Chapter Text
7 days.
It's only been a week.
Living in Paris is not exactly how he envisioned it. Despite Rin's solo focus being football, there are still so many inconveniences.
The people here are so rude, entitled and have no sense of personal boundaries. Rin hates them with passion, no surprise that he doesn't really get along with most of the footballers.
He's currently living in a building complex with the other players, as part of their contract with Pxg. They all have solo rooms and the living conditions are agreeable enough to make Rin stay.
It's harder to get accepted into such a well-known team than one might imagine. Despite getting scouted, Rin still had to pass several evaluation tests that took place over the course of several days. He had been training and playing matches everyday while being closely monitored. There had been health checkups and a lot of paperwork before he even arrived in France.
Despite the hardships, Rin is not worried since he has been on top of his game. He knows he is better than his competition and that he will be chosen. Today is the day when they will announce the results.
It's a routine by now, Rin sees Bachira's face first thing in the morning, who is diligently waiting by his door.
"Morning, Rin-chan!" Bachira jumps him before Rin can answer. Expecting the usual hug, Rin is surprised when Bachira not only wraps both arms around his neck, but he also kisses his right cheek instead and then moves to his left one.
"What was that, Meguru?" Rin asks, his heart beating faster and longing for a proper kiss. He curses Bachira for always finding out ways to rile him up so early in the morning.
"That's how people greet each other around here." Bachira leans away from him and offers him a dazzling smile.
No way. Given how Bachira acts like the antithesis of Rin, so naturally friendlier, the older boy gets along with other players a lot better. Despite being shit at both English and French, Bachira still finds ways to communicate with the rest of the team using online translators.
"What?" Rin repeats in disbelief. "Bullshit." He calls bullshit on that being a casual greeting.
Since Bachira was already way touchier than the average Japanese, there is no surprise that he would quickly adopt all the weirdly affectionate European customs.
"It totally is." Bachira grins wider and shoves his phone in Rin's face displaying an article that is confirming this bullshit. As if it's not suspicious enough that he has it already open.
"Whatever." Rin huffs, accepting that it's going to be another quirk he has to tolerate while doing his best to not appear affected by Bachira's kisses.
Nothing else happened between them since the New Year's Eve. They haven't seen each other for weeks, busy with finishing the school term and all the paperwork necessary for relocating to Europe. By the time they got to France it was already spring. And here, they have been solely focused on football and passing all the evaluations. Actually, they haven't even spent much time alone together given how busy they have been. But somehow Bachira had found ways to fluster Rin, nonetheless, since (if Rin were to be honest) at this point it didn't take much once Bachira was in his proximity.
"Aren't you excited about the results?" Bachira is bursting with energy as usual, energetic like a bee.
"I already know I will pass." Rin answers confidently, since he is in his sportive abilities.
They go down the stairs because Rin doesn't waste any chance to do an extra workout and Bachira follows him, giggling when he jumps down the stairs.
"What about meee?" Bachira asks with a singing edge in his voice.
"You're the one who wanted to be on the same team as me, so it's your job to keep up." Rin says that indifferently, but deep down he doesn't dwell on the possibility of Bachira not being chosen, he obviously is good enough.
"I think I'm pretty good at keeping up with you. We both have good stamina, we can go at it for hours." Bachira smiles at him teasingly and Rin is not so sure whether they are talking about football anymore because his mind goes down the dirty road.
"True." Rin responds, but swallow dryly. He really shouldn't think about how much he and Bachira could last in bed if they had all the time and no other trainings to do. With how easily Bachira riles him up, Rin would probably go at it as many rounds as he could until he passed out from exhaustion.
It's too early for this, Rin shakes his head internally, as he pushes the door open.
At ground level, there is the restaurant/cafeteria where most players eat their meals.
Unfortunately, Bachira is very much the social butterfly Rin isn't. So he goes to greet some other guys and Rin watches with utmost disgust and overwhelming jealousy how Bachira is indeed kissing a French player's cheeks.
What the fuck. Rin wants to have a discussion with whoever decided this is socially acceptable behavior between teammates and then send him back to his grave. Rin bites his lower lip hard enough to draw blood, and he wishes, no he curses the player who dared to kiss Bachira to fail the evaluations.
■■■
That damned half-baked loser is on the damned list. He is last, but he is there. Michelin something, like those awfully overhyped restaurants.
In contrast, Rin's name is at the top of the list. Obviously, since he is the best from all the candidates. Honestly, Rin didn't even have to try that hard to impress the Pxg officials.
The couch is talking, and some manager joins him, but Rin hardly listens to them. Bachira is once again socializing, currently bumping fists with some other sorry excuse of a player who passed. Rin imagines how he would break that guy's fingers one by one.
His pent-up jealousy is threatening to burst into something monstrous once again. Rin has learned something since Isagi Yoich so he trusts that Bachira cares more about him than those lukewarm shits. He doesn't like sharing Bachira with other people, but as long as he is the special one, Rin can cope with that. However, their relationship hasn't been feeling special lately.
His earning for Bachira is so deep that it's overwhelming and at that moment Rin yearns. He wants Bachira to be his. His lover. His boyfriend. His whatever people like to call it. So that all these fuckers would know and back off.
"... a great dinner celebration tonight!" It's what Rin hears from the manager's speech, and it appears that all the new players are invited to a fancy restaurant dinner, along with the current team members.
His skin crawls at the thought of more socialization as if Rin doesn't spend his entire day among other people. He kind of misses the silence of his own home in moments like this.
"I've seen you play during the selection." Loki approaches him, after all the speeches and introductions are finally over. "You're an entrancing striker."
And Rin searches him for any malicious intent, but by Loki's half smile, he looks entertained. Not that Rin gives two flying fucks about fun. Julian Loki has fast feet, a quick mind and most importantly he scores many goals for his team. In Rin's eyes, he is someone who is worthy of being a rival, a true striker. Rin can respect somebody like him.
"Do you know that I have met your brother-." As soon as Loki mentions Sae he is abruptly cut off.
"Don't. Don't mention him." Rin threatens him, already on the verge of losing the respect he holds for Loki.
After all, anyone who befriends or supports his shitty brother is by default his enemy.
"Ookay then." Loki smiles politely, sensing that he has hit a nerve. "About your shooting, though, you need some work."
Valid criticism help players grow. Not when they are in Rin's headspace though who has been ready to tear someone apart for a while now, and Loki is pressing all of his wrong buttons.
"Rin-chan!" Bachira yells in warning before landing on Rin's back just in time, interrupting Loki's advice.
Loki's eyebrows arch up at the sight of Bachira weirdly rubbing his cheek against Rin's shoulder, marking him like a cat. And the younger doesn't say anything as relief washes over him at the contact. Just earlier, Rin has been craving Bachira's touch, but for someone who has been missing it so much, he doesn't show it. Rin remains perfectly still, and the only sign that he accepts Bachira is the lack of rejection.
"Oh, hey, Loki!" Bachira finally looks at Loki, as if he just noticed his presence there, too absorbed by Rin." Did I interrupt something?"
"No worries." Loki smiles politely. "See you guys at dinner."
Rin gets annoyed by the way Loki looks at them knowingly. He huffs a little, people knowing seems to bother him still, despite getting upset that morning for the exact opposite reason. Maybe Rin gets irritated by others, no matter what they do.
Everyone goes back to their rooms to change and get ready for the evening, and Bachira hangs by his side all the way there.
"So what are you wearing tonight, Rin-chan?" Bachira asks what is seemingly a normal question, but the way he says it's so... heated.
When Rin turns his head to look at him, there is a fire glowing in Bachira's eyes. That intensity doesn't often appear, Bachira usually acts playfully. But, oh, perhaps Rin hasn't been the only one holding back.
"Black pants and shirt, probably." Rin responds neutrally. He doesn't care much about clothes, but he knows the importance of dressing for the occasion.
"The turquoise silk one?" Bachira perks up. "The one that matches your eyes perfectly?"
Even now, Rin doesn't understand how Bachira's hyperfixation works. He gets weirdly obsessed with things. Ever since he has seen that shirt hanging in Rin's closet when he barged into his room a few days ago, Bachira has been dead set on seeing Rin wear it. Of course, Rin dismissed him and said that he will wear it at some point.
"Hmm. Maybe." Rin is still stubbornly vague.
"Pretty please?" Bachira pouts, and Rin can't help but find him a little endearing. However, he won't say it.
"Guess you'll see soon." Rin responds, partly relieved that they finally made it to their floor.
■■■
Around the time they are supposed to leave, Rin opens the door and, as usually, he finds Bachira waiting for him.
Beneath his open jacket, Rin can get a peak at Bachira's white shirt with yellow and orange lines that form some kind of geometrical pattern. He is also wearing a matching beanie since the nights are still cold around here. Bachira looks so... huggable. Is it a reflex ingrained in his body by now? Or just a need caused by his overwhelming affection for Bachira? Rin doesn't know, but he is aching with want to touch him whenever he sees him.
As if he read his mind, Bachira lunges forward and Rin expects the hug, but not for Bachira to kiss his cheeks again. He wants to protest, but the words are stuck in his throat when the touch of Bachira's lips is lingering on his skin.
"Hah. I knew it." Bachira smirks victorious as he pulls the collar of Rin's shirt from under his coat, revealing that he is wearing that turquoise shirt. "It looks great on you."
"I know." Rin ignores the wild butterflies fluttering their wings in his stomach so quickly as if they are trying to escape a storm. He pushes Bachira off him, ignoring the sensation left by his hand sneaking into Rin's coat.
■■■
Dinner is a boring ordeal for Rin despite it being pretty chaotic. They go to a place where they are served traditional french dishes, and Rin can't say he is a fan of them. The other players are annoyingly chatty, so he zones out most of the time. Rin talks with Loki for a bit and finds himself not wanting to murder the boy as much as before, so that's a pretty good indication that they might get along on the team.
Meanwhile, Bachira goes wild, he already spoke with each member of the team by now, and he acts casually and friendly with them. Rin doesn't get it.
Just like he doesn't get the food. They get served cheese and fruit platters. Apparently, blue cheese is some kind of delicacy, but Rin can't look at a piece of moldy cheese with anything besides disgust. The onion soup is not bad per se, but not something he would eat again. The steak with vegetables is probably the only acceptable dish of the day.
However, the most disgusting thing of them all has to be eating snails. The dish is named escargot, the French word for snails, but sounding fancy doesn't make them look any more appetizing. Rin is not the only reticent one to try them, but Bachira doesn't hesitate to dig in and declares that they are really similar to oysters, so it's no big deal.
It still doesn't convince Rin so he just watches and loathes the way Bachira is competing to see who can eat the most escargots with Charles, the short unhinged kid.
The underage players don't get served alcohol, but the others drink. Not that Rin cares, really. When the complete waste of time that the dinner was ends, Rin is most enthusiastic to go home.
When parting from the other players in front of the apartment building, Bachira is kissing some of them goodbye. Because apparently kissing them as a hello isn't enough, he somehow decided to double Rin's misery.
There is a reason why jealousy is high on the list of reasons for murder. And Rin has to hold back from
eviscerating them alive because frankly, they wouldn't be a big loss for the team.
The reason why Rin and Bachira got close in the first place (excluding football) is because they were both loners. They bonded over their shared desire to be understood by someone. The big difference is that Rin is a loner by choice, while Bachira was lonely because others rejected him. So once Bachira found other people who accepted him, he jumped at the opportunity to become close to everyone. In contrast, Rin would rather die than do that.
Despite going inside first, refusing to watch any more of the shitshow called Bachira interacting with literally any other human being, Rin doesn't manage to get to his room before Bachira catches up to him.
"Do you want to know a secret?" Bachira asks on a tone much too loud to be appropriate for confidentially, and it makes Rin stop on the corridor.
"What?" Rin turns around, exhausted and in a bad mood just for being around their dumb teammates for so long.
"Come closer, Rin-chan." Bachira grins and lures Rin closer by making a come hither motion with his fingers.
Despite being sick and tired of games, Rin goes. Maybe a little too hard. Perhaps it's the pent-up jealousy that springs him into action. Rin crowds close to Bachira whose back hits the wall. Being taller, Rin looks down at him as he presses his forearm into the wall to lean down.
"Is this close enough?" Rin asks, as their faces are only a few centimeters apart.
Bachira hums and then leans closer to Rin's ear as he whispers:
"There's a secret party tonight."
That was definitely not on the list of things Rin expected him to say, but Bachira is a master of spontaneity and creativity for a reason.
"A what now?" Rin grimaces at the thought of an even wilder and louder version of their dinner.
"The guys wanted to go out partying, but apparently going to a club it would mean breaking some laws, since many of us are underage, so... they decided to get some alcohol and throw a party here. Which breaks fewer rules." Bachira tells him secretly, his lips brushing against Rin's ear a few times which causes him to inhale a little sharper.
"Sounds like a recipe for disaster, Meguru." Rin says sarcastically, he is pretty sure that can't end up well.
"Don't you want to go?" Bachira asks in a sweet voice, and he is so close and tempting.
"I've never wanted anything less in my life." Rin replies dryly since despite liking Bachira, his hatred for the rest of humanity is still stronger. So he takes a step back from Bachira, but the shorter boy grabs him by his shoulders refusing to let Rin get away.
"I doubt that. How about reconciling with your brother?" Bachira jokes, but that's the kind of thing you shouldn't joke about. Rin's vision goes blurry, and he feels sick just by imagining him and Sae making up. It's a good thing Bachira is holding on to him. Bleah. No. Not in a million years. Not even if Sae would fall down on his knees in defeat and admit that he was mistaken and that Rin is better. No, Rin wouldn't forgive him even then.
"Besides that. I'd rather die." Rin deadpans, looking Bachira straight in the eyes, trying to get his point across.
"See? There are worse things. I think it will be fun." Bachira is somehow still enthusiastic about it, and he pats Rin's back lightly.
"Nope." Rin instantly refuses and once again he tries to step away from Bachira and this time the boy lets him go.
"They have alcohol. I hope I won't get drunk too fast." Bachira giggles and that catches Rin's attention, who intended to leave.
"You're going to drink?" Rin asks, memories of a drunk Bachira flashing before his eyes. This can't be good. If drinking makes Bachira more flirty and touchy than usual, Rin dreads the way he is going to act when drunk with the other guys. No, no no. He can't let that happen.
"Duh. It's part of the partying, Rin-chan!" Bachira spreads his arms wide and makes a pirouette in the middle of the hallway while still laughing. And he is not even drunk yet.
Rin can feel an incoming headache. Leaving Bachira alone to go wild at a party sounds just as bad as going to the said party himself.
Life is always about choosing the lesser evil, isn't it? Or the less annoying option.
■■■
Parties smell like spilled tequila and dying brain cells. There should be no surprise really that a bunch of young football players could be anything but stupid.
Currently, Rin is sitting down. Since earlier he got dragged in what must be, undoubtedly, humanity's worst creation. They are playing a dumb card game, where everyone has to draw a card when their turn comes. And depending on the card one person or more have to drink. Sometimes they have to play a silly game before drinking. Why can't people just drink if they want to? Rin fails to see the point of this made up madness, but some people seem to be enjoying it. Well, fuck them.
"Sex positions. I'm a connoisseur when it comes to the Kama Sutra." a French player, Michelin-whatever says when he draws a card that forces him to choose a category. Now all the players have to name something that belongs to that category and if someone fails to do so, he has to drink.
After hearing an atrocious amount of bad sexual jokes from the other players, Rin is debating whether killing himself or all the people in the room would be better? Ending his own life might be faster, but murdering everyone would be less painful.
"Cowgirl. I think riding on top is really sexy." Bachira answers when his turn comes, and Rin has to fight back against an avalanche of dirty thoughts.
That December night when they slept together, Bachira had been on top of him. Rin has to press his nails against his palms, trying to forget, but Bachira had looked really sexy back then with his shirt off while he was grinding on top of him. Against his best efforts, Rin feels a feverish hot sensation travelling through his body, his desire even stronger under the influence of the alcohol. Fuck. They had been drunk back then too.
"Rin?" Bachira says his name and Rin wants him to keep saying it like a mantra, like he did once between moans and whines.
The only thing Rin can do is pick up his damned plastic cup and drink. More alcohol helps him as much as pouring gasoline on an open fire, but Rin doesn't trust the words he might say now. And he really wants this subject to be over with so that the guys can focus onto the next dumb thing.
"Chickening out? Boring." Charles rolls his eyes at him, and Rin once again wants to strangle that annoying kid.
"I had an excellent one." Michelin whatever whines. "I bet you guys haven't even heard of it. L'Arc de Triomphe."
"No way, that's an actual thing." One of the other player laughs.
"It is. Really." Michelin is flustered trying to explain the position to the best of his ability and how it involves a lot of flexibility from both partners in order to be able to bend all over each other.
"I still don't see it." Charles teases him, which elicits laughter from most of the other players. Except Rin. Rin feels like he is dying a slow death, and the alcohol only made him slightly numb to the pain this cringe shitshow is subjugating him to.
"No. Non. Let me show you." Michelin is determined, and probably a bit too drunk himself. "Bachira could you maybe?"
"Sure." Bachira giggles, eager to take part in the drunken antics.
That's what finally wakes Rin up from the dizzy haze that was liquor induced. Watching Bachira hug another man close, close enough for the pelvises to touch, while his hands are wrapped around his neck, and he is being pushed down.
And that's when Rin's jealousy ignites. His patience has been tested, and his limits have been pushed all week, but what Rin won't do is stand there quietly while other guys are stealing Bachira away from him. Because that's an obvious attempt at flirting, isn't it? Even if the Michelin dude acts kind of awkward and apologizes for pushing Bachira too quickly. Despite being a drunken game, the dude clearly is into Bachira. And Rin can't allow that.
His feelings turn truly dark when they get so overwhelmingly intense and twist into murder intent. Rin wants to kill the Michelin guy. Rip his skin off for having touched Bachira's because, oh no, he won't be getting a painless death. 'Kill him. Destroy the competition.' his thoughts say. And Rin stands up quickly and in two steps he is already there.
"Get off him." Rin pushes the guy off Bachira without a warning.
"What the fuck?" Michelin starts cursing in French, but stops when he notices Rin's expression. Because Rin's face probably looks like a crazed lunatic's. If his glare could kill, Michelin would've been already 10 feet underground.
If he were any closer, Rin might have unleashed all the violence he was capable off on the French guy. But in the current predicament, Rin pushes Michelin away and in consequence ends up holding Bachira himself from falling down.
"Rin-chan?" Meguru's eyes appear so big and surprised by Rin's reaction, but he doesn't look like he minds one bit that he ended up in his arms. He grabs Rin's shoulders, trying to stabilize both of them.
And Rin himself feels a bit dizzy, maybe from the alcohol, maybe from suddenly standing up and jumping into action, or maybe from how dazzling Bachira looks in his arms. It makes everything else fade away. Suddenly, his urge to kill and destroy doesn't seem so important, now that he got Bachira. Everything else ceases to matter.
When Rin looks at Bachira, his yellow eyes shine like twin suns, radiating warmth yet holding an intensity that draws him in. It’s as if Bachira can see right through his core. His initial surprised expression is shifting into a soft smile. Rin watches the way his pink lips turn up.
There’s an undeniable magnetism between them, one that if Rin was able to resist, he would have done so from the start. But he can't. Rin is a little drunk and definitely enamored, and he really doesn't want to lose Bachira.
At his core, Rin is scared of losing and most of all, he wants to be loved and understood by someone despite the cold antisocial mask he always wears. Rin desires so much, but forces himself to act like he doesn't. Maybe Bachira saw how desperate for it Rin actually is. After all, Bachira has seen him at his worst, but also at his best. Bachira has seen him after he lost against Sae and after he won the winter championship. He has been there all along the way. And truly Rin wants him to be even closer.
His heart is racing as Rin leans in, his lips brushing softly against Bachira's at first, then deepening into a tender kiss.
Around them, the boys shout in different languages and various states of emotions. Their kiss only lasts a few seconds before Rin pulls away, but the effect is devastating enough. Some players look shocked, others are laughing and look ready to tease them about it.
However, Rin doesn't give a fuck about their opinion, supportive or not. And he still won't care tomorrow, but in retrospective he might curse his drunk decision-making. But as long as it gets the other guys to stop hitting on Bachira.
Speaking of him, the shorter boy looks like he is positively glowing even as Rin quickly drags him out of the room as the boys whistle after them and make more sex jokes.
As they make it outside, on the corridor Rin stumbles a little, his legs not in perfect coordination with his brain as they normally are.
"Are you ok, Rin-chan?" Bachira is tightly holding on to him, not letting him fall, with one arm tightly wrapped around Rin's back.
"I'm fine." Rin wants to sound more pissed off, but he is smiling. His chest is feeling warm, and he is still a bit euphoric after the kiss.
"You're more drunk than I am! That's what you get for drinking after every question instead of answering them." Bachira giggles as they somehow manage to find the elevator.
"Dumb questions don't deserve answers." Rin mumbles as he attempts to steady himself as they are standing there waiting for the elevator. Ok, maybe he is leaning against the wall a bit.
Bachira continues to stare at him even as his laughter dies down. Rin stares back, and he can only think about kissing him again. The elevator comes, and they get in with a little effort, Rin hits a wrong button, Bachira laughs again, and they somehow end up on the right floor.
Even as they make it to Rin's door, Bachira still has his arms wrapped around Rin who is struggling with unlocking the door. He says nothing as they make it into the room. All the walking made him feel even more dizzy, Rin really needs to lay down.
One step. Ten steps. One wrong step. Bachira trips over who-knows-what (probably thin air because Rin doesn't leave things lying around) and they both end up falling down.
At least crashing, face down, into the mattress is not painful, Rin thinks, but he doesn't make any effort to move. He could fall asleep like that. Maybe Rin really is wasted.
By his side, Bachira can't stop giggling, for some reason he seems to find everything funny. Rin groans in pain.
"Water." Rin whispers, his throat feels dry and just sitting up seems to take enormous effort.
"Got it." Bachira eagerly finds the water bottle Rin keeps by his bed and grabs it to dingle it in Rin's face. "What do I get in return?"
"What do you want, Meguru?" Rin asks, too tired for games. He drank too much, and it's past his usual bedtime anyway, no wonder he is sleepy.
"A kiss." Bachira pouts his lips at him and tonight Rin is past acting like he doesn't want to.
The way he leans in and pecks Bachira's lips feel like the most natural thing in the world. Like he has done a thousand times before (which Rin has, in his imagination). His heart is fluttering like it wants to burst out of his chest. Bachira hands him the bottle, and Rin greedily drinks almost the entire thing.
"Why did you kiss me, Rin-chan?" Bachira watches him attentively as he steals back the bottle from Rin.
"You literally asked for it, Meguru." Rin wants to roll his eyes, but he really feels too tired for this. He chooses to lay back down, this time with his front facing the ceiling.
"And earlier?" Bachira presses as he settles near Rin, laying on his side.
"I wanted to." Rin admits, even though that much should be obvious, he doesn't do stuff unless he wants to.
"Hmmm. And do you still want to?" Bachira's grins like a cat, pleased by that answer.
"I always want to." Rin confesses and ok, maybe it's a little too much, he doesn't think he would've ever admitted something like that while sober. But he is not and his filter is off and Bachira looks really kissable right now when he smiles like that. And well, Rin always finds Bachira kissable, he just said that.
"Same. Same." Bachira nods enthusiastically, inching closer. "Do you like me?"
"Uh... I.." Rin seems to be at loss for words, and he feels his face burning hot. He can't possibly say that out loud. He bites his tongue because the truth might just escape.
"Because I reeealy like you, Rin-chan." Bachira touches his arm and trails his fingers on his skin until he reaches Rin's hand and intertwines their fingers. "And I thought since you want to kiss me, you might feel the same."
"You thought right." Rin agrees, letting him hold his hand. Their fingers fit perfectly together. It feels warm, really warm and comforting.
"So are you not going to say it? Not fair." Bachira is pouting once again, and he tries to let go of Rin's hand. "You're being mean, Rin-chan!"
"You already know, Meguru. There's no point." Rin sighs. Is this even necessary? Since they already confirmed their mutual attraction thing which has already been obvious for a long time anyway.
"Rin-chan! But I want to hear you say it." Bachira crosses his arms over his chest and looks at Rin expectantly.
Rin sighs once more. Why do they need to talk so much about it? Why does Bachira look cute even when he is pissed? There are better things they could be doing with their lips.
"Do you have any idea how long I have waited for this? I thought you finally..." There are tears threatening to spill from Bachira's eyes.
"Come here, Meguru." Rin opens his arms in an invitation. He has seen Bachira cry enough times by now to know what to do.
"Tell me. Why did you really kiss me? How are you feeling about me?" Bachira still demands, even as he hides his tears into Rin's chest as he hugs him tightly.
"I wanted to murder that French guy earlier. All the guys. I wanted all of them dead when I saw them touching you or doing that dumb kissing thing." Rin bites his own lips, remembering the overwhelming jealousy that has been eating him alive like a monster. "I want you to be mine, Meguru."
Hearing that, Bachira lifts his head to look at Rin with teary eyes while keeping a hand on his chest, over Rin's heart.
"I want you to be mine too, Rin-chan."
And Bachira can probably feel Rin's pulse speeding up as Rin once again leans forward to catch his lips in a kiss. Bachira tastes sweet, like the cherry liqueur some french player dared him to try. Jealousy is burning in Rin at that memory. He grabs Bachira's hips and pulls him closer, on top of him.
Pressing closer willingly, Bachira bites his lower lip and Rin moans, feeling a pleasurable sensation in his guts. It doesn't take much for him to get aroused.
"I missed kissing you. I've been thinking about you every night, Rin-chan." Bachira whispers as he trails his lips down Rin's neck. He nips lightly at Rin's skin leaving it slightly red and then Bachira dares to suck hard enough for purpling bruises to form.
"Meguru." Rin gasps, feeling frenzied now, he is uncomfortably hard, and he didn't expect biting to turn him on so much. But it was Bachira, so of course it did.
"So pretty. I really wished I left a mark behind last time too." Bachira smiles at him, leaning away.
"Me too." Rin pushes Bachira to the side and quickly rolls on top of him. "You're mine. I want to mark you."
"So rough, Rin-chan!" Bachira whimpers as Rin bites his neck, pressing his teeth so hard into his skin like he wants to leave an indent of his teeth behind. And that's all Rin wants. His all consuming hunger for Bachira is finally being sated.
"Now all those lukewarm will know to stay away." Rin murmurs as he licks over the bite mark. "You're taken."
Bachira lifts both of his hands to cup Rin's face. Rin looks back at him, but his tongue is still hanging out of his mouth, licking his lips.
"You go kinda crazy when you're jealous." Bachira smiles. "I like that. Want me more."
"I want you." Rin says before kissing Bachira sloppily, pushing his tongue in Bachira's mouth and licking inside hungrily.
Rin already feels dizzy with desire, and he is probably already dripping precum when Bachira hands find the way inside his pants, unzipping and pushing them down a little, along with his underwear. He moans embarrassingly loud when Bachira touches his dick directly for the first time, gripping him tightly, but stroking him slowly. It feels good, but not enough, and it makes Rin go insane.
"You too." Rin gasps and he pulls at Bachira's hem who hurries to unbutton his own pants.
Waiting is madness, but Rin fails to be of any help at getting Bachira pants off so he resumes his previous activity of leaving bite marks on his neck. This time he bites softer, using his lips to suck at the skin.
"Rin! Rin!" Bachira mewls, already panting as he reaches for Rin's erection to press it against his.
It sends sparks behind Rin's eyes. It feels so good, Rin is barely coherent. All he can sense is the heat of Bachira's body against him, the delicious friction of their dicks and Bachira's heavy breathing.
"Touch..ah" It's all Bachira manages to gasp.
Rin reaches to grab around the base of their dicks. The extra pressure has his eyes rolling back inside his head. Rin can't fit both of them in his hand, but he strokes them the best he can in his delirious state. Bachira focuses on massaging the tips, pressing them together and he manages to easily find Rin's sensitive spot with his thumb.
"Meguru! Close." Rin whimpers and Bachira only presses harder.
"Rin-chan." Bachira kisses him, desperate, like he wants to devour him whole. And that's all it takes to tip Rin over the edge. Everything whites out as he experiences the highest bliss. He barely feels Bachira coming against him. Rin lets his body weight crush over Bachira.
His breathing eventually evens out and Rin rolls off Bachira and onto his back. As he opens his eyes, fighting to push against the heaviness of his eyelids, he sees Bachira licking his hand. The one he used to jerk them off. He is tasting their combined cum of his palm and Rin finds it hot. His dick would be twitching in his pants if he wasn't already spent, but the image of Bachira cleaning cum off his hand is so hot. And Rin always found ejaculating to be a dirty thing, but Bachira makes it look good. He curiously lifts his own come stained hand and licks his fingers.
"Eh." Rin scrunches his nose in slight disgust. Bachira laughs at his reaction lightheartedly and leans over to kiss Rin. The brunette forgets all about the taste as he chases Bachira's lips. He feels good, the floating on cloud nine kind where he forgets all about reality, and he is close to drifting away with Bachira already wrapped around him, tangling their limbs together and pressing his face against his chest.
"Will you still like me tomorrow, Rin-chan?" Bachira asks as if he is afraid of the answer.
"When have I ever stopped?" Rin wants to sound sarcastic, but he's half asleep already and his voice is a soft whisper in the night.
"After New Years, you have been acting kinda awkward and distant. You always do that. Remember when you ran away and ignored me after we first kissed?" Bachira is so keen to remind him, so clearly hurt by that. He is poking at Rin's cheek, who is laying unresponsive.
"Meguru... It was too much." Rin murmurs with his eyes already closed, he is already close to drifting away, the conversation doesn't even feel real to him.
"Too much? How much is too much? Am I too much?" Bachira wonders, a slight panic in his voice. He grabs at Rin's shoulders, frantically squeezing them.
"I like you too much. It's beyond my control." Rin sighs, and he finally looks down at Bachira and grabs his hand to hold it down over his chest so that he will stop moving and Rin could finally sleep.
"I like you a lot." Bachira's smile is back, and he presses his curved lips against Rin's collarbone. "So much it doesn't fit inside of my chest. So I give it to you. You don't have to restrain your feelings. Why do you always want to be in control?" Bachira presses more kisses on his skin and Rin doesn't fight him, their hands are still intertwined on his chest.
"I just... I don't want to be weak." Rin confesses, squeezing his eyes closed. The truth coming out easy, painfully easy. Sae left him because he was weak. Because he wasn't good enough.
"Love doesn't make you weak, Rin-chan. It makes you better." Bachira says softly, as he lifts their intertwined hands and he kisses Rin's wrist.
"I can't be weak. I can't lose. I put everything I have into football. So that I will beat Sae."
"I know." Bachira hums, if anyone could understand a slightly drunk and a little more than slightly sleepy Rin, it would be him. "We will, Rin-chan."
"Sae once said that relationships are meaningless. That they are just a distraction from football." Rin finds himself saying. There are all thoughts that have been eroding in his brain from how often he overthought them. But now it's like the gates of his feelings have opened up for tonight, and he can finally say them out loud.
"Your brother is a dumbass. You realize he is wrong, right?" Bachira chuckles. "Great football prodigy Itoshi Sae, who doesn't know shit about feelings."
And Rin likes the sound of his brother getting mocked; however, he can't help but get annoyed about his existence.
"I know he is wrong. Sae is the shittiest brother. The worst. Can't even keep his damned promises. Or maybe he has been a fucking liar from the start." Rin clenches his jaw in annoyance, he didn't want to think about Sae tonight, but there is no escaping his trauma.
"What do you mean?" Bachira stops laughing, and he lifts his head up to stare at a frowning Rin.
"You know my brother promised we would be the greatest strikers together? Then he comes back and says he is a stupid midfielder now. When we were young, Sae promised he would always be on my side. Then he says he doesn't want to see me ever again." Rin sighs, his chest suddenly feeling heavy, and it's not from Bachira leaning on him.
"That asshole." Bachira cusses again. "I'm gonna fight him if I ever see him."
And Rin finds it endearing that he would, despite the chances not being in his favor. A little stupid too (even though Rin is literally planning on doing the same thing).
"That's my job. I'm going to crush his ego to pieces. When I win and once the whole world acknowledges me, my stupid brother will finally realize he has been wrong all along." Rin's fists are clenching subconsciously, but Bachira drags his thumb into circling motions into Rin's palm, soothing him.
"I will be there too, Rin-chan. Just like we planned." Bachira reminds him, but it's not like Rin forgot.
"Yea." Rin agrees. They spent countless hours watching Sae's matches before and practicing on the field with that in mind. Just like Bachira with his monster, sometimes when he stepped on the field, Rin imagined Sae's shadow being there and how he would move.
Bachira steals one more kiss from Rin, he pecks his lips which turns into a slow, but deep kiss.
■■■
Bachira wakes up in the best mood that morning. Not even the slight headache caused by ingesting too much alcohol could damper his mood. Rin, on the other hand, wakes up all moody, complaining about his headache and proclaiming he isn't going to drink ever again. Bachira can't help but laugh at that. Rin is so cute in the mornings, despite acting grumpy or emo most of the time. Some people might call Bachira crazy for finding Rin attractive, given his personality, but oh well, it's not like he hasn't been called that all his life.
Most importantly, Rin lets Bachira kiss him that morning too, even though he grumbles something about them being late for practice.
"Football still comes first." Rin says and Bachira can't help but laugh at how unconvincing he sounds.
"Rin-chan. Most of our relationship is football." Bachira says, and honestly, he wouldn't have it any other way. Football is such a big part of both of their lives and beings. Football is a language in itself, and it takes being there to be able to understand it.
"That's why it works." Rin responds, and is that another admission of their relationship? Bachira feels spoiled, over the moon with affection, and can't keep himself from kissing Rin again.
Eventually, Bachira has to go back to his room (at Rin's insistence) to shower and get ready, but he is too overstimulated, pure excitement rushing through his veins, energizing him worse than a sugar and caffeine combo. Bachira jumps into his bed, rolls under the covers, only to kick his feet from under the sheets and hug the blanket close to his chest so that he can stuff his face into it and scream in excitement. Then, Bachira jumps out of bed and starts dancing around the room without even needing music. On a second thought, he might put on some.
It's one of the best days of his life. Last night, not only did Rin kiss him, and they slept together, but Rin totally confessed that he likes him, didn't he? His monster has been cluing him from the start that Rin must be feeling the same as him. And his monster is never wrong, but Rin has been giving him plenty of mixed signals.
I don't know if you can call it love at first sight, but Bachira fell in love with his football first. Rin is playing so beautifully yet destructively, and the dark side of his play making only got worse since the whole Sae incident. Ever since he met him, Rin's football seemed lonely, like he is controlling the game, but not really seeing the players, like they are all just faceless pawns to him.
In the beginning, Bachira felt proud to be recognized by Rin as an exception, since only a few players are good enough in his eyes. But then, Bachira saw the kind of reaction his brother Sae or Shidou Ryuusei got out of Rin and Bachira started to doubt his own worth as a player.
Not to mention, everything outside of football. Because despite being insanely talented on the field, Rin is also drop-dead gorgeous. Like so pretty, it makes you wonder how is he even real. His eyes are bright like gemstones, framed by those long fluffy lashes, and they captivated Bachira from the start, he could spend an eternity just staring into those eyes.
How could Bachira not be attracted to him, when all his childhood he dreamt about this? About one day meeting not a prince charming, but a handsome guy who will play football with him and understand him like nobody else ever has, and then they will kiss and...
Isagi would probably scoff at that and advise Bachira to stay away from Rin because according to him: Rin's personality is shit, so his other qualities don't matter, Rin won't make a good boyfriend.
And well, that's irrelevant because
1. Bachira is too in love with Rin already
2. Rin is actually not that bad. It's not like he is heartless, Rin is just terrible at expressing his feelings. He is scared of being abandoned, that's why he won't get close to people, and he acts the way he does. Sae really did a number on him.
But Bachira saw that when Rin is with him, he drops some of that cold facade. Isagi called him crazy for it. But it looks like Bachira has been right all along. Rin is showing him more and more of his true self, and most importantly, he likes him back.
Honestly, Bachira has been in love with Rin for a long time. At first, he was thrilled he got a friend, but then Bachira was drawn closer and closer to Rin and he has no idea when that line had been crossed.
It's not as simple as just admiration for his talent or just attraction for his looks. It goes beyond that. Bachira feels like they are connected on a much deeper level, like they are soulmates. They didn't meet by chance, it was destiny. It's obvious since it happened at a moment when they both needed someone. Hence, why Bachira can't stop chasing Rin when his heart is drawn to him.
They are meant to be.
Even if it took them some time to realize and to accept it.
Maybe that night, when he found Rin crying and screaming his lungs out on a snowy field, Bachira realized he would do anything to save him. He might even punch Itoshi Sae in the face if he ever gets the chance because he truly is one of the shittiest older brothers and Rin wasn't worth being treated like that.
The holiday Rin stayed over at his house gifted him some of the best days of his life. Bachira has been floating in his little bubble of happiness, where him and Rin spent all the time playing and eating and just having so much fun.
Thinking back, Bachira was probably already infatuated then, so in love he was seeing everything through pink colored glasses.
Not seeing Rin for a while had been painful, it always is. Bachira misses him as soon as he is out of his field vision.
They meet again as they hurry towards the practice. However, Bachira doesn't miss the chance to hug Rin again (despite them only being apart for less than 20 minutes). Rin's hands grab the back of his jersey and Bachira is not sure if he wants to pull him in or push him away, but when he risks a glance up, Rin's eyes are staring at his lips. And then they are kissing again. It's short and sweet like vanilla.
The taste is very familiar and Bachira is running his tongue over his lips, trying to figure out the origin of the flavor when Rin shoves a bottled protein shake into his chest.
"Don't starve yourself, Meguru." Rin explains before he suddenly turns around and rushes towards the end of the hallway.
The protein shake is vanilla flavored. They don't have enough time for breakfast since they overslept and Bachira doesn't even feel hungry with all the love that's buzzing inside his veins.
The gesture shows that Rin cares about him and Bachira can barely contain himself from tackling Rin and kissing him again which would probably make them miss practice for real this time.
"Rin-chan! You're the best boyfriend!" Bachira yells as he catches up to him.
"Shut up, Meguru!" And even if Rin doesn't look back at him, Bachira notices a soft blush coloring his cheeks.
His Rin is really the cutest man alive.
And Bachira is so in love with him.
He really can't keep his hands to himself. His constant need to touch Rin is only getting worse. It's like the more of him he has, the more he wants.
Ever since that night on the New Year's Eve when he got a taste of what is like to have Rin, he has been craving him so badly, suffering like an addict. But at same time, Bachira has been so scared. Since Rin has ghosted him on his birthday and then once more after their first kiss, Bachira has been afraid of him doing it again.
After they reconciled at the winter tournament, Bachira has been dreading this, making the wrong move, saying the wrong thing that would drive Rin away. He had no idea where the line was, but he has been toying with it regardless. It's not like Bachira could hold back entirely, so they always ended up holding hands, hugging, sharing food. He just wanted to feel Rin's touch so much that he found any and all excuses. Bachira even coerced Rin into a pocky game because he really, really wanted to kiss him, but he didn't want Rin to freak out again.
Truth being told, Bachira even talked to his mother about it. Ok, he definitely didn't tell her all the details, but she advised him to take things slow and be attentive to Rin's reactions. If he reciprocates, then it's a good sign to go further.
And that has been his plan. On New Year's Eve, Bachira only planned to peck Rin's lips, hoping he won't back away. Bachira didn't expect Rin to reply so enthusiastically, but it was everything he has been wishing for.
Feeling Rin's skin on his as they were hugging closely on the couch was pure bliss. Bachira felt like he ascended to heaven because there wasn't anything better than that feeling. He was ready to confess his love for Rin then, but exhaustion took over him.
Then morning came and Rin was acting so distant and avoidant. And it really scared Bachira into thinking he would get ghosted again. He decided against saying anything. Bachira tried flirting with Rin, maybe even teasing him a bit. But he didn't really get reciprocation back, Rin mostly avoided his advances. It made him sad, but maybe his mother was right, and he just had to wait for Rin and move at his pace.
And Bachira really tried, but not seeing Rin again for a few months was killing him and when he finally got to spend time with him in Paris, Bachira almost suffocated him with all his pent-up affection.
Trying not to scare Rin away, Bachira came up again with excuses to hug him and touch him, his fingers always tingling for more. He barely lasted a week before Bachira risked it even more by kissing Rin's cheeks. Then he had to do it to other guys too in order to make his excuse believable. But it backfired since it made Rin jealous.
Since the last time Rin got jealous (of Isagi), he left Bachira, he was dreading the result this time, worrying he fucked up by pushing too much.
But then Rin kissed him in front of their teammates. Bachira has been shocked for a second before his body melted in pure delight. That night, Rin looked at Bachira like he wanted him just as badly as Bachira had all this time.
It made sense. They were meant to be. And the puzzle pieces were all falling into place this time.
Rin was his.
And he was Rin's.
Of course, their teammates teased them as soon as they stepped into the locker room. Bachira barely even heard the jokes when all he could focus on was Rin. It's not like what the rest of the world believed mattered.
Rin is so pretty even when he is staring at the others with his ice-cold eyes while threatening them with his calm, dry tone by telling them that he would end their football careers if they don't mind their own business.
It's hot, actually. The killing intent is vibrating in Rin's aura, the way his eyebrows are furrowed shows that he is dead serious. His green eyes look unforgiving and his confidence is unshaken.
It gets Bachira biting his lips and thinking very unholy thoughts. The things he wants to do with Rin... preferably when they are both alone in bed, even though he wouldn't mind the public display. Bachira definitely has a little exhibitionism in him.
Twirling his hair around his fingers, Bachira tries to distract himself. It obviously doesn't work when he starts imagining Rin's hands pulling his hair.
"He's a wild one, huh? Behind that cold facade, he is an actual monster." Michelin says, pulling Bachira out of his Rin centered fantasies.
"Definetly." Bachira laughs, still watching Rin (as if he could look away).
"You think you're the one who could contain him?" Michelin asks and Bachira looks at him amused.
"Why would I want to contain him? I like it when Rin-chan gets really wild. If he does that on the field, he'd be truly unstoppable."
Bachira is probably smiling manically now, and Michelin will soon label him as crazy too. Not that he cares, really, when he has Rin to match his energy. They are both monsters, after all.
"So you're supporting his madness." the French player concludes.
As if knowing Bachira is thinking about him, Rin glances their way, looking like he is shooting imaginary arrows in Michelin's direction, annoyed by their closeness, probably.
"Ofcourse. We're partners after all. But most of all, I'd say I inspire it." As he catches his eyes, Bachira winks at Rin and pouts his lips mimicking a kiss. It causes Rin to look away with the speed of light. Bachira giggles at the sight of a faint blush, coloring Rin's cheeks again. He loves that expression on Rin.
Bachira really loves Rin.
And now he knows for sure that his feelings are being reciprocated.