Memories Of An Old Friend (satosugu)

Chapter 3

The blood roared in his ears almost louder than the bang his body made in the stairwell. With a groan, Satoru tried to find his footing on the stairs. Normally, he would have teleported to the apartment immediately, but his strength and his mind had been disturbed by the previous fight. The stairs up to the apartment were narrow and cold, making it harder to pull himself up. With every movement, he felt his nerves and muscles strain.

He could feel the torn skin moving and being pulled apart, his nerves aching like lightning bolts shooting through his leg. Another movement to climb the stairs failed, bringing him to the ground with a branched gasp. He lay still for a moment, listening to the sounds in the house. The cursing power of the two twins was quiet, not moving.

However, Satoru could see and feel Suguru. How his curse power directly targeted him.

In disbelief, Satoru buried his face in his arm as soon as the door opened just a little further above him. He felt pale light flood the hallway, enveloping his body as it stretched out on the stairs in soft light. It revealed blood running down his pants leg and hid his smile. It was a sad smile, filled with memories and old hopes.

"Satoru?"

The words vibrated softly through the stairwell, triggering more soreness on his skin. Satoru felt like the name on Suguru's tongue could make his pores bleed. So it made his heart beat at full speed, making the blood boil until it burned through his skin. Satoru didn't lift his head at the question, trying to regulate his breathing and his heart.

Normally he was always composed, he wouldn't make a face if someone ripped his heart out. But that night his head was dizzy from blood loss. It brought down his walls, his emotions no longer hidden. And his greatest weakness was now in front of him because he had promised to come home to him. His eyes burned with pain, the blood leaking from his body was just more evidence of fragile emotions bubbling out of him.

"Satoru" this time the voice was closer, hushed but full of concern, "you're bleeding"

It made the white-haired man look up.

Suguru stood before him, framed by the soft light he looked like an angel. His hair fell around his shoulders, the braid long since undone. His eyes were tired but glittered with worry, perhaps even anger. Satoru gave him a weak smile and slowly sat up on the stairs. A hiss followed the sound as Suguru stepped closer, eyes narrowed to slits in scrutiny.

"I'm fine" Satoru returned through clenched teeth, "Just a stupid mistake"

Even though Suguru gave him a punishing look, Satoru was right. The mission would have gone off without a hitch if he hadn't been too distracted. The sudden reunion with Suguru had probably taken him a little too much than he had previously admitted. Now, punished by his own inability to stay focused, the special grade curse had been able to pierce his leg. Nothing that reversed cursed energy couldn't heal, but something that took time because his energy was low.

"Can you even walk with that?" Suguru asked, holding his hand out to the other.

On unsteady legs, Suguru's posture ready to intervene should the other fall, Satoru braced himself on his feet. He held the other's hand shakily, ignoring the sweat forming on his forehead. It was rare for him to be physically hurt and when he was, it hurt like hell. He wished he was more prepared for injuries than physical exhaustion or migraines.

"I'm not going up the stairs with you like this, you can't even stand on one leg" Suguru commented.

The two stood close to each other, Satoru's weight leaning almost entirely on the other.

"I might be able to-" With a flourish, Satoru's world spun before his eyes, his legs were pulled away from the ground, "Ah! Suguru let go of me-"

"If you wake up the kids with your screaming, I'll let you bleed to death here," Suguru muttered, suddenly very close to his ear.