Pride 2/2
Title: Pride
Author: write_my_dreams
Pairing: Hints of one-sided Gackt x Hyde
Genre: AU, crime, action
Warning/Disclaimer: Contains some violence. All J-Rockers own themselves, I just own the crazy people in this story.
Rating: PG-13
Chapters: 2/2 (So long I have to split it into two parts)
Summary: Hyde hates how everyone is out to protect him and wants to prove that he doesn't need to be babied. So when the chance to prove himself arrives, he lies to Asagi and learns the consequences of letting pride rule his actions.
Author's Comment:This half was the hardest one since I had two fight scenes to write, which I'm horribly out of practice with writing. I don't know how many hours I've spent editing all this, but I'm happy with how it turned out.
Whistling, Hyde walked out of the restaurant. Tonight was going so well. Lying to Asagi and Gackt had been easier than he thought it would be, he hadn’t encountered any trouble while making his delivery, and the restaurant owner was eager to do business with Gackt again. All he had to do now was let Gackt know the delivery was a success.
Hyde pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent his boss a text. Delivery went well. Are Asa-chan and I free to go home or do you need us to make more deliveries?
Gackt’s response came quickly. You two can go home.
All right. See you tomorrow. The redhead tucked the phone back into his pocket. He started walking towards the train station, making a face at the crowded sidewalk. Crowds always made him uneasy… especially on trains. He felt better in crowds when Asagi was with him, but he wasn’t here. Hyde scowled and shook his head. It was just a crowd; he could handle this by himself. And he didn’t need Asagi to protect him.
Hyde saw an alley up ahead and decided to take a shortcut to the train station. He stepped into the alley, sighing in relief. Now he didn’t have people surrounding him. But… it was a little eerie down here. Hyde’s good humor faded a little as he studied the alley. It was very dark and the one street lamp was flickering badly. He glanced back over his shoulder, biting his lip. The noise from the sidewalk was almost inviting compared to the quiet emptiness of the alley.
“Grow up,” Hyde hissed. What was he, a frightened child? It was just an alley. He’d be fine. The redhead resumed walking, stopping abruptly as the lamp went out and plunged the alley into darkness. That was creepy. He started walking again then froze as he heard footsteps coming down the alley. From several pairs of feet. Shit - what was it that everyone learned? Stick to main streets. Don’t go down alleys; you’re vulnerable there. And never, ever be alone. He’d broken the rules so quickly. Asagi would be furious if he found out. Especially since Hyde had promised to be careful…
He glanced over his shoulder. It was too dark to see who was following him. His heart beat faster as he remembered the man being beaten. Were his pursuers planning to do the same? If so how could he fight them off? Hyde had been so confident in his success that he hadn’t bothered to carry a weapon. He knew martial arts so he could defend himself, but there wasn’t much he could do against multiple people. Hyde broke into a run. He should have stayed on the sidewalk.
The redhead squeaked as he ran into someone’s arms. Arms which immediately circled around his smaller form like a cage. It was too dark to see who held him, but Hyde could feel the man’s strength. “Is this the tattooed freak you saw in the club, Yamada?”
Shit, they know me! Hyde struggled to escape the man’s grip. He held him too tightly to break free though so the redhead kicked out and caught him in the thigh. The man hissed in pain and turned to slam Hyde into the alley wall. Winded, he coughed and kicked him again. This time he caught the man in the crotch. He released the redhead and collapsed with a whimper of pain. Hyde jumped over him, stumbling as another man seized his wrist and jerked him back into waiting arms. He struggled against his new captor, but wasn’t strong enough to escape. The man overpowered him and pinned his arms behind his back.
“I think so. Tanaka, shine the flashlight on his back.” He heard the sound of a flashlight being turned on and another man - Tanaka - moved to his side. He pulled Hyde’s leather jacket down his shoulders then ripped his shirt open to see his back. Again, his beloved wings gave him away. Yamada swore. “It’s him. Where’s your friend, angel boy?”
“Home.” The flashlight showed three men in front of him. The two behind him and the man whose crotch he had assaulted made six. These weren’t good odds… At least Asagi was safe from his stupidity. Yamada gripped Hyde’s arms painfully when he started to struggle again. The redhead swore and kicked backwards as hard as he could. Yamada released him with a grunt of pain, but Tanaka hit him in the head with the flashlight as punishment. Dazed, Hyde stumbled backwards and clutched his head as dizziness rolled over him.
He felt someone grip his shirt and glanced up. Tanaka was smirking down at him. “Too bad. You might have had a fair chance then.” He scowled. “You should have picked devil wings instead. Yakuza slime like you don’t deserve angel wings.” He released Hyde’s shirt and punched him. The redhead felt his lip split and lashed out, catching the man in the jaw. His attackers just laughed and in an instant were all over him. Helplessly, Hyde tried to defend himself. He couldn’t take on six men by himself though and went down after several blows. The redhead attempted to roll away so he could get to his feet again, but someone stomped on his jacket and held him in place. Another man kicked him in the ribs while the others laughed. Hyde gasped in pain and curled in on himself, holding his arms over his head for protection.
He’d been so stupid to think he would be fine alone. Hyde needed Asagi more than he’d ever needed him before… and he had no idea.
The assault never seemed to end. Tears of pain trailed down his cheeks at their brutality. How could they do this? They were the real monsters, not him. Hyde hoped someone would hear the pained sounds he was making and come help him, but no one came. Probably no one cared. The world went black for a moment as a booted foot collided with his head. Hyde slumped against the alley, stomach rolling. Would they beat him to death? His parents’ and friends’ faces flashed across his thoughts. He might never see them again… and all for his stupid pride.
The men froze as sirens cut through the night air. “What was that?”
“Police,” one swore.
“Should we…?” the speaker trailed off as the sirens came closer. Assaulting anyone like this, even yakuza, was illegal. Some police would look the other way but others would punish the victim’s attackers. It was like playing Russian roulette - which cop would arrest you and which one wouldn’t care?
“Leave him.” The man who first grabbed Hyde growled. “He’s not going anywhere.” He kicked the redhead once more then left. The other five got in their final blows then left him, battered and bleeding in the alley. Hyde knew he had to move, but didn’t think his body would cooperate. His head ached so much he felt like he would throw up and he was seeing spots. He couldn’t stay here though. The redhead slowly shifted onto his stomach, hissing in pain as that put pressure on his aching chest. He used his arms to push himself up onto his knees - then collapsed with a whimper of pain. Getting up… impossible. Hyde shifted and reached into his pocket, swearing since moving was agony. Miraculously, his iPhone was still intact. Gackt had bought him a full protective case after Hyde had broken his last phone. So far it had protected the new one from his occasional clumsiness.
Hyde hit the home button, cringing at the bright light from the screen. Looking at it for too long made his vision go in and out of focus. He texted ‘help’ to Asagi then pocketed the phone. His friend would track the signal from Hyde’s iPhone and come find him. Unless he was busy and didn’t get the message in time… Don’t think that. The redhead looked around the alley. He knew he had to move. Those men might come back and finish what they’d started if Hyde stayed here.
The redhead placed his hands on the ground again. Gritting his teeth against the nausea, he started army crawling down the alley. It was slow going, but Hyde managed to move away from where he’d been beaten. He took shelter in a pile of old newspapers behind a dumpster. The smell made his stomach roll, but Hyde lacked the strength to go further.
Hopefully Asagi would come in time…
* * *
Hyde didn’t know how long he lay there. It was hard to focus on anything and he kept slipping in and out of consciousness. It’d just happened again when he smelled roses. Roses… here? In this dingy alley? Hyde opened his eyes as he felt something silky tickle his cheek. Not an actual rose - just Asagi’s shampoo. His friend was leaning over him, looking worried as he cradled the redhead in his arms. Asagi’s phone lay next to him to light up Hyde’s hiding place. He immediately shut his eyes against the brightness. Light made his vision worse.
“Hyde? No don’t close your eyes, you have to stay awake.”
“Hurts,” Hyde whispered, squinting against the light. Asagi noticed and dimmed his phone screen. That was a little better. He clutched the front of the dark-haired man’s jacket and shifted a little, wincing since moving hurt. Breathing hurt. Everything hurt.
“I know it does. What happened to you?” Asagi gently touched a bruise on Hyde’s face. He flinched at the pressure and shut his eyes again. The taller man shook him, making him gasp and open his eyes. “Sorry, I know that hurt. You can’t close your eyes for long though. You have a concussion… I can’t tell how bad it is.”
Hyde wanted to nod, but that would be too painful. Being shaken was bad enough. “Sorry,” he whispered. He wished he’d never lied to Asagi. Wished he hadn’t let his pride get the better of him. All it’d done was bring him pain.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
The redhead averted his eyes. “Lied. Had a job… went alone. Wanted to prove myself.”
Asagi frowned. “Hyde,” he sighed and wrapped his arm around the smaller man’s back. “We’ll talk about this later.” He slid his free arm under Hyde’s knees. “Can you hold on to me? Gackt’s waiting for us in his car.”
Gackt was here too… he was in so much trouble.
“Hyde?” Asagi shook him gently. Hyde opened his eyes again and looked up at him. “Can you hold on to me?”
Maybe. Hyde managed to wrap his arms around his neck. Asagi lifted him as gently as he could, but the action still sent a flare of pain through Hyde’s head. He pressed his face into Asagi’s shoulder. That helped a little since he wasn’t rocked so much. He wasn’t given that option for long though since the dark-haired man shifted him away.
“I can’t see your face when you do that. I need to know when you’re awake.”
“Am awake,” Hyde mumbled. He just wanted to sleep though. He knew he’d wake up in the hospital, where something would be done about his ribs and he would have access to painkillers. The redhead was quiet after that since it was too difficult to concentrate on speaking. Every step Asagi took jarred him, making the nausea and headache worse. He kept trying to close his eyes since that helped. But whenever Asagi glanced down to make sure he was awake his hair would tickle Hyde’s face, always distracting him. Or he’d shake him if he caught the redhead with his eyes shut.
“Where… Gacchan?” Hyde asked.
“He’s parked on the street. We’ll be there soon.”
Hyde looked up. They were nearing the mouth of the alley now. Tokyo’s bright lights made him hide his face in Asagi’s shoulder again since looking at them hurt. The city noise didn’t help. He cursed as the dark-haired man moved him again. “Stop…”
“You know I can’t.”
The redhead sighed, holding him a little tighter as they left the alley. People gave them strange then concerned looks when they saw Hyde’s bruises, but parted to let them through. Asagi carried him to the street where Gackt was waiting. Hyde noticed his boss immediately. Gackt wore a grey suit and was leaning against his red car. He turned pale as he saw them and rushed up to them, looking Hyde over with exclamations of concern. His touches, though gentle, made the redhead cringe. Especially when Gackt put pressure on his ribs.
“Hyde? Hyde, would you look at me?”
The redhead turned his gaze towards him. Gackt frowned. “Put him in the car. He needs a hospital now… he definitely has a concussion. I think his ribs are broken too.”
Their voices sounded faraway. Hyde wondered if he was going to faint again. He hoped so - it would be wonderful to escape the pain. Gackt opened the door for Asagi so he could lay Hyde across the backseat. He winced as the door closed. Too loud. The redhead was surprised when Asagi got in on the other side, lifting Hyde’s upper body to pillow his head in his lap. He buckled their seatbelts and glanced down at the redhead. “I don’t trust you not to fall asleep.”
“Cat hair… on your jeans,” he mumbled.
Asagi laughed, but his smile faded when Hyde tried to close his eyes again. He sighed and shook him. “You have to stay awake until we reach the hospital.”
“I know.” The redhead winced as Gackt started the car and began to drive. The movement and the bright lights flashing overhead bothered his head and stomach again. Hyde kept closing his eyes to avoid seeing the lights, only to be disturbed by Asagi shaking him. “Stop,” Hyde groaned. “Feel sick…”
“Should I stop?” Gackt asked. Hyde was already in trouble for lying. It’d be even worse if he threw up in his boss’s precious car.
Hyde sighed. “No… just keep going.” He shifted his bangs to block out some of the light then looked at the back of Gackt’s seat. Peering out the window made him feel queasy, but he didn’t feel so terrible if he looked at the unmoving seat. And Asagi could still see his eyes.
They were mostly quiet on the way to the hospital. Sometimes Gackt or Asagi would ask Hyde questions, but it was getting harder to process what they were saying. They had to repeat his name three, four times to get his attention and always had to repeat their questions. Responding was just as difficult. Hyde knew he was stumbling over words, but he didn’t care. He wished they would stop talking to him and let him rest. He felt so horrible…
The car slowed then gradually stopped. “We’re here.”
Hyde tilted his head to see outside, squeezing his eyes shut at the intensity of the lights. Why did buildings have to be so bright? Asagi unbuckled their seatbelts and gently moved Hyde’s head off his lap so he could get out. He then gathered the redhead into his arms and lifted him out of the car. Hyde held on to him, grimacing as Asagi followed Gackt inside. He hated hospitals. The white walls, the smell, the general gloom of being stuck here… he already wanted to go home. Or back to Asagi’s apartment. It’d be nice to cuddle with a purring cat when he felt this low.
“Hyde? Hyde, are you with me? Hyde?” the redhead finally looked up after Gackt had repeated his name several times. The nurses and patients walking around were distracting. Hyde started a little as he realized a nurse stood in front of them. When did she get here? “Could you tell her what happened?”
“Hit… kicked…” Hyde mumbled, hiding his face in Asagi’s jacket. It was too bright in here. How was he supposed to think? The dark-haired man shifted him away, much to his displeasure. Hyde scowled. He wished Asagi would stop doing that.
“What are his symptoms?”
“Heavy bruising, a concussion, and I think he has a few broken ribs,” Gackt said. The voices sounded faraway again. Hyde’s eyes fell half closed as the nurse nodded and walked away. She came back a couple minutes later with a stretcher.
“Lay him down,” she told Asagi. He did so, being as gentle as possible. “Take a seat in the waiting room for now. I’ll let you know when you can see him again.”
“All right.” The nurse wheeled him away, and the last thing Hyde saw before the world finally went black was their worried faces.
* * *
Hyde shined his flashlight around the dark tunnel, biting his lip since he couldn’t see any sign of an exit. He couldn’t remember why he was in this tunnel or how he’d gotten here. And why he was alone. Had he tried to make a delivery by himself again? Hyde blinked as he felt skirts swishing around his legs and glanced down. He wore an elegant red dress with black lace details and had paired it with black boots and a blonde wig. No… he wouldn’t make a delivery in this. Hyde would wear this to a party. As the smallest in the organization he was often disguised as a woman for certain jobs or when Gackt needed a date. But why was he down here? Was he… trapped?
The flashlight trembled with his body. The thought of being trapped in this endless blackness terrified him. Hyde didn’t dare call for Asagi though. He didn’t know if he was alone down here or not and if someone was here… they might not be friendly. All the redhead could do was keep walking until he found an exit. If there was a way in there was a way out. It was here somewhere.
Hyde continued down the tunnel. He turned a corner, pausing as he saw something glowing up ahead. He stepped closer and lowered the flashlight in shock. A set of towering silver stairs spiraled up as far as the eye could see. They glowed silver in the blackness, so bright he didn’t need to use his flashlight to illuminate them. Hyde switched the flashlight off and slowly approached the stairs. These could lead him to the tunnel exit… but what made them glow?
He froze as he heard footsteps. Who else was here? The redhead pushed the flashlight down his boot and started climbing the stairs. He could see who was in the tunnel with him once he was up high enough. Hyde gripped the railing and tried to move both swiftly and quietly. Climbing fast in this dress was difficult though and he was soon gasping for breath. The dress had a corset style back that had been laced too tightly, pressing into his ribcage as he tried to take deep breaths. Hyde cursed the dress. He wanted to scold the person who had laced it for him, but couldn’t remember who had done so. The redhead paused to catch his breath and ducked behind the pillar the stairs curved around. Hyde then looked back to see if anyone was in sight yet. A man holding a flashlight stepped into view. He lowered the flashlight and looked up at the stairs, just as Hyde had done. A man with long black hair who wore a dark suit and carried a rose.
“Asa-chan!” Hyde rushed to the railing, relieved to see Asagi. He switched on his flashlight and waved. “I’m up here!”
Then he woke up. Hyde blinked, a little confused by the sudden transition from dream to reality. He was lying in bed in a private hospital room and wore a hospital gown instead of the red dress. He could hear the soft humming of the machines he was hooked up to, the beeping of the heart monitor. Hyde knew the insistent beeping was good since it meant he was alive, but it bothered his head since he still had a lingering headache. At least he wasn’t dizzy anymore. The redhead took a breath then winced. Ouch. He remembered Gackt saying he had broken ribs. That explained why his chest felt so tight and why he’d struggled to breathe in his dream.
Hyde turned his head as he smelled Asagi’s familiar shampoo. He smiled a little as he saw his friend sitting in a chair next to his bed. He was looking at his phone and absently reached up to brush his bangs back. “Hey, Asa-chan,” Hyde said softly.
Asagi raised his head at the sound of his name. He looked tired, but his expression made the redhead shrink away in fear. Asagi was a calm man and it took a lot to piss him off. Things that would have others practically snarling with rage were met with clenched fists and a calm look from Asagi. He was still calm… but it was his dangerous calm. One step away from fury. That look terrified him so much he could only squeak since he knew he was in so much trouble. Hyde had only angered him that badly twice. The first time, he’d been drunk and somehow gotten his gum stuck in Asagi’s hair while hugging him goodbye. There’d been a moment of stunned silence then the taller man reached up to feel the sticky mass in his hair.
“Did you just… put your gum in my hair?” The anger in his voice had Hyde trembling in front of him.
“I’m sorry!” he wailed. “I… It fell out of my mouth.” The redhead had practically been in tears since Asagi had never given him that death glare before.
The taller man had to get a haircut to remove all the gum. Before, he had long hair down to the middle of his back. It barely reached his collarbones after the gum incident. Even though it happened years ago Hyde still wasn’t allowed to chew gum around Asagi. Then when the other man’s hair was long again Hyde had enraged him a second time. He insisted on staying late after a job and gotten them into a world of trouble…
“Hyde? Hyde, are you all right?” the question pulled him back into the present. Asagi was still angry, but also concerned.
The redhead’s hands shook as he gripped the blanket. “I think so,” he whispered. He shrank back against the pillows as Asagi’s eyes narrowed. Now that he knew Hyde was all right he wouldn’t hold back.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Asagi demanded. “You know how dangerous it is to be alone!”
“I know,” Hyde said. “I-”
“Be quiet and let me speak.”
The redhead squeaked in response. Asagi was definitely furious.
“You could have gotten yourself killed! You always do idiotic things like this and it drives me insane. Wanting to work alone, staying later at jobs because you want a drink or food or whatever you’re in the mood for. That puts us in danger. You’re supposed to get in, do the job, and get out. You don’t linger for the hell of it!” Asagi raked his fingers through his long hair. “I hate how reckless you can be. You let your pride get to you because you want everyone to take you seriously. Pride makes you believe you can do things you actually can’t do so you make idiotic mistakes that endanger you and anyone else who has to come save you. That person is usually me. I’ve gotten hurt because of your mistakes too many times to count.” Asagi took a breath and continued, “I’m always worried that your pride is going to put you in danger again and I won’t be there to help. Like tonight. I know you hate when people get over protective, but I can’t help it. You’re one of my closest friends and look in a fucking mirror at how small you are. You’re completely helpless in a big fight… like a ragdoll. Your body can’t handle blows that mine can.” He gave Hyde a frustrated look. “But you hate being protected so you always try to prove how strong you are. That makes you look like a stubborn teenager. Stop thinking with your pride and use your brain the next time you have a job.”
Asagi wasn’t done though. He continued to lecture Hyde about the risks of being careless, how stupid he was for lying to him, and how if he ever did something like this again Asagi would lock him in his apartment and never let him out. The redhead was silent as his friend scolded him. There was nothing he could say since everything was true. He did make everyone worry because he was careless and let pride get the better of him. But his pride had almost gotten him killed… he’d learned his lesson.
“I’m sorry,” Hyde whispered. He already felt horrible given the pain he was in, but now it was worse. He just wanted to disappear from the shame of his actions. Asagi was right - he hadn’t thought at all. All Hyde had cared about was proving himself.
“You should be,” Asagi said.
Hyde flinched and looked down at his hands. “You’re right,” he murmured. “Pride makes me do stupid things. And… sometimes it’s because of you.”
“Because of me?” Asagi looked confused.
Hyde fussed with his blankets. “I’m jealous of you, Asa-chan. You’re tall and strong - everything that I’m not. When someone underestimates you because of your looks you can easily prove how strong you are. I can’t do that. No matter how much I work out, I’m still small. This is about as muscular as I’m going to get unless I change my diet and lifestyle completely. I don’t want to do that.” Following Gackt’s diet and exercise routine would be a nightmare. Hyde took a breath then continued. “I feel like everyone babies me because of how small I am. You said my body sparks that protective urge. I appreciate and hate that. I know I’m safe with you and anyone else, but at the same time it drives me crazy. I’m small, yes, but I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m not weak.” Hyde was horrified as he realized frustrated tears were welling up in his eyes. “But no one believes me. No one wants to believe me. So I… I thought I could prove myself by doing this job alone. Prove that I don’t need to be babied. That’s why I lied to you.” Hyde looked up at Asagi, blinking as fat tears rolled down his cheeks. All that had done was prove how much he needed to have his friend with him.
Asagi sighed and took one of his hands. “You aren’t weak, Hyde. We all know that.”
The redhead shook his head. “How can I be strong when everyone just wants to protect me? Being the damsel in distress,” his voice took on a bitter edge, “is a mark of weakness.”
“I want to protect you because you’re my friend. That’s why everyone else protects you too. We aren’t all out to baby you, Hyde. We want to keep you safe because we care.” Asagi sighed again and released his hand. “I guess I’ve given you a bit of a complex.”
Hyde sniffed, smiling weakly. “If you take me out to dinner I’ll forgive you and won’t complain about you protecting me ever again.”
Asagi chuckled. “It’s a deal.”
Hyde brushed the tears away. He felt better now. He’d never confessed this to anyone before. He didn’t think anyone would listen or worse, they would think he was just whining and being annoying. But it helped knowing his small frame wasn’t the only reason his friends were protective. They were protective because they cared about him.
And that meant the world to him.
“How long do I have to stay here?” Hyde asked. He was ready to talk about his condition instead of his pride now.
“The doctor wants you to stay overnight. Depending on how you feel tomorrow you might have to stay another night,” Asagi replied. He gave the redhead a concerned look. “You have a concussion from being kicked in the head twice. Four of your ribs are broken and you have a lot of bruises. The doctor said you should stay with me or someone else for a few days. You’ll need someone to check in on you and make sure there’s no lasting damage from the concussion. I assume you’d prefer to stay with me instead of Gackt so once you’ve been released from the hospital you can get your things and come live with me for a while.”
Hyde sighed. He had expected that. He’d gotten a concussion before, and Asagi insisted on having him stay at his apartment to make sure Hyde would be all right. “Okay. I’ll stay with you as long as your cats don’t decide to sit on my chest.”
“I’ll try to keep them away.”
“You better,” Hyde huffed, rubbing his sore chest at the thought. The last thing he needed was a cat’s weight aggravating his broken ribs.
“I’ll do my best.”
Hyde yawned softly. “So am I just staying with you for a few days or do you want me there longer?”
“I’d prefer if you stayed with me until you were healthy again.” Asagi worried too much when the redhead was injured. The only way he would relax was if Hyde stayed with him. It was an arrangement both of them preferred since Hyde didn’t like to be alone when he was in in pain. It was easier to suffer if he had company.
“All right. You better stock up on soba and chocolate then.”
Asagi laughed. “I will.”
The redhead yawned again. “How long was I asleep?”
“About four hours.” Asagi pulled his blankets up higher. “You should get more rest. You’ve had a rough night.”
“You sound like my mom,” Hyde muttered.
“Maybe I should ground you for lying then.”
Hyde made a face. “I’m sure Gacchan will do that.” It was getting hard to keep his eyes open. He didn’t want to sleep again, but the tiredness wouldn’t leave him alone.
“Go to sleep.”
The redhead’s eyes closed. “You’ll be here when I wake up?”
“I promise.”
“Mm…” Hyde was too tired to speak and let sleep claim him once more.
* * *
Hyde dozed off and on for the rest of the night. Asagi rarely moved from the chair at his bedside, but twice the redhead woke up to Gackt sitting in that chair. He had to explain himself and endure a second lecture about carelessness and endangering himself. He knew Gackt was just looking out for him though so didn’t complain. Work called his boss away the first time, but he returned with a gift for Hyde: soba.
“Soba!” the redhead’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Gacchan.” He beamed and sat up with some difficulty. Sitting up on his own was a little hard since his head still bothered him, but Gackt and Asagi let him move without assistance. Even though their hands automatically flew up to help him.
Gackt handed him the takeout box. He waited until Hyde had opened it and started eating before speaking. “You aren’t allowed to work again until you’ve completely healed.”
Hyde froze. “But that could take a month!” he protested. Or more depending on how long it took for his ribs to heal. The thought of doing nothing but watching TV and playing with Asagi’s cats for that long was horrifying.
“You need time to heal,” Gackt said sternly. “I’ll make it two months if you complain.”
Hyde swallowed the protests that threatened to rise. Gackt was reckless when it came to his own health, but he took the wellbeing of his men very seriously. It wouldn’t be possible to change his mind. Besides, Gackt was right. The redhead needed this time to heal. “All right,” he sighed. This was going to be so boring…
Gackt smirked. “You can do my paperwork if you get too bored.”
Hyde shuddered. “I can find other ways to entertain myself.”
The boss ruffled his hair. “I’m sure you will. I brought you some chocolate too... I figured you’d want something sweet after what you’ve been through.” He made a face. “Even though it’s unhealthy.”
Hyde beamed. “Thank you, Gacchan.”
“Eat your soba and drink your miso soup before you eat the chocolate though.”
The redhead rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mom.” Really Asagi and Gackt reminded him so much of his mother sometimes.
* * *
Gackt had to leave again after Hyde finished eating. He had a mountain of paperwork to get through that he couldn’t put off for any longer. He’d brought some of it with him and tried to work on it, but couldn’t concentrate. Gackt hated hospitals. Hyde could see the tension in his boss’s body and hear the slight edge to his voice whenever he spoke. The redhead appreciated him taking time out of his busy day to stay with him, but didn’t want Gackt to be miserable. So he told him to go home and work. Asagi could watch over him and keep him company.
After Gackt left, the doctor came back to check on Hyde. He examined the redhead’s head and chest then told him to get some more rest. Hyde still felt sleepy so didn’t need to be told twice. He closed his eyes and was vaguely aware of Asagi coming back into the room. Then he fell asleep again.
Hyde stirred as he heard the door open. He cracked an eye open and looked at the chair next to his bed. It was empty. The redhead shut his eye again as the door closed. Probably just Asagi coming back from getting coffee. He shifted to get comfortable, then paused. He always knew when Asagi was near because he could smell his rose-scented hair. This person didn’t smell like roses. Hyde opened his eyes and turned his head. A middle aged woman in a nurse outfit stood in his room. She had one hand in her pocket and looked surprised to see him awake. Something like disappointment flashed across her face, then she smiled. Hyde’s guard immediately went up. Who was this woman?
“I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
“Yes.” The redhead slowly sat up. The nurse who checked in on him was a young woman with freckles and glasses. This woman was old enough to be his mother.
She stepped closer. “How are you feeling?”
“A little better,” Hyde said. “I don’t have a headache anymore.” He reached under the pillow. Gackt had given him a knife the first time he was here. The boss had brought Hyde to a private hospital that accepted yakuza patients - and loved their money - but one could never be too careful. “You never know what will happen.” The redhead hadn’t needed to use the knife yet, but he might have to now.
“Good.” The woman smiled again. It was so fake that Hyde automatically shifted into a defensive stance. Her smile vanished in an instant. “You were supposed to be asleep so I could poison you,” she hissed. She pulled a knife out of her pocket. “I’ll stab you instead.”
Swearing, Hyde drew the knife. He could fight with a blade, but she had the advantage here. The redhead was hooked up to too many machines. Cutting through the cords so he could get up would cost him valuable time. And he might be dead by the time he cut through them all... Where the hell was Asagi when he needed him?
Hyde held his pillow in front of his body to protect his chest as she flung the knife at him. It punctured the pillow near his heart and would have been a killing blow had it entered his body. She quickly drew another. The redhead ripped her knife out of the pillow, ignoring the pain that flared through his battered body. The woman pulled a syringe out of her pocket - probably what she intended to poison him with - and was on him in a heartbeat. She tried to stab him with the syringe, but Hyde caught it with one of his knives and knocked it out of her hand. She swore and slashed his arm with the knife. The redhead gritted his teeth and raised the knives to block her next attack. She was strong, but her reckless desperation proved that she was no assassin. Just an unhinged woman with a deep hatred for yakuza. And Hyde had two knives while she had one. The odds were getting a little better.
She surprised him when she dropped her knife down to his leg. Hyde couldn’t block her in time, and she scored a hit on his thigh. Her blade immediately flew up to his chest to finish him off. The redhead quickly blocked, slicing her wrist as she drew back. She hissed in pain and lunged forward to stab him. Again, Hyde blocked. He twisted his wrist to catch her blade and sent it flying out of her hand. She thrust her hand into pocket for another weapon, but Hyde was too fast. He plunged the knife into her heart and winced at her expression. He hated killing people. Hated seeing the stunned look on their faces, how the light left their eyes when they died. The sound of the body falling. It was horrible, but either they would die or he would. Hyde wanted to live.
The woman stumbled off the bed. She opened her mouth to speak as her legs gave out from under her. “Ya…” she hit the floor before she could finish the word. Hyde fought the urge to be sick as blood slowly pooled around her still form. Who was she and why had she come for him?
The door opened a few moments later. The redhead tensed and prepared to fight again, but relaxed as he saw it was just Asagi holding a cup of coffee. The dark-haired man’s eyes widened as he saw the body on the floor and Hyde holding a knife. He slammed the door shut. “What happened?” he rushed to the redhead and took the knife from him.
“You left me to get coffee?” Hyde demanded, shaking slightly. He was learning to swallow his pride and knew that he’d never been so vulnerable before. He needed to have someone to protect him when he was injured. The woman’s attempt to murder him had proven that. Hyde would be dead if Gackt hadn’t given him the knife. “I needed you here! She was going to kill me.”
Asagi was very pale and looked as worried as he had when he carried Hyde out of the alley. “I’m sorry… I needed something to keep myself awake. I thought you’d be safe here,” he whispered.
“I wasn’t! I woke up and you weren’t there… then the door opened and I thought it was you, but it was some psycho!” Hyde knew it was wrong to lash out at Asagi like this. He was only human; he couldn’t be expected to make it through an entire night without coffee. Hyde was just strained from the sudden shock of having to defend himself and kill someone. “I needed you.” His voice cracked a little.
Asagi set the knife and coffee aside then took Hyde’s hands. “I’m here now.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Just breathe… I’ll have someone take care of the body. Breathe and calm down. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Hyde closed his eyes. He tried to calm down, but couldn’t do it. The woman had tried to kill him. She hadn’t been successful, but what if there were others like her in the hospital? If so, Asagi was in danger too. They needed to get out of here.
“Hyde. You need to calm down.”
The redhead hadn’t noticed how hard he was breathing and how much it hurt his chest until Asagi spoke. He slowly breathed in, gripping the other man’s hands tightly as he opened his eyes again. You’re safe now. Asa-chan won’t let anyone hurt you. “Is it just the two of us?”
“Yes, but I’ll tell Gackt to send more men.”
Hyde pulled one hand away so he could take a drink of Asagi’s coffee. Caffeine always helped when he was stressed - even though he preferred chocolate. He almost spat it out, making a face. “This is disgusting.”
Asagi plucked the cup from his fingers. “Too strong?”
“Yes! There’s no milk or cream or anything sweet,” Hyde complained. It was like drinking tar. The dark-haired man just looked amused. He took a drink then set the cup aside, bringing Hyde’s arm up to his face so he could examine the gash. The redhead hoped he wouldn’t study the one on his thigh so closely. That would be awkward…
Asagi lowered his arm. “Can you tell me what happened now?”
Hyde bit his lip. He had been feeling a little better, but telling this story would bring the stress and fear back. Asagi had to know what happened though. The redhead started at the beginning: waking up and thinking it was just Asagi coming back, seeing the woman, his suspicion of her, her assault… “And then you came in.”
Asagi frowned. “She felt untrained?”
“No, she wasn’t untrained. She was strong and definitely knew what she was doing.” Hyde shivered as he remembered her attack. “But she was no assassin.”
“Even though she had a poisoned syringe and a knife?”
“She wasn’t good enough to be an assassin,” Hyde clarified. He looked down at the cut on his thigh. “If she had been… I would probably be dead.”
Asagi gently rubbed his arm. “She wasn’t though.” He was quiet for a few moments before speaking again. “Have you ever seen her before?”
“No, never.” Hyde looked up at him. “I don’t know how she knew about me. She didn’t say anything…” he wondered what her motives had been. Personal grudge? Had this been a plot to kill him? Gackt did have enemies and it was no secret that he was fond of Hyde… but she had tried to kill him because he was yakuza.
“Did she have a resemblance to any of the men who attacked you?”
Hyde blinked. “What do you mean?”
“A middle aged woman who hates yakuza came to your room and tried to kill you. She could easily have been one of their mothers. When she heard her son was interrupted in beating you, she could have tracked you down…” Asagi trailed off, expression thoughtful.
The redhead frowned, thinking back to his attackers. It’d been too hard to make out distinct features since it’d been so dark in the alley. “I don’t know. I never got a good enough look at them.”
Asagi nodded. “All right. I have no idea then.” He glanced down at the woman’s body. Hyde didn’t want to look at her, but his eyes kept straying to her. Why had she come for him? How did she know he would be in this room? Had hospital staff betrayed him?
“I know it wasn’t a random attack though,” Hyde said. “She planned to kill me. She disguised herself as a nurse and had the syringe and knives in her pocket.”
Asagi nodded. “I’ll call Gackt now… we need to get you out of here.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called their boss. Hyde took over his friend’s coffee and sipped it in silence, occasionally making a face at the taste, while Asagi explained what had happened. “She cut him twice… no, nowhere fatal. He’s all right, just shocked and a little scared.” He was quiet again as their boss spoke. “All right. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and pocketed the phone. “Gackt is on his way. He’s bringing more men and they’ll dispose of the body. He’ll talk to your doctor so we can get you out of here. It’s not safe for you to be here any longer.”
“Okay.” Hyde brushed his messy curls back with his uncut arm. “Can you help me? There are bandages in the cupboard over there.” He pointed. “I saw my nurse take some out earlier. I think there’s some other stuff in there too.” They couldn’t call her to patch up his injuries because of the body so Asagi would have to tend to the cuts instead.
The dark-haired man nodded and opened the cupboard. He took out some cotton balls, a bottle of disinfectant, and a roll of bandages. He then returned to Hyde and looked over the two cuts. “You might need stitches.”
Hyde sighed. “Maybe.” He held out his arm, watching as the other man cleaned the blood off. Asagi then dabbed disinfectant onto the cut with a cotton ball, making Hyde hiss in pain. That stung. Asagi wrapped the injury then turned to the one on Hyde’s thigh. The redhead felt a little awkward about having his friend’s hands on his thigh, but told himself not to be ridiculous. Asagi was just taking care of him. And he was being so gentle… Hyde felt horrible for snapping at him earlier.
“Asa-chan.” The redhead touched his arm.
Asagi looked up. “Hm?”
“I’m so sorry I snapped at you.” Hyde wrapped his arms around his neck. The dark-haired man looked surprised by the sudden embrace, but quickly returned it. “I was stressed and you know how much I hate killing people… but that didn’t give me the right to take it out on you. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Asagi rubbed his back. “I’ll take you out to lunch tomorrow and buy you soba to make up for leaving you. I’ll even get you dessert.”
Hyde laughed weakly. Food didn’t appeal to him right now, but he knew it would tomorrow. “It’s a deal.” He pulled one of the blankets off his bed, turning his head aside as he handed it to Asagi. “Please… cover her up.” He owed her nothing since she had tried to kill him, but it felt wrong to just leave her body out in the open like that.
Asagi took the blanket without question. He covered the woman’s body then returned to his chair at Hyde’s bedside. The redhead didn’t know what else this long night would bring, but he knew he was safe with Asagi here. His friend would protect him. All Hyde had to worry about now was how long it would take for his battered body to heal.
Author: write_my_dreams
Pairing: Hints of one-sided Gackt x Hyde
Genre: AU, crime, action
Warning/Disclaimer: Contains some violence. All J-Rockers own themselves, I just own the crazy people in this story.
Rating: PG-13
Chapters: 2/2 (So long I have to split it into two parts)
Summary: Hyde hates how everyone is out to protect him and wants to prove that he doesn't need to be babied. So when the chance to prove himself arrives, he lies to Asagi and learns the consequences of letting pride rule his actions.
Author's Comment:This half was the hardest one since I had two fight scenes to write, which I'm horribly out of practice with writing. I don't know how many hours I've spent editing all this, but I'm happy with how it turned out.
Whistling, Hyde walked out of the restaurant. Tonight was going so well. Lying to Asagi and Gackt had been easier than he thought it would be, he hadn’t encountered any trouble while making his delivery, and the restaurant owner was eager to do business with Gackt again. All he had to do now was let Gackt know the delivery was a success.
Hyde pulled his phone out of his pocket and sent his boss a text. Delivery went well. Are Asa-chan and I free to go home or do you need us to make more deliveries?
Gackt’s response came quickly. You two can go home.
All right. See you tomorrow. The redhead tucked the phone back into his pocket. He started walking towards the train station, making a face at the crowded sidewalk. Crowds always made him uneasy… especially on trains. He felt better in crowds when Asagi was with him, but he wasn’t here. Hyde scowled and shook his head. It was just a crowd; he could handle this by himself. And he didn’t need Asagi to protect him.
Hyde saw an alley up ahead and decided to take a shortcut to the train station. He stepped into the alley, sighing in relief. Now he didn’t have people surrounding him. But… it was a little eerie down here. Hyde’s good humor faded a little as he studied the alley. It was very dark and the one street lamp was flickering badly. He glanced back over his shoulder, biting his lip. The noise from the sidewalk was almost inviting compared to the quiet emptiness of the alley.
“Grow up,” Hyde hissed. What was he, a frightened child? It was just an alley. He’d be fine. The redhead resumed walking, stopping abruptly as the lamp went out and plunged the alley into darkness. That was creepy. He started walking again then froze as he heard footsteps coming down the alley. From several pairs of feet. Shit - what was it that everyone learned? Stick to main streets. Don’t go down alleys; you’re vulnerable there. And never, ever be alone. He’d broken the rules so quickly. Asagi would be furious if he found out. Especially since Hyde had promised to be careful…
He glanced over his shoulder. It was too dark to see who was following him. His heart beat faster as he remembered the man being beaten. Were his pursuers planning to do the same? If so how could he fight them off? Hyde had been so confident in his success that he hadn’t bothered to carry a weapon. He knew martial arts so he could defend himself, but there wasn’t much he could do against multiple people. Hyde broke into a run. He should have stayed on the sidewalk.
The redhead squeaked as he ran into someone’s arms. Arms which immediately circled around his smaller form like a cage. It was too dark to see who held him, but Hyde could feel the man’s strength. “Is this the tattooed freak you saw in the club, Yamada?”
Shit, they know me! Hyde struggled to escape the man’s grip. He held him too tightly to break free though so the redhead kicked out and caught him in the thigh. The man hissed in pain and turned to slam Hyde into the alley wall. Winded, he coughed and kicked him again. This time he caught the man in the crotch. He released the redhead and collapsed with a whimper of pain. Hyde jumped over him, stumbling as another man seized his wrist and jerked him back into waiting arms. He struggled against his new captor, but wasn’t strong enough to escape. The man overpowered him and pinned his arms behind his back.
“I think so. Tanaka, shine the flashlight on his back.” He heard the sound of a flashlight being turned on and another man - Tanaka - moved to his side. He pulled Hyde’s leather jacket down his shoulders then ripped his shirt open to see his back. Again, his beloved wings gave him away. Yamada swore. “It’s him. Where’s your friend, angel boy?”
“Home.” The flashlight showed three men in front of him. The two behind him and the man whose crotch he had assaulted made six. These weren’t good odds… At least Asagi was safe from his stupidity. Yamada gripped Hyde’s arms painfully when he started to struggle again. The redhead swore and kicked backwards as hard as he could. Yamada released him with a grunt of pain, but Tanaka hit him in the head with the flashlight as punishment. Dazed, Hyde stumbled backwards and clutched his head as dizziness rolled over him.
He felt someone grip his shirt and glanced up. Tanaka was smirking down at him. “Too bad. You might have had a fair chance then.” He scowled. “You should have picked devil wings instead. Yakuza slime like you don’t deserve angel wings.” He released Hyde’s shirt and punched him. The redhead felt his lip split and lashed out, catching the man in the jaw. His attackers just laughed and in an instant were all over him. Helplessly, Hyde tried to defend himself. He couldn’t take on six men by himself though and went down after several blows. The redhead attempted to roll away so he could get to his feet again, but someone stomped on his jacket and held him in place. Another man kicked him in the ribs while the others laughed. Hyde gasped in pain and curled in on himself, holding his arms over his head for protection.
He’d been so stupid to think he would be fine alone. Hyde needed Asagi more than he’d ever needed him before… and he had no idea.
The assault never seemed to end. Tears of pain trailed down his cheeks at their brutality. How could they do this? They were the real monsters, not him. Hyde hoped someone would hear the pained sounds he was making and come help him, but no one came. Probably no one cared. The world went black for a moment as a booted foot collided with his head. Hyde slumped against the alley, stomach rolling. Would they beat him to death? His parents’ and friends’ faces flashed across his thoughts. He might never see them again… and all for his stupid pride.
The men froze as sirens cut through the night air. “What was that?”
“Police,” one swore.
“Should we…?” the speaker trailed off as the sirens came closer. Assaulting anyone like this, even yakuza, was illegal. Some police would look the other way but others would punish the victim’s attackers. It was like playing Russian roulette - which cop would arrest you and which one wouldn’t care?
“Leave him.” The man who first grabbed Hyde growled. “He’s not going anywhere.” He kicked the redhead once more then left. The other five got in their final blows then left him, battered and bleeding in the alley. Hyde knew he had to move, but didn’t think his body would cooperate. His head ached so much he felt like he would throw up and he was seeing spots. He couldn’t stay here though. The redhead slowly shifted onto his stomach, hissing in pain as that put pressure on his aching chest. He used his arms to push himself up onto his knees - then collapsed with a whimper of pain. Getting up… impossible. Hyde shifted and reached into his pocket, swearing since moving was agony. Miraculously, his iPhone was still intact. Gackt had bought him a full protective case after Hyde had broken his last phone. So far it had protected the new one from his occasional clumsiness.
Hyde hit the home button, cringing at the bright light from the screen. Looking at it for too long made his vision go in and out of focus. He texted ‘help’ to Asagi then pocketed the phone. His friend would track the signal from Hyde’s iPhone and come find him. Unless he was busy and didn’t get the message in time… Don’t think that. The redhead looked around the alley. He knew he had to move. Those men might come back and finish what they’d started if Hyde stayed here.
The redhead placed his hands on the ground again. Gritting his teeth against the nausea, he started army crawling down the alley. It was slow going, but Hyde managed to move away from where he’d been beaten. He took shelter in a pile of old newspapers behind a dumpster. The smell made his stomach roll, but Hyde lacked the strength to go further.
Hopefully Asagi would come in time…
* * *
Hyde didn’t know how long he lay there. It was hard to focus on anything and he kept slipping in and out of consciousness. It’d just happened again when he smelled roses. Roses… here? In this dingy alley? Hyde opened his eyes as he felt something silky tickle his cheek. Not an actual rose - just Asagi’s shampoo. His friend was leaning over him, looking worried as he cradled the redhead in his arms. Asagi’s phone lay next to him to light up Hyde’s hiding place. He immediately shut his eyes against the brightness. Light made his vision worse.
“Hyde? No don’t close your eyes, you have to stay awake.”
“Hurts,” Hyde whispered, squinting against the light. Asagi noticed and dimmed his phone screen. That was a little better. He clutched the front of the dark-haired man’s jacket and shifted a little, wincing since moving hurt. Breathing hurt. Everything hurt.
“I know it does. What happened to you?” Asagi gently touched a bruise on Hyde’s face. He flinched at the pressure and shut his eyes again. The taller man shook him, making him gasp and open his eyes. “Sorry, I know that hurt. You can’t close your eyes for long though. You have a concussion… I can’t tell how bad it is.”
Hyde wanted to nod, but that would be too painful. Being shaken was bad enough. “Sorry,” he whispered. He wished he’d never lied to Asagi. Wished he hadn’t let his pride get the better of him. All it’d done was bring him pain.
“Can you tell me what happened?”
The redhead averted his eyes. “Lied. Had a job… went alone. Wanted to prove myself.”
Asagi frowned. “Hyde,” he sighed and wrapped his arm around the smaller man’s back. “We’ll talk about this later.” He slid his free arm under Hyde’s knees. “Can you hold on to me? Gackt’s waiting for us in his car.”
Gackt was here too… he was in so much trouble.
“Hyde?” Asagi shook him gently. Hyde opened his eyes again and looked up at him. “Can you hold on to me?”
Maybe. Hyde managed to wrap his arms around his neck. Asagi lifted him as gently as he could, but the action still sent a flare of pain through Hyde’s head. He pressed his face into Asagi’s shoulder. That helped a little since he wasn’t rocked so much. He wasn’t given that option for long though since the dark-haired man shifted him away.
“I can’t see your face when you do that. I need to know when you’re awake.”
“Am awake,” Hyde mumbled. He just wanted to sleep though. He knew he’d wake up in the hospital, where something would be done about his ribs and he would have access to painkillers. The redhead was quiet after that since it was too difficult to concentrate on speaking. Every step Asagi took jarred him, making the nausea and headache worse. He kept trying to close his eyes since that helped. But whenever Asagi glanced down to make sure he was awake his hair would tickle Hyde’s face, always distracting him. Or he’d shake him if he caught the redhead with his eyes shut.
“Where… Gacchan?” Hyde asked.
“He’s parked on the street. We’ll be there soon.”
Hyde looked up. They were nearing the mouth of the alley now. Tokyo’s bright lights made him hide his face in Asagi’s shoulder again since looking at them hurt. The city noise didn’t help. He cursed as the dark-haired man moved him again. “Stop…”
“You know I can’t.”
The redhead sighed, holding him a little tighter as they left the alley. People gave them strange then concerned looks when they saw Hyde’s bruises, but parted to let them through. Asagi carried him to the street where Gackt was waiting. Hyde noticed his boss immediately. Gackt wore a grey suit and was leaning against his red car. He turned pale as he saw them and rushed up to them, looking Hyde over with exclamations of concern. His touches, though gentle, made the redhead cringe. Especially when Gackt put pressure on his ribs.
“Hyde? Hyde, would you look at me?”
The redhead turned his gaze towards him. Gackt frowned. “Put him in the car. He needs a hospital now… he definitely has a concussion. I think his ribs are broken too.”
Their voices sounded faraway. Hyde wondered if he was going to faint again. He hoped so - it would be wonderful to escape the pain. Gackt opened the door for Asagi so he could lay Hyde across the backseat. He winced as the door closed. Too loud. The redhead was surprised when Asagi got in on the other side, lifting Hyde’s upper body to pillow his head in his lap. He buckled their seatbelts and glanced down at the redhead. “I don’t trust you not to fall asleep.”
“Cat hair… on your jeans,” he mumbled.
Asagi laughed, but his smile faded when Hyde tried to close his eyes again. He sighed and shook him. “You have to stay awake until we reach the hospital.”
“I know.” The redhead winced as Gackt started the car and began to drive. The movement and the bright lights flashing overhead bothered his head and stomach again. Hyde kept closing his eyes to avoid seeing the lights, only to be disturbed by Asagi shaking him. “Stop,” Hyde groaned. “Feel sick…”
“Should I stop?” Gackt asked. Hyde was already in trouble for lying. It’d be even worse if he threw up in his boss’s precious car.
Hyde sighed. “No… just keep going.” He shifted his bangs to block out some of the light then looked at the back of Gackt’s seat. Peering out the window made him feel queasy, but he didn’t feel so terrible if he looked at the unmoving seat. And Asagi could still see his eyes.
They were mostly quiet on the way to the hospital. Sometimes Gackt or Asagi would ask Hyde questions, but it was getting harder to process what they were saying. They had to repeat his name three, four times to get his attention and always had to repeat their questions. Responding was just as difficult. Hyde knew he was stumbling over words, but he didn’t care. He wished they would stop talking to him and let him rest. He felt so horrible…
The car slowed then gradually stopped. “We’re here.”
Hyde tilted his head to see outside, squeezing his eyes shut at the intensity of the lights. Why did buildings have to be so bright? Asagi unbuckled their seatbelts and gently moved Hyde’s head off his lap so he could get out. He then gathered the redhead into his arms and lifted him out of the car. Hyde held on to him, grimacing as Asagi followed Gackt inside. He hated hospitals. The white walls, the smell, the general gloom of being stuck here… he already wanted to go home. Or back to Asagi’s apartment. It’d be nice to cuddle with a purring cat when he felt this low.
“Hyde? Hyde, are you with me? Hyde?” the redhead finally looked up after Gackt had repeated his name several times. The nurses and patients walking around were distracting. Hyde started a little as he realized a nurse stood in front of them. When did she get here? “Could you tell her what happened?”
“Hit… kicked…” Hyde mumbled, hiding his face in Asagi’s jacket. It was too bright in here. How was he supposed to think? The dark-haired man shifted him away, much to his displeasure. Hyde scowled. He wished Asagi would stop doing that.
“What are his symptoms?”
“Heavy bruising, a concussion, and I think he has a few broken ribs,” Gackt said. The voices sounded faraway again. Hyde’s eyes fell half closed as the nurse nodded and walked away. She came back a couple minutes later with a stretcher.
“Lay him down,” she told Asagi. He did so, being as gentle as possible. “Take a seat in the waiting room for now. I’ll let you know when you can see him again.”
“All right.” The nurse wheeled him away, and the last thing Hyde saw before the world finally went black was their worried faces.
* * *
Hyde shined his flashlight around the dark tunnel, biting his lip since he couldn’t see any sign of an exit. He couldn’t remember why he was in this tunnel or how he’d gotten here. And why he was alone. Had he tried to make a delivery by himself again? Hyde blinked as he felt skirts swishing around his legs and glanced down. He wore an elegant red dress with black lace details and had paired it with black boots and a blonde wig. No… he wouldn’t make a delivery in this. Hyde would wear this to a party. As the smallest in the organization he was often disguised as a woman for certain jobs or when Gackt needed a date. But why was he down here? Was he… trapped?
The flashlight trembled with his body. The thought of being trapped in this endless blackness terrified him. Hyde didn’t dare call for Asagi though. He didn’t know if he was alone down here or not and if someone was here… they might not be friendly. All the redhead could do was keep walking until he found an exit. If there was a way in there was a way out. It was here somewhere.
Hyde continued down the tunnel. He turned a corner, pausing as he saw something glowing up ahead. He stepped closer and lowered the flashlight in shock. A set of towering silver stairs spiraled up as far as the eye could see. They glowed silver in the blackness, so bright he didn’t need to use his flashlight to illuminate them. Hyde switched the flashlight off and slowly approached the stairs. These could lead him to the tunnel exit… but what made them glow?
He froze as he heard footsteps. Who else was here? The redhead pushed the flashlight down his boot and started climbing the stairs. He could see who was in the tunnel with him once he was up high enough. Hyde gripped the railing and tried to move both swiftly and quietly. Climbing fast in this dress was difficult though and he was soon gasping for breath. The dress had a corset style back that had been laced too tightly, pressing into his ribcage as he tried to take deep breaths. Hyde cursed the dress. He wanted to scold the person who had laced it for him, but couldn’t remember who had done so. The redhead paused to catch his breath and ducked behind the pillar the stairs curved around. Hyde then looked back to see if anyone was in sight yet. A man holding a flashlight stepped into view. He lowered the flashlight and looked up at the stairs, just as Hyde had done. A man with long black hair who wore a dark suit and carried a rose.
“Asa-chan!” Hyde rushed to the railing, relieved to see Asagi. He switched on his flashlight and waved. “I’m up here!”
Then he woke up. Hyde blinked, a little confused by the sudden transition from dream to reality. He was lying in bed in a private hospital room and wore a hospital gown instead of the red dress. He could hear the soft humming of the machines he was hooked up to, the beeping of the heart monitor. Hyde knew the insistent beeping was good since it meant he was alive, but it bothered his head since he still had a lingering headache. At least he wasn’t dizzy anymore. The redhead took a breath then winced. Ouch. He remembered Gackt saying he had broken ribs. That explained why his chest felt so tight and why he’d struggled to breathe in his dream.
Hyde turned his head as he smelled Asagi’s familiar shampoo. He smiled a little as he saw his friend sitting in a chair next to his bed. He was looking at his phone and absently reached up to brush his bangs back. “Hey, Asa-chan,” Hyde said softly.
Asagi raised his head at the sound of his name. He looked tired, but his expression made the redhead shrink away in fear. Asagi was a calm man and it took a lot to piss him off. Things that would have others practically snarling with rage were met with clenched fists and a calm look from Asagi. He was still calm… but it was his dangerous calm. One step away from fury. That look terrified him so much he could only squeak since he knew he was in so much trouble. Hyde had only angered him that badly twice. The first time, he’d been drunk and somehow gotten his gum stuck in Asagi’s hair while hugging him goodbye. There’d been a moment of stunned silence then the taller man reached up to feel the sticky mass in his hair.
“Did you just… put your gum in my hair?” The anger in his voice had Hyde trembling in front of him.
“I’m sorry!” he wailed. “I… It fell out of my mouth.” The redhead had practically been in tears since Asagi had never given him that death glare before.
The taller man had to get a haircut to remove all the gum. Before, he had long hair down to the middle of his back. It barely reached his collarbones after the gum incident. Even though it happened years ago Hyde still wasn’t allowed to chew gum around Asagi. Then when the other man’s hair was long again Hyde had enraged him a second time. He insisted on staying late after a job and gotten them into a world of trouble…
“Hyde? Hyde, are you all right?” the question pulled him back into the present. Asagi was still angry, but also concerned.
The redhead’s hands shook as he gripped the blanket. “I think so,” he whispered. He shrank back against the pillows as Asagi’s eyes narrowed. Now that he knew Hyde was all right he wouldn’t hold back.
“What the hell were you thinking?” Asagi demanded. “You know how dangerous it is to be alone!”
“I know,” Hyde said. “I-”
“Be quiet and let me speak.”
The redhead squeaked in response. Asagi was definitely furious.
“You could have gotten yourself killed! You always do idiotic things like this and it drives me insane. Wanting to work alone, staying later at jobs because you want a drink or food or whatever you’re in the mood for. That puts us in danger. You’re supposed to get in, do the job, and get out. You don’t linger for the hell of it!” Asagi raked his fingers through his long hair. “I hate how reckless you can be. You let your pride get to you because you want everyone to take you seriously. Pride makes you believe you can do things you actually can’t do so you make idiotic mistakes that endanger you and anyone else who has to come save you. That person is usually me. I’ve gotten hurt because of your mistakes too many times to count.” Asagi took a breath and continued, “I’m always worried that your pride is going to put you in danger again and I won’t be there to help. Like tonight. I know you hate when people get over protective, but I can’t help it. You’re one of my closest friends and look in a fucking mirror at how small you are. You’re completely helpless in a big fight… like a ragdoll. Your body can’t handle blows that mine can.” He gave Hyde a frustrated look. “But you hate being protected so you always try to prove how strong you are. That makes you look like a stubborn teenager. Stop thinking with your pride and use your brain the next time you have a job.”
Asagi wasn’t done though. He continued to lecture Hyde about the risks of being careless, how stupid he was for lying to him, and how if he ever did something like this again Asagi would lock him in his apartment and never let him out. The redhead was silent as his friend scolded him. There was nothing he could say since everything was true. He did make everyone worry because he was careless and let pride get the better of him. But his pride had almost gotten him killed… he’d learned his lesson.
“I’m sorry,” Hyde whispered. He already felt horrible given the pain he was in, but now it was worse. He just wanted to disappear from the shame of his actions. Asagi was right - he hadn’t thought at all. All Hyde had cared about was proving himself.
“You should be,” Asagi said.
Hyde flinched and looked down at his hands. “You’re right,” he murmured. “Pride makes me do stupid things. And… sometimes it’s because of you.”
“Because of me?” Asagi looked confused.
Hyde fussed with his blankets. “I’m jealous of you, Asa-chan. You’re tall and strong - everything that I’m not. When someone underestimates you because of your looks you can easily prove how strong you are. I can’t do that. No matter how much I work out, I’m still small. This is about as muscular as I’m going to get unless I change my diet and lifestyle completely. I don’t want to do that.” Following Gackt’s diet and exercise routine would be a nightmare. Hyde took a breath then continued. “I feel like everyone babies me because of how small I am. You said my body sparks that protective urge. I appreciate and hate that. I know I’m safe with you and anyone else, but at the same time it drives me crazy. I’m small, yes, but I’m not a damsel in distress. I’m not weak.” Hyde was horrified as he realized frustrated tears were welling up in his eyes. “But no one believes me. No one wants to believe me. So I… I thought I could prove myself by doing this job alone. Prove that I don’t need to be babied. That’s why I lied to you.” Hyde looked up at Asagi, blinking as fat tears rolled down his cheeks. All that had done was prove how much he needed to have his friend with him.
Asagi sighed and took one of his hands. “You aren’t weak, Hyde. We all know that.”
The redhead shook his head. “How can I be strong when everyone just wants to protect me? Being the damsel in distress,” his voice took on a bitter edge, “is a mark of weakness.”
“I want to protect you because you’re my friend. That’s why everyone else protects you too. We aren’t all out to baby you, Hyde. We want to keep you safe because we care.” Asagi sighed again and released his hand. “I guess I’ve given you a bit of a complex.”
Hyde sniffed, smiling weakly. “If you take me out to dinner I’ll forgive you and won’t complain about you protecting me ever again.”
Asagi chuckled. “It’s a deal.”
Hyde brushed the tears away. He felt better now. He’d never confessed this to anyone before. He didn’t think anyone would listen or worse, they would think he was just whining and being annoying. But it helped knowing his small frame wasn’t the only reason his friends were protective. They were protective because they cared about him.
And that meant the world to him.
“How long do I have to stay here?” Hyde asked. He was ready to talk about his condition instead of his pride now.
“The doctor wants you to stay overnight. Depending on how you feel tomorrow you might have to stay another night,” Asagi replied. He gave the redhead a concerned look. “You have a concussion from being kicked in the head twice. Four of your ribs are broken and you have a lot of bruises. The doctor said you should stay with me or someone else for a few days. You’ll need someone to check in on you and make sure there’s no lasting damage from the concussion. I assume you’d prefer to stay with me instead of Gackt so once you’ve been released from the hospital you can get your things and come live with me for a while.”
Hyde sighed. He had expected that. He’d gotten a concussion before, and Asagi insisted on having him stay at his apartment to make sure Hyde would be all right. “Okay. I’ll stay with you as long as your cats don’t decide to sit on my chest.”
“I’ll try to keep them away.”
“You better,” Hyde huffed, rubbing his sore chest at the thought. The last thing he needed was a cat’s weight aggravating his broken ribs.
“I’ll do my best.”
Hyde yawned softly. “So am I just staying with you for a few days or do you want me there longer?”
“I’d prefer if you stayed with me until you were healthy again.” Asagi worried too much when the redhead was injured. The only way he would relax was if Hyde stayed with him. It was an arrangement both of them preferred since Hyde didn’t like to be alone when he was in in pain. It was easier to suffer if he had company.
“All right. You better stock up on soba and chocolate then.”
Asagi laughed. “I will.”
The redhead yawned again. “How long was I asleep?”
“About four hours.” Asagi pulled his blankets up higher. “You should get more rest. You’ve had a rough night.”
“You sound like my mom,” Hyde muttered.
“Maybe I should ground you for lying then.”
Hyde made a face. “I’m sure Gacchan will do that.” It was getting hard to keep his eyes open. He didn’t want to sleep again, but the tiredness wouldn’t leave him alone.
“Go to sleep.”
The redhead’s eyes closed. “You’ll be here when I wake up?”
“I promise.”
“Mm…” Hyde was too tired to speak and let sleep claim him once more.
* * *
Hyde dozed off and on for the rest of the night. Asagi rarely moved from the chair at his bedside, but twice the redhead woke up to Gackt sitting in that chair. He had to explain himself and endure a second lecture about carelessness and endangering himself. He knew Gackt was just looking out for him though so didn’t complain. Work called his boss away the first time, but he returned with a gift for Hyde: soba.
“Soba!” the redhead’s eyes lit up. “Thank you, Gacchan.” He beamed and sat up with some difficulty. Sitting up on his own was a little hard since his head still bothered him, but Gackt and Asagi let him move without assistance. Even though their hands automatically flew up to help him.
Gackt handed him the takeout box. He waited until Hyde had opened it and started eating before speaking. “You aren’t allowed to work again until you’ve completely healed.”
Hyde froze. “But that could take a month!” he protested. Or more depending on how long it took for his ribs to heal. The thought of doing nothing but watching TV and playing with Asagi’s cats for that long was horrifying.
“You need time to heal,” Gackt said sternly. “I’ll make it two months if you complain.”
Hyde swallowed the protests that threatened to rise. Gackt was reckless when it came to his own health, but he took the wellbeing of his men very seriously. It wouldn’t be possible to change his mind. Besides, Gackt was right. The redhead needed this time to heal. “All right,” he sighed. This was going to be so boring…
Gackt smirked. “You can do my paperwork if you get too bored.”
Hyde shuddered. “I can find other ways to entertain myself.”
The boss ruffled his hair. “I’m sure you will. I brought you some chocolate too... I figured you’d want something sweet after what you’ve been through.” He made a face. “Even though it’s unhealthy.”
Hyde beamed. “Thank you, Gacchan.”
“Eat your soba and drink your miso soup before you eat the chocolate though.”
The redhead rolled his eyes. “Yes, Mom.” Really Asagi and Gackt reminded him so much of his mother sometimes.
* * *
Gackt had to leave again after Hyde finished eating. He had a mountain of paperwork to get through that he couldn’t put off for any longer. He’d brought some of it with him and tried to work on it, but couldn’t concentrate. Gackt hated hospitals. Hyde could see the tension in his boss’s body and hear the slight edge to his voice whenever he spoke. The redhead appreciated him taking time out of his busy day to stay with him, but didn’t want Gackt to be miserable. So he told him to go home and work. Asagi could watch over him and keep him company.
After Gackt left, the doctor came back to check on Hyde. He examined the redhead’s head and chest then told him to get some more rest. Hyde still felt sleepy so didn’t need to be told twice. He closed his eyes and was vaguely aware of Asagi coming back into the room. Then he fell asleep again.
Hyde stirred as he heard the door open. He cracked an eye open and looked at the chair next to his bed. It was empty. The redhead shut his eye again as the door closed. Probably just Asagi coming back from getting coffee. He shifted to get comfortable, then paused. He always knew when Asagi was near because he could smell his rose-scented hair. This person didn’t smell like roses. Hyde opened his eyes and turned his head. A middle aged woman in a nurse outfit stood in his room. She had one hand in her pocket and looked surprised to see him awake. Something like disappointment flashed across her face, then she smiled. Hyde’s guard immediately went up. Who was this woman?
“I’m sorry, did I wake you?”
“Yes.” The redhead slowly sat up. The nurse who checked in on him was a young woman with freckles and glasses. This woman was old enough to be his mother.
She stepped closer. “How are you feeling?”
“A little better,” Hyde said. “I don’t have a headache anymore.” He reached under the pillow. Gackt had given him a knife the first time he was here. The boss had brought Hyde to a private hospital that accepted yakuza patients - and loved their money - but one could never be too careful. “You never know what will happen.” The redhead hadn’t needed to use the knife yet, but he might have to now.
“Good.” The woman smiled again. It was so fake that Hyde automatically shifted into a defensive stance. Her smile vanished in an instant. “You were supposed to be asleep so I could poison you,” she hissed. She pulled a knife out of her pocket. “I’ll stab you instead.”
Swearing, Hyde drew the knife. He could fight with a blade, but she had the advantage here. The redhead was hooked up to too many machines. Cutting through the cords so he could get up would cost him valuable time. And he might be dead by the time he cut through them all... Where the hell was Asagi when he needed him?
Hyde held his pillow in front of his body to protect his chest as she flung the knife at him. It punctured the pillow near his heart and would have been a killing blow had it entered his body. She quickly drew another. The redhead ripped her knife out of the pillow, ignoring the pain that flared through his battered body. The woman pulled a syringe out of her pocket - probably what she intended to poison him with - and was on him in a heartbeat. She tried to stab him with the syringe, but Hyde caught it with one of his knives and knocked it out of her hand. She swore and slashed his arm with the knife. The redhead gritted his teeth and raised the knives to block her next attack. She was strong, but her reckless desperation proved that she was no assassin. Just an unhinged woman with a deep hatred for yakuza. And Hyde had two knives while she had one. The odds were getting a little better.
She surprised him when she dropped her knife down to his leg. Hyde couldn’t block her in time, and she scored a hit on his thigh. Her blade immediately flew up to his chest to finish him off. The redhead quickly blocked, slicing her wrist as she drew back. She hissed in pain and lunged forward to stab him. Again, Hyde blocked. He twisted his wrist to catch her blade and sent it flying out of her hand. She thrust her hand into pocket for another weapon, but Hyde was too fast. He plunged the knife into her heart and winced at her expression. He hated killing people. Hated seeing the stunned look on their faces, how the light left their eyes when they died. The sound of the body falling. It was horrible, but either they would die or he would. Hyde wanted to live.
The woman stumbled off the bed. She opened her mouth to speak as her legs gave out from under her. “Ya…” she hit the floor before she could finish the word. Hyde fought the urge to be sick as blood slowly pooled around her still form. Who was she and why had she come for him?
The door opened a few moments later. The redhead tensed and prepared to fight again, but relaxed as he saw it was just Asagi holding a cup of coffee. The dark-haired man’s eyes widened as he saw the body on the floor and Hyde holding a knife. He slammed the door shut. “What happened?” he rushed to the redhead and took the knife from him.
“You left me to get coffee?” Hyde demanded, shaking slightly. He was learning to swallow his pride and knew that he’d never been so vulnerable before. He needed to have someone to protect him when he was injured. The woman’s attempt to murder him had proven that. Hyde would be dead if Gackt hadn’t given him the knife. “I needed you here! She was going to kill me.”
Asagi was very pale and looked as worried as he had when he carried Hyde out of the alley. “I’m sorry… I needed something to keep myself awake. I thought you’d be safe here,” he whispered.
“I wasn’t! I woke up and you weren’t there… then the door opened and I thought it was you, but it was some psycho!” Hyde knew it was wrong to lash out at Asagi like this. He was only human; he couldn’t be expected to make it through an entire night without coffee. Hyde was just strained from the sudden shock of having to defend himself and kill someone. “I needed you.” His voice cracked a little.
Asagi set the knife and coffee aside then took Hyde’s hands. “I’m here now.” He sat down on the edge of the bed. “Just breathe… I’ll have someone take care of the body. Breathe and calm down. I won’t let anything happen to you.”
Hyde closed his eyes. He tried to calm down, but couldn’t do it. The woman had tried to kill him. She hadn’t been successful, but what if there were others like her in the hospital? If so, Asagi was in danger too. They needed to get out of here.
“Hyde. You need to calm down.”
The redhead hadn’t noticed how hard he was breathing and how much it hurt his chest until Asagi spoke. He slowly breathed in, gripping the other man’s hands tightly as he opened his eyes again. You’re safe now. Asa-chan won’t let anyone hurt you. “Is it just the two of us?”
“Yes, but I’ll tell Gackt to send more men.”
Hyde pulled one hand away so he could take a drink of Asagi’s coffee. Caffeine always helped when he was stressed - even though he preferred chocolate. He almost spat it out, making a face. “This is disgusting.”
Asagi plucked the cup from his fingers. “Too strong?”
“Yes! There’s no milk or cream or anything sweet,” Hyde complained. It was like drinking tar. The dark-haired man just looked amused. He took a drink then set the cup aside, bringing Hyde’s arm up to his face so he could examine the gash. The redhead hoped he wouldn’t study the one on his thigh so closely. That would be awkward…
Asagi lowered his arm. “Can you tell me what happened now?”
Hyde bit his lip. He had been feeling a little better, but telling this story would bring the stress and fear back. Asagi had to know what happened though. The redhead started at the beginning: waking up and thinking it was just Asagi coming back, seeing the woman, his suspicion of her, her assault… “And then you came in.”
Asagi frowned. “She felt untrained?”
“No, she wasn’t untrained. She was strong and definitely knew what she was doing.” Hyde shivered as he remembered her attack. “But she was no assassin.”
“Even though she had a poisoned syringe and a knife?”
“She wasn’t good enough to be an assassin,” Hyde clarified. He looked down at the cut on his thigh. “If she had been… I would probably be dead.”
Asagi gently rubbed his arm. “She wasn’t though.” He was quiet for a few moments before speaking again. “Have you ever seen her before?”
“No, never.” Hyde looked up at him. “I don’t know how she knew about me. She didn’t say anything…” he wondered what her motives had been. Personal grudge? Had this been a plot to kill him? Gackt did have enemies and it was no secret that he was fond of Hyde… but she had tried to kill him because he was yakuza.
“Did she have a resemblance to any of the men who attacked you?”
Hyde blinked. “What do you mean?”
“A middle aged woman who hates yakuza came to your room and tried to kill you. She could easily have been one of their mothers. When she heard her son was interrupted in beating you, she could have tracked you down…” Asagi trailed off, expression thoughtful.
The redhead frowned, thinking back to his attackers. It’d been too hard to make out distinct features since it’d been so dark in the alley. “I don’t know. I never got a good enough look at them.”
Asagi nodded. “All right. I have no idea then.” He glanced down at the woman’s body. Hyde didn’t want to look at her, but his eyes kept straying to her. Why had she come for him? How did she know he would be in this room? Had hospital staff betrayed him?
“I know it wasn’t a random attack though,” Hyde said. “She planned to kill me. She disguised herself as a nurse and had the syringe and knives in her pocket.”
Asagi nodded. “I’ll call Gackt now… we need to get you out of here.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and called their boss. Hyde took over his friend’s coffee and sipped it in silence, occasionally making a face at the taste, while Asagi explained what had happened. “She cut him twice… no, nowhere fatal. He’s all right, just shocked and a little scared.” He was quiet again as their boss spoke. “All right. I’ll see you soon.” He hung up and pocketed the phone. “Gackt is on his way. He’s bringing more men and they’ll dispose of the body. He’ll talk to your doctor so we can get you out of here. It’s not safe for you to be here any longer.”
“Okay.” Hyde brushed his messy curls back with his uncut arm. “Can you help me? There are bandages in the cupboard over there.” He pointed. “I saw my nurse take some out earlier. I think there’s some other stuff in there too.” They couldn’t call her to patch up his injuries because of the body so Asagi would have to tend to the cuts instead.
The dark-haired man nodded and opened the cupboard. He took out some cotton balls, a bottle of disinfectant, and a roll of bandages. He then returned to Hyde and looked over the two cuts. “You might need stitches.”
Hyde sighed. “Maybe.” He held out his arm, watching as the other man cleaned the blood off. Asagi then dabbed disinfectant onto the cut with a cotton ball, making Hyde hiss in pain. That stung. Asagi wrapped the injury then turned to the one on Hyde’s thigh. The redhead felt a little awkward about having his friend’s hands on his thigh, but told himself not to be ridiculous. Asagi was just taking care of him. And he was being so gentle… Hyde felt horrible for snapping at him earlier.
“Asa-chan.” The redhead touched his arm.
Asagi looked up. “Hm?”
“I’m so sorry I snapped at you.” Hyde wrapped his arms around his neck. The dark-haired man looked surprised by the sudden embrace, but quickly returned it. “I was stressed and you know how much I hate killing people… but that didn’t give me the right to take it out on you. I’m really sorry.”
“It’s all right.” Asagi rubbed his back. “I’ll take you out to lunch tomorrow and buy you soba to make up for leaving you. I’ll even get you dessert.”
Hyde laughed weakly. Food didn’t appeal to him right now, but he knew it would tomorrow. “It’s a deal.” He pulled one of the blankets off his bed, turning his head aside as he handed it to Asagi. “Please… cover her up.” He owed her nothing since she had tried to kill him, but it felt wrong to just leave her body out in the open like that.
Asagi took the blanket without question. He covered the woman’s body then returned to his chair at Hyde’s bedside. The redhead didn’t know what else this long night would bring, but he knew he was safe with Asagi here. His friend would protect him. All Hyde had to worry about now was how long it would take for his battered body to heal.