Hey, it's like you always said. Without magic, you're better than me at everything in every category. You can't complain if I enjoy being better looking for awhile. It's a rare chance to rub it in like a proper older brother.
[ WOW RUDE shinji's just gonna break eye contact and turn his head a little SHIFTS UNCOMFORTABLy because he's a vain little motherfucker like that, oh my god. ]
Heh! Enjoy it while you can! My comeback will be amazing. You're such a big shot, so why don't you bring home warm compresses tomorrow.
[Better than good. Great. He did something right, and that puts Byakuya on a sort of high. He can keep doing things right, he thinks. He's going to make tomorrow a stunner.
Only, he doesn't come home triumphant the next day. He doesn't come home at all. His luck, it seems, was fleeting, and by late evening he's disappeared as if he was never there, leaving Shinji home alone with nothing.]
[ shinji keeps his good friend denial for company for a while that evening. once he can't possibly sleep any more, he cleans around their room and counts what change they have left in case byakuya comes home empty handed. he finally gets around to looking in a mirror and gently pokes and prods and grimaces at the bruises on his face, having turned a collection of deep purples, green and even yellow around the edges. once the sun has been down for a while and he can hear the shop keepers across the street pulling down their metal doors, he realizes that it's nearly 11pm and byakuya still hasn't come home.
fuck.
pulling on his coat, he pushes more of his hair into his face and scrunches up his shoulders against the cold sea breeze as he steps out onto the sidewalk. byakuya had said he'd been in the richer neighborhoods, hadn't he? maybe he was still there. maybe someone had invited him in for dinner? it's not as if he could call shinji on the phone, but... no. he should have come home by now. he should be home right now. he didn't really want to entertain himself with thoughts of where byakuya could be. the possibilities were a bit too much for him to consider.
the streets are nearly empty, save for a few homeless people here and there. people that were just a step below he and byakuya, really. he calls out for his brother, despite whatever heckling they give him in return. ]
[There's no sign of him. Not at first, anyway. It's dark and cold and there's far too much city for one skinny boy to disappear into. For a long while, Shinji won't find anything of interest at all. The rich neighborhoods are more empty than the poor ones, and anyone who sees him stares openly and with distrust to see a stranger there at night. It's like Byakuya just melted away into the crowd, fading like he always seems about to do.
It's after midnight by the time something happens. Eventually, a complete stranger on the street looks startled to see Shinji, and actually calls out to him.
[ it's getting colder and the marine layer is settling in, making shinji's search even more difficult. he doesn't stop looking, though. he can't stop looking. when he finds byakuya, he's got a right mind to make their faces match -- and that's what thought he entertains himself with rather than much more grim possibilities. as he passes by people he turns up his nose the same way he always would, not realizing it's him who appears as the "riff raff" he's always openly judged.
when this person calls out to him it takes no time for him to rush up to them, adrenaline keeping him light on his feet. ]
What -- ? What did you say? [ he calls after, the stranger's words clicking. did they see him get clobbered the other day? or perhaps -- ] My brother! Are you talking about my brother?
[Brother? The stranger looks confused for a bit, before the difference registers. Then he shrugs, lifting his hands apologetically. Yeah, I guess it was a different kid after all. If you're looking for him though, you might wanna just go home.]
Yes, brother, did I not make myself clear? [ honestly, shinji doesn't have the time to play twenty questions with anyone while byakuya is out somewhere in the cold. though the next thing this guy says makes him freeze in place as his heart drops. ]
Wait, what? What is that supposed to mean -- ? [ he's aggressively close now, desperate. ] Don't fuck with me, tell me where he is!
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shinji's just gonna
break eye contact and turn his head a little
SHIFTS UNCOMFORTABLy because he's a vain little motherfucker like that, oh my god. ]
Heh! Enjoy it while you can! My comeback will be amazing.
You're such a big shot, so why don't you bring home warm compresses tomorrow.
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[Better than good. Great. He did something right, and that puts Byakuya on a sort of high. He can keep doing things right, he thinks. He's going to make tomorrow a stunner.
Only, he doesn't come home triumphant the next day. He doesn't come home at all. His luck, it seems, was fleeting, and by late evening he's disappeared as if he was never there, leaving Shinji home alone with nothing.]
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fuck.
pulling on his coat, he pushes more of his hair into his face and scrunches up his shoulders against the cold sea breeze as he steps out onto the sidewalk. byakuya had said he'd been in the richer neighborhoods, hadn't he? maybe he was still there. maybe someone had invited him in for dinner? it's not as if he could call shinji on the phone, but... no. he should have come home by now. he should be home right now. he didn't really want to entertain himself with thoughts of where byakuya could be. the possibilities were a bit too much for him to consider.
the streets are nearly empty, save for a few homeless people here and there. people that were just a step below he and byakuya, really. he calls out for his brother, despite whatever heckling they give him in return. ]
hi i'm picking this up IF YOU WANNA
It's after midnight by the time something happens. Eventually, a complete stranger on the street looks startled to see Shinji, and actually calls out to him.
Hey, kid! You're okay after all, huh?]
OH HELLO yes of course
when this person calls out to him it takes no time for him to rush up to them, adrenaline keeping him light on his feet. ]
What -- ? What did you say? [ he calls after, the stranger's words clicking. did they see him get clobbered the other day? or perhaps -- ] My brother! Are you talking about my brother?
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Wait, what? What is that supposed to mean -- ? [ he's aggressively close now, desperate. ] Don't fuck with me, tell me where he is!