"What's that song your always hummin'?"

"Hm? Oh." Hinata lifted to meet Kiba's eyes, lips upturning into a smile. They were out in the forest, foraging for some fresh food for their dinner tonight. Kiba had two rabbits strapped to his belt and Hinata had a little bag full of berries and nuts. "It's what my mother used to hum. She used to hum it throughout the house while she busied herself."

"Oh? And your moms…gone, right?" Kiba cringed at himself as the words left his lips, realizing it wasn't a very polite question, but her smile didn't falter.

"Yes, for a few years now." Hinata spoke matter of a fact-ly, returning her attention to the bush as if unbothered. "I used to hum it when I thought of her, but now it's just sort of something I do mindlessly. I apologize if it bothers you, I can stop-"

"No," Kiba interrupted, staring down at her with a tight chest. He couldn't imagine losing his own mom, just the thought made his stomach drop. Hinata glanced up at him with surprise at the forcefulness of his voice, then softened back into a smile. "I like it. It's…nice."

"I'm glad." She giggled, plucking a violet from a nearby stalk and turning to him. She carefully tucked it into his hair behind his ear, causing a small twitch from him as she grazed a sensitive spot. She tilted her head and beamed. "Purple suits you."

"Yeah?" Kiba pursed his lips, reaching up to touch the spot she had just grazed. He brushed his fingertips against the petals of the violet. She nodded, clutching at the collar of her sweater.

"It goes well against your red fang markings."

"Y'think? Wonder what it'd be like with your purple hair." He attempted to relax himself with a joke, but then immediately regretted it when he realized how it sounded. He eased when her giggle graced the silence once more, massaging the back of his neck. "Like-y'know, if I had purple hair, or something. Like if we had a kid and it had—wait—fuck-"

You're making it so much worse.

"You're silly," she interrupted, sensing his unease, and lifted to her tiptoes to plant a chaste kiss on one of his markings, paralyzing him. Just as quickly as she did, she whirled around. "I think this is enough fresh food, don't you?"

"Y-y…" he began, only to sigh as she leaped away, humming once more. He ran his fingertips over the kissed area and gulped at the slick feel of lip gloss. He darted his eyes side to side to make sure she was gone, then licked his fingers.

Strawberries.

Hot damn.

"Pervert…" He mumbled to himself before leaping after her.