Long Time Coming

Rose Gold Glow

Man was it dark.

And he hurt .

Cautiously he pulled an arm up, inspecting the bandages around his forearm tentatively with his fingers. He flexed and yelped. His skin underneath felt wet and sloppy. It wasn't unpleasant, but it wasn't good either. He swallowed hard.

C'mon. Man up. He reached for the chain above his bed, yanking gently.

With a click a little yellow light fizzed on and hummed. Kirishima hadn't prepared himself for the washed out sight of himself alone in a hospital room. The bed beside him was empty. He craned his neck. Sure he was alone he pulled the blanket back, sitting. His chest was bangaged, he could tell without looking by the way his gown hitched and snagged on the wrappings. Curious he untied the gown, pulling the top open. His ribs had been tightly bound, a large ugly black bruise spilling out around his torso.

Curiously he raised his left arm. It also had the sickly wet feeling but didn't seem to ache as his right did. Curious he expressed his quirk in his fingertips, yelping as they hardened and revealed not the opaque, flesh colored rock as he was used to. Quickly he shook the effect off, his heart racing. He blinked, swallowed. Looked around.

He was, indeed, alone in the hospital room. He was alone. His eyes moved to the clock. It was three fifty in the morning. Of course he was by himself... He shuddered, wishing fervently that someone was there with him now. Kirishima pressed the nurse button, hardening his fingers again. His skin wasn't translucent so much as it was polished, refined somehow. His skin caught the light now; shining, reflecting, refracting. Even the pale yellow glow from behind him cast rainbows and bright white spots around the room. Instead of the flesh colored matte surface it was a deep black hue. Maybe a little red tone hidden in the illuminated depths. The clearness was unnerving and amazing. It was captivating to see the layers within his skin, like the layers of rock on a cliffside.

What is this?

"Oh good." A cheery young man walked in, startling Kirishima who immediately dropped his hand and went back to normal. "You're awake. The doctor was worried-"

"How long?" His voice was thin and dry. He realized he didn't have anything to swallow. No spit. He looked up to the IV, impressed. "Good job getting one of those to stay in me."

"Yes well..." the nurse frowned a little as he checked the IV bag and the vital records on the machine, "We went through three different needles. You were very... restless in the beginning. Kept snapping against your skin. Nice quirk by the way. Very showy."

Kirishima blushed, his heart jumping. "It kinda is now, isn't it?" He couldn't help the wide grin that spread across his face.

"So, the doctor will be in at around 8 to talk with you about your condition. You've... ah..." the nurse hesitated, his hand rubbing the back of his head uncertainly. "You have had a few visitors but there was one-"

It was stupid for that to make him feel bubbly, but it did. "Angry?"

"Y-yeah."

"Violent?"

"I-I mean sort of-"

"Blond?"

"Should I just bring him in?" The nurses face twisted into one of dry acceptance. "He's been sitting in the waiting room. He refused to leave. We had to have security escort him yesterday." The nurse leaned forward, "Are you sure cuz..."

Kirishima grinned, "Yeah. He's a good guy, just kinda mixed up sometimes."

"Hmm." The nurse frowned, "Well, I'll bring you some food and water and the angry boy. Ground Zero right?"