Chapter Text
Goro Akechi's first clue that something was not going according to plan was when he reached the floor where Akira Kurusu, Joker, was being kept and found no guard at the door. Didn't Shido say..? Well, whatever, it pays to be prepared after all. He didn't make it this far in life relying on others.
You relied on the Phantom Thieves, A traitorous part of him, Robin Hood, whispered not unkindly, It wasn't so bad then, was it?
The detective grit his teeth, choosing to ignore his persona in favor of opening the interrogation room door, and immediately froze.
Working with Shido, for Shido, had exposed him to a lot of unsavory things and methods, and Akechi had known that the cops sent to interrogate Joker, Akira a softer part of him says instead, but he didn't quite realize how far they'd go.
Needles littered the floor, empty of whatever drugs they may have housed at one point; a dented bucket is thrown to the side of the room, explaining the light red water running to his shoes and soaking...
"...Akira?" Someone asked softly, hesitantly. It took Akechi a second to realize that that someone was him. Why did he sound like that? Like a kid who had just found his mom-
Akira Kurusu aka Joker, the indomitable leader of the Phantom Thieves, was laying on the ground. He was battered and bruised and there was a disconcerting amount of darker red water around him. That's not water, Loki hissed from his dark space in his mind, his tone displeased and a bit urgent.
Belatedly, Akechi realized he had been frozen in place, staring, and willed his legs to move, to go to the other boy's side. He had patched himself up after a bad Metaverse run before, how hard could it be to patch Kurusu up?
Later, he'd realize that he stood no chance. There weren't even bandages in the room.
"Kurusu? Akira, wake up." He was still, too still. Why was he so still? Fuck, what happened to Akira's fingernails? His leg was bent too far to be healthy too, he was going to kill those policemen.
He's barely breathing, but he's alive, Robin Hood told him quietly, bringing Akechi's attention to the barely there throb of Akira's pulse in his neck, painfully aware that it was too weak to be healthy. It gave him a rush of relief all the same.
"If he's alive then it's not too late," He muttered to himself, shaking Akira gently against his own better judgement, despite Robin Hood's rumbling pity flooding through their bond, "He can still be helped, shut up."
"...'kechi..?" It was a weak rasp, but it could have been the best thing Akechi could have ever heard, making his heart skip and restart.
"Akira? Hey, can you look at me? ...Please?" He didn't like how high his voice was, fuck, how was Kurusu suppose to rely on him if he didn't get his act together?
The shaggy head of hair lulled to look towards him feebly, but once Akira's eyes rested on him, he almost wanted to scream or rip them out. Or find those police officers and rip them apart. Akira's eyes were foggy, likely from whatever drugs they pumped him with, but just enough awareness to have just enough of that Joker sharpness. Instead of looking accusatory though, they were filled with a sort of soft sadness.
"...'kechi...sorry-" He dissolved into a fit of pitiful coughs, not enough strength in him to combat the fluid and swelling in his mouth. Akechi turned him on his side carefully to try to help.
He tried to suppress the anger towards himself and those who hurt soft-hearted Akira, instead focusing on what he was saying, "Why are you apologizing to me, you idiot?! This is- this is my fault!" He hissed, all pretense of pleasant detective prince gone, left only a boy who doesn't know how to fix the only person worth saving-
"No," Akira's tone was firm, leaderlike for a moment, despite sounding like he was gargling glass shards and simultaneously speaking through water as he wheezed.
"Not...your...fault. Wanted to...save you..." Akechi gave a bark of a laugh at that, no humor in it. Fucking bleeding heart Kurusu, gotta fix everyone, doesn't he?
"Shut up. I'm...I'll get you out of here." Even though he said that, he faltered on where to put his hands, everywhere he could see looked bruised and he was terrified of what it was like where he couldn't see. He didn't want to hurt the other boy any more than he already has.
Kurusu just gave a pained smile, which looked more like a grimace with the swelling, "...promise me..."
"Shut up, Akira-"
"Promise...to- live for...for me. Take your future back, Goro...stop being alone..." Why did this boy never shut up-?!
"If I say yes, will you shut up and let me save you?!" He hissed back, desperation leaking in his tone. Akira smiled gently, like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth, and nodded with a wince, "Okay fine, yes. I promise to try to tolerate your weird friends, okay? I need t-to call-"
One soft shuddering breath, and Akira's eyes slid shut; and after one last hacking wheeze, he fell still. Akechi's heart sank like a rock, because no, no Akira can't be-
I am Thou, Thou art I
Thou Hast turned a vow into a blood oath.
Thy bond shall become the wings of rebellion and break the yoke of thy heart.
Thou hast awakened to the ultimate power of the Fool, granting thee infinite power...
Something in him snapped and wrenched free, but just at the same time, a third presence in his head made itself known. A comforting being, like Robin Hood, but darker, reminding him of Loki.
What the fuck.
Hello, Trickster. Arsene greeted calmly, baffling him through the numbness starting to set in.
He couldn't focus on that yet, because Akira was...seriously hurt and needed to be taken to a hospital because there's no way he could be dead.
Akechi felt his mind stutter on the word in regards to Akira. Sure, he had come here with the express purpose of killing him, but at least his death would've been faster, Akira wouldn't have suffered needlessly.
Of course, now is the time that the door to the room opened, revealing Sae Nijima, who took one look at the boys on the ground; Akira Kurusu, laying there deathly still, and Goro Akechi kneeling next to him, silent tears on his face.
"What the-"