[DRABBLES] Bleach: Shuuhei/Yumichika x2, Byakuya/Ichigo; Suiko: Mathiu & Odessa, Albert/Jacques x2
I still can't say I'm overly fond of writing drabbles, and I don't feel I'm very good at it, but I'll try anything for the sake of my friends. n_n;
Drabble No.: 04
Fandom: Bleach
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Shuuhei/Yumichika, Ikkaku
Dedication: peroxidepest17
Prompt: Stress
Description: AUish setting. Shuuhei and Yumichika live together in an apartment in the normal (modern) world. Shuuhei is a college student and under high stress because it's exam time and he needs to study. Yumichika feels slightly neglected and decides it's time to do something to get his boyfriend to relax a little.
Rating: PG-13 for shounen-ai and mentions of alcohol abuse.
Word Count: 1,195. Which is like, almost half a fic. Oops.
Other Notes: I promised you this one over spring break when you were stressing about your exams but I never quite finished and then I forgot about it until I started working on your other drabble request and found that I already had a file called "ShuuYumi drabble.doc". o_o; Anyway, I kind of went on a tangent in this fic, sorry. >_> The whole concert scene was inspired by an actual concert I went to. The Despairs are (supposed to be) a fictional band, though.
Yumichika realized that it wasn't really fair of him to whine so much when Shuuhei was trying to work so hard to succeed in his university studies.
But Yumi also knew that Shuuhei had as much of a responsibility to his boyfriend as he did to his coursework. Especially when the boyfriend in question was as beautiful as he was.
So when, sprawled across the couch in their apartment in a rather suggestive pose, Yumichika begged for Shuuhei's attention once again, and Shuuhei snapped at him that he was studying for his midterms and that he couldn't afford to be distracted right now, Yumi let out a dramatic sigh, deciding that something must be done. Shuuhei was stressed out by his upcoming exams, and Yumichika was feeling neglected. Surely there ought to be something that could satisfy both of their needs.
He tried everything, from baking to shopping together to trying to get his boyfriend drunk. But Shuuhei didn't have much of a sweet tooth, he wasn't interested in any of the boutiques Yumichika dragged him into and only tried on outfits because the latter begged him to, and when Yumi finally got him to down enough alcohol, he simply passed out on the couch, mentally exhausted from his studying earlier that day.
And so the problem went unresolved, and both partners grew increasingly more grumpy, taking their stress and discontentment out on each other and threatening to destroy their still-young relationship.
At his wit's end, Yumichika finally went to see their mutual friend Ikkaku, who was a bartender at a local pool hall. Sipping at an apple martini, Yumi explained the entire dilemma, sometimes pausing dramatically to wipe away a tear.
“Way I see it, here's what ya' do, Yumi,” Ikkaku advised after giving the matter a few moments' thought. “Ya' need to take him out somewhere really fun. Something ta' make him forget his stress and appreciate you as a boyfriend.”
“But... but I've already tried everything I could think of,” Yumichika sniffed.
“Well, yer' forgettin' somethin' major,” Ikkaku explained. “Try an' think. What was it Shuuhei did 'fore he managed ta' make it inta' college?”
Yumi frowned, trying to remember. “...He was in a band?”
“Bingo,” Ikkaku grinned. When Yumi still looked confused, he went on, “Shuuhei loves music. So what'cha gotta' do is, take him to a concert!”
He beamed proudly, as if it were the smartest idea he'd ever come up with in his life. Yumichika initially felt tempted to shoot down the idea, arguing that there was no way Shuuhei was going to be willing to take the time out to go to a concert, but when he gave it some more thought, he realized that it might actually work. Grudgingly, he agreed that it might not be a bad idea. It was worth a shot, at any rate.
Ikkaku made all the arrangements.
A few nights later, Yumichika was again lounging on the couch, with Shuuhei sitting on the floor nearby with a heavy textbook in his lap. Yumichika whispered his boyfriend's voice in as sweet a voice as he could manage. It took him a few tries to even get the latter to respond.
“Are you busy on Saturday night?” Yumi questioned.
“I'll be cramming, as usual. My Calculus exam is Monday morning,” Shuuhei responded, not taking his eyes off the page he was reading.
Yumi smiled to himself as he attempted a casual tone. “Oh. Pity...”
Shuuhei finished reading the passage before he asked somewhat disinterestedly, “Why?”
Yumichika let out a dramatic sigh. “Well, I suppose these The Despairs concert tickets that I managed to come across will be going to waste, then.”
Shuuhei sat up with a jolt at the mention of The Despairs, his eyes wide as he stared at a smug-looking Yumichika. They were one of his favorite bands. How had Yumi known?!
After carefully weighing the pros and cons of the situation, Shuuhei gulped and stammered, “I... I suppose I could make time for something like that.”
Yumi grinned. Victory was within reach.
***
Yumichika didn't really know rock music. He'd never bothered to try to understand it. All those guys with their uncombed, greasy hair and garish make-up, screaming dissonantly into microphones... it was too “ugly” for Yumi to appreciate.
Still, he was willing to endure the concert for his boyfriend's sake. But he did feel slightly apprehensive, not knowing what would be in store for them.
Shuuhei, in full concert-wear, was watching the stage with quiet concentration.
When at last the band came out, it was amazing. The crowd went absolutely berserk, and Shuuhei and even Yumichika just went with it. Then the musicians started playing, and… it was indescribable. The voices and sounds all washed together into a raging storm that blew over and left everyone breathless. After a while, even Yumi was jumping, shouting, screaming, dancing-until he had lost all sense of his surroundings, save that he was moving, and that the music and he were one.
Sometime toward the end, he suddenly found himself with Shuuhei’s lips pressed to his. Yumichika realized he was standing with his body pressed very close to his boyfriend's, and he couldn’t remember how long they had been standing there like that, so close together. In fact, he couldn’t remember much other than the music. He realized his body was drenched with sweat; his shirt clinging to his chest. He couldn’t remember how he’d gotten so wet. Shuuhei’s hand was at the small of his back, pressing them closer. Yumi was standing on tiptoe and knew Shuuhei must be bending slightly through his knees to be able to kiss him.
Vainly, Yumichika grasped for his sanity, for his rationality that would allow him to clear his thinking, but somehow he and that side of him couldn’t get in touch. There was a gaping ravine between them. He realized faintly that the music must’ve inspired an almost out-of-body experience, and that his mind was still dull from the aftershock, but those thoughts were just leaves in a torrent of rain. After a while, he quit thinking altogether and just gave himself over to Shuuhei’s kisses.
Was this why Shuuhei was so passionate about this music?
Yumi didn’t remember when the concert had ended, just that suddenly there was no music and they were all trying to head for the exit. His body still tried to cling to his boyfriend's as Shuuhei pulled him through the crowd trying to get ahead. Then suddenly there was night, fresh air, breathing, darkness, the parking garage, bright lights, the street. And they were walking away, finally free of the crowd.
About a block or so from their apartment complex, Shuuhei slipped an arm around Yumichika's waist. The gesture was slightly unorthodox, as Shuuhei never had been too fond of public displays of affection of any sort, but Yumi knew better than to comment.
After they had walked for a few more minutes, Shuuhei whispered softly, “Thank you.”
Yumichika simply beamed up at him, sparkling as he noted proudly that his boyfriend looked happy and relaxed for the first time in weeks.
---
Drabble No.: 05
Fandom: Bleach
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Shuuhei/Yumichika
Dedication: peroxidepest17
Prompt: Tag
Description: AUish setting; same one as #04. It's now summer and there's a heatwave. Shuuhei is still trying to study. Yumichika is annoyed with the heat and an attention whore. Silly games ensue.
Rating: PG for light but slightly suggestive shounen-ai.
Word Count: 455.
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme.
Yumichika could be vicious when he felt neglected.
He was already annoyed at the hot, muggy state of their apartment. The entire city was suffering from a heatwave, and nothing bothered Yumi more than humid air that made his hairdo sag and his skin sticky.
That, and Shuuhei insisted upon studying for final exams that were still several weeks away.
The pile of textbooks on the low table in the living room seemed to be a mile high. Every once in a while, Yumi would chuck a cashew at the open book in Shuuhei's lap from his seat on the couch. Shuuhei would simply flick it away and continue reading, unperturbed, with the patience and endurance of an exalted prophet.
Eventually, Yumichika got annoyed enough at the entire situation that he flicked the cashew at Shuuhei's temple instead of the textbook.
Shuuhei yelped and finally looked up, his face set with lines of rage. “What was that for!?”
Yumi huffed, crossed his arms like a petulant child, and looked away.
Shuuhei growled, not nearly as angry as he sounded but unwilling to give Yumi the benefit of admitting how the long periods of studying were beginning to bore him, too. Still, Yumichika had been acting like a baby all day, constantly nagging him for attention. It was payback time.
“You want attention? Fine.” Rising to his feet, he bent over and tapped Yumichika on the forearm. When his boyfriend finally turned to face him and he was met with a puzzled look, he explained, “Tag! You're it.”
Before Yumi could think to argue, he made off in a mad dash toward the kitchen.
***
When Yumi finally managed to catch Shuuhei, the latter tripped him with his outstretched leg, and the two hot, sweaty bodies collapsed on top of each other on the carpeted bedroom floor. This time, it was Yumichika's turn to growl, while Shuuhei could not help but laugh.
“You made me exert myself physically in this terrible heat!” Yumi was pouting. “Now I'm no longer beautiful.”
Shuuhei could not suppress a guffaw. “Of course you are.”
“Look at my hair!” Yumichika's hair was indeed even greasier than before, with loose strands plastered to his forehead in a rather unkempt manner. “You had better take responsibility.”
Using one finger to push to the side the locks that had gotten stuck there, Shuuhei pressed a light kiss on Yumi's brow. “Always.”
“These clothes are soaked through. I think we'd better take them off and get you into the shower.” With a smirk and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, Shuuhei pulled his boyfriend to his feet and began to move toward the bathroom.
Yumi complied, grinning, and with a click, the door locked behind them.
---
Drabble No.: 06
Fandom: Gensou Suikoden I
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Mathiu and Odessa Silverberg, brief mentions of Leon Silverberg
Dedication: karthur
Prompt: Childhood
Description: Odessa asks Mathiu about the nature of warfare.
Rating: PG for brief references to violence.
Word Count: 830. (It's kind of like a series of related drabbles?)
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme.
When his sister Odessa was born, Mathiu Silverberg initially did not take much notice of the child. He had already reached that age where baby-talk held little appeal, and even her bright eyes and warm smile could not induce him to give up more than a little of the time he spent learning and studying to spend with her. He simply did not know what to do with a child who was too young to have even a semblance of an intelligent conversation with.
This went on for about four years, until Odessa had reached that age where she became infatuated with the word “why”, as all young children at some point do. It started off simply, with questions like, “Why won't brother play with me?”, “Why do I have to eat carrots?”, and, “Why is the sky blue?”
Odessa was an unusually bright child, however, and her curiosity never ceased. Long after she had exhausted all of the obvious questions, she still found others to ask and would not relent unless she had received an acceptable explanation.
One day, she even managed to sneak into the study, where Mathiu had retreated to earlier that afternoon for some quiet reading time.
“What are you doing?” her soft voice broke the silence.
“I'm studying.”
“Why?”
“Because Uncle Leon wants me to learn a lot about military strategy.”
“Why?”
“Well, I'm not quite sure, but he says that it's our family's destiny to be involved in the conflicts that shape our world. Wars, especially.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why is there war? Why do people fight each other?”
Mathiu looked up, surprised. He hadn't expected someone so young to be able to grasp the concept of 'war', but judging by the serious look on Odessa's face, she knew what she was talking about. Suddenly, she had become a lot more interesting in Mathiu's eyes.
He tried explaining to her what to him seemed like fairly obvious reasons: that some people wanted land, while others fought because they felt that there was something they must protect at all costs, and most of all, because people desired power.
Odessa did not look satisfied. “But why do they fight each other over that? I don't get it.”
Mathiu sighed and shooed her off, realizing that the concept of 'politics' was still beyond her. But her question remained with him long after Odessa had outgrown the "why" phase.
***
Shortly after the Succession War, Tinto had launched a surprise attack against newly-crowned Emperor Barbarossa's Scarlet Moon. Though the Six Great Generals and Leon Silverberg were already in pursuit with a counterattack, the Tinto Army had still managed to destroy several villages in the North. When Mathiu, already having his doubts, had refused Leon's invitation to ride out with them, the latter had sent his nephew to do a damage report of the affected area. Odessa, bored with city life, had elected to join her brother. Standing together on a nearby hilltop, the two surveyed the scene in front of them.
One village had been almost completely demolished. Smoke still hung in the air above where entire houses had been burned to the ground. Stooped figures moved silently through the rubble, searching for the missing, although by this time, there remained little hope that they were still alive.
Mathiu observed everything quietly. Though the scene was certainly horrific, it was not so different from what he had seen many times before. Odessa's face, however, was ashen gray and visibly stricken.
Her voice was thin and strained. “Why do people fight each other?”
He didn't-couldn't-answer.
***
Mathiu had almost given up on ever hearing from Odessa again after he had refused her request for aid concerning the newly-founded Liberation Army. At the time she had yelled and yelled, even angrily renouncing all ties between them.
So he was surprised when he received a letter from her several weeks later. Short and simple, it was nonetheless thought-provoking. She had written:
I once asked you why it is that people fight each other.
I have finally found my answer. I want to fight for a world where there is no more fighting, no more war. No more innocent people ruthlessly murdered. I believe that the Liberation Army can get us closer to this goal.
I know I probably cannot persuade you, but please give it some thought.
Mathiu frowned and shook his head. It was no use. He had already given it so much thought before, to no avail. Odessa was still young and naïve. He was old, now, and jaded. He no longer believed in the proverbial 'war to end all wars'.
His thoughts were interrupted when one of his students walked up and tapped him on the arm.
“Master Mathiu? I don't understand today's lesson.”
“What don't you understand?”
“Just, this whole thing about war... Why do people fight each other?”
Mathiu looked away, sighed, and shook his head again. “I'll tell you another time.”
---
Drabble No.: 07
Fandom: Bleach
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Byakuya/Ichigo
Dedication: ignipotent
Prompt: Silliness
Description: Ichigo is fascinated by Byakuya's hair. Because nothing is sillier than hair yeah right.
Rating: T for non-explicit references to yaoi because I know my Audrey likes teh pr0nz.
Word Count: 455.
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme. I really did have a hard time with this one. >_> Argh you and your difficult pairings... T____T
Byakuya preferred to go to sleep after sex, but Ichigo rarely let him. The state of euphoria produced the aftermath of orgasm was one of the only times when Byakuya was somewhat conversational and willing to answer Ichigo's questions, so the latter always tried to take this time to get to know his partner better.
On this particular occasion, Ichigo was feeling more playful than conversational. It made little difference to Byakuya, however, because in the end it meant the same thing: he would not be able to go to sleep for a while.
“Oi, Byakuya.” Fingering a strand of his lover's hair, Ichigo used his usual casual slang that Byakuya so despised. “What kinda' shampoo do you use? Your hair's soft and fine, like a girl's.”
Eyes closed, Byakuya frowned and tried to pull away as Ichigo's hands roamed further and further up toward his scalp. “I use the finest imported oils. Expensive. Stop touching it.”
Lying on his side facing the older man, Ichigo ignored his demand and brought a few locks up to his nose and sniffed. “Smells like sweat now though.” With his other hand, he traced figures at the roots of Byakuya's hair, close to his face. “I like it without the hair cu-“
“Kenseikan.” Byakuya didn't even let him finish. “You commoners have no appreciation for antique hair ornaments, especially ones closely linked to one's heritage.”
“Whatever.” Ichigo started braiding some of the locks of hair closest to him, something he'd been forced to learn how to do growing up with two younger sisters and no mother. “I just think you oughtta' do somethin' else with it every once in a while. Ya' know, play around with it. Try different things.”
When Byakuya realized what the other was trying to do with his hair, he smacked his hand away and glared at him, then closed his eyes again. “Stop. I am trying to sleep.”
“Oookayyyyy.” Ichigo grinned and shrugged, combing his fingers through the strands to remove the braid. “Or, ya' know, you can just wear it all loose like this. Let the wind run through it and play with it a little. It feels nice. You really oughtta' try it.”
Byakuya roughly grabbed Ichigo's hand at his wrist. However, the feel of his lover's hands combing through his hair had begun to arouse him.
“Stop. You have two choices at this point. Either you'll let me sleep, or we'll go again.” The mixture of heat and anger in his eyes showed that he meant it.
The look sent a shiver down the younger man's spine, elliciting heat in his own loins.
Obediently rolling onto his back and spreading his legs, Ichigo smirked smugly. “Ah, sleep is overrated anyway.”
---
Drabble No.: 08
Fandom: Gensou Suikoden III
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Albert/Jacques, brief mention of Nadir
Dedication: Muffin-love michrure
Prompt: Behind the scenes
Description: MSA-verse. Jacques is acting in one of Nadir's shows. Albert is... Albert? Haha, anything more will give it away.
Rating: PG for shounen-ai.
Word Count: 670.
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme. I wasn't sure what exactly you meant by "behind the scenes" but you know that Theater controls a good 40% of my mind, so... >_> And I'm sorry you lost your iPod! ;_;
Jacques found that he missed Albert.
The two lovers had not gotten to see much of each other the past several weeks, as Jacques had been having to stay out late every night for vigorous rehearsals for Nadir's latest production. Jacques would not return to their room until past midnight. Albert would usually still be up-reading, of course-and Jacques, exhausted, would crawl under the covers and snuggle up next to his boyfriend, only to fall asleep right away. Albert would be gone by the time Jacques woke up in the morning; it was, after all, Albert's habit to take a walk before sunrise and then spend the remaining hours before class started in the library.
Jacques would, however, always find a fresh and healthy breakfast waiting for him on the dining table.
But Jacques did not get to see Albert much during the month before the show, and he felt the absence like a security blanket that had been ruthlessly torn away from him.
Occasionally, they would pass each other in the hallways. Albert would smirk, that characteristic half-smile of his, and those who knew him best would discern a slight twinkle in his eyes, but he would show no other visible signs of affection. This was, after all, the aloof and stoic Albert Silverberg. All the same, Jacques would look down and blush. He couldn't seem to help doing that whenever he saw Albert lately.
The day of the opening of the show, there lay also a single red rose beside the fresh strawberry topping on the pancakes.
Jacques, blushing furiously, nonetheless gratefully accepted the small gift, only wishing that his boyfriend was actually present when he received it. He felt nervous, wondering if he could truly get up on the stage that night and perform his part. He wished Albert were there to comfort him. But Albert, as always, was nowhere to be found.
During every class that day, he fidgeted in his seat and kept his eye trained on the door, hoping against hope that Albert would enter his class under some pretense or other. At long last, however, the bell rang to dismiss the students for the day, and Jacques had not managed to catch a single glimpse of the tall redhead.
He quickly returned to the dorm, in the vain hope that he might see Albert while he got together all his things for the show that night. But the room was empty. Sighing, Jacques resigned himself to the fact that he probably would not get to see Albert until after the performance.
Trudging to the auxiliary building where the Theater was housed, eyes downcast, Jacques failed to detect the figure following behind him until he felt two strong arms around his waist.
Albert hugged him from behind for a few seconds, whispering words of encouragement in French into his ear. Then, just as quickly, he disappeared again.
Jacques was smiling broadly. It was enough.
That night, he performed his lines on stage with a renewed passion, and he only felt a slight twinge of stage fright. Overall, he found he wasn't nervous anymore; his brief moment with Albert had been enough to calm him down and induce him to focus on the task at hand without feeling too distracted.
Before he knew it, his part in the show was over. There were still several scenes left, but his character had been killed after a dramatic monologue that had earned loud applause from the crowd. Jacques removed his wig and moved into the wings to watch the rest of the performance. He stood there and gazed upon the other actors for a while, when all of a sudden a figure detached itself from the heavy shadows backstage and wrapped itself around him again.
“You were wonderful tonight,” Albert whispered into his ear after tenderly kissing his cheek from behind. “Trés magnifique.”
Turning around to embrace his boyfriend, Jacques smiled up at Albert lovingly, a slight blush tinting his cheeks. “......So were you...”
---
Drabble No.: 09
Fandom: Gensou Suikoden III
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Albert/Jacques, brief mention of Dr. Tuta
Dedication: HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY michrure~!! ♥
Prompt: Flu
Description: MSA-verse. Jacques is sick. Albert is worried and decides to actually try to be a good boyfriend for a change. SUPER CHEESY FLUFF.
Rating: PG for light shounen-ai.
Word Count: 435.
Other Notes: I tried writing Pie/Muffin but it didn't really work out. >_> Also, I started on this ages ago for your birthday but then never had the chance to finish because of all the shit that happened. >_< I'm sorryyyyyyy~! ;_______; I ♥ you and your Jacques-muse lots.
Even though he was Jacques' lover, Albert fully recognized that he was never a particularly romantic man, especially in public. Most assumed (correctly) that Albert generally preferred to keep it that way.
However, when the first of winter's cold spells hit and Jacques fell ill with the flu, Albert did walk two miles into town every morning just to buy fresh oranges, which, once back in the dorm, he would laboriously peel and squeeze to produce fresh juice.
He'd nod at Jacques while handing him the cup and say, “Vitamins,” and he would leave it at that.
When Jacques' symptoms did not let up and he began to develop a fever, rather than reading or studying, Albert would stand in the kitchen area of the dorms for hours baking fresh bread and cooking up tomato soup and beef-and-vegetable broth, which he wholeheartedly believed ought to cure the sickest person. He'd even stay by Jacques' side as the other ate. He claimed, of course, that it was not out of concern for the patient but to ensure that the meal was properly consumed and that his efforts in the kitchen did not go to waste (in which case it was rather curious that he would be smiling ever so slightly the entire time he watched his roommate eat).
When Jacques' fever peaked and even Dr. Tuta's medication seemed ineffective, Albert, top upperclassman and honor student though he was, skipped class for three whole days to stay in and watch over his roommate. Without a word, he simply slipped under the many blankets and lay beside the patient, subsequently spending the time tirelessly reading books to the other, ranging from Gulliver's Travels to Nietzsche and Kafka. His voice never faltered and his eyes never wearied, and he would stop only if his partner had fallen asleep, using that time as a brief respite for his voice, getting more cold-water compresses, and baking or cooking more food for when the patient awoke again.
When Jacques at long last began to recover, he was terribly conscious of the sacrifices his boyfriend had made for his sake. When Albert came to check his temperature by laying his hand across Jacques' forehead and thereby ascertaining that the fever had indeed gone down, he ruffled Jacques' golden locks as was his habit, and though it was not generally his style to be so assertive, Jacques, blushing, whispered, “...I love you...”
And Albert, pulling Jacques in for a tender kiss, flashed a slight smug smirk, realizing that, for an unromantic man, he was doing quite all right, quite all right.
Also for your birthday, I uploaded a manga for you that I think you'd enjoy. For some reason it really reminds me of Albie/Jacq. It's called Rin! and it's by Honami Yukine, my favorite yaoi mangaka. (I hope you haven't read it before!) You can download it here & here. Enjoy~! ♥
Drabble No.: 04
Fandom: Bleach
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Shuuhei/Yumichika, Ikkaku
Dedication: peroxidepest17
Prompt: Stress
Description: AUish setting. Shuuhei and Yumichika live together in an apartment in the normal (modern) world. Shuuhei is a college student and under high stress because it's exam time and he needs to study. Yumichika feels slightly neglected and decides it's time to do something to get his boyfriend to relax a little.
Rating: PG-13 for shounen-ai and mentions of alcohol abuse.
Word Count: 1,195. Which is like, almost half a fic. Oops.
Other Notes: I promised you this one over spring break when you were stressing about your exams but I never quite finished and then I forgot about it until I started working on your other drabble request and found that I already had a file called "ShuuYumi drabble.doc". o_o; Anyway, I kind of went on a tangent in this fic, sorry. >_> The whole concert scene was inspired by an actual concert I went to. The Despairs are (supposed to be) a fictional band, though.
Yumichika realized that it wasn't really fair of him to whine so much when Shuuhei was trying to work so hard to succeed in his university studies.
But Yumi also knew that Shuuhei had as much of a responsibility to his boyfriend as he did to his coursework. Especially when the boyfriend in question was as beautiful as he was.
So when, sprawled across the couch in their apartment in a rather suggestive pose, Yumichika begged for Shuuhei's attention once again, and Shuuhei snapped at him that he was studying for his midterms and that he couldn't afford to be distracted right now, Yumi let out a dramatic sigh, deciding that something must be done. Shuuhei was stressed out by his upcoming exams, and Yumichika was feeling neglected. Surely there ought to be something that could satisfy both of their needs.
He tried everything, from baking to shopping together to trying to get his boyfriend drunk. But Shuuhei didn't have much of a sweet tooth, he wasn't interested in any of the boutiques Yumichika dragged him into and only tried on outfits because the latter begged him to, and when Yumi finally got him to down enough alcohol, he simply passed out on the couch, mentally exhausted from his studying earlier that day.
And so the problem went unresolved, and both partners grew increasingly more grumpy, taking their stress and discontentment out on each other and threatening to destroy their still-young relationship.
At his wit's end, Yumichika finally went to see their mutual friend Ikkaku, who was a bartender at a local pool hall. Sipping at an apple martini, Yumi explained the entire dilemma, sometimes pausing dramatically to wipe away a tear.
“Way I see it, here's what ya' do, Yumi,” Ikkaku advised after giving the matter a few moments' thought. “Ya' need to take him out somewhere really fun. Something ta' make him forget his stress and appreciate you as a boyfriend.”
“But... but I've already tried everything I could think of,” Yumichika sniffed.
“Well, yer' forgettin' somethin' major,” Ikkaku explained. “Try an' think. What was it Shuuhei did 'fore he managed ta' make it inta' college?”
Yumi frowned, trying to remember. “...He was in a band?”
“Bingo,” Ikkaku grinned. When Yumi still looked confused, he went on, “Shuuhei loves music. So what'cha gotta' do is, take him to a concert!”
He beamed proudly, as if it were the smartest idea he'd ever come up with in his life. Yumichika initially felt tempted to shoot down the idea, arguing that there was no way Shuuhei was going to be willing to take the time out to go to a concert, but when he gave it some more thought, he realized that it might actually work. Grudgingly, he agreed that it might not be a bad idea. It was worth a shot, at any rate.
Ikkaku made all the arrangements.
A few nights later, Yumichika was again lounging on the couch, with Shuuhei sitting on the floor nearby with a heavy textbook in his lap. Yumichika whispered his boyfriend's voice in as sweet a voice as he could manage. It took him a few tries to even get the latter to respond.
“Are you busy on Saturday night?” Yumi questioned.
“I'll be cramming, as usual. My Calculus exam is Monday morning,” Shuuhei responded, not taking his eyes off the page he was reading.
Yumi smiled to himself as he attempted a casual tone. “Oh. Pity...”
Shuuhei finished reading the passage before he asked somewhat disinterestedly, “Why?”
Yumichika let out a dramatic sigh. “Well, I suppose these The Despairs concert tickets that I managed to come across will be going to waste, then.”
Shuuhei sat up with a jolt at the mention of The Despairs, his eyes wide as he stared at a smug-looking Yumichika. They were one of his favorite bands. How had Yumi known?!
After carefully weighing the pros and cons of the situation, Shuuhei gulped and stammered, “I... I suppose I could make time for something like that.”
Yumi grinned. Victory was within reach.
***
Yumichika didn't really know rock music. He'd never bothered to try to understand it. All those guys with their uncombed, greasy hair and garish make-up, screaming dissonantly into microphones... it was too “ugly” for Yumi to appreciate.
Still, he was willing to endure the concert for his boyfriend's sake. But he did feel slightly apprehensive, not knowing what would be in store for them.
Shuuhei, in full concert-wear, was watching the stage with quiet concentration.
When at last the band came out, it was amazing. The crowd went absolutely berserk, and Shuuhei and even Yumichika just went with it. Then the musicians started playing, and… it was indescribable. The voices and sounds all washed together into a raging storm that blew over and left everyone breathless. After a while, even Yumi was jumping, shouting, screaming, dancing-until he had lost all sense of his surroundings, save that he was moving, and that the music and he were one.
Sometime toward the end, he suddenly found himself with Shuuhei’s lips pressed to his. Yumichika realized he was standing with his body pressed very close to his boyfriend's, and he couldn’t remember how long they had been standing there like that, so close together. In fact, he couldn’t remember much other than the music. He realized his body was drenched with sweat; his shirt clinging to his chest. He couldn’t remember how he’d gotten so wet. Shuuhei’s hand was at the small of his back, pressing them closer. Yumi was standing on tiptoe and knew Shuuhei must be bending slightly through his knees to be able to kiss him.
Vainly, Yumichika grasped for his sanity, for his rationality that would allow him to clear his thinking, but somehow he and that side of him couldn’t get in touch. There was a gaping ravine between them. He realized faintly that the music must’ve inspired an almost out-of-body experience, and that his mind was still dull from the aftershock, but those thoughts were just leaves in a torrent of rain. After a while, he quit thinking altogether and just gave himself over to Shuuhei’s kisses.
Was this why Shuuhei was so passionate about this music?
Yumi didn’t remember when the concert had ended, just that suddenly there was no music and they were all trying to head for the exit. His body still tried to cling to his boyfriend's as Shuuhei pulled him through the crowd trying to get ahead. Then suddenly there was night, fresh air, breathing, darkness, the parking garage, bright lights, the street. And they were walking away, finally free of the crowd.
About a block or so from their apartment complex, Shuuhei slipped an arm around Yumichika's waist. The gesture was slightly unorthodox, as Shuuhei never had been too fond of public displays of affection of any sort, but Yumi knew better than to comment.
After they had walked for a few more minutes, Shuuhei whispered softly, “Thank you.”
Yumichika simply beamed up at him, sparkling as he noted proudly that his boyfriend looked happy and relaxed for the first time in weeks.
---
Drabble No.: 05
Fandom: Bleach
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Shuuhei/Yumichika
Dedication: peroxidepest17
Prompt: Tag
Description: AUish setting; same one as #04. It's now summer and there's a heatwave. Shuuhei is still trying to study. Yumichika is annoyed with the heat and an attention whore. Silly games ensue.
Rating: PG for light but slightly suggestive shounen-ai.
Word Count: 455.
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme.
Yumichika could be vicious when he felt neglected.
He was already annoyed at the hot, muggy state of their apartment. The entire city was suffering from a heatwave, and nothing bothered Yumi more than humid air that made his hairdo sag and his skin sticky.
That, and Shuuhei insisted upon studying for final exams that were still several weeks away.
The pile of textbooks on the low table in the living room seemed to be a mile high. Every once in a while, Yumi would chuck a cashew at the open book in Shuuhei's lap from his seat on the couch. Shuuhei would simply flick it away and continue reading, unperturbed, with the patience and endurance of an exalted prophet.
Eventually, Yumichika got annoyed enough at the entire situation that he flicked the cashew at Shuuhei's temple instead of the textbook.
Shuuhei yelped and finally looked up, his face set with lines of rage. “What was that for!?”
Yumi huffed, crossed his arms like a petulant child, and looked away.
Shuuhei growled, not nearly as angry as he sounded but unwilling to give Yumi the benefit of admitting how the long periods of studying were beginning to bore him, too. Still, Yumichika had been acting like a baby all day, constantly nagging him for attention. It was payback time.
“You want attention? Fine.” Rising to his feet, he bent over and tapped Yumichika on the forearm. When his boyfriend finally turned to face him and he was met with a puzzled look, he explained, “Tag! You're it.”
Before Yumi could think to argue, he made off in a mad dash toward the kitchen.
***
When Yumi finally managed to catch Shuuhei, the latter tripped him with his outstretched leg, and the two hot, sweaty bodies collapsed on top of each other on the carpeted bedroom floor. This time, it was Yumichika's turn to growl, while Shuuhei could not help but laugh.
“You made me exert myself physically in this terrible heat!” Yumi was pouting. “Now I'm no longer beautiful.”
Shuuhei could not suppress a guffaw. “Of course you are.”
“Look at my hair!” Yumichika's hair was indeed even greasier than before, with loose strands plastered to his forehead in a rather unkempt manner. “You had better take responsibility.”
Using one finger to push to the side the locks that had gotten stuck there, Shuuhei pressed a light kiss on Yumi's brow. “Always.”
“These clothes are soaked through. I think we'd better take them off and get you into the shower.” With a smirk and a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, Shuuhei pulled his boyfriend to his feet and began to move toward the bathroom.
Yumi complied, grinning, and with a click, the door locked behind them.
---
Drabble No.: 06
Fandom: Gensou Suikoden I
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Mathiu and Odessa Silverberg, brief mentions of Leon Silverberg
Dedication: karthur
Prompt: Childhood
Description: Odessa asks Mathiu about the nature of warfare.
Rating: PG for brief references to violence.
Word Count: 830. (It's kind of like a series of related drabbles?)
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme.
When his sister Odessa was born, Mathiu Silverberg initially did not take much notice of the child. He had already reached that age where baby-talk held little appeal, and even her bright eyes and warm smile could not induce him to give up more than a little of the time he spent learning and studying to spend with her. He simply did not know what to do with a child who was too young to have even a semblance of an intelligent conversation with.
This went on for about four years, until Odessa had reached that age where she became infatuated with the word “why”, as all young children at some point do. It started off simply, with questions like, “Why won't brother play with me?”, “Why do I have to eat carrots?”, and, “Why is the sky blue?”
Odessa was an unusually bright child, however, and her curiosity never ceased. Long after she had exhausted all of the obvious questions, she still found others to ask and would not relent unless she had received an acceptable explanation.
One day, she even managed to sneak into the study, where Mathiu had retreated to earlier that afternoon for some quiet reading time.
“What are you doing?” her soft voice broke the silence.
“I'm studying.”
“Why?”
“Because Uncle Leon wants me to learn a lot about military strategy.”
“Why?”
“Well, I'm not quite sure, but he says that it's our family's destiny to be involved in the conflicts that shape our world. Wars, especially.”
“Why?”
“Why what?”
“Why is there war? Why do people fight each other?”
Mathiu looked up, surprised. He hadn't expected someone so young to be able to grasp the concept of 'war', but judging by the serious look on Odessa's face, she knew what she was talking about. Suddenly, she had become a lot more interesting in Mathiu's eyes.
He tried explaining to her what to him seemed like fairly obvious reasons: that some people wanted land, while others fought because they felt that there was something they must protect at all costs, and most of all, because people desired power.
Odessa did not look satisfied. “But why do they fight each other over that? I don't get it.”
Mathiu sighed and shooed her off, realizing that the concept of 'politics' was still beyond her. But her question remained with him long after Odessa had outgrown the "why" phase.
***
Shortly after the Succession War, Tinto had launched a surprise attack against newly-crowned Emperor Barbarossa's Scarlet Moon. Though the Six Great Generals and Leon Silverberg were already in pursuit with a counterattack, the Tinto Army had still managed to destroy several villages in the North. When Mathiu, already having his doubts, had refused Leon's invitation to ride out with them, the latter had sent his nephew to do a damage report of the affected area. Odessa, bored with city life, had elected to join her brother. Standing together on a nearby hilltop, the two surveyed the scene in front of them.
One village had been almost completely demolished. Smoke still hung in the air above where entire houses had been burned to the ground. Stooped figures moved silently through the rubble, searching for the missing, although by this time, there remained little hope that they were still alive.
Mathiu observed everything quietly. Though the scene was certainly horrific, it was not so different from what he had seen many times before. Odessa's face, however, was ashen gray and visibly stricken.
Her voice was thin and strained. “Why do people fight each other?”
He didn't-couldn't-answer.
***
Mathiu had almost given up on ever hearing from Odessa again after he had refused her request for aid concerning the newly-founded Liberation Army. At the time she had yelled and yelled, even angrily renouncing all ties between them.
So he was surprised when he received a letter from her several weeks later. Short and simple, it was nonetheless thought-provoking. She had written:
I once asked you why it is that people fight each other.
I have finally found my answer. I want to fight for a world where there is no more fighting, no more war. No more innocent people ruthlessly murdered. I believe that the Liberation Army can get us closer to this goal.
I know I probably cannot persuade you, but please give it some thought.
Mathiu frowned and shook his head. It was no use. He had already given it so much thought before, to no avail. Odessa was still young and naïve. He was old, now, and jaded. He no longer believed in the proverbial 'war to end all wars'.
His thoughts were interrupted when one of his students walked up and tapped him on the arm.
“Master Mathiu? I don't understand today's lesson.”
“What don't you understand?”
“Just, this whole thing about war... Why do people fight each other?”
Mathiu looked away, sighed, and shook his head again. “I'll tell you another time.”
---
Drabble No.: 07
Fandom: Bleach
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Byakuya/Ichigo
Dedication: ignipotent
Prompt: Silliness
Description: Ichigo is fascinated by Byakuya's hair. Because nothing is sillier than hair yeah right.
Rating: T for non-explicit references to yaoi because I know my Audrey likes teh pr0nz.
Word Count: 455.
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme. I really did have a hard time with this one. >_> Argh you and your difficult pairings... T____T
Byakuya preferred to go to sleep after sex, but Ichigo rarely let him. The state of euphoria produced the aftermath of orgasm was one of the only times when Byakuya was somewhat conversational and willing to answer Ichigo's questions, so the latter always tried to take this time to get to know his partner better.
On this particular occasion, Ichigo was feeling more playful than conversational. It made little difference to Byakuya, however, because in the end it meant the same thing: he would not be able to go to sleep for a while.
“Oi, Byakuya.” Fingering a strand of his lover's hair, Ichigo used his usual casual slang that Byakuya so despised. “What kinda' shampoo do you use? Your hair's soft and fine, like a girl's.”
Eyes closed, Byakuya frowned and tried to pull away as Ichigo's hands roamed further and further up toward his scalp. “I use the finest imported oils. Expensive. Stop touching it.”
Lying on his side facing the older man, Ichigo ignored his demand and brought a few locks up to his nose and sniffed. “Smells like sweat now though.” With his other hand, he traced figures at the roots of Byakuya's hair, close to his face. “I like it without the hair cu-“
“Kenseikan.” Byakuya didn't even let him finish. “You commoners have no appreciation for antique hair ornaments, especially ones closely linked to one's heritage.”
“Whatever.” Ichigo started braiding some of the locks of hair closest to him, something he'd been forced to learn how to do growing up with two younger sisters and no mother. “I just think you oughtta' do somethin' else with it every once in a while. Ya' know, play around with it. Try different things.”
When Byakuya realized what the other was trying to do with his hair, he smacked his hand away and glared at him, then closed his eyes again. “Stop. I am trying to sleep.”
“Oookayyyyy.” Ichigo grinned and shrugged, combing his fingers through the strands to remove the braid. “Or, ya' know, you can just wear it all loose like this. Let the wind run through it and play with it a little. It feels nice. You really oughtta' try it.”
Byakuya roughly grabbed Ichigo's hand at his wrist. However, the feel of his lover's hands combing through his hair had begun to arouse him.
“Stop. You have two choices at this point. Either you'll let me sleep, or we'll go again.” The mixture of heat and anger in his eyes showed that he meant it.
The look sent a shiver down the younger man's spine, elliciting heat in his own loins.
Obediently rolling onto his back and spreading his legs, Ichigo smirked smugly. “Ah, sleep is overrated anyway.”
---
Drabble No.: 08
Fandom: Gensou Suikoden III
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Albert/Jacques, brief mention of Nadir
Dedication: Muffin-love michrure
Prompt: Behind the scenes
Description: MSA-verse. Jacques is acting in one of Nadir's shows. Albert is... Albert? Haha, anything more will give it away.
Rating: PG for shounen-ai.
Word Count: 670.
Other Notes: For this drabble request meme. I wasn't sure what exactly you meant by "behind the scenes" but you know that Theater controls a good 40% of my mind, so... >_> And I'm sorry you lost your iPod! ;_;
Jacques found that he missed Albert.
The two lovers had not gotten to see much of each other the past several weeks, as Jacques had been having to stay out late every night for vigorous rehearsals for Nadir's latest production. Jacques would not return to their room until past midnight. Albert would usually still be up-reading, of course-and Jacques, exhausted, would crawl under the covers and snuggle up next to his boyfriend, only to fall asleep right away. Albert would be gone by the time Jacques woke up in the morning; it was, after all, Albert's habit to take a walk before sunrise and then spend the remaining hours before class started in the library.
Jacques would, however, always find a fresh and healthy breakfast waiting for him on the dining table.
But Jacques did not get to see Albert much during the month before the show, and he felt the absence like a security blanket that had been ruthlessly torn away from him.
Occasionally, they would pass each other in the hallways. Albert would smirk, that characteristic half-smile of his, and those who knew him best would discern a slight twinkle in his eyes, but he would show no other visible signs of affection. This was, after all, the aloof and stoic Albert Silverberg. All the same, Jacques would look down and blush. He couldn't seem to help doing that whenever he saw Albert lately.
The day of the opening of the show, there lay also a single red rose beside the fresh strawberry topping on the pancakes.
Jacques, blushing furiously, nonetheless gratefully accepted the small gift, only wishing that his boyfriend was actually present when he received it. He felt nervous, wondering if he could truly get up on the stage that night and perform his part. He wished Albert were there to comfort him. But Albert, as always, was nowhere to be found.
During every class that day, he fidgeted in his seat and kept his eye trained on the door, hoping against hope that Albert would enter his class under some pretense or other. At long last, however, the bell rang to dismiss the students for the day, and Jacques had not managed to catch a single glimpse of the tall redhead.
He quickly returned to the dorm, in the vain hope that he might see Albert while he got together all his things for the show that night. But the room was empty. Sighing, Jacques resigned himself to the fact that he probably would not get to see Albert until after the performance.
Trudging to the auxiliary building where the Theater was housed, eyes downcast, Jacques failed to detect the figure following behind him until he felt two strong arms around his waist.
Albert hugged him from behind for a few seconds, whispering words of encouragement in French into his ear. Then, just as quickly, he disappeared again.
Jacques was smiling broadly. It was enough.
That night, he performed his lines on stage with a renewed passion, and he only felt a slight twinge of stage fright. Overall, he found he wasn't nervous anymore; his brief moment with Albert had been enough to calm him down and induce him to focus on the task at hand without feeling too distracted.
Before he knew it, his part in the show was over. There were still several scenes left, but his character had been killed after a dramatic monologue that had earned loud applause from the crowd. Jacques removed his wig and moved into the wings to watch the rest of the performance. He stood there and gazed upon the other actors for a while, when all of a sudden a figure detached itself from the heavy shadows backstage and wrapped itself around him again.
“You were wonderful tonight,” Albert whispered into his ear after tenderly kissing his cheek from behind. “Trés magnifique.”
Turning around to embrace his boyfriend, Jacques smiled up at Albert lovingly, a slight blush tinting his cheeks. “......So were you...”
---
Drabble No.: 09
Fandom: Gensou Suikoden III
Character(s)/Pairing(s): Albert/Jacques, brief mention of Dr. Tuta
Dedication: HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY michrure~!! ♥
Prompt: Flu
Description: MSA-verse. Jacques is sick. Albert is worried and decides to actually try to be a good boyfriend for a change. SUPER CHEESY FLUFF.
Rating: PG for light shounen-ai.
Word Count: 435.
Other Notes: I tried writing Pie/Muffin but it didn't really work out. >_> Also, I started on this ages ago for your birthday but then never had the chance to finish because of all the shit that happened. >_< I'm sorryyyyyyy~! ;_______; I ♥ you and your Jacques-muse lots.
Even though he was Jacques' lover, Albert fully recognized that he was never a particularly romantic man, especially in public. Most assumed (correctly) that Albert generally preferred to keep it that way.
However, when the first of winter's cold spells hit and Jacques fell ill with the flu, Albert did walk two miles into town every morning just to buy fresh oranges, which, once back in the dorm, he would laboriously peel and squeeze to produce fresh juice.
He'd nod at Jacques while handing him the cup and say, “Vitamins,” and he would leave it at that.
When Jacques' symptoms did not let up and he began to develop a fever, rather than reading or studying, Albert would stand in the kitchen area of the dorms for hours baking fresh bread and cooking up tomato soup and beef-and-vegetable broth, which he wholeheartedly believed ought to cure the sickest person. He'd even stay by Jacques' side as the other ate. He claimed, of course, that it was not out of concern for the patient but to ensure that the meal was properly consumed and that his efforts in the kitchen did not go to waste (in which case it was rather curious that he would be smiling ever so slightly the entire time he watched his roommate eat).
When Jacques' fever peaked and even Dr. Tuta's medication seemed ineffective, Albert, top upperclassman and honor student though he was, skipped class for three whole days to stay in and watch over his roommate. Without a word, he simply slipped under the many blankets and lay beside the patient, subsequently spending the time tirelessly reading books to the other, ranging from Gulliver's Travels to Nietzsche and Kafka. His voice never faltered and his eyes never wearied, and he would stop only if his partner had fallen asleep, using that time as a brief respite for his voice, getting more cold-water compresses, and baking or cooking more food for when the patient awoke again.
When Jacques at long last began to recover, he was terribly conscious of the sacrifices his boyfriend had made for his sake. When Albert came to check his temperature by laying his hand across Jacques' forehead and thereby ascertaining that the fever had indeed gone down, he ruffled Jacques' golden locks as was his habit, and though it was not generally his style to be so assertive, Jacques, blushing, whispered, “...I love you...”
And Albert, pulling Jacques in for a tender kiss, flashed a slight smug smirk, realizing that, for an unromantic man, he was doing quite all right, quite all right.
Also for your birthday, I uploaded a manga for you that I think you'd enjoy. For some reason it really reminds me of Albie/Jacq. It's called Rin! and it's by Honami Yukine, my favorite yaoi mangaka. (I hope you haven't read it before!) You can download it here & here. Enjoy~! ♥