Everchanging

Self-Portrait

!!TW!! Bullying

Genya was too busy adding his finishing touches to the new masterpiece on his arm to really notice what the rest of the class was doing. The smell of paint and clay was starting to make his temples ache but that didn't matter as he noticed Zenitsu leaning over his shoulder to see what he was doing. Instinctually, Genya pulled away and turned to face the blonde boy a little more head-on, setting the markers Sanemi bought for him back on the table.

"What're you drawing?" Zenitsu hesitated before reaching for Genya's arm, wanting to see the doodles that covered the skin and the boy let him. He hadn't been venting anything too horrible on that arm so there was no chance that the blonde kid would understand the nuances or meanings behind any of the drawings. Unless he was a mind-reader. "Mr. Shinazugawa lets you draw on yourself? My grandpa would've grounded me if I did that."

"Nemi was the one who suggested that I doodle on myself." Genya hummed, eyes following a student returning to his seat. He recognized him as Gyutaro, apparently his days of punishment were over. Bloodshot blue eyes met violet eyes and Genya was greeted with a sickeningly sweet smile paired with a wave. The boy rolled his eyes, ignoring Gyutaro's wave to instead focus back on Zenitsu, who had also noticed the boy.

"I completely forgot that he'd be returning today." Zenitsu huffed, groaning at the headache he knew he was going to acquire by the end of the day. "Hopefully he won't try anything since Mr. Uzui's here and Ume's not in this class."

"She's not?"

"Nah, her and Kaigaku are still out on suspension, remember? They don't return until tomorrow." Zenitsu picked up one of Genya's markers and fiddled with it, eyes focused on the purple plastic. "Can I add a drawing to your arm?"

It was a weird request. One that Genya honestly wasn't expecting but nodded anyway. He trusted the blonde boy, he was his friend. Genya could give his friend his canvas and wouldn't have to worry about it being mistreated.

At least he hoped so.

With such gentle and delicate fingers, Zenitsu took Genya's exposed arm in his deceivingly smooth hands. Blood red vines wrapped up the veiny appendage, wobbly and unfinished roses blooming on their surface. It was beautiful but also so eerily heart wrenching to look at. Underneath the welldone drawings were chaotic scribbles and lines, words that were scratched out so violently that he couldn't make out what it used to say. Before, Zenitsu didn't quite get why Genya was drawing on himself but now, as he focused on the disguised pain hidden behind such beautiful art, he understood.

With a well maintained breath and a steady hand, Zenitsu pressed the marker to the boy's skin and Genya watched with such wide boyish eyes that the blonde couldn't help but have to bite back the heat building in his eyes. Purple ink covered a pale scar and Zenitsu couldn't help but be so grateful that the boy in front of him was here.

"What're you drawing?" Genya leaned a little forward, oblivious to his friend's struggle.

"A lotus. Though it might be a little ugly since I'm not too good at drawing. My bad." The blonde boy chuckled wetly, forcing himself to focus on each scar. He wouldn't look away. Each raised bump held pain. Each cut and scratch held a memory. These scars held the agony and memories of a Genya that Zenitsu didn't know. A Genya that survived something Zenitsu could never imagine. They held the feelings and words that he wasn't able to say for so long. So Zenitsu wouldn't turn away. He would be brave.

"Why a lotus?" Genya hummed, eyes blinking as he watched Zenitsu lift the marker and cap it. The flower was poorly drawn and stuck out from the rest of the doodles on his arm but Genya couldn't help but grin. It was perfect. Maybe he would get the others to add to his masterpiece.