Just as Shion had changed, he knew that Nezumi had moved on in the months that passed between their goodbyes and their tear-stained reuniting. The raven-haired boy had felt the earth under his own two feet, let himself be carried upon the wind like a petal torn from a flower, beautiful and hypnotizing, but light and free, with no innate ability of its own to spread roots and steady itself. Yes, Nezumi was much like that metaphor, such a beautiful thing with no real want to call any place in particular home.
The rat had surely seen parts of the world that Shion’s eyes would never fall upon, had walked through cities and ruins and seen the history of their Earth through his own eyes, felt the rays of sun upon his skin and maybe even dipped his toes in a cold sea. The possibilities were endless, and with a life like that, Shion, thinking of nothing but Nezumi’s well being, could understand why such excitement would lead someone to not wanting to return home.
How long would it have been till he looked upon the stormy eyes so close to him now had it not been for the interference of the city’s scientists? How had he ever managed to capture Nezumi’s heart?
His words and his resolve weakened for a moment, drawn on by guilt over caging such a beautiful thing, bottling the winds and the rain and the typhoon that was Nezumi and keeping him close, all to himself, never letting him see the world. At least, that was his fear, that Shion was entirely too naive, too weak, too childish, too mundane of a boy for Nezumi to ever truly live with. Rather, such a relationship would require the one he had waited for to settle.
The thought was something that made his heart ache.
Shion’s small smile dipped at its edges, his bottom lip fell slightly ajar and he again braced his palms against the row of boxes, letting his irises dip towards the corners of his eyes, breaking any eye contact they had shared in that moment.
Nezumi’s blow would land unhindered, the sudden movement not even drawing a reaction from the doe-eyed boy. He instead seemed to be gazing at nothing, lost in thought as his hands were pinned above his head at the wrists. Was living in this city really what was best for the two of them? Shion wanted nothing more than to be together with Nezumi again, and in a way, their situation was an answer to that wish, but it was in no way an answer to Nezumi’s.
Was he just being selfish?
That’s it? He wasn’t resisting. Hadn't even lifted a finger to defend himself, not when Nezumi had burst into his home in the midst of a storm, a dangerous criminal for all that mattered, and not now. He could have slit his throat or thread his fingers through his white locks and Shion wouldn't have resisted. Shion, who had never been afraid to leave himself vulnerable. That must have been the reason why…he had let down his guard.
Those usually expressive eyes that hid nothing were unfocused, lost in thought, and Nezumi froze at the sight of those blank and expressionless pupils. For all the pride he took in his ability to read visual cues and adapt, he could not read what was going on in Shion's mind. Was he angry? He had the right to be, at a rat as reliable as the wind, so fleeting and unpredictable.
“Shion. Say something."
The strength left his arms and Nezumi let go, bracing himself against the boxes. Exhausted...he was fucking exhausted. Of this city and the scientists and the tumult of emotions that had come to pass, no thanks to the shadow spilling every single insecurity of his in a reunion that had come too soon. Just when he thought himself freed from the chains of No.6 and ready to bury his hatred, this city had dredged up the feelings that had once driven a rift between them. He despised the scientists, the city, but not Shion. Never Shion.
There was only inches separating them now, and then the distance between them was gone. His lips met Shion's in a fierce kiss, speaking for him what he couldn't express in words.
Wherever you are, I feel at home. Shion's words were heavy, like a weight that tied him down, that threatened to pull him further and further into the depths, and would he drown as Ophelia had drowned, entangled in the consequences of such an emotion? Or was the weight in fact an anchor, that promised security and the all-encompassing love of the white-haired boy who sheltered his heart....
