[Akechi's face stings, he can't breathe and his back slams into the ground with a thud that promises to ache in the morning. It feels like he won despite it. He looks up at Eren and spits out a curse that's barely audible - shoves his fingers and palms against his body to gain enough leverage to flip them around.]
You must think so highly of yourself to assume I waited for you in any way.
[Eren's back hits the ground, and he lets out a cruel laugh. Immediately, there's a hand in Akechi's hair, roughly yanking his head to the side with only a little less force than it would take to snap someone's neck.]
If you think you stand a chance against me like this, you're crazy.
[That's Eren's cue to bring his knee up into Akechi's gut. He hopes he makes him puke. He should be easy to throw off after that, Eren thinks. He'll stand up if Akechi doesn't drag him down again.
[Either way:]
You can keep trying if you want. I'll break every bone in your body, then drag you to the crystal myself. Hell, I'll even use my own shards to put you back together.
[Loki could end this. It would take one attack and Eren would be pushed off, almost dead.
He doesn't summon it. Unnecessary in the wake of a threat that may come to fruition. Akechi lacks the desire to stop it.
Bile surges up his throat - he swallows it back down. Spits out salvia to the side and takes a deep inhale he can despite the sting in his chest. Eren stands back up - Akechi won't allow it. He can't breathe, but he reaches up to grasp at the rising edge of Eren's shirt and jerks him back towards the ground. If Eren doesn't fall, Akechi will pull himself up with the fabric so he can throw all his weight against Eren.]
I'm so scared - what a frightening man you are. [It ends with a laugh - a vile little uptick to his tone. Mocking. Amused. He hates Eren with all his heart.] Will you even remember that little threat in a few minutes? Perhaps you'll blink and forget all of this.
[Akechi's weight feels like nothing. It hits Eren, and he wraps both arms, strong, around Akechi. It's not a tender hold - a restraint, keeping the boy pinned against his chest no matter how he struggles.]
Tell me why you're really upset, Akechi.
[His voice is a growl in Akechi's ear; Eren squeezes tighter. It's an exercise in restraint not to break bones.]
[It's pointless to struggle. He does anyway - pushes, shoves, tries to rip himself free with his fingers and legs. He wishes they were fighting. This is embaressing. Eren remains static and steady and all Akechi can do is fight off awkward humiliation of being held.]
I'm not upset. Do you think something this minor would bother me? Don't make me laugh.
[There's the answer. Something is wrong. Eren knew it as soon as he saw the ruins of Vash's castle. Akechi explains: 'You aren't yourself, and I won't stand for it.' It isn't a matter of time, nor destruction; just a matter of Eren, and Akechi, knowing that something is wrong with one of his people, not knowing what, not knowing how to fix it...
[This place is a unique Hell. Eren loosens his grip and stands up straight.]
Alright.
[He pulls his arms away. He keeps his eyes on his friend.]
Help me fix it, then. Let's investigate. [There's still that spark inside of him, that gleam in his eye. Once the mystery is solved, it will all fade.
[For now, he firmly nods his head, confident in that young, stupid way.]
We can clean your face up first if you really want.
[Let's investigate isn't good enough, but Akechi acquiesces anyway. It's not denial. It's not ignoring the problem. Eren wants to solve it and so does Akechi. Fists didn't work and the alternative is running through the various issues it could be - several come to mind, but there's never a guarantee when Eren's involved.
Akechi steps back - brushes off his pants and fixes his shirt. There's blood dripping from his nose. That's annoying. He rubs it with the back of hand and there's no glove to hide the smear of red.]
I can't wander around like this. We'll turn around so I can wash up in the Machiya - it's not that far back. Then we'll begin to look for a cure for your distorted mind.
[He's beautiful, bleeding like that. Eren pictures himself cradling Akechi's sore face and getting his hand bitten through. He looks him over because he can't touch him, takes a photo with his mind. He doesn't think he'll forget this sight.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
cw: still fightin
You must think so highly of yourself to assume I waited for you in any way.
no subject
If you think you stand a chance against me like this, you're crazy.
[That's Eren's cue to bring his knee up into Akechi's gut. He hopes he makes him puke. He should be easy to throw off after that, Eren thinks. He'll stand up if Akechi doesn't drag him down again.
[Either way:]
You can keep trying if you want. I'll break every bone in your body, then drag you to the crystal myself. Hell, I'll even use my own shards to put you back together.
cw: emeto mention
He doesn't summon it. Unnecessary in the wake of a threat that may come to fruition. Akechi lacks the desire to stop it.
Bile surges up his throat - he swallows it back down. Spits out salvia to the side and takes a deep inhale he can despite the sting in his chest. Eren stands back up - Akechi won't allow it. He can't breathe, but he reaches up to grasp at the rising edge of Eren's shirt and jerks him back towards the ground. If Eren doesn't fall, Akechi will pull himself up with the fabric so he can throw all his weight against Eren.]
I'm so scared - what a frightening man you are. [It ends with a laugh - a vile little uptick to his tone. Mocking. Amused. He hates Eren with all his heart.] Will you even remember that little threat in a few minutes? Perhaps you'll blink and forget all of this.
cw: more...violence, wretchedness, etc.
Tell me why you're really upset, Akechi.
[His voice is a growl in Akechi's ear; Eren squeezes tighter. It's an exercise in restraint not to break bones.]
What did I forget that's so important?
weh
I'm not upset. Do you think something this minor would bother me? Don't make me laugh.
[He's calm.]
You aren't yourself and I won't stand for it.
no subject
[This place is a unique Hell. Eren loosens his grip and stands up straight.]
Alright.
[He pulls his arms away. He keeps his eyes on his friend.]
Help me fix it, then. Let's investigate. [There's still that spark inside of him, that gleam in his eye. Once the mystery is solved, it will all fade.
[For now, he firmly nods his head, confident in that young, stupid way.]
We can clean your face up first if you really want.
no subject
[Let's investigate isn't good enough, but Akechi acquiesces anyway. It's not denial. It's not ignoring the problem. Eren wants to solve it and so does Akechi. Fists didn't work and the alternative is running through the various issues it could be - several come to mind, but there's never a guarantee when Eren's involved.
Akechi steps back - brushes off his pants and fixes his shirt. There's blood dripping from his nose. That's annoying. He rubs it with the back of hand and there's no glove to hide the smear of red.]
I can't wander around like this. We'll turn around so I can wash up in the Machiya - it's not that far back. Then we'll begin to look for a cure for your distorted mind.
ARE WE WRAPPIN???
Alright. Let's go.