bakerstreet | the reverse picture-prompt meme

[ ~~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.]

[ When Daichi softens, a little around the eyes, a bit around the shoulders, he still manages to hold your attention. It's easier to be around him, less like holding a burning hot coal in the fleshy palm of your hand and more like running across the summer asphalt in bare feet. Something in Daichi remains dangerous, at all times. Asahi has grown accustomed to it, the steady threat that thrives in Daichi under the pressure of his title. ]

I appreciate it.

[ They'll all have to be careful, more so than usual, because by now half of the prefecture has heard some variation of the story, and blood spilled is open season on a gangs territory. The pushback won't be pleasant, but it won't be as bad as what it could be.

It certainly won't be as bad as calming Nishinoya, once he sees Asahi's face.

God. He's so not happy with you right now, Daichi. Honestly, he'd been thinking of avoiding the younger member, at least until the bruising went down... ]

Are you offering to run damage control?

[ Or Suga, or maybe just... a tranquilizer of some sort. Anything to keep the other's initial, easily predictable rage to a minimum. ]

[If Daichi is going to get Asahi to harden up, better to do it within the gang than dealing with those outside, where he could get actually, irreparably injured. So despite the way Asahi is clearly mad, Daichi doesn't give a shit, showing it with a simple shrug.]

Only if it's needed. [only if someone (or someones, now, hinata especially can get excitable around nishinoya and tanaka,) decides to do something beyond reckless and stupid, is what he really means.]

It won't be as bad if they hear it from you, rather than hearing it from someone on the streets.

[ Anxiety lances through Asahi at Daichi's words. With the way word travels on the streets, and the tendency for word of mouth to get so horribly warped, any of their less restrained younger members could have heard... anything by now. Asahi hadn't even given that any thought. His first thought had been to get back to base.

Well, his first thought had been to avoid getting arrested-- but that's semantics.

Fishing his mobile out of his pocket, Asahi sends a short text out to Tanaka, Nishinoya, and Sugawara-- the rest can wait. He just doesn't want anyone making an unnecessary move on his behalf, and those three are the most likely (and capable) to start them down a path they can't recover from. When he shoves the device back in his pocket, he catches sight of Daichi. ]

You could try to look less pleased.

[ It probably wouldn't work, but Asahi's point stands. ]

[daichi breaks, just a little, and barks out a laugh. he's not pleased at all, not really, but getting under asahi's skin never seemed to lose it's comical charm.]

I just want to make sure you've got everything under control all by yourself.

[which is true, just like the fact he's being a huge ass about this.]

[ To be fair, there are only one of two reactions to be had to a situation like this- and Asahi is willing to weather Daichi's endless heckling if that's the road they're both willing to take. ]

Ask me again in a couple days.

[ After he's either had his ass kicked or chewed out by the younger members...

Reflexively, he finishes off his glass of water, as if having something to do will put off the inevitable confrontation. He's just starting to get that twisty, anxious feeling in his gut when Daichi's words cause a thought to occur. He's not sure he should ask, but it's better than dwelling on his personal problems, so... ]

Speaking of under control-- is Ukai still worried about, uh, our friends?

[daichi can't stop himself from rolling his eyes, because seriously?]

You'll be fine.

[or suga is going to plan a great funeral for him.]

If you mean the ones in Tokyo, of course he is. He always is.

[somehow, ukai and takeda, through old grandfathers and a few other pulled connections, the crows had started working with the Cats of Tokyo, and even more recently the Owls. They were huge, powerful gangs that had plenty of pull and resources, and it helped make the Crows look that much more intimidating in little Miyagi. It hurt business from time to time, having to make sure the proper cuts and resources get sent down south, but the influence and the alliance was invaluable. they needed all the help they could get with fucking Shiratorizawa prowling around, controlling the territory they've held for years.]

the reverse picture-prompt meme

The Straight-up REVERSE picture prompt meme!

POST:

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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