Third person pov

It has been stated before that Kit isn't an idiot, and that fact still holds true. He's quick-witted and quite sharp. He'd taken some time for himself to work out what he was feeling, and he'd come to a firm but simple conclusion. He definitely, without a doubt, had a crush on Tenya, and... that was that. There wasn't much else to it. He liked Tenya, and was pretty sure Tenya liked him back. The only issue was that Tenya wasn't out of the closet. Hell, the guy was clearly still trying to figure out what his sexuality was and how to deal with it.

There was only a month left in summer, and then they'd be thrown back into the hell hole that was Somei Private Academy. Tenya made the place bearable, but attending still wasn't pleasant. Tenya was someone he could count on. The tall boy kept him in line, had stopped him from getting expelled several times in the weeks leading up to summer, and was just someone who was generally trust worthy. Despite Kit's trust for him, the teen hadn't told him everything. While Tenya had told Kit everything there was to know about himself, there were things Kit was still hiding. Or was, before now.

Blood was pouring from the wound on his head. He wasn't concussed, but wounds to the head did always tend to bleed more than others. It was nothing more than a simple gash. It wasn't the most concerning wound he'd ever gotten. On it's own, he probably would have just pressed a towel to it and called it a day. Maybe gone to the ER to have them stitch it up, wielding a simple excuse like 'I tripped' or 'I fell in the shower.' Only it wasn't his only injury, which took the option off the table entirely.

It's not like Kit liked getting the shit beat out of him. There was a gash on his cheeks, surrounding by a darkening bruise that stung and made him feel like thousands of tiny needles were stabbing at his face. He had several bruises up and down his arms, and his ribs were the worse. Half his stomach was painted a purplish green, climbing down his waist to a part of his leg. It hurt anytime he touched it, but he didn't think he'd broken anything. 

He had to get out of the house. His mother didn't often lose her temper, but when she did, she lost it bad. It hadn't happened for a while. When it did, Kit made it a habit not to be around. His dad had died when he was young, and his mother had been a raging bitch ever since. She was obsessed with the company her husband had left behind, and had come to hate Kit to an extent due to how much he looked like his deceased father. Looking at him hurt, and he could understand that. Kit just didn't think physically attacking him was the best response to that grief.

There was nowhere for him to go. Most of the time he'd crawl back into his room and lock the door. Maybe barricade it with his dresser if he could muster up the strength. The issue was that the attack had happened in his bedroom, forcing him to slip out the window and take off running before she could further injure him. There had been times when she'd beaten him to the point where he couldn't walk. During those times, he felt painfully helpless. The thought of not being able to run away made him sick to his stomach.

He was a bit numb to his mother's behavior. He could talk about it flippantly and acted like he didn't care, but it hurt. At home, he was afraid. It's why he was so brash and guarded when he left. Tenya was one of the only people Kit had ever opened up to. When he hit the lawn and started to run, he made a bee-line towards his house without ever thinking about it. That was pretty much the moment Kit knew that if there was anyone out there for him, it was probably Tenya.

He didn't want to burden Tenya with his issues. The tall teenager had a good life with a loving family of heroes. Kit had a shitty mother obsessed with money who used any and every excuse to beat on Kit. Kit didn't know why. He loved his mother. He didn't like her, particularly, but you didn't have to like someone to love them. It hurt, because he could remember a time when his mother was adoring, and affectionate, and everything a mother could be. Kit could remember feeling safe with her at one time. Where that had all gone, he didn't know.

He grit his teeth and bit back traitorous tears that threatened to spill from his eyes the more he thought about it. Kit didn't want much. He just wanted a home, and he didn't want to fear for his own life. He didn't want to fall asleep afraid. Partially, he did have that now. Tenya's house was safe and warm. It wasn't his home, but it was a home. One he'd been welcomed into time and time again. Kit would take what he could get. It was better than passing out on a park bench and crying himself to sleep like the pathetic asshole he just so happened to be.

The last thing he wanted to do was hurt Tenya. But Kit ached all over, and was bleeding all over the place. He couldn't go to the hospital. He'd had his taste of the foster care system, and it wasn't something he ever wanted to experience again. He was quirkless, and quirkless kids weren't all that liked. It didn't matter how capable he was or how many people he could take down with his fists alone. All they saw was a small, scared little boy. It's all they'd ever see. Deep down, maybe that's all he was.

Scaling the Iida residence to reach Tenya's window was a lot harder with bruised arm and an aching ankle. He hadn't noticed it until he stopped in their yard to catch his breath. It must have happened when he pushed himself out his window and tumbled into the bushes below his own bedroom. That didn't matter now. He just wanted to sleep. He wanted to feel safe, and he wanted to sleep. His left eye stung painfully, vision on that side tented crimson from the blood that had poured into it. He was too tired to care, drenched in sweat in the least-sexy was possible. Wow, this really wasn't good for his image.

A part of him contemplated running away. He felt weak right now. He was weak right now. He didn't want Tenya to see him like that. He was beaten down, and felt near breaking. No matter how Kit acted sometimes, he wasn't invincible. Tenya had never seen this side of him. Kit was terrified of how the blue-haired boy would react to seeing him in such a state. To hearing Kit's voice lack its usual bite, because he was far too tired to put up his usual front. 

He climbed the wall anyway. His arms screamed in protest, but he clenched his teeth and moved forward anyway. He'd had worse then this before. Hauling open Tenya's window was nothing, but getting in would be a problem. The brunette couldn't very well shimmy in on his stomach with it so bruised up, and he didn't see Tenya anywhere, so there was no one to pull him in. He ended up pulling one of his legs up, stretching far as he hooked it over the frame.

Tenya's room was chillier than the night air outside. Kit closed the windows and all but collapsed on the ground, the temperature change more of a relief than he ever would have thought it could be. Tenya's room wasn't terribly big, but it wasn't small either. He basked in it, closing his eyes and simply lying there. He knew he was getting blood all over the ground. The boy vowed to apologize later. Right now... he just wanted to lay down.

Truth be told, he didn't really know what he was doing. Kit was someone who was always sure of himself, but in this moment, he had absolutely no idea what was going on. He was unaware of what had managed to piss off his bitchy mother this time around. All he knew was that it had been taken out on him, and now he was going to be forced to show a weaker side of himself to someone he greatly admired. Kit could only hope he wouldn't lose Tenya.

He laid there staring at the ceiling for a long while. For how long, he couldn't be sure. His world felt incredibly fuzzy, and everything hurt. The longer he lie splayed out on the ground, the more his conditioned settled in. It wasn't as bad as it could be. One thing was for sure, and that was that nothing was broken. Maybe he had a cracked rib, but as long as he didn't push himself, he was sure it would be okay. It was mostly bruising that he had. That, and the cut on his forehead and the one on his cheek.

Footsteps reached his ears, but Kit didn't really put two and two together. He focused primarily on breathing and mulling over whether or not this was a good idea. It was most certainly too late to leave. Technically he could, but he'd be leaving behind a huge and mysterious puddle of blood that would raise several questions. They'd see the trail leading back to the window and immediately know it was him anyway, which would cause even more questions and even more worry. 

The door opened, and Kit heard Tenya's breath hitch in his throat as he came to a stop. Kit's eyes shifted tiredly to him, not having the energy to lift his head and look at him. It was hard to see his face, but if his rigid posture was anything to go off of, he was probably a mixture of confused and horrified. Definitely justifiable. Just like Kit cared for Tenya, Tenya cared for Kit. Though Kit didn't really see how Tenya could care for a shit bag like him, he also wasn't blind enough to assume Tenya didn't care. 

"...Kit?" Tenya asked in a small, shaky voice. Kit coughed a little.

"Not dead yet." He assured, raising his hand a bit in greeting. He heard Tenya choke out a strangled sound of surprise, and winced. "Remember when I told you my home life wasn't that great?"

"Y-Yeah." Tenya felt like the life had been sucked right out of him. Blood was pooling rapidly under his best friend, whom he was growing to love on an entire other level. He was just... laying there, battered but breathing. He'd never felt so terrified or so lost. He didn't know what to do. He'd come up stairs ready to text Kit to check up on him, not having heard from him at all. Only for him to walk in on... on this. 

"Well... my home life really isn't that great." Kit ended lamely for lack of anything better to say, sighing as he pushed himself up. Tenya scrambled to help him, seeming to snap out of his shock. He was still pale, and seemed near tears as he assessed the damage. "No, I'm not going to die. Nothing is broken and I'm about ninety-percent sure I don't have a concussion. Head wounds just... bleed a shit ton." 

"Kit, who did this to you?" Tenya asked, voice a whisper as he carefully looked over Kit. His arms were more bruised than he'd ever seen them, and the cut on his cheek looked more like a rip. As though something had pulled through his skin forcibly rather than slicing it. His head wound was long, but it wasn't deep and probably wouldn't need stitches. That being said, he didn't know a great deal of first aid. Just the basics.

"I..." Kit sighed heavily, bringing a hand up to massage his aching temples onto the bring them back down when he realized he'd be pressing into the gash on his head. He settled for bringing his hand to the back of the neck, taking a deep breath. "Just- shit, can I... can I tell you everything later? Sorry for getting blood on your floor. I just... want to get out of these clothes." Kit's voice was softer than it usually was, his eyes downcast. Tenya frowned.

His mind was reeling as he tried to put together who could have done this to him. His heart was aching unlike it had ever ached before, and he felt truly scared for Kit. Seeing him look so weathered down made him feel feeble and shaky. He felt sorrowful on the brunette's behalf, and an overwhelming concern he'd never felt for anyone before. Such worry wasn't something he was terribly used to. But with Kit in this state, how could he not be upset? The only reason he wasn't breaking down was because he knew he needed to be strong. For Kit.

"Al... Alright. But you need to explain later, Kit. I... you're..." Tenya swallowed heavily. Kit offered a small smile, but it was weak and anything but reassuring. Tenya took that as his cue. Taking a shaky, deep breath of his own, he hauled Kit to his feet with ease. The taller of the two flinched at this pained hiss that escaped the brunette, heart pounding as adrenaline forced its way into his veins. They started for the bathroom.

Kit was silent as Tenya practically carried him down the hall. This wasn't how he'd wanted Tenya to find out, but life was never a fair thing. Things between himself and Tenya were going so well before all this. This could ruin it all. His shitty life could ruin everything good he had, and Kit wasn't all that sure what he'd do if that happened. He didn't really have anyone else. He had some other family, but going to them wasn't really an option. Other than them and Tenya... it was just Kit.

Tenya set him down on the toilet seat. First they'd clean the cuts, and then they'd see about washing the blood out of his hair. That couldn't possibly be comfortable. Not to mention his eye and- god, Tenya felt unbearably angry. He felt nothing but rage towards whoever had been the cause of this, and pining worry for Kit. He wanted Kit to be okay. He wanted to see him smile and be safe. 

If he could, he'd wrap Kit in his arms and never let go. At least Kit would be safe then. Would this happen again if Kit was let out of his sight? Tenya didn't want to be possessive or controlling, but there was this sweltering fear that was slowly growing the more and more he fumbled with the First Aid Kit. Tenya was doing his best to keep calm. It was a little hard, but looking at the despondent expression on Kit's face was enough motivation in and of itself. 

"Cheek first?" Tenya asked, tone soft. Kit nodded ever so slightly. Tenya crouched down to get a better look at the cut. He brought up the disinfectant wipe, dabbing at the blood. Kit tensed, but gave no other indications that he was uncomfortable as Tenya cleaned the area around the laceration. It had stopped bleeding which was a good sign. Despite the fact that the blood had already begun to clot, he still got out a cotton ball and soaked it with antiseptic. Kit's nose visibly scrunched at the sight.

Kit had soft features. Often times they weren't noticeable. The constant scowling and snarling hid them from view, but his expression as slacker now. Sadder. It made Tenya's chest ache more, and his throat close up. He loved Kit. He knew he did. If he didn't, then why did he feel so utterly devastated seeing him like this? Kit's life wasn't in danger, even if his wounds were bad. He just... he looked broken, and that made Tenya hurt too.

He finished up the cheek in silence, neither of them breathing a word. He placed a gauze patch over it and secured it in place before moving to wipe at the blood that had poured down Kit's face. He'd be needing fresh clothes. Luckily, he still had a few changes here that would most definitely work. Tenya would of course be giving him the bed. Like hell Kit was ever sleeping on the floor again, futon or not.

A knock on the door startled them both, and Kit gripped Tenya's forearm to keep from tipping back in his surprise. Tenya kept a soft but firm hold on Kit was well, mindful of his bruises. The last thing he wanted was to hurt him further. 

"Tenya?" It was Tensei, sounding cautious. "Is there a reason there's a puddle of blood in the middle of your bedroom?"

"I, uh- Kit had a... a-an accident. It's okay." Tenya managed to answer. Tensei was silent on the other side. Kit lowered his gaze a little, gritting his teeth as his eyes stung. He hated this. He didn't regret coming here, but he hated this. He knew the moment he saw Tenya's worried face that he was done for. To think someone cared so much about him. To be concerned enough to have that sort of reaction, and to wear that sort of expression with such sincerity. It made him want to cry.

"...Are you sure? Do we need to go to the hospital?" Tensei checked, sounding more concerned than before. Kit immediately shook his head when Tenya glanced at him. The glasses-wearing teen wanted to bring Kit to an ER. Of course he did; he was hurt! But if Kit said no, Tenya would trust him. Kit was someone who hid his weakness from others out of necessity. Like it was a survival instinct. The fact that he'd come here, to Tenya, was a lot. The blue-haired boy refused to throw that away.

"It's all handled. He's okay." Tenya didn't even believe himself as he said the words, but they came out anyway. Kit swore he heard Tensei sigh, even with the door between them. He clenched his fists. He didn't want to worry people. It was flattering that they were concerned to begin with, but it wasn't his goal to disrupt them so entirely. Somehow, he hadn't thought they'd have such a severe reaction.

"Alright. Let me know if you need anything." Tensei said, and then he was gone, footsteps pattering back off down the hall. Tenya released a breath of air he hadn't realized he'd been holding, offering Kit a small smile. Oddly enough, Tensei had made this all the more real just by asking a simply question. That wasn't the worst thing. Tenya felt less like he was drowning. Tensei probably would have reacted worse were he to see Kit's state, but he hadn't. He'd been relatively calm as he knocked on the door. It helped Tenya level himself.

He cleaned up as much of the blood as he could before beginning to carefully tug the hair stuck to the cut away. Kit hissed with discomfort, but didn't flinch or try to move away. Instead he let Tenya do his work. Tenya let the fact that the wound really wasn't all that deep soothe him. Not by much, but at least he'd stopped shaking. His heart was still lodged in his throat, and he still felt undeniably angry at whoever did this. His concern for Kit was still going strong as he turned on the tap.

Kit moved quietly, pulling his shirt up and over his head before dipping his face into the spray. He tensed when it washed over his cut, careful not to get it on the fresh gauze on his cheek as he washed out his eye and hair. Tenya carefully rubbed circles on Kit's back in a way he hoped as comforting as the boy pressed himself over the side of the tub, already pulling one of the towels stacked on the back of the toilet. It unraveled just as Kit pulled back, face dripping. That's when Tenya saw it.

An entire side of his stomach was covered in bruises. It was swollen and a little lumpy, the smooth tan color replaced by sickly greens and purples, along with some blues. He felt horror claw its way up his throat as a small, shuddering breath of air left him, as though sucked from his lungs. Kit looked away, carefully drying himself before grabbing another gauze pad, this one longer, and pressing it to the larger gash. 

"Kit..." Tenya's fingers ghosted over the bruises, and Kit tensed. His meticulous wrapping paused only for a moment before he continued. Tenya's stomach did a painful flip when he realized the brunette had done this before. His blue eyes couldn't be pried from the bruises. Kit felt his walls begin to crumble the longer and longer Tenya gazed at his discolored body. The scars seemed so much more pronounced now, with the bruises covering him. Tenya blinked back tears, sucking in some air when he realized he'd frozen.

"I'm okay." Kit's voice shook. "I'm really okay, Tenya."

Tenya didn't believe him, hands curling into fist as he asked the question that had been itching at the back of his mind ever since Kit mentioned his home life. He took a deep breath, "Did you mom do this?"

Kit froze completely. His breathing stopped, his joints locked, and he stared. Kit knew it wasn't hard to put together. He'd referred to his mother sourly before, and had mentioned his home life being absolute shit. Tenya was smart. He was perceptive, and Kit had made it pretty damn obvious anyway. Yet the question had still managed to take him off guard. His reaction was telling enough. 

Tenya felt his entire body tense when tears filled Kit's eyes. He'd never seen Kit cry. Before he could stop himself, he was leaning forward, taking the smaller boy in his arms without putting much thought into it. Against his chest, Kit choked out a frustrated sob. Tenya was glad Kit wasn't looking at his face. That was, he wouldn't see the murder in his blue eyes.

"I don't know what I did." Kit whimpered against him. "I never know what the fuck I did."

"It's okay, Kit." Tenya soothed, swiping away tears of his own as his friend broke down into tears. "I've got you."

"Ten Signs You're Low-Key In Love With Your Best Friend"

1.) Physical contact

Even something as minor as bumping shoulders is enough to send your heart running. If any form of physical contact with your best friend sends your cardiac muscle into mayhem and caused even the butterflies in your stomach to go doki-doki, you might be in love with them. Does your face and body get hot? Do tingles race up your spine? Do you get random urges to just touch them and be closer to them in hopes of maybe you'll brush hands? Maybe you even stare at them and admire their body or face. Maybe their smile or the way their brow crinkles when they laugh. If you're experiencing literally any of what I just said, brace yourself. You've got the love bug, honey!

2.) You want to be with them all the time

They could move into your house and you'd be totally and completely happy. You want them by your side at all times if at all possible. If they're not in your line of sight, they're on your mind. How are they doing? Are they getting enough sleep? Are they talking to someone else? Oh god, should you text them?! You hope and pray they'll ask to hang out. You genuinely adore their presence. You bask in it. Handcuffing yourself to them doesn't actually sound like a half-bad idea when you really think about it. Check yourself. You're either in love or unhealthily obsessed.

3.) Attractive

You find them attractive, but hey, you'd think that about anyone attractive. It's not just them, you say! Hahahahah! Yeah, you're wrong. You catch yourself admiring them all the time, don't you? I bet your heart even picks up it pace anytime they show even just a little more skin. Yes, I'm calling you out. Get it in your head. You're totally in love, or at least a little bit. Just admit it. They're hot and you've noticed. Open your eyes and see the light! Smell those roses! Love is in the air!

4.) Jealousy

Oh my, what's this? Does your heart lurch painfully whenever you see them with someone else who isn't you? Maybe they're flirting with someone, or someone is flirting with them. Maybe they're on a date, or simply interacting with another friend. It doesn't matter. If your gut flips uncomfortably and you feel an odd amount of resentment towards the person they're interacting with, you're probably jealous. You just want them to be by your side, right? You want their attention on you and not whoever the hell they're talking to. Check yourself. If you're overly jealous, you may be in love.

5.) Oh no, thoughts

Are you having some inappropriate thoughts about your dearest, best friend? Maybe you find yourself staring at their lips and wondering what it'd be like to kiss them. Maybe you imagine holding them in a way friends don't hold one another! Hey, perhaps you've even had a dream or eight about what being with them sexually might be like. These are clear signs you're at least attracted to them. Are you in love? Depends on how many of these you're experiencing. Either way, you at least want in their pants, or you want them in yours. Reel in your urges and thoughts, kids. Nobody wants a sexual assault charge on their person. 

6.) Their pain is your pain

If they're upset, you're upset. You get mad on their behalf! Sad! Happy! Excited! Anything you can think of. Their mood effects yours, doesn't it? I bet it does. Not like other, normal people's do. No, this person is special, aren't they? Them crying breaks your heart into a thousand tiny little pieces. But hey, when they smile, you probably feel like you're basking out in the sun with a martini. If your best friend's mood heavily impacts your own, to an extent that is quite frankly a little off, then you may be in loveeee. Oo la la!