Fakiru Week 2012 - Red

She's curled in a ball on the floor of Charon's house, naked. Long hair flows over her back, unbraided, as she cradles a small something delicately in her hands. She almost doesn't want to move, as if it'll break with the slightest jolt. It would make sense for her to be just as clumsy as she used to be, after all.

Fakir stands before her, listening to the sounds of her deep breathing. One hand grips his chest; the other drops an ink-stained quill from his loose fingers. His lips part, then close.

Finally, he crouches down and pulls off his jacket to wrap around her shoulders, pulling her up to sit over legs tucked underneath her.

All Ahiru can do is gape at him.

He keeps his expression level, buttoning up the front until she's decent. He keeps his eyes away from the small object cupped in her palms.

"F-Fa…" she begins. Her fingers close over the item. "Fakir! What did—how—why—?"

"Finish your sentences, moron," he mumbles, the tone fond as his lips lift into a small smile.

"This…" Her eyes fall. Then, her eyebrows curl downward and her lips pout. She shoots a look up at him. "Why, Fakir?! How did you do—do this?" And with that, she all but shoves her hands in his face and holds her fingers out, revealing the small blood red gem glittering brightly in her palms.

Fakir remains silent for a moment.

"…I wrote."

Ahiru swallows the lump forming in her throat. Hands trembling, she speaks up again. "What is it?"

"A heart shard," he answers simply.

"I—I know that!" she snaps back, frowning. "I mean—what is it? And where did you get this?!"

A sigh is released into the air as Fakir places his hands on her shoulders. "…It's mine."

Ahiru pales.

She doesn't know how to take it in, and it shows. Her eyes waver, her lips are parted, and it feels like the world has stopped.

Then, she begins shaking her head back and forth, tears forming in her eyes. What has started off as shock quickly turns into panic. "Now—now YOU'RE the moron, Fakir! Why would you do that?! It's important to have all of your heart, isn't it?! What would have happened if you completely shattered it or—?"

"Calm down, idiot." His fingers tense in their places on her shoulders. "Nothing of the sort happened." His voice calms, the tone low and almost soothing. "I gave it to you of my own free will. So just take it, Ahiru."

The use of her name, instead of his usual nickname, is prevalent. Ahiru still looks unsure of herself, her glance dropping back down to the small gem in her hands. Her lip trembles.

"Wh-what…" she begins, "…what feeling is it?"

What feeling did Fakir permanently sacrifice in order to give Ahiru back her humanity?

Fakir closes his eyes for a moment, before he wraps his arms more fully around her body to pick her up off the ground. Giving a small noise, Ahiru instinctively reaches up to grab around his shoulder with one hand, wrapping it around his neck while the other protectively clutches the shard of his heart to her chest.

"Loneliness," he answers. His eyes fall to meet hers, his expression much more soft than it had been in months.

And with that, he keeps her held close to him while he begins making his way up to the spare guest bedroom, aiming to go search out for Raetsel's old clothes.

"I've no need for such an emotion any longer."