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Sweaty hands grip the edge of the sink, fingers slipping over ceramic. His lower back is almost indented against it, the pain reminding him that he's trapped and the chances of slipping away unscathed are slim to none. Tears pool in his eyes, offering little comfort by blurring the image of the monster that stands in front of him. No matter how he refuses to acknowledge the horror of becoming a lamb on its way to the slaughterhouse, he can't just make it go away.
No, it won't go away because he really is about to be slaughtered, and he has no fucking idea why.
Gaku Maruko was minding his own business like a normal dude trying to live life while in the middle of a war. He needed to take a piss, so he went to the boys' bathroom and just about managed three steps inside before a shadow blocked his way. Instant shock caused him to stumble back, and then fear had him whimper loudly as he saw the glimmer of a blade before even recognizing the face of teenage assassin Yugamu Omokage, whose mouth was stretched to his ears in a creepy smile.
As he was suddenly thrown into a scene straight from a slasher movie, Gaku tried to get away but ended up backing himself into one of the sinks by mistake. Unfortunately for him, Yugamu was all too fast, closing in on him within seconds and holding his knife a few millimeters away from Gaku's neck.
That's where he is now, his mind screaming expletives and his heart racing against his ribcage. Not a muscle in his body remains unfrozen as Yugamu leans forward and tilts his head a bit.
“Hello, Maruko-kun,” Yugamu says, with a lilt in his voice. “Fancy seeing you here.”
“U-... Uh...” Gaku can't help but swallow, his arms trembling. Saying hello back would be dumb with a knife pointed at him, and he's pretty sure that any sort of antagonistic response would earn him a stab wound, so he has no idea what to reply with in the moment. His lips press together as he nervously bites the inside of his cheek and remains quiet.
He tries to think of a reason why he's being threatened. Maybe he pissed Kurara off and she sent Yugamu to give him a lesson, but he can't recall anything that happened beyond their usual banter lately. If he accidentally messed with Yugamu's shit in the bio lab he would have definitely remembered, so that's likely not the reason either. No matter how hard he's using his brain, he can't come up with anything, and that fact scares him the most.
Imagine having a freak ready to slit your throat or stab you to death just because you exist.
Gaku's legs are also shaking now. His limbs feel like jello.
Yugamu narrows his visible eye, and with the hand that isn't holding the knife, he begins rubbing Gaku's arm with a gentleness that doesn't belong. A form of comfort that contrasts with the sharpness that threatens to cut his neck. It's so out of place that it makes Gaku's stomach churn.
He can't stop the tears from gushing, as they descend his pale cheeks like endless cascades. Yugamu hums, and his hand moves up, long nails brushing past Gaku's shoulder before a cold palm touches his cheek.
“You know... I've seen countless people gazing up at me in terror as they faced death.” He brushes a tear away with his thumb, slow and calculated. His nail glides dangerously close to Gaku's eye. “But I believe you're the most beautiful out of them all. Knowing that I can bring the best expressions out of you with no effort at all... it feels so good.”
Gaku's breath accelerates, his throat closing up. He'll probably die here. Even though he can be quickly brought back through the Revive-O-Matic, dying still hurts. It's traumatizing, it chips away at his sanity, and it makes him feel as though he loses pieces of himself each revival. He hates it. Fucking hates it. He doesn't want to die. He can't die here.
But if he were anywhere close to as brave as Takumi or pretty much every single comrade here, he would have moved already. Instead he stays rooted on the tiled floor, unable to break away from the frozen state of his body. He stares at Yugamu and gives the bastard exactly what he wants, because he doesn't want to get hurt. If he behaves, maybe his death will be quick. Probably messy as fuck, but painless.
The blade nears his neck, pressing against the tender flesh ever so slightly, and something gives up before Gaku can stop it.
He's reminded, in the most humiliating way possible, that he had come here in the bathroom to piss before Yugamu got in his way.
As he feels the warm wetness stain through his pants, he lets out a broken sob. The awareness that somebody could hear and walk in on this fucking disaster blocks him from straight up wailing. He can't stop shaking, overwhelmed by emotions that grow worse and worse with each second that passes.
Yugamu chooses that moment to look down. He seems surprised for a moment, then starts chuckling. He withdraws his knife and takes one step back, getting his shoes away from the pool forming under Gaku. Even though there's a gap between them now, however small, Gaku still can't calm down, feeling so scared, small, and pathetic.
“For the love of murder... you've made quite a mess!” Yugamu tuts, shaking his head. “I should have waited for you to do your business first. Sorry about that.” He grins. “But hey, just know that you've cheered me up quite a bit, so thank you for the precious display.”
“Go fuck yourself,” is Gaku's silent reply along his sobs. Words that never formed, but keep blaring out loud inside his head, over and over.
He didn't expect Yugamu to lean towards him, reducing the distance between their faces to nothing as his lips chastely meet Gaku's.
It feels as if time stopped. For Yugamu it lasted a couple of seconds, but Gaku only regains his bearings once the assassin had already closed the door and disappeared from his sight. His knees give up and he falls to the floor, making a shameful, disgusting splash.
Three thoughts form inside his fogged mind in rapid succession.
1) He has to clean up before someone comes in, 2) Those are the only pants he owns, 3) Did the freak just fucking steal his first kiss?!?
... Oh, wait, there's a fourth one.
His lips were so soft.
Gaku hides his face in his hands, sighing shakily. He managed to come out of the situation in one piece... but at what cost? Now he won't be able to sleep, or stop thinking about Yugamu and how he'd love to punch him in the face and maybe get a feel of those lips again—
...
When will his rotten luck end?