teaism | I couldn't utter my love when it counted

[That's good advice from Wataru, and it's ringing in his mind as he faces these men. His heart rate skyrockets, especially as he's grabbed, but his expression stays calm. He tells himself to focus on breathing, even as he allows himself to cough into a hand.

After the cough, that hand rests on the wrist of the man holding him, not prying him away, but attempting to 'warn' him not to go further.]

Eichi Tenshouin. Surely you recognize that name.

[It's just the biggest zaibatsu out there, after all... And he knows that even if it's possible that his parents handed off Wataru to someone they didn't really get along with, the truth is that most people wouldn't want to pick a fight with the Tenshouins. Right?

He's wearing clothes he stole off of guards around this organization, so that much is probably very clear. He was up to no good. He knows it looks bad. But he's relying on his name. Two men here, and he can't see how many further back right now... Maybe one or two more?]

I'll forget that this altercation happened at all so long as you release me now. Why don't we see what we can discuss?

[Wataru listens carefully, trying to still his heartbeat a bit. He's terrified, not for himself, but for Eichi. For the one who's only in danger because of him. He hates himself a bit for it! He'll make this up to him later.

Man number one looks to men three and four when Eichi gives his name, and man number two makes a low, frustrated sound, almost a growl.]

"I told ya it was the rich kid. Nobody here listens to me."

Shut up, I'm listening now! Alright, kid. You want me to forget I saw you, right? And let you go? Then hand the blue one back over.

[That's a surprising thing to hear, for Eichi, who any day before that fated meeting with Wataru on the roof might have agreed to the idea. Now, though, he'd decided to change things. To stop being bitter at life and focus instead on the good, to hold tightly to something this precious, to fight viciously against a cruel fate. His expression goes cold for it.]

How confident you must be, to believe yourself to have more influence than I do. Regardless of what happens to me now, your actions here are changing your future. With just the lift of a little finger, it's possible that you could lose everything, you know? Not just whatever small amount of status you might have, but your family, your loved ones, the hobbies you enjoy. They could all burn right before your eyes.

Let me make this clear, in case that off-topic rant is something that went in one ear and out the other. You have no business with Wataru.

[In reality, even Eichi is aware that he's the one who's in no position to bargain this. But it wouldn't be the first time his big words worked. If he's retaliated against, then it's fine, too. But he won't give up Wataru, not at all.]

[Maybe the chill in Eichi's voice sends a thrill through Wataru. Just maybe. Even now, he's a force to be reckoned with. Wataru remembers when that was turned on him, in its own way, and he knows these men are in trouble. They have no idea how much.

He half expects Eichi to bluff a bit about him, not to directly defend him, and his heart swells with emotion.]

Ain't gonna fly. I oughta just lay you out and say the blue one did it. He's the one they paid for, you're just some chump.

"Hey, we oughta not--"

Shut the hell up! This is our chance to get in good with the bosses.

[The men turn to bickering, and the other two turn their backs on the scene for a moment, just long enough for Wataru to peek out to check on Eichi. His clothing is released, and he's free to move around. Wataru waits, waits, waits, waits for a sign that he should move, even though his body is weak and battered.]

"--he gets hurt, they really might have your head. The Tenshouins--"

Ehhh, screw them. Rich bastards. Who gives a damn? I'm just gonna knock him out and we can set him somewhere they'll find him. That fine?

[It's clear none of them are taking his threats as seriously as perhaps they should. Oh, such fools.]

[ There are too many men here to fight, he thinks. He steps back once or twice once he’s free from the hold, but he knows he can’t do too much or he’ll be noticed and centered in on. He sees Wataru, too, even without facing him directly, and he’s afraid. His threats aren’t working, which means they won’t be good enough to get them out of here without a fight.

He’s so easily in arm’s reach of any of these men if they move carelessly, and even stepping back like this probably isn’t enough. Eichi doesn’t think he’ll be able to fight at all really, but Wataru might be able to help... But where would they go?

Ah, he can’t think this entirely through. They’re already talking about knocking him out, and so he shifts his stance just slightly to be defensive, at least until he steps forward out of nowhere and slams a kick into one of the men’s groins. He’s not sure who he managed to hit, but he knows that that had to have been the clearest way to signal Wataru to go without actually alerting the others to him. They still might work this out! ]

[Wataru breathes steadily, focusing on every action and word Eichi shares, until finally his unitmate attacks the man and Wataru reads that (possibly erroneously?) as time for him to step into the fray, too. He can't run terribly well still, but he thinks if he can slow these men down, they might be able to make a go of it.

So he comes out from the nook he's been hiding in and daintily leaps over the man Eichi has artfully felled, landing as spryly as he's able before executing a perfect roundhouse kick to the second man's face. 3 and 4 are too startled by the kids fighting back to react right away, but 1 and 2 are on the floor, well and truly laid out. There's the chance.]

Eichi, let's away!

[He hurries over, a surge of fear-induced adrenaline keeping him going, and takes Eichi's hand before darting down the nearest corridor. The two remaining men are dumbfounded, and for several seconds they simply stare after the retreating teenagers.]

That went better than I thought it might~!

[Eichi squeezes that hand tight and runs like his life depends on it, ignoring the hammering in his chest to keep up.]

Incredible... As injured as you are, you still managed that splendid kick. Ah, but it has me concerned... Your injuries, are they...?

[He can't manage to talk and keep up, and even if he was silent, he wouldn't be able to run like this for long. He staggers, trying to keep his footing even as they go, blinking away the fog as he covers a cough with a free hand.]

Nn, we can't stop to focus, so let's continue to push ahead. Those men won't gawk silently at us forever.

[Wataru laughs, still just dragging Eichi along as fast as they both can manage. He thinks he sees natural light coming from down the hall... Maybe it's a window or an exterior door?]

My injuries are positively excruciating, but I'm ignoring them~ Nothing can compare to my desire to leave this place, so let's fly to freedom!

[But now Eichi is staggering, and Wataru misses a step, stumbling into a wall. Their progress forward stops, and he looks at Eichi, alarmed. How he hates worrying.]

I won't let you be left behind. Come now, just push on a little longer! We'll--

[Running footsteps. 3 and 4 are coming down the hallway, and they're mere meters away. One has a gun drawn, and Wataru makes a strangled sound.]

My dear Eichi, let's go a little more quickly...

I'm... fine, so—

[He's not fine. He can't see the men coming behind them, can't even spare a glance, but he knows from Wataru's reaction that it must not be good. He's holding Wataru back like this, and that's what he hates most of all. Clutching tightly at Wataru's arm, he drags him into a stumbling step forward, staying on his feet and forcing them to move.

But he looks like he's straining himself too much. His body is being pushed, moving forward through pure adrenaline and willpower.]

Move ahead if you must. As a Tenshouin, they may be less likely to cause me any harm. [He's still forcing his words out okay, so at least there's that.]

I recognize where we are now, from the floorplans. There should be... a main staircase, a couple of halls over. [Larger than the one they came up. The men behind them shout out in warning, Eichi thinks, but he can't hear them. He's too focused.]

[Wataru won't leave him even a step behind, and he resolutely looks forward, trying to be as strong as he can, trying to motivate Eichi, even if the blonde is supposed to be his rescuer. His whole body is crying out from stress and strain, his stomach feels half caved in, his head is foggy, but Eichi, Eichi!]

I won't. I'm staying with you. Now, on we go...

[He can't admit to being terrified. He just has to keep going. He grips Eichi's hand tightly, looking to Eichi one last time.]

Come on. Together.

[And he takes off at as fast a run as they both can manage.]

[Together. Together, together, together. Eichi runs, focuses only on running, on Wataru's hair trailing behind him, on the warmth of his hand. A gunshot rings out from behind them, and Eichi gasps audibly, squeezing Wataru tight, but as the bullet digs into a wall where they turn around the corner, it only acts as motivation. Closer, closer...! He knows where they're going! The only exit, he studied the map thoroughly!

They manage better than Eichi thought they would. The stairs are in sight, down the end of a long hallway, and it gives him a boost of stamina. He pushes forward, and though he's trailing slightly behind Wataru, he manages to keep up. The men behind them shot a couple times more, but thankfully, none of the bullets struck them.

For a second, he thinks they're going to make it.

But then one of the doors slams open in the narrow hallway just as Wataru passes it, knocking hard into Eichi's shoulder and causing his hand to slip from Wataru's grip as he staggers to the side. It's enough force to probably knock Wataru from the force of it, too, but the man that emerges from this door doesn't stop to look at the magician. He goes for the easy target, instead.

Eichi has doubled over near the opposite wall, but the man's hand grabs his hair and yanks him up by it, causing the idol to gasp out in pain, weak hands reaching up to try and free himself. But a knife is brandished and held to Eichi's neck before he looks back and over at Wataru. To top it all off, familiar footsteps are sounding from behind them again. The two men have nearly caught up.

This new stranger addresses Wataru, voice demanding.]

"On your knees, or I'll slit the Tenshouin brat's neck right here."

[Wataru can barely feel his limbs anymore, but he's not letting go, he's not giving up, they're so close to at least being where they can cause a public scene and get help... But then, disaster. The door flings open, and Eichi is ripped away from Wataru like some ragdoll. He stumbles and hits the wall face-first, but rebalances himself, his hair whipping behind him.]

Ei--!

[A flash of metal. He sees the knife, sees the men gaining on them, sees how weak and spent Eichi is, and he just... Drops. They don't even have to tell him. Just a few days ago, they were regular (if a little odd) high schoolers. Now they're fighting for their lives. And losing.

He crumples to the floor, hands clasped together atop his knees, eyes fixed on Eichi, on his forbidden love, his poor unitmate.

The men who were in pursuit catch up, and one of them grabs Wataru's hair, shoving his head down as he plants a foot in the center of Wataru's back, as if daring him to struggle. But the magician doesn't, not this time.]

Let him go. Just let him go, and I'll do whatever you want! I won't say a word of complaint.

Wataru—

[His name falls out strangled from Eichi's lips, in the pain he's in. He's not fully standing, but the way the hand is in his hair is keeping him from being able to rest on the floor, either. It's incredibly painful, and his weak hands can't do anything to pry it away. The man looks cold as he lifts the steel of the blade, over Eichi's clean cheek.]

"Both of you shut up, or I'll give you one to match the first." [That cut on Eichi's other cheek— so the blonde had run into this man before, and somehow managed to scramble away? That explains the violence now, at least partially. He does not release Eichi. Instead, he eyes Wataru like he's thinking.]

"Listen here. Neither of you are in any position to make deals. The next time you give me trouble, you're both dead."

[Just like that, he releases Eichi's hair and watches him crumple to the floor, coughing and grasping at the tiles as he tries to push himself up. He doesn't even need a foot on his back.]

"Rough him up all you like, but keep him alive." [That's to the other two men, about Wataru, as he glances over.] "We'll bring them back down to confinement until I decide what to do. Make sure it's secure this time, or you'll be the ones dead."

[Wataru is putting things together, little by little, the situation they're in. They're helpless, and it's hopeless. He hears Eichi struggle, but he can't even bring himself to look up. How, in yet another life, has he failed Eichi? He's wanted nothing more than to live happily, to find a way through all the difficult times and make his mark on the world as a force for good, but... He thinks he might die here. They were told to keep him alive, but will they listen? Will they care?

The one with a foot on Wataru's back steps away for a moment, but it's only far enough for him to aim a kick at Wataru's ribs. He doesn't fight back, doesn't react, doesn't do anything. He just lets it happen. This is real hopelessness.

I'm sorry, Eichi.

He thinks it, but doesn't say it, assuming Eichi won't want to hear it. He should have saved them both, even if he was originally the captive. Even if this is Eichi's family's fault. Why hasn't anyone come to help? Why isn't anyone looking for him, and now Eichi as well? It's surely because no one cares, he thinks. Surely because he's worn out his welcome in the world and no one has a use for him, his genius, his tricks, his talents. Silent tears prick at his eyes, but he's too broken for them to fall.

Going numb is the right thing to do. The hand in his hair stays there, but he feels a strange lightness as the hand pulls away, taking a section of hair with it, cut away by something or another. He doesn't care. He just wants this to stop. He was never made to endure suffering, after all.]

[He sees it, in the middle of his own thoughts of despair. Hair, like moonlight, dropping to the floor... Strands of that long, beautiful hair. And Eichi doesn't know how, but he pushes himself up. It's so unexpected that even the man that had dropped him down doesn't notice him moving until it's too late. He's pulled himself up to the lackey that's daring to cut away Wataru's beautiful hair and chomping down hard on his hand. It's enough to break skin.

But of course, the reaction is instant. The man yells out, curses and retaliates, trying to shake Eichi free, and when that doesn't work, kicking him in the gut, and then punching at his jaw. He's knocked back and into Wataru's collapsed form, coughing up blood that's both his and not his.

The man with the knife looks on coldly.]

"If they're too much trouble for you, hurry up and knock them out."

[He hardly notices the hair being cut, really, but when Eichi moves, Wataru's head snaps up, and he raises a hand to try to stop him. But Eichi... Eichi's gone completely mad, and it's all he can do to scramble out of the way. When the blonde is finally shoved off and into Wataru, the magician wraps his arms tightly around Eichi and refuses to let go. Bodily, he puts himself between the men and his unitmate, determined not to let them get another blow in. He's still numb, he's still feeling like his soul has left his body and died, but he glares at them with what little energy he has left. They won't touch Eichi. They won't.

So they rain down blows with who-knows-what on Wataru, fists, feet, he supposes that sharper hit was probably the gun? He doesn't know. But they're not hitting Eichi, and that's all he cares about.]

See... I'll protect you...

[Barely a whisper, then one sharp blow to the side of his head causes him to breathe out in a huff, and his arms go slack. The world is dark. He'll wake up eventually, but not any time soon.]

No—

[No, no, no, it's not what he wants. Eichi clings to Wataru with everything he has, still coughing, still struggling to breathe even as his unitmate is pummeled. He may be physically protected, right now, but emotionally? Mentally? He can't deal with this. He doesn't want to see this, to hear it, to feel Wataru go slack in his arms. But he does. And once Wataru does go slack, there's no one left to protect Eichi, is there?

...

Time passes. It may not be clear what amount of time, but it's enough that Wataru will wake up with his more severe wounds bandaged over so that he doesn't bleed out. He's been treated, and actually fairly well... but that doesn't make up for the fact that he was beaten within an inch of his life. He'll likely be sore for quite some time, have to spend days off recovering— if he gets out of this.

He's not blindfolded, so he can open his eyes to an empty room similar to the one he was first kept in, but without any access to the vents. No windows, dim lighting from old, flickering lightbulbs, and a packaged meal not too far from him, so he can eat.

Notably, Eichi isn't there.

There's just one man, from the looks of it. Large and holding a gun, standing in front of the only exit: one door. He doesn't say a word, even if Wataru stirs.]

[Wataru wakes, but he doesn't know how long he's been here. Long enough for the bruises to have turned colors he's hardly seen before. Long enough that the blood on the bandages is dark. He looks himself over first, then looks around the room with a cautious, slow movement. He knows he's not alone and doesn't want to alarm the guard. Maybe they'll let him out. Maybe they're done with him. They're feeding him, so they do want him alive.

He can't remember the last time he ate, and as much as he'd like to attack that guard and try to flee again, he doesn't have the strength. So he moves over a little, opens the packaged food, and begins to eat. Small bites at first, testing the taste to see if it's laced with anything, and when nothing is easily evident, he proceeds to eat the whole thing, albeit slowly.]

...Thank you for the meal!

[A test, tossed to the guard. Wataru's throat hurts and he wonders why, so his voice comes out a bit faint. But he tries a smile, too.]

[The guard, who was so serious before that it might have seemed like he'd never talk, looks off balance thanks to Wataru's words. He stares, holding his gun tight to his chest, and lifts his chin a little.]

"I'm not supposed to talk to you. Of course you woke up now..." [He mutters that something to himself, then clears his throat.] "The normal guard will be back soon, so just be quiet and eat."

[How lucky! A newbie guard. One who doesn't seem to be aware enough of the situation to know that Wataru hasn't woken up while the first guard was around, yet. Not enough to know that this isn't just the normal guard, at least.]

Edited 2019-06-02 03:21 (UTC)

[Hmmmm. Interesting. Wataru turns toward him, still eating, and looks him over. He seems... weak? Not totally horrible, anyway, and he's holding that gun like he's scared.]

Ah, they gave you the hard job today? Guarding me?

[He does look a little scared, doesn't he? Or nervous might be the better word. He's young, too, compared to the others. Maybe even close to Wataru's age, actually. Larger in size, muscle and height, but his personality is shining through too obviously. For example, despite his instructions, he responds again.]

"I said be quiet." [Hissed, like he's trying not to be too loud.] "I won't warn you again."

What's your name? I'm Wataru. Oh, you probably knew that...

[Still eating... Analyzing. Yes, he's nervous. Maybe Wataru can befriend him and get better treatment? He's going to try. If he can talk to him kindly, maybe he can even win him over... And get out. God, he has to find Eichi! Eichi! Everything comes back to him in a rush, and he chokes on the food a bit, coughing madly.]

"You don't need to know that."

[So he says, still replying. He's stiff and trying not to reply, nervously shifting his weight now and then but trying to appear confident by keeping his head high and his eyes cold.

But then Wataru starts coughing, and the guard looks over to him, wary but concerned.]

"...What's wrong with you?" [A pause, and then he moves, finally, just enough to reach into a pack at his side and pull out a can of tea. Canned tea! He sets it on the ground and then rolls it towards Wataru.] "If the food's too dry, use that."

[Wataru coughs a bit more, waving off the concern congenially, trying to smile through it. And then the guard takes pity on him, rolling the tea over. It hits Wataru's foot, and he looks down gratefully before bowing his head.]

Thank you! I'm just a regular high school student, so this is all very strange for me. I haven't eaten in a few days, right? Because I've been unconscious, I'm sure.

[He jumps up to his feet, summoning his strength, and holds out a hand to the guard. A moment later, there's a rose in his hand. Almost like MAGIC.]

Here! This is for you~! Amazing~

[The guard stares at Wataru some more, baffled, and when Wataru stands up, he grips his gun more seriously, like he's prepared to use it. It's a long rifle, something so serious and over-powered for one high school boy— but thankfully, it's not used.

Magic is performed, and the guard's eyes go wide for a moment before he's shaking his head, freeing one hand from the gun to swipe at the air.]

"Wha— I won't take it! How did you do that?!"

[There weren't any plants in here at all?!]

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