Pairings: Haruka Nanase X Gou/Kou Matsuoka
Timeline: Arabian AU
Warnings: Maybe eventual smut and slightly homoerotic situations? (Rating subject to change)
Disclaimer: I don't own Free! Iwatobi Swim Club nor do I own the cover photo.
Authors Note: So I'll admit, the sexy, half-naked Haru in the ending theme song was enough to get me thinking on an Arabian story and once I saw Rin, I knew the plot. Or rather lack of plot but it was the temptation from those damn handsome (and somewhat gay?) men that spurred this little tale. Enjoy!
(◦′ᆺ‵◦) ° ✧❥✧¸.•*¨*✧ ✧ ℒℴѵℯ ✧ ✧*¨*•.❥
It's too hot.
His sweaty grip on the rope attached to his camel loosened just a tad while he took a moment to readjust his scarves around his nose. A blistering, desert wind whipped up a large amount of sand in the young man's face. He coughed.
While his feet sunk ankle deep in the warm sand, he figured he should have counted his blessing that a town was in view. The town would provide relief from the suffocated feeling he had due to this outlandish heat.
He reached down to grasp his water pouch with his free hand, dismayed when he found it empty. He tipped the container back, desperate for even a tiny drop, dejected when it was clear the pouch was indeed bone dry.
It's too hot for this…
"What do you mean there's no water?" Haruka whispered, a sharp edge to his voice. The olive green haired man shrugged, tipping over his own beautifully crafted jug just to prove he didn't have water.
"This town's been dry for a while now… People are moving to the next town because it's supposed to have water," he said, setting the jug aside. He inclined his head, watching Haruka curiously.
Haruka clenched his fingers into a fist and mentally sighed. There was no point in him staying here if there isn't water. His disappointment over this fact weighed heavier on him than he would have expected. Although with miles of desert separating this town from the next, Haruka wondered if he would ever reach the next town before he keeled over. If finding water was this difficult, would he ever come across an oasis?
"I can show you the fastest way to get there, if you'd like," the taller man said. "I have to move anyways and travelling alone can get boring. I'm Makoto." Makoto offered his hand.
Staring at his hand unblinkingly, Haruka genuinely considered his proposition. If he went with Makoto, he wouldn't be subject to his own thoughts and he'd get to the next town faster with Makoto's aid.
"Haru," he answered, shaking Makoto's hand. Makoto smiled.
The next town was every bit of the disappointment the first one was. The town which should have promised crystal clear water offered nothing more than dry jerky and shade. Makoto suggested they stop at an inn which hopefully would have some water for them to replenish themselves.
"We only have a little," the innkeeper claimed, holding a suspiciously large jug closer to his chest.
Haruka frowned, just a tad – so the corners of his lips twisted down ever so slightly – and tossed a sack of coins on the counter. The dark blue haired man's eyes widened considerably and counted the coins. He grinned, adjusted his glasses and asked for their water pouches.
"Rei-chan, what are you doing?" another man – or should he say boy? – rounded the corner. Rei stiffened but nonetheless turned to the blonde.
"I'm receiving compensation from these men for water," Rei answered, his voice taut. He pushed the stack of coins towards the other man.
Observing the stack, he peered up at Haruka and Makoto with gleaming pink eyes. "Welcome!"
"Are you following us?" Haruka asked, annoyance heavily lacing his voice. Nagisa shrugged innocently and nudged Rei to come up with an answer.
Rei struggled for a moment before he said, "Yes."
"Rei-chan!" Nagisa scolded, despite the large grin on his face. "You heard those travellers, Haru-chan. Baghdad is the only city left with water."
Haruka simply picked up the pace, fixing his scarf over his mouth. With his free hand, he gripped the hilt to his dagger and sent the men accompanying him a warning glare.
Nagisa gave a sigh and turned to Rei and Makoto with large, puppy dog eyes. "Let's make him our friend."
"Leave him be for now," Makoto reasoned, offering the shorter man a weak smile. Despite not knowing Haruka for a long period of time, he figured that getting him to open up would first result in them leaving him alone for a while.
Nagisa pouted but nevertheless, heeded Makoto's words. They travelled in relative silence, aside from Nagisa's aimless chattering that eventually turned into a dull murmur in Haruka's head, and slowed when the gigantic walls of Baghdad loomed above them.
They were immediately imprisoned on the charge of suspicion.
"Who are you?" the king's voice boomed above them, the power behind his words lingered in the air longer than any of them would have preferred. He sat in his throne, legs crossed; his hand was under his chin and a haughty expression on his sharp face. The setting sun behind him cast an ominous shadow over the right side of his face.
Haruka arched his face up to meet the cold, red eyes of the king. Despite his wrists being chained to this ankles, Haruka was determined to match the king's icy expression. "Haru."
The king's laugh was devoid of any real emotion other than distaste. "Are you a spy? Have you come to steal my gold or the princess' chastity?"
"We have come for no such reason," Haruka objected, his sapphire eyes hardening. "We came for water and nothing more."
Seconds stretched into minutes while the king appraised the four men chained together in front of him. Lazily, a grin spread across his face as he laughed, joyfully, clutching his sides from mirth.
"I see," he gasped between his hoots, gesturing to a slave next to him. "Have Gou bring these men some water. Oh, and unchain them." The slave nodded while the guards removed their chains.
Haruka rubbed at his bruised wrists as he moved into a more comfortable seated position. He noticed with a slight amusement that his companions were in the same state as him. The king's facial features had softened considerably.
Two slaves peeled the curtains away for a beautiful girl to walk through. In her hands she held a large, ornate jug, sloshing from the water inside it, with white lilies painted on the sides of the blue ceramic container. Her burgundy hair fell in waves behind her, laced with jewels and a translucent azure fabric covered her mouth. Her matching azure outfit was a stark contrast to her hair and ruby eyes as it also exposed her slim stomach entirely.
The only thing that threw off her appearance were the chains around her wrists - useless unless the intent of them were decoration – and the chains around her ankles, the ends of which were in some burly man's hands.
Gou kneeled in front of Haruka, her enchanting eyes momentarily stalling his thought process. She placed the jug between them and cupped her hands in the water. Haruka's eyes followed her process – almost methodically – as she lifted her hands to his lips.
"Gou," came the king's warning voice. She ignored him, pressing her fingers to Haruka's slightly parted lips. He could see the coy smile forming on her lips behind the fabric. Haruka swallowed dryly. Gou tipped the cool liquid into his mouth and drew her hands away once he was finished drinking.
The burly man yanked on her chains. Hard.
Her leg was jerked so hard she fell to the ground unceremoniously, narrowly avoiding knocking over the jug.
"That's enough, Sosuke," the king said, exhausted, "Return the princess to her chambers." Sosuke swooped down and heaved Gou over his shoulder. Her chains clanked together. She let her body go limp however her eyes never left Haruka's face.
Haruka wiped the corner of his mouth with his scarf. He moved the jug in front of Makoto, keeping his gaze low to avoid the confusion in any of their faces. Even Haruka wasn't sure what to make of Gou's gesture.
"Please excuse my sister's actions," the king told them, though it sounded more like an order. His eyes had returned to the former icy king from earlier. "As my apology for assuming you all were spies, please stay here for as long as you'd like." He stood. "I am Rin, first Prince of Baghdad and I formally welcome you to my beloved city."
Haruka's fingers brushed over the hilt of his dagger. Rin's eyes spoke quite clearly to him. "We accept your hospitality, Your Majesty," Makoto's voice was the definition of polite.
Rin nodded, flipped his massive cloak over his arm and exited the throne room, giving instructions for the four men's' living arrangements.
His unspoken words loitered in Haruka's ears. Stay away from my sister.
Further character development ahead and hopefully when that time comes, I'll be better at writing these characters! (Maybe it was a horrible idea to combine pre-developed and developed characters personalities…) Ah well, I hope you liked it regardless and look forward to the next chapter!
~Emerald~