100Authors note -
Sorry for the delays, life just keeps happening! I'll have another story ready for you soon though, i'm mulling about with the idea of some short one shots or multi-chapter shorts for different fandoms between the end of this story and the beginning of my revamped Loki one.
I watched shape of water (finally) last night and oh my gosh it's just amazing, and has me so ready to rewatch hellboy and then golden army, and the animated ones, and finally finish off the short bits and pieces I was already playing with to do with Abe and an archeologist witch.
I promise that even though I might be late with a chapter for this, i'm likely writing something on the go
This chapter is fully dedicated to Mikomi :) It's short, and it pure filler, but yeah - enjoy the fluff :D
It was far too cold to be out, and yet here they were, leaving the house when it was still dark, their breath frosting in the air before them. Hayami was giddy, hand fastened firmly within Gai's as he pulled her from the house, leaving Jun happily tucked in bed next door. It was rare that they didn't stay comfortably within Hayami's house, but when she'd come home the night before, emotional and tired from the events of the day, he'd physically picked her up; giggling as she was lifted and carried through his front door and placed, ever so gently, on top of the kitchen table.
There she'd sat, telling him about the surprises of the day, whilst he fussed around her - quickly throwing together a comforting cup of tea and a curry that quite possibly contained every conceivable item in the kitchen. It was delicious though, and they'd wrapped themselves in blankets and carried it out to the garden, letting the cold wash over them as she worried about her own obliviousness.
He'd kissed her there, in the cold of the outdoors, and she'd shown him her progress with her training so far - melding her limbs into the ground and pulling them back out again with the slightest effort - happily showing off the combined effort of her daily training. They'd both started to dose off outside, only coming back inside as they felt the cold seeping in, and she couldn't help but laugh at his antics. He darted back and forth, collecting weights and laundry that remained scattered throughout the bedroom; but she didn't care. It was his space, and if this was how he was comfortable, then so be it.
Wrapped up warm and cosy in his bed, she didn't mind at all that his weights weren't in order, or that his shoes weren't paired correctly. She noticed, of course, but she didn't have to fix it, the compulsion wasn't there.
It was comforting.
He'd woken her early, climbing back through the window clutching an armful of clothes - cosy ankle boots, her favourite scarf, her best jumper. All the things he'd seen her gently and lovingly care for and wear - and they didn't particularly match, but she'd happily put them on all the same; his enthusiasm driving her to leave the house as quickly as possible, rebandaging her sore arm carefully before sliding on her mittens. And scarf. And hat…
And earmuffs.
She couldn't believe that the oblivious Maito Gai had remembered to grab her mittens.
They were out of the door whilst it was still dark, his winter jacket keeping him warm over the jumpsuit. Hand in hand, they moved quickly, into the forest where they'd played in the river all those months ago; and she blushed as she remembered her total obliviousness then too -how many times in her life had she accidentally almost created awkward situations like last night? She must have slowed, as he looked back with confusion; and she simply shook her head - casting the thoughts to one side to focus on her excitement as to where they were going, what he had planned.
It quickly became apparent that they were heading towards the large stone faces that watched over their town - she'd always thought them strange, overbearing; but knew that others in Konoha loved them fiercely. Reaching the base, she couldn't help but feel entirely in awe of the craftsmanship, the sheer size and scope of them in the cliff above her.
And then sadness, an unwanted emotion that entirely overtook the awe, as she realised there was no point gathering her chakra into her feet, that sure she could probably walk into the cliff, but making it to the top?
It was impossible.
"Hayami"
She turned, eyelashes fluttering away the beginnings of tears as his simple word took her away from those feelings, and she blushed, laughing. He was bent at the waist, arms backwards, and she shook her head. "Gai are you asking me to get on your back?" she queried; trying not to laugh at the fantastic ridiculousness of his pose.
...Trying not to be too obvious as she snuck glances at the way his jumpsuit pulled tight over the tight plains of his thighs and ass.
He stood rapidly, turning with a blinding smile. "You're right". He held his arms outwards, as if inviting her in for a hug. This she easily accepted, no raised eyebrow and a chuckle in her throat. He brought her in tight embrace, sweeping her off her feet quite literally once more, sliding his hands down her back and lifting her as if it were nothing at all - which she supposed it was for him, given his strength. It obviously didn't affect him as much as it affected her; she went bright red as she wrapped her legs around him, but he looked completely non-plussed.
"Hold on!"
She did just that, tightening all four of her limbs as he leapt upwards, his chakra easily sticking his feet to the stone, carrying the two of them up the faces of the hokages, showing more and more of the town to her from her vantage point, eyes peeking out over his muscular shoulder.
They reached the top as the sun rose, exactly on time. She went to move to sit beside him as he flopped onto the ground, but he quickly intercepted, pulling her onto his lap and causing her subsiding blush to come back with gusto. She quickly relaxed though, settling back against him and sighing with happiness as he wrapped his open coat around her slight frame.
"Have you ever watched the sunrise from up here before?" he asked, resting his chin against her shoulder.
She shook her head no, happy to experience it for the first time with him. The sky was beautiful, deep pinks and blues melding together into a phenomenal flow of colour. She'd seen many sunrises, and sunsets; but being together with someone so dear to her; cuddled up like they were. It was lovely.
They sat like that for some time, huddled against the cold together, occasionally kissing, rubbing their fingers against each other gently. She loved these small expressions of affection, feeling personal and secret and isolated in the best way.
"When do you go to your uncles?" he asked, and she looked down to where their hands were intertwined, feeling guilty.
Her silence confused him, and his eyebrows furrowed. "Hayami?"
"...After the festival"
"Are you alright?"
She nodded. "Mmhmm" leaning up instead to gently press her lips against his. She didn't have to feel like she was lying to him if she was kissing him and avoiding the topic altogether. He was so good, wholesome and enthusiastic and she knew he wouldn't understand if she were to talk about all of her connections and friends outside of Konoha; who weren't always...wholesome and good.
And she was thinking too much.
She'd not been focusing on the kiss itself, and as such hadn't ended it at all during her pondering, now becoming increasingly aware that his hands were becoming more insistant against her stomach; breath coming in pants against her lips as she pulled away. And that feeling, that sensation...well that was far more enjoyable than worrying about the possibility of him judging her for her past transgressions and less savoury friends.
She reached back towards him and he "tsked" against her lips, pointing towards the horizon and attempting to rein his pulse back in. "Sunrise - focus on it"
"But"
"No. we've come up here to watch the sunrise. You should watch it"
She chuckled, the sound becoming a near strangled yelp as his lips ever so gently found her neck, nibbling down it.
"I thought we were watching the sunrise?" she gasped, wriggling slightly as his affections affected her far too quickly.
"I come up here to think, a lot. I've seen this sun-rise many times"
She gave up fighting it, instead focusing on the sheer enjoyment of being so close to him, so away from any other humans; watching a sight as beautiful as this alongside someone as beautiful and good to her as he was. She felt bold, confident.
Incredibly nervous
It was a kind of nerves that she knew she had the power to push back though; to squash into an insignificant little spec within her; like when she used to leap from buildings or slide into unbidden areas, or-
She was thinking too much again.
She gulped, squashing the nerves down, which was increasingly easy as his kisses became slightly more open mouthed and enthusiastic, and heat coiled low in her belly.
She slid her hand back, across the incredibly toned muscle of his outer thigh, and leaned back, giving him more access, twisting her head slightly so her lips were level with his ear.
"No-ones around, are they?" she whispered, and he paused, pulling back rapidly and looking at her square in the eyes, shock incredibly evident on his features.
"Hayami, are you suggesting?"
"...possibly" she admitted.
He grinned, lifting her and spinning her around so she faced him, tucking her back into his coat for warmth. "I'm surprised" he laughed. "What about the sunrise?"
"We can come back?" she questioned, fighting the rising blush in her cheeks.
"I didn't know you had it in you" he beamed, pulling her tightly against him and kissing her fiercely once more. She pulled back, holding a hand between them for a second.
"Wait, wait"
He stopped immediately, without question.
"Promise me we're not going to be interrupted"
"I...promise?"
"Would you even remember if you had run into another person up here?"
"Probably"
She mulled it over for a second, thankful that his hands never strayed from a safe position on her hips, and that her own fingers had the freedom to trail gently, absentmindedly against his chest as she thought through the situation.
Time to cast aside the shackles of her own nerves! She told herself, Time to grow as an individual!
She snaked her hands behind his coat, pulling down the zip as her lips found his once more.
Time to use every once of her infiltrator experience to keep enough of her attention on their surroundings to ensure they stay safe and don't get arrested, or, given how close she was with Tsunade growing up, ensure she's not teased for the rest of her adult life.