Work Text:
“My name is Tsukasa Takajo. My home is District 12. I was the winner of the 74th Hunger Games… I was in The 3rd Quarter Quell. I escaped ” Tsukasa’s voice is breathless as he whispers to himself repeatedly, rocking back and forth in the darkness, fingers fiddling with the bracelet from Shoji. “Fujio… Fujio was left behind” he sobs out Fujio’s name
Tsukasa has been whispering the same thing to himself for a long amount of time. He’s lost track at this point. At some point, he finally gets a hold of himself. Tsukasa closes his eyes, hands grasping at the white pants he’s wearing as tries remembering how he got here, what happened and why he was alone.
He thinks of the quarter quell first. It all started when it was only them and the career pack left. Sachio decided to go over to the cornucopia and check for other supplies. That’s when he found a wire. A long roll of wire that Nakagoshi and Nakaoka had invented together. Neither of them were reaped for the games but Sachio knew the wire paired with this huge tree that gets hit by lightning every midnight along with the wet sand was their key to killing off the career pack. Tsukasa doesn’t really remember the details but remembers being separated from Fujio and sent off with Yasushi for some reason. Yasushi knocked Tsukasa down and slit his wrist. Tsukasa remembers feeling like he was dying.
Tsukasa had willed himself to get up and ran back toward the tree wrapped in wire that was supposed to be hit by lightning at any minute. There was no one there. Not Todoroki, Fujio, Sachio or Yasushi. He was confused. What was going on? But the wire was there along with Sachio’s bow and arrow. Tsukasa picks it up, realizing he is without a weapon to protect himself. “YASUSHI!” Todoroki yells
Tsukasa hid behind a bush, aiming one of the arrows at Todoroki. “YASUSHI! TSUKASA! WHERE ARE YOU GUYS!” He calls out desperately “SACHIO! FUJIO!”
Tsukasa is shaking. His head hurts and he isn’t sure what’s going on. All he knows is that Fujio isn’t here. Todoroki seems to notice him. “Tsukasa? Tsukasa where’s Fujio and Yasushi?” Todoroki calls when he sees him
Before Tsukasa can make his mind up to shoot Todoroki, thunder rumbles above him. Tsukasa looks up and something stirs in his chest. He isn’t sure what in his head made him think that Fujio is dead. Maybe that’s what made him reach down and grab the wire that was wrapped around the tree. Tsukasa wraps the end of the wire around the arrowhead. “Tsukasa, get away from that tree” Todoroki says cautiously walking over
There is a blur in his memory but Tsukasa remembers shooting the arrow up at the sky as the lightning strikes down on the tree. Todoroki and Tsukasa are sent flying and as his back hits the ground, Tsukasa watches the arrow hit the force field. It came apart. The force field starts to crumble and break above them and natural light pours in through the breakage. Tsukasa can’t help but laugh as he’s laying there on the ground, pieces of the dome falling around him. His body is paralyzed. He can’t feel anything. Tsukasa was tired and decided to sleep. At the time he thought he was dying so he thought he would see Fujio when he awoke in the afterlife.
Next thing he knows, he’s in District 13, definitely not the afterlife. When Tsukasa wakes up he doesn’t see Fujio, rather he sees Mashii Takehiko, also known as Mercy, one of the missing victors from District 6. Mercy tells him what happened: his arrow destroyed the arena, and District 12 had been bombed not even 2 hours later. Tsukasa asks about Fujio and Mercy looks away before saying “We couldn’t go back to get him”
It’s from there that Tsukasa goes delirious and how he ended up in this state. But eventually, he finds his way back to his room in District 13’s infirmary. He’s tired and sad and— Tsukasa pauses when he hears sobs. Someone was crying. Tsukasa blinks animately then turns, bare feet tapping quietly against the cold floor as he follows the sound. He opens the door and his heart drops seeing Todoroki. He’s sitting there in the same hospital clothing as him, white loose pants and an even more oversized white v-neck t-shirt. Todoroki is trembling, tying knots using a small piece of rope. “Todoroki” Tsukasa calls
Todoroki looks toward him and Tsukasa can now tell how much the other was trembling. Todoroki wasn’t wearing his glasses and his eyes were red, tears constantly running down his cheeks. “I wanted to go back for Fujio and Yasushi… but I uh” he chokes back a sob “I couldn’t move…”
Todoroki pauses and he roughly wipes the tears off his cheeks. “They have Yuken too… They were apparently able to get everyone except those 4 out… Um, they killed Fujin, Raijin, Arata, Madoka, Seiji and Gandhi on live broadcast… I don’t know about the rest but most of the victors have been killed on live tv”
“They’re all in the capital…” Todoroki was just as much a mess as Tsukasa. At that moment Tsukasa realizes that he’s lost all the vision in his left eye. “I wish they were dead” Todoroki whispers “I wish they were dead and we were too”
It’s hopeless. They feel hopeless and utterly defeated. Tsukasa feels lonely and sad and he wonders if Fujio is alive. He wonders if they all are. Tsukasa wishes they were dead. Tsukasa hopes that this is just a dream and that him and Fujio are in the arena, dead. “Can… can I stay with you?” Tsukasa asks
Todoroki pats all the empty space on his bed. “Come on”
The company they both had now didn’t fill any of the sadness but it did make the loneliness a little better.
A day later Sachio comes to see him, dressed in a grey jumpsuit. There is a scar on his face, going across his left eye. But it seems it missed his actual eye. So Tsukasa was currently the only half-blind victor. The scar on Sachio’s face isn’t too noticeable. It was actually quite thin and you could only see it under good lighting. “It was the guy from 1,” Sachio says, sitting down on the cot next to Tsukasa “happened right before the force field blew… Or before you fucked up the force field”
Tsukasa stares at him, completely silent. “I was knocked out… A piece of the force field hit my head. I…” Sachio pauses then sucks in a breath “They want me to be the face of the rebellion”
Tsukasa feels like crying. “Rebellion… I’ve lost Fujio because of a fucking rebellion?” He wants to hurt someone. From the very start, neither he nor Fujio wanted any part in anything like this and the other victors know this “How long has this been going on?”
Sachio sighings running his fingers through his grown-out black hair. “I only found out when I got here Tsukasa. Had I known it would be like this I would have done something about it. So that… So that all of us could be safe”
Tsukasa’s hands are shaking. He is shaking. “Are you gonna do it?”
Sachio shakes his head. “I don’t know… I don’t know I’m scared”
Sachio is a newly turned 20-year-old and they want him to be the face of an almost century-long plan of a rebellion. It made Tsukasa feel a little annoyed at all the adults. Why is it that each time the kids have to pay the price of a grown-up’s mistake? “They told me they originally wanted to get Fujio out. You weren’t a priority. I don’t know what made them change their mind or what made them leave Fujio” Sachio says
Sometime later Naomi comes to see him. Even in the grey jumpsuit, she’s adorned herself with black lace gloves and rings and earrings. She still looks pretty. “Oh Tsukasa” Naomi says and hugs him
Tsukasa can feel himself start to cry. “Fu—Fujio is…”
“I know, I know it’s okay” Naomi says, cupping his face in her gloved hands “I’m sure he’s still alive”
Tsukasa shakes his head, tears falling faster now. “I hope he’s dead. I hope he died in the arena”
Naomi knows exactly what he means. If Fujio or any of the other victors were still alive that would mean they were being tortured, giving them a brutal slow death. Naomi hugs Tsukasa tight then pulls away holding the blonde by his shoulders. “How are you here?” Tsukasa asks once he’s calmed down
Naomi gently runs her fingers through his hair, undoing all the tangles in his blonde hair. “I am a political refugee” she says with a little grin
“They rescued you?”
“I wouldn’t say rescued darling. But I guess they had a point, being the stylist of the victor that destroyed the arena doesn’t really sound like a secure job” she lets out a little laugh “not to mention my dead lover was a rebel. I think this would have been my last chance gone”
Naomi tells him everything that happened. District 12 was gone. Bombed by the capital and people barely survived. Tsukasa’s mother and Fujio’s mother were okay and also in District 13 right now thankfully but out of the 10 000 people in District 12, only 915 survived. “There is no news on Fujio and the other victors except the ones killed on broadcast…” Naomi finishes
A few days later, Tsukasa is finally stable enough to leave the medical ward and he’s gotten used to the complete blindness in his left eye. His mom comes to see him a few times and she’s doing okay. He is introduced to the leader of 13, Ryu Tatsuhito. Tsukasa instantly doesn’t like him and voices this to Sachio and Naomi in the cafeteria. Naomi agrees while Sachio says he is still forming an opinion about her. “I don’t like him ” Sachio says, eyeing Rao, one of the missing Victors from District 6 “any of them actually”
The missing Victors are all sitting at one table in the cafeteria. Tsukasa was still feeling a little nauseous so he decided not to eat. Sachio and Naomi were eating. Naomi was attempting to eat actually. “I miss coffee” Naomi says with a sigh
Tsukasa won’t lie, he misses his bed too. He misses waking up next to Fujio. The chattering in the cafeteria suddenly stops at the familiar sound of The Capital music playing. Everyone turns to face the screen in the center of the room, switching from the time and oxygen levels to the logo of the capital. The logo fades and it shows Bernie, the host of the games on screen. “Hello, good evening. And a big welcome to all. I’m Bernie and whoever you are, whatever you are doing, drop it. If you are working, put down your work. If you are having dinner, stop eating. Because you are going to want to witness this tonight” Bernie says “There has been rampant speculation about what really happened in the Quarter Quell. And here to shed light on the subject for us is a very special guest. Please welcome, the winner of the 73rd Hunger Games and the 3rd Quarter Quell, from District 12, Fujio Hanaoka”
Tsukasa’s breath gets caught in his throat as Fujio appears on the screen. Tsukasa shakily gets up and heads straight for the screen, standing right in front of one. It’s totally black in his left eye so he couldn’t see most of the screen unless he turned his body a certain way. “Fujio, a lot of people feel as though they are in the dark” Bernie says
Fujio’s eye bags are darker and Tsukasa can see as his hands tremble. He still has the bracelet on and Tsukasa unconsciously fiddles with the one around his own wrist. Fujio looks sick, he looks like he’s dying. “Yeah I know how they feel” Fujio says, sounding a lot more composed than he looks
“Now set the stage for us. Talk us through what happened that controversial night” Bernie says
“Well first off you have to understand that when you’re in the games, you only get one wish. It’s very costly” Fujio says
“You’re alive” Tsukasa whispers breathlessly
Tsukasa wishes Fujio was dead. Oh, how he wishes they just shoot Fujio in the head right now. He wonders if Fujio knew he was alive too. He wonders what they’ve been doing to him for Fujio to look this sickly. “ It costs your life” Bernie says
“I think it costs more than your life” Fujio says
“How do you mean? What’s more than your life?” Bernie asks
“I mean to murder innocent people, that costs everything that you are. It costed everything to me” Fujio says and he looks so so sad it’s hurting Tsukasa’s heart “So you hold on to that one wish and that night… My wish was to either save Tsukasa or die with him. But I knew he wouldn’t want to live without me. That night when the president announced the Quarter Quell we knew we’d be going back. I asked Tsukasa if he wanted to die with me and he said yes. Our last wish was to die together”
It was. That was their last wish. Tsukasa and Fujio had made the plan to die together. “Were you too caught up in Todoroki and Sachio’s plan?” Bernie asks
Fujio shakes his head. “No, I was caught up trying to play allies. Tsukasa always told me I’m too nice for my own good. Maybe that’s why I didn’t notice anything was wrong when Todoroki separated us. And then the lightning hit and the whole force field around the arena just blew up”
“Yes, but Fujio… Tsukasa was the one that destroyed the arena” Bernie tells him
Fujio instantly denies it, voice breathless. “No”
“You saw the footage—”
“Tsukasa didn’t know what he was doing. You see in the footage. He was angry. He was looking for me. Tsukasa didn’t know what he was doing” Fujio says firmly
That was actually right. Tsukasa was angry. Tsukasa was looking for Fujio and he thought he was dead. Tsukasa blew up the force field to kill himself, not to end up in District 13. “Neither of us knew there was a bigger plan going on. We had no idea. Tsukasa especially. He just wanted us both to live together in District 12 for the rest of our lives. No one except me knows how devastated he was when he found out we couldn’t. We had no idea what else was going on”
“You had no idea?” Bernie repeats
“No”
Tsukasa tears up and he feels himself start to tremble. “All right. Well, Fujio, there are many who find this suspicious, to say the least… It seems as though he was a part of a rebel plan”
“Well, do you think it was part of his plan to be almost killed by Yasushi? To be paralyzed by lightning? No, we were not part of any rebel plan. We had no idea what was going on. Tsukasa is half-blind! The last thing he wanted was to be a part of some plan! Whenever we saw news of unrest Tsukasa always said that he wanted no part. He said that he wanted to live peacefully with me. I don’t know what people are saying about him. About the games, but we didn’t know” Fujio looks like he’s about to cry
“All right, I believe you Fujio, thank you,” Bernie says “And I was going to ask you to speak about the unrest, but I think you might be too upset.”
“No, I can” Fujio says
“Are you sure?” Bernie confirms
“Yeah, absolutely,” Fujio says then takes a breath in “I want everyone who's watching to stop and to think about what a civil war could mean. We almost went extinct once before. And now our numbers are even fewer.”
Immediately people in the cafeteria began shouting.
“HE’S A TRAITOR!”
“KILL OURSELVES OFF?”
“Killing is not the answer,” Fujio says staring right at the camera “Everybody needs to lay down their weapons immediately”
“TRAITOR”
“HE’S NOT ONE OF US”
“This is treason” Fujio says and Tsukasa feels tears run down his cheeks
“Are you calling for a ceasefire?” Bernie asks
“Yeah I am ”
With his body trembling, Tsukasa leaves the cafeteria. Some people are shouting at him too. It hurts. Everything hurts. Tsukasa retreats into one of the tunnels, sitting against a vent with his knees pulled up to his chest. “He’s still playing the game” Tsukasa whispers to himself “he’s still in it”
Tsukasa begins to sob. He hoped all of this was just a really long nightmare and that when he finally wakes up he’ll be home in District 12, waking up next to Fujio who will hold him till he stops crying. Tsukasa is trembling, curling up into a ball. His chest hurts. It feels like something is tearing inside his chest, knocking the breath out of his lungs. Tsukasa wishes Fujio was dead. He wishes Fujio was dead and he was too. This wasn’t fair, not at all. “Fujio” he chokes out his name breathlessly
He’s heaving out breaths as the pain in his chest gets even worse. It isn’t long till he passes out. When Tsukasa wakes up again, he’s in the infirmary again. “Look who’s finally awake” Kiyoshi is sitting there next to him “You know I’ve been waiting for so long just to meet you again and you just keep passing out and crying”
Tsukasa blinks animatedly at him. Kiyoshi helps him sit up. “Do you know what happened to Yasushi?” Kiyoshi asks
He looks nervous and his hands are shaking and he’s sweating. Tsukasa realizes he’s going through withdrawals just like Yasushi was during the games. “I… I don’t know. He just hit me in the head and I didn’t see him since” Tsukasa explained “I’m sorry”
Kiyoshi lets out a sigh and then looks down at Tsukasa’s wrist. It’s still bandaged and Tsukasa hasn’t had the time to look at the new scar hidden beneath the white gauze. It’s just a new scar to add to all the old ones on his arms. “He cut out your tracker… When they approached us with plans of the rebellion Yasushi said he’d only join if they could get you and Fujio out and safe as well. Other than that piece of shit Sachio, you and Fujio were the most at risk” Kiyoshi says
Tsukasa wants to scream and cry. “I told Yasushi that we shouldn’t. That it was a risk and you would definitely punch him in the gut but I guess he was done running” Kiyoshi explains further “Leaving Fujio behind wasn’t something we had expected and I definitely didn’t expect they’d leave Yasushi behind…”
Kiyoshi is absolutely devastated. He looks remorseful and Tsukasa can’t find it in himself to be mad. There is still a dull ache in his chest and his lungs feel tight. “Kiyoshi, don’t stress Tsukasa out already, he just woke up” Yui says, seemingly appearing out of nowhere
Tsukasa looks toward the young girl. She looks healthy. Or as healthy as a Victor could get. “How long was I out?” Tsukasa asks, seeing he’s back in those white hospital clothes again
Yui is wearing a nurse outfit. He remembers Sachio telling him during his Victory Tour that Yui was pretty talented in the medical department. “2 days,” Yui says “You passed out due to stress… Scared the shit out of my brother”
Tsukasa feels horrible. Not for scaring Sachio but just remembering where Fujio was. “My brother made a deal… For you and for the other victors” Yui tells him “full immunity for all of you and he’ll be the face of the rebellion”
Tsukasa suddenly feels even worse. Sachio didn’t want to do this. Tsukasa feels sick and so so tired. Yui is about to say something else but Tsuji and Shibaman barge in. “Fujio— Oh hey Tsukasa you’re up” Tsuji says
Shibaman and Tsuji also look fine. Tsukasa thinks it’s really only him that’s a fucking mess. It all of a sudden feels kind of embarrassing. “Yeah… Hi guys” he mutters
Mostly everyone was here. Or at least all the people Tsukasa met on his victory tour; all of them Fujio’s friends. Fujio’s friends were here but not Fujio. Tsukasa suddenly wants to cry again. “Do you want to go outside Tsukasa?” Tsuji asks him
Tsukasa’s eyes widen. “Hm? They’re letting me out?”
Shibaman and Tsuji give each other a look for a moment then at Tsukasa. “They want to shoot a propaganda video in District 8. Bombers took out a lot of people and they want to send you and Sachio out there” Shibaman says slowly “Sachio agreed but we stopped anyone else from coming to you. Do you want to do it?”
Tsuji and Shibaman were giving him a choice. Tsukasa has the right to choose for himself right now, so he agrees.
They’re in District 8 and Tsukasa wants to cry. Sachio has his bow and arrow, the thing he was known for during the games while they gave Tsukasa a crossbow as well as a rifle strapped to his back just in case. There are a bunch of knives hidden on them as well. “You know you didn’t have to come” Sachio tells him as they’re walking to the makeshift civilian hospital in 8
The current mayor or something of District 8, Junko, came to escort them, thanking Sachio and Tsukasa for coming. District 8 as far as they could see was turned to rubble. Kind of. Most of the buildings were still standing but the windows were blown out. Glass, bricks, pieces of cement, pipes, and wire, laying all around them. Tsukasa wonders why they bombed District 8. They probably told him but Tsukasa has been too busy thinking about Fujio lately. He’s all that’s on the blonde’s mind. “It’s fine… They’re gonna kill Fujio at some point so I might as well come out here and die too” Tsukasa says
Sachio looks sad and doesn’t say anything. Tsukasa wonders if Sachio is feeling the same way as him. Yuken was not only Todoroki’s fiancé but also Sachio’s best friend. No one was comforting Sachio the same way they were comforting Todoroki. “Do you wish he was dead?” Tsukasa asks
Sachio looks at him a little confused. “Odajima… Do you wish he was dead too?” Tsukasa says
Everyone around them seemed to be listening to their conversation but no one dared butt in. It felt almost wrong to be in earshot of the two victors while they were talking about something so intimate. Sawamura, Rao, Kansuke, Magoroku(all victors) and a few other soldiers from 13 are there too. District 13 has a recording team from the Capital there with them too, some people that escaped to fight with the Districts.. They are recording Tsukasa and Sachio talking even though they know they shouldn’t be. Tsukasa and Sachio should be unnerved by the camera but they’re not, instead, they treat it like it isn’t there. “Yes… I wish he was dead… I hope he’s dead”
They make it inside the makeshift hospital and Tsukasa wants to puke. It stinks. The smell of vomit, rotting flesh and blood greets him immediately. Tsukasa puts his sleeve up to his mouth and nose in hopes of reducing the smell entering his sinuses and also making him puke. The recording team still have their cameras on, capturing the dead bodies laid out along the corridor of the warehouse. “We have a mass grave up west but I can’t spare the manpower to move them yet” Junko tells the group
Tsukasa is walking behind Sachio, not really wanting to be in front or next to him. He feels overwhelmed. All of a sudden the desire to just die is even higher. “Hospital is just pass that curtain” Junko points to a dirty opaque curtain
Tsukasa thinks it used to be clear but maybe from all the dirt it became the weird dirty white and brown colour it is right now. “Any hope you can give them, it’s worth it. The capital has done everything they can to break us” Junko continues, sounding a little solem
Tsukasa and Sachio are just looking around as Rao speaks to Junko. “Aren’t you worried about having all your wounded in one place?” He asks
“I think it’s better than leaving them to die” Junko kept walking not even batting an eye at Rao’s questions
“That’s not what I meant” Rao says
“Well that’s my only other option” Junko tells him “you can come up with another, I’m all ears”
Tsukasa and Sachio had a conversation about the District 6 victors before they left. Sachio called them selfish. For running that is. Sachio believes it was their fault this was even happening. Tsukasa isn’t sure what to believe. “It’s just through here” Junko says and goes through the dirty plastic curtain
Sachio and Tsukasa stop a meter in front of the opened curtain, staring at the endless rows of wounded residents. “Don’t film us in there, we can’t help them” Sachio says to the head of the recording team
Tsukasa closes his right eye and is met with complete darkness. Well, not complete darkness. There is a black spot right in the center of his vision and around it he can just see light. He opens his right eye again and the first thing he sees is a man laying on a cot with his eyes wrapped in gauze and blood stains where his eyes should be. Tsukasa realizes this man has lost both his eyes. “Blind” Junko says when she sees where Tsukasa is looking “not half like you though”
Tsukasa wants to go home. To 12. He doesn’t want to be here anymore. The smell of blood and vomit is stronger in here. Fucking hell does he want to cry. “Just let them see your face” The head recorder says to Sachio
Tsukasa feels bad for himself but he feels even worse for Sachio. Sacho begins to walk further into the hospital and Tsukasa sticks close to him. He’s nervous, both of them are. So many people around them are hurt, on the verge of death and they can’t do anything. All this was because of the capital. Sachio and Tsukasa want to cry. “Sachio… Ueda?” a little boy says
Sachio stops in his tracks and looks at the boy. Tsukasa remembers Sachio’s games from the short exchange happening right now. Sachio had allied with a young boy, 13 years old from District 11. Unfortunately, the boy was killed and Sachio mourned. He screamed and cried and it was shown to all the Districts as well as the capital. While he was mourning and so vulnerable, he got a package, flown down to him in those little metal containers attached to a small parachute. Inside was a small loaf of bread, just the size of Sachio’s palm. There was a note as well.
“With gratitude from the people of District 11”
For the first time ever, did a District send a gift to a tribute that was not their own. Maybe that bread along with Shoji and Reiji’s deaths was what started this all. Hope. The bread was hope for the Districts while Shoji and Reiji’s deaths were hope for the Victors. Tsukasa, maybe none of them realized it at that moment but now, very soon Todoroki would spill something no one would expect.
Something happens at District 8. It makes Sachio actually want to fight now. The Capital sent bombers, not to take care of them but to take out all the wounded in the hospital. It angered Sachio and Tsukasa could see how badly the other boy wanted to march up to the capital and set their backyard on fire. “If we burn you burn with us” That’s what Sachio said into the camera and now it was playing all across the Districts and the Capital
It gave so many people hope and the courage to fight alongside the rebels. But not Tsukasa. Tsukasa wants to die. Tsukasa is selfish so he doesn’t give one shit about the rebels or the war or anything. He just wants to be with Fujio again. That’s why instead of attending those meetings for the propaganda videos or meeting about further plans, he goes to the medical wing and stays with Todoroki who is still very much recovering. Tsukasa expresses his distaste for the whole thing and admits to being selfish. “Well no one likes a fight song at a funeral Tsukasa,” Todoroki says, still tying knots on that small piece of rope “The more people on our side, the closer we are to Fujio and Yuken”
Tsukasa doesn’t say anything. “Hey guys” Sachio is at the door of Todoroki’s room
Sawamura, Shidaken, Jinkawa, Monji and Sabakan are there too. “I heard none of you ate, wanna come down to the cafeteria with us?” Jinkawa says
Tsukasa and Todoroki look at each other for a moment then nod. “Sure”
The cafeteria is empty. Of course, it would be since all the residents of District 13 are off doing their jobs. Tsukasa doesn’t know what those jobs are but he figures it’s a part of the whole nuclear weaponry they have. Everyone was told that District 13 was a graphite mine but no, that was a cover. District 13 produced weapons of mass destruction. Tsukasa finds it a bit surprising. But right now that wasn’t what Tsukasa was focused on. It was the video from the capital playing on the screen in front of them. Their food lays untouched and their eyes are on the screen. “He was arguably our favourite Tribute. And I think that's what we all find most astonishing, is that this boy was adored in the Capitol. And I think for you, Fujio, it must be particularly painful” Bernie says and the camera pans to Fujio’s hands where he’s holding a white rose then his face
“I wish I could give this rose to you, Tsukasa.” Fujio says softly
“He's changed so much already.” Tsukasa says in a quiet voice, tears welling up in his eyes “What are they doing to him?”
“A sweet gesture for a boy who has inspired such violence. You must love him very much to be able to forgive him.” Bernie tells Fujio
“He's shaking.” Todoroki mutters
Bernie then takes in a breath before he continues with “I don't think that I could. Unless, of course, Fujio, you think that perhaps he's being forced into saying things that he doesn't even understand.”
“Yeah. Yeah, that's exactly what I think.” Fujio says firmly
“Even his voice is different” Tsukasa mutters and Sachio lays a hand on the blonde’s shoulder
Fujio’s eyebags are so much darker than from the last video. His cheeks are sucken in and eyes are lifeless. Oh Tsukasa still wishes they just shoot him. Fujio didn’t desevere to go throug this. “I think they're using him to whip up the rebels.” Fujio continues “I doubt he even knows what's happening. And what's really at stake.”
“Now, Fujio, I doubt that the rebels will ever let him see this. But if they do, what would you say to him?” Bernie asks “To Tsukasa Takajo, the once sweet Tsukasa Takajo. What would you say to him and your dearest friend Sachio Ueda?”
“I would... I would tell them to think for their selves.” Fujio says and Tsukasa covers his mouth with both hand, a pour attempt to muffle the small sob that escapes him
“Yes.”
“Don't be a fool, Tsukasa. I know you never wanted the rebellion. The things that you did in the Games… the things me and you did were never intended to start all of this. The rebels have made you and Satchi into something that you're not.” Fujio says and the nickname makes Sachio visibly flinch “Something that could destroy all of us. So if you have any power or any say in what they do or how they use you, please, please, urge them to stop this war before it's too late. And ask yourself, can you trust the people you're working with? Do you know what they really want?”
Tsukasa stares for a moment. Can you trust the people that you’re working with? Tsukasa knows that Fujio is saying whatever to stay alive right now but something has been bugging him since he came to consciousness at District 13. Something was wrong. “We need to respond.” Sawamura says and Tsukasa and Sachio snap their hand toward the other male
“Thank you, Fujio Hanaoka, for these revelations about the real Mockingjay.” Bernie says
“Did you see what he looks like?” Sachio says to his sister’s boyfreind
“I saw a coward.” Sawamura says
He’s been angry lately, Sawamura. Tsuji and Shibaman tell him that he’s been climbing District 13’s military ranks quite quickly. But not just Sachio all of them are extremely surprised on what Sawamura is saying about Fujio. “You don't have any idea what he's going through.” Sachio argues
There is something wrong. Something very very wrong but Tsukasa doesn’t know yet. “Go to hell” Tsukasa says to Sawamura “you’re only here because they picked you up out of your district. If it was you there in the capital you’d be saying the exact same thing. If Fujio was here he wouldn’t be shitting on you. You are fucking unbelievable”
Sawamura only rolls his eyes and oh Tsukasa wants to gouge them out with his bare hands.
For the next video, they take Tsukasa to District 12; or, what was left of it. Sachio and Rao come too, no other victors. Surprisingly, also Fujio’s mom and Naomi. Tsukasa thinks they brought along Naomi for his emotional support. He has been lashing out lately. But he has all the right too. They should have just left him in the arena to die. In fact, they should have shot him and Fujio in the head. Tsukasa helps Fujio’s mom off the plane and it takes off. Tsukasa then takes a look around. District 12 was destroyed. Immediately Tsukasa wants to puke. It looks like the same state District 8 was in but worse. Nothing was left, not even the justice building. “We were all standin' right here watchin' the Games when you fired that arrow.” Miki says all of a sudden to Tsukasa and they focus the camera on her “The screens just went dark. Nobody had any idea what happened. Peacekeepers forced us back into our homes. For maybe an hour, the town was just dead quiet.”
They all listen to the older woman intently “Little past 9:00, we heard their trucks pullin' out. All of them. Every single Peacekeeper. And I knew what that meant. A lot of us did. Me and a couple of the men from the mines, we started pulling people from their houses and tried to get 'em to the fence line but a lotta people were scared of the forest. So they headed up onto the road. Make a break for it that way.” Miki points down the street where the damage to the city was small “915 of us made it to the fence. Then we watched as... bombers circled back towards the road. They firebombed them as they ran away. 915 outta 10,000.”
Tsukasa realizes this was his fault. “I’m sorry”
Miki only smiles sadly. “It was bound to happen one day Tsukasa”
Tsukasa can’t imagine what Miki was going through. Her son, her only family was being tortured in the capital. Tsukasa feels horrible. If only he’d died in the arena when Yasushi cut his tracker out. He stares down at the healed scar on his wrist. It’s huge and ugly looking, the skin jagged and risen. It’s pink and brown right now. He looks further down the street and that’s when he sees it. Skeletons, bodies burnt to a crisp. Tsukasa hates himself even more now.
A little later while they’re taking a break from filming, they’re sitting by a lake when one of the men from the recording team asks him to sing. “You should sing that song you and Fujio sang in the Quarter Quell” Rao suggests
Tsukasa can see Sachio glare at the tall victor but he also agrees. So, Tsukasa sings The Hanging Tree but alone this time.
They’re back in District 13 in the command room and Tsukasa as well as Sachio and Rao are watching the edited footage. At the end of it, they take Fujio’s voice from the games and it makes Tsukas choke back tears. “Every District is seeing this?” Ryu asks Nakagoshi and Nakaoka
“Every District except the capital” Nakaoka says
“We designed the signal defence system for them together but I think we did our job a little too well because even we can’t get in” Nakagoshi tells them “At the time we were only thinking of the science of it all but we will get through”
The Hanging Tree becomes a kind of fight song for the rebels. The power dam at District 5 is bombed and the Capital loses power. But Tsukasa doesn’t give a shit. He wants Fujio back. He doesn’t care for a rebellion he just wants his best friend back. Later while Tsukasa is eating dinner with Todoroki in his room in the medical ward, he’s called up to command with Mercy and Magoroku as escorts. Because of Sachio, he’s become pretty wary and maybe even bitter around the District 6 Victors. As Tsukasa makes it into the command room, Sachio is already standing there facing the huge screen. Tsukasa stands next to him and then he finally sees what everyone was looking at. “Tonight, we've received reports of derailed trains, of granaries on fire, and of a savage attack on the hydroelectric dam in District 5.” Fujio looks terrible
He looks sick and pale. Fujio isn’t pale, he’s tanned. His skin is tanned and he fucking glows in the skin. Fujio is sick and they’re killing him. It looks like everything they were making him say just makes him feel even worse. “What have they done to you?” Tsukasa whispers
He wants to cry. Fujio looks like he’s on the verge of death. Tsukasa doesn’t understand why they keep dragging this on. Why don’t they just shoot him? “I'm begging for restraint and decency.”
At a few of the monitors, Nakagoshi and Nakaoka are typing away. “We interrupt your regularly scheduled horse manure to bring you…” Nakagoshi presses hard on a key
The live footage of the Capital broadcast is switched with the prop video of Tsukasa and Sachio in District 12 as well as Tsukasa’s singing. “That's it. That's our footage.” Ryu says and walks closer to Nakagoshi, standing right behind his chair “They're in”
“Tsukasa?” Fujio says looking around
“He sees it. He sees our propo.” Ryu says
“Tsukasa, are you there?” Fujio says again
“Fujio…” Tsukasa whispers and next to him Sachio reaches over and holds his hand comfortingly
“Tsukasa?” Fujio sounds more urgent this time
“Fujio, please continue. You were telling us about these savage attacks.” Bernie interrupts him
“Yeah. The attack on the dam was a callous and inhuman act of destruction…” Fujio says and the screen glitches to their propo video again
The video shows Tsukasa sitting on the steps of the destroyed justice building and his voice in the background singing the lyrics “where a dead man called out, for his love to flee”. A bad feeling crept over Tsukasa. The lyrics seemed too ominous. The Hanging Tree was his and Fujio’s song and now it sounded ominous and so so scary. The screen glitches back to Fujio who looks even more pale and Tsukasa has tears running down his cheeks at this point. “Think about it,” Fujio says breathlessly with a horrified look on his face “How will this end? What will be left? No one can survive this. No one is safe now. Not here in the Capitol. Not in any of the districts.”
Fujio pauses staring right into the camera. “They're coming, Tsukasa.” He says and soon peacekeepers start flooding the screen trying to grab him “They're gonna kill everyone. And in District 13 you'll be dead by morning.”
The broadcast ends and everyone is silent for a short moment while Tsukasa feels like he’s about to have a stroke. “He's warning us. That was a warning.” Rao says urgently
“Yes, it was.” Ryu mutters
“We have to get him out before they kill him.” Tsukasa is crying now
He feels hopeless, so fucking hopeless. They probably already killed Fujio. Shot him in the head. He hopes they did. “Is there anything in the air?” Ryu asks
“Nothing on Doppler, sir.” one person says
“He was in the mansion. He could have overheard something” Ryu tells everyone
There is another short silence, all eyes on Ryu. “It's time for an air raid drill” He says
Not too long later they’re on Level 40 underground in District 13’s bunker. Sachio is holding Tsukasa tight letting the blonde cry while everyone else around them are trying not the scream as bombs are dropped 40 floors above them. A while later the bombing stops. Tsukasa is laying next to Sachio on one of the cots, shuddering. “Do you think they killed him?” Tsukasa asks, not being able to stop himself from shaking
Sachio looks sad. He looks so so sad and probably feels just as hopeless as Tsukasa does. Sachio moves closer to Tsukasa and brings him into his arms, tucking his head underneath his chin. Immediately Tsukasa wraps his arms around Sachio, searching for more comfort. They’re pressed up close together and Sachio holds Tsukasa the same way Fujio does when he has a nightmare. It doesn’t feel that same but it does make Tsukasa feel somewhat better. “I hope they did.” Sachio whispers hugging Tsukasa tight “I hope they’re all dead and I hope we die too”
Around a day after the bombing, Tsukasa is called to command. Ryu tells him he wants Tsukasa to shoot a propo telling The Capital and the Districts that they are well and they have survived the attack from the Capital last night. Tsukasa agrees, not really caring much, especially not after he watched his best friend practically die on live tv last night. Well, Tsukasa doesn’t know if Fujio is dead but he sure does hope he is. After a long walk through the tunnels and an even longer elevator ride to the first floor. They walk through heavy metal doors and Tsukasa feels all the air get sucked out of his lungs. He stumbles further out and down into a crater in the middle of all the rubble that was once District 13. In the middle of the crater, no everywhere, were roses. White Roses. The same kind Kōhei gave him that day at the party at the end of his victory tour. The same one that pricked his finger. There were loads of them. “Why would they drop these?” Sawamura asks as Tsukasa bends down to pick one up
“For me” Tsukasa says breathlessly
“Ready to go Tsukasa?” The head recorder says
Her name was Asuka. Tsukasa hadn’t asked before and he found out recently. But her name wasn’t important right now. “We’re gonna do this the same way Sachio did it in District 8 okay” Asuka says
The camera is already pointed at him. “Tell me about the roses”
Tsukasa feels horrible. He doesn’t want to. He doesn’t want to tell them about the roses. He wants to go home. He wants to go to Fujio. Tsukasa wants to die. “Tell Amagai that 13 is alive and well”
Tsukasa only breathes heavily as a realization hits him. Fujio wasn’t dead yet. “He’s gonna kill Fujio” Tsukasa says quietly
“Let’s try that again, you’re gonna have to speak up we don’t have a mic on you” Asuka says, not really noticing that Tsukasa was already far down the road to a mental breakdown. “say ‘13 is alive and well and so am I’ loud and clear”
Tsukasa only whispers the same words again. “He’s gonna kill Fujio… Kōhei Amagai’s gonna kill Fujio”
“Tsukasa?” Asuka says again
Tsukasa only shakes his head. “I can’t do this” he tells them
“Yes you can” Sawamura urges and Rao glares at the other Victor which goes unnoticed by Tsukasa as he’s currently going through a mental breakdown
He keeps muttering to himself about Fujio. “Uh… Asuka, you should cut the cameras” Naomi says and runs over to Tsukasa
“Darling it’s okay, it’s okay” Naomi says gently, grabbing the boy by his shoulders
Tsukasa only shakes his head, tears running down his cheeks. Tsukasa is 17. He shouldn’t be running a fucking rebellion, he should be running around wreaking havoc in his little town for fun with his best friend. He shouldn’t be worried about dying or being tortured. Tsukasa is a fucking kid. Fujio is a kid. They’re all kids and here they were paying for the mistakes made by adults. “He’s punishing Fujio to punish me” Tsukasa whimpers and shakes his head “I can’t do this”
“Tsukasa” Sawamura says with a frown
Tsukasa glares up at the other man. “Don’t fucking make me do this”
Tsukasa goes back inside into the tunnels, Naomi following close behind.
He ends up in the same empty tunnel filled with pipes the first day he got here. Tsukasa sits by himself, knees to his chest. He’s shaking. Tsukasa did wish Fujio was dead but, oh now it just hurts. Tsukasa wants to take his words back. He wants Fujio back here with him, to feel his best friend next to him, safe and sound. Tsukasa hates this so much. He hopes that if they do kill Fujio, it’s quick and painless. Someone walks towards him. It’s Kiyoshi. “Hi” He says
Kiyoshi isn’t suffering from withdrawals anymore. He’s long past it. Tsukasa only nods at the other man. “I didn’t say this before but I wanted to thank you for helping Yasushi with his withdrawals,” Kiyoshi tells him quietly, sitting down next to him “H-He’s my best friend. He’s all I have. I really wanted to volunteer for him when his name was called but he didn’t let me… Maybe I was too much of a coward”
Tsukasa stays quiet. “But anyways… I just wanted to thank you” Kiyoshi finishes, stopping himself from rambling on “and about the propo you backed out of, I think four eyes is doing it instead”
Tsukasa looks at him. “Todoroki?” he mutters more to himself than to Kiyoshi and then there is a short pause “I don’t want to be a part of this anymore”
Kiyoshi lets out a sigh. “I don’t either… I never wanted to. I already told you Yasushi was the one who thought this would be a good idea. I think he thought we’d already be dead before any of us got to this point”
“Is there a reason that you’re here?” Tsukasa asks with a frown, not really enjoying the conversation
Kiyoshi clears his throat. “I was here to tell you that they’re rescuing them…”
Tsukasa perks up. “What?”
“The dam went down in District 5, most of the power along with its defence system is offline. Nakagoshi and Nakaoka are inside their system fucking shit up even more while transferring more data to District 13. They found right now to be the best time to infiltrate and get them out” Kiyoshi tells him
“And Ryu? What did he say about this?”
“You know I can never fully support that guy in light of the prohibition going on around here,” Kiyoshi says “but they got word that the victors are in the tribute center and with the power out, Ryu sees this as an opportunity. He knows that Fujio is the capital’s weapon the same way you and Sachio are our weapon. As opposed to having you both like, pointing guns at each other, he’s going get him”
Tsukasa gets up. “I have to go help” he says but Kiyoshi pulls him back down
“Help with what? What are you gonna do? Jump out of a fucking vent with your one working eye and storm the capital? You’re a liability if you go” Kiyoshi says rolling his eyes “Besides, the operation is already started. Six soldiers went in, volunteer only. Rao and Sawamura were the first to sign up”
Tsukasa heads to the command room and the first thing he is met with is the sound of Todoroki’s voice. “This is Yosuke Todoroki. Winner of the 60th Hunger Games. And I'm coming to you from District 13, alive and well. We've survived an assault from the Capitol. But I'm not here to give you recent news.”
“Why is Todoroki doing a propo?” Tsukasa asked walking further into command
“It's a lot more than that.” Sachio says walking over to him
“Nakagoshi and Nakaoka commandeered the system.” Ryu says as if Tsukasa would understand what that means
“Now that they're down to generator power there's a more limited range of frequencies available to them. And I'm filling them all up with Todoroki.” Nakaoka says
“Not many will see it, but whoever does will think it's another propo.” Sachio explains
“What they don't know is this broadcast is jamming their entire system with noise. Early defence warning, internal communications, everything. As long as the broadcast goes through, our team should be able to get in and out undetected.” Nakagoshi explains as simply as he could to Tsukasa
Tsukasa can see Rao, Sawamura and a few other soldiers on the screen right next to Todoroki. But Tsukasa can’t help himself but focus on Todoroki rather that the live footage of the operation to save his best friend. Maybe it was to distract him from possibly seeing Fujio dead. “The truth. Not the myths about a life of luxury. Not the lie about glory for your homeland. You can survive the arena. The moment you leave, you're a slave.” Todoroki says bluntly
“Today, I will be reading you a page from our dear victor Shoji Sameoka’s memoir” Todoroki says and everyone in the room seems to stop for a second. No one expected him to say that
Todoroki holds up a leather diary and starts to read. “President Amagai used to sell me. Or my body, at least. I wasn't the only one. If a Victor is considered desirable, the President gives them as a reward or allows people to buy them. If you refuse, he kills someone you love. And when his adorable little son and Capital sweetheart Kōhei Amagai was old enough, he was in charge of the selling. People think that me and Reiji Himuro hated each other because of some weird scheme the president thought of. But that was wrong. I love him. I genuinely do. Reiji told me he volunteered to meet me. He volunteered because he had a crush on me. He won. I won too. They killed our families when we refused to be treated like slaves. Me nor Reiji had a lot of lovers, we had customers. The only lover I had was him and the only lover he had was me.”
Tsukasa can’t help but shudder. He feels horrible again. On the screen next to Todoroki, it shows that the aircraft has successfully entered capital airspace. “Of course there is much much more to their story but I have something new I want to talk about” Todoroki says looking at the camera, a menacing smirk on his face “The reason behind the Quater Quell. The reason why all of us were put back into the games”
The team in the capital is inside the tribute center now. “Little Kōhei Amagai had a crush on victor of the 74th Hunger Games, Tsukasa Takajo” Todoroki chuckles “But he got rejected because surprise, surprise, Tsukasa and Fujio are in love. Little Amagai couldn’t handle the rejection so he decided to punish them both”
It looks like things are going well for a moment but then things start beeping. “Nakagoshi?” Ryu says with a frown
“I'm losing them.” Nakagoshi says and the duo starts typing frantically
“Sir, the Capitol air defence system is rebooting. It's coming back online. Must be diverting power from another source.” Another soldier in command says
“And filtering transmissions. Another 60 seconds and we'll be cut off.” Nakaoka says
“Sir, should we call back the hovercraft?”
Tsukasa feels his heart pound “Broadcast me.” The blonde says “If Amagai’s watching this, maybe he'll let the signal in, if he sees me. Put me on the air so he can see me.”
Sachio looks at him in confusion. “Yes. Yes.” Ryu says liking the idea “Put him on. Can we do this? Can we still get in?”
Everyone in command is typing frantically at computers in front of them trying to keep the capital out of their own system “Yes. For the moment. The line's open. He will only see you.” Nakagoshi says “Okay, Tsukasa, go.”
“President Amagai? President Amagai. It's Tsukasa.”
“There's no guarantee he's even watching.” Nakaoka mutter, typing even faster now
“President Amagai?”
“I know, but he might be.” Ryu says, rubbing his hands together feeling impatient
“President Amagai, we need to speak with you. Are you there?”
Both victors keep repeating the same thing over and over. It’s really all they can do now. Everyone just hopes the team inside The Capital doesn’t get caught. Tsukasa is shaking and so is Sachio. They’re scared. Sachio reaches over and grabs Tsukasa’s hand, letting out a small breath. They think it’s the end up the screen glitches as a familiar face shows up. “Tsukasa. What an honour. I don't imagine you're calling to thank me for the roses.”
It’s not the president, it’s his son. It’s Kōhei Amagai. “You see, my dad is sick. I going to become president tomorrow, earlier than expected so here I am taking your call”
Kōhei has his usual menacing grin on his face. “We never asked for this” Tsukasa said holding himself back from cursing the new president out “We never asked to be in the games, we never asked to be the face of the rebellion. I just wanted to live with Fujio, that’s it. Please, just let him go. I will disappear. You will never have to see me ever again.”
“Tsukasa” Kōhei says with a little laugh “You couldn't run from this... any more than you could have run from the Games.”
“Please.” Tsukasa begs, eyes teary “You've won. You've already beaten me. Release Fujio. And take me instead.”
Kōhei smiles, looking amused “We're long past the opportunity for noble sacrifice.”
Tsukasa replies immediately. “Then tell me what to do. I've always kept my promises, haven't I?”
Kōhei starts to laugh hysterically. It makes Tsukasa’s skin crawl but he knows he has to keep talking. Sachio squeezes his hand a little harder to keep him grounded. “You asked me to convince you that I was in love with Fujio, have I not done that?”
Kōhei stops laughing and his smile seems to turn even colder. “Tsukasa,” he says “It’s the things we love most, that destroy us”
There is another short silence. Tsukasa just keeps thinking about Fujio. He hopes he’s okay. Tsukasa wants to take back all the times he wished Fujio was dead. Tsukasa wants Fujio back here, with him, safe. Tsukasa just wants his best friend with him again. “Don’t you think I know your friends are in the tribute center? ” Kōhei says and everyone’s eyes widen “cut them off”
The screen goes black. Tsukasa’s knees feel weak. Everyone in command starts working even quicker to get the team out of there. Sachio catches Tsukasa before he falls to the ground. “Oh no” Sachio whispers and hugs Tsukasa tight
“Get him out of here” Ryu tells Sachio as everyone around them are panicking
Sachio nods and drags Tsukasa out with the help of Kiyoshi. There are tears running down Tsukasa’s cheeks. “They’re gonna kill them” Tsukasa says
Kiyoshi is crying too, but not wailing like Tsukasa.
Tsukasa is sitting in the tunnel again. This time joined by Todoroki. Todoroki has that piece of rope that he’s tying a bit more furiously now. “So this is your little hiding spot?” Todoroki asks amused while not even looking at the blonde “I’m kind of hurt you didn’t show me”
“Not much of a hiding spot when everyone knows where to find me” Tsukasa says, fiddling with the bracelet on his wrist
Tsukasa is still shuddering. If Fujio is dead then he’ll die. Fujio is everything to him. “You regret it don’t you?” Todoroki says “wishing that he was dead… I do… I thought it would make me feel better but, now I just hope they’re okay”
Silence fills the tunnel. Tsukasa wants to take his words back and swallow them whole and maybe choke on them and die. He hugs his knees to his chest and buries his face in them. It’s a horrible feeling of not being able to do anything. Just then Sachio runs in. Tsukasa and Todoroki look at him. “They’re back”
They practically run to the medical ward and Tsukasa almost breaks down the doors. There is yelling and the loud beeping of machines everywhere. Tsukasa first goes to the main side of the ward where it is open and there are no rooms. He sees Yasushi first. He’s covered in bruises. Pulling out his IV and tugging off his oxygen mask. Yasushi sees Tsukasa and he grins. “Hey pretty boy”
“Yasushi” Tsukasa breaths
“TODOROKI!”
Tsukasa turns his head and sees Yuken. He’s in a much better state than Yasushi, objectively speaking of course. “YUKEN!” Todoroki runs over as does Yuken who pushes the doctors tending to him away and runs to Todoroki
They meet in the middle, hugging each other tight. At the same time Tsukasa feels his own chest tighten realizing Fujio isn’t here. Kiyoshi comes in, running over to Yasushi immediately. Kiyoshi hugs him while crying and Yasushi starts to bicker with him right away. Everyone is having their little reunion except for Tsukasa who is standing in the center of the ward still looking around for Fujio. A hand is rested on his shoulder. “We got him out don’t worry” Rao who shows up out of nowhere says
Rao’s hand is slapped off by Sachio. Sachio glares hard at Rao and the taller male only sighs. “Where is he?” Tsukasa asks nervously
“In surgery… They say he’ll be okay” Sachio says holding both of Tsukasa’s shoulder, visibly stopping himself from turning his head to glare at Rao
Tsukasa lets out a sigh and ends up hugging Sachio. There are tears in his eyes but he doesn’t want to cry yet. He’s cried enough. “Thank you” Tsukasa says to Rao who is still standing there
Rao only nods and Sachio puts his arms around Tsukasa.
Later, everyone has settled down. Tsukasa isn’t allowed to see Fujio yet but Miki, since she was his mother, was allowed go see him. She said he was fine but still under anesthetsia therefore still asleep. Tsukasa went to go see Yasushi who kicked Kiyoshi out of his room because he kept crying. “My ears were bleeding” Yasushi says rolling his eyes, Tsukasa sitting next to him on a stool
He’s hooked up to a hundred things. Tsukasa looks at Yasushi. His hands are bandaged as well as his fingers. They pulled out his nails and just did a bunch to him. Yasushi was tortured pretty badly and everyone was surprised he was still the same. “You look like a kicked puppy Tsukasa, the fuck is wrong with you?” Yasushi asks
Tsukasa stares for a moment. “Were you scared?”
Yasushi is taken back by the question but then he grins. “I think they were more scared of me” He sounds proud while he speaks “had me strapped up more than Fujio and Odajima”
Tsukasa shakes his head. Yasushi really did find a way to make this somewhat funny for himself. “I’m kinda surprised they came for us though. Like so many people. Thought it would be you, Todoroki and Sachio storming the capital with like guns and something stupid like hope”
Yasushi really is finding this whole situation funny. “Are you okay?” Tsukasa finally asks
Yasushi goes silent, the smile on his face fading. He stares down at his gauze-wrapped hands then back at Tsukasa. “My hands hurt” Yasushi admits “a lot… Kiyoshi told me you’re fully blind now”
“Just my left eye” Tsukasa says quietly
There is a short moment of silence. “Tsukasa” Yasushi says, voice void of his usual humour
Tsukasa looks right at him. “Yeah?”
Yasushi looks hesitant to speak which is very very unusual of him. “Can you sing please?”
Tsukasa’s eyes soften. “Of course”
So Tsukasa sings for Yasushi, holding his bandaged hand till he falls asleep.
Around a day later, Tsukasa is finally allowed to see Fujio. Tsukasa practically runs to Fujio’s room. He opens the door a little too roughly, it hitting the wall behind it. Fujio’s sitting up on the bed as he’s being detached from a few of the things he was hooked up to. “Fujio” Tsukasa whispers
Fujio is already looking at him, eyes filling up with tears. “Tsukasa”
Tsukasa runs over and finally, finally, Fujio is here with him, safe. Fujio’s arms are wrapped around his waist and Tsukasa tucks Fujio’s head in his chest. “You’re here… You’re here… You’re safe”
Fujio is shuddering in Tsukasa’s arms and Tsukasa just starts to cry out of happiness. Tsukasa pulls away and looks at Fujio, cupping his face in his hands. “You’re really here” Tsukasa whispers
Fujio’s pretty bruised up but not as bad as Yasushi. His cheeks are bruised red and purple in places as is his neck, looking like someone was choking him. There are more bruises lining his arms. He can only imagine what it looks like under his clothes. But what’s surprising to Tsukasa is that Fujio still has the bracelet that Reiji gave him on. “I thought they killed you” Tsukasa says quietly, tears running down his cheeks
Fujio only grins while leaning into Tsukasa’s hands. “I’m too hot to kill”
“You fucking idiot” Tsukasa mutters shaking his head
They stare at each other for a moment. The doctors have left, sensing this was a too intimate moment for them to be watching. “Are you okay?” Fujio asks him “I saw the footage of when you blew out the forcefield”
“My left eye is pretty much gone” Tsukasa tells him and brings one hand up to stroke his hair
Fujio bites the inside of his cheek and keeps his smile. “Your hair grew out. I can see the black again”
Tsukasa gets closer to Fujio and gets him to lay back down. “Yeah… Do you think I should bleach it again?”
Fujio is falling back to sleep, clearly still exhausted. “Can I help you bleach it?”
Tsukasa nods with a smile after wiping his tears away. “Yeah, you can”
Fujio eyes keep falling shut. “Will you be here when I wake up?”
“I will”
Tsukasa sits on the stool next to his bed and holds Fujio’s hand, bringing it up to his face and kisses his bruised knuckles. “I missed you” Fujio tells him
“I missed you too Fujio” Tsukasa says softly and leans over pressing their foreheads together “I missed you so much”
They can’t see the stars here underground in District 13. But Tsukasa can imagine that if they weren’t so far under, the stars would be smiling at them. Tsukasa feels like he’s been spending months without the warmth of the sun and now it was here, back with him after so so long. Fujio is his sun— his own personal sun. Fujio’s here and he’s okay and now everything was going to be alright.
The world was at war— they were at war.
But right now, right this moment, Tsukasa and Fujio have never felt more at peace.