Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

~ Yoichi Isagi ~

How did he get here?

Blearily, his eyes are open. He can’t feel much but his heavy limbs and his pounding head. All his tongue allows him to taste is the fear and helplessness that comes with his situation. The room he’s in smells stale; but the kind of stale that has gotten used to the idea of him. There isn’t much to hear but the creaking noise from floorboards above him and faint soft rock music.

So really, the only sense he can rely on firmly is his vision. Said vision is blurry, tainted with whatever his saboteur had used to get him in this circumstance, but the most functional of all five senses.

It’s a pity there isn’t much to see. He can look down to see his encumbered legs in front of him on the mattress he’s been sat on. This bed is raised, too, so maybe if he gets untied, he can take it apart and attack that bastard and escape. He’s wearing clothes that aren’t his. He doesn’t own a pair of dark red sweatpants with… some sort of club logo. His shirt is plain black - but all too big. All too big. If he looks a little further, there’s ruddy wood laminate that covers the entire floor. Tilting his gaze upward, there’s walls painted with plum paint that make this room feel intimate. Terrifyingly intimate. Constricting. When he looks to the far left corner of the room, there’s a door. A dark brown door with a keypad,

Besides from that, there’s nothing.

He tries to pull his legs apart to break the rope, but he doesn’t have the strength for that. So the same is true for his wrists tied behind his back. He turns his head a bit to see the headboard behind him that his back has been set against. Why his ruiner wanted him sitting up, he couldn’t figure out.

The music above him stopped, causing his perusal to make its way to the ceiling. The creaking of the floorboards came closer and closer until their creaking was replaced by the squeaking of something opening. Descending was next, pat pat pats of feet on something solid. Then beeps of buttons being pressed. The door.

His eyes snapped to the block of wood opening.

A man with a false gentle smile and unreadable eyes walked in.

“Meine Liebe! You’re awake! I thought I messed up the dosage… and my lover being dead wouldn’t be as fulfilling as seeing you with life.” The despicable, hideous man chirped.

There was no way for him to escape. His gaze shifted to a glower and he straightened up the most he could. The demon of a human being was much bigger than him, but trying to seem larger and more threatening was really all he could do.

“Oh, no… don’t look at me like that.” His personal Satan shook his head, that false smile turning to a pout.

He didn’t soften his glare. When the owner of hell himself started approaching, he felt his anxiety, that which had already been persistent since he woke, start screaming louder.

“Stay away.” His voice was shaky and trembling. Not intimidating enough to scare him off… like that monster would yield anyway.

“Oh, Meine Liebe, that’s not what I was born to do. That’s not what we were born to do.” Lucifer’s embodiment replied as he crawled onto the bed over him.

“D- Don’t say we. We aren’t connected in any way. I don’t even know you a- and you kidnapped me!” He spat.

“I didn’t kidnap you, I simply brought you home, where you belong.” The gross being’s hand came up to cup his cheek:

“And my name’s Michael Kaiser. Now you know me, my Yoichi.”

How did he get here?

𑣲 𓁹 𓁹꒷꒦؟ㅤꨄ︎ ── .✦

~ Outside ~

Yoichi Isagi.

If one was to be asked if they recognized that name, they would say no.

His mother and father didn’t have very recognizable names either. They moved to the US when Issei Isagi got a job offer. Yoichi Isagi was only five years of age when the move occurred - so he didn’t remember Japan all that well.

Yoichi Isagi lived a pretty normal life. He loved watching football, but never playing, no. His favorite club had always been PxG. Even when he studied abroad in Germany, he never got into any of their clubs. It was always PxG.

Just like it was always fashion and art.

Experimenting, making people feel themselves, styling people. Anything Isagi could do with fashion, he would do. Same with art. He would paint or draw on anything he physically could.

Moving to Germany before even graduating from high school was quite the choice. His parents supported it, however. They had the finances to support their son, so they did.

Continuing school in Germany was not Yoichi Isagi’s priority. Instead, it was making a name for himself in, not Germany, but the fashion world. He could have done that in the states, but… he preferred Germany. Maybe it was just because Isagi had studied there and already knew the language. Or maybe because his family just liked moving countries, and that’s what he chose to do.

Maybe because fate wanted to work in Michael Kaiser’s favor.

Yoichi Isagi quickly became beloved by a few minor celebrities. Those celebrities hired him as their professional stylists.

He was a known fan of PxG, and one day, the club reached out to him to have him style the players. It was a collaboration of his dreams.

The game he was told to go to to meet the players for the first time didn’t matter to Yoichi Isagi. Of course, he watched… even as they lost… But he didn’t care. He got to meet his idols. Standing on the field while talking and smiling, bringing up the entire team's morale, was probably Yoichi Isagi’s favorite part of the night.

It was Michael Kaiser’s too.

Yoichi Isagi had stopped talking for a bit, going on his phone to text his parents how it was going. He was still just 16 at that time in a different country doing things most teens would merely dream of doing. He was undoubtedly impressive for his age.

When Yoichi Isagi looked up from his phone, however, he saw someone from the winning team. Simply staring. Creepily, at that. He didn’t know any of the players from the other team - or at least didn’t remember them. He forgot the name of the team, in all honesty. Just that when the players got tired of saying the name, they said BM.

From there he grew. He travelled a lot, meeting many people, making connections. He got to know a few big names in the fashion industry and was called a ‘fashion prodigy that will reinvent the world of style as we know it’ by one of his major idols. That was certainly a highlight for him.

Soon enough, he became a big name in the business of fashion.

So maybe if one, the average one, was to be asked if they recognized the name Yoichi Isagi, they would say no. But if one even mildly caught up in the likes of style was asked the same question, they would most likely say yes.

On Yoichi Isagi’s seventeenth birthday, he had long since befriended the likes of the young members of PxG. So they threw him a party. A massive one. They invited everyone they knew, so Yoichi Isagi didn’t even know 70% of the people there. Yet people kept talking to him, handing him drinks or random treats, asking if he could design for them next. It was overwhelming. Yoichi Isagi was already the sensitive type, so the noise was a lot. Everything was a lot.

That’s why he stepped out to the garden the venue obtained. Only a few people were out there, observing the beautiful scenery or looking at the stunning fountain. They saw Yoichi Isagi, who looked like he needed to be alone, and padded inside.

Yoichi Isagi sat down on the edge of the fountain, sighing as he looked up at the night sky. The moon seemed to smile at him. ‘Look at the life you made for yourself,’ it seemed to say, ‘cherish it for however long your brain can.’

And Yoichi Isagi smiled back.

The moon always worded things weirdly. Maybe, however, she should have been more straightforward. Maybe her warning should have been less poetic.

“Don’t you think it’s rude, Alberne Gans, to leave a party meant for you?” The voice startled Yoichi Isagi, making him fall back into the fountain and become soaked.

He sat up and spat out the water that had spilled into his mouth. He looked up to see a man with a gentle smile and worried blue eyes, reaching a hand down to him. He had blond hair with blue tips. He seemed… tall.

Yoichi Isagi grabbed his hand and let himself get pulled out of the water.

“My apologies. I just caused the birthday boy to get all wet, didn’t I?”

“It’s fine, you didn’t mean to, I’m sure.” Yoichi Isagi smiled as he sat back down on the edge of the fountain, dripping.

The man shook his head and handed Yoichi Isagi his drink, “I insist you take this, I mean, it’s the least I can do.”

“I don’t know…” Yoichi Isagi murmured. He had lost count of how many drinks he had let flood his throat, let alone how many were alcoholic.

“I haven’t even taken a sip.”

“I… okay.” Yoichi Isagi didn’t see the harm. There was nothing he had scheduled for tomorrow, as he knew he’d get drunk, so what was one more?

As Yoichi Isagi took a sip, he looked up at the sky to the moon again. Clouds had begun to cover her, hiding the frown that would have warned Yoichi Isagi better than her earlier attempt.

Chatting with the stranger was easy. Yoichi Isagi found himself bantering with the other rather quickly. He hardly noticed the smirk on the man before him - and when he did, he chalked it up to amusement.

But as he felt his animated hands feel as if filled with lead, as his head started pounding and he found it difficult to hear, as his vision blurred and especially when it went black:

Yoichi Isagi knew that the smirk on the other’s face was not amusement. At least not purely.

The splash of Yoichi Isagi falling into the water in the fountain again echoed. Loud. The clouds uncovered the moon at just that moment, as if to force her to watch. To force her to watch Michael Kaiser pick Yoichi Isagi up with a small smile, wipe his soaked hair out of his face to the side of his forehead and then kiss the now bare surface.

She watched from the skies above as Yoichi Isagi was carried through an unoccupied part of the venue, brought to the parking lot, tied up in a car trunk and gently made ‘comfortable’.

She watched as Michael Kaiser walked into the venue, acted like nothing had happened, listened to people start searching for Yoichi Isagi, helped the people who started searching for Yoichi Isagi and agreed when people came to the conclusion that Yoichi Isagi had just left without telling anyone.

Through the windows of Michael Kaiser’s estate, after the drive, she watched as Yoichi Isagi was carefully brought into that basement.

And then she, the moon, was the last outsider to see Yoichi Isagi.

She, the moon, watched the life Yoichi Isagi made for himself, go back up his throat, spill out his lips, and slosh down the drain.

She, the moon, was the first to start mourning the Yoichi Isagi that was to be before Michael Kaiser got to him first.

So that’s how Yoichi Isagi got here.

That’s how he got here.

𑣲 𓁹 𓁹꒷꒦؟ㅤꨄ︎ ── .✦

~ Both ~

{Yoichi Isagi}

{Michael Kaiser}

“Well fuck you,” Isagi hissed, trying to turn his head away from Kaiser. “A- And g- get the fuck off me, you psycho. Don’t touch me.”

Kaiser stared blankly for a moment, his eyebrows furrowing and his hand dropping. The anxiety Isagi already felt started screaming louder. Terrified. Like it knew Kaiser was holding back something that Isagi should be terrified of.

“You’re adjusting.” Kaiser’s smile was clearly 100% forced now. He sat back on his heels and observed Isagi, “Ah, my precious, pretty Yoichi…”

“Don’t you call me that.” Isagi held strong, glaring hard, “I’m n- not precious or pretty and I’m definitely not whatever being yours entails.”

Kaiser shut his eyes and sighed. His little Yoichi was already proving to be so difficult. That should’ve been expected, hell, it was expected. Just… annoying. But it’s okay.

He’ll deal with whatever he has to if it means he has his Yoichi.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t get you clothes that fit you,” Kaiser decided changing the subject was what was necessary for their love, “I never really expected you to get so wet. It wasn’t my plan, y’know? You even fell in the water again after you passed out. Though I think I like seeing you in my clothe—”

“These are yours?” His Yoichi’s voice was filled with venom and so were his eyes and so was his body language and so was everything about him since Kaiser came into the room.

The venom is making it hard for Kaiser to keep being sweet to his Yoichi. His Yoichi only deserves the best but maybe punishing him was due soon.

“Yes…” Kaiser answered, cupping Isagi’s cheek again.

“Fuck you, ew, get them off of me.” Isagi growled, then more realization flooded his veins, “You dressed me? You fucking pervert! You’re disgusting!”

One can only take so much, right? And Kaiser can’t let his little Yoichi go without punishment. Or he’ll think this is okay. And it’s not. It’s not okay. They were made for loving each other which Kaiser knows, and surely it’s not long until his Yoichi realizes.

But since he hasn’t realized and is still being a defiant little thing, a little reprimand is underway.

His Yoichi is squirming and making choked sounds. His eyes are flooding with tears and he’s lashing beneath Kaiser. He looks so scared. Kaiser likes how scared he is right now. It’s what he needs.

“Are you sorry, my Yoichi?” Kaiser didn’t have the mental capacity to worry about smiling and keeping that sweet expression up, but he’ll keep his voice soft. If only to soothe his Yoichi and be an anchor in an unfortunate time, then he’ll keep his voice soft.

He wasn’t sorry. Isagi wasn’t sorry. But he decided letting his pride go in exchange for Kaiser’s hands to hopefully unwrap from his throat was something he had to do. He’s stubborn, but he still values his life in some form. So he nods best he can, head rocking up and down.

The way Kaiser’s eyes look is scarier than the whole kidnapping thing itself. They’re full of rage and love at the same time and they dig into Isagi’s flesh, ripping it apart with just their fingertips.

But when he nods, Kaiser lets go of his neck and smiles and the anger disperses. All that is left is the love. And while the love disgusts Isagi, it’s better than dying from the rage that Kaiser can and apparently will yield.

His Yoichi is wheezing and gasping for air. His eyes are watering and he can’t seem to look at Kaiser. During the scuffle, his Yoichi was forced to lie on his back. The majority of Kaiser feels pity for him - another small part feels bad for what he did while the final, smallest third feels satisfied. All three thirds blend into a slurry that leads to Kaiser lying down on top of his Yoichi.

His Yoichi, thankfully, stays silent. He’s tense and uncomfortable and occasionally twitches, but he’s silent. Silence is better than the words that spill from his lips that are birthed from the fact he’s still adjusting.

They stay there for a moment. Isagi frozen beneath Kaiser and staring up at the ceiling. Looking at the man on top of him will cause bile to rise from his stomach and out his mouth. He hasn’t eaten in who knows how long, so that can’t happen.

Kaiser is perfectly content. He’s tracing his Yoichi’s jaw with one finger and staring at his love. He has a soft, realer smile on his face. He does really wish his Yoichi would look at him. More than that, look at him with love instead of the disdain that plasters itself in his Yoichi’s gaze once it finds itself directed at him.

A soft rumble thunders from Isagi’s stomach.

Kaiser lets out a soft hum of interest, his hand which was once tracing his Yoichi’s cute face, sliding under his body to rest on his Yoichi’s stomach. He rubs gently before looking away from his Yoichi’s face and down to his belly.

“Ah… It has been a minute since you were fed, hm?” Kaiser sits up and stares at his Yoichi’s face once more.

“How would I know?” Isagi huffed, making no move to look at Kaiser. He can’t. Kaiser’s hand on his stomach, so disgustingly soft and disgustingly loving, is making not vomiting even harder.

“Well, I’ll go make you food, okay?” Kaiser replied. At first, Isagi thought Kaiser would get angry and snap like he did earlier - almost strangling him to unconsciousness. But he didn’t, thankfully.

“Don’t bother. If you’re making my food, I won’t eat it.” Isagi shouldn’t have pushed his luck. He really shouldn’t have.

Kaiser’s lips were on his. It was disgraceful, disgusting, and horrifying. His first kiss was being robbed. At least his tongue hadn’t entered his mouth. He’s going to throw up. He knows it.

His lips are on his Yoichi’s. It’s beautiful, blissful and ungodly. Kaiser really wishes this was his first kiss - but past mistakes are past mistakes. A shame this is a punishment for his Yoichi.

Kaiser pulled away from the kiss, “Don’t be a brat, my baby, please.”

Isagi couldn’t even respond. The little in his stomach came burling out of his mouth. Because he was on his back, most of it was just going back in. Until Kaiser had turned him onto his side. Then it just got all over the bed.

Kaiser was silent. His hand was buried in Isagi’s dark blue hair, rubbing with his thumb, but he wasn’t speaking. He was staring at the vomit when Isagi looked up at him.

Then he snapped out of whatever trance he was in. He smiled and stepped off the bed.

“Awh, you poor thing.” He shook his head and picked his Yoichi up off the bed that was now halfway covered with his vomit, “I don’t have any extra sheets, but I have an extra blanket or two I think.”

Kaiser set his Yoichi down on the floor beside the bed and started taking off the bedding.

“When are you gonna untie me?” His Yoichi asked from the floor.

Kaiser kept stripping the bed of its layers, not responding initially. Freeing his Yoichi was out of the question for now… but his ankles and wrists being tied together for however long he’ll have to be is not what his baby deserves. His Yoichi deserves at least a bit less constriction during this rough period.

“You’re not just going to be allowed to roam free, Meine Liebe. Let me think it through, okay?”

“I hate you.” His Yoichi grumbled from the floor, “So fucking much.”

Kaiser took a long, deep breath.

“No, you don’t.”

“Yes I do. Of course I do!” His Yoichi has been so fussy. So fussy. It’s agonizing, the words that spill from his scared mouth. It’s not like he means it, because obviously he doesn’t, but it still feels like someone’s pouring boiling water onto Kaiser every time his Yoichi speaks.

“No you don’t. You’re adjusting.” Kaiser finished gathering up the sheets and turned to look at his Yoichi again. There was an impalpable amount of animosity in the blue eyes that stared and glared back.

“I’m not adjusting. I hate you and always will.”

His Yoichi needs to learn to shut his mouth.

Kaiser felt his grip tighten on the bundle of fabric in his arms. He closed his eyes and tried to calm down. After all, he doesn’t like punishing his Yoichi. He hates it. His Yoichi deserves only the best, and if he’d only act right, he’d be getting it.

“You need to stop saying that, Yoichi.” Kaiser finally speaks, opening his eyes, turning away, and walking towards the door. He could hear his Yoichi trying to shift to see him put in the code to get out, so he turned and sent a chiding look to him. His Yoichi simply glared back, as always. When putting in the code, Kaiser made sure to block what he was doing.

Not having Kaiser in the room makes Isagi feel way better. There isn’t the stifling air of his presence surrounding him, pressing on him and suffocating him. Kaiser’s absence lets Isagi curl up as much as he can in his restricted body and start crying.

Has anyone noticed his absence? He’s kind of famous; kind of popular. Someone had to have noticed by now. At least with however much time has passed since that night. Did anyone see them interact… or see Kaiser take his drugged body?

Has anyone noticed?

Or were the mute the only ones to witness? The water in the fountain, the plants in the garden - they saw. They saw and they can’t even tell anyone. They only saw the initial part, too; not Isagi being taken into what he assumes is a house and into the basement of said house.

Which leaves the moon as the only witness. She must’ve watched with her body engulfed in sadness as her son was taken away from the promising life he had. And she can’t do anything but wait. She’s waiting, isn’t she?

Isagi took a deep breath, still crying. He feels a little better now that he’s come to the conclusion the moon is waiting for him. If surviving means anything, it means for the moon to see him in her light once more.

As he reached that conclusion, the door opened again and Kaiser came walking in. He immediately came running over when he saw Isagi crying. He knelt down beside him and set down the blankets he was carrying, instead using his hands to grab Isagi and hold him.

“Let go of me…” Isagi growled, squirming in Kaiser’s grasp.

“You’re crying, my Yoichi. It’s my job to comfort you.” Kaiser replied, adjusting Isagi and trying to get him more comfortable.

“You’re the reason why I’m crying.” Isagi snapped.

Kaiser exhaled harshly. He set Isagi down, grabbed and threw the blankets at him, then left again.

At least he didn’t hurt him.

Isagi curled up in the blankets, though his nose scrunched up with disgust since they smelt like cologne that was surely Kaiser’s. He didn’t have the strength in him to fight the blankets. He doesn’t know when he last ate. Kaiser seems too mad to bring him food, and even if he did, Isagi would refuse it. So he’ll just go hungry. That’s better than letting Kaiser win at anything.

He must’ve drank something recently. He can feel his bladder humming with the need to release. It doesn’t look like there’s anywhere for him to go, and even if there was, he can’t move that much. So he’ll just suck it up.

Kaiser surely should have known that Isagi would be driven insane fast. There’s nothing appealing to look at or no new information to gather. He hasn’t learned much since he first woke up. Only that his bladder is full and painful.

There’s no way to really tell time, which is kind of maddening. All Isagi can focus on is the fact he’s been kidnapped and the fact he needs to pee. It’s miserable; pressing his legs together and trying to hold down his fear. He doesn’t want Kaiser to come back, it’s better with him gone, but also he could probably do something about this, right? No. No. He can’t let himself rely on Kaiser.

Isagi tries to keep that idea firm in his mind as his stomach starts whining. He tries to keep that idea firm in his mind as his head starts to hurt and his anxiety starts to grow. He tries to keep that idea firm in his mind as his bladder gives out.

His thighs and legs grow sticky, and with that his pants are wet too. They press against each other in a way that’s poetically disgusting.

Isagi can’t help but curl up and sob. He just pissed himself and there’s nothing he can do but sit in his own urine. It’s humiliating and demeaning. Closing his eyes as he cries, he imagines his apartment. His home and comfort place. The messy living room with fabric and sketches all around with a few canvases leaning against the couch - some painted, some not. His—

The door opened again. Kaiser was here. Isagi’s eyes snapped open and landed on him, his vision still blurry from tears.

“What is it now?” Kaiser sighed as he walked over, kneeling beside Isagi once more.

Isagi sniffled. He didn’t want to rely on Kaiser. At all. But he also needs to survive. The moon is waiting for her son, so he needs to survive. Surviving means letting go of his pride for a moment.

“I… I…” Isagi couldn’t bring himself to say it. It’s fucking embarrassing. And maybe it’ll make Kaiser lose that sick feeling he thinks is love and he won’t want Isagi anymore and he’ll kill him.

“Meine Liebe… what is it?” Kaiser’s voice has softened. It washes over Isagi and makes him feel revolting, but it’s something that urges him to him push through.

“I had to go to the bathroom… and I tried to hold it… b- but uh…” Isagi trailed off. Kaiser has to get the memo now. He has to.

“Ahh…” Kaiser deflated a little, burying a hand in Isagi’s hair, “I see.”

“I’m hungry… too… really hungry.” Isagi blurted. If he thought about what he said, he wouldn’t say it, therefore he wouldn’t survive.

Kaiser nodded as he grabbed Isagi from under his arms, lifting him up so he was sitting against the wall.

“Wait here.” Kaiser said as he left.

Isagi took a deep breath and tilted his head back. This is all for survival. He has to be alive to figure out a way to escape and actually do so. So if surviving means letting Kaiser take care of him, he’ll let it happen.

Kaiser came back, carrying a pair of shorts that are surely too big for Isagi and wet wipes. He walked over and kneeled in front of Isagi once more. His hands moved to the knot in the rope that tied Isagi’s ankles together.

Part of him is being untied. He can kick. He can do something. As soon as it’s undone, he’s kicking and trying to stand up.

Kaiser shoved him down.

“I’m trying to help you, Yoichi.” He snapped, “Let me.”

Isagi swallowed and shrank back, his legs softening away from escaping. He couldn’t even get far if he wanted to, anyway. And who knows, if he irritates Kaiser enough, he just won’t come back down here. He’ll leave Isagi to die and rot and that can’t happen. Isagi can’t let that happen. Remaining passive is better for survival. Pleasing him will be better for survival.

“I- Sorry…” Isagi mumbled, keeping his gaze averted as Kaiser’s hands reached his waistband.

Kaiser froze. His Yoichi was apologizing. Apologizing! They’re making so much progress already.

“It’s okay, baby…” Kaiser murmured, one of his hands coming up to cup his Yoichi’s cheek.

Isagi pressed his eyes shut and leaned away slightly. He tried to go somewhere else as Kaiser’s hand parted from his cheek and went to his waistband again. He tried to go back to the garden before Kaiser showed up, when it was just him and the moon. But he remained present as Kaiser pulled his soaked pants off of his sticky skin. He remained present as Kaiser gently took a wipe and started cleaning Isagi off.

One of the worst parts of this is the fact Kaiser doesn’t seem to mind this. He doesn’t seem disgusted or anything and that’s agonizing.

After he deemed his Yoichi clean, Kaiser put the shorts on him. He rolled them twice so they would stay on his hips, then stood and started walking away.

“T- Thank you…!” Isagi said quickly.

Kaiser turned, eyebrows raised. He was thanking him…

“Of course, Meine Liebe… Of course.” Kaiser then typed in the code to the keypad whilst making sure his Yoichi couldn’t see.

Isagi had never been prouder of himself. He successfully distracted Kaiser from the fact he never tied Isagi’s ankles together again.

Standing up was slightly difficult, but the yearning for survival seemed to aid him. Walking over to the keypad, he bit his lip as he stared at it. He turned around and started blindly typing numbers as best he could. He didn’t know how long he spent doing that.

When he heard the familiar squeak and descent that came with Kaiser’s arrival, Isagi immediately started padding away. But he was still standing when Kaiser opened the door.

“Yoichi…?” His voice sent shivers down Isagi’s spine. Not the good kind, no, it’ll never give him the good kind. Isagi pressed his eyelids together and swallowed. Ants of fear started covering him, running over his skin and reminding him how badly he fucked up by getting caught.

“It’s my fault, really…” Kaiser sighed as he took a step forward. Isagi didn’t turn around, but he could hear the pops of bubbles in Kaiser’s boiling blood.

“But you’re the one who took advantage of my mistake. How cunning of you. Y’know, my beloved Yoichi, I have been so nice. So kind and loving. I literally cleaned your piss off of you.” Kaiser’s voice was too calm to be real.

“I put so much effort into bringing you here. Home. And I keep telling myself your angry outbursts are just… you getting used to this. I understand how scary this can be.”

Isagi took a deep breath. Kaiser was getting closer, but maybe he wasn’t that mad. Maybe Isagi is just freaking out over nothing. Kaiser does seem to care about Isagi in some… sick way.

That was crushed. Obliterated the second Kaiser’s chin rested on Isagi’s shoulder and he spoke directly into his ear:

“But I will not, under any circumstances, tolerate you trying to leave.”

Isagi had about a second to react before Kaiser had spun him around and wrapped his hand around Isagi’s throat again. His grip was much tighter this time. His eyes were like looking into the pits of hell. The unloving love was nowhere to be found. Isagi searched desperately in those eyes for the filthy love; what he reluctantly made his anchor to know that Kaiser won’t kill him.

It’s gone. It’s gone and it’s freaking Isagi out more.

Tears flooded his eyes and his feet dangled. He looked down to see a shattered plate and what looked like Japanese Curry. Something Isagi hadn’t had in forever.

He might never have it again if Kaiser keeps this up.

“I love you. I love you so much, my Yoichi.” Kaiser was still choking Isagi, but started walking him over to the bed. Throwing him down on the bare mattress, finally giving Isagi a chance to gasp for air. That was short lived, however, because his neck was quickly taken back into the grasp of Kaiser’s hands. His legs were still freed, so Isagi started kicking.

“Bad, bad, bad. All you are is bad! And ungrateful!” Kaiser was screaming in Isagi’s face now as he choked him. Veins were bulging in his forehead. All Isagi could do was stare up and try to kick Kaiser.

“But so pretty, too. So loveable. Why must you make me do this? I’m so nice to you. I’m not like your friends! They aren’t even looking for you, you know that? You disappeared last night and no one even texted you! I have your phone. They don’t care. I care and you treat me like this?!” Kaiser’s rant started to crawl into Isagi’s ears, creeping into his brain and down his spinal cord to make him feel guilty. Doubt.

Does no one care for him? Really? No one cares that he just disappeared? Does he mean so little?

The moon. She’s still waiting for him.

Is she?

Of course she is. She is. She has to be, or else Isagi has no reason to survive this. No reason to escape. And she’s always cared for him. So she cares and she’s waiting and she noticed.

His Yoichi needs air. Kaiser knows it. But his Yoichi is so ungrateful… How can he grant him air he’ll take for granted? It’s so hard to give him something he’s undeserving of.

His hands unwrap from his Yoichi’s neck. He lies down beside him and pulls him close, kissing the top of his hair and sighing.

“If I didn’t love you, you’d be dead. One day you won’t be so ungrateful.”

Isagi didn’t respond. He was frozen in Kaiser’s grasp. His neck hurt terribly and he was still light-headed.

“I- I’m sorry.” Isagi murmured. Why was he apologizing? He shouldn’t be apologizing. All he did was try to leave, like any normal human being with normal survival instincts would do.

“I’ll always forgive you, meine Liebe.”

The words are so disgustingly sweet. Disgusting. That’s what all of this is. Sickening. Disgusting and sickening and shameful and vomit-inducing.

Kaiser is nuzzling into Isagi’s neck. He’s kissing and licking there and Isagi hates it. He’s too scared to say anything, though. So Kaiser gets to love on Isagi’s neck freely.

“Are you still hungry?” He asks, pulling away to look Isagi in the eyes.

“I… uhm… yes…” Isagi mumbled, glancing back to see the food and shattered plate on the floor. Shards of glass and a slurry of curry. Maybe the moon doesn’t need to see him again. Maybe this hell on Earth would end if he just crawled his way to that pile of glass and food and grabbed a shard and slit his own throat and left without leaving.

No.

The moon is waiting for him.

“Okay.” Kaiser had already stood up and walked over to where he left the rope earlier. Of course, he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. Isagi frowned as his ankles were tied together again.

“At least I made more than one serving, hm?” Kaiser smiled and walked out.

Isagi rolled onto his back and stared at the ceiling. All he wanted was to get out. But he had to be fed and alive to even attempt an escape. Kaiser came back quickly with another plate of food balanced in one hand, a broom squeezed in his armpit, and paper towels in his other hand. He set the paper towels and the broom down, then came walking over to Isagi. He set the plate on the bed, then helped Isagi sit up.

Kaiser grabbed the spoon that had sunk into the food and pulled it out, before scooping up a bite and bringing it to his Yoichi’s lips.

Isagi kept his lips closed at first. Eventually, he reluctantly opened his mouth and took a bite. The smile that lit up Kaiser’s face reminded Isagi he was dealing with a psychopath. He’s letting the same psychopath that laced his drink to kidnap him feed him food he made. And so, Isagi spat the food right back out onto Kaiser’s face.

Kaiser blinked at his Yoichi. He took a deep breath and licked the food off his lips and face. Then he tried again. This time, his Yoichi didn’t even open his mouth.

“You are the one who told me you’re hungry.” Kaiser reminded his Yoichi, lowering his arm.

“You are the one who drugged me and you are the one who made this food. So, clown, excuse me if I don’t want it.” Isagi hissed.

Kaiser stared. Without speaking or making an expression, he stared. His eyes were unreadable once more.

“You’re in my basement. You’re home where you belong. No one can take you from me.” Kaiser finally said, “I have no reason to lace your food right now.”

Isagi bit his lip. He needs to eat. He knows it. As distrusting of the food he is, he has to just hope Kaiser isn’t lying. The reasoning is valid, anyway.

Kaiser holds the spoon to his Yoichi’s mouth once more, and the other responds by opening. Kaiser feels pure joy when he sees his Yoichi’s throat bob with his swallow.

Isagi lets Kaiser feed him the entire time. He relaxes a little. The taste is comforting. He hasn’t eaten Japanese curry since he left the US and his parents. Kaiser must’ve learned to make this himself… for him. Isagi. Just for him.

He learned how to.

Before Isagi met him.

Kaiser has known Isagi longer than Isagi’s known him.

Isagi’s face twisted and he leaned backwards when Kaiser went to feed him again. Kaiser raised an eyebrow and blinked. He always just blinked at Isagi. It pissed him off.

But angering Kaiser isn’t worth it right now. Eating is worth giving up his pride for a moment. So he leaned forward once more and took the spoon into his mouth.

After feeding his Yoichi, Kaiser started cleaning up the mess from when he dropped the plate and started strangling his love. He knew his Yoichi was watching. He’s finally stopped being so fussy. Hopefully that little spitfire doesn’t come back up.

“Can… my wrists be moved in front of me…?” His Yoichi spoke up from the bed, eyes so nervous and reluctant to ask a little question.

“Why?” Kaiser asked, turning to his Yoichi, “I don’t trust you much, baby.”

“I- It’s uncomfortable… with them behind my back and all.” Isagi mumbled. He purposely didn’t acknowledge the fact Kaiser didn’t trust him. He could trust him, right now, as Isagi doesn’t have plans to fight.

Without context, fighting Kaiser the second his most useful limbs are free would be the best thing to do for survival. But not only would that get Isagi nowhere as he’d lose without fail, it would only anger Kaiser. He’s not lying, either. The position his arms are in has been and still is hurting Isagi. Even then, it’s not that much a worry of comfortability. The main reason this is an issue is the glaring fact he needs to be in tip top shape to actually achieve escape. Kaiser doesn’t have to know that, though. Isagi’s just betting on Kaiser caring and helping him. He seems to do that a lot.

Kaiser thought it over a bit, then walked over. He reached behind Isagi and started to untie the knot. He held firm eye contact the entire time. It pulled Isagi into a pool full of an impersonator of water that made him feel nonplussed and disquieted. He had to break it first, if only to not drag him further into the gaps in his sanity. How has he changed so much in however many hours have passed since he woke? He wouldn’t have even let Kaiser touch him earlier without spewing hatred towards him.

Though he still, without a doubt, hates Kaiser

The freeing of his wrists feels heavenly to Isagi. He immediately returned his arms to where they were made to rest and rolled his shoulders back. A soft groan of relief slipped out of his lips and he tilted his head back.

Kaiser watched his Yoichi’s relief. He couldn’t help but smile softly and lean back. His Yoichi was always quite the creature to watch. Kaiser brought his hands to his love’s shoulders and gently started massaging them. To remind him he’s always the one who’ll help. Always the one to make it better.

He just always has to come and make things worse. Isagi instantly became a popped balloon. He sighed and slowly pressed his wrists together in front of him to be tied again. Kaiser ruined it the second he reminded him freedom was a gift. The gift was behind a lock and Kaiser swayed the key between his teeth, as if begging Isagi to press his lips against his to fish it out.

Kaiser eventually let go of Isagi’s shoulders and bound his wrists against one another once more. Isagi watched it happen. Watching the brief, false sense of freedom he felt get snatched away from him again wasn’t as painful as it should have been. There was nothing he could really do with that opportunity anyway, so he didn’t lose much.

Kaiser hugged his Yoichi tightly after tying him back up. He rubbed the back of his palms with his thumb, even doing so after pulling away from the hug.

Isagi can’t help but hate this. He wants to hurt Kaiser. Badly. Attack him and figure out the code out of here and leave and get the police.

“I love you, Yoichi…” Kaiser whispered. He was staring at Isagi. His gaze was frighteningly infatuated. Too intense for Isagi. But… he seemed so honest.

No. Kidnapping someone isn’t love. It never will be. Kaiser just convinced himself whatever he felt for Isagi was love.

What has he been doing? What has he let happen? He’s been letting Kaiser touch him and love on him and stare and… and… All because he doesn’t want him mad? When did Isagi get weak? He can’t be weak if he wants to survive.

“Can you stop looking at me? Creep.” Isagi sneered, attempting to pull away. Kaiser’s eyes filled with confusion at first. He looked lost. As if he was a toddler who just got their favorite toy back just for it to then be bedtime. Lost and sad and confused.

“Yoichi, meine Liebe, what?” Kaiser came forward when Isagi pulled away. The distance only decreased when Kaiser grabbed Isagi’s face in both of his hands.

“Don’t touch me either! Do you think feeding me is going to make me forget you kidnapped me?!” Isagi lashed out.

“I didn’t kidnap you, baby! I told you that!”

“Then what do you call this?! Drugging me and taking me without permission? Locking me in this stupid basement where I don’t even know the fucking time? Tying me up?!”

“This is home! You’re home, Yoichi! Why can’t you understand that? I have to keep you tied up or you’ll try to escape!”

“If this wasn’t a kidnapping I wouldn’t be trying to escape in the first place!”

“Just shut up, Yoichi.”

“No! No, because you keep scaring me by getting angry and strangling me and I can’t do anything but bend to your will because of my fear!”

“I told you to shut up, didn’t I?”

“I don’t care what you say, okay? I don’t! You deserve nothing but gifts from Satan personally handed to you! Nothing but! You fucking kidnapped me! No matter how you spin it, I’m a fucking kidnapee all because of you! And if you really loved me as much as you claim to, you wouldn’t have done this at all and you surely wouldn’t choke me when I’m rightfully upset!”

“Are you insinuating I don’t love you?”

“Of course I am! You don’t! Yo—”

“I’ve put a lot of fucking work into this, Yoichi.” Kaiser grabbed Isagi by the front of his shirt and got in his face, “I wouldn’t have if I didn’t love you. You keep bringing up the fact I choke you, but whose fault has that been really? You keep bringing me to this point. And trust me, I can do much worse than just strangle you.”

“Is that a threat?” Isagi’s fire was being dimmed by Kaiser’s presence alone. It was a cold wind that just had to blow by to get Isagi to shut up. To get Isagi to succumb to what his survival instincts were begging him to do: fawn. Isagi, of course, still fought against it. Kaiser is intimidating, but Isagi is stubborn enough to try and not let it get to him.

“Only if you make it.” Kaiser shoved Isagi back onto the bed and stood in front of him for a moment. Then he scoffed and walked away, covering the keypad when he put in the code, and left.

Isagi melted with relief. He curled up with his tied ankles and wrists and stared at the purple wall before his gaze. He’s thirsty, but he’s not in the mood to ask Kaiser for anything. Not like Kaiser is going to be coming back anytime soon. That’s for the better, anyway. Isagi wants him away for as long as possible. He can think of how to escape and how to stop letting Kaiser win.

He let Kaiser win by letting him put these stupid shorts on him. These have to be Kaiser’s. Just like all the clothing Isagi is wearing is Kaiser’s. Disgusting.

Isagi wants his defiance to piss Kaiser off to no end. So, though it was a struggle, he stuffed his two hands into one pocket and pushed down. That got one side of the waistband off his hips, so Isagi mirrored the action on the other side. He pushed down the shorts and twisted his legs occasionally to get them down to his ankles. Since his ankles were bound to one another, that was the furthest Isagi could get the shorts off. Kaiser’s shorts pooled at his ankles was enough of a protest anyway.

How long has Isagi been awake? It’s been… a while since he woke up initially, hasn’t it? Kaiser’s going to be gone for a while, so he can sleep. He’s tired. He’s rightfully mentally exhausted, not to mention how his body is probably just as tired. Being strangled must take energy.

So Isagi can allow himself to doze off. He can let his eyelids grow heavy and fall together. His body can grow limp. He can be transported into another place, far away from the hell he’s found himself in. Dreaming will probably be his only way of getting away for now.

𑣲 𓁹 𓁹꒷꒦؟ㅤꨄ︎ ── .✦

There’s hands. Gently pulling the shorts on his ankles up. They hesitate for a moment, then proceed.

Isagi’s eyes snap open and land on Kaiser.

“G- Get off me, pervert.” He squeaked groggily, trying to squirm away.

“You just woke up and you’re already being bad.” Kaiser sighed as he pulled Isagi’s shorts on all the way. He sat on the edge of the bed with a hand rested on one of Isagi’s thighs.

“Don’t touch me…” Isagi grumbled, his sleepy eyes forming a glare. His lips split open with a yawn.

“How’d you sleep, baby?” Kaiser didn’t have the patience for his Yoichi’s antics. He chose not to engage with them.

“It was going good until you ruined it.” His Yoichi grumbled.

It took everything in Kaiser to not lower himself to his Yoichi’s level. To not rise to anger and hurt him. To stay calm and level-headed.

“I have a glass of water for you. I’m sure you’re thirsty.”

His Yoichi bit his lip and his eyes softened. His irises were filled with contemplation. Then he sighed and tried sitting up.

Kaiser had to help him. The poor little thing when all tied up was simply helpless. His helplessness was adorable. It made Kaiser happy to see his Yoichi only able to turn to him for help.

Kaiser reached down to where he set the glass down on the floor about ten minutes ago. He buried one of his hands in the hair of his beloved to tilt his head back a little, and the other to bring the glass of water to his lips.

Isagi was only letting this happen because he needs water. His throat is aching and groaning for just a droplet of moisture. So letting Kaiser basically drink for Isagi was what had to be. Unfortunately.

“Open, meine Liebe.” Kaiser softly whispered.

The cold liquid slipping into his mouth and down his throat had Isagi relieved he obeyed. Kaiser’s voice gently telling him to swallow accompanied by his hand in his hair and the water he was pouring down his throat was a truly divine slush that coated Isagi’s entire being. He found himself melting into Kaiser’s grasp and kept drinking.

Kaiser was elated. His Yoichi wasn’t being a little brat, instead, finally, being the good boy Kaiser knows he can be.

After practically chugging the entire glass, Isagi panted. The cup was taken from his lips but Kaiser’s hand in his hair remained. Soon, Kaiser was cupping Isagi’s cheek, kneading it a little.

Why does Isagi keep letting himself fall into Kaiser’s spell? He must be a sailor, and Kaiser’s voice was too gorgeous and enticing to resist. But Isagi wants to get away. He wants to live.

“Let go.” Isagi snarled, suddenly trying to squirm and thrash out of Kaiser’s grasp.

His Yoichi was giving him whiplash. He was so sweet, so cute one second of a minute, and so bad, so ungrateful the other 59. But that one second was so beatific that Kaiser could believe his Yoichi would finally be good. His Yoichi was exasperatingly deceptive.

“Why are you like this?” Kaiser thundered, letting go of his Yoichi only to shove him on his back, “As always, you just ruin everything good!”

“Nothing is good about any of this.” His Yoichi uttered. He wasn’t yelling. Yet he was still being just as ungrateful.

“Everything is good about this! You’re just too fucking ungrateful to see it! Too stubborn and prideful and privileged! Your bed that you have is already more than you deserve right now. And I personally think you deserve the entirety of existence itself when you’re good. But you just can’t seem to be good, can you? Do you live to piss me off? Do you live to be a little brat?!”

“S- Stop.”

“Stop what? Telling you the truth?”

“Just stop…”

“You stop being a fucking brat.”

His Yoichi was crying. Crocodile tears that stabbed into Kaiser’s side. But no. He deserves to be yelled at and scolded. He’s lucky he isn’t getting punished. He’s lucky Kaiser is leaving the room before things escalate.

Isagi watched through blurry eyes as Kaiser left. The door slammed shut behind him and echoed in the practically empty room. Isagi isn’t ungrateful… he just never wanted to be here. Never wanted to be locked in a basement and taken care of by his captor who claims to love him. He just wanted to make a name for himself. To become one of the people fashion students of tomorrow will study. But now, because of his smaller want to celebrate his birthday, he’s here.

The outbursts from Kaiser are terrifying. Isagi didn’t argue back this time because he couldn’t comprehend the magnitude of Kaiser’s emotions. They’re a horrific mess pressed together to form the being that insists he loves Isagi. Kaiser’s ‘love’ isn’t something the average human mind can understand. It’s like how the scale of the sun can’t truly be imagined. Kaiser’s ‘love’ is the sun. The yelling and the choking just seem to be solar flares for when Isagi is too much.

Isagi has been too much for Kaiser a lot. And though Isagi doesn’t want the ‘love’ the other shares for him, he knows it’s what keeps him alive. It’s what stops Kaiser from choking Isagi to death. It’s what makes Kaiser feed and water Isagi. It’s what makes Kaiser keep coming down here. So when the ‘love’ goes away, Isagi will too.

To Isagi, that’s petrifying. What? He has to let Kaiser ‘love’ him so he doesn’t die? How sick of a world is this? Why must Isagi be the object of Kaiser’s affections? Why must he be the one Kaiser ‘loves’?

Isagi’s thoughts get interrupted by Kaiser walking in again. The man’s eyes rake over him, then look to the ceiling right beside the door. The door to the basement is propped open. Isagi peers out but only sees darkness… and one step of a staircase. Nothing new to learn. Kaiser must know that, or else he wouldn’t have left the door open.

The blond reaches out and grabs a ladder from inside the stairwell. He sets it up, then grabs a bag. Inside the bag is a box. A camera. It’s a camera. He’s installing a camera. Isagi watched, in mild discomfort, every step of the process. It took less than ten minutes. As Kaiser started to set the stuff back in the stairwell, he spoke.

“I was going to ask you if you even wanted a camera in here. So you had a choice. But you don’t deserve a choice.” Kaiser stated as he came in with another bag, “I’m still doing something nice for you, now. Say thank you.”

Isagi swallowed. He shook his head and averted his gaze. The air around Kaiser was drenched in displeasure. Kaiser came walking right up to Isagi, then glanced back at the doorway. He sighed and set down what he was holding. He sat on the edge of the bed and pulled Isagi into a bridal carry. Even as he fought and squirmed.

“Why are you so difficult? I only care for and love you, Yoichi.” Kaiser’s voice seemed truly upset. But his voice was still sopping with love. Adoration and love and care and things that drew Isagi in. The siren’s song once more.

He can’t fall for it again. He’d be more of a fool than he already was, making the same mistake another time.

“No… no you don’t…” Isagi mumbled, turning his head away.

“Please stop saying that.” Kaiser almost… pleaded. He was pleading with Isagi.

He’s only doing it to make Isagi feel bad. That is the only reason that can be so it’s the only reason.

“What’s in the bag…?” Isagi inquired. He didn’t want to witness more of Kaiser’s pathetic, pitiful ‘love’ for the moment. A breath of fresh air meant making conversation. Making conversation was merely going from thick, polluted air to less dense air. Still unhealthy, but to the dirty, anything cleaner is clean.

“A different way to tie you up! It won’t be like it is now, where you’re practically immobile.” Kaiser chirped, lifting Isagi slightly as if to have him join his excitement.

“But no being free?”

“Not yet, baby.”

“I… Okay.” Isagi didn’t fight it. What point was there, really? He was still getting more freedom than he used to. And Kaiser was granting him that. Though Isagi didn’t deserve it.

Kaiser set his Yoichi down, making sure he was comfortable where he sat. He pressed a kiss to his Yoichi’s forehead and sighed when his cute little face scrunched up.

Though he’s been fussy, Kaiser will always love his Yoichi. How could he not? He had pretty pretty blue eyes and pretty pretty blue hair and a pretty pretty face. Cute wide eyes that gaped at everything naturally. Dark blue hair that contrasted his paler complexion. And that face was incomparable to any other in the world. And he’s so sweet, despite how he’s acted now. A little sweetheart that Kaiser has always just wanted to take into his mouth and suck on until he dissolved on his tongue; the sugar releasing entering his bloodstream. And his Yoichi could do the same with him. They could melt and dissolve with each other for eternity like they were designed to do.

His Yoichi was truly any and all to him. Everything and everyone. He’s his little personal divine being. A little god just for him. He’s the universe. His Yoichi filled the emptiness that came after everything was beat out of him. Kaiser would do anything for his Yoichi. He’s giving him longer ropes that keep his ankles apart and his wrists unbound. Unbound like Kaiser and his Yoichi’s potential. Unbound like infinity. Kaiser and his Yoichi are infinity.

Isagi watched as Kaiser worked. He put loop-like hooks into the wall and tied a much longer rope to them. He did a lot to make sure they were secure. Meaning Isagi didn’t have a chance of breaking free from them. Then he attached, to the ends of the rope, a metal cuff. He did that in four spots in the middle of one of the walls and then beckoned Isagi over. Kaiser burst out laughing when he remembered Isagi couldn’t move on his own much.

Kaiser walked over with a grin on his face and picked Isagi up. He helped him stay standing and untied his wrists first. Isagi immediately moved his hands and breathed a small sigh of relief. Kaiser had already grabbed one of his wrists though, and started to cuff it into place. Then came his other wrist. Isagi was still able to move his hands and arms around. It was heaven. Kaiser had gifted him heaven.

Next came his ankles. Kaiser slowly made his way to his knees. He leaned against Isagi’s body, nuzzling his head against it for a moment before focusing. He untied Isagi’s ankles and gave them the same treatment as his wrists. Then he took a step back.

Kaiser, with pleasure, watched his Yoichi take a few steps around. The happiness on his face was worth all the calculation this took. His Yoichi truly only deserved existence itself. Only existence itself.

His Yoichi kept glancing at the open door. Kaiser knew what the, proving to be, escape artist was thinking.

“You can’t reach there.” Kaiser smirked, walking over to his Yoichi’s bed and sitting down. His Yoichi slowly started walking to the door. He kept his eyes glued onto Kaiser the entire time, A few steps away, he couldn’t move anymore.

Isagi tried to fight the grasp of the ropes before immediately rendering it futile. Burning hot tears flooded his eyes once more. He stood there, staring at the closest he had gotten to leaving. The closest he’s gotten to freedom. True, unconditional freedom. And he was just out of reach. Kaiser’s hands are on him; grabbing his shoulders and gently rubbing.

Isagi slaps them away. Too nice. Too trusting. That’s all that he has been just because Kaiser is doing the bare minimum. Less than the bare minimum. The bare minimum would have been never kidnapping him in the first place. He’s been fated to the death of freedom again by going blind.

“I still hate you. I hate you even more now.” Isagi snapped, wiping his tears as Kaiser stepped in front of him. He just looked down at him for a long, dreadful moment.

“How many times will I have to tell you to stop saying that? How many times will I have to tell you to be grateful?” Kaiser spat right back, putting a hand on Isagi’s shoulder and pushing him back until his thighs hit the bed. Isagi was forced to sit down and be loomed over by Kaiser, who simply continued his speech, “You want all these things but you aren’t grateful when you get them.”

“You kidnapped me. How could I be grateful for anything you do?!” Isagi snarled.

“I didn’t kidnap you!” Kaiser dropped to his knees in front of where Isagi sat. He grabbed his hips harshly. If not done harshly, Isagi would consider the action done with desperation.

“Stop fucking saying that, Yoichi! You’re home. You are home!” Kaiser screamed from the floor, looking up at Isagi, “You are with me! Where you are meant to be!”

Isagi couldn’t speak. Fear flooded his bones and sang into his blood. Kaiser’s eyes were wild. That of an animal’s more than of a human’s. As if instead of a brain in that skull, a ferocious creature consumed by ‘love’ was the conductor of the orchestra that was Michael Kaiser. The orchestra produced a song so horrifically beautiful. Destructive and sickening and horrifying. Isagi’s trembling hands buried in Kaiser’s hair and scrunched into it. He swallowed hard.

“Stop yelling, okay, please?” He mumbled, trying to pull Kaiser up. Kaiser stood on wobbly legs on his own, “God, whatever, it’s okay. What time is it?”

“Last time I checked it was 2:39 am.”

Isagi raised his eyebrows. He had thought it to be around 3:30 in the afternoon. His perception of time here is appalling. But then he focused back onto what he was doing. Calming Kaiser the hell down.

He scooted over on the bed, but Kaiser shook his head, turning to the open door, walking over, and shutting it, before padding to the bed again. He sat down and stared at Isagi.

Isagi felt shame burn in his chest, the smoke curling around every vein that ran through his body, when he burrowed into Kaiser’s side. Making Kaiser happy kept Isagi… safe. It kept Kaiser from wilting into that even more unhinged part of himself. And that kept Isagi alive and calm…er. This was only for survival. Pride means dying with Kaiser sometimes. Humility keeps him alive.

Everything Isagi does is solely for survival.

His Yoichi had invited Kaiser into the bed. All on his little own. His Yoichi had curled up against his side, shaking. His Yoichi let Kaiser’s arm drape across his shoulders to pull him closer. Willingly, his Yoichi was close.

His Yoichi.

His beloved Yoichi.