Linky's Fics

Down This Road, Together

---

The infirmary was quiet. Footsteps could be heard outside in the hall, as the worried chattering of Ichinose and the others mixed alongside it. Spanner couldn’t blame them. That malgam everyone just faced was quite the foe.

Just about when Spanner was going to take a nasty attack, Minato took it himself. Jumping in front of Spanner, everyone watched in horror as he collapsed right onto the ground. Kudo and Ichinose were able to take out the malgam on their own, while Spanner rushed Minato back to the academy.

His wounds needed to be immediately attended to before they could get worse. Thankfully it was only a blunt attack, and no alchemy was imbued inside of it. Minato had been spared from any side effects.

Spanner’s heart continued to stir as he’d think back to that moment. Beginning to attend to Minato’s arm, he prepared the next set of bandages.

It hadn’t been that long since Minato had rejoined everyone again. Glion was gone, for now. However the battle was far from over. Not to mention the trauma that had weighed on Minato’s shoulders for over a decade would take much time to heal.

Then there was the added fact of what he did. Betraying everyone at the academy, even if it was a guise to protect them all. Going through with that act was still traumatic all on its own. Both for him and the students.

Not to mention what he said back to him in the warehouse, pretending to murder Kyoka. That surely did a number on Spanner too, despite it having been a lie.

Was Minato trying to make up for what he did? Taking an attack as a means to atone? If so, it was fucking reckless.

Spanner wasn’t a stranger to acting similarly himself. Though to see his senpai be the one to act like this… It felt so different. Humans were emotional beings. They didn’t always act rationally. Even knowing that, it still made him sad to see Minato do that. And it pissed him off a little too.

Minato could have died back there. Spanner didn’t want to lose him. Not to mention how would the kids feel? Losing him for real, after only just reuniting with them? He shouldn’t be doing such things. If not for him, for the sake of the children.

He continued to wrap bandages around Minato’s arm and finish up his work. Minato’s chest had been mostly bandaged as well, since the majority of the attack was centered there. There was a small part of his chest where his skin was exposed. That area was unscathed.

It was also distracting.

Minato always had a rather nice chest. A pleasant amount of muscle both to the touch and to the eyes. When wrapping the bandages around that area, Spanner could feel his fingers softly graze across Minato’s skin as they moved around—making his heart race.

Spanner was very familiar with his chest from past moments between the two. Ones that were only them to know about. Though it had been a few months since they both had been intimate.

No time for intimacy when your partner was playing the role of a pawn for the enemy.

They were still an item now, despite everything. But a complicated conversation that had yet to happen loomed over like a stormy cloud. At some point both of them were going to have to talk about what Minato did. How to move forward, and patch up each other’s wounds. Albeit emotional ones.

Spanner still loved him. Even if he still had some residual anger over what Minato had done. What was in the past, was in the past however. Together they’d find a way forward.

As the bandages were finished being applied, Minato smiled. “Thank you Spanner.”

Minato’s smile had always been dazzling to Spanner, never failing to capture his heart.

Spanner moved his hand onto Minato’s. The very same one that Clotho had punctured, leaving a scar in its wake. A reminder of that fateful day. How almost all of them could have died.

“Senpai. Why did you do that?” He couldn’t stop his voice from shaking. As Spanner spoke the thought of Minato meeting a much worse fate flashed before his eyes. It was vivid, terrifying.

Minato looked down onto the floor. Still and quiet. His eyes became colored with a deep sense of sorrow.

There was more silence before he spoke again. “I still regret what I did to you all.” His fist clenched. Clearly struggling to talk. “I know you all accepted me back, but still—”

Spanner suddenly stood up, surprising Minato in the process. “That isn’t an excuse to act so recklessly!”

More silence.

He took a breath. Trying not to let anger completely consume him. Yelling at Minato would get nobody anywhere. Nor would it have changed anything.

Tears began to fall from Minato’s face. “I don’t deserve any of your forgiveness—”

“That’s ridiculous.” Spanner cut him off before he could continue that thought. He could see Minato look surprised by his curtness.

Spanner’s words were rather harsh. Granted, he was never the best at navigating highly emotional scenarios in life to begin with. It had always been a weakness of his.

Now he was the one acting reckless. He had to calm down.

Sitting next to Minato again, Spanner looked him in the eyes. “You don’t get to decide if we forgive you or not.” Gently wiping his tears away with his hand. “And to us, you’ve more than earned it.” His voice now gentle.

Minato’s features began to soften upon hearing that. Spanner quietly relieved he reassured him, despite his methods being rough.

He also wanted to further emphasize his words with actions. Since he was young, Spanner had always been someone who’d tend to prove how he truly felt with actions rather than words. Learning in slowly, letting his lips meet Minato’s. Cupping his face into his hands too as they kissed.

As Minato returned the kiss, Spanner could feel him relax. Both from the kiss and his touch.

When the kiss ended, both of their faces were still millimeters apart from each other. Silently they gazed into each others eyes. Feeling an overwhelming sense of love wash over them both.

There was still much to talk about, and to patch up after all that happened. Slowly but surely, they’d get there. This was a good first step down that road.

With a smile, Minato pressed his forehead against Spanner’s. Taking his hands into his own. Quietly enjoying feeling Spanner so close to him. Savoring his boyfriend’s presence. He wasn’t alone anymore, and he’d never be alone again. “Thank you.”

“Of course senpai.” Spanner promised to himself he would be there for him no matter what. Despite everything, he loved Minato.

Minato slowly intertwined his fingers with Spanner’s. “I’m truly grateful to have you in my life.” Giving him a quick peck before resting their foreheads together again.

“I am as well.”

---

Back to top!