black sheep, come home

pinned post! 

They might have rekindled their lost connection, but Shiba still can’t help but feel a little hesitant around Hishima. He has a lot to atone for / he knows that much / but he can’t help but feel that Hishima continues to look at him like he might a bug. It goes without saying that Shiba can read Hishima’s expressions better than most, and while they might not CHANGE much, there’s still an element of steeliness there in those irises. How does he go about this without sending him away… again?

“I cannot do this without you,” he says in a direct appeal to Hishima’s ego. Now that Kubo’s influence has disappeared, Shiba doesn’t cling to his pride as much.  “I wish you would not look at me like that. Like I am…beneath you. Are we not partners?”

a bug ready to be squashed is not quite the words hishima would use for shiba at present. were the reaper to express how he views his former partner, a kicked puppy would be more likely to be used. perhaps shiba has finally become one with his namesake, looking dejected & pathetic as he begs at hishima’s feet for some display of approval. hishima’s never been particularly fond of dogs, but even he cannot help but find a sense of pity for the man before him. 

❛   you are not beneath me,    ❜  he answers plainly, stony expression unwavering. hishima crosses his arms over his chest, taking a small step back to allow himself more space between himself & shiba.  ❛    ... you never have been. but my forgiveness must be earned. if you truly wish to atone, show me you’re going to put in the work to make this right. empty promises mean nothing to me, old friend.    ❜  

despite knowing full well shiba is aware of his presence as he speaks to the group of players, hishima remains quiet. shiba's blatantly trying to bait him into approaching with such thinly veiled lies of his passing. though the reaper wonders if his old partner is aware of the irony in his words. does shiba know that it's himself who died all those years ago? he who burned himself alive in the flames of his own ambition. he who rose from the ashes of the man hishima has once loved like an arrogant & foolish phoenix.

does he know hishima mourned him? still mourns him to this day.