Chapter Text
It was nighttime when Atsushi first saw him.
Atsushi could tell because of the moonlight spilling onto the floor of his cell. It looked brighter than it usually did. It must've been a full moon.
Full moons are his favorite; Atsushi loves the light. His cell gets scary when it's too dark. He sees shadows spinning around him when his eyes are open, and he hears whispers in his ears when his eyes are closed. Those times, he never sleeps for long.
Atsushi was scared at first. The other orphans say he's scared of everything. They’re right. But he has a lot to be afraid of.
But Atsushi wasn’t scared for long. His fear turned into confusion. It was a strange sight.
There was a boy lying on his chest.
Sometimes, in the rare moments Atsushi is allowed outside, he likes to lie down in the field around the orphanage. And sometimes, stray cats will approach him. They always took a sudden liking to him but would hiss at the other kids. They always laid on his chest. Some would groom him. Some would purr. Some would fall asleep. He always liked the gentle pressure of a friendly creature on him.
This boy reminded Atsushi of that. There was something catlike about him.
He was shimmering in the moonlight in a way that looked otherworldly. It couldn’t have been the moon causing it. Both light and shadow-- none seemed to affect him. He glowed without a source. It was confusing, but pretty to look at.
Atsushi has never seen him before. He wasn’t wearing the orphanage uniform. He had a black coat draped over his back. It was too big for him, so it was more of a blanket covering them both.
Atsushi couldn’t see much of his face. It was buried into his chest. But he could tell his eyes were closed. He looked serene, calm, like this spot was where he belonged most.
Atsushi didn’t know why he was sleeping on him or how he got in this cellar in the first place. But he was worried. If the headmaster saw him here, the both of them would be in trouble. Atsushi has already been in trouble today. He didn't want to get hurt again, especially if it wasn't his fault.
The thought of disrupting his sleep filled Atsushi with guilt. But he had to convince himself that it was to keep the both of them safe.
Atsushi put a hand on his shoulder and shook it gently. “Why are you here? You’ll get in trouble.”
The boy made an annoyed noise. He wrapped his arms around Atsushi's torso and nuzzled his head more forcibly into his chest.
Atsushi shook his shoulder a little harder. “I’m sorry, but I mean it. You can't be here.”
The boy spoke into his shirt, “You are hurt.”
Atsushi was. He couldn’t push him off of him even if he wanted to. His arms and legs ached too much. He knew his chest hurt too, but for some reason, the boy lying on it didn’t cause him any pain.
“I am,” Atsushi said, “and I’ll get hurt more if you don’t leave.”
The boy raised his head. Atsushi could see his eyes now. They were a pretty silver color. His face was downturned as if he were glaring, but Atsushi didn't get the impression that he was angry.
He said, “I will help you when you are hurt.”
He moved his hand to squeeze Atsushi's arm. Atsushi winced, expecting pain. But he felt nothing of the sort.
Atsushi looked at his arm in shock. All the bruises were gone.
“Did you do this?” he asked, in awe.
The boy didn't respond. He lowered his face back into Atsushi's chest, eyes shut serenely again.
Atsushi curiously twitched his other limbs. They were also completely healed. He gasped.
He wanted answers. But he didn't want to ask questions. He couldn't bring himself to disturb the boy again when he knew now that he helped Atsushi.
So he stilled and started to relax as well. Sleep came more easily than it had in years. Atsushi wrapped his arms around the boy. He heard him hum in satisfaction before fully drifting off.
When the sun rose in the morning, Atsushi awoke to find that the boy was gone.
But from that day forward, there was a reassuring warmth in Atsushi's heart. He knew that now, when Atsushi is hurt, he will help him.