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[Goro was right. Akira was exhausted. Every bone in his body called out for the oblivion of sleep. His mind was not having it though, racing a little as he tried to think out every scenario, every little thing that he could think of.

He wanted so badly to free Yusuke. If only it had been himself in Constellation rather than Yusuke. Emotionally tumultuous, brash, and pig-headed Yusuke. Akira would not have minded it if he dropped out himself and had them on his own tail, but he couldn't ask Yusuke to put himself at risk like that.

So complicated.

He closed his eyes as well, sucking in slow and steady breaths, holding them for a moment before letting them go.]

Of course I remember, Goro. Are you saying I should compromise my imperative to help everyone with the idea that I don't need to help anyone?

[He laughed a little at that. How very like him. But Akira felt... better when he helped. No matter who it was.]

I suppose I could at least take a break. Sometime. I don't know when.

Just remembering what seems like a simpler time.

[ He smiles down at him. ]

What I am saying is that you should take a break right now and sleep. You cannot get anything done today and we have no plan. Why don't we find something to change into and try for sleep.

[ He tangles his fingers in his hair, humming slightly. ]

You can share my bed. I hope you don't mind Justine, she likes to sleep by my head.

Goro... I treasure every one of those conversations we'd had.

[Of course he would remember. Despite everything, Akira felt as though he met the real Goro through them.] You remember that time you took the 'special takoyaki' at the school festival? [Akira actually laughed, rolling over to lay on his back so he could look up at Goro. He was really beautiful from this angle. He could see why he had such rabid fangirls back home. So unfair.]

I'd hate to see how you'd fare after some of my fire curry~

[NAH, THAT'D BE HILARIOUS.]

Yeah, okay. Sleep is probably the best plan. And you should know how I feel about cats sleeping on the bed by now. Or maybe you didn't know how Morgana shared my futon with me...

Do you? I always wondered if I was bothering you at inopportune times. Especially at Lablanc.

[ He can't help but laugh, covering his mouth to try and stifle it. ] Yes! I was not expecting to be...well overwhelmed by something so spicy. I didn't eat takoyaki for a month after that. [ Even avoided it the last time he went out with Sae.

There's a slight flash of sorrow, but it passes quickly. Sae was always out of his league. Why did he even try? ]

You wouldn't dare! I refuse to eat anything you make me now.

[ He teases, ruffling his hair to mess it up. ]

Did he? [A pause] Do you miss him?

Anything?!

[Akira huffed at that, just about the same time that his hair was ruffled, but THE JOKE IS ON GORO, his hair is 100% always a mess and can't really get much worse. He slowly rolled over so he wouldn't knock his face into Goro's as he finally sat up. He hadn't brought any clothing though, so he'd either have to wear Goro's clothing to bed or just wear his own boxers.

Either way, he brushed his hair a bit with his fingers so that it wasn't in his face before just going ahead with pulling his shirt off.]

Oh, no. Sometimes I was almost late to school because of chatting with you, but it wasn't really a bother. I was almost late most days. I kinda meander when I walk!

[He pulled his shirt back right-side-out, folding it up and setting it down with his shoes, which he gathered up and set next to the window.]

...I do miss him. I've thought about getting a cat, but it just isn't the same. I can't take normal cats everywhere I go, and I just don't have time to take care of one at home.

[Akira had a full time job, like an adult. And he was going to go to school as soon as it started up again.]

Anything!

[ He can't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all -- having such a lighthearted conversation after what happened. He watches while he sits up, having the decency to look away (not too much decency however because he has to peek when he removes his shirt). ]

Really? I should have known. I never meant to keep you from your studies. Those are important you know.

[ He ends up following his lead in the end, stripping himself of his button down shirt. ]

Would you like something to wear?

[Akira clicked his tongue, frowning.]

And here I wanted to try baking you something... [He sighs, mostly teasing. If he didn't like spicy, then who knows? Akira could find something he liked, he was sure. Might be a few kitchen mishaps first, but he was seventeen, give him a break!]

Not to worry. My studies are kept up on, and I intend to keep... keeping up.

I think something to wear is probably a good idea. [Not that he minds being shirtless. He shoots Goro an impish smirk when he catches him peeking. So shameless. He was used to being dressed down in front of other guys, since he DID sometimes go to the public bath in Yongen-Jaya]

Well, I might be able to make an exception.

[ He moves to his dresser, digging out a couple of shirts and a few pairs of lounge pants. It doesn't help that Akira is attractive, that he was interested in him, or that he was standing in his room with only his shirt -- so long division in his head to keep from blushing.

Was it working? He doesn't want to ask, despite knowing the contrary as the blush creeps into his cheeks. ]

Here. It's the least I can do. I hope it won't be too hot. [ a lie. Just sleep mostly naked it's fine. ]

Why don't we sleep in tomorrow?

I'll have to make sure to make any exception worth your while, then.

[Goro was lucky that Akira was at least attempting to keep things platonic between them(you know, as platonic as straight up making out could be), otherwise he'd definitely tease him some more for the blush that he caught on to.]

I'm sure it'll be fine. [He scooped up a shirt and some pants, also not mentioning how cute it was when people you were interested in wore your clothing. He was sure Goro could figure that out himself.

He put on the shirt first before just casually changing his pants right there. He was wearing underwear anyway, and wasn't about to go to the bathroom just to change.]

Thanks again. This is probably super weird... [For Goro for sure, but it was probably weird in general. Akira never did this kind of thing before, after all. But who knows? Other teens might do it all the time!]

It is but... I am certain I can get used to it in time.

[ His heart skipped a beat. Could he get used to it? Akira in his clothing, being sweet, spending the night -- was that a strange thing to get used to? It was going to torment him the more he thought about it. Idly he removed his clothing, pulling on his pajamas lost in thought.

He looks over to Akira once he's dressed, however, with a smile on his face. He was thankful to share this with him even if it was a little weird. He moves to take a seat on the bed, sliding in before he motions for Akira.]

Come to bed. We can figure things out in the morning but you need to get some sleep.

[Akira didn't bother hiding the fact that he was kind of watching Goro get dressed idly. Like he wasn't sizing him up or anything, but he wasn't averting his eyes either.

This was super weird for sure. Almost... domestic? Just what the hell were they doing? Akira didn't know, but he wasn't fighting it. It just felt natural, but maybe that was because he adapted quickly.

Either way, he sighed a little, just going to turn the lights off before climbing into bed. Into Goro Akechi's bed. With him. Just to sleep.]

You know, I haven't really had anyone here telling me to get to bed, hah.

[One more little joke at the expense of his own heart. Lord, he missed Morgana. Justine would be a welcome weight on the bed. Oh. Wait a sec, he hadn't ragged on him about that yet.]

...Caroline and Justine, by the way? Seriously?

I could tell you more often.

[ Wait not that totally came out wrong. Well he was going to pretend that he didn't suggest anything at all. Good thing the lights were out because he was blushing horribly.

Platonic. He wasn't ready for the next step but boy was it difficult to not think of what that could be like.

He is thankful for the change of subject when he brings the cats he ended up adopting with Futaba. ]

I thought it was fitting! They're both missing the opposite eye, and Justine -- [ He grunts softly as she leaps up onto the bed. ] is a great name for a cat.

[Akira just laughed a little at that, just settling in to bed and actually managing not to take things too far by responding with something along the lines of 'I'd love for you to call me to bed'. Because really, he was laying in bed with him now, and things could get weird FAST.

And yes. They were... trying to keep things out of certain territory, though akira had to admit that it was difficult. He would only admit it inwardly for now, but he might be falling for that charm. Akira had to pull back from that and think about it more objectively, but he had really grown very fond of Goro, now knowing most of the facets of his personality.

What a dangerous game.]

It is. Though they both seem far too friendly to be the little Wardens. [He supposed that was more on par with Lavenza, but the eye thing was unmistakable.] Probably for the best.

What made you want a cat, anyway? I mean, other than the cafe. [Since that was kind of not the best situation, anyway. Akira had some theories. He'd heard stories about inmates behaving well because of their animals, and stories of how the love of a pet could be therapeutic. It made sense, really, but Akira was curious.]

Justine is friendly. I feel Caroline is a little feisty. [ He chuckles a little bit. He remembers when he and Futaba went to the shelter. It was probably one of his favourite memories so far.

He's never had many. Having friends? Doing normal teenage things? It made him feel normal, for once. ]

I was lonely by myself. [ He admits. ] I normally was okay with the quiet, but it was... too quiet?

[ He was worried he would do something. ]

[Funny how that works out. But Caroline had seemed to like him pretty much instantly. Maybe he just reeked of 'cat person' though.

Akira sat silent in the darkness for a moment at that. Yeah, he could see that. Goro did seem like a very lonely person to Akira. Alone, even in a crowd. He didn't really know how to respond to that though, laying here in bed with him. No, he knew how to respond, he just wasn't sure that they were... good to do that kind of thing. Say those kinds of things.

But he had to. To just ignore it now would be more weird.]

Well, if you are ever lonely now, you can call me up. Cats are great company, I think, but you know. If it's ever too quiet.

[He reached out to attempt to chastely touch Goro's shoulder then, wanting to do more, maybe pull him into an embrace, but now was SUPER not the time for that. Curse you, Goro Akechi. Curse you for ensnaring him like this!

Even if Akira had definitely come over here on his own and also been the one to ask if he could spend the night. Still definitely Goro's fault.]

...It's always too quiet.

[ He didn't mean to say that out loud, but the more he thought about it, was it wrong? He was lonely more often these days, his time spent out of his apartment was simply for work. His fleeting free time was spent with Akira lately and -- what else was his life but his attempt to grasp at anything to keep him from descending too far into his thoughts.

He needed more friends. ]

But I have more work then I could ask for right now, between the job the US government has graciously bestowed upon me and Kitagawa-san's insane mission -- I think quiet is a good thing.

[ Nice save. ]

I will...keep it in mind, however. [ He knows it was difficult to see now, but he smiles at Akira, not minding the slight touch on his shoulder. ]

[Akira kind of... moved in a little. That hand on Goro's shoulder wasn't brushed off, so Akira was going to try something. Not a good idea, probably, but really if he just kept himself at bay, he wasn't being true to himself.

He's silent as he does it, but he wraps an arm around Goro, hugging him a little. Yeah, maybe quiet was a good thing from time to time, but that didn't mean Akira wouldn't be here to break the silence from time to time. Even if Goro didn't call him, Akira would show up eventually. He actually??? Liked hanging out with him???]

Okay... I'm gonna try to sleep. [His arm didn't retract, just staying there around Goro as Akira closed his eyes, reaching up to remove his glasses and set them aside.]

Goodnight, Goro.

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