[The day after Kariya's funeral, Shirou had a mind to ask about the worms. He wanted to go inside and stomp on every last worm. He wanted to feel their bodies pop underneath his heel, and after several long hours spent fixating on how satisfying that sensation would be, he shelved the idea.
It would feel too good. It was something Kotomine Shirou would have done without second thought.
He didn't ask.
Instead, he cleaned around the door, gaze pointed down, or up, or to the side as he vacuumed, as though looking at it for too long would call forth the things that, doubtless, were still inside.
Sometimes, for just a moment, Shinji would seem nervous, would glance anxiously to the door, would suddenly declare he needed to go outside for a cigarette. Shirou would always frown, always consider asking, always decide that those were Shinji's demons to confront.
Now it occurs to him that, maybe, he should have done something sooner.
The first warning was the smoke, a black, billowing cloud that he could see in the distance as he walked home. Then there was the soot and the smell, hanging in the air as he drew closer. He broke into a run, then, assuming a fire, assuming trouble, not even thinking that he would end up sprinting straight up the street and to the Matou house.]
GOOD END!!!!
It would feel too good. It was something Kotomine Shirou would have done without second thought.
He didn't ask.
Instead, he cleaned around the door, gaze pointed down, or up, or to the side as he vacuumed, as though looking at it for too long would call forth the things that, doubtless, were still inside.
Sometimes, for just a moment, Shinji would seem nervous, would glance anxiously to the door, would suddenly declare he needed to go outside for a cigarette. Shirou would always frown, always consider asking, always decide that those were Shinji's demons to confront.
Now it occurs to him that, maybe, he should have done something sooner.
The first warning was the smoke, a black, billowing cloud that he could see in the distance as he walked home. Then there was the soot and the smell, hanging in the air as he drew closer. He broke into a run, then, assuming a fire, assuming trouble, not even thinking that he would end up sprinting straight up the street and to the Matou house.]
Shinji! What happened?! Are you hurt?!