digestate: (17 ▮ curse)
Denji ([personal profile] digestate) wrote in [community profile] windfall2023-07-13 12:46 pm

light a cigarette, i'll watch as it burns

[ Knocking. The roar of ammunition fire in his ears. Blasts of heat and debris sticking to his face, dust crusting in his eyes. A delirious and delicious taste, sweet red like pomegranate, like Aki's skin scraping open in his mouth.

Denji doesn't talk much about what happened that day.

Not unusual, since he doesn't really talk much about any of what transpired prior to meeting Nayuta, either. Or about how sometimes he can still sense, not even hear, but sense a phone ringing in the distance, its pull like a spiral cord that's gone taut, that's trying to make its way back home and if he follows its trail, he might just find someone familiar on the other end of the receiver.

No, he doesn't tell anyone all that, because, see, the last time he did, Kishibe had just hummed and looked at him, the kind of look Denji would get from adults whenever they caught him picking through the dumpster for his next meal: pitying. Then, he'd shook out a flask from the inside of his coat and said, "Sometimes it's better for the line to go dead, kid."

Weird response, right? It'd made Denji go silent, think a bit. And after a while, he hadn't liked that so much, so he'd changed the subject to something inoffensive, like complaining about how much Nayuta's so much better at arcade games than he is, but Kishibe had cut him short at that point to go take a call.

Naturally, Denji had followed.

It's a little sad that a man in his silver years is the only person he can confide in, but Kishibe's not a bad guy — and that's coming from someone who generally hates men. Then again, the guy doesn't show his gaunt face around these parts unless he absolutely has to, which is probably by his own design, so it helps that he's never around long enough for Denji to get sick of seeing him. Up until that conversation, his absence wouldn't have been something Denji paid notice to. It'd usually take weeks and months and Nayuta asking where the funny, drunk geezer who always sneaks her hard candy is for him to see past the everyday chaos of being Tokyo's friendly neighborhood Chainsaw Man.

But as Denji creeped closer, overhearing some words but not registering most of them, a dangerous curiosity brought him to the edge of his hiding spot. What the hell has this dude been up to?

And then he'd froze.

"So the Gun Devil's position has been compromised. Initiate a tactical retreat."

Afterward, he hadn't done anything for a solid week besides go to school, kick some devil ass and stare vacantly at a pair of eggs frying in the pan for dinner each evening. Predictably, Nayuta had rapidly gotten sick of the menu. So before he could make his eighth pair of fried eggs, she'd scaled up his back and twisted his earlobes until he begged for forgiveness.

"Stuuupid! Dummy! Get a hold of yourself!" Nayuta raged on. "No more acting weird, or else I'm putting doggy kibble in your cereal again!"

She was right. He needed to get a hold of himself. Yeah, he was dumb, but that didn't mean he had eggshells for brains. He could still do stuff in his own way.

In the following weeks, Denji spent his time hounding members of the Devil Hunter Club for all and any relevant knowledge pertaining to devils. From rumors about recent devil sightings, to insights into things like the theoretical mechanics behind how long it took for certain types of devils to die in Hell and be reborn, to mathematical equations projecting the survivability rate of fiends based on the velocity and quantity of violence…

Of course, he only understood about three-percent of anything at any given time, but one detail of interest shared by some gloomy, pig-tailed girl stood out to him. According to her, a mysterious amount of devils had been slain in the Kabukicho district, none of which had been reported by either civilian hunters or Public Safety ones.

Anyone with half their wits would be able to easily determine that this wasn't a reasonable lead, but for Denji? He could feel something trilling out to him. ]
damngun: (11)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-04-24 02:59 am (UTC)(link)

[He's so active for this early. Aki remembers him as someone sleepy and slow to start in the morning, crawling out of bed and wandering in a daze from the bathroom to the table... Did he just not sleep much last night? His eyes dart down to watch him knock against his thigh until he pulls away, then settles his foot flat to give him a steady spot to perch.]

Don't remind me. [If anything, those kicks had only solidified his dislike of Denji. It was hard to get much worse from where he was to start with, even after he found out he was partially a devil.] You were a punk who got dropped in my lap with no warning, of course I couldn't stand you. [His hands pause, suddenly, looking at their situation right now. A punk, in his lap. But at least he got a warning this time. He resumes running them down his arms, then to his chest to slide over his skin.] But you're feeding her bad habits. At least I put my foot down with you.

Edited 2024-04-24 02:59 (UTC)
damngun: (16)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-04-25 11:34 pm (UTC)(link)

[Aki has given a middling amount of thought to the fact that Denji ate Makima. He hasn't asked for any specifics, sat in silent shock back when he explained the plan he had concocted to defeat her, and never since has he attempted to broach it. Him doing so here... For a moment, it honestly sounds like it would be a threat, something he might hold over the devil. "You better be careful, or I'll do what I did to your former self!" or something like that. But just as it's hard to imagine Denji actually eating an entire person such as Makima, it's hard for him to really imagine him putting his foot down when it matters.]

Why did you go to Kabukicho, the day before?

[When he saw him on TV, when he went running after him. At that time, he had said something about the devil, that she was probably nearby. And at that time, Aki hadn't been thinking about her whatsoever, hadn't cared about any of that while Denji fretted over her, called her later and checked in. Maybe he'd had a passing thought that the role felt reversed, like he was calling to ask for permission to stay out rather than being the one to grant permission, but otherwise he'd been too distracted by everything else. But if they're going to talk about her, he may as well bring up something he had unconsciously assumed.]

[He wraps his arm around Denji's back, settling it on his opposite hip. Studies him carefully, the spray of warm water still running over their backs.]

Did she goad you into it?

damngun: (7)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-04-29 04:43 am (UTC)(link)

[He could say something snippy about how Denji shouldn't have skipped school, but it rings hollow to his own ears to even think it. He's been pushing Denji to go to school, sure, but he skipped classes dozens of times as a child. Aki sits still as he draws his fingers through his hair, not trying to dislodge him or stop him from the motion.]

...They would have killed it eventually. [Probably. How bad off can they be right now? Just because Makima is gone, it's not like they're falling apart at the seams, right?]

You said being this - Chainsaw Man thing, it was just to get attention, and get laid. [Unsuccessfully given half the city seems to think he's a devil and the rest think he's a hero. He hasn't seen anyone eager to actively bone him due to either point.] Do you feel differently now?

damngun: (87)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-04-30 04:45 am (UTC)(link)

[Denji is definitely stronger than he was a year ago. His fingers clench in his hair and Aki feels his lips twitch, gently wincing at the pain. Not enough to shove him off, however, as his arm stays settled around him, staring up at him as he seems to try and refuse what he's saying. He can almost hear the indegestion from those words.]

Haven't you already done enough?

[He's the reason most of the foes they dealt with are dead. The Doll Devil, Makima... Hell, even Gun was somewhat killed by him, but at that point he was so weak it was more like licking the plate clean. Still, there's been a lot that Denji has done that no one else could. He can't imagine anyone else who could have killed Gun in that situation. Not to mention Makima.]

You're just a kid. A kid with a devil inside - but you're a kid. [It's pithy to say this when, at his age, Aki would have recoiled at such words. But maybe Denji could understand that, and see that he's trying to tell him something important.] You've never had a normal life. So you should start on it now.

damngun: (37)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-05-06 02:18 am (UTC)(link)

[...Right. No matter what, it all comes back to saving people. He can say it's for whatever he thinks it is, but in the end, it's about Denji feeling useful in some way. And if Aki finds him useful, isn't that the clearest sign of victory for him? The one authority figure in his life that's still around right now. If he's here to check off what Denji is doing as "good," that should be good enough. That should prove he's on the right track. But now Aki is telling him not to do the thing he wants to do. And how fair is that? Aki isn't his authority figure anymore. Hell, all he ever did was hold his leash, yank him back when he got a little too nippy at people - and even then, he's still barking up a storm. Since when did he ever do anything for him? His first few months under surveillance, all he could think about were all the things he never got a chance to do.]

...You didn't kill me.

[This is kind of semantics. Because Gun killed him. And Denji killed Gun. ...Or, was it "Chainsaw Man" that killed Gun? He doesn't know. Whatever.]

I would have been dead by the end of this year anyway. If it didn't happen the way it did, something else would have killed me.

[He shifts him slightly on his knee, trying to get him to look at him directly.]

Then what are you going to do when I'm gone? You'll be satisfied with this moment, right now?

damngun: (51)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-05-09 02:28 am (UTC)(link)

[With Denji so close to him, he can feel the vibration of his body every time he speaks, the sound waves in the air and the breath from his lungs as he tells Aki there would be nothing left for him to do once Aki is gone. If Power were still here, he wants to ask, would he feel differently? What about Makima?]

[But a part of him rejects the idea of hearing Denji's responses to those questions. It shouldn't matter. It's not the point.]

You used to go so crazy, talking about your dreams, and your desires.

[He still remembers when he was screaming about a dream battle when he picked him up that one time. Has listened to him fantasize about touching boobs, seeing a real woman naked. Having sex. All those shallow, vapid dreams. They were shallow and vapid, but over time, they changed, too, didn't they? Doesn't he have new dreams now? And can't they be anything but throwing himself in harm's way?]

I can't see you moping around just because I'm not here. That devil is here, and you've got to finish school, and...

[He trails off. Doesn't plant any ideas about what Denji will do after high school. It's a weirdly nebulous idea, to even imagine him standing there with a degree. Who would go with him? That devil? Kishibe? ...Probably not Kishibe.]

...Just for once, I wish you cared about something long-term. Something that will matter years from now. Something you can build toward, and be proud of.

[It feels too much like he's lecturing himself. And because of that, he knows it's a shallow thing for him to say. If someone said that to him at Denji's age, he would have been furious. Even if his goal was short-sighted, it was all he cared about for so long. Being told to ditch it in favor of something as bland and vague as a normal life would be an insult. Because why would he, after all he'd been through, ever want anything like that? He only now has the benefit of hindsight. But even with it... What would he have changed?]

[He sighs. Leans his head down to drop it on Denji's shoulder.]

But I'm the last person who should tell you that. [At least he's aware enough to admit it.]

damngun: (37)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-05-16 05:16 am (UTC)(link)

[...Right. He's supposed to be the one finding Denji next time. He had said it partially to coax him down, to try and convince him of something he's still not sure he will accept, even after Aki is gone. But for now he nods, leaning against Denji when he pulls in close to take in his scent. It's a strange feeling - but he gets it. Because he wants to remember this smell, too.]

I won't.

[Even if it was a promise he made without thinking he could accomplish it, even if he knows he might eventually lose himself the more of Gun he consumes... He's sure he won't forget that promise. He raises his head and shuts off the water, briefly pushing Denji's hair aside like he's trying to fix it, keep it a little bit neater. An impossible goal, so instead he leans in and presses a brief kiss to his temple.]

Come on. Let's get these sheets in the wash. [He motions for him to get up. His knee hurts from balancing him.]

damngun: (11)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-05-19 01:17 am (UTC)(link)

[Of course. Denji gets an awkward-closed-mouth kiss in return as Aki makes a slighly annoyed sound until he finally gets up. He dries off as Denji deals with the laundry and glances over his shoulder when he looks outside to see that the devil is still in the bedroom. Good, he thinks.]

Yeah. In my bag. [A small travel bag he was given with a few changes of clothes. It's made it very apparent his stay here is intended to be short.] ...Never mind, I'll get them. [Changing his mind, he wraps the towel around himself and motions for Denji to step aside, heading to the bag. He doesn't want Denji digging through his things, actually. He'll probably be weird about his underwear or something.]

[His voice low, he asks:] When does she get up?

umbiblical: (yes - the one who reaches)

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[personal profile] umbiblical 2024-05-19 03:35 am (UTC)(link)
[ The door whisks open, letting way to a sleepy-eyed Nayuta and her usual entourage, the hoops of their leashes in hand. Her shirt sleeves hang over the fist she raises to scrub away the crumbs from her eyes, but the movement comes to a sudden stop. Brows raised, her gaze flickers from her brother to the stray that's been with them for nearly a week now, both of whom in a similar state of undress. A whiff of something like milk and honey catches her nose, overpowering anything else that may be lingering in the air, which wouldn't normally be cause for annoyance — that's the body wash they all use. But for it to be so strong…

Her expression darkens. When was the last time Denji gave her a bath? Washed her hair? Stupid idiot. ]


Come.

[ She says, tersely, to the dogs, particularly the few tugging at their harness to greet Denji and Aki. Her mouth purses, as she has to dig her heels in to get them to register the command. Grrr, these ill-behaved animals. All of them! ]

Hey! I said come!

[ As always, it takes some wrangling, but they do eventually heed her call and follow after her as she marches out the door. ]
damngun: (34)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-05-19 11:35 pm (UTC)(link)

[The way she huffs and stomps out like she caught them eating her pudding from the fridge... Can she tell?]

[He doesn't know. He doesn't know if she even has the understanding of what sex is. She might look like a child, but at the end of the day, she's a devil. Immaturity only goes so far when you're a creature led by id. He would know.]

Yeah, well. [He continues onward, taking the time that they have now to get a fresh set of clothes out of his bag.] Go get dressed before she comes back. [Nothing to do about it. He looks at Denji as he pulls his underwear on, frowning at him.] You said she doesn't like people touching you, or being too close to you. Don't you think that's something you should train out of her? [He can't exactly live an adult life never being physically intimate with people.]

damngun: (11)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-05-20 02:49 am (UTC)(link)

[Denji snatches a set of his underwear and Aki pauses, staring at him openly, brows set and frown heavy. He's about to say something about how his clothes won't even fit him, anyway - but when he holds the shirt out and it actually seems to match his proportions, he shuts up. He saw it before, understood it before, but... There's a weird part of him that's happy to see him with muscle mass now. That he's built up his body from the bony runt he was before.]

I don't know if that's a good idea yet. She won't even talk to me most of the time.

[As if the blame lays solely with her when he barely talks to her, either. Yesterday while Denji recovered in bed they ate dinner together in silence.]

She probably doesn't understand sex yet - so don't bring it up to her. Just say you woke up early and we used the shower together, or something.

[Way more normal. Totally chill behavior.]

damngun: (87)

[personal profile] damngun 2024-05-22 02:34 am (UTC)(link)

[Aki ignores that first question for now. Doesn't want to give any kind of answer he's going to regret later. If he says something random like "In a week" he'll be counting down the days. And Aki knows he won't be here that long.]

[But he forgot that he lied about his hand. The way he says it, Aki can't tell if he believes his lie or if he's just testing out the words. After a hesitant pause, he nods. Sure. Fine. Denji never did help him in the bath back then, but like hell she's going to know that.]

[Fully dressed, he briefly looks Denji over with a frown. He doesn't love that he's wearing his clothes, but still says nothing about it. Judging by the pile of laundry that was in that bedroom, maybe he just hasn't gotten around to washing everything yet. But still, she's a devil. Won't she smell it on him? Maybe this is part of training - or, "teaching" her out of it.]

You're going to school, right? [Said with the assumption that the answer is a resounding "Yes."] I'll make you both something to eat. Go get dressed.

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