#ghghh at the end of the day kusuo really just wanted a brother GHHHH

[fluffydice]

Thinking,,, one of the things Kusuo had feared most happening during the Cat Tank arc, where someone he had "friendly feelings" towards gets roped into his life. Thinking about how he watched his body get stripped and his brother wanted to see more. Thinking about how it kept flashing back to when Kusuke gave him the limiters he turned it into a competition, telling him to protect his right one "even if it kills you," and how the manga shows them constantly fighting for it, showing Kusuo even waking up to Kusuke's 'games'. Thinking about Kusuo's stupid little "...Toritsuka...don't..." when he was standing there bleeding, and about how Kusuke had to instantly reassure him as he knocked out Toritsuka because he knew his little brother would go haywire if he thought for even a second that he'd killed him.

Thinking about how Kusuo took out his right limiter in the end, saying he "caused trouble" by living the life he wanted, in front of one of the people who originally planted the idea that he could hurt people just by existing in his head. Thinking about how the "trouble" wasn't even really Kusuo's fault, he just took on the blame for it because it all tied back into him just trying to exist and have friends.

Ugh, and the way Kusuke helped him with his pants, and how Kusuo—at his simultaneous strongest and most vulnerable—didn't even fuss, and the way his eyes shone when Kusuo promised to keep being his playmate,,, because he'd underestimated his little brother's ability to learn and grow just by having the support of other people, and how much Kusuo would let slide against him when it comes to the people he needs in his life.