Work Text:
The pitter- patter of the raindrops falling against the window was enough to lull Tsukasa to sleep.
It would've been, if it weren't for the occasional loud BOOM of thunder or the flashes of lighting from outside.
It was startling.
And though Tsukasa wouldn't ever want to admit it..
It was scary.
Tsukasa sat under the bedsheets, squeezing his eyes shut when thunder boomed outside once more. It was just like when he was a kid. And frankly, it was quite embarrassing and childish how Tsukasa never grew out of his fear of the dark and thunderstorms.
As a child, he wished his parents would be home to comfort him whenever it got scary. He wished they would be there to provide the safety and support he needed whenever it was too dark, whenever the lightning flashed in the sky and whenever the startling thunder was too loud.
And now, as a 17 year old teenager, Tsukasa still wishes for that comfort and safety that he never got. But he was too old for that now. He was going to be an adult soon. Tsukasa Tenma needed to get over this silly fear.
But as Saki was painting Ichika's nails all the way over at Honami's house, and his parents were still at work like always, Tsukasa couldn't. It was just like before. All those years ago as a kid, when Tsukasa would hide under the bedsheets as the thunder rattled the house.
But in the end, Tsukasa Tenma is still a kid. And he wanted the warmth of someone, anyone, to help him get over this stupid, stupid fear of something so little.
He wanted the warmth of his parents. But they weren't available.
ding!
Tsukasa poked his head out of the covers, snatching his phone from the nightstand and quickly hiding back underneath.
There was a notification from Rui.
————
RUI 💜💜 sent an image
look the silly boy is almost done :)
————
Tsukasa looked at the photo. It was a little star lamp- like the dino one Nene had but it was a star. He remembered Rui saying that he would make one for him because "why not?".
Tsukasa flinched, almost dropping his phone on his face when thunder shook the house once more. He held up his phone once more with shaking hands, looking at Rui's text.
Rui was awake.
Maybe, maybe he could come over..
Tsukasa shook his head. No.
It was selfish.
He shouldn't. He can't do that to Rui. It was the middle of the night, and it was raining! He couldn't just ask Rui to come over because he was feeling scared..
But despite Tsukasa desperately telling himself not to, he gave in and texted Rui.
RUI 💜💜
11:39
[RUI 💜💜 sent an image]
look the silly boy is almost done :)
read 11:40 PM
woah
Hi Tsukasa
I didn't expect you to be awake at this time
can i ask you smy
sure go ahead
cba you come over
sorry
i knei tits really late and its raining but injust need someone here rn
Saki is st Honami's house haveung a sleepiver snd my parents are still at work
psl
pls
Im coming
Huh
Wait STUMAKY??
ACTUALLY??
Yeah ofc why wouldn't I???
You need the company im giving you it :))
Star boy is pretty much ready now anyway
I'll just give him to you
Actually nvm i forgot i needed to make the streamer thingies sorry
But hold on!!
I'm coming over
Are you in your room?
wait are you sure
are you absoleute sure you wanna fome over
its risneng and everyjtbibv
its lieterslly a thunderstoem
jesuss
soory
my hands are shakuh
Your hands are
shaky
That's literally giving me even mroe reasons to come over
whoops
*Mroe
*More
There we go
Leaving the house now
I'm in the car
I'm driving
Still driving
I shouldn't be doing this
Yeah you couldve just staued hoen im fine
No i mean texting while driving
Okay I'm just gonna stop tectibg now i'll tell you when I'm here
WAIT WHAT
Read 11:45 PM
————
Tsukasa shut his phone, slamming his face into the pillow under him. Rui was coming over.
He shouldn't have asked him to! Now Rui was driving in the rain! During a thunderstorm! Did his parents know?! Does he have an umbrella? How long would Rui stay for?!
A flash of lightning illuminated the room, quickly followed by a loud BOOM. Tsukasa inhaled sharply, squeezing his eyes shut and covering his ears.
He shouldn't be scared. He shouldn't be scared of something this stupid.
And yet, why was Tsukasa so fucking dumb? Why did he have to be afraid of something he himself can easily be louder than?
You're stupid. Now Rui is coming over, and you've burdened another person with problems that you should've dealt with on your own.
Hot tears stained the pillow as Tsukasa curled up in his bed, stuck inside his own head.
Why do you have to be so selfish and greedy?
Just get over it.
You can't be afraid of such a simple thing.
Stop being so childish.
The doorbell rang once, stopping Tsukasa from spiralling completely.
The doorbell rang again.
Ding!
————
RUI 💜💜
Hey I'm here now
————
Rui had arrived at his doorstep.
Sucking in a sharp breath, Tsukasa scrambled out of bed, wrapping himself with the bedsheets as he ran down the stairs. He almost tripped once or twice.
"Tsukasa? I'm here," Rui's voice called out from outside, "Can you let me in..?"
Again, thunder boomed outside. This time, Tsukasa did trip, and he fell onto his face.
How fucking pathetic.
Rui rang at the door bell once more, but Tsukasa was still on the floor. He couldn't get up. He was stuck on the floor.
And suddenly, Tsukasa Tenma was 8 years old. He was sitting inside his closet, holding a pegasus plushie close to his chest with a blanket wrapped around his shoulders. He was crying.
Outside, it was scary. Outside, the flashes of light could still be seen from the crack in the door. Outside, the loud thunder shook the house and Tsukasa could still hear it. It wouldn't go away. His tears wouldn't go away.
Saki was in the hospital. His mother was with her. His father was at work. The telephone sat beside him, and Tsukasa waited, waited for someone to call and tell him that "I'm coming home now, so sit tight, okay honey?"
He wanted his mom's warm hugs and soft voice. He wanted his dad's gentle chuckle as he ruffled his hair. He wanted for them to be there.
But he was alone.
He was alone and nobody was there.
He was alone and nobody was coming home.
He was alone and not even the plushies surrounding him could quench his fear.
He was alone and it was scary.
Tsukasa Tenma was alone.
..
And suddenly, the door was slammed opened. The sound of the rain flooded Tsukasa's ears, and when it muffled again, a voice called out to him.
"Tsukasa!"
A pair of wet, cold hands shook him gently. "Tsukasa, are you alright?!"
Rui.
It was Rui.
Tsukasa's voice was shaky and hoarse as he whispered his name. "R- Ru..i..?"
Said purple haired boy smiled gently, nodding as he knelt down and wiped away the tears rolling down Tsukasa's face. "Yeah. It's me.."
"Do you want me to carry you back to the bedroom?" Rui whispered. His voice was soft. Comforting. Safe.
Slowly, Tsukasa nodded. Maybe he could be a kid just this once.
"Alright then," Rui muttered. He hoisted Tsukasa up into his arms, carrying him bridal style. "Let's go!"
The tall boy jogged up the stairs and all the way to Tsukasa's bed, placing the blond on it and grinning. "Is that more comfortable than the floor, my star?"
Tsukasa grumbled, "Mm.. shut up." He adjusted the bedsheets, wrapping it around his entire body. "You really didn't have to come here.."
Rui chuckled, "But I wanted to." He replied, "And it's clear that you aren't doing the best right now. I want to be here for you, Tsukasa. Will you let me take care of you?"
Tsukasa huffed in response. He averted Rui's gaze, looking down at his bed. There was one thing he wanted.. But it was embarrassing, even if him and Rui were dating.
But even so, Tsukasa scooted over, lying down and patting the space beside him wordlessly.
Rui simply smiled and nodded. He lay down beside Tsukasa, stroking the blonds hair gently as he whispered by words of reassurance to him.
Rui's hand was freezing cold from the rain, along with the rest of his body, but Tsukasa couldn't help but snuggle closet to him. He buried his face into Rui's chest, flinching and curling up further into a ball at the sound of more thunder.
Noticing the sudden movement, Rui hushed Tsukasa. "Hey, it's okay, I'm here now," He whispered gently, "Do you not like the thunder, little star?"
Tsukasa mumbled, shaking his head. He felt his face heat up in embarrassment.
"That's completely fine, Tsukasa," Rui muttered, "It's okay to be afraid of small things like these."
Rui continued to stroke Tsukasa's hair, beginning to hum a tune and sing softly.
"世界のふちで 銀河に耳を澄ませて"
His voice was light and soft, just like the original song. Rui's tone stayed low and gentle as the soothing lyrics lulled Tsukasa to sleep.
"そよ風 踝に光るリンドウ"
The blond's eyes began to feel heavy, and they slowly drooped closed. Still, Rui continued singing, his fingers running through Tsukasa's hair.
He'd never seen Tsukasa like this before. Usually, Tsukasa was loud and eccentric- he was energetic and confident in himself. Seeing Tsukasa so small, so nervous and fidgety made Rui's heart break.
It didn't help that Tsukasa never opened up a lot. He'd keep quiet about his problems, as to not worry others. Because all his life, he had been known as the big brother- the person in charge of taking care of others. Rui wondered if he ever had anyone taking care of him. And despite him telling the people around him that it's okay to open up to others, Tsukasa never follows his own advice.
Though, Rui didn't really think he was one to talk about not following your own advice.
Feeling Tsukasa's chest rise and fall rhythmically, Rui's singing trailed off and he wrapped his arms around Tsukasa protectively. He had fallen asleep.
"Goodnight, my love," Rui whispered, smiling warmly as he planted a kiss on Tsukasa's forehead, "I'll see you in the morning."
————
Tsukasa's mother sighed as she parked her car in the driveway. Going to late- night recitals wasn't a bad thing, but it never failed to drain her energy. She wondered why they couldn't schedule the 4 hour recital for sometime earlier instead of making it last for almost the entire night and successfully fucking up everyones sleep schedule.
The blonde woman exited her car, quickly walking up to the steps of her house and pulling out the keys. She hoped Tsukasa was asleep. Sometimes he would still be up when she returned home, and even until after his father came- and he usually came home at the asscrack of dawn. His work schedule was pretty messed up.
Entering the house, the first thing Tsukasa's mom noticed were the extra pair of shoes at the front door that didn't belong to anyone living in the Tenma household. The tired mother remembered seeing another car parked outside the driveway, and wondered if Tsukasa brought a friend.
She took off her heels and tiptoed upstairs as quietly as she could to Tsukasa's room, and was fairly surprised to see an extra head poking out of the blankets in Tsukasa's bed. Squinting, his mother recognized it as Rui Kamishiro, both the director to Tsukasa's wonder troupe and one of his best friends.
The two seemed to be sleeping in the same bed- obviously. But the best part was how Tsukasa was curled up into a little ball against Rui's body, and Rui himself had his arms and legs all protectively wrapped around Tsukasa, like koala.. but reversed.
Tsukasa's mom grinned. How adorable.
But she'd be willing wait until Tsukasa was ready to spill.