What Fate Brings

Chapter 14

There was the faint beeping of a heart monitor in the background as Hizashi slowly regained his consciousness. It had felt like an eternity of darkness. His senses slowly started regaining life. The sense of touch was the last to start rekindling, starting in his fingers and spreading like a fire to the rest of his body. And fire it was on his neck. That's where the pain flared the most.

The memories came flooding back to him, almost giving him a headache. Midnight pinning him down. Her tearing his mask off. Shouta going bat shit crazy at her. Leaning into Shouta's warmth as the man wrapped around him protectively.

Now he was wondering where the raven haired man was. He was focused on the pain again, but when he tried to make noise it hurt even more. Hizashi tried opening his eyes and was greeted with a rude, bright light. Everything hurt. He felt like crying.

There was a grunt next to him, then movement. "Welcome unfortunately to the land of the living."

He squinted and looked over. He recognized the voice. Gravelly and low. Hizashi became quickly aware that it was Shouta. That made his heart beat faster and his chest warm.

"Don't try to talk. Your hacking scientist friend saved your ass because I was too focused on trying to kill Nemuri for what she did." Shouta grumbled. "She tore out that voice box of yours."

Hizashi was able to fully open his eyes now that they'd adjusted to the light. He saw Shouta sitting next to him hunched over. His tired eyes met Hizashi's jade ones. Hizashi raised his hands, but Shouta reached over and grabbed his wrist.

"Don't even try." Shotua drawled. "I don't know sign language."

Hizashi swallowed dryly and nodded. He stared at where Shouta's hands gripped him. Absent-mindedly, he brought Shouta's hands closer to his lips. Shouta quickly pulled his hands back.

"What the hell do you think you're doing?" Shouta looked at him with a slightly hostile glint, yet Hizashi could've sworn he saw a blush.

Hizashi grinned and stuck out his tongue at him. Shouta glared and growled. "You're such a fucking idiot, 'Zashi."

There was a knock and then the door opened. It revealed Kaito, hair messy and unkempt. "You're finally awake. Took you long enough, you were out for three days." Kaito looked at Shouta. "Maybe this feral hobo can get out of my lab."

Shouta sneered at him. "That's a lot coming from a man who experiments with fusions of animals."

Kaito gave him an impassive look. "Bold coming from the man who bit my hand because I "hurt" Hizashi." He quipped, holding up his wrapped hand. "I had to sanitize that fucker."

"You calling me dirty, hacker man?" Shouta glowered.

"I'm not calling you clean, hobo. I don't want to know where your mouth has been." Kaito jeered. He gave a quick, hinting glance to Hizashi.

Hizashi's face went red and Shouta sunk down into his scarf, growling. "I've barely even touched him, what the hell are you insinuating?"

"Oh really?" Kaito smirked, giving a small chuckle. "I would have guessed you've done more than just hold hands."

"I fucking hate you." Shouta spat.

"I'm honored." Kaito remarked, before going over to the counter to grab something. "On a serious note, you're lucky Hizashi. You got to sleep through nearly half a week of the soreness. And your.... Comrade there stayed at your side the entire time, spare going to get food."

Hizashi looked over at Shouta, who was slowly lifting his head from his scarf face cocoon. He gave him a thankful smile. Shouta glanced over and scoffed. "I couldn't let the only reason I have a roof over my head die. That's all. Didn't know if you would want me in your apartment while you weren't there."

Hizashi simply shrugged. Kaito raised an eyebrow at their interaction. "Don't know sign?"
Shouta's expression became hostile again. "Why would I? I've never needed to."

"I thought you and Hizashi were childhood friends." Kaito inquiried. "Hasn't he been hard of hearing, almost deaf, his whole life?"
Shouta shifted at the question and grumbled. "Well yeah, but he's always had hearing aids. Never thought he'd actually... you know, lose his fucking voice?"

Kaito looked away and started mixing things. "And you never thought that while becoming a hero his throat wouldn't be purposefully be targeted?"

"I hate you." Was all Shouta responded with.

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