Rating: K+

M — Midnight

It was late, that's all he was certain of. The waxing crescent of the moon sat high in the sky, surrounded by stars on the oddly clear night. Only the gentlest of breezes grazed past the buildings, barely touching the young man's skin.

He sat alone; hands clasped together as they held his head. Eyes lost in the barely illuminated gardens.

It had been a few days since Hannibal Bean had attacked, directing his anger at Raimundo. Forced to remain awake until he couldn't take it any longer, fighting the Heylin legume as he was thrown into different situations within his mind. Everything had been fixed, he got the best night sleep of his life and everything was fine. Until this morning.

Between Hannibal's not so subtle threats and Master Fung's lack of advice, Raimundo was left lost, back to another presumably sleepless night.

A light thud sounded from behind, but he didn't flinch. Sensing no need to react to the unprompted visitor. He waited, listening to her move across the rooftop to sit next to him. Barely glancing in her direction Raimundo could see she was in her pyjamas, her hair free from the usual pigtails.

"You know it's midnight, right?" Kimiko quietly asked, looking out to the gardens.

"I didn't know how late it had gotten," he answered honestly, "Or how long I'd been up here,"

Kimiko gave a small nod, her face still lingering on the scenery before them. "What happened today?"

Closing his eyes, Raimundo inhaled. He didn't want to do this now, but she would have to be told eventually. They all would.

"You're my best friend, Rai, you know you can talk to me about anything,"

The delicate touch of the back of her fingers against his face opened his eyes, his gaze meeting hers. Her small, hopeful smile giving him just enough courage to speak.

"I'm scared," he whispered.

Turning her body towards his, Kimiko rested her hand on his back, slowly tracing soothing circles.

"Please tell me what's going on,"

Unable to break away from her captivating gaze, Raimundo pulled his hands from his chin, resting them over his knees.

"I think you're in danger, and it's all my fault,"

The gentle circles on his back stopped, her hand still against his back. "How am I – how could it be your fault? Is this what Master Fung-"

"Master Fung gave me nothing other than I should be honest with you," his eyes left hers, too embarrassed to continue looking her way. "Bean was in my head, he saw my memories, my thoughts – my feelings. You appeared in it, quite a bit,"

The gentle movements on his back resumed.

"I thought everything would be fine, but he figured out what I'd been hiding. When he got me alone earlier, he made some threats which felt more like promises,"

Kimiko's voice was small, nervous for asking. "What had you been hiding?"

His eyes dared to meet hers. Her cheeks lightly reddened as her widened eyes watched him, refusing to look away.

Breathlessly, he let the words slip from his mouth. "That I have feelings for you,"

Raimundo pulled his gaze back to the gardens, too afraid to see her reaction. "You're my best friend, Kim, I don't want to ruin that, you just need to know what could be heading—"

The young monk's words ended, forced away by the pair of hands holding his face, the lips against his.

Pulling his arms free, Raimundo instinctively wrapped his arms around her waist, urging her onto his lap as he feverishly returned her kiss.

Sitting on his lap, Kimiko's hands moved to his scalp, enjoying the feeling of his hair against her fingers, a sensation she had only ever imagined before tonight. Kimiko's lips continued to move with his, her tongue pushing its way into his mouth as his lips parted. She could only smile at his surprised moan, his tongue instantly falling in rhythm with hers. It had only intended to be a simple kiss, to show him what her words failed to express.

Breaking their kiss, Kimiko could only smile at the closed eyes and smitten face. Pressing small kisses on his cheeks as he hummed his appreciation, she could only giggle as she buried her head in his neck, her arms holding him close.

"Imagine what I could get if I asked you out," he nuzzled his face into her hair, his hands adjusting to hold her closer. Raimundo felt her smiling into his neck, the sensation providing a comfort he hoped to never lose. His whisper returning his previous concerns, "I really don't want you getting hurt,"

Sliding his hands down her back, Kimiko moved her head, resting her forehead against his.

"We won't let him, okay?" Raimundo instantly relaxed into the hand now cupping his cheek. "He thinks he has some sort of advantage over us, but I don't think he does. After all, we're not hiding anything from each other,"

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you earlier,"

"I understand," lightly kissing the corner of his mouth, she pulled back as he tried to get more. "I would've felt the same,"

"Please, just promise me you'll be careful, I can't lose you,"

"I promise," Kimiko whispered, saddened by the tears welling within the corner of his eyes. "If you think I'm getting away from you after what just happened, you are very much mistaken,"

His hearty laugh filled her heart with warmth, her fingers trailing along his cheek as he looked back at her with hopeful eyes. Taking her hand within his, Raimundo gently kissed her fingers. "You and me side by side as we fight against evil,"

"Is that your version of asking me out?" she smirked at his innocent expression.

"Might be,"

"You and me, side by side, whether there's evil to fight or not,"

Leaning upwards, Raimundo met Kimiko's lips, smiling into the kiss as he poured every ounce of love into it. There was no need to worry, they'd get through whatever came their way, together.

AN: Writing fanfiction instead of editing my book. At least you get a double upload!

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