Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Checking his phone was an easy thing to do, what with it buzzing so loud that it woke him up, woke Akechi up next to him, though barely, eyes peeking open for just a moment or so before falling back shut, curling into Ren’s hip with a content sigh. Ren thinks he looks…at peace like this, curled into his side. Akechi looks peaceful, for once, before the day dawns, light filtering into the small, shitty window of Leblanc's attic, turning his beloved's hair gold in the dawn light, like a halo meant only for Ren to see, to enjoy.

As much as Ren would love to hang out with the Phantom Thieves, truly, he did have other obligations, and if said other obligations were Akechi Goro, then that would be for him to know, for Goro to know. Not particularly for the Phantom Thieves. Not right now, at least. Today was for them, tomorrow can be for the others.

The response was immediate, a bombardment of disappoint and, dare he say, disapproval at his pre-existing plans, though Ren isn’t able to dwell on it for long, not when Akechi makes a soft noise in his state of almost-sleep, quietly, weakly trying to pull Ren back down to bed, to him, for just a few more minutes. It’s easy to do as Akechi wants, it always has been, and who was Ren to deny the boy in his bed, looking so happy to be there with him?

Ren wasn't anything if he denied Akechi. Not really. In his heart of hearts, he would do anything for this boy, he knows. This is an easy task, such a simple thing that Akechi is asking him to do. So Ren lets himself be pulled back to his beloved's side, fingers combing through the detective prince's hair like Akechi is something precious, and to Ren, he is. He can allow himself to be lulled back to sleep by the sounds of Akechi’s quiet, even breaths and his phone buzzing with more messages from the Phantom Thieves. He can allow himself to worry about their messages and the meanings behind them another day, when Goro isn’t the only thing he wishes to occupy his mind.

Ren falls asleep so easily to the sound of Goro's steady breathing, to the way the other leans into his touch, his existence , like they're two sides of the same coin . It's so easy to fall asleep like this, in something that could be domestic bliss. It's easy, just as it's easy to wake up, finding his face pressed into Goro’s hip as the boy — his boy — scrolls on his phone with a look of discontent on his face.

“The others don’t seem too thrilled at you declining their invitation…if you wish to spend the day with them instead, you’re more than welcome to. Please, don’t miss out on time spent with them due to me.”

And Ren pauses, and thinks he must be mishearing Goro for a moment or two— after all, he had just woken up, sleep still muddling his mind, hair an absolute mess and glasses on the bedside table next to his now silent phone. All Ren can do is croak out something like a confused, "What? Wait, huh ?” 

Not his most elegant sentence said to his boy by far . 

But, it pulls a small smile onto Goro’s face, causes the furrow of his brows to disappear as a quiet chuckle escapes him.

“I said, my dear, that your friends seem upset. If you’d like to spend the day with them rather than me, I won’t mind.”

“...we planned for today to be our day,” Ren says, still resting his face against Goro’s hip, his hand and fingers now splayed just under the detective's lungs, feeling the way Goro's diaphragm moved with every breath, evidence that he’s alive. “We're going to the aquarium? Unless you don't want to go?”

Akechi smiles more, setting his phone aside and looking down at Ren, a hand gently carding through his wild hair.

“I do want to go, I’d just understand if you didn’t. It’s evident to me now that you do, so today will be our day.”

“Good.” Ren melts into Akechi's hand, and this must be so very natural, this must be what the Greeks thought Elysium was, Akechi and he, the two of them breathing in time.

They stay like that for Ren doesn’t know how long, but it's nowhere long enough, especially when Akechi attempts to leave the sanctity of their bed. Ren groans when he tries to stand, pulling Akechi back to bed and losing his breath at the laugh the action pulls from his boy.

“Ren! We’ll never make it to the aquarium if we don’t get up, you know? Could you please wake up? For me?”

Ren can't deny Akechi anything, not even this, even if it means he has to get up, even if it means Akechi and he will leave the warmth of their bed, their bed in general, where it feels as if nobody can touch them, not even the rosy dawn currently framing Akechi’s body and face, giving the illusion of a fiery halo enveloping him, physically showcasing the source of warmth Ren feels each and every time he gazes at his boy.

Akechi’s fingers are dancing along his face now, tucking curls behind his ear with deft fingers, and Ren can't help it, he's never been able to help it, the way he leans into his boy’s calloused fingers, the way he reaches up to grasp at his beloved's hand, kisses at it half sleepily. “Mm. A few more minutes, Akechi?” 

Akechi, never one to deny his boy, his Ren, either, sinks so easily back into the warmth and safety of their covers, a gentle, private smile on his face, one only Ren has ever been permitted to see.

“Alright, but only a few more…you’re lucky I’m weak to you, my dear, or else I’d drag you from this bed to force you to wake up,” and it's a lie, because no matter what Akechi knows that he’ll always be weak to Ren. It’s an inevitability that he’s grateful for.

“Of course you would.” It's playful and sleepy in the morning dawn, Ren hiding his face in Akechi's hip again, then into Akechi's stomach as his beloved's fingers keep going through his hair, the two of them easing back into the steady rhythm of breathing.

Eventually though, the two of them have to get up, pulling themselves away from that blissful comfort, that sought after serenity of the early morning when they’re simply Goro and Ren, two teenagers in love. It's hard, because this is…it's domestic, really, this state of being. It's nice, too, and that's the important thing, Ren thinks. That it’s nice.

Akechi pulls him out of bed, already dressed and looking the pinnacle of “the detective prince on his day off.” A plain t-shirt, jeans which Ren isn’t totally convinced actually belong to the detective, and well-worn sneakers, comfortable, yet still look nice. On anyone else, the outfit would be plain, something you wouldn’t look at twice, but on Akechi– on Akechi, it’s just shy of regal. More “undercover royalty” than “some nobody you pass on the street and never acknowledge again.”

Truthfully, Ren would some days prefer Akechi to be a nobody, just some kid walking around with his boyfriend, not a care in the world, rather than constantly on edge, fearful for any of his fans to catch a glimpse of him and ruin their outing.

Yet, gazing up at Akechi now, Ren realizes that today is not one of those days, that he has no issue with Akechi looking like lost royalty if not for the hints of exhaustion in his gaze, in the way his hands linger on Ren and his warmth, begging to be pulled back to bed, to not go out.

Ren catches one of his hands, weakly pulling, offering an escape from their plans today that he knows Akechi won’t take, no matter how badly he yearns to.

“Ren…you have to get up now, I’ve let you sleep for long enough, haven’t I?” Those are the words Ren knows him to force out, when all he wishes to say is move over, allow me to bask in that warmth, your warmth, for just a while longer too.

Ren pulls, gently, offering the sanctity of their bed up to him again, like Akechi is a god, and Ren is but his most dedicated worshiper.

“Just a little more? Please?” It’s pathetic, begging, but Ren doesn’t care, not when Akechi relents so easily, kicking off his shoes and all but collapsing onto Ren, face shoved into the juncture of his neck as he sighs.

“You’re horrible, the absolute worst, I should have thrown water onto you instead of being polite.”

“You love me, and hate doing laundry. You’ll never do that.” Ren hums, wrapping his arms around his detective, gently rubbing up and down along his spine.

“Insufferable,” he says, hiding further away in Ren’s neck, as if he’s trying to avoid something. “Keep me here forever? Hide me away from the world and don’t let anyone ever find me?”

Normally, Ren would simply give in, kiss Akechi’s hair and agree, an empty promise meant to be discarded by the door the next time they leave Leblanc, but there’s something off about Akechi’s tone, something kicking and fighting and screaming to be released, a story begging to be told as Akechi attempts to smother it.

“Goro?” Just one word and he cracks, and the Akechi of months ago would kill the Goro of today if he knew just how easily he opens up now, to Ren Amamiya of all people, despite wanting nothing more than to never speak again of such matters.

And Goro cracks and his voice does too, like pottery that's slipped from a trembling hand and shattered on the floor, and if Goro is that shattered pottery, then Ren will put him back together again in lines of gold and silver. Ren thinks the term may be kintsugi.

“My father,” Goro starts, and Ren cannot help but pull Goro closer. “He- Ren, the things I’ve done-”

He stops, tries to start again but is only allowed a broken, painful whimper to convey the hardships, the torture that man has put him through, starting long before his birth, the first time Shido had ever called upon Goro’s mother to “entertain” him and his friends.

“He– Ren, he– my mother, I…I look like her, Ren. The spitting image of her, and he– he saw that. The moment he first saw me, he– he knew. Ren, he– he hired me, just as he– he had my mother.”

Oh. Oh god. Ren pulls Goro closer, so much closer, so that his beloved can hide in his chest. “Goro…” He knows Goro doesn't like pity, practically despises it. But this isn't pity, what Ren’s feeling. It's just horror. 

“That’s not– it isn’t even the– the worst of it, that– that was just the first time, I– I was fourteen, Ren, and his– his child, how– why would he–? I don’t– why was I so okay with– with murdering for him, but– but being used as a– whore is where my mind draws the line?” He sounds broken, exhausted, and, most of all, disgusted with himself, as if he had single handedly given Shido the go-ahead to use him as nothing but a tool, view him as an object for his own pleasure and success. A fighting dog that would someday be put down when he became too good at the job he was forced into, the only lifestyle he had ever known.

“You–” Ren grips tight at Goro, his Goro, nails digging into his boy’s skin. “You were a kid . Goro, you– you had to force yourself to– to be okay with murdering for him because you thought– you were forced into murdering for him. Forced into– into–” He chokes, gripping tighter at Goro like a stray dog protective over his food, the only food he may get that day. “It wasn’t your fault. You're not at fault.”

Akechi clings tighter, nails tearing into Ren’s skin like a dog’s fangs, ready to tear skin and fur and bones if he has to, ready so long as it means winning his fight, getting a cheap bed to sleep on and subpar food for succeeding.

“But I still did it. I never stopped doing it, I– I could– I should have stopped, Ren.”

“You didn't know anything else.” Ren counters quietly, feeling the way Akechi's skin is warm under his nails, muscles tense, like he's waiting for a fighting command that won’t ever come, not when he’s with Ren. “You trusted him, and you were a kid, and he failed you so horribly. So goddamn miserably. So don't blame yourself. Blame that– that monster for what he did to you.”

Akechi– Goro is quiet, nails, jaw retracted from Ren’s skin, all tension in his body gone, like he’s given up, has yielded to his opponent, himself, his mind. “I let him do it all, Ren…I’m no better than him.”

That– Ren won’t let Goro say something like that, won’t let Goro believe something like that. “No. Goro Akechi, you look at me. I–” He pulls away, just a bit so that he can rest their foreheads together, nails still digging into Goro’s skin. “No. You were a child. You still are a child. You were failed by him. You– you're trying to be better. Lord knows you are. I know you are. That is what differentiates you two. You want to do better, to be better, and he– he doesn’t. That's the truth of it. You want to be better, and you're trying so hard to be better.”

“But it isn’t enough. The others, they all– they won’t acknowledge that, they simply– I’m trying but it isn’t enough, not for them.”

Ren isn't one to talk particularly bad about the other Phantom Thieves. They're his friends, of course they are, but Goro, he–...Goro is someone Ren would do anything for. “It's enough for me, Goro. I know you're trying as hard and as much as you can, that you're trying to be better.” 

Goro can do nothing but nod, throat hurting and voice having given up on him, clinging once again to Ren with everything he has, like a dog finally taken to a sanctuary, never again to be forced to fight, even if the instincts will never quite leave him.

“I want– the aquarium, Ren, I– please? I still–  I’m sorry for– for all of this, I just– please? Let– allow me to have that?”

“Don't apologize. Not– not for something like this. Not ever for something like this. I'll always give you the aquarium, give you what you ask for. I don't think I could deny you anything, Goro.”

Goro presses closer against him, a dog begging for a morsel of attention, for just one more scrap of food, a few more moments of laying together before they must both get up.

It’s easier, then, getting up, Goro putting his shoes back on and Ren getting dressed, brushing his teeth and giving up on his hair. Goro likes it messy anyway, and that’s more than enough reason to leave it as it is as they leave Leblanc.

The aquarium is– for the day and time of their visit, it’s surprisingly empty. A couple here, a tired mother with some children there, and then Ren and Goro, hand in hand, staring out at the marine life, simply enjoying the view and the company next to them. 

It's beautiful, really, but not as beautiful as the view before them reflected in Goro’s eyes, unabashed joy filling the space where was previously occupied by exhaustion. His pupils are large and scanning the jellyfish before them, his body leaning over to Ren to whisper small facts about the creatures, lips just barely brushing Ren’s earlobe and causing a shiver to course through his body with each sentence before he’s leaning back again, pulling Ren off in search of more creatures.

It's a delight to see Goro so excited. It's a delight to see him so happy as he pulls Ren along, their hands laced together. Goro is so happy , and if that's because of Ren or the aquarium, or maybe the simple fact that this aquarium is practically empty and that Goro will not be swarmed by his fans, Ren doesn't care. Not if it means Goro has this– this enamored look on his face. 

Though, just like with just about every other part of Goro’s life, the peace isn’t kept for long. They’re in the gift shop, both of them deciding whether they wish to bring home the penguin plush or the jellyfish one, and Ren is just about to offer to pay for both when a familiar voice calls out to them, and suddenly Ryuji is there, throwing his arms around both of them and pulling them close, the jellyfish Goro– Akechi had been holding, falling to the floor.

“Sooo, this is why you decided to ditch the others, huh, Ren? You two lovebirds havin’ any fun here?”

“Ryuji,” Ren worms from under him, tries to pull Akechi with him. “How'd you even know we were here?”

Ryuji blows air out of his mouth, shrugging a bit nonchalantly. “My mom’s friend has a kid who’s been wanting to come here, knew I wasn’t doin’ shit today, and asked if I would take him. Got all ready to go and then the lady calls, ‘ohh, sorry, Ryuji, he’s sick! You can still go though, I’ll pay for your ticket!’ Didn’t have anything better to do so…aquarium. Pretty cool place, huh?”

“...Ryuji, please don't tell me that because you were supposed to take the kid here that she paid for you and someone else to go.” Ren squeezes slightly at Akechi’s hand, feeling the way Akechi squeezes back hard , his nails digging into Ren’s skin.

“Huh? Oh, shit– no! She got refunded the one ticket and told me I could still go to have fun and scope out the place, see if the kid would even enjoy it! I’m coming back with him as soon as he’s better, it–” He stops, finally pulling back and letting go of Akechi. “Hey, ‘Kechi, you alright? You seem kinda…I don’t know…”

It hurts Ren, just a bit, to see how quickly Akechi slips on his mask, smiling easily at Ryuji. “Hm? Oh, yes, my apologies! I was simply lost in thought, that’s all. Thank you for your concern, Sakamoto-kun.”

Ren knows it's not true. He does, because Akechi has a mask on. Akechi’s masks are always–...perfect. Ren hates to call them perfect, but they are . They're perfect, and it half-tears his heart apart to see it happen, and he knows that were he not as close to Akechi as he is, he, too, wouldn’t notice a thing out of place. Even his hand, originally causing pain to Ren from how hard he had been squeezing, loosens its grip. The perfect mask for the detective prince. No violence, no negative emotions, everything perfect and in its proper place. Exactly how everyone wanted Akechi Goro.

Ren– it makes Ren’s heart break. Makes his heart tear itself apart, everytime Akechi puts that mask on. Ren absolutely and utterly hates it.

Akechi smiles, seemingly nothing wrong, and Ren hates how it works, how Ryuji shrugs, checking the time and saying he’s late for something and has to go. Ren hates how as soon as it’s just the two of them again, Goro sighs, slouching a bit and leaning into Ren, his voice quiet and tired when he speaks.

“I…I believe I want to return to Leblanc now, Ren. I’m sorry.”

“It's alright. It's not your fault; neither of us were ready for Ryuji to just...show up. I– let me buy you both of the plushies.”

Goro-...Akechi’s face is lax, eyes looking to the penguin in Ren’s hands, then to the jellyfish, smiling up at him from the dirty floor, and he looks like a dog who has never been given a toy before, not sure of what to do.

“You…may do as you please, Ren. I’m just a bit tired.”

“I–” Ren pauses for a moment, even as he scoops the jellyfish from the floor, gently pushing it into Akechi's hands. “Hey. When we get back to Leblanc, how about I teach you to make latte art? Or you can watch me make it?”

“I,” He pauses, staring at the jellyfish for a moment, and Ren can see how he struggles with choosing between what he thinks will make Ren happy and what he truly wants. “I…think a nap would be best, for now. Perhaps later, I’ll watch, when I have more…when I’m less tired.” 

“A nap it is,” Ren says as his eyes go soft, maybe softer than they ever have been during this date. “And, Goro? I love you. I'd give you the world , if you asked it of me.” 

Goro smiles, and it’s small, barely more than a quirk of his lips downwards, but it’s his smile. “I love you too, Ren, and I know you would. Let’s go home.”

“Your smile,” Ren says as he pulls Goro towards the register, their hands still tangled together. “It's beautiful, you know?”

Goro smiles more, breathing out a laugh as Ren pays for both plushies. “Well, aren’t you just a charmer? And how shall I repay you for these plushies that you’ve so kindly bought for me, hm?”

“Repay–?” Ren blinks in confusion, tucking his wallet away. “Why would you–? One's for me and one's for you.”

Goro laughs more freely at that, no trace of the detective prince in the way he lurches forward as they walk, pulling Ren’s arm to wrap around his shoulders. “I was attempting my hand at flirting, Ren. I was going to repay you with a kiss once we returned home, but apparently I won’t be, considering you’re so against that idea?”

“No, wait…” Ren can't help the longing in his voice as he speaks, holding the plushies close. “Wait, no…Goro…”

They then veer off the main street they’re walking on, Goro pulling Ren onto an empty backstreet, making sure that they’re properly out of view before releasing him, leaning against the alley’s wall with more of his genuine smile. “Well? Would you like to be repaid or not, Ren?”

“You–! Yes. I–...” Ren stammers, and for God's sake , he shouldn't be acting like this, but Goro had always had…a way of flustering him. “Yes.”

Ren’s face is cupped, pulled forward and against Goro, his Goro, and it’s pathetic, it really is, how easily he’s pulled, guided to his lips and held there for a moment, then two. “Well, Ren? Was that enough to pay you back for the jellyfish?”

“Yeah. Wow.” Damnit. He can be more eloquent than that. “I like kissing you.” That is in no way more eloquent. Good going, Ren. “It's– it's really nice.” Oh, not even the third time. Whoever said ‘third time’s the charm’ lied. Just kill him now.

Goro smiles again, laughing as he pulls him into another kiss, then another. “Whatever happened to that easy way with words you had, hm? That charm?”

“I think– I think when you kiss me it goes away.” And oh , Goro’s laugh is so beautiful. Ren’s pretty sure that if he could, he'd make Goro laugh every day.

“Well, isn’t that adorable? Rendered nearly speechless by a mere kiss. Whatever shall you do when we eventually go further?”

“Furt–? No, wait– what? Goro—?” Ren damn near chokes at the idea, right before his brain demands to make sure Goro doesn't feel pressured or anything. “Do– do you want to eventually go further?”

Goro’s smile goes soft, eyes even softer as he simply cradles Ren’s face, thumbs moving gently back and forth across his skin. “With you, Ren, I do. Not…not today, but some day, yes.”

He absolutely and utterly melts , leaning into Goro’s thumbs. “Some day. That sounds good. And– and don't ever let me push you into it. I would rather you tell me that you didn't want it than force yourself to– to–...I don't want to hurt you.”

“You…” Goro smiles more, kissing him one last time before releasing Ren’s face to instead hold his hand, tugging him along and out of the alleyway. “I promise you, Ren, when we get to that point, it’ll be because I truly want it.”

Ren smiles, following after Goro so easily, like trailing after his own heart, all the way back to Leblanc, squeezing his hand every so often just to feel Goro squeeze back, their own silent form of “I love you,” “I love you too.”

Leblanc is dark and silent when they return, courtesy of Sojiro telling Ren that he’d be closing the cafe early that day, something about having plans. Truthfully, Ren hadn’t been paying full attention, only catching the “Enjoy your day off with that boy of yours” before all but skipping upstairs to Goro. It’s almost eerie how dead the cafe looks, like a scene from one of those detective novels Goro pretends to hate.

“So,” He starts, setting the penguin plushie next to the jellyfish on their bed, fingers finding Goro’s hair easily, like second nature. “We're taking a nap, unless you want me to make you food for later, Goro?”

Goro hums, simply looking at the plushies for a moment, leaning into Ren’s hand like a dog with his owner, momentarily docile as he accepts affection.

“Food first…we were meant to stop somewhere along the way to the aquarium, but my excitement caused me to forget.”

Ren huffs a laugh, pressing a kiss to his forehead. It's easy and good. “I…was pretty excited too, so it's not just your fault, you know. What do you want to eat?”

“Hm…” He smiles, looking to Ren with a light in his eyes that leaves him breathless. “Pancakes? If it isn’t any trouble?”

“I think we still have some pancake mix in the fridge from when Ryuji forcibly brought it over. I figure you don't want me to make it from scratch? Takes too much time away from proper cuddling, doesn't it?” 

Goro smiles more, humming a bit as he leans into Ren, allowing his eyes to slip shut.

“I believe it does. Sometimes I fear you know me too well, you know, but I’m grateful for it, I truly am.”

“That's…that's good, you know. How else are we supposed to…” Date was too weak of a word for what they were, Ren thinks. “Be like this if I don't? And come on, you know me just as well as I know you.”

“You’re right, just as usual. Whatever are we to do, my Ren? Be stuck forever, for all of eternity?”

“What, stuck together?” Ren scratches gently at Goro’s scalp. “I don't think I could mind.”

“Mmm, me either. What can I say, you’ve wormed your way into my heart and made a home for yourself there. Is it terribly cold, as your friends believe it to be?”

“Ah,” He laughs, kissing Goro’s cheek. “No. I think it's quite warm. You know, if there was a way to do it, I think I'd carve myself a spot in your chest to curl up in forever. I love you, Goro, I don't think your heart could ever be cold.”

“Ren Amamiya, you wish to carve into my torso to use me as a personal resting place? I don’t know whether to call you a sap or a freak…I appreciate the sentiment, though. It’s difficult to act as if I don’t feel the same towards you.”

“Hey–” Ren sputters on a laugh this time, shocked, just a little. “Hey, come on . Don't call me a freak, Goro! That's just not fair. But–...yeah. I uh. Yeah. I do.”

“Ever the romantic, aren’t you?” He hums, leaning into Ren more, allowing his head to rest on Ren’s shoulder. “You certainly are something else.”

“It's just…there's something romantic about loving your partner so much you're willing to literally carve a space for them with your body. Don't laugh! ”

Yet Goro does, body leaning forward as a hand comes to steady himself on Ren’s shoulder.

“I– my apologies, Ren, you simply– you’re sweet, that’s all.”

“I'm pretty sure you're supposed to call me a freak, you know?” 

“Well, alright then– my apologies, you freak. You’re very sweet. Is that more to your liking? Are you content now?”

“Hmm….” Ren is, but this– this almost teasing is nice. It's a relief from being the leader of the Phantom Thieves, of his friend group. “What if I'm not content with that, hm?”

Goro smiles, bringing Ren’s arm back around him and moving to stand close, impossibly close. “Well, what will leave you content then, Ren? Go on, don’t be shy– I won’t bite unless you wish for me to.”

“Oh? Unless I want you to? What if I do want you to bite me?” 

Goro was close before, but now– now he’s suffocating, and Ren wouldn’t have it any other way, willingly breathing him in as he encompasses everything, wrapping his existence around Ren like a heavy blanket, weaving his soul into his hair so there will always be some part of him with Ren.

“If that, dear, is what you want, then you should ask properly for it– go ahead, ask.”

Ren so easily tips his jaw up, baring his throat for Goro to latch onto, if he wanted, an act of– of vulnerability, really, something that's unfathomably easy to show around Goro. “Won't you bite me?”

Goro, never one to deny Ren, moves closer, lips ghosting over his skin, and Ren, belatedly, realizes that his lips are moving, silently naming the areas he teases. Trachea, thyroid gland, the cartilage, omohyoid muscle. There must be something wrong with him to be so affected by it. Jugular vein, common carotid artery.

But it's really effective, to the point Ren can feel his legs start to buckle, just a bit.

“You’re missing something,” and the bastard licks him, pulling a shaky, pathetic whine from Ren. Back to the omohyoid muscle, followed by a kiss. “Say please, Ren.”

“Pl–” Ren needs to gather his thoughts, needs to snap back something witty. He's not sure if he can . “Bastard. You–...please?” 

Damnit . He caved far too easily. Was it…really his fault though? When Goro was doing something like this? No. Ren doesn’t think so at all.

It’s immediate: a smile, a gentle kiss, a mouth, hungry and loving pushing warm breath onto Ren’s already feverish skin, and then– then there’s teeth meeting flesh, a tongue lavishing its victim with affection after, a loving apology for the sting of a bite not deep enough for Ren’s liking.

“Well, Ren? Was that what you needed? Or do you want another? Do you need another bite?”

“Another.” It's half growled, Ren’s voice breaking, just a bit. “Goro, if– that was not deep enough, you–” 

He can feel small rivers running down his neck then. Warm, filthy, and exactly what he needed, his shirt and Goro’s teeth, his lips being stained crimson with Ren’s blood. It hurts in a way Ren didn’t know he needed, now knows he can’t live without, when Goro removes his teeth from Ren’s neck, unapologetically licking the wound.

“Was that better, Ren?” His lips are red, his teeth, too, and Ren hopes, wishes on every star, every dandelion, that the wound scars, if only so that he may look at the jagged teeth marks and remember this private version of Goro Akechi, one only Ren shall ever see.

“I don't think I can live without it, Goro.” It's honest and blunt, and Ren’s never been a very blunt person, leaving that to Goro. “You're beautiful .” Is the second thing he says, because Goro is. He just is, with his teeth stained red like pomegranate seeds, like Ren’s very own rosary beads, meant for him to pray with, to touch with reverence and love. 

He smiles, bloodied teeth on display for Ren, another prayer sent up to a god Ren isn’t sure exists.

“All you need to do, my Ren, is ask.”

“I just need to ask, and you'll bite me?” Ren can't help it, a finger coming up to trace along the outside of Goro's lip. “Goro, I think that's far too much power for you. God , you should. Every time I ask.” 

Blood is smeared around his face, Goro allowing the movement and even opening his mouth to allow Ren’s thumb to dip in, to trace along his teeth, mapping out each groove.

“Ask again? Please ask again?” He’s the pinnacle of sin, like Ren’s very own personal demon, come to torment him for the rest of his mortal existence. “Ren? Please?”

“ Please , Goro.” It's instant, because Ren can't deny Goro this, can't deny himself this. “Please. Bite me again. You'll bite me again, won't you?” If Ren pouts a little bit, only a little bit, tipping his jaw back a bit more, then he only hopes Goro takes it.

Goro falls for it, sees right through Ren’s ploy and dives in, bringing a hand up to tilt his head back more, lips kissing the skin with a quiet sternohyoid muscle before Ren’s mind goes blank and his body explodes in a pathetic mix of pain and pleasure. He thinks he whines, he knows he doesn’t care, not with Goro’s teeth lodged into his neck, more rivers dripping down his skin only to be cut off prematurely by Goro’s tongue licking them up, drinking Ren as if he’s the sweetest thing he’s ever had the honor of tasting.

That…might be the case, maybe, actually, based on the way Goro grips him tighter, closer to his mouth, the way he moans at the taste. Ren’s not sure if he cares , though, knees buckling some more as he grabs on tight to Goro’s shirt, trying to steady himself.

It proves to be futile, however. Goro takes a step, then another, and suddenly Ren’s falling, back hitting the bed as Goro holds him in place, pulling back and– he looks just as debauched as Ren feels. Blood drips from his mouth onto Ren’s cheek, and he doesn’t hesitate before leaning down and licking it up, licking over to Ren’s lips to gently nip there, shoving the taste of copper and love into Ren’s mouth.

Because it is love, no matter how bad this may seem from an outsider's point of view. It's love and it tastes nice and it feels nice, and Goro is beautiful . 

“Bite me again, Goro. Please. Hit bone , this time, make sure it bleeds and scars, so they all know I'm yours.”

Goro doesn’t hesitate, kissing down, unable to stop himself from licking at the already existing bites.

Digastric muscle, mylohyoid muscle, hyoid bone. He jumps then, lips latching on for just a moment. Scalene muscles, sternocleidomastoid muscle, clavic–

He bites. Harder than the other two, enough to rattle Ren’s soul, his entire existence, almost enough to regret asking for this. Almost.

Almost, because he's not sure if he could , not when it feels so—

He might pass out, or perhaps he’s simply begun floating within his own mind as Goro marks him, as he drinks to his heart’s content. Eventually, to Ren’s dismay, he does pull away, looking up at Ren with love and adoration– with reverence, like a god’s most unholy worshiper, the one who gains his favor due to their beauty, their willingness to do anything.

He surges up, kissing Ren again and again until one lingers, until they can’t pull away from each other, hips moving against hips, teeth clashing and tearing at the skin of lips. It’s filthy, and dangerous, and perfect, an intimacy only they would share, would understand. It’s the closest they’ve ever come to sex and yet, some part of their brains, of their combined souls, tells them that this– this better than any sexual encounter they could have.

It's holy and perfect, something only for the two of them and god , is it dangerous and bloody, the two of them tearing at each other's skin with their nails, blood welling under their fingertips as the smell of iron and sweat permeate the air, acting as the incense filling in the cracks of their very own church, their very own battlefield. 

Ren says something incoherent against Goro’s clavicle, teeth dragging and scraping against the skin, feeling it come apart, parting like the Red Sea had for Moses, blood welling, salty, in a silent beg to be allowed to scar Goro’s nearly perfect skin, their own version of wedding bands, this entire act their ceremony.

He's sure it's a plea to do so, to scar Goro in a matching bite, in fresh blood, in drying blood, in their own version of a wedding. He so desperately wants to give him a matching bite, just so others know who Goro loves so desperately and deeply, to the point of being allowed to scar his body, something he works so hard to keep perfect and pristine, not a scar or blemish to be seen, to be allowed to exist on him, until now.

Goro doesn’t respond, not verbally, Ren doesn’t think he can respond in such a way at this point, but he whines, claws at Ren’s back and pushes his head forward, lips forced to his flesh before parting, his teeth sinking into Goro and staying there, both of them groaning, moaning when Ren shifts a bit and pleasure courses through Goro, pleasure that Ren swears he can also feel.

When he pulls back– oh, when Ren pulls back, teeth stained with blood, teeth sticking in Goro’s skin for a moment, just a beautiful, beautiful moment, he can't help but kiss Goro, letting some of his blood, some of Goro’s own blood fall into his mouth, like fucking ichor, and Goro swallows it down easily, happily.

Ren thinks he's entranced. Absolutely, definitely entranced.

Goro, meanwhile, pulls him into a kiss, a bloody, painful kiss, mixed with bits of skin tearing from their lips, being swallowed down with each other’s blood. It’s perfect, and they stay like that for god only knows how long, breaking apart for gasps of air before returning to each other, drinking the other’s blood and eating each other’s flesh, as if the other is their own personal Christ, their savior incarnate.

Ren mumbles something again, right against Goro’s jaw, where he's sucking a bruise, careful to not bite there . Whatever he says, be it a prayer, a declaration of love, all Goro does in response is lean into the way Ren’s words rumble against the bone, reverberating into his skull, his soul, for a moment and nothing more, before they each fall asleep, exhaustion heavy in their torn apart bodies.

“Ren, dear? Could you read over this message to Ann for me? I wish to invite her to this cafe that has opened recently, I feel as if it could be a nice way for us to sit down and get to know each other.”

Goro’s phone is placed on the bathroom counter, just in Ren’s peripheral as he carefully cleans the wounds on his neck with the medicine given to him by Doctor Takemi.

“Ren?” His face is pulled to look at Goro, his eyes scanning over Ren’s face and neck. “You’re taking an awful long time to clean yourself up. Do you need my help? Would you like my help?”

“Hm?” It takes Ren a moment to process, his fingers pressing gently near the bites and marks Goro had left, feeling the way blood welled again, sticky and wet and warm, a reminder that– that loving Goro was a choice , that Ren could choose for himself, that Ren wasn't…a pet dog, tied to a leash.

“Ren, may I help you? Please?” Goro’s smile is gentle, his hands, too, as he reaches up, removing Ren’s hand from his neck.

“You–” Ren blinks quietly, staring at the fresh blood on his fingertips, not really at Goro. Just at the blood on his fingers, quietly disbelieving that it was his . “Yeah. You can.”

Goro offers Ren his hand, a silent act of “here, make your choice– do I clean your wounds first, your hand? Do I lick the skin which has been marred by my jaw, or clean the paw which you scratched your wounds with?”

Ren’s not sure. Even as he sets his hand in Goro’s, a quiet confirmation of “you can do all that and more. That's my choice, for you to do what you want with the fur you tore at, the skin you sunk your teeth into. Just take care of me. I am not a house dog, just a stray who decided you were his.”

Goro raises Ren’s hand to his mouth, kissing the bloodied pads of his fingers, licking them clean before pulling back to survey his work, nodding when he’s finished and blindly reaching over for his phone, placing it in Ren’s now clean hand. “Here, my dear, are you able to read over this message while I finish cleaning you up? A distraction, something to focus on, it’ll perhaps be good at this moment?”

“Yeah, I–...” Ren stares at the phone, blinking quietly at the words on it. “You're…inviting Ann to a new café? She'd like that, I think. To go with someone.” 

Goro smiles again, a faint dust of pink on his cheeks at Ren’s confirmation that it’s a good idea as he slowly, carefully begins to clean the bites on his neck and clavicle.

“Yes, I thought she would as well. I believe it’ll be a good opportunity for us to bond a bit, and begin something of a…friendship. I only hope that she also feels the same as I do.”

“If she doesn't ,” And Ren scoffs, because the simple idea of that is…inconceivable to him. “Then that's foolish. You– you have so much to offer as a friend, Goro. Ah– that stings, shit–”

“I know, I know, dear,” he coos, trying to be more gentle while speeding up his actions a bit, not wishing to cause… this sort of pain to Ren. “Just a little bit more and you’ll be done, I promise. I’m glad you think that, Ren, I simply…I know how the others view me, that’s all. I won’t take it personally if she turns me down.”

“The others…they shouldn't.” Ren makes a face, even as he studies Goro’s phone. “You're trying to be better. Can I–...Goro, Futaba's bugs, they're…”

“Are nothing to worry about on this phone,” He says, his tone focused and calm. “I smashed my old phone, she hasn’t yet gotten ahold of this one. They’re…invasive, I know, but I have no way of getting her to stop. I took your phone down into Leblanc, she won’t be able to hear us now.”

“Did you really ?” Ren laughs, wincing as that jostles Goro’s hand. “Good. I'm sure she thinks it's fine, but…I don't like it. She should have never bugged my phone, and should have taken the bugs off as soon as you joined us.”

“Should have, but didn’t…alright, you’re all done. Are you hungry at all? When I was downstairs, Sojiro-san was just coming in and said he’d be making curry if we were interested.”

“I've…only ever seen him make curry. Do you think he only knows how to make curry?”

Goro hums, running a hand through Ren’s hair to try to tame it a bit. “Knowing him, it’s a possibility…I really wouldn’t be surprised, if I’m being honest. If you’d prefer, I can just go down and grab plates, so we can eat up here?”

“....do you think he'll let us?” Ren hesitates, frowning quietly in thought. “It's pretty obvious we did something up here, and Sojiro-san might be worried and give us a whole talk.”

“I think he’ll be happy that we’re taking care of ourselves and properly fueling our bodies, as we so often fail to do. If he tries to give us a talk, I’ll tell him that we’re tired and will politely ask for him to talk to us later.”

“Ah…we should at least bandage these up. It would be…pretty bad if they got infected, yeah?”

Goro nods, smiling a bit as he grabs his phone. “Alright, Ren. Let’s bandage these and then I’ll get us our food.”

He sends the message to Ann, too, and Ren knows he's looking forward to her accepting his offer, is getting his hopes high. The cafe is something both of them would enjoy, something Ann would never say no to, and it's nice to see Goro so excited for something. Ren can only hope that things go well for the two of them.