The Border of Asakusa (Benimaru x Reader)

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Your mentor was thoroughly unsurprised by your resignation. When you told him what you would be doing instead, he smiled, and said "I really am so proud of you, hippie child, for finally doing what you believe in. You are a good person. And it is a high compliment when I say you never belonged here."

Your eyes watered as you hugged him. "Thank you, Ken. Promise me you will visit the garden?"

"Of course. Kathie and I will bring some seeds for planting in a few weeks."

You attempted to give a professional 2-week notice, but as you suspected, your access was blocked the same day. You returned home early to begin packing.

A familiar voice and smell of cigarette smoke flowed in through your fire escape window. "I hear you have some news for me."

Without turning to look at him, you asked "Licht tell you?"

"Who else?"

"I don't know how many spies you have in Haijima Industries, Joker."

"Well, sounds like I'm about to have one fewer. You never cease to impress, Y/n." He climbed through your window and paced casually behind you. "It took lots of preparation and planning to get Licht stationed at the 8th. And yet you, my little wild card, I take my eyes off you for a second, and you find yourself gainfully employed in the 7th. I'd say it's a lucky day, if the attention you caught from the captain didn't mean an end to one of our- other arrangements. At least, I assume that is why you ignored my texts?"

"Yes. I do think that is for the best." You agreed. I don't know for sure that I've caught Beni's eye, but he's certainly caught mine. Just in case, I won't risk it over casual sex with a vigilante. Even if it was great.

But, you'd always wanted more than just good sex. Joker knew that, you'd made it abundantly clear. You'd cared about him for years, and your activities were exclusive to each other, but he insisted that any life with him would bring you pain, as it had brought others who'd tried to help him in the past. You, in your early-20s naivety, tried to assure him it wouldn't be his fault if something happened to you, but there was no convincing him. He'd condemned himself to a life alone, with only fleeting little pleasures like yourself.

"I'll still be checking in with you." He promised.

"I expect no less."

He was silent for a while, before he chortled. Sorting your clothes into what you would move and what you would give away, you waited patiently for him to explain what he found so funny.

"I still can't believe it."

"Believe what?"

"Licht is a self-serving snake. I can't trust him, but I can trust that I can't trust him, and in that way, he's predictable. He knows it. I know it. And we carry on accordingly. You, on the other hand, in your pursuit of genuine service to others, stumble into such a beautiful position. Someone might think you a master manipulator, brilliant in advanced strategy. And yet, you just got there by being... nice."

"You got something against nice?" You snapped a picture of your couch to post it for sale.

He was quiet again as you typed your description.

"Hey." His long fingers wrapped around your upper arm to turn you back to face him. "Do me a favor. Stay in Asakusa."

You scanned the more serious expression than you expected on his face. "What? Why?"

"Everything you've done until now, your 'dumpster diving', the archives, your DIY projects, your garden, the church classified all of it as pure innocent curiosity. Not contempt. You've stepped over that line, now. My former associates will likely have your name on their list soon, not to eliminate yet, just monitor. They'll leave you alone if you stay in Asakusa. They wouldn't risk confronting your captain."