Content Warnings: Implied bad or emotionally abusive relationship Words: 812
This isn’t the first time there’s been a knock on Rei’s door late at night. This isn’t the first time he’s opened it to find Rin standing hunched against the doorframe, shoulders slumped and huddled in his jacket.
This is the first time he hasn’t been crying, and Rei doesn’t like that.
“Hello, Rin-san. Please, come in.”
Rin cracks a smile, but it’s tired and thin. He pushes off the doorframe with a speed suggesting he has weights tied to his arms, stepping in when Rei moves aside.
“You don’t sound surprised to see me.”
“I suppose I’m starting to get used to this. Maybe I should just give you my spare key.”
Rin’s laugh is humorless. He looks like how Rei felt, when he realized Rin wasn’t crying.
“Sorry. I really didn’t mean for this to happen so much.” He scratches the back of his neck uncomfortably. “It’s going to get better soon, though, you know? He’s just stressed out from final exams and I’m stressed from training for my next meet, but when he graduates and starts his job, it’s… it’s gonna be better.”
The look he gives Rei is almost pleading for reassurance. The first few times, Rei argued with him, but it only made everything worse, so now he just nods like he’s expected to. Nods, and wonders if it will ever actually get better. “I hope you’re both less stressed soon.”
“Thanks.”
They stand, silent, in the entry for a moment longer, and though it is quiet, it doesn’t feel that awkward. If anything, what Rei feels is anticipation. Maybe he will say something. Maybe Rin will say something.
In the end, all he says is, “Would you like something to eat, Rin-san? I have some leftover curry…”
“No, it’s alright. I ate already.”
“Something to drink, then?”
“Water’s fine.”
“Water it is.”
Rei fetches them some glasses while Rin goes to take his place on the couch. He knows where Rei keeps his blankets now, and he pulls one out and sets it on the armrest. This isn’t the first time he’s slept here.
“Here you are, Rin-san.” Rei holds out the glass when he returns. Rin takes it, sipping slowly. He looks tired, and his eyes fall on a picture lying on the coffee table, of Rei and Nagisa at a festival.
“How is Nagisa these days?”
“He’s very well. He’s going on his first mission to the space station soon.”
“Wow, seriously?” Rin can’t help but smile fondly. “I can’t believe our Nagisa is going into space.”
Rei laughs, also fond, looking at the picture. “Things are really looking up for him. You didn’t hear it from me, but before he goes, he’s going to propose to his girlfriend.”
“Our Nagisa going into space and getting married?” Rin laughs. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not!”
“I can’t believe it.” Rin stops laughing, still looking at the photo. “I really need to catch up with him sometime.”
“He’d like that.”
“Mm.”
Rin’s eyes go far away, and Rei doubts he will. He knows that he’s the only one who Rin has been in contact with, since he moved in with his boyfriend. He knows by the way Makoto cautiously asks, “How’s Rin?” The way Nagisa says he wishes he could talk to his friend again. The way Haru never mentions him.
It’s not right to feel special over that. Not when they’re all in such pain.
“How about you?” says Rin, breaking Rei out of his reverie. “Any romantic changes I don’t know about?”
“Me?” Rei blinks, staring at Rin, staring at the way his hair falls, messy, around his face, he slight smile over sharp teeth, his tired eyes that actually hold a hint of mirth.
He stares, then looks down at his glass.
“You know I don’t have time for anything like romance, Rin-san.”
It’s only ever been you.
“Yeah, yeah. You keep saying that. But a cute, smart guy like you? You could have anyone.” Rin says it jokingly, but when Rei looks back up, he isn’t meeting Rei’s eyes. “Or maybe you just haven’t met anyone who’s good enough, huh?”
You deserve so much better than me.
As a few minutes ago in the entry, the two are silent. Maybe Rei will say something. Maybe Rin will say something.
In the end, Rei says, “I have to be up early for work tomorrow, Rin-san, so if you’ll excuse me…”
“Oh. Yeah, sorry.” Rin turns away, begins to fuss with the blanket while Rei gets up to go to his bedroom. “Thanks again, for letting me borrow your couch.”
“It’s never any trouble, Rin-san.”
“I promise, this is the last time. Things are going to get better. He’s going to get better.”
It’s not the first time Rin has said this. Rei just smiles weakly at him.
FILL: TEAM Matsuoka Rin/Ryuugazaki Rei, PG
Words: 812
This isn’t the first time there’s been a knock on Rei’s door late at night. This isn’t the first time he’s opened it to find Rin standing hunched against the doorframe, shoulders slumped and huddled in his jacket.
This is the first time he hasn’t been crying, and Rei doesn’t like that.
“Hello, Rin-san. Please, come in.”
Rin cracks a smile, but it’s tired and thin. He pushes off the doorframe with a speed suggesting he has weights tied to his arms, stepping in when Rei moves aside.
“You don’t sound surprised to see me.”
“I suppose I’m starting to get used to this. Maybe I should just give you my spare key.”
Rin’s laugh is humorless. He looks like how Rei felt, when he realized Rin wasn’t crying.
“Sorry. I really didn’t mean for this to happen so much.” He scratches the back of his neck uncomfortably. “It’s going to get better soon, though, you know? He’s just stressed out from final exams and I’m stressed from training for my next meet, but when he graduates and starts his job, it’s… it’s gonna be better.”
The look he gives Rei is almost pleading for reassurance. The first few times, Rei argued with him, but it only made everything worse, so now he just nods like he’s expected to. Nods, and wonders if it will ever actually get better. “I hope you’re both less stressed soon.”
“Thanks.”
They stand, silent, in the entry for a moment longer, and though it is quiet, it doesn’t feel that awkward. If anything, what Rei feels is anticipation. Maybe he will say something. Maybe Rin will say something.
In the end, all he says is, “Would you like something to eat, Rin-san? I have some leftover curry…”
“No, it’s alright. I ate already.”
“Something to drink, then?”
“Water’s fine.”
“Water it is.”
Rei fetches them some glasses while Rin goes to take his place on the couch. He knows where Rei keeps his blankets now, and he pulls one out and sets it on the armrest. This isn’t the first time he’s slept here.
“Here you are, Rin-san.” Rei holds out the glass when he returns. Rin takes it, sipping slowly. He looks tired, and his eyes fall on a picture lying on the coffee table, of Rei and Nagisa at a festival.
“How is Nagisa these days?”
“He’s very well. He’s going on his first mission to the space station soon.”
“Wow, seriously?” Rin can’t help but smile fondly. “I can’t believe our Nagisa is going into space.”
Rei laughs, also fond, looking at the picture. “Things are really looking up for him. You didn’t hear it from me, but before he goes, he’s going to propose to his girlfriend.”
“Our Nagisa going into space and getting married?” Rin laughs. “You’re kidding.”
“I’m not!”
“I can’t believe it.” Rin stops laughing, still looking at the photo. “I really need to catch up with him sometime.”
“He’d like that.”
“Mm.”
Rin’s eyes go far away, and Rei doubts he will. He knows that he’s the only one who Rin has been in contact with, since he moved in with his boyfriend. He knows by the way Makoto cautiously asks, “How’s Rin?” The way Nagisa says he wishes he could talk to his friend again. The way Haru never mentions him.
It’s not right to feel special over that. Not when they’re all in such pain.
“How about you?” says Rin, breaking Rei out of his reverie. “Any romantic changes I don’t know about?”
“Me?” Rei blinks, staring at Rin, staring at the way his hair falls, messy, around his face, he slight smile over sharp teeth, his tired eyes that actually hold a hint of mirth.
He stares, then looks down at his glass.
“You know I don’t have time for anything like romance, Rin-san.”
It’s only ever been you.
“Yeah, yeah. You keep saying that. But a cute, smart guy like you? You could have anyone.” Rin says it jokingly, but when Rei looks back up, he isn’t meeting Rei’s eyes. “Or maybe you just haven’t met anyone who’s good enough, huh?”
You deserve so much better than me.
As a few minutes ago in the entry, the two are silent. Maybe Rei will say something. Maybe Rin will say something.
In the end, Rei says, “I have to be up early for work tomorrow, Rin-san, so if you’ll excuse me…”
“Oh. Yeah, sorry.” Rin turns away, begins to fuss with the blanket while Rei gets up to go to his bedroom. “Thanks again, for letting me borrow your couch.”
“It’s never any trouble, Rin-san.”
“I promise, this is the last time. Things are going to get better. He’s going to get better.”
It’s not the first time Rin has said this. Rei just smiles weakly at him.
“I hope so, Rin-san. Goodnight.”
“Night, Rei.”