Drowning (Haruka x Reader)

    Haruka sank lower into the bath so he could hold you closer. Your cheek pressed into his damp chest, eyes shut tight. The warm press of his arms around your waist was comforting, like he was keeping you from fading away.

    Haru had always felt better in water. Long, hot baths had been the cure all from failing grades to failing relationships. He thought, maybe, if he kept you in it long enough, you would get better. Of course, the pool or the ocean would have been the best choice, but the soft drum of rain drops against the window canceled that option.

    There was nothing sexual about the position, he horizontal and you laid like a blanket on top of him. He was trussed in his favorite trunks, with you in a comfortable suit. The lights were dim enough to ward off glare.

    "How do you feel when you're in the water?" You asked, your irises peeping out from under heavy lids.
 
    "Safe. It never is unkind to you, it keeps you close, and I just couldn't live without it. I love it."

    You nodded, nuzzling against him.

    "And how do you feel when you're with me?"

    He paused, but you took no offense to it. Haruka was a boy of few words. He was careful in his rare moments of speech.

    "I want to protect you from everything. If I could, I would just go and swim with you all day and we'd never have to talk to anyone."

    "Could the rest of the team be there, too?"

    "Mmhm. And we would only eat mackerel."

    You couldn't hide a laugh that bubbled up from your chest. You didn't really see a perfect reality being mostly fried fish.

    "And maybe rice." He continued, growing a bit hungry.

    "Aw, could we have pizza every once in awhile?"

    "Whatever would make you happy."

    You felt a weight lift off your heart. Haruka would love you every day the sun rose and set. That meant a lot more than the things that got you down.

    "The bath is working." You nodded, giving a little squeeze to your hug around his torso.

    "Told you."

    He pressed a kiss to your forehead, causing a pink haze to trail along your cheekbones. Haru could fluster you to no end. Intentionally or not.

    The familiar sound of the storm overhead faded. A few stray beams of sunlight burst through the glass of the window. Here in a few minutes, it would be completely sunny out. It would be a lovely day for a swim.

    Your boyfriend sat up in the water, taking you with him. You were curled half into his lap with a small smile. The attraction to him had originally been physical. A muscle bound swimmer with a mysterious attitude. Any and every girl in school swooned after the swim team. Your relationship had only blossomed because of bribery, of all things.

    Your schoolgirl crush had driven you to pack him little bento boxes. He would share a little bit of polite conversation when you brought him lunch at the pool. Day by day, his walls went down, and you both learned that love was a very real thing.

    You gazed at him, feeling your heart tug with sudden realization.

    "Haruka?" Your eyes connected with his own sapphires.

    "Yeah?"

    "You're my water."