Leviathan: A Persona 5 Goro Akechi x Amamiya Ren Original

6: Trapped

(Ren's P.O.V, flashback)

"Why are we still stalling? Let's just take his heart already!"

Panther gave an exasperated sigh as she pouted in her frustration. She was already standing on her feet, ready to jump into the Metaverse at any minute.

"It's just...it's not that easy." I uttered quietly in response, averting my gaze from the Phantom Thieves as I leant back against my chair.

"Ren...if we don't get this infiltration done in the next week, we won't make it. Maruki's deadline is February 2nd." Makoto offered with a kind voice. I was aware how on edge all of my friends were. It's not like this was an easy decision that I was enjoying having to make.

I just felt....trapped.

"I know, I know." I grabbed my phone out of my pocket and turned the screen on. It was already January 25.

I was cutting this so close. We had days, if that, to finish getting to Maruki's treasure room and take his heart.

I ran my hands through my hair and gave my own sigh of irritation. 

"What are your reservations about this, Ren-kun?" Yusuke decided to take the understanding approach as he sauntered closer to me. I still didn't meet his eyes, even as the group all watched on in quiet perplexion.

I felt shame. This should've just been easy for me. Like every other Palace, I should've just been able to decide to take Maruki's Heart, and be done with it.

But no matter how hard I tried to convince myself - 

"I don't mean to stall the infiltration." I stuffed my phone back in my pocket.

"It's just..." I  couldn't help but hesitate once again as the words escaped me. What would they think when I told them? Would they be angry? Would they think I was being too selfish?

"It's okay, man." Ryuji was behind me, leaning on his elbows as he sat quietly on my cot. He reached over and placed his hand on my shoulder, forcing me to meet eyes with him.

"Whatever it is...we'll get through it together. You don't need to feel bad about telling us."

I held his gaze for a moment longer, debating his words. Morgana jumped into my lap as well, solidifying the support all my friends were giving me. 

"Yeah, Ren. Whatever it is, we will get through it together. But what we don't know, we can't possibly help you. We need to be aware of what you're thinking." My heart warmed at their kind words. I finally looked up to gaze at the group, who all smiled endearingly at me.

....I guess...it was worth a shot.

"It's....Akechi." I sighed heavily once more, feeling a relief the size of a boulder lift off my shoulders.

"If we take Maruki's heart and move back to our true reality, he'll cease to exist." I began fidgeting with my hands as the uncomfortable thoughts of a world without Crow raced through my mind.

"And if we don't take his heart...he'll change. Along with the rest of us, Akechi will live on as a joyful shell of himself. Devoid of suffering and pain; everything that makes him who he is."

Silence fell in the air around the Thieves as the information I'd spoken sunk in. I didn't want to be in this position, but I also didn't have another choice.

"Even if I decided to live in the reality Maruki has made, Akechi won't stand for it. What he wants is his freedom back." I lowered my head into my hands as my lips formed into a perplexed frown.