Day 3: Complexities
So this whole chapter is fluff. Unfortunately, it's probably going to be the last one that doesn't have a trace of angst (past Yamamoto's I-did-this-I-am-a-horrible-person attitude). After this the story will take a downturn, but again, it's up to my reviewers to decide whether or not Gokudera survives. So hit that little button and let me know what you think and what you want.
Yamamoto awoke again the next morning, and felt long fingers softly stroking his hair. He raised his head to see Gokudera awake, staring off into space while his fingers played absentmindedly with Yamamoto's hair.
"Why didn't you wake me?" Yamamoto asked, his voice slightly muffled by the bed.
"I know you yakuubaka. You probably haven't slept the majority of the time I've been here. It's not good for you, you need the sleep." Gokudera's voice was soft, and Yamamoto knew he was doing his best to conserve his strength.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like a truck ran me over and popped me like a blueberry. My side hurts like a bitch."
Yamamoto's fingers grasped at the bed sheet, and he choked back the tears that were threatening to overwhelm him.
"And I also know that you're blaming yourself for this." Gokudera murmured even quieter.
"I should be. It is my fault after all, it's still hurting you even after all this time. You almost died again Gokudera, it's a miracle you survived at all."
"Stop it. Don't you know how much it hurts me for you to blame yourself like that? Seriously, stop it. It is not your fault, this was me being too harsh on myself."
"If I never had hurt you in the fir-"
Gokudera grabbed Yamamoto's hair roughly, causing the Rain Guardian to groan at the shock of pain.
"Listen to me. I do not blame you for any of this."
"But you shoul-ahh!" Yamamoto grimaced as the hand tightened.
"Yamamoto Takeshi, I DO NOT BLAME YOU. So stop blaming yourself, please. It's not your fault, it never was. It was mine both times."
Emerald met chocolate as the two stared into each other's eyes; one pair flaming with muted anger and the other swimming with pain.
Gokudera let go of Yamamoto's hair then, and turned his face away.
"I'm sorry…" Yamamoto whispered, letting his head collapse back onto Gokudera's bed.
"You damn well better be. Do you know how worried I was about you, thinking you were busy blaming yourself?" his mouth snapped shut, blush coloring his cheeks.
Yamamoto's face finally cracked into a soft, gentle smile.
"I love you too."
"I never said anything of the sort."
Yamamoto only continued that soft smile, the smile that only Gokudera would ever see. He leaned up and softly left a trail of kisses down the side of Gokudera's red face.
Gokudera didn't pull away or protest, and Yamamoto knew that he was relishing the physical contact as much as he did.
The ex-baseball player's lips brushed over the bomber's gently, and he was ecstatic to not taste the metallic tinge of blood.
"There we go." Yamamoto murmured, lacing his fingers with the others.
Gokudera scoffed and turned his head away, but even Yamamoto caught the small, content smile on his face.
After the remaining four days of the critical period, Yamamoto knew exactly what he was going to do.
Gokudera's eyes drifted shut, and his breathing steadied.
Yamamoto brought up the sleeping man's hand to his lips and left kisses all over the pale skin on his hand.
Yes, hopefully everything will work out.
Hate to break it to you Yamamoto, but you have a store of angst ahead of you.