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Admittedly, Robaire had a hard time with breaks. It wasn't that he felt like he had to be working or anything, he just didn't have hobbies in the same way the other guys did. One day off could be used to catch up on sleep, but the two week break that came after a tour? He didn't know what to do with himself most of the time.
It had been raining pretty hard for the past couple days. The atmosphere in their apartment was extra homey when it rained. The drops pattered on their balcony, white noise to the warm lamplight Robaire was reading under. It was a book he'd read before, it almost always was these days.
Alas, he didn't mind reading on days like that, not most of the time at least. It was just something about that day…
"You're still up?" Aaron Z broke his concentration.
Robaire took a quick glance outside. With how dark the rainy days were, he hadn't noticed the sun setting. "I guess I am."
"You should get some rest."
"I'm not tired." He sunk deeper into his chair. "I'm too rested."
Aaron Z stopped just before reaching the kitchen door. "Me too."
They both stayed still for a moment.
Robaire got up to face the screen door. "What do you like to do when it rains?"
"Honestly? Play."
"Play?"
He hummed in affirmation, and joined Robaire by the door. "I liked shooting hoops when it rained, nobody else was around."
"I see."
"Why?"
"Let's go find a court."
Aaron Z gave Robaire a suspicious look. "Mhm."
"I'm serious."
"If you want to beat me in something, it's not gonna be basketball."
"I just want to do something fun."
He softened. "Okay. You can borrow one of my old pairs of shoes."
"Excuse me?"
***
The court smelled like rain and freshly mowed grass. It might've been the sweetest thing Robaire had ever smelled. He was seriously considering going back to the company that offered him a cologne deal, he wanted the whole world to smell that.
Neither of them were particularly dressed for the weather. Aaron Z had advised him to wear something with a hood, but he'd opted not to change. It wasn't like he couldn't handle the cold.
The rain had only grown harder since they'd left their apartment, but Robaire didn't care. While Aaron Z was shooting a few hoops to practice, Robaire hopped from puddle to puddle.
"Having fun?" Aaron Z asked without looking.
In all honesty? "Loads."
"You're a lot more relaxed." It was an observation, warm in tone.
Robaire laughed, real and high instead of his practiced chuckle. "I love the rain."
Aaron Z took a moment to watch him jump into another puddle. "I bet I could make it splash higher than you."
"It's on."
Robaire backed away as Aaron Z braces to sprint at it, basketball tucked in his arm. He bolted suddenly, leaping and landing gracefully. The splash was adequate, but Robaire could do better.
"Please," Robaire teased, kicking a couple times to shake water out of his shoes, "that was cute."
"Cute? I'd like to see you do better."
"Ask and you shall receive."
It was time to commit.
Robaire lunged, stretching his hips. Aaron Z crossed his arms. "You're stalling."
"Oh no, believe me." He stretched out his neck next, then his arms.
"Ro."
Robaire bent his knees, took a breath, and jumped.
His form was perfect, the ample angle for ultimate puddle splashage.
Or in other words, he landed flat on his ass. Droplets of water reached as high as his face. Giggling, he laid back in the puddle. The cold water seeped into his shirt, but that didn't matter when he could feel the rain on his skin.
"You're ridiculous."
Robaire sighed. "Thanks for coming out with me."
"Anytime."
He sat back up. "Pass."
Aaron Z threw him the ball.
"Thank you." He hopped back onto his feet and dribbled a few times. "I missed this."
"Oh yeah?"
"Mhm." He shot for the hoop. The ball didn't come close. "Used to play road hockey like this."
"Of course you did."
"Honestly? I just liked playing outside."
"Me too." Aaron Z scooped up the ball and tossed it back to him. "Go again, softer."
Robaire tried again. It came a little closer.
They never ended up actually playing any basketball. It might've been nicer that way, just chatting and shooting hoops in the rain. Robaire didn't get much better, but that didn't matter.
He was having fun. Innocent fun. A different kind of fun from the usual 4*Town stuff. It wasn't better or worse, just different. Refreshing. He couldn't remember the last time he felt this young. He'd have to get the rest of the guys to do something like this soon. It was a feeling he wanted the whole world to feel.