Title: Lie Easy In the Shade
Author: Tiamat’s Child
Rating: PG-13
Fandom: Fullmetal Alchemist
Character/s: Ran Fan/Ling
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Warnings: None?
Summary: Ran Fan surprises herself.
Notes: For the Summer prompt at
4purposes: “the grasp of dusk and summer”
Lie Easy In the Shade
Ran Fan held him where she’d sent him sprawling, her knee between his shoulder blades, at the base of his neck. Just enough pressure, just enough, but she could choke him easily, that way, and so he relaxed into her control, his hands open and still where she pinned them by the wrists.
“What will you do with me now you’ve got me?” he asked, steady, calm, though his blood was flooded with excitement from their sparring.
“Master?” she said, soft and strange. Her weight didn’t shift. He took another breath, willing all his muscles still limper, more compliant. His skin felt tight and over heated.
“It’s all right, Ran Fan,” he said, and felt the shift as she leaned forward. She was careful. The knee on his back didn’t press any further in. Instead, his wrists were held more firmly to the ground as she used her arms to brace herself. He knew she didn’t want to hurt him.
He could feel her breath, warm and a little too quick, and he shivered, deep and all over.
Then she was gone. He looked up and saw her standing, her shoulders taut, her back to him. “Terrible tactics,” he said gently, “Just letting an opponent go like that.”
“I beg your pardon, Master,” she said, “My behavior was inexcusable.”
“I’m fine,” he told her, and rolled to his feet, nerves still thrumming.
“I’m sorry!” she said.
“Ran Fan. Look at me.”
She turned, ever obedient, and he smiled at her. She was surprised at herself, confused and disturbed. He wished she wouldn’t be. “You wouldn’t have done that if I hadn’t wanted you to. I told you a long time ago to not hold back on me.”
Her hands twitched. “Master - ”
“Shh. I was in charge. If I’d been afraid, you wouldn’t have.” He stepped toward her, and smiled when she dropped her head to bare the back of her neck to him.