Just Say No

Overwhelmed

   Keigo sighed as he tossed and turned in his bed. Soft snores were coming from beside him where Dabi lay. Not wanting to wake his boyfriend up, he stayed completely still. After a few minutes, he carefully slipped out from under Dabi's arm and wedged his pillow in his place. As quietly as he could, he grabbed the bucket full of chicken bones that lay beside the bed and crept towards the kitchen. 

   'You know you don't deserve him, right?' Whispered a voice in Keigo's head, making him shiver ever so slightly. He gripped onto the bucket, trying to ignore it. He threw the bucket of bones away and slipped back into the bedroom. Instead of getting back into bed, he snuck into his walk-in closet and sat on the floor. Right near the back was a little box that sat hidden just out of view. Carefully, Keigo pulled the box out and lifted a little Endeavor plushie from inside. He gave a sad smile, warmth filling his chest. He drew his knees to his chest and wrapped his wings around himself. For just a moment, Keigo felt small again. He closed his eyes, trying to remember the last time he had sat like this. Gently, he squeezed the toy in his arms. A soft glow terminated from the faux flames. This plushie was a lot nicer than the one in his memories but then again, this one was much more expensive. 

   "I'll be just like him someday..." Keigo murmured to himself. Lost in the memories, he didn't notice the tears starting to drip down his cheeks. He bit his lower lip as he felt his chest starting to ache.

~

     It was the middle of the night, Keigo lay staring up at the ceiling with red puffy eyes as his chest heaved with the weight of sobs that he didn't dare let escape. Clutched to his chest was the only pop of color other than the wings that were tucked against his back. 

  "Gone... gone... we shouldn't have gotten caught. I should have told him to stay... w-we could have... He could've..." Keigo whimpered. He buried his face into the little Endeavor plushie. He let out shaky little gasps, his tears soaking into the deep crimson fabric of the plushie's hair. He tried his best to stay quiet and not look at the empty bed beside him. Clothes were strewn everywhere on the ground and all over the bed. The ghost of deep laughter drifted around the room, tauntingly whispering in his ear. 

   'You killed him, Keigo. Be a man. Look up and see what you did,' The voice in Keigo's head whispered. It was a soft purr, a cruel perversion of his own voice. 'What kind of hero lets their best friend die, Keigo?' 

   "I never wanted you to get hurt, Eito-kun, I... M' so sorry," Keigo cried softly. So lost in his own head, Keigo didn't notice the sound of the door opening or Ms. Gaelen entering the room. She went right over to Keigo, grabbing his arm and making him sit up. 

   "What did I tell you about trying to sneak out? You're far too old to be doing things like this." She spat. Keigo didn't look up, still crying into the plushie in his arms. The woman above him glared at him, grabbing his face. "Look at me when I'm talking to you, Keigo, You've been raised so much better than this. We've thought you better." 

   "I told you... it wasn't his idea. I needed a new binder. My old one ripped during training, you saw! It's my fault. Please, let him come back. Please!" He cried. The trainer tutted softly, letting go of his face. 

   "You're turning fourteen in a week, Keigo, you should have known that consequences would happen if you left. You could have asked one of our tailors to make you a new one. Don't we provide enough for you? You're not a baby anymore, you have to start doing things for yourself," She said. Her voice dripped slowly into Keigo's ears, making him want to cry even more. He gripped his plushie even tighter in an attempt to ground himself. He even started to squeeze it like a stress ball. He was still wearing the brand new binder that he'd snuck out with Eito to buy; it felt like a vice grip squeezing down on his ribs much tighter than it had been just moments ago.