Gokudera laughs and reaches out his arms, tickling Phoenix and causing her to burst out laughing. He continues to tickle her even as she tries to curl into a ball.

"Stop that!"

"Nope. You need to laugh some more. It's good for you!"

Phoenix finally manages to curl into a ball, laughing the whole time.

"Come on Hayato! Cut it out! Please!"

Gokudera grins and sits back. "Okay, okay. Only 'cause I don't want you peeing yourself."

Gokudera laughs and Phoenix glares at him.

"Jerk!"

She folds her arms across her chest and turns away from him, giving him a view of her back. Gokudera sighs and hugs her from behind.

"Oh come on, you know you like it when I touch you. Even if it's tickling the fuck out of you." His smirk fades as Phoenix leans away from him.

"No. I don't like to be tickled! I never have!"

"But...you laughed..."

"An involuntary reaction! But...I suppose if anyone was going to tickle me...I would want it to be you." The redhead blushes slightly as she leans back against her lover.

"You're such a little pervert, aren't ya?"

"Oh look who's talking!"

Gokudera laughs and leans against Phoenix's shoulder.

"I was pure until I met you! You're the bad influence!"

"Oh sure! Your hormones have nothing to do with it!" Phoenix laughs and Gokudera smiles as he feels the vibrations through her body.

"Not at all!" The boy relaxes. "Woman really are soft." Gokudera sighs and nuzzles into Phoenix's shoulder. "Your body is comfortable. As strange as that may sound."

A sad tone enters Phoenix's voice. "Even with all the scars?"

Gokudera smiles softly and kisses the scar nearest to his lips, "Even with the scars."

Phoenix smiles and relaxes back against Gokudera, placing her arms over his.

"You know I might just show my shoulders more often if you're going to be like this."

The bomber becomes strangely serious. "Only around me you can. Not in public. I don't want any other perv looking at what's rightfully mine."

Phoenix cocks an eyebrow. "What's yours? Strange, I thought it was my body."

"Not anymore it's not. It's mine!"

Gokudera latches his arms around Phoenix's waist and pulls her closer to him, smiling as Phoenix laughs.

"Yeah, you just keep telling yourself that."

"You...you wouldn't cheat on me? Right?"

Phoenix stiffens at the question and at the tone of worry in Gokudera's voice. She turns around to face him and looks him straight in the eye.

"Never."

"Then you'll keep those shoulders covered around other men."

Phoenix smiles slightly and sighs. "Now how is that cheating?"

"Shh. Don't question me, woman." Gokudera laughs. "No seriously, baring your shoulders is a kind of...personal act. I'd be happy if I was the only one to see it. But fine, just give me time to adjust."

The Irish teen smiles and throws her arms around his neck, holding him tightly and turning her head so that she is facing his neck.

"If you don't want me to then I wont." Phoenix pulls back so that she can look him in the eye while still keeping her arms around his neck. "And I promise I will stop hurting myself. No more punching walls, no more throwing things, no more drugs."

Gokudera smiles. "Good."

He leans in and kisses Phoenix slowly and gently, wrapping his arms around her waist. Phoenix lets the kiss go for a bit before pulling back.

"Hang on, I'm not done. I won't do any of that unless the situation calls for it or you are in danger. I can't promise anything in those situations."

The silver-haired teen frowns and brings up a hand to brush Phoenix's hair out of her eyes.

"Regardless if all that happens, don't do any of it. Ever."

"No. I can't promise that. If you are in danger and I can save you, I'll do whatever it takes. Even if that means hurting myself."

"Stop it. You know I wouldn't want that." Gokudera cups Phoenix's cheek with his hand and runs his thumb along her cheek bone. "I don't want you hurting yourself anymore for my sake. If anything, it's my job to take care of you."

Phoenix leans into Gokudera's hand.

"So if the situation was reversed and I was in danger you would want me to watch you risk everything to save me but you won't let me do the same for you! How is that fair!" Phoenix hugs Gokudera again, trying to convey how she feels through it. "I can't lose you Hayato."

Gokudera wraps his arms tightly around her. "You won't lose me, Aydan. But I won't accept you trying to sacrifice your life for mine. I want to protect you and not the other way around." He kisses the top of Phoenix's head. "I don't think I'd ever forgive myself if something ever happened to you."

"How do you think I would feel?" Phoenix's voice is soft, her worry slipping through as she tightens her embrace. "You're all I have left. If I lose you...there's no point anymore." Phoenix buries her face in Gokudera's neck. "I love you, Hayato...and I can't lose anymore people I love."

Gokudera strokes Phoenix's long red locks.

"Don't worry. Nothing's gonna happen, okay? Hey, look at me." He uses his free hand to tilt her head upwards and pecks her lips lightly. "I love you too."

"You know that's not true. We're in a torture house Hayato, we are going to go through hell. Trust me, I've been through it before." Phoenix places her forehead against Gokudera's and closes her eyes. "And if Reaper offers me a chance to get you out, I'm taking it. No matter the cost."

Gokudera sighs and pulls his head away.

"Let's just not talk about it right now. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. I just want to enjoy whatever time we have together."

Phoenix takes a deep breath to steady her emotions and looks around her apartment.

"Well considering my apartment's a mess and there's no more vodka...what do we do?"

Gokudera blushes slightly.

"L-Let's just go with whatever you have in mind."

Phoenix smiles slightly and hits Gokudera lightly on top of his head.

"Get your mind outta the gutter." Phoenix laughs. "I got nothing...my mind's completely blank."

"I've been denied twice in the course of a day. It's not my fault...I don't know, can't we just keep talking? You know, like the basics. What's your favorite color, best memory, funniest moment, ect. How about it?"

"Hey if you're gonna date me, you're going to have to get used to it." Phoenix smiles. "You had to pick the thing I'm worst at." She shudders comically. "Personal stuff." Phoenix lies back down and waits for Gokudera to lay next to her before resting against his shoulder again. "You first, what's your favorite color?"

"It's okay. I live it that you're not like that. Easy, I mean." Gokudera wraps an arm around Phoenix's shoulders as he thinks. "Hm...Probably any shade of red and lavender. How about you?"

Phoenix gets a far away look in her eyes, like she's remembering something from a long time ago. A small smile forms on her face and she chuckles slightly.

"Deep purple."

Gokudera notices the far away look and worry begins to curl in his chest. "Hey, are you okay?"

Phoenix jumps slightly and looks at Gokudera like she just remembered that he was there.

"What?"

Concern becomes apparent on Gokudera's face. "Aydan, what's wrong?"

"Nothing I promise, I just got stuck in the past...again."

Phoenix's jaw clenches and Gokudera pulls her closer to him.

"It's okay. We don't have to talk anymore. Let's just take a nap or something. Just to...relax." He looks into her eyes, worry still clear as day in his own eyes. "Is that okay?"

"Y-Yeah...that's fine."

Phoenix looks at Gokudera for a second before shifting herself so that she is laying directly on top of him, smiling slightly as he wraps both arms tightly around her. The couple fell asleep like that, Phoenix listening to Gokudera's strong steady heartbeat and the Italian teen concentrating on the sound of Phoenix's breathing and the warmth of her skin.