ⁱˡᵒᵐⁱˡᵒ

ᵗᵒˡᵈ ʸᵒᵘ ⁿᵒᵗ ᵗᵒ ʷᵒʳʳʸ

A/N: since so many of you do not have access to AO3 and it is fairly difficult to get an account, I decided to post here anyway! Enjoy ✨

Katsuki thrashes in the stubborn hold of his restraints, pulling and tugging at them with what little strength he seemed to have manifested like a feral and wounded animal. His eyes dart and bounce around the four corners of the bright and frigid room. His breathing comes harsh and uneven, unfamiliar with his surroundings and the odd, sour smell that lingers about the room. Where is he? He isn't supposed to go outside; he's not strong enough to go outside---

"Hey, kiddo. Are you with us?" 

His struggling comes to an abrupt halt, head swiveling around in a way that leaves him dizzy. He's never seen other people before---not in person. He's only ever watched the very few he could see passing by his bedroom window. The courier who'd bring Brother his mail. The tall, dark man who'd come and visit Brother every now and again. But none of them have ever seen Katsuki. None of them had even known he'd existed. Brother had always told him that it was better that way. That people would only hurt him. That the only way for Katsuki to survive would be to put his trust in Brother and only him.

The tall, lanky man seems just as wary of Katsuki as Katsuki is of him---not wary, even, but cautious. He raises his hands in surrender and takes slow and calculated steps away from the bed to give Katsuki his space. He's accompanied by an older woman dressed in some odd white coat. Compared to the other stranger, she seems much less concerned with being in close quarters with Katsuki. Her posture gives Katsuki the impression that she doesn't see him as a threat but she doesn't show any signs of understanding that they are a threat to him. 

Breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out, b r e a t h e---

"Sorry. I didn't mean to frighten you. I know that you are confused and afraid but I assure you, young man, you're safe here. May I have a seat?"

Katsuki doesn't grace him with a verbal response, brows knit tightly together as he keeps his gaze pinned to the ghastly man's frame as he moves around to sit in the chair next to the bed. He keeps his hands where Katsuki can see them, resting them in his own lap once he's seated and he's made sure Katsuki isn't going to go into another one of his fits. "My name is Detective Toshinori Yagi. Do you remember anything particular to what led you here? Do you know where you are?" 

A hesitant shake of Katsuki's head. His knowledge on how to communicate with strangers equates to none. This isn't a scenario that Tomura prepared him for. Though, in hindsight Tomura probably never intended for him to ever have to be in this scenario, either. 

The man, Yagi, stalls a bit, clearing his throat and taking a moment to gather his words. Perhaps whatever has happened is a bit complicated and he wants to explain them in ways that Katsuki can understand. Brother once said that it's okay to slow down and think out your thoughts before expressing them. That way there isn't any room for a lapse in communication. Then he'd had to teach him what 'lapse' meant. Tomura had always been patient with him. 

"Well, we got a call last night about hearing a gunshot go off from one of your neighbors---an older couple who lives just across the field from you. Some nice officers came to check it out and got worried when no one came to the door so they came inside to check on everyone. That's when they found you. And that's when I got called in, right after they brought you here to the hospital." He recalls, speaking slowly as not to overwhelm Katsuki with the information that he's given him. Katsuki's confusion must be quite visible, if the sympathetic expression on Yagi's face is anything to go by.