Chapter Text
The shattering of a world is rarely brought about by an apocalypse. Humans– people, are far more petty than that. A world constructed by familiarity, by expectations and an ego that deduces its own righteousness was more fragile than you can imagine. He’d like to think otherwise, but was proven wrong once again. Once at the crossroads of his start, when led down to partaking forbidden knowledge and succumbing to its apathy. Once more in rejection, the whole of his being, the whole of his beliefs.
It was a situation Chesed should have anticipated from the start, deduced was meaningless before it ever got to this point. So easily led by a shallow feeling of accomplishment; using his endless vanity as the strings to puppet the inevitable. There was no one Chesed could point to as the cruel mastermind this time though. Pay no attention to the man behind the curtain - yeah, right. When the show begins and when the show ends, the actor and playwright was him all along.
Speckles of light danced along Chesed's face from a surface that did not exist. The record player Angela had so graciously hand-picked for him continued to drone out its tune that had long since become ambiance. He hadn't moved for two- three, maybe four hours now. No one had come since the door slammed and locked him in place.
Memories of a body itched beneath his palms. Unconsciously moving along to the sway of Chesed's motions, seeking to mold itself into the valley between his fingers and thumb. How suddenly it went rigid, still– snapped back into stark machinery and sharp edges.
Yesod had always been terribly transparent.
Pathetically transparent. Adorably transparent. It made Chesed want to smash his mug and jab the handle into the screen that flickered his veneer of an eye. Less painful than witnessing Yesod himself, when every fake breath taken in his presence was akin to pumping glass through his veins. With a heart unused to beating, would have been better off never doing so, embalmed within this mechanical corpse.
But he doubted Yesod would grace him with his presence again, Chesed had made sure of that. Under the endlessly blue ceilings, he felt as if he could drown. Close his eyes and allow himself to sink – epipelagic, mesopelagic, bathypelagic – sink deeper and deeper until the weight crushed him into nonexistence.
If given an infinite array of possibilities, if given the luxury of rewinding time and being allowed to forget his mistakes, there was no question that Chesed would seize it.
|| DAY 1X ||
"Is there any reason you came up to the Information Department?" said before even a greeting. In a certain way, Chesed appreciated that tactless disregard for small talk.
Meeting the smaller Sephirot’s eye at the entrance of his office, Chesed shrugged. "What, I can't come up just to say hi?"
"It seems awfully inconvenient for you."
"It sure is~" Chesed hummed, easily slipping past him to pile a clipped set of documents onto the desk, breaking up the curated order of its owner, "I did actually come here for a reason though."
A flicker of purple LEDs translated into a twitch of nonexistent eyebrows – no doubt irritated by his haphazardness. "I wasn't made aware of any procedures within Welfare that would require my attention."
"Oh? But you assigned this to me yesterday"
At that, Yesod's expression – simulated and yet – shifted to that of surprise. Blinking once and giving himself a pause that encompassed too many seconds of waste.
"Ah- the report. I stand corrected then. Thank you for your due diligence as always."
There was a procedure to these things that had become as mechanical as their bodies would rightfully be expected from. The extraction of an entirely new Abnormality dubbed a code name would be followed with further tests and basic preventative measures organized and carried through by the Welfare department. Simple things: the level of Qlipoth deterrence to keep it both lucid yet docile, disinfectant and such for ones that could cause harm between the days. Abnormalities were such dangerous beings, after all. It was only then that data on the Abnormality’s preferred work processes, specific things to note regarding their behaviour, breach protocol and so forth were further compiled by the Information department’s careful work, overseen by Yesod and his sharp gaze.
Too sharp a gaze, at times. Chesed wasn’t one to take half-measures in the work he does, and that had become both a boon and a bane when it came to Yesod’s expectations of him. On one hand, it had given him far greater grace from the Viper himself– who had no reason to spit his venom at him and was easily impressed by any step over the bar the Upper Layer Sephira had set so low. On the other, it was increasingly difficult to find ways to let a slip of misplaced data through; hidden and waved away as an unfortunate and unlucky accident.
Writing the report for F-01-37 had been quite easy, however. ‘The freezing temperatures that permeated the containment unit was followed with a suggestion to wear EGO suits imbued with some level of fire. Employees XXX and XXX wearing Fourth Match Flame reported comfortable results-’ (and he neglected to mention other possible suits, letting the implication of the other, more obvious one sit for Yesod to figure on his own). ‘The Abnormality left ice shards in employee XXX’s chest at what seemed to be unfavourable interactions; further testing led to the shard expanding and overtaking their body entirely. Their vital signs were still active, however, and it was observed that an employee can challenge the Abnormality to a duel to free them. When XXX won the duel, both them and the formerly frozen XXX received the ice shard on their cheek. I have reason to believe this is a form of an EGO gift, and thus, no further actions to remove that shard will be necessary. As an EGO gift, it might be prudent to encourage it’s spread among our employees.’
Each bit of information and his observational notes were supported by an extensive log of data. If there weren’t, Yesod would simply repeat the experiments himself to substantiate it, whether his employees liked the idea or not. A waste of time, perhaps, but not one made without reason, when the difference between his reporting the Temperance requirement of III instead of II can be the difference between a day like any other and that of a pile of bodies filleted by a tree-axe.
Well- in that regard, it didn’t really matter to him, deaths happen regardless. It would simply be too much hassle if the situation was traced back to him, really.
The pieces then, were left for Yesod to figure out on his own. A variable Chesed didn’t account for, imply, or consider, but ones that could reasonably be seen as the nitty-gritty details that lied under the jurisdiction of the Information Department. He doubted just any employee could win that duel, but it wasn’t his part of the job to note that, nor the consequences of what losing could entail. The lost Feather of Honour and employee outfitted with it chalked up to an unfortunate run-in with an Ordeal; the Disciplinary Department was so dangerous, after all.
Yesod thumbed over the report with a preliminary glance, checking for all he had come to expect from the Welfare Department’s head. “Truth be told, I had expected a longer timeframe for this particular task,” he had admitted, and settled the report on a file organizer at his desk. ”I suppose I can prepare the managerial guidelines much earlier than I anticipated.”
“Have some more faith in me, Yesod~ I don’t waste my days just drinking and lazing about, you know.”
“Yes, I apologize for my presumptions.” Head bowed in what seemed like shame, Yesod’s voice continued in a neutral tone: “If only everyone was as diligent as you.”
Chesed gave a lop-sided smile, cocking his head to regard Yesod for a moment. Truth be told, he always found the shorter Sephira quite simple to deal with.
That is to say, he was quite predictable and easy to please. Obstinate and detail-oriented in some regards but once played to, easy to lead down a favourable route.
Perhaps that's a clinical way of putting things, allow us a rephrase. Yesod wants - at his core - what's best for the corporation, so one simply has to follow his lead. In an environment where a single variable can cascade into a cavalcade of consequences, tight control was - in his eyes - necessary. A sound sentiment, and one Chesed would have seen no faults with had he been younger and more naive.
The immediate questioning of Chesed's continued presence, now lounging on a corner of the desk, was once again delayed by a count of two, four, ten seconds. From a man who hissed at Netzach for not having left his office by the end of his repeated reprimands, Chesed will take it as a sign of welcome.
"Are there any other matters you have for me?" Yesod asked, eye scanning the length of his form.
"You're so quick to kick me out~" he drawled. "It's a long walk back to Welfare, can't I rest a bit?"
"If there are no pressing matters for you to attend to, I have no reason to say no.” A permission as any other, Chesed mumbled a thanks while watching Yesod fall quickly back in line to whatever he had been working on without any further comment.
The office was devoid of anything but what’s strictly necessary, even down to the number of pens equaling the department’s number of staff. Silver folder boxes lined one half of a wall, with the other half composed of a series of screens and input receptors – digital and physical, could never be too careful with either. There was not much in the way of seating, as there was a separate room for that exact purpose a floor down. This one, instead, was purely an interim space; one which serves to supply and collect from its visitors as they fret about through and fro. It’s only permanent residence only kept with him a plain work desk and a matching chair. To call it ‘boring’ would be an understatement, though he figured Yesod would prefer the term ‘practical’. Practical wasn’t very fun to look at, however, and so Chesed’s gaze inevitably returned to the man in question.
Yesod was typing away the contents of – what Chesed assumed to be – some test results and observation logs that were submitted at an earlier date, perhaps even ones from yesterday. He did so with a speed befitting of his position, and occasionally marked notes on the forms themselves before repeating the annotation on the typed copy. A world entirely his own, or perhaps more like a trance state. Contrary to Chesed himself, it was as if the gears within him turned for toils alone. Was it sad to watch? Certainly, but such was Yesod’s nature. It’s a certain kind of mercy to think what you’re doing means anything.
The metallic drag of the file cabinet reverberated unusually loudly, and in a blink Yesod was a step away and looking at him as one would when they come across an extra pen. Chesed didn’t let the surprise show on his face, a second or nine slipping away from him was nothing unusual.
“Do you need me to move?”
“No.” The word was uttered as a reflex, and a split-second wince followed. “In actuality– I have…a request if you wish to loiter about.”
Now that’s something unusual. “Oh?”
“It is simply a request, however. Do not feel indebted or obligated to do so regardless of whether you choose to return to your department or not.”
A long winded spiel in which to appear amiable is certainly an odd trend for him. How could Chesed’s curiosity not peak? "Come now, Yesod. I would think I can be relied on by now."
"...Right. Apologies." And still he dithered. "I would like to thoroughly work on the document you submitted but as you are here, I would like to ask...if I can ask for elaboration when necessary."
A blink. "Is that it~?" A part of him was disappointed by the sheer mundanity, though admittedly, he wasn’t quite sure what to expect regardless. "Ask away, Yesod. I'll be happy to answer."
It was made very apparent very quickly that Yesod was not accustomed to having someone else in the room as he worked. Several times would he pull out a pen to begin noting something or other on the report before he would stop himself, and turn back to ask for whatever clarification he needed. ‘ And what were the stat parameters of Employee XX’ ‘Let’s see- if it was her, then Fortitude XX, Insight XX-’ and so on. Silence permeated the air, punctuated by the clacks of hurried typing, only occasionally broken by a question and matching answer. Lone answers were eventually followed by an offhand comment, ‘What was your impression of the duel?’ ‘Me? Well, aside from what I wrote– you know, the employees looked real happy afterwards, like a couple of lovebirds~’ ‘That seems irrelevant’, and so it continued. Comment to comment to conversation, the verbal rally filled the space between them, Yesod having not looked away from the screen all the while. Another clang of the file cabinet marked the end here, the report marked and locked away in its demotion to first draft.
It belatedly occurred to Chesed that deliberate holes were patched up of his own accord, so wrapped up in idle conversation that he had given Yesod all the tools to avoid a blameless slaughter– accident, rather. Nothing could be done about it, he supposes, but it would be troublesome if this were to repeat.
As he was making his way to leave, Yesod stood by him again, his ever-tense shoulders lowered by a marginal amount, but enough for it to rest below his collarbones. Complementing that was a sight that stopped Chesed in his tracks – a smile. Barely a sliver of it, just an upturn of one side of the lips, and yet it seemed to complement and enhance all the features he never paid notice. Yesod’s bright and inquisitive eyes, the glare from which was one of the reasons ‘Viper’ was so common a moniker, felt a misnomer now. Hair that flopped over in a no-nonsense style suddenly looked to him boyish and charming; eternally sharp cheekbones rounded out by even a single dimple. It almost felt to him a gift of his very own, a secret of his very own.
“Thank you, Chesed. Truly.”
His throat suddenly felt dry, itching for the drink so far from his reach. “It’s nothing really, I’d be happy to help you anytime~”
Ducking out of the office, he felt as if he were a thief. A walk with too quick a pace, stare turned down, he didn’t bother to greet the Tiphereths on his way back and will answer ‘ they seemed busy’ if asked about it. A single step back into Welfare and the reward was immediate: greetings and well-dos from his employees, smiles bright and eager at his arrival. And so returned the Merciful Sephira.
|| DAY 1X ||
A moment of silence for our musical accompaniment, please: the melodious but unobtrusive jazz backed by the steady trickle of a coffee spout. With its support and a steady tapping of finger against counter, the record player had taken the main stage. The swing of its notes, the jumps of its chords; it made itself known for its audience of two. All the more beautiful in the hush of morning– before the cacophony of the working day strangles out that peace.
At the end of its performance, Chesed met the stare of his guest. The very picture of impatience, Yesod sat rigid on the couch, back parallel and apart from the back of it, as if the very idea of using it was absurd to him. He seemed like he wanted to say something, maybe some reprimand of wasting time, or how care-free Chesed seemed to be, but kept his comments to himself. Was he afraid of being rude? How charming.
It wasn’t very often that Yesod found himself in the Welfare Department’s office, preferring to hand off any related material or messages to Tiphereth to save them both time. Under the endlessly blue ceilings and in between the plush furnishings, he seemed awkwardly out of place. Before him laid piles of annotated documents, each one bordering a makeshift space in the middle, not a single sheet out of line. Shame he didn’t think to make room for the coffee. A quick nod was all the acknowledgement he gave when Chesed sat beside him, going straight to picking up the first stack to flip to his first order of business.
“As we are both aware, there was an immense loss of manpower yesterday for us to contend with,” Yesod started, as if he needed an intro at all. “I’ve identified every matter which I believe led to this unfavourable outcome and would like your opinion on revising protocols.”
“Already? Just as expected of our Information Head.”
There was a split second of a pause before he continued, “Too many liberties were taken. Uninformed, careless employees are to be expected, but their reckless behaviour endangered the entire facility.”
The remains of which had long since been wiped; another day, another parade of corpses. “It’s not like we can see the future. There’s nothing to be done about it~”
“You misunderstand me.” His posture was tight, eyes never straying the held pieces of paper. Despite his sharp words, Yesod felt unimaginably small, or rather, pitiful. A voice kept steady through sheer force of will alone, wherein allowing a single slip would break his ability to say anything. “I have no sympathy for employees who disregard their training and face consequences as a result. Entirely preventable and foolish, yes, but that is the reality here.”
Behind the sip of his coffee, Chesed hid a sardonic smile. Nothing at all like him, where such things came naturally. “Pretty harsh, ain’t ya, Yesod?”
“It would be no issue if their utter negligence only affected those involved, but as we can see, it can derail an entire workday.”
One employee foolishly entering an abnormality unit without proper rest, one employee slacking off to chat instead of being on standby with Faint Aroma, another employee not properly reporting their use of Portrait of Another World, and another failing to notice a coworker’s draw towards Red Shoes. Like dominoes carefully set in a line, and just as fragile. A single misplace, a single jostle, and the entire structure topples over another and crashes.
But dominoes are, in the end, built to fall.
Mug in steady hand, Chesed leaned over to glance down at the clinical lines of data– each recounting a death with nothing but the plainest terms, and a manner with which to restrict a similar step out of line. “I see, I see~ Setting up some new ground rules then?”
It seemed then, that Yesod had finally noticed another’s presence aside from himself: sharp eyes ripping away from his work to meet Chesed’s own. That is to say, Yesod tended to get wrapped up in his duties – or head – as a default, and even now, recounted to Chesed as merely a bystander instead of an ally. “...That is the idea.” He straightened, as if a netting of live wire suddenly manifested itself an inch off his back. “It should prevent future occurrences of this nature.”
“But you know, this is all pretty thorough already.” Leaning further, he allowed a simple meeting of his chest to Yesod’s rigid metal. “It doesn’t seem like you need my input much.”
“I-” He didn’t move, “I’d prefer a second opinion.”
“This early in the morning~?”
Cornering may perhaps be the wrong term here, but the smaller Sephirot had seemingly lost his ability to answer. Not looking down or above, focused on nowhere, it was as if he was waiting for something. He didn’t stir even as Chesed snaked an arm behind to take hold of his sheets, given up so readily with the slightest pry of his fingers.
“Hey Yesod, did you sleep last night?”
Both knew as well as the other that neither of their bodies was one where sleep was strictly necessary. Still, there was a limit to how much they could actually run before requiring a state that was similar enough. Even machinery had its limits, and Yesod wasn’t careless enough to not keep track of his own.
But, as established, Yesod was prone to being led by his obstinacy; some saw him as draconian, some saw him as obedient. The mid-point of both was then, foolishness, or perhaps futility. Chesed was grateful Yesod had the sense to seek something like company.
“It’s not-”
“-necessary right? Hmm, that excuse won’t work on me~”
Gently, gently, he nudged Yesod to join him on the back of the couch. A featherlight push with two fingers, it carried with it a coax of a question, an enticing answer. Easy enough to ignore entirely, but Yesod let himself follow it to its destination: cheek against firm shoulder, hip against another. His palms lacked the fruits of his overnight labour, so for now, they lay slack against his lap.
“I’ll look over everything, so just relax for now, okay?” Hushing his voice, he didn’t dare disturb Yesod as he maneuvered the sheets to his free hand. “Good job.”
Perhaps it was too bold a gamble to test his limits this far, but the instinct to then run hand through purple hair was broached before he could re-think it. An idle motion, slow and steady, one rewarded with a shift towards the touch. A turn in-wards to lay arms in between their bodies, a quiet sigh felt on fabric. When Yesod hid his face in his shoulder, Chesed felt, for the first time, warmth spread through artificial nerves.
|| DAY 2X ||
The gulf between the layers was metaphorically deeper than their physical distance. That isn’t to say that it was a walk in the park to get there, but it always put Chesed in a certain kind of mood to witness the Upper Layer Sephirot milling about, so embroiled in their little complexes. The more snooty of the Tiphereths had taken to calling it “Upper Layer Syndrome” – “ because I don’t watch to catch whatever makes them so useless” – and though he wouldn’t particularly disagree with that assessment, Yesod aside, the trait that had characterized that quartet was something more specific.
The shared stare pointed his way would be flattering under most circumstances. Curiosity– or maybe something like rapt attention from the ever hard-working Malkuth. Disdain from Netzach was to be expected, they have never been on the best of standings after all, but even the resident sweetheart shared that same glower. From Hod it lacked the other’s resignation, glassy eyes beneath which a ravenous envy characteristic of her lurks. He’ll choose to ignore them all for the one situated in their centre. The one who’s ever-present scowl immediately softened at Chesed’s presence. Raising his mug as a flag of his own – I come in peace – Chesed returned that careful affection with a lazy smile.
“Hey Yesod, I’m not interrupting anything, am I~?”
“A meeting.” As dead-pan as ever, Yesod answered, but lacking any of the bite expected of him. “I doubt it would be of interest or relevance to you but you can join if you wish.’
“It’ll be like I’m not even here.”
Even with that said, Yesod waited for him to find a spot, away in another row of seating, before continuing on his summation. Something to do with Ordeal protocol, tightening team cohesion, being on the same page, etcetera. Irrelevant to him or his employees, as the Disciplinary Department took to patrolling his halls for them as entertainment.
“I think we should have training programs for the different Noons!” said Hod, who had been awaiting the exact moment she could interject with a suggestion. Her entire form was turned straight towards Yesod like a compass, antennae included. “I feel like a lot of employees are still kinda nervous about dealing with them…”
Across from her, one of several cheap notebooks firmly in hand, sat – or just now, stood – Malkuth. “You can’t keep babying them!” she scoffed, “Maybe your department needs training, but Control’s taken care of so many Noons now that it’s second nature to us!”
In the intersection of both, with none of the energy, lay Netzach, cheek firmly resting in palm. An unfortunate position right in Yesod’s view and one he doubted Netzach had a choice in. He hadn’t raised his head since Chesed’s entrance – irritation trumps lethargy, perhaps – half-lidded eye pointedly not meeting anything but the floor.
Unfortunately for him, Hod spoke. “Netzach, you think they’re dangerous too, right? You’ve seen what Green Noons can do, with all those injuries…”
Under the scrutiny of all three of his coworkers, Netzach groaned, lifting his head to give Hod a half-hearted glare between the curtains of his bangs. “Yeah, they’re killer.’
“See, he agrees with me.”
“Netzach you always do this!” Malkuth shuffled right up next to him, hovering over his pitiful form. “Come on, you can say something better than that!”
If there was something he could bang his head against, Chesed was sure Netzach would knock himself out right now, instead he heaved a heavy sigh. “If you want my opinion, I think we should just group up and take them out one by one…”
“That’s way too slow!”
“We can split them into two groups then, right?” piped up Hod, still trying to meet Yesod’s gaze. “Oh, and I can set up a proper training program so there aren’t any mix-ups or anything…”
Having gotten bored of her previous position, Malkuth’s attention turned right back to Hod. “Just assign them a number and a meeting space, even I wouldn’t mix up something like that.”
“But- I mean…I guess…”
Voice cutting through the room like a knife, Yesod finally spoke. “I do believe Hod’s suggestion has merit. I’d prefer it if we consolidated and standardized what protocols we follow.”
So continued Asiyah.
From his vantage point, Chesed simply sipped coffee. For better or for worse, no one had paid him any heed. An endlessly circular conversation: a tug of war of policy dictated by petty personal grievances seemed to be a common trend among the four. Yesod included among them, as much a pillar of rationality he wished to be. It was a little ironic that the harsher Tiphereth aims to imitate that ideal at times, when her preoccupation with herself and her other self precluded any pointless attachment to the corporation itself. Still, it was a blessing to have faith in one’s role, to believe in and blame one’s own capacity to act.
“What do you think, Chesed?”
As delicate as a bubble, the distance of ‘audience’ snapped out from beneath him. Yesod, the culprit, looking at him expectantly, and in-turn being graced with the turn of three other heads pointed in his direction. “Hm?”
“I would like your opinion on the Noons,” he repeated, as if it was the most natural thing in the world. “Your department is familiar with them, yes?”
“Er- well, yes but i would think this was a meeting for the Upper Sephirot~”
“I would rather not waste an opportunity to ask for your input.”
Chesed tried not to meet the gaze of Hod or Netzach, who’s glare he could almost feel as heat on metal. Yesod, by contrast, was simply curious, but sincerity was equally hard to meet.
In any case, it would be a waste to not make use of the spotlight Yesod had oh-so-graciously given him. “Well… Instead of shared training, don’t you guys have some good EGO suits and weapons at this point?” The words came out naturally, in a lilting tone he had gotten accustomed to using with his employees. “I think you can let the newbies keep working while letting your captains handle the Ordeals.”
Never one to give up on the opportunity to speak against him, Netzach mumbled: “That seems kinda dangerous dude.”
Hod followed, utterly instinctively, “I mean…do you really think they’re ready for it?”
He refused to meet either of their eyes, and instead took to the most straightforward among them all. “Malkuth, you said Control hasn’t had much to do lately, right? Why not let them handle it too?”
A hit and a bulls-eye, she immediately straightened and puffed out her chest with pride. “See, he knows what he’s talking about.” She gave him one of her trademark salutes, with pen perpendicular to forehead. “Chesed, sir, you can leave it to me!”
“Yesoood, I still think the group training is the better idea, right?”
Under Hod’s desperate gaze, Yesod closed his eyes, and truly, Chesed didn’t envy him. His expression furrowed, free to think and deliberate without the distraction of sight and the silence the group allowed him. When he spoke, he did so uncharacteristically quietly. “...I do see the merits in your suggestion, Chesed.”
A smile couldn’t help spreading over Chesed’s face, but in the eyes of his audience, it must seem awfully smug.
“With fewer people involved, there’d be less points of variance,” Yesod continued, “–and captains are properly trained in this regard already. If we organize proper escape routes, then Training can handle relaying that information to new hires.”
“Sucking up to the Lower Layers isn’t a good look for you.”
Yesod bristled visibly, “Netzach, if you have nothing to contribute, I would rather you leave.”
“Fine fine, meeting adjourned I guess.”
With the most enthusiasm he’s seen from Netzach all meeting, the Sephirot hurried out of the room with the speed of someone beckoned by a bed, or perhaps a floor. Malkuth instinctively made to follow him, ending up going as far as triggering the automatic door before freezing in place.
From her spot right next to the door, she called out behind her, “Wait, is the meeting actually adjourned?”
A heavy sigh. “It might as well be. Hod, Malkuth, you two can draft out the safe route procedures and send it to my office at the end of the day. We can put it into practice tomorrow”
“Leave it to me!”
“I'll be sure to do my best!” Hod left with a skip in her step, having at least gotten something out of this meeting.
With a final slide of the door, the Information department’s meeting room fell into comfortable silence. If asked, Chesed wouldn’t deny that the ordeal was entertaining at times, but stillness settled over his body far more naturally. Yesod must feel similarly in that regard.
In the absence of excess company, Chesed quickly closed the distance between them. His long strides crossed the width of the room in an instant, with Yesod taking a single step forward to meet his person. A hand still retaining the heat of coffee met a stiff lower back, rubbing into it in circles as Yesod sighed into the touch.
In a world entirely their own, Chesed’s voice softened. “Tough morning?”
“Very. But now that that's done, what did you come here for?”
“Just to see your face~” It was easy to wrap such statements in audacity; not entirely a lie, in fact, much closer to the truth than he’d like to admit.
“That seems unnecessary.”
“Truth be told, most of my work today isn’t until after the workday. So I have a bit of free time. Quite rare, so I’m taking advantage of it”
He knew not if Yesod’s body leaned towards him consciously or not, like a cat seeking heat or sunlight. Regardless, it was cute. “And what would that entail, exactly?” Yesod breathed,
He ran two fingers along the length of Yesod’s back, ““Company.” Tracing a phantom spine – up and down, putting gentle pressure on the curve with which the other arched into him. “For work or pleasure, your choice.”
The purr of an internal fan rumbled beneath his fingers, a phenomenon rendered into vision as a flush across Yesod’s cheeks. He wondered idly if anyone else was graced with this particular version of the Information Head. “That’s a stupid…question.”
Could he feel the roll of Chesed’s laughter? Light in sound yet forged in a depth that feels entirely unknown to him. For all of Yesod’s desperate detachment, he held a bias. A bias screaming for itself through the gaps in his posturing, in the concessions he made for Chesed’s sake and his alone. Every time he surrendered to a touch: accepted it without a word for or against it.
He idly wondered how much Yesod would let him get away with. “We can play hookie for a bit, can’t we? You’ve been working so hard.”
A reprimand reduced into silence, when Chesed leaned over him until he was but a breath away. Massaging the small of his back, mug stock still in his other hand. Refuge in audacity, when lips hovered over Yesod’s like a fruit ripe for the picking. A question, a question, and one so ready to be dismissed into nothing.
And yet rejection never came, only stillness. A bluff met in-turn by a stubborn refusal to call it out. Yesod met his stare with something like impatience, softened by a blush and the pout of his lips. Eventually, his eyes cast downward, finally conceding.
“Honestly, just…do it properly, Chesed.”
Perhaps asking him to initiate was too far an expectation, but a permission was just as much a gift. Chesed closed the distance to breach that unspoken of barriers, one left up in the air of both their accords. A role only he could play, an exception in Yesod’s eyes, a role eagerly taken and sealed with a kiss.