Warning: None
Notes: My gift to vidramon, who writes amazing and awesome fics herself. Been wanting to write more Applimon fics and she gave me this very fun prompt. Hope it's enjoyable! Also this takes right place after Smile From Your Heart, so Haru and Rei are about 24 and currently living together with Hajime.
Disclaimer: I do not own Digimon Universe: Applimon and make no profit from this work.
"Brother, I know you'll say no to this but–"
"Then why are you asking?"
"Can you please hear me out first before you say anything?"
"Communication is key, Rei."
Rei can practically see the slight pout on Hajime's face and feels Hackmon's stare on his back. He covers, then turns from the large pot of beef stew he had been tending to and crosses his arms over his apron, staring at Hajime in what he hopes is an intimidating big brother glare.
What Rei's not prepared for is Hajime already having the puppy eyes locked and loaded. His resolve slowly crumbles. He tries to hold out. "Okay, I'm listening." It doesn't work and he uncrosses his arms in defeat.
"Thank you." And the sweet smile he gives him makes it almost worth it. "So there's this party on Saturday night and—hey you promised you'd listen!"
"I-I haven't said anything yet." Oh, but he wants to.
"It's just a little get together before summer vacation starts, that's all."
"Have I met any of these friends yet?"
"Well, you met Daisuke, Nana, and Kou already. And I'd know you'd like Fumiko and Yua too."
Rei turns over those names for a moment. He does remember the first three and knows Hajime mentioned the others in passing at least. But then he recalls another named Hajime's lumped in with Yua before. "And those are all the students that'll be there? What about Yua's younger brother?"
Hajime hesitates and Rei is suddenly worried. Is he trying to hide something from him? "Are you guys really hanging out with him after what he pulled?"
"I know, but he apologized and hasn't done anything since. And Yua said he wouldn't be there anyway so I didn't want to bring it up."
"But you can't know for sure that he won't be there."
Before Hajime can respond, the door unlocks and opens. A moment later Haru is stepping through the archway and into the kitchen. "That smells delicious Rei."
Gatchmon chimes in with a "Beef stew, right?" Before going right to Hackmon and chatting him up.
Haru seems to grasp the mood in the room and bows his head a bit. "Sorry, didn't mean to intrude. Everything alright?"
"Rei was simply being far too overprotective," Hackmon says from the floor and Gatchmon lets out a cackle.
"Hackmon."
Hajime sighs and Rei doesn't like the tone it carries. "No, it's alright. I know brother is only looking out for me."
Rei really doesn't like that downcast look on his face either. After everything he went through, he should only be happy. "It's not that I don't trust you, I just don't want anything happening to you when I'm not there. Especially something I can easily prevent."
Suddenly Haru approaches him and pulls at his arm. He's unable to resist and finds himself in the livingroom. "I didn't mean to but I heard the last bits between you and Hajime," he whispers. "Is this about Leviathan?"
That is definitely not what he expected. "Of course not—that was a long time ago." That would be ridiculous if it was. But his heart is pounding and he suddenly can't make eye contact with his partner.
"Sometimes, when I'm not with Yuujin, I still think he's going to disappear on me. That him coming back was just a dream."
Something inside Rei chokes up. Haru's never admitted something like this before. "Sorry. I didn't–"
But he shakes his head and gives him a watery smile. "It's not your fault. Just that, what happened back then still affects all of us even now. So I know that you're afraid Hajime will disappear."
He's speechless. Haru, as always, manages to see right through him. Even when he himself doesn't know the what or why behind how he feels.
"I get you want to keep Hajime safe, so nothing like what he went through happens again. But, it's important for him to experience lots of things too."
Rei glances at the kitchen and sees Hajime waiting for him patiently. He finds his voice again. "What if some of those things hurt him?"
"Some things will and that's part of living too. But that's why you're here right? To help him when it does. Like how you saved him before."
Now there's a lump in his throat. "Yeah. Always." His eyes meet Haru's again. "Thank you."
The light is back in Haru's eyes and he squeezes Rei's shoulder. His hand is warm and grounding. "You're welcome. Now you can let your brother go with his friends, yeah?"
He huffs but there's no heat behind it. "Fine."
When they come back, Hajime is leaning on the kitchen counter but looks up at him with shining eyes. Dammit, now he really can't back out. "Alright, you can go. But. If anything happens, let me know immediately and I'll come get you."
Hajime nearly jumps and hugs Rei tightly. "I definitely will, thank you so much!"
Something in Rei's chest bubbles up as he returns it, squeezing just as tight. It's a soft, peaceful moment between them and Rei is happy he could give Hajime so much joy.
Then a flash and a tiny click goes off.
"This one came out nice Haru!"
"Oooo lemme see!" And Haru coos. "This is so going in the group chat."
Rei looks up and sees the pair looking at Haru's phone that Gatchmon is holding up landscape style. "Delete it."
Despite the instant apprehension in their eyes, they back away just before Rei lets go of Hajime and lunges forward. The pair run into the livingroom but Rei is on them and grabs both when they stumble around the couch.
Unfortunately Gatchmon manages to throw Haru's phone just before, shouting for Hackmon who easily catches it. Perfect.
"Sorry Rei."
What? "You better not—"
But out of Rei's peripheral vision, he sees Hackmon's hacking wire connect to the phone. "Posted."
There's a telltale vibration in Rei's apron pocket and he knows the deed has been done. Then his phone starts to vibrate magically and he knows his other friends have now seen it. He sighs and lets go of Haru and Gatchmon. "This is what I get for showing a whole emotion."
"It was for the best Rei."
"Traitor."
Rei looks up and sees Hajime doubled over by the doorway to the kitchen. Apparently he's been laughing so hard all this time that he went silent. Betrayed by his Buddy and brother. Tragic.
After Hajime wipes the tears from his eyes, he stands straight and checks his phone. "Brother! You should look, the picture came out nice."
Sighing again, he opens the group chat app and—over 200 messages already? He's seriously gonna kill them all later. But scrolling up finally nets him the dreaded photo.
Big smiles always suit Hajime well and this photo is no different. But his expression is the surprising one. There's a small smile on his own face, and seeing it so openly is strange. But not unpleasant. He hates to admit it but it's a nice picture. He quickly saves it on his phone, then closes the app before he's forced to see any of the sure-to-be embarrassing messages from the others.
When he looks up again, Haru is smiling at him and he feels his cheeks heat up.
"See, was that so bad?"
"Yes."
Haru laughs and Rei has to pretend to look at something on his phone before his face completely combusts.
"Awww, brother is embarrassed. He really likes you, huh?"
"Hajime!"
Hackmon interrupts. "We should take a family picture too."
Gatchmon nods from his perch on Haru's head. "That's right, us two and Haru have to be in the next one!"
Before Rei can say a single word, Hajime is already pushing him towards the others and Hackmon decides to sit on his shoulder. Hajime stands on Rei's right next to Hackmon and Rei immediately wraps his arm around his brother's shoulder.
Then Haru comes in and wraps an arm around Rei's waist right before Gatchmon snaps the picture and he blacks out for a moment. He hears a whistle a moment before his vision returns and then "Wow Haru, that was pretty bold!"
"Huh? What was—oh I'm so sorry Rei, I didn't realize where I put my arm!" And at least Haru has the grace to blush as he snatches his arm away.
But he's absolutely, completely fine. Haru is his partner and this is what partners do. And to show that he's fine, Rei sits down on his couch and covers his face with a throw pillow.
Hajime speaks up, and he sounds a little too sly for Rei's liking. "Everyone likes this picture too. Eri-san says she already hears the wedding bells."
The vibrations from his phone reach a fever pitch. He'll keep his face in this pillow a little longer.
Man I love queerplatonic Rei and Haru so much, they have my heart and soul.
