Inbox

[notsolomon]

This is William Twining. I shall reply to your message at my earliest convenience. Thank you. ***BEEP***

Comments

[notsolomon]

[And he was just about to go to sleep. Hell he had been asleep when the phone rang.]

Mmmm, no. What is it?

[He'd have snapped, but he can here the nerves there.]

[belfire]

[William sounded sleepy. Kaz had to physically bite his tongue before he blurted out "nevermind go back to sleep". No. Don't chicken out]

Sorry. I mean, for waking you. Or, not. No, shit, let me start again. Okay. [Right] So, um, today, Leon texted me with... he said, uh, so, no, wait. What I mean to say is, did Leon talk to you yesterday or... recently-ish?

[notsolomon]

[William would have just insisted they talk anyways, tired or not. Because he'd have worried all night.]

Oh, uh yes, I did speak with Leon. About a lot of things.

[More things than he had planned honestly.]

[belfire]

Oh? Lots of things, huh...

[Kaz trailed off awkwardly. How should he lead into it? Or should he just utilise his usual lack of tact and say it outright? Geeze, why did this have to happen? Why did he even ask stupid Lion-O if he told William? He could've just continued on with blissful ignorance and let William handle the awkwardness of it all!]

Ah, fuck it. [Lack of tact it was. C'mon, if he could punch out an immortal, invincible demon, he could tell William that this whole thing was a big misunderstanding of epic proportions] William, was, was one of those things about- about me having a crush on you?

[notsolomon]

[Oh shit. Now he's awake. completely and utterly awake. They had ended up talking about more serious things to the point that William had actually forgotten about that particularly embarrassing topic. So it too him a moment.]

...he did for some reason think you were flirting with me. But I told him he was mistaken!

[WHY CAN'T THIS JUST DIE?]

[belfire]

...huh?

[William hadn't believed it? But with how Leon said William had felt "bad" about unintentionally snubbing his advances, he thought that- well. Okay. So. Um. Damn, what now?]

You... you didn't believe him?

[notsolomon]

[Well he did feel bad about it. and did halfway wonder if there was some minuscule chance of Kaz holding an interest in him. Which he had spurned most cruelly. But even for William that was a bit too conceited to just out and out admit.]

Hah, I mean, you really aren't interested in me, are you? You just joke when you call me that, right?

[belfire]

Oh. Yeah.

[Kaz couldn't help but sound a bit mystified. If anything, he felt embarrassed - well, even moreso than when he called up. Here he had been, expecting to do an awkward explanation that would most likely culminate on him hiding under his bed for the next century, but instead he got this.

He wasn't complaining, but it left him a bit wrong footed. The script he had created in his brain went 'poof']

Like, there's no way I'm interested in you. [Wait, did that sound a bit insulting? Kaz quickly backtracked] N-Not because you're not my type or anything! In fact, I think you're really pretty but, uhm, you know, like, for one, you're straight, so it wouldn't work out anyway. Eh. Not, that I'm hoping for that - working out, I mean, just... ah, I'm gonna shut up.

[notsolomon]

[That did sound pretty bad and he was annoyed for a second, but he did kind of deserve it after his own outburst. And because honestly, this was built around a misunderstanding or rather, a lie on his part. Ugh. What to say...

Oh and then he had to go and be confusing too.]

Listen, Kazuya, if you were I wouldn't be angry. And as for my being straight, that... is an entirely different topic.

[And he might as well say it now.]

I am sorry though. Sorry for what I said on my birthday.

[belfire]

[There was a long pause on Kaz's end of the line]

...don't worry about it. [he sounded a little calmer now] I mean, that nickname was, um, a little inappropriate. Like, I don't mind winding people up, but, if it made you uncomfortable, well, I probably deserved that.

[notsolomon]

I let you go around calling me that though. So, it's just as much my responsibility for not saying anything up until that point.

[And over reacting in that way.]

[belfire]

[Another pause, if only because Kaz was beginning to feel confused - well, even more confused]

So, out of curiosity, why... why did you let me call you it for so long? And why did you blow up then? Like, what changed? If, if you don't mind me asking.

[notsolomon]

Hah, well I figured telling you no would just provoke more teasing, since it would be obvious I was bothered by it. And well...

[God he felt like an idiot.]

And after a while, it felt like a joke between the two of us, so I didn't mind so much.

[And to answer that other question, the big one? The event that had triggered this madness.]

That day, on my birthday, it was only because Leon was there. And because he had an impression of me that I am not comfortable with others having. It had nothing to do with you.

[belfire]

An impression... oh, when he thought we were gay together?

[Classic tactless Kaz. He seemed to realise how thoughtless his words were, because he cleared his throat abruptly]

Um, sorry. Er, so, do you want me to stop using it, then? The nickname? In case people... do that. Get that impression.

[notsolomon]

[Yeah that was tactless Kaz and he blanches for a moment. And then pauses at the question.]

...do you like using the nickname? Because, I do not actually mind it, like I said. Besides, I shouldn't care what other people think of me anyways. It's a bad quality in a future leader.

[belfire]

Heh, yeah. Having thick skin is kind of a requirement in politics.

[There was a pause, one where Kaz was obviously thinking something over. He did like the nickname, and he was used to it now - future husband. Really, if Kaz was ever going to be tied to someone, William would be near, or even on top of, the list, just because of how compatible they were. But he wasn't serious about it, and he did see how it'd cause misunderstandings]

Well, to be honest, I still want to use the nickname, but I don't like making you uncomfortable. Teasing you, and winding you up, yeah, but... how about this? You can be future husband in private, and in public I'll call you William?

[notsolomon]

So you admit to trying and raising my hackles?

[Not that it had ever been a secret. But William well, it wasn't like William didn't present a soft target. He knew it was easy to get under his skin and annoy him. Too much so.]

That sounds fine then. Besides, it would be bad if Kevin got wind of you calling me that. Though, I really am sorry about this. It's not... that I find you repulsive or anything like that. Or the idea of us being a couple of insulting.

[belfire]

[Kaz let out a nervous sounding laugh - both at William's huffiness at being an object of teasing, and the thought of Kevin ever finding out about this whole... misunderstanding. Kaz doubted he'd be able to find a hole deep enough to hide from the angel in that sort of scenario]

Haha, ah, um, thanks. T-That you don't find me repulsive or whatever. I mean, I wouldn't... [he suddenly sighed] I wouldn't blame you if you did, though. I'm not even human, so, that's, like, understandable grounds to be freaked out when someone implies you're involved with that kind of stuff.

[notsolomon]

I will be honest, you be a demon never even entered into my thought process back then.

[Really Kaz himself had very little to do with William's reaction at all.]

And well, I hope this doesn't sound flippant, since I know how you feel about your status, but I think in a potential partner, there are other qualities that hold more weight with me than their being a demon.

[belfire]

[Kaz took a moment to process that]

...other qualities? Like, um, like what? I mean, I would've thought lack of humanity would've been a dealbreaker, so I'm a little confused.

[notsolomon]

Money, power and honor.

[He pauses for a long moment though, then realizes that his normal fake response is probably not helpful here.]

But to be serious, loyalty and dependability and friendship are key. I want someone to share my life with, good times and bad.

[belfire]

[Kaz made a slight noise at "money, power and honour" that could arguably be called a laugh. Arguably a snort. It was difficult to tell]

So, kinda like; "if I ever get hitched, it'll be with my best friend - but it's a bonus if he's rich". Not a bad dating policy to have. S'good filter.

[So, did that mean William felt he possessed one of those qualities then, taking his earlier words into account? Kaz felt a little fuzzy at the thought - true, he wasn't interested in William in that way, but it was still... kind of nice, if mind-boggling, that he wasn't, like, a bad choice? No... urgh, he didn't know. His brain was going to weird and confusing places]

I don't even have one. I think. I'm always a sucker for a pretty face, but... I've never really thought about, stuff like that. Um, officially getting together with someone. It's, ah, um...

[Weird and confusing places. Kaz suddenly felt uncomfortable, though he couldn't pinpoint why. He quickly boxed it up and stuffed it into the mental closet - put a dresser in front of the doors for good measure too]

I-I think I'm getting off track. So, I guess... well, the important thing is that we've kinda cleared up this misunderstanding, huh? Damn Lion-O, stirring up drama. Knew he was a too-flashy guy.

[notsolomon]

[He laughs a little because honestly, William normally doesn't think about it too much either. He knows he'll likely get married one day, probably more for the sake of his career than anything. And because he does want a family of his own one day. Love is not really a hundred percent necessary for those things, though he does want it. But lately one begins to think differently and...

Stupid Leon indeed.]

He meant well. He was worried I had been far too cruel to you in "letting you down." Which I suppose I could stand to learn to be better about. Who knows what the future will bring after all?

[belfire]

Hahah, yeah. Who knows, you might end up with a fanclub in the future. So, y'know, you'll need to figure out a smooth, gentle way to let people down, otherwise you might end up with a- [his voice dropped into a hush] -yandere.

[The most terrifying of all creatures. Kaz wouldn't wish it on anyone!

...

Well, okay, he'd probably wish it on Hiro, but still.]

[notsolomon]

Yandere? What is that?

[Forgive him. He doesn't know your strange anime speak.]

And of course you need to be tactful. At all times.

[He is completely lost as to why that probably sounds ridiculous coming from his mouth.]