Notes: Here's Chapter 2! This one should be a bit longer...
Pairings: Ran x Youji
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: language, violence, yaoi
Disclaimer: *wails* I wish!
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For What It's Worth
Chapter 2: Get Away From Me
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A violet gaze trailed over pages of a book, empty and taking in nothing as though it was not truly there. Night had finally draped itself over the horizon, and the moon was but a silver crescent, calling to him from the open window. The breeze had chilled now and the land had cooled. An orchestra of crickets were tuning up outside and a bird cheeped sleepily from its perch on a nearby tree. Within the house was silent, and empty. Omi and Ken had gone to the store and Youji, of course was cavorting about the streets looking for a maiden to rescue from her mundane existence.
"Disgusting bastard." Ran muttered as he rose from the chair, placing the book on the table. He stretched with a yawn, loose black shirt rising to reveal a toned stomach and sleeves falling over muscular arms. His crimson hair lay rakishly around his face, violet gaze peering out from beneath handsome brows among flawlessly pale skin. Sensual lips opened in a second yawn. Ran shoved on a pair of shoes and walked out of the house and onto the sidewalk.
The streets were generally deserted, but considering the hour he had expected less people abroad than there were now. A girl and presumably her older sister walked half a block ahead of him and a trio of teenage boys walked on the other side of the street. A man and his wife walked behind him a short distance. There was the sound of general talking, none of the words discernable but the sound a gentle relief from so much silence.
But there was something else... there! A dark murmur from the alley coming up on Ran's right. At this distance he could distinguish two, no three voices and all of them menacing. The red head walked casually by the entrance of the alley, peering in by his peripheral vision. The shadows were deep and heavy, concealing the speakers well but there was a flash of luscious brown hair. Ran kept walking but stopped a few feet from the entrance to the alley, leaning against the wall nonchalantly, inspecting his fingernails in an onstentatious show of false boredom. He sidled closer to make out their words.
"Now you should know never to lay your paws on a woman unless she's not seeing anyone, don't you?" a low voiced thug inquired in an imitation of sweet patience.
"I don't think this one's too bright, boss." a lackey observed when the brown haired victim said nothing.
"He just doesn't want to talk. But that can easily be remedied." Boss replied, his voice acquiring an almost purr-like edge. "Make him talk." the thug commanded as a few laughs emitted from the others. Ran stepped forward, into the entrance of the alley.
"Well that's not very nice." the red head told them with a shake of his head. "Four against one? You ought to be ashamed. Where are your mothers?"
"Who the hell are you?" Boss demanded, moving to stand in front of Ran. "Continue please." he told his lackeys.
"Oh just a man of morals." Ran replied, the grin on his face growing even wider as his eyes grew colder. He ducked as Boss went to punch him and swung his leg around to take the thug's feet out from under him. Boss landed heavily, something cracking as his body hit the pavement. From a quick glance, it looked as if his elbow had been cracked.
Youji's face was being pummeled in but he made no sound. Except for hysterical laughter as he saw Ran toss his assailant at the brick wall. The other two thugs made to attack the fiery tempered red head but one fell when his face forcefully met the metal lid of a trashcan and the other when a few of his ribs broke under the weight of a powerful fist.
Ran grabbed Youji's wrist and wrenched him from the alley and onto the sidewalk. In the light, his eye was already turning black and swollen and blood welled from his nose and lower lip.
"You look like shit." Ran informed him as they made their way back to their homes. The thugs had disappeared by the time they had walked two blocks from the alley.
"Thanks." Youji replied with a grin, wincing as the expression pulled his split lip. They remained silent until they were safe within their home, door locked. The brunette sat in the kitchen, while Ran gathered medical supplies. The red head tossed a damp rag at Youji and a tied rag filled with ice.
"Clean yourself up." Ran ordered, taking a seat for himself. After a few more minutes of tender dabbing, the flows of blood were stemmed and the ice covered the already black eye. "Now would you mind telling me what the fuck just happened?"
"You're one to talk. What the hell were you doing? Trying to play the damned hero? You only made things worse, Ran." Youji retorted angrily.
"I love the fucking gratitude. I just saved your shitty ass and you don't even thank me. Fuck you Youji." Ran rose abruptly and strode from the kitchen and upstairs to his room. He closed his window and sat in his chair, violently opening his book and glaring at it with inordinate amounts of hatred. 'What the hell is that fucking bastard's problem? I saved his piece of shit life and he doesn't show me any gratitude. I could just kept walking and left the shit to be beat out of him. I should have fucking done that!' The wall shuddered as Ran's fist left a dent in it speckled with Youji's blood. He sat back in his chair, fists white as they clenched and unclenched. He let his anger drain away, glaring at the wall.
"Have you finished your temper tantrum?" Youji questioned, his head poking into the room. Ran's head snapped around, he hadn't heard the brunette open his door.
"Don't you fucking knock?" the red head snapped, not willing to meet Youji's gaze.
"Of course I don't. You know that." he replied, unperturbed by Ran's harsh tone.
"What the hell do you want?" Ran inquired, finally turning to glare at the brunette. After a moment's silence, "If you're not going to say anything, get the fuck out."
"I came to ask why you helped me out." Youji answered quietly, still standing in the open doorway.
Ran looked away, unable to say anything. He couldn't tell Youji why he had stepped in. "There was nothing better to do."
"Oh sure." Youji retorted sardonically.
"Because I...I-" Ran faltered, "I don't have to tell you a fucking thing. Now get out."