tornheart | you leave me little notes on my pillow

Entry tags:

hiei,
kurama

you leave me little notes on my pillow

Who: Vincent & Kit
When: Sept. 16th
Where: Green Valley School
What: Apparently some people take offense to others sleeping on benches.

[it's been almost a day and a half since his roommates were brainless enough to lead the police right to their apartment, and Vincent still hasn't managed to muster up any feelings on the matter beyond severe exasperation. he'd spent far longer in more dire circumstances immediately following his flight from home; all things considered, this was just a minor annoyance.

even so, hanging around various parts of Hagu had only served to keep his irritation hot rather than further cooling it down. for a change in scenery he's made his way to Eddan's most prestigious academic facility, although the choice has its practical components as well. even without a uniform it was easy to mistake him for merely another student hanging around after school, including (as he found out soon after his arrival) 'borrowing' a blanket and pillow from the nurse's office.

it's late in the day now, the realm of students with extracurricular activities, and Vincent's made himself quite comfortable on one of the many benches scattered around campus. he'd kept to one beneath a tree earlier in the day, but the weather had promised to get a bit windy during the night and so he's moved so as to avoid waking up covered in nature's refuse.

he seems to be pretty comfortable all the same, stretched out bodily with his legs crossed and guitar resting peacefully by his feet. it had been a small mercy that he'd been on his way home from practice when he'd heard the stupid news, preventing his precious instrument from suffering the same temporary lockdown as the rest of his belongings. a sloppily folded newspaper obscures most of his face from view, although the telltale smoke trail curling over the paper makes it easy to guess what else he's doing back there.

it's not the smartest thing to be doing when you're trying to lay low, but nicotine addiction is an ugly thing. every now and then Vincent pauses in his progress through today's sudoku to look over at any students he feels are staring at him too long, leveling a truly frightening glower their way. go on, it seems to dare them. just try and report this to a teacher.]

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[For a single heartbeat — or maybe it ten? — Kit held his breath. He'd thought for certain that Vincent would open his eyes and that all hell would break loose upon discovering his presence there.

And then the other teen didn't wake.

Instead, he turned and even pressed his forehead against Kit's fingers, the raised flesh from his wound rough to the touch, but softer than it would have been if not for the salve he'd applied earlier. He was pleased to know the gash was healing well, though it seemed almost appropriate for there to be such a marking on Vincent's forehead.

Kit likened it to the third eye Hiei had, the one he recalled seeing briefly in one of those memories. Along with many other eyes...none of which Vincent's body seemed to bear.

He caught himself staring then and, jerking back his hand, Kit took a step away from the bed. He'd come in here to do what he'd set out to, draping the blanket over his companion's form. He told himself there was no more reason to linger, none, and with that he made an abrupt exit from the room. It was a moment before he remembered what he'd really left his own bedroom to do of course, but an ice pack seemed an unimportant thing, certainly compared to hiding himself away in his own room and sleeping off...whatever weirdness had overcome him this evening.

Maybe it was the pasta.]

[several moments after his host had beat a hasty retreat, Vincent's eyes flutter for a second time - only now they open fully, hazily scanning what he could see of the room for whatever disturbance had rousted him. his mind is too bleary to register the significance of the blanket wrapped around him and, after ascertaining that it must have been a noise from the storm, he drifts back to sleep none the wiser.

he is significantly less amused when he awakes in the morning.

there's no explaining how the blanket got into his room and around his little body other than the obvious, which has him scowling even before he has to set himself to righting the outrageous amount of shifting his too-large clothes have done overnight. a part of him is tempted to hurl the thing on the floor, but he refrains; it had served him well during his sleep, no matter its origin. it would be shameful to punish an innocent bystander like that.

the ill humor remains on his face as he pads from the bedroom into the living area, but it's greatly reduced. it could even be mistaken for the usual morning grumpiness many suffer from, especially when he runs a hand through his wild hair - at least until he spots Kit already up and his expression dips into something far more irate.]

...of course.

[that's the only acknowledgement the other boy will get without any further prompting. with a soft 'tch' he continues on his journey towards the fridge, ready to further mangle its contents.]

[Sleep hadn't come easily to Kit, but he'd risen at the usual time on the weekend and set about his normal routine. It was almost as if he had the dorm to himself and there wasn't another occupant minutes away from rousing like a live grenade from his slumber.

He'd been productive in the hours between his waking and Vincent's, showering and dressing and even folding his guest's laundry atop the machine so he could start his own. Then he'd made breakfast, the smell of which still permeated the apartment: homemade hashbrowns with maple bacon, onion, and eggs baked on top. By the time Vincent emerged, Kit was nestled near the window and staring outside as he ate. He didn't look up as Vincent grumbled at him, but when he headed in the direction of the kitchen, he did speak...]

Breakfast is on the stove.

[well, that gets his attention. or rather, the delicious assault on his nostrils along with the confirmation that it was indeed breakfast gets his attention. Kit receives another cursory grunt in acknowledgement before he's once more bumped off the priority list in favor of food.

every last inch of the remaining hashbrowns and their toppings are summarily tipped onto a waiting plate. Vincent makes a brief stop in the fridge anyway to pull out something to drink before making his way over to the couch. the fact that it's closer to his companion has no bearing on this; he's doing it purely for the ability to put his feet on the coffee table again.

speaking of things he's doing purely to be annoying...the 'drink' he'd grabbed for himself is the entire carton of milk. someone better speak up before it's permanently tainted.]

[Vincent was given a cursory once over as he dropped down onto the sofa next to his host. Kit took in the full plate of food the smaller boy had consented to eating, the way he kicked his feet up onto the coffee table, and had also taken notice of the carton of milk he'd pulled from the refrigerator. Probably he ought to complain about one or both of the latter things. Most people in his position would. But Kit didn't.

He didn't say a word, turning his attention back to his breakfast and only now and then glancing out the window. While it seemed the storm had blown over and the rain had stopped sometime through the night, the sky was still heavily overcast. It wouldn't be fair to turn his guest out knowing that the weather might take an unexpected turn for the worse, but after what had happened the night before, Kit knew better than to invite Vincent to stay, too.

Really, it was no concern of his if the other boy decided to go, but if he stayed...they'd barely survived a few hours in each other's company, how would they survive a whole day?]

[such thoughts were far from the other boy's mind as he began to wolf down his meal. perhaps it was because of the tangible disappointment over his little stunt with the milk falling completely flat, or a simple desire to enjoy the happiness only potatoes could bring before beginning their daily bickering. with a face as inscrutable as his, it was impossible to tell.

what could be noticed was that, after half of the food had been polished off and several swigs from the carton had been taken, Vincent speaks up of his own accord. his voice is casual and his gaze zeroed in on nothing in particular; if there hadn't been another person in the room it would be easy to believe he was talking to himself.]

My idiot roommates brought the cops down on them again.

[Kit paused, his fork hovering near his mouth, before he lowered it back to his plate and his gaze wandered in Vincent's direction.

Such a statement was both telling and vague, leaving him just enough out of the loop that he could surmise there had been an eviction or at least cause to leave, but unable to determine what precisely had caused it. Was that Vincent's intention?

Maybe it didn't matter. The point that was most important was that he had felt he didn't have anywhere to go.

He looked away again, finally taking that bite of food, and it wasn't until several moments after he'd chewed and swallowed, and also seemed to have forgotten the rest of his breakfast, that he finally said...]

You can stay here as long as you need.

[while Kit attempted to process this new information, its messenger continued on with his morning as if that had been the end of the conversation. when there's finally a reply, he speaks his piece through a half-finished mouthful of potato.]

It'll only be a week. The place'll be open by then and I can grab the rest of my stuff.

[and then after that..? he didn't honestly know. spring for a storage unit and start looking for both another apartment and roommates who were slightly more mentally proficient. if things really got bad he could at least spend the nights among his packed away things.

certainly he wouldn't be staying with Kit and bringing his belongings here. that would indicate a permanence neither of them could tolerate in the long run, he was sure.]

That's fine.

[A week would come and go before either of them knew it and then their lives would be back to normal. Or whatever passed as normal for Unawakened.

Probably, he could even expedite things by offering his services. It's what he was good at, after all. Picking locks, retrieving personal belongings. But if he did that...

Kit frowned harder at the sky beyond his living room window. He shouldn't want Vincent to stay. But he did.]

Where will you go?

Why, you interested?

[it wasn't so far-fetched as Vincent's sardonic tone might imply. these visits to Kit's home had proved that the former delinquent was surprisingly domestic; the idea of him perusing ads in the newspapers and admiring crown molding in various Hagu apartments was comical, but still potentially realistic.

what a strange guy.]

No.

[His answer was short and to the point. It was also a lie. Or at least a partial truth. He didn't want to leave his dorm. He couldn't. The only way to do that would be to run away from his foster family and if he did that, it would be a slippery slope back into his old ways. They were good people. This time, his family was...nice. He didn't want to hurt them like that.

But he couldn't say he didn't think about disappearing sometimes. On his own or...with someone.]

It's just important to have a plan in place before you act, that's all.

[well, that was an interesting brand of denial. it even causes Vincent to tear his gaze away from the microscopic amount of food still on his plate to look over at the other boy for a few moments.

had he taken the jab too seriously? or was he overly defensive about the idea of his unintended roommate actually leaving? it was impossible to tell at this juncture.]

My plan's to act. It'll be fine.

Edited 2017-09-25 21:54 (UTC)

[As if sensing the way that Vincent was staring, Kit's features relaxed, the tension seeming to melt away in the blink of an eye and all his frustration vanishing like a stain beneath a fresh coat of paint. When Kit turned to regard him, what was left of his expression was unreadable.]

Acting isn't a plan by itself. You need to establish where you will go, how you will get there, and how you will transport all of your belongings. I'm assuming that you'll also need to find new roommates, and that the reason you had any before was because you couldn't afford a place by yourself.

[He could have left it at that. Maybe he should have. But the rest just slipped out of its own accord...]

Students don't have to pay rent here. If you stayed, what you would save could be put towards your band.

[Vincent's own expression was equally inscrutable, but there was no mistaking the way that his gaze sharpened at the invitation.

immediately his mind sought an ulterior motive. for once, however, it was difficult to find one; there was really no benefit to Kit allowing him to remain here without extracting any favors. he was a poor roommate when he lived to hassle his companion, and would likely only grow more burdensome once allowed to become comfortable. what could be the reasoning, then?

the other boy prided himself on his independence, so it couldn't be the need to indebt him in the future. and while having someone Unawakened in the same dorm to share the strange twists and turns of the network was convenient, it was hardly worth the inconveniences.

so...what? it couldn't possibly be friendship.]

What's the catch?

[there was no way around it. he'd just have to ask outright.]

[Kit watched Vincent before, eyes dropping to his plate, he idly stirred his food around with his fork. He wasn't very hungry anymore. But anxiety had a way of suppressing appetite.]

There is no catch.

[No, that wasn't true, was it? There wasn't anything Kit wanted from Vincent, not in particular, but that didn't mean the other boy could stay with him in his dorm and come and go as he pleased, contributing nothing. More importantly...]

There is one thing. You'll need to enroll as a student. Otherwise the room will remain documented as empty with administration and it will be eligible for occupancy.

[Around and around went that fork, as lazy as it was disinterested.]

I expect you'll refuse, but I wanted to make sure you knew it was an option.

[enroll as a student?

immediately several images flash through Vincent's mind: vaccination forms, proof of city residency, parent names and bank accounts to bill tuition. everything that he didn't - couldn't - have was absolutely required in order to officially study at Eddan's most prestigious academic institution.

the idea that Kit not only wanted that of him but thought it even possible to achieve is so absurdly comical that once he begins to laugh he finds it nearly impossible to stop. his small shoulders tremble mightily from the force of his mirth, the sound ringing out bright and clear and far more genuine than anything the other boy's heard from him before.

it made sense, in its own way. this wasn't the first time that his companion had tried to coerce him into engaging with the educational system. but framed like this it was just so stupid.

he nearly lsoes hold of his fork in the midst of all the guffaws, but eventually Vincent calms down enough to settle his mind. after a swig of milk to ensure he can speak without dissolving into hilarity again, he finally responds.]

...we'll see in a week.

[Vincent's unrestrained laughter was so unexpected that Kit's surprise had made it onto his face before he even possessed a mind to try and hide it; his eyebrows were raised, eyes were wide, and lips startled apart. Even the idle stirring of his food had stopped as that sound had filled his ears.

They'd known each other for a few weeks now, but Kit hadn't heard such an honest laugh from Vincent until now. He'd be lying if he said he wasn't confused by it, or if he claimed that it didn't sound nice. But those were thoughts he knew to keep to himself.

Really, he didn't understand what was so funny about the proposition, but he understood even less the reply Vincent left him with. He knew the other boy didn't want to stay, and the idea of school itself wasn't one he was keen on. Wouldn't it have been easier to simply say no?

And yet...that subtle thread of hope brought a smile to Kit's lips after his initial shock had worn off. Agreeably, and perhaps even a touch hopefully, he nodded.]

In a week, then.

[the mirth was an unforgivable show of weakness, but when Vincent catches sight of the unguarded surprise on his companion's face he can't find it within himself to be upset over the slip. he'd been more than repaid for it now.

he doubted that Kit understood even the ghost of his reasoning beyond replying the way he had. if he was being honest, he didn't quite grasp it all himself. all he knew is that the other boy's smile prompted a small one of his own along with a nonchalant shrug.]

That's assuming you make it that long, of course.

[What an ominous thing to say, and yet those words only served to further amuse Kit. His smile softened, gaze lingering on Vincent. In fact, Kit was dangerously close to staring unapologetically at him, though the fact might have been easily masked as he held out his plate for the other boy to take. An offer to have the rest of his breakfast since he'd already eaten his fill.]

Oh, and why wouldn't I make it?

Because you or I might kill you.

[how kind of him to include suicide in the possible ways for Kit to meet a violent end over roommate troubles. he doesn't seem to notice the gentle way his companion continues to steal glances at him, or if he does he makes no outward sign of it. instead Vincent takes the offered plate without hesitation, scooting the dregs of his own breakfast over before beginning to inhale that as well.

it seemed that Kit might have to start buying for four if he wanted to keep any food in the dorm now...]

I'm not worried. For one, suicide is unseemly...

[Kit chuckled as the plate he'd offered was accepted and Vincent made no attempt to hide the fact that he was a) hungry, b) enjoyed his cooking, or c) all of the above. He'd never really had the opportunity to cook for anyone before excepting his current foster family on the rare occasion he visited them. It was...pleasant. Satisfying, even.]

...and for another, I know you wouldn't kill me.

[if one can call any part of watching such an egregious amount of food shoveled into a single black hole of a mouth satisfying, anyway. Vincent does pause for a moment to look up at him after that comment, just long enough to chuckle to himself and return to his endeavors.]

I wouldn't be so sure. I'm not Hiei.

It doesn't really matter who you are, if you'd wanted me dead, you'd have already tried or succeeded by now.

[Kit's confidence in Vincent was astounding, even to him, but it was firmly rooted in fact. Although their fights had been vicious and no shortage of blood had been shed, they always seemed to agree upon one thing: their lives weren't on the line, not with each other.]

You have had no shortage of opportunities. It just isn't something that you want from me.

Not right now, anyway. Eventually you're going to stop being interesting.

[that was his excuse, anyway. the truth is that for quite some time now Vincent had been considering the possibility that he really was stuck with Kit - and that it wasn't so horrible a destiny to fulfill.

they were wildly different personalities, and yet they shared the same violent core. despite clashing over and over again, the end result had only been falling more deeply into quiet moments like these. it was equal parts bizarre and soothing to have someone he could be so at ease with. he doesn't know if he's ever felt that in his life before now.]

[...oh, he couldn't not take the bait, it was right there, plain as day, and perfectly within reach. Ignoring such a perfect opportunity would be wasteful! And a complete shame.]

You think I'm interesting?

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