snarky_panda (snarky_panda) wrote in mulanficspace, @ 2007-07-21 00:51:00 |
|
|||
Current mood: | content |
Current music: | Kim Possible |
30 Kisses: Mulan and Shang, Part Seven
Written for the 30_kisses challenge.
Title: Fevered Dreams
Author: snarky_panda
Fandom: Mulan
Pairing: Li Shang/Fa Mulan
Theme: #3, jolt
Disclaimer: All characters, etc. from the Disney movie belong to Disney.
Cold. She was so very cold. Her small frame shuddered uncontrollably from each sudden blast of icy wind that reverberated through her body. Attempting to make herself as small as possible she gathered the thin blanket tighter around her exposed body.
But it did nothing to stop the incessant shivering or hide her from the stares of her comrades. Former comrades. She had no shirt on. Only a bandage wound around her torso shielded her bare breasts from the cruel mountain chill and the view of every one of the soldiers in the troop.
Worse than anything were the expressions in the eyes that were on her now. Shang’s hard, cold eyes, narrowed in fury at her masquerade, her lie. Shock in the eyes of the three soldiers that had been her friends. Disgust in those of the others. But she didn’t look at any of them; only her captain.
Her head was raised, eyes meeting Shang’s, her leader and teacher, a man that she’d come to respect and care for deeply. She kept her gaze fixed on him, desperately hoping to somehow reach his heart, the raw frigid dampness of the snow beneath her legs only vaguely in her awareness.
The blade of her father’s sword glinted in the moonlight as the captain raised it, preparing to lower it down across her neck, punishment for her deception; for failing to learn and keep her place. She had hoped that just maybe he would understand her reason for doing it, and perhaps forgive her. He’d lost his own father; surely he could relate to her willingness to do anything she could to save hers. It was the only way, she’d had no choice. But there was no understanding in his hard black eyes, and no forgiveness.
Resigned to her fate, she lowered her head and prepared to meet her end, her heart heavy and aching with sadness and regret.
A sob choked itself out of her throat and she opened her eyes with a start, becoming aware that she was drenched in sweat, tears streaming down her face. She was bundled up in blankets and strong, warm arms held her. Her head was cradled against a broad, muscular chest.
“Mulan.”
She twisted her head and blinked up at Shang. Even in the shadow that cast itself over them she could see that his face was wrought with worry, his eyes concerned and caring, so unlike that night in the mountains. Though they had never spoken of it, the incident was over, in the past, and things were different between them now; yet for some reason tonight it haunted her fevered dreams again, causing her to relive it as if it were happening in that instant.
“Are you alright? You were having a bad dream.”
“Yes,” she whispered, turning her face and burying it in his already damp tunic, allowing it to soak up the rest of her tears.
He stroked her hair and she turned to look up at him again. His hand moved to her forehead, checking her temperature. Unsatisfied he leaned down and pressed his mouth to the spot that his hand had covered a moment before. An ache settled in her as she longed for his lips to move down to her mouth. She wasn’t sure if she was imagining it when she felt him softly kiss her brow. He raised his head and began to run his fingers through her hair again before she had a chance to process it.
“Your fever broke. Hopefully you’ll sleep soundly now, without anymore nightmares.”
The expression on his face had morphed into one of remorse and anguish. He untangled his fingers from her hair and let them drift to her face. She closed her eyes with a soft sigh as he stroked her cheek gently, allowing herself to lean into his touch and relax against him.
“Oh, Mulan,” he whispered, his fingertips lovingly tracing the contour of her face. He gently brushed away the damp hair that clung to her skin. “I wasn’t ever going to hurt you. I could never harm you. Please believe that.”
She nodded, unable to fathom how he had guessed what her nightmare was about. “How…?”
“You were talking in your sleep.”
“What did I say?”
“The same things that you said to me that night…in the mountains.”
“Oh,” she answered sheepishly.
“I’m sorry that I frightened you so,” he murmured softly.
“It’s in the past.”
“Still. I regret the way I behaved to you back then. Forgive me.”
Guilt was painted all over his face now and she desperately wanted to assuage it. After all, she didn’t hold it against him. He had been in a tough spot that night, with a difficult decision to make. And his choice had been to spare her. Perhaps he understood everything she hoped he would. Or maybe he had decided it would not be honorable to kill a young girl who had saved his life and the lives of their comrades. Whatever made him choose his actions, it was behind them and it no longer mattered. They were dear friends now.
“There’s nothing to forgive,” she answered softly, managing to free a hand from the tangle of blankets around her and reaching up to stroke his cheek.
He tightened his arms around her and gathered her up against his body, his hand cupped against the back of her head, mashing her face into his chest with the strength of his hug. She relished the closeness, the affection in his embrace, his warmth, the scent of him. She looked up into his handsome visage again as he slackened his hold on her, longing for him to lean down and cover her mouth with his own. How could he stand to be so close to her and not kiss her?
She suppressed a soft sigh. It was just as well. Though Shang’s feelings were becoming very clear, they weren’t husband and wife yet, and the rules dictated that it wouldn’t be proper. And Shang was not someone who would turn his back on his upbringing.
And neither was she really.
(Link here to continue)