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There was a room in the mansion that sits quietly in the corner on the East Wing. Hardly anyone ever used it, or rather, the only time it was ever being used were when the maids were cleaning it. How diligent, a shame really, a shame that it was only there for decoration at this point. The room that sits idly in the corner of the east wing of the mansion also sits at the very back of Eiden’s mind, albeit a little less idly.
Eiden’s only ever seen it once, during the initial tour of the mansion thanks to Aster. How long has it been since then? A few weeks? A month? Two months-ish? Either way, the music room has been stuck in Eiden’s head since then, popping up during the quiet nights when he stares at the ceiling. When he’s not particularly sleepy but not particularly awake either. Stuck in the limbo between sleep and wakefulness. One of those rare nights where he doesn’t share the bed with any of his clan members.
Tonight was one of those nights.
Almost everyone should be asleep around this time, if not asleep, then resting and recharging in their own little way. Tonight was one of those nights where Eiden can’t help but think. Think about his situation, his world, his past, his life in general. His eyes were boring holes into the pristine ceiling of the room he was given. It wasn’t his room. It didn’t feel like his room. Not yet. There were clothes and trinkets scattered about, little gifts he’s planning on giving to and received from his lovers. It made him feel warm thinking about it, being loved by and them and loving them. Those little things did make it feel like his room was a bit more personalized, but it wasn’t enough. The feeling was more akin to an overextended stay at some fancy hotel or at a rich relative’s house over the summer. It felt suffocating.
And so he blinks those intrusive thoughts away and thinks back to something else. The music room all the way on the other side of the mansion. The way that different instruments were laid against the wall, mounted, displayed, probably untouched and never used before. The way the grand piano in the middle was spotless and ever so precisely placed in the room so that the sunlight shining through the window made it glow. How the guitars looked like they were in mint condition, decorative and perfect.
His fingers itched to play them. His teeth bit the insides of his lip in thought, imagining himself sitting down on one of the plush loveseats and strumming the nylon strings as he does heart strings. How he wants to sing about the people who hold pieces of his heart, sing to show what his words won’t let him show.
Fuck it.
Eiden sits up suddenly, fully awake and aware. His fingers were twitchy, and his voice was stuck in his throat. How aggravating. A part of him wants to stay in bed, tired and needy for sleep, yet his bones feel too off under his skin, under his muscle, as if they want to move, to be active. The urge to do something was near unbearable. It wasn’t just the need to do something, it was the need to play an instrument. The curiosity that started to grow ever since he first saw the music room was now blooming and filling the entirety of his thoughts alongside the thoughts of his lovers. He wanted to sing for them, sing about them.
His body turns to stand up, making an effort to pull himself up from the heavy sheets on him, to get out of the confines of his comfy bed. Eiden’s chocolate eyes stare into the wall in front of him as he willed himself up, huffing all the while as a yawn threatens to slip out of his lips. The soft ticking of the clock caught his attention as he stretched his tired body, looking at it before he made his way out.
1:36 am.
It was late, it was obvious. The moon was shining high above the mansion, only little bits of moonlight shone through the windows as the angle of it casted mostly shadows. Despite that, there was enough light for Eiden to see as he made his way through the hallways as quietly as he can whilst passing by the rooms of his clan members. The though of them making him smile gently. He hoped they were resting as soundly as he should be at the moment, chuckling to himself fondly.
Yakumo was probably asleep at this time, his nightly routine of cleaning the kitchen himself and preparing for tomorrow’s meals right before bed tired him out. Edmond would definitely be asleep, always the first to go to bed and always the first to rise up because of his duties as a knight… that is to say he wasn’t in his bed the night before. Quincy would definitely be asleep as well, if he wasn’t then that would be surprising, seeing as the large man loved to sleep anywhere and everywhere he could. There was a possibility Olivine and Dante were still awake, the former reading a book to relax while the latter finishing up any last minute paperwork he needed done as the Sun Lord of Solaria. Speaking of the latter, the red head was currently in the mansion, using the excuse of training Eiden because he thought that the otherworldly man needed to learn how to properly fight for the sake of the clan. Bullshit. Eiden didn’t think much of it, teasing the man every chance he gets, the harsh training session was all the more worthwhile seeing how red in the face the famous Sun Lord can get.
Eiden closes his eyes for a moment, smiling to himself as a song pops into his head, his steps moving faster as he hurries to the music room.
Blade didn’t need to sleep, Eiden knew this, but the fact that he somehow convinced the E-droid to rest every now and then warms his heart. The times when he sees the other sleep next to him, his breaths evening out, mechanical, he can’t help but sweep a little bit of his bangs away from his face, looking at the peaceful expression on the normally excitable robot. Garu and Karu were probably asleep, if not then they were probably downstairs having a midnight snack in the kitchen, sometimes if he were lucky, he would find them down there and they’d share a quick treat. Either left overs from the dinner before or the treat being the wolf themselves. God knows what Kuya was doing at this time, fortunately enough it wasn’t tormenting him or his sleep but Eiden still hoped that the yokai was resting. The fox continuing to be an enigma to the brunette despite spending time with him.
The door to the music room was right in front of Eiden. Was he even allowed inside? To play the instruments that were seemingly untouched before? Did he have the right to enter any other room in the mansion that wasn’t his or his lovers’? Will he get in trouble? His worries were overshadowed by the urge to play a song that has been stuck in his head every since meeting everyone. Ever since he fell in love with all of them. Sweaty hands reach over to carefully turn the knob.
Just like the very beginning, it was Aster and Morvay who introduced him to this world. He can never thank them enough. Aster and Morvay were there when they took him on a tour of the mansion, the pink vampire telling him about everything he needed to know, Morvay being there to cause trouble and support him, joking about the room being some sort of fancy sex room. And honestly, he can’t help but feel like it was more of a reality than a joke.
The room was large, different kinds of seats and pillows strewn about on the sides as if it were for people to watch a performance. He didn’t know if it was magic keeping the instruments in this room pristine, but to him it definitely looked like no one has ever touched them since they were made.
What a shame.
Tonight’s choice of instrument was the guitar. The wood was painted and bleached white to match the aesthetic of the room. White being a color that Huey was fond of he concludes. Stupid really since he doubted the sorcerer was fond of playing music. It was light weight. Pretty. Too fancy for Eiden’s taste but it’ll have to do. He clicked his tongue as he holds it carefully. Something like this would definitely be out of his pay grade back on Earth. Not even by a little. It was funny to him. Growing up struggling at the orphanage, having to share everything and now he’s here with everything he could ever want and needed. Was this some sort of cosmic good karma? He doubted. He wasn’t the greatest person, someone else probably deserved this more than he does.
Walking to one of the loveseats with the guitar in tow, he sits down and makes himself comfortable, letting the moonlight from the window be his only source of light. He starts humming a familiar tune, a popular song back where he was from, tuning the guitar as he did so. His fingers experimentally strumming the nylon strings. He wasn’t perfect. He wasn’t even the greatest. He was no professional. No one taught him how to play unless you count youtube tutorials. It was just something to pass the time. But even so, back on earth he did enjoy playing a song or two every now and again, really it was the only reason why he was even hired at one of his music jobs. He wasn’t passionate about it. Wasn’t a music nerd who knew the latest hits, or knew what they were talking about when it came to music theory. It was a hobby. Something he needs to be in the mood to do. And that’s what he felt right now.
It was him. By himself. His alone time to think. To pour out his emotions in more than just words. Hidden away by the night as the people who crowd his head sleep peacefully.
Wise men say
Only fools rush in
But I can’t help falling in love with you
Maybe he was a fool. Falling for men, gorgeous, amazing men from a world he might have to leave one day. Falling for them hard. So so hard. How can he not? How he managed to have them all with him was a miracle. Someone so plain and boring as him. He was just Eiden.
Shall I stay?
Would it be a sin
If can’t help falling in love with you
Can he stay? Can he truly? Here in Klein with the people he loves and adores. Was he allowed to stay? To be with them? Even if he truly never belonged in this world? Oh to be able to stay forever here. There was nothing left for him in his old world. His voice almost breaking, as if begging to be able to stay. With them.
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Eiden knows that they love his as much as he loved them. The ugly monster in his head cannot convince him otherwise. And it made him warm. They would reassure him, he would see the way they look at him and it would make him smile. Every single on of them, even if some of them were a lot less open about their feelings. He didn’t need their words, their actions spoke loud enough for him… he cannot be anymore grateful.
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
God he loved them so much. Every word out of his mouth pouring with adoration and reverence, wanting to sing them to his lovers, the people who bring light into his dull life. But the acidic words of people no longer in his life continue to haunt him, chaining him to a hidden room. His confidence chipped and shied away. Maybe one day he can sing to them, serenade them to sleep, serenade them to the point of annoyance. Annoy them with words of love and devotion.
Like a river flows
Surely to the sea
Darling, so it goes
Some things are meant to be
Unbeknownst to him, he wasn’t all too subtle with the way he hummed through the hallways while making his way to the music room. The door slightly ajar as a few silhouettes listen to a melody that did not sound familiar. Their hearts beating with every word. Their lover’s voice reaching their hearts as he stood there silently, their heart unable to tell him that they were there. That they were listening. Unable to reciprocate in fear of their love shying away from them.
Take my hand
Take my whole life, too
For I can’t help falling in love with you
He would give anything to them. He would give his life if it means they would be safe. A smile graced Eiden’s lips as he sings, little moments together with them playing in his head like a record, a movie. His precious memories. He cries, stuttering out the words as the song comes to a close. If he were to leave… if he were not allowed to be with them, then these memories will be what keeps him going.
For I can’t help
His tears slip down as he laughs softly. His heart beating. Oh how down bad he is for them.
falling in love with you