Chapter Text
It started with a laugh.
Gokudera was flipping through paperwork in the main room of the Vongola mansion when he heard it...that laugh. Yamamoto’s laugh. Bright, carefree, open like the damn sun cracking through storm clouds.
He didn’t even look up until he heard who Yamamoto was laughing with.
“Lal Mirch, huh?” he muttered, eyes narrowing. She was leaning in, showing Yamamoto something on a datapad, maybe a mission route. They were close. Too close. And Yamamoto was grinning, his hand brushing hers as he pointed at something.
Gokudera clenched his jaw.
It wasn’t rational. Lal was older, a total hardass, and about as emotionally open as Hibari on a bad day. But logic didn’t stand a chance against the twist in his gut.
Especially not when Yamamoto threw his head back, laughing again, all shoulder rolls and easy warmth. Gokudera knew that laugh. He lived for that laugh.
And now someone else was getting it.
He slammed the folder closed.
A few minutes later, Yamamoto walked back into the hall, towel slung over his neck, still grinning like sunshine in combat boots.
“Hey, Hayato—”
“Busy” Gokudera snapped without looking up.
Yamamoto blinked. “You just finished the—”
“I said I’m busy, baseball idiot.”
That made Yamamoto pause. He crossed his arms, leaning against the wall. “Did I… do something?”
Gokudera finally looked up. His eyes were storm-colored, and clearly pissed.
“Didn’t know you and Lal were best fucking friends now.”
Yamamoto blinked. Then smiled. “You’re jealous.”
“I’m not jealous” Gokudera said immediately, which was absolutely what jealous people say.
Yamamoto stepped forward, cocking his head. “You’re glaring. Clenching your fists. And your eyebrow’s doing that twitchy thing.”
“It’s because you’re loud and annoying and—stop smiling!”
Yamamoto stopped. But his eyes softened.
“Hayato… I was just laughing. She made a joke about Squalo’s hair catching fire during training. It wasn’t flirting.”
Gokudera looked away. “Tch.”
Then Yamamoto was in front of him, hand on his chin, forcing their eyes to meet.
“I only flirt with you” he said, voice low.
“I wasn’t—” Gokudera started, but Yamamoto cut him off with a kiss. Slow. Deep. Right there in the middle of the hallway.
When they broke apart, Gokudera was breathing hard, cheeks flushed. “You can’t just kiss me every time you do something annoying.”
Yamamoto grinned. “I absolutely can.”
Gokudera smacked him. Lightly. “Next time I catch you grinning at her like that, I’m blowing up your damn swords.”
“You’re cute when you’re territorial.”
“And you’re dead.”
But Yamamoto was already pulling him close again.