Every Rose Has Its Thorn || ShojiNeta

15||Night

Hey, guys! I know it's been a while, but here's another chapter!

TW: Violence, homophobia

Reminder that [REDACTED] is that one F slur I refuse to use.

Pain.

Fear.

Regret.

But worst of all ...

Grief.

Guilt.

Mineta couldn't move. He was on the floor, his legs completely shattered. He had a head wound that was bleeding badly. His body was aching horribly from the bruises he had received just moments ago. The cuts that coated his body were stinging badly.

He was back in his house. His mother's corpse was propped against the wall, her dead eyes staring at him. They seemed to be filled with anger and hate. Black blood poured from her chest and dribbled from her mouth.

Mineta hated the sight, but right now, he had to focus on the scene in front of him.

Shoji was lying on the ground. Bruises and cuts decorated his body. He was desperately protecting his head as Mr. Mineta repeatedly kicked him and occasionally slash at him with the knife.

"P-Please ... stop ..." Shoji begged, his voice barely audible.

"STOP IT!!" Mineta shouted, tears pooling from his eyes. "Y-YOU'LL KILL HIM!"

"That's the idea!" Mr. Mineta cackled. "You brought it on yourself, you know! This is what happens to [REDACTED]s like you and the [REDACTED]s you fall for! It's what you deserve! Once I finish him, you're next!"

"PLEASE NO!! DO WHAT YOU WANT TO ME, JUST LEAVE HIM ALONE!"

"M-Mineta...!" Shoji weakly called out.

"SHOJI! Y-YOU'RE GONNA BE FINE! JUST HANG IN THERE!" Mineta desperately shouted as he sobbed.

"Mineta," Shoji repeated. Only this time it was louder. "Mineta! Mineta, wake up! MINETA!"

Mineta's eyes snapped open and he sat bolt upright. He felt like he was soaked in sweat and his breathing was heavy. He brought a hand to his face and wiped away the tears that had formed.

"Are you okay?" Shoji asked from next to him.

Mineta looked over at Shoji. The taller male had changed into a loose fitting tank top and sweatpants. There was not a single scratch or bruise on him. His lower half was covered by a thick blanket that also covered his own legs.

W-We're in the same bed! Mineta thought, cheeks heating up. "I-I'm fine."

"Are you sure? You were screaming in your sleep," Shoji said.

"Yeah," Mineta assured as he wiped his eyes some more.

Suddenly he felt three pairs of arms wrap around him and hug him close. Mineta almost immediately stopped crying as his face heated up more.

"Do you want to talk about it?" Shoji asked.

Mineta immediately started crying again and he hugged Shoji tightly. "W-We were back in my house. H-He was beating you to death a-and there was nothing I could do!"

Shoji gently rubbed Mineta's back to sooth him. "Shh, it's okay. We're safe in my room and I'm completely unharmed. The pros are going to arrest your dad and everything will be fine. You're okay. Everything is going to be okay. It was just a dream. It wasn't real."

Mineta continued sobbing as he hugged Shoji tighter, afraid to let go. "B-But it seemed so real! I-I tried to yell at him ... get him to stop hurting you ... I don't want that to happen! It's me he really wants! I want him t-to leave you alone! I-I'd hate for someone to get hurt trying to protect me, especially if it's someone I care about!"

He just said he cares about me! Shoji thought with a blush. No. Stop that. He'd say that about any of his classmates. He doesn't see me like that ... right?

Meanwhile, Mineta was questioning what he just said himself. Wait, did I just say that? What if he takes it as me liking him? I'm not ready to confess yet! I don't know how he feels about me! Hopefully he just takes it in a platonic way!

The two of them laid in silence for a while, holding each other and having an internal gay panic.

Eventually, Shoji found his voice again. "I appreciate the concern, Mineta. But my main concern right now is making sure that you are okay. You've hit a serious rough patch in your family and I want to help you get through it. And if I have to get hurt, then so be it. I'm a hero in training. I'm going to get hurt in the future helping others. I might as well start getting used to it now. Okay?"

"I know that, Shoji ... but still ... I still hate seeing others get hurt for me."

"Again, I don't mind. Not in the slightest. I want to help you."

Mineta could tell that Shoji was being serious. There really is no arguing with him. He's made up his mind. He felt himself calm down as tiredness took over again. He sleepily curled up against Shoji's chest and buried his face in it, sleepily closing his eyes. Shoji adjusted his arms to make Mineta more comfortable. Once he did, he smiled softly behind his mask and closed his eyes, ready to go back to sleep.

Now, Mineta wasn't sure what made him do it. Was it the fact that he was tired? The fact that he was feeling sentimental from what Shoji said? Was it the larger male's determination to keep him safe? Whatever the reason, it was enough to convince Mineta to say three words he knew he wasn't going to be able to take back.

"Thank you, Mezo."

As soon as he said it, Mineta's eyes snapped back open. His eyes widened as sleepiness faded away. His cheeks felt like they were on fire. His heart started pounding in his chest. I JUST CALLED HIM BY HIS FIRST NAME AND I WASN'T EVEN GIVEN THE OKAY TO DO IT!! HOW'S HE GONNA REACT?! OH, GOD! I FUCKED UP SO BAD AIBOAEIBOEDHBNLOESNH

Meanwhile, Shoji's eyes had snapped open as well as soon as he heard the smaller male murmur his first name. His face felt like it was going to burst into flames. He- He just- Oh, my GOD! Normally I'd wait a while before first name basis but Mineta? ... I think I'm okay with it.

"I-I'm sorry, Shoji! I didn't mean to call you that! M-My mouth slipped. I-" Mineta started to frantically apologize and ramble, but Shoji cut him off.

"Mineta, it's okay. I ... I don't mind," he said, blushing hard. "Y-You can call my by my first name if you want."

Mineta gasped in surprise. He didn't think it was possible for his face to get redder than it already is, but here he was. "A-Are you sure?"

Shoji nodded. "Yeah. Yeah, I'm sure."

"Oh," Mineta said. "Then ... I guess it would only be fair if I let you call me by my first name, too." Oh. My. GOD. I can't believe I just said that!

Shoji blushed harder at that. "Oh. Okay ... Minoru."

It was a good thing it was dark in the room. Otherwise, Shoji totally would have seen his bright red face. Wow ... him saying my first name ... it's better than I imagined!

"Well ... thanks for calming me down. Good night, Mezo," Mineta said.

"Good night, Minoru."

The rest of the night ended up being nightmare free.

Whew! That took a while. I hope you guys enjoyed it!