Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

There are people who are born lucky.

There is a spiel about how all of them have an equal chance at happiness of course – but with billions and billions of humans all over the earth, running into your soulmate is a bit of a gamble.

Some spend years, decades of their life struggling to find their one true love. If they come to their senses, they recognize that although soulmates could add to their lives, there is more to living than finding just one person. That there is just as much love that can be found in family and friends, in the beauty of the world, or a love that is not destined. They stop throwing their hard-earned wages into thin air, stop traveling to meet soul-searcher groups, and stop introducing themselves to so many people who they never bother to get to know besides a surface greeting and a check to see if they are compatible.

But there are hard cases. Determined people.

They are referred to as determined, because any other way of referring to them would be cruel. What can you say to someone who sacrificed their entire life in pursuit of something they never found? When on their deathbed, they still have yet to grasp that one thing, but threw away everything else they had?

Soulmates are not rare, no. But the chances of finding yours are entirely up to fate, even for the richest folks. Because even if you have all that money to travel, how could you possibly hope to meet everyone on this gigantic planet? Can one even use the term ‘soulmates’, if the fated meeting some people spend their whole life waiting for, never happens for so many? If the metaphorical red string never connects them to anyone?

Ren, although he’s been fascinated by the concept as a kid, has accepted that finding his soulmate and forging a mental link with them – which resulted in telepathy, ergo was a pretty large warning sign that the person you just ran into was your person – would be as much up to chance as winning the lotto. He became one of the many who continue on with their lives as if they didn’t live in a world where you could find a perfect partner. Ren would be happy to meet them, of course, but he doesn’t go out of his way to visit any soulmate meet-and-greets or take part in festivals in an attempt to find his special someone.

After all, if he really is destined to be with someone, why shouldn’t he meet them?

It is a heartless world, where you forever remain star-crossed lovers, with the object of your affections never actually in your life.

Maybe there are simply people who do not have soulmates, and people who do, but Ren has never been too invested in that kind of research. There is no way of distinguishing the two, if there even is a distinction – it’s just, everyone knows that when you meet face-to-face, you will be able to hear their thoughts and they yours. A harmonization of minds, followed by the alignment of hearts and the souls becoming one.

If Ren is fully honest, he doesn’t expect to meet his soulmate any time soon. Maybe sometime after he graduates, when he is no longer living in a little town in the middle of nowhere.

And then the incident happens and Ren is no longer living in the middle of nowhere.

***

Tokyo is so full of life; people are everywhere, on the streets, on the trains, shattering any personal space Ren wants to hold onto.

He is accosted by no less than four soul-searchers on his first day alone.

Out of the three girls, and the one guy, none of them are his person; and he is not theirs.

Still, while it rattles him, the experience also readies him for what is to come; after all, Tokyo is not only the capital of Japan, but a city with millions of people in it.

After the first month, Ren is used to random people stopping him at the street to stare into his eyes.

It never works.

That never dissuades the people trying.

Ren never tries to dissuade them either.

“I dunno how you can take it, dude,” Ryuji comments once, when they are walking to a ramen place together. He stares after the two girls disappearing into the crowd, a frown marring his usually sunny face. “Doesn’t it get old?”

Ren shrugs. “It doesn’t hurt to let them try.”

“Yeah, but there are so many of them! I’d think you were a stuck up model if I didn’t know better,” Ryuji complains, and Ren laughs. It’s true that he gets flagged down a lot more than his best friend, but he doesn’t think much of it. It’s a different kind of attention than the whispers and snide glances he receives in school as the resident ‘troublemaker’ and he welcomes the difference.

“Knowing your luck, one of these days you are actually going to run into your soulmate.” Ryuji is shaking his head disparagingly. He is not exactly going out of his way to meet his soulmate, Ren knows, but the blond has confessed to going to a few meet-and-greets on occasion.

“I’d actually have to be lucky for that,” he mutters.

He doesn’t consider how, even though he was unceremoniously sentenced as a child criminal, his luck has been on the rise ever since he arrived in Tokyo.

He certainly doesn’t expect to run into his soulmate, just a few weeks after having this conversation.

***

The TV studio was a bad idea, Ren thinks, muffling a yawn. He listens to Ryuji and Ann bicker about the hell of a day they had. Thankfully, the topic soon moves to where they should go to relax after said day. Ren has to admit, he zones out a bit – it’s a self-defense mechanism, after all the talk the tour guide bored them to hell with – only focusing back on when Morgana speaks up.

“-wanna go to that huge pancake-looking place we passed on the way here!”

Amusement park, Ren notes as the conversation continues over his head. Sounds great – will definitely get his blood pumping and wake him up.

He is about to voice his agreement, when someone shows up behind Ann and Ryuji.

“Excuse me,” his dark, almost red eyes immediately lock with Ren’s, “I couldn’t help but notice your uniforms. Are you students of Shujin Academy?”

Joker and his posse look just as utterly idiotic outside the Metaverse as inside it.

Ren straightens.

…huh?

Mediocrity seems to be a standard, the voice continues, smooth as a knife that could plunge into someone’s heart without any trouble. Those glasses are even more hideous up close. And what did he even do with his hair? Does he think it looks cool? It does not.

Ren, head empty, except for the voice filling it, stares at the boy with a lilting voice, and a shy smile. “-happened to be passing by, so it seemed polite to greet you. We’ll be filming together after all.”

At least you are making this all the more easy, oh fearless Leader of the Phantom Thieves, the voice continues sarcastically, I won’t have to bother staging another random encounter for us to introduce ourselves.

“Ah, where are my manners?” He affects a little laugh (fake), and holds a gloved hand to his face. He keeps eye contact with Ren as he smiles. “My name is Goro Akechi.”

Ren’s brain kicks back in.

…holy shit you're hot.

Akechi – Goro? Can Ren call him by his first name already? …better not, not yet – blinks, and tilts his head as trying to place the stray thought Ren just projected into his head, like he’s been projecting his own thoughts the whole time.

Is he…? No, there is no way.

Ren carefully keeps his mind blank. Soulmate connections usually need a while to strengthen, to be able to send images and abstract concepts between the partners, so that’s what he tries; visualizing the blank bleakness of his cell in the Velvet Room.

Ann and Ryuji begin to question Akechi, and Ren keeps his breathing under control. He cannot allow himself even a second to consider what he just heard (not heard, telepathy is decidedly not hearing), because if he does, then-

Your little guard dogs are much more vocal than you are, Joker. I wonder if that is part of the persona you play up for the public? Akechi’s thoughts flow into Ren’s mind as if he were whispering the words right into his ear. There is a certain amusement in his tone. That’s just another one of our similarities.

What is, Ren wonders without being able to stop himself.

It’s- Akechi cuts himself off. Ren has the front row seat to his widening eyes, hears a cacophony of noise that is a myriad of thoughts all flooding through Akechi’s mind, until they all coalesce into one; YOU HEARD ALL THAT AND DIDN’T SAY SHIT?!

Ren lives to contradict people, and his soulmate doesn’t seem to be an exception. I did say you were hot – are hot –, you know. He lets Akechi digest the thought. You seemed preoccupied with monologuing.

…there’s no fucking way.

Akechi takes a deep breath, and to Ren, he sounds like he is having trouble with breathing as a whole, as he lets out a shaky half-laugh. “Oh, would you look at the time, sadly I have to get going…”

Pretty sure we should talk about this, Ren thinks, in Akechi’s vague direction.

Akechi doesn’t reply, choosing to turn his back to them without waiting for a goodbye of any kind and swiftly walking off.

Ren doesn’t waste a second in shoving his bag with Morgana in it at Ann and running after Akechi.

Akechi, who only speeds up.

STOP FUCKING FOLLOWING ME!

Stop running, Ren shoots back silently. He and Ryuji have been training for weeks now – and Akechi has nothing on his best friend.

Except for the location they are in.

“-kechi-kun,” calls the bouncer as Akechi bolts through a door. Said bouncer blinks in surprise, then his eyes find Ren, and they narrow in suspicion.

Ren comes to a halt, cheeks slightly flushed. “I really need to talk to him,” he tries, but he already knows it’s in vain. Akechi is on the other side of that door and Ren will not be allowed in.

…well played, he has to admit. He was so busy with the thought of having found his soulmate that he didn’t stop to pay attention to his surroundings.

He can practically hear Akechi’s smug smile. You have to try harder if you wish to match me, Amamiya-kun.

Ren wonders if he actually pulled himself together so fast or if he is just pretending, for Ren’s or his own sake, but also-

…you know my name?

He doesn’t receive an answer to that one. If Ren had to wager a guess, he’d say Akechi swiftly booked it on the other side of the door, to get ‘out of range’, so to speak. Newly realized connections are very fragile that way.

He isn’t exactly sure why, but he gets the feeling Akechi’s blushing.

Or maybe the villainous monologue wasn’t just for show earlier, he continues the thought, and Akechi is actually scowling and planning his revenge.

“-so get lost before I call the security on you, kid.” The bouncer glares at Ren.

He nods, mind faraway. He… definitely didn’t anticipate today going the way it did.

He walks off, the bare bones of a plan forming in his mind… Akechi will probably try to get him blacklisted from the studio, but if he can somehow still sneak in…

“Dude! What the hell was that?!” Ryuji declares, suddenly all up in Ren’s personal space.

He, Ann and Morgana all rattle off questions at him, as Ren just blinks.

He holds up a hand to silence them.

“I heard him.” He taps his head. His friends all gasp. “He… had a few interesting comments.”

“And what, he just ran off after he realized you heard him?!” Morgana meowls, aghast.

Ren shakes his head slightly. “Not here.” With his friends there… He’d be able to sneak in, even if Akechi got him blacklisted. He could use a back-up plan, and he could definitely use a chance to talk about soulmate stuff.

“To the amusement park, then?” Ann offers hesitantly. She holds Ren’s bag with Morgana in it out to Ren.

He takes it with a smile. “Sure. We could call Yusuke too, just to fill him in.”

“Yusuke?” Ryuji asks, eyebrows drawn together, even as he digs his phone out. “I mean, yeah I get that you’d want him to know, but…”

Ren smiles mysteriously, even as he feels worry pool in his stomach. He doesn’t have much concrete evidence, but… His friends, his thieves should know.

He hopes this turns out to be a misunderstanding, but he doubts he’d be that lucky, after having probably used up all of his luck today for meeting his soulmate.

A part of him, one he thought he buried as a child, is bouncing in joy. He found his soulmate. They will work out whatever misunderstanding just happened and be happy together.

Right?

***

Yusuke joins them as they stand in line for the ferris wheel, and once they actually climb into a cabin, Ren begins to fill them all in, starting with, “I think the Black Mask is my soulmate.”

His thieves listen, wide-eyed, and loudly questioning throughout the whole tale, debating the topic back and forth. It isn’t until they are on the ground once more, that Ryuji shakes his head. “...that was a lot,” he says. “And I dunno about you, but I need some hardcore adrenaline to drive all the worrying out of me.”

“A rush of positive emotions would indeed be a reprieve at the moment,” Yusuke agrees. “No offense meant, of course,” he says to Ren.

He huffs. “None taken.” He glances at Ann. “Do you want to swing by the food stalls first?”

She nods, smiling gently at him. “Sure.”

“Grab us some grub too, okay?” Ryuji asks, before unceremoniously dragging Yusuke off. Morgana ends up coming with Ann and Ren, but he doesn’t say much, looking introspective for once.

“If Akechi is Black Mask,” the cat says, chewing on the words slowly, “then we’re in big trouble, soulmates or not.”

“That’s what I wanted to talk about,” Ren replies quietly, bumping his arm into Ann’s shoulder. “Thanks for noticing.”

Ann brightens, but even she seems muted somehow. “But of course! You’re my friend and we’re maybe-kinda in similar situations.” She winces. “I mean, Mika isn’t really going around hurting people – well she is, but not like that, I don’t think, but… Yeah.” She puffs out her cheeks, before stuffing a crepe in it. She waves. “Go on, Ren-kun. Ask away.”

Ren huffs out a little laugh. “Right, right.” He had stray questions, but he is not really sure if he could ask them in an actually comprehensive manner… “How were you… so positive, even after she…?”

“Rejected our bond in a fit of rage?” Ann finishes for him. She is the one bumping into his shoulder now. “I had my amazing friend right there with me.”

Ren smiles faintly, but that’s not the answer he is really looking for.

Ann sighs. “Mika… took a bit to calm down and gather herself.” She bites her lip. “I guess she thought she’d be getting some hot and mature actor as a soulmate, and she got me? Things are obviously not that romantic between us yet, but she actually reached out with the idea of us going on ‘get to know each other’ dates.”

Ren listens patiently, despite having heard parts of this before. He takes some of the street food they got, and tears a small bite off of a roll for Morgana.

“She still thinks some pretty mean things about me, but they almost seem affectionate? Like, she is a bitch and she knows it, but her comments somehow all turn into her building me up? Telling me to be more confident in myself and stuff.” There is a smile dancing on Ann’s lips. She has a bit of cream smeared on the side, and Ren can’t decide if she has lipstick on or not. Mika’s been pretty open about giving her gifts, to ‘raise Ann’s standards’ as she put it. “And you should have seen how terrified she was of meeting my parents and Shiho.” Ann snorts. “There is a lot more to her than you’d think at first.”

“Are you gonna introduce her to us too?” Ren asks mischievously. Even the idea of Mika trying to behave herself near Ryuji or Yusuke is enough to make him giggle.

Ann is clearly picturing something similar, based on her snickering.

“She doesn’t like cats,” Morgana butts in, headbutting Ren’s hand for more snacks. “She’s clearly a terrible person.”

“Oh, if she were an animal she’d probably be a scorpion or a viper,” Ann quips without preamble. But she is smiling, softly, and Ren thinks, good for her, and also, is this going to be me soon? “But I’m not perfect either and she’s willing to work on herself. We can help each other, I think.”

“You’re great together,” Ren reassures her, feeling a bit more settled himself. Again, he has a basic idea for tomorrow, but after that? All of it will depend on how Akechi reacts.

Maybe there is something in ‘meant to be’, Ren thinks, allowing himself to be hopeful about the future.

***

Goro used to idealize soulmates.

A perfect partner the universe made just for you? The perfect playdate, the perfect studymate; someone who could keep up with his wit and love and appreciate Goro for all the good things in him?

And then mother left him. Being passed around in so many foster homes after, some of which held soulmate-couples who weren’t all that actually perfect parents you’d expect them to be, Goro has learnt that there is little value in soulmates. That he can’t keep hoping for a valiant knight to come save him from all the horrors of the world, to love him unconditionally. His mother was supposed to love him without restraints and look where that got her?

Goro, frankly and plainly, gave up on finding his soulmate.

He would have been the happiest if they never met, really – his Detective Prince image was a much easier sell when he was single and ‘available’ too. His rapidly growing fanbase could hope to one day run into him, gaze into his eyes and hear a sweet crooning in their own mind…

Pfft. As if Goro’s head was filled with sunshine and rainbows.

It’s a ridiculous idea, and yet, he feeds into it – let them reduce him to just a pretty face. Let them underestimate him, as long as they know his name, as long as they talk about him, as long as they help him achieve his ultimate goal-

Then, there is a hiccup in his plans by the name of Ren Amamiya, or, as he is also known; Joker.

Goro would really appreciate the dramatic irony more if it wasn’t his own life.

As it is, he will not allow some silly soulmate of his to just come in all willy-nilly and ruin the webs and traps Goro’s been meticulously laying for the past two years. He worked way too hard for it all to come together.

…if it doesn’t work, for any given reason, Goro doesn’t think he will be sane enough to go on.

Which leads him to be anxious, but also, set in his way as he walks into the studio the next morning. He thought about asking for Amamiya to be blacklisted from the TV studio, but then the case would undoubtedly make its way back to his sperm donor and part of Goro doesn’t want Shido to hear Amamiya’s name at all, even if it would have come with a false accusation of him being Goro’s stalker.

Perhaps he should have stayed behind to talk yesterday, but Goro barely kept it together after arriving into his assigned changing room as it is. Besides, he’s had some more time to come up with topics he absolutely must not bring up while around Amamiya, even in his own mind, and some ways of mitigating the incident.

He hopes to catch Amamiya with some inane excuse after the show, and maybe exchange phone numbers. His soulmate is cumbersome, even without Goro having known him for long, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be better in the long run if Goro keeps an eye on him. One could say that’s even the socially expected thing for him to do, keep tabs on his soulmate.

Goro’s nose wrinkles, before he smooths it out consciously. Soulmate is such an asinine, childish word. As if his soul would actually have a perfect replica – or a perfect partner.

Goro has met both sides of his soul, and neither Robin nor Loki are exactly pretty.

And Joker… Well, Goro doesn’t think that the brat who has only advanced as far as he did by sheer dumb luck is… – well, let’s just say he has a few complaints to the universe. Like, why does his soulmate go around with those ridiculous glasses? Goro doesn’t even know the color of his eyes, they were so obstructed by the lenses and his fringe the last time they met.

(And then Goro was preoccupied with running and not having a panic attack where anyone could find him, so there is that too.)

Point is, Goro is as ready as he could ever be, when he walks into the blinding lights of the reflectors. He exchanges pleasantries with the reporters, and is eternally thankful that this is not a live show, but rather, a taping, even if there is a live audience.

Speaking of said audience…

Goro’s eyes roam over the students – one more dull than the next – and… There, in the second row, with his little lap dogs right beside him, sits Ren Amamiya. He is staring at Goro straight on, but doesn’t try to make conversation, even though they are close enough for it to work.

Goro forces his gaze to move on.

He couldn’t see Amamiya’s face, not with all these reflectors blinding him, but it’s not like Joker will be able to sit through the whole interview in silence. Goro has only been watching him for a while, and even so, he knows that Amamiya lacks the patience or the ability to hold a grudge for that long.

Goro focuses back on the interview. Predictably, and, in accordance with the bullet points they discussed earlier, the announcers bring up the case of the Phantom Thieves.

Goro jokes and plays up his public persona, but he has a clear goal with this interview today; to plant a seed. And never let it be said that he cannot make right by an opportunity that’s been practically dropped into his lap.

“If these Phantom Thieves are real… I believe they should be tried in a court of law.”

He can feel the surprise emanating from Joker and his little lackeys… Goro is almost disappointed. What, didn’t think I’d say that, did you?

Amamiya doesn’t answer.

Goro’s eyes keep straying back to him as he explains himself; but soon enough, there is the request for the audience participation that he’s been warned about… Meaning that Goro has a quick minute to himself.

He is patient, yes. But part of him doesn’t even think twice before needling Amamiya.

You’re quiet today.

For the first time in what feels like forever, he hears the other’s voice. Didn’t want to distract you. Amamiya sounds as infuriating as he did yesterday, when asking Goro not to run from him.

Goro can almost hear the shrug in his mental voice. It takes a lot of energy to keep himself from scowling.

Distract me? Oh, please. Just to prove his own point, Goro replies to the announcer’s question, emotions and affectations all in the right place. Is Amamiya seriously assuming he can’t multitask? You don’t get to where I am without picking up some necessary skills.

I can’t decide if you’re underselling or overselling yourself, Amamiya says.

Well, Goro can’t decide if he likes the fact that he knows Amamiya would be smiling if he were to say these words aloud, or not.

Got beauty and brains… Does that leave me with brawn?

Goro huffs. He vaguely agrees to something about audience participation. If that was supposed to be a pick-up line, it could use some work. Besides, rather than those arbitrary traits, I much prefer a more philosophical take on the matter – like Hegel’s thesis and antithesis theory…

I’m only somewhat familiar, Amamiya replies, and Goro has to remind himself that he is having a conversation. It’s been getting so comfortable, he even brought Hegel up without a second thought… That is worrying. Is the third synthesis? Something new coming into existence after the other two clash?

A rudimentary understanding of the topic, but yes, Goro finds his lips drawing into a smile. You don’t really read philosophy, do you?

I will start to. I need to keep up with you.

Goro does his best to mask how much that response pleases him.

He registers that one of the announcers has gone up to the crowd and just happened to stop in front of Amamiya, microphone in front of him. What are you going to say, Goro can’t help but wonder, leaning forward in his seat slightly. What would you think of the Phantom Thieves? He adds, slightly mockingly.

Amamiya leans forward to meet the microphone. His eyes are locked onto Goro’s, as he says, They do more than the cops.

Goro affects a laugh, as he leans back. “Should I fear for my own job then?” he asks, grinning. No one laughs along with him.

In fact, the studio as a whole seems to have gone silent. Only the whirring of the machinery remains as everyone holds back their breath.

Goro replays the last few moments in his head, not understanding until-

He gasps, gloved hand flying to his face to cover his mouth. “You…”

…fucking bastard, what have you DONE?!

And Amamiya has the gall to smile. “...oh.” He holds his own head, as if he were hearing Goro for the first time.

This is the catharsis that shatters the silence; for everyone starts speaking all at once, about how this is clearly a soulmate meeting, and Goro can hear crying, and yelling, and the announcer is swiftly moving towards him, dragging Amamiya in tow-

It is chaos, unapologetic and beautiful, but Goro cannot revel in it, because once this gets out, all his carefully laid plans will fall to ruin.

***

They get to go to Goro’s changing room, courtesy of the announcer and a few execs’ quick thinking. The interview is suspended for the time being; some of the audience members – hopeful young girls who have yet to meet their soulmate and were clearly gunning for Goro – are still crying.

Amamiya stands in the middle of the room, hands shoved into his pockets, as the door closes on them.

Goro leans on his table, watching his soulmate in the mirror. They have not exchanged a single word on the way here.

(Goro was too busy focusing on keeping his breathing even, and his mind carefully blank.)

Amamiya’s eyes are on him; meeting Goro’s through the mirror.

“I don’t think I introduced myself,” he says, clearly having decided that he will go first. But you don’t need me to, do you?

Goro huffs. “What are you talking about?” This game of switching between mental and verbal speech is admittedly a trick he should have anticipated and not fallen for. He will reprimand himself later, though.

“My name.” Amamiya doesn’t step closer, but his glasses glint dangerously. If Goro spends a moment too long breathing, he will start to smell something unfamiliar – his soulmate. You called me by both of my names.

Goro shakes his head, turning to face his supposed other half. “What are you talking about?” he repeats. “I don’t know your name. Both names?” He frowns, before putting on a strained smile. “Please tell me you’re not a gangster. That’d make my job very hard indeed.”

You called me Joker at least twice, and Amamiya once.

Goro lets himself take a step forward. “Is that your name? Amamiya?” He forms the name carefully, as if it were something precious.

Amamiya’s face remains unchanged. Why are you trying to deflect, Akechi-kun?

Goro straightens. “Oh, please. You of all people should have the courtesy of calling me by my first name.” He even offers a smile.

Amamiya’s cheeks turn pink. “The same to you, Goro.”

He says Goro’s name like it is something precious.

Goro ignores the fluttering in his stomach. He cocks his head to the side, posing. “But I don’t know your name…”

Yes, Goro is more inclined towards philosophy, but there is a very apt saying; gaslight, gatekeep, girlboss. Goro has not yet given up on following such sage advice.

(The slightly bloodier alternative is of course, mansplain, manipulate, manslaughter, but Goro is trying to keep his hands clean, at least in the real world.)

“It’s Ren. But you already know that, don’t you?” Amamiya – Ren, if he really insists, is shorter than Goro by a bit, but in the middle of the room like that, he seems freakishly tall. Would you please drop the act and talk to me like a real person?

“I am talking to you like a real person,” Goro answers in his custom-made cheery tone. “Ren-kun,” he adds, when he sees Ren rear up for another try, “I wanted to apologize for yesterday.”

“Y-you did?” The flush increases ever so slightly. Up close like this, although the glasses and his hair still obscure a lot, Goro can make out Ren’s eyelashes. He still can’t decide what color his eyes are though, which is a shame.

“Yes.” Goro smiles sorrowfully. “I was so startled, I ran off without giving us a chance to talk. I’m terribly sorry.” He offers his hand. “Could we, perhaps, start over again?”

A shadow travels through Ren’s face, but doesn’t linger for long. “Of course.” Instead of taking the handshake as Goro would have expected, Ren grabs his gloved hand and leans down to press his lips against it.

Goro gets a sudden itch to get rid of his gloves.

Which is an absurd notion – get rid of his gloves to feel Ren’s lips on his bare skin? Laughable.

“Aren’t you a flirt,” he murmurs, making sure to leak some distaste into his voice. Ren, looking up at him from under his dark hair, winks.

“Only for you, honey.”

Goro feels heat climb up his face. He looks to the side. Changed tactics I see.

Goro will just have to acclimate himself. He can’t let Ren win their little encounter.

Can’t bore you with the same questions forever, can I? Ren says, and it takes Goro a hot second to realize Ren heard his thought.

He laughs, as he draws his hand back, as if he were doing it naturally. Ren straightens, and yes, he is a bit shorter than Goro, but not enough for it to be a problem. There is every chance he’ll grow even taller, as they should be about the same age, and Goro is still growing too, so-

He shuts the thought down.

I’m surprised you’re not more angry at me, Ren continues, when Goro fails to take back control of the conversation.

“Angry? Why would I be angry at you?” Goro smiles at his soulmate, vapid and cheerful, again, careful to keep his mind blank and his emotions at bay. “You’re my soulmate, Ren-kun.”

Ren lets out a labored breath that spells a victory for Goro. He just has to keep going.

He takes a step forward, followed by another one and another one. Ren is backing away at first, slowly, eyes wide behind his glasses, but before he can speed up, he smacks against the wall and Goro has him cornered.

Goro doesn’t know what his expression looks like right now. He doesn’t care much to control it.

“What reason,” he begins, reaching out to grab those awful glasses off of the bridge of Ren’s nose, “would I have,” Ren doesn’t even try to protest, and the glasses leave his nose, “to be angry at my soulmate?” He drinks in the sight of Ren’s eyes, free of any obscuring walls. They are a heavy gray, the color of a rainy day, one during which Goro loves to curl up and read with something hot to drink. Gray, like the steel of his briefcase; gray like the vest of Joker’s outfit.

(Gray like the barrel of a gun. Glinting very similarly, as well.)

“You tell me,” Ren whispers, pupils blown wide, and staring at Goro. As he speaks, his warm breath hits Goro in the face, and he has to wonder if Ren ate a mint gum or something before this. He certainly shouldn’t have a fresh breath otherwise, and it certainly adds to the theory that he’s planned this-

Planned what?

Goro hums.

He carefully closes Ren’s glasses.

And then he throws them aside without a care in the world.

“...I kinda need those,” Ren points out. Even if they’re just fakes.

Goro smiles beatifically. “Why would you even need them if they are fake?”

I don’t like people staring me in the eyes, Ren says, even as he keeps eye-contact with Goro. He hasn’t made a single move, or given any indication that he wants to reverse their positions or run for the door.

Good.

“You’re staring at me right now,” Goro argues, before adding, “besides, it’s a crime to hide such beautiful eyes.”

Ren’s breath catches, and Goro thinks his eyes stray to Goro’s lips for a beat.

He draws it into another practiced smile. “But you know a lot about crime, don’t you?”

So we’re finally talking about it?

Goro ignores him, preferring to continue aloud. “After all, you wouldn’t have hijacked the show if you didn’t have an inclination for things on the darker side of the law.” As he talks, he trails finger over Ren’s arm. It being summer, his uniform is lacking a jacket and Ren’s pale skin is smooth to the touch. He seems to be getting goosebumps though, Goro notes as his fingers wander from Ren’s wrist to his shoulder.

He grins, feeling like Loki’s standing behind him, projecting through him.

“In that regard, I think anger would be putting it rather lightly.” Almost playfully, he grazes his nails over Ren’s skin, barely applying pressure just yet. “You see, I am quite furious.”

Ren inhales, and it’s probably not just Goro’s imagination to see him have problems with it. “You’re mad that I accidentally revealed our bond on TV?” He winces as he says it, likely realizing how ridiculous he sounds.

A wave of unrestrained, all-consuming wrath surges through Goro. ‘Accidentally’ my ass.

He grits his teeth and forces it back down.

It’s too late.

Goro’s fingers trail up to Ren’s shoulder.

“It was an accident,” Ren tells him, frown on his face, and earnestness in his voice. “Goro, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to out you- us, I- I just…” He gulps, falling silent.

Goro taps his fingers rhythmically against Ren’s shoulder.

“Do you want to try that again?” He asks as sweetly as he can manage.

Ren meets his eyes, with something like a smile and a challenge in said smile. You love being right, don’t you?

Goro chuckles darkly. “Don’t think me such a horrible detective that I wouldn’t notice my own soulmate lying to me.” He presses closer to Ren. “What were you hoping to accomplish?”

“It was a bit of a spur-of-the-moment decision,” Ren replies, also leaning closer. “I didn’t want to risk you running off again.”

Stupid fucking idiot, Goro thinks venomously before he can stop himself. Ren beams.

“You truly have a way with words, honey.”

In response, Goro sinks his manicured nails into Ren’s exposed skin. The red marks on his neck will be visible from afar, both a sign of hurt, and a sign of Goro. As much as he wants to deny, the thought fills him with satisfaction.

Ren only huffs out a laugh. “Would you have stayed otherwise?” He asks, as if he weren’t inconvenienced by Goro attempting to claw some sense into him.

“I would have,” you absolute buffoon, Goro finishes in his mind. “I had the decent thought of finding you after the taping was over.” And asking for your number.

“Oh.” Ren looks to the ground, but then he is back to looking at Goro and gives him a soft smile. I would have happily given you my number. Still would.

Goro rolls his eyes. His heart rate picking up is an entirely unrelated matter of course.

“Not that that really matters right now, of course,” Goro continues, as if Ren didn’t say a thing, “seeing as, by now, I’m sure at least one person has already released the info on social media.” His throat constricts at the idea and he suddenly remembers that his phone is in this room with them, even if silenced. Who knows how many calls already await him.

And why is that a problem? Ren tilts his head, exposing more skin to Goro’s clawing. “Wanted to hide me in your closet, honey?”

You are so fucking stupid, Goro thinks. You have no idea what you-

He cuts himself off, taking a deep breath and blowing off some steam by trying to draw blood with his nails. Seeing as they are well-cared for, and thus, not very sharp, it's a challenge, but one Goro will happily rise above.

(And, again, Ren doesn’t seem to mind the contact one bit.

Makes Goro briefly wonder what other pains his soulmate would – well, perhaps the assumption is presumptuous, but he isn’t a detective for nothing – enjoy.

Goro banishes the thoughts and is very glad for once that they came with images and not words. He would not like to have explained himself to Ren, but as it is, their bond is still fresh enough that images won’t make it through for a while.)

So tell me. Ren catches Goro’s free hand in his, gray eyes staring intently into Goro’s. Tell me what I’m missing.

“We don’t have all day, Ren-kun,” Goro grits out, trying for sunshine, but only getting halfway to it. The idea that the clock has been ticking all this time is suddenly pressing onto him. Any plans he came up with the previous day are scrapped, or would only be applicable after a heavy revision, and Goro’s drowning in anxieties. He heard it by now – knows about – not safe – but my plans – who the fuck even cares-

Ren draws in a sharp breath, but Goro is not really registering it, staring at the pale skin marred by his nails. There are red lines there, not enough to draw blood, but-

Pictures swim through his mind. Shido on the phone, too smug for his own good, instead of at the end of a barrel of a gun, pleading and apologizing like the worm he is. Goro, in the Metaverse, a new assignment. Ren, as Joker, in a puddle of his own blood and the black goo Shadows are made of, staring up at Goro with his mask half-blown off.

Goro shakes his head to try to get rid of the images. The blood is rushing away from his head and he falters backwards, almost falling. Wrong, those are wrong-

Goro? Goro, what’s wrong? He hears a by now almost familiar voice. Goro keeps shaking his head. Someone tries to hold him, help him stay upright.

Ridiculous. Why is he so upset? His revenge is what counts not- Not his soulmate, not Ren, why does he feel like bile is rising up in his throat at the thought of ki-

“-sit down?”

Goro’s stomach lurches, but the arms that grabbed him only guide him to the ground.

The fuck does it matter, he asks himself, but he keeps picturing Joker, dying, and then worse, the image is replaced with Ren, as he is, without glasses and with that healthy blush leaving his features, leaking out of his cheeks like color left Goro’s world after mother-

He presses a palm to his mouth, because suddenly, all he can remember is mother’s body, except when he thinks twice about it, it’s not her body, it’s Ren’s, and why the fuck is Goro like this, they barely met-

His free hand is grabbed, and is pressed against something warm. There is a beat, slightly erratic, but still more steadying than the heavy thumping that’s taken over Goro’s hearing. There is an even steadier rhythm, an inhale and exhale, with periodical breaks, and a gentle voice guiding him to follow in its wake.

Goro tries, if only to wash away the images and the bile he can feel in his throat.

He will not fucking vomit all over himself, he refuses to give in to anyone, not to mention his own body.

He feels so warm in his clothes, he can barely breathe, and his tie doesn’t help.

Goro claws at it with his right hand, trying to get the tight knot to loosen up, but it doesn’t work, he cannot do it, he isn’t able to do it with just one hand-

He grits his teeth, annoyance rising. Why the fuck can’t he even do this one t-

Another hand comes up to his throat, and keeps the tie still long enough for Goro to loosen it. It’s a strange feeling, only doing the familiar motion half-way, as his other hand is still held closely against the steady rhythm. Ren’s heartbeat, Goro’s mind provides, as the fog clears a bit. His eyes flutter closed and he focuses on breathing.

This close to his soulmate, he can smell what he assumes is Ren. There is a rich aroma of coffee almost imbued in his skin, and a lot of other things that Goro doesn’t care to name.

Ren never stops talking, his voice a low buzzing in the back of Goro’s mind.

He didn’t speak that much with his friends, Goro observes, memories trickling back as he feels himself settle bit by bit. Not as Joker, nor as Ren.

Deductions bring comfort and confidence. Goro’s detective position may be a ploy, but damn it if he isn’t a good one – according to himself of course.

I must be special to him, Goro concludes. Or he prefers one-on-one conversations instead of groups.

The latter deduction leaves a bad taste in his mouth.

You really are just special, Ren’s voice floats lazily into his brain, even as out loud, Ren is still humming – no longer talking then.

Not very good at multitasking, Goro notes, even as his insides warm at Ren’s words.

Oh I can multitask just fine, honey. Trust me.

Goro snorts. I’d rather test you first than just believe you outright. With a sigh, he opens his eyes. Ren’s face is close to his, watching him with his hair falling into his eyes again. Goro’s hands are on his chest, over his heart, and the other one is limp at the side, near Ren’s free hand.

Sitting in the middle of Goro’s dressing room, sunk to their knees like kids, Goro would love to believe that it’s only the two of them in this big, horrible world.

Sadly, that’s not the case.

“I don’t know what came over me,” Goro says, voice croaking. He clears his throat.

Ren’s humming halts and he frowns.

“Goro,” he says.

Goro steamrolls over him. “I suppose all of this is still hitting me quite hard.” He laughs, the sound very far from his usual camera laughs, no matter how hard he tries. He takes a few more deep breaths to steady himself. Goro cannot do this. Not to him. Cannot drag Ren into his miserable life. “I apologize, I never considered that I’d find my soulmate like-”

“Goro,” Ren interrupts. His grip on Goro’s hand momentarily tightens, but his heartbeat stays steady. “Please talk to me.”

“I am talking to you,” Goro answers idly, focusing on Ren’s fingernails. If he were to spend more time in Goro’s life, he would want Ren to take better care of them, but alas… “See, that’s when people say words with meaning behind them to each other in order to com-”

“You’re not talking to me, you’re talking at me.” Ren’s tone is harsh. Goro glances into his eyes, momentarily surprised. “I could give you more time if you really want, but I don’t think that’s what we need.”

Goro cocks his head. “Oh? What we need?” He draws his hand back from Ren’s chest, smiling with full teeth. “Clearly you are the most well-equipped to know what we need, yes, because there is no way I could ever have a say in it, not when it’s us that we’re talking about.”

“Goro, no, honey, that’s not what I meant.” Ren throws his hands up placatingly. Goro really wants to cross his own arms, but he settles for glaring. “But we’ve been going around in circles.”

Not willing to dance with me, are you, Goro thinks spitefully. Some perfect soulmate you are.

Ren looks pained, and Goro almost apologizes for the remark. I’d love to dance with you honey, verbally or otherwise, Ren holds out a hand, but Goro doesn’t take it. Ren leaves his hand up for grabbing, a sad smile dancing on his lips. But I’d appreciate knowing if my soulmate is going around causing mental breakdowns or not.

What’s it to you? Goro spits, feeling like a defiant child. As if going around and taking people’s free will is any better.

Ren’s expression hardens. That’s not what we do, as Phantom Thieves, he says, and Goro has a split second to berate himself for giving up the ruse. Not much chance of gaslighting Ren into thinking Goro knows nothing about the Metaverse after this. We just take away their distorted desires.

You mess with their emotions and their heads is what you do, Goro points out coldly. How is that supposed to inspire real change?

It didn’t start out as- Ren cuts himself off, sighing. He rakes his fingers through his already messy hair, and Goro watches enviously for a beat. He’d like to touch Ren’s hair too. He wonders what Ren does with his hair to make it so effortlessly handsome.

Probably nothing, which is infuriating, but would fit into Ren’s MO just fine.

“The first heart we changed,” Ren says quietly, but aloud, in his actual voice, “was Kamoshida’s.”

I know, Goro wants to say. He doesn’t.

(Not out loud anyway.)

Ren nods. “He hurt a lot of people – a lot of students.” He falls silent, likely thinking of someone in particular.

Why are you rehashing this to me? I was one of the first people to be assigned to the case, he thinks, frustration rising.

He doesn’t care about some nameless victim, he doesn’t even care much for Kamoshida – sure, the world is better off with that asshole not being one anymore, but this does not change the fact that the Phantom Thieves basically brainwashed him.

And that even after witnessing their ‘heist’ at Madarame’s Palace, Goro still has no idea how they did it.

“We weren’t sure if the change of heart would actually work or not.” Ren’s confession breaks through his anger. Goro blinks. “If it didn’t work, he would have had a mental shutdown.” Like in your cases, he doesn’t say.

Goro hears the unsaid words anyways. “What, so you’re saying we’re the same?” He scoffs. “Don’t make me laugh.”

“I had a personal grudge against Kamoshida,” Ren continues unbothered. His hands curl into fists. “But Ann’s grudge was even bigger. She had the final call.”

…final call about what?

Ren smiles, tilting his head. It’s not a very reassuring expression. “If she wanted him dead, or forever stuck with the horrors of his own actions.” Goro’s jaw drops. “I think she’d have been entirely justified in killing him. But she decided that death was too quick of a way out for him.” A beat of silence. “I think she was right.”

Goro has a front row seat to the darkest of smiles appearing on Ren’s face. It is almost reminiscent of Joker’s crazed grin when fighting Shadows, but Goro has only seen that from afar.

This though?

It’s thrilling, it’s full of the promise of sweet, sweet revenge, and Goro has a sinking feeling he knows why the universe decided that this boy would be his equal.

“Death is a mercy. An easy way of getting away scot-free.” Ren’s words are tumbling out like wine, taking all over Goro’s senses and making his head spin. “But when we change their hearts, when they have to own up to their mistakes and grovel for forgiveness…” Ren giggles, more than a little bit mad.

Holy fuck, Goro thinks. You’re perfect.

Ren’s eyes widen. Then he beams, soft and subdued, but radiating warmth.

He laces their fingers together. Goro lets him.

“That’s what it means, doesn’t it,” he says quietly, mischief in his tone, “being soulmates. That we are perfect for each other.”

Goro is shaking his head before he can even finish. “No, not all soulmates end up living happily.” He glances down at their hands, reeling from the past… hour? Or less? Or more? Being with Ren, time seems to dissolve and lose its meaning.

“Then we work on that,” Ren says. “Work on us.” As if it were that simple.

Goro huffs, but he feels his lips curl up. “Us,” he says, and this time, he doesn’t take offense to Ren using plural. Us, he thinks. It sounds kinda nice.

It’s been a long time since I was part of any ‘us’.

Ren brushes his thumb across Goro’s gloved hand, a frown marring his face. Goro can almost hear an unspoken question, before he says anything.

He holds up a hand. Us. If he is a part of an ‘us’, that means…

…that I don’t have to finish him off alone.

Goro smiles at Ren. “I suppose,” he starts, voice croaking. He clears his throat. “If you really mean that…”

I do. Of course I do. Ren’s expression is resolute.

“I might have judged the Phantom Thieves too harshly and too quickly,” Goro murmurs, drawing their intertwined hands to his lips. He peers at Ren from an angle. “But I happen to know of a rotten adult who has a Palace…”

Ren seems to understand immediately. He nods grimly. “Say the word and we’ll make sure they’re a changed man.” He then tilts his head with a smile. “Or…”

“Or,” Goro agrees, the same kind of ominous glint that has taken residue in Ren’s gray eyes reflecting in his own. He carelessly presses his lips against the back of Ren’s hand, reveling in the spark of electricity that travels through his body. “You don’t even know my reasons yet,” he says, words muted.

“I trust you,” Ren says. If it were anyone else, Goro would laugh in their face. Trust him of all people?

But it’s Ren. And it’s barely been a day, but Goro has a feeling both of them have already started to show off sides of themselves they would never show anyone else.

Goro’s lips twitch. Suddenly, everything is back within his reach; the revenge he’s been chasing, the childhood dream he has long given up on, and a future he barely considered he would have, just two days ago.

“Against my better judgment,” he starts, “I think I trust you too.”

Ren snickers. You think? He teases.

I do, Goro sends back. He allows himself that wobbly smile that’s been threatening to take over his features. I think you and I are going to work just fine.

Ren beams at him, and yeah, the universe was probably right to push Goro towards this boy in particular.

Feeling like he has finally reached a river after years of wandering around, lost, in a desert – Goro can’t help but be hopeful about what the future brings.

What their future will bring.

Chapter Text

Maybe, Ren wonders a bit belatedly, it wasn’t the best idea to talk about things when all of them had access to various sharp objects and, you know, bullets.

On the other hand – Goro is rocking the BDSM suit.

…though the mask makes it hard to see his face, Ren continues the mental tally. Can that come off or not?

…why are you thinking about that? Goro sends it his way, arms crossed in front of him as he stands there, stressed as fuck.

Not that he seems stressed – nope, Ren is just privy to his thoughts.

You are really going to ask that after everything? Ren wonders, lips curling. He remembers his first words to his soulmate.

Well-

“Can you two do that thing later?” Morgana cuts in. Goro glares at him, while Ren just shrugs.

“Having a soulmate bond is not just ‘that thing’, Morgana,” Ann comments. It’s nice of her, Ren thinks, even as it is very obvious who belongs to the Phantom Thieves and who doesn’t, what with his friends all standing to one side and Goro on his other.

Morgana backtracks immediately. “I’m sorry Lady Ann, I didn’t mean-”

“It’s fine,” she waves him off, and the tense silence returns.

Ren, the supposed leader, is pretty glad no one is looking at him to start this conversation. He is not exactly sure he could handle that right now.

-had to be in on it, huh?

He latches onto Goro’s stray thought. “I didn’t exactly tell them everything-” he starts, because he only really told his friends that Goro might be the Black Mask, right? It’s not like he knew about the other thing, so there is no need for you to be angry-

Goro, or rather, Crow, as they agreed to call him, turns on Ren sharply. “What do you mean ‘no need for me to be angry’, what would I be angry about?”

The thing is, Ren muses, you already sound angry.

Furious, darling. Get it right. Goro scowls at him through the mask. “Tell me-”

“Did you tell him about the pancakes?” Morgana inserts again.

Goro’s jaw stays hanging. …the WHAT?!

Let’s not get into the pancakes, please, Ren requests. He clears his throat. “So-”

“-you’re not only the Black Mask guy, you hate our freaking guts too?!”

Ren sighs. Fine. It’s not like he was expecting Ryuji to keep quiet for much longer. He wouldn’t be Ryuji if he could shut up.

I wonder if your friends know just how kindly you talk about them, Goro thinks wryly. Ren hides a smile with a shrug. “Your point being?” he sneers at Ren’s friends.

They exchange a look – please be kind to him, Ren thinks, exasperated, Mika’s a bitch too and we’re nice to her for Ann’s sake.

…did you just call me a bitch?!

“What are your intentions with Joker?”

Yusuke’s voice is smooth and to the point; cutting off Goro’s mangled half-thoughts about how he really wants his hands around Ren’s neck, all in favor of the detective looking at him to ask. …is this another trap?

I dunno. Ren opens his mouth-

“No, Joker, you stay out of this,” Ann declares. “This is between Crow and us.”

The only sound breaking the silence is the usual groaning and screaming of the Metaverse.

…what the fuck do they want me to say? Goro looks to him and-

“Ah! No! Don’t help him!” Morgana wiggles his paw in the air.

Ren glances back at Goro. I’m sorry, my cat doesn’t let me help you out.

Goro inhales, irritation visibly spiking. Why the fuck are you even talking to me right now when-

Ryuji, having been fiddling with the metal pipe usually slung over his shoulder, stabs it into the ground. “We asked you a question and now answer! What do you want with him?!”

“Guys, calm down,” Ren tries, because when did his friends turn into the yakuza?

“I have plans to kill the man who in a different world would call himself my father.”

…alright, I guess, he’s gonna go out and say that.

“Shuddup Joker. As I was saying – I want to kill him and… Joker has offered to help with that,” here, Goro sounds unsure as if Ren would just back out any second.

Don’t you know me better than that by now, honey? Ren thinks, offering his hand.

Goro rolls his eyes, but takes it. We met yesterday.

“I’m your soulmate though,” Ren murmurs, drawing Goro a few steps closer.

Mine, Goro’s voice rings in his ear. Ren feels a spiky arm settle around his back.

“...I am not sure what you want me to say,” Goro says, voice low, and not really looking at Ren’s friends, but fidgeting with the coat of Ren’s Metaverse outfit. I wonder how many layers I could peel off of you.

Ren chokes. Not when my friends are here, please.

Goro’s eyes gleam. Oh? Interested?

“Way too much,” Ren admits shamelessly.

“That’s not what we were asking!”

The two of them focus back on the real world – with other people in it – people like Ren’s friends demanding Goro play twenty questions with them – at Ann’s stomp and yell.

“Yes, we were not inquiring about your assassination plans, but rather your intentions with our leader,” Yusuke takes over. “Usually, soulmates are in haste to become a couple.”

“Yeah and even more hurried to get hitched!” Ryuji adds, then immediately follows this up by pointing an accusing finger at them. “Joker’s a minor, you can’t just marry him!”

“...what,” Goro says flatly.

“We know your pretty boy type!” Morgana seethes. “You seem all innocent but you are actually a freak!”

“Well-” Ren is not exactly against that-

“Why are you trying so hard to find out- I-” Goro shakes his head. Maybe it’s the ambiance of the Metaverse, what with all the screams and red lights and fucked-up walls, but Ren thinks he is the prettiest in the room, even as he looks more exasperated than when Ren made him admit in front of a live audience that they are soulmates. “I am considering asking Joker out, yes, but shouldn’t you be a bit more concerned about the murder?”

I thought you were supposed to be the good and righteous Phantom Thieves?

“I mean. Fox didn’t want Madarame dead, but Panther and Kamoshida..?”

“Death is something he does not deserve after what he had done to Shiho!” Ann replies cheerfully to Ryuji’s faint words.

Wow, Goro thinks. They are all deranged.

Ren chuckles. We formed a group because we’re similar – you see it too, don’t you?

“I apologize,” Yusuke says. “I am still too emotionally attached.”

“Well, he did raise you,” Morgana points out.

“Yeah, you’re not weak for it or anything, dude! We changed his heart and that’s what matters!”

How is brainwashing the lesser evil compared to murder, Goro’s thoughts drift into Ren’s mind. He huffs, holding his soulmate – my soulmate, he thinks, savoring the word – a little tighter, before grabbing his team’s attention. “So, all in favor of kicking my soulmate’s dad’s ass?”

Why are you just asking that, of course they’re not gonna say y-

“Aye-aye, captain!”

“We will make him pay!”

“We shall not let you down, Crow.”

“I guess… It’s not like we have another target at the moment…”

…they all just agreed. I cannot believe it… How can these people care about you so much that they’d accept-

Ren will not be taking any of Goro’s bullshit on this.

“Chin up, Mona,” Ren calls, lips curling. Don’t hate me too much, honey.

Goro’s head snaps up. What are you-

“Maybe Crow knows how to turn you back to human!” Ren finishes gleefully.

The cat’s eyes grow to the size of saucers. “That’s true! Do you?! Do you?!” And all at once, he is crowding into Ren and Goro’s space, questions upon questions spilling from his lips-

WHY ARE YOU LIKE THIS?!

They care about me so they care about you too – and you kinda have to get used to them. Ren hides a smirk. Sorry honey, I’m a package deal.

I should have left you at the TV studio, Goro sends back ruefully.

But you didn’t, Ren replies, managing to sound all sing-song-y.

Goro sighs, the half-hug tightening around Ren. I suppose you did agree to help me kill Shido, so.

Ren gasps aloud. “Is that the only thing you want me for…?”

All his friends immediately veer towards them and it is several minutes before Ren has stopped laughing long enough to explain.

I want another soulmate, Goro thinks at him, but Ren hears his thoughts. Figures I’d be stuck with someone to match my schemes.

Oh so being an asshole is now called scheming. Gotcha.

Goro gasping, “Ren…!” theatrically, all to set off Ren’s friends all over again?

It is karma, it is payback and also, it leads to him thinking, if it’s only been two days how am I already in love?

Goro doesn’t answer, but his blush and the way his breath catches – and the cacophony of his thoughts Ren is privy to, is more than enough.

***

TheHylianIdiot 

ohmygodyouguys

TheHylianIdiot 

so

TheHylianIdiot 

AKECHI HAS A SOULMATE

isyourricecooked

no fucking way

mrs_goro_akechi

lies ihavent met him yet lol

TheHylianIdiot 

NO HE ACTUALLY DOES

[id: half-lit studio full of uniformed students, a black-haired person being hauled away from the rest]

straight-as-a-cooked-noodle

looking respectfully

Mrs. Ace Detective

WHO THE FUCK IS THAT I AM READY TO THROW HANDS

***

“Have you seen him?!”

“Rumor is, they’ve moved in together to a penthouse-”

“-o way are they actually soulmates though – this has to be like, you know a publicity stunt! Akechi’s PR team thought he would be better off with a soulmate-”

“That’s so stupid though! Him not having a soulmate made for good PR, because anyone could have been his soulmate; why would they just suddenly announce that delinquent as Akechi-kun’s soulmate if they weren’t actually soulmates?!”

“Quiet down class!” Kawakami tries. She doesn’t succeed. With the bone-tiredness of an adult who would be much happier not living the life she currently is stuck in, she drones on with the usual homeroom announcements.

Not that any of her students are paying her any mind.

All eyes are drawn to Ren Amamiya, who is very busy texting on his phone – not even bothering to try and hide it.

“...you think he is texting Akechi right now?”

“Of course he is!”

“Maybe he’s trying to get a restraining order or something – have you seen the amount of people clustered in front of the school this morning-”

“-heard he’s punched his way through security guards to get to Akechi-”

Ann Takamaki glares at her classmates – it’s much more effective than Kawakami’s attempt, but when she looks away, the whispers return.

“I tried,” she mumbles.

A moment later her phone pings with a text – and when she reads it, she giggles a bit.

The rumor mill gets even worse after that.

***

“What’s this about you being in a threesome with that raggy rat friend of yours and that brat Akechi of all people?” Mika asks, phone held delicately in her hand, the fresh paint just drying.

The blue color is striking; it matches the exact shade of her Ann-chan’s eyes.

“Oh my gosh,” Ann groans into the phone. “Please don’t tell me that’s all over the internet.”

Mika purses her lips. “Since when do I lie to you, sweetie?” Idly, she glances at the attendant working on her other hand. “Pick you up at seven?”

“Sure. I bought a new dress, I can’t wait for you to see it!” Ann enthuses and Mika is stuck between amusement and trepidation. Sometimes her Ann-chan is a bit… Well. She is very lucky Mika is her soulmate and thus is there to help avoid fashion disasters. “Also: nope, I barely even talked to Akechi – I mean like, yeah, Ren introduced us, but they spent like, three hours talking telepathically and half-aloud and I was pretty checked out by that point-”

“Good to know,” Mika purrs. “You can’t do much better than me, sweetie; especially not with a stuck-up gay boy.”

Her Ann-chan snorts; the sound is very undignified but somehow, Mika finds it sweet. Soulmate things, she decides once again. She cannot wait to be the only person capable of hearing her Ann-chan; talking on the phone like this is demeaning – anyone could listen in.

“Yeah, no. We could go for a double date sometime though?” Mika can practically see her Ann-chan’s expression; biting her lips and messing up her lipstick as she grows insecure in herself; insecure in them.

Mika will not stand for that.

She swallows all the reservations she has for meeting Ann-chan’s friends; she already got through the stage of meeting with her parents, by comparison this should be easy, right?

“If those two can smarten up,” Mika allows.

“Yes! Oh, Mika, thank you!” Her Ann-chan’s beam is audible; Mika’s own lips curl up at the thought. “I’m sure I can find a suit for Ren somewhere-”

It will be good publicity, Mika muses, listening to her soulmate chatter excitedly. Lesbian-gay solidarity and all that.

***

“-would very much like to confirm that yes, we are soulmates and currently in a relationship.”

Detective Prince Akechi is, for once, not in his trademark look – he still has his gloves and tie and fancy shirt on, but without a coat, his features seem to have softened.

Although that could be the fact that for once, the camera aimed at his face is not high resolution; simply a phone used to record a message that will become viral in a matter of hours.

A new voice chimes in. “Is this the part where I take my glasses off and have my sudden little makeover of nerd gone popular?”

Akechi laughs daintily. “There you go, ruining the surprise.” He pans the camera to show another boy; Ren Amamiya waves into the camera with a crooked smile.

Whereas Detective Prince Akechi is beautiful in the same way an idol is, his soulmate Ren Amamiya has, at first, an unassuming air to him – but his smile, and his eyes, they quickly become known as ‘ruggedly handsome’, as speculation on who is ‘sub’ or ‘dom’ begins to circulate the internet.

“This is Ren Amamiya, everyone.”

Amamiya’s smile widens. “You left out the ‘love of your life’ part.”

“I can’t just elope with you, darling, you haven’t even finished high school,” Akechi chides softly. He fiddles with the camera, now showing both of them.

Amamiya raises an eyebrow. “So is that what I’m getting for graduation? You on your knees?”

Akechi flushes, and it is assumed that the conversation continues mentally, for Amamiya only laughs at his soulmate.

“Please be kind to him,” Akechi mumbles, hiding a smile and a blush beneath his gloved fingers. “And thank you for all your support in the past few days.”

“Be nice to my detective everyone,” Amamiya announces too. “He deserves the world.”

This moment can easily be pin-pointed as the millisecond where thousands of fans across Japan – and even across the world, once the gif of Amamiya’s soft, but serious expression goes viral – decide to die on the hill that is this real-life OTP.

It gets even worse – or better, depending on one’s point of view – when Akechi looks back and quietly says, “You are my world.”

Needless to say, #shuake floods any and all social media feeds for days.

***

mia_the_mad_hat

hey so can someone please explain the ship name of #shuake? like i get ake for akechi but shu?????

Dokushostar

okay so apparently people are using amamiya as like an insert for themselves in japan

Dokushostar

and so he got the nickname of shujinkou

Dokushostar

and that’s where the shu comes from

mia_the_mad_hat

shunjin what???? i am confusion

ShukakuTheRaccoon

shujinkou is main character in japanese - its like he is the mc in a story, meeting a cute detective and kiss kiss fall in love

mia_the_mad_hat

oooooooooh

mia_the_mad_hat

i am enlightened

mia_the_mad_hat

thank you

ShukakuTheRaccoon

np happy to help <3

two-birches-sitting-on-a-tree

OKKAY SO

two-birches-sitting-on-a-tree

WAS ANYONE GONNA TELL ME THAT AMAMIYA IS A LITERAL CRIMINAL

two-birches-sitting-on-a-tree

OR WAS IS SUPPOSED TO FIND THAT OUT FROM A POST ABOUT LESBIAN MODELS

jay

hes a wat

CheesyLizzy

oh yeah he has a criminal record for something fun times

jay

HE HAS A WAT

Chouko

bro is a literal bad boy havign hooked himself a warrior of justice

m

he is living the drem thats what he is doing qwq

dodo5059

EXCUSE ME WE HAVE CRIMINALxDETECTIVE NOW??????

dodo5059

WHAT KINDA ENEMIES TO LOVERS BS IS THIS AND WHERE CAN I SIGN UP

akeshu4life

riiiiight id totes switch with either of them

n01.4m4m1y4st4n

akechi is one lucky bitch #hedeservestheworld

GAYRIGHTZ

amamiya tho!!!!!!!! #youaremyworld

***

“-working hard on catching the Phantom Thieves, naturally,” Detective Prince Goro Akechi is remarkably well-put together, considering that the last time he was in this studio, in this very chair in fact, his soulmate outed the two of them in front of quite a large audience.

“Naturally,” the same interviewer, the lady who got him and Amamiya sorted last time, nods and smiles back. “Does it impact your relationship in any way, if I may ask?”

The camera pans out to show that another armchair has been added for Ren Amamiya; dressed in an attire somewhere between frumpy and business casual.

(The fans will go crazy for it either way.)

(Goro himself does too, albeit much more quietly than what an average listener could hear.)

“Ren inspires me to be even swifter in achieving justice,” Akechi declares with a winning smile, looking not at the camera, but at his soulmate.

“Actually,” Amamiya’s smile is just a bit tilted; bad boy, the internet will call out gleefully.

(They really have it backwards, Goro tells Ren silently, and Ren, laughing, buries his nose in his detective’s neck, breathing in and holding him close. If anyone could make me stop, it would be you.

But honey I support your rights – and your wrongs.

Fuck me, Goro breathes out without a sound, and Ren is only so happy to oblige in the warm kiss he is dragged into.)

“I’m on the side of the Phantom Thieves here,” he says, not looking away from his soulmate for one second. His words hinge on teasing, “They do more than the cops.”

The interviewer is visibly taken aback; Akechi only shakes his head a little. “As you can see, we are not exactly in agreement about the topic,” he says, gesturing, “but all couples have their little tiffs, I suppose.”

“I promise I won’t leave you for a hot vigilante, honey,” Amamiya says, and the interviewer chokes on air.

Akechi’s little whine and the way he hides his flaming face in his hands becomes another reaction image very, very quickly.

***

“-be dead within the week if we’re lucky.”

Her ears perk up at the sound of that voice and she swivels towards the screen.

“And if we’re not?”

She increases the volume.

“Then…” A heavy sigh. “You have the list of names. You may… do whatever you wish with them, my only target was-” A falter, a silence. Inhale, then exhale, shaky. “I am not sure I could have done that without all of you. Thank you for that.”

“Goro, honey, please don’t talk as if you were gonna die too.”

A huff. “You know it’s enough to say that once, you don’t have to keep repeating it, right? You’re giving me a headache.”

“Ren’s right though – don’t get all sacrifice-y on us Goro, you still owe me that double date with Mika-”

Meowing. The cat talks a lot, as usual.

“Hell yeah, Mona-Mona’s right! We started this shit together, we’re going through it together!”

“You do not get to choose to abandon this group, Goro-kun. Like our leader has said, wiping out the head is only just the start; we have a lot more work to do.”

“...all of you are like mold.”

“Aw, because you can’t get rid of us before we grow on you? That’s so sweet honey-”

Another meow, somehow managing to sound derogatory.

“I’m with Mona on this one – get a bedroom, guys-”

“Alright. Bye y’all-”

“Are you kicking us out?!”

“Don’t forget to take Morgana-”

“I am not taking Morgana!”

Even more meowing and pandemonium and yelling and she hastily lowers the volume again.

So the Phantom Thieves have finished another mission – and maybe… Maybe it’s time she figured out if they took commissions or not.

Well, Futaba thinks, holding tighter onto her knees, chin hidden in her hoodie, if nothing else, she can always try to dangle Akechi’s internet search history over their heads. His fans would go crazy for sure.

***

calm

-and then i go to pay for my pathetic mix of instant noodles and energy drinks and who do i see behind th e counter in the pinkest apron ever but REN FUCKING AMAMIYA (6/?)

[placeholder]

pretty sure akechis doing the fucking part lol

Forestcat

ikr i ran into him at the florist the other day that guy is  e v e r y w h e r e

Makoto scoffs at the live feed of her phone, switching the screen off entirely. It’s almost like these people never heard of soulmates or even TV stars meeting their soulmates for that matter.

She taps her foot a bit impatiently – Sae promised they would finally go to that diner, if only Makoto could pick her up from work but now-

She sighs. Working late turns into overworking as usual. Not that she’s surprised; just, if she knew, she wouldn’t have bothered to show up without her own work in tow-

Instead, she is clutching a small bag that Sae once loaned to her and then never asked for it back; the small lucky charm still the same one her sister swore by all those years ago. Makoto glares at the charm with pursed lips. When did it ever bring her any l-

“Hi, sorry. Is this where you’re supposed to wait for someone from the courthouse?”

Makoto’s head snaps up.

Then, all at once, all her animosity is incredibly hard to keep down.

“Sorry,” Ren Amamiya says, eyes piercing even more in real life than through the screen of her phone, “I thought you seemed familiar and I’d rather ask you than that guy.” He points over his shoulder to where a man just a couple years their senior is barely bothering to hide his phone.

Makoto’s lips curl in disgust. They are minors! There are laws against this! “...it’s fine,” she bites out, turning her face away and showing her back to the camera – much like Amamiya is doing, she notes. Except… it’s not really fine, is it?

Makoto twirls back to the camera and doesn’t wait a second in stalking over. “Just what do you think you’re doing?!” she demands from the receptionist.

“Er-”

She doesn’t let him get a word in. “I sincerely hope you were not filming minors in what is clearly a violation of the law at a courthouse of all places!”

“Erm…” The man has the decency to look ashamed. He had already lowered his phone when Makoto came over, but that is not enough.

“Delete it,” she demands coldly. She mimics her sister’s stance as she stares him down, silent but judging as he fumbles to show her that yes, the video is gone, even from the bin of the phone’s video storage…

Makoto scowls fiercely. “And you better not do something like this again!”

“No ma’am,” the man agrees, “Apologies, ma’am.”

I am not the one you should be apologizing to, Makoto thinks, raising her head high and walking back. “Sorry for just… Leaving in the middle of the conversation,” she offers, when she comes face to face with Amamiya and the weight of the situation dawns on her. She just. She just left him standing there and now he is watching her without blinking. Her face burns, but she remembers what he said last, so she can salvage this! “I usually wait for my sister here.” She used to, back when Sae didn’t just say she’d be done, but was actually done.

When dad was still-

She breathes in, then out and replaces her embarrassment with the subtle anger she holds for this boy next to her. “You’re being disruptive,” she accuses him.

“...I am?”

“All your fans are all around the school! I can barely get to class on time,” Makoto complains. She knows that that’s not exactly his fault, but at the same time, couldn’t he and Akechi meet somewhere quieter?!

“Er… Sorry?” Amamiya tilts his head a bit.

“You should be!” Makoto finds herself snapping. “I will not have my records tarnished for this!”

Amamiya gives her a wide-eyed look and even a startled laugh – and it’s this laugh that pushes Makoto down, back to her senses. “Oh, sorry, I know it’s not your fault, just-” She pinches the bridge of her nose. “It’s a lot.”

“Tell me about it,” Amamiya says, camaraderie in his tone and his smile and Makoto finds herself smiling tentatively back. She is even mildly pitiful of the fact that he got stuck with Akechi of all people as his soulmate.

It is only when Amamiya begins giggling that Makoto realizes she said this last part aloud – and instantly, her face goes up in flames. “No, no, just – shut up!” she hisses at him, only setting him off more.

“What a good mood you are in,” comes the smooth voice of someone Makoto really didn’t want to run into today. Akechi is striding forward to draw his soulmate into a half-embrace – Sae is following a step behind at least, so Makoto does her best to pull herself together.

“What did you say your name was?” Amamiya asks her between two fits of giggles. “I think I just found my new best friend.”

Akechi huffs. “Sakamoto will be devastated.”

“Makoto Niijima,” Makoto introduces herself, keeping her spine straight and her head high. “I’m sorry.”

“No, you’re hilarious,” Amamiya says, lips still twitching and Makoto wonders if he and Akechi are talking even now… They are pretty smooth for a newly realized soulbond, she thinks, especially if they can weave so seamlessly between spoken and thought word-

“Thanks…?” Makoto tries.

“Makoto,” Sae calls and Makoto obligingly steps up to her sister. At long last, they are finally going to spend time together. “...Amamiya,” she says, voice hiding a lot of emotions.

“Lovely seeing you too, Niijima-san,” Amamiya beams widely and Makoto is surprised by how real his smile is compared to what Akechi usually produces. “Will be hitting you up later, Makoto – thanks for earlier,” he adds, winking at her – in front of his soulmate too?! – and Makoto doesn’t even get the chance to protest the use of her first name before Akechi is dragging his soulmate off, nary a goodbye thrown over his shoulder.

Sae huffs angrily. “That boy…” She shakes her head.

There is a lot to unpack there, Makoto notes, watching the two leave. Akechi’s arm stays over Amamiya’s shoulder; and the latter tilts his head close, whispering something only the detective can hear. Akechi’s unpleasant to say the least – and she doesn’t just say this because of their academic rivalry, but… Maybe him and Amamiya do deserve each other.

For a split-second, Makoto remembers stumbling onto the rooftop of the school and finding Amamiya and two blondes holding court over something.

Yeah, she thinks. She would be… interested in meeting him again too.

(She doesn’t remember the last time someone just announced so casually that they wanted to be her friend – maybe in kindergarten?)

(Makoto has yet to break free of her chains, but that doesn’t mean she will stay bound by them forever – maybe she just needs someone to encourage her to throw off the manacles.)

***

“You know,” Goro says, voice pensive, “if you told me upfront that you come with a whole cafe right on the first day, I never would have run from you.”

Ren snorts so loud, Morgana almost shoots awake. As it is, the cat grumbles sleepily and turns on his other side. Goro stares at the fur, then looks at his own, for once gloveless fingers… And briefly, barely, brushes them against Morgana’s back.

I saw that, Ren thinks.

You didn’t see shit! Goro replies instinctively. Ren only shakes his head with a huffed laugh.

“Anything else I can get for my favorite detective?”

I don’t know. Do you have any recommendations for soulmates? Mine has suddenly decided to go crazy about gardening of all things.

“Hey,” Ren calls, eyebrows raised. “Gardening is a very respectable hobby.”

“If only you looked at it as merely a hobby,” Goro says dryly, sipping from premium tier coffee made by his premium tier boyfriend who is also his soulmate who he loves very much, despite Ren having decided two days ago that the only thing better than kissing Goro senseless was digging his hands into dirt with a random girl from his school who ‘also likes to avoid the crowds, it’s like we were meant to be friends!’.

“You haven’t gone fishing with me yet,” Ren promises with a smile that only spells danger and Goro groans.

The things I do for you.

Ren’s eyes soften. And I for you.

Well, Goro supposes, not everyone’s soulmate is willing to go on a revenge mission with them to kill their sperm-donor and subsequently dismantle the criminal empire that said sperm-donor was the head of – but Goro is not just anyone and Ren is always striking in any crowd.

It’s because he is mine, Goro thinks. All the more precious for it.

And you’re mine, Ren sends the thought back. It’s their own version of professing love – perhaps unconventional, but Goro wouldn’t have it any other way.

Still… If there is anyone Goro wants to say those words to, especially aloud…

“Ren?” He says, voice already leaving him and heart beating faster as his mind yells at him that this is such a bad idea, he really should not-

“Yes, honey?”

Ren’s eyes, blazing and without glasses are all for him, all focused on Goro as if there were no one else in the world.

Just you and me, Goro thinks, drinking in the sight, finding solace in it. You are all that matters.

And it’s true, even if it’s also not; even if Goro has started to repair his relationship with Sae, even as he began to nurture a tentative alliance with the Phantom Thieves and absolutely hit it off with ‘mythic bitch’ Mika-

“I love you.”

Ren blinks, surprised – then he is giving Goro such a soft, sweet smile that for a moment, he thinks he is having a cardiac arrest.

And then it gets worse.

“I love you too, Goro.”

I will not go to a hospital over this, Goro thinks, but also, I could die happily.

Ren’s chuckles echo in his mind. Please don’t. I love you too much for that.

Horrible. Terrible. Ren is doing this on purpose-

Ren is laughing as he leans over the counter, hand grabbing at Goro’s face; he resists, just a bit, just for show, before melting into the touch, raking his fingers through Ren’s hair as their lips meet.

I won, Goro muses, grinning into the kiss. I said I love you first.

…it was a competition? Ren’s tone is suggestive.

What do you think, detective? Goro shoots back, sucking at Ren’s lower lip.

I’m thinking about all the other firsts I can win.

Goro is pretty sure all the blood his heart is pumping out cannot be healthy for the human body.

Fucking try, Joker.

Ren’s staring straight into his eyes. Believe me Crow, I will.

He’s literally perfect, Goro’s blood sings, every nerve-ending in his body hyper aware of this boy with his suggestive smile and blood on his hands and he really is a gift, a gift from the universe to Goro, a reprieve and-

“Can you two get a room?!”

Ren separates them and Goro stares up at the ceiling.

“Sorry Mona,” Ren says. Goro refrains from cursing out the cat.

“I could practically hear you sweet-talking each other! And I do not like it!”

Ren is a gift, Goro decides again as his soulmate descends into gentle ribbing with the cat. There is… a certain baggage coming alongside Ren that is less than ideal, but at the end of the day…

I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Ren glances up at him from under his fringe. Me too, honey. Me too.

Goro drinks his coffee – not to hide his flushed cheeks or anything, he’s just not about to waste such amazing coffee.

And if there is any other reason?

Well, there is only one person who can read his mind – and Ren will not tell a soul, Goro knows.