My pack of her pleasure condoms is about to expire. Which is ridiculous considering how often I have sex. Maybe I’m giving these boys too many options. Red. Blue. Green. Purple. Cherry flavoured. Blueberry. Chocolate sundae. Hell, I’ve even got glow in the dark. I’ve got every type known to man. No one picks the her pleasure condoms. Selfish bastards.

I can see it on their faces. “You’re just a cheap whore. I can treat you as bad as I want.” Like I chose this life. Prostitute was always on my list of things I wanted to be when I grew up. It’s just so glamorous.

Disgusting old men that finally got their grimy hands on that magical little pill. Old wrinkled women that could never come out to their families. The young men and women from wealthy families looking to take a walk on the wild side. My personal favourite though. Like mister tall, dark and stupid from tonight. The guys that just got dumped by someone that looks just like me. However this guy was a bit unusual. From what I can guess, Samantha had every right to leave him. If he treated her half as bad as me, she should have gone to the police, not a lawyer. I’ll have bruises for weeks. I think my nose may be broken. Should definitely get stitches for my arm and hip.

But it’s a paycheck. It’ll keep me eating for at least a month. The usual marks are free. Visual damage costs extra.

From the security cameras, I can see Ezra lounging on the freezer in the center of the room. His long white hair flows down his back. His pale eyes never leave the figure securely tied to the chair in front of him. The banging below him stopped an hour ago. His mouth is still moving. I cannot hear what he is saying, but I can guess. Telling our prisoner his wife is dead by now, and that there is no point in keeping quiet any longer. And maybe his death will be quicker if he tells us what we want to know.

Dimitri is meticulously cleaning his blades to Ezra’s right. His dark muscular back turned toward the bleeding man. His part of the job is done for now. Once his knives are back in their rightful place, he turns and runs a red hand through Ezra’s hair. A bloodstain on snow. Ezra finally ceases his commentary. A look passes between them, and they quickly leave for their quarters.

I sigh slightly and settle more comfortably in my chair. I linger for one full hour before heading into the main part of the warehouse. I approach the bound figure. There is already a chair waiting for me. I seat myself and neatly cross my knees. I place my hands one over the other on my thigh.

This man, Liam, has been with the Midori family for almost a decade. He has been in our care for two weeks. No one has searched for either him or his wife. He is staring down at my feet. I do not move.

It takes Liam twenty minutes to look up. When he finally meets my eyes, I simply return the gaze. His brows pull together and his chin trembles. The tears follow within seconds. “Alright! I’ll tell you everything!”

The entire building is silent. Cold like winter. The summer heat does not penetrate this far into the stonework.

Black as night. The sun shining outside. A different world. Stark. Barren. Disorienting. Cannot stand the feeling. The close walls that lie. Coming closer. Becoming taller. More menacing. More frightening.

The fire in the corner grows. So warm. Drawing all life towards it. Seeking that heat.

It consumes. Drawn toward the life it is offered. Taking all that is sacrificed and demanding more.

Taking it all.

Complete darkness. Absolute silence. Keep to the shadows. Dead of night. Keep your cover. Eyes all around. Don't look. Don't breathe. Don't make a sound. Step lightly. Step quickly. Must hurry. Duck. Hide. Move on. Faster. No time.

The skies were dark and sombre. The air thick with the potential storm. I sat at the old wooden picnic table. Loving the way the earth wrapped me in the feeling. Knowing the trees would guard me from the worst of the elements. Knowing some would still get through.

I lit my last cigarette. Savouring the first long, deep draw. I could feel the acrid smoke fill my lungs. Could feel the days it took from me. Slowly. Patiently.

I felt the man's presence before I saw him. Before I heard the quiet even steps he took. Coming closer. Near enough to touch. An older man. Well into his years. Greyed hair. Lines about his eyes, brow and mouth. Deep lines. Lines that told the story of his life. Pained moments and pinched, tight expressions. Severe frown. So many rainy days.

He gently lowered himself at my side. Care for the joints ready to fail him. To cease his movement. His life. He reached for the cigarette in my hand. Easily removing it from my loose hold. My fingers not trying to keep it. He pressed the filter to his dry aged lips. Cracked and nearly broken.

Shallow inhale. He made no sound. Two more pulls. Returning it to me. Exactly as it was. When it was finished, I let it slip. Watched it fall. Slowly. Gracefully. To the wet concrete. Cracked and broken as the old man's lips.

We continued to sit. Kindred souls in the rain. Meeting for the first and last time. Again, he reached for my hand. Grasping and squeezing as much as his body was able. Keeping his hold firm. I did not return the gesture. Did not feel the need he felt.

He released me as he stood. Gazed into the horizon. His breathing calm. Slow. Peaceful. Finished. He took a purposeful step forward.

Another.

Another.

Another still.

His image grew smaller. Less defined. Shrinking into the distance. Vanishing.

The sky wept.

The cold air bites at my face as the child’s swing I am sitting on rocks gently back and forth. The park is empty. Winter. After midnight.

A man appears in the distance. Walking in my direction. I can practically feel his intent against my skin. A tangible, vile thing crawling across my flesh. I push the swing higher.

I lean back and close my eyes. Letting my bodyweight slow the swinging naturally. When I open my eyes again, he is standing before me. Mere feet away. I am not surprised. He asks me what I am doing in this place, on this night, at this time. He looks into my eyes. Past them. Examining my soul.

“I am waiting for it to be perfect.” I do not lie. His eyes will not allow it.

He steps closer. His hand caresses my face. Rests at my jaw. “Can you do it yourself?” He nods towards my hands. Cradling my prize loosely between my knees. I gently place it in his free hand. Closing his fingers around it. I whisper a thank you to him. He smiles. A gentle smile. Full of love and kindness I will never know.

He pulls the trigger.

Title: Pendulum
Fandom: Original
Rating: G
Word Count: 278
Warning: none
Beta: none

I'm not sure who owns this place. If anyone would own a house this run down and hopeless. There's an old tire swing in the front. Without sitting on it, I know it will not hold my weight. I run my fingertips against the rough texture of the old rotted rope. Threads follow my hand as I move on.

The grass is tall and overrun with weeds and other plants I cannot identify. They sway towards me and away again. Bound to the fickle wind if Mother Nature. The stairs lead my feet to the door. They squeak. Insisting I hurry. Away from the cold hard wind. The harsh driving rain beating into my back.

The door opens silently before me. Its intricate brass handle has turned an ugly shade of brown not fit for the best of dirt. It welcomes me inside. An old friend I had not seen in years.

Small creatures greet me as their fellow guest in this sanctuary. Old snakes next to new mice. A fox is curled into the belly of a stray dog. A single owl keeping watch. Perched on a grandfather clock. The pendulum is not swinging. The seconds do not go by. The glass face is cracked. I do not wonder what the time is.

I lie among the others here. They do not mind. One tiny dirt covered kitten mewled in my direction. It is a desperate sound. Without thought, I lift a hand. It walks to me and pushes its face against my hand. Broken purrs start to come out of it. My eyes close. I feel a tiny insignificant weight on my stomach.

There is no heat.

The man had to be military. Short buzzed black hair. Dressed in a form-fitting black tee and black denim jeans. Heavy boots that still gave room to move. He held himself stiff and straight. Looked like he had a steel beam for a spine. He was the picture of perfect discipline. Every part of him except the number tattooed on the back of his neck. The number 033.

Title: Beyond the Pale, Chapter Three
Fandom: Weiss Kreuz/Saiyuki
Characters: Hakkai, Hakuryuu, Gojyo, Schuldig, Farfarello
Rating: PG
Word count: 467
Warning: crossover, language
Beta: none
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Series Summary: The Saiyuki boys get the help they need... Just maybe not the help they want.

Title: Toothbrush
Fandom: Original
Rating: PG
Word Count: 289
Warning: none
Beta: none


I waited for the water to heat up. Cupped my hands to form a bowl and gathered the now warm water. I washed the day old sweat and make-up from my face. Being at least that clean made we feel a bit more human. I grabbed the hand towel off the rack and patted my face dry. I felt hands slide around my waist. I lowered the towel and looked at his eyes reflected in the mirror.

“G’morin’.” His voice was still heavy and slurred from sleep. The almost familiar sound made me smile. Not a morning person, my boy.

I turned and leaned back against the sink. “Hey. I can’t stay long. I need to go back home before work.”

His eyebrows lowered and came together. “ I was going to make eggs. Maybe waffles.” The sulking in his voice forced a chuckle out of me.

“I don’t have a toothbrush with me.”

“Oh.” He looked around thoughtfully for a few seconds before lifting me onto the sink and kneeling before me. I looked down to see him move my leg so he could open the cabinet. I raised an eyebrow at a loud crash followed by a few mumbled curses. He reappeared. A vaguely victorious look on his face.

A toothbrush, still in the package, was waved in front of my face. I took it without thought but hesitated. “But I thought…” I trailed off in confusion. The last time I tried to keep a toothbrush at his place, he got a bit freaked out. Said he had always been afraid of commitment, like most males. I found it charming that he could actually admit to it, unlike most males.

He merely shrugged. “Came in a two-pack.”

Title: Beyond the Pale, Chapter Two
Fandom: Weiss Kreuz/Saiyuki
Characters: Hakkai, Hakuryuu, Gojyo, Schuldig, Farfarello
Rating: PG
Word count: 553
Warning: crossover, language
Beta: seira_kuragari 
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Series Summary: The Saiyuki boys get the help they need... Just maybe not the help they want.

Title: Unchanging (Saving Me, Chapter Three)
Fandom: FFVII
Characters: Vincent, Tseng
Rating: PG
Word count: 453
Warning: angst, language, post-violence
Beta: seira_kuragari 
Disclaimer: Not mine.
( ...you’re not exactly a hero, Valentine. )

Title: Beyond the Pale, Chapter One
Fandom: Weiss Kreuz/Saiyuki
Characters: Schuldig, Hakuryuu
Rating: PG
Word count: 508
Warning: crossover, language
Beta: seira_kuragari
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Series Summary: The Saiyuki boys get the help they need... Just maybe not the help they want.
( They may even agree to help. He doubted he had the strength for more than one or two mindfucks. )

Title: What Could Have Been (Saving Me, Chapter Two)
Fandom: FFVII
Characters: Cloud, Reno
Rating: PG
Word count: 417
Warning: angst, language
Beta: seira_kuragari
Disclaimer: Not mine.
( Fuck, he pissed me off. Him and his goddamn angst. )

Title: Beyond the Pale, Prologue
Fandom: Weiss Kreuz/Saiyuki
Characters: Schwarz
Rating: PG
Word count: 224
Warning: crossover, language
Beta: seira_kuragari 
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Series Summary:  The Saiyuki boys get the help they need... Just maybe not the help they want.

( For once all four members of Schwarz thought the same thing... shit. )
</lj>

Title: Almost Violent
Fandom: Weiss Kreuz
Characters: Farfarello/Nagi
Rating: NC-17
Word count: 2,154
Warning: violent gay sex
Beta: seira_kuragari
Disclaimer: Not mine.
( He’s beautiful when he kills. The grace of his strength and movements. I couldn’t avoid watching him play. )

Title: My Personal Stigma (Saving Me, Chapter One)
Fandom: FFVII
Characters: Cloud
Rating: PG
Word count: 332
Warning: Angst. Lots of angst.
Beta: seira_kuragari 
Disclaimer: Not mine.
( expecting to hear his voice giving me advice )</lj>

Title: Change
Fandom: The Matrix
Characters: Switch/Trinity, Neo/Trinity
Rating: PG
Word count: 457
Warning: Not beta'd.
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Title: Ribbons
Fandom: Bleach
Characters: Chizuru/Orihime
Rating: PG
Word count: 141
Warning: Not beta'd.
Disclaimer: Not mine.

Title: Burn
Fandom: Loveless
Characters: Soubi/Ritsuka
Rating: PG
Word count: 230
Warning: Not beta'd.
Disclaimer: Not mine.