Reposted by 🌱 mint cookie 🌱 (hiatus)
Very excited to share this snippet for @shuakeshuwritezine.bsky.social :3
Did you know that the Japanese name for the Thieves' Den is "My Palace" (マイパラス)? What an absolute gift to everyone who enjoys making Joker have a terrible time inside his own head
![Fic by:
Kitty
Spot Art by:
Biip (Biipbop)
[Leblanc's Lending Library Logo]
Akechi gave him a withering look. "I seem to remember telling you I'm a terrible cook."
"I just need an extra set of hands. Butchering will keep me busy," Akira said, breezing past him to get the fish out of the fridge. He'd caught both the akamutsu and kinmedai himself, because it'd felt important to make this dinner something purely his to offer. He'd broken down the kinmedai the same day he'd reeled it in from the cold deep, but the akamutsu was still shining and whole.
They were similar, these two fish. Both red on the outside with fatty white flesh within, wide-eyed from life in the dark. The akamutsu's fangs and red eyes reminded Akira of his rival. It was tastier—oily and fragrant from the moment a knife slid into its belly. The kinmedai had to eat itself first, decomposing into something almost sweet.
Real chefs called it aging, but Akira understood the power of controlled ruin.
[Biip’s art shows Akechi packaged between fish, covered in plastic wrap. A sticker with the date of 2016.11.20 covers his eyes. Akira’s hand is holding the package, and his fingernails are painted black.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ojrpnyf372obt5wv2tkdfnyg/bafkreia4bfewflds7otwqfgemfjscrldrpoueb2ysffwtpn743zaoyk4vi)
![Fic by:
munchmuffins
Spot Art by:
waipurglsnacht
[Leblanc's Lending Library Logo]
So he's an orphan, too. What a twist of fate, for them to meet like this. An ugly mirror to see how Akechi would've turned out if he wasn't raised on holy ground. What an awful life he would've had: scrounging for scraps and forced to commit crime to survive? He would never deign to live so dreadfully.
"In that case, I'll spend some of your pay for your food right now. You'll get the rest of it once l arrive at the cathedral. Sound fair?”
Akira doesn't say anything for a while. Akechi would've taken that as his refusal, but then he blurts out: "They serve pretty good curry here."
He's an oddball, that's for sure. "We'll get that one for you, then," he says before flagging down a servant who quickly takes down the order and scurries to the kitchen. A fresh plate of rice curry lands on their table almost immediately, the aroma so tantalizing that Akechi has to bite some of his bread to not give in while Akira feeds himself a spoonful of his meal.
[waipurglsnacht’s art shows Akechi dressed in priest’s garb and Akira dressed more roguishly with their dinner of bread and curry.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ojrpnyf372obt5wv2tkdfnyg/bafkreieu57qv52i3xzqjsraehxjl7cm3ug3idmwna3lsiko3aj4aqeufsu)
![Fic By
Zoe
Spot Art By
MK真理
[Leblanc's Lending Library Logo]
It's after midnight. The snow has long melted off of Amamiya's black trench coat as the Jazz Jin swells with toasted clove. Lithe yet fit, Amamiya fills it and his plaid pants seamlessly. To the soothing bassoon and fingers frolicking on piano keys, Goro drinks it all in. Of course this would-be corpse would prompt the most engaging night he's had in years. Every cell in his body is screaming at him yet there he is, rooted to his seat drunk on gin and laughter, enjoying the company of his most dangerous liability.
Goro tilts a tooth pick. He should gouge Joker's eye out with it. Pinch the optic nerve clean until blood rivers down polished wood. Instead, he pays the tab and swallows Joker's coffee liqueur-favoured laughter until his back hits the sheets.
Maybe it's the impermanence. The knowledge that like himself, these nights can never matter. Warmth is warmth no matter how fleeting and Joker's flesh burns hotter than brandy ever could. In it, Goro vanishes into the only prison that comforts him.
Amamiya smiles like a man unaware that he'd be dead in a week.
Goro smiles back.
Lucky him.
[MK真理’s art shows Amamiya and Goro at the bar with their drinks and Amamiya taking notes. He’s smiling at Goro, and Goro seems uncertain.]](https://cdn.bsky.app/img/feed_thumbnail/plain/did:plc:ojrpnyf372obt5wv2tkdfnyg/bafkreidh7hnrfilmoj6ygeq5jotutdf47bydz433s33wh4q777nxxl5mfy)
