DISCLAIMER: Suikoden 2 and all its elements are properties of KCET. The fanfiction belongs to littlemaiko. Stealing is prohibited.
-------------------------------------
~ Silent Little Mermaid 10 ~
Jess hid himself under the sheets as he made an early morning escape into the tiny shower stall in Flik's bathroom. His taking of the cover left the older man lying bare on the bed, but that was the least of chamberlain's concern. He only gave a small smirk and a blush at the sight of lean and strong body half-way curled up on the mattress before closing the door to the baths.
"Fine, just leave me like this." Flik sat up no sooner than his lover had disappeared behind the door, reaching lazily to the floor with a hand and picking up his briefs and pants. He also needed to take a shower after the mess the two of them had gone to sleep in, but he would wait for the prissy chamberlain first.
// The entire bed got to go into the laundry. My my... //
Musing with happy azure eyes, Flik made a sloppy job out of pulling on the minimum garments to conceal himself and stripping his bed of its covers. From what he understood, the journey to Toran was awaiting them today. He was used to the teleportation Viki provided, but Jess was bound to suffer from the so-called "space lag."
// For a morning after of the "first time", things are going well. No slaps, no bawling, no laments of I-didn't-mean-it. //
Flik listened to the faint sound of hot shower and imagined his tea-eyed lover scrubbing the porcelain skin with a meticulous care. He had to smile; Jess was not someone made for sex, with his need for breathing space and despise against physical exertion in general. He doubted that the chamberlain even enjoyed being touched. All that had allowed them to make love last night was mutual love, and for that, Flik couldn't be any more thankful.
// So what if I didn't claim him inside? That can wait. Man, I feel great... better than any morning in the past three years. //
The tall mercenary stretched a few times, flexing his arms and listening to hearty cracks of his joints. He truly felt wonderful, as though he had gone to heaven and come back with the divine air still clinging. In a way, he had visited heaven last night. That thought produced a rather lewd smirk upon his well-shaped lips.
Jess delighted Flik like no one else except for Odessa. With the Silverberg woman now a person from the painful yet conquered past, he could contest that the lovely chamberlain took up most of his heart. Sure, his first love would always be with him, engraved in the sword and haunting him in many dreams to come. He had no intention of letting Odessa go. As she had let him coexist inside her with the lost betrothed, Flik wanted to house both people whom he loved inside of him. Although it had seemed impossible before, now he strove to make it so.
"What marvels love can do to a man, eh, Odessa?" With a tone tinted only a little with nostalgia, Flik took up his beloved weapon and caressed its dark scabbard.
**********
By Shu's orders, Viki teleported the two men with as much care and precision as she could be trusted with. Although she was prone to errors, Flik confirmed upon the landing that they did land in Banar. Jess remained sitting in the awkward position where he had landed on the green grass outside the town, disoriented from the strange twisting sensation of his senses.
"That's a teleport-lag. I couldn't stand it at first." Flik offered a hand to the ailing chamberlain and helped him steady the bodily balance.
Jess shook his head to drive away the dizziness, almost lurching forward as his stomach protested against the slightest motion. He refused the swordsman's offer to carry him on a piggy-back ride and with much effort started to walk toward Banar's gate.
Impressed with Jess' pride, Flik followed like a shadow, only his very blue outfit making his existence stand out behind the lithe man. Since this mission called for no incognito endeavors, he advertised himself to keep away the possible malice like bandits and monsters. In Toran side, his fame was quite widespread.
Jess tread weary in the new environment. He had never visited the Toran Republic; as far as he was concerned, the new nation was or had been the possible enemy of the Jowston Confederates. During Anabelle's earlier reign, with the Scarlet Moon Empire still in power, he had heard much about the tension between Muse and Gregminster. To think that the situation had changed so much, with the Empire fallen and Annabel deceased, dispirited the chamberlain.
"If we had more time and leisure, I'd show you more of Toran." Noticing Jess' sinking mood but not knowing the cause, Flik tried to occupy them with a conversation. He didn't hesitate to take a light hold of the younger man's hand; slender fingers threatened to flee at first, but they gave up after a short while and entangled to his.
Jess regarded the mercenary with certain astonishment that they should hold hands in the public, but no one really looked at them strangely. The people of Banar went about their own business; the small port town by the river had enough visitors to acquaint its inhabitants with all sorts of men and women. A shy chamberlain and a blue-clad swordsman hardly drew any attention.
// Warm hand, slightly calloused fingertips... he has nice hands. Hand of a fighter, I suppose. //
The tea-eyed chamberlain blushed as he remembered how the same hands had touched him the previous night. Flik had shown him heaven then, giving him the feeling of utter satisfaction and honeyed fatigue. Rather than the pleasure itself, however, Jess valued the safe haven of sleeping in his lover's arms. He had waken well-rested and mellowed by pleasant dreams which he could not recall. Such was the effect of Flik's presence in the bed.
Reflecting upon the gentle hold, Jess walked past the main street of Banar to the back where the exit to the forest path leading to Gregminster was. He had the map of the area memorized, and Flik was a native to the land. There was no fear of them getting lost. He could ponder as much as he wished over Flik's comforting hand, simple yet marvelously chiseled face, and the befitting color of blue dressing the tall figure.
Jess didn't reach for the notebook in his pants pocket, although his lips itched to question many things about Flik. He wanted to know more about his companion, the first one he'd ever fallen in love with. The long moment that passed while they held hands was too precious and sweet to be broken by questions, though.
In complete peace, the two travelers walked through the deep green forest connecting Banar and Gregminster. The capital of the Republic stood in a deceptive distance from the port town; by the map, it was only a few miles away, yet the journey felt longer for Jess. Perhaps, he only wished it to be long, for the trip with Flik by his side proved to be more enjoyable than he ever imagined.
**********
Finding Liukan's office in bustling Gregminster proved easier than anyone could have guessed. The fame of "god-like doctor" stood true to name and any passerby could point out the small house with accuracy. Jess shuffled nervously before the door to the humble place, getting himself ready for the worst outcome.
"Loosen up, Jess." Flik patted the chamberlain on a shoulder and went on to knock at the door. Upon the door opening and a bearded old man peeking out, he nodded with due respect of a comrade. "Liukan. It has been a while."
"Blue Thunder Flik. I knew that you were alive. So Viktor is also doing fine?" The sage-like doctor regarded Flik with much appreciation, then shifted his attention to the younger man. "And this is Jess, the one Huan has written me about."
Jess managed a smile of greeting. He pulled out the enveloped letters from Shu and Huan, handing them over to the wrinkled, dexterous-looking hand of Liukan.
"Do come in. I have a patient waiting for me in the back, so help yourself to tea and cakes in the meanwhile." With that, Liukan disappeared to the part of the building obscured by the white drapery, presumably the clinic area.
"He hasn't changed much, as old as he is." Flik commented to no one in particular as he took a seat at one of the simple wooden stools. Since the time was still early, there was no one else waiting for Liukan's care. He watched with great appreciation as the lithe chamberlain went to the oriental tea set and began to fuss with the tea leaves.
A short while later, Jess came back with a black-lacquer tray and placed a teaming porcelain cup in Flik's ready hands. He eased down on the seat next to the mercenary's and just toyed with the thin, white cup, not drinking the herbal liquid.
"Don't be nervous."
"I am not." Jess' lips moved in an obvious lie and he hung his head.
Flik raised an eyebrow, his lively blue eyes seeing through the chamberlain's pride. "You get to have your throat cut open by the best surgeon in this continent. That's no reason to worry. ...Was that a bad encouragement?"
Giving the swordsman a weary glare, Jess finally lifted the tea to his lips and sipped at it, his motion as soundless as his words. "Flik," he mouthed so much, then turned to his small notebook and scribbled in a neat penmanship. "Spoken words hold so much meaning. I never thought of it until this ailment came along, but now, I wish for my voice more than anything."
"Cheer up, then, if there's so much for you to look forward to. Why worry about the failure when you haven't even gone through the trial? Hmm?" If he weren't mindful of Liukan and the unknown patient behind the drapery, Flik would have gone and kissed the lovely younger man.
"I..."
The drapery was pushed aside and Liukan appeared along with a good-looking woman. The woman, with dark brown hair and sporty build of a fighter, widened her sharp eyes upon seeing Flik. Hardly hiding her surprise and uplifted mood, she rushed over despite the old doctor's immediate warning.
"Cleo, you shouldn't run with a baby."
"Oops. Flik! You are alive? So Viktor is, too?" Cleo halted in her quick strides with a sheepish grin. Her right hand rested over her lower abdomen in a natural stance of a just-informed mother.
"As alive as he can be and still chugging down beer. A good news today, Cleo?" Flik smiled back, his tone rather that for a man or an equal comrade. He touched Jess' shoulder and introduced him to the female fighter, "Cleo, this is Jess, chamberlain of JSCA. Jess, meet Cleo. She was one of the central figures in the Liberation Army."
"Pleasure to meet you, Jess. And yes, I'm pregnant, thanks very much. When did you become so outspoken, Blue Thunder? ...I'm glad to see you in good mood, though." Cleo nodded, very satisfied with the change in the tall mercenary from what she remembered. The last she had seen of Flik was when he had still been mourning over the loss of Odessa. Although she saw the similarity between Jess and Odessa right away, Cleo kept her mouth shut.
"Doctor Liukan, is she done yet? ...Flik? And Ode-... never mind."
"Pahn!" The witty expression switching over to that of a happy wife, Cleo let the just-arrived Pahn hug and kiss her. They made such an adorable scene that the others present shuffled and wandered their gazes within the warm and fluffy atmosphere created.
"Jess, I'm ready to take a look at you. Follow me." Liukan barely interrupted the moment with the sensible whisper, to which Jess followed without a wait.
As he exchanged words with the old acquaintances, Flik curled his lips in reassurance when he saw the tea-colored eyes glancing back to him.
NEXT
-------------------------------------
~ Silent Little Mermaid 10 ~
Jess hid himself under the sheets as he made an early morning escape into the tiny shower stall in Flik's bathroom. His taking of the cover left the older man lying bare on the bed, but that was the least of chamberlain's concern. He only gave a small smirk and a blush at the sight of lean and strong body half-way curled up on the mattress before closing the door to the baths.
"Fine, just leave me like this." Flik sat up no sooner than his lover had disappeared behind the door, reaching lazily to the floor with a hand and picking up his briefs and pants. He also needed to take a shower after the mess the two of them had gone to sleep in, but he would wait for the prissy chamberlain first.
// The entire bed got to go into the laundry. My my... //
Musing with happy azure eyes, Flik made a sloppy job out of pulling on the minimum garments to conceal himself and stripping his bed of its covers. From what he understood, the journey to Toran was awaiting them today. He was used to the teleportation Viki provided, but Jess was bound to suffer from the so-called "space lag."
// For a morning after of the "first time", things are going well. No slaps, no bawling, no laments of I-didn't-mean-it. //
Flik listened to the faint sound of hot shower and imagined his tea-eyed lover scrubbing the porcelain skin with a meticulous care. He had to smile; Jess was not someone made for sex, with his need for breathing space and despise against physical exertion in general. He doubted that the chamberlain even enjoyed being touched. All that had allowed them to make love last night was mutual love, and for that, Flik couldn't be any more thankful.
// So what if I didn't claim him inside? That can wait. Man, I feel great... better than any morning in the past three years. //
The tall mercenary stretched a few times, flexing his arms and listening to hearty cracks of his joints. He truly felt wonderful, as though he had gone to heaven and come back with the divine air still clinging. In a way, he had visited heaven last night. That thought produced a rather lewd smirk upon his well-shaped lips.
Jess delighted Flik like no one else except for Odessa. With the Silverberg woman now a person from the painful yet conquered past, he could contest that the lovely chamberlain took up most of his heart. Sure, his first love would always be with him, engraved in the sword and haunting him in many dreams to come. He had no intention of letting Odessa go. As she had let him coexist inside her with the lost betrothed, Flik wanted to house both people whom he loved inside of him. Although it had seemed impossible before, now he strove to make it so.
"What marvels love can do to a man, eh, Odessa?" With a tone tinted only a little with nostalgia, Flik took up his beloved weapon and caressed its dark scabbard.
**********
By Shu's orders, Viki teleported the two men with as much care and precision as she could be trusted with. Although she was prone to errors, Flik confirmed upon the landing that they did land in Banar. Jess remained sitting in the awkward position where he had landed on the green grass outside the town, disoriented from the strange twisting sensation of his senses.
"That's a teleport-lag. I couldn't stand it at first." Flik offered a hand to the ailing chamberlain and helped him steady the bodily balance.
Jess shook his head to drive away the dizziness, almost lurching forward as his stomach protested against the slightest motion. He refused the swordsman's offer to carry him on a piggy-back ride and with much effort started to walk toward Banar's gate.
Impressed with Jess' pride, Flik followed like a shadow, only his very blue outfit making his existence stand out behind the lithe man. Since this mission called for no incognito endeavors, he advertised himself to keep away the possible malice like bandits and monsters. In Toran side, his fame was quite widespread.
Jess tread weary in the new environment. He had never visited the Toran Republic; as far as he was concerned, the new nation was or had been the possible enemy of the Jowston Confederates. During Anabelle's earlier reign, with the Scarlet Moon Empire still in power, he had heard much about the tension between Muse and Gregminster. To think that the situation had changed so much, with the Empire fallen and Annabel deceased, dispirited the chamberlain.
"If we had more time and leisure, I'd show you more of Toran." Noticing Jess' sinking mood but not knowing the cause, Flik tried to occupy them with a conversation. He didn't hesitate to take a light hold of the younger man's hand; slender fingers threatened to flee at first, but they gave up after a short while and entangled to his.
Jess regarded the mercenary with certain astonishment that they should hold hands in the public, but no one really looked at them strangely. The people of Banar went about their own business; the small port town by the river had enough visitors to acquaint its inhabitants with all sorts of men and women. A shy chamberlain and a blue-clad swordsman hardly drew any attention.
// Warm hand, slightly calloused fingertips... he has nice hands. Hand of a fighter, I suppose. //
The tea-eyed chamberlain blushed as he remembered how the same hands had touched him the previous night. Flik had shown him heaven then, giving him the feeling of utter satisfaction and honeyed fatigue. Rather than the pleasure itself, however, Jess valued the safe haven of sleeping in his lover's arms. He had waken well-rested and mellowed by pleasant dreams which he could not recall. Such was the effect of Flik's presence in the bed.
Reflecting upon the gentle hold, Jess walked past the main street of Banar to the back where the exit to the forest path leading to Gregminster was. He had the map of the area memorized, and Flik was a native to the land. There was no fear of them getting lost. He could ponder as much as he wished over Flik's comforting hand, simple yet marvelously chiseled face, and the befitting color of blue dressing the tall figure.
Jess didn't reach for the notebook in his pants pocket, although his lips itched to question many things about Flik. He wanted to know more about his companion, the first one he'd ever fallen in love with. The long moment that passed while they held hands was too precious and sweet to be broken by questions, though.
In complete peace, the two travelers walked through the deep green forest connecting Banar and Gregminster. The capital of the Republic stood in a deceptive distance from the port town; by the map, it was only a few miles away, yet the journey felt longer for Jess. Perhaps, he only wished it to be long, for the trip with Flik by his side proved to be more enjoyable than he ever imagined.
**********
Finding Liukan's office in bustling Gregminster proved easier than anyone could have guessed. The fame of "god-like doctor" stood true to name and any passerby could point out the small house with accuracy. Jess shuffled nervously before the door to the humble place, getting himself ready for the worst outcome.
"Loosen up, Jess." Flik patted the chamberlain on a shoulder and went on to knock at the door. Upon the door opening and a bearded old man peeking out, he nodded with due respect of a comrade. "Liukan. It has been a while."
"Blue Thunder Flik. I knew that you were alive. So Viktor is also doing fine?" The sage-like doctor regarded Flik with much appreciation, then shifted his attention to the younger man. "And this is Jess, the one Huan has written me about."
Jess managed a smile of greeting. He pulled out the enveloped letters from Shu and Huan, handing them over to the wrinkled, dexterous-looking hand of Liukan.
"Do come in. I have a patient waiting for me in the back, so help yourself to tea and cakes in the meanwhile." With that, Liukan disappeared to the part of the building obscured by the white drapery, presumably the clinic area.
"He hasn't changed much, as old as he is." Flik commented to no one in particular as he took a seat at one of the simple wooden stools. Since the time was still early, there was no one else waiting for Liukan's care. He watched with great appreciation as the lithe chamberlain went to the oriental tea set and began to fuss with the tea leaves.
A short while later, Jess came back with a black-lacquer tray and placed a teaming porcelain cup in Flik's ready hands. He eased down on the seat next to the mercenary's and just toyed with the thin, white cup, not drinking the herbal liquid.
"Don't be nervous."
"I am not." Jess' lips moved in an obvious lie and he hung his head.
Flik raised an eyebrow, his lively blue eyes seeing through the chamberlain's pride. "You get to have your throat cut open by the best surgeon in this continent. That's no reason to worry. ...Was that a bad encouragement?"
Giving the swordsman a weary glare, Jess finally lifted the tea to his lips and sipped at it, his motion as soundless as his words. "Flik," he mouthed so much, then turned to his small notebook and scribbled in a neat penmanship. "Spoken words hold so much meaning. I never thought of it until this ailment came along, but now, I wish for my voice more than anything."
"Cheer up, then, if there's so much for you to look forward to. Why worry about the failure when you haven't even gone through the trial? Hmm?" If he weren't mindful of Liukan and the unknown patient behind the drapery, Flik would have gone and kissed the lovely younger man.
"I..."
The drapery was pushed aside and Liukan appeared along with a good-looking woman. The woman, with dark brown hair and sporty build of a fighter, widened her sharp eyes upon seeing Flik. Hardly hiding her surprise and uplifted mood, she rushed over despite the old doctor's immediate warning.
"Cleo, you shouldn't run with a baby."
"Oops. Flik! You are alive? So Viktor is, too?" Cleo halted in her quick strides with a sheepish grin. Her right hand rested over her lower abdomen in a natural stance of a just-informed mother.
"As alive as he can be and still chugging down beer. A good news today, Cleo?" Flik smiled back, his tone rather that for a man or an equal comrade. He touched Jess' shoulder and introduced him to the female fighter, "Cleo, this is Jess, chamberlain of JSCA. Jess, meet Cleo. She was one of the central figures in the Liberation Army."
"Pleasure to meet you, Jess. And yes, I'm pregnant, thanks very much. When did you become so outspoken, Blue Thunder? ...I'm glad to see you in good mood, though." Cleo nodded, very satisfied with the change in the tall mercenary from what she remembered. The last she had seen of Flik was when he had still been mourning over the loss of Odessa. Although she saw the similarity between Jess and Odessa right away, Cleo kept her mouth shut.
"Doctor Liukan, is she done yet? ...Flik? And Ode-... never mind."
"Pahn!" The witty expression switching over to that of a happy wife, Cleo let the just-arrived Pahn hug and kiss her. They made such an adorable scene that the others present shuffled and wandered their gazes within the warm and fluffy atmosphere created.
"Jess, I'm ready to take a look at you. Follow me." Liukan barely interrupted the moment with the sensible whisper, to which Jess followed without a wait.
As he exchanged words with the old acquaintances, Flik curled his lips in reassurance when he saw the tea-colored eyes glancing back to him.
NEXT