Title: A Single Spark
Rating: K+/PG
Theme: #25 – fence
Disclaimer: I don't own xxxHOLiC.
The wooden pipe dangled from Yuuko's fingers, decorating the room with thick, sinuous clouds in various shades of gray, along with the strong scent of opium. Taking a deep breath, she let the drug-heavy air fill in the wholeness of her lungs and exhaled in a content sigh, gazing at a sleeping pair of Mokonas and their lion-like brother. The sound of rain outside pleased her ears and somewhat soothed her temper, though that moment was still far from being peaceful.
It had been one of those nights when she and Clow couldn't seem to reach an agreement even on the smallest of trivialities, so they would leave it at that, sit back and relax in blissful silence, as to avoid getting into a serious fight. Inwardly, however, the initial fury remained alive, just like an ember waiting for a single spark; Yuuko was usually the one to throw wood in the fire, although Clow also had his own dispositions for an argument every once in a while.
His voice broke the momentary quietness and he offered her some more brandy, knowing she wouldn't turn it down. Ruby eyes followed the magician as he strode to his liquor cabinet, alert to every little change from his usual demeanor. She had paid attention to details long enough to know when his smile wasn't completely honest and when his low, collected tone was merely a means to keep himself from losing control. But only sometimes.
At other times, she wasn't as successful, and it drove her mad. She hated not getting a proper reaction when she teased and taunted, even when she insulted him; he would keep his calm and composed exterior, and she'd wonder whether his actions were true or only a façade. His indifferent serenity almost made her feel like he didn't care, at least not enough to expose his emotions.
Such an infuriating man, she thought while sipping the alcohol he had just brought.
He sat on his favorite armchair with his own glass of brandy in hands, right across from her. The Moon Guardian was on the floor, resting by his master's seat and throwing a spiteful glare at the witch. Unlike his siblings, the smoke did bother him, but Yuuko wasn't about to put out her pipe just because he was annoyed; Yue wasn't nearly as fun as Kerberos, or as cute as the Mokonas, for her to be so nice with him. In fact, the two of them never really got along, so he would not be happy until she was gone, anyway – and judging from the looks of the weather outside, that wouldn't be happening anytime soon.
With one final, nasty stare at the cynical smile she gave him, Yue finally conceded defeat and excused himself, claiming to be tired. Clow nodded in response and stretched slightly so to kiss the guardian's forehead and wish him a good night, making his attitude change in drastic ways; his dull expression became a much softer, ethereal one, and the smell of opium suddenly didn't seem to anger him so much. Yuuko let nothing go by unnoticed or without smarmy commentary.
She did employ quite some effort so to hide her own annoyance, though it was especially hard to do when she caught the smirk on Yue's face as he left the room.
"You surely stand on both sides of the fence…" She casually let it slip as if talking to herself, although her tone was a bit louder than a whisper.
"Excuse me?" Clow asked, his own tone unfazed.
"Oh, you heard that?" She feigned a nonchalant expression.
"Was I not supposed to?"
"Oh, it's just a figure of speech," She waved him off, suppressing fits of giggles.
"I know," He brought his glass to his lips and took a sip, blue hues watching the woman in confusion. "What I don't understand is what sides you're speaking of, dearest."
"C'mon, Clow. Even you can't be that blind."
It didn't take the sharpest of eyes to detect how much the silver-haired angel adored and worshiped his creator. To Yue, Clow Reed was not only the man who had brought him to life, but also the man who made him want to live. Yuuko had only been suspicious of his feelings at first, but conviction came with time. She had yet to figure out whether the magician returned his affections in kind or not, though she could never fully read his heart. And it made her mad.
He chuckled, amused. "In this case, why don't you bring me enlightenment?" Yuuko was clearly trying to break their deal and start havoc, so he gave her a chance to spill out as much poison as she pleased. He knew better than giving in to her verbal assaults.
"Alright, then. Don't you think your relationship with Yue is a little…" Here she took a pause as to choose the best way to describe the situation.
"A little…?" He made a motion with his hand, urging her to continue.
"You know… strange?" She finally settled on a well-mannered, if rather ambiguous, word, even though queer, flamboyant, and gayer-than-the-rainbow had come to mind.
A blink. "Strange? I don't see it that way. Peculiar, perhaps. But then again," He gave a brief, light-hearted chuckle, and a smile marked by faint hints of vanity. "It's not every day that you see a magician living so naturally with his creations. And one with the same looks, actions and feelings as that of a human, especially."
"And here I thought you weren't one to brag," A smirk, followed by a devilish glint in her eyes. "But anyway, my point is that you have made him so human that he's past the boundaries between creator and creation."
"You're not suggesting Yue has lost respect for me, are you?" He furrowed his brows, incredulous. A part of him didn't really believe – or didn't want to believe – that she could spout such an implication; it was too mean of a deed, even for Yuuko.
"Of course not! It's much on the contrary, actually!" She heaved an exasperated sigh, eyes rolling in their sockets. "Yue is like a loyal puppy to you, and a rabid hound to anyone who dares to go against you in any way, including myself. And I thought Kerberos was supposed to be the pet Guardian..."
"Very well. Maybe he is a little too loyal to me, but I still don't see it as an issue," He gave a polite laugh, anticipating his next set of words. "Unless he does, indeed, go rabid and bares his fangs at you, of course." It was only a simple joke, but enough to earn a medusa-stare from Yuuko.
"Anyway," She huffed indignantly and downed half glass of brandy in a single gulp. The alcohol actually made the words come easier to her – or at least she thought it did. "What I meant to say is that Yue doesn't look at you only as his master, but you clearly enjoy the whole ordeal, so."
"I really don't know why you're making such a huge deal out of this," Clow spared her his most honest, if rather confused, gaze. How could she react so badly to the feelings he shared with his Moon guardian?
"So you're telling me that you're perfectly fine with your relationship with Yue?" She made sure to emphasize the word, hooking an eyebrow.
"Of course I am. Besides, I never wanted him or Kerberos to see me as solely as a Master in the first place."
Yuuko only stared at him quietly. She could understand that he might have felt lonely in the past, so he created a human-resembling Guardian that he could love and care for. Maybe even more, though she really didn't want to think about that. But Kerberos didn't look human at all! As much of an exotic freak as Clow might be, never did she think he could come up with something that absurd. "Kerberos too? Well, I don't see how that's gonna work, but… it's your life." She took another sip of her beverage and shuddered, forcing herself to erase the creepy thoughts flooding her mind.
"I thought you did," A blink, then another. "It seems to work just fine with you and the Mokonas."
She gasped, her insides burning as the brandy dashed up her throat then hit the bottom of her stomach. The Mokonas? Those two were like babies to them, and you don't fancy your own children like that! That freak had really gone too far now; the thought was just wrong, not only physically, but alsoin so many other ways. "What… what in the world makes you think I would have that kind of relationship with the Mokonas?" An angry vein popped on her forehead.
"You don't really think you can hide it from me, do you?" He gazed at the pair of sleeping manjuus through half-lidded eyes, chuckling when Soel kicked Larg in their slumber – the white bun couldn't seem to be quiet even in an unconscious state, much like himself. "You know we're like parental figures for the Mokonas, you just don't want to admit you have a motherly side."
A dumbfounded gawp. Was he trying to poke fun at her? "What?"
"Shh," He brought his index finger up to his lips and motioned towards the sleeping creatures, a sign for her to tone it down. "It's true, Yuuko-chan. Sometimes you even spoil Soel and Larg more than you claim that I do with my Guardians."
Silence fell upon the room for a whole minute or two.
"Was that really the kind of relationship you thought I was talking about?" Her piercing glare told Clow she wasn't about to buy what she believed to be just an act.
"Of course. What else could it be?"
A mental slap on the forehead. Rare as it was, she knew that look – it was the very same one he gave her every time he was genuinely confused. Breathing deeply as to recover from her state of shock, she proceeded with further explanation, taking pauses between every set of words as though she was revealing the secrets of the world to a child. "Alright, I'll have to spell it out to you. Yue is a little… well, different."
"Of course he's different, he's not a--"
"You shut up and let me finish!" She cut him short, a warning finger pointed at him. "Anyway. He is different from your other creations because he loves you – and not in the way you think he does!" She added quickly before he had a chance to protest.
"So you're saying that Yue--"
"…that Yue is so madly in love with you that no one else in this world matters?" She spared him from the trouble of going on, finishing his statement with a nasty remark of her own. "Yes, pretty much."
"I think you're seeing too much here, Yuuko," He shifted in his seat so to find a more comfortable position and pushed his glasses up his nose, his expression gaining a serious touch. "I admit that Yue is somewhat closer to me than my other creations, but it's nothing more that deep admiration. Besides, he'll act the same way towards the girl when she succeeds me."
She rolled her eyes. "You can't tell for sure," He parted his lips so to make an objection, but she didn't give him a chance to proceed. "No matter how accurately you may foresee the future, you can never fully know one's heart. To feel is to be human, and humans are the most unpredictable things in this world."
Clow remained silent for a moment and fished for a proper response, something that could only be considered as a rare occasion of his life. "Not all feelings are unpredictable." He finally told her, hints of mischief in his voice.
"To you, they are. Hell, you can't even see them when they're right in front of your nose!" She exhaled heavily, frustrated not only at his ignorance concerning the Moon guardian, but also for personal reasons.
"Is that so?" He laughed whole-heartedly. "Then how come I can clearly see how jealous you are?"
Because it's frigging obvious and I can't hold my liquor, she almost let it slip, but chose to stay quiet and merely stare at him in response, sparing herself a mental scowl. Hopefully he wouldn't try to read her thoughts this time.
The glass of brandy, now empty, was carefully placed on the small table standing in front of him and he rested his back against his seat, fingers intertwined. He found it amusing how Yuuko would always be the one to seek the very last ember of their argument, in spite of getting burned afterwards. Furthermore, Clow knew how everything would end, and he didn't even have to use his Sight. It wasn't fair play, but somehow they both had fun with it, each in their own way.
"Do you honestly think I stand on both sides of the fence, Yuuko-chan?" He asked in a soft, pacific tone, a pair of deep sapphires smiling at her. There was no need for an actual answer; he just plainly enjoyed teasing her.
"Honestly?" She glanced at him from the corner of her eyes in a less-than-friendly fashion. "Sometimes I think you can't even see the stupid thing at all."
He laughed. "Well, that much is true," In a fluid motion, the magician came to his feet, made his way to the sofa and settled down next to his rather annoyed companion. Taking his fingers to her chin, he made the raven-haired woman turn to look at him with as much gentleness as he could muster. When his gaze locked on hers, Clow retook his speech. "I am way past the fence to be able to see it – and to make it worse, you know I have terrible eyesight." He added with a touch of humor, his forehead now leaning against hers.
Hard as she tried, Yuuko couldn't suppress a light-hearted chuckle. That lovely idiot really knew how to change her mood – for better and worse. Still, she had a reputation to keep, so she wouldn't give up the battle of wills that easily, even if her ill temper had subsided. "Well, that goodnight kiss thing is still rather suspicious, if you ask me…" A playfully evil grin sprouted on her features.
"Ah, so that is what this was all about," For a moment, his lips mirrored the amusement stamped on the witch's face, right before they touched hers in a tender, if slightly brief, kiss. "If this is all what you wanted from the start…"
"It wasn't," She spoke the truth. No matter how many kisses they shared or how many nights they spent together, it was not all she wanted from Clow; most of the time, however, it was all she would get.
"I see," He nuzzled the crook of her neck, smiling into her skin. "In this case, perhaps you would like me take you upstairs and tuck you into bed as well?"
"I'm not that drunk, Clow," She rolled her eyes at him.
"That wasn't quite what I was referring to, dearest," He brushed her cheek with the back of his hand, his charming look full of second intentions.
"Oh, I know." She returned his shameless gaze with a disapproving one of her own, although the smirk on her face said otherwise.
They laughed together at the silliness of their actions and he held her close with a stealthy performance of his arm. A silent agreement was finally reached and bitter words were exchanged no more – at least not until the rain stopped and they had to say goodbye.