[Log] Caught in the Act Who: Shiranui Genma, Kamizuki Izumo When: October 2nd Where: The grounds What: Genma comes across Izumo doing something very strange...they talk. Warnings:Izumo&Genma Swearing, flirting, kisses, wierdness Open or Closed: Closed Observable: No
*
“No, no. Try again. Your hands were too obvious,” Izumo scolded.
Jik sighed, rolled his eyes, but gathered up the cards and dealt again. Binyamin and Hester exchanged quiet looks of amusement. They had been sparring, out in the forest training area, but now Izumo was teaching them to cheat at cards - it was a useful skill, and good for memory exercises. Binyamin, sitting closer to Izumo, tipped a flirtatious look at him and brushed their hands together when they reached for the cards. Izumo tossed him an encouraging grin, and got a nervous one back in return. Binyamin was learning well.
“That’s better, Jik. Much better.” Izumo examined his cards, and nodded. “Much better.”
“Is this why you win so much as poker?” Hester asked softly, her sweet little voice mild. “I heard Mama Lisa complaining the other night.”
“No. I don’t cheat in those games. I’m just lucky and know when to bluff.” Izumo nodded. “You’ll learn it. And now that you have the winning hand....”
“I’ll never get good enough you won’t see it, huh?” Jik complained.
Izumo chuckled. “No, you did well. And you’ll get better.”
Genma strolled into the training area in the forest with his bandanna pulled a little low on his forehead, his eyes carrying the usual heavy-lidded dull look. Of course, as always he was paying more attention than it looked like, but it was very hard to tell from the slouched stance and lazy grip on the needle in his mouth. Especially outside like this, he tended to be careful. Whatever Izumo might say about the safety inside, he had a feeling people got away with a lot out of the dorms.
It was just as he thought of Izumo that he saw that very man, and he smiled a little automatically. He was still feeling as if having Izumo around made his life here quite a bit easier. He surveyed the situation for just as second, and then started toward Izumo and his little card-playing group. He managed to just catch a bit of the conversation, and bit back a laugh.
He made sure to speak as he made his way to stand behind Izumo, not that he thought he could startle the other ninja, but just in case. He dropped to the ground just beside the younger ninja, one arm sliding around Izumo’s shoulders, playfully, and he winked at... what appeared to be the man’s students.
Izumo still flinched tense. All three kids dropped their cards and shot to their feet, looking to Izumo....who eyed Genma, shook his head and nodded. “He’s okay when he’s with me,” he told them, and they all nodded. “You. You’ve never seen these kids with me and you have no idea if I associate with them. Clear?”
He poked Genma in the flak-vest.
Genma pressed his lips together tightly to avoid laughing. He probably shouldn’t laugh; he didn’t know anything about the capabilities of the kids, and he knew from experience that young people could be plenty dangerous. His own village had quite a few extraordinary young shinobi.
He gave a little careless wave with his free hand, keeping the other one around Izumo almost stubbornly, tips of his fingers brushing against the other man’s shoulder.
“Hi, I’m Genma, and I’m not really here. Yup.”
The kids came back, hesitant, mute. Izumo shrugged a little, and leaned against Genma comfortably. “Corrupting? Well, teaching them to cheat at poker. It’s a valuable life skill.” Izumo grinned a little, gestured for Jik to pick up the cards again.
Genma didn’t really mind the kids being uncomfortable, but he certainly wasn’t going to apologize for interrupting them either. After all, this was fun.
He shifted his long legs a little to make himself more comfortable, tugged Izumo a little closer, and then brushed his fingers down his arm just a little. Idle, teasing, playful. He did so enjoy Izumo.
“Can I learn too? It does sound terribly useful.”
He didn’t know if Izumo knew that he’d played plenty of poker back home or not; they haven’t moved in quite the same circles enough that he’d ever played against the man, anyway.
“Like you have to cheat. You could probably teach me tricks, old man,” Izumo teased, lightly, tipping his head back briefly against Genma’s shoulder. He looked down at his cards as Jik dealt. A straight deal. Izumo nodded. “I hear you’re decent enough even with a few drinks in you.”
“Damn, I should have known that your nose for gossip would sniff me out.”
Genma laughed easily, peered at Izumo’s cards curiously, and shrugged a shoulder.
“I may have played a game or two in my day. Guard duty gets boring once in a while.” He shifted his gaze to the kids for a second, rather amused to see Izumo playing the teacher. Then again, that was one way of building his network of contacts. And Genma had no doubt that was probably what this was really about.
“I know almost everything,” Izumo pointed out, grinning. “Deal again. Give one person the winning hand.”
Jik nodded and started collecting the cards. He was still watching Genma warily. Hester looked at her ease, but Binyamin was nearly rigid, far more nervous. Izumo wondered if he would bolt. He clicked his tongue, and mouthed ‘mask up’ to the young boy. Binyamin’s dark eyes met his, and the boy swallowed hard before taking a shuddery breath and forcing his shoulders to relax. His jaw was still tense but he was slowly assuming a more natural posture.
Genma shifted just a little, placing his lips near Izumo’s ear. “You can tell me to leave if you like,” he muttered, very softly. Just in case.
But honestly, he figured Izumo would have told him so if he wanted in the first place. And he didn’t plan on keeping his distance or anything.
He wasn’t playing the same kinds of games here Izumo was. That wasn’t his job, his way of doing things. And he was fairly sure if he was in the way, the younger man would let him know. So instead he merely slid his senbon to the other side of his mouth, ignored the exchange between Izumo and the kids, and spoke louder.
“Mm, it’s true, kids. Izumo is a fountain of useful knowledge. And trouble.”
-Good lesson.
Izumo’s fingers traced scout-sign across Genma’s hand as he reached up to touch it, an affectionate gesture. “Tell them something they don’t know. Or don’t, it does me good to be the mysterious teacher.”
Jik snorted. Hester raised her eyebrows as she looked at her cards. Binyamin managed a smile, and it was even a good one.
“Hester, control your face. Jik, good deal, very smooth,” Izumo declared.
Genma snorted. “I’m sure I could come up with something they don’t know, but I’m not sure I want to get in a story-telling battle with you. I have a feeling I’d wind up losing far worse at that than poker.”
He flicked a simple thought so against Izumo’s skin, letting the touch linger a little, and then tipped his head.
“I’m just a simple bodyguard, got nothing on you for trouble.” His eyes swept over the group again, very casually, and then he grinned. “So, have you kids I’m not seeing been not-associating with Izumo long?”
“Now that’s a secret,” Izumo answered, smugly.
“N-not as long as you,” Binyamin murmured, licking his lips nervously, but his face was controlled and the glance he flicked Genma was at least attentive. Izumo nodded to the kid, encouragingly. He’d do well. Fear no longer controlled him, and Izumo silently applauded the courage it took for even that.
Genma raised an eyebrow.
“And what makes you think that?” Of course, he was wearing his uniform, so that could be a hint. And Izumo had known about his poker skills. But...
“Maybe we just met yesterday, and I’m just... very friendly.”
He tugged a little at Izumo, playfully, as if to make him snuggle in closer.
Binyamin swallowed again, and Izumo gave him a little encouraging nod. The boy’s lips twitched, before he managed a smile. The thought-process was all-too-clear to Izumo: can’t stop now, in too deep.
“You’re very...comfortable with each other,” Binyamin managed. “Call it a hunch.”
Izumo recognized the echo of his own flirting in there. “Excellent dealing, Jik. I call an end to this practise.”
Jik sighed in relief, gathered up the cards like lightning, then whirled and took off running. Hester rose and started counting out loud. “Hester, take the right-hand path today. Binyamin, go by the mushroom path,” Izumo instructed, patiently.
Genma snorted, watching. He had been tempted to say something more, but the kids were taking off before he could get his joke in. Ah well. You win some, you lose some.
He shifted and flopped himself onto his back, finally releasing Izumo, his eyes still on the kids. Interesting, very interesting. He wondered what their stories were, idly. He wasn’t about to ask; they were spooked enough by his presence. Yet comfortable with Izumo, it seemed.
“Such a good teacher. I’m amazed they didn’t have you doing this back home,” he teased, lightly.
“Hah. I’m horrible. You missed the part where I lost my temper and we all shouted and half of us cried,” Izumo retorted, as Hester left and Binyamin started counting. He followed Genma’s flop and draped himself over the older man’s belly and hips, his back against Genma’s font. Izumo was wearing a faded dark grey hoodie and well-loved jeans, fading out on the knees and butt already, stained from blood and tree grime.
Genma snorted, flicked his eyes to the young man waiting his turn to take off. He raised his voice just a little, teasingly.
“Oh, I’d think I’d known your temper quite well, considering what our relationship was at home, Izumo-kun. I was so very sad to come here and find you sleeping around on me.”
He poked a finger into Izumo’s ribs playfully as he spoke, and relaxed a little more against the ground, the contact making him feel more rather than less safe. Apparently he’d quite easily slid Izumo into the place of some of his closer mission partners in his personal support system.
“So sad.”
“Liar,” Izumo declared, comfortably, and waved at Binyamin as the boy took off running. He let his head rest against Genma’s hip. “I am not your type. And you...aren’t exactly mine though I wouldn’t say no to a good hard fuck.” Izumo chuckled. “I bet you scream like a banshee.”
“You are exactly my type,” Genma argued, his voice soft. “Trouble, trouble, and more trouble. Likely to get me killed. Or break my heart.”
Not that he’d ever been in danger of that, not once. He smirked and let his hand play idly against the other man’s arm, as if the contact was automatic. “You caught me, though. I scream like a banshee. Occasionally even cease to look like I’m half-asleep. Or so I’m told. Once in a while.”
“Damn, now you’ve got me wanting to hear that,” Izumo whined, playfully, reaching out blind to tug at Genma’s hair. “Such a tease, you.”
“Now, now, don’t be greedy. Don’t you already get all the sex around here?”
Genma laughed, then pressed his lips together a little, honestly considering. “Hmm, I think not. Keeping my mystique a little longer will make for an even nicer time the day I finally decide to give in to your wiles.”
“Ah, such a horrible tease!” Izumo laughed, and tapped his knuckles against Genma’s jaw, softly. “Well, for that, you’ll never know exactly what I can do with my tongue. So very sad.”
“I told you I already know, remember?” Genma responded, jauntily. He tapped the senbon in his mouth against Izumo’s hand with a twist of his lips, very gently.
“Besides, I seem to have my hands full of young blond at the moment. So I guess I’m rather busy.”
“But knowing and experiencing are two very different things, my sexy man,” Izumo retorted. “So tell me all about this young blonde. Give me the juicy details.” He turned his head, tossed Genma a bright grin.
“You’re just not going to believe me, are you?” Genma responded, with a roll of his eyes. He shook his head as if sad that their intimate history together seemed so farfetched, and then... winked.
“Mm, I could start with how he stripped for me and let me draw him I suppose.”
“Mmm, just draw him? That’s so boring,” Izumo teased, gleefully.
“It’s not boring, it’s romantic!” Genma protested, laughing. He was pretty sure Izumo knew how unlikely it was that Genma was being romantic, but then again, he was attempting to portray himself as so to others. To some extent at least.
That thought led him to another. “Speaking of romantic, I met someone interesting soon after I arrived here.”
“Oh, so now there’s two? You’re getting around.” Izumo grinned again, and teased his fingers into Genma’s hair.
“Noooo,” Genma said, his hand slipping up to catch Izumo’s for a second, briefly. He didn’t hold on, but gave it a little squeeze and then dropped it away from his hair.
He liked having his hair played with, normally, but he didn’t want to have any pulled out when he spoke again.
“No, the other romance I was speaking of was yours. Nice young fellow, told me how wonderful you were. Or do you have so many hopelessly falling over you that you don’t notice them anymore?”
“Be a little more specific?” Izumo asked, squirming a little, reaching up again for the hair.
“Oh, you really must have multiple admirers,” Genma said, turning his head and sliding his senbon aside to nip at Izumo’s fingers without risk of stabbing.
“This one made me teach him how to make onigiri. Says he was a soldier... doesn’t act like much of one. Blushes adorably. Especially at mention of your name.”
That was a slight exaggeration, and much of Balfour’s blushing had been Genma’s fault. But he was curious to know if Izumo was aware how taken the young man was with him.
“Balfour.” Izumo raised an eyebrow, and tangled his fingers in Genma’s hair. “You met Balfour. Well, wasn’t he delicious enough to eat?”
“Quite delicious,” Genma admitted, licking his lips. He glanced down at Izumo, honestly a little curious.
“And... more than a little romantic-sounding. Poor boy.”
“Mmm, yeah. What did he say, anyway?” Izumo wanted to know, starting to comb his fingers through Genma’s hair. It was cool and smoother than he’d expected.
Genma leaned his head into the hand a little, and for a moment, he didn’t say anything. The comforting touch was enough to distract him, and his eyes fell closed. When he finally spoke, he sounded almost sleepy.
“Mmm, not what he said, how he said it. All soft tones and sweet smiles. Like he couldn’t help but smile like that when he thought of you, even if he was talking about how you got around.”
“Mmm, I did make it clear I wasn’t going to be exclusive,” Izumo demurred. “He is sweet, I’ll say that. A pretty little thing, too. Nice sexy ass.” His grin wasn’t just flirty, it was downright lustful. “So what praises of mine did he sing?”
“He says you’re... teaching him a lot.”
Genma snorted, then cocked his hip a little, as if he might try to jostle Izumo off of him. “Don’t get near me with that look on your face, or you’ll have me falling into your web as well. Bad enough for your little friend with his sexy ass and sweet smile, I don’t want to be numbered among your trail of broken hearts.”
“Well, considering he was virgin as they come when I found him...I should hope I’m teaching him a lot!” Izumo laughed and curled his fingers in Genma’s hair tugging lightly. “C’mon, you’d fold that easy? If I’d known that....”
“Mm, didn’t you know how easy I was?” Genma rolled his eyes, shifted again. He wasn’t seriously trying to make Izumo move, but the thought was fun. He wrinkled his nose a little.
“I should have laid in your lap instead, if you really wanted to molest my hair so badly. Not that I mind. That’s the real secret to my heart, you know.”
He chomped a little on his senbon, and then gave another laugh. “Virginal, huh? And you haven’t trained him out of the blushing yet. Or are you teaching him how to use it? Am I going to be finding myself under his spell someday?”
“Ah. So I ought to pull on your hair before I turn on the charm,” Izumo teased. “You might...he’s got spunk under all that polite mess. He’s figuring out he can ask for what he wants and get it too.”
Part of him was grimly accepting that comment on Balfour’s puppy-love. He’d thought so. But there wasn’t a lot he could do about it.
“Ah, Izumo, you teach the kids all the life-lessons, don’t you?” Genma asked, reaching down and tugging on a lock of Izumo’s hair, figuring it was about time to get his revenge.
“Suppose someone has to. I’m just glad it’s not me, I think I have too much conscience for it.” Too much conscience for heart-breaking, not too much for brutally killing people. That made perfect sense. Yes.
“Well, I’ll break ‘em in and you’ll wise ‘em up. Sounds like a dream team to me.” Izumo grinned shamelessly, rolling his head to get his hair free from Genma’s grasp.
“Oh, I see, I show you mine but you won’t show me yours,” Genma said, laughing a little. He batted at the back of Izumo’s head.
“Sounds like a pretty good team though. So you going to pass cutie on to me someday? He did give me the sweetest of little kisses... in between singing your praises.”
He hadn’t been going to tell Izumo that part, but well, it was funny now. And a good joke was always worthwhile.
“Ah, he’s getting braver.” Izumo chuckled, amused. He was a little surprised, but if Genma had flirted as hard as he was doing now... Good for Balfour! Genma would probably be nice to him, as well, if they continued in that vein. “He goes where he wants. I’m not keeping him on a leash. So about this blonde of yours....”
Minato was blonde. Izumo kept that little blip completely internal as his mind seized on all the possibilities.
Genma snorted. “Ah, I’m not sure. It’d make a good excuse, I think. Better his lovestruck fool than bodyguard to a man who obviously don’t need one.”
He tilted his head back, shifted a little to dislodge a stick that had decided to poke under his bandanna. It crunched a little under the metal plate on the back of his head.
“Think I could pull off ‘lovestruck fool’, Izumo-kun?”
“I think you could pull off whatever fool you wanted,” Izumo returned, and stretched, arching his back, muscles shivering-tight then loose again as he relaxed over Genma. He smiled a little. He liked this easy back-and-forth. It was very relaxing, not having to watch his every word.
“As long as it’s a fool, huh?” Genma asked, playfully.
He made another grab for Izumo’s hair, stubborn but gentle. “It’s a thought anyway. I think otherwise I might make myself... too much of a target. I’m rather concerned about the political situation that might...”
He swished his senbon from one side of his mouth to the other, thinking. “Minato-sama seems to think he can solve... everything. Here and everywhere. Of course, I didn’t tell you that. But it’s not a line of thought I like.”
“Not a line of thought I like either,” Izumo agreed, fingers tangled in Genma’s hair. He tugged lightly, gently. “I’d watch him, if I were you. Sure, he can handle a lot, a hell of a lot, but there are things here than can take down Itachi in one shot. With barely a fight. So I’d watch him. It’s easy to get in over your head here before you know it.”
“That’s what I thought.”
Genma wrinkled his nose, shifted a little, dislodging Izumo enough to turn over onto his side, as if just a little restless. It was the topic that made him restless, concerned, feeling vaguely helpless.
“This place isn’t so bad, if you keep your head down, it seems like to me. I haven’t been in any real danger yet, unless you count me mouthing off. But... people like him don’t keep their heads down. And I can’t make him do so.”
“Oof,” Izumo complained as Genma’s hip dug between his shoulderblades. “That’s true. When you participate in the Games or take on the political groups directly, you’re in for a different level of blackmail and attempted assassinations. I can try to keep you informed, if you pass me names. But I’m not all-knowing.”
Genma reached down to pat at Izumo’s shoulder a little apologetically, but didn’t say anything about having moved him.
“And I still should probably participate in the games myself, at least somewhat. Otherwise I feel like I’d miss a lot that goes on around here. At least, things that aren’t already in your sights.”
He frowned. He had been all for the idea of fighting in the games when he’d first arrived, and now... he wasn’t really. What had changed? He wasn’t entirely sure, but he had a sad feeling that it had to do with settling in too much.
“I’ll be sure to be careful, and... you and I can work things out between us to have a decent view of the situation I think. The rest is my responsibility, not yours.”
He had no illusions about that. Izumo didn’t have any need to be loyal to a Hokage he hadn’t even really known, especially when that man wasn’t Hokage yet.
“I think so. I’m trying to be careful. I’d not be in the Games if I could help it - the things they do sometimes...it’s ugly.” Izumo shook his head. “Worse than a few of the missions I’ve been on.” There was always the hope of rescue, on a mission.
“Hmm.” Genma didn’t know what to say to that, exactly. He didn’t know a lot of the details about Izumo’s missions, but he had an idea. And he knew the type of missions he himself had been on, and survived, but that was... different. Not like this.
He’d had reasons, then.
“Do you think I should stay out of it then? Is that what you’re saying?”
“No, I’m just saying...” What was he saying? Izumo grimaced a little. “Be careful. It can break you, to play the Dark Games. And they like it that way.”
Genma frowned. He’d have almost preferred to have had the man tell him what to do. Not because he would have listened, but because it would have given him a good reason not to. But then, that was just silly. He didn’t have anyone to take orders from, here. Not even Minato. And Minato hadn’t seemed too concerned about his taking part in the Games.
He sighed, heavily, and then jostled Izumo with his hip again.
“Thanks. I’ll think about it. I suppose I could just work with the healers, but... it feels wrong. To let him go into something I won’t.”
“I can see that. Just...be careful. They’re the kind of people who’d find it funny to put you in a Game versus him.” Izumo shook his head with a scowl.
“I... had thought of that possibility.” Genma sighed. He didn’t add what would likely happen in that was the case, but it seemed obvious enough.
He closed his eyes and leaned his head on his hand, suddenly tired with thinking about all this. Too many variables that he couldn’t fill in. He didn’t like it one bit.
“I’ll be careful.... since you’re so worried about me, lover.” The teasing came back into his voice naturally, as if he’d reached some kind of breaking point of seriousness.
“Mmm, you’re too pretty not to worry about, sexy,” Izumo returned, in a husky purr. He arched and pulled himself off Genma, then set a hand on the other side of him and leaned over his hips, watching Genma’s face.
Genma simply looked up at Izumo for a second, considering, and then a hand snaked between them, sliding the senbon out of his mouth and holding it loosely instead. He settled the hand against the ground, senbon and palm up, keeping it in view.
Then he leaned up, smiling wryly, and brushed his lips against the other man’s very lightly before speaking again.
“Good to know someone cares,” he said, quietly.
Izumo stiffened minutely, then let it go. Surprise or no, Genma would not hurt him, not without good reason or warning. He smiled a little, and returned the very chaste kiss. “Yes,” he breathed back, and that was all. Acknowledgement, understanding, and acceptance. That was all.
Genma leaned back, looking up at Izumo with an expression of something like triumph on his face. He was pretty sure that he wasn’t alone in feeling almost too comfortable, and he was amused to see how far it would go.
This time, he wasn’t going to ruin it by saying that.
Instead, he smirked. “Something you want? You look like a proper predatory kitty up there, all purry and poised to attack.”
“You tempt me, Genma, oh how you tempt me,” Izumo answered, smiling widely as he leaned closer, touched Genma’s cheek with gentle, almost tender fingers. “You know I’d love to eat you all up, inch by inch...”
And then in a liquid move hurried by chakra, he was on his feet, grinning cheekily at Genma. “But I’ve got so much to do, you see! Maybe later, sexy man.”
The hand Genma was holding the senbon in moved back toward his face, sliding the thin piece of metal back between his lips. His eyes were on Izumo’s movements, and he gave him another long look up and down once the younger shinobi was on his feet.
Genma sighed, heavily, his eyes falling into their usual heavy-lidded state, an expression he’d lost for a few moments during their conversation.
“You’re going to be the death of me long before the games are, Izumo-kun,” he said, with a wry little chuckle, a little curious himself whether he quite meant it. He wasn’t sure anyone had ever put him at ease and make him question things at the same time as Izumo was currently doing.
“I try,” Izumo chirped, and blew Genma a kiss. “I’ve got a meeting with a hell of a lady, and if I keep her waiting there won’t be any treats for me after. Have fun, I know I will.”
With that tease tossed out, Izumo turned and started off through the trees, humming to himself and dancing a little as he went.
Genma snorted and rolled his eyes, but he lay still and watched his - and he really thought this might be the appropriate word now - friend until he was out of sight. He found himself settling back against the ground a little heavily, caught somewhere between wanting to laugh and wanting to go back to his room for some... private time.
As soon as Izumo was out of sight, however, Genma wound up doing neither of those things. Instead, he rolled to his feet, drew in a couple of slow breaths, and flew into motion, beginning a simple taijutsu practice routine.
Nothing like good old-fashioned exercise to clear the mind, as a teammate of his had taught him a very long time ago.