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Attention to detail was an important aspect to a bandit. Too little focus paid and a plan could steadily unravel or the risk of being caught would intensify. He honed his ability to notice little details and work around them to turn the situation to his favor.
In this case, turning the situation to his favor didn’t seem to be possible. He noticed it at a glance. With his habit of standing beside Kurama no matter where they were, it was impossible not to have noticed that where they might have been closer, they were further apart. Not necessarily in matters of the heart — in that, they were closer than they had been before.
No, it was in height that they were growing apart.
Hiei heard that his mother was a tall woman and considering that he hadn’t quite reached maturity for a fire demon, his “growth spurt” as Kurama put it, wasn’t upon him just yet. The fox, however, possessed a human vessel that was steadily growing by the day and Hiei found the change irritatingly obvious.
Nonetheless, Kurama seemed to take it in stride and even if he noticed Hiei’s displeasure, Hiei doubted that he would’ve said anything aside from a teasing remark. On the occasion that they did stand next to one another and Kurama looked down at him, Hiei refused to tip his head back to meet his eye, instead looking away or straight ahead as they talked. The gentle curve of the fox’s lips was knowing but he wisely said nothing and the arrangement carried on as it was.
Until today that is.
Hiei made a mistake, or more accurately, he’d let down his guard. The scorpion demon they’d been fighting against was as good as dead in his eyes. With its body pierced and the armor surrounding its back shattered, he felt the fight was good as finished. If only he’d accounted for that irritating tail. It whistled through the wind, shooting toward his back and before he could think to move, something grabbed him by his wrist and yanked him backward. Rose Whip cracked through the air and the tail was minced into pieces falling into the space where Hiei head might’ve lied if it managed to pierce him.
His heartbeat slowed at the imminent danger then picked up again when he realized it wasn’t something holding his arm but someone. His back resting against Kurama’s arm as the fox cradled him close to his chest, bent at an awkward angle where he wasn’t quite parallel with the ground but he was having a difficult time keeping his feet under him. Looking up at Kurama with wide eyes, the sunlight haloed him and cast shadows over his face, but this eyes were bright as ever. Once the demon’s remains settled into the earth, eaten by the fox’s plants, Kurama turned to look at him and concern riddles his features.
“Hiei, are you alright?” Kurama asks, his voice soft and laden with emotion that jumpstarts Hiei’s mind as quickly as it warms his face.
Easing himself out of Kurama’s hold, he brushed off his cloak and shoved his hands in his pockets, looking aside. The speed of his movements was telling. Too much given away. And he curses the scorpion as much as he curses Kurama for just sitting there and looking at him. Finally, Kurama rises to his feet and falls into step beside Hiei as the fire demon fought to keep from looking up at him. Kurama tried to lean forward to catch his eye but his attempts were futile as Hiei looked away or turned his head to avert his gaze.
The walk back to the city was achingly slow. He much gathered to run but in doing so, he would have left Kurama behind until the fox decided to chase after him as he’d taken to doing on occasion. As the sounds of passing cars, crowded streets and the sheer volume of the city filled the silence, Hiei dared to breathe. At least now Kurama wouldn’t be prone to asking him insane questions.
“I’m taking it you’re not fond of my height.”
Hiei’s heart dropped to the pit of his stomach and though he knew that he had nothing to hide, he hadn’t expected him to point it out. Bunching his shoulders, Hiei glared at the walls of the alleyway they walked through, turning his venomous gaze onto the trash bags and water puddles.
“What would give you that idea?”
Kurama hummed softly in that tell-tale lilt bespeaking knowing more than he’s willing to let on and Hiei hates it as much as he finds it amusing. “Any particular reason you find it upsetting?”
“It’s not upsetting.” Hiei affirms, wrinkling his nose at the thought. There was fairly little that he found upsetting about Kurama outside of his bad habits in battle and his poor self-care habits when it came to eating and at times sleeping. No, this was entirely different. Ever since he’d notice Kurama had been growing it was much harder to —
As if sensing his turmoil, Kurama slowed to a stop and Hiei followed suit a few paces ahead of him, sneaking a glance at him over his shoulder. Kurama tilted his head to one side and his expression while gentle was a bit more serious. He was listening and waiting. Always so irritatingly patient. A flicker of warmth arose in Hiei’s stomach and he sighed. There was no reason to run from Kurama. Though the idea of facing it head on made him realize how juvenile his concerns were. Turning on his heel, he wandered back to Kurama and stood a few paces in front of him, opening his mouth to speak then closing it.
This close, Kurama had to tilt his head down to look at him and Hiei tucked his mouth behind his scarf. Frowning slightly, he looked away.
“It’s just harder to…” Hiei’s voice trailed off, muffled behind his scarf, and Kurama arched a brow. Hooking a finger in his scarf, Hiei pulled it down beneath his chin then tapped the corner of his lips.
“Oh.” Kurama says softly, understanding glimmering in his eyes and he smiles pleasantly. Hiei wants to ask him why he’s smiling and prepares himself for the teasing. Folding his arms across his chest, he looks away and glares at the wall. The fox takes a few steps forward and with a bit of shuffling, Hiei moves backward.
“Kurama, if you even think of teasing me now, I swear I’ll…”
A soft touch to the back of his wrist caught his attention and he looked forward, breath hitching in his throat as Kurama curled his fingers around his wrist and guided Hiei to take a step. The tip of his boot knocked against something and he glanced down, seeming a box sitting at Kurama’s feet. His ears burned and the sheer audacity of the gesture hit him as he thought to snap at him but Kurama gave him a look that quelled the rising flames. Hiei taking a step onto the box then another and when he met his gaze, they were eye to eye, and Kurama smiled with a pleased look on his face.
Hiei’s mouth went dry and he wasn’t sure what to say. If he listened closely, he could hear Kurama’s heartbeat quickening and there was a faint flush to his cheeks as he searched Hiei’s eyes, gently running his fingers from his wrist up the clothed arm of his cloak to cup his shoulder. The hold is steadying as Hiei finds himself dizzy and his thoughts a bit hazy.
He’d been close enough to share a breath with Kurama before, exchanged kisses in the privacy of his home and the openness of the city, before battle, and after a victory, sometimes for no reason at all — but this feels different somehow. He chides himself for the sentimentality. Though he knows that it’s useless, he knows that every kiss with Kurama is different and he cherishes every one.
Kurama is patient and waiting as Hiei tries to ground himself. Searching green eyes to glean an understanding for why he wanted to do this in particular. Right here and right now. Relaxing beneath Kurama’s touch, Hiei’s fingers twitched and every nerve in his body was set alight as Kurama squeezed his shoulder, the touch electrifying.
“You’ll…?” Kurama whispers, his voice thick with emotion and soft.
Hiei felt as if something within him snapped and he eased his arm around Kurama’s shoulders, closing the distance between them. Kurama’s lips are soft and warm, inviting as they move against his own, tasting of roses and the strawberry candies he liked. Hiei made a note to buy more of them for him. The taste along with something that reminded him of the Makai, his thoughts growing hazy as he closed his eyes, his hand cupping the back of Kurama’s neck. He wasn’t sure if he was leaning forward or if Kurama was pulling him closer but he feels something burning within his chest.
Nothing else matters and the world collapses to where it’s only them exchanging kisses and touches.
“Hiei, your claws are scratching me.” Kurama whispers against his lips.
Hiei opened his eyes blearily and glanced at his fingertips and surely enough, his claws were on display. Shame burned white hot in his stomach. It’d been awhile since he lost control of the change and the faint scratches against Kurama’s skin were warm beneath his fingertips.
“…Sorry.”
Kurama brushed his lips against his own, muffling his apology, and tempering his shame. “I never said I found it unpleasant,” he points out gently and with a smile that simultaneously reassures and excites him.
“So you didn’t.”
An alleyway in a crowded area of Sarayashiki isn’t the kind of place that he’d like to have him but Kurama doesn’t seem to mind.