What would happen? (Ryuuji x Taiga Oneshot)

What would happen?

This is dedicated to a friend I've known for most my life, one that helped introduce me to anime and Toradora in particular. I'm not even sure you read fan fictions all that often, and I know we haven't done that much role play, but please take this as compensation. I hope you enjoy reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. And to all readers, thank you for taking time to experience a little piece of my ideas.

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How did he end up holding the fabricated head of a bear in his arms, his nose already frost bitten while his hair was sweating and sticking to his forehead, as well as straight up into the air? He stood there staring at Taiga's front door, somehow unable to make the first step down the street. Something about how suddenly she pushed him out made it feel wrong to leave. How she was all by herself...it left an unsettling feeling in the pit of his stomach, and this made his heels root to the ground, despite it being concrete and the fact that he was wearing giant clown-like bear feet. And all just to make her smile...

The door swung open and startled him, enough to lift his foot automatically and take a cautious step back. This contrasted with the way his head leaned in, seeing the glimmer on her cheeks.

"Ryu-!" She stopped mid dash as well as mid exclaim, Ryuuji's eyes as wide as they were dark, scary orbs that made most look off to the side, or the extreme reaction where they hand over their wallets and flee down the street. All he had to do is stand there and it'd be labeled as menacing, cursing the only picture he had of his farther for inheriting these features. Taiga was his only exception to this curse. Upon meeting her, she stood up to him, even punching him to get the point across. He'd laugh at the memory, but not now, not with her like this. The memory wasn't as heart fluttering as when he got to see her with her walls down, though. When he spun her around the room and it was filled with her giggle, something new and sweet to his ears. But that was nearly twenty minutes ago, and now there was tension between them, both still and unsure. It made the flutter turn into a pound inside his chest, enough to make it ache.

If she would accept him, would smile just because he's there, the most he could do is stay. "Taiga...?" 

Was that good enough of an invitation in? Well, saying her name made his breath visible in the air, reminding himself how chilly it was outside but also how he was practically cooking inside this costume, deciding he'd tell her he was dizzy if she asked why he's letting himself in. Not otherwise would he mention it, because he had no room to complain when something was certainly wrong with her.

"...Ryuuji.." She sways on her toes, hands clasped in front of her as her head stayed down and thick orange-ish hair hung down in front of her face. He was quite fond of the way she said his name, since usually the 'R' sounded like and 'D', and something about the simplicity, just a little quirk...that's what made him smile. "..I..have your scarf.." She curls her toes, which only reminds him that shes barefoot, as well as in a strapless dress, being as unforceful as possible as he pushes her inside the lobby of her complex. He would've asked if she were crazy, jokingly, if she had not looked and continued to look so jarred and upset.

Maybe she was using the scarf as a ruse or a symbol; that this was an excuse just like his own plan to inform her of how unbalanced he felt. But no matter the circumstance, he was going to take the bait. Not the scarf, of course, but the opportunity.

He follows her in, his mind feeling a bit out of sorts from tonight. How Taiga left the dance and hand't even told him, that she would actually sing in front of their classmates with Ami, how she had shoved him out of the house minutes ago and but was now suddenly taking some of the cloth from his suit, gripping it, and pulling him along. He falls into step behind her, and when they walk inside its eerily quiet, reminding him of why he had taken her in (partially). Ryuuji was a loner, but at least he had his mom. Taiga, on the other hand, was stuck with an unreliable father, in an apartment, alone, with no ability to cook or clean and nobody to guide her. Someone like Taiga, whatever that even means, should not be by themselves. Ryuuji did not know how to ask but he didn't want to leave her side- didn't want to leave her for Christmas Eve.