Chapter Text
Whisper
Whisper
Amber orbs watched distantly. Time ticked by as the sea of voices all washed off his back. His foot thumped, more like repetitive harsh kicks on the wooden stair post he’s perched on, earning harsh looks and gritted teeth but they didn't say anything for they knew what might follow.
Always gossiping or giving him looks. He knows what they think of him, he never paid heed. Rumors are only half lies. At least that's what he likes to tell himself.
He didn't care for rumors, he only had one care.
A tap on his shoulder and his mood shifted. He leaped into the open arms of the only person who didn't fear him with the glee of a child.
”Amane!” he cheered, wrapping around his brother like a koala.
It caused his twin to wince visibly and the whispers grew, despite the fact that he tried not to drop him, that he didn’t flinch away. The sound was grating his ears. It's not like that. At least Amane says he’s not…
"Tsukasa are you alright?"
He shook his head and jumped off. Large grin and empty amber met their damaged mirror image that stared back in concern. Amane must have gotten that antisocial teacher to play nurse again from the arms swathed in fresh bandages and a new gauze on his left cheek. Would the cracked glass show under, waiting to be cracked more to snuff the star underneath?
At this rate, the sharp edges will consume him right down to his moon eyes, but Amane never says stop. The whispers grew, did Amane even hear them?
“Nope! Amane is just seeing things!” Tsukasa waved two peace signs around. “I’m peachy!”
“If you say so…” some life left his eyes as he finished. “let’s go home.”
briefly, only a second, his fanged smile faltered. Amane didn’t notice, already making way downstairs almost robotically. Tsukasa didn’t even think of his actions, most of the time he barely does as he latched onto his brother's bandaged, bruised arm. It would have resulted in a mess if his grip wasn’t strong.
More mutters wisp his ears.
“Wait I’ll lead the way!” Tsukasa declared in forced excitement, leading his brother along. He made sure not to be too fast, lest the other trips and more glass cracks, but the scathing looks and overlapping voices are bothersome.
Can’t they see that despite Amane’s delicate image he's incredibly agile when needed?
He has to be, to keep up with Tsukasa's antics.
His guidance went deeper into the school then out.
“Tsukasa…” his brother edged.
Said sibling hummed and pointed at the rustic, eerie door. Not creepy at all under the flickering light. The younger stared and tugged pesky, but not harsh, at the trapped arm, while the older dragged his worn soles.
“This is the abandoned broadcasting room,” Amane deadpanned.
“I know.”
“it's been locked for years.”
“I can pick it.”
Amane didn't look amazed, he wanted to tell him not to, but the rare spark in Tsukasa’s eyes made him waver. He looks away and nods. giving into his brother’s whims so easily.
Taking that as a go-ahead, Tsukasa whooped and made a grabbing motion. Amane sighed and handed over his bag, watching anxiously as the other rummaged through his stuff. He did tease a little while waving the brand new, questioningly obtained space book away from his brother's grasp. Eventually it was retrieved and hugged close to Amane’s chest like his life depended on it. Tsukasa snickered before going through scribbled notes and minimal school supplies, making an excited sound when he found the only pen in his brother's possession.
In less than a minute and a mutilated pen later the door was open. A gasp escaped from his brother at the sight of the room.
It was surprisingly clean with bundles of blankets splayed over top of the desk and an assortment of books that Sensei has been complaining about that went missing from the library. There was an oni mask on the wall and chairs tucked by a table full of equally missing snacks.
Amane walked into the room. Recognizing everything to be his twin’s style, too planned and chaotic to be anything else. Which means.. his pen got gutted for no reason.
A jingle rang behind him as his eye twitched, he should have known. Behind him, two keys, one unusable while the other whole, and a star charm he won from hours of playing katanuki were twirling around Tsukasa’s innocent finger.
“Really…”
“Really!”
No more needed to be said, the fanged grin overtook his brothers face. The look of self satisfaction and glowing eyes that no one but Amane is allowed to see. Even then it’s like finding stars through clouded nights to see Tsukasa this down to earth.
“Do you like it Amane? This makes a way better hiding place than being in the haunted girl's bathroom.” Tsubasa teased wiggling his fingers creepily.
“No one goes the- I don’t hide in the girls bathroom!” Amane was beat read trying to deny accusations, trying to wheedle out of the conversation, “How did you find the time and key to doing all this?”
“Hm, remember when you found me stuck in the tree by the staff window and had to get me down?”
“So you took more than just nab donuts from the teachers lounge.” Amane stated, crossing his arms accusingly. He can still feel the soreness from when his brother landed on him.
“The plan was the donuts, but there were so many drawers and stuff I couldn't resist.” he jiggled the keys some more, looking almost catlike, while Amane is already thinking up an alibi for both of them if this goes south. “This is the only key that doesn’t have any copies, so no one can come in unless I say so.”
At that Amane stayed quiet, not out of fear, his moon eyes held painful understanding. he watched his brother look at the key with such longing. It would seem cruel to take away this control that Tsukasa craved, the feeling of knowing that he can open a door whenever he wished.
Tsukasa caught on to his twin’s stare, instantly feeling selfish for ruining the mood, it’s supposed to stay playful. He wanted to sit with Amane while eating snacks and talking about stars and cartoons. Why did he have to play with his brothers sympathy again?
He opened his mouth to crack a joke, call him a pervert for sneaking in the girl's bathroom, but it all died on his tongue. His eyes constricted again.
“You’re bleeding…”
Blood was dripping from bandaged arms, not much, enough to stain the white. He made an effort to be careful not to pull too hard when bringing Amane here. He can’t even do that right.
He took the injured arm and carefully drew it to him. It’s almost automatic as he pulled a bloody handkerchief from his pocket and pressed. All he could focus on is the blood seeping into the tainted fabric.
“Tsukasa it’s alright…” Amane touched his cheek and moved his head to look away from the blood, to look at him. He eased his arm so that Tsukasa could hold his hand insead.
He's selfish, Tsukasa would be lying if he said that he was ashamed of it. He wants Amane to be happy, but his dream means separation. Why can’t he let go? Why can't he tell him to stop caring for those who don't deserve him?
“Amane, can't we live here now,” his hold on his brother's hand trembled. “Here we hold the key to the door and no one else, no more bandages… It'll be just us.”
He’s selfish for wanting to run away, instead of bearing it like told to.
“You know we can't Tsu,” Amane’s voice too was trembling as he used his free hand to hug the younger. They stayed like that for a few minutes until they both got a hold of themselves or in Tsukasa's case withdraw into himself again.
His eyes lost their spark again, Amane's warmth kept him grounded enough, but everything became numb like before as he was led out of the broadcasting room. If moon eyes looked miserable at their empty image, Tsukasa didn't notice.
They didn't play like he wanted to that day.