[That impact feels pretty great. It's a different sensation than flesh hitting his reflection, in those cases nothing ever actually touches him. His brain senses the vectors - a very bizarre form of ESP, essentially - and automatically flips the direction of them one hundred and eighty degrees, so neither party experiences any physical contact. That in itself has its ups and downs, though right now Accelerator isn't considering the disadvantages.
In that split second after the impact the only thing that enters his mind is that Level 0. Accelerator has rarely ever bothered to attack people without using his reflection or handgun, but Kamijou has neither and has spent who know how long of his life in fights. Is this the same kind of satisfaction he feels when he punches someone? When they were fighting months ago in the train yard? Probably not, since he was desperately fighting to save the life of #10 032 --
The sound of laughter cuts that thought off, and Accelerator refocuses on Endo, what he's saying. That laughter.
What the hell?
He's dumbfounded. How can he still be acting so casual after getting punched square in the face?]
..........
[His gaze flicks briefly down to his right hand, still in the shape of a fist. Wasn't that the same way Kamijou punched? Of course, it's been a while since he's been on the receiving end of that fist, but he's sure what he did wasn't any different. Plus, with it being enhanced by his esper ability, how could it be the worst??
It isn't that he has much of an ego, and most of his pride was beaten out of him in the train yard. Regardless, Accelerator clicks his tongue in irritation. Nobody likes being mocked, and after the performance he's been putting on it's baffling to see Endo not even be a tiny bit concerned for his well-being. The hell, is this guy a masochist just like that previous dumbass?
Maybe they're all just nuts. Is it worth dwelling on, especially right now? No, not really. He can think about all this later when he's alone, as right now he isn't really in the mood to be picking apart behaviour and body language. He just really wants the satisfaction of punching that smirk off Endo's face. So yeah, he comes at him again, his grin fading as he takes this a bit more seriously. He remembers Kamijou hitting him with some type of hook punch, so he's doing his best to remember the motions and trying that next.]
absolutely! also "maybe they're all just nuts" < real
[ Endo catches Accelerator's brief glance at his own fist. He takes that as a sign that he's successfully getting into his head — just a little, but a little is all he really needs. His goal isn't to win by force or prove his ability to take punches; all he wants to do is buy time. And if his dodging around leads Accelerator to think that he is nimble but not very strong, then he'll likely be underestimated, which will work to his advantage if he ends up needing to get serious.
But despite having this planned out in his head — despite preparing himself for the various possible paths this fight may take in the end — Endo's excitement is heightening. Watching Accelerator's grin fade makes his heart pound in his chest; it gets his blood moving, because he knows that for all Accelerator's shortcomings, this is still going to be good, for as long as the fight lasts. And Endo hasn't had good in a long time.
He lets the next punch come so close to hitting him that he feels the rush of air on his face. Then, at the last possible moment, he slides out of the way with impressive litheness for someone so tall. Still grinning, albeit a little wildly now, he says brightly: ]
Whoa, that was close!
[ Then, quickly, he goes in for a crappy punch of his own, swinging in a way that he would never under any other circumstance. It's a sloppy movement, and he goes as far as barely missing Accelerator — as well as the small space around him that Endo has judged to be too dangerous to risk entering. ]
Huh. I guess it's been a while since I tried that.
[ He looks down at his own fist as though it has betrayed him.
Noroshi is still watching, though they've moved further back toward the sidelines. Despite Endo's botched fighting, none of them say a word. They watch wide-eyed and silently, and don't even smile, though Endo knows a few of them would, if they didn't already know that Endo would be very angry if they gave anything away. ]
Lemme go again.
[ Though he says this, he's relaxed in demeanor once more and doesn't bother to raise his fists. But man, is he nearly vibrating with anticipation of Accelerator's next move. ]
[If it wasn't for his brain running the calculations needed to keep himself balanced, Accelerator would be stumbling from such a close miss. If it was even close, though that consideration is overwhelmed by a flare of frustration for not getting a second hit in. It's partly directed towards himself for missing, partly towards Endo for being agile enough to avoid it.
He doesn't have any time to dwell on it, seeing Endo's counter coming at him (because it's obvious enough that any poor fighter would recognize it). Reflexively, he takes a couple of steps backwards. It isn't much, but it's leagues better than his old strategy of allowing his reflection to handle each and every attack. Narrowing his eyes, he doesn't look impressed.
His pulse is thrumming in his ears. Turns out Banjo was a good warm-up for him - unlike fighting those other kids, he actually put in some effort. His adrenaline is high, and that's lowering his tolerance for casual bullshit.]
Tche.
[He doesn't let Endo have another try. The guy isn't even readying another attack, and Accelerator is feeling more than a little impatient. Is it really a fight if he just waits around for his opponent to figure out what their next move is going to be? No, it isn't, it's just pathetic. He wants to punch him again, not be friendly.
There's that click of his tongue and closes the distance between them again. His second punch didn't land so he lowers his aim to Endo's solar plexus. While his knowledge of fighting isn't great, he is familiar with biology, and he knows a hit to the solar plexus means hitting the diaphragm, which can knock the air out of a person's lungs. Landing that means he could follow up with another attack - maybe a kick into the nearest wall? Or sending him flying into those other gang members - he isn't sure, but his mind is eagerly running through the potential options.]
[ Endo doesn't have much time to decide how he wants to receive this next attack, but his mind works through it quickly. He could take it full-on, continuing to lean into the impression that he sucks at fighting, he could dodge it entirely, or he could choose an approach between the two.
He really doesn't want to be injured in any significant way, and letting himself get severely winded will trend in that direction. If he can't breathe, or if the force makes him double over, then it'll be easy for Accelerator to follow up with a more serious attack. But if he slides out of the way again, his skills may become a little too obvious, his bad performance called into question — which could then lead to Accelerator turning it up a notch. Better to ride a careful line somewhere between the two.
As Accelerator's fist flies toward him yet again, Endo jumps back a step, rather than to the side. It's an attempt to escape the attack that is only partially effective. Accelerator hits him right where he intends, hard enough that Endo makes a strangled sound without quite meaning to, but not enough to temporarily paralyze his diaphragm. It winds him, and his first breath thereafter wheezes into his chest, but he gets air in, which is enough for him to brace himself for whatever Accelerator chooses to do next.
And enough for him to tremble, visibly, that grin still on his face, color now dusting his cheeks. He's exhilarated — and he wants more. ]
Better.
[ Is all he says; his voice is a little strained, but he still manages to drag out the word, which in turn makes him sound like he's deriving some pleasure from this. And he is! Though it isn't for the same reasons as Banjo — not that he cares if Accelerator realizes that or not.
Despite his amped energy and winded state, he knows another attack is coming fast, and so he doesn't let up on bracing himself. For the next hit, Endo tentatively plans to block it with his forearm, whether it's another punch, a kick, or a knee. It won't be the first time he's taken the full brunt of an attack against his arm; the maneuver is yet another under-the-radar talent of his. Doing so will allow a couple of seconds for him to recover further and then make another move of his own, but whether or not he'll be successful entirely depends on how much of that false force Accelerator puts into his move. As long as he continues to to fight as he is, then Endo should be able to pull it off — but he remains ready to change up his technique on the fly. ]
[The punch lands, and again there's another burst of satisfaction as he actually gets to feel the impact of it through his hand, this time with the added bonus of knocking that noise out of Endo. That was pretty great, not on par with people begging him for mercy or anything, but still wonderful to hear in its own way. There's a familiar sensation in the pit of his stomach, the desire for more of that, though he's almost distracted from it when he looks up at Endo's face.
It's entirely possible for someone to be in charge without being strong themselves. Most of the Board of Directors are like that, just useless adults relying on money or connections instead of any personal qualities they have. Accelerator seriously doubts any of them could throw a punch, but they don't need to in order to command all the people underneath them. They have other means of control, and from Endo's lackluster performance so far that's what he thinks this situation is.
That Banjo guy had been a better fighter than him. Accelerator isn't even moving as fast as he could be and he still isn't dodging everything, yet he's acting like he's the one here with more fighting experience. Seeing Endo's face - the bastard even looks happy about it, no doubts there. He's smiling and the tone of his voice, it all feels condescending to Accelerator. He doesn't need some asshole running commentary on whether or not his punches are any good.
A scowl settles onto his face as he shifts his weight to adjust for the change in momentum as he rotates his arm and swings his upwards, an uppercut aimed at Endo's chin. That Level 0 had done such a move on him months ago back in the train yard, and it had hurt so much it's basically burned into his brain.
.............. Of course, part of the reason for that was he was so unused to being touched that his nerves were highly sensitive, but his body has gotten slightly more adjusted to physical contact since then. It's whatever, he had deserved getting socked, so he may as well put that knowledge to good use.]
That's the thought that immediately springs to mind when Accelerator goes for an uppercut. Endo could try to block it, but the effort would be sloppier than he would like to risk. A head-on punch or kick would've been easier — and if his block had been successful, he could have attempted to shove that momentum back at Accelerator. But now he has no choice but to dodge again — though he executes the move differently this time.
The clock is ticking and Endo has no idea when, or if, Accelerator will hit a time limit. He can't overplay his hand, but he also can't risk Accelerator getting frustrated enough to amp his abilities up again. Technically, all this playing around was to make Accelerator underestimate him; if he was successful, even a small amount, he might be able to get a solid hit in of his own. So far, it hasn't seemed as though Accelerator has a barrier up in that space immediately around him — but it's still a risk. He may be able to get it up before Endo lands his hit.
He doesn't have time to overthink any of it. So when he dodges, he does so with more agility than he put on display this first time. The uppercut doesn't miss him just by a hair; it doesn't come close to hitting him. Then, banking everything on a single counterattack of his own, Endo pulls back his fist and aims it right at Accelerator's face. He puts everything he has into this punch, intended to hit much faster and harder than he usually does during his fights, since stunning or otherwise incapacitating Accelerator is the only path forward, short of his choker malfunctioning or otherwise shutting down. If Accelerator blocks it or sends that force back him, then Endo has a good chance of being pummeled into the ground, which would be pretty damn crappy, considering that he's completely uninterested in losing to that false strength.
But the risk is invigorating all the same. Though his grin doesn't falter, his focus hones in and allows him to unleash as precise a hit as possible within his unaugmented limits. ]
[Fully expecting the uppercut to land, shock hits Accelerator full force when he swings upwards and only hits air. That's followed by a frustrated noise - he missed? How the hell did he miss? This guy isn't that good of a fighter - and a lack of attention paid towards the counter from Endo.
His reflection is still up, albeit toned down to avoid any death or serious injuries, so dodging to avoid a direct punch to the face doesn't occur to him. This guy isn't that Level 0, he isn't even Kihara with that goddamned counter move. It's fine, his reflection can tank it and redirect the force of the punch back into Endo's arm, and he can use that opportunity for another attack -
There's only one problem, and it occurs to Accelerator as Endo's fist hits the very edge of his reflection. His eyes widen and suddenly he's ducking back, cursing under his breath.]
Shit.
[The use of his ability snaps Accelerator back to reality, the realization of the amount of time spent on this fighting clicking in his mind. His gaze drops down to his right forearm, where the arm cuff of his crutch would normally be.
Oh, this isn't good. This really isn't good. Endo still has it.
Abruptly, Accelerator's demeanour shifts from offensive to... what, retreating? He takes several steps backwards, uncharacteristically backing away as his hand flies to his choker. It isn't just that he's running low on time, it's bad enough that he's nearly drained the entire battery. There's maybe half a minute of esper mode left, which still translates to a just under an hour of normal mode, so he's getting to the point where he needs to charge the damn thing. The small charger for the battery is in his back pocket, so he needs to find somewhere private with an outlet soon.
Accelerator keeps on moving away until his hand finds a streetlight decorated in graffiti, then he stops to lean a shoulder against it. The reason for such strange behaviour will quickly become apparent when he hits the switch on the calculation assistance device, the light on it going from red to green as it changes back to normal mode. His legs wobble a bit as the support he had to stand through his ability fades, and he gives Endo a sharp, expectant look.]
Give me my crutch back.
Edited (Sorry for the late edit I got super curious about the battery time and did some math to make it more accurate (lmaooo Accy is screwed).) 2025-07-09 15:41 (UTC)
[ During that fleeting contact with Accelerator's barrier, Endo genuinely thinks he's fucked up. He believes he miscalculated and that he's going to end up with a broken hand. That'd suck for a variety of obvious reasons, but what really has an impact on him — what makes his eyes widen and his stomach clench in anticipation — is the prospect of returning to Takiishi so injured. No one has even beaten him to the extent that he needs professional medical attention. But it isn't embarrassment, nor even the fact that he'll have to explain himself, that bothers him. It's the apathy he'll see in Takiishi's eyes as a result — and the answer that Endo knows he'll receive if he asks, Wanna come with me to the hospital? That'd be the last thing that Takiishi would want to do.
But all that flashes through his mind quickly — the shock, the flip-flop of anxiety, the realization — and then Accelerator is pulling back. Endo's hand remains uncrushed. He'll be able to punch again.
As for Accelerator — well, isn't that nice. He's retreating, or more like scrambling, with how his hands fly to his choker. It seems that Endo was not only right, but played this perfectly, down to the second. He's feeling pretty damn good about himself as he watches the choker's color indicator, admiring the visual confirmation of his plan coming to fruition.
And not a moment too soon. Endo seamlessly transitions from battling his own little internal hitch to straightening and casually brushing off his clothes. He's in no rush to finish this now that Accelerator is on the defensive. He's going to take his time — and keep the hostage he still holds. ]
Huh?
[ He asks this as if he doesn't hear the demand, then begins walking toward Accelerator and his streetlight, albeit very slowly. His pace is deliberate, his demeanor smug. ]
We're in the middle of a fight, man. You can't throw it 'cause you feel like it.
[ He holds the crutch out and sweeps it in a half-circle to indicate the onlookers around them. The remaining members of Noroshi still stand at the ready. In fact, they look a lot more pumped now — almost like Accelerator pissed them off and they're itching for revenge. ]
You beat a lot of guys up today.
[ He doesn't miss the wobbling of Accelerator's legs, nor how heavily he uses that streetlight as support. He's gotta admit, it is amusing how Accelerator played big and bad with that false (and limited) power of his, only to expect Endo to play by his rules now that he's the one at a disadvantage.
[Despite having to switch to be on the defensive, Accelerator doesn't look scared. If anything he looks even more focused than before - being at a disadvantage means he can't screw around anymore. Now's the time to be careful and start thinking things through.
His pulse is still pounding in his ears and he's locked on Endo as he slowly closes the distance between them, his gaze following the motion of his crutch over to the remaining gang members before darting back to Endo. It's an incredibly quick movement that only serves to appraise their numbers and not whether any of them are a threat. They aren't, not in his mind, regardless of their numebrs. From his experiences with the dark side of his own city, including the gangs, taking out the leader is a potential way to get the rest to back off. Skill Out had done just that after he had killed Komaba, and right now it's clear Endo is his equivalent. His eyes narrow, his gaze intensifying as his mind calculates several strategies and the rough probability of success for each of them based on how things have gone so far.
He has thirty seconds of esper mode left, Endo in front of him, the rest of the gang off to the side. From what he's seen, Endo isn't much of a fighter. He must be leading through charisma or, judging by his tattoos, maybe he's got connections to some criminal underworld. He should be able to knock him out by touching him, and if he does that there's a chance at least a number of the others will back down. A few might be too nuts to do so, like that goth punk, but they're all in small enough numbers he should at least be able to manipulate another few tornadoes into knocking them out or off their feet. That'd give him time to get to the next street over, where he could switch back to normal mode and leave.
... It'd be cutting it close. He'd have to find the nearest internet cafe or something to charge the choker battery in private, and he'd have to do it all in normal mode. There's the option to just run, but he'd have to switch back to normal mode and there's a chance they would simply follow him.
Okay, plan set. He's got this.]
I went easy on them. [They're all still alive, he's very proud of himself for that. Accelerator waves his hand dismissively, shifting his lean against the streetlight slightly.] I don't give two shits about the rest of you, so give me my crutch back and I'll leave.
[There, that's a completely reasonable trade he's offering. He isn't convinced Endo will take it, but it's something.]
he's a complete menace but he only wants (1) thing in life....
[ Endo hums as he finishes making his way over to Accelerator, as though considering his defense, which is honestly pretty boring. It takes away from the thrill that he was starting to feel when he saw that look in his eyes. And though he thinks that Accelerator is either a shut-in in his normal life or incredibly deluded, given that he's failing to see why his arguments are worth nothing after everything he did while he was riding high and mighty, he still takes him seriously enough to stop with a little distance remaining between them. He isn't a fool; he doesn't take anything at face value.
Besides, it's more fun to hold the crutch just out of reach, allowing it to dangle loosely from his hand. ]
You don't spend a lot of time with other people, do you?
[ He's making an educated guess. Technically, Endo is supportive of the whole not-caring-about-other-people approach to life. It's his opinion that Takiishi's absolute lack of interest in anyone but himself is the key to his strength as a fighter. The difference is that Takiishi truly doesn't care — and doesn't even try to pretend otherwise. If he were in Accelerator's place, he would've swooped in, put everyone down for the count, and left. No monologues, no appeals, no bragging or inflated opinions. Accelerator's punch may have the capacity to be many times stronger than Takiishi's, but it will never hit as hard — because he's wrapped up in the drama of it all. He's stuck in the muck of his own ego.
There's nothing so devastating as being punched by someone with a blank look on his face. Nothing hurts more than being beaten into the ground by someone who truly doesn't care. Endo would know. He's been on the receiving end many times.
Truthfully, he doesn't give two shits about Accelerator either. All that excitement he felt wasn't for him specifically; it was the challenge that his false power provided. It was that choker. Accelerator might as well be a gnat; as soon as his juice is all gone, Endo could crush him with ease — but why would he bother, when he's so insignificant like this: barely standing and yet clutching desperately to a minimal amount of perceived power. ]
You're pretty bad at this, so I'm gonna help you out. You better shut up, and fast, because everything coming out of your mouth is only adding fuel to the fire that's about to consume you.
[ As always, he remains loose in body language, relaxed as he gives this lecture. ]
You beat the crap out of our own, which we're already pissed about, and you're going to say that was going easy on 'em? You chose to pick these last few fights, involving yourself in something that had nothing to do with you, and you're gonna say you don't give two shits? You stopped fighting because you ran out of strength, but you sure as hell didn't stop knowing that no one else was as strong as you. It was all fine when you were doing the overpowering, but it ain't cool if you're about to be overpowered.
[ Endo laughs. He finds Accelerator's lack of logic genuinely funny. The guy has absolutely nothing going for him without his choker. Endo's losing interest in the device on principle alone — what's the point of it, if it'll just make the wearer complacent and weak in the long run? Look at what it's done to him.
But hey. He can be a fair guy when he wants to be. He'll throw a bone, even though Accelerator can't seem to conceptualize the ways in which he's been unfair. ]
Give me one good reason to call them off, and I will.
[ He'll do it, too. But it has to be an actual reason, or an offering, or a deal that really wows him. Because otherwise it's only fair to give him exactly what he gave. ]
brb having Accy break Endo's arm so he can take him to the hospital
[He's being given a choice? Accelerator blinks at that, surprised at the offer.
The easiest option would be to just crush everyone here. The next would be his plan to knock Endo out and leave. By far the hardest option for himself would be to try and talk his way out, and because of that he'd love to just dismiss the offer outright. Who wouldn't want to take the easy option when it's right there? But... it's the option that offers the least amount of violence, and what was it the Will of the Network had told him?
"You are the #1 monster, so isn’t the most comfortable thing for you easy conflict and easy violence followed by easy victory /escape?"
He's quiet as he listens to Endo, really listens to him. He isn't wrong about getting involved in something that wasn't his business -- he could've easily left the fighting alone, for better or for worse. By choosing to get involved, especially in the way that he did, that's on him. The consequences of that choice are on him, not anyone else.
“Struggle for someone’s sake /return. Struggle in the way that is truly hardest for you /return."
So whether or not he responds to this using violence, that's his choice too. And those consequences are on him as well.
"And if you take the easy road out and became a monster, I will throw you into a hell several sizes larger than you are imagining /return.”
Goddamnit.
He claps a hand to his forehead and sighs heavily. Shockingly, he doesn't make the slightest attempt at arguing.]
You're right. I'm not good at this. I'm the last person who should be telling anyone what to do.
[Ugh, he wishes that Level 0 was around. He's so much better at talking to people, he has actual friends. Chances are if he was here there'd still be a fight, but Accelerator is utterly confident in his ability to somehow de-escalate situations through violence where no one gets permanently hurt and everyone gets a happy ending. He isn't like that. Like the Will had told him, he struggles.]
... If you seriously think that I'm powerless just because this thing - [He jabs a finger at his choker] - is running low on battery, you're dead wrong.
[There's no point in trying to hide it. Given the subject matter - his strength - it's clear to anyone with eyes that the two are intrinsically tied together. He still isn't sure why his doctor added that stupid light to the choker, but he has to just deal with it. Besides, his brain injury and just about everything that goes along with it are common knowledge back home. This isn't the first time he's had to talk about it to an opponent, and that softens the blow.]
I'm not. The problem is, as far as I can see, you're just a bunch of delinquents. None of you deserve to die, not even that masochist, as much as he might beg for it. If you walk away right now, the most anyone's gonna have is some bruises, maybe a sprain or two, and a killer headache in the morning. You'll gonna walk away in one piece. But if you don't, the probability that someone will die is gonna skyrocket. I'm not exaggerating, and I'm not gonna put any blame on whoever gets killed. It'll be my fault and only my fault for not being more careful, but that's just the reality of it.
[He isn't sure. He really isn't sure. His wings don't require any calculation effort on his part, meaning the device can be in normal mode or powered down and they can still manifest -- and that's the problem. Those things require a certain mindset, and he's uncertain he'll get to that point. There's a chance he won't. But if he does and those things come out, and he doesn't have the presence of mind to contain the damage that they can do --
It would be bad. Unpleasant memories of crushing Kihara, tearing up the Russian countryside, nearly ripping apart law enforcement back in the city flash through his head. Shifting some more, he slumps with his back against the streetlight and drags his hand down his face.]
I messed up. I should've given more thought to whether or not I should get involved. And since I did, I should've just knocked everyone out in the first few minutes instead of screwing around. [Instead of having fun. Very rude of him to do that.]
he should break it bc it's what endo deserves for being Like This after that genuine effort
[ This is the worst please-let-me-go speech that Endo has ever heard.
He was angling for something like a bribe, or information, or anything, really, that wasn't a weird self-depreciating yet still egotistical acceptance of his chiding. Yeah, he pointed out Accelerator's flaws and lack of logic, but it wasn't to get him to renege on his actions. These negotiations usually end in full-on groveling, frantically rambled bank account numbers, or juicy pieces of knowledge that will benefit Endo in the long run.
The longer Accelerator speaks, the more Endo looks at him like he's the unhinged one in this interaction. At the end, he motions at Noroshi, sending them on their way, but it's not because he's giving in to the guy's monologue. If he really gets into the thick of it, that's not even a true acceptance of his lecture, since he's still on the I'm-gonna-kill-you kick, only softened.
It's not that he doesn't believe Accelerator. He's seen enough of what he can do to take his warnings seriously, even if he's still going to laugh in the face of them. Which he does. He laughs, again. ]
You got it wrong, man. What you did was great. It helped me kill some time and have a little fun. All fights should be chaotic, otherwise they'd get stale. It's kind of a buzzkiller that you're going back on all that.
[ He abruptly becomes very serious — some would even say scarily so: ]
It's your attitude. You're pathetic underneath all that power, and everything that comes out of your mouth makes it worse.
[ But he transitions away from that easily, brightening a little too quickly thereafter. ]
Alright! I've got a deal for you. Let me punch you. Just once, no barrier. Then I'll give you your crutch and let you go back where you came from.
oho we could do that!! either via reflection or Accy's black wings
[His eyes flick back over to the other gang members, silent as he watches them leave. Did that work? Did that seriously work?
He isn't good at speaking. He isn't charismatic, he's never been and he has no idea how other people can manage something like that. Being honest seemed like the most difficult option for him, the riskiest but also the one that would result in the least amount of bloodshed, and he was fully expecting it to fail. But they're leaving, they're going who-knows-where and that means those kids, at least, don't stand a chance of being killed today.
Accelerator is grateful for that and glances back over at Endo. He isn't leaving. That's okay. This is better than he hoped. He doesn't bat an eye at being called pathetic (self-loathing is a bitch), instead making some mental notes about Endo. This is giving him some interesting insight on the guy, stuff to think about later. Strange how this is the only time he's seen him be serious. That change is shut on and off like a light switch, and it's a little unsettling.
But more importantly --
Just one punch? That's it? Accelerator stares back, shocked that he's getting off so easily. One punch even without his reflection is okay, he can handle that. It's hardly comparable to some of the things he did to Endo's subordinates. It doesn't take him any time to consider the offer, with the shock on his face fading he gives a firm nod.]
Okay. Fine.
[He pushes away from the streetlight, legs still trembling, so that the pole is no longer behind him. It would suck for this to be a punch to the face and his head got bashed into the metal -- he doesn't want another brain injury. Moving so it's next to him, he rests a hand against it so he still has a bit of support.]
One punch.
let's do it! endo deserves to be humbled a little and that prob won't happen with anyone else
[ He tosses the crutch over to where Accelerator was leaning against the streetlight before he moved to the side, essentially handing it over ahead of time, overly confident that this guy is going to be true to his word. He seemed pretty earnest in that terrible speech of his, and despite his many shortcomings, he does seem to operate on some kind of moral scale. Endo's also confident that if he does go back on his word, this won't be the end of this little situation of theirs. His strengths don't end with fighting.
But! No need to worry about that now. Once the crutch is out of his hands, he closes the gap between himself and Accelerator at that same lazy pace as before.
He does indeed intend for this to be a punch to the face, and he also believes that Accelerator will underestimate the force of it. He put on a show of being shoddy at fighting, so there's no reason for him to believe that this punch is really going to hurt. That's why Endo's looking at this like a twofold gotcha: making it clear he's actually good at fighting, while also humbling him a little once his shield is down.
He knows that it's still just a punch, no matter how much power he puts into it. He isn't doing the damage that Accelerator is capable of; but this isn't about revenge. Contrary to what many think, he doesn't care about petty matters like that.
He raises his fist up high and takes his time in winding up correctly — from the base of his stance, his core, his arms, all the way into his fist. He puts full momentum into the punch, and when he drives his fist down, he does so quickly, intending the impact to be both fast and incredibly hard. It's a finisher move, though there's nothing to finish — except for Accelerator's ego. ]
[At least he has his crutch back! Thank God for that, he really needs that thing to help with his mobility.
Endo steps closer and Accelerator can feel his heart rate speed up, something he's chalking up to him having to ignore his fight-or-flight reflex that's surging in response to the violence that's bearing down on him. He remains still, having absolutely no intention of backing down or fighting back, staring up at Endo passively as he winds up.
Pain explodes through his face and the force of the punch is enough to send him flying. It's no surprise, given he needs the crutch to stand and otherwise doesn't have much in the way of muscle. He hits the ground hard with a grunt, and lays there still for several moments as his head spins.
Then, slowly, he reaches a hand up to tentatively touch his nose. Another bout of pain causes him to wince, and when he pulls his hand away he can see blood. Honestly, it's a miracle his nose isn't broken from that hit. It could've gone way worse, so even though seeing his own blood is a rare sight he doesn't look put off by it. Actually, amidst the grimace on his face is something more akin to thoughtfulness.
This reminds him of another fight. One that had gone poorly for him, and better for everyone else involved. This punch hit him far, far harder than the one from that Level 0 (unbeknownst to Accelerator, Kamijou had been sticking to light jabs the entire time to remain agile) but he still remembers that first punch, the shock of it and the shock of doing the same motion to realize that, for the first time in his life, he had a bloody nose. Up until then all the blood he had encountered had been from his opponents, mainly from the Sisters.
Their crushed and dismembered bodies flash through his mind as he keeps staring down at his hand.
Right now, he only feels like this was deserved.]
.... Hah.
[Shakily, he pushes himself up onto his free hand. He guesses this means Endo isn't as bad a fighter as he had previously thought, though in his brain he's still absolutely nothing compared to that Level 0.]
[ Endo derives a lot of satisfaction from the contact between his fist and Accelerator's face. The majority of his fights aren't all that serious, from his perspective. He likes to toy with his opponents, get them riled up and emotional, provoke them into action, and then use a lot of dodging and blocking when fighting back. If and when he gets to punching, he doesn't need to fight with everything he has. Most people are either scared off or KO'd before he has a chance to think about going all-out.
So to put all his speed and strength into a punch — to feel the impact on his knuckles, the way a face both resists and caves as he pushes further into it — is a rare treat. Arguably, it's a little overkill, since Accelerator is nothing without his choker's boosts, but Endo would be lying if he said that he derived no enjoyment from watching him fall with the momentum of his punch just to rise newly bloody.
Accelerator's commentary is laughable...so Endo laughs. ]
I'd give you more, but we both know the only way you're taking a second punch is if —
[ He taps his neck, pretending to have a choker of his own in lieu of finishing the statement. Then he seamlessly transitions to adding: ]
You're kinda desperate to prove yourself, aren't ya? All that fake power that makes you feel like you're strong enough to be a good person, but take that away and it's obvious you just wanna feel better about yourself. Look at your face. Look at where you are. Look at what's left. You're clinging to your ego because there's nothing else. If you strip it away, what do you have? Just pain you're feeling right now, with nothing to make it stop.
[ Shit at fighting, shit at taking a punch, shit at saving the day. What did he even accomplish here, aside from hurting a few people? The fighting only stopped because Endo let it. Noroshi walked away (mostly) whole. ]
[Accelerator doesn't argue against that claim. Yeah, even if the punch didn't feel the same as that Level 0's, chances are good a second one would knock him out. In order to stand a chance against any kind of follow-up attack he'd need his reflection, and with under a minute left using it isn't a good idea.
He remains quiet as Endo continues rambling. If it was possible for him to block him out he would, but as it is those words pierce his mind and dig in. They're like fish hooks, embedding themselves deep enough that the holes they're tearing in his psyche are releasing a familiar buzzing, a static that makes his head ache.
He knows all of this. Of course he does. Being a good person - hell, even being a normal person - is completely beyond him at this point. He'd been a monster for years and years, and now he's struggling to stay one step above that, in some pitiful limbo where he's still too terrible to ever be good, but too scared to go back to being fully bad. And being in that place leads to incidents like this one, where his attempt to stop a mass fight only resulted in him being violent.
Still, Endo doesn't need to shove it in his face. Regardless of how true it is, it hurts to hear. Not looking up from his bloody hand, Accelerator croaks out a response.]
[ Fighting isn't all about strength and power. It's also a mental game. Get someone to lose confidence or doubt their abilities and they'll lose focus. Prod their ego until it deflates and they'll start doubting themselves. Make them emotional and then they'll really be set to lose. You just have to know what to say and when to say it.
Endo's always been good at that, though it's rare that he applies it so thickly. Usually, he gets into someone's head just enough to cause a few screw ups and then claims victory. Truly invading someone's mind and breaking them down takes a lot of effort that's pointless, since he's capable of cinching a fight with half that amount of work. He only goes that far if there's something he really wants.
In this situation, continuing to push Accelerator is overkill, just like his punch. He doesn't actually want anything from him, and he isn't the kind of guy to hold a grudge just because Accelerator smacked Noroshi around. A lot of what's transpired between them is inconsequential, and the choker has lost its appeal at this point. Though Endo is still curious, and wouldn't mind getting his hands on it, it isn't as much of a motivating factor as it was before, and it isn't the driving point behind his verbal barrage. Ultimately, Accelerator is like the majority of the guys that Endo has fought over time — not worth much more than an insult or two. Endo has no feelings for him at all — not hatred, and not infatuation.
But hey — he deserves to have a little fun sometimes, and Accelerator deserves a little wake-up call, so if he wants to pass the time by demonstrating that being formidable is a hell of a lot more than just swinging around fake strength, then why the hell not? It'll make Accelerator think twice about meandering his way to this territory again, in case he gets any big ideas now that he more or less knows Noroshi's haunts.
Hence, as soon as he's told to shut up, Endo's eyes go a little wide — a little feverish as that break in Accelerator's armor widens. Those two words are all Endo needs to know that he's right on the mark, and he can't help the exhilaration that follows. Like a predator closing in on making a kill, his body moves loosely but with an underlying tension that vibrates with a need for release.
He takes a step forward. ]
Why? So you can pretend it isn't true? So you can get that choker working right again, put up that fancy barrier, and act you can't be touched? Pretend that's who you really are? Someone strong. Someone good. Someone who can make a difference outside so you feel different inside?
[ He another step closer. He hasn't forgotten Accelerator's warning, so he's careful not to put too much physical pressure on him, but using his presence is also important. ]
It doesn't work that way. I see the raw, desperate truth inside of you. And you hate it, don't you? Because that's the real you.
[Psychological warfare is something Accelerator is familiar with, having been on both ends of it in his life. Despite his preference towards using his ability to terrify people and win fights after his brain injury there have been times when he's gotten creative, and used it to come out on top. It's been rare though, and more often than not he's been on the receiving end of it.
One unfortunate reality of espers is the prevalence of mental instability. The process involved in creating them requires the deliberate disassociation of the mind from reality, and the stronger the esper, the stronger the split. Beyond that is the experimentation, scientists often treating the espers as guinea pigs.
When it comes to the #1 Level 5 beating him through physical force is nigh impossible, and preying on his mental state has always been far more effective. Endo is far from the first person to take advantage of this weak point, and there's a part of Accelerator's brain screaming at him to just ignore the guy, but he can't. He isn't wrong, he isn't wrong, and that means if he ignores him then he's just burying himself in a completely absurd amount of denial. He refuses to do that. He doesn't deserve that.
The static in his head is getting louder, just not loud enough to drown out Endo as he keeps going. His shoulders tremble and he finally drags his gaze up, stiffening when he sees Endo has gotten closer. The distinct fear and desperation of feeling like a cornered animal crosses his mind. If he had even a minute of battery left he'd be using it right now -- as it is his bloodied hand twitches with the urge to move to his neck.]
I said shut up.
[It's a pitiful counter and he knows it's totally pointless, but those words are tumbling out of his mouth anyways before he can stop them.]
[ Seeing Accelerator stiffen as he raises his eyes makes Endo giddy; he begins trembling in anticipation. Accelerator is close to breaking, he can feel it — as though he's holding him in his palm, a leaf that's easily crumbled, a shell that's cracking under pressure. Endo hits a point of return within himself, the allure of pushing him beyond the brink suddenly overwhelming. It's no longer about teaching him a lesson or having a little fun. Endo is entirely motivated by the way it feels to look into Accelerator's eyes. It isn't the fear, though — that's not what Endo wants to see. He's searching for something else, something deeper, stronger, something that is reserved entirely for him.
He doesn't see it, not yet, but the potential is there, and it makes Endo's heart race. The smile on his face is anything but measured — it enters a state of fervor that is disproportionate to the situation as a whole, especially since he hasn't touched Accelerator since the punch. Wild is the only way to describe his eyes, his eagerness, the way everything else takes a backseat to the growing roar within his mind.
Up until this very moment, he hadn't wanted Accelerator — not to have, hold, possess, or slot into some made-up spot within Noroshi. But if he snaps him the way he would a twig beneath his shoe, then maybe — maybe he will reach out and touch that choker, his neck, the expanse of skin that's so covered — and watch as that those eyes widen, and see only him.
It's easy now; something fragile has already begun to bend. All Endo needs to do is add a final piece of pressure, small but heavy enough to shatter. If only he could reach out and set his hand against Accelerator's throat, to seek his pulse, to feel each breath move in and out, close to stilling.
He found something good in this whim of a meeting. Now he needs to destroy it so he can shape it into something beautiful. ]
[Endo says those simple few words, things any reasonable person would be able to ignore, and there's a split inside of Accelerator's mind.
He's known he was a monster for a long, long time. There were points in his life where he tried to prove otherwise, but they never lasted and he always returned to being a monster. He always sank back down into the mud. That's how it is right now, he's just sinking and sinking and sinking --
People can be monsters. He's known loads of them, mainly scientists, sometimes kids like himself, but none of them ever reached the same level of demonic as him. None of them willingly drowned themselves in as much innocent as he has. He's unique in the worst way possible, and it leaves him feeling like something viscerally familiar to him - a chewed up, mangled carcass - but it's true.
Accelerator stares up at Endo, the fear draining out of him, leaving his expression desperate. His vision starts to blur and the static in his head gets louder. Endo is right in one sense and wrong in another. He isn't a person, but he isn't nothing. He doesn't want to be a monster, but he is one and there isn't anything he can do about it.
There's a change in the air pressure immediately surrounding them, moments before a resounding boom causes the windows in the buildings around them to shudder. A jet black substance suddenly explodes out of Accelerator's back, spraying dozens of meters into the air in the form of two long, dark wings. Looming high above the two of them the wings start to distort and bend, scraping against nearby buildings and shattering glass, the darkness they're made of swallowing up any light that reaches them. Accelerator trembles, still staring at Endo, almost as if he doesn't even notice what's going on behind him.
This isn't the first time these things have manifested themselves, and every single time they've come out they've been nearly impossible to control. Right now is no different. There's another bursting noise as the wings start to intertwine with each other, tearing at each other like animals desperately trying to rip each other apart.]
[ It's — beautiful. And terrifying. And unlike anything he's ever seen.
He's only felt this way once in his life, years ago, when he looked up at some scaffolding and saw a boy his age covered in blood, shining in the moonlight. He reached out to touch him and got burned, and for the first time in his life, he felt everything he hadn't before: fear. excitement. anxiety. utter joy.
That's what he experiences when he looks upon this, the result of his work. He no longer has eyes for Accelerator, the weak and fragile nonentity, but what he has become: a monster, one that Endo would never seek to tame, but would carry throughout the world to watch it bring about the end.
Only, the wings are not on fire; they do not burn. They are dark and cold — a manifestation of emptiness. They lash out as though they herald despair. Nothing will be ash when they recede, because all that will be left is a void.
Over the years, Endo has reached out and been burned, and reached out again, and again, and again. Every time, Takiishi ignored him, punched him, burned him, and Endo still reached. He still reaches. This is no different. He recognizes the danger; he's drawn to it. He will touch it, and it will bore through him, and Endo will call for it again. Because what he does, as he watches the wings entangle with each other, as he hears each resounding burst of violence, is feel.
[Endo's words keep on wedging themselves into Accelerator's brain, preventing any crushed stability from repairing itself, and in response the wings slice more erratically through the air. The force of them is growing strong enough to leave dents and cracks in the sides of buildings, and one particularly large bang forces him to glance over. Staring at the damage, a horrible sinking feeling worms its way into his insides.
Oh. This has happened before. A few times, and during most of them there was someone there to talk him down. Last Order, or that Level 0. They aren't here now, it's only him and Endo, and that's worse than being alone. At least if he was alone all that would be driving him would be his own self-loathing.
Accelerator drops his head, curls in on himself and gripping his hair. His breathing is coming in harsh, short bursts.]
I'm -- I'm not -- .... [A god? Nothing? He doesn't finish his thought, he can't. Endo swerving from calling him nothing to a god only brings up bad memories, in turn causing his wings to grow more frenzied. He can't be a god, he deliberately walked away from that path when he abandoned the Level 6 Shift Experiment, leaving a mountain of bodies in his wake.
Being a god meant a second mountain, another ten thousand corpses bloodying his hands. More dead Sisters. A dead Last Order. As much of a monster as he is, he could never accept that, and even the thought of it causes him to shudder before he vehemently shakes his head.]
[ Earlier, Endo found himself in a strange middle ground, caught between feeling curious about Accelerator's choker and unimpressed by his lack of true strength. He experiences that same sense of indecision as soon as Accelerator opens his mouth, pulled out of his revelry by a denial that's as weak and feeble as that body of his when his choker is set to green. It's like whiplash: one moment he's so entranced that his hand is trembling with the desire to reach out, and the next he gives Accelerator a cold, dark look, regardless if he raises his head to see it. ]
Shut up.
[ How can a person be so beautiful and simultaneously so wretched? He doesn't want to think about that now, but if Accelerator hears Endo murmur something about an awakening, he wouldn't be imagining things. Endo will think about how exactly he'll need to break Accelerator down (again) so he can be the god that he is clearly meant to be — later, after this moment has receded. Right now, he wants to stand too close to darkness and feel it pass through him.
But he does think to himself, as those wings thrash with increasing abandon, that he has decided he wants Accelerator to be his. His to train, his to wield, his to shape.
He will have him.
He takes another step, putting himself beside Accelerator, rather than in front of him. He has had enough of being studied. He's tired of experiencing the dichotomy between true power and the worthlessness of Accelerator's comments. ]
[He misses the look -- not that he'd be able to see it even if he still had his eyes on Endo, by this point Accelerator's vision has become a blurred mess -- but he doesn't need to see it, not when it's so easy to pick up the sudden shift in Endo's mood through his voice. It's a wild swing between elation and fury, and it makes Accelerator shudder.
That's right. He knows what he is. Endo isn't dragging it out of him, he's just doing a damn good job of confirming the thing that he became all on his own.
He isn't a god, and he isn't nothing. He's a monster, and as he sinks further and further into his acceptance of this he has to wonder what the hell he's even doing. What is it monsters do best, after all? They destroy.
Buried amidst all the pain and self-loathing is anger, and as Accelerator gives up it explodes out of him.
Endo reaches out and the wings shift, going from a vibrating, formless darkness to something sharpened. They almost resemble feathers, though the detail isn't there and they still undulate unnaturally, as if holding any kind of shape won't last for very long. Then, in a moment of sudden direction, one twists away from the other and plunges downwards, directly at him.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
unhinged lil guys are the best
In that split second after the impact the only thing that enters his mind is that Level 0. Accelerator has rarely ever bothered to attack people without using his reflection or handgun, but Kamijou has neither and has spent who know how long of his life in fights. Is this the same kind of satisfaction he feels when he punches someone? When they were fighting months ago in the train yard? Probably not, since he was desperately fighting to save the life of #10 032 --
The sound of laughter cuts that thought off, and Accelerator refocuses on Endo, what he's saying. That laughter.
What the hell?
He's dumbfounded. How can he still be acting so casual after getting punched square in the face?]
..........
[His gaze flicks briefly down to his right hand, still in the shape of a fist. Wasn't that the same way Kamijou punched? Of course, it's been a while since he's been on the receiving end of that fist, but he's sure what he did wasn't any different. Plus, with it being enhanced by his esper ability, how could it be the worst??
It isn't that he has much of an ego, and most of his pride was beaten out of him in the train yard. Regardless, Accelerator clicks his tongue in irritation. Nobody likes being mocked, and after the performance he's been putting on it's baffling to see Endo not even be a tiny bit concerned for his well-being. The hell, is this guy a masochist just like that previous dumbass?
Maybe they're all just nuts. Is it worth dwelling on, especially right now? No, not really. He can think about all this later when he's alone, as right now he isn't really in the mood to be picking apart behaviour and body language. He just really wants the satisfaction of punching that smirk off Endo's face. So yeah, he comes at him again, his grin fading as he takes this a bit more seriously. He remembers Kamijou hitting him with some type of hook punch, so he's doing his best to remember the motions and trying that next.]
absolutely! also "maybe they're all just nuts" < real
But despite having this planned out in his head — despite preparing himself for the various possible paths this fight may take in the end — Endo's excitement is heightening. Watching Accelerator's grin fade makes his heart pound in his chest; it gets his blood moving, because he knows that for all Accelerator's shortcomings, this is still going to be good, for as long as the fight lasts. And Endo hasn't had good in a long time.
He lets the next punch come so close to hitting him that he feels the rush of air on his face. Then, at the last possible moment, he slides out of the way with impressive litheness for someone so tall. Still grinning, albeit a little wildly now, he says brightly: ]
Whoa, that was close!
[ Then, quickly, he goes in for a crappy punch of his own, swinging in a way that he would never under any other circumstance. It's a sloppy movement, and he goes as far as barely missing Accelerator — as well as the small space around him that Endo has judged to be too dangerous to risk entering. ]
Huh. I guess it's been a while since I tried that.
[ He looks down at his own fist as though it has betrayed him.
Noroshi is still watching, though they've moved further back toward the sidelines. Despite Endo's botched fighting, none of them say a word. They watch wide-eyed and silently, and don't even smile, though Endo knows a few of them would, if they didn't already know that Endo would be very angry if they gave anything away. ]
Lemme go again.
[ Though he says this, he's relaxed in demeanor once more and doesn't bother to raise his fists. But man, is he nearly vibrating with anticipation of Accelerator's next move. ]
no subject
He doesn't have any time to dwell on it, seeing Endo's counter coming at him (because it's obvious enough that any poor fighter would recognize it). Reflexively, he takes a couple of steps backwards. It isn't much, but it's leagues better than his old strategy of allowing his reflection to handle each and every attack. Narrowing his eyes, he doesn't look impressed.
His pulse is thrumming in his ears. Turns out Banjo was a good warm-up for him - unlike fighting those other kids, he actually put in some effort. His adrenaline is high, and that's lowering his tolerance for casual bullshit.]
Tche.
[He doesn't let Endo have another try. The guy isn't even readying another attack, and Accelerator is feeling more than a little impatient. Is it really a fight if he just waits around for his opponent to figure out what their next move is going to be? No, it isn't, it's just pathetic. He wants to punch him again, not be friendly.
There's that click of his tongue and closes the distance between them again. His second punch didn't land so he lowers his aim to Endo's solar plexus. While his knowledge of fighting isn't great, he is familiar with biology, and he knows a hit to the solar plexus means hitting the diaphragm, which can knock the air out of a person's lungs. Landing that means he could follow up with another attack - maybe a kick into the nearest wall? Or sending him flying into those other gang members - he isn't sure, but his mind is eagerly running through the potential options.]
no subject
He really doesn't want to be injured in any significant way, and letting himself get severely winded will trend in that direction. If he can't breathe, or if the force makes him double over, then it'll be easy for Accelerator to follow up with a more serious attack. But if he slides out of the way again, his skills may become a little too obvious, his bad performance called into question — which could then lead to Accelerator turning it up a notch. Better to ride a careful line somewhere between the two.
As Accelerator's fist flies toward him yet again, Endo jumps back a step, rather than to the side. It's an attempt to escape the attack that is only partially effective. Accelerator hits him right where he intends, hard enough that Endo makes a strangled sound without quite meaning to, but not enough to temporarily paralyze his diaphragm. It winds him, and his first breath thereafter wheezes into his chest, but he gets air in, which is enough for him to brace himself for whatever Accelerator chooses to do next.
And enough for him to tremble, visibly, that grin still on his face, color now dusting his cheeks. He's exhilarated — and he wants more. ]
Better.
[ Is all he says; his voice is a little strained, but he still manages to drag out the word, which in turn makes him sound like he's deriving some pleasure from this. And he is! Though it isn't for the same reasons as Banjo — not that he cares if Accelerator realizes that or not.
Despite his amped energy and winded state, he knows another attack is coming fast, and so he doesn't let up on bracing himself. For the next hit, Endo tentatively plans to block it with his forearm, whether it's another punch, a kick, or a knee. It won't be the first time he's taken the full brunt of an attack against his arm; the maneuver is yet another under-the-radar talent of his. Doing so will allow a couple of seconds for him to recover further and then make another move of his own, but whether or not he'll be successful entirely depends on how much of that false force Accelerator puts into his move. As long as he continues to to fight as he is, then Endo should be able to pull it off — but he remains ready to change up his technique on the fly. ]
no subject
It's entirely possible for someone to be in charge without being strong themselves. Most of the Board of Directors are like that, just useless adults relying on money or connections instead of any personal qualities they have. Accelerator seriously doubts any of them could throw a punch, but they don't need to in order to command all the people underneath them. They have other means of control, and from Endo's lackluster performance so far that's what he thinks this situation is.
That Banjo guy had been a better fighter than him. Accelerator isn't even moving as fast as he could be and he still isn't dodging everything, yet he's acting like he's the one here with more fighting experience. Seeing Endo's face - the bastard even looks happy about it, no doubts there. He's smiling and the tone of his voice, it all feels condescending to Accelerator. He doesn't need some asshole running commentary on whether or not his punches are any good.
A scowl settles onto his face as he shifts his weight to adjust for the change in momentum as he rotates his arm and swings his upwards, an uppercut aimed at Endo's chin. That Level 0 had done such a move on him months ago back in the train yard, and it had hurt so much it's basically burned into his brain.
.............. Of course, part of the reason for that was he was so unused to being touched that his nerves were highly sensitive, but his body has gotten slightly more adjusted to physical contact since then. It's whatever, he had deserved getting socked, so he may as well put that knowledge to good use.]
no subject
That's the thought that immediately springs to mind when Accelerator goes for an uppercut. Endo could try to block it, but the effort would be sloppier than he would like to risk. A head-on punch or kick would've been easier — and if his block had been successful, he could have attempted to shove that momentum back at Accelerator. But now he has no choice but to dodge again — though he executes the move differently this time.
The clock is ticking and Endo has no idea when, or if, Accelerator will hit a time limit. He can't overplay his hand, but he also can't risk Accelerator getting frustrated enough to amp his abilities up again. Technically, all this playing around was to make Accelerator underestimate him; if he was successful, even a small amount, he might be able to get a solid hit in of his own. So far, it hasn't seemed as though Accelerator has a barrier up in that space immediately around him — but it's still a risk. He may be able to get it up before Endo lands his hit.
He doesn't have time to overthink any of it. So when he dodges, he does so with more agility than he put on display this first time. The uppercut doesn't miss him just by a hair; it doesn't come close to hitting him. Then, banking everything on a single counterattack of his own, Endo pulls back his fist and aims it right at Accelerator's face. He puts everything he has into this punch, intended to hit much faster and harder than he usually does during his fights, since stunning or otherwise incapacitating Accelerator is the only path forward, short of his choker malfunctioning or otherwise shutting down. If Accelerator blocks it or sends that force back him, then Endo has a good chance of being pummeled into the ground, which would be pretty damn crappy, considering that he's completely uninterested in losing to that false strength.
But the risk is invigorating all the same. Though his grin doesn't falter, his focus hones in and allows him to unleash as precise a hit as possible within his unaugmented limits. ]
no subject
His reflection is still up, albeit toned down to avoid any death or serious injuries, so dodging to avoid a direct punch to the face doesn't occur to him. This guy isn't that Level 0, he isn't even Kihara with that goddamned counter move. It's fine, his reflection can tank it and redirect the force of the punch back into Endo's arm, and he can use that opportunity for another attack -
There's only one problem, and it occurs to Accelerator as Endo's fist hits the very edge of his reflection. His eyes widen and suddenly he's ducking back, cursing under his breath.]
Shit.
[The use of his ability snaps Accelerator back to reality, the realization of the amount of time spent on this fighting clicking in his mind. His gaze drops down to his right forearm, where the arm cuff of his crutch would normally be.
Oh, this isn't good. This really isn't good. Endo still has it.
Abruptly, Accelerator's demeanour shifts from offensive to... what, retreating? He takes several steps backwards, uncharacteristically backing away as his hand flies to his choker. It isn't just that he's running low on time, it's bad enough that he's nearly drained the entire battery. There's maybe half a minute of esper mode left, which still translates to a just under an hour of normal mode, so he's getting to the point where he needs to charge the damn thing. The small charger for the battery is in his back pocket, so he needs to find somewhere private with an outlet soon.
Accelerator keeps on moving away until his hand finds a streetlight decorated in graffiti, then he stops to lean a shoulder against it. The reason for such strange behaviour will quickly become apparent when he hits the switch on the calculation assistance device, the light on it going from red to green as it changes back to normal mode. His legs wobble a bit as the support he had to stand through his ability fades, and he gives Endo a sharp, expectant look.]
Give me my crutch back.
np at all! i don't mind late edits
But all that flashes through his mind quickly — the shock, the flip-flop of anxiety, the realization — and then Accelerator is pulling back. Endo's hand remains uncrushed. He'll be able to punch again.
As for Accelerator — well, isn't that nice. He's retreating, or more like scrambling, with how his hands fly to his choker. It seems that Endo was not only right, but played this perfectly, down to the second. He's feeling pretty damn good about himself as he watches the choker's color indicator, admiring the visual confirmation of his plan coming to fruition.
And not a moment too soon. Endo seamlessly transitions from battling his own little internal hitch to straightening and casually brushing off his clothes. He's in no rush to finish this now that Accelerator is on the defensive. He's going to take his time — and keep the hostage he still holds. ]
Huh?
[ He asks this as if he doesn't hear the demand, then begins walking toward Accelerator and his streetlight, albeit very slowly. His pace is deliberate, his demeanor smug. ]
We're in the middle of a fight, man. You can't throw it 'cause you feel like it.
[ He holds the crutch out and sweeps it in a half-circle to indicate the onlookers around them. The remaining members of Noroshi still stand at the ready. In fact, they look a lot more pumped now — almost like Accelerator pissed them off and they're itching for revenge. ]
You beat a lot of guys up today.
[ He doesn't miss the wobbling of Accelerator's legs, nor how heavily he uses that streetlight as support. He's gotta admit, it is amusing how Accelerator played big and bad with that false (and limited) power of his, only to expect Endo to play by his rules now that he's the one at a disadvantage.
Cheaters get cheated. ]
thkssss also omg I feel bad for Endo lolol
His pulse is still pounding in his ears and he's locked on Endo as he slowly closes the distance between them, his gaze following the motion of his crutch over to the remaining gang members before darting back to Endo. It's an incredibly quick movement that only serves to appraise their numbers and not whether any of them are a threat. They aren't, not in his mind, regardless of their numebrs. From his experiences with the dark side of his own city, including the gangs, taking out the leader is a potential way to get the rest to back off. Skill Out had done just that after he had killed Komaba, and right now it's clear Endo is his equivalent. His eyes narrow, his gaze intensifying as his mind calculates several strategies and the rough probability of success for each of them based on how things have gone so far.
He has thirty seconds of esper mode left, Endo in front of him, the rest of the gang off to the side. From what he's seen, Endo isn't much of a fighter. He must be leading through charisma or, judging by his tattoos, maybe he's got connections to some criminal underworld. He should be able to knock him out by touching him, and if he does that there's a chance at least a number of the others will back down. A few might be too nuts to do so, like that goth punk, but they're all in small enough numbers he should at least be able to manipulate another few tornadoes into knocking them out or off their feet. That'd give him time to get to the next street over, where he could switch back to normal mode and leave.
... It'd be cutting it close. He'd have to find the nearest internet cafe or something to charge the choker battery in private, and he'd have to do it all in normal mode. There's the option to just run, but he'd have to switch back to normal mode and there's a chance they would simply follow him.
Okay, plan set. He's got this.]
I went easy on them. [They're all still alive, he's very proud of himself for that. Accelerator waves his hand dismissively, shifting his lean against the streetlight slightly.] I don't give two shits about the rest of you, so give me my crutch back and I'll leave.
[There, that's a completely reasonable trade he's offering. He isn't convinced Endo will take it, but it's something.]
he's a complete menace but he only wants (1) thing in life....
Besides, it's more fun to hold the crutch just out of reach, allowing it to dangle loosely from his hand. ]
You don't spend a lot of time with other people, do you?
[ He's making an educated guess. Technically, Endo is supportive of the whole not-caring-about-other-people approach to life. It's his opinion that Takiishi's absolute lack of interest in anyone but himself is the key to his strength as a fighter. The difference is that Takiishi truly doesn't care — and doesn't even try to pretend otherwise. If he were in Accelerator's place, he would've swooped in, put everyone down for the count, and left. No monologues, no appeals, no bragging or inflated opinions. Accelerator's punch may have the capacity to be many times stronger than Takiishi's, but it will never hit as hard — because he's wrapped up in the drama of it all. He's stuck in the muck of his own ego.
There's nothing so devastating as being punched by someone with a blank look on his face. Nothing hurts more than being beaten into the ground by someone who truly doesn't care. Endo would know. He's been on the receiving end many times.
Truthfully, he doesn't give two shits about Accelerator either. All that excitement he felt wasn't for him specifically; it was the challenge that his false power provided. It was that choker. Accelerator might as well be a gnat; as soon as his juice is all gone, Endo could crush him with ease — but why would he bother, when he's so insignificant like this: barely standing and yet clutching desperately to a minimal amount of perceived power. ]
You're pretty bad at this, so I'm gonna help you out. You better shut up, and fast, because everything coming out of your mouth is only adding fuel to the fire that's about to consume you.
[ As always, he remains loose in body language, relaxed as he gives this lecture. ]
You beat the crap out of our own, which we're already pissed about, and you're going to say that was going easy on 'em? You chose to pick these last few fights, involving yourself in something that had nothing to do with you, and you're gonna say you don't give two shits? You stopped fighting because you ran out of strength, but you sure as hell didn't stop knowing that no one else was as strong as you. It was all fine when you were doing the overpowering, but it ain't cool if you're about to be overpowered.
[ Endo laughs. He finds Accelerator's lack of logic genuinely funny. The guy has absolutely nothing going for him without his choker. Endo's losing interest in the device on principle alone — what's the point of it, if it'll just make the wearer complacent and weak in the long run? Look at what it's done to him.
But hey. He can be a fair guy when he wants to be. He'll throw a bone, even though Accelerator can't seem to conceptualize the ways in which he's been unfair. ]
Give me one good reason to call them off, and I will.
[ He'll do it, too. But it has to be an actual reason, or an offering, or a deal that really wows him. Because otherwise it's only fair to give him exactly what he gave. ]
brb having Accy break Endo's arm so he can take him to the hospital
The easiest option would be to just crush everyone here. The next would be his plan to knock Endo out and leave. By far the hardest option for himself would be to try and talk his way out, and because of that he'd love to just dismiss the offer outright. Who wouldn't want to take the easy option when it's right there? But... it's the option that offers the least amount of violence, and what was it the Will of the Network had told him?
"You are the #1 monster, so isn’t the most comfortable thing for you easy conflict and easy violence followed by easy victory /escape?"
He's quiet as he listens to Endo, really listens to him. He isn't wrong about getting involved in something that wasn't his business -- he could've easily left the fighting alone, for better or for worse. By choosing to get involved, especially in the way that he did, that's on him. The consequences of that choice are on him, not anyone else.
“Struggle for someone’s sake /return. Struggle in the way that is truly hardest for you /return."
So whether or not he responds to this using violence, that's his choice too. And those consequences are on him as well.
"And if you take the easy road out and became a monster, I will throw you into a hell several sizes larger than you are imagining /return.”
Goddamnit.
He claps a hand to his forehead and sighs heavily. Shockingly, he doesn't make the slightest attempt at arguing.]
You're right. I'm not good at this. I'm the last person who should be telling anyone what to do.
[Ugh, he wishes that Level 0 was around. He's so much better at talking to people, he has actual friends. Chances are if he was here there'd still be a fight, but Accelerator is utterly confident in his ability to somehow de-escalate situations through violence where no one gets permanently hurt and everyone gets a happy ending. He isn't like that. Like the Will had told him, he struggles.]
... If you seriously think that I'm powerless just because this thing - [He jabs a finger at his choker] - is running low on battery, you're dead wrong.
[There's no point in trying to hide it. Given the subject matter - his strength - it's clear to anyone with eyes that the two are intrinsically tied together. He still isn't sure why his doctor added that stupid light to the choker, but he has to just deal with it. Besides, his brain injury and just about everything that goes along with it are common knowledge back home. This isn't the first time he's had to talk about it to an opponent, and that softens the blow.]
I'm not. The problem is, as far as I can see, you're just a bunch of delinquents. None of you deserve to die, not even that masochist, as much as he might beg for it. If you walk away right now, the most anyone's gonna have is some bruises, maybe a sprain or two, and a killer headache in the morning. You'll gonna walk away in one piece. But if you don't, the probability that someone will die is gonna skyrocket. I'm not exaggerating, and I'm not gonna put any blame on whoever gets killed. It'll be my fault and only my fault for not being more careful, but that's just the reality of it.
[He isn't sure. He really isn't sure. His wings don't require any calculation effort on his part, meaning the device can be in normal mode or powered down and they can still manifest -- and that's the problem. Those things require a certain mindset, and he's uncertain he'll get to that point. There's a chance he won't. But if he does and those things come out, and he doesn't have the presence of mind to contain the damage that they can do --
It would be bad. Unpleasant memories of crushing Kihara, tearing up the Russian countryside, nearly ripping apart law enforcement back in the city flash through his head. Shifting some more, he slumps with his back against the streetlight and drags his hand down his face.]
I messed up. I should've given more thought to whether or not I should get involved. And since I did, I should've just knocked everyone out in the first few minutes instead of screwing around. [Instead of having fun. Very rude of him to do that.]
he should break it bc it's what endo deserves for being Like This after that genuine effort
He was angling for something like a bribe, or information, or anything, really, that wasn't a weird self-depreciating yet still egotistical acceptance of his chiding. Yeah, he pointed out Accelerator's flaws and lack of logic, but it wasn't to get him to renege on his actions. These negotiations usually end in full-on groveling, frantically rambled bank account numbers, or juicy pieces of knowledge that will benefit Endo in the long run.
The longer Accelerator speaks, the more Endo looks at him like he's the unhinged one in this interaction. At the end, he motions at Noroshi, sending them on their way, but it's not because he's giving in to the guy's monologue. If he really gets into the thick of it, that's not even a true acceptance of his lecture, since he's still on the I'm-gonna-kill-you kick, only softened.
It's not that he doesn't believe Accelerator. He's seen enough of what he can do to take his warnings seriously, even if he's still going to laugh in the face of them. Which he does. He laughs, again. ]
You got it wrong, man. What you did was great. It helped me kill some time and have a little fun. All fights should be chaotic, otherwise they'd get stale. It's kind of a buzzkiller that you're going back on all that.
[ He abruptly becomes very serious — some would even say scarily so: ]
It's your attitude. You're pathetic underneath all that power, and everything that comes out of your mouth makes it worse.
[ But he transitions away from that easily, brightening a little too quickly thereafter. ]
Alright! I've got a deal for you. Let me punch you. Just once, no barrier. Then I'll give you your crutch and let you go back where you came from.
oho we could do that!! either via reflection or Accy's black wings
He isn't good at speaking. He isn't charismatic, he's never been and he has no idea how other people can manage something like that. Being honest seemed like the most difficult option for him, the riskiest but also the one that would result in the least amount of bloodshed, and he was fully expecting it to fail. But they're leaving, they're going who-knows-where and that means those kids, at least, don't stand a chance of being killed today.
Accelerator is grateful for that and glances back over at Endo. He isn't leaving. That's okay. This is better than he hoped. He doesn't bat an eye at being called pathetic (self-loathing is a bitch), instead making some mental notes about Endo. This is giving him some interesting insight on the guy, stuff to think about later. Strange how this is the only time he's seen him be serious. That change is shut on and off like a light switch, and it's a little unsettling.
But more importantly --
Just one punch? That's it? Accelerator stares back, shocked that he's getting off so easily. One punch even without his reflection is okay, he can handle that. It's hardly comparable to some of the things he did to Endo's subordinates. It doesn't take him any time to consider the offer, with the shock on his face fading he gives a firm nod.]
Okay. Fine.
[He pushes away from the streetlight, legs still trembling, so that the pole is no longer behind him. It would suck for this to be a punch to the face and his head got bashed into the metal -- he doesn't want another brain injury. Moving so it's next to him, he rests a hand against it so he still has a bit of support.]
One punch.
let's do it! endo deserves to be humbled a little and that prob won't happen with anyone else
[ He tosses the crutch over to where Accelerator was leaning against the streetlight before he moved to the side, essentially handing it over ahead of time, overly confident that this guy is going to be true to his word. He seemed pretty earnest in that terrible speech of his, and despite his many shortcomings, he does seem to operate on some kind of moral scale. Endo's also confident that if he does go back on his word, this won't be the end of this little situation of theirs. His strengths don't end with fighting.
But! No need to worry about that now. Once the crutch is out of his hands, he closes the gap between himself and Accelerator at that same lazy pace as before.
He does indeed intend for this to be a punch to the face, and he also believes that Accelerator will underestimate the force of it. He put on a show of being shoddy at fighting, so there's no reason for him to believe that this punch is really going to hurt. That's why Endo's looking at this like a twofold gotcha: making it clear he's actually good at fighting, while also humbling him a little once his shield is down.
He knows that it's still just a punch, no matter how much power he puts into it. He isn't doing the damage that Accelerator is capable of; but this isn't about revenge. Contrary to what many think, he doesn't care about petty matters like that.
He raises his fist up high and takes his time in winding up correctly — from the base of his stance, his core, his arms, all the way into his fist. He puts full momentum into the punch, and when he drives his fist down, he does so quickly, intending the impact to be both fast and incredibly hard. It's a finisher move, though there's nothing to finish — except for Accelerator's ego. ]
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Endo steps closer and Accelerator can feel his heart rate speed up, something he's chalking up to him having to ignore his fight-or-flight reflex that's surging in response to the violence that's bearing down on him. He remains still, having absolutely no intention of backing down or fighting back, staring up at Endo passively as he winds up.
Pain explodes through his face and the force of the punch is enough to send him flying. It's no surprise, given he needs the crutch to stand and otherwise doesn't have much in the way of muscle. He hits the ground hard with a grunt, and lays there still for several moments as his head spins.
Then, slowly, he reaches a hand up to tentatively touch his nose. Another bout of pain causes him to wince, and when he pulls his hand away he can see blood. Honestly, it's a miracle his nose isn't broken from that hit. It could've gone way worse, so even though seeing his own blood is a rare sight he doesn't look put off by it. Actually, amidst the grimace on his face is something more akin to thoughtfulness.
This reminds him of another fight. One that had gone poorly for him, and better for everyone else involved. This punch hit him far, far harder than the one from that Level 0 (unbeknownst to Accelerator, Kamijou had been sticking to light jabs the entire time to remain agile) but he still remembers that first punch, the shock of it and the shock of doing the same motion to realize that, for the first time in his life, he had a bloody nose. Up until then all the blood he had encountered had been from his opponents, mainly from the Sisters.
Their crushed and dismembered bodies flash through his mind as he keeps staring down at his hand.
Right now, he only feels like this was deserved.]
.... Hah.
[Shakily, he pushes himself up onto his free hand. He guesses this means Endo isn't as bad a fighter as he had previously thought, though in his brain he's still absolutely nothing compared to that Level 0.]
That was it, huh?
[He winces again. Oof, talking hurts.]
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So to put all his speed and strength into a punch — to feel the impact on his knuckles, the way a face both resists and caves as he pushes further into it — is a rare treat. Arguably, it's a little overkill, since Accelerator is nothing without his choker's boosts, but Endo would be lying if he said that he derived no enjoyment from watching him fall with the momentum of his punch just to rise newly bloody.
Accelerator's commentary is laughable...so Endo laughs. ]
I'd give you more, but we both know the only way you're taking a second punch is if —
[ He taps his neck, pretending to have a choker of his own in lieu of finishing the statement. Then he seamlessly transitions to adding: ]
You're kinda desperate to prove yourself, aren't ya? All that fake power that makes you feel like you're strong enough to be a good person, but take that away and it's obvious you just wanna feel better about yourself. Look at your face. Look at where you are. Look at what's left. You're clinging to your ego because there's nothing else. If you strip it away, what do you have? Just pain you're feeling right now, with nothing to make it stop.
[ Shit at fighting, shit at taking a punch, shit at saving the day. What did he even accomplish here, aside from hurting a few people? The fighting only stopped because Endo let it. Noroshi walked away (mostly) whole. ]
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[Accelerator doesn't argue against that claim. Yeah, even if the punch didn't feel the same as that Level 0's, chances are good a second one would knock him out. In order to stand a chance against any kind of follow-up attack he'd need his reflection, and with under a minute left using it isn't a good idea.
He remains quiet as Endo continues rambling. If it was possible for him to block him out he would, but as it is those words pierce his mind and dig in. They're like fish hooks, embedding themselves deep enough that the holes they're tearing in his psyche are releasing a familiar buzzing, a static that makes his head ache.
He knows all of this. Of course he does. Being a good person - hell, even being a normal person - is completely beyond him at this point. He'd been a monster for years and years, and now he's struggling to stay one step above that, in some pitiful limbo where he's still too terrible to ever be good, but too scared to go back to being fully bad. And being in that place leads to incidents like this one, where his attempt to stop a mass fight only resulted in him being violent.
Still, Endo doesn't need to shove it in his face. Regardless of how true it is, it hurts to hear. Not looking up from his bloody hand, Accelerator croaks out a response.]
... Shut up.
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Endo's always been good at that, though it's rare that he applies it so thickly. Usually, he gets into someone's head just enough to cause a few screw ups and then claims victory. Truly invading someone's mind and breaking them down takes a lot of effort that's pointless, since he's capable of cinching a fight with half that amount of work. He only goes that far if there's something he really wants.
In this situation, continuing to push Accelerator is overkill, just like his punch. He doesn't actually want anything from him, and he isn't the kind of guy to hold a grudge just because Accelerator smacked Noroshi around. A lot of what's transpired between them is inconsequential, and the choker has lost its appeal at this point. Though Endo is still curious, and wouldn't mind getting his hands on it, it isn't as much of a motivating factor as it was before, and it isn't the driving point behind his verbal barrage. Ultimately, Accelerator is like the majority of the guys that Endo has fought over time — not worth much more than an insult or two. Endo has no feelings for him at all — not hatred, and not infatuation.
But hey — he deserves to have a little fun sometimes, and Accelerator deserves a little wake-up call, so if he wants to pass the time by demonstrating that being formidable is a hell of a lot more than just swinging around fake strength, then why the hell not? It'll make Accelerator think twice about meandering his way to this territory again, in case he gets any big ideas now that he more or less knows Noroshi's haunts.
Hence, as soon as he's told to shut up, Endo's eyes go a little wide — a little feverish as that break in Accelerator's armor widens. Those two words are all Endo needs to know that he's right on the mark, and he can't help the exhilaration that follows. Like a predator closing in on making a kill, his body moves loosely but with an underlying tension that vibrates with a need for release.
He takes a step forward. ]
Why? So you can pretend it isn't true? So you can get that choker working right again, put up that fancy barrier, and act you can't be touched? Pretend that's who you really are? Someone strong. Someone good. Someone who can make a difference outside so you feel different inside?
[ He another step closer. He hasn't forgotten Accelerator's warning, so he's careful not to put too much physical pressure on him, but using his presence is also important. ]
It doesn't work that way. I see the raw, desperate truth inside of you. And you hate it, don't you? Because that's the real you.
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One unfortunate reality of espers is the prevalence of mental instability. The process involved in creating them requires the deliberate disassociation of the mind from reality, and the stronger the esper, the stronger the split. Beyond that is the experimentation, scientists often treating the espers as guinea pigs.
When it comes to the #1 Level 5 beating him through physical force is nigh impossible, and preying on his mental state has always been far more effective. Endo is far from the first person to take advantage of this weak point, and there's a part of Accelerator's brain screaming at him to just ignore the guy, but he can't. He isn't wrong, he isn't wrong, and that means if he ignores him then he's just burying himself in a completely absurd amount of denial. He refuses to do that. He doesn't deserve that.
The static in his head is getting louder, just not loud enough to drown out Endo as he keeps going. His shoulders tremble and he finally drags his gaze up, stiffening when he sees Endo has gotten closer. The distinct fear and desperation of feeling like a cornered animal crosses his mind. If he had even a minute of battery left he'd be using it right now -- as it is his bloodied hand twitches with the urge to move to his neck.]
I said shut up.
[It's a pitiful counter and he knows it's totally pointless, but those words are tumbling out of his mouth anyways before he can stop them.]
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He doesn't see it, not yet, but the potential is there, and it makes Endo's heart race. The smile on his face is anything but measured — it enters a state of fervor that is disproportionate to the situation as a whole, especially since he hasn't touched Accelerator since the punch. Wild is the only way to describe his eyes, his eagerness, the way everything else takes a backseat to the growing roar within his mind.
Up until this very moment, he hadn't wanted Accelerator — not to have, hold, possess, or slot into some made-up spot within Noroshi. But if he snaps him the way he would a twig beneath his shoe, then maybe — maybe he will reach out and touch that choker, his neck, the expanse of skin that's so covered — and watch as that those eyes widen, and see only him.
It's easy now; something fragile has already begun to bend. All Endo needs to do is add a final piece of pressure, small but heavy enough to shatter. If only he could reach out and set his hand against Accelerator's throat, to seek his pulse, to feel each breath move in and out, close to stilling.
He found something good in this whim of a meeting. Now he needs to destroy it so he can shape it into something beautiful. ]
You're not even a person. You're nothing.
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He's known he was a monster for a long, long time. There were points in his life where he tried to prove otherwise, but they never lasted and he always returned to being a monster. He always sank back down into the mud. That's how it is right now, he's just sinking and sinking and sinking --
People can be monsters. He's known loads of them, mainly scientists, sometimes kids like himself, but none of them ever reached the same level of demonic as him. None of them willingly drowned themselves in as much innocent as he has. He's unique in the worst way possible, and it leaves him feeling like something viscerally familiar to him - a chewed up, mangled carcass - but it's true.
Accelerator stares up at Endo, the fear draining out of him, leaving his expression desperate. His vision starts to blur and the static in his head gets louder. Endo is right in one sense and wrong in another. He isn't a person, but he isn't nothing. He doesn't want to be a monster, but he is one and there isn't anything he can do about it.
There's a change in the air pressure immediately surrounding them, moments before a resounding boom causes the windows in the buildings around them to shudder. A jet black substance suddenly explodes out of Accelerator's back, spraying dozens of meters into the air in the form of two long, dark wings. Looming high above the two of them the wings start to distort and bend, scraping against nearby buildings and shattering glass, the darkness they're made of swallowing up any light that reaches them. Accelerator trembles, still staring at Endo, almost as if he doesn't even notice what's going on behind him.
This isn't the first time these things have manifested themselves, and every single time they've come out they've been nearly impossible to control. Right now is no different. There's another bursting noise as the wings start to intertwine with each other, tearing at each other like animals desperately trying to rip each other apart.]
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He's only felt this way once in his life, years ago, when he looked up at some scaffolding and saw a boy his age covered in blood, shining in the moonlight. He reached out to touch him and got burned, and for the first time in his life, he felt everything he hadn't before: fear. excitement. anxiety. utter joy.
That's what he experiences when he looks upon this, the result of his work. He no longer has eyes for Accelerator, the weak and fragile nonentity, but what he has become: a monster, one that Endo would never seek to tame, but would carry throughout the world to watch it bring about the end.
Only, the wings are not on fire; they do not burn. They are dark and cold — a manifestation of emptiness. They lash out as though they herald despair. Nothing will be ash when they recede, because all that will be left is a void.
Over the years, Endo has reached out and been burned, and reached out again, and again, and again. Every time, Takiishi ignored him, punched him, burned him, and Endo still reached. He still reaches. This is no different. He recognizes the danger; he's drawn to it. He will touch it, and it will bore through him, and Endo will call for it again. Because what he does, as he watches the wings entangle with each other, as he hears each resounding burst of violence, is feel.
Staring at the wings, he murmurs: ]
You are...
[ And stupidly, happily, takes a step forward. ]
...a god.
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Oh. This has happened before. A few times, and during most of them there was someone there to talk him down. Last Order, or that Level 0. They aren't here now, it's only him and Endo, and that's worse than being alone. At least if he was alone all that would be driving him would be his own self-loathing.
Accelerator drops his head, curls in on himself and gripping his hair. His breathing is coming in harsh, short bursts.]
I'm -- I'm not -- .... [A god? Nothing? He doesn't finish his thought, he can't. Endo swerving from calling him nothing to a god only brings up bad memories, in turn causing his wings to grow more frenzied. He can't be a god, he deliberately walked away from that path when he abandoned the Level 6 Shift Experiment, leaving a mountain of bodies in his wake.
Being a god meant a second mountain, another ten thousand corpses bloodying his hands. More dead Sisters. A dead Last Order. As much of a monster as he is, he could never accept that, and even the thought of it causes him to shudder before he vehemently shakes his head.]
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Shut up.
[ How can a person be so beautiful and simultaneously so wretched? He doesn't want to think about that now, but if Accelerator hears Endo murmur something about an awakening, he wouldn't be imagining things. Endo will think about how exactly he'll need to break Accelerator down (again) so he can be the god that he is clearly meant to be — later, after this moment has receded. Right now, he wants to stand too close to darkness and feel it pass through him.
But he does think to himself, as those wings thrash with increasing abandon, that he has decided he wants Accelerator to be his. His to train, his to wield, his to shape.
He will have him.
He takes another step, putting himself beside Accelerator, rather than in front of him. He has had enough of being studied. He's tired of experiencing the dichotomy between true power and the worthlessness of Accelerator's comments. ]
You know what you are.
[ Powerful, fearsome, uncontained —
and irresistible.
He reaches out. ]
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That's right. He knows what he is. Endo isn't dragging it out of him, he's just doing a damn good job of confirming the thing that he became all on his own.
He isn't a god, and he isn't nothing. He's a monster, and as he sinks further and further into his acceptance of this he has to wonder what the hell he's even doing. What is it monsters do best, after all? They destroy.
Buried amidst all the pain and self-loathing is anger, and as Accelerator gives up it explodes out of him.
Endo reaches out and the wings shift, going from a vibrating, formless darkness to something sharpened. They almost resemble feathers, though the detail isn't there and they still undulate unnaturally, as if holding any kind of shape won't last for very long. Then, in a moment of sudden direction, one twists away from the other and plunges downwards, directly at him.]
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I loled
he's ridiculous lol. also tysm for letting me fully embrace endo's insanity
Endo should always be living his best toxic life
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accelerator is so cute lol
they're both doofuses omg
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