Chapter Text
Akira was certain that he was the luckiest person in Tokyo. He knew this without a doubt whenever his heart skipped a beat at the sight of his boyfriend. Every butterfly that made its home in his stomach served as a reminder.
The happy chime of LeBlanc's bell drew Akira's eyes to the door. He felt his heart speed up in anticipation. A month had already passed yet everything was still so new and exciting. The excitement Akira felt whenever he walked through the door had yet to lessen. It always felt as if they had just begun to see each other yesterday. It made Akira wonder if the newness of the relationship would ever fade, he hoped not. He wanted to always keep the same enthusiasm.
"Hello Akira." Goro greeted pleasantly. He took his usual seat at the counter and flashed a heart stopping smile. "I'll have my usual."
Akira nodded and started working on the drink. It was just the two of them today. Sojiro had left to take care of some errands and left Akira in charge, a show of trust that made Akira's head spin. Just a few months ago, he'd been threatening to kick him out on the streets but now, now he was almost like a father to him. After prying open that cold and distant exterior, Akira had found someone who cared, even if he wasn't the greatest at showing it.
As Akira's train of thought shifted, he realized that the coffee was almost finished. He added some cream and sugar before he handed the cup off to Goro. When it cooled down a bit, Goro took his first sip. Akira's heart skipped a beat when he saw the subtle way his eyes lit up.
"Delicious as ever Akira." He paused for a second before he smirked. "But I'm afraid I've forgotten my wallet at home. How could I possibly compensate you for such an amazing coffee?"
Akira leaned in with his own smirk. "I'm sure we can work something out."
"You think so?"
Akira nodded before he leaned in for a kiss. Goro smirked and did the same. They met each other halfway over the counter. The kiss was short and tasted like the coffee Akira had just made. It left him wanting more. Unfortunately, before he could say anything, Goro's phone began to ring.
Goro checked his phone with a frown. Something flashed in his eyes as he checked the caller ID but it was gone in a second. Akira tilted his head in a silent question as Goro answered the phone.
"Hello?" Akira backed away to give Goro some sort of privacy but he motioned him back. "I'm out right now, what do you need?" As soon as Akira stepped close enough, Goro grabbed his hand. He squeezed until Akira thought his bones might snap under the pressure. "...No, I won't be coming home tonight." Goro gave Akira a pleading look. He just nodded which brought a big smile to Goro's face.
Goro's smile almost immediately dropped when Akira heard yelling on the other end of the phone. He couldn't make out what the voice was saying but he knew they sounded angry. Goro's frown deepened as he squeezed Akira's hand harder. Akira winced slightly but Goro didn't seem to notice or else he would have stopped. Finally, Goro spoke again, his voice painfully small, "Thank you sir. Of course... I'll be careful." With that, he hung up.
Akira watched as Goro glared at his phone before taking a deep breath. He closed his eyes for a moment before he turned to Akira with a slightly less comfortable version of the smirk from before. "Should we continue where we left off?"
Goro loosened his grip on Akira's hand and he gently pulled it away. "What was that?" He asked, trying to use as delicate a tone as possible.
"It's nothing you need to concern yourself with Akira." Goro grabbed Akira by the shirt and pulled him closer. Akira had to quickly catch himself on the counter so that he didn't fall face first into his boyfriend's coffee. "Now, where were we?"
Before Akira could protest or press further, Goro was already kissing him again. Any thoughts not having to do with that moment flew right out of Akira's head as he kissed back.
He knew without a doubt that he was the luckiest person in Tokyo.
Goro had left after he finished his coffee with the promise that he would be back later. It was a few hours before he returned, Akira wondered what he had been doing until he noticed the small bag he had. Upon further inspection it had toothpaste and a toothbrush in it, both of which still had price tags attached.
"So, do some shopping today?" Akira asked with an amused smirk. Goro looked away with a huff. His small frown turned into a small smile when Akira grabbed his hand and pressed it to his lips. "Did you buy any pajamas or are you just going to sleep in that?" Akira gestured to Goro's school uniform.
"It's more comfortable than it looks." Goro mumbled. Akira laughed as he grabbed at the scratchy fabric. It was somehow worse than Shujin's uniform.
"You can borrow some of my clothes if you want." Akira began walking towards the box that held all the belongings his parents had bothered to send over. He pulled it out and motioned Goro towards him. "Pick anything you want."
As Goro searched through his clothes, Akira couldn't stop staring. Something about it was just amazing to him. The way his boyfriend kneeled on the floor, silently judging his clothes... It felt very normal and yet somehow extraordinary.
"I think these will do." Goro held a pair of black sweatpants and a Featherman hoodie. He turned to Akira, suddenly looking shy. "If that's okay."
It took Akira a second to process the words. In that second, the cute apprehension from Goro turned into a slightly less cute annoyance. "Yeah!" He finally blurted out. "Yeah, that's fine!" He cleared his throat and tried to compose himself, in the process he caught Goro's amused smirk. Akira cleared his throat and leaned in. "I'm kinda surprised, I didn't expect you to like Featherman."
Goro's face turned a light shade of pink as he turned away. "It just looked comfortable." He said with an indignant huff. "I'll pick something else if you're going to-"
"No, I think it's cute!" Everything grinded to a halt for just a second. Then, Goro turned around. His face was bright red. Akira thought he might bolt or hit him until he practically lunged forward. He pulled Akira in for a long kiss which Akira reciprocated once he realized that his life and relationship were not in danger. He made a note to himself that Goro was okay with being called cute. Probably more than okay considering how they were both left gasping for air.
After a few seconds, Goro stood up. "I think I'm hungry, go make some food while I get changed."
"You're so bossy." Akira mumbled fondly. He caught Goro's smile as he went downstairs to prepare some curry for the both of them. He considered brewing coffee but it was probably a bit late for that.
It didn't take too long for Akira to get the food prepared, not when he stuck to the recipe Sojiro had taught him. He walked upstairs with two plates of curry and two spoons but nearly dropped them when he saw Goro. There he sat on his bed wearing his clothes. Akira wasn't entirely sure why it made his heart beat so fast but...
Goro stood up with a smirk. Akira watched him carefully as he moved towards him. His breath hitched when Goro got just a bit too close. Akira expected another kiss only to be disappointed when Goro took one of the plates out of his hand.
They ate together on Akira's bed. Goro looked pleasantly surprised before he stifled his small smile.
"It's alright." He explained. Akira just rolled his eyes. He gave Goro a playful shove on the shoulder which led to a look of pure panic when Goro nearly spilled his entire plate on the bed. It was thanks to his quick reflexes that he managed to catch it after fumbling in a very stressful display. Once Akira saw his bedding was no longer in danger, he laughed. Goro didn't seem nearly as pleased.
That night, Goro took the bed while Akira took the sofa.
As Akira tore through his clothes box, his phone began to ring. He pushed aside a pile of clothes and smiled when he saw who was calling.
"What do you need darling?" Akira said with a small smirk.
"Are you busy this afternoon?" Goro's voice was soft, as if he didn't want anyone to overhear. "I can't stand to stay inside when it's so nice outside."
Akira looked out the window. Heavy clouds darkened the sky in a way that threatened rain. "Are you sure?"
"Absolutely certain."
"Alright, want to meet in Inokashira in an hour?"
"That sounds perfect."
"See you then hon-" Akira stopped when the line went dead. He pouted slightly at his boyfriend's cold behavior before he began to pick up the clothes he scattered on the floor. He could look for his missing hoodie some other time.
Akira paced nervously as he waited for Goro. The park was nearly empty today, likely because of the impending rain that Goro either didn't know about or didn't care about. The wind blew harshly as electricity practically raced through the air.
"Akira!" Akira turned to see Goro waving to him with a smile. He jogged to close the distance between them. "Thank you for agreeing to this."
"Yeah, no problem." He smiled and leaned in for a kiss which Goro ignored. Akira huffed as he pulled back.
"Don't be a baby Akira." Goro grabbed his hand. Akira noticed he was wearing his gloves. "Let's go for a walk."
"Is that re-" Akira was cut off when Goro forcefully pulled him forward. He let out an undignified yelp as he tried to stay on his feet. For whatever reason, Goro was much stronger than he looked.
Akira reluctantly followed Goro through the park. Slowly, he found himself having a nice time as Goro began to chat. It was almost enough to keep his mind off the impending storm. However, that did not last. His distraction was interrupted by a single raindrop on his nose. Akira looked up and was hit with another, then another, and another. Within seconds, Akira found Goro and himself caught in a downpour. Akira thought quick and dragged Goro under a nearby tree before they could get too soaked. Of course, the tree wasn't much of a shelter when the wind was blowing and there were gaps in the coverage.
"Shit, I didn't think it would start this early." Goro sighed and looked away as water assaulted him from all angles.
"I tried to tell you." Akira leaned against the tree and crossed his arms. A small smile made its way to his face. "You look cute though."
Goro shot him a half hearted glare, Akira could see the slight dusting of pink on his cheeks. He turned to the ground and sighed. "I didn't mean to get us caught in the rain like this, I just needed to get out of my house."
"Why?" Akira stepped forward.
Goro turned away. "I really don't want to talk about it right now."
Akira frowned. He grabbed Goro's hand and gave a gentle smile when Goro turned to look at him. A few emotions flashed through his eyes too quick to decipher. "I'm here for you. You know that, right?"
"Of course Akira." He smiled and leaned in. Akira met him half way as they shared a short but amazing kiss. When they parted, Akira felt his face heat up. Goro stared for a moment before he cleared his throat and looked away. "Maybe another time."
Goro sat in LeBlanc, soaked to the bone. Akira offered him a towel which he gladly accepted.
"I'm sorry," Goro began as he carefully dried his hair. Water dripped off of them and onto the floor as they stood in Akira's attic. "I didn't mean to-"
"It's fine." Akira walked over to Goro and noticed how he was lightly shivering. He didn't think it was too cold but he was also used to the drafty attic. Goro was decidedly not. "Do you need help getting out of those clothes?"
"I'm perfectly capable of undressing myself Akira." He snapped. Akira stepped back in shock. He saw regret cross Goro's face but it was gone in an instant. He turned to the messy clothes box that hadn't been put away from earlier that day. "Do you mind if I-"
"Go ahead." Akira waited for Goro to grab a pair of clothes before he grabbed his usual pajamas. He was about to go downstairs to change in the bathroom when something crossed his mind. "Have you seen my hoodie?"
"Hmm?" Goro didn't look up from the pile of clothes. "Which hoodie Akira? You seem to have quite a few."
"It was grey and kinda big?" He held his arms out as if Goro wouldn't understand what he meant. "I haven't seen it in a few days."
"Well, I'll be sure to let you know if I find it."
Akira nodded and went to change. He was lucky the cafe was closed today or else Sojiro probably would have had a fit about him walking in with his boyfriend and soaking the floor. He made a mental note to mop later to make up for it.
When Akira opened the bathroom door, he heard Goro coming down the stairs. Akira's heart nearly stopped when he saw him in a pair of his jeans and one of his shirts and jackets. "Y-you look uh... good." He stammered like an idiot.
Goro smirked. "Just good?"
"Better than good!" Akira scrambled to recover but it was too late. Goro was already laughing at him, it was one of the most amazing sounds he had ever heard.
Once Goro composed himself, a smile still lingered on his face. "Would you happen to have a bag? I'd rather not carry wet clothes all the way to my house."
"Why don't you just stay the night?" Akira noticed how Goro's smile became a bit more strained. A bit less real.
"I would love to but my father is having guests," Goro's left hand clenched into a fist. He took a breath and released it. "He wants me to be there tonight."
"Was that the person on the phone the other day?" Goro looked away which was all the answer he needed. "I'm here if you-"
"I know." He grabbed Akira's hand and smiled but it was all wrong. It was far too plastic to be real. "Maybe some other time."
Akira nodded. "Another time."
"So about that bag..."
"Right."
It was a few days before Akira saw Goro again. With each day, his worries grew. From what little information he had, he could piece together with relative certainty that Goro didn't have a good relationship with his father. Just how bad it was, Akira didn't know but he wanted to find out.
When the bell at the door rang, Akira's head instantly snapped to the source. He smiled at Goro who smiled back. In his hand was a plastic back, likely with his borrowed clothes from the other day. Some part of him was disappointed that he hadn't decided to adopt them into his usual wardrobe. He liked that outfit but he might have liked it on Goro more.
"Good morning Akira." Goro's tone was pleasant but Akira noticed how robotic it was. He was faking it. "Could I get my usual?"
Akira nodded and got to work. As the seconds passed in silence, Akira couldn't help but think there was something wrong. He discreetly looked up at Goro but he just sat there looking at the counter with a small frown.
"So," Akira finally began as he poured water into the siphon. "You can put that bag upstairs if you want."
Goro nodded and disappeared up the stairs. Akira watched him leave before he finished the coffee. He left it in front of Goro's seat then waited.
After a few seconds, Goro came downstairs once again. He took his seat and grabbed his cup only to almost drop it when his phone started ringing. Akira noticed how his whole body seemed to tense once his generic ringtone went off.
He gently placed the coffee down before he reached into his pocket and answered the phone. "Hello?" He reached out his hand over the counter which Akira took. He squeezed Akira's hand as he spoke to the person on the other end (likely his father) who was clearly angry. "I'm sorry, I just went out to-" Goro was cut off by more yelling. He closed his eyes as he squeezed Akira's hand tighter. "I'll be home in an hour sir." Akira heard a short reply before the line went dead.
Goro glared daggers at his phone. Akira suspected that if they weren't in semi-public, he would have smashed it right then and there. Goro slowly let go of Akira's hand and took a deep breath to calm himself.
"Your dad?" Akira asked. Goro stared at him for a moment before he reluctantly nodded. "Do you want to talk about it?"
He sighed. "Maybe another time Akira." He grabbed his coffee and took a sip. "I have less than an hour to enjoy this."
Akira leaned forward with a slight smirk. "I think I know how you could enjoy it more."
Goro chuckled slightly. He slid the coffee towards Akira with a smirk. "I was thinking more sugar."
Akira looked down at the drink then back at Goro. He saw the smirk on Goro's face before he leaned in to kiss him. Goro tasted like the, admittedly, too bitter coffee Akira had served him.
When Akira tried to pull away, Goro grabbed at his hair. He kept Akira in place as they continued to kiss. It became more desperate as the seconds passed. Once they finally did pull apart, Akira noticed something sad in Goro's expression. He reached out for his hand but Goro abruptly stood up.
"I should get going now... It takes a while to get home." He began walking until he reached the door. He turned back to Akira with an unreadable look before turning back to the door. "Unlock the door for me at midnight, okay?"
It took a second for Akira to process the words. Suddenly, he felt his face head up. "Y-yeah, sure."
In the reflection of the glass on the door, Akira saw Goro smirk. Then, he left without another word.
Akira waited for midnight to come as he sat in one of the booths. He anxiously watched the door for any sight of his boyfriend, unable to ignore the way his heart threatened to leap out of his chest.
When he saw a shadowy figure approach the door, Akira felt his heart stop. It opened the door and revealed itself to be Goro, much to Akira's relief. Sojiro would have killed him if he let a burglar in the cafe because he was waiting for a secret meeting with his boyfriend. Yeah, that wouldn't go over well.
"You're not too tired, are you?" Was the first thing Goro said. An odd greeting but it was fine.
"No, I'm fine." He saw Goro smile in the low light of the cafe. God, he was pretty. Akira got up and walked over to him. He grabbed Goro's hand and gently led him up to the attic. "Watch your step."
When they arrived upstairs, Akira turned on the light. Goro walked over to Akira's bed and took a seat. He smiled slightly but immediately tried to hide it when Akira sat next to him.
The silence that enveloped the room slowly went from comfortable to tense when Akira noticed how Goro fidgeted. He looked like he wanted to say something but couldn't. Akira wanted to know what it was but he couldn't bring himself to ask. It was a stalemate until Goro suddenly leaned in and kissed Akira on the cheek. Akira didn't process what happened until Goro was already pulling away.
"Akira..." Goro looked away, his face a light shade of red. Akira leaned in slightly, eager to hear what he wanted to say. "There's an election coming up."
"Yeah?" Akira gave Goro a confused look. "I don't really keep up with-"
"Have you ever heard of Masayoshi Shido?" Goro turned to Akira with a sudden intensity. Akira fought back the urge to shy away from his gaze, as he realized that Goro was angry. Much more angry that Akira had ever seen him in the time they'd known each other. He belatedly realized that the anger wasn't being directed towards him.
"I- He seems familiar. I might have seen him on tv?"
Goro nodded. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. Akira noticed how his hands were clenched into tight fists. He gently grabbed one of them and brushed his thumb against Goro's knuckles. He smiled slightly when Goro slowly loosened his grip.
"Shido is... my father." Goro kept his eyes closed as he spoke. "He's a powerful politician that wants to win in the next election so that he can have enough support to form his own party."
Akira pulled Goro in for a hug. He felt him tense before he slowly began to relax. "It's okay."
"It's not." He grabbed Akira's arm with both of his and held it against his chest. "He needs to maintain a perfect image to keep the favor of the public. That image extends to me as well... As a result, he keeps me on a short leash so to speak. Nothing I do can happen without his approval."
The words hung in the air for a moment. Akira frowned as he looked down at Goro. "And he doesn't approve of this, does he?"
Goro shook his head. "He doesn't know yet but when he finds out..."
"If."
"When Akira." Goro held his arm tighter. "He has eyes everywhere. It's only a matter of time."
"Goro..." Akira held him tighter. He wanted to help somehow but, what could he really do? He'd already learned the futility of trying to stand up against those in power. Still, that didn't mean he would let Goro suffer alone. "I don't want you to leave."
"Neither do I." Goro leaned his head against Akira's chest. "Akira, there are things I have to do..." Akira looked at Goro. He saw how upset he was, how vulnerable he was. It was a strange sight to see when he was usually so composed. "I know I have to do this but... I realize that I don't want to lose you Akira. I don't want to but I know I will."
"I'm not going anywhere." Akira tried to offer a reassuring smile but the frown on Goro's face told him it fell flat. "I promise Goro, I'll stay with you no matter what."
Goro let out a bitter laugh. "How can you possibly promise something like that when you don't even know what I'm talking about?"
"Because I love you Goro." The words just slipped out. Akira felt his heart stop when Goro looked up at him. A mix of panic and awe lingered in his eyes for a moment before he quickly pulled away. Akira let him go without a fuss. He allowed Goro his distance. I love you, it was the first time he had said it since they had started dating. The first time he ever said it and really meant it.
Goro stood. He made his way over to the stairs and stopped there for a moment. With his back facing Akira he said, "I love you too." Then, he left without another word.
Akira couldn't slow his racing heart.
Goro came again the next night. Then again the next night. It continued until it became routine. Akira would wait in a booth until Goro came at midnight. Their conversations became much lighter. Goro didn't seem comfortable sharing any more about his father which Akira accepted. He didn't want to push Goro and scare him off so their conversations drifted to topics with lower stakes.
Akira carefully led Goro up the stairs, making certain that neither of them tripped. As soon as they were in the attic, Goro kissed him. It was long and passionate and left Akira's heart racing when they parted. Akira tried to catch his breath as he fumbled for the light. When he finally found it, he saw the playful smirk on Goro's face.
"You're quite red Akira," He stepped forward, invading Akira's space. "Is something wrong?"
Akira's mind decided to shut down in that moment. He sputtered uselessly until Goro began to laugh. Akira wasn't sure he would ever tire of hearing it. His genuine laugh was rare but absolutely beautiful, one of Akira's favorite sounds.
Akira suddenly grabbed Goro's hands. He pulled him even closer and kissed him. It was short but no less passionate than Goro's. When they pulled away, Goro's cheeks flushed a light shade of red. He looked away as Akira smiled. "You're so beautiful."
The words made Goro's face turn a bright red, even brighter than his eyes. "You don't mean that." Goro mumbled as he hid his face in Akira's chest.
"Yes I do." Akira let go of one of Goro's hands and grabbed his chin. He gently lifted his head so that Goro was looking directly at him. "You're beautiful and amazing and-"
Goro pushed him away. "Stop it." He turned away from Akira. "Just stop."
"It's true Goro." He stepped forward and hugged him from behind. Akira rested his chin on Akechi's shoulder. "I love you." He whispered before he gave Goro a kiss on the cheek.
Goro quickly turned and broke out of Akira's hold. He walked over to the bed and took a seat. Akira hesitated for a moment before he joined him. "You don't have to lie Akira." He crossed his arms and turned away, his face still bright red.
"Why would I lie about that Goro." Akira cupped one of his cheeks and guided his gaze back to him. "You are amazing. Anyone who says you aren't... They're either blind or lying."
For a moment, Goro didn't move. He sat there frozen until he suddenly launched himself forward. He kissed Akira, long and desperate until they had to break for air. When he caught his breath, he pushed Akira onto his back on the bed. Akira felt his face heat up as Goro pinned him to the bed. "You meant what you said?"
"Every word." Akira looked up at Goro as he leaned in. Instead of kissing Akira on the lips like he was expecting, Goro instead went for the neck. Akira gasped as he felt Goro suck on the skin. "Goro..." The sensation was painful yet, Akira didn't want it to stop. Goro suddenly pulled away and moved towards a more sensitive spot. Akira accidentally moaned when Goro started again. He felt his face heat up. "Goro-" He tried again but the words were cut off with another gasp when he felt his boyfriend bite him. He closed his eyes as Goro pulled away.
Akira felt his own shirt rub against his neck. He opened his eyes to see Goro using it to wipe the saliva off the area. When he was done he gently brushed his fingers across the bruises he had created. "I love you Akira." He said in a strange tone. Akira was too dazed to really dissect it in that moment.
The next day, Akira wore the collar of his shirt higher than usual. When he went into the bathroom, he moved it down to reveal the two distinct bruises on his neck. His face became bright red as he thought about Goro doing it again.
A month into their little arrangement, something happened... It was supposed to have been a normal night. Goro came as usual but when they went upstairs and turned on the light, he seemed more on edge than normal. His eyes darted around nervously as if someone would suddenly materialize to catch them.
"Is everything-"
Akira was cut off when Goro was suddenly right in front of him. He grabbed his shoulders with an uncomfortably tight grip and just looked at Akra for a moment. Something about the way he looked at him was terribly sad. "Akira... You-" He cut himself off. Akira opened his mouth to speak when Goro suddenly pulled him in for a kiss. Their lips clashed as Goro desperately held on to him. Akira kissed back until they needed to break away for air.
As the two of them stood there, trying to catch their breath, Goro suddenly let go. He made his way to the bed and brought his knees to his chest. Akira didn't comment on the fact that Goro still had his shoes on, instead he climbed on the bed and sat next to him. He pulled Goro into a tight hug but quickly let go when he heard Goro sharply gasp.
"Goro, are you-" Goro cut him off with another kiss but Akira pushed him away. He tried to ignore the hurt expression he got from him. "No, Goro what's wrong?"
"It's nothing Akira." Goro looked away. He leaned his head against the wall. "I'm fine."
"No you're not." Akira moved closer. He placed his hand on Goro's side then pressed down. He heard another sharp inhale before he quickly lifted Goro's shirt. Large bruises covered his side and what he could see of his back. "Who did this?" He asked, already knowing the answer.
"Akira," Goro turned to him. "You love me, don't you?" Akira hesitated for a second before he grabbed Goro's hands. He nodded, a sudden lump in his throat stopping him from forming the words he wanted to say. "And you wouldn't leave me, right?" Akira shook his head.
Goro leaned in and kissed him again. It was much more controlled than last time. Akira closed his eyes and leaned into it.
"I love you." Was the first thing Goro said when he pulled away.
"I love you too Goro..." He pulled one of Goro's hands to his lips and began to lightly kiss it. He noticed how Goro's cheeks flushed slightly. He gently let go of Goro's hand. "I'm worried though."
Goro frowned. "I have everything under control Akira."
"Do you?"
Goro moved in closer. He leaned his head against Akira's shoulder and hummed. "You don't need to worry Akira."
"I don't want you to have to deal with this alone." Akira gently draped his arm around Goro's shoulders. "Let me help you."
"You already are."
Goro walked into LeBlanc during the day for the first time in over a month. Akira just stared for a moment as Goro took his usual seat. From the casual way he held himself, you'd never guess anything had happened. That he had gone from a near daily customer to suddenly boycotting the place. Of course, he'd only been avoiding it during the day, the many marks that had only just healed on Akira served as proof of his nightly visits.
"What can I get for you?" Sojiro's voice called from behind him. Goro smiled slightly when Akira jumped.
"I'll have my usual." He leaned forward towards Akira. "You still remember it, don't you Kurusu?" It was odd to hear his last name from Goro. It had been months since they'd gotten past that which Akira was thankful for but... If he was going to keep saying his name like that then Akira would have no complaints. "Akira?" Akira suddenly remembered where he was. He nodded and got to work on the coffee, ignoring the way his cheeks burned and the small knowing glances that Sojiro shot his way.
"I'm heading out for cigarettes," Sojiro suddenly announced. He gave Akira a brief pat on the shoulder. "Watch the shop while I'm gone." The bell rang a few seconds later, signifying Sojiro's exit.
"Do you have anything I can write with?" Akira looked up. The soft dazzling smile he wore contrasted beautifully with the sharp calculating gaze he threw Akira's way.
"Upstairs in my school bag."
"Thank you."
Akira was left alone in the cafe for a few minutes. In that time he finished Goro's coffee and thought about the strange feelings he was getting today. Something seemed off about Goro's sudden visit. There was something in Akira's gut that screamed something was wrong but he didn't know what.
Goro came down the stairs with a piece of paper. He handed it to Akira before he took his seat. "You're coming over tonight."
"Goro that's-"
"It's fine Akira." He took a sip of the coffee and smiled. "You've gotten better."
"How is it fine, you-"
"Akira." Something about Goro's tone sent chills down Akira's spine. "Trust me." He stood up and crossed to the other side of the counter.
"Customers aren't-"
He leaned in and cupped Akira's cheek. Suddenly Akira couldn't find it in himself to argue the rules. "You trust me, don't you?"
"Goro..."
Goro frowned for a moment before he pulled Akira in for a kiss. Akira closed his eyes and kissed back. He tried not to think about Goro's odd behavior but he couldn't help it. He trusted Goro but that didn't change the fact that he was acting very... off. There was something he wasn't telling him, something important.
When Goro pulled away, all Akira could do was frown. Goro smirked slightly and grabbed Akira's hand. "You love me, don't you?"
"Of course." He answered without any hesitation. Goro pressed his lips to Akira's knuckles, a move Akira was intimately familiar with.
Goro dropped Akira's hand and stepped closer until their chests were almost touching. Goro leaned in and began to pepper kisses all over his neck. Akira held in a moan as the kisses became longer and more forceful. He felt his face heat up as he wondered if Goro would leave any bruises. "And you wouldn't leave me alone, right?" He asked in between kisses.
"Never." He gasped. Goro slowly pulled away. Akira wanted him to keep going but he also knew that there would be hell to pay if someone walked in on them.
"Tonight." Goro said with a sense of finality.
Akira nodded, feeling somewhat dazed. "Tonight."
Goro left shortly after that. Akira looked down at the practically untouched cup of coffee and sighed. He crossed to the other side of the counter and started to drink it. He wasn't going to waste another cup of coffee because Goro had to leave in a hurry.
He looked at the paper Goro gave him. His address was written on it along with 8 PM which was circled and underlined. He felt dread build in his stomach.
Akira stood before a large... house? Mansion was possibly a better word. He looked up at the looming building and suddenly felt smaller than he had in a while. He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before he approached the door and knocked five times. The note that Goro had left him specified that and other details like not being seen. It honestly gave bad vibes but Akira trusted Goro. He was pretty sure he did.
When Goro answered the door, his heart dropped. Blood stained his cheek. At first Akira panicked that Goro was injured until he realized the blood wasn't flowing. It was just there which meant it wasn't an injury. Or his. A second wave of panic hit. "Goro what the hell-"
He was cut off when Goro pulled him inside. He shut and locked the door behind them before he leaned against it and slid to a sitting position. Akira managed to get a decent look at him. His hands and torso were completely clean but his pants and face had blood on them. Somebody else's blood. Akira felt nauseous but pushed past that.
"Goro," Akira kneeled down so that he was face to face with his boyfriend. "What the hell happened?" He tried to keep his voice low and calm.
"It was an accident." Was all Goro said.
"What was?" Akira placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. "Goro, tell me what happened."
Goro shook his head and pointed towards a doorway. Akira looked at it then at him. He stood up and reached out a hand to Goro who accepted the help. He slowly climbed to his feet but never let go of Akira's hand. He squeezed as he led Akira wordlessly through the house. As they went further in, the smell of blood began to appear. It got stronger until they were finally at the source.
In the dining room laid the remains of what Akira assumed to be Masayoshi Shido. The man was face down in a pool of his own blood which was rapidly spreading across the floor. Akira felt sick to his stomach. He immediately turned away but he already knew that the image would be burned into his mind forever.
"I need your help." Akira's eyes snapped to Goro. "I-I don't know what to do."
"Goro, we have to call the police, they'll-"
Goro cut him off with a harsh laugh. "The police? You really think the police will understand what happened?" He grabbed Akira's hand. "You should know better than anyone what the police would do in this situation."
"That was different-"
"Akira, my father had the police force in his pocket. They'll want revenge." He looked at the body for a second before he turned back to Akira. "Please Akira, we can't. I'll go to prison for the rest of my life if we call the police." His composure only slightly crumbled as he spoke, clearly more distressed about the idea of being locked up than the fact that he had killed someone. He barely seemed bothered that they were in the same room as a corpse.
"I don't know what you want me to do Goro." Akira closed his eyes. The image of a lifeless body greeted him. "You murdered someone, you can't just expect to get away with that."
If Akira opened his eyes, he would have seen Goro frown. He would have also seen the body behind him so he kept his eyes closed tight. "I didn't mean to do it Akira! What the hell was I supposed to do?!"
"What even happened?" Akira felt too calm. He was vaguely aware of the world around him but everything felt distant. Everything except Goro. He held onto the sound of Goro's voice in some attempt to stay grounded. "What did you do Goro?"
"We were having dinner and... He threatened me. He said... something, I can't even remember right now but it was bad." Akira heard Goro step closer. He felt him invade his space. It was so familiar but so wrong. Much to Akira's relief, Goro did not kiss him like he normally did when they were close like this. He continued speaking instead. "I just... I couldn't take it anymore, Akira. I couldn't-" His voice became shaky.
Akira opened his eyes and saw that Goro was crying. His heart broke at the sight. It reminded him of the bruises. The yelling. The stifling control that Goro had told him about. He was a victim in this too... wasn't he? Maybe not fully innocent but still...
"Akira, please. You... You promised that you wouldn't leave me alone, remember?" He placed a hand on Akira's cheek. "I can't lose you..."
Akira pulled Goro into a tight hug. Goro was right about the police. They were unreliable. Corrupt from the top down. They'd never believe them. They hadn't believed Akira in a less dire situation, why would they believe Goro? That just left them to deal with this. As utterly wrong as it felt, Goro needed him. He needed support right now and Akira knew he was the only person who could provide it. He had a duty towards Goro, didn't he? Didn't he owe this to him?
"What do you need me to do?" He didn't see how Goro smirked once he asked the question.
Akira felt horribly numb as he washed Shido's blood off his hands. Behind him stood Goro, a small content smile on his face. His eyes were closed making him look so peaceful. So innocent. Akira couldn't stand the sight. He focused intensely on his hands. How the blood just refused to come off no matter how hard he tried to scrub them. It would never come off.
"You're going to hurt yourself." Goro said. His red eyes gazed down at the sink. Akira saw him in the mirror. He saw him watch the pink water go down the drain with rapt interest.
"Did you know?" Akira suddenly asked. He looked at Goro in the mirror and frowned. "You told me to come here at eight, did you know?"
"I don't know what you're talking about Akira." Goro turned his head and began to pepper small kisses on Akira's temple. It felt as if knives were stabbing into his brain with each kiss but he didn't speak up. It was better than feeling nothing at all. "We should burn any bloody clothes."
"Goro-"
"You can borrow some of mine if you need to." Goro moved down with his kisses after he spoke. He moved to Akira's neck as they became more forceful. Akira moaned when Goro hit a sensitive spot, he watched Goro smirk in the mirror as he began to suck on the skin. Akira was ashamed of the noises he began to make. It felt good but he couldn't enjoy it, not when they had just disposed of a body.
When Goro pulled away, Akira stared at the forming bruise in the mirror. He gently ran his hand over the spot feeling empty inside. Before, Akira would have been overjoyed but now he felt trapped. When Goro had first started leaving marks, Akira had thought that they were just reminders of Goro's love. Now they felt more like reminders of Goro's control.
"I love you Akira." Goro was breathless as he said the words. Akira simply nodded, not able to find the energy to respond. Goro frowned at Akira's lack of a reaction. "You're thinking of leaving, aren't you?"
Akira watched the betrayal spread across his face. He watched the hurt blossom into something heartbreaking. "I would never."
Goro smiled. It was beautiful. "Good." He leaned over his shoulder to place a kiss on his cheek. "It's just us now Akira."
"What do you-"
"Do you think anyone else would ever understand?" He began to kiss Akira's neck once again. Akira gasped as Goro sucked at the skin on his neck again. In between his marks, Goro spoke. "They wouldn't get it Akira..." Another bruise was made. "No one else could possibly understand that we did what needed to be done..." Another sign of Goro's possession. "We share a special bond, Akira."
Akira stared forward. He watched Goro in the mirror before his eyes drifted to his own blank gaze. He was trapped. They were both linked together in this mess Goro they had made.
Masayoshi Shido was reported missing after a few days. Goro was in the cafe when the news hit. Akira sat with him in a booth.
Instead of comforting his boyfriend, he was the one who was comforted. Goro pulled Akira in for a hug as Akira felt his body tense. He could still feel the blood on his hands from when they had moved the body. He could still smell the chemicals they used to make Goro's house spotless. He could still see those lifeless eyes staring back at him in an eternal sneer. Goro had said something about him being unpleasant in death but Akira hadn't really been able to process the words.
Everything felt wrong. Akira stared down at the table in front of him as his hands shook. The gentle reassurances from his boyfriend did nothing to help. They did nothing to soothe his guilty conscience.
Akira abruptly stood. He walked upstairs without a word and took a seat on the sofa. Everything was wrong. He had helped his boyfriend get away with murder. Murder. It made him sick to think about but... He couldn't have just left him alone. He promised and Goro had needed him.
"Akira?" Goro's voice came from the top of the stairs. Akira's eyes drifted to him before he turned to the wall. It wasn't long before Goro was sitting next to him. "What's wrong?"
"What happened to the blood on your shirt?" Akira got a confused look from Goro. "When I found you at your house, your shirt was clean."
"That's not important Akira-"
"It's important to me." Akira looked at the box of clothes that sat on the shelf. The hoodie that he hadn't seen since Goro had slept over those months ago. He smiled at the thought that popped into his head. Goro would have looked cute in that hoodie. He probably did look cute when he wore it.
"Akira," He slowly turned his head to look at Goro who laid his head on his chest. "Do you still think I'm beautiful?"
"Radiant."
"You're just saying that."
"Because it's true." Akira wrapped an arm around Goro. "You're amazing."
Goro smiled and closed his eyes. He looked so at ease. So much more relaxed in a way that he never had when his father was alive. "You still love me, don't you?"
"Always." Akira answered with no hesitation.
"And you wouldn't leave, would you?"
"Of course not." Goro smiled at the answer.
"Good," He sat up out of Akira's grasp and cupped his cheek with his hand. "You know that it's just us now Akira. No one else would understand."
Akira nodded. It wasn't the first time he had reminded him of their bond in the past few days and it certainly wouldn't be the last. They were in this together. Akira knew this, this fact which had been burned into his brain with Goro's repetition. Goro was all he had left, no one else could ever really understand him now, not like Goro did.
"I love you Akira."
"I love you too." Goro beamed at the words. He brought him in for a long kiss. It tasted like blood.
When Goro pulled away, Akira chased him. He pulled him in for a desperate kiss which Goro reciprocated. Akira only pulled away when he needed air.
As he tried to catch his breath, Akira closed his eyes. He pulled Goro back to him and held him in a tight embrace. He supposed he was lucky in a way. Despite how broken he felt, Goro, his wonderful Goro, wasn't going anywhere. Neither of them were. He was probably the luckiest person in Tokyo, even if he did never get that hoodie back. Of course, the small things like that didn't matter when he had Goro. He was lucky, so so lucky to have someone like him.