The Gift

 Eeee eccoci al primo fill dell'ultima settimana! Adoro scrivere di questi due, sono tipo la mia vita <3

M2, settima settimana
Prompt: Criminal/Gangster AU
Fandom: Fate/Grand Order
Pair: Edmond/Gudako (sono capace di shippare altro in fgo? Si, ma scriverò sempre su sti due)

updated version on AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/works/23618371

 

“The wind blows, the river freezes.” The young woman sitting beside Gudako, long black hair tied neatly in order not to let them interfere with her actions, sighed. “The hero fords, never to return!” Woah, way to be positive, Ms. Ke, seriously. Gudako couldn’t help but think about those words while sitting uncomfortably with her legs pressed against her chest in their hiding position. She knew that the mission was basically suicide – she wondered why her father decided to send her in the first place – but Jing Ke wasn’t helping with her ominous words. Gudako grew up sheltered, as any young lady would; she learned the arts of a high-class woman, such as dancing and singing. There was just a tiny detail distancing her from everyone else. She was the daughter of the leader of one of the most influential Qing Bang’s – the Green Gang – branches. At that time, it was one of the most fearsome criminal gangs in the whole of China. They monopolized the trade and business of every item which couldn’t be sold at your normal market. During those times, one of the most profitable activities was selling opium and, lately, some concerning news came to her father’s ears. It seemed that a foreigner – a man from Europe – with two bodyguards came to their territory and started an underground activity of his own. Of course, one of the bodyguards was Chinese as it would have been impossible for a complete foreigner to start such a business with their strength alone. There wasn’t a lot of information on those people, as they liked to do their business using various layers of intermediaries and, up until now, no member of the Green Gang could get closer to any of those people infiltrating their country. People belonging to Gudako’s father branch, and to the most important branches in the Qing Bang had tried to make contact with the mysterious trio, but every single one of them ended up slaughtered either directly by one of the bosses or by one of their men. Regardless, even if they saw one of them face to face, it was only to be killed a minute later, so the whole matter was just provoking immense losses to the family. However, they couldn’t just leave those men be. They had to uphold their honor and no one was allowed to set foot in their territories and do as they pleased. If they wanted to sell opium they had to pay the Qing Bang a proper price to continue their activities. It was simply unacceptable.

Gudako had been oblivious to these kinds of drama until a few days earlier when her father called her in his office and ordered her to accompany his most trusted assassin – Ms. Jing Ke – to a mission with the objective of targeting the foreign gang leader’s head. Even if Gudako somehow knew about the shady deals her father conducted and she was aware of being in a difficult position as the heir of such a dangerous person – the amount of bodyguard constantly following her tipped her off in more than one occasion – she couldn’t understand the reasons behind her father’s actions. She had little to none amount of training and she wasn’t able to fight for her life. The day before the departure, as the little girl was shaking in fear inside her own room, Ms. Jing Ke was drinking her heart out at a bar. Gudako couldn’t understand why she was so calm. She was basically going straight into a suicide mission, there was no way the two of them were able to confront the people who had killed so many of their men? Gudako wondered why her father would put her in such a dangerous situation.

In addition to all of that, Gudako had just found out that Ms. Jing was ready to die in that mission. Well, the red-haired girl was not. The two girls had been trying to spy on the foreign gang since that morning, near the location of what an informer told her father was their hideout. Gudako wanted to go home. As she was about to tell Ms. Jing that she didn’t want to die, a loud noise shook her. All that she remembered shortly after was that Ms. Ke took out her knife and started fighting. As for Gudako, she was paralyzed in fear; she had never fought in her whole life. Why was this happening to her? Suddenly, she felt something pressed on her mouth and a stinging smell filled her nose. Her field of view faded into darkness, the last thing she saw being the concerned and desperate look on the assassin’s face as she was calling out to her. After that, her mind was clouded in complete darkness.

***

Gudako opened her eyes, prompted by the familiar smell she immediately recognized. She couldn’t help it, after all. Living as the young heir of one of the most influential and powerful Chinese criminal organization meant also know by heart the smell of opium, even if she didn’t directly taste it herself. Despite not inhaling it directly, she was already under its effects and the combination with the influence of whatever those people used to knock her and – supposedly – Ms. Ke out, was making her head spin and her whole body feel drowsy and dizzy. It wasn’t an unpleasant sensation, of course, but with the last shreds of rationality, the girl retained she could feel that her body sensations were limited and that she wouldn’t be able to fight properly. Well, it wasn’t like she had always been this great at fighting – after all, the daughter of the leader of the main branch was able to live quietly thanks to every other underling of her father working in the shadows to keep her safe. Then, the girl briefly wondered again, why did they send her to this mission? The world was still spinning around her tired face, but using every ounce of energy in her tiny body, she forced herself to distinguish at least what was present in that room. From the soft feeling under her, she was over a carpet and a few cushions, in a large squared room. The smoke from the opium was filling the whole area, but she could make out the fine curtains adorning the place. Moaning weakly, she looked around more. Where was M. Ke? Some muffled voices came to her ears. She didn’t know them, and they were talking in a language she didn’t know. One of the voices was dark and deep, but suave. She felt like she knew it. Turning her head toward the noise, she could make out three figures. She recognized immediately one of them. Li Shuwen, one of the most fearsome martial combatants of her time. She had heard about him from her teacher while he was trying to instruct her – failing miserably – on the martial arts. He also heard his name from her father, as he was apparently the Chinese bodyguard who helped the foreign man into their lands. Upon recognizing him, it took quite a while for her opium-affected mind to process that information. As the reality of the fact struck her like a lightning, she let out a low scream, which actually came out like a weak whimper. As if she needed another confirmation that she wasn’t cut for spying or the criminal life, the three men were called by her voice and turned to her, looking puzzled. Gudako didn’t know the other two men sitting near Shuwen. The one at the farthest right was wearing an attire without sleeves, which exposed his strong muscles. He had some tattoos, which fit very well with his image as a gangster. He wasn’t Chinese, but he didn’t look like the leader.

 The man sitting at the center, however, had a whole different aura about him. He was dressed in a green cheongsam, probably made from a fine tissue – Gudako could tell even in that condition – and his large sleeves ended with a white piece where golden symbols were finely embroidered. He was laying comfortably on a bunch of cushions, a pipe in his left hand, with opium fumes coming from it. His skin was pale, like the slightly curly hair adorning his face, tied but still let fall on his shoulder. At first sight, one would call him disheveled but there was something refined about him. His eyes looked tired, probably from all the smoke, his mouth partly open and he was staring at her. Moments ago, the three of them were engaged in a discussion and he had been looking at Shuwen, interested in what he was saying. Now, three pairs of eyes were looking at her, and Gudako didn’t know what to do. The man at the center was, without a doubt, the leader of the foreign gang and she was in front of him, hopeless and defenseless. She wondered why her father put her in that situation. The leader lightly tilted his head and started speaking, in Chinese this time.

“Well, it appears you have woken up, miss young lady from the Green Gang.”

Marvelous, they immediately understood who she was. Then, why wasn’t she already dead?

“Where’s Jing…?” Gudako weakly asked. She still couldn’t think straight, so she just said whatever was on her mind.

Shuwen started to speak at that moment. “Your assassin friend is in prison. If you behave, we will let her go safely.” Oh, thank God, she was alive. Even if she had very low expectations for that mission. Wait, what did he mean by ‘behave’?

She was about to ask it, when the leader started speaking again.

“I’d like to tell you my name, fair lady. However, I fear that now it’s not the appropriate time. For now, you can call me Count.” He smiled softly at her. If he hadn’t killed, like, half of her father’s underling Gudako would be flattered by that smile. At his words, the other foreigner rolled his eyes.

“Look, maybe you’re wrong and you’re just making yourself believe it. Because the girl is cute and you want to f-“ The other man was so thoughtful to say that in Chinese so that Gudako could understand.

“You should mind your language, first of all. Then, if we assume that your deduction is correct, we need to ask ourselves the reason behind this action. Do you have a proper explanation for that?” The stern voice of the man who called himself Count made the other sigh.

“Well, I’m not playing that detective game of yours. I’m just here to fight people, I don’t care. Do what you want.” Visibly annoyed, he stood up and signaled Shuwen to follow him.

Gudako was visibly confused by that whole situation, as the men seemed to have caught her father’s intentions better than her. Sighing, the Count stood up and with a few steps closed the distance between him and the girl, sitting near her. Even if her senses were being blinded by the substance, Gudako instinctively tried to sit and tried to distance herself from that man. He wasn’t scary, as he was unarmed now that she noticed, he just made her feel emotions that weren’t proper in that situation. Gudako could swear she had read in a book that opium made your head feel light and raised your body temperature, but she wasn’t sure opium was the cause for her current condition. She swallowed and tried to ask the other man something, but he preceded her.

“Well, I can’t say I like the Green Gang’s poor manners when presenting gifts, but beggars can’t be choosers, am I right? Besides, their present is quite akin to my tastes.” He slurred, caressing lightly Gudako’s cheek, placing lightly his pipe near him.

Wait, what? The girl couldn’t believe his words. Was that really his father’s intention? To give her up to the fearsome leader of another gang to propose an alliance? Was that really all she was to him?

Gudako didn’t have much time to think about it as the other man started tracing her lips with his fingers, his eyes lingering in the way she melted against his touch. The girl didn’t want to admit it, but he was indeed having an effect on her.

“You seem to take the opium effects quite strongly. Are you not used to it?” The Count asked, concerned. However, he didn’t wait for a reply. Keeping her face still using the same hand which had been caressing her lips minutes earlier, he kissed her lips. The Count was not sweet, nor gentle. His lips were fierce, passionate and demanding. Gudako could taste the opium from him as he was ravishing. Feeling the heat between her legs becoming unbearable, she whimpered needly under him, as he gladly complied and started caressing her thighs.

Seeing his face up close, the red-haired girl couldn’t help but be lost in his somehow sad eyes. As she felt his hands near the place she wanted them most at that moment, she softly moaned his name, letting herself go in his embrace.

“Count…” Gudako sighed once again, opening her eyes.

In place of the sumptuous hideout, she was some moments ago, the ceil of her Chaldea’s room stared back at her.

“Master…? Are you…?” Edmond’s voice reached her ears. As she turned toward him, she found him dressed in his usual dark attire, his hat placed on his lap. He was sitting on the edge of her bed, looking at her with a worried expression. Gudako blinked once or twice, before realizing that the whole situation was just a big wet dream she had about her – hopefully – obnoxious Servant.

“It occurred to me that you were dreaming. At first, I thought it was a nightmare, judging you’re your pained expression, but then…” The Count left his words hanging. “Well, it didn’t seem to be caused by the usual ghosts that chase your dreams.” Heck no, they weren’t. Gudako hoped with the strength of thousand suns that Edmond wasn’t able to somehow see her dream or that would have been pretty embarrassing. She didn’t know how she could explain having such a dream about him, dressed in a Chinese attire, having his way with her. Gudako knew that she could never say that out loud but he looked amazing in those clothes.             

 “Perhaps I ate too many dumplings yesterday. Mash did an amazing job cooking them. I somehow ended up having a strange dream about China...”

At his Master's words, Gudako clearly saw the other man gasp lightly and turn his gaze away from her. When staring at him, she noticed his cheeks being quite red.

“Yeah, if you need something from me, Master, I would love if you just asked me directly, instead of taking out your desires using your dreams.”

 

About snakes and mice

M6, settima settimana

Ho sempre voluto scrivere di questi due!
Prompt: Questioni rimaste in sospeso
Fandom: The case files of Lord El-Melloi II
Pairing: Waver/Adashino

Hishiri Adashino lifted her eyes off the book she was reading. She could hear in the background the soft noises made by the Mystic Eyes train as it was proceeding steadily over its rails. Sometimes, a slight bump would move her body left and right like a pendulum, but she didn’t mind. A repetitive movement somehow helped her concentrating. She was reading a book about a woman chained by the obligation of marriage, dealing with falling in love with another man. While the plot was quite interesting per se, Hishiri couldn’t feel sympathy toward the woman. Ever since she was a young lady, she had always been able to choose the path she considered to be the most appropriate for her in life; her family never posing a threat in her future choices. That was also one of the main reasons she decided to join the Faculty of Law offices, instead of opting for a more traditional path in the study of mage craft. Hishiri was sure that any other family would have hindered and blocked her path to join that office, which was feared and at the same time revered by the Clock Tower association; however, she firmly believed that if someone wanted something – be it because of instinct, talent, or premeditated reasoning – they should take it. That had been her way of doing things for several years now, earning her a renowned reputation among her colleagues. With the complicity of her natural charm and beauty, her refined attitude, her cold icy manners which put every man to their rightful place, she was able to hold a distinguished and important place in her Faculty. Her superiors and colleagues trusted her; this was true even at that moment, seeing as she was allowed to investigate personally on a family matter. According to the standard practice for these contingencies, it was compulsory that somebody unrelated to the involved people – thus, someone able to be impartial – should be sent to the investigation. That had been the case when Hishiri had been sent to the Castle of Separation to oversee the execution of the late Ashbourne’s will. Well, it could be said that, even in that case, her intentions weren’t just dictated by mere work purposes. A soft sigh escaped from her mouth at the thought. What Hishiri most anticipated from the Adra castle visit was to see, face to face, the man who had recently taken over the Faculty of Modern Magecraft. His predecessor was her brother – who she had been investigating for a while, and was looking into even right now as it seemed that he was somehow involved in some shenanigans in the Mystic Eyes train – and, despite the opinion the young woman held for him, she was curious to see if the successor chosen by the Mage Association was as worthy as her brother. Even if she still couldn’t determine the exact worth of said man, she hadn’t been disappointed. Waver Velvet, or Lord El-Melloi II – as he wanted to be called nowadays – was a remarkable man. She had done her researches on him, a participant of a Holy Grail War, returned alive. A man who shamelessly took over the name of his mentor. Adashino was sure that there were many men ready to give their life to be regarded in such a way from her; however, that unconventional Lord seemed to be disinterested in all her approaches. They kept meeting, as Adashino was investigating on the trails her brother left behind, but she couldn’t explain why that man was also there. He liked playing detective, and she liked him when he was doing so. He had an imprescriptible face, especially when he was exposing a culprit or explaining his theory. She found him fascinating the first time they crossed eyes, she was impressed that he saw through her plan at the Castle Of Separation, she loved how he brilliantly solved the Marburry workshop case. There was no other way to put it. She wanted him. However, such an easy feat that would have been possible with every other mage among the Clock Tower – her charms were indeed powerful on both men and women – seemed impossible with him. He was so immersed in his world, in his wandering, seeking an act of meaningless revenge that he couldn’t care about anything else. That was his behavior that made her ache for him even more. It wasn’t like her to be like this; earlier that day she even let herself be cleared than usual regarding her intentions with him. Hishiri thought she had to settle the matter now. She wasn’t sure that Lord would accept, but she would certainly find a way. As those thoughts crossed her mind while she was watching outside her window, the young woman heard a soft knock at the door of her room. Who could have been at that hour? She gave her guest permission to enter and almost let out a surprised gasp when she saw the man, all dressed in black, standing at her door, shifting his weight nervously from one leg to another. He had a terrible face and was avoiding looking directly at her. He was visibly uncomfortable by the whole situation. Hishiri heard that the man got hurt during their trip and had to recover for a day. However, he managed to regain his health completely, just in time to appear and getting in her way while she was ‘deducing’ the case culprit. That was to say that she was expecting him to; it was true that he was a man who she couldn’t fully get a clear reading on, but she knew his usual modus operandi in certain kinds of situations. Wondering what he could want from her, now, she greeted him with her signature sweet smile which didn’t seem to put him under her spell like everyone else. Giggling internally at her guest’s poor try at mimicking her attitude when it was as clear as day that he was uneasy in that situation, she invited him to sit at the table in front of her.

“Would you like some tea while we speak, Lord El-Melloi II?” Adashino stressed out his name painfully low, making the other ore self-conscious than he already was.    

 “It’s fine, Miss Adashino.” He politely refused. “I won’t take up a lot of your time.”

“So, if I understand correctly, you need the Faculty of Law help in that little plan of yours, am I right?” Hishiri tilted her head graciously, keeping her eyes fixated on the man in front of her. She listened through the whole explanation Lord El-Melloi II had given her about the situation; he wanted to distract the perpetrator from the auction with the Faculty of Law intervention through high bidding offers. While the whole matter was already convenient for her overall, as it would make the real culprit more exposed to be caught, she also wanted to get the best out of that proposal. The Lord sitting in front of her didn’t know the whole situation, he didn’t know about her brother and how the whole situation was important for her, too. Her eyes glinted with malicious intent as an idea about ‘settling matters with him’ crept in the back of her mind.            

 “I’m afraid you’re right.” His eyes wandered through the whole room, looking for something that wasn’t her at that moment.      

 “Mhhh, what you propose to me is very interesting. As I’m sure your great detective intuition has also grasped, I have personal ties to this case, too.” It wasn’t in Hishiri’s policy to reveal her plans to others, but giving this piece of information at this moment was crucial to earn his collaboration. At those words, the Lord’s eyes lighted up with hope. She loved when people did that; it was one of her best tactics even when she was questioning people. Giving them what they wanted to hear, so they were vulnerable and exploitable shortly after.

 “However.” Her smile grew larger, as she purposely made that little pause which immediately put the other on edge. “I think that no one can promise help for free, don’t you agree?” Her expression was very unreadable right now.

 “We have shared interests, you even said that yourself earlier, didn’t you?” The Lord tried to retort back.           

 “I do. But what you ask of me is providing economical support to you. There is a limit on how much money I can move among the Faculty of Law department. Regardless, if you are willing to pay me… that is another matter.”          

 “Pay… you? I told you that I need money, how can I…?”

 “You sure are naïve, for being a Lord. I’m not talking about money.” A soft laugh escaped from her lips.

At those words, Waver stiffened in his place. Given the attitude Miss Adashino had towards him during their whole exchange, there could be only one other form of payment. The mage was honestly surprised. He didn’t envision, neither in his farthest dreams, that a woman like Adashino would suggest something like that. He was sure that she was able to conquer and have in the palm of her hand as many men or women as she wanted. Thus, why asking this of him now? Why him, of all people? Those questions had no meaning at that moment, though. She was looking at him intensely, waiting for an answer.                   

 “How… can I be sure that…” He wasn’t able to find the right words.

 “…that I will keep my part of the promise? You’d have to trust me.” She simply responded as it was obvious. Well, it was obvious indeed, but Waver couldn’t accept it.          

 “Trust the Faculty of Law? I wouldn’t be able to bear the shame.”          

 “Well, there would a different kind of a shame you can start learning to bear after our encounter.” She countered. “Didn’t you say that you would use any means necessary to reach your objective? I’ve always thought that this was something unattainable for an unskilled mage. This is your chance to prove me wrong, Lord.”                           

 To be completely honest, Waver didn’t want to prove her wrong. Waver didn’t want to get involved with her in that way. Besides, as his friend Melvin would mock him, he was still a virgin. He had no idea what to do in that situation. However, there was no way he would tell her so.          

 “Do we have a deal, then?” She pressed him, with the same courteous smile she had on her face since he entered the room.     

 Waver took a deep breath before answering. It was for the sake of the case. It was for the sake of finding out the truth behind that fake Iskandar. He knew he had to do it.     

 “We have a deal.”        

 Adashino’s eyes gleamed at his words – was she waiting for such an occasion for a long time? – and she stood up and guided him to the large bed in that room. “I promise you it will be quick. I’m not looking for romance or affection. I just want to satisfy a whim I’ve had ever since I met you, Lord.”  

 Hishiri made him sit on her bed, caressing his face with her hand. It was cold to Waver’s face, which, in return was feeling his body temperature rise at an alarming speed.            

 “You say you’re weak around beautiful women,” she mocked his words, showing him that she remembered everything of their past encounters. “But you’re always surrounded by them. Your cute apprentice aside, I’ve seen also your other student, the one from the Lehrman’s family - what was her name again? – ah, yes. Miss Yvette seems to be lusting after you. Are you sure you don’t have a charming spell on you?” 

“I wish I was able to attain such high magic for myself.” He bitterly answered.  

 “Is that so? Well, with your poor magical circuits I’m not surprised.” Adashino didn’t want to mince her words, not with him. Resting one hand on his cheek she lowered her face to kiss him. Her lips were soft compared to his, and they felt exactly as one would imagine – not that Waver had ever had such thoughts about that woman. As she broke the kiss, she looked at him again, raising her eyebrow.            

 “Wait. Don’t tell me…” She made a pause to scrutinize the other man’s reaction. “…you’ve never done this.” The way she said those last words made the other stiffen in his place. Adashino was right. While she couldn’t say that she was completely taken aback by the revelation, she also thought that at least once, in his life, that man had indulged in the pleasures of the flesh. Rumors told it that in the Holy Grail War he was the Master of Iskandar, which was the Heroic Spirit of Alexander the Great, a man who enjoyed the beauty of life thoroughly. Wasn’t he able to learn anything from him? The kiss they shared wasn’t bad per se, but she knew that he wasn’t enjoying it. Maybe it was her fault for forcing him to do something like that. She felt a bit guilty.  

 The other man’s silence only confirmed her suspicions. Adashino sighed as she passed her hand through his soft hair, not meeting with a single knot. She smiled softly at the thought of him combing his hair. Or maybe he asked his apprentice to do that for him? Adashino felt for a moment something akin to jealousy, which she immediately pushed away from her heart.

Suddenly, he grabbed her quite clumsily by the hem of her kimono and closed the distance between their faces once again. This time, his kiss was more relaxed, but decisive. Unlike her previous attempt, she could feel his lips brushing softly against hers, his movements seeking the physical contact she wanted to feel.                    

 “What was that for?” She asked him when they separated once again.

 “What are you saying? Have you changed your mind, Miss Adashino?” Hishiri knew he had a sudden burst of confidence from just a kiss well-given, she smiled at the naïveté of her guest.       

 “You could say I have. I was just thinking that maybe I set my request for payment too high. Maybe, just this time, a kiss will suffice. I have ruined one of your first times already; I don’t want to add another to the list. You may have the Faculty of Law’s support in the upcoming auction. I admire your strength, Lord El-Melloi II.”         

 The woman smiled again, before walking to her seat again, taking her book in hand, signaling the other that their meeting was over. 

As she hears the noise of her door closing, she sighed. She still wanted him, but apparently, even a snake like her wasn’t able to eat a defenseless mouse alive. It just meant that she had to wait for another occasion, then.