Yaoi Challenge fics

[icedark_elf]

Now that the reveal has happened, I can toss up my fics. A few of you have already commented on them, but might as well get them out there for everyone to see.

Title: Salt and Spice
Fandom: Final Fantasy VII: Sephiroth/Zack/Cloud
Author: Greed-san aka icedark_elf aka GW Katrina
Recipient: Mr_Kade aka gryvon
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: AU, onions, threesome
Summary: Cloud was just a normal farmer who raised chocobos, till he got a guest who smelled of the sea.



They both tasted of salt and fresh air.

Zack’s mouth always had a hint of alcohol and spices that Cloud had never tasted and probably would never taste except on Zack’s lips. It was a good taste, sweet and sour and bitter all at once, and so very much a part of Zack that Cloud could never ever think of the dark haired man without tasting it in his mouth.

Sephiroth was the same, but still different. His mouth was full of more homely spices, ones that Cloud knew and enjoyed in his life. Still had the taste of bitter to him, the taste of wildness that had been tightly bound and molding into the military man that he was. When Cloud thought of home, strangely enough, he thought of Sephiroth.

Both men were of the sea, and Cloud never could understand why they came to him. He was firmly of the earth, enjoying the growing and breeding of the birds that so many sought him for.

Of course, even though they were both the same, Sephiroth and Zack were also completely different ends of the spectrum.

Sephiroth was all proper and almost freezing aloofness, watching everything around him with a cool glance that was quick to take in details. He was the finest of Shinra’s men at sea, and he had been informed of that more than enough times that he had a hard time breaking from the mold they had tried to force him into.

Zack, all wildness and cheerful irreverence, was everything Shinra hated about freerangers. “Pirates” was another good word for them. Not that Zack seemed to be mind being called such things. He enjoyed the freedom of the sea and didn’t seem to see the problem of liberating things such as gold or supplies from people who happened to be transporting them.

Two men of the sea, of open water and salty clean air. Neither of who seemed comfortable on land, for all they hid it with their lazy graze and easy movements.

Cloud was just a farmer. He still didn’t know why these men had come to enjoy his company.

It had been Zack first. The man had simply showed up on his doorstep, wearing a smile that was a bit of a surprise, as Cloud had seen too many smiles missing teeth. He had a delicate little bird with him.

“I’m looking for Cloud Strife. I’ve heard he’s got a way with birds. And this lady here has not been eating well lately.”

The words had been friendly enough, but Cloud was wary. He had heard the hesitation in them, and looked at the man. Oh, he recognized that slightly stunned look in the back of the man’s eyes. Too many people saw him and got it for him to -not- know what it was.

So, ignoring the not quite lustful look in the man’s eyes, Cloud had looked at the bird. The man had the sway of a sailor. Why on earth did he have a chocobo?

Oh….

Cloud had golds. And he was very, very careful with whom he sold them to. And the few other breeders who happened to know how to breed them were just as wary. Which either meant this girl was stolen, which he would have heard about, or….

“How did you get her?”

The man, who was finally blinking out of his dazed state, grinned. “Found her while traveling.” Now there was a teasing look in his eyes. “I’m Zack. Brought her here cause she went off her feed a few days ago and had heard stories about how Cloud could help most birds like he spoke their language. Do you know where I might find him?”

“I’m Cloud.” He studied the man before him, and the conclusion he came to was freeranger. Which, given his past experiences with them, told Cloud to be on guard. But something about Zack was just too…cheerful to really trigger any of Cloud’s more base instincts.

Well, the base instincts that had to do with being paranoid, anyway. Zack triggered a -lot- of base instincts, most of which weren’t too bad.

When he had introduced himself, Zack had lit right up. “Well, then, any chance you can help her, then?”

The chocobo really was a pathetic looking thing, but that was mostly because of the fact she apparently wasn’t taking care of herself. There were good lines under the raggedness, and it was obvious that someone had tried to take good care of her. Cloud eyed the freeranger again. Most of the type would have eaten the bird, not kept it, or would have dumped it overboard once it had become a problem.

He liked this guy.

“I think so. Come on, bring her this way. I’ll take a closer look. What’s her name?”

“I call her Lady.”

Zack ended up staying the three days it took for Cloud to figure out that Lady had picked up a bit of a cold and would be fine with rest. The man shamelessly abused Cloud’s hospitality, which he had just presumed on, and told the most amazing stories.

Nothing happened, and Cloud wasn’t sure if he was pleased or disappointed. He was leaning towards the latter the day Zack and Lady were ready to go. Standing in his door, watching the pair, Cloud made a small eep when Zack suddenly grabbed his head and gave him a hell of a kiss. When he let go, Cloud was panting and flushed and clinging to his doorframe.

“I’ll see you later,” Zack had said with a grin before turning and sauntering off, leaving a boggled Cloud behind.

That had been unexpected. Later, Cloud would get used to this.

Sephiroth had shown up a day later at his door.

The man in his uniform made Cloud stare for a moment. Long hair was impractical, really, at least for a man who lived mostly on boats, but Sephiroth had hair that just didn’t seem to end, a sleek shimmer of silver. He looked down with calm eyes, so bright a green they looked like witchfire.

“I am looking for a man,” he had said, cool tones and clipped words. “His name is Zachary, and he is wanted for piracy. Reports had him coming here.”

Cloud had continued to stare for a minute before coughing and inviting the man in. At first, Sephiroth had refused, but relented when Cloud promised to tell what he knew.

The first visit with Sephiroth couldn’t have gone more differently from Zack’s than if they had planned it. Cloud would just accept it as a facet of their interaction that he would never, ever get. How they could be so similar and yet so damn different at the exact same time?

Sephiroth’s visit was short, and though he did take a glass of tea, he didn’t linger. Though he did listen to Cloud say that, yes, the man had been there, no, Cloud didn’t know what he was, and that the reason for the visit was a sick bird. That was all he gave.

The look he was given let him know that Sephiroth knew he hadn’t said everything, but the taller man did not push. Instead, he thanked Cloud for the tea and asked for a tour of the stables. That was something Cloud always enjoyed doing, showing off the birds, and they spent the next few hours discussing the chocobos and their training. Then Sephiroth took his leave with a small bow.

For the next year, Cloud found himself in an interesting position. He was a stopping point for both hunter and hunted. Both knew it, and both commented on it. Sephiroth took pains to bring supplies with him when he visited, and Zack came with nothing but conversation and stories of where he had been. Every time he was over, Zack stole at least a kiss and more if he could get it, while Sephiroth was almost painfully reluctant to even touch Cloud.

Eventually, Cloud woke up and found that he had one or the other in his bed more often than he was alone, almost. He knew that it wasn’t really the case, given that sometimes he didn’t see one or the other for a month or more, but when they were there, they were with him.

Then came the day he had almost been dreading. Sephiroth was visiting, sitting at the table and listening to Cloud chatter on about his newest gold when Zack wandered in.

The tension was enough that Cloud’s stomach instantly knotted up. Green and violet glared at each other. Both knew that the other had been visiting Cloud, both had commented on it to the blond, but neither had seemed inclined to make that a reason to stop visiting. That, however, had never been something he had really expected.

Sephiroth had rose up, hand slipping over to the blade he carried, as Zack did the same from where he stood in the door. There was going to be a fight and bloodshed. Cloud…couldn’t let that happen. So he did the only thing he could do.

An onion hit each man in the side of the head.

The startled, almost offended looks that both men gave him almost made Cloud break down and start to laugh. So similar, wide eyes and slightly dropped jaws. It was priceless.

However, he didn’t. Instead he glared at both of them. “You two are going to sit down and help me with dinner. Then we will have a lovely meal, since Sephiroth brought that deer, conversation will be required. And then dessert, as Zack was kind enough to bring me those fruits the other day. Then if you still want to murder each other in a messy, messy way, you’ll be invited to leave my home and not come back. You can kill each other someplace else.”

These two men, both far more experienced in fighting, with far more wide spreading and feared reputations, and larger than him, meekly and quietly did as he ordered.

Ah, sweet victory.

The dinner was nice. Cloud forced conversation along. Dessert was wonderful, and then he sat there calmly and watched them.

“Well?” he asked, eyes curious. The conversation, once it had gotten to something that they could and would talk about, had been like listening to the best storytellers. They had seen and done so many things that Cloud would never know in any way outside of their words.

“I suppose,” Sephiroth started slowly, “that if Zachery here was gone by the time I needed to return to my ship, that I would be forced to assume that he had escaped.” An almost grudging set of words. Zack’s answer was much better. He did to Sephiroth what he had done to Cloud the first time. Simply grabbed the man and kissed him.

Sephiroth hadn’t been the only one to make a noise. But while his noise was one of surprise, Cloud’s had been one of pure appreciation. He did have to admit, the pair were very, very pretty together.

Both stared at him when he made the noise. “What,” he asked, blinking at them. “I’m allowed to enjoy something that looks that…good.”

A small chuckle, and Zack leaned against Sephiroth, ignoring the other’s expression of distaste. “Well, then, you do have a bit of deviance in you. Just have to work on it.” Then he kissed Sephiroth again. The man struggled a bit weakly, and gave up far too quickly than he would have if he had really not enjoyed it, and Cloud smiled to himself.

This might work out after all.

Pleased, Cloud watched the pair. He really couldn’t imagine anything better than this. At least until Zack reached out and pulled him close and Sephiroth curled an arm around his waist to keep him there.

He would be content to stay like this for a while. As long as they would let him, actually.

Cloud knew it wouldn’t last. They would return to their ships, and both lived dangerous, dangerous lives. One day he might hear on the rumors that he wouldn’t ever see one or the other again.

But, for now, he was content with this. He was a farmer, and, before he knew these two, he had felt no great need for urgency in his life outside what the birds provided. Now he had it.

He would take what he had and live it fully, before one day it was snatched from his grasp and he was left with only the memories.


Title: Tripitaka
Fandom: Saiyuki
Pairing: Sanzo/Goku
Author: greed-san aka icedark_elf aka GW Katrina
Recipient: Northern Star aka elyndys
Rating: PG-13 for cranky Sanzo
Warnings: Pissy Sanzo. Should always warn for that.
Summary: When a traveling monk pops in for a few day, Sanzo isn't sure what to think.
A/N: Cookies if you get the joke.



They had returned, all of them. Had survived the stupid mission west and made it back without too much damage to themselves or others. Sanzo didn't count the mental damage Gojyo and Goku claimed. They were alive, and had all their limbs intact.

Now that they were back, it seemed like things were going to settle back to normal, with a few more sutras and an older monkey to feed.

That wasn't quite what happened.

It had been odd when the lower level monk, Tripitaka, had stopped at the temple asking for a place to rest and to gather his thoughts. Sanzo hadn’t even dealt with the man, which was the job of people who had far more time of their hands.

That’s what he told them, at least. Mostly so he didn’t have to deal with situations like dealing with people unless absolutely necessary. What was the use of being able to have others do that for him if he didn’t use it? He had enough to deal with just dealing with the monkey.

Only the monkey hadn’t been around so much anymore.

It had taken a bit, but Sanzo had finally tracked him down to the visitor, the monk Tripitaka. The fact that he distracted Goku so much from Sanzo had a few of the others muttering he must have a way with animals. Mutterings that quickly stopped around Sanzo, who found himself in more and more a foul tempter over that kind of talk.

It wasn’t like he missed the boy or anything, but when most of the conversations involved the traveler in some way, Sanzo found himself going through his cigarette allotment a great deal faster.

He simply could not see what fascinated Goku so much about the man. He was so…ordinary. He followed all the rules set down before him. He didn’t drink, he didn’t smoke, and he didn’t eat meat. He –meditated- and meant it, and he was just…just…. Irritating.

And it was even more irritating that he made Sanzo feel that way. He didn’t even know this man, and Tripitaka had found a way to get under his skin. Sanzo had though only Gojyo had possessed that talent, and made a mental note to shoot him for teaching it to others. It was the only explanation. Somewhere, the man had opened a “How to piss of Sanzo” school. Shooting was too good for him. He’d send a hungry Goku to stay with him instead.

If he could get Goku away from the man.

And if one more person asked him if he was all right, there was going to be bloodshed. He could pretend he was still heading west. Maybe claim it was a relapse from the stress or something.

“Saaaanzo!”

Ah, that was a familiar cry. He wondered what Goku wanted now.

“Sanzo,” Goku grinned as he yelled and attached himself to Sanzo, ignoring the swats, hugging the man tight. “Tripitaka and I are going to go eat in the gardens. You want to come with us?”

Tripitaka again. Scowling, Sanzo pried Goku off. “No. I have important things to do.”

Goku gave him a look. “You don’t do anything important. That’s why you say you have other people around is so they do the work and leave you alone.”

It was a knowing look, at that was just as bad as the fact that the boy was right. Growling a bit, he moved away from him. “No. Go enjoy your picnic with your new friend. I have work to do.”

With that, he stalked off and shut the door to his rooms with a firm hand. Some might have called it a slam, but Sanzo didn’t slam doors. He was too fucking serene for that, so he shut it with a firm hand.

Grabbing a newspaper, and a full pack of cigarettes, Sanzo set about killing the breathable air around him for the night.

Or that was the plan, anyway.

He had forgotten that little things like shut doors failed to keep Goku out, and he followed right in. Eyes bright, he frowned at Sanzo. “What’s wrong with you? You’re even more pissy than normal.” He scowled at Sanzo, and Sanzo scowled back.

“Why are you here? Go play with your new friend.”

Goku continued to stare, and it was starting to make Sanzo a bit less than comfortable. The demon was getting far too good at reading Sanzo’s moods, and making amazing leaps of logic that were getting more and more on target. Frightening really, especially when it was focused on him. Sanzo hated when other people could read him easily.

“You’re jealous….” There was a bit of awe in Goku’s voice. “You’re jealous I don’t hang out with you so much anymore!”

The smug pleased tone made Sanzo’s teeth grind. “I don’t know what you are talking about. Stupid monkey, go play with your friend.”

“You haven’t called me that in a while,” Goku said, grinning and bouncing in place. “It’s been a while. I kinda missed it.” He shifted closer. “Why are you jealous, Sanzo?”

A question in such an innocent voice and so not very innocent eyes. Now Sanzo was back to wanting to shoot Gojyo, as he was sure the man was the cause of this. Teaching things that Goku was too young to know.

“I’m not jealous of anyone, least of all over you.”

Goku brightened even more. “You’re jealous over me? That’s awesome.” Some how he got even bouncier. Sanzo was going to have to find out who had given him sugar. Or peaches. Peaches made him bouncy as well.

“Why would anyone be jealous over you?”

“I don’t know. You tell me.”

Sanzo’s hand was already going for his weapon of choice when dealing with Goku, and even the rustle of paper was a bit soothing. “I am not jealous over you.”

A moment of quiet, then Goku grinned and darted forward with that damn demon speed of his.

It was just a peck, really, not even a real kiss, but Sanzo felt his cheeks warm even as he saw the blush on Goku’s face as the boy retreated for the door. “Love you too, Sanzo.” Then he was gone.

“I’m,” Sanzo said quietly, “going to kill that monkey.”

Even as he said it, weapons were tucked away, and he pulled out a new cigarette.

He had a long night of thinking ahead of him. Damn Goku for the kiss and for being right. How was the world supposed to function like that?

Stupid world ending events.