a cathedral of teeth.

     there´s hardly anything more peaceful than the sight of the sun slowly dipping beyond the horizon - painting the sky in deep oranges and fiery red before making way for the deep blue almost black curtain of the night. the sea is calm today, waves idly splashing against the wave breakers lined up against the stone wall. a beautiful evening to skate. kojiro could do this everyday and never get tired of it. in fact, he does - whenever he has the time at least. his restaurant keeps him busy enough but whenever he gets the chance to visit s, he always makes sure to stop by here as well while he´s at it. it is when he takes a break that he hears a noise to his side that makes him perk up, a wide smile spreading across his lips immediately upon the sight presented to him. “ ohhhh, aren´t you a beauty. “  immediately, he kneels down to get a better look at the one closest to him, laughing when another one comes trotting up. “sorry, both of you!” 

      an inquisitive quirk to his brow, he looks up to the stranger approaching - his hand raised in mention towards the two dogs - “can i?”

it’s not uncommon, though still a pleasant enough surprise that the hounds have stumbled upon an admirer in the midst of his reverie. they seemingly preened under the attention, not a single hand placed upon them yet in the wake of their subtle, though exceedingly apparent to him, show of boasting. all for the sake of inciting more flattery. who taught them to behave like so? prideful things they were. but they were his.  ❞  ah? they are spoiled as is, though i hardly see an issue.  ❝  his tone was indicative of a man amused; the faintest of timbres intermingling. . . perhaps the verge of a good-natured laugh. 

they moved in tandem thereafter, huddling close to the man who offered their coveted pets, muzzles upturned and eyes expectant whilst the borzoi at his side remained ever attentive, discerning. the matte black of his nails found the thick fur of her hackles, intentions of kneading there to ease her.   ❞  you’re out rather far from the city. . . what brings you here? too dark for any swimming.  ❝  a side-long glance toward the vista of where water and shoreline met. he almost seemed wistful. then, the arc of a single brow. a careful assessment of the unexpected company. whatever he’d found in his cursory glance seemed enough to, in that moment, bring brioche to settle at his side. relaxed.

a hand settled, featherlight, atop the skull of the one nearest. he named her brioche. the more sentimental of her brothers, more reserved in the wake of their general outings. and so she remained a shadow, tethered to him whilst the others padded ahead. yes. he liked to think he found peace here in these moments stolen.

though he didn’t mind. they could make do with their secret meetings, the treasures they collected for one another, always gifting them in kind. for this winter he offered him the skull of a raven; beak silver-tipped and delicate sprawling of painted sigils. it was not an uncommon gesture between friends, as he’d said, back home. there was so much he wished he could show him of valeur. . . though, he’d always found himself struck sick the longer their meetings progressed. and he worried.

❞  you shouldn’t push yourself, you know.  ❝  he lisps. a furrow of his brows following thereafter, perhaps in a show of vague embarassment. still he hoped to grow into them. that the years would be kinder. he rubbed the back of his palm over his mouth, smearing the remnants of the fruit in an attempt to collect himself before the trek back home. . . lest his absence and state of disarray be noticed. the sun had begun to set anyway, bringing forth a chill he could feel even under the collection of pelts he adorned. a shiver, then, his hand reached for the other boy’s.  ❞  i’ll walk you back myself to make sure you’re safe.  ❝