Two if by Sea (17/?)
Holy moley. I can't believe it's been six weeks! Needless to say, I've not accomplished a lot in the intervening time, but I'm happy that I can trot out this latest bit for your reading pleasure. (I've been sitting on the first four paragraphs the entire time since my last post of this. Ugh. Motivation is scarce these days, it seems.)
For those of you who might be just running across this story, here's the down and dirty:
Summary: This story is a Saiyuki AU, in which Gojyo is a mostly-underwater-living mermaid-esque sea creature who ventures into the human world to dispatch an obligation to Hakkai.
Rating: Pervasive, hard pg-13 (if there is such a thing...)
Warnings: There are increasingly more hints of Gojyo/Hakkai/Gojyo-type goings-ons, but they haven't gotten physical. Yet. ^_^ Also, I've been doing absolute minimal editing. If something's completely out of whack, please let me know.
Previous parts found here, at the index.
=======
It was a combination of the sun shining in his face and the incessant, mad honking of a goose that finally woke Gojyo. He knew two things almost immediately: he was thirsty, and he could really use a trip to the privy.
Cracking open his eyes, Gojyo froze. H didn't know where he was. He took stock of the room he found himself in--the bed; the wardrobe; the cluttered desk; the small window; the closed door. He recognized none of it. And then pain hammered its way through his body and into his awareness.
"Oww," he said. "Ow ow ow."
But he paused, the pain not as bad as he'd expected, considering what he could remember of the night before. He eased himself up, stiff. A quick peek under the covers showed that someone had bandaged him up. It wasn't something he'd get from the men who'd beaten him down, that was for sure. His memories were pretty hazy; he remembered stumbling around, and somehow, between that and getting jumped, he'd ended up here. The green-eyed man, maybe? Where, exactly, was here?
A polite knock came on the door. Gojyo looked around for something he could defend himself with, if necessary, but he doubted that anything within reach would do. What would he do with a quill pen? Scratch and then tickle a would-be attacker? It rankled, but he eased back down, held himself still, and feigned sleep. The door creaked opened.
Soft footsteps came closer and closer, and a cool hand brushed across his forehead. Gojyo couldn't help flinching away from it. He opened his eyes and was met with green, green, green. Gojyo blinked and focused.
"I thought you might be awake," said the man. "At least, I had hoped…"
"It's you," said Gojyo. "Isn't it?"
He drank in the green eyes and dark hair and the way the green-eyed man glanced down at his hands every time he paused while speaking.
"Oh?" said the man. "Were you expecting to see someone else, Gojyo?"
Gojyo frowned, trying to remember.
"I never did get your name," said Gojyo. "But I gave you mine. Aboard that ship, wasn't it?"
The green-eyed man hesitated again, then held out his hand.
"My name is Hakkai," he said. "Pleased to make your acquaintance…again."
The way his name sounded coming from this man's--no, Hakkai's--lips made him shiver. He tried to tell himself it was an effect of the debt he was here to pay. His eyes were drawn to the red bracelet Hakkai wore. Hakkai looked down as well. He withdrew his hand.
"Yes, well, there is that," said Hakkai. "But if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to check your wounds first."
"Thanks," said Gojyo. "You know, for last night."
"You're quite welcome," said Hakkai. "Though I was surprised to find you on my doorstep, I admit."
The smile he gave Gojyo, while bright, was very, very fake. He pulled back the covers perfunctorily. And then there was that hesitation again, as if he didn't know what to do next, now that Gojyo's bandage body was exposed.
"Want me to sit up, or what?" said Gojyo.
"Hmm?" said Hakkai. "Oh. Yes, that would probably best."
He held out one arm to Gojyo, and Gojyo was surprised to find he needed the support to stay upright. He felt himself gingerly for the ends of the bandages, twisting into a position that made his sides scream, made him break into a cold sweat.
"Please don't," said Hakkai. "I wouldn't want you to be hurt further."
He reached his free hand around and, in a move that felt like an awkward hug to Gojyo, loosened the bandages.
"I tucked the ends in on the back," said Hakkai. "I didn't want you to undo them by accident."
There was an apologetic cast to his face. Gojyo inferred also that Hakkai didn't want him running away; he hadn't wanted him to undo the bandages on purpose either. Considering his relatively recent escape from the creature, Gojyo found it strange that he wasn't frightened by this confinement. After all, the beast had used bandages as well, if Gojyo's body hadn't held up under… Gojyo cut himself off and made himself smile at Hakkai.
"So," said Gojyo. "Yeah. Uhm. Examination time."
He held still as Hakkai's hands moved over his body. They were, thankfully, warm now, dry and gentle as they prodded his wounds. Still, Gojyo saw stars when Hakkai brushed over his ribs. He sucked in air and froze when that movement made it even worse. Hakkai frowned.
"Definitely cracked," said Hakkai. "It will hurt when I wrap you up again."
Gojyo hardly felt the various bruises and scrapes after that; his concentration had focused in on his sides. However, when Hakkai's hands started carding through his hair and caressed his scalp in a way that bordered on non-medical, his attention was again drawn outward.
He studied the man in front of him: brilliant green eyes, one shadowed by a corrective glass; unremarkable dark brown hair; a vulnerable throat at which his pulse fluttered steadily; long fingers; skin made pale by cosmetics. Gojyo wondered what Hakkai was hiding underneath it. A flash of red caught his eye: the bracelet.
"We need to talk," said Gojyo.
"Hmm?" said Hakkai.
Gojyo caught him around the wrist, trapping the bracelet between his hand and Hakkai's.
"About this," said Gojyo.
"I don't see why it can't wait," said Hakkai. "Perhaps you might wish to bathe before I finish your care?"
"Hakkai," said Gojyo.
"I could bring up a basin," said Hakkai. "It might be easier than trying to get you downstairs."
"Hakkai," said Gojyo, a little louder this time.
The pulse under his fingers sped up, though Hakkai's voice remained steady.
"I'm afraid you'll have to make do with some of my clothing," said Hakkai. "I've washed yours, but they’re nowhere near dry."
The way Hakkai became so irretrievably absorbed in his planning made Gojyo shiver. But, at the same time, Hakkai was so solicitous and mild that Gojyo didn't have the heart to yell. He didn't seem like he'd hurt a fly and yet…last night, he'd been…
"Hey, Hakkai," said Gojyo. "What happened to those guys last night?"
This at least seemed to get Hakkai's attention.
"The city guards came and took them away," said Hakkai. "I hardly had to do a thing."
Hakkai smiled at him.
"After all," he said. "I was quite busy looking after you."
No matter how Gojyo tried after that, Hakkai refused to talk about anything other than cleaning Gojyo up--properly this time--and making sure he was comfortable during his convalescence. Gojyo could feel himself healing already. Being on land, he couldn't draw on the strength of his underwater form, which would have accelerated the healing. As it was, he'd have to spend two or three days taking it easy. Too bad. But maybe he'd be able to use that time to get Hakkai to tell him what he wanted, something that would satisfy the debt between them.
Gojyo allowed Hakkai to bathe him and dab weird-smelling herbal messes on various parts of him, thinking all the while. His thoughts stuttered a little when Hakkai wrapped his ribs, which hurt, but he already felt a little better compared to when he'd woken.
A polite cough interrupted his thoughts even further.
"I don't mean to pry," said Hakkai. "But are you upset with me?"
There was an air of concern about Hakkai, and hesitance as well. Hakkai busied himself putting away the leftovers of his doctoring. Gojyo could see he'd hurt this man, though he wasn't really sure how.
"I was just thinking," said Gojyo. "It's nothing important."
He looked around the room for something they might safely talk about. Might as well start at the beginning, huh?
"So, uh," said Gojyo. "Where am I?"
Hakkai smiled, then, and something softened in his eyes.
"You're in my bed," said Hakkai.
Gojyo told himself it was just surprise and…and…nervousness at being caught flat-footed that heated up his cheeks.
"I'm guessing this is your house," said Gojyo. "In my experience, rented rooms aren't this nice."
Hakkai nodded.
"It is my home, yes, and it's above my shop," he said. "I suppose we might manage a tour, if you'd like."
"As long as that tour includes a stop at the privy," said Gojyo.
Hakkai's face changed again, then, and even through the cosmetics he looked a little flushed.
"I apologize," he said. "I've been a most negligent host, to not have considered…"
Gojyo shrugged it off. Why this man was getting so worked up about it, he didn't know. Still, he felt the urge to try and smooth over Hakkai's distress.
"It's okay," he said. "Really. Just lead me to it, and then I'll look around all you want."
"All right," said Hakkai, and he sounded more composed now.
Hakkai took Gojyo's arm and held him steady while he slid out of the bed. The room spun for a minute, then settled. Gojyo grinned at Hakkai.
"Hard part's over," he said. "And all it took was a back-alley beating."
The sidelong look Hakkai gave Gojyo, discreetly checking on him, made Gojyo want to laugh. He was fine, really he was. For the first time in days--weeks, even--he felt optimistic. He hadn't been caught by the creatures that served the beast, he'd found the green-eyed man, and Gojyo was positive he'd be able to pay his debt soon. It was enough to convince him that things were finally looking up.
=======
Okay. Brains are zonked now. Hope you enjoyed!
~later
For those of you who might be just running across this story, here's the down and dirty:
Summary: This story is a Saiyuki AU, in which Gojyo is a mostly-underwater-living mermaid-esque sea creature who ventures into the human world to dispatch an obligation to Hakkai.
Rating: Pervasive, hard pg-13 (if there is such a thing...)
Warnings: There are increasingly more hints of Gojyo/Hakkai/Gojyo-type goings-ons, but they haven't gotten physical. Yet. ^_^ Also, I've been doing absolute minimal editing. If something's completely out of whack, please let me know.
Previous parts found here, at the index.
=======
It was a combination of the sun shining in his face and the incessant, mad honking of a goose that finally woke Gojyo. He knew two things almost immediately: he was thirsty, and he could really use a trip to the privy.
Cracking open his eyes, Gojyo froze. H didn't know where he was. He took stock of the room he found himself in--the bed; the wardrobe; the cluttered desk; the small window; the closed door. He recognized none of it. And then pain hammered its way through his body and into his awareness.
"Oww," he said. "Ow ow ow."
But he paused, the pain not as bad as he'd expected, considering what he could remember of the night before. He eased himself up, stiff. A quick peek under the covers showed that someone had bandaged him up. It wasn't something he'd get from the men who'd beaten him down, that was for sure. His memories were pretty hazy; he remembered stumbling around, and somehow, between that and getting jumped, he'd ended up here. The green-eyed man, maybe? Where, exactly, was here?
A polite knock came on the door. Gojyo looked around for something he could defend himself with, if necessary, but he doubted that anything within reach would do. What would he do with a quill pen? Scratch and then tickle a would-be attacker? It rankled, but he eased back down, held himself still, and feigned sleep. The door creaked opened.
Soft footsteps came closer and closer, and a cool hand brushed across his forehead. Gojyo couldn't help flinching away from it. He opened his eyes and was met with green, green, green. Gojyo blinked and focused.
"I thought you might be awake," said the man. "At least, I had hoped…"
"It's you," said Gojyo. "Isn't it?"
He drank in the green eyes and dark hair and the way the green-eyed man glanced down at his hands every time he paused while speaking.
"Oh?" said the man. "Were you expecting to see someone else, Gojyo?"
Gojyo frowned, trying to remember.
"I never did get your name," said Gojyo. "But I gave you mine. Aboard that ship, wasn't it?"
The green-eyed man hesitated again, then held out his hand.
"My name is Hakkai," he said. "Pleased to make your acquaintance…again."
The way his name sounded coming from this man's--no, Hakkai's--lips made him shiver. He tried to tell himself it was an effect of the debt he was here to pay. His eyes were drawn to the red bracelet Hakkai wore. Hakkai looked down as well. He withdrew his hand.
"Yes, well, there is that," said Hakkai. "But if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to check your wounds first."
"Thanks," said Gojyo. "You know, for last night."
"You're quite welcome," said Hakkai. "Though I was surprised to find you on my doorstep, I admit."
The smile he gave Gojyo, while bright, was very, very fake. He pulled back the covers perfunctorily. And then there was that hesitation again, as if he didn't know what to do next, now that Gojyo's bandage body was exposed.
"Want me to sit up, or what?" said Gojyo.
"Hmm?" said Hakkai. "Oh. Yes, that would probably best."
He held out one arm to Gojyo, and Gojyo was surprised to find he needed the support to stay upright. He felt himself gingerly for the ends of the bandages, twisting into a position that made his sides scream, made him break into a cold sweat.
"Please don't," said Hakkai. "I wouldn't want you to be hurt further."
He reached his free hand around and, in a move that felt like an awkward hug to Gojyo, loosened the bandages.
"I tucked the ends in on the back," said Hakkai. "I didn't want you to undo them by accident."
There was an apologetic cast to his face. Gojyo inferred also that Hakkai didn't want him running away; he hadn't wanted him to undo the bandages on purpose either. Considering his relatively recent escape from the creature, Gojyo found it strange that he wasn't frightened by this confinement. After all, the beast had used bandages as well, if Gojyo's body hadn't held up under… Gojyo cut himself off and made himself smile at Hakkai.
"So," said Gojyo. "Yeah. Uhm. Examination time."
He held still as Hakkai's hands moved over his body. They were, thankfully, warm now, dry and gentle as they prodded his wounds. Still, Gojyo saw stars when Hakkai brushed over his ribs. He sucked in air and froze when that movement made it even worse. Hakkai frowned.
"Definitely cracked," said Hakkai. "It will hurt when I wrap you up again."
Gojyo hardly felt the various bruises and scrapes after that; his concentration had focused in on his sides. However, when Hakkai's hands started carding through his hair and caressed his scalp in a way that bordered on non-medical, his attention was again drawn outward.
He studied the man in front of him: brilliant green eyes, one shadowed by a corrective glass; unremarkable dark brown hair; a vulnerable throat at which his pulse fluttered steadily; long fingers; skin made pale by cosmetics. Gojyo wondered what Hakkai was hiding underneath it. A flash of red caught his eye: the bracelet.
"We need to talk," said Gojyo.
"Hmm?" said Hakkai.
Gojyo caught him around the wrist, trapping the bracelet between his hand and Hakkai's.
"About this," said Gojyo.
"I don't see why it can't wait," said Hakkai. "Perhaps you might wish to bathe before I finish your care?"
"Hakkai," said Gojyo.
"I could bring up a basin," said Hakkai. "It might be easier than trying to get you downstairs."
"Hakkai," said Gojyo, a little louder this time.
The pulse under his fingers sped up, though Hakkai's voice remained steady.
"I'm afraid you'll have to make do with some of my clothing," said Hakkai. "I've washed yours, but they’re nowhere near dry."
The way Hakkai became so irretrievably absorbed in his planning made Gojyo shiver. But, at the same time, Hakkai was so solicitous and mild that Gojyo didn't have the heart to yell. He didn't seem like he'd hurt a fly and yet…last night, he'd been…
"Hey, Hakkai," said Gojyo. "What happened to those guys last night?"
This at least seemed to get Hakkai's attention.
"The city guards came and took them away," said Hakkai. "I hardly had to do a thing."
Hakkai smiled at him.
"After all," he said. "I was quite busy looking after you."
No matter how Gojyo tried after that, Hakkai refused to talk about anything other than cleaning Gojyo up--properly this time--and making sure he was comfortable during his convalescence. Gojyo could feel himself healing already. Being on land, he couldn't draw on the strength of his underwater form, which would have accelerated the healing. As it was, he'd have to spend two or three days taking it easy. Too bad. But maybe he'd be able to use that time to get Hakkai to tell him what he wanted, something that would satisfy the debt between them.
Gojyo allowed Hakkai to bathe him and dab weird-smelling herbal messes on various parts of him, thinking all the while. His thoughts stuttered a little when Hakkai wrapped his ribs, which hurt, but he already felt a little better compared to when he'd woken.
A polite cough interrupted his thoughts even further.
"I don't mean to pry," said Hakkai. "But are you upset with me?"
There was an air of concern about Hakkai, and hesitance as well. Hakkai busied himself putting away the leftovers of his doctoring. Gojyo could see he'd hurt this man, though he wasn't really sure how.
"I was just thinking," said Gojyo. "It's nothing important."
He looked around the room for something they might safely talk about. Might as well start at the beginning, huh?
"So, uh," said Gojyo. "Where am I?"
Hakkai smiled, then, and something softened in his eyes.
"You're in my bed," said Hakkai.
Gojyo told himself it was just surprise and…and…nervousness at being caught flat-footed that heated up his cheeks.
"I'm guessing this is your house," said Gojyo. "In my experience, rented rooms aren't this nice."
Hakkai nodded.
"It is my home, yes, and it's above my shop," he said. "I suppose we might manage a tour, if you'd like."
"As long as that tour includes a stop at the privy," said Gojyo.
Hakkai's face changed again, then, and even through the cosmetics he looked a little flushed.
"I apologize," he said. "I've been a most negligent host, to not have considered…"
Gojyo shrugged it off. Why this man was getting so worked up about it, he didn't know. Still, he felt the urge to try and smooth over Hakkai's distress.
"It's okay," he said. "Really. Just lead me to it, and then I'll look around all you want."
"All right," said Hakkai, and he sounded more composed now.
Hakkai took Gojyo's arm and held him steady while he slid out of the bed. The room spun for a minute, then settled. Gojyo grinned at Hakkai.
"Hard part's over," he said. "And all it took was a back-alley beating."
The sidelong look Hakkai gave Gojyo, discreetly checking on him, made Gojyo want to laugh. He was fine, really he was. For the first time in days--weeks, even--he felt optimistic. He hadn't been caught by the creatures that served the beast, he'd found the green-eyed man, and Gojyo was positive he'd be able to pay his debt soon. It was enough to convince him that things were finally looking up.
=======
Okay. Brains are zonked now. Hope you enjoyed!
~later