Feather Flight: "I Want to See Your Smile."(part
2)
An AU Kuja fic, shonen-ai, language
The rainy season had come and gone, leaving behind a series of endlessly clear and mild days. Having spent the better part of two months virtually trapped indoors, Laro was more than ready for the change. The damp weather had almost crippled his mending body with long days of arthritic agony. He looked optimistically out the window while cautiously stretching, smiling when he felt his joints cooperate for a change. The hallways he silently limped through were quiet and empty. Everyone was already out and about, enjoying the weather. Dr. Ing was carefully tending his plants.
"They seem to have survived the weather..."
The wrinkled man turned and looked up in surprise, squinting against the sunlight. He nodded a greeting at his patient. "Yes, the season was hard, but no harm done. And you? You look more relaxed than usual. How is the pain?"
"Almost gone, a few more days of this... and I'll feel human again." Laro was still obliged to allow the shorter man to claim an arm and test the joints and bone for signs of swelling. His hands still felt weak and clumsy when he tried to make a fist, but compared to previous weeks it was all but painless.
"Good!" The doctor grunted in satisfaction. "There's definite improvement! I suppose there's no need to encourage you to go out and get some exercise... We can't have you losing any more muscle. You'll be all but unrecognizable soon."
"This is a bad thing?" He grinned at the doctor's sour face. "Right, right... I'm going..."
// It feels so good to be out in the sun again... one more week flat on my back, and I would've been a babbling wreck. //
He idly searched for seashells as he walked the beach, tossing the inferior selections back into the surf. Occasionally one worthy piece would be added to the small collection in his pocket. The good weather was both a blessing and a curse, he mused as he soaked up the sun. Being free from pain was nothing to complain about, but now there were also few excuses to remain indoors. Even if he wanted to stay and 'help', they would likely simply push him outside for his own good. During the days of rain, when his bones had been cooperative, he had happily allowed himself to be employed in the variety of chores around the small hospital. When they didn't need him he would wander the halls, 'visiting' with the scant few patients that were around. More often than not, he found himself spending the long evenings in one bedroom in particular, listening to the rain and the sound of even breathing. In the beginning the nurses had found his dedication to the sleeping man to be odd, but at the doctor’s insistence they left him alone. He visited every day. The thin patient never awoke. His sleep --sometimes troubled but most often peaceful-- stretched on during the months of rain. The silver hair had begun to regain a little of its lost length, tickling the pointed chin when not fanned across the pillow. It had been almost five months, and Laro had a sick suspicion he was running out of time.
// He's gotten thinner... he was thin to begin with, but now? It's like he's just wasting away... // The ex-soldier chewed his lip in worry.
// Dr. Ing, everyone, they don't expect him to come back... after five months? They're probably right. So why do I try? Why care? Am I so utterly starved for hope that I cling to this lost-cause despite the odds? Why can't I just let go! //
His toe caught on a half-buried shell and he stopped to pick it up. The pearly interior glowed with rainbow hues in the cheerful sunlight. Nodding in satisfaction, Laro put it in his pocket. // Maybe I don't know why I care... I just /do/. I can't let this slide... This may be my one chance! He fell from the /sky/! It /has/ to mean /something/! There has to be /something/ to believe in... otherwise there's just the dark... and I don't want to go back there... // He watched in wonder as a pack of children ran down the beach, showering him with sand as they flew past. He waved after their giggling mayhem and received a few shouted greetings.
// It's not /right/... he's all alone in that room. It's too quiet there, dark, sheltered... He's /sleeping/ damn it, not terminally ill! He should be where there is light, and noise... where there is /life/... He should be made to /want/ to come back, if only to tell us to shut up... Dr. Ing can't do anything... there’s nothing more "wrong" with him, aside from that he won't wake... He has no family, no friends... only /me/. Perhaps I do spend too much time with him... but if I didn't... he'd be /alone/. Besides, it's so peaceful there... no matter how shitty I feel, how bad it gets... he's always there, always beautiful. With him I don't have to prove anything... be anyone... I doubt I'll ever tell another living soul some of the things I've told him. But that's the /point/ isn't it? He's practically dead already, I could tell him that I ate children for breakfast and it wouldn't matter, even if he heard me, he couldn't tell... Masa will never repeat /anything/... not about my cowardice, or my nightmares... //
Laro meditatively ran a finger down the long scar on his face, one of the few still visible signs of his captivity. The only injuries left now were the ones people couldn't see. He /was/ healing, but even now, he made sure that /no one/ truly knew how broken he had been. They would never question the 'truth' he gave them. They needed to believe too much.
// And just as they need me... I need him... //
He came awake reaching for a weapon that wasn't there. Panting against the terror of being unarmed and alone he sat motionless senses attuned into the darkness, listening for the certain attack. Slowly his wits caught up with his body. // Dream. Fool, it was a dream... you're in the clinic, you're /fine/... so just calm down... // He forced himself to relax slightly and looked down in amusement at the 'weapon' clenched in fist. The pillow looked remarkably ineffective in the moonlight. The soldier tossed it aside and heaved himself out of bed. Silently moving down the dark hallway, he unerringly counted doors until he reached the other occupied room on the floor. Laro felt his jitters fade as he carefully sat on the edge of the narrow mattress. The pale sleeper didn't stir at the intrusion.
"Hey Masa... Sorry to bother you again... funny isn't it? The man who can't sleep always coming to pester the guy who can't wake up... Sorry, sorry, stupid humor... it's late, what do you expect from me at 2 AM?"
The silver-haired man made no sign of response, but none was expected. The soldier took a moment to brush the chin-length hair away from the slack features. He settled himself more comfortably and gently retrieved a thin hand from under the blanket to cradle it in his own.
"I... I had that nightmare again... yeah... /that/ one... the one I always tell you about. It was the raid again... except this time we never even made it to the base of the monolith... we were swamped... they fell on us like a wave. The sound... God, I'll live to be eighty and never forget that sound... like locusts but /worse/. Bah, stupid of me to dwell in the past, I know... And then I woke up ready to /kill/ something... like /usual/... good thing I sleep alone, huh?" He sighed. "I don't know why telling you makes me feel better... I guess I just need to tell /someone/... I can't tell /them/... They'd just get scared, or worried, or preachy... 'Great War Hero's aren't supposed to be scared of the /dark/'... They aren't supposed to wake up crying in terror like children... But you've heard me bitch about all of this before..." Laro smiled gently at the delicate fingers. He made a mental note that the nails were getting long again.
"I'm sorry I didn't come by and visit you this evening. The doctor was having a dinner party and strong-armed me into going... Don't laugh! He's really intimidating for such a little guy... just /you/ try and cross him!" He brushed a loose feather away from the thick eyelashes. "So anyway... I brought you something... want to guess what it is?" He watched the motionless figure for a moment. "No? Well you /could/ you know... I'll give you a hint... 'I brought you one last week.' There, easy huh? Bah, you're a hard man, Masa..."
Laro fumbled in his robe's pocket and produced the small shell. He admired its shimmering interior once more before placing it on the bed stand with the others. "Yes, I know... how unoriginal... /another/ shell... but this one is really nice... I'll just put it here incase you want to see it later. Maybe I should learn how to make them into jewelry, hmmm? Like those little old women in the market? But my hands aren't much good for delicate work anymore... maybe later, ok?" He sat in silence for a while, watching his sleeping confidante. A familiar tickling touch trailed across his calf.
The dark man looked down to see the tail sweep across his leg again. "There. That's how I know you're still here... if only a little... /you/ may be unable to respond... but /that/ can... like a little cat... if you want to know what they're really thinking; you always look at the tail. The tail never lies!" He nudged the twitching fur with a toe and laughed when it momentarily increased its tempo. Making a little game of it, he nudged it again with the same reaction. At length he caught the silvery appendage and gave it a conciliatory pat.
"Yes, I know... 'Don't play with the tail...' But like I said, it’s late. I can't sleep. I'm easily amused... Hey, want to hear a funny story?" He let the tail slip through his fingers in favor of keeping a hold of the hand. "No? Too bad, I'll tell you anyway. I was walking past your room this morning on my way to breakfast... and you know what I heard? Right, right, of course, you were /here/... Well I heard Nurse Didi /talking/ to you... just like I do, telling you about her kids and all... she even called you 'Masa'... did you notice? My stupid nickname for you has caught on! Soon /everyone/ will be calling you that... hope you don't mind...No? Good. I thought it up myself you see..."
The soldier gave the smaller hand a gentle caress. "Do you mind if I doze off for a bit? I promise I'll be quiet... I just don't feel like going back to my room just yet..." The sleeping face stirred for a moment but expressed no particular emotion. "I'll take that as an 'ok', shall I?" Replacing the arm beneath the sheet, Laro dragged a chair closer and slouched into it. He fell asleep in a matter of minutes.
The ocean wind took the edge off the
"Masa...?"
The silver head looked up, and /turned/. Laro felt the world fall away as he breathlessly met the curious blue-gaze, feeling the joy bubbling uncontrollably in his chest. This was /impossible/. This was /heaven/. The skin around the eyes crinkled, a prelude to a smile. The blue-depths were filled with loving humor. He felt his own face curve into what was almost certainly a stupid grin, but he didn't care. It was /Masa/. Brushing a stray lock behind an ear, the smaller man /smiled/.
"Laro."
"Nezar Kai? What ever are you doing /here/? Wake up! Nezar Kai?!"
The soldier came awake with a jump, nearly falling out of his chair as reality rudely intruded on his dream. It was mid morning, and the plump nurse was watching him curiously. Clinging desperately to the rapidly dissolving dream, Laro blinked owlishly at the bustling woman; watching as she began to pull the blankets from Masa's bed.
"Really... sleeping all night in a chair... hardly good for you back now is it? And what's wrong with /your/ bed? Here, make yourself useful..."
The dark man obediently assisted the woman by lifting the frail form from the bed, allowing her to pull the remaining sheets free and replace them. The chore was over all too soon however, and he was obliged to return his precious burden back into the clean blankets. He watched her tuck her patient in with a little smile. "Do you need a hand with anything else?" The round woman eyed him in shock.
"No, Kai! No need to trouble yourself with anything else, we can manage very well, and you should be eating your breakfast! Go eat! Go on! You're not needed here! This one will get his broth at the same time as the others..." She clucked her concern as she bullied the man from the room. "Go, go outside and have a swim, the ocean heals all ills you know... of course you know.... that's why you're /here/... well Come on! Come on!" Laro sighed in defeat and with one last glance at the sleeping form, was herded downstairs.
Try as he might to put it aside, Masa's smiling face haunted him throughout the long morning. Laro eventually gave up any pretext of being in a social mood and found himself a secluded portion of beach where he could sit and think. The soft sand was warm beneath him as he watched the waves and allowed his thoughts to wander where the would. The fishing boats on the horizon were barely more than white specks, tiny sails contrasting with the surrounding blue.
// I wonder... Maybe someone would let me borrow a boat for the afternoon... // He grinned remembering how the last boat he 'borrowed' took two weeks to repair. The looks on the simple seamen's faces, should he try again, would likely be priceless.
// Maybe if I promise not to leave the bay... and to only go out in clear weather... in broad daylight... surely some fool would be brave enough to give me a chance... // The dark man rested his chin on his knees. A small crab cautiously crept by.
//... and maybe I could convince Dr. Ing to allow me to take Masa too...It would be fun, a little adventure for just the two of us... // A seagull's shadow flickered across him as the bird dove towards the beach. It snatched up the frantic crustacean and flapped out to sea with its prize. The crab never had a chance.
"Hey!" Irrationally angry at the bird he threw a rock, but it was beyond reach.
// Oh, /there/ is a positive omen... //
Laro settled back on the beach feeling suddenly less cheerful. // What am I thinking? Dr. Ing will just look at me blankly and demand that I get another psychiatric examination... He'll decide that I've developed an 'unhealthy fixation'... Then I'd /never/ be able to see Masa... They'd send him away! // The thought made him feel more than a little ill.
// I'm /not/ crazy... well not in /that/ sense anyway, the rest is debatable... But I /know/ he's not 'awake', Hell I'll even acknowledge the fact that for all I know he could be someone totally reprehensible, or even one of /them/... somehow... But on the other hand, I can't bring myself to truly believe it... Maybe if he woke up... If I could /talk/ to him... then maybe things would make more sense. Oh Hell, maybe I /am/ fixated... /crazy/... People have been telling me that all my life... even /I/ have told myself. Talk about a self-fulfilling prophesy... //
The soldier shrugged, the dream had motivated him. He was determined to get Masa on the boat, one way or another. As far as he could see, he had two options. The first and saner choice was to place a carefully worded argument before the cautious doctor and abide by the man's decision. The second was to simply abduct the unresisting form from the clinic and deal with the repercussions later. The second option had a distinct allure.
// On the one hand, it's absolutely insane... People will have ample evidence that I'm completely detached from reality and can't be trusted! On the other hand... It /will/ get Masa on the damn boat. No one will know to refuse, not until it's too late... // Laro sighed, not particularly liking either of his options.
// First things first, go see about borrowing a boat, then go talk to Dr. Ing... if he says 'no'.../Then/ I'll try my hand at kidnapping... After all, what use is insanity if it's only half way? //
The revered war hero had to talk /very/ fast to get his idea across to the doctor. The small man's eyebrows had risen early in the proposal, and had stayed there. Dr. Ing could find no serious fault with the idea however, and after extracting several assurances about the safety of the venture, gave a cautious approval. It was entirely more than the soldier had been expecting. Feeling victorious for the first time in recent memory, he dove into the preparations for the following morning with gusto.
The doctor tugged his mustache in thought as he watched his stubborn patient carry supplies and badger the nurses. His assistant, a prim woman of no small ability, watched as well. After a few moments she was unable to hold her tongue.
"Do you /really/ think that this is /wise/? The poor boy in room number six is in a /coma/, what possible benefit could this 'outing' be to him?! It will be risking exposure, not to mention that they will be completely unsupervised..."
"I doubt there will be any benefit to Masa at all, but likewise, there would be no harm either... not with the weather as good as it is. But young Masa isn't the issue here, and the Kai /is/..." The nurse sniffed in displeasure at the use of the nickname. "Look at him, Lori. He's /active/, and /happy/... a far cry from how he was a few months ago don't you think? If doting over one sick boy is what is helping him find his center again... then what can it hurt...?"
"I still think it's unhealthy... for /both/ of them... The Kai is too attached! What if the boy should /die/! Will we have a relapse of the depression? And what of his /stories/? He still firmly believes that the man ‘fell from the sky’! The Kai is still /ill/, doctor..."
"You don't believe him? I'm curious then to hear /your/ explanation of our visitor in room number six..."
"Are you saying you think he's an ‘omen’ too?"
"Hmmm."
It was late morning by the time the little boat was deemed ready for its special cargo. A delegation from the clinic soon arrived. Laro nodded a serious greeting to the doctor and made a show of securing the limp form carefully to the sheltered position near the bow. The slender youth was heavily bundled and would barely feel any potentially hazardous wind, water or sun. The soldier swore one final time on the Ten Sacred Artifacts of Creation that he would take every precaution, and was at length, allowed to leave. Pushing away from the dock with a jaunty wave, Laro sighed in relief.
The small sail carried them briskly into the deeper waters in the middle of the bay, and for a little while the dark man amused himself by practicing childhood maneuvers. The day grew hotter however, and eventually he let the sail go slack. Feeling the stiffness forming in his wrists and fingers he was more than happy to take a break and peel off some of the unnecessary layers. Casting off the wool vest, and rolling up his sleeves, he cast a doubtful look over at the cocooned body on the deck.
// They've got him wrapped up for the arctic! I wonder how many of those layers are waterproof... Probably /all/ of them... I wanted to get him out of the clinic and expose him to /nature/... not turn him into a human caterpillar... //
Laro began to methodically unburden his passenger, certain that he would be hearing the screams of dismay later. // Let them. This is worth it. // Spreading the canvas and quilts into a loose bed, and using a corner as a make-shift roof, he created a shady area to lay the sleeping man down in. The soldier sat near by and admired his handiwork. Someone had thought to dress the youth in the variety of odds-and-ends that the clinic had for its visitors. The clothing was far too large for the slim body. The pants, if left un-rolled, probably would have swallowed the feet with fabric to spare; the shirt sleeves were much the same. The over-sized clothing, combined with the child-like features completely ruined any image of maturity Masa might have possessed.
// Well... he's here...//
"Hey... it's lunch time... You hungry?
The nurses hadn't bothered to provide Laro with any of the variety of broths and medicines that they usually spooned into their patient. The general consensus had been that the boy would be fine for the afternoon. The dark man raked his hair back in frustration before shrugging it off. He reached for the small basket near by.
"I packed far more than /I/ can eat... but I guess if you were hungry, you wouldn't tolerate that bland soup that they keep feeding you, huh? God knows I was tired of it after two days... and I had to eat it for a month!" He pulled out a piece of chicken and chewed happily.
Taking the opportunity to relax out on the water, the soldier gingerly borrowed a corner of the 'bed' and stretched himself out. The warm sun was slowly baking the soreness from his joints. He found that the rocking motion of the boat lulled him into a sense of peace. Beside him, his companion seemed to be having an active dream. The tail twitched restlessly and the elegant eyebrows were pinched, unhappy.
// This... this is more 'awake' then he's looked in months... not since that last major storm... This isn't good, I didn't bring him out here to give him nightmares... // Hesitating for a moment, Laro reached over and smoothed the feathered-hair back from the worried features. The gesture seemed to work for a moment, soothing the tense features. When he pulled his hand away, the tail resumed its nervous movements.
"Hey... don't be frightened... I'd never let anything happen to you... calm down!" He tried to keep his voice soothing as he inched closer, trying to calm the restless sleeper. Trying not to think of how the actions would be interpreted by those back on shore should they ever find out, the dark man gently pulled Masa into a loose embrace, settling the silvery head on his shoulder. Lying in his side to curl around the smaller body as much as possible, Laro sought to shelter the man from whatever his dreams were threatening. His murmured litany continued until the form in his arms ceased shivering. Hating himself, he closed his eyes and reveled in the momentary closeness; the feathers tickling his chin. There was a soft touch on his wrist where it lay across the smaller body; the tail gently curled over and around his arm. He listened to the ocean, and simply allowed himself to feel Masa's warmth pressed against his chest.
Laro was uncertain how long they lay together in the warm shade, but he was instantly aware of when change occurred. The lax form in his arms seemed to stir once more, but instead of a return to the nightmare inspired muttering, it grew still and silent. If not for the suddenly too-controlled nature of the breathing, Laro would have assumed that the boy had fallen into a deeper sleep. At first he was uncertain, choosing to lie still, allowing the small clues to gather in his mind. The altered breathing, the tentatively-tensed muscles, even the general absence of the previous lazy atmosphere all added up to /something/. Something had happened. Unable to resist, he pulled away slightly and looked down at his companion. Only the fact that he had been preparing for it kept him from actively voicing his surprise. He convulsive swallowed his acknowledgement of the wide blue eyes that met his. Masa was awake.
As if the look had broken some spell, slender hands suddenly sprung into action. They pushed violently on his chest, causing him to roll back and hit the deck with a startled, "Umph!" Before he could get his own muscles to cooperate, the quick-silver form had already bolted from the blankets to frantically scrabble across the deck to the far end of the ship. Laro rolled to his feet to stare in amazement at the huddled form clinging to the rail. He moved closer only to realize it was a mistake. Cerulean eyes tore away from their dismayed study of the ocean to watch him guardedly once more.
"You stay the Hell away from me!"
notes: Oh look, he spoke, well... there goes the cuteness... just kidding, there’s more WAFF for everyone! Yeay! Anyway, now that both of them are awake... I can drag us into the plot... hurray... I think. Next time we see Kuja attempt to cope with this new world, and the aftermath of the events on Gaia! Stay tuned for next chapter, "Eyes Staring in Wonder"
Lunar
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