Genre: Angst

Plot: Shihai learns something about Fumikage that he didn't know before. And he grows frustrated that he hadn't noticed before. (AU where everything is the same, except the dorms don't exist)

TW: Abuse, self-harm

I'll Help You Part 1

Shihai stood at the corner of his block. This was the usual meeting spot where he and Fumikage meet up to walk to school together. The two had been dating for about a month now and their relationship was running smoothly.

On this particular day, Shihai was starting to get worried. Usually, Fumikage was so prompt. But he was running late. Shihai pulled out his phone to check any potential messages he missed. But there was nothing.

Shihai sighed and started to pocket his phone when it buzzed. Eagerly, he took a look at the screen to see a text from Fumikage.

Love Bird:
I'm gonna be a little late. Feel free to go ahead without me

Vantablack:
How much longer are you gonna be?

Love Bird:
Don't worry about it. Just get yourself to school so you won't be late

Dodging the question, huh? That's ... a little unlike you, Fumi. Shihai thought.

Vantablack:
Are you okay?

Love Bird :
Yes, of course. See you at school, love

Vantablack:
Yeah...
See you at school

With that, Shihai shut his phone off and started walking to school. But the conversation he just had kept filling his mind.

Am I just being paranoid? Or is something actually wrong? Shihai wondered to himself. Hm ... maybe I AM just being paranoid. It's normal to run late occasionally ... right?

Later on, he was walking down the hall towards the cafeteria. What happened this morning kept filling his thoughts, making it hard for him to focus. I haven't heard from him since ... nor have I so much as seen him. He better be okay.

His thoughts were interrupted when a familiar head of feathers.

It was Fumikage, standing at his locker.

Shihai let out a breath of relief. He looks unharmed! Thank goodness!I really WAS just being paranoid.

The Scheming Hero walked up behind his lover and snaked his arms around his waist, snuggling him. He expected Fumikage to turn around and return the hug like he normally did.

But he didn't.

The moment his arms were wrapped around the Jet-Black Hero, Shihai felt the smaller boy flinch. Shihai immediately let go and stepped back.

Fumikage turned around to face Shihai, his face immediately filled with fear and regret. "I-I'm sorry, darling. I d-didn't realize it was you at first." He wrapped his arms around himself and looked at the floor in shame.

"You don't need to apologize," Shihai said, assuringly. "I probably shouldn't have snuck up on you like that."

"Y-You're fine..." Fumikage said lowly, still visibly shaken.

Shihai tilted his head in concern. "Are you sure you're okay?"

"Yes, of course. Why wouldn't I be?" Fumikage asked.

Shihai opened his mouth to respond, but then something caught his eye. He looked at the cuffs of Fumikage's sleeves and saw bandages wrapped around his wrists. "Fumikage ... what happened your wrists?"

The question caused Fumikage's eyes to widen and he quickly hid his wrists. "N-Nothing. They're fine."

"Fumi," Shihai gently said, taking Fumikage's hands in his. "You are a horrible liar. Please talk to me. I love you and I want to help you however I can."

Fumikage looked up into the silver eyes of the boy he loves so much. He knew he couldn't argue with Shihai's crestfallen face. "F-Fine ... but I can't explain it here ... it needs to be somewhere more private."

"Understood, my love," Shihai said before planting a kiss of his lover's head.

The two of them walked together to the cafeteria and silently ate lunch. The entire time, Fumikage just seemed so on edge.

I wonder what's troubling him so. Shihai thought to himself. Whatever it is, I have to help him. Thankfully, he's going to explain later.

Before the couple knew it, the school day was over and they were about to be heading home.

Fumikage pulled Shihai aside before they left into a hallway that was completely empty.

"I need to make this quick so I'm not late home," Fumikage said. "I ... have no idea where to start."

"It's okay," Shihai assured. He rested his hands on Fumikage's shoulders. "Take all the time you need. I'm all ears."

"Thank you, love," Fumikage said. Then he took a deep breath. "I get my shadow based quirk from my mother, who can manipulate her own shadow. However, her shadow isn't sentient. It can't think for itself. My bird head comes from my father. Mixed between them, you have me and Dark Shadow. Dark Shadow was ... quite destructive when she first manifested. It led to so many fights between my parents and they ended up divorcing, leaving my mother to raise me."

"Oh," Shihai said. "I'm sorry to hear that."

"There's more," Fumikage said. "Just last week, my mother introduced me to a man she's been seeing lately. She said he's going to be my new step-father some day. He acted nice ... at first." The crow headed teen looked down at the floor, his expression sad and pained.

"Lemme guess," Shihai said. "He's ... been hurting you, hasn't he?" It pained him to say it. But he could tell Fumikage was struggling to say it himself.

Fumikage's eyes welled with tears as he nodded. "He sees me as a monster that needs to be tamed. He has a light producing quirk which overpowers Dark Shadow and lets him get to me. He threatens to hurt me more if I tell anyone. His ... words have lead to self-doubt and ..." he couldn't bring himself to finish his sentence as he rolled up his sleeves so that Shihai could see the damage.

Shihai stared at the bandages around his lover's wrists. They had small blood spots on them. His arms also had some bruises on them.

"The bruises are from the bastard hitting me. The wrists ... that's my own doing," Fumikage explained as he started crying. "I'm so sorry! I know I shouldn't, but I can't get rid of the urges!"

Shihai couldn't believe it. His boyfriend was being abused. He was hurting. Hurting due to the bastard he was living with. Hurting mentally, due to his step-dad's words. The mental pain was causing him to physically hurt himself. Shihai was feeling all sorts of emotions at once.

Sadness because his boyfriend was in pain.

Sadness because his boyfriend was upset.

Anger for the man that was hurting the love of his life.

Anger at himself for not noticing the signs sooner.

Fear that his boyfriend will go through more pain in the future.

Fear that his boyfriend might go through so much pain, that it will be the end of his life.

Shihai couldn't allow it. He had to do something. But for now, he had to calm his crying boyfriend. He pulled Fumikage into a hug and held him close. "It's okay. I'm not upset with you. You have no reason to apologize. You don't deserve any of what happened."

Fumikage gripped Shihai's shirt and sniffled, trying to calm himself. "T-Thank you, Shi."

"No problem, Fumi. I promise I will always be here for for you." Shihai lifted Fumikage's head enough for them to lock eyes. Then Shihai said three little words that he vowed to stand by.

"I'll help you."

Would you like to see a part 2?