"No..." Ryuji grit his teeth as the dark red, sickeningly abundant liquid flowed from the thick, almost-leather fabric of pure black. The slim yellow cotton donning his hands started to stain a strange mix of brown and red with the liquid absorbing into it as he pressed his hands against his friend's torso. "Dammit...!"
Even with his desperate attempts at stopping the dreadfully quick flow of blood from his friend's wound, The liquid only seemed to continuously seep through his gloved fingers as if mocking his—quite terrible—attempts at helping him.
"Dammit!" The delinquent repeated louder this time, his agitation and worry clear with the tone of his voice. "Where's Panther and Queen when you need 'em?!" Sweat dripped from his forehead down to his chin, which was visible now that Ryuji had taken off his skull-shaped mask.
He reached up to take off the other's mask, revealing squinted grey eyes which were dull as the life flowed from his body into a pool of blood on the floor. Akira was forced to squint even more as light filled his eyes, pupils contracting from the bright luminescent rays.
"R...Ryuji," Joker's cracked, weak-sounding voice just barely reached the blond's ears. The said boy looked down quickly, teeth grinding together to keep the tears from spilling over his cheeks. He didn't reply.
"Ryuji," Joker spoke again, this time he was more stern and it caught Skull's attention. "I...want to be able...to s-see all of you..." He reached a hand up slowly, shakily, and gently brushed the bruised and bleeding fingertips against Ryuji's cheek. "C-cry for me, Ryuji... S-show me your feelings..."
Skull clenched his jaw tighter, but was unable to keep himself from crying any longer because of Akira's words. His cheeks were drenched in the salty sting of tears flowing over cuts on his own skin, his gloved hand clasping the ravenet's underneath."You dumbass...!" He scolded, his voice wavering. "Don't die on me, man...! Not yet!"
Akira let out a weak laugh, and smiled as best as he could, a bit of blood dripping down his chin slowly, staining the cloth beneath. "Ryuji... T-tell me...one more time..." Those dull eyes bore into the blond's soul, pleading for his words again. Just once more.
"No, no, Akira...! Akira, you can't... You can't die! You helped me through all that depressing shit...! I—I need you...!" More tears spilled from Skull's eyes and his face slowly turned bright red at how exposed he felt; showing his feelings like this was rare, even around Akira.
"P...please," Joker whispered, his voice getting softer with each breath. Soon enough, it all stopped. Ryuji's breath caught in his throat, and he cried even more than he ever had his entire life.
"Goddamnit...! Akira, no!" He gripped onto the dark fabric donning his friend's pale body. "I'm sorry... I-I couldn't help you..." He grit his teeth together once more and wiped a bit of blood from his nose.
"I love you..."