(open) can't hold on or life won't change

[forethinking]

Who: ren-chan & you!
What: as per usual, a bunch of prompts in the comments!
Where: literally everywhere
When: through the month of ooc october.
Content Warnings: for now, nothing. will be warned in the top level!

Comments

[forethinking]

(Ren taps a finger on the other's hand when he sees the grimace, wordlessly like he's asking of the other to not move much if it will hurt. Ren could move, it wouldn't have been a problem if it would keep the injury from stinging, but there sure is a smile to feel the hand in his hair.

Akechi's hand is smaller, he's noticed, and much softer in comparison to his - all the tool-making and training and whatnot created a contrast between delicate-looking and rough-textured. The softer hand is moved again to lips, Ren pressing a kiss on a knuckle while he thinks and hums.)

You're not wrong. (Obviously.) I just want to make sure she's familiar enough with the Void.

[simulatio]

Hm.

[He ignores Ren's wordless request, because of course he does, and only hums in response to his statement. The other boy is smiling, and that's worth any pain.

Ugh. What a sappy fucking thought. Still, he lets himself stroke his hand through Ren's hair, tentative like trying to pet a stray. His hair is a different texture to his own, as well; it truly is unfair how soft it is when he has first-hand experience with how little effort the other boy puts into maintaining it.]

She's updated you on her... situation, then?

awww..... also potential royal spoilers from here down

[forethinking]

(Oh, he puts a total of three percent of effort on it - he makes sure not to comb it back so it doesn't dry weirder. The same amount of effort he puts on his skin, remarkable and unfairly clean when one considers the fact he simply slaps bodywash on it.)

She has. (And he isn't sure what to feel about it. It feels strange to have done something and either not remember, or actually not have done it himself. An empty, incomplete victory.

Well, "he" kept his promise after all.)

How do you feel?

[simulatio]

...

[His hand stills in his hair once again, a familiar worm of dread snaking its way into his heart. Surely he isn't asking about Yoshizawa's acceptance of herself, her determination and willingness to move on as herself, no matter the pain she'd suffered in her past.

Surely not.]

You forget that I knew some of this already, [he observes, voice carefully neutral as he forces himself to resume petting Ren's hair, though he doesn't really feel it.] Yoshizawa-san has a tremendous strength of will when she's willing to use it. Once you pulled her from Maruki's grasp, she simply had to learn to stand on her own two feet. I'm not surprised.

[He knows it's not what Ren was asking about, but he can't help but be obtuse. It's in his nature.]

[forethinking]

(He isn't. That conversation is meant for her and he has had it, even though he surely is smiling through the summary. It's nice to hear Akechi mirror his exact thoughts - it surely makes him feel like words are not always needed.)

Which is why I think she'll be fine here. She just needs to find her strength to do it.

(He certainly noticed the avoiding of the question, but Ren won't push at it.)

[simulatio]

[He simply hums in agreement. He'd given her a rundown of what to expect in the Void; the rest is up to her.

As for what her presence entails, related to him... he'd said he'd wanted to be a better person for Ren, hadn't he? Isn't that what he and Blue had discussed? So after a few moment's silence, he exhales a soft sigh, stroking his fingers through Ren's hair again.]

I... apologize for doubting your resolve, [he says finally, combing a bit of Ren's hair between his fingers as his gaze drifts away.] I should have known you would challenge Maruki no matter what.

[forethinking]

(In the short period of silence, Ren allows his mind to wander, Akechi's hand near his lips being the target of another silent kiss, longer and lingering.

There's just a lot in his mind. Ka-- Sumire's well-being a top priority as of now, and he's not going to coddle her, but there should be at least some amount of protectiveness so that she can adapt and grow accustomed to the nightmare that is the Void. Lend her a little bit of strength, he thinks, while she builds up the nerve to do it herself.

Ann has been quiet. Memshare was not kind to her, much less showing her what she allowed him to go through - even if there wasn't a soul on either heaven or hell that could make him choose a different outcome if it meant his friends would be safe. He knows that eventually, she'll come around and that he needs to make changes, be a better friend. He doesn't know where to begin.

Akechi's shoulder seems to be improving quickly, which means that soon, he might leave Ren to his own apartment. It's bittersweet - half of him happy to have been given the opportunity to take care of the other and see what it results in, and the other half of him reluctantly admitting that he wished it would last longer. After all, the company is more than welcome and it helps him navigate the relationship they're building.

The other can be annoying sometimes, nagging, but it brings Ren joy that he just isn't able to hide, even the short smile on his lips that show while the thought comes and goes.

Finally, the other speaks and Ren opens his eyes, blinking to get used to the brightness again.)

Thank you. (Ren gives the other a nod and a blinding smile. Akechi truly is trying, isn't he? Ren can tell - apologies, returning caresses, honesty. Things might suck a little right now, but here, inside those four walls, they finally are falling into place.)