(no subject)

[kogepant.livejournal.com]

who: Brian, Leolin, Meea, Sky
what: hanging out
where: Brian's cell
when: afternoon
why: to keep Leolin hidden
rating: esfg - fluff!



*note* Just a reminder that when Leolin speaks in italics, he is using sign language. It is also understood that Brian is translating for Meea since Meea doesn't not know how to sign. */note*

Leolin was holding Brian's hand the whole way there. His head was down and his footsteps were a bit slow. He was always hesitant walking. Once near the cell bars he stretched out his other hand to feel for the entrance. "...mn." He pawed at the entrance to find his way, gripping Brian's hand tighter.

Brian smiles as he lifts Leolin's hand to kiss it. "You're safe in here. Nobody comes down here." He's got one of those awesome cells at the end of the hall. Plus, everyone thinks he's weird, so they don't bother with him.

He smiled at the kiss and leaned over to lick Brian's temple. After doing so, he frowned slightly and shook his head and walked in...letting Brian's hand go. His fingertips ran along the wall.

Brian places his books between the top bunk's mattress then sits on the lower bunk. "Look around all you want. Nothing here will hurt you." Of course he keeps everything dangerous put away. On the walls is textured wallpaper, pieced together like a mosaic to look like a forest.

Leolin couldn't see that. He just felt along the walls, soft fingertips on the bits of color paper in the fascinating design. Can I take my shoes off, since I'm standing? He was trying to get used to walking upright.

Brian blinks at Leolin. "The floor is clean, so yes. But why?"

The blind teenager started to sit on the floor and take his shoes off, and his socks were soon stripped from him. 'So I can feel where I am going.' He stood again. Leolin was always super sensitive to touch and cold, but oddly, he didn't know pain like others would. It would not bother him the same way after so much use and abuse.

Brian pulls a foot up onto the bed. "That's... amazing." He watches the blind boy. "You're welcome to spend your days here, if you want."

With only a nod, his foot shuffled across the floor. His hands were still feeling the makeshift wallpaper. 'What color is it?'

"Lots of colors. Greens and browns mostly. It's a mosaic of a forest."

'What does...brown look like? I think I remember green.' His fingers moved over the different spots on the wall.

'And what does a forest look like?'

"I..." Brian frowns softly. "I don't know. They just... they just look." Poor thing has no clue how to describe colors. "A forest has a lot of trees and plants."

He stopped asking questions just then and his lip trembled, he still smiled. Leolin sat on the floor for several moments without signing. 'What's a mosaic?' He stopped feeling on the wall and crawled to Brian. The world opened up to him when he started to sign, and he was beginning to find his limitations were easily as huge as anything else. For once, he wished he could see again.

Brian leans down to pull Leolin up on the bed with him. "A mosaic is a bunch of little pieces of small things, like glass or paper or stones, arranged to make a picture."

Leolin sat on the bed and stayed there, unmoving. 'I wish I could see Donovan. Is he handsome? Do we really look exactly alike? We have green eyes and brown hair. I remember that. But...'

"Donovan is a very handsome young man. You two look exactly alike." He smiles, petting Leolin's thigh.

He bit his lower lip and felt for that hand, running his fingers over it. Why does Sky want to stay that way? It is a bad thought.'

Brian turns his hand over so Leolin can feel his palm. "I don't know. Maybe someday he'll grow out of it."

Can I tell you a secret? I am afraid to tell Addis.

"Of course."

I miss him. It is hard to explain, but I... He sighed and let his hands fall again and nuzzled into Brian.

Brian wraps his arms around Leolin. "Do you miss everything?"

It is hard to explain. He leaned his head on Brian's shoulder and licked his cheek. 'I am sorry to tell you.' He pulled away and stood again.

Brian watches Leolin with a slight frown. "Don't be sorry. You were with that guy for a long time, yes?"

There was only a nod. 'From the beginning. I don't love him...but sometimes I miss him.

"Maybe there were things he did that wasn't so bad?"

He couldn't think of anything. Leolin smiled slightly. 'I liked Angelica, she wasn't very kind but her laugh made me laugh. Elliot...owned me. If I heard his voice it would scare me. Donovan stole me from him and I ran, just to follow him. I don't know how far but it was raining and Addis found me. I wanted...a master, I found a lover. I like lovers better. They don't take, they give. I want to take from him and keep it close. I don't have anything left.'

Brian's eyes mist a little as he watches those hands move. "I think... it's good that you got away."

'Is it? I never...never needed anything before Addis. I never was so...' He had to search for the word and spelled it out with his hands since he couldn't find the gesture. 'S-E-L-F-I-S-H. Before.' He was very intelligent if given the chance to be. His eyebrows furrowed for a second and then a smile rose on his face. 'Like cinnimon rolls and kisses.' He blushed at that and snorted.

"Well." Brian chuckles as he goes into the spare drawer. "It's okay to be selfish sometimes." He opens a cinnamon bun and hands it to Leolin.

He smelled it when Brian opened it. His eyes went wide. 'I can't take from you. That's too selfish.'

Brian laughs as he places the bun in Leolin's hand. "It's not taking if it's a gift. It's... receiving."

He never heard that term before. Leolin blinked and tilted his head. He gripped the wrapper of the cinnamon bun and sat on the bed after finding it. 'I thought it was taking.' That's always the term he heard growing up.

Brian gets out another bun for himself then sits beside Leolin. "It's only taking if nobody said it was for you."

He had to think about that one. Leolin nibbled on the pastry and came to terms with it. 'So, I don't take from Addis?'

"Not if he gives it to you."

'I don't take his kisses, time, pillow in his bed?' He seemed so happy with this conclusion. 'I don't need to feel guilty?'

Brian chortles softly, because Tajia likes it when he does that. "No need to feel guilty. I'm sure he wants you to have those things."

'I try to give back, but he doesn't let me...so it's not taking at all?' He downed the sweet, Addis never asked for anything in return.

"It's not taking at all. I promise. You give to him all the time, I'm sure. You just don't know it."

'How? The only way I know he doesn't accept some of the time.'

"Do you love him? Do you snuggle him and kiss him and just be affectionate? Do you smile for him?"

There was a pause. 'But I do for everyone. That's not the same thing, is it?'

"Does it feel different with him?"

Another pause and Leolin just nodded.

"It's different. You love him in a special way."

Leolin liked that answer and he smiled and leaned into Brian once more. 'Maybe one day I could see his face.'

Brian cups Leolin's cheek while looking into those eyes. "Do you remember how you lost them?"

Leolin blinked and looked a little sad. 'Elliot took them when I tried to run down the street to find my Mom and Dad. We were in...London. Donovan doesn't know I remember them, I could never tell him.

Brian pets his thumb over Leolin's cheek. "It's okay. Maybe we can find some eyes for you."

His breath was caught by the thumb. Leolin licked it, it tasted sweet. 'How?'

"Donors," he whispers. "If you want to."

'Would my eyes be the same color?' He didn't understand the word 'donors' at all.

"If you want to wait for a match."

His sightless eyes grew wide. His breathing was caught. Tears formed as he smiled and hugged Brian. 'I would wait my whole life to see my brother and Addis for the first time that I could fully remember.'

Brian returns the hug with a wide smile. "You don't have to wait very long if you don't care about the color."

'But I want to match Donovan's. We look alike right now. Mommy had green eyes, too.

Brian's smile softens. "I can make some calls and see what I can do."

'Calls? Really?' He fidgeted, excited, how strange to have so much innocence and happiness when one is used to Donovan. It was like a bizarro world version of the other.

Brian chuckles, watching the Donovan that isn't Donovan act like Leolin because he's Leolin. "Yes. I have friends."

'What do you want in return?'

"Hmmm." Brian tilts his head, realizing the boy won't take a gift without giving something back. "You can... be my friend."

He nodded and glomped Brian with licks on his cheeks and nuzzles, his bum in the air. His whole body squirmed just slightly. "...ah..."

Brian laughs as he falls back on the bed, cuddling Leolin close. "You're welcome. You're welcome!"

He buried his face into Brian's neck, his eyes closed. He inhaled, taking in the man's scent to keep with him in thanks. He nuzzled and mewled just slightly, snuggling in close.

Meea soon enters the room with Sky, carrying a giant bag of foodstuff for all of them to share. "What's this with the laughing and cuddling!? I want some." He over exaggerates a pout, setting the bag on Brian's desk.