Relativity (ficlet; Saiyuki)

[opalmatrix]

Title: Relativity
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Gojyo's mouth, passing mention of m/m sex.
Pairing(s): 585
Spoilers: Nothing much
Notes: written for smillaraaq, who wanted something on the theme "warmth" during today's snowstorm.
Summary: Hakkai uses philosophy on an overheated Gojyo.

---

Gojyo tugged harder at the knot in the bandanna around his head. It was sweat-soaked, and strands of his hair were sticking to his hot face despite it. More sweat was trickling down his bare chest and arms, stinging the scratches from the surprisingly aggressive rogue shrubs that Hakkai had asked him - very politely - to remove.

It was the kind of politeness that implied blandly healthy meals and a cold shoulder at bedtime if ignored. Although it was so fucking hot that a cold shoulder sounded almost good, and even the idea of a blow job wasn't terribly tempting. Fuck - have I got heat stroke or somethin'?

He tugged at the knot again. His head was starting to hurt. "Shit, shit, shit!"

"May I help you with that?"

He hadn't even heard Hakkai come out onto the porch. "Hell yeah."

Cool fingers pushed his sap-sticky ones out of the way, and a moment later, the pressure around Gojyo's head eased. Hakkai turned away for a moment, and when he turned back, he had a cold bottle of beer in his hand. "Here. Try not to drink it too fast - it will just make your head worse."

Gojyo hadn't mentioned his head. "Your goddamn weed things are gone. And it's too fucking hot."

Hakkai sat down beside him on the steps. There was a light sheen of sweat on his face, but otherwise he looked as cooly crisp as a spring morning. "It is warm. And yet it was only six months ago that you were complaining bitterly of the cold."

"But that was winter."

"Yes. A bad one, if I recall correctly. These very steps were so covered with snow that they appeared as a smooth slope. And when you went out to gather some kindling one evening and forgot your gloves, your hands were so cold that I was afraid you'd lose a couple of fingertips, and so chapped that they cracked and bled."

Gojyo turned his free hand over slowly. If you knew where to look, you could still see the faint line from the worst of those cracks. There was a fresh, bleeding scratch across it, but the tiny wound didn't look deep enough to scar.

"During the next snowstorm, Widow Liu's middle son froze to death coming back from town. And we were trapped in the house for five days, and were on the point of starting to burn the furniture when it finally let up enough for you to get to the woodpile."

"You strung a rope between the door and the tree next to the woodpile after that," said Gojyo, slowly.

"Yes, I did. And we were glad of it two weeks later, when it was so cold during the last snowstorm that strands of your hair froze to your lips in the brief time it took you to bring in more wood." Hakkai reached up and gently brushed the sweaty hair back from Gojyo's face. "Do you feel a bit cooler now?"

Gojyo stared at him disbelievingly for second and then laughed. "OK, yeah. I get it."

"I think a cool shower might help too," said Hakkai, standing and taking the empty bottle from him.

"All right. Can't make these scratches sting any worse, I guess."

"I'll put some ointment on them afterward." Hakkai was looking out at the yard.

"What's up?"

"It looks much better. Thank you, Gojyo."

Gojyo stood up straighter and grinned like a sap. He couldn't help it. I'm so damn whipped. "Hey, don't mention it. I'm cool."

 

Comments

[samsarapine.livejournal.com]

What a lovely glimpse into their relationship. ♥ You've captured so many shared emotions in so very few words.

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

Aw, thanks! I think I was reaching a little at the end, to make it wrap around to the theme, but it was fun to write.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

D'awwww! ^_^

I love how you came at this prompt sideways -- the obvious approach, in the weather we've been having, would be to do something literal with the boys snuggling in bed or in front of a fire, etc.; delightful as those sorts of scenes are to read, this was all the more fun because it was an unexpected angle. And Hakkai's strategy for dealing with Gojyo's constant background complaining is oh so perfectly deviously indirect, and effective. They know each other so well. *melts*

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

In a way, this was the Mr.'s fault. He tends to use Hakkai-type logic, but not as politely: "What! You're complaining that it's cold? SIx months ago, you were moaning about the heat!"

Awww, I'm so glad you liked it! They are such a comfy fit.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

He's much more Sanzo than Hakkai, eh? ;)

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

OMG, is he ever Sanzo-like! In fact, I think my best Sanzo POV things have come when I've been able to channel the Mr. when he's not feeling really well.

[kansouame.livejournal.com]

This was a nice piece.. and made a cold winter day a little bit warmer! Great job!! ^__^

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

I'm so glad you liked it!

[lawless523.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I didn't see this until the morning, when it's a little warmer, but the thought is appreciated, as is the indirect but effective way Hakkai had for cooling Gojyo off.

They really are a combination of brains and brawn, aren't they? I chuckled at Gojyo's I'm so damn whipped comment. He may be whipped, but I'm sure he enjoys being able to get to the woodpile more easily in addition to the blow jobs he thinks about.

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

Oh, Gojyo definitely enjoys a lot of the things about Hakkai to which he feigns indifference. Once he gets used to the whole housekeeping mania, I think it makes him feel very cared-for. (Although it probably also worried him for a good while - theskywasblue's story Ever the Same explores that pretty well.)

I'm glad it worked for you!

[lawless523.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the link to the story. I agree that Hakkai taking care of him makes him feel needed and loved, something he's lacked his whole life, pretty much.

And after rooming with Banri, rooming with Hakkai must taken some getting used to. I can't see Banri being much of a neat freak.

[theskywasblue.livejournal.com]

I loved this piece, so full of understanding and emotion under a simple premise. Very nicely done!

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

Aww, thank you! (I was just invoking your name up above, too!)

[pixie-blade.livejournal.com]

awww...sweet!

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you liked it!

[red_squared]

So gorgeous. And I love that Hakkai seems to have gotten the garden he always wanted :D

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

Hee, you've got one of my favorite 585 bits in that icon!

I'm not sure whether Hakkai's got his garden yet or not - he may have been just having Gojyo tidy up the yard a bit. It depends on whether this is pre- or post-Journey ... I'm not really sure! I tend to write starting from a particular bit of a scene (in this case, from when Hakkai sits down next to Gojyo and comments about how he was complaining about the cold 6 months ago), and go forward and back from that, rather than plotting out in detail first.

[smillaraaq.livejournal.com]

I sort of assumed this one was pre-journey (but post-Banri, natch), since if it was post-journey Gojyo could have reduced the bushes to mulch with shakujou practice, and/or Hakkai could've fixed the scratches up in an eyeblink with chi. :)

[bakayaromaniac.livejournal.com]

So whipped.

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

Yeah, but you know, as long as he doesn't think about it too hard, he's happier that way!

Thanks for reading!

[jinxaire.livejournal.com]

This was sweet! I'll have to return to this one when summer hits around here.

That last line was perfect, tee hee! ^_^ At least Gojyo knows he's whipped.

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

In his own way, I think Gojyo becomes pretty conscious of the difference between what makes him happy and the image that he used to need to project for his own survival ... .

I'm glad you liked the ending! I was worried that it was a bit forced.

[tess4.livejournal.com]

Niiice :) Cute couple^^

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

I love their opposite-attract vibe! Thanks for reading!

[minidrag33.livejournal.com]

Very nice. Short but sweet story. :)

[opalmatrix.livejournal.com]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I rather miss all the little writing assignments from saiyuki_time.

[pfmoi.livejournal.com]

Gojyo is so whipped. It's adorable.