a/n: oof, so I better pick up the slack if I want to finish by the end of December, lol. Also, the original plan was to make this a Yukio/Rin bonding drabble, but this came out instead. Shoutout to eatenalivebyboredom for the little second prompt "selfish." It helped a lot. Enjoy. :)

December Prompts / Day 4: "I thought you knew better."

Rin leapt around the rooftop, panting as he struggled to keep up with Kuro's fast pace. Usually, he had no problem keeping up with his familiar during training sessions like this. But each jump, each lunge, each hit was getting harder and harder to track. Even with their telepathic bond, predicting Kuro's every move was a difficult task when he was busy trying to think of ways to get the upper hand on him.

Tonight, however, was different. Rin wasn't into their spar at all.

And it seemed like Kuro could tell, too, because eventually, he slowed to a halt, looking at Rin with open concern as he shrunk down to his smaller form. "Rin? What's wrong?"

Rin heaved breath after breath as he stopped in front of his familiar. "S'nothing. I'm fine."

Kuro gave him an unconvinced look, blinking slowly. "You seem really distracted today."

Maybe that was because he was. A few days ago, he was making significant progress in his training—with Shura, and with Kuro. But then his demonic identity had been spilled and everything just spiraled. He desperately needed to focus on what was going to come next. After all, the Vatican wanted him dead, and his friends didn't want anything to do with him.

Che. I thought you knew better, his mind whispered. Dwelling on the past isn't going to do any good.

"Is that what this is about?" Kuro asked, pressing himself against Rin's ankle. "Your friends?"

Rin sighed, slowly sinking down to the ground. "I don't think they're my friends anymore, bud."

It wasn't something wanted to admit out loud, but he couldn't hide from the truth. He was the son of the demon that everyone feared, whether he chose it or not. He didn't blame them for being angry or scared. Especially after he'd lied to them for so long.

What choice did he have, though?

Kuro frowned. "They'll come around, Rin. You're a wonderful person!"

Rin swallowed, one hand reaching down to pet Kuro's head affectionately. This elicited a soft purr from him. "Thanks."

"You're welcome," he chirped, but his face fell when he saw Rin was still not smiling. "There's something else, isn't there?"

He was silent for a few moments. It was stupid, actually. Maybe even insensitive. But... "Is... is it wrong for me to be mad?"

A blink. "About what?"

"I just..." He drew in a deep, cleansing breath. "They said they trusted me, Kuro! They said they were my friends! But friends don't turn on each other so quickly, do they? But then—" He expelled a sharp, humorless laugh. "—what do I know? It's not like I've ever had friends before. Maybe... maybe this is normal."

Kuro said nothing at first. Rin didn't even look at him; he was doing his best not to seethe. He didn't want to be mad at his friends. He really didn't. They were all good people, and they deserved the world. But... but it was just not right. What had he done wrong, anyway? If he hadn't fought with Aimaimon, then Shiemi could have been killed.

"I don't know if it's normal, Rin," Kuro answered finally. "But it's ok for you to be angry."

"But I—" Tears pricked at his eyes, and he hurried to blink them away. "I just... I want things to go back to the way they used to be. No stupid camping trip. No Aimaimon. It's dumb, and it's selfish, but I... I can't help it."

"You're allowed to be selfish sometimes," Kuro assured. "You feel the way you feel. You're entitled to that. Feel angry tonight. Maybe it'll be better tomorrow."

"Maybe," he said. Echoed, "Thanks, Kuro."

Kuro probably deserved a lot more than a thank you. He understood him in a way that no one else could. Not his friends. Not Shura. Not Yukio. But right now, at this moment, it was all he could give.

Kuro didn't ask for more. He beamed at him and repeated, "You're welcome. Now..." A hint of mischief entered his eyes. "Ready for round two?"

Rin let out another long, slow breath. Then, finally, gradually, he smiled. "Sure."