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

Akira had only given confirmation that he was free and would be there. They'd meet up at Penguin Sniper and Goro would show him the way from there.

Akira didn't actually know how he felt. Part of him really wanted to yell at Goro, get mad and make sure he knew just how much he'd hurt him. He wanted Goro to swear never to do something so stupid again. On the train ride there, he drifted between anger, fear, relief, and excitement.

When he saw Goro standing outside the club, however, any rational thought was gone. Akira was really glad Morgana had wanted to stay home.

After sprinting the rest of the way, Akira paused right in front of him. "Can I hug you?" He asked, out of breath. It was the first thing he'd said aloud to Goro in weeks, and his friend only gave a stunned nod before Akira practically fell against him. "I missed you so fucking much. Dumbass."

Goro's arms squeezed around him, and Akira let himself relax. He was really here, it wasn't a dream or a hallucination. "I'm...sorry." Goro sounded so tired. "I didn't think...Akira I never imagined I'd hurt you so much."

With a low chuckle, Akira stepped back. "Hey, it's fine. I mean it, just don't do it again and I'll forgive you."

It was like a shot through his heart, taking in Goro's appearance. Akira couldn't stifle a sob in time. He was here, right in front of him.

"What's wrong?" Goro was quick to ask, eyes going wide.

Akira shook his head. "Nothing. You. Why didn't you just talk to me? I've been anxious, all the time, because I didn't know if you were okay. And cause I thought that since I couldn't do enough for you, you didn't want me around anymore."

Goro sighed, his shoulders falling. "Akira, that isn't true." He crossed his arms for a moment before reaching out and delicately brushing a tear from Akira's cheek. "I missed you, too. I wanted nothing more than to see you again, but I thought it was for your own good if I didn't. I see now that was idiotic of me." He cleared his throat, pulling his hand back. Akira almost missed the pink tint of his ears, a soft chuckle escaping him.

"It's fine." Akira insisted. "You're here now. You learned from your mistake, and now you won't do it again, right?"

The smile that crossed Goro's lips sent a wave of heat over Akira's own face. "Right. I'd like to make up for it, nonetheless. We're going somewhere I frequent, I hope you enjoy it too."

Goro didn't let Akira get another word in before walking off, and it took Akira a moment to remember he was supposed to follow. Words caught in his throat every time he tried to say something, and Goro seemed content not talking at all.

The outside of their destination was nothing fancy, brick exterior with a few lights and a run-down looking sign marking the building as "Jazz Jin".

Akira assumed his confusion was evident, because he heard Goro chuckle. "It's a jazz club. There's some great performers here, and the atmosphere is wonderful. I assume you've never been anywhere like this?"

"Nope." Akira shrugged. "I'll trust your judgement, though." He worked part-time at Crossroads often enough, it was his favorite job aside from helping out at LeBlanc. He doubted it would be very similar, though, and probably not something he should mention to Goro. Both because the man was a detective, and because he really didn't feel like explaining that one.

Akira understood what Goro meant. He may not have thought so at first glance, but sitting at one of the tables while Goro ordered them both drinks, he realized the bar was exactly the kind of place he could imagine Goro enjoying. No one cared who was who, but the manager seemed to know Goro rather well. Akira supposed he had said he frequented this place, but considering how packed his schedule was, Akira assumed that to mean going maybe once a month.