The night is my companion-
and solitude my guide
Would I spend forever here
And not be satisfied-
And I would be the one to hold you down
Kiss you so hard
I'll take your breath away
And after I wipe away the tears
Just close your eyes dear...
My body aches to breathe your breath
Your words keep me alive...
Into this night I wander
it's morning that I dread
another day unknowing of
the path I fear to tread
Into this sea of waking dreams
I follow without pride
Coz nothing stands between us here
and I won't be denied
--'Posession,' Sarah McLachan

Sage shut the door to his room with a sigh of relief, leaning his head against the wood as though for comfort. He could still feel the throb of the party downstairs, the pound of the music hammering into his muscles and behind his eyes. He liked parties, but only for so long. The strain of too many people got to him fast, and having to be "on" all the time was almost as tiring as battle. After so many hours, the crowd and wine both began to wear on him.

"Ya couldn't take it eitha, huh?"

Sage turned to look behind him. Rowen sat at Sage's desk, fantasy paperback recently removed from his face now lying on the immaculate desktop. Rowen was rubbing his temples as though trying to banish a headache. His eyes were tired. "Sorry ta have invaded ya room like this, but mine was RIGHT over the DJ."

"Understandable." Sage crossed the room and sat on the bed, then flopped with disgusting grace flat on his back. "I don't mind if you pass out here... in ten minutes I plan to be dead to the world." Sage arched his back and reached up to squeeze his shoulder, trying to ease away some of the tension. Rowen glanced over at him, wondering suddenly why his face turned warm and his hands turned cold.

You're just sympathetic because he's tired, His brain prompted sensibly. A dull ache within him argued differently. Rowen refused to listen to it. Sage was his friend. "Ya want some help with that?" Rowen nodded in the general direction of Sage's shoulders.

Sage smiled over at him. "Thanks." He pulled his shirt over his head and hung it neatly on the bed post, puzzling as he did that he no longer felt so tired... more like... charged. "Sometimes I think partying is worse than fighting."

Rowen began to knead the tension knotted muscles, Sage gritting his teeth as the pain shifted to relaxation. Rowen had always been good at this, he remembered back from during the war. Just his touch was soothing.

"Worse." Rowen said. "We nevah had ta impress Dynasty minions." Not that Sage ever had to try to impress anybody.

"True..." Sage agreed thoughtfully. He stretched, felinelike, as Rowen's hands crept down his spine. He wanted him to never stop. The room seemed warmer than it had when he first came in.

"Who's idea was this one anyway?" Rowen guided Sage over on his stomach. This was easier if he was lying down.

"I don't know, probably ours. nnnnnnnng... right THERE." Sage twisted, trying to bring a particularly sore spot under Rowen's touch.

Rowen worked the tightness out, nodding even though Sage couldn't see him. "Probably."

There was companionable silence for a few moments, Sage and Rowen were used to just being in each other's presence. They would sometimes go hours without ever saying anything to each other... they didn't have to. But tonight both of them struggled to find something to say, to break the quiet that was too comfortable. Something other than the techno beat hung in the air. It wasn't he first time they'd felt it, but every time it had been brushed off, mutually unspokenly forgotten by both parties.

Sage was resting his head on folded arms, thinking of how to prevent... something... and wondering even if he WANTED to prevent that something. Rowen coaxed Sage's arms out to work from shoulders to wrist, taking his time over Sage's relaxed form. Why? his mind asked. He ignored it.

"mmm." Sage's voice was muffled by his pillow. He sounded sleepy and slightly drunk, both of which he was. "And how have I managed to earn the royal treatment? "

"I owe ya fa bargin' in on ya room. 'Sides, I'm done." But Rowen didn't remove his hands, they lingered in slow strokes over Sage's shoulderblades, and down the shallow valley of his spine. His skin was ghost pale under Rowen's hands, and Rowen wasn't that dark.

Sage closed his eyes, the ache that had been a mere fringe on his consciousness now took center stage, demanding attention. Sage could have banished it, but he didn't. This was no longing for any of the girls at the party downstairs. It was for a touch that was familiar as his own name, from someone who understood without ever needing an explanation. It was for Rowen. The truth came thudding home as unerringly as one of the archer's gilded arrows.

"You don't appear to be going anywhere." Sage murmured. Whatever they had been fighting against saying, or doing, no longer seemed as important as this gnawing need. It demanded more than a casual touch or an occasional inscrutable glance.

"Funny," Rowen appeared to be talking to himself. "I don't." There was a low sigh loaded with implications. The hands moved away. Sage suddenly felt cold. "I should go." The mattress shifted with Rowen's weight as he moved to stand.

"Don't."

It was softer than a snowflake melting on warm skin, and Rowen wasn't sure if Sage had said something or if he was just wishing he had. "What was that?"

"Don't go." Sage dared to look over his shoulder at Rowen, trying to be genuine, not to resort to his bag of seductions. He felt almost laughably nervous. Sage hadn't been nervous for years. Certainly not about wanting someone.

Rowen looked like a young man terribly embarrassed by an outrageously expensive gift. "I-" He got no further than that, looking away.

Sage cautiously sat up, touching his best friend's shoulder. Rowen shivered at the electrical contact. "Please..."

Rowen stared at the bedpost without seeing it. He knew this was going to happen sometime, but not tonight, not now. It was always just going to be sometime. Sage's fingertips brushed his clenched jaw, traced the line of his lower lip.

"Rowen." There were years of longing in Sage's voice. Rowen was afraid to turn, knowing that with one look into those smoky eyes he would be utterly lost. Warm lips touched his throat, fingertips glided over Rowen's collar bone and then up under his shirt, softly awaking want without even trying. Rowen squeezed his eyes shut, knowing that his desire was obvious, knowing Sage could feel him trembling.

Softer this time, but as intense as the need begging for easement. "Rowen."

He couldn't take it. It was harsher than lightning, softer than starlight, and he wanted desperately to see what emotions were imprisoned in the iris of Sage's level gaze.

Midnight blue eyes met twilight violet ones.

Rowen was lost.

He kissed him. It was almost comically awkward at first, both of them were used to kissing girls, and there was a brief bit of confusion as to whose tongue went where. With a pleasured, nervous sort of laugh they broke apart. Rowen's eyes were shining, Sage, who never got winded in combat, seemed to be slightly out of breath.

"Well." Rowen managed, not sure if he wanted to laugh or cry.

"Well." Sage agreed. They were both grinning maniacally in the pause that followed.

"I think," Sage speculated, "That I'd like to try that again."

"I think I'd like ya ta do more than that."

A bare second of hesitation, and then they were crushed in each other's arms, mouths locked hungrily together. Rowen yielded the kiss to Sage, liking the feel of him, moving gently but somehow desperately against and inside. Rowen realized with a start that there was more than that of Sage that he wanted to taste. The thought rattled him a little. It was also arousing beyond belief. He kissed Sage back fiercely, dropping his hands from Sage's waist to his thighs, and began sliding them upwards. The play of Sage's muscles beneath the tight denim urged him on, but he hesitated. Should he-

Sage moaned impatiently into Rowen's mouth, catching the archer's wrists and urging his touch higher to where the burn was. He could have wept when he finally felt his hands moving over him, even through his clothes. Sage caught Rowen's face in his hands, kissing his open mouth and his half-shut eyes, sliding his fingers into the indigo silk of his hair. "Touch me..." he whispered, finding that he could not long keep his lips from Rowen's skin. "Touch me touch me..."

Rowen leaned against him and Sage let himself be pushed softly back down into the mattress. Frustrated with the rough denim that he knew imprisoned what Sage really wanted felt, Rowen's hands flickered over the front of Sage's jeans.

The cool touch moved inside, making Sage jump a little bit. Like a silk wrapped sword, Rowen thought, hard but so sleek... "Like this, Sage?" Rowen was teasing him, scattering kisses down his throat, slipping his tongue into Sage's mouth between the soft noises Sage couldn't suppress. "Is this where it aches?" The gentle stroke became a firm grip suddenly, pumping up and down. Sage lifted his hips involuntarily, the muted sounds escaping him serving only to make Rowen want him more.

Sage looked up at him, his eyes going into Rowen's soul and back again. Rowen let him. There was nothing to hide. "You know it is." Sage whispered, and Rowen arched slightly at the knowing fingertips and then the cool touch of air as Sage freed him. "You feel it too." The light touch became a delicate exploration. "Don't you?" Sage was leaning up, whispering in Rowen's ear, his warm breath giving Rowen goose bumps.

"Haven't you always wanted this, Rowen? Always wanted me to touch you like this?" Sage paused, letting his tongue taste the hollow behind Rowen's earlobe. " I know I've wanted you..." Rowen shuddered violently, answering every question with a nonverbal yes, and sinking to the mattress next to Sage.

"Ah, god Sage," Rowen murmured, as Sage slowly eased him out of any remaining clothing, leaving a tangled knot of blue jeans at the foot of the bed, along with a t-shirt emblazoned with the Oscar Wilde quote: 'I have nothing to declare except my Genius' "Why is this happening now?"

"You always knew it was going to..." Sage's warm mouth moved over Rowen's chest, his hands tracing his body as though sculpting him out of air. He moved his body so that his sex lightly grazed Rowen's.

"Yes, but- hssst!!" Rowen's body tightened, and he shivered.

Sage smirked up at him, kissing the nipple he'd just bitten lightly and reaching down to imprison both of them in his grip. "For once in your life, Rowen, don't analyze it." He moved his hands slowly, working both Rowen and himself. Rowen laid his hands over Sage's, trying not to tremble with the pleasure flowing through him. To be held by Sage, against him, that intimately, was incredible. Sage had a delicate curve like his sword- Rowen was as straight as one of his arrows.

"How long have you wanted this, Rowen?" Sage asked, still touching him, learning him. They were both obviously desperate, but by silent agreement they were holding back, drawing out time as far as they could.

"Always, I think." Rowen gently pushed Sage back against the pillows, slowly kissing his collarbone, his mouth open, tasting Sage's skin. Salt and sandalwood... and something else exotic he'd never been able to trace. It was warm and sweet and mystical and simply Seiji. His kisses moved down Sage's chest, brushing the harsh lines of his abdomen. He felt Sage's hands in his hair.

"Rowen?" Sage began, not sure what he was going to ask. "Ro-UNNNN!" A hot wet mouth closed gently over him, robbing him of speech and momentarily coherent thought. He tried to keep his hips still but with what was being done to him that was impossible. Rowen was making soft anguished noises as he sucked relentlessly, and the vibrations were sending shockwaves all over Sage's body. Rowen's tongue stabbed at the sweet warning pooled right at the tip, and then he had to lock his arms around Sage's waist to hold him down. Rowen finally dragged Sage into his lap, never leaving him, Sages long legs sprawled out to either side of him, the muscles in his thighs shaking. Rowen's mouth began to move in a familiar rhythm, it was the same as the techno beat still echoing from the party downstairs. It was just as well that the celebration was loud, Sage was moaning helplessly, his hands knotting up in the sheets, his hips poised inches above Rowen's lap. The pressure was about to give, Rowen knew too well exactly what to do to him, and Sage was more than ready to surrender when he heard Rowen's voice echo through his head, and leave a path like a trailing comet in his heart.

~For you, Seiji. For you. This is me giving this to you. No one else. Me. You know it.~

"Rowen!" Sage felt a low spasm run through him, as Rowen's words ricocheted all through his soul. He broke off his moan with a sound like a cross between a choke and a sob, his eyes shut, face turned sideways into his damp hair. He pushed against Rowen's mouth, awash in the sensations, lost to everything but the gift being given him. He felt Rowen's smile inside, and then his voice again, sounding suspiciously smug.

~I nevah dreamed you'd taste so good.~

A hand squeezing him, making a cry escape his lips as Rowen drank the last traces of his pleasure. He shivered, and Rowen's body slid up to lay beside him, his fingers trailing up Sage's body to his lips. Sage lay back against the rumpled bedspread, breathing heavily.

"Are ya alright?" Rowen kissed his temple.

Sage smiled without opening his eyes. "I am so all right it is not even funny." He sighed and sat up on one elbow, leaning over and kissing Rowen deeply, strangely desperate to know what he tasted like still warm on Rowen's tongue.

~Interesting...~

Rowen smiled into the kiss. ~It was quite nice from my end too.~

Sage kept kissing him, rocking his body against Rowen's. ~Tell me what you want.~

Rowen pulled back and smirked. "Oh, you're OFFERING, now are ya? What makes ya so sure I just won't take ya?"

"I had assumed," Sage rested his chin in his hand, idly reaching down and running his hand over him. "That that was one of the options on the list. However if you'd rather omit that-"

"No..." Rowen's voice was losing some of its teasing edge. "I don't think so." He gritted his teeth against Sage's persistent tugging. "Anything?"

~Anything.~

Rowen slid his hand down Sage's back to stroke his hips, and drew one of the perfect white legs around his waist. "Well," Sage jumped as Rowen's fingers touched him. "I always thought you had a great ass." His fingers pushed into Sage's body.

Sage tensed, and then he forced himself to relax, enabling Rowen to go a little deeper. Sage rocked against the hand, realizing it wasn't enough, he was already aching again. His hands clenched Rowen's shoulders, panting into his azure hair. "Take me, damnit you tease."

The fingers withdrew, and Rowen lay back, pulling Sage on top of him, Sage's back to his chest. "I don't tease." Rowen intoned softly, and pulled Sage's thighs further apart. "And you asked for it." He slammed all the way in with one shove.

Sage jerked. He didn't cry out from the pain, he never did, but he flinched. Rowen knew. "I'll stop if you want me to..."

Sage shook his head. "It won't last long." It was fading even then, as Rowen shifted inside him, moving at a better angle. Rowen moving deep within was suddenly all he wanted. He'd never thought being taken like this could feel as good as taking for himself. "mmmmmm..."

"You like it?"

"Yes."

"Harder?"

"Please...-un! uh! uh! "

"Too much?"

"God, no... if you stop now I swear I'll kill you."

Rowen laughed softly into Sage's ear, reaching around to pump him in time with his thrusts. "Then I guess I bettah do what I'm told, huh?"

Sage ground his hips against Rowen's lap, then pushed up into his hand. "Or else."

Rowen began moving painfully slowly. "Or else what?" he whispered.

Sage tilted his head to look at him. "Or else you never get to find out what my mouth feels like."

Rowen resumed his previous rhythm. "Now that's a threat worth heeding..."

It was the last teasing banter they spoke, the sensations getting too intense too fast. Rowen felt like he was inside some kind of dream, Sage's body writhing on top of him, his beauty made painful by his pleasure. He was lost in the sweetness of it, drowning in Sage. But then he heard Sage's muffled cry, saw him bite his lip and blink at the tears glittering on his cheeks, then felt the warm wetness flow into his stroking hand- that's when he lost control. It felt like he was going to die, it was never going to stop. His own release made the thrusts easier. Both of them were weeping by the time it came to a shuddering halt, still linked, lean bodies glistening with their exertion and blinking dazedly.

"Did I hurt you?" Rowen asked at last, after a long silence in which there was nothing but the sound of breathing.

Sage shook his head, and leaned back on Rowen's shoulder. "No. You feel good."

"I- have to-"

Sage nodded, and Rowen withdrew as gently as he could, and even that sent ripples of sensation through both of them. Rowen sighed, clasping his arms around Sage's waist, and kissed the back of his neck.

"Ya know what, Sage?"

"Huuuummm?" Sage was exhausted and truly sated for the first time ever, ready to sleep. The motion of Rowen's hands across his chest was soothing and he wanted to drift away to it.

"I ah... I think we should have another party with the DJ under my room."

Sage chuckled.

"Sure... how about tomorrow night?"

~owari~

by Tenshi no Korin
yoroiden samurai troopers
b i s h o n e n i n k