[Team Two] It's Gonna Be Alright
Random JuriShin spinoff for my Hanahaki fic! TW: blood, mentions of death
Enough surfing isn't a concept Shintaro is familiar with because he feels there's never enough time for surfing, especially when his spring has been pretty packed. The salty breeze ruffles his damp hair as he makes his way to the beachside dressing room. The waves have been perfect today, and he's still exhilarated, still riding the high of catching some amazing swells. He wonders when he will have enough time to come to this place again. As he reaches the dressing room, he starts peeling off his wetsuit.
His phone, which is inside his bag, begins to buzz insistently. With a sigh, Shintaro reaches for it, glancing at the screen. It seems to be an unfamiliar number. He picks up the phone, holding it between his ear and shoulder as he continues to wriggle out of the wetsuit.
"Hello?" he answers hastily.
A feeble male voice is on the other end, sobbing incomprehensibly.
"Is that you Morimoto Shintaro? I didn't know who else to call. Please help- I don't know what to do."
Shintaro freezes, the wetsuit half-off.
"What? Who is this? What's happening?"
"Kyomo--fuck, this is the end, he's going to die now- I tried to convince him to get the surgery, but that fucking moron wouldn't listen--"
"Sorry, I don't understand," Shintaro says. "Care to tell me who's there and why you call me?"
"It's Tanaka Juri. I seriously don't know what to do. Kyomo was coughing up blood, and apparently, it was everywhere, and he collapsed, and they're resuscitating him-- please, I can't do this alone, I'm so fucking scared-I didn't know who else to call, and he gave me your number so that I could call you--when he-he--" The voice cracks at the end.
Shintaro tries to process what he's hearing. He quickly yanks off the rest of his wetsuit, his heart suddenly pounding harder in his chest. He quickly connects that Tanaka Juri is Taiga's flatmate since he's heard the name several times. Shintaro also remembers Taiga being sick. He has accompanied Taiga for treatment at the hospital a couple of times, but to be honest, Taiga hasn't mentioned even once that his hanahaki disease is actually in that serious state. Shintaro hasn't wanted to fish for more information and Taiga has never told him about the details. But now it sounds like the situation is bad. Really bad.
"Wait, what?" Shintaro asks. "Where are you?"
He manages to catch the name of the hospital while Juri continues sobbing on the other side about how fucking scared he is. It sounds like it's the same hospital area where Shintaro has accompanied Taiga before.
"I was wondering--if you could come here- I don't know. I mean, I don't know if I can do this alone--"
"No, of course, it's alright. I'll come right away," Shintaro says, trying to keep his voice steady.
In the taxi, Shintaro feels his nervous heartbeat through his whole body. He mentally tries to make the car drive faster, looking outside through the window and scratching a spot of thin skin next to the nail of his index finger.
As the car finally approaches the hospital, Shintaro's breath catches in his throat. He wonders if Taiga is still there, still with them. The taxi screeches to a halt.
Throwing money at the driver, he bursts from the vehicle and races toward the hospital entrance.
Juri has managed to send him directions to where he is. Although Shintaro remembers seeing only a couple of pictures of Juri before, and the room is full of other people, he spots him immediately once he arrives in the lobby area on the right floor.
Juri sits slumped in a plastic chair next to a black-haired guy Shintaro doesn't recall seeing before. Juri looks... awful. His eyes are not only red-rimmed, bloodshot from crying, but there's also a hollow, haunted look in them. His unkempt hair sticks out in disarray, and his hands tremble as he clutches a crumpled tissue between his fingers.
The other man with black hair next to Juri sits with a serious, blank expression. His posture is stiff, his back rigidly straight, and then Shintaro notices that his clothes are covered with blood. He must have been the one who discovered Taiga and called for help. Thank gods he was there because otherwise, for sure, Taiga would already be-- Shintaro shivers. He doesn't want to think about that.
As Shintaro approaches Juri and the black-haired man, a knot tightens in his stomach. There's no need for introductions. His eyes lock onto Juri's, searching for answers he's both afraid and desperate to hear.
"Is Kyomo--?" Shintaro starts, his voice catching in his throat because he can't say those words aloud.
Juri raises his head and looks him in the eye, and for a moment, it feels like time stands still. Then, Juri's composure shatters. He clutches the tissue tighter, his shoulders heaving with silent sobs.
Shintaro feels a horrible wave of nausea wash over him. Like someone has just hit his chest hard.
"He's alive," Juri manages to sob hoarsely. There seems to be no end to his crying as he manages to add that the ambulance staff managed to resuscitate Taiga and that he's now breathing on his own. Shintaro immediately feels the heaviness coming out of his chest.
"Thank goodness," Shintaro exhales in relief.
The black-haired man beside them remains silent.
Shintaro looks at him, realizing he still doesn't know who he is.
"I'm sorry," Shintaro begins tentatively, "I don't think we've met before. Are you also a friend of Kyomo's?"
The black-haired man nods slowly. "Something like that," he replies with a reserved tone.
Their short conversation is interrupted by the arrival of a nurse. She informs Juri that he can now see Taiga, but unfortunately, only he can go since Taiga has written Juri as his closest contact person. She tells him he's still asleep but probably wakes up soon.
Juri nods, wiping his tears with the back of his hand. He looks at Shintaro and the other guy.
"I'll be back," he says softly to them before following the nurse down the corridor.
Shintaro realizes that he's left alone with the black-haired guy and that he should probably try to have some sort of conversation with him.
"Um," Shintaro starts and leans a little bit forward, trying to catch the guy's eye contact, but the guy only remains looking forward.
"Are you okay?" Shintaro tries.
The guy sighs. "I'm not sure," he answers.
"Yeah, I can imagine. I mean, I didn't know how bad Kyomo's hanahaki actually was, so this has been quite a shock-"
"Wait," the guy interrupts him. "Did you know about this? That he's sick with that?"
Shintaro realizes that it's quite impolite to discuss someone else's business, especially their health record, like that because he doesn't even know who the guy is. But then again, the guy must already be very aware of the situation, what Taiga's sickness is, to begin with, and that the situation is as bad as it can get.
"Yeah, I did. But not that many details," Shintaro eventually says carefully.
The look on the guy's face is something that Shintaro doesn't quite know how to describe it.
"Well," the guy sighs, "I'm glad that he's been able to talk to at least someone. Did- did he ever tell you how long it's been going on?"
Shintaro shakes his head. "Like I said, I don't know about too many details, and maybe I shouldn't be the one telling you this. But-"
He glances at the guy's bloodied clothes before continuing.
"-but he did mention his colleague from his previous musical. And that they've been having this shitty situation-ship where they've been going back and forth."
"Oh."
They fall silent again, and Shintaro notices the guy keeps thinking very hard about something.
After 20 minutes, Juri comes back to them.
"He woke up," Juri informs them. "He's alive. For now, at least."
Then he shoots an angry look at the black-haired guy. "Definitely not thanks to you," he spits out, his voice sounding bitter.
Shintaro is confused about the comment. Didn't the guy actually call an ambulance and save Taiga? The guy doesn't say anything to Juri, only drops his gaze to the floor. He looks somewhat guilty but also like he'd still be thoughtful.
A nurse approaches them. He addresses the black-haired guy, his voice gentle. "Excuse me, sir. Would you like to follow me? We have a shower room available, and we can provide you with clean clothes. You might also want to speak with the doctor briefly. I understand that the shock must still be quite overwhelming."
The black-haired guy looks up, his eyes clouded with fatigue and lingering distress. He nods slowly and rises from his seat.
"Thank you," he murmurs.
Shintaro watches as the nurse leads the guy down the corridor, hand lightly resting on his arm.
When the guy has disappeared out of sight, Shintaro turns to look at Juri, who still looks pretty terrible. Like a very feeble thing. The dark circles under his eyes and the way his shoulders slump tell just how exhausted and emotionally drained he is.
Shintaro hesitates for a moment, then decides to ask carefully.
"Is there anything I can do for you?"
Juri looks up at him, his eyes glassy.
"Well-- a hug would be nice right now. Really nice."
True. Juri definitely looks like he's in need of one big hug at that moment.
Shintaro steps closer and wraps his arms around Juri. Juri immediately melts into the embrace, clutching onto Shintaro as if he were a lifeline. He rests his head against Shintaro's shoulder.
As they stand there in a hug, Shintaro notices an uncomfortable smell-sweat and dirt-emanating from Juri. He hesitates, then decides to speak up gently.
"Ummm, Juri, when was the last time you showered?"
Juri pulls away from the hug, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand. He looks down. "I don't remember," he admits.
Shintaro nods, trying to be as understanding as possible. "Maybe you should go home and take a shower now. It might help you feel a bit better."
But as soon as Shintaro suggests it, Juri's face contorts with fear and reluctance. He shakes his head vehemently, and his voice trembles.
"I can't go back there. Not today. The scene with all the blood--it's horrible and disgusting. I don't want to see it. That guy, Hokuto, already told me there was a lot of blood."
Shintaro ponders for a moment until he gets the idea.
"Right. You know, I don't live that far from here. Why don't we take a taxi to my place? You can shower there, and I'll cook us something to eat."
Juri looks at Shintaro with appreciation, his eyes still glassy. He nods.
"Thank you, Shintaro. That sounds really nice."
Shintaro smiles reassuringly.
"Come on, let's go."
He gently guides Juri towards the exit.
shinysylver, you're up!