Some Wounds Need More Than Bandages
Fandoms: Kamen Rider - All Media Types仮面ライダーガヴ | Kamen Rider Gavv (TV)
Relationship: Inoue Shouma/Karakida Hanto
Characters: Inoue Shoma, Karakida Hanto, Dente Stomach, Amane Sachika
Summary: Hanto and Shoma can't agree on the natue of Granutes and continually argue about it. However when the twins nearly kill Shoma, Hanto is led to a cave in the woods with a bed and supplies but no one around. While treating Shoma's wounds he finds a journal with Shoma's name. Confused by where he found it he starts reading, learning about Shoma's past and how he truly feels. Which will it be? Will Hanto reject him and leave the injured Rider to his own devices? Or will he stick by his side despite the truth?
Notes: I'm trying to jump into June of Fluffy Feverwhump. I'm a couple days behind because I found it late but I'm trying to remind myself that's ok. This is for day one, the prompt was bandaging each other. Since I'm behind already I went with yet another ChocoGummy fic about Hanto finding out Shoma's a Granute. I don't know why but I can always revisit the time between episodes 12 and 28 (usually between 12 and 21) I just like playing with how he finds out and reacts.
Read the fic below the art Eddie made to go with it or on ao3. -Damien
Shoma bandaged Hanto as best he could, though he'd improved with practice he still wasn't great at it. "Ugh, what happened?" Hanto groaned, gripping his head as he sat up.
"You got the presses back and I defeated the Granute but you almost died in the process, again." Shoma gave him a stern look, "we've talked about this, what good is revenge if you're dead too? You know Sachika-san and I would be heartbroken if something happened to you. The two of you are all I've got."
"I'm sorry Shoma, it's not just about revenge though. I can't let those things create more victims." Hanto saw Shoma flinch and put a hand on his shoulder. "Don't worry I'll be more careful, as long as we watch each other's backs we'll both get through this." Shoma gave him a sad smile which confused him, "what's wrong?"
He shook his head, "it's nothing, just hung up on losing you I guess."
Hanto sighed and threw an arm around him, "relax I'm not going anywhere. We're a team aren't we?"
A couple weeks later they sat arguing in Hapipare, "how could you believe one of those things? You can't trust a Granute, there's no way he's switching sides. He just wanted you to spare him, it's probably a trap."
"I know that Hanto but what if he's telling the truth?" Shoma argued. "I know it's probably a trap and I'm willing to take the risk because if he's telling the truth and we kill him how are we any better than them?"
"What's that supposed to mean?" Hanto growled at him.
"If you met a Granute who had never consumed a Dark Snack and never harmed a human, would you still kill them?" Shoma dodged his question but Hanto would humor him for now.
"There's no such thing and if one claimed that how could I even trust them?" Hanto questioned him back.
"So how are you better than them? They have families too, if you kill one who's never hurt humans how are you better than the ones who killed our moms?" Shoma pressed, there was a sadness in his eyes Hanto didn't understand.
"Hey guys, I'm back," Sachika walked in effectively ending their conversation. "Is everything ok?"
"Just fine, I have to go," Hanto grumbled. When he reached the door he looked back at Shoma, "let me know when you come to your senses."
"Shoma? Shoma, where are you? Are you ok?" Hanto searched the woods frantically looking for his fallen friend. He'd arrived in time to see those twin Granutes take him down and he feared the worst. "Please don't be dead," he mumbled. Then he glimpsed one of Shoma's Gochizos, "hey it's me where is he? Is he ok?" At the sight of him the Gochizo perked up and led him back to its fallen master. "Shoma!" He fell to the ground next to him, he was unconscious and didn't look like he'd be moving anytime soon.
At the sound of cracking sticks Hanto quickly looked around for cover and caught sight of a well-hidden cave. As quickly and quietly as he could he moved Shoma into the cave and pulled the bush that had been concealing most of the entrance to cover the rest. Next he pulled his hood up and took out his water bottle. He began to stumble around like he was drunk making as much noise as possible. As he'd hoped, it drew the attention of the agents searching for Shoma. At the sight of them he called out,, "howzit goin, wanna join me for a drink friends?"
"It's just a drunk human," one muttered to the other in annoyance.
"Maybe it saw something?" The other suggested and turned back to Hanto. "Have you seen anyone injured in the area?"
"I saw a guy stumblin that way," Hanto pointed deeper into the woods. "Don't think he knew where he was cuz thas the wrong way. Gave him some chips an' he wandered off. You friends of his?"
"Yes and we need to find him," one of them snapped and the pair took off in the direction Hanto had pointed.
"Good luck findin yur friend, come find me when ya do an' we'll celebrate with a drink," Hanto called after them. He made sure to make some more noise and keep up the act until the Gochizos let him know the coast was clear. "That was way too close," he mumbled and rushed back to Shoma. "What should I do? I don't have anything to clean or bandage his wounds with." Some of the Gochizos started trying to get his attention, clearly trying to lead him somewhere but he didn't want to leave Shoma alone and vulnerable. "Should I bring him?" The Gochizos nodded urgently so he stopped questioning them and lifted his injured friend into his arms, Shoma’s head resting on his chest.
Dente sat in his cave tinkering around in an attempt to find a way to better help Shoma when several Gochizos rushed in. "What's wrong? Why are you all in a panic?" He picked up one of them and placed it in his phone, seeing the human he assumed was Valen protecting a severely injured Shoma. "Lead him back here, I'll hide so as not to expose Shoma. Show him where the first aid kit and anything else he needs is. If it's bad enough I'm needed I'll be nearby, come get me." With that Dente threw on his hat and coat and moved to a spot where he could stay out of sight while still keeping an eye on his cave.
"Where are we?" Hanto questioned when he arrived at the cave they'd led him to. He quickly laid Shoma on the bed in the back and grabbed the first aid kit the Gochizos were jumping on. He rushed to remove Shoma's hoodie to better inspect his wounds. In the process he realized Shoma's Gavv wasn’t a driver like he had but something physically attached to him. "What the hell modifications did you receive?"
He carefully wrapped the other's wounds and stroked his hair affectionately. He had realized recently that he was falling for the other Rider. His gaze dropped back to Shoma's stomach though and he felt anxious at the sight of the Gavv. Their memories of arguments regarding Granutes swirled in his head. Shoma groaned in his sleep making Hanto worry, he'd never seen Shoma look so pale and beat up. He was concerned that what he'd done wouldn't be enough. "He needs a doctor but, like me, he can't see one."
His attention was drawn to a crashing noise where some of the Gochizos had accidentally knocked over some books. He crouched down and started picking them up, not recognizing the language some of them were in. Then he found a notebook with Shoma's name on the cover in his handwriting. "What's this doing here?" He picked it up and started flipping through it.
Sachika-san suggested I keep a tasty journal but after meeting Dente-ojisan I'm thinking it might help to keep a regular one too. I probably won't track the days or anything, just write down what's on my mind when I feel like it.
He flipped ahead some more through a couple entries about meeting Valen and their recent battles until he saw something that made his heart stop.
Today I learned that Hanto is Valen and he found out I'm Gavv. He's a modified human though not a half-Granute like I'd thought. He absolutely hates Granutes, I don't know what to do. For now it might be best if I started keeping my journal at Dente-ojisan's where he and Sachika-san aren't likely to find it. I also learned that Lango-niisan fired Jiip-niisan and Siita-neesan because they failed to stop me. I get why he treats me like shit but why them?
I think I might be falling for Hanto. He was hurt fighting a Granute again, reminding me sooner or later I'll lose him. Even if he survives this (and if I have anything to say about it he will) I can't hide the truth forever and when he learns the truth he'll turn on me. He might even try to kill me. I've tried so hard to tell him but I'm terrified, I guess I'm just a coward. I thought maybe I could convince Siita-neesan and Jiip-niisan to join me since Lango-niisan fired them and is trying to marry them off but they'd rather try to impress him than just help me so they can stay together. They blame me but I never asked to be born.
Hanto and I fought again today, a part-timer told me he wanted to quit Stomach Inc. I don't fully believe him but if there's any hope of a Granute being good I need him to see it. Right now it seems I'm too human for Granutes and too Granute for humans. My mom never asked to be taken, she never asked to have me, I never asked to be born. I miss her so much it feels like she's the only one who will ever love me despite what I am. I don't belong anywhere and I can tell my time is running out, soon enough Hanto and Sachika-san will learn the truth and reject me like everyone else. I’ll always be alone won’t I?
When he learns the truth do you think Hanto will tell Sachika-san or will he let me tell her. Will he even let me live? What will he think if he finds out a monster loves him? It doesn't matter how many humans I save, it doesn't matter that my mom was human, I'll always just be another monster won't I?
Hanto's emotions clashed inside him as he looked at the injured man on the bed. He was disgusted by Shoma being a Granute but if he was understanding this he was also human. He felt guilty for making Shoma feel like this. He now understood the sadness hidden in his eyes beneath a happy and innocent exterior. "You've been struggling with this alone haven't you?" He couldn't stop himself though he was almost to the end so he kept reading.
I've been thinking about that picture of Hanto's mom, if I die I want to at least help him first. Dente-ojisan said the pain when I looked at it might be it triggering a traumatic memory my brain locked away. Then last night I had a nightmare. I'm positive it was a memory. I was a kid again, lost within Stomach Inc and crying for my mom. Hanto's mom found me and tried to help me find my mom. As a result, Lango-niisan found us and killed her in front of me. I'm responsible for all the bad in Hanto's life. It's all my fault. I never should have been born, my mother never should have been in that awful world.
Hanto looked at Shoma in a rage as he stomped over to him and glared down. The Granute in front of him was injured and unable to fight back, he could end him there. "Hanto, I'm sorry," Shoma muttered. His gaze shifted to Shoma's face only to find the injured Rider still unconscious, he was talking in his sleep. "I love you, I know you hate me now but I love you. I’m sorry for being a monster." Tears slipped down his face from his closed eyes. The sight drained Hanto of his anger and he fell to his knees.
"I don't know what to do," Hanto cried, his own tears falling now. "He's one of them but he's also not. If my mom hadn't found him she might have escaped, she might still be alive." He sniffled a bit and wiped his eyes, "right now he needs my help. He has to live long enough for me to yell at him before I can be mad." Shoma's phone started to ring, showing the name Dente on the screen. "Hello?"
"I'm Shoma's uncle Dente on his father's side. The Gochizos told me you know the truth about him. I can help him but only if you let me live long enough to do so. I know you hate Granutes and want us all dead. I don't mind paying for my sins and the sins of my family but Shoma is half human and he's done nothing but help humans since he managed to escape his siblings in the Granute world." The voice was urgent but failed to hide the fear underneath.
"You can save him?" Hanto asked quietly, voice eerily calm.
"I can and I want to but I can't if you attack me the second I walk in."
"I promise I won't hurt you, please save him." The line went dead and he stared at the phone until he heard movement at the cave entrance.
A Granute walked in with his hands up, "I'm Dente Stomach, Shoma's uncle, and I'm unarmed."
Hanto just nodded, voice caught in his throat, and moved out of the elderly Granute's way. "This is the twins' handiwork isn't it?" Dente sighed as he pulled out medical supplies, "he shouldn't have faced them alone."
"Why did he?" The question left Hanto's mouth before he could stop it. "He could have waited for me and we could have fought together."
"He was terrified of you finding out the truth; he may have been afraid that they'd reveal his identity. Shoma's had a hard life, the only person who really showed him any love was his mother. I didn't like what my family was doing so I went into hiding here when he was still young, not long after modifying him. You mean a lot to him Karakida-san," Dente didn't once look at him completely focused on his task.
"Is there anything I can do to help?" Hanto asked hesitantly.
"Do you have any snacks or food on you? He'll heal a lot faster if he has food when he wakes up," Dente explained.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a couple packs of ramune, "will this work if he wakes up before I can come back?" Dente nodded in confirmation so he left them on the table and set off. "If he wakes up, tell him I'm coming back." He rushed off after that, happy to be alone.
Shoma woke up with another groan, "where am I?"
"You're in my cave, your friend Valen brought you here after he was led by the Gochizos. I tried to stay hidden and let him bandage you up but your condition was worse than expected. He found your journal and learned the truth so I revealed myself and came to treat you."
Shoma shot up only to grab his ribs in pain, "Hanto knows?"
"He does, he asked how he could help. I told him you needed food." Dente passed him the ramune that Hanto had left for him. "He left these and told me to tell you he would be back if you woke up."
"How angry was he?" Shoma asked nervously, staring down at his hands as he spoke.
"At first? Furious, but I read everything and you started talking in your sleep. You were apologizing to me and told me you love me." Shoma's head shot up at the sound of Hanto's voice. "I couldn't just leave you to die, I promised you we'd get through this together. We're a team right? So you need to tell me everything." Hanto pulled a chair up next to him and passed him a sandwich.
"You don't hate me for being a Granute? Even though I hid it from you? You aren't mad at me?" Shoma asked him hopefully.
"Of course I'm fucking mad," Hanto shouted irritably. He let out an exasperated sigh when Shoma flinched, "I'm sorry I didn't mean to yell. Look of course I'm mad, you should have told me, but also I'm sorry. I can see why you'd be afraid to tell me, I should have been more willing to listen." He took Shoma's hand "I'm listening now though. If I'm going to ask you to be honest I have to be honest too. I was falling for you before all this and I guess I fell pretty hard because despite all of this if you'll give me a chance I'd still like to be with you."
Shoma threw his arms around Hanto, tears streaming down his face, "thank you Hanto."
Hanto slowly returned the hug, clutching him tight. "Now eat up and tell me everything." The trio ate while Shoma and Dente explained everything. Hanto wasn't proud of how he reacted at some points but in the end he listened to Shoma and chose to stay with him.
As the sun rose in the morning Hanto helped Shoma get back to Hapipare. They hadn't been expecting Sachika to be sleeping with her head on the table waiting for him. They were able to convince her he'd just gotten mugged and was ultimately ok. It took telling her they were a couple to distract her but neither had an issue with her knowing about that part of their relationship. They brought out the cake Shoma had made and celebrated with it until Hanto found the destruction meant to lure Shoma out.
Hanto ran to Shoma after seeing his transformation end and he collapsed on the ground. He stumbled a bit from his own injuries but willed himself to make it to him. "Shoma, hey Shoma! Wake up, please." He heard a faint moan and saw him trying to roll over so he quickly helped. His stomach growled and he gave Hanto a sheepish smile. Hanto sighed in relief and flicked him on the head, "you idiot. I thought I'd lost you."
"Sorry, I guess this one uses a lot of energy," he held up the new CaKing Gochizo to show Hanto. Hanto reached into his jacket and pulled out a bag of chips and a pack of gummies. Shoma's eyes lit up as he took them from him. "For me?"
"Yeah after I took out the Granute I rushed over as fast as I could but figured when you won you'd need something to help you get the energy to go home." Hanto struggled to his feet and offered Shoma his hand, "let's get back before the boss gets worried and hunts us down."
They stumbled into Hapipare and over to a waiting first aid kit, Shoma's eyes going wide at the amount of food spread out before them. "Woah what's all this for?" He started to move towards the food but was pulled back into his seat
"You can eat when we're done treating your wounds," Hanto scolded. "Good question though, what's with all the food?" He remained focused on cleaning a large cut on Shoma's arm as he spoke. Then he realized he remembered seeing an injury on Shoma's stomach near his Gavv but couldn't remember if it was a cut or bruise. He used checking the wound on his arm more closely as an excuse to get closer to Shoma and whisper to him. "Hey, are your stomach and chest ok? What about your Gavv? Do we need to get away from her for me to check?"
Shoma had to stop himself from showing the surprise on his face in front of Sachika but she still noticed something. She set down two plates of food near them, "here I know how Umasho's appetite can get, eat while bandaging each other. So what were you whispering about over here Hanty?"
"I was just flirting with my boyfriend," he lied. He made a point of focusing intently on bandaging Shoma's arm and looking for any other major concerns he could without removing Shoma's hoodie. "Looks like I just have to get those minor cuts on your face and hands."
"Those can wait, you've got a pretty bad gash on your shoulder, there's blood coming through your shirt." Shoma started pulling more bandages and gauze out of the first aid kit. Hanto just sighed and unbuttoned his shirt, flinching from pain when he slid it off.
"So are you still going to try to convince me this was just some gang?" Sachika asked with a raised eyebrow. "Why not go to the hospital? You both look like you could use stitches."
"It's not as bad as it looks, it was just bleeding for a while," Shoma quickly rushed to clean the wound hoping to prove his point. "And mine was a bit long but not that deep the bandages will be fine." Hanto used his free hand to shove food into Shoma's mouth to shut him up before he made it worse. Shoma just happily chewed and after he swallowed he opened his mouth for more, allowing Hanto to feed him while making sure to feed himself as well.
Sachika sat with her own plate of food and pressed for more information. "So tell me about this gang, shouldn't we go to the cops?" This drew suspicion from Hanto who narrowed his eyes at her.
"What are you trying to figure out? I know someone fishing for information when I see it just ask your real questions," he snapped irritably. "I'm too tired and in too much pain to play games tonight."
"Which one of you is the purple Rider and which one of you is the chocolate Rider?" She shot back without hesitation causing Shoma to choke on the water he'd stopped to drink. "Well that's not telling or anything," she joked. "Come on don't try to deny it, you always disappear when the monsters show up and you're always coming home beat up and are back on your feet ridiculously fast. So you've gotta be the Kamen Riders I'm just not one hundred percent sure who is who. I think Umasho is the purple one and Hanty is the chocolate one.”
"I don't know-" Hanto started but was cut off by Sachika before he could lie.
"Then you won't mind if I empty your bag will you?" Sachika smirked, snatching his bag off the floor before he could get to it. "So you gonna tell me or let me search your bag?"
"That's devious Sachika-san," Shoma mumbled. He looked at Hanto and received a small but tired smile. With a final nod of confirmation Shoma spoke up. "Why are you so desperate to learn who the Riders are?"
"Because if my friends are putting their lives on the line to save people I want to be there to support them." She looked at them with a confident smile, "and if you are the Riders then I've already been helping you so shouldn't I know what I'm getting into?"
Shoma sighed, "alright you have a point. You're right I'm the purple Rider, Gavv, and Hanto is the chocolate Rider, Valen. It's been a really long couple of days. Can we just have tonight? First thing tomorrow I'll explain everything but for now can we just rest?"
Sachika gave them a soft smile, "yeah that sounds fair. Why don't I take this plate to go? I can finish it at home and you can have some peace."
"I wasn't trying to make you leave, I just didn't want to get into that tonight," Shoma clarified quickly.
"Nah it's not about that, I just think the two of you deserve some time alone after all the hard work you've secretly been doing." She quickly packed up and stopped by the pair before leaving. "Call me if you need anything, otherwise I'll see you tomorrow." She looked over to Hanto and winked, "have fun." With that she was out the door and they were alone.
Shoma went back to bandaging Hanto, careful not to hurt him too much. Hanto could focus better now that it was just the two of them in the silent room. He saw Shoma's look of concentration but hidden in his eyes was doubt and concern. "Hey what's wrong? Did I say or do something stupid again?"
Shoma jumped, startled by the sudden question, "no it's not that I was just worried I wasn't doing this right." He pulled his hands away from Hanto's shoulder to look at it. "I think that looks right. How does it feel?"
Hanto moved his shoulder a bit flinching from the pain but the bandages seemed secure. "I'm in pain but the bandages feel like they're on properly. Now let me get those little cuts," Hanto sat up more and started cleaning the cuts on Shoma's face. "Oh wait we're alone so take off your hoodie so I can better look you over." Shoma hesitated but did as asked, revealing his Gavv once again. Hanto ran his hands along Shoma's skin feeling for broken bones or anything unusual, other than the Gavv. Shoma shivered at his touch letting out a happy hum in response. Hanto didn't find anything out of the ordinary aside from a large bruise just above his Gavv.
The two finished up the last bit of first aid they needed and quickly put the first aid kit away. After a couple more plates they cleaned up dinner and cuddled up in the bed, exhausted from the past few days. In the dark room lit only by the moonlight Shoma looked down at the bandage on his arm and Hanto's hand resting on his Gavv and smiled. He knew there would be more hardships, more fights, more injuries, and more arguments but for now Hanto and Sachika knew the truth and they didn't abandon him. He cuddled into Hanto's embrace and heard a sleepy, "I love you," leave his lips.
"I love you too Hanto," he whispered back as his eyes drifted closed. The next morning they'd awake to the sun shining in their eyes, wrapped in each other's arms with loving smiles on their faces. They were ready to face whatever the future held, together. Slowly but surely they would begin to heal each other’s hearts from wounds they never thought would close. Afterall, some wounds can’t be healed with bandages or medicine, only love can ease the pain in one’s soul.
