The Sun Is Always In My Eyes [Closed]

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

Zouichi did have a point that Howard's being a hypocrite about dodging that whole Cedric issue. Not that Howard thinks that makes it fair to point it out.

And naturally the totally adult thing to do is go throw rocks off the cliff instead of address anything. Throw rocks off the cliffs and swing his feet off the edge, watching his shoelaces dangle and trying to work out exactly what he sees in a good-natured dummy who's about a foot taller than him and still believes individual lives are worth something.

There's still a part of Howard that doesn't believe Cedric; he has trouble accepting that someone can see the world up to the moment of their death and walk away with a positive outlook and an open heart. Where horrible things and near-certain death left Howard stilted and twisted, Cedric has just accepted things. And in a way, that makes him serene and whole.

Or maybe just resigned. Maybe Howard's stupid no-good dumb useless idiotic fricking teenage hormones are making him go easy on Cedric and see everything he does in a flattering light.

Howard picks up another rock and clutches it in his palm until it's warm. Then, rather than tossing it off the edge to join the others, he puts it back down on the ground and runs his dirty hands all over his face, as if wiping the day off himself. When he looks up, he notices exactly the subject of his thoughts near the base of the cliff.

After a few seconds and few fingernails bitten down, Howard waves and calls out to Cedric.

"Hey!"

Which is clearly the most charming and witty opening line ever.

Comments

[theboywhodied]

"Just for swamps? Does that happen often?" Cedric tries to picture the number of times Zouichi would end up in a swamp. It seems like an unnecessary thing to prepare for.

As for his last statement, Cedric bows his head. "I'm sorry. But I promise this hasn't changed how I view you---you're not the first. And it's a secret," he mouths. You know. Just in case they're overheard.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"It'd probably work over rough terrain too, I'd guess." Howard winks. "I'm going to hold you to that. If this gets back to Diana Ladris, your head's going to be decorating a pike in my front yard."

And he's glad this hasn't changed Cedric's mind any, since Cedric seems to inexplicably like him as he is, hostility and condescension and all. It's bizarre, to Howard. He feels as if he's always had to work to get people to like him, either by doing everything for them or changing himself to better fit their idea of what he should be. But for the most part he's been authentically himself with Cedric, and yet Cedric still likes him. Funny, that.

And yet he's not expecting to have any secret admirers anytime soon. Certainly not the apparent hordes of people throwing themselves at Cedric's feet.

"Do you, um. Do you mind if I split now? I think I might need some time alone."

[theboywhodied]

"And we can't have that, can we?" Cedric grins. Not at all. Even if it would be a fairly attractive head on a pike.

He nods and stands, understanding Howard's need. Probably to hit things, vent---get out all the pain. Cedric's been there and done that. "Not at all. I'll see you later, alright? Hit Zouichi if it'll cheer you up," he suggests.

[iselldrugstothecommunity]

"Oh God no. I don't hit friends," he says, suddenly very serious and sounding just a little bitter. "Besides, Zou? I'd break my hand."

He starts walking back up the cliff. "Anyway, yeah. See you later, Humpty Dumpty."

When he gets back to the clifftop, he doesn't hit things. He's not really the violent type, even now. He doesn't cry, either - crying's become a bit of a ritual for him, reserved for important emotions or thinking too hard about everything that's happened to get any sleep every few nights. Not for dumb stuff like this.

He does, however, pull the rocks back out of his backpack and drop them, one by one, off the edge.