A Day in Their Shoes

Ren Amamiya x Goro Akechi; Part One

November

Crow fell, his sword deluminating as his knees impacted the course ground of Mementos. He looked up, only to find Joker staring back without care. Not an ounce of concern for Akechi, not any pride in his victory. It was clean. It was professional. And the feelings in Akechi's heart only made him despise Ren more. He couldn't hold it in any longer.

"I'm going to be entirely honest with you...I hate you."

The words stung his mouth just as much as it stung Ren's heart. He knew Goro's intentions, his treachery long before they had entered Sae's palace. So why was it that these particular words only drew him in more. The emphasis on each one that came from the out of breath mouth of Akechi were...stirring.

"I'm sorry."

It was all he could say. After all, how would you respond if your comrade told you that out of the blue?

"Here...my glove."

Akechi suddenly tossed it outwards, only to be caught by Joker's extremely proficient hands.

"Next time we fight, I will win. And when I do, I will rip it from your hands without remorse."

"...I'll hold onto your glove for you then."

For him?! What the fuck did he mean for him?! He had poured his heart into displaying his hatred for Ren and yet he was still apt to pertain emotion for him?!

Disgusting.

The train ride home only shook Akechi more, rocking him on the inside. What could he tell himself? That casting his only friend out was alright? He knew he would take great pleasure in robbing him of his life. So why was it that he felt so...guilty. Empty. Those words...his own goddamn words! They must have been the source. Did he not express his hate enough? No...something else. Why...why did he feel this way?!

"..."

Nothing. He half hoped for some sort of retort from Ren, some emphasis of his hate being returned. To prove he wasn't any better...yet all his phone did was remain silent.

Bzz Bzz.

A sign! Yes! He finally-

"How goes the plan, Akechi? Have you stolen Nijima's heart yet?"

Only Shido. The hate he had perscribed to Ren was nowhere near the amount of anger he felt upon realizing this bastard- no. He was the bastard...and Shido made him his bitch. His plaything. Simply forcing him to execute whoever he pleased...for some purpose that ultimately wouldn't matter. Not for long...he would kill him. Even if it cost him everything. In the moment, he tried to remember happiness to respond. Searched for some positive feeling...yet...nothing. Only hatred.

He decided not to respond.

A sudden feeling, his heart sank and lifted at the exact same moment. A memory: the jazz club. When he took Ren and they spoke like gentlemen would...was...was that happiness? It had been so long...Goro had no idea. More memories began to spur, more emotions. What the hell was he feeling? Regret? Remorse?! That's ridiculous...but was it really? It had been so long since Akechi had a friend, a true friend, one that wouldn't abandon him as soon as his fame wavered.

So why had he just told him about his hatred?

"I need to meet up with you again."

"..."

Come on damnit! Respond!

"I'm at Leblanc."

Akechi sat, waiting in anticipation for Ren to come downstairs. The door was unlocked...but the cafe was closed, the lights no longer flickering. Only a silhouette would be revealed by his presence.

"We're alone, I take it?"

"I sent Morgana away."

"Good...good."

"What do you want?"

There was a hint of callousness in Ren's voice...well of course there was. It was what Akechi deserved.

"I came to elaborate on what I told you earlier."

Ren carefully studied Akechi's eyes, even in the dark room. There was no trust between them, so why was his bond shaken? Why did he even care that Akechi had asked to come in the first place? And then he realized:

It's because they were friends.

"The time we spent together was admittedly enjoyable...it was pleasant to have someone to confide in."

"And I to you, Goro."

"But...I...hate you...but I cannot describe why…"

"Because you're envious? I don't blame you. Or are you just an angry, bitter man?"

Akechi forced a laugh, but not at Ren's surface-level jest. At his stupidity.

"You're more of a fool than I thought…"

"You have no idea."

"Listen...I may have spoken in haste earlier...it is undeniable the anger...the wrath I feel even when your name is muttered...but I cannot stand the feeling having told you even more."

"Because you are my friend Goro."

"That's the funniest joke you've told all-"

"We believe in the same things...even if yours is a warped, twisted ideal...but you can still make changes."

Ren's heart tugged desperately. If he said too much, the plan would fail, and his friends would be killed. However, the feeling of wanting to tell Goro what they planned to do to him...wrenching was the only word that could describe it. His heart...his heart…!

"And you know why you came here tonight...don't you."

"Enlighten me-"

Goro hadn't realized how close Ren was until it was too late, his hands surrendering to the leader of the Phantom Thief's own as they entered his hair, and their lips collided. It tasted well kept, both ends, enjoyable at the touch. Ren's mouth was much softer than Akechi's own, par for the course. Akechi's eyes widened as Ren drew him in closer, resting more of his weight on the Ace Detective's lap. It felt natural as it continued, Goro may have even surrendered a bit more...but then, sudden pressure ended it all.

Ren was suddenly forced off of Goro, hitting the floor suddenly and unexpectedly.

"What the hell did you just do?!"

Ren chuckled as he wiped his mouth, once again, circling closer to Goro.

"I helped speed the process along."

"I...wasn't ready...for you to-"

"Are you ready now?"

Again, Goro's eyes became largely circular, muttering under his breath before putting Ren in the hot seat, pushing him into the cushy booths of the cafe counter and biting his lip as he got closer.

"Yes...ready as I'll ever be."

There wasn't much time in between the stairway and the attic in which Ren resided, just more collision between the two as they quickly walked up. Ren was the first to be pushed onto his bed, Akechi quickly pouncing on the opportunity before him and clasping with his lips again. The taste now only turned him on more, his obsession with domination filtering as he began to feel what Ren had already felt: the coarse stiffness in his lap began to match…

"Which one of us is gonna go first?"

Akechi wasn't stupid enough to fall for Ren's tricks. Sure, what he felt was nice, but as if he would ever let him be on top.

"First? You think you'll get to get up at all?!"

Ren's head suddenly impacted the pillow, Goro's hand forcefully holding him there as he roughly began removing Ren's clothing. Ren meanwhile, enjoyed the illusion that Akechi had built for himself. He believed himself to be authoritative, yet just by succumbing to his desire and wanting Ren himself, he had already won.

"At least let me get you set up…"

Ren turned, now pushing Goro onto the sheets haphazardly. His tie stuck out like a sore thumb, he used it to pull the young man upwards and kiss him again, this time more passionately than anytime they had before. His langue halted as his tongue was borrowed by another much more willing subject...the same stiffness from before.

"I see…"

Another kiss.

"This is going…"

And another.

"To be...a competition!"

"Well...then whoever finishes first loses…"

"I accept-"

The competition would last through the night, both boys making their attempts. It was only when they realized there was no beating one another that they finally gave up.

To be continued...