Shattered Glass - PG - Oneshot
Title: Shattered Glass
Author: Kavikalphawolf
Beta: None
Band/Pairing: Shou and Tora [alice nine./No actual pairing]
Prompt: [2] I Never Thought I'd See You Like This (For tragic_ennui)
Rating: PG
Genre: Angst
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Do not own these guys.
Comment(s): Okay, I've got two reasons for posting so quick. XD 1.) This was an awesome prompt and gave me inspiration immediately upon reading it. 2.) I might not be able to be on my comp for awhile. /reasons Anyways, I didn't mean to put Shou in the main character role again, but he was the only one who fit. XD; Hope you guys like this.
Summary: That look in his eyes...something so foreign and strange, yet natural to most. Shou could have never fathomed that someone as strong as Tora was even capable of expressing emotion to that degree.
The sight was something Shou never believed he would get out of his head. Tora kneeling down backstage, looking up at him with such fear in his eyes as he told him he couldn't move his arm. The vocalist was sure his heart had stopped in that instant as he had been unable to grasp for words, or even air. It had been like a steel anvil was pressing down on his chest and taking away his ability to breathe.
"What? You're joking...." Was the first thing that had escaped his lips once he had had himself back under control, along with a breathy laugh. "Tora it's not-" He had been cut off by tears as they cascaded down the larger man's cheeks, dripping onto his shaking, scared form. Then and only then had it truly sunk in that Tora wasn't joking. That he was as serious as the notion of permanent paralysis that hovered over him like a dark vortex wanting to suck away everything in Tora's life that had ever meant anything to him.
Everything after that had been a blur. From the staff calling an ambulance to the rest of his bandmates shocked and fearful expressions. Shou had been in a trance the rest of the night, wanting nothing more than to be by Tora's side. And by his side he had stayed.
Many of the nurses had shooed him here and there, telling him he was getting in the way, but he hadn't been listening. The only thing that had managed to catch his attention that night--that he remembered even to this day--was the shaking hand that had held his own for comfort and assurance. Tora didn't care that they didn't want him moving his limbs. He had refused to let go of Shou's hand with the only one of his two that was willing to work.
Shou had let his hand be held and even squeezed Tora's hand in return once or twice when the taller man would get especially fearful. He wasn't going to let Tora go through this alone. No, he would be right by his side just as he had always been, and nothing would ever change that.
Now, after the hospital visit and after the doctors had done everything they could, Shou had been told to stay with Tora. Watch over him in his apartment and do things for him that he could no longer do for himself. Of course he had agreed. He hadn't even hesitated. Nothing was more important than Tora in his mind at that moment. However, he hadn't realized just how hard helping his friend might be.
"Here Tora, let me help-"
"Dammit Shou I can do it myself!" A shouting protest and Tora was shoving Shou backwards, making the singer trip and fall hard to the floor. "Stop trying to baby me!"
From his spot on the floor, Shou just took a deep breath and fought back the tears pricking his eyes. In his mind he was fighting with himself, telling himself that Tora was just frustrated and it was nothing personal. However, the glare upon Tora's features made it hard to believe such a thing was true.
Carefully he pulled himself back up to his feet and looked to the rice that Tora was trying to fix. "Tora, just let me fix it for you. It'll makes things fast-" A crash, evidence to Tora throwing the glass bowl across the kitchen and it smashing against the floor. Shou winced, but stood his ground. Not even this was going to deter him from helping his best friend get through these times. Tora needed him...whether he was willing to admit it or not.
"Fuck you, Shou!" The angered man left the kitchen to go to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him and intending on spending some time alone. Shou respected his decision and just went about cleaning up the broken glass. His eyes were distant as he picked up each piece, and he didn't even flinch when he cut his finger on the sharp edge of one of the shattered remains.
He brought the digit up to his eyes to inspect and when it was deemed not that bad he wiped the blood on his shirt and continued cleaning up. It didn't take long, so when he was done he took the trash out with the broken glass and put it in a dumpster, only to return to the kitchen and put a new bag in the trash can.
In order to ease his mind, Shou started on cleaning up other things in the kitchen. He put away the unused rice and cleaned off the counter, scrubbing it down slowly just to pass time. Tora's cat, Chicken, climbed up on the counter minutes later to watch as he did so, almost as if making sure the singer did a good job. He provided amusement for Shou, so the tall man didn't shoo him away like he would have done to one of his own cats for getting up on the counter.
Upon finishing the scrubbing, Shou walked over and started to pet the cat, smiling softly when it purred and headbutted into his hand. Almost as if telling Shou that everything was going to be alright. "I hope so." He murmured, petting the cat a bit more before turning and going over to clean up what dishes Tora had in the sink. There weren't that many, so he decided to clean them by hand, washing them thoroughly and then drying and putting them away.
It had been silent in Tora's bedroom for the time he had been cleaning, so Shou--being worried about anything happening--cautiously made his way over to the room door when his task of dishes was completed. He knocked a few times, getting a soft, "Come in." from the other side. It surprised him, but rather than linger on that Shou just opened the door and eased himself inside the room. Tora was perched on the bed, back to the wall. His eyes were focused on Shou, but they held no anger.
"I just wanted to see how you were." Shou murmured, watching as Tora seemed to regard him from his place on the bed. It made the younger man feel a bit awkward and as evidence he rubbed his arm nervously. He didn't like being scrutinized.
"I know." Tora finally replied, his voice soft, almost a little hesitant if Shou heard right, "It's alright to come over here. I'm not...mad anymore." Was that apology Shou heard in his voice?
Nodding his head, Shou crossed the room and seated himself on the edge of the bed, near to Tora's frame. "Are you feel-"
"I'm sorry." Tora cut him off, and Shou was further startled to see tears pricking the edges of his best friend's eyes. The sight was so foreign, so strange. Shou hadn't seen it since Tora had been frightened that night before the performance. "I know...I know you're just trying to help me, but...I feel so useless. So utterly helpless...and I hate it." The older man bowed his head as best he could with the neck brace, allowing his ebony bangs to shield his teary eyes from view.
Shou couldn't help himself then. He turned and pulled Tora into a gentle embrace, rubbing his back softly and smiling a bit when Tora tried to hug him back with his mobile arm. "It's okay, Tora-kun. I understand."
Despite the assurance and the returned hug, Shou could hear and feel Tora crying into his shoulder; the dampness seeping into his shirt and then his skin. The once powerful man was reduced to nothing more than crying and Shou could feel his heart tearing in two. This was not the Tora he had come to know. This man was the one Tora never allowed anyone to see. A poor, fragile man who needed comfort and love just like any other person. Perhaps more so because of what he was going through. It shattered what Shou had originally come to know of this man. And he didn't care.
Even though he never would have thought he'd see this powerful man fall to his knees in such a way, Shou didn't care. Tora was still his best friend, no matter what. No amount of this was going to change that. Even if--Heaven forbid--Tora did become permanently paralyzed, Shou would still be his best friend. Their bond surpassed that of music. At least, it was from Shou's half of the friendship. He wasn't entirely sure if it was mutual.
"Shou...?" The timid question brought the vocalist from his thoughts and immediately he was looking down at his best friend again.
Tora pulled himself away from Shou's body and gazed at the younger man before him. "Thank you." An appreciative, yet sad smile broke out across Tora's lips. "I-I mean it. I'm really glad you're here for me." Shou couldn't help but smile back, his eyes glassy from the sight Tora made with his teary eyes and cheeks flushed from crying.
Yes, their bond was beyond that of music and it was mutual. Tora's simple smile was enough to tell this and so much more.
"I'll always be here for you, Tora. Don't you ever worry about that."
Author: Kavikalphawolf
Beta: None
Band/Pairing: Shou and Tora [alice nine./No actual pairing]
Prompt: [2] I Never Thought I'd See You Like This (For tragic_ennui)
Rating: PG
Genre: Angst
Warnings: None
Disclaimer: Do not own these guys.
Comment(s): Okay, I've got two reasons for posting so quick. XD 1.) This was an awesome prompt and gave me inspiration immediately upon reading it. 2.) I might not be able to be on my comp for awhile. /reasons Anyways, I didn't mean to put Shou in the main character role again, but he was the only one who fit. XD; Hope you guys like this.
Summary: That look in his eyes...something so foreign and strange, yet natural to most. Shou could have never fathomed that someone as strong as Tora was even capable of expressing emotion to that degree.
The sight was something Shou never believed he would get out of his head. Tora kneeling down backstage, looking up at him with such fear in his eyes as he told him he couldn't move his arm. The vocalist was sure his heart had stopped in that instant as he had been unable to grasp for words, or even air. It had been like a steel anvil was pressing down on his chest and taking away his ability to breathe.
"What? You're joking...." Was the first thing that had escaped his lips once he had had himself back under control, along with a breathy laugh. "Tora it's not-" He had been cut off by tears as they cascaded down the larger man's cheeks, dripping onto his shaking, scared form. Then and only then had it truly sunk in that Tora wasn't joking. That he was as serious as the notion of permanent paralysis that hovered over him like a dark vortex wanting to suck away everything in Tora's life that had ever meant anything to him.
Everything after that had been a blur. From the staff calling an ambulance to the rest of his bandmates shocked and fearful expressions. Shou had been in a trance the rest of the night, wanting nothing more than to be by Tora's side. And by his side he had stayed.
Many of the nurses had shooed him here and there, telling him he was getting in the way, but he hadn't been listening. The only thing that had managed to catch his attention that night--that he remembered even to this day--was the shaking hand that had held his own for comfort and assurance. Tora didn't care that they didn't want him moving his limbs. He had refused to let go of Shou's hand with the only one of his two that was willing to work.
Shou had let his hand be held and even squeezed Tora's hand in return once or twice when the taller man would get especially fearful. He wasn't going to let Tora go through this alone. No, he would be right by his side just as he had always been, and nothing would ever change that.
Now, after the hospital visit and after the doctors had done everything they could, Shou had been told to stay with Tora. Watch over him in his apartment and do things for him that he could no longer do for himself. Of course he had agreed. He hadn't even hesitated. Nothing was more important than Tora in his mind at that moment. However, he hadn't realized just how hard helping his friend might be.
"Here Tora, let me help-"
"Dammit Shou I can do it myself!" A shouting protest and Tora was shoving Shou backwards, making the singer trip and fall hard to the floor. "Stop trying to baby me!"
From his spot on the floor, Shou just took a deep breath and fought back the tears pricking his eyes. In his mind he was fighting with himself, telling himself that Tora was just frustrated and it was nothing personal. However, the glare upon Tora's features made it hard to believe such a thing was true.
Carefully he pulled himself back up to his feet and looked to the rice that Tora was trying to fix. "Tora, just let me fix it for you. It'll makes things fast-" A crash, evidence to Tora throwing the glass bowl across the kitchen and it smashing against the floor. Shou winced, but stood his ground. Not even this was going to deter him from helping his best friend get through these times. Tora needed him...whether he was willing to admit it or not.
"Fuck you, Shou!" The angered man left the kitchen to go to the bedroom, slamming the door behind him and intending on spending some time alone. Shou respected his decision and just went about cleaning up the broken glass. His eyes were distant as he picked up each piece, and he didn't even flinch when he cut his finger on the sharp edge of one of the shattered remains.
He brought the digit up to his eyes to inspect and when it was deemed not that bad he wiped the blood on his shirt and continued cleaning up. It didn't take long, so when he was done he took the trash out with the broken glass and put it in a dumpster, only to return to the kitchen and put a new bag in the trash can.
In order to ease his mind, Shou started on cleaning up other things in the kitchen. He put away the unused rice and cleaned off the counter, scrubbing it down slowly just to pass time. Tora's cat, Chicken, climbed up on the counter minutes later to watch as he did so, almost as if making sure the singer did a good job. He provided amusement for Shou, so the tall man didn't shoo him away like he would have done to one of his own cats for getting up on the counter.
Upon finishing the scrubbing, Shou walked over and started to pet the cat, smiling softly when it purred and headbutted into his hand. Almost as if telling Shou that everything was going to be alright. "I hope so." He murmured, petting the cat a bit more before turning and going over to clean up what dishes Tora had in the sink. There weren't that many, so he decided to clean them by hand, washing them thoroughly and then drying and putting them away.
It had been silent in Tora's bedroom for the time he had been cleaning, so Shou--being worried about anything happening--cautiously made his way over to the room door when his task of dishes was completed. He knocked a few times, getting a soft, "Come in." from the other side. It surprised him, but rather than linger on that Shou just opened the door and eased himself inside the room. Tora was perched on the bed, back to the wall. His eyes were focused on Shou, but they held no anger.
"I just wanted to see how you were." Shou murmured, watching as Tora seemed to regard him from his place on the bed. It made the younger man feel a bit awkward and as evidence he rubbed his arm nervously. He didn't like being scrutinized.
"I know." Tora finally replied, his voice soft, almost a little hesitant if Shou heard right, "It's alright to come over here. I'm not...mad anymore." Was that apology Shou heard in his voice?
Nodding his head, Shou crossed the room and seated himself on the edge of the bed, near to Tora's frame. "Are you feel-"
"I'm sorry." Tora cut him off, and Shou was further startled to see tears pricking the edges of his best friend's eyes. The sight was so foreign, so strange. Shou hadn't seen it since Tora had been frightened that night before the performance. "I know...I know you're just trying to help me, but...I feel so useless. So utterly helpless...and I hate it." The older man bowed his head as best he could with the neck brace, allowing his ebony bangs to shield his teary eyes from view.
Shou couldn't help himself then. He turned and pulled Tora into a gentle embrace, rubbing his back softly and smiling a bit when Tora tried to hug him back with his mobile arm. "It's okay, Tora-kun. I understand."
Despite the assurance and the returned hug, Shou could hear and feel Tora crying into his shoulder; the dampness seeping into his shirt and then his skin. The once powerful man was reduced to nothing more than crying and Shou could feel his heart tearing in two. This was not the Tora he had come to know. This man was the one Tora never allowed anyone to see. A poor, fragile man who needed comfort and love just like any other person. Perhaps more so because of what he was going through. It shattered what Shou had originally come to know of this man. And he didn't care.
Even though he never would have thought he'd see this powerful man fall to his knees in such a way, Shou didn't care. Tora was still his best friend, no matter what. No amount of this was going to change that. Even if--Heaven forbid--Tora did become permanently paralyzed, Shou would still be his best friend. Their bond surpassed that of music. At least, it was from Shou's half of the friendship. He wasn't entirely sure if it was mutual.
"Shou...?" The timid question brought the vocalist from his thoughts and immediately he was looking down at his best friend again.
Tora pulled himself away from Shou's body and gazed at the younger man before him. "Thank you." An appreciative, yet sad smile broke out across Tora's lips. "I-I mean it. I'm really glad you're here for me." Shou couldn't help but smile back, his eyes glassy from the sight Tora made with his teary eyes and cheeks flushed from crying.
Yes, their bond was beyond that of music and it was mutual. Tora's simple smile was enough to tell this and so much more.
"I'll always be here for you, Tora. Don't you ever worry about that."