The Hellish Todorokis

Chapter 8

It's well past one in the morning when Touya limps into the apartment. The skin on his hands is blistered and red, curling up and festering where the skin grafts meet his healthy skin in a jagged line running halfway down his palm. A steady stream of blood trickles from the wounds. Pain ripples up his arm as he turns the doorknob, the metal cool against his scorching skin.

Fuck, fuck, fuck that hurts. This was a bad idea. What was I thinking?

Touya pushes into the bathroom, grabbing the first aid kit from the top shelf of the linen closet. He'd splurged and gotten one of the large ones that are medical grade. He knew there was a good chance he'd need it at some point and refused to go to a hospital if he hurt himself. It was too risky.

Turning on the faucet, he puts his hands under the cold stream, gritting his teeth as the water assaults his broken skin. Carefully turning the water off, he pats his hands dry before cleaning what he can with the antiseptic, sweat beading on his forehead and his head swimming from the pain.

Sliding down to the floor, he pulls the first aid kit over to him and opens it up. His hands shake as he finds the surgical needle and sutures. Breathe. In. Out. It's okay. It's just pain. He takes deep breaths, trying to steady his hand. The first prick of pain as the needle threads through his skin has him gritting his teeth. A gurgled scream threatens to bubble up his throat.

Not wanting to wake anyone up in the apartment next door, he grabs a cloth and shoves it in his mouth, biting down hard. Harsh breaths expel from his nose as he pierces his skin again. Each stab of the needle has him dizzy, but he soldiers on through the pain. His fingers reflectively move to curl into a fist and he forces his hand flat as he works.

Don't be a wimp. This is your fault. You did this, now face the consequences.

After the last stitch is in place, he ties off the end and slumps back against the wall to catch his breath. Don't stop now. You've got one hand left. His stomach roils and he has to swallow back the bile in his throat. Tears threaten to fall from his eyes as he grits his teeth and gets another suture ready.

By the time both hands are stitched up and sloppily bandaged, Touya feels like he just ran a marathon. Sweat drips down his forehead and merges with the tears leaking from his eyes. He whimpers as he tries to put his hands under him to get up from the floor, before giving up and resting his back against the wall.

Dark spots cloud his vision. A dull, throbbing pain pulses through his hands now, keeping him right on the edge of consciousness. He looks longingly at the bottle of pain medication sitting on the sink basin, too weak to move. His eyes are heavy and his head lolls forward until his chin rests against his chest.

The sound of his phone going off in his hoodie pocket jolts him from his lethargic state. He's up and moving in seconds when he sees Inko's name on the caller ID, ignoring the pain as he holds the phone up to his ear.

"Inko. What's wrong?"

"It's Izuku." The kid sounds distressed, sniffling into the phone. " Hotaru's having a nightmare. Momma's trying to wake him up but she can't."

Touya's already running out the front door by the time he answers. "I'm on my way. Can you let me in?" The boy gives an affirmative answer before Touya hangs up, getting up to the fifth floor in record time.

Izuku is already standing outside the apartment with the front door open, eyes red and tears tracking down his cheeks. Touya thanks him as he rushes towards the bedroom. The temperature in the house is freezing, each breath creating small clouds in the air. He can hear Inko before he even enters the room. "Hotaru! Hotaru, honey. Wake up!"