Work Text:
"Well done." Kunzite gave a slight smile as Zoisite handed him the yellow crystal. Zoisite beamed at his partner's praise, looking radiant if on the disheveled side, with more strands of hair than usual escaping his ponytail. Although Kunzite found his lover's beauty indestructible, he momentarily considered asking him if he was all right, since he thought he detected dark circles under Zoisite's eyes. But the moment passed, as Kunzite decided it was likely a trick of the low lighting of their strategy room.
“Thank you, Kunzite-sama,” Zoisite said in a breathy voice with a slight nod of his head. He leaned over to place his elbows on the table, where the tray of four other rainbow crystals sat. As he rested his head in his hands, he watched Kunzite add the yellow crystal to join the others.
Kunzite paused, expecting Zoisite to launch into a giddy recount of every detail of his mission like he usually did. Yet Zoisite was quiet and subdued for once, gazing intently at the crystals. Kunzite smiled to himself in relief that he could get on with the next steps, rather than have to endure chattering until Zoisite decided he was ready to focus.
“That’s five,” Kunzite said. "There are only two left. What do you intend to do to get them?" Zoisite didn’t answer, but continued to stare ahead with unblinking glassy eyes. Kunzite realized Zoisite was not, in fact, focused on the crystals, but transfixed on some point beyond them. “Zoisite,” Kunzite addressed him in a sterner tone. "Are you with me?"
Zoisite finally blinked and raised his head abruptly as if he just remembered where he was. “Kunzite-sama,” he said, with a return of his eager grin. “I wish you had been there to see it! I spent all night figuring out how to modify the black crystal, and now I can turn any human into a monster. Sailor Moon got so rattled she went ahead and handed over the crystal to me.” Zoisite giggled as he twirled a strand of his hair around his finger while batting his eyelashes at Kunzite. “Then that awful Tuxedo Mask showed up to try and steal it, but I fooled him and got it back! I made up this new illusion where Tuxedo Mask thought I was hidden in my cherry blossoms but I really teleported somewhere else, and he was swinging away at nothing—“
“Zoisite,” Kunzite interrupted. “I’m not asking what you did, I’m asking what you’re going to do next.”
“Really?” Zoisite gave an exaggerated sigh as he lowered his head slightly, looking up at Kunzite with petulant green eyes, while Kunzite inwardly groaned as he recognized that look. "I went through so much to retrieve that crystal, Kunzite-sama. Don't I get a break?"
“We’re not done yet. You can’t let your guard down while we’re ahead,” Kunzite scoffed. Zoisite stuck out his lower lip into a pout, as he continued slowly twirling his hair. Kunzite straightened to his full height, crossed his arms, and stared Zoisite down, starting to regret his past habit of indulging his lover's pity plays. “That’s the lesson you should have learned when you lost the other two crystals.”
Zoisite inhaled sharply as he diverted his eyes to the floor. He uncurled his finger from his hair and folded his arms. “What do you mean?” he muttered.
“Use your head, Zoisite. There are two rainbow crystals left. Why do you think you don’t have them right now?” Kunzite refused to take his icy stare off Zoisite, hoping he had finally gotten the message.
Yet Zoisite refused to meet his gaze. “Because of Tuxedo Mask,” Zoisite sighed, digging the toe of his boot repeatedly into a certain spot on the dark marbled floor. “He keeps showing up when I've got Sailor Moon right where I want her, and he steals the crystals.”
“Because you let your guard down. You let him take advantage.”
Zoisite’s eyes flickered upward towards Kunzite but he jerked his head to the side abruptly. He clenched his jaw and continued kicking his favourite spot on the floor, three more times until he suddenly pivoted toward a nearby bench and stomped towards it. He threw his head back as he sat down, putting his hands over his face to massage his temples, rather dramatically from Kunzite's perspective. “Why is this all on me now?” Zoisite whined. “Aren’t we supposed to be a team?”
Kunzite sighed. This was not the time to give in to Zoisite's angling for coddling, not when they were so close to victory and under pressure from Queen Beryl. “I’m trying to help you strategize. It’s your job to collect the crystals.”
Zoisite sighed like he was mimicking Kunzite. “Oh my, my apologies, Kunzite-sama. To get the crystals back, I'll kill Tuxedo Mask, I guess."
“You guess ? What’s your strategy for this?” Kunzite clenched his fists under his crossed arms as he remembered their last encounter with Queen Beryl. He didn't want to think much of it, but he detected a certain frustration in Beryl's voice, the same frustration she had shown Jadeite right before she sentenced him to eternal sleep.
Zoisite pulled his feet up onto the bench and hugged his knees to his chest. He rested his chin on his knees and stared at some faraway point beyond Kunzite. Kunzite was about to tell him to snap out of it when Zoisite finally muttered, "I don't know what you want me to say. It's like you're giving me an exam instead of helping me strategize."
Kunzite strode towards the bench to loom over Zoisite, casting a shadow across his partner's huddled form. “You don't seem to be strategizing at all. You’re just scattering words and expecting me to be impressed.” Zoisite kept still but Kunzite clearly saw him rolling his eyes. Kunzite suddenly felt his veins run cold with an anxiety he couldn't quite place, causing him to snap, "If you can't impress me, how do you intend to impress Queen Beryl?"
Zoisite barely flinched but his shoulders tensed slightly. At the same time, one corner of his mouth turned up in a venomous smirk. "My, my," Zoisite tittered, tapping his finger to his lips. "I'd forgotten how important it is to make Queen Beryl smile. I wonder what Queen Beryl might say if I go to her with my plan to kill Tuxedo Mask."
"Do you think this is a game, Zoisite?" Kunzite hissed. The chill that flowed through him rose to an icy tsunami that took him out of his body as he realized Zoisite had no understanding of the stakes. "Do you realize you're running out of chances with Queen Beryl?"
With eerie calmness, Zoisite tilted his head toward Kunzite and fixed his deep green eyes directly onto Kunzite's steely blue-grey gaze. "You really think so?" he sneered. "Even though I've been getting results and I'm nearly at completion?" Zoisite dropped his voice and narrowed his eyes. "What are your chances with Beryl, exactly? After all, you seem to just sit here in the dark and think about what I'm doing wrong. What is it you actually do ?"
Kunzite was barely conscious of his limbs as he raised his clenched fist at Zoisite. "You're out of line, Zoisite," Kunzite growled, trying not to let his voice or his hand shake. "You wouldn't even be in your position if–"
"How do you know?" Zoisite suddenly yelped, burying his face in his knees. "Whatever you think of my position, how would you know? It's not like you're there when I'm getting the crystals!" Kunzite grabbed Zoisite's arm to pull him off the bench, but abruptly dropped it when Zoisite suddenly hissed, "I should get Queen Beryl's opinion instead of yours. I think my plan would make her smile." He gave Kunzite a smile, then giggled at him. "Once I get all the crystals, she might give me a promotion. To your rank. Then we would be a real team." Zoisite lowered his voice to a gravely whisper as he added, "Maybe I could even replace you."
Kunzite couldn't help but burst into laughter. Zoisite squinted and stared at him, looking shocked, then hurt. Kunzite finally scoffed, “Queen Beryl will not promote you unless I recommend it. And right now you certainly aren’t winning any favours with me.”
Zoisite suddenly uncurled and jumped to his feet, clenching his fists so hard his hands were shaking. “And who recommended you for your rank, Kunzite?” Kunzite flinched at the way Zoisite spat out his name, especially since he dropped his usual honourific. The edges of Zoisite's eyes looked bloodshot as he pressed on, “Did you have to win favours from someone with a cape who constantly talked down to you?"
Kunzite clenched his own fists and jaw, staring Zoisite down but unable to say a word to him. He knew that anything he came up with would be something they would both regret. While Zoisite stared up at him defiantly, Kunzite couldn't stand to look at him anymore and whirled around. He strode off towards the exit, certain he heard Zoisite snickering behind him.
Kunzite meandered down the dark circular hallway, replaying the argument in his head, and wondering what had gotten into Zoisite. Possibly he shouldn't have been surprised that he would be unhappy about not getting instant glowing praise, he thought with a roll of his eyes. But he had meant it when he said "well done." He crossed his arms and frowned as he wondered why that hadn't been enough for Zoisite to take Queen Beryl's potential wrath seriously.
At that moment, Kunzite passed one of the more reflective areas of the dark walls and caught a glimpse of himself. He froze, gazing at his reflection, surprised that he didn't quite like what he saw. He had always imagined himself as a formidable presence that aroused fear in anyone in his presence. But the way he looked now, with his shoulders hunched and a scowl on his face, made him seem cranky and archaic. His cape looked rather ridiculous, like it was threatening to engulf and disappear him, rather than accentuating his intimidating presence. Kunzite stared at himself and wondered if that was how Zoisite saw him. He tried to adjust himself so his reflection looked more like how he imagined himself, standing up straight, uncrossing his arms, and trying to relax his face trying to find a natural gaze. At best, he didn't look like an antiquated curmudgeon anymore, but he still didn't look as terrifying as he thought he did. He recalled one of the barbs Zoisite had thrown at him. What is it you actually do ?
Remembering Zoisite's harsh words caused ice to drop into Kunzite's gut, as an unplaceable anxiety ran through him again. He had to admit Zoisite's words wouldn't have rattled him so much if there wasn't a grain of truth to them. He remembered when Zoisite was first put in charge of finding the Silver Crystal, when he leaned on Kunzite for constant guidance. Back then, it had been Kunzite who scolded him that they were supposed to be a team, with each of them putting equal effort into strategies and tactics. But as Zoisite kept going into the field on his own, while Kunzite stayed behind, Zoisite had been coming up with more and more of his own strategies and tactics, and this latest victory was his alone.
Maybe I could even replace you.
As he wondered if Zoisite had meant what he said, Kunzite adjusted his cape again, though he wasn't sure anymore what look he was going for. Suddenly, Kunzite had to turn away from his reflection, as he realized Zoisite was right about everything. Zoisite did know more about what was going on in the field, and he could easily replace Kunzite if he wanted to. Zoisite’s idea to kill Tuxedo Mask, however flippant, made more sense than anything Kunzite could have come up with. Kunzite wondered if, perhaps, he could have avoided this unpleasantness if only he had given Zoisite a kiss after he handed over the yellow crystal. Zoisite would have loved that, and would probably have been perfectly attentive and pleasant otherwise. They could have had a rational strategy discussion from there. Kunzite headed back toward the strategy room, hoping it wasn't too late to diffuse the situation.
Kunzite didn't see Zoisite at first, and thought he had left. But when he returned to the front of the bench, he found Zoisite lying on his side with his elbow propping up the side of his head. He didn't seem to take any notice of Kunzite, and Kunzite paused in front of the bench, astonished, when he saw his eyes were closed. Zoisite never once fell asleep on duty, even when they were on a legitimate break. Kunzite's impulse was to wake him up and chastise him, but he stopped himself. Ever since Zoisite's mission started, he frequently came home late, sometimes after Kunzite had already gone to bed. As Kunzite contemplated how many late nights Zoisite had, he saw Zoisite's head nodding forward and about to fall off the perch of his hand. Kunzite caught the side of Zoisite's head, but Zoisite woke up with a start anyway. "Ah...Kunzite-sama," he gasped, as he tried to push himself up to a sitting position. "Sorry, I just wanted to lie down for a minute–"
"It's fine," Kunzite murmured. He sat himself down on the bench and drew Zoisite's head to rest in his lap. Zoisite glanced at Kunzite with a skeptically, but relaxed when Kunzite began stroking his hair. As Zoisite dozed off again, Kunzite leaned his own head back to rest on the back of the bench, but he couldn't relax. One of Zoisite's hands rested on Kunzite's thigh, and he placed his own hand over it, giving it a slight squeeze. Zoisite didn't react. Kunzite's gut dropped as he remembered a similar scene a few nights ago. Having gone to bed alone, he woke up during the night to find Zoisite asleep behind him, and he had taken Zoisite's hand and given it a squeeze. Kunzite often did that if he was restless at night, and Zoisite always squeezed back, even in his sleep. But that night, he hadn't.
Kunzite wondered if Zoisite was really so exhausted he wasn't noticing Kunzite's touch lately. Or if it was a sign of Kunzite's new fear after their argument, that Zoisite was drifting away. Kunzite stroked Zoisite's hair again, wondering how many more times he would be able to do this before Zoisite left him behind. He considered if he should offer to go with him on his next mission. After all, if Zoisite was so exhausted, maybe he did need Kunzite's help. He wasn't sure exactly what use he would be, but for now, he could at least take Zoisite to bed. Kunzite used levitation magic to gather Zoisite into his arms, hoping it wouldn't disturb him, but Zoisite roused anyway.
“Mmm, Kunzite-sama,” Zoisite murmured. “Do we have to get back to work now?”
"No," Kunzite droned. "We'll talk more tomorrow." Zoisite leaned against Kunzite's chest, but seemed tense. He didn't relax when Kunzite stroked his hair, and the cold anxiety creeped into Kunzite's gut once more.
“Zoisite,” Kunzite whispered. When Zoisite didn't react, Kunzite cupped his hand under his chin and tilted his head up until Zoisite's eyes met his. “When we get the Silver Crystal, I’ll recommend you for a promotion in your rank. I’ll be there when you hand over the crystal and Queen Beryl will be so happy she will promote you on the spot.”
Zoisite finally smiled, encircling his arms around Kunzite's shoulders. "And you'll be proud of me, Kunzite-sama?"
"Of course." For good measure, Kunzite kissed Zoisite gently on his forehead, nose, and lips, as he knew Zoisite liked. When Zoisite finally relaxed against Kunzite's chest, Kunzite stroked his flowing hair until he drifted off again. As he got ready to teleport them both to their bedroom, Kunzite wanted to say more, something that was stirring in his chest, but he didn't want to disturb Zoisite any further. Besides, he didn't know what the words would be.