Taste of Love—Twenty One through Thirty

by taitofan

Rated PG-13 for yaoi and potential incest

Disclaimer: Was Melt playable? Was Lezard a recruitable alchemist? Did they confess their sweet love in the end of the game? No? Than obviously I don't own Star Ocean 3!

Author's Note: This set has mostly my OTP and LezardxLucien—this was unintentional, as I wrote them out of order. I just thought it was kinda funny it turned out that way... Anyway, I mostly like this set because number thirty is probably my favorite of any of these. With a hundred to choose from, that's a pretty big feat. That's about it…hope you all enjoy!

drabbles100 themes: #21-30; related drabbles: 22, 21, and 23 in that order.

Flames do nothing but make me laugh, although I'll listen to any CC you have. Please read, review, and enjoy! Finished 03-26-08

021. Friends (101)

"Why do you keep making me feel this way?" Melt smiled at his rival's irritated question; Lezard had always hated not knowing something…

"I believe that is something only you can answer." The cryptic answer was expected, but not appreciated.

"What's that supposed to mean? What kinda spell did you put on me?!" The young soothsayer slipped his hand within the sleeve of Lezard's long robe and sought out his hand, and the warm feeling that filled the cat humanoid held his answer.

"Friends?" Lezard was silent for a few moments, before gently squeezing the warm hand within his own.

"…Sure."

022. Enemies (113)

Lezard watched Melt carefully, taking in his every move, hearing his every word. Lucien claimed he was obsessed; Lezard assured his dear brother that he was just cautious. After all, Melt was his greatest rival, no his enemy. The Silent One was always watching him too after all…

One day Lezard caught the other boy's eye, and there was a pregnant pause as his own dark eyes gazed behind thick glasses into knowing bright yellow. He was the first one to break away, feeling hot. Like nothing he'd ever felt. Surely, he'd put some curse upon him to make him feel that way…

After all, nothing good could come from his enemy, right?

023. Lovers (120)

It started with the handholding from the first day. Then it progressed to goodnight hugs after long days of enjoying each other's company. Hugs evolved to kisses on the cheek, then quick pecks on the lips. One night Melt hooked his arms around Lezard's neck and deepened the kiss, and it went from there.

"I can't believe we wasted twelve years being enemies… I blame the goofball and my excitable brother." Melt didn't bother to point out that they'd been friends as very young children, instead enjoying the feel of Lezard's arms around him and the sight of the stars twinkling. Lezard and stars—two of the things he loved the most…

Though Lezard always won out in the end.

024. Family (103)

Their parents were always gone it seemed. Lucien wasn't a bad mentor, not at first, but as he reached his rebellious teenage years, the younger of the brothers had to take it upon himself to make sure his dear sibling didn't get into too much trouble.

"Well well, my excitable young boy… What's this mess?" Lucien flushed at his younger brother catching him, but he didn't make a move to hide it. "I guess I'll just have to clean you up…"

A normal family probably didn't do what they did, but they'd never considered themselves normal anyway. And they were okay with that.

025. Strangers (129)

Lezard and Dribe might as well have been strangers for as much as they knew about each other. Lezard's rivalry was with Melt—his counterpart of sorts in Roger's crew. Dribe had a history of getting into arguments with Lucien. Neither had ever really had to deal with the other.

Of course, sometimes they just needed to get away from their friends and rivals, and seek what they lacked in the arms of a stranger. And at least with each other, they knew their names and where they lived. Dribe knew Lezard liked alchemy and bossing people around; Lezard knew Dribe hated the dark and liked to speak before he thought. That was enough to justify what they did…and little enough to deny that it could ever be more.

026. Teammates (126)

Lucien, Lezard, and Vellion were teammates in a loose sense. Lezard manipulated his brother and Vellion blindly followed because Lezard was a surprisingly good cook. But there were no real bonds between any of them.

Roger, Dribe, and Melt were true teammates. They helped and supported each other no matter what. They were comrades, best friends…lovers. The latter developed last of course. It had started as hero worship from Dribe to Roger, then a crush from Roger to Melt, and Melt, being the most perceptive of them, noticed this all and got everything into the open. They all loved each other, far more than mere friends.

And the others could berate them as much as they wanted—they knew that their love would take them far.

027. Parents (103)

"I dunno Lezard… Are ya sure we should be doin' this?"

"Of course. You saw what they were doing. If mom and dad like it, why shouldn't we? Now, I'll be dad, and you can be mom…"

Lucien really didn't think that things they'd accidentally caught their parents doing were things they should be doing too, but Lezard was insistent as he striped away their clothes. And by the time those young, dexterous hands were working their magic, he was hardly in a position to complain anyway.

"L-lezard! Do that again!"

"My, you certainly are excitable today, aren't you? Now, call me daddy…"

028. Children (128)

"Our children… Don't you think they're a bit…close?"

"No, it's just the age, I'm sure. They're perfectly normal."

What Lucien and Lezard's parents didn't know, or perhaps knew and just didn't want to admit, was that their children were far closer than they could ever understand. Lucien needed his younger brother to keep him from doing stupid, reckless things. Lezard needed his older brother to remind him that other people were more than just his toys. They were very different, but very similar, like most brothers.

But most brothers didn't sneak out of the house and go deep into the woods to show exactly how much they truly loved each other. And if their parents wanted to be in denial about it, well, all the better for them.

029. Birth (126)

Lucien had been far too young to remember the birth of his younger brother. His mother said he'd handled it very well. Even at a mere year old, he hadn't been jealous when her time was spilt between the two. If anything, he'd grown up having a constant playmate.

He supposed that even though he was a teenager now, he was still like he'd been back then. Of everything he was jealous of his brother for, attention from their parents wasn't included. No, Lezard was smart, really handsome when he took his glasses off…

No, if anything, he was jealous that Lezard didn't seem to have the same unnatural feelings for his brother that he did—Lezard was normal. And that upset him more than anything.

030. Death (134)

Melt's parents died when he was nine years old. Their house had caught on fire, and only Melt escaped. His parents sacrificed themselves to get him out of harm's way…and not a day went by when he didn't think about them.

"It's been four years." Melt nodded as he stood over their small graves, freshly picked wildflowers offered on them. "Do you still feel guilty?"

"Sometimes," he admitted, not looking up at his visitor. "But I know they did it because they love me… I carry on so that I don't waste their gift." The other figure moved so they were side by side, and a warm hand slipped into Melt's.

"Well, aren't you going to introduce me?" A smile touched Melt's lips at the other's understanding.

"Mother, father, this is Lezard, my boyfriend…"