thecafeleblanc:
Heightened worry twisted in Akira’s stomach, shifting to dread. His double couldn’t even stand or walk – whatever was happening, this wasn’t a normal wound or illness. Was there anything he could do? Plans ran through his mind, but the first thing was to get his doppelganger stable.
“Sit down,” Akira ordered in Joker’s voice. He had no time to entertain the other’s protests, and he wanted that clear from the get-go.
They sat at a booth across from one another, where Akira could finally get a look at how bad the other was. Pallid skin, shallow breathing, wasting figure – was it drugs? He almost hoped it was – that had proven ways to get help. No, this was something darker and more permanent, and he knew it.
“What happened,” Akira barked in a whisper. “And do not lie to me.”
~ { ♥️ ♥️ ♥️ } ~
Akira did not protest. He did not have the energy or will to do so. But there was something in the other’s voice that held authority, the kind he was not used to hearing. He DRAGGED his feet slowly towards the booth, planting himself heavily into the cushioned seating. He was tired, so tired. He removed the glasses off his face, staring at them intensely. It was his mask during the day, one he wore as a reminder to blend in, to HIDE his true self. It was all a fucking lie. His hard work to create the world that she wanted would never come true. Where did he go wrong ? Akira tossed the glasses onto the table, paying no mind to the crack on the left lens.
& do not lie to me.
No, no more lies. No more pain. No more fights. He was ready to open up to his double, the only person who he could trust to be vulnerable around. Funny . . . the only person who he could speak to so freely was another version of himself.
“ Nyarlathotep . . . it won. I am going to die. ” he had accepted his fate long ago. It began with a shortness of breath, then a PAIN in the abdomen, then the voice in his head became more distinct. He could no longer see his own reflection, instead, it was the MONSTER that held onto his soul.
“ I was a fool. A persona is a part of you, never should you have to offer your soul to it. I thought . . . if I gave myself to it, the powers I could use outside the metaverse were mine alone. ” he shook his head, his chuckle echoing throughout the entire café. Soon, they became coughing fits. His hand clamped around his mouth. By slow, TORTUROUS degrees, the coughs eased in intensity & then slowly, slowly passed.
“ I was fed a lie. In my pursuit for power I became desperate. My screams were heard . . . but not by who I thought was Arsène. If only I had opened my eyes to the truth sooner. ” he paused shortly, taking in several deep breaths.
“ I . . . ” his next words were spoken in a whisper, spoken as if he still had a hard time believing his own words, “ I killed Aina. ”
