30 Nights

Author: Lauand
Beta: Macavitykitsune
Rating: PG-13 for this chapter.
Disclaimer: Not mine.
Theme: #24 My heart is bleeding for you.
Summary: Little by little, Milo makes progresses.
A/N: Thank you very much to macavitykitsune for the beta-ing. Written for the 30_nights LJ community.


30 NIGHTS
Seventh Night - Taste in Drinks

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It was strange, but their relationship actually improved after Shaka learned about the bet. It was as if, knowing what to expect of the Knight of Scorpio, the defensiveness caused by the unknown had started to melt. Shaka was still cold and quiet, but in a way, he seemed more relaxed, nearly at ease in Milo ’s presence. As far as Shaka was able to show being at ease, that is.


That night, Milo had brought the tray with little bears. It was nearly cute in its hideousness. Shaka’s tea rested there untouched while Milo took painful sips of his from time to time.


It wasn’t as if Scorpio prepared stupid questions in his free time to throw at Shaka in their shared nights, but he always ended up asking them anyway. Maybe it was a gift.


“…By the way,” he attacked again, “what does ‘Ohm’ mean?”


Nearly imperceptibly, Shaka sighed.


“It means ‘May the foolish infidels who come to me with sinful propositions and silly questions all bugger off and leave me in peace’. Approximately.”


“Wow,” Milo grinned, “that’s sort of an economical language you got there in Malaysia …”


“I’m from India ,” Shaka impassively corrected.


“Exactly what I said.”


Unfazed, the Knight of Scorpio took his cup and tried to swallow the rest of his tea without making a face. He must have been too obvious, because Shaka commented.


“You don’t really like tea, do you?”


Good. A personal question.


“Honestly, piss tastes better than this beverage to me.”


Shaka ignored the crudeness and raised an eyebrow.


“Are you in the habit of drinking urine?”


“Well, I’ve heard that is common practice amongst the mountaineers that get short of water in their way up. It can’t be so bad if so many people do it.”


Shaka couldn’t tell if that little pearl of information was true or if it was Milo ’s frantic imagination at work, but he didn’t comment on it. He just tried not to wince at the imagery.


“If your seduction tactics include making me think you consume urine on a regular basis, I feel morally obliged to inform you that it’s not working.”


Milo burst out laughing at that. It had been a good comeback.


“You’ve got a fine sense of humour… how come you never show it?”


It was a bit unnerving, Shaka’s lack of body language. Milo knew the Knight of Virgo would have shrugged at that, but the fact was that he didn’t, and it disoriented Milo a bit to be able to catch the intentions instinctively, without the gestures or the voice tone that normal people used to express themselves.


“I suppose is the same with your conscience,” Shaka mildly replied. “I know you have one. You just happen not to use it often.”


“Mmm,” Milo vaguely agreed, “thinking with the genitalia consumes a lot of time. None left for doing what I should when they tell me otherwise. So, what’s your excuse, then?”


“That way, tiresome visitors don’t feel like staying.”


Oh, how subtle.


“If I didn’t know better, I would swear you’re trying to get rid of me…”


Shaka’s lips looked like they were fighting to repress a smile.


“Maybe you do know better.”


“Impossible. You have fun with me, don’t try to deny it. Whoever else would provide you with silly bantering and dare to imply they have drunk piss?” Milo had a point there and he knew it, “I would even presume people don’t even say the word ‘piss’ in your presence…”


Somehow, Shaka managed to sound grave when he next spoke. Not that his normal tone was especially light and flippant, but, after all, Camus was Milo ’s best friend. Scorpio was used to catch the tiny nuances in his speech that gave away when he was being more serious than accustomed.


“You should stop coming here.”


“No way.” Milo was stubborn. “I still have a bet to win, you know…”


“What would it take for you to forget the bet and leave me alone?”


“What would it take for you to forget the bet and let me kiss you?”


Shaka inhaled and exhaled in what Milo had already labelled as Shaka’s decaffeinated version of a sigh.


“I’m a good kisser, “ Milo insisted.


“I don’t doubt it.” If Shaka didn’t have his eyes closed, Scorpio supposed he would be rolling them. Or, well, on second thought, he probably wouldn’t. But Milo was sure the inner sentiment was the same. Or, at least, quite near.


“So… may I kiss you?”


“Of course not.”


“You’d love it.”


“I’m sure, but anyway, I’ll have to pass.”


Milo pretended to sniff.


“You’re so cruel, ignoring my feelings…” He whined.


Shaka was a terribly patient man.


“You don’t have such a thing.”


“You hurt me.”


“Yes, I see you’re deeply wounded.”


Milo’s whining evolved into a dramatic declaiming.


“My heart is bleeding, my soul is dying, I can’t stand another day without you…!”


The faint trace of alarm could be hear this time in Shaka’s response.


“Oh, no… no cheesy poetry! Out of my temple, now!”


Milo dropped the act and laughed. He started to get up, then.


“Ok, ok… I’ll go to my temple and cry myself to sleep,” his tone was light this time, contradicting his words, “you’re quite the heartbreaker, you know….”


“Go away once and for all, will you?”


Milo grinned.


“As you wish. Good night, Shaka.”


The Knight of Virgo didn’t bid him a good night, but his cosmos was peaceful and kind. Milo hadn’t expected a reply anyway, so he got out of the shrine with the contented feeling that always invaded him when he had spent some quality time with a trusted friend.


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