A/N: This is set after one of the early episodes of the HE VENS radio programs, but I was only partly listening and the DJ CD isn't out yet, so I'm going from memory. What I'm remembering is that in episode 0, Eiichi tells a story about how Eiji bundled him up to go outside in the winter, only to end up catching a cold himself.
(These two. :3)
"Nii-chan, you didn't have to tell them that!"
Eiichi spares his brother a glance, and no more—Eiji is the picture of annoyance, projecting it with his whole body. If he's energetic enough to go that far in protest, he's not all that mad.
"I did you a favor," he says instead, sweeping out the door of the recording studio.
Eiji follows him, pausing in the doorway to pull the door closed behind him. "I don't see how telling a story that makes me look like a...a scared little kid is doing me a—"
Eiichi stops, turns around, hands on hips. "It's fine, isn't it? You're nice. It's part of your appeal."
Eiji comes right up to him—too close, he has a habit of doing that—and pouts mightily. "There's 'nice,' and then there's being a pushover. I know I already don't give off much of a 'cool' vibe, it's something I'm working on, but—"
"Little brother." The term comes oddly off Eiichi's tongue. He ignores that, because Eiji shuts up, staring up at him.
He takes him by the elbow and turns him, just because he can. Eiji follows as he knew he would, leans obediently against the wall when he rests his elbow against it and looms over him.
Other people are sometimes an enigma to Eiichi. If only they'd be willing to show what's in their hearts, he'd understand them better. If they were willing to outright say what they wanted, willing to scream it out and fight for it, he wholeheartedly believes the world would be a better, and less confusing, place.
But Eiji, at least, he's had for years and years. Eiji he can understand, and if he were really mad, he wouldn't be letting his brother do any of this.
He's embarrassed, and quite possibly needs encouragement. And a lecture, because people don't actually critique him enough. He's too easy to dismiss.
"You don't show off enough of your good sides," he rumbles, voice low. "If you don't become willing to stand out more, you're going to fall behind."
Eiichi doesn't necessarily like it, but people are complicated. Even Eiji has a number of sides to him. Eiichi knows this.
There's the part of him that's nervous in new places. His response to that is to blend into the background. It's what makes him mesh so well with the rest of HEVENS, well enough to help hold them together.
That's a virtue insofar as they're a band with some pretty strong personalities, and it's a problem insofar as idols are supposed to stand out, to shine fearlessly.
Eiji's too good to let his fears of standing out hold him back, and Eiichi fully intends to help him learn to break that habit when necessary. Eiji's nerves aren't quite so bad when he's somewhere he knows, like the studio, and with someone he knows as well as Eiichi. It's safe to confront him here; he has the wherewithal to deal with it.
There's the part of him that's kind—that loves Eiichi unconditionally, that is respectful to their father, even when neither of them do enough to earn it. Like in the story Eiichi told before, that concerned Eiji's desire to look out for him, that part of him is strong. Eiichi sometimes thinks it's too strong for the rest of him.
But this side of him, the side that stands under his gaze and stares up at him with those thoughtful, open eyes...this is part of his genius. Quiet, curious, absorbing the world around him like a sponge...it isn't bad at all.
"I'll try," he says, and that's all. No more arguing, just those two words.
It's likely Eiji still doesn't agree with his choice of story—he'd probably say if he did—but Eiichi suspects he's forgiven nonetheless. He reaches down to squeeze his brother's shoulder, and then lets him go.
"Good," he says, stepping back. "HEVENS is our place to shine, Eiji. Not just me, but both of us."
Eiji smiles, eyes gentle. "I know."
A/N: I'm still not sure I got the characterization right on these two (HEVENS is hard, and I keep rolling them; yes, I got these two randomly), and I'm not sure their voices are right. But, y'know, this is a work in progress, and just as much for me as it is for you guys.
Always accepting of feedback, though!
