both providing evidence and turning himself in for taking bribes to keep quiet about it.” Shido’s tone is cold, questioning. 

Goro can’t help it, his eyes go wide. Such a change in attitude is a surprise to say the least. His actions in the Metaverse have always impacted people’s cognition, this is true. But to have such a turnaround from a conversation? He’s never considered it before, though it makes sense. If he can drive a person temporarily mad with Call of Chaos, or even make them shut down by killing their Shadow Self, talking one down doesn’t seem so strange. 

It’s something Shido would never consider himself. He has always seen the Metaverse as a tool for manipulation of the worst kind. It is his own private shadow realm where he can threaten, coerce, and kill those who might get in his way. He would never dream of using it to convince someone they were doing something wrong.

It makes him wonder... 

“Well that answers the question of why I couldn’t locate him yesterday.” Goro says, dropping in just enough surprise and frustration into his tone to make Shido believe he’s as in the dark by this as everyone else. 

“It’s rare you miss a target.” There is something dangerous in his tone, prodding for the real reason things failed this time.

In the time Goro has been working for Shido he’s missed only four targets, with Takashi ticking that number up to five. They don’t have a formal contract between them, but what they have has worked so far. Goro follows Shido’s orders without fail, and in return receives status and power. It’s Shido’s agent that’s helped Goro find fame, and Shido’s influence that let him break free from the foster system at last. Any failure strips his usefulness away, and threatens to take him out of Shido’s orbit. 

“It won’t happen again.” Goro promises, like he can even make such a promise. But he has to. He cannot fail again. 

He has done too much and worked too hard to fall from grace now. Not when he can see the light at last. Shido’s laid out his plan to ascension clearly before Goro and all of the pieces are in place at last. They need only work the plan for the next few months and then, well. Then Goro’s own plans will come to fruition as well. 

“See that it doesn’t.” Is all that Shido says before the line cuts dead. 

His jaw works, teeth grinding together as Goro struggles to pull himself together. He hates how after all this time Shido’s disappointment still stings. No one else in the world makes him feel so small with so few words, or so happy with just as few. 

He’s pathetic . Like a dog trampling after his master, begging for a little praise. Clinging to his words like they’re golden honey. 

It makes him sick. 

The door to the café opens, and an older couple walk out, voices filling the air about little nothings, coffee and how sweet the “new boy” is. The sound grounds Goro back in the present, reminds him why he’s here. He needs that coffee now more than ever. 

Consciously, he lets his jaw loosen, and takes in a long slow breath. He holds the air in his lungs, so much of it there he might burst, and just feels the pressure for a long moment. Then just as slowly he lets it out, and the relief is palpable. It’s a simple technique that doesn’t always work, but blended with the familiar scent of coffee it does the trick today. 

Just a little longer, he only has to put up with Shido a little longer and then it’ll be him hanging on Goro’s words. His life in Goro’s hands. Loki smiles at that thought too, humming with anticipation of the day they’ll finally see their revenge made real. 

He rolls his shoulders and smooths his features. With his public mask firmly back in place he takes the time to make sure nothing incriminating is showing on his phone. Not that there ever is. Shido makes it a point not to put his orders in writing. They do their business face to face or over the phone. 

A little notification lingers on his chat app, a reply from Kurusu. 

Kurusu: You know, it’s not nice to act so suspicious after receiving help.  

He snorts at that and chooses to leave his response for a little later, after he’s seated. He’s lingered in front of this building long enough. 

The bell rings pleasantly behind him as he steps in and surveys the café. The ambience is perfect. The exact kind of place that Goro loves: small and cozy, covered in colors that are warm and dark. It has that kind of out of the way look that says the owner has little desire to allow trends to bend their aesthetic. Best of all, the whole place is permeated with the scent of coffee, all kinds of roasts mixing together in a divine blend that comforts rather than assaults. The scent of curry blends nicely with it, complex and mouthwatering even this early in the day. Goro is sure that by the time he leaves, the scent will have sunk into him like a second skin.

It’s quiet, no music plays to distract or draw attention. Instead there is a television that is running the news, the voices turned down so one might have to strain to hear them. Goro has a feeling there are rarely more than two customers here at a time. Especially since at this hour any café in Kichijoji or Shibuya would be at least half full. Right now, he’s the only customer. 

A man works behind the counter, facing away from him as he replaces a jar on the shelf filled end to end with coffee beans. 

“Welcome in.” the man says, “I’ll be with you in just a minute.” 

While he waits, Goro slides onto one of the stools, draping his coat across the back of it, and hooking his bag on the end. He’s left his briefcase at home today, the item is too bulky to carry with an injured arm and still navigate the few places he has to go before returning home. 

The man shifts to cleaning up dishes, left over by the previous customers Goro guesses. He doesn’t mind, he’s not in a hurry, plus this gives him a little time to respond to Kurusu. 

Goro: You must admit, yesterday was rather strange. I think I’m owed a little suspicion. 

Goro sends off the message with little thought to getting a response right away. It’s give and take right now as they say nothing and try to see who might bend first. A moment later, a phone pings to his left. Surprise makes him lift his eyes to see the origin of the coincidence. 

Standing just at the edge of a staircase, phone in hand, mouth agape, is Akira Kurusu. 

‘Crap.’ Akira thinks. ‘Crap, crap, double crap with a slice of cheese.’

Akechi is not supposed to be in Leblanc right now. He is not supposed to be in Leblanc for another few days at least, according to his plan. His carefully plotted, well formed, not totally slapped together last minute plan. The plan he is trying to follow to a T because if he messes it up then that will be it for him and Akechi and the whole stupid plan . 

What good is going back in time to solve problems if no one bothers to be in the right places for those problems to be solved around them? Honestly, it’s like Akira is the only one in the bunch who actually knows the plan. The plan he’d had all of last night to come up with because apparently that’s what making a deal with Jose gives him. 

Still, if he could, he’d shake Jose for being so taciturn about it all. Oh so yeah, Akira has the chance to right his mistakes this way. But dropping him practically right in Akechi’s lap with no warning had been uncalled for. Give a guy at least ten minutes to plan a thing. 

Oh and tell him exactly what point in space and time he’s going to find himself in. That’d be really helpful too. 

The last thing Akira needs is Akechi poking his nose into things when he shouldn’t be. Sure yes, he had screwed up by being so familiar and open about the whole Dr. Takemi thing before immediately claiming he’d just moved there. That was stupid, he’s a big enough man to admit that. 

But is Akechi really so suspicious that a slip like that might make him decide to take a closer look at him already? Of course he is. Akechi is nothing but suspicion and lies wrapped up in a pretty smile and false niceties. Any mistake on Akira’s part is sure to set off all of his alarm bells.

If the universe was kind to either of them, Akira never would have needed to go back in time. He and Akechi could have met earlier. 

He knows they could be great friends with a little more time. Being rivals is a given, but given a real chance, Akira knows he can pierce through Akechi’s shell and find not just a rival or an ally, but a friend hiding underneath. 

He wonders if meeting him the day of his arrival in Tokyo is early enough. If he’d had his way, his wish , it would have been years. Before either of them even knew what the Metaverse is. But the universe has never really been truly kind to either of them. 

Jose has always been kind to him though and Akira thinks perhaps he is something a little universe like. 

The short time he’s been given will simply have to be enough. It’s the only second chance he’s going to get. 

“Akechi, what are you doing here?” 

He steps out of the alcove and over to where Akechi is seated. It’s shocking seeing him here, in the same chair he has always picked, looking at him with the same kind of amusement he’d frequently show well into their friendship. It makes Akira want to be just as familiar with him, to lean into jokes and confidences they haven’t created yet. To talk with an Akechi still waiting in the wings. 

He’s already slipped up though, as Akechi’s eyes go just a little wide at Akira’s casual address for him. Never one to let on too much, that look is all Akira gets to let him know he’s probably moving too fast.

The thing is, he can’t help it. It’s so good to see Akechi again. When he’d come flying out in Mementos, Persona in the air, Akira had almost stopped breathing. He hadn’t expected it. Hadn’t expected him so soon. But there he had been, Black Mask and all, six seconds away from scruffing him like a cat. 

He’d almost flung himself at him. It had taken everything in him not to, his mind screaming wait, don’t fuck this up idiot. Don’t scare him off. Don’t get him killed again. 

It doesn’t stop his skin from itching, his hands feeling empty, his heart being an aching, excited mess that still can’t quite believe any of it is real. Because he’s alive. He’s here in Leblanc sitting in his usual seat, looking at Akira like he wants to pick him apart under a microscope to see what makes him tick. And alive. 

Akira will do everything in his power to make sure he stays that way. 

Akehi raises his arm, the sleeve is rolled up and a bandage has been expertly wrapped around it, neater than Akira has ever been able to manage. 

“I took your advice and went to visit Takami-san.” He raises an eyebrow at him, “Or have you already forgotten our conversation about her not knowing you?”

The phone in his palm buzzes again, reminding him of Akechi’s unread message. At the sound, the other boy smirks. What an ass. 

He'd missed him so much.  

Akira needs five minutes to put himself together but instead he’s faced with Akechi looking deeply amused at the predicament he’s in right now. He shoves the phone in his back pocket, and prays it doesn’t fall out. No need to reply when Akechi is right here. 

“Right!” He pastes on a smile they both know is forced, and rubs the back of his neck, “I’m sorry I’m just so surprised to see you here, it’s a school day.”

To his ears, he sounds like he’s panicking. He wonders if Akechi can hear the same thing. Though Akira doesn’t know what he’d even think if that were the case. The last thing Akechi could suspect him of is being a time traveler…right?

The eyebrow seemingly arches higher, “It seems neither of us are where we are supposed to be then.” 

Sojiro saves him by turning around at last, taking notice of both boys. Akira tries not to give him a panicked look, and thinks he succeeds. Unfortunately for him, this Sojiro hardly knows him and still thinks he’s trouble packaged in messy hair and glasses. Arriving late his first day had done nothing to help mitigate that little issue either. 

Sojiro puts a hand on his hip and in a disappointed tone Akira hasn’t heard in almost two years says, “I told you not to bother my customers.” 

If Akechi keeps upping the smugness of his look he’s afraid the other boy’s eyebrow might just pop off and take off towards outer space.

“Is this your boss?” He asks, tone infuriatingly even. 

“Boss?” Sojiro barks out a laugh, “Sure, with the amount of cleaning he’s done since he got here it’s a fair enough title.” He holds a hand out to Akechi,  “Sojiro Sakura, I take it you’re one of his friends?” 

“Indeed. We became acquainted yesterday in fact.” 

He’s forgotten how perfectly polished Akechi is when wearing his Detective Prince mask. Akira’s too used to the Akechi who’d warmed up to him, and the one who freely threw barbs and insults at him like endearments. This Akechi is like a doll, face just so, voice pitched perfectly pleasant, smile devoid of life. Akira’s stomach rolls. 

“Makes sense, this guy only just got here.”

Akira could kiss Sojiro, he’d probably hate that, but that doesn’t stop him wanting to express his undying gratitude. No way can Akechi still think he’s been lying about moving recently with that unprompted statement. 

He shoots his own smug look at Akechi, giving him his best “told ‘ya” grin. It does little to squash the amusement glittering behind Akechi’s eyes. He’s having fun playing with Akira, and piecing together this new element in his life. Akira has little intention of letting him know everything about himself just yet. Mystery is how he caught him in the first place. 

“I see.” Akechi flashes Sojiro a smile, his expression pulling into something like a predator, eager and plotting, or at least that’s what Akira reads in the tone and sharpening of his eyes. Everyone else sees the pleasant boy he's worked so hard to polish, especially when he says, “Still, Kurusu is someone I can see myself becoming close friends with.” 

Liar . Akira knows full well that all Akechi is worried about right now is just how much trouble this other Metaverse user will be to him. Every second and word between them is a calculation to determine just how much of a stumbling block Akira might be to his plans. And boy, what a stumbling block Akira plans to be. If he can pull this off Akechi’s plans are going to go off the rails far earlier than he could ever imagine. And maybe, just maybe, he’ll have a real shot at redemption this time. 

Sojiro grunts, the sound almost amused, “Well, what’ll it be? Might as well get you both a cup and let you talk.” 

After a brief glance up at the menu Akira answers, “Blue Mountain.” He shoots a surprised look at Akechi as he hears his words doubled, the other boy having answered the same thing at the same time. 

Sojiro only shakes his head, and starts working on the coffee.

Silence settles between them until both cups rest steaming in front of them. Akira has taken the seat by Akechi, since it would be silly to stand in such circumstances. Sojiro tries not to make a show of watching both of them try their coffee, wiping up a nonexistent drop off the counter while surreptitiously eyeing them. Sojiro has never been very good at hiding how much he cares for very long, whether that’s about coffee or the kids in his life. 

Akira doesn’t have to pretend to enjoy the drink. He’s been dying for a cup of this for weeks now. Only his Sojiro was waiting on a shipment, and he couldn’t very well ask for a cup after slinking in late on his first day under this one’s care. 

So he smiles into the cup, breathing deeply, and savors the familiar scent. Akira loves making coffee, but his will never taste exactly like Sojiro’s just like Sojiro’s will never taste like his. It is a treat when his adopted father makes him a mug.

“This is incredible, Sakura-San.” It’s the first genuinely honest thing Akira’s heard from Akechi in this timeline, the words said with real enjoyment as his eyes light up, “Far better than anything I’ve had before. Sae-san was right about this place.”

“Sae-san? As in Sae Niijima?” Sojiro frowns. 

“Yes.” Akechi’s tone is pleasant, “We work together on cases sometimes.”

“On cases?” Sojiro askes, frowning at Akechi, “I thought you looked kind of familiar. You’re that detective kid who's on tv sometimes.” His gaze turns on Akira, and something mischievous comes over his features, “Quite the find for a first friend here.”

Quite the find indeed. Almost as if fate had thrown Akira directly into his path. Thank goodness it hadn’t literally dropped him on Akechi, or made him materialize in front of him or something so painfully direct. That would have been impossible to explain. 

“Just lucky like that.” Akira shrugs between sips of blessedly good coffee, “Maybe Akechi will even introduce me to Niijima-san soon.” He turns to smile at his friend, but Akechi’s not paying attention to him, his gaze instead on his phone.

“Akechi?” Akira asks. 

He jerks his head up, blinking, “I apologize. It seems I misremembered the time for a meeting.” 

He scoops the required yen for his coffee from his pocket and sets it on the counter. The next second, he’s on his feet, tossing his jacket over his shoulder and giving the coffee a forlorn look. He’s hardly had any time at all to drink it.

Without really thinking, Akira stands too and steps behind the counter. He moves automatically, years of practice guiding his hands as he scoops a to-go cup from Sojiro’s secret stash and starts pouring Akechi’s coffee into it. Sojiro doesn’t do takeout, claiming it’s far too much trouble. However, on occasion he’ll give a longtime customer a cup on the way out. He’ll start carrying more now that Akira’s here, and Akira will be able to track his growing affection by how gently he’s handed the cup as he finishes his curry in the mornings. 

Sojiro either doesn’t notice or care that Akira’s made himself at home in the café after less than 24 hours living there. Instead, he’s taken Akechi’s money over to the register. Dimly Akira hears them discussing a receipt. 

Akira adds the extra from the carafe when he notices the cup isn’t full enough, and adds in a little sugar and cream, to balance it out the way Akechi likes this blend, before giving it a quick stir. He pops the lid on top and slides it over to him with a grin.

“Since you liked it so much.” he explains. 

Akechi’s lips twist into an odd kind of frown, like he’s not sure how to react to this display of barista prowess Akria’s just put on. But he takes the cup, holding it carefully in the hand not currently carrying a small bag and his jacket. 

He takes a step away from the bar and stops, turning his gaze directly on Akira, “Thank you. I am sorry to have to leave so quickly, I had wanted to discuss yesterday further with you.”

Akira waves him off, “Tomorrow, after school.”