Pairing: Xanxus x Squalo
Theme: 50 one-sentence drabbles. Steampunk AU. Squalo is a gadgeteer/mechanic/technician for a gang. Xanxus is a lieutenant of the military.
Warning: INDEFINITELY UNFINISHED 20/50 SENTENCES. I simply lost the inspiration to continue writing this.
Note: Song lyrics are from 'Devil's Spoke' by Laura Marling.

And then life it's self can not aspire
to have someone be so admired

1. Phalanx: Squalo's hair pooled around his shoulders as he tilted his head to look outside, briefly taking his attention off his work; the horse squadron was lead by a different lieutenant— a dark-haired man with eyes made of hot coals.
2. Attitude: Xanxus did not care for his appearance in public-after all, he was now a man of power—and mongrel's words meant nothing to him.
3. Window: Busy at his desk, his silver hair pulled back in a messy ponytail with many loops, the technician was too absorbed in repairing his arm to notice a shadow outside his window.
4. Doorstep: Raven hair shading a face that was anything, if not sour, the man shouldered his way through the old wooden door of the workshop; he had searched everywhere, and lost the man he was after.
5. Clatter: It was the clumsy noises of a lion in his workshop that made Squalo look up from his work; he chewed absent-mindedly on a toothpick as he observed his customer—an unforgettable man he'd seen before- "Can I help ya'?"
6. Scour: Intent red eyes poured over every detail of the shop and a growl bubbled up in his throat, but he never turned his attention to the owner of the dirty workshop.
7. Hesitation: The shark swallowed heavily, made nervous by the military man in his shop (which had preformed more than one illegal operation it is day), and made a motion to approach the man without putting his arm back on.
8. Crisp: The sound of the new fabric of his uniform made a sharp, but faint, cracking sound as Xanxus quickly grabbed the still one-armed workshop owner who had come too near to him.
9. Regard: Neither made motion to back away, and Squalo observed the lieutenant sharply, a small snarl to bare his teeth.
10. Pulse: Xanxus didn't care about much in a person—as they were all below him—but this strange tinkerer's heartbeat never quickened and kept his eyes level with his own, he respected that.

All of this can be broken
Hold your devil by his spoke and spin him to the ground.
And root to root and tip to tip
I look at him my country gip

11. Gadgetry: Squalo later learned that the man in the military uniform (still unnamed to him) had found the runaway he was after, a fugitive not from his own familia, and with a relieved sigh he continued work on the ornate gun on the table in front of him.
12. Hands: He found himself more and more often returning the workshop of the silver-haired man, and they would often sit in silence as Xanxus watched him work so delicately upon the trinkets and weapons that were brought to him; beautiful, deft fingers would never miss a single detail.
13. Trigger: Squalo's friends warned him of the danger of allowed a man of the law in his workshop so often—lawmen had hair triggers and every moment was teetering on the brink of life or imprisonment.
14. Dreadnought: Xanxus did not go to the workshop—war was coming, after all—and continued to check all the systems on the new steam dreadnought he would be in charge of.
15. Gangster: Squalo's life resumed its volatile normality once the lieutenant stopped coming—mafiosos began to buy his services again, reminding him what his life was, and always will be like.
16. India: The country they wished to wage war against was nothing like home, in Italy, Xanxus found himself thinking as he mercilessly crushed the natives who tried to struggle against the steam machine he lead.
17. Tea: The price of tea began to rise—Squalo cursed loudly at the merchant and bustled off elsewhere to buy more parts for his shop.
18. Success: "Every victory has a price," the General murmured to Xanxus as he recovered from the burns—his entire ship, gone in one act of nature's most dangerous element.
19. Chill: A certain type of cold crept under his doorway, and Squalo knew it was time to clear out the fireplace (though fire would do no good against the chill of his heart—the war was over and he hadn't seen the striking military man since the beginning).
20. Pavement: A sight even as simple as the ornate cobblestones of the street was a welcome sight from the stuffy voices and crowding faces of people he hated in the hospital, Xanxus thought, still wrapped with bandages.

Many trains and many miles
Like you to me on this sunny isle
What of which you wish to speak
Have you come here to rescue me?