[7snogs] 17 - Errand
Title: Sweet Uses of Adversity
Author: Jedi Goat
Fandom: Ouran High School Host Club
Pairing: Hikaru x Kaoru
Rating: T/PG-13 for language and suggested themes
Warnings: Slash. Twincest.
Disclaimer: I don't own OHSHC.
Summary: After World on Fire. Somehow Hikaru and Kaoru find ways to cope with their mother's decree and sneak a moment to themselves.
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"So this is where you've been running off to?"
Hikaru glanced up, his hands still thick in the thoroughbred's mane with a brush. He grinned and returned his attention to the horse. "You found me. I confess. Besides, it's quiet out here. Good for when I needed to run."
I leaned up against the stall door, watching him with my head propped on my arms. Hikaru wasn't in uniform any longer, but a faded blue tank top and jeans. His dark hair stuck up haphazardly, his cheeks were still red from the wind.
"I got your text. I'm sorry I couldn't come riding with you earlier, I was in class."
Hikaru shrugged, his back still to me. I glanced down and picked a splinter off my powder blue sleeve.
"...Aren't you worried you'll get caught here?"
Hikaru snorted. "No one cared, even when I did go to school here." He stepped back, nodded to himself at the sight of the horse's sleek mane, and instead loped toward me at the gate. He folded his arms overtop the wooden ledge, chin set on top, mimicking my posture perfectly. He huffed his bangs from his eyes and his warm breath brushed my cheek.
"So, now that you're here, what do you suggest we do?"
"I brought lunch, if you want."
"Not hungry."
I frowned at him. "Aniki, you'd better be eating properly -"
"Relax," he grinned back, "you forget who I'm staying with. It's impossible to starve with Haruhi cooking."
"Mm," I supplied vaguely, not entirely convinced. Hikaru caught my restraint, though; he knew me too well. With a sigh he reached over, combing my hair back with his fingers.
"You worry too much, Kaoru. I'm fine."
"How can I not worry?" I countered, my voice hitching. Consciously I lowered my voice again. "You're living on your own. Mom pretends you don't exist around the house and she refused to even pay to let you come back to Ouran. How can I not worry about you?"
He smirked slightly and ran his fingers along my temples. "If there wasn't this wall between us right now, I'd kiss you senseless so you wouldn't worry anymore."
"Hikaru, be serious, won't you?" I pulled away, in no mood for his teasing. Hikaru got the point and lowered his hands with a frown.
"I am. But, really, you don't need to worry so much. Dad sent me a cheque - he knows mom went overboard, and he's willing to help out now and then if I need it. And I've got a job, serving at the Grande Roi. Tono pulled some strings and got me an opening. And Haruhi seems convinced I should start taking classes online, once thigns settle down a bit." He finished in a rush and paused, watching my expression. "There. Is that better?"
I bit my lip. "I should have gone with you. It wasn't fair, the way mom blamed you..."
He shook his head at once. "Sure, it wasn't fair. But would it really make things better? I couldn't live with the guilt if she disowned you, too, because of me. And besides, even with dad's help, it isn't enough for both of us, not yet."
"I'd get a job, too," I protested. "We'd both work it out -"
"I told you before, don't be stupid." Hikaru reached for my hands. Our fingers locked together in seamless opposition, and a growing blister chafed against my palm. "I've seen you looking at pamphlets from Tokyo University. I know you want your Arts degree. After that you could even still take over mom's company, if that's what you want."
"But I don't want that, Hikaru," I mumbled, feeling my throat tighten. "I don't care about the company. I want to be with you."
Hikaru leaned forward and our foreheads touched. "Keep looking at me like that, and you'll owe me more than a kiss."
"Hika, please..."
"Mm." His breath tickled my cheek as he nudged our noses together. "It's only for another year that you'd have to stay here, right? Then you'll be off to uni. We could even go abroad, if you'd like. I'll work, you'll study. I'll earn enough for us, and you'll get some scholarships for your brilliance, too. One year isn't that long, in retrospect. We can be like a modern Romeo and Juliet, y'know?"
I blinked. "Hika ... you know they killed themselves at the end, right?"
He grinned sheepishly. "Oh, yeah. I slept through most of it. Well, how about Hamlet and Ophelia then?"
I opened my mouth and then thought better of my reply. "You know what, why don't you just leave the allusions to me."
"That might be prudent, yeah."
I rolled my eyes and leaned my head back down on my arms. "But, other than that, you seem to have thought this through quite a bit."
"I've had a lot of time to think." Hikaru mirrored my posture, but one hand still cupped my cheek. "It's funny. Commoners work so often, but it actually helps me think better while I'm doing something."
I smiled and leaned into his hand. "It's a good plan. But can you wait an entire year?" I turned the question back on him, biting back a smirk.
Hikaru growled faintly. "I'm beginning to doubt I can wait five minutes."
And with that he straightened, his other hand catching in the back of my hair and pulling me forward. The top of the gate dug insistently into my chest as his lips descended on mine, firmly, desperately. Hikaru wasted no time but sank his teeth into my lower lip; I acquiesced, and his tongue slid into my mouth. A wave of heat crashed over me as we warred, one-sidedly, for dominance. It had been far too long: I moaned and Hikaru answered by tightening the fist in my hair.
He left my mouth to breathe, chest shuddering. "Get over here ... lemme do this properly."
Mom was right about one thing: Hikaru was an absolutely horrid influence on me. Most of all, it was working.
"I ... I have class..."
"What could you possibly learn in fourth period that's better than this?" he half growled, half pouted at me. Only Hikaru could manage to look so persuasive and petulant at the same time with his mussed hair flopping in his blazing eyes. I stifled a smirk.
"How Hamlet ends, for one thing. Maybe you should consider coming."
Hikaru's eyes widened. Clearly, he hadn't expected me to respond in kind; I smiled coyly. "You dirty little..."
I leaned forward and kissed his cheek. "I love you. Now, I have to go earn those scholarships you were talking about, ne?"
Hikaru glared as I stepped away and delicately brushed wood chips off the front of my school uniform. "You're gonna pay for this next time."
"Add it to my tab, will you?" I flashed a smile. "I'm really looking forward to us living together, ani-chan."
I remembered to pick up the boxed lunch from the cafeteria and dropped it on the ledge next to him before ducking off for my English class, grinning widely.
Oh, yes ... so long as waiting stayed like this, I would show him just how aggravatingly patient I could be.
Fin.
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