Chapter Text
It's not rare for Akechi to wonder about the Phantom Thieves' hierarchy.
It doesn't make sense to him, whenever he takes the time to stop and think about it. He can see how Nijimas's personality lends itself to taking charge. If his deductions are correct, though, which they are, Nijima didn't come into the picture until the Phantom Thieves' third target. If they'd established a leader by then like they should have, there would've been no way for Nijima to come between that.
Joker is the obvious choice for leader, and he's been in the Phantom Thieves since the group's founding. Nijima should not have been able to take charge.
It's not the case that Nijima is a bad leader. Akechi doesn't have much experience with group work, but he has no significant complaints where she is concerned. Only the impression that Joker would do a better job. He is not biased.
Akechi watches Joker's easy posture as he follows Queen's lead, the simple acceptance of his place, and it doesn't make sense.
Joker gambles with the confidence of a thief, shouts at enemies to distract them, takes the lead to guide them all through a pitch-black maze. He competes with Shadow over who can snatch the most valuable item, such a familiar routine for them that they must've done this in every palace up to now. He gains several flummoxed looks by laughing out loud when Akechi suggests he's being overly aggressive in fights.
Akechi bets on Joker's solo victory, and he wins amounts that would have sent his younger self into a days-long anxiety attack.
In one of the safe rooms, Joker gathers them all around the central table. He sweeps off any chips left over from the theoretical previous inhabitants, and takes a deck of cards from one of his many pockets.
"Does anyone here know how to play Tycoon?" he asks, shuffling the deck without looking. He makes weaving the cards seem easy. Akechi has never seen him do that in reality, so he assumes Joker is taking advantage of cognition here.
"I think I do," Panther says. "It's the same thing as Millionaire, right?"
"Different name," Joker confirms. For the benefit of the rest of the group, he explains the simple rules.
Noir giggles and takes a seat. "Sounds fun!"
"Is this really necessary right now?" Akechi asks, keeping his voice light and even.
As if specifically to spite him, Queen takes a seat at the table as well. She says, "It's a good way to take a break from fighting."
"We can have two games going on at the same time," Joker says, eyeing their group size, "but for this first game it may be good if everyone watches and learns."
He cuts the deck and starts dealing for his players. Fox frames the group with his fingers. Akechi crosses his arms and watches.
Joker goes under the radar for most of the game, and Akechi is the only one not surprised when in the last round, he bankrupts Queen and takes the whole game.
Panther groans. "I got my butt kicked."
"I was so close," Queen despairs. "Is bankrupting even in the rules, or did you make that up just now?"
Joker smirks at her and doesn't answer, the most infuriatingly smug air about him.
They end up moving on after only that game, but Tycoon becomes a staple of resting in safe rooms.
When he's doing this much anyway, Joker should logically be elected as leader. He's the obvious choice, isn't he?
Akechi's first hint to 'absolutely not' comes long after he's already betrayed Joker, and Joker has betrayed him in turn.