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Isao already regrets this. The boy is all bluster and arrogance. A fitting match for this particular numbers weapon. He's one of the youngest recruits from his class though and Isao can still see the kid in his school uniform, Hasegawa dragging him off towards medical while he clutches a bag of toys to his chest.
For a second, it's not Narumi Gen on the platform below, it's his daughter. His stubborn Kikoru. Only a few years younger and just as determined to prove herself, to join the Defense Force, despite what it's taken from her. From them.
One day, it will be her on this platform, wearing her mother's suit. Testing it out. Isao swallows back bile.
Narumi glances up at the catwalker, his eyes flicking over all of the witnesses. The high ranking officers from headquarters, troops from the First Division and even the Third.
His throat bobs, eyes wide when the techs finish securing the full suit to his body. It swamps him and Narumi looks even more like a child, swaddled in another man's armor.
Not his father's. Narumi doesn't have one of those. Not anymore.
Their eyes meet. Isao's surprised when Narumi holds his gaze. The teen's chin wobbles, just for a moment, before he clenches his jaw. Isao blinks and offers him a faint nod. Encouraging, he hopes.
The operations techs call out various safety measurements and status updates as the suit comes online.
Still looking up at him, Narumi's eyes flicker. Red irises quickly overtaken by a bright magenta, pupils stretching into a crosshatch. The kaiju's retinas activating just before the suit does.
His own first test with a numbers weapon had ended with him passing out almost immediately. Hikari's too. Though she hadn't lost consciousness quite as quickly as him, she had thrown up.
Narumi screams instead. The sharp sound cutting through the air. A stuttering, pained cry.
The techs call out their readings and there's a flurry of activity all around him. Isao grips the railing of the catwalk, stomach churning. He thinks he might be sick himself when Narumi starts crying in earnest. It's blood dripping down his face, not tears.
"Nerve assimilation complete!" someone calls out, just as Narumi drops to his knees. He's trembling, gasping for breath, but he remains conscious, and upright.
Until they finish weaponizing Number 6, this suit remains the strongest numbers weapon. The most dangerous. A fortitude level over 9 and the first kaiju ever weaponized in this manner.
Numbers Weapon 2's suit had to be calibrated to match him. The initial fit clunky and the synchronization overwhelming.
He repeats those facts to himself. Reminds himself Narumi is a soldier. He'd volunteered for this, for the chance to make himself even stronger.
"His vitals are holding steady for now. Sync at 85%. Released force... 65%!"
"Great," Hasegawa sighs from beside him, pinching the bridge of his nose. He growls, head shaking, "Kid might actually be as strong as he thinks he is, once he gets comfortable with the suit."
Itami agrees with a sigh, but Isao just hums, knuckles white as he squeezes the railing. Below, Narumi hangs his head, finally dropping to his hands. He's shaking like a damn leaf when the tech calls out, "Release force climbing!" Another shouts, "Heart rate erratic! Blood pressure just jumped!"
"Captain!" Narumi shrieks and his voice rattles the catwalks like a kaiju's wail. Or a child, calling out for help.
Skin pebbling, Isao jumps down, ignoring his superiors when they call out his name.
Blood is dripping onto the platform under Narumi. Three little pools of it. Puddles. They almost make a face, some mockery of a smile as the boy cries.
"Narumi?" Isao crouches low, right in front of his troop member. This kid he talked in to joining the Defense Force.
The only answer is a sob. A stuttering, gasping breath as Narumi's hands curl into fists. His whole body still trembling. Shaking with every choked gasp.
"Slow breaths," Isao orders him, reaching out. He can hear the alarms from above them. Narumi tilts his head back. The blood smeared across his pale flesh.
Swallowing back bile, Isao cups the back of Narumi's head. He forces eye contact, looking directly into the unnatural pupils of a kaiju, and then he takes a breath. Narumi mimics him, matching his breathing.
When his arms give out, Isao catches him, craddling Narumi against his chest as the young man goes limp. Isao doesn't wait for the techs to call it, or his superiors, "Shut down the damn test!"
Narumi remains conscious until they open the suit. The moment air touches bare skin, his eyes roll back and his body convulses.
Isao ends up sleeping in a chair beside the boy's hospital bed for two nights before Narumi opens his eyes again.
Blinking slowly, Narumi glances around. He startles at the sight of Isao. His eyes widen, just for a moment, and then he hisses, squeezing them shut. Hands slap over his eyelides and Narumi whines, "Why the fuck are the lights so bright?!"
It's the most severe reaction anyone has ever had, but Narumi set a new record. 80% release force on his first attempt, with a 9.0+ kaiju at that.
The amount of strain on his body must have been enormous, but once Isao turns the lights off, all Narumi cares about is his game. He kicks his legs out, actually pouting, "Two days?! But I had a streak going! What if someone stole my gym?!"
Everyone else moves on, recalibrating the suit, scheduling more tests. Entirely unconcerned. But Isao catches the way Narumi curls his fingers into fists when they tell him the suit is ready for another go.
Narumi isn't ready. He knows it. They both do. But neither of them say anything and Isao is the one securing the closures for the next test.
"Once you're comfortable moving in it, we'll start your training properly," Isao promises, and he's not surprised when the brat grits his teeth before launching into a jog around the room.
It's unfortunate. A cruel fact. Hard, for everyone. But they need someone new to wield a numbers suit now that Hikari is gone. Kaiju won't wait until they're ready, so they can't afford to either. Narumi will adjust, eventually. Hopefully sooner rather than later.
The next daikaiju is always just on the horizon.
"Fortitude is a 9.3!" A tech informs him while he's securing his gauntlets. Isao stiffens, already fully aware of what order he has to give.
"Tell Narumi to suit up, I'll need back up."
His stomach drops when Narumi appears on the battlefield. He can hear the techs and all of their alarms. The kid's release force keeps climbing as he slashes through yoku without pause.
Isao grits his teeth and focuses on the honju, on his own fight. He curses when one of its strikes cuts through his defense, knocking him off his feet and through three building.
"Sync at 100%! Release force 100%!"
A pink and grey blur rushes past. Narumi slams into the beast, then through it. He lets out a guttoral scream as he cuts upward, splitting the daikaiju in half at the midsection. The core obliterated.
In his ear, the techs are celebrating. The other troop members. First Division has their second confirmed numbered weapon combatant and an obvious successor for their captain.
But all Isao can see is the power pulsing from Narumi's body. An unnatural aura clinging to him as he rushes towards his next target. Another large kaiju.
"First Division, retreat from the immediate area, focus on evacuation efforts," Isao orders, climbing to his feet, "Do not approach Troop Member Narumi."
The celebrations cut off. Narumi himself remains silent. That fact alone tells him how far gone the kid is, how deep into his own mind he's sunk.
He follows at a distance, coordinating his troops. Narumi subjugates every kaiju he comes across with an unflinchable focus. Every move precise, powerful.
"Captain, his blood pressure is spiking again, the neural load-"
"Power down the suit, sever the connection," Isao cuts them off, darting into the fray as the last large beast goes down. He can see Narumi properly now.
His body finally pausing, just for a moment, practically vibrating when he stands still for the first time all day. Chest heaving, breaths panting, Narumi's eyes are wide and his face pale.
No injuries. Not from the kaiju. His hands squeeze at the grip on his weapon and Isao jumps back just before it slashes through the position he'd just held. Narumi's gaze lands on him. Unfocused, unseeing.
The eyes of Numbers Weapon 1 staring out from the teen's face. A vicious grin frozen on his face. A ghost of the kaiju from within the suit.
When he launches his next attack, Narumi screams, and a kaiju's wail echoes off the buildings around them.
"We have no readings on a kaiju-"
"It's Narumi," Isao informs them, ducking another slash. A bullet buries itself in a wall behind his head. Narumi's attacks unrelenting, but messy, as the suit wears on his body.
Alarms sound over the radio. One of his superior's is barking orders.
They can't disengage the suit. Narumi's connection too strong. The kaiju core within drawing on his power just as Narumi does its. An infinite loop, the kaiju's power cycling through Narumi until it kills him.
Just as the Numbers Weapon 6 did to the one person who'd attempted to wear the full suit on their first test.
"We need to knock him out," Itami advices, appearing in Isao's periphary as he dodges yet another attack. "He'll be drawn to the strongest release force nearby."
Isao cringes, but agrees. He knows exactly what his vice captain is planning. Itami counts down and Isao drops his release force, just as the man focuses hard on pumping his up.
Narumi turns. In a flash, Isao rushes forward, aiming straight for his gut. His release force flares and his punch lands. Hard. The suit absorbs most of the attack, but not all.
Red eyes flicker, pupils receding. Narumi grunts when he hits the ground, rolling back. He curls up on reflex, arms wrapping around his head.
When he stops, the aura of Numbers Weapon 1 is gone, leaving a huddled pile of limbs behind. A little kid, hiding under some rubble. Isao curses when he finds him. His gut twisting at the sight.
Bruised, battered, and trembling. Narumi doesn't wake up for three days this time. He looks too small for the hospital bed and Isao only drags himself home when Hasegawa promises to stay with him.
When he swings by the barracks in the morning, Narumi's bunk is bare. Not a single personal touch. A stark contrast to those around him who've at least decorated the inside of their trunks with pictures and post cards. Isao grabs the BSP from inside, a couple of games.
"Fuck you! I'm fine!" Narumi is awake when he arrives, huddling behind a pillow and hissing at Hasegawa. "What are you, a fucking a vampire?! I don't need another blood draw!" he barks at the medic beside the bed next.
"Narumi," Isao calls out, and he holds up the game controller. With a huff, Narumi drops the pillow, relenting. Hasegawa grumbles on his way out the door and the medic flees the moment they can.
The door clicks and Isao is left alone with Narumi. His protege, as Itami has taken to calling him. In a month, once Itami officially takes the position at headquarters, the boy will be his vice-captain.
"How are you feeling?" Isao asks, setting the BSP and the games he brought on the table beside the bed. Narumi springs forward, stretching for them, but he chokes on his next breath instead, hand snapping to his chest as he whimpers.
"Sore," Narumi huffs, one hand fisting in the sheets, the other his shirt. He flops back against his pillows.
A sheen of sweat appears on his forehead. His breaths panting again, throat bobbing as he swallows back his words. He avoids Isao's gaze when he speaks.
"It doesn't hurt anymore than normal. You should make them release me so I can sleep in my own bed."
With a snort, Isao perches himself on the edge of the bed, "You're full of shit, Narumi." A glare is soon leveled on his face and Isao hums, "What do you remember?"
"I kicked kaiju ass and saved you from an embarrasing defeat," Narumi snarks back.
Isao arches a brow. He waits. Hands clasped in his lap, eyes trained on Narumi. Lips twitch down. Red flickers behind long lashes when he ducks his head.
"You got hit, and I... I ran to help, and then... then it gets blurry," Narumi admits, scrubbing a hand over his face. He sniffs, "I killed a bunch of kaiju, then I... I was fighting you, wasn't I?"
"Wasn't much of a fight," Isao shrugs, "I dodged your attacks, only hit you once."
Narumi's shoulders shake, and the tears slip out, even as he tries to furiously wipe them away, to hide them. With a growl, Narumi fists both hands in his hair, "It's not fair! I'm the strongest, I can-"
"You're a scrawny kid wrestling with the second strongest numbered kaiju in a suit designed before you were even born," Isao cuts him off. He states the facts simply. Not quite deadpan.
Still, Narumi huddles in on himself, shoulders hunching. He mumbles something about not being a kid, but Isao ignores it, focusing back on something else he'd said.
"What did you mean by it not hurting any more than normal?" Isao asks. The kid stiffens and Isao narrows his eyes on him, "What does it feel like, when you take the suit off?"
His own suit leaves him sore, exhausted. Some colorful bruises occassionally, from the injuries it absorbs and stabilizes. Narumi drops both hands to his lap, fingers curling into the sheets.
"Nothing," he says, whisper, "It's nothing."
"Narumi..." Isao warns. He ducks closer and reaches out a hand, tiping the teen's chin up to force eye contact.
Tears shimmer in his eyes, clinging to his lashes, and Narumi gasps out, "No, it... it feels like nothing, like I'm all numb inside." Isao stills. "And then everything... everything kinda burns, even... even the air, like sandpaper dragging against my skin, but underneath, where I can't reach."
Isao gapes at him, eyes wide as Narumi keeps going. He scrubs at his face again, hands lingering near his eyes.
"My head aches, and I'm dizzy," Narumi whispers, "When it's just my eyes, it goes away, but with the suit it... it lingers for so long. Light hurts, and sounds are too loud, but... but then I'll throw up and I'll be fine."
"I'm going to train you without the suit," Isao decides and Narumi's head snaps up, eyes wide, "With your personalized weapon and the retinas, you should-"
Narumi shrieks, "No! I can take it!" He lurches forward, hands fisting in Isao's shirt. His voice cracks, "I can- I can handle the suit!" He sobs, "Please, I'll be useful."
Staring down at the kid, Isao's gut twists. He can hear the rapid beeping as Narumi's heartrate spikes, feel his panic buzzing between them.
"You don't need the suit to be useful, Narumi," Isao tells him, wrapping his hand around Narumi's, peeling back his fingers, "You're strong enough without it."
He breaks then. Narumi. His whole body going limp as he cries. Isao stands and a hand shoots out, grip tight on his wrist. Narumi squeezes his eyes shut. "Please..." he begs, voice so quiet Isao can barely hear it, "Don't... don't leave me, please."
"Go back to sleep, Narumi," Isao sighs, "I'll be here when you wake up." Narumi trembles, his fingers dig in, grip bruising, "I promise," Isao assures him, ducking down to place a kiss on his forehead, like he would for Kikoru. "We'll discuss your promotion once you've had a chance to rest, alright?"
"What?" Narumi croaks, eyes snapping open, wide and surprised. Isao brushes his fingers through sweat slick hair. He quirks a brow, glancing down at the hand on his wrist still.
Narumi releases his hold and Isao crosses the room to turn out the light. He ignores the sharp inhale his action provokes before dragging the chair a bit closer to the bed.
"Go to sleep," Isao orders, dropping a hand over Narumi's, squeezing lightly, "I'll need my new vice-captain in top shape for training in a few days."
A wet chuckle cuts through the silence that follows. Narumi turns on his side, clutching at Isao's wrist again. His words are dripping with sarcasm when he finally sighs, "Yes, sir, whatever you say."
Isao snorts and settles in for the day. He pulls out his phone, sending Itami and Hasegawa specific instructions. By the time Narumi wakes up, he wants the Numbers Weapon 1 suit locked away. With Narumi's natural ability, the retinas, and his personalized weapon, the boy should have no need of it. Ever.
They'll need to work on his release force control regardless. Maybe if he doesn't unleash the full power, he can try again in a few years, when he's older and less desperate to prove himself.
When Isao's retired, preferably.