Title: The Worth of a Person

(Fic Series): A Life Worth Living

Fandom: Free!

Pairings: Sousuke/Rin

Rating: T

Warnings: Insecurities and Slight independence/dependency issues (nothing to huge). Sousuke's parents aren't very understanding. Sousuke's got a lot of emotional problems he had tried to fix, but couldn't by himself.

Chapter Summary:

Their last year of high school is over, and it's time to get things moving.

A/N: This is a super time skip if anyone is wondering. My headcanon is that he got surgery right after free! ended so, early Septemberish? They've already solidified their plans and now it's just after Graduation. (Just so everyone knows recovery after rotator cuff surgery is about 3-6 months)

I'll be writing more about their adventures during that year in one of those other story ideas I have. I don't know if I'll write it all, but I certainly will wright something!

I hope everyone liked the story! Thanks for reading!

Chapter 5: Love Stronger than Blood

"Isn't it a bit shady, being here while your parents are gone?" Rin inquired, eyebrows raised at the lack of car in the driveway and shoes in the entrance. Sousuke glanced back at him as he walked into the house.

"Are you kidding me? If I want any of my stuff I need to get it now, before they come back and realize what I'm doing."

Rin followed after giving the place an onceover.

"I haven't been here in a while, but the place still looks so, stiff?" He questioned his word choice before nodding to himself. Sousuke let out a bitter laugh.

"I'd say. Barely lived here anyways, but I do have a lot of my stuff stored here."

Sousuke opened the door to his room, making a beeline for his closet. It was packed full of various sized boxes.

"Jeez," Rin whistled. "Your bedroom looks like a hotel."

"Probably because it worked like one," Sousuke joked. He started pulling out boxes and stacking them on the floor. "You going to go grab the dolly, or should I?"

"Nah, I'll get it. Just don't over exert yourself while I'm gone. Don't get crazy just because it's been six months."

"Six months is the recovery time, isn't it?" he smirked. Sousuke waved off his lover's scowl. "Fine, fine. I'll let you do all the heavy lifting," he grinned, blowing him a kiss. Rin choked on some spit before skittering out the door, grumbling about stupid boyfriends.

Sousuke took the brief moment he had alone to walk over to his desk and pull out the picture frame he had hidden in the bottom drawer. It was an old picture of Rin and him, arms slung around each other's shoulders. He had to put it away before he left for middle school, afraid if he had it displayed his mother would take it for one reason or another.

He ran his fingers along Rin's face, a cheesy smile plastered there, before he slipped it into his bag along with a couple of his swimming books. Once his desk was sufficiently cleared of anything of importance he dropped his bag on his bed. He had already out grown all the clothes he had at home, but he still found himself sifting through his dresser looking for anything meaningful.

When he pulled out his favorite hoodie from middle school he smirked. It was probably Rin's size, he mused. It was shades of blue and sea green tie-dyed by his friends. On the back it had his last name and a cartoon whale shark ink printed in the center. They were unofficial team jerseys that they made during one of their summer camps. He couldn't let it go, plus he'd been itching to see Rin in it since he saw him stealing his sweaters from Samezuka.

"What's that?" asked a voice behind him. Sousuke spun around, holding it up so he could see.

"Team jersey."

Rin walked up to it, eyes wide with surprise at how nice it looked.

"That's really nicely done."

"Yeah, one of the guys' had a dad who was into printmaking. He helped everyone customize. Here, put it on." Sousuke said, holding it open for him. Rin stared at him before unzipping his own sweater and sticking his arms through. Sousuke pulled it over his head and burst out into fits of laughter.

"What!?" Rin barked, angry that Sousuke was laughing at him. "Does it look stupid on me?"

"No, you look good," Sousuke said shaking his head. "It's just, I thought that it'd be more your size since it was from middle school."

Rin lit up and growled, punching Sousuke in his good arm. The sweater pooled around him just the same as all the other's did. He wasn't quite swimming in them, but it was obvious to others that they weren't meant for him. The sleeves came down to his finger tips and the bottom could cover his butt when he was standing.

"I really hate how tall you got."

"That's a lie, you love it," he grinned, kissing Rin's nose. "And you love wearing things bigger than you anyways."

"Well I guess it's a good thing I have a telephone pole for a boyfriend then," Rin joked. Sousuke only grinned back, still too happy about how his boyfriend looked in his sweaters to rise to the bait.

"Let's hurry up, any longer and I might do something stupid." Sousuke warned, making a pointed glance at the bed. Rin's whole face turned a lovely rosy hue. He busied himself with setting the boxes on the wheeled contraption he had brought from the car.

"Come on, mom's not going to want to sit out there all day."

"Right, right," Sousuke chuckled, stacking the boxes on top of each other.

The work took no time at all with two people, and soon Rin's mom's car was full of boxes and bags. All of Sousuke's valuables packed away in the trunk and the back seats. Looking at it all inside the small vehicle, Sousuke couldn't help but feel a weird sort of pride that his entire life was in the back of the Matsuoka's car.

"Alright boys, I'm off! Call me if you want a ride," Rin's mom smiled, starting the car. Rin rolled his eyes.

"Mom, it's like, a quarter my morning run, I think we can handle walking back." She pouted in response, a tiny frown on her lips. There was no doubt as to where Rin got his sad kitten eyes.

"We'll be fine, thanks mom," Sousuke added. He grinned from ear to ear at the way her face lit up in delight.

"Well, at least text me when you're coming back. Bye boys, good luck," she said with a tight mouth, concern in her eyes. She blew them kisses as she left.

"Your mom's amazing," Sousuke announced, walking back inside his parents' house. Rin followed after, observing his tall best friend.

"You called her mom." Rin stated, like it was something new to Sousuke. He just smirked, grabbing his boyfriend's hand.

"Well, I'll be marrying into the family, won't I?"

"Wha, What!? You," Rin stuttered before he pulled the hood of his sweater over his head, trying to hide his face. "Oh, whatever."

"Matsuoka Sousuke really rolls of the tongue, doesn't it?" Sousuke continued, grinning wider at the way his boyfriend tried to crawl deeper inside the sweater.

"Yeah, yeah. So when are your parents coming home anyway? Need to ask for their blessing and all," he sneered. Sousuke pulled Rin over to the couch, rubbing his thumb over the back of his hand.

"Soon. Dad picks mom up from her club at six on Sundays."

Rin emerged from his new shell, looking thoughtfully at the clock on the wall.

"Do you think they'll try to separate us?" he whispered, squeezing Sousuke's hand a little tighter. Sousuke didn't feel the fear Rin did, but he understood it. In fact, he was pretty sure Rin was the only one worried about what his parents had to think.

"Doesn't matter if they do. I'm leaving and they can't stop me. If I have to kick up a fuss I will, and the last thing they want is the whole neighborhood knowing their son eloped with his boyfriend."

"Well if you say so, but we're still only eighteen." Rin peered from around his hood. Sousuke pulled it down and smoothed out his hair, running the long strands through his fingers.

"But eighteen is a legal adult in Australia," he murmured, placing a kiss on Rin's forehead. "Besides, they're going to disown me as soon as I tell them."

"Aren't you bothered by that!?" Rin hissed, trying to keep his voice from rising too high. He didn't want to yell at Sousuke. His boyfriend just kissed his forehead again, and then his cheek, and his lips.

"Not really. I know that it's different for you Rin, but there's nothing really tying us together other than blood. You, your mother and your sister have been more of a family to me than all of my relatives put together." His voice was serious, and low. Rin found no trace of dishonesty in his eyes, and he felt his breath escape him. He leaned forward and they brought their lips together once more.

"I love you." Rin whispered, wrapping his arms around him. Tears were in his voice, but not his eyes, and Sousuke thought it was both heartbreaking and breathtaking all at once. Kisses, and more kisses, soft clasps of the lips.

Rin filled him with happiness, and confidence, and he was afraid of his own dependence on him. He promised himself he'd find a new dream, and ways to make himself happy without Rin's help in Australia. He'd find his life with Rin still by his side. He didn't have to do it alone.

"I love you, too."