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windfighter · 7 hours

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Mud in the water

Prompt: caretaker helping whumpee clean themself up and having to drain the bath several times throughout because there's so much dirt and blood in the water (from @whumppromptoftheday)

Summary: Kouji shows up at Takuya's door, injured and muddy, and Takuya does his best to take care of his friend

Warnings: Blood, injury, bathscene??? medical inaccuracies because author is not a doctor x3, slightly OOC characters (yeah sure we'll warn for that), broken bones

I said I wasn't going to torture y'all with this but clearly I lied. Kinda happy with it, might continue it later if I feel like it.

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A knock on the door. Takuya blinked, pulled himself away from the game he was watching and glanced at the clock. 6, the rest of his family wasn’t coming home for another 2 hours, out shopping for Shinya. What, Takuya wasn’t sure. He tilted his head.

Another knock on the door, louder this time. Takuya shook his head and stood up, went over to the door and opened it. Almost closed it again. The person on the other side was covered in mud and blood and dirt and Takuya almost didn’t recognize him.

”Hey”, Kouji said.

His voice was hoarse and he winced, put a hand against his throat. Takuya was frozen, stared at Kouji.

”It’s not… not my blood”, Kouji said.

As if that explained everything.

”Well… most of it… isn’t.”

Takuya’s stomach hurt and he gripped the door handle tighter. Kouji glanced to the side.

”I can leave…”

He coughed, his whole face scrunched up in pain. Takuya grabbed his arm and pulled him inside.

”What happened?”

Kouji grimaced, shook his head.

”Mom and dad… out…”

Every word sounded painful. Kouji closed his eyes as to brace himself and Takuya almost winced on his behalf.

”…lost my… keys”, he said, still not answering the question. ”Didn’t…”

Another cough, worse this time. Kouji’s body trembled, swayed, and he put a hand against the wall. Takuya wrapped his arm around Kouji’s waist.

”Let’s get you cleaned up, okay? I’ll get you some honey water for that cough after that.”

Kouji nodded, leaned heavier against Takuya. They walked slowly to the bathroom, occassionally stopped for Kouji to catch his breath. Takuya noticed a slight limp in Kouji’s steps. He’d ask what happened again later, when Kouji was cleaned off. He sat Kouji down on the edge of the bathtub.

”Don’t fall over, okay?”

Kouji nodded, started unzipping his sweater. His muddy fingers slipped on it and there was a constant air of pain hanging over him. Takuya grabbed the zipper, undid it and pulled Kouji’s sweater off, dropped it to the floor. The t-shirt under was also covered in mud. Tears in it revealed Kouji’s skin in places, less muddy but instead covered in dried blood or bruises.

”Do you want a painkiller?”

Kouji shook his head, closed his eyes. Takuya nodded, helped Kouji take the t-shirt off as well. And the shoes. Socks. Kouji’s ankle was bruised and swollen and Takuya made a mental note to take care of that later. He wrapped his arm around Kouji, helped him stand up long enough to slip out of his pants. And his boxers. Takuya’s cheeks felt hot.

”At least it’s mostly your face that’s dirty”, he said.

Kouji didn’t smile, just leaned forwards and rested his head in his hands. Takuya opened the faucet, let the water run until it was lukewarm and then filled up the tub. Wrapped an arm around Kouji’s waist again and supported him as he moved into the water.

The water turned brown instantly. Takuya bit his lip, emptied the tub and refilled it. Kouji shivered, leaned back against the wall of the tub, eyes still closed. Takuya grabbed a small towel, dipped it in the water and filled it up with soap. Started cleaning the dirt of Kouji’s face. First his eyelids, his nose, forehead. Kouji didn’t move, except when another cough ripped from him.

”Hey”, Takuya whispered. ”Open your eyes for me, okay?”

Kouji did. His eyes opened completely and Takuya looked at them, a quick check to see if Kouji’s pupils were looking weird. If they were too big, uneven, anything. But they looked normal and Takuya breathed a sigh of relief.

”Don’t think you have a concussion”, he said.

Kouji coughed again, pressed his hand against his chest just below his throat. Takuya’s stomach hurt, but he had no idea what was wrong.

”You can close your eyes again”, he said.

Kouji did. Takuya cleaned off the rest of Kouji’s face. There were scrapes and cuts all over it. Takuya rinsed the towel and the water turned brown.

”Let’s rinse your hair, then I’ll change the water again.”

He grabbed the shower head, put a hand under Kouji’s head. Kouji sank down a bit further into the tub, still leaned against the wall, head just above the water surface. Takuya carefully rinsed Kouji’s hair, watched as the regular black color became clearer and the water got even muddier.

”You’re…” Kouji stopped to cough. ”You’re surprisingly… good at this…”

”Are you okay?”

Kouji shook his head ever so slightly and Takuya only noticed because he was still supporting it.

”Stupid question, I guess”, Takuya said.

Tried to smile. Turned the water off and hung the showerhead again. Another cough ripped through Kouji, somehow both weaker and more violent than previous ones.

”…should I call an ambulance?”

Kouji shrugged which wasn’t the slightest bit comforting. Takuya probably should. Instead he put Kouji’s head back down, pulled him up so he wasn’t just above the surface. Emptied the tub, rinsed it and then filled it again. Kouji’s skin was starting to clean up just from the constant changing of water. Takuya grabbed the towel, pulled it over Kouji’s body to get the last mud off it. Kouji winced several times, tried to pull away as Takuya pulled the towel across Kouji’s side. The brown water got redder.

”I need to empty the water to see what’s going on”, Takuya informed Kouji.

Kouji nodded and Takuya did, watched as Kouji’s shivers got worse. His chest was bruised, especially on the left side, the sore side sported a long cut that was bleeding pretty freely. Takuya swallowed, grabbed another towel and put it against Kouji’s side.

”Can you press against this?”

Kouji put his arm over it and Takuya nodded.

”Just like that, good job.”

He rinsed the smaller towel in the sink, filled it with soap again. Continued cleaning Kouji off, his ears, neck. Kouji pulled away violently when Takuya dragged it across Kouji’s throat. Lifted a hand to it. Takuya froze in place, saw tears gather in Kouji’s eyes.

”I’ll… I’ll be gentler”, Takuya said.

Kouji’s eyes were wide, his lips a slight shade of purple.

”Are you cold?” Takuya asked.

”Hurts”, Kouji coughed.

”I know.”

He wasn’t sure he did. At least not how much it was hurting. Or what was.

”I’ll finish cleaning you up and then we’ll get you in bed or into an ambulance, okay?”

Kouji nodded, slid back into place. Takuya didn’t touch Kouji’s throat again, just washed the rest of his body. Rinsed him off with the shower, blood and dirt disappearing into the pipes. Kouji’s throat, the parts that Takuya had managed to get clean, was purple and looked really tender.

”How’s… hows the wound?” Takuya asked.

Kouji moved his arm away and Takuya took the towel, watched as blood started running from the wound again.

”Yeah, I think you need a doctor”, Takuya noted.

Kouji coughed, gestured at his throat and coughed again, face filled with pain.

”I know, it looks painful.”

”Teri…” Kouji whispered.

His face got paler and he lifted his hand, held it just infront of his throat. Coughed again. Takuya grabbed the showerhead.

”Alright, we’re almost done. Just one last rinse, okay?”

Kouji nodded, closed his eyes. Takuya started the water, rinsed Kouji’s body, took extra care with his hair. Tried not to feel queezy at the redness of the water, as it pulled Kouji’s blood into the pipes. Kouji shivered, lifted his hand to his throat and held it there. Was even just the drops from the shower painful, Takuya wondered. He pulled his fingers through Kouji’s hair, did his best to untangle it and get all the mud out. The water was almost free off mud and Takuya turned the shower off, grabbed a dry towel.

”I’ll see if I can find bandages, can you dry yourself?” he asked.

Kouji lifted a hand, reached for the towel. It slipped from his fingers and fell to the floor and Kouji frowned. Closed his hand and opened it again. Coughed a few times.

”S…”

Coughed again.

”Can’t…”

He pressed against his chest, coughed. Tears gathered in his eyes.

”It’s fine, it’s fine”, Takuya said.

But his heart beat faster, his stomach hurt and his body felt cold. Kouji’s hand fell down again and Takuya grabbed the towel, started drying Kouji off. Pulled him up and sat him on the edge again, Kouji’s back against Takuya’s stomach. Takuya’s t-shirt got wet, but it was… it was okay.

”Can I get you to the couch at least?”

The couch was closer than Takuya’s room. Still soft. Sure, mom and dad would probably get angry at him for getting blood over it but… He needed to get Kouji lying down. Kouji shrugged. Made a sound that turned into a cough.

”Okay uh, I think you should stop trying to talk”, Takuya said.

Kouji lifted a hand to his mouth, pulled it across his lips. Froze. Takuya put the towel over Kouji’s shoulders, folded it over his hair.

”Homestretch”, he said. ”Can you walk?”

He held a hand against Kouji’s back, lifted his legs out of the tub. Kouji held one hand towards Takuya, the other pressed against his mouth. His cheeks were a tiny bit pink.

”Are you going to throw up?”

Takuya wrapped his arm around Kouji’s waist, pulled him to his feet. Kouji instantly sagged against him and Takuya quickly moved a foot to compensate the added weight.

”Kouji?”

Kouji shook his head. Moved his hand away and pulled it across his lips again. Okay, Takuya would worry about that in a minute or so. He grabbed another towel, the biggest and fluffiest ones, his mom’s, and then pulled at Kouji.

”Alright, just a few steps now.”

He took one, and Kouji followed, his limp worse. All the adrenaline from whatever happened had probably worn off. Kouji coughed, leaned even heavier against Takuya. Just… a few steps. Takuya took another and Kouji followed, followed, followed… Until he didn’t.

Kouji’s knees folded and Takuya’s arm was the only reason he didn’t hit the floor. Takuya tightened his grip and Kouji flinched, caused Takuya to loose his balance. Takuya twisted, tried to cushion Kouji. The floor hit Takuya’s back and Takuya’s body hit Kouji’s bruised chest. A horrifying sound left Kouji’s mouth, a scream that wasn’t a scream, and he rolled up, off Takuya, and wrapped one arm across his chest, one hand against his throat. Takuya’s eyes widened, he couldn’t move. He stared at Kouji, at Kouji’s cheeks that turned paler for every second, Kouji’s lips that turned more and more purple. Kouji opened his mouth, dragged his nails along his throat. Mud got stuck under them, left red lines among the purple that colored Kouji’s throat. Saliva ran out of Kouji’s mouth, landed on the floor. Kouji shivered, trembled.

Takuya sat up. His breaths were fast, shallow. He reached a hand towards Kouji and Kouji grabbed it, mouth opened even more. No sound came out. Kouji’s eyes were filled with panic. Takuya scrambled to his feet, heard something fall to the floor. He should have called an ambulance, shouldn’t have let Kouji into the tub. Should have… He rushed to the phone, grabbed it. His hands trembled, shook.

”Don’t die”, he told Kouji.

Somehow managed to enter 119, call it.

”My friend can’t breathe!” he yelled into the phone.

”I need you to take a deep breath”, the person on the other end said.

Takuya forced himself to do it. He looked at Kouji, who was still rolled up, still clawing at his throat. But he stopped. Opened his mouth and put his fingers into it. Takuya’s turned around, sank down next to Kouji and grabbed his hand.

”Now, what’s your emergency?”

”I… I need an ambulance. My friend can’t breathe.”

”Is it an allergic reaction?” the operator asked.

Probably sensing that Takuya was still panicking, that he didn’t have a clue about what to do in the situation. Takuya would be grateful if he wasn’t busy panicking.

”I don’t think so?”

Takuya swallowed. Kouji gripped his hand, looked at him. Pleading.

”His neck is bruised”, Takuya said, remembering that he needed to list symptoms. They had learnt this in school sometime. ”Super painful. His voice was all hoarse a few minutes ago, then he stopped being able to talk at all and now he can’t breathe.”

A few minutes… how long had it actually been since Kouji showed up? Takuya couldn’t see the clock from where he was sitting.

”His chest is bruised as well, he might have a broken rib.”

Maybe because of Takuya. He hoped not.

”His foot is hurt too, it can’t support his weight. And there’s a cut in his side. I think…” It finally clicked for Takuya. ”I think someone assaulted him.”

”What’s your location?” the emergency person asked.

Takuya gave them the adress, his name. Kouji’s eyes started sliding shut, his hand felt limp in Takuya’s. The wound on Kouji’s side was bleeding again.

”Is your friend awake?”

”Just… just barely.”

”Try to get him sitting up. If his throat is swollen it can help reduce that, give him a chance to breathe.”

”O… okay…”

”An ambulance will be there in a few minutes.”

”Th… thank you.”

The call ended. Takuya let go of Kouji’s hand, pulled him into a sitting position. Somehow managed to drag him over to the back of the couch and lean him against it. Kouji’s chest rose, just a little, his face scrunched up in pain with every short breath. But he was breathing. Takuya felt his shoulders relax. He grabbed the towel, put it over Kouji.

”They’ll be here soon, just hang on. Okay?”

Kouji gave a small nod and Takuya squeezed Kouji’s hand before grabbing the phone again.

”I’m just gonna call my parents, and uh…” he glanced at Kouji. ”Maybe find you some clothes?”

He didn’t think Kouji cared too much at the moment, but he probably would later. Kouji didn’t answer, didn’t move, and Takuya stood up, dialed his mom’s cellphone. Threw one more glance at Kouji before heading towards his room. Mom answered just as Takuya entered it.

”Hey mom.”

”Hey Takuya.”

Her voice sounded kind of static through the phone, meaning they were in some store that didn’t have great reception. Takuya opened his closet.

”Is something wrong?” mom asked.

”Yeah”, Takuya grabbed a t-shirt. ”Kouji came over.”

He wasn’t sure how to explain what had happened, if he even had time for it. He listened after someone knocking on the door. Maybe he should go down and meet them there?

”But it’s a school night”, mom said.

”Uh…”

Takuya had completely forgotten what day it was, mostly because he was left alone at home. He shook his head, grabbed a pair of sweatpants. He didn’t think he’d be able to get a pair of boxers onto Kouji, but this would help some.

”Yeah, sorry”, he answered. ”He’s really hurt, I don’t know what happened. We’re waiting for an ambulance right now.”

”What?”

”I’m… I’m going with him.”

”Takuya…”

”I know, but I don’t want to leave him alone.”

He returned to the living room, put the clothes on the floor next to Kouji. Kouji wouldn’t be able to get dressed on his own, Takuya realized.

”Have you called his parents?”

”Not yet”, he could hear his mom sigh disapprovingly. ”I will, I promise! Kouji said they aren’t home right now.”

Saliva ran out of the corners of Kouji’s mouth and Takuya felt another stab of worry in his stomach. He grabbed a corner of the towel, wiped Kouji’s mouth with it.

”Any minute now”, he whispered. ”Stay with me.”

Kouji opened an eye, looked at Takuya and closed it again. Better than nothing.

”I need to take care of Kouji now, mom.”

”Fine. Hiroaki or I will come meet you at the hospital. Call me when you get there, okay?”

”Okay. Thanks mom, you’re the best. See you!”

He ended the call, crouched infront of Kouji and put the phone to the side.

”Think we can get some clothes on you?”

Kouji lifted a hand on his bleeding side, gestured weakly towards the wound. It wasn’t bleeding quite as much and Takuya smiled.

”I know, I don’t care if they get bloody. Your dignity comes first.”

A small, almost invisible, smile appeared on Kouji’s lips, but disappeared just as quickly. Takuya grabbed the t-shirt, carefully guided Kouji’s hands into its arms. Kouji’s arms. Stopped.

”Can you lift your arms?”

Kouji coughed, tried. His arms trembled violently and fell down again. Takuya took a shaky breath.

”It’s okay. I’ll be careful.”

He pulled it as far up Kouji’s arms as he could, then grabbed the back, pulled at it. It was stretchy, but a ripping sound still tore from it and Takuya winced. Mom wouldn’t be happy. Somehow he managed to get it over Kouji’s head without touching Kouji’s throat, and he pulled it down so it covered Kouji’s upper body.

”You’re doing great. Now for the pants.”

He pulled the towel off Kouji, put it to the side. Guided Kouji’s feet into the pants, held his legs in place while he pulled the pants higher up. Alright, almost there. The waist of the pants got stuck between Kouji’s butt and the floor, because of course it wouldn’t be that easy. Maybe it’d do until the ambulance got there. He put the towel over Kouji again.

”Sorry, it’s the best I can do without moving you”, he said.

Kouji blinked, but didn’t give any other type of indication that he had heard. He coughed again, tears escaped from his eyes and saliva ran down his chin. Takuya dried it off with the towel.

”I’m gonna…”

He didn’t want to leave, but…

”I’m gonna go downstairs and wait for the ambulance, can you make it on your own for a couple of minutes?”

Kouji lifted his fingers towards Takuya and Takuya frowned, grabbed Kouji’s hand. Kouji squeezed it twice. Purposefully enough that Takuya assumed it meant yes. He nodded, let go of Kouji’s hand again. Another cough ripped through Kouji and he clenched his hands, clenched his eyes shut. If only there was something Takuya could do.

”I’ll be back as soon as possible, don’t… don’t fall over.”

Kouji opened his eyes to glare, but the tears and pained expression took the edge out of it and Takuya smiled in return. Even if it felt tense. His stomach hurt as he turned around. Was this really the right course of action? Was there something else he could do? He walked to the door, opened it. Hesitated and then shook his head. There wasn’t. Someone needed to show the paramedics where to go, and Kouji couldn’t on his own. Couldn’t even with Takuya’s help. Mom and dad weren’t home. Takuya was the only one who could.

He left the apartment, left the door unlocked as he walked downstairs. Cold slipped through his socks from the floor and a shiver ran through him. He could hear sirens, maybe… He walked faster. Opened the door to the outside. He could feel his breathing pick up again. Would Kouji still be fine when Takuya returned? Still be breathing? He hoped so. Otherwise… He shook his head. The ambulance pulled up, came to a stop.

”He’s upstairs”, Takuya said when they looked at him.

The paramedics nodded to each other, grabbed a stretcher and a bag from the back of the car, and Takuya led them upstairs, opened the door for them. The floor was still muddy after Kouji’s shoes, Takuya noted as he led them to were Kouji was sat.

Kouji was still awake. Still pale, lips purple. There was a wet spot on the t-shirt and a string of saliva hanging from his chin. Kouji would have hated it if he had been just a little more lucid. He barely acknowledged their presence and Takuya’s heart felt cold. They put a mask over Kouji’s mouth and nose, something around his arm. Talked to each other in words Takuya couldn’t understand. Blood pressure low, oxygen levels low, heart rate elevated. Takuya didn’t know what any of those things meant. One of them touched Kouji’s throat and Kouji started slipping to the side, only stopped by the other paramedic who was checking the wound on his side.

They put a brace around Kouji’s neck. Takuya clenched his hands, buried them deep in his pockets. Just… in how bad shape was Kouji? Why hadn’t he realized it earlier? The paramedics wrapped a bandage over the wound, although it had almost stopped bleeding. One of them checked Kouji’s eyes with a tiny flashlight while the other splinted his injured foot. Takuya pulled his hands across his face, took a shaky breath. Then they packed up. Everything went back into the bag before they lifted Kouji onto the stretcher and raised the headend of it.

”We need to take him to the hospital”, they explained.

Takuya had expected nothing less. At least the hospital, possible the morgue. The thought made him sick. Kouji wasn’t going to die, not that easily.

”I want to go with him, is that okay?”

Takuya had never been in a situation like this before, it was all so new, so unusual, so… wrong. The paramedics nodded, then grabbed the bag and the stretcher and started moving to the door again. Takuya followed, grabbed his shoes and keys on the way and locked the door behind them.

#windy writes #digimon frontier #kouji minamoto #takuya kanbara #hurt/comfort #no beta we die like kouichi #don't worry kouji'll be fine probably

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