endless_scrolls (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
endless_scrolls) wrote2012-05-23 10:52 pm
endless_scrolls) wrote2012-05-23 10:52 pm
Only Way to Travel
Title: Only Way to Travel
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: AU!Naruto
Theme: 02. Halfway across the world and back [ Wordcount: 1129 ]
Character(s): Tenten, Sabaku no Gaara; brief mentions of Temari, Kankuro, Rock Lee, Hyuuga Neji
Pairing(s): Hints of Gaara/Tenten
Warning(s): None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Random series of one-shots based on the themes borrowed from![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-community.gif)
20_aus although... it's more like 25 since I plan on doing the extra/bonus themes too. In hindsight, this is probably a bad idea for trimming back on the plot bunnies.
Dedicated to:![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
indigodawn; because they're just cute. In any universe. ^^
Useless fact: 'The red string of fate, also referred to as the red thread of destiny, red thread of fate, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend and is also used in Japanese legend. [...] The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of time, place or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break. This myth is similar to the Western concept of soulmates or a twin flame.'
At the age of seventeen, young witches and wizards are given the option to learn the art of Apparition and Disapparition. Even so, using it for Intercontinental and even long distance travel was discouraged. Splinching was a serious business, after all. She had seen, once, what could happen to an unfocused mind when they even attempted to travel across the room, let alone across countries. And even if they tried to lessen the distance with stops along the way, not every port in the Wizarding World had access to hospitals who could easily and quickly fix the more serious shifts in the body should they occure. So, when it came down to traveling between school at Hogwarts and home in the mountains of China, the young witch was left with much less dangerous options.
Besides, she was too young for Apparationing and Disapparitioning. Or so they said.
Coughing quietly, she waved away the cloud of dust she kicked up on arrival and stepped out from the stone oven. Immediately, Tenten was hit with the sweltering heat and blindness of the sun's rays beating down on the sandy streets. Today was not a day to wander around the market for deals. Desert lizards and wands with Amphisbaena Scale cores could wait for another day. When her vision came into focus, though, she was thrown. A whole new world of sounds and smells opened up to her. And, as always, she was in awe of it.
"I suggest you work on that landing."
Portkeys, though just as quick, were her least favorite means. And Tenten was glad that her father agreed not to use them unless under the most dire of circumstances. The miles would be fine for a flying car, as long asthere were routine stops along the way to make sure the engine wasn't exhausted by the end. But her poor little broom would surely break by the time she crossed over the Black Sea. And a young woman traveling alone in the muggle world was just as dangerous. So that only left one viable solution: Floo Powder.
Her head snapped almost instantly at the voice, catching her attention and drawing all focus towards the young man who owned it. Arms crossed in their usual manner, she found him leaning against the crate as if girls appeared in a cloud of dust were an every day occurrence. As if magic were simply a word of fairy tales and myths instead of reality. But as her eyes met his gaze, she knew her housemate to be anything but a myth. Although, he was occasionally still quite the mystery.
Huffing at his comment, she crossed her arms and mimicked his stance, shifting weight to her right. "Being graceful was never a requirement for Ravenclaw."
"Maybe it should be." A small twitch of his lips marked his smirk and the statement for what it was.
Slanting her shoulders, her features smoothed out to a genuine smile. It was the sort of exchange that became common between them. And one that she had begun to miss as the summer weeks ticked on. In a House full of oddities, they were the outcasts of the bunch, it seemed. Books and knowledge was a common interest among the students of the Blue and Bronze. But as far as hobbies went, both she and Gaara walked a wider path. A more open path that would often take them away from their housemates. Sometimes even the rest of the school. Fitting, she supposed, considering both hailed from different corners of the earth. But she, at the very least, was willing to make the trip every year for the education provided in Hogwarts. After all, some of the most powerful wizards in the world found their root in the small English school.
Thin and nimble fingers moved to shuffle off the remaining grains of sand from her cloak. All the while, the young witch felt his eyes on her, trailing after every shift and sway of her body. Any other person would be nervous under the weight. But that was just how Gaara understood people. Or so she had learned.
Keen observation was a wonderful thing, really.
Just then, in the distance, a bell tolled, marking the hour. And before it could finish sounding off three times, he was moving through the crowd.
"Come on."
Always so punctual with her time, she frowned at that. And with a quick nab at her bag, she was pushing her way after him within seconds. "Am I late?"
"No." Here, he snapped his head back, just enough for her to see the lines of his profile. Just enough for his eyes to catch the light in a way that caused her to stop a moment in her tracks. And in that instance, with his hair almost burning red in the midday sun, she was reminded that there was more to him than anyone assumed. That there was a strength underneath the quiet demeanour everyone saw at school. "But I don't feel like making pleasantries this year."
"...Right." A master of her craft and a harborer of her own share of secrets, the young witch was quick to right herself and her senses. And within seconds, was smirking with a level of amusement at a thought born from his comment. "Because your brother and sister are always so pleasant."
Distantly, she heard him scoff in turn. "...About as pleasant as Lee and Neji."
And that. She had to laugh at. And was glad to see a ghost of a smile grace his lips as well while he moved further on. Because as hard raised as the Sabaku kids had been in the desert city - as distant as they could be towards their peers - it was nice to see that they could find humor in the world. Tenten, at the very least, had not seen much of it from them, especially not in the beginning. But she liked to think that maybe - just maybe - they were starting to open up to her. He just seemed so lonely, sometimes...
One step at a time. The young witch could accept that. As long as he didn't mind her helping it along a bit, every now and then.
"...Hey..." Ahead, she caught the blond glow of Temari's hair and the pointed ears of Kankuro's hat, both familiar sights when it came to dealing with the two eldest of the Sabaku Siblings. But even so, the glance in their direction was only momentary - fleeting as her eyes settled on the dark rims around his. And to the small crease of curiosity in his brows, Tenten could only smile. "...Thanks for waiting."
To which he matched with a small smile of his own.
Type: Fanfic
Fandom: AU!Naruto
Theme: 02. Halfway across the world and back [ Wordcount: 1129 ]
Character(s): Tenten, Sabaku no Gaara; brief mentions of Temari, Kankuro, Rock Lee, Hyuuga Neji
Pairing(s): Hints of Gaara/Tenten
Warning(s): None.
Disclaimer: I own nothing but these words.
Note: Random series of one-shots based on the themes borrowed from
20_aus Dedicated to:
indigodawn; because they're just cute. In any universe. ^^Useless fact: 'The red string of fate, also referred to as the red thread of destiny, red thread of fate, and other variants, is an East Asian belief originating from Chinese legend and is also used in Japanese legend. [...] The two people connected by the red thread are destined lovers, regardless of time, place or circumstances. This magical cord may stretch or tangle, but never break. This myth is similar to the Western concept of soulmates or a twin flame.'
At the age of seventeen, young witches and wizards are given the option to learn the art of Apparition and Disapparition. Even so, using it for Intercontinental and even long distance travel was discouraged. Splinching was a serious business, after all. She had seen, once, what could happen to an unfocused mind when they even attempted to travel across the room, let alone across countries. And even if they tried to lessen the distance with stops along the way, not every port in the Wizarding World had access to hospitals who could easily and quickly fix the more serious shifts in the body should they occure. So, when it came down to traveling between school at Hogwarts and home in the mountains of China, the young witch was left with much less dangerous options.
Besides, she was too young for Apparationing and Disapparitioning. Or so they said.
Coughing quietly, she waved away the cloud of dust she kicked up on arrival and stepped out from the stone oven. Immediately, Tenten was hit with the sweltering heat and blindness of the sun's rays beating down on the sandy streets. Today was not a day to wander around the market for deals. Desert lizards and wands with Amphisbaena Scale cores could wait for another day. When her vision came into focus, though, she was thrown. A whole new world of sounds and smells opened up to her. And, as always, she was in awe of it.
"I suggest you work on that landing."
Portkeys, though just as quick, were her least favorite means. And Tenten was glad that her father agreed not to use them unless under the most dire of circumstances. The miles would be fine for a flying car, as long asthere were routine stops along the way to make sure the engine wasn't exhausted by the end. But her poor little broom would surely break by the time she crossed over the Black Sea. And a young woman traveling alone in the muggle world was just as dangerous. So that only left one viable solution: Floo Powder.
Her head snapped almost instantly at the voice, catching her attention and drawing all focus towards the young man who owned it. Arms crossed in their usual manner, she found him leaning against the crate as if girls appeared in a cloud of dust were an every day occurrence. As if magic were simply a word of fairy tales and myths instead of reality. But as her eyes met his gaze, she knew her housemate to be anything but a myth. Although, he was occasionally still quite the mystery.
Huffing at his comment, she crossed her arms and mimicked his stance, shifting weight to her right. "Being graceful was never a requirement for Ravenclaw."
"Maybe it should be." A small twitch of his lips marked his smirk and the statement for what it was.
Slanting her shoulders, her features smoothed out to a genuine smile. It was the sort of exchange that became common between them. And one that she had begun to miss as the summer weeks ticked on. In a House full of oddities, they were the outcasts of the bunch, it seemed. Books and knowledge was a common interest among the students of the Blue and Bronze. But as far as hobbies went, both she and Gaara walked a wider path. A more open path that would often take them away from their housemates. Sometimes even the rest of the school. Fitting, she supposed, considering both hailed from different corners of the earth. But she, at the very least, was willing to make the trip every year for the education provided in Hogwarts. After all, some of the most powerful wizards in the world found their root in the small English school.
Thin and nimble fingers moved to shuffle off the remaining grains of sand from her cloak. All the while, the young witch felt his eyes on her, trailing after every shift and sway of her body. Any other person would be nervous under the weight. But that was just how Gaara understood people. Or so she had learned.
Keen observation was a wonderful thing, really.
Just then, in the distance, a bell tolled, marking the hour. And before it could finish sounding off three times, he was moving through the crowd.
"Come on."
Always so punctual with her time, she frowned at that. And with a quick nab at her bag, she was pushing her way after him within seconds. "Am I late?"
"No." Here, he snapped his head back, just enough for her to see the lines of his profile. Just enough for his eyes to catch the light in a way that caused her to stop a moment in her tracks. And in that instance, with his hair almost burning red in the midday sun, she was reminded that there was more to him than anyone assumed. That there was a strength underneath the quiet demeanour everyone saw at school. "But I don't feel like making pleasantries this year."
"...Right." A master of her craft and a harborer of her own share of secrets, the young witch was quick to right herself and her senses. And within seconds, was smirking with a level of amusement at a thought born from his comment. "Because your brother and sister are always so pleasant."
Distantly, she heard him scoff in turn. "...About as pleasant as Lee and Neji."
And that. She had to laugh at. And was glad to see a ghost of a smile grace his lips as well while he moved further on. Because as hard raised as the Sabaku kids had been in the desert city - as distant as they could be towards their peers - it was nice to see that they could find humor in the world. Tenten, at the very least, had not seen much of it from them, especially not in the beginning. But she liked to think that maybe - just maybe - they were starting to open up to her. He just seemed so lonely, sometimes...
One step at a time. The young witch could accept that. As long as he didn't mind her helping it along a bit, every now and then.
"...Hey..." Ahead, she caught the blond glow of Temari's hair and the pointed ears of Kankuro's hat, both familiar sights when it came to dealing with the two eldest of the Sabaku Siblings. But even so, the glance in their direction was only momentary - fleeting as her eyes settled on the dark rims around his. And to the small crease of curiosity in his brows, Tenten could only smile. "...Thanks for waiting."
To which he matched with a small smile of his own.