Only for a Moment
Jade x Guy one shot compilation.

Author's Notes: Hello everyone! This is the first chapter of what will now be a compilation of several one-shots written exclusive for the Jade/Guy fandom. They do not follow any time line or sequence of the events, and the style of the writing is liable to change. That's why I named this collection as it dubbed now. These are only small instances that I have created between Jade and Guy. Nothing more, nothing less. However, I do wish to make everything I write enjoyable, and I hope all of you will agree~

Jade and Guy are, at the moment, the two characters I feel most comfortable writing about. So I decided to, in a sense, break my silence with a small one-shot of them. I think the quality of this fanfic is pretty good overall, although most of it was written on a whim. (Three sittings in all!) As far as characterization, I paid special attention to Jade this time, and perhaps not enough on Guy. It's just harder when he is the one narrating the story, but I feel unworthy of getting into Jade's head and having him tell it. Maybe I'll attempt it after this one-shot. But, in essence, the creation of this fanfiction can be summed up as:

The things I do to avoid my calculus homework.

The Disclaimer everyone seems so fond of including in their fanfiction: Tales of the Abyss and all related characters are not owned by me, and by no means am I receiving any monetary incentive or compensation for creating this fanwork. (If that were the case, I do doubt I would be updating only three times over a span of a year).

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Supposedly Over a Cup of Tea

My breath seemed to me almost visible as I huddle over my tea. A slumped blonde figure, shivering violently over a small steaming cup of tea. That's how I must seem to everyone, but at the moment, I'm just so damn c-c-cold to even care. I thought that I was going to warm up a few minutes after entering the small restaurant, but it seems that I was wrong. I guess it doesn't help any that I'm right next to this freezing window. I swear -- the cold air seems to seep right through these paper thin walls… A tall figure walks past me and I faintly hear cheerful greetings and animated "How do you do's" right after. Since it didn't seem to be any of my business, I continue looking at the contents of my cup, wondering if it's cool enough to finally drink. I didn't pay much attention until that very figure went up to my table. My vision focused at the cup in front of me, it didn't happen upon me that this person might be someone I know here in Keterburg. Despite how extremely familiar his teal colored boots look.

"How interesting. I always thought you were more of a coffee drinker." His suave and smug voice sang out to me like a melody of pretentious mocking-birds. I felt my pulse skip a half beat and I immediately moved my head up to stare into his crimson red eyes. Jade. He only looked at me with a small smile, and moved his gaze over to the seat right across from me. May I join you? He didn't even open his mouth but asked with a simple sway, and I immediately reacted to him.

"Oh…! Jade, I didn't see you there. Oh... Heh, feel free to join me. If you want that is." I had to correct myself in that last part, since there was always the possibility the colonel chose not to share his break time with me. He's in his hometown; so of course he had more important people to visit, but I made the offer regardless (Otherwise, he was sure to bring it up later on. I can hear him already: "Oh, don't be fooled, ladies. Guy isn't always such a gentleman~" along with a smirk, a chuckle, and an adjustment of glasses).

"Ah so kind of you to offer. I think I shall take you up on that." He said simply and took the seat I mentioned earlier. He made a face at me, but it's most likely about the way I was shivering, or the face I was making back at him. Or just a mixture of both. See, I think I was looking at him with a bit of surprise and tension. Surprise since I haven't heard a snarky comment leave his lips just yet, and tension because of… other reasons.

"Interesting look, Guy, but I am afraid it does not fit you." He quipped with a small smirk. At least the surprise on my face must have dissipated.

I had to chuckle before I issued a response. "Yeah, well, I'm not used to the biting cold Keterburg seems to offer." And waved my hand dismissively, but soon I regretted the decision as I slouched over my warm cup of tea again – which, by the way, was getting suddenly too cold to drink. Huh. He looked at me for a few moments before giving a real, genuine laugh. Jade shook his head lightly and began to smile… warmly. A look of almost nostalgia could be traced along his lips, but my eyes soon averted from his gaze, my self-conscious telling me that I was staring bit too far into the features of his face. A bit of fear visible from my own lips as I felt myself quiver.

"It is actually not that bad, Guy… However, perhaps I can offer you something warmer than that tea cup of yours." He chuckled and pushed his glasses up his nose, in that signature style of his. Wait, something warmer? Offer? Him? So many implications ran through my mind, and many of them were not possible, nor probable, and one or two were not work safe. My eyes widened and for once, I sat myself correctly on my seat. My shivering was still pretty apparent, but my mind was far too busy making fantastical visions to pay attention to the cold. Jade saw this and pushed up on his glasses once more, but this time it was different. He was hiding his eyes. He was hiding something (contrary to popular belief, Jade can be a readable person; it just take a lot of observation to know when he's lying or not). He leaned back onto the chair nonchalantly and chuckled, as if dismissing what he previously said.

"My my, and I thought we were both adults here. Perhaps I should have reworded my previous statement more clearly – I was going to offer you dinner at my old lodging here at Keterburg." He stated calmly, his lips seeming to curl into a knowing grin as he ended his sentence. Well crap. Often times, I take the worst of situations in a lighthearted view. Always look at the bright side, right? This wasn't one of those times. It's really odd that I'm acting like this, but I felt almost scared to death to meet eye to eye with him. This hasn't been the first time we've talked like this either. It's almost as if he's mocking me, throwing a risqué comment here and there; the sadder thing of it all is I secretly feel a bit glad about it. At least he doesn't treat the situation with disgust, although I wouldn't have pegged Jade as homophobic. Hell no. But I am certain it gives no leeway for hope. Sigh.

Tired of the subtly he poises himself with (or lack of), I tone down my fears and manage a sheepish smile at him. "Well… You know, that wouldn't be too bad. I'd like that, Jade. But hey, I didn't say anything about not being an adult!" I dared myself to make the comment, throwing him an innocent back-of-the-head rub and smiled. He responded with a small adjustment of his glasses again and nodded. For some reason, I don't think he appreciated the comment, but he soon turned back into his seemingly always smiling façade. That's not good.

"Ah, then forget that I ever made the comment, Guy." He ended with a smile and stood from his chair, soon offering to take the tea cup from me. The rim of the ceramic cup never touching my lips. I simply nod in response, my mind not retaliating at the fact that I paid eight gald for a tea I did not drink. In just this flowing motion, I float along with Jade has he walks out of the café, finding both of ourselves onto cobble stone streets. Even the bracing winds of Keterburg do not bother me as I drift alongside him, fainting wondering why I am so easily swayed by this man. I have only known Jade for the several months we have traveled together as a party; although a retrospective look at those few months had given me some insight as to who this man really is. But there is that biting feeling that I have saying that I have only scratched the surface.

We kept light conversation as we walked, talking about things like our travels, the people we have met, the things we have seen. Obviously, Jade is well informed of my past, so we talk like old friends over the happenings of Malkuth. It was all well and good, and to be honest, I felt comfortable talking with Jade like this. He was the oldest of the group, and I the second oldest. I haven't known Jade as long as his closest friends have, but over time we both have gained a mutual trust for each other, and I do feel a bit honored that I gained such respect. However, that's all that it'll ever be. A man having respect for another. In a teasing sort of way.

"You don't seem to be shivering quite as violently." Jade said, interrupting my thoughts (if any) as I started at him and offered a smile.

"Oh, hehe… I suppose when I don't think about the cold, the sensation just goes away." I gave a lighthearted laugh as I met his eyes with a friendly smile, "That or I'm just so numb I don't feel it anymore!" A rather gorgeous smile spread across his face as Jade started to chuckle. He shook his head for only a moment and continued walking with me, enjoying a comfortable silence between us.

"Just so you'd know, Guy. Not very many people are invited to my house – in fact, I choose not to invite even Peony as often as I did. Then again, the man simply invites himself..." His voice level dramatically decreased as he ended his statement, a bit of a frown and pout seen on his features. It was a bit… cute, but I should probably stop that it is. Although, I took everything until now as flattery. My mind not completely registering why he would pick me, out of anyone on Eldrant, to place special privileges on (if you can call them that), but just the fact that he picked me to his house made me content. Which could be, in reality, insignificant to think of for others, but at the moment, it's not for me.

"R-really? Wow… You know, I feel kind of honored, Jade." I had to admit it. I did. But of course, the other was rapid to negate any comment I made that inflated his ego, or his reputation, but I know he loves it.

"Honored? That's certainly interesting. I did not think you would feel that way. You are a Lord of Malkuth, correct? You have great humility, Guy, at least, more than I could ever conceive." A light chuckle filled the small air between us as he stopped right in front of his house, myself almost bumping into his figure. I say almost as much as I almost did not notice the large structure ahead of us, which was his house (my vision completely focused on Jade). It was really nice, by the way. The house.

"Heh… I suppose so, but I've always held that kind of respect for you, Jade." My lips are saying things that not even I am thinking. I suppose that's what people mean when they say act on what your heart dictates? To be honest, until now I realized I've been really candid with Jade. My eyes focused on only him, my hand just barely brushing his, my lips slightly parted and awareness just about gone. Why the hell are you acting this way, Guy? I have to admit, everyone, I'm completely lovestruck at the moment. I don't even remember half of the things we talked about on the way anymore. Neither how he managed to get me inside his house. Inside his living room and sitting on the couch. His body leaning towards me and my back soon presses defensively against the plush cushion behind me. …What?

"J-Jade?" The question brought both of us back into reality as I looked at him with surprise, the same reaction on his own face. Closing his eyes, a look of disappointment started to invade his features as he started to move back into a less awkward position.

Jade… what were you doing…?

I reacted quickly and soon grabbed hold of his forearm, pulling myself up against him. If any reasoning I have has served me… Jade was going to do something to me, something that perhaps I might have liked. Something I would be ashamed in liking, but I think… He feels the exact same way. But wait, if that was the case… where the hell have I been? All this time, I've been blindfolded in my own worries, or am I just being too careful? The man could have just wanted to get behind me, and here I am, holding onto him for dear life. But there's a look on his face. A look that's telling him he made a mistake, and I'm starting to wonder if I'm in the process of making one right now.

"Guy… What do you think of me?" Where the hell did that come from? If I'm right, then, that must be a question that's on both of our minds. I'm pretty sure it's been on mine. Jade, although, is not a mind reader and with a bit of resistance, he pulled his arm away from me, making a move to just retreat from the engagement entirely. No, I couldn't let him go, not when we're this close! I shake my head and quickly get up, seizing his forearm once more, giving him an assertive look.

"Ah… well… you know, Jade, you could have used some transition in there…!" Seriously, a nice leading into the question would have been nice. He looks at me completely confused; that's not something you see every day. I try to clarify for him.

"What I mean is…" I trail off because I'm not entirely sure what I really do mean. "You could be less direct, but I guess it was best that you aren't since… you know… I don't think we're both good at this." I try to sum up my answer, but I couldn't help but be horribly vague with my emotions. A bit of relaxation is felt from Jade and his shoulders drop from their tenseness. I know I hit the target this time, and I start to think that maybe all that teasing Jade is so fond of wasn't just baseless teasing. I want to think more about this, but the current situation doesn't give me time for it, especially with his next question.

"Good at what, Guy?" He asks me, making sure he accentuates the what in this situation. That knowing smirk from before comes back full force. Damn, why do I feel such attraction to this guy? Am I some kind of masochist?

"Jade…! Y-You know what I mean! Why would you be so close to me…? And why would I want to be so close to you—" I stop dead in my sentence. He looks at me with astonishment. I refuse to move but he seems to be closing in. A small gasp for air. A gentle silence. And I feel something extraordinarily soft press upon my lips. And here I am, Guy Cecil, kissing Jade Curtiss' slightly parted lips. I felt warmth in our touch and without notice, we both guided ourselves against his couch. Or at least, somehow we ended there as my eyelids fluttered, my lips feeling nothing but Jade. Beautiful, beautiful Jade.

Lorelei knows much timed elapsed from our first kiss and he pulls away, a warmly smile traced along the corner of his lips again, but there was something behind them. Passion? I blush at just thinking of the word. Opening my eyes again, I look at Jade's figure and smile. I don't know why I'm smiling, but I'm sitting there, Jade Curtiss sitting on my lap, smiling like an absolute idiot. Jade knows this, but what's this? He starts smiling too.

"Perhaps I had more than just dinner in mind…" The colonel admits and I start to chuckle soflty.

"Well, Jade… I wouldn't mind that."