This part, in particular, is rated M. Inspired by kittenkin's fanart on tumblr, the one where they do things, and Fai says it never happened. Warnings for angst. lol

Tsubasa Reservoir Chronicle and its characters do not belong to me.

lies in Outo

Outo is a world full of lies.

The girls at the City Hall look identical, inhuman, but identical nonetheless. They remind Fai of identical things best left at the back of his mind. Outo is full of demons that aren't real (and the ones that are, are in the cage of his ribs). Outo is where they discover sightless eyes and (more) fake names and the joys of hiding behind drunkenness.

It's very easy to pretend that you're drunk. Being drunk means you're out of control, that you might say things you aren't supposed to, and Fai can't risk that. He can, however, risk his dignity. (Fai doesn't have much of any dignity left, anymore.)

He purrs with Sakura, rubs his cheek against hers, and they yowl the cafe down. Kurogane glowers at them, drinks outside with Syaoran instead. And that's fine. Fai would much rather Kurogane not look at him.

(Those red eyes really do see too much.)

The kids pass out after a while. Fai lounges around on the couch while Kurogane carries them to bed. When Kurogane storms back downstairs, Fai's nursing another glass of wine, one of those last bottles that Mokona hasn't touched yet.

Kurogane seats himself at the counter. He pours himself a drink, turns his back on Fai. He's had enough of Fai's stupid antics. Fai knows that.

And he feels hurt, somehow. It's not fair. It's not fair that Kurogane gets to keep his cool and stay sharp-eyed and handsome like that. His dignity. He has so much of it.

Fai draws a long sip of liquor, feels it slide warm down his gut, sets his glass silently on the smooth tiled floor. He doesn't make a sound when he slips over to Kurogane.

Maybe Kurogane is lost in his thoughts, because his head jerks up when Fai eases himself into the other's lap, stretches his mouth in a silly grin, and purrs.

Red eyes assess, flickering up and down and boring into him. He'll throw Fai off in a second–

Fai leans heavily into his chest, nestles his face in the crook of Kurogane's neck, where it's warm and smells of dried sweat. Kurogane tenses.

Fai expects himself to be shoved violently off, but he wants to try, he wants to know if Kurogane can be stripped of his composure. He slips a hand between the thick folds of Kurogane's kimono, presses his palm flat against the thin, starched shirt beneath.

Kurogane doesn't move. He doesn't throw Fai halfway across the room.

Fai takes his chances, touches the other's (firm, warm) midriff through his shirt. Kurogane smells like alcohol, like a bit of safety, and Fai pushes his nose closer. If his mouth lingers on skin, he isn't thinking about why.

For a long moment, no one moves.

Long fingers slip into the gap between pearly buttons, creep across smooth chest, and Kurogane's heart kicks.

He tips Fai's face up with a large hand, trying to figure him out. Fai doesn't let him. He surges forward and up, kisses Kurogane full on the lips, and Kurogane kisses back.

Fai freezes then, stunned, but Kurogane's the one moving now, one large hand on his hip, pulling him closer.

Kurogane is very, very attractive.

It becomes a bit of a challenge, to see how far the other will yield. It's not like Kurogane's actually interested in him or anything.

Fai scrapes short nails over Kurogane's nipple. It changes the nature of their kiss, when Kurogane opens his mouth to him and Fai takes what he can get.

It's hot and wet and he ends up pressed against the counter, bar stool clattering to the side, but neither of them is paying attention to that. Kurogane brushes fingers over the velvety black of Fai's vest, and his pants, a light pressure against the heavier one building at his groin.

If there's a strangled whimper between them, it's not Fai's. No. He's trying to keep his cool while Kurogane… while Kurogane follows the line of his erection, right to the tip. His hips roll forward. Kurogane swallows his moan, kisses down his throat.

All Fai can think about is the hot mouth on his neck and the fingers stroking along him, whispers of pleasure that promise. He wants more.

He presses himself into large hands, and Kurogane obliges. He fumbles with the button and zipper on Fai's pants, slips a hand in, and Fai is gasping something–he doesn't know what–and his hips are snapping forward and yes yes yes.

His trousers slip off somehow, and so do his shoes, and Fai finds himself half-naked on the cold tile floor, flat on his back, cock straining up into Kurogane's mouth. There's slippery heat around his pulse and Fai curls his fingers into black hair, breathless at the sight of broad, tan shoulders and that slick sliding. He's writhing and needing and pleading and Kurogane holds him down with a large hand on his chest.

He comes with a choked-off moan, spine flexed and nails scraping, and Kurogane pulls slowly away.

For lack of words to say, he hides behind his panting, closes his eyes so Kurogane can't read him right now.

Strong arms wrap around him, tug his pants back on. Clothes are piled on his hips, and Fai feels himself gathered up, hears the thump of feet on stairs.

Kurogane helps him with his nightclothes. He struggles into them shakily, and the other buttons him in. He doesn't stay long, though. He rests a heavy hand briefly on Fai's head; Fai reaches up, dares to trace fingers over his lips, silly grin back in place. Kurogane still has all his composure, even now.

Fai buries his face in his pillow, pretends to fall asleep, and Kurogane slips out of the room.

The next day, he flaps his hand dismissively and tells Kurogane that he doesn't remember a thing.

It's just another lie. Everything in Outo is.