Ficlet...
In a lame pretense to create an illusion that I am still able to write, I give you the following ficlet (written in January, by the way…)
Title: A New Responsibility
Author: despina_moon
Warnings: worksafe
Pairing: Sanzo X Goku
Summary: After freeing Goku, what adjustments did Sanzo have to make?
Notes: Written for Project Thirty-Nine. Many thanks to Moshesque for the beta.
There was a decided chill in the air and he threw another chunk of wood on the healthy fire, letting the comforting crackle and mesmerizing flames soothe him. He glanced over at the small blanket-wrapped bundle and frowned.
"But… you saved me."
Closing his eyes and leaning against a tree, he contemplated the ridiculous words. Genjyo Sanzo did not save people and specifically, he didn't save empty-headed chimps. He'd just wanted that damn calling in his head to stop. Yet and in spite of his vicious and threatening words to the vacuous and incredibly dangerous monkey, the idiot continued to follow him. Goku chattered away non-stop, talking about his name and how happy he was to be hungry and tired.
Three days they'd been together and he didn't know what to do with the kid. It wasn't as if he could dump Goku at an orphanage and hope for the best. Besides, he couldn't shake what his master had said about someone calling to him someday and being responsible for that person.
To top it all off, there was something decidedly different about Goku.
"Sanzo?"
He opened his eyes to find Goku practically in his lap. One small, warm hand was resting on his thigh and another on his shoulder, gently shaking him awake. "What are you doing?" His voice sounded different, it was softer than he could recall hearing.
Goku yawned and shivered. "I got cold." He blinked those big sleepy eyes. "An' I already told ya, I'm notta monkey."
Turning his gaze toward the campfire, all Sanzo saw was a low bed filled with dappled-colored coals of gray and orange. No wonder he felt so chilled. When had he fallen asleep? "What are you waking me up for? Just throw more wood on the fire."
"'Kay." Goku got up and grabbed the closest piece of wood. The giant log was something Goku shouldn't have been able even to lift, yet he tossed it onto the dying coals with ease. There was a flurry of sparks and then a burst of flame.
Yawning again, Goku sat down close to him, pulling the blanket tight around himself while he shivered. "How long 'til it's warm again?"
"How should I know?"
"Can I lean against you until then, Sanzo? You're warm."
"Hell, no."
His words were too late; Goku was already asleep. He sighed, irritated that Goku's body heat felt so comforting. Shaking his head with irritation, he growled at the small form glued to his side, "Damn monkey."
Sanzo. The kid called him Sanzo, in fact he never stopped calling him. He never thought of himself by name anymore - Kouryuu was the last name he'd had. He didn't really like Genjyo, the name reminded him of his master's death and every time he heard it, he couldn't help feeling as if his half-healed wound would break open again.
Sanzo was more of a generic name and it didn't hurt to hear, although Goku used it incessantly. If he had to have a name, he guessed Sanzo wasn't so bad. He'd definitely been called worse things in his life.
"Hmm." Goku smacked his lips and snuggled against him, draping the blanket over them both.
Goku was a funny kid. Fiercely loyal to someone he'd just met, desperate for attention and afraid of being alone. Sanzo was reclusive by nature, so he didn't understand Goku's needs and fears. Not really.
Maybe.
Alone for 500 years. Sanzo couldn't really wrap his brain around the thought. He'd been alone for only a few years and there were times when he couldn't bear it. Monster or not, no one deserved 500 years of solitary confinement. Gently, he pushed hair out of Goku's eyes, wary of dislodging the golden coronet. He let his arm settle around his new charge.
Well, at least Sanzo had his blanket back. He also had a name. And he wasn't alone anymore. Warm and comfortable, he closed his eyes and returned to his peaceful slumber.
Title: A New Responsibility
Author: despina_moon
Warnings: worksafe
Pairing: Sanzo X Goku
Summary: After freeing Goku, what adjustments did Sanzo have to make?
Notes: Written for Project Thirty-Nine. Many thanks to Moshesque for the beta.
There was a decided chill in the air and he threw another chunk of wood on the healthy fire, letting the comforting crackle and mesmerizing flames soothe him. He glanced over at the small blanket-wrapped bundle and frowned.
"But… you saved me."
Closing his eyes and leaning against a tree, he contemplated the ridiculous words. Genjyo Sanzo did not save people and specifically, he didn't save empty-headed chimps. He'd just wanted that damn calling in his head to stop. Yet and in spite of his vicious and threatening words to the vacuous and incredibly dangerous monkey, the idiot continued to follow him. Goku chattered away non-stop, talking about his name and how happy he was to be hungry and tired.
Three days they'd been together and he didn't know what to do with the kid. It wasn't as if he could dump Goku at an orphanage and hope for the best. Besides, he couldn't shake what his master had said about someone calling to him someday and being responsible for that person.
To top it all off, there was something decidedly different about Goku.
"Sanzo?"
He opened his eyes to find Goku practically in his lap. One small, warm hand was resting on his thigh and another on his shoulder, gently shaking him awake. "What are you doing?" His voice sounded different, it was softer than he could recall hearing.
Goku yawned and shivered. "I got cold." He blinked those big sleepy eyes. "An' I already told ya, I'm notta monkey."
Turning his gaze toward the campfire, all Sanzo saw was a low bed filled with dappled-colored coals of gray and orange. No wonder he felt so chilled. When had he fallen asleep? "What are you waking me up for? Just throw more wood on the fire."
"'Kay." Goku got up and grabbed the closest piece of wood. The giant log was something Goku shouldn't have been able even to lift, yet he tossed it onto the dying coals with ease. There was a flurry of sparks and then a burst of flame.
Yawning again, Goku sat down close to him, pulling the blanket tight around himself while he shivered. "How long 'til it's warm again?"
"How should I know?"
"Can I lean against you until then, Sanzo? You're warm."
"Hell, no."
His words were too late; Goku was already asleep. He sighed, irritated that Goku's body heat felt so comforting. Shaking his head with irritation, he growled at the small form glued to his side, "Damn monkey."
Sanzo. The kid called him Sanzo, in fact he never stopped calling him. He never thought of himself by name anymore - Kouryuu was the last name he'd had. He didn't really like Genjyo, the name reminded him of his master's death and every time he heard it, he couldn't help feeling as if his half-healed wound would break open again.
Sanzo was more of a generic name and it didn't hurt to hear, although Goku used it incessantly. If he had to have a name, he guessed Sanzo wasn't so bad. He'd definitely been called worse things in his life.
"Hmm." Goku smacked his lips and snuggled against him, draping the blanket over them both.
Goku was a funny kid. Fiercely loyal to someone he'd just met, desperate for attention and afraid of being alone. Sanzo was reclusive by nature, so he didn't understand Goku's needs and fears. Not really.
Maybe.
Alone for 500 years. Sanzo couldn't really wrap his brain around the thought. He'd been alone for only a few years and there were times when he couldn't bear it. Monster or not, no one deserved 500 years of solitary confinement. Gently, he pushed hair out of Goku's eyes, wary of dislodging the golden coronet. He let his arm settle around his new charge.
Well, at least Sanzo had his blanket back. He also had a name. And he wasn't alone anymore. Warm and comfortable, he closed his eyes and returned to his peaceful slumber.