Tumbler
by: Coley Merrin
Series: Tsubasa
Pairing: Kurofai, more or less or more. With a guest appearance by Touya and Yukito.
Disclaimer: I neither own Tsubasa, nor make money from it. But very glad it exists.
Fai tipped his glass with a fingertip, catching images on the surface of the dark and biting liquid. He could see the shadows of the people behind him as they moved, melting across the faces of the bottles on the wall as though they were trapped inside of them. He was not drunk, could not be drunk, as his glass was still more than half full, and it had not been that full to begin with.
The bartender reached for the glass, but Fai's hand went out to stop him.
"Are you going to drink it or play with it?"
Fai gave a small smile and went back to tracing the rim of his glass in silence.
Kurogane turned away to see the princess's brother... or the version of him in this world anyway... looking at him.
"Is he all right?" Touya asked.
Kurogane shrugged and threw his rag into the sink. His eyes followed Touya's to where Yukito cleared tables. Yukito smiled when he noticed, and waved. Touya raised his eyebrows at Kurogane who frowned and turned away, unfortunately right back towards Fai. There was a melancholy smile on the mage's face, almost as if he were waiting for his glass to smile back. Kurogane scowled and ignored it for as long as he could. He wasn't even sure why Fai had come with him. The kids were next door and safe, but Fai had been... less than eager to sit in his presence. Not easily, or lightly. His conclusion was that Fai had followed him over for the alcohol but he was not drinking any more enough than to wet his mouth. And at the far end of the bar, he didn't come for the company. Yukito had been the only one besides Kurogane to go to him. They had sat together a couple of minutes, and Fai had sent him off with a happy, fake smile.
Kurogane set his clean glasses down with a snap. An hour to closing and Fai might as well have been a statue. He filled a glass, this time of his own choosing, and snatched away the glass Fai had been playing with before. He allowed no arguments, and slid the new glass up to Fai's poised hand. Fai peered down at the dark red liquid - juice, instead of alcohol - and wiped a drop from the rim. It was bright and red against the pale skin.
"Looking out for me?" Fai murmured, bringing the glass to his lips and turning away to seek out another seat.
Kurogane turned again and saw there had been witnesses to the exchange, Yukito leaning against the bar across from Touya. Yukito gave an encouraging smile, while Touya smirked - just barely, as if he felt he were in on some secret at Kurogane's expense. And yet, it was knowing, too.
Fai had not gone far, just far enough to sit in a booth where his glass was free from Kurogane's hands. But he sat facing the bar, able to see Kurogane without obstruction. And Kurogane could see him. But it had been a long time since Fai had doubted that.