Fic: Strength
Title: Strength
Author: alliterationhor
Disclaimer: here be fiction.
Spoilers: YES! for Nihon part II, volume 23.
Rating: G.
Word count: 268.
Author’s note: this is the night after that happened, specifically meant to accompany chapter 181.
Another note: this was meant, in concept, to be a drabble, but ... it didn't work.
Fanfic archive here.
Comments/concrit appreciated.
Strength
A soft knock.
“Come in.”
Fai closed the door quietly behind him. The ninja was standing at the open window, the room dark except for the light of the cresent moon outside.
All was quiet, the world still; silence preserved in mourning.
“He’s on the roof,” Fai said, taking a few more steps into the room. “I doubt he’ll sleep tonight.”
Kurogane nodded once, moonlight catching silver-white on his hair with the movement, but he did not turn around.
“You should get some rest, Kuro-sama. You’re still recovering.”
“Soon,” Kurogane answered, his voice low and distant.
A pause, followed by an almost inaudible sigh.
“You don’t have to hide it,” Fai said, his voice gentle. “It’s okay.”
After a moment, Kurogane turned his head slightly toward the other man, and moonlight glinted on a single tear stain down his cheek. “I hate being weak.” he muttered.
Fai stepped forward, the movement quick and confident, and touched the ninja’s cheek. His voice was soft but strong, “This is not weakness. This is strength.” One gold eye met two red eyes, holding the gaze clearly and solemnly. “Remember?”
Kurogane remembered, words spoken worlds ago, words from a forever ago. “... There’s a certain strength that’s needed to be able to cry when you should.”
Kurogane nodded again, and Fai’s hand dropped.
“You’re not crying,” Kurogane murmured.
A shy twist of lips, not quite a smile. “I’m not that strong.”
Kurogane exhaled a breath that might have been a laugh, in different circumstances. “Idiot.”
What Fai did not say was that if he started to cry, he thought he might never stop.
Author: alliterationhor
Disclaimer: here be fiction.
Spoilers: YES! for Nihon part II, volume 23.
Rating: G.
Word count: 268.
Author’s note: this is the night after that happened, specifically meant to accompany chapter 181.
Another note: this was meant, in concept, to be a drabble, but ... it didn't work.
Fanfic archive here.
Comments/concrit appreciated.
Strength
A soft knock.
“Come in.”
Fai closed the door quietly behind him. The ninja was standing at the open window, the room dark except for the light of the cresent moon outside.
All was quiet, the world still; silence preserved in mourning.
“He’s on the roof,” Fai said, taking a few more steps into the room. “I doubt he’ll sleep tonight.”
Kurogane nodded once, moonlight catching silver-white on his hair with the movement, but he did not turn around.
“You should get some rest, Kuro-sama. You’re still recovering.”
“Soon,” Kurogane answered, his voice low and distant.
A pause, followed by an almost inaudible sigh.
“You don’t have to hide it,” Fai said, his voice gentle. “It’s okay.”
After a moment, Kurogane turned his head slightly toward the other man, and moonlight glinted on a single tear stain down his cheek. “I hate being weak.” he muttered.
Fai stepped forward, the movement quick and confident, and touched the ninja’s cheek. His voice was soft but strong, “This is not weakness. This is strength.” One gold eye met two red eyes, holding the gaze clearly and solemnly. “Remember?”
Kurogane remembered, words spoken worlds ago, words from a forever ago. “... There’s a certain strength that’s needed to be able to cry when you should.”
Kurogane nodded again, and Fai’s hand dropped.
“You’re not crying,” Kurogane murmured.
A shy twist of lips, not quite a smile. “I’m not that strong.”
Kurogane exhaled a breath that might have been a laugh, in different circumstances. “Idiot.”
What Fai did not say was that if he started to cry, he thought he might never stop.