WriterFreak001:
Hello Friends. It's been a lonnng time since I've written any FanFiction, but I wanted to try to get back into the flow of writing. I recently re-watched G Gundam and felt inspired to write this one-shot.
I feel like Domon and Rain could be a bit OOC in this fic.
Anyway, enjoy!
機動武闘伝Gガンダム
TITLE: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back
RATING: Older Teen
PAIRING: Domon X Rain
DESCRIPTION: On a blazing, hot day in the Guyana Highlands, Rain decided to bathe in the river while Domon was out training. What could possibly go wrong? Rain x Domon fluff x spice.
DESCLAIMER: Sadly, I don't own G Gundam or any of the beautiful show's characters. T^T
機動武闘伝Gガンダム
Domon had been out training in the forest for an hour by the time Rain was finished making a few modifications to Shining Gundam's Mobile Trace System. She took off her rubber gloves and stepped outside of the cockpit into the blazing sun. "Domon usually trains until sunset…," she mumbled softly before closing the cockpit of Shining Gundam and lowering herself to the ground with the elevation platform. Because she was covered in oil and grease from head to toe, she desperately needed a bath but was hesitant to clean up since she and Domon weren't alone in the Highlands. Luckily, her clothes came out of the Gundam unscathed, but the filth in her hair had to go.
"I guess now is a good time as any to clean up…," Rain cautiously looked around for any sign of the other fighters or their team members but couldn't hear any voices or see any persons nearby. Nervously, she peeled her clothes off, one by one, before stepping into the chilly water just beyond the rock next to Shining Gundam. Against the radiating heat, the cold water licking her skin felt refreshing as she moved further into the river. When she was deep enough, she inhaled a large breath and swiftly dove under, immersing herself entirely before popping up a short distance away for air. Her fingers combed through her thick, wet hair as she tried to rub off the oil and grease. Shampoo and conditioner would work wonders for her hair if she had remembered to grab them from her bag, but at least it seemed as though the oil and grease were coming out.
She took another dive into the fresh water towards the waterfall but kept her distance so that she wouldn't be pulled underneath its powerful cascade. And to think that Domon could easily jump the high cliff above and land into the water without injury still amazed Rain. The cliff was so high, and if Domon was anyone else, he could be seriously injured. But she had to admit – the scenery was certainly peaceful. She spotted a flattened rock facing the waterfall and swam over to it. It looked like a reclined chair floating in the river. Since it faced away from their camp, she boldly climbed onto it and laid on top of it, surprised at how the sudden chilliness from the waterfall made her feel a sudden calmness. Her breasts were perky from the air kissing her skin, and she couldn't deny the strong need surging between her legs. A need she wished could be satisfied by a certain hothead instead of her fingers, but she didn't think that would ever happen between them.
Domon only saw her as his partner for the Neo-Japan team. Nothing more.
Checking to make sure no one else was around once more, she brazenly opened her legs and allowed the breeze to brush against her most sensitive parts. Closing her eyes, she moved her fingers between her thighs and began to address her need for release. She tried her best to keep quiet, to keep from squirming too much, and she bit down on her bottom lip to keep herself from exhaling loudly in case Domon decided to return early. But the thought of him catching her doing this to herself – giving herself this sort of release – didn't seem to bother her too much. In fact – it excited her.
Secretly, she wanted to know what he would do – if he would do anything at all. She couldn't deny the dreams she often had of him getting to know her in this way… with his fingers… his tongue… She would gladly let him touch her in this way if and only if he loved her as much as she loved him. She wouldn't give herself to him any other way – no matter how tempting any other situation could be.
When she felt her body reaching its peak, she let out a quiet but audible sigh and laid on the rock motionless for a moment before sliding back into the water. She almost let out another whimper when the cold water lapped at her still-throbbing center. She held onto the rock with one hand and brought her other hand back down between her legs, this time, instead of stroking herself, she dipped two of her slender fingers into herself to try to satisfy her need in a different way. But the need was too great. Deciding that nothing she could do herself would satisfy her wanton fervor, she took in a deep breath and dove down into the river, hoping the itching feeling would soon fade away. Eventually and thankfully, the cold water drove her desire away after swimming for a while.
Rain's attention was brought back to the waterfall behind her, still mesmerized by its natural beauty. Birds chirped all around her, some soaring in the yellowing sky. She never realized how different the Guyana Highlands were from the rest of Earth. Everywhere was cluttered with destruction from past Gundam fights, but the highlands were… almost untouched. It was truly an amazing sight.
Rain suddenly realized sunset was drawing near and knew that if she didn't leave the river before Domon returned, there would be trouble. So, she reluctantly, she towards the bank, needing to dry off and get dressed again so that she could be presentable once Domon was done training. She couldn't have any evidence that she chose to skinny dip instead of cleaning up in the camper. Domon would just reprimand her for being careless – she was sure of it.
But her plan to dry off immediately backfired when she heard a familiar, American yell, "Last one to the waterfall is a rotten egg!" Panicking, she dove down deep into the water and swam towards the rock formation which hung over part of the river. No one would be able to see her as long as she stayed underneath the overhanging rock.
"Chibodee! Have some dignity!" a known Frenchman called out, "There's no need to take everything off!" Oh no! George was here too!
"Well, why not? It's not like I came here with my swimming trunks." Chibodee scoffed. "Besides, it's much more refreshing to skinny dip!"
"Chibodee's right, bro." a young, Chinese teen chuckled."Gotta take it all off if you don't want to end up with a wet rash around your noble tush." Oh no! Not Sai Saici too!
"Sai Saici!" George was rendered speechless, and Rain began to panic even more. Just what were they doing on the Neo-Japan's camping grounds – and without Domon around? There weren't any places to hide in the river other than where she was, so she silently prayed they would all have a change of mind. Because – the moment they decided jump in from the rock above – she was done for.
"Stop behaving like children," an older, deeper voice suddenly cut in.
Argo was here too?!
"Domon," the Russian continued, "is on his way back from training, and he said we can come here to train. Not to swim around and play." Argo's temperament was enough to kill anyone's mood, but it seemed as though Chibodee and SaiSaici were unfazed. Still, it's powerful demeanor sent goosebumps down Rain's arms. She hoped she would never be on the wrong end of his temper. "We all represent different nations, and I don't know about you, but the next time I fight against all of you, the last thing I want to remember is what you guys look like without your clothes on."
The atmosphere thinned quickly, and Rain could literally feel a chill in the air.
"So maybe Argo is right," Sai Saici finally said with a nervous laugh.
"Fine. But if I get a wet rash, I'm blaming Neo-Russia." Chibodee groaned. "Now, let's have some fun in the water before Neo-Japan tries to stop us."
"I agree." Sai exclaimed, and she could tell by the sound of their footsteps that they were about to run and jump in. Rain absentmindedly brought her arms to her chest to cover herself as she closed her eyes, unable to watch.
Suddenly, another voice – Domon's – stopped the group. "Hey guys, what are you doing here? And where are the rest of your clothes, Chibodee and Sai Saici?"
"Chibodee said that you said we could come here to train in the river." George was the first to reply. "Was he wrong?"
"Well, no. I did say that in passing earlier," Domon said almost too quietly, "but I didn't mean today… or right now… I meant later… like tomorrow or the next day. I wanted to talk to Rain about it first so that she would be aware of it…" He paused for a moment. "Speaking of Rain, where is she?"
Rain was truly touched that Domon was willing to discuss the matter with her first, even though, that's clearly not what happened. Despite his concern for her whereabouts though, she didn't have the courage to make her presence known. Especially while everyone else was standing on top of the rock that was hovering over her head.
No one spoke as Domon called out to her. Rain kept quiet, wishing there was a way she could let him know where she was so that he could shoo the others away and save her from mortifying embarrassment. Domon's voice softened a little with concern. "I remember seeing her inside the cockpit of Shining Gundam before I left to train in the woods. Surely, she wouldn't wander off in the highlands by herself…"
Oh, Domon… His concern was touching, and she hated making him worry. But what could she do in the situation she was in?
Chibodee loudly cleared his throat. "So, Neo-Japan. Can we train here today or not? I'm sure Rain's fine. She's probably went off somewhere to pee."
"Don't talk about Rain like that," Domon snapped at the American fighter. "Besides, Rain doesn't need to look for such a place; we have a camper that she sets up for those kinds of needs anyway."
"I'm sure she's fine, Domon. Mademoiselle Rain is a smart woman who wouldn't disappear without a reason. I'm sure she'll return shortly. Anyway," George coughed, "I think it's safe to say we're not going to train in the river today. Domon is right; Mademoiselle Rain deserves the courtesy of knowing in advance. The last thing we want to do is come here unannounced and catch her in a compromising situation."
"A compromising situation – like what? Like Rain skinny dipping in the river, herself?" Chibodee let out a laugh. "I mean, I may not know Rain all too well, but surely she wouldn't be that careless."
Rain clamped her mouth shut as she felt Chibodee's insult poke at her like a needle.
"Why not?" SaiSaici suddenly spoke out, and Rain could hear him shifting his clothes back on. "I saw Natasha sneaking out for a bath in the river a few weeks ago."
"What was that?" Argo immediately snapped, and SaiSaici let out an audible squeak.
"Whoops! Well… Gotta go, bro!"
"Come back here, SaiSaici! You have explaining to do!" The Russian voice faded off as he ran after the Neo-China Gundam fighter.
Rain couldn't believe what she was hearing – but what embarrassed her the most was the fact that she had been careless enough to let her guard down and to have a refreshing swim in the river, but why should that be a bad thing?
"I'm off too. Again, Domon, I'm sure Mademoiselle Rain will turn up soon. If not, do let me know if you need my assistance in looking for her."
"Thanks, George." There was a brief pause from Domon before his voice was directed someplace else. "What are you still doing here, Chibodee? And why are you still only in your undergarments?"
"I thought I would help you look for Rain," he suggested, but Rain could hear a hint of mischievousness in his voice. "Especially if she's in a compromising situation."
"Oh, shut up! I can find Rain on my own."
"Okay, okay!" Chibodee's voice could be heard moving away from the Neo-Japan Gundam fighter. Hopefully he remembered to grab his clothes or at least put them back on. "I know where I'm not wanted, sheesh!"
"And Chibodee," Domon was shouting now, "Don't ever speak so crudely about Rain again. That's your first and only warning."
"Message received," Chibodee gulped nervously. There were retreating footsteps and then silence.
Rain sighed, finally relieved the others were gone. She didn't hear Domon's voice for a while, so she thought he left to go search for her. Thinking she was alone again, she swam out from underneath the hovering rock and into the sunlight, but when she spotted her partner leaning against the rock and staring straight at her, she nearly screamed. "Don't look!" Her arms instantly covered her chest, and she turned around, embarrassed.
"You know," Domon didn't move an inch as he sent her a smirking grin. He was never going to let her live this down. "You really shouldn't be swimming in the river like that… You're lucky I spotted your discarded clothes when I caught up with the guys."
She wiped her face with her wet hands before turning slightly towards him. "You knew I was in here?"
"Well, I knew you wouldn't be streaking in the wilderness, so the river was my next best guess." Domon crossed his arms, slightly amused. "But if you ever do decide to go streaking, at least give me a warning so that I can make sure the guys steer clear of the area."
"Domon, you jerk!" Rain whipped around and swam back under the rock. She was so humiliated, even though she was thankful that Domon had at least kept the others from jumping into the water earlier. "I just wanted to clean off in the river on a hot day. What's so wrong with that?" Tears rimmed her eyes, feeling like a damned fool for making such a poor judgment call.
"Hey, nothing's wrong, okay?" Domon wasn't laughing anymore when he realized he had truly hurt Rain's feelings. He mindlessly hopped into the water and took off his cape to give it to her. She sheepishly took it and swiftly wrapped it around herself. "You can swim out here all you want, while I'm out training, but if you plan to do that, I just need to know… so that I can train nearby in order to keep the other guys from making unwanted visits… and just in case something happens while I'm away."
She knew he was trying to reassure her and comfort her after feeling embarrassed, but it didn't really make her feel better. "I understand," was all she could say, not able to look at him. But before either could say anything else, something caught her attention. "Are those my clothes floating in the water?"
Domon turned to what she was looking at it, and he smacked himself. "Damn. I must have accidentally kicked them in a moment ago."
"Domon Kasshuu!" Rain blushed deeply as her partner moved to fetch her waterlogged clothes. They were completely soaked!
The King of Hearts grabbed her aqua blue jacket and hot pink dress but then his cheeks grew bright red when he picked up her drenched panties. "Uhhh…"
Rain swiftly swam up to where he was and snatched her underwear from his grasp before seizing the rest of her clothes. She moved towards the bank and gently placed them on the ground to dry. She turned towards Domon and noticed he was still looking for something. "What are you looking for now?"
Domon's ears began burning. "Uhh… I mean… Don't women also wear, you know," he motioned towards her chest, which made Rain's blush even deeper.
"Don't bother looking for that," she couldn't believe the situation she was still in. "I don't wear one of those!" Rain kept Domon's cape pressed around her naked body as she climbed out of the water, wishing the ground would just swallow her whole. What a mess!
Domon scrambled out of the river and followed his partner before stopping dead in his tracks when he noticed how tightly his cape was wrapped around the beauty before him. It was donned like a second layer of skin; he could see every curve. He knew she was incredibly embarrassed, so he swallowed his nervousness and gently touched her shoulder. "Hey," he didn't like it when she was upset, "I'm sorry for embarrassing you back there… It wasn't my intention."
"I know," she didn't dare look at him as she pinched the bridge of her nose. The sun was starting to set, and a chilly wind kissed her skin. She shivered a little. "If I wasn't so stupid to…"
"Don't call yourself stupid, Rain. You're not stupid. Trust me." He took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders. "I know this won't do much since it's wet as well, but at least it's a little extra. Think you can make it to the cockpit on your own?"
She nodded, surprised by his suggestion.
"The cockpit will keep you warm. I'll set up the camper and find something for us to change into while we wait for our clothes dry. Unfortunately, our clothes probably won't be dry until morning, but at least we won't freeze to death. I'll let you know once I have a fire going."
Rain started for the platform but then turned around to face her childhood friend. "Domon?"
"Yeah?"
"Thank you," she smiled earnestly, catching the fighter off guard. As she disappeared into the cockpit, he finally let out the breath of air he didn't know he was holding.
It was going to be a long night.
機動武闘伝Gガンダム
The moment she had gotten into the cockpit, she had taken off the wet cape and jacket and activated the Gundam's heating system in hopes that it would keep her warm until Domon was ready for her to come out again. His kindness towards her had been a little alarming at first. Sure, she knew he could be kind and generous, but it wasn't often. Most of the time, he was in a sour mood because of his inability to access Shining Gundam's super mode, but Rain couldn't complain because it made those rare moments of niceness even more special to her.
Eventually, she heard Domon's voice calling out to her before a soft knock sounded from the cockpit door. She deactivated the heating system and wrapped her partner's red cape back around herself, thankful that it had dried a little bit from the surrounding heat. She bent down to pick up his jacket and draped it over her shoulders before releasing the door lock to open it.
The sun was nowhere to be seen, and Rain felt a sudden need for warmth. Though it was usually very hot during the day in the Guyana Highlands, it was often fairly chilly at night. "Here," Domon handed her a thick, warm, pink bathrobe. "This was all I could find."
"Thanks," she smiled softly as she took it from him. She saw that he was wearing a blue robe too. "I'll be out momentarily." Without another word, Rain disappeared back into the cockpit to remove the cape and jacket and to cover herself with the robe. It was warm, comfortable, and – to her surprise – smelled like Domon. She closed her eyes and hummed quietly, mesmerized by his earthy, musky scent.
With the robe surrounding her like a warm embrace, she fastened the tie and carefully bent down to pick up Domon's belongings before opening the cockpit again. Domon helped her outside so that she wouldn't trip and took back his cape and jacket so that she could focus on walking to the platform.
Once they were on the ground, Domon guided her towards the firepit he had built and helped her sit down comfortably. Both of their clothes were spread out around the fire as the young woman immediately felt the flame's heat.
"Here," Domon handed her a stick with cooked fish on the end. "I figured you might have been hungry."
Before she could show her gratitude, he dropped down next to her left and started eating his own dinner. Quietly, she nibbled on her trout, unable to think about anything else except for the fact that her partner was sitting so close to her. She could feel the heat radiating from his right arm and secretly wished they were sitting even closer.
Being so close to Domon made her remember all of the times he acted more than just a partner to her. She truly wondered if he thought of her as more than a friend, but she was too scared to ask… too worried that he didn't feel for her the same way she felt for him.
"Remember when we were younger," Domon softly spoke, causing Rain to shake away her private thoughts, "our families went on that camping trip, and we got lost?"
Rain grinned at the memory. They were barely nine then. "Of course, I do. I fell down a small ravine, and you found me and helped me back up to the path, but you were so focused on finding me, you couldn't remember the route you took."
Domon shrugged as he tossed a stick into the fire. "Never mind that part," he lightly chuckled, "I just remember us needing to make camp because it was too dark to search for our parents, so I built a fire much like this one and we sat closely to it, just like we are now."
"And because of that fire, Kyoji was able to find us a few hours later." Rain's smile faded when she felt Domon's shoulder twitch at the mention of his brother's name. She placed her right hand over the side of his broad shoulder. "Sorry…"
The King of Hearts absentmindedly covered her hand with his left one. "No. It's not your fault. To be honest… part of me wants to believe that all of this is just a big misunderstanding… that Kyoji wasn't the one who shot my mother… that he didn't do all those terrible things the government is saying he did… It just… No matter how much I think about it, it doesn't make sense to me. But the other part of me is just angry for what they're saying Kyoji did… and if he did all of those things…, I can't just let it be."
"When I heard what happened," Rain leaned closer to her life-long friend and stared at the fire, "I couldn't believe it either. Kyoji was like an older brother to me too. He had a warm heart and was one of the gentlest people I knew… He always looked after you and was so supportive when Master Asia chose you to go train with him… It's just so hard to fathom…, and my heart breaks any time I think about it."
Domon slid their linked hands downward but didn't let her palm go. He turned towards her and earnestly asked, "Do you think I'm doing the right thing? Hunting Kyoji down and putting a stop to him? I mean, what if – what if it is all a misunderstanding? I could never live with myself if I end up fighting against my brother if he's innocent in all of this."
"I think," Rain answered honestly as she mindlessly stroked his knuckles with her thumb, "whatever happened… you want answers. You and I weren't at the colony when the Dark Gundam left for Earth so there's no telling what actually may have happened. I, too, hope it's all a big misunderstanding, but the only ones who know what happened are the Japanese government, your father, and your brother. But your father is imprisoned right now, and Kyoji is… with the Dark Gundam… so the only side of the story we have is what Ulube told us."
Domon inhaled a deep, shaky breath. "You're right, Rain. I do want answers. Whether or not Kyoji is guilty, I must know what happened before he took the Dark Gundam to Earth."
A comfortable silence fell between them as the fire cracked and popped its flames. They didn't realize they were still holding each other's hands.
Rain was the first to break the silence this time. "Why do you think… the government chose me above all the other mechanics to accompany you during the Gundam Fight Competition? I mean – do you think it was because of our childhood friendship? Or because of my qualifications? Perhaps they wanted to save money by sending someone who is capable of fixing the gundam as well as doctoring you when you're injured…" Rain realized she was rambling and blushed a little. "Sorry…, it's been on my mind lately."
"First off, if they sent anyone else, that mechanic or doctor would probably have quit within the first week; no one can handle my temper like you can." Domon smirked a little, which caught Rain a little off guard. "Secondly," he continued, "Don't sell yourself short, Rain. You're definitely qualified. Don't ever think otherwise." He paused for a moment and stared at the fire. Rain could tell he had something more to say. Eventually, he spoke. "Thirdly," he stared at his hand that was holding hers and consciously interlinked his fingers with hers – the motion causing to give Domon her undivided attention as he carefully draped his other arm around her shoulders to pull her in closer to him. His eyes finally met hers. "The government wasn't responsible for your assignment to help me with Shining Gundam. Sure, they may have given the orders, but I was the one who told them I wouldn't fight as Neo-Japan's representative without you right next to me."
Rain was speechless. All this time, she thought her father was the one who insisted she accompany Domon to Earth, but it was the Neo-Japan fighter himself who requested her company.
"I had been gone for ten years, and so much had already happened before my return. Your father told me that you were finishing up your schooling on Earth and said you had become a well-qualified doctor. He also said that during your holiday breaks, you assisted with building Shining Gundam. After learning all of that, I knew you were the only one capable of being my partner. You know Shining Gundam better than I do, and you're an excellent doctor – just like your father said. But when I asked if you could come to Earth with me, he at first refused – not wanting to get you involved. So, I told Ulube that if he wanted me to fight for Neo-Japan, there was only one person I would want as my partner… and the rest is history."
Domon had actually wanted Rain to be his partner. All this time, she thought he was forced to be her partner due to Ulube's orders. But he actually wanted her… His confession spoke volumes as tears quietly fell from her eyes. "Oh, Domon. I didn't know."
"Hey, Rain. Why're you crying?" Domon instinctively held her face in his hands and brushed away her tears with his thumbs. He absolutely hated it whenever she cried, especially if he was the reason for it.
She pulled his palms away from her cheeks and held his large hands with her small ones. "There've been times – like in Canada when I wanted to see the Niagara Falls – when I thought you didn't care to have me around. Like I was just someone who only added to your burden of being a Gundam Fighter. I was told to be your support, to assist in the maintenance, and make sure you stay healthy. So, I just assumed… you preferred being on your own – which is why I often left after you… so that I wouldn't be in your way and would only be around when needed." Her tears continued to fall, but she smiled. "It brings me great relief to know that you were the one who requested me to accompany you on Earth – and not the government."
Domon was shocked and upset with himself for making Rain feel that way. "I know I haven't always been the greatest partner towards you, but Rain," he paused for a moment to gather his thoughts, "you have to know that I don't mean half the things I say – no matter how ugly they may be. I wanted you to be my partner for a reason because Shining Gundam belongs to both of us. I don't want you in my shadow or to just be around on an as need basis – I just assumed that you followed later because you had some things to do. I didn't realize it was because you thought I didn't want you around… I'm sorry if I ever made you feel that way; truly, I am. You're my childhood friend and keep me on my toes whenever I lose my temper. You keep me grounded in ways that I don't understand. I can't imagine partnering up with anyone else."
Rain, absolutely touched by Domon's kind words, released his hands and, without warning, leapt forward to embrace him. Surprised by her sudden movement, he caught her in his arms and automatically wrapped his arms around her, not wanting to let her go. He wasn't ready to tell her how much he cared for her – how much he wanted her to always stay by his side, but he felt – in moments like this – holding her close was enough for now. Domon carefully lowered himself backwards until he was resting on his back, pulling the woman downward along with him.
"It's going to be chilly tonight," he coughed a little. "I've heard body heat can keep people warm during cold temperatures."
Rain, without thinking, suddenly said, "It's even more effective skin to skin."
There was an awkward pause between them before the woman immediately jumped away, completely embarrassed by what she had said. "I'm so sorry, Domon. I don't know why I said that."
The King of Hearts, amused, sat up and brazenly began pulling at the tie of his robe.
"Domon Kasshu!" Rain covered her eyes. "Just what do you think you're doing?!"
"It's called survival," the fighter shrugged, not able to keep from teasing her. "You said it yourself – skin to skin body heat is the best way to keep to people warm." Rain peaked through her fingers and saw that he had slid the robe off of his shoulders, revealing his well-toned abdomen and broad shoulders. She had seen him shirtless many times before, but the light and shadows coming from the fire chiseled out the finer details of his muscles. The dark robe pooled at his waist.
She covered her eyes again as her heart began to stammer. "I… I was caught in the moment! You know I wasn't serious." Her whole body felt like it was on fire. Potentially hotter than the one blazing before them. Did he really think she would agree to this?!
"Seemed pretty serious to me." Domon smirked as he grabbed Rain's hand and placed it against his bare chest. "How about it, Rain?"
Rain nearly squeaked from the surprising softness she felt when Domon took her hand and placed it over his heart. She didn't know if he had consciously did that, but she could feel that it was beating just as rapidly as her own. Surely, he was joking, right? "Uhhh…," she immediately scrambled to her feet. "I… I think I'm going to take a late-night swim. Don't wait up for me, okay?" She needed to cool off, and fast! She disappeared around the rock, quickly stripped off the robe, and jumped into the water, not even thinking what must be going through Domon's mind right now.
Little did she know, Domon stood up and stretched before letting the robe pool at his ankles. He picked it up, walked over to the river, and dropped it next to hers. He wasn't sure what was coming over him right now, or why he felt like being a little promiscuous, but he loved teasing Rain and didn't want the night to get away from him just yet.
Not wanting her to know he had plans of joining her in the water, he quietly stepped into the river from a different area and used the moonlight to guide him to where she was. She was floating underneath the hovering rock, so he carefully swam over to her until her back was right in front of him. Without hesitation, he covered her mouth with his large hand to keep her from screaming. She whipped around, and her eyes grew very wide with surprise.
"D-Domon… what're you…"
"Tomorrow," he didn't let her finish her question. "Let's go back to being partners of the Neo-Japan government tomorrow. His palms found her face, "Tonight… I don't want to think about any of that…"
Unsure what he was thinking, Rain sucked in a quiet breath as he dared to lean closer. This was not the Domon she knew at all – this was some other side of him she wasn't familiar with, and she wasn't sure how she felt about this playful side of him… Sure he often teased her during her most embarrassing moments, but this… this was on a whole new level, and she didn't think she was internally prepared for it.
His eyes were ravenous for her, and she gulped audibly. "What are you thinking about?"
His palms moved down to the small of her back, and she bit her lip, hoping he couldn't see the blush forming across her cheeks. "I care about you, Rain."
"And I care about you too, Domon," she mumbled in response, feeling an aching need beginning to return. Is this truly happening right now?! Surely, she's dreaming, right?
"Let's just be us tonight," he pulled her into a tight embrace, and her eyes popped open from the feel of his fiery skin pressed against her own. "No gundams. No fights. No obligations. Just us together for one night. I won't deny that I've been attracted to you for a very long time, Rain…"
Rain stopped him before he could continue and gently pushed him away from her, feeling a little hurt from what he was admitting. Sure, she was pleased to know he was attracted to her, but… was that all? Did he only feel attraction? "If you're wanting us to just be us tonight…and to act on whatever feelings we have for each other…, but then return to being partners tomorrow as if nothing has changed between us, then I'm sorry, Domon. That's not what I want." She couldn't – wouldn't – give into her desires for Domon if he didn't reciprocate her feelings of love in return. Attraction was one thing, but loving was another. She moved away and stepped out of the river before quickly throwing her robe back on. It was too dark anyway for the King of Hearts to see anything. She made her way towards the fire to check if her clothes were dry. They were still very wet.
"Rain," Domon, with his robe back on, was at her side in seconds, his hand grasping her shoulder. "I didn't mean it that way."
She shrugged his palm off and started walking towards the platform. "I'm sorry Domon. I know you meant well, but…" she wished she could spell her feelings out to him, but what was the point, if he didn't know if he loved her himself? "I just… Sorry." She stepped onto the platform and lifted it before he could catch up. "I'm going to sleep inside the cockpit tonight. You can use the camper or sleep by the fire. Goodnight, Domon." She didn't wait for him to reply before she disappeared inside the Gundam, leaving a very confused and upset Gundam fighter behind.
機動武闘伝Gガンダム
It was a few hours later when she heard a knock on the cockpit door. She didn't open it though, not ready to face her partner after the conversation they had just had. Domon didn't wait for her to reply.
"I think we need some space so I'm going off to train. I won't be back until I've mastered Shining Gundam's super mode. Do whatever you want until then. Make preparations to go to Hong Kong for the final tournament. That is – if you still want to be my partner when I return." The iciness to Domon's demeanor returned full force, and his words cut her like a knife.
Was this really how he wanted to leave things between them?
Rain's hands were shaking as she quickly released the lock of the cockpit before stepping out. She needed to set things straight because Domon obviously misunderstood her. But before she could call out his name, he was already gone.
"Oh, Domon. You're gravely mistaken. I would never want to stop being your partner." She sank to her knees and covered her face with her hands out of deep sadness and frustration. "You're such a fool." After a short while, she stood back up and headed towards the cockpit before two strong hands wrapped around her from behind. She didn't scream this time. Instead, she closed her eyes and sank into the arms of the man holding her as she brought her hands up to hold onto his forearms. Domon's chin rested on her shoulder, and she felt his warm breath tickling her neck.
"I'm sorry," he whispered softly. "I didn't mean to make you feel uncomfortable earlier. I was an idiot."
"No," she shook her head as she turned around in his embrace. He was wearing his clothes again. They were mostly dry now, "you weren't an idiot. You were just being honest. I admit, I am attracted to you, Domon. Truly, I am…, but…," she bit her lip and glanced downward as she tried to figure out how to continue so that the King of Hearts wouldn't misunderstand. "I just don't think I'm ready for that type of relationship – especially since we need to focus on the Gundam fight so that you can win in order to free your father. I haven't…," she blushed deeply, "I haven't been with anyone like that before… not even with Seatte. And when I do decide I'm ready for that sort of relationship, I don't want it to be out in the wilderness… I want it to be special."
Domon inhaled slowly and nodded in understanding. "I'm sorry Rain. I didn't consider that. From now on, we'll focus on the Gundam tournament as partners of Neo-Japan. I won't make the same mistake." He released his embrace and moved backwards. "I'll be sure to keep a professional distance once I return from training." Rain's heart shattered at his words, his tone lacking any emotion. He was back to his usual cold-hearted self. "Bye Rain."
He jumped off of Shining Gundam before she had the chance to wish him luck or tell him to be careful.
And she didn't see him again for two more weeks before she was forced to leave him behind to battle against the Dark Gundam and Master Asia alone.
機動武闘伝Gガンダム
WriterFreak001:
And there you have it! I had a fun time writing this one-shot, but I know it might not have been everyone's cup of tea. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed it all the same!
The greatest compliment you can give is a review. :)