Author: Atthla
Disclaimer: I won't be writing fanfictions if I own these guys. And the title is taken from a song, which origin I don't have the slightest idea. If someone knows, please tell me.
Warning: Male/male pairing, possibly more than one. The main pairing is Gan Ning/Ling Tong.
Note: About the age issue, I don't know how old Ling Tong is according to the game. As far as the book is concerned, he was fifteen when Gan Ning killed his father and I don't think someone who could get the title 'The Pirate of The Silken Sails' was younger than fifteen. So I take my own liberty and decide that in this story, Ling Tong is nineteen while Gan Ning is twenty-three and Lu Xun seventeen (as they are in the game).
On to the story!
There was light, brief yet brilliant despite his closed eyelids, and earsplitting peals of thunder following a moment later.
Ling Tong cracked open one lazy eye, appraising the dark, ominous clouds which had started to gather above him with mediocre interest. The temperature had dropped since moments ago but he was not about to let a little wind to force him going back into the castle if he could find solace outside of it. Perhaps later, when the weather decided to be mean and gave him a heavy storm instead of refreshing albeit cold breeze. Yes, it was undoubtedly quite cold, but refreshing nonetheless. One certainly had to make some sacrifices in order to gain what one's wanted.
That and because there was no way he was going to admit that it was someone, and not the magnificent vista or quietude of the castle ground, which disinclined him from being in the castle until his presence was an absolute necessity.
But there was nothing he could do about it, Ling Tong found himself arguing. This discomfiture was not caused by his own deeds, nor desired by him. As long as he remembered, he had only displayed intense hatred toward this man, although he had to admit that said hatred had lessened somewhat throughout the year.
As to why this man had so suddenly kissed him five days ago was beyond Gongji's every reasoning.
It was not supposed to happen. They were, although no longer at war with each other, still in a less than friendly term, which he had made sure of by throwing occasional insults and sometimes hostile challenges to the former pirate. He had made certain that Gan Ning's life in Wu was not only birds and flowers, and that should be enough to make the man hate him no less.
Ling Tong had absolutely no idea what and where he had done wrong. Gan Ning was supposed to hate him.
The piercingly clear sound of bells reached his ears above soft whispers of the wind and he stiffened. The sound was intended to be intimidating to the ears of the foes and Ling Tong found himself quite intimidated at this moment. He frowned, as if challenging the single light that had traveled across the dark clouds, his attention rapt on the closing echoes of bells. The last thing he needed right now was dealing with the former pirate and yet here he was, trespassing a man's right to have a peaceful moment, Ling Tong fumed silently to himself.
"Hey."
He looked up, noticing a single feather attached to a familiar headband, followed by even more familiar dark brown eyes gazing down at him. Ling Tong felt his frown deepening, added with a touch of aversion.
"What do you want?"
"What the heck with that attitude?" Anger flashed across Gan Ning's face – which was precisely what he had been aiming for. The former pirate was nothing but predictable, really.
Ling Tong put up the air of utter boredom and deliberately closed his eyes, determined to make the other man leave as soon as possible. "Nothing. Can you leave me alone? You are disturbing my lack of company here."
If Gan Ning actually heard his complaint, he hardly showed a sign that he did. Instead, he descended the slope and squatted at his side, close enough for Ling Tong to smell the faint breeze of the sea. "The Lord wants you to join him at the banquet," the former pirate said. "He's inviting a group of traveling artists to perform at the grand hall. It'll be a waste to pass it."
"Not interested," Ling Tong drawled, eyes still tightly shut. "I'm quite comfortable here, thank you."
And at that moment, the first drop of rain fell on his nose. He winced, inwardly cursing every force of nature which seemed to conspire against him, and very reluctantly opened his eyes, meeting Gan Ning's wide grin.
"That won't last long, believe me."
Ling Tong shot him – and the darkening clouds that were gathering above them – a dirty look and rose to his feet, dusting grass off his clothes in process. If every god above truly demanded him to return to the castle, so be it. Not that he had the capability to defy them at any rate. He whirled around and paced swiftly to the castle without a single glance at the other man. Even when Gan Ning at last fell into steps next to him, he did his best to pretend that the former pirate did not exist and concentrated on dodging the raindrops which had rapidly increased their intensity.
They had almost reached the castle gate when Gan Ning suddenly broke the thick silence. "Why didn't you answer?"
"I didn't hear a question," he replied offhandedly and sped up his steps, still not looking at the other man.
A hand grasped his shoulder firmly and Ling Tong was forced to stop on his track, to look back at Gan Ning's serious eyes. "You do know what I'm talking about, don't you?"
Thick waves of scornful chuckles rose from his throat as he whirled around, liberating himself from the offending hand. "For good lord, are you actually trying to be civil with me?" he mocked, a sneer on his lips. "I have to say that it doesn't exactly suit you, pirate."
The other general's face darkened and before Ling Tong could react, a force so strong and sudden had shoved him, together with a shout he knew his mockery had just ripped from Gan Ning's throat. "Don't mess with ME, Ling Tong! Just give me the damn answer!"
It was probably the fall, but Ling Tong suddenly had a difficulty to digest the series of unfortunate events that followed after the shout. It took him almost five seconds to finally realize that the former pirate's strength had pushed him to the ground and now he was, against all dignity and pride he had so carefully maintained until now, sitting on the sodden earth with his two arms supporting him not to humiliate himself further. Raindrops were dripping, soaking his hair, and from behind the wet fringes he glared at Gan Ning who looked just as much surprised.
"Oops."
Ling Tong felt his eyes narrowing dangerously at the inadequate response. "Yeah, oops. For your information I feel extremely violated here."
However, instead of expressing his condolences in better phrases, the former pirate put on another grin, much to the younger man's brewing annoyance. "I must say that you look rather tempting there."
Suddenly Ling Tong felt that his nunchaku was supposed to be somewhere within his reach instead of being kept in the safety of his room. "Do you want to die, Gan Ning?"
"No, I want to kiss you."
There had been something wrong with the Heaven and the gods, Ling Tong decided, when they had chosen to disgrace the Earth by allowing Gan Ning to be born. Life would have been infinitely better if such mistake had not taken place – at least Ling Tong's life. He stood up, ignoring the pitiful state of his clothing, and growled, "Sure, I'll find you the ugliest woman you've ever laid your eyes on."
There was a twinkle in Gan Ning's eyes that told him that he should have disappeared from that place long, long time ago. "Why such bother when I have this pretty boy in front of me?"
Not for the first time Ling Tong wished he had listened to his intuition. Shielding himself with an even darker scowl, he spat, "Because that pretty boy isn't interested."
"Really? What interests him, pray tell?" Another wide grin and Ling Tong swore he could see the smile from those brown eyes alone. There was something really annoying about that insufferable pirate's eyes and that did not come from the initial cause of their constant bickering only. Then again since when had Gan Ning's eyes fascinated him so much?
"It's quite simple," he answered carelessly, ready to turn around and leave as quickly as possible. "The one and only is getting you out of his sight very soon. Like right now."
That twinkle returned with an even greater intensity and Gan Ning said, "Let me kiss you once and I'll do just that."
"You're stealing chances, you bast–" and the rest of his words was stopped by a pair of pliant lips pressed onto his. Ling Tong froze. For a long moment his mind failed to work farther than producing short, unfinished protests that only died on the edge of his tongue. His limbs also did not fare any better as his anger was slowly eclipsed by the loud beating in his chest. Gan Ning had kissed him again. For this insult to occur twice in one week was beyond his tolerance. There was something really, really wrong in him. He had to find out what before his pride and dignity were devastated so thoroughly and completely.
The grin on Gan Ning's face was not as broad as it had been, but it was still there when he finally withdrew. Ling Tong did not move – that would be a sign of weakness, that he was running away – and only continued to send his death glare at the other man's way.
"You kiss like a fish," Gan Ning suddenly declared.
"Perfect," he retorted snappishly, not bothering to correct that it was because he would never, ever respond to Gan Ning's kiss. "Now you can stop asking for a kiss from that fish."
Ling Tong almost cheered when a frown began to develop on the former pirate's face. At last his hostility had its desired effect.
"I don't know why I put up with you," Gan Ning said with a scowl.
He raised his eyebrows to respond. "And you're asking me?"
"Stop making me angry, Ling Tong," Gan Ning hissed, his scowl disappearing into a fierce, angry expression. The nunchaku user felt an urge to laugh, but then contented himself with rolling his eyes. He had long claimed the position as the one who should make the former pirate's life an absolute hell. Making him angry seemed but an everyday subject.
"After you," he said with mock-courtesy he was sure could make Gan Ning's temper to burst until tomorrow.
And he was right. The other man threw him a final, dirty look and marched angrily into the palace without further ado. Ling Tong followed him only far enough to escape the rain, all the way trying to keep his emotions under control. There was excitement in it, and satisfaction too which he always felt every time he won a hand against Gan Ning. But amidst all of those were little, insignificant hints of discomfort, stark against other less bothersome sensations. He frowned, finding the idea of having sympathy for Gan Ning disagreeable, and was about to head to his room – who cares about performances – when he noticed a familiar red hat peeking from behind one of the tall pillars.
Anger took over very quickly – spying and eavesdropping were unforgivable sins in Ling Tong's eyes, especially if others did it to him – and he called out in a dangerously low voice, "I will practice my archery on that hat if you don't come out right now."
The young strategist stepped out slowly, a very guilty expression on his face. "I was passing by," he reasoned with a small voice that betrayed every sense of honesty.
Ling Tong snorted. "Indeed."
Lu Xun opened his mouth, ready to say something, but hastily closed it again after a moment. The thoughtful expression that followed afterwards in the younger man's face alerted Ling Tong at once. To defend his innocence seemed to be the last thing in the strategist's mind – what with that air of contemplation – and he would rather have Lu Xun do that than imagining some obscure theories which Ling Tong would rather not think about.
His apprehension was proved when the younger officer suddenly said, "You like him, don't you?"
A very uncomfortable feeling greeted that soft, seemingly-innocent question, but another wave of anger quickly eclipsed everything else and Ling Tong snapped, "Jeez, what's this? A new gossip in town?"
But Lu Xun was unperturbed by his sudden burst. The pensive look remained on his face and Ling Tong felt a sudden wave of panic. Lu Xun was seldom wrong, but his latest deduction was so absurd that pigs could fly. The younger man took a quiet step forward, still looking at him with a pair of shrewd eyes, and spoke again, "No, seriously. You like him, don't you?"
"No more than you like to try a fire attack in heavy downpour, Boyan," he retorted and turned to leave, determined on leaving the young strategist and his stupid conjectures alone.
Ten quick strides later, Lu Xun's voice echoed in the hallway.
"Actually, that's quite a challenge, you know!"
--To be Continued--
A/N: My pathetic self finally gives in to my fate that I HAVE to write something for this pairing. This story won't be long, probably three chapters only. Anyway, thank you for reading and please review.