Your Human

The half ghoul was running along the rooftops of the 20th ward skyline. He used his kagune to leap from building to building, his one uncovered eye trained on a line of black cars on the street below him. They were moving fast and he had to find out where they were going, what they knew.

Twenty minutes ago, he had been perched surveying the entrance of the CCG headquarters as usual. He had witnessed three teams of investigators rush into waiting black vehicles, before screeching off to an unknown location.

Something was up, and I need to find out what.

It was daylight. Kaneki knew the dangers of being seen were infinitely more at present, but he struggled to care. If he was caught, he would fight.

The cars rolled to a halt in front of an unassuming warehouse. The area was run down, with little more than delivery vehicles and overflowing dumpsters in its lot. The investigators exited their cars and walked briskly into the building, that investigator among them. Three men remained surrounding the cars, keeping watch of their surroundings. The white-haired boy watched from a nearby rooftop, crouched behind a low wall.

His phone rang out in his pocket. Damnit, not now. He looked up quickly to see if he had been spotted, it seemed he hadn't yet.

"Not now Touka, I'm busy," he hissed into his phone.

"Your human is here making a scene."

"My what? What are you talking about?" His voice was a breathy whisper, still peeking at the suited men in front of him, "Look this isn't a good time I'm –"

"Shut up and listen you dick. Your dork of a friend is here at the café making a scene, he's asking after you, he says he knows." Her voice was pure venom.

Kaneki slumped behind the half wall. The situation at hand was now the least of his concern.

Human. I know of only one human who would be looking for me. Fuck.

His mind reeling, he struggled to find words to deny her story. He was usually so articulate, but in this moment all coherent sentences alluded him, "What?"

"Just shut up and get here before I kill the blabbermouth." She hung up. He swallowed his fear and anger consumed him. How dare she threaten him! Hide is mine to protect, and I will not fail. Not now.

With one final look over the wall, he retreated, racing to the café.

Kaneki entered Anteiku through the back entrance. No sooner than the door had closed behind him, was he was gripped by the shirt and thrown into the wall. He was pinned to the spot by a younger girl; but with fury beyond her years.

"What does he know?" Her eyes flashed red, her fist pressing into his chest with inhuman bruising force.

The half ghoul ignored the pain, his voice steady and firm, "How the hell am I supposed to know? I haven't seen him."

Touka wasn't satisfied, she released her kagune; it shone and glowed menacingly, illuminating her from behind. "Tell me what you told him."

"Did you tell him I was here?!" He deflected, anger igniting his own red iris. The white-haired boy pushed off the wall and reversed their positions, emphasising his growing strength, even without revealing his kagune.

"No. That would be putting us all in danger." She was not intimidated, if anything, his question had infuriated her further.

"Which is exactly why I was keeping away from him, to protect us and him. He's my best friend, why would I put him in danger?" He leaned in, his face inches from hers, trying to emphasise his words, his teeth bared in a snarl.

Touka stared back for a few moments, intent on defying his logical words. She looked into his intense gaze, one eye black with his kakugan flared, his other human eye conveying his fierce determination. She looked away and his grasp loosened. The girl struggled not to feel hurt by his demeanour, he had never treated her this way before, despite her continued tough love. It was another reminder that he had changed, he wasn't the innocent bookworm she had watched in the café.

She felt her kagune disappear and Kaneki stepped away, putting space between them.

"Where is he?"

"The manager took him to the staff room. It was the only way to shut him up. There were customers here." Her tone had lost its fire, she still refused to meet us eye.

This information put Kaneki at ease, the manager would never endanger a human. Especially one as close to him as Hide, he hoped.

He turned away from the girl and exited the storeroom. He focused on the sound of his footsteps, one foot stepping in front of the other as he tried to clear his mind.

Hide.

Here.

It was time to face the music.

The half-ghoul had no idea what was in store from him. If Hide somehow knew what he was now, he had to be prepared for rejection.

The mere thought brought anxiety to the forefront, nearly knocking the breath from his lungs. He brought up a hand to brace himself on the wall of the stairwell. His other hand clutching his chest. Visions of a black and white chequered floor filled his senses. The sight of Hide rejecting him clear in his mind.

He clenched his eyes shut against the images in his mind. He knew they were mere thoughts; they weren't real. But they could be reality. They could come to pass. Right now, it would seem.

Kaneki beat his outstretched hand against the wall. The pain distracted him long enough to regain control of his thoughts. He swallowed. Opened his eyes and straightened to his full height.

What will be, will be.

He continued up the stairs and through the door. His breathing was even now, his face devoid of emotion. That was until he saw a familiar elderly gentleman with kind eyes. Frantic fear rose once more.

"Sir, I am so sorry. I –"

The older gentleman puts a hand on his shoulder and meets his eye. "That boy really cares for you. It seems he won't be deterred by our cover story. He is an observant young man, isn't he?"

"Sir, he doesn't know anything, I haven't told him I swear." His voice faltered, conveying the despair he was trying to push away.

The manager pats Kaneki's shoulder again, smiling reassuringly, but says no more, walking past the white-haired boy. This leaves him alone in front of the door. The young man swallowed, and mentally prepared himself before entering the staff room.

His breath caught in his throat as he saw Hide: his best friend, and for most of his life, his only friend. Kaneki noticed that the boy had hardly changed, still had his wayward blonde hair, the laugh lines around his bright eyes, the headphones that always hung around his neck. There he was, in front of him sat on the sofa nursing a cup of coffee in his hands.

The door swung shut behind him, alerting the blonde to his presence. The boy looked up and their eyes met, his olive eyes clearly surprised. With uncharacteristic speed, Hide crossed the room and pulled Kaneki into a tight hug.

"I knew it was you!" The blonde exhaled into Kaneki's ear.

Kaneki realised he was wrong, Hide had changed in their time apart, he was now taller than he was. His blonde hair was soft against his cheek, and his breath hot in his ear. The white-haired boy realised that he hadn't let anyone come this close to him since he half carried Touka home after the Battle of the 11th Ward. Hide's body was warm and flush against his. He unconsciously leaned into the embrace, but his arms hung limp at his sides. Way too soon for Kaneki's liking, Hide pulled away, moving to sit back on the sofa. Kaneki was left standing awkwardly in the doorway, mouth agape.

"Wow look at the new look! Become a fashionista on me, huh?" Hide leaned back on the sofa, looking completely at home in this situation. It was as if no time had passed and the pair was just out for coffee after a day of classes.

Kaneki doesn't say anything, but sits opposite his friend, regaining control of his limbs after the initial shock of the hug.

"So, where'd you go?" The blonde leans forward to collect his coffee, taking a sip of the dark liquid.

"Hide I-." I can't tell you.

"God Nishio makes a crappy coffee…" Hide splutters, grimacing at the taste, he goes to set the cup back on the table, "Touka's is a lot better. Hey, remember when he kicked the hell outta me? I really thought I was a goner." Reclining in his seat again, he made sure to look into his friend's eyes to get his point across.

Kaneki was dumbfounded. He stared at his friend in disbelief. Fear of rejection seeped into him like ice, anxiety tightened in his chest. When he eventually spoke, his words were a barely audible whisper, "You know?"

"I've always known." Hide shrugged with a small smile on his face.

"You aren't scared?" He frowned. This can't be happening. He's known this whole time?! But things haven't changed. He didn't reject me... Hell, our relationship hadn't changed at all. He accepted me just like that? He isn't afraid of me?

Hide shrugged. "You're Ken Kaneki. You're my best friend."

Kaneki just stared at him in awe. Hide. My best friend. You've always been there for me, always bugging me, trying to get me out of my shell. Telling me to get my nose out of a book and pay attention to you. Here you are, forever accepting me despite my numerous shortcomings. Even as a ghoul, you're sat here smiling at me.

The gravity of the situation suddenly dawned on the shorter boy. "Look we have to get you out of here, they can't know you know." The white-haired boy lunges forward, wrapping a tight grasp around the taller boy's wrist and drags him across the table and to the door.

"Shit, you got strong!" Hide gasped, pain shooting from his wrist.

Kaneki pushes him against the wall and covers his mouth with his hand, his black fingernails do not go unnoticed by Hide.

"Look you have to be quiet; I have to get you out of here. Touka has already threatened to kill you. I can't let that happen. I've been avoiding you to keep you safe. Don't you dare ruin this now." Kaneki hissed at the boy, their faces inches apart, his brown eyes conveying the urgency he felt.

Hide nods, his brow furrowing slightly. Wow he has changed, Hide thought, this boy in front of me isn't the shy, quiet boy I once knew.

Kaneki lets go of the boy, stepping back and putting distance between them once more. He struggled to not to feel a sense of loss at the lack of contact.

The blonde noticed something change in his friend's face, an emotion Hide couldn't put his finger on. As always, Hide tries to make light of the situation, he lifts a finger to his lips and smiles, giving Kaneki a wink.

Kaneki struggled not to roll his eyes – a knee jerk reaction and repertoire the two had shared for years. He once again grabs his arm and drags him from Anteiku, going out the back exit to avoid Touka. He ignores the scuffing sound of his friend's shoes as he struggled to keep up with Kaneki's punishing pace. All he can focus on is getting his friend a safe distance from his ghoul colleagues.

"Hey, you going to let go now? I can walk on my own you know." Hide breaks the silence between them.

"Not until I get you home safe." Kaneki breathed through clenched teeth, frustration and desperation evident in his voice.

"Ah right okay." The blonde yielded and let himself get dragged onward. They started to get noticed by onlookers.

"Shall I tell you where it is then?" He asked in a small voice, trying to break the tension.

Kaneki lets go of his wrist and apologises. Hide rubs his wrist, trying to restore the blood flow to his hand. The shorter boy notices this and can't help but feel terrible. Hide, all I do is cause you pain. I don't deserve you, and you don't deserve this. He sighs and continues to escort the other to his apartment in loaded silence.

AN: Woo reunited! Can you feel the sexual tension?