by Rina K. Fenderson
9. Shattered
The sigh was audible and worried, making Tatsumi look up from his paper work at the young boy, who breathed such a sigh, as Watari walked in slowly. The blond man forced a chipper smile and tilted his head as he spotted Hisoka lounging casually on a chair outside of the Chief�s office. "Bon, what are doing? You should be getting some rest."
"I�m fine," Hisoka replied shortly, turning his face away from the male. Tatsumi shared a soft smile with Watari, raising eyebrows. Both of them were used to Hisoka�s stoic and moody temperment, but ever since he returned with a very meek and vulnerable Tsuzuki, he was much more protective of his partner, hanging around his room, bringing him food, and guarding over him as he slept. Watari placed a small tray on Tatsumi�s desk ignoring the young boy at his back. "He�s waiting for Konoe-sama. Chief asked to see him today, but he�s been really backed up with paperwork for Jouhchou�s records." "Ah," Watari replied, then motioned to the assortments of sweet treats on the tray. "Well, if the Chief gets some spare time, tell him these are his for the taking. Tsuzuki refused them." Watari almost smiled when he saw Hisoka rise slightly at that, through the reflection of Tatsumi�s glasses. He met Tatsumi�s blue eyes, tilting his head, his blond locks flipping over his shoulder. "I worry for him." Tatsumi nodded, standing from his desk and walking around it, leaning his hip against the front to stand beside Watari, who straightened as his movement. "He�s been through a lot. He feels like he�s failed, lost control and order. Whether he seems it or not, Tsuzuki had control in his life and with Muraki�s torture he�s lost it." Watari watched his comrade and sighed, shaking his head in sympathy. "Poor thing. I can�t even begin to imagine what he went through in that prison." Hisoka was listening to them, they both knew this and they both saw the flickering of his emerald eyes up to them curious and contemplating. Watari shifted himself, the small of his back against the desk and his brown eyes trained up to the ceiling of the room as Tatsumi adjusted his glasses and sighed. "I�m sure you would rather not imagine it." "But I�m really worried about him...he hasn�t come out of his room for almost a week now," Watari proclaimed, his eyes flickering back to the ground. "Bon is the only one who can get him to eat...he�s doing really bad." "You can't expect much of him," Tatsumi said softly. "He�s been shattered." Hisoka�s green eyes lowered, his mouth in a small pout, as Watari let of a low hum, then turned as if about to depart. Tatsumi�s eyes were on him, Hisoka ignored it even as the secretary addressed him. "Would like some of these sweets, Hisoka? While you wait?" Hisoka shook his head. "No, thank you." He paused, his brow pulled down over his deep green eyes. "Tatsumi-san...will you...tell the Chief that I had to leave and for him to call me when he would like to speak with me later?" "Yes, of course," Tatsumi answered, watching as the young boy bowed in respect and exited from the room, his footsteps quiet down the hall. Tatsumi�s blue eyes flashed over to Watari with a smile the quirked the side of his mouth up. Watari winked at him with the same mischeviousness as his comrade, then spun and started out of the room, whistling softly to himself. Tatsumi shook his head as his comrade exited the room, then turned back to his paper work, hoping their little act did some good for their experimental couple. Hisoka seemed to be the only one who could get through to Tsuzuki now, but the young boy was so guarded. He only needed the blond boy to open his heart to Tsuzuki, speak out his soul and everything would reform to something much more wonderful.