Title: Blood of the Snake
By: retroelectric
Warnings:Mature themes, Vampirism, Horror/Supernatural, Yaoi, Alternate Universe
Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters from Get Backers. This is a Get Backers fan fiction, ideas purely fan-made speculations based off the relationship between the Get Backers duo and infused with several elements inspired – and not stolen off the Vampire Chronicles Universe by Anne Rice. It is also important to note that this does not contain ANY of her characters, thus this is strictly NOT a Vampire Chronicles/Get Backers crossover. In this way I do not breach any of Anne Rice's policies regarding fan fiction on her work.
Chapter 14
Ginji watched the soft lines of Ban's relaxed face as he dozed underneath the thick covers.
The blond-haired boy glanced momentarily at the phone, contemplating calling for room service as Ban had suggested. He finally decided that he wouldn't since he felt tired more than he was hungry.
He sat down slowly on the bed opposite Ban's and rested his forehead on his palms, and sighed, the very picture of a man troubled and dejected.
The truth was that he was finally absorbing all that had happened the past week. He was happy, yes, ecstatic, even – but there was a certain melancholy in realising just how much the singular presence of Cadmus changed everything. Indirectly, it seemed, Cadmus even changed the relationship between him and Ban.
He shook his head, smiling slightly at the thought. No, Cadmus acted more like a catalyst – the night he attacked Ban caused both of them to pause and think of where their relationship was headed. Why wait any longer to have what was right before you? Death may come at any point of time, and time does not wait for any mortal. It was that kiss in Paul's apartment that sped things up, and made them both take one daring step further.
Ginji was eternally thankful to Cadmus for taking both Ban and himself off the streets and showering them with luxury that he'd never dreamed of having. Only a week had passed, but after all that luxury Ginji couldn't even imagine sleeping in the Ladybug anymore.
Despite having hurt Ban once, Ginji knew that the fair-haired vampire wouldn't even think of doing that to either of them now at this point in time. What were those unseen emotions that Cadmus felt for them at this very moment in their lives? Could they only be passing fancies to Cadmus like the old gardener had suggested? Or could it be something deeper - love, maybe? That little he could hope.
The lightning-wielder berated himself for feeling that pang of loss in his heart thinking of Cadmus. Why did it hurt so much knowing Cadmus wasn't near him? Ginji knew the unshakable love he felt for Ban couldn't match - was it love? - the feelings he had for Cadmus; he's known and loved Ban for longer.
With Ban, it was rough possessive caresses and the wholeness, the complete quality he felt when they were together. But with Cadmus, he could be compliant or demanding according to his mood. Either way, Cadmus was simply intoxicating the way he was. Having these two men as his lovers made him feel like the luckiest man on Earth. Loved, treasured, cherished.
Ginji finally lay back onto the bed and kicked off his shoes. For once, he was not snuggled up close to his partners. He remembered what he was about to say back then in Mugenjou after Cadmus had clouded the mind of Akabane, and they were about to make their escape.
"I think I love you."
Had Cadmus not covered his mouth with his palm halfway through, he would've completed that honest outburst. Ginji didn't care if anyone wanted to kill him because of admitting something as simple as love for another man. He wouldn't die so easily anyway. He stared up at the ceiling, images of Cadmus and Ban flitting through his mind. His heart clenched painfully once more as the loss impacted him in the chest fully, and a lone tear fell from his tightly closed eyes.
Those thoughts lulled him to a sleep before he even realised it.
"Ginji, wake up."
The distant voice and a strong hand shaking him hard awoke him from a deep sleep he hadn't noticed he had fallen into. He opened his adorably bleary chocolate-brown eyes and saw the hazy figure of Ban, fully-dressed, looming over him. His angular face was back to his usual expressionlessness and no longer had the uncharacteristic sad look in his eyes a couple of hours earlier. Ginji noticed all this as he lifted his protesting body off the bed.
He opened the bathroom door with more force than necessary and stumbled over to the marble sink. Yes, he subconsciously thought, I know, we have to go buy Cadmus-san's coffin then meet Kazu-chan and Shido. To discuss about the matter of Juubei. Discuss, discuss. What a silly word, Ginji mused sleepily, feeling irritated as he splashed water onto his face to refresh himself. He grabbed a nearby towel and rubbed his face with it vigorously.
He looked up once he heard Ban enter the large bathroom. Ban shoved a dark red shirt into Ginji's arm, and answered Ginji's unspoken question. "Your clothes are crumpled, Ginji. You shouldn't have slept in them. Silk is delicate, y'know. Put that on."
Ginji nodded absently. He unbuttoned the rumpled shirt he'd slept in slowly. In his still-sleepy daze, Ginji was oblivious to Ban's audible swallow upon seeing the taut muscles of Ginji's torso revealed. Ginji was about to put on the fresh shirt when something solid pressed against his whole body.
Before Ban knew what he was doing, he had Ginji pushed up against the bathroom counter and was licking hotly at Ginji's lips. Ginji made a sound at the back of his throat and was about to protest, when Ban snuck his tongue into Ginji's open mouth and rendered him compliant. Ginji involuntarily responded, leaning into the fiery kiss. The blond boy noticed that Ban didn't flinch when he let loose several strong sparks of electricity.
Ginji only regained himself when he felt a hand encircling his waist and another attempting to unbuckle the belt. He wriggled away from Ban but found himself unable to escape from Ban's hungry ministrations. He supposed Ban thought the muffled sounds he was making were encouraging him to take things further, but in truth he didn't want to. Sure, it felt good, but it felt like by doing this with only Ban, he was betraying Cadmus or something.
Ban was still kissing him hungrily, and Ginji was still attempting to wriggle away from Ban's grasp. Ginji felt Ban's hard member poking through his pants, and he knew he just had to stop this before anything happened. The Jagan Master somehow managed to unbuckle the belt in between the little space between his body and Ginji's. He was about to unzip his pants and fully unclothe Ginji, when a strong jolt of electricity from Ginji's hand on his shoulder shook him out of his lust-clouded mind.
He ripped his mouth away from Ginji's and managed to give a heated glare which would have cowed any other person. But this way Ginji, and he only smiled apologetically. "Oi Ginji, baka! What was that for?!" Ban growled, giving a hurt look at his blond partner.
Ginji pushed Ban away and retrieved the shirt he was about to put on from the floor. "Gomen ne, Ban-chan," Ginji said sweetly, buttoning up his shirt. "It's not that I don't want to do it with you. I just wanted to get all the stuff done on time! And I'm hungry..." Ginji moaned, clutching his growling stomach and looking at Ban with dewy eyes. He could feel Ban unfurling from Ginji's expression. "You know that when I'm hungry I'm not in the mood for... well, you know."
Ban hmphed, but conceded nonetheless. He backed away and went into the bedroom, picking up the fallen tweed coat on the ground. "Okay, I get it." Ban grumbled as he put on the coat with the demeanor of a child who had just been refused ice cream for dessert. Ginji followed behind Ban and offered the grumpy dark-haired male a hug. Ban patted Ginji's shoulder stiffly before moving for the door. "Since it's only half past ten, I bet the shop which sells the coffin is still not open yet." Ban turned to face Ginji with a devious smirk. "So where do you want to have breakfast? This hotel? Honky Tonk? Or do you want it to be a surprise?"
Ginji sparkled happily at Ban's playful suggestion. "A surprise? You know I like surprises, Ban-chan!" Ban abandoned all pretenses and smiled at his electric partner, the heavy mood between them transforming to a lighthearted one. Ban gestured at Ginji to wait at the lift as he locked the door behind him.
Ban tipped a different bellboy generously, the pimply-faced teenager blustering upon having several large bills shoved at him. Ginji was about to comment about Ban's sudden generosity when the dark-haired male grasped his hand and held him close, causing him to blush silently as he pulled Ginji along.
Ban noticed several odd looks aimed at the both of them as they walked along the streets. Of course, who wouldn't stare; two well-dressed young men with attention-grabbing hair, holding hands? Ban only held his head high, a proud smirk playing on his lips. Who cared if people had something to say about them? He'd become impervious to such stares; it was part and parcel of being noticed as a retriever, going round town promoting their services to the public.
After a few minutes' walk, they finally arrived at the Western-styled restaurant. Ban finally released Ginji's hand as they sat down. Ginji stared as Ban almost automatically grabbed the menu and trailed a finger down the list of breakfast items on the menu.
Ban felt Ginji's stare as he perused the menu. He looked up, and met Ginji's eyes, a smile quirking his lips. "What? Aren't you hungry?"
Ginji nodded and returned Ban's smile with a half-grimace. Ban noticed it, but let the incident slide as he gestured for the waiter.
"That was amazing!"Ginji exclaimed, patted his full stomach contentedly. Ban nodded his agreement. The breakfast had been delicious indeed. The duo now walked the distance to a quieter street. Being more acquainted with this area than Ginji was, Ban knew there was a shop providing substantial funeral service. He was confident that he would find the required coffin for Cadmus there.
"There it is," Ban said, pointing the shop to Ginji triumphantly and dragging Ginji by the arm.
The yawning man behind the counter looked surprised as the duo entered the shop. "Welcome. How may I help you, sirs?"
"Yes, we're looking for a coffin for a deceased friend of ours. We'd like to see the line of models available, so we can make a selection, since we need it by tonight." Ban replied smoothly.
The man stared bewildered at the two richly-dressed men and balked at the request, but he recollected himself soon enough. "Y-Yes, sir." He stood up, leading the way to the second floor. "Is it just the coffin that you need?"
Ban lied with the panache of a master. "Yes. We've already arranged everything beforehand, but there was a complication with the delivery of the coffin. Rather last minute, you see."
The man nodded, understanding. "Okay. What kind of wood would you like, sir? The traditional kind – cypress, sugi? Or would you prefer the imported, more expensive ones instead? We have several from France and Italy."
"Imported," Ban stated. "What kind of wood?"
"O-Oh, we have rosewood, mahogany and oak. How tall was your friend?" The man asked, showing them the array of coffins on the second floor.
"Hm, he was approximately six foot tall," Ban said, tapping his chin thoughtfully. Mahogany? "I'd like to see the ones made of mahogany."
The man showed them. Ban glanced at the silk interior and the price tag, and decided that the price was reasonable enough. He was sure Cadmus would be pleased with this purchase. "A bit plain, but it will do. Yes, we'll take this one." Ban shrugged. The man nodded, moving to a table with several paraphernalia and sat behind it. He gestured for Ban and Ginji to sit down on the two chairs. "We'd like to have it delivered to a hotel we're staying at, if that could be arranged?"
"Yes, sir. What method of payment? Cash, or...?"
Ban fished out Cadmus's credit card from the pocket of the tweed jacket. Ban recited the address, the man dutifully taking it down before making the necessary deductions from the card. After several minutes, the man asked a last question. "Do you need it today, Mr..." He began, gesturing for Ban's name.
"Midou. Yes, we do need it today and we'll pay extra if you would send it by 8 pm."
The man nodded furiously again. "That can be arranged. Thank you Midou-sama for your patronage." The man stood up, handing him a receipt before bowing before them. The bow was returned by Ginji, who then waved cheerily as they took the stairs down.