Prompt Challenge #001: Rocky Shore
Title: Rocky Shore
Author: silent_skies100
Rating: T
Characters: AU Watanuki, Doumeki
Prompt Challenge: #001. Unfinished Business
Medium: Fanfic
The sun was setting in the distance, making the puffy pink clouds above them glow against the darkening sky. The water beneath their feet flowed freely across the jagged stone and they gingerly made their way across the strikingly beautiful beach. A rock formation stood majestically close by, a blazingly golden monument in the middle of a seemingly endless rocky landscape. Watanuki and Doumeki looked at each other briefly before silently heading towards it.
There were no structures in sight. They didn’t see any people. Watanuki wondered if there were spirits in the area, but he couldn’t find any evidence to indicate that anyone inhabited this peaceful place. It wasn’t like when they were in the world that seemed to be made up of nothing but light. At the time, Watanuki knew that they were being watched. He could feel the presence of the spirits; he was certain that they were being watched - but not here. As far as Watanuki could tell, he and Doumeki were completely alone.
Doumeki reached the rock formation first. He grabbed onto the side of a pointed rock and carefully stepped onto the structure. It wasn’t too steep to climb, and deciding that it was safe, he made his way up the rocky slope, Watanuki not too far behind.
Some thirty feet up, Doumeki found a leveled stretch of rock where they could sit comfortably. It offered a nice view of the sunset and allowed them to take in the expanse of the saturated beach. The angle of their view made it seem like the beach and ocean were on two separate planes. It was like the water flowing along the rocky surface was pouring back into the ocean, creating the illusion of a diminutive waterfall. The effect was startling, and yet Watanuki couldn’t help feeling completely at ease in his surroundings.
He removed his soaked moccasins and inhaled slowly, taking in the salty air. He almost forgot about the stoic archer at his side, until he noticed that his eyes had shifted to his face from the corner of his eye.
A flood of memories came back to him, and he turned his head away from that calm, gentle gaze. He didn’t want to remember. He didn’t want to meet those golden eyes and remember the sensations that they stirred within him. He just wished that things would go back to the way that they’d been before they had crossed into that world. The thought made it difficult to breathe; he felt his face begin to burn.
“Watanuki,” Doumeki said, never taking his eyes off of the slighter form.
Watanuki refused to turn his head. “What is it?”
“What happened back there, when we were in the Steppe Country?”
“Nothing happened,” Watanuki responded, somewhat hesitantly. “We had just finished the mission. Everyone was celebrating. We were both drinking that stuff that the Bison Spirit made. That was - I mean - nothing happened.”
Watanuki felt a hand lightly brush his back, its fingers slowly following the path of his spine. He felt light-headed, and it suddenly became impossible for him to take in air.
“That’s it?” Doumeki asked, his thumb resting on the small of his back.
Somewhere in the back of his mind, Watanuki knew that all he had to do was turn to face the archer and cover his mouth with his own, run his fingers through the short hair, and Doumeki would have him, entirely, possibly take him right there on that rocky outcrop. The thought made his mind go numb. But there was something inside of him that couldn’t do it. A memory of a brilliant streak of light, almost like a crescent moon, and Yuuko - finding Yuuko in this never-ending universe, possibly still alive and able to return with him to their home - prevented him from leaning into the archer’s strong, waiting arms. Arms that could vanish at any moment, and without any warning. It was just too much for him to deal with.
He painfully moved away from the spot where they were sitting to the edge of the rock, swinging his legs over the side, and inwardly praying that Doumeki wouldn’t follow him. If he reached out to him right now, forced himself on his smaller companion, pried him open at that moment, there would be nothing that Watanuki could do to maintain his resolve. The thought that he was so weak and vulnerable to his feelings made him bitter and resentful.
To his surprise, Doumeki didn’t move. They both remained in their positions until well after the sun went down and the first few glimpses of stars were becoming visible. The air was becoming cooler, and Watanuki hugged his legs up to his chest.
Finally, after what seemed like an eon to Watanuki, he heard Doumeki move. He turned to see the archer slowly stand and walk away from their stretch of rock.
“Where are you going?” Watanuki asked, in spite of himself, watching Doumeki move across the rocky formation.
“We need to get some sleep,” was all he replied, without turning to look at Watanuki. In moments, he was out of sight, probably looking for another rocky outcrop to sleep on.
The thought made Watanuki feel miserable.
~*~
Poor Watanuki. I know this isn't easy for you, but I promise it'll get better. :3
I'm definitely going to turn this AU into something giant for the Mega Challenge. The outline is already complete. All I need to do is write. :)
Written for hundred_wishes. Please go check it out!