Nagizuru! Nagizuru! Yas Kween!

Nagizuru! Nagizuru! Yas Kween!

Yup, I did another. Who could resist? Certainly not me!

And boy oh boy did it keep going. It’s over 3400 words. What can I say? I was having fun.

And I hope you have fun reading it!

Au belongs to @karugoround

Even though he wasn’t a superhuman genius like Izuru Kamukura, Hajime wasn’t stupid. He could tell when the scientists and doctors were planning something. What it was, however, he could not say. But he had noticed them all glancing occasionally over to him when they thought he wasn’t looking. Being blind in one eye didn’t mean he was oblivious to everything. But he figured it was safer to not indicate that. He would rather keep some of his cards hidden.

So he didn’t say or do anything different. He kept up his normal routine. Preparing the food and equipment for the evening visit on his cart. And after making sure everything was in place neatly and orderly, he began pushing it towards his destination.

Izuru’s containment room.

To most, it was the death zone. Most were too terrified to even approach the sealed door. Too many previous incidents to risk it. Hence why they had brought him on to the project. To serve as the sacrificial lamb.

So he could only imagine their immense surprise when he not only made it out alive, but continued to do so. With the occasional accident. But Hajime kept returning to the white haired experiment despite this.

When asked why he kept doing it, he would simply reply that it was his duty and job. Internally, he knew there were surely other reasons. But he hadn’t had much time to sit down and really think about them. Too busy. And that was fine with him. He agreed with Izuru that emotions were complicated. He sometimes wondered what it was like to have little to none. But he would never know. The doctors had no intention of creating two freaks of nature.

So off he went, to the room where few dared to enter. He scanned his card, hearing the mechanisms in the door unlock and give him access. And he entered, pushing his cart in and following after it.

Izuru was there on his bed, sitting up and quiet. Nothing out of the ordinary. After all, he was on sedatives that lowered his energy levels. It made his body weak and lowered his strength, and it was imperative that he continue to be sedated. At least, that’s what the doctors continued to preach to him, trying to hammer this idea into his skull.

And even though he knew the reasoning for this, and had seen firsthand what this person’s luck could do, Hajime couldn’t help but wonder what he would be like off the sedatives. What would he look like at his full glory?

He shoved that thought to the back of his mind. He had a job to do now. “Good evening, sir. I trust you are doing well?”

He received a heavy sigh in response. “Nothing has changed. How dull.” He went back to silence after, staring at a specific spot on the wall.

“I see.” Today was a semi bad one. Where Izuru was of low spirits and very few words. Thankfully, it wasn’t a full bad one. Those tended to have… casualties. “Well, I’ll be sure to be quick about the tests and injections.”

Another sigh. “Do what you must.”

Knowing that he shouldn’t test his own luck, Hajime quickly began. Everything was routine by this point. So it went quickly and efficiently. All his results were jotted down and he administered the sedatives without any fuss. Not that Izuru usually caused a fuss. He was very passive when not tempted by violence. Especially with Hajime. But he didn’t try to read into it. He wasn’t special. He was just mildly entertaining to the experiment. That was all there was to it.

He was finished before he knew it, placing the empty syringe in its place on the cart. “Thank you, sir. Everything has been completed. Here’s your dinner. I managed to get you an extra roll. Can you eat it all?”

Wordlessly, Izuru took the plate and began eating. Not wanting to be rude, Hajime turned back to his cart. He meticulously examined and organized the items on it. It was a compulsion to keep everything in place and perfect. If something was out of place, it bugged him greatly. Therefore, order was a new constant in his life.

He busied himself with this until he heard the sounds of eating stop. Facing Izuru again, he collected the plate and utensils from him, placing them in the area he designated for them on his cart. “Is everything alright? Do you need anything else?” he asked.

He got a soft laugh in return. “Even if I requested something else, you know as well as I do that it would be denied. So I shall refrain from answering.”

Hajime nodded politely, chain clinking with the movement. “I understand. I shall take my leave then.”

Grabbing the cart’s handle, he began stepping away from Izuru and towards the door. Another round of tasks done. And he would be back the next morning to do it again. Nothing different from usual.

Or so he thought.

To his surprise, he was met at the door. About seven people were gathered at the door, three of them security and four of them scientists. “You are done with the tests?” one of the scientists asked.

“Yes, sir,” he responded promptly. He knew he had to be respectful at all times to these people. He wasn’t sure what would happen if he wasn’t. And he had no plans to find out.

“Good. Now then, there is something else that we need you to do while here,” another said, grabbing the cart and tugging it away and out the door.

Hajime was starting to get skeptical. “What do you need me to do?”

He felt something get shoved at him. He scrambled to get a good hold on it. While he was distracted, he felt one of the security guards reach forward and grab his card off his belt loop.

“We want you to stay here overnight. Let’s see if Izuru Kamukura will tolerate someone in his room for a whole night. Good luck on surviving.”

Then the door was shut, lock clicking and footsteps fading away.

Hajime stood there speechless. Did they… just lock him in here? For the rest of the night? He then realized that the object in his arms was a bedroll. So yes, that was exactly what they forced upon him.

“Oh? What an interesting turn of events. Perhaps tonight will not be as boring as I initially thought.”

Hajime felt a chill go up his spine when he heard that voice right behind him. He swallowed to try and calm his fear before daring to turn. Sure enough, Izuru was standing there less than a foot from him, smiling wide and eyes lit up with interest.

“I… I promise to be as silent and undisturbing as I can. I’ll set my roll up on the other side of the room. To not invade your space,” he quickly assured, meeting the intense gaze.

“Hmmm… it really is a shame that the sedatives are kicking in. I would have loved to spend more time enjoying this,” Izuru practically purred, raising a hand to cup Hajime’s cheek. “If you are so insistent on your proclaimed placement, then I shall permit it. Well then, goodnight my dear caretaker.” With one final look, the experiment stepped back to his bed, slipping under his sheet and closing his eyes.

Hajime stood there frozen for a few more seconds, trying to calm his heart. Whenever Izuru touched him, it was a confusing mix of wonderful and terrifying. It caught him off guard every time. And it always took a little to recover. But recover he did, making his way over to the corner farthest away from the sleeping Izuru. He carefully set his emergency radio near the wall before unrolling the bedroll. He tried to be as quiet as possible, not wanting to wake the white haired experiment. Thankfully, it was a simple design and he was able to crawl in soon enough.

He laid there on the floor for a while, facing the other occupant. But when the lights in the room began to dim for nighttime sleeping, he too felt drowsy. Closing his eyes, he let himself begin to drift off. Habitually, he rolled over to his other side, facing the wall. He preferred laying on his left side nowadays, since he could see from his working right eye when in this position if he needed to.

He was able to ignore the clock on the wall while he dozed, relaxing as best he could. He knew he was still in dangerous territory, but the knowledge of the danger being asleep was comforting. If the rest of the night passed like this, this wouldn’t be all too stressful.

But again, Lady Luck had other plans for him.

He wasn’t sure how long he had laid there, but it had probably been a few hours and was late into the night. But something changed. And he hadn’t expected it whatsoever.

With no warning, Hajime felt the cover of his bedroll shift. Then he felt something snake around his waist. And hot puffs of air landing on the back of his neck.

“I think I shall join you tonight. I will not pass up this opportunity of change.”

Izuru… was laying behind him. Extremely close and making physical contact. He had known he was in the lion’s den, but now he was pinned under the lion’s claws.

He kept silent and as still as he could. And he tried to retain a regular breathing rhythm. But of course, the analyst talent in Izuru came into play.

“Tell me, Hajime. Do you fear me?”

A jolt ran through his body at the direct question. And he knew he couldn’t leave it unanswered. He knew that Izuru knew he was conscious. “I… would be a fool to not. You are capable of so much. I have seen what you can do. But…”

He felt the arm around his waist tighten. “Please, continue your statement.”

Hajime took a deep breath. “But at the same time… something about you is so fascinating. I can’t stay away. I feel almost like Icarus flying too close to the sun. But I can’t bring myself to fly safely. I want to risk it, if you will allow me to.”

Izuru hummed, then tugged his body closer, back now resting against the experiment’s chest. “I will allow it. Speaking so passionately does wonders in the art of convincing. So I shall accept your answer.”

Relief flooded through his body at the words. “Thank you.” He felt a spark of courage afterwards, tempting him to ask a question. “If I may inquire, are the sedatives wearing off? I know the amount you are given could incapacitate the average adult man.”

“But you forget that I am not what can be considered ‘average.’ And they are very much still in effect. However, I was able to summon enough energy to relocate. And here I shall stay for the night. You shall entertain me while here.”

The way the sentence was framed was not a question. It was an order. “Yes, sir. Whatever you need.”

“You are most agreeable. That is good. So if you really are fine with tending to my needs, you can answer whatever questions I may have.” Hajime started to feel Izuru’s other hand begin to travel along his upper torso. Mostly around his neck. “Your collar and chain are still on. Why is that?”

The brunette clenched his hands under the bed roll’s cover. “I don’t have a key. So I can’t take it off.”

Izuru traced the metal around his neck. “It appears that the doctors and scientists do very much enjoy feeling superior. So they chained you like a dog. Giving you enough treats to earn loyalty. Or so they think.”

Izuru paused, but continued his train of thought not long after. “Hajime, answer me this. Why are you here? What led you to this place? To this job? To me?”

“I…” Hajime felt memories run through his mind, of his life before his occupation here. He hadn’t thought of them for a long time. “I have never been more than average in my life. And when surrounded by a world that adores success and talent, it’s soul crushing. So when I was presented with the potential to be something more, I didn’t hesitate to throw my name into the pool of candidates. Of course, I was not chosen. That honor went to you. But I guess I showed enough enthusiasm to be placed in this role. And I haven’t looked back.” He let out a sad laugh. “You must think this story is painfully boring. Nothing special.”

“On the contrary, my dear caretaker. I find this to be extraordinary. It seems that our luck has led us down paths that ended here. Whether the luck is good or bad, that is not evident quite yet. But…” Izuru leaned in more, moving so that Hajime was tucked under his chin. “I am inclined to believe it to be in the more positive light. Wouldn’t you agree?”

Feeling the body behind him practically curling around him, Hajime knew he should have been terrified beyond belief. At any moment, if Izuru felt compelled, he could kill him with no effort in multiple ways. But he wasn’t. And there was a hidden feeling of comfort amidst the dread. It was like nothing else could get to him with Izuru here. The superhuman experiment had deemed him worthy, and as such, he fell under his protection for the night.

“I sense tension leaving your body. You are feeling more relaxed now, aren’t you? How interesting,” Izuru muttered, moving his hand from the metal collar to the caretaker’s shoulders. “But I can still feel some in here. What a hard worker.” The arm around his waist loosened slightly, allowing the white haired experiment to move back a few inches. “Hajime, since you are here and being so compliant, serve as my subject of practice. And you may fall asleep if this proves successful. You have my permission.”

Hajime wanted to ask what exactly he meant by his words, but he soon found out without voicing his question. Izuru’s hand began pressing harder into his skin, kneading his stiff muscles. Without his input, a pleased sound emerged. It felt really good and relaxed him more than he had been in months. His eyes closed again and he could tell that his levels of consciousness were rapidly fading. Izuru’s talent was just too good for him to even try to resist. And so, he fell asleep. Held by the world’s most dangerous man.

~~~~~~~~~~

Sleep was not easy for Hajime anymore. So when he got periods of good rest, he felt inclined to stay asleep for as long as his body and job would allow. He had no dreams that night, just a relaxing and refreshing sleep. The quiet around him kept him sleepy, keeping him in its embrace.

Until the sound of a crackling, static voice filled the silence.

‘Hinata. Report this second if you are still alive.’

His radio. And the voice of a scientist. He really should respond.

But as he tried to blink the sleep out of his working eye and reach over to grab the device, he noticed a few things.

One. He was staring at an unfamiliar wall. His room was not painted white. Two. He was in a bedroll. Very different from his own bed. Three. His arms were locked in place by a grip of steel of someone behind him.

Suddenly, he recalled exactly where he was. He was in Izuru’s room. Locked in to test the experiment’s patience of him. And that Izuru had snuck into his bedroll at some point during the night.

That explained things. Especially why he couldn’t move his arms. He was torn on what to do now. He needed to report back. But he also didn’t want to try and escape from Izuru’s grip for fear of what he might do in retaliation.

But he didn’t end up needing to make that difficult decision with the sound of the radio speaking again. ‘Hinata. Respond now.’

He heard an annoyed huff behind him. “They are impatient. Why must they find it necessary to disturb us?” The arms around him loosened, enough for Hajime to reach out and grab the radio.

“Hajime Hinata here. I’m still alive and well,” he spoke, a bit of gruffness audible from him just waking up.

‘Next time, respond faster. Now then, you will need to report everything when we come unlock the door. Be prepared in the next five minutes.’

Izuru plucked the radio out of Hajime’s hand, bringing it up to his face and pushing the button to respond. “I am not done with my caretaker yet. Leave us be. And if you come here and try to forcefully remove him, I shall rip out your tongues.” He then hurled the radio at the wall, the force shattering the device into tiny pieces. “There. Now we can rest more.”

Hajime stared in shock at the shards of the mechanical device. Izuru… was still sedated… and could do that easily. It made him extremely grateful to be on the experiment’s good side at this moment.

“You are amazing.”

The words slipped out before he could stop them. And he knew he had been heard.

He could feel the intense gaze behind him, imagining the eternal smile growing wider. “Compliments are not something I receive often. Whether in this life or my previous one.”

The brunette shuddered as he felt the warm breaths on his neck again. “Do… you like getting compliments?”

The cold pale fingers traced over his collar, soft enough to not make a sound. “I shall let you figure that out.”

It was quiet for about twenty minutes, only the clock making noise. But eventually, Hajime felt Izuru pull away, leaving the bedroll and standing above him. “It is nearly time. They will come this way soon to collect you. And I can release you since I was so rudely awakened. Unconsciousness will not reappear until later.” His head tilted. “You should rise and make yourself presentable. Though I do not mind what state you come to me in.”

Hajime was successful in taming the red threatening to paint his cheeks. He kept his head down as he got out of the roll and folded it back up. “I appreciate it, sir.”

The shoulders rose and fell with a wistful sigh. “What will it take to convince you to use my name?” Without waiting for an answer, Izuru turned and headed back to his bed, long white hair swaying with each step.

The caretaker mulled over the words. Would he be able to address the experiment informally? He wasn’t sure. And he was not confident enough to try. Being respectful had kept him alive thus far. And he fully intended on continuing to do so, not only for his survival but because Izuru deserved it.

But… he wouldn’t deny the small part of him that desperately wanted to throw caution to the wind. It grew with every encounter he had with the embodiment of talent and luck. And with last night? It was far bigger.

Nevertheless, he resisted like all other times. He still had a sense of self preservation. He watched until Izuru was fully sitting on the mattress before moving himself. He walked over towards the door, standing next to it while he waited.

“They will arrive in 41 seconds based on their footsteps. There is no sound of a cart so they must not expect you to do the examination until later. Poor Hajime, being worked to the bone.” The smile turned into a smirk. “You know, if you stayed here in this room, you wouldn’t be required to do so much.”

They both knew that was highly unlikely to happen. Hajime took pride in his position of being the Ultimate Hope’s caretaker. And they also both knew that Izuru was likely to not respond as amicably to anyone else entering his room to bring him food or sedate him.

Highly unlikely. But the chances were not zero.

It made Hajime softly laugh with his own smile. “Your offer is tempting. But I’m afraid I will have to decline. Someone has to make sure you get nutrients.”

“Ah, yes. That is a fair point. Very well, I shall allow you to leave. Until next time, my dear caretaker,” Izuru said, waving as the door opened and Hajime was yanked out.

The door shut, blocking his view of the experiment. He vaguely heard the scientists demanding answers from him, but he momentarily ignored them in favor of one last thought.

Yes. Until next time.

Masterpost

Holy crap! This is so amazing!!! That’s exactly what I was imagining when I wrote that part. Spot on! Thank you so much!!!

Thrown directly into the lion’s den…

Based on this fic by @draconicsparkle taking place in @karugoround ‘s au where Nagito is the one who becomes Izuru, and Hajime becomes his caretaker. Specifically based on the scene when the door shuts and Hajime realises that they trapped him with Nagizuru hehehe

I couldn’t choose between these two versions so yeah 👉👈 The first one is closer to what I had in mind at the beginning, but I couldn’t make the smile work without losing some of the creep factor, so I tried to make him less bright and the smile worked much better!

Well either way…

Hajime is fearing for his life

It’s another smol!!! Yahoo!!! It’s been a while since I last did one, hasn’t it? Don’t worry, I have not forgotten about handheld snek!

The last one was a bit angsty. So how bout some fluff? Sweet, tasty fluff.

Suggested by Sapphire. Written by me. Enjoyed by you. Hopefully.

“Come on, Hajime! We need to hurry! We don’t want to be late!” Nagito cried out from his spot on his table. He was out of the terrarium in a small comfortable sweater and eagerly waiting, impatiently if the tail tip twitching was anything to go by.

“It’s alright. We still have plenty of time. And besides, I can’t go out in public to a store with no shirt on,” Hajime replied from the other side of his room, pulling a few drawers open and choosing from his options.

“Is that really necessary? I’ve seen you shirtless. It’s a very nice sight, if I do say so myself.”

“Nagito!” the human exclaimed, face turning bright red. “You are absolutely not permitted to say anything like that when other people are around!”

The small naga laughed. “Alright, alright. But I shall still speak my mind when in our home.”

Hajime somehow managed to control his flush as he finished getting his shirt on. Running a quick hand through his hair, he closed his wardrobe drawers and turned to face his roommate. “I am here and ready now. Happy?”

Nagito gazed up at him with half lidded eyes. “Oh, I am very happy now.” He then stretched up, balancing on his tail as he raised himself as high as he could go. “Now come on! Pick me up!”

Rolling his eyes, Hajime did as requested. He reached down and scooped the small creature up into his palm, then lifted his hand up to his shoulder. He felt the smooth scales transfer over from his hand to his neck, tightening around comfortably. “All good?”

Tiny arms hugged his neck. “Very good.”

The human couldn’t help but ruffle the soft white hair. “Okay. Now we can leave. Again, with plenty of time.”

If Nagito had been part cat, he was sure that he would have been purring from the contact. “It’s still good to be cautious of time. You never know what may happen.”

“You punctual python,” Hajime teased, starting to move out of the bedroom and to the door.

“Excuse me!? I am not a python! I am a glorious member of the viper family! There is a huge difference!” Nagito proclaimed with much pride.

Hajime chuckled a bit. “I know, I know. I’m also grateful you can control your venom. I’m sure Kaz would have not had a good day if you had injected any in him.”

The naga huffed with faux annoyance. “Of course I have control. I am not a wild beast.”

Another ruffle, then Hajime took his hand away to open the door. “I know you aren’t. I am very grateful for the company you provide. And I am thankful especially for your help in this situation. I definitely would have been at a loss if I was by myself.”

He felt Nagito get comfortable as he prepared for human travel. He mostly rested on folded arms on Hajime’s shirt, holding on with his tail. With how the human walked, he didn’t need to worry about falling off. “Happy to help. Is Komaru joining us today?”

Hajime was careful as he shook his head. “I think she isn’t ready to interact with too many humans. She’s probably only comfortable with Makoto currently. That’s fine, though. I don’t want to force her into a stressful situation.”

He felt Nagito lean his head against his neck. “So kind and considerate. I am truly lucky to have fallen into your life.”

It made the human crack a smile. He too felt lucky with the surprise encounter. Never did he think an elusive naga would become so important to him. He cherished every moment they had. Nothing could ever replace it or be better.

The walk was comfortable, the temperature nice and pleasant. And they weren’t interrupted at all on their trip. The store was reached in no time.

They spotted Makoto standing by the store’s entrance, looking around. He saw them as well after a few seconds, waving and approaching. “Hey! Thank you again for this. Both of you.”

“No problem. It’s a good excuse to leave the apartment anyways. I know this one has wanted to go outside for a while,” Hajime responded, poking the green tail around his neck.

The tail tip wrapped around the finger, squeezing as if hugging it. “Yes, indeed! So I of course wished to accompany you.”

Makoto smiled. “I am very grateful. Now, shall we go in?”

He received two nods in return, so they all entered the pet store.

In all honesty, Hajime had been so sure that Nagito would be offended the first time he brought him here when looking for supplies for his roommate’s living situation. But the naga had actually found the place to be amazing. He adored seeing all the things there, even in the sections for other animals. Much of the stuff in his terrarium had been purchased from here. So it was a good place to go if one suddenly had a naga living with them. Like Makoto now.

“Let’s try to not get distracted. Straight to the reptile section,” Hajime declared, grabbing his friend’s wrist and tugging him along behind him.

Makoto sounded fine with this. “Oh! Sure! You are the expert here.”

Soon enough, they were in the aisle of reptile supplies. There were so many options, for all different kinds of creatures. Hajime recalled being lost the first time he had come here. Thankfully, both that time and this time, he had help.

“Oh, look! That stone decoration would work amazing for shedding! And that cave would be great for hiding if she gets overwhelmed. Especially if you have company over. And those fake plants are lovely! The ones with the flowers? I feel that she would love those.”

Nagito didn’t miss a beat, launching into a list of his recommendations. He gave his opinion on several things they saw, at one point requesting to be placed on the shelf to examine things up close. They did garner some attention from people walking down the aisle, including a few kids who lit up at the sight of the tiny creature. But again, no one tried to grab or touch him. Something they were all very thankful for.

Not long after, keeping in mind Makoto’s budget, they had a nice selection of items in the cart. The younger man looked excited, eager to show Komaru what they had found. So off to the register they went, Nagito curled around his favorite human’s wrist.

But before they arrived, Hajime noticed something. Nagito’s gaze had become fixated on something in another aisle. It made him curious. So he told Makoto to go ahead, as he wanted to look for something. He got a confirmation, so he followed the naga’s gaze.

Which ended up being the shelf of stuffed toys. More specifically, a cute green plesiosaur.

Hajime was pretty sure he knew what this meant. And to test that theory, he lifted his wrist up to the shelf, next to the dinosaur. The coils around him loosened as the naga slithered off and moved to the toy. He wound around its neck, hugging the head to his chest tightly. It was extremely adorable.

So Hajime decided to spoil his snake. “If you like it that much, how about we take it home with us. Do you like that idea?”

Nagito’s green eyes flew towards him with sparkles. Several rapid nods occured before going back to rest on the soft plush material. Guess he was very much in favor of the idea.

Carefully and slowly, he picked the plesiosaur off the shelf and into his arms. He did so in a way that wouldn’t jostle the small naga clinging to it. And just as gently, he walked them back to the register, getting in line behind Makoto.

“You found something?” he asked, smiling when he saw the sight.

Hajime looked back down, seeing the content snake hugging his new toy. “Yeah, we did. I just hope he doesn’t mind that the toy will need to be scanned before I can buy it.”

Turns out, he didn’t really need to worry. He kept still and silent even as Hajime extended the toy over to the cashier to scan the tag. Much adoration was had by everyone nearby, to which the human was in agreement on.

The payment was completed, both for him and Makoto. So now it was time to leave. “Stay safe when going back. And do let me know if you need any more assistance,” he said to his classmate as they finished loading his car.

He got a grateful smile. “I will. Thank you again for all the help. I take it you guys are going back home as well?”

He grinned. “Yeah. I think we will need to redecorate his terrarium. Now that he has a new friend.” He glanced down again, noticing the relaxed posture and peaceful expression. “Or maybe a nap with his new cuddle buddy.”

Masterpost

Another one. And another one. And another one. And… yeah you get it.

Another suggestion from IsabelleFukawa. They had a ton of great ideas so I felt the need to use a lot of them!

Though I will say I put some extra editions in here cause I could. It’s fun!

And also, this is dedicated to @moontail13 and @tortadecereji for both inspiring me to create this series. Thank you guys!

Plz enjoy!

It had been a routine video call for work. Nothing out of the ordinary. Nothing urgent was coming up and the mood had been relaxed. Some people had left and currently, it was just him and Makoto.

And since he knew his coworker well, he often divulged more details than he would with other people. Like how Nagito was doing.

“Yeah, we had an unexpected situation. Well, at least on my end it was unexpected. I don’t have much experience with reptiles and he often doesn’t tell me when things are wrong. I don’t think he fully realizes that withholding information to keep me from worrying makes me more worried.”

Makoto laughed. “Yeah, that doesn't sound fun. But what was it this time? And is everything alright now?”

Hajime waved a hand. “Oh yeah, everything is fine. So you don’t have to worry.” He heard his coworker let out a sigh of relief before continuing. “He was just shedding. It makes snakes less mobile and tired. So once I figured that out, I helped him. Sometimes leftover bits of shed stay stuck on the scales, making the areas itchy. But thankfully I did some research and was able to get a better understanding about it. I was even able to help get the extra bits off. So I am much more prepared for the next time he goes into shed.”

“Wait, you know how to help a snake shed?”

A new voice joined in, asking the question. A quick look showed that two other coworkers had joined the call while he wasn’t looking. Not that it was a bad thing. “Yes I do. Is there a reason you asked?”

His young coworker lit up at the acknowledgement. “Yes, sir. See, my friend went out of town and asked me to look after his ball python. But… it is about to shed and… I don’t really know what to do. I’m kinda panicking to be honest.”

“How is this the first time I have heard about you pet sitting a snake?” the other chimed in. “I demand pictures! What morph is it? How long? What colors?”

Hajime rolled his eyes with fond exasperation. “Cereji, Luna, focus please. Let’s get back to the original question.”

The two sat up with a straightened posture. “Right. Well, I was wondering if you could give me some advice on what to do. I want to make sure the snake is comfortable and does well.”

“Snakes shedding is such a cool process. And you can keep the skin afterwards! Perfect sheds can be cool decorations,” Luna tacked on, clearly enthused at the idea.

Hajime shook his head, but had a smile present. “Let’s stay on track again. But yes, I can give you some advice.”

~~~~~~~~~~

Hajime wasn’t entirely sure how it had happened, but somehow the advice turned into a plan for Makoto, Cereji and Luna coming over to visit his house. Cereji bringing his friend’s snake as well.

He wasn’t worried about this, as he liked having company over. But he did make sure to inform Nagito of this new plan. He told him that he could stay nearby, but to try to not interfere unless it was important. The naga had agreed, way more understanding than the first time he had Makoto visit. Already he was feeling better about things.

Hajime wasn’t terrified about people finding out about the large creature living nearby. After all, the world knew they existed. But if he could help it, he would like to keep the number low. Mostly so that the peace and quiet remained the same. But partially, and he only would admit this to himself, he liked having the naga’s attention focused on him.

Hajime pushed that thought back, needing to concentrate on his preparations. Snacks, a clean space, and a bowl of warm water to prepare for the snake. While he was sure that some advice and maybe some videos would have done just fine, he couldn’t deny the thrill of company.

Speaking of company, he heard the notification of movement at his gate. The cameras confirmed that it was who he invited, so he let them in remotely. Then he headed to the front door, stepping outside and into the yard to better watch his guests approach.

Though he did get curious. He looked back towards the forest’s edge. And sure enough, he spotted green scales. But thankfully, Nagito was far enough away that he wasn’t easy to spot. He looked more like a grassy hill to those who weren’t actively looking for a naga. So this worked fine. The creature could be close enough to keep watch, but hidden so that none would be suspicious.

The brunette turned back to the driveway, not wanting to give away any indication of the extra guest. He didn’t want to frighten off his young coworkers. They had just moved here, it would not do if they immediately wanted to move away again.

He waved as Makoto pulled up first, the other two cars following right behind. Hajime guessed that he had led the younger two to his place, having been here a few times already.

The three stepped out of their vehicles and waved back, Luna doing so with far more energy and enthusiasm. And he was sure Cereji would have done the same, if he hadn’t been carrying the ball python in a box.

“Welcome to my place. It’s quiet and restful when the wildlife allows it,” Hajime began, inducing laughs from his guests. “But anyways, make yourself at home. I have food and drinks. And I have a warm bowl set up for the snake. This shed should be fairly easy after a soak.”

He stepped to the side and let his guests enter in through the front door, each of them thanking him as they went in.

But on a whim, he glanced back towards Nagito. And to his surprise, the large creature had moved. There was an opening in his coils, to where the emerald eyes were peeking through. But at this distance, he couldn’t make out the emotion. So he just waved before shutting the door.

Putting Nagito briefly out of his mind, he focused on his guests. Showing them around much like he had with Makoto. And similarly, Cereji and Luna became heavily interested in the green naga scale.

“Oh my goodness! Where did you find this!? It’s gorgeous!” Luna cried out, reaching out and gently touching it. “So smooth! You are certainly lucky to have this! I would love to have one, too.”

Cereji nodded in agreement, reaching out to touch it as well. “For sure. And it looks amazing as a decoration as well.”

Awareness seemed to pass over their features at the same time. “Ah, sorry. We touched your things without permission.”

But Hajime shrugged. “You are fine. It’s durable and can handle a few touches. And to answer your question, someone important to me gave me it.”

“Oh! That was nice of them!” Cereji then turned back to the table, where he had left the snake box. “So… should we begin now? Should it soak for a little before shedding?”

Hajime nodded, bringing the bowl of warm water closer. “Yes, let us do that. It will most likely want to stay in the bath. So we can eat while it soaks.”

And so they did just that. The ball python, which Luna stated was a banana morph, happily laid in the bowl as the humans ate and conversed. And half an hour later, they watched as the snake squeezed out of its previous skin.

“This is so amazing! I’ve always wanted to witness this in person. Makes me want to get my own!” Luna said with excitement, holding up the shed at its full length.

Cereji agreed as he put the ball python back into the box. “I am thinking about it too. And now I know I can go to someone for advice.” He faced Hajime again. “By the way, where is your snake? The one that you were talking about yesterday?”

Both he and Makoto suppressed a flinch. “Ah. He isn’t in the house currently. He lives outside and comes by a lot.”

But that sadly wasn’t enough to convince them. “What? But snakes aren’t terribly social creatures. While they can show affection, it isn't common. Is yours a special one?” Luna asked with a head tilt.

It seems that she had a lot more knowledge on reptiles than he thought. Now how was he supposed to go about this…

“Well, I can go look outside for him if you want me to. It won’t take long if he is here,” he answered. This would provide him with some time to think of a good excuse. So he went to the patio door and opened it, stepping out into the evening air.

But when he stared off in the direction where Nagito had last been, he saw nothing. The naga had disappeared. That could only mean two things. One, that he had gotten bored and went back into the forest. Or two, that he was somewhere near the house, in an area not immediately visible.

His answer was provided as he felt claws hook around his waist and drag him backwards. He managed to swallow his surprised shout, not wanting to alert anyone of what was happening. And when he finally felt himself come to a stop, he turned to give Nagito a piece of his mind.

Only to be met with an equally miffed expression on the naga’s face.

“And what are you so upset about?” Hajime demanded, crossing his arms and trying to step out of the creature’s hold on him.

But it got tighter, his waist being pinched hard enough that he couldn’t get out without some serious effort. Nagito’s tongue darted out frequently and rapidly, eyes narrowing with each second. “I have every reason to be upset. Your attention is being stolen! The company you are keeping is taking you away from me!” Tears began gathering at the corners of the reptilian eyes. “Am I not enough? What do I need to do for you to not replace me!? I can do more!”

The brunette raised an eyebrow. “What on earth are you talking about? I’m not replacing you! My coworkers only have my attention for tonight. They aren’t moving in. Surely you know that.”

“I’m not talking about the other humans!” Nagito cried out with distress.

Wait… he wasn’t talking about Makoto, Cereji or Luna? So that meant… “Hold on. Are you jealous of the ball python?”

Nagito buried his face into the human’s body as best as he could. He rubbed his cheek against him as if trying to replace the previous scent. He must have smelled the new snake when it entered the property. “I’m the only one you need! So don’t let that one live here!” One of his eyes made contact with his. “If it comes to it, I’ll defend my territory. I’ll make sure it knows who the superior reptile here is. And who has claim over this land and its inhabitants.”

Hajime patted the skin in front of him. “First of all, the snake doesn’t even belong to any of us. One of my coworkers is pet sitting for a friend. Second, it would be no match for you. Third, we need to really work on these abandonment issues. We have been having so many crises lately.” He sighed. “I don’t know how long it will take until you fully accept that I’m not leaving you or forgetting about you. But I’ll remind you as many times as it takes.”

“Oh…”

“My…”

Sudden voices from right behind him made him freeze. He saw Nagito’s eyes widen as well. They both glanced over, seeing Cereji and Luna staring wide eyed at them.

Makoto looked frantic. “I’m sorry! I tried to stop them! But they wanted to know who had been speaking!”

So they had heard Nagito and him talk. Guess the walls of his home weren’t very soundproof. So it naturally attracted the attention of his guests. And he would have felt the need to panic, if not for the fact that the two looked thrilled and excited.

“Hajime! I can’t believe you kept the fact that you know a naga a secret!” Luna cried out.

“He must be the one who gave you the scale! The rest of him is just as amazing!” Cereji tacked on.

Hajime managed to escape from the claws in the moment of confusion as Nagito didn’t look like he knew quite how to react. “Before anything, I need you two to promise me to not tell anyone. I don’t want loads of people on my property trying to see a naga. Would ruin the peace around here.”

“Of course we won’t say anything!” Cereji quickly assured.

Luna then noticed more details. She rushed forward to Nagito’s face, patting the skin. “Oh you poor dear. Were you upset? Did we take attention away from you? Don’t worry! We can shower you with attention now!”

Cereji approached the other side, patting the skin as well. “We have lots to give!”

Nagito finally reacted, a smile growing as he relaxed. “Attention sounds wonderful. I would like that a lot.”

Squeals of excitement sounded before the two younger humans plastered themselves to the naga, giving him the best hugs they could manage.

Makoto walked up to stand by Hajime, who honestly was baffled by the turn of events. He had not expected this to happen whatsoever. But he wasn’t complaining. Seeing Nagito so happy made him happy.

“I guess… we won’t have anything to worry about,” Makoto commented, laughing a bit at the sight.

Hajime grinned. “Yeah. I think things will be just fine now.” They definitely had some things to work on, but he felt content for the night. They could experience the joy of company all together, without leaving anyone behind.

Masterpost

So we had jealous Nagito in a previous drabble. I think it’s about time we had one of a jealous Hajime, wouldn’t you agree?

Suggestion is from Sapphire, who also thought of the subject of Hajime’s annoyance. You will see what I mean once you start reading. I’m trying to not give too many things away.

Also, I’m wondering if someone will catch the reference I made with the name. It’s something from a certain artist on tumblr I am a fan of.

Hajime thought long and hard about what to do. He knew very well now that Nagito was having some troubles with abandonment issues, especially recently. But his words and gestures of comfort could only do so much. Was there something else he could do?

This was a question he had posed to the three coworkers in the know. And together, through some discussions and suggestions, they landed on a possible solution. One that had cost a bit of money. But if it helped, it was absolutely worth every penny they all spent.

And he did really have a good feeling about this idea. So he felt pretty positive as he and two other cars pulled into his driveway after a trip to the post office. He was just glad all of their cars had been big enough to fit them. These items were not small at all.

Nagito was there when they returned, putting down the small piece of paper that Hajime had left for him telling him where he went. Thankfully, he didn’t look panicked or distressed. So the note was a technique to stay. “Oh? Do we have company?” the naga asked as he watched the humans exit their cars.

“Only for a little. We had to bring a few things here and it required multiple cars,” Hajime explained as he glanced back to Makoto, Cereji and Luna. He gave them a nod and a grin, signaling that they could go for it.

Makoto nodded back, while Luna and Cereji got excited expressions. The older of them went first, popping open the back of his car and pulling his item out. “Well, we have heard about how you sometimes get lonely. And we thought that these might help! This one is from myself and Kyoko.” In his arms was a huge tan teddy bear, which he dragged over to the naga.

“I…” Nagito wasn’t able to finish, clearly stunned.

The younger two took advantage of this and pulled out their own enormous bear, this one with black and green markings. “This is from us! We didn’t like the usual colors so we decided on this!” Cereji proudly announced as he tugged on one arm.

Luna grabbed hold of the other, looking over to the creature with a grin. “The green even glows in the dark! So you will never lose it!” She patted the smooth scales once they finished dragging the bear over. “This should do the trick to help with those lonesome moments!”

Hajime finished off by grabbing his, the color dark brown. “These were the biggest we could get. But they are durable and soft. You can hold them and cuddle with them when I’m not around. So, what do you think?”

The reaction was one he kinda expected. Waterfalls of happy tears began as the naga picked the three bears up and hugged them to his chest. “This… is so… nice. Thank… you all… so much,” he managed to say between sobs. “I love them all. I will treasure each one.”

The sight of the giant bears with the giant creature looked almost normal. And it was adorable. Everyone else looked to be just as pleased at the sight, thrilled that their gifts were accepted with such joy.

In addition, Nagito snuck his tail around the humans, tightening the coil in a hug. “I don’t know what I did to deserve such kindness from you all, but please know that I appreciate it with every passing second.”

The four were a bit surprised from the sudden hug, but none were upset. In fact, Hajime thought that they all were delighted. It was a very sincere expression of thanks and they all knew it.

This helped Hajime come to the conclusion that this was a really good idea. And that things would get better for Nagito now.

~~~~~~~~~~

After many more rounds of thanks, including hugs and gifted scales to the two younger humans, the guests left and it was just him and the naga. Who had yet to put down his new possessions.

“I see that you really like them. I’m glad you do,” Hajime called up to Nagito, turning to fully face him.

Nagito nuzzled the top of the bears’ heads gently, smiling at the softness. “I really do. I’ve seen young human children carrying objects like these. But I never thought I would be able to have any myself.”

“Good. And if they get dirty or ripped, just bring them here and I can fix them,” he offered.

To which he got a beaming smile. “You will? Oh thank you! I’ll be sure to let you know!” Then he turned away and began slithering towards the tree line.

That caught the human off guard. “Wait, where are you going?” he shouted after the naga.

The white hair fluttered as the large head turned to look at him. “I’m going to put them in my cave! There’s a ledge in there that I want to put them on. That way they will be out of harm's way if anything enters! So I shall see you later!” And with that explanation, Nagito disappeared into the trees.

Hajime found himself taking a half step with his arm outstretched, as if that would stop the large creature from leaving. But he recollected himself and straightened back up. This was absolutely fine and to be expected. Nagito didn’t have many possessions due to being what he was. There wasn’t a whole lot he had access to. So of course he would be ecstatic over having new objects. Especially toys, which he would never have had as a kid.

Nodding to himself, the brunette accepted this. So he went back into his house. Now that he had some extra time, he might as well use it to do chores.

Things were good. This would be nothing but helpful. He was sure of it.

~~~~~~~~~~

The next few days were… different. Never did Hajime think when purchasing the teddy bear that it would change things this much.

But he was proven wrong. Very wrong.

Nagito, much like an excited child, began carrying one of the bears with him everywhere since he got them. Changing them with every passing day, so it was never the same one twice in a row. He would hug the chosen bear tight, nuzzle it, play and talk with it, and devote much attention to it.

And because his hands and attention were focused entirely on the bears, it left little for Hajime.

Now at first, he didn’t mind all too much. He understood that this was a new experience for the naga. To have a new possession that was soft and cuddly and could easily hold attention. But he had to admit, after a few days, it was starting to nag at him. Nagito hardly paid any attention to him now. The bears had stolen practically every ounce over the last week. And it annoyed Hajime way more than he thought possible. Especially if it was the dark brown bear.

But he tried to reign in the frustration. He was being irrational. Was he really getting jealous of stuffed animals?

And as he glanced out the window to see Nagito holding the bear up and moving it as if it was walking, he determined that the answer was yes. He was jealous of the stuffed animals.

He knew he had an effect on Nagito. But until now, he hadn’t fully realized the impact the naga had on him. No one had ever engaged with him in interactions as much as this creature had. And now that they had ceased, the vanished presence was all the more obvious.

He felt cold inside. And he very much did not care for it.

Shaking his head almost violently, Hajime took a deep breath. Things were fine. And things would be fine. He just needed to work through this. The logical first step in his mind was to step out of his house and make his way over to Nagito.

The reptilian eyes glanced over once his footsteps were audible, which made his spirits brighten. Only to immediately dampen again when they turned back to the bear. “Look here, Chestnut! We have a visitor!” he said to the dark brown bear, moving it up and down in an excited manner.

Hajime felt one of his eyes twitch, but he didn’t let any annoyance show. “You seem to still be enjoying them. Have they been helping you?” he asked, trying to walk around to be more in Nagito’s line of sight.

This time, the green eyes didn’t even look over as he replied. “Yes! They have been wonderful! I love to cuddle with them at night. It makes my cave feel more homey now. I don’t feel so alone with my new friends keeping me company!”

The human took a breath to calm himself. He then strolled forward and came to a stop in between the pale arms. “Oh really? Is it comparable to other interactions you’ve had?”

Nagito visibly paused at that sentence. His eyes slowly lowered to the human, studying him with an unreadable expression.

Then a smirk grew. A mischievous one. “Oh, I’d say so. After all, while being cute, they also don’t talk back or reject my requests to hold them. I feel as though they are the perfect cuddle buddies.” He finished with a long and vigorous nuzzle to the bear’s head, eyes closing with a dopey smile.

Hajime crossed his arms, nails slightly digging into his skin with his irritation. “Are you messing with me?” he asked point blank. This was too suspicious of an action for the naga to be oblivious now.

One green eye opened, glancing down at the human. “I don’t know. Am I, Ha-ji-me?”

He definitely was. That confirmed it. Blood pressure now rising, he turned again. This time heading back to his home. “Fine. Clearly the bear I gave you is better. I’ll get out of your space then,” he snapped, harsher than he meant it to be.

But thankfully, it didn’t seem to matter. He felt fingers wind around his legs and torso, stopping him from progressing any further. “Awww, someone sounds grumpy. Well, lucky for you I have a perfect solution!” The grip around him tightened and lifted him off the ground, transporting him back over to the larger creature. “I think you and Chestnut should get to know each other a little better. Give him a hug! I’m sure he would love it!”

Hajime found himself placed down right next to the bear, the hand behind him pushing him forward so that he was pressed against the soft fur.

And just like that, his precious sour mood dripped away. The warmth of the skin on his lower back and legs in combination with the giant stuffed animal worked wonders. One of his own hands raised to take hold of some of the fur, the scent of nature clinging to it.

“There we go. It’s far better to be relaxed than all stiff and tensed up,” Nagito commented. He lowered his head and nuzzled the human’s back. “I do apologize for contributing to it though. I forgot how many days had passed since receiving your gifts. So I didn’t notice that I neglected to provide you with attention until now. But, I will admit it was entertaining seeing you so worked up over an inanimate object that you gave me.”

Hajime groaned, reaching behind him to slightly push at the face. “You will speak of this event to no one. Understand?”

A giggle, followed by more nuzzles. “I hear you loud and clear. Now, let’s make up for that lost week shall we?” Nagito lifted them all up, holding the bear and the human close to his sternum as he began slithering into the woods. And despite having not expected or prepared for this to occur, Hajime felt himself smile again.

Things were fine. Truly fine now.

Masterpost

Well, I certainly did not expect the sudden increase in views of this au fic series. But I am very happy! Thank you thank you and welcome welcome! I hope you enjoy what I have to offer!

So let’s get to it! More Nagizuru for the world to enjoy!

And yes, part of this chapter was inspired by @rufus-in-space’s tag on @valictini‘s recent post. And @karugoround‘s art of it. I had to.

Finally, the day had come. At long last. Hajime had gotten permission from his superiors to move Izuru Kamukura back into his bedroom. He saw that message and practically leapt out of his chair. This was fantastic news. Izuru could leave the solitary confinement chamber.

It was a little after breakfast when he got this notification. He was glad about this, as it meant he could get straight to the point instead of needing to complete certain tasks first. So with some extra energy fueling his gait, he walked over to the elevator.

He was a single floor below Izuru’s floor. It was convenient for his job, as he could easily travel to his charge’s rooms. The possibility of being able to attend to Izuru’s needs swiftly was a reason for this. His superiors at least considered that when placing Hajime’s room on the floor below. On the floor with everything necessary for Izuru’s daily needs, such as food and clean linens.

So it didn’t take long for him to arrive at the door, scanning his card and entering. “Forgive my intrusion. I have good news, sir.”

The pale man slowly rose from his bed, smile ever present. “Oh? Pray tell, what could it be?”

Hajime beamed as he answered. “The scientists think it has been a sufficient amount of time from the last disaster. You can go back to your nice room. We can go now if you want.”

Izuru hummed, his own smile widening a bit. “I shall be able to gaze out the window once more. That is most excellent news. Very well, let us be off.”

Then nothing. Izuru simply sat there with his smile, making no move to stand. This greatly confused Hajime. “Um… sir? Is… something wrong?”

The experiment’s head tilted, as if the answer was obvious. “I have been injected with sedatives recently. I have little strength. I don’t believe myself to be capable of transporting myself to my room. So now, my dear caretaker, what will you do?”

Hajime stood there in shock. He wasn’t… suggesting what he thought he was, was he? To carry him? But the longer he thought about it, the more certain he was that it was correct. And it made his face flush deep red.

But he had a job to do. And he was determined to do it the best he could. So if Izuru needed to be carried, he would do it. He could do this. He needed to.

Repeating that in his mind, he walked over to the bed. “I understand. I shall help you get there.” He turned so that he was kneeling with his back to Izuru. “Climb on. I’ll get you there.”

He could practically feel the intense gaze on his back while he waited. But he dare not move, waiting patiently for what came next. His only warning was the soft rustling of the sheet, then the thin, light body of the Ultimate Hope positioning himself on his back. “My, my. You certainly are perceptive. And quite willing. Excellent traits to have for one in your position.”

Hajime stood back up, arms keeping a tight, but gentle grip on the thin legs. He felt the long arms drape over his shoulders, one hand grabbing his chain. “So strong. So capable. The doctors don’t realize how lucky they are with hiring you.” Then Izuru leaned in close, his warm breaths landing on the back of Hajime’s neck. “But I do.”

Those three words sent a shiver down his spine. He was so close. And with this position, there was practically nothing Hajime could do to change the distance. Izuru had trapped him. He was fully under the experiment’s control.

Fighting the storm of feelings, he took a step to test his mobility. And it proved to be quite easy. Izuru was extremely light, most likely from the minimal amount of food he was provided and all the sedatives. But that wasn’t something to focus on now. He had a location to get to.

That’s what fueled him to begin moving, walking carefully to not jostle his passenger. They exited the room, the door sliding shut behind them. He found himself commenting aloud, “I hope that you won’t have to go back to that room for a long time. I can’t imagine spending that much time in there with nothing to do. I feel like it would drive me crazy.”

A humorless chuckle arose from the one he was carrying. “A nice sentiment. A kind one. If only your hope was possible. Man takes great lengths to protect themselves from a perceived threat. The staff here are perfect examples of this.” The chain was gripped harder, tugging it so it was pulled taut. “And who’s to say that we aren’t already in Wonderland? That we aren’t already mad? Delusioned with fantasies of what is impossible?”

The brunette was grateful that the collar was a fixed shape and didn’t restrict his breathing when pulled like this. But even still, he found himself stuttering. “F-fantasies?”

“Yes, Hajime. Even I have fantasies. And what of yours?”

The brunette nervously swallowed. “I… think we should get you to your room.”

“A not-so-subtle attempt to change the subject? Could it be that this is territory you are not comfortable sharing? Hmmm?” The grip loosened, chain slipping from the pale hand. “Very well. I shall let it go for now.” The arms then tightly wrapped around his chest, the warm breath now on the shell of his ear. “Hurry on then, my dear caretaker. So that I may have you all to myself in our own little world.”

Every section of Hajime’s face turned red. How was he supposed to function after being told that? It actually made him pause in his tracks, too stunned to move. He stood there frozen, with the Ultimate Hope on his back.

That was, until a finger poked his chest. “As curious as I am to know exactly how long it would have taken for you to recover from this, I would prefer to be on my bed. So proceed, Hajime.”

That helped him begin moving again, wishing to fulfill Izuru’s desire right away. No more was said throughout the rest of the journey, to Hajime’s slight relief. He scanned his card on the reader, the device beeping and opening the door for him.

The second he looked into the room, he felt his annoyance levels rise. “They didn’t keep the room clean. Of course they didn’t.” There was dust everywhere and it was obvious that the laundry hadn’t been done at all either. He would have to do it all and do it now.

He pulled off the top cover on the bed and tossed it onto the floor before carefully setting Izuru down onto the mattress, tugging the remaining sheets to cover his legs. “I apologize for the state of your room. I’ll begin cleaning straight away. And I’ll bring you a clean comforter, towels, and robes.”

He didn’t wait for an answer, quickly gathering the top cover and the laundry hamper and hurrying out the door. He rushed over to the elevator, calling it and impatiently waiting for it to arrive. Internally, he was still irritated at the other staff. They couldn’t step away from their offices for ten minutes to straighten things up? Of course not. They are simply all above that kind of work. Too important to even think of assisting in this way.

He could have gone on much longer, but the elevator dinged and the doors opened. Thankfully the elevators were quick so he was on the next floor in no time. And so he got to work. He pulled out his own laundry from the machine and placed the more important articles in, starting the machine. He was grateful that it was a washer and dryer combo, as he wouldn’t have to come back to change machines. He set the settings and nodded with satisfaction once it began. He then busied himself with gathering cleaning supplies and putting them on a cart. Once everything was there, he returned to Izuru’s room.

“I have all I need now. I shall begin cleaning,” he announced as he pulled the cart through the door. Izuru had not moved at all save for a head turn. He wasn’t sure if he was relieved or worried about this.

“I see. Take your time. It wouldn’t do if you left any spot unfinished,” the white haired man said calmly, red eyes fixed on his caretaker. It was clear what he had chosen to observe for the time being. He was more interesting to the Ultimate Hope than his window looking outside. Something that made his heart pick up the pace.

But he couldn’t focus on that right now. He needed to clean. So after grabbing his broom, that is what he began to do. There was so much dust and long strands of white hair. Even a few spiders had crawled their way in through the window and had made webs. But none stood a chance against Hajime’s broom. It swept over the floor, gathering it all into a nice pile.

At one point, he knelt by the bed and swept underneath. And as he predicted, several hidden clumps flew out and into sight. He stood back up and walked over to them, fully intending to sweep them all into his pile.

But he had to pause. His working eye had landed on the largest of the dust bunnies. It was so white and looked fluffy, with random tufts sticking out every which way. It kinda looked like…

Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw Izuru laying under his sheets with his smile. With his fluffy looking white hair. With tufts sticking out.

He turned back quickly and snorted with laughter. It was too perfect. He wouldn’t have been able to stop it in any way. But right after the glee had ended, he felt a sense of dread. Would Izuru be offended that he laughed?

“Your mood increased in positivity just now. Why is that?”

The question made him even more worried. Clearly, his snort has been heard. Should he explain himself? Maybe Izuru would understand somehow. So that’s what he decided to do. “Um… the dust bunny reminded me of something. And I… uh… found it funny.”

The red eyes glanced down to see the dust bunny. “Ah, I understand. You were comparing it to my hair. That is certainly amusing.” A few breathy and soft laughs emerged from the eternal smile.

Hajime was stunned. Did Izuru… also find it amusing? Or was he simply imitating laughter and amusement? He couldn’t tell. But he didn’t really care all that much to figure out which it was. He was getting a ticket out, and he fully intended to take it. “Anyways, I’ll continue. Apologies for the brief interruption.”

“Continue as you were,” Izuru said, leaning back against his pillows and closing his eyes. He must have been tired from the drugs in his system. It was best that Hajime finished quickly to give him some peace and quiet.

And so he did, cleaning both the bedroom and the bathroom with speed. And he made sure everything was perfect. Not a speck of dust was visible anymore. It was all tidy once again.

All he had left to do was grab the laundry and return it. Which wouldn’t take very long. So he pushed his cart to the elevator, taking it down and putting his supplies away. The load was complete by the time everything was back in place. Excellent.

Grabbing the still warm clean load, he once again rode the elevator to his destination, scanning his card to allow entry. Izuru opened his eyes to observe him, but not moving otherwise.

“Here, I’ll put the comforter on now. It’s still warm so it should be quite nice,” the caretaker commented as he carefully laid the top cover back onto the bed. He brought it up to the experiment’s chest, tucking it in around the body underneath. His attention turned back to the rest of the robes and towels, folding them up and putting them into their proper places.

Soon everything was exactly as it should be. It filled Hajime with such a sense of satisfaction to have it done. Exiting the bathroom, he went to tell Izuru the good news.

Only to find him holding a shirt and staring at it intensely.

Where… did he get that? He hasn’t left the bed and he knew Izuru didn’t have any shirts. Then he had a realization. That shirt was one of his. It must have gotten accidentally left in the machine when he took his clothes out. And it had gotten caught up in the comforter, sticking to the underside so he couldn’t see it. And now it was in the Ultimate Hope’s hands.

“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for that to get mixed in. I’ll take it and put it back,” he apologized, stepping forward with the intention of grabbing it.

Izuru looked over to him. “I see no problem here. Everything is fine. There is nothing for you to return.”

Hajime paused in his steps, very confused. “But… isn’t that my shirt?”

“Perhaps at one point. But no longer. I shall take over ownership of this article,” Izuru stated, folding the shirt and placing it on the windowsill next to him. It sent a clear message. He was not getting that shirt back.

And Hajime knew better than to try and fight the Ultimate Hope. “Of course, sir. I shall take my leave now. I’ll return with lunch at noon.” He stepped out of the doorway, watching it slide shut and hearing the electronics locking in place.

The caretaker allowed himself to slump for a brief few moments, as now there were none to witness it. Today… had not gone as expected. Every plan he had in his mind for the day's events had been altered or different. But he couldn’t find it in himself to be upset by this. Today had even been… good.

Straightening back up, Hajime neutralized his expression. Time to go report to his superiors about the successful transfer.

Masterpost