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[survivaltricks]

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day 41, during the death game (but coming through after)

[messianic]

Akira? You there?

[messianic]

Fran-san? Hello?

Ugh yeah that'd be too convenient, huh?

like, 2 hours later, also Done.

[messianic]

[ ... ... .... .... ]

Hang in there, Akira. It's going to be okay. No matter what.

[survivaltricks]

[IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE GAME IS OVER]







where are you?

[messianic]

[ there is a long pause while Minato deals with Lumine's monster, but after all of that-- ]

diner

[survivaltricks]

[. . . relief floods his entire being when Minato replies. is that why he couldn't find him in the chaos of Tsuchigumo (and. . . non-Tsuchigumos) losing their control over their emotions?]

on my way

[and indeed, he is there as quickly as he can be, the diner door bursting open as he flies through the thresshold, panting all the while]

[he is missing his cat features, which have been replaced with yellow eyes, a pale complexion, and shadows beneath his feet that surge a little like they're alive]

Minato--

[messianic]

[ minato is sitting at a booth! His head is down on the table and he looks like he was contemplating life--but he sits up quickly when he sees Akira.

And it's probably because he's still shellshocked, but: ]

You... Fran-san changed again.

[ his tone is almost dreamily wondering. ]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . SWEETIE. . .]

[Akira swallows thickly, something in his chest tightening. and instead of responding. . .]

[he crosses the room to draw Minato into a very tight hug]

[messianic]

[ ah.

That--feels very real and tangible, and after a single beat, Minato hugs back, burying his face against the side of Akira's. ]

... Hey. It's really, really good to see you.

[survivaltricks]

[and he melts against Minato, holding him close, bundling him in his arms like he's something precious]

. . . yeah.

[he's shaking a little]

It's so good to see you, too. I'm so glad. . . you're safe.

[messianic]

[ Minato just holds Akira even tighter at the shaking, reaching up with a hand to gently stroke his hair. ]

Yeah. I'm safe. I'm okay. It's okay.

[survivaltricks]

[the tension eases from his shoulders the longer this goes on, the fingers in his hair going so far to calm him down. Minato's safe. Cerberus is safe. they may have protected Bugbear, but in doing so, they protected Cerberus, too]

[. . . it's okay]

You almost-- . . . you almost weren't.

[messianic]

[ ... He doesn't pause in his ministrations at all. Because really-- ]

I know.

We all knew... that we probably were going to be trusted by both Kraken and Bugbear.

[ "Trusted"--is how he's choosing to look at it. ]

But... you guys came through for us, didn't you?

[survivaltricks]

[hah. ever the positive spin with Minato, right. . .?]

I didn't know.

[quietly. when he has calmed down more, he'll be able to process how strange "you guys" is to him]

It was a gamble. I'm just. . . glad it worked out.

[he's so, so relieved]

[messianic]

... It was a good gamble to take. You protected Bugbear, right?

[ Because Cerberus' attack wasn't neutralized. ]

That saved so many people.

[survivaltricks]

I did.

[he draws back, but only enough to rest his forehead against Minato's, eyes fluttering]

. . . it was a selfish choice. And I can't say I don't regret-- [he cuts himself off]

But I'm just. . . so glad you're okay.

[messianic]

[ ... his expression softens further, and he shifts his hands from Akira's hair and around his back to instead cup his cheeks. ]

Hey... none of that. Your choice didn't get Tsuchigumo killed. Your choice was only to protect someone--and you saved two teams with that.

Without that... and without Fran-san... we would've all been much worse off.

[survivaltricks]

[his head tilts into the warmth of Minato's palms]

I know that. But even so, I made my choice knowing that they would die.

[. . .]

If they want to be pissed off about that, I think they'd have every right.

[messianic]

Yeah... I get that.

That's the case for everyone, you know? If Bugbear wants to be mad at us for picking Kraken instead, even though we knew they'd pick us too... they can. Or if Bugbear wants to be mad because so many people did pick them, despite last game--

... We'll all take those feelings and help carry them. That's the least we can do.

[survivaltricks]

[. . . hah. that's all there is to it, right? however selfish his choice was, he still made it. and now he has to bear the consequences of same. it's really that simple]

[Minato. . . is very good at this]

[his mouth twitches, smile lopsided and oh-so exhausted. he feels like he's been through the wringer, and something-- something painful-- still encircles his heart, even though he's so grateful that Minato is alive]

You're right.

There's no point in me wallowing in guilt, is there?

[messianic]

[ Quietly, Minato just strokes his thumbs over Akira's cheekbones, humming softly. ]

... It's not that there's no point. And it's not that those feelings aren't valid, because they are.

But... we all made our choices. We have to hold onto them and learn from them and grow from them... because I think otherwise it could be a little insulting to everyone else.

[survivaltricks]

Yeah.

[he can see there's a reason Minato is his senpai. . . at times like this, he is so much wiser than Akira. or, at the very least, he's capable of being logical when Akira's heart is so heavy with emotions-- both those he understands, and those he does not]

[a deep exhale, and he presses his own hands against Minato's cheeks in turn]

Are you okay, though? I know you are physically, but emotionally-- how is Cerberus?

[messianic]

[ Minato immediately inclines his head into that touch, eyes fluttering as he soaks it up.

Mmm... ]

Not sure yet. I mean--I'm okay. I think we're all okay. We knew what was going to happen, so we had time to come to terms with it. So, um... I guess it's just kind of... surprising?

I'll check in with everyone after we're all done running around making sure our loved ones are okay.

[survivaltricks]

[he nods at that, eyes finally fluttering open again]

Mmm. All right.

If there's anything I can do for you guys, please let me know.

[messianic]

We were saying that about you guys.

[ His lips twitch in faint amusement. ]

That we should invite all of Echidna over to dinner after this for a cozy night. Now that you've all saved us... there's even more reason for that.