"Insubordinate conduct...disturbing the peace...fowl language!?! Che!" Kenren scowls, crumbling the report in his fist and tossing it into a passing trash can. "Like those limp-dicks would know disturbing the peace from a friggin' cat fight. At least I don't have to answer to any of that shit with the Golden God Konzen taking all the heat." On that thought, Kenren's scowl deepens and he kicks at a random stone in the path, walking along the outskirts of Kanzeon's palace. "As long as that's the only heat he's taking in place of me..."
Try as he might, Kenren cannot shake suspicions that Tenpou and Konzen share more than just friendship. Meeting the blonde has only increased those suspicions, considering how pretty the lithe and graceful man turned out to be. Tenpou, of course, is instistent that the only man he wants in his bed is Kenren, but more than anyone else, Kenren understands how hard it can be to refuse a pretty face.
'I'm being stupid...and even if something was going on between 'em...what's it matter?' Kenren scowls, hands shoved deep in his pockets. 'It's not like we're...married or anything...'
Pausing in his step, Kenren almost laughs out loud, remembering the recent events that created the report he had been reading. A punch here, a kick there, and the Emperor's birthday celebration had turned into a real scuffle, with him, Tenpou, and a certain monkey-boy as the key players.
He especially remembers the words he let slip...
'A grudge against me is like a grudge against you, right?'
And how did Tenpou respond? 'Really? Well, that's quite unexpected. I didn't realize we had such a married relationship.'
"No, you wouldn't, would you?" Kenren growls beneath his breath, his smile lost as he continues down the path. "We're just friends who fuck, nothing else. It's not like...I'm in love with you...or anything..."
"Do you often talk to yourself?"
Kenren's breath catches as he starts, looking around for the source of this sudden voice. There is a window just above him, and looking down at him through the open pane...is the infamous Konzen Douji. "Well, I'll be. If it isn't Mr. Pretty Boy with the droopy eyes. Shirking your duties, there, oh royal pompous one?"
Flicking a stray strand of gold from his eyes, Konzen glares from behind his desk, turned in his chair just enough to look down the few feet to meet Kenren's equally challenging stare. "I thought I heard some fool grumbling about love, and figured it must be you."
"Che. Still mad we got your monkey in a bit of trouble, eh? You know, I saved his scrawny ass, in case you wanted to know how things really got started."
"I don't doubt that, I just don't want you getting him into any more trouble. Not him...or anyone else."
Now this perks Kenren's attention. He stands just below the window, grinning skyward. "Anyone else? If you mean our mutual friend, Tenpou, then I'm afraid you're a little late. We get into all sorts of things together."
Konzen scowls. "So I've heard."
"Heh. He told you?"
"He didn't have to. The rumors have reached even me, and even if they hadn't...his countenance has changed enough since he met you for me to figure out the truth on my own."
"Really? I wouldn't have thought he was the type to be so easily read."
"He isn't. But when you know someone long enough, even the smallest changes can be detected."
Kenren decides this bit of info is as much of an invitation to pry as he is ever going to get. He transforms his smile into something as close to genuine as he can. "So...uhh...how well do you two know each other, exactly?" he asks very slowly. "I mean, you grew up together, right, so...you've probably experienced quite a bit, and--"
"We never slept together." Konzen states bluntly, without batting a single, blonde eyelash. "And we never intend to. It is possible to care for someone without wanting to fuck them, you know?"
Kenren's smirk returns. Konzen isn't the type one would usually expect such blunt language from, and for some strange reason, it sets Kenren at ease more than the blonde's reassurance. "Figures I'd be agonizing over nothing." Kenren laughs. "Well...I guess I'll be off then."
"Wait." Konzen calls, stopping Kenren's intent feet.
The tall taisho looks back up, raising an eyebrow expectantly.
"I think you should know...Tenpou doesn't do forever." Konzen explains. "So, if that's what you think you have with him, remember this: you're expendable. I've seen him do this many times before. You've lasted longer than most, but you're not the first to fall in love with him and to think he could actually love you back."
Konzen's expression holds no trace of malace or reproach as Kenren expected, but appears honestly sympathetic. There is no doubt in Kenren's mind that the blonde god means well, and that he is speaking as much truth as he knows.
Funny. That doesn't make Kenren feel any better about what he has heard.
"Hey...no need to worry about me, beautiful. We squared things from the start." Kenren smiles back, though his voice sounds the tiniest bit softer and weaker than he wishes it did. "It's not love. I know that. But unlike the rest, I'm also a friend. If you actually talked to him about me, or saw us together, you'd understand that a bit better."
With something that almost could be percieved as a smile, Konzen turns back to his desk. "You know...I almost hope you're right..."
-----
"Hey, Tenpou, you around?" Kenren calls nonchalantly as he opens the door, not bothering to knock since that tactic usually doesn't get him past the threshhold anyway. "Tenpou? You here? Please be here..."
"Kenren?"
The general starts for a second time today, spinning to face the door to one of the storage rooms by the far wall. Tenpou is coming towards him with a pile of books stacked in his arms, looking rather dishelved. He isn't wearing his long, white coat or his tie, and his shirt has the top two buttons undone, revealing a bit of his smooth, pale chest.
"I'm so glad you're here. I've been looking through some of the stacks in the back to find something suitable for Goku to read, and I was hoping you could help." the marshall explains, dumping the books in his arms onto his desk to join an assortment of others. "He seems eager to learn since Konzen's life revolves so much around reading. Not that the man ever actually reads those documents before stamping them." Tenpou adds with a somewhat naugtier grin.
Kenren remains silent, partially caught up in his own thoughts, and partially distracted by Tenpou's disarrayed appearance.
"Kenren? Daijobu, ka?"
Kenren is suddenly very aware of the fact that he has been staring. "Huh? Oh. I'm fine. Just...distracted...today. No reason, I'm just...well...yeah."
Walking from the cluttered desk to Kenren's place among the clutter on the floor, Tenpou smiles brilliantly, raising a hand to brush Kenren's hair from his face. "If we weren't gods, I'd guess you were ill, Taisho. You aren't upset with me about something, are you?"
Kenren pulls away from Tenpou's touch, stepping past him towards the stack of books on the desk. "Don't be silly. So...looking for books for the rugrat, huh?"
Tenpou, however, is not so easily convinced that everything is all right. "Kenren, if there is something you wish to speak to me about, I would prefer you spoke to me rather than having you pretend nothing is wrong. Now, please, what is bothering you?"
"I said it was nothing." Kenren states with perhaps a tad too much force.
Tenpou crosses his arms defiantly, unmoved.
Sighing heavily, Kenren hops up to sit on the small space of desk still visible, looking back at Tenpou with obvious hesitation in what he is about to bring up. "It really is nothing, I just...had a little chat with your good friend Konzen today."
Slowly, Tenpou advances on the desk. "About?"
"Us. Me and you, I mean."
"I thought we agreed not to feed these rumors any more than they have been."
"He already knew, Tenpou. He's your best friend, how could he not?"
Tenpou nods, his lips pursed as he finally comes to rest just in front of the flustered general. "He expressed disapproval, I assume?"
"Actually, that's the one thing he didn't express."
More and more, Tenpou is finding that his temper is rising at how Kenren refuses to meet his gaze. "So, you talked about us? What did he say?"
Kenren swallows; he doesn't want to discuss this. Discussing it might mean losing what he has. "He just gave me a friendly warning...about how you deal with lovers when you're done with them. I told him off, of course, but...he got me thinking, I guess."
"Ah. Now I understand." Tenpou smiles, pushing a good amount of the books out of the way to push Kenren more comfortably back as he climbs up onto his adjudent's lap.
Kenren is understandably shocked, but doesn't protest.
"Listen carefully, Taisho." Tenpou states firmly, holding Kenren down with one hand as the other begins to unbutton the rest of his shirt. "I had thought we were agreed this isn't about--"
"Love. I know."
"And...since this is merely friendly fucking...you should have no complaints, yes?"
"I know. I just--"
"No, Taisho. You just behave." Tenpou purrs, leaning down to begin sucking on one of the general's tender earlobes. "Lie still...and take what you're given, understand...?"
The unruly general may have been compliant up until now, but this is the final straw. "Like hell!" Kenren says with a mighty push, trying to free himself from Tenpou's grip. He fails. "When all this started, you had me believing I was the one convincing you, but the truth is...you've been leading me along from day one. You made me think I was doing the pursuing, that you were the one being pursued, but that's all bullshit. I was fucked even without my pants at my ankles, wasn't I?"
"Yare, yare, Taisho. Won't you even let me finish?" Tenpou smirks wickedly, keeping Kenren in place effortlessly, despite the slightly larger man's attempts to break away. "I have always been in control, that is true, but that doesn't mean I intend to throw you away when I'm through with you. We work well together, and I thought we had become rather good friends. Was I mistaken?"
Kenren is highly confused now. "Well...no. I thought the same thing til Goldylocks told me--"
"Konzen is basing his assumptions off my past dealings, which--though logical--does not necessarily predict my future actions." Tenpou interrupts. "You see...I don't intend to ever allow you to tranfer somewhere else, and should the...non-work related things we do become a thing of the past...something I highly doubt, by the way...I will still consider you a close friend." He pauses, dipping lower to touch his forehead to Kenren's. "Are your apprehensions soothed now?"
"I...I think so."
"Good." And Tenpou finishes his trek, capturing Kenren's mouth brutally while squeezing his legs tightly around the general's hips. When they finally break apart, Tenpou teasingly flicks his tongue at Kenren's nose and bucks his hips a little further forward. "Now...dare question my intentions again...and I may just have to punish you. Undertsood, Taisho?"
Kenren grins crookedly, internally kicking himself for not believing his own words to Konzen more than he had. "Yes, sir..." he breathes, and leans up to capture another kiss.
But Tenpou pulls just enough out of reach. "And no more of this married nonsense, either. We wouldn't want anyone else to catch wise. Besides, I always end up being named the wife between the two of us, and we both know that isn't the case."
"Whatever you say, husband." Kenren purrs with a lick of his lips.
Tenpou's grin widens as he leans down to capture those lips again. "Now there's a good wife..."
End Part 4
A/N: This fic is just so much fun. I know it isn't conventional, but I wanted to spell out the incidents between the things we got to see in gaiden. I hope people are enjoying this, and that all of you will stick with me. For those of you who have reviewed so far, and are so good about watching for more parts, thankies a million! I can't wait to get to the next part. The next two are probably some of my faves, so keep an eye out and thanks again.
Crim
Try as he might, Kenren cannot shake suspicions that Tenpou and Konzen share more than just friendship. Meeting the blonde has only increased those suspicions, considering how pretty the lithe and graceful man turned out to be. Tenpou, of course, is instistent that the only man he wants in his bed is Kenren, but more than anyone else, Kenren understands how hard it can be to refuse a pretty face.
'I'm being stupid...and even if something was going on between 'em...what's it matter?' Kenren scowls, hands shoved deep in his pockets. 'It's not like we're...married or anything...'
Pausing in his step, Kenren almost laughs out loud, remembering the recent events that created the report he had been reading. A punch here, a kick there, and the Emperor's birthday celebration had turned into a real scuffle, with him, Tenpou, and a certain monkey-boy as the key players.
He especially remembers the words he let slip...
'A grudge against me is like a grudge against you, right?'
And how did Tenpou respond? 'Really? Well, that's quite unexpected. I didn't realize we had such a married relationship.'
"No, you wouldn't, would you?" Kenren growls beneath his breath, his smile lost as he continues down the path. "We're just friends who fuck, nothing else. It's not like...I'm in love with you...or anything..."
"Do you often talk to yourself?"
Kenren's breath catches as he starts, looking around for the source of this sudden voice. There is a window just above him, and looking down at him through the open pane...is the infamous Konzen Douji. "Well, I'll be. If it isn't Mr. Pretty Boy with the droopy eyes. Shirking your duties, there, oh royal pompous one?"
Flicking a stray strand of gold from his eyes, Konzen glares from behind his desk, turned in his chair just enough to look down the few feet to meet Kenren's equally challenging stare. "I thought I heard some fool grumbling about love, and figured it must be you."
"Che. Still mad we got your monkey in a bit of trouble, eh? You know, I saved his scrawny ass, in case you wanted to know how things really got started."
"I don't doubt that, I just don't want you getting him into any more trouble. Not him...or anyone else."
Now this perks Kenren's attention. He stands just below the window, grinning skyward. "Anyone else? If you mean our mutual friend, Tenpou, then I'm afraid you're a little late. We get into all sorts of things together."
Konzen scowls. "So I've heard."
"Heh. He told you?"
"He didn't have to. The rumors have reached even me, and even if they hadn't...his countenance has changed enough since he met you for me to figure out the truth on my own."
"Really? I wouldn't have thought he was the type to be so easily read."
"He isn't. But when you know someone long enough, even the smallest changes can be detected."
Kenren decides this bit of info is as much of an invitation to pry as he is ever going to get. He transforms his smile into something as close to genuine as he can. "So...uhh...how well do you two know each other, exactly?" he asks very slowly. "I mean, you grew up together, right, so...you've probably experienced quite a bit, and--"
"We never slept together." Konzen states bluntly, without batting a single, blonde eyelash. "And we never intend to. It is possible to care for someone without wanting to fuck them, you know?"
Kenren's smirk returns. Konzen isn't the type one would usually expect such blunt language from, and for some strange reason, it sets Kenren at ease more than the blonde's reassurance. "Figures I'd be agonizing over nothing." Kenren laughs. "Well...I guess I'll be off then."
"Wait." Konzen calls, stopping Kenren's intent feet.
The tall taisho looks back up, raising an eyebrow expectantly.
"I think you should know...Tenpou doesn't do forever." Konzen explains. "So, if that's what you think you have with him, remember this: you're expendable. I've seen him do this many times before. You've lasted longer than most, but you're not the first to fall in love with him and to think he could actually love you back."
Konzen's expression holds no trace of malace or reproach as Kenren expected, but appears honestly sympathetic. There is no doubt in Kenren's mind that the blonde god means well, and that he is speaking as much truth as he knows.
Funny. That doesn't make Kenren feel any better about what he has heard.
"Hey...no need to worry about me, beautiful. We squared things from the start." Kenren smiles back, though his voice sounds the tiniest bit softer and weaker than he wishes it did. "It's not love. I know that. But unlike the rest, I'm also a friend. If you actually talked to him about me, or saw us together, you'd understand that a bit better."
With something that almost could be percieved as a smile, Konzen turns back to his desk. "You know...I almost hope you're right..."
-----
"Hey, Tenpou, you around?" Kenren calls nonchalantly as he opens the door, not bothering to knock since that tactic usually doesn't get him past the threshhold anyway. "Tenpou? You here? Please be here..."
"Kenren?"
The general starts for a second time today, spinning to face the door to one of the storage rooms by the far wall. Tenpou is coming towards him with a pile of books stacked in his arms, looking rather dishelved. He isn't wearing his long, white coat or his tie, and his shirt has the top two buttons undone, revealing a bit of his smooth, pale chest.
"I'm so glad you're here. I've been looking through some of the stacks in the back to find something suitable for Goku to read, and I was hoping you could help." the marshall explains, dumping the books in his arms onto his desk to join an assortment of others. "He seems eager to learn since Konzen's life revolves so much around reading. Not that the man ever actually reads those documents before stamping them." Tenpou adds with a somewhat naugtier grin.
Kenren remains silent, partially caught up in his own thoughts, and partially distracted by Tenpou's disarrayed appearance.
"Kenren? Daijobu, ka?"
Kenren is suddenly very aware of the fact that he has been staring. "Huh? Oh. I'm fine. Just...distracted...today. No reason, I'm just...well...yeah."
Walking from the cluttered desk to Kenren's place among the clutter on the floor, Tenpou smiles brilliantly, raising a hand to brush Kenren's hair from his face. "If we weren't gods, I'd guess you were ill, Taisho. You aren't upset with me about something, are you?"
Kenren pulls away from Tenpou's touch, stepping past him towards the stack of books on the desk. "Don't be silly. So...looking for books for the rugrat, huh?"
Tenpou, however, is not so easily convinced that everything is all right. "Kenren, if there is something you wish to speak to me about, I would prefer you spoke to me rather than having you pretend nothing is wrong. Now, please, what is bothering you?"
"I said it was nothing." Kenren states with perhaps a tad too much force.
Tenpou crosses his arms defiantly, unmoved.
Sighing heavily, Kenren hops up to sit on the small space of desk still visible, looking back at Tenpou with obvious hesitation in what he is about to bring up. "It really is nothing, I just...had a little chat with your good friend Konzen today."
Slowly, Tenpou advances on the desk. "About?"
"Us. Me and you, I mean."
"I thought we agreed not to feed these rumors any more than they have been."
"He already knew, Tenpou. He's your best friend, how could he not?"
Tenpou nods, his lips pursed as he finally comes to rest just in front of the flustered general. "He expressed disapproval, I assume?"
"Actually, that's the one thing he didn't express."
More and more, Tenpou is finding that his temper is rising at how Kenren refuses to meet his gaze. "So, you talked about us? What did he say?"
Kenren swallows; he doesn't want to discuss this. Discussing it might mean losing what he has. "He just gave me a friendly warning...about how you deal with lovers when you're done with them. I told him off, of course, but...he got me thinking, I guess."
"Ah. Now I understand." Tenpou smiles, pushing a good amount of the books out of the way to push Kenren more comfortably back as he climbs up onto his adjudent's lap.
Kenren is understandably shocked, but doesn't protest.
"Listen carefully, Taisho." Tenpou states firmly, holding Kenren down with one hand as the other begins to unbutton the rest of his shirt. "I had thought we were agreed this isn't about--"
"Love. I know."
"And...since this is merely friendly fucking...you should have no complaints, yes?"
"I know. I just--"
"No, Taisho. You just behave." Tenpou purrs, leaning down to begin sucking on one of the general's tender earlobes. "Lie still...and take what you're given, understand...?"
The unruly general may have been compliant up until now, but this is the final straw. "Like hell!" Kenren says with a mighty push, trying to free himself from Tenpou's grip. He fails. "When all this started, you had me believing I was the one convincing you, but the truth is...you've been leading me along from day one. You made me think I was doing the pursuing, that you were the one being pursued, but that's all bullshit. I was fucked even without my pants at my ankles, wasn't I?"
"Yare, yare, Taisho. Won't you even let me finish?" Tenpou smirks wickedly, keeping Kenren in place effortlessly, despite the slightly larger man's attempts to break away. "I have always been in control, that is true, but that doesn't mean I intend to throw you away when I'm through with you. We work well together, and I thought we had become rather good friends. Was I mistaken?"
Kenren is highly confused now. "Well...no. I thought the same thing til Goldylocks told me--"
"Konzen is basing his assumptions off my past dealings, which--though logical--does not necessarily predict my future actions." Tenpou interrupts. "You see...I don't intend to ever allow you to tranfer somewhere else, and should the...non-work related things we do become a thing of the past...something I highly doubt, by the way...I will still consider you a close friend." He pauses, dipping lower to touch his forehead to Kenren's. "Are your apprehensions soothed now?"
"I...I think so."
"Good." And Tenpou finishes his trek, capturing Kenren's mouth brutally while squeezing his legs tightly around the general's hips. When they finally break apart, Tenpou teasingly flicks his tongue at Kenren's nose and bucks his hips a little further forward. "Now...dare question my intentions again...and I may just have to punish you. Undertsood, Taisho?"
Kenren grins crookedly, internally kicking himself for not believing his own words to Konzen more than he had. "Yes, sir..." he breathes, and leans up to capture another kiss.
But Tenpou pulls just enough out of reach. "And no more of this married nonsense, either. We wouldn't want anyone else to catch wise. Besides, I always end up being named the wife between the two of us, and we both know that isn't the case."
"Whatever you say, husband." Kenren purrs with a lick of his lips.
Tenpou's grin widens as he leans down to capture those lips again. "Now there's a good wife..."
End Part 4
A/N: This fic is just so much fun. I know it isn't conventional, but I wanted to spell out the incidents between the things we got to see in gaiden. I hope people are enjoying this, and that all of you will stick with me. For those of you who have reviewed so far, and are so good about watching for more parts, thankies a million! I can't wait to get to the next part. The next two are probably some of my faves, so keep an eye out and thanks again.
Crim