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Bare Blood (PART 2)

Friday—June 12, 2021

"Shit," Ryuji hissed as he gave Ren another rough shake. "He ain't wakin' up and we gotta go."

Yusuke stooped over and grabbed Ren by the arm, hand wrapped around the Leader's waist. With some effort, he picked up his unconscious body, grunting with the added weight. Ryuji bolstered the other side and the two of them managed to get the Trickster off the ground. Ann stepped forward and brandished her whip as they heard footsteps approaching.

"Forget trying to fight," Morgana warned in a low voice. "There's too many, we lost one of our strongest, and we're all half-cocked. We need to leave."

"Here!" Sumire said breathlessly, leaping over and yanking out her phone. She pulled up the MetaNav, clicking rapidly.

"Oh god!" Ann cried out as four Shadows spotted them.

"Hurry up!" Sumire said shrilly to her phone, dancing nervously on the spot. "Go!"

"Move!"

"Violet!"

"Ow, Crow!"

"Get back!"

"Skull, you idiot!"

"Fox! That was my arm!"

The world distorted itself as the Phantom Thieves tumbled into the townhouse living area, some landing on the couch while others crashed to the floor. After a chorus of groaning and grunts, they all returned from the Metaverse in one piece. The moment Ren had returned to reality, he regained consciousness but with a terrible headache.

"Is everyone here?" Yusuke called out, remaining in his starfish position.

"Dude, I think I had spinal realignment," Ryuji griped and threw his arm over his face.

"Damn it," Ren murmured to himself as he screwed his eyes shut, cursing the bright light that made his head feel like it was splitting in half.

"Oh, shit! You're awake!" Ryuji said with widened eyes, breaking out into a grin and sitting up. "Had us worried there for a sec."

"I'm fine," Ren said slowly, taking off his glasses to rub the corners of his eyes. "What happened?"

"We got some great intel on this guy," Ryuji answered with enthusiasm. He paused for a few moments then added in a lower voice, "you okay?"

"Yeah," he said with a shrug of nonchalance. The wounds were still fresh and bringing them up would only feel like rubbing salt.

"This is all hypothetical, but these days were significant to the target's childhood and development at a younger age," Goro said as he picked his head up out his hand. "And the goal is to find a Treasure behind one of the doors. We should be looking later in his life."

"You sayin' we did that for nothin'?" Ryuji balked, jaw dropping comically.

"No," Ren appeased firmly and with conviction. He drew his knee up to his chest and rested his arm against it. "It started in his youth."

"Your proof?" Goro challenged instinctively, leaning against his hand as he narrowed his eyes at the Leader.

"My room," Ren said and gestured vaguely to the hallway. "His problems started when he was young. Every article I read said the same thing."

Goro shook his head, preparing a debate in his head already. "I've read those, too. More emphasis was put into his more recent crimes, a time where a Treasure most likely would have developed."

"Why?" Ren inquired starkly.

"A Treasure is a person's greatest cognition that manifests into a physical object," Goro retaliated without hesitation, finding this debate more wasteful than meaningful. "Serial criminals often possess treasures taken from their victims. Therefore, the Treasure is most likely hidden within a room at a later date."

"Perhaps his first victim?" Sumire aided with a glance to the detective, eyes shining. "I might have to agree with you on this."

"It makes sense…" Ann muttered.

"I concur," Yusuke said with a nod.

"Yeah, I'spose," Ryuji added.

Ren was the only one who stayed silent and when everyone averted their attention to him, expecting him to say something, he merely offered them the smallest of smiles. His eyes betrayed nothing but they lacked their usual warmth; he slowly rose to his feet, stifling a grunt of discomfort, and dusted off his shirt.

"I'll go to the library tonight," he said and bent over to pocket his phone. "We'll go back this weekend."

With that, Ren disappeared down the hallway and into his room, emerging with a jacket, and heading straight for the door. The others exchanged uneasy glances save for Goro, who glared at the door before rushing out of it.

"You wanna bet they'll argue?" Ryuji said to Yusuke.

.oOo.

Franky, it did not take long to catch up to the other teen for he might have been purposely walking slow because he was expecting him. Goro jogged up to Ren, still in the process of shoving his arm through the sleeve of his jacket, scowling as Ren now decided to pick up the pace.

"What?" he asked slyly.

"Nothing," Goro replied shortly, grunting as he finally slipped on a sleeve, only to find the jacket was inside out. "Fuck…"

"It seems I've caught you compromised," Ren quoted cheekily, putting his hands in the pockets of his jeans with an amused grin to himself.

"Really?" Goro deadpanned, wanting to smack the smugness off his face. "So, you're convinced I'm wrong?"

"No," Ren said simply, slowing his pace and rounding the corner.

This was most definitely not the way to the library.

"Where are you going?" Goro inquired sharply, reading the street signs that were still a bit foreign to him.

"Drug store," Ren said and lifted an eyebrow. "Why are you here?"

While Goro fished for a plausible answer, Ren smirked to himself, taking it as a self-victory. However, his glory-basking lasted a few seconds before scenes from earlier today came rushing back. His shoulders sagged as he looked down.

"I...I didn't mean for you to take it on your own," Goro mumbled as he unconsciously folded his arms over his chest, something he did when nervous.

"It's fine," Ren said a bit curtly, keeping his gaze locked forward. The ravenette pushed his glasses up, the reflection of the lights passing to reveal a troubled look in his eyes.

"Why?" Goro asked, unable to help himself. He always sought explanation, even when it may not be the appropriate time to interrogate.

Ren stopped for a moment but only just. He shrugged one shoulder. "It's what a Leader does for his team."

Goro had to soak in the words for a few seconds and process them for another several. Was this truly the shy, toss-out kid he met back in Tokyo? The kid could barely work the subway station, but suddenly, he was someone….to be admired…

"You take it seriously then…" he said, not quite sure what else he could say without voicing his genuine thoughts.

"I'd like to think they rely on me—or they can," Ren said with such seriousness, Goro was taken aback. For someone who was always so flippant, he did not play the part now. "Even if they don't need me otherwise."

This time Goro did stop in his tracks. Ren did a double-take once he realized he was no longer walking side-by-side with him. He slowed but did not stop, keeping his head bowed slightly.

"What are you talking about?" Goro demanded, refusing to move another step until he knew what exactly was going through his head.

"Let's not talk about it," Ren said a bit roughly and relented once he realized Goro was not going to walk. He stopped and turned on his heel, taking a hand out of his pocket to gesture over his shoulder. "But I plan on sleeping tonight, so let's go."

"Do you truthfully believe what you said?" Goro asked, eyebrows knitting and lips turning down into a frown. "That they don't need you?"

Ren grimaced but his eyes turned cold. "Take my advice and make the most of it. Let it go."

He sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.

"I'm going."

Goro felt his temper flare as he pounced forward, snagging Ren by the elbow and dragging him into an alleyway, shoving him against the side of a small building. Ren hit the bricks with a grunt, taken by surprise.

"A taste of your own medicine," Goro said victoriously but he grew somber as he spoke. "They don't need you? What rubbish...bullshit."

"I told you," Ren said harshly, trying to push off against the wall to break free but Goro still had the upper hand, effectively pinning him back. "Let it go."

"Don't believe it for one minute," he snapped.

"Akechi!" Ren snarled, his own temper rising as he strained harder against him. "Get off me!"

"Can't you see how much they hang onto your every word? Grovel for your approval?" Goro finally spat, his own hurt feelings surfacing after months of repression. "Fuck...I used to be jealous of that...of you...especially for that."

Ren finally tapped into his Phantom Thief training and kicked a leg out, sweeping Goro's feet out from under him. Before he could fall, the ravenette caught and held the detective until he was able to regain his balance. Goro hissed in agitation, mad he fell for the move because it was so painfully simple, but he could only stare at the other as he straightened up, back in that close proximity that always took his breath away. Goro bit his lip, feeling Ren's warmth…

And suddenly everything seemed to flicker before his eyes...

His past.

His present.

His future.

Goro watched his childhood in ruin, something he and Ren had in common. He saw himself with his gun pressed to Ren's forehead, staring into those magnificently intelligent, bright eyes. He could see the blood splatter over the table and the floor…Goro saw Crow on the ground and at the mercy of the barrel of Ren's gun. He saw the tears in his eyes at the sting of betrayal. He saw the broken pieces he had left Ren's heart…

He saw Crow confess his true feelings to the Phantom Thieves of Hearts...the truth of his envy, rage, revenge, hurt, and everything in between. Goro saw the barrier close the last bit of distance between them. He remembered wishing more than anything he had met Ren a few years earlier. He remembered facing the fork in the road, but ultimately knowing his path was his own self-destruction. Ren would not have been able to save him from himself.

"What's the matter? Get up. It's too early for checkmate."

But then he could see himself with Ren, fighting, getting rough with one another whenever they didn't see eye to eye. He could see himself and Ren wandering the streets of New York City, taking on this big world because they felt like they were bigger.

He saw his future. He saw himself with Ren at his side, a dream that had become his secret desire. Goro saw himself sharing a home with the other...maybe even a bed one day. He saw himself sharing intimate moments with the black-haired teen, breaths mingling tighter than their intertwined fingers, matching rhythm as they shared their love…

"Hey?"

Goro reeled back to the present, finding himself still staring at Ren, who was wearing a look of slight concern. Goro was still wrapped up in his arms, so he yanked himself free and cleared his throat.

"I said 'you changed'," Ren murmured and broke out into a ghost of a smile. "Without us interfering…"

They were truly the thief of hearts...and it only made sense Ren was their Leader; who wouldn't fall in love with him? Goro felt the tears spring to his eyes as he stared into his eyes. Didn't he know?

"It's more convoluted than that," Goro whispered and curled his hands into fists. If only Ren knew he had long stolen his heart.

"Was it you?" Ren said suddenly, grabbing his arms and pulling him in.

"What?"

"It's too early for checkmate," Ren whispered, nose brushing his own as he pulled out the chess piece and pressed it into Goro's hand. "On me...on us."

Goro's eyes fluttered closed as he willed himself to move just an inch forward. But, no matter how hard he tried, he still couldn't.

Ren chuckled humorlessly. "When I was losing everything, at least I still had you."

He held up the king.

"Amamiya," Goro said and forced himself to pull back before he did something Ren would regret. He closed his eyes, conscious to keep his voice from wavering. "I-I wasn't there for you. I wasn't there to fight with you. They were."

Ren, too, closed his eyes as his breath grew shaky. He swallowed thickly, eyebrows flicking upward as he gave Goro a broken smile. "Yeah."

"Ren," Goro tried to say, but it came out almost inaudible.

However, the bespectacled teen raised a hand to stop him. "I...I just need s-some time alone."

Goro stifled a gasp, hurt written all over his expression as he watched Ren walk away, rounding the corner and disappearing from sight. It all happened so quickly, Goro was left standing there, dumbstruck and scrambling.

He buried his face in his hands and finally let his walls come down.

.oOo.

Ren rested his elbow on his knees, hiding his face and tears in his hands. Today had not been kind to him, but he would take all the brutal reminders of his past over the pain he was experiencing now. He felt cornered...like he had no one left to talk to. What had he learned from love? How to shoot at the one he loved the most? It was a cold and broken hallelujah.

No.

Ren chided himself; he did not love Akechi Goro. He fisted his hair and sat there for what felt like years. Still, the soft voice of hope in his head worked hard to chase away his doubts. Only time would tell.

.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.~.

Ren (00:04): I'm sorry.
Goro (00:05): Why are you apologizing?
Ren (00:06): Earlier. Can we meet up?
Goro (00:07): Don't apologize.
Ren (00:08): You never answered my question. Can we meet?
Goro (00:09): Isn't it obvious?
Ren (00:09): That's my line, Ace Detective.
Goro (00:10): It's mine, too. I'm pretty sure I said it first.
Ren (00:11): Har har. I miss you.
Goro (00:12): We just saw each other.
Ren (00:13): I know…
Goro (00:14): I get it.
Ren (00:15): Tired?
Goro (00:16): I can't say that I am. And yourself?
Ren (00:17): Not a bit. Morgana crashed on the couch. Come in.
Goro (00:18): You insisted. Don't say that you didn't invite me if I just walk in.
Ren (00:19): That's different.
Goro (00:20): same difference, right ;)
Ren (00:21): Shut up and hurry up. You're about a door and a half down the hall. Where are you?
Goro (00:22): Open the door. There's a surprise.

Ren leaped off his bed and yanked the door open, grabbing Goro by the shirt and dragging him in with a grin. With a smile as contagious as his, Goro could not help but smile, too. Ren guided him all the way to his bed where he shoved him on and sat down beside him.

"You're—"

"Incorrigible, I know," Ren said with a warm chuckle, pushing Goro on his back by his chest and tossing the left earbud to his headphones. "Relax...and just stay with me tonight."

Goro put the headphone in and closed his eyes, a smile still on his face. Soft music immediately filled his head, whisking him to a place where he felt at peace. He raised a hand, the back of it resting on Ren's chest as he began humming along to the melody.

Ren rolled his head to the left, smiling to himself as he stole a glance at the blissful look on the brunette's face...eyes reflecting the feelings in his heart. His hand came up to rest in the middle of them. He removed his glasses, folded them, and put them off to the side...allowing at least that part of his mask to come off tonight.

All of my doubt… Suddenly goes away somehow One step closer.

Neither remembered falling asleep together, but neither had any objections to their touching fingers.

Time stands still.

Their breathing slowed as they drifted off, allowing the music to take them to a Haven of their own.

I will not let anything take away What's standing in front of me