Title: ball and chain

Author: sllebswap

Characters/Pairing: Miura Haru and Belphegor

Type: One-Shot (Complete)

Genre: General/Romance/Humor

Word Count: 599

Rating: T (Contains content not suitable for children)

Disclaimer: Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn belongs to Akira-san.

Summary: TYL ficlet. Established relationship. Years later, he still likes to tell everyone that she was the one who lassoed him first with that tattered, frumpy scarf.

Chapter Last Revised on: 08/04/19

Omake

By the time he had his fill and would finally let her go, she was curled up in an exhausted heap in the middle of the bed, drowsy and boneless from fatigue. He reached for her, only for her to bat at him wearily, blearily glaring at him like a sleepy, disgruntled kitten. They had already showered, the bedsheets changed, and she was finally comfortable and ready to pass out. "No. More."

She was all ruffled and hissing; guess her docility had a limit, too. She looked like she might even try to bite him if he came too near. He chuckled, sated and now inclined to tease.

"Really? And here I was about to give in and do that thing you wanted..."

Thatcaught her attention. She squinted dubiously at him. He was being too nice. Suspiciously nice. Still, he was dangling a really attractive bait before her nose…

"…Cuddling, desu?" Her eyes grew expectant and shiny, cutely hopeful.

He shrugged; she was free to think whatever she wanted. He did beckon with his index finger for her to come to him, and after another baleful pause, she eventually scooted over. She didn't wait for him to make the first move, and all but latched onto him herself, burrowing under his arm until he made way for her and settling comfortably into his side. She planted her face in the crook of his shoulder, inhaled his clean, masculine scent deeply, and relaxed unhesitatingly against him.

Belphegor was faintly bemused by the contentment that all but radiated from her as she wrapped her arms around his waist and finally settled down for the night. Just like that, she was appeased, and he reached over with his free hand and tapped the crown of her head lightly with his fingertips.

When she swiveled her head slightly to gaze up at him, he casually commented, "This is a very special privilege, you know."

He was never very fond of this sort of thing in the first place, having learned from a very young age never to let his guard down. But she was a different breed altogether, and he was quickly coming to understand that if he wanted to keep her around for a very long time, then he was going to have to allow concessions and let her in closer than he had ever let anyone else in before, because that was the only way to ensure that she bonded to him.

But he did not mind making this exception for her. She was sincere and earnest, and very, very charming. He could get used to this, he decided; he could get used to her. She was comfortable to hug; warm and sweet scented and so soft…

Instead of being impressed by his lofty words, Haru wrinkled her nose disdainfully instead. She knew that he had a string of past lovers before; did he think that she was that oblivious? Special privilege? Who would believe him?

She tightened her arms around him, huffing. "This privilege belongs solely to Haru now. Haru won't let go, desu."

She was casually repeating the claim that he had made earlier. He was pleased by her bossiness.

"Careful," he purred, that tenor rich with amusement, long, lean fingers playfully tugging at a glossy lock of her hair. "If you keep saying things like that, I may get excited once more and start doing things to you again until you can't walk tomorrow~"

"!" Haru stiffened, comically alarmed. When he teased like that, it did not even sound remotely like he was joking. "No! Cuddling only!"

::owari::

Questions That I Would Like To Answer Before You Ask:

Forgot to add in the omake! In which Haru finally gets some cuddle time, lol.

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-sllebswap