FIC FOR SEKKY_CHAN
For: sekky_chan
From: ayame_hadouken
Title: Instruments of Fate
Pairings/Characters: Taguchi Junnosuke/Tanaka Koki
Rating: R
Warnings: AU, dubious science
Notes: A movie totally inspired this, even though pirates of any variety only took up a tiny piece of it. My hand-holder/beta/listener-to-er knows which one, and I owe her so many thanks, as usual.
Seki, I really hope you enjoy this; I had tons of fun playing here.
Summary: Junno has always been interested in the weather.
Junno is curled up on his couch, a blanket spread over his lap as he watches yet another documentary. This one is about weather patterns; he’s seen it before. Outside his flat, the wind is whipping, air thick and heavy, and he’s only slightly surprised when lightning finally cracks, bringing torrents of fat raindrops with it.
He is surprised when he glances out of the window and sees it. There’s a ship, high in the sky, illuminated by the flashing lightning. Junno pushes himself to his feet, ignoring how his blanket crumples to the floor and attempts to trip him. He slides his balcony door open, uncaring of the way the wind whips against him, or how he’s instantly drenched.
They’re real.
The thought barely passes through Junno’s mind before he loses his footing; the balcony railing is suddenly much closer and he’s tumbling over it. He squeezes his eyes shut as his muscles tense, bracing for impact.
He hits sooner than expected; his breath is knocked out of him and his eyes fly open. Above him, rain is still falling, the lightning flashing, and there are three silhouettes clad in rain gear looming over him. Vaguely he registers rigging and sails flapping behind them.
“You are real,” he says, eyes falling shut. Before he loses consciousness, one of the figures kicks his shin.
“Of course we’re real, dumbass! Why wouldn’t we be?”
*
When he wakes, Junno is in an unfamiliar bed. The walls are covered with colorful silks, red and blue, and a porthole lets the sun shine in directly onto his face. He groans and throws an arm over his eyes, mind racing.
Sky ships were real. Sky pirates were real. He’d fallen from his balcony and onto a sky ship. Also, his back aches from where he’d hit the deck, and his shin still smarts.
Still, it’s pretty excellent, Junno thinks, even when a boot plants itself firmly on his behind. The same voice he’d heard the night before is behind him.
“If you aren’t sleeping you should be out of bed. I slept in a hammock out of the goodness of my heart, you overgrown idiot!”
Junno rolls over when the boot removes itself, slowly sitting up. His head spins a little, but everything clears when he sets eyes on the newcomer. Both of his hands are planted on his hips, annoyance etched across his features. He’s dressed in a sort of old-fashioned black jacket, the kind with epaulettes on the shoulders and double rows of buttons, though they’re undone and reveal a scarlet vest buttoned over a cream shirt with a wide collar. His boots are tall, laced up to the knee, and his pants seem to be more buttons and fasteners and pockets than fabric. Junno takes in the way his full lips pout, and the messy way his dark hair is pulled back, and he thinks he might have a crush.
“Anyway, stop staring at me. Yucchi says it’s rude for me to keep calling you idiot, so what’s your name? I’m Koki.”
“Junnosuke,” he blurts, “but call me Junno.”
Koki nods in acknowledgement, and then jerks his head toward the door behind him. “Then let’s go meet everyone else.”
Junno stretches as he stands and follows Koki up the few steps to the main deck. The breeze is strong on deck, cool after the storm, and the sun beams down. He follows Koki, taking in as much of the sky as he can; the clouds are thin and white, and Junno wonders what they feel like.
He doesn’t dwell on it for long; he nearly runs into Koki when he stops abruptly.
“You should really watch where you’re going,” Koki mutters. Junno flushes when another voice joins in.
“Yeah,” it drawls. “That could’ve gotten you into a real mess.” The owner of this voice forgoes the steps to the deck they’re standing on and hops over the railing. Junno tries not to stare; the man standing in front of him is a bit shorter than Koki, though his attitude makes up for it. A bandanna keeps his black hair out of his face, though with the way it spikes up it doesn’t seem to need the help.
“This is Uepomu,” Koki says. “Is Yucchi still fussing with the charts? I’ve got the course set already so he needs to stop messing with it. Besides, it's not like there are any more big ones coming up any time soon.”
Throughout his rant, Uepomu shrugs. "You know how he is." His eyes cut to Junno and he stares for a moment. "Your clothes are really weird, and you can't call me Uepomu. Stick with Ueda."
Junno isn't sure how to respond to that. He looks down at his track pants and t-shirt, seeing nothing wrong with them. He’s busy staring at his toes when hands grab him by the upper arms; Ueda is much stronger than Junno expects. He stumbles forward when Koki kicks him in the back of his leg. Between the two of them, they shove Junno closer and closer to the starboard railing.
He glances around, trying to find anything he can hold on to as he leans all of his weight back. The only thing there is is a strange metal box in the middle of the deck, and Junno still staggers forward, and the edge looms ever closer. It's more terrifying than falling from his balcony had been; just moments before they'd been joking with him.
Junno is trying to brace himself against the rail when another voice joins them; it must be Yucchi.
“Koki! Tatsuya! Play nice. It isn’t often that we have guests.”
The clouds are uncomfortably closer by the time Junno's shirt collar gets yanked backwards, choking him but getting him away from the edge. He stumbles backward, coughing, eyes wet and heart thundering against his ribs. A solid chest stops him from falling to the deck.
"Even if they spoil our harvest, no one is going to be tossed overboard." Junno's shoulder is shoved again, in a clear order for him to turn around, and he doesn't hesitate.
The man standing in front of him stares at him impassively, his sharply pressed shirt pristine and the brass buttons of his frock coat glinting in the sun. For some reason, Junno feels like he's being silently reprimanded, and he stays quiet.
"My name is Nakamaru Yuichi and I'm in charge here. Though I don't believe in outright murder, I do believe in stowaways making themselves useful."
Junno almost pipes up in protest of being called a stowaway; it isn't exactly what he'd intended when he'd slipped on his balcony. He hadn't even been meaning to do that, but something in Nakamaru's eyes makes him reconsider speaking. He wonders if he'll have to peel potatoes, or swab the deck.
"Koki, you're in charge of him," Nakamaru delivers his proclamation and strides back to what Junno assumes is his cabin.
Beside him, Koki makes indignant noises while Ueda laughs. Junno wonders if he's the only sane one aboard as Koki swears.
*
As the days pass, Junno becomes more comfortable. He isn't nearly thrown overboard any more, and Nakamaru even lets him have some of his clothes. Ueda still says he's dressed funny, but Junno thinks that's just the way he is.
Koki still kicks him in the shin, but lets him follow him around and watch as he plots their course. It's fascinating, and Junno understands it much more easily than when he'd only been able to read about it.
"Why'd you pick navigation, Koki?" Junno asks. Koki glances up at him and scowls for a moment before answering.
"I'm a sky artist," he mutters, shuffling his maps. "And it's because I like it. I've always enjoyed reading the skies."
"What were you guys doing the night I fell in?" Junno traces one finger along the edge of the nearest map.
Koki looks up at him again, staring as if Junno's asked about something everyone knows. "Isn't it obvious? We were harvesting lightning, and it was the biggest storm we've ever seen. We could've retired, or at least earned enough to relax for a while."
Junno nods, though he's still not sure how or why anyone would want to harvest lightning. How could it even be used? Where was the market that would have made them rich? He keeps his questions to himself, peeking at Koki through his fringe instead. Koki is looking down at his maps again, and he's chewing his lower lip. Junno wonders what it would feel like to press his lips against Koki's, if he'd let him.
Before he realizes it, he's stepped around the table to stand next to Koki. The other is too engrossed in his work to notice, and he startles when Junno tentatively brushes his hand along his shoulder. Koki leans into the touch, and Junno takes his chance, bending down to press a kiss against the corner of his mouth. At first, he stiffens, but then turns to fully face Junno, reciprocating by winding both hands into the collar of his shirt.
Junno gasps in surprise, but recovers and runs both hands down Koki's back, pulling him closer and keeping him there, their hips meeting. He loops his fingers into the waistband of Koki's trousers, pleased when Koki arches against him. It's not long before Koki is trying to climb him; in a focused moment Junno lifts him up and perches him on the edge of the table, one thigh pressed between Koki's legs.
“Come on,” Koki hisses, hands locked on Junno’s shoulders. His hips roll against Junno’s leg, his erection apparent.
Junno wastes no time unfastening the sash tied around Koki's waist; the buttons holding his trousers closed come apart easily, and in the melee Koki drags his own hands away from Junno's shoulders to tear at his pants.
The first touch against each other’s naked skin is charged, almost as if a spark ignited. Koki’s fingers are hurried but sure as they jerk at Junno, and he mewls in protest when Junno bats them away in favor of taking both of them in his own hand. He feels frantic, and Koki’s hands rove, unbuttoning his shirt to press kisses and bites against his collarbones.
Too soon, the friction is too much, and Junno can feel the way Koki shakes as he nears his end. He leans down, capturing Koki’s lower lip between his teeth and pulling. It’s enough to send Koki over the edge, and he moans deep in his throat as he spills in Junno’s hand. He only holds out a moment longer before his eyes shut and he stiffens, their orgasms a sticky mess between them.
Junno rests his forehead against Koki’s as they catch their breaths, the last shocks of friction a tingle against his skin. That’s when it hits him.
“Friction!” Junno exclaims. Koki jumps in his hold, brow furrowed in confusion. “That’s what we need, friction in the clouds to stir up a storm!”
Koki remains silent, waiting for Junno to explain.
“We can use the ship, use it to help whip the clouds up and get them charged-- soon enough there will be enough electricity in them and when that happens, the lightning will follow!”
At first, Koki looks skeptical. After several silent minutes as he cleans himself up, he nods. “Makes sense. Yucchi might be too cautious to try it but between me and Uepomu we can convince him.” The conspiratorial smile Koki sends his way makes his chest feel funny, and Junno grins back, completely unmindful of the fact that he’s half undressed.
“Yucchi will listen more seriously if you’ve got your clothes done up, Junno.”
*
“Too dangerous,” Nakamaru mutters, his voice flat. He’s staring at Junno as if he’s the most foolish thing he’s ever seen.
“I can’t help but mention the fact that you lot were in the middle of a thunderstorm attempting to harvest lightning when you rescued me,” Junno says, biting his tongue to keep from going. It would be no more different to wait for a storm than to stir one up, and it would definitely be more interesting than the waiting game. There were only so many times that Ueda could best him at arm wrestling, and Koki was surprisingly diligent in his artistry.
Unexpectedly, Ueda adds his support. “Yuu, for a captain you take too few risks. It’s a wonder I haven’t staged a mutiny yet, you know. Let’s at least try it out; could be fun.”
“Let’s do it, Yucchi.” Koki’s voice is firm, and if Junno had to guess, he’d won arguments many times over with just that tone. He nods again, trying to look pleading but not too silly as he agrees with the others.
Nakamaru is silent for a long time; finally he sighs and nods. “Fine. You all know how to prepare; report back to me once everything is ready.”
Ueda laughs in triumph, throwing the cabin door open to ready the engines. Koki is slightly more reserved, shooting a secret smirk at Junno once he’s turned his back to Nakamaru. Junno watches as Nakamaru shakes his head before straightening up and breezing past him, clapping one hand against his shoulder.
“Maybe you aren’t completely useless.”
Junno is too busy being pleased with his idea being taken seriously to take offense, and he follows Nakamaru to the deck. He watches as Nakamaru unfastens the heavy clasps holding the top of the metal box shut, and steps forward to help open it. It's empty inside, and the dark metal seems to suck in all light. Junno wonders how it actually holds lightning captive, but doesn't ask; Nakamaru has already left him and is taking his place at the wheel.
The engines are roaring, much louder than Junno has heard them the entire time he's been on the ship, and the deck vibrates under his boots. He wonders if it's ever been pushed to these extremes, and decides that it's best not to think too hard about it.
Koki joins Nakamaru at the helm, and waves for Junno to join them.
"You really don't want to be standing near that if your scheme actually works," Nakamaru says. "Koki's already set the course, so you really don't have to do anything else here. You may go."
Junno thinks he should be upset at his abrupt dismissal, but Koki winks at him before he returns belowdecks to the cabin that they've been sharing. He wonders what Koki is up to, but he decides it will be easier to watch from the porthole. At least he won't be able to fall out of it.
It isn’t very long before the ship picks up speed. She seems to be taking the extra power from the engines well, and Junno forgets about how the deck vibrated when they’d first been fired up. In the distance, the clouds race by, thin wisps gathering closer and closer together. It’s hard to tell that they’re flying in tighter and tighter circles; the only evidence that anything is happening is the clouds’ slow coalescence into thick puffy mountains. Finally, they gather into a grey puffy mass, and Junno nearly jumps out of his skin when something touches his back as the first tiny sparks begin jumping outside the window.
“I honestly didn’t think such a dumb idea would work,” Koki whispers against his ear. His fingers sneak around to Junno’s front, toying with his buttons before pulling them open. “Let’s enjoy the show.”
Junno nods, Koki’s hot breath against his skin a thrill. He lets Koki finish opening his shirt and shrugs it off before kicking off his boots and undoing his trousers. Once he’s fully undressed, Koki pushes him to have a seat on the edge of his bunk.
Koki smirks again, eyes dark as he makes a show of dropping his sash and shimmying out of his own trousers. Junno isn't sure where his boots and shirt disappeared to, but he doesn't think of it any more when Koki advances on him and presses on his shoulders in a wordless order to scoot further back on the bunk. He complies, settling all the way against the wall as Koki rummages under the bedding before crawling into his lap with a small bottle in hand.
Outside the porthole, the sky darkens. The first rumblings of thunder sound in the distance as Koki coats Junno's fingers with oil; Junno gasps when the first bolt of lightning crackles in his peripheral vision the second Koki begins stroking him to full hardness.
"Come on," Koki whispers, hips beginning to rock tantalizingly against Junno. That's all the encouragement that he needs to slide two fingers along Koki's crease, carefully stretching his rim.
Koki arches into the touch, resting his forehead in the crook of his neck. His breath is hot and wet against Junno's skin; it's as warm as the tender skin he's easing open. At Koki's murmured encouragement, he speeds up, finally adding another finger and brushing up against something that has Koki jerking in his hold as if he's been jolted.
"Now!" Koki hisses in Junno's grasp, and he pauses only long enough to make sure he's lined up properly.
The lightning comes faster as Junno speeds up, the flashes illuminating Koki. His skin is beginning to glow from exertion, tendrils of hair sticking to the sides of his neck. Junno works his clean hand into it, gripping tightly. Koki moans, rolling his hips harder into Junno's thrusts.
Around him, Koki is starting to tighten, his blunt fingernails digging into his shoulders. Junno redoubles his efforts, bouncing Koki in his lap. As the biggest crackle of lightning booms outside the window, Koki cries out, clenching around Junno and spilling into his hand as soon as he touches him. A few more frantic thrusts, and the help of Koki's trembling muscles send Junno over the edge.
Exhausted, Junno slumps against the wall, his limbs pleasantly exhausted. Koki relaxes against him as his breathing slows. Too soon, he wiggles out of Junno's arms, flopping onto the bunk. His little finger brushes against Junno's hand, and he sighs contentedly.
Junno laces their fingers together as he considers the past few days. He'd never expected to ever see a real airship or sky pirates; he's still a little amazed when he stops to think about it.
The lightning continues to flash as Junno speaks softly, almost too quiet for Koki to hear.
"I think I was missing some kind of spark in my life."
From: ayame_hadouken
Title: Instruments of Fate
Pairings/Characters: Taguchi Junnosuke/Tanaka Koki
Rating: R
Warnings: AU, dubious science
Notes: A movie totally inspired this, even though pirates of any variety only took up a tiny piece of it. My hand-holder/beta/listener-to-er knows which one, and I owe her so many thanks, as usual.
Seki, I really hope you enjoy this; I had tons of fun playing here.
Summary: Junno has always been interested in the weather.
Junno is curled up on his couch, a blanket spread over his lap as he watches yet another documentary. This one is about weather patterns; he’s seen it before. Outside his flat, the wind is whipping, air thick and heavy, and he’s only slightly surprised when lightning finally cracks, bringing torrents of fat raindrops with it.
He is surprised when he glances out of the window and sees it. There’s a ship, high in the sky, illuminated by the flashing lightning. Junno pushes himself to his feet, ignoring how his blanket crumples to the floor and attempts to trip him. He slides his balcony door open, uncaring of the way the wind whips against him, or how he’s instantly drenched.
They’re real.
The thought barely passes through Junno’s mind before he loses his footing; the balcony railing is suddenly much closer and he’s tumbling over it. He squeezes his eyes shut as his muscles tense, bracing for impact.
He hits sooner than expected; his breath is knocked out of him and his eyes fly open. Above him, rain is still falling, the lightning flashing, and there are three silhouettes clad in rain gear looming over him. Vaguely he registers rigging and sails flapping behind them.
“You are real,” he says, eyes falling shut. Before he loses consciousness, one of the figures kicks his shin.
“Of course we’re real, dumbass! Why wouldn’t we be?”
*
When he wakes, Junno is in an unfamiliar bed. The walls are covered with colorful silks, red and blue, and a porthole lets the sun shine in directly onto his face. He groans and throws an arm over his eyes, mind racing.
Sky ships were real. Sky pirates were real. He’d fallen from his balcony and onto a sky ship. Also, his back aches from where he’d hit the deck, and his shin still smarts.
Still, it’s pretty excellent, Junno thinks, even when a boot plants itself firmly on his behind. The same voice he’d heard the night before is behind him.
“If you aren’t sleeping you should be out of bed. I slept in a hammock out of the goodness of my heart, you overgrown idiot!”
Junno rolls over when the boot removes itself, slowly sitting up. His head spins a little, but everything clears when he sets eyes on the newcomer. Both of his hands are planted on his hips, annoyance etched across his features. He’s dressed in a sort of old-fashioned black jacket, the kind with epaulettes on the shoulders and double rows of buttons, though they’re undone and reveal a scarlet vest buttoned over a cream shirt with a wide collar. His boots are tall, laced up to the knee, and his pants seem to be more buttons and fasteners and pockets than fabric. Junno takes in the way his full lips pout, and the messy way his dark hair is pulled back, and he thinks he might have a crush.
“Anyway, stop staring at me. Yucchi says it’s rude for me to keep calling you idiot, so what’s your name? I’m Koki.”
“Junnosuke,” he blurts, “but call me Junno.”
Koki nods in acknowledgement, and then jerks his head toward the door behind him. “Then let’s go meet everyone else.”
Junno stretches as he stands and follows Koki up the few steps to the main deck. The breeze is strong on deck, cool after the storm, and the sun beams down. He follows Koki, taking in as much of the sky as he can; the clouds are thin and white, and Junno wonders what they feel like.
He doesn’t dwell on it for long; he nearly runs into Koki when he stops abruptly.
“You should really watch where you’re going,” Koki mutters. Junno flushes when another voice joins in.
“Yeah,” it drawls. “That could’ve gotten you into a real mess.” The owner of this voice forgoes the steps to the deck they’re standing on and hops over the railing. Junno tries not to stare; the man standing in front of him is a bit shorter than Koki, though his attitude makes up for it. A bandanna keeps his black hair out of his face, though with the way it spikes up it doesn’t seem to need the help.
“This is Uepomu,” Koki says. “Is Yucchi still fussing with the charts? I’ve got the course set already so he needs to stop messing with it. Besides, it's not like there are any more big ones coming up any time soon.”
Throughout his rant, Uepomu shrugs. "You know how he is." His eyes cut to Junno and he stares for a moment. "Your clothes are really weird, and you can't call me Uepomu. Stick with Ueda."
Junno isn't sure how to respond to that. He looks down at his track pants and t-shirt, seeing nothing wrong with them. He’s busy staring at his toes when hands grab him by the upper arms; Ueda is much stronger than Junno expects. He stumbles forward when Koki kicks him in the back of his leg. Between the two of them, they shove Junno closer and closer to the starboard railing.
He glances around, trying to find anything he can hold on to as he leans all of his weight back. The only thing there is is a strange metal box in the middle of the deck, and Junno still staggers forward, and the edge looms ever closer. It's more terrifying than falling from his balcony had been; just moments before they'd been joking with him.
Junno is trying to brace himself against the rail when another voice joins them; it must be Yucchi.
“Koki! Tatsuya! Play nice. It isn’t often that we have guests.”
The clouds are uncomfortably closer by the time Junno's shirt collar gets yanked backwards, choking him but getting him away from the edge. He stumbles backward, coughing, eyes wet and heart thundering against his ribs. A solid chest stops him from falling to the deck.
"Even if they spoil our harvest, no one is going to be tossed overboard." Junno's shoulder is shoved again, in a clear order for him to turn around, and he doesn't hesitate.
The man standing in front of him stares at him impassively, his sharply pressed shirt pristine and the brass buttons of his frock coat glinting in the sun. For some reason, Junno feels like he's being silently reprimanded, and he stays quiet.
"My name is Nakamaru Yuichi and I'm in charge here. Though I don't believe in outright murder, I do believe in stowaways making themselves useful."
Junno almost pipes up in protest of being called a stowaway; it isn't exactly what he'd intended when he'd slipped on his balcony. He hadn't even been meaning to do that, but something in Nakamaru's eyes makes him reconsider speaking. He wonders if he'll have to peel potatoes, or swab the deck.
"Koki, you're in charge of him," Nakamaru delivers his proclamation and strides back to what Junno assumes is his cabin.
Beside him, Koki makes indignant noises while Ueda laughs. Junno wonders if he's the only sane one aboard as Koki swears.
*
As the days pass, Junno becomes more comfortable. He isn't nearly thrown overboard any more, and Nakamaru even lets him have some of his clothes. Ueda still says he's dressed funny, but Junno thinks that's just the way he is.
Koki still kicks him in the shin, but lets him follow him around and watch as he plots their course. It's fascinating, and Junno understands it much more easily than when he'd only been able to read about it.
"Why'd you pick navigation, Koki?" Junno asks. Koki glances up at him and scowls for a moment before answering.
"I'm a sky artist," he mutters, shuffling his maps. "And it's because I like it. I've always enjoyed reading the skies."
"What were you guys doing the night I fell in?" Junno traces one finger along the edge of the nearest map.
Koki looks up at him again, staring as if Junno's asked about something everyone knows. "Isn't it obvious? We were harvesting lightning, and it was the biggest storm we've ever seen. We could've retired, or at least earned enough to relax for a while."
Junno nods, though he's still not sure how or why anyone would want to harvest lightning. How could it even be used? Where was the market that would have made them rich? He keeps his questions to himself, peeking at Koki through his fringe instead. Koki is looking down at his maps again, and he's chewing his lower lip. Junno wonders what it would feel like to press his lips against Koki's, if he'd let him.
Before he realizes it, he's stepped around the table to stand next to Koki. The other is too engrossed in his work to notice, and he startles when Junno tentatively brushes his hand along his shoulder. Koki leans into the touch, and Junno takes his chance, bending down to press a kiss against the corner of his mouth. At first, he stiffens, but then turns to fully face Junno, reciprocating by winding both hands into the collar of his shirt.
Junno gasps in surprise, but recovers and runs both hands down Koki's back, pulling him closer and keeping him there, their hips meeting. He loops his fingers into the waistband of Koki's trousers, pleased when Koki arches against him. It's not long before Koki is trying to climb him; in a focused moment Junno lifts him up and perches him on the edge of the table, one thigh pressed between Koki's legs.
“Come on,” Koki hisses, hands locked on Junno’s shoulders. His hips roll against Junno’s leg, his erection apparent.
Junno wastes no time unfastening the sash tied around Koki's waist; the buttons holding his trousers closed come apart easily, and in the melee Koki drags his own hands away from Junno's shoulders to tear at his pants.
The first touch against each other’s naked skin is charged, almost as if a spark ignited. Koki’s fingers are hurried but sure as they jerk at Junno, and he mewls in protest when Junno bats them away in favor of taking both of them in his own hand. He feels frantic, and Koki’s hands rove, unbuttoning his shirt to press kisses and bites against his collarbones.
Too soon, the friction is too much, and Junno can feel the way Koki shakes as he nears his end. He leans down, capturing Koki’s lower lip between his teeth and pulling. It’s enough to send Koki over the edge, and he moans deep in his throat as he spills in Junno’s hand. He only holds out a moment longer before his eyes shut and he stiffens, their orgasms a sticky mess between them.
Junno rests his forehead against Koki’s as they catch their breaths, the last shocks of friction a tingle against his skin. That’s when it hits him.
“Friction!” Junno exclaims. Koki jumps in his hold, brow furrowed in confusion. “That’s what we need, friction in the clouds to stir up a storm!”
Koki remains silent, waiting for Junno to explain.
“We can use the ship, use it to help whip the clouds up and get them charged-- soon enough there will be enough electricity in them and when that happens, the lightning will follow!”
At first, Koki looks skeptical. After several silent minutes as he cleans himself up, he nods. “Makes sense. Yucchi might be too cautious to try it but between me and Uepomu we can convince him.” The conspiratorial smile Koki sends his way makes his chest feel funny, and Junno grins back, completely unmindful of the fact that he’s half undressed.
“Yucchi will listen more seriously if you’ve got your clothes done up, Junno.”
*
“Too dangerous,” Nakamaru mutters, his voice flat. He’s staring at Junno as if he’s the most foolish thing he’s ever seen.
“I can’t help but mention the fact that you lot were in the middle of a thunderstorm attempting to harvest lightning when you rescued me,” Junno says, biting his tongue to keep from going. It would be no more different to wait for a storm than to stir one up, and it would definitely be more interesting than the waiting game. There were only so many times that Ueda could best him at arm wrestling, and Koki was surprisingly diligent in his artistry.
Unexpectedly, Ueda adds his support. “Yuu, for a captain you take too few risks. It’s a wonder I haven’t staged a mutiny yet, you know. Let’s at least try it out; could be fun.”
“Let’s do it, Yucchi.” Koki’s voice is firm, and if Junno had to guess, he’d won arguments many times over with just that tone. He nods again, trying to look pleading but not too silly as he agrees with the others.
Nakamaru is silent for a long time; finally he sighs and nods. “Fine. You all know how to prepare; report back to me once everything is ready.”
Ueda laughs in triumph, throwing the cabin door open to ready the engines. Koki is slightly more reserved, shooting a secret smirk at Junno once he’s turned his back to Nakamaru. Junno watches as Nakamaru shakes his head before straightening up and breezing past him, clapping one hand against his shoulder.
“Maybe you aren’t completely useless.”
Junno is too busy being pleased with his idea being taken seriously to take offense, and he follows Nakamaru to the deck. He watches as Nakamaru unfastens the heavy clasps holding the top of the metal box shut, and steps forward to help open it. It's empty inside, and the dark metal seems to suck in all light. Junno wonders how it actually holds lightning captive, but doesn't ask; Nakamaru has already left him and is taking his place at the wheel.
The engines are roaring, much louder than Junno has heard them the entire time he's been on the ship, and the deck vibrates under his boots. He wonders if it's ever been pushed to these extremes, and decides that it's best not to think too hard about it.
Koki joins Nakamaru at the helm, and waves for Junno to join them.
"You really don't want to be standing near that if your scheme actually works," Nakamaru says. "Koki's already set the course, so you really don't have to do anything else here. You may go."
Junno thinks he should be upset at his abrupt dismissal, but Koki winks at him before he returns belowdecks to the cabin that they've been sharing. He wonders what Koki is up to, but he decides it will be easier to watch from the porthole. At least he won't be able to fall out of it.
It isn’t very long before the ship picks up speed. She seems to be taking the extra power from the engines well, and Junno forgets about how the deck vibrated when they’d first been fired up. In the distance, the clouds race by, thin wisps gathering closer and closer together. It’s hard to tell that they’re flying in tighter and tighter circles; the only evidence that anything is happening is the clouds’ slow coalescence into thick puffy mountains. Finally, they gather into a grey puffy mass, and Junno nearly jumps out of his skin when something touches his back as the first tiny sparks begin jumping outside the window.
“I honestly didn’t think such a dumb idea would work,” Koki whispers against his ear. His fingers sneak around to Junno’s front, toying with his buttons before pulling them open. “Let’s enjoy the show.”
Junno nods, Koki’s hot breath against his skin a thrill. He lets Koki finish opening his shirt and shrugs it off before kicking off his boots and undoing his trousers. Once he’s fully undressed, Koki pushes him to have a seat on the edge of his bunk.
Koki smirks again, eyes dark as he makes a show of dropping his sash and shimmying out of his own trousers. Junno isn't sure where his boots and shirt disappeared to, but he doesn't think of it any more when Koki advances on him and presses on his shoulders in a wordless order to scoot further back on the bunk. He complies, settling all the way against the wall as Koki rummages under the bedding before crawling into his lap with a small bottle in hand.
Outside the porthole, the sky darkens. The first rumblings of thunder sound in the distance as Koki coats Junno's fingers with oil; Junno gasps when the first bolt of lightning crackles in his peripheral vision the second Koki begins stroking him to full hardness.
"Come on," Koki whispers, hips beginning to rock tantalizingly against Junno. That's all the encouragement that he needs to slide two fingers along Koki's crease, carefully stretching his rim.
Koki arches into the touch, resting his forehead in the crook of his neck. His breath is hot and wet against Junno's skin; it's as warm as the tender skin he's easing open. At Koki's murmured encouragement, he speeds up, finally adding another finger and brushing up against something that has Koki jerking in his hold as if he's been jolted.
"Now!" Koki hisses in Junno's grasp, and he pauses only long enough to make sure he's lined up properly.
The lightning comes faster as Junno speeds up, the flashes illuminating Koki. His skin is beginning to glow from exertion, tendrils of hair sticking to the sides of his neck. Junno works his clean hand into it, gripping tightly. Koki moans, rolling his hips harder into Junno's thrusts.
Around him, Koki is starting to tighten, his blunt fingernails digging into his shoulders. Junno redoubles his efforts, bouncing Koki in his lap. As the biggest crackle of lightning booms outside the window, Koki cries out, clenching around Junno and spilling into his hand as soon as he touches him. A few more frantic thrusts, and the help of Koki's trembling muscles send Junno over the edge.
Exhausted, Junno slumps against the wall, his limbs pleasantly exhausted. Koki relaxes against him as his breathing slows. Too soon, he wiggles out of Junno's arms, flopping onto the bunk. His little finger brushes against Junno's hand, and he sighs contentedly.
Junno laces their fingers together as he considers the past few days. He'd never expected to ever see a real airship or sky pirates; he's still a little amazed when he stops to think about it.
The lightning continues to flash as Junno speaks softly, almost too quiet for Koki to hear.
"I think I was missing some kind of spark in my life."