Hajime blinked awake and stared at the ceiling for a long moment, trying to figure out what had woken him. He looked across the room, wondering if he had heard the connecting door close and Shun enter, but the space was empty. He closed his eyes again, and heard it clearly this time - a soft voice from Shun's room.
Hajime quickly got up and moved through the door.
"Shun?" He called softly. The White Prince was curled in on himself, a small bundle of misery under the blankets. Hajime perched on the edge of the mattress and grasped the hunched shoulder.
"Shun?" Shun's face scrunched into a desperate expression, fresh tears following dried tracks. Hajime gave Shun's shoulder a firm shake. "Shun!"
Green eyes flew open. "Hajime!" The gasp was half-hidden in Hajime's midsection as Shun lunged forward and wrapped his arms around Hajime's waist, forcing the startled Black Prince to catch him.
Hajime was speechless.
Shun hid his face for several long, shaking breaths before he pulled back to look up. "Ha- Hajime," he began, obviously trying for his normal cheerful self, but his voice cracked and the smile was wobbling at the edges. Shun tried to say more, but then simply shook his head and buried his face back in Hajime's shirt, tears welling.
"Don't leave," he finally begged softly. Hajime tightened his hold.
"Shun, what…"
"Don't leave me alone anymore." Shun pushed closer. "Please?"
Stunned, Hajime could only guess what Shun meant. "My trip?" A shiver was the only reply, and Hajime felt his heart clench. "I'm sorry, Shun," he said softly, bending closer to the white head. "I didn't think…"
Shun shook his head again. "Hajime needed a break," he argued weakly. Hajime shifted his grip so he was closer to cradling Shun than just holding him.
"Still. I'm here now, alright? I'll… try not to leave like that again."
Shun made a small sound of agreement, and began to relax.
"I'm right here, Ototo."
Shun's head popped up, and Hajime tried to hide how equally startled he was that the endearment had slipped out. Shun gave another valiant attempt at his usual enthusiastic response, but all that came was more tears. Hajime smiled gently as Shun almost shyly tucked his head back down.
The immediate crisis seemed mostly resolved, and Hajime would like to go back to sleep, but he wasn't willing to leave Shun alone just yet. He nudged at a shoulder. "Move over."
Shun squinted up, eyes swelling and red and tired. "Ah?"
Hajime propped the other prince up and gestured at the other half of the bed. "Move over. I want to go back to sleep."
Shun smiled truly for the first time and quickly scooted over so Hajime could lie down.
Hajime closed his eyes and fought his own smile as he felt Shun immediately shift closer. After a few scuffles, he simply held his arm out and felt a weight settle against his shoulder.