It takes Ren longer than he’d like to pull himself together after he wakes from the dream, eyelashes damp and heart aching but smiling widely and still so full of love. That dream was so cathartic, and he’s overwhelmed by it all - the confessions, the realizations, the release of so many secrets he’s kept locked away inside of himself for so long. He laughs - he really is a fool.

He fell asleep in his van, passed right out on one of the bench seats, barely remembered to pull off his glasses and stash them somewhere safe before he lost consciousness. What had he been doing before then? Why hadn’t he found Akechi first? Ren can’t remember. Maybe it’s not important. It’s definitely not as important as finding Akechi now.

He doesn’t bother looking for his glasses before exiting the van - they’ve been his everyday world mask for so long, and he doesn’t need that separation right now. Doesn’t want that separation between himself and Akechi right now, not when he’s just pulled himself so thoroughly apart to show the other boy his heart and his soul. He wants to keep letting Akechi in, not keep him even a little bit out.

So no glasses. Just sliding out of the driver’s side door of the van and leaning back against the dusty metal body. Closing his eyes and sending the tendrils of his mind out to wander, searching for a familiar presence.

I’m here.