If You Want to Kiss the Sky

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Branch

Ink Burns

This is a work of fiction. All characters and events portrayed in this book are fictional, and any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

This is a work of fanfiction, produced according to the principles of transformative fair use as put forward in US copyright law, and abiding by the custom and practice of fan-produced work in Japan, where the source texts were created. No author is in any way affiliated with any of the creators of the source texts, nor with the companies who distribute their products, nor any other rights holder, and these stories were not authorized by either the creators or the producers. Ink Burns is a fan site and the material here is freely provided for the enjoyment of fellow fan-community members; there is no commercial infringement.

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share Alike 3.0 US license at the Ink Burns fanfiction archive (http://alltrees.org/archive/).

Published on 2009-02-02 11:42:25.

Attributions can be made by author's name and a link to the archive.

This ebook edition was published on May 14, 2012 by the Ink Burns fanfiction archive.

If You Want to Kiss the Sky

Nicholas corners Lui about his trust issues. Drama with Kissing, I-3

Nicholas paced Lui's private office, running his hands through his hair in exasperation.

"You have to give something back, Lui! You're starting to lose the Ministers and the Strahl both."

"They should have no complaint." It wasn't even a statement, it was a pronouncement. Nicholas rolled his eyes.

"Yes, all right, you're good at your job, you fulfill your duties and then some, you'll probably be one of our strongest kings. But I told you years ago! You can't do it all yourself!" He turned and flung out his hands. "For God's sake, even Orphe isn't talking to you this week!"

Which was how he'd gotten elected to the next turn of thumping sense into Lui, and he'd have to remember to find some way to thank Ed for that.

Lui sniffed. "Orpheus overdramatizes things."

"Orpheus knows what to do with loyalty," Nicholas growled. "You could learn a few more things from him."

Lui looked away. "I doubt that."

"Hah! The problem isn't even arrogance, or wanting all the control is it? Loyalty is the one thing that scares you, is what it is," Nicholas threw at him.

Lui stood still, one hand resting on his desk. "Fears are often born of logic. One must simply deal with them."

"Yeah?" Nicholas crossed the room to him in a few swift strides and dropped down to his knees. "Can you deal with it?" He raised his hands, pressed palm to palm, eyes fixed on Lui.

For a long moment, neither of them moved. The usual glint in Lui's eyes was quenched and dark.

"You can't, can you?" Nicholas said quietly. "I'm already sworn to you as my king, and even so you don't have the courage take it personally."

Lui's nostrils flared as he inhaled sharply, and his hands moved, closing around Nicholas'. At the touch, Lui paused again, and Nicholas grinned darkly; nothing like a challenge to make Lui act. From the twist of Lui's mouth, he knew he'd fallen for it, too.

"It seems a little superfluous to ask if you're willing," he murmured, dryly.

"Of course I'm willing." Nicholas snorted. "I am your man."

The glint in Lui's eyes flared to life again and his lips quirked. "Very well, then. I accept you." The quirk got more pronounced, downright wicked now. "And since such things should be done properly..." His hands closed on Nicholas' shoulders and he bent down to kiss him.

It wasn't a ceremonial kiss, and could not, by any stretch, be considered a kiss of peace. Lui's mouth on his was hot and demanding, opening his mouth fiercely and plundering it. Nicholas pushed back, tongue sliding against Lui's, sparring fast and strong the way they did with swords.

It was good. It was right, to refuse to surrender to Lui's strength and fire, and all the while feel the hardness of the floor under his knees, the tug of his spine arched back, because he had offered himself up willingly. It was the way they were with each other.

Finally Lui drew back, tongue tracing one last time over Nicholas' lower lip. Nicholas found he was panting, hands wound tight in Lui's shirt, and laughed, breathless. "Somehow I don't think this is going to work with all your officials."

Lui gave him a rarely exasperated look for the suggestion, mouth twisted in faint disgust, and Nicholas smirked.

"Well, don't worry," he said, as he rose, "I'll be sure to whack you another one if you don't shape up."

"How very comforting."

Nicholas grinned at his friend. "See you tomorrow, my liege."

Lui's parting look would have been a glower on anyone less controlled, and Nicholas decided he'd prodded enough for one day. Any more and Lui would start talking about the Russian embassy post again.

Now to find Ed and collect on the drink he was owed for this.

End