#but not to study the demon or even see what ryuuji knows

[everyryuujisuguro]

[tonguetiedraven]

Oooh if you're taking requests how about... hmm, y'know what. I'm a sucker for ShiroLives!au's so maybe you could do a short lil one shot about Rin gushing to Shiro abour Ryuuji or possibly Ryuuji meeting Shiro for the first time? Please and thank you^^

What a fun prompt!! I wrote this as a sort of prequel to another ShirouLives! fic I have: "Study Sessions and Teasing Talks" but it's a standalone piece too. Takes place pre-relationship, and is just Rin rambling about Ryuuji while Shirou is thoroughly amused, lol.

— — — — —

It had been at least five minutes straight of this. Shirou wasn’t even sure Rin had taken a breath during the entire tirade, thanks to the demonic heritage, he might not need to. He could hold his breath for a lot longer than the average human. Not that Rin had ever tested that in any way but long winded rambles.

Today’s ramble, like a lot of the recent rambles, was entirely about one Ryuuji Suguro. Ryuuji Suguro who was top of the class, an aria prodigy, dedicated Buddhist,  grumpiness personified, and the apparently the boy Rin was smitten with.

The funniest part — aside from everything he chose to gush about— was how much Rin didn’t seem to realize he had fallen hard for the boy. 

“And then he just reloaded. Didn’t even act like it was a big thing that he’d just hit every target dead on while the chuchis were pushing on his shield!” Rin sighed dramatically and slid his arm across the table to rest his head on it. The soda he hadn’t touched had gone flat by his arm. Shirou had already finished his beer and couldn’t quite stifle his smile.

“I’ll never be that cool,” Rin added after a beat, but there was a soft smile that belayed the lament in his words. 

“Cool, huh?” Shirou asked, raising his empty can to his lips because it wasn’t like Rin knew it was empty. “That what you’re calling it?”

Rin’s blue eyes shot up to him in curiosity. “Huh? You saying Suguro isn’t cool?”

Shirou hid his smile behind the can and tried not to laugh at the thought of anyone related to Tatsuma Suguro being ‘cool.’ Shirou was positive the serious boy had an enormous dorky side he was just trying to hide. Shirou was also positive it was going to come out around Rin and that Rin would fall even harder when he finally saw it. It’d be a fight though. Ryuuji clung to his serious side like it would kill him to do otherwise. Nope. Rin was going to have to make the first move in that relationship.

If he ever figured out he liked the boy.

“Sure. Cool.”

Rin pushed back up indignantly. “Suguro is totally cool! Didn’t you see him with the mold?!”

“The M.O.L.B.? The thing that covered him in purple liquid?”

Rin blushed. “He took it out with two words. Two.”  He muttered something about ‘and he made the goo look cool too’ and Shirou could no longer hold in his laugh.

“Cool? He looked like someone had dumped a melted ice cream cone on him!”

“So what? Everyone did! He just…” Rin’s cheeks tinted darker and he grabbed his soda, hauling it close and taking a long swig like it would win him the argument. His nose scrunched up at how flat it was, but he stubbornly drank it down anyway. 

“He just?” Shirou encouraged, curious despite himself. Rin wore his heart on his sleeve, but Shirou didn’t know how his mind worked half the time. ‘Cool’ wasn’t the reason he would have picked for Rin liking Ryuuji — because the crush didn’t surprise him — and he had a feeling it wasn’t really what Rin liked. He just didn’t have the words. Or realize he had a crush. Shirou loved him, but the boy was oblivious.

“He’s…” Rin struggled for a moment, rubbing his thumb against the condensation on his glass, frowning at the dark liquid and finally sighing. “He’s smart, but he doesn’t brag about it like he did. It’s just something he is? Like…” Rin huffed and pushed the glass away. “He doesn’t ignore me? Listens to what I say even if it’s dumb. And even if it was dumb, he’ll still listen if I talk again.”

Tatsuma’s kid.  How many people had just written Rin off as stupid? Listened to something, hadn’t understood, or had and it had been dumb, and never given him another chance?

“He’s fun to fight with too! Not just like, argue? I can do that with Yukio, but it ain’t the same. It’s more like… competing!” Rin got louder with excitement. “Yeah! He’s fun to compete with! He doesn’t back down even if it doesn’t seem like he’s gonna win. He gives it his all and expects me to do the same. Gets real pissed if I don’t.”  

Rin was getting into it now. “And he’s kind! Doesn’t look like it, but he is! He remembers stuff about everyone, things like foods we like, drinks we enjoy, our birthdays, when we have tests, all that. He helps if I need it, but he doesn’t just, like… smother me? Like he won’t intervene in my homework or shit unless I ask. He thinks I can do it.” 

Shirou heard the unspoken unlike Yukio. Shirou didn’t point out that Yukio had watched Rin fail to do a lot of homework and Ryuuji hadn’t. 

“And he looks so cool! There are a lotta people with the piercings and the undercut, but they just don’t…” Rin trailed off with a frustrated noise.

Shirou was pretty sure he got it. “Confidence? They don’t look as comfortable with it?”

Rin nodded hard. “Yeah! That!”

Shirou pretended to sip at his drink again. He couldn’t quite help but trace Rin’s features with his eyes. He deserved that same confidence and comfort in his body. 

“I don’t know,” Rin sighed, and Shirou wondered if he’d noticed how much he was sighing recently. Must be in love, Rick would have said. “It’s a lotta things.”

“Sounds like it.” Shirou said as he put the empty can down and pushed back from the table. “Well good news, kid. He’s coming over tomorrow to start tutoring you in English.”

Rin’s head snapped up and his eyes went wide while his cheeks flooded with color. “What?!”

“Yep,” Shirou rose up easily, slid the chair back into its place, grabbed the can, and moved towards the trash. “Tomorrow after dinner. Figure you two can study in here or the common room.”

“But—what?!”

Shirou allowed himself a big grin since Rin wasn’t able to see him. God, this was going to be so much fun. “You heard me. Suguro is coming over tomorrow.” Or he would, as soon as Shirou asked him. He knew the studious boy wouldn’t dare turn him down. 

“But!”

“No buts. He’ll help you get your grade up. Plus, you’re friends, aren’t ya?”

Rin just stared at him with the bright blush and a gaping mouth. 

This was going to be so much fun.

[vannahfanfics]

Use With Caution

Category: Friendship Fluff

Fandom: Blue Exorcist

Characters: Rin Okumura

Requested By: kyobasu (FanFiction)

Rin raised a hand to his mouth as he yawned loudly and unabashedly, his face scrunched up from its intensity as he eased himself down onto the stone rim of the campus’ fountain where he so often perched after an afternoon in Exorcist Cram School. Now that most of the student body had vacated the school campus to return to their dorms or take the public transit to the nearby city for an evening of mild revelry, he lazily pulled his demon tail out from under his uniform shirt, which he had untucked as soon as he had passed through the threshold of the exit, to let it flicker around behind him like Kuro’s tail so often did. He ought to return to the dorm himself and do some studying. Yeah, screw that! He thought with a devilish sneer. He propped his elbow on his knee to lean his cheek in his hand, his tail continuing to sway side-to-side behind him as he pondered what he could get up to besides hitting the books. After all the business in Kyoto, Rin was on significantly better terms with all of his classmates, so asking one of them to hang out with him wouldn’t be unreasonable; the question was discerning who was free.

Rin was usually the first one out of the building, making a mad dash for fresh air and sunlight like he was allergic to the academic environment, and so the rest of the exorcists-in-training often lagged behind. He saw them approaching in the near distance, strolling over the neatly arranged cobblestones towards the fountain that bubbled pleasantly behind him. Rin wasn’t sure where the rest of them wandered off to, but Renzo and Ryuuji were currently walking in his direction, Ryuuji with his bag slung over his shoulder and looking ever the rebellious degenerate, while Renzo plodded along beside him looking completely innocent but probably in the process of plotting at least ten schemes. Yukio was strolling along behind them, his nose in a book that just by observing its thickness Rin knew he didn’t want to even touch it.

“Rin, you shouldn’t have your tail out. What if someone sees?” Yukio scolded him as he came within earshot. Rin responded by childishly puffing out his cheeks.

“Don’t be such a stiff. No one’s gonna see. Do you know how uncomfortable it is to keep it wrapped around me all day? It gets itchy after a while,” he whined as he stretched out on his belly on the stone fountain. The tip of his tail traced patterns in the rippling water’s surface, then lashed like a whip, splattering droplets of water all over his brother’s face. Rin giggled as Yukio exhaled deeply and pulled off his glasses to clean them off on his uniform, obviously unappreciative of the playful banter. “Where’s Konekomaru? I figured he would be with you two,” he asked Renzo and Ryuuji.

“He had to run an errand. He’ll be back later,” Ryuuji reported casually.

“What’re you doing today, Okumura?” Renzo asked in that polite yet somehow disinterested way of his. He really was an odd guy but Rin liked that about him.

“I dunno yet. Are you guys free?”

“You should be studying,” his younger twin interjected with a scoff, to which Rin replied with a dour frown.

“Dun wanna.”

“You’re never gonna stomp Satan with that attitude,” Ryuuji sneered while crossing his arms. Ryuuji could say anything and get under Rin’s skin, but insulting him directly always got him fired up; he jumped to his feet while grating his teeth, fists already up to grapple and his tail lashing about furiously like a coiled cobra.

“You wanna go? Do ya? I’ll stomp you first!”

“Just try it! I’ll beat the shit outta you!” Ryuuji snapped back and, while still smiling in that peculiar fashion so characteristic of him, Renzo promptly locked Ryuuji’s arms behind his back and let him stamp his feet and curse out all the violent energy that Rin had stirred up in him. Irritated, Rin squatted down on the stone fountain and settled for teasing the fact that Ryuuji couldn’t square up while he was being held, highly amused that he could only make him angrier. It was all in good fun, though; Suguro could definitely get him going, but he really liked the guy and thought him capable. One couldn’t tell it by the way they were constantly at each other’s throats, though, like a couple of rabid dogs quarreling over some scraps.

“Okay, guys, that’s enough now.” Renzo, ever the diplomat. It’s not like he actually cared if Ryuuji and Rin scrapped, though; he was just tired of expending the energy to keep Ryuuji at bay. He released the aforementioned boy’s arms. Ryuuji shot him an acidic glare before managing to compose himself. “Anyway, if you’re looking for something to do, I have just the idea.” The pink-haired boy grinned to himself as he plopped down onto the fountain next to Rin and began digging in his school bag, looking mischievous. Rin liked mischievous.

“Oh, shit, not those,” Ryuuji groaned as Renzo procured a package of some ordinary-looking chocolate bon-bons from the depths of his school bag, which he casually tossed to the side after securing his prize. Rin, very interested in the chocolate simply for being food, leaning over his shoulder as he stripped away the packaging.

“What’s so special about ‘em?”

“He bought ‘em in some random shop in the city. Apparently, they’ve got some kind of love potion in ‘em.”

“And we’re gonna make Shiemi and Izumo eat them~!” Renzo squealed with delight and happily held the box of chocolates above his head. Rin’s dark eyebrows approached the roots of his hair as his eyes widened. The chocolates certainly didn’t look any different than regular chocolates, but looks could certainly be deceiving. The box did have a “use with caution” notice printed on the top. 

“Surely you don’t believe that nonsense,” Yukio sighed while pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose.

“Come on, have a little fun, wouldja?” Renzo’s true colors were showing now; a grin with devilish intent that could rival Satan himself painted his fine features as he lowered the unassuming box of candies. “You can’t deny that you would be overjoyed to have Shiemi doting on you a little~”

“S-stop that! That’s ludicrous!” Yukio sputtered with a face ablaze with blush. Renzo one, Yukio zero. “I’ll prove it right now. This stupid candy is just a scam you wasted your money on,” he huffed, and while Renzo squirmed and alarm and tried to prevent it, Yukio jumped forward to rip open the plastic covering, pluck one of the bon-bons from its place, and pop it into his mouth. His shoulders were hunched up to his ears as he chewed on the confection. Renzo yelped and jumped behind Rin to ensure as little as him was visible to Yukio as possible, not wishing to become the stiff young teacher’s object of affections even if temporarily.

“Asshole, you’re stepping on my tail, stop!” Rin whined and yanked it out from under his tennis shoe. When he looked back, Yukio was gazing at him blankly. “Um… Yukio, you all right, dude?”

“I feel odd.”

“Odd?”

“Yeah… My heart is beating really fast all of a sudden.”

“Ho-ly shit, it worked!” Ryuuji howled and promptly doubled over in a fit of hysterical laughter. A shiver traveled from the tips of Rin’s toes to the ends of his hair at the alarming prospect.

“Wh-what? That’s preposterous! He’s my brother! That’s disgusting!” Yukio shouted at the still cackling Ryuuji, who now had tears brewing in the corners of his eyes. His brother’s cheeks were apparently permanently dyed a shade of carnation, because every time his gaze flickered to him, it would appear. “I-it’s obviously just a side effect of whatever stupid ‘love potion’ this guy put into these chocolates! I totally don’t think my little brother is adorable and cute and I want to hug him!”

Ryuuji’s laugh abruptly hitched in his throat as he looked at Yukio incredulously. The boy apparently realized what he had said and clapped his hands over his mouth in horror, and Rin held his breath as his face turned a slight shade of green from nausea swirling around in his stomach. Renzo released a snort of laughter that he had been trying to contain behind his laced fingers over his lips, and this was the catalyst for Ryuuji to release a hoarse wheeze and begin howling with laughter all over again.

“Oh my God!”

“How do we get rid of it?!” Rin shouted and whirled around to shake Renzo, who was now blue from holding in his breath, violently by the shoulders. He exploded into a giggling fit too, and held his stomach as the package of bon-bons slipped out of his lap to fall onto the ground.

“Ahhhhhh, this is hysterical! Much better than I imagined!” the pink-haired boy sighed after calming down and wiped tears from the corners of his eyes. Ryuuji was squatted down holding his aching ribs, still quivering as snorts slipped out from time to time, and Yukio was just standing there with his fists balled up and his face redder than a tomato. “But we know they work! We gotta get Izumo and Shiemi to eat them!” he beamed, hand diving down to snatch the fallen package from the ground, before jumping up with sparkling eyes.

“Wait, wait! Don’tcha think we should invite Paku, too? Y’know, so there’s one girl for each of us!” Rin suggested.

“Oh, you’re right. Good thinking, Okumura.”

“Yeah, okay, but now we have to figure out who gets who,” Ryuuji sighed from where he was now sitting on the ground, breathless from laughing so much but seemingly recovered.

“Aren’t you forgetting about me?” Yukio snapped, irate.

“Shut up, you don’t count, you’re in love with your brother!” Renzo cried much too giddily, and even though Rin was kind of uncomfortable with it at first it was now absurdly comical, and he joined the two guys in howling at Yukio’s expense. Yukio fumed so hot that an egg could fry on his head in ten seconds flat.

“Wait, you’re gonna play along?” Rin asked Ryuuji when he was done laughing. Ryuuji wasn’t one he pinned to go along with their playful antics; normally he was much more content to study and tout that he was better than Rin for it.

“Someone has to make sure that Renzo doesn’t do something that lands him in jail.”

“Don’t say that! I’m a gentleman! A gentleman!”

“You’re a pervert and you know it.”

“He’s kinda right, you know,” Rin snickered and jabbed him repeatedly in the side with his elbow. Renzo deflated like a balloon.

“You guys suck… Anyway… How about this? Rin can have Shiemi, because he’s in love with her already,” -Rin proceeded to choke on air- “I’ll take Izumo,” -he paused to put a hand over his heart and sigh endearingly- “and Bon can have Pazu.”

“I don’t even know Pazu.”

“You can have Izumo, then! They’re all beautiful <3”

“Pervert.” Rin was too busy discreetly gushing about the fact that the gentle, adorable Shiemi would be his partner. Wait, but for how long? His brother seemingly read his mind.

“Hello? Are you forgetting about something? Is this permanent?!” his brother continued to pout.

“Nah, it only lasts a couple hours. Just tough it out,” Renzo mused while rattling the box of magical chocolates. Yukio huffed and crossed his arms to look away, but his gaze crept back to Rin no matter how much he seemed to try to prevent it. It just so happened that the girls meandered to the fountain, just in time for Renzo to put his plan into play.

“Rin! Yuki! Hello!” Shiemi called jovially with a wave of her arm. Rin sighed in contentment as her pretty blonde hair bobbed alongside her kind, round face. She’s so cute… “What are you up to?” she asked as she momentarily left Izumo and Pazu’s side to prance over.

“Go time,” Renzo whispered in his ear, stirring him into action.

“Oh, hey! Shima was just sharing these awesome candies with us, ya want one?” he grinned and plucked one from the box to hold it out to her. He tried to keep his hand from trembling as his heart thundered in his ribcage like a tumultuous symphony; sweat crawled down the side of his head as he threaded his hand back and forth through his already messy hair, trying to seem nonchalant as he flashed her a toothy grin. Shiemi blinked, tilting her head as she inspected the round little bon-bon.

“Su-“ Before she could even get the word out of her mouth, Yukio shouldered past her to snatch the chocolate from Rin’s hand, jerk him aside so that he landed in the fountain with a frantic splash, grab a very alarmed Renzo by the front of his shirt, and shove the candy into his mouth. He then shook him about so he was forced to swallow it lest he choke to death. As Rin sat up in the cold fountain water, droplets streaming down his face and dripping from the hair that was plastered there, Renzo was holding his throat and coughing violently while facing him, eyes closed.

“Ah! Shima, don’t open your-“ Too late.

“Okumura, control your twin, would you?” he growled as he shot him a glare. The panic must have been clear on Rin’s face, because no sooner had their gazes locked had Renzo’s face morph into the visage of terrible realization. “Oh no.” His face then proceeded to turn the shade of his dyed hair, and he curled up on the fountain rim while covering his face. “Ohhhhh noooooo…”

“What’s the big deal?” Izumo asked with a hand on her hip. Pazu was laughing lightly while scratching the side of her face, and Shiemi was still shell-shocked, her hand lingering in the air where she had intended to take the chocolate.

“The chocolates are apparently laced with a love potion,” Yukio answered gruffly.

“Yeah, so what the hell is your problem, Yukio?! Why didja push me into the water and why did you give it to Shima?!” Rin shouted as he surged out of the fountain, scattering the water like rain as he grabbed Yukio by the front of his collar to jerk him forward and get in his face. Yukio’s eyes went wide and his face red at the close contact, reminding Rin that he too was under the effects of the potion, and he hastily shoved him away before squatting down on the fountain rim with his face in his hands. “What the hell…”

“You were going to feed me a love potion?!” Shiemi gasped at him, sounding utterly betrayed, and he looked up in alarm.

“I- no- well, technically yes, but- it was just a joke! We were gonna give ‘em to Kamiki and Pazu too!”

“What?!” the purple-haired girl instantly screeched in anger.

“Shut up! You’re making it worse!” Ryuuji snapped at him. Rin obediently clammed up. Shiemi just continued to stand there looking absolutely concerned, her lips pressed tight together with that worried-sad look she often wore. Her gaze slid to Renzo, who was sitting up beside Rin now to clap his hand on his shoulder.

“Hey, Okumura, wanna leave these clowns and go hang out together~?”

“What the hell?!” Rin yowled and leaped from the fountain to run over to Ryuuji, ducking behind his broad frame as he suffered under the shameless Renzo’s advances.

“What? No, don’t hide behind me!” he cried. This gave Izumo the perfect opportunity to force one of the bon-bons down his throat.

“That’ll teach you morons,” she laughed evilly as Ryuuji failed to cough the candy up. Rin tried to escape Ryuuji’s field of vision before the effects of the love potion activated but to no avail. Ryuuji stared at him for a second, then whirled around holding his chest like he was having a heart attack and his eyes shaking.

“Kamiki… I will kill you…”

“Why is it just me?” Rin wailed as he jerked his head back to tug violently at his head. “Yukio, Shima, and now him?! I just wanted to do something instead of study! I promise I’ll be a good student from now on, just make it end!” he wailed to the unforgiving blue sky. Izumo and Pazu were giggling, quite pleased at how it turned out. Shiemi had leaned down to pick up the box of chocolates and was inspecting the ingredients.

“If it’s a natural ingredient, maybe Nee can produce an antidote,” she reasoned. The little Greenman had already been summoned and was sitting on her shoulder, leaned over like it too was reading the packaging, but Rin was quite unsure if the little garden familiar could read.

“Yes, please, Shiemi…” he sighed wearily, drooping from head to tail. He then stiffened when he realized that Ryuuji was standing practically right next to him. “Dude, back off!”

“Shaddup, I’m standing here because I like it, not because I wanna be close to you or nothin’…”

“He’s a tsundere!” Izumo screeched in laughter. Her pigtails flopped around her shaking shoulders as she cocked her head back and pointed at him, cackling like the witch she was.

“Shaddup, Kamiki, this is all your fault!” he snapped back with his shoulders bristling like a cat’s. Rin jumped as Renzo popped up over his other shoulder, batting his lazy eyes at him.

“Go away!” Rin shoved him away by the face.

“Uwaaaaaaah, Rin doesn’t like me…” Renzo pouted and squatted down on the pavement while hugging his knees.

“Damn right! This is all your fault, Shima! I shoulda never gone along with your stupid prank!” he agreed hotly while stamping his feet repeatedly against the ground, making his sword clang around on his back. He whirled on his feet to Shiemi as he eyed his brother staring silently at him. “Shiemi, please tell me you found something!” he begged, nearly at his breaking point.

“Got it! Nee!” The little Greenman jumped up from her shoulder and an herb Rin did not recognize sprouted from his leafy green belly. Shiemi plucked a few sprigs off before distributing them to the affected individuals. “Here, this should work.” Yukio and Ryuuji swallowed it gratefully, but Renzo waved it around in his hand, lips pursed.

“But if I don’t eat it, I’ll be the only one in love with Rin now~”

“Eat it or I’ll make you!” Seeing Rin’s thunderous expression was enough to make him do as bid. The three of them coughed for a few seconds at the bitterness of the herbs before finally looking back up at Rin. “Well?”

“Never speak of this again,” Yukio ordered while again adjusting his glasses, clearly perturbed.

“Agreed,” Ryuuji nodded, then whirled around shaking his fist at Izumo. “What the hell were you thinking, you crazy bitch?! I could kill you for that stunt!” Izumo just sneered while Paku held a hand to her mouth, giggling.

“Why’s everyone so on edge? I thought it was fun!” Renzo chuckled. He reached for the box of chocolates, only to find it had been depleted of its contents. They all simultaneously glanced up to seen none other than the Headmaster perched on the fountain, pushing the last of the bon-bons into his mouth.

“What’s all the fuss?”

“Run!” they all screamed in unison and took off, leaving him in their wake and not even curious as to whom he spied first. They all blasted past Konekomaru as he was arriving back onto campus, knocking the grocery bag from his hand and sending its contents spilling across the cobblestone.

“You guys! What was that for?” Rin heard his whine rapidly fade into the distance, drowned out by the rush of the wind in his pointed ears and the sound of his laughter spilling from his grinning mouth.

“That actually was kinda fun, wasn’t it?”

“Shut up!” came the resounding reply.

Enjoy this oneshot? Feel free to peruse my Table of Contents!

[tonguetiedraven]

Can u do a fic where the Vatican want to execute Rin and Bon jumps between them almost getting hurt and keeps him safe until Mephisto comes to prevent it? Rin asks him y he did it and he says he loves him. 💛

I co-wrote the fill for this prompt with the wonderfully talented @marble-wolf! Check out her works on ao3 here, and you can find the full story here! (It got a bit long xD )

TW: Fantasy violence, some blood, and mentions of guns.

-- -- -- -- --

Rin felt he was doing alright, all things considered. The words on the test had him faltering, but the low voice in his head helped guide him through. He knew most of the answers with confidence thanks to the careful training he had received. The words were attempting to shift on the paper and his tail was distracting him. He shook himself and read it over again. 

Every question was filled out, even if he didn't know the answer. It was ready… months of studying led up to this. He could feel the wood in his pencil cracking under his tense grip. 

His legs shook as he stood to turn his test in. He wanted to tug at his collar, maybe loosen his tie, but Yukio had been clear he needed to look his best. 

The examiner didn't spare him a second glance as he handed over the test, ignoring the tremble in his hands. Rin's tail was stiff as he turned to search for any kind of support.

Ryuuji straightened as Rin turned. He’d already turned his own test in a few minutes ago, having reread it twice in that time and made certain it was as correct as possible, and seeing that Rin was now finished, he allowed himself a nervous exhale and tried to force a smile, not quite certain how successful it was. He didn’t like how stiff Rin’s stance was, or how his tail had gone all rigid. Had Rin not done well?

That wasn’t an option. Rin had to do well. He just had to. Everyone else had already found out their own scores and left. Ryuuji had delayed as long as possible in hope that Rin would finish before he got his own result.

Ryuuij tried to catch Rin’s eyes and ignore the hammering of his heart.

Rin's anxiety curled tight around his stomach as he met Ryuuji's warm eyes. He wanted to smile. He wanted to tell him surely everything would be ok. His hard work and long hours of drilling with Rin had paid off. Rin took the step to exit the testing room and without warning, his body seized up. 

Hot electric pain shot through him. He couldn't stop the sudden rush of fire over his skin. His tail lashed and he could feel the demon attempting to force its way forward to fight off the cause of the pain. His heart was thundering in his chest and his demon heart, the one he so carefully kept hidden away, was hovering over his chest. Rin could hear that he was growling in response to the pain but couldn't cut the sound off. He was trapped in an endless cycle of pain and grappling for control. 

Rin had taken a step and abruptly frozen with a strangled sort of gasp. His body went abruptly rigid, his tail flipped up and flared out like a cat when it was stepped on, and then, to Ryuuji’s utter horror, Rin’s body lit with flickering flames. He looked like he was in agony .

The examiner who hadn’t bothered to look up when Rin passed his paper jumped to his feet and darted forward. “Stop that!” He snapped, already moving his hand in a few sharp jabs Ryuuji recognized as an imprisoning spell. The sort that bound the demon to the ground. 

Rin was the only one he could be intending to use that on. Why—what were they doing?

Ryuuji rose to his feet without thinking about it, anxiety crawling up his spine as he called Rin’s name in confusion. Rin seemed stuck to the spot. No, he seemed trapped.

Stepping forward as the examiner called out Attack!, it hit Ryuuji. That was just what this was. A trap. 

Rin had been set up.

The examiner finished their movements and the rug Rin was standing on grew bright with golden light. Rin cried out, and Ryuuji bolted into the room with his own cry.

There was a clatter from the hall behind him that he didn’t pay attention to as he rammed into Rin, knocking him off the carpet and into the floor. He kept barreling forward, using the falling momentum to tackle the examiner back and into the desk. His own shoulder collided hard with the wood, but he rolled through that, ignoring the pain and scrambling up so he could get a hold of the man’s arms before he could cast another trap or summon back up.

Rin felt the moment something sent him crashing back. The hit against the floor made him gasp, it was the first full breath he had been able to take since the crippling pain sent him to his knees. The pain was dissipating slowly, far too slowly. Jolts still arched up his spine. He panted, breathless against the floor. 

Something crashed and he forced his watery eyes to open. He could smell the sour scent of fear. Ryuuji was standing, holding… wasn't that the example? Rin, delirious with pain, couldn't make sense of the scene. But what he did know was that Ryuuji looked terrified. He focused on breathing, mentally holding onto the aria that Ryuuji taught him once. He needed to come back to himself. He couldn't lie useless on the floor while Ryuuji looked like that. 

Ryuuji got the man’s hands behind his back and in a position that would dislocate his shoulder if he tried to break free, but it was already too late. There was a thunder of footsteps in the hall and a cacophony of voices and doors slamming.

It had all been a set-up. Rin was never meant to pass. 

The door was wide open and there wasn’t anything close enough to barricade it with. Ryuuji stepped back anyway, dragging the man with him and not caring that he grunted with pain. Ryuuji kicked the door shut once he was close enough, putting himself between Rin and the door. 

Rin flinched at the sound of the door slamming shut but he couldn't take his eyes off Ryuuji. The Aria was standing like an impenetrable wall. His shoulders were back and he held the examiner hostage. Rin was certain that the young man's eyes would be lit with that familiar stubborn fire. Rin forced himself up, his arms nearly giving out as he sat. Did he have the strength to stand yet?

His tail trembled and twitched as if he had been tased as he hefted himself up. His body was heavy and all he wanted was to collapse backwards and sleep.  

“Rin?” Ryuuji called, shoving the man into the door and jerking his uniform coat down to temporarily bind his arms. (A move he’d learned from Lightning.)  “Can you walk?”

Rin took a breath and steadied himself. "I think." 

“Walk?” The examiner growled out, “You think you can escape? He lost control and threatened the safety of everyone in this school. You’ve attacked a —”

Ryuuji shoved him hard into the door. He didn’t have anything for a gag, and—

“IN HERE!” The man bellowed. His nose was bleeding, and it left a smear on the door where Ryuuji had shoved him into it.

There was no going back now.  

“Get up, Rin. We gotta get out!” He tangled his hands in the coat, pinning the man’s arms, and hit him hard on the back of his head. The man crumpled against the door, and Ryuuji once again became aware of the pounding of feet in the hall.

Shit.

Glancing over his shoulder, Ryuuji made a quick scan. This was the only door in and out of the room. The stained-glass windows wouldn’t work as an escape. There was too much metal to break their way out, and Rin didn’t look with it enough to melt it away. And that was if the magic Mephisto had on the cram school didn’t send them into some weird time bubble or alternate dimension.

Out of options and needing time more than anything else, Ryuuji pulled his gun out of his pocket, glanced to make sure he had the salamander bullets loaded, and fired at the lock. The magical bullet melted the metal, ensuring that they’d have to break the door to get in. 

“Sato?! Open up!” Someone pounded on the door as Ryuuji took two steps back. 

Rin was on his knees. Ryuuji darted over to him and got a hand around his elbow, hauling him up to his feet —because despite being the strongest person Ryuuji had ever met, he really didn’t weigh a lot — and backpedaled away from the door. He had to get Rin away from the door.

Being hauled up so suddenly by the warm calloused hand stole Rin's breath as he forced his wobbly legs to cooperate. Fear was beginning to claw at his throat and he wasn't certain it was for himself. 

He would be killed but worse, he was dragging Ryuuji down with him. What would happen now? The banging on the door was too loud and the shouting was only getting louder. They were trapped here. And it was Rin's fault. 

Rin leaned into Ryuuji, seeking out the last bit of comfort he may get. Maybe he could cause a distraction and let Ryuuji get away? 

Rin nearly tripped over his own feet as he was hefted back and Ryuuji's arm helped steady him. 

“Get behind the desk,” Ryuuji said as he more or less manhandled the halfling where he needed him. It was an old desk — everything in the cram school was old, but that would mean it was at least sturdy. And that was all they really had right now. Something that could withstand a hit.

The first blast of a gun cracked through the air, ringing in their ears and making their hearts jump.

The door held. At least for a moment. 

There was no way it held long enough. There were at least five voices, and he couldn’t fight the entirety of them by himself, and if Rin fought they’d never let him go. They’d lock him up and they’d kill him, and there wouldn’t be any extravagant trial or wager placed this time. This time Rin wouldn’t walk out with a scar on his foot and a deadline for some inane test. This time they would execute him. 

Ryuuji shoved him behind the desk, pushing at his shoulder, wincing at how rough his grip was and trying to pull his phone out with his other hand only to have to set the gun down on the desk to manage it. 

No signal. Of course. Damn Mephisto’s signal destroying time magic.

What did they do?!

Rin cried out as he was shoved back. His tail was tangled and bent under his legs and his body was still horribly sore. He watched Ryuuji's frantic movements. The Aria was scrambling for his phone, cursing in a way that exposed just how terrified he was. 

Rin untangled himself and tugged on Ryuuji's shirt. "Just leave me!" 

He couldn't let Ryuuji go down with him. 

“Cut it with that!” Ryuuji snapped, shoving his phone back in his pocket and getting the gun up and aiming at the door. “I’m not leaving you!” 

"Ryuuji!" Rin objected. 

“Just stay down—”

The door cracked down the middle and bodies started pouring into the room. Training took over, and Ryuuji instantly got lower and started firing at the people pushing through the door, hoping to barricade it with their bodies. His bullets wouldn’t be lethal, but they’d knock the people out and that was better than nothing. 

Just stay down? Rin didn't think so. He stood and tried to flame up. He would die defending Ryuuji. 

There was a flash of blue, a shout, and a small explosion as a grenade of holy water went off on top of the desk. The water doused them both, getting in their mouth and eyes, and lungs.

The water fell against Rin like acid. He could feel his throat blistering and his lungs seized. His clothes were soaked and he could feel his eyes burning. He could only make choked gasping sounds. He could taste blood coating his tongue. 

His fingers scrambled to wipe his face off but he was just making it worse. He gave a choked cry when he felt the cloth of Ryuuji's shirt slide across his face. 

Tears were spilling down Rin's cheeks and he grasped at Ryuuji's arm. He couldn't say anything. All he could do was beg with his eyes. He wanted Ryuuji to run but the stubborn boy wouldn't. 

He could feel his body healing, but it wouldn't fully heal. He would need to fully change out of his clothes and get away from the particles that still hovered in the air. 

Ryuuji spoke a shield into existence as he wiped the water away, trying to barricade the door and help Rin. The shield shed light over Ryuuji’s features and his fierce expression made Rin's heart flutter. (Now was not the time!) 

"Ryuu…" Rin tried, gripping his sleeve tighter. He forced Ryuuji back a step to try to get between him and the enemy. There was no resisting the pull.

They had fought together many times, but this time was different. These weren't Illuminati soldiers, demons, or zombies… they were exorcists. They should be on the same side! Something had gone wrong, and now… Now there wasn’t any turning back. 

Rin would not allow Ryuuji to be hurt by them. His vision was blurry and his body sizzled with pain but he would shield Ryuuji. He would not let Ryuuji throw everything away and he would not let Ryuuji be hurt.

Ryuuji realized what Rin was going to do a second before he did it, but not soon enough to stop him. The halfling was up and over the desk snarling and trying to draw attention to himself (but he wasn’t on fire so he was obviously still healing which meant he wasn’t going to be able to fight like he should.) 

Ryuuji cried out, his voice blending into the cacophony of noises already crowding the air, and fired a few more shots as the bodies he’d clogged the door with were forced out of the way for more exorcists to pile in.

And they weren’t alone. They’d brought summons with them. The gufu was the first one in the room. Ryuuji shoved himself over the desk and fired his final bullet at its wings. The recoil stung his wrist — he’d had to shift his hold to get over the desk — but the bullet tore through the smokily shaped feathers causing the large demon to screech and fall.

Right in front of Rin. Not good.

Ryuuji flipped the gun around in his hand, getting a firmer hold on the grip and getting his fingers away from the trigger and guard. Surging forward as fast as he could, he brought the gun around and whipped the first exorcist he reached hard across the face. He kicked at the gufu’s legs, hoping to knock him down, and brought the gun back up and down on the back of the exorcists head, sending him to the ground in an unconscious pile.

Rin snarled at the demon. Ryuuji hadn't listened (why was he surprised?) and now he was in serious trouble. Rin would just have to fight alongside him and hope to get an opening for them, or Ryuuji… to escape. 

The exorcists were crowding them. Weapons were raised all around, visible to even Rin's blurred vision. Rin watched Ryuuji attack one of the exorcists and turned back to the gufu. 

The bird turned red eyes on him and Rin took the opportunity to attack. He sprang forward, catching the demon around the middle to slam it to the floor. He rolled with the movement and sank his teeth into the demon. 

Black smoke was thick in the air around him. The gufu's claws were catching at his skin and ripping his clothes. Rin struck out with claws and fangs, growling while he attempted to keep track of Ryuuji. 

Rin had the gufu entirely under control (and the hell hound that had shown up as well) so Ryuuji focused on the people. He forced another shield forward, guarding Rin’s flank as he shoved and punched and kicked at the people nearest him. Lewin had told him that fighting politely never got you anywhere so he went for rough and dirty. He bit any hand that got near his face, used his pistol as a club, and swung his arm as hard as he could, going for eyes and ears and disorienting as much as he could. There were too many to really fight, but if he could slow them down, Rin might get a chance to recover from whatever that bastard had done to him earlier. 

He shoved them over each other, knocking into them and trying to make them a hindrance to each other. The single door entry was a weakness for them both. He and Rin couldn’t get out, but only a few of them could get through it at a time.

Unfortunately, they had no problem summoning right into the room. Ryuuji heard the crack of a summoning, felt the air shift around him, and made a fatal mistake. He turned away from the person he was fighting to see, intending to put a shield over there to save Rin, and the bulky exorcist behind him took advantage of his distraction. 

An arm went around his neck, jerking him back into a solid chest as his air was cut off. He turned his head to the side to prevent that, brought his hands up, drew his chin back, dug his fingers and nails into the man’s forearm, and hefted up with all his strength. His knees bent so he was lower, making it harder for the man to get a good grip on him, hooked his ankle around his attackers, pivoted on that foot, knocking the man off balance, and finished the move by flipping him over his shoulder and onto his back.

As the man fell flat with a gasp of pain, Ryuuij brought his hand around for a punch and realized he’d made another mistake as he struggled for a breath. 

He’d lost his gun. He’d lost his gun and it wasn’t on the floor where he’d dropped it, and —

The blow on the back of his head had him seeing stars. He staggered forward a step, tripping on the man he just fell, and looked up to see Rin. Rin watching him with an expression he couldn’t describe, fuzzy and blurring and knew he had failed to keep him safe as the second blow hit him in the back of the head and everything went dark.

There was a roaring in Rin's head as he watched Ryuuji collapse. Ryuuji's face was frighteningly slack and pale. Rin was certain he could smell Ryuuji's blood. 

Rin's clawed hands clenched around the demon and he felt the moment his flames came alive. A molten heat sang through his veins and his jaw was shifting to accommodate his lengthening fangs. His vision was as sharp as ever and it was horrible.  

The examiner who had hit Ryuuji was standing over him without an ounce of guilt in his eyes. The exorcists were surrounding them and more familiars were being summoned. 

"So the beast awakes." The examiner growled with a satisfied smirk. 

Rin stood and allowed his flames to grow. There were no other options now and Rin would make them all regret touching Ryuuji. 

He could see white leaking into his hair from the locks that fell in his face (when had he lost the hair clip?) and his teeth wouldn't be covered by his lips. The demon was grappling for control but no, Rin wanted to save Ryuuji himself. 

He could hear shouting down the hall, and he was certain he knew that voice but he couldn't focus on that now. Not with the enemy standing over Ryuuji. 

Rin bounded forward, kicking off the barrel chested hellhound. He lifted his fist and put his entire body weight and speed into the punch he delivered right into the bastard's nose. 

He slammed him to the floor, barely containing the urge to just burn and instead went in for a second punch. If Rin was going to be killed for attacking an exorcist he was going to earn it and make it count. 

"Whoa! What the hell?" That was Shura's voice. 

Rin could hardly hear anything over the demon shouting to kill and his own racing heart. Shura had his sword! He could hear his Demon Heart as well. If he could just get the sword then he could… what? Kill this man? 

"Rin!" Shura was calling him. 

He was panting and shaking. His clothes were finally dry of the holy water and the pain was gone. His face was caught between human and demon. 

Rin should stop. He should back off and let Shura handle things but he could still smell Ryuuji's blood. It stole his breath and made all rational thought leave him. He punched the exorcist across the jaw, not satisfied. 

Shura was chanting and Rin stiffened as the familiar pain hit. Wave after wave of pain rang through his nerves and he snarled. Shura's hand fisted his hair and yanked him back as she finished off the spell. 

He fell on his back and tried to take stock of his surroundings as his vision began to fade. The exorcists were being held at gunpoint by Yukio, who stood over Ryuuji. Rin gave one last half hearted snarl before he gave into the persistent tug of unconsciousness. 

-- -- -- -- --

Read the rest of the story here:

[tonguetiedraven]

Prompt: Gehenna Raised Rin

Pairing: BonRin

Part: one, two, three, four

_______

“What were you doing with Suguro?"

That question was largely to blame. Rin had answered that he'd been trying to talk Ryuuji into going to Mephyland, and Yukio bit his lip in his nervous way. Then he'd told Rin he shouldn't be making friends here, and Rin had laughed. Yukio got surly, Rin got angry, and Yukio had said the stupid words.

It was almost like Yukio wanted Rin to ask Ryuuji out, because he had to know the best way to make sure he did ask Ryuuji out was to tell him not to. Rin had never listened when someone told him not to do something, and he didn’t see a reason to start listening now.

Ryuuji said no, unsurprisingly, but he did blush while he said it. His eyes shot to the ground all bashfully and everything.

“Why would you ask me out? You hardly know me,” Ryuuji added after a moment of silence.

Rin grinned and stepped closer so he was in Ryuuji’s space. “A date sounds like a great way to get to know ya better.” Ryuuji’s blush darkened as he got closer. “Besides, you’re cute.”

“Wha—” Ryuuji spluttered, immediately indignant, “am not!”

Rin’s chest flared warmly. He could feel flames gathering in his gut, but he firmly squashed them down. That was a big no-no here. Even if he thought it was stupid to hide them at his brother’s school, he knew it’d get him a permanent revoke on his visiting rights. He would absolutely sneak in for Yukio, but it’d suck and knock off pretty much anything but hiding in the dorm. Ryuuji would also probably be off limits.

“Cool then.”

Ryuuji’s eyes dropped to the concrete under their feet. “Th-thanks, but… it’s still a no.” His grip tightened around the strap of his bag over his chest. He was obviously uncomfortable, but Rin wasn’t sure if it was a nervous/excited kind of uncomfortable, or an unhappy/alarmed uncomfortable. 

“Where ya going?”

Ryuuji motioned towards the big building behind them. “I’ve got a study group? Uh…” he eyed Rin for a moment like he was trying to decide how to answer. The moment stretched out, Rin met the gaze head on, and Ryuuji leaned in, lowering his voice as he spoke. “Exorcist stuff.” 

“Can I come?” Yukio was still in his stupid first aid class, so Rin didn’t have anyone to hang out with until he was free. He could bother Samael, or Amaimon, but those both would be more annoying than anything else. 

“You’re not in the class? It’ll be boring?”

Rin spread his lips in a wide smile and hoped it didn’t show his fangs. “Demons? Boring? I don’t think so.”

Ryuuji’s eyes darted around them to make sure no one was listening. “Alright, but we’re studying.”

“Will there be food?”

“... no?”

Rin’s nose wrinkled. “How can ya study without food? How can ya concentrate when you’re hungry?”

“We eat before.”

Rin shook his head and looped his arm through Ryuuji’s to drag him towards the cafeteria. “You can’t study without snacks.”

Ryuuji stumbled after him for exactly three steps before digging his heels in and stopping. Rin could drag him alone, but it would look weird in the promenade for him to out muscle Ryuuji. “Okumura,” he slipped a little before righting himself. “I can’t afford to—” he cut himself off with a blush. “I’m not hungry. I just gotta—”

“My treat?”

Ryuuji extracted himself from Rin’s arm with a scowl. “I already said no to the date, man.”

“Date? Why is food a date?”

“I can buy my own food. I’m just not—”

Oh. The reason for it hit Rin upside the head abruptly as Ryuuji tried to step back and grabbed his bag again. His old bag. His clearly hand-me down bag. The same sort of bag Yukio had to opt for because Paladin’s didn’t make as much as they should, especially when they had to keep a decrepit monastery afloat. 

The cafeteria wasn’t exactly cheap. Rin didn’t know a lot about Ryuuji (yet) but he knew he was proud. Way too proud to let someone else pay for him. He probably wouldn’t even let Rin pay if they did go on a date. Not without a fight. That’d probably be fun. Fighting with Ryuuji made his blood rush and his flames flare in his chest. It was the best kind of rush.

But he didn’t want to fight over this. At least not here, and not when his invitation to the group was in jeopardy. He really didn’t want to hunt down one of his half-brothers and hang with them. 

“Then do ya mind if we stop by that deli? I wanna get some dinner since I got a few hours before Yukio’s free.” 

Ryuuji’s scowl softened. “Okay. But hurry? We’re gonna be late.”

Rin dragged him to the deli, got the beef bowl, grabbed a few bag of chips, and hid his smile when Ryuuji bought a meat bun and a bag of chips.

The study ‘group’ consisted of three other people. Two boys and a girl, none of which Rin knew. The girl was rude and immediately turned her nose when he came in, while the boys smiled politely and welcomed him.

It was instantly clear that Ryuuji knew the boys. He sat next to Rin to be polite (Rin’s tail wiggled happily in his shirt) and everything in Ryuuji relaxed as he started to talk to them.

Renzou Shima and Konekomaru Miwa. They called Ryuuji ‘Bon’ in an affectionate way, and they did it a lot.

It made Rin unhappy, and he didn’t know why. They were talking about magic circles and summoning techniques, and two of them smelled like demons. (The girl named Izumo Kamiki smelled like Azazel and fresh grains. Shima smelled older. Something powerful and absorbing.) and each use of ‘Bon’ made him grit his teeth. If he wasn’t here he’d be flickering with flames. 

The sour feeling eased a little when Ryuuji playful stole one of his chips. If he noticed Rin nudging the bag towards him after, he didn’t say anything. He just munched on the proffered chips and went into a long winded explanation of what the runes meant. 

It was boring material, but listening to Ryuuji’s voice made it almost interesting.

Rin munched on his dinner and listened to the endless information while the others interjected their own opinion. Ryuuji lit up with excitement each time they presented a new problem, and watching the cute teen try and puzzle it all out just made Rin certain of one thing.

He was going to get that date.