Linky's Fics

Calling In

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Minato dragged his body to the bed, the weight over him was immeasurable. Each movement felt like it took all the energy in the world. He couldn’t think. His mind was only static, completely fixated about what happened prior. It played on loop in his mind with picture perfect clarity.

Several hours before now, the worst thing in his life had occurred. Within the blink of an eye his best friend was killed. An entire generation of promising alchemists were wiped off the map on top of that.

And he was to blame for it all.

When Fuga had spotted Minato, Kyoka, and Spanner, he was just as devastated as they were. But he wasn’t able to stay for long. But Minato had caught a glimpse of him from across the hall. He remembered his face clearly: Fuga was frozen with an expression of pure despair.

Their eyes met for a moment — before Fuga ran off to places unknown.

It made everything that much worse. He didn’t even try to help them. While later they would learn why this happened, the pain that encounter left inside was still there.

Once members from the higher brass arrived, it was all a blur to him. Medics tended to their wounds and the three were asked countless questions about what happened from officials. They were the only survivors on site, so of course there was nobody else they could ask.

Kyoka was brave. With strength immeasurable she did what she could to help the three of them navigate this situation. Minato could only sit still, barely able to speak. And when he could it wasn’t for long. He was able to say enough to answer their questions at least.

After what felt like an eternity of going through waves and waves of questions, they were free to go. By that time the darkness of night had laid itself across the sky.

Kyoka offered to help take Minato home, but he was insistent he was able to do it himself. And granted he was able to do it, but barely. Each step felt as if weights were tied to his feet. Seconds felt like hours. Hours felt like years. Years felt like eternity. Everything played back in his mind ad nauseam along the way.

The image of that golden cube in Geryon’s hand was in the very center of it all. It being twirled in Geryon’s hands. Each twist of a row maiming and killing. Bringing the end to countless alchemists. Each twist fueling the fire of the battle between his classmates, as they took each other's lives.

To think that Geryon, the teacher and man he respected and admired so much, was capable of such heinous acts and malice.

It was too much to bear.

Eventually he made it back, but it was a massive ordeal. As he looked at the clock, it was long past midnight. Minato didn’t know what to do now. How could he face anyone in the academy again after all of this?

Everything had fallen apart. And it was all his fault —

Just then he could hear his phone ring. It was Kyoka.

“Hey I know it's late, but I’m just making sure you got home alright.”

He nodded, “I did.”

Minato could hear an audible sigh on the other line. “That’s a relief… I was worried, you know.”

He didn’t want to think about himself anymore. Why should she be worried about him? The one who caused this all in the first place? This was all he could take, and he felt hot tears starting to well up in his eyes.

It was time to change the subject.

“How’s Spanner?”

“I was able to put him to bed. He’s sleeping soundly, for now anyway.”

“That’s good to hear.”

There was complete silence for a moment, a silence with a somber air. They had both lost so much. And Geryon’s voice continued to echo in Minato’s mind. Reminding him that he’s the reason they are in such pain right now to begin with.

If only he hadn’t made the wrong choice. Just maybe then things would have turned out different —

Kyoka spoke up, shattering the silence. “Minato.” Her tone was serious.

“Hm?” Was all he was able to mutter.

“Just know I’m here for you, alright?”

Minato didn’t know what to say to that. Frankly he didn’t deserve such kind words —

As if she could read his mind, “I’m serious Minato. We’re the only ones left. So we should stick together.”

He could feel the protests bubble up within his throat. Ready to burst out, and to tell her he didn’t deserve this.

But he was able to suppress them, an ordeal in its own right.

Minato couldn’t imagine what was going on inside of her right now. Surely she was just as in shambles as the rest of them. He could see it in her eyes earlier. The despair of losing your friends and classmates. How her entire generation was taken away from her.

Not to mention what happened to Spanner…

Yet at the same time, there was a strength blazing inside of those eyes of hers too. The red hot fire of determination. The will to keep going even after having lost so much.

The fact she couldn’t afford to let Spanner see her crumble must have given her the push to keep moving forward. Even if it was hard, and she didn’t know how to move forward yet. But even though she didn’t know how to exactly push onwards right now, she had the will to keep going nonetheless.

Deep down, Minato couldn’t help but feel a twinge of envy at such strength. But even more than that, he felt admiration for her all the same.

She was a bright student and a downright skilled mechanic. Before this all happened she had recently shared plans with him for a system that was akin to the Kamen Riders of legend. It was only in the conceptual phase, but there was great promise. And he knew only she could pull something like this off.

But now she had more pressing matters at hand to worry about. Spanner needed a guardian figure in his life, and she was hellbent on being that very figure.

One day she’ll no doubt pick up those plans again and get back to work on it. Kyoka wasn’t the type to let something like that go to waste.

Kyoka’s spirit and intellect was something truly special. Minato had always carried this thought since they first met. And he especially felt it now, that these qualities within her could be what they needed to strike back one day.

Plus her determination to make it through all of this was nothing short of inspiring.

His mind went back to Spanner. What happened to him was nothing short of tragic. And he was so young. Minato was informed of what went down on the opposite side of the school during the rigorous questioning both Kyoka and him received.

The association almost took Spanner away to find him a foster family. But Kyoka said that she was adamant about taking care of him and looking after him from then on. And she would not budge.

Being left under the care of a person like her, Spanner was no doubt in good hands. It wouldn’t be easy. But she was more than ready and willing to take up the task.

Minato could feel warm tears roll down his cheeks. But these ones were different from the countless ones he shed today. The kindness of Kyoka’s actions and her words to him began to get to him.

“Thank you.”

“Of course. I gotta make sure Spanner sleeps alright, so are you okay to be on your own?”

He nodded. “Yeah.”

“Alright. Take care, Minato.”

Minato hung up the phone and laid his head back on the pillow. He stared up at the ceiling and felt his eyes starting to become heavy. After everything, he didn’t think he’d be capable of sleep tonight. But exhaustion must have finally caught up to him.

As the minutes passed he began to drift off into sleep, still feeling the warmth inside his soul that Kyoka’s kindness had left within him.

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