Chapter Two: Another Battleground

A/N: Okay, so I was supposed to update 'C' Series first…and work a little in the Saiyuki category. But this was just too much fun to pass up! This chappeh dives a bit deeper into the slash warning. So if this bothers you, do like I used to and read until it starts then scroll 'till it's over. -grins-

Hey Gar, about our deal. What happens when I write Ama/ Zidane? Are you gonna write one too, or try a Zidane/Vivi? Either way's good for meh. -wags tail- And Kurumi, you're slowly addicting meh to the Ama/Kuja pairing…

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Amarant slowly trudged up the stairs of the inn. Annoyed with himself for staying out most of the night, he was going to fall into bed and not wake up until he was damn well ready. Screw the monkey and his death wish.

Besides…he owed him for that little sing-along stunt this afternoon.

He was almost at his door when he heard someone come up the stairs behind him. Reflexes ensued, and he ducked behind the hallway corner. Zidane came down the hall, humming the same damned song as he went. Amarant considered ignoring him, and letting him pass in favour of what little sleep he had left to get.

Apparently somewhere, Amarant was a closet masochist.

He stepped out of his hiding place, leaning against the wall and glaring at the monkey. A bit shocked to see the large bounty hunter come out of nowhere, Zidane stopped.

"Hey…" he nodded, tail swaying behind him idly.

"Mm," Amarant replied.

Zidane watched the redhead watching him. "What?"

Amarant didn't answer, but gave the other a look that asked for an explanation.

"What's up with you?" he grinned strangely. "It's like your sizing me up for a fight, or to eat or something."

He raised an eyebrow. "Who says I'm not?"

Zidane tilted his head, and for a moment Amarant was actually convinced the boy was confused. "For a fight, or to eat?"

Amarant blinked a few times, taken aback by the question. That wasn't what he'd been expecting. "What the hell?"

Zidane laughed, which actually sounded nice. Amarant shook the thought from his head. "I'm just kidding. You take everything so seriously, Ama."

The bounty hunter frowned. "Don't call me that."

"Aw, but you said I could call you whatever I liked."

"Anything but THAT."

He laughed again. Why did he laugh so much? "So what are you doing?"

"Hiding in a hallway so I can jump out and give you a fatal heart attack," he drawled. "Why?"

Zidane's smile turned into a smirk. "Did you actually just make a joke?"

"I have my moments. What do you want?"

Suddenly sheepish, the monkey rubbed the back of his head with a gloved hand. "Well, I was kinda hoping…maybe you wouldn't mind some company?"

Amarant rolled his eyes. "What about me has led you to believe that I'd ever want your company?"

"Er…it's not exactly that. I'm just…kinda awake right now, and…"

He finished for him. "…And you want me to stay up and talk to you because I'm the only one left awake by now."

Zidane laughed awkwardly. "I guess that's why you're a bounty hunter…"

Amarant unlocked his door. "No, I'm a bounty hunter because it's easy…until I run into weirdoes like you, that is."

Zidane shrugged, following the larger man into the room. "I'll take that as a compliment."

"It wasn't one," he muttered offhand. "So what the hell's your problem?"

Zidane leaned against the wall now, with his hands behind his back, trapped between him and the wall. "I dunno. I'm just wondering if this is such a good idea. I mean, I know we've gotta do it, but are any of us really ready to take on Kuja?"

He was worried about the mission. Great, he picks the night before to have second thoughts. "It's really your call."

"Yeah, but what about the others? I'd never forgive myself if something happened to them. Or you for that matter."

Amarant snorted. "I can take care of myself thanks. And if not, I know when to hightail it."

Zidane was looking absently at the floor. "I suppose so. Though I wonder if it'd just be better to leave the others. Eiko's just a kid, and I feel terrible for getting Vivi involved in all this. And I should take Garnet back to her uncle…"

He was thinking about dropping the princess. Obviously, he wasn't getting any from her.

"So you'd do it alone?"

He smiled sadly. "Kuja needs to be stopped at any rate. I don't mind fighting him, but I don't like the idea of putting the others in danger."

"What about me?" Amarant found himself asking.

"You? Well, you said it yourself that you know when to fight and when to bail. I figure if I'm leaving the others, you'd go too."

"And you're okay with that?"

The boy laughed humourlessly. "It's your call."

Finding his words repeated to him, he crossed his arms. "There's no honour in letting someone fight an uneven battle by themselves."

"So you'd stay?"

Amarant was surprised to figure out that he would. For some reason, leaving the monkey's side seemed unthinkable. Once again, he blamed his pride.

It was then, watching the monkey with his gaze on the floorboards, that the idea struck Amarant. Battles weren't always won by fighting. There were other ways to go about things. The important thing was to play upon your enemy's weakness. Besides, he looked kind of pretty, standing there like that.

Maybe he was a little too drunk for his own good.

By the time he'd realized this, however, he had already moved. He was leaning over the monkey's smaller form, bracing himself against the wall with one arm. Zidane looked up at him in surprise, face flushing a bit.

"Amarant…?"

"You're going to have to decide this for yourself. You're the leader, after all."

"Okay, but what are you—?"

Too late to back down now. Amarant cut him off. "But before we go and kill ourselves out of charity…I'm going to get my revenge."

His eyes were wide, and he backed up against the wall. He looked partially like a girl, Amarant supposed that would make what he was attempting easier. "Revenge…?"

Amarant silenced him by grabbing a fistful of blond hair and pulling the monkey towards him. Their faces were only inches apart. "You may have bested me in a fight, but I'm still going to make sure you're begging me for mercy."

Before the blond could answer, Amarant pulled him closer still, crushing their lips together in a bruising kiss. Surprised, Zidane responded instinctively.

The bounty hunter wrapped his other hand around the boy's wrist, yanking him off the wall and flung him forward. Zidane tripped and fell backwards, landing on the bed. Immediately Amarant was on top of him, one hand holding both the thief's arms above his head.

Zidane's breath was coming in short gasps, adrenaline rushing from the kiss and the shock. He tried unsuccessfully to move his arms, but they were pinned tight. Not that he was exactly adverse to the situation, mind you, but it was definitely not one he'd thought would happen.

The monkey arched his back as a hot hand reached under the hem of his shirt. Vaguely he noticed that Amarant wasn't wearing his gloves and realized he hadn't really ever seen the bounty hunter without them. He made a small whimpering noise in the back of his throat when the hand was removed, but it moved to his chin, pulling it up and forcing him to look straight into Amarant's eyes.

"…A…"

"Don't you go zoning out on me."

He nodded, panting a bit. Amarant's hand returned to it's original place, tracing down Zidane's side. The blond hissed through clenched teeth.

"Well?"

Zidane squeezed his eyes shut. It was becoming increasingly difficult to focus on anything except the burning touch. What did Amarant want? Anything to keep him doing what he was doing…

"Ama…"

His hand traveled lower, coming to rest on a VERY sensitive area. The thief let out a shaky moan.

"Gods Amarant…please…"

The redhead smirked. "That's what I thought."

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And…done. Yes I'm leaving you at that. You want any more, you'll just have to imagine it for yourself. I've got a rating to hold together. So will this lead to anything but an awkward morning after? And are they ever going after Kuja? Find out in the next chappeh! But in the meantime, here's some review responses!

Gargant Surprise: I'll put these here, even if you comment on LJ. -winks- Cuz I've just got so much to thank you for! You're a real inspiration, you know that?

PInkrose555: -laughs- Thankehs. This part's not as funny, but I hope you enjoyed it nonetheless!