To Be Human {Chapter 14}
To Be Human {Chapter 14}
Title: To Be Human
Author: fel93
Length: Chaptered (1955 words for this chapter)
Pairing: Ohmiya, Sakuraiba
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Drama, Fantasy, Futuristic, Angst, Romance
Disclaimer: Nuh-uh, sadly, they’re not mine
Summary: What happens when Ohno gets lost, and meets someone who is not quite like him
Sho knocks on the wooden door again, his ears perked up for any sounds from the other side.
Some shuffling could be heard before several rapt knocks on the door was heard.
“They’re there! They’re there!” Sho points at the door excitedly, looking at Nino with smiling eyes.
Nino wonders who was the one knocking. Was it Ohno or Aiba? A sudden overwhelming urge to hear Ohno’s voice threatens to engulf Nino. It had been three days since he last heard Ohno. Does Ohno’s voice still sound like what he remembered it to be? Does it still ring with a clarity that cuts through the air, with a melodious tone that demands people’s attention on the several rare occasions the quiet man speaks?
Nino’s memories brought him back to that afternoon in the pantry, where they shouted at each other till their voices were almost hoarse. Like a sharp knife that makes the wind whistle as it slices through the air while speeding along its trajectory straight into Nino’s heart, the confusion and the disbelief that coloured Ohno’s words hurts as much as it did the first time Nino heard them.
Suddenly, he felt scared. He felt cornered. He wanted to run, to get away from all of this. He didn’t know how to face Ohno. Not after he imposed his feelings on the poor man. He wanted to tug Sho away from that offending door, tell him that it’s okay, he’s okay with staying in that cell for the rest of his existence. At least he wouldn’t have to face Ohno that way. Nino doesn’t know if he can bear to see the disgust on Ohno’s face again. Rejection once was enough. He didn’t need to be rejected twice. And he doesn’t want to care about what Ohno thinks now. He thinks. He doesn't want to know. What he don’t know can’t hurt him. Right?
Nino’s eyes widened as he watches one of the bolts on the complicated lock on the door slide to the left.
“The first step of the entire sequence begins from Aiba and Ohno’s side.” Sho explains. “Aiba and I took quite a long time figuring this out.” Sho grins at Nino and slides one of the bolt on their side down an inch, and then to the right.
Five seconds later, another piece of bolt magically slides two inches to the right, three inches upwards and one and a half inch to the right once more. Sho beams visibly at the progression.
Nino as if his artificial heart had dropped to somewhere near his stomach. It was beating so fast, Nino swears that it is going to punch a hole through his abdomen. Unconsciously, he wrings his clothes with his fleshy hands.
“C’mon, let’s do this Aiba! This is just like how we’ve always done it.” Sho mutters as he sticks his tongue out in concentration, sliding yet another bolt on their side to the correct position.
It slides into place with a deafening click that accompanies the despair pooling in Nino’s stomach.
*~*~*
Aiba did a mini victory dance, the best that he could manage in the very limited space that he is in, as he watches a bolt slide into position, courtesy of Sho’s handiwork on the other side.
“You go Sho! You smarty pants!” Aiba beams fondly at the door and begin sliding another bolt on their side of the door.
Ohno stares in amazement.
But the situation at hand pulls him back into reality. Suddenly, memories of his confrontation with Nino came rushing back to him with astonishing force, like a flood against a dam. What is he going to do now? What is he supposed to say, to wash away the disappointment so deeply etched in Nino’s weary face? He felt his heart clench as Nino’s face, the one with hurt flashing across his deep eyes, float into his mind. Ohno doesn’t want to be the one to cause Nino such pain.
Aiba works his magic at the door while Ohno works his pants into a twist; thinking of what he should say when he meets Nino later.
“Shit.” Aiba muttered.
Ohno’s head snapped back to the door, only to find Aiba frowning deeply, rubbing his chin contemplatively.
“What happened?” Ohno asked, worried.
Aiba let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know which bolt to slide next.” He explains.
“Why?” Ohno frowns too. Haven’t they done this loads of time before?
“Sho and I found this passageway only a few weeks before we escaped from this lab. We’ve fiddled with the lock for a long while but we have never actually opened this door before.”
Several rapid knocks sounded on the door. Aiba knocks back to let them know that they’re still there even though they’re not sliding any more bolts.
Ohno looks at the door contemplatively. His gut feeling and instincts are tugging him towards the door. He approaches it tentatively. This looks familiar. Ohno thought.
Ohno places his right hand on the top portion of the door, feeling the ageing wood underneath his fingertips. This feels really familiar. A tiny voice in him says. Slowly, he drags his hand down, letting his fingertips run along the intricacies of the lock situated right below, until it hits one of the bolts.
And just because it feels right, Ohno slides that bolt an inch to the left.
*~*~*
“Why aren’t they sliding any bolts?” Sho mutters under his breath, clearly frustrated.
Nino watches as Sho eyebrows furrows in a deeper frown. Sho knocks at the door, worried.
Promptly, someone from the other side knocks in reply.
“Well, at least they’re still there.” Nino offered helpfully.
“Oh! I remember! This is where we last stopped when we were trying to figure out the configuration.”
Nino raises his eyebrows questioningly. Sho explains that Aiba and he have never actually gone through this door before.
Nino sighs. Out of frustration or relief, he doesn’t know. Maybe a bit of both.
Suddenly, one of the bolts moved. Both robots stare at the door, bewildered.
“I thought you said Aiba didn’t know the next step?” Nino brings himself closer to the door to examine the intricate lock for the first time.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know! Maybe it’s a wild guess?” Sho shrugs.
“If I’m not wrong…” Nino brings his hand to yet another bolt and slides it down.
“How do you know?” Sho asks, gaping.
Nino shrugs. “Gut instincts”
After a little while, someone from the other side slides another bolt. They’re almost done.
*~*~*
“Oh-chan! You’re a genius!” Aiba squeezes Ohno’s shoulder encouragingly. Ohno winced. Obviously, Aiba haven’t learnt to master his strength around humans.
The other side slides a bolt in reply and Ohno instinctively slides another one.
*~*~*
Nino watches as the second last bolt clicks into position.
His mouth feels dry, as though he had just swallowed a mouthful of ash. He will be the one to slide the last bolt.
“What are you waiting for?” Sho urges impatiently. “C’mon, slide the last one!” Clearly, Sho can’t wait to be reunited with Aiba. They had been separated for too long for their liking.
Nino squeezed his eyes shut. With trembling hands, he feels for the last bolt, and slides it to the right, according to his instincts. It clicks into place and Nino felt his stomach fall through to the ground. He felt like throwing up, if that is even possible for him.
The door swings open and Nino shuts his eyes even tighter.
*~*~*
The door swings open and Ohno watches as Aiba’s eyes lit up.
“SHO!” Aiba shouts, with no regards to keeping quiet. He scrambles towards Sho, as fast as he could while crouching down and tackles Sho onto the ground.
“Sho. Sho, Sho, Sho, Sho, Sho!” Aiba repeats, for about a million times. As if he hadn't said Sho’s name for a long while. As if he had to convince himself that Sho is, physically, tangibly, and possibly really there in front of him.
The two engages in a bear hug, Aiba squishing his face onto Sho’s and rubbing it. He then holds Sho’s face in his hands and plants a big fat kiss right onto Sho’s lips. “I mish you sho much!” Aiba tries to say while his lips are still attached to Sho’s. Ohno looks away in embarrassment, feeling like he ought to give them some privacy for such an intimate reunion.
That’s when he notices a small figure, still huddled on the ground, by the door.
Nino’s eyes were shut tight and he wasn’t moving. Ohno takes a tentative step towards Nino and sees that he is trembling. The hurt is still there in his face and in that moment, Nino looked so small, and fragile, and vulnerable. Gone were the mischievous grin and the arrogant smirk that always adorn his face. Gone were the nonchalant attitude and the big personality. There, in all its truth and honesty, is Nino with his pain, his insecurities, his fears and his abundance of emotions.
Ohno move quietly towards Nino and crouched down beside him. Nino is still huddled into himself, eyes still shut and not looking up. He doesn’t know how Nino would react, he doesn’t know if he’d receive a punch straight to his face and he doesn’t fancy finding out as the force of a robot’s strength on human flesh is not exactly desirable. But he knows that it feels right to him and he had to do it.
Carefully, he wound his arm around Nino and envelops him in a hug. He felt Nino stiffen and tense at first contact, and it made his heart constrict in pain as he realizes that he was the one to have brought such anguish to Nino.
Well, at least he isn’t punching me. Ohno heaves a sigh of relief internally.
With slightly more confidence now that he know that Nino isn’t going to resort to violence against him, he pulls Nino towards him and hugs him tighter, fitting his head in the crook of Nino’s neck. He feels Nino relax slightly and he pulls his head back to watch the frown on Nino’s face smoothen out. He realizes, with a jolt, that he doesn’t want to be the one to cause Nino pain. He wants to be the one to smoothen out all the frowns on his face, to remove all the hurt and pain that he has ever received and to make those adorable thin pink lips curl up in a feline smile.
Slowly, he rocks Nino and himself as he continues embracing him. He feels and he sees Nino visibly relaxes in his arms and he vaguely wished that this moment will never end. That he can continue holding Nino in his arms, and continue to be the one to protect him.
He felt the robot tremble and pulls his head back to see a lone tear pooling at the corner of Nino’s eye before sliding down his pale cheeks.
Ohno’s eyes widen in panic. What did I do?!
Frantically, he tries to thumb away the offending liquid that was leaving its trail down Nino’s face. Suddenly, Nino’s hand shot up to hold Ohno’s hand against his cheeks.
“Just hold me like this for a while. Okay?” Nino pleads softly. His eyes were still shut, and he looked so fragile, like anything could break him. Ohno nods vigorously and held Nino even tighter, if it’s even possible.
That was probably the first time Ninomiya Kazunari allowed himself to be so vulnerable in front of someone else. The first time he let his guard down. The first time he felt safe enough, felt selfish enough to be weak, to break down and cry in front of someone else.
To Be Continued...
Previous Chapter: {Chapter 13}
Next Chapter: {Chapter 15}
A/N: YAYYYY! An update!! -feels proud for a speedy chapter!- Anyway, I'm sorry that this is a short chapter! >///< I just couldn't wait long enough to lengthen this out and then post at a later date. Well, a short chapter is better than nothing right? :D Take this as my apology for the many long waits! :p
Enjoy! More explanation and action coming in the subsequent chapters!
PS: Sorry for bad English! >.< I'll correct them as I reread this when I'm more awake.
Title: To Be Human
Author: fel93
Length: Chaptered (1955 words for this chapter)
Pairing: Ohmiya, Sakuraiba
Rating: PG-13
Genre: AU, Drama, Fantasy, Futuristic, Angst, Romance
Disclaimer: Nuh-uh, sadly, they’re not mine
Summary: What happens when Ohno gets lost, and meets someone who is not quite like him
Sho knocks on the wooden door again, his ears perked up for any sounds from the other side.
Some shuffling could be heard before several rapt knocks on the door was heard.
“They’re there! They’re there!” Sho points at the door excitedly, looking at Nino with smiling eyes.
Nino wonders who was the one knocking. Was it Ohno or Aiba? A sudden overwhelming urge to hear Ohno’s voice threatens to engulf Nino. It had been three days since he last heard Ohno. Does Ohno’s voice still sound like what he remembered it to be? Does it still ring with a clarity that cuts through the air, with a melodious tone that demands people’s attention on the several rare occasions the quiet man speaks?
Nino’s memories brought him back to that afternoon in the pantry, where they shouted at each other till their voices were almost hoarse. Like a sharp knife that makes the wind whistle as it slices through the air while speeding along its trajectory straight into Nino’s heart, the confusion and the disbelief that coloured Ohno’s words hurts as much as it did the first time Nino heard them.
Suddenly, he felt scared. He felt cornered. He wanted to run, to get away from all of this. He didn’t know how to face Ohno. Not after he imposed his feelings on the poor man. He wanted to tug Sho away from that offending door, tell him that it’s okay, he’s okay with staying in that cell for the rest of his existence. At least he wouldn’t have to face Ohno that way. Nino doesn’t know if he can bear to see the disgust on Ohno’s face again. Rejection once was enough. He didn’t need to be rejected twice. And he doesn’t want to care about what Ohno thinks now. He thinks. He doesn't want to know. What he don’t know can’t hurt him. Right?
Nino’s eyes widened as he watches one of the bolts on the complicated lock on the door slide to the left.
“The first step of the entire sequence begins from Aiba and Ohno’s side.” Sho explains. “Aiba and I took quite a long time figuring this out.” Sho grins at Nino and slides one of the bolt on their side down an inch, and then to the right.
Five seconds later, another piece of bolt magically slides two inches to the right, three inches upwards and one and a half inch to the right once more. Sho beams visibly at the progression.
Nino as if his artificial heart had dropped to somewhere near his stomach. It was beating so fast, Nino swears that it is going to punch a hole through his abdomen. Unconsciously, he wrings his clothes with his fleshy hands.
“C’mon, let’s do this Aiba! This is just like how we’ve always done it.” Sho mutters as he sticks his tongue out in concentration, sliding yet another bolt on their side to the correct position.
It slides into place with a deafening click that accompanies the despair pooling in Nino’s stomach.
*~*~*
Aiba did a mini victory dance, the best that he could manage in the very limited space that he is in, as he watches a bolt slide into position, courtesy of Sho’s handiwork on the other side.
“You go Sho! You smarty pants!” Aiba beams fondly at the door and begin sliding another bolt on their side of the door.
Ohno stares in amazement.
But the situation at hand pulls him back into reality. Suddenly, memories of his confrontation with Nino came rushing back to him with astonishing force, like a flood against a dam. What is he going to do now? What is he supposed to say, to wash away the disappointment so deeply etched in Nino’s weary face? He felt his heart clench as Nino’s face, the one with hurt flashing across his deep eyes, float into his mind. Ohno doesn’t want to be the one to cause Nino such pain.
Aiba works his magic at the door while Ohno works his pants into a twist; thinking of what he should say when he meets Nino later.
“Shit.” Aiba muttered.
Ohno’s head snapped back to the door, only to find Aiba frowning deeply, rubbing his chin contemplatively.
“What happened?” Ohno asked, worried.
Aiba let out a deep sigh. “I don’t know which bolt to slide next.” He explains.
“Why?” Ohno frowns too. Haven’t they done this loads of time before?
“Sho and I found this passageway only a few weeks before we escaped from this lab. We’ve fiddled with the lock for a long while but we have never actually opened this door before.”
Several rapid knocks sounded on the door. Aiba knocks back to let them know that they’re still there even though they’re not sliding any more bolts.
Ohno looks at the door contemplatively. His gut feeling and instincts are tugging him towards the door. He approaches it tentatively. This looks familiar. Ohno thought.
Ohno places his right hand on the top portion of the door, feeling the ageing wood underneath his fingertips. This feels really familiar. A tiny voice in him says. Slowly, he drags his hand down, letting his fingertips run along the intricacies of the lock situated right below, until it hits one of the bolts.
And just because it feels right, Ohno slides that bolt an inch to the left.
*~*~*
“Why aren’t they sliding any bolts?” Sho mutters under his breath, clearly frustrated.
Nino watches as Sho eyebrows furrows in a deeper frown. Sho knocks at the door, worried.
Promptly, someone from the other side knocks in reply.
“Well, at least they’re still there.” Nino offered helpfully.
“Oh! I remember! This is where we last stopped when we were trying to figure out the configuration.”
Nino raises his eyebrows questioningly. Sho explains that Aiba and he have never actually gone through this door before.
Nino sighs. Out of frustration or relief, he doesn’t know. Maybe a bit of both.
Suddenly, one of the bolts moved. Both robots stare at the door, bewildered.
“I thought you said Aiba didn’t know the next step?” Nino brings himself closer to the door to examine the intricate lock for the first time.
“Yeah, I’m pretty sure he doesn’t know! Maybe it’s a wild guess?” Sho shrugs.
“If I’m not wrong…” Nino brings his hand to yet another bolt and slides it down.
“How do you know?” Sho asks, gaping.
Nino shrugs. “Gut instincts”
After a little while, someone from the other side slides another bolt. They’re almost done.
*~*~*
“Oh-chan! You’re a genius!” Aiba squeezes Ohno’s shoulder encouragingly. Ohno winced. Obviously, Aiba haven’t learnt to master his strength around humans.
The other side slides a bolt in reply and Ohno instinctively slides another one.
*~*~*
Nino watches as the second last bolt clicks into position.
His mouth feels dry, as though he had just swallowed a mouthful of ash. He will be the one to slide the last bolt.
“What are you waiting for?” Sho urges impatiently. “C’mon, slide the last one!” Clearly, Sho can’t wait to be reunited with Aiba. They had been separated for too long for their liking.
Nino squeezed his eyes shut. With trembling hands, he feels for the last bolt, and slides it to the right, according to his instincts. It clicks into place and Nino felt his stomach fall through to the ground. He felt like throwing up, if that is even possible for him.
The door swings open and Nino shuts his eyes even tighter.
*~*~*
The door swings open and Ohno watches as Aiba’s eyes lit up.
“SHO!” Aiba shouts, with no regards to keeping quiet. He scrambles towards Sho, as fast as he could while crouching down and tackles Sho onto the ground.
“Sho. Sho, Sho, Sho, Sho, Sho!” Aiba repeats, for about a million times. As if he hadn't said Sho’s name for a long while. As if he had to convince himself that Sho is, physically, tangibly, and possibly really there in front of him.
The two engages in a bear hug, Aiba squishing his face onto Sho’s and rubbing it. He then holds Sho’s face in his hands and plants a big fat kiss right onto Sho’s lips. “I mish you sho much!” Aiba tries to say while his lips are still attached to Sho’s. Ohno looks away in embarrassment, feeling like he ought to give them some privacy for such an intimate reunion.
That’s when he notices a small figure, still huddled on the ground, by the door.
Nino’s eyes were shut tight and he wasn’t moving. Ohno takes a tentative step towards Nino and sees that he is trembling. The hurt is still there in his face and in that moment, Nino looked so small, and fragile, and vulnerable. Gone were the mischievous grin and the arrogant smirk that always adorn his face. Gone were the nonchalant attitude and the big personality. There, in all its truth and honesty, is Nino with his pain, his insecurities, his fears and his abundance of emotions.
Ohno move quietly towards Nino and crouched down beside him. Nino is still huddled into himself, eyes still shut and not looking up. He doesn’t know how Nino would react, he doesn’t know if he’d receive a punch straight to his face and he doesn’t fancy finding out as the force of a robot’s strength on human flesh is not exactly desirable. But he knows that it feels right to him and he had to do it.
Carefully, he wound his arm around Nino and envelops him in a hug. He felt Nino stiffen and tense at first contact, and it made his heart constrict in pain as he realizes that he was the one to have brought such anguish to Nino.
Well, at least he isn’t punching me. Ohno heaves a sigh of relief internally.
With slightly more confidence now that he know that Nino isn’t going to resort to violence against him, he pulls Nino towards him and hugs him tighter, fitting his head in the crook of Nino’s neck. He feels Nino relax slightly and he pulls his head back to watch the frown on Nino’s face smoothen out. He realizes, with a jolt, that he doesn’t want to be the one to cause Nino pain. He wants to be the one to smoothen out all the frowns on his face, to remove all the hurt and pain that he has ever received and to make those adorable thin pink lips curl up in a feline smile.
Slowly, he rocks Nino and himself as he continues embracing him. He feels and he sees Nino visibly relaxes in his arms and he vaguely wished that this moment will never end. That he can continue holding Nino in his arms, and continue to be the one to protect him.
He felt the robot tremble and pulls his head back to see a lone tear pooling at the corner of Nino’s eye before sliding down his pale cheeks.
Ohno’s eyes widen in panic. What did I do?!
Frantically, he tries to thumb away the offending liquid that was leaving its trail down Nino’s face. Suddenly, Nino’s hand shot up to hold Ohno’s hand against his cheeks.
“Just hold me like this for a while. Okay?” Nino pleads softly. His eyes were still shut, and he looked so fragile, like anything could break him. Ohno nods vigorously and held Nino even tighter, if it’s even possible.
That was probably the first time Ninomiya Kazunari allowed himself to be so vulnerable in front of someone else. The first time he let his guard down. The first time he felt safe enough, felt selfish enough to be weak, to break down and cry in front of someone else.
To Be Continued...
Previous Chapter: {Chapter 13}
Next Chapter: {Chapter 15}
A/N: YAYYYY! An update!! -feels proud for a speedy chapter!- Anyway, I'm sorry that this is a short chapter! >///< I just couldn't wait long enough to lengthen this out and then post at a later date. Well, a short chapter is better than nothing right? :D Take this as my apology for the many long waits! :p
Enjoy! More explanation and action coming in the subsequent chapters!
PS: Sorry for bad English! >.< I'll correct them as I reread this when I'm more awake.