The thought had been dancing in his mind for a while now, consuming Haru on the plane ride back while Rin was busy catching up on some much needed sleep. A dream, something to focus on, something to look forward to when times were bleak, something Haru found while in Australia. He stared at the window, watching the clouds come closer as the plane began tipping forward slightly, the miniature airport growing life-sized by the second. Everyone had been so insistent on Haru finding a dream, but what if he found something more? What if there was actually something larger out there than just a single dream for Haru? What if…
As the plane slides into the terminal, Haru fidgets in his seat, silently bouncing his leg and checking the time on his phone for the umpteenth time.
"Haru, we just landed, calm down," Rin sleepily drones, stretching and blinking away the sleep from the nap he had slipped in to.
Haru stops moving and sighs, leaning back into the seat. He doesn't have time for all this, going through customs, getting luggage and—
"Haru," Rin murmurs, lightly placing his hand on Haru's arm, "it will be will okay. Just be honest to yourself and make up with Makoto." Rin smiles, "I'm sure you guys are going to be okay. He couldn't stay mad at you if he wanted to."
Haru nods, reaching down to unbuckle his seatbelt. He knows Makoto would forgive him and accept him back into his life for whatever time they had left in Iwatobi. But that was the thing, Haru surmised as Rin stood and stretched, Makoto would always forgive Haru and be with him whenever he could. Soon he will be gone though, in Tokyo, hours away from here and anything Haru knew or recognized and maybe he would find new and better friends that are better than him who can't even get out of the tub in the morning to get—
"Haru," Rin mutters, "you'll have time to overthink things later. For now, let's get off this plane."
He offers Haru his hand, but Haru shakes his head and stands without help, wobbling on the now sturdy ground beneath his feet. Rin smirks and turns down the aisle, following the line of people off the plane with a bounce in his step.
Haru follows a few steps behind, feeling a little lighter. "Thanks Rin," he whispers, not knowing if the red head will hear him.
Rin just glances over his shoulder and nudges Haru with his foot. "Don't get sappy on me Nanase, that's not my department."
"Says the guy who cries at pools full of cherry blossoms," Haru intones, face totally straight.
"That was one time!" Rin hisses, turning back around and grumbling to himself, but not before he saw the tiny grin skirt across Haru's face.
Haru sees his bag slide by in the conveyor belt and quickly picks it up, easily tossing it over his shoulder.
"Come on Haru!" Rin waves, his larger bag already firmly upon his back, "time to go beat your ass at regionals!" He beams, walking backwards towards the exit.
"We swim as a team," comes from behind Rin, causing him to scrunch his face up in confusion.
"Eh?" Rin questions, turning around.
"Makoto," spills from Haru's mouth as he spots the brown-haired boy, his luggage begging to slip off his arm. It clatters to the ground as Haru steps forward softly, blue eyes catching green and taking in the easy, relaxed expression.
"You came!" Rin laughs, softly slapping Makoto's shoulder. "I told you that I could get him back safely." Rin shakes his head.
Makoto keeps eye contact with Haru as he responds to Rin. "Sousuke offered to ride with me. He's over there, insisting that he didn't want to get caught up in all the 'waterworks' as he so quaintly put it." Makoto thumbs toward the door where a dark, imposing figure is casually leaning against a pillar.
Rin is off, running towards him shouting "Sousuke! You're here too!" Causing heads to turn in his direction, but not Makoto's or Haru's.
Haru is inching closer, steps shaky and uncertain. What if he is still upset, Haru thinks, breathing quicker and shakier. What if just came to see Rin? What if we really can't fix this? What if—
"Haru, welcome home," Makoto said softly, opening his arms wide and stepping forward to envelop Haru in a hug. "I'm glad you're back, so please stop looking so worried and upset."
Makoto rests his chin on Haru's head, feeling the tension of the smaller man's muscles beneath him. Slowly, Haru began to relax, reaching his arms around Makoto, clutching the back of his shirt, and inhaling the scent that is wholly and fully Makoto. His breathing returned to normal as Makoto rubbed small, soothing circles into Haru's back.
"I'm sorry Makoto," Haru chokes, pulling tighter on Makoto's shirt, "I should have never said those terrible things." Haru buries his face in Makoto's collar, taking deep breaths to keep the tears that are already begging to slide down his cheeks at bay. "I didn't mean it; you're never butting into my life unnecessarily."
"Oh Haru," Makoto mumbles, gripping Haru tighter as he feels the front of his shirt becoming wet, "I'm so sorry Haru. I shouldn't have pushed you to try and find something you didn't want or need or even—"
Haru looks up, a silent trickle still flowing from his eyes and stares Makoto down, causing him to stop babbling. "No, you had every right Makoto," Haru reiterates. "You're my best friend, and I needed something. Don't ever let anyone tell you that dreams aren't important," Haru looks back down to Makoto's shirt collar and utters, "even if that person is me."
Makoto stiffens, almost angry, before he calms down and accepts the apology, reaching a hand up to ruffle Haru's glossy onyx locks. "Did you find your dream in Australia, Haru?" He breathes, leaning back to glance down at the boy—no, man—that seems so fragile in his arms. In reality, Haru is probably just as strong as Makoto, but right now he seems like a child again. It wasn't often that Makoto was the one comforting Haru, it was usually the other way around after a scary movie or some spooky shadow in the dark, but Makoto doesn't mind this change of pace. Friendships grow and evolve, he thinks with a smile, waiting for Haru's answer.
"I want to swim," Haru intones and pauses, biting his lip, eyes dancing over Makoto. Today he has his earring in and Haru wonders if he will swim with it later. His hair looks dry, so Haru assumes he hasn't gone to meet up with the others to practice for today yet. Maybe he needs to think this out better, write it all down before he tells Makoto, or else he might say something wrong and mess everything he has worked for up.
Makoto wants to laugh and say he knows that Haru loves swimming, but he waits, giving Haru a moment to sort through his thoughts because he understands Haru needs to sort through that whirlwind he calls a brain.
"I…" Haru begins again, "want to go pro." He tries to finish, something heavy settling on his tongue. He's leaving something out, what is it? Did he mention—
"Really?" Makoto beams, stepping back and grabbing Haru by the shoulders to get a better look at him. He stares Haru straight in the eyes and grins, pulling him back and absolutely crushing him in a hug that Haru can't even attempt to return with his arms all cramped under Makoto's strong grip. "I'm so proud of Haru-chan! You have a dream and you're going to swim! Haru-chan is going to be the best professional swimmer I know it!" Makoto all but sings while increasingly crushing Haru.
Haru wants to be angry, he really does, but Makoto's joy has finally stopped those damned tears and Haru can't help but let a laugh slip out. He blames that on the lack of oxygen to lungs thanks to a Makoto Super Hug© currently attempting to end his life before he can even attempt his dream.
"Haru-chan is laughing now?" Makoto eases off the hug enough to allow Haru a good breath, and then Haru is really laughing, causing Makoto to stare.
"What's so weird?" Haru asks, taking a step back from Makoto to try and calm down his laughter, "And drop the chan." There was something else he was thinking about, something that he meant to say earlier, but what was it?
"It's just so weird to hear you laugh, that's all," Makoto chuckles. "I guess it's just strange to see you show so much in public."
Haru forgot where they were, in an airport in the middle of the day. He looks around to see if they have drawn any attention, but the airport is small and the few people milling about are hurriedly heading to their destinations. Haru looks over Makoto's shoulder to see Sousuke and Rin sitting on a bench near the exit, both laughing about something, but clearly not paying attention to their little display. His bag is even lying on the floor, untouched, where he had dropped it, about ten feet behind where the reunion was taking place.
"You squeezed all the air out of my lungs and the sense from my head," Haru mutters, almost pouting as he goes to retrieve his bag.
Makoto follows behind, bemusement evident upon his face when Haru turns around to toss the bag to him.
"Are you ready to go practice for our big race?" Makoto inquiries, easily catching the bag and slinging it around his chest.
"I'm ready to swim with you all," Haru replies, heading towards the exit, knowing Makoto will follow.
Makoto catches up quickly and begins to fill him in on what happened in his absence, and Haru falls back into their easy pattern of Makoto speaking with Haru half-listening. There is something shifting in his mind, nagging for his attention, but Haru just can't remember what it is. He knows he needs to remember, but for now, Makoto's voice will keep him calm.