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Week 4, post-trial
[God. He can't believe it - They did it. They actually fucking managed to pull it off. No one suspected Undine - not even for a moment - and while he got a vote himself, he has an idea of who did it. And it's fine, it's completely fine, they got away with it-
So of course he comes to Akira, in a place when they're both alone - and he doesn't even get out a single word before moving into a full kiss, out of sheer relief that they're both still alive and that they managed to pull off something that, in the past, has been impossible.
They did it. They did it and he's so happy and full of love that he doesn't even think about boundries or anything else, except kissing the one person he's willing to lie and betray for above all else.
Hi, Akira.]
So of course he comes to Akira, in a place when they're both alone - and he doesn't even get out a single word before moving into a full kiss, out of sheer relief that they're both still alive and that they managed to pull off something that, in the past, has been impossible.
They did it. They did it and he's so happy and full of love that he doesn't even think about boundries or anything else, except kissing the one person he's willing to lie and betray for above all else.
Hi, Akira.]
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[his heart sure is fluttering fast and wild against his ribs, ain't it?]
[and fourth? it's a damn nice distraction]
[he lingers, mouth moving gently against Ichigo's, one kiss turning into several. his hands rise to frame Ichig's cheeks, thumbs brushing against them softly. and it's when he feels something damp against his skin that he pulls back with a frown]
What? Hey--
[crying?????]
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So he leans forward and buries his head in Akira's shoulder, sniffling and giggling a little to himself, before -]
....Thank you.
[His voice is...frankly, emotional - but also oh so vulnerable in this moment, because he's allowing himself to feel an emotion he hasn't felt in what feels like years - true, blinding happiness, that effuses his entire being and makes him feel light and safe.
This is it, isn't it? No matter what happens now...he will always, always cherish this one, single moment, a bright light in his incredibly dark and crushing afterlife.]
I...Love you. You don't - have to say it back, I just -
[He breathes out, lets himself calm down, even though he doesn't let go of Akira.
He'll never let go, metaphorically.]
...Thank you.
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[for now? he can just embrace. . . this, right? whatever this is. whatever their partnership has become. it doesn't need a label. it doesn't need a description. it can just. . . be]
[his fingers dip into Ichigo's hair, tracing idle patterns against his scalp. with a breath, Akira tilts his head, and plants a kiss against the crown of Ichigo's]
Thank you.
[he mutters quietly]
. . . Undine and I might not still be alive right now if it weren't for you.
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More comfort than he ever thought he'd get again. Being able to just hold someone he cares about is...it's so incredible that he feels like he might start crying again.
But he holds it in - because he's so happy, because of so many things swirling around in his head - but most of all because Akira clearly didn't like it the last time he started crying out of sheer happiness and relief.
He shakes his head, still pressing his face into his partner's shoulder - feeling like he's melting into every little pattern made on his scalp, each little touch, each breath and heartbeat Akira takes.
The lying, the sacrificing - it was worth it. It was worth it.]
Don't - You don't have to thank me. I - neither of you should die just for being forced into this game, and I...
[He pauses, finally drawing his head back up from Akira's shoulder.]
I'm just happy that I was able to protect someone - for once - after so...so long -
[And despite his best efforts to keep it back? A choked sob cuts him off.
He didn't fail Undine. He protected her. He protected both of them.
Even with his hands coated in blood and the lives of so many souls weighing him down, he managed to protect for the first time since he'd died.]
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[they're alive. both Akira and Undine, the last two Reapers whose deaths could bring about a premature end to this Game, are alive. and that's. . . that's what matters. for the first time, Akira feels like their preferred ending is finally within reach. he feels like their ideal goal of saving the Erased can finally be achieved]
[he frames Ichigo's face with his hands again. sometimes, words just aren't enough. and so he foregoes them, and instead leans in to kiss his partner again]
[for one night-- just one damn night-- he doesn't want to have to think. he just wants to feel]
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Then he will, too.
As Akira takes his face into his hands, Ichigo stares at him with those same lovestruck eyes as before - speaking of a deep love, but one he's not pushing on Akira, not hoping for declarations of love -
(as nice as it would be, but he's not good enough for that)
-but just simply being allowed to stay by his side and take in his comfort and warmth. There's even something a little...faintly scary about how devoted he looks, how utterly focused he is on this one moment, like the world itself could come crashing down and he wouldn't care.
He presses into the kiss, making a gentle, happy hum as he does.
Everything is right with the world in this moment.]
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[only then does he withdraw, but only enough to shove Ichigo backwards onto said couch with one hand. the other is plucking his glasses from his face and deposit them on a nearby bookshelf]
[hey. time to make out on a bookstore couch]
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He'd welcome the warmth, honestly.]
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[. . . that laughter turns into a content sigh, hummed between brushes of lips, as he settles against Ichigo contentedly. don't mind if his fingers brush through short, red hair, too]