Marionette(My Strings Are Titanium, You Cannot Cut Them)

Akira didn't know how they'd pulled it off. Kaneshiro's palace was brutal, sure, but just the thought that they actually took down a mafia boss was unbelievable. This was so much bigger than a high school teacher, or a famous artist. He was proud of his friends, and they'd damn well better be proud too. 

Even Sojiro had pointed out his unnaturally good mood upon getting home, Akira just shrugging it off as having gotten a good grade on a hard test.

The buzz of energy didn't settle until well after he got to Leblanc, but with Morgana's incessant urging, he finally managed to fall asleep. This was good, they were helping so many people. Akira felt fucking invincible. 

He couldn't have been asleep for long when pounding at the door to Leblanc woke Akira with a start. Morgana just grumbled in annoyance and rolled over to sleep some more, but fear struck Akira in the gut and he jumped to his feet right away.

Three steps at a time, he dashed down the stairs, eyes connecting with a stranger's outside.

Akira blinked once and recognition set it. That was Akechi, standing outside, cheeks glistening with tears in the dim light, and with a nasty bruise spread across one side of his face.

There wasn't time to stand there. Akira was at the door in a second, cursing under the breath as he took what felt like too long to unlock the door, throw it open, and pull Akechi into his arms.

He sucked in a breath as the man held onto him, terror all too evident. Akira held him close, but it didn't feel close enough. 

He thought it was fine. Yes, of course he was worried, but Akira never expected this. Akechi had been acting like nothing happened, and he hadn't wanted to push it. Yet here he was, injured and afraid, and Akira felt like he should've stopped it. Should've done something more, protected him somehow. 

Akira wanted to ask who did this. He wanted to murder whoever made Akechi run to the little café in Yongen-Jaya, to a friend he barely knew for comfort. Right now, however, that wouldn't help anything. Akechi needed someone to make him feel safe, and Akira was more than willing to be that person.

As time passed, Akechi seemed to calm down, or at least let his guard down more. When Akira felt himself being squeezed tighter, he was ready to fight a god if needed to keep him safe.

"I'm right here, I'm not going anywhere. You're safe now, Goro, I promise. I've got you." His assurance seemed to work, because gradually, Akechi's grip on him loosened and his cries dulled to quiet sniffles that in what should have been silence seemed almost louder.

Neither of them wanted to let go. Akechi wasn't ready to leave the security of Akira's embrace and face the consequences sure to come, and Akira didn't know how else to protect his friend. How could he let go, not knowing what was to come? 

"I'm sorry." It was so quiet, Akira wasn't positive he hadn't imagined it. His own shuddering breath in response was louder.

"Don't you dare apologize." Akira insisted, guilt coursing through him as it came out more aggressive than intended. "You are my friend, got it? I don't care if it's during school or the middle of the night, if you need me I will be there. You don't owe me an apology or anything else."

For a few seconds, Akechi said nothing, before pulling back just enough to be face to face with Akira. Neither made any move to separate more than necessary, tips of their noses nearly brushing together as Akechi seemed to search his face for any sign he was lying.

In most other situations, Akira would be ecstatic about being so close with such a cute guy, but where his typical urge to make a witty, flirtatious remark would kick in, all he felt was the need to protect him.