Week 2, Post Mission

[bladeisme]

[So. After everything, they somehow wind up at the theatre - in a room showing that doesn't have anything on, so it's just soundless adverts with chill musiak coming through the speakers. Ichigo goes right along with the chillness that surrounds them, because he is currently high as fuck, and he manages to pull up some of the cup holders so he can lay down on a few chairs, brushing a hand against the carpeted floor while shoving popcorn in his mouth.]

Mrgh - Akiraaaaaa, do you like....ever think about how much stuff this carpet's seen....? It's like...amazing. Movies are amazing because people make, like...all these different kinds and add music and do so many things....and make people feel things....humans are amazing. Aren't they amazing, Akiraaaa?

[Thank you for babysitting this idiot, Akira.]

Comments

[purrtagonist]

[Akira's eyes are dry-- despite the staccato notes of his breathing, he hasn't crossed the threshold into actual crying just yet]

Ichigo, damn it--

[he doesn't deserve this, he doesn't deserve this, he who failed his friends, he who is completely and utterly powerless in this game]

[he doesn't deserve this, but he wants it, he needs it, he needs it, because two and a half weeks is far too long for even someone like him to keep all of his pieces together in the wake of so many murders. and Ichigo-- god bless him, and his extremely high self-- is the first person to encourage Akira to break]

[even just a little bit]

[he fists his hands into Ichigo's shirt, leans forward to press his face tightly against his shoulder, and just breathes]

[bladeisme]

Tha's right. It's okay. I'm here.

[He repeats the words Akira told him, gently running his hand through Akira's hair in a comforting manner, giving little 'shh' noises under his breath. If he could, he'd rock back and forth with Akira to try and comfort him even more.

The tears have dried up on his end - seeing Akira beginning to let go soothed him just a little, seeing that trust in him - and he even hums a little, a random little tune that's somehow soothing despite it being hummed by someone who is way too high to properly string notes together.]

'S okay. 'S okay to cry on your partner, 'cause....'cause that's what they're for. Right? Even if you feel bad enough to, to...want to hide everything, your partner is....someone you can rely on. Who'll s'pport you. So it's okay to lean on me, because I lean on you an', an', we'll s'pport each other. Okay?

So let it out.

[purrtagonist]

Fuck.

[each of those words feel like needles bearing under his skin, digging deeper and deeper until the pain is sharp and unbearable. he can't. Ichigo is encouraging him, but he can't. he has to stay strong, he has to keep himself put together, he doesn't deserve this level of unconditional support--]

[he can't he can't he can't he can't]

[but he does anyway, a soft hiccup against Ichigo's shoulder, and his grip is so tight that he's shaking. he's not a loud crier by any means, so it may be pretty easy to miss the moment he lets himself break]

[bladeisme]

[He might be high, but he doesn't miss the crying - and he just gently shushes Akira, still humming as Akira lets himself go and break a little, still running his hand through Akira's hair with gentle pats.]

Yeah. Get it out, 's okay...

[He closes his eyes, even pressing a slightly shaky kiss to the top of Akira's head before going back to the strung out, discordant humming.

If he were sober, he'd be happy that Akira trusted him enough to cry like this, to let himself not be so strong for once - but he won't even remember this in the morning, so.]

[purrtagonist]

[Akira's next words are choked]

No, no, I'm--

[fine. he's not fine. he's not fine, but he can't do this, because he's taking advantage of Ichigo's kindness when Ichigo is the one who needs support the most right now. right? right]

[it's only been. . . two and a half weeks, and yet here he is, cracking all over the shoulder of his partner when he doesn't deserve an ounce of this affection. get it together, Kurusu, he tries to tell himself. but it doesn't work]

[the only sign that he is letting go is the sound of his ragged breathing, sharp inhales and exhales all taken in an extremely uneven pace]