[Closed Log] The Returner

[clumsyhorse]

Who: Hibari Kyouya, Cavallone Dino.
What: Hibari finally returned. Just in time, too.
When: Very early morning of 7th March
Where: Their shared room.
Rating: PG.


It was past midnight when Kyouya returned.

He was silent as usual, creeping toward their room, his presence in the corridors hidden by a careful weave of Mist and the illusion of flickering shadows. Nobody was around to see him open the door, of course, not at this hour and in this place, but when he did it was almost imperceptible, a small shift in the semi-darkness of the corridor and nothing more. It wasn't until the door was closed behind him that he let the illusion fall, dark, slim figure appearing against the door in the darkness of the room.

Kyouya tugged at his tie, pulling it off. The bird he'd had perched on his shoulder -- not Hibird, but one of her children -- flew off to find comfort in the familiar nest. Kyouya hardly paid attention, shedding his jacket next, setting it on the back of his chair. Mist ring was drawn from his finger and set on the desk, his tonfas joining them. This was one of the few places where he felt safe even without his constant companions.

He was the same as always, not that anyone was here to see. A few bruises marred his skin as he took off his shirt, next, each days old judging by the colours, fading into ugly greens and yellows over pale skin on their way to disappearance. There was a more serious wound on his arm, hidden under bandages, drawing an almost inaudible grunt as he shifted just the wrong way.

Shoes, belt, trousers. He stretched as he walked to the closet, two rings shifting against his chest on a chain as he moved, the deep purple of his Vongola ring and the silver of Roll glinting in a bit of light creeping in through the curtains. The engagement ring was the only one he wore on his hand, briefly catching on the fine silk of his favourite pyjamas as he drew them on, a constant reminder of the one bond of loyalty he had deemed it agreeable to take upon himself.

He spied the familiar form of Dino in their bed, lips twitching as he moved silently across the floor. Now to slip under the sheets and fall asleep. And in the morning, it would be as though he never left.

Despite the activities Kyouya did after he entered the room, Dino’s sleep remained untroubled. He could already control the urge to kill -- or at least sustained -- anybody who entered his room, after all, and since there was none of killing intent radiating from Kyouya, the don Cavallone was almost unaware to his beloved’s presence.

However, Dino did feel the bed dipping as Kyouya slipped under the sheets and the sudden warm body beside him was quite enough to pull Dino’s consciousness back into some kind of awareness slowly.

“Kyouya?” Dino’s voice was still thick with sleep and his eyes were still half-closed. He rubbed at his eyes to chase some sleep away and when those hazel irises opened once again, with more awareness this time, they immediately captured the image of Hibari Kyouya lying peacefully on the bed.

A soft, and somewhat sleepy, smile appeared on Dino’s face then. Two strong arms moved to embrace the dark haired man loosely as their owner buried his face on dark tresses, inhaling the relaxing scent of his lover.

“Welcome back.” A simple statement uttered in soft whisper, because at the moment, no more words were needed for Dino.

Kyouya's lips twitched in something akin to amusement. He made no move to leave Dino's hold, though there was the slightest bit of tension in him as Dino's arm brushed against his not quite healed wound. "Trust you to be unable to be quiet even for a moment."

Even in his sleepy state, Dino could still feel the sudden tenseness in Kyouya’s body and he let his embrace loosened. No questions asked, though, because now was not the right time. All questions could wait until the sun had risen, even when Dino doubted Kyouya would answer them.

“Mm, I was just greeting my lover whom I haven’t met for more than a month. That was not a crime, was it?”

Kyouya snorted. "As though you give a damn as to what is a crime and what isn't." He inhaled a bit deeper than he had consciously meant to. Dino smelled the same as always. Loathe though he was to admit it, a part of him drew some comfort from that familiarity.

A husky chuckled answered Kyouya’s statement. “I do care. At times.” Dino then kissed Kyouya’s cheek. “You missed my Valentine chocolate.”

"You missed the anniversary."

Dino pouted, even though Kyouya wouldn’t be able to see it. “Not by my choice,” he protested petulantly. “I would never miss it if I could help it.”

"Still. You weren't here, so I feel perfectly within my rights not to have been here for Valentine's." Such silly, herbivore traditions.

“Alright, I guess I deserve that,” Because of course it was all Dino’s fault. “but you could at the very least answer my calls or reply my messages, right? I was worried about you.” Eventhough Dino knew very well Kyouya could most certainly look after himself.

"I had things to do." His eyes fell shut, concentrating on Dino's smell. "I couldn't risk ruining my cover."

Dino was silent for a moment, his still groggy mind needed more time than usual to digest Kyouya’s words and then some more to find an appropriate response to that. “You’re alright, aren’t you?” A hint of worry crept on Dino’s voice.

"Mainly." Which was the best he could give right now.

“Have you even had your wounds tended to?” Dino frowned lightly. Knowing his lover, it was more possible that Kyouya had only gave first aid treatment to his wounds.

"Cleaned and bandaged. Best I could do at the time."

Well, at least Dino could say he knew his lover well. “You should have gone to the infirmary before coming here, Kyouya,” the blond man grunted. “Do you want me to check on your wounds now?”

"If you're not too troublesome about it." Meaning, if you don't start scolding. "I only got one notable wound; the rest is all scrapes and bruises."

“You’re lucky I’m still not fully awake yet,” Dino lifted his upper body and reached for the bedside’s drawer. He took out a sun weapon box before sitting up fully on the bed. “Okay, show me your wounds.”

"How is that lucky?" However, Kyouya sat up as well, unbuttoning his pyjama top before shrugging it off. His body was pale in the darkness, aside from the bruises. There was the ugly scar right in the middle of his chest, matching the one lower on his back, missing his spine by only an inch or two. Sun flames had saved his life, but there was a limit to what they could do. That wasn't new, though, Dino knew all about that, knew every inch of those marks as closely as Kyouya himself. The more important thing was the bandaged wound on his arm, thankfully the non-dominant one but annoying nevertheless.

A frown marred Dino’s face as he observed the new bruises adoring Kyouya’s body. He no longer flinched at the scar which now worked as a reminder that he had almost lost Kyouya, now, even if it still sparked slight guilt in him. Lighting up the engagement ring which he always wore on his finger, Dino opened the sun box before starting to heal Kyouya’s wounds, starting from the bruises.

“How did you get these?”

"I was in a fight." Obviously. "They weren't very careful."

“Were you being careful?” Dino raised his gaze to capture Kyouya’s before focusing back at the dark haired man’s wounds. “Sometimes you fight too recklessly, Kyouya.”

"I did not die." That was being careful, wasn't it? "And I did not get too injured to come home by myself."

Dino opted to stay silent as he finished healing the bruises and started to move to Kyouya’s arm. He undressed the bandages and the frown on his face went deeper as he saw the injury, but still he made no comment as he went to heal it.

"You're upset." An easy enough observation.

Dino’s lips curved slightly. “A little bit. It might be more accurate if you say I’m worried, though.”

"I'm here." So what reason was there to worry?

“Yes, but with new injuries on your body,” Finishing with the wound on Kyouya’s arm, Dino finally lifted his head to focus his attention fully at the dark haired man. “Even a scratch on your body might make me worry, Kyouya. You know I’m hopeless like that.” He said with a grin.

Kyouya snorted. "You're hopeless, Dino."

“I know. I’ve said so myself.” Dino laughed, not at all offended by Kyouya’s words and why would he? He was fine with being hopeless if it was about Kyouya. “So, how was your trip? Interesting enough?”

"It served its purpose." To alleviate his boredom. To get back at Dino for being away. To prove to himself that he was back to normal.

“Well, at least the students wouldn’t be subjected to more torture by you, then. It would be really bad for them if you return in a bad mood.” Dino tilted his head slightly. “In fact, I think it would be bad for me too.”

"Very much." No point in lying, was there? "But I'm good. For now."

“And I will do my best to keep you in a good mood, Kyouya,” Dino then reached out to caress Kyouya’s hair softly. “Your hair is getting longer than the last time I saw you.”

"I didn't exactly have time to get it cut." Kyouya shrugged. "Besides, I had it under illusion most of the time."

“You don’t need to cut it, I like it. It frames your face more beautifully.” Dino praised sincerely.

"Get too sappy and I'll have it all shaved off." It just might be worth it to use an illusion of that, at least, at some point. See how Dino reacted.

Dino’s eyes widened. “Don’t! I promise not to get too sappy!” He said quickly. “You won’t actually shave it all off, right?”

"Well, it would be infinitely easier to care for." He made sure to keep his tone perfectly serious.

Dino stared incredulously at Kyouya. “Well, that’s true, but if you fo that, you’ll look like a monk, Kyouya! I don’t want you to look like a monk! Besides, I love your hair!”

"It makes me look like a kid when it's longer. Is that why you like it longer? Remembering when we first met? I was still in middle school, you pervert." Tease, tease.

“I-! That’s not--! I’m not talking about that, Kyouya!” Dino sputtered. “It’s just easier for me to play with your hair when it’s longer and I love the feeling of your tresses between my fingers! I’m not thinking anything pervert!” he insisted.

"You're thinking of playing with me. The way it feels. Thinking of your hands in my hair." Tease, tease, tease. "Are you really telling me you're not thinking of anything perverted?"

“Those are perfectly innocent thoughts, Kyouya,” Dino gazed seriously at his lover before his lips curved into a light smirk. “All of these questions actually made me think you are the one thinking something perverted.”

Kyouya snorted, then easily slipped out of the bed. Walking over to the desk, he grabbed the mist ring he had left there. Sliding it onto his finger, he concentrated.

"In case you were curious as to how I was going around." Dark red hair appeared to brush against his shoulders. A small change, but quite enough to fool most people who did not know him personally.

Dino’s eyebrows rose when he saw Kyouya’s new appearance. “Not bad, although I must say you look better with dark hair. It gave you just the oriental aesthetic I love,” he commented with a smile.

Kyouya snorted. "Racist."

Dino’s laughter rang in the room. “Aww, I’m not that bad. I just love you the way you are, I won’t want to change a thing about you, Kyouya.” He then moved out from the bed too and approached Kyouya. “No matter how you look like, though, I’m just glad you’re finally here.” He said in a softer tone.

Kyouya grinned, letting his hair return to its usual state. "Of course you are." And, without any more preamble, he opened his desk drawer, taking out the knife he used to open letters. Carelessly, almost casually, he brought it up and grabbed a fistful of dark hair in his other hand.

Black strands scattered down on the floor.

Mouth wide open, Dino could only stood there and blinked when he saw what Kyouya’s had done. “Kyouya?! You--! Why must you be so impulsive all of the time?!” he groaned before grabbing Kyouya’s hand--the one which was holding the knife. “You almost give me a heart attack!”

Kyouya couldn't help it. He laughed aloud, a sincerely amused sound that didn't often leave his lips. When he usually laughed it was in derision or mocking, but right now he was just genuinely amused.

"One wonders how you've ever managed to stay alive this long, being so slow." He shook his head and his hair was whole again; of course, considering the knife had never actually touched it. The black strands on the floor wiggled toward each other, merging until they formed a small black bunny, which started to jump around, ears wiggling.

Dino’s eyes widened when he heard Kyouya’s laughter and then he watched the illusion forming under him with astonishment. He knew he had been teased, quite mercilessly too, in his opinion, but the expression on Kyouya’s face made it impossible for him to be annoyed in the slightest.

Not that he couldn’t pretend, though. “I’m glad you’re having fun at my expense.” Dino said with a pout.

"Have fun at your expense? Never." Kyouya tugged his hand free, setting the knife down before he crouched to pick up the bunny, then lifted it for Dino to see, to feel. "I merely thought you'd like to see my progress."

Dino couldn’t even hope to hold on the pout on his face. Not when he had two very adorable and cute creature in front of him. His lips twitched before he finally let loose a light chuckle while shaking his head lightly. “You, my dearest Kyouya, are really special.” He murmured fondly before focusing his attention at the bunny. The don Cavallone reached out his hand and petted the bunny’s head. The fur felt soft under his hand. So real. “Huh. You certainly had improved a lot. This bunny looks and feels very real.”

"And I'm not putting all my flame into it." The real point of all his exercises. It had taken him a long while, but he was finally getting the hang of it.

“I can see that. Looks like your control of your flame is getting a lot better.” Dino took the bunny from Kyouya’s hand and held it for a moment. “I’m actually quite scare to even imagine our next sparring.”

"You know I don't use illusions in battle." The mere thought brought a bad taste in his mouth.

“Flame control doesn’t only concern Mist flames,” Dino put the bunny back on the ground. “Now that you know better how much flames you have to use in an attack, it will make you stronger and more focus on your opponent. Which, in the case we are sparring, will be me. So it’s a bad news for me.”

Kyouya smirked. "You'll just have to get even better so I won't get bored, then, hm?" The bunny bounced a few more times, then disappeared in a puff of smoke as Kyouya yawned. He was tired.

Oh, Dino would certainly train harder. Not only so he wouldn’t bore Kyouya, but also because he would like to stay alive for many many years ahead, thank you very much. Seeing Kyouya’s yawn, Dino smiled softly. It actually made he remember that he still hadn’t gotten enough sleep.

“Let’s go back to bed, Kyouya. We still have few hours left before we’d have to wake up.”

"Let's." He slid off his ring, setting it back on the desk. It still wasn't broken. He really was getting better. "Just be careful with my arm." Even with Dino's attention, it was still sore.

Dino nodded, knowing better than to do anything to cause Kyouya discomfort. Besides, he wouldn’t want Kyouya’s injuries to get worse. Both of them slipped under the sheets again and adjusted their position, Dino spooning Kyouya from behind.

“Good night, Kyouya.” The blond man murmured even as he closed his eyes. It didn’t take long before sleep took over him.

Kyouya didn't answer, already falling asleep, quite content even with someone else so close.

After all, it was just Dino, and Dino was home.