[ when those gentle fingers take his chin, tighnari lifts his eyes again, and they're wide and watery and unsure, but soon the edges begin to soften.
of course tighnari needs to thank him for this - for not only accepting him, but encouraging him, helping him shape himself into the person he wants the be. needs to be. the person that he is. but he won't argue it further. ]
Oh, um..
[ he.. hadn't really thought much past simply cutting it all off, and being rid of it. again, tighnari glances toward the mirror, but it's still obscured. ]
.. what do you think? I trust your judgment. I don't want it any longer than my shoulders.
[ Kaveh's lips purse, a thoughtful expression on his face as he looks down at the other— and he's certainly glad that he kept the mirror covered, what with the way he sees those eyes slide over towards it.
He may be good with art, but he's no stylist, and he doesn't want to do something too complicated lest he make a mess of it— But Tighnari trusts his judgment. So the blonde takes a deep breath, considering in silence for a moment the shape of the other's face, the way the soft fur of his ears blends into the dark strands, the gradient of shade from the top of his scalp to the ends, closer in color to the highlights in his tail...
Kaveh nods, fingers shifting to push Tighnari's hair back, gathering and twisting it in a few different styles, until eventually a smile finds his lips. ]
I think... I've got an idea. [ This time, when Kaveh reaches for the scissors, he's successful, and it's with a warm smile that he turns back to Tighnari. ] Stay facing me, okay?
[ Ideally, he'd use a mirror for this, but the inconvenience is minor compared to what his friend might otherwise feel. He'll work without for now. ]
[ covering the mirror was indeed the right call, for tighnari can't help but want to peer into it again and again. it's not healthy, how obsessive he feels about it, how he feels the need to stare at himself in some sick cycle of self-disgust and hatred, abhorred by his own body. kaveh is a sharp man.
he's quiet while kaveh watches him, surveying what will soon be his work, saying nothing when he grabs handfuls of hair to test different styles, until at last he's smiling. he must have stumbled upon something he liked. tighnari takes a deep breath, and exhales slowly; gods, he's more than ready. ]
Okay.
[ he nods, straightening up and squaring his shoulders. ]
Okay, [ Kaveh repeats, and he takes a little breath, squaring his shoulders, mentally preparing himself for what he's about to do. Worst case scenario, he can take Tighnari to a proper stylist to have it fixed, made proper, once he's more comfortable with the way he presents outwardly.
But he's an artist, and despite his nerves, his hands are steady, making careful cuts in all the right places, circling Tighnari to make sure he has the viewpoints that he needs without the mirror to help him; it takes him much longer than it might a professional, and when it's done it's not perfect, but it's certainly much better than Kaveh allowed himself to expect, and by the time it's done, he's smiling. ]
Good, [ he murmurs, and then he reaches out, straightening the shirt that hangs on Tighnari's shoulders, adjusting it until the difference in size between the two of them is less obvious. Only then does he reach for his own jacket, pulling it off the mirror and revealing their reflection to his friend—
And he finds himself holding his breath, because Tighnari looks so good in Kaveh's mind; he just hopes the other man thinks as much too. ]
[ tighnari is silent while kaveh works, stoic and still, careful not to move or tilt his head too much so his friend can work without interruption. he knows full well that kaveh is no proper stylist, but he has the eyes and hands of an artist, which tighnari trusts will be more than enough. he doesn't want to leave this room again until he looks different.
slowly but surely the hair falls away, tumbling in dark, glossy locks down tighnari's shoulders and back, gathering at his feet with each snip of the scissors. his heart pounds.
once finished, kaveh is smiling in a way that eases tighnari's nerves, adjusting the shirt on him, and finally, finally uncovering the mirror, revealing tighnari to himself, and - oh. oh. for a moment, he can only stare at his reflection, stepping a little nearer to examine himself - his flattened chest, his hair, a short, soft little bob around his jaw. not too masculine, but not too feminine, either. it's.. it's.. ]
.. perfect ..
[ tears gather in tighnari's eyes, stinging and warm, as he brushes his padded fingertips along the sharp edges of his new hair. ]
[ Kaveh hovers— not too far but not too close— watching carefully the shape of Tighnari's expressions, needing to know that he's okay even as the tears well in his eyes. His own expression is remarkably stoic, as much as he can make it— as much as he feels that his friend looks amazing, he knows Tighnari needs to feel it, and he doesn't want to celebrate prematurely—
Still, he breathes a sigh of relief, the smile melting onto his lips, and he reaches to put a gentle hand on the other's shoulder. ]
I'm glad you like it. You look... you look amazing, `nari.
[ And the floor is a mess of silken locks that Kaveh will need to clean up, but that's something for later. There are more important things, much more important, like... ]
Now we have to take you out shopping and buy shirts more like this one. And maybe something that will make binding your chest easier so you don't have to have someone help each time. Like... like a modified corset, or something. [ Kaveh pauses with a chuckle. ] ...Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself.
[ surely kaveh cannot know how his support affects tighnari, how wonderful it is, how good it feels to be.. validated. to feel as if his struggles are real, as if he's understood, and seen for who he is.
shopping, modified corsets, that all sounded wonderful, but right now - ]
Kaveh..
[ overcome, his chest tight with emotion, tighnari turns away from the mirror at last and presses himself into kaveh's arms, burying his face in kaveh's collar as hot tears stream down his ruddy cheeks. joyful tears. tears like infection bursting from an old festering wound that has at last been lanced. tighnari has swallowed it all for so long now that he hardly knows what to do with this newfound freedom. his heart is pouring out, his trust in kaveh so true and complete, his emotions a furious blaze of color and sound.
tighnari's voice is a soft croak, between a laugh and a sob. ]
[ He's surprised, for a just a moment, by the ferocity of the hug launched into his chest. But Kaveh laughs in the next moment, gentle and kind, wrapping his arms tight around the other's body and pulling him in close, pressing a soft kiss into his newly-short hair. ]
There's no need to thank me, [ he whispers, blinking back the tears that are so quick to spring to his own eyes. ] You only deserve the best things, Nari; this is just... this is what's right.
[ He pulls back just enough that he can peer down at the other, not wanting to pull far back but needing to look into his eyes. His fingers lift to cup his cheeks, and he smiles. ]
I'm so sorry you've had to hide yourself for this long.
[ oh there's plenty of need to thank him, tighnari thinks. he's grateful to kaveh not only for helping him with his hair and bandages, but also simply for.. accepting him. supporting him. being here where others might mock him cruelly. kaveh doesn't realize just how important that is, how vital it is for tighnari to hear, right now, that he is loved and accepted.
kaveh looks into his eyes, and tighnari nods, sniffles, and breaks into a tearful smile. ]
So am I. But no longer.
[ he shakes his head. ]
I don't care what anyone else thinks. I am who I am.
[ Kaveh wishes he could say that relief is the only thing he feels in response to Tighnari's declaration. After all, in his mind, there's nothing more beautiful than someone being unafraid to be the person they truly are. But he knows that the world doesn't always see it the same way, that the beauty he sees in his friend may be judged or mistrusted by those who have no business doing so.
...Which means he just has to protect Tighnari well enough that such things don't reach him. ]
No longer. [ It's said with a soft nod of his head; Kaveh releases Tighnari's cheeks and takes a step back so he can look down at him, admiring his new look. ] You're perfect as you are.
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no subject
of course tighnari needs to thank him for this - for not only accepting him, but encouraging him, helping him shape himself into the person he wants the be. needs to be. the person that he is. but he won't argue it further. ]
Oh, um..
[ he.. hadn't really thought much past simply cutting it all off, and being rid of it. again, tighnari glances toward the mirror, but it's still obscured. ]
.. what do you think? I trust your judgment. I don't want it any longer than my shoulders.
no subject
He may be good with art, but he's no stylist, and he doesn't want to do something too complicated lest he make a mess of it— But Tighnari trusts his judgment. So the blonde takes a deep breath, considering in silence for a moment the shape of the other's face, the way the soft fur of his ears blends into the dark strands, the gradient of shade from the top of his scalp to the ends, closer in color to the highlights in his tail...
Kaveh nods, fingers shifting to push Tighnari's hair back, gathering and twisting it in a few different styles, until eventually a smile finds his lips. ]
I think... I've got an idea. [ This time, when Kaveh reaches for the scissors, he's successful, and it's with a warm smile that he turns back to Tighnari. ] Stay facing me, okay?
[ Ideally, he'd use a mirror for this, but the inconvenience is minor compared to what his friend might otherwise feel. He'll work without for now. ]
no subject
he's quiet while kaveh watches him, surveying what will soon be his work, saying nothing when he grabs handfuls of hair to test different styles, until at last he's smiling. he must have stumbled upon something he liked. tighnari takes a deep breath, and exhales slowly; gods, he's more than ready. ]
Okay.
[ he nods, straightening up and squaring his shoulders. ]
I'm ready.
no subject
But he's an artist, and despite his nerves, his hands are steady, making careful cuts in all the right places, circling Tighnari to make sure he has the viewpoints that he needs without the mirror to help him; it takes him much longer than it might a professional, and when it's done it's not perfect, but it's certainly much better than Kaveh allowed himself to expect, and by the time it's done, he's smiling. ]
Good, [ he murmurs, and then he reaches out, straightening the shirt that hangs on Tighnari's shoulders, adjusting it until the difference in size between the two of them is less obvious. Only then does he reach for his own jacket, pulling it off the mirror and revealing their reflection to his friend—
And he finds himself holding his breath, because Tighnari looks so good in Kaveh's mind; he just hopes the other man thinks as much too. ]
no subject
slowly but surely the hair falls away, tumbling in dark, glossy locks down tighnari's shoulders and back, gathering at his feet with each snip of the scissors. his heart pounds.
once finished, kaveh is smiling in a way that eases tighnari's nerves, adjusting the shirt on him, and finally, finally uncovering the mirror, revealing tighnari to himself, and - oh. oh. for a moment, he can only stare at his reflection, stepping a little nearer to examine himself - his flattened chest, his hair, a short, soft little bob around his jaw. not too masculine, but not too feminine, either. it's.. it's.. ]
.. perfect ..
[ tears gather in tighnari's eyes, stinging and warm, as he brushes his padded fingertips along the sharp edges of his new hair. ]
no subject
Still, he breathes a sigh of relief, the smile melting onto his lips, and he reaches to put a gentle hand on the other's shoulder. ]
I'm glad you like it. You look... you look amazing, `nari.
[ And the floor is a mess of silken locks that Kaveh will need to clean up, but that's something for later. There are more important things, much more important, like... ]
Now we have to take you out shopping and buy shirts more like this one. And maybe something that will make binding your chest easier so you don't have to have someone help each time. Like... like a modified corset, or something. [ Kaveh pauses with a chuckle. ] ...Sorry. I'm getting ahead of myself.
no subject
shopping, modified corsets, that all sounded wonderful, but right now - ]
Kaveh..
[ overcome, his chest tight with emotion, tighnari turns away from the mirror at last and presses himself into kaveh's arms, burying his face in kaveh's collar as hot tears stream down his ruddy cheeks. joyful tears. tears like infection bursting from an old festering wound that has at last been lanced. tighnari has swallowed it all for so long now that he hardly knows what to do with this newfound freedom. his heart is pouring out, his trust in kaveh so true and complete, his emotions a furious blaze of color and sound.
tighnari's voice is a soft croak, between a laugh and a sob. ]
Thank you..
no subject
There's no need to thank me, [ he whispers, blinking back the tears that are so quick to spring to his own eyes. ] You only deserve the best things, Nari; this is just... this is what's right.
[ He pulls back just enough that he can peer down at the other, not wanting to pull far back but needing to look into his eyes. His fingers lift to cup his cheeks, and he smiles. ]
I'm so sorry you've had to hide yourself for this long.
no subject
kaveh looks into his eyes, and tighnari nods, sniffles, and breaks into a tearful smile. ]
So am I. But no longer.
[ he shakes his head. ]
I don't care what anyone else thinks. I am who I am.
no subject
...Which means he just has to protect Tighnari well enough that such things don't reach him. ]
No longer. [ It's said with a soft nod of his head; Kaveh releases Tighnari's cheeks and takes a step back so he can look down at him, admiring his new look. ] You're perfect as you are.