Work Text:
After Tachihara’s reveal, no one really knew what to do. Mori is keeping him around for…some reason. He’s useful, according to the boss. Being put with him on a mission after everything is…rather awkward. Honestly, Hirotsu and Gin knew. Not the whole time, but Tachihara started getting sloppy. Like seriously, “other work”? What were they supposed to think? And besides, Gin heard his whole confession anyway. Higuchi felt betrayed. It’s obvious on how silent the car ride is that no one is really over it, and yet no one is willing to talk about it either. Usually, Higuchi and Tachihara would be fighting over who gets the aux cord while Gin eats all the snacks. Hirotsu drives, only speaking up to tell everyone else to pipe down.
No one is playing music, but Gin is still eating all the snacks. To break the silence, Hirotsu starts to speak.
“I’ll provide a rundown of this mission.”
Hirotsu waits for the usual annoyed groans or some sort of snarky statement but receives none. He carries on.
“....A new organization has been trading drugs around the port mafia's territory. This usually wouldn’t be a problem, especially one we need to sort, but they also have information valuable to us. Documents. This is a simple mission. We should be in and out.”
There’s no noise or any sort of acknowledgement of Hirotsu’s words, but he knows they’ve heard him.
__________
There were way more people than they were expecting. Most times, they’d take these guys out no problem, but the area was vast and dark. The shots were loud and disorienting. They came in guns blazing, as they normally do, so really it’s their fault.
They were losing. These people were stronger than they’d been informed they’d be. And eventually, when they stop hearing shots from Tachihara and Higuchi, but instead the sound of clicking rings out, do they realize they’re really fucked.
The four duck into another room for cover. The door is shut, but it won’t be for long. They won’t give them a damn break! They have no time to think!
“We need more ammo! Hirotsu’s ability just isn’t enough for this.”
Higuchi explains, frustration audible in her tone. Tachihara speaks up.
“I have an ability, remember?”
…
They weren’t really used to it yet. Hirotsu looks over towards Tachihara.
“And this ability will get us ammunition?”
“Well, it depends on you. Anyone have a weapon they wanna sacrifice?"
Another beat of silence passes as they all stare at Tachihara as if he’s asked the stupidest question on earth. And he kinda has. Tachihara sighs, looking a bit disappointed.
“I guess we’re doing this the longer way then…”
Tachihara holds his hand out to Gin, asking wordlessly for her dagger. Gin glares but hands it over regardless. Before they have any time to question what the ‘longer way’ is, Tachihara lifts his shirt and stabs himself in the stomach. He hunches over, grunting and biting his lip in pain. His face contorts and his shoulders tremble.
“Are you insane?! What purpose did that serve?!”
Hirotsu’s voice is raised, but the concern is evident. He doesn’t like how there was no hesitation to stab himself at all. Higuchi gasps, clearly not expecting that, because who would? Gin is by Tachihara’s side, but her eyes are wide with worry. Tachihara sits back up and the familiar sound of ammunition clicking against the ground is heard. Looking downwards is when they see the bullets needed. Seeing their confused, and really distressed expressions, Tachihara starts to speak.
“I can manipulate metal, blah blah we know that part. Blood has metal in it, I can manipulate that. Crazy, I know. It saved my ass a couple of times!”
Tachihara has a smirk playing on his lips, but the beam of sweat on his forehead clearly shows his pain. Higuchi recovers first.
“Are you serious?! You take yourself out for that?!”
“I’ve tanked bombs to the face! A little stab wound won’t kill me! Stings like a bitch though…it’ll take me a hot second to get some more bullets so, I don’t know, do something and stop gawking?!”
Higuchi rushes forward, snagging the bullets and reloading her gun. Using the door to block any shots from the enemies, she starts firing. Hirotsy joins her at the door, using his ability on anything close enough.
“You’re not over there with them?”
Asks Tachihara, finally noticing Gin never left the spot by his side. Gin looks almost conflicted for a moment, before shaking her head.
“I’ll pass whatever you make to them, okay? Besides, with the amount of blood you’re losing, you seem like you’ll need someone to hold you up.”
At Gin’s words, Tachihara nods, leaning onto her shoulder. Gin starts to pass along what she can over to the pair by the door. Tachihara drives the dagger deeper, clearly impatient with how long this has lasted.
“...I’m morbidly curious.” Hirotsu starts. “What’s the biggest thing you’ve ever made with this?”
“A sword.”
Silence returns over the group for a third time, because really, what do you even say to that?
As the entourage of enemies die out, the only sound left is the fading shots from Higuchi’s gun.
“..let’s find what we need and get out.”
After Higuchi’s statement, they all file out of the room.
“How do you feel, Tachihara?”
Higuchi’s concern is obvious. Tachihara can’t help but feel guilt. He’s betrayed them, hurt them both physically and emotionally, and they still show nothing but concern for him.
“...my tummy hurts.”
“I wonder why..”
Hirotsu sarcastically follows up.
_______________
It takes a while of searching through boxes, but they find the information they need. After just a minute or three of hobbling around, Tachihara’s back to walking like normal. Outside of the blood on his shirt, you would’ve never guessed he was injured in the first place. In the car, Tachihara immediately goes to turn on the heat.
“What do you need that on for?” Hirotsu asks.
“What do you mean? It’s freezing…”
Hirotsu has a feeling this whole ability Tachihara has is a lot more detrimental than they originally assumed. It seems Gin and Higuchi agree, judging by the way they’re just staring at him. Tachihara doesn’t seem to notice. And if he does, he’s not acknowledging it.
“Can I sleep on the car ride back?”
Hirotsu doesn’t really know why he’s asking for permission, but he nods regardless.
“Just don’t die.”
Tachihara nods and leans back in his seat.
___________________
Tachihara must’ve fallen asleep by now. They’ve been silent, trying not to disturb him, but all their thoughts are racing.
“...What the hell was that about?”
Higuchi is the first one to speak up, eyeing the wound on Tachihara’s stomach. His white shirt is stained to hell and back.
“I don’t know. How did he even figure that out? A sword..?"
Hirotsu’s words become less of a statement and more mumbling to himself as it goes on. Gin’s brow furrows.
“His body was freezing. And he got so pale after…”
Higuchi whispers, as if Tachihara will hear them and wake up. Gin looks over at her.
“He did lose a ton of blood. I’m sure he’s fine..”
An uncomfortable quiet fills the car. No one is really sure where to go from here. Hirotsu sighs, turning to head to the hospital.
“I hate how the hospital knows us on a first name basis…”