Insomnia ficlets!
Title: Dreams
Fandom: Gankutsuou
Characters: Albert, Franz.
Summary: Spoilers for the subtext I suppose...
Luna, the perfect place to get away from awkward fiances and shallow friends. That was what they'd decided, what Albert had said as they lay on the dew-damp grass, staring up into the vault of stat-spangled skies with the remnants of two bottles of fine wine between them, the dregs dripping out. Franz remembered the brief flash of hurt, until Albert turned to him with wide, slightly unfocused eyes and asked in a faintly slurred voice. "You'd come with me, wouldn't you Franz? I wans...I want t'see the stars from Luna...wan't'dance in the carnival ans forget all the probabablems....but I don't want you t'stay behind. Come with me?"
It had been Franz who'd made the preparations, who'd reminded Albert to pack his new shirt and who'd arranged - discretly - for the news their arrival to circulated with the right people. It had also been Franz who'd spent the night before they left at Albert's house so he could pull his sleepy friend into the car as they left.
It wasn't a long trip to Luna and the seats were wide and spacious so it wasn't really surprising that Albert had drifted off again. There weren't harnesses so when the ship jerked slightly as it punched through the atmosphere, the laws of physics dictated that he'd slip down bonelessly to sprawl across the seats. But it must have been an evil imp's influence that his cheek came to rest on Franz's thigh. The blonde froze, muscles tightening instinctively and Albert made an faint, mumbling sound and nuzzled in before slipping back into sleep.
Franz doesn't sleep for the rest of the journey.
Title: Brittle
Fandom: Full Metal Alchemist
Characters: Al, Ed
Summary: Spoilers up to 'Right Hand of Destruction"
Once he had blood, and bones and muscles and flesh that bruised or bled when he was attacked. Not any more. Alphonse isn't human these days but he's learnt to appreciate the advantages of his armour-self. He spent a lot of time, mostly during those hellish days when Ed was being wired up for his auto-mail, just sitting around in despair. But when he'd heard Ed thrashing around, the need to protect and support his brother overwhelmed the gloom for just long enough for his mind to start working.
Ed would feel responsible.
Al knew it already. No matter that he had consented, that he had helped Ed research and implement the arrays. His single, half-hearted objection would clear him of any blame in Ed's mind...which meant Ed would shoulder everything himself. Ed was all quick-temper, brilliant but impaitent, reckless and confident. Auntie and Winry wouldn't see it but Al knew that his brother could brood and would hold a grudge until the end of time and Ed was going to be even worse when he was his own enemy.
So, Al had to be the one to make Ed stop thinking and brooding and give him something to do. Which meant that Al had to get comfortable in his new - and if he knew his brother, very, very temporary - body. And there have been times he's been grateful, in the guiltiest, most furtive thoughts of all, that he is all steel and leather and that his brother seems doomed to stay a 'chibi'. Too many times. Times when his armour deflected blows that didn't even scratch it; blows meant to maim or kill his brother. And it's become habit now, to lunge between his brother and danger. Al is safe. Al can survive the blows that would leave Ed broken and bloodied.
He almost hadn't believed it as Scar appeared over the brick wall, almost floating to land on his feet. Doctor Marco gibbers in fear but Al is already moving forward, intent on getting Scar away from Ed as fast as possible. He doesn't feel the hand slamming against his armour, only the red flash warning him that Scar has indeed connected as the strange, bitter man hisses about him only being an empty suit of armour.
He doesn't feel pain - all his tactile senses are bound to the seal if they still exist at all - but instead, he feels light as his armour disintegrates. He stumbles, automatically trying to regain his footing with a leg that suddenly isn't there and he crashes to the ground.
Ed has the road behind him and Al screams at him to run, even as his mind crystalises into icy terror at the look in those gold eyes. Ed is kneeling in front of Scar, looking so small, so defenceless with his human hand clutching at the automail port. When did Scar get so big? And Al is all but hysterical, trying to fight the sudden instabilty and his body's sheer weight to get to his brother's side.
Ed is going to allow it and Al screams at him, scrabbling desperately for words to make Ed fight or run or scream for help - anything but kneel there as Scar looms up over him. He digs his fingers in and drags himself forward, armour scraping along the ground. Doctor Marco is forgotten entirely - all that matters is Ed and making sure Ed's safe.
In those few horrific moments before Doctor Marco makes his move and Hawkeye and the Colonel arrive and Scar flees, Al realises something.
Armour is strong than human flesh. Armour is also far more brittle.
Title: Camping out.
Fandom: Saiyuki
Characters: Hakkai, Sanzo.
Summary: Spoilers for up to volume ...five, or possibly six of the manga
Nobody had wanted to camp out, fear of the zombie-dude from Hakkai's past make them nervous but Jeep was pretty much exhausted so they'd only gotten as far as their own two feet could take them. Their injuries had limited them to less than two miles before Gojyo called a halt. Goku's broken leg meant that Hakkai had carried him but Sanzo and Gojyo were both tired and injuried.
The priest was trudging along, head bowed and not even bothering to snap half-hearted threats at...well, everything. Then Gojyo had stumbled to a halt and Sanzo had plowed straight into him and they'd both wound up on the ground in an awkward tangle of limbs. Getting them detangled took a little longer than it should have as both were tired, cranky and blaming the other.
Hakkai did most of the work in setting up the camp and he even managed to collect enough supplies for an adequate supper. Goku dives in, Gojyo fights him off for long enough to eat a bit but Sanzo settles into his sleeping roll and pointedly turns his back on the lot of them. Goku and Gojyo bicker a bit but when Sanzo fails to respond, they eventually settle in for the night.
No-one objects when Hakkai insists on taking a watch. Gojyo looks as if he will but exhaustion cuts the words off before he can say them. Hakkai sits beside the fire until all three are asleep - Goku has already rolled over so one arm is draped across Sanzo's stomach and he's snoring...loudly. Gojyo is sprawled under his blanket, breathing easily.
Hakkai looks to the third - Sanzo isn't snoring; in fact it takes Hakkai a panicked second to be sure that he's breathing. The priest doesn't make any noise when he's asleep but tonight, Hakkai would be grateful for a snore, a string of threats...a sign that Sanzo is still alive.
He can see the faint bruises under the black undershirt and he flexs his hands, remembering the feel of warm muscle and powerful pulse. He'd been worried; Sanzo's choking, desperate gasp making him jerk his hands away, risking the whole ruse-
The paper fan rustles as it is waved pointly under his nose and he looks across into violet eyes. "Stop brooding so much...'f I can't sleep, I'll kill you."
Hakkai stifles a smile, well, tries to. Sanzo glares up at him for a moment then shifts into a more comfortable position and relaxes. Hakkai strokes Jeep and looks up at the stars.
It's a beautiful night.
Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.
Fandom: Gankutsuou
Characters: Albert, Franz.
Summary: Spoilers for the subtext I suppose...
Luna, the perfect place to get away from awkward fiances and shallow friends. That was what they'd decided, what Albert had said as they lay on the dew-damp grass, staring up into the vault of stat-spangled skies with the remnants of two bottles of fine wine between them, the dregs dripping out. Franz remembered the brief flash of hurt, until Albert turned to him with wide, slightly unfocused eyes and asked in a faintly slurred voice. "You'd come with me, wouldn't you Franz? I wans...I want t'see the stars from Luna...wan't'dance in the carnival ans forget all the probabablems....but I don't want you t'stay behind. Come with me?"
It had been Franz who'd made the preparations, who'd reminded Albert to pack his new shirt and who'd arranged - discretly - for the news their arrival to circulated with the right people. It had also been Franz who'd spent the night before they left at Albert's house so he could pull his sleepy friend into the car as they left.
It wasn't a long trip to Luna and the seats were wide and spacious so it wasn't really surprising that Albert had drifted off again. There weren't harnesses so when the ship jerked slightly as it punched through the atmosphere, the laws of physics dictated that he'd slip down bonelessly to sprawl across the seats. But it must have been an evil imp's influence that his cheek came to rest on Franz's thigh. The blonde froze, muscles tightening instinctively and Albert made an faint, mumbling sound and nuzzled in before slipping back into sleep.
Franz doesn't sleep for the rest of the journey.
Title: Brittle
Fandom: Full Metal Alchemist
Characters: Al, Ed
Summary: Spoilers up to 'Right Hand of Destruction"
Once he had blood, and bones and muscles and flesh that bruised or bled when he was attacked. Not any more. Alphonse isn't human these days but he's learnt to appreciate the advantages of his armour-self. He spent a lot of time, mostly during those hellish days when Ed was being wired up for his auto-mail, just sitting around in despair. But when he'd heard Ed thrashing around, the need to protect and support his brother overwhelmed the gloom for just long enough for his mind to start working.
Ed would feel responsible.
Al knew it already. No matter that he had consented, that he had helped Ed research and implement the arrays. His single, half-hearted objection would clear him of any blame in Ed's mind...which meant Ed would shoulder everything himself. Ed was all quick-temper, brilliant but impaitent, reckless and confident. Auntie and Winry wouldn't see it but Al knew that his brother could brood and would hold a grudge until the end of time and Ed was going to be even worse when he was his own enemy.
So, Al had to be the one to make Ed stop thinking and brooding and give him something to do. Which meant that Al had to get comfortable in his new - and if he knew his brother, very, very temporary - body. And there have been times he's been grateful, in the guiltiest, most furtive thoughts of all, that he is all steel and leather and that his brother seems doomed to stay a 'chibi'. Too many times. Times when his armour deflected blows that didn't even scratch it; blows meant to maim or kill his brother. And it's become habit now, to lunge between his brother and danger. Al is safe. Al can survive the blows that would leave Ed broken and bloodied.
He almost hadn't believed it as Scar appeared over the brick wall, almost floating to land on his feet. Doctor Marco gibbers in fear but Al is already moving forward, intent on getting Scar away from Ed as fast as possible. He doesn't feel the hand slamming against his armour, only the red flash warning him that Scar has indeed connected as the strange, bitter man hisses about him only being an empty suit of armour.
He doesn't feel pain - all his tactile senses are bound to the seal if they still exist at all - but instead, he feels light as his armour disintegrates. He stumbles, automatically trying to regain his footing with a leg that suddenly isn't there and he crashes to the ground.
Ed has the road behind him and Al screams at him to run, even as his mind crystalises into icy terror at the look in those gold eyes. Ed is kneeling in front of Scar, looking so small, so defenceless with his human hand clutching at the automail port. When did Scar get so big? And Al is all but hysterical, trying to fight the sudden instabilty and his body's sheer weight to get to his brother's side.
Ed is going to allow it and Al screams at him, scrabbling desperately for words to make Ed fight or run or scream for help - anything but kneel there as Scar looms up over him. He digs his fingers in and drags himself forward, armour scraping along the ground. Doctor Marco is forgotten entirely - all that matters is Ed and making sure Ed's safe.
In those few horrific moments before Doctor Marco makes his move and Hawkeye and the Colonel arrive and Scar flees, Al realises something.
Armour is strong than human flesh. Armour is also far more brittle.
Title: Camping out.
Fandom: Saiyuki
Characters: Hakkai, Sanzo.
Summary: Spoilers for up to volume ...five, or possibly six of the manga
Nobody had wanted to camp out, fear of the zombie-dude from Hakkai's past make them nervous but Jeep was pretty much exhausted so they'd only gotten as far as their own two feet could take them. Their injuries had limited them to less than two miles before Gojyo called a halt. Goku's broken leg meant that Hakkai had carried him but Sanzo and Gojyo were both tired and injuried.
The priest was trudging along, head bowed and not even bothering to snap half-hearted threats at...well, everything. Then Gojyo had stumbled to a halt and Sanzo had plowed straight into him and they'd both wound up on the ground in an awkward tangle of limbs. Getting them detangled took a little longer than it should have as both were tired, cranky and blaming the other.
Hakkai did most of the work in setting up the camp and he even managed to collect enough supplies for an adequate supper. Goku dives in, Gojyo fights him off for long enough to eat a bit but Sanzo settles into his sleeping roll and pointedly turns his back on the lot of them. Goku and Gojyo bicker a bit but when Sanzo fails to respond, they eventually settle in for the night.
No-one objects when Hakkai insists on taking a watch. Gojyo looks as if he will but exhaustion cuts the words off before he can say them. Hakkai sits beside the fire until all three are asleep - Goku has already rolled over so one arm is draped across Sanzo's stomach and he's snoring...loudly. Gojyo is sprawled under his blanket, breathing easily.
Hakkai looks to the third - Sanzo isn't snoring; in fact it takes Hakkai a panicked second to be sure that he's breathing. The priest doesn't make any noise when he's asleep but tonight, Hakkai would be grateful for a snore, a string of threats...a sign that Sanzo is still alive.
He can see the faint bruises under the black undershirt and he flexs his hands, remembering the feel of warm muscle and powerful pulse. He'd been worried; Sanzo's choking, desperate gasp making him jerk his hands away, risking the whole ruse-
The paper fan rustles as it is waved pointly under his nose and he looks across into violet eyes. "Stop brooding so much...'f I can't sleep, I'll kill you."
Hakkai stifles a smile, well, tries to. Sanzo glares up at him for a moment then shifts into a more comfortable position and relaxes. Hakkai strokes Jeep and looks up at the stars.
It's a beautiful night.
Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.Can't sleep, cramps'll eat me.