( OPEN ) feel like i'm falling down

[eyescar]

WHO: Yuji Itadori & you!
WHAT: Yuji has once again been the first guinea pig for the upgrades on offer from LILITH and is paying the price.
WHERE: Across the base
WHEN: End of the month
WARNINGS: References to brain surgery, time distortion, and other medical related things. Info about the side effects of the surgery here.

A.

[ The first moments after being released from the medical room are fine - or, Yuji thinks they're fine, at least. Megumi takes him back to his room and takes care of him, but eventually he gets a little stir-crazy and wants to go and get something to eat, and that leads him to the situation that he's in right now.

Anyone coming across Yuji in the corridor will see him walking down, but at a strangely slow pace. It's as if he's tiptoeing, and he has a face of such utter concentration on his features that it might be endearing if he wasn't also wincing, holding his arms out either side of him. It's as if he's walking along a balance beam, wobbling here and there.

It's comical, and when he realises someone is in front of him he lifts his head, slowly, as if underwater. ]

... Hi?

B.

[ Getting out of bed was probably a mistake.

Yuji had made his way to the library, a quiet place where he wouldn't have to worry too much about being bothered or poked and prodded, but everything had felt so loud. Every time he tried to sit down the pain of it was enough to have him twitching, tears prickling in his eyes, and when he lifts his hand to wipe them away it's as if someone has shoved a hot poker against his skin. It's too much, and way worse than the surgery he had last time, that for a moment he wonders if it was worth it.

(It will be, once this is over, but right now he feels as if his body is out of control).

The overstimulation leads him to crawling under one of the tables, tucking himself against it and shoving his face into his knees, looking far too much like his brother for anyone not to notice the similarities should they come across Choso hiding in the future.

He's crying off and on, but doing his best to pretend he isn't, just in case someone comes across him. ]

C.

( Wildcard me or hit me up for something and I will write you it! <3 )

Comments

[eyescar]

[ Yuji can’t help the way he winces when Megumi leans into him, trying to help. The contact makes his skin prickle at first, but it soon fizzes away into something different. He’s conscious of the touch to his arm, to the way that Megumi is supporting him, but… He doesn’t feel his grip at all. It’s as if no one is touching him even a little.

Shaking his head, he decides it’s best to ignore it, chest feeling a little tight. As useful as teleportation will be - and if he can get his body used to the feeling of it, the way it works, then maybe he can do it without the upgrade like sensei does - he’s not sure if this one was worth it. This upgrade felt more… Personal. Selfish. He can fight better with it, but was it necessary?

He doesn’t regret it, but he knows he’ll have a lot to answer for.

Slowly, he walks with Megumi, shaking his head and blinking back his tears. ]

I’m okay to walk. I just want to lie down. [ His hands flex a little. The room is spinning, just a bit, and he leans more into his friend as they start to head towards the Everlight base. In the back of his mind, something springs up. ] Megumi… We need to check on Choso…

[seaurchin]

[ He doesn't know what Yuji is actually experiencing right now, but this isn't normal at all. Usually, he's able to get up and keep on fighting even after being stabbed or burned or cut. The last surgery definitely wasn't easy, but Yuji was able to bounce back from it fairly quickly also. Something's so different about this one. The other boy's gait and that unfocused look isn't normal at all. Megumi keeps him steady, holding on to his arm as they stagger toward Everlight. If this keeps up, he'll consider carrying the other boy if needed. ]

What's wrong ... You think he'll be affected too? [ He hasn't learned too much about the half-curse's abilities, but he's heard that they have some connection somehow. ]

[eyescar]

Yeah… It was - he’ll feel it…

[ Choso wasn’t around the last time that Yuji had this kind of surgery, and so he hadn’t thought too much about it. Thinking about their connection even without the tracker rings. If Choso had been focusing even a little bit on Yuji, especially with the warning… How much pain would he be in?

He might have to grovel a little.

Whimpering, he sinks into Megumi with a soft sigh. ]

This is a good upgrade, but everything hurts. It feels like I need glasses or something…

[seaurchin]

[ Megumi doesn't get too many opportunities to talk or interact with Choso, so he doesn't know the extent of their apparently brotherly connection (or the circumstances around that, really). Yuji seems to have a better idea about the somewhat psychic connection they have, so Megumi believes him. If Choso was forced to feel the other boy's pain in that time, he can imagine how shocking and excruciating that might be. It's just like Yuji to be concerned about that right now rather than himself. ]

We'll find Choso and make sure he's okay. [ If that is the other boy's first priority, then it's Megumi's priority as well. Walking like this is rather slow, though. Yuji usually has a very tough disposition, but this recent surgery seems to have affected him in ways that even his unique body cannot handle. ]

He's probably in your room. I'll carry you there. [ Yuji did this for him last time, so it makes sense that he returns the favour. ]

[eyescar]

You don't have to carry me.

[ Yuji is brushing it off immediately, even as he leans into Megumi. He's aching, and it feels like a lot, but he can manage it too. It's not as if he's totally weak after all this, and he can push himself together enough to not have to worry too much about needing to be hefted up. Megumi is strong too, but Yuji is concerned about being heavy...

Shaking his head, he begins to press on. ]

C'mon, Megumi. Let's go.

[seaurchin]

No. [ Yuji is far too unbalanced and wobbly, Megumi feels worried he'll trip and fall down. While he knows the other boy is heavy with the bulk of his muscle, Megumi isn't exactly weak either. It won't be easy, but it isn't like the other boy's room is very far away. Bending lower, he reaches down to try and scoop the other boy's legs up, grunting softly as he hoists him up into his arms. Yuji is heavy, and he needs to steady his own breathing, but he thinks he can manage this. ]

Alright, let's go.

[eyescar]

Megumi...

[ Yuji is lifted, and it feels a little weird, and he's so heavy that it must be hard for Megumi... But with his dizziness, it's hard to walk, and this feels nice. It's nice to be taken care of, just a little bit, and slowly he sinks into his friend's arms, leaning into him a little. ]

Sorry for the trouble.

[seaurchin]

You're never any trouble for me.

[ That came off ... more honest than he was expecting, and it wasn't hard for him to say something soft this time. It's partly because Yuji's already gone through so much and deserves to feel supported, and partly because he's already said the most vulnerable thing a person can say to another, so something like this is nothing compared to that.

He's starting to get used to the other boy's weight, so he keeps carrying him, walking over to the other boy's room.] Just hang on. You can close your eyes if you want.

[eyescar]

Yeah, I am... All I do is cause trouble.

[ For Megumi, for Kugisaki, Nanamin, Gojo-sensei... Ever since he entered their lives, all he's done is make their lives harder for him... That's something he's been trying not to internalise too much, but...

Leaning into Megumi, he closes his eyes, squeezing them shut.

He's feeling more vulnerable than normal right now. ]

[seaurchin]

[ Megumi allows the other boy to curl in closer, shifting so Yuji can easily rest his head on his shoulder. He walks slowly so it's not too bumpy for the other boy, gentle and considerate in the way he handles him. ]

Stop saying stupid things. When I say something to you, just trust me on it.

[ If only his words were half as soft as the way he's holding him. The line, at least, is delivered like a stern admonishment that is coming from a place of care. ]

[eyescar]

Yeah... Okay.

[ He's tired, so tired, and Yuji slumps a little. He still feels bad - he's not light, in any sense - but he feels utterly exhausted from what he just went through and can't protest anymore. Instead, he lets his hand rest over Megumi's chest and sighs softly.

He's so warm... ]

[seaurchin]

[ He can feel the other boy's exhaustion from the way his body seems to relax, each muscle tensing almost like he's just been given permission to accept the support and comfort. Megumi sighs and keeps walking. While the other boy was heavy, it isn't too bad, and he knows better than to complain about it when Yuji was already feeling so vulnerable. They have a moment of silence as Megumi makes his way to the other boy's dorm room in Everlight. He's been here so many times before, he would probably be able to make his way here blind.

Easing the door open, he lets himself in and heads toward the bed, lowering the other boy gently onto it. Before he says anything, he gets on his kneels and starts to take off Yuji's shoes and socks, doing whatever he can to help the other boy get comfortable. ]

[eyescar]

You don't need to do that, Megumi...

[ It feels like a little bit too much, and he feels worse and worse for it. All the things he's done, all his failures, the problems he's caused Megumi, the fact that he likes him... Closing his eyes, he looks away, too tired to even think about protesting more.

It's not fair.

None of this is fair. ]

[seaurchin]

I want to. [ With all that he's already told him, it's so much easier to be honest, and that's freeing in a way. He wants to make sure Yuji is safe and comfortable and doesn't have to worry about anything. He wants to be there for him, providing him with whatever it is he might need. On most days, Megumi's emotions come dull and numb, like he's feeling very little and caring very little. The care and attachment to this boy feels like the realest thing about him though.

The other boy is probably somewhat sweaty from going through the painful experience. ] Do you want a change of clothing?

[eyescar]

No, this is fine for now.

[ Yuji just feels tired, a little awkwardly numb, feeling his body heating up all over again. It's a little much, but at the same time it's not as painful as it was before. Maybe their healing implants are doing something to help...? He's not sure.

Flopping back, he covers his face with his hands. ]

It hurts to move.