Chapter Text
Mondo Kept checking his phone.
Mondo's thoughts grew increasingly frantic as the minutes ticked by. The sun had long ago set, casting the cityscape into a tapestry of neon lights and deep shadows that stretched into the alley where he waited. His heart thudded against his ribcage like a bass drum in a silent concert, the only soundtrack to his anxiety. He knew something was wrong; Kiyotaka was never late.
" Come on Kiyo, where the fuck are you?" Mondo murmured to himself, his voice echoing against the damp bricks of the alleyway. He leaned against the cold metal of his motorcycle, the engine a low, comforting purr underneath him. The anticipation of seeing Kiyotaka was gnawing at him like a rabid dog, but with every second that passed, it morphed into a gnawing fear. He'd never felt this way before—this mix of excitement and dread. But then again, he'd never cared about someone this much. Not like this.
The sound of distant sirens grew louder, and Mondo's grip tightened on the handlebars. He knew the score. The cops weren't coming for him—his bike was parked well out of their line of sight—but it was a stark reminder of the world they lived in. A world where a guy like Raijin could get his hands on someone as pure as Kiyotaka. Mondo's knuckles whitened at the thought of that prick laying a finger on him. If he ever found out about this...
The alley grew colder, and Mondo's mind raced with scenarios, each more gruesome than the last. What if Raijin had found out about their secret meetings? What if he'd hurt Kiyotaka? The mere thought made bile rise in his throat, and he swallowed hard, pushing down the rage that threatened to boil over. He had to keep it together. For Kiyotaka.
" I'm getting real fucking worried dude..
Mondo's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of light footsteps approaching. He straightened up, his eyes narrowing as he searched the shadows for any sign of movement. The steps grew closer, and he could almost feel the tension coiling in the air like a tightening spring. Was it Kiyotaka, finally coming to meet him, or was it something else? Someone else?
As the figure emerged from the shadows, Mondo felt a mix of relief and anger wash over him. It was Kiyotaka, but the young man looked like he'd seen a ghost. His uniform was rumpled, his face pale, and there was a dark bruise blossoming on his cheek, stark against the starkness of his skin. Mondo's heart skipped a beat, and all he could think was, "I'll kill that son of a bitch." But he forced himself to stay calm, not wanting to scare Kiyotaka even more.
"Kiyotaka, what happened?" Mondo's voice was low and measured, but the concern was palpable.
Kiyotaka flinched at the sound of his name, his eyes darting around the alley nervously. "I'm fine.. I just... fell." His voice was trembling, and Mondo knew he was lying. He'd seen that look before—the one that said 'please don't ask questions'. But Mondo couldn't ignore the bruise, the fear in Kiyotaka's eyes, the way he clutched at his own arms as if trying to hold himself together.
Mondo took a step closer, his hand reaching out gently. "Hey, it's okay. You don't have to hide it from me." He knew better than to push too hard, but the sight of Kiyotaka in pain was like a knife to his soul. He hated the thought of anyone hurting him, but knowing it was Raijin—his own kind—made it even worse. "You know you can tell me anything, right?"
Kiyotaka took a deep breath, and for a moment, it looked like he might just crumble. But then, with a steely resolve that belied his shaking form, he straightened up, his eyes meeting Mondo's. "It's nothing. Just... an accident." His voice was firm, the same tone he used when he was in charge, when he was the disciplinary force that everyone knew and feared. But Mondo wasn't fooled. He'd seen the cracks in that armor before.
"Taka... I know-" Mondo began, but Kiyotaka's hand shot up, cutting him off. His eyes, usually so focused and intense, were now filled with a desperate plea for understanding.
"Mondo, please," he whispered, his voice barely audible over the distant hum of the city. "I don't want to talk about it."
Mondo's jaw clenched, his hand balled into a fist at his side. He knew pushing would only make things worse, so he nodded, trying to keep his emotions in check. "Alright, alright. If that's what you want."
Kiyotaka's shoulders relaxed slightly, a ghost of a smile flickering across his lips. "Thank you," he murmured, his eyes searching Mondo's for reassurance.
The silence between them grew heavier than the night air, thick with unspoken words and hidden pain. Mondo's gaze never wavered from Kiyotaka's, his mind racing with thoughts of how to protect him, how to save him from the monster that lurked in the shadows of his life. But he knew he couldn't do it alone. He needed to build an alliance, a network of people who cared about Kiyotaka as much as he did. And that's where Chihiro came in.
Chihiro was the one who had noticed the changes in Kiyotaka first—the bruises, the quiet moments of despair, the sudden drop in his grades.
The drops weren't major but they were definitely noticeable. Kiyotaka had always been so disciplined, so focused—like a laser beam. But lately, Mondo had seen the beam flicker, and it was as if a part of the world's brightness had gone out every time it did. He knew he had to tread carefully, like walking through a minefield, but he couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
Chihiro had confided in Mondo about their suspicions, their eyes filled with a mix of sadness and anger. Mondo had promised to help, to be there for them both, to support them in any way he could. It was clear that Kiyotaka was suffering, and it was eating away at Chihiro's gentle soul to see their friend in such a state. They had come up with a plan, a way to help Kiyotaka without pushing too hard or making things worse.
The first step was to get Kiyotaka out of the house, away from Raijin's watchful eye. Mondo had invited him to a movie.
He specifically picked it on a day when Kiyotaka and Chihiro had nothing to do.
1) because this plan required Chihiro be there for the first step. And 2) because Kiyotaka wouldn't have any reason to say no.
But apparently Raijin found out about the movie night. Causing the plan to backfire.
Mondo's plan to get Kiyotaka out of the house had been simple enough—just a casual invite to a movie that he knew Kiyotaka had been dying to see. He figured that a few hours of escaping reality in the cool darkness of a theater would do him some good. But as they stood there, in the alley, with the neon lights of the city casting eerie reflections on the damp pavement, it was clear that things had gone sideways. Raijin had probably found out and taken his anger out on the person he deemed the weakest—Kiyotaka.
" Raijin told me I have thirty to eighty five minutes..."
Mondo's eyes narrowed at the mention of Raijin's name, his jaw clenching. "Thirty to eighty-five minutes for what?" he asked, his voice a low growl.
Kiyotaka's gaze dropped to the ground, his voice barely a whisper. "For...for the time I'm allowed out." The desperation in his words was like a punch to Mondo's gut.
Mondo took a deep breath, his mind racing. He couldn't stand the thought of Kiyotaka living like this—under the tyrannical thumb of that piece of shit Raijin. "Look, Kiyotaka, I know it's not my place to say, but I'm worried about you, man. You don't deserve this." His voice was gentle, a stark contrast to the rage that bubbled just beneath the surface.
Kiyotaka looked up, " I'm fine."
Mondo's eyes narrowed, " Taka he gave you a fucking time limit. That's not normal-"
" I said I'm fine! Can we just go to the movie!? It already took me ten minutes to get here." Kiyotaka's voice had a sharp edge to it, one that Mondo rarely heard. It was clear that the situation was more dire than he'd thought.
Mondo nodded, swallowing his anger. "Yeah, let's go." He climbed onto his bike, holding out a hand to help Kiyotaka. Despite his formal attire, Kiyotaka managed to straddle the motorcycle with surprising ease, his legs fitting snugly against Mondo's as they took off into the night. The wind whipped through their hair, the engine's roar a cacophony of freedom and rebellion.
They arrived at the theater, Chihiro looked up from their laptop, their eyes widening when they saw Kiyotaka's bruised face. Mondo gave a quick nod, silently conveying the gravity of the situation.
" Hey Taka!" Chihiro called out, their gentle voice piercing the tension like a shard of light.
Kiyotaka offered a forced smile, trying to hide his pain, but the effort was futile. Chihiro's eyes searched his, filled with a silent question that went unspoken. Mondo knew that look; it was the same one he had every time he saw Kiyotaka's bruises.
" Let's go inside," Mondo said, his voice gruff but his eyes filled with concern. He led them into the theater, the bright lights and loud chatter a stark contrast to the quiet desperation that hung over them.
The movie was a mindless action flick—the kind that didn't require much thought, which was exactly what they needed. It was an escape, a brief respite from the chaos of their lives.
Kiyotaka relaxed rather quickly into the film, his rigid posture gradually melting into the plush theater seat as the explosions and car chases unfolded on the screen. Mondo watched him out of the corner of his eye, his heart aching with every little flinch or wince that betrayed his pain. Chihiro, noticing Mondo's tension, slipped their hand into his, giving it a gentle squeeze of reassurance. The gesture was small, but it helped ease the tightness in Mondo's chest. They were in this together.
Everything was going according to plan, or so Mondo thought. The movie had almost reached its climax, the hero on the brink of victory, when the theater door creaked open.
Kiyotaka looked down at his watch, the room was barely lit so it was a wonder that he was even able to read the hands.
" What's wrong?" Mondo whispered, noticing Kiyotaka's sudden tension.
Kiyotaka's eyes darted back to the screen, trying to compose himself. "N-Nothing," he stuttered, his grip on the armrest tightening.
But it was too late. The door swung open wider, and the shadow of a figure fell across the aisle.
" Please don't look over here. Please don't look over here. Please don't-" Kiyotaka kept his eyes on the ground as he spoke under his breath, his heart racing. Mondo's grip on his hand tightened, his knuckles turning white. The shadow grew closer, the sound of heavy boots echoing through the otherwise quiet theater. And then, like a storm cloud blocking out the sun, Raijin's figure filled the doorway.
Mondo's eyes narrowed as he took in the newcomer's approach. He recognized that gait, that air of arrogance. It was Raijin alright, and from the look on his face, he wasn't happy. Mondo had never liked the guy—something about him was just off—but seeing him here, invading their safe haven, sent a spike of pure hatred through his veins.
"I wasn't keeping track of the time, I wasn't keeping track of the tim-" Kiyotaka's voice trailed off as the shadow grew closer, the boots coming to a halt right beside their row. Mondo's eyes didn't leave the screen, but his muscles coiled, ready to spring into action.
"Kiyotaka, it's time to go," Raijin's voice was a cold, cruel whisper that sent shivers down Mondo's spine. He could feel the fear emanating from Kiyotaka like a toxic cloud.
" The movie isn't over." Chihiro protested, their voice trembling slightly.
Raijin's eyes flicked to them, and for a moment, it was as if the air grew colder. "It is for us," he said, his voice low and menacing.
" Correction it's over for the the little bird," Raijin's voice was like a slap in the face, and Mondo had to fight the urge to stand up and tear him apart. But he knew that would only make things worse for Kiyotaka. So instead, he turned his head slowly, his eyes meeting Raijin's cold stare.
"Is there a problem, Raijin?" Mondo's voice was deceptively calm, a storm brewing just beneath the surface.
Raijin smirked, his eyes flicking from Mondo to Chihiro before settling back on Kiyotaka. "No problem at all," he said, his tone dripping with condescension. "Just came to collect what's mine."
Kiyotaka's head snapped up, his eyes wide with fear, and Mondo felt his heart drop into his stomach. He'd seen that look before—the one that said 'I'm trapped, and there's no way out'. But he wasn't about to let Raijin take him without a fight.
"I don't think so," Mondo said, his voice hardening. "Kiyotaka's with us."
Raijin's smile grew, a chilling sight in the dim theater light. "For now," he said, his hand reaching out to grab Kiyotaka's arm.
But before he could touch him, Kiyotaka flinched away, his eyes meeting Mondo's with a silent plea. Mondo didn't need any more encouragement. He was on his feet in an instant, his hand wrapping around Raijin's wrist, squeezing tight. "I said, he's with us," Mondo repeated, his voice a warning growl.
The theater patrons around them began to murmur, noticing the tension. But Raijin just laughed, his grip on Kiyotaka's arm tightening. "You really think you can protect him?"
Mondo's eyes narrowed, his grip on Raijin's wrist tightening until the other man winced. "I can try," he said, his voice low and dangerous. "And I'll be damned if I let you hurt him again."
The theater was silent now, all eyes on the confrontation unfolding before them. Chihiro sat frozen in their seat, their eyes wide with shock. But Kiyotaka, to Mondo's surprise, stood up, his own voice strong and firm. "I w-want to finish the movie... Please, Raijin."
Raijin's smirk grew, his grip on Kiyotaka's arm tightening. "What Did you just say to me? Did you just give me orders?"
Kiyotaka's voice trembled, but there was a firmness to it that Mondo hadn't heard in a long time. "I said, I want to finish the movie."
Raijin's eyes flashed with anger, but something in Kiyotaka's tone made him pause. It was as if the normally obedient prefect had found a spine, and it was one made of steel. "Fine," he spat, "But I'm taking you home when it's over." He let go of Kiyotaka's arm, but not before giving it a cruel twist that made Mondo's blood boil.
Kiyotaka flinched but didn't protest, sitting back down and focusing on the screen as if nothing had happened. Mondo remained standing, his hand still in a fist, ready to pounce if Raijin made another move. But the latter just leaned against the wall, his arms crossed over his chest, watching them with a malicious glint in his eye.
The rest of the movie played out in tense silence, the sound of the film's climax dwarfed by the heavy atmosphere in the theater. Mondo's mind raced, trying to think of a way to get Kiyotaka out of this situation permanently. He knew that confrontation wouldn't solve anything; Raijin was too powerful, too much of an important figure for a simple fight to make a difference. They needed a plan, a way to expose him for the monster he truly was.
As the credits rolled, Mondo felt a sense of urgency growing within him. He had to act now, before Raijin had the chance to do any more damage. He turned to Chihiro, whispering urgently, "We can't let him take Kiyotaka home. We need to get him out of here."
Chihiro nodded, their eyes wide with fear but also determination. They quickly packed up their things, their nimble fingers moving with a newfound purpose. Mondo placed a comforting hand on Kiyotaka's shoulder, feeling the tension beneath his uniform. "Come on, let's go," he said, his voice firm but gentle.
They moved swiftly through the theater, dodging curious glances and whispers. Once outside, Mondo could feel the weight of the situation pressing down on them like a heavy fog. "We need to get you somewhere safe," he said, his eyes searching the streets for any sign of trouble.
Kiyotaka looked up at him, his eyes red-rimmed but resolute. "I can't I'll be fine..."
Mondo's grip on Kiyotaka's shoulder tightened. "No, you won't be. You can't keep going like this, Taka."
Kiyotaka flinched at the use of his nickname, but Mondo's expression was unyielding. "Look at you," he said, his voice a mix of anger and concern. "You're a mess. And if that fucking asshole lays another hand on you-"
"Mondo," Chihiro cut in, their voice softer than usual. "We need to think this through. We can't just... take him away without a plan."
Mondo took a deep breath, trying to rein in his temper. Chihiro was right; they needed a strategy. They couldn't just spirit Kiyotaka away without considering the consequences—not just for Kiyotaka, but for themselves as well. If Raijin found out they were involved, it could mean trouble for all of them.
He looked back at Kiyotaka, whose eyes had returned to the ground. "What if I don't see you at school tomorrow?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Kiyotaka's head snapped up, his eyes wide with shock. "What do you mean?"
Mondo's gaze was steady. "I mean, what if you don't come to school because Raijin hurts you to the point where you can't?" The words hung in the air like a dark cloud, heavy with the reality of the situation.
Kiyotaka's breath hitched, his eyes flickering between Mondo and Chihiro. "I... I'll be fine," he repeated, his voice a mere whisper. But Mondo could see the doubt in his eyes, the fear that maybe he wouldn't be.
" Taka-"
Mondo's words were cut off by the sound of a phone ringing—a shrill, piercing noise that seemed to shatter the quiet of the night. It was Kiyotaka's, and the color drained from his face as he fumbled in his pocket to answer it. "Y-Yes, Raijin," he whispered into the device, his eyes darting nervously between Mondo and Chihiro.
Mondo's hand tightened around Kiyotaka's shoulder, his knuckles white with the effort of restraining himself. He could feel the other man's tremors under his touch, the fear that Raijin instilled in him. It was infuriating, heartbreaking, and it only fueled his resolve to put an end to this torment.
On the other end of the line, Raijin's voice was cold and demanding. "Where are you? I thought I told you that you're leaving with me? That I was taking you to our house?"
Kiyotaka's eyes darted to Mondo and Chihiro before dropping to the ground. "I'm sorry," he murmured into the phone, his voice barely audible. "I just wanted to finish the movie."
Raijin's laugh was like nails on a chalkboard. "You think you can disobey me? You think you can ignore my orders and get away with it?" His words were venomous, each one stinging more than the last.
Mondo felt his blood boil, but he knew better than to interrupt. This was Kiyotaka's moment—his chance to stand up to the monster that had been controlling him for so long. He squeezed his hand, offering silent support.
"I'll be right there," Kiyotaka said, defeat lacing every syllable. He hung up and handed the phone back to Mondo, his eyes swimming with unshed tears.
" I'm sorry," Kiyotaka murmured, his eyes downcast. "I have to go."
Mondo's jaw clenched, his heart heavy with the weight of the decision before him. He knew that forcing Kiyotaka to stay would only make things worse, but the thought of letting him walk back into that monster's arms was unbearable. "Alright," he said through gritted teeth, "But we're not done with this."
They watched as Kiyotaka disappeared into the night, his shoulders slumped with defeat. The silence was deafening, the air thick with the unspoken words that hung between them. Mondo felt a fiery determination well up inside him—he would not let this stand. He turned to Chihiro, whose eyes were filled with a mix of fear and resolve. "We need to do something," he said, his voice low and urgent. "We can't just let him go back to that."
Chihiro nodded, their expression serious. "I know," they murmured. "But we need to be careful. We can't just charge in without a plan."
Mondo nodded, his mind racing. He knew Chihiro was right—they had to be smart about this. They couldn't just go after Raijin blindly; they had to find a way to expose him, to show everyone what he truly was. But how?
They stood there for a moment longer, the neon lights of the theater casting strange shadows across their faces. And then, as if struck by a bolt of lightning, Mondo had an idea. "The concert," he said, his eyes lighting up. "We'll do it at the concert."
Chihiro looked at him, confusion written all over their face. "What concert?"
"Leon's band," Mondo said, his voice growing more excited. "They're playing at the club two weeks from now. It'll be crowded—the perfect place to make a scene."
Chihiro's eyes widened with understanding. "We could use the concert as a distraction, to get Kiyotaka away from Raijin," they said, their voice growing stronger. "And then, we could... I don't know, record something, get evidence..."
Mondo nodded, his thoughts racing. "We'll get him to the concert, and then we'll make our move. We'll get him out of there, and we'll make sure everyone knows what Raijin's been doing."