Work Text:
Tap, tap, tap, tap.
It's cold and snowy outside, firm pushes of wind blowing around the flakes as they flutter down, the silence of Hope's Peak Academy's library only broken by the sound of fingernails slowly drumming on the side of a phonecase. As Shuichi watches, perched halfway onto a windowsill in the library of Hope's Peak, he can't help but feel so small and... maybe a little trapped. It's cold outside. He knows it will be. And with the wind, it'll be even colder, and he really really doesn't wanna be cold. Winter is beautiful, but being so cold it hurts after just a few minutes exposed to the elements is not.
The window pane is bitingly cold under his cheek as he watches the snow fall, leaning into the glass and tracing the paths the flakes take in their descent with his eyes. He considers texting someone, a classmate, maybe, or one of those upperclassmen who have taken a liking to him, in search of a way to get back to the dorms, or somewhere that feels safe, because he's starting to feel too small for his body, and he wants to curl up in bed and hide, but-
"Ah," A soft voice murmurs from behind him, and the detective's whole body jerks in surprise as his head snaps over fast enough for his head to bump into the window with a thunk, drawing a short, pained whine out of him, hand clasping over where the collision occurred before he looks for the source of the voice, already knowing where he'll find it. "There you - oh my."
Korekiyo stares at him, amusement making his eyes twinkle while Shuichi cups the now-painful back of his head with one hand. He looks at his classmate guiltily, trying to bite back tears that were born more out of shame than any real pain. A fact that was not lost on the one between the two of them who adored humanity more than most.
There was a soft pause, and Korekiyo moved forward, light and graceful steps, holding out his hands.
"Here, my little detective, let me see." Hesitating only a little bit, Shuichi slipped his phone into his uniform pocket and slid off the windowsill, walking over and bowing his head so Korekiyo could comb his hair out of the way, looking for any sign of severe injury, of which, naturally, he would find none. Shuichi knew that already. It just hurt and he felt stupid for hitting his head because he got surprised by the sound of his carer's voice, though that did make him question - why was Korekiyo here in the first place?
With a gentle hum, Korekiyo lifts Shuichi's face and started brushing his hair back into place, cautious-light fingertips nudging Shuichi's chin up to guide the detective into looking at him.
"You are alright," Kiyo reassures, voice low and soft. "If it continues to hurt, even after a while, I will get you an ice pack to help with the pain. Okay?"
Shuichi nods passively, half-chasing after Korekiyo's hand as it retreats, hungry for more contact. Like he already knew that, Kiyo's eyes were soft, looking at the student before him with wonder, like he was gazing at some kind of incredible nature formation, instead of-
"You're beautiful," Korekiyo murmurs fondly, reaching out a hand between them. "If you'll allow me, I can take you to my lab? We can hide away in there, if you need time to be regressed and away from other people."
"How'd you know?" Shuichi whispers back, like a secret, taking Korekiyo's hand.
Korekiyo laughs, a familiar low, rough, almost-hissing ke-he-he, and squeezes Shuichi's hand gently, pulling him back to where Shuichi's belongings were messily half-organized on a table like it was a suggestion.
...it takes effort for Shuichi not to latch onto his arm and burrow into his chest and hide right there.
"Come now," Korekiyo says, instead of answering the question, and releases Shuichi's hand to take his backpack and gently set it on the table. "Clean up, and we can go to my lab."
It's not like Shuichi would willingly put up a fight anyway. He quietly starts stacking his notebooks together, and then his pencil case, his highlighter box, the power bank for extra phone battery, and piles it into his backpack methodically, shifting the soft-shell case of sensory items therein to make way for the rest of his belongings. Korekiyo, ever-patient, stands with his backpack held open silently as he does, until Shuichi steps forward from checking the floor to make sure nothing fell off the table, and zips the backpack shut.
The backpack is lifted off the table, and Korekiyo turns it so that Shuichi can slip himself into it, which he does, suddenly feeling so much smaller from the single gesture, fumbling to grab onto Korekiyo's sleeve as soon as the backpack was secure over his shoulders.
Instead of allowing Shuichi to find purchase on his sleeve, Korekiyo redirects him to hold onto his hand, and begins to lead him out of the library.
The walk to Korekiyo's ultimate talent research laboratory is quiet and familiar - and to Shuichi, comforting - the sound of footfalls and Kiyo humming off and on as they walk, side by side, fingers laced together. His other hand fidgets with his backpack straps, picking at fabric and running his nails over the canvas, he can't help but wonder why, of all people, Korekiyo would choose to be so soft on him specifically.
The door to the laboratory opens silently and smoothly, giving way to arching ceilings and gently-lit glass cases, unique artifacts stored delicately within each and every one.
Not stopping other than to ensure the door behind them was shut, Korekiyo leads Shuichi up to the second floor of the study.
From one library right into another, Shuichi muses to himself, rubbing at his eyes to keep himself awake as Korekiyo leads him through the twists and turns, back to their hidden oasis in a corner of the library, complete with a beanbag and a small basket of miscellaneous objects - toys, fidgets, and, most importantly -
Shuichi finds himself letting go of Korekiyo's hand before he can think of much else, hurrying over, scooping the stuffed dog into his arms and then dropping into the beanbag, clutching the plushie up to his face and nuzzling against it, snuffling his content while the soft sound of Korekiyo's laugh chases the warmth and feeling of safety right into Shuichi's heart.
"Yes, my little detective? Are you comfortable?"
He mumbles incoherently in reply, wrestling his backpack off and curling up tight as soon as the bag hits the floor, wrapping his whole body around the stuffed animal in his arms. Korekiyo ruffles around, the familiar sounds of a table being cleaned, chairs checked, storage containers peered into so as to ensure their contents are in order, and then, there's what he was waiting for. The rustling of fabric, and then something warm and soft falls, flowing, over his body.
"Do you think you would like to sleep, darling?" Kiyo murmurs softly, tucking the blanket over his shoulder and up under his chin, bandaged fingers brushing his cheeks and his jaw, two of them grazing over his scalp and tucking hair behind his ear.
"M-mm," Shuichi hums in disagreement, wiggling as he struggles to blink his eyes open, plushie still clutched desperately to his chest. Korekiyo hovers over him, long hair framing his face in glossy, well-maintained curtains, eyes softening with fond amusement.
"No? Are you sure?" A hand lifts, in front of his face, offering, hesitant. Shuichi snuffles, nudging his face closer, pleading with his eyes as best as he can. Though not visible behind the mask, only apparent through the gentle squint of his eyes, Korekiyo smiles, and cups Shuichi's face with his hand. "You seem quite sleepy, little detective."
"Nuh uh," Shuichi mutters back, pressing his face against the soft curve of Korekiyo's hand and making a small, content noise when his fingers begin to gently massage the side of his jaw. "Just... want to sit."
"Well, that's quite alright." Comes the soft, undeniably affectionate response. Shuichi hums softly, smiling as he nuzzles into the anthropologist palm. "Would you like to listen to me read?"
"Please?"
"But of course, my little mystery."