A reminder
Prompt: It just happened (#2), Reasons People Have Sex, fc_smorgasbord
Genre: Drama-ish
Rating: R
Kunzite watched the boy shiver once more, the slight rattle of the chains betraying his efforts to stay still and strong.
At least he was trying.
Finally, Kunzite came closer, examining the scratches and bruises that Beryl had made to mark Zoisite’s failure. The damage appeared minimal, but Kunzite knew that Beryl rarely liked to get physical. She preferred pouring darkness into the psyche - it fucked with people so much more.
Physical remnants were meaningless in comparison.
Zoisite looked at him defiantly through tired eyes, waiting for more punishment and retribution. Instead, Kunzite released him from his metal bindings, catching him when he stumbled. Wrapping his an arm supportively under the man, he led him to his personal room, only slightly rebuking: “I told you to be careful.”
The blonde’s trembles began to increase, making Kunzite wonder how long he’d been out there. Wrapping the smaller form in a blanket, Kunzite settled them both before the fire in his room, where they could drink tea in silence until one of them was ready to talk.
Hours later, when the fire had died, Kunzite awoke to the feel of a small, callused hand on his chest. Reflexively, he grabbed the thin wrist and twisted, letting go when he recognized the soft cry.
“What are you doing?” he said gutturally, sleep sandpapering his voice.
“Thanking you,” came a whisper from the darkness.
The hand came back, soft and tentative. Kunzite let it wander over him timidly, eventually reaching out to touch the other shitennou with larger hands, only slightly less uncertain.
In the cruel darkness, through hesitant touch and nervous caress, they recalled giving and receiving, pleasure and sensation, camaraderie and acceptance.
In the morning, Zoisite was gone before Kunzite woke up.
The older man struggled to recall the night spent in black and questioned its odd occurrences only once before realizing the piece of fabric tangled in his fingers.
It was the same cloth Zoisite often used to tie his hair back.
In any other place, it could’ve been a keepsake, a sentiment, a gift.
Here in the Dark Kingdom, it was just a reminder of all the things they did not have, of all the ways they’d already failed.