Someone else who's no longer here at this place is responsible for a lot of that mental damage too. The last time Touya saw his father, the man was talking about Shouto, their newest addition to their family, and the blessed success he'd been coveting and hoping for all this time. Discarding the three failed experiments before, focusing only on the child he actually wanted, the child he didn't regret creating. Even after everything Touya did in this place, pushed through as his Quirk grew stronger, not caring if it damaged him so long as it grew so powerful, Endeavor would have to notice him. In the end, it didn't matter. Broken, scarred, wrecked, gutted, and left seething in rage and hatred, Touya no longer cared about that 'hero' crap. Once set on that course, then told to abandon it, a moment's desperation agreed to become a weapon, and now even that's literally exploded. But... it felt good. Being able to strike out, being able to ruin them just as they had him. This place alone, a quarter of it burned up, it's not enough. Not enough to really say something. He wants more...
And yet, there's one final barrier sitting between the furnace and the world. Covering him with his red wings, holding him in tired but determined arms, the steady beat of his heart and flow of his breath doing more to calm and comfort Touya than any medical concoction shoved into his veins. Safe in Keigo's arms... the only place in the world he's ever been wanted. Wanted as a person, whether he succeeds or fails. It quiets him, leaving him content with this for now. Too weak to do more than hold his friend with exhausted and injured arms, too numb and drugged up to recognize how badly Keigo needs his own rest.
But those monitoring the pair notice. Once the sheen of sweat appears on the winged hero's brow, AC units kick on and send cooling air humming into the room. Can't have their ace product overheat while he's coddling the blown-out experimental weapon.
"You'll get burned..." For the first time, Touya's mind clears just enough to realize what it meant if Keigo continued to stay near him. Nothing about the people around them or how important Hawks was to the world of heroes, but the reality that the person he cares about most could get hurt if he stayed close. Of course he wanted him to stay, needed him to, but if he didn't say the words, at least acknowledge the possibility... Yet the idea of Keigo leaving him... look at what it did this time. The results still sat all around them, blackened walls, bodybags, Touya's own damaged body. He's not safe without Keigo. Nor does he want to be. The dependency clashes with his pride and hatred, but it's only a small war, waged in the back somewhere his mind isn't occupying at the moment. Later on, when they can talk better, it'll come up.
"Yeah..." Sleeping sounded good right now. His body's exhausted, the medicine continues to flow, and there has been a concentrated effort to save his life and prevent his body from turning into charcoal. Still so much work to do to stabilize him further and help, but those will come later, over the next few months. Skin grafts, burn cleans, new tissue, surgery, Hawks might hear of a strange benefactor who's interested in helping Touya with little regard to money, but information on that will be denied, though for now... sleeping beside his best friend is the best medicine. Fingers brush at his face and Touya sinks into Keigo's embrace. He can barely feel it, right there at the edge of his bandages. "You're... all I need... to feel better."
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red feathers for a whole other reason
Date: 6/6/22 16:13 (UTC)And yet, there's one final barrier sitting between the furnace and the world. Covering him with his red wings, holding him in tired but determined arms, the steady beat of his heart and flow of his breath doing more to calm and comfort Touya than any medical concoction shoved into his veins. Safe in Keigo's arms... the only place in the world he's ever been wanted. Wanted as a person, whether he succeeds or fails. It quiets him, leaving him content with this for now. Too weak to do more than hold his friend with exhausted and injured arms, too numb and drugged up to recognize how badly Keigo needs his own rest.
But those monitoring the pair notice. Once the sheen of sweat appears on the winged hero's brow, AC units kick on and send cooling air humming into the room. Can't have their ace product overheat while he's coddling the blown-out experimental weapon.
"You'll get burned..." For the first time, Touya's mind clears just enough to realize what it meant if Keigo continued to stay near him. Nothing about the people around them or how important Hawks was to the world of heroes, but the reality that the person he cares about most could get hurt if he stayed close. Of course he wanted him to stay, needed him to, but if he didn't say the words, at least acknowledge the possibility... Yet the idea of Keigo leaving him... look at what it did this time. The results still sat all around them, blackened walls, bodybags, Touya's own damaged body. He's not safe without Keigo. Nor does he want to be. The dependency clashes with his pride and hatred, but it's only a small war, waged in the back somewhere his mind isn't occupying at the moment. Later on, when they can talk better, it'll come up.
"Yeah..." Sleeping sounded good right now. His body's exhausted, the medicine continues to flow, and there has been a concentrated effort to save his life and prevent his body from turning into charcoal. Still so much work to do to stabilize him further and help, but those will come later, over the next few months. Skin grafts, burn cleans, new tissue, surgery, Hawks might hear of a strange benefactor who's interested in helping Touya with little regard to money, but information on that will be denied, though for now... sleeping beside his best friend is the best medicine. Fingers brush at his face and Touya sinks into Keigo's embrace. He can barely feel it, right there at the edge of his bandages. "You're... all I need... to feel better."