For Ayushi who requested a TyHil surprise hug on Tumblr!

The sun was baking the streets when Hilary's taxi pulled up to the sidewalk outside the neat and tidy budget hotel. She was relieved to see that the outside resembled the pictures on the website. She hoped the interior would be much the same. Last thing she needed to hear after her long trip was how the hotel sucked and how she should have researched it more since she was the manager. It was never said to be malicious, but she spent a lot of time with a team of boys who for some reason just weren't very tactful.

Sighing, she paid the fare and stepped out of the air-conditioned cab and into the heat of the city. People strolled the sidewalks, some paused to window shop, others leisurely held their lover's hand as they ate ice cream; a mother and father swung their child between them.

Affection filled her. She loved cities full of life and people. It was a reminder of the good things.

Fluffy white clouds passed over the eye-searing blue sky and Hilary considered taking her sunglasses from her handbag but she would only have to remove them once she stepped into the lobby.

Thanking the driver for setting her luggage on the sidewalk, she waited as he drove off before turning to the hotel once more. Okay, she decided, time for one last hurrah as the manager of the Bladebreakers. She just hoped she could get inside and get settled before she had a run-in with —

She heard her name called out a second before she was yanked off her feet. Her mind scrambled for context, stuck between fight or flight. Did she strike back with her elbow, did she cry out for help, who would do such a thing?

And then she was spun around and before she found herself crushed against a male chest, she caught a glimpse of warm brown eyes, a bright grin and wild navy hair. Her heart jolted hard in her chest and she relaxed into the hug, allowing herself to indulge in the momentary weakness. She stood there in his embrace, soaking in the familiar warmth and comfort, until her knees resolidified and she stepped back, drilling Tyson's chest with her finger.

"Tyson! Don't do that to someone!"

"Hilary!" The next hug was gentler and she had more warning, so she willingly sank into Max's hold and turned her head to glower at Tyson.

"What?" he said, with a shrug. "I was happy to see you!"

"I should have used my mace."

Max laughed, his chest vibrating under her ear and his fingers toying with her hair. "Hey, you cut it. It looks cute."

Drawing back, a little self-conscious, she tugged at the short strands. "With the heat here," she explained.

"You look adorable."

"Wait, is that why you're late?"

She glowered at Tyson. "I am not late. I am exactly on time." Which was some kind of miracle because flights never landed on time but Hilary had the skill to be able to predict with innate accuracy the moment she would arrive. Besides, she always endeavoured to be punctual. Unlike a certain other person, whose name rhymed with Why-son.

"Tyson, you're digging a hole, bud."

"I'm just saying, we got here yesterday and Hilary took a whole day to arrive."

"I told you, I had an exam yesterday. I got the first flight I could today. Now, what's the emergency?"

Both boys stared wide-eyed at her, and she propped her hand on her hip, fixing them with the ever-patient manager stare of doom.

"What emergency? There's no emergency, right Max?"

"Nope."

"Oh, so I'm supposed to believe this whole welcome was just because you were glad to see me, Tyson?"

"Hey! Of course, I'm glad to see you."

"What's taking so long?" Daichi's voice screeched from behind them, and Hilary glanced over her shoulder to see the younger boy shove his hands into his pockets and stomp down the stairs, followed by a slowly ambling Rei who turned his face to the sun.

"Well, hurry up! We've got to get this sorted because I am not spending another night in the same room as him."

Tyson's eyes narrowed. "You're lucky I let you stay in my room, Daichi. I could have left you to sleep in the hall."

Ah, now it all made sense. "What happened?" And how long would it take her to fix it so she could go up to her room and sleep for a bit? She always forgot how annoying jetlag could be.

"The receptionist says that we don't have two rooms booked, at least not under the names we used and we didn't have the receipt…"

Hilary nodded, cheeks colouring a little even though she knew that Rei meant no rebuke. She kept most of the paperwork on her because that was how she always did it. But this time she hadn't travelled with the boys. Oh dear. "I'll go sort it now."

After all, that was her job, and that's what she brought to the team.

"Hey, Hilary?"

She paused mid-stride, turning to Tyson. "Yes?" Her gaze dropped to the suitcase he was holding and she sighed. "Oh sorry."

"No, no, I'll carry it in for you. But…"

"I'll take her bag," Max jumped in, snagging the bag and hurrying past them and seizing Daichi by the arm, dragging him inside the hotel with Rei's help.

Hilary turned to Tyson and spread her hands. "What am I missing?"

With a sheepish smile, he reached up to remove his cap and then replaced it again, feet shuffling on the street. "Uh, it's just, I don't want you to think that me and Max… well we weren't just happy you were here to fix the room situation."

"Oh, it's fine, I'm your manager—"

With a frown, he strode forward and caught her shoulders, gently, the warmth of his hands soaking through her light jacket. "Hilary, that's not it. Honestly, I had forgotten about the room issue. Look—" he stepped back and shoved his hands into his pockets "—after you get this all settled, maybe we could go get some food. Catch up on everything that's going on."

She smiled up at him. "I'd like that. Let me know when you and the boys are thinking of going. Not when you're actually going Tyson, I need some time to prepare."

"Oh. Yeah. The others. I'll tell them too."

He headed past her and she frowned, running the conversation back over in her head. Had Tyson been asking her on a— no. Maybe? No.

She needed to talk to Max.

Room issue first and then she'd grab Max.

A.N. This was a fun little piece. I adore these two so much and while they're getting their moment in SLTS now, it's nice to step away and do something like this. Also if you haven't read Ayushi's stuff for TyHil (Are you really a TyHil fan? She is TyHil queen) then I really suggest checking out her One Hundred Tales. They're adorable and Ayushi is much more prolific at updating than I am!