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[survivaltricks]

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[survivaltricks]

[there is no reply, but there doesn't have to be— Akira is waiting at the garden as promised, standing by the engraved stone with a pensive look on his features. his hands are in his pockets. . . and like everyone else, he is sans monster features! though he hasn't had them since Echidna showed up]

[when he hears Minato approach, he tilts his head to the side and flashes the other wild card a warm smile]

. . . hey.

[messianic]

[ there's his boyfriend! Sans scales, ears or wings... Minato can only look at Akira incredibly fondly as he comes up to him, reaching out with a hand to gently brush his knuckles across Akira's cheek.

Minato didn't have outward monster features to lose, but... he's finally warm to the touch again now that his ghost friend has vacated his body. ]

Hey. How're you feeling?

[ about everything, now that all's said and done and over? ]

[survivaltricks]

[Minato's never seen Akira as Akira, has he. . . ? and Akira has never been able to touch Minato without worrying about fazing right through him. that thought lingers on the forefront of his mind as he tilts his cheek into that hand, eyes fluttering, his own fingers brushing against Minato's knuckles]

Mmm. . .

Exhausted.

[NATURALLY]

And you. . . ?

[messianic]

[ NATURALLY. Minato smiles at that, tilting his head into Akira's touch contentedly. ]

... Happy. Content. I'm... glad things turned out the way they did.

[survivaltricks]

[there's a quiet pause, a moment where Akira just enjoys Minato's fingers against his cheek, before he speaks again]

Do you know what happened to Kotone. . . ?

[messianic]

Mmm... she wasn't one of Typhon's, so... she went back to where she came from. I hope she's at peace now.

[ i'm not going to dig too deeply into what all of that means. ]

[survivaltricks]

[cal missed her chance to develop THAT arc!!]

Mmm. . . [a bit sadly] Yeah, me too.

[and then, slightly awkwardly]

Have you— uh. Spoken to Fran?

[messianic]

[ ...? He tilts his head at that, curious. ]

Not since we got out of those rooms. I spoke to her briefly when we made it into the Velvet Room.

Why do you ask?

[survivaltricks]

[rubbing the back of his neck, sheepish]

I haven't talked to her since she left. I plan on it— I'm not avoiding her— I just know things have been. . . er.

Busy?

[messianic]

[ oh my god Akira.

Minato props his hands on his hips at that. ]

She's gonna want to see you before you leave, you know.

[survivaltricks]

— what's that mean??

[somehow he wasn't expect Minato to respond like that??]

[messianic]

[ ??? he has no idea why akira's struggling with this, but. it's cute. ]

You guys have been together from the start.

[survivaltricks]

. . . well, yeah.

But—

[gestures?? he's come to appreciate Fran but somehow he struggles with the idea of her appreciating him]

[messianic]

[ ...? ]

But what?

[survivaltricks]

[huffs a little. he can't put it into words]

Nevermind. I didn't want to spend all our time talking about Fran, anyway.

[messianic]

... Well, okay. If you say so... so long as you go talk to her soon.

[ IT'S IMPORTANT, OKAY. ]

[survivaltricks]

You're way too concerned about this, but don't worry. I will.

[just to ease Minato's fears!!]

[messianic]

I'm not way too concerned.

[ POUTS. ]

I'm just the right amount of concerned given the situation, and that it's about you and your possession--

[survivaltricks]

[shoves a hand (playfully) in Minato's face]

Shhhh. No more Fran.

[messianic]

[ and, grumbled around Akira's hand: ]

Okay... okay... I get it....

[survivaltricks]

[hmph!! lowers his hand to the side, reaching for Minato's fingers, twining them together with his own]

. . . besides, there's something I want to ask you.

[though he doubts it'll be a surprise at this point]

[messianic]

[ yeah, not at all. Minato grows more serious in response, squeezing Akira's hand gently--

Though he'll give Akira the space to ask it. ]

Okay. What is it?

[survivaltricks]

[he gives Minato a gentle smile, quietly grateful, even as he draws Minato's hand upwards to press a kiss against his knuckles]

Will you come home with me? Back to my time-- to. . . your future?

[messianic]

[ ... it's a hefty choice to make. If Minato went back to his own time, with the miracle that they could now make happen... then he could grow up with his friends. He could see his Social Links again.

Maybe his death could be ruled as a... a fluke, or something like that?



But at the same time, he thinks--maybe that's selfish. He died. He made that choice. Akira's here now, and he knows that his friends are still alive and fighting to make each and every day better in the lives they have now. He doesn't want to derail that by showing up suddenly after he died.

... Minato drags in a shaky breath.

At the same time--there's Akira. He loves Akira. He could stay with him, and they could grow up together. There's no way he can ask Akira to wait seven years for him. It'd never work out that way.

And this is the start of a new Journey. Just as this place gave him the Fool... he has to embrace that he's beginning a new path, not falling back to his old one.

So, shakily... Minato drags in that breath, and then a second... and then he dips his head. ]

... Yes. I will.

I'm... ready to start a new life, I think.

[ he's ready to finally really accept that he can live again. ]

[survivaltricks]

[and at the end of that shaky breath, that purposeful pause, that contemplative internal narrative. . . Akira lets out an exhale he hadn't realized he was holding, relief settling warmly on his shoulders]

[it's true, that Minato had told him he was ready to look forward to a new future. and it's true, that Akira had asked that question somewhat expecting an affirmative response. but. . . there was a part of him. . . that wondered if Minato really wanted to return to a time that wasn't his own. that perhaps Minato would prefer to go back to the year of his death, to reconnect with his team, to pick up where he left off. something Akira wouldn't have blamed him for. . . nor argued against]

[so to hear that Minato is ready and willing to start over-- with Akira, of all people-- has his heart soaring]

Minato. . .

[and his smile widens, shining brilliantly like the stars in the sky]

. . . I'd-- like that. I'd like that a lot. You'd-- you'd totally fit right in. You can stay with me-- [HAVE YOU ASKED YOUR PARENTS ABOUT THAT, AKIRA] -- and go to my school, and--

[okay now he's getting ahead of himself]