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The moment they arrive back at the hotel and Nagisa steps out of the helicopter, Karma sees the blue-haired boy’s strength leave him.
“Move,” he orders the nearest students---Hayami and Maehara---pushing past them just in time to catch Nagisa as he collapses. He hears several distressed gasps, but Karma pays them no mind, pulling Nagisa’s arm over his shoulders and helping him stand.
“Thanks,” Nagisa says, fainter than usual. Karma realizes he’s short of breath, gaze slightly unfocused. He’s also unsteady even with Karma to lean against.
“The adrenaline wore off,” Karma mutters to himself. To his friend, he says, “Hold on, I’m getting you to the hotel. Don’t pass out on me.”
“No promises---I’m exhausted,” Nagisa admits. Then, after a moment: “Sorry. I’ll try to stay awake.”
“Yeah, whatever, just don’t let go.”
“Well, this is new,” Maehara murmurs, “since when does Karma help people?”
Kayano shushes him. “They were friends before E class, remember?”
Karma does not acknowledge either of them, choosing instead to lead the way back to the boys’ room---lucky for him, when Isogai and Karasuma had made the room assignments, he and Nagisa had been placed together, since they’d known each other for so long. (He was also aware that it was partly because Nagisa was the only one Karasuma trusted to keep Karma in check, and Karma himself agreed.)
“Sorry,” Nagisa mumbles again as Karma carefully steers them down the right hallway. “Thought I was stronger than this.”
You’re still strong, that’s not in question, Karma thinks. What he says instead is, “It’s fine. It’s been a really long day.”
“Yeah, but---”
“No, shut up, I said it’s fine. Hang on, I need to get out my room key.”
He shifts his hold on Nagisa just enough to pull the room key out of his pocket and unlock the door one-handed, pushing it open with his foot. Getting Nagisa to his bed is somehow more difficult, as Nagisa is now barely able to stand at all, but Karma manages it, helping him lie down atop the covers.
“Sleep,” Karma says firmly. “You need rest. I’ll tell the others not to disturb you for a while.”
Nagisa half-smiles up at him, already sleepy. “Thanks, Karma. See you in...a bit....”
He drifts off quickly. Karma finally lets his shoulders slump.
“Dumbass,” he sighs. “You worried me.”
He settles himself on the edge of the bed and pulls out his phone.
Isogai, Karma
Karma: got nagisa back to our room. he’s out cold
Karma: really needs the rest so can you tell everyone not to bother him for a while
Isogai: Yes, of course. Good call.
Isogai: We were all worried, but Koro-sensei and Karasuma-sensei assured us he’d be in good hands.
Isogai: And on that note, Kayano started stress baking, so if you’d like some dessert, she has a couple of cakes in the oven. You can come down for them, or if you prefer, I’ll bring up a few slices myself.
Karma: kayano’s baking is great but i don’t have much of an appetite
Karma: thanks though
Isogai: No problem.
Isogai: Should I assume you won’t be leaving Nagisa’s side?
Karma: yeah
Isogai: I’ll inform the others, then. Make sure you get some rest too.
★ ☆ ★
Nagisa wakes up to an unfamiliar yet somehow comfortable weight over him---the weight of another person.
A very familiar person.
“Karma,” Nagisa whispers fondly, looking down at the passed out redhead splayed across the bed, laying partially across Nagisa’s body and half-holding the blue-haired boy’s arm. With Karma’s hair so messy and his eyes closed, he looks just like any other sleepy teenager.
He looks so much more peaceful now.
Nagisa has half a mind to wake him up and ask about the others, but he knows Karma doesn’t sleep much as it is, and the sun isn’t even up yet, so he just smiles and rests his head back on the pillow.
★ ☆ ★
Karma wakes up with a scream.
Nagisa shoots up immediately---far too quickly for someone who’s supposed to be resting---and reaches for Karma’s shoulder, blue eyes wide. “Karma---”
It takes a full ten seconds for Karma to realize where he is.
“Shit,” he says. “I fell asleep. I didn’t mean to---I---”
“You probably needed it,” Nagisa says carefully. “I didn’t mind, anyways. Your weight was comforting, actually.”
The remnants of the nightmare resurface, and Karma stands---too quickly. The next thing he knows, he’s stumbled into the wall, head spinning.
“Karma. Sit back down.”
Karma doesn’t respond, too caught up in the memory of Takaoka’s crazed grin, but when he feels a familiar hand on his arm, pulling him back, he doesn’t resist. Even once he’s sitting on the edge of the bed again, Nagisa does not let go, keeping his eyes on Karma.
“Talk to me,” Nagisa says, even gentler this time. “What did you see?”
Karma half-shakes his head. “What do you think? Takaoka on the helipad with you.”
Nagisa goes still.
“You’re a dumbass, you know that?” Karma says, glancing at him. “Risking yourself like that. And I heard about the anti-sensei grenade incident, too. I thought you were the one who was supposed to have a sense of self-preservation.”
“I wouldn’t have let him kill me,” Nagisa says.
“You let him try. You just---you were so willing to throw your life away, and for what? A psychotic bastard set on revenge against you personally? When we could’ve just had Karasuma shoot him?”
The blue-haired boy shakes his head. “It’s not like that. I didn’t want to throw my life away. But if I hadn’t gone up there alone like he wanted, he would’ve killed us all. Everyone’s safety was on the line. I had nothing to lose.”
“You are something to lose, you asshole,” Karma retorts. “You’re our best assassin. Our friend---no. My friend. My best friend. I’d have gladly fought Takaoka for you, not because I like to fight, but because I wanted to protect you. And I almost had to watch you die without ever realizing that.”
Nagisa blinks in surprise. Then his gaze softens. Karma looks down at his own hands.
“Don’t ever do that again,” he says. “I was really afraid back there.”
“I won’t,” Nagisa promises quietly. “I’m sorry I didn’t realize why you really wanted to go up to the helipad in my place. Both times, in fact. That was why you didn’t want me going up there from the beginning, after all, wasn’t it?”
Karma doesn’t reply, which is an answer in and of itself.
A moment later: “I’m your best friend?”
“You have to ask?” Karma chuckles. “Of course you are. No one else comes close. You know Karasuma and Isogai put us in the same room because you’re the only one who can keep me in check.”
When he looks back up, Nagisa is smiling. “And you’re the only one who can keep me from doing anything you would do. We keep each other in check.”
“Yeah, well, there’s only room for one self-destructive idiot in this friendship.”
“Right. And it’s up to me to be the responsible one---most of the time, anyways.”
Karma grins. “That’s the Nagisa I know. No offense, but I prefer this to the ruthless would-be killer from last night, so don’t go too crazy, alright?”
“Trust me, I prefer this too,” Nagisa says. “Don’t worry. I’m not going anywhere.”
★ ☆ ★
Isogai, Nagisa
Nagisa: Sorry to worry everyone! I’m alright now.
Isogai: I’m glad to hear it.
Isogai: Karma’s still with you?
Nagisa: From what I can tell, he hasn’t left my side since getting me back to the room.
Isogai: He hasn’t, at least not that we know of.
Isogai: Wouldn’t even come down for Kayano’s desserts.
Nagisa: What’s this about desserts?
Isogai: Oh, Kayano started stress baking after Karma disappeared with you.
Nagisa: Honestly, I’m not that surprised.
Nagisa: How did she get kitchen access?
Isogai: Karasuma-sensei was kind enough to get permission on her behalf.
Isogai: She was...very hyper. He wanted to keep it mostly contained.
Nagisa: Yeah, checks out.
Nagisa: I’ll be down in a bit with Karma. Save us some breakfast?
Isogai: You got it. We have the leftover desserts as well, if you want some.
Nagisa: Sounds amazing.