"Once Upon a Time” Lasts Forever

Title: Meet Me in the Middle
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: E
Warnings: nothing much
Word count: : 4943
Notes: This was started more than two years ago for springkink IX (I miss springkink intensely! Where are the springkinks of yesteryear ... ?). The prompt was: Saiyuki: Hakkai/Gojyo, crossdressing, under the table and dreaming. Title from the America song:Sister Goldenhair: "Won't you meet me in the middle, won't you meet me in the end? Won't you love me just a little, just enough to show you care?" Beta read by smillaraaq.
Summary: Hakkai has a not-so-little secret. He's beginning to wonder whether Gojyo has one, too.

Hakkai shut the mathematics textbook with a snap ... .

Title: Two Lilies
Author: opalmatrix
Fandom: Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett
Warnings: none
Rating: G
Word count: 1,439
Pairing(s): n/a
Spoilers: Nothing much
Notes: For raspberryhunter in rarewomen 2012. Prompt: Susan Sowerby is probably the wisest person in this book, and yet we don’t know much about her. And she has all those kids and is raising them on so little money! I'd love to know something about her relationship with Lily ... . Beta by smillaraaq
Summary: Who would have thought that they had this much in common?

It was a bright spring day when they first met ... .

Title: He Who Waits
Author: opalmatrix
Fandom: Frontier Wolf - Rosemary Sutcliff
Warnings: Rating should be a "hard R"
Rating: R
Word count: 6,821
Pairing(s): Alexios/OFC, Alexios/Hilarion
Spoilers: For the end of the book
Notes: For calliope85, who wanted "the obsession with the dynamics of friendship, and how closely they shade into love" and said " I'd be overjoyed if you addressed the difficulties of equal free males engaging in a sexual relationship, but if you'd rather side-step and write blanketfic that'd be lovely too." I'm hoping I did a bit of both. Beta by smillaraaq and carmarthen
Summary: A winter hunting expedition changes everything.

On a bright afternoon early in the autumn, the Commander of Castra Cugerna strode out of his quarters and across the parade ground ...

Title: Those Who Help Themselves
Author: opalmatrix
Fandom: Chronicles of the Kencyrath - P. C. Hodgell
Warnings: nothing much
Rating: G
Word count: 1722
Pairing(s): n/a
Spoilers: mild for recent books
Notes: For Northland, who said " I love Jame, so literally anything about her will make me happy. Some of my other favourite characters you might choose to have her interact with: ... Gorbel ... . Beta by smillaraaq
Summary: Jame and her ten-command decide enough is enough and take matters into their own hands. Tasty, tasty matters.

It was several weeks past Midwinter, and the cadets at Tentir had once again fallen into their routine of chilly classrooms and hair-raising fighting practices ...

Title: The Empty Hours
Author: opalmatrix
Fandom: Saiyuki
Warnings: Some disturbing imagery (Hakkai POV, so no big surprise there)
Rating: PG-13/T
Word count: 1954
Pairing(s): Gojyo/Hakkai
Spoilers: Nothing much
Notes: Written for springkink. Prompt - Saiyuki, Gojyo/Hakkai: domesticity (without a relationship), longing, UST - It was at night, especially, that he missed Gojyo the most, when it felt as though his scars might break open and consume him if he was alone. This is set after the Burial arc. Beta by smillaraaq and lady_ganesh .
Summary: There's so much to do during every day. At night, however, it's quite another matter.

Hakkai was always up at dawn ...

Title: Image
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: Descriptions of hideous wounds and medical treatment.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing(s): n/a
Spoilers: A bit for Balalaika's background.
Notes: shortfic written for smillaraaq . Prompt: Balalaika, mirrors. Un beta-ed.
Summary: What does Balalaika see in her reflection? It depends.

Title: Perfect Fit
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: R
Warnings: m/f sex
Prompt: Discworld, Carrot/Angua: biting - "Don't do that."
Word count: : 559
Summary: A little thing like that won't stop him.
A/N: Written for springkink IX. Beta by the ever-attentive smillaraaq.

Carrot had overheard women talking about their sweethearts ...

Title: Return: 950 CE
Author: opalmatrix
Fandom: Gentlemen of the Road by Michael Chabon
Warnings: nothing much
Rating: PG for passing mention of adult issues
Pairing(s): n/a, although Amram/Zelikman could be assumed
Spoilers: hints about the ending of the novel
Word Count: 727
Notes: written for nextian for purimgifts 2010, Day 2. Beta by the inspirational smillaraaq.
Summary: Amram and Zelikman discover that their adventures in Khazaria may not be over.

Zelikman toyed morosely with the bread crust on his platter and waited for Amram ... .

Title: His Story
Author: opalmatrix
Rating: PG
Warnings: Hints of m/m
Prompt: Samurai Deeper Kyo, Bontenmaru/anyone, history lesson, "And then there was the time I..."
Word count: : 409
Summary: Bontenmaru wasn't Akari's type, but that didn't mean she disliked him.
A/N: Written for springkink IX. Beta by the amazing smillaraaq and the incredible blackcatbone.

Bon-chan was on a roll ...

Title: Good for What Ails You
Author: opalmatrix
Warnings: explicit m/m sex
Rating: NC-17 / MA
Pairing(s): Chikage/Ono
Spoilers: a little of Chikage's history
Prompt: Antique Bakery: Chikage/Ono, breakfast in bed.
Notes: written for smillaraaq , who was also the beta reader. Happy holidays, imouto-chan!
Summary: When Ono is sick, Chikage makes a house call.