(no subject)

[itaito]

[sheet music in hand, wandering into Kaito's bedroom]

Hey, Kaito?

Comments

[itaito]

[higher?

...right, higher! it seems so obvious, once he lifts his voice a little and finds the sound coming neatly into harmony with Kaito's recorder. he holds the new pitch for a few moments, fixing it in his memory, and fiddling with a few internal instructions.

he envies human brains, sometimes.]

[was_no_monster]

[there it went. lowering his recorder]

Good, you got it. You did the same thing in the same place in this other verse, [indicating another section of sheet music] so if you can just... copy the change over, I suppose...?

[itaito]

Ah, okay. Give me a second...

[his eyes take on a glassy, unfocused look for a few seconds, before he blinks it away and looks at Kaito again]

Okay, let's try it.

[was_no_monster]

[nods, lifting the recorder back up and starting to play the problematic section again]

[itaito]

[sings with! it's much smoother now]

[was_no_monster]

[perfect. grinning at him around the mouthpiece and... oh, what the hell, why not. continuing to play, but switching away from the main melody into an improvised harmonization]

[itaito]

[...oh. oh hey. something about that improvisation makes something click and as he comes up on the problem spot, where the transition is so rough...

... perfect. that's perfect - that's what the song needed.]

[was_no_monster]

[he almost drops the recorder in surprise; he hadn't expected that particular issue to correct itself so easily. more than corrected itself— it's easy to hear why the other Kaito is suddenly grinning like that.

he plays through the rest of the song with him, beaming]

I think that did it. ...Good job.

[itaito]

[so happy. it is an interesting warm fuzzy combo of music achievement and that secret little itch being scratched]

Thank you, Master!

I'll try and remember that harmony you did so I can write it down later. It's just what the song needed!

1/2

[was_no_monster]

[...]

[was_no_monster]

[...headpats]

I'm glad that I could help.

[he's frowning slightly, though, and after a pause he sighs in resignation]

...I'm sorry, but... could you not call me that?

[itaito]

[what but I]

Ah, I... o-of course. W-whatever you want. Sorry...

[was_no_monster]

[looks down at the recorder, and then over to the box still sitting off to the side

heaving a HUGE SIGH and putting the instrument down, reaching for the chains again]

... It's all right. I'm just... somewhat picky, I suppose...?

...Would you mind if I asked Miku to tell you a few things? I would do it myself, but... it's something difficult for me to talk about, and I'd probably end up upsetting one or the both of us. ...She knows some of it better than I do, anyway.

[itaito]

[leans on :( tell me you don't hate me]

...Okay. I-if there's something I need to know, then...

[sighs a little. absently reaches out to toy with the chain]

[was_no_monster]

[shifts to accommodate him. letting him play with the chain a little, and then starting to wrap it around both wrists]

"Need" probably isn't quite the right word, but... you deserve an explanation for some of my behavior.

[itaito]

All right.

[nuzzles at]

... This is a nice chain. Is this what Miku got you?

[was_no_monster]

Mmm. ...Can you shift behind me a little bit? I don't want you to get hit if I do manage to snap this.

[itaito]

[does so, leaning against his back]

Mmm. I didn't know you liked this kind of thing too, Kaito.

[was_no_monster]

[that puts you in a good position to feel his MANY MUSCLES as he strains, using his full strength to try and pull the chain apart. after several seconds of effort he relaxes, letting it go slack again]

...hahhh. ...I don't, but it's necessary.

[itaito]

[ooh, that is nice. we will just be deeply appreciating that for a moment here. kyaa boyfriend so strong kyaa]

... It's that bad, huh?

[reaching around to put his hand on top of Kaito's :(]

[was_no_monster]

[stilling, slowly curling that hand shut]

... I very nearly killed her once, because she had embraced me, and I became emotional enough about it to want nothing more than to hold her in return. While I've learned how not to repeat that mistake, it requires vigilance— which I cannot always maintain, and which she does not always want me to maintain.

So... yes. It is that bad.

[itaito]

[he's quiet, thinking - remembering a beating heavy enough to break bones, endured without complaint by his sturdy metal frame.

gently, he kisses the back of Kaito's neck]

[was_no_monster]

[his shoulders sag slightly as he exhales at the touch; but the line of his spine is still stiff, and when he speaks again his voice is strained.]

...How do you enjoy this?

[itaito]

...

I don't know.

It's just... it feels good to me.

[was_no_monster]

...

I don't understand it. I wish I could—I've been trying—but...