Title: Coffee and Cigarettes
Author: DreamCloud704
Fandom: Katekyo Hitman Reborn
Pairing: 80/59

Setting: Normal Time line. Shortly after coming back from the future
Word Count: 2,081
Summary: Hayato had a routine just for coffee, which under no condition could be broken.

Author's Note(s): Based off something I've read somewhere before about Hayato need for coffee.

I started noticing odd things about my silver haired boyfriend, especially his love for a certain caffeinated beverage.

Coffee.

Hayato couldn't live without it. Whenever he stays over mine, which was becoming more and more frequent, I always had to make sure we were fully stocked up on coffee. He wouldn't have just any sort of coffee though; it had to be the fairly expansive kind with a fancy label. He'd know if it wasn't designer, and so whenever my dad went to do the shopping and stock on up things I'd always have to remind him to pick up an extra bag, because God knows Hayato gets though a lot of coffee.

But as I was saying he had started staying over at my house more and more frequently instead of going back to his own place for the night. In fact I'm sure he now has a spare set of clothes round at mine just in case.

Usually the first thing he did in the morning after getting up, washing and dressing himself was to make himself a cup of steaming hot black coffee. Yep black coffee, no milk, no sugar.

I did once try it to see what it tasted like; needless to say I never touched the stuff again. I much preferred to have an energy drink or plain glass of water.

But he always looked more human after the first mug full. I don't think he functions very well unless he's had coffee in the morning. I had once purposefully made sure we didn't have any in stock to see what he would do without it; I won't be making that mistake again.

It wasn't the fact that he nearly killed me by shooting a blunt knife he had been using my way. It never really fazed me much anymore when he became angry enough to commit murder. No it was the fact that he was so dysfunctional without the stuff that he had nearly walked in front of a bus on the way to school. This alone scared me into buying two large bags full of the stuff on the way home, just to make sure he had enough to last him 3 months.

So anyway after ensuring that there was at least one mug full of caffeine inside him he usually followed this with a slice of buttered toast and a cigarette.

Caffeine and nicotine, two things that were essential to make sure that Hayato was awake and happy, in that order.

Caffeine ensured that he was aware of his surroundings and wouldn't wander blindly into the road and nicotine ensured that he was in a semi decent mood, and was calm enough to suffer through Ryohei's loud shouts of enthusiasm.

Although there had been many arguments over his bad smoking habits, and as horrible as it was to say, I don't think the fact that he could end up with cancer seemed to faze Hayato much. If it did then it didn't do much to put him off inhaling them in every day. But I suppose it was because I was so much of a "health freak" as he so kindly puts it. I had never tried them and I wasn't about to either.

But anyway, I suppose I love him the way he is and shouldn't try to change that bad habit no matter how bad it is for him.

So by the time we're ready to go and pick Tsuna up and head to school Hayato had already got yet another cancer stick on the go. If he's not going to give them up, he could at least cut down on the amount he has. Not that he's going to listen.

Once we get to Tsuna's house he's usually finished that one and won't touch another. Though I reckon this is because Tsuna is there and he doesn't want him inhaling the poisonous gas that comes with smoking them. Although he doesn't seem to mind me breathing them in, not that I'm jealous.

Around 10 o'clock we get a break from class, and Hayato usually goes down to the cafeteria and grabs a latte from the instant coffee machine. Yet another thing he can't seem to go without, mid-morning coffee, although it's not as serious as his morning coffee, but he seems to get a bad headache if he doesn't have another shot in him again by 11. Of course if he doesn't, as you can imagine, it puts him in a rather sour mood with everyone other than Tsuna. So if I have to I tend to march him down there and get it for him if he starts being difficult, trust me it's better for everyone.

Again this beverage is once again closely followed by a cigarette on the roof, where Tusna is typically already waiting. Though because we're so high up and it's usually quite windy Hayato doesn't seem to mind smoking around Tsuna so much. Tsuna doesn't complain like I do about this habit, mostly because he probably knows Hayato couldn't live without them.

So he leaves him be whilst I make jokes about him being dependent on nicotine, and smile as he gets worked up and starts throwing baseball related insults my way and generally abusing my intelligence level. Although I know it's a way of showing his love in some sort of twisted way. Or maybe he really is being serious when he calls me an idiot and it's not some sort of pet name like I'm hoping. But I've noticed he doesn't say it as harshly as he used to. I hope.

On the days I have baseball practice Hayato tends to watch from the stands and finishes any homework he's got to do, all the while chewing on those familiar cigarettes, looking cute as he crinkles his brow in concentration. I look after him by bringing his coffee from the changing rooms. Which he complains over because it's not as good as the stuff my dad buys him. Honestly my dad spoils him to much. I've learnt to ignore this and ruffle his hair in response, which earns me a well-aimed punch to the shoulder and harsh glare. This then morphs into a look of shock when I kiss his forehead and I have to dodge another punch when he recovers.

Sometimes P. Shitt stops by while stalking him and Hayato ends up hiding in the changing rooms waiting for me to finish up. He's developed a serious fear of the girl and often tells me she's crazy; and I have to admit it's a bit unnerving that she's taken to stalking him everywhere. Maybe this is why he tends to stay over at my place now days or has started to insist that I go over his place twice a week.

I can't help but feel a little grateful towards her if this is the case, because this way I get to spend more time with him.

She seems to agree that he should be abusing his lung as much as he does. She takes it once step further then me though and often steals however many boxes he has on him at the time and refuses to give them back until he promises to drop the habit. It doesn't bother Hayato though because he'll just go over to Shamal's place and rob his supply instead; though he does get annoyed for a while, because we don't get out of school until four. So depending on the time that P. Shitt steals them he'll have to wait a while until he can break into Shamal's house and steal any off him. Thus we we're stuck with a moody and depending on the day violent Hayato.

After my practice is over and I had located Hayato, whether he was hiding the changing rooms or sit sitting in the stands. He'd gather himself together and we'd either locate to his house or mine.

Chances were if we went to his house we'd be having cup noodles for dinner, despite Hayato's amazing ability at being able to cook Italian dishes, however he's usually short on money struggling to his rent. Shamel had offered him many a time to help him out financially for a while, but Hayato's pride stopped him from doing so. After eating a poor excuse for a meal we'd then sit watching the discovery channel and fight for the remote, and maybe if I was lucky I could charm Hayato into bed…

But that was only if I was lucky.

Hayato's place was always better for "those" kind of activities because he lived alone and didn't have to worry about other people being there. Unlike me because I lived with my dad and I really didn't want him to hear what we were up to let alone walk in on us in the act. I had of course told my dad that I was gay and in a relationship with Hayato. He had just looked at and nodded and when Hayato had next come over had clamped him on the back and nearly set him flying to floor, and then laughed and told us to be careful. Of cause Hayato had had no idea what he was on about and had immediately turned to me and asked what the hell I had done. But even if he did know I didn't want things to get awkward for him.

So if we did go to mine there would be no heated activities above making out. We'd have sushi in the restaurant and sometimes would help my dad out with things. Then move upstairs to my room, maybe play some video games or sit lying about sneaking kisses off one and other. It was all very sweet, except when Hayato had the need to smoke again.

Like me, my dad wasn't fond of smoking and when he found out Hayato was something akin to a chain smoker, he hit the roof.

Thus poor Hayato had been exposed to a two hour long discussion on smoking and its effects on the mind, body and soul. So after two hours of grim pictures and horror stories from the beyond, Hayato had taken no notice of what had been said and continued to live as he always had done.

In the end my dad had told him if he wanted to smoke then he would have to go outside and do it. Which meant by extension I would have to stand with him until he had a sufficient about of smoke clogging his lungs. Because I didn't want him standing out there on his own for however long it was going to take. Because in one evening Hayato could easily get through about five cigarettes.

Then before actually going to bed he'd likely finish up with a milky cappuccino with chocolate sprinkles on top. Now that one I had tried and it wasn't as bad of black coffee. Definitely not as bitter, it was milkier and had a slight creamy texture. Hayato had said it made he feel sleepy despite it having caffeine in it like any other type of coffee.

With this made and Hayato happy with the consistency of the liquid and the quantity of chocolate sprinkles. I'd lug him upstairs to bed and push him in the direction of my room, where he'd hog the window side of the bed instead of taking the futon on the floor. My dad thought it best we sleep separately but it never ended up that way. Either Hayato would join me on the bed and settle himself into my side or he'd end up on the floor with me depending on who took the bed. But either way we'd end up sharing, which I don't mind its nice waking up with someone next to you, especially if it's the person you'd give your life for without a second thought.

Even as I start drifting off I can smell the scent of coffee and cigarettes in Hayato's hair. But somehow I really don't mind right now, somehow it's sort of comforting…

So there we have it. The fourth installment of Bad To Worse. Please leave a review and tell me what you think. I hope to be getting another chapter up soon. By the way I shall be taking requests so if anyone has any ideas leave it in a review or feel free to drop me a message.

DreamCloud