Chapter Text
"No, I don't wanna die!"
Ryuji almost did: die.
His neck still aches, where the Shadow lifted him by the neck, marooning him, legs-swinging— helpless— in the air. When he looks in the mirror, there's no lasting sign of struggle; it was like it never happened.
"Agh! Ah! GYAH!"
Right. Akira was there too, pinned to the opposite wall. He'd thrashed and screamed out, pained. Tears well in Ryuji's eyes thinking about it.
Ryuji closes his eyes and imagines Akira's face. It's covered by a mask— white, with thick, black liner around the eyes. Long, branching lashes. He remembers how Akira pawed at it, fingers curling the edges and tugging.
"Argh! Agh! Hng-!"
He grimaces. He wanted Akira to stop. It looked wrong; like he was peeling the protective skin from the attached muscle.
When he finally ripped it off, there was so much red.
Then blue. Flames, hot, engulfing him. And a monster that looked more out of a video game than real life.
Akira didn't look scared at all. He looked…
Alive. Wild. Rebellious.
He wore a trickster's smile.
Ryuji presses his fingers to his lips, open-toothed smile, and whispers, "Akira, I want to be free like you."