[Log] Needed Comfort [Hinaji and Kiba]
Hinaji didn't visit the Inuzuka compound all that often, but he was familiar enough with the layout that finding Kiba's room was easy enough on his own. He tried his best not to disturb anyone, although he did think he woke a group of sleeping puppies on his way to his teammate.
"...Kiba-chan?" He knocked politely at her door, glancing around to make sure he wouldn't wake anyone else. "Kiba-chan, can I come in?"
The compound was quiet at this hour, a rarity, and those awake made no move to stop Hinaji. He was quite welcome here, was Kiba's teammate and thus practically family. And with how enraged and upset the younger Inuzuka had been earlier, most figured she'd probably need her gentle teammate right now.
For a few minutes, there was no response on the other side at Hinaji's knock. But then there was the sound of shuffling, and funally the door opened to reveal a tired looking Kiba. "Hey."
Her voice was just a whisper, cracking slightly, as she spoke, like someoen who had yelled too much and lost their voice. The door was held open, to let Hinaji inside. Akako was curled up on her blankets, and more were pilled onto the Inuzuka's bed. A med kit was on her dressed, but unopened.
"...Kiba-chan..." Hinaji frowned to see his friend like this, and he entered her room quickly, placing a hand on her arm. "H-How are you doing...?"
...Which, really, was a stupid question. It was obvious she wasn't doing well--none of them were. And with her being the most passionate of the three, there was no way she was in any way doing alright. When he noticed the med kit his worries only increased.
"...D-did you get hurt...?" His hand tightened on her arm. "Is there anything I can do...?"
Kiba carefully waved a hand at his worries, shifting as if intending to pull him to the bed. But she paused for a moment, and then simply sihfted to lean against him, head resting against his chest and hand still in his. There was no point in trying to say it was all fine and she just didn't feel like putting on thet face.
"... I'm not hurt," she replied in that strained voice, tangling fingers in his, and closing her eyes. "I'm... I'm doing okay."
After a moment longer, she shifted and looked up to him, voice soft. "... and you?"
His cheeks felt hot when she leaned against him, but he didn't push her away. He squeezed her fingers gently and slid his other arm around her, holding her loosely, still unsure about things.
"...Confused. And worried." He smiled sadly. "About you and Hoshino-chan as well as sensei." Kiba was so emotional this had to be hurting her most, and Hoshino was the type of person who didn't easily get close to others. Perhaps she was hurt the most of all of them. "I don't...really know what to do. But...I thought I should come."
"... none of us know what to do." Kiba answered, resting her forehead back against his chest. She was grateful for the arm around her, even if it was lose, and made no move to pull away from him, or the position the two of them were in. It was a small thing of comfort that she wasn't ready yet to lose.
"... I'm glad you came." She whispered after awhile. It was slightly selfish, perhaps, but she needed him now, so much.
Hinaji hugged her a little closer at that and rested his cheek on top of her head. He couldn't say how long they stayed like that, but he definitely enjoyed it. He did have to pull away after awhile, although he didn't release her hand.
"...Did you finish what you had to do?"
"... mm?" She asked, tone almost confused but not quite at his question. Again, she rested her chin on his chest to look up at him, blinking very slowly. This... didn't make everything better, but it made things a little better, a little safer, a little less scary. It reminded her that she wasn't alone in this mess.
"Y-you said you wanted to go on your own to talk with...Hokage-sama, right? ...Did you still need to do that...?"
".. yeah." She said softly, shifting her head again. "I'm... I need to wait... a little longer. I want to do it right, and not somehow make everything worse. That... really wouldn't be fair to everyone, not you, not me, not Hoshino... not Kureno sensei or Hokage-sama."
He nodded slightly. That made sense. With their emotions so charged right now it would be difficult to speak clearly. Especially to someone as important as the Hokage.
"We'll be waiting for when we can help." He felt it was alright to speak for Hoshino, at least in this instance.
There was a faint, faint smile and she nodded, just a tiny bit. "... I know you will be."
He smiled and hugged her tighter. As awkward as things were lately, this was definitely comforting.
...Except it was late, and he was tired. She had to be as well, especially if her raw voice was any indication.
"...Can we...sit somewhere?"
"Yeah, sorry..."Kiba said quietly reluctantly pulling away from him, though she kept her hand in his. Briefly, she glanced around and then moved over to her bed, the only real place to sit. Akako shifted and placed her head on the bed near Hinaji, tail sweeping slowly, her own eyes tired.
The ninken was very worried about her people.
"Hello, Akako." He smiled softly and reached out his free hand to scratch behind the large dog's ears. She needed as much comforting as the rest of the team, after all.
"...Is there anything I can do?" He asked after a little while, glancing over at her.
Akako made a slightly pleased noise at the scratching, closing her eyes. At the very least, they could still smile a little. That had to count for something.
".. you're here," Kiba said, her knees pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around him. "... that means more then anything."
He blushed even more at that. "A-alright..." The awkwardness seemed to increase, though. With everything that had happened lately, they'd never really had a chance to discuss things. Now wasn't really the best time, either, not with more important things to worry about.
"...How long can I stay?"
"As long as you want."
The words were very soft, and Kiba watched him from where she sat. To her, things didn't really need to be talked about or figured out. They were simply how they were and the important thing is that they were both happy, or at least had each other to latch on to.
...That wasn't really the most informative answer. "...I don't...want to make things difficult for you, though."
"... you never make things difficult," Kiba answered, very softly/ "... I like having you here."
"...I like being here." He reached back to scratch Akako's head again, perhaps a bit harder than usual. "I-I mean..."
"Mm?" Kiba said inquisitively, cocking her head just slightly. It wasn't like him to start and stop his sentances... well, okay, it was. But she thought, perhaps this time, he'd want to finish it.
Akako opened her eyes at the scratching, looking up to Hinaji, checking to see if he was irritated.
He looked down at the floor, embarrassed. "...I was afraid that sounded funny...is all... B-but I did mean it." He squeezed her fingers slightly. "It's more comfortable here, and it's easier to relax, and I do like being around you. All of you; Hoshino-chan and Akako and sensei, too." But definitely Kiba.
"... it didn't sound funny at all." Kiba reassured him quietly, squeezing his fingers back gently. "... I like you being here. It... its comforting. You've alwayts been like thaht, no matter what."
"...Thank you." He rested his forehead against hers, smiling. His fears and worries seemed so far away with them like this. They could worry about everything else later.
"...Can I stay?"
"...please." Kiba said softly in respnse to his quest, her forehead resting against his so easily. Akako was wonderful company, and her family too, but right now, she needed him, a lot. She'd been going strong for so loong that she really just dd not want to do it anymore.
"..I'll stay."
He hesitated and then kissed her forehead gently before pulling away. "You should rest, though. I'll be here so... Please let yourself relax..."
Even as he pulled away, and she knew she shouldn't do it, she leaned forward to kiss him, just slightly.
Smiling a little, she glanced down as she pulled back. "... only if you promise me you'll rest too."
Hinaji stopped and watched her, surprised. That...had been unexpected...but not unwanted. He smiled and nodded.
"I will." He stood slowly. "I'll sleep on the floor, alright?"
"..., there's no room on the dloor," Kiba pointed out, almost gently amused. "S'where Akako is."
She smiled faintly. "I promise to stay on the far side of the bed. And not kick as much as I normally do."
...She was right, but he still felt a little weird. And she usually cuddled up with Akako on missions...but he supposed this was different.
"...You don't...have to worry about that." He shifted a little, still not good at hiding his embarrassment. "I don't mind."
"... I can go on the floor if you want...?" Kiba offered softly, able to tell he was still unsure of that plan. She didn't really mind it at all,. Akako made a good bed, and most of all she wanted him to be comfortable.
He shook his head. "N-no, it's your room. I don't mind sharing...." Being near her was comforting, and right then that was more important than any awkwardness or unsureness on his part. "Don't worry."
"... all right."
As long as he was okay, that was what mattered. Slowly, she curled up onto the bed, absently watching him where he sat. She was... she was very glad he was here right now. And she vowed to go check on Hoshino as well.
He curled up beside her, leaving a little bit of space. "Goodnight, Kiba-chan." After tonight things would be better, and they could go and help Hoshino. Then they could at least be some semblance of a team again.
"...Kiba-chan?" He knocked politely at her door, glancing around to make sure he wouldn't wake anyone else. "Kiba-chan, can I come in?"
The compound was quiet at this hour, a rarity, and those awake made no move to stop Hinaji. He was quite welcome here, was Kiba's teammate and thus practically family. And with how enraged and upset the younger Inuzuka had been earlier, most figured she'd probably need her gentle teammate right now.
For a few minutes, there was no response on the other side at Hinaji's knock. But then there was the sound of shuffling, and funally the door opened to reveal a tired looking Kiba. "Hey."
Her voice was just a whisper, cracking slightly, as she spoke, like someoen who had yelled too much and lost their voice. The door was held open, to let Hinaji inside. Akako was curled up on her blankets, and more were pilled onto the Inuzuka's bed. A med kit was on her dressed, but unopened.
"...Kiba-chan..." Hinaji frowned to see his friend like this, and he entered her room quickly, placing a hand on her arm. "H-How are you doing...?"
...Which, really, was a stupid question. It was obvious she wasn't doing well--none of them were. And with her being the most passionate of the three, there was no way she was in any way doing alright. When he noticed the med kit his worries only increased.
"...D-did you get hurt...?" His hand tightened on her arm. "Is there anything I can do...?"
Kiba carefully waved a hand at his worries, shifting as if intending to pull him to the bed. But she paused for a moment, and then simply sihfted to lean against him, head resting against his chest and hand still in his. There was no point in trying to say it was all fine and she just didn't feel like putting on thet face.
"... I'm not hurt," she replied in that strained voice, tangling fingers in his, and closing her eyes. "I'm... I'm doing okay."
After a moment longer, she shifted and looked up to him, voice soft. "... and you?"
His cheeks felt hot when she leaned against him, but he didn't push her away. He squeezed her fingers gently and slid his other arm around her, holding her loosely, still unsure about things.
"...Confused. And worried." He smiled sadly. "About you and Hoshino-chan as well as sensei." Kiba was so emotional this had to be hurting her most, and Hoshino was the type of person who didn't easily get close to others. Perhaps she was hurt the most of all of them. "I don't...really know what to do. But...I thought I should come."
"... none of us know what to do." Kiba answered, resting her forehead back against his chest. She was grateful for the arm around her, even if it was lose, and made no move to pull away from him, or the position the two of them were in. It was a small thing of comfort that she wasn't ready yet to lose.
"... I'm glad you came." She whispered after awhile. It was slightly selfish, perhaps, but she needed him now, so much.
Hinaji hugged her a little closer at that and rested his cheek on top of her head. He couldn't say how long they stayed like that, but he definitely enjoyed it. He did have to pull away after awhile, although he didn't release her hand.
"...Did you finish what you had to do?"
"... mm?" She asked, tone almost confused but not quite at his question. Again, she rested her chin on his chest to look up at him, blinking very slowly. This... didn't make everything better, but it made things a little better, a little safer, a little less scary. It reminded her that she wasn't alone in this mess.
"Y-you said you wanted to go on your own to talk with...Hokage-sama, right? ...Did you still need to do that...?"
".. yeah." She said softly, shifting her head again. "I'm... I need to wait... a little longer. I want to do it right, and not somehow make everything worse. That... really wouldn't be fair to everyone, not you, not me, not Hoshino... not Kureno sensei or Hokage-sama."
He nodded slightly. That made sense. With their emotions so charged right now it would be difficult to speak clearly. Especially to someone as important as the Hokage.
"We'll be waiting for when we can help." He felt it was alright to speak for Hoshino, at least in this instance.
There was a faint, faint smile and she nodded, just a tiny bit. "... I know you will be."
He smiled and hugged her tighter. As awkward as things were lately, this was definitely comforting.
...Except it was late, and he was tired. She had to be as well, especially if her raw voice was any indication.
"...Can we...sit somewhere?"
"Yeah, sorry..."Kiba said quietly reluctantly pulling away from him, though she kept her hand in his. Briefly, she glanced around and then moved over to her bed, the only real place to sit. Akako shifted and placed her head on the bed near Hinaji, tail sweeping slowly, her own eyes tired.
The ninken was very worried about her people.
"Hello, Akako." He smiled softly and reached out his free hand to scratch behind the large dog's ears. She needed as much comforting as the rest of the team, after all.
"...Is there anything I can do?" He asked after a little while, glancing over at her.
Akako made a slightly pleased noise at the scratching, closing her eyes. At the very least, they could still smile a little. That had to count for something.
".. you're here," Kiba said, her knees pulled up to her chest with her arms wrapped around him. "... that means more then anything."
He blushed even more at that. "A-alright..." The awkwardness seemed to increase, though. With everything that had happened lately, they'd never really had a chance to discuss things. Now wasn't really the best time, either, not with more important things to worry about.
"...How long can I stay?"
"As long as you want."
The words were very soft, and Kiba watched him from where she sat. To her, things didn't really need to be talked about or figured out. They were simply how they were and the important thing is that they were both happy, or at least had each other to latch on to.
...That wasn't really the most informative answer. "...I don't...want to make things difficult for you, though."
"... you never make things difficult," Kiba answered, very softly/ "... I like having you here."
"...I like being here." He reached back to scratch Akako's head again, perhaps a bit harder than usual. "I-I mean..."
"Mm?" Kiba said inquisitively, cocking her head just slightly. It wasn't like him to start and stop his sentances... well, okay, it was. But she thought, perhaps this time, he'd want to finish it.
Akako opened her eyes at the scratching, looking up to Hinaji, checking to see if he was irritated.
He looked down at the floor, embarrassed. "...I was afraid that sounded funny...is all... B-but I did mean it." He squeezed her fingers slightly. "It's more comfortable here, and it's easier to relax, and I do like being around you. All of you; Hoshino-chan and Akako and sensei, too." But definitely Kiba.
"... it didn't sound funny at all." Kiba reassured him quietly, squeezing his fingers back gently. "... I like you being here. It... its comforting. You've alwayts been like thaht, no matter what."
"...Thank you." He rested his forehead against hers, smiling. His fears and worries seemed so far away with them like this. They could worry about everything else later.
"...Can I stay?"
"...please." Kiba said softly in respnse to his quest, her forehead resting against his so easily. Akako was wonderful company, and her family too, but right now, she needed him, a lot. She'd been going strong for so loong that she really just dd not want to do it anymore.
"..I'll stay."
He hesitated and then kissed her forehead gently before pulling away. "You should rest, though. I'll be here so... Please let yourself relax..."
Even as he pulled away, and she knew she shouldn't do it, she leaned forward to kiss him, just slightly.
Smiling a little, she glanced down as she pulled back. "... only if you promise me you'll rest too."
Hinaji stopped and watched her, surprised. That...had been unexpected...but not unwanted. He smiled and nodded.
"I will." He stood slowly. "I'll sleep on the floor, alright?"
"..., there's no room on the dloor," Kiba pointed out, almost gently amused. "S'where Akako is."
She smiled faintly. "I promise to stay on the far side of the bed. And not kick as much as I normally do."
...She was right, but he still felt a little weird. And she usually cuddled up with Akako on missions...but he supposed this was different.
"...You don't...have to worry about that." He shifted a little, still not good at hiding his embarrassment. "I don't mind."
"... I can go on the floor if you want...?" Kiba offered softly, able to tell he was still unsure of that plan. She didn't really mind it at all,. Akako made a good bed, and most of all she wanted him to be comfortable.
He shook his head. "N-no, it's your room. I don't mind sharing...." Being near her was comforting, and right then that was more important than any awkwardness or unsureness on his part. "Don't worry."
"... all right."
As long as he was okay, that was what mattered. Slowly, she curled up onto the bed, absently watching him where he sat. She was... she was very glad he was here right now. And she vowed to go check on Hoshino as well.
He curled up beside her, leaving a little bit of space. "Goodnight, Kiba-chan." After tonight things would be better, and they could go and help Hoshino. Then they could at least be some semblance of a team again.