Title: Flirting with Camus

Rating: M

Pairings: various (RenCamus, MasaRen? Masa? with minor NacchanSyo, HarukaVarious. maybe more later)

Summary: Ren makes it his goal to do his shuffle unit partner. His roommates are not pleased.

one

Somehow (read: because of Ren) everyone found out Camus was a virgin. Honestly, Camus didn't see it as a big deal. As a man of honor Camus did not see the need to defile himself in that way. His body was sacred and so were his values. He did not need to spread himself among others to prove his self-worth. However, what was grating on him were the looks of pity and whispers about what should essentially be a completely private affair. And that's what made him have to confront Ren in the first place.

"I don't know what you're talking about," Ren said, looking deceivingly innocent.

Camus would not be fooled.

"It's not a secret."

"Then if it's not a secret I don't see what's so wrong about me telling it."

"It's a highly private matter."

Ren observed Camus stern face with an impressive one of his own before breaking out into a smile and chuckled.

"Ah, you mean the fact that our dear Baron's a virgin."

"Don't say it out loud, you disgrace!"

"But I thought it wasn't a secret," Ren's face was still bright with laughter. "Don't worry about it. We don't think any worse of you for it."

"I don't care what you low lives think of it!"

"It's actually kind of cute."

Camus grimaced. He could see the effort he'd taken to speak to Ren would produce nothing. It was a fruitless task.

"Don't make that face," Ren said, stepping closer but Camus refused to step back, putting them eye to eye.

"I'm sure if you ask they'll be someone just dying to melt all that ice with a night of hot, burning," Ren's fingers raked along Camus' cool skin leaving steaming trails. "Passion."

Camus jerked his head back, as much scalded as he was scandalized.

"What do you think you're doing, Jinguuji?"

Pure venom was laced in the Earl's tone and his eyes were glittering slits of deadly, frigid blue.

Ren didn't seem bothered as he straightened further to his full height and let an arm fall behind his head.

"You're so tense. Can't you tell a joke when you hear one?"

"I don't find anything about this funny."

"I suppose I'll just have to wait for you to be able to stand the heat. Come back when you can," said Ren.

And with a wink he was gone, down the hall and away, far, far away.

Or at least that's what Camus hoped, until he realized he didn't accomplish anything he'd hope to during that brief encounter. Camus cursed under his breath. The next time he couldn't get careless. He was not a plaything of anyone especially not that saxophonist buffoon.

Down the hall Ren too couldn't get his mind off of Camus though for completely different reasons. His fingers still felt the chill of Camus' smooth white cheek. The pale flesh was almost devoid of color but for a dot of the faintest pink and felt like chilled silk. He wanted to touch the rest of that unmarred skin. He wanted to burn it with his heat. He wanted to melt away the Baron's inhibitions.

He never imagined his shuffle group partner that way before, but now his mind couldn't picture much of anything else. Ren was a sensual man and his senses were awakened from that touch. He was no longer content to just tease Camus. Rather he wanted to touch him and claim him and be the absolute first to do so. That was exactly what Ren resolved to do. From that moment forth the Silk Palace Earl would be exclusive prey.

For my normal person the situation may have seemed daunting. Camus was stern and kept everyone at arm's length. Not only that, but his type was indiscernible. The chances of him being interested were slim, him being interested in men even slimmer. Still, Ren did not sweat over such details. He was confident he could get anyone he seriously pursued; serious being the operative word there. He convinced himself the reason he didn't have Haruka yet was because he knew deep down she wasn't his type though he definitely did care for her. He respected the composer and her, he felt, rather immature feelings for Ichinose.

Not to say he didn't respect Camus. Oh he did. And he was pretty sure the Earl knew he did. But he also knew Camus was dreadfully unattached. Any affection for the Queen of his was seemed to Ren familial and maternal at best. Therefore there was no reason to consider Camus anything other than the free agent that he was. Surely the prospect of having a little fun, or if the royal idol were pin straight, experimentation with Ren couldn't be that off putting to the nobleman.

It surprised Ren he didn't think of it sooner or rather it was because he didn't know beforehand that the slightly older idol was still inexperienced in the ways of love. Well, that would be changed soon.

Ren entered his room to see Masato and Ranmaru both there. He loathed the lack of privacy and couldn't wait until next week when Shining said the Quartet Night members would be moving out and back to their usual rooms. It was already bad enough being with Hijirikawa all the time but Kurosaki just added more to the problem by pushing the two to the side.

"I'm home," he said and Hijirikawa was courteous enough to mutter a reply that was then followed by a scolding.

"I heard you're behind the rumors plaguing Camus ," Masato started.

"What rumors? It's absolutely true. The baron is officially more innocent than you."

Masato's face colored but he still protested, "That is a private matter."

"Funny. He said the same thing. But for what it's worth I only told one person about it," Ren said. "And they're the one with the big mouth."

"Reiji!?" Kurosaki finally looked up from where he was busy pretending not to listen to their conversation on the other side of the room. "You actually told Reiji something of that importance?"

"How could I not?"

"Reiji though," Ranmaru said. "With that kind of information he can't be trusted not to act."

"Ah?" Reiji asked. "Well I'd better act quickly then."

A clattering from Masato's kotatsu disturbed the two. Ren and Ranmaru turned to see Masato holding a frazzled calligraphy brush over an ink speckled sheet of paper. The last stroke in 「幸」was elongated and thick where too much pressure had been applied.

Ren clicked his tongue.

"Now Hijirikawa, if I didn't know better I'd say you were jealous," his tone was teasing and light.

"I'm not jealous," Masato replied, voice forcefully even.

"Yes, yes, I know how dedicated you are to our little lamb," Ren said, bored.

"But you… you can't mean it when you say you're going to… to act on some perverse desire towards Camus are you?" Masato asked.

"Why would you care? Do you really care so much about what I do?"

Although in this case it was more who Ren did.

"Of… of course not!" Masato said, trembling with barely contained rage. "I'm just alarmed at your lack of propriety and the nerve you have to impose on a sempai!"

"OK, you definitely sound jealous—"

Masato slammed his hands on the table as he moved to stand. Familiarity with every fold and crease of the garment was the only thing that kept him from tripping over his hakama.

"I can't stand for this indecent talk. I'm going for a walk!"

He was gone in an instant, taking care despite his mood not to slam the door.

"Your flirting tactics leave much to be desired," Ranmaru said.

"I'm not flirting. Not with Masato."

"Hmmm."

Ren stood and went to gather his darts.

"You're not serious about trying to bed that idiot Camus, are you?"

"Oh so serious," Ren confirmed.

"Your tastes are strange."

"And what exactly have you inferred about my tastes, huh?" Ren asked, linking up a dart in his hand to the bored on the wall.

"Regal looking dudes with a big 'Do Not Touch' sign plastered on their foreheads," Ranmaru guessed. "You have expensive taste."

Ren didn't answer merely throwing his dart and hitting a bull's-eye.

"Flirting with Camus will not get Hijirikawa to fall at your feel like the dainty young heir you think he is," continued the rocker.

Ren's second dart missed the center by a gap and he frowned, "Hijirikawa is anything but dainty."

"You're as bug an idiot as I always pegged you for," Ranmaru laughed. "Good luck with all your future failures."

"May they all be successes!" rejoined Ren.

And another bull's-eye was hit.

-to be continued-

AN: thanks everyone for reading. I hope they're not ooc but probably are. Reviews are lovely! bye!