In Which Happiness is Achieved

Hibiki sits on the edge of Yamato's desk, playing a game on his handheld, and ignoring the jab in his thigh everytime he gets particularly aggressive in his button mashing. It's nice, spending time with his boyfriend like this plus he doesn't have to attend classes. It's a win all around.

"Don't you have work to do?" Yamato questions him with a pointed look at his handheld game.

"Mmm, no."

"Are you sure? I believe I'm still missing several reports."

Hibiki meets his gaze briefly, "They were taken care of."

"That's not a suitable answer, finish those reports."

He really should consider doing those reports to appease Yamato, but it's just too easy to take advantage of the fact that Yamato can be such a pushover at times. Instead, Hibiki puts the game aside and drops into Yamato's lap, "Know what else isn't suitable?"

"Hibiki…" Yamato begins warningly, only to be cut off with a kiss to the mouth. Yamato returns the kiss briefly before pushing him back, "We're at work."

"That's nothing new," Hibiki responds, leaning back in until a knock on the door interrupts them. "We're busy!"

"Hibiki!" Yamato hisses, lifting him off his lap. "Do you have no sense of decency?"

"Fine, fine." He moves away and drapes himself over the couch with a pointed look in Yamato's direction.

"I'm serious, do some work," Yamato scolds before calling for whoever's on the other side of the door to come in.

One of the board members comes in and shoots Hibiki a disapproving look. Yamato understands the sentiment, but still. He clears his throat pointedly, "Yes?"

"When are you going to do something about him?"

"Is that what you came here to ask me?"

"Of course not, I wouldn't bother coming all the way here for something so unimportant, but letting him run around as he pleases isn't handling the situation. This student lied and hid his abilities. Both things are against the law in regards to the protection of Japan."

Yamato sighs tiredly, he's had this conversation too many times with too many people. Somehow he's always on the receiving end of complaints, yet none of them will say a word to Hibiki. If they did, Hibiki might at least try to reign it in. Polaris knows Hibiki barely listens to him.

"Why don't you stop him then?"

The board member's mouth presses into a thin line and Yamato's mouth curves up into a half smile. They're powerless to do anything about Hibiki and they know it. "I came to tell you in person that there have been some concerns with the new direction and we've been in discussions on how to handle it."

"I'm not aware of any discussions."

"Due to your extremely obvious bias, they were had without you."

"Ah."

The man's lips pull into a smug smile, "In light of your recent influence, I thought it best to let you know how precarious your position is right now."

"Noted." Yamato's eyes return to his screen in a clear dismissal. The board member shoots another look of annoyance at the both of them before leaving, closing the door in what could almost be called a slam.

"Is your position really in danger?" Hibiki questions.

"No."

"Even though they're talking about it without your knowledge?"

"They may think they have some clout in this, but honestly, do you really see any of those figureheads being able to force me out? The Hotsuin family itself would fight back. Even if I went willingly, how soon until JPs collapsed? Half of our emergency plans and power aren't even possible without a Hotsuin in charge. No one else would be able to handle the full scale of what I do." Yamato comes over to sit next to Hibiki on the couch, resting a hand on Hibiki's thigh. "I thought you would help relieve some of those duties, yet...here we are. Nevertheless, it's merely talk that they can't put into action."

"Mmm," Hibiki replies, letting his eyes slip close as Yamato leans in towards him.

"Chief, are you ready?"

They both flinch at the sound of Makoto's voice and Yamato pulls away. "The demon extermination. I'd forgotten about it."

Hibiki jumps up to follow him to the door, "Me too! I'm coming!"

"Now you want to work?"

"I'm always up for a battle!"

"In all regards," Yamato murmurs.

"I heard that," Hibiki whispers in his ear, followed by a squeeze to his waist before he darts forward to open the door for Makoto. He's not sure what expression he's wearing, but Makoto gives him a look of confusion, then her eyes dart behind him to Yamato.

"Chief?"

"Hibiki will be joining us." When Makoto turns back to him, Hibiki gives her a bright grin and she shakes her head in resignation before heading down the hall towards the garage.

They take the limo which is big enough for he and Yamato to sit on one side and for Makoto to sit across from them, meaning he can't be as affectionate as usual, although that doesn't stop Yamato from sitting as close as possible while he works from his tablet. That's fine though, he doesn't expect Yamato to give him much attention after he disturbed him so much earlier.

He'll just pass the time with some snacks.

Makoto blinks in surprise when Hibiki reaches into the center console and pulls out a pack of pocky. He sits back in his seat, munching happily before holding one out to the Chief who accepts it into his mouth easily. She's never seen the Chief even so much as look at junk food.

"There are snacks here?"

"He keeps them stocked for me," Hibiki answers with a smile. "They're really for when he wants me to stop bothering him."

"He's incredibly spoiled," Yamato comments without looking up from his screen.

"And whose fault is that? I didn't ask you to stock snacks for me." Yamato shoots the other male an annoyed look and shifts away from him. "Mmhmm," Hibiki laughs.

Makoto looks on like a third wheel as Hibiki leans over to whisper something in the Chief's ear that makes him tense up and go slightly pink. She doesn't even want to know what was said, but it's a new experience seeing the Chief in this light, interacting with someone in a not strictly professional manner. He's usually so self-contained.

It's good that he has someone to bring him out of his shell now and although she wouldn't have expected Hibiki, she can see what drew them together. The Chief would no doubt have been drawn to Hibiki's strength first, then Hibiki's open and accepting personality would allow them to get along, despite the Chief's rougher traits. Chief Hotsuin never stood a chance after that.

They're good together and she thinks Hibiki can be trusted to take care of the Chief as well. Together, they just might be unstoppable.

~~~~~
"Hibiki, get down from there!" The familiar command catches his attention once again.

He glances back to see Yamato frowning at him and Makoto standing off to the side watching. Hibiki really doesn't get why Yamato panics so much when he climbs something, it's one of the least dangerous things they do. "Catch me?"

"No! Get down from before you fall! It'd be somewhat of a shame if you died."

"Ouch, that's cold, Yamato! You'd miss me."

"Sometimes I wonder about that." Hibiki hops down from the tree that gives him a view straight down the mountain only because he can see the tension in Yamato's body. "Hibiki, I wish you wouldn't do things like that."

"Yamato, we fight demons for a living. I risk my life all the time with you."

"I know you can handle yourself in a battle, falling off a ledge is something completely different."

Hibiki sighs and slides his arms around Yamato's neck, pulling him in closer. Yamato's arm instinctively come around his waist and Hibiki leans in, letting his lips brush against Yamato's. "Afraid you'll be alone again?"

"Don't tease, Hibiki."

"I wouldn't leave you alone."

Yamato's arms tighten around him, "Don't make promises you can't keep."

"Guess you'll just have to believe in me."

Yamato kisses him briefly before detangling himself. "Stop dragging me into inappropriate situations in the workplace."

"Yeah, yeah," Hibiki gives Makoto an apologetic smile at the uncomfortable look on her face. He's too used to he and Yamato doing missions alone.

"Chief, Kuze, the reports indicate the demon's hideout is about half a mile North. It waits there to prey on passersby."

Hibiki nods and tugs Yamato by the wrist in the direction Makoto indicates. "I'll race you there!"

"I will not. It's unprofessional to run." Yamato turns back to Makoto, "We will be back shortly, Sako."

"You don't require any assistance?"

"No, I believe Hibiki and I will be sufficient."

"You just wanted to be alone with me," Hibiki teases once Makoto is out of sight.

"Three people would be overkill," he answers. "Honestly, you should have stayed back on campus. Makoto and I could have handled it."

"Not a chance! It's been so slow lately, I wasn't going to miss out on the chance to actually do something!"

"Paperwork is always waiting for you if you're really that bored."

Hibiki grimaces, "I'm not." He pulls Yamato to a stop as the wind around them dips into freezing. "I think it knows we're here now."

Yamato pulls out his phone, "It's a Kudlak, so be on your guard."

Hibiki nods and he pulls his jacket tighter around him as they seperate to lure the demon out. The temperature continues dropping the longer they remain in the area and he wonders if the demon hopes to freeze them out.

He's so focused on catching any slight shift of movement in his surroundings that he doesn't see the frozen puddle until his feet are already gone from under him and he's on the ground with the wind knocked out of him. Immediately, the Kudlak is on him, long black fingers wrap around his neck and icy breath is breathed into his face. Hibiki's body seizes up as he feels the ice forming in his lungs and he blindly smashes buttons on his phone to get some kind of heal spell activated.

"Hibiki!" He can't see the other male, but he can imagine Yamato running towards them, slight fear on his face. Cerberus tackles the Kudlak off of him, wrestling it away as Yamato pulls him up by the arm. "Are you alright, Hibiki?"

Hibiki shakes his head, rapidly patting his chest and Yamato nods before casting an Amrita on him. "Thanks," he gasps once his lungs have thawed out.

"Summon your demons, Cerberus can't hold him alone."

Hibiki nods, quickly summoning Susano-o and Loki to his defense. Yamato steps around him, calling a weakened Cerberus back to him, so Hibiki can take over.

Kudlak jumps into the air with a loud screech, his black cape billowing behind him and evades their spells as it rapidly closes the distance between them. Hibiki rolls to the side, but Yamato's not so lucky. He finally manages to get Holy Dance to hit just before he's encased in ice from a well timed Bufudyne.

Hibiki glances Yamato's way and keeps moving. Now's not the time to focus on defrosting him, he has to strike while the Kudlak is down. He commands Loki to attack with an unending rain of Megidaloan while he circles around behind.

Susano-o pierces through the Kudlak's back and the demon fades as the demon pulls its sword away. Without wasting another second, he returns to Yamato's side, already prepping an Agidyne. He starts at the top of Yamato's body, letting the ice slowly melt until the other male is able to break through the ice.

Yamato staggers free, shivering in his soaked clothes. "That was unpleasant."

"It looks unpleasant." Hibiki removes his bunny eared hoodie while Yamato squeezes out his clothes, "Do you want it? It'll be warmer."

Yamato takes one look at the jacket and Hibiki swears it takes all the Chief's self control not to turn his nose up. "No, thank you. We will be back at the car shortly."

Hibiki folds the jacket over his arm, frowning at Yamato's shivering in the near freezing temperature. He's a little offended. His hoodie isn't even ugly, it's warm and soft. They start walking, but don't get more than a few feet before Yamato starts sneezing.

He continues sneezing all the way up until they reach the car and by then Hibiki's had enough. Once they settle in the backseat across from Makoto, he drapes his hoodie around Yamato's shoulders, wraps his arms around him, and pulls him in close. "No complaining."

Yamato looks like he wants to complain, but he also looks miserable, shaking and paler than usual, wet hair plastered to his face. In the end, he buries his cold nose into the warmth of Hibiki's neck and Hibiki's certainly not going to complain about that.

~~~~~
Yamato wakes up the next morning feeling like shit. His alarm is agitating is aching head as is the sunlight streaming in which tells him that his alarm has been ringing for a while. His whole body feels heavy as he makes his way to the attached bathroom. He's shaky and it feels like his legs might collapse under him at any moment, but he's the leader of JP's. He has a job to do.

It takes him more time than it would normally and he swallows some advil along the way, but finally he manages to get ready for the day and his first meeting of the morning. He makes it about halfway to the conference room and when he realizes that he's left the file back in his quarters. It takes him a huge amount of will to pull himself out of the crushing despair from the thought of retracing his steps.

When he finally stumbles into the meeting, HIbiki is suddenly there, bracing his shoulders to keep him steady. His blue eyes take in the thin sheen of sweat across his forehead. He really wishes he hadn't put on so many layers this morning, he's starting to swelter in these clothes plus the faces of his assembled subordinates are swimming across his vision. Yamato wonders if he's starting to have a heat stroke.

"Are you okay, Yamato?"

He wants to scold Hibiki for such informal language in front of others, but he doesn't have the strength, instead he pulls away. "I'm fine."

Yamato takes his place at the front of the room with Hibiki sitting at his side. Hibiki smiles up at him reassuringly, lovely eyes crinkling at the corners and Yamato thinks he has such a nice smile. Although the minute he thinks it, that bright smile fades into a frown.

The last few stragglers enter the room and he glances at his report, blinking when not a single word will stay put on the page. Yamato drops the pages onto the table, no matter, he wrote the report, he knows what it says.

The whispers reach his ears before he even finishes the introduction and he frowns at the blatant disrespect of his subordinates. They should know him better than that. Yamato talks louder to regain their attention, but they're still not engaged, simply staring at him blankly.

Ah, he gets it now. This must be the board's way of punishing him for not listening to them about Hibiki. Even Makoto stares at the table, refusing to meet his gaze, and she's the last person he would have expected the slight from. God, he really needs to sit down now and he desperately wishes someone would cut the air on.

There's a tug on his sleeve and Yamato looks down into Hibiki's worried eyes. His mouth is moving, but he can't hear anything. He brushes Hibiki off, "After the meeting, Hibiki. I'll pay attention to you then, just let me finish."

Yamato rests a hand on Hibiki's head so he doesn't take his words too harshly and marvels at how soft his hair is. Yamato's fingers dig into the curls, feeling the warmth of Hibiki's scalp under his fingertips. Everything about the other boy is so nice. His hair, his smile, his fighting skills, how tight he hugs. Too bad Hibiki can't just stay with him all the time. That would make everything as perfect as it could be.

Hibiki smiles at him again suddenly and grasps his hand, pulling it free of his curls and standing. "Where are you going?"

Hibiki shushes him and turns to the room, announcing something he can't quite hear. Hibiki is the only one that Yamato would allow to interrupt him like that, anyone else he would have ripped apart. Wait. Yamato looks at the room in confusion as people begin to gather their things and leave. Is Hibiki cancelling the meeting? He allows him far too many liberties already, but cancelling a meeting while he's in the middle of speaking is absolutely crossing the line. They'll have to talk about this immediately.

Yamato resists as Hibiki hushes his protests again and begins pushing him out the door. He can't figure out when the other male got so strong and why Hibiki is winning. Hibiki has always been weaker than him strength wise. The hallways seem so long and by the time they finally arrive in front of his quarters, Hibiki's practically dragging him.

Hibiki swipes his own key card, admitting them into Yamato's rooms. Hibiki's the only other person besides himself that has unlimited access to his quarters and he takes full advantage. Yamato can't count the amount of times he's worked late and returned to find Hibiki asleep in the middle of his bed waiting for him. Although, it's always nice when he can curl into Hibiki at night.

Yamato can barely keep his eyes open as he's navigated to his bedroom and then Hibiki is undressing him. His limbs are so heavy and Yamato sinks into his bed with a content sigh once Hibiki finally lets him go. His whole body aches, he can't remember ever wanting sleep as much as he wants it now.

"Yamato." Someone is calling his name and he cracks his eyes back open wearily when Hibiki lifts his head up with one hand, but he's too tired to understand and shakes his head in exhaustion, letting his eyes slip shut again.

They flicker open once more as he feels Hibiki move away to fold his clothes before heading towards the door. "Wait!" Hibiki pauses and Yamato's not sure what he wants except not to be alone right now. Hibiki tilts his head and it takes all Yamato's quickly fading strength to reach out his hand.

Hibiki nods and comes to hold his hand. Yamato groans tiredly and tugs. Take the hint already! He tugs harder, finally letting go when Hibiki seems to understand because he slips free of his own clothes and climbs in next to him. Yamato sighs as Hibiki settles in around him and finally surrenders himself to sleep.

~~~~~
There are gentle fingers stroking through his hair when he wakes and Yamato lifts his head, blinking in confusion. "Hibiki?"

"Can you hear me now?" He asks with a sly smile.

"I wasn't aware I'd suddenly gone deaf."

Hibiki breaks into a grin that's far too bright for how awful he feels right now. "You were sick earlier. You couldn't hear a word anyone was saying to you."

"Must be why I feel so terrible," Yamato murmurs, letting his head rest against the soft part of Hibiki's shoulder.

"You've been sleeping for twelve hours. I told you not to stay in those wet clothes for so long," Hibiki scolds lightly. "You got a fever, then still got out of bed to try and run a meeting! Yamato, you should have called me right away!"

Yamato groans, burying his face farther into the soft fabric of Hibiki's shirt. "Leave me in peace."

"Really? That's what you want? You were pretty insistent I stay with you before you fell asleep."

"What time is it?"

"It's the middle of the night." Hibiki's hand rubs soothingly against his back and he fights back a yawn. "Are you going back to sleep? Drink something first."

"Too tired," he mumbles.

"Are you tired enough to tell everyone how soft my hair is or how nice everything about me is?"

"Tell me I didn't."

"You did!" Hibiki laughs. "Right in the middle of the meeting! Everything else you said was nonsensical, but I had to cancel the meeting before you said something really embarrassing!"

Yamato moans, already imagining the damage to this reputation that's been done. No doubt word of something like that has reached every employee in the building. He sighs, something else to use against him and show how much he's strayed from his path.

Hibiki pulls him in tighter, resting his cheek against Yamato's hair. "Don't worry about it, all the employees respect you. One slip up just lets them know you're human...and it may even make your more likable," he comforts.

"I don't want to be likeable, I want to be respected and obeyed."

"Huh, got a dominance thing going," Hibiki chuckles. "Who knew?"

"That's not what I said, Hibiki." If he wasn't so exhausted, he'd sit up and give Hibiki a hard shove off the bed, but it feels so nice right here in the embrace of Hibiki's arms.

It's peculiar. Any other time that he's been sick, he's been miserable and alone, no one was there to hug him or stay with him to ask if he's okay. He was expected to recover quickly and get back to work, if not work through it. This is nice.

"I'm glad you can appreciate how nice I am to you," Hibiki murmurs, kissing the top of his head.

Yamato freezes, "Did I….?"

"Say that outloud? Yes."

"..."

"Now imagine that in front of a room full of people." Yamato can practically hear the grin in Hibiki's voice, no doubt the other boy got a lot of amusement in seeing him vulnerable like that. "Seriously Yamato, you can go back to sleep. You can worry about your missing filter tomorrow when we're playing nurse and patient."

Yamato pauses for a moment as what Hibiki's saying hits him. "No," he groans pathetically.

"Yes!" Hibiki replies gleefully. "You're helpless and all mine!"

His last thought as he slips back into sleep is that he can be satisfied with that as long as Hibiki is his too.