CHAPTER THREE

"The number you are calling is currently out of reach. Please check the number and try your call again, or-"

God damn how he hated that line.

Now he knew how Rin must've felt that night.

Okay, so maybe Makoto isn't stuck in some park after almost being harassed by a bunch of thugs in an alley desperately needing help. But this call held the same urgency none the less seeing as the brunette was calling to make sure that that wasn't going to happen again!

It was already twelve-thirty and Makoto hasn't received any word from Rin since the red-head left this morning for his jog.

Makoto knew he didn't have much right to be angry since his phone was dead the last time Rin had desperately needed him; but damn it, he was worried. He just wanted to know where his boyfriend was; whether he was safe; why he didn't come home first before running off; where he actually went off; whom he went off with; whether the shark had come willingly; whether it was actually someone he knew or just some random thug again; whether –

Fuck, Makoto, stop that.

Now his own conscience was starting to sound a lot like Rin does; not a very good sign.

Annoyed, Makoto threw his phone across the room, watching it luckily land right on top of his dirty laundry.

He felt uncomfortable.

He needed someone to take care of or he'd be at a loss on what to do; like right now. To be honest, the orca knew how useless he was on his own (thanks to Rin who pointed it out all these years). Before dating Rin, he didn't have any real ambitions, no real goals, no nothing. He was just so used to the caring of others, being there for others, supporting others; he simply forgot what to do for himself. He needed to be needed; he was a people-pleaser. And that made him do a lot of things of which mostly he didn't even approve of. Of course his best friend was always there since forever to steer him back when it got a bit too much, but...

Haru wasn't the one who broke down his walls and barged into his life just like that. Haru wasn't the one who forced him out of his comfort zone. Haru wasn't the one who forced him to change – though Makoto knew that said raven hated his martyr-complex as much as the redhead does. That redhead, Rin, was simply the person who changed him, while Haruka had been there practically all his life and didn't know how to change him since they pretty much grew up together like that.

When you know someone too well, you just start to tolerate everything that person does (because you know most of the reasons behind them), and you end up not being able to differentiate the person's positive and negative traits anymore.

Makoto flopped down with a sigh.

All he wanted right now was for Rin to come ho–

"Tadaima."

Well speak of the devil.

It wasn't much of a surprise if Makoto protested.

"Rin, no. I.. I really don't approve."

It is, however, if Makoto actually forbid him.

"Why?"

Which he just did.

"Well..." the taller brunette fidgeted, fingers playing with the hem of his shirt, "You... You still have to recover..." was the lame excuse that came out, and Rin rolled his eyes. Typical. Not voicing out your real selfish intentions, and masking it by making it seem as if you're doing this for the other's interest. Typical Makoto. God how Rin hated that selfles side of his boyfriend.

"I'm just fine."

And in went Rin's neatly folded black top into his backpack, followed by a pair of fresh underwear. He could feel his boyfriend's emerald eyes drilling holes into his back, but he was dead set on ignoring it.

It was decided; the redhead was going to stay over at Sousuke for the next two days just because he felt like it. He had made the decision on a whim, and definitely not because he couldn't stand being in the same room with Makoto without wanting to jump him but also fearing the rejection and loathing the hope of being accepted that came with it.

Nope, not at all.

He just wanted to stay over at his bestie's place, is all.

Yeah, keep telling yourself that.

"Rin, no, please don't. Just stay home with me, please?" came Makoto's pleading from behind him, and the Aquarius was overcome with the sudden urge to punch something. He didn't really know why; maybe he was tired. It was one o'clock in the morning and he only came back home to fetch necessities. The tone in his boyfriend's voice clearly showed genuine concern, and Rin suddenly, almost, nearly let himself cave in.

But no.

This time, he had to have the heart to reject Makoto.

The brunette had rejected him in return as well, anyway.

"No," was the curt reply that Rin gave before zipping up his bag and hoisting it onto his shoulder. He had all the necessities covered; now all he needed to do was get his jacket and get out of there. Turning around, Rin made his way past his boyfriend and into the hall, but was brought to a sudden halt as he felt someone's grip on his upper arm. The shark turned around with a tired, annoyed sigh.

"What?" came the biting inquiry, and Rin ignored the wince that passed Makoto's handsome face.

"Rin, please don't," Makoto pleaded, his cute eyes twinkling like that of an innocent puppy, and the shark could feel the grip on his arm tightening slightly in hope. Rin would be lying if he said he weren't affected; he did love the man quite a lot, after all. His heart clenched and he could feel the faint prickles of tears in his eyes.

Rin sighed.

He loved Makoto, a lot, and he knew it should be serious if the brunette actually forbid him something. There was something in the tone of his voice, in the glint of his eyes, something that Rin couldn't name; couldn't recognize. He'd be heartless if he said he didn't want to figure out what it was and just stay home, but he also couldn't just stay there and feel neglected in the house that they shared together.

He needed to get out.

Gently, Rin worked his arm out of Makoto's grip and straightened up.

"Mako, it's just a sleepover. I'll be back the day after tomorrow."

And there it was, that unreadable glint again, as Makoto's hands now both shot out to take a hold of his shoulders. Rin frowned.

"Rin, please. I'm sorry, don't be mad at me, it's just..." and the brunette halted mid-way, blinking, as if trying to rearrange the words. Rin sighed. He hated it when his boyfriend did this; it was obvious that he was trying to spare Rin's dignity, pride, whatever – Makoto pussy-footed nearly everything at it pissed Rin off as much as it intrigues it him.

What was it this time?

"Just...?" the red head echoed, half-hoping that, unlike previous times, the brunette would actually give a straight answer for once.

"Just... Just stay home with me. Please?"

Oh hell.

"Stop lying to me, God damn it!" Rin finally snapped, taking a step back, balling his fists by his side as he hid his face behind long red bangs.

He was sick of this.

That damned same line again! How many times is Makoto planning to repeat that, exactly? That lie is as transparent as fuck, and Rin found his anger increasing the very instant Makoto finished his sentence. This was annoying, really, and it gave him more reasons to actually go than stay.

"Just, just stop it, okay?! You think I don't know?! I may not be able to read your mind like Haru does, but I've been with you long enough to know you're lying to me!"

"Rin, I'm not – "

"When are you going to stop trying and spare my dignity?! I can take whatever you want to say to me, damn it, just say it!"

Rin willed himself to open his eyes – he hadn't even realized he'd closed them – and glare up into his boyfriend's shocked face. Makoto was frozen in place, eyes wide and mouth half-open as he tried to process what Rin had just done. Or maybe he's trying to come up with another lie, another way to pussyfoot, another way to use his coddling and loving to get Rin to cave in, another way to play unfair –

Fuck it.

He won't say anything anyway.

Fed up, Rin turned on his heels but never made a step further Makoto suddenly had a vice grip on his upper arm once more. It was flattering, really. Usually the brunette would just stop trying after Rin had an outburst like that. Maybe he really was going to tell the truth?

Stop hoping, Matsuoka, are you really that stupid?

God, Rin was hopelessly in love, wasn't he? Makoto never refrained his lying habit in four years, so why would Rin start hoping now? Some things just don't change.

"Rin, listen to me," Makoto sighed out, tone desperate, but he honestly couldn't care anymore. Like he said, this is flattering and all, but some things just don't change and Rin just has to accept that. Besides, the guy had avoided him for a week or so now, had recently also lied to him, so really, what more was there left to say that wouldn't add oil to fire?

Rin growled, "Why should I?"

If Makoto couldn't open up to him anymore then why should he? Rin watched as his boyfriend blinked, a bit taken aback at his statement. He could feel the grip on his arm loosen considerably, also.

"Why...?" Makoto parroted, "What do you mean, Rinrin?"

The red head flinched, face nearly softening as he heard that loving nickname, but no. Makoto was being unfair, as usual, using his coddling and loving as a means to get Rin to cave in. I know this routine like the back of my hand.

"Why should I listen to someone who avoids me like the plague?" Rin gritted out, "With someone who lies to me, to spare my dignity for his own peace of mind? With someone who rejects me the moment I need him the most?" the last part came out quietly, and Rin regretted those words the moment he saw Makoto's hurt face, but he had to be honest. That's how things were, weren't they? The truth hurts and stings like a bitch, just as much as karma does.

Tears are gathering in eyes now, and Rin tilted his head back, rapidly blinking, willing the tears away. Seems kind of useless, actually, seeing as he was actually already crying anyway, but fuck it. As long as the tears ain't falling, he ain't crying.

"Wh.. Rin.. I... I never –" The brunette began, spluttering as he was trying to find words, words that won't upset Rin even more, words that Rin kndw weren't really the truth, words that weren't really a part of Makoto's mind but just words he had to get out to calm things down.

But really, Makoto's excuses were so predictable sometimes, and Rin's tired of hearing the same shit over and over again.

"Yeah yeah. You never meant to," he snapped harshly, "You never do mean most of the things you do, Mako," Rin bit out, taking a step back, a step away from the taller brunette. His words were harsh, yes, but really, that's how truth is. Besides, wasn't he making it easier for Makoto by taking the words out of his mouth?

"I'm off," and away turned Rin, off to the front door.

Or at least, that's what he had planned to do.

Instead, a hand on his shoulder halted him in his steps, and a sharp pain went through his upper back as it collided harshly with the wall. He could feel a sharp tug on his arm as his backpack fell and caught on to his elbow, but it was ripped off of him in a matter of seconds; falling somewhere faraway in the vicinity of the living room with a heavy thud.

The next thing he knew, he was staring right into Makoto's determined eyes.

The brunette was scared, and a small flicker of hesitancy was visible, but he was determined. A determined Makoto meant a forceful Makoto, and this couldn't ever end up good. And despite the racing of his pulse, the throbbing of his heartbeat, the fear that filled his chest, Rin found himself also slightly liking it.

Oh God, Haru was right, I am a masochist.

Rin's shoulders felt frail beneath his big hands.

It was as if he could break it easily with a flick of his wrist.

He could feel the muscles beneath the fair skin, of course, and he knew what kind of strength his boyfriend possessed. But he also knew that he had way more power – literally and figuratively, in more ways than one – and that it was actually wrong to be using his power in an act of dominance like this. His parents had always taught him to be subtle, to never be forceful because everyone had a thing called "free-will".

Thing was, Rin was a person you had to be forceful with.

"Mako, what the hell!" said red head snapped up, face hard and very obviously pissed off, but it wasn't hard for Makoto to read the fear, anticipation and confusion behind all that anger in his eyes. Steeling his heart and willing his conscience to shut the fuck up, the taller young man leaned in, grabbed the other's chin to secure the position, and pressed their lips together without another word.

Rin, of course, was shocked.

It took a fraction of a second – a second where he was unresponsive, still trying to process what had just happened – but then Makoto felt it. The struggling of the shorter one's body and arms (to which he merely held on tighter to); the muffled growls; the kicking – Makoto merely forced the kiss in harder.

"Mmhh-!"

He didn't like this, not at all. He was never the type to demonstrate violence, but being with Rin for so long finally brought out the sadistic and dominant side of his from time to time. He wished this could be done with another means – with words, for example, talking things out made so much more sense – but Makoto knew that the Aquarius wouldn't listen to him anymore.

He knew he had made a lot of mistakes in the past; he also knew that he had a tendency to beat around the bush in the way he expressed his words and that Rin absolutely hated it because it sounded so dishonest and "too selfless to be human", as the older one had put it. But that was simply Makoto being how he is, and he can't change that. He can't change the nervousness he gets every time he tries to be bluntly honest. Haru and his parents and the twins could read him like a book no matter how vague he was being, and they never had an issue with his little problem. Nobody else ever did, since everyone outside of his family – and Haru – couldn't ever tell that he was lying anyway.

Call Makoto spoiled, but that was just how it was.

Rin was the only person who made such a big fuss about it; the only one who demanded him to be a bit selfish at times; the only one who demanded his blunt and truthful honesty; the only one who actually wanted to hear him voice out his thoughts, no matter how awful, even though Makoto knew that Rin had learned to read him better by now.

Needless to say, Rin was precious.

And if he wouldn't listen to his words, then he'll just have to show him through actions.

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note:
Oh God I'm so sorry if it's too short :(
I'm working on chapter four, guys, and.. I think this will end at the sixth chapter.

So, yeah, the reviews have reached 15, and this time I'm aiming for 30 :')
Why so many? Cuz I NEED MORE TIME :'D
I'm hitting a stump.
HELP ME WITH IDEAS PLEASE :')

Thank you so much, readers, I love you!