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Fighting his Shadow isn't the same as utterly destroying the real man in the real world, but I'll give you that.

[Akechi's grudge was far older and more personal, after all. And while he'd very much considered fighting his father in his own Palace, he'd determined it too much a risk. Yet another thing to be jealous of Ren for, for achieving that kind of closure.

It doesn't help his scowl as he shakes his head.]

Not that much. You're wasting it.

(Ren makes that note for the future, if he continues to use the shampoo, that is. It smells nice, at least. The effort that will take to get all the product is epic, but eventually, he manages, combing his hair back with his fingers and out of his face just so he can actually see without the curls adjusting the size of his bangs.)

The conditioner, the same?

(He squeezes the bottle, product on the palm of his hand and he shows Akechi for Amount Control.)

[Akechi's already moved onto the conditioner stage by the time Ren's done getting the absurd amount of shampoo out of his hair, his head leaned forward a little to keep it out of the water as he lets the conditioner (he hopes) sink into the hair itself. He glances toward Ren at the question, and there's a moment where he could swear his heart skips a beat at the sight of his bare forehead.

It shouldn't matter that much. It's just the top of his face. But it's all too easy to imagine the silencer of a stolen pistol pressed against that criminally smooth skin.

His eyes flick down quickly to the offered hand, and he nods.]

Yes, that should do. It's better to overdo it on conditioner than shampoo, as the conditioner needs time to set into the hair.

[Don't mind him just washing himself as he lets the conditioner soak, very intently not thinking about the way Ren looks with his hair slicked back.

I wonder how my hair will look like.

(Visually? Not very different. Texture? Unfairly smooth. Goddamn it, Protagonists.

While Akechi has that existential crisis that Ren is not aware of, he happily slams the conditioner on the hair, combing the locks and when he releases them, they make their little curls and twirls at the tips. Should look nice, he thinks... Maybe the other is right. While the conditioner sets, he proceeds to wash himself, eyes falling to where his previous injury was - seemed to be healing well.

Conditioner... Is a pain... He feels his hair slippery for way too long in attempts to remove it.)

I commend your patience.

(With a huff.)

Who knows?

[Perhaps Akechi's unlocked a whole new hairstyle for him... just kidding. He'll look the same, but hopefully it'll help ward off split ends.

Ren just gets a bit of an odd look and a shake of his head.]

It's just part of a normal routine, though I have to wonder if it means anything, here. Considering we only started to require food recently... have you noticed your hair even growing at all?

Edited 2020-08-23 05:15 (UTC)

The curls make it difficult to tell.

(But Akechi's straight locks seem to be the same length he has always had. Ren is done with the showering, and he finally stands up to move to the... Bath... With the fish.

But a bath nonetheless. Stripping of the towel, in he goes. The temperature was nice, so he just tries to shoo the fish first and now he can sit.)

[Akechi is a little longer in the shower, because of course he is, but he does watch Ren leave. He really does seem so remarkably carefree, even in a situation such as this. It's too easy to think about the time they spent together before all hell broke loose, when they went to the bathhouse together on Sojiro's recommendation and Akechi spilled his sad excuse for a backstory while they soaked.

He closes his eyes and exhales through his nose as he finally washes the conditioner out. Well. At least he's already done that once and won't have to suffer through it again.

Finally satisfied, he enters the bath after Ren, neatly folding his towel as he gets in across from him. In spite of himself, he can feel his muscles relaxing in the warm water, memories of his childhood mingling with the pleasant time he'd spent with Ren in the past.

Then a fish brushes against his calf, and he yelps, reflexively kicking at it.]

Gah, these fucking fish!

(By the time Akechi joins, Ren was already soaking in the calmness, almost immune to the fish moving up and down and sometimes booping his ribs. He might even take a very quick shower again before leaving... It almost makes him feel like a person after months of not feeling like one! Sleep would definitely be the next big thing for him to feel less emotionally exhausted, but it would be a lie to say this isn't helping.

Akechi's reflexes break him from the trance, though! He jumps a little, eyes snapping open.)

Did they bite you?!

Of course not.

[He's very still for a moment, then lunges into the water where he thought he saw a shadow. Unfortunately, he doesn't catch a fish with his bare hands, and he hisses another curse through his teeth.]

Perhaps later we should remove them to the river? Or cook them and eat them for their intrusion.

Things don't die. I am not eating something alive.

(Also, what's this 'we' should cook it... Are you lending a hand...

Ren shakes his head, trying not to let his laugh show.)

You're too tense. Relax.

(A tentatively hand on his shoulder. Either Akechi hisses or he allows it and they never speak about it again.)

[He is willing to sit and watch you cook, Ren! If they're alive, all the better.

His eyes widen, but he manages not to flinch when Ren's hand touches his shoulder. But unlike Ren's request, if anything, he simply tenses further. How could he not, when it's an abrupt reminder that they are naked together? He glowers at Ren's hand, but behind the reflexive distaste at being unexpectedly touched, there's panic that kicks his heart into overdrive. It's affection that he so desperately craves, and yet can't allow himself. Can't allow Ren this close.

He scoffs and dips his shoulder to dislodge his grip, moving a few feet away.]

If anything, you aren't tense enough. If you get bitten, don't come crying to me.

(He respects the cue to retreat, so he does, the arm moving to rest on the edge of the bath, fingers gently playing with the water.

The realization that they ARE INDEED in a bath hit him when Akechi basically swims away. He goes back to eyes closed and head tilted back, he's refusing to watch Akechi and have a repeat of his struck face.)

These ones don't have killer fins.

(Should be fine.)

That we've seen.

[Has anyone been feeding the koi in the bath? Well, if they leave them be for long enough, presumably they'll eat themselves and-- well. They won't die. His lip curls in distaste at what that might do to the bath, even as he leans against his own side of the bath, arms outstretched to either side. Normally he'd be much more polite about being in a bath, staying drawn in to himself, but it's not like there's anyone else here to complain about taking up space.]

I think we should remove them as soon as possible, though. If things get hungry but can't die, well. It will become a quite literal bloodbath.

[He gestures. Imagine the water! How disgusting. Definitely a better thing to think about than his rival, naked, across from him.]

I'll see if I can make a net.

(Shouldn't be too hard with all the things laying aorund at the beach. Keeping his hands occupied have been one of the best things he had going on in the void, be it arranging flowers, making coffee or curry, or even making tools for when it's needed.

He agrees though that the bathhouse should be taken care of, though. It might be challenging to transport them, assuming no more will just appear.)

We should wash our clothes as well.

Good.

[If no one else will take care of it, perhaps they (Ren) should. It's a pleasant place to spend time, if nothing else.

He opens one eye when Ren mentions about their clothes, though, almost thoughtfully. It's not a bad idea; though the washing machines don't work, they could certainly use water from the showers and make a fire to dry them, and he's fairly certain he'd seen detergent by the machines themselves.]

That isn't a bad idea at all.

[-And without waiting, he pushes himself out of the bath entirely, grabbing his towel to wrap around himself. He doesn't have a second set of clothes, after all, so it only makes sense to start washing them now and soak while they dry by a fire.]

(Ren is so whipped and we all know it... (:

He wasn't expecting the commotion, so he opens one eye - did a fish bite him or touch him again? ... And then he sees a very naked Akechi?? They have been like this for a while now, but it's different when suddenly he just ups and leaves...??? And Ren had no time to think of anything else to gaze?? Him being the first thing in his view point???

Good thing Akechi is leaving and can't see the blush. Begone.)

[Luckily for Ren, Akechi isn't looking at him. He's busy scrounging around for a bucket and the aforementioned detergent so he can start washing his clothes.

...Oh, and rocks. With a frown of distaste, he looks over his clothes, sighs, and pulls his loafers back on to venture outside and grab two rocks, hurrying back inside before anyone can see him in his towel. It's just highly inappropriate!]

I'll get the fire going to dry them, [he calls from the adjacent room, finally providing an explanation as to what he's doing.]

(Riding out the heart attack, Ren just watches with a tilted head and the biggest frown known to mankind. Where... What?

Sorry, he tuned out and only returned to Earth when Akechi spoke again. He blinks, kind of trying to pull himself back and now it's his turn to leave, careful steps out as he gathers his clothes. Having two outfits is a priviledge, but also, twice the work.)

[Akechi glances up when he hears the other leave the bath, nodding once he realizes what he's doing. It should feel awkward, staying beside Ren in nothing but his towel, but the truth is, it's just so easy to feel comfortable around him. Ren is a constant, steadying presence no matter where he is or what he's doing.

So maybe paradoxically, that's why he feels like the tension between them is thicker than the humidity. He can't allow himself to be lulled into a false sense of security by that comfort. Can't afford to keep letting Ren in past his metaphorical walls. Not just for Ren's sake, but for his own, as well. If they ever make it back...

He scowls down at the soapy water in the bucket and scrubs his clothing harder. Fuck.]

I think we'll need to find where the water from the river feeds into the bath to stop any more fish from getting in, [he observes finally, voice carefully neutral as he finishes the last of his clothing and wrings them out before hanging them to dry.] I'm certain we can find some kind of suitable method for blocking wildlife once we know what, exactly, we're dealing with.

(Ren follows the bucket idea, taking his spare outfit from the locker and tossing it inside along with everything but the grey coat. That seems like it really should wait for the washing machine and Ren hasn't been wearing it so much - the outfit is comfortable and feels nice enough even without it.

If Akechi is observant enough to look at the clothes Ren starts to scrub next to him, he will notice some holes and rips in the inner fabric of his black blazer. To the words, Ren can't help but to notice the change in tone... Did he see him blush? Is he still blushing? (Yes, just a little.) Did he say something? Well. No use dwelling, so he just nods to the words.)

We can inspect this later. I'm sure I can put something together with all the things at the beach.

Edited 2020-08-23 07:13 (UTC)

[Akechi's own winter coat would certainly do better being dry cleaned than thrown in the wash, uniform or not, so he doesn't even try. Clothes finished, he dumps the soapy water down the shower drain and replaces it, taking one of the as-of-yet-unused buckets and turning it over near the hanging clothes. A few strikes of the rocks, and he starts a small fire inside the bucket, positioned far enough away from everything else that it won't catch and burn things they need.]

Excellent. I'm sure people will be grateful for your accomplishment.

[Is he assuming Ren will do all the work and thus take all the credit? Yes. He reaches up to spread his clothes out for easier drying, then stretches, feeling his shoulders pop. Try not to stare at all that toned muscle he's showing off, not even on purpose this time.]

Is your dagger ripping your jacket?

[Yeah, he noticed. Part of his attempt to look anywhere but at Ren.]

Edited 2020-08-23 07:22 (UTC)

(Since when has that been a factor in anything Ren does? Acknowledgement came organically, but it has never been a motivating factor. After all, who but his people know who he is and what has done for the country? Never cared about it at all... So naturallly, his face expresses his conflict with Akechi's words, wrinkled nose and all.

Either way, Ren wasn't expecting the coat to be a matter of conversation... Specialy now that Ren became Distracted. Akechi gets a vey silent sigh, but more of a glare. He's... Trying so hard.)

Eh- No.

Tifa-san and I had to tend to an animal that entered the bar. I used the blazer to calm it down and capture it.

Edited 2020-08-23 07:34 (UTC)

I'm surprised Tifa-san couldn't take care of it herself.

[She really does punch hard... whatever animal it was, he's certain she could quite literally punch it back out onto the streets. Not just a bartender, but a bouncer as well.

He arches an eyebrow at the glare, hand dropping to his hip as he meets Ren's glare with a challenging stare of his own.]

Is something the matter?

She was scared.

(This was going towards the sparring he witnessed, albeit shortly... Until he's betrayed by his own expressions.

Ren doesn't curse himself, but there's a very long strong of those running through his mind right now... He'd be fine with the question, dodge it, ignore it, continue scrubbing his clothes like there was nothing tugging at his heart strings... But paired with the piercing challenge that he received with the gaze? Maybe too much for him.

It possibly wasn't even on purpose, Ren can acknowledge that, but he... Can't just let Akechi give him one of those and immediately deflate. It's not even an option, specially with how Akechi catching up on it was Ren's fault. He owns his actions, after all.

It's silent for a while, Ren's own gaze not wavering for a second as he tries to study that stupid glare he is receiving... And he breaks. A hand moves to the damp hair shortly before his lips find their way to Akechi's pair. It... Wasn't a gentle one, but much between them isn't. Instead, it was a frustrated, angry answer to the question he had received.

You're a pain, Akechi.)

Edited 2020-08-23 08:05 (UTC)

[Akechi doesn't know what that glare is supposed to mean, hence, the question. If he was going to be scolded for sounding like he was mocking either Tifa or Ren himself, perhaps, though he'd expect disappointment rather than anger. Anger is a good look on him, he thinks, even if it's not an emotion he usually associates with the other.

He opens his mouth to ask once again, or perhaps taunt him, "Cat got your tongue, Ren?" but before he can form any words there's a hand on his hair and lips crashing against his own in an ungentle kiss. For a moment, he's frozen in place from the sheer shock of it, every muscle snapping into a rigid uncertainty as even his own thoughts scramble into an incoherent mess.

Then, as if something chaining him back had snapped all at once, Akechi surges forward with a low growl, tilting his head to deepen the kiss in something almost animalistic in its unpracticed fierceness.]

Edited 2020-08-23 08:19 (UTC)

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