Fic - Forbidden Longing

[cornerofmadness]

Title - Forbidden Longing
Author - cornerofmadness
Fandom - Fullmetal Alchemist
Disclaimer - Arakawa owns all
Rating - NC-17
Pairing - Ling/Ran Fan
Timeline Spoilers - Vague spoilers for chapter 108, post manga speculation
Warning - none
Word Count 1,445
Summary - He knows their desire is forbidden but the emperor doesn't care
Author's note - written for springkink for the prompt - Fullmetal Alchemist, Ling/Ran Fan: bathing - seeing through the steam, thanks to evil_little_dog for the beta


“We always long for the forbidden things, and desire what is denied us.” Francois Rabelais



X X X

The royal baths were both a blessing and a curse. Ling chose the outdoor bath, surrounded by trees and flowers and high rocks piled by something other than nature. They afforded privacy and safety, not to mention a pleasing view. Privacy, however, was the problem, the curse. As Emperor, Ling could only share the baths with other royals and selected guests. He missed the camaraderie and gossip of the public baths.

Even Alphonse wasn't with him tonight. Infamously fed up with Mei's teachings - something that happened every other month as the pair blew hot and cold - Al had gone to study with an alkahestist in the Qinghai mountains so it was just him in a vast hot spring with no one to talk to but his lone bodyguard.

He shucked out of his silk robe, setting it on a carved bench. The cool wind caressed his nude body, making his nipples stand up. He rubbed at the subtle scar where Father had reached in and ripped Greed from him. How odd was it that Ling rather desperately missed the homunculus? Greed had his good points, not many but still, there were a few unless Ling was totally self-deluding.

The moon seemed captured in the still water. Ling sank into the wet warmth, going under for a moment then sitting back into the seat carved into the stone. His sharp eyes picked out his guard's form, squatting on the high rocks.

"Ran Fan, join me." He held out a hand to her. Through the veil of the rising steam, he watched her duck away shyly. He couldn't see her pretty face behind the mask, so it was a superfluous reaction. Ling wished she wouldn't wear the mask when they were alone like this but Ran Fan refused to be so 'improper.'

"My Emperor, you know I can't."

"I know your Emperor invited you to join him." He smirked, but it faltered when that demonic mask whipped around, pinioning him with its fierce glare. His shoulders slouched, water waving around his neck. "Please, Ran Fan. I would like to share a bath with a friend. We're very alone here. No one will know."

"What if someone decided the baths were the perfect place to assassinate the Emperor?"

"You and I are more than a match for anyone. Join me."

"It's not how I was brought up to act."

Ling reached up and undid his hair. He shook his head, wet strands of it sticking to his cheeks. "It's a lonely job, more than I ever dreamed. I'm not unhappy with my choice but I do feel…alone." Ling would never expose his weaknesses to anyone but Ran Fan. Not even Mei, who had become a good ally, knew the darkest, weakest parts of him. Alphonse, who knew loneliness all too well, probably guessed at it.

Ran Fan pulled off her mask, her pretty face barely visible in the moonlight. She started to undo her shirt. It began to slide down her shoulders then Ran Fan paused, glancing at the exposed metal of her arm.

"It's all right, Ran Fan," he said softly. "That arm is beautiful to me."

She offered up a faint, demure smile then allowed her shirt to flutter away. It took longer for her to get free of her pants and all her weapons. She ghosted into the water, sitting down away from him, stiffly. This, he realized would be her concession to his request. She was in the water with a good distance between them. Nothing he couldn't handle with persistence and him being the emperor. After all, he could take whatever he wanted but he would never force Ran Fan to do anything she didn’t want to do.

He slipped off the seat, inching closer to hers. Heavy pebbles poked his backside but he ignored them. Ran Fan gave him a sour look. "It's hard to talk when you're way over here," he protested, hating the distance that had grown up around them over the years. They had been so intimate once and he missed that, even if it had been little more than teenaged fumblings.

"I can hear you perfectly."

He stared at her through the steam. "Ran Fan, are you unhappy with me? Do you blame me for your arm? For your grandfather's death?"

Ran Fan's mouth dropped into an 'O' then she scooted closer, pushing him back into the formed rock seat. "That monster killed my grandfather. You tried to save him, even with another monster inside you. I am grateful that you cared so much about my grandfather."

"I loved him as I love you," Ling slid deeper in the water. "No, not like you. My love for you is very different."

She looked away, murmuring, "Young master."

"It's true. I know we're not supposed to feel that way, but I know we both do. You don’t fool me, Ran Fan. I know that you love me."

She turned back to him, her living hand finding his fingers under water. "It is my doom."

"No, just our secret." He leaned closer, brushing his lips to the delicate shell of her ear before making their way to her soft lips. Ran Fan didn't duck away this time. Her metal hand caressed his shoulder.

Sitting back on the seat, he gathered her up into his lap. Her legs straddled his hips. She wrapped her arms around his neck. Ran Fan's mouth met his, her tongue pressing into his mouth, hot and demanding. This was the woman he wanted, the bold, brave one. It made him warmer than the water. His penis perked up as her hands worked their way down his torso.

Ling kissed the junction of her flesh and automail. "Your poor arm."

"I'd gladly give more for you," she whispered.

He caressed her hair, letting the wet tendrils pass through his fingers. "You shouldn't have to." His hands moved to her small chest. Like many Xingese women, Ran Fan wasn't graced with heavy breasts like Winry. It would be nice, but he loved Ran Fan, not random bits of her body.

Her nipples hardened under his thumbs. As he closed his lips over one, sucking greedily, Ran Fan's living hand dipped under the water. Her strong fingers closed over his cock. She fumbled, a little unsure of herself. Her hands knew knives and bombs so well, but they had so very rarely touched a man. He murmured soft encouragement, his hips flexing, driving his shaft between her fingers.

Ling dipped one hand down and moved her fingers over the tip of his cock, showing Ran Fan how he liked to be touched. Taking the hint easily, she mixed it up with forceful strokes that left him groaning. He slid his hand into the V of her legs. He was more experienced than she, have been manipulated into several marriages, but political arrangements had nothing to do with love and desire. Ling missed having that, but if nothing else, he had been taught many sensual things.

His fingers found the tiny pearl of flesh hidden in her folds, circling it, the speed alternating, leaving her panting in his ear. One finger pressed into Ran Fan, spring water swirling around his hand.

"More," Ran Fan begged.

Ling gathered her up then pushed inside of her, his hands on her muscular hips. He was rewarded by her soft cry. Seated as he was, Ling's thrusts were short and shallow, but Ran Fan needed no encouragement. Her strong limbs wrapped around him as she rode him. Water splashed around them from their movements. His mouth sealed over hers as he wrapped his arms tight around her back.

Rocking together in the steaming water, their soft cries of pleasure made a counterpoint to the songs of crickets and night birds. Knowing Ran Fan could ill afford a pregnancy; Ling slipped her off of him before he got too close. He hiked himself out of the water and onto the soft grass around the spring, stretching out on his side.

She hoisted herself out of the water as well, her feet still dangling in the spring as Ran Fan tightened her calloused hand over his hot flesh. Her heated metal fingers followed the curve of his ass as she finished him off. He striped her arm, the grass and rocks.

Ling slithered back into the water with her, bearing Ran Fan out further away from the carved seats, into the more natural part of the spring. He held her tight, knowing that this type of respite came only at a high price. Even an emperor didn't always get what he wanted.

Comments

[bob_fish.livejournal.com]

Ah, the withdrawal method. 110% effective, Ling! *cuffs him around the ear* I see Al is going to have to give him some of the condoms I sincerely hope are in his luggage.

This was very hot and sensual and they were both very characterful. And yeah, I got the impression Ling's going to miss Greed hardcore, poor guy.

[cornerofmadness.livejournal.com]

yes teenagers are ever so smart about sex (eyes the half dozen pregnant girls in all of my classes). Ling needs to plan his trips to the bath a little better

Ling never seemed to regret being Greed so yeah I think so too

Thanks