#haru joins way earlier to sort of replace akira and becomes their temporary leader until makoto joins and she takes over

[akechi-stole-my-heart]

Murder Boyfriends AU, but Akira's initial intention is to get Akechi out of the situation he's in because he thinks if they're allies Akechi is more likely to listen to him and if he gets to know Akechi's boss and Akechi's world close up he'll have a better chance of strategizing a way out. Instead he ends up slowly being corrupted (learning Akechi's boss is Shido is a huge stepping stone toward that) and he eventually completely loses sight of his original goal and he and Akechi become unstoppable allies. Akira meets Akechi way earlier than in canon and abandons the Phantom Thieves just after Kamoshida, but they continue to target Madarame and everyone else without him, and the Phantom Thieves have to save them both.