Title: Rumors
Author: Jateshi
Pairing: Zoisite/Kunzite, Zoisite/Mercury
Rating: G
Fandom: Sailor Moon
Theme: #1 - Look Over Here
Disclaimer: I am not Naoko Takeuchi, Toei Animation, or DiC. Instead I'm poor, half-starved, and merely borrowing them. I promise, on my honour, to return Zoisite and Kunzite when I'm through. Really.
Rumors
They were sitting together again - looking over the head of the Princess beside him, Kunzite stared at the couple perched together underneath the archway. Zoisite was down on one knee beside the Princess of Mercury, a chaste kiss placed upon her hand bringing a charming blush to her cheeks. Although he was too far away to hear what the kneeling suitor said, Kunzite could well imagine the words.
"I've been waiting for you."
Kunzite knew the young man's voice was melodious and there would be a glow of a smile in his green eyes. He would come even more alive as soon as he looked at Mercury, Kunzite knew. Wisps of pale, spun-gold hair would fall around his face, the wind teasing more strands loose as time wore on.
What did he see in her, Kunzite wondered. Zoisite was a man of such passions - laughter, love, devotion, loyalty - and the Princess of Mercury was so foreign to his true nature. The Princess was soft-spoken, withdrawn, and demure. She took, from her courtier, anything she desired - tales of adventures, romantic engagements. From Zoisite she took tokens of affection (like now Kunzite noted with a glare, Venus long-ago giving him a simpering look and a kiss upon his cheek before flouncing off, when Zoisite presented her with a delicate pink rosebud) but she gave him nothing in return.
Breaking apart as a Royal Guard stormed up in front of them, Zoisite met the Moon Guard's displeased frown with an expressionless facade. Gracefully rising from his knees and standing easily on his feet, one hand drifting towards the hilt of his sword, Zoisite bowed to the Princess Mercury. Mercury, for her part, simply gave Zoisite a sympathetic and apologetic smile, placing her hand on the Moon Guard's waiting arm. Her steps, as the man drew her out of Zoisite and Kunzite's company, were hurried; the Moon Guard was practically forcing the Princess to run out of the courtyard. Mercury looked over her shoulder as they fled, again smiling tenderly at Zoisite.
Look at me, Zoisite, Kunzite silently urged, and not at her. "There must be new rumors." Kunzite pitched his voice towards his fellow Earthian, his expression gently sympathetic. Everything, from his stance to his voice, was carefully constructed to invite Zoisite's presence.
"She made no mention..." At last he looked away from the Princess, missing her last plaintive expression. Even more rewarding to Kunzite, Zoisite walked over to where he stood instead of trailing forlornly after the Princess.
"Perhaps she didn't want to worry you," Kunzite murmured, walking up to Zoisite until they were standing almost shoulder-to-shoulder. "Or perhaps," Kunzite reached across the space between them, a finger directing Zoisite to look into his eyes, "she believes them."
Zoisite froze, stuck between denial and suspicion. Acting on the rare moment, Kunzite placed a quick kiss against his skin. He pulled away from Zoisite so fast that neither man could tell if the caress had been a reality or not. "Come, Zoisite - the Prince calls for us."
The younger man got control of himself, red faintly painting his cheeks as he nodded, cape swept behind him by a sudden wind. For a moment Kunzite's ice-blue eyes met the vibrant navy of the Princess of Mercury's before, without a word, he turned to follow Zoisite.