Ch.13

Disclaimer: "I'm in a relationship now, but I don't like to think of myself as 'attached' or 'settled down'. I still like to think of myself as a pirate, y'know? Free to wander around searching for bigger booty."

Gan Ning put down the book of poetry he'd been half-heartedly flipping through. Zhang He had been right; he wasn't interested. He sighed. Two hours was definitely pushing it. What in the hell were Zhang He and Wench talking about for so damn long? Whatever it was, he had the feeling it concerned him. He sat back down on the bed, bells jingling (he'd finally decided to get dressed after it became clear that Zhang He would not return immediately). He supposed that this was as good a time as any to think things over. He flopped back and put his hands behind his head. What was he still doing here? He was untied and unguarded. He should been working feverishly to devise an escape plan, yet here he was, sprawled across his "captor's" bed, impatient and horny for him to return. He shifted, uncomfortable with his answer; he really had meant it when he'd told Zhang He that he wouldn't leave him. Which brought up another question to ponder: Why wouldn't he leave him? What exactly did he feel for Zhang He? He got up and began pacing, the familiar jingle of bells reassuring him slightly, though not much. He didn't think it was love, though if given enough time, it could be. This was sort of the precursor, he supposed. This was a really, really intense form of like

Which meant he was still pretty much screwed, didn't it? He sighed, exasperated, and leaned his forehead against a wall. He'd gotten rid of the ropes, only to end up bound by his own emotions. If that wasn't pathetic, then he didn't know what was. Gan Ning decided that that was enough thinking for now (it never had been his favorite thing to do), and went back to being nosy (which he was much better at). He walked over to the bookshelf and began to look for something interesting, when the door opened. Gan Ning whirled, thrilled and prepared to say something naughty and designed to make Zhang He blush, when the look on the other man's face stopped him cold. He immediately forgot his arousal and went over to Zhang He's side. "Hey," he said softly. "What's wrong?" The Butterfly General looked deathly pale, his eyes troubled and mouth set. He would not make eye contact, and would not respond. Seriously concerned now, Gan Ning reached out to brush his cheek with the back of his hand, utterly dumbfounded and taken aback when Zhang He quickly turned his head to avoid his touch.

Gan Ning, ever the determined one, walked around until he was standing directly in front of the other man. He caught his face with both hands and turned Zhang He's head to look at him. "What's wrong?" He asked again, less gently this time, more commanding. Zhang He met his eyes briefly, then looked to the side, desperately avoiding his gaze again. "Nothing," he said, so softly that Gan Ning barely heard him. "It's nothing." Frowning, Gan Ning let go of his face and took him by the shoulders, forcing him to sit down on the bed. Then he gently tilted his chin upward with one hand, still leaving the other firmly on his shoulder. "Oh no you don't, little butterfly. Don't think you can flutter away from me so easily. Now c'mon, spill. Whatsa matter?" This brought a smile to Zhang He's face, as he knew it would. "Who are you calling little?" He murmured, grinning despite himself. "I'm at least a good four inches taller than you." Gan Ning grinned as well, happy to have brought Zhang He into a state where he was willing to talk again. "Be that as it may, it's not the point. Now, are you going to tell me what's wrong, or I'm I going to have to make you walk the plank?" Zhang He's smile widened. "You don't have a plank either, you silly pirate. In fact, you're not even a pirate anymore, are you? And actually, I'd rather not talk about it right now, if it's all the same to you."

Gan Ning frowned. "It's not," he said, "But I won't push you if you really don't want to talk." He continued to stand in front of him and impulsively ran his fingers through the other man's ponytail. Zhang He smiled and rested his head against Gan Ning's shoulder. "So," Gan Ning said, still playing with a long, black lock of gloriously soft hair. "What in the name of seven hells took you so long? It wasn't nice to keep me waiting like that." Zhang He shrugged. "I went for a walk." He replied. Gan Ning felt his eyes go wide, then broke into explosive laughter. "You went for a walk? Oh, that's real nice. Here I am, all hot and bothered, and you go out for a nice leisurely walk. That's very considerate of you." He pushed Zhang He down on the bed and pinned his wrists above his head, grinning lustily. Zhang He may have been taller, but Gan Ning was stronger. Zhang He squirmed deliciously under Gan Ning's touch, eyes filled with an anticipatory delight as Gan Ning moved on top of him and brought his head down for a passionate kiss. When they came up for air, Zhang He smiled slyly and said; "You're absolutely right, I've been terribly rude. Allow me to make it up to you?" Gan Ning was all too willing to oblige, bells jingling merrily as he impatiently removed his clothing.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -- - - - - - - - - - -

When they were finished making love, Gan Ning lay back, panting, and Zhang He rolled over to rest on his lover's still-heaving chest and wrap his arms around his neck. This caused another one of Gan Ning's instinctive fears to kick in, one which every rogue and philanderer has: the all-powerful Fear Of Commitment. Gan Ning knew from his experience with women (and there had been a lot of them) that cuddling usually meant there was an expectation for emotional attachment. Despite the fact that Gan Ning was emotionally attached to Zhang He, old habits die hard, and years of listening to the "ALERT! ALERT! CUDDLING! ABORT MISSION IMMEDIATELY!" alarm that was currently blaring in his head could not be brushed aside now. Slightly panicky, he wiggled his way out from underneath Zhang He, causing the unwitting offender to look up, confused and a little hurt. "What is it?" He asked, eyes wide and suspicious. Gan Ning fumbled for a suitable pretext. "Ah…it's just too hot for that, y'know? And uh…I need a pillow. We knocked 'em off the bed." Gan Ning made a big show of reaching over the side of the bed to get at one of the oversized, purple, peacock embossed pillows that had been unceremoniously dumped on the floor during their romantic interlude. He winced; it was a lame, sadly transparent excuse, and they both knew it.

Zhang He pouted. "I could be your pillow," he grumbled menacingly, propping himself up on his elbows in order to fix Gan Ning with a reproachful stare. Shit. He was onto him. Gan Ning cringed, debating whether or not he could get away with using the pillow as a shield. He was certainly no coward when it came to war or physical confrontation, but affairs of the heart were an entirely different matter, and he felt no shame in hiding like a sissy if it would keep him out of hot water and in good graces with his bedmate. Looking at Zhang He's grim expression, he decided that, no, cowering behind the gigantic feather-down pillow would not save him. "Erm…ah…yeah, but…you're all hot and sweaty…and, uh, the pillow is…nice and cool, see?" He smiled weakly, holding the pillow up for scrutiny in a desperate ploy to divert Zhang He's attention. No such luck. Zhang He tossed his hair, clearly annoyed, and the glare intensified. "Gan Ning," he growled dangerously, "It is not that hot. I am not that sweaty. You are not that good a liar. I strongly suggest you come up with a better excuse. Or have you already forgotten who it was that gave you those lovely new scars?" He gestured to the slashes on Gan Ning's chest, and the pirate gulped audibly. This, he supposed, was why homosexuality was not all that popular: It was hard to sell most men on a lifestyle where your sexual partner had the ability to beat you to a pulp if you were unwilling to make a romantic commitment.

Gan Ning decided that retreat was the best option, and with a frightened (and decidedly un-manly) squeak, buried himself beneath the covers with the pillow over his head, clearly stating with his body language that he was too terrified to continue with this conversation. His hope was that his obvious fear would be taken as an acknowledgment of superiority that would appease the angry Butterfly General. He'd found that this usually worked with most women, and his only chance for survival was that Zhang He was feminine enough for this tactic to work on him. To Gan Ning's great relief, he was, and he heard Zhang He sigh with frustration and roll over with his back to him. Well, it wasn't the response he'd been hoping for, but at least he wasn't being gutted like a fish. There was a moment of stony silence, and then Zhang He spoke up. "Gan Ning?" Uh-oh. "Ye-es?" He let his fear saturate his tone, further reassuring Zhang He that yes, he was the boss, he was intimidating, and his point had been made. There was a pause, and Gan Ning waited, ready to abase himself further if necessary, if only to avoid being banished to the couch. "Can I have a pillow?" Gan Ning could hear the smile in the other man's voice, and knew he was off the hook.

Relieved, he emerged from his protective cocoon of sunset pink, floral printed silk sheets. He shot Zhang He a grin and said; "After all that? No way. Get your own pillow." Zhang He quirked an eyebrow at him. "Gan Ning, these are my own pillows. It's my bed, remember?" Oh. Yeah. Still, he wouldn't be outdone. Now that the immediate danger had passed, his cockiness and inclination to be obstinate had returned. "Well…get your own…own…pillow!" Zhang He harrumphed, then grinned, and with lightning speed, snatched the sheets away from Gan Ning, leaving him cold and exposed. "Hey!" He shouted, grinning. "Give those back! It's freezing!" "Oh really? I thought you said it was too hot!" Gan Ning chucked a pillow at his lover, and things escalated into a full-out pillow war. Somehow, during the ensuing tug-of-war over the sheets, Zhang He lost his balance and fell over the edge. Gan Ning, subconsciously reacting with reflexes he didn't even know he had, threw himself over the side and caught Zhang He in his arms, managing to twist himself in midair so that they landed with Gan Ning on the bottom, taking the full force of the impact. He lay there, winded and struggling for breath with an astonished Zhang He staring wide-eyed down at him, still being hoisted protectively above the ground in his arms. Slowly, Gan Ning lowered him down on top of his chest, and Zhang He, grinning, wrapped his arms around his neck and resumed the cuddling that had started the entire thing, planting a kiss on the tip of the still gasping pirate's nose. Gan Ning knew when he was beat. He let out a defeated-yet-happy sigh as he gave Zhang He an affectionate pat on the butt, hugged him around the waist and settled himself to sleep, tangled in blankets, on the floor, and without a pillow.

Aww, wasn't that sweet? They're all snuggly! Today's shout out goes to Soukatsu, whose Ling Tong/Gan Ning fics rock my entire sock drawer. And Every Gan Ning fan needs to check out her story "A Tale Of Two Friends" for it's brilliant portrayal of the aforementioned scoundrel. You can all thank Fang of the Inugami for the "Get your own…own...pillow!" line, since she came up with it. She also came up with the "Oh my god! You fuck men!" line frokm chapter five, though I forgot to mention it then. Isn't she the greatest? Anyway, I'm off to study for my Japanese exams. Toodles!