Because this is the internet

[fleeftastic]

Porn! Because I don't quite have the brain to work on anything with an actual plot. Actually, that was yesterday. I no longer have that excuse. Enjoy ^^ NSFW.

Title: Keeping time
Wordcount: 3,800


This waiting thing, fuck. Didn't work for Gojyo at all. He and the monkey and the rest were all stuck in some bucket-sized nothing town, waiting for the twice-weekly ferry to come take them across the river. Sanzo spent his time walking the orchards, smoking; the monkey had charmed all the dusky-skinned matrons into keeping him fed, and Hakkai'd found a library somewhere in the back of the inn. And Gojyo? Was going bugfuck nuts with an itchy grouchy restlessness. All the nerves in his feet, his thighs-a creeping crawling get-moving-now feeling. Couldn't sit still to read, like Hakkai said, couldn't stand the monkey bouncing all around and talking talking talking and hey Gojyo can we spar can we ooh I wonder if that stall has porkbuns! He'd take the monk's advice and fuck off except there was nowhere to fuck off to. The winding mountain path they'd taken to reach the town, the wide slow tea-coloured river, with its mud smells and old crabwise plants, the town itself, small enough to fit in someone's back pocket. Sanzo haunted the orchards like a wounded ghost, leaving faint smoke and sandalwood and gunpowder smells to twine through the orange-blossoms like some stark perfume. So Gojyo paced and chain-smoked and flicked the cigarettes half-done to fizz out in the river. Didn't drink, didn't want to eat even. Had lost all his moves, all his panache, couldn't even seduce himself, never mind anyone else. Consumed by that anxious-insects feeling.

The inn hung out over the river, had big wide windows, broad smooth windowsills perfect for sitting on and fidgeting. For once there were enough free rooms and Gojyo had taken the one on the ground floor. If he leaned out the window, the sharp sill-edge a hard line digging low into his belly, he could trail his fingertips through the lukewarm water and tease the fat catfish there.

Couldn't even pace much, here, the empty space under the floor, the drop-off to the river, made his footsteps loud booming things. He wanted to walk along the river with his quiet footfalls and the murmur of water to keep him company until dawn. Maybe if he walked enough he could convince his gut that they were moving, that they'd be in time, that it'd not be the colossal fuckup he was expecting.

Three days into their five-day wait, late at night when the moon was joyous on the rippled river-water and the frogs sang koans, Hakkai came to him, leaned in the doorway all thin and dangerous and his hair hiding his face. "Gojyo?"

That tone was familiar, made something turn over in his belly, brought his blood closer to the surface of his skin. Gojyo hunched his shoulders, couldn't imagine takin' his time for Hakkai tonight. Couldn't sit still long enough to finish a fag, no way he could treat Hakkai properly, work through all his reserve until he was tearing the sheets and biting Gojyo's skin. And even lousy sex was better than no sex at all, but fuck, this was Hakkai. Just, it was Hakkai. He was still half-convinced the screwed-up weird bastard was out of his league, that he'd soon notice he was too good for a halfbreed like Gojyo and go back to his quiet nights with tea and old parchment and silence. Lived more like a monk than Sanzo did.

So Gojyo turned his face to the river and mumbled something about not tonight, some version of I have a headache, and something did ache, but it wasn't his head or even the haven't-had-a-fuck-in-too-long usual. But something. And Hakkai asked if he was okay and his thin face was worried and unsure but he left, like Gojyo said, stupid Hakkai listening to him now of all times. Left on quiet feet, and Gojyo threw his latest cigarette into the river and didn't even crack a smile when a catfish swallowed it and spat it back in a gout of water. Fuckin' pathetic. And he was who Heaven had chosen to save the world? Sha Gojyo.

He didn't even leave the inn the next day. Took three baths, but the hot water did nothing for the knots along his back, his neck. Tried masturbating, got bored and stopped. Wound up sprawled sideways on the big bed plucking threads from the sheet one by one. Didn't turn around when the door clicked open and shut and the lock turned. Either it was someone safe or someone who wanted to kill him, and he'd almost let it happen. Even give them first shot, maybe make it fair.

He recognized Hakkai from the quiet tread, the way his hands settled light on Gojyo's shoulders. He flinched when Hakkai dug his thumbs in firmly, started to knead the tension away. His hands were so warm. "I told you I wasn't up for anythin'," Gojyo mumbled. He closed his eyes. "Go 'way."

"It occurs to me you aren't always truthful about what you want," Hakkai said. He settled onto the bed, kneeling by Gojyo's hips and leaning. Gojyo's breath fell out, had a faint voice to it. The room was full of sun and the smell of water, Hakkai's hands moving over his back, drawing the tension and ache out the way Gojyo'd plucked threads from the sheet. Up, gone, away.

"That so?" Gojyo said, something driving him to gesture and snarl even though he wanted Hakkai, here with him, more than he'd thought he was capable of. "So you know everything there is to Sha Gojyo?"

"More than you think," Hakkai said. He'd had a shot of whisky or a mouthful of wasabi or smoked a pack of Sanzo's cigarettes, something to turn his voice so low and scratchy. He leaned forward, put his mouth by Gojyo's ear and his hair fell forward, dragged over Gojyo's face like raw silk. "Don't I?"

Desire flamed in Gojyo's blood, all at once, triggered by the smell of Hakkai's hair and the scrape of Hakkai's teeth over his cheekbone. The midmorning sun turned the floorboards to tiger's-eye, valuable and strange. "Maybe," Gojyo said.

Hakkai nuzzled, dragging his jaw along Gojyo's temple, shifting that hateful red hair. Made him stand out, marked him for all those who knew what they saw. And for Hakkai, who stuck his nose in it and muttered Beautiful, perfect, like he didn't know or didn't care, pressed himself close. And maybe it was okay after all. Maybe the blood that had stained Hakkai's hands wasn't any worse than that crawling through Gojyo's veins, but maybe it wasn't any cleaner, too.

A sharp nip to the curl of his ear made Gojyo twitch, startled. "The hell, Hakkai!"

When had Hakkai settled over his back? Gojyo half-expected him to bend close, set his teeth in Gojyo's neck, predator. He dragged his nails along Gojyo's scalp instead, shoved his hair off his neck to knead the muscles there, and god, Hakkai was hard, like they'd been at this for ages instead of barely starting. Air seemed precious now, rare. "You're somewhere else, Gojyo. That won't do at all. Is she really more appealing than I am?"

"She? Who?" Gojyo tried to twist, see his face, but Hakkai pushed Gojyo's face around with the top of his head, some weird animal-nuzzle. Gojyo found himself laughing. "Freak."

"Merely practical," Hakkai said. "And I'm not the one fantasizing about someone while someone else is being very nice to me."

"Not thinkin' of anyone," Gojyo said. He pushed up through his shoulders to feel Hakkai more. "And how nice can you be? We're not naked." Some big bubbling feeling was rising in body, something he couldn't look at even to identify. It'd split his ribcage, crack him open, but here was Hakkai, warm and solid.

"Hmn," Hakkai said, rubbed his face against Gojyo's again. He tugged the collar of Gojyo's shirt so the material pulled tight across his throat. "Better turn over then."

Hakkai went up, knees and elbows, and hovered, watched as Gojyo twisted over onto his back, feeling rumpled and awkward. "Aren't you going to help?" he said, fumbling with buttons.

"No."

And there was his cue to stretch, pose, strip slowly and say something clever. Except for once there wasn't anything clever, Hakkai's weight denting the mattress, nothing he could think of, just that huge subterranean something his restlessness had turned into, and it stole all his words, made his hands clumsy, so that finally Hakkai gently brushed them aside, worked Gojyo naked himself. Clothes tossed to the floor to puddle in the sunlight.

"You," Gojyo said, and tugged at Hakkai's sleeve. Hakkai sat back, coltish legs folded, his weight on Gojyo's thighs. Hakkai wasn't dainty, quite, but there was something dancerlike to the economy of his movements, how smooth his hands were when he hauled his tunic off, his under-shirt, set both hands to the waistband of his pants. He blinked when Gojyo removed the monocle. Their fingers brushed as Hakkai retrieved it, reached to set it with a tik on the table. Lean stretch of Hakkai's abdomen and Gojyo splayed his hands on Hakkai's hips, curled up to rub his face against that rough-textured healed-over tear. Glad you lived, he wanted to say. Not allowed to leave. Hate that I have to share you with someone who's dead. And what kinda freak fucks his own sister?

Immediately regrets that one, it's not like his family was any healthier. Fuck, at least Kanan had been good for Hakkai. Had to have been. Look what he'd done to get her back, look what had happened after he failed.

Nails raking along his scalp again, hurting-good, fiercely demanding of his attention. It woke his whole body, made him aware of all his skin, sent a wash of heat through his blood.

"You're thinking again," Hakkai said, mild, head tipped to one side. His wounded eye was vague, the other jewel-clear and focused. "What do I have to do to keep your attention?"

Gojyo dredged a grin up, forced it on. Tugged at the buttoned-closed plackets of Hakkai's pants. "Take these off?" he said. That pressure in his chest again.

Such a serious expression, Hakkai with the sun full on his face, shadows on his throat, on his cheeks from the fall of his hair. He shifted to the side, released the button, zip, wriggled them off. "Like this?" he said, and Gojyo had to jump him, just had to, roll him so Hakkai was whump flat on his back, chestnut hair in disarray and one eyebrow arched. Gojyo cupped Hakkai's shoulders, fingers flexed. Gojyo wanted to talk, wanted to tell Hakkai things, about how smooth-grained and fine his skin looked, and why hadn't they had sex in the daytime before, with the water-sounds and breeze in through the window, and could Hakkai touch him now, please, before he went crazy?

"Is there anything you'd like?" Hakkai said, and ran both hands up Gojyo's thigh.

Stay with me. Still couldn't talk. Bent for a kiss instead, braced himself on one hand so he could curl the other around Hakkai's throat, the curve of his jaw, feeling it from the outside too as Hakkai kissed back. His mouth was cool and neutral, like he'd been drinking sweet water from a high spring someplace. Gojyo broke off, let out a fast breath when Hakkai's hands cupped his balls. Thought he should maybe tie his hair back, keep it out of their faces, lost the thought when Hakkai hugged his erection with both hands, slow firm slide like a sudden sunburst. "Fuck".

"Hmm," Hakkai said, and craned his neck for another kiss. A shudder worked its way down Gojyo's spine, made him hunch his back and nip at Hakkai's mouth. Hakkai chuckled, pleased, but wouldn't speed the steady pressure of his palms or the gentle wandering of his fingertips. Forever kisses, the patient work of his hands, until Gojyo felt the prickle of sweat, the burst of salt when he bit Hakkai's shoulder. "Mmh," Hakkai said, "Wait," and took his hands away.

Gojyo's eyes popped open. He didn't remember closing them. He didn't know what to do with his mouth now it wasn't touching Hakkai's. "Wait? What for?"

Hakkai twisted away, groped over the edge of the bed, fumbled for his pants and withdrew something. A little tin of oil, waft of some spicy smell when he cracked it open and poured a generous puddle of it over his own stomach. He capped the tin carefully and set it on the floor. "Here."

"Hakkai-"

"Shh," Hakkai said, and showed his teeth when he smiled. He rolled his fingers over his belly until they gleamed with oil, reached for Gojyo again. The oil was warm from the sun, or from Hakkai's hands, such a generous careful slide. The light slippery touches, the fond look on Hakkai's face, all hit Gojyo then, cramped his lungs on sharp awkward breaths.

"Faster," he said, and groaned when Hakkai shook his head.

"I'm not going to rush this. But if you'd like more-" he dipped his fingers into the oil again, kept one hand working Gojyo's cock smoothly while he trailed the fingertips of the other down Gojyo's spine. Slow, so that Gojyo was shivering with sensitivity by the time Hakkai's oiled fingers brushed softly over his hole. "You're so impatient."

"Ah, Hakkai, c'mon-"

"So impatient," Hakkai repeated. He bit his lip when he slid two fingers into Gojyo, colour breaking over his cheekbones like their positions were reversed and Gojyo had just done something clever.

Yeah, Gojyo thought, and bit the inner lining of his cheek. Now Hakkai would stop dragging things out, he'd have to, but Hakkai just steadied Gojyo with one hand on the sharp point of his hipbone, rocked those fingers into him as slowly as he'd done everything else. Purred into Gojyo's mouth as Gojyo gave Hakkai his very best desperate fuck-me-now kisses, but wouldn't change the pace.

Gojyo squeezed his eyes shut, pressed his forehead to Hakkai's, cut the kiss as he tried to get enough air. Now he knew why people usually did this at night. He was boiling. Hakkai had such long slim fingers, knew all the best places to press, all the best ways to touch. That rising-up pressure built until he thought his ribs would shatter, joining with the coiling sex-tension in the pit of his stomach until he thought he'd break, just fly to pieces, or maybe die. "Hakkai, can we-let's fuck, Hakkai, please-"

"Not yet. You're still distracted. When I'm finished you won't be able to think about anything but me. What I'm doing to you." Hakkai twisted his fingers, smirked. What a picture he made, his eyes narrowed, lashes spiked with sweat, mouth red from too much kissing.

"C'mon Hakkai, you don't have to wait-"

Hakkai's eyes glittered. "I'm enjoying this, never fear," he said, every bit as out of breath.

Gojyo chewed his lip. Hakkai'd curled his fingers, rubbing slow circles, and a shudder started in Gojyo's thighs, worked its way up his back. "Fffffuck."

"Such language."

Gojyo flicked his head, trying to get his hair out of the way. It stuck in wet clumps to his forehead. He glared but his vision blurred with the next press of Hakkai's wonderful, clever fingers. His bones itched and suddenly he couldn't not move.

"Got a problem with my language?" Gojyo said, managed to skim one hand through the oil on Hakkai's belly, dragging a slick layer over the ridged scar-tissue as he reached for Hakkai's cock. "How's this, then, huh?" He closed his hand over Hakkai, working his wrist to corkscrew firm twisting strokes. Hakkai let out a controlled breath but the muscles in his belly contracted helplessly, turning it into a hoarse dragging sound. Somehow kept the metronome beat of his hand steady. His neck gleamed, the cords standing out under his skin.

"Not waitin' anymore," Gojyo said, and dipped one knuckle into the divot of Hakkai's navel, the pool of clear oil there, ran his palm up until he could brace his weight on Hakkai's chest, rearing up and shuffling forward on his knees.

"Finally." That fond look again. Hakkai hooked his free hand around the bend of Gojyo's knee, fingers flexing. "I was beginning to think you'd, never take the initiative-"

"Nnh?" Gojyo said. He couldn't think past the want clawing in the pit of his stomach, the frantic heat of Hakkai's skin. Hakkai's erection pressed against his thigh.

"Nothing," Hakkai said faintly. He didn't seem inclined to pull his fingers free; Gojyo had to balance without the hand he'd been leaning on, grip Hakkai's wrist and tug.

"Unh, can't you ever co-operate?"

"No," Hakkai said, eyes bright, sharp-edged grin. He twisted his fingers wickedly but didn't resist Gojyo's pull. Gojyo smoothed his palm along Hakkai's, guided his hand until he was holding his own cock steady. "Is this a team effort then?" Hakkai said, and laughed soundlessly when Gojyo nodded, circling his hips as he sank onto Hakkai, teeth clamped together against the urge to shout. Been wanting this for days. Hakkai, inside.

Gojyo shook when he leaned forward, set his palms by Hakkai's shoulders and rolled his hips. The oil made everything dreamy, almost frictionless, irresistible. Easy to clench in an off-kilter rhythm, to pay Hakkai back for all the teasing. Rocking like water. He tucked his head against Hakkai's wet neck, cheek on Hakkai's collarbone, hunched close so he could listen. This was his favourite part, the soft tumble of breath-caught sounds Hakkai couldn’t suppress and didn't seem to be aware of. Little vowel sounds, bitten-off moans Gojyo could hear clearly, even over his own. "Fuck. Hakkai-"

"Mm," Hakkai said, rubbed his chin over the top of Gojyo's head, caught his hips to help him move. He was breathing strongly, his shoulders wet and golden in the sunlight. "Mm-"

The sex wasn't enough, Gojyo realized. The upwelling pressure was breaking him anyway. Instead of closing it in, he gave up, groped for Hakkai's hands, let it crack him open and wash through. He thought it'd hurt, shards of glass, except he was hit with a rush of stupid, blinding happiness instead. Had to sit back on Hakkai's hips to make room for it all. Found himself staring at Hakkai, and the expression on his face made Hakkai curl forward, take Gojyo by the shoulders, quick biting kisses between breaths. Gojyo wrapped Hakkai in a hug, matched him for kisses, but wouldn't move. Fighting the urge to laugh, waiting until Hakkai bit his shoulder quite hard, said, "Gojyo-If you wouldn't mind-"

Gojyo did laugh, then, crammed full with that effervescent feeling, worming one hand between them to thumb Hakkai's nipple until he growled and bucked his hips. "'S the matter Hakkai? Want somethin'?"

That growl again, like Hakkai'd dropped his limiters and been covered over with vines. Teeth in his neck reminding Gojyo how badly he wanted to come. Pushed Hakkai's shoulders to make him lie flat-an uneven flush on his skin, hips rocking minutely, and Gojyo wanted to see his other form like this, tattoos worming across his flushed skin, sharp ears showing through his hair, and maybe he was doing right by Hakkai after all. Even off his game he could affect Hakkai like this.

Hakkai said his name, wanting, and Gojyo finally figured it out. Had to rock his weight, over and over, shifting Hakkai's cock against all the best places, little quick thrusts that bunched the sheets under Gojyo's knees, raked pleasure-claws through Gojyo and had Hakkai gripping his hips hard and straining up. There was a feral satisfaction in breaking Hakkai's composure, reaching past all the reserve to dig his hands into something vital.

Gojyo let out a hard breath. He could feel his own orgasm fluttering low in the pit of his stomach, and Hakkai had started to shake.

"Ah, Gojyo, I-"

"Yeah," Gojyo said. His voice was scratchy. He rose away from Hakkai's body and rocked sharply downward, swore viciously and repeated the motion. Each stab of sensation pulsed through his body, and he couldn't help laughing in triumph and screwing down on Hakkai's cock when Hakkai shifted restlessly, when he braced his feet and heaved his hips and came with a desperate gasp, digging fingertip-bruises into the tops of Gojyo's thighs. More warmth inside, Hakkai saying "Gojyo, Gojyo," like he'd found something precious. His legs trembled badly when as he slowly relaxed.

"'Kai?" Gojyo said, took Hakkai's hand and closed it around his cock. "Kai, man, you gotta-"

Hakkai smiled, out of breath, and his grip was languid, his strokes too slow. Gojyo shook his head, hard, caught Hakkai's wrist, holding it steady for the thrust of his hips. Had to, had to. His head tipped back without his permission and the light was a blow of red against closed lids, a fierce sunburst that matched the building pleasure-pulse in his body, the roll of his hips. Gojyo's orgasm was an aching, slow thing that exhausted him, Hakkai's hand slick now with something more than oil. Hakkai hummed, pleased, and kept moving until the sensation dazzled like static and Gojyo flinched. Hakkai shifted to stroking his hipbones with both thumbs. Gojyo hung his head and panted, eyelashes knitted together by sweat, and the light breeze through the window felt fantastic. All the tension was gone, left him watery and weak. Gojyo's throat was raw.

After a while, Hakkai said, "Do you feel better now?"

The room was in shadow, the sun directly overhead. Ripples of reflected light wavered on the roof, the river lapped softly at its banks. The room smelled like sex and salt and water. "Mm." He folded towards Hakkai, flexible enough for this, and rested his weight on the flats of his forearms so he could tuck his face close to Hakkai's, nuzzle into that mink-soft hair. "Two days 'til the ferry."

Hakkai was stroking the back of Gojyo's neck. "Hmm." He didn't seem inclined to move. "You haven't eaten."

Gojyo closed his eyes. He felt like a blanket. "Don't wanna move."

"Later, then," Hakkai said. "We could play mahjong."

"I guess," Gojyo said. Listened to the river sounds, the rush of Hakkai's breathing. "Think we'll make it in time?"

"It isn't something I'm inclined to be concerned about. It is what it is."

Gojyo shut his eyes tighter, focused on Hakkai's steady heartbeat. Said, softly, "You've been too late before." Swallowed hard. "So've I."

Hakkai's hand paused, shifted to smooth Gojyo's hair. "Then we both know how to cope," he answered. Pressed a kiss to Gojyo's temple. Stayed close.