Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/12791595.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M, F/M, Multi
  Fandom:
      Persona_5, Persona_Series
  Relationship:
      Kurusu_Akira/Mishima_Yuuki, Mishima_Yuuki/Takamaki_Ann, Kurusu_Akira/
      Takamaki_Ann, Kurusu_Akira/Mishima_Yuuki/Takamaki_Ann, Sakamoto_Ryuji/
      Takamaki_Ann
  Character:
      Kurusu_Akira, Mishima_Yuuki, Takamaki_Ann, Morgana_(Persona_5), Sakura
      Sojiro, Sakamoto_Ryuji
  Additional Tags:
      Kissing, Internalized_Homophobia, (kind_of), ann_is_the_best_wingman,
      Hurt/Comfort, Porn_With_Plot, Oral_Sex, Size_Difference, Masturbation,
      Het_and_Slash, Awkward_First_Times, Sexting, Fluff_and_Angst, Past_Abuse,
      Anal_Play, Underage_Drinking, Threesome_-_F/M/M, Voyeurism, Past_Sexual
      Abuse, Rape_Recovery, BDSM
  Stats:
      Published: 2017-11-22 Updated: 2018-03-30 Chapters: 24/? Words: 145413
****** False Start ******
by Mishiman
Summary
     How do you start dating someone if they don't know how to send or
     receive signals? Akira just needs to help Mishima feel a little more
     comfortable. Naturally, Ann wingmans like a boss. At least, until she
     manages to land herself right in the thick of it.
     Love tends to complicate things. So does Ryuji.
     Chapter 24 - Cursed. "Think you'd be jealous?" Crossed wires.
Notes
See the end of the work for notes
***** Glamour shot. Too much too soon. Coffee in the dark. *****
Akira tuned out Kawakami again, for the umpteenth time, as he stared across the
rows of desks at Mishima. His head was bent over his assignment papers, trying
to appear studious and avoid detection as he scrolled stealthily on the phone
in his lap. Hard at work on the Phantom Thieves forum as always, Akira guessed.
As he watched, Mishima pursed his lips for a moment and then reached up to
brush a lock of dark hair out of his eyes and behind his ear. He had cute ears,
Akira decided.

The bell rang to signal the end of the day, and he should have looked away - it
would have been only natural to look away as every other student leapt to their
feet to pack up, but... he found that as Mishima stood and turned away to
gather his belongings, he couldn't help but check him out. Mishima was short
and slender but not stick thin; his torso narrowed at the waist and flared out
a little at his hips, and as Akira continued to stare, Mishima bent forward to
zip up his bag. Why hadn't he noticed sooner how nicely Mishima's thighs and
ass filled out his plaid uniform pants? Why hadn't he noticed him sooner? He -
Suddenly Ann, seated in front of him, reached across his desk and waved both
hands in his field of vision. "Earth to Akiraaaaaa..."

He realized how obnoxiously he'd been staring and returned to himself. The grin
on his face felt stupid even to him. "Uh, sorry. You were saying?"

"Doesn't matter. A new and more important topic of conversation has presented
itself!" She whipped out her phone and tapped at it furiously until his own
phone buzzed in his pocket, waking up Morgana in the desk in front of him.

Akira snorted. "Are you serious? I'm sitting right next to you. That's Futaba's
shtick."

"Check your phone, dumbass."

He did.

ANN: somebody has a cruuuuush
AKIRA: Can't imagine who you mean.
ANN: I think you know exactly who I mean
ANN: can't believe he hasn't noticed you mooning over him all day

Akira quirked his lip at her unintentional pun but kept his thoughts to
himself. He glanced at Mishima one more time before replying to her.

AKIRA: I mean, you can't tell me he doesn't have a nice ass.

They both glanced up to check said ass out further and caught Mishima's eye,
his brow furrowed and the strap of his bag clenched in his fist. He flushed as
their eyes met and left the room without looking back.

ANN: oh shiiiiiiii
AKIRA: Oh noooooooo

Ann winced at him as they put their phones away. "I think he thought you were
glaring at him... you do that sometimes, you know."

Akira shrugged. "Resting Bitch Face. Can't help it."

"Learn some subtlety then! Girls don't like it when guys gawp at them. Probably
boys don't like it either."

Akira had to admit she had a point. "What should I do? He really tore out of
here."

"I dunno, message him? Apologize to him for leering at him like a piece of
meat?"

Akira pulled out his phone again, scrolling past a few new invitations from
various people, until he found Mishima's contact info.

AKIRA: Mishima-kun!

It took a minute or so for Mishima to answer.

MISHIMA: What?

Akira breathed a sigh of relief. Ann bounced in her seat, hair flying as she
made a mad grab for his phone. Akira held it out of her reach easily."Well?!"

"He's not too mad to answer at least. Hang on."

Ann sank back into her seat, then closed her binder. "Well... I do have a shoot
later. Keep me posted, okay?"

Akira promised that he would without looking up, eyes glued to the screen.
Morgana made protests that he didn't hear a word of as he left the classroom,
leaving the cat no choice but to launch himself into his open bag from the
floor, much to the surprise of the handful of students left in the classroom.
He somehow made it to the station without noticing his surroundings and leaned
against a wall, tapping at the screen. Morgana peeped over his shoulder as he
always did, reading along with him.

AKIRA: Hey. I'm sorry if it seemed like I was mad at you or something back
there.
MISHIMA: Oh. I didn't think you were mad exactly.
MISHIMA: Were you talking about me?

Akira stared at the screen for a long moment, at a loss for words. He hadn't
thought Mishima would be so direct - although, truth be told, he didn't know
Mishima very well to begin with. When they spoke nowadays it was Phantom
Thieves this, forum post that. He felt his face colour a little as he realized
he really did know Mishima in only the most superficial sense, eyes crawling
over him in class without an inkling of what type of person he was on the
inside. He knew he could do better than that. Be better than that.

AKIRA: It's true. I was.
AKIRA: Douche move. I'm sorry. I was telling Ann that I wanted to get to know
you better.

That was not exactly the whole truth about what he had been telling Ann, but
the spirit of the truth would have to do.

Mishima seemed to be thinking hard about how to respond. Finally, after Akira
had boarded the train, his phone buzzed again.

MISHIMA: I guess if we knew each other better it might help me handle Phantom
Thieves PR more efficiently.
AKIRA: That's not what I meant.
AKIRA: Like what kind of movies do you like? Do you have any siblings? Stuff
like that.
MISHIMA: That stuff's boring.
AKIRA: Tell me! I'll tell you anything you wanna know too.

He arrived home at Leblanc and, thankfully, Sojiro didn't seem to need his help
today. He spent most of the evening chatting with Mishima about this and that,
assuring him over and over that yes, he really wanted to know his favourite
food, and no, he didn't think he was boring. Morgana eventually grew tired of
being ignored and fell asleep.

Mishima sat at the desk in his bedroom, one foot curled beneath him as he
tapped at his phone's screen. The tips of his ears were warm and his free hand
cupped the side of his face, though it didn't quite cover the huge grin.

----------

It was easier to talk to Mishima after that. Akira brought leftover curry for
lunch and cajoled him into taking a bite; Mishima's face absolutely lit up as
he continued to eat and raved about how good it was - until he realized he'd
eaten almost all of it. His face fell and he kept his head down, refusing to
look at Akira. "O-oh... sorry Kurusu-kun..."

"It's cool. I get to eat this whenever I want."

"I'll, I'll buy you some curry pan from downstairs, okay?" He dug frantically
in his pockets for his wallet.

Akira brought his hand up, faltered for just a second, then settled it on
Mishima's shoulder. "Don't worry about it. Seriously. You must have been
hungry, huh?" He waited patiently until Mishima raised his face and met his
eyes, then smiled, trying to show how much he meant it.

It only took a second before Mishima returned it. "Well. Okay then. But I owe
you something next time, okay?"

Akira found it all too easy to touch Mishima at school and in public after
that.

The next morning, before the bell rang:

"Is that a new haircut?"

"Just a trim." Mishima ducked away under his scrutiny, hiding his face until
only the top of his head could be seen, and Akira's heart jumped in his chest
when he noticed his ears redden. So cute! Without stopping to think about it he
brushed his index finger up and down the short bristly hair at the back of
Mishima's head.

"That feels so cool. I never get my neck buzzed short because my hair covers it
anyway. So I don't get to feel that."

Mishima laughed nervously, feeling as if every other person in class was
staring at him. "Ha... yeah, I guess..." He put a little distance between the
two of them, but when Akira looked over the rows at him halfway through class,
he could see him still absentmindedly running his fingers over the short hair
at the back of his head.

A week after that, Akira wandered the halls at lunch, carefully keeping his
face impassive as he always did around the cliques of students whispering and
giggling about him, until he spotted green sneakers. Mishima was at the vending
machine, purchasing a Second Maid. "Hey, Mishima-kun. Can I have a swig of
that?"

Mishima had already twisted the cap and began drinking as Akira approached. He
swallowed audibly. "Geeze, sorry man. I've already got my germs on it. I owe
you for curry still, lemme see if I -" He dug for change in his pockets.

"Oh, I don't need a new one, that's too much. I just want a sip of yours.
Thanks."

Akira plucked the drink from his willing hands, tipped his head back, and
drank. Mishima was frozen to the spot, eyes latched onto Akira's smooth, pale
throat. He seemed to be especially interested in the way the long bottle looked
in Akira's strong fingers, held to his mouth.

At last, Akira tipped his head forward again, handing the drink back and
swiping the back of his other hand across his lips. He finally noticed the
stricken look on his friend's face; Mishima's entire face and neck had flushed
red, and his palm was pressed to his mouth, as if he was afraid of letting any
sound escape. His dark eyes were always large for his face but right now they
were huge, staring at Akira. Or maybe his mouth, specifically.

"Are you okay?"

Mishima's anxious eyes darted up to his before averting his face to the floor.
He nodded silently, hand still over his mouth.

It suddenly clicked for Akira. He ran a hand through his hair in agitation.
"Agh, I'm such an idiot. I didn't even stop to think you might have a thing
about germs. You practically said as much. I'll buy you a new one. Forgive me."
Had he just wrecked everything? Stupid, stupid, stupid...

Akira was kicking himself as he prepared to feed coins into the machine, so
preoccupied that it took him a moment to notice a slight pressure on his arm.
Mishima was tugging at his forearm.

"It's not a thing. See?" Mishima took a quick slug of his drink to prove it.

Akira grinned in relief. "I'm glad. I thought I'd - well, never mind." He
trailed off as he studied Mishima's face. The redness was abating, and he began
to talk about the Phansite as if nothing had happened, but for a second he
could have sworn Mishima looked... stunned. As if his mind was miles away.

----------

ANN: welllllll?
AKIRA: Wellllll what?
ANN: how is our project coming? you said you'd keep me posted!
AKIRA: Oh, that.
ANN: "oh, that" pssht
ANN: don't gimme that
AKIRA: It's... really hard to say.
ANN: AKIRAAAAAAGH
AKIRA: No, really. I keep sending signals but I don't know if they're being
received.

A new thought occurred to him.

AKIRA: Do boys in Tokyo touch each other more?
ANN: wat
AKIRA: Like, when they're just friends. You've travelled a bit. Do you think
boys who are just friends touch each other more here than they do in other
parts of the country? Or the rest of the world?
ANN: ???
AKIRA: Maybe this is just a regional differences thing. I've been moving
forward the way I would have back home, or the way I would with a girl I like,
but maybe I need to step it up.
ANN: uh, be careful tho. don't scare him either
AKIRA: Do you think the bookstore would have something about how to woo Tokyo
boys, or

Ann had already flung her phone onto her bed, cackling with laughter over her
poor idiot friend.

----------

AKIRA: Hey, how's it going?
MISHIMA: Hi!
MISHIMA: Not bad. I can't believe how busy the forum's gotten.
MISHIMA: What's up?
AKIRA: Was wondering if you're free tomorrow after school?

The reply came lightning quick.

MISHIMA: Yeah!
MISHIMA: I mean, I think I've earned a break from Phansite work.
MISHIMA: Is this about the latest request from the forums?
AKIRA: Nah, not work-related this time. Let's go eat at the diner. Lemme pay
for you this time.
MISHIMA: Aw, you don't have to do that. I still owe you too. >_>
AKIRA: I wanna take you out though!

Mishima's thumbs froze over his phone's screen. What did that mean? Akira
didn't mean what he thought he did, did he? Not possible. He was just being
nice. After all, Mishima had to admit that he'd had little experience with
friendships this close, and even less with romantic relationships of any kind.
He was getting spooked over nothing. Akira just wanted to treat him to a meal,
not take him out on a date. Now Mishima just had to make some lighthearted
remark to show he knew how things were going to go.

MISHIMA: I can't turn down an offer like that. No funny business though!

As soon as his thumb hit send, he slammed his face into his hands and groaned,
wishing he could take it back. Smooth. Very smooth. Why would you think a joke
like that was a good idea? He held his breath as he waited for Akira to retract
the invitation. Friendship = trashed. Good job.

AKIRA: Awesome, just stick around after class then. Be hungry!

Mishima peeked at the screen from between his fingers. Had Akira even read his
stupid remark? Did he just skim his chat messages to him out of habit or had he
chosen to be kind and ignore Mishima's awkwardness as he usually did? He
gulped. Chatting was one thing, and trying to figure out how to control his
facial expressions at school when he was around Akira was another. How the hell
was dinner at the diner in an intimate booth going to go? Mishima clenched his
fists and tried to put the matter out of his mind as he returned to browsing
the Phansite.

----------

Mishima jingled the coins in his pocket as he trudged up the steps to school.
Dinner after school with Akira should have been something to look forward to at
the end of another boring Saturday. Instead his heart raced and a cold sweat
broke out on his forehead. But he had come prepared! His wallet was full and
his mind was resolute! He wouldn't let his awkwardness ruin one of the only
good things he had going in his life right now. He had to protect his
friendship with Akira at all costs. Insisting on paying for his own meal would
set things straight: if not for Akira, then at least for himself. Head down, he
shoved through the doors and disappeared down the corridor.

Ann and Akira watched Mishima march by from their spot next to the school
entrance, unnoticed. Morgana perched on Akira's shoulder, no longer caring who
saw him at school. Kawakami seemed to be pulling strings behind the scenes,
ensuring the other faculty turned a blind eye when it came to Akira's various
minor infractions. Minor infractions like making smoke bombs in class while the
teacher was away, or keeping a mouthy cat in his desk every day.

Ann's eyes sparkled as she turned to Akira, keeping her voice low despite her
excitement. "Looks like he's got it bad if you ask me!" She stopped to
consider, her voice faltering. "Or maybe he's mad... freaked out? Okay, I guess
I see what you mean. He's harder to read than I thought."

Akira spread his hands in exasperation. "Right?! That's what I kept telling
you. But if I just go out and say it I think I'd scare him off."

"Yeah..." She looked lost in thought. "Well, I mean, today's the day if ever
there was one. It's almost the weekend. I bet he feels on edge around these
vultures," she muttered, gesturing with her chin at either the huddled groups
of gossiping students in the hallway or the school at large; Akira couldn't
tell. "Can't blame him. Private booth at the diner should help."

She picked up her bag and began to head to class, abruptly spinning on her heel
to face Akira again as a new thought struck. "Go easy on him though!" She
leaned forward to whisper. "I don't think he's got too many other people in his
life, you know what I mean? Just the impression I get. Be nice. "

"What?! When am I not nice?!"

Morgana piped up from his shoulder. "Repeatedly reneging on your sushi promise
ring a bell? 'Button mashing' my head on the train for no reason? Refusing to
let me -"

Akira cut him off neatly before the diatribe could continue. "That reminds me.
How would you like to spend the night at Ann's today?"

The cat bristled at being so rudely interrupted, but couldn't hide his toothy
grin. "W-well, if a lady requests my presence, it would hardly be gentlemanly
to turn her down... And I am nothing if not a gentleman." His eyes sparkled.
"Lady Ann, this won't cause trouble with your parents, will it?"

She flapped her hand. "Nah. Out of the country for a few more weeks. Hop
aboard, amigo." She spread the zippered opening of her bag and Morgana leapt
neatly inside from Akira's shoulder, nestling down with a purr. She and Akira
traded eye rolls and headed to class.

----------

AKIRA: He's in the bathroom again.
ANN: gross
AKIRA: Nah, not that. I think he's just nervous.
ANN: oh is he hiding
ANN: awwwww
ANN: poor Mishima!
ANN: BE NICE OKAY
AKIRA: WHEN AM I NOT NICE?!

He was scrolling through emojis, looking for the perfect indignant cat face to
send, when Mishima finally returned to the table, looking anxious. Akira stuck
his phone in his pocket again, not wanting to appear rude. "Everything okay?"

"Oh, ha, yeah. Just wanted to wash my hands before we ate!" Mishima wore a huge
false grin. His face would crack if he stretched it any wider.

"Order whatever you want. I've got fat stacks of part-timer cash."

Mishima snickered. "Yeah, I think I saw you behind the counter at the
convenience store once or twice. Those uniforms, man..."

"What, you don't think pink polka dots suit me? Ann told me they really bring
out my eyes." Akira gave him his best doe eyes, fluttering his eyelashes while
he gazed soulfully at Mishima over his glasses.

Mishima actually choked on his water, sputtering, "Y-you gotta warn me before
you do that!" as he cracked up. "Actually, waitwaitwait -" He whipped out his
phone and held it up. "Okay, now do it again."

He carefully trained the camera on Akira but just as he took the picture, Akira
swiftly switched to a kissy face and stuck his fingers out into a peace sign.

"Aw, what?" Mishima cracked up again. "What are you, a girl?" They both leaned
over the table to peer at the result. Akira's kissy face was captured clearly
but his fingers in a V were nothing more than a blur.

"Too fast for ya, slowpoke. Bet you can't outdo my glamour shot."

Mishima grinned again, but this time it was the real deal. "Is that a
challenge?!"

Things were more comfortable after that. Akira feigned ignorance of the diner's
menu, despite having eaten there at least a dozen times, and asked Mishima to
order for him. After much protesting, stammering, and intense studying of the
menu, he finally picked out omurice for the two of them. Akira assured him that
he loved omurice, it was his second favourite, how could he have missed it when
he looked at the menu the first time? Honestly, maybe I'm laying it on a little
thick. But Mishima just beamed wider than ever. Akira couldn't help but feel a
little pin prick of doubt. He wanted Mishima to feel at ease with him, maybe
give him a chance to relax since things were so tense for him at school. But he
didn't want to pressure him either. He pictured himself marching up to Mishima
and simply blurting out, "I like boys. Do you like boys?" and, as awkward as it
would be, it would make things a hell of a lot simpler. Even more to the point:
"I like you. Do you like me?" But he knew things didn't work that way for
Mishima, and he would just have to rise to the challenge.

As they finished eating, Akira laid out enough cash to pay for both their meals
on the table and started heading toward the door. Mishima glanced at the amount
to ensure they were squared up but was caught up in comparing their photos and
left with his wallet still full, his resolution to pay for his own meal
forgotten.

----------

Mishima was still teasing Akira about his "glamour shot" as he left the diner
ahead of him, zoned out and not really looking where he was going until he was
met with a rude awakening - a sheet of cold water. Torrential rain drove down
the back of his neck and plastered his spiky hair to his head as he squeaked
back at Akira, "Run for cover!"

Akira sprinted after him, holding his school bag above his head and feeling
thankful for his uniform blazer. Mishima was less fortunate, wearing only his
thin turtleneck as he usually did and having nothing to cover his head with,
since he'd decided to leave his bag at school. He finally located refuge
beneath an awning across the street from the diner and gestured wildly for
Akira to join him. "C'mon man!"

When Akira got there he found Mishima doing a passable impression of a drowned
rat. His green sneakers squelched as he maneuvered around puddles and struggled
to wring out his shirt. Even standing under cover, rivulets coursed down his
neck and forehead from his soaked hair. To cap it off, his white shirt had
taken on so much water that it had gone quite transparent in places. Akira
couldn't help but rub the back of his neck awkwardly and look away as he felt
his face heat up. Didn't expect to find out the colour of your nipples THIS
soon...

"Oh daaaarn, we're going to have to wait it out. How terrible..." Akira drawled
sardonically, trying to surreptitiously see a little more of him in his
dishevelled state. He might not get to see him again like this anytime soon,
after all.

"Aaaaaagh..." Mishima complained. "Way to ruin my day, rain!" He stuck both
hands into his waterlogged hair and tried to spike it back up, flinging fat
droplets every which way; then he rubbed his hands briskly up and down his
upper arms, paying Akira little attention as he watched the downpour hit the
street. No sign of letting up so far.

Akira saw his chance and took it, sidling closer one step at a time. "Cold?"

"Uh huh. My own dumb fault for forgetting an umbrella. Again."

He stood just one step behind, and the next time he spoke, Akira's voice came
from over Mishima's shoulder. "I'm not. Cold, I mean."

From less than a foot away he sensed Mishima's entire body stiffen for a moment
as he finally realized their proximity. Akira swallowed thickly, filled with
doubt - do I go for it or will I just ruin it? - until he couldn't stand it any
longer. "Want me to warm you up?" As he said it, he closed the gap. He stood
less than an inch behind him, the right side of his chest and shoulder, almost
dry, nearly touching the left side of Mishima's back, still soaked with water.
Mishima was so much shorter than him that Akira had to stoop a little to bring
his lips to his ear as he whispered, "Hey, c'mere."

There was a long moment where nothing happened. They stood motionless, Akira
waiting for Mishima to make his choice, whatever it would be, and Mishima
squinching his eyes shut, face turned away. Finally, he released the breath he
had been holding and shuffled his feet, moving back almost imperceptibly.

Mishima's left shoulder and back rested against Akira's right shoulder and
chest, his eyes still scanning the street. He was trembling.

Akira bowed his head to Mishima's ear again and whispered again. "... are you
shivering?" Mishima made some kind of noncommittal noise that could have meant
anything.

"Here, just a sec." Akira took a step back for just a moment and returned,
pressing his chest against Mishima with the slightest pressure. Something was
different.

"A-ah... you're really warm..."

"I just unbuttoned my blazer. Better, right? Body heat will warm you up.
Through my shirt, anyway."

From his vantage point over his shoulder, Akira could see Mishima's long
eyelashes flutter and his breath hitch, face still turned away. But the angle
couldn't hide the way his ears were turning red.

Slowly and deliberately, Akira put his arm around him, settling his hand on his
shoulder. Heart hammering, he waited for his reaction.

Mishima gave him nothing but conflicting signals. His breathing picked up speed
and his face turned even further away, staring out at the rain even as his
shoulders, millimeter by millimeter, sank back into Akira.

Does he like this? Does he hate it? Akira decided communication was the only
way to proceed. He tipped his face down to Mishima's ear once more. "Warmer?"

But Mishima hadn't been ready for it, and as Akira had moved his mouth closer,
Mishima flinched. Akira's lips accidentally brushed the edge of his ear and
Mishima felt hot breath tickle his neck. It was hard to hear over the rain, but
as Mishima exhaled, something that sounded like a soft moan escaped him.

Ha! I was right! "Did you say something?" Akira inquired solicitously, as a
satisfied smirk crept across his face.

Mishima only covered his face in his hands and shook his head silently, still
firmly maintaining contact with his back.
 
Well, it's now or never...

Akira steeled himself, withdrew the arm wrapped around Mishima, and gently took
him by the shoulders, turning him until they were face to face under the
awning. He was met with Mishima's face still in his hands, shoulders hunched,
looking as if he was expecting to be hit.

"Mishima-kun, what are you doing? Lemme see you." He gently pried Mishima's
fingers from his face, but couldn't do anything about his eyes remaining shut
tight.

"You leave me no choice," he sighed, and leaned close as his mind calculated a
mile a minute. A real hug would be too public for Mishima, too obvious. But
maybe, if he was quick...

Akira brought his hands back up to each of Mishima's shoulders and gently drew
him in. One more time, he stooped down to whisper in his ear: "I had a lot of
fun on our date. Do you want to come by my place to dry off?"

Not a peep. No reaction, other than another hitch in Mishima's breathing. I
know what will get you to pay attention to me, Akira thought. He closed the
last bit of distance and pressed a soft, close-mouthed kiss on the corner of
Mishima's lips.

It was like kissing a wall. Mishima was frozen, stiff as a board, but his eyes
were open now. His dark eyes seemed to fill his face and Akira finally saw that
he was truly terrified. Shame crawled through his belly. "O-oh. I thought... I
thought you -" Akira stammered.

Mishima crossed his arms across his chest, hands on his shoulders, as if to
protect himself. "I, I, I like girls. I can't. I'm sorry."

As Akira drew back to put space between them, he looked up just in time to
witness Mishima's retreat, splashing through the puddles and making a hasty
getaway.

----------

AKIRA: I wrecked everything.
ANN: what happened?
ANN: I'm sorry sweetie
AKIRA: Or, I think there was never anything there to wreck in the first place.
He told me he likes girls.
ANN: whaaaa
AKIRA: I can't believe I misread him so completely.
ANN: yeah what? that's not the impression I get from him either. like, at all
ANN: or like, dunno bout liking girls or boys but I def thought he liked YOU at
least
ANN: did you talk about all this at the diner? maybe it was too much too soon
AKIRA: No, he told me he likes girls after I kissed him outside.
ANN: whoa, uh. speaking of too much too soon
AKIRA: You think so?
ANN: did he even know this was a date? and do you think he's ready to be out?
cuz not everybody's down with that like you are
ANN: like, outside outside? in public? a lot of people from school hang out
around there you know
AKIRA: Oh.
AKIRA: Oh god. I'm such an idiot. He kept checking the street when we were just
standing next to each other too.
ANN: yeah I think we found the problem
ANN: but I may have a solution

----------

Heart hammering, Mishima finally skidded to a stop at the Shibuya station,
trying to ignore the squelching noises his shoes made as he moved. For the
fourth time he searched the crowd - no Kurusu - and he breathed a sigh of
relief. Then he sank against the concrete wall and cursed himself out.

You're such a fucking idiot. Coward. That was the chance of a lifetime and you
blew it.

His guts churned and he felt tears start to blur his vision. What, now you're
going to cry too? At the goddamn train station? Pathetic.

But then he received a chat invite.
 
???: heyyyy Mishima-kun. it's me, Takamaki! ^-^

He squinted, not sure if he had read the name right. Ann Takamaki? How had she
gotten his number? She had never been cold to him, exactly, but they'd barely
exchanged two words the entire time they'd shared a classroom. Worse, he was
certain that her friend Shiho Suzui had told her about his role as Kamoshida's
messenger boy a few months prior. He had had a part in what that piece of shit
had done to her, and now her friend just happened to want to talk to him? He
braced himself for what he knew he deserved.

MISHIMA: Takamaki-san, hi. How can I help you?

Formality was best sometimes. He waited for the conversation to turn to her
friend, and what he had let happen to her.

ANN: so like, hope you don't mind, but Akira gave me your contact info. he just
told me what happened

Oh fuck.

MISHIMA: Uh
MISHIMA: What e
MISHIMA: What exactly did he tell you?
ANN: he told me enough. told me that you looked upset with him today and you
said something about liking girls?

He sighed deeply, now seated on the train and headed home. It didn't seem like
Takamaki wanted to discuss Suzui, and it didn't sound like Kurusu had given her
the full story of what had happened under the awning either. But now he was
even more confused. Where was she going with this?

MISHIMA: Yes.
MISHIMA: Yes of course I do.
MISHIMA: Why would he even tell you that?
ANN: oh uh, dunno
ANN: haha

Several minutes went by after these last cryptic messages from Takamaki, as she
typed and typed, or typed and erased and typed some more. He gave up on staring
at the screen and was squelching out of the station on his way home by the time
her next reply arrived.

ANN: okay I dunno how to say this but just listen for a minute. I dunno if you
guys had a fight or what but I know he wants to go back to being your friend.
he talks about you all the time and he wants the best for you, you know? and
while he was talking to me about how you looked upset at the diner we got a
great idea
ANN: Mishima-kun, have you ever had a girlfriend?

His mind went completely blank.

MISHIMA: What?
ANN: it's a simple question ;P

He stuck his phone in his pocket when he finally reached his house, drilled by
the downpour the entire way, and murmured, "I'm home" to the empty hallway. He
wrestled off his drenched green sneakers and quickly inspected the blisters
they'd given him before unceremoniously peeling off his white turtleneck and
flinging it into the hamper in his room. Finally, he removed his phone from his
pocket, balled up his plaid uniform pants, suspenders and all, and simply threw
them in the corner. Whatever. Then, stripped down to his green briefs, he
cocooned himself in his covers and decided to mope. What a shitty day. He
returned to his phone, lying on his stomach.

ANN: I'm not trying to make fun of you or smth

What did she mean then? Did she and Kurusu just gossip about his lack of a love
life all the time? Is that why they'd been staring at him that day? Well, screw
it. He felt like he was giving her ammo for her or someone else to torment him
later, but it's not like this day was going to get any worse, and he was tired
of trying to figure out her motives. Or Kurusu's for that matter.

MISHIMA: No. I haven't.
MISHIMA: Had a girlfriend.
MISHIMA: Happy?
ANN: welllll, do you want one?

Wha...?

ANN: like, lemme be clear. you're a cute boy but I don't wanna give you the
wrong idea. you're not my type
MISHIMA: You're not... really my type either???
MISHIMA: Wait, cute? What is this
MISHIMA: I mean you're pretty Takamaki-san. Very pretty.

He buried his face in the covers and groaned. He felt a growing conviction that
he was being pranked and that a camera crew would jump out of his closet at any
minute. Had he really just admitted he'd never had so much as a girlfriend to
hold hands with to a near stranger, classmates though they were? He was
sixteen. And then he'd told her she was "very pretty" after she'd just finished
saying she wasn't interested? Takamaki had never done him wrong, but he
pictured her pointing and laughing at him the minute he showed his face at
school all the same.

ANN: don't be mad. but we thought you could use, like, a confidence boost. if
there's a girl you like now, or liked in the future, you could practice talking
to me first
ANN: I guess this is weird because we don't talk at school

He felt like he had whiplash. So Kurusu kissed him, and then told some version
of what happened to Takamaki - why?! Who does that?! - and then she contacts
him out of the blue to offer... conversation lessons? Girl advice?

MISHIMA: I'm not mad. I guess. But I'm confused, because yeah, we've never
really talked.
MISHIMA: Why do you care?

Another long pause while she seemed to consider carefully what to say.

ANN: Akira's my buddy
MISHIMA: ?
MISHIMA: I had kind of assumed you were dating.

But then why did Kurusu...

MISHIMA: Maybe?
ANN: been there, done that
ANN: like, it was a lot of fun, heheh
ANN: but we figured out we were better as friends. and Akira's got his eye on
someone rn anyway

He realized he was smiling. Now that he had some small inkling of what Takamaki
had contacted him about, he felt a little flattered that she was talking to him
at all. He didn't get to have too many heart to hearts with people at school
(an understatement if ever there was one.) She trusted him enough to tell him
about her relationship status, and knew he wouldn't spread it around to the
gossips at school - after she'd been rumoured to be "Kamoshida's bitch," he was
sure she preferred not to give them any new material. She'd even said he was a
"cute boy"... well, she'd also said he wasn't her type in the next breath,
whatever that meant, but he felt his face grow warm all the same. What part of
me is "cute", I wonder?

Then his eyes locked onto the most recent message.

MISHIMA: So like, who does he have his eye on?

Yeah, keep it casual. Not that he cared too much either way, of course.

ANN: that sounds like something you two should talk about after you make up
from your fight ;) not my place to tell his secrets

A fight was not exactly what had happened, but...

ANN: anyway. he's my buddy, like I said. and he wants to help, so I wanna help
ANN: it'll be fun!

That... was debatable. He remembered the earlier part of his afternoon with
Kurusu, the part that had been laid back and relaxed and, yeah, fun. Just
eating at the diner with his friend and taking goofy pictures of each other.
Then he pictured himself and Takamaki in the same booth, struggling to make the
smallest of small talk in a diner full of people. Some of whom were probably
Shujin -

Oh shit, did anyone see me and Kurusu in the diner?!

He'd scanned the streets carefully but it hadn't even crossed his mind while
they'd been eating together. Now it didn't even matter what had really
happened, or hadn't happened. A single Shujin student witnessing him and Kurusu
eating together in a booth - like couples do, shit shit shit - could have just
as easily watched them run outside and then stand together under the awning,
since it was just across the street. The way they'd been standing so closely
could have been passed off as the two of them trying to avoid the rain in a
small space, but what Kurusu had done after that... anyone in the diner could
have seen that.

I'm dead.

But Takamaki had continued typing. And she seemed to have read his mind.

ANN: so like, if you guys are on good terms again, you and me can practice in
this cafe called Leblanc in Yongen. it's nice. and students don't go there, so
you can be comfortable practicing
ANN: but Akira lives there so I think you better make up first

Wait, what?

MISHIMA: He lives in a manga cafe?
ANN: lol wat?
ANN: no no no he's my attic boy
ANN: it's a nice coffee cafe with food and stuff. the owner lets him live in
the attic
MISHIMA: Is he like... an orphan? Geeze, he sounds like Harry Potter.
ANN: lmao
ANN: Imma tell him you said that
MISHIMA: He looks a little bit like him too. And that cat of his could be his
familiar instead of an owl.
ANN: Mishimaaaaa
MISHIMA: Wingardium Cat-iosa! Expecto Morganum!
ANN: omg stopppppppp
ANN: you know, you're plenty confident when you get talking. you and me haven't
talked before now but we could have! I kinda wish I'd talked to you sooner
ANN: maybe you don't need any help
ANN: actually I guess this whole thing was kinda shitty of me
ANN: like, presumptuous? I mean. not everyone has to be dating. maybe you don't
even want a girlfriend
ANN: aw man, I'm sorry. this was a mistake
MISHIMA: Oh, I wasn't thinking that. It's not shitty.

He took his eyes from the screen, thinking hard. He hadn't had such an involved
conversation with anyone in a long, long time. And it was with Takamaki of all
people, something he'd never pictured in a million years. It was actually...
really nice. He was starting to see why Kurusu had decided to remain friends
with her even after they'd broken it off.

MISHIMA: Let's do it.
ANN: are you sure?
MISHIMA: Teach me how to talk to girls, sensei!
ANN: snerk
ANN: k but let's not make things weird. clear things up with Akira first. it's
where he lives after all
MISHIMA: I felt like shit after our fight but I feel like I can talk to him
again now. You're good to talk to Takamaki-san.
ANN: awww <3 no -san required tho
ANN: I liked talking to you too
ANN: lemme know when you've hashed things out with him and we'll go practice

----------

Akira sprawled on his bed, still drying off after having been caught out in the
downpour. His hair was frizzier than ever from the humidity, and he'd changed
out of his uniform and hung it up to dry.

Even after he'd dragged himself home, he felt like punching something. Maybe
someone should punch him instead. Ann seemed busy, since she hadn't answered
him in a while, but he craved distraction from his thoughts and messaged her
anyway.

AKIRA: Do you think this is salvageable at all? Like, if he likes girls then
that's just the way things are, but do you think I wrecked being friends with
him too?
ANN: one moment
AKIRA: I hope no one saw. I can't believe I did that to a straight guy. He must
hate my guts now.
ANN: chatting with him rn
AKIRA: Sorry to make you do this. I bet it's awkward when you two don't even
talk at school.
ANN: hey I offered
ANN: also, he's being freaking adorable
ANN: like, he's cute, but did you know he's funny too? mebbe I'll steal him
ANN: muehehehe
AKIRA: Now I'm jealous. What are you even talking about?
ANN: Harry Potter
AKIRA: ???
ANN: lol yeah he's even making jokes now
AKIRA: Well geeze, I guess talking to a model perked him right up.
ANN: aw, hey, don't be like that. I'm not really gonna steal him you goob.
c'mon
ANN: I think... he's pretty lonely. and he said he was upset after your "fight"
ANN: I think being friends is still on the table
AKIRA: I wish I knew for sure about the whole "I like girls" thing. Like, I
don't wanna call him a liar, but, you saw the kind of signals he was giving,
right? Was it just me?
ANN: god who knows
ANN: but I have come up with a masterful plan to find out
ANN: oh and I hope you don't mind but Morgana has been reading, like,
everything. says he needs to know your drama to while away the hours in your
desk. I think he's really just a big fat snoop
ANN: hay t hat was uncalled for
ANN: he's better at typing than I thought he'd be tho

His convo with Ann tapered off, and Akira felt a little better. Maybe his
chances at going further with Mishima were dead, but Ann made it sound like he
could hold out hope for going back to friends. He'd take it.

He got dressed to go out, remembering an umbrella this time. Might as well
salvage part of his day. Maybe he'd hit up Iwai and get some guns customized.
He crossed the empty cafe, giving Sojiro a respectful nod on his way by, and
placed his hand on the door as he was about to open it.

Mishima was on the other side of the glass.

They yelped in unison, gaping through the door at each other, and then Akira
was struck with a hysterical laughing fit. After the day he'd had, his jangled
nerves couldn't take it. It was too much. Why had he even been startled? Of
course Mishima was here. Who else would it be? He collapsed into a booth as
Mishima slunk into the cafe, trying to figure out what was going on as Akira
struggled to regain composure.

"Geeze, kid, is that how you treat a customer? What's wrong with you?" Sojiro
quirked an eyebrow from behind the counter.

"Oh, uh, it's okay, sir. We're in the same class at school. Kurusu-kun, you
okay?"

"Y-yeah..." He cleared his throat and tried desperately to wipe the grin off
his face, still sprawled in the booth. "You, uh, scared me, that's all." He
looked at his hand and found he still had his umbrella in a death grip, and was
crying with laughter all over again.

Mishima wore a sheepish little smile, and raised his hands into claws. "Boo, I
guess?"

"Stoppit, my poor heart can't take it. Anyway. Heh. Welcome to my humble abode.
Sojiro, can I make my friend a coffee?"

He was in a magnanimous mood. "I'm about to lock up anyway. As long as you
clean up after, knock yourself out." They said their goodbyes and he was gone,
leaving the two of them entirely alone. Akira flipped the sign to closed and
turned the door lock.

An awkward silence descended.

Akira, usually so self-assured, wanted to speak to him but had trouble meeting
his eyes. He busied himself with the coffee equipment instead. But he did get
straight to the point.

"Guess Ann told you where I live. I'm glad you're here, Mishima-kun." He took
his time measuring out the coffee, thinking of what to say. "I owe you an
apology. I made a lot of assumptions and I went way too far. I wish I'd just
talked to you about how I felt instead of just... instead of doing what I did."

He finally raised his eyes to Mishima's, seated in a booth across the room."I
hope that you might feel comfortable enough around me one day to be friends
again."

His reaction surprised him. Mishima sat hunched and small with his hands
clasped loosely on the table in front of him. His lips were pressed into a thin
line, and when he raised his face towards Akira, his eyes shone wet in the dim
light. He looked absolutely miserable.

When Mishima finally spoke, his voice cracked. "I don't... I don't want you to
think..." He swallowed with an audible click and tried again. "You still want
to be my friend?"

Akira was almost speechless. "Wh- why would you think, from what happened
today, thatI didn't want to be your friend anymore?"

Mishima stared at his hands. "I wound up letting you pay for my dinner after
all and then just... ran away like an idiot. I feel like... like I don't know
how to act around you," he mumbled. "I want to hang out with you and I just
wind up - wind up -" He released a long, shaky breath. "Embarrassing myself.
And you."
He risked a quick glance up at Akira from the corner of his eye. "Maybe we
should be, like, friends in secret. I'm just gonna wreck your reputation even
more."

Oh god. "Mishima, I don't give a shit about my reputation."

He flinched a little at Akira's vehemence.

"Do you think I'm like, deaf at school? They make up stuff about me stabbing
someone with a knife, or selling drugs, or whatever the newest one is. You
think me hanging out with you will make them think any less of me than that?
Being seen with you could onlyimprove my reputation, not worsen it. I should be
asking you if you want to be, to be, 'secret friends.' I should be worried
about harming your reputation. Goddamn." Akira ran both hands through his hair
and exhaled deeply through his nose.

"Ugh. I'm sorry, Mishima-kun. I shouldn't be yelling. I'm not mad at you."

But when he turned back to look at Mishima across the counter, he was surprised
once again. Now he was in a laughing fit.

"Uh..."

"Kurusu-kun, y-you s-said... you sssaid..." and Mishima could only bury his
face in his forearms folded upon the table in front of him, giggling
helplessly.

Akira was relieved enough that he decided to just stay quiet and enjoy the
sound of Mishima's laughter while he finished up two coffees. He guessed that
Mishima would like his coffee sweet and was generous with the cream and sugar.

He sat at the booth across from Mishima, sliding a coffee in front of him. "Are
you gonna tell me what's so funny?" But his voice was gentle.

Mishima's face was shiny with tears, but they were only from laughing. "Two
things, Kurusu-kun." His shoulders were still shaking.

"One. I suggested that we be friends in secret, to protect your reputation. And
then you said you should be asking me if I wanted us to be 's-secret f-
friends'-" His voice quaked, trying not to descend into a fit of laughter
again.

Akira took a sip of his coffee, raising his eyebrows at Mishima above the rim
of the cup as he did. "So?"

"S-so S-Secret Friends sounds like some kinda, s-some kinda, super shitty super
hero team in a c-comic book..."

Akira sputtered into his coffee. "Ohhh... oh no, it does..." He grabbed a
napkin to wipe spit and coffee from his chin. "Charming, aren't I?"
 
"The charmingest." They were smiling again, and everything was better.

Akira handed Mishima a napkin, and as he watched Mishima's smile falter,
realizing he still had tears all over his face, he quickly changed the topic.
"Do you like coffee? I live on it."

Mishima granted him a simple, open smile, one that Akira hadn't seen before at
school. "I thought you might. You smell like it all the time."

You know what I smell like...? "Ah, that's actually the beans. There's huge
bags of 'em up in my room." His eyes flicked upwards, indicating the attic
above.

Mishima's eyes lit up. "Takamaki told me you live above a cafe! Is it weird?
You're like Harry Potter or something."

Akira threw back his head and barked a single, surprised laugh. "What? Did we
watch the same movies?"

"W-well, you both... have glasses... and Morgana's your owl..." He paused to
sip his coffee. "I think it made more sense when I said it to her. Hey, I
actually like this. The last time I tried coffee it was so bitter I couldn't
finish it."

Akira gave him a smug grin while stroking his chin like some kind of
mastermind. "I figured you would. It's better to add sugar and cream to
introduce it to someone who doesn't usually drink it. Sorta takes the edge
off."

He snorted. "You make it sound like hard liquor, man."

They sipped in a much more comfortable silence for a moment. Something occurred
to Akira, however. "Hey, Mishima-kun?"

"Yeah?"

"You said you were laughing about two things a minute ago. One was the Secret
Friends. What was the other?"

"O-oh." Mishima suddenly looked like he wanted to hide behind something. "It's
dumb. It wasn't funny anyway. It just made me happy."

"Tell me."

"It just. Um. It made me happy when you called me Mishima. Not Mishima-kun.
When you said you didn't give a shit about your reputation?"

"Eesh. I did do that, didn't I. Sorry, Mishima-kun."

"I just said it made me happy, didn't I?" A shy smile crept across his face. "I
know how you can make it up to me though."

"Delicious coffee isn't enough?"

"Nope. Do you think -" Mishima's eyes cut away, then cut back to his. "-that I
could call you Akira? The way you are to Takamaki, and she's Ann to you?"

"Only if I can call you Yuki."

He was crestfallen. "Mm. About that. I guess it's not fair to ask then. I
actually like Mishima better. Only my parents call me Yuki."

"Hey, if you're okay with us being, like, uneven, then I am too. You don't look
like a Yuki to me anyway."

It wasn't the most logical statement to ever leave his mouth, but Mishima
looked pleased anyway.

Akira took their cups away and washed them in the sink. Mishima gazed forward
out the glass door as the sky lost its colour, fading into twilight. Keeping
his head down, Akira raised his voice to be heard above the water.

"So, Mishima -" Akira watched him out of the corner of his eye as he spoke,
noting the small smile that appeared when he called him that. He made a promise
to himself to use his name whenever he could. "I think... I think we better
talk. About this afternoon."

The smile vanished. "Y-yeah. I dunno how, but. I think we should too."

Akira dried his hands before dropping back to his seat across from Mishima.
"Look, we're in a booth again."

A weak smile in response. "Ha. Yeah, looks like we are." Mishima waited
patiently.

Akira blew his hair off his forehead, trying to gather his thoughts. "So like.
I'm not the best at this. At being, like, open and honest and blunt. I'm better
at dropping hints and seeing if they get picked up on. But I think that's not
the way to go about this. So. Here's a couple things off the bat." Akira ticked
them off his fingers. "Number one. We're still friends, or are friends again,
or whatever. Right? Agreed?"

Mishima gave a firm nod. That was easy.

"Number two. See that lock on the door above the handle?"

Mishima craned his neck to see around Akira, then straightened. "Yup."

"It's locked right now, cuz we're closed, but the second you feel like you want
to leave, you just turn it to the left, chk, like that, and it's open. And then
you're out. So don't... don't feel like I'm trying to hold you here. I don't
want you to feel that way. If you don't want to hear what I have to say, if you
don't want to be sitting here with me, you don't have to. Make sense?"

Mishima nodded slowly.

"But. I hope you'll hear me out. Last one. Number three. I. Well, you probably
guessed it already. I like you. More than just as a friend." He looked at his
hands.

Mishima's voice sounded a bit shaky. "Yeah. I dunno how you can just say it
like that. But I guess I did."

Akira continued to study his fingers. "So. I guess the reason I just went out
and kissed you is because I misread you. I was sending you signals and I
thought I was getting them back but I was wrong. I mean, if I had been right
your response wouldn't have been to run away. That's kind of a bad sign,
usually." His mouth twisted, and he finally raised his eyes to Mishima's. "I'm
really sorry. I won't do it again."

When he looked up, Mishima was biting his lower lip, staring at his own hands.
"You don't have to apologize."

He stammered, "You can't have been wrong about signals, or whatever, because I
don't know what I'm doing. I, I don't know what I want. I never do. I feel...
something... when I'm by myself and another thing when I'm with you and some
other third thing when we're at school or in public. I freaked out when you
did... that... and ran away, but I feel freaked out all the damn time." He
fiddled with his coffee cup, looking defeated. "I wish I talked better. I wish
I were more, more articulate. I don't know what I want," he repeated.

"You know, saying that you don't know what you want is a good start, actually."

"Yeah? Why's that?" Mishima mumbled into his hands, clasped loosely in front of
his mouth.

"Leads to introspection. It leaves a space to figure out what you do want. Do
you think most people do that? I don't think they do. I don't mean to change
the subject, but that's sort of what the Phantom Thieves are all about. Making
a space in your head to break free from the, the formula that others assign to
you because that's what was assigned to them, and no other reason than that.
It's hard to do that because then you have to fill that space with what you
actually do want. And nobody can tell you what that is."

"I think I get what you mean."

Akira's voice became gentle, searching. "So. Mishima. Just after I kissed you,
but before you ran away. You told me that you like girls."

Mishima nodded, looking miserable again. But he forced himself to meet his
gaze. "Uh huh."

"Do you think that that's true? Or did you say that because you think that's
what you're expected to say?" His voice became even softer. "Or maybe it was
exactly the truth, but you don't... only... like girls?"

Mishima couldn't seem to take Akira looking at him any more. He dropped his
face onto his forearms folded upon the table and hid. A muffled groan of
frustration was his only response.

Akira leaned back, satisfied. It was a start. "Maybe that's enough for today.
It's tough. I know it is."

Mishima spoke without moving a muscle, mumbling into his arms. "How did you
know?"

"Hm?"

"How did you know that you liked... boys?"

Unseen by Mishima, Akira scrunched up his face, trying to remember. "It was a
couple years ago, I think. I always liked girls. It was always just there. Boys
were different. I had no idea until I started liking this guy that lived down
the street from me. I noticed parts of him that you probably don't notice when
you're just friends. I thought about his face when we were apart. His laugh.
Stuff like that." He paused, thinking harder. "Or maybe that was always there
too and I just didn't want to think too hard about it. Sometimes you lie to
yourself."

Mishima nodded immediately even as his face remained pressed into his arms on
the table. Something Akira had said seemed to have struck a chord.

"Hey." Akira hesitated, and then, carefully, lightly, placed a hand on his
shoulder. "I feel like I'm interrogating you. You want another coffee? I
figured out how to make lattes. We can talk about something else."

He sat up, and seemed to feel a little better about looking Akira in the eye.
"That sounds good to me."
----------

Mishima was left on his own again as Akira busied himself with brewing coffee
and steaming milk. While he waited, he scrolled through his chat convos and
realized he was smiling. He'd found Takamaki sort of scary in the past.
Intimidating. But she was actually really decent to talk to. Nice even. He
would have never found that out if she hadn't taken the first step and messaged
him.

"Akira?"

"Yeah?" His head was down, pouring the foamed milk into the cups.

"Why'd you and Takamaki break up?"

"She told you about that, huh?" He came to the table and set down their lattes.
Akira had left his plain, but Mishima's had an ornate leaf pattern. "Latte art.
That's the best one I've made yet."

Mishima had gained a little of himself back, and felt good enough to tease.
"Aw, no heart for me?"

Akira simply hid his mouth behind his cup as he sipped, his eyes imperceptible
behind his glasses.

"I'm kidding. You're really good at this barista thing."

"Thanks. It's kinda challenging sometimes, but I like it. Anyway -" He
stretched his arms above and behind his head until both shoulders popped
loudly. "-it was mutual. We like each other a lot. We get along great. Had a
lot of... fun." He smiled deviously, but didn't go into further detail as to
what "fun" meant. Mishima remembered that Takamaki had used the same word and
smiled to himself a little. It occurred to him that they had both given him an
idea of the full extent of their relationship without disrespecting the other,
and his mind compared that to all the explicit locker room talk he couldn't
help but overhear when he'd been on the volleyball team. Akira could've done
the same and bragged about everything he'd done to her in an attempt to impress
Mishima, but he hadn't. He was a gentleman.

"Wasn't love though. Not 'couple love' anyway. It's hard to describe."

"She seems really cool. I only talked to her for a little while this afternoon,
but she cheered me up. She's so different in class though."

Akira cocked an eyebrow. "You are too. You mean she's quiet in class, right?
It's a self-defense mechanism."

Mishima scoffed. "I mean, I guess. Why wouldn't we be? Those gossips at school
will seize onto the tiniest scrap and never let it go." His jaw clenched. "I
hate that I'm assigned to sit up by the front. It's not as bad now that the
Kamoshida thing is a few months in the past, but I still feel like everyone's
staring a hole into the back of my head, waiting for me to screw up. So yeah,
no wonder Takamaki and I are quiet. Can't give the jackals ammunition," he said
bitterly.

Akira's face lit up. "I have an idea."

"Wait, what? An idea about what? Hey -" But Akira had leapt out of his seat and
was already at the wall. He flicked a bank of switches, and the room plunged
into darkness. "Hey-!"

Mishima felt Akira sit back down across from him. He blinked, allowing his eyes
to adjust, and slowly, he found he could make out the pale skin of Akira's
face, the light tabletop, and their lattes in their white cups. A small amount
of light leaked through the glass door from the streetlights outside, though it
was indirect light only. He could see Akira's wild hair silhouetted in front of
the door, and not a lot else.

Akira spoke in a hush, as if the lights being off meant he had to be quiet too.
"How's your night vision?"

"Good enough, I guess... I can sort of see your mouth moving, and your hands,
but not much else." Mishima took another sip of his latte. "Your big idea was
to turn off the lights though...? Is this to make sure people don't think the
cafe is open?"

"No, the closed sign is there. This is for you."

"I don't... get it."

"Thought you might be more comfortable this way."

"Because... ?"

He half felt, half saw Akira lift his hands from the table and tick off points
on his fingers again. "One. You just told me you felt like people were
constantly staring at you in class. Two. When I'm talking to you about...
difficult topics, you tend to hide your face so you don't have to see me
looking at you. Three. When we were outside the diner, you were close to me,
but you seemed to have a hard time being face to face with me. You were always
checking the street to see if people were noticing you. Noticing us."

His voice softened again, lost the business-like tone. "Four. I kissed you in a
public place, because I didn't realize this about you, and because I'm an
idiot. And it made you run away."

Akira decided it would be counterproductive to let on to Mishima that his night
vision was a whole lot better than the average person's, and so he had to watch
in silence as Mishima wiped tears from his eyes with his thumb. It wasn't until
he couldn't help but make a small sniffling noise that Akira allowed himself to
react. "Aw, Mishima. Hey. I'm sorry."

When Mishima spoke, his voice jumped high and low. "How do you know these
things?"

"Was I right? You don't like feeling like people are staring at you? More than
just in class, I mean."

Akira watched him nod in the dark, silent aside from some more sniffling
noises. He decided a white lie was for the greater good. "I can barely even see
your outline. Just a sec." He groped for the napkin dispenser in an exaggerated
fashion and handed a stack to Mishima. "Sorry, just more napkins."

Mishima blew his nose and wiped his face while Akira walked to the door and
peered out, looking at nothing. It was a small cafe, and there weren't too many
places he could stand to give Mishima some privacy. Akira heard the sound of
him stuffing used napkins into his pockets and turned around again. "You okay?"

Mishima's voice just about broke his heart. It was practically inaudible, raspy
and beaten down. "Yeah. 'm fine."

In the dark, Akira came to Mishima's side until he stood outside the booth
where he was sitting, but stopped himself just in time from reaching out.
Touching Mishima as much as Akira wanted without thinking about what he wanted
had gotten them into this mess. He had to have restraint.

But Mishima looked so small.

There was just enough room in the booth on Mishima's side for Akira to slide in
next to him without making contact. So he did.

For a long moment, Mishima just looked at him in the dark. Even with the lights
off, Akira tried to remember the reason they were off in the first place, and
just let Mishima look without meeting his eyes. He looked straight ahead
instead.

"Akira?"

"Yeah?" They were both whispering. Akira was close enough that he could feel
Mishima's body heat radiating from him.

"Friends hug, right?"

Akira let himself laugh, just a bit. "Yeah man. Friends hug." He wrapped his
right arm around Mishima's shoulders, just the way they'd been standing on the
street earlier that day. He both heard and felt a deep sigh escape Mishima, as
if he'd been holding it in all this time. But they didn't look at each other.

----------

They spent a stretch of time like that, not moving much; listening to the
sounds of the trains at the nearby station, the wash of distant traffic, and
each other's breathing. Mishima stirred first.

"Thanks. I feel a bit better."

"Know why?" Akira kept his voice low, taking his arm back.

"Mm?"

"Cuz when a person cries, it releases stress hormones. And endorphins. So
that's why crying makes you feel better when you're done."

"I can't believe you're such a nerd." But Mishima was laughing, a little, and
he sounded better.

Akira shifted his legs, bumping his thigh against Mishima's. "I hate to ruin
the mood. But I gotta go like craaaazy."

"Heh, me too."

Akira stood and gestured toward the washroom like the maitre d of some fancy
hotel. "Coffee will do that. Guests first."

Mishima went, feeling a little awkward but less off balance than before. He
grimaced at his own reflection and splashed some water on his face, trying to
get rid of the tear tracks. When he was finished, Akira had his turn, and they
returned to the booth in the darkness.

Mishima's night vision was gone after the light in the washroom, so Akira was
only a blurry shape, this time seated across from him. He heard the sound of
knuckles cracking, and Akira spoke up. "I'm not trying to give you the boot.
Don't think that. I've got a couch up there you can sleep on if, if you feel
comfortable doing that. But it's getting late. Are your parents gonna freak out
if you're not home?"

A short, wry laugh. "Nope."

"You're not gonna even... text them, or something?"

"We've met up in the Shinjuku red light district a bunch of times, remember?
You think I would be there at all hours if my parents cared where I was at
night? If they even noticed whether I came home or not?"

"Ouch. That... that sucks."

"Yeah, well. I'm off the volleyball team. I'm a nothing to them again."

Mishima could barely see Akira's shoulders and hands move, then stop as he
reconsidered, then move again as he extended his hands across the table. They
slowly crept over Mishima's until they covered both of his. "Is this - is this
okay?"

Mishima hunched his shoulders but nodded in the dark. He didn't pull his hands
back.

"You're not a nothing."

"I think most people would disagree with you." Another bitter laugh.

"You know, that brings up an interesting question though. Shinjuku. You don't
like feeling like people are staring at you, and yet you hang out in places
like that? Akihabara, too? They're packed with people."

Mishima withdrew, but only so he could straighten in his seat and talk with his
hands excitedly. "Oh, that's totally different though! In the red light
district especially, no one's gonna look at me. I'm the least interesting
person there. I can just... be myself."

Akira winced. "You're really selling yourself short. You're, uh, exactly some
guys' type, you know. I think you're being noticed more than you think."

Mishima looked smug. "Oh, those two guys? I know them. You just have to know
how to handle them."

"Uh... and how exactly do you handle them? Because they had Ryuji scared out of
his mind."

"It's like a game. If you tease them back, you belong. If they get too grabby
or too personal with their questions, you deflect to a different topic. It's
actually kind of fun, to talk to them I mean."

Akira was blown away. "And I thought I knew you. Wow. You're really - that's
pretty mature. To know how to handle that kind of attention."

Mishima grinned in the dark. "I thought the same about you. When you were
telling me about your ex, and you weren't just trying to brag about what you'd
gotten from her, like a lot of guys at school would. And you've got your, like,
mad coffee skills. I don't think too many people our age know that kind of
stuff."

"That's us. Coupla mature dudes, sittin' in the dark."

"I guess this is dumb. You might as well turn on the lights." Mishima retreated
further, sinking into the booth's cushioned back.

"Nah. That's not what I meant. I've never done this. It's kinda nice. It's
never this quiet here. Usually Morgana's yowling too, but he's having a
playdate with Ann tonight."

Mishima laughed. "You two sound like a, like an amicably divorced couple. You
must have won custody though."

Akira snorted. "Yeah. I make it sound like he's a pain, but Morgana's good to
talk to. Good company. It's, uh, kinda lonely up in the attic sometimes. I
guess."

Mishima's eyebrows shot up in the dark. "Oh, yeah, hey! I wanna see this attic.
You said you've got a couch for me to crash on?" Suddenly his face fell and his
demeanour changed. "Shit. I didn't even ask if I could come here. I just showed
up at the door. Are you supposed to have people over? I don't want to get you
in trouble."

Akira flapped his hand. "Yeah, s'fine. Really. I've had my friend Yusuke stay
the night. Sojiro's cool with it if we're tidy." He left the booth and crossed
the room, hovering his hand on the bank of light switches. "Reminds me though.
I need to clean up after the lattes. Lights are going back on - cover your eyes
-" Mishima did, until his eyes adjusted. "Why don't you hang out in my room
while I wash up. I need like, two minutes."

"If you're sure it's okay..."

Akira just flapped his hand at him again - "Pssht" - and grabbed a cleaning
cloth.
***** A button to push. "Oh, were you just... pretending I was a girl?" A
little bolder. *****
Chapter Summary
     Akira and Mishima have a long, long chat and get more comfortable.
     Smut abounds. Tags will update with each new chapter.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Mishima climbed the stairs. He wasn't sure what he'd been expecting, but it
wasn't this. Dusty, maybe a little shabby, but quite spacious. And the scent of
roasted coffee beans that he'd noticed on Akira was permeating the space. He
was inspecting Akira's shelf above the desk when Akira reached the top of the
stairs behind him.

"You've got a lot of stuffed animals for a guy."

"You be nice to my babies. I won them all from the claw machine at the arcade."
Akira tossed a spare pillow and blanket onto the couch. "Doesn't look like much
but it should be okay to sleep on. I've fallen asleep there before, at least."

"Good enough for me." Mishima was still peering at everything. "It's actually
kinda cool up here. Pretty different from my room... you get to be all on your
own after closing time -" He turned back towards the stairs. "-but no door!?"
He goggled at Akira. "Geeze, how do you have any..." He trailed off and rubbed
the back of his neck.

"Privacy?" Akira suggested.

"Yeah. That."

"Takes some timing, that's all. Strategy. Ann and I made it work."

Mishima had actually been thinking of Akira alone in his room, not with Ann,
but decided to keep that to himself. Akira was rummaging through a pile of
folded clothing.

"PJs? If you don't feel too weird wearing my stuff. They're clean."

"Oh, hey, I can just sleep in my clothes, it's -" But Akira had already thrown
him a loose t-shirt and a pair of drawstring pants. Mishima shrugged. "Uh,
well, if you insist?" He went back to the washroom downstairs and quickly
stripped out of his jeans and long-sleeved t-shirt, replacing them with Akira's
clothing. He practically swam in them; they were both comically large on him.
But he felt a little pleased when he saw himself wearing them in the mirror.
You're such a dumbass.

He may have been a littletoo quick as he was getting changed because when he
reached the top of the stairs again, a bundle of clothing in his hands, he
interrupted Akira changing into his own pajamas. His own pair of drawstring
pants were on but he had a long-sleeved t-shirt covering his face, half on and
half off; and so he didn't notice, or pretended not to notice, as Mishima's
eyes were drawn to his flat, toned stomach. By the time his face was uncovered
and his t-shirt pulled down into place, Mishima was seated on the couch,
struggling to yank his drawstrings tight enough to keep the pants from falling
down.

"Uh, sorry. Guess we're not really the same size, huh."

"No big deal. Thanks for lending me something to wear." Mishima's face burned
as he settled in on the couch. How can I still feel so awkward around him?!
"Um, so, lights out, I guess?"

Was that a hint of disappointment on Akira's face? "Yeah, it's late. G'night,
then." He removed his glasses, flipped the switch, and they were in darkness
again.

"Oh, I actually feel... really wired... Are you tired, Akira?" It still felt
nice to say his given name.

Somewhere to his left in the void of darkness, he heard Akira laughing. "Oh no.
What have I done? I gave two coffees to a caffeine noob."

"Aw what? Caffeine noob?!" Now he was laughing too. "I guess it's mostly true
though..."

Akira made his voice forlorn. "You weren't ready. I can only blame myself."

"I'll get better, I swear! Give me another chance!" The silence came back as
their laughter tapered off, but it was comfortable again, laying there in the
dark. He eventually heard Akira clear his throat and speak up.

"Sorry. You're gonna be tired in the morning. So am I though. I usually don't
drink that much, that late either."

"I'm not gonna keep you awake then? If we keep talking?"

"Nah. Got something on your mind?"

"Just... just sort of what we've already talked about today." Mishima felt his
heart begin to thud again.

"It's easier with the lights out, isn't it."

"Y-yeah. I guess it is. I don't have to see if you're like, disgusted by me or
something."

"What? Why would you think - I was the one who kissed you this afternoon,
remember?"

"It doesn't have to make sense. I don't make sense."

He heard Akira stirring, maybe turning on his side under the covers a few feet
away. "Don't push yourself. I don't want you to think I've got you here to try
to, try to corner you into something you don't know if you want yet. If I did
misread you in the end then I'll still be your friend. I just..." He heard
Akira sit up quickly. "I know what it was like for me, anyway."

Mishima just lay in silence, one arm folded beneath his head, while his mind
raced. Was this really the kind of answer that would come to him if he
continued on the way he had been - sitting at the front of the class in school,
coming back to an empty home, and sleeping (sleeping alone) in his bed, just to
start it over again the next day? How would he ever figure this out unless he -
unless he actually did something? He remembered what Akira had said. There was
a space that he had to fill with what he really wanted, not what he thought he
wanted. And no one else could tell him the answer.

Stop being such a fucking coward.

Fists clenched, he swung his feet over the side of the couch, marched over to
Akira's bed, and dropped himself next to where Akira was sitting. Something
inside him was cringing, telling him to stop stop stop, but he locked it away.
His mind was set. "Akira. I. I don't know what I want. But I won't ever know if
I don't." He had to swallow, hard, to keep his voice going. "If I don't...
try."

He could see even less than he could when they'd been sitting downstairs with
the lights out. But he didn't need to see to feel Akira stand up from the bed,
step in front of him in the dark, and wrap his arms around him in a firm hug.
It felt kind of awkward to press the side of his face to Akira's belly, and
more awkward to wrap his arms around his legs. But he didn't really care.
When Akira let him go, he climbed past Mishima to the far side of the bed and
held up the covers for him. "C'mere."

For all his brave words, Mishima hesitated.

Akira seemed to sense it and lowered his voice further. "Hey, I don't mean
that. Talking's fine."

A beat later, and then Mishima was tentatively crawling under the covers next
to him. It was a small bed, and there was no way this was going to work with
both of them flat on their backs. Akira took him by the shoulder and murmured,
"Roll that way, okay?" Mishima nodded even as he felt renewed dread flare in
his stomach - from what though? What are you really afraid of? - and faced
outwards.

A second of stillness, and then Akira snaked an arm around him and pressed his
chest to Mishima's back. It was just like how they'd stood on the street, but
more. Akira kept his hips angled away, legs on his own side, but his hand found
the centre of Mishima's chest and stroked him there through his shirt with his
palm. Just a soft, comforting motion. Mishima let out a long, shuddering breath
he hadn't realized he'd been holding.

Akira whispered in his ear, breath puffing against his skin. "See? Nothing too
scary."

Yeah, pretty normal. Getting spooned by another guy in his bed. Not scary at
all. Happens to me every day. But as snarky as his thoughts wanted to be, it
felt... nice. His shoulders finally unclenched, his back relaxed, and he let
himself settle the last inch or two against his friend's chest.

"What do you want to happen, Mishima?"

"I don't... I don't know. I don't know what's even supposed to come next when,
when this happens."

"There's no checklist. Nothing has to happen. We could just stay like this."

Mishima heard what he was saying, and had a vague feeling that he should
respond, even as his brain gave him nothing to work with but noise. "I think. I
think I like... this."

He couldn't see his face, of course, but he could hear a smile in Akira's
voice. "Hugs never hurt anybody." Mishima felt him shift minutely. "My arm's
falling asleep under me though. Think you'd be okay with it going under your
head?"

"O-oh, yeah, of course -"

They adjusted positions, Mishima's neck pressed to Akira's upper arm, and the
warm palm on his chest started stroking him again in small, soft motions. He
closed his eyes as he started to zone out.

Every time Akira spoke, Mishima felt his breath tickle the short hairs at the
back of his neck. "You know, you're not the first person I've kissed, but you
are the first boy I've kissed. Maybe I did it wrong. Maybe that's not what
you're supposed to do."

Mishima's eyes flew open. "Your neighbour though...? There weren't any guys
back home that -"

"I had a dumb crush on him. I don't think he was into guys, himself. I was too
chicken to do anything about it even if I had thought he was. And I didn't get
any further with -"

"You? Chicken?! How could you just kiss me out on the street then?!" Mishima
squeaked indignantly. In his agitation he raised himself onto one elbow and
peered over his shoulder into the darkness in Akira's direction.

Akira just laughed, low and dark, behind Mishima's ear and pulled him back down
against him. "I already told you. I'm an idiot." He held him close and squeezed
him tight for a moment before withdrawing the hand that had been touching his
chest. A second later, Mishima felt him stroking the hair at the back of his
head and neck with the backs of his fingers. Mishima couldn't help but shudder
a little as he felt his hair trying to stand on end.

"Cold?"

His voice was sullen. "No. You know I'm not cold."

Akira's fingers stopped. "Sorry. I shouldn't tease you."

"It's not that. You just always sound like you know everything. Like you know
how to do everything already." Mishima clenched the covers in frustration at
his own stupid mouth. "That came out wrong. I don't mean you're a know-it-all,
I mean that you just seem like you've... like you've done this before. With a
guy."

"Nope. I just kissed you because I wanted to. I thought you wanted me to. We
saw how well that went."

Mishima let out a harsh, annoyed sigh. "But then how can you know? How can you
know you l-like me, that you want to... kiss me, when you haven't even done
that with guys before?"

"Maybe it's easier for me to know because after I moved out here I just said...
screw it. About everything. My reputation started out in a hole and I don't
think it's gotten any better. So what can I lose if I just finally let
myself... like what I like?" Cautiously, he spread his fingertips into
Mishima's hair. "Let myself... like who I like."

A tiny noise escaped Mishima's lips. A bit like a sigh, a bit like a gasp.
Akira seemed to take it as permission and ran the fingers of his free hand
through Mishima's spiky hair, tugging gently at it in handfuls, letting go just
to pull at it again in a new place.

Mishima's voice sounded far away. "Why does that feel so..."

"Nice?"

Mishima just nodded silently. But Akira's fingers froze. He took his hand back
and kept it to himself. When he remained motionless, Mishima tried to peer over
his shoulder again. "Hm...?"

"I think I'm being a bad friend." There was no sign of a smile in Akira's voice
this time.

Are we really still just doing friend things right now? Mishima was willing to
admit he was inexperienced, but he had a hunch that most platonic friendships
didn't go down this road. When he didn't answer, Akira clarified.

"I think this is selfish of me. I'm pushing you. I've had a few years to think
about these kinds of things and you've had... today. It's not fair to you." He
pulled back his arm and started to sit up.

"Akira, wait -"

"I think we'd better stay apart until you've had some time to think about what
you want. If we stay close I just, I'll just keep touching you. Because that's
what I want. But I'll wait until you can tell me what you want."

Mishima rolled over to peer into the darkness where the rest of the bed met the
wall. He could just barely make out the shape of Akira sitting against the
wall, knees drawn up, face turned down and away. Suddenly Mishima felt the
answer clamor into his brain. He knew the solution.

You've spent your entire goddamn life letting chances slip away while you
stayed passive. So it wouldn't be your fault if something went wrong. It's time
to stop being passive.

"I still don't... I don't really know what I want. But I want to know. And I
trust you. So if you're okay with there being a chance that the answer is no...
that I really do just like girls, only girls... then I want to find out what I
want. With you."

Mishima clenched his fists, squeezed his eyes shut, and went in blind. He
crawled the last foot or so to where Akira was sitting, angled his face to the
side, and kissed him.

That was the idea, at least. His aim was off, and he placed a soft kiss onto
Akira's shirt, on his upper chest. Uh. It's the thought that counts?

He heard a shaky, watery laugh in the dark above him. He's that upset? "You
wanna - " Akira cleared his throat and started over. "You wanna try that
again?" Mishima could just make out Akira stretching out his long legs in the
dark, and then he simply waited, perfectly still.

Mishima took every cowardly doubt and excuse his brain was trying to throw at
him in that instance and buried them. Then he knelt and straddled Akira's lap,
carefully hovering to avoid contact, and kissed him gently on the lips.

It felt weird. It felt amazing.

Akira seemed to think so too. He wrapped both arms around Mishima and crushed
him to his chest. One of his hands found its way to his hair and pulled.
Mishima could only exhale through his nose, unable to go on kissing or thinking
or anything else. He remained motionless until Akira broke contact to see what
was wrong.

"S-sorry, when you do that to my hair it's like you turn off my brain..."

A better laugh this time. Akira sounded more like himself. His snarky, smirky
self. "I think I found a button to push."

"I, well, I like it, but gimme a chance to figure this out first."

"Okay, oka-" But Mishima interrupted him with his mouth. He placed soft kisses
on the corners of his lips, on the center, trying to find all the ways his lips
would fit with Akira's. Akira, to his credit, was trying to hold back to some
extent, trying to let him figure it out for himself. But at last he couldn't
wait any longer, and inserted just the very tip of his tongue between Mishima's
lips.

"Mmmf..." That. That was something different.

Hearing that, Akira pulled his face away again. "Now what was that?" Mishima
could just barely see an evil expression cross his face, close as he was.

"Oh shut up, Akira." Mishima grabbed the sides of his face until their lips met
again. He parted his lips and brought his tongue to Akira's lips, just faintly
touching them until Akira opened his mouth on his own.

Man. Why did this feel so different than before? Akira let his tongue in
readily, and Mishima could actually hear him panting. He felt something coil in
his lower abdomen at the sound. He actually likes this? Feeling bolder, he
thrust his fingers into Akira's thick, soft hair - does this work on him the
way it does on me? - and clenched his hands into loose fists; at the same time
he drove his tongue deeper inside, mashing his lips against Akira's.

Akira made a deep rumbling groan into his mouth that started all the way down
in his chest.

Holy shit.

The sound activated something in his brain, and his hips snapped forward
without any input from him. He relaxed into Akira's lap and found out just how
much Akira liked him.

"Dude. Dude, you're -"

Akira looked sheepish. He wouldn't meet his eyes anymore. Mishima just hovered
awkwardly for a moment longer and then climbed off. He'd managed to kill the
moment.

He finally spoke up. "It's not, it's not gross, or anything. You're not gross.
I just don't get why you're... like that." He gestured vaguely at the very
obvious tent in Akira's pants.

"Uh, could it have anything to do with making out with a cute guy in my bed?"

"Yeah but... wait -"

"And maybe you should consider taking stock of your own, ah, state of affairs."

Mishima looked down. Akira was right. "But that's different."

Akira let out a sharp, yelping laugh. "What?"

"It sounds like you've had all kinds of experience with girls before. You've
gone further than this. You're just helping me figure out what I... like. If I
like boys." A new thought occurred to him. "Oh, were you just... pretending I
was a girl?"

"Mishima... no. No." Akira looked hurt. Or maybe he felt hurt for him, not
because of him.

"Then why would you - ah!-" In the near complete darkness, he felt himself
shoved down into the mattress, flat on his back. Akira crouched over him, face
completely unreadable. He raised one loosely curled fist up to Mishima's head,
the knuckle of his index finger extended slightly.

"I. Like. Boys." With each word, Akira rapped his knuckle down onto the top of
Mishima's head. It didn't hurt, but after having been slammed down and now...
this, Mishima felt completely poleaxed. "I. Like. You." He put his fist back
down and supported himself on his hands, planted on either side of Mishima's
head. "Why do you think I said I was worried about pushing you? That I was
being selfish? Why do you think I would say that if I thought you would just...
have no effect on me?"

"I guess I thought. I, um. I guess I don't know what I thought. When you said
you liked me I didn't... I didn't think it would be like that."

Without warning Akira lowered himself until he was lightly resting upon him,
chest to chest; most of his weight was on his knees, placed on either side of
Mishima. Akira buried his face into the side of Mishima's neck and murmured
urgently into his ear. "When I said I liked you, the word was inadequate. It's
true, but it's not the whole truth." His voice deepened into a growl. "Mishima.
I wanna fuck you. I like you, and I wanna spend time with you, and make you
happy. But yeah. There's wanting to fuck you in there too. Not some girl. Not
some other random guy. You." He drew back slowly to gauge Mishima's reaction.

"But why?" From Akira's face, that did not seem to be the desired effect.

Akira sat up, his ass resting lightly on Mishima's hips. "Is this..." He heaved
a deep sigh and ran both hands through his hair, then roughly scrubbed his face
up and down. "Is this a failure to understand what being into guys is about, or
is this a failure to understand why I would like you, specifically?"

He heard a rueful laugh below him. "What's to like."

Akira rolled off of him and sat upright against the wall again. "Are you
serious? I've been checking your ass out in your school uniform for a while
now. I told Ann about it too. I like the ways your thighs look, and the way
your hips flare out a little bit. Most guys, me included, are all corners.
Sharp angles. You're, you're a bit softer." He took a deep breath and
continued. "I can always tell when you're embarrassed, because your ears go
red. You have cute ears." He could feel himself rambling incoherently but it
was too late to stop now. "You've got these big, big dark eyes."

He searched for Mishima's face in the dark but he'd turned it away completely,
so that all he could see was the edge of his jaw. "But I mean, I don't like you
for just how you look. I like that you're so motivated to work on the Phan-
site. I like your dedication. You really want to help the people who live
around here, who post on the forums. And outside the website... at school..."
His voice became low and warm. "You got through all the shit Kamoshida put you
through. You had to see him every day and you still kept showing up to
practice, coming in to school, even when everyone could see you were all... all
beat up. Yeah, you did what he told you to do, but you had to. No one blames
you for that. And even now that it's all over, you still show up. Even though
it's all out in the open and everyone knows what was going on, what happened to
you, you're still sitting in class every day. Up by the front, where everyone
can see you."

He reached out in the dark and found Mishima's hand. "That makes you brave,
too."

Mishima snatched it away and used both hands to cover his face, then made a
small noise in the back of his throat. "Then why am I always fucking crying
around you?!" He rolled over onto his side, away from Akira, and curled into a
ball.

"If it's any consolation, I think the first time tonight was actually from
laughing over Secret Friends."

"Y-yeah. I think it was too." He sniffled a little.

Akira waffled back and forth, indecisive, until he finally sank down behind
Mishima. He drew the covers over them both and wrapped his arms around him,
pressing his chest to his back once more. Just like before, he kept his hips
angled away.

"Do you believe me now? That I like you? Do you get how many different ways I
like you?"

A long pause. "Maybe."

"Do you get..." Akira moved his head forward until his lips were just behind
Mishima's ear, so he could whisper. "...why kissing you would make me hard?"

"God, dude, how can you just say that out loud?" But Mishima was laughing a
little. Maybe just out of awkwardness, but Akira would take it. He brought his
hand up and started stroking the center of Mishima's chest through his shirt
again.

Akira lowered his voice even more, whispering. "Do you feel like you might have
gotten closer to figuring something out about yourself?"

A much longer pause and an even quieter mumble in answer. "Maybe."

Something leapt in his chest and started doing cartwheels, but Akira kept his
voice steady with a great deal of effort. "Did you...did you like kissing me?"

He watched the back of Mishima's head move up and down in a barely perceptible
nod.

Do or die time. Akira steeled himself, then lifted his hand from Mishima's
chest. Slowly, slowly, he trailed his fingertips down his shirt. Through the
thin fabric he felt his ribcage, then his flat, soft stomach. Given all the
time in the world to move a muscle, to ask him to stop, Mishima just lay still,
waiting. His breathing became ragged.

Akira hesitated for just a moment, and then moved his fingers the final few
inches to Mishima's pants. In the warm darkness, his fingers traced lightly
over Mishima's length. The second Akira's fingertips found it, Mishima's
breathing hitched and his cock jumped, neatly fitting into Akira's palm through
his pants.

Mishima felt the familiar inward cringe in his belly as his traitorous brain
yammered in panic. He's going to be disgusted, he's going to kick you out and
send you packing, even if the trains've stopped running, and when you get back
to school he won't even look at you, and -

But Akira didn't stop what he was doing. He just leaned a littler closer for a
better angle and kept touching him through the fabric. His fingertips found the
head and squeezed lightly, until Mishima couldn't stand it anymore. "A-ah, hah,
Akira, hey -"

In one motion, Akira finally closed the distance and pressed his hips up to
Mishima's ass. He was even harder than Mishima, hard as a rock, and Mishima
actually felt it throb against him as Akira brought his lips back to his ear.
"Yeah, Mishima?" His voice was dark and rough, and his breathing was just as
ragged as Mishima's had been when he first touched him. Hearing that voice made
him feel absolutely filthy.

Akira didn't sound or act like this for just anyone. He wasn't pretending. It
was all for him.

Even as his heart quailed, even as his stomach flipped over and over, Mishima
raised himself up onto one elbow and rolled onto his side, towards Akira. He
took his face in both hands and kissed him.

Akira seemed completely flabbergasted. Speechless. Mishima broke off the kiss
to see what he might say, if he'd protest or push him back to where he'd been
laying before, but there was just stunned silence. Mishima felt a weird,
daredevil boldness awaken inside him and actually pushed Akira down, slowly,
until he was flat on his back. And then he climbed on top of him.

Akira was laying just right for a little square of dim light from the window to
catch his face. Mishima jolted a little. He had never seen this side of him
before. He didn't think he had a side like this.

Akira was scared.

Mishima finally remembered what he'd said earlier: that he hadn't done this
with a guy before, either.

Fuck it.

Mishima lowered his face to Akira's and kissed him again. He remembered the
deep, rumbling groan he'd produced before. Could he hear it again? He pressed
his lips close and kissed him deeply, but Akira had become subdued, barely
responsive. It was almost as if they had traded places.

He broke the kiss. "Akira?" Nothing. "Are you... okay?"

"Yeah, Mishima." The words were the same but he sounded nothing like before.
The urgency had left his voice. His voice was small and tentative.

"You don't sound okay. Did I, uh, knee you or something? Somehow?"

He shook his head.

"Then what -?"

"I just. I don't have a plan. I just did what I felt like doing again." Akira's
grey eyes searched his face in the dark. "Do you really like any of this? Or am
I just... forcing you?"

Mishima was lightly straddling Akira's belly, hands resting on his chest and
feeling far more comfortable there than either of them could have imagined an
hour or two ago. "Do we need a plan?"

Akira just blinked at him wordlessly.

"I mean... like, if you just do what you want..." He removed one of his hands
from Akira's chest and placed it behind himself, feeling around.

"And if I just do whatI want -" Mishima continued, and found Akira's cock. He
heard a sharp intake of breath in the dark. The angle made his fingers clumsy,
and it had gone back to half mast in the interim, but his fumbling touches had
an effect.

"-then won't we meet somewhere in the middle?" Still feeling that strange
boldness, Mishima inched his hips backwards, scooting on his knees until he was
in place. He hadn't the faintest idea what he was doing, but that seemed to be
the running theme of the entire evening. He raised himself back up on his knees
and gently, carefully, lowered himself down to the bulge in Akira's pants.

Another hitched breath in the dark encouraged him. He moved himself, trying
various angles, until he felt Akira's cock lining up with his. Aha... More
warmth pooled in the pit of his stomach as his own cock hardened fully again.
He perched there and lost track of time as he explored the two of them with his
hands, marvelling at the differences while he gripped them lightly. It was a
little hard to tell for sure, since he was feeling them through their pants,
but Akira felt... kinda big. Kinda really big. He wrapped his fingers around it
through the fabric, lifted it from where it lay against Akira's belly, and let
it go. It smacked his skin with a solid, weightythwap. He swallowed thickly.

"Mish- " Akira's voice cracked high and he coughed and tried again. "Mishima.
What are you doing."

He had almost forgotten about him."Just, uh. Checking out what you've got, I
guess."

Akira sounded amused. "But... wouldn't you like to be able to see what you're
doing? Because -" And Mishima felt two large, strong hands grab his ass from
either side. "- I would like to see what you're doing." He jumped, and the
fingers squeezed, sinking deep into his flesh. Mishima threw his head back as
his cock pulsed all the way from inside him to its tip.

"Hh-"

"That settles it. I want to be able to see you the next time you make that
noise. Grab your phone. Or mine."

He was off Akira and halfway to his phone before he really registered what was
said. He turned back to the bed in the dark. "You're not... you don't want
pictures, do you?"

"No. Flashlight. Set it on the floor. Get what I mean?"

Mishima did as he was told and fumbled his phone into flashlight mode, pointing
it at the ceiling. He managed to blind himself in the process and half-fell
onto the end of the bed while his eyes adjusted. While he was distracted, Akira
grabbed his glasses and took him unawares; Mishima felt two hands wrap around
his middle, pulling him tightly against his chest. Akira whispered huskily next
to his ear, "You're amazing."

Mishima just let his head relax against Akira's chest and enjoyed the sensation
for a moment. "So... do you still think you're pushing me? Because you're not."

"After you jumped on top of me and started just... playing with my cock? Yeah,
I guess I believe you." Akira actually laughed, and Mishima thought they might
finally on the same page, even as his ears burned and something writhed down
low inside him to hear Akira just... casually throw words like that out there.

His eyes had adjusted, and he twisted to peer behind him. The phone cast a
harsh blue-white light, pooling the corners of the room in black shadows. He
found Akira's face and it was just him. Just his best friend, who was so
worried about hurting him or pushing him or making him feel uncomfortable that
he'd sat talking to him in the dark for hours. The strange boldness growing
inside him still felt foreign but maybe it was there to stay, because he
realized that he could stand to have Akira look at him. For now, at least. Even
in such completely unexplored territory as... whatever it was they'd been doing
tonight, the idea of Akira seeing him didn't seem so terrible.

Mishima turned to face him and knelt on the bed, pressing his lips to him. When
Mishima opened his mouth to him, Akira let his hands roam. He skimmed both
hands up and under Mishima's t-shirt and moved his palms up to his
shoulderblades, around to his front and up to his chest. Mishima could only
utter a choked gasp, breaking off the kiss, as one of Akira's thumbs grazed one
of his nipples. Akira just gazed solemnly at him as he panted, and began to
pull Mishima's t-shirt over his head.

When Mishima sat half naked, feeling Akira's intense stare on him, he wasn't
given even a moment to get his bearings before Akira had pushed him flat on his
back again, pressing him deeply into the mattress. He was pinned, nearly
immobile, with almost all of Akira's weight flattening him. But it didn't hurt.
As Akira kissed him he realized just how much taller and broader Akira was;
where Mishima was slim and streamlined, or plush and curvy, Akira had lean,
toned muscle, solid and heavy. He took this chance to run his own hands beneath
Akira's t-shirt, fingers trailing over his narrow hips and up to where the
layers of muscle lay on his stomach and chest. Akira just let him, now
breathing slowly and deeply next to Mishima's ear. Finally he raised himself on
one elbow to meet Mishima's eyes.

Akira was never going to forget that face.

Nervous, quiet Mishima was panting steadily, red-faced, lips parted. His pupils
were dilated, his eyes huge and very dark. But as he studied his face, Akira
saw his dreamy, almost sleepy expression turn demanding as his eyebrows drew
down. "Akira. I want to see you. All of you."

Akira raised himself off the bed immediately. It wasn't a request. He wriggled
out of his t-shirt and had his pants' drawstrings in his hands when he caught
the look on Mishima's face as he watched him, resting half upright on his
elbows. He could get used to seeing that. The dreamy look in Mishima's eyes was
back as they followed his hands' every move. Akira smirked and held his hands
up high, dropping the drawstrings. "And what about you?"

"Me? I'm already -"

"I want to see all of you too."

Mishima studied his own bare chest and arms in the harsh light. Then grimaced.
But Akira waited him out. They ended up undressing at the same time, just
hooking their underwear down with their pants, then tossing them aside. Flat on
his back and staring at the ceiling, Mishima had never felt so exposed in his
life; his heart thudded in his chest, but instead of covering himself up, he
covered his eyes with his forearm instead. Part of him really wanted to be back
in total darkness, but this would have to do.
He felt Akira's weight settle on the bed, then shift as he placed a knee on
either side of him. Strong fingers gently moved his forearm back down to the
mattress. "Hey. Look at me."

He forced his eyes open again. Akira was kneeling over him, his thighs lightly
touching Mishima's, and Mishima couldn't help but stare. His eyes were drawn
like a magnet. Akira's balls hung low and heavy, flushed dark, below his -

"Oh fuck-" Mishima muttered thickly, and clenched his eyes shut again. Nope.
Couldn't do it.

"Wh-what?"

"You heard me!"

Mishima risked looking at Akira's face; it seemed safer than anywhere else. He
was blushing more than Mishima had ever seen (but had heever seen Akira looking
anything other than completely composed before today?) and his eyes were hooded
behind his glasses. He likes it when I look at him...?

Akira cleared his throat. "I guess I did hear you. But was that a, a good 'oh
fuck', or a bad 'oh fuck'?" The distinction seemed to be very important to him.

"Definitely a good 'oh fuck.'"

"I don't think I've ever gotten that reaction before." Mishima kept his eyes on
Akira's face as he continued to settle into a more comfortable position. His
balls are laying on my leg...! How can he just - But Akira wasn't done talking.

"Meanwhile... you've only peeked at me, but I've gotten to look at you alllll
this time..." A quintessential Akira smirk crept across his face. Mishima's
eyes widened and he jolted upright to cover himself, but it was far too late.
Akira's smirk widened into a devilish grin. "I mean, I knew you were pretty,
but..."

"Oh for-" Mishima flopped violently back onto the mattress, seized Akira's
pillow and slammed it over his face, pressing it in place with both hands.
"Guys aren't - pretty!" He shouted, muffled. "Why are you like this?!" If he
had to be exposed, it somehow felt better if his face could be covered. It
didn't make sense, but there it was. He felt completely overloaded and lay
still, struggling to gather his thoughts.

Akira just laughed and laughed at him. "Youare though..." From beneath the
pillow Mishima heard his voice come closer, then felt his weight shift again on
the bed.

Then he felt fingers grasp his cock.

Shit shit shit - With great effort, he remained still instead of flailing his
legs, where Akira still seemed to be kneeling. Mishima held his breath.

"You're especially pretty here..." His fingers seemed to be exploring him; they
wrapped all the way around him, then tugged at his foreskin gently, then
squeezed the head. With his other hand he cupped his balls, then trailed his
thumb along Mishima's soft inner thighs.

"And you're already so sticky..." Akira swiped a finger through Mishima's
precum and then used it to stroke the head, and it was too much. Mishima's
mouth betrayed him as his face whipped to the side, still beneath the pillow.
"Hnnn-"

In the silence that followed, he could actually hear Akira gulp. Mishima felt
his fingers leave him and couldn't decide if he felt more disappointed or more
relieved. Akira's weight lifted from the bed and a second later Mishima heard a
click somewhere in the room. His weight settled back on the bed but this time
he seemed to have stretched out on his side between Mishima and the wall.

"What did -"

Akira's voice was only a foot or two away now. "If you're just going to hang
out under that pillow, then I'm going to turn the real lights on to see you
better. Shouldn't make any difference to you if you've got that plastered to
your face, right?"

"Why are you so evil?" Mishima removed the pillow from his face just long
enough to confirm that the overhead light was indeed on, and then a second
longer to shoot Akira an exaggerated scowl before shoving the pillow back into
place.

"You know, if you were to kiss me again, I wouldn't be able to look at you
anymore."

The pillow was raised an inch, just enough for Mishima to glare at him before
pressing the pillow down again. No deal. He seemed to have used up all of the
boldness he'd felt a few moments ago.

He heard a sigh from next to him, and this time the teasing tone was gone from
Akira's voice. "We did go pretty fast, huh? S'alright. Come out when you're
ready." He felt the bed shift as Akira clambered over his legs, then settled at
the foot of the bed.

Mishima was just barely able to covertly peep at Akira from beneath the pillow
and through his lashes without moving an inch. He watched the muscles in
Akira's back flex as he sat upright, then gathered his socks from the floor. He
had one on and the other was in his right hand when he... stopped. Slowly,
trying to avoid disturbing the springs of the bed, Akira twisted his torso to
look back over his shoulder at Mishima, still beneath the pillow. He dropped
the sock.

Mishima felt his eyes crawl over him. From where he lay he watched Akira's face
change from a neutral expression to something more like hunger. The blush on
his face deepened and Akira took his lower lip between his teeth. Then he
twisted the last few inches towards him, and now he could see the rest of
Akira.

Akira's right hand was working his own cock roughly, impatiently, while his
eyes remained riveted to Mishima's body. He had been nothing but gentle when he
had trailed his fingertips over Mishima's length, but with his own, he was
merciless. He yanked and twisted at it and when that wasn't enough, he began to
fuck his hand instead. A hiss escaped between his teeth, and his hips bucked
off the bed.

No, not yet - Mishima realized that they'd been touching each other for what
felt like ages, but that most of it had been pretty one-sided. If what he
suspected was true, that Akira had been hard or semi-hard all this time, he
must have been absolutely aching by now. He had to act fast. Mishima flung the
pillow away, rolled up to a seated position beside Akira and seized his wrist.
Akira looked astonished but stopped at once, searching his face. Mishima
relaxed his fingers a bit. "...can I?"

Akira just flopped on his back and let him finally get a good look.

The tiny glimpse he'd gotten before, before he'd freaked out and retreated
again, hadn't done Akira's cock justice. Mishima took his balls in his palm,
warm and surprisingly heavy, and heard Akira mutter and sigh something
inaudible. He moved his fingers upwards, tracing a bluish vein, before he
reached the edge of the foreskin, smooth to the touch and stretched tight.
Mishima's eyes went wide. The head of Akira's cock was dark purple and
throbbing with arousal, and every time he wrapped his fingers around the shaft,
more and more clear precum drooled out and slicked the underside. It was
mesmerizing.

Then he remembered what Akira had done to him when he'd been inspecting his
cock earlier.

He leaned closer and wrapped his hand around the shaft. There was so much
precum that he was able to coat almost the entire palm and fingers of his right
hand with it. Akira took his timid ministrations as best he could, but at last
he couldn't help but make a needy whimpering. He clapped his hand over his
mouth but it was too late. Mishima had heard.

"You uh. You like this, huh?" Mishima stopped to lick his lips. Seeing Akira
laid out like an invitation like this, stomach muscles taut, whimpering, did
wonders for his resolve. When Akira shut his eyes Mishima gathered his nerve,
leaned down, and took the head in his mouth.

He felt Akira tense and relax again, trying to stay still. Mishima dragged his
tongue up the rigid edges of the head, then lapped at the underside, tasting
his precum. He felt a little encouraged when he noticed Akira's hips quivering,
as if he had to keep stopping himself from thrusting. Mishima removed his mouth
just long enough to clamber over Akira's legs and settle between them, then
brought his lips down again. Just do it. He licked his lips again and took as
much of Akira into his mouth as he could.

Akira's muffled panting filled the room. Mishima could see his hips tense and
relax again as he struggled to stay still. Try as he might, Mishima could only
draw his lips down around half or less of Akira's shaft before he felt the head
poke the back of his throat and he had to retreat, gasping. But his right hand
was still slick, so he curled his fingers around Akira's cock to make up for
what his mouth couldn't cover.

Hand still clapped to his mouth, Akira fiercely muttered something else he
couldn't quite make out. Mishima felt a little bolder again and hummed
contentedly with his mouth full.

"Mishima..." Akira's voice broke and he just panted even louder.

He hummed assent and tried to find a rhythm, pressing his tongue to the slit
and flicking the edges of the head as he moved up and down, feeling spit leak
out the side of his mouth. He'd barely been at it for a minute before he heard
Akira inhale sharply at the same time that his cock thrummed and pulsed on his
tongue, and that was all the warning he got. Akira came, and came, and came,
and Mishima did his best to swallow it all as it coated his tongue, but he
couldn't keep up and had to turn his face to the side and cough. His timing was
bad; one last spurt decorated his chest.

Fuck that was hot.

Somehow seeing Akira sprawled out, more than relaxed but with his cock still
dripping, spurred Mishima on to be even more daring. He stayed still, crouched
between his thighs, until Akira finally turned his head to look at him and
opened his mouth to speak.

Mishima leaned down, locked eyes with Akira, and began to lap up the last few
drops of cum from his cock. Akira's eyes widened, then closed, and then Mishima
got his reward. That deep rumbling groan came straight from Akira's chest for
the second time, even louder than before, and for the second time it seemed to
bypass Mishima's brain and travel straight to his cock. He felt it flex,
neglected, and sighed with his mouth full.

Akira seemed to have recovered a little. He sat up and pulled Mishima back up
to his side until they were both sitting cross-legged on the bed.

Akira laughed out of nowhere, loud and hard. "Where the hell did that come
from?!" He drew Mishima into an awkward embrace to soften his words. "Did you
find your courage?"

It was infectious; Mishima started to laugh too. "Um, I guess I did, didn't I?"
His laughter was suddenly cut short as he realized the cold cum smearing his
chest was now sticking to Akira's chest as well. "Think I'd better work on my
skills though," gesturing to what he meant.

"I didn't exactly give you warning though. Too, uh, intense. Snuck up on me,"
Akira murmured and grabbed a tissue to hand to Mishima, then one for himself.

Mishima swiped roughly at his chest and his face, trying to wipe it all off,
then stopped. "Was that... any good? For you?" He ducked his head, avoiding eye
contact.

Akira just pushed him over again, stretched flat on his back, and settled his
weight on top of him until he was pressed deeply into the mattress. He craned
his neck to place a kiss on Mishima's jaw, then put his lips to his ear. "What
do you think?" he whispered.

Mishima relaxed, his chest pressed to Akira's, his hips angled up to Akira's
stomach, and his chin burrowed into Akira's shoulder. "I think, um. I think you
looked happy?" he ventured.

A dark chuckle in his ear. "You could say that." His lips moved even closer to
his ear, brushing his skin as he spoke quietly. "I haven't come that hard in a
long, long time."

All Mishima could do was sigh happily. Akira raised his head enough to kiss him
simply and deeply for a long moment, then dropped it over Mishima's shoulder
again as if it were too heavy to hold up for long. When Akira spoke again his
voice took on an introspective tone.

"I think we have one more thing to take care of though."

"Mm?"

Akira raised himself up on his elbows far enough to look him in the face,
incredulous. "Are you being shy again or just playing dumb?"

When Mishima stayed quiet, Akira lowered his mouth to his ear again. "You're
poking me in the belly with it right now."

"Oh. Uh, that."

"Yeah, that." He levered himself off of Mishima and knelt between his legs.

"Wait- "

He noticed the distress on Mishima's face. "You don't...?"

Mishima shook his head and lay still until Akira was looming over him again,
hands planted on either side of his face. He didn't speak right away, instead
taking hold of Akira's shoulders and drawing him back down to lay on top of
him. "I just want. I think I just want this."

A noisy exhale in his ear. Akira sounded wryly amused. "You really don't want
me looking at you? After everything we just did?"

"Not just that. I, um." He swallowed with great effort and mumbled almost
inaudibly. "I. I like when you're on top of me. You make me feel small." He
cleared his throat and turned his face away as far as he could. "In... a good
way?"

Akira laughed a little, not unkindly, and Mishima felt it vibrate through his
chest, where they were pressed together again. "If this works for you, then it
works for me." But he raised himself up just enough for his arm to come between
them.

Mishima kept his eyes shut but his mouth fell open as Akira wrapped his
fingertips around the head of his cock. Akira propped himself up with one hand
and his knees, still trying to keep one side of himself pressed into Mishima,
as he stroked him gently. Mishima's breathing became shallow as Akira sped up,
fingers slick now. Tiny moans crept from deep in his throat, sounding more like
sobs of hurt than pleasure. All at once Mishima arched his back and bucked his
hips up into Akira's hand with a wet smack, straining hard, then shuddered back
down to the mattress as his cock pulsed between them, coating Akira's hand.
Mishima let out a harsh gasp, then lay still.

A moment later his voice was shrill, almost indignant. "Shit, Akira."

Akira just laughed again.

Mishima stretched out his toes and bumped into his feet, realized that Akira
still had only one sock on, and started to laugh too.

----------

Akira turned out the lights again and cleaned him off; then they sprawled
together in a comfortable heap, bare skin exposed as they cooled down. From
beneath Akira's shoulder Mishima could just see the corner of the window.
"Akira, it's dawn."

Without moving a muscle: "Oops."

"We didn't - we didn't even sleep!"

Akira moved his head just enough to kiss his neck, below his jaw. "Want another
coffee?"
Chapter End Notes
     Hope you liked it! Ann enters the mix in the next chapter - will
     probably be posted about a week from now.
***** Akira is a gentleman. "He even kissed me after." Ann's got it bad. *****
Chapter Summary
     The wingman gets lonely too.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Ann and Akira had broken it off over a month ago, and she'd been relieved to
find that not only could they still infiltrate Palaces just as well as they had
before they started sleeping together, their friendship remained strong as
well.

They'd mutually called it quits when, after a night or two of discussion,
they'd both come to realize that they were really just close friends who'd
ended up in each other's beds. There were no feelings of romantic love, just
very fun sex. That might have continued as well if she hadn't noticed Akira's
eyes wandering to Mishima a little too frequently, long before he'd known his
own feelings. She decided to bow out gracefully and give Akira at least the
appearance of space so he could see where things went, or if he even wanted to
pursue things with someone else in a more conventionally romantic way. The
shopping trips and curry dinners at Leblanc continued; they went back to their
separate beds.

Ann had felt extremely mature when she'd initiated that talk with Akira about
"seeing other people" and that she knew they'd "always love each other, just
not in that way," keeping her suspicions about Akira's inclinations toward
Mishima to herself for the time being; after all, although Akira had mentioned
to her in passing that he'd had a crush on a guy or two in the past, she had no
idea how Mishima might take the news if it were to come up. Better to let the
two of them figure it out without her being in the way.

Now that she was hearing all about just how well they were getting along, she
felt a little pang of... not jealousy, exactly. She really did want the best
for Akira, and that included him being in a romantic relationship with someone
who wasn't her. Part of being a Phantom Thief was being honest with yourself,
and on the night she and Akira had broken it off, she'd done a lot of soul
searching, as had he. When they'd both come to the conclusion that they could
see the other on someone else's arm and still be happy for them, still remain
friends and still work together, she'd known it was the truth and not a lie she
was just telling herself. So she wasn't jealous. It was really just a sense of
finality.

She wouldn't spend another night avoiding her homework while tapping out an
increasingly dirty chat convo with Akira, ending with sending each other photos
of the effect they'd had on each other. There wouldn't be any more massage
sessions, ostensibly to work out knots and sore spots earned in Mementos but
winding up with the two of them making out on the couch in his room.

She wouldn't ever again feel him pull off one of her boots with one hand while
the other crept up her skirt, pinning her to the bed in her girly room and
fingering her mercilessly. The last time she'd feel him inside her had already
gone by, and she hadn't even known it at the time.

But she was happy for him all the same. And although she barely knew him, she
felt a growing happiness for Mishima too. He deserved a distraction from the
shitty people at school if nothing else. It was just that while feeling happy
for each of them, she still had memories of being spoiled with both comfortable
intimacy and sexual pleasure, as much as she could drink in, and now that they
were gone, her house was very quiet and her big bed very empty.

Enough pouting. She flopped on her back onto her bed and returned to her convo.
AKIRA: I owe you big time. Crepes won't do it.
ANN: you'll just have to surprise me with smth big
ANN: I take it things went well
AKIRA: You could say that.

Akira sent an emoji of an orange cat looking very pleased with himself, his
thumbs up and wearing sunglasses.

ANN: guess I shouldn't pry. he's p cute tho, isn't he
AKIRA: Well, I didn't give him any details when it came up that we'd been
dating before. Probably not fair to not give him the same courtesy.
ANN: I like him. I think he's gonna be good for you. if it comes up, you can
tell him some of the stuff we did
AKIRA: And you call Morgana a snoop! You just wanna hear about Mishima.
AKIRA: You know I'd tell you. But I mean, I'll talk to him about it first. If
you REALLY wanna know.
ANN: well... gotta admit I'm curious. like, after what you did to him in PUBLIC
I sorta thought it'd be over before it started. dunno how you got him to come
around after that
AKIRA: Laid on the charm of course.
ANN: do you mean that smirky thing you do? or did you bust out a Nerd Fact
AKIRA: I deny all charges.
AKIRA: I do recall spitting coffee all over my own face though.
ANN: better your face than his. remember that one time with me?
AKIRA: I bought you a new jacket, didn't I?

A different notification - now Mishima was sending her a message.

MISHIMA: Hi!
ANN: Mishima-kun! ^-^ how are ya
MISHIMA: Really really good.
ANN: ohhhh?
ANN: pretend I'm waggling my eyebrows at you right now
MISHIMA: Lol
MISHIMA: Haha... yeah... >_>
ANN: Akira tells me my plan was a huge success
MISHIMA: Wait, your plan? What did you do?
MISHIMA: And... how much has he been telling you?
ANN: no deets, don't worry
ANN: him and me share that stuff cuz we're buddies but he's not just gonna tell
your private stuff without your permission, that's not cool
MISHIMA: That's decent of you guys.
MISHIMA: You should have heard the guys from the volleyball team talk about
their girlfriends in the locker room.
ANN: yeah I can imagine
ANN: IF ANY OF IT WAS TRUE haha
MISHIMA: Fair point lol.
MISHIMA: So I gotta know, what was your plan?
ANN: remember that whole "you could use a confidence boost, let's practice
talking to girls at Leblanc"?
ANN: offer still stands if you wanna, it wasn't a lie or anything
ANN: I think it'd be fun to go for coffee or whatev
ANN: but yeah, that was just to give you an excuse to talk it out with Akira
MISHIMA: You're a genius.
MISHIMA: Cuz you're right, I really wanted to just run away and hide after we
had that fight.
ANN: well, he did tell me he kissed you in public. so I know it wasn't a
"fight" exactly
ANN: he didn't tell me anything else tho
MISHIMA: So you guys really tell each other... everything?
ANN: everything
ANN: I'm not prying tho
MISHIMA: I guess I kinda do wanna talk about it.
MISHIMA: Is that weird?
ANN: nah. everybody likes to talk about their new... whatever you guys are to
each other
ANN: Akira already said he would be fine with telling me stuff, just that he
wanted to ask you first. so I think he'd be cool with you telling me
MISHIMA: That's a relief.
MISHIMA: You won't think I'm... gross though? Weird?
ANN: lol no

You are TOTALLY a snoop.

MISHIMA: Akira really helped me. I feel a lot better now.
MISHIMA: You told me I'd have to make up with him if you and I wanted to go to
Leblanc, so I just went that night without calling ahead or anything. He made
us coffee and we talked for a really long time. He kept worrying that he was
pushing me because I don't really know what I want.
ANN: do you mean, you don't know if you want to be dating or not?
MISHIMA: Kinda. I don't know if I like boys or not. I don't know... anything.
ANN: bet you got an idea now, heheh
MISHIMA: Well I definitely know that I like Akira!
ANN: lol
MISHIMA: So we kept talking in the cafe, and he even turned off the lights for
me.
ANN: ???
MISHIMA: Oh. Uh, I guess I was embarassed for him to see me when I was so
upset. I feel like people stare at me sometimes.
ANN: oh gotcha
ANN: then what
MISHIMA: He, um, started touching me.
ANN: in the cafe still?! he just... groped you?!
MISHIMA: No!
MISHIMA: I was... sad. So he hugged me. And held my hand.
ANN: aww
ANN: okay good. after kissing you outside like that I was worried you meant he
like jumped you in the dark lol
MISHIMA: Akira is a gentleman.
ANN: ...
MISHIMA: Kind of.
ANN: yeah maybe with YOU lmao
ANN: when it was me and him I was a bit more sure of what I wanted than it
sounds like you are. so we kinda just jumped in with both feet
ANN: I'm glad he's taking it slower with you tho, I think you need some more
time
MISHIMA: I don't... know if I'd call it taking it slow.
ANN: there's more?
MISHIMA: Yeah, we went up to his bedroom after that and he made up the couch
for me.
ANN: and???
MISHIMA: I don't know if you wanna hear all the details.
ANN: oh but I do
ANN: but if you're uncomfortable I'm not gonna pressure you. you don't have to
tell me
MISHIMA: You won't think I'm disgusting?
ANN: no way. as long as you don't think I'm disgusting for probly doing the
same stuff with him that he did with you lol
MISHIMA: That makes sense.
MISHIMA: So... like, I could tell by now that he was at least trying to go
slow. I was still kinda upset about things and he called me over, and we, um,
snuggled.
MISHIMA: DON'T LAUGH
ANN: not laughing!

She had laughed at her phone, of course, she couldn't help it, but she wasn't
going to tell him that.

MISHIMA: Akira is my first kiss.
ANN: AWWWW <3
ANN: you mean outside the diner tho? or
MISHIMA: I hate how I acted that time though. And I didn't even kiss him back.
So it doesn't count.
MISHIMA: We... started making out in his bed?

She kicked her legs up and down on her bed and squeed.

ANN: eeeee I'm so happy for you!
ANN: was it nice
MISHIMA: Kind of?
MISHIMA: I feel dumb now. But when it was happening I don't think I could
believe that he really... liked me.
ANN: a dude has you in his bed kissing you and you don't think he likes you
even a little?
MISHIMA: I know, I know! That's what he said too.
MISHIMA: But he got
MISHIMA: Aggggh why am I even telling you this!
ANN: you don't have to
ANN: we can talk about smth else

There was a long pause, long enough that Ann started browsing the internet and
checking her email. A few minutes later, he continued.

MISHIMA: HE GOT HARD

She threw back her head and cackled, feet kicking again. You poor boy...

ANN: that's... supposed to happen tho
ANN: um. doesn't that... happen to you sometimes?

She covered her mouth with her hand, trying to stop giggling. Did he skip that
day in health class?

MISHIMA: If you tell anyone else what I'm telling you I'll dig a hole and bury
myself.
ANN: my lips are sealed
MISHIMA: It, uh, happened to me too.
ANN: then??? why would you be confused that he was too???
MISHIMA: I dunno! I knew I liked it but I didn't think he really did! I thought
he was just... helping me! I thought he was like, imagining he was with someone
else. A girl.
MISHIMA: You maybe.
ANN: did he say smth that made you think that?
MISHIMA: No...
MISHIMA: I'm dumb, I know.
ANN: pat pat
ANN: there there
ANN: tell me more of this Tale of Two Boners
MISHIMA: Oh my god don't say that.
ANN: XD
MISHIMA: I freaked out and he... told me all the reasons he likes me.
MISHIMA: Actually he held me down and told me he wanted to
MISHIMA: Uh
MISHIMA: Told me he wanted to fuck me.
MISHIMA: And then told me why he likes me.
ANN: ai yi yi
ANN: he can be sort of scary sometimes can't he
MISHIMA: YES

She reread what Mishima had wrote. Her left hand trailed down to her waist,
hovered, then lay flat. She shouldn't.

MISHIMA: But then it was like he realized he was being scary and he backed off
all at once. Said he was pushing me again. And I hadn't been thinking about it
until then but I realized he'd been, uh, doing all the touching.
MISHIMA: He actually looked kind of scared.
ANN: he was really worried about losing you as a friend you know. he told me
before you went over there that if you didn't like boys, that was just how it
had to be, but that he really wanted to still be friends
MISHIMA: He said that?
ANN: yeah he did
MISHIMA: Wow.
ANN: yeah he doesn't just want in your pants
MISHIMA: He kept saying that he didn't want to push me and that he wanted to at
least be friends. But I guess hearing it again still helps.
MISHIMA: Anyway. So, when he backed off I knew I had to stop being a coward. I
didn't want him to think I didn't want to be there.
MISHIMA: So I, um, sat on him and grabbedhiscock aggggh this is so
embarrassing...
ANN: WOOO go Mishima-kun!
ANN: bet he liked that ;)
MISHIMA: He, uh, seemed to...

Her left hand trailed lower and began to tug on her panties. She pulled them
tight against her, back and forth, and rubbed her thighs together as a heat
unfolded deep in her abdomen.

MISHIMA: He grabbed my ass!
ANN: omg how could he?! how dare
ANN: lmao
MISHIMA: It just surprised me I guess.
ANN: you do have a nice ass
ANN: guess you caught Akira and me checking you out that one day
MISHIMA: Is THAT what you guys were doing?
MISHIMA: I mean, thanks?
MISHIMA: You said I wasn't your type though.
ANN: I guess you're growing on me, heheh

A bit of a pause as Mishima seemed to be processing new information.

MISHIMA: Uh, anyway. So he convinced me to undress.
ANN: you had clothes on that whole time???
ANN: WHY
MISHIMA: I'm shy okay?!
MISHIMA: I'm not much to look at, especially next to him.
MISHIMA: How did he get those muscles?! They don't even show under his clothes.
MISHIMA: And then he took his pants off, and...
MISHIMA: Well I guess I don't need to tell you. You already know.
ANN: yeah bb
ANN: that fat cock of his is all yours now
ANN: get it girl
MISHIMA: What?
ANN: nothin
MISHIMA: I, uh, found it kind of intimidating.
ANN: I did too
ANN: at first
ANN: nice to look at tho, huh
MISHIMA: Yeah but... he seemed to like looking at me but I don't really get
why. I don't... have as much to work with. Down there.
ANN: well duh
ANN: he's way taller than you and like, WAY bigger. his build I mean
ANN: it would be weird if you were as big
ANN: if that's what you mean. I'm sure you're like, proportionate
MISHIMA: Oh. I guess that does make sense.
ANN: and I bet he liked you just fine right?
MISHIMA: Yeah I guess so. Kept touching me anyway.

It had been a while and she felt her resolve crumbling. Her left hand crept
beneath the waistband of her pajama pants and settled on her panties. Her index
finger found her slit and stroked it gently through the fabric, already damp.

MISHIMA: But I kept hiding and then he stopped.
ANN: hiding?
MISHIMA: Under a pillow. >_>
ANN: oh Mishima-kun
ANN: you still felt shy even then?
MISHIMA: Yeah.
MISHIMA: It was really hard for me, okay?
ANN: I BET IT WAS
MISHIMA: Oh shut up. I guess I walked into that one.
ANN: snerk
MISHIMA: I could see him give up and I guess he was feeling, like, pent up,
because he started really... grabbing himself. Really rough.
ANN: how so

She ground at her clit through her panties with the heel of her hand, fingers
digging into her flesh below. Her breathing quickened.

MISHIMA: I dunno how to put it. It almost looked like it should have hurt. He
was so wound up that his fingers were like, sinking into his cock. Super fast,
super rough.
ANN: there, see? he was like that bc of you

She slipped her index finger beneath her panties and slicked along her slit,
stroking her lips.

MISHIMA: Jizz tastes really weird, doesn't it.

She choked back a laugh even as her finger sped up, flicking at her clit.

ANN: you're telling me? YOU MAKE THE STUFF
ANN: lmao
MISHIMA: I never tasted mine! Geeze!
MISHIMA: It went everywheeeeere. Ugh. I gotta do better next time.

She allowed herself a little moan.

ANN: I'm sure you will
ANN: I bet you're better at it than you think
ANN: sucking dick I mean
MISHIMA: You're so vulgar lol.
MISHIMA: But, he seemed to be happy enough. He even kissed me after, even
though I bet I tasted weird.

She thrust two fingers inside, all at once, coating them with her liquid.
"Hfff..." She pistoned them in and out as the heel of her hand rubbed against
her clit.

MISHIMA: He said he wanted to see me again. :)
MISHIMA: Maybe I'll take you up on your offer anyway, even if it was just part
of your plan. I could use your advice on how to not be so... weird. Shy.
MISHIMA: So, wanna do coffee at Leblanc sometime?
ANN: yeah!
ANN: gotta go tho, ttyl
MISHIMA: Oh, uh, okay. Thanks Takamaki-chan. Ttyl!

She dropped her phone immediately and yanked her pants and underwear down. She
took full advantage of the better angle and drove her fingers home over and
over, whining quietly, until her orgasm overtook her. When the spasms subsided
she wiped her fingers off on a tissue and felt her stomach knot. What the hell
is wrong with you. She buried her face into her pillow and tried to stop
thinking about Mishima.
----------

Several days later, Ann watched Akira and Mishima text each other from across
the classroom. To be more accurate, she listened to Akira tap into his phone
from the desk behind her and watched MIshima's ears redden as he read his.
Hearing Morgana mutter, "You guys are gross" behind her just confirmed what
they'd been texting about. She grinned to herself and returned her attention to
the board.

----------

That afternoon, Ann met Mishima at the Yongen train station after school. It
felt weird to head to Leblanc without Akira; they'd both invited him but he'd
declined, saying he'd already promised to work out with Ryuji. He'd stuck his
tongue out. "Guess you'll have to settle for coffee made by Sojiro today." Ann
had just shoved him in the hallway, stuck her own tongue out in return, and
left with Mishima.

Sojiro was indeed there, wiping the countertop in the otherwise deserted cafe.
He nodded at Mishima. "Oh, you again?" He already knew Ann; if he'd guessed the
reason she'd kept coming by to meet up with Akira just before closing time, he
kept it to himself. "Nice to see you, Takamaki-chan."

Mishima introduced himself politely and ordered their coffee, refusing at first
but eventually accepting when Sojiro insisted they were on the house. Ann waved
him over to the booth closest to the door, which happened to be furthest from
where Sojiro was leaning on the countertop and watching the news.

"Wellll?" She pressed as he set their drinks down. "I saw you two texting in
class." She looked smug. "Try to be subtle, Mishima-kun."

"What?! I'm... I'm subtle!"

"If Ushimaru caught you with your phone out in his class and read the screen to
everyone, would you be more embarassed or less embarassed than if you'd been on
the Phan-site?"

His eyebrows shot up. "Oh. Uh. Yeah, I didn't think of that."

But suddenly he leaned forward in the booth, looking determined. "Hey! We're
not here for you to tease me! I told you practically everything. When are you
gonna tell me something good?"

She just sipped her coffee quietly and let him squirm for a moment. "Something
good? About what?"

"About... you. Who you like right now. Or, or something about -" He lowered his
voice, checking to gauge how well Sojiro could hear their conversation from the
other side of the room. "-you and Akira."

"You wanna go into detail here?"

"Just like, send me a chat message if it's something you shouldn't say out
loud."

More Futaba-mode communication... But she had to admit it was the stealthiest
way. "Well, okay. But talk out loud when you can. We're here for 'conversation
lessons', remember?"

He fiddled with a napkin in front of him. "Maybe I don't need 'em after all. I
feel like I can talk to you at least. And, well, if I keep seeing Akira, maybe
I won't really need to know how to talk to girls anyway."

An evil grin spread over Ann's face. "Going that well, huh? Not just a one
night stand?"

"W-well, I guess we didn't talk about, like, our relationship status yet...?
When are you supposed to do that?"

"Apparently never, if you look at me and him. We just... spent time together.
Other people probably would have thought we were dating, like officially,
romantically dating, but." She shrugged.

He flopped back into the booth, sprawling. "So not boyfriend and girlfriend?
Maybe that's what Akira wants with me too. Just, uh, having fun together."

She raised her eyebrows, resting her chin on her hands. Her interest was
piqued. "Is that what you want?"

He hid his face in both hands. "Ugh. I don't-"

"-know what I want," she repeated in sync with him. When he peeped between his
fingers to scowl at her, she just threw back her head and laughed.

"Sorry. You're cute when you're mad."

He just scowled harder. "Don't tease me, Takamaki-chan."

"Hey. Just Ann is fine."

To her surprise he looked away and grimaced. "I'd like to. But I don't really
like my first name, so is it okay if...?"

"If you stay Mishima? 'Course."

He gave her a sweet, honest smile, very different from his guarded expressions
at school. Her stomach turned over and she quickly smiled back.

Oh no...

You can't fall for him. You just can't.

Suddenly he pointed a finger in her face. "You! Are dodging my question!"

"Uh, what?"

He steepled his fingers and peered down his nose at her like some kind of
villain. "Who... do you like at school?" He squinted. "Bet it's... Sakamoto."

"Barf. Ryuji? Why does everyone think that?"

He blinked, taken aback. "Well, you hang out a lot for not even being in the
same class. And you sorta squabble like you like each other."

"That means nothing. We've been friends since I moved here in middle school."
She rolled her eyes. "And we did try dating. Lasted a week."

"Really? I never heard about that. What went wrong?"

"Nothing really went wrong... just, you know, incompatible. He's so immature."
She started running her fingers through her hair. "Like, we're friends. Don't
get me wrong. But it was nothing like how I could be both friends and more than
friends like I was with Akira."

At 'both friends and more than friends,' his eyes tipped to the ceiling,
considering something. "Do you think that happens often? People just, like,
hooking up or whatever but not needing to be in love. And no jealousy either,
if it ends."

"Like with me and him?" Mishima nodded, and she considered the question. "I
mean, I think it can happen. Cuz you're right, I don't feel jealous of you and
him at all."

He sighed and laid his forehead down on the table. He spoke directly into the
tabletop and it echoed back weirdly, amplified. "That's a big relief. I thought
you might be though. When you kept asking for details about how me and Akira
were, like, grabbing-"

Ann kicked him in the shin with the toe of her boot, hard, under the table.
Then smiled at him, saccharine sweet, and gestured with her head to Sojiro
standing less than a dozen feet away.

He gulped and they both picked up their phones.

MISHIMA: Oops.
ANN: v smooth
MISHIMA: Good catch though.
ANN: anyway. if we're doing text, it... makes it easier to confess something to
you
MISHIMA: What is it?
ANN: I didn't know it was going to happen. please please believe me when I say
I don't wanna come between you two. I think you guys are good together
MISHIMA: But...?
ANN: I wanna be your friend, so I'll just be honest about it. I think I'm
starting to like you. or like, I'm into you

She put as much heartfelt apology as she could into her expression as she
looked at him over the table.

ANN: not romantically. I don't think so anyway. more like how I was into Akira,
before

He gawked at her, speechless.

MISHIMA: You mean you don't want to date me but you do want to...?

She just nodded.

ANN: I mean, maybe? like
ANN: ugh, this was gross of me. I hope you don't hate me. but, I'll just...
tell you
ANN: when I pressed you for details about you and Akira I was being nosy. but,
uh, there were ulterior motives too

His face hardened a little, suspicious.

MISHIMA: What, are you passing around what we did? Did you tell someone?
ANN: no! definitely not
ANN: I'm not like that. I'm not like those shitty gossips at school

He nodded at her, looking relieved, and waited for her to go on.

ANN: but
ANN: I, um, found it p hot
ANN: I may have been, um
ANN: you know
MISHIMA: I really don't.
ANN: goddammit Mishima
ANN: thinking about you and Akira turned me on, okay?

She stuck her phone in her pocket and booked it for the washroom, pigtails
flying.

Sojiro quirked an eyebrow at Mishima, who could only attempt to shrug
innocently, his face beet red.

Ann took a long time to come back to the booth, feeling a bit more composed.

MISHIMA: So while I was telling you all that the other day, you felt...? Just
from reading chat messages?

She nodded contritely at him.

ANN: ugh, I'm sorry. it just... happened. when I started asking you how it went
I just wanted to know because I wanted things to go well for you and him
MISHIMA: And you felt turned on, so then you started...?

A big nod from her across the table.

MISHIMA: Whoa.
MISHIMA: So you were thinking about what you used to do with Akira, and?
ANN: no no. not just him. I was, um, picturing the two of you
ANN: together
MISHIMA: Me? Why me?
ANN: how many times do I have to call you cute before you believe it?
MISHIMA: I didn't think 'cute' meant THAT though!
ANN: okay then, I think you're hot?
ANN: sexy?

He straightened up in the booth and gave her a truly dopey grin, face even
redder than before, if that was possible.

MISHIMA: Well aren't I Mr. Popular.
MISHIMA: Dunno what I've been doing lately to attract all this attention but I
guess I'd better keep it up, huh?

Is he actually flattered?

The tension melted away and they finished their coffees in silence, preoccupied
with their thoughts.

She cleared her throat delicately. "So, like, I hope we can continue- " She
waggled her hand vaguely between the two of them, then expanded the gesture to
the rest of Leblanc. "-this. Being friends. Without it... being weird."

His face fell. "I think what we really gotta worry about is how Akira feels. I
can still see myself being friends with you even if you, uh, like me, but I
wouldn't want him to think something more is going on when it isn't."

"Yeah, I think I'll just... show him our chat convo the next time I see him, if
it's okay with you."

He let out a low whistle. "You really do share everything with him, don't you?"

"Definitely. And if he thinks it's weird, if he thinks we're like, sneaking
around behind his back, then I'll back off. We'd have to be school friends
only."

His eyes lit up. "Ooh, 'Secret Friends...'" She tilted her head a little and he
smiled. "Uh, nothing."

They gathered up their things and left, parting ways when their trains came.

----------

Two days later, Mishima hunched at the desk in his room, one foot curled
beneath him, as he tapped at his phone.

MISHIMA: So she showed it to you today?
AKIRA: Yeah.
MISHIMA: Pretty, uh, wild huh?
AKIRA: Maybe not.
AKIRA: What do you think of Ann? She told me you said she wasn't your type.
MISHIMA: I guess I didn't mean it though. I just said it because she'd said it
first.
MISHIMA: Like, what else do you say when someone says you're not their type out
of nowhere?
MISHIMA: I like Ann. Without her I might not have, uh, gotten to know you
better.
AKIRA: Not that, dummy.

Akira sent him an emoji of a cat sticking out its tongue to soften the insult.

AKIRA: Physically.
AKIRA: Actually, what do you even think of girls in general?
AKIRA: Think you're bi like me?
MISHIMA: Sigh. Dunno. Why is this so hard for me?
AKIRA: That's what she said. Actually, that's what you said when you were up in
my room last.
MISHIMA: What?
AKIRA: Nothin.
MISHIMA: So like... I like Ann. I'd like to get to know her better. I think we
could be friends.
MISHIMA: Are you okay with that though? After she said she did... that... while
chatting with me?
MISHIMA: I guess I'm asking if that makes you jealous. I don't really know what
our, like, status is.
AKIRA: I don't... know either?
AKIRA: You wanna be exclusive?

Mishima exhaled noisily. It hadn't really occurred to him that that was an
option - to not be exclusive, to not limit himself to Akira and Akira only.

MISHIMA: Wow.
MISHIMA: Uh. Like, what would INclusive look like?
AKIRA: Well, we're just talking here. Just throwing out ideas. So don't think
I'm advocating one way or the other. I wanna hear what you think first.
AKIRA: Do you feel any attraction to Ann?

Mishima stared at his screen for a very long time.

MISHIMA: I found her intimidating before. I never pictured her even speaking to
me outside of class until the last couple of weeks.
MISHIMA: But I like talking to her. And of course she's pretty.
MISHIMA: And when she told me she was actually... when we were talking... like,
yeah, that's pretty flattering.
MISHIMA: I thought she just meant she was remembering spending time with you,
but no, she said she thinks I'm sexy.
AKIRA: Cuz you are.
MISHIMA: Oh shut up.
MISHIMA: I just mean that... like, if I thought she was gross or something, I
wouldn't feel flattered to hear that, right?
AKIRA: Flattered to hear what? To hear that a literal model was masturbating at
the thought of you naked and hard in my bed?
MISHIMA: GOD YOU TWO ARE THE WORST.

He sent an emoji of a STOP sign.

AKIRA: Okay, okay. But this presents an interesting idea, right?
MISHIMA: What?
AKIRA: Exclusivity doesn't have to be the default. As far as I'm concerned, I'm
liking what you and me have. I'd like to continue with you, see where we end
up.
AKIRA: But like, from what you've shown me, and told me, Ann's interested in
you.
AKIRA: What if you and her tried some things out?
MISHIMA: I'm guessing you don't mean like, going out to eat somewhere. Or going
to the movies.
AKIRA: I mean you COULD.
AKIRA: I meant more like what you and me were doing the other day.
MISHIMA: But I'm really happy with you.
MISHIMA: Like, sorry if that sounds clingy...? I know it hasn't been very long.
AKIRA: Not clingy. I'm really happy with how things are going so far too.
AKIRA: But we can keep on the way we have been, and you could get to know Ann
better too.
AKIRA: I don't think I'd be jealous. I'd be happy for you two.
MISHIMA: And if you realized it DID make you jealous?
AKIRA: Then we'd talk about it. If nobody's hiding anything then there's
nothing to be jealous about, right?
MISHIMA: This is so weird.
AKIRA: Take some time to think about it. You don't have to do anything you
don't want to. She'll understand if you just wanna be friends.
MISHIMA: In the mean time... wanna go out for dinner somewhere tomorrow? I
won't let you pay this time!

----------

Later that night, Ann sat alone in front of the TV in her living room, not
paying it any attention.

MISHIMA: He seemed to take it really, really well.
ANN: Akira's cool like that
ANN: and yeah, when I showed him the convo he like, wasn't even SURPRISED
ANN: so... he really said that tho? he suggested you and me, uh, spending time
together?
MISHIMA: Yeah, it was his idea!
ANN: and what do you think?
ANN: if it ends up too weird there'd be no hard feelings. like, do you even
like girls?
MISHIMA: I think I do?
MISHIMA: I've never had a girlfriend, like I said before.
ANN: yeah but, you must... watch porn right? guys do that
MISHIMA: Both of you are so blunt, eesh.
MISHIMA: I, um, tried it, years ago. And I think I gave up on it right away
because I thought I was looking at the guys too much instead of the girls, lol.
MISHIMA: I can laugh about it now, but. Yeah. Just made me uncomfortable.
ANN: so you don't look at anything like that...?
MISHIMA: Uh
MISHIMA: Does ero-manga count?
ANN: XD
ANN: yes I think it does
ANN: any common theme to what you like?
MISHIMA: No...
MISHIMA: I like it if it's well-written?
MISHIMA: What manga do you like?
MISHIMA: OMG I know what you like, don't tell me!
MISHIMA: You're into BL manga, aren't you. ;)
ANN: what! boys love manga???
ANN: dude, not all girls like BL
ANN: don't be like that
MISHIMA: I didn't say that just because you're a girl lol.
MISHIMA: You reeeeeally don't like BL? Are you suuuuuure?
ANN: oh shit because I was...? while you were telling me about you and Akira?
ANN: well, uh, fuckin touche then lmao
ANN: maybe I have a new genre to check out
MISHIMA: We should go manga shopping sometime.

She smiled to herself in the dark living room and felt some of the loneliness
she'd been experiencing for the last few weeks lift away.

ANN: it's a date
ANN: BUT
ANN: I'm more interested in, ahem, getting to know you better in a different
way
ANN: my house is empty on Sundays you know
MISHIMA: I, uh, like you. For sure as a friend, at least. But I feel like I
just met you. Or just got to know you.
ANN: I'm not asking for a boyfriend tho
ANN: oh hey. idea. do you know what experimenting is?
MISHIMA: I'm gonna assume you're not talking about wanting to be my lab partner
in science class.
ANN: heh. nah it's a thing you do when you go away to college. or some
Americans seem to do it anyway. it's like, once you're away from everyone who
knows you, you can take some time to figure out what you like. so there's no
one to judge you for who you sleep with or what you're into
MISHIMA: Weird. I've never heard of that. Do college students do that here?
ANN: I bet they do and they just keep it quiet
ANN: but it's just like, trying things out. trying out being gay is a common
one. but if you tried something out and it wasn't for you, you'd just go back
to the way you were before. it doesn't have to change you or be permanent
MISHIMA: I guess I kinda did that with Akira without knowing what it was
called.
ANN: yeah maybe
ANN: but like, couldn't you and I do that? if you didn't like it, if I didn't
turn you on, we could just watch movies or smth and then go back to school the
next day
ANN: wouldn't have to be weird at all. I think we already get along well enough
that we could just hang out whatever the answer is
MISHIMA: I wish I had known what that was before. I think I'd have been a lot
less freaked out at Akira's place.
MISHIMA: You know what?
MISHIMA: I'll come over on Sunday then.
MISHIMA: I said to Akira that I won't know what I like until I try new things
to find out. If I freak out again we'll... braid each other's hair or
something? Lol
ANN: aw yiss
ANN: bring your jammies and we'll have ourselves a sleepover c:<
Chapter End Notes
     The next chapter is much less chat convo-heavy! If Ann is not your
     thing, don't worry - it's not just an Ann-centric fic for the rest of
     the storyline.
***** Minor setback. Tit for tat. "I didn't know girls liked that." *****
Chapter Summary
     Ann gets her time in the sun.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
To Ann's surprise he really did bring his pajamas.

"I was joking! Oh my god, Mishima." She was laughing, though not derisively.

He looked stressed out already, eyebrows drawn together and shoulders hunched.
He must have really had to psyche himself up just to show up at her door. "Well
it's not my fault! It's hard to tell if you're joking in text!"

"I'm just teasing you." Ann poked her head out the door and peered up and down
the street at her neighbours' houses, making sure no one was outside to see her
receiving a "gentleman caller," as Akira had sometimes referred to himself when
he'd come over. The coast was clear. "C'mon in." She hooked her arm through
Mishima's and pulled him inside.

He padded after her as she led him straight to her bedroom, where he set his
bag of clothing in the corner. "You've got an interesting house, Ann. It's
really Western inside."

"Yeah, I guess so? My parents had a lot of it remodeled. Bathroom especially."

"They're not... here, right?"

"Told you, they're gone for weeks at a time. There's a live-in caretaker
they've hired who cooks and cleans and stuff, but her shift's done and
tomorrow's her day off, so she's at her boyfriend's place." She raised one
eyebrow at him and watched his face carefully. "We can be as looooud as we
want."

Standing a little closer to her, he smiled but couldn't look her in the eye
anymore. She took him by the hand and sat on the bed, patting the spot next to
her.

He finally sank down onto the mattress, awkwardly, but put a lot of space
between the two of them. "You're really sure about this?" He was still smiling
as he looked at the floor.

Ann reached out and gently pulled him closer. "Experimenting, remember? We'll
either have some fun and you might learn something new about yourself, or we'll
watch some TV out in the living room and still have some fun that way."

He looked grateful for having been given an out. "I just... ugh, I don't even
know what to do with a girl. I'm in your room sitting on your bed -" She
interrupted him by grabbing his hand and placing it on her bare thigh, between
her skirt and the top of her long socks.

He stared at his hand and then finally met her eyes again. "Ann-" He's freaking
out.

She flashed him her best reassuring smile. "Okay with you if I start us off
then?"

He took a long, steady breath and then nodded, eyebrows drawn together again
and frowning.

"Mishima. Relax." She stood and dropped herself into his lap, straddling him.
Then she draped her arms over his shoulders and kissed him.

"Mm-!" His shoulders stiffened and for a second she was certain that he'd shrug
her off; but slowly, slowly, he dropped them back down and moved his hands
behind him, propping the two of them up. She placed delicate, close-mouthed
kisses on his lips and he finally began to respond.

His lips are really soft. He was being so gentle and tentative that she felt a
little surge of impatience, but reminded herself that he wasn't Akira and also
that he wasn't as experienced as she was. She'd have to go slow.

One of her hands stroked his shoulder; the other found his hair. The second it
did, he froze up again.

"You okay?" He nodded quickly and went straight back to kissing her. This time
he was bolder. The tip of his tongue gently pressed her lips apart; she sighed
and let him in. Her fingers trailed across the back of his neck and, at last,
plunged into his hair, tugging gently.

The effect was immediate. He groaned straight into her mouth. At the same time,
his hips canted upward and she felt a growing pressure tenting his increasingly
tight khakis.

That's more like it. Without giving it a second thought she angled her own hips
downward and grinded against him, rubbing herself against him through her
panties until his own hips responded, thrusting upwards.

He broke off, panting and looking panicky. "Geeze, sorry, I-"

She was surprised to find that she was panting too. It's been way, way too
long. "Sorry for what? Oh, this?" Looking him straight in the eye, she
deliberately rolled her hips against him again. He didn't seem to be able to
reply; all he could do was fling his head back and gasp.

She took pity on him and gave him a moment to catch his breath. He was trying
to avoid her eyes again. She leaned forward to meet him and brought her wet
lips to his throat, trailing kisses up the side of his neck until, gently, she
took his earlobe between her teeth. "Mishimaaaa... what did you come here for?"
Her husky voice went straight to his cock; she felt it move through his pants
against her. But he just flopped all the way back onto the bed and covered his
eyes with his forearm, face dark with embarrassment. As she readjusted her
weight to stand up from straddling his lap, she placed a hand on his chest to
steady herself and felt his heart pounding like mad. At her touch he jerked and
then simply lay there, breathing shallowly.

She scolded herself. You still went too fast, stupid! Time for the backup plan.

"Sit tight. I've got something to help you relax." Then she was gone.

His khakis left very little to the imagination in his current state. As soon as
she left he immediately tried in vain to tug his shirt over his erection; when
that didn't work he simply rolled onto his side, trying to hide it. Oh god she
felt it, it TOUCHED her, shit shit shit - At the last second he decided to sit
up straight with his knees drawn up, feet flat on the bed, and hid it that way.

When she returned, she held an extra tall silver can in each hand.

His eyes nearly bugged out of his head. "How did you get beer?"

At least now he was looking at her. "My live-in caretaker drinks a bit when her
shift is done. I take one or two from the fridge every now and then and she
doesn't say anything as long as I don't do it too often."
"Um, wow." He took a can from her and studied her face. "I've never really
drank before..."
She stuck her tongue out. "It's very easy." She popped the tab and took a slug
to show just how easy it was. He slowly followed suit with his and took a tiny
sip, then grimaced.
Maybe he just needed a time out. He seems a bit more chill now. "Yeah, not my
fave taste either. Gets the job done though. The more you drink, the better it
tastes."

He settled back on his elbows and stretched his legs out and off the edge of
the bed, distracted from his doubts by the Sapporo, and she took the
opportunity to eye his tented pants appreciatively. What was he so worried
about? When he took a longer pull from his beer she did the same and then
stretched out on her back perpendicular to him, so that her legs flopped across
his thighs. He grunted quietly, surprised, but said nothing. Maybe if I just
stare at the ceiling for a bit instead of him, he'll feel more at home.

"Still feeling shy, Mishima?"

Even though she wasn't looking in his direction, he turned his face away and
pressed it to his shoulder. "Yeah. Guess so."

"Sorry. I'm used to going fast. We can just hang out though, tonight."

She felt the bed shake a little as he nodded. They drank in silence until he
turned his head back in her direction, though his eyes remained on the ceiling.
"What did you and Akira get up to in, in your room?" Uh, not what I thought
you'd want to chat about, but okay? He could be surprisingly straightforward at
times.

"We'd sometimes drink a bit, just like this. Not every time, but sometimes."

"Oh, but. You said this was to relax me, so. Did you need to relax around him,
sometimes?"

She laughed and sat up a little to take another pull, letting the bubbles flood
her mouth before sluicing down her throat. "Was I nervous, you mean? Yeah." Her
fingers crept across her frilly bedspread and found his free hand, the one not
holding his beer. She wrapped two of her fingers around two of his.
"Sometimes."

He sighed softly and gripped her fingers back.

The alcohol warmed her up and settled her nerves, as it usually did. "Akira can
be really... intense, sometimes. I'd only had a little experience before him,
so I felt like I needed some help the first time I had him in my room." She
lifted her can and sloshed it. "Liquid courage, right?"

He laughed a little too loud at what was not really a joke at all, so she
raised herself up to try to peer at his face. Pretty red. Yuki Mishima, are you
drunk already? She flopped back too abruptly and giggled at herself: tipsy,
maybe. Maybe I'm not one to talk.
She tried to keep her voice low and supportive. "Do you think I'm scary? Is
there something specific you're worried will happen?"

He finished off his can, set it on the floor and laid on his back, stretching
out his arms. The mattress shook again as he seemed to be talking with his
hands. "Just... the usual shit. That I'll wreck everything. That I'll do
something, like, disgusting and we won't be friends anymore." A short, harsh
laugh. "If you want something specific, I'm kind of afraid that I'll hurt you."

She stretched out her legs, pointing her toes in her long socks, and laid them
back onto his warm thighs. "If it makes you feel better, Akira did that."

He sat up, his stomach pressing into her legs, and gaped at her. "He what?"

"Not his fault. Or it was maybe both my fault and his fault." Ann took
advantage of his distracted state to slide her legs off of his and then crawl
across the bed. She curled up on her side and lay next to him, not quite
touching him and facing away. He'd come to her if he wanted to.

She let out a relaxed sigh, feeling loose and happy. "You said you'd seen a
little porn at least, right? You know how they sorta go at it like crazy and
the guy usually just, like, slams it in? No warning or anything?" He murmured
that he knew what she meant. "Yeah, uh, don't be like Akira and do that." She
giggled, no trace of venom in her voice. "He didn't know any better.I didn't
know any better. But shiiiiiit did it hurt. Sorta put a damper on things that
night."

The bed shook as he shifted, and she felt his hand rest on the mattress just
behind her, holding up some of his weight. "Geeze, Ann, I'm sorry. I didn't
know that either." She heard him swallow behind her. "I might have, I might
have done that too , if we did... that."
"S'okay. I think that lots of guys probably think that. Porn's like make-
believe in some ways. I felt fine a day or so later."

The mattress moved again and he settled behind her on his side. Slowly,
cautiously, his hand crept to her hip, where his thumb stroked the inch or two
of skin between her skirt's waistband and where her t-shirt had pulled up.
Well, that's a step in the right direction.

He cleared his throat. His speech wasn't really slurred but she could tell that
he was at least a little affected by the beer; he spoke slowly and his hand
felt very warm. "What's, what's the real way to do it then? So the girl doesn't
get hurt?"

She felt a little loopy and suppressed a laugh. Dr. Ann will teach you, bb.
"C'mon, Mishima. You can say the words. Why, I simply can't begin to imagine
what you mean by 'it'."

"You always have to tease me..." But he didn't sound upset. He spoke in a
hushed tone, just above a whisper, but his voice was steadier than she had
expected. "How should the guy put his cock in so he doesn't hurt the girl?"

She put her hand on his where it still rested on her hip and scooted backwards
toward him, just an inch or two, still not facing him. "You know how girls get
wet, right?"

Tentatively, "Kind of?" She could feel his hot breath on the back of her neck,
probably just as boozy as hers was.

"Well, usually, some foreplay is needed before, um, the guy can go in. Like,
not all girls are the same? But I think it helps most girls. So like, her pussy
has to be wet enough and it helps if the guy does something to loosen her up
first too." She heard his breath catch in his throat and felt his hand on her
hip falter before he went back to rubbing his thumb across her skin. Someone
likes dirty talk...

"And how... how should he loosen her up?" His voice was decidedly less steady
now.

She grinned in anticipation and listened behind her carefully. "Akira used to
like fingering me. He'd start slow, and sort of tease me open until I was good
and wet. Then he'd take his first two fingers-" She raised her hand so he could
see what she meant. "-and just fuck me silly with them." She felt great
satisfaction as his breathing stopped altogether, then resumed, rougher than
before. She waited patiently to hear his voice again.

But he surprised her. He moved his hand from her hip to her shoulder, then
rolled her over until she was flat on her back, staring him in the face. His
dark eyes caught hers. He wore a deadly serious expression, eyebrows drawn
together again, but not with nervousness this time.

"Ann. Come here," was all he said before he carefully climbed on top of her and
kissed her, hard. She sighed into his mouth, perfectly content.

You're not a bad kisser, Mishima. For a newbie. He kissed more urgently this
time, harder and faster, and it wasn't long at all before she felt his cock
pressed firmly against her again. She shifted carefully, and when it touched
the bare skin of her thigh, she could feel warmth emanating from it through his
pants. Her hands were free to roam under his shirt, up and back again, until
she remembered something he'd said Akira had done. If her mouth wasn't already
so busy she'd have grinned an evil grin at the thought of it. She timed it
carefully until he'd pressed against her lips particularly deeply, and then
pounced - she grabbed his ass, hard, and pulled his hips down to hers while
arching her back, angling her hips up. She dragged his cock across herself
excruciatingly slowly until, even through her panties and his pants, she felt
it throb against her.

He broke the kiss and arched against her, seemingly involuntarily. He panted
helplessly, inches from her ear, as she angled her hips up to him again and
again until he let out her name in a whine. "Annnnn..."

Now that her face was free, she made sure he was looking down at her before she
gave him her best conniving grin. Then she plunged her fingers into his hair
and pulled, timing it perfectly to thrust her hips up at him at the same time.

He shuddered, made a choked, crackling noise in the back of his throat that may
have been half of a word - "...ck-k-k..." - and went boneless on top of her.

Oops.

His head hung limp over her shoulder, and she craned her neck to try to gauge
his face. "Mishima?"

She laid a kiss on his eyebrow, the only part she could reach. "Hey, Mishima.
Guess I did my job a bit too well, huh?"

He finally raised himself onto his knees and elbows and made himself face her.
"That wasn't... that's not how that was supposed to go, huh?" He tried to make
it sound like a joke but his eyes were becoming panicky again, his face
wincing.

She solemnly gazed up at him and shook her head, but then ruined the effect by
giggling in his face. "Good thing I told you to bring your jammies after all!"
He looked crestfallen and wouldn't look at her, but she just kissed him again
and smiled. "Hey. Knock that off. Bathroom's at the other end of the hall. You
want some ice cream?"
----------

After he'd changed into the loose t-shirt and shorts that he'd brought to sleep
in, they settled into her family's two slippery leather couches and watched
trashy late night TV for an hour or so, eating grotesquely huge bowls of ice
cream and laughing over not much of anything. While he'd been changing in the
bathroom, she'd covertly stepped out of her sticky panties and put on a fresh
pair. Even as she sat watching TV, her clit throbbed now and then, trying to
convince her to go back to what she'd started. But Mishima looked so much more
at ease sitting out in the living room, out of the charged atmosphere of her
bedroom, that she managed to convince herself to go easy on him and take it
slow.

She still felt uncomfortably slick though, and she excused herself to the
bathroom to pee and attempt to clean herself up a bit. On her way back, she sat
beside him instead of returning to the separate couch she'd been sitting on
before. Still looking at the TV, she draped her arm around him and drew him
close, until her head rested on his shoulder. He just drew his knees up to his
chest and hunched his shoulders.

"O-oh, hey..." He gave her a shaky smile. "That wasn't cool of me before. I'm
sorry."

"What wasn't cool of you, exactly?" She'd get him to use his words someday.

"You know. C-coming in my pants like a dumb kid." He smiled ruefully and ducked
his head away, staring ahead at a car commercial on the TV.

"I think we can both take the blame for that one."

"You're not - you don't think I'm-" He hid his head further, burying his face
in his arms folded on top of his knees. "-gross?"

He was too cute. She couldn't help herself. She had to see him squirm. So she
shrugged at him and said, nonchalantly, "If I can swallow the stuff, and got
Akira to pump me full of it on multiple occasions, I think I can stand to be in
the same room as yours."

He screamed quietly into his hands and then couldn't help but start laughing.
"How can you be so gross?!" Then he swatted her arm with a throw pillow. She
immediately got him back in the face and they called a truce.

He stretched his bare legs out in front of him again and she did the same,
comparing. "We're like, the same size, Mishima."

He scowled, but his heart wasn't in it. "Yeah yeah, I know I'm short."

"Nah, it's not a bad thing." She squinted at his legs in the blue light from
the TV. "You're pretty smooth too, for a boy." She smirked. "Your legs look
like mine in the winter. Before I started being booked for shoots all the time,
anyway."

"Well, I don't shave mine!" Then, grinning at last: "You're just comparing me
to Akira again. He's not, like, super hairy, but he's hairier than me for
sure."

"Yeah, like here, and here-" She gestured to her chest, then her belly. "You
don't even have that much?"

"Nah. Not really."

She seemed to be trying to calculate something, assessing his body until he
grew uncomfortable and looked away. "What?"

"Just..." Her voice softened and she smiled at him. "I never got to see you.
I'd like to."

He returned it. For once he didn't look defensive, or freaked out, or
embarrassed. Just content. He looked her in the eye. "I'd like to see you too.
If you'll give me another shot."

She shut the TV off, took him by the hand, and led him back to her bedroom.

----------

They lay side by side on her big girly bed, fingers linked again. She spoke up
first. "Think we'd better go a bit slower this time, huh?"

He turned to face her, his face open and relaxed again. "Yeah, or do something
different. There's so many things I haven't gotten to try yet, you know?"

She leered at him. "Like whaaaaat?"

He could only roll forward and bury his face into her shoulder, his voice
muffled. "You just wanna embarrass me."

"Well that is pretty fun, I gotta say." She rolled onto her side and met him
the rest of the way, resting her chin on the top of his head and wrapping both
arms around him. His arms were trapped between them but he just accepted the
embrace as he was. "If you want a suggestion -" But she noticed a change in his
breathing and trailed off. A moment later she realized what must have caught
his attention.

She felt his thumb gently skim across her nipple through her thin cotton shirt.
Uh, I guess I did just press his face directly into my cleavage...

"-but, um, this is fine too," she finished lamely.

He didn't seem to hear her. She released him but he was content to stay more or
less where he was. Given a little more elbow room, he rolled her breast in his
palm, studying how it moved beneath her shirt. All she could do was watch him
watch her, his face fiercely intent.

But suddenly his face whipped upwards to glare at her. "Hey!"

"W-what?"

"You're not wearing a bra!"

"Why is that a problem?!" She bit her cheeks, trying not to laugh in his face
again.

"I just, uh, pictured you wearing one. If things got this far."

"What, are you disappointed? If anything, this makes things easier, doesn't
it?"

He was still playing with her nipple through her shirt, pinching it lightly and
rolling it beneath his fingers. She felt her face heat up.

Mishima's face tipped up to hers again and he gave her a knowing look. "Do you
usually not wear one at home? Or did you leave it off because you knew I was
coming over?"

"You got me."

"I knew it!" He finally gripped her whole breast at once and squeezed lightly.
She let out a shuddering breath and pressed her face into his hair.

His eyes widened. "Do you... like this?" He felt her nod above his head and,
taking that as encouragement, carefully inched his hand up beneath her shirt.

Even an hour or two after they'd finished drinking, his hands were still warm,
almost hot. A little more confident now, he sank his fingers into her breast,
pressing upwards and stroking. Ann let out a small sigh of contentment.

But then he stopped, and she felt him trying to look up at her face. She lifted
her chin from his hair to let him move his head again. The tips of his ears
were red and his face radiated heat, but he looked up at her hopefully. He's
finally relaxed.

"Can I see you?"

She laughed deep in her throat, feeling blissed out already. "I think that can
be arranged. Goes both ways though!"

He narrowed his eyes and did his best attempt at a lecherous grin, a most un-
Mishima-like expression. "Tit for tat?"

"Guess you're tat then." She laughed again and pulled him close, not caring
that this dragged her breasts up his face through her shirt. The same couldn't
be said for him; he closed his eyes and sank against her, pushing his face even
further into her chest.

"Mmmf. I take it back. Now I don't want to move."

She shifted her thighs and found what she'd suspected would be there, then
pressed against it. "Are you sure? You know what happened the last time you
insisted on keeping your clothes on..."

He was scowling again. "Evil." But she must have convinced him because he was
already sitting at the foot of the bed, his back turned to her as he shucked
off his t-shirt. She did the same behind him, then paused.

"Still feeling shy?" She watched his shoulders hunch a little, still half
dressed. "C'mon. Let's take it all off. I wanna see you too."

He hesitated but then seemed to talk himself into it. He stood and stripped
quickly, then sat again, still facing away. She wriggled out of her skirt,
panties and socks.

"You can look now, Mishima."

He turned, but only enough to glimpse her over his shoulder. "...you're so
pretty, Ann."

She stretched out flat on her back, and smiled at him. "So they tell me." I
feel like you mean it more than most though. She patted the mattress next to
her, but he remained at the foot of the bed, keeping his front turned away.

She put on a wheedling tone. "Mishimaaaa..." He didn't move. "Okay, what if
I... oh, what if I keep my eyes closed until you're right up close?" She
clapped her hand over her eyes dramatically.

That did the trick. She felt him make his way up the bed until he lay right
next to her and put his arms around her. He didn't seem to need any more
coaxing; her eyes flew open as she felt the distinct sensation of his tongue on
her nipple. "A-ah..."

She relaxed again and sank further into the mattress; his mouth followed her,
closing around more and more of her nipple and breast until he hollowed his
cheeks, sucking hard and lapping at her. "Mmmf..." she sighed.

He cupped her other breast and squeezed, then flicked her nipple with his
thumb. Without removing his mouth he changed position, kneeling on his hands
and knees over her, then put his hand back up to her chest and stroked her
gently, still sucking the other. Writhing in place, she sighed again and he
gazed up at her as well as he could through his lashes. He finally released her
and gave her a sleepy smile, content. "Good?"

"That's..." She struggled to catch her breath and wound up just nodding
fervently, her hair bouncing.

"I didn't know girls liked that. That much, anyway." Even as he spoke he lay
between her breasts, cool on his face, and gently pinched the nipple inches
from his eyes, trying to see how hard and red he could make it. When he was
satisfied he peered up at her face and groped both at once, rougher this time,
rolling them upwards and squeezing until she had no choice but to moan. She
squirmed helplessly and pressed her thighs together, trapped between his knees
and wetter than ever.

"Mi..." She couldn't gather herself enough to put words together and instead
just placed her hands over her breasts so he couldn't get at them anymore. He
gave her a questioning look and waited.

She let out a long, unsteady breath. "Good but... too much."

He seemed to be pleased at the effect he'd had on her anyway. Now that she was
more composed and trying to look at him again, he quickly moved from kneeling
over her to sitting beside her waist, back turned to her again. She ran her
fingertips up his spine, then settled them at his hip. He's really soft.

Mishima turned his head just enough to see her face out of the corner of his
eye. Then he trailed his fingers across her knees, then her thighs, still
pressed tightly together. Her eyes drifted shut. Giving her time, he paused a
moment longer and then lightly settled the heel of his palm on the hair between
her legs, trimmed short. Ann gave a hushed sigh, then parted her legs.

He explored her with the side his of thumb as gently as he could, studying the
difference between the thick short hairs and her silky soft skin below. Most of
her felt cool to the touch, exposed as she was, but between her legs she gave
off an astonishing amount of heat. He was looking down at her and couldn't see
much, so he took the pad of his thumb and delicately ran it down the centre of
her, top to bottom. It came away slick. He twisted his his shoulders suddenly
to get a better look at her face, taken aback. "I guess you really did like
that!"

She was biting her lip, red-faced and breathing a little harder now. "You're
doing better than you think are." In his surprise he'd turned to her just
enough for her to see him, more than he'd allowed her before. If she lay flat
on her back with her chin tipped down she could just see his tip behind his
leg. I guess YOU really liked that too... Maybe if she acted quickly -

She sat up and lunged for him, one arm crooked around his chest and the other
reaching around him to seize his cock.

"Hey- " He struggled free of her arm immediately, since she hadn't really been
trying to restrain him, but as she had time to give him one quick stroke, he
froze again, holding his breath.

"'You're so pretty, Mishima,'" she said, quoting his own words back to him.
"You're even pretty here." Her fingers eased up and skimmed over his head as
she inspected him from over his shoulder.

He uttered a single strangled laugh and tried to start breathing again. "...
why pretty? Akira said that too." His shoulders were still hunched up by his
ears.

"You just are. You'll just have to live with it." Then she giggled and squeezed
his head, liking the way it felt in her hand. He was of course smaller than
Akira, as he'd said, but he had his own virtues. His cock was slim just like he
was everywhere else, flushed pink. Where the edges of Akira's head were ridged
and abrupt, Mishima's was soft and round. He couldn't be called girthy but he
was a little long for his size. His length curved slightly upwards and she
found he had a little more foreskin to play with, to draw down from the head
and stretch between her fingertips as she listened to him gasp. In a word:
pretty.

He trapped her wrist in his hand, gently.

"Mishima, you have nothing to worry about. Really. Just, let me -"

He cut her off by promptly getting off the bed and kneeling on the floor by the
edge, his knees on a white fuzzy floor rug and his bare toes on the hardwood.
He rested both elbows on the bedspread and gestured at the space in front of
him. "C'mere."

"Mishimaaaaa, you've been touching me for forever. Just lemme -"

His eyebrows were drawn together and he didn't look like he'd budge. "I let you
see me. Now let me see you."

A sigh of resignation. "Okay, but -" Then she scooted closer to him, wondering
what he wanted. He just grabbed her thighs and yanked her forward until her
knees were hooked over his shoulders and her heels rested on his back. Oh.

He wasted no time before touching her again. With his thumb he grazed her short
hairs and stroked her skin, pressing in gently to watch the soft flesh indent
and spring back. Her lips were already puffy with arousal, and a thrill
travelled up her spine as his breath tickled her skin.

He dragged his thumb from the top of her slit to the bottom, over and over,
until it was slick. The sounds of her panting filled the room, accompanied by
the almost inaudible wet sounds his thumb made. He gently parted her lips and
placed his tongue between them.

She was taken off guard and she kicked him in the back with her heels, her own
back arching. "Mmmh- "

His eyes widened a little, just visible above the hair between her legs, and he
went to work.

His pointed tongue dragging up and down her slit, he tasted her and spread her
wetness until every part of her pussy was dripping. Eventually his tongue found
her clit and she nearly howled; he explored it more carefully until he'd found
just the right angle and force to keep her sighing in rhythm.

She'd wanted for things to go differently, to be a bit more fair, but her brain
was descending into white noise and she couldn't think anymore.

Without stopping for a second he shoved one hand beneath her ass, squeezing her
there and angling her hips better, and with his other hand brought his wet
thumb back up to push between her lips and enter her. His tongue worked at her
clit and his thumb stroked beneath it, pushing into her the slightest bit and
stretching her folds.

"Ahn! Ah... hah...."

At the sound of her voice he moaned deeply into her and shoved his tongue in
where his thumb had just been, mouthing her lips and picking up speed as he
dropped his hand back down to the side of the bed. He thrust his tongue into
her as deeply as he could, becoming rougher and rougher until his chin and
mouth were mashing against her, urged on by her voice. Her cries became louder
and louder and he went back to her clit, tonguing it until her entire body
seized up; without knowing she did it she crossed her ankles behind his head
and grinded his face into her pussy as she half-screamed, half-groaned while
she came.

Mishima stayed there as long as he could, just letting her shiver against his
mouth and around his tongue, but he finally had to surface for air; she had
slammed herself into his face so completely that even his nose was covered. He
unsealed his sticky face and dropped it heavily onto her belly, panting weakly.

Feeling his breath started to bring her down to earth again. Did Mishima really
just...? Him?! "Jeeesus... that was so...."

She heard and felt him laugh weakly, directly into her belly where he had
faceplanted. He didn't seem to be able to get up.

Still feeling unsteady herself, she floated her hand down to his hair and
raised his forehead up with the heel of her hand. He was still giggling,
starting to sound a little hysterical.

"Shiiiit..." She started to laugh herself when she saw his face. She had never
seen anything so obscene. His eyes were half-lidded, staring dreamily at
nothing, and a mixture of her wetness and his spit absolutely coated his face,
dripping off his chin. "Mishima, it's in your hair... "

"That's nothing." He shakily raised his right hand from below the edge of the
bed and she stared for a second, not comprehending what he meant right away.
Then she saw the cum start to roll down his palm to his forearm and she
shrieked with laughter, dropping his wet face back to her belly with a plap in
the process. He just lay there, face down, and said, "I think I got your
rug..." and they laughed until they couldn't breathe.
----------

When they were more steady on their feet they stumbled directly to the shower,
roomy and Western-styled. She handed him shampoo for his hair, then soap for
his face, and he scrubbed and scrubbed, moaning mournfully. "It's still in my
nose..."

"Sorry." She swiped her wet bangs up out of her eyes to try to give him an
apologetic look. "I, uh, may have gotten a little carried away."

But he had his back to her, face turned up to the showerhead as she soaped
herself behind him. "It's not that. It's just that if I don't get that smell
out of my nose I'm never gonna calm down!"

She set the bar of soap down and crept closer, reaching around in front of him
until her sudsy hands confirmed what he'd said. Whether it was really from her
scent or from sharing the shower with her, he was half hard all over again.
Third time's the charm? Her lips found his ear as her fingertips squeezed him
lightly. "Won't you let me make you come this time?"

He wouldn't turn to face her, but he did relax his back against her, letting
her slide her slippery breasts against him as he sighed, sounding satisfied.
"I'd like to. But I don't think I really can. Not yet, anyway."

She gave him one final squeeze, murmured "Getcha next time, then," and rinsed
the soap from his back.

They dried off, put their pajamas on, and went to bed. He fell asleep with his
face buried deep in her damp hair, one thumb tucked into the waistband of her
pants.

----------

After Mishima had gone home the next day, Ann cleaned up, hunting for empty
cans, mysterious stains and anything else that might give away that she'd had a
boy over. That evening, Akira stretched out on his bed and Mishima sat hunched
over his desk, each tapping into their phones.

AKIRA: So what did you think?
MISHIMA: Of?
AKIRA: Ann.
MISHIMA: I like her shower.
AKIRA: Mishima.
MISHIMA: I can't believe her guardian/caretaker/whoever lets her drink beer.
AKIRA: Oh my goddddddddd.
MISHIMA: I kinda wish I had a bed as big as hers. Mine's small like yours is.
AKIRA: MISHIMA FUCK
MISHIMA: Okay okay.
MISHIMA: Lol
MISHIMA: I guess at this point we're all just... telling each other everything,
right?
AKIRA: Yeah, seems that way.
MISHIMA: I, yeah. I like Ann.
AKIRA: So did you just drink beer and have a shower before sleeping, or... ?
MISHIMA: I think you guys tell each other everything just because you're both
nosy, not because you're close.
AKIRA: That is a distinct possibility.

Akira grinned to himself. If Mishima was confident enough to tease him and draw
out the suspense, he couldn't have been feeling too glum about how things went.
So he just waited patiently.

MISHIMA: I guess I like both you and Ann.
MISHIMA: And I guess she likes me? Still likes me?
MISHIMA: She, uh. Sounded like she likes me.
MISHMA: When I had my tongue inside her.

Akira threw an arm over his eyes and brayed out a harsh laugh in surprise.
Morgana, sitting on the windowsill, asked him if something was going down in
the group chat. Akira choked back another laugh. You could say that. "Uh, sort
of. Not urgent though. I'll tell you later." Morgana went back to grooming
himself.

AKIRA: Attaboy!
MISHIMA: You're definitely not jealous though?
MISHIMA: I want you to tell me if you are.
AKIRA: Not a chance.
AKIRA: Like, I guess it might be different if you went after someone else. Some
random other person. But if it's Ann that means I get to be happy for both of
you.
AKIRA: And you spending time with Ann doesn't mean you're going to stop
spending time with me. Right?
MISHIMA: Right.
AKIRA: Then there's nothing to be jealous about.
AKIRA: So you had your tongue inside her. Anything else make its way to Ann's
pussy?
MISHIMA: akjdsajsdf
MISHIMA: I'll never get used to you guys doing that.
MISHIMA: Actually, I know we're telling each other everything but I don't like
feeling like I'm being one of those douchey guys bragging about the girls they
took home. Like, um, even when I just said that thing about my tongue, it felt
sorta bad to say it when she's not here.
MISHIMA: You know what I mean?
AKIRA: Pretty sure Ann knows you're not like that. But I get you. I have a fix.

He added Ann, making it a group chat between just the three of them. She
replied within a minute or two.

ANN: hi boysssssss ^-^
MISHIMA: Hi Ann. :)
AKIRA: Sounds like you two had a nice weekend.
ANN: you could say that
ANN: even though my rug will NEVER BE THE SAME
AKIRA: That's a shame. It really tied the room together.
ANN: what?
AKIRA: Nothin.
MISHIMA: Sorry Ann...
MISHIMA: I can buy you a new one?
ANN: lol
ANN: don't worry about it
AKIRA: Speaking of Ann's rug...
ANN: god shut up Akira XD
MISHIMA: What about it?
MISHIMA: Oh, do you remember Ann's rug from before? I like it.
MISHIMA: It's fuzzy but it feels nice on your skin.
MISHIMA: It doesn't match your drapes though, Ann. Bit of a faux pas.
ANN: YOU TOO???
MISHIMA: Lmao
ANN: and they do too match! god Mishima XD
ANN: and why is everyone teasing ME. we all know that's reserved for YOU
AKIRA: Hey, I'm all for that.
AKIRA: So, Mishima. Tell the class about your weekend.
MISHIMA: I had a very nice time. Thank you for inviting me Ann.
ANN: uh, yeah we had a nice time. IN MY BED
ANN: Akira, I thought he was a nice boy. what did you do to him
MISHIMA: What! I'm a nice boy!
ANN: nice boys don't WRECK MY RUG
ANN: I'm kidding lol, I don't care about the rug
ANN: but I'm not sure nice boys know how to tongue fuck like that either
ANN: Akira, do I have you to thank?
AKIRA: How would I have...
AKIRA: Oh, uh, no, that wasn't something we covered. Heh.
MISHIMA: You guys are so dirty.
AKIRA: We're bringing you into the fold, little by little.
ANN: yeah, you might as well give up the chaste maiden act, Mishima
ANN: Akira and I both know better now
MISHIMA: Okay FINE.
MISHIMA: Ann, the way you smell and taste was driving me absolutely crazy.
MISHIMA: I'm sorry your rug was a casualty of that.

He sent an emoji of a furiously blushing face.

AKIRA: You know, Ann and I never did that, I don't think.
ANN: nope. you were too impatient. you always just wanted to move on to the
"main event" as you called it. not that I'm complaining, but, yeah
MISHIMA: You never did?!
AKIRA: Nope. Fingering is my foreplay forte.
ANN: lmao
MISHIMA: Dude you missed OUT.
MISHIMA: If I wasn't having trouble breathing I could have stayed down there
all day. I, um, almost could have finished just from the noises Ann was making.
AKIRA: And if Morgana wasn't staring at me with his cute little cat face I'd
have my pants off by now.
MISHIMA: Why?
ANN: oh sweetie XD
ANN: think for a sec
MISHIMA: Oh, uh, I get why. But Morgana is a cat...?
MISHIMA: If you waited for him to stop looking at you every time how would you
ever...?

Oops... Without knowing it, Ann and Akira gulped in unison.

AKIRA: Anyway, I get what you mean about the noises Ann makes at least.
MISHIMA: I just got something.
ANN: what?
MISHIMA: Back before Akira and I were as close as we are now, I overheard him
call you Panther in the hallway once. I always wondered why.
MISHIMA: Now I know why. You were almost kind of growling at some points.
ANN: haha I guess so

Double oops... Better change the subject.

AKIRA: I do want to ask something.
AKIRA: Mishima, you feeling any less shy? Were you able to have the lights on
this time?
MISHIMA: Yeah actually! :)
ANN: I think he was less shy with me than he was with you, either bc you're
scary or bc with you it was his first time doing anything. but we gotta work on
that
ANN: Mr. Pussy Fiend here came twice, neither of which was from me touching
him. wouldn't even let me make him come
ANN: UNACCEPTABLE
MISHIMA: Well geeze, is that so bad?
MISHIMA: We both had a nice time, right...?
ANN: v nice
MISHIMA: And both times were because you were touching me! Just, indirectly.
ANN: I'm just being greedy, it's okay bb
ANN: there's a lot of new things for you to try
ANN: we'll get to it
AKIRA: I think it's about feeling like he's being stared at.
MISHIMA: Yeah, I think so too.
MISHIMA: It's easier if I'm doing something. If I'm just, like, getting the
attention, I feel all... panicky.
AKIRA: Maybe you would feel better about receiving attention if you were doing
something else at the same time. Something to distract you maybe.
AKIRA: Like, something to keep your hands busy. Or your mouth.
ANN: hhhhhh
ANN: Akira you dog
AKIRA: Just an idea I had.
MISHIMA: I don't get what you mean.
ANN: let's not overwhelm him
ANN: but I def like that idea for sometime in the future
MISHIMA: What is it?
AKIRA: I was just picturing spending some time with my two favourite people.
ANN: something to work up to
ANN: it's too soon for him Akira
MISHIMA: ?
ANN: that's kind of a big jump lol. let's take our time a bit more with him
ANN: Mishima we both kinda rushed you. sorry
ANN: have you been feeling freaked out? since you left my house, or since you
stayed over at Akira's?
MISHIMA: Sometimes. A little bit.
MISHIMA: With him especially. I was worried he wouldn't even look at me or talk
to me at school anymore.
AKIRA: You know I wouldn't do that.
MISHIMA: I mean, I know that now. And I know Ann's not like that either.
MISHIMA: I just keep thinking if I mess up somehow then I'll lose my friend.
Two friends now.
ANN: you kept saying you were worried I would think you were gross
AKIRA: Yeah, you even said something like that to me, and I'm a guy. What could
you and me do together that would make me think you were gross?
ANN: yeah, and like... I got fucking pussy juice IN YOUR HAIR lmao
AKIRA: Oh fuck you guys. I'm gonna ask Morgana to leave.
MISHIMA: You trained your cat to take voice commands? Wow.
ANN: Morgana is v smart you know
ANN: so, anyway. Mishima, you're not gross. you're not gonna do anything to
make me and Akira be grossed out
ANN: another way to look at it: sex is always kinda gross? lol
MISHIMA: Lol
MISHIMA: Maybe a little. I get what you mean.
ANN: Akira, you back with us?
AKIRA: Yes.
ANN: here I am trying to make our boy feel better and you're just, like, jackin
it like mad, aren't you
AKIRA: Who, me?
AKIRA: I don't get those kinds of urges.
AKIRA: I'm too pure.
MISHIMA: Oh bullshiiiiiit.
MISHIMA: You didn't look too pure when I had
MISHIMA: Your
MISHIMA: Your cum on my tongue!
AKIRA: LMAO
AKIRA: Mishima...
AKIRA: Wouldn't... that mean you didn't look too pure? Either?
MISHIMA: Yeah but you should have heard what your groaning sounded like!
AKIRA: I recall you making these cute little whimpers.
AKIRA: When I had YOUR cum all over MY hand.
MISHIMA: I think we killed Ann.
AKIRA: Ann?
Chapter End Notes
     Comfortable, friendly intimacy is really satisfying to write.
     Next chapter has aaaaangst, oh noooooo. The focus of the remaining
     chapters will be more evenly split between all three characters now
     that everyone's been introduced.
***** Good little students. "I don't want to throw that away." Two steps back.
*****
Chapter Summary
     Told you there'd be angst! I legit felt sad writing this. ;_;
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Exams were around the corner again; when Ann, Akira and Mishima saw each other
it was to study, not to fool around. True, their study sessions did sometimes
devolve into dirty chat convos and "what if's", but for the most part, they
spent their extracurricular time together for a week or two with their books
laid out at a booth at Leblanc or on Ann's kitchen table like good little
students.

Not all of this was thanks to exams looming. After Mishima spent the night at
Ann's, Akira and Ann had a more in-depth information sharing session in a
private chat.

ANN: so yeah, like
ANN: didn't it take me and you at least a month or more to get as far as we did
with Mishima?
ANN: and with him we did it all in one day, each
AKIRA: Yeah I get you. That's too fast.
ANN: especially for someone like him. we gotta work on his self-confidence, or
whatever it is
AKIRA: But Ann.
AKIRA: He's so cuuuuute.
ANN: yes I know this
ANN: he's so little
ANN: I bet I could pick him up and carry him
AKIRA: Lol
AKIRA: Add that to the list of things to try.
AKIRA: But no, I get it. I did go too fast. He was sort of working through
stuff at the same time when he spent the night with me and I probably shouldn't
have initiated.
ANN: yeah I think you let your dick do the thinking
ANN: and with me, I wasn't even really friends with him first. actually I think
he was being p brave to agree, he didn't know if he could trust me yet
ANN: it seems to have worked out okay
ANN: but we gotta be strong! ganbatte! let's be better friends to him first
ANN: or, what's your word again
ANN: oh yeah, we gotta woo him lmao

----------

Exams were over. Akira knew he'd aced them, as he usually did, and Ann and
Mishima had managed to prop up each other's weaknesses during their study
sessions, each of them handing in their exam feeling like they'd wound up with
a slightly better score than usual. Ann and Akira's Palace thievery was taken
care of ahead of schedule, and as they and Mishima packed up their bags after
the bell on the last day of exams, it felt like a weight had lifted from their
shoulders. Mishima was ready first and made his way through the rows of desks
until he reached Ann and Akira.

Ann stretched from side to side in her seat, twisting her back. "That. Is
enough. Of that. Let's get out of here."

Akira was cleaning his glasses. "If you give me a chance to drop Morgana off at
home, we can go out for burgers." He'd already had a long talk with Morgana
about giving him and Mishima some space in the same way that he'd needed space
with Ann a few months prior, and they'd worked out an understanding that
involved sushi and a minimum of whining. Morgana knew that if he wanted to hang
out with Akira or Ann in Mishima's presence, he'd have to resign himself to
being free to speak but not being answered in any meaningful way, and so he'd
taken to spending a little more time with Futaba or one of the other Thieves
when asked. Overhearing what Akira had said, Morgana grumbled from within the
desk, but climbed into his bag readily enough.

He turned. "Coming, Mishima?"

Mishima fiddled with one of his suspenders, looped from his waist as they
usually were. "Oh, you meant me too?"

Ann made a noise of mock disgust and rolled her eyes. "You know you're
included. Or you should know, by now."

He ducked his head a little and smiled.

----------

The booths at Big Bang Burger were just big enough for three students, their
jackets and their school bags. Akira managed to resist ordering the Challenge,
but only barely; Ann egged on Mishima to eat more from the communal pile of
fries on the centre tray and they compared exam answers until she threatened to
leave. "Enough! It's the weekend!"

Mishima wiped his hands on a napkin. "I don't think I'd have pulled my English
out of the fire without your help. Thanks Ann."

She snagged his waist and hooked him to her side, bodily sliding him along the
slippery booth seat until he crashed into her with a squawk. "Yeah, and you're,
like, Math Man. Mishimath. I actually got some things I didn't get before." She
gestured in Akira's general direction with a fry and squinted at him. "He can
just... fill in the rest of the subjects for us." Akira adjusted his glasses,
trying to look scholarly, until they laughed at him.

Mishima packed up his food wrappers and put them away in a paper bag, neat and
tidy as usual. "I think that's enough exam talk too. I'm more interested in
talking about..." He looked from Ann to Akira, hoping one of them would finish
his sentence for him.

Akira turned his head away and winked at Ann, unseen by Mishima. "About what?"

Ann had left her arm wrapped around Mishima, and he had stayed sitting the way
she'd pulled him to her side, his hip and thigh pressed to hers. Under the
table and out of sight of the rest of the customers, she ran her fingertips up
his side through his uniform turtleneck until he squirmed a little. "Yeah,
about whaaaat?"

His ears went red but he was able to avoid hiding his face. "Spending time
together...?"

Akira put on his best innocent face and indicated the restaurant at large.
"Looks like we are."

Ann kept brushing her fingers up and down his ribs until he couldn't stay still
any longer and had to scoot a few inches away. "Yup. Having a marvellous time."

His face became anguished. "Why are you like thiiiiis... " He focused his
revenge on Ann, abruptly using both hands to flip up the hood of her white
hoodie and shove it over her hair, pulling it down over her eyes until she
screeched. She was about to retaliate but Akira stopped her.

"We should probably avoid getting kicked out, you guys." Ann and Mishima
retreated back to their own sides of the booth as they noticed the glares of
the other customers.

"Aw. Well, I guess I'll see you guys Monday." Mishima was still all smiles;
after seeing the look on Ann's face after she'd flung her hood back up, he felt
like he'd gotten away with murder.

Akira threw out their trash, then caught up to them outside before they could
separate. "It's early. You guys wanna come up to my room?"

Mishima and Ann studied his face carefully until he clarified. "Just games or
movies, this time. Leblanc's still open."

Ann nodded, her hair still staticky and in disarray from the hood treatment.
"As long as Morgana's not too pouty about not getting you all to himself."

"I'll have a talk with him."

Mishima looked from Akira to Ann, trying to figure out the joke, or if there
was one, and they headed back to the station.

----------

Sojiro greeted Mishima more warmly this time, and again declined to accept
money for their drinks. "I saw you guys studying the last few days," he said
gruffly, seeming to mean all three of them. He sized Mishima up."You look like
a good kid. Maybe you'll be a good influence on him. Keep him out of trouble."
When he turned away to start their coffee, Mishima was blushing from the
attention and Akira struggled to keep a straight face; when he glanced at Ann
out of the corner of his eye, he knew she was thinking the same thing. Depends
on what you consider trouble?

They thanked him and went straight upstairs once their coffee was finished.
Mishima was pointedly not looking at the bed; his ears were red again. Akira
thought it might be best to remove himself from the situation until he
adjusted. Morgana was sitting on the windowsill, bristling with hostility;
Akira caught his eye and beckoned to him wordlessly until he followed him down
to the cafe so they could have a conversation. Morgana piped up as soon as they
were out of earshot.

"Him again?! Why'd you bring me all the way home if you were just going to
bring him back here after?"

Akira shrugged. "Plans changed?"

"Guess I'm just supposed to play the dumb animal role again, huh. Or am I being
shipped off to Futaba's room this time?" Morgana turned his head away with a
sniff, every line of his body communicating feline disdain.

Akira spoke quietly so Sojiro wouldn't overhear his side of the conversation.
"I'm sorry, buddy. It'd be nice if he could hear you too. I think you'd like
him."

Morgana said nothing but let Akira stroke the top of his head.

Akira floated a compromise. "We're either going to be playing games or watching
movies. If you don't say anything that needs too detailed a response, you're
welcome to stay and hang out with us."

The cat's eyes shone. "If you guys aren't planning on being gross today, I
think I could stand to accompany you."

Akira laughed and scritched him under the chin. "Uh, not during business hours
anyway. I know we've finished that last game so I'll see if they want to try
one you haven't already seen me play. Or a DVD. No promises though."

Morgana grinned and ran upstairs ahead of him to try to influence 'Lady Ann's'
choice of media, only to bolt back down less than thirty seconds later, ears
flattened to his skull. "Maybe you should have told them what your plan for
today was," he hissed, disgusted, and fled outside as soon as Akira held open
the door.

Sojiro watched him go, amused. "Guess he's not a fan of your new friend." Akira
shrugged and went back upstairs with some trepidation, not sure what he'd find.

Mishima had seated himself in one of the chairs facing the TV with the remote
in his hand, ready for an afternoon in front of the screen; Ann must have been
the one with other ideas. She perched on the very edge of the couch and kissed
him; the angle forced him to tip his head far to the side, and as Akira
watched, Ann brushed her fingertips up his pale throat. He dropped the remote.

Akira cleared his throat. "Ann, I thought we'd talked about this."

She released Mishima and looked guilty, settling back into the couch. "I know
we did, but -"

Mishima, out of breath, looked from him to her, trying to assess the situation.
"Is that not okay with you? Ann and me? I thought -"

Akira sighed and sat on the couch next to Ann, trying not to stare as Mishima
had to stand to adjust his underwear to something more comfortable. The bulge
was still noticeable and he shifted his legs, trying to hide it. Akira made
himself look away with some effort.

"No, that's not it. But Ann and I talked about easing up a bit. Giving you some
more time. We both kinda... "

"Rushed you," Ann finished. "And even with me you seemed like you needed some
more time to think about things. Get more relaxed with us." She did look
repentant, and given her acting skills, Akira knew she meant it.

"And as hard as it is..." Akira's eyes darted to Mishima, or more accurately,
Mishima's lap, then looked away, " ...to resist, I don't think this is the best
idea during business hours."

Ann tipped over on her side on the couch, knees drawn up so she could drum her
stockinged feet gently into Akira's side. "I know I know I know I know but -
" He caught them. " - I guess there's no excuse," she finished, pouting.

Mishima crossed his arms, annoyed. "You know, if you're going to decide things
about my, our... sex lives, you could probably include me."

He was right. "Guess we could," Akira admitted. "Sorry. We weren't trying to
exclude you. It was more like we were trying to convince each other to back
off. A bit." He shot a dark look at Ann. "I expected you to hold out a little
longer, actually."

She stuck out her tongue, all contrition gone. "You're the one who made him
cry, remember? No tears at my house."

Mishima kept forgetting exactly how much they shared with each other. "Hey- "

Akira's eyes flashed behind his glasses. "You had to get him drunk to get him
into bed with you! How is that any better?!"

Mishima's twisted in his chair to face Akira, indignant. "I wasn't drunk! I
only had -"

Ann talked right over him. Her voice was bitter now. "Yeah? Which of us do you
think he said is 'scary'? You or me?"

Silence descended. All eyes turned to Mishima. He looked furious.

"Thank you for inviting me over," he said, coldly. He shoved his feet into his
sneakers, slung his school bag over his shoulder, and descended the stairs. It
was quiet enough that they could both hear the glass door of the cafe close
gently behind him.

Without looking at her, Akira held out his arm. Ann sat up on the couch and
laid her head on his shoulder.

----------

"Fuck," Ann choked out, pressing the heels of her hands to her eyes and swiping
her tears away angrily. "We were awful."

Akira nodded mutely. Some time had passed; the sun was setting. He couldn't
seem to think straight. Ann went on without him.

"What... was that? I was fine with the idea of you two together before today.
Really, I was. I still am. But..."

Akira tried to shuffle his thoughts into some kind of order. "I was too. The
idea of him with you. I was happy for you."

"Then what...?"

His mind kept returning to something else. He drew her close again and
wordlessly rubbed her shoulders to show her the fight was over, the one between
the two of them at least. Akira forced himself to study her face to catch her
reaction. "So he said he's scared of me?"

Her face told him it was true before she nodded. "Or that you were scary, at
least. Like, I don't think he thinks you are now."

He propped his head up on his hand, elbow on the back of the couch, and blinked
hard. He swallowed around the lump in his throat. "I was... I was kind of rough
with him."

She waited.

"Not like that. You know how far we went. But I shoved him down to the bed and
put all my weight on him. Like, he didn't try to get out from under me, but -"

" -but you think maybe he didn't even try, because he was scared of what you'd
do?"

He nodded, stricken. "Why did I do that? I never did that with you. Did I?"

"No, not that."

He stared at her, guts churning. "What then? Was I rough with you some other
way?"

She didn't want to hurt him further but had to answer. "I was never scared of
you. I described you to him as 'intense'. And I told him about that first time
we..."

He froze. "When I... when I hurt you?"

She nodded, miserable for him. "But I told him that was both our faults, or
neither. It was just an accident. I felt fine the next day, and the next time
we tried, we knew what to do. I told him all of that. I just told him it
happened to sort of... teach him about what to do."

He tipped his head back and rested it on the back of the couch, hot tears
rolling down to his jaw.

She squeezed his hand. "Akira, I don't think he's still scared, exactly. He
wouldn't want to come hang out with us in your room if he was. I think you just
freaked him out when he spent the night here, in, in the middle there. When you
held him down." She tried to make a joke of it. "Hey, maybe he even liked it.
Some people do."

That actually did make him feel a little better. "He did want me to lay on him
again. But I think that was just so I couldn't look at him."

She stroked his arm, trying to think. "We both scared him. He was still freaked
out at my place too. It wasn't just you."

He straightened his back. "We've gotta fix this. We could've been just friends
with him but we went too fast and now we... we don't even have that."

She smiled encouragingly. "I'd like to go back to that even if we can't keep
whatever this is going with him. We just had a fight. Friends have fights."

He wasn't able to smile back but his expression softened a little. "Let's try
to make him understand."
----------

Mishima made it home without remembering any of the trip that got him there. He
removed everything but his briefs and crawled under the covers, feeling too
numb to even try to distract himself with the Phan-site. He left his phone
stuck in the pocket of his pants somewhere on the floor and eventually fell
asleep, his pillow damp.
----------

ANN: he's not answering me
ANN: you?
AKIRA: No dice.
ANN: geeze. what do we do?
AKIRA: I guess we're just gonna have to learn our lesson, right? Give him time.
ANN: I wish I hadn't said what I said
ANN: to you and to him. I'm really sorry
AKIRA: Me too.
AKIRA: You're my best friend. I shouldn't be shitty to you.
ANN: you're my best friend too
ANN: agggggh this sucks
AKIRA: Tomorrow's Sunday. Maybe he'll answer then.

----------

Almost all of Sunday passed before he would talk to them. Mishima couldn't
decide who to respond to first, so he started up a group chat with the two of
them that evening.

MISHIMA: Hi.
ANN: hi Mishima
AKIRA: Are you okay?
MISHIMA: Not really.
AKIRA: I'm sorry. About everything.
ANN: I'm sorry too
ANN: I was a huge jerk
AKIRA: Do you think we can at least still be friends?
MISHIMA: Only friends?
AKIRA: I don't know. It depends on what you want.
AKIRA: I liked the way things were going. But I think Ann and I moved too fast.
ANN: that's why we tried to pull back a bit and get to know you better before
doing, uh, more of that. me especially, I haven't been friends with you as long
as Akira has
ANN: but then I couldn't even keep to my word and made a move on you as soon as
I had you alone
ANN: I'm sorry
MISHIMA: Why were you making this big plan or agreement without me? You guys
keep telling me you tell each other everything. I guess I'm not good enough to
get the same treatment.
AKIRA: You're right. We should have just talked to you about it.
AKIRA: I think we kept it to ourselves because we were ashamed. I definitely
was.
AKIRA: Am.
AKIRA: If I could redo that night I would.
AKIRA: I don't want you to be scared of me.
MISHIMA: Ann, I wanna talk to Akira about this. But I want you to read it too,
so just give me a minute and then I'll talk to you.
ANN: got it
MISHIMA: Why do you think I'm scared?
MISHIMA: I came over to your place again, didn't I?
AKIRA: Ann said you'd told her in chat that you thought I was scary. Is that
not true?
MISHIMA: Oh. That.
MISHIMA: Yes. I did say that.
MISHIMA: I didn't mean that I think you're scary all the time. We were talking
about when you were holding me down and saying... what you wanted to do to me
that night.
AKIRA: That's what I thought you were talking about.
AKIRA: I don't want you to be scared of me. I don't know why I even did that to
you.
AKIRA: When I think about it now it feels like you must think I was trying
to... bully you or something.
MISHIMA: I still don't really know what to think of it. Is that a thing that
couples do?
MISHIMA: Or just, other people having sex I mean. I guess.
MISHIMA: Is that a thing you did with Ann?
AKIRA: No. Never.
AKIRA: I just got this idea to do it to you in the spur of the moment and I
didn't think twice about it.
AKIRA: And then Ann told me that she told you about how I... hurt her. It was
an accident, but it still happened.
MISHIMA: She explained it to me. She said she thought it happens when guys
think real life sex works like sex in porn, or something like that.
AKIRA: I guess that's fair.
AKIRA: I just... I never wanted to hurt her. But I did. And I wasn't trying to
intimidate you or force you or anything like that. But I did. I scared you.
AKIRA: And then, on top of that, Ann and I had this Amazing Plan about how to
help you, help you get used to us and get to know us better, but we should've
just talked to you about it.
MISHIMA: Yeah, that is more or less what I was mad about.
MISHIMA: Am mad about.
MISHIMA: Don't keep me in the dark.

Both Akira and Ann felt a fresh pang of guilt at that. As long as the Phantom
Thieves were active, Mishima would have to be kept in the dark about some
things no matter what their relationship status was.

MISHIMA: And why do you and Ann get to share all my embarrassments with each
other but you can't even tell me something nice, like how you want to hang out
with me more?
MISHIMA: I just feel like I'll never get to be where you and Ann are. I'm just,
like, secondary.
ANN: oh honey, that's not true
ANN: sorry
MISHIMA: I guess it's fine. Your turn now.
MISHIMA: Ann, Akira didn't make me cry. I did that all on my own.
ANN: I know
ANN: I shouldn't have said that
ANN: and I just had a beer with you to relax you a bit. I wasn't like... trying
to take advantage of you
ANN: I hope you don't think that
MISHIMA: It helped.
MISHIMA: I really wasn't, like, drunk drunk though. I'm not that much of a
lightweight.
ANN: I know
ANN: I'm sorry I started this whole mess. I shouldn't have kissed you
MISHIMA: Well I'm not mad about that part.
MISHIMA: I guess I just want
MISHIMA: For you guys to talk to me? The way you do with each other?
MISHIMA: Like, don't decide for me how things are going to go. I should have a
say in that, right?
AKIRA: Yeah. We just wanted to help you be more comfortable.
AKIRA: But that was the wrong way to do it.
AKIRA: It's okay if you don't want this anymore. With us. Maybe it's too much
to ask.
AKIRA: But I want to be your friend.
ANN: me too
ANN: I still want to hang out with you and get to know you better even if I
wrecked everything else
MISHIMA: If you guys will really include me. I don't want to just be... left
out, like I said.
AKIRA: I think we can do better.
ANN: but like... now that it's out in the open... Mishima, if you still want to
be more than friends with us, what do you think?
MISHIMA: About going slower?
ANN: yeah. getting to know us better first
MISHIMA: I don't know if I want to go back to doing those things with either of
you.

Both Ann and Akira held their breath, waiting for him to continue typing.

MISHIMA: But I think we can try being friends again. Both of you.
MISHIMA: I don't want to throw that away.
AKIRA: I'm so glad.
ANN: me too
ANN: and like I said to Akira after you left. friends have fights.
ANN: and then hopefully they make up and go back to being friends. right?
MISHIMA: I'm maybe not the best one to ask. But I'd like to try that.
MISHIMA: I'll see you guys at school tomorrow.

They said their goodbyes and closed the chat.
----------

When Ann and Akira made it to the classroom the next morning, Mishima was
already seated, staring down at his desk. They each tried to catch his eye
without success. When they sent him chat messages, he ignored them.

At lunch he made his way over to their desks and sat in another student's in
the row next to theirs. Most of the room was empty, the other students spread
throughout the school for lunch. But there were still a few seated here and
there, so they kept their voices low.

Akira started first. "How are you doing?"

Mishima kept his face impassive. "I'm okay."

Ann's eyes were sympathetic. "I'm really glad you decided to give it another
shot. Being friends I mean."

He frowned a little. "Yeah, well. We'll see how it goes." But then he sighed
and tried a new approach. "Did you guys see the new Phan-site poll? The comment
section is going crazy."

They ate their lunches, carefully avoiding anything but the most neutral of
topics, and things felt a little better.
Chapter End Notes
     Things will be a little less Crying Breakfast Friends by next
     chapter, I promise.
***** It's a date. Akira's resume. "I guess you liked my photos?" *****
Chapter Summary
     Kiss and make up (well, not quite.)
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
When the bell rang at the end of class, Akira cleared his plate of obligations
for the afternoon and beckoned Mishima over to his and Ann's desks.

"You guys wanna do the diner today? My treat."

Ann scrunched up her face. "Wish I could. But I've got a shoot today and I
can't risk cancelling."

Mishima kept his expression guarded, but he nodded. "Yeah, I'm free." He
shifted his feet. "How about something more like the movies though? The diner
is so..."

Visible? Exposed? Akira nodded in agreement, and they left.

When they arrived at the theatre they both realized that they knew nothing
about any of the movies currently playing and wound up simply buying tickets
for the first one available. They slouched down in two seats close to the back
and tried to pay attention to the plot.

It was past the halfway point of the movie when, still staring straight ahead,
Mishima found his hand in the dark and slid his fingers between his, keeping
their hands low between the seats to avoid being seen. Akira sighed and, a
moment later, let his shoulder press against Mishima's. They sat that way until
the lights came back on.

----------

Akira was out Leblanc's front door and on his way to the Yongen station, headed
to the church to play shogi with Hifumi, when he caught sight of a familiar
face climbing the station steps. It was hard to tell, but the height gave him
away.

"Mishima? Is that you?"

The slight figure closed the distance and nodded up at him in the dark,
smiling. He looked more like his old self again. "I know I took up your
afternoon. Do you have a few minutes tonight though? To talk?"

"'Course." Akira went back the way he'd come and held the door to Leblanc open
for him.

The last time Sojiro had seen Mishima, he'd stalked quietly down the stairs
from the attic and left without a word, an hour or more before Ann had left
after him - not to mention what Sojiro may or may not have overheard. If he had
any comments about seeing Mishima come by again after what must have obviously
been a fight of some kind, he kept them to himself. He gave Akira a curt nod.
"Lock up?"

He was grateful for the privacy and nodded. Sojiro left without another word,
and Akira flipped the sign to closed and locked the door.

Mishima slunk into a booth and let Akira make him a coffee. The similarity to
the first night they'd spent together made them tongue-tied and they drank in
silence.

Akira slid into the booth, seated across from him, and kept searching his face
until Mishima squirmed and ducked his face away. "Hey. Stoppit. I'm okay."

Akira stretched out his hands, kept warm by his coffee cup, and covered
Mishima's with them. Mishima let him, his expression unreadable. "You wanted to
talk about something?"

"Yeah. But I don't know where to start."

"Did we cover everything when we talked it out with Ann in the chat? Did we
miss something?"

Mishima shut his eyes and rolled his shoulders, thinking. "I guess I." He took
a deep breath and held it for a moment. "I guess I wouldn't have grabbed your
hand in the theatre if I was still mad."

Akira just stroked the back of his hand with his thumb, letting him think it
over.

"And I guess. Um. I guess friends don't hold hands too much, do they."

Akira smiled, trying to put him at ease. "There's no rush. This doesn't have to
mean we go back to... more. We can just keep going to the movies and getting
burgers with Ann. I like that just fine."

Mishima nodded, eyes closed again, and then clenched Akira's fingers tightly.
His shoulders hunched up by his ears as he seemed to be psyching himself up for
something. He opened his eyes, brows drawn together, and suddenly got up and
shoved himself into the other side of the booth, forcing Akira to slide in all
the way to the wall. "Whoa - "

He pressed his hip and side to Akira's and, slowly, hoping it was the right
thing to do, Akira put his arm around him.

Mishima exhaled and sank into him, but then his face turned up to Akira's,
brows drawn together again and eyes narrowed in an intense expression. "I'm not
scared of you. Got it?!"

Akira finally felt the tension that he'd been carrying for days leave his neck
and shoulders. He laughed, but it was out of relief, and Mishima seemed to know
there was no bite to it. He drew him in close. "Got it."

They sat pressed together, chatting quietly and more easily than before, until
Mishima thanked him for the coffee and left to catch his train. "See you
tomorrow, Akira."
----------

Akira stretched out on his back in bed, tapping at his phone while trying not
to wake Morgana, curled cozily at his side.

AKIRA: Hey Ann.
AKIRA: Ann?

She replied a minute later.

ANN: I don't care if you drank too much coffee. it's after midnight
AKIRA: But I have news.
ANN: blug. what
AKIRA: Mishima came by Leblanc tonight.
ANN: !

He laughed quietly to himself, partly just because he felt happy and partly
because he was picturing her finally snapping awake in her room.

ANN: well?!
AKIRA: He said he's not scared of me. We held hands. We did earlier at the
movies too.
AKIRA: What's the phrase... we hugged it out? Lol
ANN: awww I'm so happy for you <3
AKIRA: I bet it's your turn next.
ANN: well. maybe
ANN: just because he made up with you, doesn't mean he will with me
AKIRA: I think you've got a good shot. Just a feeling. You should go out with
him somewhere.
AKIRA: You're not booked for tomorrow, are you? For a shoot?
ANN: no, but I'm flat broke rn. what shitty timing
AKIRA: Lemme give you some cash in the morning.
ANN: you don't have to do that
AKIRA: Yes I do. Just take it.
ANN: fiiiiiiiiine
ANN: thanks for the head's up. maybe I'll actually do my eyebrows tomorrow XD
AKIRA: I don't think he cares about that... ? Lol
AKIRA: Anyway, I'll let you get some sleep.
ANN: thanks bb
ANN: gnight

----------

The next afternoon Ann was at Mishima's desk before the bell had even finished
ringing. She leaned on his desk with one hand until he'd finished zipping up
his bag and looked up at her.

"Oh, Ann - "

"Free today? I wanna take you out."

Mishima heard whispers around him and his face heated up immediately. "I will
agree to anything you want if we can discuss it at the train station," he
muttered urgently, his eyes averted.

"Okay, see you theeeere - " she singsonged. Then she was gone. Mishima caught
Akira rolling his eyes on the other side of the classroom. He delayed packing
up his things, trying to give his face time to go back to normal, and found her
waiting at the school gate instead of the station.

Akira must have texted her a word or two of advice about appearances, or
perhaps volume level, because she was considerably more reserved when he
approached her. She gave him some space and avoided drawing more attention to
the two of them, though her expression gave away how excited she was. "Mishima,
you like crepes?"

He felt a little less off balance now that they were less likely to be
overheard. "Don't think I've ever had them." He thought about what their male
classmates might say if they saw him eating such a 'girly' food and tried to
put it out of his mind immediately. "They always looked good though."

Ann was studying him carefully and seemed to guess some of what he was
thinking. Or perhaps she had heard the whispering in the classroom after all.
She spoke softly. "Who cares what they think, Mishima."

I do! Me! I care! "Yeah, I guess."

They took the train one stop over and made it to the crepe stand, waiting in
line for ten minutes or so. The area was packed with people but there weren't
many students around yet, which afforded it its own sort of privacy. They stood
side by side in line, facing each other, and she stood closer than was strictly
necessary. She caught his eye and then slowly linked her index finger with his.
Mishima's insides squirmed - anyone could see us! - but he made himself keep
his hand still. Something must have shown on his face because she tipped her
face even closer, keeping her voice down. "We don't have to," she murmured,
squeezing his finger at the same time to show what she meant.

His ears felt hot but he shook his head almost imperceptibly. "It's okay." He
took her whole hand in his.

They made it to the counter and he ordered the same thing that she did. He
received a sugary monstrosity, the crepe really just a vehicle for whipped
cream and chocolate sauce. She seemed to understand how he was feeling and took
him by the hand to a less exposed spot, tucked away a little between a standing
sign and a trio of vending machines. She considered for a moment longer and
then stood between him and the street so that he could stand with his back
against the brick wall, mostly obscured by her body. "Better?"

"Uh huh." She already knew him better than he thought. He took a bite of his
crepe and decided it was delicious.

She filled in the silence with chatter, trying to make him forget his
discomfort. "Akira and I go for crepes sometimes but he gets thesavory crepes.
Bleh. Why bother getting crepes then?" She took another bite with enormous
satisfaction. "He drinks his coffee black, did you know that?"

He felt better, buoyed up by sugar and her animated expressions, and even
laughed a little. "I don't know how he drinks that stuff like he does. He made
me three that time I stayed the night and I was sick as a dog the next day." He
took another bite. "Didn't sleep either."

She waggled her eyebrows and gave him a lecherous smile until he laughed again,
but didn't say anything in response. She waited patiently, letting him finish
his crepe.
"Thanks. That was better than I thought it would be."

"Worth the wait in line, right?" She stood at ease and let him broach the
subject they both knew was coming.

He gathered his thoughts. "So. Akira probably told you that I saw him
yesterday, but I'll tell you too. I'm not mad at you."

It wasn't really a surprise at that point but she looked relieved anyway. She
took his wrapper and napkin and tossed them with hers at a trash can ten feet
away, then came back and stood a little closer then she had before. "What do
you think about. Um. Being friends?"

He kept his eyes on the ground to her side but smiled. "I think I can handle
that. Being friends with you." He took a step closer but then for some reason
he remembered how oblivious and attention grabbing she'd been in the classroom,
when she'd asked him to come out with her. His eyes tipped back up to hers and
he grinned mischievously. "I just wish you weren't... so... loud!" Then he
lunged for her hood and dragged it over her hair until she was a frizzy mess.

"Mishimaaaaaa!" she squealed in frustration, but when he tensed up, waiting to
see how she'd retaliate, she just pulled him close and hugged him tight.
Perhaps a little tighter than she might have if he hadn't just provoked her.
"You're lucky we're out in public, buddy, or you'd see what I really wanna do
to you," she murmured into his ear, then released him and gave him a
calculating look. "But I have a long memory."

He watched her face falter when he took a step back. "We talked about being
friends, not anything else."

Dismayed, she stammered, "You're, you're right. I shouldn't have assumed - "

But he just grinned and grabbed both of her hands in his. "But I think we can
give it another try. If you guys will keep me in the loop, at least."

He watched her face flit through the most interesting progression of
expressions. "You. Are infuriating." She grabbed his nearest hanging suspender
and pulled it back until it snapped him in the leg.

"Okayokay truce... !" They were beginning to attract annoyed glares from
passersby, but he found he wasn't too concerned about what they thought.

----------

AKIRA: Soooo?
ANN: went great
ANN: I danced all the way home
AKIRA: Are you guys good now too?
ANN: think so. held hands, hugged
ANN: he will not leave my hair aloooone, he is maddening
AKIRA: You like it and he can tell you like it. Lol
ANN: shaddap
ANN: he even hinted that he might want what happened before to happen again
ANN: I think?
AKIRA: I sort of got that impression too, for me, when he was sitting all
squeezed in next to me
AKIRA: But let's let him take his time and figure it out. Right?
ANN: agreed

----------

Mishima became more comfortable with them by the day and it worked out very
well; the three of them spent time together after school when possible, and
when one was otherwise occupied, the remaining two would go to the arcade, or
the underground shopping mall, or to Leblanc for coffee. For a few weeks, the
option of continuing what Ann and Akira had each started with him in their
respective beds went unmentioned, but not forgotten.

They were each sitting at home, typing in their group chat, when Mishima got up
his nerve.

ANN: oh come on. you'd like sweet crepes if you gave them a chance
ANN: if you just order savory ones every time you might as well just be eating
a convenience store sandwich
AKIRA: Sometimes I think you're part hummingbird. I bet when you're home alone
you drink straight sugar water in your Shame Closet.
ANN: what??? lmao
MISHIMA: He's got you there.
ANN: Mishima I do not have a Shame Closet XD
MISHIMA: But you don't deny the sugar water? Interesting...
ANN: ffffff
ANN: lol
MISHIMA: Actually, there's something I wanted to talk to you about. Both of
you.
AKIRA: All ears.
ANN: yeah I'm here
MISHIMA: It feels weird just bringing it up out of nowhere but.
MISHIMA: Are either of you still... interested in me? Like that?
ANN: like whaaaaat?
ANN: lol I'm kidding. you mean sex, right?
ANN: we're TYPING Mishima
ANN: you can say it, can't you?
AKIRA: Don't tease him. It's hard for him.
MISHIMA: Yeah yeah, hard like your dick, whatever.
AKIRA: Such language!
ANN: such a vulgar child
MISHIMA: But, yes. That's what I meant.
ANN: I still think you're cute. hot
ANN: if THAT'S what you meant
ANN: you know we were trying to give you some space, to get you more
comfortable. that's the only reason we stopped, uh
ANN: Akira?
AKIRA: Wooing you.
ANN: yeah that lol
AKIRA: I'm not sure that's what that means though. I thought we WERE wooing
him?
ANN: oh my goddddd Akiraaaa
MISHIMA: Akira? What about you?
AKIRA: I was kind of trying to put it out of my mind. Or I wouldn't be able to
hang out with you.
MISHIMA: You mean you can't hang out with me as a friend without... that,
coming to mind?
AKIRA: No, I mean I have to make sure I don't look at your ass at school or I
start to remember what we were doing in my bed and I get a hardon under my
desk.
ANN: asdlkfjs
ANN: fuck Akira XD
MISHIMA: Uh, thank you for being clear...? XD
AKIRA: Anytime.
MISHIMA: And like... no one is jealous right? Because when we had that fight a
few weeks ago it almost felt like you guys were competing or something.
ANN: I think it was more like me and him were mad at each other and we were
using things you had told us to be shitty to each other
ANN: sorry
AKIRA: Yeah, I think it was more like that too. Like, I guess I'd be sad if you
decided to be exclusive with Ann now. I like spending time with you. No matter
what we're doing.
AKIRA: But if you started sleeping with her and dialled me back down to a
friend only, I'd get over it. We'd still be friends.
MISHIMA: I don't think that's going to happen. Not with the way I feel right
now, anyway. I keep thinking about both of you pretty equally. I just wanted to
make sure.
AKIRA: And what kind of thing do you think about, Mishima?
ANN: yes share with the class plz
MISHIMA: Oh, um.
MISHIMA: You really want to know now? In chat?
ANN: I'm laying in bed. how about you Akira?
AKIRA: I am asking Morgana to give me some privacy as we speak.
AKIRA: He is as disgusted as you might imagine.
MISHIMA: You know he's just a cat, right...?
MISHIMA: I'm, um. Laying in my bed too.
ANN: whatcha got on
MISHIMA: Just... underwear.
ANN: pssht. "underwear". come on
AKIRA: We need details!
AKIRA: I didn't get to see what you were wearing when I had you over.
ANN: me neither. we've got a shy one on our hands
ANN: I will give you an example
ANN: I am wearing pink and grey striped boy shorts with little bows on the
sides
MISHIMA: You wear men's underwear?
AKIRA: LMAO
AKIRA: Wouldn't put it past her.
ANN: that's just what they're called, god you guys... XD do those sound like
men's underwear to you?
AKIRA: No, I know what you mean. You'd like them Mishima. If they're the ones
I'm thinking of they come up high in the back and show off a bit of her ass.
MISHIMA: Oh.
MISHIMA: Yes, I do think I would like to see those.
ANN: then come to my place next Sunday, bb
AKIRA: Hey, if we're trying to be fair, I think my turn's come around again.
MISHIMA: Now, now, don't fight... lol.
MISHIMA: Akira?
AKIRA: Yes?
ANN: he wants to know what you're wearing, dumbass
AKIRA: Oh, my boxers?
AKIRA: I got rid of those ages ago.
ANN: you're gonna get such a scratchin if you give Morgana an eyeful again
AKIRA: I think that just leaves you, Mishima.
MISHIMA: For what?
ANN: say iiiiiiiiit
ANN: tit for tat, remember? ;)
MISHIMA: Oh geeze, don't remind me.
MISHIMA: Actually I guess DO remind me, if that's what we're doing.
MISHIMA: I'm
MISHIMA: Uh
MISHIMA: I've got green briefs on. They have white stripes up the sides and the
front. They're
MISHIMA: Tight?
MISHIMA: They match my sneakers actually. >_>
ANN: aaaaaaaa
ANN: why do I like that mental image of you in your sneakers so much
AKIRA: Bet they're getting tighter.
MISHIMA: Maybe.
AKIRA: I think I'd like to hear more about this tit for tat, too.
MISHIMA: Oh, I said that because Ann has nice
MISHIMA: Um, boobs?
MISHIMA: Tits sounds rude to just say it like that.
ANN: you can say tits. you have my permission
ANN: god you're cute lmao
ANN: mmf, you should have seen him Akira
ANN: he was all over me, licking my nipples, sucking, everything
AKIRA: You do have really nice tits. More... prominent than most Japanese
girls.
ANN: guess that's my hafu powers showing
ANN: now, as fun as that was, I have only heard snippets of what your night was
like with Akira
ANN: spill it!
AKIRA: Yeah, Mishima. What did you like?
MISHIMA: Um... most of it... >_>
ANN: I'm waaaaiting
MISHIMA: Akira's a lot bigger than I thought he'd be.
MISHIMA: I could only fit like half in my mouth at a time. Or less, maybe.
MISHIMA: I, um
MISHIMA: Liked your balls more than I thought I would.
MISHIMA: Like they don't really do much in comparison, do they, but they're
nice to look at and hold in your hand. They're actually pretty heavy.
AKIRA: I'm flattered.
AKIRA: That was a pretty good write-up actually. Maybe I could put that on my
resume the next time I'm looking for part-timer work.
AKIRA: You'll be a reference for me right?
MISHIMA: Why would your mind go to THAT?
AKIRA: Don't you think "big cock, heavy balls" would set me apart from the
other candidates?
ANN: maybe if you're applying in the red light district
MISHIMA: It would have to be an interesting uniform to show those off.
ANN: ...
ANN: uh, for some reason I liked that mental picture a lot less than I liked
Mishima in his green briefs and sneakers lol
AKIRA: Speaking of which.
AKIRA: Mishima, you still got those on?
MISHIMA: My briefs? Yes.
MISHIMA: Well, only kind of on.
ANN: share with the class!
MISHIMA: Share what though? I already told you.
AKIRA: I think she is asking for a photo.
MISHIMA: Oh yeah? Tit for tat, Ann.
AKIRA: Ooooh, gotcha Ann.
ANN: what! why only me?
MISHIMA: You first.
MISHIMA: I've never... done that. I don't really know what you want, exactly.
AKIRA: Fair's fair Ann.
AKIRA: You're the model. Show us how it's done.
MISHIMA: You too Akira.
ANN: hahaaaaaa
ANN: been a while since I've seen your little friend
AKIRA: Little?
AKIRA: I'll show you little.

There was a pause in the chat and they waited impatiently.

ANN: I bet he's just gonna finish without us, the jerk
MISHIMA: I guess he doesn't have to do it if he doesn't want to. It's okay.
ANN: uh, he is not shy about waving that thing around, Mishima
ANN: :P
ANN: you'll find out

Akira linked three photos. As he'd said, he was fully naked now, sitting up in
bed. The first shot was taken from above, just catching his chin and
emphasizing his toned chest and stomach. He had flung back his covers to show
his cock, fully erect and shiny in the low light.

The second shot was taken while he stood with the camera much closer. His thumb
and index finger of his free hand circled its base, squeezing it tight and
pumping it up to its full size. The head was dark purple with arousal and a
tiny highlight showed where the precum had begun to pool.

The last one was taken from below. His cock was still visible but his balls
were the focus, propped up on his closed thighs; they looked loose, relaxed,
and as large as Mishima remembered.

AKIRA: There.
AKIRA: That last one's especially for you, Mishima.

He sent two peach emoji.

ANN: omg
ANN: THAT IS NOT WHAT THE PEACH EMOJI MEANS AKIRA
ANN: XD
AKIRA: Oh.
AKIRA: Anyway, what do you think?
ANN: v nice
ANN: I do have fond memories of that thing of yours
AKIRA: Aw, don't call it that. You'll hurt its feelings.
ANN: that thing looks like it eats mice or smth
ANN: or babies
ANN: I don't think I could hurt it if I tried
AKIRA: You, uh, really know how to make a guy feel desirable.
ANN: oh, come on, you know you're hot. you don't need me to tell you
AKIRA: But I was actually wondering what Mishima thinks.

They waited a moment.

ANN: maybe that thing scared him away
ANN: Mishima?
AKIRA: Mishima, you don't have to take a photo if you don't want to.
MISHIMA: Well, you asked for one, so...

He linked a single photo in the chat. He'd taken it from above while laying
down. The green briefs were as he'd described, but the state they were in came
as a surprise.

ANN: whoooa
AKIRA: Uh
AKIRA: I guess you liked my photos? Now I'm really flattered.
ANN: you know, you and me always did "before" photos. I don't think we ever did
"after" photos, did we
AKIRA: Definitely saving this one.
MISHIMA: Did I do it right?
ANN: not what I was expecting, but I like it
ANN: been a while? that's, like, a lot ;)
MISHIMA: Is a day a while? >_>
ANN: uh, not for me, lol
AKIRA: Yeah, a day's not that long.
AKIRA: Do you always... ?
AKIRA: I didn't really get to see too much when you stayed the night.
MISHIMA: I mean, I guess?
ANN: mmmf
ANN: if we... get that far... I gotta get you to bareback me
MISHIMA: Wow. I guess you like MY photo, huh?
ANN: getting filled up feels amaaaazing. and then, it's messy, but when the hot
cum starts to leak out again...
ANN: mmmf
MISHIMA: I think I could help you with that.
ANN: if you make that much regularly I think we'll get along famously
ANN: now it's time for you and Akira to chat
ANN: brb
AKIRA: Damn, I think you found her button.
MISHIMA: Is she... ?
AKIRA: Yeah, think so.
MISHIMA: What about you?
AKIRA: Sorry, finished when Ann was talking about cum, lol.
MISHIMA: Ah.
MISHIMA: Did you guys really bareback?
MISHIMA: What about... ?
AKIRA: She's on the pill, and we're both clean.
AKIRA: I mean, we'll use condoms with you if you want that. I guess we haven't
really gotten far enough to talk about that.
MISHIMA: Yeah, I guess that's something to think about later.
MISHIMA: Aw, what, she never sent us a picture!
AKIRA: Yeah, and I sent THREE.
AKIRA: She's definitely going first next time.
ANN: sorry boys
ANN: didn't mean to hold out on you
ANN: and yeah, Mishima, I didn't mean you had to go in raw if you don't want
to. it's your choice
ANN: there's still lots we can do without barebacking
MISHIMA: I'll have to think about it, I guess.
MISHIMA: Do you really like cum? Why???
ANN: lol
ANN: you liked seeing Akira's, right? said you swallowed it and had it on your
tongue, right?
MISHIMA: Yeah but...
MISHIMA: Well, I guess it's more or less the same then.
MISHIMA: I just thought you'd think it was gross for some reason.
ANN: enh
ANN: when you're in the moment it's not gross. if I had to leave it on my face
or hair for very long I'd be less happy about it
ANN: that's why I marched you to the shower right away last time after I...
defiled you lmao
MISHIMA: Lol
MISHIMA: The only one who got defiled that night was your rug.
MISHIMA: RIP Ann's Rug.
ANN: I actually did have to get rid of it :/
MISHIMA: Aw, sorry.
ANN: worth it
ANN: so like... I like being filled up, but the taste is not that great. not my
fave. but did you really like how I tasted?
MISHIMA: Yes. Oh my god yes.
MISHIMA: And you smell amazing too.
MISHIMA: And... it felt really cool to hear the sounds you were making and know
that it was my mouth and my tongue doing that. :)
ANN: I was thinking that night that you're not bad at all at kissing
considering you hadn't done that much of it by then. so then when you add that,
you're pretty good with your mouth overall
ANN: like... really good. you sure that was your first time?
MISHIMA: Uh, definitely, yes.
ANN: Imma call you Mishimouth
MISHIMA: Please don't.
ANN: Akira, how was he with his mouth with you?
MISHIMA: He's been quiet a while.
MISHIMA: I think he is... occupied.
ANN: again?
MISHIMA: Um.
ANN: you too?!
MISHIMA: You keep bringing up nice memories for me!
ANN: well... that is the idea I guess
MISHIMA: I keep stopping to type though, so if it's okay with you, I think I'll
focus more on what I'm doing.
ANN: lol go ahead
ANN: guess I'll leave you dirty boys to your own devices
ANN: gnight
Chapter End Notes
     AKIRA: But then... what DOES the peach emoji mean?
***** Cat custody. "You're strong!" Pretty. *****
Chapter Notes
     Return of the smut, plus something a little unsettling. Two chapters
     this update.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
After Mishima's admission that he still wanted to pursue certain options
between the three of them, the atmosphere around them felt more charged with
possibilities. Kawakami called Chouno to the faculty office the next day and
while the class was left unsupervised, Akira seized his chance, hoping he'd
beaten Ann to the punch.

AKIRA: Hey Mishima.
MISHIMA: Yeah?

Akira noticed him twisting in his chair to see him from across the rows of
desks.

AKIRA: Wanna come by on Saturday night again?
AKIRA: Overnighter, this time.

He felt immense satisfaction as he watched redness spread from the tips of
Mishima's ears to the rest of his face. Mishima immediately turned to face
forward in his desk again.

MISHIMA: Um. Sure?
MISHIMA: Maybe we can eat something this time though? Got a bellyache last time
from all the coffee on an empty stomach.
AKIRA: Sorry. Sure we can. I'll make you curry.

Mishima shot him a small, secret smile and then pretended to be focused on his
schoolwork as Chouno returned.
----------

A few days later, on Saturday evening, Mishima pushed open the glass door of
Leblanc. Sojiro discreetly gauged his face, then seemed to warm up to him a
little, though he remained as taciturn as usual. "Tell him to lock up behind
you, got it?" Mishima politely assured him that he would pass it on, and Sojiro
left.

Mishima stood at the bottom of the stairs to the attic and craned his neck, not
sure if he should go any further. "Akira...?"

Akira's face appeared above, openly excited to see him. "Be right down."

Akira locked up and flipped the sign to closed, then put on his apron. "Dinner
or coffee? Both?"

"Both sound good if that's alright with you. Is this going to be that curry you
bring for lunch sometimes?"

"That's the plan."

They chatted as he prepared the ingredients and then brought over a latte while
the curry simmered. There was a heart pattern in the steamed milk.

Mishima dropped his face to his folded arms on the table, face red, but he was
laughing. "You are so embarrassinggggg..."

Akira just smirked. "You asked, remember?"

The curry was just as good as Mishima remembered. The two of them made short
work of it and then sat together comfortably, finishing their lattes.

Akira began to wash up the dishes to give Mishima some space, then brought up
the matter at hand. "You seem less freaked out than last time."

"Definitely. I felt like I was going to have a heart attack during, um. During
certain parts last time."
 
"You know..." Akira spoke without facing him, his hands still submerged in the
sink. "Ann tells me I need to work on being patient. I'm sure she's right. We
don't have to make tonight a repeat."

Mishima fiddled with his coffee cup, not sure that he was understanding what he
meant.

Akira addressed the sinkful of suds. "Video games are okay with me, I mean.
Movies. Whatever."

Mishima felt his face warm up. "Oh. Um. I guess I came here expecting more of
'whatever', though." He looked at his hands.

Akira drained the sink. "Well. That's on the table too." He hung up his apron
and sat back down, sipping his latte. "See where things go?"

Mishima was the one to grab his hand, still wet from the dishes. "Yeah. Let's
see where things go."

They settled in front of the TV, and while Akira sorted through DVD and game
cases, Mishima scanned the room. "Where's your cat?"

"Spending the night with Ann."

"She's got custody on weekends, huh," he joked. "That's too bad. I kind of
wanted to play with him. I've never had a pet."

Akira grimaced. "He's crabby lately though. Maybe he'll warm up to you the next
time you're here during business hours."

He put a movie on but it wasn't long before Mishima twisted to face him,
wanting to talk, so Akira turned it low for background noise. "What's up?"

"I guess I'm not... here for a movie." He played with the hem of his shirt and
peered at Akira from the corner of his eye.

Akira didn't argue. He leaned from his chair over to Mishima's, placed a hand
on his thigh to steady himself, and kissed him.

Mishima was keyed up and pushed his tongue into his mouth almost immediately
until Akira broke the kiss. "Hey, hey, hey..." he murmured, rubbing his back to
show there was no harm done. "We've got all night. Here." He stood in front of
of Mishima's chair, bent down, and then shocked him by scooping him up in his
arms and setting him down on the bed in one fluid motion. Mishima couldn't help
but let out a tremendous squawk in surprise and Akira laughed in his ear, his
arms still wrapped around his shoulders and knees. "Sorry..." But of course he
didn't sound a bit sorry.

Mishima's stomach settled back where it belonged and his jangled nerves got him
laughing breathlessly. "You're - you're strong!" He sprawled out and Akira let
him go, settling on his side between Mishima and the outer edge of the bed.
They were still, studying each other's faces, and then Akira angled his face to
his neck, kissing gently below his ear. Mishima's shoulders finally relaxed and
he sighed, comfortable. Akira continued, slowly moving on to his throat and
then to where his shoulder met his neck until Mishima opened his eyes again.
"Hey."

Akira propped himself up on one elbow and waited.

Without speaking a word, he placed his hands on Akira's shoulders and
maneuvered him gently until he was kneeling over him. Then he pulled him down
until he was laying over him, most of his weight on his elbows and knees.

Akira lowered his lips to his ear. "You sure?"

Mishima took a deep breath and then put just his fingertips between Akira's t-
shirt and his skin. "I told you. I'm not scared of you." He pulled him down the
last few inches until most of Akira's weight was settled on top of him, their
chests pressed together.

Things moved a little quicker after that.

Akira kissed Mishima deeply until he parted his lips. He shifted his weight and
arched his back until he'd found what he was looking for and grinded his hips
down upon it, Mishima rewarding him with a breathy moan in his ear as they felt
each other stiffen. Akira freed a hand and buried his fingers deep in Mishima's
spiky hair until he was forced to tip his head all the way back and expose his
smooth throat. Seeing him this way, eyes squeezed shut and panting, vulnerable
and simply waiting for him to make his next move, stirred something deep in
Akira. "Fuck, you look good." Before he could respond, Akira had knelt over him
again and was undoing his khakis roughly, finally yanking them and his briefs
down and then immediately doing the same to his own pants and boxers until his
cock was bared, fully hard. Without wasting a second he lowered his hips until
they were skin to skin.

"Akira, wait."

His stomach sank. What are you even doing? What happened to 'we've got all
night?' He immediately rolled off and sat beside him, his legs still trapped in
his pants.

"Not that. Don't make that face." Mishima actually smiled at him and pulled his
shirt over his head, then plucked at Akira's until he understood and took his
own t-shirt off. Then he wriggled all the way out of his khakis and waited for
Akira to do the same. Fully nude, Akira stretched out beside him.

To Akira's shock Mishima looked at ease, sitting propped up with his hands
behind him, his knees raised and feet flat on the bed. Fully exposed, with all
of the lights on. He smiled down at him. "I just, we didn't see each other too
well last time, right? I want to see you more. Before... it's over already."

Akira was about to correct him, perhaps remind him that he had been able to see
plenty of Mishima while the lights had been on and he'd kept a pillow clamped
to his face, but held his tongue. From his vantage point on his side, face at
mattress level and laying further down the bed than Mishima was, he had a very
nice view indeed. Between Mishima's pale, smooth thighs and just a few inches
away, he could see his cock, still fully hard, and his balls, modest and rosy
pink.

"You know I'm just going to call you pretty again." Akira couldn't keep his
hands to himself any longer. He reached between Mishima's thighs and gently
brushed his balls with the back of his fingers, then stroked further up with
the lightest of touches.

He heard a soft sigh above him and realized Mishima was watching him, his face
flushed and his brows drawn together.

It was difficult, but Akira managed to make himself stop touching him. For the
time being, at least. "Stretch out for me."

He did as he was told, folding his hands behind his head and staring up at the
ceiling as Akira knelt beside him. The lighting and angle were far better than
the last time he'd seen him, and Akira took his time.

"You're so smooth," he said, brushing his fingertips up his thighs and across
his hips.

"Maybe compared to you," Mishima retorted, his face turned away. "Ann said that
too. What you said a minute ago, I mean. 'Pretty.'"

Mishima turned back and ran his fingers across his belly, where there was a
little hair trailing down; it tickled enough to make Akira laugh. "This is
nothing!" He used both hands to trace the outline of Mishima's hips. "I like
these too. You're, um. Actually kind of curvy."

Mishima seemed to be growing annoyed though; he stopped gazing up at Akira and
looked to the side again, his lips pressed into a thin line. "You just like
girls. You keep saying I'm... girly."

"If I wanted a girl, I've got one I can ring up anytime I want. I want you," he
said, and as if to prove his point, he brushed his fingertips back down to
Mishima's cock, pressing the head into his palm.

It was the wrong thing to say. Mishima squirmed away and rolled onto his side,
facing the wall. Akira sat upright and hung his feet off the edge of the bed,
trying to give him space again. He addressed the room at large, not looking at
Mishima. "You like both Ann and me, right?"

He glanced back just in time to catch him nodding, still staring moodily at the
wall.

"So why don't you get that I like both Ann and you? Like, I like guys and girls
in general. I don't want you to be a girl."

Mishima's response caught him off guard. "Have you been sleeping with Ann since
you had me over that one night?"

"What? No, we haven't done a thing for months. Ann and I."

"Why not?"

"We broke it off, I told you that. She said something about wanting us to be
free to see other people without making it messy. I guess that was just a week
or two before I asked you out to the diner."

"So like... maybe you just miss Ann. You clearly still get all... hot for each
other. Like in the group chat."

Yikes. Akira risked lying down behind Mishima and tentatively slid a hand
beneath his arm, resting it on his waist. When Mishima didn't tense up or
resist, Akira moved closer until his chest was pressed to his back, hips kept a
respectful distance away. "I think we've got some things to clear up about us
and Ann still."

Another grim nod. "Maybe."

"When Ann brought up me and her 'breaking up', or whatever you call it when
you're not really... being romantic with each other, I just thought she'd found
someone she did actually want to be romantic with. So I was happy for her and I
waited to see who it would be. And then I started noticing you more in class
around the same time. So like... I didn't really think about it too hard at the
time, but I think she was trying to get us together. Or at least give me room
to see if that's what you and I both wanted." He rubbed his palm over Mishima's
chest, just as he'd done their first night together.

Mishima waited in silence.

"But... yeah. I'm still attracted to her. And she seems like she's still
attracted to me. I guess since you've been seeing both of us at the same time I
didn't think that was a problem? Like, she and I haven't gone back to the way
we were a few months ago, but you can't really call any of this being one
hundred percent exclusive either. The group chat, for example."

Mishima let out a shuddery sigh. "I guess it shouldn't be a problem. I just...
don't want to be kept in the dark again."

"If we were having sex behind your back and keeping it from you, would we have
had a, a group... session with you? We were all pretty open with each other, I
thought."

Mishima relaxed his back enough to press into Akira's chest and stomach. "Yeah.
I don't know why I got upset. Sorry."

"Don't be." Akira found his nipple with his thumb and grazed it lightly,
slowly.

A soft noise came from Mishima that could have been protest or contentment;
Akira couldn't decipher it. "Why, um. Why haven't you and Ann started having
sex again? When neither of you are spending time with me, at least."

Akira replied immediately. "Didn't want to freak you out. You already said that
you felt 'secondary'. I don't want you to feel that way."

Mishima lowered his chin to his chest, and Akira felt his breath on his
fingers, still splayed on his skin. "I shouldn't though. I guess. I mean if I
can sleep with you, and if I can sleep with Ann, then why shouldn't you and
her...?"

"Me and Ann have more history together, that's all. It'd make sense that you'd
feel like an outsider if she and I were still seeing each other. We never
really put it into words, but I think that's why we've kept each other at arm's
length while we're each figuring things out with you."

"But you'd like to, wouldn't you."

Akira shifted his legs until they were comfortably pressed against the soles of
Mishima's feet. "Not if it makes you think we're keeping secrets from you."

"Right, but I remember you sort of hinting at it in our chat and then she said
she liked the idea but thought I needed more time."

"Oh. That." Akira wracked his brain, trying to recall the context. "If I
remember correctly, I was hinting at a threesome, not just me and Ann."

Mishima tensed, then relaxed again. "Oh."

Akira took on a teasing tone, seeing if he could lighten the mood. "You haven't
thought of it even once? Not even after that group chat we had a few days ago?"

Mishima's ears were turning red again. "Uh. I did like that."

"I think she didn't want me to bring it up until you seemed more comfortable.
But it sort of makes sense, right?"

"How would that even work though?"

"What, logistically?" Mishima nodded quickly and Akira tried to hold in his
sharp laugh, but couldn't. He squeezed him close and released him to show there
was no insult intended. "You really don't watch porn, do you. We'd, uh, find a
way. Heh."

"Don't laugh at me." But after he'd said it he gripped Akira's hand.

"Sorry." Akira stretched his legs, then returned them to where they'd been
pressed against Mishima. "I won't call you pretty if it bugs you. I don't think
you look like a girl."

Mishima sighed and then stayed silent for a long moment, thinking. Akira let
him take his time, running the side of his thumb up and down his hip.

When he finally did speak, he curled in on himself, drawing his shoulders and
legs away from Akira. "You really don't just... pretend you're with a girl?
When you're with me?" His voice became even quieter. "Ann, maybe?"

What? "Well, do you pretend I'm a girl when I'm with you?"

Mishima snorted. Not quite a laugh, but it was better than nothing. "No, of
course not."

"Then why would you think...? You said something like that the first time you
were here, too. Something about how I must have been thinking about a girl when
I was kissing you."

Mishima didn't answer.

Akira leaned forward and clutched him to his chest, wrapping both arms around
him and bringing his hips and thighs up to hug him with his entire body. "I
already told you. I want you. That's it. When I'm kissing you I'm not
pretending you're someone else or something. When I'm kissing you I don't have
the brainpower to think about... anything."

Mishima gave him a genuine laugh that time, and Akira smiled against his neck.
He loosened his arms a little and Mishima stretched out, his back against
Akira's chest and the soles of his feet pressed against Akira's legs again.

Now that he wasn't curled up anymore, Akira let his hand wander. He trailed his
fingertips over Mishima's hip, then brushed his flat stomach until he quivered
away from his touch, ticklish. Akira watched over Mishima's shoulder as he let
his fingers graze just the base of his cock, then smiled again when it began to
harden again before his eyes. "I don't think you look like a girl," he
repeated.

He played with his foreskin, stretching it and stroking him from tip to base
until his cock stood at full hardness again. He brought his mouth down to
Mishima's ear and whispered, "I especially don't think you look like a girl
when I've got you hard in my bed like this." He brought his hips forward just
enough to press his length against the small of Mishima's back; Mishima gasped
and twitched forward out of surprise, but a second later he was angling his
hips back again, trying to grind against him. Maybe this is still too fast.

Akira took him by the shoulders and gently pushed him away, then rolled him
over until they were facing each other, laying on their sides. He ran his palm
over Mishima's hair and held it there to keep him from ducking his face
downward, trying to figure out his expression. "Do you really still not
understand? That I like you?" He didn't give him a chance to answer. "I think
this is actually kind of why Ann and I wanted to slow down, you know? When her
and I were together we went way, way slower than you and I did."

"Really?"

"Yeah. We just figured it out as we went. If you and I had gone that slow, I
think you'd have a better idea of how much I like you. I'd have had more
chances to show you."

Mishima pressed his forehead into Akira's palm, trying to hide his face, but
Akira didn't let him, so he merely closed his eyes. His face was flushed, and
his eyebrows were drawn down. "Sorry. I'm just being stupid again." Akira was
about to respond with something to the contrary but Mishima cut him off. "Just
feels... weird. I mean, it makes me feel weird to hear you, like, complimenting
all the things about me that I. Um. Like the least." He pressed against Akira's
palm more forcefully this time, his eyes still shut tightly, and Akira let him
go; Mishima immediately laid his face against his chest.

Aw, Mishima. Akira felt like things were starting to click into place. "But why
don't you like... ?" He suddenly remembered the run-ins Mishima had had with
his former classmates at the diner, the ones who had called him a 'zero'. "Did
somebody say something about... you? How you look?" He brushed his fingertips
up and down the nape of Mishima's neck. "Somebody tease you?"

He nodded into Akira's chest and didn't elaborate.

Akira wrapped his arms around him again. On second thought, those former
classmates of his had been from middle school. Maybe they hadn't been the
culprits after all. But whoever said that to you would have had to see your
hips at the very least. Or did you mean... ? He couldn't tell if Mishima wanted
to talk about it, and it seemed insensitive to change the subject to anything
else, so he just held him. He listened to Mishima's breathing even out and slow
down, and felt his shoulders relax against him. When Mishima finally raised his
face again, Akira spoke first, keeping his voice low. "I'm not trying to make
fun of you. Really. When I say those things to you."

"I guess I know that. Or- " Mishima's dark eyes tipped up to his, trying to get
his point across. " -it's more like part of me knows that and part of me still
feels like it's... someone else saying it. Someone who's just, you know. Trying
to be shitty to me." He hid his face again.

Akira pressed his chin to the top of his head. "I didn't know. I'm sorry. I'll
be more careful about what I say." He closed his eyes and screwed up his face;
the person who had had the opportunity to see Mishima naked, who might have
made him feel this way, came to mind immediately and he forced it away again.
He'd ask about it when Mishima wanted to talk about it, and wouldn't waste time
thinking about it until then. He didn't want to use up his rare time spent
alone with him seething on his behalf over something that was already dealt
with and over. He did allow himself a moment of guilt for not having thought of
it sooner. No wonder he made an entire website devoted to the Thieves. If we
hadn't shown up, he might still be -

"It's okay. I'll get over it." Mishima raised his face again and actually
grinned at him. "Enough chatting. I didn't come here for that."

That's better. Akira mentally set aside what he'd been thinking about for
later, then put on a wide-eyed, innocent expression. "Then what did you come
here for?"

Mishima didn't answer right away, instead reaching between them and coaxing
Akira until he was hard again. "This."

He took Akira by surprise; his hips juddered forward a little and he hissed
between his teeth. "We really- " His voice jumped high and he cleared his
throat. "We really could just watch a movie, you know."

Mishima seemed to be pleased with how Akira had reacted to his touch. "Doesn't
look like you want to watch a movie." He even laughed. "And you left a big
sticky spot on me... "

Akira pulled back enough to look; there really was a shiny line of precum
trailing from Mishima's belly to his hip. He had to laugh too. "Uh, sorry?"

"You'll have to make it up to me somehow." Mishima lowered his face again, but
this time he wasn't hiding. His eyes were fixed on Akira's cock, on the way it
looked when he wrapped his fingers around it and stroked it.

Akira closed his eyes and just enjoyed it for a moment. But then he pulled away
again. "Hey, let's- " He sat up abruptly and waited for Mishima to do the same.

"You don't want to... ?" He looked puzzled but sat upright.

When the bed was clear, Akira moved over to the wall and leaned his back
against it. At first he stretched his legs out straight in front of him, as he
had their first night together; he reconsidered and bent his knees and opened
his thighs, then patted the sheet between them. "Sit here."

"I don't really get what you're doing, but alright." He crawled across the bed
and knelt in the space between Akira's legs.

It wasn't quite what Akira had meant but it worked for the time being. He
pulled him closer and kissed him. Mishima warmed up to it immediately and
raised himself up on his legs a little to close the distance, angling his mouth
up to Akira's and parting his lips. Akira took his chance and grabbed his ass
with both hands, sinking his fingers into his flesh until Mishima made a needy
little noise into his mouth and thrust his hips forward, just once.

Akira broke away to laugh. "Pent up?"

Mishima nodded quickly, an intense expression on his face, and tried to go back
to kissing him again.

But Akira dodged him; he wasn't done teasing him. "How long since you... ?"

Mishima rolled his eyes, fed up with him. He made one last attempt to catch
Akira's mouth again but he just turned his head to the side, still groping his
ass and grinning.

"Well?"

He huffed and looked away. "Like, three days."

"Whoa, you must be some kind of monk or something." Akira laughed harder and
shielded himself with his forearm as Mishima pretended to punch him over and
over, really just tapping his fists to his chest and shoulders. "Mercy, mercy!"

He had him laughing too now. Mishima raised himself up on his knees again and
leaned against him until his chin was resting on Akira's shoulder, one arm
slung around his neck. The angle gave Akira an excellent opportunity to run his
fingers up and down Mishima's thighs, then higher. He didn't grope him this
time; he just lightly ran his fingertips up and over his ass, then his hips. If
I can't tell you that I like how you look, I'll just have to show you.

Mishima sighed against his neck as Akira's fingers trailed back down, skimming
over his ass until he was reaching between his legs. He brushed against
Mishima's balls, letting them rest against his fingertips, and Mishima inched
his hips back to improve the angle. Akira left one hand on his thigh and
reached between the two of them with the other until he found his cock. Mishima
let out a choked gasp as Akira pressed the head of his cock into his palm, then
started stroking in earnest. "A-ah... "

Akira was tempted to keep on teasing him, but he looked too good, his hips
moving forward and back just a fraction as Akira worked his hand up and down.
Mishima slumped against his chest and moaned directly into his ear, and that
settled it. Akira grabbed his ass again and squeezed, hard, while skimming his
thumb over the underside of the head of Mishima's cock, and he only had to
stroke him for a moment more before he could see Mishima's hips snap forward
and felt hot cum spurt between his fingers in long pulses. Akira listened to
him pant unevenly in his ear until, finally, he flopped backwards onto the
mattress, his knees still bent and his feet trapped under himself. He had
managed to absolutely coat his own belly and chest in cum, not to mention
Akira's; his face was still drawn in an intense expression, his mouth open and
his eyes squeezed shut as he tried to catch his breath.

Akira looked from his hand to his chest to Mishima's prone body, dumbfounded by
the sheer amount. He waited until Mishima opened his eyes and made an
exaggerated shocked expression at him, then grinned. "'Mmmf' is what Ann would
say if she were here."

Mishima, blissed out and not realizing what he was referring to, rolled over
and smeared his own cum thoroughly into Akira's sheets. "Oh, shit -"

It was a disaster. There was enough of a mess that they eventually admitted
defeat and simply wiped themselves clean with the entire bedsheet. They dressed
quickly, took it downstairs, made sure the coast was clear and then crept
across the street and sat in the laundromat next door, chatting and laughing
while they waited for first the washer, then the dryer to finish.
Chapter End Notes
     I get too much enjoyment from making Mishima's jizz a destructive
     force lmao
***** Pep talk. "Things haven't been very fair tonight." Akira's specialty.
*****
Chapter Notes
     Two chapters this update!
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It was only just after eleven by the time they'd made it back to Akira's bed
again. They sat upright on the mattress, backs propped up against the wall with
the warm sheet covering their legs and feet, in a companionable silence.

Akira broke it first. "Wanna watch a movie for real?"

"I never got you back though..."

"You'll just have to get me twice as good next time."

Mishima was apologetic but when Akira checked his face, he was relieved to see
none of the uncertainty or fear that had been there during his first visit to
Akira's bedroom. He was relaxed. "Still. Uh, sorry I obliterated your sheets,
too."

Akira grinned, still impressed. "I'm going to warn Ann before you go over there
next. Although I think she'll be... very satisfied." He laughed suddenly, then
wrapped his arm around Mishima. "Unless you like, blast a hole in her."

Mishima tried not to laugh but couldn't help it, sounding horrified. "Ugh, oh
man..." He sneaked a look at Akira without turning to face him. "I feel kind of
nervous about that, actually."

"Just seeing Ann again?"

"No. I think she's expecting me to. Um. Bareback her."

"Oh, but she said that while we were in that group chat. Don't take it too
seriously, she was... typing without thinking."

Mishima didn't look convinced.

"Listen, if you want to use a condom, she'll understand. It's not a
dealbreaker. She really is on the pill, but I can still see why it might be a
bit nervewracking to go without."

"Oh, not that. If she says she's on the pill then that's fine. I'll, uh,
bareback."

"Then...?"

"I don't wanna disappoint her."

Akira pulled him closer. "You won't."

"But - "

"Nope! You won't." He gave him a cocky grin.

"Akira. I lasted barely any time at all tonight. And that was from your hand."

"Those were extenuating circumstances."

Mishima rolled his eyes. "She is definitely going to be disappointed if that
happens when I'm... inside her."

"Did she boot you out the door after you came in your pants?"

He kept forgetting what Ann must have shared with Akira behind the scenes and
felt a little fresh shame roll over him. "No, but - "

"And she loves to bring up the rug annihilation, but that's only because she
thinks it's hilarious, not because she's mad. Or disappointed."

"Akiraaaaa..." Mishima groaned, exasperated. "What do I do if I finish before
her?"

Akira leaned close with the air of one passing along a great secret, voice
hushed. "You will almost certainly finish before her."

"Gee, thanks." He shot Akira a dark look.

"Mishima." He grinned, eyes lit up. He was enjoying this. "She took longer than
me almost every single time."

"What! But then - "

"I think I got her to come like once before I did, and maybe once at the same
time. It feels pretty cool. Every other time, I finished way before her."

Mishima just sat in stunned silence for a moment. "But, like, in movies - "

"I know, right? The guy's supposed to... think of baseball or something so he
can last long enough. I thought that too." Akira was still enjoying his
shellshocked expression. "She'll tell you what to do. Come on. You've figured
out everything else before now."

Mishima let himself tip over sideways and slumped into Akira. "I don't know
anything." He tilted his face back and tried to look at him upside down. "What
did you do with her, then? After?"

Akira made a lecherous face and wiggled his first two fingers at him. "Messy,
but it works. Or her clit. Or a couple times we watched a TV show until I could
go again, and then we just went back to it." He shrugged, then considered.
"Maybe that's the way to do it. Maybe she'll make you come first some other way
and then you'll last longer inside her the second time."

Mishima actually did seem somewhat reassured to receive some actionable advice.
He sighed heavily and nodded.

Akira shifted his legs uncomfortably, sitting up a little straighter.

Mishima caught his eye, then smiled. "Your turn?" He whipped the warm sheets
off of their legs and found what he thought he might.

"Heh. Maybe." But Akira turned his face away, lost in thought.

"What's the matter?"

"I was just thinking about... something... but I wasn't going to bring it up
after all. I think it's too soon for you."

"What is?"

Akira turned back, nothing but serious now. "I've changed my mind. Today's not
the day to ask you."

"At least tell me what it is, though."

He did, though reluctantly. "I was going to bring up the idea of fingering you
today."

Mishima's face was blank for a moment, but then he seemed to be remembering
when Akira had waggled his fingers at him when speaking about Ann. "Oh... uh.
Hm."

"It's not something we have to do."

"I've never really thought about... that." But then Mishima remembered a
comment Akira had made in their group chat from a few days previous. "In the
chat with Ann, you said something like, 'I guess we'll use condoms with you if
that's what you want.' Do you really want to... do that, with me?"

Akira was never one to miss an opportunity. He pulled him close again and
murmured, "Do I want to fuck you? Is that what you mean?"

To his credit, Mishima blushed furiously but held eye contact. "Yes."

Akira decided the subject matter warranted a more serious approach and quit
teasing him. "I'd like to try it. Some day. But that's why I just wanted to
talk to you about it and see what you thought. It's not, like, a requirement or
anything."

Mishima was fiddling with the edge of the sheet next to him to give his hands
something to do, and to give himself an excuse not to look Akira in the eye.
"You're kinda big though."

"My fingers aren't. You work your way up, you know?"

"Yeah but... doesn't it hurt?"

"I'm as new to it as you are. Ann makes up most of my experience, not guys. But
I've... read about it?" For once Akira looked less than sure of himself, and
Mishima had to laugh, relieved for some reason. "It's something we'd have to
figure out together. But if it hurts then we won't do it."

Mishima spoke slowly, thinking aloud. "I guess, um. I guess if it hurt a lot
then guys wouldn't do it, would they."

"Yeah, and apparently some women prefer it over... you know." Akira was
actually getting a little tongue-tied, his usual self-assurance worn away. "So
it must feel nice, right?"

Mishima seemed to be thinking it over, then smiled. "I trust you."
----------

"So like... you know what to do, right?" Now that Mishima was on his back on
the bed, naked again and with his feet flat on the sheets, he felt a lot less
sure about what he'd agreed to try.

"I read about it on the internet, yes."

"That is not as reassuring as you think it is." Mishima turned his head away,
feeling exposed again.

Akira knelt between his feet on the bed, fully dressed but now wearing the
drawstring pants and t-shirt that he slept in. "We'll figure it out. I'll go
slow. I won't hurt you." Then something seemed to occur to him. "One sec."

He came back with an old ripped t-shirt and spread it out under Mishima's hips.

Mishima felt his face heat up. "This is. This is going to be gross. Isn't it."

"Nah. Just don't want lube all over my bed. One trip to the laundromat is
enough."

"Okay but. If it is gross?"

Akira shrugged. "There's soap in the washroom downstairs?" He ran his thumbs up
and down Mishima's thighs, liking the way there was a little give to him. "I
won't think less of you, if that's what you mean."

Mishima mumbled into his own shoulder, face still turned away. "Guess we should
start." But then his eyes went wide. "Wait, lube? Where the hell did you get
lube?"

He felt Akira laugh into his thigh, which he'd been kissing as they talked.
"You hang out in the red light district more than I do. I'm sure you've noticed
some of the stores around there."

"Yeah, but, how?"

Akira pressed his lips together, trying not to laugh again. "Not everyone goes
to the red light district still wearing their school uniform, Mishima."

Mishima let out a small, shaky laugh. "Guess that's fair. Although I don't
think they'd sell to me even if I didn't have my uniform on." Then he propped
himself up on his elbows. "I'm gonna lose my nerve if we don't start soon
though."

"Alright, alright." Akira opened the bottle of lube and poured a little onto
his fingertips, spreading it and trying to warm it up. "Ready?"

"Not really, but.... you said you'd go slow?" He lowered himself to the
mattress again.

"Yup. If it hurts we'll stop right away."

"Then... do it." Mishima tried to focus on his breathing. He felt Akira's slick
fingers touch him, so lightly that he felt ticklish more than anything else.
Akira simply brushed him with his fingertips, over and over again, so he would
get used to the sensation, before making sure his index finger was thoroughly
slick. He gently slid it inside.

"Ooof..."

"Bad?"

"No? Feels weird."

"You're too tense. Hey, tell me something about what you were doing at Ann's
house. Or like, what you were doing during our last group chat."

"Now? ...um, I was surprised she had beer. Her live-in caretaker sounds pretty
chill."

"Yeah, I was surprised too. Ann never takes enough to actually get drunk
though, so I don't really get the point, I guess." As Akira spoke he started
moving his finger inside him, simply moving it in and out and ensuring the lube
was spread evenly.

"Yeah but... umf... it helped. I was kind of freaking out. And she said it
helped her too, when she started, like, sleeping with you." Mishima had begun
to breathe more deeply.

"She said that?" Akira made sure Mishima was facing him as he became more
adventurous, curling his finger a little. "I had no idea. I guess she was
trying to seem more confident than she actually was, the first few times."

Mishima still seemed fairly relaxed. "Made me feel better. She said she thought
you were a bit intimidating t-" Akira's fingertip seemed to brush up against
something especially sensitive; out of nowhere, Mishima yelped and shot up to a
sitting position. He swallowed. "What was that?"

Akira immediately removed his finger. "You okay? Did that hurt?"

"No, it just. Wasn't expecting it." He laid back down and stared at the
ceiling. "This feels super weird."

"We can stop."

"No, I wanna keep going. If it's not too gross for you."

"Not gross." Akira kissed his knee and slipped his finger back inside. He tried
to come up with another topic to keep Mishima distracted and relaxed. "I liked
those green briefs of yours. What I saw of them in that photo, anyway."

Mishima gave a short laugh, a little out of breath. "I can't believe we shared
photos like that. Pretty, uh, pretty different from where I was at a couple
months ago."

Akira grinned. "It was a nice photo. I've looked at it a lot the last few
days." He risked curling his finger again, trying to be gentle, until he found
the same spot again.

Mishima was more prepared for it, though his hips still lifted off the bed a
few inches. "Unh... why does that feel like... that?"

Akira pointed with his chin. "Well, look." Mishima was a fraction harder than
he had been when they started, and as they both looked, he stiffened a little
further, as if his cock liked the attention. Without removing his finger, Akira
leaned over him and braced himself up on his other hand, then kissed him gently
on the corner of his mouth. "Think we found your prostate, my friend." He
searched his face for discomfort. "Want me to keep going?"

Mishima raised his head to kiss him as his response, and Akira continued to
brush him in that spot, pressing his mouth to Mishima's as distraction.

He found a good rhythm and tried a more direct approach, stroking him in that
spot outright now, and Mishima actually began to moan into his mouth in time to
his finger's movements. Akira realized he himself had been hard for some time
now and had to stop kissing him to adjust himself to a more comfortable
position, shifting his clothing quickly before Mishima would take notice.

For his part, Mishima was fully hard now, flushed pink and raised high. Akira
returned to his kneeling position between Mishima's legs. "Think you could take
two fingers if I do this?" He took Mishima's cock between his fingertips and
gave it an experimental stroke.

Mishima wasn't ready for it and slammed his hips up to Akira's hand, eyes shut
tight. "Hhhnnn..." He nodded quickly, eyes still shut.

Akira prepared a second finger and added it to the first. Mishima tensed up
again but seemed to forget the discomfort when Akira wrapped his hand around
his length again. "You're doing really good."

He twisted his fingers a little, seeing how much Mishima could stretch without
being too uncomfortable; it seemed like as long as he kept stroking him, he
could scissor his two fingers until Mishima's muscles relaxed and eased up.
After a few more strokes, he withdrew his other hand and prepared a third
finger. Just before he pushed them in, he took the head of Mishima's cock into
his mouth.

Mishima whipped his head to the side and choked out a gasp. Akira began to move
all three fingers and brush up against that spot while lapping at the underside
of Mishima's cock, taking in more and more until he had to back off again. He'd
never attempted it before and, trying to remember what Mishima had done for
him, sucked a little more vigorously and began to bob his head while the
fingers inside Mishima worked harder.

Mishima did try to give him warning, though it wasn't enough. He abruptly
raised himself up to his elbows and pushed his fingers into Akira's hair. "I, I
- " He flopped back to the mattress and tried to stay still; his hips had other
ideas and thrust into Akira's mouth while he shuddered and panted. Akira just
patiently wrapped the fingers of his free hand around what he couldn't fit into
his mouth and swallowed (and swallowed... and swallowed...) him down until he
was done.

Akira slipped his fingers out and wiped them off on the t-shirt, then cleaned
the excess lube off of Mishima as best he could and tossed the ripped t-shirt
to the floor. When he raised his head to check on him, Mishima was still
trembling, trying to catch his breath. "What was that..." he repeated.

Akira wiped his mouth and smiled down at him. "That looked... good?"

He nodded vigorously, eyes still shut. "Felt weird but... I think I see the
appeal now."

Akira stretched out next to him and kissed him again. Mishima leaned into it,
tasting himself but not caring. Akira broke away and studied him from a few
inches away, avidly interested. "Do you think you could come from that if I
weren't giving you head?"

Mishima was tired but realized belatedly why Akira wasn't. "Hey, you never -
" His hand found the bulge in Akira's pants and squeezed him until he swallowed
a moan. "I don't know why you'd say you're impatient. Things haven't been very
fair tonight."

"I'm not keeping score." But before he'd even finished speaking, Akira was
shoving his pants and underwear down until his cock was free, returning it to
Mishima's hand.

He stroked him gently, twisting his fingers a little and slipping his thumb up
and down the underside. Akira's breathing was already ragged as he lowered
himself onto his raised elbows, letting Mishima tend to him. Mishima rolled
over, feeling a little sore but also immensely relaxed, and gave him his full
attention. "Guess you like fingering in general, huh?"

Akira let out a gasp or a laugh and lowered himself the rest of the way until
he lay flat on his back, then tried to gather his thoughts enough to speak.
"You didn't. Didn't answer my question."

Mishima stroked him a little faster and felt him flex in his hand. "I dunno if
I could or not. Um. Come from just that. We should try that when we've worked
up to - " He squeezed Akira for emphasis. "Worked up to having you inside me."

Akira took on an almost comical expression of surprise, made more intense by
the attention Mishima was giving him. "Oh - so you do...?" He was panting now
and swallowed thickly, unable to speak further. Mishima returned to the matter
at hand and picked up speed, stroking him until he'd coaxed him to the edge.
Akira made a tiny noise in the back of his throat as his cock spilled into
Mishima's palm and between his fingers.

He looked thoroughly worn out, so Mishima cleaned first his hand and then
Akira, then pulled the covers over the two of them.
Chapter End Notes
     I think when Akira grows up he should become a sex ed teacher, lol.
***** Hostess gift. "Saw it in a movie once." Your turn. *****
Chapter Summary
     Ann and Mishima Have a Nice Time: The Movie
Chapter Notes
     Two updates today! This is the first.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
AKIRA: Ann, you better prepare yourself.
ANN: lol why
AKIRA: That picture he sent us?
ANN: good ol' green briefs?
AKIRA: That was nothing.
ANN: how is that even possible
ANN: like, is he a firehose or something
AKIRA: My bed got the same treatment as your rug.
ANN: oh shit lmao
AKIRA: Had to visit the laundromat at nine at night.
ANN: oh my god
ANN: at least you have one across the street
AKIRA: So I'm warning you so you can like
AKIRA: Put down a tarp or something? Lol
ANN: gotcha
AKIRA: We talked a bit about the next time he visits you.
ANN: oh yeah?
AKIRA: He's reeeeally nervous. Be extra nice to him okay?
ANN: hey I gave him ice cream when he came in his pants lmao
AKIRA: Is that your solution for everything? Lol
ANN: but yeah, I will be. of course I will
ANN: is he nervous about anything specific?
AKIRA: Coming too fast.
ANN: I'm starting to think all guys are worried about that
ANN: you told him it's not a thing, right?
AKIRA: Yeah, I tried to reassure him. Give him advice. Made me feel like a
weird older brother.
AKIRA: It occurs to me that we have sort of a unique setup, the three of us.
Lol

----------

Mishima stood on Ann's doorstep the next Sunday with his overnight bag in one
hand and a small plastic bag in the other. She yanked him inside this time too,
trying to avoid being detected by her nosy neighbours, then apologized for the
rough treatment with a quick kiss to his temple once he was inside. "Whatcha
got?"

Something was up. Mishima was failing spectacularly at keeping a straight face.
"Hostess gift." His lips were pressed together and he stared at the wall behind
her, trying to keep from laughing.

Ann glared at him, suspicious, but removed a book from the plastic bag he
handed to her and studied it as he removed his shoes at the door. It featured
artwork of a tall man passionately kissing a much shorter man on the cover.
"Did you - did you just give me a fucking boys love manga?!" He bit his cheeks
and nodded quickly, shoulders shaking already.

She hauled off and slapped him upside the head with it, making him yelp
indignantly. But then she started to laugh herself. "Did you go into a store
and buy this? I think you just owned yourself more than you did me..."

He snatched it out of her hands so she couldn't swat him with it again. "I
didn't buy it in person! God Ann. I bought it online." He looked smug.

But she seemed to think that was even funnier. "Then... then... what if your
parents had opened it before you got to it?" She was still giggling.

She had him there. "Well, okay, but they didn't..." He flipped it open and
showed her a particularly indecent page, trying to regain some ground. "Look -
the tall guy's got glasses. Thought this might help keep you warm on the nights
during the week when you can't see me. Since you like to think about me and
Akira so much." He tried to waggle his eyebrows at her lecherously but the
effect was ruined by Ann abruptly yanking his t-shirt right over his head.

"I still owe you, buddy. You better not start something you can't finish."

He struggled to get his clothes back in order but by the time he could see
again she was already gone, racing down the hallway towards the living room.

His stomach was flipping slowly in anticipation as he crept down the hallway,
trying to be quiet. He reached the corner and debated whether he should poke
his head inside or not. When he finally got up his nerve, the living room was
empty. He stepped inside, peering into the opposite corner, but then she was
wrestling him down onto one of the couches where she'd lain hidden. "Ann - oof
- " She pressed his face into one of the throw pillows until he kicked his
socked feet at her futilely.

She sat on his back and pulled his head up so he could breathe, both hands
entwined in his hair. "Well? Truce?"

His face was beet red and his entire body shook with barely suppressed
laughter. "I won't... I won't think any less of you."

She had released him and sat next to him on the couch. "What?"

He tensed, grinning maniacally. "If you just admitted your dirty boys love
secret, we'd get you the help you need."

She let loose a tremendous howl of rage and tried to wrench his shirt over his
head again. He was ready though, and flung himself at her until he had her flat
on her back. He knelt over her, restraining her wrists in his hands against the
arm of the couch, and gave her another absolutely infuriating grin. "So? Do
Akira and I need to hold an intervention, or- "

Rather than take another second of his gloating, she raised her head and kissed
him.

He sank down in increments as she pressed her lips up to his, loosening his
grip on her wrists and relaxing until he was resting on his knees and elbows
above her. She parted her lips for him and he kissed back more fervently,
forgetting everything else. Ann took the opportunity to take back her hands and
began to run her fingers up first his thighs, then his hips, before finally
gripping his ass, hard. He broke the kiss in surprise and panted down at her,
his eyes dark and wearing an urgent expression.

Still holding his eye and trying to catch her breath herself, she let go of him
and undid his zipper instead.

She felt his thighs tense above her involuntarily when he realized what she'd
done. "Ann - "

She pulled him from his briefs and pants by touch alone and held him in her
hand as he became fully hard, staring up at him all the while. "I'm on the
pill." She ran her fingers over the edges of the head and he had to shut his
eyes as the muscles in his thighs clenched again. Instead of answering, he
lifted himself off of the couch and finished undressing until he stood naked in
her living room, while she did the same. All of his previous tension seemed to
have melted away. She wondered if he'd been thinking about this as much as
she'd been.

She was lying on her back on the couch again, finally able to get a good look
at him. He didn't shy away from her gaze this time because he was just as busy
looking at her, stretched full length and waiting. He stood, slim and bluish-
white from the light of the TV that had been left on at a low volume, and just
studied her until she raised her hand and motioned for him to join her again.
He knelt between her knees, searching her face for any sign that she'd changed
her mind, and then lowered himself on top of her. "Are you sure?" he murmured.

She just nodded, smiling. For encouragement, she ran her fingertips down his
chest, then his stomach, until she was gripping him lightly once more. "Help me
get ready, okay?" she whispered.

He was starting to feel nervous again, although he had at least some idea of
what to do now. He brushed the short hairs between her legs with his thumb,
then slipped his fingertip just between her lips until he felt her wetness and
spread it as much as he could. Keeping an eye on her face, he gently slid his
finger inside and watched her sigh.

Then he broke the somber mood by laughing like a kid. "Ann, you feel really
cool inside."

She cracked up too and he felt her muscles move around his finger as she did.
"Thanks? I try."

Reassured, he stroked her gingerly until her breathing sped him on. "Is this
right?"

"Yeah... you can be rougher than that, too."

Really?

She must have seen the doubt on his face. "You won't hurt me. Oh. Sorta curl
your finger upward if you can."

He proceeded even more warily than before and did as she asked, gradually
speeding up until she was sighing in rhythm again. When she was silent between
breaths he realized that his finger was making some truly interesting noises
itself as it slicked in and out of her.

"You're pretty wet," he said, his voice hushed.

"Let's give it a try," she said, then paused. "Mm. Hey, go like this." She
mimed licking the palm of her hand.

"And do what...?"

She laughed, but not unkindly. "I'm wet but you're not. Right?"

Oh. Duh.

He did as she asked, spreading it over the head of his cock and over as much of
his length as he could. Then she opened her legs further for him and gave him
one more nod of assurance before he slowly pressed inside.

He was raised on his elbows above her, focusing on keeping his weight from
entering her too quickly, when he hazarded a glance at her face. She was silent
but her features were animated; first she was biting her lip as her eyebrows
drew down, then she flung her head back onto the pillow behind her; finally she
released a long, shaky breath when the tops of his thighs met the undersides of
hers.
He was all the way in. She opened her eyes. "You feel... really good."

His concerned expression evaporated, and he gave her a sunny grin. "Not as good
as you do, I bet." He kept himself still with an effort, waiting for her go-
ahead.

"Actually, lemme see if I can - " One of her legs was trapped awkwardly between
him and the back of the couch, and after some consideration, she stretched out
both legs and propped her ankles on his shoulders. "There."

He laughed uncertainly, kneeling upright while she adjusted her legs. "You
sure? Is that even comfortable?" His cock was aching for more stimulation, but
he made himself wait.

"Saw it in a movie once." She grinned impishly and beckoned him forward with
her finger until he was leaning on her legs. She must have been onto something
because as he rested the last of his weight on her thighs, his toes pressed to
the couch arm for leverage, he felt himself slide in another inch or two
farther than he'd been able to before, and they both moaned in unison. She knew
what he'd been waiting for. "Mishima." She lifted her head just enough to press
a quick kiss to his forehead, the only part she could reach. "Fuck me."

He started to move.

She felt absolutely incredible. He'd had no idea it was going to be like this.
The couch was slippery but with some extra maneuvering he was able to prop
himself up with his knees and slide himself in and out of her in long, deep
strokes. She began to moan in rhythm almost immediately, her eyes shut in an
intense expression.

How am I going to last even a few minutes like this...?

She must have felt him falter because she opened her eyes at once and studied
his face. "This is good. But let's get to it."

"What do you -"

She cut him off. "Hard. Hard as you can." She leaned forward and grabbed his
hips, then yanked him against her as best she could to demonstrate. "Fast."

"I- "

"You won't hurt me." She gave him her best reassuring smile, trying not to show
how desperately impatient she felt.

He did his best, grabbing her legs and achieving a much faster rhythm, but it
was clear he was still afraid of causing her pain. He'd need a bit more
prodding.

"Harder- c'mon, harder -" They were both breathing heavily, and it certainly
wasn't bad. But she'd waited so long. She needed more. "Mishima. I can't move
very well. You gotta do this for the both of us." She gripped her thighs and
canted her hips up even further until he sank all the way into her again. "Now
pound me."

Finally. He slammed into her over and over, finding that spot of hers that
craved it. Her moans filled the room again as his cock pounded her, his strokes
abrupt and rough as he snapped his hips into her. She loved looking at his face
as he panted above her, focused on finding the perfect angle to make her cry
out. He gave her a few more minutes of just what she wanted before his hips
stuttered and gave her one more deep thrust until he was still again, his
breath hitching. His cock pulsed and she moaned one last time as she felt it
fill her up, then growled and threw her head back again. "Unngh. Yes."

Mishima was trying to catch his breath above her, head hanging down and
gripping her thighs. She sensed him about to move away and she lowered her legs
instead, wrapping them around him and trying to draw him closer with her hands
at the same time. "Here."

Still inside her, he let her wrap her arms around him and lay on top of her,
listening to her heartbeat. She hadn't come and hadn't expected to, but she lay
still, trying to preserve the sensations for as long as she could. She felt him
begin to go soft and enjoyed that too, as his cock eased out inch by inch and
left her with what felt like an impossible amount of hot cum, leaking slowly
out of her with a pleasant tickling as her thoughts started to come back to
her. She felt laughter bubble up within her and couldn't stop it.

He raised his head just enough to look at her, and she was sorry to see that he
looked hurt. She interrupted his unasked question. "No, I'm just laughing
because I'm happy. That was so, so good." He tried to withdraw again and she
gripped his hips for just long enough to clench her walls around him like a
farewell before reluctantly letting him go. She felt his cock pull more warm
cum out after it and laughed again, feeling filthy and loving it.

Mishima was kneeling again, eyes fixed between her legs. "Was that okay?" he
asked, just barely glancing at her face before he went back to studying how his
cum was still leaking out of her. Without waiting for her to answer, he stroked
her lips gently with his thumb, making her gasp.

"More than okay."

"Even though you didn't...?"

"I usually don't." She gathered her thoughts enough to raise her head and look
him in the eye and make sure he understood. "You did great, Mishima."

He smiled, looking a lot more at ease. "Your turn, then." He was about to begin
touching her again but she stopped him.

"Think we'd better do something about this mess first. Can you reach my t-
shirt?" He handed it to her and she got up to look at where she'd been laying,
starting to laugh again when she saw the extent of the mess. She knelt on the
floor to wipe at the puddle they'd left on the leather couch, then turned to
face him, her lips pressed together tightly to try to hold the laughter in.
"Akira told me to put a tarp down, but I didn't listen...."

He seemed to be scoping her out instead of really listening to her. Suddenly he
ran his index finger up her inner thigh and showed it to her. "She's sprung a
leak, captain!"

She just laughed harder and he leaned closer to run his fingers back up her
thighs. "No, don't laugh - ! You're making it worse!" He grabbed her now slimy
t-shirt and finished wiping up the couch as best he could, then himself. He
traded places with her, kneeling on the carpet in front of it and indicating
she should sit in front of him. "C'mere."

She guessed at what he meant and hesitated. "Oh, geeze, you don't have to do
that..."

He just shrugged in response and waited for her to sit. He spread her legs and
placed her ankles on his shoulders, just like the last time he'd spent the
night.

Mishima grabbed the t-shirt and did his best to wipe her thighs clean, though
at this point he was mostly just spreading it around. He tossed it aside and
leaned close.

He studied her, just inches away from his face. Her lips and folds were dark
and puffy with arousal again, and as he watched, another fat droplet of cum
dripped out from deep inside her. He caught it with the side of his thumb
before it could hit the carpet and, feeling her eyes on him, went to work.

He felt her stiffen and then gasp as he parted her with his tongue, slicking
her from bottom to top and mouthing at her.

"You really don't have to - "

His answer was to look her in the eye and keep tonguing her.

He could taste himself, of course, and had to swallow a mouthful of their
combined fluids every so often. But it barely registered when he could taste
and smell her, and listen to her cries grow in urgency as he tended to her
clit. He lost himself in her taste and sounds and it almost seemed too soon
when she rolled her hips up to him and clenched her thighs tight. But the sound
of her brought him back to himself - it was so different this time. Her voice
was deep, almost guttural, and she arched her back until he couldn't see her
face anymore. He took her through it until her quivering ceased, and felt
deeply content.

She slumped against the cushions above him as he unglued his sticky face from
between her thighs and did his best to wipe it clean with both hands, since the
t-shirt was saturated. He got up and sat next to her on the couch where she was
slumped back at an awkward angle, still trying to catch her breath. "I can't
believe you -"

He made sure she was looking at him and then slowly ran his tongue along his
upper lip. She was still half-giddy from coming, and the goofy face he made
sent her over the edge. She giggled at him as tears streamed down her face,
folded double with her face pressed to her knees until he just leaned over her
and gave her a hug, his chest against her quaking back. He murmured directly
into her shoulder, "Maybe we'd better go have a shower before you get stuck to
the couch." She nodded, face still hidden, and they stumbled to the bathroom
together.
Chapter End Notes
     I think I should start tagging Mishima's jizz as a fourth character
     lmao.
***** "You gave me everything I wanted." Wish you were here. Mishima's dentist.
*****
Chapter Summary
     Ann and Mishima Have a Nice Time: The Sequel
Chapter Notes
     Two updates today! This is the second.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
He was much more at ease this time in the shower than he had been the last
time. He moved slowly and deliberately, lathering her with soap and letting her
look at him and touch him as much as she wanted. He wore a lazy, blissed out
expression and before they were really clean, she realized he was fully hard
once more. "Again?"

He just nodded into her shoulder, his arms around her. He couldn't seem to keep
his hands off of her, kissing her neck and plunging his fingers into her wet
hair. He inhaled deeply and bent low to take her nipple into his mouth, lapping
at her roughly until she moaned.

"Mishima -"

He stopped and met her eyes. His pupils were dilated, his eyes hooded.

She sat on the floor on the shower, thighs spread far apart and motioned for
him to join her. Without speaking a word he knelt in front of her and slowly
pressed into her again; she was still so wet and relaxed from the first time
that he could begin thrusting right away. She braced her shoulders against the
rear wall and felt him grip her thighs, lifting her into his lap. He buried his
face into her shoulder again and she was shocked to hear him - the noises he
was making were something else. He had been mostly silent their first time but
now he was making low, rough grunts in time with his thrusts, and she moaned as
much at the sound of him as she did to feel him. They were more in sync now.
His cock was hitting her just right, hard and fast, while she did her best to
rock her hips against him; they were at just the right angle for her clit to
rub against him as he thrusted, and to her surprise she felt a second orgasm
approach. She urged him on, hissing between her teeth, "Come quick come quick
come quick - "

Whether it was just to hear her or whether it was because he'd been trying to
hold back, she couldn't tell, but she felt him give her two or three more rough
strokes before he pulsed and filled her up again. He set her off and she
writhed in his lap, crying out and digging her nails into his thighs. They
panted against each other and listened to the shower run until he stirred and
withdrew, staring intently between her legs as his cum leaked out and began to
wash down the drain. She caught him looking and he laughed, sounding a little
embarrassed despite everything they'd just done. "I didn't know it would look
like that... "

Ann felt too shaky to get up and just sat up against the back wall. She hadn't
felt so sated in a long, long time. He seemed to understand and sat next to
her, using their proximity as an excuse to soap up her feet and calves. She let
him clean her inner thighs and, gently, he eased his soapy fingers through the
short hair between her legs. She was sensitive now and sighed against him,
gathering herself at last and giving him a kiss. "You gave me everything I
wanted."

He just kissed her back, looking immensely satisfied, and rinsed her off. She
got up at last and was about to turn off the water when he stopped her. "Wait.
You've got like..." He searched for the phrase, looking at the ceiling.
"Raccoon eyes." She laughed - the state of her makeup seemed very trivial right
now - but she scrubbed at her face until he gave her the thumbs up.

Dried off and laying in bed, his arm around her hip and his face pressed to the
back of her neck, she felt a little more down to earth. "Mishima, I can't
believe you did that."

He pulled her closer. "You're gonna have to be more specific."

She stomped his foot lightly with her heel. "Think you know exactly what I
mean."

She felt him shrug behind her, just as he had before. "You needed my help." But
then he seemed to reconsider his answer. "Do you think it was gross of me,
though?"
"Nooooo. That was... " Without thinking about what she was doing, she pressed
her hips back into him at the thought of what he'd done. " ...mmf. Really,
really good. I just didn't think you'd do that."

She could feel him smile against the back of her neck. "Then I'm glad I did."

They lay like that for a while longer, not speaking or thinking much, until she
felt a little more alert. It wasn't that late, after all. She tensed, then
rolled over abruptly until she faced him again. He looked like he'd fallen
asleep; he had raised his head from her pillow to look at her but his eyes were
already closing again. "Hey, don't sleep yet! Why are you so tired already?"

He gave her what was probably supposed to be a cocky grin, although the effect
was ruined by the fact that his eyes were still closed. "I did all the work,
didn't I?"

He had a point. "Well, I guess," she huffed. "Aren't you hungry though? I'll
make us something."

If he'd been expecting something of the same calibre as Akira's curry, he was
setting himself up for disappointment. Ann nuked two instant ramens, then
pulled two Sapporos from the fridge.

"What, do you think I need help relaxing again?" he asked as she set everything
down on the coffee table in front of the TV.

"This is your reward at the end of a job well done." She made a little mock bow
at him. "Thank you for all your hard work today."

He grinned, delighted at the idea. "I could get behind that kind of part-timer
work."

They ate quickly, suddenly ravenous. She noticed he was just sipping at his
beer and raised her can to him. "Race you!" They each downed the rest in less
than a minute, then collapsed against the back of the couch as if they'd run a
marathon. In tacit agreement they'd both avoided the sullied couch they'd used
before and had chosen the other.

The next time she looked over during a commercial break, she realized that his
face was flushed red and he was holding up his head in one hand. "You are a
lightweight!"

He shoved her shoulder until she flopped sideways feebly. "Look who's talking."
Then he dropped his head into her lap, looking up at her with sleepy eyes. She
kept watching TV, absentmindedly playing with his damp hair and trying to put
it back up into its usual spikes.

She'd forgotten the kind of effect that could have on him until she felt him
reach up and start stroking one of her nipples through her shirt, inches from
his face. When she looked down again he wore a very serious expression, intent
on his handiwork. "Don't tell me you're ready to go again... " When they both
glanced towards the other end of the couch, they found he was only slightly
hard, and he shook his head in reply without stopping what he was doing. She
laughed and leaned down to press her chest to his face until he had to stop
touching her, unable to see.

She retreated enough to see him again, then gave his hair one final tug, hard
enough for him to close his eyes in bliss. "I have a better idea." When he
gestured vaguely at his condition, she shook her head and abruptly dumped him
off her lap, disappearing down the hall. "BRB."

"Bee are...? Oh."

She came back with her phone in her hand, a little unsteady on her feet. "Let's
make Akira wish he were here."

With some effort he pulled himself back up to a sitting position. "How are we
supposed to do that?"

She dropped next to him and pulled at the waistband of the cotton shorts he'd
changed into after their shower. "Didn't catch what you had on today.
Green...?"

He nodded heavily. "What, are we going to send photos?" He seemed to be having
trouble keeping his head steady but was already wriggling out of his shorts.

"Yeah, fashion shoot time." She trained the camera on him, now seated on the
couch in the same green briefs they'd seen him in during their group chat a
week or two earlier, or a similar pair. "Here, lift up your shirt - "

He started to laugh after she'd taken a couple of photos. "Hey, tit for tat,
remember - " he said and swiped her phone from her loose grip. He squinted at
the screen and managed to take a blurry photo of her legs in her pajama pants.

"Mishima, I think I'd better split a can with you next time," she said, and
grabbed her phone back. She took off her pants and sat back down, wearing only
another t-shirt and her underwear. This time they were simple white bikini cut
panties with a faint polka dot pattern, the fabric thin enough to show a
difference in colour where her hair began. She spread her legs a little and
took an angled shot for Akira's benefit. Then she had an evil idea.

She kissed Mishima fiercely until he was splayed back against the couch
cushions and gasping by the time she pulled back. "I know what will really get
his attention."

He just lay there, red-faced and breathing hard, waiting for the answer.

"He's already seen you in these. And more than that. But he hasn't seen me in
them."

He laughed again. "He'll just say that me and him were right, that you really
do wear men's underwear. You sure you want that?"

She was tugging at his briefs already. "C'mon, let's see if they fit!"

Playing with her nipples and kissing her had had some limited effect; he was
perhaps half hard by now, trying not to tip over as he removed his briefs and
tossed them in her general direction. She yanked them on and stood with her
hands on her hips in front of him to show them off. "Ta-da!"

He was giggling helplessly now, more at her absurdly pleased face than at what
she was wearing. "I'll just give you a pair if you like the dumb things so
much... "

She closed the trap. "Then what will you wear? Mm. Here." She tossed her white
panties at him and, tipsy and compliant, he automatically drew them halfway up
his legs before he inspected them.

"These are - "

She pounced on him and grabbed his wrist before he could take them off, then
straddled him and caught his eye. "Akira would really like to see you in
these... "

He was still giggling a bit. "Is your name Akira now?"

"Well, okay.I think you'd look super hot in these," she admitted. "And I can
guarantee that he'll like them too." She reached between her own legs and tried
to yank the panties up the rest of the way.
"C'mooooon - "

His resistance was already low and she had him. "As long as you tell him it was
all your idea - "

He pulled them on the rest of the way. Ann immediately groped him, trying to
coax him to full hardness through the fabric; it didn't take long. The effect
was obscene: there was extra room because his hips were narrower than hers, but
it was more than taken up by the way his cock stretched out the front, his
outline and colouring visible through the thin cotton. His balls were pushed
high and round. She grabbed her phone and took several photos before he could
change his mind.

He was just watching her from the couch, smirking. "Is this a boys love thing?"

"No! I mean, I wouldn't know, would I?" She stuck out her tongue, unwittingly
moving the hand holding her phone within reach. He snatched it from her and
took a few photos of her wearing his briefs. They stretched across her hips and
would fit her perfectly if it weren't for the extra room in the front.

In revenge she took back her phone and sent a selection of the photos to Akira
in the chat without any further explanation before she could think better of
it. Mishima belatedly realized what she was doing and groaned into his hands.
"Oh my godddd, why did I let you -"

Akira had already replied, the notification sound cutting Mishima off.

AKIRA: Holy shit.
AKIRA: I am ON THE TRAIN you guys.
AKIRA: And I think Morgana's opinion of you has been thoroughly driven into the
ground, Ann.
AKIRA: But I approve.
AKIRA: Now I need to stop looking at these and save them for later before they
kick me off the train. Or arrest me.

Ann showed Mishima the messages, then crowed in triumph. "See?! I knew he'd
like them!"

He had been peering over her shoulder at her phone and now buried his face in
her hair, laughing again despite himself. "I hate yoooooooou." He still hadn't
removed her panties though, she noted.

"Make it up to you?" She traced her fingers over his length through the fabric.

He sighed against her neck and squirmed a little into her hand, seeming
tempted. "Better not. I'm kinda sore," he admitted. Then he straightened to
gauge her face. "If I'm sore, I bet you are..."

She nodded but smiled fondly. "It's a good kind of sore."

His eyes went wide suddenly. "Oh frick, I'm so dumb - " He jumped off the couch
and, realizing what he was still wearing, kicked off the panties and flung them
at her face. Then he went to her bedroom, steadier on his feet now that the
alcohol was starting to wear off.

"Mishima, what - "

He was already back with his overnight bag in his hands. "I brought something
to help and then forgot all about it." He handed her a small bottle of lube.

"How did you get this?" She leaned forward and slung her arm around his neck,
pleased. "And that's a nice thought, but you got me plenty wet. I'd be a bit
sore now no matter what."

"Akira's, not mine. He gave it to me to practice with and I decided to bring it
in case it helped with you and me."

She kept her face as expressionless as she could, although she couldn't do
anything about the way it was heating up. "Practice what?"

Embarrassment flooded his face and he turned away. "Oh, uh, noth- "

She tackled him and laid on him so he couldn't get away. "You can tell me."

From below her she watched his face regain a bit of composure. "Yeah I bet you
wanna know. You just want more... " He gave her a knowing grin. " ...more wank
fodder."

She squawked indignantly as he went on. "I've sat in the same class as you for
months and months but I never suspected the, the depths of your depravity - "
She pummeled his shoulders with her fists until he wrapped his arms around her
to stop her, both of them laughing now.

"Tell meeeee. You know Akira will just tell me everything he's been doing with
you the next time I ask."

He buried his face into her chest so he wouldn't have to look at her. "Remember
how much Akira liked fingering you?" Her guess had been right. "I think that's
kind of his thing."

She spoke quietly from above him. "Are you two going to... ?"

He nodded, his face moving against her breasts within her shirt. "Gonna try."

She freed one of her hands to run her fingers through his hair, gently this
time. "Nervous? He's, uh, not small."

Another nod.

"We thought about trying that. Akira and me. But then we always just got right
to the quickest thing without attempting it." She laughed. "Maybe we're both
impatient."

She could feel his breath against her through the fabric. He seemed to be lost
in thought.

She shifted against him. "So he told you to bring that home with you and
practice? Work your way up to his... size?"

He sighed. "Yeah. I dunno what I'm doing though. It felt weird but kind of good
when he did it. When I do it I just sorta. Seize up." He finally tipped his
face back up to hers. His brows were knit together, apprehensive. "Maybe it's
the angle."

She lowered herself to kiss his forehead. "Want a hand?"

He snorted at her pun, then hid his face in her chest again. "That's too gross.
You don't wanna see me like that."

"Ugh. You need to get over this thing about thinking you're gross. Or thinking
it's impossible that a girl might like the same things you like," she murmured
into his hair. "Besides. I owe you big time tonight. You're really... giving."

He laughed a little into her chest. "You make it sound like I'm so selfless.
It's not exactly a chore for me to, to, use my mouth on you like that."

"You said something in the chat about how you liked seeing and hearing me react
to what you're doing?"

He wrapped his arms around her again, pulling her down to him tightly for a
moment. "I really like the faces you make. And you're pretty... vocal? It's
like you're telling me exactly what you like while I'm doing it."

Gotcha. "Then why are you surprised to hear that I'd want to see you that way?"

He huffed against her. "I'm not a girl. God, Ann. I'm not gonna, like, make
girl noises. Or look the same as you."

She made an annoyed noise at him. "I know that. I didn't mean it that
literally. But I bet you were making some interesting faces while Akira was
fingering you, at least."

"Well. I dunno about that. But he was super hard by the end of it."

She swallowed a happy little moan. "Mmf. I gotta sit in with you boys
sometime." She laughed. "I'll stay quiet, I promise."

He revealed his face just long enough to mouth "boys love" at her before
laughing himself and hiding again.

"So... why don't you let me help you? You'll get some better practice in before
the next time you see him, and I get to see you... happy."

He shifted his legs a little. "I still don't really see what you'll get out of
it. But. I gotta admit I don't know how I'll ever get myself up to his...
level." He sighed against her. "I don't know how you and him ever made it work,
either."

"What, you don't get how he fit... ? Girls are stretchy, that's all. We just
had to go slow at first and let me adjust before he could like, start
pounding."

His hands wrapped around her back again, then travelled down until he'd found
her ass, still in his briefs, and started squeezing it gently. She realized
he'd become fully hard again beneath her. "I think. I think I'd like to see you
and him together at some point too. If we're being honest."

She lowered her face and smiled into his hair, then shifted her hips just a
little until she felt him hard against her again. "I still kinda worry about
wrecking what you and me have, somehow. But... I have been thinking about that
for a while." She cleared her throat. "But like, don't misunderstand. Akira and
me have been hands-off for months. If the three of us got together like that,
if me and Akira... well, if we had sex again, I'm not gonna drop you like a
rock or something. I like what you and me have." She started running her
fingers through his hair again. "I don't want you to think you're my... second
choice, or something."

He finally raised his face. "You think if I saw you two together, I'd be
jealous?"

She nodded. "I mean, maybe? Like, there's probably a good reason most people
pair off instead of... whatever you call what we've got with him."

He looked thoughtful. "You do compare me to him a lot. I mean, you bring him up
a lot."

"I guess I do. Sorry. That's shitty of me. He just makes up most of my
experience before you, that's all." She tried to look apologetic. "You both
treat me pretty differently, actually. It's not like I'm trying to decide who's
better. I like both of you."

Instead of answering he tilted his head and began kissing her below her jaw, as
if he was trying to tell her he understood. His hands gripped her ass more
insistently, and she felt what was pressing into her shift a little.

She smiled ruefully and spoke into his hair. "I'd like to, but I think I'm too
sore for round three."

He smiled against her neck. "Me too. If, um. If your offer still stands,
though... I think I could use your help."

----------

Ann laid him out on her bed this time, a small towel under his hips. She
rummaged in her drawer and pulled out a comically long string of condoms.
Mishima's eyes went huge. "You and Akira really bought in bulk, huh... ?"

"You know him. He goes all out or not at all. He brought the biggest box they
sell the first night he came over, in case I wanted to use them, and we never
wound up using a single one."

He appeared to be thinking about something else, then turned his face away,
looking anxious. She managed to guess. "I wouldn't bother but my nails are
longer than Akira's. You don't want a nick." He nodded, then ran his hands over
her bedspread and looked her in the eye.

"You can still back out if you want. It might be - "

"If you say gross I'm going to punch you."

Maybe that was not the right approach. He turned his face away again. She
brought the lube and condoms to the foot of the bed and knelt over him to kiss
him.

"Come on. People do this every day, right?"

"Well, I don't! You don't." He was gathering his thoughts. "If it's gross I'd
somehow rather Akira see it than you. I guess."

"It won't be gross. If it is gross, we can hop in the shower again." She ran
her hand up his chest. "You know, after your last time over, Akira told me
about your late night laundromat trip and warned me to put a tarp down for your
cum. Heh. Because you're a goddamn firehose. But he didn't say anything about
you being gross."

"Well. Okay." He was able to smile a little.

She returned to the foot of the bed, wrapped a condom around her first two
fingers, then stopped. "What did he do with you, exactly? I don't know much
about... this."

He was staring at the ceiling. "Went slow, I guess. Added one finger at a time
and we got up to three. He was good at distracting me."

She laughed. "Like how the dentist distracts you?"

To her surprise he actually shuddered, then laughed too. "I just pictured my
dentist sucking my... "

"I meant with small talk! Geeze. Your dentist is going to jail, Mishima."

While he was still laughing, she readjusted her fingers until only her index
finger was in the condom, then added a generous amount of lube to the outside
and prodded him with it.

From the yelp he made, she guessed that wasn't the way to go about it. "What?
What is it?"

"Cold! I guess he warmed it up somehow."

"Eep. Sorry. Lemme see here..." She did her best and reintroduced her finger a
minute or so later. "Better?"

"Yeah, think so. Keep going."

She slowly slid her finger inside. His breathing sped up, then slowed down as
he visibly tried to relax himself. She put on an absurdly deep "manly" voice
and repeated what he'd said to her earlier. "'Mishima, you feel really cool
inside.'"

He hid his face in his hands. "Shut uuuuuup..." But she had him laughing again,
and he was more at ease. She kept thrusting gently, then moved up to a second
finger.

"So like... what does it feel like? Good... ?" She was guessing no, judging by
the fact she could see very well that he was more or less unaroused again.

"I think Akira was doing something different than just this. He told me he
found my prostate... ?"

Where the heck is that, then? "Guess I'll, uh, go hunting." She stroked his
bare hip with her free hand and tentatively explored inside him with the other.
Finally, she discovered a spot that made him tense up and gasp. "Did that
hurt?"

He shook his head, then shrugged. "I think that's it... ? Go easy though."

She kept her eyes on his face and found it again, and was surprised to see him
start sighing in rhythm with her touch almost immediately. There we go. She
watched his face go from an expression of discomfort to one of intensity,
almost like he was listening to something with his eyes closed, and before her
eyes his cock began to stiffen. Encouraged, she tried a third finger and
increased the pressure on that spot by a fraction, thrusting a little faster.

She held her breath, not wanting to pull him out of the moment, as his hips
began to move to meet her. He was fucking her fingers, fully hard now. But
Akira was still bigger than three of her slim fingers. She added a fourth and
folded them together, trying not to break the rhythm too much.

He turned his head to the side, eyes still closed, and exhaled a soft sound
into his shoulder.

Quiet, but she'd still heard it. I knew I could get you moaning. He wasn't the
only one who liked it; she shifted her legs and realized she was wet all over
again. As she watched him thrust against her, she realized why - it was
immensely intimate, as if she were watching him alone, lost in himself. He
trusted her to bring him to this state and share it with her, despite his
fears, and she could see just how he felt by his face and his motions. She had
a slightly better understanding of why he liked to use his mouth on her now -
or, at least, why he liked to watch her while he did it.

She tried a faster pace and a choppier, shorter stroke with her fingers, closer
to what she liked when he was inside her, without neglecting the area inside
him that she'd been aiming for. His reaction was immediate; his breathing sped
up to match her and he actually began moaning in time - only quietly, but she
could hear him just fine. She could feel herself responding to the sound
itself, warmth unfolding deep in her belly as she kept fingering him, trying to
maintain an even pace. Maybe I should -

At the risk of breaking his concentration, she used her free hand and her knees
to angle his hips up and bring him closer, a few inches up on her lap as she
knelt between his legs. Keeping a close eye on his face, she brought herself
close and took his cock into her mouth.

He nearly yelled in surprise, but it sounded so much closer to a loud, broken
moan that she couldn't help but moan herself around his cock. She remembered
him saying that he was sore so she kept her fingers thrusting and used her
tongue gently, more to add sensation than as the main focus. It had been a long
time since she'd given Akira head but she could remember what he'd liked, more
or less, and tried it out on Mishima with less force. Soon he was moaning
quietly in time again, his hips still rising to meet her fingers, and she
loosened her lips to let him into her mouth as he pleased. He was thrusting
shallowly only and she simply focused on using her tongue to lap at the
underside.

His hips began to move quicker on their own and she guessed at what he might
want; she picked up the pace too and fingered him in short, abrupt thrusts.
Does that mean he's close...? She took him deep in her mouth, sucking harder
and bobbing her head, and his hips suddenly stopped. She could feel the
strangest sensation of him gripping her fingers, as if he was pulling her
deeper, and his cock flexed against her tongue. She knew what was coming and
steeled herself, but he seemed to have already mostly depleted himself and she
only had to swallow a small amount as he coated her tongue.

When she released him and withdrew her fingers, he was panting and used up,
eyes still closed. She tossed the condom and wiped the excess lube from him,
then lay next to him until he could compose himself enough to speak.

He finally turned his face to hers a few inches away. There was a little sweat
in his hair and he looked utterly worn out. "Fuck." His voice broke.

She laughed and kissed his cheek, satisfied with her efforts. "Good?"

He nodded mutely and rolled over to embrace her. "I think I... wow." He still
didn't have his head together, and she watched him struggle to piece together a
sentence. "Think. Think I got some good practice in."

She lifted her hand and showed him her four fingers, then squeezed them
together with her other hand. "Akira's big but we'll get you there!" she
chirped.

He laughed into her shoulder, eyes closed again, and she had to wake him to get
him under the covers with her. She fell asleep flat on her back with his head
on her shoulder and his arm across her belly, one leg flung over hers.
Chapter End Notes
     I will add more f/m anal play to the internet one. Fic. At a time.
     *clenches fist*
***** A strong male role model. Trophy unlocked. "You're not listening to me."
*****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
AKIRA: So uh.
AKIRA: Now that I have you gathered here today.
AKIRA: Is anyone going to explain those photos you guys sent me on the train?
AKIRA: My dick is so confused.
ANN: lol
MISHIMA: IT WAS HER IDEA.
AKIRA: I wasn't complaining though.
MISHIMA: Oh shut up. Goddamn you guys.
ANN: him and me can't be trusted together. we just get into soooo much trouble
ANN: guess you better be there to supervise us next time
AKIRA: Yeah, you guys need me to keep you in line.
AKIRA: I think Mishima needs a strong male role model to keep him from going
astray.
MISHIMA: What! I did just fine without you!
MISHIMA: Ann seemed to think so, anyway.
ANN: hell yes
ANN: Akira he has a superpower
ANN: there was... so much
ANN: so, so much
MISHIMA: Don't tell me you had to get rid of one of your couches this time. >_>
ANN: lol no
ANN: had to bust out the cleaning supplies tho
ANN: Akira and I really do need to go halvsies on a sex tarp lmao
MISHIMA: Sorry to be a bad houseguest.
ANN: actually you did bring me a
ANN: hostess gift???
ANN: is that a thing?
MISHIMA: Bet you already read it all.
ANN: you wouldn't be saying that if we were in the same room, buddy
AKIRA: Wait, what was this gift?
ANN: Akira, he gave me a FUCKING BL MANGA
AKIRA: Yessssss
AKIRA: Mishima, you're a genius.
AKIRA: Now she won't be lonely when you're spending the night here.
MISHIMA: Exactly!
MISHIMA: I even picked one with a short guy and a tall guy. And the tall guy
has glasses.
ANN: yeah but the tall guy smokes and has a motorcycle. nothing like Akira
MISHIMA: ...
AKIRA: So then...
MISHIMA: You DID read it...
ANN: aaaaaaaargh D:<
AKIRA: Ann should give us pointers for the next time you spend the night,
Mishima.
MISHIMA: Yeah, maybe we've been doing it wrong this whole time.
ANN: fuck offfffff
MISHIMA: Ann, you did say that you wanted to sit in the next time I spent the
night at Akira's.
MISHIMA: Why would you say that unless you wanted to critique our form?
AKIRA: Lol
AKIRA: Yeah, bring a clipboard, we'll analyze the data.
ANN: I wasn't kidding tho
ANN: BESIDES, you owe me, you guys
ANN: Akira, I helped our friend here practice for the next time he sees you.
how noble of me
AKIRA: Oh, you did... that?
MISHIMA: Again. Her idea, not mine.
AKIRA: I'm sure you got absolutely nothing out of it, Ann.
ANN: yup. p boring, watching him fuck my fingers
MISHIMA: I really don't get why you'd want to do that to me though.
ANN: Mishimaaaaaa
ANN: god, I was joking
ANN: it was fucking hot. you were making the best faces
ANN: and v cute little noises. you were making me wet just to listen to you
ANN: Akira, I got one more finger in than you did. you better be thinking of me
when you're finally able to get it in
AKIRA: LMAO
AKIRA: No promises. I may be too preoccupied to be thinking of you, sorry.
AKIRA: We'll be sure to send you a status report though.
AKIRA: Speaking of which...
AKIRA: Mishima, how was your first time?
MISHIMA: Maybe you should ask Ann. I still came before her.
ANN: I told you that's fine tho
ANN: you just want to hear me sing your praises
ANN: Akira, he did so, so good
ANN: once we got the angle right he gave me everything I wanted
ANN: and then he ATE ME OUT OMG
AKIRA: After you barebacked?
AKIRA: Whoa. You're hardcore, Mishima.
MISHIMA: Why is that so bad?
ANN: NOT bad
ANN: more like... next level lol
ANN: and then we had a shower and
ANN: mmf
AKIRA: And?
AKIRA: I need details, people.
MISHIMA: Um. I guess I was ready to go again?
ANN: yesssss
MISHIMA: This sounds weird but I like watching my cum leak out of Ann. >_>
AKIRA: We've turned you into a deviant!
AKIRA: Actually it's probably a good thing that you like seeing that because
you're like, the world's #1 exporter of the stuff.
AKIRA: Maybe you guys should just spend the entire time in the shower when
you're there, Mishima. Would make cleanup easier.
ANN: lol yeah
ANN: anyway. you had nothing to be worried about Mishima. you did fab
ANN: the "guy shouldn't come until the girl does" thing is dumb. don't spend
the whole time inside me thinking of unsexy shit trying not to come, that's
just stupid
AKIRA: There, see? Nothing to worry about.
MISHIMA: That is kind of a relief. :)
MISHIMA: Oh, uh. I guess I'm not a virgin anymore, am I?
AKIRA: You haven't been for a while!
ANN: oh, what? really?
AKIRA: Doesn't the other stuff we've been doing count?
ANN: does it?
MISHIMA: Well, whatever, I'm definitely not one now.
AKIRA: Just one more thing we need to figure out now.
MISHIMA: Yeah...
MISHIMA: I'm having a hard time getting the angle right at home, I think.
That's why I let Ann help me.
ANN: went way better right?
MISHIMA: Yeah... >_>
MISHIMA: It actually went from feeling weird to good a lot faster this time.
ANN: maybe I should teach Akira my fingering technique. I bet it's tough for a
beginner like him to get it right
AKIRA: WHAT
AKIRA: You used to love it when I finger fucked you into the mattress.
ANN: it was... okay
AKIRA: You're shitting me. You can't pretend you didn't love it.
ANN: yawn
ANN: it had its moments, I suppose
AKIRA: Shit, Ann.
AKIRA: Well, what should I have done differently? Like, speed, or?
MISHIMA: She's teasing you, geeze Akira. XD
ANN: you're too easy
AKIRA: ...
MISHIMA: I think you broke his heart. He's very proud of his fingering
technique.
ANN: lmao
ANN: yes, just teasing, don't worry bb
ANN: he's proud of it?
MISHIMA: Yes, he brings it up all the time lol.
AKIRA: Shouldn't I be proud of my skills?
ANN: yes yes you're v talented, for crying out loud
ANN: I do think about it sometimes. fond memories. maybe we should give Mishima
a show sometime
MISHIMA: So you guys are serious about the three of us... ? Sometime?
ANN: well. talk in the chat is different. we're just talking. it doesn't have
to happen
ANN: like, I'd like it to. I think it'd be amazing
ANN: but if it means someone gets jealous and things get wrecked then it's not
worth it
AKIRA: Yeah, that's what I think too.
AKIRA: We keep joking about it but I care more about everyone being happy with
the way things are now.
MISHIMA: I do like how things are going.
MISHIMA: If you guys are talking about me specifically, I don't think I'd be
jealous. Just to see you two I mean. If I could still see each of you the way
we have been then I think it'd be a fun thing to try.
ANN: we keep talking about it. maybe we should just go for it
AKIRA: Hey hey hey.
AKIRA: Mishima and I have a project to finish first.
AKIRA: But after that I think a threeway would be fucking hot.
ANN: well of course YOU do, that's like, the Man Dream lol
AKIRA: Oh, come on. You think it's hot too.
MISHIMA: Yeah Miss BL. Bet you'd get all
MISHIMA: Get all wet to see me and Akira...
AKIRA: Mishima, I think she'd like watching you give me head. You're really
good at it.
ANN: you boys are going to get me in trouble, my parents are home now lol
MISHIMA: Guess you'd better lock your door and stay quiet then, huh?
AKIRA: God, Ann's got such a big mouth on her. She couldn't stay quiet if her
life depended on it.
ANN: wat
ANN: Mishima told me he LIKED the noises I make. so there
AKIRA: Remember that time you nearly got us caught?
ANN: lol yeah...
MISHIMA: Oh no, by the owner of the cafe?
AKIRA: Sojiro? Yeah. I was fingering Ann and he came back after closing because
he forgot something.
AKIRA: I heard the door open and told Ann to be quiet but she KEPT MOANING.
ANN: I was coming! geeze!
MISHIMA: ...uh, you said "nearly" caught?
MISHIMA: Akira, you don't even have a door.
MISHIMA: I think you definitely got caught. And the owner was just too nice to
say anything.
MISHIMA: Bet he left real quick, right?
ANN: yes...
AKIRA: Aw fuck.
AKIRA: I did think it was weird that he gave me 10,000 yen the next day and
told me to take Ann somewhere nice.
ANN: oh my godddd
AKIRA: It was right after exams! So I thought it was a reward for doing well.
MISHIMA: It's almost like he WAS rewarding you for doing well.
ANN: I can't believe I came back and showed my face the next time I came over
like nothing had happened x_x
ANN: anyway I gotta go, my parents wanna talk to me
MISHIMA: Hope you washed that couch really good...
AKIRA: Let's table this discussion until after Project Pound Mishima is
complete.
ANN: aaaaaaaa
MISHIMA: -_-
----------

"Nervous?"

Mishima nodded grimly against Akira's chest.

They were lying naked in Akira's bed the following weekend, Mishima desperately
trying to get past his fears.

"Nervous about... it being gross?" Akira guessed.

Another nod.

"Well, we both read about what to do, right? So if it's still gross even after
that, the washroom's downstairs."

"Yeah, but... "

"I'm not gonna see you any differently."

Mishima just lay still, his breath puffing against Akira's chest.

"Then are you still nervous abouuuut... it hurting?"

Another nod.

"Ann got you up to four. I'll get you up to four too before I try putting it
in. If it hurts, we'll stop right away."

Mishima burrowed his face further out of sight and stayed silent.

"We don't have to. We can do more of what we were doing before. Or watch a
movie."

He finally raised his face, a bit relieved; Akira took his chances and moved
back just enough to crane his neck and kiss him.

Akira seemed to know how apprehensive he was feeling and dialled back the
intensity he might have otherwise put into it. He let Mishima drive. Akira just
kissed back gently and let him come around on his own.

Eventually Mishima forgot all about what they had been planning to do later and
lost himself to sensation. He found himself laying on top of Akira, face tipped
at a sharp angle to better drive his tongue in, and realized he was already
hard. Akira seemed to have resolved to let him take his time and had become
unusually passive, for him; he responded to Mishima's advances but didn't push.
From his vantage point above him Mishima pulled back to check his face. Akira
was breathing deeply, his face flushed; before Mishima could speak, Akira
stretched to the side and was just barely able to reach the bottle of lube that
he'd placed on the windowsill next to his bed.

He looked up at Mishima with a question in his eyes, and Mishima nodded.

Akira couldn't see what he was doing very well but managed to coat his index
finger with lube. He brought his lips back to Mishima's and then, a few seconds
later, reached behind him and began to tease at him without pushing his finger
inside. Every time Mishima's kissing faltered, Akira stopped what he was doing
until he continued. In time, Mishima stopped thinking. He kissed Akira hard
while Akira slid his finger in.

It was more difficult to find the correct angle this time, since their
positions were reversed, but Akira finally brushed against a spot that made
Mishima ram his hips forward and moan into his mouth. This time Mishima had to
break off the kiss to catch his breath.

"You okay? We don't have to - " Akira was cut off by Mishima covering his mouth
with his again.

Mishima barely gave him a chance to break off long enough to look at his
fingers each time, but eventually Akira was able to move up to two fingers,
then three. Akira scissored them within him, trying to stretch him as best he
could, until Mishima stopped him, panting.

"Think I. Think it's better if I'm on my back for this."

Akira reached up with his free hand and tugged on his spiky hair until Mishima
had to close his eyes. He allowed a smirk to enter his voice. "Is that for the
angle? Or is it because that's how you've been picturing it for the last few
weeks?"

Mishima gave a short laugh, eyes still closed, and wouldn't answer, which was
answer enough.

They got up quickly and Akira placed another t-shirt beneath his hips, then
pulled a few condoms from the bottom of a box of his clothing. Mishima was
starting to look anxious again, brows pulled together, and Akira tried to
reassure him. "Don't worry. Just getting stuff together. I don't think you're
ready yet."

He returned and knelt between Mishima's legs, carefully inserting three fingers
again and thrusting until he had Mishima sighing again. Now or never. Akira
lubed up his pinkie and added it to the others, trying to fold them as tightly
as possible until all four were in. His hands were of course bigger than Ann's,
and he watched Mishima's face closely for any sign of discomfort. There was a
moment or two where his breathing hitched, where his sighs ceased, but it
wasn't long before Akira could brush that spot inside with all four fingers
stretching him, albeit shallowly; Mishima was moaning outright now, his cock
hard and his hips lifting to meet Akira's fingers.

Akira leaned over Mishima and kissed him as he fingered him. "Still doing
okay?"

Mishima nodded immediately, breathing hard. "Let's try it."

That was a better answer than Akira had been hoping for. He removed his fingers
and wiped off his hand, then undressed quickly and rolled a condom on. Mishima
could only stare at the ceiling and listen.

Akira was generous with the lube, warming it up as he slicked his cock up and
down. He just hoped four had been enough. He raised himself on one hand,
hovering over Mishima so he could see his face, and then slowly, slowly pressed
in.

He paused as soon as he saw Mishima gritting his teeth. "Should I stop?"

Mishima's eyes were squeezed tight; he released a long shaky breath and shook
his head. "Keep going. Maybe just - " Then he raised his head until Akira got
what he meant and closed the distance, kissing him again as a distraction. He
felt Mishima relax back down to the mattress as he did, and took that as his
signal to continue.

Akira sank into him, agonizingly slowly, while trying to keep Mishima's mind
occupied with his mouth. At last, Akira covered him with his body, still
kissing him, with his cock buried all the way inside. He exhaled deeply through
his nose, trying not to move.

Mishima turned his head to the side. "Ooof."

Akira searched his face but couldn't quite guess at what he was feeling.
"How're you doing?"

Mishima closed his eyes. "Wasn't sure we'd ever... get you in." Then he smiled.
"Let's give it a shot."

Akira made himself move cautiously. He tried a slow, deep thrust, almost all
the way out before pressing all the way in again, and Mishima threw his head
back, eyebrows twitching while his eyes remained closed. He kept it up, moving
an inch or two at a time, until he felt Mishima's muscles relax slightly around
him. Gaining confidence, Akira propped himself up on his knees and both hands,
arching his back, and tried a quicker, shallower stroke until he could tell he
was brushing that spot within him again; Mishima immediately became louder,
moaning outright. Akira felt Mishima's legs wrap tightly around his waist,
angling his hips up further, and Akira could only fall forward and bury his
face into his shoulder.

"You feel amazing," he murmured into Mishima's ear, and as he spoke, Mishima's
cock throbbed against his stomach.

Akira readjusted his position, planting his hand in the middle of Mishima's
chest and pressing him down, until he had Mishima pinned to the mattress with
most of his weight, just as he had their first night together. He gripped his
hair until he tipped his head back, exposed and vulnerable. Then Akira angled
one arm between them and stroked Mishima's cock.

Mishima immediately tipped his head back even further and uttered a breathy
string of incoherence that took Akira a moment to piece together.     " -ck
ohfuck ohfuck fucckkkk..."

Akira began to thrust in earnest.

He sped up until he was slamming into Mishima with a wet slap on each stroke,
hitting him in that spot each time. He let his thrusts become rougher, shorter,
and Mishima became completely incomprehensible, just sobbing senselessly as
Akira worked him with his right hand and flattened him into the mattress with
his left shoulder. Akira drove his cock in, faster, harder, and let his mind go
white.

Akira could feel his orgasm nearing and, still not really thinking, his hand
sped up and stroked Mishima's cock between the two of them until he heard
Mishima's voice break and then fall silent as he came, holding his breath and
shuddering beneath him until Akira's hand was warm and sticky. Mishima's
muscles squeezed him as he came and Akira was able to get two more deep thrusts
in before he tipped over the edge himself, groaning way down in his chest as
his cock pulsed inside Mishima.

It felt like a long time before they had each caught their breath, their bodies
still pressed together. Mishima finally let his legs relax from where he'd left
them wrapped around Akira's waist, and, struggling to gather his thoughts,
Akira raised himself up on his elbows just enough to look him in the eye.

Mishima had tear tracks on his face.

"Shit, are you- " Akira pulled out immediately, abruptly enough for Mishima to
gasp at the feeling of being left empty. He stripped the condom off and threw
it away, then cleaned himself and Mishima off, his heart hammering all the
while. Did I hurt him? Is he -

Mishima either hadn't heard him or was too distracted by physical sensation to
formulate an answer. He lay splayed out on the bed, eyes shut and looking more
defenseless than ever. As Akira peered down at him he sighed deeply and finally
opened his eyes just a crack. He opened his mouth as if to say something, then
started laughing breathlessly instead.

What the hell... ? "Mishima, are you okay?"

He just nodded and, this time, looked down at himself to make sure that Akira
had cleaned his skin before rolling onto his side to make room for him to lay
down. Akira stretched out behind him and wrapped him in his arms. "Then why...
?"

"Oh - " Mishima realized what he meant and swiped both palms over his face.
"Not crying. Just - " He cut himself off with another weird, breathy laugh.

Akira waited for him to catch his breath and finish laughing.

"Just... intense."

"You're... ?"

"Yeah. Just sore. But it's not bad." Mishima stirred, trying to look back at
Akira's face. "I kind of... can't believe we did that. That I did that."

"Didn't think it'd fit, didja?" Akira whispered in his ear in as dirty a tone
as he could manage.

Mishima seemed to be beyond embarrassment in his exhausted state. "No, I guess
I really didn't."

Akira laughed, delighted, as a new thought occurred to him. "Hey, guess what.
Now you're like... double not-a-virgin."

"Yeah, I should get a, a membership card or something."

"Ann and I will have a trophy made in your honour."

Mishima laughed hard at that idea. "How am I going to explain that to my
parents... ? A 'Congrats on the Sex' trophy?"

"Better not then. They'd just be jealous."

Mishima fell silent and Akira took to stroking his chest with the side of his
thumb, not thinking much about anything. Until his mind wandered back to just
how hard he'd been slamming into Mishima, and how he'd lost himself in the
feeling of burying his cock deep inside. He'd been in no state to notice small
details, and his stomach sank when he realized what he might have missed.

Akira took a deep breath. "So. Um. I pinned you again. I held you down and... "
He buried his face into Mishima's hair, suddenly miserable. "Did I scare you?
Again?"

In answer Mishima rolled over and smiled up at him. "But I told you I liked it
when you did that. That first time."

Akira nodded.

"Isn't that why you did it again? This time?"

Akira said nothing.

"I liked it this time, too. So don't worry about it." They had cooled down
considerably, and Mishima drew the covers over them again, but stayed in a
sitting position so he could look down at him. "You, uh. You were right when
you said that's how I've been picturing it until now." He turned his face away,
but Akira could still see his ears beginning to redden.

Akira rolled on his side, facing away. Despite Mishima's assurances, his mind
was racing.I wasn't just rough, I was practically violent with him. He's only
been imagining it that way because that's all I've ever been with him. I
must've hurt him, or at least scared the hell out of him, or he wouldn't have
been crying. I fucking made him cry during his first time with me, and he's
actually trying to make ME feel better -

He blinked hard to keep from crying himself and drew his knees up. Then a new
thought occurred to him, and his blood froze in his veins.

He told me last time that he doesn't like to be called pretty. Doesn't like to
have his hips or his skin or his cock complimented. Who would have seen him
naked? Who would have... ?

I just forced myself onto someone who survived Kamoshida.

His breathing must have given him away, or maybe Mishima just guessed at how he
was feeling. Akira felt hands on first his back, then his shoulders as Mishima
lay down again behind him. He felt his thumbs begin to work out the kinks in
his shoulders, digging in gently and moving up to his neck.

Akira cleared his throat, trying not to reveal how he'd been feeling. "Are
you... giving me a backrub?"

"Looks like it." Mishima just kept smoothing his thumbs up and down his
muscles, moving down to the centre of his back now.

Akira wiped his eyes surreptitiously. "You know, I don't think I've ever had a
real one."

"Only fake ones?"

"Ann and I used to try to trade backrubs when we had sore muscles from - "
Mementos " -stress," he finished lamely. "But we never really got too far
before we'd get distracted."

Mishima laughed behind him, still working on his back. "Well, I've never given
one. Just tell me if I'm doing it wrong."

"No, it feels pretty good." Why am I just laying here and letting him do this
like everything's okay? But he couldn't quite bring himself to say it.

"You going to tell me what's wrong?" Mishima had moved his hands to Akira's
lower back.

Now he had no choice. "Oh. Guess I just," he blurted out, then tried again,
staring hard at the empty room beyond his bed. "I. I wonder if that's really
how you wanted your first time to be. With me. Or if you just think it should
be that way because... that seems to be the only way I know how to be with
you."

Or maybe you just think it should be that way because it's like what that
asshole already did to you in the past? Akira felt like a piece of shit for
having thought it. But it didn't stop him from having thought it.

Mishima's fingers were still, his palms warm on Akira's skin while he waited
for him to finish.

Akira swallowed around a lump in his throat. "Part of me wants to hug and kiss
you and... be gentle, with you, and part of me wants to just... ram into you,
and slam you down, and be... like, after we got past a certain point, I wasn't.
I wasn't really thinking of you at all, " he finished wretchedly. Shame crawled
through him.

Mishima's hands left his back, and Akira felt hot breath tickle his ear. "But
what if that is what I want?"

"But I'm just gonna hurt you, I - "

"You didn't, though."

"But you were cr- "

Mishima circled his arms around him as best he could. "Told you. Intense."

His vision was blurry with tears now. " ...I feel like I'm taking advantage of
you." He let out a choked gasp of surprise when he felt Mishima's fist hit him
in the bicep, hard.

"Are you serious right now?!" To Akira's shock, Mishima sounded absolutely
furious. He was stunned into silence as Mishima continued, his voice getting
louder and louder behind him. "If I didn't want what you were doing, do you
really think I'd just lie there and take it? Was I fighting against you? Was I
telling you to stop?"

"No, but - "

"And if you think you, like, conditioned me to want it that way, like I'm
secretly afraid of you or something, or if you think that I just take it from
you like that because I feel like I have to... no. God, Akira. You're not
listening to me."

Akira lay silent.

Mishima's voice rose, nearly shouting now. "Don't you think you're not giving
me enough credit? It's been months. I know what I want now. I've been telling
you what I want. So stop trying to decide what's best for me and start. Start
listening to me." He panted, out of words.

Akira finally rolled over to look at him. Mishima was sitting upright again and
actually shaking with anger, lips pressed in a thin line and still breathing
heavily.

Akira couldn't look at him anymore and just took his hand, then closed his
eyes. "I'm sorry."

He could hear Mishima shift position and try to get his breathing back under
control. "It's okay. I'm sorry I hit you." He squeezed Akira's hand back.

Akira had the perverse impulse to laugh and buried it. That's the last thing
I'm worried about. Maybe I deserved it. "I'm fine. You sure have bony knuckles
though."

"Ugh. Whatever." But Mishima sounded less upset, and Akira risked looking at
him again. Mishima lay on his side now, studying him face to face.

"So you really... I didn't hurt you?"

Mishima shook his head.

"You weren't feeling like I forced you?"

"Nope."

Akira let out a shuddering breath. "And... you like it that way? Because I feel
like I just do what I want. Like I... let myself go and I'm not really thinking
anymore."

Mishima actually gave him a smile, and Akira returned it, relief flooding him.
"Maybe that's a compliment." He put on a pretend smug expression. "I'm so good
in bed that Akira loses himself in a... in a fuck haze."

Akira let out a loud, ugly laugh at that and buried his face in Mishima's
shoulder, crushing him to his chest in a tight embrace. "I did, though."

Quit stalling. You have to ask him. Just get it over with. There was no
graceful way to bring it up, so Akira just took a deep breath and spoke into
his skin, still squeezing him tight against his chest. "Mishima."

"Mm."

"I gotta. I gotta ask you about something."

"What is it?"

What a nice thing to be talking about after your first time together. Akira
hated himself for it, but he needed to know. He kept his voice low, trying to
sound as kind as he could. "Remember the last time I had you over? I called you
pretty, and I said I liked your... hips, and you told me you didn't like it
when I called you that? Said it reminded you of... someone else, who'd said
that?"

Mishima had frozen against him as soon as he'd realized what Akira had brought
up. He was holding his breath.

"Who... who was it?" Akira whispered.

Mishima was breathing again, shallow little pants against Akira's skin, but he
stayed silent.

Doesn't matter if he answers you or not, anyway. You know it was Kamoshida.

The lump was back in his throat. "What did he do to you?"

Mishima finally spoke again. He knew what he was getting at. "Not what you're
thinking of." His voice was actually more even than Akira's.

He knew he was opening old wounds, but he had to know. "He... must have seen
you naked, right? So he called you pretty, and... ?"

Akira nearly recoiled when he heard Mishima actually start to laugh against
him. But it was bitter. "You saw my face, back in April. I got what the rest of
the guys got." He lowered his voice until he became hard to hear. "Maybe a bit
of what some of the girls got. Towards the end. But not... that."

Akira raised his hand and stroked Mishima's hair, feeling half relieved, half
sick for him. "I'm sorry. I had to ask because... "

Mishima's voice was harsh, strangled - as if he had to choke the words out.
Akira had never heard him like this. "Because you think I want you to do to me
what K-Kamoshida must've, right? You think I like you, like what you do to me,
because it reminds me of him?" He wrenched himself free of Akira's arms and sat
up. "You think I miss him?" he spat. He got up off of the bed.

"Hey - no - "

Mishima paced the attic, at first looking for his clothes but then just holding
them in his arms as if he couldn't remember what he'd been doing.

"Mishima, I had to ask. You know why." He sat up and patted the bed next to
him. "Come back."

Mishima turned back to face him but kept his eyes focused on the floor. "No, I
don't know why. As far as I'm concerned we had a, had a nice time." Akira
watched his eyes blink faster as they filled with tears and had the privilege
of knowing they were all his fault. Mishima's voice jagged up and down as he
continued, his hands balled into fists around his bundle of clothing. "At
least, I thought we did, but then you tell me you think I'm just so
fuckingterrified of you that I can't, can't fend you off." He was glaring at
him openly now. "That I'm either too fucking stupid to know what I want after
months of seeing you, or that I only like you because you remind me of the guy
you think raped me. Wow."

Akira touched his own face; his fingertips came away wet. His voice was hoarse.
"Do I remind you of him? Did I, when I called you... that?"

It was like he'd flipped a switch. The anger drained from Mishima's face and he
sank down onto the couch, hunched as if to protect himself. "Yeah. You did."

Akira wrenched his fingers through his hair and let out a shuddering breath.
Fuck. Mishima looked even smaller than usual, his face a mask of misery. Akira
couldn't stand to look at him anymore, and he couldn't wrap him in his arms
like he wanted to, either; so he turned away and stared out the window, as if
something out there could tell him what to do. What to say.

He felt the mattress dip down beside him. Then Mishima held his wrist until
he'd turned to look at him. "I don't know why I said that... stuff. Sorry." He
tried to give Akira a hug but he remained where he was, unresponsive.

"Were you ever going to tell me?"

Mishima turned his face away and put some distance between them. "You already
knew about most of what happened anyway. You saw my face every day. So why
bring it up?"

Akira swallowed thickly. "Guess I can see why you wouldn't want to talk about
it." He lay down on his back, gazing up at the ceiling, so Mishima wouldn't
have to feel like he was staring at him.

The mattress shifted again as Mishima lay next to him in the same position, a
few inches away but taking care not to touch him. "It's over with. It doesn't
matter anymore, you know? It's not something you have to - " Akira could see
out of the corner of his eye that he was talking with his hands. " - like,
worry about."

How can he say that? How can he think what happened just... had no effect on
him? But Akira kept his questions to himself. He just wanted the fight to be
over.

He took Mishima's hand without looking and held it, not knowing what to say.
They lay in silence for a long stretch of time, each lost in their own
thoughts. Mishima finally stirred and plucked at the sheet and covers until
Akira sat up too and let him pull them flat. "Sorry. Cold."

Akira noticed his arms were covered in goosebumps and, before he could think
better of it, reached over and rubbed them up and down to warm him up. Mishima
bowed his head and leaned against him, silent.

Akira lay on his side, lifting the covers as an invitation, until Mishima
joined him. He pressed his back and thighs against him immediately, and Akira
felt a little better. He can stand to have me touch him, at least. He wrapped
him in his arms, then closed his eyes. Mishima sighed and relaxed against him.

After a few moments, Mishima spoke up, startling him; he'd thought he was
falling asleep. "I really did have a, um. Nice time." He even laughed a little,
but the difference between this and his bitter laughter from before was like
night and day. "That sounds so stupid. I don't know how to describe it though.
That felt so... " He laughed again and gave up trying to put words to it.

Akira was relieved enough to laugh too. "I liked it too. If that's what you
mean."

Mishima nodded, then paused, thinking. When he spoke again his voice was
gentle; there was no sign of resentment in his tone as he repeated what he'd
said before. "You didn't hurt me. I'm not scared of you. You didn't make me do
anything I didn't want to do."

Akira slumped against him, exhaling against his neck. "I'm glad. I just thought
I'd made you cry while I was... Well. I guess I get it now."

Mishima nodded again. "And you said that after a certain point you stopped
thinking, like, stopped thinking about me. Do you mean you were inconsiderate?"

Akira nodded against him.

"You weren't though. If you really weren't thinking about me you wouldn't have
grabbed me. Made me come. Remember?"

"Sure, but - "

"You got me good and ready first. That took a while, to, um. Open me up. And
you were kissing me to keep it from being uncomfortable for me. And you kept
asking if I was okay."

Akira just listened.

"So if you were really so terrible, if you only cared about what you wanted, if
you were forcing me... " He waited for Akira to fill in the blanks.

"I see what you're saying."

Mishima twisted against him, craning his neck enough to look him in the eye,
eyebrows drawn down in an intense expression. "If I didn't like you. If I
didn't like it when you... Then I wouldn't be here. I wouldn't keep coming
back, if. If I was scared of you." He seemed to lose his nerve and rolled over
the rest of the way so he could press his face to Akira's chest before he was
able to continue, his voice a whisper now. "Guess I, um. Guess I like it
rough."

Akira blinked as something else clicked into place. "Ohhh... "

"What?"

"So when I push you down, when I... does that help?"

"Kind of. I don't know why, but. I do like it."

"When you told me you liked it when I laid on top of you that first night, I
thought it was just because you were freaked out about me looking at you."

Mishima inched further down the bed and buried his face into Akira's chest,
mumbling. "I thought it was too. But now I don't really mind you looking at me.
Not as much, anyway. So... " He swallowed and became nearly inaudible. "I think
it's more that I like being held down."

Akira inhaled deeply, stretched his legs out, then exhaled into Mishima's hair
until it fluttered. He finally felt like he was back on solid ground. "Well.
Aren't we a match made in heaven." They laughed together, and things felt a bit
better.

Akira raised his hand from Mishima's back and began ruffling his hair, first
one way, then the other. They lay in comfortable silence for a while, but then
Akira pulled back enough to give him a calculating look. "Heh. Wonder if
there's anything else you like."
Chapter End Notes
     ;_;
***** Commemorative memorabilia. Ambush. "I think this was a bad idea after
all." *****
Akira and Mishima tapped into their phones after Mishima had gone home the next
day, Akira stretched out on his back on his bed and Mishima seated at his desk
in his room. Mishima had started a private chat between just the two of them.

MISHIMA: I'm sorry I blew up at you yesterday.
AKIRA: Don't be.
AKIRA: I'm sorry I said something that reminded you of old shit. I'll be more
careful.
AKIRA: Is this something you want to talk about?
AKIRA: Because I'll listen.
MISHIMA: Think we did enough of that yesterday.
MISHIMA: Maybe another time though. Thanks.
AKIRA: Ann's messaging me.
AKIRA: Is this... something she should know?
AKIRA: Like, do you want her to know?
MISHIMA: No. Please don't tell her.
AKIRA: You said she called you... that, too, though.
AKIRA: Pretty. Sorry.
AKIRA: I just mean that she might keep saying that to you if you don't tell her
why it bothers you.
MISHIMA: Maybe I'll get used to it?
MISHIMA: Actually, when she called me that it didn't really bug me as much for
some reason.
MISHIMA: I dunno. I get why you'd say I should but I really don't want to tell
her. Please don't.
AKIRA: I won't if you don't want me to. Promise.
MISHIMA: Thanks.
MISHIMA: It's not even just that I don't want to talk about it right now. It's
because some of it has to do with her friend Suzui. I don't know how to tell
her yet, or if she'd want to know anyway.
AKIRA: Fair enough.
AKIRA: Should I add her to our chat?
MISHIMA: Yeah, do it. I'm so sick of talking about this old garbage, you know?
It's over with.
AKIRA: Got it.

Akira added Ann to their chat.

ANN: so what did my boys do this weekend
AKIRA: Wouldn't YOU like to know.
MISHIMA: Before we talk about that... Ann, did I get you into trouble? >_>

Akira laughed a little to himself, trying not to disturb Morgana next to him.
Maybe Ann would help lighten Mishima's mood.

MISHIMA: In the last chat, you said your parents wanted to talk to you.
ANN: lol
ANN: already told you, I cleaned up the couch thoroughly
ANN: and I always hide the beer cans. don't worry
ANN: they just wanted to catch up, they weren't home for over a month
ANN: speaking of. now they're home for a while again
ANN: so, Mishima, we might be outta luck unless your house is suitable
MISHIMA: Wish it were. My parents are home every night and every weekend.
MISHIMA: You coming by wouldn't go over too well, let's just say.
AKIRA: Wellll...
AKIRA: Since Project Pound Mishima was such a huge success...
MISHIMA: -_-
AKIRA: Maybe it's time for a team meetup at Leblanc.
ANN: we're a TEAM now? lmao
MISHIMA: I want a member's jacket.
ANN: oooh. we should commission Yusuke to draw us a logo
ANN: and put it on team mugs or smth
MISHIMA: Yeah!
MISHIMA: I'm kinda scared to think of what such a logo would look like though.
ANN: Yusuke'd be down for drawing whatever tho lol
AKIRA: You, uh, have no idea.
AKIRA: Ann, I'd tell you to flip through his sketchbook sometime, but he'd
probably think you want to be his model again.
AKIRA: Anyway! Off topic!
AKIRA: What do you guys think?
MISHIMA: I want a threesome mug.
MISHIMA: Less obvious than a sex trophy.
ANN: good thinking
ANN: let's keep it tasteful

Akira sent an emoji of a cartoon cat bawling enormous tears.

ANN: fiiiiine
MISHIMA: Lol. Sorry Akira.
AKIRA: I feel like I should be banging a gavel here or something.
AKIRA: So. Thoughts?
ANN: I like the idea. you know that
ANN: I, uh. wonder if it would work if we came by like way after hours tho.
after Mishima brought up that Sojiro def caught us that time, it feels like
he's known all along. I feel weird looking him in the eye now
AKIRA: He's classy though. He wouldn't have given me cash and told me to take
you somewhere nice if he thought less of you.
MISHIMA: I don't know how you could have thought he didn't know. Ann, didn't
you keep staying the night after closing? He must have known you were Akira's
girlfriend.
MISHIMA: Or, whatever.
ANN: yeah, I think we were dumb Akira x_x I stayed overnight p often
AKIRA: I get how you feel, but he's done a lot for me when he didn't have to.
I, uh, don't want to tell him exactly why I'm having you guys spend the night,
but I also don't think he'd want me to let you in after closing behind his
back.
ANN: guess you're right. he's always been nice to me
MISHIMA: I doubt he'll think we're up to something if it's all three of us
though. Right? The three of us together wouldn't read as a couple or whatever.
ANN: but we ARE up to smth
ANN: like, even if he doesn't guess at what we're coming over for, he'll think
we're going to have a party or whatev
MISHIMA: Mm. I guess I didn't think of that.
MISHIMA: We went over there to study a lot after school just before exams...
what if we brought all of our books and told him we were going to get more
studying in before staying the night?
ANN: oooh!
ANN: that's an idea
AKIRA: I feel kinda bad making up a cover story, but. Maybe that's the best
plan.
ANN: oh waaaaait
ANN: uh
ANN: you have one small couch and one small bed
MISHIMA: Oh, right. >_>
AKIRA: Mishima and I have managed to both fall asleep in the bed before. Ann,
you and I used to. One of us will just have to be lonely on the couch.
MISHIMA: No, the cover story, remember?
AKIRA: ?
ANN: god Akira
ANN: is Sojiro supposed to think that you're going to fall asleep cuddling your
"girlfriend" or your "boyfriend"? after we're done studying?
ANN: because he'll assume one or the other
AKIRA: Oh.
AKIRA: Well shit.
MISHIMA: Aha!
MISHIMA: I have a sleeping bag from a school trip. Tell him I'm going to take
the floor if he asks.
AKIRA: Nice. I think it'll work then.
MISHIMA: Is your cat going to be home? I never got to see him after that one
time.
MISHIMA: He's pretty well travelled for a cat, actually.
AKIRA: Mm. Dunno. I'll check, but I think he's scheduled for someone else's
house this weekend. Sorry.
AKIRA: See if he'll let you pet him at school, maybe?
ANN: even if Morgana were there, I bet we'd be too busy to spend much time with
him anyway ;)
----------

By the time Saturday evening rolled around, Mishima was a wreck. He met Ann at
the Yongen station and it must have shown on his face, because she immediately
slung her arm around his neck and kissed his temple.

"Chill!"

"Yeah, I guess." She let him go and they climbed the stairs out of the station.

"We're not even gonna do anything new, right? We've gotten all that out of the
way already. Now we're just gonna do what me and you do in a different place."

He hefted his sleeping bag and tried to smile. "Sure." Yeah, I'm just gonna
have sex with you and Akira in one place at one time. Simultaneously. Right.
What could go wrong? When Ann turned away again, he let himself grimace,
remembering the last time he'd been in Akira's room. Even though they'd made
up, even though they could talk normally at school again, he couldn't help but
think of what he'd finally had to admit to Akira. His stomach sank as his
thoughts returned to what had been running through his mind ever since.

Maybe he was right. Maybe I really do only like it that way because...

His thoughts were cut short; they'd reached Leblanc. They opened the door and
immediately spread out their textbooks and papers to secure their cover story.
Mishima let Ann do all the talking; he could hear her detailing their plans to
study late into the night and sleep on Akira's couch and floor to Sojiro. He
stared at the text on the page while Ann over-explained and drove the point
into the ground. When she started all over again he couldn't stand it any
longer and approached the counter. Sojiro neatly interrupted Ann by giving
Mishima the same attentive nod he'd give any customer and asked for his order.

He was able to control his expression and voice reasonably well, he thought; he
ordered three coffees and stared at the TV while he waited, not actually
comprehending anything on the screen until they arrived. Sojiro caught his eye
and gave him a knowing smile before insisting they were on the house, as he
always did, then turned back to the kitchen. What did that mean? Did that mean
anything... ?

Akira finally joined them downstairs after Ann sent him a chat message to let
him know they'd arrived. He settled in next to Mishima and, out of sight of the
rest of the cafe, squeezed his hand briefly before opening his own schoolbooks.
He kept his voice low. "You okay?"

"I'll be fine," Mishima mumbled, then raised his voice. "Math first, you guys?"

They were so focused on maintaining their cover that they actually did start to
make real headway; they finished their coffee and chugged along through a sheet
of practice equations until Sojiro got their attention. "I'm heading home,
guys." He put on his jacket and addressed Akira. "Lock up. And clean up after,
okay?" There was a split second where Mishima could have sworn Sojiro flashed
Akira a smirk.

Mishima kept his face blank as the door closed after him. Did THAT mean
anything?

They each remained as still as statues until Sojiro must have been halfway down
the street, then let out their breath all at once and collapsed onto the table.

Mishima's face was hidden, covered by both his hands. "He knows, how could you
guys not have seen that?!"

Akira tried to keep up his usual composed facade, but his voice was the
slightest bit unsteady. "Uh. Maybe he does."

Ann was hunched over, face down and arms stretched out across the entire table.
"Ugggggh... "

Akira's voice brightened. "Maybe he just thinks we're going to get drunk?"

Ann was incredulous. "Why is that better?!"

But Mishima liked that idea a lot more. "Thatwould be better though."

Checking the sightlines from the glass door, Akira slowly slid his hand into
his bag and flashed them a glimpse of a bottle. "Wouldn't even be a  lie... "

Ann's voice went painfully high. "Where did you get whiskey?!"

Akira just looked smug.

Mishima took it from him and inspected it, keeping his hands under the table
just in case someone walking by outside could see through the glass door.
Definitely whiskey. "No, seriously, how'd you get someone to sell to you?"

Ann still sounded freaked out. "Don't tell me you got that yakuza guy to... ?"

Mishima recoiled from Akira as if burned. "Are you serious... ?!"

Akira cleared his throat, smugness gone. Clearly these were not the reactions
he'd been hoping for. "Iwai's cool. Don't worry about it."

They remained unconvinced.

"He gave it to me. I told him I couldn't come work for him this weekend and he
asked if I had a 'hot date'. I, uh, told him I might be having a girl over and
I guess he thought I looked nervous about it... ?"

Mishima goggled at him. "Are you yakuza?"

Ann giggled. "See any tatts the last time you were up there?" She glanced
upwards toward the attic.

"Well, no, but - "

Akira clued him in. "Iwai's the owner of the airsoft shop over on Central. He's
not as scary as he looks."

Mishima was only slightly relieved. "So he's not gonna want something from you
in return... ?"

Akira laughed. "He owes me, if anything. He just made me promise not to tell
his kid that he'd given me alcohol." Now that the cafe was empty, he wrapped an
arm around Mishima's shoulders and started playing with his hair. "Hey, it's
not a big deal if you don't want any. Whiskey's supposed to be harsh. I think."

Ann nodded at Mishima. "Yeah, and by now, maybe we don't need any help
relaxing. Right?"

Mishima had let himself lean against Akira's shoulder, his eyes closed as Akira
ran his fingers through his hair. "Yeah, maybe."

He was starting to zone out when he suddenly felt something touch first his
thigh, then his crotch. He jerked upright and glared at Akira.

Akira looked genuinely surprised. "What?"

Mishima opened his mouth to reply but the pressure on his lap returned. He
looked just in time to see Ann return her stockinged foot to her own side of
the table. "It was you!"

She just stuck her tongue out.

Akira got up, locked the door and flipped the cafe's sign to closed, but not
before messing with Ann's hair on his way by. "Hey. Not in the cafe." He came
back and took their empty cups. "Why don't I make us some more while you guys
head upstairs?"

Mishima headed up to the attic while Ann fussed over her hair in the washroom
downstairs. He had bent over to unroll his sleeping bag when he felt two hands
grab his ass. If he couldn't have guessed already, Ann's laugh told him it was
her before he turned around.

"Got big plans for you, buddy."

"Hey. Akira got your hair this time, not me. Why do I get the 'buddy'
treatment?"

She didn't answer, taking his hand and leading him to sit down on Akira's
couch. Instead of sitting next to him, she straddled his lap and began kissing
him.

Man, she's really into it. She pressed her mouth to his fiercely until he
parted his lips to let her tongue in; he had no choice but to tip his head back
and rest it on the back of the couch, struggling just to keep up.

It wasn't long before she began to press her thigh, the part left bare between
the top of her thigh high stockings and the bottom hem of her skirt, against
the tent in his pants, feeling him out. Still kissing him, she snaked a hand
between them and unzipped him.

He broke off. "Whoa - "

She had a conniving look in her eye, though he couldn't figure out why. Maybe
she was just gloating over getting the drop on Akira. "Just making you more
comfortable. You're gonna pop your zipper."

Things were moving quickly enough that he felt slow and stupid in comparison,
knowing only that he wanted to go back to kissing her. He looked down and
realized that he was harder than he thought, just like she'd said, so he let
her tug him out and away from his clothing so the zipper wouldn't catch his
skin. Before she was done adjusting his pants he took her mouth again, letting
his hands travel downward until he was gripping her ass through her skirt. He
felt her move her knees a little, shifting her chest against him, and then -

He whipped his head to the side and gasped. "Ann - "

Her pussy, already wet, took in the head of his cock.

She held his eye and sank into his lap, inch by inch, until he was fully
inside. He couldn't put a sentence together, so she began to move. She lazily
rolled her hips and rode him slowly until he closed his eyes again and put his
hands back on her ass, this time under her skirt.

It was a struggle, but he managed to get some words out. "Did you. Did you get
on the train like this?!"

She laughed in his ear, loving his reaction. "Took them off in the washroom
downstairs. Got myself ready too." She began to tease him. She lifted her hips
up until his cock was almost entirely free, with just the tip still inside her;
then she kept him there, motionless, until he opened his eyes, his expression
begging her to move. When she finally did, she'd drive her hips down to his
over and over and take all of him inside herself at once until she had him
gasping, only to suddenly back off and repeat the process all over again.

"Ann. Be nice."

Akira had been watching them.

At the sound of his voice, Mishima jolted and leaned far to the side, craning
his neck to see around Ann. He had thought that Akira might be annoyed at her
for starting without him; on the contrary, while Ann had Mishima distracted,
Akira had quietly come back upstairs and placed one of the wooden chairs only a
few feet behind them. He sat slouched far down for the best angle, and Mishima
realized he must have been able to see right up Ann's skirt. Akira's legs were
spread wide; when he caught on that Mishima was looking at him, he slowly,
deliberately stroked his fingertips along his left thigh.

Uh, that's not his leg -

Akira's proportions were too generous, and his uniform pants too tight, to
allow for any real tenting. Instead his length lay trapped against his leg, and
as Mishima's eyes widened, Akira brushed it lightly without ever taking his
eyes off of them.

Ann had stopped and seemed to be enjoying watching his expression change as he
looked at Akira. She squeezed the head of his cock without moving to get his
attention, then drew close once he was looking at her again. "Wanna give him a
show?" she whispered. Instead of answering, he put his hands back on her ass,
this time to flip up her skirt and hold it there to give Akira a better view.
She laughed in his ear, low and husky, and started to move again.

Whether it was because she knew they were being watched now, or because she
felt that she had teased him enough, she rode Mishima hard without any further
interruptions. She picked up a fast rhythm, a rocking motion that plunged his
cock deep just before she snapped her hips forward again. Mishima tried to
contribute but she took over and he decided to let her; he just sprawled back
against the couch, breathing hard, and watched her face above him as she worked
him inside her to her heart's content.

There was a second of silence between one of his exhales and one of her moans,
just long enough for Mishima to hear the sound of a zipper.

Judging from the way Ann's eyes immediately cut to his, she must have heard it
too. She gave him a devilish grin and picked up the pace even more until she
was outright bouncing in his lap, grinding down on his cock until he couldn't
take it anymore. He let his fingers sink into her flesh and she leaned close
again to urge him on, chanting into his ear. "Yes, come in me, fill me up, come
on - " She had to slow her rhythm to reach his ear, and he finally let his hips
slam up into her while he pulled her down and held her there, driving his cock
home over and over until he began to throb inside her. Her entire body shivered
around him and she groaned deep as he filled her, pulse after pulse.

When he finally collapsed back against the couch again and released her, she
was staring down at him. Still holding his eye, she slowly raised her hips
until she'd let him go; when he glanced down, he was an absolute mess. Even as
he watched, she hovered over his lap and let his cum drool out of her and
patter back down onto his sticky cock. She threw back her head and laughed,
sounding immensely pleased, which of course just made it come out faster.

"Hey - hey, Ann, you're gonna - " He put his hand between them, trying to catch
it before she could drip on his pants.

She made another deep, satisfied noise in her throat but got up off of him,
then turned to check on Akira. "Did you like the show?"

Mishima could see around her now. Akira had slouched even further down in his
chair and looked helpless, somehow; his eyes were heavy-lidded behind his
glasses and instead of looking at Ann's face, his eyes were trained on her
legs. Mishima tried to see what he was looking at and was able to catch a
glimpse of even more of his cum glazing both her thighs, trickling downward
toward her stockings. When he looked back at Akira, he had circled his cock
with his thumb and fingers and was slowly sliding his palm up and down his
length, avoiding the head. He was breathing hard now and didn't speak.

Ann turned back to Mishima and put a hand on his shoulder to steady herself,
then leaned close. "You mind if we... ?"

He shook his head, then stood and kissed her briefly, feeling shaky but
satisfied. Without putting words to it, all three began to undress properly;
Mishima cleaned himself up but when he offered tissues to Ann, she just shook
her head and shimmied out of her skirt. Her stockings were already sticky at
the tops and she left them on, otherwise naked. Mishima seated himself on the
bed, naked himself and forgotten.

Akira wrapped Ann in his arms, stooping down to kiss her for only a few seconds
before he scooped her up and dropped her unceremoniously back on the couch. She
immediately crouched on all fours; the couch was narrow enough that she could
only place one knee there, so she stretched out her other leg and planted her
foot on the floor. Akira did the same behind her and, too suddenly for Mishima
to follow, he was already thrusting into her, so roughly that Mishima found
himself wincing.Doesn't that hurt... ?

But Ann wasn't complaining. She arched her hips into him, her face pressed into
the seat of the couch, and cried out directly into the fabric. Mishima's angle
was good enough that he could watch Akira's cock pump in and out, coated with
secondhand cum as even more dripped down onto the couch below. Whoa. They're
really...

Mishima leaned back and propped himself up on the covers, trying to watch
everything at once. At first he felt embarrassed, like he shouldn't be watching
something so intimate; but it was too intriguing to see both Ann and Akira from
a fresh angle, as if he could learn something new that he wouldn't have known
otherwise. But as he watched Ann's fingernails dig into the fabric, as Akira
leaned down close to whisper something dirty in her ear, doubt wormed its way
into his thoughts.

Bet she doesn't look like that with me.

While Akira was propped up on his hands above Ann he suddenly brought his face
to her neck and bit her, hard.

Shit, Akira - !

Ann screamed into the couch, but not in pain. If anything, she angled her hips
up to him even more, trying to let him in even deeper as he pounded into her.

She LIKES that... ?

Mishima suddenly lost his taste for it. He rolled over and faced the wall, but
couldn't shut out their noises. Ann was loudest, breathless and shrill, but he
could still pick out Akira's voice below hers, ragged gasps tearing from his
throat between the occasional choked grunt as he thrusted.

Why am I even here.

He curled up into himself, feeling the familiar self-loathing creep back into
his belly.What do they need me for? I've just been holding them back the last
few months. I should just tell them it's over so they can -

The noises stopped.

A few seconds later, he felt a hand gently roll him over until he was staring
up at the ceiling. Akira's face, red but concerned, peered down at him; Ann was
a step behind him, trying to see around Akira.

As soon as Mishima's expression was revealed, Akira's was nothing but sympathy.
"Aw, hey. Hey, c'mere - " He lowered himself onto Mishima and embraced him with
his whole body. Mishima was too wrapped up in his thoughts to notice or care
that Akira was still hard and just let himself be hugged. Ann was busying
herself with something in the background, out of sight.

Akira kissed him, gently enough despite the state he was in, and let his head
drop back down over Mishima's shoulder. "Feeling left out?"

Mishima couldn't answer right away.

Akira tried again, softer. "D'you feel... like we don't want you here?"

He nodded at that, trying to get his thoughts in order enough to speak.

Akira just gripped him tighter, pressing him down. "Aw. Mishima." But he was
unable to elaborate, his mind still fuzzy from what he'd been doing a moment
before.

Mishima could just barely see Ann step closer beside the bed and watched her
place her hand on Akira's shoulder. He seemed to understand and levered himself
up off of Mishima.

She sat on the bed next to him, cleaned up and fully dressed again except for
her sticky stockings, and took his hand. When Akira had hugged him, his cock
had left a smear of their combined fluids on Mishima's belly, and she wiped it
off with a tissue before laying next to him and drawing the covers over the two
of them. She maneuvered them both until she had him wrapped in her arms,
forehead to forehead, and stared him down. "Hey."

He couldn't speak. He closed his eyes so he wouldn't have to see her looking at
him.

"I'm sorry." She was whispering.

Why be sorry? He stayed quiet.

"I think this was a bad idea after all."

He opened his eyes briefly, then shut them tight again, unwilling to see her
expression. "You guys should drop me. Go back to the way you were before."

He heard her sniffle and risked another glance. She was crying. "I don't want
that. And I don't think he wants that either. I want to be with you."

He couldn't stand it any longer; he curled against her and buried his face into
the front of her blouse so she couldn't look at him. "What do you need me for
when Akira's here?"

She let out a frustrated groan but tried to temper it by squeezing him tighter
against her. Her voice was forceful but jumped high and low. "Jesus, Mishima, I
like you. Not just what your, your dick can do for me." She knew he shied away
from vulgar talk but plowed ahead anyway. "If I just wanted that I'd go buy,
like, a fucking dildo or something. They make them bigger than you and bigger
than him, too, so don't get it into your head that it's some stupid contest."

Just as she'd predicted, her words made him flinch against her. "If it's not
about... that, then what is it?"

"There is no... 'it'. I'm attracted to you and I'm attracted to him. I like you
both. I like different things about you both. I don't like him more. And I
don't want to be with him if it means I can't be with you." She scrubbed at her
eyes, smearing her makeup. "Him and me made a mistake. This was supposed to
just be fun but we... we hurt you. That's not what we wanted."

He felt the bed settle above his head; Akira was seated out of sight at the top
of the bed. He reached over and started stroking Mishima's bare shoulders,
though he remained silent.

Mishima swallowed around the lump in his throat, trying to get his voice to
cooperate. "But you were so... "

"Just now, you mean?"

He nodded.

"I mean, yeah. That was really... fun. I'm not gonna pretend it wasn't. But I
wouldn't have done that with him if I had thought it would make you upset."

He stayed silent.

"Mishima, I jumped you first, remember?"

"Maybe you just wanted me as... a warmup."

"Mishima... When we came here tonight I was planning on having sex with both of
you. In some way, anyway. Would you be less upset if it had been Akira first,
then you?"

" ...I guess not."

"I told you before. You both treat me very differently. You're different
people. You're not interchangeable." Her voice softened. "You're not my second
choice. Remember?"

He nodded against her shirt, mute.

"You do a lot of things that Akira would never do. Can't do or won't do. He - "
The mattress shifted again as she looked up and exchanged a look with Akira,
still sitting on the corner of the bed above them. There was another minute
shift as he gave her a nod of permission, or perhaps one of understanding,
though Mishima couldn't see it. "He's rough. Sometimes I want that, sometimes I
don't. I liked it from him today, but I don't want that from you. You're
really... you're really gentle with me, and I like that about you."

Part of him tucked that away for later consideration - the idea that, when it
came to Akira, at least, he and Ann might have more in common than he'd
realized. He stayed still, listening.

She squeezed her arms around him again, then inserted her bare thigh between
his. "I like, um. Roughhousing with you, or whatever you call it. Teasing you.
You're cute when you're mad." She let out a shaky laugh above his head. "Can't
tease Akira at all. He can't take it. He's more sensitive than you'd think. And
if I tried, like, starting shit with him like I do with you, get him to chase
me or whatever, I think he'd accidentally flatten me. Big brute." Mishima heard
what might have been a low laugh from the corner of the bed above the two of
them.

She took a deep, watery breath, then sighed and tipped his head back with the
heel of her hand on his forehead, trying to see how he was taking it. Maybe his
face revealed that he had calmed down a little, because she continued, leaning
close again. "I really liked... watching you. Last time." He closed his eyes
again in embarrassment, but kept his face where she could see it. "It says a
lot that you would trust me to do that to you. With you. Your face was so... "
She didn't have the words so she just kissed him. "I've never done anything
like that with him. It made me feel... it made me feel really close to you."

He angled his face up to hers and kissed her back.

She kissed him slowly, without urgency. He could hear her even breathing and
Akira's as well, somewhere near his head. He took his time, kissing her back
thoroughly, and, eventually, something unclenched in his chest.

He finally spoke. "I'm sorry I wrecked things. I don't know why I was so
upset."

"You didn't. And it's probably normal to be... upset. We're kinda. Not doing
what most people do? I think?" She looked up towards the ceiling, considering.
"Or maybe it's one of those things that some people do and they just keep it to
themselves, so you don't hear about it."

Akira finally stirred above their heads and stretched out on his side at the
top of the bed until he could look Mishima in the eye, even if they were upside
down to each other. "Ann said it better than I could. But it's the same for
me." He took a handful of Mishima's hair and tugged it gently. "If I wanted to
be with Ann then I would just. Do that. We would just do that, if that's what
we wanted. But I want... you."

Mishima let his eyes close, but this time it was because of what Akira was
doing to his hair, not because he wanted to hide. "I think I get it now. I
just. Just felt really unnecessary. When I saw you two together."

Akira tugged harder in a different place until Mishima arched his back a
little, then relaxed. "We gave this a shot but Ann and I can just go back to,
like. Seeing you one on one. I mean, it was hot watching you guys together. But
you didn't feel the same way about seeing me and Ann. So it's not worth it." He
watched Mishima's ears redden as he played with his hair. "You guys hungry?"

As soon as he mentioned it, Mishima realized how desperately he wanted to put
some space between himself and Akira's bedroom, and nodded quickly. Akira must
have put his clothes on while Mishima had been speaking to Ann because he soon
found he was the only one still naked, so he sat up and got dressed. As soon as
he'd pulled his shirt down, Akira sidled up to him and slung an arm around him,
then leaned down to mumble against his neck. "Are we, um. Are we okay?"

Mishima turned to face him properly and smiled. "Only if you show me how to
make curry."
***** "Doesn't that hurt?" Payback time. A close friend. *****
Mishima realized the kitchen was far too small for him to help with dinner in
any real way, so he settled for sitting at the counter and peering past Akira,
trying to catch everything he was preparing to add into the curry and needling
him with questions. "Honey? Seriously?"

"If you're really interested, Sojiro would be happy to tell you all about it."

"Oh, uh. Maybe it's better if I fly under the radar around him. I've been
trying to, anyway."

"He's not scary. Really."

"You said that about a member of the yakuza earlier today, so. Not sure I
believe you."

Akira had to laugh at that. Then he turned from the stovetop to look at
Mishima. "Is Ann in the washroom?"

"Nope. Upstairs still."

Ann was already halfway down the stairs as he spoke. "Here I am, here I ammmm -
" she singsonged.

Akira frowned at her, then returned to chopping vegetables. "You'd better not
have been messing with my stuffed animals."

Ann rolled her eyes at the back of his head. "Your stuffed animals are so not
cute, Akira. No way I want those manky things."

He set the knife down on the cutting board, then knelt on the floor and
withdrew a first aid kit from the bottom shelf next to the stove. He set it
down on the counter where Ann had sat next to Mishima.

"Geeze, did you cut yourself?" Mishima asked him.

Akira opened his mouth to answer and Ann cut him off, leaning over to Mishima.
"Incoming Nerd Fact... " she muttered from behind her hand.

But Akira would not be deterred. He held up his index finger, trying to look
like a professor. His glasses helped. "'The mouth is the dirtiest part of the
human body.'"

"Uh. Did you cut your mouth, then... ?"

But Ann was rolling her eyes again and yanking the neck of her blouse wide so
Akira could disinfect where he'd bitten her earlier. "He does this first aid
routine every time, Mishima. I've learned not to argue."

Mishima caught a glimpse before she straightened her shirt. Akira had bitten
her where her neck met her shoulder. The mark was a dark, angry red; there were
two tiny pinpricks of blood where Akira's teeth had actually broken the skin.
Mishima leaned close and touched his knee to hers under the countertop.
"Doesn't that hurt?"

"I dunno. Does it hurt when Akira's rough with you?" She arched an eyebrow at
him and looked smug.

"No. Kind of? Not in a bad way." He bumped against her knee with his. "So he
told you about what I like, huh."

She held up her chin in her hand, elbow resting on the countertop while she
grinned at him. "Little bit. Told me somebody likes to be held down, for
example."

"Yeah, but that doesn't hurt. I thought you were asking me about... you know."

She took pity on him and didn't make him elaborate. "Yeah, it hurts. But it's
good at the same time. Just feels like a bruise now. Not bad at all."

He bumped her knee again, then did a double take when he saw her leg. "Are you
wearing - ?" He started to laugh. "Akira - "

Akira had had his back to them while he finished the curry, listening to their
conversation but not wanting to interrupt them. "What?"

"Akira, she really does - "

"Mishima!" She tried to interrupt him.

"Remember when I asked in the chat if she wore men's underwear?"

She put her face in her hands. "Mishimaaaa... "

Akira had guessed by now, but he came around the counter to confirm. Ann's
skirt pulled up enough when she sat down that an inch or two of dark grey
boxers showed below its hem. "Geeze, you could ask first before you just take
my clothes - "

Ann was uncharacteristically flustered by all the attention. "W-well, it's not
like I had a choice! It's really his fault." She squinted dramatically and gave
Mishima a death glare.

"Me?!"

"Yeah, you!" She lowered her voice. "I got dressed after, after we realized you
were upset. Put my panties back on and laid next to you in the bed." She
started to glare again. "But you and your excessive supply obliterated them.
It's been leaking out of me this whole time. Remember that t-shirt we used to
clean the couch with at my place? That's what my underwear looks like now."

While she spoke Mishima felt his face get warmer and warmer until he couldn't
look her in the eye anymore and just dropped his face down to his folded arms,
laughing harder. "It's not... It's not my fault if you don't, if you don't keep
it where I put it... "

Akira had been plating up their curry and rice and set it down in front of
them. "Yeah, Ann. Pretty rude to turn down... " Now his shoulders were shaking
too. "Turn down a gift... "

Ann was too miffed by their teasing to come up with a response, so she settled
for shoveling curry into her mouth in silence, her face stony.

Akira and Mishima exchanged a look - Oops - and Mishima swiped his palm across
her shoulders, as if to take back the teasing. Akira smiled at her. "It's fine.
Just give 'em back later. After you wash them."

"Akira. My parents are home now. If they notice... How am I going to explain
fucking, fucking jizzy men's underwear mixed in with my laundry?" She sounded
as though she was still fuming at them, but Mishima could see her expression
and knew better.

Akira had turned back to the stove and couldn't see her face, however. "Okay,
okay. Keep them then." He sounded genuinely apologetic. "Sorry, Ann."

"Ann, we'll add your underwear to the, uh. The list of casualties."

The corners of her mouth were twitching. "Yeah, how come it's never your stuff
that gets wrecked? 'Gift', my ass."

Akira had a better handle on her mood now. He settled in next to her with his
own plate of curry. "Oh, bullshit. You love it. You said he had a superpower,
remember?"

Mishima closed in on Ann, wearing an intense expression. "'With great power...
comes great responsibility.'"

She shoved him hard enough that he nearly slid out of his chair. But he got her
laughing.

Mishima was hungrier than he'd realized and they dug in, eating mostly in
silence. He took over the sink and washed up their dishes while Akira packed up
the leftover curry and Ann did her best to find and clean up everywhere she'd
dripped.

When they had the cafe sparkling again, Akira held up the whiskey bottle,
shielding it from view with his body in case anyone was walking by outside. He
tried to entice them. "Hmmmm?"

"Do we need it, now?" Ann looked from Akira to Mishima.

"Ann. Come on. When are all three of us going be together again, overnight,
with whiskey? We should try it while we've got it."

Mishima had to admit he felt a little curious. "If the owner thinks we're
drinking anyway... "

Akira was glad for the support. "Yeah, exactly! And we only ever had one beer
each at your house. Not enough to do anything for a strapping lad like me."

Ann snorted. "Yeah, yeah. I think you were less sober than you think." But she
was on board.
----------

Half an hour later, they lay sprawled in Akira's room with the lights off and a
DVD playing on the TV, though it was at a low volume and no one was paying it
much attention. Mishima was stretched out on the floor on top of his sleeping
bag, laying on his belly with his feet up in the air; Akira lay on his back
next to him but in the opposite direction, his head next to Mishima's, pillowed
with the comforter from his bed. Ann took the bed itself, stretched out like a
starfish and staring at the ceiling.

Akira lifted the mug he'd poured a little whiskey into, sloshing it. "Is this
stuff working for you guys?"

Mishima flipped onto his back. "Dunno. Maybe?"

Ann kicked her feet up and down on the mattress. "It better do something.
Tastes horrible."

Akira pointed out, "Well, we just ate. I bet we need more before it starts to
do anything." They obediently held out their mugs and he poured them each
another inch or two. "Don't sip it, just toss it back. Maybe it won't hit your
tongue that way."

They tried, but it was no use; the taste hit them all the same. Akira settled
for a grimace but Ann and Mishima both groaned in unison as soon as they'd
swallowed it, or more accurately, after they'd finished coughing.
"Bleghhhhhh... "

Mishima let his empty mug thump back down onto the sleeping bag. "Can whiskey
go bad?"

Akira laughed and prodded him in the shoulder with the bottle. "Nah. Don't
think so. It's supposed to taste like that."

Ann rolled her eyes and addressed Mishima. "He talks like he knows all about
it, huh?"

But Mishima hadn't heard her; he'd swiped Akira's glasses and looked at her
through them, blinking owlishly. "Whaddya think, Ann?"

"Geeze, those are ginormous on you - "

Mishima sat up straight, raised his index finger and flattened his other hand
to his chest. "'The mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell.'"

Ann shrieked and covered her face, laughing. "Nooo, you're too good at that, I
can't take it - "

Akira was less amused; he really couldn't take much teasing. "Hey, gimme
those."

Mishima did, then turned back to Ann. "Is whiskey supposed to make you hot?"

Ann shrugged, then nodded. "Alcohol can, yeah. I guess."

Without another word Mishima wriggled out of his t-shirt, balled it up and
flung it into the corner of the room, flopping back onto his sleeping bag with
a sigh of relief. His face and neck had gone an intense pink.

Akira and Ann stared at him, then at each other.

Akira sat up and set the bottle next to the bed, out of the way, then pulled
his own t-shirt over his head. "Gee, I sure am 'too hot' too." He peered up at
Ann, clearly expecting her to follow suit.

Ann just raised her finger to her lips and nodded in Mishima's direction. After
taking his shirt off he'd laid back down on his sleeping bag and closed his
eyes. Akira nodded back and gave her a thumbs up as if to thank her for the
idea.

Akira crawled over to Mishima, then propped himself up on one elbow, leaned
over and kissed him.

Mishima's eyes flew open but fell shut again as he leaned into the kiss. Ann
watched him angle up to Akira until his face was obscured, his head tipped back
and his throat exposed. Akira pressed against him and put a little more of his
weight on him, chest to chest.

As quietly as she could, Ann sat up against the wall for a better angle and
settled in to watch the show.

Although Mishima seemed to be feeling the alcohol the most strongly, Akira was
not unaffected; he had two spots of colour high on his cheekbones and his
technique was a little sloppier than it might otherwise have been. As Ann
watched, Mishima drifted one of his hands up to remove Akira's glasses again,
this time to stop them from digging into his face. Akira let him, looking slow
and sleepy, and used the brief pause to adjust his position. He propped himself
up above Mishima at a better angle and, pulling back to watch his reaction,
placed one knee between Mishima's. Mishima wore a lazy expression, his eyes
barely open but never leaving Akira's face.

Akira lowered himself again, kissing Mishima's neck this time, and pressed his
thigh against him. Mishima's mouth was free now and, just below the background
noise of the TV, Ann could make out a tiny gasp from him now and then. At the
sound, she felt a wave of heat uncurl deep within her. She actually had begun
to feel hot now, in the more literal sense, so she discarded first her blouse,
then her bra, trying to avoid attracting attention. She sat in her skirt and
Akira's boxers and watched Akira rub his thigh against Mishima's crotch more
insistently. Without taking her eyes off of them, she stroked her nipples,
trying to recall the way she'd felt on her first night with Mishima when he'd
played with them until she cried out.

Mishima had begun to lift his hips off of the floor to gain better friction
against Akira's thigh, at the same time stroking Akira's bare back with his
fingertips. Akira delayed just long enough to shoot Ann a smirk, one that said
something along the lines of You're welcome, and withdrew his thigh. He
immediately lowered himself the rest of the way and began to grind his hips to
Mishima's, both of them clearly hard. Ann shoved the waistband of her skirt and
boxers lower, biting her lip.

Mishima had become impatient. He met Akira's mouth with his and simultaneously
tried to undo Akira's zipper, though Akira had other ideas; he seemed to want
to give Ann a better show before changing direction. Before Mishima could make
any headway, Akira arched his back more dramatically and grinded down against
him again and again until he had no choice but to whip his head to the side and
moan outright, panting. His voice urged Ann on and she was fully naked now,
seated on top of Akira's boxers on the mattress. She was breathing faster too,
though she kept quiet as best she could.

Satisfied with the effect he had had on Ann, Akira finally took his weight off
of Mishima so that he could unzip and shove his uniform pants and boxers down
around his knees, then did the same for Mishima. Mishima just let himself be
undressed, jolting a little as Akira yanked on his clothing, but then he seemed
to change his mind and sat up. He placed his palm on Akira's chest and pressed
into his skin with the lightest pressure, until Akira understood what he wanted
and lay flat on his back. Mishima freed himself from the last of his clothing
and climbed onto Akira. Just before he began kissing him again, now fully
exposed in the blue light from the TV, he found Ann's eyes in the dark and
slowly winked.

He's known this whole time?!

The second Mishima turned away from her and began kissing Akira again, Ann
spread her thighs wide and began to slick her finger up and down, getting
herself good and wet.

Ann had the perfect view. As Mishima kissed him, Akira's hands skimmed down his
back, over his slim waist and hips and continued until he was openly groping
his ass, gripping and releasing, sinking his fingers into his flesh. Mishima
had to break off again, panting, and then started whispering into Akira's ear.
She watched him listen and then give Mishima what was clearly an incredulous
look before answering him. Mishima laughed quietly and whispered back. They
discussed something for a minute or more, Akira's hands still running up and
down Mishima's thighs, until he cut him off abruptly by reaching between them
and seizing his cock. Mishima wasn't prepared and cried out, loud, into the
quiet room. In the silence that followed, they both heard a tiny slk slk slk as
Ann fingered herself.

Her cover was blown, such as it was. All pretense was dropped and Akira and
Mishima raised their heads to peer back at her. They chorused, "Boys loooooove-
" and laughed raucously as she reflexively slammed her legs shut and covered
herself, then relaxed again.

She had to laugh too. She joined them on the floor, kneeling on Akira's
comforter, and leaned down to give Mishima, propped on his knees and elbows
over Akira, a quick kiss. "You guys are hot."

Mishima was still pink in the face but moved a little more steadily; he might
have been sobering up, though it was difficult to tell for sure. "As good as
that manga I bought you?" he teased.

"Way, way better." She didn't want to interrupt them but at the same time she
had a hard time keeping her hands to herself; she was seated by their heads so
she reached for what she could, which wound up being Mishima's hair. She leaned
closer and plunged both hands in and tugged until he rested his head against
her palms and let his mouth fall open a little, breathing harder.

Akira had tilted his head back, leering openly at what he could see as she
leaned her torso over his face. Then he laughed again and turned back to look
up at Mishima. "Hey, quit poking me."

Without realizing it, he'd started rocking his hips against Akira's stomach as
Ann played with his hair. He stopped immediately and buried his face into
Akira's shoulder. "Sorryyyy- "

No one told ME to stop, though. Anne just leaned over again and redoubled her
efforts, sinking down until she was kneeling on all fours over the two of them
and tugging on Mishima's hair even harder. He'd started outright panting, his
hips quivering in an effort to stay still, when she felt Akira take her nipple
into his mouth and start working at it with his tongue.

"O-oh... hey..." she gasped. But she didn't pull away, and he didn't stop.

Mishima stirred, trying to see what had happened, and that helped her pull
herself together. She returned to a sitting position next to them where Akira's
mouth couldn't reach her, and made herself stop touching Mishima. "Sorry, you
guys. If you want some privacy I can get dressed and hang out downstairs for a
while."

Mishima grinned and let his eyes rake over every part of Ann that he could see,
then glanced back over his shoulder to indicate his naked self. "Bit late for
privacy, isn't it?"

Ann was forced to address the real issue. "I guess I mean that if I'm here it
might be hard for, um. Me and Akira to stay hands-off."

There was a pregnant pause as both she and Mishima remembered his reaction to
seeing her and Akira together earlier.

But then he smiled. "Why don't we give it another try?"

Ann grimaced. "I don't know. Weren't you feeling... ?"

"That was dumb of me though. I guess I felt... " He took a deep breath, then
let it out and sank down to rest the side of his face on Akira's chest, looking
up at Ann. "Jealous, after all. Even though I thought I wouldn't, I did. But
you guys stopped right away. Made me feel better." He raised his head again and
whispered in Akira's ear, though Ann could still make it out. "Sorry if I gave
you blue - "

Akira just laughed and shook his head a little, then squeezed Mishima's ass
again, where he'd let his hands rest while Ann and Mishima talked. He seemed to
have decided to let them hash it out on their own and didn't speak.

Mishima addressed Ann again. "Him and me were just talking about it. I feel
better about the idea now, I guess."

Ann shifted and pulled up her legs, then hugged them and rested her chin on her
knees. "Think that's the alcohol." She winced. "I wouldn't really feel too good
about, like. Seeing how upset you were before, and then getting you drunk, and
then doing the exact thing that made you. Made you sad."

This seemed to be something that Akira hadn't thought of. Ann watched his eyes
widen and he broke his silence, peering up at Mishima. "Shit. Is this. Is this
going to be something you regret later? Sober?"

Mishima shook his head. "I don't think I'm drunk anymore. If I was all the way
drunk before."

But the mood had shifted, and Akira gave him a comparatively chaste kiss on the
corner of his mouth. "Still. Maybe it's a better idea to, like. Hang out for a
bit. See if it's really what you wanna do."

Mishima looked annoyed but got up off of Akira and sat down on the floor by his
side, hunting for his clothes.

Ann extended her leg across Akira and poked Mishima in the leg with her foot.
"Nooo, don't get dressed! Be naked with me."

Akira hugged her leg to his chest and smirked. "Thought we were gonna wait...
?"

"Yeah, but. Doesn't mean we have to have all our clothes on while we sober up."

Mishima and Akira were giving her matching mystified looks.

She stammered, "W-well, don't you ever just... feel like being naked? It's not
like you get to all the time." She turned to Mishima, "Since your parents are
always home, and," then, to Akira, "Since you don't even have a door."

Mishima looked smug. "You just wanna keep looking at us."

She stuck out her tongue but didn't deny it.

Akira finally sat up, cross-legged, and stretched out his arms until his joints
popped. "Well. I am still kinda overheated, I guess." He stood up, mostly soft
now, and scooped up Mishima's sleeping bag without asking. He combined it with
the comforter from his bed, his pillow, and some of their clothing, and made a
sort of nest on the floor in front of the TV. "There!" He sounded pleased with
himself. He laid down on his back in the exact middle and patted the spaces
next to him with both his hands. "C'mere."

Ann took his right side, laying her head on his shoulder, but Mishima hung
back. She tried to cajole him. "Come on! I can't look at you if Akira's in the
way, right?"

He finally gave in and took Akira's left side, laying on his side and slinging
his arm across Akira's chest.

When they were settled in, Akira laughed. "Ann was right. You guys really are
the same size. Look, you even look the same." Ann and Mishima had each chosen
the same position, laying on their sides and facing each other across his
chest; despite certain obvious differences, their size and shape were more
alike than unalike.

Mishima's breath hitched in his throat, and Ann could have sworn that she saw
him wince. What was that... ? But then he seemed to recover, and jabbed his
knee into Akira's thigh. "Gee, thanks. That's what every dude wants to hear."

Ann scoffed. "I think Akira just has a type." Then she craned her neck as best
she could to glare at Akira. "And I'm not sure that I like being told I look
like a boy, either."

He laughed without replying, and Ann guessed why. You just like being the
centre of attention. Akira shifted his shoulders and pressed his warm palms to
their backs for a moment, as if the position they were in still wasn't close
enough for him. He looked deeply content, and Ann decided to let his remark
pass without further comment.

She watched the images on the screen go by without really taking them in as an
easy silence fell; Akira's breathing became deep and slow, and she began to
feel sleepy herself as her breathing matched his. She actually had nearly
fallen asleep when a tiny movement caught her eye - Mishima's face was just a
few inches away, pressed to Akira's chest just as hers was, and he was smiling
at her.

Slowly and carefully to avoid waking Akira, she moved her hand a few more
inches to grasp two of Mishima's fingers, resting their linked hands on Akira's
belly. "Doing okay?" she whispered.

He moved his head just enough to nod.

"He can fall asleep at the drop of a hat, I swear."

Mishima smile widened. "You were falling asleep yourself. I saw it."

"Creeper."

He laughed quietly and gripped her fingers tighter, closing his eyes.

"Tired?"

He kept his voice low for Akira's sake. "Not exactly. Comfortable." He opened
his eyes again. "Guess you were right. It's kind of nice. Being naked with
someone else, but not. You know."

They didn't speak for a few moments, listening to Akira's breathing.

Ann broke the silence, whispering. "You really think you'd be okay with... ?"

"Trying again? Yeah. I want to."

"Even though we made you upset? When you saw us before?"

"I just. Freaked out. Maybe that's just, you know. My thing. The thing that I
do." Despite his self-deprecating words, he was smiling, relaxed.

"You did seem kind of freaked out at my house. But that's probably because we
didn't get to know each other that well first."

"Yeah, well. I got over it, and we tried again, and it went better. I basically
did the same thing with him." He glanced up towards Akira's sleeping face, then
back to hers. "But, I mean. I appreciate how you and him both... Take care of
me?" He scrunched up his face but couldn't take the words back. "Ugh. That
sounds so stupid. You know what I mean."

"What, you just mean, you appreciate that we care about you? Care about how
you're feeling?"

He nodded, relieved that she knew what he'd really meant. "Yeah, that."

She squeezed his fingers viciously for a second as if to punish him. "Jesus, of
course I care about how you're feeling. And he's rough, sometimes, but I know
he does too. We're not gonna just. Use you."

He smiled at her again, silent.

But talking about how he'd been feeling the first time he visited her house had
reminded her of something, and she frowned. "Think that whole beer thing was a
bad idea. I'm glad we're waiting a bit, this time. Sober's better."

He closed his eyes but nodded. "It made things easier. But I guess I know what
you mean. I don't want to wonder later if this is really what I want, or if it
was just the alcohol." He squeezed her fingers again. "Not that I really ever
know, but. Yeah."

"Oh, come on." Her voice became softer. "I don't see you running away every
time Akira tries to kiss you, now."

He snorted, his eyes still closed. "Well, okay. I know now that I like him. I
didn't really get it, before."

"And you sure didn't need the alcohol the last time you spent the night at my
place."

He opened his eyes again just to beam at her. "Sure didn't." Slowly, he stuck
out the tip of his tongue and licked his upper lip.

She barely managed to freeze her body and keep from curling up to laugh; she
could only clench her eyes shut and hiss at him furiously, her voice quivering.
"Mishimaaaa - " She settled for digging her nails into his fingers for just a
second.

He took his hand back, checking to make sure that Akira was asleep. But his
smirk stayed. "Okay, okay. Guess I've figured out that I like you too."

"There, see? You do know what you want. Mostly."

He looked sly for some reason. "Think we found out what you like today, too."

"What? Seeing you and him together? I've been saying all along that I wanted to
see that."

"Aw. Takes all the fun out of it if you're just going to admit you like it."

"How could I not, though." She felt her face heat up as she remembered it. "Um.
I thought you, uh. Liked it when he held you down, though."

Mishima closed his eyes but was able to say it, maybe just because he'd already
admitted to it earlier. "Yeah. I do."

"So... why'd you get on top of him, then? After you were... "

"To give you a better look, dummy."

She grinned. "Ah. But what were you two going to get up to if I hadn't
interrupted you?"

He kept his eyes closed and refused to answer. But he was smiling again.

He still thinks it's embarrassing, though. "Well. Sorry if it makes you feel
weird. Maybe me wanting to watch you, is... weird."

Suddenly his eyes flew open and his face lit up. "Oh, but you're not the only
one."

"What?"

"When we were on the couch and Akira was sitting behind us... wowwww. I, uh.
Think he really likes to hear you."

"What was he doing? I didn't get to see until the end."

Mishima was thrilled to tell her, as if he was enjoying passing on good news.
"He snuck upstairs at some point after you jumped me, right? So when I looked
at him he was slouched way down to see, um. Up your skirt, and his, his - "

"Cock- " she supplied helpfully.

" - yeah, like. He was soooo hard, Ann. And, like - " She couldn't help but
stifle a laugh as he rolled his eyes dramatically for emphasis. " - you could
see the outline of the whole thing, along his leg. When I looked over he knew I
was looking at him but he couldn't stop looking at, um. You. Us. Under your
skirt, I mean. Not even for a second."

Her face felt even hotter now, and even in the blue light from the TV, she
could tell his ears were getting red. "But you said he likes to hear me?
Doesn't sound like that's what he likes to me."

He didn't understand so he waited for her to explain.

"Sounds to me like. Like Akira was hard from watching me sit on your cock."

He stayed silent, just looking at her intently.

"I bet he liked seeing me ride you. Bet he had a really good view of you
filling me up with your, with your cum, until it started to... "

She loved the effect she could have on him. Mishima's lips were parted, his
eyes hooded, and as she watched, he shifted his legs, trying to get more
comfortable without waking Akira up. She had managed to have a similar effect
on herself as well, of course; she was wet now and breathing faster.

But suddenly his expression changed; his eyes went wide and he made a tiny
motion with his head, trying to get her to look downward.

Akira was still breathing slowly and evenly. He was also hard as a rock.

How long has he been awake?!

She gave Mishima a truly evil grin and made a very quiet "shhh" noise. "Too bad
he couldn't have been there when we had that shower last time. Fuck, that was
hot."

He understood what she was trying to do now. "A few months back, when I was
sitting a couple rows over from you in class and we hardly talked, I never
thought I'd be doing that with you."

She gave him an encouraging smile and waited for him to elaborate.

"Like. Remember when you got on the floor in the shower and I was able to
just... sit you on my legs and start right away... ?

He clearly still had a hard time with certain words, so she came to his rescue.
"When I was still super wet and relaxed from when you ate me out?"

He closed his eyes while he remembered it. "Yeah... you were so into it. It
felt like your. Your - "

She let him flounder this time.

He finally got the word out. " - your pussy was, like. Pulling me in. You were
so loud, too."

He opened his eyes just in time for them both to watch Akira's cock twitch.
There was a bead of precum forming at the tip of the head. They shared a
satisfied look.

She was merciless. "No wonder I was loud. You were just. Pounding me. Man. Your
cock felt so... " She lowered her voice. "And then when you came... " Now she
had to close her eyes. "Mmmf."

Mishima was in the middle of a sentence about what they'd been doing in the
shower when Akira finally began to take his revenge. She felt his shoulder
slowly shift beneath her head and, out of sight, his hand settled on her ass.
She gasped in surprise but Mishima seemed to think it was in response to what
he was saying, because he just smiled and continued. " - don't think I'll ever
get tired of seeing that."

Maybe this calls for a change in target. She immediately decided to change
sides, or maybe it was the game itself that changed; now that she knew Akira
was awake, and he knew she knew, she decided to torture Mishima instead. Maybe
she could get him flustered enough to 'wake up' Akira, or at least force him to
admit he was awake. She was trying to come up with a suitably dirty response to
what Mishima had just said when Akira let her know that he wanted to play a
different game entirely.

She had just gotten out, "Yeah. I like watching your - " when she felt Akira's
hand creep lower, his index finger brushing between her legs. "Unh - "

"My... ?" Mishima teased.

"Your, your face, when - " she stammered. Akira was making it very difficult
for her. His finger stroked her lips, spreading her wetness until he gently
slipped it inside. She exhaled, hard, against his chest. "When you're, um." It
was the best she could do.

Mishima was grinning at her again, watching her face get redder and redder.
"Geeze, Ann."

"Y-yeah, well - " She trailed off and swallowed a moan as Akira's finger began
slicking in and out of her, deeply but maddeningly slowly. "Nice. Nice
memories, right?"

"You must, uh, have a good imagination, huh?" She could tell he was watching
her with rapt attention.

She had to keep talking. "Yeah. I still like. Still like to think about what
you. What you do with... " Akira added another finger and, although she managed
to stay silent, she couldn't prevent her hips from stuttering forward. He was
still thrusting into her so slowly that she wanted to scream in frustration.
He's getting you back for saying you didn't like his fingering in the chat.
Look where THAT got you.

Mishima's eyes were trained on her mouth now, watching her pant against Akira's
skin. He fell quiet.

"Remember when you - when you - " was all she managed to get out before Akira
ended the game. His first two fingers worked at her, slowly, and she managed to
hold out, pressing her lips together to keep silent. But then he switched gears
and sped up, fingering her hard and fast, and it only took three more thrusts
before she was pressing her face into his chest and moaning, loud. "A-
ahhhhhhhnnngh... "

The room seemed very quiet after that. Akira gently removed his fingers and
went back to doing his best impression of a man in a coma.

The look on Mishima's face was absolutely infuriating. "'Remember when I
ahhhhnngh?' Sorry, I didn't quite catch that." He wasn't bothering to keep his
voice low anymore.

Ann went from lying on her side to looming over Mishima to yanking him off of
Akira's shoulder and onto his back in less than three seconds. Akira's eyes
flew open to catch only a wild flurry of limbs and he wisely decided to clear
the area. When Ann stopped moving it was only to seat herself on top of Mishima
and pummel his chest and shoulders with her fists.

"You little shit - "

He was laughing too hard to hear her. He managed to grab both of her wrists to
stop her, and then she saw him turn his head to the side to look at something
across the room.

Or someone. Ann was still struggling, trying to free herself so she could go
back to walloping Mishima, when she felt two large, warm hands cover her
breasts and begin to stroke her skin.

She tried to see behind her, in vain. "You! How long were you awake?!"

He crept closer, kneeling over Mishima's legs, and peered over her shoulder to
watch his own hands groping her breasts. His voice was low, right next to her
ear. "Long enough."

Mishima seemed to be taken aback by what was happening right in front of him -
right on top of him - and stayed quiet, still loosely holding Ann's wrists.

Akira began kissing her neck gently, the side he hadn't bitten earlier, and she
angled her head to let him. Without thinking, she tilted her hips back as he
kissed her. She wasn't too surprised when she felt him press his cock against
her and grab her breasts more firmly, running his fingers up and over her
nipples.

Shewas surprised when, the next time she shifted her hips against Akira, she
felt pressure against her, between her legs. She looked down and realized she'd
been brushing herself against Mishima's cock for some time, pressed flat
against his stomach. He'd just let her without moving a muscle, content to
watch Akira take his time with her.

She finally spoke, tensing her thighs to prepare to move. "Sorry, M- "

He just shook his head and tightened his fingers on her wrists to keep her
where she was, then relaxed his grip. If she wanted to get away, she could; but
she didn't.

Akira remained uncharacteristically gentle. He left one hand where it was to
stroke her nipple, and slowly trailed the other southward, tickling her skin.
She angled her hips back against him to get even closer, and was actually able
to make out the edges of the head of Mishima's cock as she pressed herself
against it. She grinned as she watched him squirm beneath her, trying to gain
more sensation but unwilling to interrupt what was going on above him.

Ann got an idea.

She pulled her right hand from Mishima's loose fingers and laid it over
Akira's, stopping its progress, then twisted her face to the side to whisper in
his ear as best she could. "Still got that lube?"

He gave her breast a final hard squeeze, hard enough for her to rock her hips
forward and give Mishima reason to gasp, then stood and turned to rummage in
one of the boxes on the shelf.

Mishima hadn't heard what she'd said and looked confused. "What's he... ?"

She let herself fall forward onto her elbows and knees, hovering over him and
smiling. "Are you still up for another try?"

He nodded slightly but his confused expression remained. Akira returned and sat
between Mishima's legs and behind Ann, out of sight. They all heard the bottle
being uncapped before Akira stopped and checked in with him. "This okay,
Mishima?"

His eyes went wide and he ran his hands up Ann's thighs, then down again out of
nervousness, but managed to gasp out, "Yes! ...yes."

She kissed him, then moved her mouth to his ear as Akira coated his fingers
with lube behind them. "I have a way to distract you. But it's more for me than
you."

He exhaled abruptly as he felt Akira's finger slide into him and answered her
with an effort, his words clipped short. "If it's. If it's what I think it is,
I think it'll work great." His fingers skimmed back up her thighs to her ass
and grabbed her, pulling her forward.

Akira added a second finger and thrust them into him, stretching him, and
Mishima threw his head back for a moment, eyebrows twitching. Ann took the
opportunity to settle on his chest and gave him a minute. When he was ready, he
gripped her ass again and drew her forward the last few inches to his mouth
until she was sitting on his face.

She was still wet from her conversation with him and from the attention Akira
had given her, and he was feeling the effects of what Akira was doing with his
fingers behind her, so he plunged his tongue into her forcefully and had her
moaning almost immediately. Akira hadn't let up; he was up to three fingers
now, then four, and kept brushing the spot within Mishima that made him turn
his face to the side and moan against Ann's thigh. He was overwhelmed with
sensation to the point that he was unable to focus on her, but she didn't mind;
the idea that she could have a front row seat and watch his face while Akira
pleasured him... The idea alone was making her even wetter. She had intended to
help get him ready by distracting him from any discomfort he might be feeling,
but she saw none in his face. She decided to take a rain check and settled back
a few inches, just enough that she could have a better view of him.

They both heard Akira open a condom wrapper, then uncap the bottle of lube
again.

She twined her fingers into his hair. "Ready?" she asked for Akira.

He sighed into her skin. "Yeah... " His voice was quiet, breathy, and she
raised her hand in a thumbs up in case Akira hadn't heard him.

Discomfort showed in his expression again as Akira slowly pressed into him. She
changed her plan of attack and scooted back on his chest until she was raised
on all fours above him, then kissed him deeply to distract him. He tasted like
whiskey and, to be honest, a little like her; but she kissed it away until he
turned his head to the side again, gasping. "Akira. You can, you can - " He
couldn't quite finish the thought, but it was enough.

Akira began to move. Ann heard him grunt quietly behind her as he held himself
back, thrusting slow and deep until Mishima was fully relaxed. Mishima's face
was captivating; Ann watched as all traces of discomfort vanished, his eyebrows
smoothing out and his mouth dropping open. But then Ann remembered what he had
said earlier, about how he liked to be held down. She was on all fours, raised
over him, but if she stayed there, she was just preventing Akira from giving
him what he really wanted. She'd still be able to watch from the bed, after
all. She sat up and began to swing her leg over him to give them some room when
Mishima put out a hand to stop her.

He opened his mouth to speak to her but Akira was still thrusting into him and
all that came out was a gasp. Ann stayed frozen, trying to figure out what he
wanted, but he couldn't seem to speak. He locked eyes with her and settled for
placing his hands on her shoulders and pushing her gently backwards.

"What? Mishima - "

Akira seemed to be on the same page, at least. He stopped moving and reached
forward to grab Ann by the hips, pulling her back until she was lined up with
Mishima, raised on her hands and knees over him once more. He stayed still to
give Mishima a chance to speak.

His eyebrows were drawn down again but he got the words out. "Ann. Want to?"

She got it now. She kissed him briefly and lowered herself the rest of the way.
Akira, always helpful, reached forward and grabbed Mishima's cock to better
line up with her. She sank down onto him until he was deep within her, wet as
she was. She stayed still, watching his face, until Akira began to move again.

She'd never had anything like it. It was difficult to achieve anything
resembling a rhythm; Akira's thrusts dictated where Mishima's cock would be,
and she couldn't see him to tell where he would be next. And she couldn't get
Mishima's cock as deep as she'd like, because if she buried him inside her all
the way, her ass would be in Akira's way. So she decided to just stay still and
let Mishima thrust up into her.

The drawbacks were more than made up for by the way she could watch Mishima's
face change with every thrust; she was close enough to make out every gasp and
half-swallowed moan he made as Akira picked up the pace behind her. She was
busy enjoying the way she could feel Mishima's cock twitch inside her as Akira
made a particularly deep thrust and was taken completely by surprise.

Akira paused and pulled out most of the way, just enough to lean down and give
Ann a nip on the ass.

She shrieked in Mishima's face and her hips shot forward, lifting her right off
of his cock. He looked startled and confused until Akira's face behind her must
have given something away, because they both started laughing at her.

Akira was still laughing when he grabbed her hips and lined her up for Mishima
again. But then he left his hands there and paused. "Hey. Lemme try something."

He maneuvered them both until he'd laid Mishima's hips on his knees, canted
upwards, and Ann immediately sank onto Mishima's cock a little deeper. Then
Akira grabbed her hips again and held her in place while he started thrusting
into Mishima.

Now when Akira thrust into Mishima, Mishima thrust into her, and she began
moaning in time. Akira sped up, his thrusts becoming short and choppy, and even
as she felt Mishima ram into her, she focused on his face. He was a thousand
miles away, completely overwhelmed with sensation; he couldn't keep his eyes
open but his hands drifted up to her forearms and caressed her skin.

Akira was slamming into Mishima now, and as a result Mishima rocked up into
her, fast and hard. Akira let himself fall forward and one of his hands found
her breasts; he was too far gone to be as gentle as he had been, but she didn't
mind. Instead of holding her hips in place with his hands, he leaned some of
his weight down onto her instead, keeping her in sync. She lost herself in
their sounds, Akira's harsh breathing behind her and Mishima's ragged moans
below. Mishima took her by surprise, this time - without warning he began to
come inside her, and she returned her attention to his face, watching his
expression change. But Akira couldn't see him as well and didn't realize in
time, and managed to push Ann forward, right off of Mishima's cock, with an
ill-timed thrust.

"Agh - !" Ann felt Mishima absolutely coat her ass and part of her thigh with
cum. Then she imagined what Akira must be seeing and started to laugh, feeling
filthy.

Akira was still thrusting, harder if anything, but Mishima was overstimulated.
"Sorry sorry stopstopstop- " he hissed.

Ann knelt beside him and Akira slowly withdrew, trying to be gentle. Mishima
was splayed out, breathing hard, with a little sweat in his hair. She kissed
his cheek while Akira cleaned up the three of them and threw out the condom.
"Doing okay?"

He nodded fervently, his eyes closed.

Akira returned and sat beside her. "Mishima, did I... ?" He sounded concerned.

"No, you didn't. I'm fine." He opened his eyes just long enough to look up at
their faces, then closed them again, trying to catch his breath. "That was
really... "

Ann laughed. "Definitely." Akira had propped himself up on one hand and had
begun to stroke her hip with the other, then moved down to her thigh.

Ah. Still need to take care of one thing. She laid her palm on Mishima's chest
as Akira started kissing her neck, gentle again. "Hey, Mishima - "

He knew what she was getting at and opened his eyes again. "Neither of you
ended up...?" He smiled. "Go for it."

She lowered her face to his again and kissed him on the mouth this time. "You
sure? We don't have to."

He closed his eyes again as if exhausted, still smiling. "Yeah. I want you to."
----------

Mishima lay flat on his back with his knees bent, still coming down, as Ann
stretched out on the comforter right next to him and Akira lowered himself on
top of her. He could tell they were both tired and maybe a little
overstimulated themselves; Akira moved slowly and only brushed at Ann's skin
with his fingertips, and Ann's breathing was deep and even as she stroked his
back.

She turned her head to the side to look him in the eye and see how he was
feeling. He gave her a smile and, this time, felt nothing but happy for them.
While Akira slicked his cock with saliva, he paused to run the fingertips of
his other hand over Mishima's thigh, close enough to brush against his side,
before turning back to Ann and sinking into her. Ann sighed and, as she wrapped
her legs around Akira's waist, found Mishima's hand in the dark and squeezed it
hard.

Mishima watched intently as Akira's hips worked, plunging into her deeply but,
this time, slowly instead of roughly. He could hear her cry out softly as
Akira's cock hit home each time, but now the urgency was gone, though she
sounded no less content. She opened her eyes and turned her head again to look
Mishima in the face, letting him watch her moan in time with Akira's thrusts
and twining her fingers with his.

He realized his heart was hammering and he felt his stomach slowly flip over
and over, as if he'd stepped from firm ground to empty air. But it had nothing
to do with arousal; he felt completely sated, and even watching his two best
friends moan and sigh next to him hadn't changed the fact that he was used up
for the time being. Then why... ? Akira lifted his face from Ann's shoulder and
met his eyes, still driving into her even as he tried to make an expression of
concern to check in with how Mishima was doing; the effect was muddled somewhat
by his sleepy, hooded eyes and panting.
Mishima gave him a nod and watched him drop his face back down, nuzzling Ann's
neck.

Mishima watched Akira insert a hand between the two of them to rub at Ann's
clit while he slowed down his thrusting, trying to make her come before he
finished, and finally realized what he must be feeling as he watched them. Oh,
fuck. No. Ann writhed around Akira's cock, moaning louder now and squeezing
Mishima's hand. She arched her back to meet Akira's fingers again and again
until she flopped back down against the floor, shivering against him and crying
out, almost keening, as she came. Akira immediately drove deep into her and
came soon after, his hips finally falling still as he sighed against her
throat.

I don't want this. I don't.

Dread clutched his heart as he watched Akira and Ann lie in an embrace, Akira
gently kissing her neck again as she ran her fingers up and down his shoulders,
his cock still buried deep inside her. The three of them had finally come to an
understanding, reached an arrangement in which nothing was off limits and no
one was jealous. In the space of a few months he'd gone from feeling so alone
that he'd wrapped himself in numbness just so he could get up every day and
function, to... this. To having not one but two friends who cared how he was
feeling, cared if he was happy. Two people that he could trust with his most
embarrassing secrets, who looked forward to seeing him, who shared their bodies
with him. Two people who - and he could still scarcely believe it - were
attracted to him, who squabbled goodnaturedly over which of them would get to
see him next - which of them would get to fuck him next.

Both Ann and Akira had made it clear that they were not interested in a
romantic relationship, had shied away from "boyfriend" and "girlfriend" over
and over.

And now he'd fallen in love.

It's just going to ruin everything. I'M going to ruin everything.

He sat up beside them and started to get dressed.

I'm such a fuckup.

----------

Ann and Akira were in good spirits as they turned the lights back on and
cleaned up. Mishima swallowed his feelings and faked laughter at some joke
Akira made as he rearranged his sleeping bag and prepared to sleep. But then he
heard a scraping noise at the window.

Morgana was scratching at the pane, asking to be let in. Fortunately Akira and
Ann had just finished getting dressed, though Mishima couldn't help but notice
Akira hurriedly stashing the string of condoms and bottle of lube back in a box
before opening the window. You know he's just a cat, right... ?

Ann waved at Morgana as he jumped down onto the bed, then the floor. "Hi,
Morgana. Did you get sick of Futaba?"

The cat laid his ears back and uttered a long string of yowls, just as if he
was replying.

Akira looked sympathetic. "Aw. That sucks. We'll have a talk with her." He
turned to Mishima, sitting up on his sleeping bag on the floor. "I'm not sure
you two have been properly introduced. Morgana, this is Mishima. He's our, um.
Close friend. Heh."

Yeah. 'Close friend.' Sounds about right.

Mishima faked a smile, though he had never felt less like smiling. "I know him.
He's always on your shoulder. Nice to meet you, Morgana." He quickly laid down
and rolled away from them, hoping his face hadn't given him away.

He listened to Ann and Akira keep up a one-sided conversation with Akira's cat,
then tuned them out as he curled up on his side. He felt like he was going to
be sick. Why now? Everything was just... easy. Tears had begun to roll down his
face. If I tell them how I feel, it's over. He tried to control his breathing
to keep from making a sound.

Ann and Akira finished getting ready and laid down, Ann on the couch and Akira
on the mattress to maintain their cover story in the off chance that Sojiro
came upstairs. Akira had stashed the whiskey and mugs under his bed; they both
seemed to think Mishima had already fallen asleep because they lowered their
voices to chat a little more before turning out the light.

In the dark, Mishima held his breath, then let it out in ragged, nearly silent
gasps, trying to avoid detection as he cried.

His eyes began to adjust, and he realized he could see two blue eyes shining in
the darkness a foot or so away from his face.

He hurriedly swiped the heel of his hand over his eyes, then felt foolish. He's
just a cat, dumbass. He sniffled quietly and tried to keep his voice down as he
whispered. "Hi, Morgana." He smiled wryly. "Guess you caught me. Your hearing
must be really good."

He listened carefully and only heard Ann and Akira's deep breathing; they must
have fallen asleep almost immediately. Morgana sat stock still, studying him in
the dark.

"Sorry to hog Akira all the time. Looks like you'll have him to yourself again
though, from now on." He curled up a little tighter, then watched in amazement
as Morgana daintily stepped onto his sleeping bag. He froze, waiting to see
what the cat would do.

Morgana curled up next to him, the curve of his back pressed to his chest
through the sleeping bag, and began to purr. Mishima risked stroking the top of
his head with his thumb and Morgana stopped purring, his ears laid back.
"Sorry," Mishima whispered. He kept his hands to himself and Morgana began to
purr again.

When Mishima woke up in the morning, Morgana was still there, fast asleep.
***** #blessed. Not looking for romance. "Why won't you talk to me?" *****
The morning after Mishima and Ann had spent the night in his room, Akira gave
the place another pass once they'd left, paying special attention to the couch
where Ann had dripped. He shoved the mostly full bottle of whisky into a box
for another time, then gathered the three mugs from under his bed and took them
downstairs.

Shit. Sojiro was already there, washing the dishes from the day's fresh batch
of curry.

Akira set the dirty mugs on the counter and prayed that any trace scent of
alcohol had faded away by now. "Morning. I can take over."

Sojiro just cocked an eyebrow, his usual sardonic grin in place. "Morning."

He could feel Sojiro's eyes on his back as he scrubbed at the dishes, but did
his best to ignore it.

If Sojiro knew, he didn't let on. He smoked in silence as Akira finished up the
dishes without taking his eyes off of the news.

Akira was already climbing the stairs when Sojiro called up to him, "Maybe you
should go back to sleep, kid. You look beat."

He might not have kept his face as expressionless as he'd hoped, because he
thought he heard Sojiro snort in amusement before he could make himself scarce.

Akira's face was still hot when he stretched out on his bed and opened the
group chat with Ann and Mishima.

AKIRA: You guys make it home yet?
ANN: yup. eating breakfast
AKIRA: Mishima?
ANN: I think he's got further to go than me
ANN: bet he's on the train still
AKIRA: Aw. Join in when you can, Mishima.
AKIRA: Have fun last night?
ANN: you know it bb
ANN: two cocks in one day? #blessed
AKIRA: Lmao
AKIRA: Have your BL needs been satisfied?
ANN: nope
ANN: now I'm just hungry for more
ANN: he looked so cute on top of you, fuck
AKIRA: How are you not exhausted after all that?!
AKIRA: Sojiro just told me that I look tired and that I should go back to sleep
today...
ANN: he knooooows -_-
ANN: and yeah, I'm kidding. p tired too
ANN: sore
AKIRA: Sorry, Ann.
ANN: nah, it's fine
AKIRA: Kinda wish we could all see each other more often. We wouldn't have to
cram so much into one night every time.
ANN: yeah. hang on a sec tho

He took the time to browse the Phan-Site for five minutes or so until Ann
returned.

ANN: ugggh. Ryuji's bugging me
AKIRA: Heh. What is it this time? I mean, if you can tell me.

He was trying to hint that if it were Thief-related, she'd have to tell him in
private, not in the group chat with Mishima, which of course she picked up on.

ANN: I told you we tried dating last year, right? before you moved here? I
think he wants to try that again
AKIRA: Interested?
ANN: it went sooooo bad Akira
ANN: and I don't think he's learned anything since then either. his idea of
romance now is to tell me my tits look hot in, uh, what I usually wear, and
then he offers to send me dick pics. like he's doing me a favour

Akira knew she meant that Ryuji had been checking her out in her red latex
catsuit the last time they'd met up for Thief work. He covered his eyes with
his forearm and groaned.

AKIRA: Wow.
AKIRA: Uh, at least he asked before just sending them?
ANN: that's what he did last year. so I stand corrected. guess he did learn
something since then
AKIRA: Well, I mean. That's what I do with you. So. I wouldn't say you're
really looking for romance anyway, right?
AKIRA: Ryuji's hot.
ANN: maybe I should tell him to send you his dick pics then
AKIRA: Aw, don't be too hard on him. Like, maybe he's guessed about the type of
arrangement you and me and Mishima have and he thought you might be up for a
new...
AKIRA: Partner? I guess?
ANN: I mean, he's not ugly
ANN: not my type
AKIRA: That's what you said about Mishima though.
AKIRA: Hey Mishima, you home yet?
AKIRA: Guess he's still on the train. Anyway, do you even have a type? Mishima
and me are pretty different.
ANN: you may have a point
ANN: sweaty bro types ain't my thing tho, pretty sure
ANN: you should throw him a bone if you think he's so hot
AKIRA: I, uh, did get a certain vibe from him when we were hanging out
sometimes.
AKIRA: You'd never know it from what he wears but Ryuji's got, like, actual
pecs.
ANN: meh
ANN: you boys are all I need
AKIRA: Bet you'd like to see me and Ryuji make out though.
ANN: well OF COURSE
AKIRA: Lol
ANN: but, let's be serious. are you looking for anyone else rn?
AKIRA: Nah.
AKIRA: I like what we've got.
ANN: me too
ANN: Akira, we're not being very nice. like, considerate
ANN: Mishima, we're just kidding about Ryuji, k?

Akira suddenly remembered how he and Ann had started having sex on the couch
the day before and how Mishima had taken it. He winced.

AKIRA: Yeah, if you read this later - we're not being serious right now.
Ryuji's just our friend.
AKIRA: Nothing to worry about. It's just going to be us three.
ANN: we had a nice time with you
ANN: hit us up later! I wanna chat with yooooou
AKIRA: Yeah me too. Got stuff to do though, so I'll check in later.

He put his phone away, hoping Mishima would understand.
----------

Mishima lay in bed at home, wrapped up tight in his covers in the dark, and
scrolled through Ann and Akira's messages in their group chat. They had been
worried about how he might take their comments about Ryuji, but it was Akira's
offhand remark about Ann not being interested in a romantic relationship that
kept dragging his eyes back to the screen.

She didn't correct him. She really doesn't want anything like that. He curled
up into a ball and let his phone fall to the covers. Why the hell do -I- want
that now?

His heart was in his throat. You just can't be happy, can you. Things were
going good with both of them so you just had to... fuck it all up, somehow.

Falling in love fits the bill, doesn't it.

Maybe they can tell how I feel and that's why they've already lined up a...
replacement. He let out a long, watery sigh and pictured Sakamato. They'd been
closer friends in middle school, and as he thought of him as he'd known him
before, he figured that they hadn't looked so different, back then. Sakamato
hadn't started dying his hair yet, of course, and they'd both enjoyed gym class
well enough, though neither had joined any clubs or really excelled in any
particular sport. But in the years in between, Sakamato had left him behind, in
a way. Now Sakamato was much taller than him. Broad shouldered, muscular, and
sure of himself. Ann hadn't seemed to be too interested in him for his own sake
but, then again, she'd said she'd like to watch him and Akira together, just as
she liked to watch Akira with Mishima.

Then there was what Akira had said about Sakamato.

He'd be happier with him than with me. There's no comparison. I should just
give them space.

He pulled his knees to his chest.

They don't like me like I like them.

He felt the familiar self-loathing creep back like an old friend. The same way
he'd felt day after day months ago, when he was on the volleyball team, before
he'd ever met the new transfer student and before he'd exchanged more than a
handful of words with Ann.

I'm too fucked up for them to want to keep me around anyway. Too fucked up for
him. Ann might have heard bits and pieces from Suzui, but Akira knows all about
it now. I practically laid it all out for him.

He knows what I wanted, back then.

He lay in the dark and let his mind chase itself in circles until dawn came.

----------

Mishima was absent the next day at school.

"Hey, Ann. Did he talk to you yesterday?" Akira asked from the desk behind her.

"Nope." She twisted in her seat to face him. "Weird. Usually he's pretty quick
to answer."

"Maybe he's in dutch with his parents and they took his phone away."

They both snapped their heads downwards when Morgana began to speak, hidden in
Akira's desk. "I'd have thought two Phantom Thieves would be more perceptive
than that."

Akira kept his eyes on Ann instead of Morgana, trying to avoid suspicion as he
answered a cat in a room full of students before the bell. "What do you mean?"

"Well, you're talking about that guy Mishima, right? Stayed overnight this
weekend?"

Ann rolled her eyes at him, knowing he couldn't see her. Morgana just loved to
draw things out. "And?"

"I don't know how neither of you noticed. When I came home that night he was
really upset." Morgana's voice softened a little. "I guess I don't care what
you guys get up to. I'm not an idiot. But he was crying like his heart got
stomped on, while you two chatted as if nothing had happened."

"He was - ?" Ann said a little too loudly, then leaned closer to lower her
voice. "I saw you sleeping next to him in the morning. I was surprised you'd
warmed up to him so quick."

Morgana took on a more typical acerbic tone. "Don't mistake me, Lady Ann. That
guy has done a lot for the Thieves with the Phan-site, plus all the work he
puts in to finding new targets for us in Mementos. But he's still not exactly
my favourite person in the world. For one thing, your room's always
disgustingly muggy after he stays the night, Akira. I don't even want to think
about what you guys do. I sleep on that bed too, you know!"

Akira snorted. There was nothing he could say to that in public when there was
a chance he could be overheard, and Morgana damn well knew it.

But Morgana's voice was almost gentle now. "Even so. I have a heart. I couldn't
just leave him alone like that." Despite his tone, his tail was lashing back
and forth, thumping against the inside of the desk. "I don't know what you two
did to make him that upset, but for the sake of the Phantom Thieves, we need
our admin back. I think you know what you have to do."

----------

The next morning, Mishima was back at his desk, but something seemed off. He
hadn't bothered to put anything in his hair to spike it up as he usually did,
and his shoulders were hunched up by his ears. It was Tuesday, but he still
hadn't answered a single message from either Ann or Akira since they'd seen him
early Sunday morning. Ann had even tried calling him the evening before, but he
hadn't picked up.

Now, Ann and Akira watched him from their desks, willing him to pick up his
phone. He kept it in his pocket and cradled his head in his arms, folded on top
of his desk. Kawakami was mid-lesson but he didn't even feign interest in what
she had to say.

ANN: is he sleeping???
AKIRA: That's really unusual for him.
ANN: look, people are staring...
AKIRA: I wish he'd just talk to us. I don't get what happened, you know? Why is
he upset?
ANN: yeah, like...
ANN: well, not to go into detail rn but the last time we were next to him on
Saturday he was, like, smiling at us right? he looked happy?
AKIRA: I thought he did too.
AKIRA: Shit. Maybe it really was an alcohol thing. Do you think he wasn't sober
after all? Like, maybe he does regret doing that now.
ANN: Kawakami looks pissed. better ttyl

They put their phones away and tried to avoid drawing attention. When the bell
rang for the morning break, they watched as Kawakami approached Mishima's desk
and laid a hand on his shoulder, then led him outside the classroom door. They
returned several minutes later; Mishima's face was red and Akira was finally
able to get a better look at him. He tried to shoot him what he hoped was a
sympathetic, 'let's talk' sort of look, but Mishima avoided him and sat down in
silence, staring at the top of his desk.

AKIRA: Did you see him?
ANN: no, I couldn't from here
AKIRA: He looks really... bad.
AKIRA: He looks like he hasn't slept since we saw him on the weekend.

His stomach sank. All at once, he realized what Mishima's face reminded him of.
When Kamoshida was still coaching the volleyball team, Mishima had come to
school every day with bruises and abrasions on his face, the old ones scarcely
having a chance to heal before new ones would appear. Although he wasn't
injured right now, the dark purple circles beneath his eyes and his defeated
posture brought him uncomfortably close to looking the way he had back in
April.

ANN: you said you talk to Kawakami sometimes, right? that weird maid thing she
does?

Akira yanked his attention back to the present.

AKIRA: Not weird. She just half-ass cleans my room and does my laundry.
ANN: uh, weird, Akira
ANN: anyway, do you think she'd tell you what he told her when they were
outside the class?
ANN: because I wonder if he's having problems at home
AKIRA: She shouldn't tell me stuff like that. But she might anyway.
ANN: well. maybe that's going too far. maybe he'll come around and talk to us
again if we give him some time
AKIRA: Yeah, I kinda agree.
AKIRA: I don't think he'd want us to do that.

Ann heaved a deep sigh, then turned in her seat just enough to meet Akira's
eye. They nodded, and tried to think of another way.

When the bell for lunch rang, Mishima just laid his head down on his desk again
and waited for afternoon classes to start.

----------

It was Wednesday. It had rained all night, and the downpour continued well into
the morning. Akira and Ann met up at the Shibuya station, still shaking out
their umbrellas; Akira squeezed water out of one of his blazer sleeve, soaking
wet where it had stuck out past the edges of his umbrella, then brushed the
droplets from Ann's shoulders.

When they sat down in class, Mishima was already seated. His uniform turtleneck
was soaked and practically translucent in places, and he'd come to school
without a jacket or umbrella; as they watched him, they realized he was
shivering.

Ann twisted to look back at Akira, her pigtails flying. She levered herself out
of her seat and would have marched right up to Mishima if Akira hadn't caught
her arm just in time. She glared at him, openly furious, but dropped back into
her seat and began tapping into her phone.

ANN: are you serious?
ANN: we have to talk to him
AKIRA: Come on. You know how he is.
AKIRA: I don't think it's a 'problem at home' thing. He's gotta be mad at us.
AKIRA: If you make a big scene and try to force him to talk to you in front of
everyone when he doesn't want to, he'll freeze up. You won't get anywhere that
way.
ANN: well
ANN: I guess he did look pretty pissed when I asked him to come out with me
after school that one time
ANN: you're better at that kind of thing, I guess. maybe you should try
AKIRA: Actually I think you might have more luck. He might be more mad at me,
if that's what this is about.
ANN: mad about... ?
AKIRA: We had a big fight the weekend before last, when it was just him and me.
But I thought everything was cool again, or I wouldn't have invited you both
over.
ANN: again, about... ?
AKIRA: He made me promise not to tell you.
ANN: ugh, seriously? it can't be about that or he'd be talking to me and not
you, not avoiding both of us
AKIRA: Well. Really, I have no idea. But I thought of something we can try.
Lemme message Makoto.
----------
When lunch had rolled around, Ann and Akira remained seated at their desks and
watched most of the students file out of the classroom, choosing to either eat
their lunch in the cafeteria or off school grounds. Ann waited patiently and,
when it became clear that Mishima was going to stay at his desk, no lunch in
sight for the second day in a row, she approached him and whispered urgently in
his ear. He shook his head and stayed where he was. She shrugged and used her
last resort - she wrapped both hands around his upper arms and hauled him to
his feet, then pulled him right out of the classroom. She winced as she heard
all conversation in the room cease, but there didn't seem to be any other
choice.

He just let her. She didn't take her hands off of him until they'd made it to
the roof and let the door close behind her. The sun had come out and dried up
the unused desks and tables that were stored there, so Mishima settled on top
of one. Ann stayed standing, placing herself between him and the door in case
he bolted.

She took a deep breath, trying to calm down. "Mishima. Why won't you talk to
me? Akira and me?"

He stared at his sneakers and wouldn't answer.

She'd assumed this was how it was going to be. She checked the door over her
shoulder; the coast was clear. She closed the distance between them and got
right in his face, planting her feet in front of the desk he was seated on and
making him spread his knees a little to accommodate her. She rested her thighs
on the edge of the desk and hugged him, hard. "What's going on with you?" she
whispered in his ear.

He inched back, but didn't try very hard to get away. She didn't let go, and he
finally laid his face against her shoulder. He let out a long, shuddering sigh
until her hair stirred, but still didn't answer.

Be patient. She just concentrated on hugging him for the time being. His
clothing had dried but his skin was still icy cold, so she put her warm hands
on everything she could reach; she laid her palms over his ears, then both of
his hands, finally pressing her hands to his cheeks until he ducked his head
away. She peered at his face but couldn't figure out his expression. "Did your
parents give you shit when you got home on Sunday?"

He shook his head.

"Are you mad at me? Tell me."

Another shake of his head.

She grimaced. "Is this about... what Akira and me were saying about Ryuji in
the chat?"

There was a slight pause, as if he was thinking, but then he just shook his
head again, his face still downcast.

She was all out of options, so she gave in to her impulses and kissed him,
simply pressing her lips to his for a long moment until he wrapped his arms
around her waist. Even his lips were cold.

When she drew back just enough to check his face, he only looked sadder. But
something she had said or done seemed to have broken his silence. He leaned his
forehead on her shoulder so he wouldn't have to look her in the eye and
whispered, "I can't see you anymore. It hurts."

"You - what? Why?"

He'd gone back to being silent, or mostly silent. She heard his breathing
change; he was breathing only shallowly now, in small harsh gasps.

She scanned the roof and the door once more. No one was watching, but she
lowered her voice to a whisper anyway. "Is this because... me and Akira? When
we had sex next to you on the floor, that second time?" She didn't give him a
chance to answer and hugged him roughly again. "I'm. I'm really sorry. We
shouldn't have."

His voice actually warmed up, if anything. "No. I was... happy for you? I mean,
it made me happy to see you both... happy." His arms were around her waist
again and he rubbed her back a little with his palms, through her hoodie and
blazer. "You both kept checking in with me and it almost felt like... it was
me. Like it was me making you make those noises, or me making him make those
faces." He buried his face into her hair and even gave her a brief, cold kiss
on her neck, more out of comfort than anything else. "I liked it."

What the... ? Is he feeling okay now... ? Ann hadn't the slightest clue what
was going through his head. But she didn't want him to shut down again, so she
went for a less direct approach and tried to just keep him talking. "Well.
Gotta admit I liked it too. Or like... remember when we were laying on him and
he was only pretending to be asleep?"

She managed to get a jagged little laugh out of him. "You thought you were
being so sneaky. He kept, like, actually opening his eyes to look at you. And
he was grinning at me. He was not being subtle at all."

"Aw, you boys ganged up on me!" Now she was laughing. "Could you tell what he
was doing?" She whispered in his ear. "With his fingers?"

She'd gone too far and overloaded him. They were at school, after all. He
nodded against her shoulder and didn't speak. She turned her head just enough
to see that his ears were red.

"Heh. Sorry," she murmured.

He fell silent again.

Her time alone with him was slipping away. The bell would ring soon. "Mishima.
Did something change?"

He pulled back this time, his eyes on his hands. "Yeah. Guess it did." He
swallowed with a click and was able to look her in the eye, for a few seconds
at least. "I can't do it anymore. This." He gripped both her hands in his.
"Will you tell him for me?"

Jesus. Talk about mixed signals. "But you can't even give me a reason - !" She
grasped at straws. "Did you find someone you, you know. Like-like?"

He didn't answer and kept his eyes on their linked hands.

She knew she had to fight for him. "My parents are gone again. Only for one or
two weeks, this time. Come to my house, okay? We can just talk. Nothing else."
He didn't look convinced. "Listen. Aren't we close enough that you owe me an
explanation? Aren't we friends by now?"

To her surprise he actually snorted. "I don't know what you'd call us. Friends
is as good a word as any, I guess."

She wasn't going to let him off. "Please come. I want to talk to you." She
pleaded with him. "If you have to leave me, us, if this is just... it, can't
you come by one more time to say goodbye, at least?"

Even that almost wasn't enough. She watched him waver and pulled him close
again, putting as much feeling as she could into holding him. "Please."

He nodded against her shoulder just before the bell rang.

----------

Akira thanked Makoto for giving him her permission for Ann and Mishima to meet
on the roof and promised it wouldn't become a regular thing. He was just
closing his chat session with her when he looked up to see the two of them
enter the room, a minute after the warning bell had rung. They went to their
separate seats without another word, both looking solemn, and he was bombarding
Ann with questions before she'd sat down.

AKIRA: Well?
AKIRA: Did he tell you what's wrong?
ANN: no
ANN: not really
ANN: but I got him to agree to come to my house this weekend. maybe he just
needs some time and privacy to talk about... whatever it is
AKIRA: That's a start. Knew you could do it.

He leaned forward in his desk and rubbed her shoulder. Both of them had long
since stopped caring who saw them exchange little signs of affection, and
Kawakami seemed to consider them something harmless and safely ignored, in the
same way she overlooked Morgana. Ann leaned back against his hand for a moment,
then continued typing.

ANN: I think I could feel his ribs. don't think he's been eating or sleeping
well
AKIRA: Shit.
AKIRA: Did he even talk to you at all?
ANN: I don't think he's mad? freaked out maybe
ANN: he said, 'I can't see you anymore. it hurts'
ANN: he told me to tell you too so I assume that goes for both of us
AKIRA: What the hell happened with him?
AKIRA: Did his parents find out he's been with us? Me? Maybe they don't approve
and they grounded him or something.
ANN: no, he said it didn't have to do with his parents
ANN: think we just gotta wait until this weekend to find out. he went totally
quiet
ANN: he's really upset, Akira
AKIRA: I trust you. You'll make him feel better.
AKIRA: Can you make him something good to eat? Not instant ramen?
ANN: sure. yeah, he doesn't have a lot of weight to lose. he's not taking care
of himself rn

The final bell rang and they put their phones away.
***** Ann listens. *****
Chapter Summary
     TW for abuse and sexual abuse. Please proceed with caution.
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
In the days between Wednesday and Sunday, the only messages Mishima answered
were the ones Ann sent to confirm, and re-confirm, that he was coming by on the
weekend. He ignored all of her other attempts to chat with him, and everything
Akira sent him. Akira tried to bring him curry to eat at lunch, but he refused
to even acknowledge him. Ann and Akira went back and forth about it but finally
decided to give him a little space and limited their attempts to talk to him.

On Sunday afternoon he stood on her doorstep, just as he'd agreed. Ann opened
the door and simply held it open for him instead of yanking him inside. If her
neighbours saw her having a boy over, they could talk all they wanted. She
didn't care anymore. She let him come inside at his own pace.

He'd paid some attention to his hair but he looked pale and more tired than
ever; the dark circles were still under his eyes. When he stepped closer she
noticed his eyes were red, and he'd shown up without a jacket again, dressed
only in a short sleeved t-shirt. The second the door shut behind him, she
pulled him close and ran her warm hands up and down his arms. "Hi, Mishima."

He moved an inch or two closer to her and just let her warm him up. He didn't
speak.

She led him to the kitchen table, where she'd laid out a few thousand yen worth
of convenience store food. She sorted through it, trying to encourage him to
eat. "I didn't know what you'd like, so I bought some of everything."

But he kept his face down and barely ate a thing.

Be patient, Ann told herself again. "Do you want to just... hang out? Watch a
movie?"

He finally lifted his head and looked her in the face. She tried not to flinch.
He almost looked as if he were grieving; his eyes were hollow. "I have some
stuff to tell you about me. Your friend Suzui, too. But I don't know if you'll
want to hear it."

"I do. I do want to hear it." Her heart was thudding hard. What... ? What else
could have happened that I don't already know? This is a Kamoshida thing,
right?

Without asking he got up and made his way to her bedroom, trusting her to
follow. When she got there he was seated on her bed. "Is this okay? Your room's
less... open, I guess."

"Yeah, go for it." She dropped onto the mattress next to him, giving him some
space. She still couldn't decipher his behaviour; he said he'd wanted things to
end between the two of them, but he'd hugged her in return on the roof and he'd
even kissed her neck. Now that he was back at her house, and especially after
what he'd just told her, she didn't know how to treat him. So she sat a foot
away and tried not to look at him too much for his sake.

His ears were already red, his face tipped away to look at nothing. "I don't
know how to start, though."

Whatever. Just try it. She laid on her side and inched back toward the wall,
then patted the space in front of her.

He didn't need much convincing. He stretched out on the bed in front of her,
facing away, and when she hesitantly wrapped her arms around him, he sank into
her with a grateful sigh.

He's really not acting as though he wants to break things off.

Mishima was still cold to the touch, and after a bit more rearranging, she drew
the covers over both of them, still fully dressed. She puffed her breath
against the back of his neck until he felt a little warmer there, then pressed
her face against him.

She gave him a long moment to gather his thoughts, but he didn't seem to be
able to start on his own. "Been having trouble sleeping lately?" she murmured
against his neck.

He nodded.

"What's, um. What's keeping you awake?"

He wriggled back against her as if he still wasn't close enough. "You know.
Just." He paused, trying to get the words out. "I just keep thinking about how
good I am at fucking things up."

"What? You didn't fuck anything up. Why would you think that?"

He didn't answer.

Ann remembered what he'd said he needed to talk to her about and tried a new
tactic. "You know, I still talk to Shiho almost every single day."

His shoulders stiffened against her immediately. "Is she, um. How's she doing?"

"She's doing good. Way, way better. She told me she's not unsteady on her feet
anymore. Her legs are a lot stronger."

He stayed silent, then sighed. "That's good, but. I guess that's not really
what I meant."

Ann lowered her voice. "I think she wouldn't mind if I told you. She sees a
therapist once a week. I think she's getting better in that way too. You know."

She listened behind him as his breathing became ragged, and then she heard him
make a tiny noise deep in his throat. She hugged him tight again as he tried
not to cry. "I tried but I couldn't. I couldn't stop it. I couldn't save her,
Ann."

She kept him close and just listened.

----------

Mishima was still for a long moment, pulling himself together, then cleared his
throat and began. "So, like. I think I was a little bit in love with Suzui - I
mean, Shiho, back then. When we were on the volleyball team. Or I guess it was
a crush. I didn't know it back then, but I think that's what it was."

His voice became much quieter. As close as he and Ann were now, he was still
embarrassed to tell her. "It's dumb. She was just... nice to me. You know. I
don't think she liked me back or anything. Even back then, I don't think I
thought that she did. But she was nice to me when she didn't have to be, and
that was enough."

Ann pulled up her thighs and pressed them against the backs of his legs. "How
was she nice to you?"

"She put makeup on me."

She managed not to laugh. It was close though. It just wasn't what she'd been
expecting him to say. "Did you ask her to... ?"

"No, she offered. It was back when we'd both just joined the team and we
weren't used to, you know. Getting marked up by him. So I had this big red
bruise on my, like, cheekbone - " He was gesturing at his face with both hands,
even though Ann couldn't see him. " - and she had a big mark on her jaw. I was
freaking out, because I didn't want my parents to find out. Back then I thought
that they'd care, I guess. She waited until everyone from both the girls' and
guys' teams went home, and Ka- " He broke off and she rubbed his arm, trying to
let him know that he didn't have to say it. " - and he went back to his office.
So Shiho took me into the girls' locker room and she put that stuff on me to
cover up the bruise."

"Concealer?"

"Yeah, that. I helped her cover up the mark on her jaw, too." He sighed. "I
tried to help her back after that. It was nice. It was like I didn't have to
tell her about how things were going with me. She already knew, because it was
the same for her. There was one time where she got blood all over her uniform
shirt, because her nose started bleeding again after she'd already changed out
of her practice gear. I had a spare shirt in my locker and I let her borrow it.
Stuff like that." He startled her by laughing a little. "Looked funny on her
though. Same size, or close, but I guess the girls' and guys' shirts are a
different cut. But then she had something to wear home, at least."

"I'm glad you were there to help her. I didn't... I didn't know about any of
this stuff until later." She muttered darkly. "I wish I had. I wish I could've,
could've shot that fucker. I'd have, I'd... "

She could hear a smile in his voice. "She used to talk about you."

"Oh yeah? What did she say?"

"Just... you know, she'd say she was going to go shopping with you, or
whatever. I think you gave her something to look forward to, after practice."
The smile left his voice. "Well. Until things got worse. You know how things
wound up." She heard him swallow. "I don't know if you want to hear the rest."

"If you can tell me, then I can listen."

He seemed to have lost momentum and just stared ahead, thinking.

"So, um. You told me that you tried to stop it. That you couldn't... save her."
She pressed her face back to his neck, an inch or two in front of her face.
"What happened?"

He sighed. His voice sounded like he might be crying again, or trying not to.
"I gotta tell you how he was treating the girls, I guess. So, like... he was
doing this thing where he... signalled, or whatever, to everyone on both teams
who he was interested in. It wasn't always Shiho. There were at least two girls
before her. I don't know if they got what she got, but. Anyway. So everybody on
the guys' team, he'd call them by their last name. Like you'd expect. Same with
the girls' team. Until he decided who he had his eye on next. Then that girl
would get, like, singled out. He'd start just using her first name suddenly. So
everyone knew."

"What did he do to them?" she whispered.

"I think he was trying to cover his tracks at first. So he'd call guys or girls
into his office, and they'd be 'disciplined.' And it stayed there, at first.
But then he got brave, or careless, I guess. He started making these comments
to girls out in the gym, in front of everyone on both teams. They weren't
really all that, like, suggestive, on their own. He'd ask one of the girls what
her weekend plans were and he'd say something like, 'A pretty girl like you
must have a boyfriend' or whatever. But I guess he'd say more to her in
private."

He paused, thinking again, and she let him take his time.

"He used to come into the guys' locker room while we were showering so he could
keep, like, coaching us or whatever. Tell us the stuff we needed to work on. I
don't think he'd go into the girls' locker room, at least. Maybe even he knew
that'd be too obvious."

She had some idea of where this might be going, though she hoped she was wrong.
"Do you think he was... into guys? Too?"

He didn't know how to answer her. She raised her hand from his waist and
started stroking his hair.

"I really don't... know." He exhaled heavily. "I don't know how to say it. He
saw me showering in the locker room and I started getting the first name
treatment." He drew up his knees. "Called me Yuki. Called me pretty in front of
the whole locker room. Asked me if I had a boyfriend, to make all the other
guys on the team laugh. Shit like that. I thought it was just his way of being
shitty to me, you know? But then he actually did start to... look at me. The
way he did the girls. It was weird. I thought I was imagining it at first.
Like, I still got hit when I fucked up in practice, same as the other guys did.
The ones who weren't his favourites, anyway."

"Jesus, Mishima."

He shrugged and continued on. He seemed to want to get it over with now; his
words came out faster and faster. "Right around the same time Shiho first
started getting singled out was when I was too. He cornered me one day after
practice and told me to come to his office after I'd changed. I couldn't say
no, you know? He told me to close the door behind me and he just. Checked me
out. Told me he'd show me what'd happen if I kept coming on to him." He paused
again. "I really wasn't though. I never did. I never talked to him if I didn't
have to, and I never - "

"I know that. I know you weren't. He just said that because - " She'd almost
said, 'because that's what his Shadow believed.' " - because that's how he
justified it to himself. What he did," she finished awkwardly.

"Yeah. You might be right. I didn't want it at that point, at least, so I don't
see how I could've come on to him."

She must have heard him wrong. "W-what?"

He swiped at his eyes with the heel of his palm and didn't answer.

"Mishima... what did he do?" she whispered.

He sniffled a little. "At practice the next day I saw him kick Shiho's leg out
from under her. She had to wear a brace after that. And he kept calling her
into his office more and more until it was happening almost every day. I tried
to talk to her when I could, see how she was doing, but it was like... it was
like she was getting farther and farther away."

He seemed to be waiting for a response from her but she couldn't come up with
one, so he continued. "I had to help her. I had to," he muttered fiercely.
"But. I was so stupid. I just wanted to play hero. Save the day. It didn't
work."

He gathered his thoughts again.

"I guess I thought that if I fucked up on purpose, he'd be satisfied with that,
with taking it out on me, and take some of the heat off of Shiho. It wasn't a
very good plan, because... like, what was stopping him from doing anything he
wanted to both of us? To anyone on either team, if he felt like it? But it was
the best I could come up with. So I dropped stuff on the floor, and pretended
to collapse in the middle of drills so he'd assign me more. Came to practice
still wearing my uniform instead of my practice gear. Took a really long time
when it was my turn to put equipment away after practice. Stuff like that."

"What did he do?" she repeated.

"I got called into his office again." She heard him swallow again. "He really,
uh. Really made sure I got the picture that time."

Did he... ? She held her breath and waited for him to go on.

"I thought he'd backhand me again or something. Kick me down. But he. He picked
me up by my throat." He was talking with his hands again, gesturing at himself.
"I still sort of expected that. Some of the other guys would have marks on
their necks sometimes. He slammed me against the wall and then he. He put
his... " He trailed off.

"You don't... you don't have to." She closed her eyes and felt sick for him.

"I do. I do have to." It was absurd, but he suddenly seemed to be more worried
about her, twisting against her a little to try to see her face over his
shoulder. "I mean, I can stop if you need me to. Don't worry. He never did...
that."

He was already halfway there so she took him by the shoulders and rolled him
over to face her, then crushed him to her chest, tears starting to run down her
face. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry he... "

He took a long moment to just breathe against her, then raised his arm and
hooked it around her waist. "He, um. He had me up against the wall with his
hand on my throat and he put his leg between mine. To hold me up, I guess." His
voice was muffled; he'd hidden his face against her. "Kept calling me pretty.
Said I looked just like a girl. Said he could just... close his eyes and he
wouldn't be able to tell the difference. He sort of... grabbed me, then grabbed
himself. Grabbed my... ass, then my... " She nodded quickly so he'd know she
understood. "But that was it. He stopped himself, or changed his mind. Told me
that was my final warning, and to go home."

She pulled him even closer. "I didn't know."

He nodded against her chest. "There's more, though."

"But you said - "

"After that I... I don't know. I felt like I was going crazy. I couldn't stop
thinking about it. I did all those things to fuck up on purpose, and then he
called me to his office and did... that, but it wasn't enough. Shiho was still
getting singled out. He was getting worse. I saw him actually... grab her, out
in the gym where anyone could have seen him. He thought no one was looking,
but... " He buried his face even further. She could tell he was mortified, but
he made himself continue. "I didn't think about anything else. Every spare
minute I had, I pictured him and me in his office."

"You were remembering... what he did to you?"

He slowly shook his head.

"Then what... ?"

His voice was hard to hear. "I think I was going crazy." He was practically
panting, or maybe hyperventilating. "At first it was like. Like when you think
about something you're dreading. You think of it so you can sort of plan how to
get through it. I started keeping a full change of clothes in my locker for if.
For if it was messy. I tried to think of new ways I could fuck up and make him
notice. It was the only thing I could do."

His voice climbed higher and she balled her fists in his t-shirt.

"If I thought of it enough, it'd happen. I could make it happen, if I wanted it
enough. If I tried hard enough, I could save her. It didn't matter what
happened to me. She was so... she was nice to me. She needed my help." His
words tumbled out of him. "I thought of it day and night. If it happened, it
would actually, actually be a relief, because then I wouldn't have to think of
it anymore. It wouldn't be my fault. I could see him choking me, and then he'd,
he'd, he'd fuck me, Ann, and it could be me instead of her, I actually wanted
it to happen - "

He was sobbing against her, his face still hidden, and she yanked him up to her
until she was certain he could breathe. He clutched at her and lost his words.
She just held him.
----------

The sun was setting, throwing long orange stripes across her room from where it
shone through her blinds. From over his shoulder she watched them march across
the floor, until the sun set behind a building and the light went from
brilliant and warm to cool and grey, fading by the minute.

Ann continued stroking his shoulders through his t-shirt, the way she had been
ever since he'd fallen silent. She knew Mishima hadn't fallen asleep because
she could hear him sniff quietly every so often. The front of her t-shirt was
soaked through.

Be patient, she told herself again.

He finally stirred. He raised his face but covered it with both hands. "Ugh.
Sorry. Can you pass me some... ?"

She snagged him a handful of tissues and looked away while he blew his nose,
then tossed them away for him into her garbage can next to her bed. He lay back
down but let her look at him.

He looked considerably better, actually. The panicked look had left him and he
could look her in the eye when he spoke. "Sorry, Ann."

"Why are you sorry?"

"If, um. If my plan had worked, then... " He apologized with his expression for
having to remind her again of what had happened. "Well, Shiho wouldn't have.
You know."

Even as her heart ached for him, another part of her seethed at Kamoshida, at
the whole shitty system that had allowed this to happen to first one of her
friends, then another, and that came out in her voice. "Don't you fucking
apologize. You didn't do a single thing wrong. You didn't... you didn't fail."
She balled her fists in his t-shirt again. "I wish I'd known you back then. I
could've - We were classmates. I could've been there for you."

He was smiling up at her, somehow. "You were! You saved me." He closed his eyes
again. "You and Akira and the rest of the Phantom Thieves."

Uh oh. "What makes you think... ?"

"I know you can't tell me. It's alright." He tightened his arm around her
waist. "Like superhero rules, right? 'Ann Takamaki' is your secret identity?"

After the last hour or two she'd spent with him, she was completely unequipped
to deflect him the way she knew she should have. Her mind went utterly blank as
the seconds spun out.

He actually gave her a short little laugh, and she realized he felt better.
Maybe it was being able to change the subject that did it. "It's okay. You
don't have to answer."

She ruffled his hair, first one way, then the other. "Think you could eat
something?" she murmured. Changing the subject sounds pretty good right about
now.

"Maybe?" He pulled away from her to get out of bed, then saw her t-shirt. "Oh
nooo... " He wrinkled his nose and then put his hand across her eyes, making
her jump, but not before she saw the way his face was going red. "Geeze. Don't
look. I wrecked your shirt."

"Enh." She shrugged and pulled his hand away from her face. She tried to cheer
him up. "Mishima, at this point, what's one more bodily fluid between friends,
right?" But something about what she'd said didn't seem to have the desired
effect; he looked away instead of laughing like he usually did when she was
vulgar with him.

She stripped out of her t-shirt without ceremony and grabbed another from her
drawer. "Come on. There's gotta be something you like. I practically bought out
the store."
----------

At first she sat him down at the kitchen table, where she'd spread out the
convenience store food. But the overhead light was bright and he seemed to
shrink into himself beneath it, hunching his shoulders up to his ears again. So
she went back to her room and whipped the covers from her bed, then dragged the
blanket out into the living room, where the lights were off.

"Bring the food over here, okay?"

Mishima shrugged and swept it all back into the plastic bags, then hauled it to
the living room. "What are you - ?"

She sat on the couch with her knees drawn up, then yanked the blanket over top
until it had formed a sort of cave. She patted the space on the couch next to
her. "Step into my Shame Closet."

"Ann, what... ?" But she'd succeeded. He was laughing a little.

He joined her under the covers and they munched on junk food while they channel
surfed. She shared her strawberry and whipped cream sandwich with him and he
tried to pick the weirdest flavour combinations for her to try from the
assortment of candy and snacks she'd purchased. They'd come to the conclusion
that melon gummies mixed with cheese puffs followed by a sip of lemon soda was
the worst they could come up with when she realized that he was still avoiding
eating much of substance.

She wrapped her arm around him, using the chance to play her fingers up and
down his ribs. His t-shirt was thin and she was certain she could feel them
more than before. "Have you been sick recently?"

"Nope. Why?"

She felt weirdly like his mother but she didn't know of a better way to broach
the subject. "You're too skinny. You gotta eat more." She winced immediately.
Yeah, good idea, make him feel shitty about how he looks. Today of all days.
"Sorry. That came out wrong. You're not too skinny. I just mean you should take
better care of yourself."

He was looking away again. "Yeah. Probably." He wrapped up the sandwich he'd
been holding and not eating. "I haven't had much appetite for the last few
days, I guess."

Is there more to it? She kept her eyes straight ahead and draped her arm over
his shoulder, leaving his ribs alone. "Wanna tell me why?"

Even though he'd bared everything to her less than an hour before, he couldn't
seem to start again now. He frowned down at his hands, eyebrows drawn together,
until he looked at her again. "Do you think your caretaker would miss one or
two of her beers?"

----------

Ann cleared up their food wrappers and stashed the leftovers in the fridge,
then brought Mishima an extra tall silver can. He didn't touch it until she
opened one for herself, then began to drink. She sipped at hers, not really
wanting it, but he took long swallows of his until he'd made good progress. He
didn't slow down as she stared at him. "Thought you didn't like beer?"

He grimaced. "Akira's whiskey would make this easier."

"Aw, honey." She slung her arm around his neck and sighed.

She could tell he was staring at her. "Uh, 'honey?'"

Ann blushed, surprised at herself, then had to laugh. "Sorry. Don't know where
that came from."

But he was smiling again, a little. "You and Akira don't really do, like. Pet
names." He took another slug of his beer. "Actually. I think you called me
'honey' in our chat, once."

"Sorry."

He rested the side of his head on his knees, twisting his face to look up at
her. Maybe it was just the alcohol, but he didn't seem to mind meeting her eyes
for the time being. "Heh. Didn't say I didn't like it." He held her hand under
the blanket with the hand that wasn't holding his beer.

She was completely mystified.I thought you came here to break it off... ? She
sipped at her beer and settled for watching his face lose its sharp, harried
expression; his forehead smoothed out and his eyes fell half-closed. If anybody
needed a drink, it was him.

He finished it off and set the can on the coffee table, then leaned against
her. His face was flushed and he let his head sag to the side until she held
him up with hers. "I can't keep putting this off," he blurted out.

She waited.

"I know how you and Akira want it to be. You never hid it or lied about it.
Either of you." Mishima's voice was unsteady. "You did so much for me. You
saved me. So I have to do the right thing, you know? Gotta. Gotta man up. I
feel like I'm... dying, or something. But I can't just drag it out every day."

She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant but he continued on. "I can't
sleep. And I... I guess I don't know how I'm going to make it without, um.
Without you and him. I'll just have to. It hurts too much to just... to just
pretend everything's the same, you know?"

"Mishima - "

He squeezed her fingers tight, and then let go. "I have to let you and him... I
have to break it off. I can't be around you anymore."

"But why - "

He buried his face in his arms, folded on top of his knees, and groaned. "This
is so - I'm in love with you, okay?"

Ann had no answer.

"You and him," he muttered.

She knew she had to say something. She found his hand again under the blanket.
"I. I care about you... "

He nodded, his face still buried. He took his hand back. "As a friend, right? I
know."

"Well yeah, but - "

"So like, now that I've told you all that shit, about... what I'm like, now you
know why, right? Why you're better off if I'm not around?" She tried to
interrupt him but he kept going. "Akira told me you guys put a hold on what you
were doing. Because of me. But now you can pick it back up again."

He lifted his face to look at her and gave her the most ghastly smile. "You
guys are good together."

"Mishima, why can't we just - "

"You're both busy enough with you-know-what. You don't need my problems."

"But what changed? If Kamoshida - " She watched his face crumple and wished she
could take it back. " - if all that shit he did to you is done with, and things
were going so well with us, then what... like, what reminded you?" Her stomach
sank; she was doing such a shitty job with this. "I mean, I know it's not
something you just get over overnight or whatever, but - "

He dropped his face back down.

Her voice sounded so accusatory. I hate this. She blew out her breath until her
hair moved and tried again, her tone less harsh. "Akira told me you guys had a
'fight' the weekend before last, but wouldn't tell me what it was about. Was it
about this... ?"

He nodded against his knees. "Not a 'fight,' more like... I dunno. More like
some of this stuff just came out. A little bit of it, anyway." He mumbled,
"Maybe it was a fight. I was being a dick."

She was so furious at Kamoshida all over again and so upset about what Mishima
was telling her that she had to keep reminding herself to adjust how she talked
to him. She did her best. "Did you ever tell your parents?"

"They already knew."

"All of it, though? They saw your face, but did you ever sit them down and...
?"

He snorted. "What would be the point? It's over."

She tried to sound understanding. "That's what I mean. It's not. If it were
over then you wouldn't have had that fight with Akira about it. Like, it's not
happening anymore, but if you never talked about it... "

Her stomach was in knots.It was months ago. Am I seriously the only one he's
told?

He'd raised his head again and she was taken aback by the change in his
expression. He was smiling at her, though there was something off about it. His
eyes were too wide - panicked again, maybe. "Well, I talked about it today.
Thanks for listening."

"Of course - "

She jerked back, baffled, as he leaned in and tried to kiss her.

"Mishima, geeze - "

He cringed in on himself and hid his face again.

Way to fucking go, Ann. "No, it's not like I don't want to - like, kiss you, I
guess, but - you want to? You just told me you came here to end things with me,
and all that other stuff, so - "

"I can't keep - I can't think about that old shit anymore. I need to... turn
off my brain." He faced her and this time he looked even worse; instead of the
weird, overstimulated smile, now he looked anguished. "Can we?"

"Can we what?" She jumped as his hand settled on her thigh under the blanket,
then crept upward. "Oh - now, though? After you just told me... ? I don't think
that's a good idea."

He left his hand where it was. "Something just for you then?"

"That's not what I want right now, Mishima."

"Don't you like it when I... ?" He looked so hurt, so miserable, that she
almost gave in. "I, I know how to make you feel good. I can use my fingers like
Akira used to, for you, and - "

Her heart was breaking. "Mishima, no." She moved his hand away and hugged him
roughly, trying to pin his arms to his sides so that he couldn't try to touch
her again. He stayed still and let her.

She wanted so desperately to make him feel better that she grasped at straws.
"Maybe a hot shower would help. Just you, I mean." Yeah, because hot showers
fix everything. What a stupid thing to say.

But he nodded. "Sure. Could you get it going for me?"

"Yeah, of course." She got up off of the couch and turned on the water in the
bathroom. She didn't hear the front door open and close quietly behind him.
Chapter End Notes
     Hopefully now some of the ways Mishima has been acting strangely,
     around Akira especially, are starting to make sense.
***** Silent treatment. "Are you okay?" Use your brain. *****
Chapter Notes
     An early update because it was making me too sad to leave things
     where they were at the end of the last chapter.
See the end of the chapter for more notes
It took Ann five minutes or so to realize Mishima wasn't following her to the
bathroom to have a shower. She sent him a handful of chat messages, but they
went unanswered, just like almost all of the others she'd sent over the past
week.

ANN: Akira?
ANN: please be at home
ANN: Akira this is serious. answer me, okay?
ANN: he came over tonight and he's in rough shape. he just left and I don't
know where he went
ANN: he might be going to your place
ANN: are you there?

She tried calling first his phone, then Mishima's, but neither of them picked
up. She grabbed her coat and ran to the nearest station, but when she got
there, he was nowhere to be found.

----------

Akira was just leaving Yongen station, headed home after a shift at the
Crossroads bar, when he nearly walked into something in the dark, a few steps
away from the front door of Leblanc. He was tired, ready to crawl into bed, and
wasn't paying as much attention as he should have been; otherwise his night
vision would have tipped him off well ahead of time. The shape moved, causing
Akira to tense up in case he needed to defend himself, but then it spoke.

"Hey." It was Mishima, leaning against the concrete wall of the alleyway with
his hands jammed into his pockets. He didn't have his phone in his hands as he
usually did; instead, he'd simply stared into space until Akira drew near.

After being given the silent treatment for the entire week, only to run into
him in the dark when he was supposedly visiting Ann, Akira was left babbling.
"H-hey - oh, were you trying to reach me? I turned my phone off while I was
working - "

Mishima touched his wrist with just his fingertips before he could pull his
phone out of his pocket. His skin was like ice. "I guess I should've, but. I
just came straight here."

"Do you not own a coat? You could've waited for me inside. Come here - " He
felt a surge of warmth in his chest just to see him, just to be allowed to
speak to him freely; he hadn't realized how much he enjoyed talking to him
every day until he couldn't anymore. Akira pulled him close and warmed his bare
arms up with his palms, just as Ann had done, only remembering after he'd
already done it how Mishima felt about public displays of affection. He'd
opened his mouth to apologize and was about to give him his space back, but
Mishima had wrapped his arms around his waist as tight as he could.

He's actually okay with this now? Out in the open?

"So... you're not mad at me?" No answer. Akira pulled back from him just enough
to peer first over his own shoulder, then over the top of Mishima's head, for
any sign of onlookers. For the moment, at least, they had the alleyway to
themselves. "The coast is clear," Akira whispered. He stooped down to kiss him.

Akira had meant it to be a quick, close-mouthed kiss, given they were still out
in public, but Mishima kissed back as if they'd been apart for months. He lips
were cold as marble and he tasted like the beer he'd drank earlier, which Akira
supposed might explain part of why he was kissing him like this. Akira finally
broke it off, breathing a little more heavily. "Whoa - " Mishima grasped the
back of his neck with his chilly fingers, trying to pull him back down to his
level, and Akira had to press down on the tops of his shoulders to stop him.
"Hang on, hang on - " Akira was so relieved that the fight was over, whatever
it had been about, that he started to laugh a little. "If you don't give me a
break I won't be able to walk in the front door." He settled for warming up
Mishima's upper arms again until he felt a paw swat the side of his face.

"Did you just forget that I'm here?!"

Shit... Akira really had forgotten all about Morgana, nestled in his bag as he
usually was. He held up one finger to Mishima, then took a step back and tried
to mumble to Morgana out of the side of his mouth as best he could. "Sorry,
buddy."

He needn't have worried about being detected; Mishima was leaning against the
wall of the alley again, spaced out and just waiting for him to make time for
him again. He couldn't see Morgana very well out of the corner of his eye,
though he could feel his tail lashing against his back. "I know we didn't talk
about this ahead of time, but... "

"Yeah, yeah. I know the drill. Futaba's again." But Morgana's snark was mostly
just for show; his tone became gentle almost at once. "He looks awful. Give him
some of that curry you make or something, okay?"

"Good idea." Akira stayed still and waited for the cat to leap from his
shoulder to the pavement, then watched him for a moment as he disappeared into
the shadows.

If Mishima thought anything was strange about the way Akira treated his cat, he
didn't show it. He closed the distance and sighed, laying his face against
Akira's chest. "Is it okay if I come inside tonight?"

He must be freezing. "Yeah, of course - " He separated from him just long
enough to walk the last ten steps or so to Leblanc, then opened the door,
Mishima just behind him.

Sojiro gave them a curt nod, then did a double take when he saw Mishima; Akira
wasn't sure if it was because he'd arrived in only a thin t-shirt or if it was
something else about his appearance. Mishima quailed under his scrutiny and
dropped into a booth, flipping through a crossword book that someone had left
behind. He hunched over and hid his face behind his shoulder.

Akira had arrived home later than he usually did, and he realized that Sojiro
must have been waiting on him; he had his hat and coat on, and the sign on the
door had been flipped to closed. They each had their own key, so perhaps it was
something else. "Sorry. Did you want to talk to me, or... ?"

Sojiro opened his mouth, his eyes still on Mishima, but then seemed to think
better of it. He shook his head. "Nope. Lock up for me, kid." He adjusted his
hat and left.

Akira followed him to the door and turned the lock. "Coffee, Mishima?"

When he turned around, he just barely caught a glimpse of Mishima's sneakers
disappearing up the stairs.

Guess that's a no? He laughed a little to himself. He shut the lights off and
climbed up the stairs after him.

Mishima was already sitting on the bed, waiting for him. As soon as Akira came
into sight on the stairs, he started pulling his t-shirt over his head.

"You're not wasting any time, huh... ?" Akira dropped onto the mattress next to
him, then laid his hand on his arm. "Why don't you let me warm you up first,
though?" He stretched out under the covers, still fully clothed, then held them
up for Mishima. He couldn't get a good look at his face, but as far as he could
tell, he still looked just as exhausted as he had the last time he'd seen him.
Mishima sank against him and lay still.

"Weren't you going to see Ann today? I wasn't expecting to see you til Monday,
at school."

When Mishima finally spoke, his voice was muffled from having buried his face
against Akira's chest. "I did, but she... " He trailed off, then put his hands
under Akira's shirt as if that were an answer.

Akira hissed between his teeth, then started laughing. "You're like a goddamn
icicle... " He slid his own hands up Mishima's bare back, trying to warm him
up. "Are you shivering? C'mere."

Akira wrapped him in his arms, his thin body quivering against him. "So... are
you going to tell me what - "

Mishima abruptly lifted his face and kissed him.

He barely gave Akira a chance to catch his breath; he pushed his tongue into
his mouth as if there'd been no time at all between when he'd kissed him
outside and now. Akira broke away and tried to speak but Mishima just pressed
his cold lips to his again and sighed into his mouth.

Akira turned his head to the side and covered his own mouth with his palm to
stop him. He tried to search Mishima's face for some kind of clue. "Why are
you... ?" he murmured from behind his hand.

Mishima dropped his face back down against Akira's chest. He refused to answer.

More silent treatment. Akira tried to smoothe away the irritation he was
starting to feel but a hint of it crept into his voice. "Like, I'm glad to see
you, and I like kissing you, but - "

Mishima lifted his head again, breathing heavily. His eyes were too wide, and
he looked as though he hadn't slept well in days, just as Akira had thought.
Instead of hiding his face again, he locked eyes with Akira and inched away
from him, just enough to put a little space between the two of them. Instead of
answering, he angled his hand between them and started massaging Akira's cock
through his pants.

Akira's hips jerked backwards; he hadn't had the chance to warm up to kissing
Mishima and was taken by surprise. "Slow down - "

Mishima dropped his face back down and let out what might have been a sob,
still shivering against him.

What is this... ?

He pulled him close again and sighed into his hair. "Come on. Start talking."

Akira was startled when Mishima blindly drove his face against his neck, hard,
then blurted out, "God, don't make me do it all over again - "

What? "Then just... chill, okay? Sleep here if you want."

Akira listened to him take in little sips of air below his ear; instead of
calming down, he was just breathing faster and faster. "Is - is that what you
want?"

"Uh, I want to hear what the hell's going on with you, actually." He grimaced;
that had come out a lot harsher than he'd intended. "But if you can't talk,
then I want you to get some sleep."

"Do you... want me here?"

"Course I do."

He was still speaking into Akira's neck; his voice took on a pleading tone.
"Then couldn't we just... will you let me? I want to, I want to make you - "

Is that all this is? Akira relaxed and lowered his lips to his ear, smiling.
"Are you that pent up?"

Mishima arched his back and showed him, his words tumbling out of him. "Yeah,
so let's - let's - " He shivered a little, just for a second. "I want this, "
he said fiercely, half to Akira and half to himself.

Akira wrapped his arms around him tighter. "Will you talk to me after?" He
trailed his fingertips over Mishima's bare shoulderblades. "I missed you, this
last week. Talking to you, I mean."

But Mishima didn't bother to answer. He flung the covers off of them and worked
at the zipper of Akira's jeans, then yanked them halfway down his thighs. When
he'd gotten his boxers pulled down he knelt beside him and gripped Akira's
cock, still almost entirely soft, then closed his lips over it.

"Sorry, you're going to have to give me another minute - "

Mishima stroked him and cupped his balls in his palm, then started sucking him,
hollowing his cheeks. His efforts were starting to have an effect; Akira sighed
and closed his eyes.

When he opened them about a minute later, his heart froze at what he saw.
Mishima was bobbing his head above Akira's cock, a look of intense
concentration on his face. He was crying silently.

"Fuck - what - Mishima, stop - "

He actually sped up, sucking harder, and Akira had to pull him away. Mishima
angrily swiped at his face with his forearm and reached for him again.

He hooked both of Mishima's arms and yanked him up to lay in front of him, then
pulled him to his chest. Mishima fought against him for a moment, still trying
to return to what he'd been doing; then he lay still.
----------

He knew he had to say something, but Akira was struck dumb with indecision.
What happened at Ann's that made him like this? But he'd been off all week.
When we saw him last weekend he looked fine, but... Morgana said he'd been
crying without letting us see it. Is this a jealousy thing?

Even if I knew what to say, he wouldn't answer anyway.

His mind was playing tug of war with itself when he heard a rapping on the
glass door of the cafe downstairs.

He thrashed his entire body in surprise and would have flung Mishima over the
side of the bed if he hadn't caught him at the last second. "Shit, sorry - I
have to go downstairs, it's probably Sojiro - I'll, I'll be right back, okay?"

Mishima sat up, his face lowered, and let Akira get out of bed. He wrenched his
jeans back on and flew down the stairs.

Did he forget his key? But when Akira reached the bottom of the stairs and
padded across the cafe in the dark, he caught a glimpse of blonde hair through
the glass.

Ann was pelting him with questions from the other side before he'd even gotten
it unlocked. "Is he here?"

"What - "

"Is he?"

"Yeah, actually, he's upstairs. Did you two have a fight or something?"

She pulled him into the booth closest to the door, the lights still out, and
began whispering to him urgently. She ignored his question. "How is he with
you?"

He matched her tone, keeping his voice low. "Weird, I guess." He desperately
wanted to forget what had just happened. But if anyone would understand, it
would be her. "He... I don't know what's up with him. He was all over me, as if
he was - you know - pent up, or whatever, but then he started... "

She took his hand across the table, her fingers almost as cold as Mishima's had
been. "It's not your fault if you did, but. Did you... ? You and him?"

It still didn't feel like the right time to share details with her, but she
looked so concerned that he made himself say the words. "He started crying
while giving me head."

She shut her eyes, wincing, then clenched his fingers. "You didn't know."

"I don't know because no one's telling me. What happened at your house?"

She took her hand back, straightened up in the booth, and did her best to
repeat to him what Mishima had told her about Kamoshida.

----------

Ann finally finished. " - and I think he still blames himself. He kept
apologizing to me. As if what happened to Shiho were his fault." She scowled as
she remembered one more detail. "And his parents did nothing. Christ."

Akira ran his fingers through his hair. His heart was in his throat as his mind
played back not only what he'd just been doing with Mishima upstairs, but what
he'd been doing with him every single time he'd had him in his bedroom.

"You didn't know," she repeated. Her eyes were glassy, but instead of crying,
she just sounded tired.

He was still trying to fit the pieces together. "If that's what he was telling
you about today, then why the hell would he want to - ? With both me and you?
He - "

They each heard the sound of heavy footsteps on the stairs leading down from
the attic at the same time. Mishima stood at the bottom, a bottle in his hand;
he'd taken the time to put his t-shirt and sneakers back on, though it must
have been before he'd found Akira's whiskey. His expression was hard to make
out in the dark but there was no mistaking his tone, even if his words were
slurred. "No, please. Don't mind me. Go on talking about me." He slouched into
one of the seats at the bar, thudding the whiskey bottle onto the bartop and
propping his chin up with his hand.

Akira stood and flipped the lights on. At any other time, he might have left
them off out of consideration for him, but right now he needed to see him. "Are
you... are you okay?"

He might as well have kept the lights off. Mishima averted his face and didn't
answer. When neither Akira nor Ann spoke, he took another pull of whiskey, only
coughing a little this time. He didn't resist when Akira pulled it from his
loose fingers and set it underneath the bar, out of his reach.

Akira felt shellshocked, still trying to gather his wits. Ann had had a little
more time. She stood behind Mishima's seat at the bar and wrapped her arms
around him. He lowered his head until his chin rested on her forearms. When he
spoke, his words were still slurred, though his tone had become almost robotic.
"Yeah. I'm okay."

How can he say that?! Akira couldn't help but let a little of the irritation
from before back into his voice. "You are not okay," he snapped.

Ann released Mishima, shooting a worried look at Akira but letting him take his
time to figure things out. Mishima fell silent again.

Akira slid into the seat next to him, trying to see his face. He took his hand,
limp but at least warm now. "Why would you tell Ann but not me?"

Ann jerked in surprise, glaring at him. "Is that really what's important right
now?That's what you care about?"

Akira stammered, "W-well, I guess not, but - " He still felt hopelessly off
balance. There was too much to process. "What I mean is, why didn't you tell
me? Like, this sort of came up a couple weeks ago, when you stayed the night,
but you didn't tell me then."

Mishima laid his head upon his arms, folded atop the bar, and mumbled into
them. "It doesn't matter. It's all over with."

Akira had opened his mouth to say something - he didn't know what - when he
heard the front door of Leblanc open behind him. Sojiro stood in the doorway,
silent and furious. He beckoned Akira to follow him outside and closed the door
behind them.

----------

Akira pulled in a lungful of air and held it until it hurt, then let it all
out, lifting his hair from his forehead. Sojiro stood with his arms folded,
letting the seconds spin out as the nighttime activities of Yongen Jaya went on
around them.

Sojiro seemed to be waiting for him speak first, but after the week he'd had,
Akira easily waited him out, using the time to think instead. When Sojiro
finally spoke, his words were clipped short. "I can see now that I've given you
too much freedom. If I can't even trust you to lock up after I leave, let alone
- "

Aw, fuck. He really had forgotten to lock the door after he'd let Ann in. He'd
remembered every single other night - but not tonight. "Listen, I'm sorry - "

Sojiro wasn't done. He continued on as if Akira hadn't spoken. " - let alone
trust you to not get drunk in my shop - "

He interrupted again, and this time Sojiro let him, for a moment at least. "I
wasn't drinking - "

"Lying to me is reallynot your best move right now." Akira inhaled to answer
and Sojiro pinched the bridge of his nose, then cut him off again. His voice
was steely. "You're on probation, kid. I thought you were smarter than this."

Akira clenched his fists at his sides and waited to see if he was finished.
Sojiro shifted his weight from one foot to the other and finally motioned for
him to speak.

"I'm sorry I forgot the door. I get it every other night - really. I messed up
tonight." He paused, testing the waters; Sojiro didn't interrupt him this time.
"I didn't know they were going to come over." He paused again as he weighed his
options - how much should I tell him? - then decided to lay at least some of
his cards on the table. "Mishima's been having sort of a - a rough time
lately."

Sojiro's expression remained stony. "Your friend can drink illegally as a minor
in his own home." His mouth twitched. "I take back what I said a while ago.
Guess he's not such a good influence on you after all."

Clearly he would not be dissuaded without further details. Akira knew that for
the sake of his Phantom Thief activities, he'd need to smoothe things over.
After all, if Sojiro, his parole officer, felt so inclined, he could make his
life a lot more difficult. An enforced curfew, for one thing, or outright
grounding for another. He could be shipped home altogether. Never mind his
Thief work; if he were sent home, there would be no way to see Mishima again.

Akira just hoped Mishima would understand. He sighed, then leveled with Sojiro.
"Remember how Shujin was in the news back in the spring?"

"What, that coach? What does that have to do with - "

He didn't want to spill any more of Mishima's past than was absolutely
necessary, so he held his tongue and gave him a meaningful look, trusting
Sojiro to fill in at least some of the blanks.

Sojiro's eyes widened almost imperceptibly before he turned away, facing the
alleyway as he dug his cigarettes out of his pocket. He busied himself with
lighting one and inhaling deeply, still not looking at Akira. "It's not so much
the drinking that's the problem. The problem is drinking with all the lights
on, downstairs, in the cafe, where my neighbours can see." He turned to face
him, eyebrow quirked. "Am I making myself clear?"

Akira bowed his head slightly, the picture of contrition. "Yes. Very."
Something else seemed to be required. "It won't... happen again?"

That was the right answer. Sojiro gave him a curt nod and, though his
expression didn't change, Akira knew he'd won him over - he unfolded his arms,
then leaned against the alley wall, legs crossed at the ankle as he smoked his
cigarette. Akira mirrored his posture, leaning back and watching the smoke
catch the warm light from the cafe before meandering upwards toward the stars,
barely visible.

"Your friend."

Akira couldn't decide if he was imagining it or not - there may have been the
slightest pause before 'friend,' leaving him to imagine all sorts of
implications. He flip flopped first one way, then the other, then decided that
he would never be certain of what he'd heard Sojiro say or not say and that
he'd better return to the present. "Yes?"

Sojiro was still carefully studying the flyers pasted to the wall opposite
Leblanc, next to the bathhouse. "Is he going to be alright?"

"He's... going through some stuff." Akira grimaced. "His parents knew what was
going on, then, and did nothing. So that should... tell you something. I
guess." He jammed his hands in his pockets and turned his face the other way,
trying to choose his words with care. "We didn't know him back then, though.
Ann and I." He summoned every last scrap of his willpower and made his voice
smooth and casual. "We're trying to help him with things, tonight."

Sojiro inhaled smoke again, then asked gruffly, "Does he need a place to stay?"

I should have guessed you'd say that. Akira hid the knowing smile that tried to
surface when he realized Sojiro was offering up a place to live to yet another
high schooler that he barely knew - this time, to one who was sitting drunk in
his place of business even as they spoke.

Akira turned back to him and gave him a real smile. "That's... that's kind of
you. If it's okay with you, I think he'd better stay the night and sober up.
Tonight only, I mean. His parents aren't the best but I don't think he's ready
to leave or anything."

"Kind, nothing," Sojiro scoffed. "I might as well offer upfront before you just
go and do it behind my back anyway."

"I'm sorry - "

Sojiro saved him from specifying which exact transgression he was apologizing
for by waving his hand, interrupting him neatly again. "Just stay upstairs,
kid. Use your brain, alright?" He stubbed his cigarette out into the pavement,
then turned on his heel and ambled back down the street - until a new thought
occurred to him and he turned back to 'impart wisdom,' as Akira usually thought
of it. He used the exact tone and posture he used when teaching him about
making coffee. "Cut him off, okay? He doesn't need any more." He went on to
repeat the same advice Morgana had given Akira. "And there's curry in the
fridge, if he can eat. Things'll go better if you can get some food in him."

"Thanks, Sojiro."

He made his way back down the street, headed home, and Akira pushed open the
door of Leblanc. This time, he locked the door and flipped the sign, then shut
off the lights.
----------

Ann had hooked one of Mishima's arms over her shoulders and waited for Akira to
finish locking up so he could take the other; he just shook his head and pulled
him into his arms, dead weight though he was, then carried him upstairs. Ann
hunted under the countertop for the whiskey bottle and brought it with her
before climbing the steps behind him.

Ann had kept him from drinking while Akira had been occupied with Sojiro, but
he'd had enough time with the bottle beforehand to do a number on himself. His
head lolled before he sprawled back onto the bed, his face flushed. Ann pulled
off his sneakers, then sat with Akira on the couch, watching Mishima breathe in
silence.

What am I supposed to do? If he sat next to him on the bed, would that just
make Mishima grab at him again? He remembered the panicky, frantic look on his
face as he tried to kiss him again and again, then how the tears had rolled
down his face while he'd -

Akira swallowed around the lump in his throat, not noticing when Ann wrapped
her arm around his shoulders.

Then Sojiro's advice came back to him and he sat up quickly. If he got some
food into Mishima, maybe he'd come around on his own. He felt a little more
steady, having something to work on. He turned to Ann and murmured, "Can you
keep an eye on him? I want to bring him some curry."

She nodded absentmindedly, never taking her eyes from Mishima's prone body.

By the time Akira had heated up the curry and brought it upstairs, Mishima was
sitting upright, fanning himself with the neck of his t-shirt to cool himself
down. His demeanour had changed at some point. The last time he'd spoken, he'd
been annoyed that Akira and Ann were talking about him behind his back; then
he'd denied that anything was wrong. Now he was in high spirits and seemed to
be trying to muddle through a conversation with Ann about something they'd
watched on TV at her house. Ann was gamely trying to keep up but when Akira saw
her face, he could tell she was as overwhelmed as he was.

Mishima passively took the plate when offered and ate automatically, without
enthusiasm. But it was a start. Akira couldn't help but think his face looked a
little better for having eaten something.

He broke the silence at last when Akira stood to take his plate. "You guys look
so serious. We've got the place to ourselves, right?"

The slur was gone from his voice, though his face remained flushed. Akira and
Ann glanced at each other, trying to figure out how to proceed.

Ann went first. "Mishima. Come on. You know we can't just... pretend."

He wasn't going to make it easy. Mishima shrugged and leaned back on his hands,
smiling. "Pretend what?"

The alcohol had relaxed him, and a cowardly part of Akira wanted to just leave
things the way they were. Just put a movie on and make the three of them a
coffee, then fall asleep instead of having to keep thinking about what had
happened back in the spring. Or about all the ways he'd managed to remind
Mishima of what had happened.

You owe it to him. Akira squared his shoulders and put as much care into his
voice as he could. "You know we have something to talk about tonight."

Mishima could be stubborn. He stared right back at them, something almost
defiant in his posture, but didn't speak.

Ann took over. "Mishima. I told him what you told me. About... " She carefully
avoided the name. "About when you were on the volleyball team."

She'd made him forget to keep silent. "Yeah. I heard." He was still smiling,
somehow. "Pretty fucked up, huh?"

"Calling what happened fucked up is kind of an understatement," Akira retorted.

"No, I meant me."

"You're not... come on. Don't say that."

He actually laughed, harsh and brittle. "Now you know, right? It's official.
Maybe it's a good thing Ann told you. Now you know why you're better off
without me."

God. Akira couldn't stand it. He sat beside him on the bed and grasped him in a
fierce hug. Mishima responded and wrapped his arms around his waist, and, to
Akira's relief, didn't try to make any further advances. Ann joined them and
slung her arm around Mishima from the other side.

"We're not. We're not better off without you," she murmured into his shoulder.

He leaned against Akira, sighing. "Yeah, well. Guess I understand if, like. If
you guys are grossed out."

"We're not,"she repeated. "Jesus, Mishima, none of that was your fault. Not -
nothim, not what he did to you. And not Shiho. She doesn't blame you, okay?"

He flopped backwards onto his back. He kept his eyes closed to keep from having
to meet theirs. "She's so nice."

Akira grabbed his hand and squeezed it, hard. "Yeah." He stared at the dark
circles under Mishima's eyes. At how thin he looked in his t-shirt. "I just. I
just wish you'd felt like you could tell me."

Mishima opened his mouth to speak, but Akira couldn't stop himself. The words
tumbled out of him. "This whole week - why would you shut us out? You don't
have to do it alone. I would have talked to you about - about anything." He was
ashamed to realize that he was making it sound like he was the only one feeling
hurt. As if it was all about him. But Mishima was already answering him.

"I guess this week wasn't really about... that. Only."

Ann stirred and looked at Akira apologetically. "Yeah. There was more that I
didn't get a chance to tell you."

What else could there be... ?

But Mishima was shaking his head. "I'll do it. Okay?" He opened his eyes again,
peering up at Ann until she nodded. He rolled onto his side to face Akira more
fully.

If he hadn't just spent the evening with him, Akira might have been fooled.
Mishima looked more relaxed than he had for the entire last week; his eyes were
half closed, and he almost looked content. That has to just be the alcohol.

But his voice matched. Maybe he really was feeling better. His expression
softened, and Akira couldn't help but smile back; it was infectious. "Akira.
You've really... Like. If it weren't for you, I'd - " He laughed, but it was
closer to a real laugh this time. "I suck at this."

"There's no rush. We've got all night."

"I guess what I mean is." He shut his eyes tight. "I, um. I love you?"

Akira's breath caught in his throat. For something so unexpected, his answer
came surprisingly quickly. It felt right, so he said it. "I love you too."

"So that's why I have to do the right thing, and - " Mishima's eyes went wide
and he shot up to a sitting position, then clutched his head. " - ugh - you
what?"

Akira shrank back a little as he realized both Ann and Mishima were staring at
him, aghast. "Wh-what?"

"Did you say... that? Did you just say what I think you said?" Mishima was
outright gaping at him.

Akira felt defensive under their combined stares. "What, you can love me but I
can't love you?"

He realized Ann was looking away now, at the floor, but before Akira could
wonder why, Mishima had taken his attention again. "No, it's just. How, though?
After all that stuff Ann just told you?"

The events of that night had worn away his last nerve. Akira let out a groan of
frustration and raised his voice without realizing. "Stop it." He realized how
he sounded and immediately tried to take it back, lowering his voice again and
taking Mishima's hand. "I'm sorry. I just mean... Ugh. How can you still think
that? That Ann and I don't like you, or something?"

Mishima blinked, trying to gather himself after the abrupt shift in tone.
"Well. 'Like' isn't 'love.'"

"Well, no, but." His brain was still struggling to catch up to everything that
had happened, and he knew what would give him a little more time to figure
things out. Akira gave up on finding the words he needed to say and leaned
forward to kiss him.

I hope this is right.

But Mishima didn't take it as an invitation to touch him this time. Akira
kissed him softly, thoroughly, only pulling away when he felt something damp on
his face.

"Sorry," Mishima looked away, but not before Akira could see how he was
feeling.

"Quit apologizing." Akira hooked his arm around him and pulled him down to the
mattress with him, and they stretched out on their sides, still holding hands.
Chapter End Notes
     There, see? That's almost a happy tone to end this update with!
***** "Feeling better?" Old shit. *****
Chapter Notes
     I think we'll go for Friday updates from now on (more or less.)
See the end of the chapter for more notes
Akira and Mishima lay together in silence until Akira couldn't take it anymore.
He had never felt so conflicted in his life. He decided to focus on the
positive side first.

He pulled Mishima's shoulder gently until his back was pressed comfortably
against his chest. "I've never said that before."

Mishima scrubbed at his eyes with the back of his hand and let out a watery
laugh. "Me neither. Well, not before tonight, anyway."

Does that mean he said it to Ann too?

But Mishima continued on before he could ask. "It doesn't feel like it really
happened, somehow."

"That just means I gotta say it more. IloveyouIloveyouIloveyou - "

Mishima squirmed against him, laughing again, and it sounded more genuine this
time. "I didn't know you were so mushy."

"Heh. I guess I am. Kind of." He smoothed his palm over Mishima's chest through
his t-shirt. "You know. I didn't really think about it before now, but I could
have said it to you first. I've loved you for a while now." The words felt both
foreign and too honest in his mouth; it took a lot to embarrass him but, even
so, he could feel his face heating up. For once he was the one who was relieved
that his face was hidden.

Mishima sniffled a little. "That's nice."

"What?! What do you mean, 'that's nice'?!" Akira asked in mock outrage.

He was laughing again. "No, I mean it really is nice, geeze - " From over his
shoulder, Akira could see him start to smile. "I think I just used up all my
words today, that's all."

Here we go. It was tempting to gloss over what they'd left mostly unspoken, but
Akira made himself bring it up. "Yeah. Sounds like you've had a rough night.
Rough week."

Mishima fell silent.

Akira resolved to show more patience this time around and didn't speak until he
was certain his voice would convey only what he wanted it to. "Can we talk
about it? Please?"

"I guess, um. Guess we'd better." He sighed. "Ann told you everything?"

"I don't know. She told me... " Akira's thoughts hit a wall. Mishima had looked
so freaked out, so clearly overwhelmed, for the entire previous week that he
didn't want to put what Ann had told him into words. Now Mishima had finally
reached some sort of fragile equilibrium, to the point that he was willing to
talk, at least, and one poorly chosen phrase might ruin it all over again. He
trailed off.

Mishima squeezed Akira's hand, as if gathering his strength. "She told you
about my plan to save Suzui?"

"Y-yeah, and. Um. How he... touched you. In his office." He watched Mishima nod
fiercely, just once.

"Did she tell you about... me?"

"What about you?"

"How I. Ugh. How I... " He fell silent again, and this time Akira gave him time
without speaking. Mishima surprised him; instead of finishing his sentence, he
sat up abruptly and turned around until his arm was stretched across Akira,
propping himself up on the mattress behind him. He lowered his face to his and
kissed him again.

There was none of the frantic need from before. Mishima moved his mouth against
his, gentle and slow, and Akira felt something loosen in his chest.

It seemed to have given Mishima some courage. He stopped kissing him and draped
himself over Akira in a sort of hug, burying his face into his shoulder. Akira
listened to him breathe shallowly in his ear until he was finally able to
whisper, "I think I wanted it."

"Mishima - no - "

But he was nodding against him.

Akira wrapped his arms around him and turned his head just enough to kiss his
neck. "The way Ann told it to me, you were trying to draw his attention to, um.
Make things easier for Suzui. Because you had a crush on her."

"You don't - you don't know what I'm like. I kept - I kept like, fantasizing
about it, making him call me into his office again so he would - " He broke
off, nearly hyperventilating in Akira's ear.

"You were just... thinking. After what happened, it's no wonder it was on your
mind. Like - thoughts are just thoughts, Mishima." Wow, what an insightful
thing to say. I'm sure that helped a ton. Akira scrunched his face, trying to
come up with the right words.

Mishima drew away from him and sat on the edge of the bed, hunched over with
his elbows propped on his thighs. "You don't get it."

"I'm sorry."

Mishima didn't speak.

"Help me understand, then."

He let out a long, shuddering breath. His brows were drawn together and he
spoke to Akira over his shoulder, still not looking at him. "So like. This
wasn't something I thought of while he had me in his office."

Mishima straightened and turned fully away from him, addressing the empty room.
"But after, I thought of him in class. I thought of him on the train. I thought
of him instead of sleeping."

"Sure, but - "

He wasn't done. "It felt... terrifying. But also like I couldn't do anything to
avoid it, so I should just get it over with. Like... as if you were drowning in
the ocean, and you finally stopped trying to swim."

Akira gave him time.

"And. And." He drew up his knees and hugged them to himself. "I didn't tell Ann
this, okay? It's too horrible."

Akira reached out and rubbed his back, but he shied away from his touch.

"I liked it."

"You liked what? You... do you mean you got turned on when he touched you... ?"

"No!" Mishima snapped. "No, I mean, not that. I know I didn't... like that, at
least. I meant the thoughts."

"So you would... " Akira felt completely out of his depth.

"Yeah. I kept... " His shoulders hunched up to his ears as he forced himself to
make it clear. "Kept thinking about him ch-choking me. Fucking me. If I made it
happen, I could help Suzui, and if he did that to me, it wouldn't even be my
fault, you know? So I thought about it, I kept picturing it, and then I'd
get... "

"But that's... that's not your fault either."

"How could it not be? I could've thought about anything. Anything else. But
instead I'd be, I'd be sitting in class wondering if he'd choose that day to do
it. I'd, like, strategize new ways to make him mad and get him to call me into
his office again." He mumbled into his knees. "I just wanted to get it over
with so I could start thinking about something else."

Akira sat up and pulled him back down to lay against him, and this time Mishima
let him. Akira was silent for a long moment as his mind worked furiously,
trying to make sense of what he was hearing. "Hey. What if it was just two
thoughts mixed up together?"

"I don't get what you mean."

"I don't... know anything about this. But. I've had weird thoughts too."

Mishima stiffened against him, then tried to look back at him over his
shoulder. "What... ?"

"Not like this. More like... have you been way up in the mountains before?"

Mishima shook his head.

"Okay. On a tall building with a balcony? Or the roof?"

"Well, sure. This is Tokyo."

"Have you ever walked up close to the edge and just... looked down, and thought
about what it would be like to - "

"Jump?"

"Yeah. Only you don'treally want to. It's not about suicide. It's just this
weird little thought that doesn't go away right away. And maybe you stay a bit
further away from the edge just in case."

Mishima seemed to be deep in thought.

"Could it be like that? Going to school and staying on the team after he
touched you like that could be like... being stuck out on the edge. Day after
day. Without any way to stop thinking about it. To move away from the edge."

"But I made myself think about it, and it made me... "

"I bet it felt like that. Like it was you doing it. But maybe your brain was
just, like. Trying to get it over with, like you said. Or psyching you up to do
it so you could get it over with, maybe."

Mishima shuddered against him. "Yeah. Exactly. I wanted it."

Akira held him a little closer. "I think what you wanted was to help Suzui. And
your brain mixed that up with... what he did to you. And, like. Ann told me
that you said you felt like the more you thought about it, the more likely it
would be to happen. As if you could make it happen just by picturing it over
and over again. So you thought about it to help your friend."

Mishima nodded without speaking.

"So... does that sound right? It didn't happen to me, I wasn't there, but... "

Mishima was deep in thought again.

"Another thing.You keep saying 'get it over with', too. Does that make it sound
like something you were looking forward to?"

" ...I guess not."

"So then... ?"

Mishima rubbed his entire face with his palm, up and down, then let out a harsh
sigh. "I'm so... sick of this."

"Sorry. We can stop."

"No, I mean - " He sat up again, and Akira realized it was just nervous energy;
it was hard for him to stay still. "I don't mean talking about it. It's
helping. I think. It feels awful while I'm doing it but better when it's done.
I guess."

"Then you're sick of - "

"Sick of this stupid old garbage running my life. Like. It's always in the
background." Mishima scowled, though Akira could tell it wasn't directed at
him. "Remember when I... ran away from you? You tried to kiss me and I
literally ran away?"

Akira sat up to join him. Mishima's eyes were wide again, but this time it
wasn't from panic; he was angry. "Sure, but. I really could've handled that
better. I don't think I ever even said that it was a date until after it was
over."

"I knew it was. I wanted it to be one. I liked you. But I couldn't trust myself
to, to know what I wanted. Because what I want is bad." His voice became
louder, the words spilling out faster. "If I weren't so fucked up I could just
be happy. Like. Do you know why... when I come over here on the weekends, do
you know why I'm so - you call it 'pent up.' Do you know why I'm like that?"

Akira struggled to think of something to make him smile, laugh, roll his eyes
at him; anything to take the self-loathing out of his voice. "Is it because you
miss my big, beautiful - smile?" He tried for a lecherous grin.

It didn't work. Mishima had to get it off his chest. "I'm like that because I
don't - I don't do anything between the weekends. Most of the time."

"I don't know what you mean."

"I don't - I don't touch myself, because if I did, then I might... might think
about that same old stuff, that used to make me... So I don't do that anymore.
Usually, anyway. If I wait until I see you or Ann then it's someone else making
me feel that way, for sure, so then it's okay."

"Shit. That's... That really sucks." 'That really sucks'? God. Try harder.
"Have you been thinking about this old stuff all this time? All the time that
we've been... dating, I guess?"

Mishima was a little calmer. His eyebrows were still drawn together but his
voice had returned to a more normal volume again. "Sort of. It's background
noise now, instead of being everything I thought about like back in April." He
seemed to have used up his ability to look Akira in the eye again and hid his
face behind his shoulder. "I really kinda... lost it today. Sorry I just
charged in here and took your whiskey." His eyebrows shot up as he remembered.
"Did I get you in trouble with the owner?"

"Maybe a little. I talked him down." Akira beamed at him. "He must like you or
something. He asked if you needed a place to stay. Told me I'd better feed you,
too." So did Morgana was on the tip of his tongue, but he managed to stop
himself just in time.

"Really? Why would he say that?" The shock on his face had wiped away the
anxious look he'd been wearing, at least.

"I think he likes to take in strays."

"Aw, don't talk about yourself like that," Mishima joked, and in that moment he
looked so much better that Akira laughed to see it more than he did at what
Mishima had said.

----------

Mishima excused himself to use the washroom downstairs and found Ann sitting on
the bottom step, her cell phone lighting the underside of her face; she'd left
the cafe lights off. "Oh, there you are."

"Here I am." She scanned his face and seemed to be relieved by what she saw.
She smiled, looking a little eerie in the dim light. "Feeling better?"

He sat on the step above hers so he could lean his back against the side wall
of the stairwell and stretch out his legs. He nodded quickly - too quickly. He
clutched his head. "Yes. No. Mostly."

She rummaged in her bag until she'd come up with two aspirin, then closed his
hand over them. "You're gonna want some water too. Trust me on this one." She
made an exaggerated grimace, rolling her eyes to make him laugh.

"Thanks. So - why'd you leave? Aren't you gonna stay the night with us?"

She was still smiling, though she looked away before he could get a good look
at her face. "You boys needed a bit of privacy." She raised her eyebrows at
him, glancing up at him for only a moment before looking away again. "I
couldn't hear the details, but. Wasn't that easier one on one? I thought if I
stayed, you might feel like we were ganging up on you or something."

He took her hand, the one not holding her cell phone, and squeezed her fingers.
"You're really... you think of everything, Ann." He bumped his knee against
her. "I want to say thank you. I feel - I feel so much better. Like, maybe
everything's not all, like, fixed for me - I'm still kinda - " He trailed off
until she nodded up at him. " - but. You're a really good listener. So.
Thanks."

Ann blinked rapidly at him in the low light and gave him another smile, this
one looking a little grim around the corners. She looked away again. "I'm glad
I could help."

He leaned against her shoulder. "Can I take you out next week? Movies or
something?"

She squeezed his fingers back, then withdrew her hand. "Yeah. Sounds fun."

He used the washroom and took the aspirin with water from the faucet, cupped in
his hands; when he came out he invited her back up to Akira's room, but she
told him she had some agency emails to answer and that she'd join them when she
was done.

----------

When Mishima got back, Akira was looking at his own phone; he put it away as he
approached, then gave him an appraising look until he ducked his head. "You
look alot better."

"Mm. I was just telling Ann that I feel better, too."

Oh, right... "Uh, where'd she go? I kind of. Forgot she was here."

Mishima snorted. "Some host you are." He sat on the edge of the bed. "She's
sending model emails, apparently."

"Aw. She can do that anytime." But it was easy enough to put Ann out of his
mind; he'd thought of another thing he needed to address with Mishima while
he'd been out of the room. "C'mere." Akira pulled him under the covers, his
chest pressed to his back once more. "So. Before we fall asleep, I have to ask
you about one more thing."

Mishima sighed, resigned. "Guess I knew we weren't done."

"What was the deal with, um. " He tried to come up with the nicest way to put
it. "When you were kissing me, before, and then you started touching me, you
were... It was like you were making yourself do something you didn't really
want to do. I think."

He seemed to be thinking it over.

"Ann told me you suggested something like that to her, too, even though you'd
just... "

"Freaked out? Cried all over her? Yeah, I did." Mishima's voice was bitter
again.

"Yeah, and you were crying when... " Akira swallowed, hard. He wished he could
banish the memory of what he'd looked like, but it kept returning. "So, like.
Tell me what's going on with you. Help me understand." He raised his hand from
Mishima's chest and placed it in his hair, stroking it gently.

Mishima spoke haltingly, as if he was figuring things out as he spoke. "I think
I just wanted... some of what we had before to come back. Me and Ann, and me
and you. I wanted to make her happy. She looked so sad after I told her all
that old shit about me. And it's something I'm good at. Maybe. It. It makes me
feel useful, at least."

"You don't - you don't have to be useful, Mishima - " Akira stammered. "It's
not about - Ann and I don't like you because you're useful."

He shrugged against him. "Yeah, well. I don't make sense. And, like. I went to
Ann's to break things off. I was going to do the same with you, next. So it was
stupid of me to try to do that for her, and you. It makes even less sense. I
think I just wanted to turn off my brain."

Akira's breath caught in his throat. "Why would you - you told me you love me
today. Why do you want to end things now?" He was taken aback; he couldn't even
begin to predict what would come out of Mishima's mouth next.

"I don't anymore. Want to end things, I mean."

"Then - "

He was suddenly angry all over again, his voice sharp. "What was I supposed to
think, Akira? You and Ann have said over and over and over that we're friends.
Just friends. Close friends, but friends. You both said we're not being
romantic, we're not dating, we're not boyfriend or girlfriend. So if I fall in
love, how does that not fuck everything up? It changes things. It means I want
something neither of you want. Like, I am done with being a coward and just...
pretending. Pretending things are okay when they're not. I couldn't just go on
sleeping with you, either of you, and keep things to myself. So I knew I had to
- to call things off."

Akira ruffled his hair as Mishima tried to get his breathing under control. "I
guess I get why you haven't been sleeping much, this last week."

Mishima gave a curt nod but was silent.

"I'm sorry you went through all that. Are going through all that. I haven't
been thinking about... about our status or whatever as much as I should've
been. Like, Ann and I knew what we wanted from each other, but... that doesn't
have to apply to you, you know? I. I didn't really know it until you said it,
but. I love you. I do."

Mishima rolled over and kissed him.

The angle was awkward with both of them laying on their sides, so Akira settled
onto his back and pulled Mishima with him until he was propped on his elbows
and knees above him, his chest pressed to his. Akira let him drive; Mishima
kissed him slowly, gently, until Akira felt his shoulders finally relax under
his hands. He ran his fingers down to his hips and left them there.

Mishima had picked up the pace and slipped his tongue between Akira's lips. He
let him, even as he wondered if it was the right thing to do. Mishima kissed
him more forcefully until he was panting, driving his lips against his.

Akira pulled his face away so that he could study his expression. His eyes were
half closed, and he looked much more at peace than he had before, but... The
way he had looked, tears running down his face with his cock in his mouth,
sprang to mind unbidden and he winced.

"What? What is it?" Mishima wore an almost sleepy expression, save for his
panting.

"Nothing, but - " Akira closed his eyes and shook his head. "I don't want you
to feel like you did before. Earlier tonight, I mean."

"I don't. I don't think so, anyway. That was different." He tried to go back to
kissing Akira but Akira turned his face away.

"Can we just... " His eyes lit up. "I know. Here, get up for a sec."

Mishima grumbled a little, wanting to keep kissing him, but complied. They sat
upright next to each other until Akira patted the bed again. "Take off your
shirt, and then lay on your stomach."

He gave him such an exaggerated side-eye expression that Akira had to laugh.

"Just do it."

"I really don't get what you're... " But he shrugged his t-shirt over his head
and lay facedown, still in his khakis and socks.

Mishima let out a little noise of surprise as Akira sat lightly on top of his
thighs and started rubbing his back, digging his thumbs into his muscles. "Why
do you think I need a backrub?"

"Feels like you need one to me. You're like one big knot."

"It does... feel kinda good. I guess." His breathing evened out, becoming deep
and steady.

"I owe you one, right? You gave me one a few visits ago."

Mishima laughed, and Akira felt it through the palms of his hands as he
smoothed them along his shoulderblades. "I think I just wanted an excuse to
feel you up."

"Guess you're onto me, then."

He laughed again, finally relaxed, and Akira smiled to hear it. He worked his
way down until he'd reached his lower back and hips, and found more tension
there. "You've had such a shitty week. I just... I just want to give you a
break."

Something about what his thumbs were doing seemed to be just the thing. Mishima
opened his mouth to answer but a soft sigh was all that came out.

"You say something?" There was no way he could let such an opportunity go by.

"Mmnh... No."

Akira grinned and just redoubled his efforts, trying to see if he could find
the same spot.

Mishima's breathing had picked up and, if Akira wasn't imagining things, his
hips had just twitched, raising his ass up a tiny fraction in front of Akira's
thighs.

Akira immediately moved his hands all the way back up to the tops of his
shoulders and massaged him there until Mishima let out the tiniest noise of
protest. "Hmm?"

His voice was breathy and indistinct. "Hhh... I think. I think my lower back is
still sore."

Akira obeyed and worked his hands back down to the small of his back, smoothing
away the tension with his thumbs. He grinned again when Mishima's hips
responded, this time outright arching his back until his ass was stopped by
Akira's crotch as he leaned over him. It was quiet, but he could swear that he
heard Mishima give out a little whimper. "So, where... where do you need
attention?"

" ...mmn... "

"Sorry? I didn't hear you."

His voice was nearly inaudible, muffled by the bed. "Akiraaa... " he whined.

Akira smoothed his palms lower and lower until he was gripping his hips,
slipping his fingertips below the waist of his khakis. He kept working at the
muscles of his lower back with his thumbs, dragging out the game as long as he
could. "Yes?"

Mishima was panting, though his voice was only a whisper. "Why do you have to
tease me - " He arched his back again, this time trying to grind his ass
against Akira's crotch; when he looked down, Akira was surprised to find he was
almost fully hard. He let out a satisfied grunt as he gave Mishima what he
wanted and bore down on him, showing him that he felt the same way. When he
finally slid one of his hands the rest of the way into his pants and touched
him at last, Mishima cried out and bucked his hips, pressing his ass up against
Akira's cock.

"Hey."

He might not have heard him; he was panting loudly enough, waiting to see what
Akira would do next.

"Mishima. Hey."

"Huh... ?"

"I want to try something. Can you sit up?" He swung his leg over Mishima's and
sat with his back against the wall, giving him room.

Mishima knelt upright, quickly, obviously expecting Akira to make a move on
him; his eyes kept jumping from Akira's face to his lap, where his cock was
clearly outlined against his pantleg. When Akira didn't make a move he made a
face, his eyebrows drawn down. "You reallyare teasing me."

"Nuh uh. Promise. Now take off your pants."

"You sure arebossy - " But he was smiling as he started unzipping his fly.
"What about you, though?"

"You just wanna ogle me."

"Yup. You caught me," Mishima deadpanned. But he left his khakis where they
were until Akira started unzipping his own pants. Mishima did as he asked, but
only that; soon he was sitting on his feet on the bed, still wearing his
underwear.

Akira almost wavered from his plan as he gave him a good long look - his dark
eyes, half closed as he just looked back at him through his lashes. His smooth,
pale skin. His slim waist. His tented briefs, covering him but hiding nothing.
"You look... so good."

His mouth quirked, as if he wanted to say something to the contrary; he settled
for turning his face away. But Akira had already gotten to watch the blush
spread across his face and ears. "Yeah, well. I'd say the same to you, but -
but you still have all of your clothes on!"

"Alright, alright - " Akira wriggled out of his pants, then pulled his t-shirt
over his head, chucking them both somewhere on the floor. He stretched his legs
out in front of him, still in his socks and boxers. I bet he's had enough
staring for today, anyway. He leaned his back up against the wall, then
indicated the spot next to him. "I have an idea. It might help you."

Mishima looked doubtful, but joined him quickly enough. "Just tell me already."

Akira hooked his arm around him and pulled him close, until Mishima's head was
resting on his chest; he knew that he wouldn't be able to tell if he was
looking at him or not this way. "Okay. So. This time, you're not allowed to
touch me. And I'm not allowed to touch you."

He snorted. "You lost already. You're touching me right now."

"I meant your junk, smartass."

"Well that doesn't sound fun at all."

"Maybe I can make it a little easier for you." Akira made sure that he was
watching and slowly stroked himself through his boxers, pressing his palm to
the head through the thin fabric. He was more excited than he'd realized; it
was hard to stop.

It had the effect he was hoping for. He could only see the top of Mishima's
head but he clearly heard his breath catch as he watched. He shifted a little
against him and Akira caught another look at his tented briefs, stretched
tighter than ever.

"Your turn."

Mishima huffed against him. "I don't want to do that when I'm here with you.
Geeze. That's something you do when you're alone."

"You don't, though. That's what you said."

"So? It's, it's gross anyway. If I've got you right here I'd rather - " He
reached for Akira, who caught his wrist just in time.

Akira put his hand back neatly into his lap, then started to play with
Mishima's hair. He took big handfuls and tugged gently here and there,
eventually pulling hard enough to make him tip his face back. He was breathing
harder now, his face flushed and his eyes closed tight.

Akira lowered his face to his and murmured into his ear, "D'you think it's
gross when I touch myself in front of you?"

"N-no, I didn't mean that - "

"Then it's not gross for you to do that."

"Okay, but - why... ?"

Now that he had to explain it, Akira wasn't so sure it'd help; and it meant
he'd have to bring up something Mishima would probably rather not talk about
further. But he had to try it. "Well, sorry to make you talk about it again.
But. You said you usually don't touch yourself when you're between visiting me
or Ann, because it might make you remember... the things you used to think
about. Is that right?"

Mishima's shoulders stiffened against him. "Yeah."

"So let's give you something new to think about."

"That's - it's not like that. It doesn't work that way."

"Tell me, then."

He was silent for a long moment, thinking. "It's like... I can start out
picturing you or Ann. Or. You know. Random stuff. But if I let myself get into
it and stop concentrating, the old shit just comes back. I start picturing...
that. What I was picturing all the time back in April. Him. There's been a few
times when I - when I could bring myself back out of it and, you know. Finish.
But mostly I just... don't."

Akira finally pulled down the waistband of his boxers and let his cock spring
free; it flopped back against his belly until he stroked it a few times, long
and slow. He felt Mishima's breath puff against his chest as he watched with
rapt attention. "Maybe I'm just flattering myself, but. Looking at me might
help bring you back to the present. Make you remember where you are." He
brought his lips down to his ear again. "And... I want to watch you come. I
don't usually get to see it." He grinned, satisfied, as Mishima shivered
against him.

Slowly, tentatively, Mishima's hand crept to his own hip. He rested it there
for a moment, then finally trailed his fingertips over the head of his cock
through the fabric of his briefs. Akira watched it twitch and let out a pleased
sigh.

Mishima immediately pulled away from him, drawing his knees to his chest and
hiding his face. "Why do you have to look - " he groaned.

"It's okay if you're just, you know. Not in the mood." Mishima stretched out
his legs again and Akira stole another glance at the way his briefs hugged his
cock as he rested his head back on Akira's chest. Not much chance of that.
"Maybe I should just continue on without you?" He hooked his thumb into the
waistband of his boxers and pulled them down a few more inches until his balls
were free, then circled the base of his cock with his thumb and index finger,
pumping himself up until the head drooled a fat bead of precum. He risked
looking at Mishima out of the corner of his eye and almost laughed out loud to
see him - he wasn't going to need any more convincing. He'd already pulled
himself free of his briefs and was stroking himself quickly, his eyes glued to
Akira all the while.

"That's better," Akira murmured in his ear. He plunged his fingers into
Mishima's hair again, tugging hard. If anything, Mishima's hand sped up. He
finally yanked his hair hard enough to make his head snap back and Mishima let
out a long, shaky moan.

Something coiled in his lower belly at the sound of Mishima's voice, and Akira
squeezed himself again, hard. But he made himself wait. He stared hungrily at
Mishima's hand, at the way his fingers slid up and over the head of his cock,
and silently cheered him on.

But Mishima's fingers slowed, then stilled, and he dropped his hand back down
to his side.

Akira watched him in silence, then rubbed his shoulder. "Old shit?"

"Old shit."

"We don't have to. I just thought it would sort of... give you something else
to think of. When you're by yourself, I mean."

Mishima huffed again. "It almost worked. I was close."

"I could tell." He sighed happily next to his ear. "That was really hot."

Mishima turned his face away for a moment, thinking, then settled back against
Akira's chest. "You're just trying to make me feel better."

"Nuh uh. Watching you really, uh. Really gets me going."

Mishima glanced down at Akira's lap, just inches away, and confirmed it for
himself. "I guess - I guess I can see that, but I don't understand what you get
out of it."

He wasn't sure if it would help, but he had thought of something else he could
try. Akira half coaxed, half dragged Mishima into a seated position between his
legs until his back was resting fully against his chest; when he was settled
in, he could press his thighs to his hips and wrap both arms around him.
Mishima laid his head back against his chest, and when Akira peered down at
him, he could see how anxious he looked all over again. He closed his eyes and
kissed Mishima's neck, softly, until he heard his breathing even out again. "We
don't have to," he repeated.

Mishima swallowed. "I. Maybe I should just try again."

Attaboy. "Do it. Show me whatcha got."

But the way he touched himself was tentative again; his heart wasn't in it.
Akira decided to try his plan. He plunged both hands into Mishima's hair,
tugging it into a wild mess until he could hear his breathing pick up again. He
lowered his voice and spoke what came to mind without knowing what it was going
to be until he'd said it. "You're so... you make me so hard. When I see you in
class you make me want to just, just... ungh. You... "

Uh, not my most eloquent speech. But he could see Mishima's hand begin to move
a little more purposefully.

"You... you think about me in class?"

He left one hand in his hair to pull on it every now and then and wrapped the
other around Mishima's upper arms and chest, pinning him tightly. He whispered
into his ear. "Hell yeah, I do. You're going to get me into trouble one of
these days." He brought his hips forward just enough to press his erection
against the small of Mishima's back, as if for punctuation.

His plan was working. He went back to pulling his hair more forcefully and
smiled as Mishima's hand sped up.

"What, um. What do you think about?"

"Well. When I'm in class I try not to think too hard about you, you know? But
when I'm here, laying in my bed... "

Akira brought his mouth even closer until he was brushing the edge of Mishima's
ear with his lips with every word. "I like to think of that face you make. When
I've got you under me and your cock's in my hand. When I've got you... got you
making those sounds you make. When I've - when I've filled you up with my cock,
and I'm just - just slamming into you - "

He pulled his hair until his head was tipped back, all the way back, resting on
Akira's shoulder. "Yeah, that face," he said, satisfied with his handiwork.

"Mmn - " Mishima's face was flushed, his lips pressed into a thin line, as he
worked his hand up and down.

But he needed one last push to get him over the edge. Akira pulled him tight to
his chest, then whispered into his ear. "Do you like it when I press you into
the mattress?"

"Yeah..." He panted as his hand picked up speed.

"When you can't move a muscle and you just have to... take what I give you?"

His voice was nearly inaudible and cut out halfway, leaving only a harsh gasp
shaped like a word. "Y..."

Akira murmured encouragement under his breath. "Yeah - yeah - come on - come
for me - "

But he couldn't. Akira watched frustration creep into his expression. Before
Mishima could give up again, and before Akira could think twice about it, he
gripped his hair roughly and tilted his head to the side. Then he lowered his
mouth to where Mishima's shoulder met his neck and bit him, hard.

His intuition had been correct. He opened his eyes again just in time to see
Mishima's back arch, thrashing his hips up as he fucked his hand. He came
silently, or nearly so; he let out rough, broken gasps and a single high
pitched whimper in the back of his throat as his cock shot pulses of thick cum
up his chest and across Akira's forearm, still wrapped around him. Akira was
actually louder - he hadn't come himself but he let out a long, satisfied groan
just to see the effect he'd had on Mishima. He'd never had such a good view of
him in this state, and he knew he'd never forget it.

It took Mishima a long time to come back down. His hips still thrust aimlessly
now and then, and long after Akira had thought he was finished, his cock flexed
and let out another spurt of cum.

"Fuuuck, Mishima," Akira breathed. He felt almost giddy, as if it had been him.
"You... damn."

Mishima had his eyes closed tightly, breathing hard; as Akira watched him, he
raised his clean hand from where it had been clutching the sheets and
unclenched his stiff fingers with an effort. He didn't answer.

Akira kissed the bite mark he'd left and removed his sticky forearm from
Mishima's chest. "You okay?"

Mishima nodded, once, but didn't move right away. When he finally opened his
eyes, he looked down at himself and made an expression of disgust."Ugh."

"'Ugh'? No way. That's - that's impressive." Akira laughed, still feeling
lightheaded, as if Mishima's state had rubbed off on him. "I think I'm starting
to like what Ann likes." He stared appreciatively at the thick streaks of cum
Mishima had left across his own chest.

Mishima let out a shaky little laugh and sat up carefully, making sure he
didn't set his hand down on Akira's sheets. Akira found his box of tissues and
gave him a handful, then had to give him a few more when those were used up.
"You know. Porn stars have to take supplements to get that kind of, um.
Volume," Akira said.

Mishima finally turned around to face him, clean and looking more like his old
self again as he settled in at his side once more. "I wouldn't know. I don't
watch it."

"That was before. Maybe you should give it another try. Replace that old shit
with new stuff to think about. Right?"

Mishima nodded, but he wasn't really listening. His eyes were trained on
Akira's cock. He was already moistening his lips and reaching for him before
Akira caught on, and he was just barely able to angle his hips away before
Mishima touched him. "Not today."

"But you're - "

"Yeah, well." Akira softened his voice. "Don't you remember what happened last
time?"

"That was different - "

"You say that, but." He pulled Mishima back to his side and hoped he'd
understand. "I keep remembering last time. Earlier tonight. I don't want to see
you like that... ever again."

"Then let me show you that it'll be different."

"Mishima." He ruffled his hair, trying to take some of the sting out of his
words. "Seeing you crying kinda made me lose my taste for it. Is what I'm
getting at."

Mishima sighed and turned away.

Akira couldn't tell if he'd hurt his feelings or if he was just thinking. He
tried to make his voice light, cheerful. "Just for tonight. You're not allowed
to touch me and I'm not allowed to touch you, remember?"

He turned back and started smiling, to Akira's relief. "I think you cheated,
though."

"Who, me?" He placed a hand on his chest, all innocence.

"Agggh, you've still got my - " Mishima laughed and turned red. He grabbed more
tissues and wiped down Akira's forearm.

"Thanks." Akira settled back against the wall, Mishima next to him again. They
both stared down at Akira's lap; despite not touching himself for all the time
it took for Mishima to come, he was as hard as ever from the view he'd had of
it. "You, uh. Want to watch me?" He started stroking himself lazily, and
couldn't help but swallow a moan as he finally allowed himself some attention.

Mishima didn't answer; the way he was following his hand with his eyes was
answer enough. He was rubbing the mark Akira had left on his neck
absentmindedly as he watched.

Akira stopped. "Hey, I'm sorry if I hurt - well, I guess it definitely hurt."
He grimaced. "I should have asked first. Ahead of time or something."

Mishima was already shaking his head. "If Ann can take it, so can I." He
offered up a funny little smile that Akira found difficult to decipher, then
touched the mark again. "Sometimes I think you know what I like better than I
do."

"You do, then? Like that?"

Mishima nodded, and his smile turned blissful. He closed his eyes. "I think I
really like that." He opened his eyes again. "I guess it kind of freaked me out
when I saw you do that to Ann last time, but. It looked worse than it felt." He
had to look away, embarrassed to say it. "I don't think I would have - finished
- if you hadn't."

Encouraged, Akira went back to stroking himself. "Good, then. I want you to...
if you keep thinking about old... shit, then... " He couldn't keep up any
semblance of conversation for a moment longer and came in less than a minute.
He gave himself long, slow pulls, holding his breath as his balls pulled tight;
his mind went blank and he finally let out his breath, studying his sticky
hand.

Mishima was staring intently. "I see what you mean."

His mind was still scattered. "Huh?"

"That was really... Mmm."

Akira laughed as he cleaned himself up. "'Mmm' is a compliment, I guess?"

Mishima automatically reached for Akira's half-hard cock, but this time he
stopped himself. "You still want to - next time, right? With me? You haven't...
changed your mind?"

His orgasm had left him clumsy and though he meant to only wrap his arm around
Mishima's shoulders, Akira instead pulled him right on top of himself and
tipped over until the two of them were sprawled back on the bed, Mishima's hips
twisted away as he tried not to knee him; Akira had nowhere to stretch out to
and his head thudded into the wall at the head of the bed. "Aw f- "

Mishima tried to avoid faceplanting into Akira's belly, outright laughing at
him as Akira struggled to sit up under him.

"Don't laugh - "

He scooted back until Akira could right himself, then hugged his knees to his
chest. But he didn't hide his face. It had been too long since Akira had seen
the simple, open smile he wore.

Akira finally got his limbs back in order and remembered that Mishima had asked
him a question. "No. I haven't changed my mind." He pulled him close, this time
without bowling them over. "The next time you see me I'm gonna give it to you
so - " He jolted in surprise.

Ann had come up the stairs and stood in front of his bed. Mishima yanked at the
covers reflexively, as if to cover the two of them out of modesty; then he
laughed at himself and let go of them.

"Lot of emails, Ann?" Akira asked, smiling.

She stuck out her tongue. "No. I wanted to give you boys some space,
obviously."

Mishima grinned. "I think we're done wrestling. Or whatever Akira wants to call
headbutting the wall - hey - " He yelped as Akira shoved him until he sprawled
on his side on the bed, legs flying.

Akira stood and pulled his boxers on. "Ann, you want to sleep with him? Next to
him? I can take the couch for once."

He noticed that she really did look tempted for a moment as she looked from his
face to Mishima's, who'd stayed where he'd been pushed on the bed. "That's nice
of you. But I think I'll just head home."

"Really? Haven't the trains stopped running by now?"

She gave him a wry smile. "They've already stopped running and started again."

He didn't believe her and had to check the time on his phone. "Geeze - " He
yanked his jeans up. "At least let us walk you to the station, then."

They turned to look at Mishima and saw that he'd curled up on top of the
covers; if he wasn't asleep yet, he would be soon. Akira smirked. "Maybe just
me, then." He finished getting dressed and followed her downstairs, locking the
door behind them.

----------

It was just before dawn; the sky had only lightened a fraction by the time Ann
and Akira reached the Yongen station. It was very nearly deserted, with only a
single businessman waiting for his train.
When Ann came to a stop and rested her head against the tile wall, Akira
studied her face in silence.

"What."

"Everything okay?"

She turned her face away, answering his question. Ann spoke her mind, and for
her, staying silent spoke volumes.

"Something happen that I haven't heard about yet?" he murmured, trying to avoid
being overheard.

She smiled, though there wasn't much warmth to it. "Nah. Congrats, though. I'm
happy for you guys."

"Oh, because we said... ? Thanks." That's it, then. Slowly, to avoid drawing
the attention of the businessman at the other end of the station, he slung his
arm around her waist and squeezed her to his side before releasing her again.
"So... did he tell you the same thing? Tonight?"

She leaned her head against his shoulder, her voice quiet. "That he loves me?
Yeah."

Then what's... ? He stayed silent, peering down at her and trying to figure out
her expression in the poor lighting.

Her voice was flat. "I don't, though. Love him."

"Oh." He stayed silent and let her lean on his shoulder, keeping her company
until her train came.
Chapter End Notes
     I did a lot of reading about the behaviours and coping mechanisms
     that sexual abuse survivors sometimes employ as they are recovering,
     so hopefully what Mishima is talking about and doing doesn't
     completely come out of left field.
     I also feel like I need to include an author's note of sorts - Akira!
     Should not! Have done that! Way too soon. They're lucky things turned
     out okay. Sometimes he is too impulsive. But, he's not perfect, and
     he doesn't really know how to deal with something like this.
***** "Cool." Consolation prize. Relationship junk. *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
By the time Akira had made it back to the front door of Leblanc, the sky was a
warmer grey, and he could hear the faint wash of traffic in the distance now.
He locked the door behind him and fished out the first aid kit from under the
kitchen counter, then headed up the stairs to the attic.

Mishima lay curled on his side on top of the covers, just as he'd left him. He
didn't stir until Akira had sat on the bed next to him, opening the first aid
kit with a click.

"Still asleep?" Akira poured disinfectant onto a cotton swab.

He seemed to be having trouble waking up, though the cold liquid making contact
with the bite mark on his neck fixed that. He hissed through his teeth and
jolted away until his heels drummed the wall.

"Hey hey hey - " Akira grabbed one of his feet. "Sorry."

"Cold - " Mishima muttered thickly. He might have meant the rest of his body,
rather than the disinfectant; he drew the covers up to his waist and let Akira
examine his neck. He held himself still and blearily watched Akira's hands as
he threw the cotton swab away. "Mm. Thanks."

"You don't want it to get infected." Akira stripped down to his boxers and
climbed into bed next to him. He had something to add, something else he wanted
to tell Mishima, but he fell asleep with the words on the tip of his tongue.

----------

Akira jolted awake to his alarm a few hours later, groggy and disoriented. His
arms tightened reflexively around Mishima's middle until he protested in his
sleep, drawing his knees up to himself. He looked so exhausted that Akira
climbed over him carefully instead of shaking him awake. Maybe I can give him a
few more minutes before I have to kick him out.

He had just gotten dressed and was pulling the covers closer around Mishima's
shoulders when he heard a scraping at the window.

When he pulled it open for Morgana, Akira prepared himself for an earful, but
Morgana surprised him. "How's he doing?"

He considered how Mishima had looked and acted at the beginning of the evening,
then remembered how he had had him laughing and joking by the end of it.
"Better." He knew by now how to get on Morgana's good side. "I followed your
advice and gave him some curry. I think it helped."

Predictably, the cat puffed out his chest. "Just as I thought." He picked his
way over the tangled covers, carefully avoiding Mishima, then peered up at
Akira. "What's on the agenda today?"

Akira dug his knuckles into his eyes, then smiled at him ruefully. Morgana was
much more of a morning person than he had ever been. He hadn't had anything to
drink, but he'd had so little sleep that he felt hungover all the same. "Ugh.
Wish I could just go back to bed. After everybody came over last night, I
didn't get a ton of sleep."

Morgana made a very human noise of disgust and turned his face away. "If you
expect me to have sympathy for you, you are sorely mistaken."

"Nah, it wasn't because of... that." Well. Not only because of that. He tried
to think of a way to change the topic but Morgana was already responding,
twitching his nose as he sniffed the air.

"He smells like liquor, but you don't. And he looked terrible last night. And
he's still dead to the world, even though we aren't being all that quiet.
What's his deal?"

He sat on the couch and sighed, then beckoned Morgana to come closer so that he
could keep his voice down to answer him. Morgana leapt onto the couch beside
him and wrapped his tail neatly around his paws. "It's not my... not my secret
to tell. Understand? But I guess I can at least tell you as much as I told
Sojiro."

Morgana flicked one of his ears and waited patiently.

Akira lowered his voice to a whisper. He definitely did not want Mishima to
wake up to him telling his cat about his past. "It's a Kamoshida thing."

He sighed and looked at his paws. "Even though... that was back in April?"

"Ann told me that he didn't even tell anyone before her, though. Not even his
parents, for all this time. So I guess that's a, you know. Contributing factor.
Probably."

Morgana's face could only convey so much expression, but his lashing tail made
up the difference. "Geeze. That's... "

Akira brightened. "It wasn't all bad stuff though. He told me... " He felt his
face heat up. He wasn't sure how Morgana would react to the news, but he
ploughed ahead with a slightly redacted version anyway. "Um. I guess we're
dating now."

The cat scoffed and narrowed his eyes. "What did you call what you were doing
for the last few months then?"

He rubbed the back of his neck, left speechless for a moment. This was not
exactly the conversation he'd been expecting to have so early in the morning.
"Well, I guess, but now we're... official?" He cleared his throat. "Like. In
love. I guess."

It seemed that he was not the only one feeling awkward; Morgana abruptly
twisted away to groom his fur, as if he couldn't look him in the eye anymore.
When he spoke again, his voice was gruff. "Cool."

Akira laughed a little and slouched down on the couch until his head rested on
its back. "Yeah, that describes it, I guess. 'Cool.'"

Morgana was quick to change the subject. When Akira glanced down at him again
his eyes were dancing and his whiskers were twitching with excitement. "Hey!
Does that mean Lady Ann is... available, again? If you and her aren't dating
now?"

"We weren't, but - " Morgana's question brought back the memory of Ann staring
at the floor after he'd told Mishima that he loved him. Of her admission in the
Yongen station that she did not love Mishima back. Of just how many hours she
must have spent sitting at the bottom of the stairs, having to listen to the
two of them.

"Because if she is, do you think she'd go out with me for sushi?" Morgana was
so eager to hear his answer that he'd put both of his front paws on his knee,
the tip of his tail waving back and forth.

Akira dragged his exhausted mind back to the topic at hand. "Sorry. It's messy.
Ann and me aren't dating, but she might be dating - " Before he could stop
himself, Akira glanced at Mishima, still in a stupor in his bed.

"Him? But you just said - "

Even as he said it, he kicked himself for being careless. But there was no
other way that he could think of to put off a real answer. "I don't really know
what her status is myself. Like, she might actually be dating someone right
now. I was going to ask her later. But once she tells me, you'll be the first
to know."

Morgana stretched his front legs, then his hind legs. "I appreciate it. You two
still seem pretty close, for not dating." His eyes were twinkling again. "Do
you think she would like - "

They both heard the sound of the front door to Leblanc being unlocked. Akira
cursed under his breath. He'd lost his chance to walk Mishima to the train
station unnoticed, as he usually did after he'd stayed the night. Now he had no
choice but to face Sojiro and the questions that were sure to follow.

He turned back to Morgana. "Want to hang out with me downstairs?" he whispered,
quieter than ever now that he knew that Sojiro was within earshot.

Morgana whispered back, understanding the need for secrecy; even though Sojiro
would only have heard a series of meows, Akira didn't want to draw his
attention just yet. "No games or movies today?"

"Sure, but he's not... decent." Morgana made a feline frown, his whiskers
drooping, as Akira continued. "I'm sorry. I was going to see him off before you
or Sojiro got here, but he looked so tired that... well. I think he could use a
lot more sleep. I just mean that, like, if you don't want to see - "

"Yeah, yeah," Morgana grumbled. "You really don't need to paint me a picture."
He trotted down the stairs, Akira following just after him.

Sojiro was grinding beans, though he switched the machine off when he saw Akira
descend the stairs. "Morning, kid."

"Morning, Sojiro." He fed Morgana, then grabbed his apron and busied himself
with washing the dishes from the curry he'd heated up for Mishima the night
before, resigning himself to putting in a few hours' work in the cafe. He
didn't generally help out without being asked, but he felt like at least a show
of remorse was required. If he had to give up a few hours of his Sunday as
penance to stay on friendly terms with Sojiro, it would be worth it.

"Sit down."

Akira steeled himself, then dried his hands and slid into a seat at the bar. He
waited in silence as Sojiro made a coffee, then pushed it across the
countertop. "Oh, for me... ? Thanks."

Sojiro nodded curtly, but still didn't speak. Akira had a better handle on his
moods than he had since they'd first met, and knew now that this wasn't
necessarily a bad sign. He sipped his coffee and waited for him to break the
silence.

Sojiro abruptly turned towards the sink, finishing the dishes himself. He spoke
to the room at large, not bothering to turn towards Akira behind him. "I may
have been too hasty last night."

"No, it's - "

He interrupted him; that didn't seem to have changed, at least. "I didn't know
the circumstances."

Akira guessed this was meant to be an apology and took it as such. "Thanks. For
understanding, I mean."

Sojiro turned back around and dried his hands, looking relieved. Apparently
that marked the end of the difficult part of the conversation. "How's your
friend?"

Akira smiled wide at just the thought. "Better. So much better." But then he
remembered. "He's, uh. I decided to let him sleep in." He flicked his eyes
towards the ceiling to indicate the attic. "He hasn't slept much all week, I
guess." He arranged his face into an expression that he hoped would convey
equal parts 'I'm sorry' and 'please don't be mad.'

Sojiro began to prepare a coffee for himself. He was pouring the water over the
grounds when he asked what Akira had known was coming. His voice was flat. "Is
he? A friend?"

He had no idea where Sojiro stood on such things. Whenever customers in the
cafe tried to engage him in conversation regarding politics or any other topic
that might prove the slightest bit controversial, Sojiro either feigned
ignorance or pretended to not have been listening - a useful tactic when
dealing with the general public. But not exactly helpful when it came to
something like this.

Just get it over with. "No. He's not... I mean. He's. We're dating." He
realized he had clenched his fist on the countertop and tried to relax.

Sojiro nodded and, to Akira's shock, actually wore a satisfied smirk. "Knew
it."

"I - "

"You kids are never as sneaky as you think you are." For a second Akira could
very clearly picture the day Sojiro had unexpectedly come back to the cafe
while he'd had Ann up in his room. He swallowed, hard. But, lucky for him,
Sojiro decided not to go into detail. He seemed to be content with shooting
Akira smug looks. Akira felt his face heat up and had to look away.

Sojiro's voice was a little softer. "Good for you."

Akira was caught flat-footed and could only gape at him. "Uh - "

"I'm not going to bring it up again. If you keep out of the shop and use your
brain, I don't care what you do." He took a sip of his coffee, seeming to take
satisfaction from how flustered he'd managed to make him. "It's pretty dead
today. I think I've got things handled."

Sojiro held out his hand for Akira's apron.

He was too tired. He couldn't think. He handed the apron over, then drained the
last of his coffee. He noticed Morgana seated patiently by the door and let him
out. Then he trudged up the stairs, kicked his shoes off and crawled over
Mishima. Coffee or no coffee, he was asleep before he could pull aside the
covers, still fully dressed.
----------

When Akira finally woke up again, his phone told him it was well into the
afternoon. He'd managed to fall asleep in an awkward position, his glasses
digging into the side of his face, and by the time he'd removed them and placed
them on the windowsill above his head, Mishima was stirring.

"Morning." Akira hooked his arm around his stomach and pulled him close. He was
warm and solid, and suddenly Akira felt like smiling for no reason.

"Unh... ?"

Akira buried his face into Mishima's crazy hair. "Yeah, I'm not a morning
person either."

He almost could have fallen asleep for the third time, but Mishima had managed
to wake up fully and was rubbing his eyes. He rolled over and stretched his
legs, then sat up. He was about to swing his feet down to the floor when Akira
pulled him back until he was stretched out once again, this time on his back.

Mishima laughed a little. "What... ?"

Akira was in no hurry to let him go. "Cafe's open. Gotta be quiet."

His eyes went wide. "Oh, shit - did your alarm not go off... ? I'd better - "
He was whispering.

"Got somewhere to be today?"

"No, but. Should I be up here... ? During business hours?"

"I've had friends up here before. During business hours." Akira ran his thumb
down the centre of his chest. "No naked friends though. Lemme get your clothes
for you. Just in case."

Akira climbed back over him and helped him get dressed under the covers. By the
time he emerged, Akira had gotten a good look at his face and grinned. "You
look like you again."

"Must've been your magic curry. And some sleep, and - " His ears reddened.

Akira stuck his fingers back in Mishima's hair. He couldn't make it any wilder
if he tried. "And some stress relief?" he whispered.

Mishima flopped back onto the bed, fully dressed now; his face was as red as
his ears. But he was smiling. "Maybe that too."
----------

Akira took Mishima to the bathhouse across the street. Sojiro just let them
pass by without comment. He seemed to be satisfied to leave things as they
were, just as he'd said. Given that it was a Sunday afternoon, the bathhouse
was packed, so they didn't linger.

They wandered aimlessly through Yongen, their hair still damp, until Akira
caught Mishima shivering in the weak sunlight. "Guess it's colder than I
thought," he said, sheepishly.

"We can head back." Akira leaned a little closer, keeping his voice down.
"You're going to start taking better care of yourself. Right?" It was more of a
statement than a question.

"Yeah, yeah."

They passed the market and simultaneously realized they were starving. They
loaded up on sandwiches and snacks and brought their haul back home.

Akira was hungry, but even he was taken aback by the way Mishima tore into his
food. But it helped him forget how he'd looked the night before: bruised
circles under his eyes, pale and shivering in his t-shirt as he waited for him
in the dark outside Leblanc.

After they ate, Akira brought up coffee and they fell into easy, aimless
conversation. For once, it didn't have to be about anything serious, like what
they had covered the night before; they could talk about Kawakami's homework,
or a manga series that Mishima recommended, or the claw machine prizes Akira
was so proud of. They sprawled on their backs on top of his bed, their legs
hanging over the edge.

" - so now I have to find a boy's love manga that's, like. Even more explicit.
I have to top the one I gave her last time."

Ann. Akira rolled onto his side so he could gauge Mishima's expression. "So,
uh. I heard a bit about what happened at Ann's house last night,   but... "

Mishima twisted his head to the side to look at him. "Oh. Yeah. Maybe I should
tell you."

"You said you're going to give her another manga - are you and her still going
to... ?"

Mishima turned back to stare at the ceiling. "I don't really... know. I told
her I love her and she said she cares for me. As a friend."

Akira winced.

He must have seen it out of the corner of his eye. "No, it's fine."

"How is that fine?"

"Well, because - " Mishima stammered. "Like, she didn't say she wanted to end
things. That's what I thought she was going to do."

"But... you went there to end things with her, right? But also to tell her you
love her... ?"

Mishima was struck dumb. "Oh."

"Did that... make more sense at the time, or something?"

"Well, like - I just thought - I knew I had to tell you guys how I felt, but I
also knew neither of you loved me back - "

"Not true," Akira interjected.

He started talking with his hands, still looking at the ceiling. "- right,
okay, I thought neither of you loved me back, and I was half right. So if I
told both of you how I felt instead of hiding it I thought I'd at least... feel
better. I guess. Eventually. I figured I'd lose you both as friends but at
least I'd be able to start sleeping at night again."

"If someone doesn't love you back, does that mean you have to stop being
friends?" Akira realized he genuinely didn't know; the amount of experience
he'd had hadn't covered anything like this.

Mishima looked like he was no closer to the answer himself.

Akira sat up. "I don't - I don't think you did anything wrong, or anything. But
last night, when you told me you loved me, and I said it back... I don't think
you could see Ann's face."

He sat up too and leaned back against the wall, stretching out his legs. "She
was... ?"

"She looked... shocked, I guess. And then disappointed. Sad, at least."

"When you told me that you loved me? Why then?"

Akira shook his head. "Dunno. But when I talked to her at the train station,
she looked really... I think she's really upset."

Mishima sighed and tipped his head back against the wall. "And she just sat at
the bottom of the stairs that whole time, didn't she. In the dark."

"Think so."

"We told her to come back though - you said you'd give her the bed so she could
stay the night with us, so - so why would she just pretend she was okay?"

Akira smiled fondly. "She's like that. She was really worried about you, you
know? After you up and left her house without saying anything. After the kind
of night you had last night. She wouldn't just tell you she's upset if it was
the wrong time. She thinks about things like that."

Mishima smiled back at him. "Yeah. Guess that's why I love her." It was a
simple statement of fact.

"You can still just... say it like that? Even if she doesn't love you back?
Even if she doesn't want to keep sleeping with you?"

He shrugged. Then his eyebrows shot up and his eyes widened. "Oh, so - I bet
that's why she's upset. I mean, I told her I wanted to break things off when I
was all - you know - freaked out, and I didn't really get a chance to tell her
that that's not what I want now. So now she thinks I picked you and not her.
Picked you and not both of you, I mean."

Akira was thinking hard. "If we're dating - like, really dating now, if
we're... boyfriends - " He glanced over just in time to see the pleased
expression spread across Mishima's face before he looked down at his hands,
embarrassed - " - then... can we really still do things with Ann, though?
Should we?"

He turned back; the pleased expression had evaporated. Mishima looked nothing
but anxious now. "Oh."

"Do you want to be exclusive? You and me?"

"I don't... I don't know. Like, yeah, I guess I wouldn't want you to sleep with
anyone else, but Ann... ?"

Akira blew the hair off of his forehead. "I think we'd better talk to her.
She's part of this too."

Mishima got up and claimed the couch, and Akira sprawled on his bed, each with
phone in hand.

MISHIMA: Hey Ann, are you around?

AKIRA: Busy today? We wanna chat with you.

There was no immediate response. While they waited, Akira thought of a way he
could lighten the mood a little. "Hey, guess what."

"Hm?"

"I told him about us." He gestured with his chin towards the stairs, keeping
his voice down. Even now, they could both hear the sounds of quiet conversation
and the low drone of the TV in the cafe below. "That we're official, I mean."

"The owner?" Mishima surged to a sitting position, uneasy again. "Why would you
do that? What did he say?"

"He already knew!" Akira remembered how tense he'd felt during that
conversation and laughed. "Or guessed it, anyway. I think he got a kick out of
watching me squirm about it."

"So he wasn't... ?"

Akira beamed at him. "Do you know what he said? 'Good for you.'"

Mishima looked dazed. "The day after I got you in shit with him, after he saw
me drinking in his cafe, he said... 'good for you'? Seriously?"

Akira was still grinning. "Sojiro's cool like that. For an old guy."

Their phones each vibrated as Ann answered their messages.

ANN: how are you guys
ANN: I said it to Akira already, but. congrats, Mishima :)
MISHIMA: Thanks Ann. :)
AKIRA: That's actually what we wanted to talk to you about.
ANN: oh?

Akira caught Mishima's eye and nodded for him to continue.

MISHIMA: Well. I guess I should say sorry first. I wasn't thinking straight
last night.
MISHIMA: I didn't mean to make you worry. I should have told you I was leaving.
ANN: it's okay
ANN: how are you feeling today though? you looked better before I left this
morning, at least
MISHIMA: Really good.
MISHIMA: You really helped me.
ANN: aw
ANN: good. I'm glad
MISHIMA: I should just say it.
MISHIMA: What's our status, Ann?
MISHIMA: Like. I've had some time to do some thinking, and now that I'm not so
freaked out, I think we'd better talk it over.
ANN: maybe

Mishima paused, giving her a chance to speak her mind, but she seemed to be
waiting for him to continue.

MISHIMA: I'm sorry I said that I wanted to break things off with you. I don't
really want that.
ANN: why would you say it then
MISHIMA: I was all fucked up yesterday. Before I even started drinking, I mean.
MISHIMA: I think I said it first so it would make it easier for you to say it.
ANN: so it would make it easier for me to dump you? why would I do that?
MISHIMA: Because I told you I love you, and you don't love me back. But it's
not like I blame you for it or anything. So I guess I wanted to make it sound
like it was my idea, and then you could just agree to it without feeling bad.

"Geeze - " Akira caught his eye and shot him a sympathetic look from the bed.
But Ann was responding.

ANN: Mishima.
ANN: Mishima, when I said I care about you, that wasn't some, like
ANN: consolation prize
ANN: I really do
MISHIMA: I know.
ANN: you really just wanna go back to the way we were? friend stuff plus sex?
even after you told me you love me? knowing that I don't love you back?
MISHIMA: If you want to, then I do too.
ANN: Akira? what do you want?
AKIRA: I like what we had.
AKIRA: Have.
ANN: okay, but. you're a couple now. it's totally different
ANN: we can't just... mess around now. you love someone
ANN: if you're part of a couple, you don't do that to each other
MISHIMA: Why does it have to be different?
MISHIMA: God. I really did fuck everything up.
MISHIMA: Couldn't you just pretend I hadn't said anything?
ANN: no
ANN: listen. I really am happy for you guys. I wasn't lying when I said that
ANN: but I think I'll pass on that movie date
ANN: I need some time to myself. some time to think
ANN: see you tomorrow

She exited their group chat.

Akira made room for him, and Mishima joined him on the bed. They lay in near
silence until the room grew dim as the sun set. Akira walked him to the train
station, and he went home.

----------

When they saw her the next morning, she wasn't cold, exactly. She greeted Akira
and Morgana at the Shibuya station with the same smile she usually did. When
Mishima caught her eye before the warning bell rang, she sent him a chat
message first, and they exchanged empty pleasantries in their group chat. But
when he asked her if they could talk about what had happened that weekend, she
stopped answering. When he twisted in his desk to seek out her face in the
classroom, she shook her head at him, then put her phone away.
----------

That afternoon, Ann sat hunched on the couch in Akira's bedroom, scrolling
through images on her phone without really seeing them. Akira had called a
Thieves meeting, though only he, Ryuji, Morgana and herself had arrived so far.
She sighed and flopped back against the couch, dropping her phone down to her
side on the cushions. Thief work was the last thing she felt like doing today,
but backing out to take a mental health day wasn't exactly an option.

She caught Akira looking at her, but when he opened his mouth to speak, she cut
her eyes to Ryuji, then back to him and shook her head, frowning. He nodded and
looked away, his face drawn.

Ugh. Of course. Ryuji had caught their exchange and, with all the subtlety of a
wrecking ball, peered first at Akira's face, then at hers. "You guys have a
fight or somethin'?"

Even worse, Akira murmured, "Sort of" just as she was shaking her head again.

Morgana just had to pitch in his two cents. "You aren't going to let personal
problems get in the way of our infiltration, are you?" He turned to Ryuji, and
Ann knew exactly what was going to come out of his mouth. "Because this
weekend, Akira and - "

"Morgana." Three pairs of eyes met hers, then looked away.

She tried for a civil tone and failed. "Can we please keep things on topic? I
don't think we need to share - "

Futaba, Makoto, and Yusuke arrived at the top of the stairs, one after the
other, and saved her from having to finish her sentence. She turned on her
smile as she greeted them, and Akira followed suit, giving her one final
sympathetic look before he steered conversation elsewhere.

----------

Ann sank to the floor at the top of Mementos with a pained sigh, pulling her
feet beneath her to sit cross-legged. She had tried to hold out and remain
standing with the other Thieves as they waited, but her feet hurt enough to win
over her reservations about sitting on the grubby tiles. Of course, one
advantage of wearing something that covered her from head to toe in latex was
that almost no part of her could come into direct contact with the sometimes
gory environs surrounding her. Small comfort, but it was something.

Akira had benched her so far. Whether this was coincidence, out of
consideration, or whether he just didn't want to chance pissing her off again,
she couldn't tell. She'd sat in silence inside the bus as conversation flowed
around her, though none of it had really stuck enough for her to add to it. Now
he was busy tending to his Personas, and she was left idle as she waited for
his orders, just like the rest of the Thieves.

You wanted time to think. Now you've got it, so you might as well use it.

She grimaced to herself. She'd had the same thing on her mind for all of Sunday
and most of today; she might as well have been absent from class for all the
good sitting there had done for her education. But her thoughts were still
stuck in the same rut.

I don't love him. I just like him. He's just a friend. He's cute.

I don't love Akira, and I don't love him, either. Not like that.

...But what if it's love and you just don't know it?

Yeah, but. Akira could just... say it right back. He knew right away.

If it's love, you know it.

Right?

If I just had more time with him to figure it out -

But that wasn't the right way to go about it. She knew it in her gut. Oh, if
she put her mind to it, she could wrap Mishima around her little finger and
lead him on without breaking a sweat. She could put on a fake smile and say the
right words, and he'd be pleased just to see her again. To be allowed to see
her again. Even knowing that he loved her, and she didn't love him back, he'd
come running if she called.

She felt sick, and stopped torturing herself. Her thoughts returned to their
track.

I don't love him. I don't... I don't THINK I do. I just like him. He's just -

She heard the scrape of soles behind her and twisted around, peering up at
Ryuji. "Hey."

"Hey." He eased himself down to the floor in front of her in increments,
stretching his bad leg away from her. "Think you've got the right idea."

She twisted her mouth. "I know these Thief outfits are based on our own
cognition, but. Apparently some part of my self likes to have sore feet."

He let his eyes crawl from her feet, to her calves, to her thighs, spread wide,
and said nothing. He saw that she'd noticed him looking and, instead of
glancing away, grinned right in her face. "Heh. No comment."

She rolled her eyes and made a noise of disgust, but her heart wasn't in it.
Ryuji leering at her in her admittedly skin-tight outfit felt almost nice
compared to what she'd had on her mind for the last two days, or the way she'd
been worried for Mishima for the entire week prior. Or, if not nice, at least
normal. She knew what to expect with Ryuji.

She leaned forward and swatted his chest, just to keep up appearances.

"Ow!" he yelped, though of course she hadn't really hurt him.

Despite the distraction, she returned almost immediately to her worries, even
as he kneaded his leg a foot or two away, his eyes still on her. Let him look.
I don't care anymore.

But he jolted her back out of it a moment later. "Hey. So." He leaned closer
and kept his voice low. "You don't have to tell me if you don't want to. But.
You okay? Lately?"

If he'd asked within earshot of the others, or if she hadn't been craving
something, anything, to give her a diversion from her thoughts, she might have
shrugged off his question. But he was here, looking genuinely sympathetic, and
she knew she was going to tell him before the last words were out of his mouth.

"No. I guess I'm not."

He pulled up his mask and rested it high on his forehead, as if that would help
him hear her better. She did the same with her own, not knowing why she did it;
but he smiled, and she smiled back.

"What is it?"

"It's... I dunno. Relationship junk. Probably not something you wanna hear
about."

"Yeah? Try me." He leaned back and planted his gloved hands on the gritty floor
behind him, making himself comfortable.

"Some of it's... " She wondered just how much to tell him, and exactly how she
should gloss over some of the parts that she'd rather not have the other
Thieves overhear. "Does your mom still work the evening shift?"

"Yup."

After that, she took Akira aside once he reappeared and requested to be put on
the team. He did as she asked without comment, and she found that whipping a
few Shadows to shreds made the time go by a little faster.
Chapter End Notes
     Ryuji, how did you even get in here. Get out
***** Drama. Same old Ryuji. Sidepiece. *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Ann hadn't been to Ryuji's apartment in years, not since middle school, but it
was more or less the way she'd remembered it. A little chaotic, cluttered in
the corners, maybe, but warm. You could tell that a family lived there. She and
her caretaker got on well enough, but it wasn't the same.

"You want a Coke?"

"Maybe just some water. Thanks."

He waved her to the familiar old couch, then handed her a glass. She drained it
in one go. She'd worked up a sweat in Mementos today, so she fanned herself
with the neck of her hoodie. But when he returned from his room, she saw that
he'd already shed his uniform blazer, leaving him in his t-shirt, so she did
the same. What the hell. It's just Ryuji. She unzipped and shrugged out of her
hoodie too for good measure, leaving her in just her black tank, uniform skirt
and red tights.

"Sorry to just... invite myself over. It's been a while, huh?"

He sprawled onto the couch beside her and shrugged. "S'okay. And, yeah, I
guess." He grinned. "Remember watching kid shows with me after school? You used
to like that Power Rangers type shit."

"Well. We both cheered for the villains though, if I'm remembering right."

She felt the couch move as he set his can of Coke on the floor. "Yeah." She
couldn't see him easily unless she turned her head all the way to the side, but
she could hear the smile in his voice.

If you don't start soon, you're going to be here all night.

"You sure you want to hear all this junk? You don't have to."

He was kneading at his leg again as he spoke. "Lay it on me. Like, I can't
promise I'll have advice or whatever. But I can listen to your drama."

"It's not drama - " she snapped.

He grinned at her. "Fine, fine. Just freakin' tell me already."

She stared at her hands, trying to figure out how to begin. "Hey. Does your leg
hurt?"

"Every day."

"Now, though?"

"Yeah, course it does. Mementos always kicks the shit outta me."

She patted her thighs. "Gimme."

"What - "

"Gimme!"

He knew better than to argue with that tone. He rested his head on the arm of
the couch and stretched out his legs, leaving his good leg on the floor and
gingerly laying his bad one on top of her thighs. "Bet my feet stink. Sorry."

She made sure he was looking at her and then leaned down to his socked foot to
get a good whiff. "Yup."

"Fuck, why would you - " But she'd gotten him laughing.

"Ryuji, I bet I stink all over after being stuck in that stupid catsuit for
hours. You think that thing breathes?" She didn't wait for an answer. She
rolled the cuff of his uniform pants up past his knee and started kneading his
leg.

"Mine's got the same problem." He resettled his leg. "Go a bit harder."

She did her best, digging in her thumbs to break up the knots. He let his eyes
fall shut; she could see him wince every now and then, but he didn't tell her
to ease up. He finally cleared his throat and opened his eyes again. "That
helps, but. You gonna keep stalling or what?"

"I guess that is what I'm doing." She stared straight ahead and kept working at
his stiff muscles, grateful to have something to do with her hands.

"So, you n' Akira are havin' problems?" he prompted.

She was taken off guard. "What - ?"

He smirked at her. "Fuckin' Morgana was tryna spill your secrets in the
meeting, remember?"

She tried to remember what exactly Morgana had said. Not much of substance
before she had managed to cut him off, so far as she could remember. "Oh,
that."

Ann turned back to his leg, conveniently hiding most of her face from view
behind her hair. "Akira and I aren't dating."

He flexed his toes in surprise. "Oh, bullshit. Don't come here to vent if
you're just gonna lie."

She was trying to piece together exactly what to say about the arrangement
she'd found herself in, but he mistook her silence for something else. "Aw, did
you mean you broke up? Shit, I'm sorry - " He sat up and swung his leg off of
her lap, then patted her back awkwardly.

"Nah. Can't break up if you never started dating in the first place."

"Psht. Come on. You guys are always touchin' each other. Goin' on dates." He
grinned again. "Remember that time when I showed up at Leblanc to hang out with
him, and you were already there? I got there pretty early... " His grin was
wider than ever. "And your hair was all crazy... "

You said you'd tell him. So just tell him. But that didn't mean she had to look
at him while she did it. "Him and me sleep together from time to time." She
felt her face heat up and she turned even further away, as if she was trying to
see out the window behind her. "But he's not my boyfriend."

She'd actually managed to shock him. "Whooooa - " When she glanced back at him
to see how he was taking it, his eyes were huge. Then he slung his arm around
her shoulders and started laughing, pulling her close enough for their
foreheads to bump together. "You fuckin' go, Ann."

It seemed silly now that she'd actually been worried about how he'd react. She
grinned. "Thanks?"

He let go of her and moved back to his side of the couch. "That sounds, uh,
pretty chill. So what's the problem?"

"He's not... really the problem at all. It's Mishima." She winced. "I mean,
he's not a problem, he's - "

"What, our Phan-site guy? Is he pervin' on you in class or something?"

She had to laugh out loud at that. "No! I think I perved on him first."

He furrowed his brow. "Uh, what?"

She let a coy little smile surface. "I'm sleeping with him."

"But you just said - "

She stayed quiet and let him work it out.

He started laughing all over again and collapsed against the back of the couch.
"What the shit, Ann."

"Something wrong with that?" She arched an eyebrow.

But she could tell from his face how he felt. If anything, he was giving her an
admiring look. "How long?"

"A couple months with Akira. Then we took a break, I guess, and I sorta.
Noticed Mishima at the same time that he did. So it's been a few months since
then. And now Akira and me are, like. Spending time together again."

He took a slug of his Coke, thinking. "'Spending time together' is code for
fucking?"

Same old Ryuji. She shoved his shoulder. "Yes. Duh."

"Okay, but. Hold up. You 'noticed Mishima at the same time that he did'? What
does that mean?"

This was part of the conversation that she'd known was coming but still didn't
really know how to handle. She turned sideways on the couch and faced him
fully, trying to show him she was serious. It's Ryuji. If you can't tell him,
who can you tell? "If I tell you some of Akira's personal... if I tell you
about his personal life, are you going to be weird about it?"

"Course not."

"I don't know if he wants me to tell you. So you need to keep this to
yourself."

"Got it."

"Mishima too. I know you guys hang out sometimes, but still, I don't think he -
"

"Ann. I can keep a secret. C'mon."

She started playing with her hair to give her hands something to do. "Akira
told me he liked Mishima a few months ago, and they went out on a date, but...
god, they were both so clueless about it. I set them up and it seemed like
things were going good for them, but then I... well. Like, I'm not proud of it,
but - "

Ryuji was still two steps behind her. "Akira and him?"

"Yeah."

"Like, still?"

"Uh huh. They're cute together."

"I wouldn't know about that." Ryuji slumped back against the couch and stared
at nothing, shellshocked.

"God, don't tell me you've got some weird hangup about - "

He held up a hand to cut her off. "Hey. I'm not like that. I just didn't know
Akira was, like... "

Ann was more than ready to take a break from all the questions. "Guess you
never caught him checking you out, huh?"

She watched his face redden. "Nah, I totally did. Like, now that I think about
it, that's definitely what he was doing. He wasn't even shy about it."

Ann hugged her legs and rested her chin on her knees. "No, he's not shy, that's
for sure."

He was still making sense of what she'd told him. "Okay, so. Akira is gay. Bi,
I mean."

"Yup."

"And then I guess Mishima is - bi, so - "

"Yup."

"So those two started dating, and then you - "

"I mean. They went on a date, and slept together. Messed around. Whatever. They
weren't dating. If that makes sense."

He waved his hand. "Whatever. So they're interested in each other, right, and
then... was that when you and Akira were on a break?"

"Yeah. And I got to know Mishima a bit better, and I told him I was. You know.
'Interested.' So that's what we've been figuring out for the past few months.
But now Akira and me are, um. Back at it. Too."

"'Back at it.' Heh. What, you couldn't choose, so you decided you had to have
both of 'em?"

"I guess so."

His face lit up as he watched her from the corner of his eye. "Got any other
dudes in your harem, Ann?"

She rolled her eyes, but she couldn't really protest too much.

Ryuji scrubbed his hands through his hair and looked a little more serious
again. Maybe he was done teasing her. "This a Carmen thing? A Panther thing?"

"I don't get what you mean."

"Like. Sorry to snoop, but. Did you date anybody before Akira?"

"Just you." She reached out her stockinged foot and poked him in the side with
her toes. "We know how that went."

"Yeah, yeah." He didn't take offense. "So." He started to grin again,
anticipating her reaction. "You, uh, know what your Panther suit looks like,
right... ?"

"Ugh. What, are you going to call it 'sexy'? I don't get what that has to - "

"No, I mean. It's like, latex, right? Or somethin' close?"

She couldn't figure out what he was getting at. "I think? I guess it is."

"Soooo... ever since you got your Persona, do you feel more... I dunno...
kinky?"

Same old Ryuji. Ann lifted herself up off the couch and headed towards the
door. "Thanks for listening. I guess."

"Hey, hey, come back - hey - I said that for a reason - "

She'd gotten one of her boots on and held the other in her hand. "What. What
reason, Ryuji."

"Come on. I'm not trying to hit on you, or whatever. Come back." He waved her
back to the couch, and, still not really convinced, Ann removed her boot again
and sat down.

"I'll show you." He pulled out his phone, tapped something into the search bar,
and pulled up an image search. He passed it to her.

Welp. He's got you there. She let out a deep sigh and scrolled through the
photos of women in shiny, distinctly fetishy outfits. A couple of them even
held whips not so different from the ones she used in the Metaverse. He'd typed
in 'latex dominatrix'. The most popular colour of the suits seemed to be black,
not red, and none of them had the exact cut of her Metaverse outfit, but she
couldn't deny that there was a definite resemblance.

She dropped his phone back into his lap and covered her eyes. "Fuck."

To his credit, he didn't gloat or tease her. He just drank his Coke quietly.

She still couldn't look at him. "Is this why you tried to - to start things up
with me? Asked me if I wanted your dick pics?"

"Uh, maybe... " He couldn't look at her either.

She groaned. But it was directed at herself, not at him. "Guess I, uh. Owe you
an apology. I shouldn't have flipped out at you for asking me that when -
Christ - can I see that again?" He wordlessly passed his phone back and she
scrolled through more of the image results.

"How does my Persona know about this shit if I don't?" she muttered.

He scratched at the back of his head. "So, like. All I meant was... well, it's
in your head, not mine, so I dunno for sure. But maybe this whole goin' after
two dudes at once thing is related to... uh. Like, maybe your Metaverse outfit
is tryna tell you somethin'."

"Tell mewhat, though?"

He shrugged, brow furrowed again. "You don't even like it, you said. So I don't
get what that means." Maybe he could sense that she wanted a change of topic.
"I kinda like mine, honestly."

"You're lucky," she said, bitter. "Yours is - badass. Mine's... mine's some
kind of porn bullshit." She waved her hand at his phone.

He looked away again, and she reached out to touch his shoulder.

"Sorry. I'm not pissed at you." She tried to give him a smile. "Thanks. For
listening, I mean."

He laid his head against her hand for just a second, until she took it back;
then he stretched out his bad leg, testing it. "Thanks for the massage. That
helped a ton."

"No prob." She was suddenly reminded of the massages she and Akira had traded
in the past after returning from Mementos, the massages that were closer to
foreplay than anything truly therapeutic, and felt her face heat up.

Come on. It's not the same.

Ryuji had turned sideways on the couch and sat crosslegged, facing her fully.
"So like. Leavin' that Metaverse shit behind. Did you ever actually say what
the problem was?"

"The - ?"

"Cuz you said you didn't have a fight with Akira. And then you said Mishima's
not a problem either. So... ?"

She stretched her legs out straight and kicked her feet up and down. "Uggggh...
I didn't even get that far... There's more I'd have to tell you."

He picked up his phone and checked the time. "Still three more hours til my mom
gets home."

"All of this isn't too much for you? Maybe you've got stuff to do."

"No way. With the Panther shit added in this is like some kinda weird soap
opera. I gotta find out what happens next." He sprawled back against the couch
and laughed as she slapped at his shoulder in mock fury.

"Okay. But, before that - there was a convenience store near here, right?"

----------

Ryuji assured her that his leg had rested enough to at least make it the block
and a half to the convenience store and back, so they went on a snack run. She
hadn't bothered to put her hoodie or blazer back on, and he had left in his t-
shirt himself; when they'd gotten back, practically running by the time they
reached the door, they were both shivering. She jumped back onto his couch and
seized her blazer, then leaned over and flung her hoodie around his shoulders.
"Brrrr - "

He pulled it around his arms and grinned at her, looking grateful, but then he
seemed to catch sight of something and suddenly looked away.

"What?"

He wouldn't answer, and she noticed that his face was red. As she pulled her
blazer back on, she glanced down and realized what he'd been looking at.

Same. Old. Ryuji. This time, she felt a strange mix of exasperation and
fondness. To be fair... This is a big improvement over just sending dick pics
without asking. Or even how he was staring at me in my catsuit a couple of
hours ago.

"You're such a perv. God," she said automatically.

"Y-yeah, well - you're the one with two dudes in your stable. What, you just
wear one out and hop on the other?" He could look at her again, and now she
could see that he found the whole thing hysterical.

She stuck out her tongue. "If you're just gonna tease me, I'll eat until you
can calm yourself down." She took a bite out of her onigiri; he smirked and
opened his chips. They shared their snacks and chatted about how things had
gone in Mementos that day until they'd had their fill. He was rubbing at his
bad leg absentmindedly again, so she gathered up their garbage and disposed of
it herself.

"Thanks. Round two?"

"Yeah. I guess."

"So. It sounds like you got this casual thing goin' with Akira and Mishima. And
then those two guys... also got a casual thing? Or?"

She grimaced. "That's where the problem is. Like, okay, first of all. Things
are casual but not. None of us were being romantic or anything. We kept saying
that. But we also didn't go outside the, the - "

"Threesome?" He was trying to keep a straight face.

"Fine, whatever - and it was good like that. Like, I thought it was good.
Mishima and Akira seemed happy - "

"I bet they did, yeah - "

She booted him in the side with the heel of her foot and he stopped
interrupting her. " - but then..." Here was the final roadblock. She wanted to
tell Ryuji the full story, but she also didn't want to betray Mishima's trust
in her. She finally compromised and wound up settling for telling him a partial
truth, just as Akira had done with Morgana and Sojiro. "Well. Did you see
Mishima at all last week?"

He shook his head, then paused. "No, maybe I did. He looked sick." Then he
shrugged. "Don't see him as much since we're not in the same class this year."

She wavered. "Don't pass this around, okay?"

He finally flared up at her. "Listen, we're - we're Phantom Thieves, you n' me
at least, and he's our - he's like our fuckin' accomplice, right? Our site
admin. He's always helpin' us out with Mementos shit, even if he doesn't really
know it. Gatherin' intel. I'm not gonna just, like, gossip a bunch of his
private shit at school, okay? Not his shit, not Akira's, not yours." He exhaled
heavily. "Who would I even tell, Ann."

She sighed herself, then nodded, just once. This was it. "He's... he's still
going through some stuff. You know. Kamoshida stuff."

He nodded. He did know.

"He never told his parents. He never told anyone. Until he told us on Saturday
night."

"Damn... "

"And I mean... I don't like to say it, but. He didn't have anyone to tell it
to, you know? I think before Akira transferred here, he didn't really... "

Ryuji was already nodding. "Yeah. He's been shit on for years. I mean, we used
to be buddies, but... " He pulled her hoodie a little tighter around his
shoulders. "What Kamoshida did to me? I'm still pissed about it. Maybe I'll
never really forget it. But Akira's been real good to me. I can send him a
message and he'll just... answer back. Even if it's about that old shit from a
year ago."

She nodded back. "Right? Exactly. And when we were stealing that fucker's
Treasure - " Her voice grew cold. " - and making him pay, you and Akira both
did the same for me. You helped me deal with him and with what he did to Shiho.
It made it easier."

"So - but Akira knew that happened to him, though. Mishima had those marks on
his face right when Akira transferred in. He was all beat to shit. So if
they're, you know, close, then wouldn't Akira have been helpin' him with it?
Like he did with us?"

Here was the line she couldn't cross. She shook her head. She hoped he'd
understand.

He leaned back against the couch and studied her face. She turned away.

"There's... more?"

Ann stayed as still as a statue. If she spoke, she'd either have to confirm
what he'd said or lie to him. If she stayed silent, she could at least feel
like she'd tried to stay loyal to Mishima. But she'd never been much of an
actress, and something about her expression gave her away, or at least gave
Ryuji enough reason to guess.

"Ann, did Kamoshida - " His voice went very quiet. "Is there more?"

She did not cross the line.

"I already figured it out on my own. You didn't tell me." He pulled gently at
her shoulder until she faced him again. "Listen, it's between me n' you. I'm
not gonna drag details out of you."

She let out a long, shaky breath, and if her eyes looked a little glassier than
they should have, he pretended not to notice.

He stretched his arm out along the back of the couch. "So he just... kept all
that in? All this time?"

"Practically pretended it didn't happen. He kept saying it didn't matter. That
it was over."

"Don't mean it can't hurt," he muttered.

"Yeah." She tried to gather her thoughts again. "So, like. He was freaked out
all of last week. He wasn't eating and he wasn't sleeping. He stopped talking
to me and Akira almost entirely. I had to really beg him to come over to my
house on Saturday, and then when he got there, he told me... that. All that
stuff he hadn't been telling anyone for all that time. Since April."

He nodded for her to go on.

"And... God, he was so messed up. He came to tell me allthat, and to tell me
that he wanted to break things off, and to tell me that he loved me."

"Why would he want to... ?"

"I know. I asked him about it afterward, and he said that he was going to say
it first so it would make it easier for me to say it after. To dump him. It's
like he thought there was no way that I could possibly love him back, and he
was just... tying up all the loose ends at once. Saying what he needed to say
so he could start feeling better after it was over."

"Shit." His eyes were filled with nothing but sympathy. If someone outside of
herself and Akira had to know about this, maybe she'd chosen the right person.

Then he smiled. "But. He must be feelin' better now, right? Bet he was happy
when you said it back and neither of you had to break it off."

She didn't know how to answer that, so she said nothing.

"You... you didn't?"

Ann couldn't stand it. She got up and used the washroom, then splashed her face
with water until she couldn't delay it any longer. When she came back, he was
sitting just as she'd left him, and she had to answer. "I like him. He's my
friend. But I don't love him, Ryuji." She swiped the water droplets off of her
face with both palms. "I don't think I do, anyway."

"Fuck, Ann, how can you not know something like that?!"

"I, I don't know! Howdo you know? I've never - !"

He gave her a break and looked away, massaging his leg again.

She murmured, "When he told Akira that he loved him, Akira could just say it
back right away."

He didn't speak for a moment as he put it together. "This really... this really
is some kinda messed up soap opera. He loves you both?"

"Seems that way. And now him and Akira are, like, official, or whatever, and...
"

"And I guess you're just left in the dust."

"But that's just it." She fiddled with the buttons on her blazer. "If it were
like that I'd be happy for them and move on. Eventually, at least. I mean, I am
happy for them. Really. But - "

He looked incredulous. "You're seriously not jealous?"

She didn't have the energy to be eloquent. "If I can watch them fuck in front
of me, or listen to them do it while I'm on my phone in the other room, then...
yeah. I can be happy for them if they start being all lovey dovey."

Ryuji had found something very interesting to look at on the opposite side of
the room and didn't answer.

She sighed. "So, yeah. If they wanted to be, to be like a normal couple and
continue on that way, I'd suck it up. But they want... more of the same. They
still want me to be, you know. Included."

He was still kneading at his leg, and she patted her thighs until he stretched
it across her lap again. She massaged his muscles, trying to make the silence
feel less awkward.

When he finally spoke, his brow was furrowed again. "I guess I see the problem
now. It's all, like. Uneven now. Out of whack. If you're there, you're the, you
know. Sidepiece, or whatever. It's not the same."

She felt a surge of relief, of vindication. "Yes. Thank you. Jesus, I thought I
was going crazy here. I think they really don't see the problem with all this.
And I mean - Mishima really is my friend, too. I'm not gonna just treat him
like some piece of meat. If I know that he loves me and I don't love him back,
I can't just... "

"You don't wanna lead him on."

"Yes. Exactly. Even when everything's out in the open, the idea of... it feels
extra horrible, you know?"

He nodded. "It's a self-respect thing, too. He's not... He's not bein' good to
himself, so you gotta do it for him." Ann stopped working at his leg muscles to
stare at him until he flinched. "What."

"You're pretty smart, Ryuji."

He smirked. "Don't hear that every day."

"No, seriously. You're exactly right, and you don't even know everything." She
looked away as she went back to digging her thumbs into his muscles. "He, um.
When he was super freaked out on Saturday - right after he told me everything
that fucker did to him - he was crying, right? And he... like, right after
that, he tried to. Um. With me."

She glanced over just long enough to confirm that he knew what she meant. "I
stopped him, and he left without telling me where he was going. So he went
straight to Akira's, still all - still all fucked up, and he just started
things up with him instead. Akira didn't know yet, so he let him. He started
crying again while he... You know. While they were doing stuff. While he forced
himself."

"Shit."

She realized she was crying herself now, fat tears rolling down her face and
onto her hands, but she didn't care anymore if Ryuji saw it. "He told Akira he
likes to do stuff for us because it makes him feel useful."

He grimaced and looked away.

Her voice jagged up and down. "So like... how can I just take advantage of him?
Even if he wants to, it still is. Like, he seems better now. He looked a lot
better today in class. But it still is, if I don't love him back."

He lifted his leg off of her lap, sat up, and gave her a hug. She laid her wet
face against his warm shoulder and he stayed stock still until she let him go.
She got up again to blow her nose and wipe off some of her smeared makeup. When
she came back, he was hunched over, resting his elbows on his thighs.

"What a fuckin' mess, huh?" He let out a short, humourless laugh. "Sorry I
called it drama. I had no idea."

"I know, right? What did you think it was going to be about?"

"Thought maybe Akira had broken up with you. Or that, like. Your agency had
dropped you, or somethin'."

"God, I wish it were just stupid modelling shit."

He leaned back and stretched out his arm over the back of the couch again.
"Sorry. I got no advice. I've never... been in love either. I guess."

"Talking helped. That's good enough." She took her hoodie back from where he'd
left it wrapped around his shoulders and started to shrug out of her blazer.
"Think I'd better get going."

"Hey, Ann?"

"Mm."

He waited until she was looking him in the eye. "I won't check you out anymore.
In your Panther suit, I mean. I didn't know you didn't like it." He was
sincere.

"How could you not know? I told you I didn't like my Metaverse outfit. I think
I said it in front of everyone, even."

"Yeah, but... when I do it, you just go 'you're so gross, Ryuji' and you smack
me, or whatever. And, I mean. Morgana says our Thief outfits are from our own
cognitive whatevers. So I guess I thought you would take it as a compliment.
Maybe."

"You thought my outfit was a sign that I... wanted attention? I guess?"

He nodded quickly. "Yeah. And. I didn't know you were in a relationship.
Relationships, even. Like, I kept thinkin' you musta been dating Akira but then
I'd decide you weren't, after all. I dunno."

"Well. I never was. Not really." She smiled fondly. "Me and my boys are just
friends."

"Heh. You and your boys. Carmen's got two dudes, too. You keep 'em on a short
leash, huh?"

He could be annoyingly perceptive. "Oh, shut up. I don't... I don't treat them
like that."

He stopped teasing her. "Anyway. I guess I thought your Panther suit was like
your bikini, from when we went to the beach."

"How?"

"Well, when I checked you out in that, you just laughed and punched me in the
gut. Pulled me in even closer. Right?"

"That's because you were making such a stupid face!"

He laughed with her. "Okay, but. Did you take that as a compliment?"

"Kind of? Maybe. Did you mean it as one?"

He waggled his eyebrows at her. "Yeah, man. You were practically naked."

"That's different from my Panther outfit, though. I picked that bikini out
myself. And, like. I guess I knew you'd be looking at me. Akira too, probably.
Yusuke. I planned for it." She smiled. "I'm a model! People look at me. That's
the whole point of a bikini."

"Then... ?"

"When we're in the Metaverse, I'm just trying to keep up with the rest of you.
Trying to keep up with Akira's goddamn backflips, and sneaking through vents,
and whipping Shadows. I'm not... I'm not trying to be sexy. I want to get shit
done. And if I'm in battle, trying to dodge a hit or whatever, it starts to get
really distracting if I have to worry about what kind of view you're getting
out of it."

"Sorry," he mumbled.

"Nah." She blew her hair off her forehead. "Maybe I've been giving you mixed
signals."

"Well, if you don't like your own cognitive outfit, that came straight outta
your head, that's like. The definition of a mixed signal."

She laughed, delighted at the thought. Sometimes he had a way with words. "You
are smart."

"Psht."

She lunged at him and messed with his hair until he groaned in protest. Then
she picked up her bag, shoved her feet into her boots and went home.

By the time she pulled out her phone at the train station, she'd been bombarded
with messages. There was an email from her modelling agency asking for models
to substitute for a shoot that afternoon, then another stating that all
vacancies had been filled. Akira had sent her a few chat messages here and
there over the course of the day, asking if she was okay. Mishima had sent one
to ask if she was okay as well, then one more a few hours later to say that he
understood if she needed more time to think. And Ryuji had already sent her a
dozen or more goofy memes and cat gifs; even as she scrolled through them, she
received two more.

When she got home, she left her phone on the charger and watched mindless TV
with her live-in caretaker in the living room until she went to bed. She slept
better than she had for most of the past week.
Chapter End Notes
     Good Guy Ryuji
***** False hope. Homework. "You know about that stuff?" *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
When the bell rang at the end of class the next day, Ann waved a quick goodbye
to both Mishima and Akira as she hurried to a shoot. Mishima was packing up his
things, and Akira rushed to send a message to him before he could leave.

AKIRA: Wanna come home with me?

He could already see his ears turning red, even from across the room. It really
didn't take much.

MISHIMA: On a weeknight, though?

AKIRA: For coffee, I mean.

MISHIMA: Oh.

MISHIMA: You do that on purpose, don't you.

MISHIMA: Yeah, okay. Coffee's nice too.

Akira whispered to Morgana inside his desk, trying not to be overheard.
"Mishima's coming over, but you can hang out too, if you like. It'll just be
for the afternoon, I think."

Morgana sighed, but kept his snark to himself. Akira had noticed that he'd
softened his stance on Mishima a little in the last few days.

They hopped on the train, then headed to Leblanc from the Yongen station. Akira
made them each a latte and they chatted quietly in a booth until the cafe
started to fill up with regulars stopping by on their way home from work.
Sojiro caught his eye and gestured with his chin in the direction of the attic;
Akira nodded and they cleared out to leave their seats available for paying
customers.

Morgana took the windowsill, grooming all the parts of his fur that had become
dishevelled from being inside Akira's bag. Mishima took a seat on the couch,
redfaced but pleased. "He really said... 'good for you'? When you told him?" It
had happened a few days ago, but he still seemed to have a hard time believing
it.

Akira pressed in to his side, hip to hip. "Yeah. He really did." He wrapped his
arm around his waist and sipped his coffee.

"Any word from Ann?"

"Not really. Nothing of substance. She seems... better? Okay, at least." He
thought of the way she'd snapped at Morgana at their last meeting the day
before, or the stony silence as she sat in the bus in Mementos. By comparison,
she'd been practically cheery today.

Mishima sighed. "I made her so sad. I wish I hadn't said - "

"You didn't do anything wrong. I just wish you'd told us all that earlier. But.
I get why you didn't."

"Yeah, but. What are we gonna do about Ann?"

Akira shrugged and set his cup on the table next to the couch. "That's up to
her."

"I don't wanna lose her."

"I was thinking about it, and I think I sorta see what she's doing." He pulled
Mishima closer, careful not to spill his coffee, until Mishima rested his head
on his shoulder. "She put space between me and her when she guessed that I
liked you. She might think that she has to do the same thing now that we're,
you know. A couple. She's trying to do the right thing."

"Maybe. Because she's not... ignoring me, she's just... "

"Staying in 'just friends' territory. Right?"

Mishima nodded. "Yeah. Only, you know. Normal 'just friends.' Not the way we
were being friends before."

"That might just be how things go, now. At least she still wants to be friends,
right?"

"Sure, but... " He sat up and set his cup on the floor. "I miss her. Like - "
He twisted to the side to face Akira. "Sorry. You're still - I'm still happy to
be with you. It's not that you're not enough."

"I get it. I know." He pulled out his phone to check for messages from her,
then put it away. "I'll give you a hint about Ann, though. You can't push her,
or she'll just push back. Give her some time and see what she says."

They sat in silence for a few moments, until Akira stirred, cracking his
knuckles. "Hey, Morgana."

Morgana stopped grooming his fur and sat up attentively.

"Want to pick what we watch today? Or play?" He knelt in front of the TV and
spread out a handful of DVD cases and retro game boxes. Morgana leapt to the
floor and came over. He studied the selection carefully, angling his head this
way and that, before decisively planting his front paw on top of Train of Life.

Mishima sounded impressed. "How did you teach him that?"

Akira inserted the cartridge into the console and switched it on. "Morgana's
very smart. He taught himself." He set up three chairs, one for each of them,
and they played for hours until Mishima went home.
----------

Ann collapsed on top of her bed, exhausted. Her shoot had gone long and the
chocolate bar she'd grabbed before her train had come hadn't helped; now she
was sugar crashing. She desperately wanted a shower and something of substance
to eat but she couldn't summon the energy just yet.

She lay there, staring at the ceiling and barely thinking. Her phone buzzed, so
she picked it up.

RYUJI: yo.
RYUJI: how goes?
ANN: hey
ANN: meh
ANN: tired. long shoot. you?
RYUJI: avoiding homework.
ANN: don't even say that word
RYUJI: lol yeah.
RYUJI: so.
RYUJI: i saw you in the hall at lunch. you feelin better?
ANN: yeah actually
ANN: kinda
ANN: nothing changed, but. I think talking to you helped. thanks
RYUJI: dunno what i did, but you're welcome.
ANN: we used to talk more, didn't we
ANN: before the Thieves, I mean
RYUJI: guess so. middle school, maybe.
RYUJI: we just had our own shit to deal with after that, that's all.
ANN: well, like. you should come talk to me if you need to
ANN: if Akira is busy, I mean :P
RYUJI: busy with his new bf?
RYUJI: yeah, he is my go to, I guess.
RYUJI: man, I'm not like. prejudiced. don't think that. but I totally can't
picture him like that.
RYUJI: gay.
ANN: I caaaaaaan
ANN: mmf

She laughed to herself in her bedroom. If only you could see what I've seen.

RYUJI: OR mishima.
RYUJI: we used to hang out in middle school. when it wasn't you n me, it was me
n him.
RYUJI: i wonder if he knew back then.
ANN: nah. from what Akira told me, he didn't know he was until Akira sorta. had
a long talk with him

If you want to call that talking.

RYUJI: geeze. it's like everybody's so far ahead of me.
RYUJI: i can't believe i couldn't tell that all this was going on. i kept
seeing you n akira bein, you know. close. i didn't think it was anythin like
this though.
ANN: we did a good job hiding it then
ANN: this isn't really a thing you tell everyone
ANN: like, you were nice about it. I guess I could've told you all along. but a
lot of people would call me a slut, or whatev
RYUJI: i wouldn't call you that. unless i was joking, maybe.
RYUJI: like, you aren't banging randos at parties. it's just been them two,
right?
ANN: yeah
RYUJI: and you seem close to him too. like, real close.
RYUJI: i was thinkin about it after you left.
RYUJI: do you think maybe you do love him? mishima? and you don't know it?
RYUJI: you cried for him.
ANN: if you saw how he was a couple days ago, you'd see why
ANN: I don't know how to know for sure
ANN: I mean, I've done all the things with both of them you're supposed to do
with your boyfriend. when you're in love
ANN: so why DON'T I know
ANN: like, what if I can't. be in love
RYUJI: aw.
RYUJI: you're not a monster.
RYUJI: i mean. a raging dick fiend, maybe.
ANN: oh shut upppp

She'd laughed, loud, at what he'd said, but he didn't need to know that.

RYUJI: no, seriously, i have to know. how the hell did you make that work.
RYUJI: you steal his goddamn bf and nobody's jealous???
ANN: I talked to both of them about it before I did anything
ANN: and I already told you! nobody was anybody's boyfriend. or girlfriend
ANN: after they told me they're a couple, I haven't touched either of them
ANN: call me what you want, but I'm not a cheater
ANN: or like. a homewrecker? whatever
RYUJI: okay, okay, chill.
RYUJI: but. really. i don't get it. how was nobody jealous?
ANN: we took turns
RYUJI: lmao.
RYUJI: just like i said, huh?
ANN: nooooo
ANN: god, Ryuji XD
ANN: I meant Mishima would stay the night at my place one weekend and at
Akira's the next. we only all... got together... one time
RYUJI: i almost feel proud.
ANN: what?
RYUJI: my little buddy has come so far.
ANN: your little buddy gets a lot more action than you do, I bet ;)
RYUJI: hey.
RYUJI: you don't get to tease me.
RYUJI: i may not have two girls in rotation at once, or whatever, but i also
don't gotta worry about this relationship/not-relationship shit either.
RYUJI: sorry.
ANN: nah, that's fair
ANN: I shouldn't tease you. it's not like this is going well anymore
RYUJI: i can't decide for you. but to me there's no question.
RYUJI: if you don't love him, but those guys love each other, then you gotta
back off.
RYUJI: you already said it at my place. you don't wanna lead him on.
RYUJI: so don't.

She grimaced to herself. Ryuji had a way of boiling things down to what was
important.

ANN: ugh
ANN: maybe I needed to hear that
ANN: they keep asking me tho. like, they want me to come back and start things
up again
ANN: it's nice to feel wanted. you know?
ANN: but I don't think it's right to pretend nothing is different
RYUJI: so don't.
ANN: I know. I know

She sighed and pulled her hair free from its elastics.

ANN: thanks
ANN: you're good at this
ANN: for not having relationship experience
RYUJI: most useless skill ever, lol.
ANN: sorry to make it all about me and bounce. twice. but I need a shower so
bad
RYUJI: get outta here then, stank girl.
ANN: lol
ANN: k. ttyl

----------

The next morning, Ann happened to wake up early, ahead of her alarm, and spent
a little extra time on herself. She did her makeup to perfection and put on her
favourite perfume, one that she'd saved up for with her modelling funds and
kept for special occasions. She ate granola and yogurt for breakfast and still
had enough time to look over her homework one last time before she had to pack
up and leave for her train.

When she got to school, she arrived early enough to catch both Mishima and
Akira hanging out at the entrance, both of them leaning against the wall side
by side but not quite touching. Since Akira had been so free with showing her
physical affection at school in the past, she knew that he was holding himself
back for the sake of Mishima's comfort in public, having learned his lesson
after their first date at the diner. She smiled to herself as she approached.

I'm leaving you in good hands.

"Hi."

"Hey Ann. How've you been?"

"Not bad. You guys busy after school?"
----------

Mishima took it better than she'd thought he would.

After careful consideration, she'd chosen Leblanc; at first, she'd wanted a
public place, but almost any other place she could think of was a little too
public. Students didn't frequent Leblanc, at least.

To her relief, Akira seemed to have an inkling about how things were going to
go, and led them upstairs instead of settling them into a booth right under
Sojiro's nose. Morgana leapt out of his bag and onto the bed, but when Akira
murmured something to him just out of earshot, he made himself scarce via the
open window.

Akira turned back to face her, seated on the couch next to Mishima. "Should I
be here for this?"

Ann nodded. "Might as well." She opened her mouth to speak, but Mishima
interrupted her.

"I guess I know what you're going to say."

She wanted to take his hand, but knew she couldn't. "I'm sorry."

He sighed. "I can't change your mind? I really... miss you."

"You've seen me every day!"

"You know what I mean."

She closed her eyes. "I'll miss you too. But I gotta do the right thing." She
opened them again and made sure he was looking at her face. "Just don't think
this is because of... what you had to tell me, okay? It's not because of that.
It's because... " She'd rehearsed this part over and over since the evening
before, but everything she'd decided to say had flown out of her head.

He looked utterly miserable. Her heart ached for him. "Because I love you, we
can't be friends?"

"We can be friends. Just not... more than friends." She shook her head, trying
to put her thoughts in order. "It's too much, you know? It's not fair to you. I
can't just lead you on."

He sighed again and turned his face away so he wouldn't have to look at her. "I
wish I could undo it. It was... it was nice. Until then. Until I said it."

"You're in a relationship now. A real one. You've got Akira."

Mishima looked from her face to his. "Are the two of you going to - "

They both shook their heads immediately. "That really wouldn't be fair," Akira
said.

She was glad they were on the same page. "Listen. If it makes it easier on you,
Mishima, I can sorta. Give you some room. Until you feel less... strongly,
about it. About me."

"No. I want to - I mean, can we still hang out? Like, I'll miss seeing you
like... that, but I don't want to just stop seeing you entirely. Is that okay?"

"Course. We still get on pretty good, don't we?" She grinned. "I need someone
to help me tease Akira."

He was able to smile back.

----------

AKIRA: Are you okay?
AKIRA: Be honest.
ANN: yeah
ANN: I wasn't, but. I think I am now

It was late, long after first Ann, then Mishima, then Sojiro had gone home.
Morgana had returned, and had kept any burning questions he might have had
about 'Lady Ann's' relationship status to himself for the time being. He lay
curled up in a tight ball a few inches from Akira's side as he tapped into his
phone in a private chat with Ann.

ANN: is he?
ANN: okay?
AKIRA: Think so. I think he knew it was coming.
AKIRA: You didn't give him any false hope, I don't think.
ANN: still. I'm sorry
AKIRA: Why are you saying that to me?
ANN: bc I can't be there for him. I guess
ANN: this timing feels so shitty. like, he wanted to make it easy for me to
break up with him because he thought I wouldn't love him after he told us all
that. that shit that happened to him
ANN: and. oh look, it's fucking true. I don't love him. I broke up with him
ANN: god
ANN: do you think I did the right thing?
AKIRA: I don't... know.
AKIRA: This got so complicated, you know?
AKIRA: I don't think you did the wrong thing, at least. You were kind.
ANN: I tried
AKIRA: He'll be okay. He's gotten through tougher things than this.
AKIRA: Hey, now that your weekends are free, Morgana would like to take Lady
Ann out for a sushi date.
ANN: fucking... don't, okay?
ANN: this is just more of the same. if I spend a minute more than I need to
being nice to Morgana, then it's just what you said about Mishima. "false hope"
ANN: like, maybe that's exaggeration, but. I'm sick of having to be so careful.
I don't want to hurt his feelings, so I can't just say "no, you're a cat, I
will not go out on a date with you" either. can't be too nice, can't say what I
mean, either
ANN: just... ugh
AKIRA: I'm sorry.
AKIRA: He just said it to me the other day, that's all. I don't really think
you should give him false hope either.
ANN: sorry. just. I think I still need some time away from relationship junk
ANN: I'm not mad at you
ANN: sorry
AKIRA: It's alright.
AKIRA: Are you and me okay, though?
ANN: yeah
ANN: I'm just snappy tonight
ANN: I miss you. and him
ANN: it has to be that way, but. I miss you anyway. you know the way I mean
AKIRA: Yeah. I know.
AKIRA: We can't, though.
ANN: I know
ANN: be good to him for me

Akira started to type in his response, but she'd already left the chat.

----------

It was just before the warning bell on Friday morning, two days after Ann had
given Mishima the news.

MISHIMA: Hey.

Mishima twisted in his seat to look over at Akira. Ann caught sight of the
movement and glanced up long enough to give him a pleasant enough smile, then
returned her attention to her notebook. She knew that she wasn't the one he was
trying to talk to.

AKIRA: Hi.

He looked up and gave Mishima what he hoped was a sympathetic sort of look.

AKIRA: How're you doing?
MISHIMA: The same. I guess.
MISHIMA: Not great.
MISHIMA: Actually, maybe I'd feel worse if I hadn't sort of known it would go
this way. Like, I was going to break things off with her anyway.
MISHIMA: I think I'd feel worse if I'd thought I had a chance. So I got some of
the feeling shitty out of the way ahead of time.
AKIRA: Geeze. That's kinda
AKIRA: Bleak.
MISHIMA: Well, you asked.
AKIRA: You want to go to the movies this weekend or something? Take your mind
off things?
MISHIMA: Maybe.
MISHIMA: Actually, I think it'd be a waste. I can't pay attention to anything.
MISHIMA: Could I just come over?
AKIRA: Oh. Um.
AKIRA: Sorry to ask in class, but. How've things been going?
MISHIMA: I just... told you?
AKIRA: I mean when you're by yourself.
MISHIMA: Well. I guess I'm sad. Mad at myself that I told her I loved her, even
though I think more and more that there was no way around it. I needed to say
it.
MISHIMA: And at first I was all... Mopey. Didn't want to move. But then
yesterday I started thinking that I'd feel better if I could go do something.
So I went to Harajuku and collected intel for the Phan-site.
MISHIMA: That helped. Even though I don't think I found anything useful.
AKIRA: Maybe you're starting to feel better. Or you're about to.
AKIRA: And I'm glad to hear that, but that actually isn't what I meant.
MISHIMA: ?
AKIRA: Are things going any better when you're by yourself? When I'm not there?
AKIRA: When I can't be there to help you?
MISHIMA: Uh
MISHIMA: Now I know what you mean, lol.
MISHIMA: I was trying to take my mind off things, and today I started to feel
like I had more energy, so...
AKIRA: Nice.

Akira carefully selected an applause emoji, a gold star emoji, and a grinning
cat emoji. He sent them all and then immediately added on a thumbs up emoji and
sent that too.

MISHIMA: You're so weird, lol.
AKIRA: Well, I was going to throw the eggplant in there, but...

He glanced up to confirm that Mishima was blushing, just as he'd suspected.

MISHIMA: So can I come over or not? What does that even have to do with... ?
AKIRA: Well, since you've been good.
AKIRA: Actually, I'm going to assign you some homework tonight. If you complete
that, then you can come by tomorrow night.
MISHIMA: Maybe I'd better chat with you while I'm working on it.
MISHIMA: So you can grade me.

Akira's eyes went wide, and he looked up just in time to see Mishima flash him
a cheeky grin, face still beet red, before he turned back around in his desk
and put his phone away.

----------

When Mishima pushed open the door to Leblanc the next evening, the cafe was
empty, just as it always seemed to be at that time of night. He spotted Sojiro
behind the counter, wiping down the surface. Instead of the usual curt nod,
Sojiro gave him a wave this time, really just raising his palm to him briefly
before turning back to what he was doing.

It won't be so bad. Just make it quick. It's already overdue as it is.

Mishima slunk up to the bar and sat down.

"Coffee, kid?"

"No, I actually. Uh." He dug through his bag and presented Sojiro with a gift
wrapped package, setting it carefully on the counter. "Here."

"What's this?"

"Castella."

Sojiro picked up the box, wrapped in pretty paper. "Because... ?"

His brain screamed at him to stop talking and escape, run out the door and keep
on running until he made it to the station. But he raised his eyes to Sojiro's
and said what he needed to say. "I. I behaved poorly. Last week. Please don't
blame Akira for what I did." He bowed his head and slid off of the chair,
already wishing he were upstairs.

"So formal!" Sojiro looked amused, if anything. "I've seen you around since
then though. Aren't you supposed to give gifts the next time you see the
person? Why do I get a castella now?"

Mishima had been running on autopilot for much of the last two weeks. The first
week, the week before he'd embarrassed himself in Leblanc, had been the week
that he'd been operating on very little sleep, counting it as a success every
day that he simply made it to school. The week after, most of his thoughts had
been taken up by Ann, and much of his energy had been spent trying to recover
from the week previous. The last time he'd come by Leblanc, he'd skulked past
Sojiro and up the stairs, already knowing what Ann was going to tell him before
she'd begun talking. He honestly hadn't remembered how he must have damaged
Akira's standing with Sojiro by getting drunk in the cafe until Friday, the day
that Akira had invited him over for the weekend; that evening, he'd taken the
train to the underground mall and agonized over a suitable gift until he'd
spied the castella. But he hadn't the slightest clue what he was going to tell
Sojiro. "Um - "

Sojiro flapped his hand at him and let him off the hook. He turned to the
kitchen and cut him off without looking at him. "Can you take some curry up to
him?"

"Oh - yeah, sure - "

He turned back to face him and spoke slowly and deliberately. "Sometimes I
wonder if he gets enough to eat." He looked Mishima in the eye just long enough
to make it clear who he was really concerned about. He plated up two servings
of curry, then asked him to remind Akira to lock up. "Thanks for the cake,
kid."

He wedged the box under his arm and left.

Mishima sank back into his chair; he'd been holding his breath long enough to
feel light headed. When his heart had stopped pounding, he got up and flipped
the sign to closed, locked the door, and turned out the lights. There was
enough ambient light from both the attic and outside to light his way as he
carried the plates of curry upstairs.

----------

Akira fell out of his chair when he saw him come up the stairs.

"Whoa - " Mishima set the plates down on the table next to the staircase.
"Geeze, what - " His nerves were still jangling from his encounter with Sojiro,
and he noticed that even as Akira climbed back into his chair, his eyes were
still staring wildly behind his glasses. Mishima couldn't help it. He started
to laugh at him. "Am I that scary?"

Akira still didn't look himself; he'd planted his hand over his heart, as if it
would leap from his chest. He closed his eyes in relief as he slid his phone
into his pocket. "Holy... I thought you were Sojiro."

"You told me he's not scary, remember?" He set two chairs in front of the
table, then pulled one back for Akira.

He guessed what the reason might be when he saw how awkwardly Akira moved as he
took his seat at the table. "Were you - ?!"

Instead of answering, Akira pushed his chair back, opened his legs a little and
showed him - his uniform pants hid nothing - then nonchalantly took a bite of
curry. He pulled his chair back up to the table and kept eating.

Mishima started to laugh all over again. He was actually a little awestruck.
"The owner was still here! You don't even have a door - "

He shrugged and gave him a sly smile, then took another bite. "Hasn't caught me
yet."

"Do you want him to?! Akira - " He took a bite of his own curry, still eyeing
his face appreciatively. "And besides. Did you forget I was coming over?"
Mishima lowered his voice; even if he knew Sojiro was gone, it still somehow
felt safer after having just seen him. "Weren't you going to wait for me?"

Akira raised his eyebrows, all innocence. "Wait for you? You mean to eat
dinner?" He paused to make sure Mishima was looking up from his plate; then,
locking eyes with him, he slowly ran his fingers down his length, trapped
between his pants and his leg. He was still chewing.

"Akira, I can't even see what you're doing, it's not like I can see through the
frickingtable - "

Akira gave up on keeping a straight face and covered his mouth as he laughed
around a mouthful of food. "Aw, that was supposed to be hot."

"Uh, not really. You've got rice on your face now - "

They both laughed and gave up on focusing on anything other than clearing their
plates.
----------

Mishima flopped onto the end of the bed, leaving his feet hanging off the edge.
"Blugh. Too much curry... "

Akira wasn't much better off. He groaned and laid down next to him. "Yeah - did
you plate that up? That's way more than I usually eat." He reached out and
poked Mishima in the belly.

Mishima rolled away to avoid being touched. "No. I'm not just gonna make myself
at home like that. The owner gave it to me to take it up to you." He remembered
their conversation downstairs. "Um. Sakura-san, I mean."

"He hasn't done that before, right?"

"No. I think he thinks I'm wasting away, or something." Mishima told him about
how Sojiro had treated him when he'd presented him with the castella by way of
apology.

Akira was impressed. "You know about that stuff? Apology gifts? I don't
really... know how to do it, I guess. When you're supposed to or not."

"I remembered how bad I must've made you look to him, so... I just ran out and
bought some cake. He never lets me pay for coffee, so I probably owe him more
than a cake, but." He shrugged.

Akira rolled towards him and hugged Mishima's arm to his chest. "Don't stress
about it. I think he wanted to make sure you're eating. When you're here, at
least."

Mishima looked him in the eye but said nothing. They were both thinking of the
same thing.

Akira sighed. "You look better to me, but - things are going better, right?
You're not thinking of that old stuff? As much?"

His eyebrows were drawn down, but his voice was steady. "I might always. Now
and then. Some stupid little thing always seems to remind me. But no. I'm
not... like, I can put it out of my mind now. It's not all I think about." He
smiled, a little sadly. "You both really helped me. You and Ann."

"Yeah, I was going to ask about that too. You told me a bit in our chat in
class, but - "

Mishima tipped his head back to stare at the ceiling. "I keep... typing in a
chat message to her and deleting it. Not sending anything." He started talking
with his hands. "Space might be better. Like, if I can let myself think of
other things it gets a bit easier. But then I'm just leaving her out. Like, the
three of us, we were almost like a - well, laugh if you want, but it really was
getting to be like a team or something, and now she's kicked out - "

"I dunno what word to use, but I know what you mean. I think. You just don't
want her to be lonely."

He nodded firmly. "Yeah. I don't even mean... what we did that weekend. All
three of us. I just want to hang out with her." Mishima closed his eyes.
"Suzui's gone. Ann never really talked about having any other friends." He
turned to look at Akira again. "Have you been seeing her still? More than I
have?"

"Sometimes." Akira was thinking of their trip to the Metaverse, though he
wasn't sure if that should count; there wasn't much time for one on one
socializing when they were infiltrating. "We're really not... going to continue
things, though. Her and me. You trust me, right?"

He was already nodding. "Yeah, of course."

"Good. But. I think some more time apart would help. Like, you guys are still
friends, but it'll just be awkward, this soon." He remembered after he'd said
it that it really wasn't his place to give advice. "I mean, it's up to you how
you handle it, but - "

"No. I get it. I guess you're right." Mishima groaned again. "I'm too full to
talk about serious stuff. Can we watch TV or something?"

Akira got up with considerable effort and put on a DVD that they didn't watch,
instead talking over it about whatever came to mind. A couple of hours passed.

Akira had let Mishima take the bed this time as he stretched out on the couch;
when their conversation hit a lull he glanced over. He realized he probably
couldn't even see what was going on on the tiny screen from there. Instead, he
was staring at the ceiling and listening to the audio.

Akira turned the volume low and joined him on the bed, raising himself on his
knees and elbows over Mishima. "Up for something?"

Mishima smiled up at him and answered, but Akira was distracted and didn't hear
what he said.

He looks comfortable.

He looks... so much better.

He buried his face into Mishima's neck and rested lightly on top of him, just
holding him.

Mishima had noticed that he hadn't answered him. "Mm?"

"Just happy."

He freed his arms and wrapped them around Akira's waist. "Yeah. Me too."
Chapter End Notes
     Akira is a gross teenage boy lol
***** Something good. Joker helps. "Maybe you can, but I can't." *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
They lay that way for some time, until Mishima stirred beneath him. "I thought
you came over here for a reason."

"What reason would that be?"

"Dunno. You tell me." Mishima took on a teasing tone. "Gonna tell me what you
were looking at on your phone? Must've been something good."

"It was something good." Akira sat up and knelt over him on his knees, then
pulled his phone from his pocket and hit play on the video that he'd left on
the screen.

Mishima started to turn away when he realized what it was, but Akira moved his
phone to follow his face. The video was only about a minute long, and the audio
wasn't great; most of it was almost silent, and it was only in the final five
or ten seconds that anything could be heard. It sounded like faraway breathing
and a faint, rhythmic noise.

"Have you watched it yet?"

"No, I just... sent it... " Mishima had gone very red. He covered his mouth
with one hand, his eyes glued to the screen. He tapped the screen and replayed
the video from the beginning.

"I think I'll give you bonus marks for your assignment."

Mishima finally set the phone down and glared up at him. "You still haven't
told me why I - why you gave me homework."

"Last weekend you told me you... couldn't. Or, don't, at least. When you're by
yourself. Because you start thinking about old shit." He stuck his phone back
in his pocket. "Practice makes perfect, right?"

"Why do you even care if I - "

"Of course I care!" Akira settled in beside him, flat on his back, and pulled
him close until Mishima's head was resting on his shoulder. "You should get
to... relax. Stress relief. Remember?"

"I guess." Mishima huffed, but his heart wasn't really in it.

Akira brought his mouth close to his ear. "What were you thinking about? When
you shot that video?"

"You first."

"Well I was thinking of you, since I was chatting with you."

At least Mishima was smiling now, equal parts embarrassed and pleased. "I meant
- I meant what do you think about, usually?"

Akira didn't share Mishima's reluctance to talk about it. "You, lately. Random
porn. Used to be Ann, but. You know. It's probably not the nicest thing to keep
doing that to someone you're not involved with. Someone who's your friend." He
realized that might not quite make sense and laughed at himself. "Well. It
doesn't feel like it's being nice, I guess." He thought it over and added,
"Ryuji, a couple times. I had this dream... "

Mishima had stiffened his shoulders against him. "Sakamoto?"

"Yeah, him. But I stopped, because it didn't feel... nice. You know." Then he
remembered how he and Ann had mentioned Ryuji in their group chat a couple of
weeks ago. "Hey, it was just a dumb dream. He's just my friend."

Mishima laid his face against him chest, looking at nothing in particular. "You
said he was hot, didn't you?"

Now you've done it. "Well... yeah. I did."

To his relief, Mishima was smiling again. "He's kinda filled out in the last
year or two, huh."

"I wasn't here to see him before. But yeah, his hard work is paying off, I'd
say."

"How come you never... I mean. Were you ever interested in him?"

Akira seesawed his hand. "I checked him out a few times. But I was pretty into
Ann at the time, and he never really gave me a hint one way or the other if he
was into me, I guess. Into guys. Although I sometimes got this feeling from
him... " He grinned. "You know, I don't think I ever would have considered...
doing this, with you and Ann, before I met her. Being involved with two people
at the same time. It really was all her idea."

"Well, you could've said no when she talked to you about starting things up
with me. I think most people would've."

"Do you regret it? Now that Ann's... "

Mishima laughed. "No!"

"Yeah. Me neither." Akira started running his palm over his shoulders, then
down his back. "Your turn."

"What?"

"What kind of things have you been thinking of? These last couple days, at
least."

Predictably, Mishima rolled away to hide his face. Akira just followed him and
wrapped his arms around him. "Mm. Maybe I don't want to tell you now."

"Oh, like that's fair - "

He could hear the smile in Mishima's voice. "Ann was right. You really can't
take teasing."

"Tell me!"

Mishima leaned back against him a little. "You."

"While we were chatting?"

"Course. And Ann." He started to mumble. "Guess you're right. I should stop
that."

"...Maybe. Anything else?"

His breathing had picked up, Akira noticed. "I liked... I liked it when you bit
me. Last time."

"That's good. Because I seem to like... doing that. To you."

Why DO I like that?

Maybe Mishima had read his mind. "What does it do for you?"

He had to search his memory, trying to remember what might have been going
through his head when he'd decided to bite him. But nothing came to him. "I
don't really know what would make me want to do it. With you or Ann." He
lowered his voice, smiling at the thought of it. "But I like the noises she
makes. Made. When I did it. And with you - it seemed to help, right?"

Mishima nodded silently.

Akira repeated his own question back to him. "What does it do for you?"

His breath caught in his throat as Mishima actually shivered against him.
"It... "

He gave him time.

"It felt... like when you hold me down. When you're - " It was hard to make out
what he was saying. " - when you're a little rough with me."

"I don't get what you mean."

He made a little noise of frustration. "It's - I don't get it either. It should
hurt, it - I mean, when you bit me it did hurt, kind of - but it's. It." He
laughed at himself and made himself say it. His tone was almost reverent.
"Akira, it made me come so hard."

Akira wasn't expecting to hear anything like that come out of his mouth and was
shocked into letting out a short laugh himself. "You've gotten so - you used to
be so shy."

"Sorry."

Akira slid his palm down his chest, down his stomach, down to the front of his
pants. Mishima was already half hard just from talking to him. "Don't be. I
like it," he whispered in his ear. He rubbed at the head with his fingertips,
then laid his whole palm across his length and coaxed him until his hips were
arching against his hand. "I couldn't believe I got you talking like that in
our chat. When we were sitting in class."

Mishima seemed to be more focused on what Akira was doing than what he was
saying. "Uh huh - " He gasped as he writhed under his hand.

Akira brought his mouth closer to his ear, brushing it with his lips as he
spoke. "I'm glad I could help you get more comfortable. When I can't be there."

Mishima just nodded, pressing himself against Akira's fingers.

He kissed his neck, then took his earlobe between his lips. Mishima let out a
little whimper, spurring him on to grind his palm against him. "I hope you
saved some for me, though." He finally unzipped him and freed his cock.

Mishima had had enough. He sat up quickly and whipped his shirt off, then
stripped out of his pants and briefs.

"Whoa - " Akira smirked up at him. "Someone's eager - "

"You - you talk too much." Mishima straddled his hips and shut him up.

Akira let his hands roam as Mishima perched on top of him, kissing him hard and
fast. He made Mishima sigh into his mouth when he grabbed his ass, until he sat
up and swatted his hands away.

"What - ?"

Mishima's brows were drawn down and at first, Akira thought he was fed up with
him. But then he realized he was teasing him. "You have way too many clothes
on." He yanked futilely at Akira's shirt until he gave in and sat up enough for
Mishima to pull it over his head; then Mishima knelt over him and unzipped him.

An impish, weirdly childish thought came into his head - You're not the boss of
me - and Akira stopped being careful. He lunged upright into a sitting
position, wrapped Mishima in his arms and bore down on him until he was on top,
Mishima trapped beneath him; he heard his teeth click on impact. He'd misjudged
the length of the bed and Mishima's head was left hanging off of the end of it
until he couldn't see his face anymore.

Shit -

Was that too rough?

But Mishima's hips were already straining against him; he raised his head from
over the edge of the bed just far enough for Akira to catch his expression. He
looked almost euphoric as he panted, his eyes darker than ever.

The look he gave him flipped some kind of switch in Akira, something that
flooded him with adrenaline. He couldn't seem to catch his breath, and his
heartrate picked up. It was a little like the way he felt when he was fighting
a new type of Shadow, one he wasn't sure he could beat. Which wasn't to say
that he felt afraid, or as if he were fighting for his life. Instead he felt a
hint of his confident - cocky, really - Metaverse self stirring within him,
just enough to lend him a hand. To tamp down the fear that he was hurting the
one he loved - really hurting him. That he was opening old wounds. Joker told
him to stop worrying, so he did. Instead he put the adrenaline to good use and
took control.

Mishima struggled against him, freeing his arms, but Akira just seized his
wrists and yanked him towards him until his head was resting on the bed again.
He knelt over him, his wrists trapped in his hands, and dared him to speak with
a look.

Mishima looked half crazed, fixing his eyes on Akira's and beginning to grin as
he raised his head off of the mattress. "That's - is that all you got? I - "

Akira grinned back and slapped him.

It was more of a tap; Akira held back most of his strength. It was really just
for the look of it. Mishima slowly turned his face back to him, looking
shocked.

Mishima shifted his hips beneath him and Akira felt his cock press against his
inner thigh. He raised his head again, panting. "I think you can do better than
that - "

Another slap, harder this time. It was enough to snap his head all the way to
the side. This time he left it there and started to laugh. It wasn't like his
teasing tone, to spur Akira on; it was loopy, half-hysterical laughter,
completely uncontrolled. He kept it up and started to struggle. Akira easily
held him down just by putting a little more of his weight on his wrists.
Mishima wasn't really trying to get out from under him after all; it was just
for the look of it, just like hitting him had been. "You'd better start
behaving if you don't want another one," Akira said. He arched his hips down
against him to let him know what he intended, then released his wrists.

Mishima was still breathing hard, as if he'd run a race. He looks... As he sat
up in front of him, Akira realized what his face reminded him of. He looked
intoxicated. A red, hand-shaped mark had appeared on his cheek.

This is exactly what he wanted. A thrill ran up his spine. Mishima wouldn't ask
for this, or maybe he didn't know how, aside from vague hints; but he wanted
Akira to take from him, to overpower him. Mishima trusted him enough to let go.

Akira leaned back on his hands and let Mishima kneel in front of him. He held
his breath as Mishima yanked at his boxers impatiently, freeing his cock from
the fabric, and took the head into his mouth.

The last time Mishima had given him head had been a week ago, when he'd started
- Akira tried to shove the image out of his mind before he could get a good
look at it, but of course it was too late.
He winced and tried to convince himself that this time would be different.

Mishima was good at distracting him. He stared up at him, his eyes half closed,
as he plunged Akira's cock into his mouth. Akira did his best not to rock his
hips upward, but when Mishima did something with his tongue, some kind of
flicking motion, he couldn't help it anymore; his hips twitched, and he thrust
into Mishima's hot, wet mouth. Mishima had to back off, choking.

"Shit, sorry - are you - "

His expression hadn't changed much when Akira had triggered his gag reflex,
other than looking slightly surprised; it was hearing him apologize that made
Mishima frown, his cock still in his mouth. He locked eyes with Akira and
scraped him with his teeth, just a little.

He did that on purpose -

It was really Akira's own fault, of course. He was the one who'd forgotten how
this was supposed to go.

Mishima was waiting.

Akira stuck his fingers into his spiky hair and wrenched him forward, hard
enough to make him exhale hard through his nose in surprise; but he also moaned
around his cock, sending vibrations all the way down. Akira held him there and
started to fuck his face.

He gazed up at Akira, his eyes nearly closed but never breaking eye contact.
Spit and precum dripped from his chin as Akira thrust into his mouth. He was
able to keep himself from thrusting too deeply again, but he did let himself
pick up the pace, slicking in and out of Mishima's mouth faster and faster;
Mishima's puffs of breath against his wet cock picked up too, as if in
response. Akira watched his eyelids flutter, and then movement caught his eye -
was he -?

"Did I - did I give you permission?" Akira pulled his cock out of his mouth
with a wet schlk, trailing strings of saliva, then pushed on Mishima's forehead
with the heel of his hand until he was forced to tip his head back and look at
him fully. Mishima just panted, his face a flushed, obscene mess, and refused
to answer. Akira got his feet under him and grabbed Mishima's shoulders, then
shoved him, hard, until he had him flat on his back again.

Mishima waited until Akira was in position, kneeling over his legs, then put
his hand back on his own cock and started stroking himself right in front of
him. When Akira narrowed his eyes at him and opened his mouth to speak, Mishima
gave him an insolent grin.

Akira got a good look as his lower lip split, sending a thin rivulet of blood
down his chin.

"Fuck - I can't - " Akira's voice broke. The part of himself that he thought of
as Joker had run out of ways to reassure him. He swung his leg back over
Mishima and sat down on the edge of the bed.

The disappointment was plain on Mishima's face, but he allowed Akira to give
him tissues to wipe off the fluids and blood. He had barely finished cleaning
his face when Akira pulled him against his chest, hard.

"Akira - are you crying?"

"No." He sniffed. "Yes." He pulled him tighter and buried his face into his
hair. "Are you okay?"

"Fine. Areyou okay?"

Akira let him go and gave him enough space to get a good look at him. He really
did look only mildly concerned, nothing more; there was no sign of pain or
panic in his expression. But there was a dark cut marring his lip, and it was
starting to swell.

"I'm fine," Mishima repeated. He leaned forward and reached for Akira's cock.
Akira put his arm between them and kissed his cheek instead.

It wasn't what he wanted. Mishima was openly frustrated with him now. "God,
Akira, it doesn't even hurt." He touched where his lip had split and showed him
his fingers. "Barely bleeding now, see? Quit... quitbabying me, already. I can
take it, so - "

Akira took off his glasses, speckled with tears, and rubbed his eyes with the
back of his wrist. He let out a humourless laugh. "Maybe you can, but I can't."

Mishima flopped back onto the foot of the bed, his feet hanging off the edge of
it. Akira watched him tip his face away, staring across the room at nothing in
particular. "Why." He sounded sullen.

Akira tucked himself, almost fully soft now, back into his boxers and zipped up
his pants. He needed to put some distance between himself and what they'd just
been doing, as if that could undo it. "I can't... mark you up. Your face." He
leaned back against the wall, several feet away from where Mishima was
stretched out. "You looked like... how you looked in April."

He was disgusted with himself. He knew Mishima wanted nothing more than to
forget what had happened back then, to put it behind him; but now, every time
they saw each other like this, it somehow came up. Because Akira kept bringing
it up.

Mishima rolled away from him, onto his side, and let out a harsh sigh. "It just
- you got my lip a bit when you slapped me. Listen, we talked about this,
remember? You were fine with the idea last night. In our chat."

"It's too real. I don't like hurting you." He screwed up his face. "I'm sorry,
but I'm not doing that again."

Mishima said nothing.

Well. If we're already talking about it.

He braced himself for a fight and tried for a gentle, reasonable tone. "I think
Ann told me that you said you used to get hit. When you were still on the
team."

Mishima's voice dripped sarcasm. "This is your favourite topic, isn't it."

"You know it isn't."

"Yeah, well. So what? So what if he did hit me."

Akira could tell himself to be patient all he wanted, but it didn't make it
true. He raised his voice. He hated it, but he couldn't help it. "Don't - don't
play dumb, okay? You know why I asked that. You - "

Mishima rolled toward him again, still naked, and sat upright. "Yeah? And what
are you asking, exactly?"

Akira opened and closed his mouth, trying to figure out how to say it. He
couldn't stop looking at his lower lip.

Mishima's brows were drawn down again, and now he'd raised his own voice. "We
already - we already did this. We already had this fight. You think I liked...
this... because it's more of what he did. Right? Am I getting it right?"

Akira tried to lower his voice again but was only somewhat successful. "Well,
when we talked about this before, it was because I called you - " His lips
started to form the word 'pretty', but he made himself stop in time. " - I
mean, we fought because of what I called you, and you said it did remind you.
It did remind you of when he called you the same thing." Mishima inhaled to
reply but Akira wasn't done. "So how can you expect me to just... do more of
what he did? To hurt you? I wish I'd never said yes. I wish I'd never... agreed
to this."

Mishima sat at the end of the bed and yanked his socks on in tight, clipped
movements. "You don't get it." He stood to pull on his briefs.

The idea of him getting ready to walk out the door and go home sapped Akira's
anger. Now it was easy to sound as understanding as he wanted to, to lower his
voice. "I want to. I want to get it." He swept his palm over the rumpled sheet
next to him. "Come back."

There was a long moment in which Akira watched him decide, arguing with himself
over whether to stay or leave. In the end, he stayed.

----------

Akira lay flat on his back and Mishima rested his head on his shoulder with the
side of his face pressed to his chest, both of them shirtless but warm under
the covers. He didn't seem as though he was ready to speak, and Akira didn't
push him. Eventually Akira stopped waiting for him to talk and fell into an
unhappy silence, preoccupied with his thoughts.

This is just like the first time we...

All we do is fight now.

He did look... happy. Satisfied. I should've just kept my stupid mouth shut.

He opened his eyes and looked down at Mishima's face. He seemed to be lost in
thought himself, staring across Akira's chest at the wall.

Akira pictured this suffocating silence continuing until it was too late, until
the trains stopped running and Mishima would have to stay the night whether he
wanted to or not; he pictured them sleeping separately, one on the couch and
the other on the bed, and parting without having made up in the morning. He
swallowed, hard. If he didn't speak up, no one would.

He inhaled deeply, watching Mishima's face rise with his chest, then let out
his breath. He raised the hand he'd left laying on top of the covers behind
Mishima and placed it on his head. He didn't play with his hair, or tug on it;
he just left his palm there.

Mishima didn't react.

"We need to talk."

"Yeah," he agreed, but kept quiet.

Easy stuff first. "I'm sorry I yelled at you."

Mishima shifted his shoulders and moved his face against Akira's chest; he
might have been nodding. "Me too. Sorry."

Harder stuff next. Now he did let himself stroke his hair, just a little. "Can
you help me understand?" he murmured.

Mishima shut his eyes and went silent again.

"Can you just... tell me what that was like? What you were thinking?"

"I liked it."

"And... ?"

Mishima groaned in frustration and made a kicking motion with one of his feet
under the covers, as if kicking the question away. "I don't know, geeze - "

Akira knew by now that if he brought up something else, he could usually get
Mishima talking that way and circle back around to what he really wanted to
discuss. "You know. When you brought up S & M, this wasn't really what I'd
always pictured."

Mishima huffed against him, still defensive from their argument. "I never - I
never called it that in our chat. I don't think I called it anything."

"No - remember that request a long time ago? It was before we were... spending
time together. Remember? That girl was bullying that guy... ?"

Akira could tell it was coming back to him. "Oh. Um. What, then? What did you
picture?"

Akira snorted. "Like, gimp suits. Leather stuff." Then, out of nowhere, Ann's
latex Metaverse outfit sprang to mind and he had to bite his cheek to keep from
adding it to the list.

"Collars, you mean?"

"Yeah." He remembered some porn that he really wished he could unwatch. "Bloody
stuff. Spiky... clamps, or whatever."

"Well I never said I wanted to do that. This isn't... that."

Getting him talking made Akira feel better, better enough to smirk at him. "Oh
yeah? When you brought up S & M while we were talking about that request, I
asked you if you were an 'M'. Remember? You said the guy's name started with an
'M', like the 'M' in S & M, and I asked you if 'M' stood for Mishima." He
laughed at the memory. "You said, 'that's a secret.'"

Mishima's eyes went round. "Oooh, I forgot about that - "

"Trying to tell me something? Way back then?"

"No - "

"And yet... ?" Akira raised his free hand and gestured at his bedroom, as if to
indicate everything that they'd done that evening.

"I didn't even know that I liked you then." Mishima scrunched up his face.
"Well. Maybe I did. Maybe that was me flirting. Without having to be too direct
about it."

"So... you'renot an 'M'...?"

"Geeze, not if it means - spiky things - " Mishima trailed off, but then he let
out a short laugh himself. "I don't think I knew what I was talking about."

"I don't know much. But I know what the 'M' stands for. Do you?"

"No," Mishima admitted.

"'Masochism.' Masochists like pain. They get off on it."

Mishima sat up abruptly and covered his face with both hands, groaning. "Fuck,
why would I say that to you - "

"What did you think it meant?" Akira sat up too to try to see his face.

"I don't know, I just thought it was - some sex thing - " He turned back to
Akira, smiling sheepishly. "I thought it was just the collars. Those leather
collar... things."

Akira threw back his head and laughed hard. "You still told me you were into
some - some sex thing - even if it was just collars, you - " He hooked his arm
around Mishima's shoulder and dragged him back down until he was lying on his
chest again, still laughing. "Mishima. How could you not at least know you were
gay. Bi, I mean. Like, seriously."

"Yeah, yeah. I know." He was still smiling. "I think I just didn't want to be."

"It's not so bad, is it?"

"No." He suddenly reached out and cupped Akira through his pants, under the
covers. "Not so bad."

"Hey - " Akira squirmed away. "I mean. I'd like to get back to it, but - "

"But we still have something to talk about first. Is what you're going to say.
Right?"

Akira found his hand under the covers. "Can we?"

Mishima made a frustrated noise in protest, but nodded against his chest.

Akira went first. "So... when you brought up the idea of me being rougher with
you in our chat last night... I didn't think I'd like it as much as I did. I
knew I liked biting you, and - you know - laying on you, putting my weight on
you, but, mmf - " Akira realized he had just made a very Ann-like sound and
grinned. "I was sorta just gonna go along with it to see what you liked."

"But now... ?"

Akira sighed happily. "You lookso good when I'm fucking your face."

Mishima flushed dark with embarrassment and smacked his chest, not very hard,
as he started to laugh again. "Oh, shut up - " He raised his head just so he
could glare at him. " -Kurusu."

"Shit, did I just get demoted?"

Mishima was trying to keep a straight face. "Yeah, so you better watch what you
say. Or next time you'll just be 'hey, you.'"

Akira mimed zipping his lips shut and laughed. It was a while before he spoke
again. "Was it too much for you? The face... letting me do that, I mean?"

Mishima became very quiet. "No." Akira tilted his head and could just make out
that he was smiling to himself. But then he lifted his head to look at Akira
straight on, serious again. "I don't get you, though."

"What?"

He sat up fully next to him, kneeling on the bed in his briefs and socks. "I
don't get why you're fine with hauling off and slapping me, but not with seeing
a little blood. Why did that freak you out?"

"I don't mind blood."

"Then - ?"

"I told you. When you're marked up, it makes me think of - " They both knew
what he was referring to, so he didn't bother to finish his sentence.

Mishima pointed his finger at him and raised his eyebrows. "Aha. Exactly. So
then why can you bite me? That sure left a mark. Why is that okay with you?"

"Am I on trial here?" Akira joked.

"No, I just don't... get it."

Akira relented. "I think it's just seeing you like that that makes me think of
it. Your face. And maybe I don't think of the bite marks the same way
because... " A memory resurfaced, and he started to laugh. "Oh, shit, Ann was
so mad at me."

Mishima started smirking at him; Akira's laughter was infectious. "What did you
do?"

"Okay, well - " Mishima settled back in, and Akira pulled the covers back over
them both. "When she and I started things up, we went a lot slower than you and
me did. Or you and her. Lots of times we just kissed. Felt each other up. So I
guess I was too into it, and while I was kissing her I left all these hickies
up and down her neck, so - "

Mishima caught on. "And she's a model, so - "

"So she had to cover, like, half a dozen of them up with makeup - "

"Oh no - "

"And of course the day after that she had a shoot where they wanted her to wear
this, I dunno, some kind of shirt. A scoop neck - "

"A - ?"

"A scoop neck, I think that's what she said, and it showed every single hickey,
and the makeup person had to take all this extra time to cover her up better -
"

"Oh no - "

"I thought she was going to murder me in my sleep."

"Glad I never did that." Mishima was grinning at him.

"She told me that if I absolutely had to leave a 'big ugly mark' on her, I'd
better make it just one. So then I got all strategic about it."

He had Mishima laughing again. "You what?"

"Yeah. So then I made it count. I - well, you saw her and me when it was the
three of us here, overnight. Sometimes, if I timed it right, it'd help her come
while I was doing something else to her." Akira still felt weirdly proud as he
remembered it. His cock began to show a little interest in what he was thinking
about, so he decided to put it out of his mind.

"Pretty 'strategic', yeah."

"So. That's why it feels different, I think. That's why... like, I don't mind
the idea. Of doing stuff like that in general, with you. But I don't think
hitting you in the face is something I can really do, anymore."

Mishima sighed. "Too bad. It felt really... "

"Yeah, you're gonna have to explain that one to me. The slapping thing. I don't
get how that could feel good."

His answer was immediate. "It turned my brain off."

It was uncomfortably close to something Mishima had said when he'd come to
Leblanc unexpectedly a week ago. "Didn't you say the same thing about... "

"Last week, when I was all... fucked up? Yeah, I guess. I mean it more
literally this time, though. Like, before, I meant that I wanted to do things
for you and Ann to just. Forget. Take my mind off of things. But this really...
it was more like fuzz." He made a noise with his mouth that Akira couldn't
decipher.

"Fuzz?" The meaning of the noise he'd made clicked for him and he got it. "Oh,
radio fuzz? Static?"

"Yeah! Static. It wasn't just because I was surprised, either. The second time,
I knew you were going to hit me before you did. But it still felt the same.
Like, a sting - " He gestured to the side of his face where Akira had slapped
him. It was still red, and when Akira brought his hand up to touch him, he
noticed it was still giving off heat, too. " - and then static."

"Geeze, I really got you, though." Akira winced with sympathy pain and
swallowed around the lump in his throat. "Don't... don't ask me to do that
again, okay?" He felt like crying all over again as he studied the red mark on
his cheek and the cut on his lip.I did that.

Mishima finally understood how serious he was. "Okay. I won't," he murmured. He
sat up just enough to lean over Akira and kiss him, really just brushing him
with his split lip.

Mishima laid back against him and sighed. "One more thing to talk about,
right?"

"Come on. You can do it. Then we're done." Akira found his hand again under the
covers and squeezed his fingers.

"So you wanted to know if... "

"If me hitting you makes you think of... someone else hitting you."

"Yeah. It does." He sounded resigned.

"Why would you want it, then?" Akira whispered. Part of him was afraid to hear
the answer.

"It's different. I trust you."

"Right. I mean, thanks, but - "

Mishima stretched his arm across Akira's belly. "It only made me think of him
at first. And then it was like... like you were replacing him. Replacing the
memory. Because I know you love me, and I know that if I asked... you'd stop."

Akira let himself breathe again. Maybe it wasn't as bad as he'd feared. "So you
weren't - scared?"

"Maybe a little. More like... good-scared. Rollercoaster-scared."

"Do you think... " Akira tread carefully. "Um. Do you think you'd like this
kind of thing, if you'd never joined the volleyball team? If he never... "

Mishima shook his head. "You're my first - almost my first everything. You and
Ann, anyway. I don't know what I would've liked, if that had never happened."
His voice went quiet. "Do you think it's bad?"

"Seemed to make you happy enough." Akira raised his head so he could see him
grinning. "Made me happy. Can't be too bad." He started to play with Mishima's
hair. "I don't want to hit you anymore because I can't... handle it. Not
because I think it's bad."

He didn't answer; his eyes had fallen half shut as Akira tugged on his hair.
But Akira had one more thing to clear up. "Do you get why I needed to bring it
up, though? Why I'd have to make sure... ?"

Mishima nodded against his chest. "Yeah. I get it now."

"So next time it comes up - the next time it has to come up - can we please
just talk it out? No more fighting?"

"Sorry. I'll try. I just get all... freaked out."

Instead of answering, Akira grabbed a full handful of his hair and pulled until
he lifted his head from his chest. Mishima let his eyes slip shut and sighed,
only opening his eyes again to glare at Akira. He was snickering at him.
Chapter End Notes
     Most of the comments left on the last chapter were along the lines of
     "this chapter is so soft and nice :)" so now of course the next
     chapter is more fighting and PAIN lol.
***** Good little students Part Two. "I wanna be nice to you." Too fast. *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
The weeks went by. The Thieves' Palace work picked up, as it did every so
often; they were ultimately successful, and things died down again. Exams were
scheduled soon after, and Ann joined Akira and Mishima at Leblanc to study,
though when they invited her upstairs, she declined with a smile. It wasn't
clear if Ann meant for this to be easier on Mishima or herself, because she
wasn't sure either.

On the last night before the first day of the exam, Ryuji sent her a chat
message and asked her if he could join their study session.

ANN: you should ask Akira
ANN: it's his place
RYUJI: i'll do that too.
RYUJI: i just didn't hear anything after that day we talked about that thing
with you and them. like, i thought things might've changed back again and if i
showed up i'd be a third wheel.
RYUJI: fourth wheel? lol.
RYUJI: so i figured i'd ask first.
ANN: v thoughtful of you, but no. we're the third wheels now bb
RYUJI: are things... weird? now?
ANN: maybe just for the first few days
ANN: I keep having to stop myself from touching them tho
RYUJI: oho...
ANN: I meant like holding hands, dumbass
ANN: lol
RYUJI: just teasin.
RYUJI: see you there then.

----------

Just like the last time they'd studied for exams, Mishima handled math review
and Ann handled English; Akira filled in the gaps. And just as Ann had
expected, Ryuji contributed nothing and seemed to expect an entire term's worth
of knowledge to come back to him in a single evening's study session. But she
tried to be patient with him.

"You're close. Your spelling's getting better, at least. You just gotta watch
your sentence structure - "

He dropped his head onto his notebook and groaned, loud.

Mishima reached across the table and clapped him on the shoulder, trying to
encourage him. "C'mon, Sakamoto, one more page - "

Ryuji just groaned louder. Ann caught sight of a slight movement off to the
side of the cafe and watched Sojiro silently indicate to Akira that they should
head upstairs.

"Psst. Attic." She poked Ryuji in the ribs until he peeled his notes from the
side of his face and let her out of the booth.

Akira and Mishima had already beaten them there and were setting up the table
and chairs. She hung back for a moment and, even though her mind didn't settle
on any one specific memory, she felt her face warm up. When the entire team of
Thieves filled the attic for a meeting, it held a very different energy than it
did when it was just her, Mishima and Akira. Even Ryuji's presence didn't quite
dislodge the association. She slid to the end of the couch and shuffled through
the papers in her bag, hiding her face until she could calm back down.

The couch moved as Ryuji slouched in next to her. Then her phone buzzed.

RYUJI: hey.
RYUJI: you look nice today.

She stared at him as if he'd just started speaking in tongues.

ANN: uh, what
ANN: ?
ANN: still waiting for the punchline here

She set her phone down just in time to see him do the same with his. He rolled
his eyes at her.

"Really. I just think you look nice today," he muttered, trying to keep Akira
and Mishima from hearing him. They were seated at the opposite side of the
table, sorting through their study sheets.

She glanced down at herself, trying to figure out the joke. Her sweater was
thick enough that she knew her nipples weren't outlined this time. When she
looked at her lap, she confirmed that her skirt was where it should be; she
wasn't showing any more leg when she sat down than she usually did. She picked
up her phone again.

ANN: thanks... ?
RYUJI: new sweater?
ANN: yeah actually
RYUJI: you don't usually wear em.
RYUJI: looks nice on you.

He stuck his phone back in his pocket and unzipped his pencil case.

The hell was that... ?!

The others got down to work, but Ann couldn't focus. By the time they were
saying their goodbyes, her sheet of practice problems was just as empty as when
she'd sat down in the attic.

----------

MISHIMA: Did you coach him or something?
AKIRA: That obvious, huh?
MISHIMA: Eesh. I dunno if this is going to work.

----------

When Akira left them at the Yongen station, the three of them entered the same
train car and clumped together, chatting. Ann was still baffled by what Ryuji
could possibly have been trying to get across - Does he feel sorry for me? Was
he just trying to take my mind off of being around Mishima and Akira? - but she
tried to put it out of her mind, because Mishima was standing on her other side
and there was a mystery to solve there, too.

He was finally at peace with her. When they'd seen each other in class or at
the train station over the last few weeks, there's been a certain tension. If
they hadn't ever become as close as they had, she wouldn't have noticed it. It
was something to do with the way he held himself around her, careful to keep a
certain amount of space between the two of them at all times. When she spoke to
him alone, especially, or asked him a question, there was sometimes a slight
pause, as if he were running through different answers in his head before
selecting the right one. The easy intimacy they'd had was gone.

But now... Wishful thinking?

It wasn't the same as it had been - maybe it never would be - but it was
better. They were jostled together by the commuters behind them as the train
slowed and pulled into a station, but when her elbow brushed his arm, he didn't
flinch away. He actually paid her no mind, focused instead on something Ryuji
was saying to him over her head. She bumped into him a little more forcefully,
purely as an experiment, and he turned toward her for a moment.

"Sorry, Ann - " He brushed her forearm with his fingertips, as if to take the
jostling back, and turned back to listen to Ryuji.

"Don't be." She smiled and looked out the window.

Mishima's stop was first, where he changed trains; hers would be coming up soon
after. She gave him a quick wave and turned back to the window, staring at his
reflection passing behind hers in the glass.

What... ?

If she wasn't imagining things, Mishima had just elbowed Ryuji, hard, on his
way to the door.

"Geeze, are you guys fighting or something... ?"

"What would we be fighting about?" He turned away from her, but when she looked
back at their reflection, she could see him wincing and rubbing his side
through his jacket.

"Uh... Well, good luck on your exams, I guess." She pulled her bag closer and
got ready for her stop.

"Shit - okay - Ann - " He pulled himself out of his usual terrible posture and
straightened his back. "You busy? Tonight?"

"I should study some more. But I'm not gonna." She watched the speed-blurred
landscape outside the window come into focus as the train slowed.

He cleared his throat and met her eyes in their reflection in the window.
"Wanna come by?"

At least I'm not inviting myself, this time. "Sure. Why not."

----------

Ann twisted her back, first one way, then the other, as she made herself
comfortable on Ryuji's couch. This time, when he offered her a can of Coke, she
accepted it gratefully. "I - need the - " She covered her mouth and yawned
widely enough for her jaw to make a cracking sound - " - sugar. Caffeine."

He slid one into her hand, cold from the fridge. "Yeah, sounds like." He flung
his jacket into his room on his way by and sprawled at his end of the couch,
all knees and elbows.

She caught his eye and patted her thighs. "Mmm?"

"Nah. Well - if you're offering - " He set his Coke on the floor and stretched
out, lowering his bad leg to her thighs. His jeans were a tighter fit than his
uniform pants, so she had a hard time rolling the cuff above his knee; he had
to help her. "There."

She stifled another yawn and took a good sized swig of her Coke before setting
it aside and putting her thumbs to work on the knots in his muscles. "Geeze,
your legs got hairy all of a sudden. Guess I just didn't notice last time I was
here."

"Gettin' cold outside. Gotta keep warm somehow."

"Wanna practice vocab while I work on your leg?"

He covered his eyes with his forearm and growled. "Since when are you so... "

She made a face that he didn't see. "My live-in caretaker's been cracking down
on me a bit lately. I'm sure it's really coming from my parents."

"They're pissed about your grades?"

"Yeah, but that's not really the reason behind it. I took one beer too many,
maybe."

He lifted his forearm and stared at her. "Took... ?"

"You remember my caretaker. She's chill. We sorta had an unspoken thing where
I'd help myself to her shelf of beer in the fridge. As long as I went easy on
it and didn't do it too often."

He let out a low whistle. "Nice."

"Yeah, but I guess I got greedy."

He laughed at her. "What, you been goin' on benders every weekend? Shit, Ann."

She put on a prim and proper voice. "No. That beer was purely for educational
purposes." She redoubled her efforts, digging into his muscles. The knots
weren't as bad today as they'd been after their last Mementos trip, but just as
he'd said, his leg was stiff and sore every day.

He snorted. "Sure it was."

"You know Mishima. He's kinda the nervous type." She smiled fondly. Even given
the space she'd had to put between herself and Mishima, her feelings toward him
hadn't changed - not really. He had committed to someone else, but since that
was never what she'd been looking for anyway, she was free to reminisce without
resentment. She suddenly realized that even now, she still thought of him
sometimes as 'her boy', and swallowed a laugh.

"Oh, so what, you were educating him on how to... drink?" Ryuji joked. He knew
that wasn't what she'd meant. The crooked grin on his face told her so; it
wasn't so different from the one he'd only recently stopped giving her while
she was wearing her latex catsuit.

"Yup. Quick learner, that one."

"Bet you were a good teacher."

She turned her head and gave him a cool look through her lashes. "Are you
asking for a lesson?"

"I -"

He'd managed to ask her here, and he'd brought up the subject, but her
directness completely derailed him. She watched a furious pink flush creep
across his face while he left his mouth open, and she couldn't help but giggle
in his face. "Ryuji - " She turned forward and focused on his leg again to give
him a chance to recover.

"W-well - are you offering?"

Am I? They'd approached another line, another boundary that she needed to cross
very carefully, if at all.

It wasn't something she'd been planning for. She'd been so caught up in trying
to figure out what the right course was with Mishima and Akira that she'd
neglected herself over the last few weeks; and even after she knew she didn't
have to worry about Mishima any longer, she simply hadn't had the urge. Before
she could consciously consider where things might go tonight, she felt a throb
between her legs. Her body was two steps ahead of her.

And it wasn't as if she'd been pining for Ryuji, either. In fact, she felt a
little stab of guilt when she realized that he'd spent the time to have two
surprisingly insightful, heartfelt conversations with her that were both all
about her and were also purely for her benefit; that had been weeks ago, and
she hadn't even started a new chat convo with him once in the interim. He'd
sent her a series of silly gifs to cheer her up on a day that he knew she was
upset about her relationship with Mishima, or lack thereof. She hadn't
responded, so he'd left her alone.

Until today, when he'd complimented her sweater.

Uh oh.

She removed her hands from his leg.

"We'd better talk. No more joking." She twisted sideways on the couch to face
him and he lifted his bad leg from her thighs, then sat up. "What was with that
sweater thing?"

He furrowed his brow. "What, I can't just - notice somethin' like that? Tell
you I like your shirt?"

"Is that all you meant, though? Did you ask me over so you could compliment the
rest of my outfit, too?"

"Well, no, but - "

She took another pull from her can of Coke to give herself a moment to think.
Come on. You don't have to be mean to him.

She tried to soften her expression. "I'm not gonna make fun of you. But you
gotta tell me what you mean. What you want."

He looked unhappy and unsure of himself, and it didn't seem as though he was
about to speak, so she tried to get him started. "Saying something nice about
what I'm wearing is what you do if you want a girlfriend, if you ask me. Saying
you want what I had with Mishima is... something else."

He heaved a sigh and looked out the window behind the couch. "I don't... shit,
Ann. I was being nice. Trying to be."

"Being nice, and - ?"

He looked defiant now. Angry, maybe. "The fuck are all these questions for?
What's wrong with - with seeing where things end up?"

She could feel a fight coming. Maybe she could head it off before it started.
She took a long, steadying breath and tried to smooth out her voice. "Ryuji.
You've been good to me the last little while. I should have told you that."

"Well, I. I tried."

"You really helped. And I followed your advice."

"Yeah. I asked Mishima about it and he told me how things went down."

She smiled at him. "How'd he seem to you?"

"I hadn't talked to him too much for a long while, but. Think you guys've been
good for him. He's a lot less... freaked out lately. Like, I don't mean since
that night you told me about. I mean since I knew him a couple years ago.
Middle school."

What? "What was he freaked out about back then?"

"I guess you never hung out with him much yourself. He got shit from bullies a
lot." He laughed suddenly and she saw his shoulders relax a little. "Plus I
think that's just how he is. Nervous little dude. Like you said."

"But he's better now... ?"

His eyebrows shot up and he grinned. "Yeah! Geeze, I couldn't believe it.
Givin' me advice."

"About what?"

"You."

There it is. "Ryuji. Are you going to tell me what the deal is, or what."

He put both palms up as if to ward her off. "He didn't give me any details
about you. What you guys got up to. I didn't ask, either. He said it wouldn't
be classy to... to talk like he was in a locker room? Somethin' like that. I
guess I get what he means."

She grinned at that, wide. "That was me and Akira's policy when we, um. Brought
him into things. Like, not to share details unless everyone was on board. I
guess he's doing the same thing."

"That's cool. But. Anyway. I guess I did, like. Bring you here with somethin'
in mind. I talked to him about it first because I wanted to make double sure
that he'd be fine with it. If anything even did happen between me n' you."

Now we're getting somewhere. "And?"

"Gave me his blessing, or whatever. He said he's got Akira and it's not fair
for him to, like. Claim you, or whatever. Said he's happy, n' he wants you to
be happy too."

"You make him sound like the pope or something."

He rolled his eyes. "You know what I mean."

"Well. Whatever happens. I'm glad you talked to him. Because yeah, he's not my
keeper, or whatever, but I don't want to hurt him, either."

He stretched his legs out in front of him. "He's my bud from old times. I'm not
gonna be a - what'd you say before? A homewrecker, either."

"I keep telling you! There was no home to wreck." She felt a little better
about the way things might go, now that she knew Mishima's feelings, so she
scooched down the couch until she could hook her forearm around his at his
side. "Are you going to tell me what you want out of this?"

He leaned his head against hers and sighed, staring straight ahead. It was hard
for him to be direct. It took him a long moment to get the words out. "Maybe
what Mishima n' you had. Or Akira n' you had. Or maybe, uh. A more usual thing.
A girlfriend. Like, I wanna be nice to you."

Even in his t-shirt, he was like a furnace; she could feel the body heat from
his arm even through her sweater. "Maybe I wanna be nice to you, too." But then
she laughed. "Do you think if we had sex only - nothing romantic - we wouldn't
be... nice? To each other?"

"Yes?"

She suddenly felt very certain that if things went forward the way she thought
they might, she was going to have to give some version of the Porn Isn't Real
talk once again. "Maybe I can tell you a few details about what I did with
Mishima and Akira. It might make this make more sense to you."

"Well, don't... don't tell me anythin' they wouldn't want you to. Akira's my
buddy, too."

"Just vague stuff," she assured him. They both stared straight ahead as she
made a list. "Okay, so. With both of them, we kissed. We slept in the same bed.
I made Mishima dinner, and Akira made us both dinner. If I got a... cut, Akira
always disinfected it for me." She didn't have a lot of experience with
watching porn, for the very good reason that she'd hated everything she'd tried
to watch, but she tried to think of some more relevant examples. "There were a
few times with Akira where I got sore and I couldn't keep going. He understood.
Or, for both of them, when they finished first, they'd get me after. They'd
make sure I came." She let a fond smile surface again. "They were nice to me.
And I was nice to them."

"Oh." When she peered up at his face, she saw it was very red. But he looked
down at her and smiled back.

"See what I mean? We could be... nice. You don't have to be romantic to be
nice. And, you know - if something doesn't work out - I'm still friends with
both of them. We can still be friends. Right?"

"I think so." His brow was furrowed again, and he was still red-faced and
anxious. But he untangled his arm from hers, leaned down, and kissed her.

Ryuji was a terrible kisser.

"Umph - hey - stop - " She finally extricated herself from his arms and sat up,
then wiped some of his saliva from her face. "No, it's fine, just - "

She'd hurt his feelings. "Fuckin'... never mind, then." He crossed his arms and
stared at the far corner of the room.

"Ryuji."

He wouldn't look at her.

"Ryuji."

He was motionless except for his knee, jittering up and down. He exhaled
heavily through his nose.

Fine. She got up and stood in front of him, then lowered herself into his lap
and straddled his hips, her knees resting on the couch on either side of him.
She murmured into his ear. "Come on. We can try again. Just... slower, okay?"

He blew out his breath in her ear, noisily, then nodded against her.

She tried to lead by example and kissed him softly, her lips closed. At first
it seemed like she'd gotten through to him; his breathing slowed and she felt
the muscles in his chest and stomach relax against her. But it didn't last
long. He shoved his tongue into her mouth, and when she tried to pull away, he
tightened his arms around her waist.

Ann finally freed her mouth. "Ryujiiiiiiii... " she groaned. But then she
started laughing and pressed her face to his shoulder.

"What." She felt his muscles tense up against her all over again.

"I'm laughing at me, not you." She grinned and gave him a quick kiss on his
jaw. "You're just like me."

He buried his face in her hair and sighed against her shoulder, sounding
resigned. "What does that mean."

"I always wanted to go too fast too. And then I'd just have to make myself slow
down and start over." She leaned back enough to see his face again, to show him
she wasn't upset or displeased. "But, I mean. Maybe that's just how we are. You
and me."

Ann angled her hips away and reached between them until she'd found his zipper.
"Let's go fast."
----------

Ann slowly unzipped Ryuji's jeans, trying to be careful; she leaned against his
chest and worked by touch alone. He still seemed to be unsure of where they
stood after she'd stopped kissing him the second time and left his arms by his
sides, carefully avoiding her thighs.

Ann had made it to his underwear and, after a moment's fumbling, slid her
fingers between his jeans and his briefs. But apparently things weren't going
the way she'd thought.

He's not... ?

She leaned back and sat on his thighs, studying his face. He looked back,
ashamed.

Too fast.

She ran through possible scenarios in her mind. She knew that she didn't want
to go back to kissing him, and he might feel too self-conscious to try it again
now even if she had. There was no beer to relax him, like she'd done with
Mishima. Akira had taken the lead during her first time with him, to the point
that she'd barely been able to keep up, and she'd never had this issue with him
in all the evenings she'd spent with him since.

She did have one idea. She knelt upright and pressed her chest against his
again.

"Hey, Ryuji," she murmured into his ear.

"Mm."

"You've been going to the gym, right? Can I see your progress?"

He leaned back against the couch, putting space between them again so he could
look her in the eye. His brow was furrowed again and he wore a wary expression,
but she could tell she'd made the right call. Ryuji had never been shy about
showing off his physique.

Maybe for good reason. He hadn't finished pulling his shirt over his head
before she was running her fingertips over his muscles. The way he was sitting
brought his abs to the forefront, and she realized she was admiring them for
their own sake, not just to flatter him.

Geeze, I really DON'T have a type.

She almost laughed at herself again but held it back; now was not the time for
him to hear it and think it was directed at him. He lay still, sprawled back
against the couch and watching her face as she splayed her palms over his pecs.

"These are new, huh?"

He finally gave her a sunny grin. Relief washed over her. Even if nothing wound
up happening between the two of them, she'd never intended to injure his pride.
"Got further to go if I'm going for, like, definition. But they're comin'
along."

"Flex!"

He did and she laughed, delighted. She thumped him lightly in the chest with
her fist. "Man, you're solid now." She grinned herself. "You're not gonna get
too huge though, are you? All veiny?"

He stretched his arm along the back of the couch and she watched what it did to
his chest, fascinated. "Nah. Bodybuildin's not for me."

She settled back on his lap again; it could just be that the angle was wrong to
tell for sure, but she thought that things still hadn't progressed. "You're,
uh. Kinda making me warm. Mind if I take my sweater off?"

It was a pretty dumb line, but he didn't seem to mind. "If it makes you more
comfortable."

"Psht. Come on. 'If it makes you more... ' What kind of answer is that?" She
unbuttoned it but he wasn't looking at her; he had rested the back of his head
on the top of the couch and was staring at the ceiling.

She couldn't see his face very well, but she heard a little frustration creep
into his voice. "Ugh. Ann. I don't really... I don't get what you want from
me."

"You could look at me while I'm undressing for you, for a start." She shrugged
out of her sweater, leaving her wearing only a thin tank, her skirt and her
stockings. He angled his face back towards her, but not all the way; he only
stole glances at her from the corner of his eye, apparently unable to look at
her for long. He left his hand at his side. "You okay?"

"Yeah."

He was acting utterly unlike himself. After their first try at dating the year
before had left such a bad taste in her mouth, she hadn't spared the idea of
involving herself with him another thought until tonight. But if she had, she
definitely wouldn't have imagined it like this. "Jesus, Ryuji, I thought I'd
have to beat you off with a stick if we ever got together like this."

His eyes lit up. "Beat me off... ?" He tipped his head back again, but this
time it was to laugh at her. "I mean, if you insist."

He tensed up, and she realized he was expecting her to slap at his chest and
scold him like she always did when he said something vulgar to her. Oh. That's
what this is.

Things would never change if she kept falling back into old habits. Instead of
recoiling she draped herself over him, crossing her forearms behind his head
and pressing her chest to his. "That's the idea. If you're up for it."

His breathing picked up, but his hands remained at his sides.

He needs permission. She moved her mouth to his ear. "I want you to touch me."

He let out a deep sigh as he finally let his hands run up her thighs. She wore
black thigh high stockings and he skimmed his fingertips lightly along the
material, slowly reaching higher. When he touched her skin, he stopped. She
sank back down into his lap and glanced in the direction of his open fly -
still nothing? - before meeting his eyes again.

Oh, Ryuji. He was red-faced and anxious all over again.

Be patient. She lifted herself up off of him and sat down on the couch. But she
still wanted to be close to him, so she stretched out and carefully laid in his
lap, the back of her head resting on his thigh. "This okay? For your leg?"

He nodded down at her and looked away, his forehead creased with worry lines.
She grabbed his forearm and slung it across her chest. "So. Maybe we have
something to talk about first?"

Stony silence.

"Are you... worried about something?"

At least he was looking at her now.

Maybe a change of topic was in order. "Was it your pecs Akira was checking out?
When you caught him looking at you?"

His hand was resting limply on her belly, but his fingers twitched in surprise
when he heard what she'd said. "Uh. What makes you say that?"

"He told me you had 'actual pecs' in our chat a few weeks ago." She smiled up
at him, upside down. "I see what he means now."

He flexed again just to make her laugh. "Heh. I think he was lookin' a little
lower down. We were at the bathhouse when I caught him."

Her eyes went wide. "Oooh... I forgot you boys did that sometimes." She felt
her heart thump a little faster in her chest and actually did laugh at herself,
this time. You're getting predictable.

Her face must have given her away. He looked thrilled. "Geeze, you're fuckin'
dirty."

Might as well own it? "Never knew that about me, didja."

"Never even guessed it." She looked down and watched his hand stir against the
fabric of her tank top, just a little. "Wait, you guys talk about me?"

"Well, it's not like we gossip. It was mainly just that one time. Otherwise it
was only when we were talking about Thief stuff. Making plans for meetings or
whatever."

"Why would my pecs come up, though."

Shit. "Uh. I think he was trying to sell me on your finer points after I
mentioned you were offering me your dick pics."

He turned his face away again. "Oh."

"If it makes you feel any better, I wouldn't mind seeing them, now."

Ann watched him make a loose fist on top of her belly, then relax his fingers
again. "See, this is - this is why I don't get what you want from me," he
repeated. His voice was sharp.

"What, you don't get why I wouldn't want your - ?! Come on, Ryuji - " Just like
before, she felt a fight looming, so she took a second to get her breathing
back under control. She sighed. "Okay. Why don't you explain it to me, then."

"You got all pissed at me when I asked if you wanted... those... but, like,
you've been hooking up with two dudes at the same time? For months? Or even
just - I stopped checkin' you out, just like I said. And then I thought that
sweater thing, saying you look nice or whatever, is what you're supposed to do.
But you flipped out at me for that too. And now you're all over me, but you act
all disgusted when I try to kiss you." He groaned and let his head fall back
against the top of the couch, staring at the ceiling again. "Like, fuck, Ann."

She'd opened her mouth to respond, but he wasn't done. "And you just... go n'
tell Akira that behind my back? Seriously?"

She swallowed what she'd wanted to fire back at him. "You're right. I shouldn't
have. Sorry. I was just... mad, and I happened to be chatting with him when you
asked."

He sighed. He was waiting for the rest of her answer.

Ann thought hard. "I'm not ignoring you, I'm just trying to think of how to -
well. Okay. For the sweater thing. You didn't do it wrong. Most girls like
that. Or at least take it as a compliment. I think I was just surprised. It
didn't sound like you." As she put her thoughts to words, she realized why that
was. "That's what Mishima gave you advice on, didn't he?"

He peered down at her face, looking more embarrassed than angry for the moment.
"Both of 'em did. I talked to Mishima about you guys' status, or whatever, and
he told me I should treat you a bit nicer. Let you know I'm interested that
way. He musta told Akira too, because he starts up with all this shit about
compliments." He grimaced. "Guess I can't tell any one of you somethin' without
the other two knowing, now."

"Maybe not anymore, though." She played her fingers up and down his forearm.
"You didn't do it wrong," she repeated. "It was nice." She remembered something
else he'd said. "I think... I think this is all about... Like, it's not what
you say, it's how you say it. Complimenting my new shirt versus... dick pics.
Akira didn't let me know he was interested in starting something up with me
with... anything like that. That stuff comes later. Know what I mean?"

"I guess."

"So... I probably still should have gone a bit slower with you. Tonight. I
thought we were on the same page, but." She shrugged against him.

"Yeah, tonight, uh, didn't really go how I was picturing it."

He didn't look happy, exactly, but he did look more relaxed. Not angry or
anxious, at least. She smiled up at him. "What were you picturing?"

"You're just gonna be mad." He started to comb his fingers gently through her
hair, still strewn every which way across his lap.

"Promise I won't be."

"Well... I met you in middle school. You're cute. I guess I'd sorta think every
once in a while what it'd be like if you were my girlfriend."

"Aw."

"Just sometimes. Not really seriously. I woulda just asked you out before last
year if I was serious about it."

She nodded up at him. It wasn't that far off from how she'd felt herself, at
least until their week long relationship had gone so disastrously. Idle
thoughts, and nothing more. "So then you were picturing... ?"

"Oh, y'know. Holding hands n' shit. Watching a movie or somethin'."

"Yeah, I guess that's probably how it's supposed to go. Why would I be mad
about that, though?"

"You didn't let me finish. I was gonna say that part of me was picturing it
that way, just because I've known you so long. Like, maybe that was middle
school me talkin'. But this other part of me... " His crooked grin was back,
and she had some idea of what he was going to say. She started to grin back at
him. "Well. When you told me you'd been having fuckin'... fuckin' orgies on the
weekends, this other part of me started to get ideas."

She still wasn't prepared. She rolled onto her side, curled up against him and
laughed until tears streamed down her face. "Ryuji - Christ -"

"You're not denying it!"

She was laughing too hard to answer and just buried her face into his belly.
She finally managed to sputter out, "It was one time -"

He rested one hand on her side and played with her hair with the other until
she was done laughing.
----------

They fell into silence, but it was an easy silence. She pressed her face
against his warm skin and listened to him breathe above her.

Ann spoke first. "You smell good," she mumbled directly into his belly.

"Can't imagine why."

"Just... boy smell."

He snorted, and she thought that he might make some comment about her weekend
activities again, but he just kept stroking her hair instead.

It looked like it was up to her to move things along. "So... which part of you
wins? The part that wants a girlfriend, or the part that just wants... ?"

Ryuji shifted his leg under her head and sighed. "Fuck if I know."

"Well. I dunno if I really want a relationship right now. I keep thinking that
thing with Mishima will happen all over again with you, instead."

He tugged on one of her pigtails, just hard enough to make her roll her head
back and look up at him. "You think I'm gonna fall in love with you or some
shit? Doubt it."

She rolled the rest of the way onto her back and pulled his arm against her
until his hand was resting on her belly again. "Gee, thanks."

"You know what I mean. Sounds like you're not into that anyway."

"Yeah, guess that's not my thing. Not right now, at least." She peered up at
his face, trying to figure him out. "Then if we both want to just... " She
tried to keep her voice gentle. "What's the deal, tonight? You're not as...
enthusiastic, as I thought you'd be."

He sounded defensive. "Yeah, well. You told me how shitty it made you feel when
I used to check you out in your Panther suit. And then you were all weird when
I just said I liked your shirt. And then you don't wanna kiss me, either.
Doesn't really give me the green light, y'know?"

She moved his arm away and sat up. "Is that all this is? You're not sure if...
?"

He was glaring at her. "I ain't into forcin' it. Forcin'... girls."

She jumped off of the couch and was back to straddling his lap before he could
react. "Whoa - "

"Ryuji." She laughed out of relief. This wasn't going to be a problem after
all. "I told you I want you to touch me. So touch me."

"Yeah, but - "

Maybe a visual would help. She settled back onto his thighs again and pulled
her tank over her head without further preamble.

That's more like it. Ryuji rewarded her with a dazed expression, eyes locked
onto her chest. She hadn't had any idea of what she'd be getting herself into
today, so she'd dressed for comfort; she wore a blue underwire bra, lacking in
lace or any other adornment. But he seemed to like it just fine.

"Wow."

He hadn't made a move yet, so she grabbed his wrists and planted his hands
firmly on the cups of her bra. The face he made was priceless.

"So you're really - you're up for this? With me?" He was absolutely beaming,
although he didn't seem to realize that he had left his hands where they were,
motionless.

She gave him a double thumbs up and a cheery grin. "Green light, Ryuji." Then
she reached behind herself and undid her bra for him, letting it fall to the
floor.

Finally. He put both hands back and groped her roughly, squeezing until she
winced. "Oof. Bit softer."

"Sorry, sorry - !" He played with her breasts, rolling them upwards; his thumb
ran across one of her nipples and her hips jumped forward, seemingly without
any input from her.

Of course he noticed. "What wasthat?" He grinned and flicked at her nipples
with his thumbs, trying to make it happen again.

The last of her patience evaporated. With Mishima, she'd made herself slow down
so many times, and she'd been doing the same with Ryuji; as best she could,
anyway. But she'd had enough teasing, had enough of having to slam on the
brakes after barely having begun. Every time he squeezed her, every time he
brushed against her nipples, she felt a heat building deep down in her lower
abdomen, and she couldn't stand it any longer.

Let's go fast.

She leaned against his chest, his hands trapped between them. When she snaked
her hand back down to his open fly and slid her fingers between his pants and
his briefs again, she sighed with satisfaction. She knew what she wanted, and
now she knew she was going to get it. "Why don't you show me what you've got?"
she murmured. Then she stood in front of him, reached under her skirt and
slipped out of her panties.

That was when they both heard the sound of his mom's key in the lock of the
front door.

"Shit - my room's over there - hide - "

Ann grabbed her clothing and sprinted for his room while he tried to zip up
his jeans around his erection and yank his t-shirt back on at the same time.
She kicked over her half-full can of Coke and banged her elbow on the
doorframe, but she made it.
Chapter End Notes
     Did you guys see this coming or what, lol
***** Harem. Reduced numbers. "You don't have to ask now." *****
ANN: I am never going to your place again. everrr
RYUJI: my mom said i should invite you to have dinner with us sometime...
ANN: fuck
ANN: lol
ANN: what did you even tell her???
RYUJI: well. i tried to pretend everything was normal so i just started cleanin
up that coke you spilled.
RYUJI: thanks, btw.
ANN: oh shut up
ANN: how did she know I was there then?
RYUJI: she just let me pretend while she talked to me and she kept bringin you
up, and i couldn't figure out why. kept askin me shit like 'are you still
friends with that cute little takamaki-chan?'
RYUJI: meanwhile i keep checkin the floor to make sure 'cute little takamaki-
chan' didn't leave her panties out in the living room.
ANN: asdflkjd
RYUJI: i figured i'd have to get you out of there somehow, so i told her i had
you over to look at manga. since she knew you were there anyway.
ANN: did she buy it?
RYUJI: lol. what do you think?
RYUJI: my mom's sharp.
RYUJI: but she went along with it, at least.
ANN: when you said I should come out I felt like I was going out to face the
firing squad, lol
ANN: good thing I got dressed right away

She was safe at home now, sprawled out on her bed; all the same, her heartbeat
picked up as she remembered it.

RYUJI: after you left she kept talkin about how nice you are.
RYUJI: maybe i should tell her about your boys, lol.
ANN: shut uuuuuup
ANN: hey, you never answered me. how did she know?
RYUJI: your boots by the door.
ANN: oh...
ANN: well shit
RYUJI: some phantom thief you are, lol.
ANN: you didn't remember either!
ANN: bet you still had your dick out by the time she opened the door ;)
RYUJI: psht. no.
RYUJI: close one though...
ANN: actually. I guess I never got to see it
ANN: where are you right now?
RYUJI: my room. why?
ANN: got your door locked?

She sat up and made sure her own door was locked. She'd told her caretaker that
she was going to continue studying for her exams, so she wasn't likely to be
interrupted - but better safe than sorry.

RYUJI: mine doesn't. but my mom learned not to just barge in a long time ago.
RYUJI: why though?
ANN: you KNOW why. god Ryuji
RYUJI: maybe i just wanna hear you say it.

It made sense, after all the mixed signals, and after the way she'd reacted the
last time he'd offered to send her photos.

ANN: show me! I wanna see
ANN: here, I'll go first

She shimmied out of her skirt and stretched out on her back again. Then she
angled her hips upward, pulled her panties a little tighter and took a photo
between her spread thighs.

RYUJI: oh nice.
RYUJI: those are hot.
RYUJI: didn't know you went in for that girly shit. bows or whatever.
ANN: it's hard to find panties that DON'T have them, sometimes
ANN: I used to snip em off with scissors lol
ANN: guess I'm more okay with girly shit now though
ANN: anyway, it's yoooooour tuuuuurn
RYUJI: you sure?
ANN: v sure
ANN: green light, Ryuji :)
ANN: I really do wanna see
ANN: unless you already finished without me! ;)
RYUJI: what, before now? lol, no. nothing like havin your mom walk in to kill
your boner.
RYUJI: i think i can help you out though.

He made her wait for several minutes. She laughed to herself, picturing him
carefully selecting only the finest dick pic to send.

RYUJI: there.

His photography skills were not the best. He'd taken the photo while lying on
his back, which should have given her a clear view of it, but his desk lamp was
half obscured by his cock, so all she could see was a featureless shadowy shape
silhouetted by a bright halo of light behind it. He'd circled the base with his
thumb and forefinger, so she could guess from his hand that he was somewhere
around average size, give or take several inches, but that was about it.

Now wasn't really the time to critique him though, so she bit her tongue.

ANN: oooh
ANN: yesssss
ANN: wish you'd come home with me
RYUJI: oh yeah? what makes you say that?
ANN: so I could get a better look. duh
ANN: we were so close! aggggh
RYUJI: ikr. she didn't even come home early. we just wasted all our time
talking.
ANN: having her walk in like that kinda put me off your place. sorry. think
you'd better pay me a visit this weekend
ANN: unless you have better things to do
RYUJI: lol, look at you tryin to be all cute n shit. you know i don't.
RYUJI: i'll come by on one condition.
ANN: what?
RYUJI: you gotta send me more than just a pantyshot. come on already.

That's more like it.

She kicked her panties into the far corner of her room and paid herself some
attention. She pressed her first two fingers in, just far enough to slick them
up and down, then jolted in surprise - she was far wetter than she'd thought.
She took the photo from between her thighs again, this time with the wet
fingertips of her free hand spreading herself open, just a little. When she
checked the photo before she sent it, she noticed that her first two fingers
were trailing a little string of stickiness between them. Her lips were shiny
too, dark with arousal.

RYUJI: shiiiiiiiiiit.
RYUJI: you ARE fuckin dirty.
RYUJI: you're way better at this than me, lol.
ANN: lotsa practice, that's all
RYUJI: you're really that wet though? just from talkin to me?
ANN: think it's more like I'm STILL wet
ANN: we got so close!
ANN: Ryuji, if I don't do something right fucking now I'm gonna explode. I'll
talk to you in a minute

She tossed her phone to the bedspread without waiting to see if he'd responded
and hauled out a shoebox that she kept under her bed. Akira had bought a dildo
for her, months and months ago, though she almost never used it; she usually
preferred her fingers or her bullet vibe when she was alone, and by the time
she was starting to crave the feeling of being filled up, she'd find an excuse
to visit Leblanc's attic sooner. Or, later on, she'd waited to have her turn
with Mishima. Of course, all of that was in the past, now.

Desperate times... Ann knew from experience that she had trouble getting the
angle right when she was laying on her back, so she knelt upright on her
bedspread and slid the toy in. Wetness was not a problem, so it sank into her
farther and faster than she'd intended; she gasped and winced. She'd never
really liked it. It was too hard, much harder than the real thing at least, and
Akira had chosen what she thought of as a gross flesh tone. But now wasn't the
time to be picky. She pressed the heel of her other hand to her clit roughly
and pulled the toy back out, then fingered herself impatiently until she felt a
little more ready. This time she set its base on her bed and sank down onto it,
trying to keep her breathing quiet.

Much better.

She held the base steady with one hand and rolled her hips, listening to it
schlk in and out, and remembered Ryuji. He still hadn't responded; he must have
been busy himself.

I can be nice. She picked up her phone and set it directly beneath herself,
right next to her toy, and angled it to show her lips, stretched wide around
the toy. Her shadow blocked the light, so it wasn't her finest work, but she
thought it got the message across. She sent it.

ANN: wish you were here

Ryuji had entered some text, but after waiting a minute or so, he still hadn't
sent it. You're on your own, buddy. She grinned and went back to work.

She finally found the right angle and couldn't help but let out a ragged gasp,
grinding down on her toy again and again until her clit throbbed, neglected;
then she switched gears. She left the toy inside, stretched out on her back and
attacked her clit. It didn't take long. She felt her muscles tighten around the
toy and shoved it deeper with one hand while stroking her clit frantically with
the index finger of her other hand.

It had been too long. She threw her upper arm across her mouth and bit into her
skin to keep from screaming, her finger still stroking all the while; she came
hard enough to see sparks as her back arched, her thighs clamped shut around
the toy. She finally relaxed and went limp, still trying to catch her breath.
Her stomach muscles felt weak.

Her chat window told her Ryuji was still typing.

ANN: you alive?

She pulled out the toy with a shiver and wiped off the stickiness with a
tissue, then chucked it back in its box and shoved it under her bed; she'd
clean it more thoroughly later. She got up to find her panties and was pulling
them on when she heard him finally respond.

RYUJI: barely.
RYUJI: probly should've taken my shirt off...
ANN: shit yes
ANN: show me bb
RYUJI: what? fuck no. don't be gross.
RYUJI: why the hell would you wanna see that.

She laughed at herself, louder than she'd intended. She was still flushed with
endorphins and everything seemed funny.

ANN: lol. I think I've been influenced
ANN: nvm
ANN: did you have a good one?
RYUJI: i... guess?
RYUJI: feels weird to talk about it with you.
ANN: gets easier
RYUJI: maybe for you!
RYUJI: did you really mean to send me that last one? was that... ?
ANN: what?
RYUJI: was that an old one you sent by accident?

She still felt slow and dazed.

ANN: I don't get you
RYUJI: i sorta don't wanna know, but. was that akira or mishima?

It clicked and Ann started giggling, no longer trying to be quiet.

ANN: omgggggg
ANN: RYUJI THAT'S A TOY
ANN: did you really think I'd send you pics of some other dude's dick???

She was cackling like a loon now and she rolled onto her side, trying to muffle
her laughter with a pillow.

RYUJI: you could've by accident!
RYUJI: fuck, how should i know it's a toy?
ANN: well, it's all shiny...
ANN: also, I notice you came anyway, even thinking it WAS some other dude...
ANN: huehuehue
RYUJI: lol. nice try. there's all kinds of dicks in porn, too, but somehow that
ain't a problem for me either.
RYUJI: you're just tryin to add me to your harem.
ANN: would that be so bad? ;)
RYUJI: i'm straight, you demon.
RYUJI: take your horny goggles off lol.
ANN: lol. k sorry
ANN: you feel a bit better about the idea now, though, right? did that clear
things up?
RYUJI: do i feel better about... sleeping with you? next time? yeah, i guess i
do.
RYUJI: i guess i sorta half believed that you were gonna go 'haha, gotcha' and
laugh at me or somethin. n then leave.
ANN: aw. I'm not like that
ANN: do girls even do that???
RYUJI: fuck if i know. maybe.
ANN: well, you've got my pics now. does that help show I'm serious?
RYUJI: yeah.
RYUJI: i can enjoy that last one more now that i know it's not my buddy i'm
lookin at, lol.
ANN: aw, aren't I your buddy? :P
RYUJI: mm. yeah, wtf are we now?
ANN: ?
RYUJI: are we dating?
ANN: nah
ANN: well, I mean. I didn't assume this would mean we were boyfriend and
girlfriend
ANN: I guess we could talk about it
RYUJI: don't take it the wrong way, but i don't really feel romantic or anythin
towards you.
ANN: we sorta already decided before, didn't we? just friends?
ANN: you said you just wanted to see how things went. right?
RYUJI: guess i did say that.
ANN: my house is empty on the weekend. come by after school on Saturday. we'll
'see how things go' some more
RYUJI: well shit. how could i turn down an offer like that?
RYUJI: i'll be there.
----------

Ann zipped up her pencil case and packed up her things on Wednesday afternoon.
Despite the afternoon she'd spent at Ryuji's on Sunday, and the chat she'd had
with him after she'd gotten home, she was still able to focus on her exams more
than she'd expected, and she felt good about the essay question she'd just
finished writing. Studying with Akira and Mishima had definitely helped. She
watched the two of them leave, headed to the arcade by the sound of it, and
smiled to herself.

She'd been spending a lot more time on her own than she had when she'd been
involved with the two of them, of course. It was to be expected. After she'd
broken things off with Mishima, they'd kept inviting her to Leblanc, or to the
movies, and though they hid it well, she knew it was at least partially out of
politeness. Out of consideration for her feelings. She decided to be gracious
and bowed out. She didn't lie. When they asked if she was free on the days that
she had a shoot scheduled, she told them so; when her schedule was clear, she
shook her head with a smile and headed home alone. After a week or two of
pleasant 'no's, they stopped asking.

A little more of her time was taken up by studying than it had been before, and
her grades had started to improve. She played more mobile games and went window
shopping in Harajuku a little more frequently. She subbed in for a few more
shoots than she otherwise might have. The ache she'd felt when she'd had to
separate from the two of them was actually lessened every time she saw them,
clearly happy together.

She finally felt certain, really certain, that what she'd felt for Mishima
wasn't love and never had been. At least, not the kind that he and Akira felt
for each other.

Still. That didn't mean she had to spend every afternoon all by her lonesome.

ANN: hey
RYUJI: hey yourself.
ANN: think you passed that one?
RYUJI: enh.
RYUJI: i'll care when the results are posted.
ANN: wanna catch a movie?
ANN: I can cover you if you're broke
RYUJI: lol.
RYUJI: takin me out on a date? thought we weren't gonna do that.
ANN: doesn't have to be one
ANN: arcade?

She remembered as soon as she'd sent it that Akira and Mishima were headed
there themselves and kicked herself. She didn't want to avoid them, exactly,
but she didn't want to intrude on their time together, either.

RYUJI: i got a better idea, actually.
RYUJI: think you'd be up for it today?
ANN: up for what?

She knew exactly what he was talking about, of course. She stuck her phone in
her pocket and left her classroom, then walked the handful of steps to his and
peered in the doorway. Just as she'd expected, he was still sitting at his
desk, tapping into his phone.

RYUJI: you know.
RYUJI: what we were gonna do on the weekend.

She answered him from the doorway, then slipped into his classroom.

ANN: just say fuck, Ryuji. usually you're so good at it ;)

She was merciless, and her timing was perfect. She slammed her hand down onto
his desk, just loudly enough to make him jump and fumble his phone.

"Where're we headed, then?" She gave him her sweetest smile. Some of his
classmates were staring, and she reveled in it.

He looked as though he wanted to glare at her, but couldn't quite manage it;
the corner of his mouth kept twitching upwards. "I'll, uh... tell you at the
train station."

----------

Ann wobbled on her feet and clutched her stomach. "Oof - geeze, Ry- Skull. You
coulda warned me."

"Easier to hit the Nav than waste time explainin' it to you." His Metaverse
outfit had taken the place of his school uniform, and when she looked down at
herself, she saw familiar red latex.

"Mementos though? Seriously? Gotta be the least sexy place I can think of." She
pictured the viscera that made up the walls of the lower levels they'd been
exploring recently and scrunched up her face.

He just grinned and came closer. "You sounded pretty into it when you were in
my class... " He settled his gloved hands on her hips and stroked the latex of
her catsuit with his thumbs.

She started to laugh. "I think I was picturing a love hotel or something." She
tipped his Skull mask up onto his forehead, then did the same to her Panther
mask. "I mean, it's not that I don'twant to... " She slid her thigh between his
and inched it upwards.

"Uh, I really don't think they'd give us a room. In our freakin' uniforms,
even." He tilted his face to hers and kissed her.

Maybe he'd taken what she'd said before to heart. His kissing was more
restrained, and he let her decide when she wanted to part her lips before he
inserted just the tip of his tongue into her mouth. His lips were warm and a
bit rough. She leaned into him and felt something uncoil deep down in her
abdomen.

She broke off and stood on her tiptoes to murmur in his ear. "You got better!
Find someone to practice with?"

"No," he shot back, sounding defensive, though his face lit up all the same.
"Read about it online."

Ann threw back her head and laughed, hard; it echoed back like a chorus from
the tile walls around them. If she was completely honest, she hadn't expected
him to take such initiative, if it could be called that. A pleasant surprise.
"Good boy." His hand trailed up the latex to the small of her back and he tried
to pull her close again, but she laid her palm on his chest to stop him. "Mm.
Top floor, though? You sure?"

He shrugged. "Ain't it the nicest? As far as Mementos goes? No Shadows,
either."

"Yeah, but... what if Joker decided to call a meeting all of a sudden? Like, I
think he's busy with Mi- uh, his boyfriend today, but if he changed his mind...
"

They fell silent for a moment. It was bad enough to be walked in on by just
Ryuji's mom, but they were both picturing what it would be like to be walked in
on by the entire team of Phantom Thieves. They shuddered in unison.

He grinned sheepishly. "First train shelter thingy we come to, then?"

She grabbed his hand with her left and picked up her whip with her right.
"Sounds good to me."

At first they were cautious, aware that their numbers were only half of what
they usually had to fight with; they peeked around corners and slipped through
Shadows' blind spots on tiptoe. But then she let the heel of her boot clang on
the metal subway rail a little too loudly, and a Shadow detected her. Ann and
Ryuji both tensed, prepared for an ambush, then burst into laughter as it fled
in terror at the mere sight of them. After that, they abandoned all attempts at
stealth and chatted as they descended Mementos at their own pace. The Shadows
were weak, and they didn't have to fight a single one by the time they'd
reached the train shelter.

The mood was long gone. It was easy to forget how expansive each floor was when
they were tearing through the tunnels in the bus for most of each infiltration.
On foot, it was a long, cheerless slog, even without having to wipe out
Shadows. They dumped their weapons next to the entrance of the shelter, Ryuji's
metal club singing out as it struck the concrete, and staggered inside.

"Ugghhhh." Ann collapsed into one of the plastic seats and pulled her thigh
high boots off, then wiggled her toes to stretch them. The tops of her feet and
her heels were an angry red.

"You too, huh?" He was kneading his bad leg. "Foot rub?"

She hesitated. But it did sound good. "Okay. Lemme get you after then." She
spun sideways in her seat, the latex of her suit squeaking, and stretched her
legs out until her feet were resting in his lap.

He flung his gloves to the floor and kneaded her soles until she hissed through
her teeth. "Not so hard - "

"Okay, okay - " He slowed down and paid a little more attention to what he was
doing. There wasn't much light in the train shelter, but she could tell he was
studying what was probably a blister on her heel. "Those stupid things really
don't fit, huh."

"Nope. Sure don't." She rolled her eyes. "And this goddamn suit... you'd think
it'd just be the size I need. You'd think that since it comes out of my head,
it'd just be me sized. Instead it's too tight half the time and too loose the
other half - "

He'd stopped rubbing her feet. "Too tight where, exactly?" Of course he was
leering at her.

The usual impulse to smack him was there but she overcame it just in time. Now
that things had changed, he was right on cue. "Here." She slowly pulled down
the zippers that held her suit closed over her breasts; first one, then the
other. "And here."

He didn't make a move, apparently content to see where she wanted to take
things. Her foot was already stretched across his lap, so she pulled it from
his loose grasp and slowly, lightly, slid it along his crotch. It was difficult
to tell what she was doing from this angle but the little gasp he let out, and
what she felt beneath the sole of her foot, told her she was right on the mark.

Enough teasing. Even in this situation, she didn't want to let her bare feet
touch the floor in Mementos, so she took her foot back and faced forward in her
seat again, then bent double to pick up her boots from the floor.

"Hey, don't. I'll just - " She blinked, and he was already kneeling on the
concrete in front of her. " - come to you." He was at the perfect height now.
He took one of her breasts in his hand, groping her without the slightest
hesitation, and took the nipple of the other into his mouth.

Fucking finally. She kept forgetting how much she missed this kind of touch
until she couldn't have it anymore.

First it was months of having Akira all to herself, months of dirty talk and
massages gone awry and 'spending time together'. Then she'd seen what was
coming before he had and stepped back, giving him room to see where he stood
with Mishima. It had only been a few weeks between then and when she'd involved
herself - butted in, really - and confessed her attraction to Mishima. But even
in that short amount of time, she'd become... lonely. If that was the word for
it. To be honest, she'd missed the feeling of companionship. She could hang out
with Akira or the other Thieves in a platonic way, and she could tend to her
more basic physical needs on her own, with her fingers or her bullet vibe. But
it wasn't the same. She wanted to have it all. She wanted the whole package,
wrapped up in one experience.

Then she'd gotten to know Mishima. It was... more, somehow. Mishima had never
replaced Akira, because Akira had never left her. Not really. They'd stopped
sleeping together, but because they'd decided to continue sharing everything
with each other, she'd never had to miss him. She hadn't been lonely on the
weekends that Mishima spent at Akira's because she knew that after he'd walked
Mishima to the train station, she'd be waking up to detailed - extremely
detailed - reports of their weekend together. Akira hadn't really left, just
taken a half step back; she'd given up sharing his bed but kept every single
other aspect of their relationship intact. Then there was Mishima himself.
She'd grown comfortable with him astonishingly quickly, as if they'd been close
for years, rather than simply being on each other's periphery - a mutual friend
of a friend. Instead she'd fallen for him through Akira himself, as if Akira
had passed on his infatuation for Mishima simply by talking to her about him.
Could that happen? She didn't know. All she did know was that she drank in his
attention and got just as much satisfaction from giving it back to him twofold;
she shared him with Akira, and she shared Akira with him, and in time, she took
it for granted.

Then the three of them had had a single night together, really together. The
last boundary had been lifted. Mishima was hers, and Akira was hers.

Then she had nothing.

It was so much worse than before. Before she'd become involved with Akira,
she'd been accustomed to loneliness. She had Shiho to hang out with after
school, and she had her modelling work, and she'd been content with that,
probably just because she hadn't known there was more. That there couldbe more.
Sure, she was otherwise ostracized at school, and she and Ryuji had drifted
apart. But she knew how to move forward.

But now she'd had everything. She'd known satisfaction, and now it was gone.
She'd wanted to do the right thing, so she'd left it behind. On the weekends,
her house was empty. During the week, the only messages she got from Akira were
the same ones he sent to the rest of the Thieves in their group chat. Mishima
had tried to keep messaging her, in much the same way that he'd tried to keep
inviting her to spend time with him and Akira, but she'd thought it was better
for both of them if a certain distance was maintained. So she'd retreated into
blandness, into safe, bloodless chitchat with him, until he'd given up on that
too.

It was all her decision, her attempt at being the adult, it was all for the
best. But now that she had a shot at something like what she'd had before, even
if it was just a fraction of the companionship, the comfort she'd once had -
she wasn't going to think twice. When Ryuji knelt in front of her and took her
breast in his mouth, she seized her chance.

Even as she gasped at the sensation as he rolled her nipple on his tongue, she
reached between them and carefully pulled down the zipper that halved her latex
suit. Cool air raised goosebumps on her chest, her belly, her -

He sat back on his heels, mesmerized, as she revealed herself to him. Her suit
was tight, and as she drew the zipper lower and lower, he pulled the latex at
her thighs and hips away from her body to prevent the zipper from catching her
skin. She felt the same stupid trepidation she'd felt when she'd first bared
herself to Akira and Mishima - maybe he'll think I look weird, or gross, or -
but of course it was even more misplaced this time. She'd already shown him
this and more in the photos she'd sent, and it was Ryuji. Just Ryuji. A funny
thought struck from out of left field. Maybe Ryuji should have been my first.
She didn't regret her time with Akira, far from it, but she'd certainly found
him intimidating at the time. If Ryuji had been her first -

She could dig into what-ifs later. Ryuji was staring at her, and his open,
honest face told her how he felt. She lifted her hips and he reached beneath
her to help hold her up as she continued unzipping, finally stopping when she
was bared all the way from her collarbones to the small of her back. He let his
eyes drag over every inch of her, as if committing her to memory, until his
eyes suddenly cut back up to hers. He grinned.

"What?" She didn't get the joke.

"Am I allowed to check you out in your Panther suit now?" He tensed up, and
this time she rewarded him with a smack on the chest.
----------

"Can I... ?" Ryuji slid his bare palm up the glossy latex covering her thigh,
stopping just short of where the teeth of the zipper ended and her skin began.

"You don't have to ask now," she teased. Even if it's nice that you do. Ryuji
kept surprising her. Either she'd always had him pegged wrong or he'd managed
to do a little growing up since the last time they'd tried dating. Or maybe
they'd both changed.

He explored her with his fingers without any further qualms, stroking the hair
she kept trimmed short and looking as though he were puzzling out some deep
mystery. He finally brought his other hand up and spread her wide, all at once,
making her hiss through her teeth. "Eesh - "

"Sorry - " He furrowed his brow, but saw that he hadn't hurt her, just
surprised her. "How do I get you to look like you did in that photo?"

Ann laughed and dropped her gloves to the floor so she could run her fingers
through his hair. She had to admit he looked pretty good on his knees, settled
between her spread thighs. "How do you get me wet, you mean?"

If she'd tried that line on Mishima, she'd have been treated to seeing him
blush; maybe even to him hiding his face in embarrassment. Ryuji couldn't be
more different. His face lit up as if she'd told him the best news he'd ever
heard. "Yeah. Somethin' like this?" He watched her face and carefully slid his
fingertip down her centre, stroking just the outside of her in tight little
circles. In the silence between one cognitive train leaving the station in
Mementos and another arriving, they both heard the sounds his finger was making
as the tip of it started to slick into her, just a little.

She hooked one knee over his shoulder and drew him a little closer, then closed
her eyes and hummed happily. "How'd you get so good at... ?" She pictured him
googling all sorts of things to prepare and bit back a laugh. Whatever he'd
done, it seemed to have helped. "You can put your finger in. Slowly."

She was a lot wetter now, though she doubted she looked much like she had in
the photo she'd sent him. Not yet, at least. He brought his face even closer,
fascinated by what he was doing, or maybe by what she looked like as his finger
sank into her, all the way in. Now he was watching her face again, locking eyes
with her as he stroked her in just the right spot. Her mouth dropped open and
she let out something between a sigh and a moan.

His eyes went wide and he picked up the pace.

She only had to give him a little more guidance; soon he was slicking in and
out of her, staring hungrily at her face. It had always been hard for her to be
quiet but now, with the acoustics they way they were, her moans and cries
bounced back and multiplied until she couldn't hear anything else. She could've
happily given herself over to his fingering alone, but, a few minutes in, he
stopped.

Ann had to catch her breath. It had been so long since someone else had touched
her. "Your leg?"

"Nah." He leered up at her. "Geeze, Panther. You forget why we dragged our
asses all the way down here?"

She had. "Oh. Right." She slid her leg from his shoulder. "How d'you want to -
"

"First things first." Ryuji yanked back the flap that held his outfit shut at
his throat and started to unzip himself, all the way down to his crotch.

"Oh, yours is like Fox's, huh?"

He gave her such an exaggerated eyeroll that she had to giggle at him. "Fuck,
don't tell me you got more 'boys' I don't even know about - "

"No -" she retorted, and would have said more, but he'd reached the bottom of
the zipper. He pulled the crotch of his suit taut and did a funny little shimmy
with his hips until his cock flopped out, mostly hard, then adjusted his balls.
Another difference between him and Mishima, then. Maybe it was just because
they'd already exchanged photos, but Ryuji wasn't the least bit shy about this
part of his body, either. She decided not to tell him that the photo he'd sent
hadn't been much more than a shadowy blur, in case her reaction to it was the
source of his confidence.

"Mmf... " she murmured, but then he wiped the smile off her face. He reached
into his suit, dug into some tiny inner pocket, and pulled out a condom.

She held her tongue. Of course it was his choice to wear one. She just hadn't
been picturing it that way. If he was wearing a condom, she wouldn't get to
feel her favourite part. She was on the pill - Maybe I can change his mind -
but by then he'd already rolled it on, and she decided to save that
conversation for another time.

There'll be other times. Just the thought of it cheered her up again. She still
hadn't even gotten a good look at him, after all.

"Ready?"

He didn't answer. He rose to his feet in front of her, a calculating expression
on his face, and before she could get an inkling of what he was planning, he
bent low, stuck his hands under her arms and scooped her up. He staggered under
her weight as he took the handful of steps to the glass wall of the shelter,
then slammed her back against it with a thud.

"S-Skull!" she gasped. It hadn't hurt, but he'd managed to knock the air out of
her lungs.

He grunted and held her up with one shaking arm as he lined himself up with his
other hand. For once, her latex suit was practical. The material stuck to the
glass enough that it slowed her descent, just enough to give him time to
prepare. The same couldn't be said for her. The tip of him, covered in the
condom, brushed at her; then, less than a second later, he was inside her, all
of him, buried to his balls in a single thrust. Ann screamed in his ear,
overwhelmed by sensation.

At least it didn't hurt. He had been thorough, and she was prepared. But she
couldn't think. His hands were under her ass, propping her up against the wall
as he rocked up into her, hard and fast. They panted into each other's faces,
locking eyes again, and she realized that instead of making the occasional moan
or cry, she was simply sobbing with every breath. It was just noise, noise that
she had no hope of controlling or stopping. She couldn't even get a full breath
because every time she tried, he'd hit that spot; he looked as though he was
saying something, muttering to himself, maybe, but there was no way she could
hear him over her own voice. Now he'd buried his face between her breasts and
somehow picked up the pace. He pounded her, faster, harder, and all she could
do was take it and make a single wordless, openmouthed wail. She crossed her
ankles behind his back and clung on for dear life.

Then his bad leg gave out.

He crumpled to the floor with a frustrated groan, clutching his leg. Her latex
suit sticking to the glass gave her half a second more to react before she
crashed to the concrete in front of him; she still couldn't quite get her legs
under her, and she took the brunt of it with her tailbone. She knelt, then sank
down and rested her face on her crossed forearms to take her weight off of her
tailbone, keening quietly in pain. Now her breasts were in contact with the
grimy concrete beneath her, though the pain made that seem less important now.

She finally pulled herself back up and groaned. "Why the hell would you pick me
up if your leg hurt?!"

He made a noise of disgust and scowled at her. "Told you. Fuckin' thing always
hurts." He stripped off the condom in one rough motion and flung it into the
corner of the shelter. "Maybe if somebody could lay off the sweets for one
minute, I coulda made it." He cupped himself with his hand to protect himself
from his zipper, then yanked it up to his throat and limped out of the shelter.

Jesus. Maybe she'd set her expectations too high.

She pressed her hand to her ass, wincing. It was a long shot, but -

Carmen appearing out of thin air must have caught his eye, because now he was
leaning back into the shelter's entrance, all of his weight resting on his good
leg. The space was a little cramped for her Persona, but it wasn't as though
she'd need her for long.

"Why're you - oh."

Ann used Dia on herself, squeezing her eyes shut as the spell lit up the dim
shelter for a second or two. By the time the light faded away, she knew it had
worked. She prodded herself - just a dull throb now, nothing like what she'd
felt a moment ago. She'd have to check more thorougly later, but so far as she
could tell, much of the damage had been healed. She knelt upright again,
sitting on her heels.

"C'mere."

"If that worked on shit like this - " He waved both hands at his leg. " - then
I wouldn't still have a bad leg, would I? Would've been fixed a long time ago."

"C'mere."

He rolled his eyes, then sank to the floor in front of her. She could tell by
the way that he moved his leg with his hands that he'd managed to hurt himself
pretty severely this time. Carmen had stuck around, idly twitching the leashes
that led to her admirers every now and then. Ann nodded to her, then cast Dia
on Ryuji's leg.

"Well?"

She'd known him for so long that she could read him like a book. Her healing
spell had worked, or had at least reduced his pain, but he still wanted to be
mad at her. So he grumbled, and rolled his eyes, and wouldn't look her in the
face as he stood. He tested his leg, and she could tell that she'd been right.
"Thanks," he said, still sullen.

She saved her 'I-told-you-so's. She'd just have to get back at him later. There
were more urgent things to attend to. She pulled herself to her feet, still
sore, and wedged her feet back into her boots. Then she tried to make herself
decent.

Of course the zipper she needed was all the way at the small of her back. She
could reach it easily, but of course it balked when she tried to yank it down
over the swell of her ass. She struggled with it until she was red in the face,
trying to pull tight the latex with one hand and wrenching on the zipper with
the other.

"Geeze. This thing is like a... like a fuckin' sausage casing, or somethin'."
Ryuji stood in front of her and put his hands on hers, still behind her back.

She bristled, something sharp already on her tongue - she wasn't a saint, there
were limits - but he interrupted her, laughing at the face she'd made. "I
didn't mean it like that. Come on. Turn around."

In the end she knelt upright on the train shelter's plastic seat and planted
her palms against the glass, watching his reflection over her shoulder as he
struggled with her zippers. She'd been yanking on the one attached to her
stupid cat tail, which was immobile, locked in place behind the one she needed.
They both gathered up as much of the latex as they could and held the zipper's
track closed; she held her breath as he slowly pulled it back over her most
sensitive parts, still puffy with arousal. Once she could see the zipper again,
she handled the rest herself, roughly stuffing her breasts back behind their
own zippers. She was very much looking forward to being in her own clothes
again.

She turned back around, feeling a little awkward. "Thanks for your help."

He really must be feeling better. The fight had evaporated. She grinned and
gestured with her chin at the bulge in his Metaverse outfit. "Still? Or again?"

Ryuji had no shame, which was fine. Maybe she didn't have any either. "Again. I
was thinkin' maybe we shoulda just done it like this." She got what he meant
and turned back around to face the glass, kneeling upright. He spread her feet
and knees as far apart as the shelter's seat would allow and pressed himself
against her, grinding his hips against her ass. "Like...this." He skimmed his
fingertips down low and stroked her through the latex as he let his cock press
even harder against her.

"I guess I've never tried it like this... " She had a good view of his face,
reflected in the glass in front of her; his eyes closed as he rested his chin
against her shoulder. "But."

He sighed. "But," he agreed. He gave her some space, and she turned around and
stood.

"My ass is pretty sore - "

"My leg is done for the day, so - "

She stuck her hand out and smiled. "Next time for sure." He took her hand in
his and they shook on it.

The trip back to the top of Mementos took just as long, but it seemed to go by
a little faster.
***** Cursed. "Think you'd be jealous?" Crossed wires. *****
Ann stretched out on her stomach on top of her bed, an icepack on her tailbone
and her phone in her hands. She hadn't felt this exhausted in a long time.

ANN: hey, at least you got it in this time, right?
ANN: that should count for smth
RYUJI: fuck. i was actually kinda close too.
RYUJI: i'm startin to think we're cursed.
ANN: think it's more about our choice of location, lol. both times
ANN: third time's the charm, right? we'll get it right at my house
ANN: anyway. how'd you like it
ANN: or were you repulsed by my fatness
RYUJI: aw, come on. don't drag that out again.
RYUJI: i didn't mean it.
ANN: then don't say it
ANN: you said you wanted to be nice to me, if we were gonna do this. so be nice
to me
RYUJI: fine. whatever.
RYUJI: i'm sorry i said you were too heavy. or whatever i said.

Good enough.

ANN: you're forgiven
ANN: how's your leg?
RYUJI: better. at least, back to where it'd usually be after a mementos trip.
RYUJI: better than it was. thanks.
RYUJI: how's your ass
ANN: broke
ANN: lol. nah, it's just a bruise now. I think maybe my tailbone really was
broken before I healed it, though. it really hurt
RYUJI: sorry I dropped you.
ANN: it's alright
ANN: what made you try that out on your first time though??? lol
RYUJI: heh. think i was tryin to impress you.
ANN: orly
ANN: what makes you think I need impressing?
RYUJI: your experience. duh.
ANN: aw. it's not like that
ANN: I'm not gonna be bored by you. you said before that everyone's so far
ahead of you? I'm really only a few months "ahead" of you. if you want to think
of it that way
RYUJI: still.
RYUJI: i wanted to do somethin akira n mishima didn't.
RYUJI: was i right?
ANN: lol yeah
ANN: Akira never took me to Mementos, and Mishima never busted my ass, so...
ANN: I'm just kidding
ANN: that was actually p hot
RYUJI: you think so?
RYUJI: i thought so.
RYUJI: you're fuckin tight.
RYUJI: i was sort of worried...
ANN: god don't even
ANN: that's just a myth
ANN: christ Ryuji, you need to learn how to talk to girls
RYUJI: I WAS KIDDING.
RYUJI: you can tease me but i can't tease you?
ANN: okay, okay
ANN: I just couldn't tell through text, I guess
ANN: you felt sooooo good
ANN: it's been way too long
RYUJI: psht. you weren't too shy about showin me that toy you had in you like
three days ago.
ANN: that's different
RYUJI: lol. okay.
ANN: it is. it feels totally different. the real thing's so much better
ANN: uh. that reminds me...
ANN: I didn't get a chance to tell you that I'm on the pill
ANN: did you have a condom with you for that reason? or? bc I'm clean

Her stomach sank. He was taking a while to reply. Maybe he doesn't believe me.

RYUJI: not that I don't trust you. but.
RYUJI: you sure those two other guys are? were?
ANN: Akira was my first, and I was Akira's first, and he was Mishima's first.
and it was only ever us three
ANN: so
ANN: I'm sure
ANN: it's okay tho. I like it without, but if you want to keep using condoms,
then that's what we'll do

There was another pause, even longer this time.

RYUJI: this feels super shitty. i don't know a nice way to say it.
RYUJI: what about mishima?
RYUJI: what you said happened to him, i mean.
RYUJI: isn't there a chance?
RYUJI: if there's a chance, then it's better to be safe, isn't it?
ANN: oh
ANN: you don't have to worry about that
ANN: I can't tell you more, but. he told me everything, and there was no...
like, that didn't happen, at least
ANN: you don't have to worry, I mean

Talking about Mishima behind his back made her feel like a piece of shit all
over again. Even now, she wasn't sure that telling Ryuji had been the right
course of action. He'd guessed on his own, and she hadn't wanted to lie to his
face, but...

RYUJI: well. if you're sure.
RYUJI: anyway. happier stuff.
RYUJI: up for a repeat? photos?
ANN: oh, like a few days ago?
ANN: sorry. hard pass
ANN: can't even lay on my back tonight, lol
ANN: and I had this super long shower but I still feel all yucky
ANN: even the air feels dirty in Mementos, you know?
RYUJI: aw. guess i'll just have to picture you in the shower then...
ANN: lol. if that helps
ANN: remember what my house looks like? my shower's big enough for two, bb
RYUJI: oh shit. you're right, i forgot.
ANN: I'll leave you to it. have fun :)

She closed her chat with him and immediately opened another, this time with
Mishima.

You're just trying to make yourself feel better.

ANN: hey, are you still awake?

It wasn't long at all before he answered; he must have already been on his
phone.

MISHIMA: Of course I'm awake! It's early.
ANN: busy, then?
MISHIMA: Exams, so. I'm studying.
MISHIMA: Well.
MISHIMA: I was studying.
ANN: lol
MISHIMA: Akira's distracting me with cat photos.
ANN: he always did that to me during exam week too. just bc he doesn't have to
try, he forgets the rest of us do
ANN: but if you're studying, I can talk to you another time
MISHIMA: It's okay. I'd like to talk to you.
MISHIMA: Been a while, huh.
ANN: yeah. I'm sorry
ANN: I've been avoiding you
MISHIMA: I noticed.

He wasn't making this any easier.

ANN: I'm sorry. really
MISHIMA: What's the real reason?
ANN: um
ANN: I wanted you to fall out of love with me? I guess?
MISHIMA: Nothing else?
ANN: I kept hoping I would start to feel the same way, and that I could say it
back like Akira. I wanted to be in love with you
ANN: but I don't feel that way. I wish I did
MISHIMA: I know that. I'm okay with that.
MISHIMA: But I mean. You didn't start avoiding me because of anything else?
ANN: like what?
MISHIMA: Like that stuff we talked about the same day that I told you I love
you.
MISHIMA: What happened to me.
ANN: Mishima
ANN: no. did you think that?
MISHIMA: Well, yeah.
ANN: no. that wasn't any part of it. I'm not like that
ANN: that stuff wasn't your fault
ANN: didn't I say that? that I wanted to give you space because of the love
thing? and not bc of that other stuff you had to tell me about?
MISHIMA: I think you did. But. I dunno. It just felt so final.
MISHIMA: Didn't we say we were still going to be friends? I've barely seen you
for like a month. Longer.
MISHIMA: So I thought you'd changed your mind about that. I thought what I told
you was too much for you.
ANN: no. it's not like that at all. I didn't want to lead you on
ANN: you and Akira are the couple. you're the priority. I'm on the outside
ANN: like, I don't mean that to be sarcastic or whatever. bitter. I mean it.
the last thing I wanted was to break you up or smth. so I stayed away
MISHIMA: Akira and I have talked about that.
ANN: about what?
MISHIMA: My feelings, I guess. You.
ANN: oh?
MISHIMA: How would you feel about trying things out again? With me and him.

She surprised herself when she let out a shaky gasp, her heart thudding in her
chest, and stared at her screen, too stunned to think for a long moment. She'd
pulled back and left him alone for several weeks already, and she'd honestly
expected it to be forever. At least, she was prepared for it to be forever. To
get through it, she'd shuttered that part of herself, as though she could keep
her thoughts of him separate and closed off from the rest of her in just the
same way that she put physical distance between the two of them. It made it
easier to pretend that she wasn't affected by her own choice when she didn't
have to think about it - when it was already decided and put behind her. The
single line of text she couldn't stop staring at both threatened to tear down
all the careful walls she'd built up and hinted that she'd never need them
again.

But she didn't want to hurt him.

MISHIMA: I miss you.
ANN: I miss you too
ANN: is he still around? maybe this is something I need to talk about with him
too
MISHIMA: Think so. One sec.

She rolled over onto her side, wincing as she brushed the bruise on her
tailbone.

AKIRA: Hi Ann. How's it going?
ANN: broke my ass, lol
ANN: I'll, uh, tell you about it later
AKIRA: Uh, you better.
AKIRA: So what do you think?
ANN: well. I like the idea. I liked how things were going. but
ANN: if Mishima loves me and I don't feel the same way, is that fair?
ANN: is it right for me to come back? if things are like that? Akira, remember
when we talked about false hope?
ANN: I don't want it to be like that, you know?
MISHIMA: I think I'm done, like. Pining for you. Or whatever.
MISHIMA: I feel better. If this were right after everything happened then I
guess I'd agree with you. But. Now I sort of just miss you more like a friend.
ANN: would you be jealous if it wasn't just you?
MISHIMA: No. I mean, maybe I was that one time. I needed to get used to seeing
it, I guess. But I liked seeing you with Akira the second time. Remember?
ANN: what if I were spending time with you and someone else? would that make
you jealous?
MISHIMA: Oh, Sakamoto?
MISHIMA: We were wondering how things were coming along. :) Me and Akira, I
mean.
MISHIMA: Going good?

She wondered if any of the time she'd spent with Ryuji in the last week could
be categorized as 'going good' and laughed to herself.

ANN: I don't know how to answer that...
ANN: the gist of it is that we're sleeping together, I guess
AKIRA: Uh, did HE "break your ass"?
ANN: hey, put your gun away lol
ANN: indirectly only. I'm fine
ANN: but Mishima, you're okay with that? no hurt feelings?
MISHIMA: Yeah. I'm happy for you.
ANN: it's not that I don't believe you. but. Akira
ANN: do you think he's ready? if I'm around again, is it going to be okay?
AKIRA: I think we won't know unless we try. But from what I can tell, yes.
MISHIMA: Geeze, I'm still here, you guys.
ANN: I'm sorry. I just don't want to mess things up for you
AKIRA: What if we went slow? Slow for us, anyway.
MISHIMA: Maybe that's a good compromise. I liked trading photos with you, Ann.
AKIRA: How about it?
ANN: I think I want a little time to think about it. and I need to talk this
over with Ryuji
AKIRA: Hey, yeah. Are you dating? I mean I'm guessing you're not, but.
ANN: no
AKIRA: More like you and me then? Before?
ANN: yeah, so far. we talked about it. we're thinking casual is better for now.
friends
AKIRA: Maybe he'd like an invite too.
MISHIMA: Oooh.
AKIRA: Lol, did you just perk your ears up?
AKIRA: Got a thing for him?
MISHIMA: I think YOU do, actually.
ANN: lmao
ANN: boys! you are getting ahead of yourselves
ANN: Ryuji and me haven't even figured things out yet. things keep getting in
the way
ANN: I'm seeing him this weekend. I'll make sure I talk to him about this by
then. k?
MISHIMA: Ann. Even if you and him want to be exclusive.
MISHIMA: Don't shut me out anymore, okay? We can be friends. You're not gonna
hurt my feelings.
ANN: I just thought it was best. for a while, at least
ANN: but maybe it's been long enough
ANN: I'm super beat though. think I'm going to sleep early
AKIRA: Gee Mishima, I wonder why Ann is so tired today.
MISHIMA: I can't imagine why, Akira.
ANN: lol
ANN: you goobs
ANN: gnight

----------

It was almost like old times again.

Ann made it to class a few minutes before the warning bell and saw that Akira
and Mishima were already seated, tapping into their phones. She felt their eyes
on her as she propped her weight up with her arms and carefully lowered herself
into her desk. She managed to keep her face impassive until the last second,
when she settled the last of her weight onto the bruise on her tailbone and
winced.
They flooded her with messages.

MISHIMA: Akira, I think we'd better have a talk with that Sakamoto.
AKIRA: Yes. Ann is like a delicate flower. Her ass needs to be treated with
care and respect.
MISHIMA: Maybe he just doesn't know how to do it.
AKIRA: You and me must be considered experts by now, right?
MISHIMA: I mean, I don't have my degree yet.
MISHIMA: We're not certified.
AKIRA: Still. Maybe we should take him under our wing.
AKIRA: We'll give him some tips on matters of the ass.
ANN: WE DIDN'T EVEN DO THAT
ANN: I BRUISED MY TAILBONE, ALRIGHT?
ANN: FUCK
MISHIMA: We know. We asked him about it last night.

She scowled across the rows at Mishima, who was giving her a million watt grin.

ANN: asdflkjsd
ANN: oh nooooo
ANN: wtf did he tell you -_-
AKIRA: Don't worry. Nothing too detailed.

At least Ryuji had been smart enough to avoid telling Mishima about where
they'd been, then. He must have omitted the details of their difficulties with
her latex suit as well.

AKIRA: Just stuff we both already know.
MISHIMA: How you like it.
AKIRA: That you're a screamer.
ANN: omg stopppp

Her face was flushed hot, and she hid it in her folded arms, trying to avoid
drawing stares from the rest of the class. She heard a distinctly Akira-like
snicker from the desk behind her.

AKIRA: Lol. Okay.
MISHIMA: Good luck on your exam today! :D

Apparently she'd wanted this.

----------

The rest of exam week flew by. Ann had never spent more time on her phone. If
it wasn't Ryuji distracting her from studying, it was Akira and Mishima teasing
her as they rode their separate trains on the way to Shujin. She finally had to
put her foot down and warn them that she was turning her phone off in a last
ditch effort to get some real studying in.

The bell rang on Friday afternoon, the last day of exams. Ann started packing
up her things as Mishima approached her desk, though her phone distracted her
before he got there.

AKIRA: Mementos today. I'll tell the others.

Seriously? Right after exams? But the more she considered it, the better it
sounded. The bruise on her tailbone was ugly but the worst of the pain was
gone, and she actually started to look forward to whipping some Shadows. It'd
be nice to get a little exercise in and blow off some steam.

"How'd you do?"

She seesawed her hand at Mishima. "Not terrible. Considering."

"Considering?"

"Considering you guys won't give me a moment's peace - "

He laughed, not even pretending to be sorry. "Does that mean you're not up for
coffee with me?"

She opened her mouth to answer, but he realized he was blocking the aisle and
returned to his seat, waiting for the room to clear out a little more. She had
a moment to recall how embarrassed she'd made him just a few months ago when
she'd approached his desk and asked him out in front of the other students. Now
he was comfortable enough to ask her out in front of everyone without giving it
another thought.

MISHIMA: Or a movie?
ANN: aw. any other day I would
ANN: I just signed up to sub for a shoot though

Lying to him still didn't feel great, but for something like this, it was a
necessary evil.

ANN: can I take you out next time, though?
MISHIMA: Sounds good to me. Maybe Akira's free.

She waved goodbye and hurried out of the room, wondering how Akira would put
him off.

----------

Ryuji had never been one for subtlety.

Ann sat in the exact center of the bus in Mementos, Ryuji on her left and
Yusuke on her right. Fortunately, Yusuke was laser focused on studying their
surroundings, staring out the window on his side and apparently muttering notes
to himself for a painting. He was far too absorbed to notice when Ryuji inched
a little closer to her, hip to hip, and started whispering in her ear.

"You know. That suit of yours leaves zipper marks on you. Like, indents."

Maybe she wasn't above it herself. She arched one of her eyebrows at him, then
leaned her head closer to his so she could whisper back. "Oh really?"

"You said it was tight, but I didn't think I'd be able to see that." His gloved
hand crept up the latex covering her thigh, still out of sight.

Still out of sight for everyone but Akira, at least. She glanced up to the
rearview mirror a seat ahead of her and realized he was barely keeping his eyes
on the road. Their eyes met, and though she couldn't see the rest of his face,
she still somehow got the impression that he was grinning at her.

Let him look.

She leaned close to Ryuji again. "Yours has a zipper too, y'know. Did yours
leave zipper marks on you? When your suit started getting... tight?"

Ryuji gave her a shaky little laugh, and when she pulled away just enough to
see his face, she couldn't believe how red he'd become. She was starting to
realize that he liked to talk big, but couldn't always take what he dished out.
At least, not while keeping a straight face.

"Hey. We have an audience."

His eyes went wide behind his mask, and she glanced meaningfully at the
rearview mirror, then back at him. Akira didn't even pretend; he just looked
from her eyes to Ryuji's.

Now Ryuji kept his eyes on the mirror even as he went back to whispering in her
ear. "Psht. Just Joker. Who cares." He trailed his fingertips along the curve
of her hip. "He already knows anyway." Her own eyes widened as Ryuji slouched
down a little further in the seat, spreading his knees wider as if to give
Akira a good look. Checking the rearview mirror confirmed that he was still
watching as much as he could as he drove the bus.

She leaned into Ryuji again, slouching down a little herself to get closer.
"Geeze. What did you tell them? They're - ugh, they've been tormenting me."

He gave an evil laugh. "Good." He'd let his voice get too loud and switched to
whispering again. "Maybe you deserve a little tormenting."

"No, seriously - are we sharing stuff? With them?" Ann grabbed his ascot and
gave it a vicious tug, yanking his head forward an inch or two. "Because I've
got a few things I could let them in on about you, buddy - "

The distraction they were providing took its toll on Akira's driving. He let
the tires hit the subway rails at far too high a speed and every Thief rose
into the air with a cry of surprise, then hit the seat again with a thump. He
hit the brakes and came to a stop. "Everyone alright? Sorry - " The Thieves
laughed and sniped at him about his driving skills until he stepped on the gas
again.

"Oh shit - Panther - " Ryuji hissed into her ear, then wrapped his arm around
her chest, his face even redder than before.

"Get off - " she hissed back. She'd assumed that he was hugging her right in
front of everyone, but when she glanced down at his arm, she realized that he'd
been trying to do her a favour. Sometimes her Metaverse outfit was too tight,
and sometimes too loose; apparently today was a 'loose' day. Hitting the subway
rails at such a speed had bounced her breasts right out of the top of her suit.
One had settled back to where it was supposed to be, but the other was still
exposed, propped up by the cup of her suit instead of resting within it.

Of course Akira had seen everything. She heard him laugh quietly in the seat
ahead of her. As she glared at his reflection in the rearview mirror, he
actually reached up and adjusted it for a better look, as if to taunt her.

She leaned into Ryuji to shield herself from Yusuke's and the other Thieves'
eyes and fixed herself hurriedly, then whispered "Thanks," before taking the
time to stick her tongue out at the rearview mirror.

Ryuji grinned. "Guess we better continue this later." He shifted his legs
again, and she confirmed her suspicion with a glance. "Maybe we shouldn't both
flash the driver," he whispered.

----------

Everyone but Yusuke had just had a week of exams, so Akira was merciful. They
completed the request they'd set out to do and, instead of grinding through
extra floors for Personas and cash, he called it quits after only an hour or
two in Mementos.

Ann and Ryuji milled about the top floor and pretended to prepare to leave with
the other Thieves. It wasn't long before they had the place to themselves.

He leaned against the wall and sank to the floor with a sigh, his bad leg
propped out in front, and patted the gritty tiles next to him. Instead she sat
between his spread thighs and scooched down until her head rested on his belly,
moving slowly to favour her tailbone. She pulled his knees tight against her
thighs, making herself comfortable.

"What am I, a piece of furniture?" But he didn't make any move to dislodge her.
He only adjusted his criss-crossed belts so that the metal buckle wouldn't
press into them both, then removed his mask.

"You wanted to talk to me about something?" she asked sweetly.

"Nothin' important. I think I was just gonna talk dirty to you some more."

She laughed. He was so straightforward. "I mean. I like that. But maybe thereis
something we should talk about. Now that we've got some privacy."

"Oh yeah?" She felt his muscles tense beneath her head as he sat up a little
and took off his gloves.

"Okay, first thing - you gotta tell me what you told those guys. Seriously. No
more joking."

"No teasing, you mean. You just can't handle it."

"If my phone worked here, I'd show you what they were saying about you, you
know. They said that if you were so bad at sex that you broke my ass, they'd
better teach you how."

His stomach muscles tensed under her again and made her head bounce a little as
he laughed, hard. "That supposed to convince me? Bet that was still more
embarrassin' foryou than me."

She had a shorter temper around him than anyone else she knew, somehow.
"Comeon, you can't just talk shit about me behind my - "

"Yeah, yeah. Chill." He pulled off her mask, then took both of her pigtails in
his hands and started playing with her hair, running it through his fingers.
"So like. They must've just finished talkin' to you and heard about your...
'injury'... because they both start blowing up my phone at the same time.
Tellin' me I better treat you right, or else. Thought they were gonna tell me
to meet 'em at the bike racks after school, or somethin'."

She started giggling. She couldn't help it. Her anger melted away as quickly as
it had arrived. "Aw. Two on one wouldn't be very fair - "

He leaned forward to whisper in her ear. Apparently she'd set him up perfectly.
"Never stopped 'em before - "

"It was only one time - " Their laughter bounced off of the tiles in a
cacophony.

By the time the echoes faded away, she realized he'd neatly dodged the
question. "So? What exactly did you say?"

"Gave Joker the real story. Told - told his boyfriend that I dropped you on
your ass at my place."

Maybe a little of that anger had stuck around after all. "Skull. You can't just
- are we really sharing everything with them?" She sat up and turned around so
she could see his face.

Clearly he didn't see the issue. He was frowning, his forehead furrowed, and
his tone was defensive. "What's so bad about that? You get to talk to them
about me. You had no problem tellin' Joker all about when you were pissed at me
about - about those photos. Before. I thought that kinda thing would be just
between me n' you, but apparently that ain't how you operate."

She saw the fight coming and sidestepped it. "I'm sorry I did that. I shouldn't
have," she said, keeping as even a tone as she could. Maybe he just didn't
understand the entire situation. "I'm not even mad that you did that. That's
how I handled things with them, anyway. Sharing everything."

"Then... ?" She guessed from his face that she'd managed to smooth things over
again. He gestured at his thighs and she stretched out between them again,
laying her head back on his belly.

"I just wanted us to talk it over first. Decide together."

"Aw." He folded his arm around her and rested it across her chest. She shivered
a little - the material of his Metaverse outfit, whatever it was, was cool to
the touch. "Sorry, then."

"It's okay. There's more, though. Well - " She grinned suddenly. "For all I
know, if you guys were all chatting about that kind of stuff without me, maybe
they already brought it up with you."

"Dunno. We were mostly talkin' about your ass. Heh."

"You should add me next time!"

"Probly would be more fun to tease you if you're there... "

She drew her knees up and tapped the heels of her boots against the tiled
floor, a little nervous. She wasn't sure how he'd take what she was about to
say. "Anyway. They want me to come back, again."

"What about Mi- him, though? Is he still... ?"

"I know, right? But he said he sees me as more of a friend now. It's been long
enough. Joker said he thought the same thing."

He was silent for a moment or two. "You want to? Start things up with them
again?"

"Maybe? I miss them. I've been avoiding them because - you know. Because it was
uneven, like you said. But maybe it was just a time thing." She stripped her
gloves off and thwapped them to the floor, then reached up and pulled his
forearm down until his hand was resting in her lap. "Think you'd be jealous? I
haven't told them yes, yet."

"Nah."

She hadn't expected an answer so quickly. "O-oh - you sure, though? Joker said
we could go back to it slowly - photos or whatever - but I think it'd probably
go back to the way it was, with both of them. Eventually. Sex, I mean."

She felt him shrug. "I had this little feeling it'd go back to that anyway. If
you still make some time for me then I'll be happy." He brought his free hand
up to her chest and started teasing her nipple through the latex. "We still on
for tomorrow?"

"Course! I'm not just gonna cancel on you - hey." She wriggled against him.
"Thought we were here to talk."

"I'm still listenin'." He freed his arm from her hands and started working on
her other nipple.

"Good. Cuz there's more."

"Mm?" He'd brought them both to two sharp points.

Maybe some flattery was in order. It was true, anyway. "Sounds like they're
both into you."

"Mm." His fingers froze.

"Said they thought you might like an invite."

"This is gettin' to be a weird party to get an invite to."

He's not saying no... "You know, I noticed you were giving Joker an eyeful in
the bus."

He barked a single laugh, making her head bounce against his stomach muscles
again. "Say what?"

"You know exactly what I mean. You were touching me while you were making eyes
at him in the mirror. Then you scooched down in your seat and - " She
demonstrated with her own thighs, opening them as wide as his legs on either
side of her would allow.

"Psht. 'Making eyes' - what does that even mean?" He'd started moving his hands
again, rolling her breasts in his palms through the latex until she squeezed
her thighs back together again, writhing in place. She considered telling him
to stop in case the rest of the Thieves came back, but it seemed especially
unlikely on a day they'd already infiltrated Mementos. Her breathing picked up.

"Come on. You know what I mean. What was that about?"

He slowly unzipped her, first one breast, then the other. "Maybe I just
thought. Like. If he's already lookin', I better give him a show."

"You do want in!"

"I never said that!" He was playing with her breasts lazily, squeezing them
together to see how much cleavage he could make before letting them slip out of
his hands again. She pressed her lips together and tried not to make a sound.

"Me and Mi - um. Him. We gave Joker a show, that one time."

She nearly laughed out loud; both his hands and his breath had stopped for a
moment. "Oh yeah?" She had all of his attention now, no matter how casual he
tried to sound.

"I'll tell you about it, if we're really sharing stuff with them. But that goes
both ways. That means I get to tell them everything. And I assume they'll be
telling me all their stuff again, too."

"Not much of a trade. You n' me don't have much to tell, yet." He flicked both
her nipples with his thumbs, up and down.

She finally couldn't help but let out a hushed little sigh.

"Dirty girl." He shifted his hips beneath her and she realized what had been
poking her between the shoulderblades all this time.

"Me? What about - " She spun around and knelt in front of him, then grabbed him
through his Metaverse outfit.

She'd caught him off guard. "Ungh - "

So much for 'just talking'. She straddled him, then cozied up to his chest,
nice and close. "You like to think about me and them, don't you?" she teased.

He wasn't wasting any time. He kneaded her ass with one hand and found the
zipper at the small of her back with the other. "Can you blame me?" His voice
was low and urgent, and warmth spread through her to hear it. She grinded her
hips against him until she'd lined herself up perfectly with that bulge in his
outfit. I'll make sure I get to see you THIS time.

She leaned back just enough to tear open the flap of material at his throat and
found his zipper. She caught his eye and knew that the kind of look he was
giving her was more than enough permission. Slowly, holding her breath, she
pulled the zipper all the way down, then reached inside.

Maybe they really were cursed.

Ryuji still had his hands on her ass, and she had his cock firmly in her hand,
when they both heard footsteps on the tiles behind them.

"Aw, you started without me?"

"Joker - "

Ann peeked at Ryuji's face and thought the same thing she had while sitting
next to him in the bus. He talks big, but - Despite everything he'd just been
saying about giving Akira a show, or about picturing him and Mishima with her,
she could tell by his expression that he wanted no part of this. She inched a
little closer on his lap and did her best to shield him from Akira's view with
her body, then tucked him back in and carefully pulled the zipper over his
crotch.

"The fuck you doin' here, Joker?"

Akira still wore his mask, so it was a little harder for her to gauge his
expression; but from the way he stood, hip cocked and shoulders relaxed, it was
clear that he hadn't read the room yet. "Thought I'd give you your invite in
person." He really was out of sync. He glanced down at Ann, still perched on
Ryuji's thighs, and smirked. "You told him, right?"

"Yes, but - " Akira's leering made her remember what she'd been doing, so she
turned back to Ryuji to finish pulling his zipper up his chest.

She couldn't believe it. Akira kept approaching, craning his neck to see around
her. Her heart was pounding so loudly in her ears that she wasn't sure that
she'd heard him correctly at first. "Told you he's got nice pecs, Panther - "

She had never seen Ryuji angry at Akira, not once, but the more she looked, the
more convinced she became that he was absolutely furious. His face was dark
with anger, and when she glanced at his side, she saw him clench, then unclench
his fist.

Akira got close enough to see over her head and let his eyes crawl over the
front of Ryuji's Metaverse outfit.

Ryuji had reached the end of his rope. He gave her thigh a single sharp pat and
she got what he meant; she slid off so he could stand. He surged to his feet,
seeming to forget what he'd been trying to hide from Akira a moment ago. By now
she wasn't sure if Akira really hadn't picked up on his mood - Can he seriously
be that oblivious? - or if he was outright antagonizing him: he stared at
Ryuji, his eyes fixed on a single spot.

She knew that if it had been anyone but Akira acting like this, Ryuji would
have already taken a swing at them. As it was, she could see the tension in
every line of his body; he was thrumming like a wire strung taut. "Joker.
You're bein' a creep, okay?" Ryuji slid one step closer, the sole of his boot
scraping against the gritty tile. His hands were balled into fists again.

Now Akira got it. "Uh, what?" The smirk had been wiped off his face; now he
only looked perplexed. He raised his gloved hands as if in defense as he looked
at first Ryuji, then Ann. "I just thought... Skull, when you told me about the
last time you guys came here, I - "

His eyes lingered on her a moment too long and she finally remembered she was
still exposed. "Ugh - Joker, just leave, alright?!" She cupped herself to
protect her nipples from her zippers and made herself decent again.

Catching Akira embarrassed was a rare sight. His face flushed and he finally
looked away, years too late. "I just... " He abruptly turned his back on them.
"Sorry," he muttered. The tiled walls wavered around him, then swallowed him up
as he hit the Nav on his phone and left the Metaverse.

Ryuji blew out a long breath, then slumped against the wall. "Fuck." Ann joined
him in silence, leaning her head back against the tiles. She could smell his
sweat, sharp and acrid.

When he spoke again, his voice was hushed. "I hate... I hate bein' so mad." He
was looking at his hands, held out in front of him. They were shaking.

He needed someone on his side. "It wasn't you. He was being an asshole." Still
amped up, he made a motion to pull his phone from his pocket; she winced at the
thought of what might happen if the two of them ran into each other again so
soon and touched his wrist. "Don't. Wait til he's caught his train, or you'll
just... "

He groaned and sank down the wall until his ass hit the floor. She sat next to
him but gave him some space. His face was drawn with misery, but she couldn't
tell what he wanted. She'd seen him blow up so many times over the years that
she'd known him, but she still didn't know what to do with him when he was like
this. The fact that they were a little closer now just left her more conflicted
about how to treat him.

"I'll talk to him, " she offered.

"I'll talk to him." His forehead was furrowed with worry lines. "Think we got
some shit to work out."

"It might just be crossed wires. Don't be too hard on him - " Why am I
defending him? Maybe she was just a peacemaker at heart. " - but, yeah. Hewas
being creepy."

That seemed to help. "You got my back on this?" All at once, the last of his
anger drained away. Now he just looked tired.

"I'm not gonna take his side just because we were - like. He can still fuck up.
He can still be wrong, Skull. You're my friend, too." She bit her lip. "But.
It's gonna be tough to get Thief work done if you guys are all - "

"I said I'd - " He cut himself off. His voice had rung out and echoed against
the tiles, too loud and too harsh. He closed his eyes. "Sorry." He leaned close
and gave her a quick peck on the cheek to apologize.

She had a way to take his mind off of things. For a moment, at least. She
smiled at him. "If you stick your overnight stuff in your bag tomorrow, you can
just come home with me on the train straight from school."

She must have said something funny. His face lit up and he shoved her shoulder.
"What, you think I still wear jammies?"

"At least bring your toothbrush, for crying out loud - "

"Maybe if you're extra nice to me - "

She slapped his chest and he pulled her against him in a hug, laughing.
End Notes
     My first fanfic and the most I've written ever! Please let me know if
     you liked it.
     Also, I post Persona 5 fanart to Twitter here: https://twitter.com/
     P5Mishiman
     Come yell with me about P5!
Please drop_by_the_archive_and_comment to let the author know if you enjoyed
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