valmora | [Saiyuki] fun with AU's

Inspired by this pic (not...quite...worksafe), which was drawn in celebration of May 8th, 2005 (5/8/05, or 5/8/5 Day). So yes.

Title: untitled
Author:

valmora
Rating: PG
Fandom: Saiyuki AU-ish
Pairing: 58, or Gojyo/Hakkai
Disclaimer: all hail Kazuya Minekura, mistress and owner of all things Saiyuki (that not being me, you see)
Warning: A bit H/C, for those of you for whom that is a squick, and it's even closer to fluff than usual.

Hakkai is so sweet to people that he just seems to invite it. Just seems to ask for people to treat him like he's not worth anything, to hurt him in both mind and body. And he's so afraid of what he might do if he tries to stand up for himself that he'll just take it, letting people leave bruises on his skin and marks in his soul.

Gojyo can't go with him because if he did, he wouldn't be able to put up with it, and the last thing Hakkai needs to reinforce his self-esteem is to have Gojyo defending his honor for him. All Gojyo can do is wait for him and try to make him forget what people have said.

It doesn't work; it always works; it never works. Gojyo isn't sure. All he is sure of is that if he doesn't at least make the effort, he won't be able live with himself.

So he pulls Hakkai, Hakkai with his jade-colored eyes and his scarred body and his false smile, in front of the mirror, and whispers, chin resting on his shoulder and fingers entwined, "Look at this and tell me I do not love you."