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"You know, detective, usually when people are invited out, they don't expect to be led to dodgy-looking alleyways in the middle of the night."
"And here I thought the leader of the Phantom Thieves was not like most people." Akechi snarks back with a plastic smile as he continues to lead Akira deeper into the alley, eyes glinting with a challenge, "Though if you're that worried, we can always turn back" Both of them know that Akira won't back down.
The place itself isn't anything special. It is dark enough that most would struggle to see, littered, but most importantly, quiet , away from CCTV.
It would be a shame if we had to cut this short because someone else was here.
As Akechi remains still, the silence spreads into a standoff between the two until Akira decidedly breaks, "Why are we here, Akechi?"
"I recall promising that if you ever won against me using my right hand in billiards, I would face you with everything I have," Akechi replies as he finally turns to the other flashing a much more threatening smile than before. It's wider, a little too wide that some would consider it unsettling, but it's far more real than anything he shows in public. Replacing his canines are long fangs that are a weapon in their own right. "You wouldn't mind indulging in my selfish request, would you? You're ability to adapt, your insight and how fast you've grown. It makes me want to test our strength against each other without holding back. Vampire to vampire."
A growing sense of excitement begins to bubble at the surface as Akira grins back, equally wide to show off his own fangs. "I would love nothing more Crow . I hope you're ready to walk away defeated."
Pleased with his answer, he barks out a laugh "I'd like to see you try. No more need for pleasantries at this point, correct?"
With Akechi's eyes flashing a bright red, he drops into a lower stance, gloves looking sharper than usual as he swipes at the other vampire's chest. It's dirty, attacking instantly with no official start, but Akira would not be his rival if he can't think quickly on his feet. Hissing, the other jumps back with inhuman reflexes and begins to observe, sizing Akechi up.
Is he a vampire or a cat?
When Akira finally decides to make a move it's a second too late before he sees a flash of a familiar blade get uncomfortably close. That fucker.
"You said not to hold back, right?" Akira doesn't even try to hide his smug tone when manages to draw a prick of blood.
"Of course, the vigilante would have a blade on him." Snarling, he charges once again, feeling more frustrated than usual, dodging the next attack this time and attempting to tackle Akira. Whilst unsuccessful at taking him down, Akira does lose footing slightly and swipes instinctively back as Akechi uses that as an opportunity to push him with enough strength to knock Akira against the stone walls.
Both panting, Akechi becomes more aware of the fact they're both bleeding. At that moment a pang of intense hunger takes over, quickly replaced by outrage and then nothing, the feelings evaporating as quickly as they appeared. What the hell?
Shaking his head he continues to focus on the duel, both clashing with everything they've got. With every strike Akira makes, he strives to hit just as hard, if not harder. Akira may have a physical weapon but Akechi his nails as compensation, his gloves getting damaged in the process as sharp nails begin to poke out on the ends.
With every new scrape, the stench of blood becomes more noticeable, and with that, Akechi's moves become more aggressive. The strange bouts of overwhelming feelings return and last longer than the previous. He hears the occasional taunt paired with a confident smirk from Akira, further encouraging his aggression and sloppier moves. It's easier for the raven to dodge the desperate attempts and get an attack in, the winner becoming clearer and clearer. It's not until Akechi has to hold back an attempt to bite his throat that it finally dawns on him what's going on. When was the last time I fed?
Blocking another attack, he understands he has to call it. Neither of us will be able to stop if we go past this point, will we?
Minutes later Akira claims his victory.
It doesn't last long however when Akechi curls into himself snarling as the unrelenting hunger worsens. Concerned and adrenalin wearing off Akira finally takes in the image in front. Akechi continues to hold back, breathing heavily and shaking. Approaching slowly, "hey, talk to me, what's wrong?" Akira asks.
Taking another step forward, Akechi snarls and hisses. A warning. He hasn't lost control. He won't. Why does he have to always get involved?
As the feeling eases, Akechi takes as deep a breath as possible and musters the energy to look Akira in the eye, standing tall.
"I'm going to be entirely honest with you, I hate you." He grits out, satisfied with the look of confusion Akira gives. "Your deft handling of your unfortunate circumstances, your uniqueness-" he takes a shaky deep breath- please just leave, "your ability to surpass me." A jolt of pure outrage fills him. "All these irritate me". The fact he manages to rasp out the last half of the sentence surprises him as he covers his mouth, an overwhelming desire to sink his teeth into the vampire in front of him strengthening.
Akechi doesn't know when the other gets so close, alerted of the shift by Akira muttering curses. "You idiot." What? "When was the last time you drank?" He's not surprised he figured it out. It's tragically obvious how hungry he is.
"What? Worried I'm going to attack someone? Add to the ongoing murders?" his hand still covers his mouth, "or maybe you're worried I'll take your supply. Suck the blood out until you're starving. I think it's time you go home and mind your business." A beat of silence and a frustrated huff give Akechi's disorientated mind brief hope that Akira will get the memo. However, the thoughts are extinguished when a hand grabs his free wrist and is dragged along.
A smile that dares Akechi to debate this, eyes looking unimpressed "You're right. I think it is time to leave, but this is my business too now and you're coming with me." I don't want your pity. A protest escapes his mouth, shut down by another question. "Do you even have blood?" Why does he always know what to ask? The silence answered the question as Akira walked them out of the alleys with more purpose than before.
It takes a while before the two manage to get to Leblanc, struggling to hide Akechi's situation from lingering people still out in the middle of the night. When the pair finally reach the doors they sigh with relief and enter. Akechi stumbles to one of the booths as Akira begins searching for blood packs. "Any preference?".
Even now...
"Kurusu if you don't hand me blood in the next minute I am going for the throat," he growls out. I feed on whatever scum the bastard requires me to kill. A weapon till the end. You were supposed to be next. "I don't care just give me-" A pouch hits his face. If he wasn't so hungry he would yell at him. Instead, Akechi focuses on the meal in front of him relieved when the taste fills his senses. When the first pouch empties he's surprised that Akira is sitting across from him, a second pouch already waiting as he holds one for himself. Akira remains quiet once he's finished as Akechi still drinks. He's not as frantic, drinking slower now that the initial pain subsided. Working full-time with the thieves meant fewer hit requests from Shido, less blood to drink.
When Akechi squeezes the last drop out of the pouch he still doesn't feel satisfied, aware of the familiar dull ache that follows him constantly. He looks at Akira and thinks of the earlier need to bite until Akira has nothing to give. Deep down he knows it's not the first time thinking it. Once a monster, always a monster. He knows what he desires is right there as he looks at Akira's neck once more. I'll only destroy him. Not that it will matter soon. "My apologies, that was rude of me. Thank you for helping and indulging me I should get going-"
A familiar touch of a hand on his wrist stops him from standing up. His whole body freezes and he struggles to make eye contact, "Akechi, it's ok." Akechi lets out a breath he isn't aware is being held, snapping his wrist away.
"I shouldn't have taken so much. The first was enough."
"It's ok to want things, not just survive. It's normal." Piece of shit. "Come on, let's go upstairs, we both know the trains stopped running now and I have a spare couch." Akechi, wanting to protest, finds himself only able to nod. Too tired to keep depriving himself of what he wants. He never knows when to give up.
As they get ready Akechi notices that his wounds have mostly healed after having something to drink, the perks of being a vampire. The pair have been pretty quiet, that is until Akira decides to ask another question. "Have you ever drank from someone? Another vampire I mean."
"I'm aware I initiated to fight but that's a bit violent don't you think?" he starts, "I do have a reputation to uphold."
He's confused when Akira once again enters Akechi's personal space. "Violent..? Akechi, biting isn't evil, it's more than just aggression. It's a bonding experience. Did no one ever tell you this?" He hates how sympathetic Akira sounds. It's wasted on him, he's going to destroy Akira. In a few days, the boy in front of him will be another body to the growing pile.
Interrupting his thoughts, Akira carries on "It's meant to be fun, soothing even." A hand brushes against his. He wants more. "It's supposed to help with hunger spells too, make them more manageable and less reliant on drinking from blood packs constantly. Or people."
"I don't understand. There's nothing gentle about sinking your teeth into someone, look at the murders all around us. At Okumura's death. How can something so monstrous be anything but destructive?" When Akira doesn't answer, he thinks that he'll drop the topic altogether. They can finally sleep and forget about it.
"Bite me then."
Insane. Absolutely deranged with no sense of self-preservation.
"Excuse me?"
"You think you're incapable of being gentle? that you'll just tear someone's throat out?" Akira challenges. "Then let me prove you wrong. I can guide you."
"Why? I blackmailed you and your friends why would you let me?" I'm going to kill you soon. "Sounds like a terrible idea."
"Because I trust you." I will wring you dry of everything. Words fail and Akira becomes bolder, grasping his glove and guiding it slowly to his face. "Why deprive yourself when I'm right in front of you?" He doesn't push further and allows Akechi to ponder in silence, hand never leaving his face. Soft breaths and creaking floors are the only sounds in the room as it feels like an eternity before Akechi can say something.
"You really never fail to surprise me." Maybe just this once.
A small grin appears on Akira's face, fangs poking out and he indicates for them to sit on the bed. It's overwhelming the way he treats Akechi like something precious. Slowly, he tilts his head, exposing freely his throat. "Here, it's a little easier like this. We can use my wrist instead if you want though."
Akechi knows he should reject biting his throat. He has no idea how this could end. But seeing the way Akira looks at him fondly, being vulnerable, he wants nothing else. Hesistently he leans closer, pausing as he's inches away from skin. "Breathe, Akechi."
"Goro. Call me Goro, I think we're past formality."
He doesn't know what possessed him but when he hears "Ok, Goro. Call me Akira then," his heart stutters and he knows he made the right decision and sinks his teeth in.
It scares him initially, waiting for a scream and gurgle. His thoughts halt when the initial taste hits him, and Akira calm as before. Goro has bitten and killed many people over the years, but nothing compares to biting Akira. Though technically not his own blood, the taste reminds Goro of no one but Akira. It's divine. The lingering ache that follows Goro everywhere finally starts to disappear he knows this is what he's been missing this whole time. Sighing happily, Akira tanged his fingers in Goro's hair, scratching his scalp gently. All Goro can do is hum appreciatively as he takes his time savouring the sensations. He wants everything, as much as he can take.
They sit there comfortably for a while, unsure how long time passes until Akira taps the base of his neck. Blinking, Goro lets go, making sure there's no blood around the bite. It's the most relaxed he's felt since before his mother's death.
Looking dazed, Akira smiles crookedly "I win again, detective." He's filled with so much affection looking at this boy, that he wants to kiss his stupid smile away. Akira is on the same wavelength as he leans and presses a chaste kiss on his lips, licking away any lingering blood.
This boy will destroy me.
Goro can't help but laugh quietly and presses a kiss of his own on the bite. It's clumsy, he's not used to this level of vulnerability. In that moment all he wants to do is think about the present and ignore everything else.
It doesn't quite hit him how tired he is as he yawns. Neither have any intention of moving as they lie down on the bed. Both know they have much to discuss the next day but for now, they just lie there close to each other allowing sleep to take over.
When Akira wakes up the next morning, he looks peaceful. That is until he registers a lack of body next to him. His eyes snap open.
Thwack-
Goro doesn't even try to hold back a smirk as Akira is hit square in the face with one of his damaged gloves. Payback. He enjoys watching Akira splutter incredulously, giving him a moment to process his surroundings.
"I never got to do that last night." he starts. "There's a tradition in the West to throw one's glove at their opponent when demanding a duel. Should the opponent accept the glove, the duel is also accepted."
He knows the answer already but it still fills him with joy when Akira's eyes flash with determination "I accept. I look forward to it."
"You may have won yesterday, but never forget I will be the one who will defeat you." He tries to suppress the feeling of dread as the boy in front of him looks fondly in his direction.
I will ruin you.
But if you're ok with that you can be mine.