Fic: No Outlet, Only Resistance
Title: No Outlet, Only Resistance
Series: Break Our Balance - 3
Author: clover71
Fandom: Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Pairing: Matsuoka Rin/ Nanase Haruka
Rating: G
Word Count: 502
Description: Written for 1drabble for the prompt 'defeat'
Warning: An itsy-bitsy spoiler on latest episode (11) of Free! Eternal Summer, but not everything written is related to the series.
Summary & Disclaimer: see MASTER POST
The sound of the sea rolling on the shore fills the unnerving silence that blankets them as they walk along the district where Haru lives.
Haru hasn't said a single word and Rin's afraid to push, afraid to trigger Haru's tendency to be defensive. Before they reach the end of the road along the coastline though, Haru stops in his tracks. It takes a while before he speaks.
"Why do you want me to go with you? Why is it important?" he asks, not even sparing Rin a glance.
Despite not meeting his gaze, Rin can tell that confusion clouds those beautiful blue orbs. He doesn't possess the skill to read Haru's mind like Makoto, but it's quite palpable that Haru wants an honest answer out of him right now.
Shadows from the past sneaks up behind Rin and he can hear the voice of his younger self from somewhere in the deep corners of his mind.
I found a guy I'd like to swim in a relay with.
Nanase is amazing. He's so fast.
I'm gonna swim as fast as Haru!
"I need you," spills out of Rin's lips before he can stop himself.
There isn't any change in Haru's expression. He remains stoic, though a slight crease appears between his eyebrows. "I don't think that's a justifiable reason to drag someone with you across continents," he says then turns on his heel and proceeds towards the cluster of homes nestled in a slope where Haru's house stands.
Rin can only watch Haru's back as Haru walks away, leaving Rin feeling like he just lost in a race. The dark-haired teen disappears when he takes a turn to climb up the stairs.
"I'm guessing he's still being stubborn about it," someone says behind him and Rin whirls around to face Makoto whose eyes are trained on the spot where Haru has disappeared not a minute ago. Then he meets Rin's gaze, a small smile curving on his lips. "Haru told me you also got a letter."
"Yeah," Rin says almost mechanically and then Makoto's words play back in his head. "Wait. What do you mean by also?"
Confusion crosses over Makoto's face. "Didn't Haru tell you? He received a letter from the same university in Australia. He's not sure how they heard of him but Haru didn't seem interested. He even threw it out but…" His eyes fell on the ground with a look of guilt that's hard to miss.
"But what?" Rin asks, his impatience growing.
Makoto glances up at him with a sheepish smile. "I picked it up and kept it. Thought Haru might change his mind eventually. They even sent a plane ticket, inviting him to come over and check out the school."
"Damn." Rin runs his hand through his hair, fisting a lock behind his head. With this new bit of information, he's more determined to convince Haru to go with him, even if he has to drag Haru's ass all the way to Australia, he would.
Series: Break Our Balance - 3
Author: clover71
Fandom: Free! Iwatobi Swim Club
Pairing: Matsuoka Rin/ Nanase Haruka
Rating: G
Word Count: 502
Description: Written for 1drabble for the prompt 'defeat'
Warning: An itsy-bitsy spoiler on latest episode (11) of Free! Eternal Summer, but not everything written is related to the series.
Summary & Disclaimer: see MASTER POST
The sound of the sea rolling on the shore fills the unnerving silence that blankets them as they walk along the district where Haru lives.
Haru hasn't said a single word and Rin's afraid to push, afraid to trigger Haru's tendency to be defensive. Before they reach the end of the road along the coastline though, Haru stops in his tracks. It takes a while before he speaks.
"Why do you want me to go with you? Why is it important?" he asks, not even sparing Rin a glance.
Despite not meeting his gaze, Rin can tell that confusion clouds those beautiful blue orbs. He doesn't possess the skill to read Haru's mind like Makoto, but it's quite palpable that Haru wants an honest answer out of him right now.
Shadows from the past sneaks up behind Rin and he can hear the voice of his younger self from somewhere in the deep corners of his mind.
I found a guy I'd like to swim in a relay with.
Nanase is amazing. He's so fast.
I'm gonna swim as fast as Haru!
"I need you," spills out of Rin's lips before he can stop himself.
There isn't any change in Haru's expression. He remains stoic, though a slight crease appears between his eyebrows. "I don't think that's a justifiable reason to drag someone with you across continents," he says then turns on his heel and proceeds towards the cluster of homes nestled in a slope where Haru's house stands.
Rin can only watch Haru's back as Haru walks away, leaving Rin feeling like he just lost in a race. The dark-haired teen disappears when he takes a turn to climb up the stairs.
"I'm guessing he's still being stubborn about it," someone says behind him and Rin whirls around to face Makoto whose eyes are trained on the spot where Haru has disappeared not a minute ago. Then he meets Rin's gaze, a small smile curving on his lips. "Haru told me you also got a letter."
"Yeah," Rin says almost mechanically and then Makoto's words play back in his head. "Wait. What do you mean by also?"
Confusion crosses over Makoto's face. "Didn't Haru tell you? He received a letter from the same university in Australia. He's not sure how they heard of him but Haru didn't seem interested. He even threw it out but…" His eyes fell on the ground with a look of guilt that's hard to miss.
"But what?" Rin asks, his impatience growing.
Makoto glances up at him with a sheepish smile. "I picked it up and kept it. Thought Haru might change his mind eventually. They even sent a plane ticket, inviting him to come over and check out the school."
"Damn." Rin runs his hand through his hair, fisting a lock behind his head. With this new bit of information, he's more determined to convince Haru to go with him, even if he has to drag Haru's ass all the way to Australia, he would.