Work Text:
“Whenever you’re ready.”
.
.
.
Nagisa smiled.
Taking Karma hand-in-hand, he spun him once—twice—and a third time before nearly falling to the ground with dizziness. He nervously laughed, flashing his teeth.
Karma stared.
Nagisa grabbed his hand, anchoring himself. He ran his hand through his hair, and sheepishly glancing up.
Karma blinked. Once… Twice…
Nagisa was clasping his hand now. He was cupping Nagisa’s face. His own fingers tucked a strand of hair behind his classmate’s face. Nagisa widened his eyes, light pink dusting his cheeks.
Karma distantly knows he’s walking down memory lane. Or… no…
What were they doing at the meadow?
Nagisa locked his arms around Karma’s neck, that shy smile on his face again. Karma felt himself drifting away. It was hard not to smile when Nagisa was looking at him like that. It felt new.
They were dancing. No, they were dancing.
Nagisa was horrible at this. At this point, he was trying to step on Karma’s feet. As though he could hear his thoughts, he turned back to raise an eyebrow at him.
Karma smirked. Nagisa could take a few dance lessons. He guided his hands upwards, slyly grabbing at his waist. Nagisa gasped an amused laugh, glancing up at him in surprise. Karma grinned.
What were they doing at the dance?
No. He’s got it all wrong. Nagisa was holding him by the shoulder.
And… looking at him… with this spark in his eyes.
Karma’s never seen that before.
It felt too new. That was a bit too new. It was comforting.
Karma feels like he’s accomplished something when Nagisa’s eyes are shaded like that. He feels like he’s won. Karma closes his eyes, smiling. He’s just won. He loves winning.
What an interesting palette of emotions! It felt a bit odd, but it was welcome nevertheless.
Nagisa exhales, and it’s as though his eyes have darkened to an even darker blue.
Nagisa wrapped his arms around his chest now. And he pulled forward in a single thrust, warmly embracing Karma.
Karma’s eyes widened. “Ah…”
.
.
.
“Hah!”
Nagisa carefully maintained his smile. He knows Karma can’t see him, but he finishes all of his jobs properly—and his husband was no exception.
Karma would have hunched over in his laughter if it weren’t for Nagisa’s grip on him.
“Hah—ah…! Ah…”
“Karma…”
For a moment, Nagisa’s heart seizes with fear. He hadn’t meant to say it out loud! Was it over? Did he mess up?
Karma coughs. Nagisa can’t tell if the cold shiver up his spine was out of fear or for the blood that’s just stained his collar.
“Nagisa…” Karma muses. It’s weak, but it has bright amusement laced throughout it. “You can talk to me, if only for a minute.”
Nagisa bites his cheek, hugging Karma tighter. “Don’t say that.”
Karma damn near went into a fit of laughter again. “Nagisa, you—” Karma wheezed. “It doesn’t have to be perfect. Hell, it already is!” Karma gasped for air. “Hah!”
Nagisa stayed silent. Yes it does. He grit his teeth. It’s not a goodbye if it’s half-assed! He thought Karma of all people would get that, and for his own assasination, too.
"Nagisa.” Karma suddenly muttered. It was so sharp. And… stern. Nagisa blinked.
.
.
.
Karma slowly sighed. “I thought I was at that damn meadow.”
Nagisa nearly burst into tears.
“Are you listening?!” Karma shouted. Nagisa jumped, breathing hard. How did he have so much energy? He’s dying!
Nagisa tried to even his breathing. Could it be that I’ve missed? No—I’m sure I hit his pericardium. He should be fading out, not jerking up! Unless…
Nagisa’s eyes snapped open. I’ve nicked the diagonal branch of his coronary artery. That would explain his adrenaline spike. Karma is in… cardiac tamponade.
.
.
.
His heart would suffocate on its own blood. Slowly.
Every breath he takes would be more painful. And he has three whole minutes of it.
At the absolute minimum, it would be twelve to eighteen breaths. Tears filled his eyes. But the average, for someone in cardiac tamponade, would be twenty five to thrity five breaths.
.
.
.
Twenty five to thirty five agonizing breaths.
Nagisa couldn't find the heart to think about the maximum. It would haunt him for the rest of his life.
.
.
.
Karma would not die in peace. He would suffer. All because Nagisa made a mistake.
“I wouldn’t say that,” Karma softly rasped. “C’mon. Have a little… faith in me, yeah?” He softly chuckled. “You hit your mark… just fine.”
.
.
.
“Nagisa… I was dancing with you.”
Karma! Nagisa tried to still his shaking body, squeezing his eyes shut. Damn it!
“Koro Sensei… would be proud.” Karma breathed. “You remember him? Koro… Sensei?”
“Of course I do.”
“Are you listening?”
Nagisa had to hold back a shout. Of course I am!
He could practically feel Karma’s smile. “I believed it.” He closed his eyes. “I believed it, Nagisa.”
Love you.
.
.
.
Nagisa’s nails dug into his back. And then the cacophony of it all roared high—the anger, the guilt, the sadness, the… the bastard, he knew exactly what he was doing, right up to the end!
And then, miraculously, Karma’s jagged laughter rang throughout the room as if he could read Nagisa’s exact string of thoughts.
“I love you, too!”
It was the last thing Nagisa could manage to get out before he twisted the knife lodged in Karma’s heart.