Makoto woke up and found herself in a hospital bed, the room empty of people. She glanced around. Where was Ren? He’d appeared in the Metaverse, right? Or had she dreamed that up? Makoto sat up. Where were the other Phantom Thieves? How long had she been unconscious for? Makoto laid back and closed her eyes. The pain flooding her body was exhausting.
It was an hour before the door opened, waking Makoto from her restless sleep. She didn’t bother to look at who had entered.
“Makoto.”
Ren? Was that Ren? Makoto opened her eyes. Sure enough, Ren was now sitting next to her.
“Ren?”
Ren stared down at Makoto. Makoto blinked.
“Did you...?” Makoto trailed off.
“Yes, I know,” Ren told her. “I know about my palace. And I’ve realized that there is nothing that I can do in the Metaverse to help.”
“I’m sorry,” Makoto sighed. “We should have asked first.”
“No, I should be sorry,” Ren retorted. “I put you in danger...”
“That wasn’t you. You would never hurt us. I know that for sure.”
Ren looked away.
“Ren, whatever is on your mind, you can say it.”
Ren shook his head. “I’m sorry, Makoto.”
“Why?”
Ren looked up, a bit startled. He didn’t answer.
“Why do you keep putting up these walls? What are you so afraid of?”
Ren crossed his arms in discomfort. Makoto stared at the prosthetic one, which was now visible and not hidden under any long sleeves. Makoto decided not to press. The leader of the Phantom Thieves had never been one to talk.
“Everyone else is in the Metaverse, risking everything to help you...” Makoto muttered under her breath. “We may not know the source of your distortion, but I have a feeling that we’re getting close.”
“You said something, about the Metaverse Navigator,” Ren remarked. “That something was wrong with it?”
Makoto had almost completely forgotten.
“Say... how did we get back out?”
“How did we get back out? I used the Nav.”
“But it wouldn’t work for me, or the others.”
“The Nav wouldn’t work?”
“No, whenever we would try to activate it, nothing would happen.”
“It works just fine for me. I haven’t had any difficulties, Queen.”
Makoto sighed. “Please, we’re in reality. There’s no need to use code names.”
“We’re all alone. No one’s going to know.”
YOU ARE READING
Of Phantoms and Thieves
FanfictionThe leader of the Phantom Thieves of Hearts, Joker, AKA, Ren Amamiya, is not in a good mood. It's been a year after the events that happened in Persona 5, and trouble has struck. Ren's parents have been arguing, and now they are getting a divorce. T...
