If you were so inclined to start keeping track, Akira. Which he said he was, but here comes one bestie huffing it towards the same tunnel entrance that they were waxing philosophical not that long ago. Ryuji's excited, because he thinks that this meeting will probably bring some stupidly heroic plan of action. Like he wants to confer with his second in command before settling on doing something.
Or just goof off for a bit. He's pretty chill with either, since getting into ridiculous amounts of trouble and getting away with it has become their motif for some time now. He bends at the knees, holding himself in place.
Ever since Akira left Tokyo, he's been throwing himself into training as much as he can. Some of it's a leftover of his his whole "deal with feelings by running yourself ragged so you're too tired to think about it," and the other half's just... something he honest to god loves doing. But getting there in under 10 was a feat. Give him a second to catch his breath.]
P-phew. How'd. I. Do?
[Crush him?
ā yes, absolutely, he was late ā nah, he gave it his all ā just the right amount of sass that lands between both above listed options.]
[damn right he clocked it. he said he would, after all!1 and of course he chooses option threeā as though that wasnāt the language they used with each other in nearly every single one of their interactions anyway]
[Akira lets out a low, impressed whistle as Ryuji speeds up to him, making a show of checking his watch carefully before he lifts his gaze and raises a brow. despite the incoming sass, thereās no hiding his amused grin, the curve of his lips that gives away the fact that he isnāt being serious]
Eight minutes, twelve seconds.
[another whistle]
Twelve seconds off, but Iāll give you a pass for still making it in less than ten.
[Nice! Just the right amount of leniency that he has to work with and turn this into their usual bickering state of comfort that Ryuji just slides into home base with.]
Hell yeah... dude. 8 outta 10 ain't bad.
[He'd pose, maybe give a victory sign, if his chest wasn't heaving so much. One small set of seconds later, he's hoisting himself back up to his regular (shitty) posture and places his hands on his hips. That's better. At least he isn't about to keel over anymore.]
[Akira isnāt really a physically affectionate person, but Ryuji has always been a bit of an exception to that. months of getting used to his best friend stepping into his personal space, slinging an arm around his shoulders, reaching out for a high five, had made Akira a little bolder about reaching out himself]
[and so itās instinct when he rests an elbow against Ryujiās shoulder and rocks into him gently, before pulling back]
Only to see you.
[zing!!]
Come on. Letās walk. I kind of wanted your opinion on. . . something.
[and with that, he makes his way down one of the tunnels, hands slipping casually into his pockets]
That's effective as heck, and he just sucks air in through his teeth, like he's pretending to be slightly annoyed by something he's... not at all.]
Man, that was so cheesy that I think you're becomin' a meunster at this sorta shit.
[God, no, why, don't get into this unending loop. Oh, look at that, Akira's just moving ahead, and like a lost child, here comes Ryuji to catch right up to his side. It doesn't feel right otherwise?]
Yeah, sure. So... I might not have the best opinions but I'm always good for giving you a piece of my mind.
[well, that one is met with an appreciative, huffed laugh, as well asā]
Iād rather be considered gouda at what I do instead.
[another effortless zinger. someone stop them before they go too far. at any rate. . . with Ryuji at his aode (itās true; it doesnāt feel right otherwise) Akira rolls his shoulders back into a shrug and asks, as casually as he can]
Oh, god, is this about accidentally rifling through her school outfit back at the castle? He needs to abort this conversation as quick as humanly freaking possible.]
Dude, I swear it was a mistake, I was just tryin' to figure out who the hell was living there, that's. That's all?
I ain't some huge perv.
[Which, untrue.
But wouldn't that have gotten out sooner to Akira if that were the issue? He looks closely for the response from his friend, anxious somewhat.]
[Have you ever seen a rose that was so red it almost looked purple? That's where Ryuji's face is, right about now. He has to cover his mouth and look away, because, really... that's... a lot... and?
What if, just touching his face right now marked it yellow instead of hiding his extreme fluster?
[Even with his mouth covered like that, he pitches the sliver of his eyebrow upward, completely baffled by the ask. What does he think of her?
It comes out faster than he knows what to do with---]
Her uniform's kinda cute.
[Fuck, no, Ryuji, why?]
Uhhh... I mean. Wait, I didn't just say that?
[This is why he should never start off these kinds of conversations completely uncomfortably, he's bound to get a bout of SAY WHATS ON HIS MIND-itis, and so he just.
Recollects himself.]
She's pretty nice. She offered to leave my smartass cube on the top of a building so that it could learn its lesson. Why? She have a palace or something?
[Akira arches a brow as well, but graciously allows that original response to fade into the wind, as though it was never uttered. fortunately, he knows his best friend well and good by now. if there's anyone who doesn't mind Ryuji's SAY WHAT'S ON HIS MIND-itis, it's Akira]
Nope. No Palace. Not that I can check.
[he doesn't have his cell phone or the MetaNav app, after all. but he doesn't think Rion would have a Palace, anyway. just. . . based on his talks with her]
I kind of-- [mmm. and here, he hesitates, wagging one hand back and forth like he isn't quite sure how to put it. but in the end, blunt is best, isn't it?] -- I like her.
[his gaze immediately flickers to the side to gauge Ryuji's reaction]
She's funny, and clever, and extremely kind, and-- kind of. . . warm. You know?
[This conversation sure doesn't start or lead in the direction he's expecting at all, and it catches him kind of weirdly, in that way that Ryuji doesn't really understand himself all that well.
Akira is his best friend, of course, and he's going to go down in a blaze of glory being supportive as hell. In the same vein of that, he didn't know if their friendship was the type that he deserved to be privy to those sort of thoughts and feelings. Which, okay, dumb, but before Akira... he didn't really have anyone. It was just him, for the most part, and sometimes his mom, of course, but friends? He's definitely still learning things, which surprises him, considering how much absolute shit they've been through.]
H-huh? [He swallows down, like he's literally just digested the news.]
Hey, man, that's great! [It doesn't come off as anything but genuine and earnest, he's legitimately excited for him.]
Is she into you?
[Ryuji also has no idea why his heart is beating so fast. Maybe he still hasn't calmed down from his run, or something.
[it certainly isn't as though they've talked about these kinds of thoughts and feelings before. girls in general? yep, of course. Akira hasn't forgotten Ryuji's failed attempts at securing a date at the beach, or the Valentine's Day they both spent alone at Leblanc, chewing on store-bought chocolate and bemoaning that single status. but concrete feelings that could be traced back to a single person? never. probably because neither of them ever had anyone to think about in that manner up until now]
[it's weird (or maybe not so weird) but Akira can feel his own heart hammering against his ribs at the speed of sound as he speaks. Ryuji's genuine and earnest response is appreciated, and it helps alleviate some of the tension he hadn't realized had coiled on his shoulders. but still. . .]
Yeah.
[no hesitation, no equivocation about it. Rion had made her feelings clear, and Akira had made his clear in return. his response hadn't been a rejection. just. . . a request for more time]
[there's a pause, and Akira idly lifts a hand to tug at his bangs, fingers curling around black locks]
But I told her I needed a little bit of time. Not to figure out how I feel-- I know that much already-- but.
[but proceeding with unresolved feelings for someone else would be unfair to Rion. wouldn't it?]
I wanted to see what you and Ann thought, I guess. [I want to know what you think, goes unsaid] You guys are the two closest friends I've got here.
[Maybe in some other dimension or some other timeline where Ryuji wasn't so absolutely bad at dealing with his own feelings, this would look really, really fucking different. Some self-actualization, too, wouldn't have been such a bad thing and maybe his own head wouldn't be so goddamned confusing all the time. Maybe he'd stand up for something other than everyone else but himself, but that's just not how the cards got played out. Because, very much so, at the core of everything, even if he knew all that stuff about himself, really understood what was actually going on and why he felt a vertigo at this juncture---
Yeah, he still wouldn't get involved, probably. This is Akira. He deserves his chance to be in the sun, and knowing that he's happy and living and doing what he likes to do... that's all that really matters for this blockheaded kid.]
Whoa.
[Understatement of the year- he stands still, watching him as he does that movement to his hair, understanding the underlining motion behind it since he's seen it so much. Ryuji smiles for Akira, moves over, and gives him a soft shove.]
Why do you gotta care about what we think? Dude, grab a baseball bat and hit that way, way outta the park! If you got something to go after, go out 'n get it, y'know? Grand slam it all the way to IHOP.
[but in that way, at least, these two were a lot alike. Akira said it to Ann already, but the one thing he wanted most was for both Rion and Ryuji to be happy. if that came at the expense of some of his own? then so be it]
[Akira feels something tighten mournfully in his chest, and something else release all in one as Ryuji gives his enthusiastic response. he doesn't really know what kind of answer he wanted to hear-- a protest, or some sign that if he ever mustered up the courage, he'd have a chance? or affirmation that there's no point in holding onto these feelings, because it'd never happen, not in a million years? and even if the first had occurred, what would he have done then? Ann told him not to treat Rion as though she was a second choice-- and he doesn't, in any way, want to do that]
Phrasing aside-- [he responds as he rocks with that shove, but he rebounds quickly, shooting Ryuji an amused look] What you think really matters to me.
[a breath and Akira tilts his chin up, catching Ryuji's gaze with his own, like he's searching for something]
It means a lot to me because you're my best friend. [because you're the person who was there to take my hand and pull me back into a world where I actually meant something to people] It means a lot to me because you're-- [god how does he say. . . this] -- your place in this world is at my side, remember?
[It's so reliably uncanny how Akira goes for the reassurance of insecurities that Ryuji would eventually have, even before he's had enough time to realize that they were there. Him dating someone else... yeah, of freaking course, no matter who it is, they're probably the luckiest person on earth. He has a way of drawing people to him in an unbearable amount of subtle charisma- the same thing he felt so early on in his friendship with him. But, it's true. His biggest fear in the world is getting left behind. He knows this isn't a dodgeball team lineup where he's anxiously waiting to see if he's picked last, or at all, but... he's had a lot of abandonment issues throughout his life. And every time it happens, he's left holding the ball wondering what happened to everyone. Was it something that he did? Conclusively, that answer is: probably. He knows he's a handful.
So when he hears his owns words echoed back at him, the hair on the back of his neck prickle upward, and he's left with that brain numbingly familiar sensation that one of them has said too much, putting everything out there in the open, and that familiarity is something he could wrap himself right the fuck up into, wear it like the most comfy of pajamas.
It's also probably why that upward gaze toward him is met with Ryuji's eyes wandering elsewhere for a moment.]
Y-yeah, dude. Never gonna forget that, for as long as I live.
[Oh, shit, he didn't want to make this feel awkward or anything. Head still tilted downward a bit, his eyes shift upward.]
So what the hell are you still doin' here? Go act out on those dokis. Don't be rude, man. A gentleman thief never makes a girl wait.
[Akira feels his shoulders bristle, just slightly]
[there are many instincts he's ignoring as soon as Ryuji's gaze flickers away. the instinct to reach out, to clasp his dumb best friend's face in his hands and turn his gaze back to meet an unwavering and firm expression. don't you ever forget that, okay? nobody will ever take that from you. nobody can ever take that from you. the other is to do all of that and more, to rest his forehead against Ryuji's and continuously reaffirm his importance in Akira's life. I love you so fucking much, okay? don't ever think that I don't. please]
[he takes a deep breath. shuts his eyes for a moment, as though he's contemplating something. and in the end? he does none of those things. but he also doesn't just hang back and let that small moment of raw, open insecurity fly by without acknowledgement]
[his eyes fly open again and he's smiling, that same old mischievous smile that is half of Akira's earnestness, and half of Joker's impishness]
What, do you think I'm the protagonist of some kind of romcom?
[his arm slides around Ryuji's shoulders, hand coming up to ruffle his hair, the contact brief but warm. when he pulls away, it's with a bit of reluctance, but he continues his trek down the tunnels. in the, uh. opposite direction of the exit]
She'll still be there. [at least, he's pretty sure she will] Let's keep going until we get hopelessly lost and Ann has to call in a search party for us.
[right now, he's going to dedicate his time to his best friend]
Yeah, dude. You're like, practically Matthew McConaughey here.
[OH GOD... he doesn't need to embarrass himself any more than letting slip that he might have... once or twice... watched a few (a lot) of subtitled shitty American romance movies at some point in the past and he sure as hell NEVER CRIED over any of them, but here he is, in that weird rising action moment of life where he kind of feels crushed and can't really piece things together enough to figure out why those lame ass movies always kind of got to him.
And Ryuji's all smiles when Akira gets to ruffling his hair, and he wants to go down with a fight here, but that agility is way too good on his friend's half, and he's off already, delving down deeper into their proposed tunnel spelunking. Total freaking hit and run.
He doesn't let him get too far ahead, either, and it's hard to shake the feeling that he's always running after him, but he doesn't let that get to him either, and soon enough, he's at his side. Loyal, to a fault, puppyish in all his ridiculous mannerisms. He loves Akira a lot, too, in his own way. In an ineffable sort of way that's hard to give any form to. This is Ryuji, after all- he met Akira and accepted that he was going to die in Kamoshida's palace if it meant getting a total stranger to safety, and it's just continued outward that way. He doesn't really care what happens to him, but shit, there's caves to explore and when Akira flashes that little streak of provocative deviousness, he can't stop himself either. Ann will have to pick up after these rowdy boys and come claim her two idiots. That's how it's been, that's how it'll always be, right?]
WHOA. Hey. Wait up. [He clicks on the magic and now his footprints are illuminated by yellow marks on the ground.
FINALLY... something useful.]
Yeah? Yeah? Whatcha think? Too flashy? Nah, forget it, it's right up your alley. [And onward, deep into the abyss.]
Really? I was kind of hoping to be more of a Ryan Gosling.
[that response comes with a cheeky grin and a wink before Akira takes off. as ever, leave it to him to make sure that Ryuji isn't standing in the embarrassed cold by himself. who doesn't love an American subtitled romantic comedy from time to time!1]
[all that said, Akira doesn't let himself to pull too far ahead of Ryuji, either. instead, he slows to a leisurely walk to allow his best friend to close the distance between them when it looks like he might accidentally be leaving him behind. the yellow footprints practically glow in the darkness, and his expression lights up, both amused and impressed all in one]
Ooooh, clever, Ryuji. [does Joker even know what "too flashy" means? and anyway, at least this way they won't get lost] It's perfect. You're perfect.
[that. . . last part kind of comes out on automatic, pushed into the open by feelings that-- due to recent events-- have been drawn too close to the surface. he's quick to turn away afterwards, to clear his throat and gesture towards the tunnely abyss that lies ahead]
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no subject
If you were so inclined to start keeping track, Akira. Which he said he was, but here comes one bestie huffing it towards the same tunnel entrance that they were waxing philosophical not that long ago. Ryuji's excited, because he thinks that this meeting will probably bring some stupidly heroic plan of action. Like he wants to confer with his second in command before settling on doing something.
Or just goof off for a bit. He's pretty chill with either, since getting into ridiculous amounts of trouble and getting away with it has become their motif for some time now. He bends at the knees, holding himself in place.
Ever since Akira left Tokyo, he's been throwing himself into training as much as he can. Some of it's a leftover of his his whole "deal with feelings by running yourself ragged so you're too tired to think about it," and the other half's just... something he honest to god loves doing. But getting there in under 10 was a feat. Give him a second to catch his breath.]
P-phew. How'd. I. Do?
[Crush him?
ā yes, absolutely, he was late
ā nah, he gave it his all
ā just the right amount of sass that lands between both above listed options.]
no subject
[Akira lets out a low, impressed whistle as Ryuji speeds up to him, making a show of checking his watch carefully before he lifts his gaze and raises a brow. despite the incoming sass, thereās no hiding his amused grin, the curve of his lips that gives away the fact that he isnāt being serious]
Eight minutes, twelve seconds.
[another whistle]
Twelve seconds off, but Iāll give you a pass for still making it in less than ten.
[and not because of judgeās bias, he swears]
no subject
Hell yeah... dude. 8 outta 10 ain't bad.
[He'd pose, maybe give a victory sign, if his chest wasn't heaving so much. One small set of seconds later, he's hoisting himself back up to his regular (shitty) posture and places his hands on his hips. That's better. At least he isn't about to keel over anymore.]
So.... come here often?
no subject
[and so itās instinct when he rests an elbow against Ryujiās shoulder and rocks into him gently, before pulling back]
Only to see you.
[zing!!]
Come on. Letās walk. I kind of wanted your opinion on. . . something.
[and with that, he makes his way down one of the tunnels, hands slipping casually into his pockets]
no subject
That's effective as heck, and he just sucks air in through his teeth, like he's pretending to be slightly annoyed by something he's... not at all.]
Man, that was so cheesy that I think you're becomin' a meunster at this sorta shit.
[God, no, why, don't get into this unending loop. Oh, look at that, Akira's just moving ahead, and like a lost child, here comes Ryuji to catch right up to his side. It doesn't feel right otherwise?]
Yeah, sure. So... I might not have the best opinions but I'm always good for giving you a piece of my mind.
no subject
Iād rather be considered gouda at what I do instead.
[another effortless zinger. someone stop them before they go too far. at any rate. . . with Ryuji at his aode (itās true; it doesnāt feel right otherwise) Akira rolls his shoulders back into a shrug and asks, as casually as he can]
Youāve met Rion, right?
no subject
Oh, god, is this about accidentally rifling through her school outfit back at the castle? He needs to abort this conversation as quick as humanly freaking possible.]
Dude, I swear it was a mistake, I was just tryin' to figure out who the hell was living there, that's. That's all?
I ain't some huge perv.
[Which, untrue.
But wouldn't that have gotten out sooner to Akira if that were the issue? He looks closely for the response from his friend, anxious somewhat.]
no subject
[uh]
Oh. Are you talking about when you rifled through her drawers?
[yep, it has totally gotten out already. it was literally the first thing she brought up upon realizing Akira knew him]
No comment.
no subject
What if, just touching his face right now marked it yellow instead of hiding his extreme fluster?
Because that would be hilarious.]
Uh...
[Yeah, that's it.
That's all he has to say about it.]
no subject
[gently rocks into Ryujiās side again, letting out a soft snort as he does so]
Relax. Iām not here about that, and I believe you.
[HE IS NOT THE DRAWER RIFLING POLICE]
I actually wanted to know what you thought of her.
no subject
It comes out faster than he knows what to do with---]
Her uniform's kinda cute.
[Fuck, no, Ryuji, why?]
Uhhh... I mean. Wait, I didn't just say that?
[This is why he should never start off these kinds of conversations completely uncomfortably, he's bound to get a bout of SAY WHATS ON HIS MIND-itis, and so he just.
Recollects himself.]
She's pretty nice. She offered to leave my smartass cube on the top of a building so that it could learn its lesson. Why? She have a palace or something?
no subject
[Akira arches a brow as well, but graciously allows that original response to fade into the wind, as though it was never uttered. fortunately, he knows his best friend well and good by now. if there's anyone who doesn't mind Ryuji's SAY WHAT'S ON HIS MIND-itis, it's Akira]
Nope. No Palace. Not that I can check.
[he doesn't have his cell phone or the MetaNav app, after all. but he doesn't think Rion would have a Palace, anyway. just. . . based on his talks with her]
I kind of-- [mmm. and here, he hesitates, wagging one hand back and forth like he isn't quite sure how to put it. but in the end, blunt is best, isn't it?] -- I like her.
[his gaze immediately flickers to the side to gauge Ryuji's reaction]
She's funny, and clever, and extremely kind, and-- kind of. . . warm. You know?
no subject
Akira is his best friend, of course, and he's going to go down in a blaze of glory being supportive as hell. In the same vein of that, he didn't know if their friendship was the type that he deserved to be privy to those sort of thoughts and feelings. Which, okay, dumb, but before Akira... he didn't really have anyone. It was just him, for the most part, and sometimes his mom, of course, but friends? He's definitely still learning things, which surprises him, considering how much absolute shit they've been through.]
H-huh? [He swallows down, like he's literally just digested the news.]
Hey, man, that's great! [It doesn't come off as anything but genuine and earnest, he's legitimately excited for him.]
Is she into you?
[Ryuji also has no idea why his heart is beating so fast. Maybe he still hasn't calmed down from his run, or something.
Yeah, that's definitely it.]
no subject
[it's weird (or maybe not so weird) but Akira can feel his own heart hammering against his ribs at the speed of sound as he speaks. Ryuji's genuine and earnest response is appreciated, and it helps alleviate some of the tension he hadn't realized had coiled on his shoulders. but still. . .]
Yeah.
[no hesitation, no equivocation about it. Rion had made her feelings clear, and Akira had made his clear in return. his response hadn't been a rejection. just. . . a request for more time]
[there's a pause, and Akira idly lifts a hand to tug at his bangs, fingers curling around black locks]
But I told her I needed a little bit of time. Not to figure out how I feel-- I know that much already-- but.
[but proceeding with unresolved feelings for someone else would be unfair to Rion. wouldn't it?]
I wanted to see what you and Ann thought, I guess. [I want to know what you think, goes unsaid] You guys are the two closest friends I've got here.
no subject
Yeah, he still wouldn't get involved, probably. This is Akira. He deserves his chance to be in the sun, and knowing that he's happy and living and doing what he likes to do... that's all that really matters for this blockheaded kid.]
Whoa.
[Understatement of the year- he stands still, watching him as he does that movement to his hair, understanding the underlining motion behind it since he's seen it so much. Ryuji smiles for Akira, moves over, and gives him a soft shove.]
Why do you gotta care about what we think? Dude, grab a baseball bat and hit that way, way outta the park! If you got something to go after, go out 'n get it, y'know? Grand slam it all the way to IHOP.
[Uhhh... phrasing?]
no subject
[but in that way, at least, these two were a lot alike. Akira said it to Ann already, but the one thing he wanted most was for both Rion and Ryuji to be happy. if that came at the expense of some of his own? then so be it]
[Akira feels something tighten mournfully in his chest, and something else release all in one as Ryuji gives his enthusiastic response. he doesn't really know what kind of answer he wanted to hear-- a protest, or some sign that if he ever mustered up the courage, he'd have a chance? or affirmation that there's no point in holding onto these feelings, because it'd never happen, not in a million years? and even if the first had occurred, what would he have done then? Ann told him not to treat Rion as though she was a second choice-- and he doesn't, in any way, want to do that]
Phrasing aside-- [he responds as he rocks with that shove, but he rebounds quickly, shooting Ryuji an amused look] What you think really matters to me.
[a breath and Akira tilts his chin up, catching Ryuji's gaze with his own, like he's searching for something]
It means a lot to me because you're my best friend. [because you're the person who was there to take my hand and pull me back into a world where I actually meant something to people] It means a lot to me because you're-- [god how does he say. . . this] -- your place in this world is at my side, remember?
[aha]
And nothing will ever change that.
no subject
So when he hears his owns words echoed back at him, the hair on the back of his neck prickle upward, and he's left with that brain numbingly familiar sensation that one of them has said too much, putting everything out there in the open, and that familiarity is something he could wrap himself right the fuck up into, wear it like the most comfy of pajamas.
It's also probably why that upward gaze toward him is met with Ryuji's eyes wandering elsewhere for a moment.]
Y-yeah, dude. Never gonna forget that, for as long as I live.
[Oh, shit, he didn't want to make this feel awkward or anything. Head still tilted downward a bit, his eyes shift upward.]
So what the hell are you still doin' here? Go act out on those dokis. Don't be rude, man. A gentleman thief never makes a girl wait.
no subject
[there are many instincts he's ignoring as soon as Ryuji's gaze flickers away. the instinct to reach out, to clasp his dumb best friend's face in his hands and turn his gaze back to meet an unwavering and firm expression. don't you ever forget that, okay? nobody will ever take that from you. nobody can ever take that from you. the other is to do all of that and more, to rest his forehead against Ryuji's and continuously reaffirm his importance in Akira's life. I love you so fucking much, okay? don't ever think that I don't. please]
[he takes a deep breath. shuts his eyes for a moment, as though he's contemplating something. and in the end? he does none of those things. but he also doesn't just hang back and let that small moment of raw, open insecurity fly by without acknowledgement]
[his eyes fly open again and he's smiling, that same old mischievous smile that is half of Akira's earnestness, and half of Joker's impishness]
What, do you think I'm the protagonist of some kind of romcom?
[his arm slides around Ryuji's shoulders, hand coming up to ruffle his hair, the contact brief but warm. when he pulls away, it's with a bit of reluctance, but he continues his trek down the tunnels. in the, uh. opposite direction of the exit]
She'll still be there. [at least, he's pretty sure she will] Let's keep going until we get hopelessly lost and Ann has to call in a search party for us.
[right now, he's going to dedicate his time to his best friend]
no subject
[OH GOD... he doesn't need to embarrass himself any more than letting slip that he might have... once or twice... watched a few (a lot) of subtitled shitty American romance movies at some point in the past and he sure as hell NEVER CRIED over any of them, but here he is, in that weird rising action moment of life where he kind of feels crushed and can't really piece things together enough to figure out why those lame ass movies always kind of got to him.
And Ryuji's all smiles when Akira gets to ruffling his hair, and he wants to go down with a fight here, but that agility is way too good on his friend's half, and he's off already, delving down deeper into their proposed tunnel spelunking. Total freaking hit and run.
He doesn't let him get too far ahead, either, and it's hard to shake the feeling that he's always running after him, but he doesn't let that get to him either, and soon enough, he's at his side. Loyal, to a fault, puppyish in all his ridiculous mannerisms. He loves Akira a lot, too, in his own way. In an ineffable sort of way that's hard to give any form to. This is Ryuji, after all- he met Akira and accepted that he was going to die in Kamoshida's palace if it meant getting a total stranger to safety, and it's just continued outward that way. He doesn't really care what happens to him, but shit, there's caves to explore and when Akira flashes that little streak of provocative deviousness, he can't stop himself either. Ann will have to pick up after these rowdy boys and come claim her two idiots. That's how it's been, that's how it'll always be, right?]
WHOA. Hey. Wait up. [He clicks on the magic and now his footprints are illuminated by yellow marks on the ground.
FINALLY... something useful.]
Yeah? Yeah? Whatcha think? Too flashy? Nah, forget it, it's right up your alley. [And onward, deep into the abyss.]
no subject
[that response comes with a cheeky grin and a wink before Akira takes off. as ever, leave it to him to make sure that Ryuji isn't standing in the embarrassed cold by himself. who doesn't love an American subtitled romantic comedy from time to time!1]
[all that said, Akira doesn't let himself to pull too far ahead of Ryuji, either. instead, he slows to a leisurely walk to allow his best friend to close the distance between them when it looks like he might accidentally be leaving him behind. the yellow footprints practically glow in the darkness, and his expression lights up, both amused and impressed all in one]
Ooooh, clever, Ryuji. [does Joker even know what "too flashy" means? and anyway, at least this way they won't get lost] It's perfect. You're perfect.
[that. . . last part kind of comes out on automatic, pushed into the open by feelings that-- due to recent events-- have been drawn too close to the surface. he's quick to turn away afterwards, to clear his throat and gesture towards the tunnely abyss that lies ahead]