[ it's a special kind of horror, knowing and yet not knowing oneself. it's happened to shiro in the past, the experience akin to sandpaper over skin: leaving him more or less the same shape, but lacking all of his former polish. he's only just begun to accept his differences, when here - lo! - another one jars into existence.
hence his contemplation of one arm and then the next, the burn of clenched muscles not allowing him the same relief it normally does.
he startles at the break of his self-made silence, arms falling back to his side. his water bottle, resting against his knee, lists dangerously; he grabs for it a moment too late. water spills over the dirt, wetting the outer seam of his pants, and only then does he manage to pluck the bottle up.
a beat, then a smile: sheepish, warm, but not altogether relaxed. newcomers had once been immediately trusted, in shiro's world, but much has changed since then.
--especially after a second glance. this newcomer smiles, but there's a knife-gleam underneath. shiro's hackles rise despite himself.
with a meaningful glance at the wet spot on his pants -- ]
Not useful enough, apparently.
[ and a murmur of laughter, just long enough to be polite. he straightens, shoulders squaring. ]
no subject
hence his contemplation of one arm and then the next, the burn of clenched muscles not allowing him the same relief it normally does.
he startles at the break of his self-made silence, arms falling back to his side. his water bottle, resting against his knee, lists dangerously; he grabs for it a moment too late. water spills over the dirt, wetting the outer seam of his pants, and only then does he manage to pluck the bottle up.
a beat, then a smile: sheepish, warm, but not altogether relaxed. newcomers had once been immediately trusted, in shiro's world, but much has changed since then.
--especially after a second glance. this newcomer smiles, but there's a knife-gleam underneath. shiro's hackles rise despite himself.
with a meaningful glance at the wet spot on his pants -- ]
Not useful enough, apparently.
[ and a murmur of laughter, just long enough to be polite. he straightens, shoulders squaring. ]