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Warning: Rated for a reason, contains explicit male/male scenes

Noting Displacement

Chapter 1

Jet sat alone on a crate and watched. He had become quite good at watching during his time in the forest. One could even call him an expert. There were times when noticing the difference between distress calls of various animals could tell you what sort of predator was ranging. Other times how a leaf was bruised or a telltale wisp of smoke were as good as shouting to mark the presence of… enemies.

The most important thing to recognise, however, was what belonged and what didn't. Often the thing that didn't belong was a danger and dangers had to be neutralised. Then again, Jet knew that he didn't really belong. The only place he had ever really fit in was the forest.

The object of his scrutiny was someone who clearly didn't belong either. The pale skin marked him as someone who had worked inside. The calluses on the hands were not the sort you got from farming or smithing. In fact, they could almost mirror the ones on Jet's hands that he had earned from his swords.

Obviously there was his scar, but Jet didn't pay much attention to it. The war had left many wounded people in its wake. Some crippled, some maimed or scarred. Jet wasn't interested in physical scars. To him, they didn't mean anything.

The real distinguishing mark came through in an intangible way. The kid's manner was… astounding. The level of pride, the tilt of the head, the defiant flash in the golden eyes. He was obviously a noble – had been – a noble, Jet corrected. It was hard to remember that considering the disdain that seemed to be a permanent part of the teen's demeanour. But now he was a refugee like the rest of them.

Jet's lip curled into a snarl. The little noble brat should realise that he wasn't in his villa anymore and that he was in the same stupid situation as the rest of them. There was something about him that grated on Jet's nerves.

The second part of the puzzle was the kid's… relative? The man had an air of self confidence that certainly supported the theory. But at the same time he seemed so positive at times, that it was hard to reconcile his personality with that of the teen. He seemed to move through the world as if everything was at its best. He did not act like a displaced noble at all.

Also the way the teen interacted with him was familiar but a little disrespectful. Perhaps he wasn't a relative but a worker from the teen's household, someone who had looked after a few generations of the kid's family. That fit. But there was still something in the utter confidence he displayed… Jet shook is head. He didn't really care about the older one. He wasn't important for his purposes.

He had just witnessed the kid's outburst about the food and conditions and he saw an opening to discover a little more and maybe even find an ally. However he wasn't just interested in the kid as an ally. There was something appealing about the way held himself and Jet wanted to see if the other might be interested in something that was a little more than friendship.

The kid was leaning on the railing of the ship and the older guy had walked off. It was perfect. Jet ambled over to his target and tried to strike up a conversation.

"Hi there, I couldn't help noticing your comment..."

Jet trailed off in shock as he realised that he had completely missed an extremely important part of his observation. He had missed the anger. It was radiating off the kid in waves. He wondered how he had missed it before. Maybe he was too preoccupied with his own annoyance, or maybe the kid was better at masking himself than Jet had given him credit for.

Either way, it was tightly reined, but it was deep and bitter. It certainly wasn't the petulant sulking of a displaced noble. Jet approached carefully, the same way he would approach a frenzied animal.

Easy there, it's okay, I'm not gonna hurt you. He felt himself thinking. Although the kid didn't have any claws or fangs like a real animal, he exuded a feel of being armed, even though Jet couldn't see any weapons.

"Rough time, huh?"

The teen let out a bitter scoff that may have been intended as laughter.

Not one to be discouraged, Jet continued. "I'm Jet."

There was a long pause and Jet began to wonder if he was being ignored. He did not like being ignored. But finally the answer came. "Li."

"Not much one for talking, are you, Li?"

Ironic silence greeted this comment.

"As I was saying, I couldn't help but notice your comment about the food. You'll find that the captain, and to lesser extent the crew, eat much better than us because refugees can't do anything about it. We're 'helpless'."

More stony silence greeted this pronouncement, but he noticed how Li's mouth tightened at the word helpless.

"Then again, you and me aren't really like the rest of the refugees, are we?"

Li tensed up immediately.

"What I mean, is that we're not helpless."

Li relaxed minutely.

"What do you propose?" Li rasped.

Jet smiled inwardly, knowing that he had just hooked a potential ally. He leaned against the rail the same way that Li was.

"Well," Jet began, removing his grass stalk. "I'm not really sure what I want from you yet."

"You want something from me? And you're telling me that in advance?"

"I wouldn't insult your intelligence by lying to you." He grinned inwardly when he saw the appreciation in Li's eyes at the compliment. He was clearly starved for praise, and to Jet, his reaction was clearer than footprints.

"Besides, you look like the sort of person who would appreciate knowing where they stand."

Li nodded.

"Good. Here's my plan."

(-)

It was simple in the end. With the remnants of his gang and Li's help, stealing the food was easy. Jet found himself distracted several times during the mission. He caught himself watching the way Li moved and the grace with which he wielded his twin swords.

He was paying more attention to Li than to distributing the food, or even eating his own share, but his friends covered for him. It didn't matter anyway because he doubted that Li would notice his interest unless he did something.

After eating, he asked Li if he wanted to walk about on deck for a while. The others gave him knowing looks which he pointedly ignored. Li was oblivious. Jet sighed inwardly. This was not going to be easy.

Jet subtly directed their path to a more secluded area of the ship and leaned against the rails to watch the sea. Li joined him without a moments pause. Jet turned to his target and let his hand brush against Li's. Li turned to face him with a bemused look.

Jet braced himself, removed his grass stalk and leaned in. Something must of shown in his eyes because Li pulled right back with widened eyes. "What are you doing?"

Jet just grinned. "You really don't know?"

"Of course I know. It was rhetorical. Why wouldn't I know?" Li asserted defensively.

Jet suppressed a laugh and shook his head. "Was that last question rhetorical too?"

Li blushed and Jet found it quite cute and a little arousing.

"Well if you know what I'm doing, then do you mind?" Jet continued.

"I…I…"

Jet decided to end Li's painful attempt to come up with a coherent answer by capturing his lips.

Li uttered a noise that was half shock and half a moan. Li hands slipped between their bodies in an effort to push Jet away. Jet released his target and let him back away a few steps. He felt like he was back in the forest hunting. He liked the feeling.

"What was that about!" Li demanded. He was panting a little.

"Well I found you attractive and wondered what you tasted like." Jet made a show of licking his lips. "Hmm, spicy."

Li was struck speechless. He gave Jet a look of pure disbelief.

"Oh, come on, Li. I'm not that bad a kisser, am I?" Jet coaxed.

"I…I suppose not…I wouldn't really…I mean, what gives you the right to do that!"

Jet sighed and ran a hand through his unruly hair. "Okay, I'll admit that wasn't fair of me, but I find that it's easier to ask forgiveness than permission. After all, I recon that this was probably less awkward than trying to confront you indirectly. As I said before: you strike me as someone who likes to know where they stand."

Li glared at Jet for a moment longer before giving the slightest, most grudging nod. To Jet, that was about a clear a signal as he was ever going to receive.

He stalked up to Li again and this time grabbed his wiry hips before bringing him in close for a kiss. Li's hands came up defensively again, but after a few moments of Jet's persuasive lips against his own, he gingerly placed them on the other boy's shoulders. Jet's lips curved into a smile.

If Jet was honest, Li wasn't much of a kisser, but considering how painfully obvious his lack of experience was, it was understandable. In a way, it was sort of endearing. Jet looked forward to teaching Li a thing or two.

Li's breathing was getting heavier and the hands on Jet's shoulders had tightened. Breaking down Li's proud detachment was so satisfying. A part of Jet's mind couldn't help thinking of this like a fight. Li seemed almost incapable of doing anything without a certain level of aggression.

When he let himself brush against Li a little lower he was rewarded with a gasp. Jet pulled back slightly. "Maybe we should find somewhere even more private than this."

Li looked down and bit his lip. Jet let him come to his own decision. If what he had felt only seconds earlier was any indication, then the choice only had one viable outcome.

Li's eyes flicked back up to his. They contained a proud defiance. "Yes. We will seek somewhere more private." There was no trace of doubt or uncertainty in Li's voice now. Jet could see the noble in him again and it grated against him just as much as it excited him. He felt himself break out into a feral grin as he grabbed Li's arm to direct him below deck and nearly choked when Li yanked out of his grip and took the lead.

Jet consoled himself that the haughtiness wouldn't last once things got a little more… intimate.

The area below the deck was deserted at this time and there were plenty of secluded spaces for a couple of youths to utilise. Li was in the lead and had disregarded a fundamental rule. Never turn your back on someone who might push you up against a wall.

Jet did precisely that as soon as they were in a reasonably isolated locale. Without giving Li a chance to get his balance back he began to place kisses down his neck and let his hands wander underneath his top.

"What are you doing!" came the familiar demand.

"Are we back to that again?" Jet mocked. "I was under the impression that you were enjoying this."

"But-"

Jet cut him off by sliding a hand up his thigh and grasping him through his clothes. The rest of Li's protest was lost in a moan.

"I mean, it's not as if you know exactly what you're doing, right?" Jet murmured in Li's ear and started to rub him. "Just let me take over and then next time you will know what you're doing."

A whimper escaped Li's lips and Jet grinned. There was a barely whispered 'okay' from his target. Jet could tell how much even that tiny little concession cost the pale teen.

"Alright then." Jet pressed against Li's back and began to grind into him a little. He uttered his own moan when Li pushed back against him. The damn kid was still trying to control things, even now.

Jet pulled down Li's pants. There was a hint of indignation from the teen in front of him, but it was resolved by the feeling of skin on skin. No amount of indignation could win against the way Jet had started stroking his target.

Jet sucked on a couple of fingers and let one slide between Li's legs. He didn't push in, but waited to gauge the other's response. He instantly stiffened.

"Do you mind if I take this a little further? I'd understand if you're nervous."

The nervous comment hit its mark. Li spread his legs a little further. "Not at all. Go ahead."

The stubborn teen seemed like he was issuing a challenge. Jet just shook his head in amazement and let one of his fingers slide in.

"Relax," he murmured although he had his doubts that Li was even capable of relaxing. Well, at least he seemed to be trying.

Jet pushed in another finger and went in a little deeper. He knew something that would help relax Li. The next moment Li uttered a low moan and his hands clenched against the sheer surface of the wall. Jet grinned as Li bucked back. Jet drew it out under the pretence of stretching the other, but it was mainly about keeping him on edge. His patience was rewarded was a rather impatient 'hurry up' from Li, who was now squirming.

Jet removed his fingers and held his target's hips in place so that he could slowly slide in. Li didn't utter a single sound of protest, but his breath was hissing through his teeth. His control annoyed Jet who, after a moment of adjustment, sought to snap it.

He pulled out slightly and then thrust back in. He angled himself carefully and had passable aim despite the fact that Li was no help at all. He kept trying to fight it like a battle instead of working with him. It was a combination of inexperience and sheer obstinacy.

Jet used a free hand to stroke Li as he continued to thrust. With some whispered encouragements in Li's ear, he finally achieved his goal and broke through his target's composure. Li was moaning deeply and he threw his head back against Jet's shoulder as he spilled into his hand. For such a repressed noble, he certainly looked good when he was satisfied.

A few thrusts later sent Jet over the edge and he muffled his cry against Li's shoulder. When he withdrew he quickly found a crate to sit on. He did not want his legs to give out right in front of Li. The pale teen managed to get his pants on before he half sat, half collapsed, next to Jet.

Jet found himself absurdly happy when Li laid his head against his knee. That feeling was diluted a little when Li spoke. "Okay. Now I know what I'm doing, so next time I take the lead."

Jet scowled. We'll see about that, he thought to himself.