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.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

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?

It's not a compliment.

[could he voice be any flatter? only if someone put it through a hydraulic press.]

[Nope, it was too late. He'd given Kit an inch and, true to his namesake, he was going to run wild with it.

Leaning closer on the couch with a mile-wide grin, he poked teasingly at Vincent's shoulder.]

So, that's a yes. I'm flattered. I didn't know you thought so much of me.

I don't. I'm just interested in seeing how much more of an idiot you can manage to make yourself.

[that shoulder poke was met with both a sour frown and Vincent pressing his fork against his overly touchy companion's cheek to try and push him away again. leave, you asshole.]

[Without really knowing why, Kit leaned closer, the flesh of his cheek continuing to press against the prongs of the fork in Vincent's hand. He knew better than to dare the other boy this way, but there were times when resisting was futile. Especially when Vincent let slip little hints that he wasn't as awful as he would have others believe.]

You don't have to make excuses. I'm interested in you, too.

[he pushes back stubbornly, bracing his free hand against Kit's chest to add even more weight to the fight - as if slowly crawling closer and closer to impaling his cheek wasn't enough of a threat.]

I'm sure you've got a lot of projects like that.

[The other boy's hand did nothing to deter Kit. Remaining steadfastly in place, he even dared to snatch a morsel of food off Vincent's plate, deciding that perhaps he was still a little hungry after all.]

Are you jealous?

[He had projects, after all. He would admit to that. He had a whole notebook full of them...]

Why should I be?

[um, fucking excuse you. a normal human being would simply accept that they'd lost that minor encounter and continue grumbling on in fighting to win the war, but as his companion must have discovered by now, Vincent was far from normal.

with an outraged furrowing of his brows the hand holding the fork drops it into Kit's lap as he moves to try and physically pry open the other boy's jaws and retrieve his piece of breakfast. the hand on his chest curls tightly in his shirt, pulling his roommate closer.]

[The very picture of unadulterated innocence, Kit promptly swallowed the morsel he'd stolen to prevent Vincent's prying fingers from snatching it back. And then, with all the audacity of a smug three year old, he bared his teeth and smiled. Using the surrendered fork to take another stab at the plate of food in Vincent's lap, he held out a piece of potato for the other boy to take. Not that he'd make it easy. He had no intention of letting those jaws successfully snap at the food.]

You shouldn't be jealous. You're easily one of the most interesting people I've met.

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