[ The strike makes contact with its intended target. Akechi has never managed to stab him in battle; he does so now, pinpoint precise and devastatingly sharp. It runs a fissure down the center of Maruki's heart, loss and grief compounding with memories of a future he hasn't lived and still doesn't know how to contend with.
He lets silence settle through the machiya after those vicious words. A dozen different comebacks rise to the surface of his mind and sink back down again just as quickly. None are worth the effort. This is a fight they will both lose.
Eventually, he stands. ]
I refuse to escalate this further.
[ Simple and firm. He stretches out his back, moves down off the raised alcove and toward the stairs. Stops while he's still in line of sight of Akechi at the kotatsu. ]
I won't bring it up again if you'll agree to do the same. Consider the topic dead.
He doesn't move - remains completely still in a billowing pool of warmth that's no longer comforting.
Then the man moves. Refuses to escalate - whatever. He can play the part of a martyr. The hero. Can walk away for now or forever. Akechi doesn't care. Never did and never will.]
What a fitting way to put that, all things considered.
[Eren's dead. In this world, in his own and as a spoken topic between them. ]
I accept.
what confidant level skill is healthy communication
[ One last stab. Maruki takes it as he takes everything else. Eren will return to a reality in which the only path available to him is one that leads to a death he's been eagerly awaiting. So it goes. ]
I'll be upstairs.
[ He looks down at Korokke curled near the kotatsu. Gently nudges her with a foot to see if she'll come with him, and receives only a soft paw swat for his efforts. Tired eyes back to Akechi. ]
Dinner in a few hours.
[ And with that, he's off. To do what? What he was doing before he relocated to the alcove. Lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. ]
for them??? ๐๏ธโ๐จ๏ธ๐๐๏ธโ๐จ๏ธwheezes
[He doesn't regret a single word. Maruki deserves it.
It's the price of giving a shit. A lesson paid for over and over by a man who cares too much, despite everything, in spite of everything. One Maruki never seems to retain because in the coming weeks and months, Akechi will watch him connect to others, speak to many, share truth with a rare few who will eventually disappear without warning.
Overnight.
Without a final word because that's how the world works. Maruki knows that. Doesn't learn and Akechi doesn't feel an ounce of pity for someone who ignores it.
Dinner in a few hours - Korokke still by his side. Akechi wishes the stupid cat would've gone with him and ignores how she curls against his thigh, on top of a plush kotatsu cover.
He doesn't hear Maruki. Isn't sure where he went upstairs or cares.
The conversations between him and Eren are gone. He removes the contact from his list - even if he returns, it won't be him and Akechi isn't interested in playing 'a friend' again. He'll let Maruki inevitably align himself, and tack on when necessary to take down this reality.
And in a few minutes -
Traces of Eren are gone completely. Drafted messages never sent, notes about his preferences observed over months together, a short list of places that will never be explained, a single photo taken in retaliation of the many he was never warned about, snapped in an instant because he doesn't rely on a shitty, archaic camera.
Blinding, under twinkling starlight, on a cliff they jogged up to every morning. The photo dark - difficult to discern who's in it because Akechi was purposefully trying to take something awful to prove a point, but it's incredible how those green eyes shine regardless.
He deletes it. The last sign of false friendship shoved into the trash where Eren always belonged.
He deletes it and presses his palms into his eyes, for a brief second, a short second, because-
It's incredible, really, how much they looked alike and how little remains of either of them now and-
It's the strain of the illuminated screen, probably. Akechi's been on his phone all day. There are no eye drops in this reality. He should stop by Iris' store and request them.
Opens up his continuous conversation with her now because he doesn't have anything fucking better to do anyway.]
no subject
He lets silence settle through the machiya after those vicious words. A dozen different comebacks rise to the surface of his mind and sink back down again just as quickly. None are worth the effort. This is a fight they will both lose.
Eventually, he stands. ]
I refuse to escalate this further.
[ Simple and firm. He stretches out his back, moves down off the raised alcove and toward the stairs. Stops while he's still in line of sight of Akechi at the kotatsu. ]
I won't bring it up again if you'll agree to do the same. Consider the topic dead.
gg antags lmao
He doesn't move - remains completely still in a billowing pool of warmth that's no longer comforting.
Then the man moves. Refuses to escalate - whatever. He can play the part of a martyr. The hero. Can walk away for now or forever. Akechi doesn't care. Never did and never will.]
What a fitting way to put that, all things considered.
[Eren's dead. In this world, in his own and as a spoken topic between them. ]
I accept.
what confidant level skill is healthy communication
I'll be upstairs.
[ He looks down at Korokke curled near the kotatsu. Gently nudges her with a foot to see if she'll come with him, and receives only a soft paw swat for his efforts. Tired eyes back to Akechi. ]
Dinner in a few hours.
[ And with that, he's off. To do what? What he was doing before he relocated to the alcove. Lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. ]
for them??? ๐๏ธโ๐จ๏ธ๐๐๏ธโ๐จ๏ธwheezes
It's the price of giving a shit. A lesson paid for over and over by a man who cares too much, despite everything, in spite of everything. One Maruki never seems to retain because in the coming weeks and months, Akechi will watch him connect to others, speak to many, share truth with a rare few who will eventually disappear without warning.
Overnight.
Without a final word because that's how the world works. Maruki knows that. Doesn't learn and Akechi doesn't feel an ounce of pity for someone who ignores it.
Dinner in a few hours - Korokke still by his side. Akechi wishes the stupid cat would've gone with him and ignores how she curls against his thigh, on top of a plush kotatsu cover.
He doesn't hear Maruki. Isn't sure where he went upstairs or cares.
The conversations between him and Eren are gone. He removes the contact from his list - even if he returns, it won't be him and Akechi isn't interested in playing 'a friend' again. He'll let Maruki inevitably align himself, and tack on when necessary to take down this reality.
And in a few minutes -
Traces of Eren are gone completely. Drafted messages never sent, notes about his preferences observed over months together, a short list of places that will never be explained, a single photo taken in retaliation of the many he was never warned about, snapped in an instant because he doesn't rely on a shitty, archaic camera.
Blinding, under twinkling starlight, on a cliff they jogged up to every morning. The photo dark - difficult to discern who's in it because Akechi was purposefully trying to take something awful to prove a point, but it's incredible how those green eyes shine regardless.
He deletes it. The last sign of false friendship shoved into the trash where Eren always belonged.
He deletes it and presses his palms into his eyes, for a brief second, a short second, because-
It's incredible, really, how much they looked alike and how little remains of either of them now and-
It's the strain of the illuminated screen, probably. Akechi's been on his phone all day. There are no eye drops in this reality. He should stop by Iris' store and request them.
Opens up his continuous conversation with her now because he doesn't have anything fucking better to do anyway.]