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[aididitmyway]

Hi! You've reached Ruby Hoshino, but I wasn't able to answer. Just leave a message and I'll get back to you ASAP!

Comments

[aididitmyway]

Not really. And I don't want to get in the middle of you and Tifa or anything! It's like, girl code!

[bakudan_bambino]

I have a lot of partners. [More than just Tifa.]

That doesn't bother you?

[aididitmyway]

No. I mean... that's just kind of how it is here, isn't it?

[bakudan_bambino]

Well, yeah? I mean it doesn't have to be like that...

But it is for me. It only feels right to be honest with you.

[UNLESS IT HURTS HER FEELINGS]

[aididitmyway]

[JUST GIVE HER SOME TIME TO LEARN CONFLICT DOESN'T MEAN EVERYTHING IS GOING TO FALL APART FOREVER!!!! PROBABLY!!!]

I... I appreciate honesty. Seriously. I don't... like lying. But even if I know it doesn't have to be like that, it doesn't change that I do have feelings, you know?

[bakudan_bambino]

[Regardless of how much time passes, he's going to assume that any upset he feels will upset her. Hayato is going to worry. It can't really be helped.]

Yeah.

I don't really understand any girl code... but it's cool that you've cleared things with her.

[He wonders if he should tell his other partners, or if he's going to be going against some of their wishes by spreading himself thinner.

If they even care... Not like they all tell him about their partners... Hayato looks a bit lost in thought as he mulls over what his next move should be.]

[aididitmyway]

I mean! I... I still kinda need to talk to her about it, so it's not like it's totally cleared... I just don't want to get in the middle of you guys, since I was the one that told her to tell you. Um.

[But she sits back and glances away, a bit awkwardly.]

So... I mean, I guess... I guess we're okay now, right?

[bakudan_bambino]

What was she supposed to tell me?

[Was Ruby expecting Tifa to confess on her behalf?]

Yeah.

[aididitmyway]

No, no, I mean—I was the one who told Tifa to confess how she felt about you!

... But I'm glad. I don't... like fighting with you.

[bakudan_bambino]

Ah. I see.

I was not fighting with you. I was venting about your brother to you instead of just addressing something that was bothering me.

[aididitmyway]

Well... it still... kinda felt like a fight. Either way, I don't like that feeling. I like this a lot more.

[bakudan_bambino]

Hey I’m not gonna leave you, Ruby. You can’t scare me off by being a good sister, and we can disagree without fighting, yeah?

[He reaches to tuck her hair behind her ear, smiling softly at Ruby, doing his best to show her he is not upset at her.]

And I like this feeling, too.

[aididitmyway]

[After a moment, she nods... and then throws herself back on him, wrapping her arms around him and giving him a kiss on the cheek.]

Yeah... also I'm really glad we figured it all out before Valentine's Day, I made chocolate for you.

[bakudan_bambino]

[Hayato hugs her back with a nice tight squeeze.]

…

Can I eat them off of you?

[aididitmyway]

Mmm... I think I can make that happen. I actually brought them all just in case, I know you're probably gonna be really busy on the actual day, and if everything worked out... I was gonna give them to you!

[And it worked out, so he may as well get them~]

[bakudan_bambino]

When our shifts are over? Today?

[He’s getting excited. Honestly so many bad things have happened lately he feels like some chocolate will cheer him up.]

[aididitmyway]

Sure, after our shifts are over! It's something to look forward to~

[And she's so, so thankful her shift isn't gonna last too much longer.]

[bakudan_bambino]

[Hayato seems to already be feeling better at the prospect of enjoying Ruby’s company after their ‘fight’. He nods, gets up, and offers her help up as well. There’s no reason for them to be on the floor anymore.]

Alright. I’ll walk you back to my place?

[aididitmyway]

[Even if it wasn't much of a fight, it's still nice to be able to relax again instead of worrying... maybe she really should consider finding therapy somewhere...

She lets him help her up though, before she's leaning up to give him another kiss on the cheek.]

Mm! I'm looking forward to it. I'll make sure I'm ready to go and everything!

[bakudan_bambino]

[She'd be better off finding a therapist than he ever would. Hayato's just read some self-help books.

When Ruby kisses his cheek, he wraps his arms around her, kisses her forehead, then moves to kiss her cheek right back, then her lips. He's had a bad couple weeks, first he was angry with Aqua, then he died, then the finder came out, and then there was 'fighting' with Ruby. He's been yelled at by people he cares about, lost a friend, and just... would really like to eat chocolate and snuggle and not be stressed out. Even if it's just for a few moments today.]

[aididitmyway]

[It takes her a moment before she pulls back, kissing him on the lips again.]

I'll be back, okay? And then we're gonna have the best night ever.

[Because for as much as she'd like to just abandon work for the moment, she still has some sense of responsibility.]

[bakudan_bambino]

Yeah...

[He sighs into the kiss and smiles as he ushers her out with a little wave of his hand. Hayato puts his hand to his chest and turns back to his work in the office for a while until their shifts are over.

While he's locking up, he's humming gently to himself, then finally waiting at the door to walk with Ruby to his house]

The time seems to slow down the closer to the end of the shift!

[aididitmyway]

[She spends what remains of her shift basically skipping around the entire establishment, humming cheerfully, ready to cheer Gokudera up as much as she can.]

It's because there's fun stuff waiting! Who wants to work when there's better stuff to do?

[bakudan_bambino]

My work brings me great joy, Ruby. Spending time with you is best no matter what.

[He reaches to take Ruby's hand, cheerful even if he seems a bit tired.]

[aididitmyway]

[She gives his hand a squeeze and gives him a smile. And she's got a ton of energy for the both of them.]

My work brings me joy, too. Like, my actual work. The whole idol thing. Which by the way, me and Aqua are working on it! So you're gonna have to totally show up, okay?