March themed challenge.

[merikuru]

No master list for Februantasy (and I swear I had this scheduled to post; clearly I've broken my scheduler...) so on we go!

March's challenge is:

M/March!

This is the month to bring out all your male/male relationships. A cuddle before a warm fire, a romp in the sheets, a day spent fixing up the house or car or something else in friendly contemplation - here's where it all belongs. Let there be men!

All fics written for this challenge should be posted as a comment on this entry (a comment with a link to an offsite post is also fine). If your work has spoilers, please add an [S] tag to the comment title. If it has mature content, please add an [MA] tag.

This theme challenge will end on March 31st, 11:59 PM Central Standard Time.

Comments

such silly irrationalities [Fire Emblem Engage, Fogado/Rosado]

[sarajayechan]

"She's looking cute these days," Fogado says as the bookseller girl waves to them, and Rosado bites down hard on his lip.

Rosado's not exactly private about his competitive side, Goldmary cam tell anyone and he'll readily own it. He loves himself, encourages others to do the same, adores praise but doesn't think he craves it as much as Goldmary or Hortensia.

Except when it comes to Fogado, he's still silly and immature and insecure.

He understood what Fogado meant about not trying to see the world as a contest, that it was silly to compare every cute person or thing to every other cute person or thing. He still understands this, has learned to accept Fogado's praises and compliments without fishing for more, because he knows he means them.

He knows this, but that silly part of himself still longs to be the cutest in his boyfriend's eyes. He's met the bookseller before, she is cute, and a real sweetheart, too. Just like the mutual friends he can watch Fogado call cute without batting an eyelash.

But we're on a date. He's a Prince, he can't just be rude and ignore everyone but me, but I'm still supposed to be the one he's thinking about most! Silly, he's being silly and childish, getting so sulky over one girl, and besides, this is a casual date. Not like he got dressed to the nines and did his hair and they're at a fancy café, they're walking through Solm, sightseeing, in their regular casual-

"Hey." Fogado stops walking, turns to him and puts a hand on his cheek. "Don't worry so much." Rosado swallows, forcing a smile even after he spent all morning telling Hortensia not to do the same.

"I-I'm not worried! Or jealous, or anything dumb like that!" Fogado brushes his fingers through one of Rosado's long curls, smooths his bangs, his smile gentle and reassuring.

"She may be cute," he says, "but she's not mine." His. Rosado lets out a small laugh, feeling his anxiety start to melt away. He laughs, his eyes misting over a bit as his anxieties melt away.

"I'm so ridiculous sometimes." Fogado's arm wraps around him, drawing him close, and Rosado leans into him. "I know how lucky I am to be with a Prince of Solm, but..."

"You?" Fogado laughs. "I'm the lucky one. You're not just cute, you're smart and talented and incredibly strong...face it, Rosado. The moment you told me how you felt I knew I'd hit the jackpot." Rosado's cheeks heat up, and not from the midday sun.

"Prince Fogado, you...really don't need to lay it on so thick." He smiles. "Thank you, though."

"Don't worry so much, okay? I don't mind telling you you're mine if you need to hear it," Fogado says. Rosado nods, smiling as he tilts his head up. Fogado's lips brush against his, and his insecurities slowly fade.

He doesn't need to be the cutest thing Fogado's ever seen. He's his, and that's more than anyone could ever ask for.

lay your weary head to rest [Sailor Moon, Kunzite/Zoisite]

[sarajayechan]

Zoisite accused him of being a workaholic, but he was no better himself at times. Kunzite tried to do most of the tedious background tasks so Zoisite could get the credit for their current mission, and in turn the other would balk at the idea. You're the most powerful of us all, if nothing else we should be working together!

Right now, Kunzite was tempted to finally take him up on that offer. Zoisite sat slumped over in their bed, legs crossed as he studied the Black Crystal for any signs of activity. But his eyes were half-closed, he was shivering, and he looked ready to fall over.

Without a word, Kunzite retrieved a spare blanket and draped it over Zoisite's shoulders. Zoisite looked up, the Crystal almost falling from his shaky grasp.

"Just...just give me another minute, Kunzite. It might-"

"It's late. I don't think we'll be finding the next one tonight." Kunzite gently took the Crystal from his hand and put it in its proper resting place before joining his lover on the bed. Zoisite sighed, leaning against him; Kunzite instinctively reached up to feel his forehead. It wasn't warm, but their innate abilities didn't make them immune to sickness. This wasn't the first time this week he'd caught Zoisite working this hard, and he could develop a fever if he kept it up.

"T'morrow," Zoisite murmured, his eyes falling shut. "Promise...tomorrow, the next one..."

"Rest." Kunzite smoothed a few wayward strands of copper hair away from his lover's face, brushing his fingers through his ponytail. Within seconds, Zoisite was fast asleep.

Tomorrow, we'll look for the next one together.

Worth My Time and Then Some [FEW Three Hopes, Ashe/Yuri][MA for a bit of canon-typical violence]

[sarajayechan]

"Don't you ever get tired of risking your neck for my sake?"

He's not even hurt that badly, it's just a scratch because this time the guys after Yuri were more prepared. While Ashe hasn't obtained the same noteriety as His Majesty for walking into what Yuri dubs "Crime Alley" to lift wagons for old ladies, many of Yuri's rivals and fellow "businessmen" know that someone trails the Savage Mockingbird and fires arrows at anyone who tries to harm him.

This guy had a Levin Sword, and a bolt of lightning had hit Ashe's arm. Yuri insisted on patching him up himself, because he feels guilty even if he'd never admit it.

"Not really," Ashe says as Yuri peels back his sleeve and rubs some salve onto the burn. He doesn't even wince, it's the same salve Lonato used to give him for cuts and bruises. "It's no worse than some of the injuries I got training with the knights."

"Oh." Yuri goes silent as he keeps working, his expression growing more somber. "There," he says, tying off the bandage, "that should hold it."

"Thanks."

"You'd better go see His Majesty, let him know you'll be out of commission for a couple days," Yuri says, and Ashe shakes his head. This isn't the first time they've had this talk.

"He and the others know I've been looking out for you," he says, "and they understand."

"You're a knight," Yuri says slowly. "You're supposed to be protecting the King first and foremost, then your fellow knights, then the people, then the Church, and if there's time then maybe those Alliance guys." He looks down. "You're a busy guy, Ashe, you don't have time to waste protecting scum like me."

For all his bluster, all his angry declarations of pride in breaking the law and stealing and swindling, Yuri can be incredibly insecure. Why should a proper knight waste his time hanging around a guy like me? Go, sit with your highborn friends, enjoy being cream of the crop, pretend I'n not here. Even when they were kids, Yuri asked why the son of a nice guy like Lonato was bothering with some runaway from House Rowe.

Yuri always says someday he'll explain everything, but Ashe doesn't care whether he does, he only knows Yuri is an important person and he wants to protect him even if it means getting the occasional burn or bruise or scratch.

"I decide what I have time for," he says firmly, cupping Yuri's chin; Yuri just barely raises his eyes, arms folded over his chest. "And protecting you will always be one of my top priorities. Even if they didn't understand, I'd still follow you and I'd still take care of anyone who tried to hurt you."

Yuri slowly looks up, genuine disbelief and uncertainty on his face.

"You hate what I do. You're always trying to make me stop."

"That doesn't mean I want you to die." Ashe wraps his good arm around Yuri and tugs him close, Yuri going tense for a moment before leaning into him. "You risk your life protecting the people you care about, but who protected you, Yuri?" Yuri's teeth worry at his upper lip, his eyes shifting to the side before looking back down at Ashe.

"Who'd want to protect the Savage Mockingbird? I was doing fine by myself."

"Even if you were, I do this because I want to. I chose this role of my own accord," Ashe says. "You're worth it. Even if it means I might get a little banged up in the process." Yuri makes a grouchy face at him, even as he leans closer.

"No fair taking my words and using them against me."

"I mean them." Ashe brushes a kiss to his cheek, because he can't quite reach the top of his head like this. Yuri's only about an inch taller than him, but still. "Anytime you're in trouble, I'll be there with that arrow and those ruffians won't know what hit them." Or they will, but they'll be too injured or dead to do anything about it. Yuri sighs, smiling just a little.

"Just promise you'll bring a Hexlock Shield with you next time, okay?" Ashe laughs.

"It's a deal."

[MA] fragments, slowly placed together [KazeKi, Serge/Gilbert]

[sarajayechan]

He awakens from a dream he can't remember other than Augu, smiling, holding out his arms as he drifted further and further away. He can't move, his head feels stuffed with cotton and everything else aches. When he's able to shift his gaze, he notices his arm wrapped in bandages and Serge slumped over by his bedside.

He figures out that he's alive based on two things:

One, they taught that in Heaven you feel no pain or even an ache, and his whole body is one big ache right now. But Heaven is for the pure and virtuous, not boys like him.

Two, Serge is here. If Serge were dead, he would be given a pass to Heaven with the excuse that Gilbert corrupted him. And why would Serge be dead?

So yes, he's alive. He tries to turn to fully look at Serge, only to bite back a cry of pain. Serge leaps up from his chair and goes to his side, gently stilling him.

"Don't move yet," he murmurs, "the doctor says it'll be a while before you can sit up without my help. It's almost time for your medicine, anyway." Gilbert flinches; here, take this, it'll make you feel good, open up now. "Don't worry, it's not like what they gave you."

Little pieces slowly begin to come back. Arguing with Serge, Serge leaving, those men finding him, the carriage, Augu.

Augu. His heart should lift at the thought of him, but you were there, you kept moving further away, you didn't even smile or say my name, you didn't come sooner to stop those men, you let me...let me...

Augu's not here. Deep in his heart, Gilbert knows better than to have expected it, you never loved me, did you? Serge is. He was angry before, he's been angry and yelled at Gilbert for his reckless, shameless behavior, but he's been here for...

"How long have I..."

"Almost three months," Serge whispers, "the doctors have been here every day. You almost..." He closes his eyes for a moment, his voice shaking. "You almost didn't make it. The poison in your system, your injuries...at one point you had no pulse, your heart stopped, two doctors gave up, then a third one, he..."

So he did die, even if only briefly.

Why? Why did you even bother, we're too poor to afford any doctors, how did you even pay, why did you spent what little money we had on me after...after...

Serge swallows, swiping at his cheeks, a tiny smile on his face.

"You're going to be okay, though, that's what matters." He kneels down, cupping Gilbert's face, and Gilbert just barely stops himself from dissolving in tears. Even after we fought and being with me has cost you everything, you're still here.

Augu always said he loved him. Serge has only said it a few times, and now Gilbert understands why. He leans his cheek into Serge's hand, smiling for the first time in what feels like months.

He doesn't deserve Serge's unconditional loyalty and love, but he wants to. He shouldn't be alive, but he is.

"When I'm well enough," he says quietly, "I'll look for work."

Serge's lips gently brush his, and Gilbert lets them.