Out of the Woods [Gokudera, Tsuna]
Challenge: Out
Title: Out of the Woods
Word Count: 575
Characters: Gokudera, Tsuna. Or maybe it's a pairing. Gen eludes me.
Notes: PG-13. Set after the Millefiore arc.
He remembered this place. He remembered the steps he hadn't taken yet - he remembered a forest that shouldn't exist.
Gokudera listened to the crunch of twigs and leaves underfoot and hoped Reborn shot that bastard Verde. He was a shitty ally, anyway. Verde should have told them this was the form the new box security system would take before implementing it, but no, Arcobaleno always had to try and impress one another. Now the world looked like one that hadn't happened, and Gokudera felt compelled to walk in it.
The future threatened like a wave about to crash. Yamamoto hadn't been able to avoid getting the scar; Hibari had built the Foundation complex attached to and separate from the Namimori base no matter what anyone said; Irie Shoichi had disappeared nine years and ten months ago and hadn't been seen since...
Gokudera saw the bush that hid the clearing from this angle - he'd never been in the forest for over ten minutes, and he knew that. His eyes burned as he pushed a branch aside and saw the open patch of grass.
"I thought it happened around now."
Gokudera started, and then stepped into the clearing. Tsuna was standing up, brushing bits of leaves off his trousers. "I was waiting in case you came. It's creepy out here, huh?"
He's tall, Gokudera told himself. Tsuna was about as tall as him, wearing a suit, had hair that was less of a mess than it could be. Twenty-four. Definitely not a kid.
"Are you okay, Gokudera-kun?" Tsuna ducked his head. "I know it's a dumb question..."
"It isn't," said Gokudera, walking over. "Not with this whole situation being so messed up-"
The sentence ended awkwardly, the words rushed as Gokudera was preoccupied with wrapping his arms around Tsuna.
"But as long as you're all right..."
There was nothing to be scared of. The bugs patrolling the forest made the pleasant hum-buzz of normal function, not the shrilling that meant unauthorised flame signatures had been detected. Tsuna's chest moved against his with the subtle pressure of breath, and then Tsuna's arms went around him.
"It's happened, then," said Tsuna. "When I went into the future ... you were so surprised you grabbed hold of me."
"I'm sorry," Gokudera said, and Tsuna flinched.
"What for?" he asked quietly.
"I must have scared you."
Tsuna squeezed and let go, smiling. "Don't say that. It's fine now, isn't it?"
I hope so, Gokudera thought, but kept silent. Tsuna looked ... unburdened as he took in the sight of the clearing, sunlight and leafy shadows dappling his face. "Even this place seems nicer," Tsuna murmured.
Hadn't the forest been darker, nine years and ten months later-ago? Gokudera also looked around, and then shrugged. "Let's get the hell out of here, Tenth."
Tsuna laughed. "Yeah. It still isn't a great place to be." They headed for base, and Gokudera was grateful that Tsuna didn't step away though they were walking close enough for their shoulders to brush.
"I don't remember what happens next," said Gokudera.
Tsuna nodded. They all knew the feeling of waiting for half-made memories to become real. "About time." He beamed.
The forest was filled with the quiet busyness of peace. Gokudera steadied himself against a tree, laughing back as years of tension drained away. It hardly mattered what came next. All he wanted from the future was here, and he could keep hold of it.
Title: Out of the Woods
Word Count: 575
Characters: Gokudera, Tsuna. Or maybe it's a pairing. Gen eludes me.
Notes: PG-13. Set after the Millefiore arc.
He remembered this place. He remembered the steps he hadn't taken yet - he remembered a forest that shouldn't exist.
Gokudera listened to the crunch of twigs and leaves underfoot and hoped Reborn shot that bastard Verde. He was a shitty ally, anyway. Verde should have told them this was the form the new box security system would take before implementing it, but no, Arcobaleno always had to try and impress one another. Now the world looked like one that hadn't happened, and Gokudera felt compelled to walk in it.
The future threatened like a wave about to crash. Yamamoto hadn't been able to avoid getting the scar; Hibari had built the Foundation complex attached to and separate from the Namimori base no matter what anyone said; Irie Shoichi had disappeared nine years and ten months ago and hadn't been seen since...
Gokudera saw the bush that hid the clearing from this angle - he'd never been in the forest for over ten minutes, and he knew that. His eyes burned as he pushed a branch aside and saw the open patch of grass.
"I thought it happened around now."
Gokudera started, and then stepped into the clearing. Tsuna was standing up, brushing bits of leaves off his trousers. "I was waiting in case you came. It's creepy out here, huh?"
He's tall, Gokudera told himself. Tsuna was about as tall as him, wearing a suit, had hair that was less of a mess than it could be. Twenty-four. Definitely not a kid.
"Are you okay, Gokudera-kun?" Tsuna ducked his head. "I know it's a dumb question..."
"It isn't," said Gokudera, walking over. "Not with this whole situation being so messed up-"
The sentence ended awkwardly, the words rushed as Gokudera was preoccupied with wrapping his arms around Tsuna.
"But as long as you're all right..."
There was nothing to be scared of. The bugs patrolling the forest made the pleasant hum-buzz of normal function, not the shrilling that meant unauthorised flame signatures had been detected. Tsuna's chest moved against his with the subtle pressure of breath, and then Tsuna's arms went around him.
"It's happened, then," said Tsuna. "When I went into the future ... you were so surprised you grabbed hold of me."
"I'm sorry," Gokudera said, and Tsuna flinched.
"What for?" he asked quietly.
"I must have scared you."
Tsuna squeezed and let go, smiling. "Don't say that. It's fine now, isn't it?"
I hope so, Gokudera thought, but kept silent. Tsuna looked ... unburdened as he took in the sight of the clearing, sunlight and leafy shadows dappling his face. "Even this place seems nicer," Tsuna murmured.
Hadn't the forest been darker, nine years and ten months later-ago? Gokudera also looked around, and then shrugged. "Let's get the hell out of here, Tenth."
Tsuna laughed. "Yeah. It still isn't a great place to be." They headed for base, and Gokudera was grateful that Tsuna didn't step away though they were walking close enough for their shoulders to brush.
"I don't remember what happens next," said Gokudera.
Tsuna nodded. They all knew the feeling of waiting for half-made memories to become real. "About time." He beamed.
The forest was filled with the quiet busyness of peace. Gokudera steadied himself against a tree, laughing back as years of tension drained away. It hardly mattered what came next. All he wanted from the future was here, and he could keep hold of it.