BMIK: Yazoo,

Chephren: Tseng, special cameo for a special troublemaker

Chapter 10

Back at the restaurant, Tseng paid his bill, trying to ignore his aching genitals and with the youth's shoes in hand, he left his beloved teahouse. He wasn't sure at which apartment he should keep them but logic told him that the shanty kept for him as a cover on the upper level above the shops two blocks down would be the most convenient. After looking carefully both ways to make sure he wasn't followed, the dark man climbed a rather old set of stairs that sat tucked away between establishments. At the top, there was a gated door on either side of the stairwell and he unlocked the one on the right, going straight in without hesitation. If anyone ever broke in here, he would have nothing he cared to protect here, aside from these new treasures he carried with him of course.

Setting them on the shelf in his bedroom closet, Tseng removed his winter coat, his suit jacket, tie and shirt, folding them neatly and setting them down in an armchair. Walking over to the bed, which was still neatly made, he sat down to remove his shoes and in a last minute decision, he let himself fall back on it heavily, arms outstretched. From here, he could see the clear, blue winter sky out the window and sighed. Looking down at his own hands in dismay, he could remember the frightened look in his flower's eyes and how quickly he had fled the teahouse. Just as well, he thought. No good could come from his wooing Yazoo. It seemed Tseng had been mistaken in thinking the lovely child was allied with his enemies and for that, he felt deeply relieved but also very saddened. The boy hadn't told him anything because he was unable to trust the Wutaian and with very good, well-founded reason.

Lids falling closed, Tseng sighed as he remembered the feel of that smooth, pale skin under the teenage clothing, the taste of the youth on his lips. He would make this his idle daydream as often as he could find the time. He was not supposed to dally here but he couldn't help but feel that he certainly worked hard enough to take these kinds of breaks if he wanted to... Letting his hands move over his stiff body, Tseng decided he would dream of a different ending to today's encounter, dream of a world where they could start over again and he was a good kind of man Yazoo could really respect.

About two weeks after the incident, Yazoo found himself walking through the high, dirty snow in Little Wutai again. Little white clouds emerged from his mouth and nose as he walked past steaming eastern snack stands. People were still staring but Yazoo kept his eyes on the tea house that he slowly walked past. To tell the truth, he didn't quite know why he had come here again; the memory of the last time still made his heartbeat quicken. But he had the slight hope that maybe everything had been a misunderstanding... though that didn't mean that Yazoo would go in there again, ever!

Abruptly, he forced his eyes away from the Wutaian building, lifted his chin and walked right past it. Right, he had only come here because he... His belly made a light, miserable sound and Yazoo stopped. Right… because he was hungry. Turning, the young man looked down the crowded street, trying to decide at which restaurant he wanted to eat.

Tseng rose from his usual table when he noticed his flower so close and not venturing back in. His heart sank but he knew the youth had every right to never want to see him again. Just because the teahouse had been ruined for him didn't mean Yazoo would have to avoid the district altogether... Just then, Tseng noticed a stranger looming behind the teen.

"Well, hello there," a slim redhead chimed from where his back rested against the wall of the building. "Help ya find something?"

Yazoo turned around, narrowing his eyes and giving the other boy a taxing look from above. He wasn't used to being talked to like that and Yazoo had learned to ignore such people. But the redhead didn't look dangerous or anything; on the contrary, he wore a charming, open, slightly mischievous smile and what with the relaxed pose he displayed, he looked quite... cool. Yazoo tilted his head, pressing his cold, red cheek against the soft fabric of his woolen scarf. "I am searching for a good place to eat."

"Oh, I know a few places. There's Shizumi's ramen shack just down the way and there's another through the alley called Shangri-La that has a bit of everything..." The redhead cocked his head back, unfazed by the visitor's coldness. "You don't want to try the teahouse?"

There was a pause, before Yazoo simply said, "No." He didn't even look back at the teahouse though he liked it a lot. Tseng might be there, which was on the one hand a strangely frightening and on the other hand, disturbingly exciting. Yazoo balled the hands in his pockets to fists. "So where is that Shangri-La place?"

The redhead grinned, "Just through here. Follow me." He turned and started down the alleyway, making sure the youth followed him. "It's kind of a maze back here but the place is lit up with a neon sign. We shouldn't be able to miss it. You're not from around here, are you?"

"No," Yazoo said again, lowering his head and hiding the lower part of his face behind his scarf because it was warm there. His breath made his skin feel moist. Naturally, he wasn't known for being a great conversationalist and so he just kept following Reno silently.

Finally, when they had stepped around the corner of the alleyway, the redhead stopped. With his back turned, he murmured. "It's not much further now but before I show you, ya gotta do something fer me, yo." In a flash, he had the silver haired teen up against a dirty brick wall. Impatiently, he captured the youth's lips, his hands slipping down to feel slender hips, lush thighs, squeezing them without permission.

This time, there wasn't even a second where Yazoo felt curious or flattered; he was petrified as he got pushed against the wall and his eyes widened as the redhead boldly started to touch him. Then Yazoo did the next best thing he could think of and bit into the redheads lip, trying to push him away at the same time.

A loud thud was heard as a backhanded strike connected with the side of the attacker's cheek. The redheaded teen ended up face down in the snow. Tseng stood there, furious and protective, his eyes darting to Yazoo once before he yanked the redhead up by his coat.

"Hey, what's the big idea?" the troublesome youth growled, staring bewildered up into almost-black eyes that bore into his skull.

"What's your name?" the dark bodyguard demanded icily, voice full of calm venom, though he hardly had to raise his voice for the full magnitude of his anger to be understood.

"R-Reno," the teen squirmed helplessly in the vice grip.

"Well, Reno," Tseng replied calmly, "This is a warning. You will come nowhere near this flower nor anyone else with such ideas, you hear me?"

Reno glared back, his pride hurt but a sharp tug at his ponytail caused him to yelp. "Ow! Yes, dammit!"

"If you break your word, I will know and I will come after you. I am not afraid of striking a child," Tseng replied before dropping him into the snow. "Now you will apologize to this young man."

Reno grunted in protest but a sharp kick to his side made him comply. "I'm sorry, yo."

Yazoo was still pressed against the wall, his breath rushing out in fast hitches. His hands were flat against the bricks, searching for support. Slowly, it sank in that he wasn't going to be raped any time soon, at least not by that Reno guy. Yazoo was also at a loss at what to reply so his green eyes shifted to Tseng, hoping to find answers or an explanation of what had happened in the last five minutes.

"Now get out of here," Tseng said coldly, his eyes gazing at Yazoo. It was so good to see him here... "That is a true rapist." He stepped forward, even though he knew he had no right to take the boy into his arms, holding him for a moment. "Please, try not to think on it anymore. I will try my best to not let anything happen to you from now on." He stroked over Yazoo's moonlight hair once before stepping back to look down into the teen's bewitching eyes. "Where were you headed?"

"Shangri La," Yazoo replied weakly, watching warily as Reno made a run for it and vanished in the shadows of the narrow alley. The boy almost missed the tight embrace when Tseng let go of him. It had been warm and comforting instead of scary and unwanted. For a moment, Yazoo wondered where all his hard training had gone. It seemed that he was perfectly capable of breaking a man's neck as long as they informed him beforehand that they would attack him. If he wasn't prepared, he was an utter failure at reacting and protecting himself, it seemed. "I was hungry," he added, his tongue feeling as if it was numb.

"The food is good there but you shouldn't go by yourself because it is tucked away. It was originally for privacy and to be a quiet little romantic place but it has turned into a den for people who are up to no good lately. I will accompany you, but promise me you won't go by yourself again." He took Yazoo's hand almost imploringly. These backstreets were too dangerous for such a pure lily to walk alone.

"I promise," Yazoo muttered, casting his eyes on the dirty snow as he followed Tseng to the place. The man's hand around his was big and strong but still delicate, somehow. It wasn't rough at all, but almost soft. Yazoo dared to look up at the Wutaian's straight back. "How did you know I was there?" he finally asked, inclining his head a bit, as was his habit.

"I was in the teahouse when you passed... and I saw you move on. I would have left you be but I noticed Reno talking to you and I saw the look in his eyes." Tseng replied, trying not to sound too emotionally attached but the fact was he already was attached to the youth.

"I see..." Yazoo looked back down, as they passed a few trash bins that had been kicked over. Garbage littered the ground, a filthy dog searched through it but ignored Tseng and Yazoo as they walked by. "There's a lot of rapists here, aren't there?"

"There are many all over. A lot of men aren't what they seem to be and many of them will say what they have to say or do what they have to do to have sex with you. However, that kid was more honest about it than most will be. Men are drawn to beauty and so they will certainly try to get what they want from you... Just be careful." When they reached the entrance, it was actually a quaint little eatery and Tseng grabbed Yazoo a menu at the door. "I wish to stay with you while you eat if that is alright with you, Yazoo." He knew that it could be dangerous if he left the boy here alone, as friendly as it looked.

"Okay." Yazoo still wasn't sure what to think of Tseng but the man had just saved him, right? And he hadn't tried anything since... That didn't mean that Yazoo wasn't careful still. Besides, they were still fighting, technically. They sat down at a table that was secluded in a corner and to Yazoo, it seemed as if the waiter was extremely nervous as he spotted Tseng but he dismissed that. Browsing through the menu, he frowned. Actually, he wasn't that hungry anymore, not after he had been attacked, but Tseng had come here with him so he didn't want to appear ungrateful. "Is there something you can recommend?"

"Hm..." Tseng had a look over the print. "You might just try their house special and see if you like that. It's roasted eel today. I think that's pretty good. Plus, there is sea-salted seaweed on the side with the rice and they have those cookies that you like." He looked at the youth closely. "Any of this sound good to you?"

Yazoo's expression twitched a bit, becoming crestfallen for just a split second before it turned smooth and blank again. "I like cookies," he replied, thinking that he was brilliantly neutral, because eel and seaweed was nothing that appeared on their own menu at home. Ever. Sephiroth liked meat and traditional food.

"Okay," Tseng couldn't help but chuckle. "You have cookies and I will order seaweed and roasted eel. I recommend you try some of mine though in case you like it." He motioned the waitress over to give her their order. It gave him a small thrill to know that he was given this opportunity to eat with Yazoo again. "What brings you out today?"

Sighing with relief, Yazoo played with the hems of his shirt under the table. He had taken off his scarf and jacket because it was warm here. His eyes scanned the room again and again, looking at the exotic pictures and lamps and the little well in the middle of the restaurant. There was a bridge crossing the tiny lake surrounding it even, and fat koi fish lazily swam through the water. "Nothing in particular," the boy pretended, looking Tseng in the eye almost challengingly. "I was just hungry. You?"

"I am a man of habit, Yazoo," Tseng replied. "I go to that teahouse almost every day. It is one of the things I look forward to. Though I would be lying if I said I wasn't hoping I would see you there again." He gazed back with so many emotions in his dark eyes. There was so much he wanted to say... "I am sorry about the last time we met."

"Me too," Yazoo replied. "You won't try that again, will you?"

"No, I promise," Tseng said gently. "Of course, that is, unless you want me to." His gaze had softened as well as he looked at the youth. He simply couldn't hide his regard more than what it took to keep his self-control tightly in check. Touching Yazoo had felt... very good.

Now that Tseng had offered him a choice and control over the situation, things were different, brighter. Yazoo didn't feel threatened and wary anymore, but he relaxed and allowed himself the luxury of being a bit curious even. "And what if I did?" he challenged carefully, tilting his head a bit.

Tseng leaned in closer over the table, the light in his dark eyes dancing. "If you did want me to, I would be ever so gentle with you." His hand reached out as if to touch the youth's face but he let it sink down to the table unthreateningly. It wouldn't do to move forward so quickly and scare Yazoo again. "Have you ever been with anyone... like that?"

Yazoo didn't want to admit that he hadn't because he thought that he ought to have done that already, but because he was locked up in the house all the time, he hadn't had the chance. On the other hand, he didn't want to lie again because apparently, Tseng hadn't taken that well the last time. Therefore he decided for something in between. "I hear my brother and Vincent do stuff sometimes," he explained non-committally, but with a bit of importance.

"Oh yes?" Tseng let his hand come back to tuck some hair behind his ear that had brushed across his cheek. "Think that is something you might like to try... with me... sometime?" He added the "with me" not only to take the pressure off but to make the issue of the teen's having participated in such activities before irrelevant. He wanted to put Yazoo at ease, and also he wanted to place the possibility out there if it hadn't already occurred to the youth. Until that day when Tseng had attacked him in the teahouse, it didn't seem as if Yazoo had really known what a rapist was... so perhaps he didn't know about the true meaning of sex either. If that was the case, then the dark bodyguard wanted to make sure he knew before Tseng made any more advances.

Carefully, Yazoo looked the man up and down but before he could answer, their food was brought. The waiter hastily put the steaming food down in front of them on little ovens that kept their meals warm. There was no cutlery but chopsticks. Yazoo reached for them, breaking the soft wood apart and putting the sticks between his fingers while thinking about Tseng's suggestion and Vincent's words. Could he imagine doing that unnamed stuff with Tseng? He liked Tseng, and the man had apologized and saved him and he was beautiful... "Sure," Yazoo finally said, picking up a bit of rice and guiding it to his mouth.

Tseng's heart began to pound faster in his chest as he watched the food disappear between soft, pink lips. He quickly looked around them in reflex and noticed other curious eyes watching his young friend. However, when the offenders felt Tseng's dark orbs piercing each and every one of their skulls, then noticing the silver ring on his finger that bore the mark of Rufus Shinra, they awkwardly turned their eyes back to their own sake, once again minding their own business. Turning back to Yazoo, his chopsticks taking up some of his own entrée, Tseng asked, "Is there anything that you do not wish to try, any part of it that scares you that I should know about? I do not wish to drive you away, my flower."

Yazoo blinked, a little overwhelmed and hid it by eating more. He chewed very slowly, and he looked calm on the outside but on the inside, his mind was racing. What was he supposed to say to this, he had no idea about anything at all! The rice in his mouth had turned into soup and he had to gulp it down. Better be on the safe side for now. "Kissing is okay, I guess," he said with a lot of confidence as if he had to make such decisions every day, but inwardly, he wondered if that really was okay.

Listening carefully as he devoured his food slowly, Tseng's heart ached a little now. So was it that kissing was the only thing that wouldn't scare his darling away...? Or was it that kissing was the only thing that Yazoo really had an idea of what to expect. Well, he would kiss the boy certainly, as he had been dreaming of since the first time they'd met perhaps. "Then kissing is a great place to start," he said, a note of encouragement in his voice. He almost wanted to hurry though the rest of his meal to whisk the boy away to somewhere private but he did his best to calm himself. "Are you enjoying your food?"

Yazoo nodded, having a bit of trouble keeping the chopsticks in his hands steady and the rice on it from falling down, because he was shaking a bit. Now that they were back on neutral topics, he felt safer. "How is yours?"he asked back, inspecting the strange stuff Tseng was eating. The offer Tseng had made earlier wasn't forgotten, but Yazoo had been raised with manners and he would wait for Tseng to offer his stuff again before trying it.

"It's... wonderful," Tseng breathed, his meaning encompassing more than just the food, but how his heart was feeling as well to be one this siren allowed to touch and hold him... kiss him... "Would you like to try? It's delicious."

"Yes," Yazoo replied almost impatiently and immediately reached over with his chop sticks to poke them into Tseng's food. Because he was so busy eating and figuring out all the adult stuff , he was oblivious to the stares and the generally tense and frightened atmosphere around them. After he slowly chewed a bit, Yazoo came to the conclusion that it wasn't half bad, but that he preferred his own stuff. "It tastes good," he said politely but without much vigor. "You want to try mine too?"

"Yes," Tseng said almost dreamily, taking the youth's statement to a rather naughty place. He didn't use his own chopsticks this time, simply looked at Yazoo meaningfully and parted his lips expectantly, hoping the boy would understand his meaning. If they were going to kiss, they would have to get acquainted with each other's germs so he hoped the youth wasn't too squeamish about that.

Yazoo smirked, picking up some of his food and carefully guiding it to Tseng's mouth with one hand held like a little bowl underneath the chop sticks, in case something slipped down.

Tseng reached out with his lips and tongue to guide the little morsel safely into his mouth. "Mmm," he hummed contentedly, his lips curling up into a smile at that almost-impish look on Yazoo's face. It was nice to see him relaxed and playful for a change. "Is there any place you like to go to have fun that I could take you when we've finished, Yazoo?"

Yazoo couldn't help but stare in fascination. Everything Tseng did was so sensual, so exotic and fascinating and just a little bit different from the usual. Tseng's question pulled him out of his day dream however. After a quick glance at his watch, Yazoo's mood was a bit doused. "I have to go home soon," he said, taking another bite, because he was a bit in a hurry now. "But if you like we can meet again another time. Maybe next week. I can come to the tea house."

"I would like that very much," Tseng replied softly. "I will escort you back there safely." They quickly finished their meal and the dark man let Yazoo walk ahead of him, his arm lingering about the youth's lower back in case any of these brigands got any bright ideas. When they reached the familiar alley a few shops down from the teahouse, Tseng took Yazoo's hand and pulled him along. "Before you go, I have something for you." He added in explanation. "You left your shoes at the restaurant the last time." Up one flight of stairs, Tseng opened the apartment door and didn't pull the youth inside, only leaned in to grab his shoes so that Yazoo wouldn't be afraid or suspect anything like what had happened last time. Tseng didn't want to lose him again.

"Thanks." Yazoo stared down at the offered pair of shoes for a moment before taking it. He had totally forgotten about it, but it seemed like Tseng to think about something like that. Since he had no bag or backpack with him, he simply held them in hand, letting them dangle from his fore and middle finger. "I'll see you soon then."

"Yes," Tseng agreed hopefully. He had come very close to the youth and was able to smell Yazoo's silky strands and smooth skin. It looked so pale and fragile, like it might be cold to the touch but it wasn't cold at all but rather... very warm. Should he make his move now? He didn't want to move too fast for comfort and lose himself... Still, Tseng felt his hand on Yazoo's upper arm, holding it there gently.

Without a thought, Yazoo rolled his feet up to stand on his tip toes and tilted his head as he pressed his lips against Tseng's. Once he had made up his mind about things, he wasn't shy about them anymore; and he wanted to kiss the Wutaian, to see what it felt like if it wasn't forced. This time he could enjoy it, explore it without being frozen stiff from fear and shock. The man's lips were soft and velvety and warm and Yazoo liked that very much.

Breathlessly, Tseng gasped into the kiss and pulled Yazoo carefully into the apartment where they wouldn't be seen or disturbed. He didn't want anyone who might have their eye on this place to have any idea of the dark assassin's weakness in this youth. Gently, he lifted him in both arms, feeling the weight of the teen's arm holding the sneakers dangling there against his lower leg. Turning them so that his own back was to the wall, Tseng leaned there to let Yazoo feel mostly free, not too trapped, just supported by the dark man's embrace. "Yazoo," he whispered softly in between kisses. "Open your mouth, love. I want to tickle your insides."

Yazoo's lids had dropped a bit, but he did as Tseng had suggested, parting his lips curiously. Soon enough, he could feel something slippery gently prod into his mouth, brushing against his tongue. In a first reflex, Yazoo retreated, but then he relaxed again and boldly counter-attacked with his own.

That drew a low moan from Tseng and he reflexively arched his back, pulling the youth along with him. He let his pelvis brush against a sharp hipbone and his eyes rolled backward under closed lids as he felt Yazoo's young body teasing his arousal. "Do you feel that?" he whispered huskily, "My body is excited, as am I, to be with you like this. It's nothing to be afraid of." He didn't answer his body's need though. He just wanted Yazoo to be acquainted with things that would undoubtedly happen to Tseng when they were close to each other.

Yazoo nodded, but withdrew a bit. It was okay that Tseng felt like that, Yazoo was excited too, but for today, that was enough. All the new emotions and feelings were quite overwhelming and he didn't want to get confused or scared again. He was pretty certain that Tseng would understand that. Flicking over the man's tongue with his own one last time, the youth let himself fall back onto his feet and bow lightly. "I have to go now, but I am looking forward to seeing you again, Tseng."

"I am looking forward to seeing you again too, Yazoo," Tseng replied, embracing the youth before gently setting him down with another soft kiss. "Until the teahouse then." He smiled at the youth warmly, the first time he had really felt like smiling so much in a long time.

END CHAPTER – TBC! XD

Constructive criticism is always welcome :)