faerieblaze | ✧ wrong target

[On the surface, it seemed like a simple task. From the information Wing had been given, this Aventurine guy was root of his client's troubles, so the plan was to get in good with him and find the right leverage to bring him down.

This casino's a pretty high-class place, so he's dressed nicer than usual, and a touch of magic smooths away scars and signs of sleepless nights handily.

Well. Mission start. Now, where's the target...]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

quicksilverwings

I like the sound of that.

From:

takesitall

In that case...

[He pulls out his phone to call up one of the company's rideshares.]

It's on the edge of town, so it'll be a bit of a ride.

From:

quicksilverwings

I can't say I mind that any.

From:

takesitall

[Aventurine smiles. The rideshare arrives, he opens the door to let Wing in...and then slides more or less into Wing's lap as he gets in.]

Good~ Tell me if this is too much?

From:

quicksilverwings

[He grins a little when Aventurine slides into his lap, arms immediately moving to wrap around the other man's waist, pulling him closer.]

Not at all. I rather like this, actually.

From:

takesitall

Good~

[They spend the night thoroughly enjoying each other's company, and continue on the next morning. And then again a week later. And so on. If asked, Aventurine would hedge and eventually say he's dating Wing, but he'd never say it outright. Dating requires that there be something more than physical attraction there, and he can't be sure there's anything more than that on Wing's end.

Nearly a year passes. Aventurine has to cancel a few dates, but promises to make it up to Wing later if he's still interested. That might be a weird thing to hear, but a few days after the last canceled date, Aventurine--or rather, Kakavasha Iyengar--makes news as being the biggest whistleblower on the International Prosperity Company in decades. Everyone knew they were corrupt, but it took Kakavasha's digging to bring to light just how badly it is. Most of the lower rungs are spared, and a few higher ups are painted with the "could honestly have done worse and were working within their means to not be awful" brush, but by the end of that week the IPC is in shambles.

Kakavasha himself is placed in protective custody, though his sister Isha manages to get Wing's number and tell him that Wing is one of the people allowed to visit him. "He just won't tell you that. He's afraid of rejection."]

From:

quicksilverwings

[Wing hardly bats an eye over the few missed dates as the months-- gods know that Wing himself has to miss a few because of his work (he's always incredibly apologetic, with a promise to make up for it later).

And then, well.

Holy shit. Wing has to admit he is particularly impressed with that takedown of the IPC.

... Wing sends Isha his thanks shortly after he gets the news that he's allowed to visit. And once he knows where to go, it doesn't take him long to show up.]

From:

takesitall

[He has to be cleared first, but once he is he's shown into Kakavasha's much smaller and less elegant apartment.

Where he is sitting on the sofa, surrounded by cats with Avgin take out on the table. He looks a mess.]

From:

quicksilverwings

[Not like smaller and less elegant bothers him any, considering the building he lives in.

Gently, as he leans against the door frame:]

Hey.

From:

takesitall

[Kakavasha startles, causing the cats to be disrupted and start fussing.]

Who--Wing?! How did you find me?

From:

quicksilverwings

Isha contacted me.

[As he pushes off of the door frame and comes over.]

... I've been worried.

From:

takesitall

Isha? Why...

[Oh, is this to try and get him social again? He sighs a little before trying to plaster on his usual smile. It doesn't work, not really.]

About me? But I'm fine.

From:

quicksilverwings

She said you wouldn't have said anything since you were afraid of rejection.

[... He hesitates, glancing at Kakavasha, silently asking permission to sit down with him.]

From:

takesitall

[Yeah that smile falls and he just sighs. But he does nod, so Wing can sit down.]

Someone remind me why big sisters exist?

From:

quicksilverwings

Some would say to look out for their younger siblings.

[As he takes a seat next to Kakavasha. There's a gentle nudge to invite the other to lean against him a bit.]

... Why were you afraid I'd reject you after this?

From:

takesitall

[...why?]

Because I'm not the flashy gambler. I never was.

[He doesn't lean against Wing, not yet.]

From:

quicksilverwings

... Kakavasha. Darling. It was never about that.

[A soft sigh.]

I've stuck with you this whole time because it's you. You're one of the most intelligent people I've met, you're good at making me laugh, you-- you've got a good heart. You are important to me.

From:

takesitall

[....what? He turns to just stare at Wing.]

But you--it was a mask. So much of the me you've seen was a mask, because I had to be Aventurine before I could be Kakavasha.

[He cannot process someone wanting to be with him for him. He's not sure he even know who he is anymore, himself.]

From:

quicksilverwings

... Then let me get to know Kakavasha. Let me get to know Kakavasha... and in return...

[... He lets go of the magic he uses to hide the scars, and the evidence of his sleepless nights.]

And in return, you'll get to know Ciar.

From:

takesitall

[Oh.

Kakavasha takes in what he's seeing, eyes flicking from the scars to the bags under his eyes, before pulling Ciar into a hug.]

Ciar?

From:

quicksilverwings

[A hug that Ciar returns, tightly.]

... It's the name I picked out for myself after I picked up the shapeshifting magic. "Wing" started because I didn't want to give my real name out to clients. [... Which has saved his ass a few times.] It just... became easier to use that one by default.