Chapter Text
Kaminari woke up the same way he usually did. With his handler knocking heavily on his door. He bolted upright in his bed, attempting to pull the thin blanket off of him as he stood next to his bed. He folded his hands behind his back, his feet together as he listened for the door to unlock.
His handler looked over him, eyes slitted as she took in Kaminaris sleep ruffled figure. “You slept in again, Voltage.” She stepped away from the door, scrutinizing his rumpled white uniform and bare feet. “Brain Dead is already in the mess room. Let’s go.”
Kaminari shifted his weight as he nodded, knowing better than to speak unless spoken to. He followed after the taller woman, listening to the click clack of her heels against the linoleum floors as she led him to the mess room. As he lifted his head to look up from the floor, his eyes met with that deep amethyst of his partner in many crimes. Shinsou Hitoshi, code name, Brain Dead. He waited for his handler to give him the go ahead before he walked over to Shinsou as calmly as he could. Seeing him was always his favorite part of the day. A hidden smile broke onto his face as he sat across from Hitoshi.
”You’re late.” Hitoshi teased, giving Denki a look as he slid him an apple across the table. “We have another mission tonight.”
Denki groaned quietly as he took the apple, taking a bite out of it. “I haven’t heard anything about it yet, but she didn’t really say anything when she was walking me here.” Setting the apple down on the table, his thumb anxiously rubbed at the small tattoo on his inner wrist that said, “013.” His number. Hitoshi noticed, reaching a sneaky hand across the table to place it on top of Denki’s. “You didn’t sleep that well last night, did you?”
Denki hummed quietly to himself as he nodded at Hitoshis question. “There’s a storm blowing in last night, I could feel it blowing in. Felt like the lightning was trying to get me through the windows.” Hitoshi nodded, running his thumb over the scars on the back of Denki’s hand. “Maybe we should talk to our handlers? We don’t want a repeat of last time.”
Denki flushed and looked back down at their hands, trying to hide the shame and embarrassment on his face as he recalled the past event. “Don’t remind me…” A couple of years ago, Voltage and Brain Dead were sent out on a three day overnight mission, one of their first missions together. A particularly lively thunderstorm rolled in on their first night while they were in the field, scoping out their target. Denki being a human lighting rod, he attracted a large bolt of electricity both giving away their position and rendering himself comatose for about a week afterwards. Hitoshi remembered the punishment Denki faced after that event, his turning point, his eyes finally cutting through the beige tint the facility relied on to keep them docile.
Hitoshi gives him a small smile. “I’m just saying, it’s better to be safe than sorry with the weather, Sparky.” He squeezed Denkis hand before pulling his own hand away as his handler entered his field of view. “I’ll see you later, Love. Finish that apple.” he whispered as he stood up, walking over to his handler before he was walked back out of the room.
Denki sighed to himself quietly as he continued to eat his apple, thinking about Hioshi’s words. He should be fine on the mission. But maybe he should talk to his handler. His back muscles pulled taught as he felt his handler put her hand on his shoulder. Welp, looks like it's training time. That’ll probably go great! (Spoiler alert, it went horribly!)
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By the time Denki was finally released back to his room, he had new lichtenberg figures lacing around his wrists and up his arms, angry red lines clashing with the already healed pale pink scars that traced over his hands and wrists. New purple and blue bruises meshed with ugly yellow and green of healing, marks of all stages coating his body. He trudged through his bedroom door, listening to it lock behind him as he all but collapsed onto his bed. Fuck! He didn’t mention the stupid storm! Looks like they’re going on that stupid mission anyway. He groaned, hiding his face in his pillow as he tried to force his body to relax.
As he laid there in his bed, he thought of Hitoshi. At least if they were on a mission, they would be able to spend the night together. It was rare if they had time together and even rarer if they were unsupervised. They did their best to keep their relationship away from prying eyes. The facility would use anything to fuel their assassins, even if it meant exploiting what they held dear.
He heard his handler unlocking his bedroom door after about 30 minutes of dissociating. He followed his motions from this morning, following behind his handler again as he was led back to the mess room. He was here on time for once so he was able to grab his own tray of lunch. The food was nothing to rave about but at least all the basic food groups were met. He walked over to an empty table, away from prying eyes. He put his head down in his arms on the table, taking little bites of food as he waited.
Feeling a cold hand on the back of his neck made him gasp, choking on the chewed up carrot that he had been eating. Hitoshi laughed quietly, patting Denki’s back before the blonde was finally able to take a drink and calm down. Denki glared at him lightly as Hitoshi sat across from him. His eyes softened as he saw the reddish purple muzzle marks on his partner. His chest hurt as he reached for his hand. “How was training?”
Hitoshi subconsciously rubbed his chin before answering in sign language. It was pretty rough. Don’t think I’ll be able to talk for a little while.
Denki nodded, grabbing Hitoshi’s hand to squeeze. “That’s okay Toshi, I can talk enough for both of us.”
Hitoshi gave him a little smile, feeling one of the cuts along his chin from the muzzle start to sting. What did you get us for lunch? he asked, looking over at Denki’s tray before grabbing a carrot off of his tray. Part of their dynamic was always sharing food.
Denki hummed at him quietly. “Looks like potatoes, carrots, salami, and some Mac and cheese. They also had bananas but I hate them.” He moved his hand to scratch at the new scars on his wrists, they always got itchy as they were healing.
Hitoshi grabbed his hand and shook his head before stealing more of Denkis food. They’re letting us rest before our mission tonight. How are you feeling?
Denki nodded with a small smile. “Like trash. I almost shorted out but they kept charging me back up. Their medium of choice this week has been waterboarding and electrocution. I think I’m gonna nap when they send me back though. So I can keep up with you tonight.” He teased
Hitoshi rolled his eyes and flicked Denkis hand as he nodded. Sounds like so much fun. They’re trying to get me to control multiple people with multi step instructions now. I’ll probably try to sleep as well but I make no promises.
Denki pouted at him, pulling his hand away. “Rude. That sounds tough. You deserve sleep, Toshi. But as long as you promise to try, that’s all I can ask of you.”
Hitoshi nodded again, chewing another carrot. I sleep better next to you. He falters a bit, looking away from Denki as he signs. Do you ever think about life outside of here? Freedom?
Denki softened as he nodded again, looking down at the table. “All the time. I miss you when you’re gone and I’m tired of seeing you hurt. But there’s nothing we can do…” Hitoshi watched him with a small frown as he nodded, wanting nothing more but to pull his small boyfriend close. But he can’t. Because Denki’s handler is walking up to them again. Their time was up. She’s coming. I love you.
Denki blushed a little as he stood, quietly signing back before he followed his handler back to his room. I love you too. He allowed himself to lay back in his bed, yawning softly as he pulled his thin blanket over himself. It was finally time for a well deserved nap…
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His nap lasted only a few hours before he was woken up to the sirens flooding the facility. Something was going on… The red strobe lights shone through the window in his door, luring him to come look. So he did, he climbed out of bed slowly approaching the door before he heard his door suddenly unlock. He felt his heart racing as a strange man in black leather and banana shaped hair opened his door. He shied away a bit from him, eyes full of fear and dread.
Present Mic looked over the poor kid, putting his hands to show he wasn’t an immediate threat. The kid was in the same white uniform he saw on all the kids he’d rescued so far. But he had lighting scars, fresh bruises. Poor kid looked small too. And too pale. Probably hadn’t been outside in a while. “My name is Present Mic. I’m a pro hero. Why don’t we get you out of here.”
Denki’s felt his eyes widen as he nodded, letting the banana man lead him out of that horrible room. He could feel tears in his eyes but he didn’t let them fall. He wouldn’t allow himself that yet. He still needed to find Hitoshi.