Chapter Text
“Kazuya!”
Miyuki’s head snapped upward, tearing his gaze away from the gauze newly taped over his IV line bruise. His copper eyes met worried amber, the younger teen’s gaze filled with concern.
“Kazuya, are you ready?” Eijun asked gently.
“For what?” the older boy asked distractedly.
Eijun took a deep breath. It worried him that Miyuki hadn’t heard him calling his name the first few times and it worried him even further when Miyuki forgot things. He knew it was a result of his concussion and it was only temporary but that knowledge didn’t ease his worry any.
“We’re going home - back to the dorms. I’m going to help you into your wheelchair now,” Eijun explained.
“Oh,” Miyuki mumbled, “right, sorry.”
“Hey,” Eijun leaned down, grasping Miyuki’s chin as he titled his head up slightly. “It’s okay. Let me know if I hurt you any. Are you ready?” When Miyuki nodded his head, Eijun pressed a kiss to the corner of his mouth, still avoiding the healing cut on his lip.
Slinging an arm around Miyuki’s waist, Eijun helped the teen maneuver himself to the edge of the bed. The slight winces didn’t escape Eijun’s notice but he pressed on, determined to get it over with quickly. The boys paused once Miyuki’s legs hung over the side of the bed, Eijun allowing him a chance to recover from the prior movement. It was the most he had moved since he’d been admitted and Eijun knew the wounds littering his torso were severe enough to cause discomfort with even the smallest movements. So he was careful. The last thing he wanted was to hurt Miyuki further.
Eijun’s fingers tightened around Miyuki’s torso as he slowly helped the boy stand off of the bed.. but as soon as he placed weight upon his injured leg, the teen faltered. The catcher’s leg gave out beneath him and he would have crumpled if it weren’t for Eijun’s quick reaction, his strong arms tightening and holding him upright. The southpaw’s grip dug into several bruises, making Miyuki gasp out but it was nothing compared to the pain he would have faced had he hit the floor. He gazed up at the pitcher, slightly shocked at his strength as Eijun shifted the majority of Miyuki’s weight onto himself. Eijun held him upright, walking him the few steps over to the awaiting wheelchair and easing him slowly into the seat of it.
Miyuki mumbled a thanks as he glanced down at his lap, eyeing the arm that was slung across his midsection. He was glad to be leaving this place, to go back to the school that had become his home but.. His mind flashed back to Eijun carrying his limp body out of the alleyway, the images threatening to consume him before a familiar voice brought him back.
“Kazuya,” Eijun said as he placed a hand on his uninjured shoulder.
The catcher looked up at his partner, the fingers of his right hand curling around the armrest of the wheelchair. “Sorry,” he rasped, “just... thinking.”
Kataoka looked up from the chair he sat in as he filled out paperwork. He eyed the two boys carefully, taking stock of the tired look upon Miyuki’s face, the worry upon Sawamura’s. The coach went back to the paperwork, filling it out quickly and pausing once he got to the discharge instructions. The doctor had already gone over his aftercare with them - change his bandages twice a day, no soaking in the tub, medication instructions, etc. He made a mental note to give them to Sawamura once they’d arrived back at the dorms since the catcher would primarily be in his care.
“Are you in pain?” the pitcher asked.
“A little,” Miyuki admitted, though Kataoka could tell the teenager was downplaying it.
Eijun pressed his lips to Miyuki’s warm forehead, his fingers moving their way through the catcher’s thick hair. “I love you,” Eijun mumbled. “Just a little longer and you can have more medicine.”
“I love you too,” Miyuki said, though the effort hurt his throat.
Eijun simply smiled, planting another kiss to the same spot before he stood upright. His cheeks flushed as he turned toward their coach, having forgotten his presence.
Kataoka stood from his seat, flipping quickly through the papers to make sure he’d gotten everything. He regarded the two embarrassed teenagers, his lips curving upward ever so slightly. “You two ready?”
Eijun opened his mouth to speak but was interrupted by the sound of an opening door. The same nurse from the day shifts walked in, a smile on her face as she approached Kataoka and collected the papers he’d finished.
“I’m going to make a copy of his home care instructions and I’ll be right back. I’ll also provide you with the pharmaceutical information for you to pick up his medications. Then we can get you out of here and on your way home,” she said before leaving once again.
Eijun reached down and held out his hand, feeling content as he felt Miyuki’s trembling fingers close around his own. Several minutes passed before the door opened again and their hands separated. The nurse handed the instructions to Kataoka before strolling over to the two boys.
“Ready to get out of here, Miyuki-kun?” she asked as her hands gripped the handles of the wheelchair.
The teenager said nothing, simply nodded and shifted uncomfortably in the seat. He glanced up at Eijun, silently begging the boy to stay close to him.
“I’m not going anywhere, Kazuya,” Eijun reassured as he walked out the propped open door. The nurse followed him out next with Kataoka as the last to leave, the older man taking a look around the room to be sure they’d gathered everything.
Once in the hall, Eijun took his place next to Miyuki, pacing his stride to walk along side him as he reached down to take the older boy’s hand. The catcher took it gratefully, taking comfort in the rough surface of his boyfriend’s skin. Miyuki’s fingers began to tighten around Eijun’s as he glanced around him, trying to ignore the restrictive white walls that wouldn’t seem to end. He just wanted to be back home.
Miyuki had to squint through his blurry vision once they’d finally come to the glass sliding doors that would lead them out to the parking lot. The bright light made him wince, causing the southpaw to regard him with worry. The cool breeze of the autumn air licked at what skin was exposed and he couldn’t help but revel in it. It felt good, even as it sliced through the zip up Kuramochi had brought the previous day in preparation for Miyuki’s discharge.
Kataoka stepped out in front, leading them to the car that was parked close by. Miyuki sighed in relief upon seeing the vehicle, shifting his gaze to Eijun once the chair was stopped next to the back door.
“Sawamura, get in and help get Miyuki comfortable,” Kataoka instructed.
The southpaw nodded and opened the door, giving Miyuki’s hand a gentle squeeze before he released him and climbed inside.
“Ready, Miyuki?” the coach asked.
Seeing no other option, Miyuki nodded and watched as Kataoka knelt in front of him. The nurse held the chair steady as Kataoka lifted the boy from the seat, trying to ignore Miyuki’s gasps of pain. The catcher’s teeth clenched as he fought back the urge to cry out, the medication unable to block out the sharp discomfort he felt from the movements. The coach’s brows furrowed as he carefully lowered Miyuki into the car, seating him so that he could lean against Eijun.
With the door left open, Miyuki watched as the nurse showed Kataoka how to collapse the wheelchair, his eyes swimming with confusion. “Coach?”
Kataoka glanced down at the boy in the car, assessing his confusion. “Between your leg and the extent of your torso injuries, you’re too weak to be walking for a while.”
The catcher’s eyes widened in realization, a lump forming in his aching throat as the feeling of helplessness washed over him. Though blurry, he looked at the coach pleadingly, silently begging him not to make him use it. He didn’t want to feel weak, he didn’t want to rely on something to aid him in walking; especially when none of the bones he’d broken were in his legs.
The coach gave Miyuki a stern, albeit sympathetic look over the tops of his glasses. “I’m sorry, Miyuki, this is just the way it is.”
The teenager opened his mouth to protest but Kataoka fixed him with a hard gaze, causing the boy to freeze in submission. Miyuki allowed his muscles to relax, realizing this wasn’t an argument he was going to win. Eijun stroked the boy’s sweaty forehead, watching as the coach loaded the collapsed wheelchair into the trunk of the car.
Eijun’s fingers pushed Miyuki’s hair aside, watching the boy sadly as his eyes rested shut. His pale skin was flushed around his cheeks, radiating heat from the persistence of the fever. The pitcher looked up from his boyfriend’s pained face when he heard the trunk slam shut. He watched their coach exchange a few words with the nurse before shutting the back car door.
“If he has any problems, bring him in straight away. Otherwise, we’ll see him in about a week to get his stitches removed,” the nurse said before turning on her heal to go back inside.
Kataoka watched after her for a moment before returning to the car, closing the driver’s side door behind him. After starting the engine, the coach turned in his seat, looking at the two boys in the back.
“We’re going back to the dorms. We’ll get Miyuki settled into your room, Sawamura, and then I’ll go pick up his prescriptions,” the coach said.
“Yes, boss.”
Kataoka grunted, shifting the car into gear to begin their drive back to Seido.
The car ride didn’t take too long but Eijun had become increasingly anxious with every unavoidable bump they hit. Miyuki seemed to feel each one of them down to his core, wincing through his fitful attempt at slumber. Eijun did his best to soothe him, reminding him that they were almost home, that he could sleep all he wanted once they were back.
The southpaw knew this was only the beginning, that Miyuki hadn’t even been given the chance to begin healing yet. He worried for the older boy’s mental state, knowing his own was shaky; he thought back to the fit of panic Miyuki had fallen into with the cops, knowing the worst was yet to come. He tried to tell himself that Miyuki was strong, that he’d make it through - that they would make it through. They just had to.
And, Eijun planned on doing everything within his power to ease Miyuki out of the darkness that had clouded his mind. He owed him that much.
Through his teeth, Miyuki let out a sharp gasp as they ran over a particularly large bump. Eijun’s fingers brushed against Miyuki’s cheeks, his breath catching in his throat.
“It’s going to be okay, Kazuya. I’m here.. I’ll always be here, we’ll make it through this.. together.”