The brunette turned away, eyes instantly tearing up even though just a second ago, he had a victorious grin on his face. Dropping to his knees heavily he couldn't help but let out a harsh sob, all the grief and hurt washing over him in waves - a broken whisper escaped him; " why didn't you fight back.. "
Seated silently in that chair, the battered teen remained silent as he gazed towards the closed door, stormy hues calmly shuttered behind sable lashes. This was it, the plan that the phantom thieves had meticulously prepared for, Akechi’s betrayal and subsequent assassination of Ren Amamiya. Taking a deep breath through his nostrils, the raven haired teen allowed a sigh of relief to escape him, it was over, Sae had done as instructed.
Though Ren knew he was still alive, something felt broken in him, shattered. Was this really a victory, he had to wonder, deceiving someone he had come to know so close? No, he had to remain strong in his conviction, he was the leader of the phantom thieves and he couldn’t allow such things to deviate him from his path. It wasn’t just his life on the line, his future, he had to be strong. Lifting his head, he allowed a wry smirk to form on his lips, his own way of convincing himself this was right. This was justice absolute, this was his path he had chosen to walk, and he would continue to walk tall.
“Why didn’t you fight back?”
In that moment, it was as though time stood still, his heart leaping into his throat and then sinking into his stomach. Why did it hurt so much? Why did it still hurt? For a moment, the walls had come alive, melding in with the darkened spaces of the meta verse. It was only for a brief moment, but Ren saw the brunette kneeling, sullen, his sob echoing into the soundless darkness. There would be no one to comfort him. This was his path.
Lashes flickered as a burning sensation erupted from the edges of Ren’s eyes, the pain he felt in this moment far worse than the many blows he had received from those corrupt detectives. Far worse than any injury sustained while exploring mementos or delving into a palace. This pain throbbed from deep within his core, bubbling up his throat and was burgeoning on closed lips, begging to be released into the universe.
Sitting straight, he remained silent, his head held high as he waited for Sae to return. Quickly that image of Akechi’s crumbled frame disappeared from view, a duality of comfort and torment, as it appeared the cognitive world was strong enough to veil him once more. How he longed to wrap his arms around him, to pull him close and pet his brown tresses, to tell him it was alright and that he didn’t hold a grudge. How he longed for those days back, even if they were short lived, where they were just two awkward teens who were just trying to show each other how much they loved one another.
Those days were gone, though, lost to the devices of their fates. This was the path they had paved, the roads they had chosen to walk. If fate really, truly existed, then it was as cruel and twisted as the hearts that the phantom thieves had stolen. But now he couldn’t falter, he couldn’t turn away, this was his choice and he would continue even if he felt as though he was going to break. Ren Amamiya, leader of the phantom thieves of hearts, would continue to walk tall against all odds.
This was not how his justice would end.
