A/N: anon tumblr prompt: kurahi heat
small comforts
Kurama was acutely aware of the weaknesses of his human form. They had been more when he'd first inhabited the body, the infant form all but helpless—but then, he'd been so helpless from his injuries, that it was hardly worse. He'd been able to hide away and recover, as he'd intended, and by now he was, more or less, himself.
He knew that Yoko lurked within him. It was him, and not him. He had the memories, intelligence. Knowledge that, though he'd recovered from his injuries, what he was now was not the same as he'd once been. That his time as a human, among humans, had changed him. Softened him, maybe, and perhaps that was another weakness.
But he'd accepted it. After all, what was a human lifetime to that of a demon? Just a brief flicker, a breath, but because it was so short, so fragile, he found himself seeing things as he hadn't before. Appreciating things he might've dismissed once.
Still. As an icy wind cut through his overcoat, he couldn't suppress a shiver, couldn't tamp down on the thought that his demon form would have weathered the cold better than this one. He could set his jaw and deal with it—and had, countless times—but that didn't make him any less prone to the drop in temperature.
"Don't tell me you're bothered by a little cold." Hiei's voice was a bored drawl at his shoulder.
The other's sudden presence left Kurama unfazed. Rather, Hiei radiated a pleasant warmth that he welcomed, had even expected the moment he'd sensed Hiei in his peripheries. "You must be slipping, Hiei. I noticed you blocks away."
The statement was met with sullen silence.
"It's true, I'm not fond of the cold." Kurama cast a sidelong glance at Hiei. "Though I suppose you aren't, either."
"I assure you, I have no problems. Or should I find another ice dragon to fight to prove it?"
Kurama's lips quirked into a small smile. "I don't think that will be necessary." Neither of them acknowledged the little innuendo—Hiei wise enough not to rise to the bait, Kurama amused by the dismissal of it. He could, with effort, provoke Hiei into sharper responses, something approaching true anger, but that was not his endgame tonight. His mind was already racing ahead, anticipating the warmth of his apartment—made warmer with the presence of another body, and really, "I'm surprised you didn't already crawl through my window. Or did you prefer a personal invitation, for once?"
"The window was locked." Flat, without inflection, though Kurama knew it irked him.
Kurama hummed a little. "I do like the comfort of coming home to a warm apartment." They'd arrived at his complex, and Hiei hesitated at the entrance. Kurama turned, holding the door. "Would you like to come up, then?"
It was a game, as it always had been. As much as Kurama already wanted to shed his clothes and nestle up against the heat that Hiei radiated, he still unlaced his boots at the door, and hung his coat neatly. He still put a kettle on for tea, offering a cup to Hiei.
And Hiei fidgeted. Not in the regular sense of the word, because he was still where he'd taken up residence on Kurama's counter, but the tension that ran through him was of a different quality than usual. Impatience, and Kurama found himself delighting in it, just a little bit. He caught Hiei's eye, and was rewarded with an impudent glare.
"There are faster ways of warming up," Hiei blurted, finally.
Kurama leaned against the counter next to him with unhurried grace. "I am aware."
"Well?"
Kurama arched an eyebrow. "Well, what?"
"Shouldn't we be doing that instead of your stupid human rituals?"
"I'm afraid I'm not sure what you're implying, Hiei." Because it was always more fun to make him spell it out, and see him writhe.
Hiei let out a noise of frustration. "You know what I mean, vexing Fox!"
The tea kettle whistled, and Kurama turned, using it as an excuse to hide his smirk. Hiei took the opportunity, as well, though Kurama still heard the faint sound made by his feet dropping to the floor. He chose to ignore it, waiting for Hiei's next move—Kurama could feel the heat radiating from the body behind him, and he wanted to wrap himself up in it, but he was patient.
His patience was rewarded a beat later when hot fingers found the hem of his shirt. There was a moment of hesitation, and then Hiei's hands slid under, smoothing up his sides, and Kurama let out a small noise of approval.
"Is this what you meant, then?"
A sharp press of fingernails into skin. "Hardly."
"Then perhaps we should relocate—"
"Will you shut your mouth?"
"I think you know me better than that, Hiei."
"Fine!" Hiei withdrew his hands and, with a forceful tug, turned Kurama to face him.
Kurama's eyes were dark with intent. "Then, should I occupy my mouth otherwise?" A teasing smile, and it was just enough to make Hiei's cheeks turn pink.
"Just get on with it!"
Kurama sank to his knees with a chuckle. "If you insist."
