A/N: Ami and Zoicite are my favorite pairing, and Twisting Fate didn't give me enough. So, I hatched this. It's a semi-alternate universe in which Zoicite continued his acquaintance with Mercury rather than spurning her away. In the general timeline, this would take place a few years before the Shitennou meet the Senshi.

What If

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Zoicite was at a moot point and his brain was going haywire.

He prided himself in the conundrums he could solve, the theories he could disprove and the eerily calm, sardonic persona he had crafted for himself. He had also, since arriving to the Earth Kingdom Court, had his share of women, though never girls. After all, despite his young age, he pivoted on maturity, intellectual thought and a taste in the arts. What girl could possibly offer this, among other things, to him? Or so he told himself.

Zoicite considered his unshakeable calm to be his best asset, especially in the heat of action—in fights that determined life, which had been a constant in his short nineteen years. He had not had it easy growing up as Prince of the West. His jurisdiction was prone to internal war, with several powerful families contesting for the throne by using any means at their disposal, including attempts to siege the Western palace on numerous occasions.

Zoicite's ability to compartmentalize his emotions made him apt at quick analysis in the heart of a battle. Discovering the weakness of a hurried mercenary? Effortless. Being slapped by a woman? Never. His breath was sweet nectar that the female population could not resist; a blessing and a curse. But it was inconsequential. Women were fleeting. His dear brothers-in-arms were forever. And Mercury…

Zoicite's eyes drifted to the goddess lying next to him, quietly dozing. Edward Allan Poe's book of poetry was open, face down, across her stomach and her head turned sideways as if showing inclination to the Raven's conversation. Her silver-streaked blue hair spilled over her shoulders and fell in wisps across her face, slightly covering her closed eyes from the world. How she managed such long hair, knee-length, was beyond him. Even so, it suited her aristocratic features, even slightly tousled in slumber.

He was drifting.

He could hear the damned bird cry "nevermore".

And he was back at the beginning. The moot point. Brain racked and racking.

Mercury's beauty was never sudden. It was always ever present like the clarity of crystal. So to which god (or demon) did he owe the sudden epiphany (or delusion)? It was a few years since her unprecedented arrival into his life, though she did not show herself nearly as frequently as she did in the first few months. That is, before he discovered who she was, what she was. They had long since abandoned the endless banter of trust. Wariness of immortals was drummed into his psyche, but it had taken a few fights with power hungry family members and the goddess mysteriously appearing afterwards to heal him of his worst wounds that solidified his respect for her. As for trust…

They were friends, of sorts. As a goddess of her stature she had many stories to tell, many things to teach, and her curiosity of the Earthen world, despite her immortal agelessness, left him with things to impart to her as well. It was mutual exchange, something he was beginning to look forward to…

Which is how they had ended up in an open field not far from the Earth Kingdom Court, during a rare afternoon off from training alongside his brothers and the Prince.

More than their shared desire for tranquility, Zoicite could not deny that he had grown fond of the Mercury. Though her visits had dwindled down to once or twice a year ever since he left the Western Court to attend to the Prince, he felt something near genuine concern for her. And it was not just for curiosity's sake (for what did she spend her time doing in the immortal realm? She still refused to answer), but for his own sake, his own satisfaction in knowing that a…friend…was okay.

He wrinkled his nose at the hesitation he added to the word 'friend', as if the rank smell of mildew permeated the air. It was quite the opposite of the subtle scent of the thistle that Mercury had picked just a while ago in admiration.

"In their death, flowers perfume the air," she had said in her quiet manner. Then she smiled that smile with a tinge of sadness. Even with her water-inspired serenity and her frosty regard, she was most times unsuccessful in concealing a mysterious sorrow that constantly hung about her.

Not long after she had picked the flower, Zoicite had discovered the woman rightfully asleep with a light that hit her so acutely, highlighting her form so alluringly, that he found himself thinking…

…and thinking…

…only to discover the moot point. That this attraction was physical. It had to be. It was solely based on her godly charm and the random ray of light that had decided to burst upon her skin at an angle that was most tempting.

He caught himself, suddenly filled with an awareness that if he was not careful, Mercury would be the woman to tear down everything he stood for and everything that he prided himself in. She was a goddess, and he knew in his heart of hearts that their arrangement was temporary. And like all the stories that involved mortal men and goddesses, she would, when she had her fill, return to the Immortal realm where she belonged and never return to him. It was laughable that he had even begun to consider the possibility of a relationship with Ice.

"Mm, Zoicite," a soft voice yawned. Speak of the devil. "What's wrong?"

He watched Mercury blink the fatigue away, sitting up with a weary murmur. Poe fell to the side, snapped shut. 'Nevermore' floated in his head. He shook it away.

"I look like something's wrong?" he quipped, peering at her through long lashes and a raised eyebrow. It was a flirtatious move that worked on all the women in Court. Mercury rolled her eyes. Her beautiful blue orbs were dotted with silver flecks, he noticed. Divine.

"Only in the sun," she said with a slight smile. Had he said that aloud? She leaned on a propped elbow as she fingered Poe with her other hand. "I haven't known you to give compliments, Zoicite."

He refused to miss a beat. His rhythm was already counter-rhythmic. Staccato. A sort of jig.

"Facts," he replied. "Think nothing of it."

The goddess stifled a yawn, throwing down the book and settling back on the blanket.

"Of course," she said in an accommodating tone. Mercury knew all about his charms and what Zoicite did with them. The young man believed that when she was away from him, she was off in the Immortal realm doing whatever it was that goddesses did, but in truth she spent much time in a cloud above or in the mists below observing him, watching his antics in Court. Mercury did not judge him for it. The boy—for in her eyes he truly was just a boy—was young.

She folded her arms behind her head and closed her eyes. "You bring resolution to the 'beauty is in the eyes of the beholder' line."

"Was it ever a crime to admire beauty?"

Mercury cracked open an eye, a pool of blue against pale skin. "It is not. You just clarified that you were admiring me," she paused, then shut her eye with a contented breath. "In some way or the other, at least."

Zoicite glowered, sensing a challenge, or his paranoia creating one. Either way he felt bold and dangerous. "And what if I was?"

He cocked his head to the side. He watched Mercury purse her lips, eyes still closed. She eventually looked at him through furrowed eyebrows as she propped herself on her elbow once again. "Are you playing with me, sir?"

He nearly laughed at her formality, knowing he teetered on the thin line between ice and warm summer rain. "I am not."

The goddess surprised him with a ghost of coquettish smile, a strange twinkle in her eye as she leaned nearer to him until their faces were inches apart.

"Well then," she began in a low voice. "Should I thank you for your kind words, or warn you with utmost haste and vivid imagery of the very dangerous hole you may or may not be digging for yourself?"

Zoicite's breath caught as she gently brushed his bangs with her fingers, tracing a line down his jawbone. Her touch was cool, leaving an image of quiet ripples. Zoicite fought the urge to glance down at her lips, knowing all hell would break lose if he gave in to temptation. Already, her scent, an unearthly perfume his mortal nostrils could barely register, threatened to overtake him. She was toying with him, he knew.

"To you, mortals are not playthings," he managed to breathe, keeping eye contact with her. Anything but her lips.

That seemed to break the spell. Her eyes darkened as she drew back.

"No," she agreed. Her gaze drifted beyond him, to the abundance of springtime red that dignified the clearing. It was the time of year of new growth accompanied by an earthy smell. The energy of the environment buzzed in her veins. Along with something else. Mercury vaguely wondered if she should fear it. "You are not a plaything."

Zoicite cocked his head, catching her eyes. "Nevertheless, a game begins."

Mercury looked at him with an expression of ambivalence, unidentifiable to him, which then turned into an unexpected playfulness.

"Poe never did write anything beyond madness and woe," she said. "Perhaps you should heed his advice."

She was getting too far with this boy. This was never her plan. And yet, her heart thrummed.

And there Zoicite felt it. In that moment, the light had passed again. He stared at her as he felt the walls within himself break down. It was a moot point.

Ah, dammit. He was already lost.

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A/N: Ahh, the fluff! I think I'm terrible at it. Though, I suppose, that means I should keep practicing haha. The implications of this relationship would be interesting in the Twisting Fate timeline. Sailor Mercury and the goddess Mercury, rivals in love. Oh, the thrill! The scandal! The conflict of interests!

I'm toying with a Mars/Jadeite piece, also in the alternate universe. I already have bits of dialogue, but I'm pleased with this one-shot for now.

~Blessings