awashlogs | September Catch-all!

[It's early afternoon now. Akira has just finished up his lunch of soup, now mostly cold, made by Yata the day before, and he's taking advantage of a moment without customers to do some dishes. He's interrupted by the door opening, and he turns in time to see Akechi walk in.

He smiles immediately, dropping the dish he was washing into the basin and wiping his hands on his apron as he comes to the counter.]

You're here early.

Oh? I didn't realize you were keeping track of my schedule.

[ Comes his melodious reply, almost as smooth as usual-- but only almost. Although he does tease Akira for it, it's true dropping by the cafe whenever it's open has become a part of his routine, notably by the end of the afternoon, right before closing hours. Today, however, he's allowed eagerness and anxiety to get the best of him, showing up a little early with a reason and an excuse.

The former is the reason why his mannerisms are slightly off, and the latter is a crutch he holds on to.

So with that thought in mind and not another word, he takes up his customary seat and slides a package over the counter, neatly wrapped in old newspaper. Inside, Akira will find a medium-sized wooden plaque; it's shaped like a rectangle with round edges, and the surface has been polished to the best of Akechi's abilities with what little tools they have available. The words "Cafe Morgana" and "Open" have been written in purple paint, in simple but elegant calligraphy. A fine job, really. ]

[Akira takes the package gingerly, unwrapping it slowly, but with an eager light in his eyes. He's excited to see what Akechi did.

And of course it's as elegant as he would have expected. Still simple, to match the more rustic theme of the cafe, but beautiful all the same.]

...It's awesome.

[Maybe the paltry praise is a bit short on words, but the smile he offers up to Akechi hopefully makes up for it, a sincere beam, bigger than normal, his eyes shining with appreciation.]

[ That is an unfairly bright smile and it does terrible things to Akechi's insides, like a punch to the gut and a healing balm at the same time. It's better than any kind of praise he could possibly get, too; that alone is saying a lot. ]

You haven't even seen all of it yet.

[ He recovers quickly, though, and with smooth words and a smile of his own, he proceeds to flipping the plaque over, revealing a very similar surface, except on this side the word "Closed" has been written instead. ]

It's double-sided, so costumers will be easily able to find your cafe and figure out whether the barista is still in. Quite handful, isn't it?

[ ... okay maybe he could use some actual praise. ]

[Yes, he sees that the other side says Closed - very useful. He's still smiling as his gaze rises from the plaque to the boy so proud of his work.

He knows what Akechi wants, and he only teases him for a few seconds before giving it to him.]

It's perfect. You did a great job. We can hang it up right now, so everyone else who comes in today can see it.

[Everyone will see his fine plaque, and admire the handiwork!]

[ Praise!! Finally!! Even though it's still a little lacking, but he doesn't expect Akira to get verbose all of the sudden. ]

That's exactly what I had in mind.

[ But everyone else? Hmm... no, not really. So when he takes the plaque and moves over to the door, he hangs it up with the "Closed" side facing forward. And when he looks back at Akira, his smile holds a hint of mischief. ]

I don't think there will be any more customers coming in today, though.

[Akira raises an eyebrow when Akechi hangs up the sign backwards. But he doesn't have to ask before Akechi is turning back to him with a look that sends a tingle down Akira's spine.

There's a sudden anticipation in the air as he raises his eyebrows at Akechi's mischief, folding his arms over his chest like that will hold back his suddenly hammering heart.]

Oh? And why's that?

[Go ahead, Akechi. Tell him what you really came for.]

[ A chuckle. ]

Well, the sign says the cafe is closed!

[ What a piece of shit!!

But he's not planning to leave it at that, so he heads back over to his preferred seat, that same smile accompanying him. ]

Honestly, it looks like it has been slow business today, so I thought we could have some quiet time to ourselves. [ He's carefully avoiding using the word "together", but the intent is there, clear as day, as he rests an elbow on the counter, chin on his hand. ] Call it exercising my right as VIP, if you will.

[ There's more than one way to be a very important person, after all. ]

[That shit! Obviously the sign says that but why!

Only, the "why" of it is answered when Akechi comes back, sliding onto his usual stool and looking up at Akira like that. His heart skips a few more beats, and he takes a moment to steady himself.]

Some quiet time, huh?

[He sounds interested, a small smile playing on his lips.]

Alright then, VIP. Would you like some coffee to sip during your quiet time?

[He knows the "together" was in there, but still... he doesn't want to get too ahead of himself.]

Why come to a cafe if not for the coffee?

[ Piece! Of! Shit!!

But again, he doesn't hang on to that for too long, and even though his soft laughter is enough of a show of playfulness, he adds, just for good measure: ]

You should make that two, though. Or have you had too much already?

[ He came not for the coffee, but for the barista, after all. ]

I usually don't drink any.

[It helps the stock last longer. But just for this special occasion, he'll start up enough for two, one the way Akechi likes it, and one the way he himself likes it.

Or at least he will start, unless Akechi stops him.]

Just give me a minute.

Hmm. I'll wait.

[ He won't stop him.

But as he waits, he will let his eyes wander around, and if Akira asks, he'll just justify his actions to being a good investor in a business, always making sure everything is in place and trying to think of ways to improve it. But the truth is far from that; he's not thinking about the cafe at all.

Well, almost. The barista is a part of the cafe. ]

It is unusually quiet in here today, isn't it? Or was it just my impression?

A closed cafe doesn't have much going on.

[And Akechi was the one that closed it, after all! Though, when Akira thinks about it, he really hasn't seen that many people today. Maybe no one felt like coffee this morning... or maybe Chroma is up to something today.

Well, whatever it is, it can wait. Akira intends to enjoy this, whatever it is that's happening, town be damned.]

That's alright, though. It means I can spend time with my favorite customer.

[ ... oh wow, he doesn't pull any punches, does he? ]

Unless you say that to everyone, that's terrible business practice, Kurusu-kun.

[ He laughs it off-- or rather, he tries to, but there's already a bit of a fluster dusting his cheeks. The idea of being someone's favorite, of being that special... that has always been something he's wanted. Something he'd do anything to earn.

But Akira? Akira has freely given it to him, even when he shouldn't. And Akechi has had to think long and hard about why he wants this so much. Would he still just crave it this badly, regardless of who it came from?

His eyes seek the siphons, focused on them like the boiling water could provide answers. ]

Between the two of us, I'm the only one who's allowed to have a favorite.

[ Luckily, he thinks he has the answer already. This isn't regardless of Akira.

It's because it's Akira. ]

[That fluster. Of course he catches it out of the corner of his eye, and feels something warm wash over him. Akechi really did just want to come here to spend time with him... and maybe, maybe, even more.

Abandoning the coffee for now, he steps back over to stand in front of Akechi, looking at him across the counter. His expression is quietly amused, but his eyes are more focused, intense, searching. Trying to see if he can find the answer in there already.]

...Who's the lucky guy?

[Guy, because he's pretty sure it is. Because he thinks, hopes, wants it to be him.]

[ His eyes trail after Akira as he moves over to the counter again. Someone is a little too eager, huh? ]

Are you not finishing my order? You may be the only barista in town, but I might still change my mind about it.

[ He won't change his mind about it.

He definitely doesn't mean his favorite as a barista only, either. ]

[Fine, fine... he can be patient, if that's what Akechi wants.]

Of course. Coming right up.

[So he'll turn back to the coffee, let it finish, then poor it, still steaming, into cups. Once he's put a little milk in his, he comes back, holding the mug out for Akechi to take.]

Here you go.

[ What Akechi really wants is to tease, not out of malice, but because he genuinely finds Akira's reactions to be quite... endearing. He's always so cool and aloof, hardly ever showing much emotion beyond the mildest flavors; to see him suddenly show so much eager interest, with open beaming and antsy words... It's novel, and flattering, knowing that Akechi has that kind of power over him-- power that he's employing on nefarious ´purposes.

No wonder the detective prince is only a mask. Perhaps he was always meant to be a criminal and steal hearts, after all.

So when Akira offers him the mug, his mischievous smile makes a return, and he takes the proffered coffee with both hands-- and maybe something else along with it.

Thank you. [ His fingers wander over towards the handle, cupping the back of Akira's hand. ] Now you can be my favorite again.

[ The "barista" has been dropped entirely. Akira is just his favorite. ]

[The fingers are warm and solid on his hand, and as Akechi's words wash over him, Akira feels his heart skip, then quicken in excitement. Akechi is calling him his favorite, after all. Then, does that mean...

He opens his mouth to say something, anything, but then... something is suddenly very, very wrong.

He hears a woman's cries from up ahead, arguing with a man. As he gets closer, he recognizes that the guy is drunk, and bothering her. She pleads for him to stop.

"She's in danger. I have to save her," he thinks, and starts to move, running down the dark streets to find a man trying to force a woman into a car. A man Akechi will know very well.

The man and woman argue; the man calls the police his "bitches," as Akira has recounted before. Then he spots Akira, demands to know what he's looking at.

"Just stop. Leave her alone," Akira thinks, before moving forward.

Everything that happens next is a bit of a blur in Akira's memory, but it's clear he never actually touched the guy. And yet the man goes down, drunk and unsteady, and hits his head on a guardrail.

As he tells the police that Akira assaulted him, Akira's thoughts jumble in his head.

"This isn't fair. I didn't do anything. You did this to yourself. This isn't fair. This isn't fair!"

He's loaded into the back of the police car, staring out at the man as they start to drive away.

"They'll uncover the truth, right? This can't be that bad."

He tries to tell himself that, as the bald man and the woman disappear from view.]

[ In stark contrast with the warm feeling emanating from their hands, the vision is cold, paralyzing as it washes over him.

It's dark out, and everything is unfamiliar-- well, almost. He's never been to these streets before, or seen that woman, either, but... that voice. He knows that voice far too well, slurred though it may be. He would recognize it anywhere; it is the man who ruined his life, after all.

But... Akira is there? Why? Who is that woman, and why is he getting involved in this?

The sequence of events is enough to give then the answer he's looking for. The accident, and the corrupt police taking Akira in under false charges, and a man powerful enough that he could keep his own name out of the records... That was the day Akira was labelled a delinquent and given unfair treatment, cast away by society and even his own family. Not very much unlike Akechi.

And just like Akechi, his life, too. had been ruined by Masayoshi Shido.

As soon as realization dawns, the memory is over, and Akechi returns to his senses with a sharp gasp, eyes still wide open. He takes a few breaths, silent, just trying to will his heart rate back to normal. Waiting it out.

It doesn't really work. ]

Akira...

[ For all that he's gained a new memory, he seems to lose another, too. He forgets to address him as "Kurusu-kun." ]

[Akira gasps, himself, coming out of the memory. For a moment, he stands still, silent, a a pallor over his face that wasn't there before. Even after all this time, even after beating Shido... it seems that memory still has power over him.

It's Akechi saying his name that snaps him out of it, makes him raise his eyes from their hands to Akechi's face. Akechi has only ever called him by his first name once before - then it had almost hurt, but now it pulls him back from the darkness of his past.]

I...

[He trails off, takes a deep breath, swallows, tries again.]

Sorry you had to see that. The town must be acting up again.

[ The town... He couldn't give less of a damn about the town's whimsies right now, not like he ever does. It has tricked him once before, and shown him visions that were far too cruel and catered to strike at the core of his weakness, but this? ]

This... wasn't an illusion, was it?

[ It can't be. It's too real, and judging from the way Akira talks about it it's something that really happened to him-- a memory. And that is... ]

That was the night you were wrongly taken in.

[ He's looking at their hands, still joined. It's an anchor and a reminder. ]

...Yeah.

[No use hiding it - it's pretty clear what happened just there. And Akechi wants him to open up more, right? Hiding the truth wouldn't do either of them any good.

He wonders what Akechi is thinking, now that he knows it was Shido, but he can't ask.]

...Sorry. Even after all this time, that memory... that voice...

[He trails off, and pushes back his hair with his free hand.]

Somehow, I ruined the mood.

[Damn.]

[ Is it much of a mood if Akechi can't even remember it?

Because right now, all he can think about is how angry he is at Shido for continuously ruining his life since before he was even born. It's like he doesn't get a fighting chance; even when the bastard is nowhere around, across an entirely different world, he still finds a way to destroy anything Akechi tries to build for himself, a family, a future, even this budding relationship--

...even Akira's life, in more ways than just one. If they hadn't come to this place, if nothing had ever changed between them, then surely by now, Akira, his unlikely source of happiness, would have been--

His grip on that hand tightens, squeezing, crushing, and if it's about as good a answer to Akira's unspoken question and he's getting. Akechi's thoughts are livid, red with anger.

Or at least right now, they are. But what he sees next is--

A werewolf, tracking him down, hunting, pinning him down with ferocious might and hunger. It's something Akira will get to see again, a memory to live through once more, from a different perspective. He was there, after all.

He was the werewolf.

"Not human. No better than an animal. Out to get you. Kill him."

Akechi remembers the voice, the paranoia that took over at the time, as he struggled to free himself, to no avail.

"Do you want to die here?"

Akechi's pistol was pressed flush against Akira's chest, trying, hoping against hope that he would give up. But he didn't. And Akechi didn't want to die.

"Pull the trigger."

There was a shot, and Akechi's final thought.

"Akira..." ]

Edited 2018-09-25 04:11 (UTC)

Ah-

[Akira first reacts to the pain as his hand is crushed, Akechi's grip and his own hold on the coffee cup combining to make his appendage ache. But he doesn't have to think about his hand long, before a completely different pain is engulfing him.

He sees himself, wild, crazy, an uncontrollable beast. And he sees it all through Akechi's eyes, worse, hears his thoughts telling him to kill him. And though he can't blame Akechi, doesn't blame him at all for what happened, it's still all too much. It's too much to watch himself in that state, to watch himself die all over again, to hear Akechi's own paranoia and anguish like it's happening to him instead.

The coffee cup slips out of his hand, crashing to the counter and spilling its contents. Akira hardly seems to notice.]

September Catch-all!

the 21st

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