Comments | the_love_hotel: We had no time to say goodbye (no event)

rideonmyharley in the_love_hotel

We had no time to say goodbye (no event)

Jun 26, 2009 17:50

Kia sat in an open area near the greenhouse and lit another cigarette. There were already a dozen butts crumpled in the ashtray next to him. He didn't know when it had happened, but Ran was gone. Just when he'd thought he'd broken the last bit of ice and had been about to hear the words he'd managed to pull from every other person he'd pushed ( Read more... )

series: absolute obedience

Leave a comment

Back to all threads

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 01:25:27 UTC

It wasn't often many others stopped by the greenhouse, of all places. Kia rather stuck out.

Curious eyes played across the suffering young man as Chloe drew closer, his original intent momentarily forgotten. The flowers would have let him know if something was amiss. This seemed slightly more pressing at the moment.

He seemed familiar. Kia. That was his name...though the details of their meeting were still a little fuzzy in his head. Still, he would have offered his services, such as they were, to anyone he thought in need of them, stranger or otherwise.

"...penny for your thoughts."

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 03:26:00 UTC

"Which is precisely why I'm certain he'll return, somehow, someway. He has reason to, after all." Here his smirk widened slightly, noting that some of that tension had eased out of Kia's posture. Good.

"...I suppose that means someone else will have to visit the flowers in his absence, then."

rideonmyharley June 27 2009, 03:32:08 UTC

Kia had the feeling that Chloe knew more about their relationship than he was letting on, but prying probably wouldn't get him anywhere. He smiled a little. "I'm not sure how much of a reason I am by myself, but if there are multiple people, that should be enough eventually. Until then, I doubt he'll remember a damn thing."

The last remark made him raise an eyebrow. "Are you a florist too?" Kia knew more, but he'd act like he was just familiar with the cover story despite the scars he'd seen.

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 03:34:51 UTC

He could draw whatever conclusions he pleased. It wasn't as though their cover meant much in this place. Their greatest threats already knew good and well who they were.

"Gardener and florist, both. I rather enjoy their company," he remarked with a faint chuckle, his attention turning to the flowers that surrounded them.

rideonmyharley June 27 2009, 03:51:47 UTC

In this place, Kia's secret job didn't really matter either, which was the only reason he'd said it to Ran in the first place. Given what the hotel liked to force on people, his skills were an advantage.

"At home, I'm in the army. I don't know too much about flowers." And yet the specific roses he'd found for himself said that those words weren't completely true. Ran had confused him into researching them, since there seemed to be any sort of room a person could ask for here in this hotel.

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 03:55:58 UTC

"It would appear you know something about them, at any rate." He gestured freely to the roses. One eyebrow arched knowingly. "And if you've been close to Aya all this time, it wouldn't surprise me if you learned a thing or two. He appreciates the symbolism they offer, their own unique, silent language. Flowers can convey things in simpler terms, sometimes."

rideonmyharley June 27 2009, 04:14:48 UTC

Kia chuckled. "He left me flowers once and wouldn't explain why. I ended up finding a library in here to figure them out. Some of the information stuck in my head." He didn't have much in the way of formal education, but he wasn't stupid at all. "Before I ended up disappearing, I returned the favor." He left out the part about what else had happed after Kia delivered his arrangement, but he thought about that particular moment between them and smirked for an instant.

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 04:39:24 UTC

Don't think he doesn't notice that smirk. He can read you like a book, mister.

"I see...that doesn't surprise me, actually," he murmured, placing a finger to his chin in thought. "Words seem to fail him when his feelings are at their strongest. He fears them, fears being hurt by investing himself too deeply. There's also that doubt in his mind that I can't seem for the life of me to rid him of, that he deserves to try to be happy."

rideonmyharley June 27 2009, 04:55:37 UTC

Hearing from someone else that knew Ran only cemented some of the things Kia had thought about him in the months the hotel had shoved them at each other over and over again. "I can understand the first part. Until about a year ago, I wasn't much better." Kia's fear had been of losing whover he admitted he cared for. He'd kept his heart away from almost everyone.

"Dealing with that doubt is frustrating, but I still like him." Okay, it was more than "like", but Kia had had a hard enough time saying that to Ran himself.

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 05:56:03 UTC

Shoulders rolled in a faint shrug. "Everyone has those insecurities at some point, and some have better reasons for them than others. It's very frustrating at times, but ultimately, I believe it's completely worth it. He is completely worth it."

One hand extended to rest lightly on Kia's shoulder, a flux of reassurance resounding through the physical contact, before he drew back again. "I hope you two manage to find what you seek when he returns."

rideonmyharley June 27 2009, 06:18:30 UTC

He'd had his reason, but that reason had proven false and Kia had adjusted to the change by accepting love as strongly as he felt every other emotion. Kia had already decided that Ran was worth whatever frustration it took to get close to him. Maybe losing him could be seen as just another one of those moments rather than a permanent thing.

His smile grew when Chloe touched him, though he didn't know why, and he nodded. "Thanks. You seem like a good friend if you're encouraging me." Not if he returns, but when. Kia could try for that optimism.

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 06:20:23 UTC

"Well, if for no other reason than your importance to Aya, I'll do my best to be as good a friend as I can," he replied with a short laugh, arms refolding over his chest. "I wouldn't want him cross with me."

rideonmyharley June 27 2009, 06:27:12 UTC

"He's not exactly nice to see when he's upset," Kia mumbled. He'd only seen Ran genuinely angry or close to it once, before he learned the full story, but it wasn't something he wanted to see again. They'd both fucked up then, though.

rose_of_sideb June 27 2009, 06:50:34 UTC

"It's a discernible difference from his normal amount of grouchiness, certainly." Kia's expression only added to his urge to chuckle. That was one thing they could bond over: Aya's tendency to be absolutely difficult at times.

"Still, to see him in those stolen, unguarded moments of peace are reward enough for having to deal with him the rest of the time, no?"

rideonmyharley June 27 2009, 07:07:42 UTC

"It's probably bad that I have experience dealing with pretty guys whose default mood is some form of grumpy. He's sometimes worse than my partner at home, though." Partner in both senses of the word.

Kia nodded and ached again, though not in a bad way, when he pictured Ran relaxed next to him in those moments where he seemed the warmest and most alive.

Back to all threads