Here's the 4th chapter! This idea came literally out of nowhere, but I figured to write it anyways. I normally don't post anything freshly-written, but I felt I owed it to everyone that reads this drabble series.
That, and there needed to be some of that FujiEric fluff I promised in earlier chapters. So here it is!
Warnings: graphic abuse, flashbacking/PTSD-like, angst-to-eventual-fluff
I do not own K Project or any of the characters. Just sharing my wonderful guilty-pleasured headcanons with the world!
4. Talons
Eric sat on the barstool, warily eyeing at a set of unusual tools laid out on the counter. There was a tiny bottle of hand cream, a scraper of some sort, and three different types of nail files, properly organized and arranged on a tiny sheet of paper towel.
But the one instrument that scared him the most was the thing Kosuke held in his hand—a clipper.
"It's not bad, see?" the orange-haired male said as he demonstrated by clipping one of his own nails. The cut piece fell onto the floor. Kusanagi, who was nearby dusting some picture frames, became aware of Kosuke's actions and grimaced. I'll make him sweep the entire bar if he drops anymore of that, the bartender mentally noted to himself, trying not to show any disgust as Kosuke continued.
"Let me know if you need any help, Fujishima-kun," Tatara offered, his voice muffled from the blanket he had wrapped around him. He had been napping, an occasional moment of peace and quiet for the King's vassal. It was a dreary overcast day, the type of weather to make anyone sluggish and sleepy. HOMRA's clansmen overall were noticeably more docile on sun-less days.
Eric shifted uncomfortably in his seat. He knew Kosuke was trying to be helpful. He knew that his nails had grown grotesquely long, to the point where the others referred to them as "talons" instead of human nails. He knew why they had to be trimmed—Kusanagi mentioned his concerns a few nights previously, when Eric made to swipe his dangerously long claws at Yata. The two had been arguing, as expected, but Kusanagi intercepted the fight before it escalated from verbal to physical assault.
"It won't hurt, and it will go really quick. I promise, Eric," Kosuke reassured. His orange eyes softened his expression, and reached his hand out for Eric's.
Eric knew all of this, and yet the blond bounced his leg nervously when Kosuke held his hand, preparing to trim the talon down to a more reasonable length. Eric shut his eyes, while he was struggling to suppress a memory, his thoughts returning to his days in Hikawa.
And a painful memory it was:
There was laughter, cruel and mocking. Other bodies stood 'round in a circle, pointing; sniggering; waiting hungrily like a pack of hyenas. Various weapons held in their hands. The fun was about to begin.
A gag had been placed in his mouth. Ropes around his midsection were wrapped tightly. A heavy hand was locked around Eric's emaciated wrist, preventing the teen from pulling away.
He couldn't run away, not with the ropes binding him to a chair. It's hard to breathe. Eyes are dilated and wide, fearful. Sweat, anticipating the pain and hell His Owner was about to unleash.
'A de-nailing machine,' one of the Hikawa thugs mentioned to another. They grinned. Every one of them sneered. Eric only stared at the machine in front of him.
His Owner wrenched the boy's arm forward, placing his hand into the jaws of the machine. His right thumb first, it was decided. There was no more hesitation; His Owner slammed his closed fist on the contraption's lever.
A shrill cry of inhumanity reverberated against the walls. Roars and peals of laughter responded. Blood seeped out from the exposed skin. One down, nine to go...
"Eric, look at me."
Blue eyes saw orange ones. Orange hair, eyes…Kosuke. A whimper escaped from Eric.
"Hey…shh, it's all right. They can't hurt you anymore," he softly whispered. Eric's vision began to re-focus on his surroundings, the bad memories fading. The clipper had been put aside. Something heavy from behind weighed him down—no…grounded him.
"Yer alright, just breathe," Kusanagi was standing beside the barstool, rubbing Eric's shoulders soothingly. Those bastards, they'd better be rottin' in Hell for this. The second-in-command couldn't begin to fathom just what them Hikawa thugs had done to Eric, but the long-term psychological and emotional effects were evident. The damage had been done.
Kosuke placed his hand on Eric's cheek, wiping away the wetness of tears. Eric shivered. He didn't know when he had begun to cry. He hadn't remembered anything else, not after he had closed his eyes.
"Hey, hey, don't sweat it, Eric. It'll all work out in the end…," a voice cooed close to Eric's ear.
He recognized it.
Totsuka-san was the one keeping him grounded, steadying the teen from going into a panic attack. When Eric had let out a pained cry, the sound of a cornered, fearful animal, HOMRA's third founder immediately bolted from underneath his blanket. He knew how to handle a situation like this. King would have similar episodes, though typically more violent and enraged. Only Tatara knew how to tame his King; if anyone else dared to approach, they would be burnt to a crisp.
Eric hiccupped, shame and embarrassment coursed through his mind, his head hung low. How could he look either man in the eye?
"I'm n-nothing but a b-burden, I don't deserve anyone's kindness, or l-love," he murmured, barely audible. Hot tears rolled down his face. Kosuke shushed him again, pulling the blond into an embrace, while Tatara let go. Eric felt Kosuke nuzzle against his neck, felt butterfly kisses of apology and comfort lightly peppered across his skin.
"Nah, ya deserve it. Ya deserve to be loved," Kusanagi rebutted encouragingly, and continued to affectionately rub the teen's shoulders. Eric leaned deeper into Kosuke, hiding his flushed face. Kosuke…is so warm, Eric drowsily thought. He then brought his arms around Kosuke's waist, surrendering to him.
The orange-haired male comfortingly patted the shaky blond on the back. He looked to Kusanagi, his expression full of uncertainty.
The bartender reached to grab the clippers off the counter. It was a horrible experience for everyone, guilty in having to push Eric to the point of breaking. But the talons had to go. He lightly nudged Eric's left hand, silently asking for the teen's cooperation. Eric obliged reluctantly.
"You have to work through this, or you'll never be able to move forward. We're really sorry. Please forgive us, Eric?" Tatara apologized. Kusanagi trimmed Eric's nails down to blunt stubs, flawlessly with speed and accuracy. The teen made no reply, but held onto Kosuke tighter, inhaling the other's scent and warmth.
In less than a minute, Kusanagi had finished. He pocketed the clippers, well out of the sight, and carefully filed away each nail's sharp edges. Eric was quiet, face still hidden as he wept silently into Kosuke's t-shirt, while the orange-haired male rested his cheek on top of Eric's head.
The nightmarish experience of nail trimming, despite its misgivings, was successful in the end, just as Tatara had said.
I need to stop including Kusanagi in these. But he is like a mother to HOMRA's boys! Mama Kusanagi~ x3
My plans from here are to keep updating this on a more regular basis. Also, I'm outlining a potentially-stand-alone, M-rated FujiEric story. If the final written product of that turns out to be lengthy enough to stand on its own, I'll post it as a new story instead of as a new chapter to this.
Read, review, and follow for more Eric love!