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"I will begin torture to make the enemy spit out their plans... Stop the other members to prevent interference."
Kenji feels something worse than the pain he was feeling right now dropping in his chest, and it overpowers the starvation he typically relies on for his strength.
What did she say?
“Understood.” Tecchou replies to her, “The radio’s signal has been revived.”
“Tor-ture?” Kenji’s voice comes out as empty, Tecchou glancing up from the radio in his hand to the boy bleeding in his grasp.
“That’s right. I’m sorry, but… Your friend can no longer be saved.” Tecchou exhales out, head tilting when Kenji lifts his hand up and clasps at the wrist holding him in the air.
“I have to help.” Kenji’s grip tightens.
Tecchou’s gaze sharpens, “and how will you do that?”
Kenji slams his foot into Tecchou’s stomach, sending him flying.
……
Never make Kenji angry.
Atsushi thinks about this as he stares at Teruko from where he’s sitting on a hospital-like bed, silently wondering if Kenji would ever get angry on his behalf. He hopes he does, though not for his sake- only for Kenji’s. Kenji was strong on his own… But if what Kunikida said was true, an angry Kenji could punch holes in mountains.
He wants Kenji to be okay.
He wants everyone to be okay.
He hates this.
“You don’t have to look so pouty.” Teruko says, rolling her eyes. “I turned you into a tot and you’re just small and pathetic. Shaking like a leaf- I haven’t even hurt you.”
Oh. He was reverted back into… A two or three year old. He thinks. He can feel certain scars on his body, so. At least two or three. Or older. He kinda doubts that though because the world was just so big right now.
And yeah, he was shaking like a leaf- she’s right about that. But y’know what. Who the fuck wouldn’t be terrified after being reverted back in age? He felt like he was fighting against his inner child- the fear from being younger so prominent and the urge to hide strong. He couldn’t even speak right now.
It was hard to explain. But he wanted the agency so bad.
He wanted his family.
“DON’T START CRYING??” Teruko sqwuacks out, making Atsushi flinch as she’s up in his face- “What is wrong with you?? I can’t believe everyone thought you were a terrorist… So damn sensitive. Empathetic too, ugh.” She groans, turning away from him as he tries to wipe away his tears.
At least she wasn’t torturing him like she kept threatening to do.
….But did she have to turn him into a toddler?
The sound of the radio buzzing makes Atsushi look nervously to Teruko, watching her raise the device up and press a button. “What is it?” She grumbles, “...Eh? You need to know where I am? Did you get another member or something? Mmm, okay. We’re down where we stored one of the beds, remember? And-”
Atsushi tries his hardest to listen to what she’s saying to whoever was on the other end of the radio, but the words blur together and he feels like he can’t breathe.
Who is down- who is still fighting right now? Was the plan done for? Was anyone dead? What was-
“HEY!” Teruko hollers at him, only making his anxiety worse and his breath quicken. “Calm the fuck down! Jeez. It’s no wonder you can relate to a lost child. Look at you, you’re traumatized and you’re barely even three right now.”
Atsushi has an idea about what that implies, her ability made him feel the way he did when he was-... yeah. He didn’t care to think too hard about that however, because he was busy crying like a baby.
He was a mess.
BAM.
Teruko blinks and Atsushi’s breath hitches.
They both look towards the now slammed open door,
Tecchou looks frazzled and beaten up- in front of him, Kenji looks just as bad- but he’s smiling brightly. “Haaaii!” He chirps out, “I have to help Tecchou find his friend but first I’m checking on Atsushi!”
The relief of seeing Kenji makes Atsushi instantly sob and raise his hands up in a grabby motion towards the blonde,
It's bizarre the way that Teruko tries to block Kenji from approaching only to be slammed off to the side in a manner that seems too petty for someone like Kenji to do- Atsushi again doesn’t think too much about it, because Kenji is picking him up and holding him in a protective grasp.
Kenji attends to him, completely ignoring Teruko yelling to Tecchou as he wipes away Atsushi’s tears and scratches at his head- bouncing him on his hip like he’s experienced in looking after toddlers. Which wouldn't be too too surprising- and he whispers soothing things that Atsushi can't make out- but still helps nonetheless.
As soon as he’s calmed down and resting his head on Kenji’s shoulder, the blonde hums. “O-kay!” He turns towards Teruko and Tecchou. “Not that I need you to turn him back right now because we have Dazai who can do that, but it’d be very convenient for you to do it! We need Atsushi right now, and it’d be something nice for you to do for him after making him cry like that!”
Teruko scoffs in offense and Tecchou silently prays for her. Something he typically doesn’t do.
“I need him as leverage right now! Why would I turn him b—-AAACK” She hollers as her wrist is suddenly twisted by Kenji, all while the blonde smiles at her softly. “What the FUCK LET GO-”
“Teruko.” Tecchou sighs out, watching the girl struggle to get out of Kenji’s grip. “Stop being so stubborn.”
Atsushi would eventually get turned back- but he gets a good nap in while they all 'argue' first. Kenji’s hand that stroked his hair certainly didn’t help in keeping him awake.
It’s funny, because the hand that was petting him had just been twisting Teruko’s wrist.
The duality of his family, is all Atsushi can say about that.