a/n: A ficlet I wrote a while back for Karotsamused. This is a bit of a tribute to her "Breakroom" story – which, if you've not read it, you should. ;)
Vengeance
Somewhere, there is a scream like a five-year-old girl.
Hakkai looks up from his novel's quiet company to see glistening skin and dripping hair and a frantic dance of shampoo suds. He's not certain whether amusement or alarm is more appropriate, but a smile covers all eventualities.
"Getitoffme! GetitoffMEEEEE!"
And it seems there is an insect just between Gojyo's shoulder blades. Chitinous feet are disappearing into crimson hair. It must be scared. Hakkai relents.
"Hold still." Gojyo probably can't see him through all the soap in his eyes, but he freezes rabbit-like in hope. "There. All gone."
"Thanks, man. I would have squashed it, but I know how you feel about bugs." It's true, Hakkai usually saves them, but they both know it's how Gojyo feels about bugs that sent him leaping panicked from the shower. Ah well. No harm done. Almost.
"You're dripping on the carpet," the de facto housekeeper of the group remarks pointedly. The culprit manages to look apologetic as he stumbles blindly back to his ablutions.
In his hand, Hakkai feels Gojyo's nemesis wriggle. He takes a peek. Strange. There's never been a centipede here before. He closes his hand, holds the creature for one debating moment.
Then Gonou crushes the life from it.