Well, it wasn't right now that I did this, but since I hadn't posted this
yet... *shrug*
This did take me about an hour to write, tho- I remember cause I was trying
not to study during finals ^_^

---

No title, but right before Arslaan et al leave Shindra

        Opulence, decadence. These are the only true words which can be used
to describe the palace of the Shindran king. Marble, silk and satin are
ubiquitous materials around the residence, presenting a languorous
atmosphere that both mirrors and remedies the heat of the country. Even
though it is already into the night, the sultry darkness just makes the air
seem even more feverish, filled with all of the passions of the dark. 

        Narsus sighed as he glanced out at the open balcony to the
glittering sands below. He knew that they had to leave this luxury behind
the next day, and go onward in their quest to restore Prince Arslaan to his
rightful throne. Looking around, he noticed Elam has disappeared. *Probably
with that girl I picked up earlier...* Narsus shook his head ruefully, and
rose from the divan to go to the small canvas already set up in the middle
of the room.

        "My only night to work on this. I wish..." Narsus stopped speaking,
and looked out the balcony again- not to look at the earth-bound reflections
of the lights, but to gaze upon the ones that gave the sand the appearance
of shimmering, sparkling. *What do I wish? That _he_ hadn't forced me away
from my sanctuary? That I hadn't been forced back into the role of advisor
to a king? That...*

        Narsus glanced down at the picture, which had but a suggestion of a
scene upon it. It was a small study- a profile of a man, of which only
piercing eyes and flowing hair were truly visible upon the background. The
rest of the face had not yet been completed, and Narsus knew that it would
take the whole night to finish, even on a canvas of this size. This was a
very small space to work on, barely two hand-spans across and down, but that
is all that is truly required.

        *Do I wish that what was supposed to be forgotten, buried... that it
had stayed that way? That I could stop myself from thinking about him, as I
had done the three years...* 

        Shaking his head, Narsus frowned, and tried to concentrate fully on
his art. He was dressed now in the same outfit that he had had on when
Daryoon and Arslaan had so disrupted his quiet life, only forgoing the boots
in deference to the richly carpeted floor. Of course, Narsus had had his
pick of all the finery that Shindra could provide... *But contrary to common
belief, I am neither a peacock nor a dandy. The plain cotton clothes really
does work best when I'm working...*

        Narsus couldn't help but shake his head a little ruefully at his own
behavior. *Common sense and strategy both dictate that I shouldn't even be
doing this. I should be thinking about our next move, or about what this
'Silver Mask' wants, or even about what how we should take advantage of this
newly-acquired Shindran goodwill. Instead...* He glanced down at the
painting, and then took a deep breath. *That's it. This is all I can do, if
I'm going to be working with him like this.*

        Narsus pushed his hair away impatiently as he tried to mix the
perfect shade for the subject's lips, and felt the thong he had used for
tying it come loose. Deciding to leave it be, Narsus went back to work,
driven to finish, even though he almost didn't want to. As he touched up the
blue-almost-black eyes, Narsus felt a slight breeze come in through the open
balcony. It was not quite cold, but the desert chill had finally started to
penetrate the heat of the day.

        Ignoring the cooling breeze, Narsus worked on, oblivious to his
surrounding. This was his only way of letting go of all the fear and horror
that had built up inside him during that duel. Maintaining that veneer of
unconcern had been one of the hardest things he'd ever done... *Damn you,
Daryoon. How could you almost let yourself be killed like that?* Of course,
Narsus knew all the reasons for why. After all, he had pointed out the
advantages of "letting the gods decide" to Arslaan in the first place... 

        But. 

        That man-monster had come so close... too close. Close enough so
that his heart had almost betrayed him, and he'd almost let Daryoon know...
let him see- *NO. I won't think of that. Just paint, and be glad _he_ won't
be seeing this. After all, it'd just be another piece of trash for him to
laugh at.* Attacking the small amount of pain he felt at the thought of
Daryoon's laughter, Narsus brandished the brush, painting strokes of rage
and terror, and changing them into a declaration as well as a letting go of
a denied love.

        As Narsus painted on, it became the true cold of a desert night. The
breeze had gotten even stronger, but Narsus ignored it. *I only have this
night to finish... and then I'll let him go. That's it.* The painting became
his only focus, drowning the rest of the world out in shades and patterns of
bristles on canvas. He was so focused on the painting that he failed to hear
the door creak open.

        Daryoon didn't expect Narsus to be up. After all, it was far into
the night and the master strategist, of all people, should have been the one
to take his own advice of getting rest before the journey tomorrow. So he
peered tentatively into the room, only to see Narsus still awake, with his
back to the door, and his dark hair a curtain blocking the canvas from
sight. *Painting one of those gods-awful paintings... what the hell is he
thinking?*

        Daryoon went out of the room and leaned against the wall. He lifted
his head and looked up at the ceiling, suppressing the urge to sigh. *What
the hell am I doing here, anyway? Just because I have insomnia, for no good
reason...* He couldn't help wondering where the two children were-
especially that red-haired girl. *Calling herself Narsus' mistress. I'm
surprised that he lets her hang around...*

        Daryoon chuckled a little as he remembered that girl's audacity.
*Why should I care about his private life, anyway? If he wants to take up
with a girl probably half his age, I should just leave him alone. Hell, I
should stop bothering him so much about that horrible art of his. If he's
going to be the Court Artist under Arslaan...* Daryoon winced at the
thought, but then straightened, squaring his shoulders. *Maybe if I get a
good look at it before he notices me, then I'll be able to say something
positive...*

        Daryoon glanced down at his outfit, glad he was wearing relatively
quiet clothing- not like the armor he was seldom without, nowadays. A purple
silken shirt, open at the collar, and black pants tucked into his boots. His
lightest cloak was on his shoulders, held in place by the fastening at his
shoulder. Smiling and silent, he crept into the room. *Besides, it'll be
interesting to see Narsus' expression when he realizes I sneaked into his
room so easily.*

        As he slipped into the room, Daryoon noticed that the door to the
balcony is open. *It's freezing in here! Does he _want_ to get sick?*
Resolving to close the balcony doors as soon as he gets a good look at the
painting, Daryoon walked a bit closer to Narsus. Noticing the fierce
expression of concentration on Narsus' face, Daryoon realized that this was
the only reason Narsus hadn't noticed him yet. *He is dedicated- I'll give
him that.*

        Slowly, he got to a vantage point from which he was able to see the
painting, and glimpsed at it. *Me. He's painting me?* Daryoon blinked, and
then quietly started to walk even closer. Meanwhile, his mind was scrambling
to discover why... *Why me? And why so seriously?* A little confused, and
fearful of what he might find out, Daryoon hesitantly touched Narsus'
shoulder. *I'm sure there's a good reason for this... of course there is,
there has to be-* 

        Narsus didn't notice the slight touch, but Daryoon drew back
quickly, his rambling thoughts cut off. *So cold...* Almost without
realizing, Daryoon took his cloak off, and gently placed it over Narsus.
Then, he goes over to the balcony, and closes the door with a
all-to-noticeable bang. Glancing out through the glass doors at the bright
stars, he didn't turn around. Instead, in a strained, laughing tone, Daryoon
questioned, "Narsus, do you really want to explain to Prince Arslaan why you
caught pneumonia in Shindra of all places?"

        Narsus didn't respond for moments that stretched on to infinity.
Daryoon felt his shoulders start to itch from the tension, and finally
turned around to see that Narsus has stopped. He was totally silent and
unmoving, with brush drying mid-air between the canvas and the palette.
"Narsus?" Daryoon's thoughts started to scramble helplessly again, wondering
what- *What's wrong with him? I've never seen him like this...*

        Daryoon went over and gently touched Narsus on the shoulder. At that
slight contact, Narsus started and violently moved away, almost falling off
of the cushioned chair that he had been sitting on. Standing, he pointed the
brush at Daryoon and shouted out in an outraged voice, "What- what are you
doing here! Get out!" Daryoon gazed at the furious painter before him, and
nodded. He started to move away, but before he did so, commented, "This one
is actually decent, Narsus. But why me?"

        Daryoon turned and walked away, not expecting an answer. Inside, he
was wincing a little at the unnecessarily cavalier remark he'd just uttered.
*I wanted to say something positive... gods, I'm an idiot sometimes. Still,
I wish he'd explain why-* Somehow, something made him turn around and look
at Narsus, who was standing with his back toward him, looking only at the
painting. Then, in utter quiet, Narsus raised his hand as if to smash the
still-wet half-complete picture before him.

        Assessing the situation in front of him, Daryoon moved quickly. He
grabbed Narsus, intending to gently restrain him until he could see what was
wrong. However, it turned into a real struggle as Narsus resisted wildly for
a few minutes, while Daryoon got an odd mix of warm hair and fabric in his
mouth. Finally, Narsus slumped, accepting his defeat. Cautiously, Daryoon
let him go, and forced him to sit on the divan before them. "Narsus, what do
you think you're doing?" 

        Narsus turned his gaze downward, refusing to look at him. "Narsus...
hey! Come on, look at me!" Daryoon took Narsus' chin firmly, and forced
Narsus' eyes up to meet his puzzled own. "Narsus, I've never know you to do
what you were about to do... all the times that we were angry, that we
argued- I would have thought you'd attack me first before you'd even think
about damaging one of your precious pieces of art. What's the matter with you?"

        Letting Narsus' chin go, Daryoon sighed and sat down on the floor,
leaning his head against the cushioned seat. Looking up, he saw Narsus's
down-turned face gazing down at him. Softly, Daryoon asks, "Why? I know you-
for all the arguments we've had, I know that you wouldn't do that, even if
someone stupidly invaded your privacy like I did. What's wrong? Is it-" 

        Daryoon's noticed his voice trail off as he felt Narsus' gaze
deepen. Dark brown pools full of something so indefinable that... *I'm
falling in...* He knew that he should say something, but somehow, he
couldn't speak. Couldn't move, couldn't do any of what he knew he should,
before something happened that made their relationship too serious, too-
Daryoon shuddered as he felt long, silken hairs brush against his neck, and
couldn't look away, couldn't break away...

        Narsus' lips descended softly, gently, to brush his mouth. Light, a
butterfly wing fluttering in the breeze... but so warm, and unavoidable. As
if it had imprinted into Daryoon's soul, he knew that he couldn't ever
forget that feeling, no matter what. Slowly, he felt Narsus pull up, and
turn away again. Turn away and never-

        "Narsus! Look at me. Why? Why are you doing this?" Daryoon's voice
rang in the chamber, and stopped Narsus from withdrawing. Instead, looking
down, Narsus saw Daryoon reach up for him, and stiffened as Daryoon placed
one hand on his cheek. That warm hand immobilized him, as Daryoon's intense
eyes hold him prisoner. Not asking if there is truth in that unspoken
feeling, but why now, of all times...

        Narsus answered the question truly being asked. "Because you came
too close to death, right in front of me. Maybe I'm weak... but if I hadn't
done something, I think that I would have gone mad. Except-" Narsus stopped
for a moment, and then leaned into the hand still pressed against his cheek.
Eyes closed, he continued, "Except, I didn't know that you would be here...
I just thought that if I painted you- my 'you', then I could get rid of all
these idiotic feelings that is going to get one of us killed-"

        Narsus stopped as he felt Daryoon stand. The hand withdrew, leaving
him feeling oddly cold, even with the wind banished and cloak around him in
a soft, comforting warmth... *He's going away now, of course. Better this
way... strategically speaking, the last thing Arslaan needs right now is
this kind of thing going on between his two top advisors... I'll tell him
later that I was drunk or something-* 

        Quietly, ignoring the rouge feeling of utter abandonment, Narsus
schooled his expression to reveal nothing... "Daryoon, I can't believe you
fell for that little joke-" He forced out a small laugh, and then leaned
back on the reclined seat, eyes closed. Lazily, without any sort of caring
in his voice, he continued, "You really are too much fun to tease-"

        Daryoon's whisper of a voice reached his ear, stopping his attempt
to blow off this whole encounter. "Idiotic feelings?" Narsus froze as he
felt the cushions around him shift with Daryoon's weight, as he felt the
warmth of another body on top of his own. "That's all you're willing to call
them?" Narsus opens his eyes slowly, to see Daryoon's face looking down at
him. Softly, Daryoon murmured, "Idiot..." and kissed him. 



-----
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