honour and other lofty ideals
Title: Honour and Other Lofty Ideals
Pairing/Group: Nakamaru Yuichi/Taguchi Junnosuke, Tanaka Koki
Rating/Warnings: NC-17, Warning for AU of the steampunk variety, General appearances, creeping about, crossdressing
Word Count: 3426
Summary: General has always been a man of lofty ideals: honour, strategy, destiny. Not so much destiny for Taguchi, though; he prefers the baser things in life: wholesale slaughter, pretty things. Usually just the pretty things.
Notes: So, this is also based off of je_levy’s amazing and delightful and madcap NTT steampunk AU. Except this was not at all planned with her, though sekky_chan might have lurked a bit while I wrote this. This is what I think might have happened before the original story started. Also I might have started this before Levy started writing a sequel to the original. <.<
Anyway, happy (early) birthday, Levy, and I really hope you enjoy this. ♥♥♥♥♥
General has been planning and planning for months, and it seems like he’s getting even closer to figuring out how he wants to expose the treachery going on right underneath the Emperor’s nose. Junno doesn’t much care for this revenge; he has his own agenda, though his progress is going extremely slowly. That’s okay, though, because he’s got other things to occupy his mind. Things like General, and his delicate fingers, and his stern one-eyed gaze tempered by his unseeing bronze eye patch.
Junno isn’t really much good at following orders, but he does his best for General. Especially now that General has decided he needs to steal blueprints from the Industrial Development Minister. That’s how Junno finds himself casually walking into the palatial grounds of the minister’s manor with the day’s shift of mechanics and guards. He’ll find a suitably secluded guard and borrow his credentials; he’s already procured a uniform, tucked safely in his rucksack. For this initial infiltration, though, Junno is waltzing in, for all intents and purposes as a civilian.
His assignment is simple: learn the layout of the manor, all the entrances and exits, and find where the minister keeps his blueprints. General is convinced they’ll be in the study.
Junno’s first stop is in the workshop. It takes up its own sprawling wing of the manor, close enough for the minister to keep an eye on the executions of his designs but set far enough back from the main house to keep any catastrophes from spreading too far.
The whole workshop wing is huge, a cross between a factory with conveyor belts and hissing steam and clanging mechanisms, and a tinkerer’s stockpile of miscellaneous parts, and this is just the part that is ground-level. There seems to be at least another level sunken into the earth, though it doesn’t seem convenient for any sort of work. Junno notes the exits (one in each wall, plus the huge bay door that delivery vehicles back into and depart from); the door that’s shut firmly in the center of the wall that the workshop shares with the house proper is obviously the one that leads into the house. There’s a single guard posted at the door, but it would be too obvious that something was amiss if the man were to disappear and return considerably taller.
Junno straightens his heavy work gloves and pulls down the brass welder's glasses he happened to find conveniently in his hands, and begins wandering through the maze of whistling machines and mechanics. It seems that their current project seems to be some sort of automaton, and Junno can’t help but sneer at it. From the seconds he spares to peer at the pieces, it looks like his arm might have been a prototype component of the machines being assembled here. He continues, pausing behind a gigantic flywheel to listen to some of the mechanics talking.
“Oho, you’ll meet him soon enough. He spends plenty of time mooching about here.” It seems like these men would speak more highly of their employer, but Junno’s intrigued at what the mechanic says next.
“He’s very curious, and any time I’ve ever taught him anything he’s shown me a good time after.”
“What, you get a bonus?”
“Ah, that would be nice, but in some ways this is even better....” The words are indistinguishable for a moment, but then they’re crystal clear again in time for Junno to catch who exactly it is that the men are talking about.
“The boss’s son is very pretty, especially his mouth... He knows how to use it, when he’s not moping around bemoaning his lot in life. And from behind, you can even imagine you’ve got yourself a girl, what with his curls and smooth skin and pert behind....”
Junno swallows, wondering what sort of person the minister’s son is. He sounds kind of fun, and Junno has always liked fun. He files the information away, sure that he’ll catch a glimpse in the coming days. For now, though, he’ll continue his task.
He manages to wander away from the workshop, and casually makes his way across the courtyard to the motorcade entrance on the opposite side of the house. The guards’ eyes pass over him as he lugs a toolbox he borrowed from the workshop; this will be too easy. They’re so complacent.
*
Junno’s first week of surveillance goes by uneventfully; he returns to General for the week’s end.
General is relaxing on the settee, smoking his pipe as Junno rests his head against General’s crossed legs, his long limbs folded onto the remaining space of the couch. The warmth of General’s lap is soothing, as is the scent of tobacco and the subtle swaying of the ship. Occasionally he threads a hand into Junno’s hair.
“Security is lax at the manor, General. I walked right into the workshop, and no one said anything to me!” Junno is proud of himself; this is one time it hasn’t ended in violence. Junno is sure it will, eventually, and he can wait.
General pets him absently as he continues. “They were building things using my arm,” Junno says softly. He isn’t sure why he mentions it, but he does. Maybe it’s because he neglects to mention the minister’s son.
General shushes him, then quietly murmurs, “You’re doing well, Taguchi. It’s been quiet while you’ve been away on your assignment, so you may spend the evening in my quarters.”
Junno can’t quite contain the delighted noise he makes as he rolls off of the settee and springs to his feet, slinging his jacket from his shoulders and dropping it over the back of a chair.
He hears General’s amused sigh as he taps the ashes out of his pipe and puts it away, rather more sedate as he stands and follows him to his room.
By the time General shuts the door behind himself, Junno has already slipped off his shirt and gloves, and he’s fighting the buckles of his knee boots. He’s laying across the middle of General’s lavish bed, legs flung up in the air as he finally kicks the boots off. Shoes dispensed with, Junno plants his feet on the mattress and raises his hips as he unfastens his trousers and kicks off the rest of his clothing.
General simply watches as Junno takes a few moments to roll around on the bed and muss the sheets. Junno stills when General clears his throat, and sits up, waiting for orders. These sort are usually the ones he’s best at following. A snap of General’s fingers, and Junno moves to undress him.
Carefully Junno pulls open the buttons at the collar of General’s loose grey sweater before pulling it over his head. He drops to his knees with ease and unbuckles General’s boots, and waits for him to step out of them. Once General has finished with them, Junno reaches to unfasten his trousers and pull them all the way down and off, along with his thick woolen socks.
General runs a hand through Junno’s hair, then softly murmurs, “Up. Arms above your head.”
Junno rises to his feet, then clambers up onto General’s bed, sprawling on his back. General stands next to the bed, one-eyed gaze impassive as he surveys Junno. He looks away finally, rummaging in the nightstand drawer for the glittering green vial of lubrication.
General looks down at Junno, vial in hand as he settles between Junno’s spread thighs. He places the vial in the center of Junno’s chest, muttering quietly. “You are to stay still. I will move you as I see fit.”
Junno doesn’t dare nod in acknowledgement, and stays limber for General as he pulls one leg to rest over his shoulder. There’s a bit of a cruel smirk on General’s face as he opens the vial and drizzles its contents along Junno’s erect cock. General caps the vial, keeping it within reach, and trails long fingers through the slippery mess he’s only begun making.
General trails his fingers from the head of Junno’s cock downward, never establishing a proper grip and ignoring the needy noises Junno can’t keep from making. Besides, General had never said he had to be quiet.
Junno stays still, though he really wants to arch into General’s touch. Cruel fingers tickle along the thin skin of his balls and finally General presses a finger in. General’s smirk is just as cruel as his touch as he crooks his finger before sliding another in, and it’s all Junno can do to follow orders and stay still. He wants to arch into the touch, rock against General’s hand, anything, but he can’t disobey or General will stop; it’s happened before and Junno learned his lesson the hard way.
Finally General has mercy, and begins pumping his fingers in and out, spreading them apart and pressing against that spot that makes Junno want to writhe every time it’s prodded. Junno can’t stop making broken noises of want, and he feels as if the heat from General’s gaze is going to set him alight. Just as he thinks he can’t take anymore, General pulls his fingers out, leaving Junno empty and open. General slides his hand through the lube he’d poured onto Junno earlier, then slicks his cock and lines himself up.
“Look at me, Taguchi.” General’s voice is firm, and Junno isn’t sure when he closed his eyes. He forces them open and obeys, relaxing as best he can. General tightens his grip on Junno’s thigh and slowly presses in. He’s still for the space of a few heartbeats, and then he’s setting a harsh pace, rocking Junno back and forth.
Junno presses his hands flat against the headboard, bracing himself against General’s thrusts. It’s a struggle to keep his eyes on General; he’s beginning to sweat, and it’s stinging his eyes. From what he can tell, General is in almost the same state, grunting with every deep thrust. Junno’s erection is almost painfully hard, and General is avoiding even brushing against it.
“General,” Junno begins, surprising himself. General digs his fingers into Junno’s thigh, then lets go so he can pull Junno’s hand down so he can take care of it. Junno lets his metal arm take all of the General’s force, and he curls his fingers around his cock.
“Slowly, Taguchi,” is all General says as he shifts and wraps Junno’s legs around his waist. It’s quite possibly the hardest order he’s ever had to follow, but Junno does as he’s told. He keeps his grip loose and teasing, barely moving his hand. Finally General’s rhythm is faltering, and he gasps, “Taguchi, you may finish.”
Junno adjusts his grip and begins stroking himself hard, eyes fluttering shut as he feels General stiffen and halt, orgasm tearing through him. He gasps quietly as he spills over his own hand, feeling thoroughly debauched. General pulls out weakly, rolling to the side to catch his breath.
“Taguchi,” he begins, “clean yourself up, then get back here. After tomorrow I want you to continue your surveillance.”
Junno rolls out of bed and gets to the bath as quickly as his strained muscles will allow.
*
The following weeks pass by uneventfully, and Junno learns the layout of the entire manor. For such a sprawling manse, it’s quite straightforward. The workshop is fairly close to the west side of the house, within eyesight of the minister’s study. It’s easy to remember where it is, because it’s the only wing of the house with ostentatious copper suits of armor flanking the wooden doors.
Junno’s already snuck into the study several times before, rifling through the shelves and picking desk drawer locks. He still hasn’t found the blueprints that General wants, though. Perhaps General will have more luck when they infiltrate the manor.
Junno has also caught glimpses of a girl wandering the halls of the manor; sometimes she even hangs around the workshop. It can’t be practical, all the ruffles and lace and skirts around all that machinery and grime, but he sees her at least once every week. He hadn’t heard that the minister had a daughter as well; she must be the crazy sort of daughter that gets shut in attics and never spoken of. She is pretty though, and from the conversation he’d heard the first day of surveillance, the minister’s son must look almost identical. Maybe they’re twins.
Junno decides that he’ll follow the daughter next time he spots her, to see if she really does live in the attic. He hadn’t seen any evidence of such a thing when he’d snuck up the well-hidden stairs, but he admits he could have missed the signs.
He doesn’t give the minister’s daughter much thought. He has seen his son, though, and he does seem as fun as the workers had said. He’s not gotten very close, but it’s easy to be quiet and observe when he’s masquerading as a guard. Out of curiosity, Junno decides to follow the minister’s son and find out where his room is. General would definitely like him, Junno thinks. Maybe there’s a way he can get the two to meet.
The minister’s son seems to have a habit of stomping about the house, even when he doesn’t seem to be upset about anything. Perhaps it’s just hard to be a young man; Junno hasn’t really given much thought to how anyone could be unhappy with living in the lap of luxury; it seems like such a waste, though.
He shakes himself out of that train of thought, still keeping a good distance between the two of them. This is something Junno is good at; he’s spectacular at following people. His steps are soft and silent along the plush carpet as he follows the minister’s son down a hallway lined with flickering gas lamps. He stays back until the door is firmly shut, then checks to make sure no one else is about and makes his way to peer through the keyhole.
What Junno can see through the peephole is that the windows are narrow, and a bed as big as General’s is pushed into one corner. There’s also a writing desk and some mostly-empty bookshelves, as well as what seems to be a matching set of chifforobe and chest of drawers. The minister’s son is apparently a clotheshorse.
The amount of clothes the minister’s son has isn’t of importance right now, because he’s in the middle of undressing. Junno glances to either side, making sure he’s still alone. Satisfied, he peers through the keyhole just in time to see the young man finish unbuttoning his velvet waistcoat and yank his shirt over his head. He shoves his trousers down, leaving them in a pile in the floor.
Junno thinks he’s going to flop down onto the bed; for a moment it looks like that’s what the minister’s son is considering as well. Junno’s disappointed for a moment when that isn’t what happens. What happens next is even better, though. He paces the room in the nude, then finally stalks to the chifforobe and flings open the doors. From his vantage point, Junno can’t see what’s in it, but after a few minutes of watching feet moving underneath the open door, the minister’s son, or rather his daughter, reappears.
It’s sort of delightful, Junno thinks. He really must figure out a way to keep him; he knows General will like him too, and Junno knows he’ll be utterly despondent if he doesn’t get his way just this once. He really does love pretty things.
Junno tries to press closer to watch as his pretty thing perches on the edge of the bed in her frilly cream camisole and bloomers. He presses his hands against the door as she lays back on the bed to pull her stockings up over her knees and follows them with wide brown ribbon garters. She sits back up, blowing a wisp of hair out of her eyes, then goes back to the chifforobe. Junno takes the chance to make sure no one is watching him watch his pretty thing, then peers through the keyhole again.
She’s pulling a soft-looking brown skirt up her legs, just long enough to allow glimpses of her garters to show. The next thing is a simple cream button-down, long bell-like sleeves draping over her hands. That’s followed by a sleeveless vest, fastened with big copper buttons. It has a stiff collar, and it matches the skirt wonderfully. Junno has to bite his tongue to keep from cooing over her.
Junno knows he should probably get back to acting like a guard that is supposed to be there, but he wants to watch just a bit longer. Pretty thing has pinned her hair back with some sort of feather thing, and she’s perched on the bed once more to pull on ankle booties. As much as it pains him to do it, Junno tears himself from the keyhole and stands at attention next to the door.
He keeps his stare focused on the lamp directly across from where he’s posted himself. It’s a bit like his old days of being the Empire’s dog, back stiff and straight with his arms at his sides. Junno shoves that thought aside for now, though; he’s got to finish this task for General. He also has the beginnings of a plan for getting to steal his pretty thing along with the blueprints. Most of it will be left up to chance, but he feels pretty good about things going his way.
The door opens and slams shut next to him, but it doesn’t bother Junno. He simply raises a hand in salute, just like the real guards, and surreptitiously watches the minister’s daughter head toward the workshop. Junno waits until she’s turned the corner, and then tries the doorknob. It’s open, and he slips into the room. It takes every bit of willpower to not tidy up the pile of clothes carelessly left in the floor; he manages to ignore that and takes in all of the details.
The room is at the end of its own wing, and two walls have windows. It overlooks the courtyard nicely, and even though it’s not really that close to the workshop, that detail shouldn’t matter at all. The bed is just as soft-looking as General’s, and the sheets are rumpled; it wouldn’t be noticeable if he rolls about in the sheets for just a moment. Just to see if it’s like General’s bed. It will only be a moment.
Junno dives onto the bed, inhaling the lingering scent of his pretty thing. He only stays for a moment, like he’d promised himself. He rolls off of the bed, then opens drawers and doors, rifling through them just to see. One door leads to the biggest bathroom he’s ever seen; the tub is enormous and Junno regrets not having the time or his pretty around to make use of it. He can always imagine, though.
Curiosity finally satisfied, Junno slips back into the hallway. There’s no one wandering the hall, making it easy for him to wander to a less suspicious place for a guard to be. The rest of the day seems to drag, and when the evening shift comes in, Junno can’t get back to the ship fast enough.
*
Junno stands before General in the state room. He’s finally ready to give his full report of the manor’s layout. General taps his fingers on the surface of the table he’s leaning against, listening intently as Junno speaks.
“I believe the most likely place the blueprints are hidden is on the second floor, General. The windows are narrow, like they’re for defence more than aesthetics, and it’s in the only hall lined with gas lamps.” Junno says the words concisely, fully aware that General gets impatient if he talks in his usual meandering way.
General nods, clasping his hands together. “Good job, soldier. You get one day’s furlough, then we’ll begin the infiltration and retrieval.”
Junno relaxes, unsure of what to do with his free time. General solves his problem for him. “Report to my quarters at your leisure,” he says, turning his back.
Those are orders Junno doesn’t mind following at all, and he eagerly follows, head full of thoughts of his pretty thing, probably sulking all alone in his big lonely bed. Soon, hopefully, he won’t be so lonesome; Junno can’t wait to see how his loose plan pans out.
Pairing/Group: Nakamaru Yuichi/Taguchi Junnosuke, Tanaka Koki
Rating/Warnings: NC-17, Warning for AU of the steampunk variety, General appearances, creeping about, crossdressing
Word Count: 3426
Summary: General has always been a man of lofty ideals: honour, strategy, destiny. Not so much destiny for Taguchi, though; he prefers the baser things in life: wholesale slaughter, pretty things. Usually just the pretty things.
Notes: So, this is also based off of je_levy’s amazing and delightful and madcap NTT steampunk AU. Except this was not at all planned with her, though sekky_chan might have lurked a bit while I wrote this. This is what I think might have happened before the original story started. Also I might have started this before Levy started writing a sequel to the original. <.<
Anyway, happy (early) birthday, Levy, and I really hope you enjoy this. ♥♥♥♥♥
General has been planning and planning for months, and it seems like he’s getting even closer to figuring out how he wants to expose the treachery going on right underneath the Emperor’s nose. Junno doesn’t much care for this revenge; he has his own agenda, though his progress is going extremely slowly. That’s okay, though, because he’s got other things to occupy his mind. Things like General, and his delicate fingers, and his stern one-eyed gaze tempered by his unseeing bronze eye patch.
Junno isn’t really much good at following orders, but he does his best for General. Especially now that General has decided he needs to steal blueprints from the Industrial Development Minister. That’s how Junno finds himself casually walking into the palatial grounds of the minister’s manor with the day’s shift of mechanics and guards. He’ll find a suitably secluded guard and borrow his credentials; he’s already procured a uniform, tucked safely in his rucksack. For this initial infiltration, though, Junno is waltzing in, for all intents and purposes as a civilian.
His assignment is simple: learn the layout of the manor, all the entrances and exits, and find where the minister keeps his blueprints. General is convinced they’ll be in the study.
Junno’s first stop is in the workshop. It takes up its own sprawling wing of the manor, close enough for the minister to keep an eye on the executions of his designs but set far enough back from the main house to keep any catastrophes from spreading too far.
The whole workshop wing is huge, a cross between a factory with conveyor belts and hissing steam and clanging mechanisms, and a tinkerer’s stockpile of miscellaneous parts, and this is just the part that is ground-level. There seems to be at least another level sunken into the earth, though it doesn’t seem convenient for any sort of work. Junno notes the exits (one in each wall, plus the huge bay door that delivery vehicles back into and depart from); the door that’s shut firmly in the center of the wall that the workshop shares with the house proper is obviously the one that leads into the house. There’s a single guard posted at the door, but it would be too obvious that something was amiss if the man were to disappear and return considerably taller.
Junno straightens his heavy work gloves and pulls down the brass welder's glasses he happened to find conveniently in his hands, and begins wandering through the maze of whistling machines and mechanics. It seems that their current project seems to be some sort of automaton, and Junno can’t help but sneer at it. From the seconds he spares to peer at the pieces, it looks like his arm might have been a prototype component of the machines being assembled here. He continues, pausing behind a gigantic flywheel to listen to some of the mechanics talking.
“Oho, you’ll meet him soon enough. He spends plenty of time mooching about here.” It seems like these men would speak more highly of their employer, but Junno’s intrigued at what the mechanic says next.
“He’s very curious, and any time I’ve ever taught him anything he’s shown me a good time after.”
“What, you get a bonus?”
“Ah, that would be nice, but in some ways this is even better....” The words are indistinguishable for a moment, but then they’re crystal clear again in time for Junno to catch who exactly it is that the men are talking about.
“The boss’s son is very pretty, especially his mouth... He knows how to use it, when he’s not moping around bemoaning his lot in life. And from behind, you can even imagine you’ve got yourself a girl, what with his curls and smooth skin and pert behind....”
Junno swallows, wondering what sort of person the minister’s son is. He sounds kind of fun, and Junno has always liked fun. He files the information away, sure that he’ll catch a glimpse in the coming days. For now, though, he’ll continue his task.
He manages to wander away from the workshop, and casually makes his way across the courtyard to the motorcade entrance on the opposite side of the house. The guards’ eyes pass over him as he lugs a toolbox he borrowed from the workshop; this will be too easy. They’re so complacent.
*
Junno’s first week of surveillance goes by uneventfully; he returns to General for the week’s end.
General is relaxing on the settee, smoking his pipe as Junno rests his head against General’s crossed legs, his long limbs folded onto the remaining space of the couch. The warmth of General’s lap is soothing, as is the scent of tobacco and the subtle swaying of the ship. Occasionally he threads a hand into Junno’s hair.
“Security is lax at the manor, General. I walked right into the workshop, and no one said anything to me!” Junno is proud of himself; this is one time it hasn’t ended in violence. Junno is sure it will, eventually, and he can wait.
General pets him absently as he continues. “They were building things using my arm,” Junno says softly. He isn’t sure why he mentions it, but he does. Maybe it’s because he neglects to mention the minister’s son.
General shushes him, then quietly murmurs, “You’re doing well, Taguchi. It’s been quiet while you’ve been away on your assignment, so you may spend the evening in my quarters.”
Junno can’t quite contain the delighted noise he makes as he rolls off of the settee and springs to his feet, slinging his jacket from his shoulders and dropping it over the back of a chair.
He hears General’s amused sigh as he taps the ashes out of his pipe and puts it away, rather more sedate as he stands and follows him to his room.
By the time General shuts the door behind himself, Junno has already slipped off his shirt and gloves, and he’s fighting the buckles of his knee boots. He’s laying across the middle of General’s lavish bed, legs flung up in the air as he finally kicks the boots off. Shoes dispensed with, Junno plants his feet on the mattress and raises his hips as he unfastens his trousers and kicks off the rest of his clothing.
General simply watches as Junno takes a few moments to roll around on the bed and muss the sheets. Junno stills when General clears his throat, and sits up, waiting for orders. These sort are usually the ones he’s best at following. A snap of General’s fingers, and Junno moves to undress him.
Carefully Junno pulls open the buttons at the collar of General’s loose grey sweater before pulling it over his head. He drops to his knees with ease and unbuckles General’s boots, and waits for him to step out of them. Once General has finished with them, Junno reaches to unfasten his trousers and pull them all the way down and off, along with his thick woolen socks.
General runs a hand through Junno’s hair, then softly murmurs, “Up. Arms above your head.”
Junno rises to his feet, then clambers up onto General’s bed, sprawling on his back. General stands next to the bed, one-eyed gaze impassive as he surveys Junno. He looks away finally, rummaging in the nightstand drawer for the glittering green vial of lubrication.
General looks down at Junno, vial in hand as he settles between Junno’s spread thighs. He places the vial in the center of Junno’s chest, muttering quietly. “You are to stay still. I will move you as I see fit.”
Junno doesn’t dare nod in acknowledgement, and stays limber for General as he pulls one leg to rest over his shoulder. There’s a bit of a cruel smirk on General’s face as he opens the vial and drizzles its contents along Junno’s erect cock. General caps the vial, keeping it within reach, and trails long fingers through the slippery mess he’s only begun making.
General trails his fingers from the head of Junno’s cock downward, never establishing a proper grip and ignoring the needy noises Junno can’t keep from making. Besides, General had never said he had to be quiet.
Junno stays still, though he really wants to arch into General’s touch. Cruel fingers tickle along the thin skin of his balls and finally General presses a finger in. General’s smirk is just as cruel as his touch as he crooks his finger before sliding another in, and it’s all Junno can do to follow orders and stay still. He wants to arch into the touch, rock against General’s hand, anything, but he can’t disobey or General will stop; it’s happened before and Junno learned his lesson the hard way.
Finally General has mercy, and begins pumping his fingers in and out, spreading them apart and pressing against that spot that makes Junno want to writhe every time it’s prodded. Junno can’t stop making broken noises of want, and he feels as if the heat from General’s gaze is going to set him alight. Just as he thinks he can’t take anymore, General pulls his fingers out, leaving Junno empty and open. General slides his hand through the lube he’d poured onto Junno earlier, then slicks his cock and lines himself up.
“Look at me, Taguchi.” General’s voice is firm, and Junno isn’t sure when he closed his eyes. He forces them open and obeys, relaxing as best he can. General tightens his grip on Junno’s thigh and slowly presses in. He’s still for the space of a few heartbeats, and then he’s setting a harsh pace, rocking Junno back and forth.
Junno presses his hands flat against the headboard, bracing himself against General’s thrusts. It’s a struggle to keep his eyes on General; he’s beginning to sweat, and it’s stinging his eyes. From what he can tell, General is in almost the same state, grunting with every deep thrust. Junno’s erection is almost painfully hard, and General is avoiding even brushing against it.
“General,” Junno begins, surprising himself. General digs his fingers into Junno’s thigh, then lets go so he can pull Junno’s hand down so he can take care of it. Junno lets his metal arm take all of the General’s force, and he curls his fingers around his cock.
“Slowly, Taguchi,” is all General says as he shifts and wraps Junno’s legs around his waist. It’s quite possibly the hardest order he’s ever had to follow, but Junno does as he’s told. He keeps his grip loose and teasing, barely moving his hand. Finally General’s rhythm is faltering, and he gasps, “Taguchi, you may finish.”
Junno adjusts his grip and begins stroking himself hard, eyes fluttering shut as he feels General stiffen and halt, orgasm tearing through him. He gasps quietly as he spills over his own hand, feeling thoroughly debauched. General pulls out weakly, rolling to the side to catch his breath.
“Taguchi,” he begins, “clean yourself up, then get back here. After tomorrow I want you to continue your surveillance.”
Junno rolls out of bed and gets to the bath as quickly as his strained muscles will allow.
*
The following weeks pass by uneventfully, and Junno learns the layout of the entire manor. For such a sprawling manse, it’s quite straightforward. The workshop is fairly close to the west side of the house, within eyesight of the minister’s study. It’s easy to remember where it is, because it’s the only wing of the house with ostentatious copper suits of armor flanking the wooden doors.
Junno’s already snuck into the study several times before, rifling through the shelves and picking desk drawer locks. He still hasn’t found the blueprints that General wants, though. Perhaps General will have more luck when they infiltrate the manor.
Junno has also caught glimpses of a girl wandering the halls of the manor; sometimes she even hangs around the workshop. It can’t be practical, all the ruffles and lace and skirts around all that machinery and grime, but he sees her at least once every week. He hadn’t heard that the minister had a daughter as well; she must be the crazy sort of daughter that gets shut in attics and never spoken of. She is pretty though, and from the conversation he’d heard the first day of surveillance, the minister’s son must look almost identical. Maybe they’re twins.
Junno decides that he’ll follow the daughter next time he spots her, to see if she really does live in the attic. He hadn’t seen any evidence of such a thing when he’d snuck up the well-hidden stairs, but he admits he could have missed the signs.
He doesn’t give the minister’s daughter much thought. He has seen his son, though, and he does seem as fun as the workers had said. He’s not gotten very close, but it’s easy to be quiet and observe when he’s masquerading as a guard. Out of curiosity, Junno decides to follow the minister’s son and find out where his room is. General would definitely like him, Junno thinks. Maybe there’s a way he can get the two to meet.
The minister’s son seems to have a habit of stomping about the house, even when he doesn’t seem to be upset about anything. Perhaps it’s just hard to be a young man; Junno hasn’t really given much thought to how anyone could be unhappy with living in the lap of luxury; it seems like such a waste, though.
He shakes himself out of that train of thought, still keeping a good distance between the two of them. This is something Junno is good at; he’s spectacular at following people. His steps are soft and silent along the plush carpet as he follows the minister’s son down a hallway lined with flickering gas lamps. He stays back until the door is firmly shut, then checks to make sure no one else is about and makes his way to peer through the keyhole.
What Junno can see through the peephole is that the windows are narrow, and a bed as big as General’s is pushed into one corner. There’s also a writing desk and some mostly-empty bookshelves, as well as what seems to be a matching set of chifforobe and chest of drawers. The minister’s son is apparently a clotheshorse.
The amount of clothes the minister’s son has isn’t of importance right now, because he’s in the middle of undressing. Junno glances to either side, making sure he’s still alone. Satisfied, he peers through the keyhole just in time to see the young man finish unbuttoning his velvet waistcoat and yank his shirt over his head. He shoves his trousers down, leaving them in a pile in the floor.
Junno thinks he’s going to flop down onto the bed; for a moment it looks like that’s what the minister’s son is considering as well. Junno’s disappointed for a moment when that isn’t what happens. What happens next is even better, though. He paces the room in the nude, then finally stalks to the chifforobe and flings open the doors. From his vantage point, Junno can’t see what’s in it, but after a few minutes of watching feet moving underneath the open door, the minister’s son, or rather his daughter, reappears.
It’s sort of delightful, Junno thinks. He really must figure out a way to keep him; he knows General will like him too, and Junno knows he’ll be utterly despondent if he doesn’t get his way just this once. He really does love pretty things.
Junno tries to press closer to watch as his pretty thing perches on the edge of the bed in her frilly cream camisole and bloomers. He presses his hands against the door as she lays back on the bed to pull her stockings up over her knees and follows them with wide brown ribbon garters. She sits back up, blowing a wisp of hair out of her eyes, then goes back to the chifforobe. Junno takes the chance to make sure no one is watching him watch his pretty thing, then peers through the keyhole again.
She’s pulling a soft-looking brown skirt up her legs, just long enough to allow glimpses of her garters to show. The next thing is a simple cream button-down, long bell-like sleeves draping over her hands. That’s followed by a sleeveless vest, fastened with big copper buttons. It has a stiff collar, and it matches the skirt wonderfully. Junno has to bite his tongue to keep from cooing over her.
Junno knows he should probably get back to acting like a guard that is supposed to be there, but he wants to watch just a bit longer. Pretty thing has pinned her hair back with some sort of feather thing, and she’s perched on the bed once more to pull on ankle booties. As much as it pains him to do it, Junno tears himself from the keyhole and stands at attention next to the door.
He keeps his stare focused on the lamp directly across from where he’s posted himself. It’s a bit like his old days of being the Empire’s dog, back stiff and straight with his arms at his sides. Junno shoves that thought aside for now, though; he’s got to finish this task for General. He also has the beginnings of a plan for getting to steal his pretty thing along with the blueprints. Most of it will be left up to chance, but he feels pretty good about things going his way.
The door opens and slams shut next to him, but it doesn’t bother Junno. He simply raises a hand in salute, just like the real guards, and surreptitiously watches the minister’s daughter head toward the workshop. Junno waits until she’s turned the corner, and then tries the doorknob. It’s open, and he slips into the room. It takes every bit of willpower to not tidy up the pile of clothes carelessly left in the floor; he manages to ignore that and takes in all of the details.
The room is at the end of its own wing, and two walls have windows. It overlooks the courtyard nicely, and even though it’s not really that close to the workshop, that detail shouldn’t matter at all. The bed is just as soft-looking as General’s, and the sheets are rumpled; it wouldn’t be noticeable if he rolls about in the sheets for just a moment. Just to see if it’s like General’s bed. It will only be a moment.
Junno dives onto the bed, inhaling the lingering scent of his pretty thing. He only stays for a moment, like he’d promised himself. He rolls off of the bed, then opens drawers and doors, rifling through them just to see. One door leads to the biggest bathroom he’s ever seen; the tub is enormous and Junno regrets not having the time or his pretty around to make use of it. He can always imagine, though.
Curiosity finally satisfied, Junno slips back into the hallway. There’s no one wandering the hall, making it easy for him to wander to a less suspicious place for a guard to be. The rest of the day seems to drag, and when the evening shift comes in, Junno can’t get back to the ship fast enough.
*
Junno stands before General in the state room. He’s finally ready to give his full report of the manor’s layout. General taps his fingers on the surface of the table he’s leaning against, listening intently as Junno speaks.
“I believe the most likely place the blueprints are hidden is on the second floor, General. The windows are narrow, like they’re for defence more than aesthetics, and it’s in the only hall lined with gas lamps.” Junno says the words concisely, fully aware that General gets impatient if he talks in his usual meandering way.
General nods, clasping his hands together. “Good job, soldier. You get one day’s furlough, then we’ll begin the infiltration and retrieval.”
Junno relaxes, unsure of what to do with his free time. General solves his problem for him. “Report to my quarters at your leisure,” he says, turning his back.
Those are orders Junno doesn’t mind following at all, and he eagerly follows, head full of thoughts of his pretty thing, probably sulking all alone in his big lonely bed. Soon, hopefully, he won’t be so lonesome; Junno can’t wait to see how his loose plan pans out.