I don't know what I'm doing, I can't believe I'm posting this, I sat down to write another chapter of Defensive and here we are, someone please stop me I'm a freaking menace.
This little story is probably going to be short. (I'm hoping it's going to be short.) It's essentially a fluff piece, but warning for a potential rape/assault trigger that may or may not slap you in the face. Please don't ask me what's going on, I have no idea.
"You're remembering how we met, aren't ya?"
Her stupid blush. Kagome couldn't help the heat racing across her cheeks as she was pulled out of her thoughts, turning a glare at the man next to her. Ignoring him would have been a better option, but he knew far too well how to get under her skin.
The jerk.
"No," she insisted, turning back to the track and snapping a few shots as the athletes cooled down.
Unfortunately, he didn't get the memo and leaned into her space. He was sticky and sweaty from his run - which he won, jerk - and to make matters worse, he didn't even stink! How was that possible?! His skin glistened, the flush from exertion was quietly smoothing out, and he still had enough energy to prance around in her a circle, his ponytail still having life in its bounce.
Seriously. Everything about Kouga screamed jerk, from his lucky strike in genetics to the charming grin he kept flashing that made her almost forget her own name.
He bounded in front of her, somehow managing to not ruin one of her photos.
"Liar." It slid off his tongue, lips pulled up on one side and the faintest hint of a dimple twinkling at her. "You were standing right there with your press badge and camera up to shield you from the big, bad, burly track runners linin' up for their interviews."
"They're not shields!" Crap. His grin grew wicked and she realized the trap. Arguing the wrong point of his taunt and she fell right where he wanted her.
"So you were thinkin' 'bout me."
Kagome counted backwards from twenty in an effort not to scream.
"You coulda' just said you wanted another interview," he continued blithely, bringing his hand up to check his nails while his gaze remained solely on her. "I wouldn't have minded, seein' how you wanted to spend some time with me."
She counted backwards from thirty this time.
"And what kinda man would I be if I denied such a beautiful woman?"
Forty. Definitely counting from forty.
The silence settled in around the time she hit twenty-three and Kagome realized Kouga was actually waiting for a response. He arched an eyebrow at her mental count of seventeen and leaned in closer when she hit nine.
"Kouga—"
"Kagome."
A mental count from ten. "I'm only here to do my job: get pictures of the event, record the stats—"
"And talk to the winning athletes." His dimple gleamed out as he stepped even closer. "Since you have a winning athlete right in front of you, might as well take advantage of it, right?"
It wasn't hard to hear the many different meanings Kouga threaded underneath his words. Take advantage, oh she'd love to take advantage of his closeness by smashing her knuckles into that cocky grin of his. Ugh. Who was she kidding? Her, punching someone? Never going to happen. Though she did take a moment to envision stomping her heel on the arch of his foot.
Boy would that smart.
But she didn't. Because she was an adult. Like she reminded herself whenever he was around.
"Considering you've monopolized my time for the last three events, ensured that you were spoken to each time, only have a few events that you've participated in," she bulldozed right through whatever he opened his mouth to say, "and aren't the only winner in today's meet, I'll make my way around to speak to the other athletes first."
And then she'd book it right out of the track, hightailing it back to her room and away from any place Kouga could find her. All before he even realized that she didn't talk to him about his performance.
Not that she really needed to. She watched the meet, noted each event, and took special care to track the winners. Kagome knew just how good Kouga performed, winning his races and pulling his relay team up to take first as well. She didn't need to spend twenty minutes watching his dimple glint at her while trying to remember why she couldn't take him up on his offer for grabbing food. Or ice cream. Or a drink.
Well. Definitely not an alcoholic drink. She'd already learned her lesson.
"Kagome," he murmured on a growl, his knuckle stroking down her cheek. "It's just an afternoon. You know you'd enjoy it."
Her blood froze to ice in her veins and she jerked away from him. You know you want it. She didn't. She couldn't. She wouldn't. Taking a step back, she brushed off his hand, forcing her grip on her camera to loosen before she snapped it right out of her hands. It took too long to remember it was hanging around her neck and she could let go, something Kouga unfortunately seemed to notice.
"Kagome?" His eyes widened and his tone changed and she took a step back. "Kagome, what's wrong?"
"I have interviews to do. Have a good day, Kouga."
It took everything in her not to run.
...
"Kouga!"
He heard the voices coming up behind him, but they didn't pull his gaze from the little skirt bouncing as Kagome all but ran from his presence. Even as she put that distance between them, he couldn't wipe the memory of terror on her face. Not that it was too noticeable. If he hadn't been spending the last two months trying to get to know her, he would have completely missed it.
"Kouga!"
But even still, he knew he stepped in it big time when the color from her cheeks fell faster than he thought possible. And he didn't even know why. His banter was nothing new and even with how much she fought, she enjoyed his company. Well, she didn't want to, but he knew she did.
Maybe.
What if she really didn't?
"Earth to Kouga!"
"What?!" he snapped, spinning around and glaring at his teammate standing right next to him. "And did you really have to shout in my ear?"
"We called for you three times."
"Don't lie. It was only twice."
"No, it was definitely—If you heard, why didn't you answer?!"
So easy to rile up, seriously. Watching aggravation flush over Ginta's face would never cease to amuse him, even though his ears were still ringing at the nasty shout.
"What do you want?"
"I was going to see if you wanted to grab some food with us, but considering your favorite reporter is here, that seems like a waste of breath."
Unbidden, his gaze found that bouncy head of dark wavy hair, concern and curiosity mixing into a blend he knew he couldn't ignore. "Yeah, you guys go without me. I'll catch up later."
Ginta snorted. "Figured."
Too late, he realized he didn't respond. Kouga always responded to Ginta's teasing, making sure they knew that this little fascination was completely under control. But he couldn't shake the flash of fear he saw in those blue eyes and the silence stretched between them before he could finally look at his friend.
The look he was met with was more serious than he was used to. "I'll let you know where we decide to go tonight," Ginta said in a tone that spoke of far more questions than he was going to ask. "Make sure you eat before then."
Barely acknowledging the man, Kouga headed back toward the athletes still lingering around. It wouldn't take long for them to clear out, food and a hot shower usually taking precedent over anything else before long. Him, too, but he was going to push it off as long as he could.
Food with her company would be far preferable.
He let her have her space, choosing instead to watch from afar. Sitting on the edge of the field and watching her move through the crowd gave him time to think through what happened. And what he wanted to happen. And what he absolutely did not want to happen again.
Maybe it was something he said? Had to be. He'd made the jokes before, had pushed her more than probably recommended about going out with him and never had she reacted like that. He'd seen her exasperated, annoyed, confused, frustrated, impatient, and almost infuriated, but never had he seen downright terror flash across her face. He never wanted to see it again.
Logic would tell him to let it go today. Kouga had obviously pushed too far and he should give them both a bit of space before speaking to her again, but he couldn't. He had to set this right. If he let her go now, she'd find every reason to never see him again.
Man, that would suck. Completely, utterly, royally suck.
Well wasn't that a depressing train of thought. Shaking his head, he huffed out a breath and turned his attention back to the track. Looked like she was nearing the end of her interviews as it emptied and pretty soon, they would be the only ones left.
Patience was not his virtue, but he held onto it with both hands as he waited for her to finish speaking to his teammate. Though painfully shy, Jinenji was a beast at the shot put. Kouga would be surprised if Kagome got enough information out of him for a decent article, but if anyone could, it was definitely her.
Finally, the interview was over and Kouga took his chance. Don't fuck this up played on repeat as he sidled up to her side, walking with her off the field.
"Kouga!"
Damn. He managed to spook her anyway. "Listen, Kagome, I don't know what I did, but I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable."
She stopped, blinking owlish eyes up at him and Kouga resisted the urge to pull her close.
"I thought—well, I was just teasing, and—ya know I don't mean—" Good job not fucking this up. "I'm sorry. Whatever I did, I'm sorry. Last thing I want to do is make you uncomfortable."
The silence that stretched between them ached. Any minute now, she was going to respond and he just knew it would be terrible. A blatant rejection that ignoring would make him an utter dick and he would be forced to actually leave her alone.
"Ya know, if it would make you feel better, I can leave ya alone from now on. I don't mean to be a pain, I just like your company and didn't know how to—"
"It's okay, Kouga."
What? He froze, blinking at her with his jaw hanging open and probably looking like a complete idiot.
That pretty gaze dropped to look at her hands fiddling over her camera and if he didn't know better, he would think she was flustered. "It's…" Her shoulders squared up under the breath she took and as he held his own while she finished her thought. "It's okay. You're okay. I just didn't sleep well."
That last one was a lie, simply because she couldn't lie worth a damn, but he let it slide.
"I just wanted to get done with the meet and then head back to my dorm." Her accompanying smile wasn't tight, but it also wasn't as free as the ones he'd seen before.
"Would I be pushing too far if I offered to buy lunch to make it up to ya?"
Her smile eased into one more honest. "A bit, yeah." But she was blushing despite her words and there was mischief in her eyes.
"What about dinner?" he tossed out, his own smirk surfacing.
Her finger poked his chest with enough surprising force to push him back a step. "That's definitely pushing."
The tease retuned in her tone and Kouga could have finished another race, he was so relieved. "Then how 'bout we settle over a cup o' coffee?"
"Doesn't sound like settling if I'm still going out with you."
The corner of his mouth quirked up. Hook, line, and sinker. "Now see, I only said coffee. You're the one who had to throw in dating."
And just like that, her face flushed an endearing pink and she stuttered over her own tongue. How he wished it were his instead.
"I did not— You said— That's not what—" She was damned cute when she was flustered, stomping her foot and turning on her heel. "Jerk!"
He didn't mind one bit. Kouga enjoyed watching her hips sway as she stormed off.
"I'll pick you up in half an hour!" he called after her, watching until she was out of sight before hurrying in the opposite direction to his own room. A shower, a shave, and then he'd be at her doorstep in twenty-five minutes.
Thoughts, ideas, opinions, reviews, constructive criticisms, undying oaths, curses, proclamations, and haikus are invited, welcomed, shown a great time, treated with utter respect, and taken out for breakfast in the morning.