Hidden Meanings

WINTER SPECIAL: [Zyibalt]

"I'm freezing," Cobalt complained, wrapping her arms around her knees to keep her body warmth in.

"Of course you're cold," Zyicho retorted, his eyes flashing. "Dumbass. It's below freezing."

"Then why the hell are we waiting outside?"

"I don't know, why are we?"

The girl huffed, her breath coming out in smoky tendrils as she cupped one hand over her mouth. "Waiting for Kishikol but you insisted we do it outside."

"Man up."

His words caused Cobalt to whack him upside the head, clenching her jaw. One hand rested on the layers where her kunai resided, in case the silver-haired teenager responded in a violent way.

Zyicho merely shook the flakes of snow out of his hair, paying no attention to the fact she just hit him.

"Also Rio refuses to let us in the house, fussing about something she's planning for Christmas."

Cobalt released a sigh, rubbing absently at her cheek as she attempted to make the blood flow. "I'm still cold."

Zyicho shot daggers at her (glare-wise), his eye twitching. "Will you just please shut up about that? I'm getting a headache from you whining about it twice."

She opened her mouth to reply, but a redhead trotted across the snow, kicking it up behind her.

"I'm here, Zyicho-san, Cobalt-san," Kishiko said, wrapping her scarf tighter around her neck. "I do believe Author-san said we may come in once all three of us are present. And I think Cobalt-san would jump to warmth."

"How long have you been listening?"

She cocked her head, her lips curving upwards in that small smile of hers. "Long enough," she responded, then tapped the digital camera she wore around her neck, barely covered by her coat. "Author-san asked me to take some pictures of you two together when you're not at each others' throats."

"Good luck with that," Zyicho muttered, running a hand through his shoulder-length hair.

Kishiko shot him a look, but went on. "She plans on sending a collage to two of her friends...Dobbie-san and Zoe-san, I believe..."

Cobalt let out a small squeak of anger. "I'm going to kill that Dobbie author," she seethed. "Revenge for several..."

Kishiko paid no attention to her rambling friend, offering a thin smile at Zyicho. "I assume you know of them?"

"Yeah, I do."

"Execellent. You'll oblige, then?" The redhead beamed, her light green eyes brightening.

"We never said that!" Both protested, but Kishiko waved it off.

OoO

Zyicho set down the last of the boxes, staring at Rio, who occupied the couch. "Anything else you want me to retrieve, your Highness?" He asked, sarcasm thickly laced in his words.

The said author looked up from her fanfiction- a 'Kuzupeko' she had called it- and narrowed her eyes. "I think that's it except for one last box up in my playroom," she replied with a grin. "It's pretty heavy, so..take Cobalt, will you?"

"Fine,"the black-haired girl relented, picking herself up from off the couch. "Come on, Rixen. Let's move."

Zyicho ran up the stairs, taking it by two. "Rio," he called, glancing around. "I don't see any box."

"It's in the corner! Under my piano!"

There was muffled thumps as Cobalt joined Zyicho, who was checking under the author's piano.

"Don't see it," he grumbled, but kept looking.

Rio, who had joined Kishiko at the top of the stairs but not in the room, giggled. "That's because there is no box, silly~!"

Zyicho's golden eyes flicked upwards as he guessed what was going on.

"....dammit." both said in unision.

There, hanging from Rio's fan that was above her pingpong table, was a couple strands of mistletoe.

"Have fun," the brunette smiled wickedly, and gave Kishiko a nudge as the redhead prepared her camera.

"Dear god," Cobalt hissed. "Would these shippers give up already?"

"Appears not any time soon," Zyicho sighed, taking a long stride towards her.

As he cupped her face and tilted it, Cobalt felt her cheeks burning against his cold fingers. Goddammit, Cobalt! Stupid...normal...reaction to any guy that's gonna kiss you!

As if she could guess what the assassin was thinking, Rio's expression was sly at the sight of Cobalt's face.

"I don't have any romantic feelings for you," Zyicho whispered, his voice low enough so Cobalt could only hear it. "This is all Rio's fault."

She nodded. "And I'm only blushing because that's a normal reaction," she muttered. "Damn author."

"Sure."

A/N~

And I leave the rest to you, Ky-chan, Sarah!