Title: Nothing Better To Do
Series: .Hack
Rating: T
Genres: Fluff, humor.
Warnings: Swearing, slight violence, Haseo being Haseo and Kuhn being Kuhn. Shounen-ai. Annnd that's all I can think of...

Note: And once again, for my friend Jamie who was depressed and feeling bad. (I really, really am masochistic for writing all of this KuhnxHaseoness)

"And...why are we here again?"

Haseo had to ask this--for the tenth time this entire time they were wandering this rediculously huge dungeon, that happened to be four levels higher than they were--to his fighting companion.

Said companion, turned his head, blue ponytail swaying behind him as he did and gave the Rogue his typical grin and a wink.

"Because there's nothing better to do. Besides, you know you'd be even more bored if we just hung around Town, right? I'm sure you didn't want Zelkova bothering you in Tartarga, did you?"

At this, Haseo's pale visage seemed to whiten even more. Or, it could've been the light, since it was kinda dim and everything seemed a blue-ish tented in the caverns, so Kuhn couldn't tell too much.

"...Nothing better to do, huh..." The other echoed for a moment, crossing his arms as his expression shifted to a contemplative one. His stance was typical--arms crossed, one hip jutted out--the Steam Gunner idly wondered if there was a time he'd ever saw Haseo stand any other way than that.

"...Hope you brought enough Healing items. LOL." The silver haired PC smirked, before brushing past the other--who immediately followed after him, more out of habit than actual thought--because the response, no matter how typical or expected, always seemed to catch him off guard.

Kuhn didn't complain to having the lead taken by the other, not at all. He knew for a fact Haseo had issues following people, anyway. And personally--he got a much better view following than he did leading.

He'd never really realized it, but Haseo strode with a rhythmic sway of his hips. It was rather femininesque, and Kuhn really did wonder if the Rogue did it on purpose so people would call him on it and he could PK them, or if he just did it subconsciously.

There were times he did want to point it out--but he really didn't want to be on the receiving end of whatever pointed object the other had at his disposal, be it a Twin Sword, Broadsword, or Scythe. Or his Dual-Guns. Each one was painful.

How did he know?

Well...

Haseo dealt the last finishing blow to the creature and it disappeared in that weird whispy way.

Kuhn's brow rose at him.

"Are you aware of how feminine you look when you do that thing with your scythe?"

He'd actually meant the question, he wasn't trying to make fun of the other--

"...You're saying I look feminine?" He didn't notice the narrowing of the other's crimson eyes.

"Well, I just meant that when you do your Reaper's Dance that the way you twist and stuff makes you seem rather feminine because you look so acrobatic and agile."

If only he hadn't've opened his mouth...

SSSLLISHHHH

His PC fell to the ground of the field they were in and turned grey, and Tomonari, Kasumi's screen flashed with the message: "Game Over. Your Player Character has been Killed."

His head promptly met the keyboard.

"Ne, you look like you're dancing when you use your Twin Blades."

He grinned widely at his companion as the 'Area battle' dropped.

The other snorted, not replying to the remark.

"Have you ever tried to become one? You'd probably be real popular with the ladies. :D Though, you do kind of look a bit effeminate when you do that spin thing..."

SHHNITCH

"He-hey! Come on, I didn't mean it tha--"

His screen went blank and the words 'Game Over' flickered.

Haseo finished off the remaining monster with a powerful swing of his broadsword, before sighing as he reholstered it and it disappeared from sight as the battle area dropped.

Kuhn grinned widely. "That was awesome. You took it out like it was nothing and we're in a dungeon that's six levels higher than us!"

"I just knew it's Elemental weakness, that's all."

The other shrugged carelessly as they began moving down the hallway of the long and twisty temple.

"Yeah, but you sure know how to use that sword. I mean, you look like you can hardly even swing it when you first look. When I first saw you fight with it, I wondered: 'How could a short, skinny thing like that swing one of those?' LOL."

The other stopped and was giving him a blank look. Really, he should've noticed it then--

"Because, seriously, your PC looks kinda on the skinny side. People underestimate you and stuff, and I guess that's a good thing, but you really look small when you wield it."

"Small, huh..."

He gave them a weird look. "What's with that voice?"

The Rogue suddenly summoned the large blade to his hands. Kuhn gulped and started to back up.

"Ha-Haseo, come on! I didn't mean it like that at a--"

CHINKKKKK-CRSHHHH

Kasumi felt like crying as he stared at the words "Game Over" on his M2D.

"I'm actually kind of jealous now that you can use Guns."

The Rogue rolled his eyes at him.

"Why? Because you can't show off anymore?"

The other PC pouted in the slightest.

"Exactly! A man's got to have his pride, you know. Here you get three weapons already and all you really needed was a gunner, blade brandier, or lord partizan to complete the set! Because you can use Magic and stuff, just not as well as the regular Mage-classes, and now you can use Guns! It's not fair. Where's that leave me?"

The other snorted.

"It's not like I can use Steam Gunner techniques. All I can do is Justice. Because, let's face the facts: I'm using an illegal, modified PC now with an illegal weapon and illegal skill because of Zelkova editing me to resync with Skeith. I shouldn't even be able to use Guns at all."

"Yeah, but the point is, you can actually shoot faster than I can. AND move while doing it. And dash, and--"

"Alright, alright. I get the point."

They continued walking, heading towards the Beast Temple now that they'd collected all the symbols. It was all nice and quiet until--

"Hey...did you know the plate armor on you makes your ass look big? They also flop a bit when you walk."

Click. Click.

Oh, shit. He really needed to start thinking before he talked.

Once again, his screen went blank and Kasumi sighed heavily.

C'est la vie.

So, all in all, Kuhn had quite a past with being PK'd by the other for speaking without thinking. Still, some part of him found it all extremely worth it. So, anyway, back to his thought process--which happened to just be him admiring the view. Though Kuhn claimed everlasting devotion to all the women of the world--yes, he actually did this, and Haseo, Silabus, and a few other people were there to witness it--he didn't mind admiring the other side of the fence.

He was comfortable with himself, and his sexuality (which, to most, was actually still in question) enough that he could see the sexual appeal in either side and could appreciate beauty and sexiness when he saw it. Not that he'd ever admit outloud that Haseo looked sexy--Aura, that would be like asking to be PK'd not just once, but several thousand times--because, let's face it: One, Haseo, he was pretty sure of, was either straight or totally gay with Endrance so he probably wouldn't want to hear it from him. Two, he would probably take it the wrong way like he did with everything else. Or Three, he would probably end up blocking him for the rest of his days on The World.

None of those seemed appealing, so he kept his mouth shut. Still, at least he could look, and that was perfectly fine. He didn't even need to worry about it during battle. It was illegal, to program 'bots' in the system, but what CC Corp didn't know, didn't hurt them~ He had his system set up that he didn't have to fight entirely on his own by selecting every command. He made a program set that could do it for him, which he generally let it do, and only turned it off if it were a boss fight or a really hard one that the PC itself couldn't handle.

So, that left him so he could still admire Haseo, even when fighting. It was an even better show, he found, to watch when fighting. Because it was really thrilling to see the other get into his fights, but also because of how the other twisted and moved, constantly changing weapons and things to get the advantage.

"--ill?"

He blinked, realizing that he'd been spacing out.

"Huh? Sorry, I was thinking. What'd you ask?"

The other gave him a look--he couldn't entirely read it, but the other replied to the query.

"I asked if you still had those Fairy Orbs on you that I gave you the last time. I just used my last one for this floor."

The others gloved fingers were drumming along his arm from where they were crossed and he could see the annoyance in their expression.

"Uh, hang on, let me check."

He pulled up his inventory file and checked through it.

"I've got three left, since we used the majority of them the last time in those dungeons."

The frown on the others face deepened for a moment before sighing. "Then let's hope this dungeon isn't too much longer. I hate wandering around aimlessly without a full map."

Kuhn scratched the back of his head.

"Want to call it quits, then? We can come back when we've restocked our items."

The other shook his head fiercely.

"No. I want to finish it. Even if we may have to wander."

The Steam Gunner smiled at the words, knowing how stubborn the other was and how unwilling to give up. He idly recalled the tale Atoli told him about how when She, Haseo, and Endrance faced the Campaign event of The One Death and it's second-part that even when Atoli and Endrance had gotten PK'd and they'd run out of healing, recovery and revive items that Haseo still wouldn't call it quits and managed to beat the thing even without the help of the other two by sheer determination.

The other stared at him. "Why are you smiling like that for?"

Kuhn smile turned to his usual grin and he shrugged.

"Oh, just because. It's your stubbornness and refusal to give up that I love about you."

There was silence.

Kuhn blinked slowly, wondering what he'd said wrong before he actually thought about what he said.

Oh, shit.

"Er, don't take that wrong, okay? I really don't want to be PK'd again. I just meant that--"

"You...love me?"

The other was staring, with a puzzled, confused expression. He also looked to be in disbelief.

Kuhn scratched the back of his head again. Dammit, why did he always get himself into things like this? He sighed and tried his best to answer.

"Well, yeah. You're always pushing forward, you never give up, you put up with a hell of a lot from us and still decide to hang around, even though you once said you didn't want friends, and you just... There's a lot of things I love about you. You're someone special and I'm glad to have met you and got to be your friend."

The Rogue's expression changed and his eyes flickered--but Kuhn wasn't fast enough to process it before the other turned again, though there was a faint tug at the others lips, but Kuhn could also see the shadows that fell over his eyes even when he did so.

Had he said the wrong thing?

"Thanks,"

Haseo's voice was strangely soft and quiet when he said it, and Kuhn blinked again, still wondering if he'd said something wrong.

Or maybe...he didn't say the right thing?

He didn't want to think of it that way, but he could never tell things like that with Haseo--what he expected to hear, or wanted to hear or be told. Hell, he didn't even know if he was interested in anyone romantically and didn't want to be foolishly deluding himself by thinking that was what he meant.

"Haseo?"

The other glanced back at him again silently.

"...Did I say something wrong?"

He really needed to know. He didn't know why he did, but something screamed inside of him to know; because, for once, he did want to say the right thing. Haseo was always saying the right things to him, whenever he was doubting himself, or even when he didn't think things were real bad.

The others lips turned a little higher. "No. You didn't."

Kuhn stared, tilting his head slightly. "Then...why do you look so bittersweet?"

The other sighed, turning towards him.

"I'm just kind of...envious, I guess. You can throw words like that around so easily, without even thinking about it, and have what you mean get across. I... I can't do that. Talking has always seemed useless to me... It's so hard for me to find the right things to say."

Kuhn finally understood it, the reasons, and it also explained many other things that had been unspoken before.

"You always manage to say the right thing in the end, though," He pointed out softly. "So it's okay. You don't have to always be talking like I am, or anyone else. We understand you without it. That's one of the other things I like about you. You don't have to speak, but I still understand."

Haseo's expression looked taken aback, unexpecting the others words. He blinked several times to process it all, but he couldn't think of anything to say in return. He wanted to, though. He wanted to say something, to express it vocally, if only once, but truth be told, he was socially awkward and never did know how to respond to many things.

"I..."

A gentle smile came to the Gunner's face as he stepped over and put his hand on the Rogue's arm in reassurance.

"Give it time," He said sagely. "One day you'll be able to say things without hesitating. For now, I know what you mean without words."

They stared for a long moment, as the other tried his best to convey it all before he turned and stepped away.

"...Let's go," He murmured in his usual voice. But Kuhn could hear the slightest change in the tone. He couldn't pin it down, though, as to what it was. It had the slightest vulnerability in it.

They didn't speak the rest of the way through the dungeon, other than to thank one another for getting healed when they took too much damage, even then, that could hardly be considered talking.

They finally approached the Beast Statue after beating all of the monsters and, undoubtedly, looting all the treasure chests. Haseo kicked the box in his usual fashion, watching as the circlets spun around from the statue before it disappeared as the Item was revealed to him.

Kuhn didn't get to see what it was before the other turned. "Let's go back,"

Nodding, they stepped over to the Platform and transported back to Town.

When they warped back into Tartarga, Haseo turned to him. "I need to go to the Home,"

The Steam Gunner nodded. "Right, then. I'll be around, restocking on items again."

Giving a nod, the Rogue went through the doors and headed towards Canard's Home. Kuhn smiled again as he watched Gaspard at the Guild Shop with Silabus standing there next to him, chatting and laughing. He was really glad to see that Canard had flourished under Haseo's leadership and to see how happy Silabus and Gaspard were, and was glad to have been able to make The World safe again for the two to have fun.

He went around visiting the highly odd, illegally modified PC's and traded with them, bought items at the Kiosik's while he waited. His inventory was nearly maxed out, anyway. And if only he'd had enough to trade for that one item... Because, he wasn't about to give up his good stuff for it, because that was stupid and such a rip-off.

Finally, for what seemed to be to the Gunner, an eternity, did the Rogue finally return. He pushed off the wall he was leaning against and grinned. "Ready?"

He hoped they'd go to a slightly easier (and smaller scaled) level. However, a few moments later he saw the small frown on the other's face.

"...What's wrong, Haseo?"

The other sighed.

"I've got to go... I just got a call from work." The other's expression was an annoyed one.

Kuhn nodded sympathetically. "Alright, then. Later?"

The Rogue nodded slowly before giving the slightest of smiles.

He turned to leave, but a hand on his arm stopped him.

"Kuhn,"

The Gunner glanced back; there was that slightly off-tone again.

"Yeah?"

The silver haired male hesitated, as if struggling with himself before he finally let out a frustrated sigh. The blunette turned towards him again, patiently waiting. He knew, when Haseo got frustrated at himself, it was usually because he wanted to say something, and couldn't.

It was a few long moments later before Haseo finally moved forward. This normally wouldn't have bothered, or disturbed Kuhn had it been anyone else probably, but the fact that it was Haseo that was standing nearly mere inches from him, staring up at him with an unreadable expression, was enough to slightly creep him out.

"Haseo?"

There was another long pause.

Kuhn, unnerved, and unsure, started to step back.

Haseo's hand shot up and grabbed his arm in a grip to keep him from moving. Eyes widening, he went to say something, but the other beat him to it.

"...Thanks. For...everything."

It was over in a moment, but the other had leaned in enough that when he spoke the words, his lips ghosted over the Gunner's in a pseudo-kiss before he stepped away and all but shoved something into his hands before logging out, and the last visage of the Rogue the blunette saw was the heavy blush the marred their tribal-marked cheeks.

Blinking once, twice, and a third time to confirm to himself that this all actually happened and he'd not drifted off at the computer, he looked down to the item the other all but shoved at him.

His mouth parted into an 'o' of speechlessness.

It was exactly the item he'd tried to trade for. It was the highest accessory stat booster available for his level, only customized to +5. Along it, there was an engraving.

'For all the things I can't say that you understand... Thanks. -Haseo.'

"Haseo..." The Gunner murmured, replacing the old accessory with it and putting the abilities from the old, into it.

A moment or so later, Silabus came over with Gaspard.

"What's with that look?" The small beast-tribe member asked.

Silabus noticed the new accessory and smiled widely.

"So that's who Haseo was making it for."

Kuhn blinked. "Huh?"

The Brandier smiled brightly. "Well, when we went adventuring with Haseo last time, he was hell-bent on finding more of that item and when we asked why he said he wanted to make it for someone. :)"

Gaspard nodded enthusiastically. "Yeah! When he passed us, he looked extremely happy and when we asked, he said he had all that he needed to make it a +5."

The blunette stared at them both, before he smiled again. "Yeah?"

Both nodded.

The Gunner stared at the new accessory for a long moment, before getting another grin on. "I guess this means I'm his new favorite. Hate to break it to you," He said with a teasing laugh.

Truth was, he didn't quite know what to make of it, but the feeling it gave him was more than enough for him. He wasn't going to dwell on the why's, it wasn't his thing.

To think... It started with having nothing better to do.

Owari

DHC: There's something about this that bugs me (besides the obvious) and I can't put my finger on it... Oh, well. Hope the rest of you enjoy it!