Cr0w

they/them | I draw sometimes

[mysterious-cr0w]

・✿ Overview ✿・

This blog is mainly Detective Conan and art themed.

But I will also post about my other interests once in a while.

Ships that I like:

✿ AkAm

✿ HiroRei

✿ KazuRan

✿ MasuRan

My posts:

✿ my big dcmk playing card project

✿ all of my art

✿ my writing

[akam-events]

AkAm Week 2026 Prompt Announcement

Hello everyone! Thank you for your lovely prompts.

Before we reveal the prompt list, here are three simple rules for the event:

This prompt week celebrates the relationship between Akai Shuuichi and Furuya Rei, no matter which faces they take. Side ships are allowed, but the main focus should be on AkAm.

AI-generated works are NOT allowed in this event. This goes for ALL parts of the work: ideas, writing, lineart, colouring, music creation, etc.

Have fun and go wild :) Any medium that you'd like to work with (e.g.: fic, art, moodboards, music, etc.) is allowed.

Without further ado, here are the SFW prompts!

We've made an ao3 collection for your convenience here. The collection will be revealed on the 9th of November (if you are working on something for a later day, you can save the draft with the collection, and post it on the day of your choice). The collection will remain open until the 14th of December to accept late entries.

If you prefer tumblr, you can tag us (@akam-events), and we'll reblog your creations, also between the 9th of November and the 14th of December. Just be mindful to warn appropriately for NSFW and Dead Dove.

Speaking of, you can find the NSFW and Dead Dove prompts, as well as a transcript of the prompts, below the cut.

(Though of course you are free to use the SFW prompts in a NSFW or Dead Dove context, and vice versa. The only limit is your imagination.)

Happy creating!

And here we have the NSFW and Dead Dove prompts:

Safe for work prompts:

Monday, the 9th of November: Enduring Love | Police Academy/College AU

Tuesday, the 10th of November: Rememberance | Knight/Royal AU

Wednesday, the 11th of November: Bunnies | Roleswap

Thursday, the 12th of November: (Watching the) Sunrise/Sunset | Childhood Enemies

Friday, the 13th of November: Happy Death Day | Urban Fantasy | Scar!Akai

Saturday, the 14th of November: Retirement | Fairy Tale AU

Sunday, the 15th of November: Free Day!

NSFW prompts:

Monday, the 9th of November: Identity Porn

Tuesday, the 10th of November: Interrogation

Wednesday, the 11th of November: Jealousy

Thursday, the 12th of November: Weapon Kink

Friday, the 13th of November: Collars

Saturday, the 14th of November: Emotional Intimacy

Sunday, the 15th of November: Free Day!

Dead Dove prompts:

Monday, the 9th of November: Predator/Prey

Tuesday, the 10th of November: Omegaverse

Wednesday, the 11th of November: Somnophilia

Thursday, the 12th of November: Tentacles

Friday, the 13th of November: Mpreg

Saturday, the 14th of November: Confinement

Sunday, the 15th of November: Free Day!

We hope you enjoy!

Much love,

the AkAm events team

P.S.: in case you have questions, our ask box is open!

[mysterious-cr0w]

I made something really cool during therapy and turned my OC into a puppet.

It's all done with needle felting and it took me ages, but I'm very happy with how it turned out.

:D

[riasfallingpieces]

A fluff prompt for my dear Ria :D

✮⋆˙"I kept the porch light on. I always do when you're out late."

My dearest crOw!!! <3 Thank you for your prompt. Funnily enough I started working on it this week and then I was informed that it's your birthday today and decided that it's the perfect timing to induce you with some digustingly soft fluff.

Happy birthday and I hope you enjoy it!!!! <3

You can also read it on AO3.

Find the prompt list here.

<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3<3

Leave The Porch Light On

Shuuichi lets out a relieved sigh when he pulls into the path leading to the house peeking out between a narrow evergreen forest. It's small and cozy, with two floors, a wide veranda and a garden where he grows vegetables and flowers. After taking care of the Kudou's property, he's become fond of gardening and he's proud to present his crops to his partner who knows exactly what dish to make out of it.

When they first came here, Shuuichi was almost certain that they would just leave again. It was too far from the city, too quiet, too far off the grid. Not at all what they were looking for. They only considered this place because the price was too affordable to ignore even though both of them expected that it it would be falling apart at its seams.

The house needed a lot of work, that much was clear from the very moment they stopped on the overgrown parking lot and noticed the skewed window frames. The interior wasn't much better. It was obvious that nobody had taken care of the building for a very long time. Shuuichi was already planning to turn the offer down when he turned to Rei and saw his eyes shine for the first time since he had to quit his job.

One week later they started with the renovations and after a year they finally moved in. It has been the best decision they could have made. Rei enjoys working with his hands. He might spend an unreasonable time browsing self-renovation blogs these days, but Shuuichi is relieved to see him show real interest in something again. He also loves to see how the house they bought is slowly turning into a real home.

A home they're building together.

Shuuichi has no opinion about color schemes or fitting furniture, but he's always happy to let Rei order him around when there is a wall to paint or a shelf to be built. They work as well together as they usually do and he thinks that it's healing for both of them to create something beautiful instead of lying and killing for a change.

Shuuichi will do everything to ensure that Rei will never have to swap a brush with a pistol again in his life. His beloved has witnessed enough tragedy. He deserves to finally find peace.

It's still the greatest miracle that he is allowed to be part of that peace.

Finally, he reaches their front yard and stops his car next to Rei's white Mazda. Their parking lot is still a work in progress although Rei is already making plans for a garage.

He grabs the bag his mother pushed into his hands during their goodbyes. "Make sure he eats it," she told him gruffly. "I expect him to be here next week."

He assured her that Rei would appreciate it. It's her way to show she cares.

Shuuichi follows the path to the veranda and notices that the lights outside and in their hall are on. He checks the time with a worried frown. It's far after midnight. Is his partner still awake? Or did he fall asleep in front of their TV or over his phone again? It wouldn't be the first time he'd find him with his head fallen on a table or his body furled into the corner of the couch Shuuichi insisted to get them.

Sometimes he carries him to their bed, other times he simply settles down next to him, unwilling to wake him. All those years in constant survival mode have left Rei with a very complicated sleep cycle. Falling asleep next to each other makes it easier for him, but he struggles whenever he's on his own.

Today the house is quiet and the other rooms are all dark. Shuuichi slips out of his shoes and checks the ground floor. Rei's nowhere in sight, but he finds an used cup in the living room, indicating that he spent some time here this evening. He takes it to the kitchen and puts it in the dishwasher. His mother's food finds its way into the fridge where he notices some leftover congee. Good. It means Rei ate something.

He takes a last look around before he makes his way to the second floor. His steps seem to echo from the surrounding walls. Not that he tries to soften them, sneaking around would only alarm his lover. A soft light falls into the hall from the half open bedroom door.

Shuuichi's eyes find Rei immediately as he slips into the room. He's asleep on their bed, another purchase Shuuichi insisted on. Rei would have been happy with a futon but he prefers to not have to crawl up up from the floor each morning, especially when they're only getting older.

The night light on the bedside table has been Rei's purchase. Its color and brightness can be adjusted individually. Today it's a soft, orange glow, reminding him of the sunset. Rei lies on his side facing it and his tablet that is still playing a house makeover show.

Carefully Shuuichi nears the bed and stops the video, placing the device next to Rei's phone charging on the night stand. Then he reaches for Rei's forehead to check his temperature. It's still warm, but his fever is finally going down. That's a relief. He's been hesitant to leave him when he's sick but Rei insisted that he doesn't miss the weekly family dinner when he would only be resting the whole time anyway.

"I'm not dying," he assured him, his voice hoarse and his eyes tired. "Go meet your family. I promise to call you if it should get worse."

He didn't call and it didn't ease his worries at all. It's only now, finding him safe and sound in their bed, that some of the tension leaves his body.

Rei stirs under his touch and his eyes flicker open. "Shuuichi?" he asks drowsily.

"Shhh," he answers and lets his hand wander into his hair in a soothing gesture. "Go back to sleep. I'll be with you soon."

Rei mumbles something unintelligible and his eyes slip closed again. Shuuichi studies him a moment longer before he heads to the bathroom for his nightly routine.

Once he's done he checks their doors and windows before he kills the lights on the ground floor and returns to the bedroom. He slips into bed beside him and wraps his arms around him with a content sigh. The night light stays on. Only Rei touches it and decides if it's necessary or not. Shuuichi only needs to be with him to be content, but he'll accept everything that makes his partner sleep more easily.

Right now he is still awake if his breathing is any indicator. Shuuichi presses a kiss on his hair and informs him: "You left the lights on again."

Rei hums. "I always leave them on when you're out late. Don't want you to return to a dark house."

Shuuichi pauses, remembering a conversation from months ago where he offhandedly mentioned how he returned to dark, cold apartments for years. Back then it had been nothing but a random comment, insignificant as a whole and easily forgotten. But Rei heard him and understood everything he didn't say. How cold and lonely those years have been. How those places were only somewhere he would sleep. How he had been floating through life with the mystery of his father's disappearance as his only purpose.

The lights have started to stay on after that and there are usually some leftovers or noises awaiting him if not Rei himself greeting him with a warm smile.

Overcome with his fondness for this beautiful, brilliant man, he pulls him closer and nestles his face against his neck. "I love you", he tells him although love seems a too shallow word for everything he feels for him. Rei is his home, his family, the new purpose he's chosen for himself. He wants to share every second of his remaining life with him, missing his sheer presence whenever they are apart.

He would tell him if he didn't know that declarations of love overwhelm him. That's why he smiles when Rei turns to wrap his own arms around Shuuichi and buries his face into his chest, breathing him in. Physical touch has become his way to respond to words of love and Shuuichi is all too happy to hold him.

"How's your family?" Rei asks. His voice sounds better than during the last few days and his breathing is normal again. It's going to be difficult to convince him that he needs more rest from now on. Maybe he will be able to distract him with easy tasks or cuddles in front of their TV.

For now he needs him to fall asleep again. His voice often helps with that and he's happy to recount today's dinner. "They are all well and send their well wishes. They were worried when they heard that you're sick. Mother even sent you food. I'm going to warm it for you later."

"She didn't have to."

"Don't let her know you said that. She'd be heartbroken."

Rei snorts just like Shuuichi has intended. His mother is the last person to be petty about rejected food. "She said you should rest and get better soon. She expects you to accompany me again next week."

"High expectations."

"Always. Masumi probably won't join us. She plans to go on a trip with Shinichi and Hattori to investigate a cold case in Kamaishi. Something about a mysterious murder and an ancient curse. Apparently there are also some treasures involved. It sounded very adventurous. The residents will be disappointed once their great mystery is solved."

Rei answers with an undefined sound. His breathing is slowing and he feels him relax against him. Shuuichi starts drawing soft circles on his back with his fingers, soothing him more.

"Shuukichi thinks about taking a break from his matches for a while to go on another honeymoon with Yumi. She pretends not to need it, but I think she's looking forward to it."

He recounts other details about their conversations and some details he noticed about his family. He keeps talking until he's sure that Rei has drifted off again. Then he pulls the blanket over them and settles them both in a position that keeps them close but will be more comfortable for them during the night.

Although his body is demanding sleep as well, he stays up a bit longer to simply watch his lover's face. It's beautiful and peaceful, far off from all the things haunting him in every waking moment. He hopes that this house and his presence help him to forget them if only for a moment.

He thinks about the work that is waiting for him tomorrow. The spare room they plan to turn into an office needs to be painted and the cucumbers should be ready for harvest. Maybe he'll try to turn them into a salad. Rei complimented the last one he made and even finished the whole bowl.

He thinks about the tea he's going to make for him and all the ways he might get him to rest.

And finally he thinks about the ring hidden away under a loose floorboard and the question he's wanted to ask him since their first kiss.

Soon, he reminds himself. First Rei needs to get healthy again and clear headed enough to give him an answer. Then he'll take him out and spoil him rotten, just as he plans to do for the rest of their lives. And even if he shouldn't accept his proposal and it doesn't matter. He needs neither ring nor a certificate to be sure of their love.

It would be very nice, though.

[neverniko101]

How would you show affection to your mutuals if you were a cat?

[kooriphantom]

Headbutt, purr, bite and follow them

@hazyanimal9685 @starblazerrules @rosalind-hawkins @ceasars-mad-ramblings @valkyriefastwing @harmonicseptet @will-0-the-wispp @captain-mugi-404 @neverending-symphonia + any of my other moots that I didn’t tag

(sorry for all the tag games lol— they keep on coming on my recommended. Tell me if you prefer not to be tagged :D)

[tanileaf]

Gift (leaf) and headbutt! Also zoomies bc I shall not be stopped >:3

@honeypine-the-parrot @amtrashlmao @northernstorm00 @rachelsquill @tismchasm @xxnugg3tqu33nxx @xwiedzmax @432f0g @mmmhyperfixation + anyone else that wants to join in!

[that-onegayfrog]

Headbutt, scream and following you around probably . I’m a Creechure <3

@xxnugg3tqu33nxx @sondersunbeams @lesbianhouseplant @xwiedzmax @tanileaf <3

[xxnugg3tqu33nxx]

Follow around, purr, headbutt and gift (leaf) !

@sardar106 @lxvenderfog @xwiedzmax @thepersonwithoutaname /nf !!

[sardar106]

bite (affectionate), gift (leaf), zoomies, headbutt, and follow them around :D

@xwiedzmax @thepersonwithoutaname @emberunderscore @sage-is-in-fact-very-tired @liminalcobalt @luminescentaura @rima-niki @riasfallingpieces /nf to all of course <3

[riasfallingpieces]

stare, follow them around and purr <3 And maybe headbutts if we are close enough.

@cosmicarp, @hikarimeroperiddle, @nanoko857, @mysterious-cr0w and @chaothiccneutral if you feel like it. <3

[mysterious-cr0w]

Stare, gift (leaf) and follow them around. I love gifting art and watch what my dear mutuals are up to <3

[mysterious-cr0w]

Thank you @riasfallingpieces for tagging me <3

(Hi, hello yes I'm alive xD)

let's get to know each other + cure the boredom a little

Hair colour: Dark blonde

Favourite colour: Magenta and a light purple

Favourite drink: Vanilla cola and chai

One thing you love about yourself: My creativity

If you could be any animal, what would you be? Well, that would obviously be a crow 🐦‍⬛

Dream place to visit: Norway, even though I've been there many times I want to go back, and Japan of course

What's one thing you're looking forward to right now? Getting a haircut, I can finally have short hair again, and I'm visiting a museum for my birthday on sunday

Your biggest dream: Living in a little cottage in the woods

Song that's permanently on your repeat: "I Don't Like People (& They Don't Like Me)" by Boston Manor, I really feel that song xD

[cosmicarp]

A fluff prompt for PT <3

✮⋆ ˙"Tell me something. Anything. I just want to hear you talk."

Thank you for the prompt, Cr0W! <3 This took a bit longer than I thought it would, but it's been a busy, exhausting week. And I'm once again posting my fic after midnight, because I have complete control over my life.

(fluff starters)

As with the previous fic, this one is more of a suggestion of the prompt, rather than actual dialogue. And it does lean a bit on the angstier side, because that felt appropriate for it, though I tried to keep it from getting too far in that direction.

This one is a bonus scene (that may or may not end up being 'canon' to the series) for the next part of the fake marriage AU. I'm not really going to explain what's going on there, at least for now, because I think, for the most part, it's fairly clear. I also didn't actually do much in the way of editing, so I apologize for any glaring typos. I'll probably reread this tomorrow and fix what I find. Enjoy! :)

⋆˙⟡ ⋆.˚ ⊹₊⟡ ⋆

"Do you think we need a bigger apartment?" Shuuichi asks, his fingers running through Rei's hair gently, over and over, attempting to soothe him. He's a bit surprised Rei agreed to rest like this, his head on Shuuichi's chest, just over his heart. He'd seemed like he was on the verge of a panic attack when Shuuichi decided to excuse them from dinner, and he's been quiet ever since.

Rei is rarely quiet like this; it's deeply unsettling.

A confused noise leaves Rei's throat, but he doesn't shift, his arm still thrown over Shuuichi's waist. "Why?"

That he's spoken at all feels like a good sign, even if it is only one word, so Shuuichi works to get another response out of him. "Perhaps not bigger, but a better layout. You mentioned you used to grow celery in your apartment, but our place doesn't really have a good window for it."

"You're thinking about moving to a new apartment just for better windows?" Rei asks, baffled.

It does sound a little absurd when Rei phrases it that way, but Shuuichi shrugs it off. "Or maybe a house. We could get a house with a garden, and then you could have all kinds of plants." He's pushing his luck, and he knows it – Rei regularly reminds him that their situation is temporary – but if it keeps Rei talking, he's willing to suffer a little hurt later, once he has to face the truth again.

Whether he realizes what Shuuichi's doing or not, Shuuichi can't tell, but Rei goes along with it regardless, sighing a little as Shuuichi feels some of the tension release from his shoulders. "Hypothetically…" he begins slowly, "if we were to move into a house, I would like to have a garden, yes."

"I've never grown anything before," Shuuichi tells him. His mother never had much of a green thumb, and, though his father dabbled in gardening from time to time, Shuuichi hadn't taken an interest back then – something he kind of regrets in hindsight, knowing he missed out on one more way to bond with him. "Maybe you could teach me."

Rei hums, the vibration reverberating pleasantly through Shuuichi's chest. "I could."

He doesn't elaborate, so Shuuichi continues the conversation, but in another direction. "You'd want to stay near Tokyo, I assume?"

"We work in Tokyo," Rei points out, as if he has to remind him.

A light chuckle releases itself from Shuuichi. "A transfer is theoretically possible. More importantly, Morofushi and the other guys are there."

"And your family."

"And my family, yes. Near Tokyo would be best. I'm thinking something in the traditional style – tatami and sliding shoji screens and all. That would suit you."

Rei lifts his head, Shuuichi's hand falling away for the moment, and stares at him with an unreadable expression, somewhere between awe and confusion. Then, as he settles back down, he murmurs, "That would be… I would love that."

Returning his hand to Rei's hair, Shuuichi says, "I thought so."

Rei sighs, almost seeming to melt against him, causing a smile to twitch at the corner of Shuuichi's mouth. "Quit putting thoughts in my head, Shuuichi," he scolds lightly.

"So, we shouldn't think about the future?" Shuuichi asks, with a teasing edge.

Rei ignores that question and asks, instead, "Why are you bringing up houses, all of a sudden?"

Although he's tempted to keep up the ruse that he's just thinking about their future, if Rei is scolding him, then he seems to be back to himself now. "I was trying to distract you from whatever is going on in your brain," he answers, massaging Rei's scalp lightly.

"Ah." Rei falls quiet for a long moment again, before quietly mumbling, "I owe you an explanation."

"You don't owe me anything," Shuuichi insists, sliding his hand down to rub at Rei's back. "If you want to talk, I'll gladly listen, but I'm the one who put you in this mess in the first place."

Rei grumbles something that Shuuichi doesn't quite catch, then says, "No, I should've told you back when you first asked why I was looking into the Miyano family, or at least when I told you Akemi might recognize me."

Truthfully, that bit of information alone had fascinated Shuuichi more than anything else. Rei had already told him that he was looking into them for 'personal' reasons, back when he first brought it up, but if Akemi recognizes Rei, then he must have known them. He's curious about the circumstances, but it's obvious that the memories cause Rei a great deal of heartache, so he's never felt the need to push. "You can tell me as much or as little as you like."

Rei takes a moment to exhale and gather his thoughts, then begins his story. "I never knew my mother. I don't know why she left right after I was born, but she did, and my father resented her for it. And, by extension, he resented me, too. I guess I look too much like her."

What he describes after that is a childhood of neglect and loneliness, being ostracized from the other kids at school because of his looks, and the teachers coming down harder on him for defending himself than the kids who started the fights. Things start to look up when Hiro enters the story; it doesn't really change the way others treat him, but at least he has a friend now. Shuuichi's heart still breaks for him.

"The first time Miyano-san found me after a fight, she dragged to her parents' clinic, and that's where I met Elena-san," Rei explains. The way his voice quivers has Shuuichi wrapping his arms around him, holding him tighter. "She was the first adult in my life who treated me with kindness, and she looked like me, so it's probably no surprise that I grew very attached to her very quickly. I went to see her as much as I could. Sometimes I even got into fights on purpose, just to have an excuse. It was like… an escape from the constant pressure of being at home.

"And then, one day, only a few months after we met, she told me she wouldn't be able to help me anymore because they were moving away. And I never saw her again. In my teens, I looked into it, to see if I could find out where she went, only to find her obituary. I was… absolutely devastated, and the whole thing felt suspicious to me. When Hiro told me he wanted to join the force because of his parents' murder, I jumped at the chance."

Somehow, Shuuichi never expected it to have been Morofushi's idea for them to join the police – he hadn't given it much though, really, but if he had, he would've assumed Rei was the one with the idea, and Morofushi went along with it. It gives a new angle to their dynamic that Shuuichi hasn't really considered; he finds the pair even more fascinating than ever.

"I see," he says, thinking all this new information over. "So you met Akemi when you two were kids, and that's why you weren't sure if she'd recognize you."

Rei nods against his chest. "Right. It's been nearly twenty years."

Shuuichi pokes him gently in the side. "But it turns out you're unforgettable. It's unsurprising, really."

"I know you can't see it, but just imagine I'm rolling my eyes at you," Rei replies dryly.

"Noted," Shuuichi laughs.

Rei huffs in return. "Anyway, I guess when I saw how upset your mother seemed at the whole ruse, it just felt like being back in my dad's house. That's why I… reacted the way I did."

"I understand, I'll talk to her. I need to figure out where exactly she stands with all of this, anyway." As soon as he feels Rei tense against him, Shuuichi's hand makes it's way back to his hair, stroking gently to try calming him down. "I won't bring this up with her, don't worry. In fact, I should go talk to her now, sort things out tonight."

With great reluctance, he sits up, unfortunately forcing Rei to do the same; he already misses the warmth of his soon-to-be husband in his arms. Before he can second-guess the action, he leans forward and presses a soft kiss to Rei's temple.

"Are you sure it can't wait until morning?" Rei asks. He's not quite pouting, but there is a hint of a frown to his expression.

Shuuichi fights back a smile, knowing Rei wouldn't appreciate it. "It would be better to get it over with. I won't be long."

As he slides off the bed, Rei grabs his hand suddenly. When Shuuichi turns back to him, he simply says, "Thank you. For… all of this."

"Any time, Rei. I mean it," he replies, squeezing Rei's hand before letting go. There's so much more he'd like to be able to say to Rei, but tonight isn't the night for it. Rei has been through enough – and Shuuichi isn't sure he'd appreciate the sentiments, anyway.

There have been a few moments in their time together where Shuuichi thought maybe, just maybe, Rei felt similar things to him, but, in case he's wrong, he refuses to make Rei uncomfortable by being too obvious with his feelings. They had an agreement; he'll stick to it unless Rei wants things to change.

(He'd be lying if he said that Rei's sudden insistence that they share a bed didn't spark some hope in him, but he won't push his luck.)

He slips out of the bedroom before he can change his mind.

[mysterious-cr0w]

I haven't posted any DetCo art in ages and unfortunately I don't know when I'll be able to draw more.

But I slightly redesigned my favourite child and I'm so happy with how he turned out.

I'm also in the process of making a puppet that looks like him. I hope it turns out good and I'm excited to work more on it.

[mysterious-cr0w]

Goodbye oh cruel world, I don't think I will survive this. o7

[mysterious-cr0w]

I think I officially lost my status as a Vampire.

Since I've been at the psychiatric hospital, I went out on a walk at least once a day. Also shout-out to Ria's AKAM and 5FDP playlists that are keeping me company on those walks. :D

I'm temporarily going home this weekend and I hope I can resume working on my WIPs. They've been collecting dust for too long and I want to write again. I need to torture Rei, it's been too long.

[mysterious-cr0w]

Nevermind, maybe I still am a Vampire xD

The arm on the right is mine and the arm on the left is my father's.

(My parents said I could hide in front of a basement wall.)

[mysterious-cr0w]

I think I officially lost my status as a Vampire.

Since I've been at the psychiatric hospital, I went out on a walk at least once a day. Also shout-out to Ria's AKAM and 5FDP playlists that are keeping me company on those walks. :D

I'm temporarily going home this weekend and I hope I can resume working on my WIPs. They've been collecting dust for too long and I want to write again. I need to torture Rei, it's been too long.

[cosmicarp]

Happy Pride Month to Furuya Rei specifically.

[mysterious-cr0w]

Guess who talked about their mental health struggles with a doctor for the very first time and immediately got an admission for an inpatient stay at a psychiatric hospital.

Correct, me :)

Of course, the first thing my stupid brain did was thinking, "Oh my god, I have fooled the doctor, I'm not even doing that bad."

[mysterious-cr0w]

Shared Grief

[mysterious-cr0w]

A friend taught me embroidery yesterday and I think it was a mistake. Now I've found a new hobby that keeps me from finishing my WIPs.

Anyway, I embroidered a Brushbug from Witch Hat Atelier on one of my dad's old shirts today.

[mysterious-cr0w]

I've been learning embroidery for 3 days now, and today my mum messaged me and asked if I could design a logo and embroider it on 2 shirts for her and my dad. I have until July to finish this.

Help, now I gotta lock in and practice. At least I'll get paid for it.

(In my 9 years of drawing I never once got an actual paid commission, but doing 3 days of embroidery will apparently do it. XD)

[mysterious-cr0w]

A friend taught me embroidery yesterday and I think it was a mistake. Now I've found a new hobby that keeps me from finishing my WIPs.

Anyway, I embroidered a Brushbug from Witch Hat Atelier on one of my dad's old shirts today.

[cosmicarp]

And last but not least, a prompt word of my choice for you:

Bioluminescent 🥐

(the croissant is only here for decoration and as a snack for you, I suppose)

Mmm snacks that are definitely still good despite me having left this in my inbox for a month.

I was really stuck on what to do with this prompt for a long time. At its most literal, it's not easy to work into many stories, so I had to give it a lot of thought. But then I wrote three mini fics for my demon!Rei AU recently, and thought about this prompt again. And I had a vision.

This is. Not quite that vision. Things worked out a little differently. But the basic premise is still there.

So, have 1500 words of demon!Rei for your enjoyment. This fic takes place in between the first and second fic of this set, probably just a few weeks after the first ficlet, though admittedly I don't have the timeline fully mapped out.

── .✦

Shaky fingers run through Rei's hair, careful to avoid his horns, as Shuuichi watches over him. Though he's still curious how they'll feel under his fingers, touching Rei's horns while he sleeps seems like a boundary he shouldn't cross, when Rei hardly tolerates his affection while awake.

They're in a small, dark cave nestled in the mountains outside Hiro's home, a small village called Minami, Rei resting after his collapse earlier. Two weeks of putting as much distance between themselves and Shuuichi's family as possible by day, and camping in the woods, under the safety of Rei's barriers by night had finally taken its toll, despite Rei's repeated insistence that he was fine. They were lucky to be close to Hiro's village when Rei's strength finally ran out – Yui knew exactly how to handle the situation, and they'd be protected inside the village's borders for the duration of their stay.

According to Yui, Rei must be quite powerful for a half-demon, to be able to consistently use as much mana to hold those barriers as he had. Not that that's much of a comfort to Shuuichi now, with Rei unconscious beside him, head pillowed on his folded cloak.

The walls of the cave are lined with a spongy moss that glows softly in the darkness, the air thick with moisture. Though it doesn't give out much light on its own, the sheer quantity of the moss, combined with how Shuuichi's eyes have already adjusted, make it possible for him to see his surroundings, although there isn't much to look at. Not far from where Rei's laid out, there's a shallow pool of water that looks surprisingly clean, as if kept pristine by magic despite its location, but otherwise the cave is empty.

Yui had told him it was safe to leave Rei by himself in here until he recovers, but Shuuichi declined to leave with her and Hiro. There's absolutely no way he's going to leave Rei alone, let him wake up in some cave by himself, outside an unfamiliar village, after he fainted like that.

"I'll stay, too, then," Hiro had offered, but Shuuichi waved him off. Hiro should get to spend this time with his family, and Shuuichi doesn't mind watching over Rei alone.

Before they left, Yui let him know someone would bring him food when dinner's ready, and that there's a bell right outside the cave that he can ring to get their attention if something happens. Shuuichi rather hopes he won't need it.

"We are going to have a very serious discussion about your limits when you wake up," he says sternly to Rei, who, unsurprisingly, does not reply. Shuuichi sighs, leaning against the wall, his hand never leaving Rei's hair. Part of him feels like he needs to maintain that connection or something terrible will happen, though he knows, logically, that that doesn't make sense. "Maybe one day, I can convince you that you don't have to do everything alone."

He understands Rei's reluctance to trust them, to a point. Two weeks of traveling together still makes Hiro barely more than a stranger to him, and even though he and Shuuichi have known each other for years, they didn't really spend much time together before, only meeting when Shuuichi would stop by to drop something off from his mother. Just because Shuuichi developed an attachment to Rei years ago doesn't mean he has any delusions that Rei feels it, too.

And especially now that Rei blames himself for what happened in Aunt Elena's village, he understands why Rei would put some distance between the two of them, even if Shuuichi doesn't like it. No matter what Rei thinks, he's not responsible for the actions of a mother he's never known; Shuuichi is happy to spend the rest of his life convincing Rei of that, if need be.

He expects the long night to pass quietly – and he's not wrong, in the strictest sense. It's certainly not noisy, with just the sound of their breathing to break the silence. But the monotony of sitting there, contemplating Rei and his situation, is broken the moment Rei starts glowing.

It starts with a shimmer on his horns, almost glittering in the blue glow of the cave, before purple markings begin appearing on them and spreading downward onto his skin, framing his face, inching down his neck, and, moments later, even decorating his hands and fingers. The marks look like the runes Shuuichi has seen both in his mother's texts and in Rei's books – magical in nature, obviously – though he can't begin to deduce their specific meaning. His own magic aptitude is so minimal that his mother had never felt it necessary to teach him to read the runes; now, he kind of wishes she had, so that maybe he could understand what's going on.

For a long moment, he debates whether he should step out of the cave and ring the bell, uncertain whether this is a bad sign for Rei's health, though the thought of leaving Rei alone gives him pause. Before he can make that decision, though, the runes fade, and Rei's skin and horns look just as they always do – pretty, but normal, at least by Rei's standards. Shuuichi rationalizes that it's probably fine. The runes suggest to him that Rei's mana levels are rising again; if he's right, that's a good sign.

Hiro and Yui return a short while later, food and bedding in hand – enough for both of them, despite Rei not having stirred at all – and even then, he opts not to bring up the glowing runes. He'll mention it tomorrow if Rei doesn't improve overnight.

Hiro sits with him while he eats, making smalltalk, though he only stays long enough, after Shuuichi finishes eating, to help him get Rei onto some of the bedding and into a more comfortable position.

"If he wakes up during the night, bring him inside, okay? We have space set up for both of you," Hiro tells Shuuichi as he turns to leave the cave. "Otherwise, I'll come back and check on you in the morning."

Left to his own devices once more, Shuuichi stays up a little while longer, before setting up his own bedding between Rei and the cave's entrance, and falls asleep quicker than he expects.

When he wakes in the morning, it's to Rei peering down at him curiously, his eyes seeming even brighter than usual. Shuuichi chalks that up to the glow of the moss and tries not to think too deeply about it. "You're awake," he croaks out, clearing his throat afterward.

"I don't remember falling asleep," Rei replies, his eyes darting around the cave, checking out the unfamiliar surroundings. "Where are we?"

"Just outside Minami." Shuuichi reaches up, tucking some of Rei's hair behind his ear; to his surprise, Rei startles, but doesn't pull away. "You passed out right around sunset. Hiro's with his family; he offered to stay here with us, but that seemed unnecessary. How are you feeling?"

Rei takes a moment to answer, sitting back and stretching out his limbs. "Fine. What happened?"

"Hiro's sister said your mana was almost completely depleted," Shuuichi explains, frowning and sitting up. "She also said that a half-demon should not have been able to maintain those barriers so often, for so many hours at a time, so you were likely pushing yourself way beyond your limits – even if you are more powerful than most."

Rei narrows his eyes at Shuuichi's scolding tone. "The barriers are necessary. I won't let anything happen to anyone else."

"We'll find another way that doesn't risk your health," Shuuichi insists. "At least while we're here, Yui can probably teach you some tricks."

Predictably, Rei, stubborn as ever, huffs and withdraws, standing and packing his bedding up. As quickly as he can, Shuuichi stands, too, grabbing onto Rei's arm to get his attention.

"Let go of me," Rei snaps, attempting to yank his arm free, but Shuuichi holds firm.

"I'm not trying to belittle you, Rei; I've seen how strong you are. You really scared me when you collapsed."

Squeezing his eyes shut, Rei takes a deep breath. "Stop," he orders, his harsh tone undercut by the way his voice shakes. He pulls away when Shuuichi's grip slackens. "Don't act like you care about me."

"I do care about you. It's not an act, Rei. If you truly think that, then you haven't been paying attention."

"Well, stop." His eyes open, still as bright as before, pinning Shuuichi in place. He holds his bedding tight against his chest, as if it's a barrier protecting himself from Shuuichi's feelings. "You'll only get hurt."

Shuuichi inhales at the force of his words and the realization that hits him. It always seems to come back to what happened to Aunt Elena and her family. "Rei–" he starts to say, but it's to no avail.

Rei merely steps away, deliberately ignoring him, and leaves him behind in the cave.