Title: Melodic Requiem
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama/Romance/Supernatural
Pairings: Athrun/Nicol
Word Count: 300
Summary: The music was all he had left.
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The first time he touched a piano, it felt foreign and intimidating. The cold white keys slowly coming to life as his fingers danced across to follow the notes. It was a beautiful song, but he could not yet play it. Nearby, a quiet figure watched- waiting for the right moment to step in.
Each day, he would practice; growing more comfortable with the feel of the ivory, cool and slick, as he moved his hands over them. After many attempts, and a light laugh from his audience, a gentle hand laid over his- the more skilled artist teaching the beginner a more intimate method of playing.
With time, the melody began to spring to life. Each touch evoking soft sighs from the piano's strings. Each gentle caress making it sing with renewed vigor.
The song was alive once more, the notes embracing him like an old friend- no- like a lover.
Passionately, he played it through until the end. The warmth lingering around him; whispering to him and smiling at each perfect note. And as the young man stroked the last key- the final vibrato echoing throughout the room- Athrun slumped forward against the piano sated, Nicol's masterpiece finally being performed at last.
"That was beautiful."
The words seemed so real that Athrun sat up immediately; his eyes darting about the room for the boy he knew was long dead. The piano's strings hummed with an unseen wind, the feeling of that warm embrace once again wrapping around him.
"Thank you, Athrun. We'll have to play again, sometime."
And with a ghostly kiss the wind swept away, the sheet music scattering and landing on the ground. Athrun turned to look at the picture sitting across the room, a smile on his face.
"Anytime you want, Nicol. It's your song."