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Anthony shifted behind the taller villain, poking his head out with wide, curious eyes. The mask of dark mater over his face sank back into his skin. His human-like eye bored into the deflated hero, head tilted over.
"Oh... he's smaller now," He mumbled, a blank look plastered on his face.
His hair was neatly tied back, and the costume he wore was nicely cleaned off. All For One always seemed like someone who wanted people to look neat, and Anthony always wanted to please the people who helped him. He always made sure he was presentable when in the presence of the villain.
"Sir?" His lighter voice asked, glancing up to the tall man.
The villain laughs, speaking in a sing-song voice as he taunts the hero. "Hollowed cheeks and sunken eyes. To think that you are their greatest hero. Now the adoring public knows your true form. Try not to be ashamed."
The villain’s head tilts slightly, his voice lowering when he addresses Anthony. "Perhaps you won’t be needed for this fight. I suggest you stay back unless I tell you otherwise."
Of course, it wasn’t really just a suggestion. All For One just knows the illusion of free choice helps with manipulation quite a bit.
His eye shined a bit when All For One spoke to him. The man had helped Anthony just after his world had literally come to an exploding stop— picking him up off the street and saving him from the horrors of life. Of course the boy would hook onto his every word, worshiping each syllable that left his lips as if a god had spoken those words straight to him. He stepped back slightly, nodding his head.
"Yes, sir," The boy said quickly.
The villain had shifted his views greatly— making him see the truth behind hero society. All For One was the man who saved him, and who would Anthony be is he disobeyed him? If the boy didn't follow his every idea? If he didn't grasp onto every word like a student learning from a teacher?
Toshinori watches the interaction but is unable to hear the words exchanged. It doesn’t matter. Whether the other person is a villain or a hostage or someone else entirely, he needs to stop All For One.
In this weak… quirkless body…
Toshinori’s hand glows as he holds it up, tightening it into a fist and ignoring the burning pain that comes with collecting the power of One For All in his hand. "I’ll still fight you! Even as my body falls apart- I won’t stop!"
"Is that so? You still believe yourself able to be a hero? Even back then, you couldn’t save Shimura. And then later you couldn’t save her family."
Toshinori feels his blood run cold. "Her… what…?"
"You know Tomura Shigaraki, my apprentice? He’s Nana Shimura’s grandson."
And then the world seems to freeze. The air grows cold but somehow also thick, leaving him unable to breathe. A sudden weight weighs down on his shoulders. No. No, no, no. This can’t be happening. This can’t be real. "You’re lying."
All For One laughs, breaking his calm and careful image to cackle joyfully. "People are like clay, All Might, and children are oh-so soft and easy to sculpt in the way I want." His hand motions toward Anthony lazily. "The same way Shimura sculpted you."
"Shut up- SHUT UP! DON’T YOU DARE SPEAK OF HER THAT WAY! SHE’S NOTHING LIKE YOU!" Toshinori’s anger and pain and heartbreak bubbles and boils inside of him as All For One’s laughter continues to ring in his ears.
"Sculpt..." He mutters, his delighted look shifting into something more upset as his brows furrowed. He adjusted a part of the suit, watching as his master's hand gestures towards him. It was the same hand that All For One had used to lift him back up onto his feet. This time, the limb that was being gestured out to him didn't feel so kind. His nails dug into his palm and he flinched when the hero started yelling out. The boy feels like the odd one out. He knows nothing of what's going on and had just been ordered to sit around and do nothing. Of course, he'd follow that order to a tee, but still... he felt his gut swirl at the pained cries coming from the blonde hero.
All For One smiles beneath is mask, arm swelling with energy as he lifts into the air. The blast is shot in Toshinori’s direction and the hero blocks it with his arm. He can barely think, hate and anguish and pain and despair all spin through his head like a whirlwind and he tries to focus. To protect the people. And- and to save… that kid.
Anthony flinches a bit, hair becoming a bit frizzy from the wind. That made him panic slightly, and he went to fix it. He can't be unpresentable, he needs to look his best.
Ah, yes. Look his best for a man who can't even see.
He blinked and watched Toshinori slightly, taking a step forward without really recognizing what he was doing.
All For One shoots down, the sound of destruction too loud to make out exactly what he says, but it’s probably another jab at All Might losing his quirk or perhaps Nana Shimura. All Might throws a punch to meet him, the force of the blast tearing up the ground around them.
The boys ears ring, and panic settles through him with he can't get his hair right. All For One won't like him if he looks a mess. He needs to look his best for his master or else he'll be unwanted. He takes a few steps back, and watches All For One carefully, struggling to plant his feet in the concrete below.
Toshinori's mind is a blur as instinct takes control, dodging another swing at him and redirecting the energy from one arm to the other. Something different. Something to catch the beast off guard. Quick movements. One, two. Like a dance. And All For One was injured back then too. He was weakened. He’s getting sloppy.
Anthony shifted again, getting knocked down onto his ass and backing up. Why wouldn't All For One let him do something? He was good and obedient! He followed all the rules and instructions! He was doing his best— he wanted to help All For One! No.. no, not help. His master didn't need help. He wanted to prove himself and show that he was a good project and that he could do great things on All For One's behalf.
All For One’s hand reaches out in the direction of the boy. Perhaps he was going to give an order or it just happened to be in that way. All Might’s glowing fist slams down on his head, the force creating a massive explosion as blood that doesn’t belong to him splatters across his hero costume and rubble lifts into the air.
United States Of Smash.
The blood travels far and splatters onto Anthony's face. The boy's eyes widen in horror as his body seems to hallow out of any previous feeling.
"Master...?" He uttered softly before the shockwave hit.
Oh... oh, no.
The boy gets thrown back, not making a noise when he twirls through the air and his back slams into the ground. Suddenly, Anthony's 13 again, on that same busy street, alone after his body was destroyed. He sees the familiar man with white hair walk up to him, but instead of stopping to bend down and help him up, he simply walks past without a care in the world.
He hits a piece of rubble and slumps down, though he's still awake and alive. Something inside him hurts, and it's hard to tell if it's the pain of hitting asphalt or the growing, splitting pain where his heart was meant to be.The boy doesn't cry. All For One reprimanded him for that. Instead, he stares blankly at the ground, just barely registering anything past the ringing in his ears.
When the wind dies down, Toshinori stares at the unconscious man- or perhaps a corpse. He can’t tell. He feels tired. Wants to collapse. He raises his hand, bruised and broken and coated heavily in blood that drips onto that ground. His finger points back, toward the camera where he knows his student his boy, his son is watching.
"Now… it’s your turn!"
Just like Nana said. Before she died.
And she left behind a family. A family Toshinori didn’t know about. He didn’t know, otherwise he would’ve helped him. He would have helped… Tomura? Or did he have a different name before?
Oh, the other villain. No. The kid. Clay.
Toshinori takes stumbling steps as he looks around for the boy, hoping he wasn’t injured too much during the fight.
The boy stared at Toshinori from his spot on the ground, looking absolutely crushed. He took shallow breaths as the walls crumbled and the dam broke. Tears built up in his eyes. There was blood splattered across his features, and he knew it wasn't his own. He hiccuped on quiet sobs, breaking down as he watched the man's bright blue eyes bore into his. He'd always hated the color blue. All Might was meant to be a hero, claimed that he was one... but he'd gone and killed Anthony's father master.
No, no, no, no, no! No— this can't be right! It's not real, the poor boy doesn't want to believe it is. His heart races as his breathing kicks up. Who'd look after him now? He doesn’t want to be on his own again. He can't. That's how he died the first time around. The thought makes him spiral more as he unconsciously start to claw at the skin on his arms. There's an itch underneath, and it spreads and spreads and spreads and spreads—
He doesn't understand why the blood on his face made his skin feel like it's burning instead.
Toshinori looks through the rubble, ignoring some of the other heroes calling for him as he climbs over broken pieces of concrete and ignores the vicious pains in his body. He hears a soft noise and goes in that direction, seeing the boy and slowly approaching. He isn’t sure how he’ll react, so he crouches down nearby but far enough to give the boy some room. "Hey, kiddo…"
Anthony's bottom lip trembles as he takes multiple panicked breaths. The boys chest rises and falls quickly as he can't bring himself to crawl away. In a broken and shaking voice, more tears spill from his eyes and he asks, "Are you gonna kill me too...?"
Toshinori takes a deep breath and shakes his head slowly, not wanting to startle the boy. "No, no, of course not. I promise, I won’t hurt you."
Tremors strike as his body every chance they get, and he flinches at each minor movement the blonde makes. Every breath that the blonde takes makes the boy cave in on himself more. He feels a couple drops of his master's blood fall one his hand, and his nails dig into his arms more.
He wished Toshinori would kill him anyway. His purpose was to serve All For One. What would he do now?
Toshinori carefully reaches out and sets a hand on his head, trying to comfort him. "I’m sorry… I’m so sorry. It’ll be alright, I promise. No one will hurt you."
"You did," He mumbled flatly, body shaking as his head ducked down.
The head-pats All For One gave were never kind. He'd either be grabbing at Anthony's hair to throw him down for disobeying one of the simplest orders or something he'd get after nearly killing himself while using his quirk. It was never kind. He ducked his head down, black and hazel eyes trapped on the cement below.
"Kill me now and get it over with," The pained murmur left his lips before he could stop it from happening.
"I won’t kill you. I don’t want to hurt you. I just wanna help. How much are you hurt? Can you stand?"
His throat goes dry as the feeling of Toshinori's hand makes him shake with anxiety. Though, he was already shaking to begin with.
"I'm fine," The automatic response comes out as a whisper. He was never allowed to be anything other than alright or fine or ready to do the job or orders he was given.
"I can see you’re hurt…" Toshinori tries to speak as softly and kindly as possible, despite the intense anger he feels toward All For One and himself. "Please, can I help you?"
"'S not my blood..." He whispered out, bringing a hand up to wipe off the blood on his face.
All it did was smear, but he didn't realize.
He was okay. He was fine and okay and ready to take another order. Take on another request or command. Though, it was hard to accept that it wouldn't be from All For One. "I'm okay... 'm jus' fine. I don't need your help."
"Alright, if you’re sure. At least let me take you to get cleaned up, and maybe find someplace to stay until…" Until what? He can go home? Does he even have a home?
His wide eyes looked around. "'kay..." He whispered through a shaking breath. The boy pushed himself off the ground, slumping slightly as his body felt weighted. He looked up and his eyes caught sight of his ex-master's destroyed corpse. Oh.
Oh.
Toshinori shifts to steer the boy away from the corpse, smiling slightly and trying to comfort him. Kurayami felt hollow. He hated it. It felt like every breath just went through his mouth, though not in his lungs. Was he even breathing? He knew he was alive, but he wasn't living. Toshinori's words went in one ear and out the other.
"Where're we goin...?" He mumbled, head slightly tilting over. He didn't want to accept that his dad master was gone.
It wasn't fair.
"The hospital for a little bit, just to have you checked out. I know you said you aren’t injured, but I wanna be sure. Then you can get cleaned up and rest for a bit. Is that alright with you?"
He forced himself to tear his eyes away from the general direction, tears dripping down his cheeks. He still had a bit of baby chub on his face. "Mhm... I don't care," He mumbled, subtly scratching at his wrist.
"Alright. Are you hungry or anything like that? I guess it’s been a long day for… everyone."
"I'm only hungry if you'll let me eat," He whispered slowly, taking hesitant steps while walking with Toshinori. He heard the echos of hero's voices getting closer, but he couldn't find it in himself to be scared anymore.
Toshinori feels sick to his nonexistent stomach. "I can get food. You can eat if you want to. Is there anything you like or anything you can’t eat? Allergies?"
He shakes his head no. He liked whatever father gave him. Sometimes it was small meals, ones that only lasted a few bites. That was only when he couldn't do was was asked of him well enough, though. No matter if he tried his hardest, what he was given was based on if he could complete the task and was up for the next one right after.
Sometimes, the nice meals, ones that he'd only dream of, would be placed in front of him— right in his grasp— but he wasn't allowed even a bite. He'd be forced to watch it grow cold right in front of him when all he wanted to do was eat it. Those nights were always the worst, and he'd learned to ask if he was even allowed to eat that night.
"No... it's okay. Ever-everything's fine. I'd eat anythin' dad— uh- s-sir... gave me."
"Alright. As long as it doesn’t make you sick or anything like that." With every word out of the boy, Toshinori regrets killing All For One more and more. It shouldn’t have happened so fast. He should’ve made the bastard suffer and-
That’s not very heroic, is it, All Might?
There are cameras. Everyone watched him murder a man they knew nothing about. Nothing except that he was strong. Perhaps a villain. They didn’t know how truly evil he was. They didn’t know how much he deserved what he got.
They only saw their beloved number one kill a man.
"Are you just saying that... will I actually be allowed?" Anthony asked softly.
He didn't sound distrustful or like he didn't believe Toshinori, but he sounded like he was genuinely curious. Curious if he was allowed to eat.
How pitiful.
"Dad never let me have sweeter things... I don't think I'd like them anyway."
"You’ll actually be allowed. I promise. You have my word." But does a murder’s word really count for anything? "You can try sweets, if you want. I personally like chocolate, but there are other things you might prefer."
"Only if you'll let me," He repeated, movements becoming more slow and sluggish as they came closer to the chaos of officers and heroes. Suddenly, it became a bit harder for the boy to breathe.
"I’ll let you do whatever you’d like, okay? You don’t have to ask. I promise."
The kinder words felt foreign to his ears, and his chest began to hurt again. Maybe this was something from one of father's illusion quirks. Maybe it'd all dissipate into nothing and he wouldn't actually be going out to get something nice to eat. Maybe he'd wake up and be eating roadkill again. Or maybe he'd be forced out of it and be reprimanded for falling for such a cheap trick. Or maybe it was real. And father was dead. And father'd never give Anthony the words of reassurance when he deserved it.
"Yes, sir.." He murmured in a quiet voice, pulling at his fingers to try and relieve the stress.
"You don’t have to call me sir." Toshinori wants to hug the poor boy but he’s very sure he won’t react the same way Midoriya or any of his students would.
Instead, he settles for smiling slightly at him. "My name’s All Might. Or- Toshinori Yagi, I guess. You can call me whatever you want. Do you have a name?"
Anthony scratched at the fabric on his chest, trying to satisfy the itch that rested there. "Father called me 'Project Proxy'.. and.. and the doctor called me 'Nomu,'" He mumbled, standing too close for comfort to Toshinori as he tried to ignore the blatant stares of the heroes.
"My name... was Anthony. Uhm... An-Anthony... K...Kurayami, I believe..."
"What would you like to be called, kiddo?"
"I don't know. They only ever introduced me as Proxy... and I had to beg father to tell me my name when I'd forgotten it," He tilted his head away when an officer began to approach them. "Give me a new name if you see fit," He drawled out quietly, unwillingly getting close to the blonde while doing his best to not touch him at all. He could leave if he wanted to, and he knew that. Why didn't he?
Maybe he was scared that the hero would kill him if he even dared to try.
"I’m not good with names, kiddo. That’s why I asked which you prefer. I don’t wanna call you something you hate."
As the officer stepped near, the boy grew silent. 'Never speak without permission,' his dad would order, making sure to seal his mouth shut with one of the many quirks he had when Anthony'd disobey.
"All Might," The officer said when she'd gotten close enough. "Are you alright— we can take him off your hands and get you to a hospital for now. You don't look well," She chirped quickly, reaching out for Anthony.
The boy saw her hand and panicked, stepping back into Toshinori before forcing himself to take a step forward towards her. Oh, how great. Maybe he could run off now.
"That’s alright." Toshinori instinctively puts a hand on the boy’s shoulder.
"I want to make sure he gets checked out too. The rubble might’ve caused some damage or there might’ve been some injuries from… before. And I promised him some food. Maybe sweets. Right kiddo?" Toshinori smiles down at him without thinking, his expression less forced than it was before as his eyes sparkle despite his exhaustion.
"You're sure? We can always take him into custody and get him treated like that. No need to put extra pressure on yourself," She looks towards the boy.
Anthony seemed to be going rigid over the hand on his shoulder. His wide eyes bored into it, as if expecting something horrible to happen. "Mhm. Food... 'nd maybe sweets."
Her brows furrowed. "He still is associated with the League of Villains, All Might. He can't just run free."
"I’m not saying he’s running free."
Toshinori feels his hand twitch slightly with an irritation he feels almost constantly around others. Acting like he’s some sort of idiot. His brain being the only muscle he doesn’t use. All Might is a cheerful man, but that’s one thing that’ll surely annoy him, even if he doesn’t show it. "I’m going to take him to check him for injuries. As far as we know, he is a minor, so the laws apply differently for him. He’s also just been through a traumatic experience, so I doubt custody will do anything to help. He’ll be checked out. We’ll try to verify his identity and find any background information. We’ll proceed from there accordingly. Until then, nothing happens to him without his or my consent. Understood?"
She blinked at him before standing up a bit straighter. "Ye-yes. I understand." She swallowed slightly and took her hand away. "Did you need anything from us?"
The boy sniffled a bit, looking down and focusing on the concrete. He swallowed whatever had collected in his mouth and scooted into Toshinori a bit.
"We can check over his background ourselves if you can supply us with his name, or we can get you to the hospital..." She glanced back down to the boy, nothing how he seemed to be near tears. "Just let me know. I'll call in for you two to be left to yourselves."
"Thank you." Toshinori smiles and nods. "I think it would be best if he isn’t overwhelmed with people. Could you please look up anything associated with the name Kurayami Anthony? Have it sent or brought to me."
"You got it, All Might," The woman nodded and took a few steps back, soon repeating what she was told into her walkie-talkie.
Anthony turns over and slightly hides his face in the bagginess of All Might's suit. The blood hadn't fully dried yet, so his hands flew back to wrap around his gut when he felt the stickiness of his father's blood on his hands again. It made him aware of what was on his face again.
"Thank you..." He mumbled, the words sounding odd leaving his mouth. He was only ever allowed to thank Father, because he was the only one who was ever good to Anthony.
"It’s alright." Toshinori smiles and pats him on the head. He winces when he feels the boy’s matted hair, thick with dirt and blood and bits of rubble. Seeing the expression on the boy’s face pained him. Hearing the sound of his voice was almost worse. He suddenly regrets having his Golden Age costume made without a cape. That made such an excellent shock blanket.
Instead, he has to get one from an ambulance and wrap it around Anthony’s shoulders.“Now, why don’t we go get you all cleaned up?”
His hands wrapped around the corners of the shock blanket and he held it close to himself. He was suddenly made aware of the dirt on his skin and how his clothes were ripped and how he felt so uncomfortable. He used the blanket as a protective shield around himself so Toshinori wouldn't see him anymore than he already had.
"Mhm... that sounds good..." He choked in a broken voice, keeping a few feet in between them. He felt scared to be near Toshinori. Maybe it was for multiple reasons. Maybe it's for no reason at all. He doesn't quite know.
Toshinori hates the hospital so, so much. However, resisting being cared for would be a bad example for the boy. And his arm was really starting to hurt. But the cast is so itchy. Kurayami (Proxy, Anthony, or something else?) was cooperative but to a painful extent, like a puppet made to have his strings pulled. It makes Toshinori want to resurrect All For One just to kill him again. He wants the poor kid to be happy, but he’s afraid that all of that might’ve been torn from the boy and destroyed. What is he even supposed to do?
The boy had allowed them to do whatever they needed to. Letting them toss him around like a rag-doll from one doctor to the next as they looked over his injuries. He watched the room blankly, not letting it bug him on how so many things were overwhelming him and stabbing into him and how the lights were so bright. He ignored how he felt eerily familiar hands grab at his face and how he tried to tell himself that it was just a doctor and not father breaking the illusion and reprimanding him. When he started to break out of his shell and panic, he ignored the pitiful looks from the doctor and how it made his gut twist.
Toshinori gets the doctors to leave and stands next to the boy, pulling the blanket off the cot and over him. Talking didn’t seem to help much earlier, so he stays silent. He noticed the boy squinting at the lights, so he hopes being covered will block them out a bit. He sits carefully on the cot next to Kurayami, trying to scratch under the stupid cast.
Anthony shifts, kinda scooting toward Toshinori and letting himself take a breath and look up at him.
"Anthony," He speaks softly, finally talking for himself rather than making Toshinori ask a question for him to answer.
Disobeying the rules that had been in place was scary. What if he closed his eyes and woke up to father smiling down at him? Would he die right then and there?
"You... you said I could pick my name... I want that one," He murmured with a small shake in his voice, trying to calm down and not cry over nothing.
Toshinori looks up and nods, hesitating before reaching out and patting the boy on the head. He was cleaner now. His hair was softer. He looked less like he wanted to crawl out of his own skin. "Alright, Anthony. That’s a nice name."
He flinched back harshly, his eyes slamming shut as he tried to hide himself away slightly. People reaching out for him... it never gave him good memories.
The man on the street reaching to him before forcing Anthony's body to implode. Father reaching out before grabbing him by the hair and locking him in the room with the Nomu. Mister Shigaraki reaching out and decaying the mask on his face while screaming out threats. The officer reaching out because she was going to take him away—
"I'm sorry... 'm sorry-" He apologized for flinching, trying to force himself to become comfortable again. "I'm sorry.. thank you."
Toshinori pulls his hand back and nods. "It’s okay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have done that." Not all kids are like Midoriya. Not like his students. And that’s okay. He can be patient.
"No– no-no... I'm- I'm overreacting. I'm okay." He shook his head, looking up and trying to reach out for Toshinori's hand again. "I'm oka- okay. I promise."
'I'm obedient and I'm good, I'm obedient and I'm good, I'm obedient and I'm good—'
The words echoed in his head like a machine. The puppet boy was terrified that Toshinori'd break and shatter into father or abandon him if he didn't react positively to whatever the blonde did.
Toshinori sets his hand on the boy’s shoulder this time, trying not to visibly seem worried or pitying. "It’s alright. Even if you did overreact. There’s no need to apologize."
"I don't— I'm so- I don't want-"
His hands shake when he grasps at Toshinori's wrist and forced the man to set his hand on the boy's head again.
"It's okay. I'm good. I'll follow the rules. Please... please don't—" Don't what? Leave you? Get upset? Think of you poorly? You've heard him, Proxy, he doesn't plan to keep you around. Don't get your hopes up.
"It’s okay, it’s okay." Toshinori doesn’t know what to do, just wanting the boy to feel better but unsure of how. "There are no rules right now. You’re allowed to do whatever you want. Or nothing at all, if that’s what you feel like. Nothing will happen. I promise, I won’t do anything to you."
"You're... you're not him..?" He questioned foolishly. Father would never let him know. There was never any tell with the illusions.
"You're not just some trick? You're real and you mean what you say and- and I'm not going to wake up in the room again...?" His voice, instead of sounding flat or panicked, just sounded so broken and distraught. No matter how much father loved him... he might've wanted this to be real.
"I’m very real, kiddo. At least, I hope I am." Toshinori chuckles softly, then takes a deep breath and cups the boy’s face in his hand.
"I’m just… me. I mean everything I say. You’re not going anywhere you don’t want to go. I promise, I just want to help."
The dam just seems to break and a broken sob leaves his lips. And then another. And then a few more. And soon, he's choking out loud, obnoxious sobs and his tears cascade down Toshinori's hand and all he wants to do is collapse to the floor in pain because Toshinori's hand feels nothing like All For One's, but it's so much kinder.
"Oh, kiddo…" Toshinori doesn’t hesitate this time, wrapping an arm around the boy and holding him gently.
His arms are kept by his side. Even if he was breaking his emotional character, a simple spark of trust between the two wouldn't fix the years of mental re-wiring to make him a puppet. He broke down into Toshinori's shoulder, a mix of clear and black tears staining the blonde's shirt as he allowed himself to lean into him.
He wailed out apologies automatically, having to take in deep breaths because he was starting to literally choke on his words. "'m sorry! 'M sorry— I can'-can't— 'ank y'— you- 'm so-sorry!"
"It’s okay, it’s okay." Toshinori hums softly as he rubs circles on the boy’s back and holds him close. "It’s okay to cry. It’s okay to be upset. Nothing’s wrong, alright? You’re not doing anything wrong."
"Can— can I- I hu-hug- ba-bac-ack?" He cried out.
Anthony desperately needed someone whose words he could hook onto and worship. Someone who's orders he could follow. If he didn't have someone like that, he doesn't really knew if he'd have a purpose.
"If you want to. Whatever you wanna do, kiddo, it’s alright."
With hesitation and fear, he picked his arms up and only slightly wrapped them around the blonde man. He never did anything without behind told to. Before meeting his father, though? That was a different story.
"Tha-thank yo-you— 'm- 'm sorry-" He sobbed out once more, the apologies leaving his lips like an automated response.
"It’s okay… no need to apologize." Toshinori rocks them back and forth slowly, humming softly. "I’m here whenever you need me, okay? Whatever you’d like."
Anthony nodded. The words sounded familiar— so, so familiar. He wanted to ignore it. His arms wrap around the scrawny blonde a bit tighter and he sniffled. "Ok-okay- m'kay-"
Toshinoi smiles slightly to himself. He gently strokes the boy’s hair, humming a soft tune he doesn’t remember learning. Maybe it was Nana. Or his mother.
Anthony listens to the song till he passes out right in the blonde's arms. Life was cruel. Life was unjust and unfair and nothing ever worked out for him. He needed someone who he could live and breathe in, someone who could remold him. Maybe, just maybe, Toshinori could mold the boy into something better than what he was.