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“Kaminari?” The nurse flashes something in his face and he blinks, looking at him quietly. The nurse says something else, but Denki is staring at the door behind him. His fingers twitch and he makes a face as he feels how sticky they are. “Kaminari, what happened?” he finally looks at the nurse.
“What… what happened?” his voice is fractured, a wine glass fallen from loose fingers. The nurse runs his fingers through Denki’s hair, he wonders why as he closes his eyes.
“No head injuries… why is there so much blood?” the nurse scribbles on a clipboard and Denki watches him, golden eyes looking through him.
“My mother… she stabbed me,” he flinches, images of blood, a knife in a different hand and love- oh love- flashing through his mind. Fangs flash through his minds eye, teeth poised for his neck, but he blinks and the nurse is moving away.
“Let me see the wound,” the nurse is smiling but Denki cannot force another smile to coat his lips as he pulls his shirt off. His stomach is hurriedly stitched and the nurse visibly winces away from the wound, but Denki knows. His mother, cruel- kind and loving wishing for him and his soulmate to meet and play - he blinks and the vision is gone. The world is patient in its reminders, hands gentle as he is brought back.
“Did I… did I die?” his voice cracks and the nurse looks at him, curious.
“The EMT’s said you were gone for a total of three minutes.” he makes Denki lay down and sighs softly. “You’re going to end up laying down for awhile while this heals, okay?” he smiles down at Denki.
“I uh- I have ADHD.” he feels as if his words are waves, beating upon a rock that will not budge. The nurse scowls and ignores him, Denki feels his heart sink.
“Two adults have signed off for you to go to a mental hospital, permitted visiting for themselves and… a boy?” he sounds confused and Denki swallows thickly, going silent. The nurse clicks on a keyboard and the room is silent. “An ambulance will be here shortly to take you there.” his voice is short, curt. Denki nods, confusion melting his mind. A snake sinks its fangs in and the world begs for it to stop, for it to see what it has done. Denki closes his eyes for a moment, reopens it in a vehicle, closes them again, and wakes up once more to solid white cement. He listens to people outside of his room and frowns.
He closes his eyes to the feel of a hand against his head, muffled whispers. He opens his eyes to Izuku, always Izuku with a smile and a book. He opens them to Izuku teaching him, his voice and mannerisms soft, never afraid of him. His heart melts, only to freeze when Izuku leaves. He hears the nurses talk, he hears the other kids talk and he knows how they see him. Monster, serial killer, worse of the worse. Should be tried, hung in the streets. An example to all. Denki covers his ears and cry, the world wraps its arms around him and whisper promises of a better future. The world is not cruel, only its residents, it whispers. Denki does no hear over his sobs, heart pumping faster- ever faster. The next day- the nurses claim his is different. The world smiles as it gives him a gift. He is soft when Izuku visits him next, smiles and gentle touches. His heart returns to its now natural state when he leaves. His teeth are poised, but he waits. He waits and slumbers, he waits and he relishes when he is released. He celebrates and Izuku smiles at his laughter, his spinning.
“Isn’t that the kid that killed all those people?” a whisper of the wind that makes Denki freeze. His eyes go wide as his hands shake, but Izuku is there and his hands are so soft and kind that Denki cannot stop himself from relaxing, from staring into moss colored eyes that threaten to hypnotize him. Izuku smiles and holds him close on their walk home. Denki silently wonders if Izuku has another quirk- one that hypnotizes people, but the world whispers no. It is our gift, an extra one. People are too harsh to a you that you did not choose.
Their home is silent when they walk in, Denki with his one bag of things and Izuku with him. He stares at the walls, the furniture. His thoughts echo, rattle, threaten him. He turns to look at Izuku, a question burning on his tongue, electricity burning under his skin.
“Do they hate me?” His voice echoes as he follows Izuku further into the home.
“Who?” he smiles sweetly and Denki swears he stole all the breath in his lungs from that action alone.
“My-” he pauses. “The Bakusquad.” he doesn’t think he can call them friends anytime soon, after what he did-
“They didn’t seem like it, they actually wanted to visit you,” he lets go of Denki’s hand and grabs a glass, glass oh so fragile, all like him. Like him and his fangs. He wonders why Izuku is not frightened of him, but he knows, deep in his soul. It thrums and reminds him, it whispers when actions are not enough. They are made for one another. Denki closes his eyes tot he image of Izuku, white button up covered in blood and a smile on his face, knife in hand as he whispers. He gasps and grabs the counter, the world whispers its apologies. He does not hear them as he gazes at Izuku.
“I’m… glad they don’t hate me.” they are idiots. He thinks in the silence that follows. The house stretches and groans as Izuku brings the cup up to his mouth and drinks. Denki cannot escape his thoughts as they tell him of people- of how they will be hurt. Of how they hurt, how they will hurt Izuku, no matter what he seems to believe. He frowns and leaves him there, opting to explore his new home. His hands tremble as his breaths start coming shorter. Every window he sees brings more panic- he can’t be seen. If they see him they will hurt him, there is no question to it. He lays on the floor and cries, he thinks that Izuku is close by or maybe holding him, but he isn’t sure.
“Maybe you shouldn’t go outside.” Denki smiles at Izuku, twirling a pet between his fingers. Izuku hums and Denki continues, “I mean- they’re mean and cruel. The world wants to hurt us, that has always been its goal…” he trails off and goes silent as Izuku smiles a little.
“It’ll be fine, no one can hurt us,” he touches Denki’s hand and they both watch as it goes still. He grabs his chin softly and pulls him close, pressing their lips together softly. “No one will hurt us.”
Denki screams, the tearing of flesh loud in his ears. He watches Izuku, he watches as tears blur his vision. The snake- it was right. How could he believe that Izuku wouldn’t get hurt? He turns towards the culprit- who smiles. Eight eyes gleam in the lowlight as they smile, teeth too large for their mouth.
“What will you do? What will the traitor do?” their voice echoes and Denki notices the layers of it. “Will you resort back to your base instincts?” they let go of Izuku and step closer, but Denki’s eyes do not leave his form.
“I have done.” his hand gleams, his face feels cold as he stares at them. “I am not you.” his hand moves, a blur to his own mind. Electricity is a flower- it blooms faster and without the light. It is the light. He grabs the monster- the creature- the villain by the neck as the knife slides into place. Blood gushes from the wound and onto his hand. He stares impassively as the creature crumbles from its wound and his quick. He can’t find the energy in him to fight, he stares at Izuku and walks over. He sobs, the feeling of blood on his hand reminding him too much of a different time. He looks away from Izuku, the gleaming knife offering a different choice. The world whispers and pulls, trying to stop it. Denki does not listen- if Izuku is gone-
If his soul is gone… What point is there?