#Kouji wasn't supposed to break anything and then he did anyway

[windfighter]

Rock-hard fall

Prompt: Fracture | ”It’s just a scratch.”

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There’s a yelp. Takuya turns around, worry gnaws in his stomach. Did someone get hurt? Would it be his fault? They are out here because of him after all. Kouichi and Izumi are already on the way down, Tomoki’s still clambering across the rocks. Junpei has stopped, the rock he’s standing on looks wobbly under his feet.

Kouji’s legs are visible between a couple of rocks. Takuya starts moving, jumping from rock to rock to get there as fast as possible. Izumi is faster.

”Are you okay?”

She leans down, offers Kouji a hand. Takuya slows his steps. Kouji groans.

”Yeah?” he says.

It sounds like a question. He’s still lying between the rocks. Takuya and Kouichi get there at the same time. Kouji’s right arm is bloody, he’s looking a little disoriented. He puts his left arm over his eyes.

”Just let me catch my breath”, he says.

Takuya sits down. Shit. They should probably head back.

”At least you missed the water”, he says and grins.

Kouji doesn’t even glare at him. The river splashes against the rocks. It’ll start rising in an hour. Not much, but enough that Kouji’s resting place will get wet. Kouichi sits down as well.

”Should I call dad?” he asks.

They’re not far from home, just half an hour on foot, but Kouichi must see the same thing Takuya is seeing. Kouji is not okay. He lifts his arm from his eyes, looks at Kouichi. Takuya notices the seconds it takes for Kouji’s eyes to find exactly where Kouichi is.

”It’s fine”, Kouji says.

He still doesn’t sit up. Kouichi gestures at Kouji’s bloody arm.

”Fine?” he asks and raises an eyebrow.

Kouji twists his head. Winces. Frowns when he sees the blood.

”It’s… just a scratch”, he says.

He doesn’t sound convinced. He lifts it from the rocks, closes his eyes and puts it down again. His breaths are loud despite the river. Kouichi pinches the bridge of his nose.

”I’m calling dad.”

Kouji finally sits up. Blood drains from his face, but he’s sitting. He puts his bleeding arm in his lap, leans his head onto his other hand. Junpei yelps as well. Takuya’s head snaps up, looks towards Junpei. He’s still standing, his hand gripping a tree that’s hanging out over the rocks.

”You good there?” Takuya asks.

”Yeah”, Junpei doesn’t look quite as good as he says, but Takuya’s sure it’s just fear. ”How’s Kouji?”

Takuya glances at Kouji again. Kouji hasn’t moved from his hunched-over position.

”He says he’s fine”, Takuya answers.

He tries to make it very clear how much he doesn’t believe that for one bit. Kouichi takes his phone out, starts dialing the twins’ dad. Kouji removes his hand from his face, grabs Kouichi’s arm. He’s going to say no, try to stop Kouichi. Takuya’s brain goes into overdrive to figure out how to stop Kouji from stopping Kouichi.

”...gonna throw up”, Kouji says instead.

And then he does. Kouichi and Izumi jumps backwards and Takuya quickly pulls his legs out of the way. When it stops Kouji tilts to the side. Takuya hurries to slide down next to him.

”...did you hit your head?” he asks.

”Hmm”, Kouji answers.

Izumi sits down, looks at them. Takuya gives her a one-shouldered shrug. Kouichi moves a few feet away as their dad picks up. Kouji leans heavier against Takuya and Takuya sighs. How does his ideas always end up with Kouji injured? Duskmon must have placed a curse on them or something. ...better not say that out loud when Kouichi is nearby. Izumi pulls off her backpack, grabs a bottle of water and a towel from it. Pours water over the towel and slides down into the hole as well. The hole is not big enough for three people.

Izumi starts washing the blood of Kouji’s arm. He winces, tries to pull away and groans. Curses and buries his face into Takuya’s shoulder. Grips his own shoulder.

”Just a scratch”, Izumi says and shakes her head.

Takuya watches. Kouji’s arm is swollen, bruises already forming between the scrapes. The scrapes start bleeding again and Izumi washes them clean.

”Might… have a slight concussion”, Kouji mumbles.

”We already figured that one out”, Takuya says. ”Your arm’s probably broken as well.”

”Bleh”, Kouji says.

”You’ll be okay”, Izumi says. ”We just need to get you out of here.”

The river is starting to rise, splashing harder against the rocks. Takuya looks around to see if he can spot Tomoki, but the rocks are in the way and he can’t move without disturbing Kouji.

”Tomoki?” he calls.

Kouji winces. Takuya puts a hand on Kouji’s thigh.

”He’s on the shore”, Junpei says, ”on his way.”

Junpei comes closer, sits down on a rock next to the hole. Watches them.

”Concussion?” he asks.

Kouji nods. Takuya pulls a hand across his face.

”Why do you still let me come up with ideas?” he asks.

”Well, it was fun until Kouji fell”, Izumi answers.

She wrings out the towel and throws it into the backpack again. Climbs out of the hole.

”I didn’t bring a first aid-kit”, she says.

She looks incredible guilty. Takuya doesn’t like it.

”I didn’t either”, he says.

”Me neither”, Junpei admits.

Kouichi ends the phonecall, turns around. Kouji nods towards him. Takuya’s stupid, but he’s smart enough to understand that. He looks at Kouichi as well.

”First aid-kit?” he asks.

Kouichi pulls his backpack off, pulls a first aid-kit out of it. Takuya stands up, climbs up from the hole to make room for Kouichi. Leans Kouji against the rocks instead. He can see water gathering at the edges of the hole.

Kouichi cleans the wounds with anticeptics, wraps Kouji’s arm with bandages and puts it in a sling. Kouji is pale when Kouichi leans back. Water’s splashing over their feet. Better get Kouji up before he gets wet and sick as well, Takuya decides. He wraps an arm around Kouji.

”Giddy up!” he says.

Pulls Kouji to his feet. Kouji’s whole body tenses up, his cheeks turn green. Takuya manages to lean him forwards just enough so the vomit misses his arm. It still splashes on both their shoes though.

”Absolutely disgusting”, Takuya says.

He sits Kouji down on the rocks. Stands in the hole himself and checks Kouji’s eyes. They still have trouble focusing. That’s a concussion. Kouichi sits down next to Kouji.

”Dad’s on his way, he’ll know what to do.”

”We should get to the shore”, Izumi says.

She’s watching the water. It’s rising. The rocks will get wet and slippery again soon. Takuya climbs out of the hole.

”Can you walk?” he asks Kouji.

Kouji looks at him. Towards him more than at.

”’s just my arm, legs are fine.”

He tries to stand up, but his legs doesn’t want to cooperate. Takuya and Kouichi grabs him, helps steady him. Kouji leans heavily against both of them. At least he’s standing. Now it’s just the dangerous part left – climbing over the rocks onto the shore.

They take it slowly. Takuya holds Kouji, supports him, and Kouichi helps guide Kouji’s feet when he doesn’t manage himself. Junpei clambers over the rocks instead of walking. Good choice, Takuya thinks, it would be bad if they got another injured person to help. Kouji is already one too many.

Grass under their shoes. Takuya lets out a sigh of relief. Kouichi does as well. Kouji starts sagging and Takuya wraps his arm around Kouji’s waist. Kouji’s dad is there, walks towards them with big steps. Puts his hands on Kouji’s shoulders. Kouji doesn’t look up, doesn’t move.

”Kouji? Are you…”

Kouji shakes his head. The movement is slow. Takuya changes his grip, makes sure it secure.

”He has a concussion”, Kouichi said. ”And probably a broken arm.”

Kousei winces. Puts his hand on Kouji’s back.

”Car’s nearby, come on.”

Kouji takes a few stumbling steps, then stops. His body shakes, tenses up. How does he still have more to throw up? Takuya puts an arm across Kouji’s chest, careful with his arm, and helps him lean forwards. It’s barely anything, but Kouji struggles with it for almost two minutes.

He’s crying, Takuya realizes. Kouji is crying. His body sags towards the ground and Takuya doesn’t know what to do. He lets him, follows him down onto the path. They just barely miss the vomit. Kouji hides his face in his hand, his shoulders shake. Takuya glances at Kousei, who looks just as lost as Takuya feels.

”Kouji…” Kousei starts.

Kouji shakes his head, presses his face into Takuya’s shoulder. Takuya wraps an arm around Kouji and Kouji grips Takuya’s shirt. It feels… nice? Not that Kouji’s hurt and tired and whatever else he’s feeling, but… that he trusts Takuya enough to seek comfort there. Takuya likes it. Or maybe it’s just the concussion. Takuya looks at Kouichi. Kouichi looks just as lost as the rest of them. Everyone is quiet. Even Tomoki. Junpei isn’t pulling any magic trick out of his pocket to lighten everyone up. Even Kouji’s sobs are quiet.

They sit there for a few minutes. Kouji’s sobs dies out. He sniffles, lets go of Takuya’s shirt.

”Okay”, he whispers. ”Okay, I’m…”

He’s not, Takuya can tell. Even before Kouji finishes the sentence. He wants to wrap Kouji up and let him rest until he’s feeling better.

”I’m ready”, Kouji finishes.

He starts standing up. Slowly. Puts a hand on Takuya’s shoulder for leverage and support. Kousei steps closer, holds Kouji. Kouji’s eyes are closed. He stumbles forwards, Kousei’s hands guide him. Takuya gets up as well. Glances at everyone. They all look down. Worried. Takuya doesn’t have anything to say that can chase their worries away. Can’t even chase away his own worry. He puts his hands in his pockets.

”Well, this was a shit idea”, he says.

”It was fun”, Izumi said, ”until Kouji fell.”

”Yeah”, Tomoki agrees. ”I loved it, climbing the rocks was exciting.”

”I’m sure Kouji agrees”, Takuya says, voice dripping with sarcasm.

Kouichi snorts.

”He wouldn’t have come along if he hated it. But we should probably do something less…” he gestures vaguely. ”next week.”

Takuya agrees with that. He’s sure the others are as well. Kouichi lifts a hand.

”I’m heading with them. See you later.”

”Keep us updated”, Izumi says.

Kouichi nods, turns his back towards them and hurries after Kouji and Kousei. Takuya kicks a rock. It rolls across Kouji’s vomit and Takuya grimaces. Not the best ending to the day. He’ll try to make it up to Kouji later. Bring him an icecream or something.

”Guess the fun’s over for today”, he says. ”Or are we going to my place for some games?”

”I promised mama to help her with dinner today”, Izumi says.

Takuya is pretty sure she just doesn’t want to play his games. He mostly owns fighting games and it’s not quite her style. Junpei scratches the back of his head.

”I have a lot of homework. Maybe next week.”

”Yeah”, Takuya says. It’s hard to hide the disappointment in his voice. Mostly he thinks he just really wants the company. ”Maybe next week.”

They wave goodbye. Go their separate ways. Takuya starts walking home, hands in his pockets. Kicks another rock. He’s never going to suggest another activity for them to do.