Nagito gets nightmares about his past and everything he caused because of his Lucky ability. Hajime and Chiaki help him.

TRIGGER WARNINGS:
-slight self-harm
-some torment/bullying

Part 2

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"Oh my god - Nagito!" Was the first thing that left his mouth, shocked at the sight that greeted him and Chiaki. The white-haired boy didn't seem to hear them, continuing to bang his head against the wood floor, digging his nails into his arms and dragging them downwards, making more cuts. There were many angry, red scratch marks all down his pale arms and there was a small amount of dried blood from where he'd cut into his skin too deep. Tear tracks ran from his wide grey eyes, which were beginning to turn slightly red and puffy.

His hands suddenly flew up to cover his ears, fingers entangling themselves in and pulling on strands of soft, white hair. Hajime looked at Chiaki and he closed the door once the two of them stepped inside quietly. This was just in time, as a scream ripped itself free from Nagito's throat.

"Komaeda!" Chiaki and Hajime shouted, falling down next to the tall male. Hajime couldn't help but think of how vulnerable he seemed - as if a single touch could and would break his whole body.

"Komaeda, please-" Chiaki spoke (neither quietly nor loudly), placing a hand atop his mop of long hair. "-look at me."

The aforementioned male stilled, tensing as he slowly craned his neck upward, seeing the face of the pinkette sitting on her knees before him.

"Na..Nanami-san..." He croaked, tears still falling from his eyes and his hands on his ears.

The quiet girl offered him a small smile, her hands moving to his and gently grasping them. She slowly slid them away from his ears, only for him to squeeze his eyes shut and immediately bring them back. He shook his head harshly, and Chiaki didn't try to take his hands from his ears again. Instead, she moved forward and placed his head on her lap, tears soaking her cream-coloured skirt as she pet his head. He tried moving away, but Chiaki kept him in place and Nagito eventually relaxed.

Hajime watched with interest and a sudden spark of inappropriate jealousy towards the girl. He frowned when Nagito began to shake, and proceeded to reach out his hand and place it on his bony shoulder. He gave it a slight squeeze, making the other tense. He turned his head to the side, haunted eyes looking at the brunet who gave him a gentle smile, relaxing the white-haired male slightly. He suddenly looked behind Hajime with a tear-filled gaze. The brunette turned around, saw nothing, then turned back to look at Nagito. He furrowed his brows in confusion, but didn't comment. Nagito then slowly slid his hands from his ears, hissing at the stinging pain from the cuts on his cheeks.

"You okay?" Hajime asked quietly, squeezing the other's shoulder. Nagito bit his lip, and nodded slowly.

"Y-yeah. I'm..." Nagito swallowed, closing his eyes as he focused on the feeling of his hair being pet. "...I'm okay."

"I don't believe you." Hajime quickly said, gaze hardening as he watched the male.

"You probably don't." The brunette paused at the quick agreement, shaking his head.

"Sorry."

"Don't be. Someone like me doesn't deserve the trust of someone like you." He smiled sadly, a hint of madness in the expression.

"Don't say that." Chiaki said softly, brushing some hair from Nagito's eyes.

"It's true, though!" He quickly stood up, arms outstretched to the side to exaggerate his own words. "You guys are amazing! You're Ultimates! You're all amazing, and talented, and-"

"Komaeda." Hajime said, watching as the other flinched slightly.

"Yes, Hinata-kun?" The brunette didn't miss the slight tremble in Nagito's movements.

"Just..talk to us." He shook his head slightly. "We want to help you."

"Help with what? I'm fine!" He said this with a small laugh.

"Komaeda. We just saw you. We want to help - really."

Nagito laughed softly, shaking his head as he sat on his bed, facing the two standing before him.

"You don't have to lie to me. I'm not worth this - really."

Hajime grit his teeth, quickly moving forward as a surge of frustration came through him. He put his hands on Nagito's thin, bony shoulders and leaned over him. His cheeks quickly heated up in embarrassment when he realised what he'd done, but knew he couldn't let go of him without saying what he wanted to say.

"Don't say that! We want to help you! Why is it so hard for you to accept that? We care about you." Hajime's tanned cheeks were pink, as were Nagito's pale ones.

The white-haired male closed his eyes, a small smile gracing his face. He then lifted his head and greyish-green eyes met green. His hand reached up to gently grasp at the other's wrists that lay on his shoulders.

"Hinata-kun. It's not that - really. Getting close to me...it's dangerous..." The smile quickly became sad.

"Dangerous...?" Hajime didn't fight when his hands were gently pushed away. His eyebrows furrowed in confusion. He moved back to stand beside Chiaki.

"Everybody who ever cared or tried to get close to me ended up dying." Tears filled his eyes and his lips quivered as a frown tried to fight through the smile. "My dog..my parents..then some other kids..." He shook his head, wiped his eyes, and continued. "All of them - gone. It's really not worth it."

"Your dog? You had a pet?" Hajime murmured softly, then gasped, a smiling coming onto his face. "I just got an idea." He turned to Nagito and Chiaki. "Is it okay if I go for a few moments? I'll be right back."

"Ah, sure. I'm not surprised you would want to leave my disgusting self."

"Of course, Hinata-kun. We'll be fine." Chiaki smiled softly, sitting down on her knees again.

Nodding, Hajime stepped out of the cottage, gently closing the door behind him, and began to make his way back to the restaurant.

* * * * *

He was sad. He didn't want Hinata to leave, but he wouldn't stop him. After all, who would want to stay with worthless trash like him? He suddenly felt the bed dip beside him as Chiaki sat down and placed her hand on his bony shoulder.

"Hinata-kun will be back, Komaeda. Don't worry." Nagito didn't answer. Instead, he proceeded to move over to the wall, leaning on it and curling into a ball, biting his lip as he tried not to frown. "Do you like Hinata-kun, Komaeda?"

"Huh?" Nagito was startled. He wasn't expecting that. Swallowing, he looked at Chiaki. "What do you mean? Something as worthless as me shouldn't have feelings for someone as amazing as an Ultimate!" He exclaimed, a hand on his chest as he gave a wide smile. He wasn't even lying - this is what he truly believed.

"Komaeda." Chiaki spoke softly, concealing a yawn behind her hand.

"Ah, you must be tired." Nagito quickly said before the pinkette could continue. "You should go to your cottage and rest."

"No, I'm okay. I'd rather stay here." She then shook her head. "You shouldn't have to be alone through this."

Just as the girl had said that, there was a knock on the door. Nagito said to come in, and Hajime walked into the cottage. Nagito and Chiaki did a double-take at what was in his arms.

"Is that-"

"My Four Dark Devas of Destruction!" Nagito fell silent when Gundham Tanaka walked in behind Hajime, making sure his pet hamsters were safe in Hajime's arms. They moved over to the two on the bed, and Nagito looked at the brunette with a questioning gaze. 'Did you tell him?' His expression seemed to ask. The other shook his head as a no. Relaxing a little, the white-haired male nodded.

Gundham looked at the female in the room, curious, but not obviously so. He didn't exactly want to know, either - this was Nagito he was talking about. A fiend amongst fiends!

"Hinata requested for my four Dark Devas of Destruction." His deep, loud voice rang throughout the room, and he turned to the door, turning back around. "If something happens to them, the universe will not be able to save you. I will return shortly." He then seemed to remember something, and turned back around to face Chiaki. "Nanami-san. Monomi said she wished to speak with you."

"Oh." Chiaki looked at Nagito, who gestured that she could leave. She slowly nodded after a few moments, and left with Gundham. "I'll come back. I promise." The two boys nodded and the male and female duo left the cottage.

"So-" Nagito whispered, looking at the hamsters in Hajime's arms. He wanted to feel their fur. It looked soft - not as soft as he remembered his dog's fur to be, but still very soft. He wanted to reach out and pet them, but he felt as if his own touch would cause his own 'talent' to flare up and take them too. "-why did you ask for them?"

"You said you had a pet, right?" Hajime smiled, moving the hamsters along in Nagito's direction, who tensed and stared at them. He didn't move when they began to sniff his legs, then climb them. "I thought you might like to spend time with them."

"Oh..thank you." Nagito was surprised. Somebody had taken the time to think of him? He was disappointed in himself. It was one thing to be forced to suffer through his own problematic ramblings and even look at trash like him, but it was another to be forced to feel like you had to do something. Especially Hajime Hinata. The brunet was such a nice person that he felt sad thinking about his one-sided feelings. The other was incapable of liking someone like him, so Nagito was fine swallowing up his feelings and simply being the freak of the class rather than Hajime Hinata's boyfriend, or something. Tears pricked his eyes and he quickly blinked them away before Hajime would notice. He flinched when he looked up and saw the people in the room. Quickly looking down, Nagito focused on the animals moving around on his lap.

The white-haired male's hands rose shakily, a conflicted look on his face. Hajime looked at him, then reached over and gently took hold of them, directing the bony and pale hands, and slowly moving them to the largest hamster - Cham-P. The brunet grinned when a genuine smile slowly spread across Nagito's pale cheeks, grey eyes lighting up a little. Realising their hands were still touching, Hajime quickly pulled his own tan ones away, pink dusting his cheeks. The male watched the other pet the hamsters with a smile pulling at his lips and a blush on his cheeks. His grey orbs glistened slightly in contentment, causing Hajime to stare in admiration at the beauty of them.

"Hey, Komaeda?"

"Yes?" Nagito asked softly, smiling when the hamsters began to climb up his arms and around his body, wincing when they pattered over his cuts. Hajime felt bad for what he was about to ask.

"Do you want to talk about what's going on?" The brunette's brows furrowed when the other tensed slightly, pausing in his petting of the hamsters.

"I don't...I don't know..." He swallowed thickly, licking his lips nervously to wet them and averted his eyes.

"Listen." Hajime reached over and gently placed his tanned hand on the other's pale and bony leg, and leaned over to look into the white-haired male's eyes. "No matter what it is, I'll stay with you. I swear."

Nagito nodded slowly, eyes narrowed in distrust as he began to tell the brunet about what his own so-called 'luck' had caused throughout his life and what he had nightmares about. After he finished speaking, Hajime's heart was broken. This guy has suffered so much, and he's still suffering. The brunet thought sadly. Biting his lip, he once again reached forward and took a gentle grasp of the other's pale and thin hands and lightly squeezed them. His heart raced at his actions.

"Komaeda. I'll be here for you. If you ever need someone to talk to, or need help with something, don't be afraid to come to me, all right?"

"B-but, Hinata-kun-"

"I'll be annoyed if you don't."

"A-ah. O-okay, then. I'll come to you." Nagito looked down, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Thank you, Hinata-kun."

"You can call me Hajime, Komaeda."

"Then call me Nagito...Hajime." The brunet grinned and the other smiled lopsidedly, feeling awkward and undeserving of being on a first-name basis with an Ultimate no doubt, each of them simply looking at each other.

Gundham returned around ten minutes later, taking his hamsters with him when he left. He sent the two a curious glance, but didn't ask questions, deciding it was not his business. If Hinata wanted to associate with someone like Komaeda, then that was his decision - he was not a child. And so, he was gone, leaving the two males behind.

The air turned slightly awkward, and Nagito gave a small sigh, shutting his eyes.

"Hina- Hajime-kun. If you want to leave, you can leave."

"Nagito. I already told you-" Hajime smiled softly, shaking his head. "-I'm not gonna leave you."

"Alright." Nagito exhaled softly through his nose and frowned, then shivered when a breeze blew through the window, carrying a soft voice with it.

"You know I'm still here, right?"

The white-haired male flinched, eyes snapping open as he mechanically turned to look upwards. He saw the face of his first ever friend.

"You can't get rid of me."

I can ignore you... The grey-eyed male thought weakly, flinching when his vision swam, everything mixing together into one swirl of colours. Only the figure of the smiling child remained clear.

"Why me?"

She asked quietly, unmoving.

I don't know.

She stepped forward, leaning down to his face.

"You could've stopped it."

Her hands began to reach up to his pale face.

"I was scared!"

Her mouth began to open very slowly, and her hands began to move closer in slow-motion. Everything was suddenly...so...slow...

"Nagito!" Two hands cupped his cheeks suddenly, startling him. His thumb wiped at his salty tears. "What happened? What did you see?"

"I..I..." Nagito squeezed his eyes shut, shaking his head. "No... I..I'm sorry!" He leapt forward into Hajime's arms, clutching at the shirt covering his chest, wailing into it. The male kept muttering quiet and teary 'I'm sorry's, muffled by the material of the brunet's clothing.

Whether he was apologising for crying into his chest, or for whatever he saw, Hajime didn't know. What he did know, though, was that the white-haired male needed comfort. Lots of it. Tan arms wrapped around the other's figure, one of them rubbing circles on his back. The other reached up to run through soft, white hair.

"It's okay, Nagito. Ssh. It's okay." He kept whispering these words over and over, his heart breaking as the dam that contained the aforementioned boy's emotions hidden broke before him. The taller of the two covered his ears and cried into the brunet's chest, who simply held him gently.

"I'm sorry! It was my fault!"

"What was your fault, Nagito?" Hajime asked softly, brushing his hand through surprisingly-soft white hair. He rested his chin on top of the mop of hair, squeezing the bony male tightly.

"She died because of me..." He whispered, a loud sob suddenly coming forth from his throat as a tremor ran through his body. "...She died because she got close to me..just like everyone else..." He looked up, a haunted look on his face, eyes wide and glossed over with horror and tears. "Just like you."

"Nagito?" Hajime asked when the aforementioned male recoiled like he was suddenly burned by the brunet. He outstretched his arms to try to place a hand on the other's shoulder, but was surprised when it was hit away roughly.

"Don't touch me! If you get close to me, you might die, Hajime-kun! Ahaha! This really is despair-inducing!" A large grin that didn't seem to match his pained eyes stretched across his face, brows furrowing. "Ahaha! That would truly be awful!"

"Nagito..." Hajime murmured. He exhaled softly and bit his bottom lip.

"Please, Hajime-kun. Please leave. If you get close to me, you'll get hurt."

"I don't care." The brunet said firmly, leaning forward and roughly grabbing hold of the other's thin shoulders. "I'm not going to leave you."

"You have to, though." Nagito said, grasping hold of the tan wrists connected to the hands that held him. Hajime shook his head with a small smile.

"Do you really want to get rid of me that much?"

"I-" Nagito bit his lip and looked down, hands falling from the other's wrists and into his lap. A moment of silence reigned before he spoke again. "...No..."

"Then I'm not leaving."

"But-"

"I'm not leaving."

Nagito seemed to study Hajime for a moment, then simply shook his head gently.

"The only hope that can fill me is the hope that my so-called 'talent' doesn't take you away too soon." The white-haired male laughed softly, the raspy sound quickly turning hysterical.

"Oi, Nagito!" Hajime nearly shouted over the loud laughter, hands quickly moving to cup his cheeks. The other's hysterical laughter filtered off into quiet, airy chuckles.

"Yes, Hajime-kun?"

"I'm not going to leave you."

"Ahaha, you don't have to lie to worthless trash like me, Hajime-kun!"

"Nagito." His expression suddenly became more intense, settling curiosity in the aforementioned boy's body. "I'm not going to leave you."

"Hajime-kun-"

"I'm not going to leave you." He said the phrase a third time, putting even more emphasis on each word and leaning in closer to the other to get his point across.

"...Okay. I will place my hope in your word, Hajime-kun." Nagito smiled slightly, sadness seeping through the expression. Third time's a charm. The brunet thought in amusement.

The room remained silent for a few seconds as Hajime became lost in thought.

"Hajime-kun?"

Hajime flinched when he felt Nagito's warm breath, suddenly realising just how close they were to each other. Strangely, though, he didn't feel the need to pull away. Maybe it was the slightly curious look in Nagito's eyes, or the loud drumming of his heart in his ears, or the small voice in the back of his mind to 'tell him', 'tell him', 'tell him'.

Hajime's mouth suddenly felt dry and his green orbs trailed to Nagito's pale-pink lips. Despite their lack of colour or brightness, that one pair of lips was constantly catching the brunet's attention. His cheeks flushed a deep red, but found himself unable to pull back - he wanted to move forward and press his own lips against those other pale ones. He chewed on his lower lip and looked up to search the pair of grey eyes that watched him curiously.

"Na..Nagito.." Hajime whispered, swallowing thickly as he glanced at those damned lips again.

"Yes, Hajime-kun?" Nagito whispered back.

God, that slight rasp in his voice sent shivers down Hajime spine and a sudden inability to breathe. And was it just Hajime, or did Nagito just move slightly closer to him? He could now feel the other's body heat. It wasn't much, but it was there. He found himself liking the feeling of it.

Tell him. Tell him. Tell him.

"Nagito..I..." Hajime swallowed thickly, not knowing how to tell him. He was scared. Part of him knew exactly what his response would be. Another part of him hoped for the response he wanted to hear. He wanted to hear the other reflect his own feelings. Hajime's chest felt heavy. He wanted - no, needed - to tell the other how he felt. But how? His tongue felt heavy. He couldn't speak. He couldn't think of anything else. He moved in.

Nagito's eyes suddenly widened at the shock of what suddenly happened. One moment he was looking into Hajime Hinata's beautiful green eyes, curious of why he could see indecision and desperation, and the next he felt a warm and pleasant feeling on his lips, warm hands gently resting atop his own. He nearly, nearly, allowed himself to fall into the blissful sensation of Hajime's lips on his own. Tears sprang to his eyes. He ripped away.

"Nagito?" Hajime was hurt. He was embarrassed. He was confused. Did he just completely embarrass himself by getting rejected? His heart hurt at the thought that the other didn't like him.

"No.." Nagito bit his lip, eyes glossy with tears, as he shook his head from side-to-side. "You shouldn't do something like that with someone like me."

"Nagito." Hajime smiled when the other leaned into the hand on his cheek with a contented sigh. "I wouldn't kiss just anyone. I like you." The other inhaled sharply, closing his eyes.

"Hajime-kun... You shouldn't say that..."

"What? That I like you?"

"Hajime-kun..." A few tears rolled down his pale cheeks as Nagito continued to chew on his now-rose-red bottom lip.

"I like you."

"Hajime...kun..." Nagito whispered, eyes fluttering shut as the other - once again - began to lean forward, a hand on his pale cheek. Hajime wiped a tear away and hesitantly began to lean forward once again.

"Just tell me to stop." He whispered. When their lips were just barely touching, Hajime spoke once again. "Just...tell me to stop..."

The brunet gently pressed his lips against the other's and felt his heart skip a beat when the other shyly kissed back. Hajime moved his hand and interlocked his left one with the other's pale one. His right tanned hand moved up his arm, up his shoulder, up his non-injured cheek, and into his hair. Hajime felt the other begin to pull away and released him.

"Hajime-kun-" Nagito was red. His eyes were glossed over and his lips were red and wet. "That..um.."

"Tell me, Nagito." Hajime said softly, running his thumb over the white-haired boy's knuckles.

"Wh-what?"

"Tell me what you feel..." Nagito swallowed slowly, leaning his pale forehead on the other's tan one.

"I..." He paused for a moment, swallowing slowly. "..I want to stay with Hajime-kun for as long as I'll be allowed." Nagito looked guilty, as if he shouldn't be feeling emotions like love and attraction. He looked back up at Hajime unsurely and hesitantly, asking in a meek tone: "Can I?" The brunet smiled.

"Of course. You can stay with me for as long as you want."

"Thank you, Hajime-kun." Nagito smiled a small smile, giving the other a closed-eyed smile with hot, pink cheeks. The brunet blushed at the adorable expression, smiling back.

"For what?"

Nagito briefly looked around the room and saw none of the figures that taunted him and tore into him for being the cause of their deaths. He didn't feel their lingering hold on him, either.

"Thank you for giving me this hope."

Maybe he wouldn't get over being the reason everyone died, but maybe - just maybe - Hajime-kun could help him get through it. He liked the sound of Hajime being by his side.