Water & White, another scene
Gokudera shivered. The predawn air was crisp and clean and silent. He shifted slightly on the cushioned deck chair. Maybe I should have brought a blanket. He tried to huddle deeper into the chair but instead sighed and put it out of his mind. He often woke to a still, dark, silent world. Usually he went back to sleep but recently he found himself relishing the stillness of the early morning. He went outside to watch the world waking, to think, to just sit. It was a peaceful buffer against the frenzy of each day.
Every now and then a bird would wake to greet the morning with cheerful twittering that seemed amplified out of proportion in the stillness. It wouldn’t be long before the bird was lulled back to sleep by the dark and lack of replies, his premature celebration aborted. In the distance an engine started, revved, and then faded into the distance. A faint breeze stirred the trees on the outskirts of the property. Gokudera glanced over at the rustling then shivered again as his skin tingled into goosebumps. Once again he decided to stay in favour of finding warmth.
A faint hint of peach flushed the sky at the horizon and the world brightened almost imperceptibly. Stirrings of activity echoed from the kitchen. Who would be awake at this hour? A few minutes later he heard approaching footsteps. H steadfastly ignored the interruption, hoping the intruder would take the hint. The rich aroma of coffee reached him and he reluctantly turned to the figure in the music room door. Yamamoto stood for a moment. He was holding two cups of coffee. A half smile quirked his lips.
“Ohayo.”
“Ohayo.” Gokudera greeted him quietly, unwilling to disturb the calm early morning ambiance.
“I thought I might find you here.” He paused a moment longer. Gokudera felt irritation start to creep into him. His brows twitched into the beginnings of a scowl. He didn’t want to be disturbed.
Wordlessly Yamamoto placed the coffee on the table at his side then handed him one of the blankets he had draped across his arm. Gokudera took the blanket hesitantly and then snuggled under it, grateful for its ability to ward off the chill. He turned to find Yamamoto settled on the deckchair opposite the table, another small smile on his lips as the boy snuggled into the blanket. Gokudera scowled defensively but the swordsman just sipped his coffee and tuned his eyes to the paling sky.
Gokudera took a tentative sip of his coffee. Usually he didn’t like the strong beverage but this was quite pleasant, sweet and milky and not very strong. He felt the heat spread from his fingers and stomach and begin to warm him. Perhaps Yamamoto could stay. He was surprised the swordsman hadn’t already filled the air with inanities, just to have something to say, or disturbed the peace with restless shifting. But he was just sitting drinking his coffee. Gokudera eyed him, taking in the differences which went deeper than just the physical. When does he become so serious? His eyes lingered again on the small scar on his chin. His mind wondered at what might lie ahead of them to temper that unrelenting cheerfulness.
Birds were wakening slowly now, calling to each other lazily. Every now and then an engine would rumble to life and then fade. Gokudera shifted under the blanket, grateful for the warmth. He put his empty coffee cup down. He glanced again at Yamamoto sitting beside him in companionable silence. Yes, he can stay. He sighed again in contentment and went back to his contemplation of the slowly lightening sky.
Owari
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I just love these two together! There's just so much to work with. Hey, if you've read this please let me know even if it's just an anonymous smiley or something? I daresay I'll keep going anyway but I'm twitching for evidence than someone's seen it!