ficlet: Wedding Night, Tortall, PG-13
Guys, I wrote a fic! *flails* It's 300 words -- barely worth putting under a cut -- but still. *flails moar* Will crosspost tomorrow, after I'm sure I'm done tweaking. For now, here, have a ficlet. (Also, does Shinko have the gift? I don't think she does..)
Title: Wedding Night
Fandom: Tortall (Tamora Pierce)
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Roald & Shinkokami
Summary: It doesn't go the way she expected.
“Do you not want me?” Shinkokami whispered, when she’d refastened her dressing gown and settled on the edge of the bed, face turned away from her husband. Over the years of their courtship he’d become very good at reading the emotion in her eyes, even when she kept still. She didn’t want him to see her feelings now - not when their wedding night had failed to take the expected turn.
“Shinko.” Roald came to sit beside her, one warm, familiar hand grasping her shoulder. “I want you beside me every day - on the throne, at the dinner table, in this bed.” He reached up, fingers mapping the contours of her face, and she turned into his caress in spite of herself. His eyes were gentle, their sadness apology enough. He looked away. “But no, I don’t want you the way you mean.”
It was all she could do not to reach for the fan on the bedside table and snap it open to hide her face. His hand still rested against her cheek. “Do you prefer men?” she asked, staring at her clenched hands in her lap.
He laughed dryly. “Everyone asks that.” His hand slipped down to her neck, thumb tracing the line of her jaw. “There is no one I could prefer over you. I hoped that would be enough, but-” he shrugged. “I’m not made the same as most people. I don’t feel that kind of desire - anymore than you can work magic. The capacity just isn’t there.”
They looked at each other for long moments, Roald worried, Shinko trying to understand. At last she covered his hand with hers, weaving their fingers together. Her eyes crinkled with amusement. “At least I know you won’t be unfaithful.”
“Never,” he promised, and drew her into an embrace.
Title: Wedding Night
Fandom: Tortall (Tamora Pierce)
Rating: PG-13
Characters: Roald & Shinkokami
Summary: It doesn't go the way she expected.
“Do you not want me?” Shinkokami whispered, when she’d refastened her dressing gown and settled on the edge of the bed, face turned away from her husband. Over the years of their courtship he’d become very good at reading the emotion in her eyes, even when she kept still. She didn’t want him to see her feelings now - not when their wedding night had failed to take the expected turn.
“Shinko.” Roald came to sit beside her, one warm, familiar hand grasping her shoulder. “I want you beside me every day - on the throne, at the dinner table, in this bed.” He reached up, fingers mapping the contours of her face, and she turned into his caress in spite of herself. His eyes were gentle, their sadness apology enough. He looked away. “But no, I don’t want you the way you mean.”
It was all she could do not to reach for the fan on the bedside table and snap it open to hide her face. His hand still rested against her cheek. “Do you prefer men?” she asked, staring at her clenched hands in her lap.
He laughed dryly. “Everyone asks that.” His hand slipped down to her neck, thumb tracing the line of her jaw. “There is no one I could prefer over you. I hoped that would be enough, but-” he shrugged. “I’m not made the same as most people. I don’t feel that kind of desire - anymore than you can work magic. The capacity just isn’t there.”
They looked at each other for long moments, Roald worried, Shinko trying to understand. At last she covered his hand with hers, weaving their fingers together. Her eyes crinkled with amusement. “At least I know you won’t be unfaithful.”
“Never,” he promised, and drew her into an embrace.