Reborn! fic [FAIL], part III
Part I.
Part II.
When she wakes up in her bed, she doesn't wonder how she got there because the previous night comes back to her in mortifying detail. Her cheeks burn as she relives some of the finer points. "Wii? What the hell is that, Haru?" The name of the console is lost on her, but the innuendo isn't.
"What's that about a Wii?" Haru jumps, because she didn't expect him to still be in the room - but he isn't, really; he's just walked in her door with a paper plate. He hangs his car keys on the hook by the door where Haru keeps her room key, and the arrangement feels oddly right to her.
Her cheeks burn some more, and she says, nothing, nothing, without meeting his eyes. But he's not looking at her anyway, and when he hands over the greasy hangover food, she accepts it without argument. When she finishes she clears her throat awkwardly, because she wants to apologize for the night before, the week before, the year before and every harsh word she has ever said to him because she owes him much more right now than a sincere apology can cover. Instead she hangs her head as he tells her exactly how much of an idiot she is and how she obviously can't be left alone for a second, what would have happened if he hadn't decked that asshole last night, because there are guys on this campus who prey on girls like her, sweet unsuspecting helpless girls and this is why he hates women, the entire species doesn't have an ounce of sense between them.
"The boss would never forgive me if something happened to you, so do us both a favor and exercise your common sense." At this, Haru's guilt is compounded as she remembers that she is saving herself for Tsuna, putting up with this for Tsuna, missing Tsuna more than anything in the world and though he probably doesn't feel the same way about her, Tsuna would never forgive himself if something happened to her, because that's the kind of boy - man - he is. She looks at Gokudera, intending to verbally apologize this time, and for the first time sees the bitterness in his face. Because of course, he must miss Tsuna at least as much as she does. He is just as lonely without his 'boss', and though she has always thought of Gokudera as a man, she suddenly sees how much of a boy he still is.
Gokudera has been playing with her cell phone this entire time, doing something or other to it. He finally leaves her to shower and change her clothes, and she doesn't notice until after he's gone that his number has been entered into every one of her speed dials.
***
She's dialed him twice but both times she hung up before the his phone even rang. The third time she dials, she tells herself this is ridiculous, she's never been scared of him and she shouldn't be now. One ring, then two, and Haru panics as she realizes she has no idea what to say. She is about to hang up when his agitated voice on the other end of the line says in an urgent tone, are you in trouble?
No, says Haru, nothing like that. "Um, about yesterday - and the night before, too - well, I just wanted to say...thank you."
Silence. She thinks Gokudera hung up on her and is about to do the same when he says, don't mention it. And don't do it again (menacingly).
She doesn't know how to pick up the conversation from there, so she says, "I'm going to class now. I'll...talk to you later, I guess." More silence. This is the most awkward conversation she's ever had, but she can't hang up because that would be rude.
Wait, he says. Wait. He says something that makes her raise her eyebrows in surprise. She hangs up the phone and sits down to wait.
Wait, he had said. I'll walk you to class.
END.
Part II.
When she wakes up in her bed, she doesn't wonder how she got there because the previous night comes back to her in mortifying detail. Her cheeks burn as she relives some of the finer points. "Wii? What the hell is that, Haru?" The name of the console is lost on her, but the innuendo isn't.
"What's that about a Wii?" Haru jumps, because she didn't expect him to still be in the room - but he isn't, really; he's just walked in her door with a paper plate. He hangs his car keys on the hook by the door where Haru keeps her room key, and the arrangement feels oddly right to her.
Her cheeks burn some more, and she says, nothing, nothing, without meeting his eyes. But he's not looking at her anyway, and when he hands over the greasy hangover food, she accepts it without argument. When she finishes she clears her throat awkwardly, because she wants to apologize for the night before, the week before, the year before and every harsh word she has ever said to him because she owes him much more right now than a sincere apology can cover. Instead she hangs her head as he tells her exactly how much of an idiot she is and how she obviously can't be left alone for a second, what would have happened if he hadn't decked that asshole last night, because there are guys on this campus who prey on girls like her, sweet unsuspecting helpless girls and this is why he hates women, the entire species doesn't have an ounce of sense between them.
"The boss would never forgive me if something happened to you, so do us both a favor and exercise your common sense." At this, Haru's guilt is compounded as she remembers that she is saving herself for Tsuna, putting up with this for Tsuna, missing Tsuna more than anything in the world and though he probably doesn't feel the same way about her, Tsuna would never forgive himself if something happened to her, because that's the kind of boy - man - he is. She looks at Gokudera, intending to verbally apologize this time, and for the first time sees the bitterness in his face. Because of course, he must miss Tsuna at least as much as she does. He is just as lonely without his 'boss', and though she has always thought of Gokudera as a man, she suddenly sees how much of a boy he still is.
Gokudera has been playing with her cell phone this entire time, doing something or other to it. He finally leaves her to shower and change her clothes, and she doesn't notice until after he's gone that his number has been entered into every one of her speed dials.
***
She's dialed him twice but both times she hung up before the his phone even rang. The third time she dials, she tells herself this is ridiculous, she's never been scared of him and she shouldn't be now. One ring, then two, and Haru panics as she realizes she has no idea what to say. She is about to hang up when his agitated voice on the other end of the line says in an urgent tone, are you in trouble?
No, says Haru, nothing like that. "Um, about yesterday - and the night before, too - well, I just wanted to say...thank you."
Silence. She thinks Gokudera hung up on her and is about to do the same when he says, don't mention it. And don't do it again (menacingly).
She doesn't know how to pick up the conversation from there, so she says, "I'm going to class now. I'll...talk to you later, I guess." More silence. This is the most awkward conversation she's ever had, but she can't hang up because that would be rude.
Wait, he says. Wait. He says something that makes her raise her eyebrows in surprise. She hangs up the phone and sits down to wait.
Wait, he had said. I'll walk you to class.
END.