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Kit sighed as he adjusted his face yet again. He knew the skin was on right, but he kept worrying about settling it perfectly. He'd become far more concerned with the looks of the skin once he'd decided he liked it as Him, and not just as 'whatever Jentry would like best'. The snakebites helped. He'd probably keep modifying it in small ways, making it more his own. Like now, struggling to get the cheeks to sit comfortably. He kept shifting between trying a slimmer face, or letting them puff up a bit.
He huffed into the mirror, pulling his 'skull' free to start over again. Kit pulled the face back on, glaring at it in the mirror, as if he could intimidate inanimate skin into doing what he wants. Not that he was even sure what he wanted out of it yet.
Kit huffed, leaning against the wall to breathe. He couldn't spend forever in here. Kit turned his head slightly, pressing his ear closer to the wall. He could hear faint music, but it wasn't any he could recognize.
Kit got up, face nit picking forgotten, and walked quietly back towards Michael's room. Kit grinned to himself as he realized Michael was practicing his flute still. Kit peeked into the room, listening to the disjointed song. Michael must not have realized he'd finished his shower already.
Kit leaned in the doorway, trying to keep hidden as he closed his eyes and listened to the song. Kit debated recording the music. He wasn't sure if that'd be okay or not.
Michael sighed after a particularly sour note. He swiped his screen, trying to find an easier song.
"You're getting better." Kit praised, stepping into the room fully.
"Kit!" Michael jumped. "Hey- Sorry-"
"For what?"
Michael waved his flute a bit. "I didn't hear the water turn off I guess."
"If you need to practice, I don't mind."
Michael shook his head. "I'm not doing that to your ears, man."
Kit tilted his head in confusion, sitting next to Michael on the bed. "I liked it."
"You don't gotta be nice. I know I'm still not good-"
"I'm serious. I like it, a lot."
"...I keep missing half the holes I'm trying to cover and squeaking."
"Yeah? That's why I like it." Kit shrugged.
"...You lost me." Michael snorted, turning to face Kit.
Kit sighed, leaning on him. "Painted Skins are... pretty good at most things? We're mostly good at learning, picking up skills that help us blend in. I can pick up on the patterns and movements really fast- I actually used to play piano- I guess professionally? It wasn't about the gigs tho, it- never mind." Kit realized he was probably saying too much.
"Survival?" Michael offered.
"Yeah, something like that- My point was- I pick up most skills like, really fast.... So... None of them are actually all that satisfying. I'm not good at it because I wanted to be and worked hard. I'm good at it because it helps humans let their guards down. I don't get that feeling of... accomplishment. I don't get to look at it and go 'wow. I came so far.'... There's no feeling that I've earned it. I just... Can. Do it... It's not different to breathing, or walking. It's just, a thing I do. It's not something I've earned...."
"So... you think me sounding bad... sounds good.... because you want to sound bad?"
Kit laughed, shrugging. "Kinda? I dunno. I think hearing you working at it, even when you're not the best, is beautiful. You can hear how much you love it in every little improvement on the notes. It's a sound that's uniquely You. Because no one else will ever hold the notes quite the same way. No one will hesitate the same way. The errors breathe a life into the sound that I sincerely think is wonderful to hear."
Michael felt his face burn, chuckling softly. "So... you don't mind if I keep going?..."
"It'd be my honor." Kit answered, sincere and honest.
Michael's face was entirely on fire now as he nodded, pulling his sheet music back up. "Just let me know if it gets annoying, okay? I won't be upset."
"Your passion is never annoying, Michael."
Michael grabbed the water from his night stand, mouth dry from the praise.
"Can I record it?" Kit asked, sitting up. "I promise not to share it with anyone else."
"....Yeah." Michael nodded. "It'll be fun in a year to hear how far I've come."
Kit beamed, shifting back a bit on the bed to record a video, not just audio. "Rare exclusive video of the early days of future famous Orchestral lead, Michael Olé!"
"Stooop." Michael laughed, shaking his head.
"Just remember us little guys when you make it big in the flute world-"
"Yeah, yeah, alright- Show's starting, please silence your phones."
Kit laughed, zipping his lip and nodding for Michael to resume playing.
Michael smiled as he picked his flute up once more, a little less nervous at each sour note. A little more proud of each clear one.
Michael grinned wide as he slid into the seat next to Kit at breakfast one morning. "Kit!"
"Morning. You're in good spirits." Kit chuckled, putting away his book.
"I have something for you."
"For me?..."
Michael gave a nod. "Remember how you said you're good at most things?"
"Yeah?"
Michael handed him a box. "I might have something you can't do fast. And if you can, it's only a level two. So I can get harder ones."
Kit raised a brow, opening the box. He picked up a golden metal treble clef, with a silver music note tangled around it's straight bar center. He turned the metal piece over in his hands, watching the silver piece slide around freely.
"The goal, is to get the two pieces disconnected, without breaking it. Then put it back together."
Kit rolled his eyes, fidgeting with the metal. "I'm skilled at picking up on patterns, Michael. Puzzles are nothing but patterns."
Michael only grinned. Explaining why he chose it would clue Kit in on hos to solve it. Kit was right, he was scary good at picking up on patterns... That help him blend in. He was good at following the patterns humans follow. Michael knew puzzles like these, and puzzle boxes, preyed upon humans own ability to notice patterns, and subvert them. Puzzles you have to think outside the box to figure out. To go against the very nature engraved into Kit's every instinct.
Michael's grin grew as he watched Kit try in vain to pull the silver piece off in all of the obvious ways.
Kit's brow furrowed, baffled. "It's not going to fit."
"There's a way." Michael assured. "They're all tested and possible."
"No breaking- Bending?"
"Nope. You cannot change either piece at all."
Kit chewed his lip, looking the metal over.
Michael chuckled. "I'm going to grab food, okay?"
Kit didn't respond, focused on his puzzle.
Michael grinned. He knew it wouldn't be hard forever. Once he noticed the less obvious tricks, he'd be faster. Michael would just keep finding harder and harder puzzles. Sure, one day, Kit may not be able to find a puzzle hard enough anymore. But at least he'll have had to work to get there.
Michael returned to the table, eating as he watched Kit fight the two pieces of metal.
Kit was right. It was beautiful to watch someone work so hard at something.
Kit groaned in frustration at the metal in his hands as the bell rang out, warning both boys to get to class. "Why is this so-"
"Hard?" Michael grinned.
Kit blinked, finally exiting his thoughts long enough to fully realize the point of the gift.
Michael chuckled. "Should I hold on to that so you actually focus in class?"
Kit chuckled, shaking his head. "Hell no. I'm figuring this out by the end of the day."
"Bet." Michael laughed, getting up. "That's one of the easier ones, by the way."
Kit's eyes lit up in delight to know more challenges awaited him. "Can you at least give me a hint?"
"Oh. I don't have a CLUE how to do those things." Michael laughed. "You're on your own."
Kit snorted. "Worth a shot... See you at lunch?"
Michael nodded. "Grab me an extra milk when you get your tray?"
"Always." Kit agreed, pocketing the puzzle. "Thanks."
"Anytime." Michael nodded.
Kit stole a brief peck on the lips before not-running in the halls to get to class on time.
Michael chuckled, grabbing his bag. It was comforting. Knowing even a being whose sole purpose and design was to perfectly copy humans, still struggled with human imperfection.