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Chapter Text

When he opened his eyes, he immediately had to squint them to avoid being blinded by the brightness of the place he was in. He blinked twice, trying to adjust his eyesight, and rose, sitting up on whatever surface his body was lying on. Through narrowed eyes he took another look around but all he got was more white brightness surrounding him.

He frowned and looked down, focusing on his lap, thinking. He was confused and completely disoriented, but at the same time there was a grounding feeling in his gut that made him feel calm. He had absolutely no idea of where he was or how he had gotten to this place, but he was certain that he was safe and could be at ease.

He ran his eyes over his body, taking a good look. He noticed he was dressed in white clothes (he was starting to get annoyed by the amount of white) baggy pants and a hoodie covered his body, and he could see the hem of a shirt sticking out from under the hoodie. Finally, white ankle boots completed the outfit. But still, the clothing didn’t help as a clue to know where he was or what he was doing in such a bleak place.

He sighed tiredly. This situation felt like a hassle, and to try to find out what was happening just meant that he was going to have to do something about the situation. That felt like even more of a bother.

Sighing again and pouting, he stood up – noticing that he had been on the floor all this time – and started walking to the front, in a straight line, always looking to the sides to try to catch onto something different; but the same brightness followed him around. He walked for a while, until he realized that it was completely pointless, he was not going to find anything, he was sure of it. The place was like an endless white plain. It was tiresome and frustrating.

He pursed his lips in annoyance, but before he could think further, abrupt exhaustion poured over his body with striking force. His eyesight blurred and he felt his body crumbling down. He expected to feel the pain from the fall, but it never came; instead, everything just went dark.

././.

When he opened his eyes, he immediately had to squint them to avoid being blinded by the brightness of the place he was in. He blinked twice, trying to adjust his eyesight, and rose, sitting up on whatever surface his body was lying on. Through narrowed eyes he took another look around, but all he got was more white brightness surrounding him.

He stopped moving and frowned.

He remembered experiencing the exact same thing the last time he opened his eyes. He looked down at his clothes and noticed that his outfit, too, was exactly the same as before. He stood up and looked around, confused, and even when the same feeling of safety was still there, he couldn’t help but to think it was suspicious and baffling. ‘Where was he? Why was he here? How had he ended up there? And most importantly, why could he not remember anything?’

He looked down bewildered. The last time he had woken up he had not felt the need to know anything, he had just felt like himself and the calm feeling in his gut had kept him numb. But this time he felt more awake, more conscious; he wanted answers.

He remembered basic things. His name, Seishiro Nagi, for instance; his age, 18 years old. He knew he had studied all his way up until high school – against all odds – and that he had even played football with some kids his age for a while – which had been even more surprising than having finished school, because of his lazy ass. Also, he remembered that he belonged to that extremely small percentage of the population who were psychics. And… That was it, he could not recall anything else or a detailed memory, it was as if what he remembered were general things that he just knew for sure. Apart from that, his mind was empty.

He pursed his lips and frowned. This situation was extremely bothersome and was starting to be worrying.

Suddenly, without warning, the brightness of the place dimmed, so he could see better. And even if looking around only gave him the same white and empty view, at least he did not have to squint his eyes or make an effort to see further than the length of his arms. Now, he was surrounded by the white plain – less bright – and he could definitely tell it was completely deserted.

Nagi sighed tiredly and was ready to start walking around when abrupt exhaustion poured over his body with striking force, again, and his eyesight blurred while his body lost strength before falling. He, again, expected to feel the pain from the hit, but it never came, and everything just went dark.

/././.

When Nagi woke up in that blank space for the third time, he was not even surprised. But he was taken aback, however, when he noticed he was lying on a bed instead of the floor, and that he was wearing grey pajamas now. He blinked confused and got out of the bed, noticing how his surroundings were slowly gaining color and morphing into what he remembered – or thought he remembered – as his room. He walked to the window and looked outside, but he could see nothing because the white bright light was shining fiercely out there.

He closed the blinders and went to sit on the bed and focus, trying to remember anything that could help him know what that place was, and what he was doing there. But again, his mind gave him nothing at all. Frustrated, he closed his eyes to concentrate harder – or sleep, whatever came first – when heard a knock on his room’s door. He snapped his eyes open and stared at the closed piece of wood in front of the bed.

“Nagi…?” called a timid voice from the other side of the door.

Seishiro frowned. He knew that voice, it was as familiar as his own name, but he had no idea of whose voice that was. Realizing that was baffling and gave him a disturbing feeling of loss that clung onto his heart. He stood up and opened his mouth to reply, but exhaustion suddenly weighed him down and everything went dark.

././.

The fourth time, Nagi woke up by the sound of an insistent beating.

Knock, knock, knock. “Nagi! Nagi! Are you in there? Nagi! Please, answer… If you can hear me… Please…”

It was the same voice that had called him last time he woke up. And, again, it made his heart throb when he heard it. He rose from the bed and stood up, going straight to the door and standing there, staring at it, with his right-hand hovering above the doorknob.

“Nagi, if you are there… If you can hear me…Would you open the door? Please? Nagi…” The voice sheepishly pleaded again.

Nagi reached for the knob and turned it before pulling on it. It opened. But instead of the white blinding brightness, deep darkness greeted him, and by the frame of the door a pair of wide purple eyes were staring at him in awe.

Seishiro felt his heart jumping on his chest. ‘Weird’ he thought.

For the next two seconds Nagi’s and the other guy’s eyes stayed locked on each other, and just when he was starting to feel uncomfortable, the purple-eyed guy took one step to the front and made the motion of lunging to the front, but immediately restrained himself and stayed still.

Seishiro gulped. He did not recognize the person in front of him, but something at the back of his mind told him that the other was no stranger, even more, that he was very close with this person. But he could not remember them.

“Who are you?” Nagi asked in a monotonous tone, even when he was truly curious.

A flash of hurt cut across the other’s eyes but was immediately replaced by a warm smile. “Can I come in? It-It’s really dark out here,” the other said, still in a timid voice.

Seishiro looked behind the guy, noticing the infinite darkness that extended there, and took a step aside, allowing the other to enter. The stranger entered the room and Nagi closed the door behind them.

Purple, shiny eyes wandered around the room, taking on all the things that were there. “It looks exactly like the real one,” he muttered in a low tone that Nagi barely caught.

“So, who are you?”

The other guy turned around to face him and sighed, shaking his head. “For your own good, I cannot tell you that. But we are friends, and you can trust me completely,” he replied, giving Nagi another of his warm, reassuring smiles.

Seishiro pursed his lips. The other’s answer was not satisfying, because there was an annoying scratch at the back of his head demanding to know his name. But, at the same time, the other’s presence was so familiar and comfortable that he felt that a name wasn’t completely necessary.

So, at least for now, he was going to let that go and just call the other ‘Purple-bangs’.

Nagi nodded in understanding and sat on his bed while the other remained standing in the middle of the room, with his smile still adorning his face and staring at him.

“Uh… Wanna sit?” awkwardly asked Seishiro. Purple-bangs nodded and sat beside him, by the corner of the bed. “So, what is this place?”

“Oh, well, it is a dream!”

Seishiro shot the other a skeptic look, while pursing his lips. The other giggled.

“I know how it sounds but… You are a psychic, right? That sounds more like science fiction. So, to be stuck in a dream doesn’t sound as bizarre, does it?” Purple-bangs replied, moving his hands in front of him while explaining. Nagi thought the motion was entertaining.

“That makes sense,” Nagi agreed, shrugging. The other hummed pleased. “So, why are we stuck here?” he added.

Purple-bangs shook his head negatively. “You are the one trapped in here, not me. I’m here to help you out.”

The taller made a face. “Am I dead?”

Purple-bangs stared at him with wide eyes for two seconds before start laughing. Nagi pouted, but the other’s laugh didn’t bother him. He actually liked it.

“No, you are not. I told you; you are stuck in a dream,” he replied, still smiling.

“How?”

Purple eyes looked at him curiously. “How did you get stuck? … You overused your telekinesis.”

Seishiro pouted again. “What a shitty way to get myself stuck,” – Purple-bangs chuckled – “But no, I mean, how do you plan to get me out?”

“Oh! Well, I just need to lure you out,” he answered, nodding his head. Nagi frowned confused. “I mean, I just need to give you a good reason for you to want to go back to the Real world, and then you’ll wake up,” he explained animatedly, as if it was something very simple to do.

The white-haired nodded in understanding.

“Why can’t I remember you? Or anything really…”

“Because you are stuck in here. You’ll have your memories back once you wake up.”

“Uh-huh… Since I don’t actually remember anything concrete, I can’t remember if there is a reason for me to go out. I mean, isn’t it a bother to be alive?” reasoned Seishiro.

Purple-bangs deadpanned at him. “Of course, you would say something like that… But no, there’s always reasons to live,” he chided.

Nagi made a moue.

“For example…” started the purple-eyed one, but the flickering of the light surrounding them distracted him. “Oh, I think our time is up,” he commented, giving Nagi a reassuring smile. “I’ll be waiting here.”

Seishiro was about to ask what he meant, when his world darkened once again.

./././

The next time Nagi woke up, he was not alone. When he sat up on the bed, he saw Purple-bangs roaming around his basically empty room. And just then did Seishiro take a good look at the other. He was tall – almost as tall as himself, and he was a good 1.90 – but his body was slightly slender than his. His skin was fair and pale, and his deep purple hair, eyes and eyebrows were quite striking. His overall features were normal, but they had a certain grade of softness to them.

The guy was pretty, for a guy.

Purple-bangs turned around and greeted Nagi with a warm, big smile.

He had a pretty smile too.

“Welcome back!” saluted the other, cheerfully. Nagi nodded once in reply. “I’ve been thinking! You like videogames, right? Maybe go back to enjoy videogames again?” he asked, with a hopeful twinkle on his eyes.

Seishiro considered that for a little while.

“Umm… You said this is my dream, right? Then…” he reached for his nightstand and opened the drawer, taking out his phone from it and showing it to the other, who was looking at him in disbelief. “If this is my dream, then I can make the things I like to appear here,” he stated nonchalantly.

The other’s incredulous expression made Nagi feel pleased with himself.

“Uhhh… Oookay, maybe not that. But what about the food? You can’t have that here.”

The white-haired one shrugged while going through his phone to start playing videogames. “To eat is a hassle, digest is a hassle, brush your teeth is a hassle, and let’s not even talk about washing dishes,” he replied, focusing on his game.

Purple-bangs sighed defeated. “Okay, not eating. Then, what about… Work,” he suggested. Seishiro lifted his head and deadpanned at him. Purple-eyes made a face, “Right, you don’t want to work, I remember.”

Nagi focused back on his game.

“What about going out? To feel the breeze, to listen to nature, to feel the sun, hang out with friends…” he tried again.

Nagi shook his head. “Ah, I died… Nah, I’m not into those things. Didn’t you say you were my friend? Shouldn’t you know that?” he asked boringly.

Purple-bangs frowned. “Of course, I know! But you not liking them doesn’t mean that you won’t miss them eventually, it’s the little things that make us feel good and alive,” he said in an avid voice.

Seishiro lifted his eyes at him. “It sounds like it’s you the one who misses those things,” he commented, and a flash of hurt cut through the other’s eyes for a second.

“I…” started the purple-eyed one but, again, the flickering of the light surrounding them cut him out. “Shit!” he cursed.

And instantly, Nagi’s world was darkening.

/././.

A shake on his shoulders and Purple-bang’s pleading voice brought him back to the white room. “Nagi, wake up, we really don’t have much time left, please, please, wake up…”

Seishiro opened his eyes and noticed the other hovering above him, with his hands still on his shoulders. Nagi frowned when his heart jumped on his chest and his heartbeat accelerated.

“Sorry,” apologized the other (thinking he has bothered Nagi), separating from him and sitting by the end of the bed. “But we really don’t have much time left. You need to wake up!”

The taller sat up and shook his head confused. “Why are you so desperate all the sudden? I don’t think there’s anything out there worth waking up. I’m not a motivated person, I want an easy life. And I don’t even dislike this place to begin with. I don’t mind staying here,” Seishiro stated uninterested.

The other looked at him bewildered. “How can you say that? What about your friends? This is not a life, Nagi! The real world is out there!” yelled the other, reaching his right arm out to point to the window and the brightness behind it. “You deserve to live a life!”

Seishiro kept silent, observing the other and wondering why did he seem so desperate this time. However, he also noticed that the other’s skin was paler – an unhealthy pale – and that his hair and eyes looked dull, not bright and shiny as before.

“There’s no time left. If you don’t wake up now, I may not be able to help you anymore. You’ll be here alone… I don’t want you to be alone,” explained Purple-bangs, with a broken voice.

The sorrow in the other’s voice made Nagi’s heart throb with melancholy, and triggered an unfounded chain of emotions inside him that demanded him to protect the other at any cost.

“If you are waiting for me in the Real world… Then I will wake up for you,” Seishiro stated sheepishly, moving his right hand to massage his neck, trying to hide his embarrassment. He did not know where had those words come from, but they were true. Nagi strongly believed that he would do anything for the guy in front of him, a dangerous and scary thought, but warm all the same.

Purple-bangs lowered his head and scoffed. Nagi frowned aggrieved, but the sound of the other’s tears falling on the covers distracted him.

Purple eyes lifted and zeroed in on Nagi’s green ones, making his heart skip a beat when he noticed the other’s eyes were pooled with tears.

Then, everything went dark.

./././

The next time Nagi woke up, the room was just as bright and quiet as the first time he’d woken up there. But, when he turned on the bed, he noticed that Purple-bangs was fast asleep beside him. Seishiro stayed still, staring at him. Observing him.

He looked worse than last time; it was as if he was losing life – if that made sense. The thought made Nagi nervous and worried. And made his heart to go cold with fear.

Seishiro also thought that it was very odd, but seeing the other always made him feel warm and content (and made his heart skip a beat, or two, but he was not acknowledging that). It was like going back home. But still he couldn’t remember who the other was. ‘Why couldn’t he remember him?’ That question was always at the back of his mind, but he always forgot to ask. It was not that the question was not important, but the other’s presence made Nagi believe that he didn’t need to know.

As long as the other was there with him, everything was fine. But last time Purple-bangs had said that he would be alone. ‘Was he going to leave Nagi alone?’ That thought, even if he couldn’t understand why, made Nagi feel terrified.

The sleeping guy stirred. Purple eyes fluttered open, focusing on Nagi, who was still staring at him.

“Welcome back,” Seishiro greeted. The other chuckled happily. Nagi felt his body burning in excitement and his heartbeat quickening. “Would you tell me your name now?”

This time, Purple-bangs didn’t move, he looked too exhausted for that. “Can’t do, it’s not good,” he replied in a low tone, shaking his head.

“Not good, how? For whom?”

The other guy smiled warmly and lifted his right hand to caress Seishiro’s cheek. Nagi peeked at the hand but said nothing, the other’s touch didn’t bother him, if anything, it was welcomed (but he was not very eager to let the other know that).

“For you.”

The taller stared at him doubtfully. “What does that mean? It will be fine; this is a dream after all… My dream, at that. I’ll keep it a secret.”

Purple eyes shined with amusement and a small smile decorated his pale face. “Is not about that, dummy. It’s just… It will do you no good out there… In the Real World.”

“How?” Nagi insisted, now even more confused than before.

The other sighed and his smile dropped. “You’ve never been the type to get interested on anything, but suddenly you are asking a lot of questions…”

Seishiro’s gaze darkened. Purple-bangs didn’t even flinch. “Then why do you want me to wake up?”

“Because you deserve to live a life,” the other replied in a warm tone, resuming his slow caresses on Nagi’s cheek. “You need to go and see the world, to make more friends and enjoy the little things, to make a lot of memories and use your talents to get yourself a nice life.”

The green-eyed curled his lip. “It still sounds like a hassle; I prefer to stay here.”

At that statement, the other let out an unamused laugh. “Don’t be stubborn Sei- Nagi. Is there nothing that I can say to make you wanna leave this place?” Purple-bangs asked in a sad tone.

Nagi gulped. “If I wake up, will you be out there?” He felt how the hand caressing his face faulted for a second before continuing with its gentle touch.

“I am out there,” The other stated. The taller frowned distrustfully.

“That’s not what – “

“Nagi, we are really running out of time,” purple eyes zeroed in on green ones, and now his hand was firmly holding Nagi’s face in place.

“Why do you look so sick now? What’s wrong with you? What’s happening to you?” Seishiro asked, completely ignoring the other’s exasperated look.

Purple-bangs sighed annoyed, harshly moving his head to the side and releasing his hold on Nagi. Seishiro just stared at him undaunted.

“That’s not important! It’s because we don’t have any more time, okay? Nagi, please!” begged the other impatiently, shooting the other a desperate look.

Nagi remained expressionless, but the other’s desperation was making him feel guilty and miserable.

“Then you can just tell me your name,” Seishiro stated firmly.

Suddenly, the other’s expression broke into a sad one and he averted his eyes to the side. “That’s not – “

“I’ll do it if you tell me your name. I’ll wake up.”

Purple-bangs closed his eyes, tiredly. He looked even more exhausted now and it seemed that all the fight had left his body because he stayed still, defeated.

“If I tell you my name you must promise me something…” Purple-bangs finally said, in a low tired tone. Nagi lifted his eyebrows, expectantly. The other opened his eyes and locked them with Seishiro’s. Insecurity fogging his eyes. “You’ll promise to not look for me,” he demanded.

Nagi frowned confused, not understanding what the other meant with that. “What kind of – “

“If you promise me that, then I’ll tell you my name,” he stated firmly, never breaking eye contact with Seishiro to make sure that he knew the request was serious.

“That’s… Why do I have to promise something like that?” asked Seishiro in a serious tone, with a hint of irritation on it. He didn’t understand the other’s request, it made no sense, and something told him that was not a deal he should accept. It felt like a trap. “You are the one who wants me to wake up, yet you can’t give me a good reason to do it. You want me to wake up but not look for you. Didn’t you say you are in the Real World? Will you not be there with me? Then, what’s the point?” Nagi didn’t raise his voice, but there was definitely an authoritative and upset tone to it.  He was hating this situation.

The idea of leaving this comfortable place where he didn’t have to effort and had all the things he liked, plus losing the company of this person who, even when he had no idea who he was, felt like the only person he ever wanted to be with. It just sounded unfair.

The other rose from the bed and sat up, turning to completely face Nagi. Nagi did the same and finally got the chance to take on how wrong the other looked. Purple-bangs’ skin looked pale and clammy, he had dark eyebags contouring his eyes and his hair looked dull and opaque. Overall, he looked horribly sick.

“We don’t have any more time, Nagi! I can’t stay here with you anymore. If you stay here, you’ll be all alone and you’ll never be able to wake up,” – purple eyes filled with tears – “I don’t want that for you… The sole idea of you being left alone… It hurts… It hurst me so much!” he whined, while the tears started rolling down his cheeks.

Nagi’s heart sank. The other’s pain pained him, it hurt as if it was him the one being wounded. It made him wonder, just how deep were his feelings for the purple guy?

And suddenly Nagi stopped. That last thought giving him his answer.

He was not sure about anything right now, except that the last thing he wanted was to see the other in pain. Purple-bangs should never be in pain, and even less if the cause of the pain was Nagi.

Seishiro didn’t remember a thing, but he knew that he would do anything for the other.

Nagi lowered his eyes and tightly gripped the bed covers. “All right, I’ll do it. Tell me your name so I can leave this place.”

Purple-bangs wiped his tears and a hopeful light glowed on his eyes. “R-Really? W-What about the promise?” he asked distrustfully.

Nagi shook his head, he didn’t want to make the promise, he really didn’t want to. But if that would take away the other’s pain, then he didn’t have an option.

“I’ll do it. I’ll promise,” he replied, looking up and holding the other’s eyesight.

Purple eyes looked at him scrutiny for a second, before a bright relieved smile appeared on his face while he launched to the front, tackling Nagi to fall with his back over the bed. Seishiro caught him, instinctively closing his arms around the other’s torso. And for the first time since he had woken up in this Dream, he felt light, warm and happy.

To have the other in his arms felt incredibly right.

Purple-bangs put some space between them, enough for them to lock eyes, but kept his arms wrapped around Nagi’s shoulders. Their faces were inches away. He smiled, but his eyes were sad.

“You are promising, Seishiro,” he said with his lips just above Nagi’s. Seishiro’s brain short circuited and was barely processing the fact that the other had called him by his name (or that his attitude has abruptly changed and so now they were too close), when felt the other’s lips softly pressing against his. He widened his eyes while a new wave of burning warmness washed over his body. “Don’t forget your promise, or I won’t forgive you,” he added against Nagi’s lips.

Seishiro’s brain was going too slow. He couldn’t completely understand what was happening, or why it was happening so fast. He was completely thunderstruck.

Purple eyes put on a little more distance and looked at him lovingly. Nagi’s breath caught up on his chest and he felt his heartbeat going nuts.

“My name is Reo. Reo Mikage,” the other said while his purple eyes shined brightly.

And then, instantly, everything around Nagi disappeared and went completely black. He felt his body falling while all his memories came back, crashing on his mind while it desperately screamed for Reo.

After what felt like hours, he felt his body hitting the end of that black hole and he was finally able to snap his eyes open.

Then, for the first time, he did not wake up to the bright white ceiling of his Dream, but a dark grey one. Seishiro sat up on the thin-padded surface he was lying on and quickly ran his eyes from side to side to take on his surroundings. It looked like a clinic or a small hospital, he wasn’t sure. But to find out where he was felt irrelevant when his mind kept on reminding him that he had more pressing matters.

“Nagi?” Came a surprised voice from his right side. He immediately recognized it and turned to look at the person. It was a relatively short dark-haired guy who they used to play football with. Isagi Yoichi. “Holy shit! You woke up!” exclaimed the other, running to stand beside Seishiro’s bed. “How do you feel? Are you okay?” the other added, but Nagi was too confused and out of it to reply.

“W-where am I? What is this place?” he asked, feeling how his throat felt dry and raspy. Isagi opened his mouth to reply, but, suddenly, the image of Reo crossed through Nagi’s mind, filling him with a feeling of pure raw desolation. “Where is Reo?” Sei rasped, feeling how his heart ran cold at the sole mention of the other’s name.

“What? Wait, you shuldn’t mo – “

“Reo, Isagi, Reo! Where is Reo?!” Nagi asked loudly, with a tone full of despair, not caring about how he felt his throat burn for the effort. Isagi widened his eyes and shot him a confused look.

“Nagi, I think you – “

“Where is he? Answer me!” Seishiro fixed his intense eyes on the shorter, letting him know that he needed an immediate answer. At the same time, he let his telekinesis roam around the room (he felt as if it had been forever since he last used it), making the furniture and the tools placed around to vibrate menacingly.

Isagi lifted his arms in front of him, in submission, and took one step back. He gave a bewildered and scared look to his friend and asked fearfully. “Nagi… Who is Reo?”

Chapter Text

“Nagi… Who is Reo?” Isagi asked fearfully, giving Nagi a truly confused look.

Seishiro deadpanned at him for a second, wondering if the other was just playing dumb to tease Nagi or if it was some kind of test of patience; either way it was not funny and Nagi was considering murder.

“What the hell do you mean ‘who is Reo’? Reo Mikage, Isagi. We’ve spent the last three years together. We live in his fucking mansion. What the fuck are you on about?” he growled angrily, with his desperation overflowing.

His mind was still foggy and his memories blurry, but he remembered that something bad had happened. He knew something had happened to Reo, and that gave him an eviscerating feeling that had him on edge.

“I…Nagi, I don’t know what you are talking about. I-You just woke up from a coma, you must be confused. Why don’t you – “

Boom!

The loud sound of a metallic table crashing against the wall behind Isagi made him stop talking and paralyze in fear.

Nagi was looking at him murderously. “I’ll ask one more time, Yoichi,” he warned in a low tone. The other trembled.

“Phweeee…” came a whistling from the entrance of the room, while a tall guy entered with his hands inside his pockets. Isagi and Nagi turned their heads to the newcomer.

Nagi didn’t recognize him.

“Well, look at that. And here I thought you would barely remember your name once you woke up,” said the guy, looking at the tossed piece of furniture with an amused smirk.

Seishiro zeroed his eyes on him and stopped moving things around with his telekinesis. “Who are you?”

The guy shot him a lofty smirk and focused on Isagi, who was still standing by Nagi’s bed, trying to be unnoticed.

“Hey, Isagi, Bachira is looking for you in the kitchen, he said it was urgent. You may wanna go to him immediately,” he commented, giving the shorter a meaningful look.

Isagi shifted unsure, running his eyes from Nagi and the stranger. “Umm… I…”

“Don’t worry, I got this guy,” he reassured, smiling confidently.

Nagi was completely silent, observing the guy. He emanated a certain aura that made Nagi both trust and distrust him.

Isagi gulped and, shooting one last scared look at Nagi, left the room in a rush. Nagi didn’t try to stop him, still mad at Isagi and completely intrigued by the one remaining in the room.

“My name is Ryuusei Shidou, it’s a pleasure to finally see you awake, Seishiro Nagi,” greeted the tanned guy.

Seishiro looked at him distrustfully but remained silent, waiting for the other to keep talking. Shidou chuckled and started walking to Nagi, whose eyes were predatorily zeroed in on him.

“You know, I think you really scared the shit out of Yoichi, poor thing was trembling. Shouldn’t you be nicer with the people who took care of you while you were sleeping?” Shidou said nonchalantly, grabbing a chair and placing it a meter away from Nagi’s bed. “He doesn’t even know what he did wrong…” he sat down.

Seishiro lost his patience. “Who are you? I’ve never seen you before, I’m sure of that.”

“Oh, no, we’ve never met before. But you and I share something in common… Purple-topknot, Reo,” he answered. Nagi widened his eyes and completely focused on him. “I’ll explain everything to you, but first, tell me something. How did you wake up?”

Seishiro frowned in confusion. “Wake up?”

“Yeah, wake up… You didn’t even give Isagi the time to explain? Jeez, what an asshole,” Shidou crossed his arms over his chest and reclined on the seat, glaring at the taller. “You’ve been in coma for seven months, bed hair, completely out of it.”

Nagi looked at him blankly for some seconds, waiting for the other to say that was a joke. But the other remained as serious as ever.

“What do you mean… Seven months… That’s… That can’t be,” said Nagi in a monotonous tone, but completely taken aback, feeling how his guts started to twist with fear. The other shook his head.

“Nope, no joking here. I’m death serious. You can check the calendar, or easier, check on a phone, those things are usually correct,” – Shidou took out a cellphone from his pocket and handed it to Nagi – “Here.”

The white-haired looked at the lightened screen and gulped in shock. He was sure he was supposed to be somewhere around mid-February, but the phone clearly said it was August. The sudden realization of that fact made his body feel heavy and slump back in the bed, while his mind battled the panic that was building inside him.

“Wow, wow, easy now,” said Shidou, sitting straight and looking at Nagi (who had suddenly pale) in worry. “I know is a big shock, but you have to keep your head on the game. Aren’t you supposed to be unemotional?”

Seishiro bit his lower lip and took a deep breath, calming down and ignoring the other’s comment. “Reo…” he exhaled, looking at the other with pleading eyes.

Ryuusei shot a curious look at Nagi. “Yeah… Reo… You see, a lot of things have happened during these past months, and I promise to explain everything. But you have to tell me, how did you wake up?” he insisted.

Sei pursed his lips. He had thousands of questions scrambling around his head, plus trying to sort out his memories, but at the moment, to listen to the other guy seemed to be the wiser thing to do.

“I was in a bright place, a ‘Dream’. It was empty at first, but the more I woke up in there, the more familiar it seemed. Then…” – Nagi looked down and focused on his hands over his lap, realizing that Reo had been there with him while he was in a coma. Trying to wake him up. His heart throbbed – “Reo appeared there, saying that I had to… Wake up…” Suddenly things were starting to make sense.

Shidou widened his eyes but remained silent.

“Then, every time I woke up, he was there, but he looked more and more exhausted. And in the end… I agreed to wake up if he told me his name,” – Nagi lifted his eyes and focused on Shidou – “I couldn’t remember anything while in there, not even Reo. And he made me promise to not look for him once I woke up. In the end, the moment he told me his name I felt my memories coming back and I woke up here,” explained Nagi, hoping that the other would understand and explain what had happened.

Hoping that the other would give him something that could comfort his anguished heart.

Ryuusei stared at Sei in shock for a few seconds. “Holy shit… He really woke you up,” he mumbled, looking completely flabbergasted. Nagi frowned confused.

“What – “

“Fuck, Nagi, listen. And listen carefully. That so called ‘Dream’ was not a dream at all. Your mind couldn’t have created something like that, not even when you are a psychic,” – Shidou’s voice was completely serious while explaining – “That was a space created inside of your mind by an outsider. A place created so your subconscious could easily find its way out of the coma. Do you understand what I’m saying? Only a telepath could do something like that, and an exceptionally skilled one, at that.”

Seishiro felt his heart drop. “Reo…”

“Reo… He didn’t just manage to create such a complicated space inside your mind, but he also met your subconscious there and triggered it to bring you back to consciousness… What extraordinary dexterity…”  praised Shidou, looking completely amazed.

Seishiro looked down, this knew information didn’t make him feel better; actually, it made him feel even worse. He gulped and looked carefully at Ryuusei. Now fearing the answer to his next question. “Where is Reo?”

Shidou averted his eyes and looked down, looking apprehensive. Seishiro’s anxiety increased.

“He is not here… Fuck! He is not even…” – Shidou took a deep breath and lifted his eyes to Nagi – “He is locked up in a facility located at around three hundred kilometers away from here. He… I can’t tell you if he is fine or not, I doubt it, but… He is alive…” Sincerely answered Ryuusei, in a low, remorseful tone.

Nagi just stared at him, processing what the other had said. “How…”

Shidou gazed at him curiously. “Don’t you remember? They took him from you…”

Seishiro widened his eyes and immediately the memory of Reo screaming flashed in front of his eyes, giving him a painful jab on the side of the head. Nagi lifted his hand and rubbed the right side of his head, while trying to grasp on the memory; but it went fuzzy before he could remember it completely.

“It’s only a matter of time before you get all your memories back. You just woke up, after all. But you will remember everything, until then, don’t worry…” suggested the tanned guy.

Sei glared at him. “‘Don’t worry?’ Reo is out there going through who knows what!”

“Not exactly. Sorry to break it to you, but the worst that could have happened to him already happened months ago. It’s already too late.” Reminded Ryuusei nonchalantly. Seishiro felt a void in his chest. Finally understanding where all those feelings of desperation and loss have come from. “But I plan to rescue him,” added Shidou in a firm voice. “And since you remember him, you can help too… If you are eager to break your promise, that is.”

Seishiro looked at him with disconsolate eyes. “I don’t understand. Why did he make me promise something like that?”

“Oh, well, I think I have the answer for that. But to explain, I have to update you into why they captured him in the first place. However, to explain that may be a little too long, and, psychic or not, you just woke up from a coma. Overloading your brain right now will be counterproductive.” Ryuusei said in a leveled tone. Nagi glared at him.

“How did you say you met Reo?” Seishiro asked distrustfully, looking at the other menacingly. Wondering who that guy really was and why was he not telling Nagi the whole truth.

Shidou chuckled. “I’m on your side Seishiro Nagi. My objective is to rescue Reo, with or without you, but I can’t do it alone.” The taller warily glared at him. “The reason why you couldn’t remember Reo is because the ones that captured him made him erase his presence from the minds of all the people who knew him. Making him not existent to the world.” He explained. Nagi’s frown deepened. “Simply speaking, nobody who knew him before can remember him now. That’s why you couldn’t remember him in the ‘Dream’. That’s why Isagi couldn’t give you an answer,” he added. “He wasn’t trying to make you mad.”

Seishiro frowned and looked down, processing the new information, while more and more questions were raised inside his head. He just hoped he could get all the answers.

“So, you are a psychic too…”

“I am. A telepath… But my skills are nothing compared to your boyfriend’s.”

Nagi shot a glance to Shidou and looked down sadly. Boyfriend…

“He made me promise not to look for him… Why?”

Ryuusei shook his head. “Of course, he did, he wanted to protect you. He knew that the moment you remembered him and what happened, you were going to go ballistic trying to get him back,” – Nagi closed his eyes, feeling his turmoil of emotions grow wilder and wilder – “But that’s exactly how we can get him back.” Shidou added.

Nagi looked at him questioningly, but he was starting to get exhausted, his mind going foggy with each passing minute. Shidou sighed.

“I guess that was enough for today. You just woke up; you need to rest if you want your memories and your strength back. Try to sleep for now, tomorrow we’ll start ‘Operation Rescue Reo’. We’ll get him back to you.” Reassured Ryuusei, extending his right hand in Nagi’s direction. Seishiro shook his hand without hesitation. Shidou chuckled.

“All right Romeo, sleep well.”

Shidou turned around and walked out of the room.

Seishiro saw him leave and laid back down on the bed, looking at the ceiling and recapitulating all that Shidou had said, feeling as if his heart was bleeding with pain. “I’ll get you back, Reo, I swear.” He muttered before closing his eyes and letting his world go dark once again, fading into dreamland. 

////////

Seishiro Nagi had always been a loner, even since a very young age, he didn’t feel attracted by any of the activities the other kids liked to play or spent time on, so he didn’t get along with anyone. He lived in an orphanage, the only home he had ever known and the place where he had grown up since his parents had passed out - or abandoned him, he didn’t know the details. And the only person who ever talked to him was the woman who had been in charge of taking care of him since he was a baby. Seishiro liked her, he did, but he was not a talkative or expressive person, so people thought him apathetic, even her. Therefore, for most of his life, Nagi had been friendless, and his only joy was playing videogames and taking naps.

However, the one thing that made Seishiro special and different from the rest of the kids was that he was a psychic. Psychics were still rare and new to society (it was the product of a mutation in some people’s genes), but their number had been increasing in the last decade, considering them the new and more evolved race. Truly speaking, Nagi didn’t care about any of that but, naturally, his caretakers had made him study about the subject and comprehend the general details about it.

Seishiro decided to just ignore that part of him and live as a normal kid – though with how lazy he was, he wasn’t considered very normal.

There were two main types of psychics, the telepaths and the ones with telekinesis, and from those categories some rarer types would come out. Nagi was a pure telekinetic, he could pull, push, grab, lift, cage and throw anything by only thinking about it – if he put some effort – but even if he was skilled, he was too lazy to ever try too hard. In the end, after a few years, he decided to just stop using his telekinesis altogether.

And it was not until he met the son of the owner of the orphanage that he started taking some interest in psychic abilities again.

Seishiro met Reo Mikage by the age of 10. It was a normal boring day in the orphanage, when the owner of the place arrived with his son.

Nagi was sitting by the entrance stairs, playing videogames on his caretaker’s phone, when a black vehicle parked in front of the house and, from it, a tall man and a child came out.

After one quick glance, Seishiro immediately looked back to his game, completely ignoring the newcomers. However, a shadow dimming his view told him that there was someone standing in front of him.

Reluctantly, he lifted his eyes.

In front of him, and with a surprised look on his face, was the child who had come out from the vehicle. Nagi deadpanned at him. After two seconds, the other kid startled and extended his hand to the front for Nagi to shake it. “Hello. I’m Reo, Reo Mikage. It’s- It’s nice to meet you… Nagi,” he greeted. Seishiro frowned at the mention of his name and completely ignored the other’s extended arm but kept his eyesight on the other kid.

This Reo looked like a pain. Purple hair, eyes and eyebrows, nervous but bright smile, shorter than Nagi and small frame, well dressed and tidy.

Nagi just blankly stared at him.

Awkwardly, Reo lowered his hand but didn’t stop smiling. “I… I’ve never met another psychic. You see, I’m a telepath, that’s how I got your name.” Reo’s smile grew more. “Why don’t we become friends?”

Seishiro’s eyes widened slightly in surprise, whether it was because Reo was a psychic too or because the other was offering him a friendship, he didn’t know. But something told him that Reo Mikage was going to change his world. Whether he wanted it or not.

Chapter Text

In the end, Nagi had been right, Reo had been an extremely stubborn and persistent guy, and after some convincing, Seishiro had ended up spending most of his time in Reo’s company.

Reo was completely different from Nagi, he was kind and funny, and a difference from Nagi, he loved to meet new people. Reo was always smiling, always excited about the smallest of things, always warm to others, always a model child. And he was incredibly sensitive and emphatic to other people’s feelings.

On the other side, Nagi was the complete opposite to him, so he couldn’t understand why Reo even wanted to spend time with him. He assumed it was because they were both psychics and could practice controlling their abilities together; nevertheless, Nagi discarded that idea since they would spend more time talking and studying than trying to be good psychics.

In the beginning, Reo would bother Nagi a few hours a day while Nagi tried to escape from him at the first opportunity. However, with the passing of time, Seishiro stopped running and started enjoying the other’s company, it was comfortable and fun, and Nagi began to open up to Reo and even miss his presence when the other had to go back home. It was new and exciting. And unexpectedly, Nagi was grateful for Reo’s friendship.

Days turned into months and months turned into years, and by the age of 15, Nagi and Reo were inseparable.

However, just when they were about to enter high school, civil war exploded and wrecked the country’s stability. Two military powers entered conflict and turned the city into a battlefield. They killed governors and politicians, and teared down the political power.

The Mikage family, which was deeply involved with politics, were persecuted and killed, leaving only the Mikage heir as survivor of the conflict.

Nagi remembered that day as one of the worse days of his life. Having to comfort a mourning Reo while the other sobbed in his arms had been one of the hardest and most painful things he’d done. He felt for Reo, his pain vivid and burning.

 By the end of the war, Nagi had lost his house and Reo had lost his family. So, they were alone together.

…

“What do you want to do now?” asked Nagi. They were sitting by Reo’s mansion’s rooftop, looking to the horizon, at the still burning city in front of them. Reo was reclined on Nagi’s shoulder, silently letting his tears roll down his cheeks, suffering for everything that was happening.

“I think…” – Reo rubbed his eyes – “I… We can stay here… There’s plenty of space here, we can even invite Isagi and the other two. They are mourning too. Something happened to their families…” said Reo in a sad tone. Nagi nodded in understanding.

“If that’s what you want,” he agreed in a calm voice, even though he was feeling apprehensive too. Mikage chuckled.

“That’s what I want,” he stated. Nagi sighed and tilted his head to rest it over Reo’s. Reo smiled and closed his eyes, relaxing with Nagi’s company.

/././././

Nagi was sighing for the nth time that day. He was tired and sleepy, and all he wanted was to go back home and sleep.

“Nagi!” someone called his name from behind before they passed him the football ball. He trapped it easily and, with a jump and a turn, he kicked the ball and scored.

“GOAL!” He heard his friends yelling in excitement. He himself was not very excited about scoring, but he definitely felt his heart jumping inside his ribcage when Reo wrapped his arm around his neck and pulled him down to show him a happy grin. “You are the best!” Reo muttered. Nagi just stared at him, bewitched.

“Hey guys, we want to go celebrate after this, wanna join us?” asked Isagi, followed by Bachira, Kunigami and other two guys whose names Nagi couldn’t remember. Nagi didn’t say anything and only turned to look at Reo. He didn’t want to go anywhere, but he would go wherever Reo wanted to go. Reo shot him a smile and turned to Isagi.

“No, it’s fine, you can go. We are tired and still need to finish some school projects,” politely answered Reo. Isagi and Bachira nodded their heads in understanding and left with the rest of the team.

Once they were alone, Nagi slumped over Reo’s shoulder and closed his eyes. “Reoooo, I’m tired. I can’t move anymore, carry me,” whined the taller. The purple-eyed laughed and shook his head while ruffling the other’s hair.

“You are the telekinetic, you know. You should be the one carrying me,” he said before crouching down for Nagi to climb on his back. Seishiro wrapped his arms around the other’s shoulders and climbed, Reo clutched his legs and pulled him up, giving Nagi a piggyback.

“Humm… Reo is so comfortable…” hummed the taller, settling his chin over the other’s right shoulder. Mikage chuckled and started walking. “Reo, I’m sweaty and tired… can we sleep once we go back?” asked the white-haired sleepy.

“Only because you scored three goals. But you can only take a nap, we really need to finish our project today,” warned the shorter. Nagi sighed defeated.

It’d been two years since the conflict in the country had ended, or at least the war had ended, since now the winning military party controlled the country. Nagi was 18 and Reo 17 and things were relatively good. They lived in Reo’s mansion, together with their friends Isagi, Bachira and Kunigami. The place was huge, so everyone had their own room and it had everything they needed. Else, since all of them had lost everything during the war, to stick together had been the best decision they’d made.

Their football court was the mansion’s backyard, so they would play there with their friends – the few people they had gotten to know by attending the only school which was still functioning in their city.

They arrived and Nagi climbed off Reo’s back, walking straight to his room and collapsing on his bed. Reo followed him with an amused smile on his face and stood by the door, leaning on the frame. “I’ll prepare something to eat. Do you feel like noodles?” He asked.

Seishiro opened one of his eyes and looked at him. “Reo, don’t do anything, come lie with me,” he whined. Mikage chuckled, he wanted to, he could never say no to Nagi’s whims, but he knew he shouldn’t for his own mental health.

“I’m hungry, I’ll come after I eat something,” Reo replied and turned to walk away. Nagi sighed.

Nagi and Reo had always had a very close relationship, Reo’s fault really, but both of them have enjoyed it for years. However, during the last year things had started to feel different. Both Nagi and Reo felt it, but neither of them had ever said a world. Reo because of his insecurities and ‘what ifs’, and Nagi because he couldn’t fully grasp the magnitude of what was happening.

So, psychic powers or not, they both struggled when it came to deeper feelings than what they were used to. It was easier to ignore them and act as always.

Reo sighed, starting the stove and putting the noodles inside the pot. It’d been a little while since he realized his romantic feelings for Nagi, just as it had been a while since he had decided he didn’t want to acknowledge or talk about his feelings, and just as it had been a while since the burden of his longing feelings have started to feel heavy on his heart.

He was frustrated. Usually, when he really wanted to know something, he would just read people’s minds and get his answers right away. But, since Nagi was a telekinetic, it was hard for Reo to read the other’s mind unless he asked for permission. It was as if Nagi was constantly – and unconsciously – using his power to hide his thoughts. So Reo was left in the dark when it came to Nagi’s mind. It was frustrating.

Reo sighed tiredly. He was reaching for the salt when the salt container came down from the cabinet by itself and delicately floated into Reo’s open hand. He giggled. “Thank you, Nagi. But I could reach it, you know.”

Nagi entered the kitchen and reclined on one of the counters, the one closer to the fridge. “Humjum, I know… But no one needs to effort if I help you…”

“Well, thanks…” Reo answered with a fond smile, resuming his cooking.

Nagi observed Reo while the other cooked. Lately, he had been battling the disturbing impulse to go behind his friend and hug him. It was already bad that he longed for Reo’s touches and presence every single time, but these new impulses were messing him up, badly. He wanted to be able to touch Reo, every fucking time.

Mikage turned off the stove and reached for the plate, but it was already floating down from its cabinet. Reo giggled and turned to look meaningfully at Nagi. The taller shrugged. “Next time you might want to cook too. I mean, I’m sure you won’t even have to move a finger,” commented Reo while stirring his noodles and pouring them inside the plate.

Seishiro frowned. “No, I couldn’t. I would have to really focus on the portions and stuff. Too much effort,” he answered. Mikage smiled amused and moved to sit on the table by the middle of the kitchen. It was a small table with six seats. And even though there was a dining room, they would always eat in the kitchen.

Seishiro observed his friend for a few seconds before sitting on the chair beside him. “Reo… I’ve changed my mind, I want some…” he said, opening his mouth in the direction of the purple haired. Reo laughed amused.

“I knew it!“ said Mikage with a smile, lifting his fork to feed his friend. He put the fork inside the other’s mouth and looked up, finding Nagi’s eyes. They locked eyes and froze, staring at each other for a second too long.

Reo felt his face heating in embarrassment and tugged the fork out. Nagi whined at the other’s harsh reaction. Reo muttered an apology but settled his eyes on his plate, not daring to look back at his friend, while trying to keep his feelings on check.

Seishiro was observing Reo thoroughly. He could see the other’s red cheeks and could basically feel Reo’s speedy heartbeat – perks of his telekinesis. Nagi gulped and stood up when his thoughts started turning into what he considered dark. “Forget it, eating is too much effort,” he said, standing up and exiting the room in a rush.

Reo remained there, staring at his food, wishing that he could control his body and his feelings. Hoping that Nagi hadn’t noticed the effects he had on him. Reo closed his eyes and clutched at his chest, wishing that his feelings for Nagi would vanish.

Nagi entered his room and closed the door behind him, reclining his back on the door and letting his body slide down until he was sitting on the floor to hide his face between his hands. He really had to stop thinking about touching Reo in not so pure ways.

Nagi cursed and ran to his restroom to take a bath.

When they met again that night, they acted normally as always. But none of them could deny the sensation of longing that coursed through their bodies.

/////

It had been a week since the whole fiasco in the kitchen and, instead of getting better, the situation between Reo and Nagi was getting worse. Frustration was starting to weigh down on them, and the necessity to do something was surpassing any fear and insecurity they had.

They were training football with their housemates again, but this time Reo was more aware of Nagi’s interactions with Isagi and Bachira than the game itself. Rage and jealousy were coursing though his veins and he didn’t really know how to deal with such feelings. It felt wrong, but it felt even worse to see the others being too friendly together. And, admittedly, Reo was aware that they all had been friends for a few years now – they even lived together – but suddenly it was annoying him to the bone.

Mikage averted his eyes from Nagi and sighed frustrated before turning around and walking over to Kunigami who was practicing dribbling by himself, by the side of the court.

Meanwhile, Nagi was using every ounce of will he had to not look in Reo’s direction and keep himself focused on the other two, who were discussing some kicking techniques with him. Seishiro was tired and sleepy, but he didn’t want to leave the court before making sure that Reo left the court too. It was a sick kind of feeling that completely burned his head, but he couldn’t help it. He didn’t want to leave Reo alone with anybody that wasn’t himself. He wanted to be Reo’s center of attention and, if he couldn’t be it, he at least was not going to leave Reo out of his sight. It was selfish and haunting, but Nagi wasn’t risking it.

So, the moment Nagi saw Reo smiling happily and lifting his head to whisper something in Kunigami’s ear, he lost it. Seishiro bit on his lower lip, annoyed, and, ignoring Isagi and Bachira, he walked straight to Reo, grabbed him by the left wrist and abruptly pulled him away from Rensuke. The other four just looked at him startled, especially Reo who was suddenly being dragged away from his friends and the court by Nagi’s strong grip.

“Nagi, what the hell?” asked the purple-haired one, disoriented.

“We are done here, Reo.” Was Nagi’s sharp answer. Reo felt the other’s unfriendly tone and just followed the other in silence. Carefully observing Nagi and analyzing his bizarre behavior.

Seishiro let go of Reo after they entered the house and reached the living room. There, Nagi pushed Reo against a wall and stood in front of him, caging him with his body. Mikage gulped.

“N-Nagi, what is it?” he asked nervously, looking at Nagi with wide eyes.

Seishiro clicked his tongue and averted his eyes to the side. “This is so annoying; I don’t like it…” stated Nagi frustrated.

“What is…?” Reo’s eyes were zeroed in on his friend, trying to decipher what was happening. The taller looked back to the front and locked eyes with Reo. Mikage was looking at Nagi with a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

After two seconds, Seishiro lifted his right hand and tenderly cupped Reo’s cheek. “You… This… Us…” he replied in a low tone.

Reo frowned confused, “what –“ But he stopped talking when felt Nagi lifting his head up and closing the distance between them. Crashing his lips against Reo’s.

They stared at each other. Reo with his eyes wide open in shock, and Nagi with a predatory look in his eyes.

Mikage was completely thunderstruck, but still his heart wouldn’t stop flutter inside his ribcage while his hands – and his whole body really – trembled in excitement.

They separated after a few seconds and Reo, startled as he was, asked, “W-Why…?”

Nagi shrugged and deadpanned at him. “I’ve realized that I like you romantically and I think you like me too.” He replied nonchalantly.

Reo opened his mouth in disbelief and blushed deeply. “I- I mean... Of course, I like you! I've always liked you but...But this…”

Seishiro nodded. “Then this is fine, right? Me and you kissing…Since we are on the same page…” He stated before lowering his head and catching Reo’s lips between his once again. Kissing him properly this time.

Reo, still a little lost with what was happening and with his heart crashing against his ribcage, closed his eyes and returned the kiss the best he could – especially the moment Nagi made him gasp and stuck his tongue inside Reo’s mouth. Luckily, none of them were experts on this field; they knew the basics and instinct helped a lot.

Their kisses were not exactly romantic or calm, but they were satisfying and the perfect remedy for the itching they had been feeling for the last past months. They kissing felt like going home after being away for too long. It felt perfectly right.

They stopped when heard the front door opening and their friends’ voices coming from outside. Nagi groaned. They separated and the shorter took that opportunity to run to his room, with his eyes glued to the floor with embarrassment. Nagi waited to greet his friends before walking to Reo’s room.

Reo’s door was slightly open, so Nagi took that as an invitation to get in. He closed the door behind him and walked to sit on the bed, beside Reo.

The purple-haired one lifted his eyes and stared at Nagi. “Are we…” – ‘dating now’ he wanted to ask, but he didn’t have the guts for that – “Why’d you come here?” he asked instead, ignoring the fact that he had left the door open for Nagi.

The taller dropped with his back on the bed “I'm tired Reo, let's go to sleep,” he said, closing his eyes and ignoring the other’s question.

Reo widened his eyes and looked at him in disbelief. “A-are, are you serious? J-just like that?”

Nagi opened an eye and looked at him in confusion. “Do you want to kiss me again?” he asked in a monotonous tone.

Reo's heart jumped in his chest, and he blushed darkly, lifting his arms dismissively. “N-no, that's not what I... I mean... It feels a little too... simple.” He sheepishly said. Nagi shrugged nonchalantly “It would be a hassle if it wasn't simple. I prefer it like this” he answered. Reo chuckled relieved “Of course you would say that…”
“Let’s sleep Reo…” whined Nagi, closing his eyes and pulling Reo's arm down. Reo widened his eyes when his balance was wrecked by Nagi’s pull and he fell beside the white haired one. Reo gulped nervously and shifted to put a little distance between him and the other.

“It is still too early to sleep…” muttered Reo. Nagi shook his head, “It is never too early to sleep…” he replied. Reo giggled at the other’s answer and tried to relax a little – even when it was almost impossible since: one, Nagi had kissed the breath out of him, and two, Nagi was trying to sleep in his bed and that suddenly felt overly intimate.

A few minutes of silence later, Reo smiled when felt Nagi's body relaxing completely – he was always amazed by how fast Seishiro was able to fall asleep. Reo sighed, finally letting all his nervousness leave his body, and turned on his side, fondly staring at Nagi and smiling to himself.

Would he have known it was going to be that easy to be with Nagi, he would have confessed or done something earlier. Still, he was too happy with how his day had ended and what that could mean for their future.

Reo smiled and closed his eyes, letting sleep take over him.

/////

“So, you guys are a thing now, uh?” asked Kunigami while taking a bite of his bread and shooting a curious look to Reo. Reo choked on his food and blushed while coughing. Kunigami snickered.

Nagi, Reo, Kunigami, Isagi and Bachira were sitting together by the kitchen’s table, eating their breakfast.

Bachira sniggered while Isagi looked at Reo and Nagi with wide eyes. Nagi gave Reo a glass of water and turned to nod affirmatively at Kunigami.

“I knew it!” exclaimed Bachira, pointing in the direction of the couple with his spoon. “You are always lovey-dovey but this past week your level of affection has been over the roof,” he added with a cheeky smirk. Isagi looked at Bachira incredulously, “Wait… I haven’t’ noticed,” he said.

Bachira turned to smile at him. “That’s because you are not the most observant when it comes to that subject,” he replied. Yoichi glared at him. “But anyway, going back to the subject,” – he turned his attention back to the couple – “I’m happy for you. I ship it!” He said smiling.

Reo blushed and lowered his eyes to the plate, embarrassed. Nagi shot Reo a glance and turned to nod at Bachira in acceptance of his comment.

“So… You two are a couple now? Like, you are together together?” Isagi asked once again, needing real confirmation from the ones involved. Seishiro looked at him and nodded with a shrug. Reo bit on his lower lip but didn’t lift his eyes from his plate. “H-how long?” added Isagi in disbelieve – he was a little naïve at subjects like these, so he was truly confused about how his friends have gotten together.

“If I have to guess, I would say around a week ago,” commented Kunigami, looking at Reo for confirmation. Reo sheepishly lifted his eyes and nodded his head.

Isagi opened his mouth in shock, “W-why didn’t you tell us?”

Seishiro shrugged, “Didn’t see the need.”

“That, or Reo asked you for a clandestine love,” joked Kunigami.

Nagi chuckled and the sound made Reo snap his head to look at him with wide eyes. Nagi smiling or chuckling was an extremely rare occurrence that happened once or twice in a lifetime (maybe thrice), and it would amaze Reo every single time. Reo loved that smile, and he treasured every time he could see it.

Reo stared at him enchanted.

The other three were surprised at seeing Nagi smiling, but Reo’s bewitched face was nicer to tease.  

“Ohhh Reo, you have it so bad for Nagi…” Teased Bachira with a knowing smirk. Yoichi and Rensuke chuckled in amusement. Nagi focused his gaze on Reo (who was still staring at him), making the purple-haired one register his own actions before widening his eyes and averting them in embarrassment.

The others laughed at Reo’s flustered reactions.

Nagi felt his heart miss a beat at how Reo was acting. The whole week he had seen Reo blushing for the smallest things, getting embarrassed for any comment and startling at Nagi’s every movement. It was weird but cute, and those reactions were completely messing with Seishiro’s mind because they woke up impulses that he didn’t know he had. Impulses that compelled him to own Reo.

Nagi’s mind muted everything around him and made him focus solely on Mikage. Unconsciously, he stretched his left arm to grab Reo’s chin and turned it to him. Once he had Reo facing him, he reclined to the front and kissed him. Forgetting where they were or with whom.

Seishiro could only focus on Reo and the taste of their kiss.

“Oh, guys, come on, not here!” complained Kunigami, standing from his seat and leaving his plates on the sink before walking out of the room.

“All right, Isagi-kun, this is our que to leave,” said Bachira, pulling Isagi by the shoulders and pushing him out with him.

When Nagi felt that they were alone in the kitchen, he separated from Reo and looked at him straight in the eyes. Reo, who was still panting a little, gulped and nervously stared back at the taller.

And there, intensely staring at each other and being so close, the thought of telling Reo how much he loved him passed through Seishiro’s mind. However, Reo opening his mouth to talk stopped Nagi from doing it.

“I love you…” Exhaled Reo in the lowest of tones and blushing darkly. Nagi widened his eyes, and before he could think of anything else, Reo was lunging forward and catching his lips in a demanding kiss.

Seishiro closed his eyes and hugged him tightly, kissing him just as fiercely. Telling himself that next time he would be the one saying those words.

Chapter Text

Reo was helping Nagi dry his hair with a towel while the other focused on playing videogames. They were sitting on Nagi´s bed. They´ve taken a bath after practice and gone to the elder’s room to change clothes and prepare to sleep. It has been a whole three weeks after they have confessed their feelings and, since then, they have barely been away from each other. It was as if the need to stick together had grown exponentially.

Reo was humming while watching the other play on his phone. Reo was not exactly fond of games like those, but he enjoyed seeing Nagi play them. He smiled warmly.

“Are those games really that good?” He asked. Nagi shrugged. “They are not great, but they keep me busy,” Nagi replied. Reo shook his head and chuckled.

“Okay, hair dry.” Reo announced, ruffling Seishiro’s hair. Nagi shook his head, feeling his hair fluffy, and turned to look at the other with warm eyes, “Thank you, Reo.”

 Reo smiled pleased.

Mikage stood from the bed and left the towels aside before wearing his pajamas and jumping to lie down on the bed, settling comfortably over the covers, with his eyes focused on the ceiling while listening to the games Nagi was playing. He smiled, enjoying the moment.

After a few minutes, Nagi stood from the floor and lied down on the bed, reclining his back against the headboard, with his phone still between his hands.

Seishiro was starting a new game when Reo’s voice called his attention, making him look at the other and focus on him.

And suddenly, the image of Reo sprawled on his bed was more interesting than his games.

Nagi observed Reo, who was lying beside him while smiling and telling him some story which he couldn’t understand because all his attention was suddenly focused on imagining ways to touch the other. Mikage noticed Nagi’s sudden stillness and lifted his eyes at him.  

“What are you thinking about?” he asked with a smile. Seishiro shrugged. “I want to touch you,” he stated boldly.

Reo’s smile fell, and his posture changed into a nervous one. “I- I mean… we kind of are in contact all the time, like –“ Reo was interrupted by Nagi’s hand reaching in the direction of his stomach and resting over his navel, just above the end of his shirt’s hem.

“I mean… I want to touch Reo,” Seishiro said, moving his hand under Reo’s shirt, placing his palm over his stomach. Mikage gasped lowly when Nagi started moving his hand, caressing Reo’s skin while traveling up to his chest.

“Nagi,” sighed Reo when the other placed his hand over his left chest and caressed his nipple. Nagi’s eyes darkened. Even though they had always been together and all, they’ve never touched each other intimately. This was the first time that Nagi felt Reo’s soft skin under his fingers, the first time Reo sighed because of Seishiro’s caresses.

It was new and exciting. 

Mikage gulped. His skin was on fire and his mind was melting. He wanted more. He wanted Nagi to touch him everywhere, and judging by Nagi’s gaze, he wanted the same.

Seishiro couldn’t take it anymore and rolled his body to cage Reo’s under him. The smaller man gasped when Nagi straddled him and started caressing Reo’s torso with both hands.

“Reo… Say my name…” requested the older, with his eyes completely focused on Reo while his face acquired a darker tone. He lowered his hips and pressed his crotch against Reo’s.

Reo gasped loudly. Nagi was hard.

The shorter gulped and considered the other’s request for a second. He had never called his friend by his name – unless it was for teasing – and it felt too intimate to call the other like that. However, he had always dreamed with the idea and was loving the fact that the other had asked for it.

“Seishiro…“ He exhaled. Nagi widened his eyes and felt how his arousal increased exponentially. He couldn’t help but rub his crotch against Reo’s, tearing a quivery moan from the purple-haired one.

Seishiro started rubbing harder and lowered his head to harshly kiss Reo. Mikage could barely keep up with the kiss, while his mind struggled to focus on all the sensations he was feeling.

“Sei- Seishiro…” He panted, moving his face away from the other’s lips. Seishiro inquisitively looked at him through lid eyes. “I want to touch you too… Let me touch you too,” panted Reo. Nagi gulped in anticipation and nodded before sitting up to take off his t-shirt.

Nagi looked down at Reo with predatory eyes.

Reo licked his lips nervously before moving both of his hands to Nagi’s torso and slowly ran them up and down, caressing the other’s abs and chest. It was new and satisfying for both of them, and it made their lust to increase minute by minute.

After a few minutes of exploring and stripping their clothes away, Reo opened his legs to let Seishiro position himself between them and completely press his body against Reo’s. They locked eyes for a second, letting their gaze transmit all the feelings and emotions that were controlling them before resuming their passionate kissing.

From there, everything went fast and hot and completely satisfying.

Reo gasped at the intrusion of Nagi’s fingers and did everything he could to relax and mute the burning sensation that he felt when Seishiro finally thrusted his sex inside him. The sensation was bizarre but pleasurable, and he couldn’t help but moan and gasp loudly every time the older rubbed himself inside. And at the feeling of being completely owned by Nagi.

Everything about the moment felt perfect for Reo.

 For Seishiro the sensation was different. Reo was too tight, so the friction was not as smooth as he had expected, but that didn’t make it any less good for him. The pace was slow but comfortable and he wasn’t sure that he could thrust any harder without hurting his lover, so he was not going to risk it. However, everything was compensated by Reo’s aroused face, trembling body, every beautiful sound that scaped his mouth and the joy to know that Reo was finally his.

Everything about that moment felt delicious for Seishiro.  

Their activity didn’t last too long, but it had been enough to satisfy them and their hunger for each other. After they both had reached their climax, they cleaned each other up and wrapped their limbs to sleep as close as possible.

….
Nagi woke up early, or rather, he hadn’t been able to sleep well at all. He'd woken up multiple times during the night to just look at Reo, to feel him breathe under him and hear his steady heartbeat. He didn’t know he had such romantic instinct in him. It was overwhelming and foreign for him to feel so much, but everything he was feeling were pleasant things and great happiness. He was extremely happy.

Reo’s eyes fluttered open, and a small smile decorated his face when his eyes focused on Seishiro. Nagi felt his heartbeat speed up. “Sei…” Reo exhaled, snuggling into Nagi’s nude chest and immediately going back to sleep.

Seishiro gulped and just observed Reo with wide eyes, feeling how his face blushed completely while the warmness inside his heart made him feel drugged and fuzzy.  He loved Reo, there was nothing about him that he didn't like. From his beautiful purple eyes to his cheerful personality and how smart he was. Seishiro was completely whipped.

/././.

It was Thursday afternoon and Isagi, Bachira, Kunigami, Nagi and Reo were cleaning the mansion and arranging stuff.

“So, whose turn is it to go grocery shopping this week?” asked Kunigami while opening the fridge and finding it almost empty. Nagi stopped what he was doing and made a face. Isagi, who was beside him, laughed at him before answering, “By the look on his face, I think it’s Nagi’s turn.” He said between giggles.

Nagi pouted.

“Well, let me tell you, there’s nothing for breakfast tomorrow so, I would suggest you better go now,” said Kunigami, snickering at him. Nagi sighed and walked to the counter where they put the money they saved for food.

Bachira and Reo, who were cleaning the drawers, laughed. “If you give me 10, I’ll go with you,” offered Reo with a smile. Nagi looked at him gratefully.

Fifteen minutes later, Nagi and Reo were leaving the compound, walking while talking about random stuff.

For groceries, they had to walk around twenty minutes to the closest minimarket. It was closer than their school, but the way there was not as busy, so it was calmer and felt longer.

“You know, the other day I was talking with Rin, and he told me that his parents fear that another war could explode soon…” commented Reo in a low tone. “I hope they are wrong, I mean, the sole idea of reliving a situation like that is scary and sad.” Nagi nodded. “But who knows? Things never got truly better after what happened last time. Let’s hope they are wrong.” He finished with a disheartened look.

Nagi observed him and sighed, he hated when Reo worried about things – or whenever Reo was not happy, really.

“I think people are always speculating and thinking about stuff like that because they still fear what happened last time. But I believe that wouldn’t be convenient for anyone right now, not even those who oppose the current government so, maybe we shouldn’t worry about that possibility, if there’s no real reason for it,” replied Nagi in his monotonous tone. “Don’t think too much, Reo.”

Reo chuckled and glanced at Nagi. “I guess you are right,” he agreed, finding a little bit of reassurance in Seishiro’s words. Nagi shot him a glance.

Nagi and Reo had been dating for almost four weeks now, and even thou things were going great between them Nagi still hadn’t found the right moment to tell Reo how he reciprocated his feelings. Hence, they were still “dating”, hence their relationship still didn’t have a real label on it, hence they were not a real couple, hence Reo was not his boyfriend.

And Nagi really wanted to call Reo his boyfriend, but he was bad at romance and feelings in general. And he was good at complicating things when it came to this subject.

Seishiro focused his eyes on Reo, observing him talk. Reo was good at talking and Nagi was pleased to listen to him. He was grateful for Reo’s existence.

“Reo, there’s something I want to tell you.” Blurted Seishiro out of the blue, feeling a little nervous after letting the words out. He saw Reo stopping two steps ahead of him but didn’t get a reply and the other didn’t turn either. Nagi approached him and stood behind him. “Reo, I love you,” he said in a low tone.

And Nagi waited for five seconds but still didn’t get any kind of reaction. He frowned and circled the other, to stand in front of him. “Reo did you hear – “ Nagi stopped talking when noticed that Reo’s eyes were directed to the ground, completely unfocused and lost. Nagi felt a chill run down his back. “Reo, do you hear me?” he asked, although he knew the answer.

Reo’s body was rigid and unresponsive, completely absent from the present. Nagi gulped, worried.

“Reo…” called Nagi again, grabbing the other by the shoulders and shaking him slightly, trying to bring him back from wherever his mind was wandering. “Reo, come back,” he whispered, starting to feel how despair and fear crawled through his body. “Reo!” yelled Seishiro, shaking his friend with more strength.

The abrupt movement brought Reo’s consciousness back to his body, making him startle and gasp while looking up at Seishiro with scared eyes.

Nagi breathed a sigh of relief; but his ease didn’t last.

Reo focused his eyes on Nagi before immediately lunging forward, pulling him down by the shoulders while looking at him with frightened eyes. “Sei, we need to – “

They didn’t see it coming. One second Reo was desperately grabbing onto Nagi and the next one they were both bending in pain because of the impact of an invisible shockwave. They didn’t even know what had hit them, but it had hit them hard.

Nagi groaned and lifted his right hand to grab his head, which was pulsating and throbbing in pain. He couldn’t understand what was happening but his first reaction was to look for Reo who had his eyes closed while grabbing his head with both hands, he looked in a lot of pain.

Seishiro turned his head and looked around, trying to find their attackers, but another invisible shockwave hitting them sent them kneeling on the ground. Nagi gasped while a killing headache blurred his eyesight.

Reo had his eyes focused on the ground, trying not to puke due to the pain in his head. He hadn’t noticed the attack. One moment he was telling Nagi something and the next one his mind had gone completely blank, as if it had turned off. The next thing he knew was that they were in danger, so he tried to warn Nagi. But it had been too late. He couldn’t understand who or what was attacking them, but the worse part of it was that he couldn’t feel anyone close to where they were. His telepathy was telling him that they were all alone, but the dark silhouettes approaching proved him wrong.

Reo gulped and lifted his head to look to his right, noticing how three blurred forms approached them with something big on their hands. Reo felt his world spinning. He lowered his head and tried to lift his eyes to look at Nagi, who he could still feel was in front of him.

The moment Reo lifted his gaze, in slow motion, he noticed how Nagi’s body moved to the side, as if impacted with something. And then, he saw three big syringes stuck on Seishiro’s neck. Reo widened his eyes and moved forward, forgetting about the pain in his head.

“NAGI!” screamed Reo in concern, trying to reach for the syringes but missing them miserably. He was too dizzy to coordinate his movements.

When Nagi noticed the jab on his neck, he couldn’t react. His mind was still confused and in shock, so his reflexes were completely numbed. However, after noticing Reo trying to reach for something on his neck, he realized that there was something sticking out from that zone of his body. Nagi reached and pulled out the empty syringes from his neck. He glared at them and turned his head to left, looking for the ones responsible of the attack.

Just when Nagi was going to hit back, he felt a strong presence coming in his and Reo’s direction. A psychic. Nagi made an effort and stood up to glare at the newcomer who was looking at him in annoyance.

“The dose you just received will knock you down soon enough, so don’t even try to resist,” said the stranger. Nagi narrowed his eyes at him and balled his fists by his sides. “I came for the telepath. I have no business with you.” He added pointing his finger at Reo, who was slowly getting on his feet too.

That triggered Nagi’s instincts, so he attacked back. Seishiro tilted his head and suddenly all the men surrounding them – except the psychic –got propelled a few meters back by an invisible force. The hostile psychic snorted. “Ridiculous,” he said, before lifting his right arm in Nagi’s direction.

Seishiro didn’t even have the time to react when his body got pushed back against the wall behind him with immense force. The impact made his gaze go white for a second and then his body dropped to the floor.

“NAGI!” He heard Reo scream, but the heaviness on his head was weighing him down, making him feel horribly sick and as if his mind was disconnecting from his body. The feeling was awful.

When Reo felt the psychic, he trembled. He knew that man meant danger. The moment he saw Nagi being thrown against the wall and falling to the ground, he felt real fear.

Reo stood in front of Nagi and extended his arms to the sides, trying to protect him. At the same time, he tried to reach the mind of the psychic in front of him but, just as with Nagi, his telekinesis shielded him and didn’t allow Reo to reach him. Reo bit his lip and glared at him.

“What do you want? Leave us alone!” demanded Reo as loud as he could, using everything he had to battle the crushing headache that was striking his head.

The other psychic made a face and looked at him boringly. “No, can’t do. I have a job, you see,” he replied. “But this is already taking too long. Take them down,” he commanded.

Reo widened his eyes and looked at the men surrounding them. And just then he understood why couldn’t’ he read those people’s minds. They were wearing some kind of helmet that completely shielded them from Reo’s telepathy.

“No!” shouted Reo before being, once again, hit by the invisible shockwave. This time it sent him straight to the ground. He could feel his body trembling in pain while the blinding headache jabbed his head again and again. He was sure he was going to lose consciousness soon.

Between the fog in his brain, he sensed Nagi cursing and moving behind him. But Reo didn’t have the strength to move anymore.

Seishiro saw Reo going down and his telekinesis exploded out of him in devastating waves of power that shot away the people, cars and everything around them. However, the telekinetic guy resisted the attack by using his own telekinesis to counteract. Seishiro was at a disadvantage, the shockwaves had taken half of his strength and the rest of it was leaving his body minute by minute; he assumed it was because of whatever those syringes had injected in his body.

Nagi lifted his right hand to attack again but another four furtive jabs on his back and neck made him stop completely. And, instantaneously, Seishiro’s world bent to the side while he stopped feeling his body.

He didn’t even feel the moment his body plummeted against the ground. Nagi felt his heart slow down and how his mind slowly went blank.

Suddenly, the only thing he could register was Reo kneeling in front of him, crying and desperately moving his mouth.

Nagi couldn’t even hear what he was saying. He was helpless.

Reo was shaking Nagi’s body, trying to bring him back, seeing how his friend’s eyes lost focus and his body seemed to give up. He didn’t know what those syringes contained or how would they affect Nagi, but he knew they were harmful. Reo was scared, desperately calling Nagi’s name.

“How pathetic.” Reo heard the unknown psychic comment. He ignored him.

“Sei, Seishiro, can you hear me? Nagi! Nagi please!” cried Reo with a broken voice while helplessly grabbing Nagi’s limp hands.

“Let’s go.” Came the voice from behind him again. And suddenly, his body was being dragged backwards by an invisible force, hauled away from Nagi. “NO! NO! LET ME GO! LET ME GO!” screamed Reo in desperation, clawing at the ground, trying to grab onto anything he could. “NAGI!!!!” he sobbed before his body was thrown inside a metallic cage and closed from the outside. Reo kept screaming his lungs out from inside the box, but the sound wouldn’t reach outside.

Seishiro, who had completely lost control of his body and mind, could only helplessly see how Reo was dragged away from him and caged in a box.

“Reo…” exhaled Seishiro, feeling how a tear left his eye before his consciousness left him in the dark.

/./././

Nagi woke up with a gasp and his heart beating loudly inside his chest. He remembered everything. Every single detail. Every single thing.

And someone was going to pay for hurting Reo and taking him away from Nagi.

Chapter Text

Nagi sat up and looked around, finally recognizing the place he was in. It was the mansion’s medical unit. During all the years they’ve lived there, they’ve never used this place, it was too big and full of technology that they didn’t know how to use. And judging by how it currently looked, it seemed that it still wasn’t a place that anyone would visit often.

He sighed and got out of the bed, standing up on his feet and expecting to feel some kind of aftereffect like dizziness or weakness – or even lighter for weight loss – but he felt completely normal. If he had been in a coma for seven months his body didn’t show any sign of it. He assumed it had to be thanks to his telekinesis, there was no other explanation.

He made sure that the gown he was wearing was doing its job of covering his body and started walking. He walked straight to his room, which was only one alley away from the medical unit, and entered. Closing the door behind him and grateful for not having met anyone in his way there.

Seishiro looked around his room and sighed. Now, this place definitely looked as if no one had entered it for months. Everything was covered in dust and even the air smelled caged. He gulped and walked to his bed, sitting on the edge and extending his right hand to take the only picture that decorated his nightstand. He wiped the dust from it with his left and stared at it with nostalgia.

In the picture, he and Reo were sitting on the grass while eating an ice cream, the sky was blue and a few trees decorated the background. Reo was smiling happily and Seishiro was boringly looking at the camera. The picture had been taken last year, by Isagi, on a random day when they had decided to go picnic in their backyard. 

Nagi’s eyes watered while the weight of his situation started to settle and feel real. He was there, alone, seven months after someone had abducted Reo in front of him because he had not been able to do anything. He had not been able to protect Reo. And now he didn’t even know if Reo was still alive.

The thought made him feel dizzy.

Nagi hugged the picture to his chest, closing his eyes while his eyes stung. One way or another, he was determined to find Reo, but to imagine what had Reo suffered because Nagi had failed him was a thought that promised to shred his heart to pieces.

After a few minutes of self-pity, Nagi left the picture aside, stood up and walked to his restroom. He took a long and warm bath and changed into sports clothing. After he was clean, he took another look at his room and sighed, annoyed by the fact that he had to go back to clean later.

He left the room and went looking for Shidou.

………

Seishiro was walking through the aisles when heard voices coming from the kitchen. He walked there and found Isagi, Bachira and Kunigami moving around the room. The moment the three guys noticed his presence, they stopped moving and looked at him.

“Nagi!” exclaimed Bachira out loud, dropping some cups on the table and running to hug Nagi by the waist. “I’m so glad you are awake! It’s been so long!” he said, looking at the taller with bright eyes. Nagi stared at him with wide eyes, a little startled by the other’s reaction.

“I…” – Nagi nodded – “I’m sorry for worrying you” he replied, not knowing what else to say. Bachira shot him a warm smile while letting go of him.

“It’s really good to see you awake, Nagi. You really made us worry. How do you feel?” asked Kunigami warmly.

Seishiro made a face. “Well, I feel okay. I don’t actually feel anything different. Has it really been… seven months?” he asked, still grabbing onto the little hope in his heart that wished that Shidou had lied. Kunigami’s face dropped – and so did Seishiro’s heart.

“Yeah… We… I’m sorry that we couldn’t do much for you… Everything must be very hard and confusing for you, but, if it’s worth anything, nothing has really changed since you fell into a coma. Everything is the same. No good or bad news.” Kunigami answered, trying to give Nagi some reassurance.

But instead, Kunigami’s comment twisted something inside Nagi, making his heart fire up with rage, so he had to remind himself that his friends couldn’t remember Reo. It was not their fault; they couldn’t remember that Reo had disappeared. They didn’t know that their house was missing one person. They couldn’t remember that things were not the same as before. They couldn’t feel as if they’d lost someone because they couldn’t remember who they’d lost.

Seishiro took a deep breath.

“How… How did I end up in a coma? I can’t remember.” Seishiro asked, observing them. The three of them shared a glance, silently agreeing on something before turning back to the tallest.

“We went looking for something to the store and found you unconscious on the sidewalk.” Kunigami answered. “Everything around you was a mess, as if something had attacked you. We took you to the hospital and a few days later they told us that you were in a coma and didn’t know if you would wake up. So, umm… We used some of your money to pay your expenses and make the hospital install you here.”

Nagi frowned. “Some of my money?” he asked confused. He knew he was broke and was sure that taking someone in coma to comfortably go back to their house might be expensive.

Kunigami nodded and shifted nervously. “Yeah, from the vault in your parents’ room upstairs…” He answered sheepishly.

Seishiro felt like puking. “Wait… You think this… You think this is my mansion?” he asked, but it was more like an affirmation because he already knew the answer.

The other three shared a concerned look. “Yeah…You invited us to live here with you a few years ago, remember? This was your parents’ mansion, right?” Added Kunigami. Nagi felt dizzy, so he closed his eyes.

At that moment Nagi understood what Reo had done. How Reo had erased himself from his friends’ minds and filled the gaps with Nagi’s presence. Reo had basically left him everything, assuring him a good life. A life he hadn’t planned to share with Nagi since he had asked Nagi to not look for him.

Seishiro was going to kick Reo’s self-sacrificing ass.

Nagi sighed exasperated and focused on Kunigami. Again, reminding himself that this was not his friends’ fault. “Right… Sorry, I’m still a little confused.” Seishiro said. Rensuke shot him a reassuring smile. Nagi wanted to leave.

“Have you guys seen Shidou?” Seishiro asked, with the intention of leaving his friends to go find the stranger. He didn’t want to lose his patience with his housemates.

“Oh! Yeah, your friend… He is in the backyard, I think,” answered Bachira. “Where did you meet that guy, by the way? I didn’t think you had other friends but us.” He added, looking at Nagi with curious eyes.

Nagi deadpanned at him.

“Hey! Don’t be imprudent, Bachira. Of course, he knew more people. Nagi was a loner but that doesn’t mean he didn’t know anyone but us.” Reprimanded Kunigami. “Ignore him, Nagi. You go look for your friend,” he added. Bachira clicked his tongue.

Nagi nodded and started walking to the crystal door that led to the yard when a hand grabbed his right wrist. Seishiro turned sharply and his eyes encountered Isagi’s black ones.

Nagi cursed internally.

“Nagi, I just wanted to tell you that I’m sorry I made you upset right after you woke up.” Isagi apologized, letting go of Seishiro’s wrist. The taller sighed.

“Don’t worry about it, Isagi. I was on edge; I shouldn’t have threatened you.” The white-haired replied calmly. Isagi gave him a small reassuring smile and a nod.

Nagi turned and left for the backyard hurriedly.

“Do you think he is fine?” whispered Bachira, reclining on Isagi’s shoulder while watching Nagi walking through the yard. Isagi nodded his head. “Yeah, he is fine. But I think something is wrong… I just don’t know what it is,” Yoichi replied, remembering how on edge Nagi had been when he had woken up, desperately looking for someone called Reo.   

/././.

Nagi walked through the mansion’s backyard for a few minutes until finally found Shidou running around the football court. The tanned guy stopped when saw the white-haired approaching. Nagi made a face and started walking to the center of the field, where Shidou was now waiting for him with a cocky smile.

“Would you look at that! Phwee… You look way better like this, no wonder Reo couldn’t stop talking about you…” Shidou commented with a smirk, looking at Nagi from head to toe. The taller glared at him. Ryusei chuckled in amusement. “Your eyes yell determination now, I guess you got all your memories back. Good for you, bed hair.”

“You said you would explain, now explain,” demanded Seishiro. Shidou snickered.

“All right, Romeo, where do you want me to start? From where things went to shit? Or the part where things were already shit and went shittier?” Ryusei asked amused. Nagi deadpanned at him. “Right, right, I’ll start from where things started going to shit then…” He said, sitting down on the ground and patting the spot beside him, signaling Nagi to sit down too. “It’s a long story, you may wanna sit down.” He added.

Nagi sighed annoyed but sat beside Ryusei. Shidou smirked victoriously.

“Now, now, before I do anything, I need you to use your telekinesis to cover us.” Shidou said. Nagi frowned confused. “Let me explain you something. If I use my ability to show you my memories, we’ll be discovered,” he explained. “There’s no safe environment for us, psychics, out here. Those who took your purple bun are still hunting us down. We can’t risk it.”

Seshiro looked at him questioningly, wondering what did the other mean. He was bewildered. Again, Shidou’s words were not making any sense for Nagi. Seishiro kept an intense look on the other, urging him to explain.

“Okay, okay, pay attention to what I’m going to say. Don’t get lost.” Shidou warned. Nagi kept on staring at him. Ryusei clicked his tongue. “So, the ones who took Reo are a group of extremist militaries who decided that the best way to acquire power and govern was to use psychics. They took Reo, broke him and now they use him to control the country.” Explained Shidou. Nagi felt his guts twist. “While you were sleeping, they used your darling’s power to brainwash people and take control of everything. They are the ones who govern the country now and, as long as they are able to use Reo’s ability, they’ll stay in power.”

Nagi was looking at Shidou with wide, startled eyes. What he was saying sounded surreal. “Wait, Reo couldn’t… He – “

Shidou interrupted him.

“You are right, he couldn’t- wouldn’t. Not willingly at least. Those people subjected him to torture processes and broke him. They somehow magnified his power to a level where he can reach the minds of everyone in the country, but they must have put his consciousness down, basically turning him into a mindless tool.” He added in a serious tone.

“A mindles- But… He was in my mind… He woke me up, he… You said… He can’t be… lost,” exhaled Nagi, taking on the seriousness of the matter.

Ryusei shook his head. “Well, we don’t know when that happened,” – Nagi frowned, not understanding what the other meant – “What I mean is, Reo had been trying to wake you up since I met him. At that time, he said he was already making progress. I don’t know what happened after I escaped. And that was at least three months ago. As a telepath, I could feel his presence in your mind, but it disappeared the moment you woke up.” Shidou explained.

Nagi felt as if his mind was going to explode. He understood what the other was saying, but it was confusing, and the story was missing a lot of pieces.

“Nagi,” Ryusei looked at him with a level of seriousness that Nagi didn’t think the other was capable of. “Make a barrier around us so I can show you what happened while I was with Reo in that place. We were cellmates. After that, you’ll understand what I’m saying and what I’m trying to do, I promise. If I use my ability now, Reo’s telepathy will sense me, and they will come for us.” Explained the tanned guy.

Nagi looked at him with narrowed eyes. “So, they use him to track psychics? Will Reo not find me too if I use my ability?”

Shidou shook his head negatively. “No, because it’s you. You are literally the only person who is exempt from anything that has to do with his ability, because you are Reo’s most important person. No matter how lost his mind is, he would never let anything happen to you. I know that for a fact and I’m sure you believe it too.” Reasoned Shidou. Nagi pouted, remembering, once again, how Reo would do anything to protect him, while he had been helpless when it had been his turn to protect. It was a searing thought that hurt him to the core.

“If you don’t believe me, just think about how you used your ability yesterday to scare poor Isagi and we didn’t have the whole military in our doorstep a second later.” Ryusei added, with a knowing look. “It was a risky move, but it proved my theory right. You are still being protected by Reo.”

Nagi gulped, that statement hurt him.

“Yesterday’s leak of power was too brief; he wouldn’t have sensed it.” Nagi argued, not ready to accept that, even thou they’ve been separated, Reo was still taking care of him. 

Shidou shook his head. “No, he would have. Don’t underestimate your own boyfriend, he is freaking powerful now.”

Seishiro lowered his eyes to the ground while a painful thought crossed his mind. “He is not my boyfriend… I couldn’t ask him to be, and I couldn’t even tell him how I felt about him. He is not my boyfriend.” Seishiro explained in a low, sad tone, balling his fists and mad at himself for have missed all the opportunities he had have to offer Reo a proper relationship.

Ryusei made a face, empathizing with the taller and how that matter seemed to upset him. He clicked his tongue. “Well… That’s another reason to go save him, don’t you think? Reo said you lacked motivation but not determination. We’ll get him back and you’ll be able to shower him with love, I promise.” He stated with a smirk.

Nagi glared at him and exhaled deeply before waving his right hand in front of him.

Immediately, something like a transparent cloak surrounded and cocooned them.

“Holy shit! How the hell did you lose against Barou? You are clearly fucking skilled!” commented Shidou, looking at the cover that surrounded them with wide, amazed eyes. “Trust me, what you just did is not as easy as you made it seem.” He added. But Nagi ignored half of his comment.

“Barou?” Asked the taller, confused.

Shidou nodded, “The guy who attacked you and took Reo. A heartless tyrant who enjoys seeing others suffer. He’s yours when we go get Reo by the way, so you’ll get your sweet revenge,” he added with a knowing smirk and a wink.

Nagi scowled. Yeah, that Barou was going to pay.

“Anyway, first thing first,” said Shidou, extending his left arm in Nagi’s direction. The taller glowered at him.

“Grab my hand and I’ll take you on a trip around my memories. It’s like 4D but better, I assure you.” Shidou said, looking at Nagi expectantly and with a considerable level of excitement. Seishiro observed him skeptically. “Aww, come on, no backing up now.” Shidou insisted making eyes at him.

Nagi groaned but took Shidou’s hand.

Suddenly, he felt a pull in the stomach and his eyesight went white for a second before everything around acquired color again.

The feeling was bizarre, but the view was startling.

Chapter Text

The first thing Nagi saw was a long rectangular room and a tall red-headed girl standing in front of him. No, not a girl, that’s Chigiri – a voice in his head whispered. The whole room was surrounded by a thick wall made of glass. No, not glass, that’s diamond – the voice provided again.

The girl – not girl – Chigiri turned to him and asked, “Do you think they got another one?”

Nagi just stared at him, not knowing what the other meant. And he was startled when felt his body moving and saying, “I don’t know, princess. But I do hope they don’t.” It was Shidou’s voice.

Nagi was seeing everything from Shidou’s perspective. In this place – memory? – he was Shidou.

“Oh…”

…

Third person’s POV.

Shidou approached the red-head and rested his elbow on the other’s shoulder. The other shot him a glare but didn’t say anything, and both turned to look to the front, through the diamond wall.

By the other side of the shiny wall the room expanded into a big laboratory filled with big machines and chemical substances. All the walls were covered in metal and the people wore grey uniforms and black helmets.

The metallic door of the big room slid open and through it Barou entered, followed by a slimer figure which seemed to be struggling to walk, as if his legs were moving against his will and he was fighting with himself.

Shidou and Chigiri gulped and backed away when a small area by the right side of the diamond wall moved, opening the cell they were trapped in. Barou entered and shot a dirty glare to Chigiri and Shidou. They just observed him, they knew better than to provoke him.

After Barou entered, the figure that was struggling behind him got thrown against the wall by the other side of the room by an invisible force – Barou’s telekinesis. The figure hit the diamond wall and fell on his knees with a loud thud and a groan.

Shidou and Chigiri were static while watching the scene. 

“This is your new roommate, treat him well. He might worth way more than you two together.” Barou warned before turning around and walking out of the small room. The diamond glass closed behind him, leaving Shidou and Chigiri with the new guy.

The new guy seemed tall but slim and his hair was purple. He wasn’t moving; he was knelt on the ground with his face lowered, obscuring it from the other two.

“Umm… Hey!” Called Chigiri, taking a step to the front, approaching the guy.

Immediately, the purple -haired snapped his head up and looked at them with menacing eyes.

Shidou felt the other’s intention to use his telepathy and immediately stepped in front of Chigiri, covering him from the other’s ability. “No, hey! We are on your side. We won’t hurt you,” Shidou said, lifting his hands by his side, as a sign of peace. “We are not like him. We are not like Barou,” he added pointing at someone behind the diamond wall.

Reo carefully observed the two in front of him, analyzing them.

“You can check my mind; you can see it there.” Shidou insisted.

Reo used his telepathy and connected with Shidou’s mind. Ryusei bit his lip. Letting someone look into your thoughts was not an especially comfortable feeling, but he needed the other to trust them.

After a few seconds, Reo lowered his eyes to the ground and sighed frustrated. “My name is Reo Mikage.” He said. The other two shared a glance.

“I’m Hyoma Chigiri. This is Ryusei Shidou,” said the red-haired one, coming out from behind the tanned one. “And just like you, we are trapped here.”

Reo shifted and moved to comfortably sit on the ground. He crossed his legs, closed his eyes, and settled his hands over his thighs. Concentrating.

Chigiri made a confused face and turned to look at Shidou. The taller sighed.

“It won’t work. You can’t use your power here. You won’t get shit. Do you think the diamond walls are for decoration? They repel our abilities.” Shidou said out loud, looking at Reo with meaningful eyes.

Reo ignored him and used all his power to try and push his telepathy through the walls, but he accomplished nothing. Shidou was right, his power wouldn’t leave the room. It literally bounced against the walls surrounding them.

After a few seconds of trying and failing, he yelled in frustration and punched the wall beside him. “Fuck…” he whined helplessly.

Reo opened his eyes and looked at the other two with pleading eyes.

“I need to get out of here. I need to get out of here now.” He stood up and took a step to approach the other two. Shidou made a face and stared at him, and Chigiri put on a defensive stance. Reo stopped and his eyes filled with tears. “Please…My- my friend is hurt. That guy hurt him. I tried… I tried to wake him up, but I couldn’t. I- “ Reo closed his eyes and tears rolled down his cheeks.

Chigiri lowered his eyes, feeling bad for the newcomer. Shidou just observed him with a serious face.

“I tried to- to connect with some friends to go look for him but I don’t know if it worked. My connection broke, I couldn’t…” Reo balled his fists and turned his head to the side. “His mind was blank; he was gone… he was just gone…” The purple-haired one lifted his hands to cover his face while his whimper turned into crying. 

Hyoma sighed. Shidou made a pained face. “They must have put him in a coma,” he said. Reo and Chigiri lifted their eyes to look at him. “If they used those disgusting substances they developed to keep us at bay, then is probable. The dose makes the poison. That shit is lethal for normal people, so I imagine your friend is a psychic.” Explained the taller.

Reo felt his heart breaking at hearing those words. The thought of Nagi being in a coma was just as scary as to not know what had happened to him. It didn’t change the fact that Reo hadn’t been able to do anything, and that he was completely helpless now.

Reo let out a pained exhale. “I couldn’t help him; I couldn’t do anything. My mind went blank for a moment and then things were just wrong. I couldn’t even feel them coming or anything. I – “

The red-haired sighed tiredly. “Hey, Reo, look, I’m sorry about your friend and what happened to you, I am. But you are trapped here now, and you don’t know what is coming for you. There’s no easy answer for your situation but self-pity sure won’t help.”

“Chigiri…” Warned Shidou in a sharp tone.

“Well, we’re in a bad place, Shidou. We’ve been tortured again and again, and I don’t think they’ll stop. So, I suggest we put our shit together and start planning how to get out of here!” Hyoma looked at them with determined eyes.

“Chigiri, you are heartless bastard. You know that, right?”

Hyoma rolled his eyes. “I’m just stating facts. Else, you know I’m right. And I’m sure he sense I’m right too!” he exclaimed shooting a glance at Reo. The purple-haired kept his eyesight on the floor. “Welcome to the nightmare, Reo Mikage.” He added turning around and walking to the bed by the far end of the back of the room.

Reo made a face and turned, walking to the bed closer to him, the one in front of the room’s entrance. He sat there and hid his face in between his hands.

“Forgive him… He is just… We’ve been through a lot. Sorry.” Said Shidou, who was still standing by the middle of the room. He sighed and walked to lie down on the only bed that was empty, the one in the center of the room.

They remained silent. Each lost in their own thoughts.

A few hours later, the diamond door opened and Barou stood by it. Reo shot him a murderous glare. Barou scoffed. “Come with me, newbie,” he called. Reo scowled and Barou rolled his eyes. “As you wish.”

Suddenly, Reo’s body was being dragged out of the room by an invisible force. Reo’s body moved by its own while he struggled. Shidou saw the scene with pity. He knew firsthand how awful that feeling was. To be helpless against a force that could control your body, your movements. To have your body move against your will and not be able to fight the invisible force.

They took Reo and Shidou and Chigiri were alone in the room once again.

“He is strong. His telepathy is strong. Do you think… He is the one they need?” Shidou asked. Chigiri sighed and shook his head.

“If he is, we need to get out now. If they manage to use him to control everyone, there’s no hope. They’ll subdue the country and get what they want. And there will be no power to stop them.” Chigiri reasoned. Shidou massaged his temple.

“I know, I know… But it will depend on him. On his own strength to hold them up. However… these people doesn’t look at us as humans, just things that they can break. And we both know that they can break us.” Reminded Ryusei, remembering the torture he and Chigiri had suffered during the last four months they’ve been trapped there.  

“Fuck…” Cursed the red-haired.

Barou brought Reo back after almost two weeks. He was unconscious, so the telekinetic put him on his bed and left. Shidou and Chigiri ran to check on him.

“Hey, Reo… Reo…” Called Shidou, shaking the other. But Reo barely looked alive. He was pale and the right side of his head was caked with blood, he was cold, and many bruises decorated his arms and face.

“Damnit.” Chigiri cursed, running to grab the duvet on his bed and bringing it to cover Reo with it, hoping to warm him up. Shidou put his hand on Reo’s forehead and closed his eyes, trying to use his telepathy to wake him up.

After a few seconds, he sighed and removed his hand.

“He’s far away; he won’t wake up any time soon.” Shidou commented, looking at the unconscious guy in worry. “We’ll just have to wait.”

The two psychics went to sit on Shidou’s bed, waiting.

When Reo finally woke up, it was late at night. Chigiri and Shidou were already trying to sleep when they heard rustle coming from the purple-haired’s bed. Ryusei turned on the light and sat up, observing how the other telepath slowly rose from the bed and looked around in confusion.

“Where am I?” asked Reo in a raspy voice. Chigiri and Shidou shared a look.

 “The military facility… You disappeared for more than a week,” gave Ryusei. Reo looked at him with confused eyes but nodded his head and turned his eyes to his lap, as if he was trying to remember.

“Are you okay?” asked Chigiri. Reo lifted his eyes and focused on him.

Reo nodded twice. “I- I’m not sure of what happened, but I think I did something… bad,” he admitted, blinking slowly. He looked lost and weak.

“It’s fine. You should rest, so you can feel better.” Shidou suggested with a small smile, because the other didn’t look well.

“I think… I think I made them forget… They made me make them forget about me… Even Nagi…” Said the purple-haired in a trembling tone with his unfocused gaze swaying on his lap. “I don’t even know how I did it but… They won’t remember me… They’ll forget… He’ll forget…” Reo slumped on the bed while his eyesight got lost on the ceiling and tears left his eyes. “Nagi please don’t… forget me…” his eyes closed, and he was completely out a second later.

Shidou turned to Chigiri with wide, worried eyes. Chigiri bit his lip.

Reo woke up four days later. He sat up and looked around, noticing Shidou and Chigiri looking at him with wide eyes.

“Hey! Purple bun. Welcome to the land of the living,” greeted Shidou, shooting him a small smile. Reo groaned and put his right hand on his head, closing his eyes in pain.

“I… What happened?” he asked confused.

Shidou shook his head. “You tell us. You disappeared for days and then remained unconscious for almost a week. How do you feel?”

Reo made a face. “I can’t remember anything… But my head is killing me…” He sighed and reclined against the headboard.

Chigiri, who was finishing his bowl of fruit – from breakfast – stood up and walked to Reo’s bed. “Here, you must be hungry, finish this.” He said, offering the rest of his bowl to Reo. The purple-haired looked at him with surprised eyes but took the bowl with a grateful nod. He was starving.

“Th-thank you…” he whispered and started eating. Chigiri nodded and walked back to his spot on the floor, in front of Shidou’s bed. The tanned guy looked at him with a smirk.

“Now that you are finally awake, we need to talk,” stated Chigiri in a serious tone, looking meaningfully at Reo. The purple-haired nodded in understanding.

Chigiri and Shidou told Reo what they knew about the military who had captured them and their plan to conquer the country by using a telepath.

“So, if we want to keep people safe, we need to escape,” concluded Reo. Chigiri nodded.

“Do you have any idea of how to do that?”

“No, not one. We came here a few months before you and, just like you, there are entire weeks that we can’t remember because they kept messing with us. So, we haven’t had the time to plan things.” Hyoma explained. “However, we do know how to open this cell. But we haven’t found a good way to go out of this facility,” he added.

Reo nodded in understanding. “I’ll find us a way out.” Stated Reo with determination. “I’ll do it.”

Chigiri chuckled unamused. “You make it sound as if it was easy.”

“Maybe it ain’t easy, but I have to get out of this place, one way or another.” Reo stated. “There’s someone that I need to save.”

…

A few weeks passed like that, with Reo disappearing for days and coming back in worse shape each time. Sometimes he would come back walking on his own, and the others Barou would just throw his unconscious body on the bed. But every time he was back, he would sleep most of the time and talk about trivial things with the other two when he was awake. Especially with Shidou who was the only one who wouldn’t leave the room since Reo had gotten there.

Chigiri would be taken from their cell from time to time, but he would be out for only a few hours.  However, every time he came back, his body was covered in bruises and marks.

That was their routine.

“So, how long have you been here Chigiri?” Reo asked from his bed. He was lying there, looking at the ceiling, waiting for the pain in his head to pass.

Shidou was taking a nap and Chigiri was sitting on his own bed, reading an old magazine – for the tenth time.

“I can’t even remember… months before you, I think,” he replied without taking his eyes from the article.

“What did they bring you here for? Do they also experiment on you?” Reo asked, sending a glance at him.

Chigiri was silent for a few seconds and Reo thought that he wouldn’t reply to his question. “No… They make me train… You know, with fucking Barou. As if they didn’t know that he is a bully… I train with him, they make us duel between each other.” Chigiri replied with a scowl.

Reo widened his eyes.

“You… I haven’t asked but… Are you a telekinetic?” Reo turned his body to lie on his left side and be able to face his roommates.

“Something like that… I’m a pyrokinetic. I use fire.”

Reo widened his eyes at the new information. Chigiri closed his magazine and turned to face Reo.

“I control fire,” Hyoma said, opening his hand in front of him and creating a flame that hovered over his palm. “I can do anything that I want with it… But that’s about it.” He closed his hand and the flame disappeared. “I can’t win against a telekinetic, they have more options under their reach.”

Reo scowled, “I’ve never met a pyrokinetic, I think your ability is pretty cool, don’t underestimate it.”

“It would be cool if it could get me out of this place, but no, so…” Chigiri sighed tiredly. “Anyway… So, who is Nagi?”

Reo widened his eyes and bit his lip, remembering that he had only talked about Nagi with Shidou before, at those times when there were just the two of them, while waiting for Chigiri to be back.

“He…” He looked down sadly. “He is my best friend… We’ve been together since we were young so… But now… I mean, he is in coma so…” he simply said, not wanting to explain further.

“Umm, I get it. For me, I have my mother and my sister. Luckily, the day they took me I was alone, so nobody got hurt, but I’m sure they must have suffered when I disappeared. I think Shidou was alone too when they took him. But, since the first thing they did with you was to take down your friend, then they might have known that he was a psychic too.” Reasoned Hyoma.

Reo made a face. “This place… I thought that I could use my telepathy once I was out of this cage, but it is still very hard to use it even when they take me out for experiments. It has something else, doesn’t it?” asked Reo.

Chigiri frowned.

“There’s some kind of interference installed along the walls, they mess up with our minds so we can’t pass them,” answered Shidou sleepily, not moving from his position on the bed. “Your telepathy won’t bounce back like inside this room, but you’ll have a hard time going through it…”

“Look who decided to wake up,” commented Chigiri.

“I figured… If I find a way to pass through it, I may reach Nagi,” said Reo, looking at his hands.

“Even if you could, and really, it is not very probable, but if you could pass through that security field surrounding us, you would still have to find him in between thousands of people and, in case you find him, use your telepathy to somehow bring him out of a coma,” reasoned Shidou with a frown. “Don’t you think your plan is a little too optimistic?”

Reo looked to the side. “They managed to make me erase myself from their memories. I’m sure there is a way… I need to find the way to help him.”

“As I see it, to escape from here is your best option,” Shidou insisted.

Reo sighed. “I will find a way to get us out of here. But in the meantime, I will try to reach him too… Even if it is in vain.” he stated.

“Hey, once we are all out, we’ll help you go back to Nagi and do whatever it takes to bring him back.” stated Chigiri with a reassuring smile. “I promise.”

Reo smiled at him, grateful.

…

After almost three months of Reo’s arrival, Chigiri and Shidou noticed that the other’s behavior was starting to change. He was less and less talkative and he seemed to be lost in thought most of the time. Also, it was clear that his health was decaying too. So, they were worried.

“Reo… What happens when they take you out? What are they doing to you?” Asked Chigiri one night, while he and Shidou ate dinner. 

Reo was lying on his bed, facing the ceiling and with his eyes closed. He was not eating, he was exhausted.

Reo opened his eyes and glanced at his friends. “I’m not sure anymore… At first, all I could feel was pain, everywhere. They would inject me with some substances that made my body burn from the inside. I wanted to die at those times,” he said sincerely. “But now… Something has change with my telepathy, I can feel it. It is harder to control so I just let it free. I’ve noticed that it lets me slip away from the pain, so I don’t know what they do to me anymore. When I’m back, everything is over.”

Shidou and Chigiri looked at him with wide eyes.

“What do you mean… It lets you slip away?” asked Chigiri curiously.

“Umm… It’s like… As if I had two options. I can go into an infinite darkness, or I can go to Nagi…” – The others shared a concerned look – “I don’t understand it myself but… Is as if I can go away for a while…” Reo was looking down, as if remembering something. “I think the darkness is when I’m unconscious. Or I should be unconscious but I’m conscious about it, it’s bizarre. When it happens, it is cold and lonely, and time feels like forever. Is scary but it completely mutes the pain.”

Shidou frowned, “That sounds awful.”

Reo nodded agreeing but then a smile formed on his face. “But most of the time I choose to go to Nagi… It’s like… I can still feel my body faintly, but my mind can finally move away from here… I managed to pass through the walls and to locate his mind in between thousands of people.” Reo frowned. “But then, there’s this wall. This something that doesn’t let me into his mind. His own psychic power. So that’s as far as I can get. I cannot reach him completely.” He sighed frustrated.

“You… What? Reo that’s not… You’re telling me that while they subject your body, your brain, to who knows what kind of crazy processes, you just let them to use your telepathy to go find your friend?” Argued Shidou.

Reo snorted. “When you say it like that it sounds… bad.”

“Well, it is bad! How long have you done this?”

The purple-haired one shrugged. “Since I realized that to leave this place mentally was easier than to leave it physically. I can’t wait until we escape, I need to wake him up before – “ Reo bit on his lip, he was good at thinking the worse. “Before something else happens to him.”

“What you’re doing is nuts. Do you have a death wish?” asked Shidou.

“I just want Nagi to wake up. I just want to wake him up, that’s all.” Reo answered in a low tone.

“Reo, you are a human too, you know? There’s only so much strain that you can put your body through. Your brain is not a machine, it is bound to break.” Warned Shidou.

Reo sighed annoyed.

“Chigiri, your thoughts?”

“If he wants to kill himself, that’s his problem. As long as he tells us how to get out of here first, I don’t care.” Said Chigiri with a shrug.

Shidou rolled his eyes. “Lovely, Chigiri, thank you. Fuck.”

Reo smiled, at that point he could already hear his friend’s real thoughts without any effort, and they would enter his head swiftly, so it wasn’t unpleasant anymore, it was reassuring.

Reo knew that Chigiri was worried too, and he didn’t mean his words. Nevertheless, for Reo, nothing was more important than to save Nagi. Not even himself.

“Reo…”

“Shidou, all I want is to save Nagi. I have to…”

“Even if it costs you your life?!”

“He is… The only reason I have to live… I want him to… Have a life. A future. I’ll wake him up and after that…”

He left his phrase hanging but they all knew what he was thinking. After he saved Nagi, he would just stop fighting and probably die.

“Your life is not expendable! Don’t be an idiot. Else, have you even thought about what Nagi would want? Because I’m pretty sure he doesn’t’ want you dead!”

“Don’t worry, he…” - Reo squeezed his eyes and turned to face the wall – “He won’t remember me, anyway…” A tear rolled down Reo’s cheek.

Shidou looked down defeated. It was obvious that he was not going to make Reo change his opinion. It was frustrating, but it was reality.

Chigir, finished eating and silently went to his bed, wondering what the future held for them.

…

The next time Reo disappeared and came back three days later, he looked half dead and could barely keep himself awake. However, before completely losing consciousness in between Shidou’s arms, he said, “I did it… I managed to reach Nagi’s subconscious mind,” Reo smiled to himself. “I can feel him now. Just a little more and I’ll be able to find a way to wake him up. I’ll bring him out of the coma…I’ll save him…”

Ryusei and Hyoma shared a distressed look.

Chapter Text

Barou threw Reo’s unstable body inside the room, making the telepath to fall on his knees in front of his bed. Luckily, he managed to grab the edge of the bed, so his face didn’t hit the ground.

The door closed and Chigiri and Shidou ran to help the purple haired one.

“Fuck! Reo, are you okay?” asked Chigiri in worry while grabbing Reo’s left arm and rubbing his back. Reo hummed lowly. Hyoma and Ryusei pulled him up and sat him on his bed.

Reo’s body was dangerously rocking to the front and back, not being able to keep his body still. Chigiri and Shidou shared a concerned look. Reo was extremely pale, and he looked as if he was going to pass out any time. His body was trembling and his breathing heavy. He looked terrible.

“Reo,” called Chigiri, who was now sitting on the bed beside the other. “What did they do to you?” He lifted his right hand and cupped the other’s cheek, trying to make him focus on him.

Reo leaned on the warm hand and lifted his eyes to the red-haired. His purple eyes wouldn’t completely focus. “Nagi…” Reo exhaled before his eyes rolled back and his body felt unconscious on the bed.

“Reo!” exclaimed Chigiri anxiously, climbing on the bed and pulling the other’s body into a comfortable position by the center of it. Hyoma sighed and let his body fall, lying face up beside Reo, by the edge of the bed. “He’s getting worse, at this rate…” he left his sentence hanging in the air.

Shidou made a face and averted his eyes from Reo. He was worried too. He knew that Reo’s condition was getting worse by the day, and he felt helpless because they hadn’t managed to make any progress in their plan to escape. It was frustrating and discouraging.

Ryusei walked to sit on his bed, facing his friends. “Maybe we could wreak havoc or something. That would call their attention...” He suggested with a shrug. Chigiri rolled his eyes and turned his head to deadpan at him.

“Yeah, sure, how do you think we would do that? You two telepaths can’t do shit to them since they are always wearing those helmets and me… Should I remind you that I’m here only because they thought I was a telepath?” asked the red-haired, lifting an eyebrow. “My point is, we are trapped in here because we can’t fight back. That’s why they don’t bring in telekinetics. That’s why they put Reo’s darling down. We are helpless.” Hyoma covered his eyes with his arm, frustrated.

“I mean…I’m sure that if we try something –“ Shidou stopped talking when heard a groan coming from Reo.

Chigiri sat up and reclined to hover above the telepath. Reo shifted to the side and opened his eyes.

“Chigiri?” he called in a raspy tone.

“Hey! You are awake!”

Reo gulped and blinked a few times to focus his eyesight. “I’m back...” He said confused. Chigiri nodded.

“How do you feel?” asked Shidou, walking to stand by the other side of Mikage’s bed.

Reo licked his lips and moved to sit up. He struggled a little but with Chigiri’s and Shidou’s help he managed to sit with his back reclined on the headboard.

Reo lowered his eyes to his lap and remained silent.

“Reo?” called the red-haired, frowning in concern.

Reo blinked slowly and lifted his eyes, as if he wasn’t completely there. “I… I know how to get out,” he whispered. The other two widened their eyes. “I found- I found a way out… We just…” Reo groaned and squeezed his eyes, as if he was in pain. “Just…” he lifted his right arm and pressed his palm against his temple.

The others noticed he was trembling. Chigiri and Shidou could only look at him suffer. They were powerless and knew that they couldn’t do anything to help their friend.

“We can talk after you rest” suggested Chigiri. Placing his hand on Reo’s knee and caressing it reassuringly.

Reo shook his head and looked at them with squinted eyes. “We don’t have much time, they… They’re planning something… We need- We need to leave… Now.” He warned. He closed his eyes and curled up against the headboard.

Shidou widened his eyes in worry when sensed Reo’s distress.

“But you- “ started Chigiri with a concerned voice. “Yeah, we need to leave.” Interrupted him Shidou.

Hyoma glared at Shidou, disconcerted. “You shitting me? Look at him! He won’t be able to leave the fucking room!” he complained.

“Chigiri, you heard him, we don’t have time!” countered Shidou. “Things might just get worse after this! If we lose Reo, that’s it, we’re finished! He is the only chance we have!”

Chigiri made a face and looked down. He knew that Shidou was right, but he didn’t want to risk it. Reo was his friend and he didn’t want him to get worse. He was worried that Reo’s body would collapse from the strain and exhaustion. He didn’t want to hurt him more.

“Chigiri…” Called Reo. Both guys turned to him. “We can do it tonight. After- after the lights are out. By then… I’ll feel better and we’ll be able to leave. It has to be today.” Reo stated, looking at his friend with serious eyes.

The red-haired made a defeated face. “Why does it have to be today? What’s the hurry now?”

Reo gave him a small, tired smile. “I heard them… They said I’m ready… Thou… I don’t know what for… But I’m sure next time they may not bring me back.” Reo, even though he looked pitiful, he still looked sure while speaking.

Chigiri sighed and stood from the bed. Reo was observing him with hopeful eyes. Chigiri snorted. “Alright, as you wish. But you better rest now! And you’ll remain by my side all the time!” Hyoma demanded. Reo chuckled and nodded.

“Right… I guess this will be it, then.” Said Shidou while stretching his arms. “We have around 5 hours before they turn off the lights. You better go to sleep purple-bun, we need you.”

Reo nodded and turned to lie conformably on his side. Chigiri and Shidou walked to their respective beds to rest.

…..

Shidou and Chigiri woke up a few hours later, just when they felt the people outside their cell leave the room.

“It’s almost time…” whispered Chigiri, sitting up on his bed. Shidou turned and nodded at him.

They stood up and walked to Reo.

Chigiri knelt beside Reo’s bed and shook him lightly by the shoulder. Reo’s eyes fluttered open and focused on the red head with sleepy eyes.

“Reo, lights will be out soon, it’s time to go…” whispered Hyoma, looking at his friend with sympathetic eye and feeling bad for having to wake him up on his weak state.

Mikage nodded and rubbed his eyes while rising up with Chigiri’s help. He sat up and settled his feet on the ground while grabbing onto the edge of his bed with both hands, to keep his body steady and try to stop its trembling. He closed his eyes for a few seconds, trying to focus on what they were doing and soothe the constant pounding on his head.

His roommates looked at him with concern.

“Okay…” Reo said, taking a deep breath and looking up at his friends. “Give me your hands.” He requested, lifting his trembling hands to the front, with his palms up. The others frowned confused but did as they were told. Each placed a hand over Reo’s opened palms. Then, brusquely, a carrousel of images passed in front of their eyes in a second while new information settled on their brains.

Suddenly, they knew exactly the whole plan of how they were going to leave that place.

Chigiri took a step back and lifted his hands to his head, startled by what had just happened, looking at Reo with wide eyes.

Shidou looked at him with widen eyes. “How the fuck did you do that?”

Reo let his hands fall limp over his lap while shaking his head. “That ain’t important… Do you understand the plan?” he asked weakly, looking meaningfully at them. Shidou snorted but nodded his head.

Chigiri just observed him, wondering what had those people done to Reo to increase his power so much in so little time.

“I don’t know either, Chigiri, but my only real concern now is to get out of here,” said Reo out loud, hearing Chigiri’s thoughts in his head. He couldn’t control reading minds anymore. The red head blushed in embarrassment.

Reo had gained power, new abilities, but the stronger his telepathy got, the harder it was for him to control it. It took everything of him to keep his power from slipping away from his grasp, and he was afraid of what could happen if he lost complete control of it.

Shidou gulped and stared at Reo. He was clearly stronger, but Shidou didn’t know how much. Shidou used to be able to read some of the other’s thoughts, but right now it was completely blank. There was something strong keeping him away from Reo’s mind, he couldn’t reach him. But at the same time, he could feel Reo entering his mind and thoughts without any effort. He had no way to defend himself from the purple head’s telepathy now.

“Don’t worry, I won’t hurt you or anything. Else, I’m just too tired,” said Reo to Shidou, while standing up from his bed – just like with Chigiri, he had read his thoughts too. “Alright. It’s time.” He said, facing his friends with determined eyes before the lights around them went off.

“Let’s go,” said Chigiri, turning around to open the diamond door of their cage. The lock was tricky and hard to open, but he had prepared his tools for months, using the bars that held his mattress and using his fire to shape them.

It took him a good ten minutes, but he managed to open the door in the end.

Shidou was the first one to go out, to check that there was nobody outside, and signaled his friends to come out. Chigiri grabbed Reo’s left hand and pulled him to walk alongside him. He knew that the other was too weak and unsteady to go by his own, so Chigiri made it his duty to act as his support.

Reo whispered a low ‘thanks’ and they started walking through the first aisle, following the instructions Reo had put on their heads.

From time to time, they would have to hide from the guards on duty and be careful with the video cameras, but overall Reo’s plan was brilliant, perfectly avoiding every obstacle and taking them safely to their exit.

They walked for around fifteen minutes until they reached the last phase which consisted on a long aisle that ended on a ventilation window. That was their exit.

“That’s it, that’s the one!” exclaimed Shidou, walking faster along the aisle. Chigiri smiled and squeezed Reo’s hand. Reo sighed relieved.

They reached the window, which was divided in three small fins, and started to remove the screws that held the fins glued to the frame. They just needed to remove two of them so they could fit through it.

They’ve completely removed one when Reo gasped and turned around, feeling a presence approaching from the other side of the dark aisle. The others snapped their heads at him.

“Well, well, well, what do we have here?” came Barou’s menacing voice from behind them. The three psychics widened their eyes. “Sneaky lab rats trying to make a run for it? How fun.” Mocked the black-haired guy, looking at them in anger.

Reo gulped and took a step back, feeling how his telepathy bounced against Barou’s telekinetic mind.

Barou lifted his hands in their direction, ready to use his ability to stop them, but before he could do anything, Chigiri cursed loudly and stepped in front of Reo and Shidou, lifting his hands up and firing a strong flare in the direction of Barou. The dark-haired psychic growled and stopped the flare with his telekinesis, just before it hit him.

Chigiri didn’t stop attacking, maintaining his flare and pushing all his strength on it. “You guys open that window and go!” he yelled above the loud rumbling that his ability made.

Ryusei and Reo were looking at the scene in awe, amazed by Chigiri’s display of power. Nevertheless, they could see that it was taking everything from their friend to keep their enemy at bay.

Reo turned and pulled Shidou to keep on their task to remove the screws. They were about to remove the second fin when heard Chigiri gasp in pain behind them. They turned their heads and saw the red head kneeling on the ground, using the last of his strength to keep his almost extinguished flare.

“Chigiri!” screamed Reo while his friend’s body got abruptly thrown against the side wall by an invisible force, falling harshly to the floor.

The telepaths widened their eyes when Barou’s furious stare fell on them. “Motherfuckers.” He growled in rage.

Reo balled his fists and took a step to the front. “STOP!” he yelled and used all the power of his telepathy to stop Barou. The telekinetic’s body completely froze in place and was only able to move his eyes to look at Reo with pure anger.

“Ah…” Reo whined, feeling as if his head was going to rip apart. He fell on his knees and clawed at his tights, trying to stop the frenzied force that was Barou. “Shi-Shidou… I c- I can’t stop him much longer, you… You need to leave” said Reo, lowering his head in pain.

Barou managed to take one step to the front. Reo moaned in pain.

Shidou shook his head and was about to retore when felt a pressure on his neck, constricting his windpipe. He widened his eyes and lifted his eyes, noticing that Barou’s murderous eyes were settled on him. He was using his telekinesis to strangle him. Shidou felt fear.

“NO!” screamed Reo when felt how his control over Barou was fading, he couldn’t take it anymore, they were going to lose.

But, suddenly, Chigiri’s strong flare appeared from beside him, hitting Barou straight in the face – or almost, because he managed to stop the attack with his telekinesis just in time, but had to let go of Shidou for that.

Ryusei gasped and coughed, desperately looking at his friends, not knowing how to help them.

“SHIDOU, GO!” Yelled Chigiri from the floor. His head was bleeding and he looked as if he was going to pass out anytime.

Shidou felt his heart constrict. He wasn’t going to go; he couldn’t leave his friends. It wasn’t fair. He couldn’t just escape and leave them to their luck, to Barou.

“I can’t, I –“

“Shidou, if one of us manage to leave, that’s already a win for us…” said Reo in a low tone. Shidou couldn’t see his face, but he could see the trembling of his body because of the exertion. “I just… Please if you could go check on Nagi… Just… Make sure that he is fine, please… That’s all I ask…” said Reo before turning his head and giving him a sad smile. There was blood oozing from his nose.

Shidou was about to reply, but then, suddenly, his body froze while all the noise around him muffled. He felt as if his mind was being pushed to the back of his head. It was a bizarre experience. He gasped and saw how his body started moving on its own, turning around and taking out the fin of the window.

‘No…’ he thought. ‘Please…’

‘It’s fine. This is our win…’ Reo’s voice replied from inside of his head.

That’s when Shidou understood that Reo had taken control of his body, he was controlling him so he could escape.

Shidou wanted to cry in frustration and helplessness.

He saw himself getting out the window and sliding down the building using a huge pipe that led to a line of emergency stairs. His body climbed down and started running in the direction of the fence.

Midway, he felt his mind taking back the control of his body and fell unceremoniously on the ground, for the shock of being back in control and not feeling Reo with him anymore.

He turned around to shoot one last glance in the direction of the window he had fled through and shivered when saw Barou’s furious carmine eyes looking at him from up there.  Shidou was sure he was far enough for the other’s telekinesis to not reach him, but an isolating feeling of dread filled his heart at wondering what had happened to his friends.

Shidou climbed the fence and ran for what felt like hours, hiding in the shadows of the night.

After he was sure that he was far away from the military facility, he took a deep breath and sat under a tree, wondering what and where to go next.

He pulled his legs to his chest and hid his face between his knees, feeling completely lost.

He stayed like that for a few minutes, feeling self-pity, when a thought crossed his mind. “Nagi…” he whispered. “I’ll find Nagi.” He stated and stood up, trying to figure out how to find the one telekinetic that maybe could help him.

He sensed a presence far away into the main city. Something that resembled Reo’s presence. And immediately he knew that he would find the person he was looking for if he followed that sense.

“Hold on guys, I’ll come back for you. I promise.” He said, turning around and walking in the direction of the city.

/././

Nagi snapped his eyes open and gasped before standing up and running a few meters away to fall on his knees and harshly retch on the grass. His head was pulsating painfully and his body was shivering slightly. He felt sick.

He incorporated and lifted his head, with his eyes closed, letting the cold breeze wrap him and calm him down.

“I told you, you were in for a ride” came Shidou’s mocking voice from behind him. Nagi took a deep breath and stood up, stumbling back to the telepath who was lying on the ground, facing the sky. He was pale. “Phew… I’ve never done that for so long, it really took a toll on me. My head is killing me.” Commented the tanned guy.

Nagi dropped unceremoniously beside him, face down, with his head turned in the direction of Shidou. Trying to focus his gaze on the other, despite the exhaustion. “How did you find me?” he asked in a weak voice, he felt as if his head was splitting in half.

Ryusei shrugged, “I told you I sensed Reo in you… I just followed his presence…” He explained – or at least tried to explain because he was sure that didn’t sound like an explanation. Shidou sighed, “I mean, I don’t know either. It’s as if I could feel Reo’s mind in an opposite direction of the military facilities, so I just followed that feeling, which ended in you.” He frowned unsure. “It could have also been Reo guiding me to you, you know? At that point I really didn’t know what he was capable of doing anymore. He was very poweful…”

Nagi closed his eyes and said nothing, Shidou’s explanation was not very clear, but the fact that they had psychic abilities was already very bizarre, so maybe there was no logical explanation to what had Reo done to guide the other telepath to him. It was better to just accept it and move on.

“I’m too tired to move…” commented Seishiro, closing his eyes. Ryusei chuckled, “I guess we’ll spend the night out here in the cold then, because I cannot move either.” He replied, letting the tiredness take over him.

“Fine…” whispered Nagi before immediately falling asleep. Ryusei chuckled when heard a low snore and let darkness consume him too.

Chapter Text

Nagi opened his eyes and widened them with a gasp when caught sight of the person in front of him. Everything around him was black except for the white bright spot that he was lying on, and that illuminated the figure lying in front of him, shining on a pair of purple eyes that were intensely staring at him.

Nagi tried to speak but he couldn’t move his lips, or his body. It was as if he was frozen on the spot, only being able to stunningly stare at the person he wanted to find the most.

Reo was lying on his left while Nagi was lying on his right side, facing each other.

Nagi, completely startled and with his eyes widened, tried to run his eyes over the other’s body, only to notice how the brightness of the small spot they were in wouldn’t let him see lower than the other’s forearm.

Seishiro couldn’t understand or explain what was happening, but having Reo so close and not being able to approach him was filling him with desperation.

Was it a dream?

After a few seconds that felt like hours, Reo’s hand moved from under his head, reaching Nagi’s cheek. Seishiro felt the touch and how cold it was against his skin. His eyes pooled with tears while all the pain and guilt hit him with full force.

This wasn’t real.

‘Seishiro… You made me a promise…’

Nagi widened his eyes while the tears rolled from his eyes. He heard Reo’s voice clearly, but the person in front of him had not moved his mouth. The voice was more like an echo that resonated around him.

Nagi wanted to retort.

‘Please… Stop… I won’t be- able to protect you next time…’

Came Reo’s voice once again, while the eyes in front of him acquired a pleading glow.

‘Don’t make me hurt you.’

The voice got a demanding tone, but despite the warning vibrating around him, Nagi couldn’t help but feel his heart throbbing. Because Reo’s voice was strong, but it had a painful quiver to it. Weak and scared.  And even with the white glow under them, Reo looked devastatingly sick.

‘Please, I can’t…’

Came Reo’s voice, as a whisper, and his eyes clouded. Nagi felt something break inside his chest.

Then, suddenly, his eyes felt extremely heavy and closed on their own.

When he opened his eyes again, Seishiro saw the grass under him and felt the cold breeze of dawn blowing through his bones.

He was awake. In the real world.

“He was here.” Nagi sat up and turned to look at Shidou, who was sitting up with his legs bent to his chest. “Reo. I felt him… What did he do? Or say…” Asked the tanned guy, turning his head to the taller.

Nagi frowned and looked down. “He reminded me of my promise. He said he won’t be able to protect me. That he would… hurt me…”

Shidou hummed. “He just wants to protect you. But we might not be able to use you as cover next time. It makes sense, the only way he could hurt you would mean that he doesn’t have the strength to protect you. That's problematic.”

Shidou glanced at him and sighed. Nagi kept his eyes on the ground. “He looked… As if he was in so much pain…” Seishiro closed his eyes, remembering Reo’s cold touch on his cheek.

“That’s why we need to hurry.” Said Ryuusei, standing up and shaking off the dust from his pants. “But hey, look at the positive side. Our rebellious attempt brought him back from whatever hole he was lost in. Come on, Seishiro Nagi, it’s time to go claim what’s yours.” He added, stretching his arm down for Nagi to grab it.

Seishiro sighed sadly and grabbed onto Shidou’s hand, accepting his help to stand up. Then, they started walking back to the Mansion.

“So, what’s the plan? You and me against the military?” Asked Nagi, shivering a little for the cold weather.

Shidou shook his head. “That would be the best, but no. We need a little more help than that. Especially for the security field that surrounds the compound and the escaping part.”

“Who’s gonna help us?” Trying to deviate his mind from the bleak image of Reo. He needed to focus.

“Well… Do you really think that I’ve been here, for months, only waiting for you to wake up?” Shidou asked in an amused tone. Nagi lifted an eyebrow, “You haven’t?”. Shidou made a face.

“No… I’ve been planning this, okay? And I found out that your housemates are quite useful.” Nagi frowned, not liking the idea of his friends getting involved. “Kunigami is good at driving, like, he is actually great. He’ll help us escape.” Ryuusei stated excitedly. Nagi shot him a puzzled look. “Sweet Isagi is good with computers, hacker level, and baby Bachira has contacts in the hospital.” He explained with a victorious smile.

“They do?”

“They do.”

“Wait, so, you want them to come with us? Isn’t that dangerous? They ain’t psychics. And they don’t even remember Reo!” Complained Nagi, glaring at the tanned guy. Shidou stopped in front of him with a wicked smile.

“I told you I’ve planned this for a while. Easy, boy. I’m not trying to get your friends killed. The last thing we need is more people hurt. They’ll help from afar. Remotely.” Explained the shorter. Nagi looked at him in distrust, wanting to argue more. “And about they not remembering… I’ll give them their memories back…” Shidou added.

Seishiro shook his head. “Reo said we shouldn’t! He can’t protect us. They will know and come for us. Reo might not want to hurt us, but he won’t have a choice.” He argued.

“No, he won’t. But we won’t use you as a cover this time.” Reassured Ryuusei.

Seishiro shook his head. “You don’t get it. He won’t help us. He won’t be able to and… Reo will feel guilty…” Nagi said with a pained voice.

Shidou exhaled. “Look, I understand what you are saying, and I agree. But no matter how strong you are, we need help. And the more time we spend discussing it, the worse are our chances to save them. Remember what you saw in my memories? Reo was thinking of offing himself once you were safe. And now we woke him up…” Ryuusei reasoned. Nagi widened his eyes, understanding what the other meant. “Reo finally woke you up and freed you, if he dies- “

“Don’t say that.”

“If he dies everything will be solved. No more military controlling the country with tricks, no more facility to experiment on psychics. But what will be the cost? Either we take the risk, or we lose him.”

Nagi balled his fists. Shidou was right, without Reo, the military would lose everything. So Reo either had to disappear or got saved. And Nagi knew what the purple haired one would prefer.

Seishiro exhaled frustrated. “All right. You give them back their memories and we leave right away. We cannot waste even one second after that.” Warned the taller, looking at Shidou with determined eyes.

Shidou snickered and nodded. “You got it”. They entered the mansion.

/./././

“Ugh, damn it, I need to puke.” Said Isagi before running to one of the toilets.

“You have one second.” Hummed Shidou from where he was standing by the middle of the room.

“Wretched ones, how dare they touch Reo?!” Yelled Bachira, still impacted by the story Shidou and Nagi had told them before giving them their memories back. Now he, Isagi and Kunigami remembered Reo and were aware of what the people in power had done to their friend.

“What’s really amazing is how they managed to pull all this off… Reo…” Said Kunigami in a low tone, feeling sorry for his friend.

“Yeah, as I said, we don’t have much time. Time to leave this place.” Stated Shidou. They waited for Isagi to come out from the toilet and left. Each leaving by taking different paths.

A few hours earlier, Nagi and Shidou had discussed how to proceed with their plan. Ryuusei had said that they needed to give the others their memories back before entering on the specifics of the main recue plan. Nagi had agreed reluctantly.

Shidou had explained that Reo could only track them to a location but couldn’t locate the exact person who used the psychic ability.

They’ve agreed to take their friends out to a shopping mall by the center of the main city, to give them back their memories and leave the place immediately, so the military couldn’t find them in between all the people circulating that zone. Then, each would take different paths and meet back in the mansion.

That’s why they’ve been walking around the mall, trying to mingle with the people and taking the trickiest paths to leave. Nagi saw two military trucks arriving at the place, right after he abandoned the installations by taking the way to the subway.

He left, and thirty minutes later he was waiting for his friends at home.

“Phew, that was close.” Commented Shidou the moment he entered the mansion, followed by the other three.

“They actually closed the shopping mall and retained people in there. Isagi and I barely made it out with a small group of people. It was crazy! Why the hell would Reo send them after us?” Bachira complained. Nagi shot him a glare.

“Didn’t you hear? That wasn’t Reo, it is the military using Reo’s power. Reo would never hurt us.” Defended Kunigami, sitting in one of the chairs around their kitchen’s table.

“Will they track us here?” Isagi asked, grabbing a glass of water and gulping it down.

Shidou shook his head. “No. They only get the signal when the ability is in use.”

“So, what’s the plan? I don’t think you got our memories back for nothing.” Reasoned Kunigami.

Ryuusei walked around the kitchen and stood in front of the other four. “You are right. Each of us has a role in this recue mission. If you’re up to it, that is.”

The four nodded immediately.

“Reo’s always done a lot for us. It’s the least we can do for him,” stated Bachira.

“Gratitude is definitely the best incentive.” Shidou commented. “Right, then, let me start. Isagi, we need you to use all the power of your hacking abilities and hijack their security system. It is something that blocks my telepathy and can activate security protocols.” Explained Shidou. Isagi gulped. 

“I-I’ll do my best…” He replied in a low voice. Shidou gave him a thankful smile.

“Kunigami, you’ll have to drive us there and pick us up, fast. I don’t promise a persecution, but we never know.” Ryuusei said. Kunigami nodded with determination.

“And me?” asked Bachira. Shidou nodded at him.

“You are in charge of getting a good enough doctor that knows about psychics and is eager to help us with Reo once we get him here.” Ryuusei said. The others shot him a worried look. “They experimented on him for months, and we don’t know which state he is in. We need to ensure his safety somehow.”

The others understood and agreed, worrying about Shidou’s words. Nagi’s heart stung in pain for the nth time since he woke up three days ago.

“Finally, Nagi and I will do the actual rescue. We’ll enter the facility, wreak havoc, take Reo and get out.”

“You make it sound easy,” commented Bachira.

“I know… But I’m a little skeptical about making a more detailed plan for that. Sincerely speaking, I don’t have a map of the place and I have no idea of where Reo is now.” Ryuusei honestly said. “However, I remember the big and more advanced rooms were by the top of the building. So, we’ll look there.”

“I may be able to get a map… If you give me a few hours.” Commented Isagi.

Shidou chuckled. “Great.”

“When will we start?” Asked Kunigami.

“As soon as you guys are ready.”

“I can have the car ready tomorrow.”

“And I think I know someone from the hospital who could help us. I’m sure that I’ll be able to convince him if I push a little.”

“Amazing.” Replied Shidou at the other’s enthusiasm. “Nagi?”

The four of them turned their gazes to the mentioned one.

“I’ve been ready since I woke up.” He said.

“Not so sure about that statement, but we get your point.” Said Shidou. Nagi glared at him. “Then it’s settled. We’ll do it the day after tomorrow.” Ryuusei stated. The others agreed excitedly.

Nagi looked down and took a deep breath. Just a little more and he could finally go get Reo back. He couldn’t wait.

Chapter Text

Nagi opened his eyes and sat up, turning his head to look out the window, noticing that dawn was approaching. He rose and walked to his restroom to shower; he changed clothes and walked to the kitchen to grab an apple. Nagi sat on a chair and started eating while his eyesight got lost on the tiles of the floor.

Today was the day. Today they were rescuing Reo. Today he was going to get Reo back.

“Good morning” Shidou’s singsong came from the door. Nagi nodded at him as a greeting, while the other entered the kitchen and approached the refrigerator, taking a carton of milk from it. “We should have a good breakfast today, don’t you think?” added the tanned one, grabbing some eggs and approaching the stove.

Nagi followed him with his eyes but said nothing.

“I’ll cook for everyone.” Ryuusei said to no one in particular. He smiled and started cooking.

A few minutes later, the other three guys entered the kitchen to eat together while revising their plan once again.

“So, you two will wait there until we are out and then we leave. That’ll be the last time they see us.” Concluded Shidou. The others nodded in understanding.

“And I’ll be waiting here with Doctor Ego and his assistant. Noted.” Added Bachira, excitedly. Shidou shot him a smile.

“So, in case we are attacked while waiting for you guys, what are we supposed to do?” asked Isagi.

“You run away, no doubt. You don’t need to risk yourselves.” Stated the tanned one. Kunigami nodded.

“Any other question?” Shidou asked. The other four shook their heads negatively. “Great. Then, let’s go!”

They stood up and left to take their things and prepare.

Ten minutes later, Kunigami, Isagi, Shidou and Nagi were in the car, driving in the direction of the military facility. It took them a few hours to get close to the place, but they made it. They parked in a surrounding street, close to the main entrance, that allowed them to take a clear look of the facilities they were going to infiltrate.

From the outside, the place was a big complex surrounded by tall cement walls and the gates of the entrance were made of metallic bars, like a fort. Shidou noticed that the place looked a little more impenetrable than before. Inside the hurdle, there was a big building that encompassed almost the whole territory. The building looked divided into two sections, the front which was lower and larger, with three stories at most, and the second section which rose higher, with at least ten stories up to the top. Everything was painted grey and there were soldiers walking all around the compound.

It was a fortress.

“Isagi?” Called Shidou from the backseat. Isagi held a finger up in the air, signaling him to wait for one minute.

“I…” – Isagi was rapidly typing on his computer – “Got it! Their system is off! I’m surprised it was that easy.” Commented the black haired one with a sufficient grin. Kunigami and him bumped fists.

“Fuck! I knew you were awesome!” Congratulated Shidou, palming his back.

“All right, Nagi, time to go.” Commanded the tanned guy. The tallest nodded and they got out the car, walking straight to the entrance.

“Remember the plan, we have to get to the lasts floors of that building by any means.”

“I know…”

The more Shidou and Nagi approached the main entrance, the more soldiers started to focus their attention on them. Looking at them warily.

“Okay… I think we got their attention. Ready for the action?” asked Shidou with a smile. Nagi didn’t reply or acknowledge their enemies, he was completely focused on the tall metallic gates in front of him and how to take them out.

“This is a military base! Stop right there and identify yourselves!” Came the commanding voice of a soldier who was standing behind the gates – or was it a captain? Or a commander? Sergeant? The psychics didn’t really know the differences, they were all soldiers for them.

Ryuusei and Seishiro didn’t stop and saw the men starting to move into position, lining like a barrier behind the metallic gates, pointing their guns at them.

Nagi stopped three meters in front of the gates, with Shidou by his left side. They heard the men preparing their guns and how they were trying, and failing, to use their communication devices.

Shidou smirked, knowing that Isagi’s tricks had actually worked.

“Do not come any closer or we’ll – “

Before the man could finish his phrase, Nagi lifted his right arm to the front and snapped his palm open. Suddenly, the metallic gates were propelled backwards with great force, taking the soldiers with them.

“Shit!” exclaimed Shidou, flinching at the display of power and how the soldiers had gotten struck by the metallic structure.

Nagi didn’t even turned to look at the men on the ground and just continued walking straight.

“Open fire!” Shidou heard someone shouting, and before he could react, a rain of bullets fell on them. The telepath shrunk on himself to avoid the attack – try at least – and closed his eyes. But opened them again after three seconds of not feeling any pain.

He looked around and, in awe, observed how the bullets stopped midair at two meters away from them. They were just suspended there.

Ryuusei gulped and focused on his partner who was standing a meter away from him with his right hand lifted by his side in a fist, as if he was grabbing onto something. Shidou opened his mouth to say something, but closed it when Nagi, still without paying attention to his surroundings, snaped his hand open and all the bullets flied backwards in all directions, hitting everything on their paths.

Ryuusei could only look startled at how the bullets took down the soldiers around them. He flinched.

Once there was no movement around them, Nagi kept walking. Shidou followed him, feeling how a cold shiver crossed through his back. Seishiro’s display of power was amazing, but it looked as if he was completely out of it. His aura was gelid, and he seemed ready to annihilate anything on his path.

Ryuusei had to admit that he was a little scared of his partner at the moment, but they had a mission. And if this was the way they accomplished their goal, then he was eager to go with it.

They entered the building and Nagi looked around. The first floor seemed long and spacious. The lobby was a squared room with barricades spread all across it – from where the soldiers were pointing their guns at them. Nagi grunted annoyed, he didn’t want to fight these people, he just wanted to find Reo and take him out of that place. He wasn’t really interested in revenge or anything anymore, he was just extremely worried. He feared not being fast enough, or skilled enough, to save Reo. He was desperate.

But the soldiers thought differently and, despite how bad he felt for hurting these people, he was not jeopardizing Reo’s safety for them. Especially not after what they had done to his lover.

The men started shooting but no bullets would reach them thanks to Nagi’s telekinesis. He has never used his ability for combat or anything, but for him, to control his telekinesis, had always being as easy as to breathe. Nagi just had to imagine it and his mind would automatically do as he requested.

This time, Seishiro didn’t throw the bullets back at the soldiers, but used his telekinesis to swipe the people away and against the walls, and let the bullets fall to the ground.

Nagi would never admit it out loud, but there was a certain level of satisfaction on discovering how strong he was and how helpless these men were in front of him. It was a scary feeling but exciting all the same, and it was the way of getting Reo back.

Nagi and Shidou kept advancing through the long aisle. Soldiers would attack them from all directions, sides, up, front, behind, everywhere, but their efforts were in vain. They’ve even attacked them with the weapons they had used to take down Nagi and Reo a few months ago, but this time Seishiro was ready to counterattack even those. Nothing was going to stop them.

They were approaching the last section of the building. The one that he was sure would take them to the tallest building, from where they could go up and reach Reo, when a force descended at high speed through that section and landed heavily in the middle of the big circular room.

 Now there was someone kneeling in front of them and closing their path.

Nagi stopped and looked warily at the newcomer. This was not just another person; this was a strong aura with the strength to open a crack on the floor where he had landed. This was a psychic.

Nagi moved to stand in front of Shidou, protectively, and changed into a defensive stand, glaring at their new enemy. The black-haired guy stood up and lifted his head, sending a murderous glare in the direction of the intruders. And that’s when Nagi recognized him. This person was the telekinetic that had put him into a coma and taken Reo away from him.

Seishiro felt his body tense with anger.

“Well, well… You do have a lot of nerve to have come back here… Shidou” Talked the black-haired guy, who was tall and had a lot of muscle. Shidou gulped nervously. He hated Barou, he did, but he was also terrified by him and, even when he was amazed by Nagi’s strength, he didn’t know if the white-haired was rival for that tyrant.

Barou Shouei was a monster that made Shidou restless.

“And you…” Barou narrowed his eyes and looked Nagi from head to toe. “You are the one who was with the purple telepath. I thought you would have died. What a hassle.” Commented Barou with annoyance. Nagi clenched his jaw. “Give up and I won’t hurt you… much.” Demanded Shouei in a sufficient tone. Nagi narrowed his eyes into a glare.

“I’m the one who should be saying that.” Seishiro said as a warning.

“What did you say?” argued Barou with an eyebrow quirked.

“Give up and I won’t hurt you much.” Spoke Nagi firmly.

“Fucker.” Growled the dark-haired guy just a second before a big wood table flied at high speed from Nagi’s left flank and struck with force against the white-haired’s telekinetic defensive mantle. The table broke into pieces and Nagi’s right eye twitched in pain.

Telekinetics were able to freely attack and defend with their telekinesis, but that meant using their minds; therefore, every time they received a blow against their telekinetic defensive mantle (the invisible barrier that protected them) they felt it directly on their head. The harder the blow, the harder the jab they felt. It was better for them to counteract with another attack than to resist them with their protective barrier. However, in the end, all efforts would wear away their stamina and could result in brain injuries.

“Shidou…” Called Nagi, not taking his eyes off Barou. “Go hide somewhere.” He requested in a low tone. Ryuusei widened his eyes and gulped, understanding that this fight was going to be serious and he was only going to be in Nagi’s way. He nodded.

Shidou took a step to the right, to run to hide in one of the lateral rooms, when a heavy bookshelf came flying in his direction, ready to strike him squarely. The telepath lifted his arm as protection, but before it could reach him, Nagi snapped his fingers and two chairs came flying from the opposite side to impact the bookshelf midway. The furniture exploded into tiny pieces of wood that went flying in all directions but didn’t reach them because of Seishiro’s protective field.

Shidou felt his heart leap inside his chest. He was scared of Barou, no doubt.

“I’m your opponent! I should be your only focus!” Warned Nagi in an orotund angered tone, before Barou got suddenly propelled backwards against the wall behind him. The strength of the blow made him form a crack in the wall and he fell sitting on the ground, grunting in both pain and ire. “You took Reo from me and brought him here to suffer. I won’t forgive you!” Shouted Seishiro, and the wall behind Shouei collapsed all over him, trapping him under the weight of the debris of the broken wall and part of the second floor that came down with it.

Shidou widened his eyes and ran to take cover, not wanting to get trapped in the middle of that fight.

Seishiro noticed more soldiers coming in his direction and balled his fists, ready to get rid of them. But, the moment they reached the room he was fighting in, all the debris that he had trapped Barou under exploded and flew away in all directions, striking walls and the people that had just arrived, taking them down. Nagi covered from the attack with his telekinesis.

“Motherfucker!” Came Shouei’s gravelly voice while he stood up and came out from in between the rubble. “I’m going to rip you apart.” He growled menacingly, glaring murderously at Nagi while cleaning a trail of blood that was running down his temple.

Nagi looked at him defiantly.

/././.

Inside his cell, Chigiri opened his eyes the moment he felt something changing around him. He didn’t know what it was, but he could sense it. Something extremely uncommon had happened. He got up from his bed and tried to look outside through the diamond glass. He saw the figures blurry and distorted, but he could tell that there was some kind of commotion happening, people were moving frantically. He narrowed his eyes and tried to focus his eyes on something specific that could give him a clue of what was happening, and that’s when he saw it, there was a light by the corner of the room that had always been green, but now it was red.

Chigiri vaguely remembered the meaning of that. It had to do with the security system. He widened his eyes and ran to the diamond gate and pushed it. The door opened without effort.

Hyoma smiled in triumph and pushed the door completely open, taking a step out of his cell and noticing how all the doctors and people in the room looked at him in panic. He smirked darkly.

Chigiri set the room on fire and walked out, looking around to make sure that there were no soldiers there, before taking the path to his right, running through the aisle.

The pyrokinetic had no clue of what was happening, but he knew that there was chaos somewhere. Security was nowhere to be found and the safety system didn’t seem to work because he could open any door and move around without a problem.

Something was happening and he needed to make the best of it. He ran around the building, escalating the different floors. And even when he felt the building shake, he didn’t stop.

He wasn’t going to stop. He was going to find Reo and get them both out of there. Nobody was going to get in his way and take this chance from them.

/././.

Shidou hid behind a counter inside a room and closed his eyes, focusing on finding Reo. With the security system disconnected, he could use his telepathy to wander with his mind across the building, trying to feel the other telepath’s presence.

He ignored all the commotion coming from the main room beside his and took a deep breath. He could sense the soldiers whose helmets had fallen off during the fight, but he was still not able to reach all those who he knew kept coming.

He tried to reach the upper levels of the building, where he was sure he could find his friend, but he realized that his reach wouldn’t pass above the fifth floor – he wasn’t strong enough. He sighed frustrated but, suddenly, a faint presence that seemed to be climbing the stories at a fast pace came into his mind.

He focused on that one presence and tried to reach it but had to stop when felt his head suddenly burning. Shidou hissed in pain and lost all his focus, rubbing his temples, but opened his eyes and let out a relieved exhale.

The only mind that had ever made him feel like burning had been Chigiri, the pyrokinetic.

Ryuusei gulped and frantically stood up. Chigiri was alive, and he was running up the building as if looking for something. And if Shidou had to guess, he was looking for someone.

Reo.

Chigiri was looking for Reo, too. All they needed to do was follow him.

Shidou, with his newly discovered motivation and answer, ran back to the main room, to where Nagi and Barou seemed to keep on destroying everything.

Ryuusei got out and barely ducked to avoid being hit by half of a metallic table. He remained knelt on the ground while looking around in awe. The whole place has been destroyed and the furniture and walls were either smashed and scattered around or dangerously cracked. It looked like a war zone.

Shidou looked for Nagi in the between the haze and dust that now clouded the place, and found him a few meters aways with both his arms extended to the front while continuously throwing pieces of debris against Barou who was standing by the other side of the room, countering the attack.

The fight didn’t look anything closer to reach an end.

Some soldiers were still shooting their weapons, but now they were aiming to both psychics. Shidou snorted, they couldn’t waste time like this.

Ryuusei was about to yell at Nagi, when the blasting sound of a loudspeaker made a high-pitched sound that made everyone cringe and stop. Shidou covered is ears and looked around, finding the source of noise placed in each corner of the large room.

The sound continued for a few seconds before it died down and immediately a voice replaced it. “Hey! You’re Barou, right? Do you wanna see something interesting? I think you may be playing for the wrong team.” Said the voice. A voice that Shidou had gotten used to in the last months. Isagi’s.

It seemed that everyone was as confused as Shidou – or maybe even more – looking around to try to understand what was happening, when a screen inside the room Shidou had hidden before turned on by itself and a video started playing.

Ryuusei turned his head to look at the screen and saw what seemed to be an old low-quality video that showed a family eating together around a kitchen. Shidou didn’t actually notice anything special about what was being played, but when he turned his head to look at Barou, he noticed how the other was looking entranced at the tape.

“Pay a lot of attention, you may be surprised.” Continued Isagi’s voice. “And you two, stop wasting time and keep going.” He added, and Shidou knew he referred to him and Nagi.

Still unsure of what was happening, Ryuusei returned his gaze to Barou and noticed how he was approaching the screen with the video, completely ignoring his surroundings. Whatever that TV was playing was clearly more important than fighting or protecting the compound.

Shidou turned to look at Nagi and noticed how the other was sending Barou a puzzled look. Shidou approached him, taking on the few scratches that decorated the other’s arms and face – but that didn’t seem too bad –, and shot him a meaningful glare when Nagi focused on him. The white-haired nodded in understanding and looked up, focusing his gaze on the floors that extended above them, up until the last one. “Reo’s up there.” Commented the tanned guy.

Nagi nodded and let out a wave of power that pushed the remaining soldiers backwards. Then, he lowered his arms by his sides and opened his palms, facing the front.

Shidou frowned, not understanding what the other was doing, but he felt Nagi’s power surrounding them from all directions. Ryuusei widened his eyes and turned to look at the other questioningly.

And then, suddenly, their bodies started to lift above the ground and float up. Shidou gulped and tensed, trying to hold onto his body. He felt as if he was going to lose balance and fall. “Holy shit!” He exclaimed when they had risen five meters above the ground and kept on floating up.

“I didn’t fucking know you could fly!” Shidou exclaimed troubled. Nagi didn’t take his eyes from whatever place above them that he was focused on and replied, “I didn’t know either.” Shidou widened his eyes and looked at him apprehensively.

They levitated up to the sixth floor before Nagi approached them to the edge of the aisle and settled them on the floor. Shidou was grateful for standing on firm ground. Nagi stood beside him and lifted his right hand to massage his temple while closing his eyes. He seemed to be in pain.

“Are you okay?” Shidou asked worriedly. Nagi put his hand down and opened his eyes.

“Yeah, don’t worry. I’ve just never used my telekinesis this much. But I’m fine.” Replied Seishiro. “Do we still need to go up?”

Ryuusei nodded and walked to the stairs, feeling Chigiri’s presence up on the ninth floor now. He knew that was where they should go.

Chapter Text

Chigiri was approaching the ninth floor when the building shook violently; he cursed and leaned on the wall, wondering what was provoking such tremors and chaos. When it passed, he ran to the stairs railing and looked down, noticing how a bunch of soldiers were running from side to side in the lower levels. He clicked his tongue and turned to keep running to the room he was looking for, he needed to get there asap.

Chigiri entered the biggest aisle and ran through it, passing a few aisles and rooms, until reaching its end, he took a turn to the left and finally found the room he had been looking for. The big door was open and the light from inside reflected in the aisle. Chigiri stopped running and stood by the doorframe, looking around the room.  The place seemed empty, but all the machinery was turned on, as if it had been left on by mistake or in a rush.

He warily entered the room and started scanning the area. Chigiri had taken three steps inside the room when finally spotted what he was looking for. He widened his eyes and started moving slowly to his right, to the further corner of the room.

The more Hyoma approached, the more his view cleared and detailed.

There was a big computer attached to the further wall of the room with a large board and hundreds of buttons that seemed to control its actions. From one of the corners of the machine came out a thick long hose that ended up connected into a metallic helmet. Said helmet was connected directly to Reo’s head.

Reo was lying face up on a metallic table. A thin blue robe covered his body while his wrists and ankles were pinned to the table by shackles and chains that extended and attached to the floor, keeping Reo’s body completely immobile – not that he seemed conscious to be moving.

Hyoma approached a little more and noticed Reo’s state. He was exceedingly pale, with his lips blue and, even though his eyes were covered by the helmet, he could see purple circles under his eyes. He was extremely skinny, his body in flesh and bones. Also, there were a bunch of IVs connected to his arms and legs, with purple bruises around them.

If Chigiri had to be sincere, Reo looked like a corpse. That thought gave him the chills.

Chigiri was a few meters away from Reo when the echo of a gunshot and a bullet bouncing in front of his feet made him stop abruptly. He snapped his head to the side and saw a man standing by the corner of the room, hiding in the shadows beside the computer, with his gun pointed at him and a dangerous glare zeroed in on the pyrokinetic.

“Tell me Chigiri, are those who came to ruin everything your friends?” Asked the man in a low raspy tone. Chigiri gulped, he knew that voice and when the man approached to the light, he recognized him. It was the Army’s General. The man running this place and ruling the whole country with Reo’s ability.

The monster that had kidnapped them and taken them as experiments.

“Are you not going to answer?”

Chigiri gulped and balled his fists by his sides. He didn’t want to fight the man, not when they were so close to Reo and all those machines that most likely were keeping his friend alive. Chigiri was at a disadvantage, his flames in such small place could cause a disaster. “I don’t know who they are.” He stated in the firmest tone he could.

The man chuckled darkly.

“Then why are you here? Are you just coincidentally taking advantage of the situation? What are you thinking? Did you think you could come here, take Reo and leave?” The man asked. Hyoma glared at him menacingly. “You see Chigiri,” – the man started walking across the room and stood dangerously close to the metallic table – “What just happened will completely ruin my plans. Everything was perfect! We had finally acquired a perfectly behaved and balanced society, the society of my dreams. The last three months have been the best this country has had in ages! But now it will all disappear, because of you and those psychic intruders. All I’ve worked for is going to trash!”

Hyoma was looking at the man in silence, trying to find a way to take him down without compromising Reo’s safety. The man looked deranged.

“All I did, I did it for the people. You psychics are supposed to serve us! You, Reo, Barou and all the others. That’s your only purpose. And just when I finally found a way make things right, you come and mess everything up. I despise your kind so badly…”  Continued ranting the man. Hyoma was only aware of the man’s movements. He’s been walking to the metallic table more and more, making the red-haired nervous.

“So, I’ve decided,” said the man, lowering his gun to point at Reo’s unconscious body. Chigiri tensed and felt his heartbeat speeding. “If I cannot have my perfect society, then why would you have a happy ending?…” Hyoma widened his eyes in fear.

Then, things happened too fast. Chigiri sensed the other’s dangerous intent and let his body move on its own.

Hyoma’s body caught on fire and shot out to the front at fast speed, not caring about what he could burn on his way there but on how to save his friend. His speed helped him get on time to slam and knock the man against the wall behind him, but not to stop him from shooting.

The bullet shot and impacted against the base of the helmet that covered Reo’s head, right where the helmet connected with the thick hose. In slow motion, Chigiri saw how the hose ripped open and let out a white gas, accompanied with the high-pitched whistle of compressed air leaving its container.

And a second later, Reo’s body was convulsing on the table.

The red head panted in horror and ran to Reo’s side. Desperation took over his body when he noticed how violently his friend’s body was twitching. “NO!” Chigiri screamed and started looking around for something that could help him save Reo.

From the floor, reclined on the wall, the man started laughing mockingly.

Chigiri completely ignored the man and frantically ran to the console of the machine to start pressing buttons, especially those that he thought could be turn off ones, but the machine didn’t stop.

“He’ll be dead in a minute. You should just escape while you still can. After Barou is done with the psychics downstairs, he’ll come for you.” Chigiri heard the man’s words as if they were getting further and further away, and by the corner of his eye he saw the man limping in the direction of the exit.

 Hyoma had half the mind to chase after him and kill him himself, but his priority was to save Reo.

After giving up on the buttons, Chigiri turned his head and saw a small emergency capsule embedded in the opposite side of the room, with an axe inside. He didn’t think much before running to break the emergency glass and take the axe out.

Hyoma ran back to the metallic table, axe in hand, and lashed it with all his strength against the ripped hose, trying to completely cut it off the helmet. “AH!” He kept on striking the conduit with all his strength again and again until he finally chopped it.

The axe fell to the ground at the same time that Reo’s body stopped convulsing.

“Fuck!” Hyoma lounged to the metallic table to check on his friend. Slowly, he took the helmet off and carefully grabbed Reo’s face. His friend looked dead. “Reo…” He called, in a sorrowful tone, wondering if he had ended up failing to save the telepath. Reo remained completely still. “Hey! Reo. It’s me, Chigiri. Do you remember me? I came for you… Please… I’m here” He called, shaking Reo’s face a little.

But the other was still unresponsive.

“Please…” Hyoma’s eyes filled with tears and his heart tightened with hopelessness. He had let Reo die. Frightened, Chigiri closed his eyes and put his head over the other’s chest, with his ear over the heart.

Reo was so cold.

The pyrokinetic took a deep breath and stayed there, immobile, feeling guilty. However, with how silent everything was around him, he suddenly heard a low heartbeat and a weak groan coming from the person under him. Chigiri snapped his eyes open and lifted his head to look at his friend with wide, scared eyes.

Reo’s eyes opened slowly, focusing on him for less than a second before closing back.

“Reo?!” Called Chigiri, settling his arms by each side of the other’s head and hovering over him. Reo squeezed his eyes and opened them slightly, trying to focus on the person in front of him. Chigiri smiled widely at him, but Reo’s eyes closed by their own once again. Hyoma’s smile faded. Reo was too out of it. “Reo! Can you focus on me? Reo!” called Chigiri in a firm low tone, knowing that he needed to bring the other’s attention to him.

He had to wake Reo up if he wanted an opportunity to get them out of there.

“Reo! Fuck!” Hyoma cursed desperately, wondering if he could actually take his friend out of there. He didn’t want to think negatively, but the view in front of him didn’t give him any hope. Reo’s state was worrisome. He looked extremely fragile and weak, his breathing was slow and small tremors would twitch his body from time to time. That, without considering how cold he was.

Chigiri felt sick.

Noticing the other’s bad state, the red-haired decided to first free Reo from the metallic surface before trying to wake him up again. He moved to check on the chains and shackles that caged his hands and feet. Chigiri knew he couldn’t break them without hurting Reo, so he decided that the best was to break the chains by their middle and take Reo along with the shackles until they could find a way to safely free him from them.

Hyoma grabbed the axe from the floor and went for the closest chain, the one that immobilized Reo’s left wrist. He grabbed the chain by its middle, with both of his hands, and used his fire to heat it up. When the chain turned red, with maximum precaution, he used the axe to strike it. After three good strikes it broke. Chigiri sighed relieved and repeated the process with the other three chains. Freeing Reo’s limbs.

After breaking all the chains, the red head started to carefully pull out the needles from the IVs that were connected to Reo’s body. The purple-haired shivered and his breathing turned heavy. Hyoma walked around the table and approached Reo by his left, grabbing him by the shoulders and shaking him tenderly but firmly. “Reo! Reo, come on. Reo, do you hear me? Reo…” called Chigiri, shaking Reo more desperately.

The telepath opened his eyes slowly and stared at Hyoma through squinted eyes. “Chigi – “ muttered Reo in a raspy tone but his voice broke because of the dryness of his throat. The red-haired shot him a small reassuring smile. Reo’s eyes started closing again.

“Hey! No, no, I need you to wake up. We need to get out of here!” insisted the pyrokinetic, holding Reo’s left cheek, turning his head to face him. Reo’s eyes were unfocused. Chigiri was truly worried. “Damnit. Okay, come on, try to focus on me.” Requested Hyoma, getting closer to his friend to pass his arms around his torso and back of the head. “Sorry, we are running out of time.” He said before pulling the other up.

“Mnh…” Reo moaned in pain and squeezed his eyes tightly.

“Sorry, I know, I’m sorry.” Apologized Chigiri but didn’t stop until he lifted Reo’s torso and had him up in a sitting position.

Reo was panting, trying to relieve the pressure that threatened to crush his brain. He had a blinding headache that felt as if something sharp was constantly jabbing at his head. The light didn’t let him open his eyes and his body felt awfully weak and cold. Overall, he felt terrible.

He couldn’t even understand why he was alive.

“I… I…” Reo panted before abruptly opening his eyes and moving his body to the opposite side from Chigiri, retching down the other side of the table. Hyoma caught him by the waist and held him so he wouldn’t topple over. Reo threw up violently, and it ended in a fit of cough with tremors that made his body spasm painfully.

Chigiri gulped and looked helplessly at his friend. Reo was not okay.

Once Reo’s episode calmed down, the red-haired pulled him back on the sitting position and made him recline against his chest. Letting the other rest and trying to warm him up a little with his body temperature. Reo was freezing and there was a wheezing noise attached to every breath. Chigiri could only rub the other’s back, trying to soothe him a little.

“Why…Why are you here?” asked Reo between gasps.

Hyoma bit his lower lip. “Someone broke in, so I got the chance to leave the cell,” he explained.

Reo shook his head as a negative. “Why didn’t- you escape? Why look for me?”

Chigiri frowned. “Of course, I was not going to leave you here! We promised to escape together, remember?” He argued.

“Yeah, but…I’ll just – delay… You shouldn’t have come. I don’t think I- ” Reo started, but his friend interrupted him.

“Reo, stop! I’m here because I’m your friend and I was not leaving you behind. There’s nothing else to say. You would have done the same for me.” Stated the pyrokinetic. Mikage didn’t argue back. “Now, be a good friend and help me a little. I know you don’t feel good, but I need you to climb on my back so I can carry you.” He added.

Reo licked his dry lips, knowing that there was no point in trying to convince the other to just escape and leave him there, because he didn’t want to be a burden. So, instead of extending the sour mood, he opened his eyes – the best he could – and tried to steady himself by putting his hands on the table and holding his own weight. Chigiri turned around, with his back facing his friend.

Mikage saw Hyoma’s back and wondered if the other could actually stand his weight. He was taller after all.

“Chigiri…”

“Don’t worry, with how skinny you are right now, I bet you don’t weight a dime.” Said the red head, as if readying the other’s thoughts.

Reo gulped and looked at his legs and arms, noticing that he was flesh and bones.

Reo averted his eyes from his body and reached out to grab onto Chigiri’s shoulders. Hyoma helped him accommodate his legs around his waist and soon he was giving Reo a piggyback.

“Are you okay?” asked Chigiri, holding Reo’s legs tightly and making sure that the other’s body was comfortably resting on his back.  Reo, whose head was reclined over Chigiri’s right shoulder, nodded. “Right, let’s go.” Said the red-haired and started walking through the room, straight to the exit.

Chigiri went out of the room and stood in the aisle, looking to both sides. Now, he could hear yelling and movement not too far from them. It seemed that the chaos was starting to reach the upper levels of the building.

Hyoma clicked his tongue and started trotting in the direction he had come in; however, a pained groan coming from Reo made him stop and look at his friend in worry. “Is something wrong?” he asked.

Reo snuggled in face in the crook of his shoulder. “The… movement. It hurts.” He replied in a low tone.

Chigiri bit his lip in understanding and started walking slowly, “Is this any better?”

Reo nodded and Chigiri hummed in understanding. To not be able to walk at a fast pace made him anxious, but it was worse to put Reo to suffer even more.

“Sorry…” whispered Reo against his friend’s neck. Hyoma frowned and shook his head. “It’s fine, you got nothing to apologize for. Your safety is my priority.” Chigiri kept walked straight until he found the large aisle that led to the stairs. “We are getting out…” he said.

The red-haired walked slowly through the long aisle, but just when he was crossing the middle of it, a group of soldiers appeared in front of them, by the end of the aisle, and started shooting in their direction.

The pyrokinetic widened his eyes and moved abruptly to dodge the bullets, running to a side aisle for cover. “Fuck!” cursed Chigiri, lowering Reo’s body from his back and making him sit on the floor, with his back reclined on the wall. He was panting, with his eyes squeezed tightly. The red head knelt in front of his friend, looking for wounds. “Reo! Are you okay? Reo!” called Hyoma in a loud tone.

The telepath opened and lifted his eyes to his friend and nodded his head, indicating that he was fine. Chigiri sighed relieved and looked to his right. “This aisle is a dead end; we cannot stay here. I need to fight back our way out.” Hyoma took Mikage’s face in between his hands to lift it, making the other to focus on him. “Listen, I’ll go out there and get rid of those soldiers. You’ll wait here. Don’t try to move and don’t even think about helping me. I’ll be back in a second.” Instructed the pyrokinetic. Reo nodded slowly.

Hyoma stood up, took a deep breath, and lit up his flames, covering his arms. He ran back to the aisle.

Reo sensed Chigiri leaving and let his head hang down, closing his eyes. He didn’t have any strength left. He heard the muffled sounds from the battle developing in the main aisle, close to him, but his mind was slipping in and out of consciousness, so he couldn’t really focus. He just hoped his friend was fine fighting by himself because he was useless right now.

A few seconds passed – even thou Mikage felt like they were quite a few minutes – when Reo felt a faint presence coming from his left side, opposite to the aisle where Hyoma was fighting. With effort, Reo tried to focus on that new presence, trying to guess if it was another foe. However, the more he focused on it, the more familiar it felt.

The purple head frowned and opened his eyes, turning his head to his left. He squinted and tried to look further into the dark short alley, but he could only see the wall by its end. Reo gulped and used his hands to turn his body. The presence that had attracted his attention was getting closer.

Reo licked his lips and put his left hand on the wall while pushing his body up with the other. With a lot of effort, he managed to stand and slouch. Then, he took a small unsteady step to the front and kept on moving while reclining heavily on the wall, not taking his eyes from the further corner of the aisle, in the opposite wall. Whatever the familiar presence was, it was coming from there. Reo took two more steps, but the shivering of his body and the killer headache made his breathing catch and his body to freeze in place, he huddled up to the wall and closed his eyes.

Suddenly, the wall by the further opposite corner of the aisle exploded. Reo startled with the loud noise and lifted his head to focus on the now opened hole in the wall, trying to see anything through the dust and rubble.

After the dust dissipated a little, a figure came walking over the rubble and coughing in his hand. “Bloody hell, you’re a brute!” Yelled the person, walking further into the aisle, right into Reo’s view. Mikage widened his eyes in surprise.

“Shidou…” Reo exhaled. The newcomer turned his head and his eyes fell on Reo’s slouched form, a few meters away. Shidou looked at the other in disbelief.

“Fuck!” exclaimed Shidou before running to catch Reo who had taken a step away from the wall and almost fell to the from when he lost his balance. “Reo…”

“Shidou, you… Why… What are you- “ Reo stopped midsentence when felt another presence coming from the hole in the wall. A presence he was extremely familiar with and that he dreaded feeling there. Mikage widened his eyes in fear and turned his head to the left, setting his eyes on the person that was coming through the opening.

“No no no no no no. No, why? No…” panted Reo, frantically moving his body to the left. Shidou had to move and grab Reo by his arms and chest to prevent him from harming himself with his frenzied movement. “NO! WHY ARE YOU HERE?! NO! YOU PROMISED! YOU PROMISED ME!” screamed Reo in an anguished voice when saw Nagi standing in front of the hole and looking at him with disconcerted eyes. Reo’s eyes filled with desperate tears. “YOU PROMISED, SEISHIRO!!”

Nagi felt his heart tighten the moment he saw Reo, and felt his heart bleeding with pain when noticed his best friend’s state and heard his distressed screams.

But above all, he felt relieved because Reo was alive.

Reo stopped screaming and lowered his head to let his tears roll down his cheeks. Nagi made a pained face and walked to his friend who was still being held by Shidou. Ryuusei looked at Nagi in worry and bit his lower lip before losing his hold on Reo, allowing him to drop slightly to the front, right into Nagi’s arms.

The tallest securely wrapped his arms around Reo, holding him in a firm embrace, placing one hand on his middle back and the other in the back of his head, and pressing him against his body. The telepath hid his face in the crook of Nagi’s neck and lifted his hands to hold the other by his sides, clenching the other’s t-shirt in his fists.

Reo’s silent tears wet Nagi’s shirt. The telekinetic lowered his head and rested it against Reo’s temple. “Of course, I was not going to keep the promise. How could you have asked me to abandon you? How did you want me to live without you, Reo? That wasn’t fair.” Reproached Seishiro in a low sad tone.

Reo pressed his lips in a line, feeling bad because Nagi was right. What he had asked from his best friend hadn’t been fair because he wouldn’t have been able to live without Seishiro either. Reo separated a little from the other, wanting to look at him in the eyes. Nagi let him put some space between them without letting go of his tight grip.

“I – “ started Mikage, but the other heckled him.

“Forget it…” Said the white-haired before lowering his head and tenderly pecking Reo’s lips. The telepath felt sorry for one second but kissed back. Seishiro separated and shot him a serious glare. “We are going home together.” he said firmly.

Reo made a face and nodded. “I’m sorry…” he whispered, leaning back against Nagi’s body.

Nagi looked at him lovingly and sighed relieved. Since the day he’d woken up and known the truth, he had felt betrayed and abandoned. He understood what happened and why Reo had chosen to protect him, but still, Nagi had suffered because of that, while wondering if he was ever going to see his best friend again. However, seeing Reo alive had completely vanished all his bad thoughts and taken away any intent to reproach anything to the other. All that mattered now was that he could hold Reo between his arms once again. Even when the other’s state was awful.

“We need to leave!” Said Shidou, looking at Nagi with a worried face. The taller nodded in understanding.

“Reo…” called Seishiro, caressing Mikage’s scalp to call his attention. Reo groaned in pain but separated from Nagi a little; however, the moment he moved, an excruciating jab went through his head, making his body to tense and his breathing to hitch.

Nagi felt Reo’s body start shivering violently and widened his eyes.

Suddenly, a scream full of pain came out of Reo’s mouth while he harshly moved his hands to grab his head.

The pain in his head had turned agonizing.

Seishiro tried to hold Reo’s body up, but the telepath’s legs gave in and his body dropped to the ground. The telekinetic managed to use his power to prevent the other hitting the floor, but he had to let his body rest on the ground because Reo wouldn’t stop screaming and pulling at his head desperately. Shidou knelt beside them.

Something was terribly wrong.

“Reo!” Called Nagi out loud, but the other wouldn’t stop moving erratically.

“IT HURTS, IT HURTS, IT HURTS!” Reo howled in agony.

Shidou and Nagi didn’t know what to do. Seishiro felt immense fear running through his body and freezing him in place. He couldn’t understand what was happening, but whatever it was, it was bad.

“Hey! You! What the hell are you doing?! Leave him alone!” came a new voice from their left, while a person with red hair approached them at fast speed.

Ryuusei widened his eyes and stood up to face the newcomer.

“Chigiri is me! Shidou! It’s me!” Yelled Ryuusei, standing up in front of Nagi with his palms up, as a symbol of peace.

Hyoma widened his eyes and stopped abruptly, one meter away from his former cell mate. “Shidou?! What the hell? What the fuck is happening?!” The red head turned his head and focused on Reo who was still squirming and screaming in between Nagi’s arms. “Who the hell are you? What did you do to him?” He yelled angrily, glaring murderously at the telekinetic.

Seishiro was completely ignoring the scene in front of him, his sole focus on holding Reo and trying to soothe him.

Shidou took a step to the side, blocking the pyrokinetic’s view. “That’s Nagi! That’s Reo’s Nagi! The boyfriend, remember?” Explained Shidou hastily, noticing how Chigiri was ready to snap to protect Reo. The last thing they needed was more chaos.

“Nagi… Reo’s…” Chigiri repeated, suddenly understanding who that person was. Nevertheless, that didn’t explain why Reo was writhing in pain. “What happened to Reo?!” Asked Hyoma in worry, pushing Shidou aside and kneeling by the other side of the boy on the floor. The red-haired looked disconcerted at his friend and shot an inquisitive glance at the white-haired. But the fear and isolation in the other’s eyes told him that Nagi didn’t know what was happening either.

A second later, Reo’s body spasmed violently and his body went completely still. His hands fell limp by his sides and his eyes rolled back into his skull.

The other three looked at him frightened.

“Reo?” called Nagi, who was still holding the telepath’s upper body in between his arms, while his legs rested on the floor. Mikage didn’t react. “Reo!” tried Seishiro again, shaking him a little this time. But Reo remained immobile. “Please…” pleaded Nagi in a sorrowful tone while his eyes pooled with tears.

Chigiri took a deep breath and felt his body tense in fear. This was the second time he saw Reo in that state, and the panic of thinking that the other was dying was breaking his psyche.

“He is going to die.” Came a voice from behind them. The three of them lifted their gazes and noticed Barou standing right outside the hole in the wall.

They all tensed.

Chapter Text

Barou took a step to the front and Nagi immediately pulled Reo’s body closer to him, shooting his enemy a murderous look while used his telekinesis to create an invisible barrier around him and his friends.

Barou snorted and focused his eyes on him.

“A blood vessel broke inside his head; we have to drain the blood out or else he’ll die…” explained Barou in a controlled tone. Nagi frowned and lowered his eyes to look at Reo in worry.

“How do you know that?! And why the hell are you telling us that?!” asked Chigiri in anger, ready to jump and fight.

Barou scoffed. “Because I’m the one who was in charge of keeping his brain together while they riped him apart and experimented on him. Do you really think his body made it this far by its own?” Barou growled back.

Chirigi glared at him but said nothing, the other’s statement was reasonable. Hyoma had always wondered how Reo was still alive and relatively fine after all they’d done to him.

Barou took one step closer and sent him a threatening look. “I can help him… I can save his life. Then you’ll take him to a hospital, and he’ll be fine…” He added nonchalantly.

“Why in the world would you help us?” asked Shidou, looking distrustfully at the other. Barou sighed tiredly.

“Because I’m on your side now, at least until we get out of here…” He replied. The other three looked at him in bewilderment. Barou snorted. “You want an explanation or to save that telepath’s life? He’s dying, should I remind you?” He barked.

The three friends turned to look at Reo. He really looked as if he was at the gates if death. Nagi felt his body going cold with fear.

“Idiots.” Said Barou, approaching until bumping against Nagi’s barrier. “You don’t want to lose him, do you?” asked the black-haired.

Nagi didn’t think much of it, he was desperate and had no clue on how to help Reo, so he closed his eyes and took off his barrier. Immediately, Barou moved and shoved Shidou and Chigiri aside, kneeling beside Reo, opposite to where Nagi was.

“You won’t like this…” started Barou. Nagi lifted his head and stared into Barou’s eyes. “But it’s the only way. So, hold him tight.” He warned. Seishiro barely had the time to process the other’s words when Barou lifted his right hand and placed it above Reo’s face; then, he closed his hand and snapped it open a second later. The moment he did that, Reo’s body spasmed violently and blood started oozing out his mouth, nose, eyes and ears.

Nagi felt his soul leave his body. “REO!” he screamed in fear and sent Barou away with a pulse of his telekinesis. The black-haired was blown backwards a few meters away.

“Fucker…” growled Barou in ire and knelt up but stayed there observing the others.

Shidou and Chigiri knelt beside Reo, looking at him in distress, not knowing what to do to help.

They thought Barou had killed Reo.

Desperately, Nagi cleaned off the blood from Reo’s face and shook him a little to call his attention. “Reo?!” he whined, convinced that Barou had worsened his best friend’s state. However, a groan coming from Reo and his eyes squeezing before opening, allowed him to breathe again.

“Sei…” rasped Mikage, looking at the other through squinted eyes. He seemed slightly better. Or at least less pale, not like a corpse.

“Fuck!” cursed Nagi, pulling Reo closer and hugging him tightly, finally letting a few tears roll out his eyes. He was relieved and overwhelmed.

Shidou and Chigiri shared a relieved look and turned to look at Barou, who was angrily looking at them.

“Fuck you all.” Said Barou standing up and looking down at them with a scowl. However, he just stood there and didn’t seem to be wanting to leave.

Nagi separated from Reo and looked at him with pained eyes. Reo shot him a small reassuring smile, even though his eyes threatened to close. “I’m tired… Do you mind if… I sleep?” rasped Mikage in a low tone. Seishiro bit his lip in concern, but he was sure that Reo was better now. He nodded affirmatively. Reo smiled and closed his eyes, losing consciousness immediately.

Nagi gulped and looked at his friend in worry, wanting nothing but to take him out of there and into a hospital.

“He won’t die anymore… at least for now. I told you I would help. Now, let’s leave.” Commanded Barou, turning around, in the direction of the main aisle.

“Why do you help us?” asked Nagi, using his telekinesis to free Reo’s hands and feet from the shackles and lifting his body to carry him bridal style.

Barou snorted but didn’t turn around. “Ever heard of ‘the enemy of my enemy is my friend’”?” He replied, as if that answered the question.

Nagi stood up and shot him a questioning look. Chigiri and Shidou also stood up and approached to check on Reo. “As far as I remember, you are our enemy.” Continued the white-haired. Baroud rolled his eyes.

“Yeah, well, whatever. I’m your friend now, take it or leave it.” Replied the dark-haired and started walking.

Chigiri snorted and Shidou made a face, looking questioningly at Nagi.

Seishiro shook his head. “He did save Reo… Let’s just go and see what happens. If he tries anything funny, I’ll put him down.” He spoke. Barou heard him and snorted but said nothing and turned by the corner of the aisle. The other three followed him into it.

“Phew, Chigiri. You really burned these people to a crisp. Didn’t know you were that violent.” Commented Shidou when saw the aisle destroyed, burned, and with some burned corpses scattered around.

“These people showed no mercy when we were prisoners. An eye for an eye.” Spatted the red-haired. Shidou made a face.

“Remind me to never make you mad…” He said and continued trotting behind the telekinectics, who were already reaching the stairs down.

They went down two stores before finally encountering a group of soldiers that started firing at them. They hid behind a wall but could not keep advancing to the exit.

“I’ll stop these ones. You keep going down. I’ll catch up with you.” Commanded Barou before coming out from behind the wall, straight into their enemy’s view. The moment the bullets stopped raining, the other three sneaked to the stairs and ran down.

They’ve reached the fourth floor when they looked down and noticed a platoon waiting for them by the next floor.

“They won’t let us leave the building, let’s just tear down the fucking wall and get out of here.” Said Chigiri, patting at the wall behind them.

Nagi shook his head. “I can’t. I cannot take all of us down. I don’t… Think I have a lot of strength left.” He answered embarrassed. Shidou nodded in understanding. Since they’ve gotten there, Nagi had been using his telekinesis over and over again, and even when he was extremely powerful, to take his power to that extent all of the sudden had taken a toll on him.

Also, carrying Reo’s unconscious body around was not helping him regain any strength.

Chigiri looked at Shidou. “If Nagi take off the helmets, you can control them and make them stop.” He suggested, looking meaningfully at the telepath. Ryuusei bit his lip, nervous. He was not sure he could do it, especially because of the amount of people. He was not as strong or skilled as Reo, and he didn’t want to risk their chances.

Still, he nodded affirmatively and turned to Nagi. The telekinetic gave him an understanding nod and turned to walk closer to the railing, so he could lean out on it and use his power to remove the soldiers’ helmets. So, even if they fired, he could protect himself with the railing and his telekinetic barrier.

However, after he took two steps closer, Reo stirred in his arms and his right hand clung onto Nagi’s t-shirt, making him stop. “Don’t…” Whispered Reo. Seishiro widened his eyes and looked at his friend. “Those… They ain’t… They’re robots…” Warned Reo weakly, with his eyes still closed and his head limp against the other’s chest. Nagi frowned confused but licked his lower lip and focused on sensing the people down in the lower floor, trying to feel their heartbeats.

But there were barely any. Reo was right, pretty much none of them were humans.

Nagi opened his eyes and took a deep breath, feeling the rebound of using his power past his limit. He was nursing a killer headache. Seishiro turned back and shook his head, looking at the other two psychics in worry. “Those soldiers are not human… They are machines.” He said.

Chigiri and Shidou shot him puzzled looks. “What are you…”

“Chigiri! Shidou! Why don’t you come down and talk to me… We might be able to come to an agreement!” Came a voice from downstairs. Chigiri balled his fists in anger and Shidou bit his lip, upset. That voice belonged to the Army’s General.

“That fucker! You know what, if they are just machines, then I’ll tear them apart. And I’ll kill the fucker.” Growled Chigiri in anger, passing in between Shidou and Nagi, straight to the stairs. Ryuusei widened his eyes and was about to retort when Chigiri’s whole body caught on deadly flames.

Nagi and Shidou gulped, seeing the pyrokinetic running down the stairs like a living fire ball. Then, the chaotic sound of the fight started downstairs.

“He can’t do it by his own…” Said Shidou in a low tone, looking worriedly at the floor, which was shaking between the bullets and whatever destruction Chigiri was doing down there.  

Nagi thought for a moment and lowered his gaze to Reo, whose body was still cold and limp in between his arms. If they didn’t get out of there soon, Reo was going to die in his arms. Nagi couldn’t let that happen.

The white-haired turned to Shidou and shot him a meaningful glare before approaching him at arm’s reach while lifting Reo’s body to the front. It took Ryuusei two seconds to understand what was happening but widened his eyes when realized what the other wanted. Shidou extended his arms to the front to receive Reo in his arms.

Delicately, Nagi passed Reo’s body to Shidou, trying to move him as little as possible. Shidou held him firmly.

The moment Reo’s body was settled on Shidou’s arms, the purple-haired reacted and turned his head in Nagi’s direction, looking at him through leaded eyes. “Nagi…” he called in a whisper, weakly extending his left arm out, trying to reach the telekinetic. Seishiro felt this heart sting and lifted his right arm to hold Reo’s stretched hand and lace their fingers.

“It’s fine, Reo. Stay with Shidou for a bit.” Nagi said in a loving tone. He leaned in and kissed Reo’s knuckles before guiding Reo’s hand down, slowly settling it over the other’s stomach. “I’ll be right back.” He said, caressing Reo’s hand and smiling reassuringly at him.

Reo’s eyes watered and his lip trembled, but he turned his head to the other side, leaning against Shidou’s shoulder.

Nagi lifted his gaze and gave Ryuusei one last warning look, before turning around and running downstairs, to join the battle.

“Shit…” cursed Shidou, accommodating Reo’s body more comfortably in between his arms and walking backwards, to recline on the wall. He was worried for his friends downstairs, for Reo in between his arms, and for how they were going to make it out.

He closed his eyes, the noise around him making him feel sick.

After a few minutes, he Shidou sensed a presence approaching them from the higher floor and snapped his eyes open.

“Hey, mutt, where’ the other’s at?” came Barou’s firm voice from his right. Shidou looked at him with startled eyes but sighed, relieved that it was not an enemy. However, he hadn’t believed that Barou was going to come back for them.

Shidou didn’t say anything, but lowered his eyes to the next floor, as a signal. The dark-haired understood and walked haughtily towards the stairs. Ryuusei bit his lip in apprehension.

././.

Barou went downstairs and looked at the chaos around him. There were piles and piles of destroyed robots, metallic parts and rubble scattered all over the floor. Cracks on the walls, holes in the ground, and dust filling the air. It was truly a battlefield. Barou sighed and followed the sound of weapons going off again and again. It came from the next floor down.

Shouei snorted and glared at the floor, he extended his hands in front of his body, with his palms facing down, and used his telekinesis to push with all his strength, until he managed to open a hole in the floor. The moment the ground gave in, he fell with it, but used his telekinesis to cushion the fall. He ended up in the middle of a big room, where Nagi was crashing robots against the walls.

The white-haired looked at him with widened eyes. Barou clicked his tongue and started pushing robots away too. He moved to the next room and found Chigiri incinerating a big robot armed with at least ten machine guns all around it. It exploded in pieces due to the heat.

However, Barou noticed that both Nagi and Chigiri were exhausted. If they kept on fighting as harshly as they were, they were never going to leave this place. “Chigiri, bring your friends here. I’ll open the wall and take you all out through it, so you can escape.” Commanded Barou. Hyoma shot him a look of distrust.

“We’re almost done. Else, I still have to kill that fucking general.” Retorted the red-haired in anger. Barou groaned and glared at him.

“There’s no time for that you dumb-fuck. And that man is mine to kill, don’t even try to interfere.” Shouei argued. Chigiri stared at him for a few seconds, pondering his options and wondering why Barou, literally the general’s pet, was so eager to kill him now. It was a mystery, just as why was he helping them. Nevertheless, this was not the time to answer those questions. Or to think of revenge.

In the end, all he wanted was to be free from there and save Reo. So, he nodded and ran to Nagi, leaving Barou to handle the rest of the killing machines that seemed endless.

././.

Hyoma and Seishiro ran upstairs, back to the fourth floor where Shidou was waiting for them with Reo in his arms. Nagi immediately approached Ryuusei and took Reo back, carrying him with care. Reo snuggled in his chest but didn’t wake up.

Once they were ready, they ran down, back to where they’d left Barou. Chigiri acting as their main defense now since Nagi was not able to use his telekinesis anymore, the exhaustion was making his head pound painfully.

When they reached the room, Barou glanced at them and stretched his left hand to the side, facing the furthest wall. He pushed it with his telekinesis and the wall exploded, opening a big hole to the outside.

“All right, mutts, that’s your exit…” Yelled Barou, keeping the still incoming deadly machines at bay.

Nagi leaning through the hole to see how high it was. They were on the second floor, if he mustered all the power he had left, he could help them all land safely on the ground. Seishiro turned and commanded his friends to move closer to the edge, while he accommodated Reo’s body in a safer position in between his arms.

He turned his head to send one last glance at Barou, who exchanged a meaningful look with, before using his telekinesis to take Shidou, Chigiri and himself out of the building, floating down slowly.

The moment they reached the ground, Nagi fell on one of his knees, barely keeping himself conscious. He dreaded that maybe he was not going to be able to save Reo in the end.

However, just when Chigiri and Shidou were trying to take Reo from Nagi’s arms, they heard a loud beeping coming from their side, and saw Kunigami’s car turning a corner, driving at fast speed in their direction, with a few soldiers shooting at the vehicle from behind.

The three psychics widened their eyes.

The car stopped right in front of them, and the back door opened. From it, Isagi’s face came out and yelled at them to come inside. Chigiri and Shidou entered the car and helped get Reo’s body inside. Then, before climbing up, Nagi turned and pushed their attackers back with his telekinesis, to save them some time, and entered the vehicle, closing the door behind him. The moment the door clicked, Kunigami accelerated and flew them off there at high speed.

“Fuck! You did it!” exclaimed Isagi, moving to the copilot seat. Eyeing Reo’s unconscious body lying across the laps of the three psychics now sitting in the back.

“But he needs medical help asap.” Said Shidou, looking at Reo in distress.

 Isagi nodded his head and turned to the front. “Bachira already prepared the help. They are waiting for us in the mansion.” He reassured them.

Nagi, who was sitting by one of the corners of the backseat, sighed relieved and turned his head to lean it against the window, enjoying the coolness of it. After all they’d done and the adrenaline of the moment leaving his body, all the exhaustion and dizziness was starting to hit his body with full force. He closed his eyes and let the blinding headache take on his mind, slipping in and out of consciousness throughout the ride.

He had overdone it, but it had been completely worth it. He had Reo back with them.

“Hey, Isagi, what the fuck did you do to Barou back there? He ended up helping us escape!” asked Shidou. Isagi shot him a proud smirk.

“After I disabled the compound’s security, I decided to look into the archives they had hidden. You know, for leverage. And I found the video of the moment a ruthless psychic took Reo and Nagi down.” Explained the hacker. “Then, I checked the cameras inside the building and noticed that Nagi was fighting this same guy again. So, I thought I should look for more info about him.”

“I got his name in one of the files and saw a video that said ‘top secret’ with his name on it. I opened it and discovered that it was the video of the moment the military killed that guy’s family. He was a kid but he wasn’t in the crime scene, he was with the army’s general, it showed that he was in some other place.” Continued explaining Isagi. Chigiri and Shidou were looking at him in awe. “So, in the end, you see the kid being taken back to his house, seeing his family dead, and the general telling him that some lunatic psychic killed them. And then they took him with them.”

“And that’s it, I just showed him the video… I don’t think he knew the truth of what happened with his family, and the military lied to him so he would help them. That’s why he ended up helping you guys…” Finished Yoichi.

The psychics were looking at him in bewilderment. “Holy shit… Well, thanks.” Said Chigiri. Isagi smiled.

././.

Kunigami drove as fast as he could, taking shortcuts, avoiding traffic, and smoothly taking them through the roads now filled with people gathering on the streets and talking between them. They looked distressed and confused.

The orange-haired was about to ask what was happening, when the red-haired heckled him.

“We did it, we freed them. The mind control the military had over the citizens is gone. Of course, they are disconcerted, they don’t know how it happened. But luckily, some former president will appear to give some kind of reassurance to the people. Since they all remember, they’ll connect the dots and investigate the military… We won.” Explained Chigiri, sharing a relieved smile with Shidou.

Now that they’ve taken Reo, the military had no power over the country anymore. The people were free.

Shidou sighed and relaxed on his seat. “I’m so glad it’s over…”

/././.

After what felt like forever, they finally arrived at Reo’s mansion and got off. Nagi carefully carried Reo in his arms, even with the exhaustion and pain weighing on his body.

They entered the house and Bachira received them, immediately guiding them to the medical alley. There, a slim, talk, dark-haired doctor with glasses was waiting, together with a brunet, petit woman. They introduced themselves as Doctor Ego and his assistant Anri, specialists in psychics.

They put Reo on a stretcher and the doctor took him to a separated room to examine him, while the woman took Chigiri and Nagi aside to treat their wounds.

Nagi left the room completely bandaged and with some painkillers on, just in time to hear Doctor Ego saying that Mikage needed emergency surgery. After that, the wait felt eternal for him. While the others went to rest, he stayed outside of the medical room, sitting on the floor, waiting for Reo’s surgery to finish. Despite his exhaustion, dizziness, and pain, he couldn’t go to rest without making sure that his best friend was alright.

Five hours passed before the door of the medical opened, and Ego and Anri announced the success of the procedure. Nagi was the only one still waiting there.

“Everything went well. He is fine, but he’s still unconscious. If you want me to let you in there, you’ll first have to go clean yourself up. Come back, I’ll prepare a chair for you beside him.” The doctor said. Nagi nodded eagerly and ran to his room.

Ten minutes later, he was back in front of the medical room, dressed up in his pajamas.

The doctor opened the door and let him in, guiding him across the room, into a small space by the furthest corner. It was covered by a curtain. The doctor pushed the curtain open and stood aside, to let Nagi inside the small space where a hospital bed was placed with Reo resting on it, connected to beeping machines and vials.

“If you manage to get in the bed with him without incommode him, you can go up there. Otherwise, there’s a chair by the other side of the bed.” explained the man, before turning around and closing the curtain behind him. Leaving Nagi there, alone with Reo.

Seishiro sighed and walked around the bed to sit on the chair. He reached up and grabbed Reo’s left hand, caressing it with his thumb. He observed the other for a few minutes before reclining on the bed and setting his head on the mattress, beside their laced hands. After that, he finally closed his eyes and let exhaustion take him into a deep slumber.

/././

Seishiro woke up with the rustling of covers under him. Sleepily, he opened his eyes and looked up just to meet with a pair of purple irises looking at him through lit eyes. Nagi widened his eyes and lifted his head, looking at Reo in worry.

“Reo… Are you okay? How do you feel? Does anything hurt?” He asked, thoroughly inspecting the other’s semblance. Reo let out a weak giggle.

“I feel okay… Way better…” answered Reo in a raspy tone. Nagi bit his lip nervously but nodded his head. Not really knowing if Reo was telling the truth or just trying to make him feel better. Reo’s eyes changed into a loving gaze. “I wouldn’t lie to you Sei… I feel alright.” He added sweetly.

Nagi hummed.

“I… Reo, I thought…” Nagi lowered his gaze when felt his eyes pooling with tears and focused on their still laced hands. Reo pulled Seishiro’s hand, making him move closer before reaching out to hug him. Nagi allowed himself to be pulled and basked in the warmness of his friend. He hugged Reo tightly and hid his face in the crook of Reo’s neck.

They stayed like that for some minutes, enjoying each other’s closeness. Enjoying the feeling of being together again, alive.

“Reo, I love you. Please be my boyfriend…” Muttered Nagi in a low tone, separating slightly from the other’s hold.

Reo widened his eyes and looked at him in shock for a second, before his lip started trembling and a tear rolled down his right cheek. Then he let out an amused laugh. “Nagi Seishiro, you… Of course!” Reo lunged forward, into Nagi’s arms, and leaned his head on the other’s chest. “I love you, I love you, I love you… And… Even though I tried to protect you… I’m so glad you came for me…” Reo’s voice cracked and trembled. The weight of all that had happened and how close he had been to never see Nagi again, hitting him with force. “Thank you…” he said and started sobbing.

Seishiro held Reo thought his whole fit of crying, allowing the sense of relieve to fill himself too.

Their lovey moment broke when Reo groaned lowly in pain. Seishiro pulled him away and looked at him with concern. Reo gave him a small reassuring smile but squeezed his eyes in pain. “I… I guess I do have to rest a little…” He said while Nagi helped him recline back on the bed.

“Go to sleep Reo, I’ll be here…” assured the white-haired. Reo opened his eyes and smiled at him before slowly moving to one side of the bed and opening the covers of the side closer to Nagi. Seishiro looked at him questioningly. Reo giggled. “Come here Sei… Cuddle with me…”

Nagi bit his lip and was about to retort, when Reo’s voice sounded in his head. ‘I’ll only rest well with you sleeping beside me…Please…’ Seishiro widened his eyes and looked at the other startled. Reo gave him a warm smile. Nagi had never been able to listen Reo’s voice inside his head, it was supposed to be impossible; however, with all that Reo had gone through, he imagined that now his telekinesis couldn’t be able to protect him from Reo’s telepathy.

It was a new feeling. It was refreshing and reassuring.

Seishiro sighed and climbed on the bed. Accommodating beside Reo. They both turned in the bed and faced each other. “I love you…” muttered Reo. Nagi caressed his boyfriend’s face and moved to peck his forehead. “I love you too…” Seishiro answered back, pulling Reo closer to hug him.

The purple-haired accommodated in between the other’s arms and closed his eyes. Nagi made sure to hold Reo delicately and closed his eyes too.

That night, finally, both of them were able to rest calmly.

/././

With the NagiReo back, life in the mansion went back to normal. The only difference was that Chigiri and Shidou now had their own rooms (Shidou had been sleeping on a coach all that time). So now their home was louder and livelier. They all loved it – even when Nagi would complain about the noise sometimes.

They didn’t see Barou again, but they saw him in the news, confessing everything that the military had done during all those months. Luckily, he never gave the names of the captured psychics, so nobody was going to look for them.

Finally, with life going well, they all decided to open a football academy in their backyard and run it between all of them. It became a success in no time and their main source of income – even when Reo still had some millions in his account.

Things just kept going well for them after that…