[Log] Gokudera, Reborn, and Chrome - Piano Transfer
Who: Gokudera, Reborn, and Chrome (limited appearance)
What: Reborn checks on Gokudera, wanting to know what is bothering him.
Where: Mostly Gokudera's Room and then ...
When: Last night
Warnings: Extreme angst
Reborn knocked insistently on Gokudera's door; this was obviously a big problem, exacerbated by the power-switch that was going on, and far too important to leave unresolved. "Gokudera," he stated firmly.
Had this been anyone other than Tsuna's hitman tutor, Gokudera would have simply ignored the knock, since he wasn't feeling particularly social. However, ignoring Reborn usually caused more trouble than it was worth. Besides, Reborn was one of the select few people who knew about the extent of Gokudera's past. He could trust him. The storm guardian opened the door and looked moodily up at the man before him. He felt intimidated and flattered by his presence, but said nothing.
He walked confidently into Gokudera's room, as if he owned it, heading straight for a straight backed chair, which he sat in backwards, resting his hands on the high back. "Sit," he said softly, bit still commandingly. "We need to talk."
Gokudera watched him, frown deepening, but didn't object. He ignored the command since he was more comfortable on his feet and Reborn had taken his chair. "What about?"
Reborn raised an eyebrow at Gokudera ignoring his order, but decided to let it slide. "They tied you up yesterday," he said, looking pointedly at Gokudera's bruised wrists and burned fingers.
"Lambo tied me up." Gokudera said, placing a hand over one wrist in an uncomfortable attempt to hide the marks. "Who told you?" He glared. The bomb-expert hoped it was just Reborn's natural talent of knowing everything rather than having heard about his predicament from some involved party.
Reborn actually laughed briefly at that. "When do I ever have to be told something to know it?" He pointed out, but he quickly became serious again. "And then he blindfolded you, and then he and Ipin switched."
Gokudera crossed his arms and began to pace gently, "I know, alright? I was there." He barked, feeling embarrassed with the reminder.
"And you know how this entire situation is working, and that it wasn't actually Ipin or Lambo..." Reborn stated it matter-of-factly, wondering exactly what was bothering Gokudera; what exactly had he lost with this switch that had changed him so much...
"Sure, I knew Lambo had been acting odd." Gokudera said. "Ipin asked for my help, so he wouldn't do anything to her." He didn't care if Lambo hadn't been himself, he wasn't going to let him hurt Ipin. "I don't know when they switched, but I was going to protect her." He stopped his pacing and hung his head slightly to mutter something under his breath.
"And then they hurried you out of the room," Reborn said, almost to himself. "Do you know what they did after you left?"
"I'd rather not think about it..." Gokudera said, approaching his open laptop and typing something absently before deleting Ipin's apology post from his journal. His fingers flew over the keys oddly before he slammed it shut and leaned back carefully to look at Reborn.
"Nothing," he stated plainly, watching Gokudera's reaction very carefully.
Gokudera's frown deepened and he shoved his hands in his pocket, looking away from Reborn. He wanted to call the man a liar, since Ipin had been all over Lambo the other night and seemed determined to get her way. He wasn't going to believe they did 'nothing' after everything that had happened. Besides, it didn't make him feel any better knowing that. If what Reborn said was true, then it made him feel like an even greater idiot.
"Her hands were burned," he said softly to Gokudera's back. "And I think she felt too terrible about the whole evening to be in the mood, despite the little...switch."
"Fucking perfect." Gokudera growled. Now he was suddenly the bad guy! Anger boiled about every inch of his tired body. He'd been so stressed that it was ridiculous and this wasn't helping matters.
Reborn was still watching Gokudera very closely, but his head is turned away. In a tone that is just as tired: "You have a right to be angry."
Part of him felt relieved knowing that Ipin and Lambo hadn't done anything after he'd left, but that tiny part of him was easily consumed by his anger. He looked back at Reborn, eyes flashing slightly with wild desperation, "I've never been so angry."
"Why?" His tone was neutral. "And I don't mean what did they do to you that made you angry, because I understand that. But think." He stood up from the chair, gracefully, not stepping any closer to Gokudera, but somehow giving the impression of confrontation. "Why is it that this time you were so angry?"
Gokudera could feel himself bristle at the simple act of Reborn standing up before him, as if it were a challenge, so he stepped back rather than daring to lose his cool. He might be over-stressed but he wasn't insane enough to try and start a stupid fight with Reborn, especially not the Reborn he was unfamiliar with. "I can't shake it off. Normally, I'd be able to just ignore my anger, even for a short while. I can't even focus on my training without getting mad. And usually blowing shit up helps but my dynamite doesn't make me feel better. I've tried everything! I tried some breathing exercises, drank hot tea, read a book, and even took a fucking bubble-bath!" Okay maybe adding that detail wasn't necessary. "And even typing doesn't help. It normally relaxes me somewhat… kind of reminds me of when I was younger. But there isn't a single outlet I have."
And now, inexplicably, Reborn smiled, his entire expression strangely pleased at Gokudera's outburst. "I had been wondering for a long time about that, and I suppose this confirms it," he remarked cryptically, and stepped past Gokudera and out of the room. "Don't even think of leaving," he said over his shoulder, and set off to find Chrome.
"What?!" Gokudera blinked in confusion, running to his door and watching as Reborn vanished. He turned around and stormed over to the chair the hitman had been in, wanting to pick it up and throw it across the room, but instead he simply sat down, holding his head in his hands while waiting. He hated waiting and he knew that Reborn knew that. The silver-haired teen felt his anger spike even more and so he just let curses spill out of his mouth like easy breaths.
Reborn found Chrome in the hallway; she'd seemed in a much better mood after their trip earlier that week, and now he knew exactly why. So this was just a little unfair to her, but Gokudera was one of the more volatile elements of their little group and with Tsuna being busy elsewhere, he had to take steps. "Chrome, may I ask a favor?"
Startled by Reborn's sudden appearance, she instinctively took a few steps back. She was on her way back to her room to do some self-study for Italian. Chrome gave him a nod without questions. It was Reborn-san asking, and he had helped her earlier.
"Gokudera needs his piano, Chrome," he explained, walking alongside her. "Do you think you could give it back to him? He's been...a bit unstable."
Chrome almost frowned upon hearing Gokudera's name. "Ah.." She looked away, avoiding Reborn's eye contact as she pondered about the situation. She was well aware that The Storm wasn't particularly found of her, and neither was she. But this newly acquired skills was not hers and she much rather have her powers back. After careful consideration, she gave Reborn another nod without any idea how she would do so.
Reborn's mouth quirked in a smile that would be equivalent to a sigh of relief in anyone else. "Thank you very much, Chrome. You understand how the transfer works?" He asked as he led them along the corridors to one of the small closets built for storage throughout - he'd supervised some of the building himself, making sure that there were plenty of little nooks and crannies for hidden caches of material. The one he finally decides on is a very small walk-in closet, currently stocked with linens and pillows. "Could you wait just inside here, Chrome?" He asked.
Chrome shook her head before letting out a no. She haven't been keeping up with the journals as of late. Confusion spread on her face when he led her to a closet. Regardless, she followed his instructions and stepped inside. Nothing bad would happened, Chrome reasoned with herself. This was Reborn-san.
"Chrome," Reborn said as he started to walk away, then thought better of it and put a hand on Chrome's shoulder, watching her carefully, "stand your ground. For me. Please." Then he was striding down the hall back to Gokudera's room.
"O-okay." Chrome almost jumped at his touch. All this sudden physical contact with others was still foreign to her along with their acts of kindness shown to her.
Gokudera was taking a long drag off a cigarette when he heard Reborn's footsteps drawing closer to his room. He stood and put it out before walking to his door, leaning against the frame from the inside of the room with his arms crossed.
"Gokudera, I need you to find Chrome for me," he said very seriously. "If you can find her, I'll tell you where Tsuna is."'
Gokudera straightened up at the mention of his boss. Nevermind being angry at Reborn! "Alright." He said, a determined glint in his eyes, "Where was the last place you saw her?" He was looking down the hall in the direction of her room. Maybe she'd shut herself in again?
Reborn pointed in the direction of Chrome's room - good, Gokudera had already thought of that - and coincidentally in the direction of the linen closet door, left slightly ajar...
Chrome muttered some simple Italian phrases to herself, wasting no time to bring herself closer to Mukuro-sama in a minuscule manner as she waited patiently for Reborn's return. No doubt, Reborn-san was a peculiar man for asking her to wait in the closet. As time passed, Chrome grew uneasy.
"Hn." Gokudera nodded and took off like a hunting dog, opening doors and turning every corner inside-out in an attempt to find her. After finding the first couple rooms empty, he felt his anger rise. However, he shook it off, raw determination pushing him down the hallway and wait-- what was the linen closet door doing open like that? Geeze, some people were so stupid. How hard is it to shut a door all the way? He thought, pulling the door open and blinking in astonishment at the girl in the closet. "Oh!" Gokudera beamed as he began to turn his head over his shoulder, "Reborn I fou-"
She let out a yelp. Her one eye widened at Gokudera's outburst. "G-gokudera." Where was Reborn-san?
With a certain clinical detachment, Reborn stepped directly behind Gokudera and gave him a kick - just enough to send him crashing into Chrome, waiting so obediently (and here there was a slight pang of conscience; they were usually, the both of them, so obedient and trusting...) as he'd requested, but not enough to knock both of them to the ground unnecessarily. He swung the door open wide, watching them carefully, almost expectantly....but honestly, what did he expect to see? Sparks? A swirling vortex?
"Ah!" Chrome brought her hands up, trying to shield herself from The Storm. What was going on? This is not what she agreed to.
"-Aauugh!" Just as Reborn had planned, Gokudera crashed into Chrome, throwing his arms out to catch himself. They hit the blankets and pillows behind her with a gentle 'fumph' sound and he blushed at the sudden contact, scrambling to right himself in the small space.
Reborn made an impatient sound, but looked down concernedly at Chrome - but she was fine, she had to be, Gokudera was the person on the verge of a nervous breakdown - before grabbing Gokudera's hand. "Hmmm," he hummed a low E note almost urgently, "Gokudera, what note is that?"
Chrome shut eye tightly during the collision and fall. She was scared, but mostly confused. She opened her eye slowly, face completely flushed, and tired her best to inched over to the corner of the closet, as far away she can get away from the storm.
He cleared his throat and straightened up, "What the hell, Reborn?!" The silver-haired boy turned slightly, an awkward blush on his face. Why was Reborn asking him a stupid question like that? Wasn't he going to tell him where the tenth was? Hadn't he waited long enough?!
Another impatient noise, his grip on Gokudera's hand tightens warningly - though interestingly never enough to even cause a twinge in abused hands - and Reborn hummed the E again, louder. "What note, Gokudera?"
She watched the exchange between the two males in silence, afraid to speak or even move given the the mood and tone of Reborn's voice.
Gokudera didn't wince at the pressure, but his eyes flashed warningly as though he dared Reborn to do it again. "A low E, and I don't really understand why that's important at all!" He tried to tug his hand away. It may be sensitive, but it'd been through worse and it couldn't compare to the pain on his back, which had been aggravated immensely by the kick Reborn had given him only a few minutes ago.
"Perfect," he said, and tugged Gokudera close before concentrating and focusing on the image of the music room from the S.S.Haruhi, so clear in his memory from just a few days ago...what would Tamaki say about them returning so early, he thought with amusement.
Though Chrome had experienced teleportation first hand, she was still surprised that Reborn and Gokudera disappeared with just a blink of an eye. She lingered in the closet for a few more moments before dashing out wit the blush on her face deepened. The scene of Reborn kicking (?) The Storm and The Storm landing on top of her was replaying on her head repeatedly. It was given she won't be coming out her room anytime soon for the next few days.
Gokudera was easily pulled, despite his best efforts to bury the heels of his shoes in the solid ground beneath them, something quite similar to a growl rumbling in his throat.
With a flash, they are in the music room again, and - Reborn is happy to note, right next to the piano. "Well, at least I judged that right," he muttered inaudibly. "Play, Gokudera," he said firmly, though with an undertone of wearied encouragement.
Gokudera jumped and glanced about, stunned by the sudden change in their environment. It seemed very familiar and he raised an eyebrow at the hitman before him, ripping his hand away. "Where are we?!"
The music room on the S.S. Haruhi," Reborn said calmly, letting Gokudera's hand go with a shrug. "Play, Gokudera," he repeated.
Oh. No wonder it seemed familiar. He'd only been there once, and had gotten very drunk. Gokudera gave Reborn a lingering frown before turning and fully noticing the piano before him. His jaw fell open and his eyes widened, "I-I couldn't" He stammered.
Dio mio Reborn thought, rolling his eyes, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a gun (again, how strange for it not to be Leon), flipping the safety and cocking it extravagantly. "Play." His voice is implacable now.
Well, it hadn't been the first time someone had pointed a gun at him and he knew it wouldn't be the last. However, if anyone was going to make him jump at the sight of a gun, it would be Reborn. Gokudera turned his eyes once more on the instrument and felt awe consume him. It was so beautiful and in such great shape. Tentatively, the silver-haired teen lifted the back of his jacket as he sat at the bench, savoring the view of the keys before sliding one foot onto a pedal. His hands hovered over the keys as if there was some invisible barrier between them.
Behind him, Reborn recognized his rapt attention and grinned as he lowered the gun - it hadn't even been loaded. "Play," he said again, softly suggestive, with just the right amount of encouragement, almost a though he were giving permission...
"...Yeah..." Gokudera sighed, fingers brushing down on the milky white keys too softly to conjure notes. It didn't matter because he could hear them in his head, and he knew what he had to do. It had been so long since he'd played, at least with any company. He looked as though he might object as he lifted his fingers, but then they fell, creating a deep booming chord that he felt ring through him. It made a crack in that solid weight in his chest, so he moved his fingers ever so slightly and followed it with another and another. He took in a deep rattled breath as the sounds slowly faded.
Reborn had changed position at some point, leaning against the side of the piano, his hat on, dipped over his face, his eyes closed. As the music fades, he slowly raised his head to look at Gokudera. "Well?"
Gokudera wasn't listening. He continued on with the song, and every note was quiet and lingering, as if draining the stress slowly from him. He played easily and looked up with his eyes mostly shut, feeling the music more than just playing a song. It began to pick up quickly and his fingers flew. The boy slouched over slightly, his wrists bending ever so slightly to accompany his fingers. ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSO6dfTgVOY&fmt=18))
He understood the feelings of an artist at work, and stayed quiet, listening to the music Gokudera is producing, hoping that this will be enough...
With the thundering notes, Gokudera felt as though he was destroying the instrument and it was crying beneath him, but he played on, slowing occasionally and then picking up speed once more. Each time the music grew chaotic, he felt a little lighter until the notes became nothing more than whispers. His looked up slowly at Reborn as the room fell deafeningly silent.
Reborn didn't say anything, simply looked at Gokudera, the very slightest upward quirk of his lips.
Gokudera glanced away but found his eyes could only return to the piano. "That was what I needed." He said, sliding off the bench and looking calmly at Reborn.
"Ready to go home?" Reborn asked, holding out a hand for Gokudera's, a genuine smile on his face now.
He looked at Reborn's hand and placed his in it, nodding softly. "How did you know...?" Gokudera asked, voice still very breathy.
If anything, his smile widens, until his expression is fond, almost affectionate, even as he concentrates enough to bring them back to their ship, but he never answers Gokudera verbally.
What: Reborn checks on Gokudera, wanting to know what is bothering him.
Where: Mostly Gokudera's Room and then ...
When: Last night
Warnings: Extreme angst
Reborn knocked insistently on Gokudera's door; this was obviously a big problem, exacerbated by the power-switch that was going on, and far too important to leave unresolved. "Gokudera," he stated firmly.
Had this been anyone other than Tsuna's hitman tutor, Gokudera would have simply ignored the knock, since he wasn't feeling particularly social. However, ignoring Reborn usually caused more trouble than it was worth. Besides, Reborn was one of the select few people who knew about the extent of Gokudera's past. He could trust him. The storm guardian opened the door and looked moodily up at the man before him. He felt intimidated and flattered by his presence, but said nothing.
He walked confidently into Gokudera's room, as if he owned it, heading straight for a straight backed chair, which he sat in backwards, resting his hands on the high back. "Sit," he said softly, bit still commandingly. "We need to talk."
Gokudera watched him, frown deepening, but didn't object. He ignored the command since he was more comfortable on his feet and Reborn had taken his chair. "What about?"
Reborn raised an eyebrow at Gokudera ignoring his order, but decided to let it slide. "They tied you up yesterday," he said, looking pointedly at Gokudera's bruised wrists and burned fingers.
"Lambo tied me up." Gokudera said, placing a hand over one wrist in an uncomfortable attempt to hide the marks. "Who told you?" He glared. The bomb-expert hoped it was just Reborn's natural talent of knowing everything rather than having heard about his predicament from some involved party.
Reborn actually laughed briefly at that. "When do I ever have to be told something to know it?" He pointed out, but he quickly became serious again. "And then he blindfolded you, and then he and Ipin switched."
Gokudera crossed his arms and began to pace gently, "I know, alright? I was there." He barked, feeling embarrassed with the reminder.
"And you know how this entire situation is working, and that it wasn't actually Ipin or Lambo..." Reborn stated it matter-of-factly, wondering exactly what was bothering Gokudera; what exactly had he lost with this switch that had changed him so much...
"Sure, I knew Lambo had been acting odd." Gokudera said. "Ipin asked for my help, so he wouldn't do anything to her." He didn't care if Lambo hadn't been himself, he wasn't going to let him hurt Ipin. "I don't know when they switched, but I was going to protect her." He stopped his pacing and hung his head slightly to mutter something under his breath.
"And then they hurried you out of the room," Reborn said, almost to himself. "Do you know what they did after you left?"
"I'd rather not think about it..." Gokudera said, approaching his open laptop and typing something absently before deleting Ipin's apology post from his journal. His fingers flew over the keys oddly before he slammed it shut and leaned back carefully to look at Reborn.
"Nothing," he stated plainly, watching Gokudera's reaction very carefully.
Gokudera's frown deepened and he shoved his hands in his pocket, looking away from Reborn. He wanted to call the man a liar, since Ipin had been all over Lambo the other night and seemed determined to get her way. He wasn't going to believe they did 'nothing' after everything that had happened. Besides, it didn't make him feel any better knowing that. If what Reborn said was true, then it made him feel like an even greater idiot.
"Her hands were burned," he said softly to Gokudera's back. "And I think she felt too terrible about the whole evening to be in the mood, despite the little...switch."
"Fucking perfect." Gokudera growled. Now he was suddenly the bad guy! Anger boiled about every inch of his tired body. He'd been so stressed that it was ridiculous and this wasn't helping matters.
Reborn was still watching Gokudera very closely, but his head is turned away. In a tone that is just as tired: "You have a right to be angry."
Part of him felt relieved knowing that Ipin and Lambo hadn't done anything after he'd left, but that tiny part of him was easily consumed by his anger. He looked back at Reborn, eyes flashing slightly with wild desperation, "I've never been so angry."
"Why?" His tone was neutral. "And I don't mean what did they do to you that made you angry, because I understand that. But think." He stood up from the chair, gracefully, not stepping any closer to Gokudera, but somehow giving the impression of confrontation. "Why is it that this time you were so angry?"
Gokudera could feel himself bristle at the simple act of Reborn standing up before him, as if it were a challenge, so he stepped back rather than daring to lose his cool. He might be over-stressed but he wasn't insane enough to try and start a stupid fight with Reborn, especially not the Reborn he was unfamiliar with. "I can't shake it off. Normally, I'd be able to just ignore my anger, even for a short while. I can't even focus on my training without getting mad. And usually blowing shit up helps but my dynamite doesn't make me feel better. I've tried everything! I tried some breathing exercises, drank hot tea, read a book, and even took a fucking bubble-bath!" Okay maybe adding that detail wasn't necessary. "And even typing doesn't help. It normally relaxes me somewhat… kind of reminds me of when I was younger. But there isn't a single outlet I have."
And now, inexplicably, Reborn smiled, his entire expression strangely pleased at Gokudera's outburst. "I had been wondering for a long time about that, and I suppose this confirms it," he remarked cryptically, and stepped past Gokudera and out of the room. "Don't even think of leaving," he said over his shoulder, and set off to find Chrome.
"What?!" Gokudera blinked in confusion, running to his door and watching as Reborn vanished. He turned around and stormed over to the chair the hitman had been in, wanting to pick it up and throw it across the room, but instead he simply sat down, holding his head in his hands while waiting. He hated waiting and he knew that Reborn knew that. The silver-haired teen felt his anger spike even more and so he just let curses spill out of his mouth like easy breaths.
Reborn found Chrome in the hallway; she'd seemed in a much better mood after their trip earlier that week, and now he knew exactly why. So this was just a little unfair to her, but Gokudera was one of the more volatile elements of their little group and with Tsuna being busy elsewhere, he had to take steps. "Chrome, may I ask a favor?"
Startled by Reborn's sudden appearance, she instinctively took a few steps back. She was on her way back to her room to do some self-study for Italian. Chrome gave him a nod without questions. It was Reborn-san asking, and he had helped her earlier.
"Gokudera needs his piano, Chrome," he explained, walking alongside her. "Do you think you could give it back to him? He's been...a bit unstable."
Chrome almost frowned upon hearing Gokudera's name. "Ah.." She looked away, avoiding Reborn's eye contact as she pondered about the situation. She was well aware that The Storm wasn't particularly found of her, and neither was she. But this newly acquired skills was not hers and she much rather have her powers back. After careful consideration, she gave Reborn another nod without any idea how she would do so.
Reborn's mouth quirked in a smile that would be equivalent to a sigh of relief in anyone else. "Thank you very much, Chrome. You understand how the transfer works?" He asked as he led them along the corridors to one of the small closets built for storage throughout - he'd supervised some of the building himself, making sure that there were plenty of little nooks and crannies for hidden caches of material. The one he finally decides on is a very small walk-in closet, currently stocked with linens and pillows. "Could you wait just inside here, Chrome?" He asked.
Chrome shook her head before letting out a no. She haven't been keeping up with the journals as of late. Confusion spread on her face when he led her to a closet. Regardless, she followed his instructions and stepped inside. Nothing bad would happened, Chrome reasoned with herself. This was Reborn-san.
"Chrome," Reborn said as he started to walk away, then thought better of it and put a hand on Chrome's shoulder, watching her carefully, "stand your ground. For me. Please." Then he was striding down the hall back to Gokudera's room.
"O-okay." Chrome almost jumped at his touch. All this sudden physical contact with others was still foreign to her along with their acts of kindness shown to her.
Gokudera was taking a long drag off a cigarette when he heard Reborn's footsteps drawing closer to his room. He stood and put it out before walking to his door, leaning against the frame from the inside of the room with his arms crossed.
"Gokudera, I need you to find Chrome for me," he said very seriously. "If you can find her, I'll tell you where Tsuna is."'
Gokudera straightened up at the mention of his boss. Nevermind being angry at Reborn! "Alright." He said, a determined glint in his eyes, "Where was the last place you saw her?" He was looking down the hall in the direction of her room. Maybe she'd shut herself in again?
Reborn pointed in the direction of Chrome's room - good, Gokudera had already thought of that - and coincidentally in the direction of the linen closet door, left slightly ajar...
Chrome muttered some simple Italian phrases to herself, wasting no time to bring herself closer to Mukuro-sama in a minuscule manner as she waited patiently for Reborn's return. No doubt, Reborn-san was a peculiar man for asking her to wait in the closet. As time passed, Chrome grew uneasy.
"Hn." Gokudera nodded and took off like a hunting dog, opening doors and turning every corner inside-out in an attempt to find her. After finding the first couple rooms empty, he felt his anger rise. However, he shook it off, raw determination pushing him down the hallway and wait-- what was the linen closet door doing open like that? Geeze, some people were so stupid. How hard is it to shut a door all the way? He thought, pulling the door open and blinking in astonishment at the girl in the closet. "Oh!" Gokudera beamed as he began to turn his head over his shoulder, "Reborn I fou-"
She let out a yelp. Her one eye widened at Gokudera's outburst. "G-gokudera." Where was Reborn-san?
With a certain clinical detachment, Reborn stepped directly behind Gokudera and gave him a kick - just enough to send him crashing into Chrome, waiting so obediently (and here there was a slight pang of conscience; they were usually, the both of them, so obedient and trusting...) as he'd requested, but not enough to knock both of them to the ground unnecessarily. He swung the door open wide, watching them carefully, almost expectantly....but honestly, what did he expect to see? Sparks? A swirling vortex?
"Ah!" Chrome brought her hands up, trying to shield herself from The Storm. What was going on? This is not what she agreed to.
"-Aauugh!" Just as Reborn had planned, Gokudera crashed into Chrome, throwing his arms out to catch himself. They hit the blankets and pillows behind her with a gentle 'fumph' sound and he blushed at the sudden contact, scrambling to right himself in the small space.
Reborn made an impatient sound, but looked down concernedly at Chrome - but she was fine, she had to be, Gokudera was the person on the verge of a nervous breakdown - before grabbing Gokudera's hand. "Hmmm," he hummed a low E note almost urgently, "Gokudera, what note is that?"
Chrome shut eye tightly during the collision and fall. She was scared, but mostly confused. She opened her eye slowly, face completely flushed, and tired her best to inched over to the corner of the closet, as far away she can get away from the storm.
He cleared his throat and straightened up, "What the hell, Reborn?!" The silver-haired boy turned slightly, an awkward blush on his face. Why was Reborn asking him a stupid question like that? Wasn't he going to tell him where the tenth was? Hadn't he waited long enough?!
Another impatient noise, his grip on Gokudera's hand tightens warningly - though interestingly never enough to even cause a twinge in abused hands - and Reborn hummed the E again, louder. "What note, Gokudera?"
She watched the exchange between the two males in silence, afraid to speak or even move given the the mood and tone of Reborn's voice.
Gokudera didn't wince at the pressure, but his eyes flashed warningly as though he dared Reborn to do it again. "A low E, and I don't really understand why that's important at all!" He tried to tug his hand away. It may be sensitive, but it'd been through worse and it couldn't compare to the pain on his back, which had been aggravated immensely by the kick Reborn had given him only a few minutes ago.
"Perfect," he said, and tugged Gokudera close before concentrating and focusing on the image of the music room from the S.S.Haruhi, so clear in his memory from just a few days ago...what would Tamaki say about them returning so early, he thought with amusement.
Though Chrome had experienced teleportation first hand, she was still surprised that Reborn and Gokudera disappeared with just a blink of an eye. She lingered in the closet for a few more moments before dashing out wit the blush on her face deepened. The scene of Reborn kicking (?) The Storm and The Storm landing on top of her was replaying on her head repeatedly. It was given she won't be coming out her room anytime soon for the next few days.
Gokudera was easily pulled, despite his best efforts to bury the heels of his shoes in the solid ground beneath them, something quite similar to a growl rumbling in his throat.
With a flash, they are in the music room again, and - Reborn is happy to note, right next to the piano. "Well, at least I judged that right," he muttered inaudibly. "Play, Gokudera," he said firmly, though with an undertone of wearied encouragement.
Gokudera jumped and glanced about, stunned by the sudden change in their environment. It seemed very familiar and he raised an eyebrow at the hitman before him, ripping his hand away. "Where are we?!"
The music room on the S.S. Haruhi," Reborn said calmly, letting Gokudera's hand go with a shrug. "Play, Gokudera," he repeated.
Oh. No wonder it seemed familiar. He'd only been there once, and had gotten very drunk. Gokudera gave Reborn a lingering frown before turning and fully noticing the piano before him. His jaw fell open and his eyes widened, "I-I couldn't" He stammered.
Dio mio Reborn thought, rolling his eyes, before reaching into his pocket and pulling out a gun (again, how strange for it not to be Leon), flipping the safety and cocking it extravagantly. "Play." His voice is implacable now.
Well, it hadn't been the first time someone had pointed a gun at him and he knew it wouldn't be the last. However, if anyone was going to make him jump at the sight of a gun, it would be Reborn. Gokudera turned his eyes once more on the instrument and felt awe consume him. It was so beautiful and in such great shape. Tentatively, the silver-haired teen lifted the back of his jacket as he sat at the bench, savoring the view of the keys before sliding one foot onto a pedal. His hands hovered over the keys as if there was some invisible barrier between them.
Behind him, Reborn recognized his rapt attention and grinned as he lowered the gun - it hadn't even been loaded. "Play," he said again, softly suggestive, with just the right amount of encouragement, almost a though he were giving permission...
"...Yeah..." Gokudera sighed, fingers brushing down on the milky white keys too softly to conjure notes. It didn't matter because he could hear them in his head, and he knew what he had to do. It had been so long since he'd played, at least with any company. He looked as though he might object as he lifted his fingers, but then they fell, creating a deep booming chord that he felt ring through him. It made a crack in that solid weight in his chest, so he moved his fingers ever so slightly and followed it with another and another. He took in a deep rattled breath as the sounds slowly faded.
Reborn had changed position at some point, leaning against the side of the piano, his hat on, dipped over his face, his eyes closed. As the music fades, he slowly raised his head to look at Gokudera. "Well?"
Gokudera wasn't listening. He continued on with the song, and every note was quiet and lingering, as if draining the stress slowly from him. He played easily and looked up with his eyes mostly shut, feeling the music more than just playing a song. It began to pick up quickly and his fingers flew. The boy slouched over slightly, his wrists bending ever so slightly to accompany his fingers. ((http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSO6dfTgVOY&fmt=18))
He understood the feelings of an artist at work, and stayed quiet, listening to the music Gokudera is producing, hoping that this will be enough...
With the thundering notes, Gokudera felt as though he was destroying the instrument and it was crying beneath him, but he played on, slowing occasionally and then picking up speed once more. Each time the music grew chaotic, he felt a little lighter until the notes became nothing more than whispers. His looked up slowly at Reborn as the room fell deafeningly silent.
Reborn didn't say anything, simply looked at Gokudera, the very slightest upward quirk of his lips.
Gokudera glanced away but found his eyes could only return to the piano. "That was what I needed." He said, sliding off the bench and looking calmly at Reborn.
"Ready to go home?" Reborn asked, holding out a hand for Gokudera's, a genuine smile on his face now.
He looked at Reborn's hand and placed his in it, nodding softly. "How did you know...?" Gokudera asked, voice still very breathy.
If anything, his smile widens, until his expression is fond, almost affectionate, even as he concentrates enough to bring them back to their ship, but he never answers Gokudera verbally.