purrtagonist | [scp r2: week 5, sunday

[wait.

Makoto pauses when she sees Akira there.]

... What is he doing here? So late at night?

...I'll explain later.

[He - knew that Makoto would never agree to this. Even if she agreed to follow him into the brain, she'd never go for what Akira wants to do.

But - in the end, he's tired - and a part of him knows Makoto can see this through, keep everyone focused towards the end.

(A part of him wants to keep her as safe as she can be, really.)

So he just walks forward, placing his hand on Akira's shoulder - before suddenly slamming akira's forehead with a certain badge, forcing his soul out of his body.]

Edited 2018-12-30 03:37 (UTC)

[Akira, of course, can't see any of this as he comes to a halt in the center of the lobby. as he kicks his toes against the grind in an idle motion, head tilted back to stare at the ceiling. his eyes flutter shut for a moment, inhaling and exhaling in deep, even breaths. . .]

[and then something touches his shoulder. he snaps back into reality just in time for something to slam painfully into his forehead, for him to feel like his whole body is jerking back--]

[-- and then suddenly, Makoto and Ichigo are there]

[Akira's body crumbles, face planting onto the tile as his glasses go skittering across the ground. but Akira himself stands next to it, staring at his hands, blinking rapidly in surprise before he lifts his gaze]

[ah]

[there she is]

-- Makoto!

[and he beelines towards her immediately]

[hold on, hold on, hold on. She just stares at Akira, bewildered, and then looks between him and Ichigo. After everything that had happened, it hasn't quite hit her what's going on again. But the minute he sees her, she knows that there is something she doesn't approve of happening.]

Ichigo, Akira, one of you explain what the hell is happening. Right now.

[her eyebrows draw closer together, and she's not happy, as she folds her arms across her chest.]

...

[Ichigo just looks away, unable to answer - or look at her.

He knows he's a terrible liar, after all.]

[on his way towards Makoto, Akira stops near Ichigo, reaching out to drop a hand on his shoulder and squeeze gently]

. . . thank you.

[and then, to Makoto]

I'm the Savior, remember?

I can revive one person at the cost of my own life.

[and then it hits her, and she has to immediately protest. To both of them.]

No! I refuse! Akira Kurusu, Ichigo Kurosaki, you don't get to decide this for me!

[He doesn't look back - but he nods, slowly, at the thanks.

Yet, it's her own protests that make him stay in place - because even though he wants her to be safe, he also wants to respect her own wishes.

So - He's silent, just lowering his head.]

[. . . well, that protest isn't surprising. it's what he expected from her. Akira wants to respect her wishes as well, and in the end? if she doesn't want to do this, then he won't force her]

[but he will make his case]

You volunteered because I broke my promise. Because watching what happened yesterday without being able to do anything about it broke me down. You volunteered because. . .

[the next part is painful]

Because the Barghest used you to murder Iwai, and you believe that that fact makes you a killer.

It doesn't, Makoto. And you wouldn't be here if I hadn't said anything. If I had kept my mouth shut just like I said I would.

[takes a step towards her, mouth curved into a soft smile]

I'm not doing this because I think you have more worth than I do, or because I think it's okay for me to be a sacrificial lamb, or because I'm tired and have given up. I'm not doing this because I think I deserve to die more than you do.

[a breath]

I'm doing it because I love you. Because you're here only because of what I've done.

. . . because I trust you to save me. To save everyone.

Edited 2018-12-30 04:09 (UTC)

[Her arms stay folded as he gives that speech, and she looks like she wants to interject at several points, but she forces herself not to. She forces herself to be still.

But at the end of that she just... looks tired. And maybe a bit skeptical]

Akira...

[she glances at Ichigo, wanting to know why he agreed to this, and wanting to know what this all means.]

... You didn't have to ask for this. You could have done everything you're asking me to do yourself. I'm just... [the strategist.]

[...Alright, he has to say something. He didn't miss that glance and, well...he wants to explain himself, too.]

...You're more than what you think you are, Makoto.

[...And there it is. The first time he's used her first name.]

A lot more. And - they're going to need your strength. Your sense of what's right.

[That sense that they both share in common - that strong Justice.]

Your level head. Your ability to think through problems critically. Your sense of justice.

[glances at Ichigo as well, grateful for the assist]

Have you seen how I've been acting these past five weeks? That ferocity and reckless abandon may have been necessary to get us this far, but they'll need your steady hand to bring them to the end. You aren't "just" my number two, Queen. You aren't "just" my strategist.

You can give them all something I can't right now.

[she hates this. she hates it with every fiber of her being. that she's listening. that she's considering this. She thought she'd be able to help, even as a ghost. Maybe from this other side.

She bites her lip for a moment, a long, drawn out pause between them as she considers it over.

They were near the end, and part of her worried this would be a bad idea.

But they asked her. And it wasn't the first time she'd heard these arguments. Even if she didn't want Akira to die, this... seemed almost gentle compared to everything so far. Finally, she looks up at both of them.]

... Okay. Leave it to me.

...Thank you.

[He doesn't move, but he looks at her, fully - and his eyes say it all. There's worry, apologies, regret, hope, and tiredness...but there's also love.

That's right. That willingness to keep going, even in the face of everything - that's what he loves about her.]

[a sharp exhale, and Akira's eyes slip shut gratefully, before he closes the distance between them and drags Makoto into a tight, all encompassing hug. god, he loves her so much, to the very depths of his heart. she's strong and brave and everything he admires in a person]

Like I said, I'm not. . . I'm not giving up.

[she doesn't want her to think that he is. that this is his white flag. he'll do whatever is in his power to help from this side of things, that much is for certain. things aren't over for him yet, and he won't accept that they are until he is given literally no other choice]

[but--]

I'm just passing the baton to you.

[a good leader needs to know when to pass the baton to someone who is better suited for the battle ahead, right?]

I'm counting on you.

[a baton pass. Something she's so familiar with.

she smiles and wraps her arms around him. There was a lot they probably should talk about, especially regarding timing and honestly and... well... recklessness between the two of them. But at the very least, she could understand this.

And she was optimistic that somehow they were going to get through it.'

... Alright. Please depend on me. I'll make sure we get through this.

And next time-- ask first. I know you were following the "it's better to ask for forgiveness than permission" mantra, but really.

[pulls back from the hug and laughs, the sound chiming in the air like a bell]

. . . sorry. I knew you'd be pissed, but even if you had refused, Ichigo could've just returned me to my body.

[oh]

Uh. . . speaking of--

Do you mind hanging out in my body for a while?

... What.

[hold please]

Ichigo doesn't have an extra body for you, annnnd mine is. . . the only free and functioning one available.

Ssssso.

[and now she has to look at Ichigo just like.

"what."]

... We had to go and make this extremely weird, didn't we?

[JUST

HELPLESSLY SHRUGS.]

I'm assuming The Lady would have had a Gigai or something, but...this is the best we can do.

It's fine. I trust you.

[. . .]

Just don't take a shower?

[she just stares at him.]

... That is not the only problem here, Akira.

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