Here's chapter three of my Love Victor and Persona 5 crossover. Having to awaken his Persona, Victor joined forces with the Phantom Thieves to find Benji who is forced to comfort his past.
Love Victor X Persona 5 - The Drag Phantom Thieves
Chapter 3 - Dance with the past
You can use this Persona 5 soundtrack for this section
Victor followed The Phantom Thieves as they infiltrated Shade’s palace in search of Benji. They find that the shadows tend to lurk in each corner and door, just like security guards, repelling intruders. “Get out! Only the superior class and race are allowed in! Anyone inferior or alien is not welcome!” boomed the shadows as they repelled the Phantom Thieves from entering a room, forcing them to back out.
“It’s just like keeping immigrants out, as I’ve read in some of his tabloids”, said Yusuke grimly. “Guess that’s why his palace resembles a fortress”, analysed Haru. “Yeah, he was very unwelcoming to Benji and me”, said Victor, shuddering at that memory. “Guys, we have to play it smartly if we want to get past”, said Futaba. They watch the shadows patrolling the corridors. Once they were walking the other way, Ren signalled the others to sneak by.
However, the shadow happened to turn around quickly and spotted them. With his quick thinking, Victor used Seregil’s sun-based powers to blind the shadows, allowing him and the others to make a quick getaway. “Excellent thinking there!” praised Ren. “You really brighten our path, Striker!” added Futaba. “It’s only made possible with my Persona’s powers”, replied Victor humbly.
Victor was still getting the hang of being a Phantom Thief. Although Seregil was good at blinding shadows, Victor is having trouble sneaking up on the shadows from behind. His nerves and anxiety make him hesitate as he attempts to ambush a shadow, only for the shadow to spot him first, as said by Futaba, “They spotted you, Striker!” He can only really blind the shadows with Seregil’s sun-based powers while he is comforted by them. This leaves the Phantom Thieves to take out the Shadows for him, lowering his confidence.
This puts the Shadows on high alert. The Phantom Thieves hide themselves in a corner until they settle down. “Sorry, I’ve messed things up, didn’t I?” said Victor apologetically. “Don’t blame yourself, these things happen”, said Ren gently. “Yeah, I was pretty rusty back when I started as a Phantom Thief, otherwise known as Beauty Thief at the time”, said Haru. “Tell me, what’s the best way to sneak up on those shadows?” asked Victor. “It’s all about watching their movements and then striking at the right time”, advised Morgana. “Just like a ninja”, said Futuba. “That way, they’ll never see it coming”, said Yusuke.
Victor appreciated their advice. Feeling that he can be open to them, he then added, “I’m more of an ordinary high school student who’s finding myself, rather than a fighter, let alone a phantom thief.” The Phantom Thieves understood him with Makoto saying, “We started off as normal students, which would have been more ideal if I’m honest.” “If it weren’t for those wretched adults getting their way, then I bet there wouldn’t be any need for Phantom Thieves”, said Ryuji sourly. “If no one else stands up to these adults, then who would?” said Ann sombrely.
“It’s what I’ve tried to do back then, only for me to get branded as a criminal. Still, I only wish for a better society where everyone can live in harmony and free from pain and corruption,” said Ren. Victor was inspired by their words. “Thanks, I may not have as much experience, but I’ll give it my all for Benji’s sake. I know he must be nearby,” said Victor with some renewed confidence, with a bit of hope. The Phantom Thieves were happy for his courage, with Ren saying, “And once again, we have your back.” “We just need to press on, and we should find him in no time”, said Futaba.
The shadows have settled down as they have not spotted any intruders, allowing the Phantom Thieves to move onwards. The Phantom Thieves did most of the sucker punching, although Victor did another attempt. He crept slowly, trying not to be too cautious while being vigilant. He almost succeeded, although once he got closer to the shadow, he hesitated for a split second, which allowed him to get spotted, so he quickly blinded the shadow with Seregil’s sun-based powers. The others helped him to take it out. “You almost got this, but I know you’ll get there”, said Ren encouragingly. “At the very least, I have a way to turn it around”, said Victor, thanking him.
Meanwhile, Benji has been spending the whole time hiding from the shadows, hiding in every corner and rushing into every empty room. “Victor? Where are you? Please, how much more do we have to be apart?” said Benji anxiously, having to be separated from Victor into an unknown world full of shadowy monsters. If things couldn’t get any worse, then the room that he went into to hide is where a shadow version of Shade De Porter and the other half of the thugs that he and Victor had encountered earlier in the real world happened to be.
“Well, well, if it isn’t the Faggot who wandered into my fortress? You don’t belong here!” exclaimed Shadow Shade De Porter. “Tell me, where is Victor?!” demanded Benji, putting on a brave facade to hide his anxiety. “That is none of my concern! You aliens always barge into our society where you don’t belong! I’ll make the whole world know that both of you Faggots are destroying society while making you both regret setting foot here!” said Shade De Porter as he sets the shadow thugs that transform into shadows to attack him.
Fortunately, that’s when Victor and The Phantom Thieves arrive, having to hear the commotion with Victor’s Seregil firing his sun sphere to blind the shadows for The Phantom Thieves to strike. Victor and Benji held each other tightly, having to be reunited. “Benji!” said Victor joyfully. “Victor! I’m glad you’re here. And you have this fancy new dress,” said Benji with relief yet astonishment as he noticed Victor’s outfit.
“What’s this? More intruders?!” cried Shadow Shade De Porter. “We’ll be the ones who’ll put a stop to your hateful tabloids!” said Ren. “They include your fake news and unnecessary gossip, which you used to turn others against minority people!” said Morgana. “So it’s you, Phantom Thieves. I’ll make sure that I’ll write some dirt about you lot for everyone to know how unruly you Phantom Thieves are! Be gone with them, my minions!” said Shadow Shade De Porter as he went away, leaving the shadows to fight them.
Three of the shadows they have to fight resemble snakes including Naga Raja, Ananta and a Genbu with one other demon resembling a Goddess known as a Mnemosyne. The Nega Raja resembles a golden snake with half of its body resembling a man that wields electrical based attacks Victor uses Seregil’s sun barriers to protect the Phantom Thieves from the shock, allowing Ryuji and Morgana to to fight the Nega Raja.
“Woah! What is that?” said Benji when he sees Victor fighting with Seregil. “That’s my Persona Benji. It’s how I fight in this palace and obtained this costume” answered Victor. “It’s what we use to fight shadows” added Morgana. “In that case, you can be my bodyguard” said Benji, showing his amazement with Victor’s Persona while admiring the fact that he can fight which made Victor blush.
Victor was still inexperienced in battle. When he tried to help the Phantom Thieves to fight the Ananta, the multi-headed cobra-like shadow dodged Seregil’s sun spheres which allowed Ananta to hit Victor with its Abyssal Surge, causing his mind to be inflicted with despair. “No...I must get out here” cried Victor with anxiety (much to Benji’s concern who wanted to help him). The Phantom Thieves helped to back him up with Makoto using her Johanna’s Energy Shower to remove the despair from Victor while Ann used her Carmen’s Blazing Hell to intercept Ananta’s Mafreila. Ananta has also got hit by the flames. “You have nothing to fear” said Makoto reassuring Victor. “Thanks, I must do better” said Victor.
Victor is still able to provide help for the Phantom Thieves by powering them up with Seregil’s sunlight as they fight the Genbu. However, the tortoise shadow with a serpent like dragon attached to its body hits Victor with its Bufu, causing his body to become frozen. “I’m freezing” said Victor shivering. “Let me warm you up” said Haru as she used her Milady’s Fast Heal which helped to defrost him while Yosuke’s Goemon countered Genbu’s ice attacks with his own ice moves as powered up by Victor earlier. “Fighting ice with ice is like some fine art” said Yusuke. Victor made a small smile, knowing that his contributions haven’t gone to waste.
“This is a Mnemosyne. I’ve never seen that shadow before” said Futaba as she analysed Mnemosyne who fires explosive spheres that are made out of illusion. “Woah! We better watch out for those attacks” said Morgana as he landed on the floor after narrowing dodging the attacks. Mnemosyne fired another sphere-like attack but with his quick thinking, Victor uses Seregil’s sun spheres to counter the attack. “That’s a well executed attack there!” said Ren praising him as he and others fought back with their Personas including his Arsène’s Dream Needle.
This prompted Mnemosyne to fire a larger sphere that resembles a vortex that was heading towards Victor. “Victor watch out!” cried Benji who with his instincts to save him grabbed him to get him out from the attack’s range, only for Benji to get caught into the vortex, much to the others’ shock with Victor yelling “No Benji!” He rushed into the vortex in desperation to save him. “No wait! You don’t know what will happen!” called Morgana but he and the other Phantom Thieves find themselves following Victor.
The vortex led them to Benji, who appeared unharmed but bore a disturbed, distressed expression. Victor rushed to his side. "Benji! Are you alright? Can you hear me?" Benji, eyes fixed on a car crashing into a restaurant, mumbled, "No...this is...but why?" Ryuji stared at the scene, confused. "What the heck is this place?" Haru, alarmed, pointed to the crash. "Looks like there’s an accident!" Benji’s voice was weary. "That is...my car back when I was drunk. I was in denial about my sexuality, and that’s how I dealt with it. I could have died, but why am I seeing this now?" Victor, aware of Benji’s past, responded softly. "Oh Benji..." Makoto looked at Benji in surprise. "Huh? You mean this is the past?"
The Mnemosyne and other shadows have appeared. Futaba figured something out. “I think this Mnemosyne is the reason why we’re seeing Benji’s memories.” The shadows attacked the Phantom Thieves, knocking them down onto the ground. “Owww, that attack hurts more than usual!” cried Ann. They tried to fight back, but the shadows easily dodged it. “How did they get faster?!” demanded Yusuke.
The Mnemosyne then sent them to the next part of Benji’s memory, which showed Benji making a brave decision to come out to his parents after he was discharged from the hospital, realising that he could have died without being true to himself. Although his parents have accepted his sexuality, Benji later overheard his parents talking about his problems with school and driving with his Father, saying that ‘he wasn’t the son he pictured’, which made Benji feel hurt because he was not meeting his Father’s expectations of him. It has since then become his trauma.
“Why? I thought I had moved on from that!” cried Benji, just before he and the others were shown a continuation of that memory. His trauma had been getting in the way of his relationship with Victor, causing it to become strained, so he decided to get himself into rehab. “No! Please don’t show it!” begged Benji, as the memory continued and his therapist and father told him he needed to break up with Victor in order to heal himself. He complied, which ended up hurting Victor.
Benji hated to re-experience that memory, hurting the one he loved as he crouched on the ground with guilt. “Benji, please!” called Victor, who tried to distract Victor from witnessing that painful memory, but Benji was unresponsive. The Phantom Thieves felt sorry for them. “I never thought they would have it rough”, said Haru sadly. “I am no therapist, but I guess it wasn’t an easy decision to make”, said Morgana.
The shadows appeared once again, with the Phantom Thieves not having any better luck fighting them, as the shadows took no damage from their attacks. “What gives? How did they become so invisible?!” exclaimed Ryuji with frustration. “It’s like they’re becoming stronger in this memory world!” said Makoto. This helped Ren and Futaba figure something out.
The Mnemosyne then sent them to another part of Benji’s memory when he regretted breaking up with Victor, even though his time away had helped him to come to terms with his past as he became sober. He considered getting back with Victor, as he still loved him, only for Benji to find Victor kissing another guy. This made him think that Victor was happier without him, so he decided to make a fresh new start at a boarding school. As he was packing for a new life, Victor came back to him, but he told him that it was too late. Benji looked away, uncomfortable having to witness it again.
“Just what we needed, a love triangle”, ranted Yusuke. “He really didn’t want to go through that again”, said Makoto sombrely. “If we’re seeing that memory again, are we...meant to be together?” said Victor with doubt. The shadows showed up to attack yet again. “Ugh, there’s no breaking out of this at this rate!” groaned Ann as they tried to fight them with no avail, as Mnemosyne easily overpowered them with its moves. Ren and Futaba had an idea. “Victor, I think the only way for us to beat those shadows and to escape from Benji’s memories is for you and Benji to come to terms with it”, said Ren. Victor looked perplexed. “I believe Joker is right. Those memories may be painful, but it’s how those shadows are becoming stronger. Only you and Benji can face the past to overcome it!” said Futaba
Victor realised that they’re right. He has to be there for Benji so that he can truly accept his past. He then saw Mnemosyne was about to attack a distressed Benji, but he sneaked up towards its left side and used Seregil’s glowing sun sphere to blind it as he called out to his boyfriend (making it a successful surprise attack with Ren giving him a thumbs up). The Phantom Thieves helped to hold off the shadows as much as they could, as Victor and Benji had a heart-to-heart with each other, with Benji looking at Victor with awe.
“Benji, are you still haunted by these memories of yours?” asked Victor as he looked at him in the eye. “I’ve been hurting you, Victor, which makes me a terrible boyfriend who doesn’t deserve you”, said Benji with guilt. Although Victor was hurt back when Benji broke up with him, he still has love for him. Even now, he knew that Benji was a kind person who felt bad about his past. “No, Benji, I... no, our relationship wasn’t perfect, even though I was in the wrong, including back when we had this silly argument. It may have been easier with those two other guys I’ve dated, but I never felt the same way when I was with you. Looking back, I guess our time apart has helped us to strengthen our bond while figuring things out,” said Victor.
That helped Benji to think back about his past with a clearer perspective. “...I guess you’re right. I needed to have time away so that I could focus on healing myself,” said Benji. “Yeah, I wanted you to be happy, bettering yourself so that our love would work out between us”, said Victor encouragingly. Victor’s words are gradually making Benji feel at ease with him, saying, “Victor, I always felt that I could be myself when I’m with you. Even if I was hard on you, I never wanted to hurt you, yet I thought that breaking up with you, as told by my Father and my therapist, would be the best for both of us, so that I wouldn’t drag you into my problems.”
Victor understood his intention, though he said, “I always wanted to be with you, and I wished I could have been there for you even if it was necessary for you to have time away.” Benji smiled at him, thought back to those memories for a moment and said, “That accident may have happened, but what’s important is that I am here, and it has given me the courage to come out, living as my true self. I guess there’s no running from the past. I can only face it to become stronger for the future”.
Victor was happy that he was helping Benji to come to terms with his past and said, “I guess it shows that neither of us are perfect and we both have a lot of growing up to do, but I am willing to face whatever happens between us with you”, said Victor as he reached out his hand to Benji. He held onto them with a warm smile with direct eye contact. “I couldn’t ask for someone better than you. Oh, and you know when you left after I said it was too late, just when I was about to go to boarding school? That gave me some time to comfort my Father, who told you to stay away without my consent and to think things through fully before we went on that Ferris wheel,” said Benji. Victor was glad that Benji was open to him.
As Benji was accepting his past, the shadows were becoming weaker, which proved Ren and Futaba’s theories correct. Ren briefly looked at Victor and Benji having a heart-to-heart, feeling happy for them.
Use this Persona 5 soundtrack for this section
“So you finally realise that your eyes cannot avert the past; they can only focus on the path forward. What’s more important right now is to stand up to the one who has threatened to tear you and your lover apart. Too often, marginalized people are scorned by those who don’t understand, blinded by hate so why don’t you forge a contract with me and we can put a change to that?” said a voice while Benji cried out in pain with a new power awakening in him. “...Yes...let’s do it!” said Benji who came round, accepting the new power. “Then let us fight for our rights. I am thou...Thou art I,” said the voice, and Benji has obtained a drag performer outfit that mirrors Victor’s outfit, making it his turn to wield a Persona named Alec.
“Now we can fight together!” cheered Victor. “Indeed, I will no longer hold back and face the future head-on! Alec, let’s take the stage!” said Benji. Alec has the ability to use nature-based powers, summoning vines that trap the shadows. “Wahey! Now we have another Persona user on our side!” said Morgana with delight. “Finally, I can land some attacks in!” cheered Ryuji with his Captain Kidd and Morgana’s Zorro attacking the Naga Raja while it was trapped.
An Ananta fired its Freidyne towards Victor, but Benji protected him with Alec, summoning a gust of leaves to intercept the attack, shielding his boyfriend. “It’s about time I return you the favour”, said Benji, smiling at Victor. “You have always been there for me”, said Victor, smiling back, and attacked Ananta with Seregil’s sun spheres, with Ann and Yusuke backing him up.
Benji can also use Alec to summon a glassy terrain that provided some healing to his allies, which helped Victor, Makoto and Haru to restore their health as they fought the Genbu. “Now this feels refreshing. I bet this power of your Persona could help to grow my vegetables,” said Haru, complementing Benji while humouring him. “I guess that Alec’s powers are supposed to represent nature for the Pride flag”, theorised Victor. “I think you’re right about that”, said Benji.
With the above three Shadows weakened, all that is left is the Mnemosyne, who fired its sphere attacks, which are explosive, but Benji used Alec to counter them with his blossom-like bombs that helped the others, including Victor and Ren, to provide an opening, rushing towards the Mnemosyne and attacking it at close range. Victor also used the collided attacks as an opportunity to sucker punch the Mnemosyne. “And I shall call this: Blossom of the battlefield!” said Benji. “Now this has a nice ring to it!” said Futaba.
Eventually, the shadows were defeated, reverting them back into the shadow thugs. Like the previous shadow thugs, they use the victim card to justify their actions. “Why have a problem with our opinions? We just happened to be fans of Shade De Porter’s articles,” moaned one of the shadow thugs. “We just agree with everything he has written that clicks with our ideology. Isn’t that an excuse to give anyone who is different a hard time?” whined another shadow thug. “Well, why don’t you try respecting others who are different, including Victor and me, who only live to be ourselves, loving who we want?!” answered Benji. “As if that’s an excuse to hurt others without having an opinion of your own!” said Ann. “Or fact-checking!” added Futaba.
“Why must you Faggots have more rights than us?!” said the other shadow thug. “You Fags only exist to have attention while having a perverted lifestyle that I don’t like. Shade De Porter said so,” said the other shadow thug. “That is not what being LGBTQ+ is about. We exist to have the same rights as you do!” answered Victor. “Even so, it shouldn’t be your business if you’re only going to be outraged for the sake of being outraged”, said Yusuke sternly. “Only you can change your narrow-minded views about those who are different to you”, said Ren, and the shadow thugs made their leave.
Victor and Benji embraced each other, glad to be reunited with each other, with the Phantom Thieves happy for them. “I'm so glad that you're safe”, said Victor happily. “Once again, you always keep coming back to me”, said Benji warmly as they gazed into each other’s eyes. Benji then gives his thanks to the Phantom Thieves. “We’re just glad to find you both in one piece”, replied Ren. “So, Alec is a Persona like yours?” asked Benji. “You got that right, it’s like your other self”, answered Morgana, and the Phantom Thieves brought Benji up to speed with what they do as Phantom Thieves and as Persona users (including with Futaba saying that Benji needs a code name. Benji came up with Java which is based on his occupation as the assistant manager and barista at Brasstown Coffee Company, much to Futaba’s astonishment with her adoptive Father also makes coffee).
“Yeah, that Shade De Porter and his thugs have got in the way of our vacation. We may have dealt with those thugs, but I’m going to make him pay for making Victor and me unwelcome,” said Benji. “We must be the ones to put an end to his hateful bigotry and for all those who have suffered by his corrupt journalism”, said Makoto sombrely. “People like us should have the right to live freely for who we are and who we love as equals, no matter where we are, to be safe and welcome everywhere”, said Victor, with Benji nodding in agreement. “You got that right, and without having their privacy invaded by the unwarranted press twisting their words”, added Ren.
“Please, allow me to aid you all. It’s the least I can do for reuniting us,” said Benji. “You shouldn’t need to ask, you’re one of us”, said Ryuji. “Yeah, we’re all in this together”, said Victor, and they made their way, fighting a few more Shadows and the Phantom Thieves, and Victor gave Benji some battle tips along the way until they found a room where a formless cloud of rainbow energy in shape of a sceptre happened to be located.
“So is this their treasure?” asked Victor. “I don’t see anything”, said Benji, who seemed perplexed. “It can only appear if the palace’s host feels threatened in the real world”, answered Morgana. “And that’s when we send them the calling card”, added Yusuke. “By feeling rattled, this caused their treasure to manifest in its physical form for us to steal. It’s the only way we can change Shade De Porter’s heart,” said Ann. “I never thought I would steal something before”, said Benji in awe. “Still, if it is to make a stance for equality and to get back at him for what he did to us, his family and those who were persecuted by him, then we do what we must”, said Victor with Benji agreeing with him. They were willing to help the Phantom Thieves come up with a calling card.
So they made their way back to the real world, mailing the calling card to Shade De Porter’s bureau. Shade was in his office, typing up his latest article (which claims that Victor and Benji were attacking him) while saying to himself “Those unruly Kids shouldn’t have step a foot in my country but with this juicy scoop, soon everyone will know how evil those Foreign Faggots are who should be rounded up and butchered like those helpless pig that are about to turn into beacon.”
Use this Persona 5 soundtrack for this section
Shade was handed some mail, which included the calling card from the Phantom Thieves. It reads “Sir Shade De Porter, the xenophobic journalist. Your tabloids, gossip, and fake news that target minority people have been spreading like wildfire, putting them in a bad light that not only makes them feel unsafe but also turns others against them. The only news that people should get to hear is all of your confessions, which shall be nothing but the truth! From The Phantom Thieves.”
“So those Phantom Thieves...are as real as they come, huh? No doubt that this will be a tasty gossip for the press,” scoffed Shade, who set aside the calling card and typed up an article, while his shadow was well aware that his treasure was about to be taken, setting the palace on high alert.
To be continued
Mega McBustedeon
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