I Still Hate You
Author: Aki
Focus: Osric/Oroka
Rating: PG-13
Warnings: Swearing



Maron City was oddly cold that day. The snow was falling in huge flakes and, unfortunately, Oroka was caught in it. And she, being the little angsty goth baby that she was, refused to wear a coat that day, or any day for that matter. So, she sat on a bench, grumbling, and waiting for a city bus to come and take her home.

"You cold?" Oroka heard a familiar voice behind her. Hovering over her, like he always was, stood a childhood "friend" if you could call him that: Osric. He was wearing a coat, she noticed, even though he, like her, almost never wore one.

"No."

"You look it." Osric kicked his leg over the bench and sat down next to her.

Oroka snorted, "Of course I'm not cold."

"Are you sure you don't need, say..." He batted his eyelashes, "a nice hug?"

Oroka glared at him out of the corners of her eyes, and crossed her arms, trying to keep warm.

"Hmm? No answer? Then I shall take that as a yes." Osric leaned over and gave her a big, if not obnoxious, hug.

She pushed him, without much effect, "Get off of me!"

"Orca, you know you're enjoying this." He grinned evilly.

"Ozzy, leave me alone!" Oroka said, finally pulling out of his grip and squirming to the other side of the bench.

Slightly irritated at hearing the nickname he hated, he was happy to oblige her command. The two of them sat on opposite ends of the bench, avoiding looking at each other. Oroka hoping boiling in her hate for Osric would help her warm up. It didn't. She rubbed her palms together and shivered. Oroka glared at her knees to pass the time. So she didn't notice until it was too late...

"SNOW TACKLE!" Osric yelled and dived at her, the both of them falling into a pile of snow on the ground.

Oroka was pissed beyond reason.

"Oh god, Orca. You should have seen your face. Your eyes, they just bulged out like crazy! Oh god... oh god..." Osric curled up, screaming with laughter.

"Ozzy. I am FUCKING COLD." Oroka stood up and kicked him in the ribs as hard as she could. Consequently, that wasn't very hard, because she was already trying to save energy since she was already cold. She sat down on the bench once again, angsting like the goth baby she was.

Osric sat in the snow looking up at her. He didn't look angry at her for calling him by his dreaded nickname; on the contrary, he looked sorry for what he did.

"Just... leave me alone, Osric." She grumbled and pulled her legs up to her chest, trying to keep warm.

He stood up, and started to walk back to the park where he came from, walking behind Oroka and out of her view. But he didn't leave. Oroka heard the sound of something being unzipped, then she realized that the coat that Osric had was being draped around her. "I don't want your stupid coat." She mumbled, too cold to protest properly.

"You just said you were cold."

Oroka would have normally said something rude and unappreciative now, but she really did appreciate Osric's coat. So she continued to sit in the fetal position, now wrapping Osric's coat around her.

"So, why're you waiting around here anyways?"

"Waiting for the bus."

Osric stifled a laugh, "The bus ain't gonna show today."

"How do you know?" Oroka glowered.

"It said so on the news this morning."

"Since when do you watch the news? Isn't a bit too smart for you?"

"I am a very smart and very handsome man, Orca. You should know that." Osric said, posing proudly.

"The cold must be going to your brain." She rolled her eyes.

Osric stuck out his tongue at her, "I'm wonderful and you know it." He grinned maliciously, "But really, if the cold is getting to my head shouldn't you do something for me and keep me warm, Orca? It's only fair."

"Like hell I would." She gave him a thoroughly disgusted look.

"Fine then. I'll go to my house by myself." He walked off in a mock huff.

"Hey!"

"Hmm?" Osric turned around and looked at Oroka.

"Uhm... could you take me with you?"

"What?" Osric was utterly surprised. He stood in shock for a moment, and then played off of it, "So, you want to give me a 'special favor' for giving you my coat, Orca?"

"I'd rather die of being eaten to death by rats then give you a 'special favor'." She cringed, "I just want to go to your house 'cause... 'cause... because my house is too far away and I don't want to walk. I figured I could just get to your house and call someone and wait to be taken home."

Osric didn't say anything. Not even a quick sarcastic remark. He just thought for a moment, then grinned, "Right then. Whatever you say, Orca. Well, let's get a move on, shall we?"

Oroka hurriedly stood up and jogged up next to Osric's side. They began to walk side by side, "I'm not doing this because I like you or anything."

"I know." Osric said, repressing the urge to tease her.

"I still hate you."

"I know."

They walked in silence like that for a while. Slowly, Osric reached over and grabbed Oroka's hand. They looked like a second grade boy and girl, cupping their hands and trying to avoid contact for fear of cooties, "My hand's cold, that's all."

"Whatever." She mumbled, "I still hate you."

"Hey, I'm just doing this because my hand's cold. Don't read anything into it."

"I won't. I hate you, why would I even want to?"

Osric smiled, "Of course. I hate you, too."



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