Work Text:
The night drew long as he sewed, cloth flowing under the machine. Through its harsh light, Shu watched the garment take shape. Red wool wasn't the best for a hot stage, but for these costumes he would spare no expense. They had to be perfect. He had to be perfect.
It was to his irritation that he heard the door open. Hard not to hear, when each of Kagehira's steps were an inch shy of falling. It was a wonder the boy could dance so gracefully. Best not to give consideration to the doll but its master, Shu decided. Now that Valkyrie were two, he'd have to focus on his strings more carefully.
"Oshisan?"
Ignoring him was the best option really. The sooner these were done, the sooner they could conquer Yumenosaki once again. The brainless masses would see that he was an invalid no longer. He could forget that day, those months. There was nothing more important.
"Oshisan!"
A hand on his shoulder brought him back to where he sat. Mismatched eyes looked at him with thinly veiled concern. It was only then that Shu noted his clenched hands, jaw aching from the grit of his teeth. The fabric lay dormant in the middle of a stitch.
Pathetic.
"What," he hissed, "do you want?"
Kagehira, infuriatingly, was unphased. He'd grown comfortable with Shu's moods, especially after their fall. Now, there was only a bone deep exhaustion and the worry that Shu despised.
"S real late, yanno? And ya haven't eaten since I got back from school. I gotcha some rice an a pastry, could ya stop fer a minute?"
He scoffed. "I hardly wish to take advice from one who can't even feed himself. I've noticed your measurements shrinking, you know." The responding wince was telling.
"Well the melonpan is usually gone by the time I get there, n you always say not ta take food into the club room anyway. An the store don't sell those protein bars I like no more. So… please eat, Oshisan. I'll be good n get somethin too, so please eat."
Shu sighed.
"No matter how elegant the clothing, no man will look his best if it does not fit. An already defective doll needs no further impediments."
He finished the stitch, removing the fabric and turning off his sewing machine. Once its light dimmed the time was especially apparent. The crescent moon hung suspended, illuminating the dim room. Kagehira turned on a lamp to better show the plate next to him. Shu wondered idly if he'd knocked anything over with his terrible night vision.
His stomach seemed to realize there was food in the vicinity. Kagehira's answered in kind.
"Ah! I'll go get somethin, I'll be right back!"
His arm shot out to grasp a (too) slender wrist. "There are two items on this plate, no?"
Kagehira nodded. "Yeah, but they're fer you! M not gonna take your food, Oshisan."
"I can smell the cloying sweetness of the danish from here. Broken as you are, I am aware you enjoy these things. Take it."
With a stuttered thanks, Kagehira reached for the offending pastry. He nibbled on an edge, watching for Shu to start his own meal.
The rice was a bit wet. He almost gagged at the feeling, mouth not cooperating with his brain. But food was food. It wouldn't do to waste it. This was not the first time he'd forced himself to eat, nor would it be the last.
Out of the corner of his eye, Kagehira was licking his fingers clean. A filthy act, but he would let it slide tonight. The light in his eyes was something he couldn't find in himself to quash.
When they were done, Kagehira took the plate and exited. Finally alone again. The feeling was less sweet than he imagined. Shu supposed that his time indisposed had made him more amenable to his presence. No matter, he would be fine. With or without him.
By the time Kagehira returned, he'd heard the clock chime twice. Somehow his steps were even louder. Shu braced himself for the inevitable plea to sleep.
He stood in the doorway for a moment, before moving to sit on the floor next to the chair. It wasn't unusual for him to watch Shu work. There was value in watching a master ply his craft, after all. But this position afforded him naught but a view of the underside of his desk.
If he'd decided to stare at the woodgrain then far be it from him to deny it. Crimson and gold ran smoothly through the machine, seams matched and pinned precisely. After so much work any correction was a sin. There was no room for failure in the world of Valkyrie, even with the loss of his precious Nito.
He silenced the train of thought. Not now. Not when he was so close. There was time for that traitor once Tenshouin was soundly defeated. Even if Wataru had…
The brush of hair against his leg gave him pause. Kagehira had leaned back against him, head resting against his thigh. From the soft sounds he was making he seemed to be asleep. Foolish, to rest in such a position. He'd be stiff and aching by the next day. Practice would be shorter if Shu had to do maintenance first.
Slowly, he moved to stand. Kagehira fell graceless onto the seat. His hair was even more messy like this, and Shu's hands itched to brush it back into place. For now, it was better not to wake him.
With a gentleness he rarely possessed, Shu picked him up off of the floor. Really, he was much too light. He'd need to make a nutritional regimen in the morning.
He sighed. So much trouble.
With swift steps they were in Kagehira's room. Countless stuffed animals stared at him with button eyes. Some had different colored heads, or clumsily stitched limbs. A few were more patches than plush.
He'd never understood it, how he could love such garbage. No matter how torn, each one was fixed with care. Each one once discarded by another. Shu too, had been so pitiful. But Kagehira had stayed by him nonetheless.
He took a last look at the collection before laying him down. It was warm enough that his blanket wasn't needed, but Shu knew the pressure would help. It was strange, to know how to comfort someone.
He took a last look as he left. For a moment, he wished he could see the eyes that had enchanted him so long ago.
The door clicked shut behind him. It was time to work.