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“Kunikida, behind you!”
That was the only warning he received. He gave props where props were due; at least the kid had said something. He had worked with people in the past who hadn't even bothered doing that much. However, it was not enough time to prepare himself for the spike of concrete that shot up from the ground behind him, piercing straight through his thigh.
Kunikida knew pain. It was part of the job description after all.
Though, currently, the feeling was indescribable.
They were up against an ability user who had the power to manipulate the ground to do their own bidding. Something the police were useless against but the detective agency could at least handle the problem. So the President had requested Kunikida and Atsushi to deal with it. Theoretically, it shouldn't be too much of a hassle, not with the kid's control and power coming along nicely.
Curse that the moment he looked away, Kunikida was hit. The concrete was solid, his leg trembling as he was glued in place. An attempt to run was out of the question, it would only end with more skin tearing and he couldn't deal with that right now.
Then another spear shot up, ripping through his shirt and embedding itself deep within his shoulder.
He thought, for just a moment, that he might have blacked out.
When he blinked, vision bleary with black spots dancing across it, he realised how shallow his breathing had become. His pant leg was soaked, the beige having turned into a deep murky brown. Now his shirt was splattered too, red pooling around the stone and dripping down his body.
There was no chance to twist to see what was happening behind him. A flurry of movement, he could hear footsteps skidding across the concrete floor. Then, finally, a thwack and the sound of something large and heavy falling over. Around him the stone crumbled, leaving gaping wounds in its place. It meant he could turn– albeit, he had done so shakily and almost lost his footing– to see Atsushi crouched next to the perpetrator, now unconscious.
The kid looked up, eyes widening as if he had forgotten the severity of the situation. They were quite a way out of the main city. If they didn't do something right now then Kunikida would be dead on the drive home.
“Not good, not good,” he heard the kid mutter, leaping into action and Kunikda almost toppled over in surprise.
Gently he was lowered into a sitting position, Atsushi lifted one of Kunikda’s palms to clutch against the puncture wound in his shoulder. “Hold that there, okay?”
It was as if this were a different side to him. Not the wobbly, too-worried weretiger he had gotten used to. Whilst his strength and agility were astounding, Kunika had to admit that under pressure the kid fumbled usually. But here, even though Atsushi’s fingers were silently trembling and sweat was beading on his forehead, his eyebrows were furrowed in concentration. His lips were pressed together in a thin line.
With nimble movements, he tore off a portion of his own shirt, the fabric coming off in strips. “Sorry, sorry, stay still,” the kid mumbled and Kunikda had no idea what the kid was apologising for. Atsushi wadded up one of the stips, pressing it into the bleeding wound on his thigh. Kunikda hissed, stomach coiling and Atsushi repeated a few more apologies.
Then, whilst holding it all in place, he tightly wrapped another strip around it. Then another. It was certainly not perfect, the fabric already starting to let a few splotches of crimson seep through. But, it would do for the time being.
Kunikida was impressed–
And then, he was suddenly very woozy.
He swayed, once, then twice. An arm came up to brace him, brushing against his chest. It sent a jolt through his shoulder, teeth clenching and eyes closing.
“I think… I think you need to stay awake, right?” Atsushi sounded far off and too quiet. Not a good sign. Plus the worry was creeping back into his voice, the adrenaline most likely wearing off by now. “Please don’t fall asleep.”
I’m trying, kid, he attempted to say but all that came out was a slurry of words, tongue feeling too big in his mouth. He listened to the kid let out a shaky breath.
Then he wasn't listening at all, consciousness leaving him in a matter of mere seconds.
He awoke perfectly fine. That was a pleasant surprise. Not only did he not die on the mission but he hadn’t been awake to experience any of the surgery either. A win-win in his books.
He knew where he was. Unfortunately with this occupation, he was familiar with the medical room in the office. He had ended up here too many times to count. Though he supposed it was also a benefit of the job, if he thought about it. Dying on a mission or being saved from a near-death experience– he knew which one he would choose any day of the week.
“Oh good, you’re awake,” Atsushi (well, Kunikda was assuming it was the kid by the sound of his voice considering he hadn’t put his glasses back on yet. The room around him was simply a blur right now). “I brought you some water if you would like.”
Kunikida nodded, reaching out to the side table and feeling around until smooth, cool frames came into his grip. With a tired sigh, he put his glasses on. “Thank you, Atsushi.”
Now with his vision clear, he distinctly saw the way Atsushi gently smiled. “No problem, I know it’s important to stay hydrated after incidents where someone loses a lot of blood–”
“No, kid, that's not what I’m thanking you for,” he cut in. “ I mean, yes, I am thankful for the water but I am also grateful for you saving my life. You worked well back there and if it weren't for you I may be in a much worse condition right now.”
“Oh.” Atsushi didn't look like he knew what to do with himself after receiving the praise. “Well, it was instinct. I did what I had to.”
“And I’m grateful for that.”
A beat passed, Atsushi seemingly taking in the words. Kunikida wondered how much praise the kid had gotten growing up. He knew most of the kid's story, Dazai had filled him in. A real rags-to-riches type of tale and Kunikda had gotten to see, first-hand, how much the kid had grown.
“Right then, I'll let you rest up,” Atsushi said quickly before shuffling out of the room, not giving Kunikda a chance to respond.
With a huffed breath, Kunikda lowered himself back down to bed, smiling to himself as he drifted off to sleep. At least it wasn't because of the blood loss this time, so that was a plus.