[ soleum is only human— what he wants to be, what he needs to be; he's a human that wants to go home. he takes responsibility for others, he wants to keep kamui safe, and he wants to do it in a way that makes sense. if he could place him somewhere that's out of harm's way, maybe he should leave him with agent choi who is suited for the dangers here. he has a weapon, he has bells that offer clarity to the mind, he's someone who is confident to the dangers, but an enemy to himself.
it's one of those times that the lack of enemies mean there's no way he'd willingly walk into a dark spot for the hell of it with someone in tow. he would keep kamui safe, lead him somewhere with whatever extensive knowledge that he has. that's something soleum can confide in if anything. he would trust agent choi with others as long as soleum had the freedom to move outside of his radius as he protects those that need it. he looks down on kamui not because he's weak, but because he's young, because he's someone who also wants to help those by him.
but it's not his place, that's why soleum takes his place for him and puts him in a position where he doesn't have to expend hims— ]
What...
[ he turns his head to look in kamui's direction when his words cut off, he's more animal than what soleum is and that places him in a predicament that his senses are sharper. slowing down, they come to the same pace and steady steps. ]
What do you think?
[ as they come closer and closer to their building, if there's something wrong, then... is it too late to run?
[ short answer: it is very much too late. long answer: it is too late and it isn't; it is unavoidable but not inescapable. the smell becomes overbearing for a moment until it seems to blot out kamui's sense of sight, reaches into his mouth to tangle most unfortunately with the blood and dead flowers. the fur on his tail and ears seems puffed in a way that might be comical if he wasn't so on edge. it reminds him a bit of the feeling of something being built simultaneously to something being broken. his entire being vibrates with a tangible sort of distaste and his pale hand reaches out to grab onto soleum anywhere he can --
-- but nothing.
it happens so fast it doesn't feel accurate to say he 'sees' it. more so: kamui feels soleum's presence: here now, now here, --
-- nowhere.
beneath the absence, all around it, like some invisible pocket of sea or space: that high tide. without soleum present, it becomes even stronger. kamui's frame relaxes a bit, ears perking despite there being no sound to go on. rather: unnatural silence teeming with noise shut behind a jammed window or door. it's there. something is there. something.
it still smells awful, but it is almost as if kamui cannot help it: he follows.
sooner or later, he will be ashamed he did not just run after soleum for soleum's sake. for now, there is just a pull like a call only he can hear.
when a void opens up around him, it feels achingly calm, like he is supposed to be in it.
it's only soleum's scent, now present again, that shakes him free of his stupor. his face feels hot, but it's dark and if there is anyone here to see his dislike for himself, even his inhuman eyes cannot track it, yet. instead, he does his best to partition the smell of rot, the smell of his own blood, and that of soleum, close enough too to track his heart, not close enough to reach. knowing after the tunnels now better than to call out, he steps quietly but quickly.
there's this pragmatism in soleum's pulse that sometimes gets strained. calm water forcibly returned to even surface even if stones keep being throne into the center. and his scent, well, it helps that kamui has grown sort of drawn to it anyway. he's prone to follow, even if there remains something else trying to drag him in another direction. another one of the lesser guardians? sleeping or no, he shakes himself. focus. but he moves slower the farther he goes, reminded of when he fell into one with caelus how draining it was.
which worries him.
is soleum okay?
fear can be more energizing than hope.
but even as he feels he is getting closer to soleum, he also feels something getting closer to himself.
i'm being...followed?
he trips when he tries to speed up more, moving in the dark better than most but perhaps a bit too agitated.
where? where are you?
and though he does not think of it consciously, it's true:
this is the first time kamui isn't looking for someone else.
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no subject
it's one of those times that the lack of enemies mean there's no way he'd willingly walk into a dark spot for the hell of it with someone in tow. he would keep kamui safe, lead him somewhere with whatever extensive knowledge that he has. that's something soleum can confide in if anything. he would trust agent choi with others as long as soleum had the freedom to move outside of his radius as he protects those that need it. he looks down on kamui not because he's weak, but because he's young, because he's someone who also wants to help those by him.
but it's not his place, that's why soleum takes his place for him and puts him in a position where he doesn't have to expend hims— ]
What...
[ he turns his head to look in kamui's direction when his words cut off, he's more animal than what soleum is and that places him in a predicament that his senses are sharper. slowing down, they come to the same pace and steady steps. ]
What do you think?
[ as they come closer and closer to their building, if there's something wrong, then... is it too late to run?
something may be coming. ]
no subject
-- but nothing.
it happens so fast it doesn't feel accurate to say he 'sees' it. more so: kamui feels soleum's presence: here now, now here, --
-- nowhere.
beneath the absence, all around it, like some invisible pocket of sea or space: that high tide. without soleum present, it becomes even stronger. kamui's frame relaxes a bit, ears perking despite there being no sound to go on. rather: unnatural silence teeming with noise shut behind a jammed window or door. it's there. something is there. something.
it still smells awful, but it is almost as if kamui cannot help it: he follows.
sooner or later, he will be ashamed he did not just run after soleum for soleum's sake. for now, there is just a pull like a call only he can hear.
when a void opens up around him, it feels achingly calm, like he is supposed to be in it.
it's only soleum's scent, now present again, that shakes him free of his stupor. his face feels hot, but it's dark and if there is anyone here to see his dislike for himself, even his inhuman eyes cannot track it, yet. instead, he does his best to partition the smell of rot, the smell of his own blood, and that of soleum, close enough too to track his heart, not close enough to reach. knowing after the tunnels now better than to call out, he steps quietly but quickly.
there's this pragmatism in soleum's pulse that sometimes gets strained. calm water forcibly returned to even surface even if stones keep being throne into the center. and his scent, well, it helps that kamui has grown sort of drawn to it anyway. he's prone to follow, even if there remains something else trying to drag him in another direction. another one of the lesser guardians? sleeping or no, he shakes himself. focus. but he moves slower the farther he goes, reminded of when he fell into one with caelus how draining it was.
which worries him.
is soleum okay?
fear can be more energizing than hope.
but even as he feels he is getting closer to soleum, he also feels something getting closer to himself.
i'm being...followed?
he trips when he tries to speed up more, moving in the dark better than most but perhaps a bit too agitated.
where? where are you?
and though he does not think of it consciously, it's true:
this is the first time kamui isn't looking for someone else.
just soleum.
only soleum. ]