Notes:

I just wrote this in like half an hour because I'm up to vol.3 ch.14 in the manga and someone needs to fucking hug Norio goddammit! ToT

-o~o-

The atmosphere was awful. Everyone could feel it. But only a few people knew what the cause was.

Yonekuni and Shirou knew. Or, at least, they had a pretty good idea. They had seen or heard about some of what had happened between Norio and Kunimasa. That Kunimasa had essentially outright said he didn't care if anyone else fucked Norio as long as he went first. And when they'd spoken to him about it, he hadn't even understood why that would be taken badly.

Shirou tried to prompt him by saying, "Kunimasa-kun… You like Tsuburaya-kun, don't you?"

But Kunimasa had replied, his voice almost devoid of emotion, "I never said anything like that."

Then, Norio turned up the next day, miraculous happy as though nothing had happened to upset him. And Hidekuni revealed that he liked Norio, and that Norio had rejected Kunimasa and opened his heart to him instead. But Yonekuni and Shirou knew how strongly Norio felt for Kunimasa. The only conclusion that made sense was that… Norio had overheard that conversation. Overheard Kunimasa essentially say that he didn't like him. Had never felt anything for him. And so Norio had forced himself to tear up his feelings for Kunimasa, when they obviously weren't reciprocated – and instead, to look towards someone that actually cared about him.

They didn't know what had happened since then, but obviously something had. Because now, things seemed somehow even worse. Kunimasa was acting kind of forced casual, yet slightly disgusted and pissy, like he was finding flies in every mouthful of his food. Norio, across the room, was glaring over his bowl, the sort of expression that hinted that he would be barely holding back from tears if he didn't stay angry.

Yonekuni looked at Shirou worriedly. His boyfriend had the same concern etched into his expression. What had happened to make things between them even worse?

Yonekuni couldn't stop looking at Norio throughout the rest of the meal. The poor kid… Even from this distance, Yonekuni could tell he was barely keeping it together.

And finally, he couldn't handle it.

They finished eating and all split off to go do their various jobs. When he and Shirou stood up, he put his hand on his boyfriend's shoulder.

"I'll be back in a minute," he said, glancing after Norio as he left quickly in the exact opposite direction to Kunimasa.

Shirou, understanding, nodded. "Of course."

So Yonekuni headed after Norio. He caught up to him in a deserted corridor.

"Hey. Noririn."

Norio stopped and turned. "Yonekuni-senpai? What is it?"

Yonekuni sighed. "Alright. This is a one-time thing, okay? And you'd better not tell anyone about it. But… come here."

And he held his arms out. Norio just stared, obviously extremely confused.

Sighing again, Yonekuni beckoned.

"Come on, before I change my mind," he said gruffly.

Norio looked up at him with his big shiny eyes and, as he understood, they filled with tears. And he stepped forward, falling gratefully into Yonekuni's arms. Yonekuni hugged him tight, wrapping his arms around Norio's small body and rubbing his back. Norio seemed to try to hold back his tears at first, as though worried he was going to cross a line and Yonekuni would throw him off again – but in the end, he couldn't keep them back, and soon he was crying into Yonekuni's chest. Yonekuni moved one hand up to his hair, stroking it gently. His heart ached for the boy, hearing his heartbroken sobs. Feeling the way his body shook with them.

"My brother's a bastard," he murmured softly. "I'm sorry…"

Norio just cried harder, his hands clutching at the back of Yonekuni's shirt. Yonekuni squeezed him close.

They just stood there and hugged for a long time, until Norio's tears dried up and his body stopped shaking quite as much. Then, slowly, he stepped back, giving a shuddering sigh, tears still rolling down his cheeks. Yonekuni reached out and rubbed his shoulder, giving him a sad smile.

"Hang in there, Noririn."

Norio managed a tiny, watery smile back. "Thanks, Yonekuni-senpai," he said quietly. "I… I think I needed that…"

Yonekuni just nodded. "We won't be making a habit of it," he reminded him, pointing at him with a finger.

Norio laughed weakly, sniffing and reaching up to rub his damp cheeks. "I know," he said.

As they parted, Yonekuni sighed, looking back over his shoulder at the still sniffling boy. He just wished he could do more for poor Noririn. But his brother had always been this way. He'd just have to hope that something, someday, could make him change.