Chapter Text
The vault was cold, but it wasn't surprising anymore. It felt normal to him though he knew it shouldn't. The cold made his cough worse, the familiar pang in his chest growing with everyone.
The pain could be ignored. The cold could be pushed away. But the loneliness always settled in his chest, stretching itself thin. That is what he hated about the vault. The sheer loneliness that came from being underground, kept safe.
His brother meant well by keeping him from others. His body couldn't handle foreign bacterias from others. It never had been. Even in the vault, he struggled to stand or move without his body being in constant pain.
The pills helped. But his brother came infrequently on random intervals, leaving him without them. So it was easier to sit unmoving. To dream about life outside. Before his brother started helping people. Before he grew an empire as Yoichi was forced to watch on.
He loved his brother. Would never betray his trust. The door to the basement that kept him safe opened and he sat up, coughing slightly as the movement pulled at his muscles. He had gone without food for three days, running out of his small supply he had saved. He still had a small collection of purified water left, but it was dwindling.
His brother hadn't seen him in over a week, which meant he had left the city for business. Though he had never done that without telling Yoichi. It must have been something important he couldnt put off.
Someone walked into view of him, through the small metal grate his brother had installed. "There's nothing down here!" Someone yelled, definitely not his brother.
His heart fluttered in his chest as he shoved himself to his feet, biting his cheek at the immense pain. "Why have such a secure area for nothing?" Another voice yelled and Yoichi could hear their footsteps growing nearer.
He couldn't fight. Even the quirk his brother had forced on him had no effect. He hadn't been able to grow it yet with his brother's assistance. It just left him weaker.
He took a step forward, away from the grate as he grabbed an empty can of food from his pile. The motion made his throat close, a cough building up. He forced it down, moving behind the door.
"Is that a keypad?" The first voice asked, growing neared.
The cough kept building and Yoichi gagged, stumbling forward as he dropped the can. The coughing fit was violent, sending stabbing pains through his entire body as he fell to his knees. His vision swam as he tried to reach for the can, his coughs blocking out any conversation.
He managed to get a hold on it as a gunshot rang through the room, Yoichi's heart hammering loudly with the ringing in his ears. He held up the can, the weight of the can so much more than he could carry.
"Shit!" The first voice yelled, a redheaded man running into Yoichi's gaze as he tried to stop his shaking hands. "We need a medic!"
Another man walked in behind the first, holding a gun up as he walked around the area. They had to leave. Before his body rejected them. Before his brother came back. "Who-" he tried before coughing overtook him again, dust blowing in through the open door.
The redhead rushed over to him as the other man kept watch. "Breathe. Slowly." He said, reaching for him.
Yoichi pulled back, shaking his head as his vision filled with tears, his body shaking from the coughs. "Dont." He warned, knowing he couldn't handle it.
"I won't hurt you." The man said, though he didn't move closer. "I'm not like that man."
That man. Yoichi didnt know for sure, but the man's connotation was one of disgust. "What did you do to him?" He asked, glaring up at the man as he held his stomach. "What did you do to my brother?"
The redhead's face dropped, all the softness swept away. He stood up, taking a step away from Yoichi. "We should kill him." The second man spoke, glaring at Yoichi with anger.
He held the can tight, refusing to let it go. "Not yet." The redhead said and the other man scoffed slightly, but relented.
"What did you do to him?" Yoichi asked again, forcing himself to hisnfeet slowly, his head pounding.
"I haven't killed your brother." He spit the word out in disgust, kicking Yoichi's pile of cans. "Yet."
"You will never." Yoichi warned.
The man took a step towards him, and he stepped back, putting too much weight on his ankle. He screamed, his ankle twisting as he fought against another cough attack. The can cut his hand as he tightened his grip, glaring at the man.
His eyebrows raised as he took another step towards him. And another. He didn't move out of the way, knowing trying to stand up again would go wrong. The man reached for his shoulder but he used his can to cut his arm, making him back up.
"You are pathetic." He said in surprise. He grabbed Yoichi's wrist and he screamed, the feeling of skin on skin so foreign it hurt. The can was ripped from his hand and he stared at his dripping blood, his hand started to itch in pain.
The other man moved to them, frowning. "I sent the medics back up. We need to get moving."
Yoichi glared at the man who stared back, daring him to do something. Yoichi might be weak but he would fight until hisnlast breath. "You head up. I'll be there in a moment."
The second one hesitated before nodding and leaving, shouting something Yoichi couldn't make out. "You going to kill me now?" He asked, spitting at the man.
"No." The redhead said, none of the softness coming back. "You can prove useful."
Yoichi laughed, the feeling making him cough again. "You are upsetting the wrong man." He said.
"I don't sympathise with your side." The man said before hitting Yoichi on the back of his head with something. His body went numb and his vision blurred as he slumped forward.
He could vaguely feel the knife-like sensation of skin touching his, his body feeling weightless and free. And the pain didn't come.
---
One home for a prison. Though he had more room to walk around and windows in the always locked room, it wasn't right. They didn't understand his body's needs like his brother did. Not understanding the air from outside would make him more sick. That the extra room meant nothing when he could barely drag himself to move from the bed.
He had to get back to his brother. But there was no way someone as frail as him could do it. He had been told it time and time again. It was no different here. The people didn't stop to speak to him like his brother did. Didn't give him the pills to stop the constant pain that suffocated him.
He didn't stir when the door to the room opened again, not caring enough to see the new food brought in, replacing the old untouched plate. "You haven't eaten." A voice said. A familiar one.
He didn't move, laying on top of the blanket. It was too hot in here and he sweated what little water he still had left in him easily. "You need to eat." The redhead ordered, but he ignored them.
A hand grabbed his shoulder roughly and he flinched away, coughing as he forced himself to face the man. "Bite me." He choked out, his throat raw from lack of saliva.
The man raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms. "I won't do that. But I will force you too." He reached for the plate as Yoichi scoffed.
"It will be thrown up in half an hour."
The man's hand paused as Yoichi glared at him, even the slight motion taking so much energy from him. "Why are you trying to kill yourself?" He asked, clicking his tongue.
"Better to die fighting you than die without." He paused, looking up at the window or the lack of protection to the air. "I will die either way."
"You're sick, correct?" The man asked, pulling a chair up to sit beside the bed.
Yoichi scoffed, looking away from him. A fit of coughs came over him again, pulled from his deepest parts, making his body scream. He dry heaved, nothing left to throw up before trying to suck in a breath. Anything. He finally managed a small one, grabbing at his stomach with one hand as he wiped his eyes.
The man simply watched, crossing a leg. "I will take that as a yes. Why were you in that vault?"
"Take a wild guess." Yoichi said, raising an eyebrow. He sighed, rubbing his eyes. "Because he cares for me. He keeps me safe. He gives me my pills."
"He keeps you isolated." The redhead said quickly. "He does not care for you."
Yoichi glared at him, leaning against the back wall. Keeping himself seated was taking too much energy. "I am his brother. Of course he does."
"He left you." The redhead said, leaning forward. "Left you for dead in that vault. You are only alive because I permitted it. The fluids we gave you are the only thing giving you any energy right now." He picked up the plate, holding it in his two hands. "Unless you eat."
"I'm not eating anything you give me."
The redhead sighed, his hands tightening on the plate. "I cannot keep a hostage who dies. So tell me- why do you support that devil?"
Yoichi shut his eyes, too tired to keep his glare up. "He is not a devil. He has good intentions."
"He's killed thousands." The redhead cut in.
Yoichi laughed slightly, the pain rumbling up from his chest. "And how many has your little revolution killed?" He asked in retaliation. The man did not respond to the question, so he continued. "His only goal was to make people happy. To remove the oppression this government had put on the quirked. Power is a greedy thing." He paused, shaking his head as he coughed a little. "But I can help. I can get him back on the correct path. Back to our goal. He is good."
The man stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. Yoichi opened his eyes to see the man standing closer. Directly over him. "Now you really are interested. It's a shame you will die if you do not eat."
Yoichi scoffed, looking away as the man shrugged and stepped back. "Now, you mentioned pills?" He asked, looking away.
Yoichi perked up just slightly, wanting anything to take the pain away. It had grown so much worse since he had been off the pills. "Do you have them?" He asked, sitting up. His head swam, but he adjusted to hold his weight.
"We did." He paused, looking at him. "Yoichi." He said softly and Yoichi had to force himself not to flinch at the familiar name. This man had no right to speak that name. But he wanted his pills. Needed them. "Eat." He finished.
He pulled something from his pocket, setting it just out of Yoichi's reach. His pills. He handed Yoichi the plate of food, setting it on his lap. Yoichi glared at him as he picked up the fork. He needed his pills. The food would just end up on the floor in half an hour.
Still, he ate slowly, each bite feeling like hell. The man did not leave, sitting down and pulling out his phone. His gaze never seemed to leave Yoichi even though he was working on his phone.
But his pills would help.
--
That wasn't the last time the man came to him. He came monthly, weekly, then daily, each time with food. And his pills. The only thing that kept the pain away.
He took the bottle, dropping a few onto his hand. The man took them back, away from him as he downed them dry. He sighed, leaning back against the wall before another coughing fit took him. He held a hand to his mouth as blood dotted his skin, a new development.
"You are getting worse." The man said, handing him the plate of food.
Yoichi didn't bother eating it, shutting his eyes. "You caused this." He pointed out, shutting his eyes.
It fell into silence and Yoichi was glad he let it hold as he took a deep breath. The pills had started their work of numbing his pain, leaving him a feeling of nothing. It was comforting against everything else and the constant warmth.
"Do you want to get out of here?" The man asked, standing up.
Yoichi opened his eyes slowly, staring at the outstretched hand. His other rubbed his neck awkwardly, but he held Yoichi's gaze. "Why?" He asked, tipping his head slightly. He pushed a strand of hair behind his ear, watching the man.
"Because I'm feeling nice." The man adjusted his outstretched hand towards Yoichi. "Is that a yes?"
Yoichi took his hand, slowly being pulled to his feet. He hadn't stood in so long that his legs gave out as he coughed. "Careful." The man said, holding him up easily.
"Sorry." Yoichi said, pushing himself to his own feet.
But the steps were harder than they should have been, even without the pills numbing his pain. "I can help you. Just lean on me." The man took his arm, holding him closer to him.
He had gotten used to the small touches of the man's skin on his own, helping him with old injuries or cleaning. He really was pathetic. But he didn't say anything, just nodding and letting the man lead him forward. The pills should help keep him from having any more fits. At least he hoped they would.
The door creaked open as the man unlocked it, leading Yoichi out. Into his first steps of freedom. "Tell me if it gets too much." The man said, helping him down the halls.
They passed by people in the halls who nodded at the man, looking away from the pair of them. It was so similar to what his brother had started with. The respect that turned into obsession. "I have yet to ask." Yoichi said as they paused at the bottom of a staircase.
The man looked over at him, raising an eyebrow in a silent question. "Who are you in the rebellion against my brother?"
The man laughed slightly, a sound Yoichi had never heard from him in all the time they had spent talking over his meals. "I am the head of the rebellion. At least in this section of Japan. Call me Kudou, please." He said, a slight tilt to his voice.
He nodded and they started their ascent up, a task that winded Yoichi with every step. But Kudou stayed right alongside him. He could see the shift in the man when they reached the upper floor, more people milling about than below.
The slight warmth that Yoichi had exposed was gone, the face of a general replacing it. But he didnt let go of Yoichi. "You really plan to kill him." He said softly as he kept being led forward.
"I do." Kudou agreed. "I cannot apologise if that upsets you."
"It does. He is still my brother. And there is good in him."
Kudou's grip tightened on his arm and their direction shifted. "Let me show you why I must kill him."
Yoichi bit his lip, letting the numb ache of walking blend out his thoughts. They reached double doors, people posted outside with large guns and annoyed expressions. They nodded to Kudou, holding open the doors so they could pass.
The smell hit him first. It made his stomach churn as he fought to keep his balance, bile and shit hanging in the air. The smell of blood seemed to seep from every surface, every human. Groans and screams of pain filled the room, making his skin crawl. "I can't be here." He said softly and Kudou tapped his arm without saying anything.
He led him to the back of the room where many beds lay strewn in rows. Each held an unmoving body, men, women, and children. "Why?" He asked, forcing himself to look at the child's blank expression as he looked up.
"In taking their quirks, your brother took their lives." Kudou responded and Yoichi had to stop the chill that ran through him. "They are only alive because their bodies are in a frozen state. They don't require any of our resources. Which are already dwindling. But their minds still remain active. With hope, one day they will wake up and give us the answer to defeating him."
Yoichi shook his head, unwrapping his arm from Kudous. "I can't be here." He said again, heading for the exit. Kudou did not stop him as he walked slowly, each step difficult.
He pushed open the doors, catching his toe on the back of his heel and tripping himself. He put his arms up to protect his head as he fell, expecting the hard floor. Instead, someone caught him, holding him up. "Did the boss bring you out just to let you fall?" A voice asked.
It was the second one there that day, one he hadn't heard in. In six months. It had been six months. And his brother still hasn't come for him. "He left me to die." He muttered quietly, the feeling sinking in.
They had lost their parents young and his brother had always been there. Helped with his medical issues. Given him a safe place. Even after he started building his empire, he always had time for Yoichi. Until he didn't. He had left him in that vault to die.
"Boss?" The man asked before laughing. "Nah. He's too much of a smartass for that." The new man said, adjusting him to stand.
"I heard that." Kudou said, and Yoichi felt his arms on his skin. He didn't bother reacting, leaning further into the nothingness that had crept up. He could usually push it away to focus on the present, but the drugs and walking he didn't want to.
He heard them talking, but did not register ir, leaning into Kudou who held him easily. He had really fucked up by supporting his brother.
---
It had been two months since he had last seen Kudou. The man had left on business. Left to kill his brother. It had set in in the time he had had to adjust to it, almost a year and a half since he was dragged here. It was for the best as he knew.
"Did you sleep well?" Bruce asked, pushing open the door with his shoulder.
Yoichi sat up slightly smiling at the man. "Are we going out today?" He asked, as Bruce came and sat beside him.
"Would you like to?" He asked.
Yoichi nodded, standing up slowly. Bruce immediately took his arm, standing beside him and keeping him stable. "I would." He commented.
Bruce laughed and started walking slowly, out of the room. They had moved him up a floor so the stairs no longer hindered their departure. He enjoyed the outside air, though he knew it would be the end of him. They all knew it.
And yet- "why have you yet to kill me?" He asked, leaning into Bruce.
"What do you mean?"
"I bring nothing to the table. My body is weak and I do not have a working quirk. I do not have the intelligence for your resistance nor the want to betray my brother." He held on tightly, looking around the area as the warm air hit his face and he smiled slightly.
It was nice in this small corner of Japan, a habitat for people displaced by his brother. He would destroy it if he ever found it. "You're different." Bruce said, leading him through the trees. "Everyone here is fucked up. Broken. You need to see the world in black and white or else you will die. The ones you love will die." He paused, looking over at Yoichi who watched him. "You do not. You see it in greys. The good in your brother. The bad in us. It is nice."
Yoichi hummed, nodding slightly as they started the walk again. The pills from last night had yet to wear off, which he was grateful for. He could walk until they did. "You have a way with words. Why don't you speak more?"
"It is not my position." Bruce answered, as he led him to their bench under the trees. "I am the first general under Sergeant Master Kudou. My goal is his. To protect the innocent and take down All for One. Words have no place under him."
Yoichi let go of his arm, sitting down on the bench slowly, Bruce beside him. "What did you do before all this? Did you have a family?"
"I did. A fiance. He is the one who introduced me to the resistance. Our wedding was postponed during all the fighting and battles."
Youichi knew the answer, but he still asked. "What happened to him?"
"He was killed." Bruce said with a sigh. "He saved me from some debris a few years back. But it crushed his spine and killed him on the spot." He pulled a necklace out from under his clothes, two small rings on the end. "I keep him with me now."
"He died for someone he loved." Yoichi said, looking up at the dark sky even though the movement made him nauseous. "It is far better than your body killing you."
Bruce huffed, rubbing his shoulder gently. "We will stop it. We will find a way."
Yoichi shook his head, looking over at the man whose face was so soft. "No you won't. I hold no grudges against it. Once the pills are done, I would rather die than be a living corpse." Bruce went to speak, but he continued. "I can't do much even now. Without you and Kudou there to help me, I would not be able to leave the room. I am trapped inside my own body."
"There are people who care for you." Bruce said, shouldering him slightly. "Who care about what you have to say.
"I know." Yoichi said truthfully. "But I will die. The question is when. I have enjoyed our walks however." He smiled at Bruce who pushed one of Yoichi's long hairs behind his ear.
"You fit in here." Bruce said softly. "Among the flowers and green. I will be sad to see you go."
Yoichi nodded, leaning into his touch slightly. How he had longed for a touch as soft as Kudou's or Bruce's in all his years. His brother had lost his softness long ago.
He went to speak but someone crouched in front of him, looking up at him softly. "I missed you, Yoichi." Kudou said, taking his hands from his lap.
Bruce stood up, saluting Kudou. "Sir!"
Kudou stood up, still holding Yoichi's hands gently. "Return to your post. I will take him from here."
Bruce nodded without a word, shooting a look back at Yoichi before racing off. "I apologise for my generals lack of personal space." Kudou said with a sigh, gently helping Yoichi to his feet.
"He is kind." Yoichi said as Kudou hummed. "You both are."
"Have you had lunch yet?" Kudou asked, not responding to his words. Yoichi shook his head and Kudou nodded, threading his arm through his. "Let me treat you. We secured more rations on our mission. You deserve it."
Yoichi bit his cheek, looking up at the strong man, his heart pounding in his ears. "That is a lie. I have done nothing worthy of being praised. I won't even tell you about my brother."
"That is why." Kudou said, tightening his hold slightly as Yoichi stumbled. "You are a committed man. Just as I am. I value your loyalty even if it is to a monster. I value all of my generals loyalty." He said the last sentence with a hint of venom that made Yoichi's stomach churn as he watched the man in confusion.
He knew people. He hadn't been around them for many years with his brother, but he thought he did. Though Kudou and Bruce's relationship was an odd one for their positions. "I lied to you." Yoichi finally said as Kudou closed the door to the private room behind them.
"Excuse me?"
Yoichi let go of Kudou's arm, sitting on his chair himself. "I lied. About my quirk."
"You mean the one your brother forced on you? He asked, sitting across from him.
Yoichi shook his head slowly, shutting his eyes. "No. That was a power enhancer. But I was born with one. A weak one that meant nothing until my brother gave me another."
Kudou nodded to show he was listening, taking Yoichi's hands in his own. He had changed so much over the time Yoichi had been here. But that time was ending.
"I can give up my quirk to another. It is in a similar vein to my brother." He opened his eyes to see Kudou's watchful gaze on him, searching for something. "I want you to have it."
Kudou shook his head instantly, tightening his hold. "No. You need it. It is all that is keeping you alive."
"Kudou." Yoichi said, holding his grip. "I don't want to live anymore. I want you to take my power."
"No."
Yoichi sighed, shaking his head. "This is not your choice."
"It is not yours either." Kudou retaliated. "You are my hostage. And I will not let you die on my watch."
"You would rather watch me in agony as I finish the last of the pills?" Yoichi asked softly.
Kudous voice grew louder as he stood up quickly. "I will not let you die. I will find a way. Even if it means dragging the answer out of your brother's dead body, I will find a way to save you."
Yoichi reached for him but he walked away, shaking his head. "Kudou." Yoichi tried.
"I said no." Kudou stated. "You are not dying. I will find more pills. I will make my own. I will not let you die."
"Kudou, I serve no purpose." Yoichi said, leaning on his knees. "I am not a hostage nor a fighter. I cannot heal those people my brother hurt and I cannot speak to others." He stood up slowly, feeling the pull of every muscle in his body trying to rip. "But I can do this."
He took a step towards Kudou but his leg seized up and he gasped, reaching forward. Kudou caught him as he always had, pulling him up and moving the hair from his face. Yoichi's heart hammered in a way it never had and he pushed into Kudou more, letting his warmth seep in.
"I don't want you to die." Kudou whispered, holding him tight.
Yoichi pulled away just slightly, to look Kudou in the eyes. "I would rather it on my terms than his. Please, give me this one thing."
Kudou hummed, the sound rumbling through Yoichi who was still near him. "I would give you the world if I could." He responded, leaning down slightly.
His lips were a few inches from Yoichi's as he understood the situation, looking into the eyes. The eyes he hadn't realised he had fallen for until now. "Kill him. Save him with my quirk, please." Yoichi whispered.
"Anything." Kudou accepted, his lips so close to Yoichi's own.
The warmth when they met was something Yoichi had never experienced, pushing away the constant pain. The strong arms of Kudou held him up, cupping the side of his face as he deepened the kiss. Yoichi couldn't give him his everything. His heart was his brothers and his mind his own. But he could give him his quirk.
He felt the moment it left him, his legs giving out as he pulled away. Kudou gasped, catching him and helping him to the floor as he held him tight. "No. Not right now." Kudou whispered, pushing away Yoichi's hair. "I just got you back."
Yoichi smiled, reaching up as he ran his fingers through the general's short hair. "I will be out of pain. And you can do what I would never allow you to when I am alive. You can end this."
Kudou screamed, the sound becoming muffled as Yoichi looked at the sky above. He hadn't realised just how weak he truly was until he was nothing. Had nothing. The door opening was more rumbling than a sound. Bruce screaming and falling beside Kudou was more a feeling than knowledge.
His brother had left him to die alone. But they had let him die in peace. And his quirk would go on to help end this battle. A part of him would save his brother.
The hands secured around him seemed to fade away as he smiled, his pain gone. It was peaceful.
--
The grey room was cold, his back against hard concrete. The pain was back, though far less than it had been before. Before when?
He stood, feeling more like he was floating than walking. It didn't hurt to put one foot in front of the other and simply walk.
He stood on the edge of the platform and reached a hand out. It connected to a glass like partition and his vision spun. Threads and lines danced across his vision, becoming beautiful and new like nothing he had seen before. He grabbed one, twisting it and pulling it towards him.
He took a step back, a scene playing out in front of him. A memory of the garden. Only it wasn't his. He was seated on the bench, Bruce's hand on his cheek. Yoichi felt a pang of hurt run through him, an emotion he did not have at the time.
"I missed you, Yoichi." A voice spoke as if from his own chest. But it was Kudou's, the gentle hum and rhythm so perfect.
He moved another thread and the scene ended, hundreds more appearing. Yoichi pulled to the end of the rope, grabbing it and twisting it in his hand.
This was now. He didn't know how he knew that, but he knew this was the present. There was no one further to go. "We found his stronghold in the third providence." One of the people at the table spoke loudly. "If we attack it quickly, we will secure our position and take him down."
The others shouted their assurances, pounding the table loudly. "May we move on your orders sir?" Another asked, all eyes turning to Yoichi. Kudou.
"Do it. Report back." Kudou spoke, his voice rumbling and deep. The people around the table laughed loudly, smacking each other on the back as they left the room and left him alone. "Stay." Kudou said, grabbing Bruce'a wrist.
The man paused before nodding, sitting beside him. Neither spoke for a long while, just watching their own hands. "He is to be buried in the graveyard. Tell no one." Kudou finally said, looking up at Bruce.
Bruce stared at him with wide eyes before giving a silent nod. "He had time." He whispered quietly, messing with his fingers. "Just a little more time."
Yoichi ripped his hand back, not wanting to deal with that. The emotions were so powerful even though they weren't his. He wiped tears from his eyes, walking to a seat at a large table in the grey room.
He had grown used to being alone in the vault. But never had it felt so empty.