Running on Empty

The calm before the storm

Shouta was glad to see the kid eating, he was dangerously malnourished and could do with some energy. He was also glad to see that Hitoshi was enjoying his husband's cooking. It wasn't that he was a bad cook, and he was definitely the better of the two of them; but neither of them were particularly great in the culinary department, and could prove an absolute hazard when paired together.

After lunch, they sat in the lounge for a bit, just chatting, and Shouta was blown away by how quickly the teen managed to seamlessly fit into their conversations. It felt like they'd known each other for years, and yet there was so much to learn.

It was when 'Zashi went to feed the cats and Hitoshi promptly laid down on the sofa and fell asleep that he realised just how similar the kid was to him, but he was also so different and so precious and Shouta couldn't wait to be able to focus on the future with his family, but first there was something to be done.

He wasn't worried about the trip to the police station; Tsukauchi would give him everything he needed to make this official with no hassle. It was the whole interacting with Hitoshi's abusive foster parents and not ripping them to shreds part which was going to be more difficult.

But it had to be done, and unfortunately they couldn't put it off much longer as technically they had kidnapped the napping kid.

He chuckled at the thought, sending a quick text to Tsukauchi to ask if any missing persons reports had been filed in Shinsou's name. The response informing him that there hadn't been any was a good thing for them, but it only served to make him more pissed off at Hitoshi's carers. Had they even noticed he was gone?

He sighed as Hizashi entered the room, poking the kid with his foot to wake him. "We'd best get this over with."

Hizashi looked grim and Hitoshi shifted uncomfortably before sitting up and nodding.

"We're not going to leave your side okay, Little Listener?"

"Don't worry, they won't be able to hurt you kid. We'll make sure of it."

Hitoshi nodded again, signing, "Thank you." Before standing up somewhat shakily.

They headed to the police station first, and Shouta went in to get the documents he'd requested from Tsukauchi whilst Mic chatted to Hitoshi in the seating area.

The detective was waiting for him with a friendly nod. "I've got everything started, we'll be able to build a rock solid case against the social worker for sure, and as many of the foster parents as we can."

Shouta thanked him, and Tsukauchi raised an eyebrow. "You care a lot about this kid huh?"

"Yeah," Shouta muttered. "'Zashi and I both."

"That's good, from what you've told me he's in desperate need of some looking after."

"Yeah," Shouta sighed. "Well, he seems to have warmed up to us already so that's a good start, it's hard to tell at this stage though, we don't really know him yet. I feel like there's a lot he hasn't told us."

"You'll get it," Tsukauchi encouraged. "You're clearly doing something right so I'm sure he'll open up soon enough. Just give him a little time to settle in, this must be a pretty monumental change for him."

Shouta hummed in acknowledgement. "You're right. I'll let you know if he does give us any more information."

And with that, he nodded at the detective before returning to his husband so that they could both sign the documents.

The easy part was now done. Their names were on the paper. But there were three dotted lines still empty of signatures and the closer they got to Hitoshi's old apartment the more Shouta was realising that the kid hadn't actually given many details about this family at all.

But he knew they hit him, and he knew they muzzled him, and that was enough for him to despise the bastards.

He was furious at their treatment of Hitoshi, but he had a pretty good reign on his emotions.

Hizashi on the other hand... did not, and as his husband pulled into the car park Shouta absent-mindedly reached a hand up to fiddle with the ends of his scarf, he had the sneaking suspicion he might need it.

He held onto his capture weapon all the way up the stairs, trying not to think of an injured and depressed Hitoshi making the same trek and further only last night.

Hitoshi stopped them outside of one of the apartments and turned to face the two heroes.

"This is it."