#HGRHGGRGGHR this ship KILLS ME

[isz-gravestone-blog]

Waning of the Nightingale - Part 5

Casimir’s hand hovered above the doorknob, bruised knuckles bright purple beneath the lamplight. He sighed, rolling his sore shoulders in their sockets, and eased the door open.

   Fiver awaited him in the dim living room, curled on the couch in his nightclothes. He smiled, but the moment he took in Casimir’s battered appearance, it was replaced by shock.

   “Cas!” Fiver leaped to his feet and was at his side in an instant. “What—what happened to you?”

   “Rough day,” Casimir answered.

   Fiver stared at him, more distressed by the understatement than amused.

   “I, uh...” Casimir rubbed the back of his neck and winced. His muscles burned. “Got into a bit of a fight while out on the job.”

   Fiver dragged him to the couch—gently—and urged him to sit down. “With who?”

   “I don’t know... A young lady. She was damn strong, though. Hit harder than I expected.”

   He couldn’t hide the black eye, unfortunately; his dislocated arm, at least, had been taken care of.

   Fiver took Casimir’s bruised hand in his, taking a moment to inspect the mottled skin.

   “Are you all right?” he murmured.

   “Yes. Morgan patched me up.”

   Doubt clung to Fiver’s face. His hand strayed upwards and gingerly brushed across Casimir’s black eye.

   “Am I still handsome?” Casimir asked.

   Fiver managed a smile. He nodded.

   “I’ll live, then.”

   A brief silence settled, broken only by the ticking of an old clock.

   “Tomorrow, I need to go gather information for Viveca,” Casimir explained.

   “But...” Fiver hesitated. His frown deepened.

   “I’m only visiting Montse,” Casimir assured him. “Morgan will be there as well. I’ll be fine.”

   Fiver remained silent, eyes locked on his hands as they fidgeted endlessly in his lap.

   “Hey,” Casimir prompted. He gently lifted Fiver’s chin so he would look at him. “I promise.”

   “I—I just... I don’t want you to get hurt,” Fiver stuttered.

   “I know.”

   Casimir put an arm around Fiver’s shoulder. Fiver rested his head on his shoulder with a quiet sigh.

   Another silence fell. Outside, the streets grew darker as clouds passed in front of the moon. Rain speckled the cobblestone road.

   “She... She doesn’t like me, does she?” Fiver asked.

   Casimir looked at him.

   “Viveca.”

   A knot twisted in Casimir’s stomach; he ignored it. “She doesn’t approve.”

   “Why?”

   “It’s nothing that you did. She is... Protective.” He paused. “I’m all she has left, you know. I find it hard to blame her.”

   Fiver fell silent. The air grew thick with unease.

   “You and I,” Fiver began. “Will we...”

   “No.”

   Fiver looked up at him.

   “She can’t tell me who to interact with... Or how.”

   He wound a lock of Fiver’s dark hair around a finger, taking a moment to marvel at the softness of it. Fiver’s cheeks reddened.

   “No,” Casimir said once more. “I wouldn’t change a thing.”

   Embarrassment suddenly filled the other man’s face, and he straightened. “I’m sorry,” he blurted. “I—I probably seem overbearing. I’m just—I thought things would be different. With her. And I’m... Worried. About you, and—and what you have to do...”

   His rambling continued for a good while, but Casimir merely studied his face with a crooked smile. He was so handsome, he thought—admittedly, his voice sent a warm sensation through his chest, and despite Fiver’s obvious anxiety, Casimir struggled to keep his mouth from stretching into a grin. He was so fond of him it seemed rather ridiculous. Impossible, even, that he happened to speak to one of Viveca’s contacts and become so endeared to him.

   The sentiment was... unfamiliar, but he decided he liked it. He laughed under his breath.

   “Overbearing... Perhaps,” he said. “But you know, I like that about you, Fiver.”

   “Kaede,” Fiver said. His eyes grew round. “My real name. It’s... Kaede. Um, you don’t have to call me that unless you want to—“

   “I like it,” Casimir said.

   Fiver gaped at him a bit. Casimir grinned.

   “Kaede. It suits you.”

   “Oh.” Fiver blinked and looked away for a moment, bringing a hand to his face. “You think so?”

   “I know so.”

   The pair locked eyes. Gaze softening, Casimir cupped Fiver’s cheek and placed his lips on his. For a few moments, the rest of the world seemed to vanish, and bliss buried his former anger and frustration.

   Ah... He’s magic, this one.

   He pulled away, and a dazed Fiver stared at him before releasing a sudden breath. His face went red again; he buried it in Casimir’s chest.

   Casimir chuckled and held him close, peppering the top of his head with kisses. He would have to leave soon enough, and throw himself back into his sister’s absurd business.

   In that moment, he didn’t mind so much, as he knew who would be waiting for him when he returned.