Permanent Open RP post! Game based, AU based, meme based, canon based, catch-it-all based - everything is welcome. You can start or tell me what you want and I can start. NSFW is allowed - check kink list if you need/want
[Oh, the cute, shy guy is still there. It's what's making his heart pound a mile a minute, making him doubt himself even as he tries any of this flirting. But he can feel himself becoming a little more gutsy from the experience. Considering the fact that Ryuji and Mishima are always trying to get him to talk to girls, and how poorly he usually struck out when that happened, it's a miracle that he hasn't slipped into a pure state of quiet reverence instead of where he is now.
He can't believe it worked. He really can't. Somewhere, he can hear a snicker off in the distance, and he's sure that he's going to get teased about this tonight, after Yu leaves. What with the heist that they just completed and all, Akira needs to lay off the adrenaline for a little bit. And probably, coffee, too.]
You've taken such good care of me, and all I've done for you is give you a heart attack by sneaking up to your window.
[It worked because Yu likes him. Really likes him. Hitting on random girls will eventually get one a slap across the face. He finishes off the coffee, not letting it grow cold at all. That would be a complete waste.]
Well, I did invite you to come back for your stuff. It's my fault I let my guard down.
[The smile that's painted across Yu's face has a tinge of sentimentality. Akira wants to return him a favor. The world made people expect to have to give something in return when someone does something for them. Yu helped him because he wanted to because he needed to and he didn't expect anything in return because he doesn't want anything in return. That's just how he is.
Still, since Akira's insisting on repaying the favor then-]
Well, actually, I do have a favor to ask of you, if it's not a problem.
[He let his guard down. Now that's an understatement. Akira did too, in a way, insofar as much as falling for a person that he knew nothing about, just to find out later that he was, in fact, rather similar in more ways than one. This is the exact sort of activity that could lead to the downfall of the Phantom Thieves in its entirety: not paying attention for the subtle clues that gives a person away when they're looking for more. But Yu... he was so different. He gave Akira the hope to carry on, the feeling that there's an infinite number of routes and choices to make.
And it was Yu that made his heart stir in ways that he never thought could. Here he was, alone and abysmal in terms of how his fate would turn out, and along comes this confident youth who makes him feel some sort of worth, of value, of importance that he can't quite put his finger on. It was the generosity of a stranger that captivated Akira, and his subtle beauty that drew him in. Like a painting at an art exhibit. A championship trophy at an arts museum. He found himself so allured by the possibility of starting something with Yu that he couldn't ignore his heart beating faster when he asks Akira for a favor. And for someone so guarded and shy, it was a world of difference. Like seeing color TV for the first time after years of only grey.]
[Yu goes back to fiddling with the napkin. All this flirting is making him feel lighter than a cloud. And it won't be the coffee's fault for not sleeping tonight. Now, if didn't just embarrass himself completely with this request it would be a perfect evening. He clears his throat and, for the n-th time, fights back a blush. Only this time the blush of embarrassment.]
...Can you show me the way back to the train station? [He's blushing. Dammit!]
Um, when I arrived at Yongen, it was a bit early, so I had a stroll around because I usually don't come here. Then I asked for the cafe and they showed me the way. But- [Yu scratches back of his head,] in all that wandering, it slipped my mind where the train station is.
So, if it's not a trouble... the last train should be in thirty minutes. [And he's supposed to be known as a resident of Tokyo. The resident of Tokyo gets lost in Tokyo.]
[That blush that blooms over his face like a flower in April is quite possibly the most heart warming thing in the world. Akira thinks about how his voice changes with the timbre of embarrassment built into it, and..... it should be illegal to be this cute. He can tell Yu was trying to come off as cool up until now, and when he's asking for an accompaniment to the station, Akira almost wants to reach out to his shoulder and tell him hey, it's okay. I got lost my first time here too.]
Sure, that's not a problem. It would be really rough if you missed the last train and wound up in Yongen until tomorrow.
[Akira takes the cup, now that it's empty, and returns it to the kitchen sink for now. He'll wash it after Yu is gone, which looks like the time is approaching somewhat fast, and he'll be appreciative of the distraction to not sit and drown in his own feelings, or go over the night in his head a hundred times.]
Really, it's no trouble at all.
[He starts to head for the front door to the shop before realizing that he's still wearing the apron. That's not going to do (incoming fashion disaster), so he unties it and leaves it on the top of a booth's seat. Something else he can take care of when he gets back.]
[Yu would probably argue with Akira on the cute part. How can a third year like himself look cute? Hell, he doesn't even have that pretty of a face- he always suspected that people approached him because they are curious about his hair.
He sighs in relief- he knew that Akira would help him out... in 99% of cases. It's that one percent that worried him- who knows what could pop up. He gets up and starts picking up his stuff while Akira puts away the cup. And while he's not looking, slips a tip under the sugar cup that's on the table. And gives snooping cat on the stairs "shhh" motion with his finger.
A soft chuckle leaves him when he notices Akira coming back from the front door, frantically taking off his apron.]
Thank you. One day I'll learn the streets around here.
[He heads for the door and turns around to say goodbye to the cat-]
Good night Morgana. I'll bring you mackerel next time. [He makes mean grilled mackerel with vegetables.]
Are you sure you're not trying to get on my good side by getting an in with my cat?
[Akira finds himself smiling at the suggestion- no, he knows that Yu loves these little furry creatures, just by the way he had looked at Morgana when they were on the roof enjoying ramen together. Letting the two of them out of Leblanc, he looks up to the streetlight not far away from the entrance. Wow... it had gotten pretty late.
And then turning to look at Yu, lit up only by the light of the coffee shop behind them... he feels a pit in his stomach forming. What was this? Sadness at him leaving? He didn't put much thought to it, and looking at him any longer like that would've been weird, so he starts a few steps forward. Still, the image of his features like that was burned into the back of his head.]
... I didn't really like Tokyo when I first moved here. [His voice is quiet, calm.] It's so busy... and no one has the time to get to know each other. We're all just making our way to the next subway or...
[He doesn't know where he's going with this. Biting his bottom lip, he looks up at the sky. Looks like the sky could open up and pour at any second. They shouldn't waste a ton of time getting him to the station.]
It's nice to have someone who can come over to enjoy a coffee break from it all.
Hmm? I thought I'm already on your good side. [Yu acts mock-confused, mock-pouting. He should really consider acting less childish.
When he steps out, cold wind wafts through the air, making Yu shudder. And he doesn't say anything rude, but the whole neighborhood looks creepy a bit. The only lights are from the houses and here and there from a street lamp. The thunder is not really helping the whole scenery that reminded Yu of mystery novels that Naoto likes to read.
He stops paying attention to the surroundings and focuses on what Akira talks. It draws out a sad smile on his face and he shoves hands into his pockets.]
Before I went to Inaba, I didn't know if I liked Tokyo or no. But when I came back, it annoyed me to no end. [He didn't want to use the word hate because it's too strong to describe this.] Everyone meaningful I met and connected with stayed back in that small, rural town, together, while I came here. To more of my parents working, more empty apartments and lonely dinners. [He laughs at himself-] I was brooding for days and firmly believed my parents will send me back because 'something came up'. But when my mom yelled at me to finally unpack because she can't do laundry, that's when it finally hit me. [He sighs.] There was no going back.
[The pass the shop with electronics and cheap laptop caught Yu's eye, but he didn't stop to look at it.] But I realized that it's not all bad in the end.
Sure cars beeping into the late night still annoy me but, [he turns his head to look at Akira,] I met a quite amazing guy. And that makes up for everything.
[The more he got to know Yu, the more he found himself feeling all sorts of things for the other. And there it was: homesickness. Akira's life wasn't anything grand or overly spectacular, but there was a comforting thought of the times that his parents treated him with love and admiration, instead of the trash that got picked up on Thursdays- sent away because of his family's image, just because he did what he thought was right at the time. And yet, coming here, it's a different type of homesickness that pervades. Yu wanted to go back to a place that was beautiful in his memories. Akira wanted to go back to a place that didn't exist anymore. The only saving grace about Tokyo to date had been his friends, and now, the silver haired teenager who's complimenting him shamelessly.
But if home really is what you make of it, he wouldn't mind finding a house inside of Yu's heart, crawling into it, sleeping in it, surrounded by it. It made sense, and yet it didn't, in a weird way. Akira felt crushed under the weight of all the lives he wasn't living.
For a while, he just listens to Yu. The raucous of thunder clamored in the background, which was a stark contrast to that low, humbled voice. So that was it, huh? Yu was lonely, in the end. Brooding in his room, studying away because he had nothing else to do, until a masked stranger popped up in his window and demanded more from him. He offers a small smile, reaching out softly just to touch his arm, as if he could convey something in the small exchange that would offer an entire wealth of partnership- as if he could make him feel like he had a place here. Maybe at Akira's side. Maybe not. But he deserved it. All of it, and more.
A few light sprinkles of rain fell down onto his shoulders, and then, as if the skies couldn't hold it in anymore, it started to downpour- rushing, pounding, unrelenting.
Falling in love was just like that too: a small warning, and then all at once.]
[Yu wished he could read Akira's mind right now. He was silent and listening to him, but with a really sad expression on his face. An expression that tells him that he's barely holding on right now. That if he didn't find his purpose in Tokyo after that criminal trial, he wouldn't know what to do. Yu could feel his chest tighten at the thought- sued for nothing, life ruined by a criminal record he didn't deserve.
If there was anything he could do to change that, Yu would do it. He's done things for people who deserved less, who endangered everyone around them. So why!? Why is he helpless now?
The small touch of his hand makes him stop walking to look properly at Akira. At every line of his face, at his eyes hidden behind the glasses and long bangs. Like in a daze, he reaches out to move them with his fingers, wanting those eyes to be on him. Now. All the time after tonight.
The rain and another thunder had turned Yu's gears into motion, making him give in into the magnetic pull of Akira's aura. Of his presence. His fingers slowly entwine with other boy's as he leans in, brushing their lips very gently. Slowly.
Akira might hate him later for this, but now, it felt right.]
[A numbness crept over Akira as Yu touched him back, moving the sloppy mess of hair that was beginning to mat down against his face in the oncoming slaughter of rain from above, prickling at the back of his head that sent a calming presence over him. And as if everything moved slower, the next thing he saw was Yu's face as it came closer... closer to his, only to bring him within a breath's width from each other. And in that instance, the moment before their lips touch, he knows what's going to happen, but his mind is too slow to prepare for that initial contact.
Breathtaking. The lightning above isn't the only sparks flying around.
Wet, sogging and dripping from the rain, he feels his heart near levels of exploding at the moment. His first kiss- ever- and it's one that's entirely patient, studied, careful, perfect. Just like Yu. And the gentle taste of coffee that still lingers on his lips is its own form of caffeine for Akira. God, just to taste that again...
His free hand nervously climbs up the back of Yu's shirt, placing there for a moment so that can return the favor- eyes cast downward to face so close to his, just for that simple, easy touch once more. It's nothing scandalous or smoldering: plain, affectionate, without intent to go farther. It has all the markings of how a trickster gentleman should have his first debut in the courtship. And like lightning, it's over before it started, his grasp on Yu's back becoming less urgent than it was a second ago.
And as usual, Akira stays quiet through it all, a small determination built around the idea that he said something now, he would never be able to properly convey how he really feels. Tokyo wasn't that bad, after all. But they are both getting drenched- and they both know they can't linger in this much longer.]
[Yu was too into the kiss that he didn't notice just how drenched they got. What was important to him were those lips against his and warm hand against his chest. It wasn't only Akira's first kiss- it was Yu's as well. And it sent warmth from his flushed cheeks, through his whole body and down to his toes. The cold of the rain was nonexistent at that moment.
It's when Akira's grip on him lessens that the rational thoughts come back flooding to him. Getting drunk from the atmosphere- Yu finally understands how Yukiko and Rise got drunk back at that bar. He doesn't need alcohol and shots- he just needs Akira to be close to him like this and everything else falls into the second plan.
When he pulls back, his cheeks are red- but not from cold, and eyes half-lidded. Another loud thunder makes him glance at the sky and back at Akira.]
Sorry... [he murmurs just above the whisper.] I shouldn't have- you'll get cold. [He might've pulled away from the kiss, but that only tightens Yu's hold onto Akira's hand, and he pulls them under the nearest canopy. He might get late for the train... but it's worth it.]
[Now that they're out from under the intensity of rain above them, it doesn't feel like he's going to drown in both his feelings and actual water, and as he looks down to see their hands still connected, and up to see Yu's bangs dripping down onto his nose and cheek, it strikes him as if he's watching Yu cry- even though he's definitely not, but the thought irks him anyway, so he lifts his hand up to brush a droplet of water away from face.
Now that the cards are all out, both of their hands are shown to each other, Akira leans his body slightly against Yu's. He can feel the remnants of residual warmth from the other, and it's nice, considering he's losing a good deal of his own pretty fast. There's their hands, still tied together in an intertwined fashion, which he slowly undoes with the skilled marksmanship of a thief, and brings Yu's hand to rest behind Akira's back, holding him in a way.
He looks up to those grey eyes, hesitant in case he says the wrong thing, or does the wrong thing.]
If you miss your train, you'll have to spend the night in Yongen.
[Which, considering the fact that his body is softly pressed up against Yu's, he doesn't seem so sad about.]
[Yu chuckles softly-] As much as love taking care of you, I'd rather you don't get sick.
[Akira's hand feels really warm against his face, even though it's probably cold from the rain. He resists the urge the lean into the touch- he'd probably look really stupid. But he does close his eyes and smiles a bit. He'll allow himself to indulge in this moment as long as he can.
When he opens his eyes, Akira's leaned against him, his hair tickling his face. He wonders if he can actually stay like this forever. And he knows he'll be reprimanding himself for not acting on his feelings earlier. He pulls Akira even closer against himself, their foreheads resting against each other. And the soft shiver that goes down Yu's spine is definitively from closeness not from cold.]
Hmm... it's a nice idea. But I doubt your roommate will appreciate me taking his part of the bed.
[Just the thought of sharing bed with him heats up Yu's cheeks even more.]
[He likes that they're not delving into topics surrounding the fact that they just kissed, just leaving that moment as it was meant to be. Private, not spoken about. Not just yet. He doesn't know what's to come out of all this, but he has a feeling that he'll be wanting to sneak onto his fire escape again in the upcoming days. He smiles softly when he mentions Morgana - at least Yu is thinking about him right now, where Akira is thinking about... well, other things, honestly. But he's right. And besides, he's due to get a barrage of questions the second he gets home, replete with the added notion that he should get in the shower as soon as possible and hang up his clothing.]
See you at school.
[He pulls away from Yu, even if he didn't want to, knowing that there was only a 5 minute or so gap before the last train departed. He points down the road a ways, and offers proper directions.]
Keep going straight... you can't miss the station.
[And because he's a little bit of a showoff when he gets the chance to be, he sees Yu's head turn to follow where he's pointing and leans up once more, to kiss him on the cheek. That's enough, for now, he thinks, and ducks back out into the rain, using his school blazer as a poor umbrella.
[That kiss was too cute. And they are both lucky that Akira dashed off because Yu would probably kiss him in return and then he'd completely miss the train. He caught it in the last minute as it was pulling up to the station. He wasn't the only one drenched on the station, some other people seemed to got caught by the sudden rain too.
But Yu didn't pay much attention to his surroundings. The only thing on Yu's mind was the warmth of the kiss that still lingered on both his cheek and lips. Akira returned the kiss, right? So... that meant he shared the feelings Yu was having for him? He wouldn't have kissed him otherwise right.
A date.
Yu jumped so abruptly from his seat he scared a guy sitting across of him. He turned around and faced the door with a determined look. He has to ask him out on a date. He can't just up and kiss him out of the blue and not explain why.
The rain had stopped by the time he arrived home. And as he went around the empty apartment, getting ready for bed, he pondered where Akira would like to go on a date.]
[Getting home, Morgana eyes him with an inquisitive eye, his very posture demanding the news of what transpired between the time he left Leblanc and the time he returned. He was dripping wet- which was difficult to take care of, considering the laundry was by the bath house. So for now, he had rinsed off and transferred to his pajamas. There were a few things left to do downstairs (he couldn't leave the coffee pot and the the cups like that when Sojiro came home in the morning), so he took care of that too.
Morgana half asleep on his belly, he smiled quietly and let his hand idly rub against his head. He really did love that cat- he always knew when Akira was cold and when he could use a weight on his blankets to keep him warm in the middle of the night. Slowly, quietly, he whispered to his friend: We kissed. Unbothered by the entire exchange, Morgana just curled up a little tighter and he found himself drifting off to sleep shortly thereafter.
The next few days at school passed as any other did. There was some minor celebration in order for their victory; that was handled quietly as well. Ryuji had begun going star crazy with wanting to pick a bigger target to increase their popularity, and Akira had warned them to lay low for a little until they could figure out who came next. All in all, he didn't really have a lot of time to talk to Yu after their shared exchange in the rain. But that didn't stop him from thinking about it constantly, or texting back and forth almost daily- mostly little things here and there like how they were doing, things they found funny.
Akira works up the courage to send this one, today. It doesn't help that Morgana is looking over his shoulder, gagging at it as he types away on his phone.]
Thinking about you lately...
Maybe it'd be a good idea to leave your windows unlocked at night.
[After the kiss, things seemed to look up for Yu. He's almost convinced that it became his lucky charm and turned everything 180 degrees. For the better. Aside from his thoughts not being gloomy, he ranked in top twenty on the exam, made friends with a librarian girl, a guy who is almost always late in the morning and a guy that has a patch over his nose always (at first he thought it was broken badly but apparently it's part of his style...).
And today, just as he received a message from Akira, the woman on the kiosk told him he won the lottery. A nice sum too. Yu honestly has no idea what's going on but he definitively has no complaints.
The message makes him smile and he types the answer back quickly:]
Thinking about you constantly~
That's actually good idea. It's been rather hot these past few nights [It wasn't, but if Akira's going to make it sound all casual, Yu will just fly with it.]
I wonder what should I make for dinner. Any suggestions? [He almost asked him "do you eat fstake" but then he remembered that Akira won't get the joke behind it. Also, it's a subtle implication that Yu will cook them dinner.]
[The fsteak joke would definitely be lost on Akira. He'd assume a typo, at the very least. But the idea of dinner with Yu... well, that would be kinda nice. He wonders if he'd be adverse to doing some extra curricular activities, too. Like.... watching movies. Studying. You know, anything but thinking about kissing him again. And again. And again.
He also considers it weird that he's telling the person who he's going to trespass against that he was planning on doing exactly that. That makes it far less illegal, sure, but still, he likes playing the role of gentlemanly thief. He smirks to himself.
Thinking about you constantly. Ooooh Joker!
Maybe he pushes Morgana off the bed.]
Well, if it's just you tonight, maybe you shouldn't go all out. Something simple like tofu?
Be careful though. If you leave your window open, the aroma might attract all sorts of strays.
[The trespassing is only allowed to Akira. Yu would probably freak out if anyone else tried to enter his apartment like that. After seeing the message, Yu ponders for a while. Tofu, huh? What could he make with tofu? Fried tofu? That sounds great. He's out of soy sauce though so he needs to go do some shopping.]
That sounds good. Thank you for the idea :)
Don't worry, I'll be extremely careful!~
[He picks up the ingredients he needs and heads straight home. His parents aren't home, as usual. But Yu stopped paying attention to that. Now he looked forward to it. With them gone, Akira could sneak in whenever he wants. And if his parents were home, he wouldn't have been able to help him out on that day.
A shiver runs down Yu's spine and he chases away the thought. 'What if's' have no place here. He quickly showers and pulls on a white hoodie and gray sweatpants. He walks over to the window and opens it, raising it just a little, enough for Akira's fingers to slip under and open it completely.
And then almost sprints off into the kitchen. Fried tofu and rice with veggies are waiting to be prepared.]
[With a calm indifference to the world around him, Akira makes his way over at nightfall. The trains are always much more friendly without the added rush of salarymen trying to get to where they needed to go, or the hoards of high schoolers and tourists that usually congregated on the lines. He left Morgana alone at home, again, but at least had bought some take out sushi from the nearby convenience store with the tip money that Yu left behind.
As he gets off the train, he could swear he was being followed. The same aura had circled him around school as of late, like there were a set of eyes on him that he couldn't understand which direction they had been coming from. But he's just a regular kid out here, in regular street clothes, who just so happened to duck into a dark alleyway and seemingly disappeared into the shadows.
Makoto had no business following him to begin with.
True to his promise, he quietly approaches the fire escape. There's a smell of something frying, some soy and.. maybe a note of some fishy flavor in the air. He guessed he was making fried tofu, which made a smile appear as his fingers looped under the window to raise it up. No one in the room- but there's definitely sounds of frying in the kitchen.
Without too much sound, he infiltrates Yu's room. He's not dumb enough to try and scare him while he's standing in front of hot oil, so Akira decides to sit on Yu's bed and wait. That way he could scare the living daylights out of him safely.
Grabbing a loose manga from a nearby bookshelf, he props it open and starts reading. He's interested to know what genre Yu likes anyway.]
[If Yu knew how to sing, he would be singing. But he tried once and Yosuke cringed so hard that he didn't try singing ever again. So he was humming instead. The tofu was coming out great and the rice was done already.]
I might've outdone myself, [Yu mutters to himself as he puts the last piece of tofu on the plate. Everything was ready for the dinner. He checks his watch and frowns a bit- odd. He thought that Akira would arrive by now. Is he late? Did he miss his train? Should he text him?
...did he properly open the window? Maybe Akira can't enter because there are people lurking in the alley? Yu hates when questions pile up in his head and he has no answers to them. He heads back to his room to check- Akira would text him if he ran into trouble, right?
Yu almost jumps three feet in the air when he opens the door and sees Akira casually reading one of his mystery mangas- Naoto's recommendation. Heart is up in his throat- he knew that Akira should arrive but he didn't expect him to be in his room, waiting for him.]
Good evening, mysterious man. Do you like my collection?
[Don't think that he didn't hear you humming, Yu. Not that he's complaining, he actually found it quite endearing, considering he was sitting in his room like a serial killer waiting for him. When he sees him approach the bedroom to check on the window, and when his soul nearly leaves his body in fear, Akira looks up from the manga, and waves.
He wants to laugh, but restrains himself. Maybe one of these days he would start using the front door like normal people, but... nah, this is fun the way it is.]
The killer is obviously the train conductor. They want you to think it's the judge, who's traveling to Hokkaido, but it's a red herring. He's slowly redirecting the carbon monoxide through the vents to the sleeping passenger cars, and then changing the scene of the crime to make it look like it was another cause of death.
[He puts the book face down, creasing the binding a little bit. He's not sure he wants to stop reading just yet- he just wants to see if he's right in the end. If anything, Akira isn't the smartest at deduction, but he knew how to read the scene of a crime. Considering he caused a few of them already.]
You're free to borrow it if you want to see if you're right. [Yu offers with a smile. And he's right. The books can get predictable after your read tons of them or study crime. He walks over to him, hands in his pockets.
Is it okay to kiss him now? He feels like it would open a flood of questions afterward. Yu should probably act like a proper host and restrain himself- even though his guest came inside through his window.]
Well, someone gave me a great idea for dinner. [He shrugs softly-] There's more than enough for two.
[Yu doesn't mind cooking, but he likes it more than usual when he cooks for others.]
[Akira looks at the manga on the bed, and shrugs. He wasn't that invested in it- rather, there were far more important things that had caught his attention. Wondering whether or not it was okay to be the type to initiate physical contact, he reaches out for Yu and pulls him closer, positioning him between his spread legs as he fixes his posture on the bed. He looks up at him, smiling.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
He can't believe it worked. He really can't. Somewhere, he can hear a snicker off in the distance, and he's sure that he's going to get teased about this tonight, after Yu leaves. What with the heist that they just completed and all, Akira needs to lay off the adrenaline for a little bit. And probably, coffee, too.]
You've taken such good care of me, and all I've done for you is give you a heart attack by sneaking up to your window.
[Akira bites the inside of his cheeks.]
Just hoping that I can return the favor someday.
no subject
He finishes off the coffee, not letting it grow cold at all. That would be a complete waste.]
Well, I did invite you to come back for your stuff. It's my fault I let my guard down.
[The smile that's painted across Yu's face has a tinge of sentimentality. Akira wants to return him a favor. The world made people expect to have to give something in return when someone does something for them. Yu helped him because he wanted to because he needed to and he didn't expect anything in return because he doesn't want anything in return. That's just how he is.
Still, since Akira's insisting on repaying the favor then-]
Well, actually, I do have a favor to ask of you, if it's not a problem.
no subject
And it was Yu that made his heart stir in ways that he never thought could. Here he was, alone and abysmal in terms of how his fate would turn out, and along comes this confident youth who makes him feel some sort of worth, of value, of importance that he can't quite put his finger on. It was the generosity of a stranger that captivated Akira, and his subtle beauty that drew him in. Like a painting at an art exhibit. A championship trophy at an arts museum. He found himself so allured by the possibility of starting something with Yu that he couldn't ignore his heart beating faster when he asks Akira for a favor. And for someone so guarded and shy, it was a world of difference. Like seeing color TV for the first time after years of only grey.]
Sure, what do you need?
no subject
...Can you show me the way back to the train station? [He's blushing. Dammit!]
Um, when I arrived at Yongen, it was a bit early, so I had a stroll around because I usually don't come here. Then I asked for the cafe and they showed me the way. But- [Yu scratches back of his head,] in all that wandering, it slipped my mind where the train station is.
So, if it's not a trouble... the last train should be in thirty minutes. [And he's supposed to be known as a resident of Tokyo. The resident of Tokyo gets lost in Tokyo.]
no subject
Sure, that's not a problem. It would be really rough if you missed the last train and wound up in Yongen until tomorrow.
[Akira takes the cup, now that it's empty, and returns it to the kitchen sink for now. He'll wash it after Yu is gone, which looks like the time is approaching somewhat fast, and he'll be appreciative of the distraction to not sit and drown in his own feelings, or go over the night in his head a hundred times.]
Really, it's no trouble at all.
[He starts to head for the front door to the shop before realizing that he's still wearing the apron. That's not going to do (incoming fashion disaster), so he unties it and leaves it on the top of a booth's seat. Something else he can take care of when he gets back.]
no subject
He sighs in relief- he knew that Akira would help him out... in 99% of cases. It's that one percent that worried him- who knows what could pop up. He gets up and starts picking up his stuff while Akira puts away the cup. And while he's not looking, slips a tip under the sugar cup that's on the table. And gives snooping cat on the stairs "shhh" motion with his finger.
A soft chuckle leaves him when he notices Akira coming back from the front door, frantically taking off his apron.]
Thank you. One day I'll learn the streets around here.
[He heads for the door and turns around to say goodbye to the cat-]
Good night Morgana. I'll bring you mackerel next time. [He makes mean grilled mackerel with vegetables.]
no subject
[Akira finds himself smiling at the suggestion- no, he knows that Yu loves these little furry creatures, just by the way he had looked at Morgana when they were on the roof enjoying ramen together. Letting the two of them out of Leblanc, he looks up to the streetlight not far away from the entrance. Wow... it had gotten pretty late.
And then turning to look at Yu, lit up only by the light of the coffee shop behind them... he feels a pit in his stomach forming. What was this? Sadness at him leaving? He didn't put much thought to it, and looking at him any longer like that would've been weird, so he starts a few steps forward. Still, the image of his features like that was burned into the back of his head.]
... I didn't really like Tokyo when I first moved here. [His voice is quiet, calm.] It's so busy... and no one has the time to get to know each other. We're all just making our way to the next subway or...
[He doesn't know where he's going with this. Biting his bottom lip, he looks up at the sky. Looks like the sky could open up and pour at any second. They shouldn't waste a ton of time getting him to the station.]
It's nice to have someone who can come over to enjoy a coffee break from it all.
no subject
When he steps out, cold wind wafts through the air, making Yu shudder. And he doesn't say anything rude, but the whole neighborhood looks creepy a bit. The only lights are from the houses and here and there from a street lamp. The thunder is not really helping the whole scenery that reminded Yu of mystery novels that Naoto likes to read.
He stops paying attention to the surroundings and focuses on what Akira talks. It draws out a sad smile on his face and he shoves hands into his pockets.]
Before I went to Inaba, I didn't know if I liked Tokyo or no. But when I came back, it annoyed me to no end. [He didn't want to use the word hate because it's too strong to describe this.] Everyone meaningful I met and connected with stayed back in that small, rural town, together, while I came here. To more of my parents working, more empty apartments and lonely dinners. [He laughs at himself-] I was brooding for days and firmly believed my parents will send me back because 'something came up'. But when my mom yelled at me to finally unpack because she can't do laundry, that's when it finally hit me. [He sighs.] There was no going back.
[The pass the shop with electronics and cheap laptop caught Yu's eye, but he didn't stop to look at it.] But I realized that it's not all bad in the end.
Sure cars beeping into the late night still annoy me but, [he turns his head to look at Akira,] I met a quite amazing guy. And that makes up for everything.
no subject
But if home really is what you make of it, he wouldn't mind finding a house inside of Yu's heart, crawling into it, sleeping in it, surrounded by it. It made sense, and yet it didn't, in a weird way. Akira felt crushed under the weight of all the lives he wasn't living.
For a while, he just listens to Yu. The raucous of thunder clamored in the background, which was a stark contrast to that low, humbled voice. So that was it, huh? Yu was lonely, in the end. Brooding in his room, studying away because he had nothing else to do, until a masked stranger popped up in his window and demanded more from him. He offers a small smile, reaching out softly just to touch his arm, as if he could convey something in the small exchange that would offer an entire wealth of partnership- as if he could make him feel like he had a place here. Maybe at Akira's side. Maybe not. But he deserved it. All of it, and more.
A few light sprinkles of rain fell down onto his shoulders, and then, as if the skies couldn't hold it in anymore, it started to downpour- rushing, pounding, unrelenting.
Falling in love was just like that too: a small warning, and then all at once.]
/soft squeeing
If there was anything he could do to change that, Yu would do it. He's done things for people who deserved less, who endangered everyone around them. So why!? Why is he helpless now?
The small touch of his hand makes him stop walking to look properly at Akira. At every line of his face, at his eyes hidden behind the glasses and long bangs. Like in a daze, he reaches out to move them with his fingers, wanting those eyes to be on him. Now. All the time after tonight.
The rain and another thunder had turned Yu's gears into motion, making him give in into the magnetic pull of Akira's aura. Of his presence. His fingers slowly entwine with other boy's as he leans in, brushing their lips very gently. Slowly.
Akira might hate him later for this, but now, it felt right.]
no subject
Breathtaking. The lightning above isn't the only sparks flying around.
Wet, sogging and dripping from the rain, he feels his heart near levels of exploding at the moment. His first kiss- ever- and it's one that's entirely patient, studied, careful, perfect. Just like Yu. And the gentle taste of coffee that still lingers on his lips is its own form of caffeine for Akira. God, just to taste that again...
His free hand nervously climbs up the back of Yu's shirt, placing there for a moment so that can return the favor- eyes cast downward to face so close to his, just for that simple, easy touch once more. It's nothing scandalous or smoldering: plain, affectionate, without intent to go farther. It has all the markings of how a trickster gentleman should have his first debut in the courtship. And like lightning, it's over before it started, his grasp on Yu's back becoming less urgent than it was a second ago.
And as usual, Akira stays quiet through it all, a small determination built around the idea that he said something now, he would never be able to properly convey how he really feels. Tokyo wasn't that bad, after all. But they are both getting drenched- and they both know they can't linger in this much longer.]
no subject
It's when Akira's grip on him lessens that the rational thoughts come back flooding to him. Getting drunk from the atmosphere- Yu finally understands how Yukiko and Rise got drunk back at that bar. He doesn't need alcohol and shots- he just needs Akira to be close to him like this and everything else falls into the second plan.
When he pulls back, his cheeks are red- but not from cold, and eyes half-lidded. Another loud thunder makes him glance at the sky and back at Akira.]
Sorry... [he murmurs just above the whisper.] I shouldn't have- you'll get cold. [He might've pulled away from the kiss, but that only tightens Yu's hold onto Akira's hand, and he pulls them under the nearest canopy. He might get late for the train... but it's worth it.]
no subject
[Now that they're out from under the intensity of rain above them, it doesn't feel like he's going to drown in both his feelings and actual water, and as he looks down to see their hands still connected, and up to see Yu's bangs dripping down onto his nose and cheek, it strikes him as if he's watching Yu cry- even though he's definitely not, but the thought irks him anyway, so he lifts his hand up to brush a droplet of water away from face.
Now that the cards are all out, both of their hands are shown to each other, Akira leans his body slightly against Yu's. He can feel the remnants of residual warmth from the other, and it's nice, considering he's losing a good deal of his own pretty fast. There's their hands, still tied together in an intertwined fashion, which he slowly undoes with the skilled marksmanship of a thief, and brings Yu's hand to rest behind Akira's back, holding him in a way.
He looks up to those grey eyes, hesitant in case he says the wrong thing, or does the wrong thing.]
If you miss your train, you'll have to spend the night in Yongen.
[Which, considering the fact that his body is softly pressed up against Yu's, he doesn't seem so sad about.]
no subject
[Akira's hand feels really warm against his face, even though it's probably cold from the rain. He resists the urge the lean into the touch- he'd probably look really stupid. But he does close his eyes and smiles a bit. He'll allow himself to indulge in this moment as long as he can.
When he opens his eyes, Akira's leaned against him, his hair tickling his face. He wonders if he can actually stay like this forever. And he knows he'll be reprimanding himself for not acting on his feelings earlier.
He pulls Akira even closer against himself, their foreheads resting against each other. And the soft shiver that goes down Yu's spine is definitively from closeness not from cold.]
Hmm... it's a nice idea. But I doubt your roommate will appreciate me taking his part of the bed.
[Just the thought of sharing bed with him heats up Yu's cheeks even more.]
I'll see you at school?
no subject
See you at school.
[He pulls away from Yu, even if he didn't want to, knowing that there was only a 5 minute or so gap before the last train departed. He points down the road a ways, and offers proper directions.]
Keep going straight... you can't miss the station.
[And because he's a little bit of a showoff when he gets the chance to be, he sees Yu's head turn to follow where he's pointing and leans up once more, to kiss him on the cheek. That's enough, for now, he thinks, and ducks back out into the rain, using his school blazer as a poor umbrella.
Get home safe, Yu.]
no subject
But Yu didn't pay much attention to his surroundings. The only thing on Yu's mind was the warmth of the kiss that still lingered on both his cheek and lips. Akira returned the kiss, right? So... that meant he shared the feelings Yu was having for him? He wouldn't have kissed him otherwise right.
A date.
Yu jumped so abruptly from his seat he scared a guy sitting across of him. He turned around and faced the door with a determined look. He has to ask him out on a date. He can't just up and kiss him out of the blue and not explain why.
The rain had stopped by the time he arrived home. And as he went around the empty apartment, getting ready for bed, he pondered where Akira would like to go on a date.]
no subject
Morgana half asleep on his belly, he smiled quietly and let his hand idly rub against his head. He really did love that cat- he always knew when Akira was cold and when he could use a weight on his blankets to keep him warm in the middle of the night. Slowly, quietly, he whispered to his friend: We kissed. Unbothered by the entire exchange, Morgana just curled up a little tighter and he found himself drifting off to sleep shortly thereafter.
The next few days at school passed as any other did. There was some minor celebration in order for their victory; that was handled quietly as well. Ryuji had begun going star crazy with wanting to pick a bigger target to increase their popularity, and Akira had warned them to lay low for a little until they could figure out who came next. All in all, he didn't really have a lot of time to talk to Yu after their shared exchange in the rain. But that didn't stop him from thinking about it constantly, or texting back and forth almost daily- mostly little things here and there like how they were doing, things they found funny.
Akira works up the courage to send this one, today. It doesn't help that Morgana is looking over his shoulder, gagging at it as he types away on his phone.]
Thinking about you lately...
Maybe it'd be a good idea to leave your windows unlocked at night.
no subject
And today, just as he received a message from Akira, the woman on the kiosk told him he won the lottery. A nice sum too. Yu honestly has no idea what's going on but he definitively has no complaints.
The message makes him smile and he types the answer back quickly:]
Thinking about you constantly~
That's actually good idea. It's been rather hot these past few nights [It wasn't, but if Akira's going to make it sound all casual, Yu will just fly with it.]
I wonder what should I make for dinner. Any suggestions? [He almost asked him "do you eat fstake" but then he remembered that Akira won't get the joke behind it. Also, it's a subtle implication that Yu will cook them dinner.]
no subject
He also considers it weird that he's telling the person who he's going to trespass against that he was planning on doing exactly that. That makes it far less illegal, sure, but still, he likes playing the role of gentlemanly thief. He smirks to himself.
Thinking about you constantly. Ooooh Joker!
Maybe he pushes Morgana off the bed.]
Well, if it's just you tonight, maybe you shouldn't go all out. Something simple like tofu?
Be careful though. If you leave your window open, the aroma might attract all sorts of strays.
no subject
That sounds good. Thank you for the idea :)
Don't worry, I'll be extremely careful!~
[He picks up the ingredients he needs and heads straight home. His parents aren't home, as usual. But Yu stopped paying attention to that. Now he looked forward to it. With them gone, Akira could sneak in whenever he wants. And if his parents were home, he wouldn't have been able to help him out on that day.
A shiver runs down Yu's spine and he chases away the thought. 'What if's' have no place here. He quickly showers and pulls on a white hoodie and gray sweatpants. He walks over to the window and opens it, raising it just a little, enough for Akira's fingers to slip under and open it completely.
And then almost sprints off into the kitchen. Fried tofu and rice with veggies are waiting to be prepared.]
no subject
As he gets off the train, he could swear he was being followed. The same aura had circled him around school as of late, like there were a set of eyes on him that he couldn't understand which direction they had been coming from. But he's just a regular kid out here, in regular street clothes, who just so happened to duck into a dark alleyway and seemingly disappeared into the shadows.
Makoto had no business following him to begin with.
True to his promise, he quietly approaches the fire escape. There's a smell of something frying, some soy and.. maybe a note of some fishy flavor in the air. He guessed he was making fried tofu, which made a smile appear as his fingers looped under the window to raise it up. No one in the room- but there's definitely sounds of frying in the kitchen.
Without too much sound, he infiltrates Yu's room. He's not dumb enough to try and scare him while he's standing in front of hot oil, so Akira decides to sit on Yu's bed and wait. That way he could scare the living daylights out of him safely.
Grabbing a loose manga from a nearby bookshelf, he props it open and starts reading. He's interested to know what genre Yu likes anyway.]
no subject
I might've outdone myself, [Yu mutters to himself as he puts the last piece of tofu on the plate. Everything was ready for the dinner.
He checks his watch and frowns a bit- odd. He thought that Akira would arrive by now. Is he late? Did he miss his train? Should he text him?
...did he properly open the window? Maybe Akira can't enter because there are people lurking in the alley? Yu hates when questions pile up in his head and he has no answers to them. He heads back to his room to check- Akira would text him if he ran into trouble, right?
Yu almost jumps three feet in the air when he opens the door and sees Akira casually reading one of his mystery mangas- Naoto's recommendation. Heart is up in his throat- he knew that Akira should arrive but he didn't expect him to be in his room, waiting for him.]
Good evening, mysterious man. Do you like my collection?
no subject
He wants to laugh, but restrains himself. Maybe one of these days he would start using the front door like normal people, but... nah, this is fun the way it is.]
The killer is obviously the train conductor. They want you to think it's the judge, who's traveling to Hokkaido, but it's a red herring. He's slowly redirecting the carbon monoxide through the vents to the sleeping passenger cars, and then changing the scene of the crime to make it look like it was another cause of death.
[He puts the book face down, creasing the binding a little bit. He's not sure he wants to stop reading just yet- he just wants to see if he's right in the end. If anything, Akira isn't the smartest at deduction, but he knew how to read the scene of a crime. Considering he caused a few of them already.]
Smells good.
no subject
Is it okay to kiss him now? He feels like it would open a flood of questions afterward. Yu should probably act like a proper host and restrain himself- even though his guest came inside through his window.]
Well, someone gave me a great idea for dinner. [He shrugs softly-] There's more than enough for two.
[Yu doesn't mind cooking, but he likes it more than usual when he cooks for others.]
no subject
Is this okay?
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
shows up late with a cup of starbucks in hand to share!
/eagerly accepts