#vraileretif

[catkept-blog]

@vraileretif

  “Hey,” Akira has been trying to work out for awhile, probably longer than he should. In fact, Morgana is a little worried that he’s going to lose his grip and fall. “Maybe you should stop. I mean, your arms are shaking.” 

[snowheist-blog]

🚲 Closed Pokémon AU starter for @vraileretif​ 🚲

“Accordin’ t’my map that’s Parfum Palace up there.  Looks pretty elaborate if you ask me - they even have a giant ass hedge maze in the back, or so I’ve heard.”

[pawofmercurius-blog]

@vraileretif

Weeks prior, Morgana had been quietly excited on the ride back to Akira’s home town. Since meeting him back in Shibuya he’d been interested to know about his leader’s roots, and he’d always entertained the thought of going to see them for himself. They’d moved back into the house together in the middle of March, Akira had started school once again, and Morgana had found himself a cosy little spot in Akira’s bedroom to call his own little corner.

For the first few weeks, things had been great; Morgana settled into the quieter life after a couple of days and things seemed peaceful and calm. However, Akira had slowly started growing quieter, more distant, like he no longer had an interest in speaking for himself or paying attention to the world around him. At first Mona had put it down to the stress of school and being away from the friends they’d come to know and love, but it became more and more apparent as the days went by that there was something else at the source of the silence.

Unable to stand watching his former leader slip away into his shell like this Morgana decided to eventually stick his own paws into the mix. When Akira came back from school that evening he was sat waiting by the front door in a small ball on the carpet, his ears perking up once he stepped inside the house and head raising to meet the other’s eyes. “Hey Akira. How was school?”

[gundaddio]

[Continued from HERE.]

@vraileretif:

Akira is quiet for a moment, hands in his pockets and shouldered hunched before a bitter smile quirks at the corners of his lips. “Disagree” He picks up his pace slightly, almost as if he wants to get away from Iwai all of a sudden. “I know I’m unlovable, I just try and hide the worst parts so I’m not outright hated. It’s not worth trying to bury the truth completely” He spins on his heel and offers the most fake smile Iwai has likely seen from him, Akira doesn’t seem to notice or care how cracked and fragile the look is. “Why let people get close when all their going to dig up is proof I’m worthless? Let them think I’m just some quiet weirdo, it’s better then the truth”

Iwai went silent for a long moment- It was like he was staring back into the past, at a younger version of himself. One that had experienced nothing but pain and rejection, barely ever received an ounce of kindness since he first started going to school.

He knew what that felt like, to hate yourself so deeply, it was easier just to coast through life without any meaningful contact. It was safer and less trouble than leaving yourself that vulnerable again- To have those deep set wounds torn anew.

“Listen to me- You ain’t worthless,” he started, grasping Akira’s arm and dragging him in close in what seemed like a threatening manner. “I get it... You may not believe me or care, but I get it- Why d’you think I went down the path that I did? Cuz it was easier to be the lousy, no-good thug everyone pegged me for. If everyone already knew I’d never be anything worthwhile, then why bother trying? It was better than risking it all and failing, because then I’d know that I really was worthless and that all the people who hurt me were right, all along.”

He paused for a second, placing both of his rough, calloused hands on Kurusu’s slender shoulders- As if to keep him from running.

“But it hurts, don’t it? It’s frustrating being alone and having nobody to rely on but yourself. And the more you push people away, that hole inside of you is gonna get bigger and deeper, until it swallows you up and there’s nothin’ left. And I ain’t trying to give you a pep talk because you’re our leader, or because I feel like I owe you anythin’... I hate that kinda shit. But I know that even if there’s some part of you that makes me angry, or annoys me, or frustrates me- I’d still be right here, by your side. There ain’t any side of you that could make me hate you, or think you’re not worth all the damn trouble I get swept along in.”

Munehisa loosened his iron-like grip on Akira’s shoulders, glancing away and scowling. Damn the kid for making him get all... mushy, like this.

“Dammit- I like you. From your stupid, frizzy hair to your smart-ass quips... And even if you’re gonna call me a liar, or wrong for that- Hell, maybe I’m not the only one who thinks that way.”

[snowheist-blog]

@vraileretif continued from here.

Solemnly, he folds his arms across his chest as he listens to his friend - Akira has always been a difficult person to read and his this instance is no different.  Ryuji can’t tell whether the other male is genuinely troubled or perhaps, merely troubled by his thoughts.  Whichever it is, Ryuji resolves to do his best to assist his friend in any way that he possibly can.

“I-I don’t know...” Admittedly, he’d never felt anything quite like the other male’s description.  “Y-You said this happens t’you once in a while...? How often is that?”

[artfulfox]

@vraileretif

A smirk flashes across his features. Akira is feeling bold today. “Oh? How exactly did you imagine such a thing happening, then?” His tone is teasing, but the half lidded look he regards Yusuke with as he tilts his head is full of promise. “Would I hold you close? Pin you against a wall?” His pitch lowers, less light and playful and much more smooth, almost sultry as he leans closer, looking Yusuke right in the eye as he continues. “Where are my hands, I wonder? Are my fingers tangled in your hair? Am I holding you tightly around the waist? Lower, maybe?” The distance between them is only kept by how far apart the barstools are sitting. Thank god Leblanc is technically closed. “How do I taste? How does it feel?” His eyes are alight with something neither of them would likely be able to explain. Some hypnotic cocktail of amusement, curiosity and what could only be described as desire.

Yusuke could feel his face reddening at how Akira was looking at him and his low, dulcet tones asking such probing questions. But he was also feeling rather capricious; perhaps fuelled by adrenaline and the rush of attraction he felt whenever the two of them were together like this.

“Hmm. I don’t know if I should kiss and tell.” Yusuke replied with an amused look; leaning in just that little bit more in order to entice Akira onward. “I suppose I’ve imagined quite a few scenarios. Why.. even us kissing right here where we’re sat.” He raised a hand to tease a lock of Akira’s hair between two fingers.

“I’m not sure I’d be able to describe how it would feel or taste. But I am sure you’d be feeling good too, Akira.”

[gundaddio]

Ask Me

@vraileretif

The soft sound of falling rain against the exterior of the shop was relaxing on the ears and there weren’t many customers that day- Leaving Iwai and Kurusu with far too much time to themselves. He tried to find odd jobs for the kid to take care of, knowing that the frizzy-haired high schooler wanted an excuse to stay out. He’d never questioned it before, just figured that Akira needed some pocket money to eat out with his friends, but a few small and seemingly inconsequential little details began to pile up in the back of his mind. 

He never spoke about his home life, rarely mentioned any discerning details about his folks when asked. That alone hadn’t set off any alarms, but it was Kurusu’s reactions to his own behavior that left a bad taste in his mouth. Iwai raising his voice over the phone (not directed at the kid, but a problem customer) had set his part-timer on edge, eyes wide and nervous, his body language going tense and still. He hadn’t said anything once he’d slammed the receiver down, just stared at Kurusu in a bit of silent shock, then stepped forward to ask him what was wrong. Akira had instinctively backed away, but played it off well- Muttering something about having forgotten to clean up some parts in the stock room. Shit like that- Well... It didn’t lend itself well to Munehisa’s suspicions.

He sat behind the counter, pretending to read a newspaper, fingers itching for a cigarette for the first time in years. Why was he the one getting nervous, all of a sudden? His gaze settled upon Kurusu, who was dutifully restocking a few model boxes on the free standing metal shelves in the middle of the store.

“Uh, hey- Kid,” he said, clearing his throat with all the grace and tact of a lumbering, drunken cow. “I was thinking of closin’ shop early, so how about some grub? Kaoru’s still stuck at cram school and I bought way too many groceries last night, so... I mean, all that food’ll just go bad if I gotta eat it by myself.”

He’d managed to make the offer of dinner sound more like a demand than a request, he realized far too late. Iwai only hoped that Akira wouldn’t find the suggestion weird- It would be just the two of them at his house.

[gundaddio]

💝 //you can't send me cute platonic affection and not expect one back you fool. Give Akira some parental affection smooches

Kiss Meme [ACCEPTING]

“You can’t expect me to NOT be worried- This is bullshit!” Iwai growls, balling a hand into a fist and slamming it against the wall.

He’s not helping matters, he knows. But after everything that Akira has done for him, for society in general, knowing that he needed to play the Hero again and take the fall just left a bad taste in his mouth. 

“It ain’t right… This shit is so messed up-” Munehisa raged, frustrated that he couldn’t do anything to stop the chain of events that had already started. “You gotta turn yourself in tomorrow morning and you’re wasting time here with some old man like me…”

He was so busy being outraged and angry at his own powerlessness, that he failed to notice just how badly Kurusu’s reassuring smile was beginning to crack. The kid was obviously worried, he’d never been in solitary confinement before. In a way, that was both better and worse than general population- Iwai knew. Being alone like that- He wished that wasn’t the price he had to pay for taking down a scumbag like Masayoshi Shido.

Akira needed him to be strong, not to break down like this.

“Look, kid- I’m gonna do everything in my power to make sure nobody messes with you, okay? It… it’ll be fine,” he promised, pulling the shorter male into a tight embrace. He stroked a large hand through Akira’s wavy locks of hair and rubbed the opposite palm in slow, soothing circles against his shoulderblades- To try and quell the fearful shaking. 

“I won’t let anything happen to you. If anyone so much as looks at you funny, they’ll have to answer to me,” he said softly, letting the younger man lean into his chest and be comforted. He pushed back those frizzy, asymmetrical bangs and gently pressed his lips against the crown of Akira’s forehead.

“This time, I’ll be the one who’s protecting you…”