Archive of Our Own ^beta

Akechi squints in the light, his vision returning once again. He looks around the room, seeing nothing but emptiness. For a few moments, he believes he's awakening from a nightmare, just as he's done over and over.

A gasp escapes his lips, then a sharp inhalation through gritted teeth and a few curses, as Akechi is quite quickly reminded by a searing pain in his stomach of the stark reality of his situation.

He's bleeding out, on the cold floor of an imaginary ship, where no one will find his body.

Akechi's hands, soft and smooth as ever despite the circumstances, graze over the jagged skin where the bullet had pierced his abdomen. Just a few metres away his gauntlets were laid askew, having been ripped from his hands with his teeth and thrown aside. He'd at some point managed to rip a hole in his clothes to reach the wound. As a result, here he lays, a ragged mess of a barely-human being, blood seeping from his stomach and his breaths growing shallower by the second. 

He presses against the wound harshly. It would be simple to call forth his personas and heal himself, but even if both Loki and Robin Hood weren't refusing to reveal themselves, he had never taken the time to teach them any sort of healing ability. 

Akechi snorts. His ego has played against him once again. He was always stronger than others, smarter, more cunning- why would he need his persona to heal him when none could harm him?

Poetic justice. That's probably what he'd call it. Due to his own pride, he's been forced to suffer for hours, drifting in and out of consciousness, his body refusing to die. Even his bastard cognitive self was gifted the mercy of a swifter death. 

The other Akechi, the figure of Shido's cognition, had barely bled at all. He had doubled over when the first bullet struck him, clutching at the wound, but there was no blood; if anything, it was like black ink oozing from the puncture. The second bullet had struck just higher, around his sternum. He let out a shriek before firing his own gun, then hit the ground at the same time as his real-life counterpart. Only, the Cognitive Akechi crumpled in a cloud of smoke, while the real Akechi was left there, bleeding, broken and alone. He lifts a hand weakly; it trembles, and is coated in his blood. The blood has gotten everywhere, actually- seeping through his clothes and trickling down his waist, pooling on the floor. Some specks have even dried under his fingernails where he's gripped his stomach tightly with each wince. God, there's so much pain. He had begged whatever god or demon that gifted him these powers the mercy of a faster death, but no such being had granted his wish. Akechi swallows, looking up at the ceiling, trying (and failing) to distract himself from the agony. The pain is subsiding at least, less excruciating than it was at first, but maybe that's because his brain is blocking it out, or perhaps he's just gotten used to it by now. Every movement makes him wince or gasp, sending shockwaves through his body. He should have known this is how it would turn out. The famous Detective Prince, finally brought down by the very thing he had sought to destroy. 

No, better yet. Brought down by himself.

The idea almost makes him laugh. That version of him was how Shido- his father- thought of him. Some subservient puppet prepared to do anything for his master- even, in Cognitive Akechi's own words, die for him. Shido was truly a fool for making that assumption. And yet... Akechi hadn't come out victorious either way. If only the Phantom Thieves had killed him during their battle, he could have avoided all of this suffering. Even though, deep down, he knows he deserves this. All this pain and regret- is that what his victims had felt when they died? Or were they too out of their minds to think at all? Akechi can't decide which sounds worse.

He scoffs. He's never felt so soppy in his life. Now, here he is, wondering what could have been, if he didn't become what he is now. Nothing like the inevitability of death to make you reconsider your life choices.

Gripping his stomach tightly as another coughing fit wracks his body, Akechi lets out a sob as the pain becomes unbearable once again. It's like his stomach is splitting open, creating a huge fissure up his torso. He hits his head repeatedly on the wall, willing to take any form of distraction. Unfortunately for him, the diversion isn't quite enough to take his mind away from the physical pain, so instead, his brain thrusts him back into his thoughts about the Phantom Thieves.

That group of self-righteous, plan-foiling assholes. If he wasn't currently bleeding to death, Akechi probably would have been able to come up with a more witty insult, but as of now, it's all he can formulate. He hated them. How they always fought for their own justice, how they got in his way. How excessively annoying each one of them managed to be... except for maybe Sae-san's younger sister... or their leader... or...

Akechi smacks the back of his head against the wall once more to force himself into a different train of thought before his mind can wander too far. Wander back to you.

None of that matters anymore. All that matters now is that he sacrificed himself for the Phantom Thieves to escape, to give them the chance to defeat Shido once and for all. Because as much as it pains him to admit... if anyone can reform that bastard, it's them. They... you... promised. So now all Akechi can do is lay here, waiting for his body to succumb to the sweet relief of death, or wait for Shido's palace to crumble and be swallowed along with it into nothingness. Both a fitting end for the Ace Detective.

He feels himself go light-headed, and his vision blurs. With a groan, Akechi realises he's once again falling into unconsciousness. His eyes close. He silently prays that they won't open again.

Not long after, however, a tapping sound drags Akechi out of the clutches of sleep. His senses come alive once more, the buzzing of silence filling his ears, the scent of seawater and faint gas tickling his nose. Water seems to be dripping from a pipe somewhere. His eyes slowly flutter open, taking in his dreary surroundings once more, and he sighs. Thrust back into his dismal reality for what feels like the hundredth time, death clearly not ready for him yet. His suffering is most likely Shido’s doing- punishment for his betrayal. He should have seen it coming from a mile away. Maybe his detective skills had gotten rusty. Maybe they were just taking a while to prepare his cell in hell. He shuffles a little, moving himself into a more comfortable position (or the best he can muster in his situation). He lays in the quiet, watching his chest rise and fall, focusing on trying to make his expiration at least a little less painful. If they won't take him quickly, the least he can do is reduce his suffering until the moment arrives. If it ever would. At this point, he's convinced someone in the afterlife is watching over and laughing.

His hands settle over his wound again, caressing the skin around it delicately. Akechi had never really bothered to inspect it properly, the mangled skin and more than enough blood signifying it's severity. There's no point in pondering over it now. He stares blankly at the wall, unmoving. If anyone else was to miraculously wander upon the scene, they'd probably think him to be dead already, the only indication of any life still in his body being the small flinches and winces of pain every so often. He barely even blinks.

Even if he was to make it out of here (highly unlikely), what would there be for him in the outside world? The Phantom thieves had probably already exposed his true nature, and he could never return to Shido. He has nothing left. Everything he had worked for, years of building up his career and image, all thrown away. What was there to go back to? He has nothing and no one anymore. 

A thump draws his attention forwards, to where the pipes converge and crates are stacked at the edge of the room. Then there's that tapping again, the one that woke him up. It sounded like dripping water at first, but now it’s more frequent, louder, as if getting closer. Akechi realises that it isn’t the sound of water at all, no, but... footsteps? Small, quick footsteps echoing, audible only due to the room's silence, barely loud enough over the sound of his laboured breaths. His eyes flicker around the room. It seems to be coming from all directions. Multiple steps, or one set of feet, dashing around?

He spots in the corner of his eye a shadow by the wall, making his stomach drop. His first instinct is that another of Shido's puppets has arrived to finally finish him off. But then he spots it again, a silhouette flickering around the edges of the room, and realises that this shadow is smaller than any of Shido's backup. 

"Who's there?" he calls, his voice diminished to a weak cry. The footsteps stop, the stranger freezing. Akechi forces himself to sit up, grunting in discomfort. Quiet once more. "If you're here to finish the job, get on with it. Coward," he says again, trying to disguise the pain in his voice and the tremble in his throat. 

The figure drops suddenly from the ceiling, landing gracefully in the centre of the room, taking him by surprise. They're facing away from him, but he knows immediately. They're recognisable in an instant- especially to him.

He wants to scream.

It's you.

Akechi's head is swimming. He barely even hears you say his name. He must be hallucinating.

Without another word, you move again, flittering around the room. His vision is fading, but this time he feels like it's from the shock and confusion of your presence rather than his pain. He's going mad, delirious from blood loss. You shouldn't be here. You should be safe at home, planning your group's next move. Not here, where it isn't safe. If he comes back, there is no hope of surviving. Akechi is too weak and, not to doubt your skills, but it would be difficult to fight his shadow self one-on-one. You have to get out while you still have the chance. 

Akechi watches you, trying to figure out what you're doing. You appear to be searching, but for what? Maybe a way out? He can't even fathom how you got in.

It takes some strength for him to call out your name.

You're stood a few metres away, by the wall. Even weak, his voice reaches you, and you pause. He notices your fingers curling into fists. He called, but he didn't get as far as figuring out what to say.

"What are you doing?" he asks. 

He can't explain the flurry of emotions that whirlwind inside, making his chest tight, throat dry and heart thud. He feels like this every time he sees you, with your soft smile and bright eyes, except right now, in this moment, its for completely the wrong reasons. He's happy to see you, but distraught at the same time.

Your arms fall to your sides, chest rising slowly and falling as you sigh in response. 

"I... came back. For you."

His eyes widen and stomach somersaults again. You finally turn around.

And when he sees your face- god, he wishes he'd never looked, because all he wants is to pull it closer to his own, to look into your wide eyes, to somehow take away all the pain that fills them, even though he knows he's the cause. You begin to walk towards him.

The human inside him, the part that despite everything hasn't truly died yet but is barely hanging on by a thread, calls out- no, screams, for you to come to him, for you to save him. He wants your arms around his neck, your soft touch on his cheek, anything and everything you can offer him, he begs for it. But the Trickster in him suddenly snarls, eyes flashing with anger. How could you be so foolish to come back?

"You idiot!" he yells even though it hurts, every movement igniting pain. You freeze, startled by his outburst. "I didn't need you to save me, but you're so damn stubborn. You just can't let go, can you? Don't you understand?"

You take a cautious step forward, watching intently, as though approaching a wild animal. Akechi spits at you, baring his teeth. A wave of guilt hits him like a truck at the fall of your face, but he's angry, so fucking furious, not only with you (though he's livid that you were dumb enough to return) but with himself, for ever letting you get close enough to him to think that he deserves being rescued, to think anything other than that he should die here painfully and alone. 

You're still coming closer. You need to go. He spits every harsh word he can think of.

"You just had to be a hero, didn't you? You and the rest of your Phantom thieves' self-righteous bullshit! You just couldn't wait to throw yourself back into danger and be a saviour again. Didn't you think for a second that this is what I wanted? I wanted to do one fucking thing right in my life, and you won't even let me have that! I never wanted to see your face again! When I shut that door, you were supposed to be gone forever! I should- I should die here, don't you see that? Or are you so blinded by your own infallibility and superiority that you can't see what's really right for the world? You're not always the hero, you don't need to save everyone. I don't give a shit how much better it makes you feel about your pathetic life!"

His words drip venom. He can see the tremble of your hands as you ball your fists, the hollowing of your cheeks as you clench your jaw. Akechi's voice falters with the strain of his shouting.

It just had to be you to come back for him, didn't it? Of course it was, because out of all the damned Phantom Thieves, you were the most stubborn, you were the most pertinacious, the most determined, the most persistent-

the most infuriatingly brilliant.

So of course it was you, risking your life to come back to this hell just on the small chance that he may be alive, because out of them all, it's you that Akechi wants to succeed the most, and Goro Akechi never gets what he wants.

When you turn away, Akechi hides his sigh of relief. Maybe he's angered you enough to finally hate him. Perhaps you're turning around to leave, to abandon him and never return, allowing him to bleed out on the cold ground while you escape to safety.

But then, to his dismay, you look back, and march towards him. You advance until you're at the end of his outstretched legs, face stony as if you wanted nothing more than to stomp on his ankles. Instead, you kneel beside him.

He snarls once again, unable to hold back despite the human inside crying for help.

"Get away from me! Are you too stupid to comprehend a word I just said? Let me have this! Leave here and let me die, dammit!"

You're watching silently. Your lack of words infuriates him.

"I betrayed you! I tried to kill you! I was willing to massacre your teammates! I put a fucking bullet in your leader's brain without hesitation!"

You still refuse to move, and it's hurting him in every way possible.

"If you let me live, I'll never stop!" he screams, overcome with desperation. Get out get out get out get away. He lunges at you like a rabid dog, his rage even dulling his pain. You don't flinch.

"I'll murder every one of your friends in front of you, I'll rip your fucking family apart, I'll find everything you love and I'll slaughter it until you have nothing, and then I'll kill you slowly, agonizingly, until there's nothing recognizable and I'll enjoy it, if you let me live. You don't want that, do you? So get out and let me die!"

When your fingers graze the top of his hand, the skin tingles, nerves set alight, and it shuts his mouth instantly. It sends an explosion of butterflies into his stomach, his anger sizzling away and bringing his senses back to his agony and discomfort. He groans and arches his back. Your face twists into an expression of worry as you reach forward to grab him. He looks up into your eyes.

They're shining now, and he suddenly wonders if they ever did that before. Flashes of memories hit his mind all at once: chance encounters at the station, so engrossed in your conversations that you almost missed your trains; having each others' backs as you fought side by side in Sae's palace; being knocked together at every bump in Morgana's overcrowded bus in Mementos, so close that hands brushed thighs and blushes would have been all too visible if not for the lack of light; shared drinks at LeBlanc, laughing over coffees and that one night he wishes he'd been brave enough to kiss you because you were staring at him in a way that made him feel special. Your eyes have always been bright, but its not until now that he realises they shine when you cry and- oh. You're crying.

He stares, speechless. Your face hardens when you register the tears yourself, wiping them away as though they were never there at all. Of course, Akechi ruins any chance he has to show kindness.

"W-Why the hell... did you come back? I never... wanted to see you a-again," he says between pained hisses, overwhelmed for a moment by pain, the venom in his words gone. Even if he's not losing blood quickly, it's still cruel enough. Definitely Shido's punishment. Or perhaps it was just how the cognitive world worked, because besides his own activities, bullet wounds were generally an uncommon cause of human death here. Either way, he's dying too slowly for his own liking, but probably as fast as he deserves. 

Your lips press together in a thin line as you look at him with those pain-filled eyes. The sight is enough to make that wave of guilt come crashing back.

"I couldn't just... I had to know..." you mumble, perhaps even unsure yourself. You shake your head, dropping the conversation as you reach into your inside pocket. "The others don't know I'm here, so I have to-"

"They what?" Akechi repeats, watching you brush him off and continue digging around. "You're alone?"

You nod, producing a small capsule from your pocket. Akechi stares, confused. To his surprise, you reach towards his face. 

He instinctively jerks and slaps your hand, launching the item across the room. Neither of you see where it lands. 

"You idiot! I only have one more!" You scold him, though there is a hint of upset in your voice. 

"You need to get out," Akechi says again, refusing to meet your eyes. You sigh. Your fingers brush delicately against his cheek as they move down his face. The contact sets off those electric sensations once more. It's been a while since he's felt you like this (it had only happened once before, but he has never forgotten the feeling.) His eyes close unintentionally; he can't help but relish in your touch. It triggers feelings in him that he can't explain, unsure whether he should shove you away or leave you be. You tilt his head back carefully, brushing his lips with your thumb, feeling how cracked and dry they've become. He's always so pristine, so perfect, that it's unusual to see him this way. Before he can question anything, your other hand delves back into your pocket and you slip something onto his tongue.

Quickly, he attempts to spit, but your palm has already sealed his mouth shut.

"You have to swallow it," you say firmly. He shakes his head, struggling weakly and failing to fight you off. He manages to nip your hand with his teeth. You keep it in place while the other punches him in the shoulder. There's no point in fighting as your gaze burns into his, refusing to move away until he consumes whatever substance you're poisoning him with. Akechi swallows reluctantly, noticing you stare at his throat for confirmation. Your eyes flicker back to his face. You remove your hand. He opens his mouth, showing it empty. You nod.

"What the hell was that?" he asks irritably. You seem to deflate.

"A healing drug. Its weak... it's all I had on me. And you threw the stronger one away. But I'm hoping... I hope it's enough..." You look away from him.

His face falls. A healing drug? As soon as he acknowledges that, the area around his wound tingles. Akechi grits his teeth. A numbness begins to spread across his lower abdomen. The pain is dissolving, becoming more of a dull ache. He lets out small gasp, clutching his stomach.

You.. you're healing him. Partially, anyways. He stares down at his wound, but nothing changes visually. Through the tear in his shirt he can still see the disgusting hole of mangled flesh and blood, but it doesn't hurt as badly anymore. Akechi looks at you, but for some reason you won't meet his gaze.

He still can't place the emotions he's feeling. There's still the residue of anger- he wants to shout, hit, force you out while you still can go. But, his initial fury is beginning to dissolve. If it was one of the other Thieves that had returned for him, perhaps he would still be furious. He just can't bring himself to it anymore... not after looking at you. His chest aches- no, not just his chest, he realises, but his whole heart. The silence between you is somehow worse than the silence of dying alone. His brain is still comprehending the last few minutes.

"Why...?" is all he can muster.

You don't answer straight away, instead sighing, then rising. He isn't entirely sure what he's asking. Why did you come back? Why won't you leave? Why did you have to try to save me?

You cross your arms and look at the ground. 

"Even if you were dead... I had to come back. I had to know for sure, and I would never forgive myself if your body was to be lost in here forever. Despite everything... I supposed you still deserved a burial," you mutter.

He doesn't know how to respond in a way that will satisfy you. Akechi just stares at the floor, willing his heart to slow down.

"You shouldn't have come, and I want you to leave. If he were still here, if he comes back... you can't do it by yourself, and I can't help you. Don't you get it?" He could go on and on about how stupid you are, but he's cut off when a soft chuckle escapes your lips. It's enough to silence him completely. He always found your laugh beautiful, but at a time like this? His brow furrows.

"Akechi-kun, are you doubting my skills? When have you ever known me to be afraid of danger?" you smile.

Plenty of times. You're the type to never show your fear, but he always noticed. He could tell in the way you squeezed his arm when Mementos grew a little too dark, or in the way your face would pale when fights were getting a bit too tough. Yet you always carried on, as if you were afraid of nothing.

"It's not a laughing matter," he scolds, "I don't want you to get hurt."

You smile drops instantly, as if someone has flicked a switch. When your eyes meet his this time, they're cold. 

"Hurt? You...?"

You kneel back down to his level, faces inches apart.

"If you didn't want me hurt, you wouldn't have put me through everything you did. So don't you dare tell me I could have been harmed when nothing compares to what you've done."

You stand back up, leaving Akechi to stare at you, struck by regret. And yet, his instinct is to argue once more, the shame fueling his anger.

"Don't make me laugh. You were the one who went along with it. I only hurt you because you allowed it. You think the others are as damaged? You're the one who allowed yourself to get close enough that my actions had any impact in the first place," he scowls. Your head snaps back to him, eyes ablaze with fury. Good. Go.

And then they settle again. Your emotions are more all over the place than his. 

"I know you're only saying these things to get me to leave."

"But you know, deep down, that I'm right, don't you?"

You shove his head back, taking him by surprise long enough to shove what appears to be a bandage in his mouth. He grumbles through the makeshift gag, trying to spit it out. But then he lets out a soft gasp as he unexpectedly feels your hands on him again. You work silently on his lower torso, wrapping bandages messily around his stomach. The only sounds in the room is the rustling of your movements and the occasional hums escaping his lips. Akechi watches your nimble fingers graze over his skin and is forced into more memories of those fingers running through his hair and touching his face and grasping his hands-

You pull the bandages harshly to tighten them, making him wince. Even with the painkillers, his wound still throbs. Quickly tying the ends at his side, you give it a last glance before standing up. He looks down at your handiwork; it's terribly rushed and isn't making that much of a difference, and it's horribly obvious you didn't attend your first aid classes, but it's certainly better than having an exposed hole in his stomach.

"Hm. I think I prefer you like this," you say, looking him up and down. He finally manages to spit the gag from his mouth.

"Thanks," he grumbles.

"No problem."

He really must have struck a nerve, because all worry and consideration in your demeanour has vanished.

You still extend your hand for him to take, though.

"Hurry. Let's go," you say. 

He stares at your hand. There is nothing he wants more than to take it, but...

"It was foolish of you to come here. I'm afraid your mission was futile," he mutters, instead of the words he really wants to say. I'm weighing you down. I'm not worth your efforts. I deserve this.

You sigh.

"Stop it. I am not letting you rot away in here, do you understand? I'm not leaving without you, so move," you reply, unwavering. 

"Don't you understand? I don't need you-"

You stamp your foot in frustration, throwing your hands into the air. 

"Damn it, Akechi! For once, stop your bullshit. You can't just sacrifice yourself! You can't just- just die here! You need to face everyone! F-Face me!"

Your voice catches, but Akechi doesn't look up fast enough to notice the tears that spring into the corners of your eyes or the quiver of your lips that you quickly conceal. You take a breath, composing yourself.

"You have too much to answer for back home. Now get up."

Home. The word, along with your piercing gaze, is enough to stir something within him. A million thoughts rush through his head, hundreds of other things he wants to say to you. 

He says none of them. Instead, he remains stubborn.

"Isn't this enough punishment? My fate is to die here, don't you see? This is how I answer for everything. I let you go, and I stayed. That's my punishment."

You laugh once more, cold.

"You think this is enough punishment? This is... this is an escape. It's the easy way out! By dying here you get to leave everything you've done behind. No apologies, no setting things right. You don't just get to sacrifice yourself and think all is redeemed! You need to face what you've done, Akechi. Face... everything. If not for yourself... for us. For me. I..."

You hesitate, words forming on the tip of your tongue, but your pause tells him you don't know whether you should say them or not. 

With a sigh, you sit back down.

"I can't leave you here, don't you see? I don't... want you to die. I can't live with... knowing I... we..."

You're making his chest hurt. He needs this. He has to die here so he can right all his wrongs. You're right and he hates that. Death is too sweet a punishment, he knows that with how long he's been left here, suffering. But he also knows that outside, there is no fitting retribution. No way he can atone. If he dies here, at least no more will come from him. He can do no more harm. 

"Please..." he whispers. Your eyes widen. You've never seen him like this before. So weak. So pathetic. It hurts.

"I can't do it, Akechi. I can't leave you here. Besides atonement. Besides fixing everything. I can't leave you. I-I can't let you die,” you whimper. 

Neither of you can speak. The air is tense, but he feels no negativity anymore. He knows what he needs to do.

Dying here... it's so much easier. But as much as he pretends, as much as he wishes for death to cease his pain, to take him away from this pitiful world...

He's afraid. He wants to go with you more than anything.

And so reluctantly, Akechi slips his hand into yours.

With great effort, you manage to pull him to his feet. He stumbles, having been laid still for hours, maybe longer. His legs are weak. It's difficult to stand. A few curses tumble from his mouth as he falls back into the wall. You sigh. Carefully, you slip your arm around his back and sling one of his arms over your shoulders. He's a bit heavier than you anticipated. Akechi tries his best to balance the weight you're supporting, forcing himself to remember how to walk.

"Ah," he hears you say. You lift your hand. 

He's bleeding again. Akechi looks down to see the once-white bandages are starting to stain a darker red.

"We spent so long arguing... the medicine might wear off soon. Shit..." you mumble, words laced with worry. You try to walk forward, but you're too focused on his wound. You can't think straight, mumbling incoherently. Akechi wishes he'd not slapped away the first capsule. Not for his own health, but to save your worrying. He can’t listen to you like this.

"Let's just move quickly," he says. You seem to settle, pausing a moment then nodding. You walk. He limps.

You half-carry him to the end wall, where some crates are stacked. He leans against them as you let go momentarily, looking around and determining which crates best to use. Akechi spots just ahead your entrance. A vent in the pipes, quite high up, but reachable if you had something to climb. You rush off before he can question you. The grinding of heavy wood on stone grates at his eardrums, making him cringe. Akechi watches you curiously. You appear to be gathering the crates to make some form of... staircase? He wonders how he could climb that in his state. His mind then wanders further- he can't help but wonder what you were planning to do if your plan went as expected and you arrived to discover his corpse? Were you going to drag him through the vents?

A wave of pain overwhelms him. You don't notice him grasping at his bandages, biting down on his tongue in an attempt to change the direction of the discomfort and quiet his groans. It stops after a short while, but he knows the effects of your medication won't last much longer. He wipes the perspiration from his forehead.

Akechi opens his mouth to call to you, but something makes him pause. An odd feeling. A sense. He can't put his finger on it, but... something feels wrong. He curses himself for not having a third eye as strong as Joker's. But the instincts he does have are crying out.

"Stop," he calls to you. You pause.

"What-"

He hushes you, putting a finger to his lips. You look around.

Silence befalls you, then the only sound in the room is the small tapping... of footsteps.

You must be hearing things. Paranoia is probably settling in by now. Maybe it’s coming from outside, the sound of the sea waves hitting the ship. Or a pipe must be dripping. The tapping continues, not rhythmic like a leaking pipe, but shuffling and crisp.

Your head whips around quickly, eyes scanning every inch of the room for the source. Nothing. You hear the sound still- you're not crazy, because Akechi can hear it too- but there's only the two of you in the room.

"What is-?"

Only then your thought is cut off, as the footsteps stop. Silence again. And then suddenly, you realise you were completely wrong. There isn't just the two of you under the ship. A third person stands there, in the way of your exit, smirking deviously and turning your stomach. It's Akechi, except it isn't, because they do have the same face but this one has an aura of such darkness and bitterness that you know it isn't really him. No- it's Cognitive Akechi. Shido's twisted rendition of his son, the obedient pet he expects him to be. The bastard that you thought took the real Akechi away from you.

Your blade bursts into existence at your hip with a flash of light and you draw it immediately. Akechi- the real one- watches from a few steps behind, as his cognitive self locks eyes with you. He can sense the anger, the hunger oozing from his fake self's body, watching it's eyes travel agonisingly up and down your figure. Cognitive Akechi smirks, but behind his eyes he's angry, and he's greedy. Akechi knows this because he would feel the same if in his other's shoes. He sees another pest. He wants another kill.

It’s too risky. You can’t fight. You have to run, but he has no way of warning you without screaming.

A chilling laugh escapes the imposter's lips as he approaches slowly. 

"There's a saying, you know... never bring a sword to a gunfight. It seems you phantom thieves really are as stupid as you look."

"I could have this blade between your shoulders before you let one bullet loose," you hiss, stance unwavering. Akechi would be impressed if he didn't know the truth. This situation is way too dangerous. 

“I’m terrified,” cognitive Akechi shrugs. His eyes fall upon his real counterpart. A smirk tugs at his lips. “And you… I’m surprised you’re not dead yet.”

Akechi scoffs. “That makes two of us.”

He wishes he had his gun on him, to sink a bullet between those red eyes of his. It had vanished in their shootout- he could only imagine that the cognition had stolen it in the haze. He shouldn’t be surprised that they had both survived the fight.

“I suppose your fate is to suffer. Deserving of a traitor like yourself. I’m sure Shido expected this. A weak, useless imbecile like you should have died quicker,” the shadow continues to taunt. Akechi notices you grip your sword tighter.

“Shut your mouth!” You yell. Cognitive Akechi chuckles.

”Ah, how sweet. The lonely Thief, here to rescue the prince. Too bad. I’m afraid your damsel won’t be here long enough for you to save.”

Your head turns back to Akechi. His hand is slick with blood. Your eyes widen as you notice he is bleeding profusely again.

”Don’t listen to him,” Akechi says quickly, noticing the colour draining from your cheeks. He moves his arm to hide the wound. “I’m fine. We need to get out of here, now.”

”Leaving so soon? That’s such a shame,” cognitive Akechi whines. His smirk quickly returns. “I’d have preferred not to get my hands dirty again, but I suppose I’ll have to kill you both myself. And I never got the chance to get to know you,” he tuts, eyeing you up. The real Akechi glares. He knows his cognitive self is trying to rile him up. He won’t let him lay a finger on you.

”y/n…” Akechi calls once more, warningly. If he could just distract him for a moment, injure him in any way to buy some time, you could run, you could escape…!

The cognition moves closer to you. You look between the two Akechis. One has an evil glint in his eye while the other a desperate look. You still need time to decide which to run to, and time is something that is running out quickly.

“There’s no use. Say your goodbyes,” the shadow chuckles. He stops in his tracks and stares at you, fingers stroking the gun at his hip.

Run or fight? Which Akechi…?

”I won’t let you hurt him,” you say, gripping the handle of your sword so tightly your knuckles are turning white. You know you can’t take him alone. Cognitive Akechi’s face hardens.

”You will do nothing but stand by as I finally finish my job,” he hisses. The real Akechi tries to meet your eyes, but you’re too focused on his counterpart.

He’s trying to make you angry. Just shoot him and we’ll run!

Cognitive Akechi advances, pulling out his gun. ”I’ll finish you both, then I’ll take out the rest of your teammates, and take control of this nation. But first… I’ll deal with him, as slow and as painful as I please, and I‘m going to enjoy making you watch every second…”

You dash forwards, blade in hand. Akechi lunges, calling your name, uncaring that he's tearing his wound and unraveling his bandages. 

“Wait!” He yells, but he’s too late. Your blood boils, sparking fury like hellfire in your veins. You can see nothing else but your target, him and that bastard smirk. He won’t take anything else away from you. You raise your sword. 

Akechi can do nothing but watch as you pounce for the strike. Time seems to slow down.

Yet despite the distance between you closing, Cognitive Akechi turns to face him. His eyes glisten with malice, a sickening smile pulling at his lips. Akechi spots his shadow self's arm raise, but by then it's too late. All he sees is a trigger pulled, Cognitive Akechi's hand jerk slightly, and a muffled explosion rings in his ears as the bullet fires.

For a second, he feels absolutely nothing. Nothing to the point where he has to look down to check for a wound, because he cannot feel a single thing. It's only then that he realises- he feels nothing because there is nothing, because the bullet didn't hit him at all. He hears the thud, but doesn't register it until a few seconds later. 

Then he feels everything. Pain more immeasurable than the bullet that lodged itself in his abdomen, pain that takes a hold of his chest and squeezes his heart with an iron grip. The room spaces out, his surroundings seem to go dark, until the only thing he can see is you, your body, and the pool of red that forms beneath you.

He's running now, faster than he feels he's ever run before, despite the fact you're only a few feet ahead. It feels like forever until he reaches you. Akechi barely notices his cognitive self slink back into the shadows, a cruel grin on his face. He can't even feel the pain of his own injury anymore. He collapses to his knees beside you, hands fumbling, searching for your wound. Your eyes stare up at the ceiling, body unmoving besides the slow rise and fall of your chest.

"Shit... shit..." he repeats, mumbling. His fingers finally find the source of the blood- god, why is there so much blood- and he grasps at his cape. He'd never bothered to use it to stop his own blood flow. He rips it for you without hesitation. Nimble fingers wrap it around your chest and tie it tightly, making you wince.

"Akechi..."

He looks down at you. Your gaze has moved from the ceiling to him, and there's a sombre look in your eyes.

"You... I told you..." he grumbles, fists clenching. "I told you you shouldn't have come back!"

To his surprise, your hand raises, and settles on his cheek. Akechi flinches. He looks down at you, and... you're smiling. 

"And I told you... I couldn't leave you here... to die alone..."

You let out a small gasp, and Akechi's stomach twists. You'd used the last of your medicine on him. His blood-soaked bandages would be of no use either. How could you be so stupid? How could you risk yourself for him?

You suddenly whimper, and Akechi sees a silvery tear slip down your cheek. It mingles with your blood when it hits the ground. He didn't bleed this much. It makes him wonder. Were you in pain? Was it a punishment designed for him by Shido or his cognitive self, to force him to watch you suffer?

All he can do is shuffle closer, and let you cup his cheek.

"I-I'm sorry," you sob. The sound breaks Akechi's heart, something he'd thought for years was an impossible task. After all this time, he'd truly believed it to be dormant. But of course, you'd changed that. You'd awoken him, dragged him out of the vengeance-fuelled red mist he'd trudged through for so long. To the point where he'd even begun to feel guilt- not heaps, of course, just a slither- whenever he carried out a task for Shido. When he'd shot your leader in the head, when he forced you into hiding. Even when he rampaged, blinded by rage and jealousy, in a furious attempt to flatten the Phantom Thieves... he'd felt that pang in his chest, that sickening feeling of remorse, the tiny slice that in spite of it's miniscule size still managed to poke at his heart and pick at his brain. All because of you. 

For some reason, the sight of your tear makes him think back to the last time he saw you. When he thought he'd never lay eyes on you again after his sacrifice. Akechi wished for so long while he'd laid broken on the ground that he'd looked at you more often. The memory of you pounding on the shutters, screaming on the other side for him to come back, makes him feel sick. He can't bear it.

"What the hell are you sorry for?" he asks. Your lips tremble.

"I said I'd bring you home."

His fists clench once again. No. He refuses to listen to the terrifying thoughts nagging at his brain.

"You're getting home. Forget me. You're getting out of here."

You smile sadly, shaking your head. Your thumb gently strokes his cheek.

"Oh... Akechi. We... We both know I'm not going home now."

It's then that Akechi collapses again, hitting the ground with his fists. He can't let you die here. Not here. He can't. He refuses.

And yet, when he turns to look at you, notices the tears rolling down your face and the paleness of your skin... he knows. 

Akechi loops his arms under yours and shuffles back towards the crates, pulling you with him, and eventually rests your head on his lap. His shaking hands stroke your hair gingerly. He doesn't know how to be delicate. Careful, yes. Cautious, absolutely. But when he handles you he feels like he's handling glass, like one wrong move could completely shatter your already fragile frame. After you risked your life to save him, only to suffer the same fate... making you comfortable is the only kindness he can offer.

"I'm sorry," he whispers. The words feel strange rolling off his tongue. He doesn't remember the last time he genuinely apologised for anything.

"What?" you ask. He'd spoken so quietly you didn't hear him. His grip on you tightens.

"I...I'm sorry, y/n."

Your eyes widen. There is silence. You didn't expect that. Then, your eyes close, and you smile softly.

"You have nothing to apologise for. It's not..." You cough, moaning at the pain. Akechi scrambles to move you, make you more comfortable. After a short while, you speak again. 

"It's not... your fault. You're a victim here too."

"I am no such thing," he replies, "and I deserve no kind words. Save your strength... and shut up."

To his surprise, a chuckle escapes your lips. "Even in death, you're still a pain in the ass. Shut up and listen to me."

You push yourself out of his grasp, forcing your body to sit up. Akechi reaches for you, but you bat his hand away. You look him in the eye. He can't help but notice the tear stains glistening on your cheeks, but the determination on your face, lips pressed together as you stare at him. He also notices the way your free hand still presses against your stomach, clutching your wound, and the outline of red that's smeared along your fingers. You lift a hand and cup his cheek. Akechi flinches, trying to pull away. Yet, the warmth of your palm is comforting. The touch is something he hasn't felt for such a long time. For a moment he hesitates. Then, slowly, Akechi allows you to hold him, relishing in the softness of your skin on his.

"You did... horrible things. Unforgivable things. But... horrid things happened to you in turn. And for that reason... I don't know, I just... I can't see you as truly evil. Maybe, though, that's just... the blood loss speaking. Maybe I'm going delirious," you offer him a smile and a small chuckle. He wants to smile back, laugh with you. But the pain he sees in your face, the discomfort you're putting yourself through just to make him feel better...

"Shut up..." he grumbles, "shut up..."

"No, don't tell me what to do!" you cry. He watches as you bite your lip, shuddering. You move closer to him, bringing up your other hand. Blood smudges across his cheek, but he doesn't care. He just wants you to keep touching him like this.

"Let me say what I want to say."

Akechi opens his mouth, but closes it again. He got you into this mess. He could let you have your moment.

"Why did you do it...?" you question quietly. His brow furrows. 

"Do... what...?"

You chuckle. "Not... all of... everything. I mean... why me? Did you really care? Or was I just a tool for your plan?"

He can't muster a reply. What could he say?

"Just... tell me the truth. Please." Your eyes are so sad as you look at him, hands gripping his face. "I can't die not knowing. Please, Akechi."

He can't tell you the truth. It would be... cruel. It'd be so much easier to lie, and end it now. The truth would only hurt you.

At the start, of course he used you. Back then, you were a tool. A means to an end, an easy way to get closer to the Phantom Thieves, to know their secrets, to befriend the group. You were desperate for attention and affection. Vulnerable and simple and easy to manipulate. But then, as his ploy went on... he couldn't stop. You were like a drug to him. Every thought was about you rather than his mission, every minute around you made him feel different. Like he wasn't the detective prince. Like he wasn't an assassin. Like he was normal. Shido scolded him for lack of concentration. Akechi scolded himself for allowing it. You were a pawn for him, a tool, a toy, a means to an end. It was fun to mess with you, until it wasn't. It was never his intention to go this far- to allow himself to get sucked into the comfort and joy and light and hope that you provided. He never expected himself to crumble at the sight of your tearful face. To have his heart pounding simply at your touch. He should have broken you when he had the chance. Killed whatever made him deviate from his plan. Instead he dragged you along, using you for his plot and for his entertainment. And in the end, he was the one to suffer. You ruined absolutely everything.

"I…” He still can't reply.

"Look me in the eyes and tell me I meant nothing to you."

If any god could hear him now, he begs to succumb to his wounds. Akechi prays for the cold grasp of death to take him in it's clutches. But it doesn't come.

It meant nothing. She was a pawn all along. You used her to get close to the group. She's nothing more than an asset that you could have thrown away anytime.

None of his thoughts are articulated. They whizz around Akechi's head as he thinks desperately for something to say. Maybe breaking your heart even more was necessary. Maybe you'd find the strength to leave him, find your way out and let him die cold and alone.

Never, ever, in his life did he think another tear would slip from his eye. But it does. Because of you.

Before Akechi can wipe it away, your thumb brushes the tear across his cheek. And then you're closer to him all of a sudden, and your lips are on his, and Akechi doesn't quite feel so cold anymore.

He knows he should push you away. He knows he shouldn't let himself get wrapped up in you anymore, he shouldn't allow himself, because you deserve more than him in your last moments, because he doesn't deserve you.

But then again, Goro Akechi has always been selfish. 

He can't restrain himself from wrapping his arms around your waist and dragging you closer to him, finally, selfishly, quenching that thirst. All thoughts of "I shouldn't" are momentarily wiped from his brain, and all he can think about is the softness of your lips, how sweet you taste despite the salty tears streaming down your faces. Everything he's denied himself of for so long is finally in his grasp, and he never wants to let go.

He's so desperate for you that when you break away for air, he takes only a breath before pushing your heads back together, your lips moulding against each other perfectly, as though designed to fit together.

Right at that moment, Akechi would do absolutely anything for the two of you to be frozen in time. He'd give anything for you both to get out of here. He'd destroy Shido, he'd destroy his powers- hell, he'd destroy the rest of the Phantom Thieves and every person in Japan if he could trade their lives for your’s, if it meant he got one moment longer here with you.

But he can't. He knows that. You're both going to die here, and there's no way he can change that.

You stare at each other in silence. God, you're beautiful even here. Akechi regrets every moment he ever neglected, every chance he ever missed. He should have kissed you a thousand times before. He should have held you longer. To hell with his plan, with Shido, with the entire human race. All he ever needed was you, and now he's lost whatever chance at happiness he had. And even if you did miraculously survive, he knew it could never work. Because all Akechi wants is you, and Goro Akechi never gets what he wants. That was his fate. To be alone.

You crawl back towards him like a child, your face blushed red. He can't tell if it's from the flurry of emotions or your pain. You settle yourself in his lap, head rested against his chest. You're slightly leant against his wound, and it hurts, but Akechi puts his arms around you still. Your breathing is short and shallow. He watches the way your chest rises and falls. He can feel his own body becoming lighter. He's getting tired.

"Goro..." you whimper, placing your hand in his. He likes the sound of his name on your lips, but he can't find the strength to smile anymore. The tough nature he normally knows of you is gone. You're weak. Tired.

"I'm here..." he whispers, holding you close. He whispers it even though he doesn't know if it'll bring you comfort. 

You sniffle. "I'm scared."

If his heart could truly break, Akechi is convinced it just shattered into a thousand pieces. He can only pull you closer to his chest.

"...me too..." he says quietly. As much as he never wanted to admit it... Akechi is afraid.

The cold, calculating detective prince, reduced to nothing more than a trembling, frightened little boy who was terrified to die. But nothing scares him more than watching you pass away besides him.

"I'm sorry... I couldn't... that we..."

"Stop it... please, y/n, stop it..."

"I never told you..."

"y/n..."

"I love you. I..."

He freezes. God, why...? 

Why would you say that... when he knows he can't...

Akechi lifts your lips to his. Your body is heavy. Or he has grown weaker. Maybe its both. He kisses your lips, and your forehead, your lips again.

"y/n... I..."

He can feel it. His life, slipping away, death finally curling it's cold fingers around his soul. So, this is how it feels.

He has to tell you, before you... he has to make sure you know...

But as Akechi lifts your head to look you in the eye, to tell you the truth...

Your eyes are closed.

The hand stroking his cheek falls limply at your side.

And a few moments later, Goro Akechi dies, cold, and alone.