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alicewritingstories · 1 month ago

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Whumptober 2024 Fills Part 4: Secret

AO3

Fandom: Linked Universe

Central character(s): Sky, Hyrule, Legend

No.9: OBSESSION | Broken Window | Bruises | “Frame me up on the wall, just to keep me out of trouble.” (Fall Out Boy, Irresistible)

No.11: SEEING DOUBLE | Convenience Store | Loneliness | “Leave no trace behind, like you don't even exist.” (Taylor Swift, Illicit Affairs)

No.13: TEAM AS A FAMILY | Familial Curse | Multiple Whumpees | "Death will do us part." (Set It Off, Partner's In Crime)

No.14: LEFT FOR DEAD | Hunting Gear | Blackmail | “Because I want you to know what it feels like to be haunted” (tiLLie, kooL aiD mAn)

No.19: BLOOD TRAIL | Abandoned Cabin | One Way Out | "Is there anybody alive out there?" (Bruce Springsteen, Radio Nowhere)

No.23: FORCED CHOICE | Public Display | Broken Pedestal | "I'm doing this for you."

No.24: RADIATION POISONING | Collapsed Building | Equipment Failure | “I never knew daylight could be so violent.” (Florence + The Machine, No Light, No Light)

Warnings: torture, imprisonment, hunger

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Sky choked as another kick landed in the small of his back. His stomach twisted, but there was nothing left to throw up and all he could do was cough and gasp, reaching for some happy memory he could use to comfort himself and escape this experience.

"Oh, no, Chosen Hero," said the Shadow, kicking him again. "You don't get to pass out just yet."

Sky gritted his teeth and screwed his eyes shut. One of them, anyway. The other was already so swollen with bruises he couldn't have opened it if he'd wanted to.

"It makes sense, though." He heard footsteps walking round him and the Shadow's voice shifted to something like an echo of his own. "You always were a coward."

"If y'... wan' me… g'v… trif'rce… wrong way… go 'bout it." he panted out.

The Shadow snorted. "Do they know? Those two boys I captured you with?"

Sky didn't waste breath on asking what Hyrule and Legend were supposed to know.

"Do they know you're the reason for all their pain?" The incongruously-light footsteps paced around Sky in circles. "The sharp-tempered one… does he know you're why his beloved uncle died in his arms and he's spent his whole life on one quest after another? And your sweet little healer. Does he know you're why his world is, well, the way it is?"

The words sent a chill through Sky's body despite his pain and weakness.

"So much suffering," mused the Shadow, pausing by Sky's head and putting a booted foot on his right arm, just below the manacle on his wrist. "For so many people, but especially the ones you call your brothers. All because you were slow. All because you were a coward."

The words wormed into the wound in Sky's heart that had never fully healed, but he was determined not to show the Shadow that he'd found a weak point.

"I assume you'd like to keep your lie going and let them keep thinking you're a hero just like them." The Shadow leaned a little more weight on Sky's arm, grinding the bones together and finally wringing a whimper through gritted teeth. "Oh, good, I was starting to wonder if you were still conscious."

"Oh… 'm still… conscious." It was intended as a growl, but he knew it came out as more of a moan.

"Good." The Shadow eased up slightly on Sky's arm. "So. Do you want me to tell them the truth?"

Sky didn't, but he still didn't want to show that kind of weakness.

"Not even enough courage to say 'no' out loud, I see." The Shadow stepped off Sky's arm and started pacing around him. "Heroes. You talk so much about goodness and light. Who knew that you would find daylight just as violent as anyone else?" His voice took on the hiss of his lizalfos form even as he spoke.

Sky still didn't reply, trying to ignore the pain in his body and heart, trying not to let the words land.

A scaled hand grabbed the back of his neck to hold him down and he squirmed instinctively, his breath catching in his throat. The Shadow barely acknowledged his struggles except to tighten his grip slightly as with his other hand he released the chain between Sky's wrists from the catch holding it to the floor.

Sky yelped in pain as he was hauled to his feet, still by the back of his neck, and almost before he had found his feet the Shadow had taken hold of his wrists and was dragging him off down the corridor back to their cell, so fast it was all he could do not to trip and fall as he followed, especially as the pull on his arms sent fire chasing through his injured ribs. When they reached the door, the Shadow shoved him against the wall, one hand still holding his wrists high above his head, the other closing on his jaw.

"I want information from you. You want silence from me. I suggest you consider your options," the Shadow hissed in his ear.

Sky knew his options. And giving up the triforce and the other heroes wasn't one of them.

The Shadow unbolted the cell door and hurled Sky in. He cried out as he landed, pain once again shooting through his battered body, and couldn't even try to resist as his chained wrists were once again attached to a tether in a corner of the cell. He had barely gathered up the strength to move when the door slammed and the cell was plunged into darkness.

"Sky?" asked Hyrule's voice. "Are you there?"

Sky stirred, biting back a moan.

"How bad is it?" asked Legend quietly.

"Nothin' new broken," replied Sky. Plenty of new bruises and some lash marks, but nothing deeper. He coughed to clear his throat. "Not too… much blood lost. You two OK?"

"You worry about yourself for now," said Legend.

"You missed a meal," said Hyrule sadly. "We saved you some of our rations. Can you move enough to reach?"

They'd discovered early on that they could just about touch each other if they reached out and strained against the chains on their manacles. Sky didn't have the energy to do that right now. And in any case he really didn't feel right taking any of their meager rations of food and water.

"Finish it," he said. "I… I'll be OK." He coughed again, struggling to find the words he knew he needed to say.

"Sky," said Legend suspiciously, "What's wrong? What happened?"

"There's… something I need to tell you." There. At least he'd started.

There was silence for a moment.

"Sky, we're going to get out of this," said Hyrule at the same time as Legend said, "Save it to tell us after."

"No, I… I have to tell you now. I should have told you before." Sky sighed and winced at a searing pain through his ribs. "There's… a secret I've been keeping. The Shadow seems to know it. I… want to tell you before he does."

Silence. Sky used the time to take another long breath, as deep as he could through a tight throat and broken ribs.

"There's… a curse. On me. On all of us. And it's my fault." Another cough. "It's… I fought… you know I didn't fight Ganon. I fought the demon lord Demise."

Gradually, he told the whole story, bleeding words into the darkness. How he had been too late over and over again. How it had taken him too long to save Zelda and how she had suffered as a result. How when the battle was done and he stood over the defeated demon, he had been too slow once again. The words Demise had spoken, dooming him and Zelda and all their descendents and successors.

"I was too slow," he said bitterly, the words scraping in his dry, worn throat. He ignored the pain and difficulty. It was the least he deserved. "And that's why… that's why. There are thousands of years of blood on my hands, all through time, all across timelines… Everything Ganon has done to any of you or your lands or those you love… ultimately it's because I was too slow." Finally, the words choked off. "I… knew you'd hate me. So I didn't tell you. I… I'm so sorry…"

Then he waited, choking back more sobs, more alone than he'd ever been, for their reaction.

He wished he could see them.

He was glad he couldn't.

Hyrule spoke first. "Sky, drink something," he said softly. "Here." There was a soft scrape of a wooden cup across the stone as it was nudged towards Sky.

Sky stared in the direction the voice had come from. "Dri- What?"

"He's right," said Legend. "You sound awful."

"Didn't you hear anything I just said?" That was more than his throat could stand and he broke down coughing.

"Of course we did," snapped Legend. "Now drink something."

Sky reached out, wincing as he moved his bruised, stiff body, and managed to hook a finger over the edge of the cup and carefully draw it towards himself. The water was stale and dirty, but it was wet and soothing on his dry throat and that was all that mattered. He sipped carefully, not wanting to risk making himself sick.

"Right," said Legend shakily. "Now, you listen to me, Feather-brain. None of this is your fault. You didn't make Demise kidnap Sun and you didn't make him curse you. You did your best to fight to save yourself and your home and your family the same as any of us. It's not your fault you had to."

"It is my fault I failed."

"Stop insulting my brother," said Hyrule, his voice raw.

"I'm… not?" said Sky, confused. "Legend -"

"Not my brother Legend, my brother Sky," said Hyrule.

"We can talk about what happened and what it means," said Legend. "But right now, stop blaming yourself for everything that happened to us. Even if I thought you did it on purpose for some dumb reason, Goddesses know there's blame to share around."

"And you'd have to have done something way worse for us to hate you," added Hyrule.

"Right," said Legend.

Sky's breath caught again and he squeezed his eyes shut, trying not to cry. He couldn't lose too much water. "You… mean it?"

"Yes," they said together.

"Th-thank you."

"Now get some rest," said Legend, more gently now. "We're going to get out of here, but you need to keep your strength up."

"Eat first," said Hyrule, and Sky once again heard the scrape of something being slid across the stone. "It's going to be OK."

Sky grabbed the plate and nibbled the two small pieces of stale bread, still sniffing back his tears.

It's going to be OK.

He still had his family. And with that knowledge to sustain him, he could hope.

It's going to be OK.

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bloodyfeverdreams · 2 months ago

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Caring for You [Even When You Don't Want It]

When Izuku and Kacchan are fighting a villain, Kacchan gets hurt. As horrible as that is, Izuku is a little glad he can finally take care of Kacchan the way he's always wanted to.

Getting paired up with Kacchan on disaster assistance was the highlight of his week. He didn’t like that there had been an earthquake near Musutafu, and he hated seeing all the people in peril who needed help, but Aizawa-sensei assigning him and Kacchan together was definitely a silver lining that he could appreciate. Any time he could spend with Kacchan was time well spent. Sure, Kacchan had loudly protested, and only conceded when Aizawa-sensei hadn’t allowed him to switch as he said that they’d been paired up for a reason, but that didn’t matter. He was pretty sure that Kacchan would’ve complained no matter who he was paired up with. He had always been so independent. It was one of the many reasons Izuki loved him. A-as a friend. Yes, definitely as a friend, and not anything else. Totally.

“You better fucking keep up with me, nerd, or I’m gonna leave your ass in the dust.” Kacchan growled as they started to run to their assigned area.

“Don’t worry about me, Kacchan, I’ll stay right by your side.” Izuku said with a bright smile.

Kacchan just glared at him. “There is nothing in this world that could make me worry about you, Deku.”

Izuku’s smile didn’t falter. He’d known Kacchan long enough to know when he was speaking seriously, and when he wasn’t. As serious as Kacchan was, he often spoke in hyperbole, always had ever since they were little.

They spent the first few minutes looking for any injured people in their area, they’d been given orders to clear three blocks of any civilians and/or get anyone injured to medical attention. The sound of smashing glass then caught their attention.

“The hell was that?” Kacchan muttered.

“It wasn’t an aftershock, we’d feel the ground shaking if it was, so it can’t be the result of anything having to do with the earthquake.” Izuku murmured.

“I know what the fuck it isn’t, Deku, we need to find out what it is, you idiot!” Kacchan snapped at him. Izuku didn’t take it personally, he knew Kacchan was really stressed about this. As much as he liked to portray that his only reason for becoming a hero was to be the best, to be even better than All Might, Izuku still knew that deep down Kacchan wanted to save people too. It was a part of who he was, even if it didn’t seem like it all the time.

Izuku’s eyes searched, and landed on a man climbing through a clearly broken window into what appeared to be a jewelry store. “There!”

Without waiting for him or anything else, Kacchan started running straight towards the man.

“Wait, Kacchan, no, we need a plan of attack!” Izuku said, tearing off after him anyways.

“I have a plan. Attack.” Kacchan growled back as he leapt through the broken window.

Izuku felt the familiar rush of power that accompanied activating One-for-All, his body beginning to crackle slightly with green lightning. He followed Kacchan inside the store to see the man he’d seen stuffing the necklaces into his jacket. Clearly, this was a crime of opportunity, and Izuku hated seeing people take advantage of others’ distress.

“Hands up, you dumb bastard!” Kacchan shouted, his hands already sparking off.

The man turned, obviously startled by their presence, as he’d most likely been expecting the heroes to focus on where the damage was rather than the side streets they’d been assigned.

“What the? Who the hell are you brats?”

“Dynamight and Deku, fuckwad!” Kacchan shouted back. Izuku’s heart secretly fluttered just a little as he heard his and Kacchan’s hero names sounding so wonderful together, especially in Kacchan’s gorgeous voice.

“We’re gonna take you down!” Izuku yelled.

“The hell you will!” The man shouted, and he extended his arm towards them.

The man’s quirk was easily revealed as spikes of all lengths started to shoot out of the man’s wrist. Almost seamlessly, they instinctively began to work together, just as they had done during the final exam, proving that they truly were two sides of the same coin. Izuku tried firing his snap wind attacks, trying to catch the man off balance, while Kacchan expertly put him on the defense to keep backing him into the wall. Together they flew, moving as one unit, when Kacchan dodged, Izuku fired his air pressure snaps, and when Izuku dove underneath a display case to shield himself, Kacchan got in close, trying to blow the man up. As much as Kacchan didn’t like working with him, it was easy to see that they did work ridiculously well together. While Izuku never lost focus on the man in front of him, he couldn’t help but stare a little at Kacchan as he moved in tandem with Izuku. Kacchan was a warrior, yet also a dancer who moved with beauty and grace, and Izuku loved being here to watch him move so expertly.

Suddenly, the world seemed to slow down as Kacchan jumped into the air, his arm outstretched, his hand ready to pull the pin out of his grenade. As he saw Kacchan move, Izuku saw a small spike protruding from the underside of Kacchan’s right gauntlet that Kacchan couldn’t see. Immediately, he started to reach for Kacchan, to scream at him to stop. But before Izuku could even get his voice to work, Kacchan had already pulled the pin.

BOOM!

A blast of hot air hit him in the chest and threw him off his feet. He flew through the air for a moment before he crashed into something hard behind him, his vision going spotty as he slid down to the ground. He wanted to get up, he wanted to run to Kacchan, but instead his eyes just closed and he passed out.

His ears rang painfully as Izuku managed to open his eyes. He groaned lightly without being able to hear it as his blurred vision tried to justify itself. Izuku wasn’t sure how long it took before his mind finally got the cobwebs out and he came back to himself. Everything about him hurt, and he could feel what must have been over a dozen bruises all over his body, but he’d had worse, so he forced himself up. He leaned against the wall to steady himself and looked around, seeing debris all around him. The jewelry store… the building must have come down around them from the force of the explosion from Kacchan’s gauntlet misfiring.

Oh god, Kacchan! Forcing himself forward despite the pain, Izuku stumbled to where he’d last seen Kacchan.

“Kacchan!” Izuku coughed as he shouted for his friend, dust trying to get down his throat as he walked. “Kacchan, where are you?”

Silence.

Izuku’s heart twisted in fear when Kacchan didn’t answer. What if something had happened when Izuku was unconscious? What if Kacchan had gotten kidnapped again? What if he’d gotten killed? God, Izuku couldn’t fathom it. Kacchan was just as much a part of him as his left arm was. He couldn’t lose Kacchan, he just couldn’t.

“Kacchan! Come on, answer me!” Izuku shouted, trying to search through the debris for any sign of his friend.

His blood ran cold when he saw lots of dots of red splattered over the floor. Izuku’s mind raced as he followed the red trail, his stomach twisting with dread as horrible images of Kacchan’s broken body flashed through his head. No, please, no, god, there was so much blood…

Izuku gasped as he came upon a pair of black boots lying still on the ground, and he immediately lurched forward, moving the body they were attached to to see who it was. A few tears ran down his cheeks as he realized that these belonged to the man who had been robbing the store. He ripped his glove off and felt at the man’s throat. He sighed heavily as he didn’t feel a pulse, and he saw some of the man’s own spikes embedded in his flesh. The force of the explosion must have sent the spikes back into him. It was a tragedy, and Izuku wished it hadn’t turned out like this, but his mind quickly drifted back to Kacchan. He needed to find his friend, he couldn’t waste any time. The potential for Kacchan to be injured was just too high.

He searched through the wreckage as carefully as he could, trying to determine any load bearing debris as he worked, using his quirk to help him dislodge what rubble he could. “Kacchan, come on, please answer me! Please! Anything! Just let me know you’re alive!”

His only answer was an eerie silence that terrified him. Kacchan never went that long without making noise.

Izuku’s heart pounded with fear in his chest, a vice twisting around his chest in the same way he’d felt that night at the training camp. “Please, Kacchan, please say something, don’t be gone, please let me find you, please!”

When he finally saw a glimpse of a green glove, he shrieked “Kacchan!”, and Izuku felt his instincts scream at him to get to Kacchan. His hands started shaking as he removed the rubble that was caging Kacchan in, and finally, after lifting a chunk of debris that must have been almost as big as Izuku himself, he finally saw the crumpled form of his dear friend. “Oh god, no, Kacchan!”

Kacchan lay upon a giant piece of rubble, slightly curled on his right side, lying in a pool of blood. Izuku immediately reached for Kacchan’s throat, and a shuddered sigh passed his lips as he felt a weak but steady pulse beating against his fingers. Izuku forced himself to calm down so he could properly triage Kacchan. Right now, his friend needed calm, and he needed support, and right now, Izuku was the only one who could give him that. Focus, Izuku, focus.

Izuku’s eyes were immediately drawn to Kacchan’s right arm, his silky skin embedded with horrible shrapnel. His right arm was soaked in blood, and took top priority. A quick glance showed that this was the most serious of the many wounds on Kacchan’s body, so he just slipped his hands underneath Kacchan’s chest and knees. He’d carry Kacchan to safety if it killed him.

A soft moan followed, and he realized that the movement must have woken Kacchan.

“Wha… de-deku?”

“Shh, you’re alright.” Izuku whispered, taking a moment to softly stroke Kacchan’s golden hair. Kacchan usually never let him get close enough to touch him, and he knew that Kacchan liked it even if he wouldn’t admit it. He’d seen Kirishima do it last week when Kacchan had a headache, and he’d seen that small smile on Kacchan’s face, even if he probably wasn’t meant to. Sure, Kacchan probably didn’t know that Izuku had been watching him, but he’d seen that Kacchan was clearly in pain, so he just wanted to check on his friend. It was nothing more, really. “Don’t move, Kacchan, I’ve got you.”

“What… happened?” Kacchan groaned, coughing a little. Probably from the dust, just as Izuku had.

“Your gauntlet misfired.” Izuku said simply. “You got hurt.”

Kacchan just made a pained noise in response.

“Shh, Kacchan, it’s alright, I’m going to take care of you.” Izuku said. He’d always wanted to do this, to be able to be close enough to take care of Kacchan, but he’d never been allowed before. “I’m going to get you to safety.”

Kacchan weakly shoved at him with his left arm. “I don’t need you, Deku.” Kacchan then tried to move and push himself up, but he didn’t even get off the ground before he shrieked in pain and collapsed again.

Izuku didn’t say anything for a moment. Kacchan glared at him. He tried again, trying to get up himself, but Kacchan just collapsed with another agonizing shout. It hurt Izuku’s heart to hear Kacchan’s beautiful voice exude such agony, but he knew his Kacchan. He had to try it himself before he let anyone even think about helping. As much as Izuku loved how independent Kacchan could be, sometimes, it was really frustrating to watch as Kacchan put himself through agony to prove a point Izuku already knew.

This time, Kacchan stayed down, panting heavily. Izuku knew that Kacchan would never verbally ask for help, especially not from him, but he knew that Kacchan not trying to stand again was his way of saying that he needed Izuku’s help. Izuku knew him better than anyone, he understood what Kacchan’s nonverbal behaviors meant, even if Kacchan himself didn’t know. Honestly, though, Kacchan had no choice but to accept Izuku’s help. He couldn’t even stand on his own. Izuku’d always wanted Kacchan to want him, to want him around, to want Izuku to take care of him, and he secretly hoped that maybe this would finally show to Kacchan that Izuku was the person who he would want when he was in trouble, when he needed someone to help him.

Gently, Izuku reached out and again stroked Kacchan’s satiny golden hair in an effort to be soothing. Kacchan swatted his hand away, but he could sense Kacchan’s strength waning. “Don’t… don’t touch me… Deku.”

“Kacchan, you’re badly hurt, and right now, I’m all you’ve got.” Izuku said, getting a little frustrated that Kacchan was acting like this even when he was so hurt. “I’m going to take care of you whether you like it or not.”

Kacchan just glared at him, but he could see the pain Kacchan was trying to keep hidden. Kacchan was so silly sometimes, trying to hide something that Izuku could so clearly see. But he knew that Kacchan had a really hard time being vulnerable, especially in front of Izuku, so he didn’t call Kacchan out on it. After all, it would just lead to another argument.

“I know you don’t like being touched, Kacchan, but you’re really hurt, and I need to do this.” Izuku said softly but firmly, and he resumed his position of grabbing Kacchan under his knees and chest. He started to lift, but he froze when Kacchan shrieked loudly in his ear.

“Wha- Kacchan, what’s wrong?” Izuku asked frantically. Kacchan would never scream like that unless he couldn’t hold it back.

“Right… side.” Kacchan gasped quietly, pain evident in every syllable. “Something… shifted.”

Izuku immediately set Kacchan back down, and rolled Kacchan over a bit, making Kacchan make a soft whimpering sound in the back of his throat. Izuku gasped as he saw what Kacchan must have felt. It had been hidden by Kacchan’s first position, but there was a metal rod sticking into Kacchan’s body, right above his hip. That must have been why there was so much pooled blood. Ohh, not good, not good. He set Kacchan back down, causing another gasp of pain.

“Kacchan, you’ve- there’s a steel rod, it’s stabbed into you.” Izuku explained, trying to keep panic out of his voice. Kacchan met his eyes, and he saw a fear in Kacchan’s beautiful crimson eyes that he hadn’t seen in a long time. They both knew that if the rod was displaced before they reached medical assistance that Kacchan would bleed out. And Izuku wasn’t willing to risk trying to break the rod, because the probability of making the wound worse was too high. Which meant that Izuku couldn’t carry Kacchan to safety without the potential of killing him.

Oh, god.

Okay, focus, Izuku, Kacchan’s terrified and he needs you. You’re the only one who can help him right now. Just like a dark part of him secretly wanted, though he always pushed that part of him down as far as it could go.

“Okay, I need to stop the bleeding on your arm.” Izuku thought out loud, so he could let Kacchan know what he was about to do so he could prepare himself. He could hear the subtle hitches in Kacchan’s breathing, they both knew this was gonna be painful. Be strong, Izuku. For Kacchan.

“I-I’ll be right back, Kacchan.” Izuku stuttered a little, hating to leave his precious Kacchan like this, scared and in pain, but he had to do this to save his best friend. “I’m going to see if this place has a first aid kit. Just-just call me if you need me.”

Izuku felt like he was tearing his heart in half, having to leave Kacchan alone for even a second while he was hurting and scared, but he forced himself to stand up anyways. His head swam a little as he did, his own injuries screaming at him for attention, but he’d had worse so he forced himself to ignore it. His own set of bruises was nothing in comparison, his poor Kacchan was in agony and as long as Kacchan hurt, Izuku’s pain didn’t matter.

Thankfully, whoever had run this place was thinking logically, and when Izuku finally found the remnants of a register, he also found a small first aid kit tucked away along with some tape. Knowing this would be the best he got, he immediately returned to his Kacchan. He flipped open the kit, and examined its contents, looking for very specific equipment. His heart calmed a little when he found tweezers and a small spray bottle of isopropyl alcohol, the two things he needed most right now. Okay, he could do this. Kachhan would be okay. Kacchan would be okay.

First things first, Izuku found a couple of ibuprofen tablets, and popped them out of their blister packs. Before he could put these to Kachhan’s mouth, Kacchan’s left hand snatched them away from him, and he dry swallowed the pills. It wouldn’t be nearly enough to stop the pain he was in, but Izuku hoped it would help. After all, the only real reason Kacchan would’ve done that was because he was in so much pain he couldn’t wait for Izuku’s gentleness.

“Kacchan, I have to clean the blood off, pull the fragments out, and then disinfect the wounds.” Izuku said, his voice shaking a little. Kacchan glared up at him, and yet Izuku, knowing Kacchan as well as he did, could still see the fear hidden in those beautiful crimson eyes.

“Fuck, just- fucking do it already.” Kacchan muttered, pain so horribly evident in Kacchan’s gorgeous voice. “I can take it.”

That Izuku knew. After everything they’d gone through, Izuku knew just how far Kacchan could push himself. But knowing that didn’t make it any easier. He took the paper first aid guide and held it up to Kacchan’s mouth. “Here, bite down on this.”

At first it looked like Kacchan wasn’t going to, but after a moment of hesitation, Kacchan slowly moved to bite down on the booklet. It wasn’t nearly enough, but it was the best they had. Izuku then maneuvered himself carefully to be slightly above, slightly next to Kacchan without him needing to move so Izuku could get at Kacchan’s whole arm. Even though Kacchan made a noise of protest, Izuku gently picked up Kacchan’s arm and placed it in his lap. Izuku knew the protest was just the pain, so he didn’t pay it any heed.

Izuku then pulled off his gloves, setting them aside. The kit didn’t have any rubber gloves to replace them, but his somewhat clean hands were better than his dirty gloves touching Kacchan’s silky, torn skin. All that was in the kit that Izuku could use was those little alcohol pads so he just tore one open. He carefully brought them to Kacchan’s shoulder, and took a deep breath.

Slowly, meticulously, Izuku then swiped the little pad down Kacchan’s bicep. It didn’t do much since it was so small, but he did his best. It was mere minutes before the pad was soaked with Kacchan’s blood, so he just tossed it aside and got another. As Izuku worked, Kacchan made little noises of pain when the pad hit an open wound, tiny lacerations that were hidden by the blood so thoroughly plastered to his skin, but Izuku kept going. He had to.

“It’s gonna be alright Kacchan, shh, I know it hurts, but you’re doing so well, I’ve got you.”

It felt like hours were passing as Izuku swiped at the blood on Kacchan’s arms, the little pads easily getting overwhelmed by the amount of blood. His heart was thundering in his chest as he saw every new cut, how deep some of the fragments were embedded into Kacchan’s touchable skin. He wished he could touch Kacchan like this when he wasn’t grievously wounded. As he wiped off the blood, he counted the lacerations as he found them, cataloging where it was and approximately how long it was. He didn’t think he’d ever been so grateful for his ability to pay so intense attention to detail.

After five eternities, Izuku finally finished with Kacchan’s arm as clean as he could get it. There were still spots of dried blood, but he didn’t try getting them. He didn’t want the attempt to aggravate Kacchan’s existing cuts and add to his obvious agony.

Now for the hard part.

Izuku’s hands were shaking as he picked up the tweezers after using the last of the alcohol pads to do his best to sterilize his hands. He met Kacchan’s eyes, as if nonverbally preparing him for what was to come. Kacchan’s eyes were filled with a resignation he’d never seen before, one that made Izuku almost feel the agony Kacchan was feeling inside, and then, Kacchan nodded. Izuku took another deep breath, and nodded back, understanding.

As Izuku moved determinedly, the shakiness in his hands slowed to a stop. He couldn’t afford to have shaky hands right now. Again, he started at Kacchan’s shoulder, working his way down to his forearm. Izuku’s heart and stomach lurched as he pulled the tiny pieces of shrapnel from Kacchan’s perfect body. Kacchan couldn’t stop himself from crying out whenever Izuku found one that was resistant to his gentle pulls, and gasping when the pieces finally slid out. Izuku had to look away from Kacchan’s face, unable to take the tears streaming down his cheeks. Kacchan was hurting so bad, and while he knew this was for Kacchan’s own good, that Kacchan had given him permission, that didn’t make him feel any less terrible about the pain he was causing his poor, poor Kacchan.

“You’re doing great, Kacchan, you’re doing great.” Izuku murmured, almost unaware of the words he was saying as he was so focused on his task. “Just a few more, just a few more, you’re doing great, Kacchan, almost there, almost there.”

Izuku’s movements became repetitive, tweezing the next piece of shrapnel, pulling it out as gently as he could, putting the very end of the tweezers into his mouth, then grabbing a piece of gauze from the kit and covering the wound with it, and finally, using the tape he found to keep the gauze secured to Kacchan’s wounds. A small pile of shrapnel was forming beside them as Izuku carefully extracted the twisted metal. But as hard as he tried to keep himself focused on his only job, taking care of Kacchan, his ears couldn’t help but be tormented by Kacchan’s moans and whimpers of pain as Izuku worked. Izuku’s heart was tearing itself into pieces knowing he was the cause of Kacchan’s pain, regardless of circumstances. He just knew that Kacchan was hurting, Kacchan was scared, and that meant Izuku was hurting too.

Finally, the fourteen Izuku had originally counted was down to one, and Izuku pulled it out with a tug, tug, tug. Kacchan’s voice cracked on the last tug as the shrapnel finally came loose, and he quickly taped down the last piece of gauze.

“There we go, okay, Kacchan, that was the last one, you’re done, you’re so brave Kacchan, you’re done, you were amazing.” Izuku murmured, brushing his hand through Kacchan’s hair again. “I’ve got some bandages in my pocket, I’ll wrap your arm and then I’ll go for help okay?”

It took three heartbeats for Kacchan to nod weakly, his eyes only half open. His level of compliance terrified Izuku.

“We’re almost done, Kacchan, you just gotta stay with me, okay?” Izuku said, pulling the bandages out of his pocket. “You gotta stay awake. Just a few more minutes. Stay awake, Kacchan, come on, stay awake.”

Kacchan’s eyelids fluttered precariously.

Izuku gulped nervously. He grabbed Kacchan’s arm, and even though he’d tried to be gentle, the movement itself must have been too much for Kacchan’s loose grip on consciousness, and he watched in horror as Kacchan’s eyes closed and didn’t open again. Izuku’s fingers immediately went back to Kacchan’s throat, but when he found a weak but steady pulse that was going too fast for his liking, he took another deep breath, trying to calm down. Kacchan must have just passed out from the pain, which wasn’t ideal but it also wasn’t fatal, so he took what he got. As much as he wanted Kacchan to be giving him attention, any kind of attention, he didn’t bother trying to wake Kacchan up, thinking it would waste valuable time. The medics could do that when they were helping him once they got here.

Izuku’s fingers nimbly began to wrap Kacchan’s arm as quickly as he could without losing the efficacy. He just had to do this so the gauze would stay in place, just in case blood weakened the tape with its moisture, and then he could go run for help. Swathes of white soon covered Kacchan’s arm, Izuku making sure that the bandages were tight but not too tight, covering the gauze properly so it wouldn’t be disturbed. Class 1-A had been given basic first aid training after Aizawa-sensei had recovered from the USJ, so he just pulled up the instructions in his head and followed them. Thankfully, had just enough bandages to cover the important parts, his knot stopping just shy of Kacchan’s wrist. He put another couple pieces of tape over the bandages and then stood up.

“I’m going to go get help, Kacchan.” Izuku said, knowing that Kacchan couldn’t hear him, but he couldn’t just leave without saying goodbye. He walked out of the jewelry store, checking to see if there was anyone else. The street was just as empty as it had been before, and he went to step forward, wanting to do what he’d always wanted to do and help Kacchan.

But something stopped him. He took one more look at Kacchan, who was still lying unconscious on the ground. The dark part of his heart whispered in his head, whispered that there had been something else he’d always wanted to do… and right now he had a chance to do it. He doubted he’d ever get a chance again, at least not for years. So even though his logical mind told him to stop, his heart had him going back to Kacchan.

Izuku knelt in front of Kacchan, looking for any sign of consciousness. When there wasn’t any, calloused fingers cupped Kacchan’s cheek, brushing his thumb over Kacchan’s satin skin. Kacchan was so beautiful, even when injured. Izuku could touch Kacchan every day for the rest of their lives and he’d never get tired of it. He longed for a day when Kacchan realized that his show of independence wouldn’t be necessary for him, that Izuku understood him in a way that no one else ever could. That Izuku loved him more than his own life, that Kacchan’s happiness mattered so much to Izuku that he’d sacrifice anything just to see Kacchan smile. In the deepest, darkest part of his heart, Izuku knew that Kacchan would be with him eventually. Izuku just had to keep trying, he just had to keep getting Kacchan’s attention any way he knew how.

Izuku’s free hand brushed through Kacchan’s golden hair again, savoring the feeling as he knew he wouldn’t get the chance for a while. When sunlight streamed through the windows in the dorms, Izuku could just stare at how Kacchan’s hair glowed in the light for hours as Kacchan sleepily made himself breakfast. It was his favorite part of the mornings, why he always tried to secretly align his schedule with Kacchan’s, so he could see it every chance he could.

But Izuku’s favorite thing to stare at was Kacchan’s lips. Secretly, whenever he was alone and no one could ever catch him, he’d imagine what it felt like to be kissed by those plump, full lips. Izuku could daydream for hours just imagining Kacchan’s lips pressed against his, his hands roving over Izuku’s body, their bodies pressed so closely together. And every time he’d tell himself that he just had to be patient, that he’d convince Kacchan how good they’d be together, that he was so sure that Kacchan actually really cared about him rather than the angry mask he put on. He just had to give Kacchan time. But right now, with Kacchan unconscious and left completely alone with him, Izuku didn’t have to be patient.

There was a spark of electricity within him as soon as Izuku pressed his lips against Kacchan’s, his heart singing with the thrill of being able to kiss Kacchan. Sure, he’d prefer that Kacchan was awake and willing, but this was more than enough for now. Izuku deepened the kiss against Kacchan’s slack lips, being selfish for once in his life. Kacchan’s lips were so much better than he’d imagined, soft and luscious and addictive. Izuku could happily spend a week just like this, kissing Kacchan’s perfect lips, even giving up food and water as much as he could just to spend more time with Kacchan loving him the way that Izuku knew he would, that he did.

Izuku pulled back immediately when Kacchan stirred, making a soft moan. Izuku scanned his face for any sign of waking, but Kacchan went still after that. Even though he was unconscious, Kacchan must have felt the same spark of electricity at their kiss that Izuku did.

“I love you too, Kacchan.” Izuku breathlessly whispered. “I’m going to save you.”

With his lips still tingling, Izuku stood up again, and took off to find the first paramedic he could. He was lightheaded and a little dizzy, but he was sure it had nothing to do with his own injuries (mostly), just feeling such an intense high of having fulfilled a lifelong dream of actually kissing Kacchan. And just as he promised he would, he would save Kacchan, no matter what. He’d save him from whatever threat ever came their way, no matter how vast or how cruel.

Nothing would ever keep him from Kacchan’s side again, not even Kacchan himself.

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