ba
way to make you smile/b
i've
found a way to make you
i've found a way
a way to make you smile
-
rem
the
ice cream parlor was shabby, rusted once-white tables with crooked umbrellas
and ridiculously eloquent benches, hyne-knows-how-old bubblegum splayed hidden
beneath.
fujin
did not know what led her here, did not know why she suddenly craved the
innocuous chill of soft vanilla and the shattered rainbow of sugary sprinkles.
the thought of such a childish treat made her giddy with memories, when the
most complicating aspect of life was which seashell matron would like better
and how come rajin got the bigger cookie of the two?
but,
alas, here she was, surrounded by echoes of laughter and the steadfast warble
of the sea, studying the menu of flavors the parlor offered. the man running
the window was amiable and patient, recommending this flavor and that one, and
fujin couldn't help but reciprocate his nonchalant affability.
after
much debate, she settled for a petite cup of chocolate, crowned with a halo of
sprinkles and one solitary cherry. she almost seated herself at one of the
wilted benches, but brushed pass them to walk contentedly down the street; the
soft, worn wood of the pier beneath her feet and the warm familiar smell of
sea-salt and sunscreen was sweet, inviting.
not
that fujin paused to chatter with people, but continued to walk until she
reached the edge. carelessly, she deposited her ice cream cup on the plank
beside her, reaching down to roll the legs of her pants until they ceased at
her knee.
abruptly,
in one buoyant moment of clarity, she realized how it wasn't that bad.
even
if the hotel they shared was small, and rajin hogged more than his one-third
share of the room.
even
if seifer wasn't the seifer of before, now rare of smile and .
even
if her clothes smelled like fish from the nearby shop and she found enough sand
in her pockets to construct a life-size ruby dragon.
it
was nice -- humble, but nice. and the sunsets were beyond beautiful, nothing
but red-raw light and slow, seeping warmth.
fujin
didn't expect him, so submerged in her one moment of bliss; seifer was beside
her so abruptly she jumped, unable to quell the quiet gasp. he laughed, low and
exhilirating, and she swore the sunset was in ihis/i eyes, winsome
and free and elated.
"scared
you, nee? first time ever, i think," he teased, dipping one bare foot into
the water and wiggling his toes briefly.
her
smile was tentative, as faint as the blush of scarlet painted across the arc of
her nose. "eating." not the best excuse, but fujin couldn't outright
admit to being scared witless.
one
honed 'brow ascended as he echoed her, "eating? what do you have
there?" he leaned over searchingly, discovering a half-melted scoop of
chocolate ice cream crying sprinkle-dyed tears into the bottom of its cup.
"ice cream? i haven't had it since.. the orphanage!"
oh,
she would have stripped balamb completely of ice cream if it would merit that
surprised satisfaction, that slow smile he wore. she offered the cup to him,
the cheap plastic spoon burrowed in the side. "try?"
seifer
contemplated for a moment, reaching out to slowly take the spoon and shovel a
chunk from the cup. the "mmmm" was slow and indulgent, and he grinned
crookedly. "here, can we share? i'll hold the cup," and she was
oblivious to the flicker of icepale mischeif in smug eyes, "and we'll both
use the spoon. deal?"
fujin
handed him the cup obediantly, one hand grasping the spoon -- only to discover
seifer had leapt off the dock and was sprinting down the shore, a squall of
sand and the reverberating echo of "mine now!" left in his taunting
wake.
"hey!"
was all she could muster, pouncing off the dock to trample nimbly after him,
waving the spoon as she would her shruiken, symbolic of war.
a
myriad of sand-imprinted steps later, they were both sprawled panting across
the damp shoreline, watching as the sun dove silently into its twilight home.
neither remembered who triggered the laughter, but soon they both had succombed
to it, small and broad shoulders heaving in silent mirth.
seifer
lolled his head to study her triumphantly, cheeks flushed and seasoned with
white-gold sand. "i dropped the ice cream half way back there."
the
smile was as unallayable as the mocking statement that followed.
"spoon?" fujin lobbed it in his general direction.
the
ensuing silence spread lovingly before them was sweet and comfortable, and
neither dared to break the moment they shared. they didn't know how long they
lay there, didn't care; the twilight was bright and beautiful above them, and
the breathless hiss of the tide oddly lulling.
seifer
rolled closer to her, draping an arm across her middle, nuzzling against the
cusp formed by her neck and shoulder. she surprised herself, for she did not
flinch, did not quiver in hopeful anxiety; fujin actually leaned against him,
sighing half-asleep and rapt.
and
when the morning dawned, they were still curled together, early-day tide
kissing their feet as they slept.
(notes:
my first saifuu ficcage. wuvwuv me enough and i may write more. *shamelessly
begs*)
