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2019-10-25
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Where Giyuu gets to hold Shinobu's hand

Summary:

IM REALLY LATE FOR GIYUSHINO WEEK OH NO OH CRAP

Day 6: Alternate Universe or Touch
Or, in this case, where I do both

Notes:

(See the end of the work for notes.)

Work Text:

Today too, the pit of anger that was ever-building in the pits of Shinobu’s stomach flared up with vehement rage once more.

 

She’d just completed a mission— one with details and occurrences so eerily similar to the ones she had become so hauntingly familiar with as a child. Huddling in the corner of her own house, shivering in fear and hold Kanae tight, trying to hold back the tears. In her mind, vivid images of their parents, caked in blood. And then, the sounds of the demon right outside the closet gorging himself on her parents, and the horror of knowing full well it was her turn next.

 

No one should ever have to face something like that, but Shinobu and Kanae did.

 

Those kids did, too.

 

She’d been too late, too foolish, and now they were like what she once was— lost, fearful, and grieving. Though those kids had found relatives that would care for them, it would never change the trauma and horrors of this single gruesome experience.

 

The injustice of it all made her hands shake with rage, and she grit her teeth to the point where it made a sound loud enough to be heard by her partner.

 

Giyuu glanced over, clueless though thoughtful.

 

Shinobu barely noticed it through her scowl and rage, at least not until he reached for her hand.

 

Startled, the female demon slayer ripped her hand away from her fellow coworker. Her scowl deepened, anger and irritation clouding over her delicate features. 

 

“What was that for?”

 

Giyuu paused. After a tentative moment, he offered a slight smile, as if to appease her.

 

“I asked you a question, so it’s only right that you answer me,” she scoffed, letting her arm drop to her side again. There was no point talking to this man. He would only answer in questionable smiles and even more confusing gestures, only actually speaking on his own whims— trying to hold a conversation with him only infuriated Shinobu further. She had absolutely no idea why she had to be partnered with him, of all people. 

 

Deep breaths, Shinobu, deep breaths.

 

She needed to calm herself. Harbouring all this anger would do nothing but keep her in a foul mood. It was all over, and there was nothing she could do about the situation regarding those children she had saved. Instead, she should be focusing on the next time, so this wouldn’t happen again. Furthermore—

 

“—hands were shaking. You looked cold.”

 

“Huh?”

 

Giyuu reached for Shinobu’s hand again, and smiled softly. This time, she didn’t pull away. 

 

Still, she protested. “There’s no need for that. I’m fine.”

 

“Cold.”

 

Shinobu opened her mouth to reason with her stubborn partner, but the softness in his face and the quiet, observant look in his eyes made her shut her mouth hesitantly. A few moments of silence passed.

 

“Fine,” Shinobu relented, muttering soft, but loud enough for only Giyuu’s ears. “You... can hold onto my hand, but only for a bit.”

 

The way his face brightened up was undeniably endearing. His cheeks flushed a little with happy colour and his smile widened into a grin, quiet but rejoicing, and his eyes, so blue like the ocean, lightened hopefully.

 

Shinobu fought back the twitch in the corner of her mouth and pulled her face taut into an expression of displeasure. Her delicate lips made a thin line across her face, and she held her eyebrows furrowed grumpily. “Happy now?”

 

His reply came in a slow nod. Giyuu squeezed her one hand, fingers laced between hers, and smiled contently.

 

Shinobu would never verbalise it, but something in the way he touched her managed to quell her anger so quickly. 

 

His touch was tender and sweet, and all too much like Kanae’s gentle brush over Shinobu’s skin when she was checking for injuries, yet so akin to something more than friends, than acquaintances, but not quite lovers and still yearning for something deeper. All of it, and coupled with his foolish, stupid, adorable smile, gave her goosebumps and a thrumming in her heart that Shinobu tried her best to ignore.

 

Her fury melted away and so did her resolve, so Shinobu simply let him hold her hand in his, knowing full well that this skinship extended past simply warming her hand. He’d been concerned. Concerned for her and her emotional turmoil.

 

Turning her face away from him, Shinobu went through a long string of vulgarities in her head. Oh, this stupid man. Shinobu could never hold onto her anger around him, she was quickly learning. 

 

She huffed, then pressed her free hand against her cheek facing him to cover her face, so Giyuu would not see the small, minuscule smile present on her face.

Notes:

I feel like Shinobu talks less in this AU but instead she overthinks and gets angry over her own thoughts
Meanwhile Giyuu comforts her in his own quiet, way-more-smiley-than-in-canon manner :))