And what's left is...

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[Kaz is feeling a bit "down," one might say. There's a bit less of a bounce in his step, a more serious air surrounding him. He stands in the library, a heavy, dusty, worn leather-bound reference book in his hand. He turns the pages with care, gaze wholly focused through dark lenses on the pages before him.]

[At a glance, he looks to be pretty normal. He shouldn't even seem depressed, really. A better word to describe him is probably "subdued." Something... something is different, something is missing.]

[Go ahead and talk to him. See for yourself.]


((Due to a room effect, Kaz has accidentally his whole overactive libido for three days! This post is NOT getting locked, so help me. :I /shakes fist))

Comments

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

[Is it your soul? YOU'RE MISSING YOUR SOUL AREN'T YOU]

Gladly. [That he can do.]

[Liquid grabs Kaz and gives him a deep, passionate kiss.]

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[M-MAYBE]

[Kaz accepts those lips very willingly, then moves his own against them in a pattern they established long ago--]

[-- only to find that it's doing nothing. It feels warm, it feels intimate, but it's not... sexy. Kaz doesn't feel like throwing his thighs around Liquid now or pushing him against the bookcase to sneak a hand down his pants.]

[And dammit to hell, he immediately feels wrong and guilty for it.]

[His mouth is still but his hand at Liquid's back trembles.]

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

[Kaz's mouth is warm and soft...but something is wrong.]

[The kiss is empty. Kaz's utter lack of response stops him cold.]

Kazuhira.

[He takes a step back out of the cool, meaningless embrace.]

You... [he could say "is there someone else?" but of course there is and that's never mattered before.]

Have I...done something...?

[You don't want me anymore.]

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[Oh, Kaz is not letting you go, Liquid. Though he steps back, he catches Liquid's bicep in his hand.]

No. [A shake of his head.] God, no. I just told you that something is wrong with me, didn't I?

[Okay, so maybe, just for a moment, Kaz forgot how insecure Liquid can get.]

Don't you dare go anywhere.

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

[Liquid, insecure? Are you saying he is flawed and worthless?!]

Is it a room effect? Has someone put saltpeter in your food?

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

I think it must be...

[Kaz brings his forehead against Liquid's shoulder.]

I'm sorry. I could come and see you in a couple of days-- it should pass by then.

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

No. If someone's playing with your head, I'm staying by your side. Besides, this might be the only effect.

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[Kaz peers out of the side of his aviators, a bit surprised.]

Are you sure?

[He knows he doesn't need to ask but the words come forth anyway.]

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

Of course I am. [Is it really that unexpected?]

Besides, I'm interested in your project. If there's any information to be found on this place, I want to know it.

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[Kaz smiles a bit sadly at Liquid's determination.]

You're gonna make me cry one of these days, you know.

[He wasn't aware until just now how nervous he was that Liquid was going to abandon him for his lack of sexual interest. Wasn't that what their relationship was strongly based on?]

[His arm slips around Liquid's back just before a low rumble sounds from his stomach.]

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

Tears don't suit you.

Have you lost your appetite for food as well? That is especially not like you.

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

It got the attention of some women, though.

[Especially in good old Japan. Girls his age really had a thing for sensitive guys.]

[Kaz looks caught when Liquid says that, realizing it's quite true.]

It just didn't seem as important as what I was doing.

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

[Liquid snorts a laugh] You flirted by crying?

Now you have something else in common with Hal. Come on, let's get you something to eat.

[It's funny to be the one taking care of kaz for once.]

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

Something like that, yeah.

[Kaz shakes his head. Normally he might flaunt the fact or defend his reasoning, but he doesn't seem to have the energy for it right now. He walks alongside Liquid, heading out of the library and leaving behind the strong scent of old books.]

Are you going to cook for me?

[Their muscled arms brush against one another but Kaz doesn't initiate further contact.]

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

It seems I should return the favour, after all the times you've made me breakfast.

[There's a spark when Kazs touches him - disturbing in that he's the only one who feels it.]

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

That would be nice. I haven't had much of a drive to cook, either.

[Quietly, he watches as open doors in the hallway pass by them, suddenly rethinking the danger they present. This is really the most unsettling effect he has experienced since arriving (possibly actually worse than the time he nearly starved to death). He doesn't feel like himself and he wouldn't wish that on anyone else.]

[So before they reach a kitchen, he walks in front of Liquid and stops him, pressing a hand to his chest.]

The only rooms I went to were upstairs, but... promise me you won't go into any weird rooms until I'm better, all right?

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

[Everyone glances nervously at the doors like that after being hit with a particularly bad effect. Usually it's something more dire, like being turned into an animal or having your personality switched. Kaz seems genuinely distressed.]

[The strong hand on his bare skin feels the same as always...except that instead of warm and responsive, Kaz is oblivious, as if Liquid's sculpted chest were a block of wood.]

I'm always careful.

[No he isn't.]

[Sighs.] Fine. If it makes you happy, I'll stay away from the mysterious ones.

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[It's somewhat easier to deal with the distress around Liquid and it's comforting to Kaz that the shirtless soldier hasn't shunned him for his inability to respond like he used to.]

[It is likely that he was obsessing over the books as a way to distract his troubled mind.]

Good.

[He turns around again, hand coldly moving from Liquid's chest. No lingering caress, no little smirk of promises for that night.]

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

[Liquid leads him to his home and enters the security codes to let him in. You don't go wanting for electronic protection when Hal is around.]

[It's strange to feel Kaz's touch without affection.]

[Being unwanted is all too familiar.]

What would you like? My skills are limited, but I can follow instructions.

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[The Liquid that Kaz lives with is also a bit of a nut about security systems, so he thinks nothing of it.]

Make whatever you want. Anything you feel confident about.

[Without meaning to, he still sounds dismissive. He clenches his fist and growls very quietly to himself. Dammit.]

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

Bacon and eggs it is, then.

[Liquid busies himself in the kitchen and tries not to think about how disinterested Miller's every word to him sounds.]

[bluesofpeace.livejournal.com]

[Kaz heads into the living room filled with various technical gadgets on the floor (no doubt belonging to Hal) and shelves of books on the walls (no doubt mostly belonging to Liquid). One volume stands out to him as the book Liquid was reading when they first met.]

[He pulls the worn book off the shelf and flips to the first page, guiding himself over to the couch to sit and read.]

[whyamisobritish.livejournal.com]

[calls over his shoulder] Don't step on anything. Even if you destroy the evidence, Hal will know.

[Soon the smell of bacon frying fills the flat. When everything's done Liquid grabs a couple oranges, arranges plates and brings them out.]

Here you are. More sustenance than art, I admit.