Author's note: Wow okay, something more than a one-shot or drabble. I know, amazing. oh yeah, this is dilateshipping. not so much this chapter, but definitely the next one? yeah it gets better. some. what? okay, just enjoyyyy

Edit: Okay, i fixed up the formatting on this chapter yay it should be easier to read /ollies away

He'd never meant for their meeting to be more than what it was. He never anticipated they would meet like this. Nor had he known the feelings he still had, buried deep under the strong, more controlling emotions. And they all broken the emotional dam flooding him and the other. Sometimes, V wished he was like Tron, unable show or execute any emotion what so ever. Sure, he could present himself as stoic, but truthfully, V felt as much pain and loneliness as the next guy. It was only with their little run-in that the more lusting emotion came back.

It had just been, well, night time, nothing too special with the scene, although at the time, it was very unnerving to him. The streets he'd been traveling on where far different than the main streets of Heartland city. Much more run-down and poor. Even more dangerous for a man as himself who possessed a large sum of money. If a slum were to recognize him as a high-class person, it would be trouble. V's only thought was to get out as quickly as possible.

Until he saw another man stumble out from an alleyway.

Even from a good distance in the dead of the night, V could tell the man was badly injured. The other was barely able to stay in an upright stance, constantly catching himself from crumpling. The back of his jacket has been torn to shreds, along with whatever other garment was underneath, revealing the raw, oozing flesh underneath. This man needed to be taken into care, or he won't last another night on his own. Lying on the cold pavement in the utmost dangerous town in all of Heartland would not be pleasant either. But would he really risk his own safety for a stranger?

Of course he would.

After doing a double take of his surroundings(didn't want to make the other more vulnerable in his presence), he ran from his safe haven over to the man, who managed to stumble a couple of feet from his original placement. Luckily, he arrived just as the other collapsed down to his knees. Up close, the figure seemed younger, not quite a man yet, perhaps in his late teens. The boy was crouched over in an pained position,
fighting to get what little breath he had circulating though his system. V needed to act quickly. "Hey, you... sir! Are you alright, what..." He needed a phyiscal description, in case this was out if his hands. Ever so gently, he lifted the boy, from one shoulder, off the ground and into a somewhat upright stance. Placing his free hand on the opposite shoulder, he looked down, gazing right into the dull, gray eyes of...

"Kaito..."

Sure enough, it was none other than his former student, a much beaten image of his long lost pupil, but still the same Kaito. How he'd not noticed to high blonde hair, the dark ensemble of a hunter before was beyond his reasoning, but now that he was identified, V needed another plan of action. His motivation to help him rising by the second.

"Chr-V, how..." Kaito brought his gaze up to meet his former mentor's,
fighting to push the heavy words from his lips. "What are you doing out...?"

"I should be asking you that question as well," Glancing around, that nervous feeling had settled in his stomach again, urging him to escape the streets. "All I know is that we better get you out of this dump and into better care, as in, now!"

"I don't... It's not really- not actually that bad. I can handle,
cope..." Even before V could make out exact what Kaito had mumbled, he knew it was a lie. That was the understatement of the century.

"You're wrong, you need to be brought into care!"

"I don't want... I don't need your help..."

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" Kaito's snide words caused him to wince, realizing this former student didn't trust him, wanted to reject his attempt to comfort him.

"I think you know what I mean. You... I can't, accept your...offer. I don't think... no, I can cope myself!"

"Don't bullshit me! You need my help! And it wasn't an offer! It was a demand!" He snapped back. Kaito recoiled. obviously shaken by V's outburst. The elder inhaled deeply, attempting to calm his rising blood pressure. "I'm sorry. I-I didn't mean to snap at you just now." He took another deep breath.
"But you need my help. At least temporarily, you could stay with me, but you need medical care right away. I don't want to see you reduced to a crumpled heap again. It... it pained me to see you in such a helpless state..."

It was unknown if V's words had changed his train of though, or if he was simply too exhausted to try and raise more of an argument, but Kaito closed his mouth and nodded, defeated.

"Good, I promise I'll take care of you this time..." Yes, the situation was pretty grim, a broken man and an injured teen, but V felt the nervousness leave his system, and in its place, came a ball of warmth. He would finally be able to make up for past mistakes, between him and his former pupil.

Taking a firm but comforting grasp on the boy's upper arm, he positioned Kaito in a way that he could support the boy's movements and still maneuvering himself. They started off slow, the younger limping behind, even with their arms intertwined. V then noticed a minor problem. Kaito had lost his boots, leaving only his damaged and blistered feet to support him on the voyage.

"Kaito, where are your boots?"

"Had to... lose them... if I wanted... to survive... to capture them..." He winced once more, as if it pained him to breath. Each spoken word pounded against his bruised chest, shortening his breath.

V didn't have much more of an option than to continue on with the promise of care and proper treatment. He had to get Kaito to safety. And so, the couple staggered along, the younger often crying out in pain, his body had far beyond reached it limits. But they couldn't stop. V wouldn't allow it. They could make it. He knew it. If he could mend to Kaito's needs, well, it would not only cure the other's wounds, but his own gaping puncture. He wanted no more but to gain the trust of one of few people that matter to him in this world. He would do anything.