Chapter Text
*Beep* *Beep *Beep*
Vanta’s phone alarm blared from the nightstand, startling all three sleeping men to wake. Though none make a move to stop the intruding noise. A few moments pass before Wilson’s voice, filled with morning gravel, reaches Vanta’s ears.
“Vanta snooze your phone before I throw it, and you out the window!”
He snaps from his position lying in Vanta’s arm, eyes open into slits and glaring up at the ashy blonde. An agreeing hum comes from the black-haired medic lying on Wilson's other side, though instead of threatening violence he simply turned so his back faced his partners.
Begrudgingly Vanta rolls onto his back and reached out with his free hand, the one not pinned under an annoyed hitman, and grabbed his phone, hitting the snooze button and turning back to the others. Zali had returned to facing Wilson's back and wrapped his arms around his midsection, both letting out a sigh of relief as the alarm stopped. Happy at the sight of his boyfriends cuddling, Vanta moved back to his original position. Draping his arm over Wilson and resting his hand on the dip of Zali’s waist.
It was peaceful, Vanta thought, the three of them enjoying a chill November morning by laying next to each other. Not a care in the world, no commitments, no worries, no A.S.H. missi–
*Beep* *Beep* *Beep*
Vanta and Wilson’s eyes snap open at the same time. It takes Vanta a second to register Wilson rocketing out of Zali’s grip and lunging for the offending device. Resigning his phone to its fate Vanta doesn't protest, aside from groaning as Wilson's full weight comes down on his side. Instead opening his eyes fully to see Zali blinking the sleep from his eyes.
However, instead of the sound of his phone being thrown out the window all the noise that came from behind Vanta was an annoyed groan. Confused, Vanta rolled over to look at what was displayed on the screen. While Zali crawled over and held himself up next to Vanta on the palms of his hands. As they both looked on at the screen they could clearly read the caller ID as A.S.H. HQ.
“Aw ” All three groaned in unison.
*
Turns out some evil scientists were trying to steal medical supplies from a warehouse at the outskirts of the city, and Krisis was the only team on stand by. Which led to Vanta having to drive all three of them the 40 minutes just to be greeted with an empty parking lot. As he unlocked the backseat doors Wilson jumped out the car and started walking toward the building, hands put up behind his head.
“Are we late?” He called back
“We can’t be sure until we’ve cleared the building!” Zali answered as he stepped out of the car.
Vanta just smiled at Zali as he came around the back end of the car.
“Lets hope we missed the action, the sooner we get this place secure the sooner we can go home.”
He reassured, patting zali on the back, letting his hand go down to pause on the dip of his waist. Zali turned his head to face Vanta, smiling and pulled him down for a quick kiss.
The moment is cut short as radio static came from their radios
“Hey! Don’t start the fun without me!”
Wilson’s voice sounded through the static.
Amusement turned to confusion as both men looked to the last place they had seen the hitman. Empty.
More static “Up here!”
Both men lift their gaze to one of the open windows, where a certain blonde waved as he kicked his feet against the building's interior. Before either Vanta or Zali could respond Wilson cupped his hands around his mouth and called down.
“Last one back to the car makes breakfast!” Flashing them a smile before leaping down the window and into the war house.
Zali laughed heartily as he strode forward, adjusting his mask to cover his nose. Turning back to smirk at Vanta he taunted
“Don’t get back too late Tyrant, I still expect breakfast in bed.”
Said man returned the smile, shaking his head and turning to scout out the outside of the warehouse.
*A few Minutes later*
There hadn't been a single sign of anything suspicious since Vanta had separated from the others, from what he could see it was just a regular old warehouse. No evil scientists stealing supplies, no weird doors or ladders, nothing.
Well this was a bust
That was until he heard footsteps sneaking towards him, thinking it was one of his boyfriends trying to scare him, he ignored it. Instead trying to figure out which member of Krisis it was.
It didn't seem to be coming from above, rather from about the same level as Vanta, and came forward at a slow pace. No distinct clicking of heels.
Must be Wilson
Amused by his boyfriend’s antics Vanta continued to ignore the sound, up until the hitman was just a few feet from him. Quickly the Tyrant turned his head, smiling and reaching out his arms to capture the blonde. Announcing his awareness of the scarer
“Now what do you think you're doing?!”
However what he was met with was not the expected squeak, and noises of Wilson protesting at being lifted off his feet. Instead what could be assumed to be an “evil scientist” stood in front of him, a dark hood covering their features.
Before Vanta could react to the revelation, the person in front of him took a glass bottle from their pocket and launched it at the Tyrant’s head. It hits its target dead on, shattering on impact. A cloud of heavy orange vapor surrounds him, as he inhales, it invades his senses. Making his vision blur, a distant ringing filling his ears, and a sense that he was about to pass out hit him all at the same moment.
Distantly he could hear what could be assumed to be his attacker meeting with the other members of Krisis. ‘em up for me he thought in resistance.
That resistance however quickly is overtaken by the effects of the potion. Just as he was about to black out Vanta could hear a voice shouting his name. His last thought before the world went black was
Wilson
—
*Wilson's POV*
Vanta had been unconscious and in the infirmary for 7 days now. After running into the perpetrator while he and Zali were trying to find Vanta, or more precisely the perpetrator ran into them, Zali had made quick work of subduing the suspect. While Wilson ran ahead, just in time to see his boyfriend swaying from side to side, a heavy orange substance settling on his clothes and in his hair.
Just in time to call out his name, just in time to see the Tyrant look him in the eyes and collapse onto the ground.
Just in time to feel like his whole world was crashing down, just like Vanta.
“Wilson . . . WILSON”
Shaken out of his stupor by the voice Wilson looks up, his eyes slightly watery.
Zali stands before him, wearing his doctor's coat and carrying a patient tablet, looking down trying to make eye contact with the hitman.
He couldn't do it, couldn't look at those eyes filled with pity. He doesn't want them, he doesn't need them, doesn't deserve them. They bring him no comfort, only remind him of the man lying in a coma on the other side of the wall.
Though it seems Vezalius isn't having it, as he gets on one knee in front of Wilson and uses his free hand to lift his head so their eyes meet. Holding his gaze a few moments before speaking.
“Hey, none of that. This wasn't your fault.”
The resurgence does nothing, guilt still coursing through his blood. With a weak voice Wilson finally spoke up.
“B-but if I hadn't-”
He inhaled sharply, stabilizing his voice before continuing.
“If I hadn't made us separate, Vanta wouldn't have been alone and gotten ambushed. It is my fault.”
Before he could continue his self deprecated, Zali spoke up
“Now, you know that's not true. Had we been all together we all would have been affected by that drug. Then no one would have been there to come to the rescue!”
The medic’s logic did little to soothe Wilson's guilt. Instead compelling the hitman to bury his face in his hands and groan.
“I know. . . “
From his position staring at the floor all he could hear was Zali’s sign and a jumbled mess of words.
“I’m going. . . breakfast. . . might be good. . . visit Vanta.”
As Wilson lifts his head out of his hands he just manages to see Zali's white doctor coat disappearing around the corner. Soon the clack of heels disappears from ear shot and all goes quiet around him. Only the faint sound of his own breath and muffled medical equipment left to keep him company.
Maybe he should take Zali’s advice. He’d only gone in to see Vanta that first day, he has to be a little bit better by now. Or at least look better.
“Oh screw it.”
With his decision made Wilson slowly rises out of his chair, and makes his way to the hospital room door. It takes him a few tries to turn the handle due to his hands, sliced with sweat, sliding off the handle.
As he entered the room the sounds of machines wiring filled his ears, at first he avoided looking directly at the figure laying in a hospital bed. Instead glancing around the room, admiring the clean finish of the room's walls to distract himself from laying eyes on his unconscious boyfriend.
After a few seconds he swallowed his pride and turned his body to face the bed, finally facing his fears.
Vanta looked better, no longer caked with sweat and orange powder. His hair was clean, blond curls haloing around his face. Eyes peacefully closed and mouth in a neutral line. Showing no emotion on his comatose sleep.
Still it raised the hairs on the back of Wilson's neck, that is not his teammate, his Ace, his boyfriend, his Vantacrow. That is a corpse, a breathing one but still lifeless. A feeling of nausea overwhelmed him and he turned to leave. Making a bee line for the door.
“Uh. . . .”
Wilson froze in his tracks, was that his imagination? He turned back to face the tyrant.
“Ugh . . .”
Nope, not his imagination. He raced to the bed, watching Vanta’s face intensely trying to tune into the smallest movement or sign of life. Taking the other man's hand into his own and squeezing it.
He knew he should be calling Zali, or any medical professional really. But he can't bear to look away from Vanta right now, it was like he hadn't seen the man in decades.
It seems like hours pass as Wilson sits down on the bed, careful not to disturb the sleeping man. Though truly only a few minutes pass. Throughout that whole time Wilson's eyes never leave Vanta, he watches as slowly the man's chest rises and falls with each breath and how his face starts to shift as he awakens.
Then it happens, Vanta's eyes flutter a little. Then fully open. Somewhat in shock Wilson stays perfectly still, afraid any sudden movement would cause the tyrant to pass out again.
Vanta however doesn't seem to notice him right away, instead groaning
“Aw my head!”
The fact that his boyfriends first real word after being in a coma is an expletive makes Wilson giggle a little, which finally alerts the previously comatose man to the other presence in the room.
He uses his free hand to rub his eyes, finally focusing onto Wilson. How greets his gaze with a warm smile.
“Hi”
Before Vanta can respond WIlson releases his hand and dives towards him, intending to give him a kiss. Though before he can manage this he is shoved backwards with a force that knocks him onto the floor.
“ Dude, Get away from me!” shouts the Tyrant
Its just at this moment that Zali bursts into the room, having seen the commotion from the window to the hall. It must be a shocking sight. His previously passed out boyfriend shoving their other boyfriend so hard he lands on his .
Vanta’s head snaps to look towards Zali, and even though Wilson can only see half of the other man's face it's heartening how the tyrant's face shifts from one of abject horror to relief once his gaze is off of Wilson.
“Zali, thank god, get this dude out of here!”
Wilson staggers to his feet, trying to collect himself before speaking. Though Vezalius beats him to it
“V-Vanta what are you talking about? Why did you just shove Willy?”
Vanta stares back for a moment before exploding
“CASUE HE TRIED TO KISS ME?!”
Still in shock Wilson doesn't know what to do. Why can’t Vanta recognize him?
All sounds around him turn to static as he stares at the floor. Until he feels a hand pushing him towards the doorway.
Looking up he sees Zali, his eyes full of worry. And finally Wilson lets himself accept the pity. He lets the medic guide him out of the room, and just as the door closes behind him the last thing he hears from Vanta is:
“Good riddance”