Chapter Text
Sailor Song — Gigi Perez
A message.
Haru should have only sent a message asking to see him so that Yu could reschedule the flight he had for that day and let his sister know that he might miss her birthday lunch.
“I just don't understand. You said you were going to get here in the morning and…”
Yu's lack of response was all she needed to understand that something was presenting itself. That something that Yu had been so determined to hide for a few years now.
She's still angry, but she understands her brother.
“Make sure you arrive with dinner and lots of my favorite dishes, okay?”
“Of course, sis.”
And then, she came up to my knees ♪
The smell of cigarettes makes he wrinkled his nose as soon as you enter the bar. There are plenty of empty tables, so it doesn't take long to find Haru at the bar, semi-reclining while playing with the bottle of water the waiter probably gave him.
As he gets closer, he can see that Haru has his eyes closed, with his messy black hair covering his forehead. The light blue shirt with the first two buttons undone and his slightly loose tie make Yu think he left work early.
Or they fired him. But he is very sure that it must come first.
Haru has never lost a job.
Who could lose an employee as diligent, competent and humble as him?
Begging, baby, would you please? ♪
With the help of his fingers and great care, he moves Haru's hair to try to wake him up.
Yu smiles as he sees Haru grimace and try to move away to continue sleeping. It is a gesture that he has seen several times, when they have shared a room. He would always complain and cover himself with the blankets to avoid light and noise, blindly searching for Yu to use as an excuse to continue sleeping.
It was no different this time.
Haru's hand reached for him and Yu took it, letting him know it was already there.
Their eyes met.
“You really came.”
Do the things you said you'd do to me, to me ♪
“You asked to meet,” Yu shrugged, taking a seat next to him. “Months ago you disappeared and stopped responding to my messages… I assumed it was all over by then.”
Haru looked a little embarrassed when he said that. Yu started to laugh as soon as he saw his look away, letting him know that he didn't hold a grudge.
Yu could never hold a grudge against him. Haru must have had his reasons for doing what he did. Whether it was because she asked him to or because he felt too much pressure in a completely new environment or because of something as simple as him getting fed up with Yu.
He would always understand.
“You don't have to worry,” he said, patting him on the back. “I came because you need help and if you chose me, it must be important. If not, you would have called Moya too.”
“Tomoya told me not to call you and that we would talk tomorrow,” Haru confessed, drinking some water. “He said something like it would be very selfish of me… And maybe he's right.”
Oh, won’t you kiss me on the mouth and love me like a sailor? ♪
“A little bit,” Yu admitted, without removing the smile from his face.
Maybe it was the atmosphere, because the bar was starting to fill up and the smell of alcohol was filling the room, but Yu felt a little dizzy every time he looked at Haru.
It had nothing to do with the light blush on her cheeks. One that is not typical of alcohol, but more of a slap in the face. A blow. Yu shouldn’t feel that way, it would be too invasive to ask if he had fought with his girlfriend again or if it was that rude boss he had at his company again.
He doesn't want to lose Haru again.
But that doesn't mean he can't let Haru know that he already saw the wound.
So he asks for a cold bottle of water at the bar.
When they bring it in, he drinks a little before putting it on Haru's cheek and asking if it doesn't feel better this way. He doesn't ask. He doesn't look him in the eye. He just smiles before nodding and sighing.
“I thought the makeup would have helped a little.”
Yu shakes his head, pushing away the cold water. “How long have you been at the bar? Two hours?”
"Three"
“That explains why it's more visible.” Yu brushes aside a few strands of hair to get a better look. “It's the hottest time of summer and your air conditioning is broken.”
They both look at each other for a second before laughing.
It was a disaster.
Yu took off the jacket he was wearing before raising his hand to call the waiter and order something else.
“Drink number 5 with lemonade, please.”
However, it is Haru who ends up ordering for him.
And when you get a taste, can you tell me what’s my flavor? ♪
Yu is happy.
“You still remember it.”
Yu is very happy knowing that Haru still remembers his favorite drink from the bar, one they haven't touched together in many years.
“Tomoya was also surprised when I guessed his.”
Oh. Right.
“Geoni gets upset with me when I order his drink wrong,” Yu says, chuckling.
Haru doesn't notice.
That detail has never been important, because Yu always smiles.
Only Tomoya noticed when the tone changed and asked if he was okay. Geon was trying to cheer him up while Yuki distracted Haru so he wouldn't notice the distance they were trying to put for a few minutes so it wouldn't hurt so much.
After so long, he should have gotten used to it.
But getting used to the feeling of being just one more in Haru's life has never been easy to hide.
I don’t believe in God, but I believe that you’re my savior ♪
And that's how they start drinking.
Two cups.
Three.
Maybe they ordered food.
I sleep so I can see you ‘cause I hate to wait so long ♪
Haru grabbed him by the collar before forcing him to the dance floor.
They drank a little more, not too much.
Yu can't drink too much or he does stupid things like kissing Tomoya in front of Haru.
Or that time he ended up fighting with Geon about how much Haru matters to him and how his feelings are nothing more than platonic. Then he would admit that he loves him and cry a little, comforted by Yuhi somehow.
And we can laugh off things that we know nothing about ♪
Yu has to force Haru off the dance floor, both unable to stand without the other's help.
They sit on the first couches they see, near the bathroom.
There is a small fan or a window.
The cold helps Yu be a little more aware of where he is and what time it is.
“Haru, I have to go.” He doesn't want to, but he has to get some sleep if he doesn't want his sister to notice how hungover he's going to be. “Let's go take a taxi.”
Haru takes his hand and forces him to sit down. He shows him two glasses of something that smells like vodka, but doesn't look like it, and smiles. “One last drink and we’re leaving.”
He wants to refuse.
But he's smiling in that pretty way that Yu can't deny him.
“Just one drink,” he warns, with the silly smile that Moya named Lovebeam. Whatever that means.
They both raise their glasses and cross their arms.
The flavor burns in their throats so pleasantly that they laugh.
We can go forever until you wanna sit it out ♪
“Now, get up. Come on, come on.”
Haru isn't moving, Yu isn't using all his strength to move him.
He stays there, silently, looking at him, until he decides that they are going to leave.
Yu will have to apologize if he's too late for his sister's birthday.
But she always said that Yu looked genuinely happy when he talked about Haru.
She would understand.
When you get a taste, can you tell me what’s my flavor? ♪
“Yu… Why are you looking at me like you want to kiss me?”
Haru's phone rings before he answers.
And when Mika's name appears on the screen, Yu can see that Haru completely forgets about it.
So while they talk on the phone, he grabs his jacket and quietly leaves the bar.
There is a plane leaving in less than an hour.
He will buy a new ticket.