Undead Revolution (⛔☁️)

S8 - 10. [Conclusions]

After a fitful night's sleep, he woke to Teskai at his door. The apartment was quiet, except for the faint hum of the fridge and the distant sounds of the city outside. Eri was asleep in the other room, unaware of the storm that was brewing around them. Katsuki sat up with a drawn out sigh.

"Everything's screwed" He couldn't help but say. He hadn't spoken much since returning from his parents' house, but now, the reality of their situation was finally setting in.

Teskai sighed, moving to come further into the room. "Yeah" He agreed quietly, though there was no sarcasm or frustration in his voice. "It's all gone to shit"

Katsuki's jaw clenched. Everything had gone to shit. Eri was caught in the middle, and the apartment they shared was no longer safe. And now that Katsuki had severed ties with his parents, he had no doubt the couple would be at least watched, or worse, interrogated.

"They'll find us" Teskai continued, his tone matter-of-fact. "Your parents know where I live. They won't talk easily, but the heroes have ways of getting what they need"

Katsuki watched as the hacker traced his fingers over the various weapons strewn across the dresser. "They'll probably be put into protective custody or somethin' for now.

"Even if they don't, it's just a matter of time before the Commission start putting things together. I've worked too many jobs with you, they'll know where to look"

A heavy silence followed, the weight of the truth hanging between them. Katsuki finally looked away from his friend. "We need to move" He said, the edge in his voice cutting through the quiet.

Teskai let out a long breath. "Where?"

"Far away. Somewhere they won't think to look" Katsuki said. "This place is compromised"

"And what about Eri?" Came the quiet response. Teskai's voice was soft, concern evident. "She's been through too much already. She's attached to us, and there's no way she's gonna leave"

Katsuki sighed, running a hand through his messy hair. He hadn't figured out what to do about Eri. She deserved better than this; better than being dragged into his world of mercenaries, villains, and constant danger. But where could she go? Yuuei? The same place that had turned him into what he was?

"I... couldn't even protect you right. She can't stay"

Teskai frowned, clearly thinking hard. "The safest place for her would be Yuuei. They could protect her in ways we can't. Nezu already offered it once, right?"

"I can't just... They're... She's not gonna..." Katsuki dropped his head into his hands, the frustration spilling over.

"But they'll protect her" Teskai said firmly, holding his ground. "I'm not saying it's a perfect solution, but it's better than this, y'know?"

Katsuki clenched his fists, the tension in his shoulders tight enough to snap. He hated it. Hated everything about the situation. But Teskai was right, and he knew it. He could take on any villain, any enemy, but he couldn't fight an entire system of heroes and stay in the shadows forever. Eri would be the one to suffer if he tried.

Especially since she was so young. She wasn't like Teskai, who knew what he was getting into and had a say in it. She was just a kid who had to do as she was told.

After this incident, he knew for sure. He couldn't protect her the way he wanted to.

"I'll... talk to Nezu" Katsuki finally muttered, the words tasting bitter in his mouth.

Teskai gave a small nod of understanding, knowing how hard this decision was for him. "And us?" He asked quietly.

Katsuki took a deep breath, eyes cold as steel. "We disappear. You have those properties saved, yeah?"

Teskai nodded. "I'll get everything sorted"

It was a plan. Not a great one, but a plan nonetheless. Katsuki wasn't ready to let go of everything just yet, but he knew he was running out of options. This was the only way to keep Eri safe, and in the end, that was all that mattered.

Word count: 684