Cause each time you make me taste it [RP entry- closed]

[wishgazer]

Characters: Monou "Kamui" Fuuma and Squall "Leon" Leonhart
Location: Somewhere in Traverse Town
Summary: It's a hard knock life, most especially when you're living in a world full of bastards who are out to get your heart.

Comments

[austering]

[That very same sense of imagination that makes Leon rather glad that "Kamui" wasn't on the other end of the battlefield. He's been at this a long time, traveled many places, and hasn't seen too many people who can do that. A thunder spell was one thing, but that? It's another.

At the same time, it's so simple just to let it be. He has a sense of hyper-focus; everything, all at once, but just on this task, this fight-- no, this was therapeutic. The sort of thing that took the whole body, the mind; emotionless is every other moment, every other day of the week. Anger and stress can fuel like nothing else does. Granted, he still remembers a time not too far from his mind when he hadn't been able to hold Revolver in his hand.

An extension of himself, is what that weapon is.

So is the fire and controlled circle of energy about him. And it's efficient, despite all the concentrated fury. Clinical, even, the way Leon goes about dispatching anything in his path that so much as even spits magic, outside the two of them, sending them back to the shadows. But with his usual tool of trade in hand, Leon feels he can trust "Kamui" with his back nonetheless (a strange notion in and of itself).

Not that it isn't an easy thing to clear them out with the other there to begin with.]

[wishgazer]

[One hand twitches as he takes a 'break' to watch the other man do his own thing, and he looks down at it in confusion, flexing the limb and finding himself wondering if, sometime go, he had a weapon himself. The way Leon wields his strange blade is familiar, and yet not, and triggers another thought that becomes a springboard for many more-- did he have a sword in his past?

If so, if he really did have his own sword, how did he hold it? One-handed, or two-handed? How heavy was it? How long? What kind was it? How long did he have it? Where did it come from? Where is it now, what happened to it, now that its owner is more than just miles away? So on and so forth.

He doesn't feel so bare without it though, so it must mean that he hasn't had much of a connection with the blade. He just feels much more comfortable using his powers and bare hands.

And, of course, his whole body too. That's why he'd rather not wear a coat while fighting-- things tend to get stuck, and even ripped in the middle of battle, and either will just be very annoying to fix up. Better to leave hands and arms bare, and wear simple clothing to keep things free and relatively clean.

He raises that same hand, waving it casually (more of a flick of the wrist, really) and the cloud disappears. Boredom apparently makes him arrogant, and he just wants some fisticuffs action before this round's Heartless are all gone and all. And before Leon can hog the very last of them to himself.]

[austering]

[There wasn't so much of an intention of hogging as simply getting them out of the way. It isn't as if there is a lack of them. Even with the keyhole sealed, they're everywhere. In everything. They always will be.

There never would be an end to them. Not fully.

Perhaps that's why Leon hates them in a way. And it is hatred, whether he wants to admit it or not (always so contrary, but they are Heartless, it isn't as if they have minds of their own). He has his reasons.

Or maybe it's just the stress of more recent things. Adjustments he's willing to make, but that doesn't make them any easier.

There's a moment to reload-- and then a snarl. It figures. Out of ammunition for the day. Nothing to put in his speed loader. Alright. Fine. It's a bit of a slowdown, and the only magic that really bothers is the an Blizzard thrown at him, smacking Leon scare in the chest.

Leon snarls, taking a few steps back, aware of "Kamui", the fact that he was bare, even if that didn't mean defenseless --he still couldn't bring himself to shake the tick, always so used to having to look after Yuffie, in spite of her looking after him in turn-- but just lobs a fireball back in retaliation with a snarl.

Damned Heartless.]

[wishgazer]

[Oh, now they did it.

Forget fighting one-on-one-- if they do something like that, if they use little tricks like that, that can actually hurt Leon, there's no reason for him to continue playing around.

Just imagine a blanket. Large, heavy. A lead blanket. constricting movements to the point of actually being painful. It's not so much of a strain on his mind, but one small mistake in his control (which is being worn very thin, fighting against his incredible temper) can allow even one to start moving again. All "Kamui" has to do is aim where that imaginary lead blanket should go.

Where else but over the Heartless in the vicinity? He takes one step, and they begin dropping like flies, starting from the ones closest to him. It's almost pretty, in a way, seeing all those colorful little pests. It's like a technicolor rain.

A very deadly, very dangerous one if not handled properly. It's worse than acid rain. Acid rain doesn't spit fire, lighting, ice or what-have-you. These Heartless do. Too bad for them, they just had to come across "Kamui" and Leon today.

He steps on one-- or rather, stomps heavily, turning it into nothing with that single blow.]

[austering]

--?

[A soft sound escapes him. It's one thing for one or two to go down-- gravity spells, but for all of them? And him not to get caught in it?

Leon had frozen for a moment, a strange feeling creeping up his spine, half expecting something larger and meaner to creep out from the edgings of the neon lights, where shadows were too stark, and light couldn't reach. It wasn't as if it's been a strong Blizzard. Sure, it wasn't really his element, and he'd have frost burn from it, but it was fixable with either just a potion or a quick healing spell.

Just a stray Blue Rhapsody...

When nothing came, no sign, Leon twisted, mostly at the sound of heel meeting cobbled street, a scowl stretching. "Kamui" has, in a sense, a palpable sort of anger. Or, to be more accurate, as used to odd shifts in behavior as he was, this was completely off the scale of what those shifts seemed to encompass.

Fighting Heartless was one thing, but-- no, there were other things at hand. It was better to just get them dispatched now. Ask what was off later. And Leon goes about doing just that, if but to eliminate anymore threats while the Heartless are down.]

[wishgazer]

[Whenever one attempts to move and break out of his grasp, he quickly silences it, no matter how far away it is. All his senses are on full alert, and just one little movement in his territory will alert him.

And to make sure of his total dominion over these small bastards, he stalks around quickly and silently, feet barely touching the ground now, keeping track of their numbers, and keeping them in check. Each one is still whenever he moves past them but not killing them. They're wary and afraid. Good.

Even now, he still feels a sense of wrongness-- something's missing and it's bothering him. It's to be expected, the setting different than what his body probably still remembers that of what his mind cant but...

Just what the hell is it?

Is it the enemy? He can tell that his movements are designed for much bigger beings than these tiny Heartless. Humans, most likely. Or anything as large as a human. His body is used to grabbing people and holding them, not a small (and relatively squishy) toy-like thing that can actually squeak. His hand is used to driving right through something that has a lot of mass and resistance, not a small, easily-yeilding body.

And where did that thought come from?]

[austering]

[This was getting... strange. Odd. Not frightening, not yet. "Kamui" is frightening, but he's never done anything to him that had been. No, it was the kind of hair raising sort of strange. Maybe not the same sense as something off as "Kamui" seems to be feeling, or wrong. But goosebumps raise for a split few seconds, that same tingling down his spine.

The scowl that had cropped up grew darker. Brows furrowing, scrunching the scar between them. It doesn't feel right.

Stopping, Leon just reaches for "Kamui", to put a hand on his shoulder. It's not that he doesn't think that he can be hurt from that temper. Just that it seemed like the right thing to do; get his attention. Snap him out of... of...

Whatever this mood was.]

Kamui-- hey... I think that's enough for today... Let's go back.

[wishgazer]

... Hm? [The touch to his shoulder is electric, making him release the breath he doesn't realize he's been holding since the beginning of his little 'episode'

And with the release of breath is the gradual calming down. His heavy mental control over the bodies of the Heartless lets up and disappears, those that are lucky enough to survive-- or not get stepped on-- rising up from the ground and attempting to get away in wide, loopy paths that suggest they're more than a little winded from their meeting with the ground.

The mind has cleared, but the body is still a little stubborn, fragments of his powers still ringing in his ears, and forcing his adrenaline levels and body temperatures to go higher than normal. His body believes it's still in battle mode, and acts accordingly. One such drawback from going a little crazy with funny, picky powers. They eat their masters up if they're not careful.

But it's nothing a little exertion cant fix. The walk back will take care of that easily.

He grasps Leon's hand in his and entwines their fingers, and uses that grip to pull him along in the direction he knows 'back' lies, like a younger teenager with his girlfriend. Except that the other person is a far older man. Pretty, very pretty by his standards, but still an older man who can take him down with a good punch to the gut.]

All right. Let's go back.

[His voice is softer than it has been all day. Softer, but blank.]

[austering]

... (What was that all about?)

[It doesn't really strike him that it was something so small as a vague injury that triggered something... that odd. Going into battled, fully expecting to get injured. These things happened.

There was an urge to pull his hand away from the other's grip, a reflex. Didn't really catch what the need for that in a more public setting was for. Leon hadn't understood it back then, back when he adopted a different name and a different set of beliefs, a different notion of what was real and what wasn't. He didn't understand it now. So some things didn't change.

He doesn't.

It's not easy to admit to worrying about it, or to offer possible comfort if something was bothering. There were many things about "Kamui" that Leon still can't read.

Perhaps he never will. But that blank tone...

Leon follows behind, words at the tip of his tongue, and he lets them drop. It'd be better once they got back, out of view of prying eyes and ears.

(Maybe it wasn't a good idea to let him come with me if he's stressed about something...)

[wishgazer]

[It's easy to fall back into old habits, smiling with his pretty, enigmatic charm at any person they pass by who stares openly at them without shame. And that means every single person they pass by on the streets. He's very well aware where their eyes trail as well, from Leon's face, to his, to their joined hands and entwined fingers, and back to their faces, lingering a little more.

The smile is there to tell them to shove it and get back to their business, because, frankly, gaping at two men holding hands is just not something they need to get their underwear in knots over. So what if Leon and 'that kid of his' are out on a Heartless-hunting date? The whole of Traverse knows about them, so why should they treat this one couple any differently from the others?

... Oh, right, because they're probably a very, very strange couple.

Well, still, in "Kamui"'s book, they should shove it. If he wants to hold Leon's hand while walking, so be it. If he wants to eat the man's face in front of the whole town, so be it, even if he'll be risking spectacular bruising by getting punched or kicked for his shameless show of public affection.

He cant exactly deny that the thought's not unappealing though.

"Kamui" rolls his eyes up to the sky. Dark, of course, as usual, but there's a small hint of lightning somewhere. It's most likely from his friend the thundercloud, which he's apparently forgotten to turn back before waving it back into the sky. Oops.]

[austering]

['That kid of his'... It's uncomfortable, stares. They're judging, he's sure. He knows he's older, he knows it's strange, but it just-- this is why he doesn't like it. They're judging, of course they're judging. It's a hard thing to shove down, that subconscious... well, whatever it was (it could be just an assumption, but he doubts it even still).

There's a limit to what he's willing to deal with before the whole feeling catches up to him.

And if "Kamui" gets hit for it out of a knee-jerk reaction, that's his prerogatived.

His mind isn't really on that this time, however. Not too much this time --lucky, really, that he has far too much self-control to allow that burning to creep up into his face. No, his mind is a little more preoccupied with other things as of late.

Doesn't mean he's not somewhat glad to be able to pull his hand away when they get back. It's not a towering building, not exactly, but it holds more than just one or two families. A conglomeration of refugees and residents alike. Leon only pulls his hand away to open the door, attempting to be a little polite.

People are constantly coming and going as it is.]

You need an ether or something?

[wishgazer]

[Of course there's disappointment when Leon pulls away. A childish little reaction brought on by... well, getting a far too cozy with his hand, even though it's in a glove. Oh well.

"Kamui" stretches, working out the kinks in his body and is satisfied to note that most of the previous tension has already gone. Which is a good thing too-- he doesn't want to accidentally break something, or start something inconvenient for everyone. Like, say, an earthquake of some sort.]

... Ether? [He stops in the middle of rolling his neck, staring at Leon, not blinking.

Just why he might some chemical compound he cant remember for the life of him what it's made of and what it can do is beyond him.

Of course, it can be something else completely when used in the context Leon has just done. Better to ask instead of jumping to conclusions.]

What is that?

[austering]

[Ah... that's right. He supposed "Kamui" wouldn't know too much about that. Leon shrugs. He'd meant it innocently enough.] Restores magical energy...

[Sometimes there wasn't time for sleep, and more in Leon's case, he kept them simply because he liked to be prepared. Never knew when Aerith or Yuffie would need it, or if he'd need something like that in a pinch. He wasn't a healer, though. Usually he called it a day when he was that drained.

Sleep could take care of it too, but it was a bit early in the day to consider that.

A slight pause.]

Or just hot chocolate, if you want... [It was a thought, at least.]

[wishgazer]

[There's such a thing for that? "Kamui" has never really been aware of the magic side of things in this place. So, apparently, even that has a limit. And apparently, there's a separate kind of energy for it that can be used up too. He can imagine children's fairy tales with magic in them. Not really as fantastic or mysterious as one would think.

In "Kamui"'s opinion, it's bothersome. What's so interesting about something that can drain you when you use it? So many limits and boundaries... And not fun at all to use, no chances to experiment unless you might want something to go horribly wrong and all that kind of thing.

He cant deny he's curious about how something can restore magical energy though, but... meh.

And he cant deny that the thought of hot chocolate isn't appealing.] I would rather have the hot chocolate. It works better.

Extra milk, please.

[austering]

[One thing one didn't want to do around here. Bring up fairy tales. The next thing you'd know, you'd be in one. Leon would chalk that up to just the worlds and their oddities. After all, Merlin was the one that wanted that book in the first place. At the same time, though, if it weren't for people like Merlin and the Fairy Godmother, things like that wouldn't really exist anymore in the first place.

Leon snorts, but not out of exasperation. "Kamui" and his sweet tooth.

A hand motion, waving him to the kitchen. There's not too much commotion around like there probably will be later for dinner. Almost a communal effort, really. He'd learned a handy trick, actually.

He never liked or saw the sense in powdered mix, convenience aside. It was a little more effort, to root around in the kitchen for the double pans. The baking stuff was better, melted down and used with milk.

Pots found, and water to use, he set them to boiling, leaning against the counter for the mean time. By now, the slight ice burn was long forgotten.]

So-- [How to put it...] You alright?

[wishgazer]

[Fingers stop what they're doing-- dragging lightly along the scar on his neck. Cant say he isn't expecting the question. And he cant say he doesn't have an answer for it.]

I am.

[It's simple as that, no need to sugarcoat it or expound on things. While it may not be enough for other people, he knows Leon's the type to prefer the hard facts, and long lines is just a quick way to get his annoyance.

Possibly why "Kamui" does that all the time to him. Just to see that scar scrunch up as his brow furrows in a deep frown. He likes it. It's cute.

Powered milk is something he doesn't like though. Sometimes, he can still taste those little lumps in his mug and it's annoying to have to grind them between his teeth just so they will disappear. He prefers fresh milk, sweeter and more times better than that processed kind that have undergone questionable procedures to get to that powdery state.

That's not the reason why he asked for extra milk though. ... Milk is still milk, he supposes, and it adds flavor to something that's naturally bitter.

Fingers go back to what they're doing, rubbing down his scars. After every battle with 'magic' and his own powers involved, they become a little more sensitive than usual. The one over his heart, not so much, being the old one of the trio. The other two, however, are just a little spoiled and demand more attention.]