Chapter Text
Gen crashed to the floor, exited from the gunshot. His head was fogging up, unable to keep up with comprehending just what was going on in his current battleground. His ears stung immensely, like a knife was piercing through every single neuron connection in his brain. He snapped his neck back to the man he had just been standing next to.
“Dear Taiju!” he yelled out, vocal chords frying out in terror. He rushed over, crawling back to his friend as he sat above him, frantically pulling on the man trying to usher for him to come back to life. Like a child waking up his mother to go out. His breaths grew heavier, causing his throat to grow coarser and tighter.
“Wake up, dear Taiju.. You can’t prank a prankster.” His voice sounded like a fear stricken song, it was as if he was in a weak effort to loosen the thick aired mood. Rambling on, he moved his hands to his friend’s wrists, desperate to find a beating pulse, “Aren’t you supposed to be invincible? No matter what abuse you take…” he paused, choking on his words, deluding himself on the life of his precious friend as tears began to swell in his eyes, obstructing his vision. “...You always pop up, right dear Taiju?”
A few metres away more of those sickening gunshots burst out. Another one, Ryusui, fell to the ground, exploding a large thud. Blood circling his chest– there was no way he was alive. A wet smack hit the ground as a pool of blood burst around his body, entrapping Ryusui like a cage he wouldn’t get out of. The flesh filled smell of the man made Gen want to cut his nose off, the only light shining off of him glistened around his exposed cartilage and such. It was hard for Gen to make out with his once lively friend, who was now twitching on the floor like some death ridden cockroach.
Gen shrieked, it was as if he was a piece of prey getting circled by his predator, venting out his terror before death. His trachea burned inside him, his throat raw. His entire body screamed– there was nothing left.
He ripped off his stomach garment, tying it around a stick, a measly attempt in making a white flag. Just to get interrupted by those dreadful noises again, puffs of air flowed above his face, as his ears filled with an alarming ringing noise. Tripping over he looked back at his newly made flag. Nothing; Everything had been shot off. Quickly he pranced back to the remaining few members in his group. There still was a chance… right?
“12,800,000 metres. One second.”
🃂₊˚.⋆𓇢𓆸݁⋆˗ˏˋ༻ʚ♡︎ɞ༺ˎˊ˗⭒˚.⋆✿.🃁
Suika and Senku explained it had been 7 years since then. 7 years from the long arduous torture Gen and his friends were subjected to. 7 years from Xeno and Stanley.
Gen had changed somehow. Although none of his friends were able to catch on, as a mentalist himself it was first nature for him to realise something was off with how he reacted.
His previous precision based movements had been swapped out with cheap replicas, himself noticing some of his tricks would come out sloppier upon reciting when trying to induce laughter from their group, his facial structure seemed to have differently been sitting on his face— going from once exhilarated to tired and unconvinced. However these presumed after-effects didn’t stop there; he’d experience a severe uncomfortable sensation while near Xeno and Stanley’s statues, and for an unknown reason The feeling continued to only grow while near his dear beloved Senku. Initially he wondered if it was some short term depression gained from the recent battle except his symptoms seemed to be— worse?
Following suit after all his friends' de-petrification Gen watched as they embraced, even in his less than ideal state it brought his heart some warmth seeing their love for each other, causing him to follow suit. Going for long embraces with both Taiju and Ryusui— warning them to be more careful next time as they both replied with their respective replies, Taiju replying saying that he was glad Gen didn’t get hurt and Ryusui replying that it was okay as he got to save Gen and the others. After conversing along with the two on what the science kingdom’s next steps would be, he went over to Senku.
Senku— leader of the science kingdom, and Gen’s boyfriend, the two had started dating around 1-2 years prior, yet for privacy and safety reasons they mutually decided to keep their relationship a secret from the rest of the crew: with the exception of Kohaku, Chrome and Taiju being aware of it.
Gen was practically skipping over to Senku, from excitement. “Dear Senku!” Gen called over as he jumped into the man’s arms. He practically shoved his head into his neck, desperate for a sprinkle of touch. It wasn’t even a want for him, he felt a sharp burst in his heart.
“There, there mentalist it’s not like I died or anything.” Senku patted his back in return, melting into the other man’s hug. His voice was practically an antidepressant for Gen. He wanted to hear it over and over again till he went insane. Gen was addicted to Senku. This wasn’t normal— why was he this crazy?
Withdrawing from Senku, Gen felt like his whole world was coming apart. He didn’t want to leave him. Why was he acting like this now? Sure, he’d always loved his majestic Senku, keeping a small crush on him even before they had formally met. Still he had never been as insane as to now. ‘Maybe it’s just another side effect from this huge battle thing’ Gen thought to himself, walking away confused from Senku towards Ukyo.
Midway through his conversation with the two Senku started announcing their plan for the next steps to reviving all of humanity; He would first revive Xeno, move over to Europe and Asia and then build a rocket! Likewise everyone exploded into screams, ‘build a rocket’? That was a crazy idea, even for Senku, but most of all— revive Xeno? The man who had just nearly killed everyone with his goons.
Kohaku and some others expectedly tried to argue with Senku. Who wouldn’t be wary of such a crazy idea? Riddling him with questions on why he found it fit to invite a near murderer in their journey. Senku replied, dismissing them, explaining that Xeno’s integrity was vital for the group's expedition if they wanted to get to the moon— Senku himself was already alarmingly smart, they were sure to win in the end with Xeno. To further reassure the group's worries, Senku carried on explaining that the reason for the team’s physical damages: Stanley, was still petrified and that they would only bring him back with explicit guidelines.
Most of their members seemed to have calmed down, some still reasonably seeming mildly uncomfortable yet still complying, Senku was bound to succeed, they all believed in him. Gen believed in him too— yet this time he was scared— scared was an understatement. His muscles stiffened up, making him unable to even burst a fake smile. He hated this feeling so much. He never felt anything like this— only treated people like this. Now he was one of those people he was supposed to be paid to look after. Nothing worse could really happen, right?
Senku walked up to Xeno’s statue, de-petrifying the man within seconds. As everyone watched the both of them, Senku explained to Xeno saying that the medusa could be used to keep people as immortal, then using Stanley as a trade to make him cooperate; Exclaiming that if Xeno were to help them all Stanley would only be seen as doing justifiable acts for warfare whereas if he hadn’t he would be cast away with appropriate measures of a murderer. Taking option A without hesitation however they immediately went back to planning their victory. Yet after everyone’s celebratory exclaims Gen was still left worried.
Beside him someone had taken his hand. Being catched off guard a shiver ran through the hairs on his arms, causing him to let out a little yelp. Looking to his side it was Ukyo.
“Gen, are you alright?” Ukyo looked down at him with his concerned, affectionate eyes. “There’s no reason for us to be as worried about Xeno now, considering Stanley isn’t here to keep him under his constant protection.”
“Ah,” Gen took some time to recollect his stature— trying to mold his emotions into looking somewhat representable compared to the mess he’d probably be looking like right now. “Dear Ukyo, there’s no need for you to worry about me– I’m just a little shocked is all,” He squeezed onto Ukyo’s hand, forcing an unsuspecting smile onto his own face.
Hours later, Senku, Xeno, Chrome and Kaseki came back from their work, as Senku began to lay down the next day's layout.
“From 11am to 1pm, I along with the other wise generals will be discussing our plans and takes on what hand work we’ll have you all doing,” Senku said in an unbothered manner, even being as bold as to twist his finger in his ear while talking, “After that we’ll split off in different continents for resources and go along for a transatlantic voyage.”
A series of yells exploded from the group, mainly for emphasis with how quickly they were moving— yet all of them were entirely excited to go on with the new schemes.
Gen sighed dramatically looking at Ukyo, a three hour long meeting? What did they even have to discuss for that long? Ukyo sighed back— for someone so calm even he seemed to be worn out, everyone was just counting in their heads for the past 7 years.
An hour or so later everyone split into sleeping bags– taking leaves from trees or simply just sleeping on the floor for tonight. They’d certainly be alright, although being in such bad living conditions temporarily no one could be phased, especially considering there were so many people altogether to keep each other company! It was oddly refreshing.
Likewise Gen secured a spot next to Senku, hoping he could get away with it— just because it was a new turning point for everybody didn’t mean he could suddenly be open to everybody about their relationship. Though whole heartedly he did. Dejected, he tried to reconcile himself thinking it was better to stay next to Senku as well. Even if they weren’t in complete physical contact.
Catching Gen staring at him, Senku turned to look into his eyes, “Goodnight, my mentalist,” he said as he closed his eyes.
Gen could’ve broken down with how flustered he got, “Goodnight,” he replied, smiling sincerely as he too rested for the big day tomorrow.
Gen loved Senku so much.
Gen loved Senku more than anyone else.
Gen was crazy for Senku.
Gen was addicted to Senku.