Chapter Text
"Knocked ‘em right off their feet! Nice, Joker!” Futaba calls as Akira does a particularly good hit on a shadow and a graceful back flip landing right next Akechi, just in time for Akira to catch the roll of his eyes.
“Hmph… show off,” Akechi scoffs as Akira smirks and even does a theatric bow before him.
“Haven’t seen anything yet Honey.”
The call back to the pet name Akira had used on a whim at LeBlanc now being used here in the METAVERSE of all places causes Akechi to glare at their leader.
“Did all that fighting cause you to lose your memory and forget my codename Joker? Because I could have sworn we all agreed on Crow and not… that,” Akechi tells him with a condescending smile.
Rather than be intimidated by Akechi, Akira felt more amused than anything.
“Awe, did Crow’s feathers get a little ruffled?” Akira continues to tease, and the comment causes the other members of the team to snicker and for Akechi to turn red.
“WHY YOU-“
“JOKER! CROW! Stop the flirting for a minute cuz another shadow’s coming our way! It’s one enemy and it’s weak, but don’t let your guard down!” Futaba interrupts and both boys turn away from each other to focus on the newcomer.
It was quite… underwhelming as a shadow because it was tiny and didn’t even seem to notice the band of thieves at its midst.
It looked almost a bit doughy and round with these big confused eyes that looked like it would cry any second.
“…looks like some sorta mascot from a video game or somethin,” Ryuji, who had his weapon at the ready had put it down to scratch his head in confusion.
“Oh it’s so cute!!! I kinda wanna hug it!!!” Ann squeals and the sounds cause the shadow to start rolling around in different directions frantically.
“Joker, is it possible to deal with this shadow without engaging it combat? It doesn’t look like it wants to fight…” Makoto says, and Akira nods as he moves to approach the strange shadow. Before he can go any closer however, he’s stopped by someone holding on to his shoulder.
“H-hey wait…are you sure approaching this shadow is a good idea? Oracle did say we shouldn’t let our guard down…” Akechi is apprehensive staring down at the shadow that was now pathetically crying its way into a tiny puddle.
“BWAHAHA what’s wrong Crow? Ya scared of the little shadow-wadow?” Ryuji snickers, and Akechi, for the good of the team and Ryuji’s life, ignores the jab.
“…I’m just saying that I don’t trust it…looks can be deceiving…”
That was rich coming from Akechi and the team couldn’t help their uneasy glances that landed on their newest member.
Akira shares a look with Akechi ignoring the kinda obvious stares of the other Phantom Thieves and is contemplative for a moment, before nodding in understanding.
“Crow, be my back up in case it’s an ambush or a trick. Everyone else stay back in case we spook it.”
Akechi seems to brighten up at the order, while the rest of the team is uneasily silent. They do not trust Akechi to be with Akira, and they tried to signal that to him with their hesitant stances.
After all, what sane person would let their friend go into danger with the person who had promised to kill him?
Akira just waves their worries away, quite literally actually, with a wave of his hand and nodding at Akechi who gave a nod of his own.
Whatever Akechi had said was right, because as soon as they were within a meter of the shadow, it had begun to flail and panic, before flinging itself at the pair.
“JOKER LOOK OUT!” Akechi shouts, tackling Akira to the ground and getting hit by the shadow that after colliding with Akechi, disappeared in a puff of smoke.
“JOKER!!!” The rest of the Phantom Thieves chorus, not seeing through the smoke what had happened.
They rushed towards the two boys, and when the smoke had cleared, they see both Joker and Crow on the floor, Crow on top of their leader in some kind of cuddle-hug.
Akira winces as he moves to sit up, Crow still draped around him. Akira was slightly dazed from the fall, but was alright as he was assaulted by the voices of his teammates who were beginning to crowd around them, on guard and worried with what had happened.
“Leader are you okay? Do you need anything?” Haru is fretting about, and checking injuries.
“This is a worrying turn of events what had happened?” Yusuke was musing out loud.
“AHHH FUCK DUDE WHAT THE FUCK AKECHI WAS RIGHT DAMMNIT YOU OKAY?” Ryuji was shouting over the others.
“Guys, more shadows could be coming, or even that reaper guy, it’s dangerous to stay here!” Morganna raises his voice to be heard over the others.
“Futaba, scan the area are there any shadows left? It might still be around we don’t know what it did,” Makoto taking charge was giving orders.
“Shadows are gone but Akechi is affected with something!” Futaba announces, and Ann jumps.
“What is he affected with? He didn’t hurt Joker did he?”
“Everyone please calm down,” Akira’s voice finally speaks up, and all the commotion quickly dies out as they realize their leader is trying to tell them something and when they follow Akira’s gaze they are stunned into silence.
The confident detective prince Goro Akechi was shaking in his arms.
“I-I’m sorry… I don’t know what’s happening please don’t hurt me…w-what’s going on…”
Very slowly, Akira brings his arms to Akechi’s shoulders, coaxing Akechi to look at him.
“Akechi…what’s wrong?” Akira asks him gently, wondering why Akechi was suddenly acting so out of character.
It was more surprising when instead of an answer, Akechi had replied with a confused expression.
“Am…am I Akechi? Is that my name…?”