Rating: T
Summary: Of how two boys complete each other.
Disclaimer: The characters belong to Square Enix.
Heyo!
I'm probably going to continue this with other prompts because this is really fun. :D Spoilers for the ending, though!
Enjoy!
1. Point
Ace thought that sometimes Nine should twist his tongue seven times before actually speaking, because it would save him a lot of trouble. The words that came from his mouth would more often than not backfire as he didn't take the time to be sensitive or to use phrases that didn't sound rude. However it would be quite foolish of Ace to think that Nine could change his speech manner, since the scarred boy had always been this way.
Nevertheless, this also meant Nine didn't beat around the bush and went straight to the point—even if by 'straight to the point', it meant 'shoving his tongue down Ace's throat'.
2. Graveyard shift
Being out there in the wild in the darkest hours of the night, even though Nine wouldn't admit it, was pretty damn terrifying. He was a tough guy, hey, he wasn't afraid of anything. He could beat monsters in seconds and skewer soldier on soldier for breakfast, so he wasn't going to back down from such a challenge.
Even more so that he had been paired up with Ace to watch guard, and there was no way he wouldn't be on full alert with him by his side. Well, he had to be, since Ace looked on the verge of falling asleep, despite being the one who probably slept fourteen hours a day.
3. Immortality
There was something strange in the fact that they could be brought back to life; Machina and Rem didn't have this luxury and went into the battle certainly thinking that it could be their last. Ace, on his part, tried not to ponder too much on the question and simply obeyed orders and slayed enemies with his cards—a soldier wasn't supposed to think about frivolous things, especially when they didn't have anything to worry about. He had always presumed they wouldn't die, as long as they had Mother and fulfilled their missions with success, on top of being gifted with an almost endless supply of magic. They had nothing to fear.
But his thoughts changed when Nine handed him his cape, that Ace accepted with a smile and tied it with the others. All the while, their backs were pressed together and Nine would shout directives to build the makeshift pillar, before resting his head against Ace's and whispering thanks.
4. Space
There was always a good excuse to stay right at Ace's side, mainly the fact that their fighting styles completed each other—long-range and short-range attacks, what could they ask more? Nine decided that whenever the groups didn't satisfy him, he would talk to Kurasame and demand he be placed with Ace; of course, the commandant often refused since he had a precise idea of the plan with the groups like that. That didn't mean Nine would give up and accept it easily. On these days, he would brave the elements and sit in the empty chair between Ace and Machina, ignoring the stares he would receive and definitely not looking at Ace's smug face.
5. Hair
People often asked Nine why he wouldn't cut his bangs; getting hair into the eyes during a battle wasn't recommanded, after all, but Nine would say that it made him cooler. Nobody had a hairstyle like his, and he could see perfectly well, thank you very much. He didn't spend time on it, but it seemed that it did the trick since Jack once inquired how there could be spikes so well combed (like he was one to talk). And Ace said he almost looked like a chocobo, which then prompted him to pet his hair. Nine never forgot this pure feeling of bliss.
6. Dominant
They all assumed Nine was so strong and hot-headed that he wouldn't listen to anyone and would charge into a fight without thinking (he actually would). That he liked to be in control of the situation, or that if nothing went according to what he planned he would throw a tantrum. That wasn't totally true, since it applied to battles only; he would gladly sit on the bed with a smirk on his face, while a grin tugged at Ace's lips, and be subjected to all sort of touches and kisses that his lover could administer him. Who could resist a seductive and eager Ace, anyway? Not Nine.
7. Sleep
Ace could sleep anywhere, everyone knew it. They would travel by airship and he would fall asleep in one of the seats; in their free time they would find him on the bench in the garden; in class, from time to time he would nod off. It seemed he needed a daily nap to be fully functionning, and this habit was often used as teasing material—he was part of class Zero, had excellent grades and possessed great powers, but he acted like a cat. Of course, people could find him sleeping in various places of Akademeia, but they would never see him sleeping next to Nine, cuddled in the bed.
8. Skeleton
Both Ace and Nine wrinkled their noses when they saw the monsters rising from the ground, half-human and half aquatic creature. They didn't look alive, more like driven by sheer destructive instincts and the sole thought of what happened to them could give shivers to anyone. Ace didn't waste time and threw his cards right into their skulls, while Nine plundged his spear into their bodies, both trying to ignore all these haunted and begging voices that reached their ears. The scene was awful; their words were awful. When they cleared the area of these monsters, Nine heaved a deep sigh, and Ace patted him on the shoulder, silently agreeing to forget what they witnessed.
9. Vacation
Speaking of what they would do next made Ace realize he had never really spent an extended period of time with Nine alone—they were always bothered by their too curious classmates or called for a mission, which prevented them from fully enjoying their time together. Of course they made a lot of memories and had fun, but the prospect of travelling the world was appealing. When he voiced his thought to Nine, the latter offered him a face splitting grin and said he would like that. No fighting, no annoying siblings, just the both of them discovering the wonders of the world and savouring the newly found peace. That wasn't that much to ask, was it?
10. Underground
Nine wasn't one to flower someone with compliments, even when said someone was his lover. It just wasn't in his character to say nice things without sounding awkward or stupid; Queen did say he was too clumsy with words to try making them his weapon. That didn't stop him from blurting out one day that Ace's eyes were so bright and clear that he would probably be able to see them even in the dark or in any place deprived of light. Needless to say, that statement rendered him all kinds of embarrassed and he almost regretted his action if not for the beautiful blush that graced Ace's face.