Vulnerability by Tyigra (PG-13)

[gezana.livejournal.com]

Title: Vulnerability
Fandom: xxxHolic
Pairing: Doumeki/Watanuki
Genres: Drama, Romance
Length: Long (28,728 words)
Warnings: Creepy canon-style supernatural drama

Author on LJ: tyigra
Author Website: Tyigra @ FF.net

Author's Summary:
Watanuki hates being so vulnerable, and hates even more that he has to crawl to Doumeki all the time for help. What he doesn't realize is that dragging his feet every step of the way is putting Doumeki in danger too...

Review:
One of my favourite story arcs in xxxHolic was the one with the spider queen. Just like that arc, this fic is an exploration of Watanuki's unthinking selflessness that is really more like selfishness, the way he takes Doumeki for granted, and how the people he loves are hurt by both of these things. The themes from that arc are carried into the fic seamlessly, creating a story that I could very easily see taking place in the canon. Watanuki is being besieged by evil supernatural creatures, and his best way of protecting himself is letting Doumeki protect him. Of course, asking for help is not Watanuki's strong suit. As usual, Watanuki is oblivious to both his own and Doumeki's feelings, and is hurting both of them by refusing to protect himself.

This is a get together fic with elements of a character study, and a definite focus on character development. It's an exploration of pride and the harm it can cause in excess, and of the lengths Doumeki and Watanuki will go to to save each other. Both of them are beautifully in character, and in particular the scenes where Watanuki realises Doumeki's feelings for him are true to his canon characterisation to an almost painful extent. This is a sweet and smoldering fic with a lovely Watanuki character arc that does a great job further exploring canon themes.

Vulnerability

Comments

[popkin16]

I haven't been in the 'Holic fandom in quite a while, but I'm intrigued enough to give this a go :D I miss this fandom.

[gezana.livejournal.com]

I miss when the manga made sense to me, haha. Good to hear this has you interested :)

[popkin16]

I quit following before the end, but I have seen some posts about how/why people are so angry with the manga end. Knowing what little I do secondhand, I can see why people weren't pleased.

[gezana.livejournal.com]

To be honest I don't even remember the ending; I stopped reading after Watanuki sort of became Yuuko. I feel like he turned into a completely different character and lost all the passion that made him funny and endearing. I didn't like the end of Tsubasa either, purely cause I just cannot wrap my head around what happened, lol. I love CLAMP but sometimes they just seem to overcomplicate everything, or add angst for the sake of angst.

[popkin16]

I don't remember much of the ending, but yeah - Watanuki becomes the next Yuuko, and then it turns out loads of years have passed, and the Doumeki we see is actually "our" Doumeki's great great grandson, or something. Doumeki marries Kohane-chan, I think?

omg Tsubasa, yes! I bought about 20 of the manga, read the ending, and just could NOT figure out what in the world happened. Oh, CLAMP...