Quietude

9

TW: Homphobic slur (1), Kyojuro's dogshit father

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| Quietude - Chapter 9 - I've Found A Love

The next morning, the air surrounding the Butterfly Estate was warm, fragrant, and heavy with truths unsaid—thick enough to leave an unpleasant dampness at the back of Kyojuro's throat.

That morning, [Name] was leaving to return to his forge. And part of Kyojuro refused to see it.

While the swordsmith busied himself with the preparations for his departure (he'd recovered his robes, ridden himself of his bandages), Kyojuro couldn't quite find his smile. An unpleasant feeling, one he couldn't place, nudged at his conscience, violently tramping his enthusiasm.

A stroll through the Estate's gardens failed to stave off this foul mood of his, and a visit to [Name]'s now empty room only served to further the expanse of his gray thoughts.

Kyojuro didn't want [Name] to leave, he easily concluded. The idea of having the forger at more than a garden-stroll's distance from him made his heart ache with something, left a lingering impression of distance. And he didn't like it, the distance. The small pout on his face made plain his displeasure.

When the Pillar's feet carried him back to the smith's borrowed quarters, it was to the surprise of finding [Name] sat upon the bed in which he'd spent his convalescence for the past weeks. The dark-hair seemed to be staring out into the distance, into the gardens and beyond; longing for his home and forge.

Kyojuro approached him quietly, came to stand right in his sightline—a selfish move. He wanted the eyes on him, much like he craved [Name]'s attention and proximity. A wave of heat washed over his face; it was embarrassing for him to entertain such selfish desires. Selfish, but fairly so.

[Name] jolted back to reality when the Pillar entered his line of sight, before slowly raising his gaze to Kyojuro's face.

Sunshine welled in the swordsman's eyes as a wide smile drew itself upon his face, and a kind smile bloomed on [Name]'s features in return. It was this kind of moment Kyojuro wanted to freeze in time, this kind of moment Kyojuro wanted [Name] close to share more smiles and stargazing nights.

His fingers twitched. Would [Name] ever kiss his hand again?

"Rengoku-san," [Name] called, and Kyojuro wanted to hear it again and again and again. "I'm ready to leave now." Must you truly? Kyojuro suppressed a sigh and clung to his smile. [Name] continued, toying with the mask that lay in his lap, "Will you walk me to the entrance?"

The notion of refusal didn't cross Kyojuro's mind a single instant. He perked with renewed enthusiasm, flashing [Name] a brilliant smile. "Of course!"

The forger's gaze fell to the mask laying in his lap. There was a tilt to his head as he observed the accessory; the motion sent locks of his dark hair sweeping to the side. He was hesitating.

The mask traveled a short way up to his face, before dropping back onto his lap.

The slightest quirks of his brows, the subtlest twitch of his lips—Kyojuro could see it all, and he loved it. The mask stayed off, and with it departed Kyojuro's troubles.

[Name] slowly got up from the bed and stood to nearly match Kyojuro's height. They were standing close, very close. The hairsbreadth that separated them allowed the Pillar to drink in [Name]'s features from up close, and for [Name] to dive into the oceans of gold that were Kyojuro's irises.

Kyojuro's smile softened. [L/n]-san is admiring me, too. He thought. He hoped.

"Shall we..." [Name] swallowed down a clump of nerves, averting his stare. Under Kyojuro's intense gaze—without his mask moreover—he felt exposed, bare. "Get going?"