Come and Help me Fly

A/N: This story is really sad and I cannot say that they both make it out okay so I'm sorry for that!

Pairing: Haruka X Makoto

Rating: T (No smut, only sadness and angst)

Reason? I never have an excuse for the shenanigans that I produce :)

Inspired by my favourite song and Final Fantasty VII Crisis Core (the only game that ever brought me to tears, dammit :p) I sadly don't own the song, nor the amazing game nor the charatcers from Free! In fact, I own nothing, except for my pupils maybe :p

Enjoy!

Soft and warm sand chafed against Haruka's back. He was washed up on the shore. The steady stream of sea lapping at his ice-cold feet. It wasn't the fact that the water wasn't warm, Haruka just felt cold, freezing even. He didn't even know how he got washed up on the shore, nor did he know how long he'd been lying there. His eyes were closed and warm and soothing memories flashed around in his fragile mind.

Warm green and very twinkling eyes met his own oceanic gaze. A never-faltering smile was all he could see. The smile tugged at his heart and Haruka had never felt so joyous in his entire life before. A lingering touch of lips against his own made his heart flutter away along with the warm breeze that connect the two of them.

The warm memories were soon lost in Haruka's mind and they were replaced by a dark void, sucking up everything that made him cling to the other boy. The images were fleeting as Haruka let them go, he deemed them to be unnecessary, he felt like he didn't deserve them so het let them go, swept away with a steady beat of his heart, into the dark void that was slowly spreading. He wanted to go back home and his mind pleaded for him to guide him back, back to the place they once called home. Haruka could feel that he wasn't strong enough to be left alone, he knew that he wouldn't be able to survive all by himself. The strong guide that once guided him through life wasn't here anymore…

Haruka could picture him with strong yet soft white wings. They looked so appealing and Haruka wondered what it would feel like to be able to fly. He looked so graceful, flapping his wings, Haruka tried to catch one of his feathers but when he reached out, he caught nothing at all.

He pleaded him to lend him his wings, he would trade them for the world, trade them for everything that held him back. He would trade them tonight, for everything that he still had.

He remembered the lie that he had told him so gracefully days ago. He even made sure that Haruka believed every word of it. The words were spoken so softly that Haruka had trouble understanding them. However, those green eyes spoke more truthfully than the words and Haruka knew it was the perfect lie. He decided to believe it anyway, the lie seemed better than the truth.

Haruka's breath stuttered and he wanted to gasp for air, if he had the strength to do so. It felt like there was no steady stream of air going to his burning lungs and Haruka didn't seem to try to do anything about it. The deafening silence around him made him shiver and shake. He could feel the silence creep into his system, effectively shutting down every sense of hearing he had left. He couldn't hear anything anymore, there was no sound, he could feel the sea but couldn't hear it. Ever since he was robbed of the most beautiful sound in the world, he didn't even want to hear anything anymore. Not a single sound could compare to the one voice he had yearned to hear.

Haruka could feel grey walls creep up to him, he was surrounded and not an ounce of light could be seen anywhere. He didn't want to be engulfed by light, he didn't deserve it. It had all been his fault, he had faltered to love and protect the one thing he never thought he would miss. It's not like he didn't miss him, Haruka just thought that he would be around forever. Haruka didn't care about the things that surrounded him, the ocean that once seemed to calm him every single day, seemed distant and he didn't even want to be engulfed by it. Everything would go on without him, he didn't belong here or there anymore. There wouldn't be a single place that would keep him, nothing was the same without him by his side.

Haruka didn't recognise himself anymore. He had tried to look at himself in the mirror when he was still back home, but his reflection didn't match. His eyes were off and his complexion paler than ever. He pictured him standing next to him while brushing teeth like they used to do every morning. That was the image that matched but ever since… Haruka was unrecognisable, torn by something that no one could ever repair ever again. He had tried to find himself somewhere but he failed miserably. He didn't feel like he still belonged anywhere anymore. He tried to look for himself by the pool, the park, the promenade, the beach, the ocean,… However, Haruka didn't find what he was looking for and somehow, he didn't even care anymore. The most vital part that he consisted of was gone and it could never be replaced no matter how hard he tried.

A few days ago, he felt a strong chill creep over his spine and his heart stopped beating altogether. He knew that it had happened and there was nothing he could do to turn back time. The image of that fateful night haunted him for days on end until he was finally where he belonged. Washed up on the shore while the sea was gently caressing his feet. Haruka's mind wandered off one last time, replaying that fateful event, haunting him for the very last time.

"For the both of us." His breath stuttered as his body was draining all of his energy.

"Both of us?" Haruka asked while staring at him with wide eyes.

"That's right, you're going to…" the voice stuttered once more, trying to break free.

"You're going to?" Haruka asked, eyes never leaving him.

A strong hand gripped Haruka behind his head and his eyes widened as far as they could. Waiting for him, not daring to say anything to break the moment.

"Live." Haruka's head was pressed against his bare chest and Haruka could feel his forehead burn where they touched. He never wanted him to let go, it would be so wrong to be apart.

"You'll be my living legacy, I need you to be my living legacy."

Haruka could feel the hand releasing him and he stared at it until it flopped onto the sand, not having enough energy to move it once more. Haruka rose his head and looked down again, perhaps if he wished hard enough, everything would be okay again.

The boy tore off the necklace he had worn ever since the day they had met. He had never taken if off and Haruka winced as the necklace snapped.

"My honour, my dreams, they're yours now."

The necklace was held out to him and Haruka took it because it would be all he had left. He knew what would happen but his mind was playing tricks with him. He could see it turn out differently, a more happy ending but deep down, he knew he wouldn't get what he wanted. He had always gotten what he wanted and sooner or later, he knew that his luck would not last.

"I am your living legacy," Haruka repeated the words to reassure him. He would continue on living and telling everyone about him.

Green eyes were closed and Haruka knew he missed them already. How could he not, they were always there, gazing at him, encouraging him to do better, to live his life to the fullest. A soft breeze swept through his hair softly and Haruka knew his heart had stopped beating because he could also feel his own heart giving away. A short strained breath escaped from his lips. The moment had arrived and Haruka wanted to turn back time, repeating their happy days over and over again, like an old record that everyone cherished.

Short strained breathes bubbled up from his throat and he finally let out the scream he had been holding back for so long.

Haruka finally opened his eyes, the sand still chafing his back softly. The touch was familiar as he had spent many days on this very shore, toying around with him. The sky was still clouded but sun rays were gently seeping through, making the sky less ominous.

Haruka remembered that he had once told him that the sky could be frightening. Haruka could see the clouds move to make way for a warm and shining sun, greeting him with the warmth he so desperately sought ever since.

"It looks so liberating," Haruka's voice was barely audible as it was swept away by a soft breeze.

He glanced up and saw him once more, graceful as ever, flapping those beautiful white wings. One feather, two feathers, three feathers, fell down and Haruka could only wish to have those wings as well. He would trade them for everything that he had.

"I want those wings too," he whispered and he held out his hand, not to catch any of the feathers this time, but to catch the hand that was held out to him.

The hand that had pulled him out of the pool or his tub so many time, the hand that touched him like no one had touched him before. Their hands locked and Haruka was swept away by his own white wings, finally reunited with him.

- Uploaded this for my girlfriend who's still dutifully working at school. She was insecure about this one so I just uploaded it without her knowing.