When the days got shorter and the air colder, Sasuke began to act … odd.

Both of them.

Sasuke Uchiha was just a bit more subtle with it.

Winter break was slowly approaching, and the anticipation was clear in the hallways of the college. But one look at Sasuke, and it seemed like it was a regular, insignificant school day.

Until, well, one Hinata Hyuuga whispered a hello his way as she settled next to him at their shared desk in class. Then, his slouch turned a bit more straight, and life sprung to his face as he, casually and smoothly, murmured a greeting back. No student that shuffled in was distinctly aware of the change in the Uchiha; they were too busy planning meet-ups during break and goofing around with one another as they waited for class to start. Nothing was out of place. Nothing was odd.

Hinata flipped through her notes and chatted idly, and Sasuke leaned over his desk and listened without a word of interruption.

Everything was normal –

But then one of the boys roughhousing with one another knocked into Hinata's chair, and she was sent, quite suddenly, into Sasuke's lap.

That … was most likely when the odd behavior started.

Day 22

Affection Does Not Seem Common in Uchihas Or Devils. I Suppose Today is Just Special

Hinata has seen that perfect, poised face of Sasuke Uchiha turn red before.

Everyone, she supposed, has at least once.

There were different shades to it. A deep scarlet that reached the back of his neck was common when he was angry. When it had first been presented to the college body of students last year when a girl had tried to snatch his phone to put in her number, a great deal of people thought he was blushing. But that notion was quickly thrown into the fire when Sasuke stabbed the end of his cane into the girl's foot and marched off with an irritated huff.

His face also went flushed when he was embarrassed, which was rather rare and something Hinata has only seen once, in the privacy of their spot in the back of the library. It wasn't as permanent and noticeable as his angry flush – rather a subtle pink on the tops of his cheeks. It also did not stay long, either, and often by the minute, it was as if it weren't even there in the first place.

Yes, Hinata has seen Sasuke's face turn colors outside of that normal, pale complexion of his.

But this one, she mused from atop his lap, dazed, was a new one she's never seen before. It was bright and startling and reminded her a bit of how she used to go so utterly red when she was a child. It encased his entire face, reaching the tips of his ears and down beneath his black turtleneck.

He was also … breathing. At first, barely; but then his chest began to rise and fall rapidly, his shoulders quivering along to the unsteady rhythm. His face bowed down to her, and with his sunglasses folded in his case that was stuck in his backpack, the entire class was able to observe the sheer wideness of those unseeing, grey eyes of his.

Slowly, realization began to settle into her. The shove, the fall, the position she was currently in and – oh.

And she was sure her face matched his, or very possibly was an even deeper red. Embarrassed, ashamed – everything under the sun, really – Hinata dug her fingers into the denim of his jeans and pushed herself out of his lap. She must have hurt him somehow, for a hiss snaked through his gritted teeth as he grabbed the back of her sweater and yanked her away from him, sending her back at such a speed that she nearly fell out of her chair.

"Oh – shit!" The boy who had knocked into her stopped midway through his blunder of apologies to catch her before she flew onto the floor. His hands were on her shoulders and helped her find balance before they slammed down on her desk. "Uchiha, chill out! You look like you're about to bite her or somethin' – it wasn't even her fault!"

They all must have thought he was angry – and it was the right situation for such a thing to happen. But one meek look at his face told Hinata that she had not been mistaken. This was different. He wasn't angry or embarrassed. Sasuke was …

She didn't … know, actually.

But the boy was right. Sasuke looked like he did want to bite her.

Just … maybe not in the way he thought.

…

Throughout class, Hinata took peeks his way.

He wasn't paying attention. His fingers drummed on his bouncing knee as his face turned away from the front of the classroom.

Halfway through, he stopped trying altogether and just pressed his face against the cool surface of the desk, hands twisted into the hair on the back of his skull. His breathing was still irregular. His knee still bounced.

And his face was still red.

…

When Hinata tried to apologize after class, she barely got her mouth open when Sasuke threw his backpack over his shoulder and practically jumped out of his chair.

"Don't talk to me for another decade, Hyuuga."

Again, perfect words to come from a perfectly angry Uchiha.

But he wasn't, and Hinata had no idea what to think.

…

When she left for home later that day, Satan was at the gates of the college, giving her an odd look.

Not the kind where it made her feel odd, but rather the kind that just looked … weird on him. Or foreign. She didn't think she'd seen such a look on him before.

But then she got closer and realized that, maybe, she has seen that face before – just not so openly expressed.

And while she wished that Sasuke Uchiha would simply state his mind around her every now and then.

"Hinata."

With her Sasuke, he did not have to speak his mind. It was all crystal clear in his tone, his posture, his actions. When he had her against the wall, hands caught under her knees and lifting her a good two feet off the ground as his mouth was just a centimeter from her neck and breathing fire against her skin, Hinata knew exactly what he was thinking.

And … as did all the people walking past them.

The odd behavior started here with her devil of a boyfriend, and as stated previously, he didn't have the patience nor the need to be as subtle as Sasuke Uchiha.

…

Winter was suddenly very hot.

God, she was thirsty. Was there something to drink at her home? Somehow, tap water wasn't what she was yearning for … .

"I need to … pick up a few things from the store."

Lips were curled back to allow fangs to scrape along the length of her neck without danger of burning her already lava-coated skin. His head moved away half an inch, and he said, "I'll come with you."

Images of him throwing her about the grocery store made the offer a bit less tempting, and she shook her head and tapped his shoulder, coaxing him to let her down.

"Just go home," Hinata said, bowing her head in case more people passed by and stared. Sasuke gave an unpleasant scoff that made her laugh, and she added, "I'll be there soon. Alright?"

That look returned tenfold, and when she left for the store, no matter how many steps away from him she took, it was still boiling.

…

Plastic grocery bag in hand, Hinata struggled slightly in getting the key into her apartment door's lock. She nearly had the mind to just knock and hope Sasuke was there to open it for her, but then, finally, it slid in.

With a turn, two locks clicked.

Looking over, she saw Sasuke Uchiha at his door, key in its lock.

"Sorry." He broke the rule of no talking for a decade first, which took some weight off her chest. "I'm not angry."

"I know," she said, fully believing him.

He frowned and pressed a hand against the door. "I'm just …"

A short pause. Then, he shook his head and yanked the handle of his door down, shoving his shoulder into the door to push it open.

"Nevermind."

The door slammed behind him.

And when Hinata opened her own, that face was there to greet her once again.

"Who were you talking to?" He stalked across the floor, gaze heavy and impatient and –

Oh, right. She never mentioned that Sasuke Uchiha had moved in next to her.

"It was Sa –"

And, she supposed, now wasn't the right time, for her back was against her door as his hands gripped her hips. His face was in her hair, and when he bit her ear, it tickled more than anything else. Laughing, she patted his clothed chest and held up her plastic bag.

"I'm thirsty, Sasuke. Let me drink this."

He clicked his tongue, scowling, but moved away and gave her room.

"Humans have horrible timing."

"I could say the same thing about you, Sasuke."

He followed her to the kitchen and watched as she stretched to grab a cup from the cabinet. "It can wait."

She smiled at him over her shoulder. "So can you."

Hinata poured her juice into her cup and downed it in a few gulps, but the satisfaction of quenching her thirst did not come. She poured more and drank more, but it was like her throat was forever dry.

"What is it?" Sasuke asked.

Hinata shook her head, and then held the glass out to him. "Want to try? It's pomegranate."

She observed his eyes widen and felt that cup leave her hand – but before she knew it, she was sitting on the counter with him looming over her, staring her down, hands on either side of her.

"Don't tempt the Devil, angelus." Sasuke leaned in and pressed his horns against her forehead, their faces no more than an inch apart. "It's dangerous."

His abdomen slid between her knees, and Hinata leaned into him and closed her eyes. "I-I don't mind."

Sasuke's hot breath fanned over the bridge of her nose as he leaned further, until his lips nearly touched hers. He was so warm, and so was she, and when she felt gloved hands slide under her sweater, she peeked open an eye to see –

That flushed face again. It looked so much like Sasuke Uchiha's earlier that day. But this was the face of the creature whose fingers caressed the skin of her waist and made her feel like the only person in the world. Sasuke Uchiha – he would never do this, never think of this. There was no way.

"Focus, Hinata."

Thankfully, her Devil knew how to bring her back to reality, and she rested her hands on his shoulders and sighed against his mouth. His black eyes brightened and cracked like fire, and he took one of her hands and pressed it against his chest.

"It hurts," he said, "but I don't care. Not anymore. I never want it to stop."

Her head was too warm and blurry to really grasp what he was saying.

"Sasuke –"

He moved her hand under his cloak and pressed it against the pronounced muscles of his abdomen. Fire shot through her system, and she yelped and snapped back, staring at her burned hand. Sasuke moved away, too, looking almost confused for a moment. But he must have realized the situation, for his lips tilted.

"Fuck."

"I-It's okay." It didn't hurt that bad, nor did it look severe. She hopped off the counter to rush to the sink, searching. "Here, I'll just put on –"

His hooves plodded a few steps back, and that made his answer clear.

Hinata felt her heart sink. "It's really fine," she pressed. "Let me just find my gloves." And, sure, they weren't the most … attractive things, but they got the job done.

But Sasuke didn't return to her side, and his serious expression stayed stuck on his features. He left down the hallway, and returned a moment later with the First Aid box from the bathroom, placing it down by the sink.

"Cold water," he said, "then the medicine. I'll help you bandage it."

Disappointment was a cold and empty feeling that made her chest cave in, but Hinata nodded and did as she was told. Whenever she would spare a glance his way, she couldn't help but note the ghostly white of his face, the hard black of his eyes, and the lack of fire in the air.

Chapter 22 - End