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Toya falls, and Akito’s jumping after him before he can even register it.
The wind is cutting, and he’s floating for a brief moment before the water hits him.
It’s cold.
Akito flails for a moment, before he kicks up and gasps a lungful of air.
Toya, he thinks frantically, his eyes darting over the murky water.
Dammit.
Akito sees movement in the corner of his eye and dives after it, squinting against the burning of his eyes.
He pushes forward and grabs the blur in front of him, tugging it back and almost sagging in relief when he’s met with Toya’s familiar eyes.
They’re wide with an emotion Akito didn’t pause to name as he pulled Toya close to him and maneuvered them to the surface.
Toya’s heavy—clinging to him with a visceral force, his unwavering stare weighing on Akito.
They both gasp when they break the surface of the water, and Akito’s swimming as soon as he makes sure Toya isn’t slipping out of his grasp.
Neither of them say anything, the silence broken by Akito’s labored breaths and the sounds of the water.
Akito’s legs burn and he’s breathing so raggedly he’s sure he’s hyperventilating but he still drags them both on.
He can barely think, swimming for god knows how long until he’s near land, scrambling to pull Toya up, before Akito hauls himself out of the water as well, collapsing onto the riverbank.
Akito swallows, before he’s coughing, wet and raspy, sand digging into his palms as he struggles to breathe.
A hand settles on his back, cold but grounding, rubbing circles into it until Akito finally stops coughing.
They sit there like that for a moment and Akito finds the world fading in and out of focus, blurring into colors and shapes.
He shakes himself once.
Akito can’t pass out. Toya needs him.
(He’s exhausted.)
“Toya,” he starts to say, his voice barely-there.
Akito turns and Toya’s still kneeling next to him, one hand resting on his shoulder.
His face is pinched, staring at Akito with an intensity Akito’s rarely seen.
He moves his hand from Akito’s back and inches forward, so he’s face-to-face with Akito.
Toya looks like he’s going to speak, but winces and just places his hands on top of Akito’s instead.
(It makes Akito remember when they were just kids—when Toya wouldn’t speak at all. When Toya would write in a notebook and the only time Akito heard his voice was when he sang.
If he wasn’t so tired, Akito would have frowned worriedly and take Toya home.
For now, Akito just accepts the comfort.)
He lets himself lean forward, resting his weight against Toya, who presses into him.
Akito shivers as the wind picks up, his skin cold and clammy.
Toya’s hands move to his waist and Akito startles when he stands abruptly, bringing Akito up with him.
Toya’s hand squeezes his in a way which meant ‘lets go’ and they begin walking, slowly.
The world dims at the edges and Akito’s sure he’ll collapse, but Toya catches him, wraps his arms around Akito and lowers both of them to the ground.
Toya’s hands are like ice, pressing cold against Akito’s hands, but he can’t find it in himself to care as he lets his head fall forward, onto Toya’s shoulder.
I’m fine, Akito would have said, if he wasn’t too exhausted to move.
Instead, he nods once, regretting the action as the world spins more and Toya’s fingers press against his cheek.
I’m sure, Akito wanted to say.
He nods again, slower this time and exhales in preparation.
Toya helps him stand again, the two staggering slightly before they start walking again.
It’s odd, Akito thinks, as he struggles to place one foot in front of the other.
When he and Toya were kids, Akito was always the one talking, since Toya never would.
He’d never needed Toya to talk to enjoy being with him—just Toya’s presence was enough.
Now, they walk side by side in silence. Toya couldn’t speak and Akito could barely keep his eyes open, let alone talk.
But Akito didn’t feel uncomfortable. He didn’t feel much other than tired, forcing himself to keep walking.
(He also felt relieved—relief beyond his own comprehension, behind the heavy haze of exhaustion.)
Words weren’t needed between them. Akito never needed words to show Toya he cared, and Toya never needed words for Akito to know how he felt.
They could read each other. Two halves of a whole.
(Akito had almost lost his other half. Akito had almost lost a part of him with Toya.)
Akito shakes himself out of his thoughts and keeps walking. Focuses on Toya breathing next to him—breathing and alive.
It’s a struggle not to close his eyes and just let himself fall.
Akito looks toward Toya and finds Toya’s eyes on him.
Just a bit longer. Toya tells him without speaking.
Okay.
Akito isn’t sure how long it took for them to walk home. He isn’t sure how Toya managed to find his way to their home.
Ena ends up rushing toward them as soon as the door opened, the scowl on her face easing slightly as she saw the state they were in.
“Where were you?” She demanded, anger in her tone but Akito would see the worry in her eyes.
“I called you but you never picked up!” Ena huffed, waving her phone around and Akito tracks the chunks of texts Ena had sent him.
Sorry. The words wouldn’t leave his mouth.
She sighs when neither Toya nor Akito respond and goes to close the door behind them.
Ena leaves for a second, before she comes back and gestures toward the bathroom.
“Take a bath. The water’s hot.”
It’s enough for Toya to nudge Akito and he pushes himself from off the wall, almost stumbling into Toya.
That pinched expression is back on Ena’s face and she watches him for a second before she walks forward and supports his other side as all three of them walk toward the bathroom.
Ena lets him go and he almost tilts forward again, catching himself at the last second.
“I’ll be in the kitchen.” She says and closes the door on her way out.
Akito blinks twice, leaning against the counter to steady himself.
Toya’s eyes are focused on him when Akito looks up, and he blinks.
“You’re cold.” Toya says and Akito startles, not expecting him to speak.
He watches Toya walk over to him, and has to keep himself from closing his eyes and just passing out.
“You have to take this off,” Toya’s voice is barely audible but Akito can still hear it from how close they were. He nods, sleepily and swears he sees the barest hint of a smile on Toya’s face as Toya reaches over and pulls the drenched hoodie over Akito’s head.
He pulls Akito’s shirt off as well and pushes him gently toward the bath. Akito complies and lets himself sink into the warm water, almost too hot in a way which made his stiff limbs functioning again.
Akito leans back, rests his head against the tub as Toya takes off his soaked clothes and sits across from him.
It’s silent, silent enough for Akito’s eyes to close, silent enough for him to drift off…
Water splashes his face and he startles, squinting before he wipes the droplets off his face.
“Hey,” He scowls in faux annoyance, watching Toya’s lips curve into a smile.
“What was that for?” Akito huffs.
“You were sleeping,” Toya replies, a little louder and Akito feels a flutter of satisfaction.
Toya looks surprised for a moment. It takes Akito a heartbeat to realize he’s smiling.
There’s a beat of silence, before Toya speaks again.
“...You jumped in after me.” He murmurs, looking away from Akito for a brief moment, before he inhales and makes himself meet Akito’s eyes.
Akito’s hands curl into loose fists, before they uncurl again.
“You… didn’t hesitate.” Toya says after another moment of silence.
Akito opens his mouth to speak, then hesitates. He can’t find the right words to say, so he meets Toya’s gaze and trusts Toya to read him like Toya’s always been able to.
“...You hurt yourself,” Toya whispers and the unspoken for me? echoes throughout the room.
“You’re my partner,” Akito says too forcefully and he sighs, takes a breath. “I’d do it again!” Is what comes out next and he internally winces.
Then, he looks at Toya’s face and the disbelief written all over it is painful to watch.
“You’re worth it,” Akito’s voice is firm, trying to convince Toya of this fact.
Akito can see Toya turning the words over in his mind.
’Worth it.’
When Toya meets his eyes again, the disbelief is still evident, but it’s less of incredulity and more of awe.
The emotion softens Toya’s face into something warmer and he smiles again, small but genuine.
A wave of relief hits Akito again, and he sinks into the water a bit more.
He hadn’t fucked that up after all.
“...Come here.” Akito finds himself offering. “I’ll wash your hair.”
Toya blinks in surprise, before he scoots forward, their legs pressing together.
Akito puts his hands on Toya’s shoulders and maneuvers him until his back is facing Akito, grabs the shampoo bottle and squirts some onto his palm.
Toya leans back when Akito rubs the shampoo into his hair, practically melting into the touch. His eyes close and Toya lets out a breath.
Akito finds himself relaxing as he washes Toya’s hair, the repetitive movements almost soothing to him.
“Thank you,” Toya murmurs, his hand finding Akito’s and squeezing it tightly.
‘Thank you for everything.’
“Anytime,” Akito’s voice is almost as hushed as Toya’s, a secret for the both of them to hear.
‘ I’d do anything for you.’
They sit there for a while more, until Toya’s curled against Akito and almost asleep himself.
“Alright, don’t sleep here,” Akito says, amused, nudging Toya a bit. Toya makes a noise of protest before he sits up straight.
Akito goes to stand and every ache decides to make itself known as he lets out a low hiss.
Toya’s looking at him with wide eyes and he only grimaces a little bit when he gets out of the tub.
“...At least I can stand now.” He mutters, half to himself. Akito sees Toya shake his head slowly, a familiar fond smile on his face out of the corner of his eye.
Akito stretches, stifling a yawn as he finds two dry pairs of clothes and two towels that Ena had presumably gotten.
“Here,” he tosses the clothes to Toya, picks up the second towel as well. Akito walks over to Toya and puts the towel on his hair, ruffling it as he dries Toya’s hair.
Toya leans forward to rest his head against Akito’s shoulder and Akito swats him lightly. “You’re making me wet,” He says, but there’s no annoyance in his tone.
“You’re already wet,” Toya points out and wraps his arms around Akito’s waist.
“You’re making yourself wet then. You’re making this towel wet.” Akito huffs, gives up on drying Toya’s hair and rests his head on Toya’s instead.
Toya makes a brief noise of acknowledgement to Akito’s statement and they stay there for a moment–-until Akito yawns and Toya reluctantly allows them to part.
Akito quickly changes into the set of clothes laid out for him and Toya’s fully changed when Akito turns.
Toya picks up their wet clothes, wraps them in a towel and they walk to the washing machine, dumping the clothes and then leaving.
“Finally,” Akito mutters. “We can sleep.”
Toya snorts in amusement and follows him to their room.
Akito flops onto the bed, instantly regretting it as he curls into himself slightly, wincing.
Toya follows him immediately after, an arm settling across his waist.
Toya’s fingers trace a circle into Akito’s skin and Akito chuckles dryly. “Yeah, I’m alright.”
He nods in response, shifting to fully drape himself on Akito.
Toya’s head rests on his chest, their legs tangled together as Akito finds Toya’s hand.
His hand is cold, but Akito doesn’t mind as he intertwines their fingers.
Akito lets his other arm rest on Toya’s back, letting out a soft breath.
“...I didn’t forget what you said.” He says after a moment.
Before you jumped.
Toya looks confused, before the realization kicks in and his eyes widen. He tenses slightly, tilting his head up toward Akito.
Akito moves his hand up, combing fingers through Toya’s hair and Toya relaxes, slowly.
“And I meant what I said then, too.”
He continues, pulling Toya a bit closer to him.
“Stay with me. If that shithead of a father’s hurting you, stay here instead.”
Akito feels Toya’s breath hitch against him, surprise coloring his features.
‘ Really?’
“I want you here. Ena wouldn’t mind.”
Akito adds on, meeting Toya’s eyes.
Toya’s still staring at him, processing what Akito just said.
“Oh,” he whispers, barely audible.
“Yeah, ‘oh,’” Akito grumbles half-heartedly, wrapping his arm more snugly around Toya.
“...I did say I would do anything for you, right?” Akito’s voice is quiet, like he didn’t want anyone but Toya to hear him.
Toya blinks in surprise and Akito can see him blush in the dim light, his face flushing pink.
His lips curve into a shy smile. It quickly turns into the closest Akito’s seen him to beaming and seeing Toya happy makes something inside of him unwind.
He really is the prettiest person I’ve ever seen.
Akito moves the hand around Toya’s waist upward to cup his face, can’t help but smile too, small and soft.
“...Thank you,” Toya whispers again and Akito holds him just a bit closer.
“Anytime.”