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Gen had no idea why he was the one who they had to do it. Probably because Senku didn’t have a lot of people he trusted, much less people who could spare at the moment.
The plan was pretty simple, the Kingdom of Science needed to revive an expert potter for one of Senku’s insane maps. They knew the location thanks to Minani, but the problem was the woman had been in a building at the time. This particular building had sunk in some ancient sink hole, or buried by millennium of land slides and earthquakes.
Senku had come with the first time they’d gone to investigate. There, they’d found the building surprisingly in tact inside, if not quite structurally sound. Which meant something in the dirt and dark and dust was the woman they were looking for.
Which meant Gen and Ukyo, along with Taiju to do the heavy lifting, were sent to find her only a few days later. Gen was lowered into the dark, into the creaking structure. And sent on his merry way.
Of course it went wrong. Unless the mad scientist himself with his azy-cray luck was around, things tended to go off the rails, usually in the worst direction.
Gen was leading the way when it happened. When the floor, centuries unused and unaccustomed to new weight shifted, and creaked. Then everything collapsed. A wall gave way or something and things are falling from the ceiling and a hole cracked open beneath his feet.
Gen’s stomach was suddenly in his throat and then the wind was knocked out of him. Distantly he hears Taiju’s yelling, only making it worse as the building shook. All Gen registered was pain, and darkness, and noise. And it was over.
His memory fuzzed after this. There’s a conversation, he knew. He felt himself distantly assessing his situation and telling Taiju to get Ukyo and call the base. He remembered trying to breathe, even and slow. He remembered going through every trick in the book to stay calm on stage. And he remembered being unable to move. There was footsteps, and fear and pain, as Gen was left alone in the dark.
——
The next time Gen was fully aware of himself he was already out from the rubble. Francios is there, their presence steady as they pressed bandaged to his wounds. But a frown was still furrowed their brow.
“His bleeding is sluggish, he may need a blood transfusion, and certainly a more sterile environment.”
“Let’s get him into the mobile lab,” Senku is saying above him. Gen groaned as he felt himself be lifting, pain radiating from his hip, spreading through his chest and down to his legs. There’s quiet talking over him and he’s settled on the work bench of the lab. There’s a hand planted on his shoulder and he heard Senku saying something.
“-ith us? You think you can take some pain killers?” Gen blinked up at the young man.
“M’ybe,” Gen mumbled, trying to sit up. Pain tore through his and his breath hitched, slumping back down.
“Francios, can we-“
“Yes,” they replied. Gen felt arms come under his shoulders, gently lifting him. Gen let out a hiss at the movement, too tired to complain like he wanted to. A cup was placed on his lips. He drank, trusting Senku. The world got even more distant, though the pain began to ebb and he faintly heard Francios speak.
“We need to keep him from moving,” then, later, “good. Ryusui, drive.”
They started to move and Gen’s vision began to swam. Senku was at his side, worry etched on his face.
“You’re already bleeding through the bandages already.”
“L’st a lotta blood, right? I know. ‘s real bad to get you s’ w’rried.”
“Yeah,” Senku breathed, lost in thought, his finger to his ear, his unbreakable nervous habit. “I should’ve invested more time into better medicine..”
“W’s a calculated choice. ‘s okay.
“Gen. Be rational. Infection, blood loss, internal bleeding, broken bones, we don’t have the right resources to heal you if it’s severe. You could- this might- if we don’t-“ Senku looked, for a brief moment, genuinely distressed. Gen understood what he meant.
“I don’t want to die,” Gen told him, his voice close to a whine. “But I trust you. You won’ let me. Jus’ like last time. You’ll find a way,” he said, his words jumbling together as he slurred them, he gave Senku a small reassuring smile, then he slipped away.
Gen had almost died once before. Senku had saved his life, and by doing so, changed it forever. He knew Senku could do it again. He had faith in the man who would someday revive the world.