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[survivaltricks]

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[messianic]

[ he straightens up immediately. ]

... You're definitely not.

[ what.... ]

What... what even happened in there? Why don't you remember-- no... I guess you wouldn't remember that either.

... Akira. How did you end up picking Bugbear?

[survivaltricks]

[he opens his mouth-- and pauses, brows furrowed. now he looks like he's searching his brain for the answer, but is coming up a little short]

I. . . [another pause]

. . . it's really hazy, but I knew Cerberus, Tsuchigumo, and Bugbear were in danger. . . so I chose. . . that way?

[why is it a question]

[messianic]

[ his brow furrows. ]

... How did you know that we were in danger? For a fact?

[survivaltricks]

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

I don't-- know?

[messianic]

[ WHAT DID Y'ALL DO.




Closes his eyes. A slow breath in. Okay. Focus, Minato. Put aside the near death experience. ]

... Something must've happened in that room. You don't remember the rest of Echidna... and you knew more than you were supposed to know according to the rules of the task.

[ a... trade? knowledge for knowledge? Is that even possible? ]

[survivaltricks]

[WHAT DID THEY DO INDEED!!!

That. . . doesn't make sense? My job was to choose a team to protect. What I did was within the rules of the task.

[also Minato may notice that there's a piece of paper sticking out of his pocket? hmm]

[messianic]

But... I didn't think Echidna got special information on who to protect... you said you knew what teams were in danger.

[ HMMM...

he leans over to gently pluck it from Akira's pocket. He won't read it though, just offering it back instead. ]

What's this...?

[survivaltricks]

[he's about to respond, but--]

[then Minato is plucking a piece of paper from his pocket, and now he just looks super puzzled]

Hn?

[it's a note btw]

[messianic]

[ ........ ECHIDNA WHAT DID YOU DO.

Wordlessly, Minato just offers it to Akira. ]

... This is definitely important.

[survivaltricks]

[with the same puzzlement, Akira takes the note, eyes flicking left and right as he reads it]

[. . .]

[his expression shifts notably the further he gets into the note, features falling and becoming more and more alarmed the further he gets in. and when he finishes. . .]

[he takes a deep breath]







Ah.

[THAT'S ALL??]

[messianic]

[ Minato just looks a little pained. ]

... Akira...

[survivaltricks]

[carefully folds the note and places it back into his pocket with the kind of reverence someone gives a precious heirloom]

. . . it's okay.

[haha!]

It's. . . fine.

[hahaha. . .]

I think. . . I see what happened now.

[messianic]

... Yeah. Me too.

[ ... ]

But you know... it doesn't have to be "fine".

[survivaltricks]

[. . .]

[he thinks. . . he's starting to understand that lingering feeling of sorry that he somehow can't shake]

No. Really. It's. . . fine.

[or as "fine" as something like this can be. as "fine" as it is when a wild card loses some of their precious confidants]

If I wrote myself a note, then the others must have, too. Right?

[messianic]

... I'm sure they did. And I'm sure... that you guys will come to know each other again. Those bonds haven't just disappeared.

[ ... mmmrrrr. ]

Still--still.

You don't have to be fine right now, Akira.

[survivaltricks]

Minato.

[not. . . sharp, per se, but very firm. his hands curl into fists, knuckles white]

It has to be fine.

[messianic]

[ ... he quiets for a long moment.

And then dips his head. ]

... Okay. ... If you say so.

[survivaltricks]

[his expression flickers, something apologetic crossing his features]

. . . sorry. I didn't mean to sound harsh.

[very contrite!!]

And I'm not trying to be avoidant.

[even more quietly, emphasizing his words in hopes that Minato will understand without him being able to properly convey why]

But I have to believe it's fine.

[or else. . . how is he supposed to deal with this??]

[messianic]

No... you don't have to apologize.

[ He still does not think it's fine, and he's not so sure about this coping mechanism, but--

What he can at least acknowledge is: ]

It will be. It will be fine--because it's you, and Echidna. and your bonds are undoubtedly so strong.

[survivaltricks]

[quiet for a long moment after that, eyes slipping shut as he sucks in a deep breath]

[. . .]

[he holds a hand out to Minato]

[messianic]

[ and quietly, immediately, Minato reaches out to take Akira's hand in his own, squeezing it gently. ]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . somehow, that grip is anchoring. . . it keeps Akira grounded to reality, and helps him believe that what he said is true. it's fine. . . it's going to be fine. he has to trust the rest of Echidna, despite not even knowing who they are-- it's something his past self asked of him, right?]

[. . .]

Thank you.

[quietly, but earnestly]

[messianic]

[ And Minato immediately shakes his head at that, squeezing Akira's hand back in return. ]

... You don't have anything to thank me for. Being here with you in moments like this... I want this just as much as when things are going well.

[ that's what it means to be what they are to each other, right? ]

I'd never be anywhere but here.

[survivaltricks]

[lets out a breathless laugh, raking a hand through his hair]

. . . can't believe I came here to make sure you were okay and wound up being comforted instead.

[messianic]

[ Just... quirks an eyebrow at that. ]

Being around you like this has comforted me too, so... don't think any of this was just one way, okay?