2 days remaining; nighttime

Saying the Black Mask was in a bad mood would be both an understatement anda very good way to lose your tongue.

Goro stormed through the house- which he'd broken into, pillaged their food, and gladly used all their hot water- his phone in hand. It should be gone! They had just finished destroying all three Palaces. Goro should have Loki back by now and they both would've been free to run.

Instead, Goro heard his phone ringing the second he came out of the shower, and now the goddamn Metaverse app was back.

Fuck it, he'd nearly been done with all this bullshit! All he wanted to do was leave and never come back. Why did this always happen to him, of all people?

Complaining, he reminded himself, would get him nowhere. Goro padded silently past Ryuji, who was on watch, and the other sleeping Thieves. He dimly wondered where Arsene was; after all, the winged Persona should be back at the moment. Whatever plans the Thief had, a full day should have been enough to complete them.

Look at him! Goro thought. The great Black Mask, worrying over some worthless trash! What would Loki say?

He'd probably laugh in his face, that's what.

Goro activated the Meta-Nav. Strangely, a name and distortion was already in- Ren Amamiya and Wish- so he braced himself and unsheathed his jagged sword, preparing to fight what was surely a veritable army of Shadows.

Instead, he arrived in a dust-filled park with nothing living for miles around.

It didn't take Goro long to get the symbolism; he knew better than anyone that everything in Shibuya was a product of artificial faces and cruel people. Not only that, but the layer of dust suggested that this wasn't really a "wish" or "fantasy", more like an... empty dream, maybe? Something in the past that Ren no longer cared much for.

He huffed a laugh and sheathed his sword. Of course Ren was as alone as he was now. "Now," Goro murmured to himself. "Where is he?" This seemed to be an exact copy of the other Wish Palace, other than the obvious lack of life and thick layer of dust everywhere.

Fortunately, an explosion and a roar of pain down the second alley seemed to give him a decent idea of where to go.

Goro first found the explosion; a bar in Shinjuku rendered to shards of glass and weakly sparking pink lights. It looked less like one of Ren's Curse spells and more like a bomb had dropped.

Another explosion sounded nearby, this time sending red and black flares up to the overcast sky. An animalistic roar accompanied it, and two smaller explosions followed.

He tracked Ren and his opponent in this way, finally ending up in what seemed to be a version of Leblanc- except it and everything in Yongen-Jaya was burned to ash. Goro arrived in time to see a shirtless Ren Amamiya strangling a gold-eyed figure that looked very much like his alter-ego. Blood ran freely from both of them, Joker's coat sleeves rolled up and bloody in a way that suggested he'd been blocking knives- which were discarded on the ground- for a long time.

Well, if it was Ren's Palace, it was no surprise to see his Shadow here. But there was almost certainly something wrong with Ren. His Shadow might be hostile, but Goro was near certain he wouldn't attack a human version of himself (at least not the first blow.) Besides, Goro could damn well sense the bloodlust crashing off the thief.

Ren's head snapped up, his crimson eyes dilated and his teeth bared in a furious smile.

Joker's eyes widened. "G-Goro?" he choked out. The Shadow said his name with something almost like reverence. Strange, but Ren was even stranger.

"Goro," Ren hissed, low and venomous. He ripped his hands off Joker's neck and summoned a palmful of Eigaeon. "Who the hell do you think you are?"

Who was he to demand answers from him? "Treasure," Goro snapped instead. "Now." The sooner this was over with, the sooner he could leave and have Loki back. And maybe, once Ren was defeated, he could ask the Shadow about Arsene.

But that would have to wait.

"I don't think so," Ren laughed. It was an odd, high-pitched sound that made Goro stiffen. tIt threw him back to an uncomfortable evening dealing with one of Shido's fancy parties and the stupid drunk people on board. He got to his feet with all the grace of a crumpled stone wall and pointed one of his knives at him. "If you're not mine, you're my enemy."

Ren's face twisted into something hateful and cruel. "Die!"

Goro sidestepped the first Eigaeon and ducked the second, barely scraping past the knife coming with it. He hit the ground, sweeping a foot out in a move assured to knock him down- where'd he go?

A slight breeze was the only warning before Ren's veritable storm of slashes and spells put him on the defensive. His arms throbbed with a dull pain as he blocked as best he could, and finally managed to retaliate. Blood dripped from Ren's chest. He only smiled.

No recoil, no pause in the slightest. Including the earlier injuries, Goro knew, he should be on the ground by now. And just why was he so goddamned fast?

Ren flung a knife at him; he knocked it aside and summoned fire as fast as he could, but the thief was already past his guard with one hand on his right wrist. Goro dropped the sword and crushed his fist against the exposed back of Ren's head... nothing. What had he expected? Something that would always work to hel-

Ren's free hand wrapped around his waist and Goro lost his breath.

Definitely because he was suddenly in the air and slammed against the ground. No other reason. Not because Ren was shirtless, and obviously not because his red-stained skin made Goro's blood race.

Dammit, the fact was still that he was on the ground and Ren was standing above him with a sharp object.

"Persona!"

"Ugh, finally." The snake manifested and sent Ren flying backwards with a flick of his tail. "I've been wanting this rema-"

He vanished into blue mist with a sudden cry. A soft puff in the ashy ground revealed a bullet. Goro jumped back, just barely avoiding the second shot and glared to the right.

Joker glared back, reloading his sniper. "Go away!" he snapped.

"I saved your sorry ass!" Goro yelled back. "I could just as easily kill you!"

No he couldn't. He was at the very center of this absolutely massive Palace with no Mona Bus, no Persona, and a berserker Ren who wanted him dead. He wasn't getting out unless he crushed them both underfoot.

Black-tipped-white wings unfurled from his back and he soared down, alighting before Goro. "I don't want to die," he said seriously. "And I don't want Ren dead either."

"Then what," he grunted, dragging Ren's clawed hands away from his throat and cracked his fist across his nose. "Do you want?" Goro threw him off his chest. They both locked eyes on the discarded knives and sword.

No you don't.

"I want him to accept me."

Goro stilled. Ren hurtled past him and claimed the weapons, but he could hardly care. What a stupid reason, he thought to himself, but at the same time, there was something so Ren about it. A different Ren, he meant. The one that one day who took one look at him and brought him upstairs and onto the roof.

What are you doing? He'd demanded with more hostility than he'd meant to.

Making you take a break. Ren leaned on his hands and tilted his head to the sky. He breathed in slowly. See? It even smells better up here.

You're quite... intriguing. Strange was the better word for it, but Goro was still playing the part of the Detective Prince.

Why? Ren asked. He gave him a smile. Maybe I'm doing you a favor, and now you'll owe me forever.

Ah... I don't think that's how it works-

And now it does!

"You seem a lot like Ren," Goro admitted. "But you're not psychotic."

"I'm just better than him," Joker smirked. He lazily shrugged at him. " As for Renren-" Renren, who was spamming Eigeaon while Goro rhythmically dodged them. "I quoted something from our father, and I... misjudged... the reaction I'd get. He's very.... Volatile."

"Yes," Goro agreed, ducking an Eigaeon spell. "Volatile. What'd you say to make him like..." he waved ambiguously at Ren, who was stalking towards him with a knife in each hand and a look in his eyes that would probably make Kronos piss himself. "Like that."

"That Arsene was a spineless coward."

Goro choked. "Only Ren's that foolish; you're most definitely Ren." He dropped into a crouch, one of the knives sailing over his head, and shot forward. The thief dropped his weight on his back just before he tackled his legs, sending both of them crashing to the ground.

Pain lanced through his shoulder blade. The other knife. Instinctively he summoned fire- as much fire as he could, and it exploded outward.

Goro scrambled back, his forearms seared. Ren gave him a bloody grin, now only holding his sword, meaning the knife was probably somewhat buried in his back. He gave a sideways glare at Joker. "Stop standing there and be remotely helpful?"

In response, he yanked something out of his back and fire exploded through his skin. Goro bit back a scream and shut his eyes, breathing heavily. "Ass."

Joker tossed the bloodied knife at his feet. "I assume apologizing to him's too late at this point?"

"Yeah." He got to his feet. The wound didn't feel that deep and he could still use his arm. He'd be fine. "He should have dropped from blood loss by now," Goro muttered to himself. "And he barely feels his injuries." At this point, Goro was only delaying the inevitable. Ren would get a lucky shot with a spell or stab him through the chest and it'd be over. So... not a physical wound; Ren would die before he was actually subdued. And it wasn't like Ren was in any mood to listen to what they had to say. "I'm sure, since you're Ren and all, that you know how to beat him."

A wicked light shone in his eyes.

"You know," Joker said slowly. "I just might."

Goro was beginning to regret asking. "What."

"Well..." Joker stretched the 'e' with what Goro would have called a shit-eating-grin if he could actually see him.

"Spit it out!" he snarled, wrestling the sword out of Ren's hands. He hissed as the thief slammed his back against the ground and summoned fire again. "That's enough, attic trash!"

"You could always turn me psychotic. Then we'd both die."

"Out of the- don't even try it, filthy thief- out of the question!" His speed was beginning to flag, but Ren was only getting faster. Goro caught himself falling for another footsweep and just barely backstopped it. He took a swipe at Ren, who batted the knife aside, and Goro was halfway through driving the second one into his exposed stomach- but I can't kill him. He swore and rolled to the side. "I'm sure you have an idea that entails my survival?"

"Knock him out?"

"Not working."

"Kill him?"

"I believe I asked for something that would let me survive!"

"You don't have to be so mean!" Joker pouted, and Goro was suddenly struck with another memory from the roof of Leblanc.

Why did you bring me here this time? Goro demanded, letting the Detective Prince mask shatter on the ground. I have six essays due by the end of the week, not to mention that my colleagues keep pushing work onto me-!

Ren's arms wrapped around his shoulders. He rested his head against Goro's. Bad day?

What's it to you? he snapped.

I can't let a team member suffer, Ren told him simply. And you don't have to be so mean. I'm not going to hurt you.

What a foreign concept, he muttered under his breath.

Ren laughed, even though it hadn't been a joke. Exactly. Haven't you been hurt enough?

Less than a month later, Goro tried to tear him apart.

"Do you know of any way to distract him?" Goro tried. His head was beginning to ache and he was starting to wonder if he should just turn himself psychotic and blow up the whole damn place.

"Hey, you were closest to him. If anyone knows how to distract him, it's you," Joker pointed out.

Goro suddenly had a bad idea. A very, very bad idea, but it was an idea. Besides, his dignity was all but gone- considering he'd died, come back to life, possibly been played like a pawn by two gods, and was getting absolutely crushed by Ren and his obnoxious Shadow.

"Change the terrain," he demanded. "Leblanc's roof."

Joker paused, then began to laugh. "You are not thinking of-"

"This is difficult enough as it is!" Goro felt his face flush under his mask. "I could always leave you here-"

"Fine, fine, Goro-sama-"

"The hell?"

Joker only answered with a borderline-insane laugh, and Goro and Ren found themselves on opposite sides of an old-fashioned roof. He tensed, realizing that the shingled roof would be too easy to fall off of, and one glance over the edge revealed a dramatic drop that would probably leave an impressive bruise.

"You think this'll stop me?" Ren demanded. His voice was hoarse, and Goro found himself wincing at the tone. When he came down from whatever crazed high he was on, his throat was going to hurt like absolute hell. "This makes no difference! If we were in hell itself, I would still crush you!"

Goro itched to bury his knives in his head and see if it helped Ren's brain, but firmly reminded himself that he wanted to live. There was also the fact that Arsene might vanish if Ren died.

That'd be a pity. Arsene was the one being who seemed relatively sane. Including himself.

He sighed and sheathed his weapons. Ren drew back, tilting his head curiously. "It's no fun killing an unarmed opponent," he pouted, then howled in laughter. "Wait, wait, I get it! Are you giving up? The great Black Masked demon? You're going to lay down and die?"

It would be so easy, just a flick of the wrist and Ren would hit the ground on his head. He'd split his skull open. Another knife and the Shadow would die. So, so easy.

I want him to live.

What a stupid idea, but Goro was done denying himself the truth. He wouldn't go to such lengths to keep some rando alive. After all, his life was worth just about nothing.

"Hey, Ren." He pressed his fingers against the side of the mask and it vanished. "As a... last wish-" Those words felt disgusting to spit out- "Could you look around? Please?"

He was playing on Ren's cruel, sadistic side, Goro knew. From Joker's encouraging nod- he was perched on top of Leblanc- it was a good move.

"We're at Leblanc. What of it?"

"Do you remember when you brought me here?" Goro tried a half-laugh, letting it tremble just slightly in what he thought sounded like fear. "You looked so tired when you walked in, but you smiled when you saw me. You dragged me upstairs and climbed out the window, and when I got out, you were looking at the stars. Aren't they beautiful? You said, and I laughed, because how could stars be anything but stars? Then-" oh, surely he was faking the heat in his face now, "then you told me I was more beautiful."

Ren drew Goro's sword. "So?" But his hand trembled ever so slightly.

"It started to rain later, so we went to the bathhouse. You fell asleep. I stacked towels on your head until you woke up, then I pretended to be sleeping, too. You were so confused."

"I don't care!" he screamed. "I don't give a shit what you're talking about! You're my enemy, damn you!"

"And why am I an enemy?" Goro pressed.

"Because you are! You are, you worthless bastard!"

The words struck him in the chest and went straight through.

"I am worthless," he agreed quietly. "You could kill me, and no one would ever care. Except you, I think." Goro offered another smile and took a shaky step forward. He was faking still. He was faking still... maybe. "You flirted with me before. But you care, don't you? And that's why you're trying to kill me."

With a furious howl, Ren lunged, sword aimed to rip his chest to pieces.

Goro was faster.

Distract him.

In a single move, Goro brushed past his guard and planted his lips on Ren's.

One. Two. Three. Four.

Ren was perfectly still. Was Goro kissing him right? He'd never actually kissed anyone before, but he didn't think this was as bad as the sloppy, drunken ones men used to give his mother.

Five. Six.

It didn't feel like a fairytale kiss, not a romantic one with showering roses and brilliant dusk skies. No, they were both evil and cruel, and Goro knew he tasted like blood, just like Ren did. The single star gleaming down on them flickered weakly, almost as if it refused to look at them. They were disgraceful, perhaps; a thief and a traitor.

Was it really so bad to be this way?

Maybe if Goro kept Ren around, against all odds the world would be alright.

Seven. Eight. Nine. Ten.

Goro broke off, gasping for breath. He slowly, as if in a dream, reached up and touched his lips. Blood dripped from his fingertips. His face felt warm, but he chalked it up to lack of oxygen- oh, he was done lying to himself, he was embarrassed as hell. How'd he let himself do that? To his enemy?

Ren's face was as red as his eyes. He gaped at him, for once stunned into silence other than a few squeaks. It was amusing how helpless he looked, such a stark difference from his berserker self that Goro almost forgot he was supposed to subdue him.

"You- I-" the thief stammered.

"Shut it." Goro slammed his fist against the back of his skull and he dropped. "Idiot," he muttered to the ground. He still felt uncomfortably warm.

The assassin frowned.

Holy shit, he just kissed Ren.

"Holy shit," he muttered to the wall, Joker howling with laughter somewhere behind him. "I just kissed Ren."

And to be completely honest, it wasn't that bad.

---

I am very, very late.

I really don't have an excuse, do I? not after last week, not really, other than the fact I was playing splatoon 2 all weekened. I'm sorry.

Anyways, this fight scene was so confusing to write. Usually i have several characters to focus on and more factors to use, like injuries (which didn't affect Ren, and they both have too much training to let it bother them much) and stamina (They'd keep going till they dropped, and it would only make a slight differenc in their speed) and skill (useless in this situation.) So i introduced something different,  i guess I'd call it want? Goro wanted Ren to live, so Goro himself could live (the partial truth) and because he was too interesting and just like him and someone he wanted to save (the full truth.)

Did i write it right? I hope so, it took me ages.

Anways, words: 3067.

Thank you all so much for reading! You're all amazing for sticking with me so far, and I'll do my best to get the next chapter out on time!

Thank you, Robin out!