It’s been a long day, so I took it easy. I spotted that the prompt of mine that was, frankly, ShuAke inspired, was featured today, so I decided to write some Persona 5 Royal fanfiction again.
The prompt used is: “I saw the world through your eyes and it was one hell of a view.” by me.
Massive spoilers for Persona 5 Royal (and knowledge of the plot required)!
Additional notes: This is a “Goro Akechi has a Palace” AU featuring the Royal Trio (as a platonic ship).
Goro crossed his arms, careful not to bristle visibly at the sudden claim his rival had brought to him on this particular January evening. “Let’s assume I believe you when you said that I have a Palace and that, based on Morgana’s amended statement on who can develop one, I developed it before I awakened to my Personas. So what? It’s not your problem unless it affects my battle prowess, which I’m sure you can see it doesn’t.”
“Well…” Akira rubbed his neck as he looked for the words.
Goro waited, knowing full well that the delay was necessary even though it set off all of his alarm bells. The longer he waited, the more he knew Akira must have seen of that Palace. “…Well?“
Akira took a deep breath, lowered his hand back to his pocket and said, “I saw the world through your eyes and it was one hell of a view.”
Goro did not know what to make of that tone; it was half daunted and half reverent — fully a mistake. He had ideas about what his rival might have seen and he hated it. So, he bared his teeth in a mockery of a smile. “Well good for you.”
Akira waited for a while, clearly expecting a continuation. “So, uh, what’re you gonna do about it?”
Die and take it with me to the grave like I already did in the true reality. Goro just glared. “That’s none of your business. Our deal is to take down Maruki. As long as this Palace of mine doesn’t affect my performance, it’s irrelevant to our deal.” He paused. “Does anyone else know?”
Akira shook his head.
Suspicious, Goro narrowed his eyes. “How did you even find out about it?”
“I put everyone’s names in the Nav. I figured Maruki messing with our reality might have caused some ill effects that should be addressed.”
“And was mine the only one you found?”
Akira nodded.
“Very well. I’ll address it myself. You stay out of it. Understood?”
Akira nodded again and murmured, “Understood.”
“Good. Now please excuse me, I have work to get to,” Goro lied and started to walk away.
“Akechi,” Akira said and that was the only warning there was before Goro felt a gentle grip on his upper arm. It was more than light enough to simply shrug off but it stopped Goro nevertheless. “You don’t have to do this alone. Keep that in mind, okay?”
Goro was half certain that Akira already knew but was in denial. Leave it to that fool to be overtly optimistic and hopeful. “Duly noted.”
“Thank you.” The grip loosed, although the hand still remained where it was.
Goro would have liked to stay there, in that moment, but he knew that was only going to break Akira’s heart even more once their deal was over. He walked away, leaving Akira standing alone in front of Penguin Sniper, without a plan other than getting away in his mind. He was a dead man walking, with his only real connection being to this one person who had to be strong enough to let him go when the time came… or else they were all doomed.
~~~
Akira sighed, tugging at his bangs even though his fingers started freezing the moment they were out of his pocket. They had only a couple of weeks left until the deadline and it was starting to look downright hopeless to get his rival to open up to him about whatever was going on.
Pi pi pi pi
>>Sumire: How did it go, Senpai?
Akira let out a breath, loosening his shoulders. Sumire, with her outsider viewpoint, was his greatest confidant in this entire mess Goro was involved in even though he had not told even her about the Palace he had discovered all the way back in November.
It had been almost two months since that mess. Huh. Time had flown with everything that had happened since.
<<Akira: As well as I expected. He’s evasive.
<<Akira: I’d say it’s safe to assume he’s convinced he’s dead and Maruki brought him back.
>>Sumire: Is there anything we can do?
<<Akira: Hope.
~~~
Sumire leaned against her desk. She knew the case with Akechi was difficult to say the least — the synopsis of why his relationship to the Phantom Thieves was strained did indicate it was an understatement to phrase it like that — but the Akechi she had seen in Maruki’s Palace oozed strength and life. And ruthlessness. Definitely ruthlessness. Which Akira liked very much.
Sumire could not help but blush when she remembered Akechi calling her out on trying to quietly ask Akira if the ruthlessness was normal. That was so embarrassing, although she could tell that Akechi had never held it against her. If anything, it appeared that her reactions amused him.
Perhaps it was Akira’s influence, but Sumire wanted to learn to know this “everyday Akechi” better; Akira clearly liking Akechi despite the assassination attempt was a massive sign of Akechi being an incredibly important person in his life, after all.
Or perhaps it was the fact that Sumire knew so much about wearing a mask day in and day out. Or Akechi’s raw confidence and competence drew her in.
In the end, it did not matter why she wanted to get to know Akechi better.
If Akira, who was so deeply entangled with Akechi and his messed up life, had not been able to get anywhere, maybe an outsider like Sumire could. She knew exactly how to go for an opening, too.
<<Sumire: Good evening, Akechi-san. I’m sorry to bother you but I’d like to ask you for a favor.
>>Akechi: Why are you asking me and not your precious Senpai?
Sumire failed to hold back a new blush. She could hear the husky drawl when her mind read the response in Akechi’s voice.
<<Sumire: Because I want to surprise him.
It took Akechi a while to start writing.
>>Akechi: Very well. What do you want?
WindySilver 