Work Text:
Rin sat on his bed, already tucked in and prepared to sleep. The clock on his bedside flashing a bright red '2:59 AM', it was currently a few nights after the Blue Lock Eleven vs Japan U-20 match, the match where he awakened his "flow", a destructive one. Rin was exhausted and frankly, it wasn't just physical exhaustion. He will be honest, the mental exhaustion is causing him to lose his mind a little. At least Ego and Anri-san allowed them to take a break for the next 2 weeks at home, so nobody has to see Rin wallowing in his sorrows.
Emotionally, Rin is probably doing the worse that he could ever in his entire life, and he was already feeling pretty shitty even before this entire situation happened.
Nii-...No, Sae was in that match too, too perfect being Japan's Treasure to even give Rin a glance. But Sae chose that disgusting 'Freak Demon', Shidou, over him to play with him in that match. And then proceeded to praise that lukewarm Isagi Yoichi as the future of Japanese soccer. Sigh....Just thinking about gives Rin a headache that makes him want to bash his head into a wall. God forbid a younger brother wants his older brother to acknowledge him and praise him i guess.
Sigh.
Rin misses how their relationship was as kids, with Sae always being there to support Rin. Nii-chan was the kindest. Rin loves Nii-chan. Rin wants Nii-chan to come back...
Rin closes his eyes.
"Rin. Wake up." Rin opens his eyes, hearing the familiar voice that Rin knew too well, it's Nii-chan's voice. Now Rin finds himself back in his childhood room, the one he shared with Nii-chan. Rin looks up from the bed and sees Nii-chan staring at him with an expression that is almost like a grin? or a smirk? Rin doesn't know but it is as close as a smile you can get from Nii-chan. Rin for the first time in this little moment, realised that he was small again...it may be a dream or even time travel, but Rin doesn't care, as long as he gets to be with the Nii-chan that he loves the most, the one he lost after Nii-chan went to Spain and came back as Sae Itoshi. "Nii-chan..." Yawn. "Still sleepy, Rin? It's almost dinner time you know...it will be bad for your health to sleep too much." Sae said, sounding so much like an adult with years of knowledge despite only being 2 years older than Rin.
"But I'm sleepy and the bed feels really comfy....can't I sleep for a little longer, Nii-chan?" Rin whined. "At this rate, you'll end up being a night owl, haunting the night because you took a nap and can't fall back asleep." Sae told the little boy while chuckling. Rin grumbled, turning his body to face his Nii-chan, seeing him as clearly as he can through his eyes that are blurred with sleepy tears. As Rin blinks his eyes to get rid of his sleepiness, he can now see his Nii-chan's face, young with baby fat again, the soft and kind Nii-chan that Rin loved. Rin misses this Nii-chan, dearly. "What's wrong? You look sad." Sae asked, a little worried and concern for his little brother.
"Hey, Nii-chan....would you always be by my side? Even when we grow up?" Rin asked, feeling a little unsure of himself.
"That's a silly question, of course I would be." Sae huffed, sensing the doubt that Rin had in mind. How dare Rin doubt his devotion to him. Sae leaned closer to Rin, bending his body to ruffle Rin's messy dark green hair, all messed up from sleep and now from Sae's hands.
"Remember this, Rin. For as long as I live, I'll be on your side. You got that?"
Sae had that determined look at his face, it made Rin feel warm and loved by his Nii-chan. He could feel how Sae really loved him that he would make this promise of a life time, one they would keep forever, as much as a kid can hope. Rin with a hopeful look in his teal eyes, nodded. Rin showed a rare smile, one he only really showed to his Nii-chan.
Sae shows Rin his pinky, "Promise me, Rin. That way, you know I will be with you forever and that I will be by your side no matter the situation." Rin immediately hooked his own pinky with Sae's, pinky promising each other to stay together. Sae chuckles, leaning down to kiss Rin's forehead, a rare gesture of affection from the older brother. As they let go of each other's pinky, Sae's hand automatically goes back to Rin's hair, combing it in a gentle manner, rhythmically and in a hypnotic way that makes Rin feel even more sleepy than he was before.
"Go back to sleep, Rin. I'll wake you up when it's time for dinner." Sae calmly tells the little boy. Sae switches from combing Rin's hair to patting the side of Rin's body, like patting a baby to sleep. Rin gets comfortable in his bed, snuggling into the blankets once again. As Rin's eyes close again, he thinks to himself.
Don't leave me, Nii-chan. Stay by my side, please.
Rin's eyes open once again. '3:01 AM', the clock showed. Rin sensed someone staring at him, turning his body to face his room. Rin's eyes follow to the shadow standing in the corner of his room. S̸͖̻̆̈́̌́̆͛̔͂̋̓a̷̢̪̲̲͖̱̥̤͎̭͑͐̑ḙ̸̡̨̢̺̼͇͓͇͍̣̋̌͋̍͗͐ stared at him, very intently. Rin blinks, a little groggy. "Please." Rin's voice sounded hazy and hoarse, as if it haven't been used in days. "Leave me alone."
S̸͖̻̆̈́̌́̆͛̔͂̋̓a̷̢̪̲̲͖̱̥̤͎̭͑͐̑ḙ̸̡̨̢̺̼͇͓͇͍̣̋̌͋̍͗͐ continued to stare, as if to taunt Rin, to make him suffer a little before he slept.
...I should just go back to sleep. This dream, or maybe even a hallucination, is getting a bit out of hand. I'll deal with you later, just let me sleep.
Rin closes his eyes, finally relaxing for the night. Or maybe forever.
The empty bottles of sleeping pills and antipsychotic medicine in his hands might tell you the truth.