I ended up writing this one early on, and I still haven't written the prompts before this one because I keep watching Scrubs and getting distracted. But I've started it, so it'll eventually get posted. lol

Prompt: More than a friend, but not quite lovers

Rating: T

It was late, and on any other night, he would be fast asleep. But tonight was one of the nights that Karin stayed with him, and on those nights, he found himself wide awake, unable to sleep with the knowledge that she was out galavanting with Matsumoto, no doubt getting into trouble. It was almost a relief to hear her fumble with the keys, the front door creak open, and, after a thud, a string of muffled expletives leave her mouth.

Almost.

Instead of finally being able to relax, his muscles tightened in anticipation. His heart rate elevated, his breathing shallowed. And he was wide awake, listening intently as her footsteps stumbled down the hall, stopping at the guest room she was staying in.

He held his breath, heart pounding in the silence. Then, slowly, the footsteps continued, getting louder as they made their way to his room.

As he heard the soft click of the door being opened, he turned on his side and closed his eyes, peering into the darkness beneath his eyelids. The shadow paused in the doorway, seemingly debating, before soundlessly making its way to the other side of his bed.

There was the distinct whisper of cloth, and Toshiro knew that Karin was undressing, because she tended to sleep in her underwear while intoxicated. Still, he kept his back to her. Didn't dare move, despite the thrill tingling throughout his body.

Karin slipped into bed with him, the muffled sound of skin moving against sheets in the air.

This was the turning point.

Some nights, she would take her clothes off, climb into bed, and promptly start snoring. Others–

A warm arm slithered across his midsection, and she scooted closer until his back met her front. Lips found his neck, a sensuous tongue lapped his pulse. He shivered involuntarily. "I know you're awake," she whispered against his skin, her breath hot and inviting.

Slowly, he turned to face her, grateful that he'd had the foresight to wear a shirt to bed. He could barely see her in the darkness, his bedsheets blessedly covering her to her neck, her eyes large and piercing and close enough to make his own cross trying to look at them. When she leaned forward slightly, brushing her lips against his, he felt the alarm he always did, felt the warmth low in his belly that ignited the fire in his veins, and he pulled away.

But Karin merely pressed herself closer, recapturing his mouth with an annoyed huff. A leg slung over his, bringing their pelvises dangerously close, and a normally dormant part of him twitched; he lost any will to fight her off when her fierce tongue met his.

Losing himself, he flipped her onto her back, pressing her into the sheets and enjoying whatever fruity drink still lingered in her mouth. But when her fingers dipped into the waistband of his pants, he paused.

This had never happened before.

All of the other times, she would drunkenly climb into his bed, he would let her kiss him (though if he were honest, he was in no way a passive player in the whole matter), and then she would fall asleep. The way he rationalized it to himself was that she came on to him, and she never remembered the next morning. It was harmless. But this…

"Stop," he said huskily, wrapping a hand around her wrist before she could go any further. He wouldn't let her do this. Not when she didn't know what she was doing.

For a moment they stared at each other silently, Karin's face stonily serious. Then she snorted, and her teeth glinted in the moonlight. "You're no fun," she chided, tapping him on the nose with a finger.

Ten minutes later she was snoring, off in dreamland while he wondered if he could possibly sleep at all.

~.~.~

The first time was a complete accident.

She had gone drinking with Matsumoto, lost sight of her limits, and become drunk as a skunk. She woke up late the next morning, alone in Toshiro's bed in her underwear, heart pounding and nauseous as all hell. When she had embarrassingly asked him about it later, he had told her, face red, that she had merely climbed into his bed and passed out.

The thought that he had let her, had watched her strip down and climb into his bed and didn't wake her up or force her to move, planted the seed in her mind. Exactly how far would he be willing to let her take it?

At first she was embarrassed to strip half-naked in front of him, but she knew she had to keep the ruse going, and quickly got used to it. Got a little thrill at feeling his eyes on her in the dark.

Sometimes she was drunk, sometimes only a little tipsy. At times she would cuddle into his side; others she wouldn't touch him at all. Always she would lean close to breathe in the chill that naturally rose from his skin; often she would taste the frost at his lips.

Always, he would open himself to her. Always, she would remember.

Tonight she decided to keep it going, and fumbled the keys to the front door. Trying to be relatively quiet, she entered without turning any lights on, and stubbed her toe on a piece of furniture for her effort. Cursing, she continued unsteadily in the dark, pausing when she reached her room. Swallowing, she looked in the general direction of Toshiro's room.

Was tonight one of those nights? Should she?

He was probably tired. But now that she had put the idea into the universe, her feet were moving of their own accord to his room. Still, after opening his door, she paused in his doorway, undecided.

His eyes glinted at her in the darkness before disappearing.

Oh.

Was he waiting for her?

Decision made, she stepped inside, slowly slipping her shirt over her head as she went. Pulled her jeans down her hips. Considered taking off the rest before merely lifting the covers and sliding in.

Yes, this would be one of those nights, she realized as Toshiro held his breath. Karin reached for him, invading his side of the bed. Circled an arm around his middle and kissed his neck, feeling his pulse thunder excitedly against her tongue.

"I know you're awake."