Chapter Text
Vixen was their home, it was all they’d ever known, all they probably would ever know. If they ever wished to leave they would have to join the academy, but that would mean having to learn under their father, and they didn’t want that, but they knew they’d have to eventually, it’s what they had been training to do, even if one of them had no power to use, or at least no power that the doctors could find. Osamu knew, though, that Atsumu would never make it to the academy, that their father would ship him off to some place in another nation.
“Tsumu, ya gotta go,” Osamu says in a hushed tone, anxiety lacing his voice as he grabs Atsumu by the shoulders,
“Please, Tsumu, ya hafta leave!” Osamu pleads as his brother shakes his head, tears in their eyes, they both know what would happen if Atsumu didn’t run, if he didn’t pack a bag and get as far away as he could.
“‘m not leavin’ ya ‘Samu!” Atsumu was adamant about staying, he was stubborn but so was Osamu,
“I’ll find ya, I promise I’ll find ya, I’ll go through the academy, and I’ll find ya, you don’t hafta protect me anymore Tsumu.” Osamu was sincere as he spoke, his eyes told Atsumu that Osamu wasn’t lying, Atsumu could always tell when someone was lying no matter how good of an actor they were, it was all in the eyes, his mother had taught him that. Atsumu relented - if only to stop Osamu from staring at him with that look of just pure desperation - and Osamu let out a sigh of relief before they both rushed to pack a bag of essentials for Atsumu to take.
Once it was packed and Atsumu had changed into a more practical outfit, he looked like a soldier in Osamu’s opinion, but that just meant he would fit in better with the crowd than he ever would if he looked like a civilian, Osamu was glad Atsumu had never neglected his training, it just made this easier. The two rushed over to the window of their room, knowing they wouldn’t be able to sneak out through the front, even if they tried, even if they ran.
Atsumu was partway out of the window before he turned around and pulled Osamu into a tight hug, leaving a short, brotherly kiss on the younger’s head, but just as it had started it ended abruptly because Atsumu heard their father arrive home and knew that if he was to leave it would have to be now.
Atsumu was quick as he moved out of the window, Osamu closed it behind him as he climbed carefully across the roof, being cautious to not make any loud noises that may attract his father’s attention. He jumped from the roof onto a nearby tree that hung over the fence of their home and carefully climbed down, landing on the path, Atsumu took off sprinting almost as soon as his boots hit the concrete, disappearing from Osamu’s line of sight.
Osamu quickly changed into a pair of Atsumu’s pyjamas, allowing himself a few seconds before scrambling to place a few under Atsumu’s covers on his bed to try and make it seem as though Atsumu was asleep in it, he didn’t know if it would be very convincing with the light on but he knew that with just the moonlight seeping in through the window being the only source of light would make it more believable. He quickly climbed into his bed in the once-shared room, he laid under the covers, his eyes closed as he pretended to sleep, he knew he wouldn’t be getting any sleep that night, not when he had just sent his brother away, not when he wasn’t entirely sure he’d ever see Atsumu again.
Osamu stayed as still as he could as he listened to his father moving around downstairs, he heard footsteps start to ascend the stairs indicating that his father had begun moving to come to check to see if he was asleep, he heard the steps approach the room and then the door was being opened, Osamu’s back was to the door so he couldn’t see his father, but he could hear him, his father stood at the door for a few seconds before the door was closed once more. Osamu listened to the heavy steps of his father retreat downstairs before allowing himself to break.
He sobbed silently, mourning the lost sound of his brother sleeping in the bed above him, the only indication that he had that Atsumu was still alive and that their father hadn’t somehow killed him, he already missed his brother, his twin. The boy he grew up with. He hated that it would probably be years before he ever saw Atsumu again and that’s if, he saw Atsumu again. He hoped with his whole being that Atsumu found somewhere safe to stay, Osamu would never forgive himself if Atsumu died because he sent him away.
Atsumu ran and ran and ran and ran, he didn’t stop, not even when his legs felt like they were falling off. He ran through crowds moving through the people easily, his footsteps were barely audible as he ran, and you would only hear them if you were listening for them.
Atsumu recognized very few of the faces he ran past, most of them were children of people his father works with at the academy. The only face he knew the name of was Aran, but Aran couldn’t see his face as he ran past him, he had a mask and his hood was up, but then again if Aran had seen his eyes as he ran past, he probably would’ve recognized Atsumu. His eyes were always how Aran told him apart from Osamu.
Atsumu ran until his legs gave out underneath him, and he fell to his knees onto the concrete. He was gasping for air and panting, his lungs felt as though they were on fire and filled with molten lava, and his hands shook as his nails dug into the concrete he sat on. He looked up and in front of him stood a large building, he recognized the building as one of the abandoned warehouses that was used by Vixen’s armed forces a few years back. He pulled himself to his feet, his legs shook from the effort it took just to stand, but he pushed forward, taking a step towards an entrance to the building.
Atsumu leaned against the door and pushed with all his weight, which wasn't a lot considering he was barely 15, having turned 15 a few weeks prior. It took a few tries before the door gave way and swung in, Atsumu stumbled as he walked into the warehouse, it was dark and musty, there was dust everywhere, a few crates thrown here and there, nails protruding from walls and sleeping bags and pillows that are in dilapidated condition are strewn around.
Atsumu walks forward, dropping his bag to the floor next to one of the sleeping bags that are in better condition than the others, it had a decent pillow next to it. He fell onto the sleeping bag; it was surprisingly soft given its condition. Atsumu shuffled his way under the top layer of the sleeping bag, he pulled the pillow under his head and tried to sleep, but a part of him knew he wouldn’t be able to sleep properly until he was back with Osamu