bakerstreet | the reverse picture-prompt meme

[ Fewer things could strike fear into the hearts of the people of Miyagi quite like The Crows. They weren't a violent gang, really, but urban legends spread and grow all on their own and the next thing Daichi knew his little band of friends and misfits had gathered one hell of a reputation. It's funny to think that a group that he had started almost on accident with Suga and Asahi would come all this way. The reputation actually worked out in their favor - business usually went a lot smoother when no one wanted to get on their bad side, and they could work with stronger teams and partners, even as far south as Tokyo. Things were going pretty damn good. They could even upgrade Ukai's convenience store that they used as a front for their usual base of operations, much to the old man's pleasure.

Of course, there were still the occasional scuffles here and there. Sometimes for dumb reasons, sometimes for good ones. It depended on who started the fight. So when Daichi looks up from his book at the sound of the back door opening to see a bloody-faced Asahi, he assumes that it was probably one of those fights for a good reason.

Or he ran into a door.]

Damn, what happened to you?

[ Something about the taste of blood has always struck Asahi as funny. The metallic burst of it on his tongue, like holding a 50 yen coin between his teeth; chrysanthemums stained red, not unlike the spaces between his teeth. Blood tastes like money. Money always costs a little blood. Its all very cyclical, and there's a time and a place to wax poetic about it, but this isn't it. He's dripping bright red blood on Ukai's floor, and while the shop owner is happy to let them operate out of his back room-- for an appropriate cut, of course, there's always a cut involved-- he won't be nearly the same laid back man if he finds blood stains on his floor.

Asahi's lip is going to swell, he can already tell. ]

The Wall just got a new member.

[ Thanks to Asahi's bloody lip. The Crows haven't been around nearly as long as some of the other street gangs-- although Asahi has heard the stories of a gang before them, and a war that silenced the streets for many years-- but that was years ago, and the only people who have been around long enough to know those stories, don't wish to speak of them. It doesn't matter much, though. The rules of this game never change. Blood is the currency of their kind, has and always will be, and to get something-- membership, street cred, a name-- someone's always gotta pay.

Asahi isn't even mad. It could have been worse. He's just motioning for Daichi to hand him a wet towel or something to press to his bleeding face. ]

[Daichi raises an eyebrow at the news - it wasn't surprising, their own group had just gathered new members recently, and other groups were recruiting just as rapidly. But the fact that Asahi met this new member with a fist to the face, that is surprising. Out of all of them, Asahi was probably the kindest at heart, and definitely the shyest. He wouldn't fight unless he had to defend himself or a friend. It left Daichi with a million questions, and all of them that had to wait. Leaving his friend bleeding all over himself and the floor wasn't on the agenda.]

Take a seat and hold your head back.

[He gets up to the small "kitchen", which was really just a counter with a hot plate, a sink, and places for dishes and glasses. It worked for their little hideout, if anyone had to stay overnight or for situations like this. Daichi wets one of the dish towels, and walks over to clean up Asahi's face. Seeing the damage up close wasn't what he expected - there was dried blood around his nose and lip, and it looked like his nose was going to be bruised for a while.]

So how did you get into a fight with a new kid?

[ Asahi gratefully does as he's told, lowering himself into one of the mix-matched chairs they'd accumulated in Ukai's back room over the years. Predictably, his face hurts, but it's the little things like swallowing and breathing that almost bring tears to his eyes. Mostly because it involves the unintentional movement of multiple parts of his currently bleeding and rapidly bruising face. He blinks the tears back; not because he doesn't want Daichi to see them ( Asahi's soft heart is no secret between them ) but more out of habit.

He's only been a Crow for three years, but he's been treated like something dangerous for much longer. No one looks at Asahi and believes he cries.

The wet touch of a towel on his face is impossibly gentle; and that's why they're brothers, in this, in everything. ]

You don't have to- [ Asahi protests, raising an ineffectual hand. He knows Daichi won't let him clean himself up, but he has to at least offer. His mother raised him better than that.

( And his mother is going to be so disappointed when she sees his bruised face- once she gets over her worry. Her son who grew into a man's body before he was entirely ready; who started wearing black and sporting blue across his skin. She doesn't understand that being with Daichi and Suga, that being a part of something bigger than just himself- is so much safer than taking the world on all alone. )

Flinching, at Daichi's question, not so much his touch. ]

Its... embarrassing.

[ Please don't make him say, Daichi!! ]

Not in your life.

[ Daichi might be the roughest of the three of them, but he's not going to sit by and let Asahi bleed all over himself without helping. His parents taught him better than that (though not well enough to not start a street gang, but eh, details. At least they're doing great business and making equally great money for everyone).

He cleans up most of the blood before letting go of the hand towel, letting Asahi take over from there. He knows better than Daichi where to clean up and where the pain was.

If Asahi thought Daichi would let him off so easily on the initial question, he had another thing coming. It was his business to know after all, and if it was something serious, he'd have to warn Suga and the others right away so they didn't do something stupid too. ]

What, don't tell me you got into a fight over petting stray cats or something.

N-no! Nothing like that... [ At least, not again...

Asahi makes himself busy with meticulously cleaning his face, turning the cloth over in his hands when one section eventually comes away stained red. No need to smearing it into a bigger mess... Avoiding eye contact should be easy when he has his head leaned back and half his face covered by a hand towel- if he were talking to anyone but Daichi.

While well built, Daichi doesn't exactly strike an immediately intimidating presence; certainly not the kind that Asahi does on first glance. It never fails to make Suga and Daichi laugh, especially because of the three of them, Asahi is truly the least suited to the gang lifestyle. In truth, Asahi only looks the part. Suga and Daichi- now they're dangerous. Suga could have your most embarrassing secrets from you without breaking a sweat. And Daichi knows how to read a situation; knows how to turn the smallest parts of himself into just the right kind of weapon, to get what he wants.

Which is why this questioning is, in every sense of the word, unfair. ]

We weren't exactly fighting... [ Because it takes four fists to make a fight and there were exactly none involved....... ]

[Much to Daichi's advantage, he's known Asahi for years, and half truths aren't going to fly. He stares him down, a rare treat he only gets when Asahi's sitting down, and knows he doesn't have to say anything. Even though they've been friends for years now Asahi is still afraid of Daichi, which is stupid, he'll tease the guy for sure, but he wouldn't actually do anything to really hurt him. It's really more of an honest to god wonder that Asahi got into this group with him and Suga, but well, what's past is past.

He could stare him down some more, but he speaks before Asahi tries to melt through the tile floor.]

What the hell does that mean? You're bleeding, and you want to tell me you weren't fighting?

[ ~~Daichi continues to be the worst: News (to no one) at 11.~~

There's only so much Asahi can take before he spills; it just so happens his Daichi threshold is much much lower than it is for cops and other crews. Asahi lowers the towel from his face to dangle between his splayed knees, keeping his head tilted back. His bun is squished between his head and the back of the chair as he squeezes his eyes shut, willing the scene that's been tumbling about in his brain ever since it happened to somehow cast itself in a better light.

No matter how tightly he closes his eyes, it really doesn't get any better. ]

Their new member was behind me, pointing me out, apparently waiting for me to turn around- which I didn't realize until a store owner started screaming at us not to fight. Which startled me and I-

[ Deep breath. ]

I... [ This is... so embarrassing...... ] whirled around... right into his hand...

...You.

[Daichi has to pinch the bridge of his nose, because he's heard dumb stuff, I mean, for gods sake they have Nishinoya and Tanaka to deal with. But this, oh this takes the cake.]

You ran your face into his hand?!

Not on purpose!!

[ How one exclamation can sound so indignant and apologetic and embarrassed and miserable at the same time is a mystery, but somehow, Asahi manages.

He's really sorry Daichi, he tries so hard to be a good Crow but... ]

How did you even manage that hard enough to break your own nose?!

[Daichi doesn't mean to yell, but really, this is the stupidest thing he's ever heard of happening. He's not even sure if he's mad or curious as to how the hell you break your own face without another person throwing a punch.

God, the rest of the Crows are going to have a field day with this story, and he can't even imagine what the Wall must think of Asahi now.]

Edited (crazy caps shoo) 2014-12-25 04:59 (UTC)

Do you think it's broken?!

[ Honestly, that hadn't even occurred to him. He knows he's going to be bruised to hell, and there's absolutely no way he's going to be able to hide it from... well, anyone with eyes... But he's never broken his nose before! He doesn't want this to be the story associated with that!

Reaching up to assess the damage with his fingertips, he can tell his face is already starting to swell, but it isn't excruciatingly painful to the touch.

( There are already rumors going around the shops, fueled by gossipy store owners looking for a little excitement, that Asahi head-butted the fierce looking boy with no eyebrows, and still others that the formidable young man with the bleached hair had dragged Asahi by the collar into a fist fight right there in the middle of the street. Reputations continue to be half made, and half made-up.

But at least Daichi knows the crows don't need to start anything-- or finish it, for that matter. ) ]

Well, maybe not, but it sure looks bad.

[Upon closer inspection, the damage was really just a cut and a lot of bruising, which is way way way more than it should be if all Asahi did was turn around into someone's hand. Even if the timing was right with someone throwing their hand out there and someone turning, it still seems like a lot. Daichi doesn't think Asahi would lie to him about something like this (especially when it is so incredibly dumb), but something about it still feels off.

The Crows might not be the type to try and start anything, but damn, they'll finish it if they have to. No one crosses them twice, not on Daichi's watch.]

Is that really all that happened?

[His voice lowers into something a lot more serious (and maybe just a little bit caring), because this could get serious. The Crows and the Wall started on shit terms, and had just barely gotten onto decent footing. There would be nothing gained with ruining that progress now.]

[ In his hands, Asahi turns the bloodied towel over on itself, and then again, until it is small enough to fit between his palms. A poor imitation of folding that makes Asahi feel better, even if he knows he's all but ruined it now. There's no hiding the truth from Daichi, but sometimes the other doesn't ask- and not being 100% transparent all the time suits Asahi just fine. But the number of times Daichi fails to notice the obvious missing connection in Asahi's stories (whether because it suits him not to know or because he's feeling particularly kind, Asahi never really knows) are few and far between.

Unfortunately for him, this does not appear to be one of those times. ]

Yes. [ Still resolutely avoiding eye contact.... ] For now.

[ That doesn't explain much, and probably won't get him a free pass from Daichi, but it's an offer. A promise that Asahi believes he knows what he's doing, and would keep the weight of another burden from Daichi's shoulders, if he's allowed to. ( In reality, he should know better. Within their hierarchy, Daichi might let Asahi slide by with that kind of cryptic half-answer, but not when it comes to a possible outside threat to the Crows. )

Still, if Asahi can manage to minimize this before it becomes a problem- before it becomes invisible lines drawn throughout the prefecture and tension when rounding every corner- he'll damn well try. If a little blood is the price of peace, Asahi doesn't mind paying it. ]

[Daichi lets out a small sigh, watching the nervous movements of his hands. Once upon a time he'd feel guilty about dragging Asahi into this business, about using his intimidating size to their advantage even when it made him uncomfortable. But now, Daichi has watched the gentle giant get over his fears, grow from the fights and the aftermath of them. He's stronger than he gives himself credit for, but Asahi still has his weaknesses. It was their last fight with the wall that nearly had Asahi running out of town, and the last thing he wanted was for that to happen again.]

If there's something everyone needs to know, tell us. I don't want any unnecessary fights on the Wall's turf.

[There is something left unsaid, the trust that Asahi will take care of this, but won't leave it all on himself if things get out of hand. Daichi, Suga, hell, any of them would be there in a heartbeat to help Asahi when he needs it.]

[ That trust is what makes Asahi so sure he's doing the right thing here. He knows that he could never live this life on his own. He's just not cut as rough around the edges as he should be; too gentle at heart and loyal to a fault.

However, it's that very loyalty that makes him a Crow.

In a world without the Crows, without gangs and rivalries, maybe Asahi would find another place to lay his loyalties. Something constructive and beneficial to turn his energy toward, that could lead somewhere out of back alleys and the ever-deepening rabbit hole that is Miyagi's underground gang culture. But this isn't that world, and the Crows are where his fierce loyalties lie. People can say what they like about him; he's had years to get used to the sting of words that don't fit him being sunk and sliced into his skin. But they don't get to say anything bad about the Crows. There is nothing more important than these boys who wear black and call him one of their own.

If he's the one bleeding for them? For their name? For their honor? ]

It's just meaningless talk. [ Flightless Crow Asahi's teeth set on edge at the memory of the comment- wincing as his face flares in pain. He can feel the fabric of Aone's jersey, crumpled in his fists; blood welling up and dripping down his face from how fast he'd turned around to grab the other boy, not caring that he'd been hit in the face in the process. Say that again, and we'll have a problem. ] He didn't mean to hit me, I just- [ Asahi closes his eyes, embarrassed. ] I let myself get goaded into reacting.

[That loyalty is something Daichi is plenty familiar with, the feeling of truly being a crew is what has gotten him here, what made him recruit others who where abandoned and left aside by the world, to take them under his wing and try so hard to give them something better. Even if Asahi has no place being so shy and timid, Daichi knows that he means the best.

Even if he might be doing something stupid.]

Goaded into it? Now you sound like Tanaka.

[ A sideways look, because really? ]

We both know this would be an entirely different situation if that were true.

[ He tests out sitting normally, his neck starting to twinge from sitting with his head back for so long. The change in position isn't followed by a steady warm drip of blood down his face, so Asahi is going to count that as a win. He should probably put this towel somewhere-- the sink? The garbage?

On second thought... maybe he should invest some time into finding some pain killers. The adrenaline is pretty much entirely worn off, and his face is aching. ]

[Fun Fact: Even Daichi can make jokes sometimes!]

True, there'd be a lot more blood to clean up.

[Not just off of faces, but off of knuckles, clothes, and if it was bad enough they'd be cleaning up blood for days to come. The fights in their gangs rarely got deadly, but violence was violence all the same. There was the law to evade, the other gangs to keep away when they could smell that blood was in the air. It was never easy work, which is why Daichi tried to keep them all from doing anything stupid when they couldn't afford it (monetary or otherwise).

He watched Asahi adjust, just to make sure the bleeding had stopped and his face wasn't too bruised.]

There's still ice in the freezer if you need it.

Among other things...

[ Asahi loves their younger members, even if some of them have yet to learn the... diplomacy of dealing with other gangs. Pushing out of his seat, Asahi pads over to the freezer, dropping the stained towel in the sink on his way past. ( He doesn't feel right throwing it away. They've got bleach somewhere, he'll get the stains out at some point, when his face isn't throbbing. ) The freezer is fairly barren, none of them exactly use Ukai's back room for culinary adventure, but they've got the necessities. An ice cube tray that molds ice cubes in the shape of boobs, gleefully donated to the cause by Tanaka; a mostly full bottle of Absolut; and a bag of peas.

Sighing, Asahi grabs the bag of peas. ]

Do we have any painkillers around?

[ Otherwise, he'll have to find a glass and pour some of that vodka, because his face isn't getting any easier to deal with. ]

[let's all pretend the boob tray doesn't exist, let's just all do ourselves that favor at forgetting that tanaka and nishinoya are not so secretly five years old. all the younger members are reliable when it counts, somehow, considering that whenever they hang out together daichi thinks his hair is going to go grayer than suga's from worrying about their antics.]

I think so.

[he gets up and checks their small medicine cabinet, filled up with miscellaneous first aid things like bandages, medicine, and a huge handle of cheap vodka. the essentials. daichi grabs the painkillers and shakes it, hearing the last four pills rattle inside.]

There's not much left, but they're yours. [tosses the bottle gently to asahi]

~~[ For all your jokes Daichi-san, you dont appreciate the boob tray? Fine art is just wasted on some people... ]~~

Thanks.

[ Uncapping the bottle, Asahi shakes two of the white pills out into his palm and recaps the bottle. They're just aspirin-- they don't keep anything worthwhile on the premises for long-- but they'll be better than nothing. After a second of thought, instead of tossing it back to Daichi, he gives a small shake of his head and tucks the bottle into his pocket. He may need them later. He'll do Ukai a favor and replenish their stock from the store.

Rummaging around on the counter for a clean cup, or what could reasonably pass for clean, Asahi asks, ]

You'll let this lie, right?

[ This meaning, his face. This meaning, their tentative truce with Datekougyou. ]

[Daichi absolutely freezes, standing at the counter, slowly turning and staring at Asahi with a look that could freeze the ocean. Let this lie? With Datekou? Again?

(Daichi remembers it all too clearly - him, Suga, and Tanaka standing on the side, bandaged and bruised and positively horrified as Asahi and Nishinoya screamed at each other, worse off than the other three combined from the fight, all of them terrified and shaken and Daichi was so, so scared that would the two of them would be bleed each other out right on the tiled floor.)]

Is that what you want?

[He'll respect Asahi's wishes, he really will, but Asahi better be damn sure about his decision first.]

[ If Asahi turns around, he'll cave. He'll give into whatever Daichi thinks is best, because he's no match against Daichi's will. There aren't many who can successfully stand up to Daichi, to be perfectly honest, but Asahi knows he is in no way one of them. He may feel numb from the force of Daichi's look, but he's a big guy; he can weather it, if he just doesn't meet it head on.

Asahi smiles as he rinses out a cup, filling it with water. ]

What I want?

[ It's such a strange concept. What Asahi wants? What Asahi wants is for no one else to get hurt. For territories not to run their lives at the best of times, and ruin them at the worst. Asahi wants to forget the way his friends fingers sound being crunched under boot heels and the helplessness of being held down, blocked at every attempt to help.

Asahi tosses the pills back, washing them down with a gulp of tepid tap water.

They aren't in the right business, for giving Asahi what he wants. But Asahi can be the voice of reason. ]

We don't need war over this. [ Asahi risks a look at Daichi, to prove he's serious. To prove this is important, not just something he's trying to avoid. ] Not this.

[Everyone calls Asahi a gentle giant, because he is, but people think he's a pushover for the same reason, and Daichi knows he's not. Not really. He can be, sometimes, but when it matters Daichi can trust Asahi will dig his heels in and will not budge. There is a reason it took three of them to start this gang, and why he wouldn't trade that for anything else in the world. It's not perfect, but they're his family.

The reassurance softens Daichi's stance, nodding at Asahi as the absolute burn in his eyes flickers away for another time.]

Alright, I'll trust your judgement.

[Of course, in the back of his mind he wonders what would happen if there just happened to be a small accident the Wall's dockside warehouse, a little bit of frayed, old electrical wires exposed somewhere important... well, he can save that thought for later too.]

But you're going to have to tell the others what happened to your face.

[a compromise, of sorts. or maybe just to make sure asahi is really serious about this when he's staring down at the gang's shortest member.]

the reverse picture-prompt meme

The Straight-up REVERSE picture prompt meme!

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I LOVE THIS/THEM SO MUCH

GOOD gang aus give me so much life !!!

I AM BACK & not at all sry for this big softie woobie

GOOD? NEVER BE SORRY FOR THE ULTIMATE BIG BABY

i am glad we are agreed tyvm

but ofc

pardon me while i loosely repurpose some canon

dude go for it

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im on mobile so apologies for any mistakes

no worries!

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YELLS I AM HAVING SO MUCH FUN

YOU BETTER CAUSE I AM TOO??

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