Title: Mowing Down The Strong
Fandom: Kamen Rider Gaim
Rating: Teen
Length: 250 words
Content Notes: Mentions of the end of the world.
Author Notes: Spoilers for episode 41 of Gaim.
Summary: Kaito wonders if he and Kouta are going to have to be enemies once more.


At some point, they were enemies.

Kaito could remember how Team Baron had fought against Team Gaim for rankings and dance spaces. They seemed so long ago, those strangely laughable battles. All of them had been teenagers and near-teens, and that was what mattered to them.

That was before the end of the world started happening, before Kaito had found himself struggling for strength in an increasingly ruined town. Where, to be strong, he had to be part of the consolidated Team, the ragtag bunch of teenagers and adults committed to somehow trying to stop the apocalypse.

Now, he was wondering if he and Kouta would be enemies once more. Kouta, whose eyes had glowed red as he repaired his own Lock Seed with nothing but his will. Kouta, who now manipulated Helheim vines with little more than a thought as he fought against the green Overlord.

Kouta, who might not be human anymore, losing himself to the damned forest.

Kaito struggled to sit up. He was in pain, and the wound on his arm was glowing a disturbing green. He had to get stronger. He might have to defeat Kouta, just to do what needed to be done.

He'd told Mitsuzane once that his enemies were the cowards who would shoot the strong in the back. But in this case, Kouta was not a coward, and was not weak. Kouta was strong.

And that made the whole thing oh so much more damnable.