Work Text:
- Genre: Fluff, slice of life
- Prompt: “I hate it.” “No, you don’t.” (@Flufftober)
- Word Count: 4,094
- Pairing: Reader x Hyuga
- World: High&Low
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From the first moment you laid eyes on Hyuga Norihisa, you thought he was a breathtakingly beautiful man. Insane, to be sure, but beautiful. You were drawn to him as if he were a whirlpool and you a mere dingy. It wasn’t just his beauty that drew you in, though. Even the way he acted had your undivided attention.
In the beginning, Hyuga was, to put it mildly, bat shit crazy. He was like a feral cat that hated humanity and just so happened to have a hoard of goons willing to die for him. He had a score to settle, and damn anyone who got between him and the vengeance he sought.
Unfortunately for you – or fortunately, depending on your outlook – you were one of those people. You just wanted to protect your friends, though you had gotten in a bit over your head, not expecting Daruma to be so strong. Tettsu had warned you, of course, but you never listened to him.
Despite earning more injuries than you dished out, you were satisfied because you had gotten to see Hyuga up close and personal. He was terrifying, stealing the breath from your lungs when those dark eyes fell on you. Honestly, you couldn’t be sure he wouldn’t have killed you if Cobra hadn’t stopped him.
Even so, he was beautiful to you and you wanted more.
You wanted to hear him speak your name. You wanted him to look at you with warmth in those dark pools of his. You wanted to be closer to him, to understand him. What you wanted was borderline impossible. Cobra would never allow it and, even if he did, Hyuga would never accept you into Daruma.
So, you did what any rational, sane person would.
You watched him from afar, wishing you could figure out a way to get closer to him. Tettsu was the only one who knew about your crush and he certainly didn’t hesitate to tease you over it every time he saw you. It was annoying as hell but it’s not like you had confided in him. He found out by sheer accident.
You would never be dumb enough to share a secret with Tettsu and, to be completely honest, you were surprised he hadn’t let it slip to Dan or Chiharu. Maybe he had but they were better at hiding it. Either way, you were just waiting for Cobra to find out and forbid you from seeking out Daruma’s leader.
Thunder rumbled overhead and you cursed as rain started to fall from the grey sky. You quickly slid your camera under your shirt before rushing for cover. You found refuge under a small overhang above the door of an abandoned store.
You had checked the weather this morning but there had been no mention of rain so you hadn’t brought an umbrella. The rain didn’t bother you, but your camera was expensive and you didn’t want it to get ruined. You had worked your ass off for nearly a year just to be able to afford the damn thing and you would protect it with your life.
You tugged your phone from your pocket, attempting to call Tettsu but, as usual, he didn’t pick up the call. He was probably too busy stuffing his face or playing games with Chiharu. You tried to call Dan next and he didn’t answer either, most likely busy with his store.
Before you could attempt calling Yamato, Dan returned your call.
“Dan-san~”
Dan chuckled on the other end of the line. “Let me guess. You got caught in the rain and Tettsu isn’t answering his phone.“
“Shit, man. Are you psychic?”
“No, I just know you too well. Where are you?“
You sent him your location along with a meme of a cat for payment, smiling when he laughed at the funny caption.
“Give me ten minutes.“
“Okay~” Ending the call, you slipped the phone back into your pocket, leaning against the building.
There was movement to the right and you glanced over curiously, feeling your heart picking up speed. Hyuga was walking down the street, his purple wagasa resting against his shoulder to protect him from the rain.
You briefly wondered if you were about to have your own drama moment where he sees you stranded and offers to walk you home. His dark eyes met yours for a brief moment, but he didn’t stop. You weren’t even sure he recognized you, if you were being honest.
You sighed deeply, watching him with a frown. What would it take to get his attention? Perhaps if you were a stronger fighter, he would pay attention, but that just wasn’t in the cards for you. You could hold your own in most situations, but you were far from being on his level.
Twenty minutes came and went before Dan appeared, breathing heavily. “Sorry! There was a problem at the store.”
“No worries. It’s not like I had anywhere to be,” you smiled, stepping under the large umbrella he had brought with him. “Thanks for coming, Dan-san.”
He returned the smile, ruffling the top of your head. “Of course. Maybe next time I’ll be your first choice instead of your second.”
“For real, though,” you scoffed, folding your arms over your chest. “Tettsu is completely useless! Honestly, I think he ignores my calls on -” you paused when something caught your eye.
Three tiny kittens were curled up beneath an umbrella that sat at the edge of the path. Their tiny bodies were trembling despite how they huddled together for warmth.
Your heart ached for them. Pulling the camera from around your neck, you shoved it against Dan’s chest. “Here, hold this. Do not let it get wet.”
“Oi, what are you -“
You stepped out from the cover of the umbrella, the rain like ice against your exposed skin. Despite approaching slowly, the kittens ran off into the bushes as soon as you got close. “Wait, no, come back! I just want to help…”
A frown tugged at your lips, feeling sad knowing they were out in the cold, rainy weather without protection. You turned to return to Dan only to pause, eyes trained on the purple wagasa that they had been huddled under. It looked like the one Hyuga was using, but… there was no way, right?
Dan jogged over to you with a scowl, bringing the umbrella over your head. “Now your clothes are all wet. We need to get you home before you get sick.” He grabbed your arm, tugging you down the street.
You glanced over your shoulder at the umbrella, watching as it shifted slightly in the breeze.
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As soon as your shift ended, you rushed to the store to buy some cat food before returning to the area where you had seen the kittens at the day before. You were hoping you could get close to them this time so you could take them home with you.
When you arrived at the spot, you were surprised to find a bowl of cat food already sitting by the bushes. The umbrella was gone, as well. Was it the same person? you found yourself wondering. Could it really be Hyuga? As usual, your curiosity was getting the better of you.
After refilling the bowl, you decided to wait nearby to see if you could catch him in the act. People came and went, the hours slowly ticking by. The kittens finally appeared, their tiny heads sticking out of the bushes as they looked around to make sure it was safe.
A smile came to your lips as you watched them, giggling when the orange one tackled the black and white one, making them both stumble and fall over. They were so cute! You wanted to try and get them but you decided to wait until they finished eating in case they ran away again. At least they would do so on a full stomach rather than an empty one.
Once they had their fill, the three started to run around in circles, chasing the orange leaves as they fell from the branches. They weren’t very good at catching them, but they were trying their hardest.
You slowly approached them, leaves crunching beneath your boots. The kittens jumped in surprise, the fur on their back raised as they stared at you.
“It’s okay,” you told them softly, leaning over in the hopes of appearing less monstrous to them. “I won’t hurt you, I promise.”
They started to back away and you feared they were going to bolt so you stopped in your tracks, slowly lowering yourself until you were on your knees. “Here, kitty, kitty,” you called, holding out your hand. You figured it was better to let them come to you.
The orange and tuxedo kittens remained cautious, their fur raised as they stared at you, waiting for you to attack so they could run away. The third kitten, its fur grey and white, slowly approached you, her body low to the ground. She slowly lifted her paw, tapping your hand a few times before deeming it safe.
Her nose was as cold as ice when it bumped against your hand and you smiled, gently scratching her between the ears with your index finger. You hoped the others would follow her lead but they didn’t budge, as if frozen to the spot.
You carefully picked up the kitten, holding her to your chest. She started to purr and it took everything you had not to squeal at how cute she was. “See? It’s okay. I’m a friend, not a foe.”
The roar of a motorcycle cut through the quiet afternoon, making them jump in surprise and run away. Even the kitten you were holding stuck her claws into your chest, though she didn’t try to get away.
“Damn it,” you muttered, frowning at the tiny creature in your arms.
You felt bad separating her from her siblings, but you certainly couldn’t just leave her there. Especially not after she put her trust in you.
“I’m sorry,” you told her softly, pulling yourself to your feet. “You’ll have to be away from your brothers for a little while. I promise I’ll keep coming back until they trust me, though.”
She meowed at you softly, the sound going straight to your heart.
“I promise to love and spoil you, little one!”
Meow~
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You tried to visit the kittens every day, working hard to earn their trust. Their food bowl continued to be filled by someone else but you could never catch them, probably because they came while you were at work.
Today, however, you had a day off and you fully intended on spending the entire day waiting on the kittens and their mysterious caretaker. The problem with this plan was that you hated waking up early. You managed it somehow with the knowledge that if you were late to work, you’d be fired.
With it being your day off, you had no such worries so your brain completely ignored the alarm when it started to go off. It was four hours later before you finally woke up, cursing when you saw the time. You scrambled to get dressed, completely forgetting your jacket in your haste.
You ran down the street, breaths coming out in thin puffs of smoke. You rounded the corner, leaning against the abandoned building as you tried to catch your breath. When you looked up, your eyes widened.
There he was in all his glory – Hyuga Norihisa. He was squatting down in front of the kittens, waving a cat tail toy lazily. They were taking turns trying to catch it, occasionally bumping into each other when they tried at the same time.
Slowly, you slowly crept closer, taking cover behind a light pole as you watched him.. He was frowning, a worried look in his eyes. He kept glancing up at the bushes as if waiting for something.
“Where the hell is she?” he muttered under his breath.
She? You frowned, clutching the light pole tighter. Was he waiting for someone? Did he have a girlfriend? The thought hurt you more than you expected it to.
The tuxedo kitten yawned widely before pawing at Hyuga’s leg. He chuckled, readjusting himself so he was sitting on the ground with his legs crossed. The kitten didn’t hesitate to climb onto his lap, curling into a ball atop his leg.
The orange kitten meowed at him and he carefully picked him up, holding the feline in front of his face. “You miss your sister, huh?”
Your eyes widened in realization. The she he had been referring to was the third kitten that you had taken home. He was concerned about her.
Your heart flooded with warmth and it took everything within you not to let out an awww. He was so pretty on a good day, but now he was holding a kitten while another slept on his lap. You wished you had brought your camera with you, but you had your phone at least.
You pulled it from your pocket and lifted it up, biting your lip as you framed the photo before pressing the shutter button.
Click.
Your body tensed up at the loud sound, Hyuga’s dark eyes snapping to you. You quickly ducked back behind the light pole but you knew you had been caught.
A heavy silence settled over you, your heart hammering within your chest as you waited for him to appear beside you. Would he attack you? Threaten you? You honestly didn’t know.
“Oi, how long are you gonna hide there?”
You slowly peered around the pole, expecting to meet his annoyed glare but he had returned his attention to the kittens.
“Get your ass over here.”
You tried to swallow down your nerves as you slowly approached him. “H-Hi, Hyuga-san…”
“Is everyone at Sannoh a stalker?” His eyes slid to you lazily, cheek resting against his palm. “Or is it just you?”
Your cheeks burned, both from the accusation and the fact that his eyes had captured your own. “I’m not a stalker,” you defended pitifully.
“Don’t stalkers take pictures of people without consent?” He quirked a brow, a smirk on his lips when you sputtered.
“I-It was just one picture!” You managed to pull your gaze away, looking to the side as you muttered, “You looked super cute, I couldn’t help it.“
Surprise flashed through his eyes at the comment. No one had ever referred to him as cute before. Bastard, psycho, son of a bitch… those were the usual compliments he received. The thought of being called cute made him uncomfortable and yet… he wasn’t sure he hated it.
“Show me,” he ordered, eyes flickering to your phone.
“No, you’re gonna delete it…”
He scoffed, holding out his hand. “Of course, I’m going to delete it.”
With a sigh, you set the phone against his palm, watching with a frown as he brought the picture up. He didn’t believe you when you said you only took the one, so he swiped to the side to check for more. To his surprise, the next picture was of the female kitten.
“You took Keiko?” He questioned, eyes snapping to you in surprise.
You blinked, head tilting to the side. “Who…?”
He showed you the picture, tapping the screen. “The female kitten. You have her?”
“Ah! Yes, I do. I felt bad leaving her out here so I -“
“Left the other two,” he scowled, eyes narrowed accusingly.
“No! I tried to get the other two,” you replied, folding your arms over your chest. “They kept running from me, though…” You frowned at the two male kittens curled up on his lap.
He watched you closely as you eyed the kittens longingly. “Come here.”
Your eyes snapped to his in surprise. “Eh?”
Rather than repeat himself, he crooked his index finger before motioning toward the spot in front of him. You were hyper-aware of his eyes following you as you slowly approached, lowering yourself to the cold concrete. The orange kitchen shifted so that his head was lying against Hyuga’s lower leg, his golden eyes blinking tiredly at you.
“So cute,” you whispered, fingers twitching with the urge to reach out and pet him but you didn’t want to scare him off.
Hyuga watched you, lips twitching up in amusement. He carefully picked up the orange kitten, plopping him down on your lap, much to your delight. You half expected the kitten to run back to him but he didn’t. He just walked in a circle before plopping down against your legs and closing his eyes.
“You’re a miracle worker, Hyuga-san,” you breathed out, gently rubbing your finger across the kitten’s head. “He wouldn’t even let me get close before.”
Hyuga just grunted, closing his eyes as he propped his cheek up against his fist. The two of you sat like that in a comfortable silence for a while, just enjoying the cool weather and the company of the tiny kittens.
Hyuga glanced at your phone when it vibrated against his knee, startling the kittens. When he saw the new message notification, he held it out to you. You took it with a smile and when you unlocked it, you were surprised by what you found.
“You didn’t delete the photo.”
Hyuga shrugged a shoulder, closing his eyes as he scratched the back of his head. “I forgot.”
By this point, the kittens were awake again, crawling off your lap and his so they could eat from the bowl sitting to your left.
“Forgot, huh?” You grinned. “You like it, don’t you, Hyuga-san?”
“I hate it,” he scowled, trying to snatch the phone from you but you were quicker.
“No, you don’t,” you snickered, holding the phone out behind you so it was harder to reach.
“Give it to me so I can delete it.”
“No way. You had your chance! Shoo!”
“Did you just… shoo me?” His eyes flashed, but you couldn’t tell if it was with amusement or anger because it was gone as quickly as it had come.
“Uh… no?” You offered him a sheepish smile, rubbing the back of your head.
His lips slid upward and you knew that smirk was dangerous. With wide eyes, you tried to scramble to your feet but he was faster, grabbing the back of your shirt to keep you in place. He reached for the phone again but you tried to pull away, your free hand pressing against his chest.
You could feel his heart beating quickly against your palm and your cheeks heated up. “H-Hyuga-san -“
His hand shot toward the phone, his weight pressing down on you until you couldn’t hold yourself up any longer. Your back hit the ground, Hyuga falling on top of you, lips inches from your own.
You swallowed nervously, face burning as you stared into those seemingly endless black pools. Your eyes flickered to his lips and you couldn’t help but wonder what his lips felt like. Before the rational side of your brain could intervene, you lifted your head and pressed your lips against his.
His body tensed up in surprise but he didn’t pull away. He enjoyed the feeling of your lips against his chapped ones, though he’d go to his grave before he admitted it aloud. When he didn’t kiss back, you pulled away, feeling like an embarrassed fool.
“I-I’m so sorry, Hyuga-san, I… I didn’t… I shouldn’t have…” you swallowed again, closing your eyes.
Hyuga hummed. “I was wondering when you would finally get up the nerve.”
“Huh?” You blinked up at him in confusion and he smirked, shifting his weight so he was lying beside you, head propped up with his hand.
“You’ve liked me since the day we met.”
His words, mixed with the nonchalant way he said them, had your face burning once again. “W-What? No, I -” He sent you a deadpan look and you pouted. “Was I really that obvious?”
“You could never get a job that requires stealth.”
You clicked your tongue, turning your gaze to the grey sky above. “So… what now?”
“You belong to me,” he said nonchalantly before standing up and approaching the kittens. The words went straight to your heart, butterflies fluttering wildly in your stomach. You could only watch as he carefully picked the two felines up before sending you an expectant look. “Get up.”
You quickly pulled yourself to your feet, trailing behind him as he started down the street, his wooden sandals tapping against the concrete. “Where are we going?”
“Your apartment.”
“Eh?” The thought of Hyuga entering your apartment made you feel nervous. How messy was it? When was the last time you had given it a proper cleaning? Had you washed last night’s dishes? You couldn’t remember. “Why?”
He glanced over his shoulder at you, brow quirked. When he realized how far behind him you were, he paused until you caught up, walking at your side. “You’re going to keep all three kittens.”
“Oh… right.” You tried to ignore the way his shoulder bumped against your own as the two of you walked. “The female is Keiko… right? Did you name those two, as well?”
“Keito,” he held up the tuxedo kitten who meowed cutely when he heard his name. Then he held up the orange kitten. “Bunta.”
“So cute~” you whispered, a smile on your lips.
Though Hyuga believed you were talking about the kittens, part of him wanted to believe that you were referring partly to him, as well.
When you finally reached your apartment, you stepped aside to let him in. Keiko came running toward you but when she saw Hyuga, she swerved around your legs and jumped at him, climbing up his black pants. You laughed at her enthusiasm, prying her gently off of him before lifting her up to his chest.
All three kittens were now meowing loudly, happy to be reunited.
“See?” you spoke softly, addressing Keiko as you gently patted her head. “I promised you that you’d be with your brothers again. Sorry it took so long.”
Hyuga felt warmth settle inside his gut as he looked at you and he knew he had already begun to fall for you. Part of him didn’t want it, but the part that did was much stronger. He set the kittens on the ground so they could run around and play before he flopped down onto the couch.
You remained near the door, feeling a bit awkward. Hyuga knew you liked him and the kiss only reinforced that. Where did that leave you now, though? He had claimed that you were now his, but that didn’t really answer your question. Were you dating?
His eyes fell to you, taking in the way you stared at the wooden floor, brow furrowed in thought. “Oi, come here.”
You lifted your head, approaching him nervously. “Yes, Hyuga-san?”
He clicked his tongue, grabbing your wrist before tugging you down onto the couch, his arm circling your waist. “Norihisa.”
You exhaled, the name feeling nice on your tongue. “Norihisa-san.”
He gave you a scolding look, flicking you lightly on the forehead. “Drop the honorific, idiot.”
You scowled, rubbing the spot he had flicked. “Norihisa…”
A smile slid onto his lips, a glint in his eye as he leaned his head toward yours. “Yes, baby?”
Your breath caught in your throat at the pet name, your hand curling around his shirt. “Can I… kiss you?”
“You didn’t need to ask last time. Why ask now?”
You scowled at his smirk, closing the distance until your lips were slotted against his. His arm left your waist, hand resting against the back of your neck to pull you closer. It didn’t take long for you to get completely lost in the kiss, his scent and warmth overwhelming you.
All three kittens suddenly jumped onto your back, making you jolt when their claws dug into your shirt so they wouldn’t fall. Hyuga chuckled, reaching forward to remove them from you. You shifted to create a bit of space between you and him, the three nestling there happily.
You smiled at them before your gaze met Hyuga’s. “I never expected to have three kids the day we got together.”
Hyuga snorted, closing his eyes as he rested his cheek against his palm. You didn’t miss the soft smile on his lips or the way his warm hand brushed gently across the small of your back.
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