Chapter Text
~THIRD PERSON POV~
Joker's breath faltered when he saw them sitting in a cell. Sure, all the thieves had been found, reserved and quiet in a prison cell- but seeing (Y/N) hit him differently, seeing the usually energetic figure hunched over, holding themself in a fetal position... it felt wrong. Emotionally drained and visibly tired, they looked up to Akira from their position on the cold velvet room floor, for a minute, their eyes softened and gazed longingly at the boy before giving a soft sigh. (Y/N) looked away, shame growing on their face in heavy set brows and a deep frown, "it's over, huh?"
The words hurt Akira's heart but he persevered in trying to keep stone faced as to not effect teammates, "I'm really happy you're okay". When no reply came, he stepped closer to the cell door, wrapped his hands around the bars and leaned further against the freezing steel, "treasure?". (Y/N) didnt dare gaze back toward the trickster, instead lowering their head when the pet name was whispered into the dark, "I'm tired, Akira..." they lifted their hands to their face and the motion was soon followed by faint sniffling that echoed against the walls, "we did everything for these people, and they dont even want it! They dont even want freedom..."
For a second it went silent again, then they stood up from the floor and wrapped their hands around Akira's crimson gloved ones; leaning their forehead against the bars, (Y/N) gave a quick glance to the trickster, "I'm tired of trying so hard and it all just being useless". Their voice cracked and it took every ounce of power that they had to not cry or scream in the face of their leader- they already could feel the growing lump in their throat, the irritation in their eyes from building tears and their shoulders tremble slightly as they bunched around their neck. Joker very slowly moved one hand through the cell bars and used it to gently tip back (Y/N)'s chin, "what we've done hasn't been useless, treasure", his teammate grimaced in response, "but nobody changed- not really..."
"You changed" he quipped back, hand smoothing out against their cheek. He wasnt wrong, he rarely was, and the words brought a small reluctant smile to (Y/N)'s lips, "you're right, I was an asshole" they scoffed, nuzzling further in Akira's palm.
To think there was a time they avoided Akira- avoided everyone-, so overcome with grief that it felt like a shadow was dragging them down by the shoulders every day, waking up just to feel numb and longing to just sink into the darkness.
And then this weird frizzy midnight haired boy shows up, with overly large wire frame glasses and a cat hidden in his school bag; getting dragged into otherworldly dimensions, fighting valiantly against twisted distortions of people from reality and working alongside some of the best people they'd ever met. It was like the world had finally been brought back into tune.
Life without the Phantom Thieves was joyless, and Akira was to thank for the group's formation. Voluntarily or not, he'd cultivated something so fantastic that it was difficult to not admire him. (Y/N) had joined the Phantom Thieves to prevent people from feeling like they did- helpless, alone, invisible and abandoned in a God forsaken world.
"I... I didn't join the Phantom Thieves to change myself though" they murmured, finding the strength to directly look into Joker's onyx eyes- part of them wished he was more expressive, but another loved him for remaining so stoic the majority of the time, even when it came to stressful situations or when he made sarcastic comments in place of jokes. (Y/N) smiled with more confidence, "I joined to change others for good, so nobody would ever have to feel trapped", the heaviness of the situation still weighed on their heart, but some inane voice in their head ushered them into motivation. Maybe it was because they were watching their leader try to hold back a similar smile.
With no verbal exchange needed, the two leaned closer to each other and managed to kiss between the bars of the cell door. Short and sweet, they parted after a few seconds and (Y/N) grinned, feeling the heat if their persona begining to rise from within their body- the cell door bars seemingly evaporated before them, disappearing with the light sound of bells and faint silver slivers that faded in thin air. When they stepped forward, they found themself back in their Metaverse clothing and was met with a smirk from their leader. "No time to waste" he prompted, hands pushed back into his pockets; (Y/N) rolled their eyes, "oh so now I'm not stuck in that cell you're playing it cool?" Despite the snarky remark, they hooked one arm around Joker's and leaned against his arm. Whatever battle was coming next- they were ready.