Chapter One: One Nightbreak

Remind me what English word the do in "dokyuu" comes from?"

"Ren, you were top of your class, I know you know the answer is dreadnought."

"Just making sure you're still paying attention." His rich voice painted a perfect picture of the smirk Makoto knew he was wearing at that moment which, despite herself, brought a small smile to her own features.

With her beau's unspoken point made she put down the notebook she had admittedly been devoting more of her attention to and looked up to actually match eyes with him. Ren was always wonderful about allowing her time to keep up with her studies but this time they set aside once a week was supposed to be theirs', and while he would never audibly complain about feeling ignored and would on occasion even encourage she use this opportunity for her studies these moments were precious to her, more so than any grade she could ever receive.

The sight that patiently waited for her to rejoin the party told her she made the right choice. Soft black eyes that held a glint of a gentlemen trickster beneath, a shaggy mop of hair that most used as justifiable proof of his slacker delinquent status but she found utterly charming. A million other beautiful indescribable little things that combined to make Ren Amamiya, a sight she was always excited in more ways in one to see.

Even if it was through the screen of her laptop.

"I'm paying attention," Makoto giggled. "So tell me about your week. What's new in the countryside?"

Ren's smirk grew into a more pure smile(which she always prefered) as he leaned back into his office chair and seemed to replay the events of the past 7 days to scan for the more notable bits. While he occupied himself with this she took the few seconds it would take him to pick his favorite to reacquaint herself with the portion of his bedroom she could see that wasn't blocked by Ren's upper body.

His current boarding situation would seem to most far superior to the attic Boss let him crash in during his probation back in Shibuya as it offered far more comfort and far less dust in the air. The walls were a much more pleasant dark green and the dark red carpet was far easier on the eyes than the otherwise aged wood floor he left behind. But knowing Ren of course, none of it held the same charm as the room above Leblanc.

"Well," Ren began bringing Makoto out of her reverie and back into the now. "My mom sprayed Morgana with water when he took a nap on their bed."

As he played with one of his stray curls he flashed her a taste of Joker. "Gotta say, it was pretty hilarious."

"I'm sure Mona feels differently." Makoto leaned the side of her face against her palm utterly content with watching her beloved.

"He probably deserved it. Let's see what else...oh me and my dad played baseball the other day."

"You didn't use your third eye did you?"

"Well, how else am I going to show off and make my father proud?"

"Ren." Makoto tried her best to scold him with her tone but the lazy smile her on her face sold her out, which to her "dismay" caused his Joker smirk to grow.

"I caught a fish over the weekend."

She rolled her eyes playfully at how quickly the quiet exchange student could jump from topic to topic whenever they were in the safety of their own privacy.

"Was it bigger than the Legendary Guardian?"

"No chance." He shot back with a wink. And then as he began to comb back through the archives of his memories Makoto jumped at the opportunity to broach the subject she doubted he would.

"How's school going?"

She almost regretted asking that when he froze for just a moment as she received some unwanted flashbacks to the previous Christmas Eve. And she could tell he realized this as well because he made an effort to relax his features, a subtle shift that only she or any of their other friends could truly notice.

"It's...not bad. It's really not."

"But?"

"But…" Ren sighed as he crossed his arms, his eyes though shaded by the fluff of his hair seemed too jaded as they connected with her own scarlet orbs. She had to stop herself from trying to physically reach through the screen.

"There's really nothing here for me besides my family."

Makoto shifted to bring her knee up below her chin. "What do you mean?"

He paused in much the same way he always would whenever it was time for him to speak up in one of their many strategy meetings. She no doubt that in the span of milliseconds he was formulating every word and choosing which spot in each sentence made the most sense to not only him but what would make the most sense to her as well. For a man of few words she marveled at his skill with them.

"So everyday I wake up, I have my breakfast with my folks, me and Morgana go to school, if I get called on in class I answer the question and only speak when spoken to. Then I go home, eat dinner with my folks and spend the rest of the night in my room. Maybe every once in a while I'll go on a walk or something."

Makoto hummed as she nodded along, softly nudging him to continue. As good as a listener Ren was for his multitude of confidants everybody needed their opportunity to vent. Even if it sounded strange or mundane in the beginning she trusted that it would all make sense once he reached the destination he planned to take his thoughts.

"And then the next day I wake up and do it all over again. There's nothing wrong with that but…"

"It's not enough for you."

In that moment Ren looked at her, really looked at her and while he said nothing Makoto could feel an overwhelming warmth of gratitude from him. Thank you for always understanding.

"If you had asked me over a year ago what I wanted most it would be to go home and have everything be like how it was before. And now I have that, but I'm not satisfied."

"A lot can change in a year Ren, doubly so in your case. You've seen and done things most people our age would never dream of. "

"No kidding," he agreed with a grin. "My Dad almost caught me having a conversation with Morgana."

After that the fool and the priestess fell into a comfortable silence that could only come after countless hours of intimacy. Exchanges of looks that used to be bashful were replaced with giggles and knowing grins. Makoto was happy to just look at Ren and he was happy to just look back at her, the distance between them only amplified this.

"You know...I just thought of something."

Makoto brought her other knee up to her chest and urged him on with simple eye contact.

"I talked about a week here in the country right? I think I forgot how crazy a week in Shibuya could be.

"The time spent in school stays the same but then after school Monday I'll maybe for example go running with Ryuji. Go shopping with Ann on Tuesday, lunch with Yusuke on Wednesday, gardening with Haru, gaming with Futaba."

His smile turned coy.

"Every other moment I could spare would hopefully be spent with you my Queen."

As comfortable as they were with each other Makoto still couldn't stop the pink from lining her cheeks. Thankfully he went on.

"That's not even taking into account how I would go out at night to help out Yoshida or Iwai or Chihaya and so on and so on."

"That's also ignoring all of the time spent killing shadows and stealing treasures."

"Exactly."

"Like I said, a lot can change in a year."

By now Makoto was leaning the side of her face against her face with content lidded eyes, her notes and her upcoming classes a world away from her mind. As important and as sacred her ambitions were to her, none of that enthralled her the way her boyfriend did whenever he allowed himself to appear animated and unrestricted.

She knew those notes and textbooks five ways from any given Sunday anyway.

Ren let out a markedly satisfied sigh. "Thank you."

"For?"

The master of picking locks quirked a knowing eyebrow at her but still indulged Makoto in her little game.

"For listening."

She was able to hide it well but the richness of his voice sent shivers to her very center.

"It's the least I could do."

"Still."

They both smiled.

"Just make sure you keep paying attention in class," for a flash Makoto and Ren were replaced by Queen and Joker. "You did make a promise to join me here when you graduate."

"In that case I guess I'm lucky to have a phenomenal partner to help me prepare, huh?"

"More like you're lucky that I love you."

"That I am Senpai, that I am."

The next hour or so breezed by as they talked about everything yet nothing at all and soon enough it was time for them both to turn in and turn out the lights for the night. The only part of these little calls that Makoto could say she hated.

"I'm gonna go get washed up Ren...I hope you have a good week. Keep your head up."

Ren nodded in a manner that only leaders could.

"Sounds good. You too."

Both got one last look at the other, slowly committing the image to memory. Black eyes falling into pools of red.

"Goodnight Queen."

"Goodnight Joker."

Reluctantly she moved her mouse over to close the window of the video.

"Hey."

She stopped just as she was ready to drop her finger.

"Yes?"

"I love you too Makoto."

Pink cheeks, lidded eyes, an utterly content smile.

These nights were the ones they lived for.

There was a bit of an issue in the initial upload of this a few days ago so I apologize to anybody who had to deal with that mess. Anyway I'm a huge fan of Persona 5 as I explained over on AO3 and I'm stoked to finally tackle fanfiction for my favorite game. Thanks to anybody who stopped by here I appreciate any and all of you, and the next 7 or so drabbles are gonna be for Shumako week but after that expect more variety with more of the P Thieves involved. Thanks again!