Title: A Dance with Death
Fandom: Full Metal Panic!/Sandman
Author: Starzki
Words: 300
Rating: K+
Summary: Sousuke, like everyone who meets her, falls in love with Death. Crossover between Full Metal Panic and Sandman series.
Warnings: None.

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Sousuke first encountered Death on the airplane that was soon to sink, with his mother, into the frozen sea.

He was immediately smitten with her, wanting her favor, her smile, for her to take him away. So he danced for Death as well as his toddler legs would let him. Delighted, Death laughed and clapped a beat for him, but when the time came, she only smiled sweetly and left him alone.

During the next few years, Sousuke met with Death again. Once was during a fever, and once when he lost a fight to a man with a knife. Each time, they would dance. Afterward, though, the dance proved only a tease, and Death would leave him alone again.

It was for her that Sousuke volunteered for the harshest missions. It was because he knew she was waiting that he rarely felt remorse for those he sent to her. It was forbidden, this enchantment with her. But she was kind. She was loving. She was beautiful.

Much later, as an adult with a belly full of bullets, Sousuke met Death once more. He strode up to her and pulled her into his arms and improvised a gallant dance he would never be capable of in the real world. He kissed her with all the devotion in his heart. She lifted a hand, finally, to take him with her.

"I can't," he replied. "Not this time."

Death nodded knowingly. "For her," she replied. Sousuke smiled his best smile, then twirled her. She laughed for him again. "Okay. Just because you're such a good dancer," she winked. "I wish you luck."

Sousuke, with regretful sadness, watched her twirl off into the darkness, hoping he would see her only once more as he didn't have it in him to refuse her again.

END.

Author's Note: This story was first written for the "Tease" theme at the livejournal community fanfic_bakeoff on February 18, 2012. It contains the secret ingredient "Taboo."

AN2: Again, I'd love to hear what you thought of this. Any further discussion of this fic from me can be found at my Livejournal account under "starzki."