Song of Thunder { chorus -- c r a s h }

Who you are
What you do
Makes me burn to be in you
...Just thought I'd let you know.




Auron moaned softly, and the first thing he noticed was that he was lying flat on his back. He made a pitiful attempt at rising.

"Hey, don't move," Jecht's rough, though strangely gentle voice, broke through the haze of his still not-quite functional mind.

"Is Braska-sama..."

There was a soft, almost disappointed sigh. "He went to his room, hours ago."

Auron shook his head, desperately trying to gather his thoughts. He rolled to one side, toward Jecht's voice, and gingerly opened his eyes.

When his vision cleared, he saw that Jecht was curled up beside him like a huge cat, face half-hidden beneath dark, unruly hair. He was watching Auron with a look full of concern, but strange satisfaction broke through at the edges. For some reason, it made the younger guardian feel a little uneasy.

A moment of silence passed between them, and then Jecht raised himself up on one elbow. "Feeling any better? That was a particularly nasty bolt you caught."

Auron groaned as realization hit him like a pile of bricks. "I got hit by lightning."

"Yup."

Auron knew what was coming next. A scathing remark, some I told you to wrap that damned sword of yours up, but none came.

"I was worried about you," Jecht admitted, finally. "We were so far away from the Agency, I thought you'd catch your death before we got here for sure."

"How long?" Short-hand speech, Auron's specialty. But Jecht understood.

"You've been out of it for about five hours or so."

Auron sighed. "Some guardian I am."

"Hey," Jecht admonished the younger man. "Don't be so hard on yourself, huh? Nothing happened, other than you getting blasted off your ass."

"Thanks for the consolation," Auron said dryly.

Beside him, Jecht chuckled. "Don't worry about it, eh? Everything turned out okay...you're just a little sick. That's all."

Auron struggled to sit up, but Jecht pressed a firm hand to his chest. "Stay."

"Are you telling me what to do?" There was a hint of challenge in the other man's voice.

Jecht laughed aloud, leaning over Auron to look him straight in the eye. "Yeah, right now I guess I am. Just lay still. You need anything?"

"I need up. I can't be holding up Braska-sama..."

The older guardian arched a dark eyebrow. "You saying we need to get moving? It's long past dark, and you know as well as I do that Braska needs rest. So we're here until morning for sure."

Auron made a frustrated sound, then stopped, realizing that he was no longer wearing his own clothing. "Jecht. What am I wearing?"

"A nice fuzzy robe, compliments of the Rin Travel Agency."

"Why?"

"Braska didn't want you molding in that soaked getup you had on." He watched with interest as Auron's cheeks pinked in a very becoming blush.

"Oh, dear Yevon..."

Jecht laughed. "What? Not like it's something I ain't seen before."

Auron just groaned.

They both lay there, silent, for a few moments, and Jecht searched for something to do. He remembered the fire.

"Oh, yeah. Almost forgot."

"What?"

"The fire. I made one while you were sleeping."

Auron looked disbelieving. "You. Made a fire?"

"Of course," Jecht laughed, "it was easy. I just watched how you do it. Not nearly as difficult as it looks, huh?"

"I'm impressed," Auron muttered.

"Blitzers usually have an eye for picking up things other people do. It's how we learn new techniques."

"Oh." the younger guardian finally struggled up to a sitting position, looking over at where Jecht was crouched, re-arranging the positions of random bits of clothing. "Not a bad job."

For some reason, that silly little compliment made Jecht's day. He turned to look over one shoulder, and grinned. "Can I get you something while I'm up?"

Auron scowled. "I'm not disabled, you know. I just got hit by lightning."

"You're sick."

"No, I'm not."

Jecht stood and strode over to the bed, grabbing a hold of Auron's hand. He lifted it, and pressed it against Auron's forehead. "See? That's a fever."

Auron glared up at Jecht, but admitted that the fever was still there. Damn.

"And that's after one of Braska's handy little spells, too. So." He looked down at Auron. "Do you want something to drink, at least?"

"I guess."

Jecht picked up a tokkuri from beside his bag, and passed it to Auron.

"Where did you get that?"

"Heh. Bought it off the guy that runs this place. Pretty handy, huh? Full of Bevelle's finest. It should warm you up a bit."

Auron shook his head and accepted the jug, making a sour face as he drank a few sips. "You're right about the Bevelle part, at least. Thanks."

Jecht flopped back down on the bed, and Auron passed the clay jug back to him; Jecht took a swig of the alcohol, and looked to his companion. "Tastes like something they sucked outta a Quactar and peed in for spite. How can you drink that?" He reached into the pocket of his robe, where he'd put his own small flask of liquor.

Auron shrugged. "Acquired taste, I suppose."

"Well, I guess it's the thought that counts, anyway. I tried."

"Thanks."

Jecht was amazed by the fact that more than five minutes had passed without an argument breaking out between them. It was comforting. He looked towards Auron, as if he could tell what the other man was thinking by a glance, and noticed that he looked very distant despite the faint trace of smile at the side of his lips. It was a peaceful, contented smile, though, much unlike his usual aloof expression. "A gil for your thoughts?"

Auron's movements were slow as he turned and looked to Jecht. His lips pursed in question, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Why are you acting like this?"

"Like what?"

"Like this." Auron tilted his head to the side, moving one hand as he gestured to the other man. "You're acting differently."

"You mean that we're not fighting? Or that I'm not annoying you enough to beat me upside the head with that damned sword of yours?"

"Are you saying that I have a temper?"

Jecht bit back a laugh. "No, not at all, Auron. Don't get me wrong. Though maybe you are a little rough at times."

"I see." Auron scratched his neck, a slight frown tugging at the side of his mouth. He took a deep breath. "I, uh, guess you're not so bad. When you're not acting like such a child, that is."

Jecht let that one go. "I suppose."

"We're not fighting."

Jecht smirked. "I noticed. I'm not so bad, huh?" He stared at Auron for a few minutes, and chuckled quietly.

"What?"

"I was just thinking."

Auron arched a brow in Jecht's direction, waiting for the other man to continue. Jecht sat up after a moment, and leaned towards his companion. Auron's breath caught in his throat, but he didn't move. He lay completely still.

"I was just thinkin', that in all the time I've been in Spira, I was never scared. Maybe a little worried sometimes, I guess, but not really scared. But I about flipped back there, when you weren't wakin' up. I don't guess that's supposed to mean anything, but..."

He leaned down, and pressed a kiss to Auron's lips.

Auron's eyes were open the entire time, but he hadn't moved; it was like he was paralyzed. "W-why?" He managed to stammer out.

"Are you angry with me?" Jecht asked quietly, so close that Auron could breathe the words in.

I...

"...Cos if you are, I'll stop."

Auron blinked up at Jecht, his chest rising and falling rapidly with the frequency of his breath. But he made no sound -- he just stared up into the dark eyes of the man whose face hovered so close to his.

"No?" Jecht's voice held a fair amount of amusement in it. He kissed Auron again, raising himself up slowly to trap the younger guardian in the cage of his arms. Auron didn't respond at first, not even when Jecht opened his mouth a little to let his tongue play along the soft curve of Auron's lower lip.

Gradually, like a winter thaw, Auron began to open up. His eyes fluttered shut as his lips parted slowly, and Jecht plunged inside to taste the faded traces of alcohol on Auron's tongue. One of Jecht's hands raised, and he gently stroked the hair just above Auron's ear.

Auron made a soft noise and drew back slightly. Jecht let him go, but didn't move away. He just sat there, looking down at the man he'd just kissed, still stroking the inky blackness of Auron's hair. He gave Auron a smile, but it was slightly apprehensive, as if he was now expecting something to come and strike him down for his boldness.

There was silence as Auron tried to come to terms with what had just occurred. Jecht had given him fair time to protest the kiss, but he hadn't -- he'd just lain there and received it, and even returned it.

"What's wrong?" Jecht murmured, his courage returning tenfold after he'd realized Auron wasn't going to reject his kiss. "Haven't you been kissed before? Or maybe you just haven't been kissed by a man."

Auron's eyes widened and he turned away, feeling the heat rise to his cheeks. "It's not that."

"Ah, so you have?"

"If you must know --" Auron started indignantly, but Jecht shook his head.

"Nope, I don't care. Just a little curious, that's all." The man grinned, and leaned down for another kiss.

This time, Auron was ready. He lifted his head to meet Jecht, and their tongues dueled, an intricate dance that left both a bit breathless when it was over.

Jecht's eyes were sparkling with amusement and something deeper, something that turned them darker than usual. "Aren't you just full of surprises?" He muttered huskily.

Something like that would have angered Auron days, maybe even hours ago, but right now he wasn't bothered. Jecht was making a joke. He smiled slightly in response, and wondered what about the usually crude man had changed. The more he thought about it, the more he realized that, indeed, nothing had changed but perhaps his perception. "Er."

"Mm?" Jecht was looking down, watching him closely.

"I--I'm sorry I've been such an ass," Auron admitted finally. "I didn't really realize it until now."

Jecht grinned. "Heh, it's fine."

"Really?"

"Yeah. Really. Though you may be able to make it up to me." Jecht's voice couldn't be described any other way than a rough purr. He lowered his head until it rested on Auron's chest, his expression decidedly lecherous.

"You're taking advantage of me, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Do you mind?"

Something about the way Jecht responded to his question -- that utterly blatant phrase -- made Auron laugh harder than anything he could remember in a long time. Jecht laughed with him, curling his legs beneath him as he continued his steady-eyed gaze towards Auron, who realized he was still waiting for an answer.

He looked back at Jecht, running his eyes over the scarred, grizzled face, and more scars and hint of tattoo visible at the collar of the other man's robe. He saw, and he looked deeper, maybe for the first time since they'd met; he threw away all the things he'd held about the man before and really looked.

The man staring back at him was a little rough around the edges, but the heart showing through was, for the most part, untainted.

And he whispered, "no."

Jecht grinned lazily and ran a sword-callused hand down the side of Auron's face, leaning down to re-trace the path in faint, warm kisses. Auron made a soft sound in the back of his throat and tilted his head to the side, exposing more pale skin to Jecht's gentle explorations. Slowly, the kisses became teasing nips, and Auron squirmed at the tickling feel of Jecht's goatee against his hypersensitive flesh. Jecht nibbled on an earlobe and rose up on his knees, sliding one leg over Auron's hip, breathing heavily into his lover's ear with the growing intensity of his pulse.

Auron turned slightly; the movement brushed his thigh against Jecht's he felt the undeniable proof of the older man's desire and couldn't fight a blush that warmed up his entire face. One of Jecht's hands began to stroke his collarbone, his palm diving beneath the soft, warm fabric to touch fever-hot skin, and Auron felt the answering swirl of sensation at the base of his spine.

When Jecht's fingers brushed across the hardened nub of Auron's nipple, Auron nearly yelled. Jecht smirked at the little battle that Auron was fighting with himself, and began to push the robe back from Auron's chest, exposing the pale planes and ridges of muscle stretched over bone. His head bent down, and he took a nub in his mouth, rolling his tongue over the soft, dark area like a cat would.

Auron's back arched slightly from the bed, and his head fell to the side -- he panted heavily, glaring at Jecht out the corner of one eye. "You. You're teasing me, aren't you..?"

Jecht chuckled; a dark, rolling sound that sent shivers up and down Auron's spine. He shuddered, taking deep breaths, as if it would calm his raging body. He felt one hand slip between the folds of the robe, and suddenly a warm hand was wrapped around his swollen length, a callused thumb whispering across his hot skin in a ghost-touch. Jecht could feel Auron's thighs trembling against the back of his hand, and stroked once, still a feather touch, but one not soon forgotten.

"Now I'm teasing you."

"A-aa...damn you, Jecht..." Auron squeezed his eyes shut and lifted one arm over his face, as if hiding. Jecht ran his hand along Auron's length once more, then bent down, tongue flicking out, lashing at a dark nipple.

"You like that?"

"J-Jecht..."

Jecht's fist closed, just barely, and he continued to stroke, teasing the other guardian mercilessly. "Don't you, Auron?"

A low growl, a mix of half-felt pleasure and lust wrenched itself from Auron's throat. His teeth were clenched together tightly, his hips rocking into Jecht's hand despite his obvious attempt to stop it, and Jecht couldn't help but smile at the picture Auron made, lying beneath him. His dark hair fanned out around his head like a halo, enhancing the paleness of his face and neck, and even the darker lines of faint scars didn't detract from the picture.

Very, very lightly, Jecht ran his fingers along the underside of Auron's erection, cradling the warm, swollen flesh in his hand. He looked up to see a glimpse of Auron's dark eyes from beneath the shelter of his arm, and they looked almost distressed. "You're not going to make me beg for you. Are you?"

Jecht shook his head, nuzzling at Auron's neck. "Nah. I'm not that big a jerk." He nipped at Auron's bottom lip playfully, and the other guardian opened his mouth to receive his kiss as the arm he'd burrowed under slipped over his face to lie against the top of his head -- Auron's hips rocked insistently against Jecht and his hand, and Jecht grinned against Auron's mouth. His free hand lazily made its way along Auron's arm until they were palm to palm; he spread his fingers, capturing Auron's hand in his, and brought it up to join the other.

Strangely, Auron voiced no resistance as Jecht pinned both his hands above his head. Jecht absently wondered if the gorgeous man beneath him even noticed -- perhaps not; his body was too busy arching and rocking beneath Jecht, pressing their chests together, thrusting with near-abandon into the grip that would relieve the ferocious burning pressure that had flared to life in his groin, and now threatened to consume him whole with its sheer intensity.

Jecht pumped the other man harder, mercilessly, ignoring his own need to watch the way his lover's face shifted and changed, becoming something almost alien but beautiful. The careful mask of cold detachment had shattered like glass, leaving a warm, passionate being to spill out from the cracks -- and indeed, the writhing, whimpering guardian could be described as no less. He watched until he could stand no more, and buried his face against Auron's chest, laving at one rock hard pebble of flesh, stroking harder and faster until he felt the other's body tighten one last time. A long, rolling shudder moved down the whole of Auron's skin as he came; release a white wave of ecstasy and blood-hot fluid that splashed against Jecht's hand, arm and robe.

Auron's head fell back weakly against the pillow. His chest heaved furiously with the almost-difficult task of breathing, but Jecht's head resting against him was strangely comforting. He let out a watery sigh, and closed his eyes, reveling.

Jecht smiled as he looked at Auron's expression -- he could almost say he thought the man was glowing with some inner light. He released Auron's softening length and wiped his hand absently on the spread, releasing his lover's hands to curl up against him.

The raven-haired guardian cracked one eye open and turned to see Jecht, who was looking at him with a faint smile on his face.

"I don't think I saw that coming," he muttered.

Jecht laughed, and the sound curled around Auron like a second skin, penetrating him. He shuddered, watching as the laughter eventually eased from the other man's face, turning serious. "You okay?" He asked gently, the twin scars on the side of his cheek wrinkling slightly as he gave a half-worried smile with one side of his mouth.

Auron took a deep breath, biting down on the inside of his cheek as he thought about what Jecht asked. What had just happened, it could either bring them together, or drive them apart so irreversibly that nothing from there till eternity would ever heal the wound. And indeed, if that happened, Braska would suffer terribly.

But it's -- it's not about Braska-sama, this time, Auron thought. Even though...

He smiled back at at Jecht, the barest twitch of his lips, but more than enough. "I'm fine." Slowly, he reached out, letting one hand drift across the scarred side of Jecht's face. "Why'd you stop..?"

Jecht's eyes widened slightly in shock, and a fierce heat rose to his face as he looked into Auron's placidly questioning eyes. "Uh...I...uh..."

"Yeah?"

"I've um..."

Auron looked at him wryly, a bit of an ironic expression flickering across his face. Jecht's look of total discomfort told him everything. "You've never had sex with a man."

Jecht broke out into an embarrassed grin, one hand automatically moving to scratch at the back of his head. "I er...damn. Something like. Yeah." Women were one thing, but this...he thought about asking Auron exactly where he'd picked up that kind of information, but stifled that thought when Auron rolled over, rising to his hands and knees as he reached out at the bed stand. Jecht sat up, looking over at Auron, wondering what he was doing -- Auron's body hid his movements from Jecht, so the other man contented himself with gazing at the strands of fine black hair that clung in sweat-soaked strands on the pale milky whiteness of Auron's shoulder.

There was the sound of the stand's drawer opening, then rustling -- finally, Auron straightened and turned back to Jecht, clutching a small bottle in his hand. He dropped it rather unceremoniously in Jecht's lap, then reached out to pull on the belt that held Jecht's robe together.

Jecht arched a brow, beginning to feel a little self-conscious. "You...uh...seem pretty sure of yourself..."

Auron kept his attention on working the knot loose. "You started it."

"Guess I did, huh?" Jecht's nervous laughter made Auron look up at him.

"You want to, right?"

He slid the robe off Jecht's shoulders, baring scarred, sun-tanned skin and tattoo, just enough covering to preserve whatever pretense of modesty there might be left. Then he repeated the procedure, this time removing his own robe, feeling the fire-warmed air brush against his skin as his own flesh was revealed.

The robe fell away completely, and he sat before Jecht, naked and searching his eyes for a sign.

"Yeah..."

It was hard to tell who was more relieved. Jecht surged forward, tackling Auron to the bed, crushing their lips together in a fierce kiss that Auron returned with just as much intensity. He wrapped his arms around Jecht's body and pulled him closer, taking in the sensation of Jecht's hard arousal pressed between their bodies, feeling himself already beginning to stir again. Auron ran his hands through the thick mass of Jecht's hair, curling his fingers in it, breathing in a scent that was becoming increasingly familiar -- he tried to breathe Jecht in through his mouth and hands.

Jecht drew back, breathless, panting against the side of Auron's neck as he brushed more kisses along his pulse; the slight scratch of his facial hair was no longer unpleasant to the younger guardian, now that he was used to it -- he kneaded Jecht's scalp, and half-heard, half-felt the murmur of approval breathed against the hollow of his neck.

After a moment, Jecht raised his head, leaning over Auron nose-to nose, a faintly wicked grin appearing on his face. "So...whaddya want me ta do, huh?"

-

"Are ya sure about that?" Jecht stroked the side of Auron's face, looking rather concerned. "Sounds kinda painful..."

Auron choked back a tiny laugh, holding Jecht tighter against himself. "It's not, really."

"'Kay..." the older guardian didn't look positive, but he sat up, leaning back on his haunches, reaching behind him for the bottle that Auron had retrieved earlier. He held it in his hands, studying it.

Auron began to roll over, but Jecht shook his head, laying a hand against Auron's hip. Auron tilted his head in silent question, but Jecht just smiled. "I wanna look at you. That's okay, right?"

Something passed across Auron's eyes, a flare of something utterly brilliant and reverent and indescribable. It hovered there for a moment, just out of reach, before returning back to the depths of wherever it was the younger man kept his deepest emotions.

Whatever it was, it held Jecht captivated for all of a small eternity, until Auron's hand on his own brought him back to the urgency of the now. He smiled, rubbing the back of his hand against Auron's inner thigh, feeling the muscle tremble slightly beneath the pale flesh, watching Auron lay back and draw one knee up.

Jecht nudged Auron's legs apart just a bit more, and settled between them, arching an eyebrow at Auron's fully-hard erection. "Ain't we energetic tonight," he teased, running his hand along the heated flesh -- just a caress -- before returning his attention to the bottle.

"Never thought I'd use lotion like this," Jecht muttered, spreading some of the creamy stuff on his fingers. Slowly, Jecht pressed his dry hand to the side of Auron's thigh to steady himself and noticed he was trembling -- he took a deep breath and reached down, silently thankful as the other man raised his hips a little. His coated fingers found the small puckered hole, and he stroked it, almost afraid of what he was about to do.

"It's okay," Auron murmured reassuringly, body trembling in anticipation -- Jecht nodded and slid a finger inside his lover's body. Auron's body clenched tightly, trying to fend of the intruding digit, and there was a muffled 'don't stop' from Auron's direction. The older man nodded, a small resolution, and moved his finger a bit to spread the cream around. He marveled at the pure sensation of heat, and his own erection quite nearly twitched in anticipation of being there.

Soon, eh?

As he'd been told, Jecht added another finger inside of the man, stretching him, and pressing deeper inside. Above him, Auron moaned softly, pressing the back of his hand to his mouth to stifle the noise.

Jecht bent his fingers, and jumped when Auron gasped fiercely: he realized, after a moment, that it was a sound of pleasure. He smirked, and stroked that spot deep inside again, if only to study the intense reactions he was provoking. Soon after, he added a third finger; watching as Auron's expression twisted into something purely carnal and almost animalistic, a writhing being of nothing but pleasured nerves claimed the shell of his lover and amazed Jecht by its pure, brilliant intensity.

He stretched Auron to his satisfaction as he fondled and massaged that magic spot, and then he removed his fingers, hearing the muffled sound of protest from his lover.

"Hold up a minute, ya animal," he smirked, then reached for the lotion again.

It was cold on his hands, and he considered warming it awhile before applying it to his own throbbing length, but the impatient look Auron gave him was more than enough. His erection twitched as he lathered the cold lotion over it -- he concentrated on adjusting the younger guardian's legs to something a bit more comfortable, which, in this case, was wrapped around his waist.

"Please..." Auron whispered, his hoarse, husky voice working desperately to form the words.

Jecht watched Auron watching him as he found the right position.

And then he slid inside, slowly, feeling the hot passage as it seemed to close around him like a glove. Like maybe, he'd always belonged there. A look of what seemed much like pain to Jecht crossed Auron's face, and the older man paused, completely sheathed, one hand reaching out to the man beneath him. "I'm hurting you." He whispered fiercely, but Auron shook his head, sending short, stray bits of hair flying about his face.

"No..." Auron countered through clenched teeth, his legs tightening around Jecht's body. "Don't think about it." His hands clenched in the bed sheets, panting loudly. Jecht realized that pain was the last thing on the younger guardian's mind.

Then his mind seemed to spiral away from him, until he could barely grasp the stray thoughtlets that attempted to surface. His entire world narrowed down to just the two of them, and even then, it seemed a bit blurred. His body took over; he slid out almost completely before plunging back in -- again and again -- not even noticing when the look of discomfort on Auron's face shifted to one of pure wanton abandon.

He bent over Auron, driving himself as deeply as possible inside his lover, his head nearly touching the other's chest. Without even thinking about it, he took Auron's hard length in hand and began pumping it in time with his thrusts, as if he were determined to wring all the pleasure from the man that he possibly could.

Auron's gasps became little moans and whimpers as his senses overloaded -- every movement, every single hint of touch was utter bliss, and he was drunk before the waves and waves of sensation that were overtaking him. He stood before them and didn't even bother to fight -- quickly, too quickly, he was completely submerged... The raven-haired guardian almost screamed as the orgasm ripped through his body, leaving no piece of him, not even the most remote of nerves, untouched.

Jecht heard the man beneath him, the fierce, joyous cry of release, the hot splash of his lover's seed against his belly, the way Auron's entrance clamped around his shaft, wringing him devoid of anything but pure and utter ecstasy unlike anything he'd known before.

He reached for that feeling and caught it, holding it close until it began to fade, and it was just he and Auron once again. Jecht collapsed bonelessly between Auron's trembling thighs, but the younger man seemed not to mind. In fact, he smiled down at Jecht, one shaking hand reaching out to brush a strand of sweat-soaked hair out of the man's eyes.

Jecht drug himself up next to Auron, adjusting his position till he could lay on his side and enfold his lover in the loose circle of his arms. Auron made a contented sound and shut his eyes, one hand reaching up to lightly stoke Jecht's arm.

"Don't think I was expecting that..." Jecht echoed Auron's words from earlier.

"You started it." Auron muttered softly, a hint of laughter in his tone, before he drifted off to sleep.

Jecht just chuckled, willing his mind to the sweet peace of sleep.

Tomorrow, the journey would continue.

-fin