I felt it more than I saw it. [He hadn't questioned Kaz at that time because there were questions a friend just didn't ask during highly stressful times and Laz had insisted he had it under control. Maybe he was right about that and he still is, but Minato can see how Kaz is struggling with the weight of his transformation and how badly affected he is when people perceive him to be different that he simply can't let it go any more.
He looks up at Kaz impassively for a moment before extending his right hand, as if inviting him to take his hand. What could it mean, exactly?]
[Kazuya gave the extended hand an uncertain look, drawing back like some sort of wary animal. For a moment, he felt uneasy, though towards what exactly, he couldn't pinpoint. Did Minny want him to take his hand? Why? What did he want to do?
(And somewhere, in the back of his mind, he could feel Bel stir in response to his emotions, tainting them with a sudden streak of mocking, malicious amusement- "it'd be very easy to break his hand, y'know" - he forced it away.)]
Are... [He swallowed, then attempted to inject some levity in his tone, though it was a miserable failure; it came out more of a quavering croak] Are you wanting a handshake or something?
[Kaz openly hesitated before cautiously reaching out. He knew nothing would happen. His fingers would remain fingers, there'd be no claws, and he would touch his friend without breaking bones, yet, there was an irrational paranoia running rampant through the back of his mind, not helped by Bel's murmured encouragement for violence. What if that did happen? It wouldn't but... what if it did?
He took Minny's hand, gently, like it was made out of glass. No claws appeared. Nothing broke. That small, painfully tight knot in his stomach relaxed a fraction]
Like that. [Minato sighs softly, weariness drifting slowly onto him like mist, but he's relieved to see that Kaz isn't overreacting to his simple request as he has a point to make about what looks for all the world like a simple handshake.]
You didn't lose control. [He's blunt and a bit wry about that.] Whatever you are or people think you are, you'll always be Kaz to me. [And that explains the handshake- he's not going to judge people for giving Kaz looks as their fear was just as valid as Kaz's own fear of people judging him, and in the end it didn't matter what people thought of his friend: Kaz is Kaz, and he never has to fear anything as long as he remembers that.]
[He didn't even know what Kazuya was! He was touched, he was, but at the same time, a tiny flame of frustration sparked in him. It was easy to say that - "you'll just be Kaz" - but it never did end up like that. He... even Hyoubu had viewed him with brief suspicion, when he told him, and he was...]
I'm- [He lowered his gaze to their clasped hands, his grip tightening a fraction] I'm a demon, Minny. The sort who... they eat humans and they're cruel and... and I'm one of them.
[There. The deepest and most painful shame. He swallowed as he relaxed his hold on Minny's hand, certain he'd pull away at this point]
Keeping control of that, it's... it's difficult, sometimes.
I know. [Minato's stare is unrelenting and his hand is perfectly poised so it doesn't move even in the slightest, not when Kaz tightens his grip and not when he loosens his hold.]
It doesn't change who you are though. You wouldn't have tried to resist eating humans and being cruel if you thought of yourself as a demon...all those excuses you made before were to prevent yourself from losing control, weren't they?
[Kazuya didn't immediately reply. He kept staring at Minny's hand, still grasping his own, with something like disbelief. Not even a flinch. Even when Kazuya admitted that he had the potential and yearning to eat humans, that he wasn't anything resembling human, he was... an indescribable emotion was twisting in his stomach, making his throat close up and his eyes burn.
Oh. No. No no no. No]
You're... you're such a weirdo. [He practically choked this out, sounding like he was half a breath away from either laughing or crying] You don't even care. Don't you- why don't you...
[He had to stop, to take a few deep breaths to keep his composure. He already broke down once in front of Kevin, and he wasn't going to do so again in front of anyone else. It was a strange feeling though... it was like when you needed to puke to feel better when ill, except in the emotional sense. There was something telling him to just kind of, messily break down to feel better - it sounded like Kevin's voice too for some reason - but he resisted. Minny already had a stressful night yesterday playing Ghostbusters and this probably wasn't pleasant to deal with either so. Okay. Deep, quick breaths. One, two, three... one, two, three... there. Everything felt steady again]
[Minato stares at Kaz silently, expression stoic even as he watches his friend's emotions leap like the sparks of a flame- just how long had he kept his emotions hidden was hard to say, but if he had to make a guess it was unlikely that Kaz had trusted many people with this secret, if at all.
He makes no motion to move, eyes dull even fixated on Kaz when he's called a weirdo, when he's said to not care, asked about why he doesn't care- he neither confirms nor denies it, but it should be clear from how little he says until Kaz calms down that he doesn't think anything of Kaz being a demon.
One, two, three...Minato counts the breaths silently now recognizing that it was how Kaz coped with his emotions before he speaks up again.] Because you're my friend. ...And I know how it feels like to be thought of as being different. [No one had ever spoken ill of him out loud while he was within earshot, but it's hard to forget the whispers he hears when people think he's not listening. Bad luck, unfortunate and so on...there might be many things Minato's quiet about and many more he wouldn't judge, but he can't say he was happy being called such names.]
[Kazuya unconsciously tightened his grip around Minny's hand - almost painfully, but he didn't seem to notice. He held it tight, keeping his breaths even and short with the back of his throat burning. This wasn't fair. Minny shouldn't be allowed to make him cry. He shouldn't be accepting... strange... how strange. The knee jerk response to push that acceptance away was bewildering to him - he wanted it, but at the same time, something viscerally rejected it. He did want it though - he wanted to hear that - he really did...]
Thank you. [Was all he managed, turning away as much as he could without letting go of Minny. He wiped at his face with his free hand, his eyes feeling wet but his cheeks dry. Good, so he hadn't yet...] And I- I didn't- I'm sorry. You're not a weirdo. I'm just... hold on... [Give him a moment. He's feeling a little overwhelmed]
[If Minato's feeling the pain of having his hand gripped at all he's not saying anything about it, choosing instead to stare in Kaz's direction.
Had he been human once, or was he always like that? Either way it wasn't something that was all that important to him, and he waits patiently for his friend to calm down.]
Take your time...and don't worry about it, I get told that a lot.
[Kazuya gave one last sniffle, and his grip on Minny's hand gentled. He felt a little... not better, exactly but - something felt different. He wasn't quite sure if it was a good or bad feeling yet]
Okay... m'fine now. Sorry for, well... [He began to look almost shy, awkwardly shuffling his feet he hesitantly glanced at Minny with red-rimmed eyes] I still think you're crazy for just... accepting me like that, but, I... I really do appreciate it. It's... [Emotions were weird and confusing things] ...just thank you.
You're welcome. [The weakened grip is some relief, and lethargy's beginning to set in again now that Minato's properly fed and it looks like Kaz has got out some of the problems in his system.
He settles down as much as he can, stifling a yawn with a conveniently placed hand over his mouth.] Oh...that breakfast was delicious by the way. Thanks.
[Seeing Minny begin to settle back into bed, clearly tired, Kazuya hurriedly released his hand and moved away a step. Ah, right, he forgot- Minny should be resting, not playing therapist for his troubles]
Hah, no problem. I'll cook for you anytime, Minny. Um, speaking of, you want anymore? I can cook some more. Oh, how about pancakes? I'm really craving some right now, and I suppose I can share some with you if I'm doing it anyway...
[SOCIAL LINK RANK UP! Kazuya will now SHARE FOOD WITH YOU.]
[This may well be the single biggest achievement in Minato's time at Cerealia, and Minato smiles when he hears the offer extended to him- he's certainly not going to turn down delicious free food, that's for sure.]
Great! How'd you like them? Blueberries or savoury? Ah- no, actually, don't tell me! I'll surprise you with a variety!
[Kazuya seems incredibly fired up. Indeed, there seemed to be a brightness to him that was borderline giddiness, making him seem almost child-like with his enthusiasm. Without waiting for Minny to even attempt to make suggestions, he darted out of the room with a clear purpose in mind: pancakes.
Hope Minny likes obscene amounts of pancakes, ice cream and chocolate sauce...]
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He looks up at Kaz impassively for a moment before extending his right hand, as if inviting him to take his hand. What could it mean, exactly?]
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[Kazuya gave the extended hand an uncertain look, drawing back like some sort of wary animal. For a moment, he felt uneasy, though towards what exactly, he couldn't pinpoint. Did Minny want him to take his hand? Why? What did he want to do?
(And somewhere, in the back of his mind, he could feel Bel stir in response to his emotions, tainting them with a sudden streak of mocking, malicious amusement- "it'd be very easy to break his hand, y'know" - he forced it away.)]
Are... [He swallowed, then attempted to inject some levity in his tone, though it was a miserable failure; it came out more of a quavering croak] Are you wanting a handshake or something?
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Um.
[Kaz openly hesitated before cautiously reaching out. He knew nothing would happen. His fingers would remain fingers, there'd be no claws, and he would touch his friend without breaking bones, yet, there was an irrational paranoia running rampant through the back of his mind, not helped by Bel's murmured encouragement for violence. What if that did happen? It wouldn't but... what if it did?
He took Minny's hand, gently, like it was made out of glass. No claws appeared. Nothing broke. That small, painfully tight knot in his stomach relaxed a fraction]
Like this...?
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You didn't lose control. [He's blunt and a bit wry about that.] Whatever you are or people think you are, you'll always be Kaz to me. [And that explains the handshake- he's not going to judge people for giving Kaz looks as their fear was just as valid as Kaz's own fear of people judging him, and in the end it didn't matter what people thought of his friend: Kaz is Kaz, and he never has to fear anything as long as he remembers that.]
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Minny... it's not that simple.
[He didn't even know what Kazuya was! He was touched, he was, but at the same time, a tiny flame of frustration sparked in him. It was easy to say that - "you'll just be Kaz" - but it never did end up like that. He... even Hyoubu had viewed him with brief suspicion, when he told him, and he was...]
I'm- [He lowered his gaze to their clasped hands, his grip tightening a fraction] I'm a demon, Minny. The sort who... they eat humans and they're cruel and... and I'm one of them.
[There. The deepest and most painful shame. He swallowed as he relaxed his hold on Minny's hand, certain he'd pull away at this point]
Keeping control of that, it's... it's difficult, sometimes.
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It doesn't change who you are though. You wouldn't have tried to resist eating humans and being cruel if you thought of yourself as a demon...all those excuses you made before were to prevent yourself from losing control, weren't they?
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Oh. No. No no no. No]
You're... you're such a weirdo. [He practically choked this out, sounding like he was half a breath away from either laughing or crying] You don't even care. Don't you- why don't you...
[He had to stop, to take a few deep breaths to keep his composure. He already broke down once in front of Kevin, and he wasn't going to do so again in front of anyone else. It was a strange feeling though... it was like when you needed to puke to feel better when ill, except in the emotional sense. There was something telling him to just kind of, messily break down to feel better - it sounded like Kevin's voice too for some reason - but he resisted. Minny already had a stressful night yesterday playing Ghostbusters and this probably wasn't pleasant to deal with either so. Okay. Deep, quick breaths. One, two, three... one, two, three... there. Everything felt steady again]
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He makes no motion to move, eyes dull even fixated on Kaz when he's called a weirdo, when he's said to not care, asked about why he doesn't care- he neither confirms nor denies it, but it should be clear from how little he says until Kaz calms down that he doesn't think anything of Kaz being a demon.
One, two, three...Minato counts the breaths silently now recognizing that it was how Kaz coped with his emotions before he speaks up again.] Because you're my friend. ...And I know how it feels like to be thought of as being different. [No one had ever spoken ill of him out loud while he was within earshot, but it's hard to forget the whispers he hears when people think he's not listening. Bad luck, unfortunate and so on...there might be many things Minato's quiet about and many more he wouldn't judge, but he can't say he was happy being called such names.]
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Thank you. [Was all he managed, turning away as much as he could without letting go of Minny. He wiped at his face with his free hand, his eyes feeling wet but his cheeks dry. Good, so he hadn't yet...] And I- I didn't- I'm sorry. You're not a weirdo. I'm just... hold on... [Give him a moment. He's feeling a little overwhelmed]
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Had he been human once, or was he always like that? Either way it wasn't something that was all that important to him, and he waits patiently for his friend to calm down.]
Take your time...and don't worry about it, I get told that a lot.
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[Kazuya gave one last sniffle, and his grip on Minny's hand gentled. He felt a little... not better, exactly but - something felt different. He wasn't quite sure if it was a good or bad feeling yet]
Okay... m'fine now. Sorry for, well... [He began to look almost shy, awkwardly shuffling his feet he hesitantly glanced at Minny with red-rimmed eyes] I still think you're crazy for just... accepting me like that, but, I... I really do appreciate it. It's... [Emotions were weird and confusing things] ...just thank you.
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He settles down as much as he can, stifling a yawn with a conveniently placed hand over his mouth.] Oh...that breakfast was delicious by the way. Thanks.
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Hah, no problem. I'll cook for you anytime, Minny. Um, speaking of, you want anymore? I can cook some more. Oh, how about pancakes? I'm really craving some right now, and I suppose I can share some with you if I'm doing it anyway...
[SOCIAL LINK RANK UP! Kazuya will now SHARE FOOD WITH YOU.]
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Sure, I'd like that.
good time to wrap this thread up me thinks
[Kazuya seems incredibly fired up. Indeed, there seemed to be a brightness to him that was borderline giddiness, making him seem almost child-like with his enthusiasm. Without waiting for Minny to even attempt to make suggestions, he darted out of the room with a clear purpose in mind: pancakes.
Hope Minny likes obscene amounts of pancakes, ice cream and chocolate sauce...]