[FREE!] Just like cotton candy
Titolo: Just like cotton candy
Fandom: Free!
Personaggi: Rei, Nagisa, ecc
Genere: fluff, introspettivo
Avvertimenti: missing moment, in inglese
Parole: 685
Note: per la quarta settimana, ho scelto la missione Shannen per l'affinità coi prompt (*lamentatio sul dover scegliere fra Shannen a Langley anche qui*), il prompt qui è "sacrificio".
It did not hurt so much when he stepped aside. Not in that specific moment. In his mind, the result was paramount - and even though there was no logic in his decision, the result was making his team happy, making it be as strong and united as it once was. Even though he was not there.
He was not around, at the time, to see Nagisa's smile shift through some pain, into what it currently is. He was not there to see them win, but he believes the right thing to do should be done regardless of rewards. Rei won't receive any for doing what he did. He will not be rewarded for giving up his spot in the relay for Rin, the same Rin-chan Nagisa speaks about constantly, the same Rin-chan that had his admiration when Rei's first thought was still always studying, going to a good middle school, making his parents proud, seeking for beauty. On the contrary, he'll be reprimanded: what they're doing is against the rules. But it made his team happy, it gave them a chance to help Rin-san.
But it hurts now, even though he does try to shove the sensation down. He heard about the feelings and sighs of a relay, he never saw and felt them before, but his heart yearned them once he knew there was a beauty he could not see or touch. It hurts, while someone else swims with them, someone else is cheering for his stroke, swum by someone else. It hurts - Rin-san is exceptional at this. But that's to be expected, he was always training and getting better, Rei has been swimming for a really short time and still decided to compete against other swimmers, decided to challenge himself to get better, decided to prove he could do a team sport too. And he worked so hard against his own ideas, against his apparent inability to float, against chance.
What hurts the most is how well the team is doing, how well-efficient their exchanges are. They are winning, and they are winning without him.
And now they are celebrating, but Rei is not huddled with them, tired and grateful and all wet. He's just standing there, with a smile on his face, his tracksuit zipped up and red-rimmed glasses sitting on his nose. It's a sweet moment, but through his eyes it gains a bitter aftertaste.
You should be there, instead of Rin-san. But they all look so happy, like they got something back, like a piece finally moved back and connected with the others after trying to shove itself into place for so long. Rin's smile is beautiful. Nagisa's moved chirps of "Rin-Rin!", they are beautiful. Haruka-senpai's eyes glitter with joy, and it's the first time Rei sees him express so much without saying any word, and he's beautiful. Makoto is beautiful as he latches his arms around them, keeping them together. His team, it's beautiful.
It would also be beautiful to be there, as a part of that moment, but their smiles and tears of joy move his heart anyway. It's not really fair, but that is beautiful nonetheless. The feeling that he allowed this to happen, that in a way he put those smiles on their faces. He can give himself credit for that. He will not be praised, but the pride surging in his chest as he watches them is worth more than the getting the class' best grade on a test.
"Thank you for what you did," Nagisa tells him as they walk back home after going back to Iwatobi. "You didn't have to, but you still did it. Thanks for helping Rin-chan. I haven't seen him smile like that in so long," he hums, with his own lips curving.
Rei says nothing, as he looks back at him. He seems so relieved, so happy. He always does look happy, but right now there is something filling that expression up. Rei doesn't know the name of it, but the sight of it makes his chest overflow with something sweet and soft, just like cotton candy.
Fandom: Free!
Personaggi: Rei, Nagisa, ecc
Genere: fluff, introspettivo
Avvertimenti: missing moment, in inglese
Parole: 685
Note: per la quarta settimana, ho scelto la missione Shannen per l'affinità coi prompt (*lamentatio sul dover scegliere fra Shannen a Langley anche qui*), il prompt qui è "sacrificio".
It did not hurt so much when he stepped aside. Not in that specific moment. In his mind, the result was paramount - and even though there was no logic in his decision, the result was making his team happy, making it be as strong and united as it once was. Even though he was not there.
He was not around, at the time, to see Nagisa's smile shift through some pain, into what it currently is. He was not there to see them win, but he believes the right thing to do should be done regardless of rewards. Rei won't receive any for doing what he did. He will not be rewarded for giving up his spot in the relay for Rin, the same Rin-chan Nagisa speaks about constantly, the same Rin-chan that had his admiration when Rei's first thought was still always studying, going to a good middle school, making his parents proud, seeking for beauty. On the contrary, he'll be reprimanded: what they're doing is against the rules. But it made his team happy, it gave them a chance to help Rin-san.
But it hurts now, even though he does try to shove the sensation down. He heard about the feelings and sighs of a relay, he never saw and felt them before, but his heart yearned them once he knew there was a beauty he could not see or touch. It hurts, while someone else swims with them, someone else is cheering for his stroke, swum by someone else. It hurts - Rin-san is exceptional at this. But that's to be expected, he was always training and getting better, Rei has been swimming for a really short time and still decided to compete against other swimmers, decided to challenge himself to get better, decided to prove he could do a team sport too. And he worked so hard against his own ideas, against his apparent inability to float, against chance.
What hurts the most is how well the team is doing, how well-efficient their exchanges are. They are winning, and they are winning without him.
And now they are celebrating, but Rei is not huddled with them, tired and grateful and all wet. He's just standing there, with a smile on his face, his tracksuit zipped up and red-rimmed glasses sitting on his nose. It's a sweet moment, but through his eyes it gains a bitter aftertaste.
You should be there, instead of Rin-san. But they all look so happy, like they got something back, like a piece finally moved back and connected with the others after trying to shove itself into place for so long. Rin's smile is beautiful. Nagisa's moved chirps of "Rin-Rin!", they are beautiful. Haruka-senpai's eyes glitter with joy, and it's the first time Rei sees him express so much without saying any word, and he's beautiful. Makoto is beautiful as he latches his arms around them, keeping them together. His team, it's beautiful.
It would also be beautiful to be there, as a part of that moment, but their smiles and tears of joy move his heart anyway. It's not really fair, but that is beautiful nonetheless. The feeling that he allowed this to happen, that in a way he put those smiles on their faces. He can give himself credit for that. He will not be praised, but the pride surging in his chest as he watches them is worth more than the getting the class' best grade on a test.
"Thank you for what you did," Nagisa tells him as they walk back home after going back to Iwatobi. "You didn't have to, but you still did it. Thanks for helping Rin-chan. I haven't seen him smile like that in so long," he hums, with his own lips curving.
Rei says nothing, as he looks back at him. He seems so relieved, so happy. He always does look happy, but right now there is something filling that expression up. Rei doesn't know the name of it, but the sight of it makes his chest overflow with something sweet and soft, just like cotton candy.