19. Bark or Bite

Heads Up:

This contains violence and degradation.

The violence is a result of bullying.

It gets graphic.

It is not romanticized.

If you are a victim of the aforementioned subject, please seek professional help and contact a trusted adult.

If the bullying is serious and is causing you to suffer suicidal thoughts and/or tendencies, please talk to an individual you trust, or call your nation's suicide/emergency hotline.

You are not alone.

Viewer discretion is advised.

Much love.

—Khonsu

. . .

"Watch it, meathead!" Y/n griped as he was bumped into by a tall, decently-built individual.

The meathead in question who had bumped into Y/n, causing him to lose balance slightly and almost spill his drink, spat angrily, "The fuck? You think you can call people names just 'cause they bumped into you, King?"

King.

The word echoed in Y/n's head, chorusing and reaching an unbearable crescendo. He dropped the cup. "Pardon?"

The blonde ran his mouth. "You know, I really wanted to wring your neck when we caught Kuon trying to sell us out to Team V. Your stupid voice was like a fly buzzing in my ear while I'm trying to sleep. I was surprised you hadn't ended your life the night I said I wished you'd end up dead soon. So strong...truly..."

Color drained from Y/n's face, and his mouth fell open slightly. His back was turned to Raichi, but he could see the ear-to-ear grin on his stupid, smug face. It was infuriating.

"What is wrong with you?" Y/n replied, his voice a little shaky.

The water from the cup had pooled on the floor, reaching Y/n's feet. The cup wasn't even plastic. No. That cup was glass, and it had shattered. Y/n didn't dare move out of fear his foot would be impaled by the melted sand.

"Nothing," Raichi replied coolly. "I've dreamed about slugging you until you beg me to stop. I hate you. I hate your selfishness. I hate your skill, your dedication, everything about you. That one time I clocked you in the hall for no real reason, giving you a bloody nose? I just felt like it."

"I've never physically harmed you," Y/n retorted, "so why are you so apt to hurt me?"

"Because you're a bitch. A little doggy that craves attention and kisses from his owner. A mutt that whines when someone takes their eyes off him. You hear me?" He seethed.

"Clear as mud," Y/n spat.

"Yeah, so maybe if you bark, I'll let you go unscathed."

"There's so many people around. You wouldn't dare."

"You wouldn't want glass in those precious paws of yours, would you?"

Y/n froze. Ultimately stuck between keeping his dignity, or acting like a fool in front of so many that he would never be able to live it down. Y/n started to move one of his feet.

"Ah, ah," Raichi tutted. He reached back and locked his arm around Y/n's abdomen, ultimately throwing him against a near wall. "I'm not so mean that I would cut your precious dream-crushers with glass, dog."

Y/n grabbed his stomach. "The fuck is your problem, man?"

"You." Raichi towered over him. "I hope you die early and your career fails."

"Jealousy's a little bitch."

A punch to the gut.

"Go fuck yourself, clown."

Another.

"I'm not going to humor you."

Again.

"I'm not a pushover."

And again.

"That all you got?" Y/n choked out.

And again.

"All that time working out for what? A weak punch?

And again.

"Owie, oh no," Y/n started as he grit his teeth in a tiny grin. "My goodness..."

A punch to the nose.

Y/n's eyes went wide and he touched his nose with his index and middle finger. He pulled his digits back to look at them, and put his whole hand over his nose.

'At least it's not broken.'

He looked up at Raichi, brows furrowed. He breathed deeply through his mouth, the inhales and exhales sounding as though they were a result of congestion. He could feel the blood gushing. It had seeped through the wall of his hand, if only a little, and doused his lips in the crimson liquid. He spat out the blood that had got into his mouth, and continued his labored breathing.

"Bark, and I'll stop." Raichi's fist was stopped cold in its tracks.

"Perhaps that's enough," a voice firmly demanded. It was followed by wide, panda-like eyes. "I just got here. I don't want to see your little grudge haunt my little cousin. Keep your meaty paws off him."

Raichi backed off. Gagamaru reached to pick up Y/n, only to just pull him close. He kept him there for a bit, pressing a cheek to the top of the latter's head.

"Gin," Y/n started, "people are staring."

"So?" Gagamaru replied. "Let them."

"They'll think I'm soft."

"Don't make me laugh.."

"My nose is bleeding."

"Oh, right."

Y/n's head grew light, and his vision grew blurry. It looked like an attempt to actually beat him up until he was on the verge of death itself. He swore he saw "the light", but maybe it was just the illumination of the fluorescent lights that lined the cafeteria.

Gagamaru's body froze. "Y/n," his voice came softly. "Y/n, you have to stay up. Please. Please, buddy."

"It's all..." Y/n murmured. "It's all so...fuzzy." He staggered forward, trying to keep his balance. His body was close to completely shutting down.

Gagamaru didn't care about the blood. He put his hands on Y/n's underarm and hoisted him up, carrying his limp-ish body to the on-site medics once again.

"I have no doubt I'll be bringing you here again after this," Gagamaru mumbled. "But I wouldn't trade you for the world. I'll bring you here as many times as I need to."

Gagamaru reached the infirmary after around a minute of walking. The nurse, along with Ego's assistant, Anri, had rushed over immediately.

"Gagamaru, you're covered in blood," Anri said. "What happened?"

"Take him," Gagamaru demanded. "I'm not injured, he is. I don't think he has any broken bones, but his nose is bleeding."

"I can't carry him," Anri told Gagamaru, looking sorry as she spoke. "Bring him over here and lay him down."

Gagamaru did as he was told. Without question. His only request was that he stayed by his cousin's side until he was okay. Okay being a term Gagamaru used very loosely when it came to Y/n's physical and mental state.

"Since you're here," Anri started, getting tissues, "can you tell me what happened?"

Gagamaru thought back to when he first entered the cafeteria as he helped Anri sit Y/n up to a steady position.

"I'm not a hundred percent sure what happened because he was getting slugged against one of the walls as I entered, and just before I stopped the attack, he was punched in the nose. There was glass getting cleaned up, too," Gagamaru recalled, searching his mind for any more minor details. "Also, the perpetrator was Raichi."

"I'm not that surprised it was Raichi," Anri replied softly, pinching Y/n's nose shut with an abundance of tissues. "He's always had an issue with Y/n. When I saw him, I heard him mumbling and talking about how he 'was gonna beat that sorry excuse of a soccer player up'. I'm surprised Y/n didn't fight back."

Gagamaru was handed disinfecting wipes meant for skin by the nurse that was in the room, and opened the small packet up. He recoiled at the smell, but went to wipe down his cousin's face.

Gagamaru looked rather sad. "He usually never responds to a beating with physical violence. He's always just bitching about how weak the punch is and holding his own against the perpetrator. He likes to get into their head and make them angrier, which isn't a good idea. I've told him he needs to fight back because he's incredibly strong, but he refuses."

"Can't help it, I guess," Anri replied softly. "Nosebleed stopped. Can you make sure he has no broken bones?"

Gagamaru obliged, running his hands over his cousin's ribcage. He pressed a little, and sighed with relief.

"Nothing's broken," he said, "he's just unconscious. Please do your best to keep Raichi away from him. I never knew how aggressive he would get if given the chance... Besides almost beating Kuon."

Anri nodded.

Y/n's finger twitched, and he lowered his head slightly. "Where am I... What year is it..." He grinned a bit, trying to make room for comedic relief.

"Shhh," Gagamaru hushed, putting a finger to his lips. "Stay quiet, don't move much."

"You have...blood on you," Y/n said, ignoring Gagamaru's words.

"Yeah, from you," he replied, pointing at Y/n and squinting playfully. "It's okay though. Now please shut up."

"Nah..."

"Your voice is hoarse."

"Thank you captain obvious, I couldn't recognize you without your cape."

"Shh."

"Nope.."

"Please."

"Nah."

"Dude, hush."

"Nada."

"It's nap time for you. Mimimimimi... Go into hibernation, little bear."

"What?"

"Zzz...mimimimimi..."

Gagamaru put a hand over Y/n's eyes, and the lights had shut off a little bit after. He propped Y/n's head up on a pillow, and took his hands off of his cousin's eyes.

"See? Nap time."

"I don't understand you," Y/n replied quietly.