Title: Origami Fish
Fandom: Free!
Pairings: Makoto/Haruka
Rating: T
Warnings: childhood bullying in chapter 2 and mild dark themes in chapter 4
Chapter Summary:
The exchanging of gifts between friends.
A/N:
Warning, verbal bullying happens. Not too much though.
Origami Fish
Chapter Two: Green Star
"Happy Birthday Haru-chan!"
Haru turned to see his best friend standing there with one of the ridiculous party hats on his head. The pointed cone had a big 10 right in the middle, drawn party balloons decorating it. It was ugly and Haru refused to wear one, and seeing Makoto wear one was just as unappealing.
"Take that off," Haru instructed, not bothering to point at the object. Makoto blinked three times before he pointed at the hat. An unimpressed gaze followed and Makoto giggled as he pulled it off.
"Mom made me wear it. It's nice, but it hurts your chin," he continued and sat down next to Haru at the picnic table.
"You're late." He pouted, irritation growing. Haru had to sit alone while all of the classmates his parents invited played for a whole half hour. He had four paper napkin origami fish in front of him, having gotten bored near the end.
"I'm sorry Haru-chan, I had to wait for Dad to pick me up from Auntie's since Mom had to go to the doctors."
Haru knew that he was being childish. Makoto's mother was pregnant and had a doctor's appointment, it's not like they could avoid it. He would have invited Makoto over earlier if he had known, but he hadn't. He only knew that Makoto would be late when he asked his mother after noticing the absence of Tachibanas at his party.
"You should have had her bring you," he mumbled, turning away from the other boy. Makoto smiled gently at him, understanding what that meant. He pulled up a wrapped square, complete with a blue bow.
"This is for you, Haru-chan."
The older boy turned and stared at the package before picking it up and tearing away the paper gently. There was a rule that he couldn't open presents before cake, but he always opened Makoto's presents as soon as he got there. Makoto would do the same on his birthday, so it was only fair.
Inside the wrapping was a box with an instructional on how to fold lucky stars, and a package of long strips of colored origami paper inside. Haru's eyes widened in surprise, they had just learned the story behind the little paper stars during school. The class wasn't able to make any stars though. One of the more mischievous boys in the class had used the paper strips to give paper cuts to two of the other kids in class, starting a paper cut war. The paper had been taken away and so did their origami rights. Haru had been very disappointed and it seemed Makoto had noticed.
"Do you like it?" Makoto asked, voice giving away his nervousness. Haru looked up and nodded. His younger friend's smile broke out and he shifted in his seat a bit. He leaned towards Haru and Haru leaned in, placing a small kiss on his cheek as to fulfill their now two-year tradition.
"Thank you," Haru mumbled as his attention went back to his new gift. He opened up the package of paper into the box so it wouldn't flutter away in the wind. He picked up a piece and started folding it.
"Ah! Haru, you already know how to fold them?" Makoto asked, sounding just a bit disappointed.
"Grandma taught me, but I don't have paper to make them," Haru added to appease the other boy. Makoto scooted closer on the bench until their shoulders were brushing and Haru made no move to escape the other boy's touch. Makoto giggled next to him, watching him fold in awe.
"You don't fold as often anymore," he commented. Haru shrugged, he didn't really have a need to fold with Makoto around. Haru only folded origami when he was bored. It was ironic in that way, that Makoto was the reason he didn't fold as much when it was Makoto who loved watching him fold origami the most.
Haru finished the tiny shiny green star and looked at his handiwork. It wasn't the best, but it would do. He motioned for Makoto to hold out his hand and the boy followed his order in blind obedience, surprised when the small paper star fell into his palm. His face lit up because of the reflective paper and his mouth dropped just a bit, in awe by its beauty.
"It's beautiful, Haru-chan." Makoto smiled and went to hand the paper back, surprised when Haru wouldn't take it from him.
"It's for you," Haru explained. Makoto made a noise of surprise before he pressed a hasty kiss against Haru's cheek, face going red. Haru made a face, he didn't know if that tiny star was worth a whole kiss.
"Thank you Haru-chan, I love it!"
"You two are so gross!" A voice called from behind them. Haru turned to see that it was one of the more obnoxious boys in their class. A few other of the kids he was playing with, freeze tag from the looks of it, also were making faces. He felt Makoto tense next to him and he glared at the kids. He didn't even want them at his party. He didn't like any of his classmates that year. He rarely liked any of his classmates any year.
"Yeah, that's so weird, why would you kiss him?" A girl called out. Haru tried to recall a name, but only could remember that she was one of the girls who liked to pick on Makoto. He had tried to make sure his mom knew not to invite her, but he could never remember her name.
"It's not weird," Makoto retorted, though the crack in his voice was evident. Haru didn't care what the other kids thought, but it bothered him that Makoto was bothered. Makoto turned to Haru expectantly, as if asking him if it was weird or not.
"I don't think it's weird," Haru offered the boy, trying to soothe him.
"Well it is! It's gross!" The girl called again. "Boys don't kiss boys!"
Makoto shrunk up into a ball and Haru stood up, taking his cup of ice water with him. The girl screeched as the water was dumped all over her. Parents started running over, finally paying attention to their kids. Haru just ignored their calls and walked right back over to Makoto, grabbing his hand and pulling him up and away from the others.
"Haru-chan, that wasn't very nice," Makoto whimpered, tears pricking at his eyes from the harsh words of their classmates.
"She wasn't very nice," he countered. Haru walked them over to the stairs where they waited for some adult to come over and reprimand him. Makoto stopped crying after a while, hand still clutching at Haru's.
"It's weird, isn't it? Does Haru hate it?"
Haru turned to his best friend and kissed his cheek. Makoto hiccupped, looking up at the boy in shock. It wasn't a thank you kiss so he was confused, but also a bit grateful. It was a reminder that Haru didn't do anything he didn't want to. Haru tried to will all of his feelings to Makoto, not having any words for them.
"I don't," he mumbled.
Makoto surged forward and placed a clumsy, wet kiss on Haru's unsuspecting lips. When he pulled back he hiccupped again, rubbing at his eyes. His tiny hands were shaking as he worked himself up for another crying session.
"I lo," he hiccupped. "I love Haru-chan."
Haru licked the salty tears from the kiss off his lips. He watched his friend in wonder, unsure of why he had kissed him, but finding he didn't mind how it felt. He knew the severity of kisses that weren't from his family. Haru decided Makoto was a fine friend and could take responsibility for taking Haru's first kiss, besides it was probably Makoto's first kiss as well. He had promised his Grandma he'd only kiss the person he'd be together with his whole life. She had laughed warmly and said he didn't have to, but he felt it was only right. It's how the stories worked, anyways.
"Okay," Haru said and he placed an awkward kiss on Makoto's trembling lips. A hiccup interrupted it and Makoto smiled through his tears. His chubby fingers intertwined with Haru's slim ones and Haru sat back, hearing his mother's call.
They waited patiently for the awful scolding awaiting Haru, but neither was bothered by it or the words of their classmates any longer. They were Makoto and Haru, and as long as they were together everything would be okay.
