Phoenix wakes up to find Gokudera watching her. She rubs her eye with the heel of her hand.
"How long was I out for? …And why did you put your shirt back on?"
"I can't exactly go walking around half naked for two and a-half days."
Phoenix bolts upright.
"Two and a half days! What! Jesus…I must have used more life flames then I thought."
"Exactly. And you were saying you were alright. Alright my ass."
Phoenix crawls to the edge of the bed and hugs Gokudera around the neck.
"I'm sorry; you must have been worried about me."
"Damn straight. I had Blue come and check up on you but he said you just needed rest." Gokudera lights up a cigarette. "So I just went out and got some groceries seeing as how you practically have nothing here anyway."
Aydan breaths out a laugh.
"Well I never expected to come back here when I left. I'm surprised my library's still here." She smiles softly and when Gokudera takes the cigarette out of his mouth, she pecks him on the lips. "I'm sorry for worrying you…again."
Gokudera places a hand on the back of her neck and brings her lips to his.
"You'd think I'd be used to it by now."
Phoenix kisses Gokudera passionately but pulls back.
"W-Wait…don't…"
"Don't what? There's nothing wrong with just kissing." He brushes his lips against hers. "But then again…" Gokudera pulls away. "You did say you wanted to go to the Roost as soon as you woke up." The silver-haired teen gets up. "So I guess you should get dressed."
He smirks as he walks out of the room, a few minutes' later Phoenix walks out of the bedroom wearing a pair of fitted, low rider, jeans and a lacey black bra, but no shirt. She walks over to the wall and opens a hidden compartment and pulls out a small black tee with the Linking Park logo across the chest. Gokudera sits on the couch and watches Phoenix pull on the shirt, smoking his cigarette and keeping his thoughts to himself.
"Damn, I want her."
Phoenix grabs her shoes and sits down on Gokudera's lap, smirking slightly as he groans softly. She bends over to lace the converse high-tops up, the back of her shirt sliding up and giving Gokudera a perfect view of her lower back. The younger teen takes a deep breath.
"You know, I don't like the bob haircut…I'm thinking of doing a pixie cut. What do you think?"
He gives her a confused look.
"A what?"
Phoenix pulls out her phone and looks up a picture of a woman with short hair.
"This."
Hayato stares at the picture and his eyes shift to Phoenix.
"No. Absolutely NOT!"
"Why not? It's my hair."
"Yeah but you're my woman. And I like you with your long hair." He runs his hand through Phoenix's hair. "It's bad enough you cut it once. Any shorter would give me a freaking aneurysm."
"Hey I didn't cut it remember! Declan O-Loughlin cut it! So I'm sorry if I want to get rid of the last physical reminder of the hell we went through!" Phoenix stands and sees Gokudera's eyes hesitate on the line of skin showing between her shirt and jeans. She glares and pulls her shirt down. "Come on, we're going." Gokudera's jaw sets and he thinks about a clear retort to her argument but he keeps his mouth shut. Phoenix stalks to the front door and takes a deep breath. "I'm sorry Hayato…I just have to do this. It's bad enough seeing the scars on your wrists without having to be reminded that I worked for the O-Laughlin's every time I look in the mirror."
Gokudera shrugs.
"I just prefer your hair long, Aydan." He runs a hand through his own hair in a slight fit of frustration. "I just don't see why it has to be that short…"
"It won't be. I leave some length on it so you can still mess with it. It'll grow out again; I just wanna be the person who decides what I look like."
Gokudera shrugs once more but says nothing as he grabs Phoenix's jacket and holds it out to her.
"Come on, I'm sure they're expecting you."
"Oh god...now I don't wanna go..." Phoenix smiles and when Gokudera doesn't smile back she frowns. "Are you mad at me?"
She slips on her jacket and walks with Gokudera down to the street, waiting for his reply.
"Not particularly. I just wish the changes you make weren't so…drastic." He wraps his arm around Phoenix and holds her close. "It makes me feel like you'll change so much that you'll leave me behind one day…"
"Hey!" Phoenix stops in the middle of the sidewalk, grabbing Gokudera's chin and forcing him to look her in the eye. "That's never going to happen. Ever. I am going to live and die by your side." She sighs. "We've been together for six months and you still doubt me Hayato."
Gokudera's eyebrows shoot up.
"Six months? Has it really been that long?" He smirks to himself. "It's like being six minutes underwater."
Phoenix shoves his arm and kisses him.
"I love you Hayato, and nothing is ever going to change that. No matter how many drastic decisions I make."
Gokudera holds his girlfriend close and kisses her back.
"Promise?"
"With every fiber of my being."
Phoenix pulls Gokudera down the road and soon they stop before a bar and, even though it's fairly early, the bar is filled with noise.
"Hayato, there's something you should know. My team is very…touchy. They can and will hug me, try to fight me, wink at me, and occasionally pick me up. Please don't kill them."
Gokudera feels a growl form in the back of his throat.
"We'll see."
"No killing."