Drabble Dump!

[kageotogi]

Editing is for pansies. Clearly. XD Right. So! Back in April, I posted the ever-popular Drabble Meme and received eleven responses. The first five are here, and below you'll find the last six. *heart* I'm sorry it took so long!

...it took over a month, to be precise. *facepalm* Sorry for the wait, everyone.

6. For rageboxalice. Prompt: Gundam Wing with Heero, Quatre, and Wufei -- preferably featuring Wufei's lack of computer skils.

Gundam Wing: Mission
Ever since the end of the Eve Wars, Quatre had been trying his hardest to convince his fellow ex-Gundam pilots to visit him in his mansion on L4. Duo had been an easy catch; Quatre had promised him free food and Duo had practically bolted to his front door. Trowa had been a little more difficult, but he had succumbed to Quatre's wishes within a few weeks; the stoic pilot never had been able to resist Quatre. Wufei had been a challenge -- he had insisted he had work to do, and while that was undoubtedly true, Quatre did not accept his excuse. A year went by before Wufei graced the Manor with his presence.

Heero, much to Quatre's surprise, was a great deal easier to drag in than he had thought -- all he had to do was tell the Wing pilot that he had a mission lined up and Heero all but teleported to the nearest shuttle-port. Now the only trick was getting Heero to stay.

"What are the mission details?" Heero asked as Quatre led him upstairs to a guest room.

Quatre hesitated. "Well, it's a bit complicated."

"Complicated." Heero's ability to make questions sound like statements but still be questions was truly amazing.

"Yes. Very complicated."

"Details."

"Of course." Quatre gestured to a room, where Heero dropped his things, and then started down the hall. Heero followed. "It involves Wufei."

Heero eyed him. "Involves Wufei how."

"This way," Quatre said, and opened another door. Inside the room, Wufei was scowling at a computer, which answered the scowl with a stubborn blue screen. A few seconds passed, and then Wufei growled. Audibly.

Heero glanced to Quatre, who shut the door.

"I only just discovered it myself," Quatre said, "but Wufei seems to be completely computer-illiterate."

"Impossible."

"I thought so, too," Quatre agreed, "before I looked over the designs of his Gundam. Did you know the only mechanisms in Shenlong were the ones involved in movement? Wufei did all the rest manually, and without a computer." He sighed. "I asked him to do me a favor involving some research, set him down in front of a computer, and five minutes later he asked me where he could find the 'any' key."

Heero furrowed his brow. "My mission is to teach him how to use a computer, then."

"Yes." Quatre tried a smile. "It's silly, I know, but I can't release him back into the real world without such basic knowledge. Everything is run by computers these days; I don't know how he managed before!"

"It will be difficult."

"I know, but please..."

Heero was quiet for a long while, clearly contemplating the potential mission. Quatre could only imagine what was going through his head: the difficulty of undertaking the task, of course, and having to deal with Wufei's tendency to be irrational and stubborn... Not to mention that both Heero and Wufei had impressive tempers and would probably pull guns on one another the moment they got into a quarrel. Quatre sighed. Perhaps this had been a bad idea, but there was no taking it back now.

At last, Heero nodded. "All right," he said. "Mission accepted."

Quatre let out a relieved sigh and smiled. "Thank you," he said. He opened the door again. "Good luck."

Once Heero was in the room, Quatre shut the door and then hightailed it down the hallway. He did not want to be anywhere nearby while these lessons were underway.

---end---

7. For marsgirlly. Prompt: Tatsuha and Ryuichi.

Gravitation: Care
There were very few things in the world that Sakuma Ryuichi actually cared about. One was his teeth. He was very concerned for his teeth, and he was careful to brush them extra well and floss them when necessary and occasionally attempt to whiten them, although Noriko swore that if he whitened them anymore he'd end up blinding people. Another thing was his hair, and he spent a lot of time taking care of that, too. He dyed it to get rid of grays and combed and cut it himself, even though Tohma often cringed when Ryuichi took the man's scissors from his desk, and he occasionally counted all the hairs he could before he got bored and stopped. He also cared for Kumagorou and singing and people who sang and played music, but those were a given. Oh, and shoes. Shoes were very important; if he walked around outside without shoes, he would get glass in his feet and Never Walk Again and Tohma had made it very clear that Ryuichi should not aspire to be disabled no matter how much fun the wheelchairs looked.

Yes, Ryuichi knew what he cared about, and he always took care of the things he cared about because otherwise those things might go away and he'd be all alone without them. He had learned to associate things that needed to be taken care of with things he cared about, and that was okay. It was nice to work for the things he liked.

That was why he was stunned, of course, when Tatsuha rolled over in the bed he occasionally slept in while he was in Tokyo and Ryuichi was around to let him in and sex him up, and asked Ryuichi one tiny little question:

"Do you care for me?"

Ryuichi's gut reaction was to giggle and shake his head no. Why should he care about Tatsuha? He didn't have to take care of him; Tatsuha was a big boy with a motorcycle and everything, and Ryuichi had been on the motorcycle and it was almost as fun as a wheelchair even though it was a lot more dangerous. Also, Tatsuha was a monk and that meant he had special monk powers -- Tatsuha had told him so. Tatsuha could definitely take care of himself.

As Ryuichi's lips shaped to say the word, he paused as his gut went topsy-turvy and spun him around in his head. Tatsuha could take care of himself most of the time, yeah, but could he take care of himself all the time? Ryuichi considered that. Well, when Tatsuha drove to Tokyo in the rain, he always looked like a drowned kitten (and Ryuichi had seen four of those in his life, and that was very sad) and Ryuichi had to help him to the bath and make him warm and fix him tea and make things better. And there was one time when Tatsuha got lost on the way to a concert so Ryuichi had to coerce someone into driving him to go pick Tatsuha up on the side of the road even though it made Ryuichi late for the concert, but that was okay because it was a joint concert with some other band that ran over anyway. There were other things, too. Yes, Ryuichi sometimes had to take care of Tatsuha, even though Tatsuha could mostly take care of himself.

So what did that mean?

Tatsuha furrowed his brow as the silence dragged on and Ryuichi considered his answer, and Ryuichi almost liked making Tatsuha look so worried even though it was mean, because making Tatsuha worried meant he got to make it up to him later. But it was mean, and Tatsuha had told him a story once about people who were mean and got lots of bad karma, and Ryuichi really didn't want to have bad karma because that involved being a bug for the rest of his life or something.

Ryuichi cleared his throat.

Tatsuha looked at him expectantly.

"I care about you when you can't care about yourself," Ryuichi answered.

Tatsuha looked a little surprised by that answer, but he smiled anyway and nodded, stretching on the bed like a dog. Ryuichi curled up next to him and Tatsuha put an arm around the singer's waist.

It wasn't much of an answer, but it would have to do and that was okay -- Tatsuha was used to rolling with Ryuichi's well-intended punches.

---end---

8. For domacatrix. Prompt: Firefly/Serenity, Mal and Inara.

Firefly: What They Mean
"Another detour on our way to more civilized worlds?"

Mal doesn't need to look over his shoulder to know that Inara is standing there, but he does anyway. "Just a quick errand," he answers. "We have to make enough to refuel the ship before we head over to wherever it is you want us to drop you off."

"Your 'quick errands' almost always end up lasting longer than you intend," Inara reminds him as she moves up alongside Mal to peer out the little window. "Just try not to run into trouble this time; that always tends to prolong your errands."

"Trouble has a funny way of running into me," Mal says. "Not the other way around. But I'll note your concern."

Inara purses her lips. "It isn't concern," she says. Mal isn't very good at reading Inara, but sometimes he's practically positive the way she lowers her voice when she says things like that mean she's lying. Course, he might be imagining things, too.

"What is it then?"

Instead of answering, Inara smiles. She reaches past Mal to brush her fingertips against the wall by the little window. Her smile turns wistful. Maybe. Assuming Mal is reading her right this time.

"You missing the black so soon?"

"Hardly." Inara draws her hand back and the light catches on her bangle, flashing into Mal's face. He ignores it. So does she. "It will be good to be back in civilized company."

"You aren't going to miss anything, then?" Mal asks before he can stop himself.

"I didn't say that," Inara says, her eyes flashing toward Mal. "I'll miss some of the crew. Kaylee, mostly. She has been almost like a younger sister to me."

"I gathered by the way she's always skirting off to get her hair played with," Mal says, and he stares out the window so he isn't tempted to lean in and smell her hair. He's got a bad habit of doing that when he doesn't think she's looking, and someday he's gonna get caught. He's just waiting for that day.

Inara shakes her head. "If it were that much of an inconvenience, I'm sure she would not do it."

"Mayhaps."

They are quiet for a very long while and then Mal glances to Inara. "It'll just be a quick errand," he says in that way that means 'don't worry.'

"Good," she answers in that way Malcolm thinks means 'it had better be.'

Mal nods. "And once it's done, we'll cart you off to your civilized lands," and he means to say 'stay.'

Inara nods her head and turns around. "I appreciate that," she says, and this time Malcolm hasn't any idea what she means.

Then again, that's pretty usual when it comes to Inara.

---end---

9. For user oro. Prompt: Firefly/Serenity, Mal and Inara.

Firefly: Flight
The night Serenity dropped Inara off once and for all at the companion school just so happened to be the same night Serenity popped a gasket and managed to ground herself just twenty miles outside the school. The headmasters at the school were accommodating, of course, and they offered all of the crew places -- rooms -- in which to stay while they waited to figure out what went wrong with the gasket. Most of the crew opted to stay on the ship. Wash and Zoë clearly intended to relish their night off and locked themselves in their cabin almost immediately after Mal told everyone that they would be staying on planet for a bit. Simon and River stayed out of fear, mostly Simon's, even though Inara assured the doctor that no one would recognize him or his sister, much less turn them into the feds. Jayne stayed onboard only because Mal gave him a Look and mentioned that there would be no fraternizing with the companions, trained or otherwise, at the school. The Shepard stayed on board because he was the shepherd.

In the end, only Kaylee and the captain decided to try their luck in the school, so the headmasters prepared rooms for them both (and for Inara, although her room was more suitable for permanent living).

All in all, Inara wasn't altogether shocked when the door to her room opened and Mal entered -- without knocking, otherwise announcing himself, or waiting to be welcomed in. Inara paused in brushing her hair and half-turned to look at him.

"Did you want something?"

Mal took a seat on her bed, and as soon as he did he realized he had and looked uncomfortable. "Not really, no."

Inara raised one exquisite eyebrow. "Then is there a reason you barged in here?"

"Just doing it one last time for memory's sake," Mal said, and then shook his head. "No, that's not right. Just came in to tell you don't have to stay here if you don't want. If you're trying to prove some kind of point."

"I have nothing to prove."

Mal frowned. "Guess not," he answered, and shrugged. He stood. "Guess I'll go, then."

Inara was not particularly surprised in the way he gave in so easily, either. Every now and then, Mal acted like a defeated man and would refuse to put up any fight whatsoever. Inara had gotten used to those times. Really, there were a great many things Inara had gotten used to while on Mal's ship.

Mal paused in the doorway. "You're sure you're going to be okay here?"

"Of course," Inara answered, and smiled once. "And if I need anything, I know who to call to rescue me."

Mal snorted. "You don't need rescuing."

Inara hesitated, then smiled. "You never know," she answered, turning back to her mirror and her hair brushing. "Good night, Mal."

Mal hesitated. "Goodbye, Inara," he said, and then left.

When Inara awakened the next morning to discover that Serenity and her crew had all disappeared sometime during the night, she was not surprised by that, either. Mal never had learned when it was worse to choose flight over fight, and that probably came from choosing fight all too often.

---end---

10. For ambrosewulf. Prompt: Saiyuki, anything with Gojyo.

Saiyuki: Waking Up
"Gojyo... Gojyo, wake up and gimme your lighter."

Gojyo opened an eye and found Goku leaning in so close that their noses were practically touching. Gojyo scowled and put his hand over Goku's face, pushing him away.

"That's not a good way to wake someone up from their beauty rest," Gojyo half-snapped and half-murmured. He was way too tired for this. It was the middle of the night and Sanzo had decreed it 'not worth it' to drive to the next town, so they were camping out in the middle of nowhere -- in the car -- which wasn't exactly comfortable. That was all made worse, of course, when they had had to fight a shitload of youkai assassin-wannabes about an hour before turning in. Gojyo was wiped -- bone wiped -- and the last thing he needed was some goddamn monkey getting in his face like this.

Goku made a face. "No one cares about your face anyway," he said. He held out his hand. "Gimme your lighter."

"What for?"

"It's cold."

Gojyo frowned. "You're going to start a fire?"

"What?" Goku looked surprised. "Course not."

"Then what do you need a lighter for?"

"Because," Goku said, giving Gojyo an 'are you stupid' kind of look. "It's cold."

"So get a blanket."

"That isn't going to help."

"Why not?"

"Because it won't!"

Gojyo rolled his eyes. "Fine," he said. "Here." He pulled his lighter out of his pocket and tossed it to Goku, who caught it with no trouble and then turned his back to Gojyo, hunching his back. The lighter clicked a few times and then Goku murmured something that sounded a little like "aha" and straightened a little.

Okay, so the monkey was weird. Gojyo frowned and sat up. "What are you doing?" He tried to look over Goku's shoulder, but the monkey shifted so that Gojyo ended up with a mouthful of sleeve. He tried again, and Goku parried.

"Quit it!"

Gojyo scowled. "You quit it," he snapped. "Let me see what you're doing with my lighter!"

"It's nothing bad!"

"Goddammit, monkey! Let me see!"

"No! Go back to sleep, you pervy water sprite!"

"You stop being a pill and move your shoulder, monkey!"

"I'm not a monkey!"

"You wanna bet? Move your ass!"

There was a rustling from the front seat and both Gojyo and Goku froze. If that was Sanzo, they were going to get bullets in their heads; the monk didn't like to be woken up no matter what it was for. Could they fake being asleep? Probably. But would Sanzo buy it...? Like it or no, the monk wasn't the most gullible guy on the face of the planet. God. They were gonna die, and then...

"What are you two fighting about this late at night?" Hakkai asked, turning around in his seat to look at the pair. "Shouldn't you be asleep?"

Goku immediately started to whine. "Gojyo is picking on me!"

"The monkey stole my lighter and won't let me see what he's doing with it!"

"I didn't steal it! You gave it to me!"

"Then I should be able to see what you're doing with it!"

Hakkai glanced from Goku to Gojyo and back, then sighed. "He's heating up a meat bun," he said, reaching over the seat. He plucked the lighter from Goku's hand and gave it back to Gojyo, then took the meat bun as well. "Shame, Goku. You won't be able to sleep if you eat that now."

"But I'm --"

"Hungry, yes, I know." Hakkai turned around and secreted the meat bun away. "It will still be here when you wake up."

"But --"

"And Gojyo," Hakkai continued. "You should be more of an adult about these things."

"But I --"

Hakkai cut him off with one of those 'don't ever wake me up again' smiles that Gojyo had gotten to be a little too used to from years of living with the other. "Goodnight, you two." He turned back around and settled into his seat. "I'll see you in the morning."

Gojyo and Goku shot each other death glares and went to their respective sides of the car to sleep. There was no arguing with Hakkai.

---end---

11. For punkheid. Prompt: Saiyuki, Hakkai and Gojyo.

Saiyuki: Arrangements
"Mmm." Hakkai stretched out on the bed and smiled at the way the sheets slid beneath his skin. "That was nice."

Gojyo shrugged, sat up, and lit a cigarette. "It was all right."

Considering the circumstances, that was high praise. Gojyo was a ladies man, so his newfound not-quite relationship with Hakkai sometimes left him a little overwhelmed. That was all right, though; it had taken some getting used to for Hakkai, too.

Hakkai kept his smile steady. "I think we're getting better at it."

"Ahuh."

This time, Hakkai rolled his eyes. Gojyo often acted impassive about their not-quite relationship, so Hakkai was used to that, but occasionally it did get old. He knew more or less what Gojyo was feeling, after all -- confusion ("But neither of us are gay," the half-breed had pointed out on several occasions, and Hakkai could only agree with him), a touch of anger ("You did this to me," Gojyo had once accused, and Hakkai had not been able to argue, although he was sure it had worked the other way around. Gojyo had been the one to coax Hakkai to his bed before Hakkai even thought to coax Gojyo into his), and, of course, a good bit of anxiety ("What if someone finds out?" they had both asked, on several occasions, and neither of them had been able to answer that question). They both felt the same things about this, more or less, but Hakkai was dealing with it a lot better than Gojyo. He had learned to accept it. Gojyo had yet to stop fighting it. Still, Hakkai was sure it would all work out in time, and that was what mattered.

Right?

Of course.

Hakkai stretched again. "You know," he said, "we could always stop this. If you would prefer it."

Gojyo frowned and glanced in Hakkai's direction, but didn't say a word.

"I wouldn't be offended," Hakkai continued, shutting his eyes. "After all, this is a very complex and confusing arrangement. I never quite know who is initiating what. Do you?" He didn't wait for an answer. "So if you would like to end it, feel free to just say the words."

"Hakkai?"

"Yes?"

"Shut up."

Hakkai glanced to Gojyo. "All right, but I just want to make it clear that if you feel uncomfortable with this at any time, all you have to do it --"

Gojyo interrupted Hakkai with a kiss, one of the ones that reminded Hakkai of why he had gone to Gojyo's bed in the first place. One with teeth and lips and tongue and who knew what else, but it was something wonderful. Hakkai threaded his fingers through Gojyo's hair and whined unintelligibly when Gojyo pulled away.

The redhead glared. "Don't be stupid," he said, and pushed himself out of bed. He started looking around for his jeans and, once he found them, pulled them on.

Hakkai watched Gojyo for a while, then nodded. "All right," he said, and tried to keep the smile off his lips.

---end---

And that's it! Thanks for your patience, everyone!

Comments

[jinsai.livejournal.com]

This are very good! I know you've been worried about your writing lately but I think maybe taking a break has only done you good. I especially love the Gundam and the Gravitation drabbles. The bit about Ryuichi dying his hair I think is a wonderful touch of realism. Good job!

[kageotogi.livejournal.com]

Thank you! I'm glad you think so. ^.^