Chapter Text
"Ranma?" Akane muttered softly, her voice soft and gentle, a wonderful contrast to the normal anger that often coated her voice. Wow, forget about looks, she even sounded beautiful.
Too tired to answer properly, he just hummed in response, opening his eyes a sliver to be able to look at her face; beautiful as ever, free from the strain of constant anger. He didn't want to be caught looking at her, but he couldn't stop the smile that tugged at his lips, something that could only be described as dreamy.
"I know you're staring at me, dummy." There was no malice in the jab, rather a warm and pleasant tone that could only be described as affectionate. Seeing no sense in keeping up the ruse, he allowed his eyes to open fully, his lovesick gaze settling on her. There was no fooling her, his smart and astute girl. He grinned brightly at her, reveling in the affectionately rude nickname.
"It's just cause you're so fucking beautiful this early in the morning." He spoke, his voice still hoarse with sleep, causing an embarrassed yet equally lovesick look to appear on her face, though she chose to look away from him, fighting the smile that crept onto her face. "You're so fucking beautiful that I opened my eyes to look at my pretty, smart, and badass girl."
He spoke with such admiration in his voice, that she felt drawn, compelled to look at him, to see his blue-gray eyes staring at her-the same color of clouds on a foggy day, though for the first time in a while, they were calm and not stormy-his silly grin still on his face. She rolled her eyes, pretending to be unamused, though the enamored smile gave her away. She rested her head onto the crook of his shoulder, throwing her arm around his torso, cuddling into him, her hands instinctively going to play with the ends of his braid, while his hands instinctively began rubbing the muscles in her shoulder.
It seemed the perfect moment shattered too early, interrupted by the blaring alarm clock, Ranma's hold tightening on Akane as she moved to get up.
"Nooooo." Ranma whined, to which she giggled softly.
"Ranma, if we don't get up now the kids will make us get up."
Wait, kids?
Wait, not important.
"Let them then." He whined, pouting at her, to which she giggled a little.
"God, you're such a child." She laughed slightly, sitting up and starting to pull him up, to which he responded by making his body go limp. "Ranma!" She scolded the smile still on her face. She gently slapped his shoulder, and he continued to grin up at her, before moving to rest back on his elbows, beginning the long process of getting out of bed.
"What, no good morning kiss?" He teased, pleased with the exasperated look of mock annoyance that flitted across her face.
"Oh, you scoundrel." She responded, moving to stand up, further away from him.
"Wait, no!" He whined; he didn't want her to move away from him. He sat up, quickly grabbing hold of her wrist, a look of surprise flitting across her face. His other hand gently cupped her face, rubbing his thumb gently across her cheek. He felt his mouth go dry at the prospect of kissing her, despite the fact that he was already in motion, his actions seeming habitual and new all at the same time. Butterflies danced in his stomach, and the world seemed to move in slow motion, the beeping of the alarm long drowned out. Her skin was so smooth and warm against the pads of his fingers, her face slowly getting closer to him.
Through lidded eyes he glanced at her lips, all cohesive thinking flying out the window as he caught a whiff of her shampoo. He shakily inhaled her breath, her lips ghosting over his own, not even touching.
And then reality seeped in, shattering his dream.
"Ranma, get up!" Akane yelled at him, an empty water bucket in her hand, and suddenly Ranma felt the change in height, his legs no longer peeking out of the covers. There was no sweetness in her voice, only anger and frustration. "We're gonna be late!" She yelled, huffing across his room, before punching the top of his alarm clock, the contraption flattening under her touch, the beeping finally stopping.
"Honestly Ranma, what's the point of having an alarm clock if it doesn't fucking wake you up!" She screamed as she left the room, stomping.
Ranma groaned, letting his head fall back to the pillow with a thud, and pulling the covers over his face, listening to her stomps descend the stairs.