Puppy (Haruji SFW Fluff fic)
(Soft Boy Ryuji and Delinquent Haru AU, blame @banmitbandit they held me at gunpoint to write this)
Ryuji winces as a wet cloth is pressed against his bleeding cheek. “Hold still.” Says the copper haired girl standing in front of him, a scowl on her face and a bruise slowly forming on her left cheek.
Ryuji was never sure how his life came to this. He was simply doing what he always did at Shujin, attempting to lay low after the Kamoshida incident and trying to keep attention off him. Of course that didn’t work out well.
Not only did the blond gain the attention of many students who either viewed themselves as better then Ryuji, or simply wanted to take down the “Track Traitor”, but he also got the attention of the biggest, baddest delinquent in the entire school.
Around her father, the CEO of Okumura Foods, and the teachers, she was the kindest soul. A smile on her face, a soft exterior, and all in all a total good girl. But as soon as they were gone, the mask came off. Instead, the real Haru was a tough, repressed rich girl who wanted to live a little and throw rules out of her life.
She would wander the halls, intimidating anyone who looked at her funny. Her scowl was nothing to be messed with, and once she was locked onto you, you had no choice but to take what she gave you.
That’s why Ryuji was so utterly terrified when she suddenly appears on the rooftop where three ex-track students were waiting for him. She made them flee with a promise of a proper beating before her attention was turned to Ryuji.
He was an absolute mess in front of the girl who wore pitch black gloves and a long pink sweater, along with her school uniform skirt. He was stuttering, begging, and pleading for her not to hurt him. That he could give her whatever she wanted on his person.
He only stopped when he felt a leather hand press onto his head and a soft voice that said something Ryuji will never forget.
“From now on, you’re my property.”
From then on, Ryuji became Haru’s “pet puppy” as she put it. He would trail next to her between classes and she would walk him to and from school. She was his shield, ready to protect him at all costs. Anytime he tried to ask why she wanted to do this, he was always met with the same answer.
A pat on the cheek and that same soft voice. “Puppies don’t ask stupid questions.” Followed by that gentle smile that Ryuji grew to love.
Ryuji was brought out of memory lane as he lets out a quick “Owch!” as a stinging sensation throbs through his cheek. Haru has started cleaning his wound better. “Shush you big baby. It needs to be cleaned or it’ll get infected.” She says as she finally pulls the cloth away and pulls out a box of bandages from her bag. Ryuji grows a little excited at the color she pulls out. Light pink. Haru’s favorite color.
Haru’s started giving Ryuji gifts recently. A little bracelet here, a small trinket there, but they were all pink. When Ryuji wore one of them, not only would Haru get extremely happy, but the other students would leave him alone. Perhaps it’s Haru marking her territory. After all, almost everything she owns is pink.
She presses the bandage to his cheek and pats it gently. “All cleaned. Anywhere else I need to check?” She asks, looking the pastel boy over. Truth be told, they were simply on a walk through the park, talking and just having a friendly hangout. Haru went to go grab some drinks from the vending machine, after an almost five minute argument on why Ryuji should pay for his drink ultimately to be defeated by Haru just walking away and leaving him on his own, and that’s when his track team partners arrived to give him a beatdown.
Haru showed up just in time, like she always does, and scared them off, but not without them getting a couple hits off. Most landed onto Haru, but Ryuji was shoved and ended up falling into a bush, which caused him to cut his cheek. It stung, but it wasn’t bleeding profusely anymore, so Ryuji calls that a win.
With a shake of his head, the blond stands up, being almost a foot taller then the delinquent. “I’m more worried about you.” He says, checking her over. Haru’s arms are crossed over her chest as she stands in her regular positon. She looks strong, especially in her outfit she chose. A long pleated black skirt, three inch platform sneakers, also in black, and a long pink tank top that just said “Fuck Off” on the front. Her hands were wrapped in boxing tape and her eyes screamed “I will throw you off a cliff.” but Ryuji sees right past that.
Haru scoffs at the blonds worry and shoves him slightly, giving him a cheeky grin. “Don’t worry about me Ryu-kun.” She says, grinning wider as Ryuji goes red from the nickname. “I’m a big girl. A couple of bruises and scratches won’t bother me.” She says with a shrug. It’s true, Haru simply wiped the droplets of blood from the scratches on her arms, wiped her face down with some cold water to stop the swelling of the bruise on her cheek and patted it down with some foundation. She looked completely normal, but Ryuji could tell.
“You don’t need to be tough around me, you know.” He says as they walk out of the bathroom, Haru’s bag slung over his shoulder. He always insisted on holding it when they’re in public. “A gentleman should always carry a ladies belongings.” He would say as he did it while ignoring Haru’s complaints. In the end, Haru just began tossing her bag to Ryuji before they left. Haru scoffs at the comment. “I’m not, Ryu-kun. I’m just protecting you. After all,” She gives Ryuji a sly grin. “,You are my puppy. I need to keep you safe.” She laughs as Ryuji’s faces goes red, looking away from the poodle haired girl.
He turns back towards the girl and stops, arms crossed over his chest. “I’m serious.” Haru stops and looks over at him, pacing back to stand in front of him and hold her arms at her side. Ryuji knows this stance. Haru’s viewing this as a challenge. “And i’m serious too.” She says, hands moving to rest on her hips. “You’re my puppy and I keep my puppies safe.” Ryuji bites his lip at the explanation, looking away as he grasps at his arm.
“Is that…all I am to you? A dog?” Haru blinks as Ryuji goes quiet, the question making a light switch flick on in her mind. Haru sighs as she leads Ryuji over to a bench and sits down, motioning him to do the same. He does, looking at Haru as he waits for what she wants to say.
Haru sighs slowly before she begins. “You’re my puppy because you’re compassionate, loyal, stupidly reckless, and empathetic. I call you that because I recognize all those facets about you, and want you to know them. I didn’t realize how much of an issue you’d have with it but perhaps I should’ve. I’m sorry if it bothered you that much.” She says, holding a hand up to stop Ryuji from speaking as she continues. “You’re not just some dog I keep around for good looks. You’re not just a stepping stone I need to elevate myself higher in the world. You…you’re my friend. My first, and only, friend. I didn’t want to ruin that.”
Ryuji stares at Haru, eyes slowly blinking as he watches Haru stare at the sidewalk underneath her feet, arms at her sides. Ryuji reaches down at grasps her hand, making the copper haired delinquent look over at him. “Well…then i’m happy to be your puppy.” He says with a smile, finally glad he has an explanation, a reason, to put to the name. “I’ll be loyal to you until the end of time. I promise.”
Haru’s face slowly goes pink as she coughs into her fist, standing up quickly and yanking her hand away. “W-whatever. Lets just…go grab ice cream or somethin’.” She mutters as she beings to walk away, Ryuji following quickly behind. “I’ll pay! You bought me a drink, it’s only fair.”
“Yeah. I guess you’re right.”
Haru doesn’t even blink as Ryuji wraps his fingers around her hand, intertwining them with hers as they walk.
