There's a heartbeat where Esteban stays still, his form almost statuesque as he braces for whatever comes his way, whatever Kaiba might say. He doesn't expect it to go well, and it shows.
Kaiba isn't the first to see him this way, but every time, the half-dragon still braces himself, still expects the worst... and his entire limbs droop when tension slackens, an anvil dropped from his shoulders and landing far, far away from his worries.
Esteban is beaming, laughter pouring from his lungs at Kaiba's miffed complain, bright and fluttering in the ease that the simple words bring him. His wings rustle, sweeping in tall arches as he grows comfortable enough to let them unravel into a more open stance. He doesn't linger too long, still far too aware of the doors on each end, the way anyone could walk in-- but for a few breaths, for a few heartbeats, the half-dragon revels in being able to freely show who he is, what he is, to a friend who is not afraid.
"Well, I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm really not~" he teases, snickering in his delight. "Adrian used t' complain all the time 'bout it." There's a spark in his eyes as he recalls, "he was only 'bout this high." He was clearly not a tall person as Esteban gives a rough estimate, far even below Kaiba's size. (Still, just a breath taller than Yugi though.)
His wings rustle again, swooping wide, and then gathering on each side of his spine, before they shift under his skin, tail vanishing, feet falling back flat. It hardly takes him more than a few seconds to fold away the transformation, like slivers of himself gently melting out of sight. It at least lets him sit more comfortably onto the bench he'd deserted, putting on the shirt he'd been holding. He tugs the journal he'd abandoned back onto his lap, as he turns back to Kaiba.
"Y'got interrupted though. Sorry 'bout that." He prods with a little smile. "Siebren, you said?" They'd been going on about his companion, and Esteban doesn't regret showing Kaiba, but he hadn't meant to diverge the conversation so badly. He doesn't quite add more to the question, because he's not sure what to ask about him, but he's here to listen to Kaiba, should he want to. Should he want to say anything about his father-figure.
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Kaiba isn't the first to see him this way, but every time, the half-dragon still braces himself, still expects the worst... and his entire limbs droop when tension slackens, an anvil dropped from his shoulders and landing far, far away from his worries.
Esteban is beaming, laughter pouring from his lungs at Kaiba's miffed complain, bright and fluttering in the ease that the simple words bring him. His wings rustle, sweeping in tall arches as he grows comfortable enough to let them unravel into a more open stance. He doesn't linger too long, still far too aware of the doors on each end, the way anyone could walk in-- but for a few breaths, for a few heartbeats, the half-dragon revels in being able to freely show who he is, what he is, to a friend who is not afraid.
"Well, I'd say I'm sorry, but I'm really not~" he teases, snickering in his delight. "Adrian used t' complain all the time 'bout it." There's a spark in his eyes as he recalls, "he was only 'bout this high." He was clearly not a tall person as Esteban gives a rough estimate, far even below Kaiba's size. (Still, just a breath taller than Yugi though.)
His wings rustle again, swooping wide, and then gathering on each side of his spine, before they shift under his skin, tail vanishing, feet falling back flat. It hardly takes him more than a few seconds to fold away the transformation, like slivers of himself gently melting out of sight. It at least lets him sit more comfortably onto the bench he'd deserted, putting on the shirt he'd been holding. He tugs the journal he'd abandoned back onto his lap, as he turns back to Kaiba.
"Y'got interrupted though. Sorry 'bout that." He prods with a little smile. "Siebren, you said?" They'd been going on about his companion, and Esteban doesn't regret showing Kaiba, but he hadn't meant to diverge the conversation so badly. He doesn't quite add more to the question, because he's not sure what to ask about him, but he's here to listen to Kaiba, should he want to. Should he want to say anything about his father-figure.