Title: The Shadow King
Parings: Maybe KyoHaru
Word Count: 204
Summary: Sticks and stones may break your bones but words can never hurt you... easier said than done.
Everyone called Kyouya the Shadow King.
It was a harmless nickname, in everyone's eyes, and Kyouya didn't seem to mind.
Haruhi wondered how nobody had realised how they could be hurting Kyouya feelings even if he didn't show them.
She made the connection one day when Hikaru called him Shadow King, Kyouya didn't even glare, and he actually smiled to himself.
Yes, the name Shadow Kind suited him perfectly. He was the one to hide in the shadows, perfectly unseen, not trying to catch anybodies attention and not gaining any in return.
He stood against his will in the shadows of his brothers and in his father's eyes that was probably all he was best at, stay out of sight and let your brothers do the talking, they understand what they're doing so don't mess it up.
As if he was stupid.
Kyouya Otori was not stupid.
The next time somebody called him the Shadow King, when there was a quiet moment again and everyone had forgotten Kyouya existed Haruhi gave him a gently pat on the arm and a smile that melted his heart.
'Don't listen to what they say,' Haruhi told him, 'I know who you really are.'
And Kyouya believed her.