Work Text:
Ryuuichi sat at the edge of the hospital bed, clutching Kamitani's hand in a death grip. His younger brother lay unconscious on the bed, his chest rising and falling increasingly slowly.
Until it stopped.
Ryuuichi waited for another beat, holding his breath, but he knew it was over. He'd never hold Kotarou again, or cook him dinner or tuck him into bed. Everything was lost because of a careless driver. It shouldn't have been fatal. Shouldn't have, but it didn't matter. Kotarou was gone.
Ryuuichi didn't cry. At least, not until he and Kamitani reached the other's house. As soon as he crossed the doorway he broke down, crumpled against the wall. Kamitani said nothing, but slid down beside him and patted the floor.
"Sit," he said gruffly. Ryuuichi sat down, hastily rubbing the tears away from his face. He didn't want Kotarou to see them, because then he would start crying too- but wait, Kotarou wasn't there anymore.
"I- I just- all this time," he hiccuped, "I spent so much time thinking about what Kotarou would do without me, I never thought about what I would do without him."
"You can cry, you know," Kamitani said, uncharacteristically gently.
"Huh?"
"I guess you'd be used to holding your tears in, wouldn't you?" It was true. He'd never let himself cry, for his brother's sake. Ryuuichi hugged his knees to his chest, slumping forward.
”Yeah… I guess I am.” He felt Kamitani’s heavy arm on his shoulder.
”You can cry,” he repeated, pulling Ryuuichi closer.
This time, he did.