Chapter Text
Klein knew his humanity was slipping, it was rather obvious, wasn't it? He didn't eat anymore, he brushed off the habit of sleeping that he worked to maintain, not to mention he managed to continuously forget to breathe. ‘He wasn't even a god for a proper decade, and he already stopped breathing, something all humans do..’ he couldn't help but lampoon inwardly. But it was true, he had breathed for thousands of years, he was sure he did so as well above the grey fog whilst in that cocoon, so it truly was abnormal, at least to him, for such a habit to dissipate when he'd been awake for only less than a year. Klein couldn't help but habitually let out a sigh– ‘At least that didn't go away..’ he lampooned once more, the only thing that seemed to stay no matter what.
Klein tapped the stone table rhythmically, deciding on what would be best to help regain his humanity, he wouldn't simply forget this after all. It was the singular thing that kept him who he was, such a thing couldn't be so easily erased by Amon himself even if Klein were a sequence 9. ‘Perhaps revealing his true identity would be beneficial… but the headaches…’ he muttered to himself inwardly. Truly, to keep up this lie just because he wouldn't have to put up with the short term despite the long term gain, ‘hah… this could be used as proof to say he was still somewhat human.’
Klein let out a soft sigh before eventually deciding things like that take time– they always have. So if anything, he should be picky, slowly reveal it, to the closest to the furthest to him, to Klein… to Zhou.
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Leonard heard a soft calling to him, one that sounded far too familiar. ‘Klein…’ he immediately thought, easily recognizing the discrepancy without needing further knowledge. He soon appeared to be ‘erased’ from existence, disappearing into the concealed world as he moved swiftly to arrive back to Tingen, where Klein’s grave was.
“My, didn't bring a shovel this time?” A voice behind him commented with a tinge of amusement, causing Leonard to flush albeit lightly belt turning around to face him. “Why would I, you're not planning on dying and changing identities again, now are you?” Leonard kindly accused with a warm smile, his words a soft retort as he was mesmerized by Klein's arrival at the moment. It had been awhile after all, hadn't it?
“Now, why would I do that? Unless you want to play a game of hide and seek that is..”, “Ha… I'd rather not. Still, did you need something?” Leonard asked as his smile remained, refusing to fade. Klein softly shook his head, “It's best to go into the sefirah for this.” Leonard remained silent for a moment, alas, he had not wanted a pleasant chat, as Leonard expected but it dampened his mood somewhat. Nonetheless, Leonard quickly agreed, as he still got to help out his friend regardless.
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Above the grey fog, it was just the two of them, reminding Leonard of the older days when Klein had promised to devote more of his time to just casually chat with Klein. Of course he was ecstatic every time, he always nudged Klein to wrap it up quickly as well, worrying for his friend's true body with Amon hunting him– how could he not? Leonard let out half of a hum after tapping the table, reminiscent of a past long lost– but at least, they could pave the way to a new one, a much happier one, even after all of the scars.
Klein's smile had turned into a neutral frown, inwardly contemplating, for he had lost many emotions, including shame, yet far, far down, deep where he didn't know, he knew he'd want to kill himself for spilling the truth. ‘Hah. You'll regret it later when you regain your shame.’ he muttered to himself aloud, but barely audible– yet the poet could hear it, for he was an angel, wasn't he? Of course, such a sentence already drove him into a spiraling panic– ‘Was Klein okay? Was he losing control, his humanity? Why were his feelings being lost??’ Each thought made him worry more and more, yet luckily, Klein had swiftly cut off his thoughts by simply snapping his fingers, looking at Leonard with a ‘dear’ smile, the only way he could put it. “You'll lose control, I'd rather not have that, my dear poet.” Klein said, softening his gaze somewhat, as Leonard fell into a burning stupor, ‘..Dear poet– MY dear poet????’ He held his tongue as Klein was kind enough not to tease him and let him regain his composure.
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“So, what did you need, Klein?” Leonard asked after finally getting out of his beating heart’s fantasies, something he wouldn't admit that he wanted to last longer. “Ahh… I've been thinking how to say this, shame there's no better way than straightforward and I apologize for the shock..”
‘???’
Suddenly Klein snapped his finger as he transformed into Mr. Fool, a soft smile on his lips as the fog remained unchanged. “Though, I believe you've always known deep down. I'm not sure why you'd lie to yourself, but alas, I've done it many times. Still, I struggle to understand.” He couldn't help but admit, Leonard sitting in silence before letting out a dry laugh. “I guess you're right, I always had a feeling, but you know, it doesn't feel heartbreaking. Guess I've already been through it enough times.” He joked with a hint of sorrow, still, Klein softened his smile further, his sorrow impeded by his lacking humanity, yet even then, he felt a prick on his eyes from tears that weren't there.
‘Ha… how funny. Even then, Tingen truly was another home to me.. even now, I seem to long for it.’ He couldn't help but remark inwardly, letting those words echo in his mind, before softly sighing, “It's sad that I couldn't come to speak casually to you, but you aren't as… doltish… as before. I am sure you are aware of my abnormality, dear poet.” Leonard involuntarily flushed at that pet name again, before properly analyzing his words. ‘D-doltish!? Is that what you really think of me?! …if Madam Fors hadn't ‘helped’ me with my poetry I wouldn't have known that word– isn't that me proving him right?! Or.. not? Gahh–’ Leonard inwardly cursed himself for worrying on a simple comment for far too long.
“Ah.. ahem.. yes… you lack a few of your emotions… by that, a lot more than a few.” Leonard finally managed after a bit, still semi-flustered. Klein nodded in agreement before adding on, “Indeed, I do believe you'd quite like my request though.” He said, an earnest(?) smile playing on his lips. “Oh?”, “I was hoping you'd help me regain my humanity– if need be, I can arrange something so my arrival will be easier after some communications to Amanises– the Evernight Goddess.” Klein offered, not worried about being rejected, rather, more concerned about being an issue. He wanted to join Leonard in Nighthawk– er, Red Glove duties as well since he missed it, though he heard Backlund was a busy place, he didn't particularly mind, plus, Leonard may get extra work or a vacation, who really knows? Of course, Leonard had readily agreed, and even wanted to take on the task of sorting everything out for him– but alas, he relented, as Klein had insisted, as well as going to the Evernight Goddess personally to handle it.
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“Well?” Leonard asked expectedly, meeting Klein at the train station. Klein was in his original appearance– well, Klein's appearance, not Zhou Mingrui’s, as he didn't feel like causing a problem with Leonard… for now. “Mmm, it's nice how she arranged to allow my ‘original’ self, no need for a mask, same name and everything, and even discreetly changed my documents. Of course my siblings don't know, but it's quite kind of her.” Klein answered, Leonard starting to act more like a dog again, more so after learning of his diminished humanity. ‘Sigh… he gave up the lease on Pinser Street, I won't live in the cathedral unlike a certain poet here..’ Klein lampooned, outwardly sighing as Leonard soon figured out the issue on Klein's mind. “Ah.. I have money, it's fine– we should get to the cathedral first, though! It'll be your first day back!” Leonard replied to a non-verbalised answer with enthusiasm, earning him a soft head shake from Klein as he was dragged away, off to the cathedral. How this servant of concealment truly was just a big dog..