Posted originally on the Archive_of_Our_Own at https://archiveofourown.org/
works/3876991.
  Rating:
      Explicit
  Archive Warning:
      Underage
  Category:
      M/M
  Fandom:
      Free!
  Relationship:
      Matsuoka_Rin/Nanase_Haruka
  Additional Tags:
      Olympian!Haru, age_gap, bit_of_a_daddy_kink, birthday_prompt, the_cutest
      little_fanboy, Slow_Build, Oh_hey_look_an_actual_title, Underage
      Drinking, protective_Haru, fanboy_fantasies, spontaneous_cuddles, past
      makoharu, Hurt/Comfort, Angst, hints_of_rintori, Cuddling_&_Snuggling,
      sleepy_rin, oh_my_god_Mako_put_Haru_down, Rin_is_a_sly_dog, Haru_is
      whipped, Smut, they're_16_and_23ish, not_grooming/pedophilic
  Series:
      Part 1 of The_Sincerest_Form_of_Flattery
  Stats:
      Published: 2015-05-04 Completed: 2015-05-17 Chapters: 5/5 Words: 15301
****** The Sincerest Form of Flattery ******
by Daxii
Summary
     Rin is such a fanboy for his swimming senpai.
     Haru's not as irritated with this kid as he thinks he should be.
Notes
     HAPPY BIRTHDAY FRIEND
     MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU
See the end of the work for more notes
***** Chapter 1 *****
Rin watches, utterly enraptured, as his hero glides back to the starting block
after a warm up lap. Slow, by his standards, but just enchanting all the same.
“You’re in my lane,” Haruka observes, looking up at the beaming, blushing teen,
and then hauls himself out and moves to the back of the line.
Rin puts about eighty-percent of his effort into his warm up lap to match the
speed of the guys in the other lanes. He’s still lagging, in comparison, but
his potential is building, even though it’s only been a few weeks, he can
already feel he’s stronger, faster, better.
“Competition weekend!” Coach Sasabe bellows towards the end of their mandatory
practice session. Those still in the pool clamber out, and everyone huddles
around on the edge. Rin shimmies his way to the front, on the edge, while
Haruka hangs in the back, distanced. “Bus leaves at five on Saturday morning,
unless you’re making your own way there. It’s a three hour trip so we’ll be
signing in early. The usual set up – all the individual preliminaries will be
on the Saturday, starting with backstroke at ten, breaststroke at twelve,
butterfly at two, and finally free at four. Finals on the Sunday morning,
relays in the afternoon. And when we get back we’re going out for drinks
whatever the outcome!” there’s a slight cheer of agreement, and then Coach
clears his throat. “I know we’ve got everyone signed up already for their
individuals, but…” he casts a glance towards Rei, leaning against a bench,
frowning, “we need a replacement for the butterfly in the relay, Ryugazaki’s
knee’s still knackered, so I’ll be holding time trials for that after practice
tomorrow. If you’re interested, please raise your hand.”
Rin’s shoulder almost shoots out of its socket he brings his arm up so fast.
Several of the others snigger in his direction, and he feels his cheeks
burning, but can’t shake the smile.
“Someone’s enthusiastic,” Coach smirks, but Rin decides to interpret his smile
as encouraging. “Actually, Matsuoka, hang back for five, we’ll talk things over
a bit more since it’s your first time.”
Coach adjourns the little meeting and the majority of the team peel off into
the changing rooms, some gathering in their own little groups, and one lone
swimmer diving back into the pool, even though public swimming will begin any
minute. Rin already knows who it is. He’s here every night, and Rin’s right
there with him. It’s Nanase.
“So, we’ve got you down for the 100 and 200m butterfly and 100m free. You still
alright with that?” Rin nods eagerly. “Right… now… it’s your first time
competing as part of the senior team, but we can still enter you as a junior,
since you’re only sixteen,” they both find their eyes wandering to Haruka as he
swims by. “And I think… that might be for the best…”
Rin’s ego takes a tumble, but he understands, nodding away. He wouldn’t even
make it past the preliminaries if he competed as a senior, but just that bubble
of hope that he might end up in the same heat as Nanase has kept him buzzing
for a week. But he knows it’s best to stick with his own age group for the next
few months.
“The relay, on the other hand, if you pull up top tomorrow, you’ll be up
against the big guns.”
And Rin couldn’t be more excited about that.
“Right, well. You have parental permission, right? And a lease for the weekend
from school?” Rin nods more. “And lucky for you, you make us up to an even
number, so you won’t have to room by yourself. Are you nervous?”
Truth be told, he’s fucking terrified, but he’s not about to admit that,
especially with Nanase having wandered within ear shot to take a drink and
catch a breath. “No… I’m fine,” he lies, stuttering, but that’s probably more
because Nanase’s eyes are on him right now, rather than anything else. He can
feel their deep blue burn in his back, like he’s trying to map every inch.
“Nanase,” Coach calls, looking over Rin’s shoulder. There’s a grunt of
acknowledgement. Rin’s learnt he doesn’t really talk much. “I’ll leave Matsuoka
in your charge for the weekend. Show him the ropes, and all that. I know you’ll
watch out for him… he’s entering the free.”
 
Haru, who’s been scowling at the ground at the thought of great, babysitting,
suddenly perks up and looks towards their youngest member, recently scouted
from one of their primary feed-schools, Samezuka, who’s rocked up some pretty
nice times in his age group for the butterfly, but Haru’s hardly seen him run a
free lap except in warm ups.
“Nanase’s our free for the relay too,” Coach tells the kid. “So if you make it
tomorrow, you’ll be swimming ahead of him… maybe you two can practice some
exchanges tonight? You know who he is, right, he –”
“He won gold in London… yeah,” Rin blushes. “Yeah… I know who he is.”
And Haru sees his bright red eyes just glowing when they look each other in the
face. Haru gives him a nod, and looks away.
Haru is feeling distinctly followed when two hours later, after having him
trailing just behind in the next lane, Rin now pads after him into the changing
rooms. They both reach into the little basket for locker keys they keep in the
coach’s office just for the team at the same time. Stifling a sigh, Haru holds
the basket out to Rin.
“Thanks,” the teen grunts. “Coach mentioned we could maybe practice relay
exchanges but… are you done?” his voice is so low, like he’s shy, but Haru’s
seen his aggressive eagerness, and he’s definitely not shy.
“It’s late,” Haru replies, and then. “Doesn’t your school have a curfew?”
Rin nods. “Aha, yeah… I lost track of time, I guess.”
“Happens,” Haru shrugs in agreement, and they both move towards their lockers,
grabbing towels, and then Haru lets Rin hold the door to the shower room open
for him.
It’s silent while they wash up, but not awkward, but now Haru can see Rin
glancing at the clock and starting to pick up the pace, so much he almost slips
while he’s scampering back to his locker. Haru grabs hold of his arm to steady
him.
“Idiot,” he grumbles, because really, he wants to swim professionally and he’s
still running in the changing rooms?
“Train’s leaving in ten,” is Rin’s excuse, bumbling over to a bench and pulling
his clothes on, body still a bit damp and hair absolutely dripping.
Haruka knows for a fact the station is at least fifteen minutes away. He sighs.
“I’ll drive you.” It’s not like the school is far, or even out of his way.
“Really?” Rin’s face lights up, shouldering his bag even as Haru’s barely
pulled his t-shirt on.
 
Haruka is so quiet and Rin doesn’t really know what to do, sitting next to him
in his blue Audi. He’s just driving along, obviously knowing the route,
probably, at some point, having driven another new recruit home or even meeting
friends there when he was a high-schooler. Rin’s not even sure how old her
actually is – under twenty five, he’s pretty certain, but his age isn’t listed
on his wiki, and he can’t just ask.
“What does your school team think of your new placement?” Haru suddenly asks,
making Rin make a little hiccupping squeak in shock that only serves to send
one of Haru’s eyebrows sky high.
“Erm… they’re pleased for me…” Rin settles into a smile. “My roommate
especially.”
He sees one corner of Haru’s lip twitch upwards in a smile, and relaxes into
the plush seats. “Buy this thing with your winnings?”
Haru shakes his head. “I bought my parents a hybrid and they gave me this,
their old one… there’s still a lease on it and stuff before I pay it off.”
“Does it pay well?” Rin asks, curious, he’s not really looked much into the
whole financial end of what he’s getting into.
Haru just shrugs. “Liveable… if you do well,” casts him a side-eye that only
serves to make Rin feel that nervous excitement again and look down at his lap.
“But that’s not why I’m in it… that’s not why you’re in it.”
Rin’s suddenly staring at him, because Haru just totally read his mind. “Yeah…”
Haru gives him a bit of a look, like he’s assessing him, when they pull up at
the school. “Good luck for tomorrow,” he says, after a minute of staring.
Rin smiles, beaming at him. “I’ll have to practise my change-overs.”
“When you make it on the team.”
 
Haru watches his young charge hurtle towards the overhead flags, just a hand
span behind the winner. But the gap doesn’t shrink at all over the next few
feet towards the wall, and Rin surfaces panting, looking desperately from the
winner and then over to Haru, and all Haru can do is shuffle closer to the edge
of the pool while he climbs out, standing silently, attempting to be some sort
of supportive, just the look on his broken hearted little face enough to kick
something inside of Haru that doesn’t usually awaken.
Coach gives the teen a warm smile, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “You’ll
make an excellent reserve, Rin. Well done.”
He looks so dejected. Haru can almost see tears in his eyes. But he has done
well. His opponent won bronze at the last world championships, and Rin was just
so close. Rin huffs over to the benches in a sulk, and Haru can only quirk his
eyebrow.
“Come on,” he calls. “I thought we were running exchanges?”
And suddenly Rin’s bounced back from his stupor of depression, earning himself
a shout from the lifeguard when he scampers so quickly to the blocks.
 
Rin has a lonely journey on the coach to the competition, kept amused only by
his mp3 player, and even the battery on that wants to abandon him. There’d been
no wondering where Haru was, so he just accepted that he probably chooses to
drive himself there. A part of him is a little disappointed he hasn’t been
offered a ride, but then he really has no right to expect that. They’ve only
been on speaking terms for a week.
 They rendezvous at sign-in, and Haruka says nothing when Rin shuffles
tentatively to his side, feeling a whole new set of nerves even though he’s
done this a million times. It’s just different. People recognise the team, they
recognise Haru. This isn’t just some high school tournament. They mean
business.
Haru could not look more casual.
“Let’s go and check in,” he hears him barely mumble, and has to scramble after
him when he starts to walk off without even a reply.
“Are we not going to watch everyone else?” they don’t have races until
afternoon, but he’d hate for any of his teammates to sit out of supporting him…
“We’ll be back… I just want to get a room with a bath,” Haru shrugs. “I assume
you’re rooming with me? Everyone else is already paired up.”
Rin just nods and walks automatically to the passenger side door of Haru’s car,
who just gives a nod of approval when Rin glances at him for permission.
He just thinks this is so cool, he’s in Nanase Haruka’s car. With Nanase
Haruka. Again. And he’s doing a mighty fine job holding back his squeal.
Because this is just nothing compared to sharing a room with him.
The hotel is nice, a stark contrast to what they usually stay in at high school
competitions, and Haru strolls confidently towards the desk, ID in hand to put
it on the club’s tab, and the receptionist gives him a familiar smile.
“Nanase-san,” she greets, polite, painted nails, shining a dazzling smile with
dazzling teeth. “A… uh…” she looks at Rin, smile faltering a little, “twin
room?”
Haru nods. “With a bath.”
“Of course.”
He looks a little bit torn between carrying his bag up or letting the porter
take it, but Rin is more than happy to enjoy the service in this place, and
Haru eventually places his own on the trolley too, and they head to the
elevator.
“Do you come here a lot, then?” he asks, even though it feels obvious.
“We compete here about twice every three months,” Haru mutters, hitting the
button for their floor. “It’s alright… just wait till you see the pool.”
Rin grins. “We came here for nationals last year.”
“Really…” Haru drones, and Rin decides to assume he’s being rhetorical, and
just makes a nodding movement that he doesn’t think Haru even sees.
 
Haru swipes the key-card and points the other one at Rin for him to take.
Normally, he’d be straight in the bath, but they don’t have their bags yet and
Rin seems too fidgety anyway, like he could do with taking a jog before they
get down to doing anything else. Maybe they’ll run back to the aquatic centre.
They can always tag along on the bus on the way back.
He makes them both tea, holding back the sugar out of habit for his own
preferences, but Rin takes the cup without complaint anyway, sitting on the bed
by the window. That’s ok. Haru can have the one by the bathroom.
A nod to Rin gets him up to answer the door for the porter, and he takes his
running shoes – packed on a random whim – from his holdall. Rin catches on
pretty quick.
“We’re jogging back?” he asks, even as he digs around for his own.
“Might as well… we have a long wait.”
“What do we do for lunch?”
“Eat.”
Rin throws him a look.
“Coach’s girl packs us all sandwiches.”
“… That’s a lot of sandwiches.”
“We fend for ourselves on Sundays. There’s a food-court not far that’s pretty
good.”
The kid nods, and starts to pack up a small running bag.
“Where’s your swimsuit?”
He blushes. “I’m… uh… wearing it.”
Haru nods. He understands.
They sit together, mostly in silence, as their teammates all take their turns,
but Rin is on edge. He’s never done such an important competition. Yes, high
school nationals got him here, but this is a whole other level.
He starts slowly, pulling his bag into his lap. “The junior races come first…
I’m in the fifth heat for the 100m and the third for the 200m… um… I should be
back before you have to set off for yours…”
Haru isn’t even looking at him. He ploughs on anyway.
“Could you take a couple of pictures?” he tries not to splutter it, probably
fails, and then helplessly tacks a small “please” on the end when Haru’s eyes
slide to him.
Haru holds out his hand. Rin gives him the camera.
“Thanks,” Rin sighs in his relief.
“Go and warm up.”
 
At least his kouhai does as he’s told, practically leaping to his feet on
Haru’s instruction, and all he can do is smirk at him. Haru eats while he waits
for Rin’s heat to start, unable to miss that silly shock of red hair before he
tucks it under his cap. Haru can practically see him vibrating from all the way
up in the stands. Either nerves or excitement, he can’t tell. He’s sort of
caught in a hitch between confident and petrified, and Haru saw his ego slide
into a puddle the other day when he failed to make the relay team.
Rin makes it to the final in both his races, and Haru gets up with the rest of
the team to applaud him. He’s not entirely sure, he’s a way off, but he thinks
he sees Rin smiling at him. At him.
“Good job,” he tells him, as Rin joins him, sitting at the edge of his seat.
“You’re buzzed.”
“You’re up!” Rin grins.
Haru raises his eyebrow, a little bit amused that Rin finds that just so
exciting.
 
Haru wins. Rin takes pictures.
And then it’s time for them to swap again so Rin can do his 100m Free in the
junior division. He hopes Haru makes it back up in time to take pictures. When
Haru isn’t back and they’re calling for the heat before his, Rin gives up.
Haru’ll be taking a shower, talking to the others… he shouldn’t have expected
so much. It’s not exactly like they’re buddies or anything.
He sighs, grabs his bag off the seat, and starts a fairly brisk walk down to
the pool area. He can’t be pushing it this badly at his first professional
competition.
“Rin!” Haru’s right in his face, and Rin takes a moment to blink to attention
and recognise him, so lost in his rush.
“Oh… Nanase-senpai…”
“Camera?”
Oh. Oh. “Um, yeah,” he roots around and hands it over with a shaking hand. “You
were… really good.”
“Hn,” Haru turns away. “Good luck.”
He feels even more nervous than he did earlier, and he’s not even sure why. He
can just make Haru out, leaning over the rail, camera in hand. He steps up onto
the block, and even this feels different now, and it’s such an effort to keep
his eye on the water and not over at the speck of Haru. It’s a good thing he
manages it, because more time has passed than he thought, and the gun fires off
and sends him diving into the water more in shock than anything else, but now
Haru’s out of sight, and he can concentrate and move into his kick.
When they hit the wall, he looks for Haru before he even looks towards the
result board, and it’s like he’s not even taken a breath, just a statue with
his camera.
“Hey, come on, next heat,” one of the assistants is calling, and Rin looks for
the noise. “Look a little happier, kid, you’re in the final.”
Rin hadn’t even realised.
 
There’s mackerel in their buffet dinner, and Haru is pleased. Rin, in line
behind him, having followed him around like a bit of a lost puppy all evening,
makes a face. Haru pulls one right back.
“No one likes mackerel enough for it to be in the buffet, surely…” he grumbles.
“No one said you had to eat it,” Haru shoots right back, and takes himself
another grilled fillet while he’s at it.
“Get yourself a few golds and you get to choose a preference,” a taller guy…
Haru knows he’s been on the team since he was first starting, at least,
chortles from in front of them. “What I would give to throw some chicken satays
in there… mm.”
“You could have anything and you chose mackerel?”
“Yes.”
Rin sighs, defeated, but follows Haru to the edge of one of the long tables set
up for the team anyway. Maybe he should be more irritated than he actually is,
but Rin is interesting. He doesn’t mind his company. At least he’s keeping
quiet. Especially wolfing down his meat and potatoes.
When they get back to their room, Haru asks him “Are you using the bathroom?”
already peeling out of his tracksuit.
“Uh… in a bit.”
“I’m going for a bath.”
Rin just nods at him, and Haru disappears behind the door.
 
Rin can’t sleep.
Rin can’t even keep his eyes closed.
He rolls over and flops his face into the unfamiliar pillow, too soft and too
lumpy and too flat, but not flat enough that he can stack it up with another.
He sighs.
There’s a distinct click of the teeth from the next bed.
“Matsuoka?” Haru is mostly muffled by his pillow, obviously in a state of semi
consciousness, probably just furious with Rin, and he half considers not
responding at all and feigning sleep.
But he relents. It must be obvious. It’s been hours.
“Sorry,” Rin mumbles. “I’ll go to sleep.”
“There’s some camomile tea,” and there’s a shuffling of blankets.
Turning his head, Rin can see Haru sitting up and swinging his legs to the side
of the bed.
“Come on.”
Rin scampers out of bed and goes to fill the kettle before Haru’s even stood up
yet, and then he blinks dumbly at his senpai, who quirks his head to the side.
Rin hopes he’s not going to take another epic bath when he slinks into the
bathroom. In fact he’s more surprised than relieved when Haru comes out again
just minutes later, right as the kettle signals it’s boiled, and pours the hot
water over their cheap tea bags.
“Sorry,” Rin says again, but Haru just shakes his head and pats the end of his
bed, next to where he’s sat. “I’m just really nervous.”
“Why?”
Rin scowls into the darkness. It should be obvious, shouldn’t it? Unless Haru
has just forgotten what it’s like to not just sail through a competition.
“You don’t need to be nervous,” Haru continues, voice bland, like this is
actually what should be obvious.
“What?”
Haru turns to him when he sits down, a wide eyed look, almost a stare, if he
wasn’t so sleepy. “You’re the best in the juniors… even coming up to the
eighteen year olds,” and he says it so calmly, just casual, like it’s
dismissible.
Rin’s heart does a flip. He’s not sure what to say.
“Why aren’t you racing in the seniors?” Haru asks, and Rin’s never seen him
carry on without interruption before. Even when other teammates speak to him,
it’s like getting blood out of a stone. But there’s something in his eyes, and
it’s not the hard stare of irritation Rin initially thought it to be. It’s
worry, care, and it’s sort of confused but so raw. Rin feels like he’s about to
cry.
 
When Rin doesn’t respond, Haru reaches forwards and strains their teabags,
handing over the hot mug. Rin is so twitchy, Haru can’t make the slightest of
movements without those hot red eyes jerking towards him, like he’s prey and
Haru’s the predator, even with those ridiculous teeth. They drink their tea
silently, and Rin still hasn’t said anything by the time Haru is taking his
empty cup from his hands and putting them back on the tray, but the boy feels
about a thousand times more relaxed than he did earlier and gets up with a
smile to go back to his own bed.
“Goodnight,” Haru says into the darkness, pulling back his cover.
“Night… and thanks.”
They both pull up tops in all their races and Rin, just bouncing beside him,
actually make quite a good buffer from all that attention that comes with first
place, absorbing  each and every compliment like it’s his life blood. For once
at these things, Haru’s not feeling quite so annoyed with all the hype. He
smiles at Rin to his side as they pass by the photographers for the swimming
and sports magazines that always show up to document the results.
He even obliges a photo for their main team sponsor, Ties. Rin steps out of the
shot with a polite wave, stammering something Haru ignores.
Haru tugs him right back in.
“Nanase-senpai...?” Rin asks, sounding nervous, when they all gather at the
coach. Haru was just about to turn and make his escape for his car, but he
acknowledges Rin with a questioning jut of his chin. “Could I… please ride with
you?”
Haru blinks at him.
“Um… sure,” he decides. “Tell coach.”
They’re meeting up at their preferred bar anyway, and even though Haru would
really rather not go, going with Rin means he won’t have to stay late anyway –
getting him home being the perfect excuse to ditch out early.
 
“No,” Haru slaps Rin’s hand back down to the table, and Rin decides he would
not want to be on the receiving end of that glare he’s firing at Uozumi.
“Just one,” Uozumi whines, pushing the drink towards Rin again.
“He’s sixteen!” Haru tuts, and pushes it back. “And coming up to curfew. Come
on.”
Rin follows him hastily, Haru having shot out of his seat and stormed towards
the door of the bar, not even a goodbye to the others and barely a glance over
at Rin to make sure he’s coming. He’s irritated, but Rin can’t really
understand why.
“It was just one…” he mutters, catching up.
Haru turns around, that same look on his face, and Rin tries hard not to cower
under it. Haru makes a noise, a tut and a sigh all in one, and turns to carry
on towards his car. Rin recoils and stares in his direction. He really
shouldn’t have said that… the last thing he wants is for Haru to be mad at him.
***** Chapter 2 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
They slip into a routine, running half an hour or so of just swimming together
after practice. Haru thinks Rin might have even come to expect Haru to drive
him home at this point, so is surprised and amused when Rin’s jaw drops two
weeks on Friday.
“I’ll pick you up at six,” he tells him, matter-of-factly, with a nod and
pushes more details of the competition into his hand on a shoddy print out he’s
had lying around from the first time they competed at this place this season.
“…You… You’re driving me there?” Rin stammers. He does a good impression of a
fish.
Haru just shrugs. “You don’t like traveling alone on the coach, right?”
“…Right… erm… thanks.”
Haru knocks him on the shoulder, finally breaking him out of his stupor.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing! Nothing… I just… didn’t expect it.”
Haru frowns in question.
“Because it’s… you…”
He blinks, confused. He’s aware he doesn’t have a reputation as the most
forward or friendly guy, but he’s always put in enough effort to be nice.
“I don’t mean… it’s just… you’re Nanase Haruka! And I’m just a kid and…”
“We’re on the same team.”
That shuts him up nicely, and he gets out of the car waving and grinning.
 
Yet another reception desk woman who’s more than taken aback at Rin
accompanying Haru to the hotel. Rin could get bored of this very quickly, but
at the same time he can’t knock back this proud, smug feeling. If Haru’s never
roomed with anyone before… or at least not recently, what does he have that
they don’t? Does this mean Haru actually likes him? Does this make them, dare
he even considerit, friends?!
Haru flicks him on the forehead, hard, and Rin winces.
“Stop thinking,” he scolds, and sets his bag on the bed he’s chosen, the
closest to the bathroom again.
They have a balcony in this place, and Rin wanders over to it, pushing aside
the curtains and turning the key in the doors.
“Have you seen this view?” he calls back into the room, and Haru trots over.
It’s cramped and they’re close, elbows brushing as they both lean on the
railing. Haru smiles like he knows something.
“Show me again at night,” he tells him, and cocks his head towards what Rin
thinks is the outline of the aquatic centre. “You’re not as jittery this week.”
It’s a keen observation. Rin thought he’d been playing it cool last week, but
Haru is right, and he smiles, feeling less like a kid and more like a swimmer
under his approving gaze.
“Let’s get a snack before the backstroke starts… we can just drive back.”
Rin follows obediently, falling into a comfortable step beside him, and comes
to the staggering conclusion that it’s not just him. People move for Haru, they
smile and nod in his direction, such a respectful, almost intimidated level of
awe for this man… this man who lets Rin tag along like a needy younger brother.
He breaks into a grin.
They can see the lights from the pool at night.
 
“With a bath,” Haru tacks on the end, even though this woman knows. Rin’s
holding back giggles beside him, so no doubt he’s in for a round of teasing
over his “bath fetish” (where does this kid come up with these things?) later
on.
“Sorry, Nanase-san… we’re out of twin rooms with baths… we have plenty left
with showers, though.”
A very cheeky hand pushes his bottom jaw closed. “No bath for you,” Rin sings.
Haru shoots him a look. “We’ll share, then. A double, with a bath.”
“What?”
“Team building,” Haru shrugs. “Thought you were into that.”
 
Rin cannot believe him.
He shuffles closer to his side of the bed, hugging his pillow. Haru’s off
having his fucking bath. He can hear him humming, a smug little tune just for
the purpose of making Rin squirm and rile on the bed. He joins him not long
after, sitting down comfortably, like it’s the easiest thing in the world.
“What’s up your butt?” Haru asks, poking Rin’ ribs as he lays next to him.
Rin visibly flinches. “I thought this was a joke,” he grumbles.
“Oh, it is. On you,” Haru quips blandly. “Relax. It won’t matter when you’re
asleep.”
“Jerk.”
“Idiot.”
Rin sighs. “Goodnight, Nanase-senpai.”
“Hn.”
 
Oh. Oh.
Apparently it does matter when they’re asleep. Or at least, when Rin is asleep.
Haru adjusts his position so Rin isn’t quite crushing his arm anymore, and
sighs into the mass of red hair tucked under his chin.
Well, at least the kid is sleeping this time.
They’ve not had a repeat of that first competition – and they’re up to five now
– where Haru had to get up with him and calm him down. He does settle,
eventually, but there’s so much tossing and turning in the process and Haru
hears him get up for the bathroom at least once. Haru’s not asked about it,
because Rin’s not been anywhere near as uptight as he was the first time but…
But this…
This is the opposite of what he was expecting. Rin hasn’t stirred all night.
Even when he was slowly shuffling closer, as if just magnetised to Haru in his
sleep, he was still utterly unconscious. Haru doesn’t have the heart to wake
him… The junior finals for this competition are being held early in the
morning, and he needs Rin to do well, especially in his butterfly.
Because Haru wants him in the relay.
 
Rin has a slightly different opinion.
“Why didn’t you wake me?!” he knows he’s yelling as he scrambles away, can feel
just how hot his face is with his, but he absolutely does not care, because
Haru is just lying there, lazily scratching his chest where Rin’s just been
lying.
“You were dead,” Haru shrugs.
“I’m so sorry…must’ve been cold, or something…” Rin mumbles, facing away now to
try and cool off.
There’s a single, light scoff behind him. “Or maybe you’re just clingy.”
“I am not clingy,” because he’snot!He just… appreciates the company. Or
something.
If this is the teasing he’s getting from just one night of accidental cuddling,
he hopes to hell Haru never gets a chance to chat with Nitori. He’d never live
it down.
Not that Haru was ever intending on letting him live just this down, with how
he makes snide little remarks at every opportunity over the next week.
Things reach a new level of weird when Haru comes up behind him, a hand on each
shoulder, and starts to push him towards the coach’s office.
 
“Haru? Matsuoka?” Coach Sasabe is glancing suspiciously between them, and Haru
leans back against a filing cabinet.
Rin fumbles nervously with his own hands in the middle of the room, until Haru
nudges him in the back of the leg with his foot. “Sit.”
“Is there a problem, boys?” Sasabe sits down too, across from Rin.
Haru should feel a little bit crueller about what he must be doing to Rin – the
poor thing looks close to tears – but it’ll be worth it in about 3.4 seconds
when his little face lights up.
“Let him on the relay this weekend,” Haru tells him, forces the words into his
ears with his strongest, most confident deadpan.
The way Rin turns to him, eyes like saucers and mouth justgaping uselessly. He
might want to say something but… Haru thinks he probably can’t, and steps away
from the cabinet to stand a little more supportively next to him.
“He’s faster on the exchanges,” Haru continues, and his hand finds Rin’s
shoulder, which is shaking a little bit. “And he gets on with the others better
than Nakagawa… he’d be good on the team.”
Coach sighs. And sighs again, looking critically between them both.
“Rei should be back on form in a couple o-”
“Rei wants to focus more on long distance,” Haru interrupts him.
Sasabe’s stance changes again, narrowing his eyes on Haru now. “And what about
you?”
Ah. About that. “It’s… on the cards,” he shrugs.
They’ve talked about it, briefly, just because he is getting that little bit
older and while he’s still their trump card on the sprints now, he knows he
needs to build up his stamina so he can still post a good time in the long
distance races when he drops his spot on the 100m to make room for the new
talent. Talent like Rin.
 
There’s such a thickness in the room, Rin can feel it in the way Haru’s fingers
squeeze his shoulder. He knows he’s got the spot on the relay even before
Sasabe gives up his act and grins at him, reaching over to clap him on the
other shoulder in congratulations. Haru’s fingers tighten a little bit more.
“This weekend then, boys. And… ah, looks like we have a visitor. Have you been
here the whole time?”
Both Rin and Haru turn to the doorway, where a large figure takes up the entire
space.
“Makoto…” he hears Haru mumble, and thinks their faces must have a similar
expression of bewilderment, because this is Tachibana Makoto! Four time gold
medallist for backstroke, and he was on the relay team with Haru when they won
gold at the last Olympics. But there’s something else in Haru’s eyes. He looks
almost in love.
Makoto steps into the room, one long arm reaching out as Haru steps forwards,
meeting him in the middle, totally abandoning his hold on Rin, and slipping
into probably the most intimate platonic embrace Rin’s ever witnessed. Haru’s
got his head nestled right into Makoto’s chest, breathing him in, eyes closed,
face relaxed into just comfort while Makoto rubs up and down his back and
tangles his fingers in his hair.
“Miss me?” his voice is rougher than Rin remembers it from interviews – but
then he’s older now. He’s retired, and if Rin is up to date he’s coaching for a
university team in Tokyo. Haru nods against him. Makoto chuckles. “Go on… we
have coach stuff to talk about,” and maybe it’s his imagination, his fanboy
fantasies gone wild, but Rin swears he sees him press a little kiss to the top
of Haru’s forehead when he pulls away.
Haru just nods, casting a quick glance at Rin to hurry him up and leading the
way from the door.
But there’s a big hand right where Haru’s used to be, stopping him.
“Matsuoka Rin, right?” even with lines, probably from all that smiling, he’s
just as warm as Rin’s read about.
“Tachibana-senshu…” his voice is trembling. Gotta cut that out.
Makoto just keeps smiling, and looks over his shoulder at the doorway where
Haru’s already disappeared. “Haru-chan likes you… you must be doing well.”
And that’s it. That’s all he gets before Haru’s hand comes flying around the
doorjamb and grabs him by the wrist, dragging him away.
“And don’t call me –chan!”
 
It’s a long trip this weekend. So long that they’re all – even Haru, he’s not
driving this one – setting off on the coach at the usual practice start time,
with the intention of arriving at the hotel before midnight and getting a good
sleep there, rather than trying to sleep and travelling in the early hours.
Haru lets Rin have the window seat, since he’s never done this drive before.
The kid’s brought study books with him – they’ll probably have exams coming up
before summer break starts. Haru has not-so-fond memories of those days, trying
to balance being inducted into a professional team and score well enough to
continue being considered for it. It’s no wonder Rin’s dropping off when
they’re not even a third of the way there.
“Did you not bring a travel pillow?” he’s mildly aware he sounds like an
exasperated parent, but never mind. Rin shakes his head, barely lucid, having
just about caught himself conking out on the window the fourth time in not even
as many minutes. “Come on…”
His shoulder, though a little bony, must surely be more comfortable than being
vibrated on the window. Rin agrees, after a moment’s hesitation, apparently
just deciding he doesn’t even care if Haru goes on another teasing spree after
this. Rin sleeps like a baby, throwing his arm over Haru’s stomach as he slips
deeper into his dreams.
“He ok?” it’s…uh… Itsusomething, asking over the back of his seat.
Haru restrains his shrug for Rin’s sake. “Tired. School and stuff.”
Their teammate smiles. “He’s a cute kid. Got a proper little crush on you,
hasn’t he?” and turns back with a wink. Haru huffs into Rin’s hair.
Yeah, he was aware of Rin getting all googly eyed at him in the beginning. But
they’re past that now. And, well… maybe Rin is kinda cute.
 
Rin is relieved to wake up alone in a double bed in a spacious room to the
sound of Haru’s alarm from the adjacent bed. He doesn’t even remember arriving,
let alone getting into bed and going to sleep, although he’s in his pyjamas and
his bedside water bottle is only half full, so he must have stirred at some
point.
“Hey, sleepy head,” he swears Haru’s mocking him. “Let’s take a run before
breakfast. Early start for you again.”
He grumbles some kind of affirmative, finding his feet and finding his clothes
and just about waking up by the time they hit the pavement for a couple of laps
around the hotel.
Coming first in his junior races is becoming an oddly familiar feeling these
days, and it’s sort of terrifying. Is this where he’s going to fall? If he
becomes complacent?
 
Haru can see Rin trembling in line in front of him. He’s been trembling since
they walked out to the pool to line up. He was probably trembling when he
accepted his medals for his races this morning. Scratch that. Haru’s sure Rin’s
been trembling since he failed at falling asleep again last night. He sighs.
“We’ve done this a thousand times,” he tells him quietly. They’ve already been
given a few side-eyes for the little baby face slotted into the middle of their
team, and Haru is feeling weirdly protective of him. “And all these
competitions are only practice… it doesn’t even matter.”
He’s lying, in a sense. It does matter. Not juse because this is Rin’s test as
a member of the relay team, but also a test of how he can perform as a senior.
Because he’s ready – Haru knows he’s ready, Coach knows he’s ready, and there’s
a look in Rin’s eye that means even he knows he’s ready.
Rin comes tearing at the wall ahead of all but one opponent, colliding almost
violently, but Haru’s already flying over his head in the exchange to see that,
chasing down that one guy ahead of them, fuelled by something he hasn’t felt
before.
It’s pride.
Rin drove them up four places. Such a little fire cracker. That silly nervous
smile just snapping into such raw determination, and Haru’s totally feeding off
that in the water. He knows he’s far enough ahead that he could coast to the
finish if he wanted to, and his teammates haul him out into a group hug.
They’ve set a record, apparently. Rin’s hanging awkwardly on the sides of their
embrace, and Haru just hasto pull him into the middle of it all. This is his
break. There’ll be sponsors watching, other coaches watching, he’ll be getting
his own wiki page any minute now.
 
Haru buys Rin his first ever celebratory shot.
“But I’m sixteen,” Rin teases, even as he takes the little cup and prepares to
down it in sync with everyone else.
“And it’s just the one,” Haru counters, flicking his forehead, but Rin can’t
shake his smile.
‘One’ is not what the rest of the guys have in mind for him though. Another
shot slides his way when Haru disappears to the bathroom an hour later, and
he’s given an almost full pint of beer when someone else makes their excuses
early. It’s almost embarrassing – if he had enough inhibitions left to be
embarrassed – how quickly he gets drunk, because his next fully formed memory
is standing on the pavement with Haru as a taxi pulls up, feeling wobbly,
vision blurred, yet strangely warm and tired with Haru’s hand holding him
steady on his back.
 
This is not what Haru wanted at all.
He can’t get him back to the school. They’ll have to call in in the morning,
make up something about being held up with the competition and travelling (and
he’s more than certain Sasabe will back him up, because like hell does he need
it getting around that their youngest swimmer has gotten completely off his
face on a team night out, and that the team have let him) because not only has
he broken curfew, but if he goes back like this he’ll probably be expelled.
He takes him home. It’s the only thing he can do. One hand on him, because this
kid couldn’t walk in a straight line if he was on tracks, and having to almost
lift him out of his shoes at the front door. He gets him to the couch without
incident, and marks it as an achievement.
“Drink this,” he demands, giving him a large glass of water.
Rin, sleepy, dazed, just completely drunk, does as he’s told. Might think it’s
still booze, who knows at this point? He looks at Haru all doe eyed, flopping
towards him, and Haru catches him with his cheek in his palm.
“You’re Nanase Haruka…” Rin hiccups.
“And you need to go to bed…”
He manhandles the mess to his bedroom and it’s like trying to teach a three
year old to undress themselves, trying to coax him out of his jeans and
tracksuit jacket. He sets another large drink of water on the bedside table,
and brings the cover up to Rin’s neck. He’d share – it’s not like they haven’t
before – but hell, if Rin wakes up with no recollection of anything in Haru’s
bed in just his boxers… well… that’s a news headline Haru doesn’t want to
consider.
Haru takes the couch.
 
It’s dark and it’s spinning when Rin wakes up. He doesn’t know the bed. Maybe
it’s the hotel. There’s a door right across from him and he hopes to god it’s
the bathroom. Because he is going to puke.
He retches until he’s just dry heaving, and staggers back to the bed where he
sits, reaching for the drink he knows Haru always puts on their bedside tables,
downing half of it in one. Speaking of Haru…
“Nanase-senpai?” he calls, too loudly, but as he adjusts to the moonlight
filtering in through a gap in the curtains, and finally gets enough sense to
look around, he realises this isn’t the hotel.
He starts to panic. He knows he got drunk, knows he got in a taxi. His memory
has someone there with him, but dammit if he can remember who it is. He still
has his underwear on, so that’s a thing but… just where on Earth is he. Where
is Haru?!
“Rin?” the voice is choked with sleep, and there’s a cough right after it. Rin
gets up in search of the noise. “I’m in the lounge… are you alright?”
 
“Haru!” Rin rushes in, and Haru barely has time to sit up and catch him when
this epitome of a hangover bowls into him.
“Hey… you know it’s two in the morning, right…?” Haru gets an arm around his
back anyway. He stinks of booze and vomit, and he’s panting like the jog across
the hall has worn him out completely. “Come on. Back to bed. You’re at my
house. Everything’s fine.”
Sort of.
“School,” Rin hiccups, and tenses considerably. “Drunk… oh,
god…whatamIgoingtodo?!”
“It’s fine. We’ll sort it out. You just need to sleep this off… alright? Hey…
no, no, no, no, Rin… don’t cry…” too late for that… “why are you crying?”
Rin’s too far gone to form words, blubbering into Haru’s shoulder, all his
weight now against his chest as he buries in for a hug, and Haru lets him,
running his hands up and down his back in a way he likes, and hopes it’s going
to work for him too. He lays back down, taking Rin with him, and he’s not as
heavy when he’s more spread out, lying half on top of Haru and barely hanging
off the edge of the couch.
Haru manoeuvres the blanket around them. Rin’s too much of a mess to try and
lug back to the bed, and getting up will wake them both up more anyway.
“We won, remember? You got yourself a medal in the senior relay…” he soothes.
He’s not good at this, this nice thing, and he’s probably making a hash of it,
but what else can he do? He runs a hand into Rin’s matted hair, easing out the
tangles with his fingers as the boy finally stops heaving and sets about a
sleepy, sickly tremble in his arms instead.
Isn’t that just the last time he lets him out of his sight at a party.
Chapter End Notes
     I'll say something intelligent tomorrow... I'm going to bed now.
     (So it's tomorrow!)
     We have some accidental MakoHaru in here then, which was always
     intended but that little skit with the office thing was totally out
     of my control.
     Rin would totally be a crying drunk.
     Comment and feedback and just all over love is so appreciated. I'm
     really surprised how well and how fast this thing has taken off.
     daxii on tumblr.
***** Chapter 3 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Rin recognises the comfort of Haru’s chest and arms when he blinks awake later
in the morning. Haru’s stroking his back, and all he can see is one jutting
collarbone and the curve of his neck that seems to just go on for days,
especially from this angle.
“You awake?” Haru asks, voice quiet, so soft compared to how he normally
speaks, and Rin can feel the words tickle at his fringe.
“Mm,” he’s not entirely sure he can speak, so he sticks with just humming an
acknowledgement.
They’re quiet again, Haru still running his hands up and down Rin’s back
without pause, like he doesn’t even want to move, or want Rin to move. Rin
starts to realise just how inappropriately they’re pressed together, how he’s
almost entirely on top of Haru, just being held. And then realises just how
much he likes it.
He shifts a bit, snuggling in, because if Haru’s not going to tell him to move,
he’s going to make the most of this. Haru adjusts to take his weight
accordingly, and now Rin’s face sinks into the crook of his neck and he stills
his hands, bringing one up to card through his hair.
“You alright?” he murmurs, the rumble of his voice making Rin tingle.
“Headache,” Rin manages to grunt.
Haru chuckles, just a little, rumbling more and Rin might be getting an
addiction to the lull of his tenor. “Hangover,” he tells him, uselessly. Rin
had worked that one out, thanks. “I texted Sasabe to call your school… they
think we’re still away.”
Rin had actually forgotten about school, but breathes a sigh of relief anyway.
“So we’re lying low for the day?” he feels Haru nod. “I think I’m still drunk
anyway,” Rin grumbles snuggles in even more – not even because he’s getting to
hug (actually being allowed to cuddle with) Nanase Haruka! – but just because
he wants a hug.
 
Haru squeezes around Rin, too tired to be annoyed and too comfortable under his
warm weight to shove him away.
“You’re a pain,” he moans, but it’s light, and he feels Rin smile half-
heartedly against him.
“Sorry…”
An endearing pain, none the less. He moves his arm from over the top of the
blanket around Rin’s back to slide it under, his bare skin now settling around
Rin’s nude torso. He’s warm and a bit sticky, but nothing unpleasant. Haru
starts to doodle over his shoulder blades with one finger, and Rin trembles.
“Tickle?”
“Good tickle…”
Haru continues. They’re pretty much housebound until Rin’s in decent enough
shape to take back to the school. It’s still pretty early, and they’re both
exhausted. He really just wants to go back to sleep, even if Rin is curled up
to him like a clingy, confused puppy. He’s clingy when he’s tired anyway, and
just seems the type to be a cuddly, giggly, little shit when he’s drunk. Haru
can deal with it.
“Haru…”
Haru squeezes again. “Who says you can call me Haru?” he says into the top of
his head, staying gentle, he’d hate to aggravate his headache. He feels Rin
tense. “No… it’s alright.”
Relaxing, Rin finally brings an arm over Haru too, the bits he isn’t lying on
top of, anyway. “Thanks for looking after me…” he mumbles, shy, probably
embarrassed.
“It’s my job,” because it is. But he’s also spent more time with Rin than
anyone else in the last few months, and considers them quite close – at least
as close as he ever manages to get with anyone – and cares about him. And
dammit, the kid is pretty cute when he wants to be.
“You know…” Haru thought it was over, thought they were going back to sleep,
but no, kid’s on a roll. “I’ve always admired you…”
And he’s definitely still drunk.
“Don’t say such embarrassing things,” he scolds, and feels Rin smiling again.
“And get your knee away from my bladder.”
He squeezes again, just for some comfort, while they shift and roll till
they’re lying facing each other, Rin pillowed on Haru’s arm now, and he’s
pressed close to keep from falling off, but it’s an easy kind of contact, oddly
familiar in just how natural it feels.
 
Rin blushes into Haru’s neck. Whatever he was trying to say, he probably didn’t
manage it. He has fucking posters of Haru around his pillow. “Admire” just
doesn’t cut it.
It’s lunch time when Rin’s recovered enough to pull out of Haru’s arms, having
slept away the entire morning, but he’s feeling much better. Haru’s still
asleep, and Rin leaves him under the blanket to go and take a shower, hoping
but also fairly confident that Haru won’t mind.
Haru’s up when he gets back into the lounge, and has vanished presumably in the
direction of the kitchen, because it smells like something’s cooking.
….
He should have fucking known.
“Mackerel and toast?”
“No one said you had to eat it,” Haru grunts, not even turning to acknowledge
him, nor the least bit surprised that Rin’s appeared in the room with him.
But he gives Rin a plate anyway.
 
“So Rin,” Haru’s eavesdropping, hovering by the door to Sasabe’s office, and
he’s got Rin sitting across from him, trying to look confident, “how about we
try you in the Senior event for the 200m Fly?”
He can see Rin’s lips do a twitch in the reflection from the window behind
Sasabe, and guesses they’re having the same thought process. Only the 200m?
“Baby steps,” Coach adds, and Rin finally nods.
Haru understands, for anyone else, it would be reasonable, but Rin’s proved
himself, and he’s just so ready, especially in the butterfly, and it’s probably
more to do with politics than anything, not stepping on any of the experienced
swimmers’ toes until they’ve really started to acknowledgetheir young protégé.
There’s less intensity in the 200m, compared to the quick fire battle of the
100m.
Suddenly, there’s a presence behind him. Big and familiar, and now Haru’s too
hot as he leans back on instinct, and large hands come snaking around his waist
to slide up his tee, rubbing over his abs as the man’s mouth comes down to his
ear.
“Why are you hiding out here?” he whispers.
“Why are you flirting?” Haru demands in response, even as Makoto kisses his
neck.
“You really like him, hmm?” Makoto asks, entirely ignoring Haru’s weak attempt
at a protest and nuzzling in, rocking them side to side.
“Just checking in,” Haru grunts.
“I saw your relay. He’s very good.”
“He’s getting better,” and Haru smiles. Rin’s nowhere near his peak, especially
in the Free.
There’s movement inside, and Makoto takes a step back, settling an arm around
Haru’s shoulders instead. Haru shoots him a side-eye. Makoto’s always been the
jealous type.
“Yo,” Rin doesn’t look nearly surprised enough that Haru’s stood outside the
office. Suspicious, on the other hand, with that raised eyebrow… Haru turns
away.
They both glance to their coach as he chuckles. “Hey, ready to go?” he’s
speaking to Makoto.
“Yep, just saying ‘hi’ to this guy,” Makoto grins. “We have a conference here
tonight,” he explains to Haru.
Sasabe nods. “Did you manage to arrange anywhere to stay?”
“Oh, I’m sure something will work out,” and he squeezes around Haru’s shoulders
before dropping his hold. “See you later, boys.”
Haru nods once as they leave.
 
So Haru’s probably getting his ass fucked right about now.
Rin groans and rolls over, again, hugging his pillow. He doesn’t know why he’s
so bothered by it. He just can’t get it out of his head. How close they stand,
how easily Haru leans into his hugs, how he’s still so sure he saw Makoto kiss
his head they first time they met.
And then he can’t stop thinking about how easily Haru held him last week, all
cuddled up on his sofa together, Haru drawing on his back and stroking his
hair…He wants that now, wants to fall asleep all warm and balled up with
someone else, preferably passing out still cross eyed and sweaty, but at the
moment he’ll take any kind of contact he can get.
He kicks the underside of his roommate’s bunk.
“Ai,” he grunts.
“Senpai?” sleepy squeak, obviously woken him up. Oops.
“Get in?” he’s half asking, half just demanding, because he knows Ai won’t
reject a night sharing a bed.
Silently, his kouhai descends the ladder and slips under the covers, slotting
himself in next to Rin, and they settle into a lazy hold on each other.
“You alright?” it’s the same words Haru used, and just that is making him want
to cry.
“Fine,” he grunts, hoping his little heave is muffled, he’s so wedged in with
Ai’s sweet smelling hair.
 
“Good luck,” Haru says quietly as Rin gets out of his seat, huffing a nervous
sigh.
“Thanks… will you…?”
Haru just nods. “Of course. Find me in the locker room and I’ll give you your
camera back there,” because their races are going to be a lot more bunched
together now, but that’s alright.
Haru’s even learned how to use the zoom function on his phone, and has a pretty
decent view of Rin’s eyes just sparkling when he looks up for the results
board. Haru’s pretty sure his own are doing the same.
Rin barrels into him in the locker room, and Haru doesn’t even care as he gives
him the obviously desired hug. Several others come to clap him on the back in
praise, including Rei, which Haru is pleased about, because Rin hadn’t stopped
panicking about how he might react if Rin knocked him from the top spot.
But there’s pride there. They’re all feeling it. It’s that same energy Haru
remembers from when he was just coming up into the professional league, and
everyone feeds from it. Rin has a new respect amongst the team, and it shows in
Rin too. His whole attitude has matured over the last few months. He’s no
longer blushing and squirming and getting far too giddy when he meets a
commended athlete.
“I’m still not letting you drink again,” Haru tells him, whispering as Rin
still clings on for his hug, panting and just buzzing with his high.
“Fair enough.”
 
There’s not even a private discussion when the Coach allows Rin to enter the
100m Fly, he just announces it when he’s running through the line up with them,
and Rin’s fighting a losing battle holding onto his smile.
It’s another overnight trip, and Rin settles comfortably on Haru, leaning right
into his chest and practically forcing his arm to come around his shoulders,
and it’s a few moments of fidgeting before Haru accepts the uninvited leach now
stuck to him.
“You’re always tired,” Haru says, observationally and Rin thinks that’s a
little inflection of concern there too.
“Just busy.”
“We get a little break soon. There’s no competitions for the month between
seasons.”
Rin nods. He already knows this, but knows he needs to use the extra free time
from less intense practices to really knuckle down with studying. He even has a
history assignment to do tomorrow night after the preliminary races.
“I’m buying you a travel pillow for Christmas,” Haru grunts, and settles his
head on top of Rin’s.
 
Haru lets him have one beer for his two first place medals and their silver in
the relay, and is very pleased with Rin when he rejects the offer of joining in
on a round of jaeger-bombs. So he gets another beer for that.
“Come on, curfew,” Haru tries to be subtle. He doesn’t want drunken smirks from
the others because Rin is still just the baby.
Rin complies easily, slipping out of the bar just a little bit tipsy, nothing
that will draw any attention at school, but enough that he’s putting his arm
around Haru’s shoulders.
“You’re shrinking.”
Haru bats him off. “You’re growing, idiot.”
And he is, Rin’s shot up from Haru’s nose level to being the same height as
him, and he’s filling out in his chest and arms too. He’s actually… a little
bit hot now. Haru stuffs his hands in his pockets as they walk towards the taxi
rank.
“Do you want to enter the Free in senior next time, for the end of the season?”
Haru asks quietly. He’s walked Rin up the driveway to the gate of the school,
taxi having long gone.
Rin pauses. “I’d be against you…”
Haru might like to interject that’ll only be if they’re facing off in the
final, but never mind. He knows Rin’s going to get to the final anyway.
“We’ve not really raced before…” Haru muses. “I’ll talk to Sasabe for you.”
 
Rin glances from the corner of his eye at Haru. They’re a few lanes apart, but
he can see Haru’s glancing his way too. It’s such an effort to not go flying
from the block before the gun fires that he almost misses the start. He cuts
through the water, and it somehow feels so different to how it usually does.
There’s such an edge to it, oddly familiar, but it’s so off putting. It’s only
when they’ve made the turn and are hurtling back to the blocks does he realise
it’s because of the wash from Haru’s lane.
He makes third.
 
Haru can’t find Rin in the showers. He can’t find Rin in the locker room. He
can’t find Rin in the stands. And he hopes to god he’s on that coach because
Haru can’t find him anywhere, even after the stadium has closed for the
evening. He drives back to the hotel slowly, meandering down side streets just
in case Rin is wandering around alone.
He finds him in the hotel room. Rin is just coming out of the bathroom and
skulking to his bed when Haru gets in. He grabs him by the arm before Rin’s
even had time to look up and marches him into the wall, slamming one hand to
the side of his head while he just grips tighter and tighter with the other.
“Where the fuck have you been, Rin?!” he yells, up close to his face, probably
spitting. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”
He pants, and he’s so close that their breath is mixing in the space between
them. Rin says nothing.
“Why are you acting like a child?!”
 
Rin doesn’t know. Rin doesn’t know what he expected.
How could he, just a silly kid with apparently a bit of an ego problem, ever
hope to compete against Nanase Haruka?
He just wants to cry, and has a fleeting thought of just collapsing into his
tears on Haru’s shoulder right in front of him. But he can’t. Haru’s just so
mad at him.
He finally meets his eye, and Haru’s gaze is just full of nothing. There’s not
the worry or anger that’s in his voice, not the modest pride that always makes
him glow from his win. There’s nothing, just a hole burning into him, and it
saps all coherent thought out of Rin. He can’t deal with it.
 
Rin starts to shift and Haru relaxes. He’s just been so terrified that
something might have happened to him that he’s forgotten what he’s doing, and
thinks that Rin actually looks scared of him right now.
But then Rin steps forwards and kisses him.
Chapter End Notes
     Ahahaha so that was a really fun, exciting whirlwind to write. Makoto
     showed up without my consent at ALL and I was just here like what the
     fuck you're not even in the same city what are you doing PUT HARU
     DOWN NO, but it's fine. Everyone loves a bit of MakoHaru.
     I've been working on my angst in another fic, so I hope I've been
     able to do the end of this justice. It's not my strong suit at all.
     Thank you for reading, I'd love any feedback.
     And before you panic yes I've upped the chapters to 5 now.
     I get so damn carried away.
     daxii on tumblr
***** Chapter 4 *****
Haru’s too shocked to do anything but stand there for a few seconds until Rin
pulls off and presses himself back into the wall, but he’s not looking down
like he’s nervous or anything, he’s just staring straight at Haru, waiting.
But what’s Haru supposed to say? What’s he supposed to do? At the moment he’s
just staring right back. He finally lets go of Rin’s arm and takes a step back.
He’s the first to look away, taking a long breath. Rin slips out to the side of
him and vanishes from the room again, and Haru just gives up, heading over to
his bed and flopping down face first.
He finds him at dinner, but Rin’s already sitting between Rei and that
Itsusomething bloke, and doesn’t even look at Haru when he sits down alone at
the end of the opposite table with his plate. Haru glares at his mackerel,
mushing it around repeatedly with his rice. He always used to eat alone, and
now it’s just leaving him with no appetite.
He gets up alone, leaving more than half his food, and begins to leave the
hotel’s restaurant.
 
His shadow is hot on his heels.
Rin scampers to catch up, sliding into the elevator behind Haru just before the
doors close. Haru doesn’t look at him. It’s almost like he can’t look at him,
like he’s fighting to keep his eyes on the floor, and he’s locked in the
bathroom before Rin can even get his shoes off, and barely leaves Rin time for
a quick spin under the hot water before they really need to get some sleep.
There’s tension in the room. Murky and thick like a fog, clouding up between
their beds.
“You kissed me,” Haru mumbles into the night, looking straight up at the
ceiling.
Rin blushes, rolling over to face away. That’s right. He did. And he doesn’t
really know why.
“I’ve always admired you,” he whispers.
“You’re sixteen, Rin,” he can hear Haru sitting up, maybe just leaning on his
elbow to look over at him.
Rin just shrugs. “Old enough for beer according to you.”
“It’s different, Rin…” Haru doesn’t sound so sure though, maybe… there’s a
sudden sigh, and Haru flips back over.
“Goodnight, Haruka-senpai.”
“’Night, Rin…”
Haru wins the Free. They win the relay in the afternoon, but Haru’s not
welcoming him into the celebratory hug as he usually does. He hugs him, they’re
all hugging, but it’s so light and so delicate and just nervous that Rin breaks
off before the others.
 
“Let’s get in the car,” Haru tells Rin quietly. “We’re already late.”
Rin doesn’t move for a moment, opening and closing his mouth like he’s looking
for words, until he gives up and looks away too.
“Are you al–”
“Don’t,” Rin cuts him off with a grunt.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” Rin hisses, and pushes past Haru towards his bed, throwing his phone
charger into his back and forcing the zip closed. He turns to Haru with a look
of “well, come on, then?” and Haru has to fumble for his composure and his
case.
Because Rin kissed him. And Haru can’t say he didn’t not enjoy it.
It’s probably not ideal that he really has no choice but to ride with Rin, but
after… that, it makes for an impossibly silent and awkward trip. Rin is just so
miserable next to him, probably confused and upset and just disappointed. Was
it losing to Haru?
Rin shoots off into the crowd of their team as soon as they hit the bar. Haru
doesn’t really blame him, and slinks to the sides.
“Get this kid a beer!” someone calls, and through a gap between shoulders Haru
sees someone throw their arm around Rin’s shoulders. There’s a few confused
looks shot between them. Haru sits next to Rei, trying to look casual.
Rin’s doing an excellent job of avoiding him. Every time Haru sees him when
their group shifts around he has a beer in his hand. Steadily getting more and
more giggly and just silly – drunk, obviously – until he’s sidling up to Haru,
scooting onto the seat next to him and sinking onto his shoulder.
 
“Suppose I should get you home, hmm?” Haru asks him, fitting his armdecidedly
heavily around his shoulders, like he doesn’t want him to leave again. “I can’t
finish this. Or I’ll be too drunk to drive anyway,” and he plonks his half-
finished beer bottle down onto the table in front of them.
It’s only Haru’s second – Rin’s been keeping tabs – and he looks so worried
when Rin casually picks up the bottle and takes a swig.
“Let me finish that for you,” he winks. Haru thinks he’s plastered anyway. Half
a bottle won’t make a difference at this point.
“It’s already past curfew…” Haru says, stroking a few strands of hair from
Rin’s face with irritated affection. “Coming back to mine? Bit of a state,
aren’t you?”
Rin nods against him, warm and comfortable and just feeling better that Haru’s
not furious enough to abandon him. He knew he’d get to go back to his place if
Haru thought he was wasted.
But it’s only Rin’s second drink too.
 
Rin giggles all the way home. It’s not too late and he’s not as bad as he could
be, but Haru still feels like an idiot. He could have just taken him back to
the school and been done with it. Rin was obviously mad at him anyway, so
denying him a night out couldn’t really have made anything worse. Though, he’s
glad to be getting Rin home safe and so much happier. Hopefully he won’t be too
rough in the morning so they can have some kind of conversation about
everything.
“But I’m not even druuuuunk,” Rin whines, leaning against Haru on the hallway
wall as he tries to take his shoes off.
Haru steadies him with a hand on his shoulder, but that only serves to make Rin
lean into him even more, wrapping his arms around his waist and sinking his
face into Haru’s neck.
“Somehow I’m not inclined to believe you,” Haru mutters, allowing the hug and
gently rubbing his back. “Sit. Have some water.”
Rin kisses his cheek. Haru takes that as his cue to manoeuvre him to the couch,
fetching him the water and some food to soak up however much booze he’s had.
Rin flops over him, practically rolling in his lap, and Haru’s having a hard
time keeping his hands in check. He wants to stroke his back or pet his hair,
just comforting little touches to try and tell him it’s alright. He expects Rin
to be clingy – it’s just how he gets, but now it’s implying so much more. He
snuggles and clambers on him, digging his face back into his neck where he
finally settles, straddling Haru’s lap now. He doesn’t kiss him again, but he’s
definitely too close.
“How much did you have?” Haru asks, folding one arm over him to both just hold
him and also pull him away a little bit.
“Just one… and that bit you gave me,” Haru’s not so sure on his definition of
‘gave’, but whatever.
“Be honest,” he scolds.
“I am being honest,” Rin comes up to mouth against his ear. “I’m not even
drunk.”
 
Haru’s hands settle onto his back.
“….Oh.”
Rin adjusts, leaning back just a tad but shifting his hips forwards, sitting
his crotch right into Haru’s.
“Rin,” Haru warns, or tries to, but it catches in his throat when Rin rocks his
hips.
“Haru,” Rin mocks, leaning in again, just an inch between their noses and open
lips. Haru can probably smell how sober he is now, and it settles over his eyes
when he realises he’s been tricked. “You’re not even my first.”
Haru’s hands slide down, gripping the softer flesh on the sides of his lower
back. It feels desperate. He’s so tempted by Rin’s attention but he’s trying to
force it off. Rin’s not having any of that.
“You’re very confident,” Haru manages to say, kneading his hips with his
fingers now.
Rin smirks.
Haru’s still holding him, getting closer and closer to his ass as his fingers
fondle him. Rin closes his eyes and presses his lips to Haru’s, just chaste,
just for a second, and grinds his hips again.
“We can’t,” Haru whines, and now it’s his head coming to Rin’s shoulder, eyes
closed and just hugging him.
Rin brushes his hair, soothing little motions, so soft and silky and addictive
between his fingers, and kisses towards his ear. “Tell me you never hooked up
with anyone on the team when you were my age.”
Haru moans.
“Like maybe… Makoto?” Rin sings, teasing now, rocking his hips in a slow and
steady rhythm.
It’s taking effort not to starting panting, he can feel Haru’s hard cock
against his, and he’s never felt so hot in his life. He moves back to kiss Haru
again, deeper this time, cutting off Haru’s grumbling as he loses the battle.
Haru’s hands slide down to his ass.
 
“Tell me what you want,” Haru says as he puts a hand on Rin’s chest to push him
back, away from his mouth, and moves his other hand back to the safer area of
his back. Just for a breather. Just to collect himself and be able to breathe
air that’s not so full of Rin for a second. “Tell me why you were so upset.”
He manages to get some space between them, pulling his head back to really look
at Rin’s face. His eyes are still dark, but his smile falters now, head tilting
away.
“I lost…” he whispers, almost silent, and Haru cups his cheek, preparing for
tears. “I’m sorry.”
Rin pushes his way back, disregarding Haru’s hand-barricade to come in for
something much more comforting than whatever they were just getting up to,
rubbing his nose into his cheek, punctuated by little kisses, and Haru does the
same.
“Don’t think I don’t know what it feels like to lose to someone you… admire,”
he hates to say it, but he does understand, and soothes Rin down with a gentle
kiss, surprising him apparently, according to his little gasp.
But then there’s just relief as Rin breathes out against his lips, all that
confidence he was boasting finally paying off, so obviously an act.
Rin doesn’t want to talk anymore, it seems, just wants to kiss and make Haru
shut up. But Haru is ok with this, Rin’s less desperate and needy, softening
into his lips with a gradual build, beginning to rock his hips until they’re
both hard again.
“It’s a rest day tomorrow,” Rin breathes into his mouth. “Doesn’t matter that I
won’t be able to swim.”
Haru cups the back of his neck and brings him away again, studying him close.
“You’re saying…?”
“God, yes, Haru.”
 
No more arguments. Haru slides his hand back down to Rin’s ass, this time
sliding under the hem of his tracksuit and navigating past his boxers to rub at
his puckered hole. Rin arches his back, kissing Haru more forcefully each time
his thumb brushes against him. Rin makes work of hitching their pants down,
releasing them both into his hand.
“Feisty,” Haru complains into his ear. Rin bites at his lobe in response, and
that changes Haru’s tune just nicely. “Bedroom, then. Not on the couch.”
Rin couldn’t agree more, bouncing off his lap and pulling him up. Haru looks so
much more relaxed, even though Rin’s not quite sure what changed from earlier.
Probably the mention of Makoto. Haru steps in with forceful hands on Rin’s
waist when they reach the bedroom, pushing down his tracksuit pants, getting
them around his knees before he lies on the bed. Rin gets rid of the rest of
his clothes and comes across his lap, rubbing his cock against the soft fabric
of Haru’s pants.
“Impatient,” Haru grunts.
Really, Rin’s just trying not to lose his nerve.
“Are you sure you’re sure?” Haru takes his cock, pumping a few times, the other
hand moving round a single finger slicked with a few sucks slipping in.
Rin hopes his moan translates well enough into a final yes.
 
“Roll over,” he coaxes. This always used to be Makoto’s role, and he’s
basically just borrowing the same script.
Rin says he’s done this before though, and he’s curious. He does as he’s told,
presenting himself to Haru. They’ve seen each other nude before, which is
probably why they’re both so weirdly comfortable, and Haru gets to work with
prep, pampering and stroking all over Rin’s back and hips, tickling just a
little here and there to make him soften and relax against him.
Haru takes him from behind, Rin’s face buried into his pillow, biting it to
muffle the utterly delicious moans he’s making. Haru’s always been much
quieter, but Rin keeps looking over his shoulder at him, like he’s a little
insecure. He needs to hear him, so Haru does his best.
Getting Rin onto his back when they’re both close eliminates that problem. He
can kiss him again while he jerks him off onto his own stomach.
Rin is smiling when Haru lies down next to him, having cleaned them all up.
Haru’s expecting him to latch on for cuddles immediately, but he takes a little
coaxing to come and curl up with him like Haru has grown surprisingly used to.
“Are you alright?”
“Mm…” Rin’s so muffled into him. “Starting to ache,” he grunts.
“Sorry,” Haru cards through his hair gently, kissing at his forehead. Rin just
shrugs.
“I’m dropping the 200m next season,” he continues softly. Rin makes an
irritated little noise, scolding Haru for whatever bullshit small-talk he’s
attempting, but Haru just wants him to go to sleep contented. “And taking up
the 400 instead. Guess who coach wants as my replacement?” he squeezes around
him, and Rin smiles, so he knows he’s got it.
It’s silent between them, but there’s an odd agreement that they won’t try and
race again. There’s too much at stake now. They’ve become too dependent on each
other for a repeat of Saturday afternoon.
***** Chapter 5 *****
Chapter Notes
See the end of the chapter for notes
Rin makes second on his first try at the Senior 200m Free, but he qualifies for
the final at least. He’s pulling out his ponytail when he sits down on a bench
in the changing rooms, slumping over his own knees. Haru, of course, came first
in his 400m and 100m heats.
“You did well,” Haru’s behind him somewhere, and doesn’t say anything more
until his feet have slip-slapped over to him. He crouches in front of Rin, way
up close between his legs and looks up at his face. “What’s wrong?”
“I’d have still been third if you were racing… I’ve not gotten any better.”
Haru sighs. “We’ve had a month of lazy training. And you had how many exams?
Why are you being so hard on yourself?”
Rin can’t explain it. Even if he had the right words to tell Haru that he
justneeds this, how could Haru understand? His talent is effortless.
He’s not even sure where he even stands with Haru at this point. They haven’t
slept together since that first time, and it’s not like Haru’s not had the
opportunity to take him back to his place after training, rather than
delivering him to the school. Rin always kisses his cheek as he’s getting out
of the car, but that’s as brave as he’s gotten. He’s not even feeling confident
enough to lean down to get a hug from Haru now.
So he’s surprised when Haru’s long, slim arms encircle his waist and he’s
pulled into his chest, barely balanced on the end of the bench, and Rin can
only nuzzle into his shoulder, Haru sighing.
“Sorry,” Rin mumbles into his neck.
Haru pulls back and brushes his hair from his face. “It’s alright… let’s get
dressed.”
Of course he has to put on a smile for the press outside, and of course
everyone wants to speak to Haru about his new venture into long distance
swimming, so they’re still hanging around while everyone else manages to make
an escape for the bus.
“… - he’s still not at his peak,” Haru tells the journalist as Rin tunes in to
what he’s saying, “he’s gonna be great in a few years, watch this space.”
They have to pose for a picture. Rin puts his arm around Haru’s shoulders, and
feels Haru’s hand in the small of his back in return. He’s not putting on a
show of a hug for the camera for a picture that’s no doubt going to go under a
big bright title of TEAMMATES when it gets published, but instead his thumb is
stroking just in the sensitive nook at the back of his waist. Haru doesn’t look
at the camera – he never does, it’s like his trademark or something – always
looking away to the side.
This time he’s looking at Rin.
 
Haru leaves Rin sat at the dressing table in their hotel room working on an
essay, promising to be back shortly. He just wants to give him a bit of quiet
down time. Hopefully getting his literature assignment out of the way and some
dinner in his belly will perk him back up again. He gets back to their room an
hour later after a walk and picking up drinks from the vending machine for them
both. Rin grunts an acknowledgement when he sets the can on the desk in front
of him.
“Struggling?” he asks, sitting on Rin’s bed.
“Mmrgh.”
“What? Is your assignment in Simlish or something?”
“Just boring,” Rin turns to him, popping the tab on his can.
Haru just shrugs. “Do it later. Is it for Monday?”
Nodding, Rin casts his eyes to the side. “I can’t stay out late tomorrow…”
“Noted,” Haru says quietly. Rin’s chewing his lip, like he’s wanting to say
something – and Haru can probably guess what – but he doesn’t want to make the
suggestion for them, Rin’s going to have to be the one to push it first. He
gets up going back to him, brushing a hand gently on his shoulder and dropping
his head closer to his. “You should shower before dinner,” he strokes his hand
up to his hair, threading his fingers through it. “You still smell like
chlorine.”
Rin nods, seemingly put at ease by the gentle affection. He leaves the bathroom
door open and hums while he showers, coming back into the room cocky and
confident in just his towel to dig around for his clothes. Haru sits on his own
bed, pretending to play a Loosey-kun puzzle game on his phone, glancing at him
from the corner of his eye as Rin makes a hash of pretending not to notice he’s
giving him a show.
Jeans snug on his hips, Haru slides off his bed to wait for his tank to fall
over his head, and then cocks his head in the direction of the door, signalling
for them to leave. Rin mocks his mackerel again during dinner, getting more
comfortable with every minute as they slip back into their old routine.  There
are other members of their team going into their rooms on the same hallway when
they’re turning in for the evening, but Rin is so close while Haru unlocks the
door he suspects if they were alone, he’d be making a move.
He makes it when he’s closing the door instead, sliding his hands so
tentatively around Haru’s waist and edging his chin onto his shoulder, close
enough that the tip of one fang tickles Haru’s earlobe when he opens his mouth
to speak.
“I’m going to finish my essay while you have a bath,” he says, soft, sultry,
making Haru just tingle all over.
“And then what?” Haru asks in a low tone, quiet, so his voice doesn’t give away
just how turned on he is right now.
 
Rin is wearing his headphones while he works so doesn’t hear Haru come out of
the bathroom, only feels a gentle hand running through his hair and lips coming
down to whisper to him.
“You should finish this, but don’t stay up too late, alright?”
Rin turns his head to say some in response, but Haru is right there, so close
he can feel his gentle exhale from his nose. Anything he was going to say is
forgotten, and he closes the gap for a kiss instead. Haru is tender but brief
in returning it, and follows up with a peck to his forehead when he pulls off.
He watches Haru pull off his clothes get into bed in his boxers. The main light
is off, but both their bedside lamps and the light above the mirror above the
desk are on, so it’s dark enough for him to roll over and close his eyes. Rin’s
shared with him enough times that he knows Haru is very good at going to sleep.
He gives up around 11pm, but only has about a page left to write, and maps out
his final points and summarizes his conclusion on a separate page. Haru’s
asleep, and Rin doesn’t want to disturb him but… there must be a reason he’s
sleeping over at one side of the big bed, right? The worst he can do is ignore
him, really, because after that kiss Rin is confident he won’t be sent away.
He changes into his usual baggy pyjama pants, but stays shirtless. He hesitates
just a moment before easing back the covers, trying to disturb the bed as
little as possible so he doesn’t wake Haru. He sidles close, but not touching,
just comforted by his presence. There’s no reaction from Haru for a few
moments, but then he rolls onto his back, head turned to Rin, and his hand
wanders in the space between them for one of Rin’s.
“You alright?” he asks him, barely a whisper.
Rin nods sleepily, squeezing Haru’s fingers and shuffling a little closer, just
enough that he can stretch his neck out to put his head on Haru’s shoulder.
“Tired?”
“Not as tired as I should be,” Rin murmurs. His brain is far too active for the
rest of his body, even though the rest of him is completely worn out.
Haru rolls to face Rin now, putting one arm over his waist, and Rin does the
same, nudging his face towards him for a kiss. Haru accepts, bringing their
bare chests together and rubbing Rin’s back. It’s such a lazy kiss, but it’s
relaxing, all open mouths and slow tongues.
“I know a way you could get me to sleep,” Rin whispers, aiming for sexy, but
it’s a tone he doesn’t have that much experience in.
Haru gets the hint anyway, hand running to his lower back now, fingertips
pressing at the band of his pants. “You do, do you?” Haru pulls it off much
better than he does.
Rin gasps as Haru’s hands slide under the stretchy cotton, scrapping his
fingernails across his cheek before moving around to his cock, stroking him
from a semi to straining in seconds, and then pulls it out of his pants
completely.
“You too,” Rin breathes as he moans, Haru slicking him up with his own pre-cum.
“Alright,” is all Haru says, and releases his own cock with his other hand,
just through the fly of his boxers.
They kiss as he jacks them together, breaths getting quicker and more
desperate, and Rin can hear himself uncontrollably whimpering as Haru draws him
closer. He finishes first, and Haru slows while he comes down from it, rubbing
his release all over his own cock. When he’s recovered, Rin bats his hand out
of the way to finish Haru himself.
 
Rin licks Haru’s cum off his fingers, and Haru can only stare at the sight. He
kisses him again, hotter this time, and they mutually agree to wriggle out of
their pants. Haru cleans them off with his boxers before throwing them out of
bed.
It becomes their new routine. They won’t penetrate each other at a competition,
but Sunday nights at Haru’s are free-game, even if he has to get Rin back to
the school before curfew. They even make-out in the car for a few moments
whenever he’s dropping him off.
Rin progresses in his freestyle, and regularly places first in his heats and in
the top three in the final. But he always looks at Haru like it’s not enough,
like he’s missing something, even though he’s more comfortable with his
results. They’re on down-time again now, but Rin is still training at full
pelt.
They’re alone at the pool one night, the lifeguard trusting them to not die
while he goes for a bathroom break, and Haru finds himself pinned against the
wall of the pool as soon as he’s left the area.
“Hello,” he says, casually, even as Rin comes in to kiss him and Haru brings
his hand to his hair, the other to his back. “Getting cheeky, aren’t you.”
“Mm,” Rin just moans. “Swim with me.”
Haru kisses him again, hugging his waist. Rin has his hands on his shoulders,
levering himself to kiss his neck. “I am swimming with you. I’m literally
swimming with you right now.”
“No…” Rin pauses, and hides his face in Haru’s neck, like he’s suddenly so shy.
“I mean… race me.”
Haru turns his head, and Rin must feel his body tense, because he lets go
entirely. “We can’t…” he lies. “There’s no one to call it.”
Rin’s kisses are sad and reluctant when he takes him back to school that night.
He doesn’t ask again, obviously feeling like the rejection is complete, but
doesn’t take long to perk up again, managing to wheedle his way into spending
the following Saturday night at Haru’s, and Haru’s is more than happy to fuck
him till he passes out, if that’s what he wants, but he can’t quite let it go.
When the season restarts, Haru takes up the 800m along side his other races,
still not dropping his short sprint, and he probably won’t when it comes to
major competitions. But for giving Rin a chance on the lower levels… yeah,
that’s definitely coming up.
Haru spoons Rin tightly in their shared bed, the other relegated to nothing but
storage for their bags now. In the morning he has his 200m Free final, and he
knows how much he wants to win. He’s worked so hard for it, and on paper, he’s
hitting the right times.
 
Second. Dammit.
Rin forces a smile, he’s not allowed to sulk, and finds himself waiting
longingly in the wings, hiding himself against the tunnel to the changing
rooms, to watch Haru’s races.
First. Of course.
Haru saw him standing here when he was on the blocks for his first race, so he
can’t exactly make an escape, and he’s coming right towards him as soon as he’s
out of the pool after his 800m. He’s taken to the deserted bathroom – everyone
else always using the one in the changing room – and nuzzles into his shoulder
before Haru’s even wrapped his arms around him.
“You did so well,” Haru’s trying to soothe him. It’s not exactly working.
Rin can’t reply, just sniffling back tears as Haru holds him, and Haru doesn’t
try and say more. He kisses his cheek when Rin pulls back, and a gentle thumb
dries his eyes.
“This is why you won’t race me, isn’t it,” Rin blubbers, and Haru only nods
while he continues cleaning off his face.
“When you’re ready, alright?”
And it’s not a ‘ready’ as in when he knows he can win, but when he accepts that
he can lose.
They’re staying overnight on the Friday too for the first competition of the
following season, and Rin enjoys his bedtime blow-job to the fullest. Haru
swallows his load – his own spent into Rin’s mouth earlier on, and crawls up on
top of him, kissing his neck as he lies down, just covering him like his
favourite blanket.
“It’s up to you,” he starts, softly, playing with Rin’s hair in one hand, “but
Coach was considering putting you in the 100m tomorrow. Let me know, and I’ll
tell him first thing, alright?”
Rin squeezes around him. “Do you mind?”
“No,” Haru tells him, so definite that Rin relaxes more into the proposition.
“It’s if you’re ready.”
He kisses him goodnight after that, shuffling off but settling under Rin’s arm
and with his head on his chest to sleep.
 
Rin looks more surprised than anything when he makes second in his heat with a
good enough time to get into the final. They meet up in the changing rooms, and
it’s casting eyes on Haru that makes Rin finally acknowledge just what’s about
to happen when they get up tomorrow. Haru holds him all night, kissing the back
of his neck.
He presses him against their bedroom door before Rin can ditch out early for
breakfast – he’d been plotting his escape when Haru was still washing up.
“It’s alright. I won’t be mad, if you… get upset… everyone gets disappointed.”
Rin – who’d been trying to shrug him off – suddenly freezes. “Do you expect me
to lose?”
Haru kisses his lips. “I expect you to place. You’re good, Rin, and you still
have time to get better.”
 
Haru’s a few lanes over from him, watching him carefully as they stand on the
blocks. He can probably see his tremble even at that distance. They’d kissed
quickly in the tunnel – Haru having made a point of holding Rin back so they
would be walking out last, just so no one would see, and Rin’s riding it like a
high as they take off into the water.
His view of Haru is blocked, which is probably a good thing, he can’t afford
the distraction, but he can already feel he’s faster than the first time they
raced, and it’s only now, after months of swimming with the man he admires more
than anyone in the world, just what an honour it is to be in the same pool as
him.
Second has never felt so good in his life.
Chapter End Notes
     BONUS DELETED SCENE:
     "You're 16, Rin. I just turned 24."
     "It's 8 years... that's not a lot in the grand scheme of things."
     Haru kisses him, a rough, scolding peck. "That's literally half your
     life."
     (I couldn't work this in anywhere in the plot I had planned, and
     couldn't think of a scene it would fit, so just have it as a
     conversation that probably happened between them at some point)
     Thank you so much for reading <3
End Notes
     This is NOT intended to be pedophilic or grooming in any way. I'm not
     gonna be one to encourage someone to seek out a willing little
     sixteen year old to get down and dirty with, and nor would I
     encourage it vice versa, either. But hey sometimes things just roll
     this way, so let's be chill, kay?
     Also I have no idea how olympics and scouting and teams and
     everything works and I TRIED to work in some actual layout/facts, but
     this is the set up I needed for the plot, so we're just rolling with
     that, too.
     Big thanks to my wifey maybeillride for all the help with this, and
     big apologies to the other woman thegirlonfandoms because... because
     you know why.
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