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[survivaltricks]

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[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?

[survivaltricks]

. . . mmkay.

[no arguments from him on that one. he'll accept it for what it is]

[messianic]

[ Honestly? That's good enough for Minato.

He just takes a deep breath, and then lets it out. It's going to be okay. Everything... will be okay.

And then he reaches out to cup Akira's cheek with his free hand and leans in for a quiet and gentle kiss. ]

[survivaltricks]

[leans into that immediately, eyes fluttering, his own hands coming to rest at Minato's hips]

[messianic]

[ ... ]

Are you going to be okay, staying at Echidna? You can stay over at Cerberus if you want.