Floor 1, Room 3

[jokey]

AKIRA

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Comments

[revengier]

That you wanted to be good friends?

[ Hmph. But he knows that isn’t what Akira is talking about.

With a soft sigh, he gives Akira a serious look, though it lacks his usual severity. ]

What you said about feeling a connection, right?

[jokey]

Something along those lines...

[this bitch denser than a brick..................]

I like you. That's why.

[revengier]

[ He sure is! But that's part of his charm, isn't it?

Though, at least Akira's directness gets through to him. It surprises him just a bit too, but Kurapika recovers quickly enough to squeeze his hand before long. ]

I like you too. [ Direct and without any hesitation. ] I care about you, which is why I waited until you woke up, and why I offered to help you prevent what happened on the mission in the future. You thought I would offer to do that for anyone, but that isn't true. I offered because I would do it for you.

[ His heart is beating fast admitting all of this now, but he's determined to be fully honest here. ]

I wanted to do what you told me to do, which is to spend time with someone I care about.

[jokey]

[O-oh. Being direct and to the point is part of Kurapika's charm, but good god does this guy not pull his punches. Akira's fingers twitch and his cheeks tingle, a sure sign that they've taken on a dusting of color.]

You should've told me all this in the first place. When I told you I liked you before, you completely blew me off. What was that about?

[revengier]

[ That embarrassment is contagious, because it feels like the tips of his ears are starting to burn. ]

...I didn't realize how I felt.

[ He may, in fact, be stupid. ]

I didn't realize you were confessing your feelings for me either.

[jokey]

Kurapika...

[There was more to that statement, but it all falls by the wayside in favor of sudden, belly-aching laughter.]

[revengier]

[ God. God!!! This is why he can't stand Akira! This is a serious moment, not one to laugh about the middle of the street.

People are staring— ]

You're so loud! And obnoxious!

[jokey]

[So they are. Akira doesn't like drawing attention to himself in public any more than Kurapika does, so the only cure for that is to take his hand and run!]

[revengier]

[ Turns out running in the middle of the city like this only draws more stares, but for once, Kurapika doesn't mind it much. He lets Akira tug him along, his hand gripping the other boy's tight. Letting go simply isn't an option, after all. ]

I hope you're planning to go somewhere quiet.

[jokey]

[No, letting go isn't an option, but Kurapika might want to grab onto something more substantial than his hand when Akira manifests a magical hook from his free hand and hurls it skyward, latching on the high corner of a building. They take off into the air so quickly that the shock and awe of the onlookers aground quickly fades into the whooshing wind.]

Of course. We're on a date, aren't we? We deserve a little alone time.

[revengier]

[ This is like the broom all over again, Akira going to lengths to show him a neat little trick that forces Kurapika to wrap his arms around his waist so he doesn't go flying. That's exactly what he does too, though he doesn't mind the physical contact nearly as much this time around. ]

By attracting the attention of the entire city.

[ His tone is perfectly flat, but he'll gladly let Akira lead him wherever he wants to go. ]

[jokey]

[Akira's laughter is swallowed up by the winds, hooking from roof to roof, the skyline rapidly shifting and swaying.]

They're focused more on the act than the actors. If we land in a back alley and casually blend into the crowd, no one will give us a second look.

[Akira would know. He's highly skilled at doing that very thing.]

You don't seem panicked at all. Are you frequently being flung from building to building?

[revengier]

Is it not obvious that I trust you?

[ Please. Even if he's hanging on tight, he doesn't think Akira will drop him, much less do something like this if he wasn't confident in his own ability to. ]

Besides, I'd find a way to land safely if you dropped me.

[ Because, naturally, the fact that he trusts his own abilities too helps. ]

[jokey]

[Akira snickers, bumping their foreheads together.]

It wasn't obvious that you liked me. You need to update your definition.

[Pulling back, Akira drops them off in a quiet alleyway behind the City of Glory's bustling market district. He moves to take Kurapika's hand, but hesitates.]

Wanna hold hands? If not, that's fine. I know it can feel weird in public.

[revengier]

[ Is he really not obvious? He thought he was, going out of his way to look out for Akira after the possession and allowing Akira to sleep next to him right after the mission.

Maybe he really does need to reevaluate how he expresses himself. Hm. He'll start now, too, taking Akira's hand firmly in his. ]

Of course I do.

[ What a silly question!

Ah, but before he tugs Akira out of the alleyway, he looks around to make sure there aren't a lot of other people milling about before pulling on that hand to bring him closer. With such little space between them, it's easy enough for Kurapika to lift himself up onto his toes and press a soft kiss to Akira's lips. ]

[jokey]

[Oh? He was fully prepared for Kurapika to avoid holding his hand in public. He would've been fine with that! But the little kiss on top of it all? Akira's dumbstruck, absently touching his lips.]

Kurapika... You're so cute.

[Like, seriously cute. Akira gives him a swift peck in return before darting out into the street with renewed vigor.]

How's your appetite? We could grab a bite before continuing on with the itinerary.

[revengier]

[ Normally he would aggressively deny the cute comment, but he'll allow it just this once... the little return peck certainly helps him cement that decision. ]

I'm a little bit hungry.

[ He nods towards a cafe, giving Akira's hand a little squeeze. ]

We could try there. You want me to compare your coffee with a real cafe, don't you?

[jokey]

[Akira nods, eagerly guiding them toward the cafe.]

Of course. And you'll provide me with your unfiltered opinion as well, right?

[revengier]

Would you expect anything less?

[ He hopes not!

The cafe isn’t especially busy at this time, with plenty of tables open for them to pick from—tucked away in the corner, near the street, smack dab in the middle… there’s prime real estate everywhere.

As for the selection, there are a selection of pastries and cakes, as well as sandwiches, all complimenting the warm scent of coffee wafting through the air.

Kurapika’s eyes, however, are on those slices of cake. ]

[jokey]

[The window booth will do nicely, but right now, his attention centers on the pastry display... namely, on the cake Kurapika is eyeing. A fan of sweets, is he?]

The strawberries on top remind me of something.

[Shiny, glazed, ruby red...]

[revengier]

[ The strawberry shortcake is exactly what he was eyeing, and he immediately turns his attention to Akira. ]

If you mean my eyes, I think they look a little bit nicer than strawberries. [ … ] It’s dangerous you like them so much, you know. That you saw them at all isn’t a good thing.

[ Or maybe it is, at least to Akira. ]!

[jokey]

Aren't you cocky? But you're not wrong.

[Even the freshest strawberries pale in comparison to the otherworldly red of Kurapika's eyes... but of course they do. Unfortunately, Akira knows he's not alone in that appreciation.

He casually leans in closer, whispering in Kurapika's ear.]

A thief does more than steal. They also know how to protect their most valuable treasures.

[His arm loops around to briefly squeeze Kurapika's side. Now then, he's going to step up to the register and get started on their order.]

[revengier]

[ His breath hitches, Akira’s words searingly warm in his ear. He doesn’t know what to make of what he says, much less how serious he is—after all, for all Akira jokes around, he does seem to take sentiments like that seriously, and that only makes Kurapika’s heart pound in his chest.

But he can hide those feelings well enough, chiming in that he wants a slice of cake and a black coffee for himself while Akira orders.

He steps aside, hands in his jacket pockets as he waits for Akira to guide them to a table. ]

You say things like that too easily.

[ Kurapika is straightforward, but Akira? He’s on another level. ]

[jokey]

[Akira orders an orange scone and a three shot espresso con pana for himself before guiding Kurapika to the window booth. A waitress will bring their orders to the table when they're ready.]

What do you mean? Did you want me to stammer and fluster instead?

[He grins, leaning forward and resting his chin on steepled fingers.]

I meant what I said. I haven't told anyone about them and I don't plan to. Our little secret, right?

[For one thing, no one needs to know about Kurapika's special eyes unless he opts to tell them of his own volition. For another, there's a non-zero possibility the wizards and unscrupulous types might take an interest in them and whatever magical qualities they possess. Akira's already caught onto the fact that the fewer people know about the scarlet eyes, the better.]

[revengier]

[ He sits, a little bit stiff at first simply out of nervousness, but he allows himself to relax with a soft breath.

Hmm. On second thought, it’s a good thing Akira isn’t blushing and stammering through this date. It’s a relief to be with someone who has some semblance of what they’re doing. It puts Kurapika at ease as much as it makes him all that much more nervous. ]

A few know, but you’re the only one that has seen them.

[ He leans back for a moment before ultimately leaning forward, just a bit. ]

I’ve learned how to turn them of my own volition, as well as control my emotions so they don’t turn at all. [ … ] You’re the first person that has seen them turn organically in over a year.