Chapter Text
Even when the inky plumes of night devoured the sky, he could still hold the sun. Though the memory grew faded and more brittle over the years, Vitaly could still feel the dry wall flaking under his palm. He remembered the way his giggles would bubble from his mouth as he pressed his fingers against the golden ball glowing in the darkness and shout, "I did it! I did it Mama!"
He would squint through the shadows to find cinnamon brown eyes glittering up at him with a smile mirroring his own. The arms holding him up would bring him down and keep him firm against his chest. Vitaly melted at the lips that would brush across his forehead and look up at his Mama. Golden rays reached down to tangle in thick, black strands that messily framed his face, making his skin glimmer ever so slightly with the stars glinting above them. Vitaly's fingers dug into his Mama's sleeves, a small spark of fear that he would be lost in the darkness of the room, yet with the bright sparkle in his eyes shining brighter than his sun, he rested his head on his chest.
His Mama's fingers rubbed circles into his back, whispering, "Yes you did my little nikkō."
Those words clung to his mind, a sweet embrace that quickly grew bitter as he slowly opened his eyes. The beaming sun he held in his palm overhead was quickly covered in cracks of a gray ceiling. The barren walls stretched out around him, knocking the stars and shadows with them. Thin strips of light slithered in through the blinds and crept over the blanket twisted haphazardly around Vitaly's legs. The sobriety of consciousness sank into his bones when a low wail began to stir. The wailing grew louder with each second until it rang in the boy's ears like the walls weren't even there.
Vitaly rose to his feet, padding out into the hallway. The chill of the floorboards hardly fazed him, his blood running hot through his veins as he followed the wailing noise. He turned around the corner towards the room at the end of the hall. He swore he saw the fibers of the door vibrating from the wails before sliding it to the side. Vitaly peeked through the crack he made in the door. The source of the wailing sobbed uncontrollably; slobber glistened on It's--as Vitaly named it--chin. It's eyes were glued shut with tears staining it's reddened face all the while being bounced gently in the arms of a man.
"Hey, hey, it's okay," the man said, his words falling upon deaf ears. "Don't cry. Don't cry."
Vitaly watched him desperately rock It in his arms before a hand clasped his shoulder. The other figure whispered into his ear before taking It in his arms. The wail staggered off its pattern as soon as it was taken into the other's arms. The other man carded his fingers through It's hair and brought It to rest at the crook of his neck. Vitaly strained to hear the figure murmur words into It's hair, the wailing falling into deep gulps for breath. The boy poked his head in further, the murmurs faint upon his ears until he watched the man kiss the top of It's head.
"There we go," he said warmly, "That's my gekkō."
Vitaly's blood ran cold at the words falling from the man's lips when the door sliding under his grip. At the loud rattle, the man holding It first looked up. His tired grin stretched across his lips.
"Did the little trouble maker wake you up too?" He asked. Vitaly's lips twitched into a tiny smile at the man's attention, but instantly vanished at the sight of the other man cradling It--eyes glued to it's tiny frame. "Look who's up too?"
The other man dragged his eyes away from It towards the door. "Well look who's here?" He said, glancing down at It who merely buried It's head against the crook of his neck. "Vitaly, why don't you say hi to--"
A slam echoed throughout the room as Vitaly stomped away, the door shaking on its hinges. He speed walked to his room, crawling back into his futon. He dragged his blanket up to his chest, glaring up at the bleak ceiling. The remnants of his dream echoed in his ears as he huffed under his breath. He squeezed his eyes shut, mumbling, "Stupid baby."