Fai saw the slight relaxation. Apparently he had passed whatever test that Kurogane had given him. He nodded as he closed his mouth, still uncertain but feeling slightly encouraged by the small change in Kurogane's posture.

"I woke up not too long ago and came out to explore." Fai decided then that it would do no good to smile and pretend everything was fine, because clearly it wasn't. He had promised to not hide behind it any longer and even if this wasn't the Kurogane he knew..it was still Kurogane. And Fai was going to stick by his promise.

"Are you really..Kurogane?" No playful names, no teasing tone. Just straight up asking. But the name came off his tongue easily, no hesitation or awkwardness. The nicknames were natural, but so too had this man's actual name. Fai could switch between the two with ease. Such was the state their relationship had evolved into.