The school was canceled for him the next day. Dozens of texts were sent from his entire class. Each time the vibration went off it screamed memories of yesterday in his head. He couldn't bear to look and see who it was from. If it was from friends or acquaintances from his class, it didn't matter. The fact it was from them made him scared of what to do. In only a few hours his face will be turned back to the monstrous form he knew of. The gas mask was always a sign of restraint to him. A restraint the world placed on him because they were scared of him. Next, the electric restraint would be used again. An itch on his head would grow because a single scratch would send volts of electricity through his neck. The minor freedoms he didn't realize was gone would be placed back one by one. That's what each text told him.
The men upstairs no longer saw him as the friend and hero Geus was supposed to be. He became the example like all of them. It only took twenty-four hours to change a week's mindset. And if it would revert back was something Geus can never see happening. The cell door was shut and forgotten.
The cursed doors slid open, Bailey and a man in a white lab coat stood inside. No words exchanged, a small jerk of Bailey's head signaled for him to come. There was no resistance in Geus. He got up and turned from Bailey before he walked to them. Bailey held onto a curved piece of four-inch metal and wrapped it around Geus's face. He buckled it and folded the extensions around the exposed divots. The doors closed again and rose to the first level. It was just like what happened after the first incident that Geus faced. He went through security checkpoint after security checkpoint. He entered the medical wing of the detention center. All the residents have stationed a safe distance away from him. A single bed was placed in the center of the room along with a tank of anesthesia. There wasn't a mask connected to the tank but a covered long needle. It would be injected into his arm and slowly bring him to unconsciousness. Until then everyone and all medical tools were moved to the side.
Bailey remained at the door while the head doctor walked with Geus. He felt way too dead to notice any of the looks they give him. Unlike last time they showed heavy remorse and guilt. His passion was gone, but the effect he placed on these people changed them. Geus was laid firmly on the gurney. His arms, legs, and neck were strapped down. The doctor grabbed the needle from the tank and slid the six-inch needle into his main vein. Normal Geus would wince and squirm heavily from the pain. Not today, he felt nothing as everything to him collapsed. The effects rushed inside and overtook his system. His eyes rolled to the back of his, giving up all control.
In a nonstop ten hour surgery his old style mask was reattached. This time titanium nylon threads were used instead of the regular one used before. A metal strip bar was also placed at the bottom of each lip to ensure a second fail safe. In case if any accidental lip tears would happen again. This ensured it was nearly impossible for any accidental removal of the mask would not happen. Pressure sensor filters were also used so only Geus would remove the filters along with other high tech features of safety. All were courtesy of designers of hero costumes of UA High School.
Geus woke up groggy after the surgery. His head felt light and any moment would cause him to throw up. It was impossible for him to do that anyways as his quirk would solve anything that came up. If it wasn't for the inject directly into his stomach, he'd be dead. His eyes first saw the whiteness of the ceiling. He looked all around with the limited eye movement he had. Just like the man said; everything was gone. Only his bed and the bathroom remained.
The vibrations from his phone kept going off. This time they didn't give off the memories of yesterday. But they still gave off the depression aura of failure. Today was the day that the internships began. And he was the only one not there. It probably was the reason why his phone went off twice as much than yesterday.
He slightly maneuvered his arms under him and used the assistance to push himself up. It felt like he was about to drop forward. He leaned against the wall to stop himself. He got a clear view of his room. The plainness made him feel more depressed. Even the single bed felt stiffer than before. He eyed the phone at his feet. A bright green indicator kept on showing and disappearing. He pulled his foot from his shoe and tapped on the home button. Ninety-six messages from all different classmates line the notification screen.
His foot slipped back inside the empty shoe. A little maneuver allowed him to place his phone between his shoes and kick it up into the air. He swiped it and cocked it into his chest. He looked at the first text on the least. The most texts were from Iida, as the class rep it was no surprise. All were concerned for him not being at the school and showing great shame for doing it. Next was Tsu and Uraraka, both furiously apologized for everything they said the past week. Geus thought it was sweet and at the same time unnecessary. Kirishima thought he attempted to be manly and independent from the rest of them. And that he'd see Geus back at school. All these friends, they were nothing like the people back at his other schools. The family's children were told to shun him. And to be one of the few without a quirk, Geus was ridiculed for who he was. These people were different. Geus didn't know what to say, or what to do.
He added everyone into a group message. 'I'll see you all at school.' Was what he wrote. Just like that, message over message roared his phone. Many were calmed and relieved to hear from him.
On purpose, he left one person out. Jiro. He scrolled down to her name. An unbreakable feeling devoured his body, the feeling wouldn't let him press the call button. Doubt filled his soul as the thought of that kiss was really a mistake. Maybe he read things wrong, or an impulse decision went wrong. All things in his mind pointed to wrong. He didn't want to become like Uraraka with her hidden love for Midoriya even though anyone that paid a little attention knew. Geus didn't want it to be true, but that looked to be the most possible outcome.
The elevator doors opened before a final decision was made. He looked up from his phone and at the empty cabin. "Please step inside, you have a visitor." A voice from the intercom announced.
Geus didn't argue, he placed his phone on the bed and walked inside. His experience on the surface switched to how it was on his first days. Everyone was silent and postured as they forgot all about the previous events. One by one the secured gates were opened for him. Only one more door stood in the way of the visitor's room. And Bailey was at the door. No words were exchanged by each other, their eyes stayed straight as he gave the okay for the electronic lock.
If Geus only looked up for a moment he would see the regret in the deputy's eyes. He really wanted to talk things out and bring a little normality back.
The sick feelings he had disappeared. The outer room was filled with the students from his class. It brought a heavy smile to his face, even though nobody could see it. He remained cool on the outside.
"Geus!" The class shouted.
Geus sat across from them all and in between Kirishima and Jiro. Kirishima grabbed his shoulders and shook his upper body as he laughed. "We get you're a man but you still have to talk to us man."
"And what's with the old mask? Trying to be the number one scariest hero again?" Kaminari joked.
"Yeah, based on the sheer abilities of the new mask you got it's a massive improvement to the original." Midoriya started to go into his own mind. Constant rambles of all statistical meaning of every factor possible.
"It wasn't my choice." Geus stopped Midoriya's spree. His friends were shocked. "I was placed back into my place. The program didn't accept the design... Huh, even Bakugo came."
"It's not like I wanted to you idiot!" Bakugo shouted, his hand erupted small explosions with each word. "Your idiocy held back the internships!"
"Even with this set back I still believe we'll have enough training and knowledge to make it worthwhile." Tokoyami nodded.
"Besides, it's a hero's job to ensure their friends are alright." Sato said.
"I only came to figure out the truth." Aoyama slid on the table. His sparkling face inches from Geus. Geus's eye twitched in anticipation for what he was about to say. If any of the four words he expected to come out, he was ready to be sent back. "Do you like"
Jiro's jack extended out and inserted inside Aoyama's ear. He screamed from the intense vibrations her quirk sent. He squirmed from the table and back in his seat. "I'll ask you in private." Aoyama whimpered.
"So what are you doing here? I sent a text saying I'll be back after the interns."
"We all got a voicemail from a man named Bailey. It sounded important." Todoroki emerged from the back of everyone. "We couldn't risk losing a classmate when the League Of Villains are still around."
"I'm alright. You guys don't have to worry about me. Just a little setback. I'll catch up." Geus lowered his word count from what he wanted to say. These two weeks could be spent in recovery from his destroyed mouth. Any movement of it only brought more pain.
Jiro sneaked her hand around the table's edge and on Geus's flat hand. "It doesn't matter if you're alright. A sudden change like this demands our attention whether you like it or not."
Her words brought on a larger and more painful smile. "I'll be there on the same ground you will be soon."
"You know Geus." Tsu placed her finger on her lower lip. "If there is anything you want to really tell us. It's okay to say it."
"I'm saying I had surgery on my mouth to get my old mask back on. Sorry if I scared all of you but it just happens when you're unconscious."
"Yeah man, I like the whole power move but even strength plummets behind the scenes." Kaminari wrapped his arm around Geus.
"Your nose is bleeding, this entire time your left eye has gotten redder and twitched, and your voice is breaking apart." Geus became confused about Tokoyami, nothing he said was right. His mouth was in pain but the sound of his voice was fine.
Geus felt under his nose with his thumb. He saw the small droplet of blood. "Not." He was about to say he was fine, he looked down and realized the pool of blood under his chin. "Must be because of the surgery. I should really be off my feet for at least two weeks. Even more for a full recovery."
A cold hand pressed against the top of Geus's head. The blood vessel popping pressure was all too familiar. He was too distracted to notice any of the scared looks of his friends. Geus should've noticed his hand rested on the side of his head. This was the effects of the mask's new security features once he was above ground. And the amount of time he did it woke up the beast.
"Maybe it's because he knows that he shouldn't have this many guest at once. Company policy and all." Iroh leaned over Geus's shoulder. The grin of his yellow teeth left an image deeper than the villains they fought. "Honestly, how anyone didn't see this many people around one prison should be fired. And the fact that Lt. Bailey allowed this to happen is a shame. I guess I can spare some jobs and instead have them go through hours of unpaid training. I'm a nice man after all." His fingers turned black and pressed in deeper. "Say goodbye."
Geus realized he crushed Jiro's hand and made sure to release her. "You heard him." Geus got up from his seat. "Sorry."
His chuckle froze Geus in place. His hand returned to normal and went back to his side. "I apologize for the impression of the facility I run. But rules are set to keep everyone safe and calm. All of you UA students must realize that policies are set so my guards and visitors don't get upset and scared of unusual behavior. It's why I try to keep things minimalistic. So nothing comes out of proportion. Now Geus. Let's go back to your cell."
Geus felt himself turn into the frightened child from yesterday. No words would be able to convince his classmates any different. No matter how much he tried. Geus decided only one option was available. Silence and to walk away, it might scare them more but to lie to their faces is worse.
"I think that's the first time I saw that you didn't jump, Jumpus." Jiro was nervous, the intensity in which she twirled her jack and her shaky voice.
"It's rude not to say goodbye." Each of Iroh's fingers turned into large, black chain links. He aimed his hand after Geus and blasted all five fingers around Geus's arms. "Say goodbye."
"Bye." Geus's voice cracked out the whisper.
He continued his walk back. He stood in front of Bailey and waited for the door to open. "I'm sorry," Bailey whispered after Geus passed through.
It felt just like yesterday, the emptiness with each step. The sounds drowned out into nothing. He was a slave to his own movement and a slave to Iroh's power. It didn't matter if Geus wanted to stop. His body moved on its own. Down the elevator and into his bed. His body was in so much fear that no tear dared to flow out.
There was no question about it, his friends knew the whole truth. The program he lied about is abolished. Any freedom of choice he presented, stolen. How Iroh sat in his mind, took out any crafty response to lie about. The perfect feeling any warden wanted.
Unconsciously Geus walked over to the vibration of his phone. He answered the call and placed it on speaker. None came from the other side for a moment. "I'm sorry, I didn't think that would happen. Bailey called me and explained everything. I never met the man myself and trust me when I say I had no intention of putting you through that. I'm sure it undid every session we went through."
Geus hung up on Beka. Iroh's soul was already inside, she was right in the fact that all the work was ruined. All that therapy was covered up with Iroh's iron fingers. His individuality was converted into a slump mass.
His phone went off again. He clicked the answer icon and sent it on speaker. "Hey, you don't need to talk." The one person that eased his mind a little called him. "I don't know if I should've set something but that man, yeah scary. If you're keeping separated because of him I get it. Want to keep thing low is fine with me. But I should've said something before this all went down. The messages from your friends kind've cleared things up for me, just message me if you need me."
Geus stood there for another hour. Each second played in his head.
"Fuck this place."
