[closed] you belong with me

[sharkmaid]

Who: Rin (sharkmaid) and Sousuke (takenwithhim)
When: Beginning of December
Where: Eros' Castle
What: Sousuke regains his memories of his best friend and Major Feels ensue.



It's gotten colder between the two shores. The day's were shorter, evening's quieter. And Rin being the morning person he was seemed to be sleeping more these past few weeks. Ever the picky one, he couldn't quite find a comfortable balance between the seasons. It was always too hot, too cold, never just the right temperature to settle down instead of constantly being on the move. Not to mention being without his favorite pillow most nights... However, it's gotten easier, and he's fairly certain he knew the reason. Having something and someone always there, always constant... He felt just right.

Rin didn't normally curl up under the covers, but with temperatures dipping just above freezing outside only the top of his head peeked up now, maroon strands disheveled but soft, somehow managing to fall in a tidy mess against his pillow. Despite having an entire half of a giant bed for himself though, he's scooted over closer to the middle with head tucked in towards his chest and arms stretched out to the side. Not exactly reaching for something. Not intentionally anyway. More... subconscious. Secretly wanting to find something, grab on, hold it close.

Sousuke probably didn't sign up for that sort of behavior when he decided to share Rin's bed, did he?

Dawn was still a few hours away when he shifted in his sleep, arms curling tighter around his best friend's middle, some indistinguishable sleep talk muttered against his chest. It seemed like if he could, he'd stay in this position forever.

Hm. No. Sousuke definitely didn't sign up for any of that.

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[sharkmaid]

Rin remembered it. All of it. From the moment he first saw his best friend falter in the practice pool to the last time he averted his gaze as he pulled his shirt over that black shoulder brace. For so many years he was oblivious to that pain and all the same he couldn’t even be bothered to face what was good. Was Sousuke still swimming? Was he passing his records, winning all his tournaments, pulling himself ever closer to that dream of standing on the global stage? In the back of his mind he thought about it... but at some point or another he would look away just as he did with everything else. Never wanting to face it, speak of it, think about it if he could help it. Because all it ever brought him was guilt. If only he’d stepped back into Sousuke’s life sooner or reached out to him the moment his suspicions rose... maybe his body would still be safe. Like this, in a way. Powerful, strong, unbreakable. But he couldn’t run forever. He couldn’t stay selfish forever. Not when Sousuke needed him most.

“I’ll always protect you,” he vowed, as if reading those thoughts loud and clear. From dark forces, from shinki thieves... and yes, even from himself. They might’ve possessed powers beyond human comprehension while they were here, but they weren’t indestructible by any means. Sousuke’s body was just as human as Rin’s, capable of breaking, bruising and bleeding all the same. He couldn’t turn away and let him destroy himself from the inside out.

Wrapped up as he was, Rin let his eyes fall shut and sighed into Sousuke’s skin with that kiss. The warmth and beat of his heart settled his own until finally it returned to that same relaxed rhythm as before. He remembered being underwater together as children, beneath the surface where he daydreamed of sprouting gills and chasing his best friend for hours. Like that moment, Rin didn’t want to leave this one now. Not for a while, maybe not ever, if he already had everything he wanted within reach. Safety, attention, affection... and that one promise.

Smiling, Rin held on tighter as he curled his legs under the covers. “... thank you.”

[takenwithhim]

There were those memories too. The quiet ones that lingered as he thought about his best friend swimming in the water before him. So strong and free, completely heedless to the secret Sousuke held back as he waited for his turn in the lane. He went through so much to prepare and hide the truth from Rin, knowing his best friend would break his heart when he learned of it. Rin didn’t need to be burdened by the issues of someone who had made some very bad choices. He had a future to hold onto and the last thing Sousuke wanted was to become something that held Rin back. Be it by his guilt or his kindness or his determination to care for him. So he had to wait and forced himself to grit his teeth, smile, and move forward. After all, that’s what they’d both done during those years of separation. Averting their gaze towards what really mattered. Silence happened and he didn’t chase after Rin to reignite it. Rin made his decision and Sousuke trusted it was what was best for his best friend. “I understand.” With no questions asked.

Maybe that hadn’t been the best choice…

Hindsight was always 20/20. Sousuke looked up at Rin, momentarily surprised that he picked out his thoughts so easily. He shouldn’t be surprised, obviously, but the intimacy was there none the less. A vow to protect him, the one who considered himself “perfect” that no one could beat, the strongest… needed protection. There was logic behind it especially in this place. But it was the silent reminder that Rin wouldn’t allow “Sousuke” to damage Sousuke again that got him in the quick. Would he do what he did at home here? … Probably. He did attempt to sneak out and train by himself at times, but Rin almost always caught him, confusing Sousuke as to how his god knew his intentions. But now he understood why Rin always kept such a careful watch over his workouts and training.

Sousuke let himself relax as he held Rin close, eyes shut and his mind a little quieter from the running around it’d been doing. The warmth against his chest and the beat of Rin’s heart seemed to push away the fervor above. Something he was grateful for. Especially when he felt Rin’s pace calm to normal levels. Good… he wanted him to relax. This was… a moment he was content to linger in. Arms around his best friend, legs entangled, safe and warm and cared for. A promise to protect him and care for him in exchange for a promise to never allow that silent destruction to happen again.

It was a good exchange. He felt the smile against his skin, a warm and tender sensation. “Aa… You too.”