Chapter Text
A small wave licked at Makoto’s toes. He yelped and stepped back too quickly, tripping over his feet, falling into a sitting position. The water again swiped at him and the boy quickly scooted away. He looked out at the ocean. It was massive and dark to him. He shuddered and hugged his knees, tears forming at the corners of his eyes. Makoto wiped against the tears, trying to prevent them from falling. He heard steps and turned.
“Nee-chan! Nii-chan!” he exclaimed. The small boy got up to run to them but tripped, falling head first into the sand. The tears came then, more for pain at falling than the steady rush of water he had been avoiding. Ren and Ran jogged towards him, closing the distance easily. Ran scooped Makoto into her arms.
“Hey, Mako-chan. Hey! What’re all the waterworks for?” she asked.
Makoto rubbed his reddening eyes, “Why can’t I be like Haru?” he blurted. Ren came up to them and patted Makoto’s head.
“What’s all this about? Wanting to be like Haru-chan?” Ren questioned, concerned for his younger brother.
“Ha......Haru-chan isn’t scared of it... I wish I wasn’t scared......like him.” Makoto sobbed, clutching Ran’s shirt. Ran looked at Ren.
“Makoto. Do you mean the ocean?” Ran asked, “Is that what frightens you?” Makoto nodded, clutching tighter.
Ren put a hand on Makoto’s back, “Hey Mako-chan, let us show you something.” He winked at his sister who nodded in agreement. Makoto looked up at his brother. Ren grabbed Makoto and put him on his shoulders. Makoto grabbed a fist full of Ren’s light brown hair. He cringed, “Don’t hold on too tightly. I don’t want to go bald, ya’know.” Makoto wasn’t listening. Instead, he was looking at the water, fear etched on his face. “Hey,” Ren said, bouncing the boy up to get his attention, “just...hold onto me I guess. Okay?” Makoto looked down and nodded. Ran took one of Makoto’s hands gently with her own and smiled warmly up at him.
The twins kicked off their flip-flops and began walking towards the ocean. Makoto squeezed Ran’s hand, and she squeezed back. “Mako-chan, it’s okay to be scared. You don’t have to be like Haru-chan,” Ran told him.
“Yeah, squirt,” Ren said, bouncing Makoto again. The boy gulped and squeezed his eyes shut, bracing for cold, heartless water to hit him as his brother and sister stepped into the waves. They splashed against the water, making it lap at their ankles. Makoto felt nothing. He looked down to Ren and Ran smiling.
“See, Mako-chan, it’s okay to be scared of the ocean, especially if it’s by yourself,” Ren started.
“But when you are with others you care about, you are safe. Those people will make sure nothing happens to you,” Ran finished. Makoto just stared at them, and then back to the vast ocean.
“Like Haru-chan? I’m safe with Haru-chan?” Makoto said, kicking lightly at Ren’s chest.
“Yeah. You’re safe with Haru-chan, Nee-chan, and me.” Ren laughed.
“Don’t forget Rin-chan and Nagisa-chan,” Ran added.
Makoto smiled, feeling a little safer with his big brother and sister there. He patted Ren’s head to let him down. Ren obeyed, reaching down to take Makoto’s other hand, putting Makoto in between. All three stood in the water together. The cold water tickled Makoto’s feet. He kicked at it, splashing the twins. The ocean didn’t seem so vast and dark like before. He smiled up at Ren, then Ran, who smiled in return. They turned to walk back home, holding hands like that the whole way.
----
Makoto awoke to the sound of the ocean waves brushing gently against the beach. It was still dark and the moon shone through the window, illuminating the tiny room. The dream of his brother and sister left a small smile on his face. He tightened his grip around Haru’s stomach, pulling them closer together. Haru made a little sound and rolled over to face Makoto, burying his head into the large chest.
“You were talking in your sleep,” Haru whispered sleepily.
“Oh. Sorry, Haru. It was more of a memory really,” Makoto responded. He tilted his head to look at Haru better. His boyfriend looked up from under his eyelids.
“A good one?” Haru was referring to Makoto’s tendency to have nightmares that would render him gasping for breath and dripping in sweat.
Makoto moved his arm off Haru to expose his dry chest better. “Obviously,” he smirked.
Haru looked up and stared Makoto dead in the eyes. Makoto tilted his head, losing the smirk, but still smiling gently. “You miss them,” Haru said matter-of-factly.
Makoto sighed and pulled Haru back into a hug. Somehow Haru always knew when he was thinking about the twins. “Yeah.” He did miss his siblings.
“Call them,” Haru suggested. Makoto chuckled lightly.
“It’s late, Haru-chan,” Makoto said, looking at the alarm clock. It was 3 in the morning.
“Not there, it’s not.”
Makoto sighed. Haru did have a point. It was probably early afternoon. Haru broke away from the hug to grab Makoto’s slim, green phone off the nightstand. “Haru, you can’t be serious,” Makoto said.
Haru presented the phone to him with a firm stare that stated 'Do it now'. The brunet knew that look. He’d seen it when Haru was challenged by Rin. Haru had gotten an idea into his head, and there was no stopping him.
He covered his eyes with his hand, hiding the tears that were beginning to well up at the corners of his eyelids. When was the last time he talked to either of them? Heard them laugh? Bicker? Makoto sighed, looking up at Haru. He took the phone and weighed it in his hand. Haru tapped his forehead to Makoto’s to urge him on. Makoto’s shoulders slumped. There was no way he could call them now impromptu like this.
Makoto moved to put the phone back onto the nightstand. As it hit the wood, Haru grabbed it almost immediately and shoved it back at him. “Haru. I-I can’t,” Makoto sighed. “They could be busy, and I’m tired.”
Haru just looked at the phone. His eyes said 'But you’ll feel better. So do it.' Makoto pulled his boyfriend into another hug.
Haru wrapped his arms around Makoto lightly. “Not tonight,” Makoto continued. “I don’t have the nerve to call them tonight. I know, it’s stupid, but I just-” Haru cut him off by touching his finger to Makoto’s lips.
“Ok,” Haru said, laying Makoto and himself back down onto the bed. “Not tonight, but soon.” It was more of an order, but Haru knew that’s what Makoto needed. The phone was set back onto the nightstand. A small smile spread across Makoto’s face, warming his eyes now laced with wetness. He kissed Haru softly. His brother’s words echoed in his mind, "You’re safe with Haru-chan." He closed his eyes and nuzzled into Haru’s chest, a single tear slipping from his eye and drying instantly. Haru wrapped around him more securely, tangling their legs together. Haru rested his cheek on the top of Makoto’s head. Haru smelt like chlorine. Makoto loved it. Makoto felt warm and secure. Haru loved that. The two soon found a synchronized breathing rhythm and fell into a deep sleep.