[It was just pound cake. Nothing more. No sickeningly sweet icing, no fruit or nuts or chocolate swirls baked inside. No, it was a simple vanilla loaf cake.
Like what his Aunt Samantha always gave him. Used to give him. He still didn't want to believe that she was murdered by the hands of a man who manipulated him for years. The man he used to think of as a father.
Barnaby looked up at Kakashi's retreating form, teetering on the edges of the unknown himself. Like Kakashi, those were the few times he could actually say that he was happy. The others were with Kotetsu, particularly when he learned that the old Tiger had survived. Otherwise all he knew was the black, clinging tendrils of despair and a vengeance that ultimately ended in failure. Twenty years of fighting, and he was exhausted.
Now he knew something else. The reality-- the actual, real life that was his-- was terrifying to return to.
Perhaps he should have stayed with Saori. Perhaps he should fall back into the old ways and hunt down the Malnosso with a renewed vengeance. They were the ones who promised them protection from the Cultists.
The crimes were unforgivable.
'Ouroborous, Ouroborous ouroborous ouroborous' could change to Malnosso, Malnosso malnosso malnosso' if he wasn't careful.
He wanted this to end. He wanted some friends for a change. He wanted a chance to live.
Silently he followed Kakashi inside the flat, taking the open door as a silent invitation for him to enter. Even if it wasn't, he would have entered anyway.
It was his choice. He only wanted to act on his own will.]
no subject
Like what his Aunt Samantha always gave him. Used to give him. He still didn't want to believe that she was murdered by the hands of a man who manipulated him for years. The man he used to think of as a father.
Barnaby looked up at Kakashi's retreating form, teetering on the edges of the unknown himself. Like Kakashi, those were the few times he could actually say that he was happy. The others were with Kotetsu, particularly when he learned that the old Tiger had survived. Otherwise all he knew was the black, clinging tendrils of despair and a vengeance that ultimately ended in failure. Twenty years of fighting, and he was exhausted.
Now he knew something else. The reality-- the actual, real life that was his-- was terrifying to return to.
Perhaps he should have stayed with Saori. Perhaps he should fall back into the old ways and hunt down the Malnosso with a renewed vengeance. They were the ones who promised them protection from the Cultists.
The crimes were unforgivable.
'Ouroborous, Ouroborous ouroborous ouroborous' could change to Malnosso, Malnosso malnosso malnosso' if he wasn't careful.
He wanted this to end. He wanted some friends for a change. He wanted a chance to live.
Silently he followed Kakashi inside the flat, taking the open door as a silent invitation for him to enter. Even if it wasn't, he would have entered anyway.
It was his choice. He only wanted to act on his own will.]