Rushing Water

7

Tranquil
(adjective)

1. Free from disturbance; calm.

—

Distant.
Detached and keeping to himself.

"Kirishima stop."

"Hum?" His eyes rose from the paper.

"What are you doing?"

"Thinkin'."

"You little shit."

The redhead smiled smugly and nudged his friend.
"But you still love me bro."

"You're on thin fucking ice."

"Oh no! You'll have to save me if I fall through!"

"If you act like this I'll just let you drown."

"Rude!" He gasped, smacking the teen's shoulders in dramatic offense.

"Then don't be smartass. What's going on?"

"Nothing. I'm seriously thinking."

"What about?"

"How this math homework sucks ass."

"So it's pretty fucking bad huh?"

"Yep." He popped the 'p', nodding to confirm this claim furthermore.

"Let me help."

An hour in and they had barely made any headway.
The redheaded boy seemed to lack the want to even work, often spacing out and making the blond repeat himself umpteen times.

"Okay look, of you aren't gonna pay attention then I can't help you, fucking moron. What's on your mind?"

"I don't know, I just can't seem to focus. 'M sorry."

"You have to tell someone damnit! Please. Please. Tell me."

"I can't."

"You can, you just won't."

"Then I won't."

"Why not?"

"I don't want to."

One tear.
Two tears.
And then they were spilling down his cheeks mercilessly, dragging broken sobs from his throat.
Heart wrenching and choked, his cries gurgled and made his stuttered words unintelligible.

"You're crying. Do you know why you're crying? 'S because you don't wanna kill yourself, you want to kill something inside of you. If you were dropped into a lake, you'd fight for your life. Now you know why. Listen to me."

A gasp. Then, warm hands were on his face, cradling his cheeks.
Tears were wiped away and those crimson eyes peered into his own. Into his soul.
Would he be afraid of what he saw? Of what he'd find in those damaged ruby depths?

Noses brushing, eyes falling closed. Lips mere centimeters apart and hot breath tickling each other's skin.

Inhale.
Exhale.
Inhale.
Exhale.

Feather-light and barely there, their lips grazed against one another's.

All at once the heat was gone and their eyes snapped open to meet.

"This...this isn't you, you're better than this. I've got your back."

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Word count: 382