Work Text:
Leblanc is empty.
It usually is this time of day, or so Sojiro grumbles and Akira affirms, besides the occasional regular dropping in. Bad for business, Sojiro says. Good for studying, says Akira. Both are right.
Frankly, Ryuji is kind of glad that he's dropped by when it's so quiet. Usually, it would be driving him up the goddamn wall. Usually, he'd be begging Sojiro to cut Akira loose so they can go running or hog Ryuji's favorite game at the arcade. But today isn't usually.
For starters, it's raining, and while running wild in the rain can unleash a wild, unbridled joy in Ryuji on the best days, it's not the same when he's doing it to train . And the arcade was a no-go today--he's broke.
Plus, for finishers, his head's been kind of hazy since he woke up that morning. Maybe it's allergies; the pollen's been crazy bad lately, after all. But he's been lacking the other telltale signs. No watery eyes, no runny nose, nothing. He can only hope he's not actually getting sick. His friends are counting on him, after all!
At least, he hopes.
"Ryuji?"
He jumps. He hadn't realized how much he'd been spacing. "Oh. sorry."
"Everything okay?" Akira's face is unreadable as always, but Ryuji's gotten pretty good at reading him. It's all in the way he stands. Right now, he seems casual, shoulders slouched and one hand in his pocket, but the other is rubbing the hem of his apron. He's worried.
Fuck . "Yeah, man," he manages. Why does it feel so bad to talk? "Just tired. Been sleeping like shit, you know?"
Akira frowns. At least, the corners of his mouth tug down just the tiniest bit, and it makes Ryuji's stomach twist in on itself. Somehow, he feels like he's messed up, and somehow, he feels like he wants the floor to open and swallow him up.
"How come?" Akira slides into the seat across from him. A moment later, Morgana leaps up onto the table to join them.
"I don't know?" Ryuji blurts out before he can stop himself. "Just--all the Kamoshida shit, you know? Like it was all there and now it's not and there's just this...oh, I don't know." He rubs the back of his neck. "I just can't stop thinking about it."
That is a massive understatement. Even with exams breathing down their necks, Ryuji can't seem to drag his thoughts towards schoolwork. It seems so...insignificant. A waste of time. Now, Ryuji isn't the most studious to begin with, but this is a whole new low for him. He's trying not to think about it too much. If he does, he's going to think about how nobody expects anything of him anyway, and how his mom looks at him in disappointment, and--
Morgana swipes at his fingers with his paw. "Hey, Akira's talking to you! Try to pay attention, will ya?"
Ryuji blinks a few times at the cat before glancing at Akira. There's a small crease just between his eyes, now. Fuck shit what do I do-- "Heh, sorry. Whadja say?"
Akira regards him for a long, uncomfortable moment. "Want some coffee? Might wake you up."
Normally, Ryuji would jump at the chance. He's not particularly fond of coffee, but he does like it when Akira makes it. And he really likes watching him make it. Sure, he's not as skilled or smooth as Sojiro--who is also nice to watch, in his own way--but there's a certain finesse that just screams Akira that leaves Ryuji able to watch him for hours. Something about him makes the loudest parts of him quiet.
But right now, Ryuji is recoiling at just the thought and he's not sure why. He shakes his head. "Nah. 'm good."
"A soda?"
A more mild response, but his stomach lurches all the same. "No thanks."
There's a full frown stretching languidly across Akira's face now, and too late, Ryuji realizes why. He's never turned down a soda since they've known each other. In fact, he's usually the one wheedling one out of Akira. Or Sojiro. Or Ann. On one memorable incident involving a vending machine, Morgana.
"H-hey, what's with the face, man? 'm just not thirsty."
Thankfully, Akira drops it. "Okay." He looks like he's about to say something else, but then the bell jingles as an elderly couple steps through the door. He returns to the counter, leaving Ryuji alone at the booth with Morgana.
“Hey, hey, you’re bouncing the whole table with how much your leg’s bouncing,” Morgana chastises.
“Sorry.” Ryuji hadn’t even realized he’d been doing it, but he forces himself to stop. It just makes him feel worse, somehow. He lays his head on the table.
"Geez, you must be tired, huh?"
"Said I was, didn't I?"
"Maybe if you'd quit playing games all night…"
Ryuji misses the teasing lilt in Morgana's voice by a mile. "I wasn't ." He can't stop the plaintive whine from creeping into his voice. "Told you, just haven't been sleeping too good."
"Well."
"Well what?" Ryuji blinks at Morgana, confused. He suspects the answer is right in front of him, what with the way Morgana's twitching his tail. And sure enough, he feels absolutely stupid when Morgana tells him a moment later.
"Do you ever pay attention in class? It's 'I didn't sleep too well .'" Morgana sighs and stretches his front legs. His paws scratch lightly against Ryuji's sleeve. "Maybe you should use that time to study."
Not like it'd do any good. "Whatever." He buries his face into the crook of his arm and stays there, unwilling to surface until something clinks against the table and a pleasant smell wafts towards him. It takes him stupidly long to place it.
Chocolate?
Sure enough, there's a steaming mug of hot chocolate in front of him when he lifts his head. Akira's standing by the table, too, wiping his hands on his apron.
As touching as it is, Ryuji wants to argue. "Dude, I told you--"
"It might help you feel better." Akira shrugs one shoulder. "It helps me."
Any other argument dies in Ryuji's throat. For Akira to offer up that much information… With a sigh, he cups his hands around the mug. The warmth seeps pleasantly into his skin. "Thanks, man." He lifts the mug.
"Wait--"
It's hot. Extremely hot. Ryuji has to spit it back into the mug before he completely scalds his tongue and throat. "Ow. Oops." His ears are burning as warmly as the hot chocolate.
Akira sighs, but shakes his head with a small smile. "You good?"
Ryuji nods. "Sorry."
Akira gives him an odd look at that, but pats his shoulder before leaving again. It takes everything in Ryuji to tamp down the urge to grab his hand, to make him stay, to not let go.
He doesn't get it. His head's getting fuzzier by the minute.
The quiet's barely settled before Morgana's creeping closer to press against his arm. "Are you sure you're okay?"
"What does a guy gotta do to convince ya?" he mutters. Carefully blowing on his drink, he takes another, more cautious sip. It's better this time. The taste of chocolate rests heavily on his tongue, and the warmth trails languidly all the way through to his core. He lets out a little happy sigh and takes another drink.
Morgana tilts his head and waits for Ryuji to set the mug down again. "You're acting weird." Ryuji's about to bite back that he hasn't heard that before when he hurriedly adds, "Weirder than usual."
"Aww, you do care." It's a joke, partly, but something twinges all the same. Morgana tilts his head.
"Well, duh. You're a vital part of the team." He pauses. "Finish your hot chocolate. But be careful, okay?"
Ryuji's aware that Morgana's being gentler, nicer, than usual. A familiar part of him rears up. He doesn't need to be patronized!
But the hazy part is in control, so he says nothing and does as he's told. The quiet of the shop and the soft chattering of the couple a few tables away and the warmth in his belly lulls him. It reminds him of quiet nights at home with his mom, when his dad was gone, tucked up in a blanket fort on the couch and watching all of Ryuji's favorites.
He misses those nights.
Someone saying his name and patting his shoulder has Ryuji lifting his head from his arms and blinking sleep away from his eyes. "Huh?"
"Morning, sleeping beauty," Akira says, grinning down at him.
Ryuji doesn't have the energy to sit up fully. In fact, he's pretty sure if 'Kira left him alone, he could fall right back asleep. Heck, he didn't even know he'd fallen asleep. He can't remember laying his head down. "How lon' was I out?"
Morgana butts his head against his. "About fifteen minutes. You really weren’t kidding, huh?”
“Mm-mm.” Ryuji can’t dredge up the energy to answer what he’d already told them. If anything, he’s a little upset that they’d woken him up.
At least, he is until Akira offers to let him nap upstairs. That has Ryuji bolting upright, almost sending Morgana flying from where he’d still been curled against his arm. Ignoring the hiss, Ryuji shakes his head vehemently. "No."
Akira blinks slowly. "Is there...a problem with my room?"
It's a genuine question, and instead of sinking like before, Ryuji's stomach plummets. "N-no, it's just…"
He doesn't know how to explain it because he doesn't even know why he's so against it. It's not like he hasn't napped there before.
"Do you want to go home?"
"No!" It bursts out of Ryuji's chest with more force than any of them expected. The couple from the other table shoot them a wary look. Embarrassed, Ryuji buries his face in his arms again. "Sorry."
The seat across from him squeaks as Akira slides into it. His voice is low, cautious, sneaking across eggshells. "Everything okay at home?"
Without looking up, Ryuji nods. Words bubble up and spill out before he can even think to bite them back. "'s just that Mom's workin' a double shift tonight. Nobody's home."
There's a beat of silence, but he should have known better than to think neither Akira or Morgana wouldn't have anything to say about it.
Morgana's the first to say anything. "Aww, buddy, if you're feeling lonely, you could have just said something!"
It isn't until the words are hanging in the air that Ryuji realizes that that's exactly what the problem is. Going through a bunch of palaces in a row would be preferable to being alone right now. Even if the thought of palaces and shadows does make him want to cry and hide.
"You and Morgana go on upstairs," Akira is saying. His voice is softer than it was before; if Ryuji was feeling better, he'd probably be making fun of it. But now, he finds himself peeking up to make sure it's really okay. Akira smiles at him and Ryuji's stomach again twists, but this time there's a tingly sort of warmth that goes with it. "Sojiro should be back soon to take over, so I can join you then."
His resolve breaks. "Mkay…" Slowly, he stands and waits for Morgana to jump into his arms for trudging upstairs.
Already any tension is leaking away. It's quiet, and warm, if a little stuffy, in Akira's room. An added bonus is no nosy customers. With a sigh, Ryuji slumps down on the sofa with Morgana in his lap.
"If you want to go back to sleep, I'm sure Akira wouldn't mind you taking his bed."
Ryuji shakes his head. "Don't wanna."
"But you still seem tired." Morgana kneads his paws against Ryuji's thigh.
"Took a nap already, didn't I?" Ryuji lets his gaze wander around the room. It falls on the ancient TV and stack of DVDs. "Wanna watch a movie while we wait for 'Kira?"
Morgana looks like he wants to argue, but he hops up onto the table and noses the stack closer. "Fine, but only if you lay down on the couch."
It's a good enough deal for Ryuji. Humming happily, he rocks forward and snatches the top case. He barely glances at it before setting it aside. Morgana peeks at it. "I thought you liked that one."
"I do." But… "Too scary." He nods definitively.
"Huh?" Morgana's giving him a strange look, but Ryuji's attention is snagged by a bright blue case. "When did he get Ponyo? Why does he have Ponyo?"
"Oh, Lady Ann told him he should watch it. No, told isn't the right word. Insisted." Morgana nods sagely. "He seems to like it."
"Do you like it?" Ryuji isn't sure why this is important, but he feels like he's teetering on the edge of a pitfall and Morgana's answer is going to either pull him from the edge or plunge him in, Lion King style.
"Huh? Oh, yeah. It's cute." Morgana flicks his tail. "A movie befitting Lady Ann...oh, is this the one you want to watch?"
"Yeah!"
"Then what are you waiting for? Pop it in already!"
So Ryuji does. At Morgana's insistence, he lays down, too, but he can't stop wriggling uncomfortably until he has Akira's pillow wedged under his head and blanket wrapped around his shoulders (also at Morgana's prompting). It's a little awkward to see at this angle, but he knows the movie well enough from his childhood. Besides, he's all cozy with his head nestled in the pillow and Morgana a comfortable weight pressed against his shoulder.
It takes all of ten minutes for the haziness to win and pull him under.
When he wakes again, it's dark except for the second-hand lamp by the bed. The movie must have finished, too, because the TV's off. But it's not quiet.
Or it is, but he can hear Morgana talking to someone. Preemptively, he pretends to still be asleep. It's hard to focus. Even if his head feels the tiniest clearer than it had earlier, it would be so easy to give in…
His name is what jolts him into some sort of wakefulness.
“Have you ever seen Ryuji like this before?”
“No,” answers Akira’s low voice. “Well, I’ve seen him when he’s tired, but this is different.”
Morgana hums in agreement. “I know he’s childish on the best of days, but…” He trails off. Ryuji can feel him shift on his chest. “You should have seen him when he found Ponyo. He almost blinded me with how much he lit up.”
“Too bad.”
Maybe Ryuji’s just reading into it, or maybe he’s hopeful, but Akira sounds almost disappointed. Maybe they could watch it together, then. After all, Morgana did say that Akira liked it...it wouldn’t be weird to ask, would it?
He must have made a face or something, because both Akira and Morgana fall silent. Without meaning to, Ryuji lets out a little whine before blinking his eyes open. Even if he doesn’t particularly enjoy being talked about, while he’s right there no less, but he’s nothing if not nosy.
“He’s awake!” Morgana tells Akira pointlessly; Akira’s already sliding his chair over.
“Hey,” he greets him. He’s changed out of his work clothes and into a comfy-looking t-shirt and sweats. Ryuji’s suddenly aware of how uncomfortable his own school uniform is: too tight, too stiff, too much .
“Mm,” Ryuji returns eloquently.
“Sleep okay?”
“Mhm.” Words aren’t working. The Brain to Mouth Railway is out of commission until further notice; sorry for the inconvenience. But he needs to talk, because Akira’s looking at him, and he’s making that face , the one that you have to look out for, and even though Ryuji’s too far gone to really notice it, he gets the feeling . “Slep’ good,” he manages, even if the words run together and discomfort pinches at his throat. He hears Morgana mumble, “ Well ,” and remembers their conversation from earlier. “Well,” he obediently repeats. Morgana just huffs in response.
"Good." Akira smiles faintly. "Heard you found Ponyo."
He just nods. He doesn't think he can force many more words out if he tries his hardest, and that scares him, a little. This isn't normal. Normally, everyone's begging him for silence. Normally, his mouth is running 90 miles an hour. Normally, normally. Uncertainty begins to creep in.
Luckily, Akira seems to be fine with silence from the peanut gallery. The yes/no question doesn't fly over Ryuji's head. "Sojiro said you can stay over if you wanted. Is that okay?"
More than okay. It is. But the fear's taken no time at all to tighten its grip on him, digging gnarled talons into his chest and throat, and he whimpers.
For the first time, Akira's mask breaks. "H-hey, it's okay? You don't have to?" He reaches towards Ryuji, but pulls back at the last second. Even Morgana is unsettled by this turn of events, leaping off his chest and into Akira's lap. The sudden lack of pressure is what sends him toppling over the edge. His eyes well up and over.
"Wanna," he chokes out. "S'ared."
"Scared, huh…?" Akira grows thoughtful. "Well, I think I know how to fix that." He looks down at Morgana. "Will you stay with him for a minute?"
"Huh? Why me?"
"Because you don't have opposable thumbs."
Grumbling, Morgana stretches before pouncing back over to the sofa. He curls around Ryuji's head. Ryuji blinks in surprise and cranes his neck trying to see him. He almost forgets he's crying. Until Morgana mentions it, anyway.
"Don't cry, idiot." Morgana slaps a paw against Ryuji's forehead. "It's unbecoming of a Phantom Thief. Besides, there's no reason to. You're safe here."
Safe. He hadn't realized he's been feeling distinctly unsafe until now. Logically, he knows he's safe. But the logical part of his brain is notoriously small to begin with and right now it's skedaddled to who knows where.
Still, he trusts Akira and Morgana.
"'Kay," he mumbles, scrubbing at his face. Morgana sighs and gives his forehead a small lick. It startles a hiccuped giggle out of Ryuji.
Morgana almost sounds fond. "There he is."
Ryuji smiles a little before rolling on his side so he can see his friend better. As he does, he notices Akira's disappeared. "Where's 'Kira?"
"Downstairs. Who knows what he's doing." Morgana shakes his head. "You okay?"
Well, he still feels like crying, but Morgana says he's okay, so… "Mhm."
"You're not lying, are you?" he asks, skeptical.
"Mm-mm."
"Hard to talk right now, huh?" Morgana lays his head in Ryuji's line of sight. "That's okay." He yawns. "I think we could all use an easy night."
An easy night sounds really nice. Between Palace forays and school and home and his own mind fuckery, Ryuji can't remember the last time he took it easy, even if taking it easy is his whole schtick. His brain's always going, going, gone. Right now, it's stuck in sludge.
Not sludgy enough to hide what he wants. "Mo'ganaaaa." He lifts his head and wriggles until his arm free. "Here."
Morgana stares blankly at him. "What?"
" Here ," Ryuji whines, unhappy with having to voice his thoughts. Morgana's smart ; he should just know . Tears burn at the corners of his eyes again. "C'mere." Reaching up, he pokes and prods until Morgana's up and moving.
"Cut that out, wouldja?" Even irritated, Morgana lets himself be shepherded partway under the blanket and tucked against Ryuji's chest. "Better?" With a happy hum, Ryuji carefully wraps an arm around him. Morgana sighs. "I'll take that as a yes."
"Warm kitty."
"I am not a cat!"
Ryuji doesn't get a chance to argue that yes, he clearly is, because Akira's popped his head over the railing. "What are you two fighting about this time?"
"Kitty."
"For the last time!"
"Morgana, be nice," Akira admonishes mildly as he steps fully into the room. Two mugs are in his hands. Balanced in the crook of his arm is a bag of chips. He sits next to them again. There's something different in his voice when he says, "Think you can sit up for me, Ryuji?"
The last thing Ryuji wants to do is sit up, not when he's all cozy and snuggled with a cat, but the smell of chocolate wafting from the mugs is too much. "Mkay." It takes a minute to figure out how to move his limbs again, but he manages to prop himself most of the way up. Morgana slinks away muttering something about points. "Good?"
"Very," Akira praises, and a warm thrill sinks through to Ryuji's core. "Careful, okay? I waited for it to cool a little, but it's still hot."
Ryuji is very careful this time, remembering to blow before taking a sip. It’s just as good as the mug from before. “Thanks.”
“Any time.” The soft smile on Akira’s face leaves no doubts.
They sip at their drinks quietly for a few minutes, but Ryuji’s getting antsy again. Not because he has energy to spare, but because he’s feeling drowsy again, and he’s remembered the offer from before.
Something must have crossed his face, because Akira sets his now empty mug aside. “Something wrong?”
“No…” Ryuji frowns down at his mug before peeking up. “‘s it really okay if I stay?”
“Wouldn’t have offered if it wasn’t,” Akira answers readily. “I have some clothes you can change into when you’re done.”
The knot in Ryuji’s chest dissipates. “Mkay.”
It doesn’t take much longer for Ryuji to finish his own drink--it really is the best--and change into the sweatshirt and joggers Akira found for him. When he’s returned from using the bathroom, he finds that Akira’s tossed the blanket and pillow back on the bed and dragged the TV closer to the bed, using the chair as a makeshift table.
“Whatcha doin’?”
Akira stiffens. “I figured we could watch Ponyo again before bed,” he says uncertainly. He rubs the back of his neck. “I mean, if you’re okay with sharing the bed. I can sleep on the sofa.”
Watching Ponyo with Akira seems like the best idea in the world to Ryuji. He brightens. “Wanna watch.”
Relief flashes across Akira’s face. “Get settled, then.”
Bubbling over with drowsy excitement, Ryuji crawls onto the bed and settles on the side against the wall. “Momo.”
“You talking to me?” Morgana lifts his head from where he’s settled at the foot of the bed.
“Mhm.”
“What do you want?” Morgana groans, even as he’s stretching and padding over to settle in Ryuji’s lap. Akira just chuckles as he starts the movie and climbs in next to them. Ryuji makes short work of leaning against him, cheek pressed to his shoulder. His attention is already fixed on the bright colors of the screen. He barely notices when Akira cautiously wraps his arm around him.
“Is this okay, Ryuji?”
“Mhmmm,” he hums, nestling even closer. It’s cozy, and warm, and safe. He’s with two of his favorite people, and while he’s still not sure what’s happening, he’s feeling more than okay with it.
Akira and Morgana wouldn’t let anything bad happen to him.
Try as he might, he can’t keep his eyes open when Akira’s fingers absently find their way into his hair, scratching lightly at his scalp. Drowsiness pushes and pulls at him like waves, but he still dredges up a whine when Akira stops some time later. Above him, Akira chuckles, but obediently starts again. Ryuji can feel the laugh where his cheek is squished against him.
“T’ank you,” he mumbles. Akira hushes him. Content, Ryuji finally lets sleep gently pull him under.